Pretender (87/10/01)
Mamagoto is a kind of game that children enjoy playing. I used to think that the mama in this word referred to "mother", but, in fact, it refers to cooked rice. Do you know how to translate this word into English? We say the children are "playing house". Actually, they are pretending to be adults. Some older children and even adults also enjoy pretending or playing "make believe" at times. In fact, the word "pretender" may have the specific meaning of one who claims to be the king of a country although not generally recognized as such. Nearly 200 years have passed since the French monarchy was overthrown in the French Revolution, but a male descendant of King Louis XVI continues to claim to be king. This week, 70-year-old Henri d'Orleans, the count of Paris, designated his 22-year-old grandson his successor to the throne in a ceremony witnessed by over 4000 people, many of them royalists who would like to see a return to the French monarchy. The count refused to designate his son as pretender to the throne because of a disagreement between them so the son is claiming to be the true pretender. In Galatians 6:3, we read, "If a man thinks he is somebody when he is nobody, he is only deceiving himself." That's true not only for royal pretenders but for us common people also.
"Suttee" in India (87/10/02)
Today is a holiday in India, commemorating the birth of Mohandas Gandhi on October 2, 1869. Mr. Gandhi was a political and spiritual leader, well-known for his philosophy of passive resistance. He is regarded as the father of independent India. However, some practices which he strongly opposed continue to be followed in that land. This week, Indian police arrested about 50 people in connection with a traditional custom which was outlawed by the British over 150 years ago. It is the practice of suttee, spelled s-u-t-t-e-e, and meaning "virtuous woman" in Sanskrit. In India, it is the custom to burn dead bodies on a pile of wood, called a pyre, spelled p-y-r-e. Suttee is the old Hindu practice of a widow committing suicide by throwing herself on the funeral pyre of her husband. Earlier this month, an 18-year-old woman followed this ritual in the presence of some 5000 witnesses. Women's groups, newspapers and community and political leaders have cried out against this practice, but as we recognize here in Japan, it is very difficult to change longstanding traditions, even when they are recognized to be irrational and even harmful.
Japan and Korea (87/10/03)
Japan's closest neighbor geographically is Korea. There are many historical and cultural ties between these two countries and both of them have a national holiday to celebrate their foundation. Today, October 3rd, is the Korean Foundation Day, commemorating its mythological founding in 2333 B. C., which is over 1600 years before Japan's mythological founding in 660 B. C. Despite the proximity of these two countries, mutual antagonism has characterized their relationships during the past century and I believe that the basic cause for this lies on the Japanese side. In a recent survey conducted in Korea, 27% of the respondents considered Japan the "most distasteful country", second only to the 52% who gave that distinction to North Korea. Nevertheless, Japan also came in second in regard to the country with which it was necessary to have friendly relations. In this category, it was chosen by 23%, following the 58% which designated the United States. Because of its past history related to Korea, Japan needs to put forth a special effort to change this negative atmosphere --not only formally, but emotionally. And that change of attitude must be reflected in the hearts of common people--like you.
Worship service on Sunday (87/10/04)
There are many examples of English words that have been converted into Japanese and given a peculiar nuance that is different from the original meaning. One such word is "service". In Japanese, sa-bisu often refers to an omake, something extra that is given without charge by a storekeeper. In English, the noun, "service", has a number of meanings related to the verb "to serve". In tennis, the ball is put into play by the service of a player, but the basic meaning of "service" relates to the duties of a servant. The Sunday morning meetings in Protestant Churches are often called services or, more exactly, worship services. In fact, a Greek word used in Romans, chapter 12, verse 1, can be translated either "worship" or "service". There it is written that the true worship or spiritual service of Christians is to present themselves to God as living sacrifices. The Old Testament law required sacrifices of animals or produce in ceremonial worship, but in the New Testament, following the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God, such sacrifices are no longer required. Rather, we must give up ourselves in loving service to God and to people. As we gather together to worship God on Sunday mornings, we are reminded of our responsibility to be servants to those around us.
