A big thank you to my brilliant team from Wales who wowed Japan.
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Steve
日本を湧かせた私の素晴らしいウェールズチーム、どうもありがとう。
すでにみんなが恋しいです!!
スティーブ.
すでにみんなが恋しいです!!
スティーブ.
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Monday, 19 May 2008
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Hiroshima at peace
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Hiroshima today is a city the size of Birmingham and was enjoying it's annual flower festival when we arrived there and it was in party mood.
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今日の広島はバーミンガム程度の大きさで、私が訪れた時は年１度のフラワーフェスティバルが開催中で、街はお祭りムードでした。
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I bought a very moving book written by a dozen survivors who were close to the "hypocentre" and whose lives were shattered on a beautiful cloudless morning. They were at war of course but could still enjoy the peace and tranquility of a break from daily routines. Some heard the B-29 and looked up and saw it heading away to the north, and a glint in the sky as something reflected the sun's rays.
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私はとても感動的な本を買いました。
それは、原爆の爆心地に近く、雲一つ無い美しいあの朝に、人生を破壊された生き残りの人々によって書かれたものです。
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The decision to bomb Hiroshima was made by American and British governments because it had suffered no serious bomb damage during the war despite the significant presence of the Mitsubishi shipyard which had been turning out warships on a massive scale.
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This meant that the impact from the blast could be measured.
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広島への投爆は、アメリカとイギリス政府によって決定されました。
なぜなら広島は戦艦を製造していた三菱工場が在るにも関わらず、大きなダメージを受けていなかったからです。
つまり、爆発の影響は予測されていたと思われます。
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The photograph above is one of only 3 taken in the immediate aftermath of the detonation and before the news reporter broke down with the sheer horror of what he was seeing.
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上の写真は、３枚しかし存在しない、投爆直後の写真のうちの１つです。
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If any place shows a total committment to world peace and understanding it is this one and on the experience of our GSE visit I can honestly add that the same applies to all the people we met in Japan.
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私の日本訪問の経験から、世界平和と国際理解に全力をあげて献身している場所はここ広島であり、っそいて私が日本で出会った全ての人々です。
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Hiroshima today is a city the size of Birmingham and was enjoying it's annual flower festival when we arrived there and it was in party mood.
.
今日の広島はバーミンガム程度の大きさで、私が訪れた時は年１度のフラワーフェスティバルが開催中で、街はお祭りムードでした。
.
I bought a very moving book written by a dozen survivors who were close to the "hypocentre" and whose lives were shattered on a beautiful cloudless morning. They were at war of course but could still enjoy the peace and tranquility of a break from daily routines. Some heard the B-29 and looked up and saw it heading away to the north, and a glint in the sky as something reflected the sun's rays.
.
私はとても感動的な本を買いました。
それは、原爆の爆心地に近く、雲一つ無い美しいあの朝に、人生を破壊された生き残りの人々によって書かれたものです。
.
.
The decision to bomb Hiroshima was made by American and British governments because it had suffered no serious bomb damage during the war despite the significant presence of the Mitsubishi shipyard which had been turning out warships on a massive scale.
.
This meant that the impact from the blast could be measured.
.
広島への投爆は、アメリカとイギリス政府によって決定されました。
なぜなら広島は戦艦を製造していた三菱工場が在るにも関わらず、大きなダメージを受けていなかったからです。
つまり、爆発の影響は予測されていたと思われます。
.
.
The photograph above is one of only 3 taken in the immediate aftermath of the detonation and before the news reporter broke down with the sheer horror of what he was seeing.
.
上の写真は、３枚しかし存在しない、投爆直後の写真のうちの１つです。
.
.
If any place shows a total committment to world peace and understanding it is this one and on the experience of our GSE visit I can honestly add that the same applies to all the people we met in Japan.
.
私の日本訪問の経験から、世界平和と国際理解に全力をあげて献身している場所はここ広島であり、っそいて私が日本で出会った全ての人々です。
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Hiroshima
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What a place. We arrived and booked ourselves into the hotel and found the city to be beautiful. It was relatively new and it was clear the entire place was rebuilt at the same time shortly after the atom bomb. The first night we attended the peace memorial and park and it was an experience that affected us all. The immense sadness that takes over you as you walk through the park cannot be described. I can only compare it with a visit to Auschwitz I made a few years ago. Although in Auschwitz the atrocities that happened there were pure evil, Hiroshima can be justified be it through pearl harbour or the Russians imminent invasion of the country.
What is difficult to fathom though is the number of children who died in the attack. The innocent that were written off as collateral damage. The place has a huge military interest but yet the factories were hidden amongst houses, children were the ones who worked in the factories.
I could write so much here about the reasons, justifications but at the end it doesn't answer the question fundimentally why this had to happen to so many innocent people. Sadness fills the place and the A-bomb dome has an eerie presence to it.
One has to visit the place to understand what I am talking about. My time there was memorable and I am glad I had the chance to pay my respects to the innocent lives that were lost. But it is somewhere I wouldn't like to visit again. Even after seeing so much suffering and death first hand myself, nothing can prepare you for the feeling of this memorial.
