This is my essay.








Sixty years have passed since the Pacific War (the World War II) ended. As one generation is assumed to be 30 years, it meant that two generations have passed. Although such a long time, the controversy over the Yasukuni Shrine is still in a hot political issue, which might not be so easily solved. Recently China and South Korea showed big repulsion to Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. Even the violent anti-Japan demonstrations occurred in various parts of China.

The newspapers often reported this demonstration. In such articles, I found that the Yusyu Kan (the Military Museum) of the Yasukuni Shrine was renewed one year ago and it was quite good for us to visit for learning about the military history and the back ground of the Yasukuni Shrine. Frankly speaking, I haven't visited this shrine for the last 30 years. So I wanted to visit there for pray and see the museum. It was the Saturday, July 23.

I took off the taxi and started to walk the road to the shrine. On the both sides, there were Gingko trees. On the way, there was a bronze statue of Mr. Omura Masujiro, who was the father of the Japanese army. I tried to take the photo of this stature, but it was too high. I looked around and found that there were more foreign sightseeners than Japanese. As this shrine was often reported internationally, it seemed to attract foreign tourist's concern.

I continued to walk forward. I reached to the gate. Through passing, I went to the main shrine where a large act was hung down in the presence. After the pray, I went to the right hand side and found a glazed pavilion, which was the military museum. There was a Zero Fighter in the building. The purpose of this museum is that it commends the memorial to the spirit of the war dead and clarifies the truth of the modern history. The exhibit up to starts from military affairs under the emperor in ancient times and the Middle Ages War, the Meiji Restoration, the Old China-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War and the World War II. I could see them as usual until the Russo-Japanese War. However the battle of the 203 high grounds of Russo-Japanese War and especially the World War II made me too miserable for me to continue.

However, I thought that their display on the genealogy of the Asia invasion in that by Europe and America powers since the 18th century was very instructive and educational. The history where modern Japan passed until the Russo-Japanese War should be positively reviewed again, because it was inevitable for Japan to keep independence. In another words, these wars were defensive in nature. However, all wars after the Russo-Japanese War that Japan engaged were too much to do and Japan caused not only big sacrifice to nation but also great inconvenience to surrounding countries. Of course there were the inevitable trends of the days, such as gaining power of Nazis and the forcing posture of the United States. But I think that Japan began to run in the wrong direction since the secession from the League of Nations. I am so regrettable why Japanese people could not stop this wrong trend.




However it might be what can be said as a post-story only because of the present day that pacifism and sovereignty of the people have infiltrated. It was only 60 years ago, but people could not express their own opinions under the ancient regime. To the contrary they went for the war with a firm belief and some of them were killed in the south and the north countries or under the bombing domestically. We should say that they were also really honorable sacrifices. The symbol of their memorial is this Yasukuni Shrine. As this shrine was prepared for such dead people, the recognition or evaluation on this shrine would depend upon each person. Some say that this shrine is the holy place where their relatives sleep restfully. Others say that this is the place, where the wrong war is symbolized. It has been under the non-stopping controversy since the end of the World War II. In addition the criticism came from China and South Korea that so-called war criminals were prayed here together with the ordinary gods. The same kind of complicated argument has been continuing until now.

Anyway, it is very clear that mistaking the national policy would forces an extraordinary sacrifice on the citizens. It is an indeed big crime. The leader of the country should know these facts and execute their policies. I think it is necessary for us to pass on this tragedy to the future generations for their lessons.

However, on the other hand there was a criticism of taking a useless delay on international politics of Japan after the war. It means that the Japanese Government has tended to evade instinctively the all matters that seemed to be related to militarily. However, as time has passed, the tendency also has gradually faded away. Moreover, even deliberations on the amendment of the constitution of Article 9 have come to be discussed. Even if the Constitution would be amended, I hope that the pacifism and the human rights should not be changed.

