The Year of the Dog (82/01/01)
Happy New Year! Today is the first day of the year 1982 A.D. The abbreviation "A.D." comes from two Latin words meaning "in the year of the Lord". It indicates that this present, so-called, "Christian era" began with the birth of the Lord, that is, Jesus Christ. From the Christian perspective, the coming of Christ into the world is the center of history, and years prior to that event are designated "B.C.", meaning "Before Christ". In modern Japanese calendars, years are calculated from the enthronement of the reigning emperor--although in present day Japan, the emperor does not actually "reign" in the literal sense of the word--so this year is the 57th year of Showa. According to Chinese tradition, it is the Year of the Dog. In English, there are various expressions related to dogs. "A dog's life" refers to a very unpleasant existence. "A dog's chance" means no chance at all. And "to go to the dogs" means to abandon or lose all standards or high qualities, to be ruined. In the Bible also, dogs are usually presented in a negative way, although the Philosopher wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:14 that "a live dog is better off than a dead lion." I pray that this New Year will be one of happiness, meaning and new life for you.
Calligraphy (82/01/02)
This second day of the New Year is traditionally the day for kakizome, or "first writing". In English, beautiful or elegant writing is called calligraphy, from two Greek words meaning "beautiful writing". There are many English words that include the root term "graph" or "graphy" in them, from the Greek word for writing. Among them are mimeograph or imitative writing, telegraph or writing from afar, phonograph or sound writing, photograph or light writing and radiograph or X ray writing. There are also a few words that include the root term "calli" in them such as a musical instrument called a calliope, meaning beautiful sounds, and callisthenics, referring to athletic exercises that, hopefully, produce beautiful strength. The writing of Chinese characters may be considered an art as well as a means of communication, although fewer and fewer people make use of the writing brush these days. Elegant writing like elegant speech is becoming a lost art and is considered old-fashioned by many young people today. While art forms and language change, if there is beauty within the heart, it will find expression in both deeds and words. It is that inward beauty of spirit that we must seek to preserve and nurture.
Excommunication of Martin Luther (82/01/03)
The German poet Goethe has written that "no one would talk much in society, if he only knew how often he misunderstands others." In recent years, the term "communication gap" has become popular to describe the lack of understanding between people--even when they are speaking the same language. In common speech, "to communicate" means to give or receive information. However, as a religious term, "communicate" refers to receiving the Holy Communion, as a member of a religious communion. To cut a person off from such communion, therefore, is to "excommunicate" him. It was on this day, January 3rd, 1521, that Martin Luther, the German priest, was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X. Luther's aim was originally to effect reforms of certain abuses in the church of his day, but communication gaps of various kinds resulted in his excommunication and the subsequent birth of the so-called Protestant churches. Although church authorities may excommunicate persons considered disobedient or undesirable, Jesus said, in John 6:37, "I will never turn away anyone who comes to me."
Utah admitted to the United States (82/01/04)
It was on this day, January 4th, that Utah was admitted to the United States as the 45th state in the year 1896. The name "Utah" comes from a Navajo Indian word waning "upper". The state was first permanently settled by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, in 1847. Two years later, they applied for admission to the Union as the state of Deseret, meaning "land of honeybees" from the Book of Mormon, but Congress rejected their request because of the Mormon Church's doctrine of polygamy. After a long period of controversy, at the close of which the Church officially discontinued its polygamous teaching, the state was admitted and called Utah. Even today, 72% of the population of the state is Mormon and the headquarters of that Church is located in Salt Lake City, the state's capital. Generally speaking, the term "Gentile" is used to refer to a non-Jew, but Mormons use it to mean a non-Mormon. However, the Apostle Paul made clear in Galatians 3:26 that there is no longer any need for distinctions between races, social status or gender for those who are united in faith in Christ, for all are alike the children of God and members of the same spiritual family.
