What Should Citizens Do in a Constitutional Revision Debate?

On Constitution Memorial Day, it is easy to treat the constitution as something distant—like air, always present yet rarely noticed. But recent events remind us that it quietly shapes what a nation can and cannot do.

In Japan, discussions about constitutional revision have resurfaced, often framed around security, international responsibility, and national autonomy. Yet for many citizens, including the author, the constitution remains difficult to fully grasp in its entirety. When the time comes to vote, what standards should guide us?

This essay reflects on that uncertainty. It considers the gap between abstract principles—such as the rejection of war—and the concrete realities of global conflict. It also raises a concern: that important decisions about the constitution could be reduced to something as superficial as a popularity contest.

Rather than offering clear answers, the piece invites readers to confront a quieter, more uncomfortable question—how many of us are truly thinking about this issue as our own?

 

The second day of the long holiday.
Today is Constitution Memorial Day.

The Constitution of Japan is like the backbone of the nation.
If it is bent or broken, the consequences would be serious.

And yet, its existence is like air—something we rarely notice in our daily lives.

Recently, however, I encountered something that made me realize how deeply the constitution affects reality.

A leader of a political party I do not particularly support commented, in relation to the conflict in the Middle East, that Japan cannot easily dispatch minesweepers to remove naval mines in the Persian Gulf because of constitutional constraints.
Likewise, when the Prime Minister told the President of the United States that there are things Japan can and cannot do, it was probably rooted in the same framework.

To not wage war, and not to take part in war—
this should be a fundamental principle of humanity.

War not only takes human lives, but also destroys countless other forms of life and wipes away what people have built over time in an instant.

Watching such scenes day after day, one almost feels a creeping numbness toward the fear of war.

Does the constitutional revision now being discussed threaten this fundamental principle?

Will it move toward allowing the idea of striking back when attacked, or even striking first?
Or is it meant to address entirely different aspects?

To be honest, I do not fully understand the constitution as a whole.

If a national referendum were to take place, I am not sure what criteria I should use to make my decision.

Even if I were to reread the entire constitution now, it is not something that can be easily understood in a short time.
But to treat such a decision like an extension of a popularity contest—like the recent general election—would be dangerously superficial.

There are valid arguments in favor of creating a “homegrown” constitution.
However, even within the various constraints of the postwar period, the current Constitution of Japan was shaped with the involvement of Japanese people.

The constitution quietly, yet steadily, defines the nature of the nation.

To avoid waking up one day to find ourselves under an authoritarian regime, each citizen must think of this as a personal matter.

And yet, one cannot help but wonder—how many people are truly doing so?

 

A constitution may be silent, but the responsibility to understand it is not. 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• backbone：背骨、基盤→ the backbone of the nation（国家の基盤）
• constitutional constraints：憲法上の制約
• dispatch：派遣する→ 軍事・公的文脈でよく使われる
• take part in：参加する、関与する
• creeping numbness：じわじわとした麻痺
• strike back / strike first：反撃する／先制攻撃する
• national referendum：国民投票
• homegrown constitution：自主憲法
• authoritarian regime：権威主義的政権、独裁政権

 

Are We Too Harsh on Struggling Athletes? A Quiet Reflection on Japanese Criticism

Golden Week has begun in Japan, bringing with it a rare pause in the rhythm of daily life. On a breezy spring morning, while watching a Los Angeles Dodgers game, I found myself thinking less about the score and more about something else—how we respond to those who are not performing well.

With more Japanese players, led by Shohei Ohtani, making their mark in Major League Baseball, public attention has grown. Yet alongside admiration, there seems to be an increasing amount of harsh criticism, especially toward players in a slump.

This piece is not about baseball itself. Rather, it is a quiet reflection on the tone of our reactions—how easily disappointment turns into personal attacks, and what that might say about us as a society. By comparing this tendency with attitudes seen elsewhere, I explore whether this harshness is simply human nature, or something more specific to our cultural environment.

