[Technology, Life, Ann Arbor Marathon 2016] 技術、生活、アナーバーマラソン2016

I like hearing this type of news that the latest technology or tools can change some minority people's lives in a significant way.  - Apple has released a video to introduce an example of how ResearchKit has helped this autistic young man change his life style.

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I am not a big Apple fan or anything but the news made me think quite positively about the society. This autistic man has made a new step forward to start communicating with people by using his own "words" through this application. There are, of course, different types of autistic patients in the society, each one of whom has different levels or severity in that spectrum. This also reminds me of someone I know who had been through sore experiences from people of churches, schools, or workplaces due to his autistic attribute. It's not unusual to hear about such people or things. Regardless of whether it is a profit-seeking group of community or not, we are living in a world where people judge others, more or less, from an efficiency or productivity point of view. Reflecting what I have observed in the last decade, during this ever globalizing trend, there are people who had long been placed in higher position was made lower, and started to behave lowly to someone whom he had treated unfairly.

The sense of efficiency or productivity can be altered along with the changes made to the environment, and this one society is pretty much linked with other multiple societies, which creates the view or perspective of the world. Common sense also changes in the course of the evolvement. Take an example of the high school (tech high school) my father attended in Kesennuma, Japan. People had thought this school to be a good school back in the 1950s, however when I became a teenager in the 1980s, such tech schools were thought much less than other "normal course" high schools that were more focused on college or university entrance exams. Tech schools were filled with delinquent kids. It was quite ordinary that local people looked down on them and their schools, as if they had gone out of the right track. Now, my kid and nephew have become teenagers in 2016. Tech schools are now thought more and the locals think they are better schools than the normal schools. When people hear "tech" in front of the school names, they think it's cool. It's quite opposite of how people had thought 30 years ago. The same might be true in work environments or other social activities. Those who stick to old ideas and force such "traditions"or "common sense" might be treated unfairly one day.

The 3/11 Tsunami in 2011 made me more convinced. Someone from one of the devastated areas in Kesen of northern part of Japan held a speech at Sofia University (上智大学) in Tokyo. He said this huge disaster should be one of the work of God. By nature people want to keep the same attribute as their parents, however we sometimes get to have persons born on this planet, who might be thought "less suitable" or "not suitable". In the video, Mr. Yamaura states that when a disaster hit, those who were thought "not suitable" might become so much suitable to such exceptional situations. According to what he says out there in the YouTube video, that is how creatures have evolved in the long history of the earth. Amoeba will be still amoeba if there are no drastic outer changes to the current circumstance. Humans have evolved, or technology has advanced because

YouTube Video (Below): Mr. Yamaura from Iwate Prefecture Making his Speech for the 100th Anniversary of the Sofia University (Japan) Foundation

This YouTube video, by the way, makes me want to think that the utility of tools or application may even bring good news to engineers or developers, so they will be more motivated about what they do. This is another aspect of seeking profitability and productivity. Which I think is good. Advancement of technology can decrease the chance of miscommunication or misunderstanding. I thought that this is what makes our life become more meaningful and enjoyable. I also want to think that this autistic young man will start creating something that may make changes to or have great influence on other people. Efficiency, profitability, or productivity should not mean to reject or keep distance from the minorities.

On Sunday April 3, I participated in the 10K run in Ann Arbor. It was a cold morning. The temperatures were in around lower 20s. I woke up at 5:20 am, and started to prepare myself.

I ended up finishing my 10K with my best record of 53 minutes, which was more than 10 minutes shorter than the last time I ran in Plymouth five months ago, in November 2015. I am amazed by the fact that I enjoy running these days. I had never liked running a long distance at all times until a few years ago.