Hatsumode (82/01/05)
The newspaper reported that, during the first three days of this year, some 2,090,000 people worshipped at the Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya. This number, which exceeds the total population of this large city, shows an increase of over 100,000 compared to last year's worshippers. Helped by the unusually mild weather, the 80,000 shrines throughout the country were all crowded. A survey conducted last year by a Japanese newspaper indicated that, although 80% of the Japanese profess no religion, 70% of those in that group visited a shrine at New Year's time. A few years ago, I made a little survey of my own--asking various people why they worshipped at the shrine on New Year's Day. The answers indicated that people consider hatsumode a form of recreation or cultural tradition as well as a religious rite. However, there are times in everyone's life when one feels the need for help, comfort or wisdom from a greater than human Power. At the heart of a vital religious experience is something deeper and more meaningful than ritual. It is a personal relationship with the eternal God, the world's Creator and mankind's loving Father and merciful Savior.
Four Freedoms (82/01/06)
On January 6, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt presented a message to the U.S. Congress in which he voiced the hope that Four Freedoms would eventually prevail throughout the world. These freedoms were: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. These Four Freedoms were later incorporated into the Atlantic Charter, signed in August of that year by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain. These principles were also affirmed by the nations signing the United Nations' Declaration of January 1, 1942. Freedom of speech and freedom of worship are included in the United States' Bill of Rights, but freedom from want and freedom from fear are more difficult to achieve. A society where there is neither want nor fear would he a utopia indeed. "Utopia" comes from two Greek words meaning "no place". Actually, there is no such ideal place, but those of us who enjoy such freedoms even partially should still be working to bring such a society into existence, while being careful to keep these freedoms alive in our homelands.
Nanakusa (82/01/07)
What did you have for breakfast this morning? Did it include rice gruel cooked with the traditional seven plants? In Japan, there are five traditional seasonal festivals, which were introduced from China, known as gosekku, and this seventh day of the first month is the first of them, called nanakusa or seven plants. On this day, it is customary to eat rice which has been cooked with seven herbs, which are considered to be good for one's health. The particular plants designated as nanakusa were originally of Chinese origin and have been changed since coming to Japan. Also of Chinese origin is the designation of this seventh day of the first month as jinjitsu, or human being day. According to Chinese tradition, the first day of the first month is the day of the cock; the second day is the day of the dog, followed by the days of the sheep, pig, cow and horse, with this seventh day being the day of human beings. In the Bible, seven is a sacred number and every seventh day is a holy day for Jews, Christians and Muslims--although each religion observes a different day of the week as holy. However, every day should be human being day in which we observe the biblical command to love our neighbor as ourself.
The metric system (82/01/08)
It seems that there are many people in Canada these days who are confused. Some of them are complaining also. One of the reasons for the confusion and complaints is the difficult process of changing measurements of length, weight, etc. from the traditional British system to the metric system. On Monday of this week, the 37,000 supermarkets and other food stores across Canada began using scales that weighed in grams and kilograms rather than in ounces and pounds. Canada began the process of changing to the metric system in the mid-1970s and it is expected to complete its conversion by the end of 1983. From the time it was introduced in France in 1793, this simple and convenient system of measurement always has been opposed by traditionalists in the various nations that eventually adopted it. Japan introduced that system in 1921 but didn't finally become metrified until 1966, and the United States has been in the process of changing to the metric system for over a hundred years. It's hard to change traditional customs. Yet, without change, there is no progress. A living body, nation and religion is constantly changing. However, we need to encourage healthy change, toward a higher and better end.
Kanzō Uchimura's brave act (82/01/09)
In America and Europe, people shake hands when they meet. In Arab countries, men embrace each other. In India, the palms of the hands are pressed together in front of one's chest. And in Japan, people bow to one another. However, the Japanese bow, like the Japanese smile, may have different meanings depending upon the occasion. Because the bow is also used in religious worship, the line of separation between a bow of respect and a bow of worship is not always clear. It was on this day, January 9, 1891, that a Christian teacher in a government school in Tokyo refused to bow before the Imperial Rescript on Education, called kyōiku chokugo in Japanese. Kanzō Uchimura could have stayed home from school on that day, as some other Christian teachers did, to avoid the problem. However, his conscience impelled him to face the issue squarely and, in the presence of 60 professors and over a thousand students, he took his stand and did not bow, since he considered the bow, in this case, to be an act of worship. He was forced to resign from his position, but his brave act of obeying his conscience has been an inspiration to many people throughout the years.