 

It was a fine day, though the wind was strong.

With the holidays beginning today, I had been thinking about how best to spend the time. For now, I decided to visit my mother in Tokyo.

In the morning, there was a Dodgers game. I watched and cheered, but their recent offensive struggles continued, and they suffered a disappointing loss.

With more Japanese players moving to Major League teams, led by Ohtani, there has been a great deal of attention surrounding them.

What has been bothering me lately, however, is the harsh language directed at players who are not performing well.

There are certainly players whose results make one tilt their head in doubt. But they are surely the ones who understand their struggles best. There seems little need to rub salt into their wounds.

Unlike celebrity gossip, the tone often feels like a denial of one’s character. Perhaps I am the only one who senses this.

In contrast, in countries like Korea, athletes from their own nation tend to receive unwavering support.

Is this tendency something inherent in us?

There are studies suggesting that people may act out of spite—even to their own disadvantage—simply to bring others down. I find myself recognizing that impulse from time to time.

Such behavior may appear to stem from a strong sense of justice, but in reality, it is often nothing more than simple unkindness. It is hardly admirable, and perhaps surprising to those in Western societies.

Of course, there may be players who are genuinely difficult as individuals. But it is hard to justify attacking young people who have committed no wrongdoing.

The media and the internet amplify these voices, turning them into entertainment, and the cycle continues.

One cannot help but wish that those involved would behave a little more like “adults.”

Yet perhaps we are living in a society where true adulthood itself has become scarce.

 

Kindness may be the simplest measure of maturity—and the one we seem to forget most easily. 

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• harsh criticism：厳しい批判
• in a slump：不調の状態で
• rub salt into the wound：傷口に塩を塗る
• deny one’s character：人格を否定する
• unwavering support：揺るがない支援
• spite / spiteful behavior：悪意・意地悪な行動
• hardly admirable：ほとんど称賛に値しない
• amplify：増幅する、拡大する
• cannot help but ~：〜せざるを得ない
• scarce：乏しい、少ない

 

What Remains in the Sieve, and What We Pass On

May has begun with heavy rain. 

Yesterday, as I had promised in my blog, I worked rather hard.

That said, when I look back, most of the actual work was done by those around me.
What I did was simply to assist them.

And if I were to put it differently, that “assistance” was, in fact, guidance—sharing what I know.

Before I knew it, I had become the oldest member in the department.
Leaving aside the question of knowledge, I have, at the very least, more experience than anyone else here.
Everyone around me is a junior colleague now, and there is no longer a senior close at hand to rely on.

I offer guidance not only to doctors but also to laboratory technologists, from a pathological point of view.
This, too, is part of passing on what I have accumulated through my own experience.

What I pass on are things that have been caught in the sieve that is myself—
things that, to me, hold a certain truth and value.

The size of that sieve may be debatable, but it was filled, over time, by countless mentors who threw in a mixture of stones and sand—
all the experiences I was fortunate enough to receive from those before me.

At the time, I did not fully understand what I was being told.
Yet what remained has become part of my flesh and blood, shaping who I am today as a pathologist.

Now, in turn, I find myself gradually passing on what has remained on my sieve to those who come after me.

What they choose to keep—and how much of it—will be entirely up to them.
After all, what I pass on is only what remained in my sieve, and there are countless other sieves in this world.

To have even a small chance to entrust something to the next generation is, I think, a quiet kind of happiness.

I sometimes feel that my own “closing chapter” as a pathologist has begun,
but I hope to bring it to a graceful end, little by little.

 

Time, after all, is shorter than we imagine.

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• sieve：ふるい　比喩的に「経験や価値観で選別するもの」
• assist / assistance：手伝う／手助け　控えめな関わりを表すニュアンス
• guidance：指導、導き　押しつけではなく支えるような教え
• accumulate：蓄積する　経験や知識が時間をかけて積み重なること
• flesh and blood：血肉、身についたもの　単なる知識ではなく、自分の一部になったもの
• entrust：託す　責任や価値あるものを次に渡す
• graceful end：有終の美　穏やかで品のある締めくくり
• closing chapter：人生やキャリアの終盤　“end”よりも柔らかく余韻のある表現

 

 

 

Two More Days Before the Break

 Japan’s long holiday has begun, and the city already feels a little different. Fewer commuters, quieter trains—and a mind starting to drift toward days off, even while work still waits.