[Chocolate Run 2015 in Plymouth & Windows10] プリマスのチョコレート・ラン 2015 そして Windows10

One of my coworkers spoke to me about this 10K run event called "Chocolate Run". He said this event was to be taking place in the downtown Plymouth MI. I had never run so long a distance as 10K. I had run quite often in the fitness gym, but it was 2 miles (3.2 km) at most. The same was true when I had run outside. For some reason I felt like extrapolating my distance record I had achieved a couple of months before. I had made it to run 5 km in the Memorial Day Run. It was not even that easy but I wanted to do more than that. To make that happen, I thought I could only keep running with my own pace. I made an online application for the 10K. Free chocolate party was to be held on that day. Full zipper jacket was guaranteed for all participants (if applied by the previous day). Those options also made me want to participate that program.

In Michigan, the weather suddenly gets colder from October. The days apparently get shorter. Daylight Saving Time was finished in early November, and then the days got even shorter right after that. Back in early summer, it was bright outside until around 9:30 pm, but now it's already dark by 6 pm. This eventually makes us miss out the chance of running outside. Temperature even gets lower to keep me from getting outside.

I started getting messages on my pc everyday to let me upgrade to Windows10. I was on Windows8, my OS version. I personally preferred being on Windows7 than Windows8. I upgraded to Windows10 just out of my curiosity. My pc started to get frozen up quite often on Windows10. Everything freezes up on the screen. I only have to stay away from there and wait a couple of minutes until it comes back of itself. PC freeze happened 5 times or so per hour. I attempted performing virus removal by taking all the knowledge I had. I found nothing bad. But the problem persisted.

I started to increase the running distance when I was in the fitness gym. I ran 3 miles first, and then increased the distance to 4 miles and 5 miles, until finally I was able to set up on 6 miles. I was getting more overtime work those days, and it was difficult to access the fitness gym everyday. Preparation had continued until the last minute.

It was 5:30 am when I woke up on the day I was to run for the event. I prepared myself in 30 minutes, and then got in my car to take off. It was pitch dark outside with no street lamps on the way. I thought "Hey, it is like I'm doing a moonlight flit." It was around 6:30 am when I arrived at the destination in Plymouth. I received a text message from my coworker. It was still dark outside. Multiple white tents were built up in the park. I saw people there, moving to and fro in that dark. My coworker and I got together around the intersection in front of the park. He said he wanted to do some warm up, running around there. He started running.

The sign-in spot was located some 10 minutes' walk from the park. I ran and came back from there with the easy pace I didn't have to sweat, hoping that'd be some good warm up. I was a little worried I might get a cramp in my lower leg if I don't get to do something because of this low temperature. I realized I was not young anymore. (I am in the mid 40s.)

 

It was getting brighter at the time the race was going to start. I was able to start off quite well myself. 10K was a challenge. It was a challenge to myself during the course of the way. It was kind of interesting to see many folks out there, running different ways.

Another great thing about this event is that it was taking place in Plymouth. I love the place with so many cool or cute houses there. When driving out of town on weekends, I would most likely be around here. It is so much fun for me personally to draw pictures of Plymouth. I enjoy doing it.

Back to the topic of running, I did all my best to get even faster in the last 500 meters. That was what I wanted to do. People would go ahead of me in the middle of the course. But I wanted to get the most of my strength at the last minute. I think I could do that well in the Ekiden race I had joined in the past. One of my coworkers (he has so much experience in running) had advised me to do that. Making that happen let me feel confident in myself. The team saw how good I was, and I am simply happy with that.

Downtown Area of Kesennuma (Before the 3/11 Tsunami), Near Inawashiro Hospital

Every time I think about it, it is so great a thing that I can try getting the most of my strength. Physical control (involving the increase of strength and maintaining daily health condition) and mental motivation can be big part of whether you can do it well or not. It is such a blessing that I can even make such an effort. I am getting older now. I am no longer how I used to be when I was younger. I have to admit that, like it or not. But, in return, I began to appreciate what I can do under this circumstance. I can at least enjoy running.

After the race, hanging the participation medal around my neck, my fellows and I went into the tent, and started to eat the bread and chocolate to feel warmer. At around 9:30 we dismissed. Road closure was about to be ended.