Daruma (87/10/05)
If you read the fine print on some Japanese calendars, you will see that today is the memorial day of the Indian who traveled to China to become the founder of Zen Buddhism. It is said that he sat facing a wall in meditation for nine years until his legs became unusable. In Japanese, he is called Daruma. There are now many short, plump Daruma dolls in Japan having no legs, no arms and not even a neck. Weighted at the bottom, whenever they are pushed over they return to the upright position, symbolizing determined perseverance. Political candidates often paint in one eye of a large Daruma doll as election day begins. Winners then paint in the other eye at their victory celebration, symbolizing their success with both eyes open. According to the Book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 2, Christians gain perseverance and final victory by keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of their faith,
Essays expected (87/10/06)
At the present time, both Japan and the United States are democracies, but they may be referred to in different ways. The United States is a federal republic, while Japan is a constitutional monarchy. Thus, the United States has a president elected by the people, while Japan has a monarch, who is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people." In America, we have never had the experience of honoring our own royalty. Recently the attention of this country has been focussed on the health of the Emperor who underwent an operation and on excerpts from the diary of the former English teacher of the Crown Prince. Now there are daily news reports regarding the visit of the Crown Prince and Princess to the United States. What are your thoughts regarding these events related to the imperial family? What effect do you think the visit of Akihito and Michiko will have on Japan-U. S. relations? What do you think the future holds for this couple and for their children? If an essay containing your thoughts on these and related matters is sent to me, I will correct it and publish it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. Please send your essays on this and the other themes of Hardworking Japanese, Nengō, Gardens, Women in Politics and Religion and Sunday to reach me by Saturday, October 24th. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
The middle class (87/10/07)
According to the Japanese proverb, "The post that sticks up will be hammered down". Japanese feel more secure as part of a group than as individuals. Harmony is an important principle here and the middle of the road is the place to stand on controversial issues. The ideal of the "golden mean", or chūyō, is deeply rooted in this society. Therefore, it is not surprising that most Japanese consider themselves members of an exceedingly broad "middle class". According to a recently released poll, about 90% of Japanese put themselves into this category. So many people are now in this class, that it must be divided into an upper middle class and a lower middle class. The American humorist, Robert Benchley has written, "There may be said to be two classes of people in the world: those who constantly divide the world into two classes, and those who do not." Sinciair Lewis, the American novelist, called the middle class the "prisoner of the barbarian 20th century", and Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, has written, "A moderately honest man with a moderately faithful wife, moderate drinkers both, in a moderately healthy house: that is the true middle class unit." Harmony and moderation are considered virtues in the Bible also, but on moral issues of right and wrong, a clear-cut stand should be taken.
John Clarke (87/10/08)
As you may know, the given name of the person who creates these messages and tapes them for your listening practice, if not enjoyment, is Clark, spelled C-l-a-r-k. Although my parents did not know the meaning of this name when they gave it to me, actually it means clergyman or scholar. At first, my parents had planned to spell my name with an "e" on the end until my eldest sister pointed out that the names of my father and mother, my elder brother and two elder sisters all had five letters in them, so they omitted the final "e". Later, my two younger sisters were also given names having five letters. In The Columbia Encyclopedia, which I often use for research for these telephone messages, 41 persons are included with the surname of Clark(e), 19 of which are spelled with an "e". One of them, John Clarke, was born in England 378 years ago today, on October 8, 1609. John Clarke became a physician and pastor, a founder of the American colony of Rhode Island and a pioneer of religious liberty in America. Largely due to his efforts, freedom of religion was recognized in Rhode Island and later became assured throughout the country by being inscribed in the Bill of Rights. Religious liberty is an important principle in any democratic society.
Leif Ericson Day (87/10/09)
When I was a pupil in elementary school, I was taught that Christopher Columbus and his comrades were the first Europeans to set foot on the North American continent. In fact, he seems to have been the first European to have left written records of his journey, but there is reason to believe that a group of Norsemen had reached the continent from Iceland some 500 years earlier. Greenland, the largest island in the world, was discovered by Eric the Red. His son was named Leif and, thus, was later called Leif Ericson. Sagas of Leif's journey to North America were communicated orally for centuries before being written down, but there have been archeological discoveries which seem to verify these ancient stories. Among them are the remains of a Norse settlement in Newfoundland, Canada, which was occupied about 1000 A.D. Since 1964, United States' presidents have proclaimed October 9th as Leif Ericson Day and communities with many Norwegian-Americans have special programs on this day. The name "Leif", spelled L-e-i-f, means "beloved one" and "Eric" means "kingly". Thus, Leif Ericson means the beloved son of the kingly one. According to Matthew 4:17, it was God, the King, who called Jesus his "beloved Son", with whom he was well pleased.
