Shinkansen (85/10/01)
The main line of a communication system may be called a "trunk line", since it resembles the trunk of a tree or of the human body from which limbs branch off. It may also be called an "artery", since it resembles a major blood vessel carrying blood from the heart, from which other blood vessels branch off. In Japanese, it is called a kansen. The world-famous "new", or shin, kansen, is known as the "bullet train" in English because of its high speed of over 200 kilometers an hour. 21 years ago today, on October 1st, 1964, the shinkansen began operating. When I first came to Nagoya, it took 5 hours from Tokyo on a "superexpress" train of that day, called "Swallow" or "Dove", but the speed of "Light" or of an "Echo" is certainly faster than those birds. The first theme for essays for the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes is "shinkansen". What are your thoughts about these "bullet trains" or what experiences have you had related to them? How have they changed the lifestyle of Japanese people? We live in a fast-moving age, but we should be careful not to ignore important values in our accelerated lives. Send your essay for correction and publication to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. (1686)
Mahatma Gandhi (85/10/02)
The word "mahatma" comes from two Sanskrit words meaning "great soul" and refers to a person who is highly respected for high-mindedness, wisdom or selflessness. It is usually attached to the name of Mohandas Gandhi, the Indian political leader who was born 116 years ago today, on October 2nd, 1869. Following higher education in London, he went to South Africa to practice law, but after a few years he gave up his practice to devote himself to opposing unjust laws against his countrymen in that land. Returning to India in 1915, he worked for various humanitarian causes, including cooperation between Hindus and Muslims, independence from British rule and the abolition of the caste system, which designates some fellow human beings as "untouchable". Mr. Gandhi taught and practiced "non-violent resistance", finding support for this philosophy in the teachings of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Peace-loving people recognize him as a "great soul" indeed. He was assassinated in 1948. Mahatma Gandhi wrote: "It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion".(1687)
Census (85/10/03)
Every five years since 1920, a national census has been conducted in Japan. The 14th such census is now under way, but census-takers are finding it difficult to carry out their responsibilities. It is often hard to find people at home these days. In many homes, both parents work during the day. The occupants of one-room apartments often keep very irregular hours, not returning until the wee hours of the morning. Some citizens question the reason for the census and are reluctant to provide answers. In the United States, a census every ten years is required by the Constitution in order to determine the allocation of seats among the various states in the House of Representatives. The 1st such census was conducted in 1790. Since 1912, the number of seats in that House has been fixed at 435, but following every census, the allocation is changed so that the average population per representative has the least possible variation between one state and another. According to the 2nd chapter of Luke, it was due to a census conducted throughout the Roman Empire about 1990 years ago that Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem as prophesied centuries earlier. So we see that God also can use a census to accomplish his purpose. (1688)
St. Francis of Assisi (85/10/04)
34 years ago this month, my young wife and I left the United States for Japan. The day we left, we had a meal in the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, California. The names of that hotel and of that city are both in honor of one of the most famous and appealing persons the church has termed "saints". Today, October 4th, is the feast day of that man, St. Francis of Assisi. Born in Italy in 1182, he was called Francis because of his father's admiration for France. Due to the widespread popularity of this saint, many children, both boys and girls, have been named after him. Boys' names are spelled with a final "c-i-s", while girls' names are spelled "c-e-s", although both are pronounced the same. As a young man, Francis turned his back on the comfortable life of a well-to-do merchant's son and chose to literally follow the instructions Jesus gave to his apostles in Matthew, chapter 10, when he sent them out to preach. He determined to live a simple life without attachment to material possessions. With a small band of followers, he travelled around the country in high spirits, preaching the joys of a life of poverty and humility, while seeking to serve the needs of the community. He has provided us an example of a truly committed life.(1689)
A godsend (85/10/05)
Last week, China Daily, China's official English-language newspaper, carried an article about a farmer who lives in Hunan province. As this farmer was preparing a chicken for his dinner, he got a big surprise. In the gizzard of the chicken, he found a diamond--an uncut 1.18-carat diamond. (Incidentally, the gizzard is that muscular portion of the stomach of birds in which food is crushed.) The paths near that farmer's house had been paved with sandy soil from an abandoned diamond mine and it is thought that the hen must have picked up the diamond from that soil. Wherever the chicken got the diamond, it was a godsend for farmer Li, who sold it to the government for 950 yuan, or about ¥75,000, 3 times an average peasant's yearly income. This story reminds me of the parable told by Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 13, verse 44, in which a man unexpectedly found a treasure hidden in a field. In order to possess that treasure, he sold everything he owned to buy that field. So it is that some people accidentally stumble upon the riches of God's salvation, which they immediately recognize as more valuable than anything else they own. The Good News of God's love for us is a priceless treasure indeed.(1690)