Forums & Articles on the Windows10 Freeze Issue：

http://www.tenforums.com/general-discussion/12074-windows-10-freezes-randomly.html

http://news.yahoo.com/unplug-hard-drives-windows-10-023523070.html

http://betanews.com/2015/09/15/windows-10-is-shaping-up-to-be-the-most-unstable-release-since-millennium-edition-me/

http://www.tenforums.com/performance-maintenance/17781-settingsynchost-7996-unable-read-header-logfile-c-windows.html

Many things were mentioned out there concerning the freeze issue, and it seems there are multiple factors to make this problem happen. I wondered that, in my particular case, the issue could be resolved by simply performing disk cleanup. I thought that was it, but the issue kept happening.

I accessed the Event Viewer, and there were numerous error logs to be found.

Having cleared the user profile and then applied Windows10 patches, still the pc freeze persisted.
I reverted back to Windows8 and restored to factory settings. And then I updated to Windows10. This time there has been no freeze anymore.

My mother informed me that her sister (my aunt) had passed away. She had been through a cancer operation about 2 years after the 3.11 tsunami. I remember her saying she was working near the port when the tsunami hit. She and other people there ran up to the top of the commercial building. They stayed there, surrounded by the burning sea all the way. She said it was so burning hot, she would rather want to die right away. Men broke the vending machine there to get the drinks they could live on for another couple of days until they were rescued.

My wife and I saw her the last time in Japan in the summer of 2012. It was the time when nobody (including my aunt herself) knew she had a cancer. She rang the front door bell at my parents' place in Kesennuma. My aunt said she only wanted to say hello to my wife and me. 
"Wow, it's been a long while," she said to me.
Seeing my wife, my aunt said, "Oh my goodness, my daughter's here!"
As a business owner, she was too busy on that day to stay there any longer, saying the fishermen on ship was scheduled to be arrived at the port that afternoon. She had to help the unloading business and the people on the ship.
"Take care of yourself, okay? We'll meet again, it's so nice seeing you here!"
After having said this, my aunt handed my wife, as if in secret, an envelope with some money in it, and then went back to her business.


≪日本語≫
Plymouth 市 の市街地でChocolate Runという長距離走の大会があると同僚から聞き、自分は10キロメートル走の参加を決めた。実はそれまで10キロという距離は走ったことがない。フィットネスジムのランニングマシーンで走るのは2マイル（3.2キロメートル）程度である。外で走るにしても同じことであった。けれども、数か月前にMemorial Day Runで走った5キロメートルよりも走りたい気持ちにもかられた。5キロも楽ではなかったが、10キロも同じかもしれないと考えた。ペースを乱さず走ればいい。そう思って、オンライン応募をした。走った後に甘い物がタダで食える、とか、ウィンドブレーカーが記念品でもらえる、といったことも自分の背中を後押しした。

ミシガン州は10月を過ぎると駆け足で寒くなる。日も短くなる。夏時間の終わったのは11月のはじめだ。この日を境にさらに暗くなる時刻が早まる。初夏のころは9時半ごろまで明るかったのが、今では午後6時前にはもう暗い。そのため外で走る機会を逸しやすくなる。加えて、気温の低下のため外に出るのも億劫になる。

Windows10へのアップグレードを薦めるポップアップがコンピュータ画面上に毎日出るようになった。自分のOSバージョンはWindows8であった。個人的にはWindow7の方が抵抗は少なかった。そんな思いでWindows8を使っていたのだった。興味本位でアップグレードしてみた。なぜか途端にフリーズする頻度が増えた。とにかく画面が固まる。数分放置すると直る。1時間に多い時だと5回ぐらい起きた。ウイルスを疑い、自分の知っている限りの方法で対策をとってもみた。悪いものはなさそう。しかし、問題は続いている。

大会当日の朝、自分は5時半に起きた。30分で支度をし、車を走らせた。外はまだ真っ暗でもあるし、街灯もないためか、夜逃げのような気分だった。Plymouth市街地の駐車場に到着したのはかれこれ6時半ごろだった。さっそく同僚からテキストメッセージが入って来た。まだ外は暗い。公園には白いテントがいくつも立てられ、暗闇に人がうようよしていた。同僚とは公園前の交差点付近で合流した。彼は体をほぐすため周辺を走るといい、駈けて行った。