By the way, because I belong to the generation of the postwar generation who was born from the baby boom in postwar days, I had a so-called post-war education. Therefore I have had nothing to do with pre-war patriotism education or the belief that all dead soldiers would be enshrined to the Yasukuni Shrine etc. Moreover, there is no war-dead in my surroundings. So I have had no relation with the Yasukuni Shrine. My father was not dispatched to oversea. I have two uncles. But both of them came back from Guadalcanal and Burmese after the end of the war. It was very lucky for them to be alive.

Thus, so far the Yasukuni Shrine has not so meaningful for me like the former generation. In that sense, I am sorry for the members of the Japan War-Bereaved Families Association. However I had a chance to visit the main shrine and the war museum on this time. I felt that I finally understood what the Yasukuni Shrine was. For example, I was very impressed by a mother's gift to her son, who died as a soldier. Because he was not married, this mother presented the bride doll for the son who had been enshrined to the Yasukuni Shrine.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visits the Yasukuni Shrine for the war dead' memorials. China and South Korea criticized this, saying that he pray to the war criminals also. But Prime Minister says that in Japan even evil men would become God after he would die. Therefore, this is the matter of an individual religion, which should not been interrupted by foreign countries.

Thinking like this, I went out of precincts of the Yasukuni Shrine. I walked in the direction of Shinjuku on the Yasukuni Street. Reaching to Ichigaya, I found an art gallery, where "A great number of seven person photograph exhibition" had been held by chance. I stopped and saw it. They were each theme such as fireworks, mountains, and lakes in Italy. I felt that these were so peaceful things, immediately after I visited the military museum of the Yasukuni Shrine. These themes of the photographs would not be taken up 60 years ago.

By the way, as it is the age of Internet, I felt it seems to be so out of date for them to hold such a real gallery exhibition. The number of visitors to Internet display would be bigger than the number of visitors to the real exhibition. I thought these photographers have not so familiar to the Internet. However isn't it good? While we walk around the town and we happened to find such gallery and saw. It is really human like town.

I finished watching the photograph exhibition; I walk out through descending the stairs. At that time, I felt that the building had been shaken a little. I thought that it was an earthquake, but I didn't think it was serious. I walked to the subway station. Then I found that the station was so crowded. Some of them were sitting down on the floor. At first I could catch what happened. The announcement said that whole subway lines stopped for the earthquake, which occurred a few minutes ago. I thought it would take a long time for them to check the railway lines, I decided to walk to my house. I passed Jinbocho then I reached to Ochanomizu. About 30 minutes have passed, since I started. I asked whether the subway Chiyoda Line started to move or not. Actually it didn't move. So I was forced to walk back to my house continuously. I thought it was about 30 minutes from there to home.

As my shoes were not so suitable for walking for a long distance, they were about to drop down while I was walking. But I managed to walk along. I crossed the bridge in the Kanda River, passed the temple of Confucius and reached to the signal of Yushima, I halted. Then the taxi stopped in my presence. When I was about to take the taxi, a middle-aged woman and a couple suddenly rushed to the taxi. After a quarrel the woman took the taxi. The middle-aged woman is always strong.

I had no other choice but to keep walking. When I reached to the Shinobazuno-ike pond, I felt tired and thirsty. More than one hour passed since I started to walk. I found the buckwheat restaurant, where I usually visit. I dropped in it and ordered a hot pan grilling noodle. As the restaurant was nicely cool, I was so comfortable.

I spend an hour or so in the buckwheat restaurant. I refreshed myself. I walked again about 10 minutes and reached to my condominium. I was satisfied to come back. When I was about to push the button of the elevator, I found the notice of "This elevator stops due to the earthquake". Oh! My God! Really? I had to go up through stairs to my room of the 10th floor. It was a really strange day for me. It might be because that I happened to visit the Yasukuni Shrine after an interval of 30 years.


(July 27, 2005)




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Essay of My Wonderful Life

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