Pen pals sought in other countries (82/01/10)
A recent report noted that 294 Japanese local bodies --such as prefectures, cities, towns and villages--have friendship ties with their counterparts in 37 different countries. The most popular countries for such ties are: the U.S., Brazil, China, Canada and the Soviet Union. 153 of these affiliations are with American states, cities and towns. Thus, it is not strange that Japanese school children also prefer to have penpals in the West. The International Pen Friend Association of Japan indicates that about 70 requests for introductions to foreign penpals are received from junior and senior high school students every day. Almost all of them desire penpals in the U. S. or Europe. On the other hand, of the daily average of 120 letters from students in foreign lands seeking a Japanese penpal, about 100 of them are from Asia and Africa and only 20 from the U.S. and Europe. It is not strange for children to desire to correspond with others from countries on a level with or more advanced than their own, but Japanese children and adults as well should show greater interest in countries closer to home, for Japan has a responsibility to Asian countries also.
Kagami-biraki (82/01/11)
In Japanese tradition, January 11 is the day of kagami-biraki, literally meaning "mirror opening". In this case, however, kagami (mirror) refers to kagami-mochi, the round rice cakes which are a part of the New Year's decorations and the "opening" refers to splitting them open and dividing them up for eating in such soups as ozōni and shiruko. Actually, the kagami-mochi rice cakes were originally considered sacred objects; symbols of the unseen kami. In fact, some scholars have taught that the word kami itself is derived from kagami. Anyway, on this day, those rice cake offerings are disposed of as the New Year's season draws to a close. In Christian teaching, the kind of offering God requires is not rice cakes. Nor is it money nor ceremonial ritual. In the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 12, verse 1, it is written that we should offer up our bodies, that is, ourselves, as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service. This is true Christian worship. It is much easier to offer up things to God, but he doesn't want things; he wants us!
Faithful dogs (82/01/12)
In front of the Shibuya station in Tokyo there is a statue of a dog, called Hachiko. This dog used to follow his master to this station every morning and come to meet him there in the evening. After his master's death, the dog continued to go daily to the station to meet him and finally died at the station waiting for his master to return. America also has a similar story about a dog named Shep. After his master died and his coffin was put on a train at Fort Benton, Montana, the dog remained at the station, watching every train come and go, and inspected the passengers, hoping to meet his master again. His great loyalty brought him nationwide fame and so many letters were written to this dog that the Great Northern Railway assigned an employee to deal with them. Thus Shep became the first dog to have a fulltime, private secretary. Shep's 5 1/2 year vigil came to an end when he was hit by a train and killed on January 12, 1942, 39 years ago today. These dogs are examples of faithfulness or loyalty. How do we fare in this regard? Jesus' words to the church in Smyrna, recorded in Revelation 2:10, are: "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life."
the rotation of the earth (82/01/13)
As you well know, there are 60 seconds in one minute, 60 minutes in one hour and 24 hours in one day. This means that there are 86,400 seconds in one day--which is the time that it takes the earth to make one revolution on its axis. In the current issue of Science magazine, two American government scientists report that the melting of icecaps at the North and South poles has raised sea levels around the world by about 13 centimeters since 1940. They maintain that the extra water has slowed the rotation of the earth, making the days about one-thousandth of a second longer. I'll bet you haven't noticed, have you? As we get older, we usually slow down, and maybe the earth does too. According to the biblical letter of James 4:10, an individual's life is like a mist that appears for a short time and then disappears. We should make effective use of the short time that is given to us on this earth. On Sunday afternoon, July (mistakenly read for "January"; see following message) 31st at 2 o'clock, we will hold another "Daily Word" Listener's Meeting at the YWCA on Nishiki Dori, east of the water fountain at Sakae. You are invited to come and share your ideas regarding these messages and on other matters of interest. I hope to see you there.