サインインをするのは歩いて10分ほど離れた場所であった。ウォーミングアップを兼ねて私は行きも帰りも、汗をかかぬ程度でかるく走った。空気の冷たさもさることながら、自分の年齢が年齢なため（もう40代半ばに突入）、この冷え込みの中、急に意気込んで走ると足をつる心配が頭をよぎった。

フィットネスジムでは走る距離を意識的に増やした。初めは3マイルに増やし、それから4マイル、5マイルと移行し、大会の数日前にようやく6マイルまで伸ばした。残業時間が特に増え、毎日のように走る時間が確保しづらかった。そのため、調整はギリギリまでかかった。

スタートする頃あいには周囲はすっかり明るんでいた。準備の甲斐あって、出だしは自分としては好調だった。10キロという距離は自分にとっては挑戦。中盤はひたすら自分で闘っていくしかない。実にいろんな人がいて、いろんな走り方をするのは興味深かった。

走りについていえば、最後の500メートルほどは、目いっぱいに走った。 途中遅れていようとも、または、どれだけ人に追い抜かれようとも、ゴール近くでは出来るだけ最後の力を振り絞って走りきりたいと自分は思っている。以前出場した駅伝大会でもそれが実行できた。これは走りに練達している同僚からのアドバイスであった。それができることを知り、自信につながったし、チームのメンバーたちもそういったところを評価してくれ、素直にうれしい。

この大会のいいところは、場所がPlymouthであるという部分も大きい。特におしゃれで可愛らしい家が多い。自分に限っていえば、市外の近場でドライブする際、ここに来る確率が高い。Plymouthの風景を描くことは、自分の内面に格別の楽しさをもたらす。

最後の最後にありったけに力を振り絞れる、というのは、返す返すもうれしいことだ。当日までの体力の調整もさることながら、そもそも基礎的な体調や気力の状態 もファクターになる。だから、そういう努力ができること自体がもったいなくもありがたいことだ。年を取り、自分の体力や体の状態は昔のようではない。これは嫌でも認めないといけない。ただし、それと引き換えに、自分が走れることへの有り難さを実感できるようにはなった。

走った後は、出場メダルを首からぶら下げながら、テントに入りホットチョコレートで暖まり、パンを食べた。朝の9時半ごろには同僚らと共に帰宅の途に就いた。そろそろ通行止めの解除の時間になろうとしていた。

Windows10に関するフォーラムや記事：
http://www.tenforums.com/general-discussion/12074-windows-10-freezes-randomly.html
http://news.yahoo.com/unplug-hard-drives-windows-10-023523070.html
http://betanews.com/2015/09/15/windows-10-is-shaping-up-to-be-the-most-unstable-release-since-millennium-edition-me/
http://www.tenforums.com/performance-maintenance/17781-settingsynchost-7996-unable-read-header-logfile-c-windows.html

フリーズの問題についてはいろんなことが語られ、要因は様々のようだけれども、自分の場合は単にDisk Cleanupによってフリーズの発生頻度がしばしおさまったかと一瞬思ったが、やはり問題は変わらず、であった。
Event Viewerをみるとかなりのエラーログが見られる。
ユーザ・プロファイルをクリアしたり、Windows10パッチをあてるも、フリーズは発生する。
Windows8に戻し、工場出荷状態にし、そこから再びWindows10にしたところ、フリーズはすっかりなくなった。

母親の姉（私にとっては伯母）が他界したという知らせを母親から受けた。3.11津波の2年ぐらい後に癌の手術を受けたのだった。津波発生時、伯母は港近くで働いていた。ほかの人たちと共に、商業ビルの最上階に上がった。周囲は火の海であったが、そこで過ごさざるをえなかった。焼けるほど暑くて仕方がなかったという。いっそのことすぐに死んだほうがいいと思ったそうだ。男らが自動販売機を壊して、飲み物を確保した。伯母やその他の人々は数日間、救援が来るまで、それで命をつないだのだ。