Taiiku-no-hi (87/10/10)
Today is a national holiday in Japan called taiiku-no-hi. Literally, this means "Body-Training Day", but the usual translation is Sports Day or Physical Education Day. This holiday was created in 1966 and the date was chosen to commemorate the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on this day two years earlier. It is now commonly recognized that some kind of physical activity is necessary to keep one's body in good condition. Likewise, to keep one's mind alert, continued mental stimulation is needed and one good kind of mental activity is learning a foreign language. However, another part of our being also needs to be cultivated. That is our spiritual nature. Some people with healthy bodies and alert minds make wrong use of them because of a lack of spiritual or moral character. Distinguishing right from wrong and good from bad requires moral education which is related to some kind of belief. In the New Testament, life is sometimes referred to as a race and the Olympic Games are used as illustrations of spiritual truth. In Hebrews, chapter 12, it is written, "let us run with determination the race that is set before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end."
Rev. Leighton Ford in Nagoya (87/10/11)
These days, when we hear or see the word "Ford", spelled with a capital F, we naturally think of a car, produced by the Ford Motor Company, which was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. The founder's grandson, Henry Ford II, who also became president and chairman of that company, just died two weeks ago. However, there have been other important people in American history with this surname, some of whom are still living. One of them, Gerald Ford, was the 38th president of the United States. And another man by that name is now visiting Nagoya. Although we don't see many Fords in Japan, we may both see and hear one this evening at the Chushō-Kigyō-Senta- just east of Nagoya Station. There, at a meeting for Christians who want to become more effective witnesses for Christ, the Rev. Leighton Ford, an American evangelist, will be preaching. His message will be given in English and interpreted into Japanese. Rev. Ford is the son-in-law of the world-famous evangelist, Billy Graham, and has also travelled around the world as a Christian preacher. According to the last verses of the Gospel of Matthew, the final command Jesus gave to his disciples was to "Go and make disciples of all nations". Because Christians have been trying to obey that command, the teachings of Christ have spread around the world.
Columbus Day (87/10/12)
Today, October 12th, is a holiday in most of the 50 states of the U. S. A. and in a number of other nations in Central and South America. In the United States, it is called Columbus Day in commemoration of the landing of Christopher Columbus on one of the Bahama Islands on this day in 1492. Columbus was born in Italy but his attempt to reach the East Indies by sailing west was sponsored by the king and queen of Spain. For over a month he sailed without seeing land. His sailors became mutinous but he sailed on until he reached what he thought was his goal. Today, the District of Columbia is the capital of the United States and there are some 40 American cities and towns named Columbia and over 22 others named Columbus in honor of this man who is a good example of a person with a firm faith who refuses to give up despite social pressure.
Happiness in giving (87/10/13)
In a Christian wedding ceremony, it is customary for the pastor to give a short sermon, or homily, that includes advice to the newlyweds. On such occasions, I usually refer to the expression "give-and-take", which implies compromise, something not only politicians but husbands and wives also need to practice in order to live in harmony. In my wedding homilies, I emphasize the importance of the order of words in this expression: not "take-and-give", but "give-and-take". Too many people are only interested in taking rather than in giving. Or they are willing to give a little only after they have taken much. Or they give only if they have expectation of receiving much in return. However, the Christian spirit is to give regardless of the result. That is the truly loving spirit. According to Acts 20:35, Jesus said, "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving." This needs to be remembered by nations as well as individuals. Because of a mechanical failure, some listeners were not able to hear last Tuesday's message when I gave the final theme for essays so I will repeat it here. It is related to the illness of the Emperor, the visit of the Crown Prince and Princess to the U. S. and to the future of the imperial family. Please send essays to reach me by this Saturday.
