The Storms Have Passed, and Another Piece of the Showa Era Is Gone

Two typhoons passed through Japan without causing as much damage as feared, although some communities were still seriously affected. On the same day, the death of Akihiro Miwa brought another reminder that the cultural world of the Showa era is gradually disappearing—and raised a difficult question about what it means to live one’s life fully.

The pair of typhoons passed without leaving behind the extensive scars we had feared.

Even so, I imagine that some farmers and others suffered severe damage. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to everyone affected.

There has been a succession of deaths among well-known figures recently, and today came the news that Akihiro Miwa had passed away.

Miwa was also famous as a strikingly beautiful figure whose looks and talent were highly admired by Yukio Mishima.

I also remember feeling unsettled as a child by Black Lizard, in which Miwa played the leading role.

People often say that “another piece of the Showa era has faded into the distance.” Akihiro Miwa must surely have been one of the essential pieces that made up that era, particularly in the cultural history of Showa Japan.

In more recent years, Miwa had also offered advice on people’s personal troubles. I wonder whether someone like Miwa had troubles of his own.

Human beings must all die someday. That is perhaps why, while we are alive, we should try to live out our lives in our own way.

Yet if we keep pushing ourselves, we become exhausted. If we stop making an effort, time passes before we know it.

What does it really mean to live one’s life fully?

Even simply continuing to live is not always easy.

To live fully may mean neither striving without rest nor letting time slip away, but continuing to search for one’s own way of living.

・・・

leave behind scars
To cause lasting damage or painful memories.
傷跡を残す、長く残る被害をもたらす

my heartfelt sympathy goes out to
A formal expression used to show sincere concern for people who have suffered.
〜に心よりお見舞い申し上げる

a succession of
A number of similar events happening one after another.
相次ぐ、一連の

strikingly beautiful
So beautiful or impressive that the person immediately attracts attention.
ひときわ美しい、目を引くほど美しい

unsettled
Made to feel uneasy, disturbed, or slightly frightened.
不安にさせられた、落ち着かない気持ちになった

fade into the distance
To gradually become more remote, less vivid, or less present in people’s lives.
次第に遠ざかる、記憶の彼方へ薄れていく

live out one’s life
To continue living until the natural end of one’s life, often in a personally meaningful way.
人生を生き抜く、生をまっとうする

push oneself
To make oneself work or try harder, sometimes beyond a comfortable limit.
自分を追い込む、無理をして頑張る

before we know it
Used when something happens more quickly or unnoticed than expected.
気がつかないうちに、あっという間に