妻と私が最後に伯母にあったのは2012年の夏のことだ。まだ癌と分かっていない時であった。我々は気仙沼にいた。伯母は玄関のドアを鳴らした。ただ我々の顔を見たいがために来たという。
「あらぁ、なんと、しばらぐだごどぉ。」
と言って、それから伯母は妻を見るや、
「あらぁ、娘ぇ！」
と言った。
伯母は商売をやっていたため、忙しい。その日の午後は、船が入る予定でもあり、水揚げや船員の世話をしないといけない。長居したいんだけども、それが今日はできない、と伯母は言った。
「体に気をつけでね。まだも会うべすね。どうもね。」
そう言うと、伯母は包んだ金を、隠し事のように妻に手渡し、仕事に戻っていったのだ。

[The Concert Of More Than 15 Years Ago] 15年以上も前の演奏会

Drawing Practice: "Strangers in Plymouth MI"

Frans Bruggen was a good conductor. I only have been in his concert once, and I was sitting in the middle of the very first row of the seats. I remember hearing him breath in order to take the tempo or give cues to the players. To be honest I was not so much moved by the performance on that day. My ear was too immature to appreciate his music. I preferred thicker and more huge sound just like the symphonies of Mahler or Bruckner, to this small size orchestra comprised of period instruments.

Then why am I writing about him and his orchestra (The Orchestra of the 18th Century)? It's because of the fact that the music on that day still remains in my head even more than 15 years have passed. I can even hear the sound I heard on that day - how the air had been vibrated with the sound coming from the musical instruments. I can still feel how the floor and the walls of the concert hall was shaking during the performance. The sound I was hearing in that particular concert hall became more enjoyable and meaningful to my ears of today.

Although Bruggen died in 2014 at age 80, the music still remains in my head as if it's still being played right now. This makes me think a lot more than what's happening.

[Sketch Practice] スケッチの練習

I wanted to draw this picture for fun just because I like the view of the harbor and the land across the sea over there. There is a building that looks like a fish market where there are 3 boats. Looks like Kesennuma, but it is not. I like this view anyway.

This is also only a drawing practice I drew some place that is within 40 minutes' drive from here. Not a good one. I feel I want to try one more time... I love the place around here. I never get tired of being there while seeing the houses, stores, trees, or the people in streets.

These characters brings me back to my very old days. I used to draw these things when I was 7 or 8 years old. I was always doing this at both school and home. I remember I had been a boy who didn't speak a word with people, but when I turned a 3rd grader I suddenly began talking a lot.

On the way back home from our drive a few weeks ago, we saw a coyote in the field that ran towards where we were driving and crossed right in front of us. I don't want any of these fellows to attack on my cat. My cat is an indoor cat but it's kind of scary when I think about my cat getting outside by accident.

Here are some some other famous anime characters I wanted to practice drawing.

駅伝、数学、そしてランボー "Ekiden" Running Race, Math, and Rimbaud

日曜日の朝、気がつくと猫が私に乗っかってくる。朝以外に猫が私の上に乗ったりすることはない。これはうちの猫の日課である。

猫は時計の読み方を知らない。しかし、猫は体内に時計を持っていて、それに基づき行動しているフシがある。

先週金曜日、私は職場の駅伝大会に参加した。個人の記録的には、去年よりも30秒ほどタイムを縮めることができた。それが何よりも私にはうれしかった。天気がとても良く、暖かくて、観衆の数も多かった。

スタート30分前に、準備運動として、１．４マイル(２．２Ｋｍ)ほどメンバーの仲間と一緒に走った。これで体がほぐれたように思う。また、この一年、週に二、三回は、職場地下のフィットネスジムで走る等を心がけてきた。

０．７マイル（１．１Ｋｍ）の距離を走るのに4分30秒というのは、一般的に大した成績でないかもしれぬ。しかし、40歳台も半ばに入り、1年間で自己タイムを30秒縮めたことで、これからも頑張ろうと自分に言い聞かせられてうれしい。