The long holiday season seems to have started yesterday, with news reports showing a rush of travelers heading overseas.

This morning’s train was only about 60% as crowded as usual, and the stress of commuting was noticeably lighter.

Of course, that comes with its own kind of irritation—more people spreading out and occupying space as if it were entirely their own.

Still, with both office workers and university students away, this time of year is easier to get through.
This year’s calendar is favorable, and with a bit of paid leave, it looks possible to take nearly two weeks off.

Perhaps, once I reach the stage where I need to use up my remaining leave, I might try living that way—almost as a rehearsal for retirement.
But not this year.

Yesterday, I started pulling weeds in the garden and was quickly reminded of how much I had neglected things at home.

It seems I will have to devote at least a day of the holiday to yard work.

I am still hoping that the trees damaged by the severe cold this winter might recover, so the pots remain occupied.
I hesitate to plant anything new, and even the leggy pansies are difficult to pull out.

In the end, simply weeding and tidying the ground may be enough.

There are also plans unique to a long holiday—visiting my mother, perhaps traveling to see my son who lives far away.
When I think about it, it may not be such a quiet break after all.

Still, more than anything, I look forward to spending time with Anne.

 

Yesterday, I tried putting into practice a few things I had learned at a retriever training session, and the change was greater than expected.

Not that Anne had changed—but rather, I realized how much consideration I had been lacking.

She had done nothing wrong.

With more time together like this, perhaps things will gradually improve.

 

So while my anticipation for the holiday keeps growing, today and tomorrow are still regular workdays.

I want to focus and clear the tasks that have been piling up.

Fortunately, a colleague who had been overseas for training has returned, and it seems we may finally move past the recent chaos.
There are still a few difficult cases to handle, but I intend to deal with them properly.

And then there is the administrative work—especially the announcements related to upcoming meetings.

After that, the holiday.

For now, these two days before it begins—
I will simply concentrate and do my best.

 

For now, just two days—focus, and carry through. 

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• long holiday season　　大型連休（日本特有のニュアンスを自然に表現）
• rush of travelers　旅行客のラッシュ、混雑の様子
• occupy space　場所を占有する（やや批判的ニュアンス）
• paid leave　年次有給休暇
• rehearsal for retirement　定年後生活の予行演習（自然で含みのある表現）
• leggy (plants)　徒長した（植物がひょろ長く伸びた状態）
• tidying the ground　整地する、軽く手入れする
• put into practice　実践する
• consideration　配慮、気遣い
• carry through　やり抜く、最後までやる

 

 

A Quiet Holiday to Begin Golden Week

 The sky was lightly overcast, the air was mild, and even the dog walk felt comfortable. On the first day of Golden Week, I decided not to rush, but to enjoy a calm and simple holiday.

 

Today is Showa Day, a national holiday in Japan, and the beginning of Golden Week.

Many people use this long holiday period for travel, family visits, or special plans. Of course, how we spend our free time matters. But sometimes, the best choice is not to fill every hour with activity.

 

This morning, I planned to do some work around the house. However, a baseball game started, and Shohei Ohtani was pitching for the Dodgers. Naturally, that caught my attention, so I sat down first to write today’s blog post.

I cannot spend the whole day in front of the television, though. After finishing this article, I plan to go outside and pull some weeds in the garden.

Nothing dramatic, nothing ambitious—just small tasks, fresh air, and a peaceful pace.

Sometimes a quiet day is exactly what we need.

 

Not every holiday needs excitement; sometimes peace is enough. 