President Eisenhawer (87/10/14)
These days, some countries and organizations are referred to by their initials. The U.S.A., the U.S.S.R., the Y.M.C.A., UNESCO and MITI are only a few examples. Can you give the meanings of these initials? Not only countries and organizations, but famous people are referred to by their initials sometimes. English language newspaper headlines have frequently used the initials of American presidents. Do you know the names of the presidents with the following initials: FDR, HST, JFK, LBJ? All of them were Democratic presidents, but a Republican president was known by the three-letter nickname of "Ike". Do you know his full name? He was born 97 years ago today and became famous as the commander of the allied forces which invaded France and conquered Nazi Germany during the Second World War. He later became president of Columbia University and then president of the U.S.A. In his inaugural address, President Dwight David Eisenhower stated, "Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America." If nations or individuals wish to persuade others to accept their view of life or their faith, the best means of persuasion is a good example.
Nobel Prize to Tonegawa (87/10/15)
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist and inventor whose family was involved in the manufacture of explosives. His invention of dynamite greatly improved the safety of such explosives. Inclined toward pacifism and concerned about the possible uses of the explosives he had invented, he established a fund to provide annual awards in the sciences, literature and the promotion of international peace. Since 1901, these Nobel Prizes have been awarded and two of them were announced this week. One of them brought joy to the people of Japan; the other caused consternation to the United States' government. Susumu Tonegawa, a Japanese scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was awarded the Prize in Medicine for his important discovery related to the antibodies produced by genes. The Peace Prize was awarded to Costa Rican President Oscar Arias who has been working for peace in Central America and who drafted the peace proposal which was adopted last August by five Central American countries, including Nicaragua. This award will now make it more difficult for the Reagan administration to continue to aid the Contra rebels who are seeking to overthrow the Nicaraguan government. According to Jesus' words in Matthew 5:9, those who work for peace are the ones who will find true happiness.
"Shorthanded" (87/10/16)
A very literal, or wooden, translation of the English word "shorthand" into Japanese would be mijikai te. However, the correct translation is sokki, for shorthand is a method of writing rapidly by substituting abbreviations or symbols for letters, words or phrases. Shorthand was used in ancient Greece and Rome, but in the Middle Ages it became associated with evil spirits and witchcraft and people using it were believed to be possessed by the devil. In the late 12th century, shorthand was revived in England and in the last century, more advanced shorthand methods became very popular in English-speaking countries. Since the early part of this century, shorthand machines have been used to transcribe speeches in courts and conferences. As an adjective, "shorthanded" means there are not enough hands to do the required work and is translated into Japanese as te-fusoku-na. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus indicated that God, the owner of the world's great spiritual harvest field, was shorthanded, so he told his disciples to "pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest." God is still looking for workers in his harvest field today. Are you willing to be one of them?
Mandarin oranges (87/10/17)
One of the things my wife and I enjoy about the fall and winter seasons in Japan is the availability of delicious mikans. Do you know what we call mikans in English? In my family, even when we are speaking English, we call them mikans because that's easier to say than "tangerines". Although they are usually called "tangerines" in America, they are sometimes referred to as "mandarin oranges". It is interesting to know that the word "mandarin" which was used to refer to the major Chinese dialect and to an important public official in imperial China, is not a Chinese word at all. Rather, it came into English through the Portuguese alteration of a Malayan word that was rooted in a Sanskrit term meaning "counsellor". It is further suggested that the use of "mandarin" in regard to oranges may have come from the color of the robes that Chinese mandarins wore. Of course, the English word "orange", when used as a color, came from the fruit which is that color. Learning how words originated and how their meanings have changed over the years is an interesting study. The branch of linguistics related to this area is called etymology and regular listeners to these "Daily Word" messages know that I am interested in that subject, but I am more interested in nurturing the fruit of loving deeds that is the result of a healthy faith.