ここでの駅伝は、8人で1チームの競技であるが、同じ部署のメンバーらとタスキを渡して走るという競技は、やってみると、チームワークの美しさや楽しさが分かる。成績は39チーム中、9位であったが、決して悪くはない。（他の同僚らが走りが得意で、それに私の遅さをカバーしてもらった。）

土曜日は、ユークリッド(Euclid)の著した幾何学の古典『エレメント』を私は読んでいた。それを読むのに疲れると私はTECHNICAL COLLEGE SERIES NATIONAL CERTIFICATE 'MATHEMATICS'のページをめくった。

理由が自分にははっきり分からないが、数学の問題をやるとアルチュール・ランボー(Arthur Rimbaud)の詩集が読みたくなる。特に、彼の後期の作品集『イルミナシオン』は、数式のような、そうじゃないような不思議な思いに囚われる。(それにつけても、"Illuminations"という字づら、その響きが脳裏にうつす投影のなんという鮮やかさ！）

日本で仕事をしていた頃をふと思い出す。CATIA (3D CADソフト)のMold Tooling Designのワークベンチで作業していた時だったが、ピンやプレートがあって、そこにはルールがいくつもあった。そうした各コンポーネントの関係性を見るにつけ、やはりなぜだか分からないけれど、私はバッハの音楽を何度となく連想したのだった。

詩や音楽を連想しながら仕事をするのは、良い兆候だと、私の直感は教える。
それは辛い日常を紛らすべく音楽に逃避する、というのとは真逆の現象である。

群馬県に所在する客先には週に二、三日の頻度で訪問した。
CATIAを使って仕事した最初である。あの時は1から手取り足取り当時リーダーをされていた方から教わった。毎日自分が何かを学び取っていて、成長しているのが、はっきり体で分かった。帰りの電車内で、自分は静かに感動していた。

この時における連日の感動こそが、その後に別の場所で経験した辛さとかパワハラとかを何とか乗り越えられ、さらに躍進できた要因の一つであったのだと今になって私は思う。

群馬県でのホテル滞在、チームでの食事、銭湯で汗を流す等を通じて、仕事を頑張った。

焦ったりイライラしたり、真冬なのに緊張して汗流したり、ノートPCを毎日バックパックで担いで肩凝ったり、世間話したり、そうやって仕事をしていたわけだ。仕事を通じた青春と呼べるものがあるとすれば、この時だったと私は思う。私は当時すでに三十代半ばを過ぎており、日本の常識では「青春」とは言えないのかもしれないけれど。

あれから7年ぐらいが経った。

時間の経過と、回想する現時点の自分とを直截に繋ぐこの「何か」を意識した時、ふと考える。
少なくとも過去とを行き来するタイムマシーンは、脳内における記憶の操作で可能だったりして、とか夢想したり。

ところで、この日曜日の夕方は、いつものように日曜の夕方らしかった。

私にとっての日曜の夕方は、サリーン市街地に向かうミシガン通りの光景である。
交通量のまばらさと、傾いた西日と、閑散としたような99セント店の駐車場と。


シャルル・デュトワ指揮、モントリオール交響楽団によるベルリオーズ『幻想交響曲』をたまたまYouTubeで聴いた。1楽章のはじめの数分を聴き、オーケストラの響きだけで、今までに感じたことのない感動で心が震えた。この曲で涙を流しそうになるほどの感覚に陥ったことはそれまでなかった。楽器から発する音それ自体が美しいのみならず、それが心の琴線に触れ、エモーショナルにさせるというのは、録音の魔術であるのか、演奏の魔術なのか、作曲者の魔力であるのか。

Reflection Along with the Music, Movies, and Novels

Came back home nearly 10pm today. Ate dinner and then played with my cat. The first page on the Internet browser made me feel refreshed.

“Outrage” directed by Takeshi Kitano was very impressive among the movies I watched for the last couple of months. Miura’s acting intriguing most among the other actors. That is politics, the things taking place from the beginning till the end.