A Psalm (85/10/06)
The longest of the 66 books in the Bible is the book of Psalms, found in the middle of the Old Testament. A "psalm" is a sacred song or hymn and this book contains 150 psalms, written by Jewish poets some 3000 years ago. Because these poems express such basic and universal feelings as joy and sorrow, gratitude and need, faith and doubt, they have appealed to people of all times and places. My sermon today is based on Psalm 42, which was written by a person living far away from his native place who felt homesick. He remembered the happy times of religious festivals of former days in his homeland. The Gentiles around him kept pestering him with such questions as "Where is your God?" They had idols as their gods, but this Hebrew had no such material object to point to. He felt discouraged, but resolved to put his hope in the God he could not see. Human beings have an innate thirst for the divine. If they do not know the true God, they will find something else to take his place. The Christian believes that the living God revealed himself to the world in the person of Jesus, the Christ. In answer to the question, "Where is your God?", they can point to Christ, whose spirit they have within their hearts. (1691)
German Democratic Republic (85/10/07)
Following the end of the Second World War, the eastern part of Germany, which was occupied by Soviet troops, became a separate communist country. Unfortunately, the division between East and West Germany continues even today. Both countries use the traditional black, red and gold striped German flag but on East Germany's flag, a coat of arms has been added in the middle. The official names of these two countries are now: German Democratic Republic and Federal Republic of Germany. Do you know which name belongs to the communist nation in the east and which to the democratic republic in the west? Today is a national holiday in East Germany, called Anniversary of the Foundation, for it was just 36 years ago, on October 7th, 1949, that the German Democratic Republic was proclaimed in East Berlin. This country officially continues to be a major ally of the Soviet Union. Although Rudyard Kipling once wrote in a different context, that "East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet", there is increasing pressure these days for meetings between east and west. We should do what we can to pull down the walls that divide nations, ideologies and individuals from one another and to recognize all people as children of one God and worthy of respect. (1692)
Undōkai (85/10/08)
The autumn season in Japan is the time when many festivals are held throughout the country. The word "festival" is related to "feast" and originally had a religious significance, but now it is no longer limited to that sphere of life. Many other kinds of festive celebrations, including sports festivals or athletic meets, take place in the fall. The Japanese word, undō, literally refers to motion or movement and may refer to a social or political movement as well as to physical exercise, but a characteristic of autumn in Japan is the undōkai held by schools, companies or local communities. Undōkai are not simply sports contests aimed at breaking records or honoring winners. They are festive occasions which emphasize cooperation, community spirit and enjoyment as well as competition. The theme for your essay this week is Undōkai. What are your thoughts or experiences relating to undōkai, past and present? Send your essay for correction and publication to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. In I Timothy, chapter 4, Paul advised Timothy to keep in good condition. After noting the value of physical exercise, he added that spiritual exercise is even more valuable "because it promises life both for the present and for the future." (1693)
The Great Chicago Fire (85/10/09)
Every year, the week in which October 9th falls is designated Fire Prevention Week in the United States and Canada. The reason is because a famous fire in American history occurred on this day in 1871 Actually, the fire began the evening before in the barn of Patrick O'Leary of Chicago. It is not certain how the fire began that Sunday night, but during the next 27 hours, it destroyed 18,000 buildings, caused $196 million in property damage and some 300 deaths. Close to 1/3 of Chicago's population was left homeless. This was the famous fire that occurred on that day, but another fire occurred on the very same day, about 350 kilometers north of Chicago, in which over 4 times as many people lost their lives. 1150 people died In that fire, which consumed the logging town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin and the forest around it, but because telegraph lines were burned down, the news did not get out until after the newspapers were filled with the stories of the great Chicago fire, so it did not receive much publicity. Fire can bring great blessing or cause great damage. In James 3:6, the human tongue is compared to a fire. Can you guess why?