 

Vocabulary for Learners

• overcast = 曇った、雲に覆われた　The sky was overcast this morning.
• mild = 穏やかな、暑すぎず寒すぎない　The weather was mild and pleasant.
• national holiday = 国民の祝日　Showa Day is a national holiday in Japan.
• pitching = （野球で）投球している　Ohtani was pitching today.
• caught my attention = 気を引いた、注意を向けさせた　The game caught my attention.
• pull weeds = 雑草を抜く　I plan to pull weeds in the garden.
• peaceful pace = 穏やかなペース、のんびりした調子　I enjoyed the day at a peaceful pace.
• unhurried = 急がない、ゆったりした　It was an unhurried holiday.

 

 

Why Do We Gain Weight, and Why Do We Try to Lose It?

A rainy morning in Kamakura led me to think about something larger than the weather: why people gain weight so easily, and why losing it has become such a constant concern in modern life. 

Yesterday, a large rain cloud moved across the Japanese archipelago, and Kamakura welcomed a pleasantly damp morning.

It seems that the forest fire in Iwate Prefecture has eased somewhat as well. Since more rain is expected today, I hope it moves closer to being fully extinguished.

The other day, I wrote that frequent business trips had left me tired. One reason for that fatigue, I realized, is eating out too often.

Restaurant meals usually contain a lot of salt. Salty food tastes better, and even when we know that, we still tend to eat too much. As a result, salt accumulates in the body, and water is retained to dilute it, leaving us swollen and heavier than before.

In theory, losing that extra weight should simply require reversing the process. In reality, however, the body does not respond so quickly.

Even after several days of effort and returning to my usual weight, I may casually step into a soba restaurant and drink too much of the strongly flavored broth. Even though I have stopped mindlessly snacking right after coming home, the benefit becomes limited if I do that.

It is surprisingly hard to lose the weight once gained through eating out.

Still, I sometimes wonder: what exactly is dieting for?

Being thin is not automatically ideal. If you look at fighters or athletes, it is obvious that having greater body weight can be purposeful and advantageous.

In my own case, the issue is more practical. I do not want my clothes—especially my trousers—to stop fitting. I simply want to prevent my waistline from expanding any further.

Then there is blood pressure. Years ago, a cardiologist once told me that slightly high blood pressure was not necessarily a bad thing. But when it gets too high, I develop headaches, so now I prefer to keep it under control.

Since heavier body weight often raises blood pressure, I need to reduce both visceral fat and salt intake. There is no need here to repeat all the risks of hypertension, but weight control is certainly effective, and reducing salt is part of that effort.

I would also like to cut back on eating out, though that is not so easy. Restaurants are part of the economy, and they depend on people dining outside the home.

Modern society has become a rather complicated place—where systems encourage us to overeat while pressures constantly tell us to become thinner.

 

We live in a world that sells indulgence and discipline at the same time. 

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• archipelago – 群島、列島　the Japanese archipelago（日本列島）
• extinguished – 消火された、鎮火した　The fire was extinguished.
• fatigue – 疲労　Travel can cause fatigue.
• accumulate – 蓄積する　Salt accumulates in the body.
• retain / retained – 保持する、貯留する　Water is retained.
• in theory / in reality – 理論上は / 現実には　In theory it is simple, but in reality it is hard.
• mindlessly snacking – 無意識に間食すること　I stopped mindlessly snacking.
• purposeful – 目的にかなった、有意義な　Greater weight can be purposeful.
• waistline – ウエスト周り、胴回り　My waistline has expanded.
• visceral fat – 内臓脂肪
• hypertension – 高血圧
• cut back on – ～を減らす　I should cut back on eating out.
• indulgence – 放縦、ぜいたく、欲望に任せること
• discipline – 節制、自己管理

Yes, Japan Faces Natural Disasters—But That Is No Reason for Political Fearmongering

 Japan is a country where earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy snow are part of life. We do not deny that reality. We live with it, prepare for it, and continue moving forward. That is why using natural disasters as a political tool against Japan is both unfair and unworthy of any serious nation.