The prophet Jeremiah (87/10/18)
The two English words pronounced "profit" have quite different meanings. When the second syllable is spelled f-i-t, it refers to financial gain but when spelled p-h-e-t, it refers to a person. In the Biblical sense, this person is not primarily one who foretells the future but one who speaks for God. That is why, in the Japanese Bible, the yo of yogensha is written with the Chinese character meaning azukaru rather than the one meaning arakajime. My sermon today is taken from the 31st chapter of the book of the prophet Jeremiah. There, God, speaking through his prophet, tells of his everlasting love for his children and, in verse 9, says, "I am like a father to Israel." These days, some people object to using the word "father" to refer to God. They assert that God is neither male nor female, and they are right. In interpreting ancient literature, it is important to try to understand the meaning of the words in their original setting. Writing over 2500 years ago, the prophet, Jeremiah, used the word "father" to convey both the power and love of God in a single term. Although the meanings of words and symbols may change, the power and love of God remain the same.
Bicycle (87/10/19)
There are various kinds of cycles, including unicycles, bicycles, tricycles and motorcycles. When I go somewhere in Nagoya by myself, I usually go by bicycle. The first workable bicycle was made by a Scotch blacksmith in 1839. It was later improved by a couple of Frenchmen, but because its rigid wood and iron frame transmitted every bump in the road to the rider, it was dubbed the "boneshaker". The first U. S. patent for a bicycle was granted in 1866, but the inventions of spoked tension wheels and air-filled pneumatic tires about a hundred years ago made the bicycle a practical, comfortable, economical and healthy mode of transportation. These days, riding a bicycle can be dangerous and finding a place to park in certain areas has become a problem, but whether riding a bicycle or driving a car, we need to mind our manners.
The value of pi (87/10/20)
The pie eaten as a dessert is spelled p-i-e, but when spelled with only two letters, pi indicates a letter in the Greek alphabet. This Greek letter is also used as a mathematical symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. When expressed as a number, pi is usually carried out to only a few decimal places, such as 3.1416, but its numerical value can be extended to an infinite number of decimal places which are in a completely irregular order. It has been calculated to over 16 million decimal places. When my elder son was in university, he memorized the value of pi to 1,650 decimal places to establish a new world record, but the present record holder is a 55-year-old Japanese man who accomplished the unbelievable feat of memorizing the value of pi to 40,000 decimal places! It took him 17 hours, 21 minutes just to recite all the numbers in the correct order. I cannot understand why anyone would spend time and energy to memorize 40,000 numbers. I also do not understand why many other events happen in the world, but according to Romans 8:28, God is working out some good purpose in everything that occurs. That's a comforting thought to remember in times of trouble.
Thomas Edison (87/10/21)
When an object becomes very hot, it glows or gives off light. This is called incandescence. The electric light bulbs we use in our homes are actually incandescent lamps in which a very thin wire, or filament, is heated to incandescence by an electric current. 107 years ago today, the American inventor, Thomas Edison, and his associates tested an incandescent light bulb that burned for 13 1/2 hours. This experiment demonstrated that electric lighting was possible and thus marked the beginning of a new era. It was not by accident or chance that Edison perfected that first electric light bulb. It was only after months of involved calculations and experiments that that result was achieved. One time when Thomas Edison was asked about the results of his experiments, he replied, "Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work." Some people consider Edison a genius, that is, a person with outstanding intellectual or creative power, but Edison, himself, is well-known for his saying that, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Both patience and faith are required to be a successful inventor and to live a healthy, happy life.
Things I don't understand (87/10/22)
A number of events have taken place in the past few days that are difficult for me to understand. For one thing, I don't understand what's happening in the stock markets of the world. Evidently something strange is taking place there, but since I don't understand about stockmarkets even in normal times, it is not surprising that I don't understand the present extraordinary situation. Secondly, I find it difficult to understand the way the man who will be the next prime minister of this democratic nation was selected. An essential principle in a democracy is that the people choose their leaders, and candidates for office usually present their particular platforms to the people to seek their approval. In the choice of the man who will become Japan's prime minister, I don't see normal democratic procedures being followed. Also, I cannot imagine the content of the frequent two or three-way discussions between the three candidates during the past week. Finally, I read that a 15-minute telephone conversation took place Tuesday night between Ron and Noboru, but since Ron doesn't speak Japanese and Noboru doesn't speak English, I can only imagine that the conversation must have been an interesting one. I find comfort in my faith that the course of world events is in the just and loving care of God, who knows the hearts of people and does understand what's going on.