Eye Protection Day (85/10/10)
Today, October 10th, is a national holiday in Japan to encourage an increased understanding of and participation in sports or other forms of physical exercise. In 1961, the first Saturday of October was designated "Sports Day". Five years later, October 10th was made a national holiday called Taiiku no Hi, or Physical Education Day, in commemoration of the Tokyo Olympics which opened on this day in 1964. In Taiwan, today is a holiday known as the Double Tenth, commemorating the nationalist Chinese revolution in 1911. Since 1931, today has also been designated Eye Protection Day in Japan. It was chosen as such by an association for the blind because when two tens, written in Chinese characters, are placed side by side, they resemble two eyes with eyebrows over them. Eyes are very important organs of our bodies and we should take good care of them. In Matthew 6:22, Jesus said, "The eyes are like a lamp for the body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be full of light." What we focus our eyes and thoughts upon will influence our entire lives, so we must be careful to concentrate on what is good and uplifting.
"So long" (85/10/11)
In Japan, the term bai-bai is often used by young people when parting. In America, however, this is considered a kind of baby talk. Since it is difficult for a baby to say "goodbye" it says "bye-bye" instead. When speaking to a small child, "to go bye-bye" may mean either to go out for a walk or a ride or to go to sleep. "Goodbye" is actually a contraction of "God be with you", and a more sophisticated greeting when parting is "farewell". Since "fare" means "to get along", this greeting is actually a wish that the person will get along well, similar to the Japanese term gokigenyō. Another parting greeting used especially by men and boys, is "So long". Although it probably came from the phrase, "so long as we are parted", meaning "until we meet again", there is also the theory that it came from the Hebrew greeting shalom, meaning "peace". This is a common greeting among Jews when either meeting or parting. It was the greeting Jesus used when meeting his disciples after his resurrection and that the Apostle Paul regularly included at the beginning of his letters. It is a meaningful greeting for all people as an expression of our wish or prayer for the peace of individuals and for the peace of the world. "Peace!"(1696)
Columbus Day (85/10/12)
A well-known ditty helps American schoolchildren remember the year that Christopher Columbus arrived in the western hemisphere: "In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." 593 years ago today, on October 12th, Columbus reached an island in the West Indies, following a two-month trip from Spain. His three small ships had first stopped at the Canary Islands, off the coast of Africa, before making the adventurous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. For over a month, they sailed without seeing land. The crew became rebellious, trying to force Columbus to turn back, but he continued sailing until he reached land, which he mistakenly thought was India. From the early decades of this century, a number of states began observing October 12th as a state holiday and for many years, American presidents also proclaimed this day as Columbus Day. Finally, in 1968, the second Monday of October was designated a federal holiday in keeping with the new policy of scheduling three-day weekends, so next Monday is Columbus Day in the United States. The name Christopher comes from two Greek words meaning "Christ-bearer". Christians should not only bear the name of Christ, they should also manifest his spirit in their lives.(1697)
Listening (85/10/13)
Zeno of Citium, the ancient Greek philosopher who founded the philosophical system known as Stoicism about 300 B.C. wrote: "The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less." Many of us talk too much and listen too little. There are three different Chinese characters that are pronounced kiku in Japanese when used as verbs. One of them is made up of an ear in a gate and refers to hearing in a general sense--imply hearing sounds. Another, which also contains an ear but also has a heart as part of the character, refers to hearing more attentively--to listen. The third character, originally made up of a rice plant and a plow, means to take effect. Sometimes the fine words and moral instruction of parents and teachers do not have any effect on young people because they are simply heard as words or sounds but are not really listened to. And sometimes God speaks to us through the Bible or by other means without effect because we are not listening. My sermon today is based on Romans, chapter 10, verse 17, where Paul writes that "Faith comes from what is heard." We need to keep our spiritual ears open, not only to hear, but to listen to what God has to say to us.(1698)
Railway Commemoration Day (85/10/14)