Albert Schweitzer (82/01/14)
As is her custom, last night after 11 o'clock my wife called this number to hear the "Daily Word" message. After listening to the message, she exclaimed, "July 31st?" Then she called again to make sure she had heard correctly. Maybe some of you did also, for I made a mistake on that message. Our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting will be held on the last day of this month, Sunday afternoon, January 31st at 2 o'clock at the YWCA. Don't wait until July 31st to join the gathering. Put the January 31st date on your calendar and enjoy this get-together with other listeners. Today, January 14th, is the birthday of Albert Schweitzer. He was born in 1875 in France and became a world renowned philosopher, theologian, physician and musician. Yet, he gave up the comforts of modern life to become a missionary in French Equatorial Africa, where he opened a medical institution for the benefit of the needy people of that land. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. His willingness to give up fame and fortune in his homeland for the people of a needier land and his "reverence for life" has been an inspiration to many throughout the world. Jesus said: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross an follow me." (Matthew 16:24)
Martin Luther King (82/01/15)
This 15th day of January is a national holiday in Japan called "Adults' Day". It celebrates the "coming of age" of young people who reach the age of 20 during the present school year. Although this celebration is a post-war custom, it carries on the tradition of genbuku, which was a ceremony for a samurai boy who had become of age, received a samurai name and was then permitted to wear his hair in a top-knot. Congratulations to any of you who officially become adults today. In some eight states of the United States, today is a state holiday, honoring Martin Luther King, who was born on this day in 1929. King was a Negro clergyman and civil rights leader. In 1964, he became the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded him for leading the struggle for equality through nonviolent demonstrations, which he learned from Mahatma Gandhi. Martin Luther King wrote: "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." We also should be alert to the injustice around us and seek to eliminate it.
The leaning tower of Pisa (82/01/16)
Over 800 years ago a bell tower was built near the beautiful, white marble cathedral in the Italian town of Pisa. However, the base of this marble tower was too small to support the heavy, 54 meter tall structure, so from the time it was constructed, it began to tilt. Each year, this leaning tower of Pisa tilts further and it is now some 5.1 meters off the perpendicular. The average increase of tilt in recent years has been 1.36 millimeters a year, but last week it was reported that the increase was only .73 millimeters during the past year. The reason for this decrease is not known, but it has been suggested that more rain than usual last year kept the underground water pressure high and thus slowed down the progress of this slowly falling tower. Not only does a tower require a solid foundation to keep upright, but so does a human life. Young people need a firm foundation upon which to erect a strong and respectable moral life. In First Corinthians, chapter 3, the Apostle Paul writes that faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation for a truly Christian life. On what kind of foundation is your life built?
Gift to Good Will Bank (82/01/17)
According to a newspaper report, last week 33 year old Toshiaki Kato and his 26 year old wife, who live in Atsuta Ku, Nagoya, made their third annual visit to the Good Will Bank with a contribution for needy children. The Katos, who run a meat shop, were married on January 15, 1979 and they determined to share some of their happiness and good fortune with under-priviliged children by saving a hundred yen a day and making a wedding anniversary gift to the Chubu Good Will Bank every year. Every evening since their wedding they have deposited ¥100 in a toy bank for this purpose. In case they forget one day or don't have the correct change on hand, they make it up later, and last week for the third time they made their annual ¥36,500 contribution. Although I don't know the religious background of the Katos, their simple charitable activity is in keeping with biblical religion. In James, chapter 1, verse 27, it is written: "What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world." I hope you can join us at our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting on Sunday, January 31st at 2 o'clock at the YWCA.