Honeymoon (87/10/23)
Mitsugetsu is the literal translation of "honeymoon", but this word is usually transliterated into Japanese rather than translated. Although "honeymoon" may refer to the early, harmonious period of any relationship in general, its particular meaning is to that first "sweet month" after marriage. It was a custom in ancient days for a newly married couple to drink a potion containing honey on each of the first thirty days after their marriage. Attila, king of the Huns, was said to have drunk so heavily of this potion that he died of suffocation. "Honeymoon" may also refer to the trip taken by newlyweds. According to a survey released by the Japan Travel Bureau last week, more than 90% of couples planning to marry between October and December this year intend to spend their honeymoons abroad. The JTB attributed this record high to lower travel expenses as a result of the increased value of the yen. The most popular destination is Australia, followed by Hawaii, the U. S. mainland and Europe. According to the report, the average couple going overseas plans to spend ¥793,000 and 7.7 days on their honeymoon. Unfortunately, the romantic love felt by many newlyweds is short-lived, but true love, God's love, lasts for ever.
Chopsticks (87/10/24)
When my wife and I first came to Japan 36 years ago, we were impressed with the thrift and frugality of the Japanese people. It seemed that nothing was wasted. Even envelopes were turned inside out to be used again. But as Japanese have became more affluent, times have changed. Nowadays, wooden chopsticks used in restaurants are used only once and thrown away, a great waste of wood. A recent news item noted that a new $5 million plant in northern Minnesota in the United State produced and shipped its first orders of chopsticks to Japan last week. Because of the local availability of the aspen wood used for making them, the cost, including shipping, is cheaper than for those made in Japan and this company hopes to produce up to 7 million pairs of chopsticks a day. In China, a "chop" refers to a seal or stamp, but the word "chopstick" comes from the Pidgin English word "chop-chop", meaning quickly or promptly. These days, people seem to be in a hurry to get things done, but there is an English proverb that "Haste makes waste". And one of the ancient sayings of Confucius is that "Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly."
Ecclesiastes (87/10/25)
One of the most peculiar books in the Bible bears the strange name of "Ecclesiastes" in English and the quite inappropriate name of Dendō no Sho in Japanese. Dendō is the Japanese word for "evangelism" or "missionary work", but this book could never be considered a "Book of Evangelism". Rather, Ecclesiastes is a part of the so-called "wisdom literature" of the Old Testament. It contains thoughts of a philosopher who reflected deeply on how short and contradictory human life is, with its injustices and frustrations. He could not understand the ways of God, who controls human destiny, yet he advised his readers to work hard and to enjoy the gifs of God as much and as long as they could. Many of his thoughts appear negative and even depressing, but l think they have a particular appeal to the Japanese mind. The fact that this book is included in the Bible shows that biblical faith is broad enough to take into account such pessimism and doubt. Reading this book, we may find some of our own doubts and frustrations reflected there. The title of the book comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for "preacher", referring to one who spoke in an assembly. Thankfully, questions raised by this so-called preacher are answered in other books of the Bible which inspire faith rather than raise doubts.
Black belts (87/10/26)
To Americans, the term "black belt" may bring to mind a region of rich, black soil or that part of an area having a large black population. In Japan, however, the word has a different meaning, for a black belt is the highest rank in judō. Those who have black belts are experts in this art of self-defense. But according to the latest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, neither the oldest nor the youngest black belt holders are Japanese. The oldest person in the world to win a black belt is an American grandmother, Mrs. Lucille Thomson, of Danville, Illinois who is 90 years old! At the other end of the scale, the youngest black belt holder is a Canadian boy, Wesley Ciaranella, who is only 4 years old! Judō literally means "soft way", which, I believe, is usually the best way. In Proverbs 25:15, we read, "A soft tongue will break a bone".