As mentioned in my message of last Saturday, this second Monday of October is a federal holiday in the United States, called Columbus Day. It commemorates the landing of Columbus on an island in the West Indies on October 12, 1492. The second Monday of October is also a legal public holiday in Canada, where it is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day. In Japan, this 14th day of October is not a holiday, but it is known as "Railway Commemoration Day", commemorating Japan's first railway, which was inaugurated on this day in 1872, the 5th year of Meiji. The Emperor himself took part in the opening ceremony of this railway between Tokyo and Yokohama 113 years ago. The train took 54 minutes to cover the 29 kilometers between Shinbashi and Sakuragicho and the fare was ¥1.50 for first class, ¥1.00 for second class and ¥0.50 for third class, quite an expensive ride in those days. In English, the word "rail" comes from the same Latin root as "rule", which referred to something straight. In order to live a healthy, happy life, we need to live according to certain rules. According to Jesus, the basic rule or rail of a truly meaningful life is to show love to God and to our neighbor. (1699)
Aging population (85/10/15)
Whether we speak of "old people", "elderly" or "senior citizens", a problem faced by advanced countries these days is the so-called "graying" of their societies. In Japan, the retirement age is being reconsidered. With the steady increase of "nuclear families", the living situation of older people is also a matter of concern. In the United States, more than 8 out of 10 people over 65 live either by themselves or with a spouse. Only 1 in 8 lives with other relatives and 1 in 20 lives in some kind of communal-care facility. With a population about twice that of Japan, the U.S. has 1.5 million beds in nursing homes, while Japan has only 110,000. Japan and the United States obviously have different traditions regarding what older people should do, where they should live and how they should be cared for. What are your thoughts about the problems related to an aging population and what measures should be taken to solve them? What hopes or expectations do you have regarding how to spend your later years? Send your essays for correction and publication in "Daily Word" Echoes to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. In Leviticus 19:32, we read: "Show respect for old people and honour them." (1700)
Noah Webster (85/10/16)
Do you know what a lexicographer is? A lexicon is a dictionary and graph refers to writing, so a lexicographer is a writer or compiler of a dictionary. The greatest name in the history of American lexicography is that of Noah Webster, who was born 227 years ago today. As a child, he showed an interest in books. After graduating from Yale, he planned to become a lawyer, but he became a teacher while preparing for his bar examinations. Recognizing the need for American textbooks, he began to write some himself, including a spelling book, in which he introduced American spelling and pronunciation, which was different than that used in England. He found that he was more interested in words than in law and spent 20 years compiling his masterpiece, An American Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1828, with 70,000 entries. This dictionary became a classic and Webster's name is still used in the title of standard American dictionaries. Noah Webster referred to language as a "gift of God." Certainly, it is a priceless gift and we should be careful how we use it. In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus warned that on the day of judgment, people will have to give account for every careless word they utter, so let us be careful how we speak. (1701)
Smiling (85/10/17)
Today, a unique festival will be held at a shrine in the town of Kawabe in Wakayama Prefecture. Known as the laughing festival, it is said to be rooted in the story of the goddess of that shrine oversleeping one morning and arriving late at the gathering of kami in Izumo which caused the other kami to laugh at her. One version of the story says that she arrived naked after her petticoat got caught on a tree along the way. A laughing service is also held at the Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya in May. This service is said to reflect the joy of shrine personnel when the sacred sword was returned to Atsuta from the Imperial Palace where it had been temporarily deposited some 1300 years ago. Laughing is good for the health, but our family has found out that there are times when smiling or laughing is out of place in Japan. The first time my wife and I had our picture taken with a group following a Japanese wedding, we were surprised to see that we were the only ones smiling in that photograph. A couple of months ago, our daughter's application for a drivers' license was refused because she submitted a photo with a smiling face. Goethe said that people most clearly show their character by what they laugh at and Dostoevsky has written that "One can know a man from his laugh." Do you agree?(1702)