It makes clear the fear and consequences of nuclear weapons.
.
What a place. We arrived and booked ourselves into the hotel and found the city to be beautiful. It was relatively new and it was clear the entire place was rebuilt at the same time shortly after the atom bomb. The first night we attended the peace memorial and park and it was an experience that affected us all. The immense sadness that takes over you as you walk through the park cannot be described. I can only compare it with a visit to Auschwitz I made a few years ago. Although in Auschwitz the atrocities that happened there were pure evil, Hiroshima can be justified be it through pearl harbour or the Russians imminent invasion of the country.
What is difficult to fathom though is the number of children who died in the attack. The innocent that were written off as collateral damage. The place has a huge military interest but yet the factories were hidden amongst houses, children were the ones who worked in the factories.
I could write so much here about the reasons, justifications but at the end it doesn't answer the question fundimentally why this had to happen to so many innocent people. Sadness fills the place and the A-bomb dome has an eerie presence to it.
One has to visit the place to understand what I am talking about. My time there was memorable and I am glad I had the chance to pay my respects to the innocent lives that were lost. But it is somewhere I wouldn't like to visit again. Even after seeing so much suffering and death first hand myself, nothing can prepare you for the feeling of this memorial.
It makes clear the fear and consequences of nuclear weapons.
Monday, 12 May 2008
Gobo Power station 御坊発電所
We got to visit Gobo Power Station which was on a man made island, and understand how the electricity was generated in the area.
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私たちは人工の島に設立された御坊発電所を訪問しました。
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.
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私たちは人工の島に設立された御坊発電所を訪問しました。
We had a tour of the site, got to wear some fun hard hats, and could not believe the heat coming off one of the generators:
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私たちは案内ツアーに参加し、おもしろい堅い帽子（ヘルメット）をかぶって発電機の熱から身を守りました。
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私たちは案内ツアーに参加し、おもしろい堅い帽子（ヘルメット）をかぶって発電機の熱から身を守りました。
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Nuclear power is prevalent in Japan, though renewable energies are not as common place as they are in the UK.
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日本では原子力発電が普及していますが、再利用できるエネルギーはイギリスでは普及していません。
日本では原子力発電が普及していますが、再利用できるエネルギーはイギリスでは普及していません。
Friday, 9 May 2008
Nara in the Rain 雨の中の奈良
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On the penultimate day of our Rotary trip we enjoyed a soggy day of sightseeing in Nara, which gave us a chance to test the 'power of the Kag'. Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784 and has many important temples and shrines. It seemed like we shared each area of our trip that day with about 10,000 children on their school trips! Busy busy busy - but we had a lovely relaxed day and got some walking exercise wandering from place to place with our hosts and guide!
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最後から２番目のロータリーの旅行では、奈良でじめじめした観光日を楽しみました。奈良は710年から784年の間日本の首都で、重要な寺や神社が存在しています。どの日も1万人くらいの修学旅行の学生に出くわしました! 多忙、多忙、多忙・・・な日々でしたが、リラックスした素敵な日を過ごし、私たちのホストとガイドさんと、ウォーキングを楽しみました。
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最後から２番目のロータリーの旅行では、奈良でじめじめした観光日を楽しみました。奈良は710年から784年の間日本の首都で、重要な寺や神社が存在しています。どの日も1万人くらいの修学旅行の学生に出くわしました! 多忙、多忙、多忙・・・な日々でしたが、リラックスした素敵な日を過ごし、私たちのホストとガイドさんと、ウォーキングを楽しみました。
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According to legend, a mythological god (Takemikazuchi) arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital, and since then deer have been regarded as heavenly animal who protect the city. These days, tame deer roam through the town, and especially in Nara Park. Well - the deer might be considered "tame" but if you have any "shika sembei - Deer Biscuits" when you see them they can get pretty unruly!
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伝説によれば、神話上の神（武甕槌之命）は、新しく建てられる都を守るために白い鹿に乗って奈良に辿り着いたため、それからというもの、鹿は都市を守る神聖な動物と信じられてきました。今日、街や奈良公園には、飼育された鹿が歩き回っています。えーっと、鹿は「飼育」されているようですが、「鹿せんべい」をあげる時は、彼らは相当手に負えなくなります!
伝説によれば、神話上の神（武甕槌之命）は、新しく建てられる都を守るために白い鹿に乗って奈良に辿り着いたため、それからというもの、鹿は都市を守る神聖な動物と信じられてきました。今日、街や奈良公園には、飼育された鹿が歩き回っています。えーっと、鹿は「飼育」されているようですが、「鹿せんべい」をあげる時は、彼らは相当手に負えなくなります!
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Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Japan Rail Pass
We would recommend to anyone visiting Japan that they take out a Japan Rail Pass.
For the price of a return shinkansen (Bullet train) from Osaka to Tokyo you have the benefit of unlimited travel for 7 days (other options available) on Japan Rail routes and can get to see the countryside and use most types of shinkansen too.