Heartwarming story of a man (82/01/18)
Last week, an airplane crashed after take-off in Washington D.C. With 79 passengers on board, it sliced across a bridge, hitting 6 cars, and plunged into the icy Potomac River. Darkness, sub freezing weather and snowstorms hindered the recovery of the more than 80 people killed in the crash. However, out of this sad event has come the heartwarming story of a middle-aged man who repeatedly gave up the life-line thrown to him so that others might be saved. When the helicopter came back to rescue him, he had slipped beneath the fuel-blackened waters. He had literally given up his own life in order that others might be saved. Although I don't know the religious convictions of that man, certainly he was acting in the spirit of Christ, who suffered and died that all people might be saved. One of the most famous Bible verses, found in the Gospel according to John, chapter 3, verse 16, is: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life." At our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting at the YWCA on January 31st at 2 o'clock, I will speak about February customs and celebrations in Japan and the U.S. I would like to hear your comments on this subject also.
Robert E. Lee (82/01/19)
Today is the birthday of my youngest sister, but it is not in her honor that it is a state holiday in a number of southern states of the U.S.A. Rather, they are celebrating the birthday of Robert E. Lee, the highly respected commander-in-chief of the southern Confederate forces during the Civil War, which is known in Japan as the South-North War. General Lee was born on January 19, 1807 and became an outstanding soldier. Although personally opposed to slavery and to a divided country, when his home state of Virginia seceded from the Union, his sense of loyalty compelled him to cast in his lot with the South. Even though he ended up on the losing side, he is recognized as the greatest general of the war. His noble character is recognized by citizens of both North and South, and under his bust in New York University's Hall of Fame for Great Americans are inscribed these words, which were his: "Duty then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less." Please join us in the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting at 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, January 31st at the YWCA. My talk will be concerned with February customs and celebrations and I would like to hear your comments also.
Daikan (82/01/20)
Sometimes the traditional Japanese almanac, with its 24 seasonal divisions, is fairly accurate. According to that calendar, today begins the season of daikan, the "big cold". Actually, the "big cold" began a couple or days ago this year in Japan, but it is nothing compared to the "big cold" being experienced in parts of the United States, where temperatures have dropped to minus 44 degrees Centigrade in some Minnesota towns. In New York City, a fully-clothed two month old infant apparently froze to death within a few hours after his mother had put him to bed in an unheated apartment. There are a number of traditional customs or ceremonies in Japan aimed at helping people endure the cold weather. However, even when our bodies are cold, those who have experienced God's love within them find that their hearts are strangely warmed. At the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting at the YWCA on Sunday, January 31st at 2 o'clock, I will give a talk about February customs and celebrations in Japan and America. How many of them are you acquainted with and what do you think of them? I hope to hear your comments also at that meeting.
Janus (82/01/21)
In English, this first month of the year is called January, from the name of the Roman god Janus. In Roman religion, Janus was the god of beginnings. As the god of spatial beginnings, he presided over gates and doors of houses. As the god of temporal beginnings; he presided over the first hour of the day, the first day of the month and the first month of the year. He was represented by a head with two bearded faces looking in opposite directions, symbolizing his power to view the past and the future, the inside and the outside simultaneously. A deceitful or two-faced person may be referred to as Janus-faced. Not only women who use cosmetics, but men also often show a different face outside the home than their homely face. However, we cannot deceive God who knows our hearts, and the Christian seeks to be honest with other people as well. Did you know that you can tape these "Daily Word" messages onto your own cassette tape using a telephone pickup microphone? I send copies of these messages each week to those who send me self-addressed, stamped envelopes plus ¥100 in stamps for each week of messages desired.
Electric light and robots (82/01/22)
It was 95 years ago today, January 22nd, 1887, that the first electric light was lit in Tokyo. Although Thomas Edison is credited with producing the first commercially practical electric light in 1879, an English electrician named Joseph Swan had exhibited incandescent lamps 19 years earlier. ("Incandescent" means to glow or shine with intense heat.) The use of electric lights has produced a changed life style during the past century. Today, another revolution is being effected by the increased use of robots. The word "robot", from the Czechoslovakian word for compulsory service, was introduced into English by a satirical play written in 1921 by the Czech playwright, Karel Capek. The play, called R.U R. (for "Rossum's Universal Robots"), featured manlike mechanical beings who were built to do routine, manuel work for human beings. Today, "robot" may refer to a machine that is programmed to perform tasks which previously were done by people. It may also refer to a person who acts mechanically without thinking for himself. God didn't create us to be robots. He gave us each a unique personality to be used for the good of society as a whole.