These guys are all bad and realistic (if not real)

I am listening to Sibelius’ symphony number 3 as I am writing this post. What a pleasure this music is to my ears. His pieces are not so much dramatic like Beethoven’s or Mahler’s music. Compared to Sibelius, even Bruckner’s symphonies sound much expressive and aggressive.

It's no longer the summer sky up there

Among the seven symphonies composed by Sibelius, I love the 3^rd, 4^th, and 6^th most. I start thinking I feel so close to this composer because I was also born in the cold, norther area. His music makes me get more closed and introvert in the cold winter season. Spring comes, and there is the sound of water steams from a river. It is such an enjoyment when I feel I can see the grass grow under the chilly sky, surrounded by the mountains. This eventually makes me think that Michigan is the perfect place for me to work and live.

Illustration by Kunio Sato

I was reading a short novel, “The Restaurant of Many Orders” written by Kenji Miyazawa. I don’t know how many times my parents took me and my sister to the Kenji Museum in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. It was always a fun place every time I visited there. I had not been a passionate fan of his, but when I turned forty or so, I suddenly started to like whet he wrote. “The Restaurant of Many Orders” is even read in a Japanese elementary school class. Two gentlemen from town are walking around in the woods. They are nicely dressed and civilized. In this rural area, they are now lost the way when they come across this strange restaurant. "Plump parties and young parties especially welcome." People living on the IT (including myself) should be like these fellows. Be aware so we won’t be cooked and get frightened unexpectedly.

Windshield view when driving the suburbs of Ann Arbor

This coming Friday I will be running for the Ekiden (駅伝), a relay running race. Thirty-nine teams are registered. I will be running 0.7 mile. I hadn’t run at all for decades until I started to work here. But I now enjoy jogging 2 or 3 times a week. What a difference.

“Apple is continuing its efforts to produce a car” the news reports. “The company is still working out whether it will make a self-driving car, an electric vehicle or a combination of both.”

Downtown Plymouth, one of my most favorite weekend driving areas

Volkswagen is said to cheat on diesel emissions, and the U.S. directed to recall nearly half a million cars recall, saying the automaker illegally installed software in its diesel power vehicles to evade standards for reducing smog. 

When one tries to be more effective or capable than others, or to stick to the rules regulations (in a wrong way), we may likely get caught by this type of trap. We people of the IT era in the 21^st century might also be sharing this risk every day. The popular motto we hear such as ”Customer First”, “Safety First”, or “Family Oriented” can bring us to the opposite side without knowing it. Just like the two sides of a coin. For some reason, this idea kind of reminds me of the Heart Sutra (般若心経), saying that form is emptiness, while emptiness is form. Form does not differ from emptiness, while emptiness does not differ from form.

Hello Kitty and BS Domo-kun are the 2 major J characters I often see

And then I think about the Sibelius’ symphonies. Now I am listening to the 4th Symphony. Branches are cut off from music, and the air comes in to fill the remaining symbolic notes that are hanging.

[The Music That Transcends The Time and Space - The Music by Toru Takemitsu] 時と場所を超える音楽 ‐ 武満徹の音楽

Sometimes I feel the time and space are one perception concentrated into a single dimension, or transcends the dimension of time and space, especially when I hear the music composed by Toru Takemitsu (武満徹, 1930 - 1996).


Here is "Family Tree (系図)" composed by Toru Takemitsu (Poems written by Shuntaro Tanikawa)

I love this composer... His music brings back to my old memories... I remember having the same impression 20 some years ago when I was a student... I feel his music transcending the time and space every time I think about it... I am no musical expert or anything but his music (not only this particular piece) appeals to me somewhere very deep inside... something that I have had since when I was 5 years old or something... "A String Around Autumn", for example, always reminds me of the time and moment when my grandmother (who died 25 years ago) took me out for a walk to a riverside one Sunday evening... The sight that I had perceived thru the 5-year-old's eyes still remains even if this little boy is now over 40 years old...

This kind of music can be called a "beauty", if beauty is something that touches our heart and makes us amazed over the decades. For instance, it is something that connects the 5-year-old and 20-year-old with the 40-some-year-old human individual, to share the emotions they possess across the time.