Waiting for Demain: Yanase Takashi, the Creator of Anpanman

I'll be visiting Hearn's New Orleans in the morning, but first: Yanase Takashi's 80 sayings. Who was Yanase? The creator of one of Japan's most beloved characters, Anpanman. From the cover: "No matter how old you are, you can chase your dreams." (Yanase was 68 when Anpanman became a hit and Yanase a household name,) And, "There is someone (in the world) who values you for who you are"(You'll never be alone.) I'll be sharing more of his words to live by from time to time. Meanwhile, here's the famous Anpanman march song: https://youtu.be/TppPiyGfZhc?feature=shared

Revisiting Hearn's "Fairest City of the South"

Journey to New Orleans planned for tomorrow: a demain. Arrivee: Hearn House

Samurai Blues

Samurai culture: endlessly romanticized, the subject of countless historical dramas... Japan's men's soccer team 'Samurai Blue' and baseball team 'Samurai Japan'. However, you didn't want them as neighbors、not if you were a peasant farmer. Watch 七人の, from 1.29.00: the great Mifune Toshio, as Kikuchiyo, delivers an impassioned speech decrying the oppression of peasants by lawless samurai parasites.

Hearn, New Orleans Years: 1877-1886

In 'New Orleans in Wet Weather', published in the Cincinnati Commercial, December 22, 1877, Hearn describes the city's famous statue of Henry Clay,the statesman and slaveholder from Kentucky whose memorial was then located on Canal Street. Hearn is struck by the irony of an inscription on the memorial: "If I could be instrumental in eradicating this deepest stain, slavery, from the character of our country, I would not exchange the proud satisfaction which I should enjoy for the honors of all the triumphs ever decreed to the most successful conquerors. - Henry Clay" Hearn's appears to be the sole reference to the inscription on the east-facing surface of the statue's pedestal. Interesting page here: New Orleans Then and Now: Canal Street and Henry Clay’s Monument | Inside Adams https://share.google/nnQVwg1vRByALTE5T

Out with the Old

An anonymous donor has gifted the Osaka/ Yokoyama City water utility 21kg in gold bars valued at 566 million yen. Like many municipalities in Japan, Osaka's network of water mains and sewerage pipes is old, corroded, and in danger of collapse, which can result in sinkholes and costly property damage, if not fatalities. The benefactor、who made the donation under an assumed name、 requested the monies be spent on renovating the city's 水道管。I am reminded of a family resort at which I worked in Colorado, USA, which solicited donations from guests (the camp attracted the well-heeled) to fund construction of accommodations (cabins, lodges) and other facilities (resort library, playing fields, swimming pool, and the like). These donors insisted their names be emblazoned across their gifts. The reaction of the Yokoyama City mayor: "感謝しかない。とんでもない金額で言葉ない"。

Local Girl Nakai Ami Makes Good

in her first Winter Olympics, 17-year-old Japanese figure skater 中井亜美 leads the field after the short program. Ms Nakai is a native of Niigata City, completing primary school at Meike Elementary. The Niigata City Board of Education and her Alma Mater wish her well.

Bienvenue en Louisiane

More photos on the way, including from a visit to New Orleans and Hearn House later in the week. (Experiencing technical difficulties at the moment, unable to upload photos.) Decorations for Mardi Gras (this past Tuesday).

Speaking of Connections...

The ringmaster of the right-wing populist circus that is Sanseito- I'm referring to one Kamiya Sohei- recently averred that Japan is the only nation in the world to stipulate a link between climate change and fossil fuels. Balderdash, but of a piece- Kamiya regularly trots out such nonsense, when he's not denying credible allegations of power harassment (leading to a staffer's suicide, I might add). Trump's America, from which this opportunistic hollow man finds inspiration, has managed what Japan never will (thank the Shinto gods, and the Japanese education system): Trump’s EPA repeals landmark climate finding in gift to ‘billionaire polluters’ | Trump administration | The Guardian https://share.google/Sp5Wvd8prYBGRnaqX