Prince Hiro (85/10/18)
Two years ago, Prince Hiro, the eldest son of Japan's Crown Prince and Princess, enrolled at Oxford University. He has now completed his studies there, where he did research on canal transportation in Britain during the Middle Ages. He is visiting the United States on his way back to Japan and met with President Reagan last Friday. Of course, the Prince is able to converse freely in English, but I have a suspicion that he speaks English with an accent--a British accent, on top of a Japanese accent. At the close of his ten minute meeting, he presented the president an autographed photograph of himself. Following his visit to the White House, the Prince visited the town of Williamsburg, Virginia, about 200 kilometers south of Washington, This historic town was first settled in 1632. Some of the town has been restored to its colonial appearance and the Prince was taken for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage like those used 300 years ago. As a result of his English education and travels, Prince Hiro should return to his homeland with a broader perspective than when he left and with many pleasant memories for what could be a very boring future life. Yet, a living faith is still better than pleasant memories to keep life from getting boring.(1703)
Peace (85/10/19)
As you know, peace treaties are not always signed as soon as a war is over. Actually, the American Revolutionary War came to an end when British General Cornwallis surrendered to American General Washington 204 years ago today, on October 19, 1781. However, the peace treaty recognizing American independence was not signed until almost 2 years later and was not ratified until over 4 months after that. The American victory was the result of various factors--including poor strategy on the part of the British as well as a fortunate turn of events for the Americans. France finally decided it was in its interest to assist the Americans in their struggle and so it was with the help of French troops that final victory was gained. The outcome of wars may depend on such unexpected events as a sudden typhoon or the support of another country as a war draws to a close. Yet, peace does not always follow the end of war. As President Kennedy stated, "The mere absence of war is not peace." "Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures." Peace between nations, groups or individuals requires dedicated effort to achieve and to maintain. (1704)
Kannamesai (85/10/20)
Last week, I attended a seminar which was held in a 180-year-old inn at Ise. I listened to lectures by Shinto priests, visited the Outer and Inner Shrines and viewed part of the rituals connected with the annual kannamesai festival, at which the Emperor's daughter serves as the chief priestess. Prior to the end of the Pacific War, the religious rituals of Ise and the military/political policies of the government were mixed up together, but now there is a constitutional distinction between government and religion which needs to be carefully observed. My sermon today is taken from Jesus' words in John 18:36. In response to the question of the Roman governor regarding his kingship, Jesus stated, "My kingdom is not of this world." The kingdom over which Christ rules is not an earthly kingdom. He reigns as king in the hearts of his followers, so his kingdom is spiritual. But Jesus taught his disciples to pray for God's kingdom to come on earth, so we should also work to that end. Age-old rituals performed by people in traditional costumes in a beautiful, natural setting are very impressive, but the Bible teaches that purification rituals are ineffective to bring about the inner, spiritual purity which is needed to enter the Kingdom of God.(1705)
Canadian sumō wrestler (85/10/21)
Last week, a young man from the Canadian city of Vancouver arrived in Japan. His name is John Tenta and he is 22 years old. He is a wrestler. In western-style wrestling, along with lightweight and heavyweight, there is a superheavyweight category. In the 1983 world wrestling championship bouts, Tenta, who weighs 200 kilograms, won the freestyle superheavyweight title. Can you guess why he came to Japan? He came to seek his fortune in the traditional Japanese sport of sumō. His stablemaster referred to him as a "well-developed athlete [who] will become a good sumo wrestler in the future." Tenta will make his debut at the Kyūshū Tournament next month under the sumō name of Kototenta. He will be the second heaviest wrestler, after Konishiki, who weighs 221 kilograms. In his poem, entitled "Columbus", James Russell Lowell has written that "endurance is the crowning quality." This is true in general, but is especially relevant to a wrestler entering the sumō world. Tomorrow night at 6:30 at the Kyōikukan in Sakae, north of Mitsukoshi Department Store, we will hold our fortnightly Bible Class in Japanese and English and we would be happy to see you there.