The Japanese furo (82/01/23)
There are many customs in present day Japan that have been borrowed from the West. There are other customs that were introduced centuries ago from China. However, there are also many uniquely Japanese customs--one of which is the distinctive Japanese method of bathing. The Japanese bath, or furo, is not used merely for cleansing the body, but is a means of physical and mental relaxation as well. I don't know why the Chinese characters meaning "wind" and "backbone" were chosen to represent the Japanese word furo, but it may be that they were merely chosen as a phonetic equivalent or ateji. Another peculiar Japanese article is called a furoshiki. It is a square piece of cloth used to wrap various articles for easy carrying. It is called a furoshiki, or bath spread, because it was originally spread on the floor of the dressing room of the public bathhouse and one put one's clothes on it and also used it to carry home the wet towel and other bathing equipment. It is good to bathe frequently to keep one's body clean. However, we should also be concerned about cleansing our minds and spirits. For this purpose, hot water is not effective. We need the baptism of God's cleansing Spirit.
Senshūraku (82/01/24)
Today is the final day of the First Sumō Tournament of the New Year. Because two Grand Champions, Kita no Umi and Chiyo no Fuji are the only wrestlers left with only two losses, the winner of this tournament will be decided when they fight each other on this final day. The final day of a sumō; tournament is called senshūraku in Japanese. Literally, this refers to the music of a thousand autumns. Senshū, or a thousand autumns, is similar in meaning to banzai, or ten thousand years. It refers to a long time. Because senshūraku was the name of a particular piece of ceremonial music played at the end of a Buddhist memorial service for the dead, this term has come to be applied to the finale of a drama or tournament also. My personal preference is for the Grand Champion whose wrestling name includes the characters for a thousand ages to receive the championship cup on this day of a thousand autumn's music. The biblical picture of heaven is a place of joyful music, with all creatures singing praise to God forever and ever. I plan to be a part of that chorus and hope that you will be too.
Various days for the New Year (82/01/25)
When does one year end and a new year begin? It all depends on which calendar one follows. It takes the earth 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds to complete its orbit around the sun, but where to divide this cycle, calling it the end of one year and the beginning of a new year, is an arbitrary decision made by men. Since Japanese enjoy celebrating the New Year, some of them celebrate it more than once. January 15th is called koshōgatsu, or little New Year's, and January 20th is called hatsuka-shōgatsu. Some people will celebrate again on February 1st for the kyūshōgatsu, or old New Year's, but according to the traditional Chinese calendar, today is New Year's Day. On this day in India also, millions of people will bathe in the sacred Ganges river in the hope of gaining some special blessing. The Bible teaches that true and eternal blessing does not come through ritualistic purification but through faith in God which finds expression in love for others. I hope you will attend our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the YWCA. Tell me what you think of these telephone messages and of February customs and celebrations also.
Diamond (82/01/26)
It was on this day, January 26th, in the year 1905, that Captain M.F. Wells, in a diamond mine near Pretoria, South Africa, saw a flash of light, bent down and picked up the largest diamond ever discovered. It weighed about 590 grams. It was presented to King Edward VII of England in 1907 and was cut into 105 wedge-shaped diamonds- including the two largest cut diamonds in the world. A diamond is not only a beautiful gem that brilliantly reflects light, it is also the hardest substance known. Therefore, diamond tipped tools are often used for cutting and drilling other hard materials. According to the prophet Jeremiah (chapter 17, verse 1), the hearts of the people of Judah were so hard that God used an iron pen with a diamond point to engrave their sins upon them. There are various traditional customs and celebrations during the month of February both in Japan and the United States. I will give a talk about them at the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the YWCA and would like to hear your thoughts about them too. Please come if you can.