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Timing is meticulous and there is so much space (can you believe the room to use your laptop?) and the train staff bow each time they enter and leave the compartment.
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Beware however the Kodama superexpress rapid bullet train - it's actually the stopping train!
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Easing back into the routine
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I visited the office of Lloyds TSB, Tokyo which is located on the 5th floor of this building in Akasaka as part of my vocational objective.
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職業トレーニングの一環として、赤坂にある東京のロイズ銀行を訪れました。
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My thanks go the new Country Director Stuart Cheetham and Director Adrian Powell for welcoming me and giving me an overview of their operations. The office is staffed about 90% from Japanese people and 10% ex-pats.
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私を歓迎し、施設を案内してくださった、ディレクターのStuart Cheetham さん、そして Adrian Powell さん、どうもありがとうございました。
このオフィスは、90%が日本人スタッフだそうです。
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I visited the office of Lloyds TSB, Tokyo which is located on the 5th floor of this building in Akasaka as part of my vocational objective.
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職業トレーニングの一環として、赤坂にある東京のロイズ銀行を訪れました。
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My thanks go the new Country Director Stuart Cheetham and Director Adrian Powell for welcoming me and giving me an overview of their operations. The office is staffed about 90% from Japanese people and 10% ex-pats.
.
私を歓迎し、施設を案内してくださった、ディレクターのStuart Cheetham さん、そして Adrian Powell さん、どうもありがとうございました。
このオフィスは、90%が日本人スタッフだそうです。
Ambassadorial Scholars, past and future 国際親善奨学生、過去と未来
Whilst here I have been fortunate to meet up with former Ambassadorial Scholar, Mari Higurashi who now works in Tokyo as a consultant for Factset; and 2008-9 inbound scholar Yumiko Nanao, who will be studying for her Masters in International Law at Cardiff University.
. 日本に滞在中、元国際親善奨学生であり、今は東京でコンサルタントとして働く日暮まりさんに会うことができました。さらに、今年カーディフ大学国際法修士コースで学ぶ予定の、ロータリー奨学金で留学予定の七尾ゆみこさんにもお会いできました。
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Yumiko is currently working in Tokyo as a lawyer for French multinational Areva in their nuclear power division. We are looking forward to her arrival in Cardiff in August.
Mari had kindly arranged a fantastic meal for us at a restaurant in the fashionable Ginza area of Tokyo, near to her office, which we enjoyed but we legged it when we saw Mike Parry pulling up outside in his Volvo estate.
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. 日本に滞在中、元国際親善奨学生であり、今は東京でコンサルタントとして働く日暮まりさんに会うことができました。さらに、今年カーディフ大学国際法修士コースで学ぶ予定の、ロータリー奨学金で留学予定の七尾ゆみこさんにもお会いできました。
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Yumiko is currently working in Tokyo as a lawyer for French multinational Areva in their nuclear power division. We are looking forward to her arrival in Cardiff in August.
Mari had kindly arranged a fantastic meal for us at a restaurant in the fashionable Ginza area of Tokyo, near to her office, which we enjoyed but we legged it when we saw Mike Parry pulling up outside in his Volvo estate.
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Thursday, 1 May 2008
Last night for the team 最後の夜
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Next stop Tokyo.
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We will continue to stay on in Japan, traveling separately but the last night as a team was spent in luxury at the Swissotel Nankai, Osaka courtesy of a local Rotarian.
.Next stop Tokyo.
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今後、メンバーはバラバラに日本を旅行しますが、チームとしての最後の夜は、地元のロータリアン優待の豪華なスイスホテル南海大阪に泊まりました。
今後、メンバーはバラバラに日本を旅行しますが、チームとしての最後の夜は、地元のロータリアン優待の豪華なスイスホテル南海大阪に泊まりました。
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次の行き先は東京です。
次の行き先は東京です。
Words you don't want to hear as Team Leader -10
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Trish; Steve san, James would like a quiet word about the 1200 year old temple over there but he does promise to give up smoking now after today. What's the Japanese for "accidents will happen"?
Koyasan - Boot Hill 高野山
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A 2 kilometer long path in the graveyard of Okunoin to the Mauseleum of Kôbô Daishi is lined with 20,000 tombs erected from the Kamakura Period. Actually, it is not known how many tombs were erected here if we take into consideration the tomb stones erected during the Heian Period and are left buried underneath the earth. There are tombs of emperors, noblemen, and warlords, and corporate Japan such as Nissan, Toyota and UCC. Here are just a few.
............ 
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.A 2 kilometer long path in the graveyard of Okunoin to the Mauseleum of Kôbô Daishi is lined with 20,000 tombs erected from the Kamakura Period. Actually, it is not known how many tombs were erected here if we take into consideration the tomb stones erected during the Heian Period and are left buried underneath the earth. There are tombs of emperors, noblemen, and warlords, and corporate Japan such as Nissan, Toyota and UCC. Here are just a few.
............ 
'
...and it's more fun in the dark.
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