Dolphins (87/10/27)
When a fish is combined with a tiger, what do you think is the result? In the case of a Chinese character, the result is a shachi. Nagoya Castle is famous for the golden shachi on its roof. I'm not sure of the difference between shachi and iruka, but in English we use "dolphin" as the translation for both of these words. Dolphins are sea mammals. In fact, they are small whales. They have a high level of intelligence and are very friendly to human beings. Consequently, they have been trained to do various kinds of tricks to entertain spectators at water shows. Recently, five dolphins have been given a new mission by the United States Navy. They have been sent to the Persian Gulf to help hunt for underwater mines. Just as dogs have been trained to detect certain drugs to help customs officials identify smugglers, these dolphins have been trained to detect the kind of mine used by Iran to jeopardize shipping in the Gulf. The Old Testament has a famous story of a large fish that God had prepared to swallow a rebellious prophet and then to disgorge him on a beach three days later. Many people only know about this incident from the Book of Jonah, but the purpose of that book is to show the mercy and love of God to all nations, even to the wicked enemies of his chosen people, if they repent.
Tatemae, honne, etc. (87/10/28)
On Monday, I attended a lecture of Professor Gerald Curtis, of Columbia University in New York. Professor Curtis first came to Japan as a student. He has a Japanese wife and speaks fluent Japanese. His lecture was about Japanese politics and the future of Japan-America relations. He noted that Mr. Nakasone has been a good communicator in his relations with foreign countries, but he hopes that Mr. Takeshita will be a good communicator here in Japan. He thinks that some straight-talking to the Japanese people is necessary and some hard decisions must be made domestically in order to resolve the tensions between these two countries. By the way, he noted that it is sometimes more difficult for foreigners to grasp the meaning of "made-in-Japan" expressions, using parts of English words and written in katakana, than to understand kanji. He also indicated that, along with such words as sushi, tōfu and shōyu which are becoming popular in America, some American politicians acquainted with the Japanese political scene have begun using such terms as tatemae, honne and nemawashi, for which there are no exact translations into English. True communication requires a mutual understanding that is deeper than simply understanding words.
A Gutenberg Bible (87/10/29)
How much do you think it costs to buy a Bible these days? If you go to the Maruzen Book Store, you may buy one for less than ¥1000, whether in Japanese or in English. A Bible written in Latin would probably cost more. But last week, a Latin Bible was purchased for the amazing sum of $5,390,000! What was so special about this particular Bible? It was a Gutenberg Bible, printed in Germany in 1455. Johann Gutenberg was the German printer who invented the method of printing using movable type and thus ushered in the age of mass communication. The first book to be printed in this fashion was the Bible. It is thought that Gutenberg printed 185 Bibles, 48 of which are still in existence. The one purchased last week was a part of a collection of 15th century books which were sold at an auction. Can you guess who bought that Bible for over 7 oku, 8 sen man en? It was none other than Japan's largest bookseller, Maruzen. I don't think it was a religious interest that prompted Maruzen to make this purchase. Rather, I am sure it was considered a sound financial investment. But for those of us who find in the Bible spiritual food for our souls, it has an incalculable value.
"Suttee" in India (87/10/02)
Japan and Korea (87/10/03)
Worship service on Sunday (87/10/04)
Daruma (87/10/05)
Essays expected (87/10/06)
The middle class (87/10/07)
John Clarke (87/10/08)
Leif Ericson Day (87/10/09)
Taiiku-no-hi (87/10/10)
Rev. Leighton Ford in Nagoya (87/10/11)
Columbus Day (87/10/12)
Happiness in giving (87/10/13)
President Eisenhawer (87/10/14)
Nobel Prize to Tonegawa (87/10/15)
"Shorthanded" (87/10/16)
Mandarin oranges (87/10/17)
The prophet Jeremiah (87/10/18)
Bicycle (87/10/19)
The value of pi (87/10/20)
Thomas Edison (87/10/21)
Things I don't understand (87/10/22)
Honeymoon (87/10/23)
Chopsticks (87/10/24)
Ecclesiastes (87/10/25)
Black belts (87/10/26)
Dolphins (87/10/27)
Tatemae, honne, etc. (87/10/28)
A Gutenberg Bible (87/10/29)
Rice (87/10/30)
Reformation (87/10/31)
Pretender (87/10/01)