This morning began with heavy rain, cold air, and gloomy skies. The news reported a strong earthquake in Hokkaido shortly after five o’clock. Coming so soon after last week’s large quake off the Sanriku coast, it naturally causes concern.

My daughter, who lives in New York, once said that the best thing there is the absence of earthquakes. I understand exactly what she means.

Japan has always lived under the shadow of nature. Earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and heavy snowfall are not unusual here. Even Mount Fuji could erupt someday, and we know it. We prepare because we must.

That does not mean we stop living.

Recently, I spoke with someone living in Karuizawa, who said that the number of Western tourists has increased, while large tour groups from China have become far less visible. Similar stories are heard in Kamakura as well. Chinese group tourism appears to have declined, though individual travelers still continue to visit.

This likely reflects official discouragement of travel to Japan by the Chinese government.

It is unfortunate when ordinary people who may wish to visit Japan are restrained by political messaging from above. More recently, there have even been reports of campaigns using Japan’s earthquakes as a reason to avoid travel here.

That goes too far.

Natural disasters are serious matters. They should never be turned into propaganda. If there were hidden dangers or a lack of public information, criticism would be understandable. But Japan provides visitors with extensive information, warnings, and guidance.

Millions still choose to come.

The proper path between nations is dialogue, mutual respect, and open exchange—not attempts to spread fear for political convenience.

A country that calls itself a great power should behave like one.

 

True strength is shown not by spreading fear, but by showing dignity. 

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• natural disaster – 自然災害
• earthquake – 地震
• fearmongering – 不安をあおること、恐怖を利用する扇動
• under the shadow of – ～の脅威のもとで
• discouragement of travel – 渡航自粛の働きかけ
• propaganda – 宣伝工作、政治的プロパガンダ
• mutual respect – 相互尊重
• political convenience – 政治的都合
• great power – 大国
• dignity – 品位、威厳

Having a Dog Is Wonderful—But It Takes Daily Care

 Yesterday, I attended a dog-care seminar with Ann, our Flat-Coated Retriever. It was both enjoyable and surprisingly educational.

Yesterday, there was a dog-care seminar organized by the breeder of Ann, our Flat-Coated Retriever, for owners of dogs from her kennel.

Of course, it was not free.

Still, it was a very worthwhile experience. We listened to excellent instructors, including a veteran handler, a retriever specialist, a canine nutrition expert, and an animal aromatherapist. There were also hands-on training sessions, which made the day even more rewarding.

We learned many practical things about daily dog care. For example, why Ann walks so well with my wife but not quite as well with me, what preparations are necessary for dog shows, and the important points of grooming a Flat-Coated Retriever. Every topic was interesting and useful.

Ann was even chosen as a model dog for grooming, and afterward she looked more beautiful than ever.

 

During the animal aromatherapy session, not only the dogs but the people felt relaxed as well.

It was a day full of eye-opening lessons. I learned a great deal about how carefully and lovingly a dog should be treated. Of course, I cannot remember everything, so I wrote these thoughts down. From now on, I will simply try to practice them little by little each day.

Having a dog is enjoyable, but it also takes effort. Yet that effort is nothing more than thinking every day about how to give love and care.

As we drove home, the lights of the tents near the campsite looked like a peaceful night scene from Moominvalley.

 

Having a dog may take daily effort, but that effort itself is one form of love. 

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• worthwhile：やる価値のある、有意義な
• hands-on：実地の、体験型の
• rewarding：やりがいのある、満足感のある
• eye-opening：目から鱗の、視野を広げる
• effort：努力、手間
• little by little：少しずつ
• care for ~：〜の世話をする、大切にする
• more beautiful than ever：これまで以上に美しい

 

Why Can’t We Build Flexible Organizations?

Every April, Japanese workplaces welcome new employees and reshuffle staff. But behind these seasonal changes lies a deeper issue: many organizations operate with no room to absorb maternity leave, parental leave, or illness. That rigidity may be one hidden cause of Japan’s declining birthrate.

