calamity

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we knew it.

we all knew that it definitely would come,

but no one knew when or where.

or, everyone could’ve blindly believed that it should not be “today” or “tomorrow”.

at last a devastating earthquake came on friday,

and a even more devastating tsunami followed.

watching live tv-news, 

i was associating a seaside town being struck by the great tsunami with,

not hokusai's woodblock print, but, to my surprise, venezia.

it was strangely slow, surreal, something like what happened in my dream.

anyway, another big quake could come any time, any place in japan.

we all japanese are still stunned by the unspeakable calamity.

we are grieving over the loss of every single family in the quake-hit zone

and realizing how great the hardship can be for us to endure.

i am truly grateful for all your compassion and help.

we are toughing it out,
we are good at overcoming adversities indeed.

you bet we will rebuild our country even better.

xxx

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happy valentine

:

sorry, everyone, for my long absence.

i'm still here.

have a romantic valentine's day!

:

xmassy week special #6

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hoping that you are having lots of fun out there.

hoping that all the conflicts among people are over.

but, hoping, wanting and giving are essential.

happy christmas!  

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kobe luminarie

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christmas lights?

no, they are nothing to do with christmas, actually.

it is an annual exhibition of lights

as a memorial to the victims of the 1995’s great earthquake.

but, the prayer is the same as ones at church on christmas eve.

whatever your religions are,

let us pray!

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xmassy week special #5

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i've heard of really good news!

maybe angels and santas prayed for that, too.

so did you?

the news...

just wonderful!

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