Flag Day for Japan (82/01/27)
In the United States, June 14th is called Flag Day. It was on that day in 1777 that the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution specifying the national flag of this new nation. In Japan, some calendars refer to today as Kokki Seitei Kinenbi; National Flag Designation Anniversary, for on this day in 1870, a department of the Meiji Government specified the measurements for the hi-no-maru flag. In 1854, the bakufu, or shogunal government, had ordered Japanese ships to display this flag to clearly distinguish them from foreign ships, but there has never been an official proclamation making this flag the national symbol of Japan. Therefore, although a large red disc representing the sun on a white background has become an internationally recognized symbol of this country, it has never been officially designated as such, and even today there are groups actively supporting and opposing an official proclamation to that effect. An older generation may associate that flag with conquest and war, but today it should be a symbol of peace. I hope to see you at the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the YWCA.
Omega (82/01/28)
The English word "alphabet" comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, called alpha and beta. In recent years, the expression "plus alpha" has come into use in Japanese, but it is a peculiar Japanese expression, referring to an additional unknown quantity, which, in English, we would call "x". Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. This word may also be used to refer to the end of a series. In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, called the Revelation to John, the resurrected Christ is quoted as saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end". Christians believe that in the person of Jesus Christ, the eternal God was revealed and that all of history and human life find meaning in him and his work. On the last day of this month, Sunday afternoon, January 31st, we will hold the 4th meeting of interested listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages. I have enjoyed meeting those who attended previous meetings and I look forward to meeting you again and others who will attend for the first time. The place is the YWCA on Nishiki Dōri east of Sakae. The time is 2 PM. Please come if you can and share your comments about these messages and your thoughts on any of the customs and celebrations during February.
Mathematics in England (82/01/29)
In international testing, Japanese students always score high in mathematics. There is probably something in the Japanese style of education to account for this. However, the situation in England is quite different. A government committee was set up three years ago to inquire into mathematics teaching in schools after criticism from industry that employees have trouble with even simple arithmetic. This week, the results of a survey related to this problem were reported. They indicated that three out of ten Britons cannot subtract, multiply or divide, and cannot cope with percentages or read a graph. Half of the adult population cannot make effective use of a train timetable and two out of five mathematics teachers in middle schools lack a math qualification. Half of the 3000 people approached by pollsters panicked and refused to cooperate. It may be they were suffering from arithmophobia--a fear of numbers. Early training in basic subjects is important. Proverbs 22:6 states: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Will you attend our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting at the YWCA on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock? I hope so, for I'd like to meet you there.
Calligraphy (82/01/02)
Excommunication of Martin Luther (82/01/03)
Utah admitted to the United States (82/01/04)
Hatsumode (82/01/05)
Four Freedoms (82/01/06)
Nanakusa (82/01/07)
The metric system (82/01/08)
Kanzō Uchimura's brave act (82/01/09)
Pen pals sought in other countries (82/01/10)
Kagami-biraki (82/01/11)
Faithful dogs (82/01/12)
the rotation of the earth (82/01/13)
Albert Schweitzer (82/01/14)
Martin Luther King (82/01/15)
The leaning tower of Pisa (82/01/16)
Gift to Good Will Bank (82/01/17)
Heartwarming story of a man (82/01/18)
Robert E. Lee (82/01/19)
Daikan (82/01/20)
Janus (82/01/21)
Electric light and robots (82/01/22)
The Japanese furo (82/01/23)
Senshūraku (82/01/24)
Various days for the New Year (82/01/25)
Diamond (82/01/26)
Flag Day for Japan (82/01/27)
Omega (82/01/28)
Mathematics in England (82/01/29)
Franklin Roosevelt (82/01/30)
Football games in America (82/01/31)
The Year of the Dog (82/01/01)