 

With April came a major reshuffling of doctors at my hospital.

From full-time physicians to residents, many new faces arrived, and at our departmental meeting the newcomers introduced themselves.

The meeting is usually held in a hybrid format, and I normally attend online from my desk. But at the beginning of each fiscal year, I make a point of going in person to see the faces of the new members joining our department.

Many new clinical laboratory technologists also joined the laboratory division.

Our organizational structure changed this year, and recruitment was larger than usual.

I imagine the nursing department, administration, and many other sections also experienced their own turnover.

It has been nearly a month now. I wonder whether everyone has settled in.

Leaving aside new hiring, one issue that often causes headaches is how to manage when staff members take maternity leave, parental leave, or sick leave.

Even if staffing cannot be doubled, I often think that if there were a little extra capacity from the start, covering for absent staff would be far easier.

Any organization probably begins with some room to spare. But once its work is recognized and operations become established, demand grows, workloads increase, and staff shortages appear.

Of course, in a shrinking Japan, labor shortages are often discussed as inevitable. But one cause has also been the long delay in properly addressing maternity and parental leave.

Having children is increasingly seen as a burden. Yet many people still want children.

Even those who still wish to have children despite difficult circumstances may find it hard to do so because support systems remain inadequate.

If it is impossible to prepare twice as many workers simply because demand may someday reach full capacity, then perhaps organizations must also learn not to pursue maximum capacity at all times.

From the perspective of the laboratory department, if we tried to meet every request coming from clinical services without limit, collapse would only be a matter of time.

Doctors, after all, can be demanding, and some behave as though medical resources simply fall from the sky.

As a result, more and more tests are ordered, and patients become buried in examinations.

I am not arguing against the tests themselves. But unless requests are kept to what is truly necessary, the laboratory inevitably reaches its limits.

Then when someone takes maternity leave, parental leave, or sick leave, the whole system quickly begins to fail.

Yes, people can be reassigned from elsewhere. But then the department losing those people suffers in turn.

To avoid this, organizations must be able to expand and contract with changing realities.

Why have we failed to build such organizations?

One reason, I believe, is the long dominance of a male-centered way of thinking.

If society had better understood the wishes of women who want to have children and raise them, we might have built a happier society in which people supported one another more naturally.

Flexible organizations with a little room to breathe are the true foundation of a society that can nurture both people and children.

 

Organizations with a little room to breathe are the true foundation of a society that can nurture both people and children. 

 ・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• reshuffling = 人員の入れ替え、配置転換
• newcomers = 新しく入った人たち
• hybrid format = 対面とオンライン併用形式
• maternity leave = 産休
• parental leave = 育休
• extra capacity = 余力、余剰能力
• workload = 業務量
• inevitable = 避けられない、必然的な
• reach full capacity = 最大処理能力に達する
• a matter of time = 時間の問題
• reassigned = 配置転換される
• male-centered = 男性中心の
• room to breathe = 余白、ゆとり（比喩表現）

 

Before a Slightly Longer Timeout

 Next week will already be May, and Golden Week is just around the corner.
A holiday break can be refreshing, but it can also interrupt the rhythm we have worked hard to build. As I prepare for this slightly longer timeout, I find myself thinking about time, balance, and strategy.

 

Next week is already May, and Golden Week begins.

Although May has thirty-one days on the calendar, once the holidays are taken into account, it often feels even shorter than February.

Still, a long holiday is not a bad thing. It comes during one of the most pleasant and stable seasons of the year, making it an excellent time to rest.

Since the New Year, many people have been busy with end-of-year duties, followed immediately by the intense start of a new fiscal year. In that sense, this short pause is welcome.

The difficulty is that breaks can loosen our discipline. They interrupt the steady routines we have built day by day.

In my case, that includes daily diagnostic work, preparation for study meetings, lecture planning, and many other ongoing responsibilities.

Time never stops, not even for a moment.