Tora-san in Japanese movies (85/10/22)
Since the Hanshin Tigers won a pennant last week, an epidemic of "Tiger fever" has been sweeping Osaka. The Japanese word, tora literally refers to a tiger and may also be used to refer to a drunkard, but "Tora-san" is the name of one of the most famous, most endearing and enduring figures in Japanese movies. The first in the series of motion pictures entitled Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo, "A Man's Life Is Tough", was produced in 1969 and the 35th one is now playing at theaters throughout the country. Have you seen any or many of this series of movies? Do you enjoy them? What do you think of Tora-san and why do you think this movie series with the same basic theme is so popular? Do they indicate something about present-day Japanese society and the fantasies of the viewers? For your essay this week, you may write about Tora-san or about some other movie you especially like. St. John Ervine wrote that "American motion pictures are written by the half-educated for the half-witted". Some movies seem so, while others provide an escape and some are very inspiring. What do you think? Send your essay for correction and publication in "Daily Word" Echoes to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. (1707)
The World Series of baseball (85/10/23)
The professional baseball season is drawing to a close. On Saturday, the Japan Series will begin with the Pacific League champion Seibu Lions playing against the winners of the Central League pennant, the Hanshin Tigers. The World Series in the United States is now being played between the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Both leagues in the United States are now divided into eastern and western divisions. The National League has 6 teams in both divisions while the American League has 7 teams in each. Thus, a playoff between the eastern and western division champions decides the league champion. I was happy to see the Cardinals beat the Dodgers for the National League championship, but I was disappointed that the Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League. If the Blue Jays had won, that would have provided an interesting contrast of team names in the Japan Series and the World Series: fierce animals, Lions and Tigers, in Japan, and pretty birds, Cardinals and Blue Jays in the U. S. However, it didn't work out that way. Personally, I'd like to see the Cardinals and the Tigers win, but in any kind of competition, it is more important to do one's best and to play fair than to win. This is true in business, school and daily life as well as in sports.(1708)
Zambia (85/10/24)
In an alphabetical list of nations, three countries always come at the end because their names begin with Z. All three of them are located in central or southern Africa and share boundaries with one another. Their names are Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe. When Africa was ruled by European nations, the various areas were given names by the colonial powers, but when independence was gained old colonial names were discarded in favor of more appropriate African ones. Previously known as Northern Rhodesia, after the British developer, Cecil Rhodes, Zambia became an independent republic within the British Commonwealth of Nations on October 24, 1964, 21 years ago today. One of the world's most spectacular sights is found on the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, formerly called Southern Rhodesia. The Victoria Falls, over 1.5 kilometers wide, fall 128 meters with a roaring sound which can be heard 16 kilometers away. About twice the size of Japan, Zambia is still a poor country which is struggling to develop its many natural resources. Cecil Rhodes has left a saying that is still relevant today: "So much to do, so little done." (1709)
Stress (85/10/25)
The word "stress" basically refers to the emphasis placed on something. A speaker will stress certain important points in his or her speech. When speaking a foreign language, it is important to stress the right syllables of words in order to pronounce them correctly. In physics, stress refers to physical pressure or force, but the stress common people experience every day is a mental or spiritual tension which must be resolved in some way. Last August, a survey was conducted among salaried workers and their wives living in the Tokyo metropolitan area in order to find out when they get stress and how they deal with it. 81% of the husbands and 86% of the wives reported getting stress in dealing with human relationships, both at work and at home. Wives tried to reduce their stress by chatting with friends or shopping, by scolding their children, nagging their husbands or breaking dishes. Husbands resorted to some kind of physical exercise or drinking. Learning to get along well with other people is one of the most important parts of education. In the New Testament book of Colossians, chapter 3, stress is laid on the following qualities, which will improve all human relationships: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, forgiveness and love.(1710)
Itō Hirobumi (85/10/26)
One of the most influential statesman in modern Japanese history was assassinated 76 years ago today. This man was one of the first Japanese to go abroad to study, which he did in 1863. After returning to Japan from England, he became active in the political modernization of Japan. He composed the first draft of the Meiji Constitution and became the first prime minister under that constitution. His picture was formerly found on ¥1000 bills. His name was Hirobumi Itō. Following his decisive influence upon Japanese domestic politics, Ito became the key figure trying to work out a satisfactory relationship between Japan and Korea. In 1905, Korea became a Japanese protectorate, with Itō as its first administrator. Needless to say, the Korean people were not happy with this arrangement, but rebellious activities were severely suppressed by Japanese troops. Emotions stirred up during that period of Japanese rule continue to affect Japanese-Korean relationships today. After his resignation as resident-general, Itō was killed by a Korean patriot in a Manchurian railway station on October 26, 1909 when he was 69 years old. As the saying goes, "Death keeps no calendar."