It moves forward with almost cruel speed.

As long as I am still in the game, I need to think carefully about strategy before time runs out.

Even so, there are moments when I want to say, “Time out!”

Golden Week, for me, is exactly that—a slightly longer timeout.

Halftime is something different. Summer vacation and the year-end holidays are true halftimes, when both body and mind need complete rest. But this slightly longer timeout is a chance to review plans and make small adjustments.

Of course, I cannot suddenly change direction. And since halftime is still some distance away, the real question is how to use this brief pause wisely.

First, I should bring the current situation back to even before calling timeout. After all, it is usually the team that is losing that asks for one.

Last week I was away on several business trips, and since the weekend my colleague has been overseas for training in pediatric and perinatal pathology. I have been managing everything alone.

I used to do that before he joined us. But once work became too much for one person, having two pathologists helped greatly. Returning to one again is not easy.

Without academic meetings or lectures, it might still be manageable. But those duties remain.

I sometimes think about making a to-do list, but most things are already organized in my head.

Deadlines exist, of course, but I already understand how time and priorities must be distributed.

So first, I should bring things back to even, and then wait for the whistle that signals timeout.

 

Before taking a break, it is best to restore balance and be ready for the game ahead. 

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

• just around the corner = もうすぐそこに
• interrupt the rhythm = 調子・流れを中断する
• taken into account = 考慮に入れて
• steady routine = 安定した日課・習慣
• time runs out = 時間切れになる
• make small adjustments = 小さな調整をする
• bring back to even = 五分五分の状態に戻す
• manageable = 何とか対処できる
• distributed = 配分される
• signals timeout = タイムアウトを告げる

 

Being Allowed to Stay in the Game Is a Blessing

 Some days, fatigue feels heavier than usual.
Travel, unfamiliar places, and the passing of time all leave their marks.
Yet even near the end of the game, being allowed to remain on the court is something to be grateful for.

For the past couple of days, my writing has felt somewhat lacking in energy.
Perhaps that is because I drafted it on the way home the night before

I usually add the opening lines the next morning, while the rest was written the previous evening.
The energy of morning and the melancholy of night—human emotions move in ways that are surprisingly easy to recognize.

Perhaps because of my recent business trips, fatigue has been building up.

Traveling to unfamiliar places takes physical strength, and visiting somewhere new brings its own tension.
That alone can deepen one’s exhaustion.

Meeting people I do not know is tiring in another way.
When you have no idea what kind of person the other side may be, that cannot be helped.

Traveling by Shinkansen can also be draining.

Recently, with many visitors coming to Japan, there are moments when differences in manners or customs inside the train feel noticeable.
At the same time, adapting to systems designed mainly for Japanese travelers must be difficult for them as well.

Academic conferences leave me tired too.

In earlier years, hearing new ideas filled me with joy.
I wanted to absorb what I did not know and make it part of myself.

Now, however, I feel there is not much room left in my mind for new things.

That may be why conferences exhaust me each time I attend one.
Sometimes I wonder whether it is nearly enough.

My body may be trying, little by little, to fade from the front stage of society.

Then again, it is difficult to define what the front stage really means.
It is not simply having a title, nor standing before others in visible roles.

I no longer feel much attachment to surviving in the place where I once stood by relying only on what I built in the past.

Even so, I still have one more effort to make.

If I compare life to the basketball games I once loved, perhaps this is the final two minutes.

And yet, being able to spend this time on the court itself is possible only because I have been fortunate enough to be allowed to play.

 

If I am grateful for that fortune, then I should keep running until the final whistle. 

 

・・・ 

Vocabulary for Learners

• fatigue = 疲労
• melancholy = 物悲しさ、憂鬱
• unfamiliar = 見慣れない、不慣れな
• exhaustion = 消耗、極度の疲れ
• attachment = 執着、愛着
• fortunate enough to... = ～できるほど幸運である
• final whistle = 試合終了の笛（人生の比喩としても使える）