The Lord is king (85/10/27)
Do you know the difference between a king and an emperor? A king rules over a kingdom and an emperor is the supreme ruler of an empire, but usually, there are a number of countries, at times including kingdoms, within an empire, so "emperor" may not be the most appropriate word to refer to the Japanese tennō. In the English Bible, God is often referred to as "king", but never as "emperor". The more common title given to him, however, is "Lord". My sermon today is taken from the Old Testament book of Psalms. In the 96th, 97th and 99th Psalms, we find the words, "The Lord is king", and in the 98th Psalm, which served as my text, it is written: "shout for joy to the Lord, our king." A basic characteristic of one whose faith is rooted in the Bible is joy! Believers can find joy even in troubles and disappointments because of their faith that the Lord is king. Since God's kingship extends over the whole world, we can experience both joy in the present time and hope for the future. This 98th Psalm begins with the words, "Sing a new song to the Lord; he has done wonderful things!" It is not to obey a command but to express the joy that comes through faith in God, the king, that Christianity has always been a singing religion.(1712)
Unfair attitude to Randy Bass (85/10/28)
The Japan Series is now under way. It sounds like a fierce catfight between Lions and Tigers. I was happy to see Randy Bass hit homeruns in the first two games to lead the Tigers to victory. This year, Bass became the sixth player in Japanese professional baseball history (and the second foreigner) to win the so-called Triple Crown award. This means that he had the highest batting average, hit the most home runs and batted in the most runs of any player in both leagues. I was disappointed to read, however, that in his last game of the season, Giant pitchers refused to pitch strikes to him to make sure that he did not equal the homerun record of their Manager Oh. He was given 4 walks in his 5 times at bat, so the number of homeruns he hit this year remained at 54, one short of Oh's all-time record. That seems unfair to me and the arrogant attitude of the Giants is one reason why I am not a Giant fan. I'm afraid the fact that Bass is a foreigner was an additional reason to keep him from equalling Oh's record. This is an unfortunate example of prejudice which is a hindrance to a genuine international spirit. Christian Bovee, an American author, has written, "The great obstacle to progress is prejudice." (1713)
Church (85/10/29)
The English word "church" comes from the Greek word, kuriekos, which refers to something "belonging to the Lord". This word is found twice in the Greek New Testament--in reference to the Lord's Supper and to the Lord's Day. Another Greek word, ekklesia, is translated "church", but its original meaning is "called out". Although we may refer to a church building as the Lord's House, in its basic sense, "church" does not signify a physical structure nor a formal organization, but a spiritual fellowship of God's people who have been "called out" to serve him. Throughout the world, there are many kinds of church buildings, some very ornate and others very simple, but the true church is made up of people rather than of wood or stone or bylaws. "Church" is the theme for your essay this week. I would like to read of your experiences or of your thoughts regarding the church, whether in its physical, organizational or spiritual sense. Have you ever visited a church? What was your impression? What is your view of the work of the church in Japan--in its religious, educational or social aspect? Send your essays for correction and publication in "Daily Word" Echoes to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. In Ephesians 1:23, the church is referred to as "Christ's body".(1714)
Mahatma Gandhi (85/10/02)
Census (85/10/03)
St. Francis of Assisi (85/10/04)
A godsend (85/10/05)
A Psalm (85/10/06)
German Democratic Republic (85/10/07)
Undōkai (85/10/08)
The Great Chicago Fire (85/10/09)
Eye Protection Day (85/10/10)
"So long" (85/10/11)
Columbus Day (85/10/12)
Listening (85/10/13)
Railway Commemoration Day (85/10/14)
Aging population (85/10/15)
Noah Webster (85/10/16)
Smiling (85/10/17)
Prince Hiro (85/10/18)
Peace (85/10/19)
Kannamesai (85/10/20)
Canadian sumō wrestler (85/10/21)
Tora-san in Japanese movies (85/10/22)
The World Series of baseball (85/10/23)
Zambia (85/10/24)
Stress (85/10/25)
Itō Hirobumi (85/10/26)
The Lord is king (85/10/27)
Unfair attitude to Randy Bass (85/10/28)
Church (85/10/29)
Hydrophobia (85/10/30)
Halloween (85/10/31)
Shinkansen (85/10/01)