太宰治高校時代筆記和日記公開

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

優等生・太宰、高校時代のノートに意外な落書き

「人間失格」「斜陽」などで知られる作家、太宰治（１９０９～４８年）の旧制中学・高校時代のノートや日記など、２２点の資料が東京都目黒区の日本近代文学館に寄贈され、同館が１０日公表した。

　ノート類の存在は研究者には知られ、一部公開されたこともあるが、安藤宏・東大教授（日本近代文学）は「作家になる以前の太宰が何を考えていたか、まとまって分かる貴重な資料」としている。

　資料は太宰と交流のあった横山武夫・元青森県副知事の遺族が保管していた。

　ノートは全部で１０冊。中学時代の太宰（本名・津島修治）は優等生で、数学の問題を真面目に解く一方、「津島君は実に美男なり」と書かれた文字を線で消した跡もある。

　昭和２年（２７年）４月、１７歳で旧制弘前高に進学。１年生の時とみられる「地鉱」の科目名を書いたノートも、当初は「地球起原」「太陽系起原」と項目が打たれ、授業内容を丁寧に記していた。

　だが、１０ページあたりから似顔絵などの落書きが増え、２０ページ過ぎには「芥川龍之介」の文字を無数に書いた箇所もあった。ノートの後半には芥川の似顔絵や、太宰が高校時代に作った同人誌「細胞文芸」の目次案を書くなど、授業中も文学のことを考え、傾倒してゆく様子が分かる。

（2013年5月10日23時11分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

Twenty two items belonged to writer Dazaiosamu (1909 - 48), who was known for "No Longer Human" and "A Declining Sun" etc, including a diary and  notes written during the high school days at a old-system junior high school, were presented to the Museum of Modern Japanese Literature in Meguro-ku, Tokyo; the museum announced this officially on the 10th.

Although the existence of these notes might have been known to some researchers and a part of them might be exhibited before, the professor of the University of Tokyo (Japanese modern literature), Hiroshi Ando, supposed that "collectively these precious details could make known what Dazai was thinking before he became a writer".

The bereaved family of Takeo Yokoyama, the former Aomori vice-governor who had communication with Dazai was keeping these items.

The notes had ten volumes in total. Dazai (the real name Shuji Tsushima) in his junior high school days was an honored student. While he had tried to solve the mathematical problem seriously, there was also erasing marks of using lines to cover the written words "Mr. Tsushima is very handsome".

He went to the old system Hirosaki High School at the age of 17 in April, Showa 2nd year  (1927). The notes, believed to be at the time of a first grader, were written with the subject name "Ground Mineral” while earlier names written such as "Earth Origin" and "Solar System Origin" were struck out. The course contents were described carefully.

But graffiti such as portraits increased from around page 10, and there were also some places written with many times the words "Ryunosuke Akutagawa" after page 20. In the second half of the notes, Akutagawa's portrait was drawn and a table-of-contents proposal for the Doujinshi "Cell Literature" was written, the latter was available during Dazai’s high school days. He thought about literature even during classes, his admiration for it could be understood.

These are interesting high school records of Dazai.

山本五十六攻撃珍珠港之前曾寫信給長岡藩主

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

　新潟県長岡市出身で、旧海軍連合艦隊司令長官の山本五十六（１８８４～１９４３年）が、真珠湾攻撃の直前、親交のあった長岡藩主牧野家の当主に宛てて出したとみられる手紙の封筒が発見された。

　神奈川県逗子市在住の第１７代当主、牧野忠昌さん（７１）が６日、長岡市のアオーレ長岡で行った「五十六まつり」の講演会で明らかにした。来年同市に開館する「長岡藩主牧野家史料館（仮称）」での公開を検討している。

　牧野さんによると、見つかったのは、当時東京・渋谷にいた父・忠永さん宛てに、五十六が郵送した名刺サイズの封筒。宛先と名前が毛筆で記され、「１６・１２・８」（昭和１６年１２月８日）の「后０―４（正午から午後４時）」と消印が押されている。裏には「山本五十六」の名前とともに、差出人住所の位置に、五十六が真珠湾攻撃を指揮した時の旗艦「長門」の文字が書かれていた。

　牧野さんが４月、史料館開設や今回の講演会に向けて、代々引き継がれてきた家の資料を調べていて発見した。「真珠湾攻撃の日付と旗艦から送られてきた封筒であることに大変驚いた」という。

　封筒の中身は見つかっていないが、当時の郵便事情からみて手紙をしたためたのは開戦前とみられる。牧野さんは「父は毎日のように日記をつけていた。手紙は日記などとともに別の場所に保管された可能性がある」といい、引き続き中身を探す意向を示している。

　講演会は、長岡市の河井継之助記念館の稲川明雄館長との対談形式で行われ、牧野さんは忠永さんが五十六と親しくしていたことを紹介。「五十六元帥はまず平和を考え、国民の生活を考えていた。牧野家も領民を大切にしなければならないという思いを持っていた」と語り、長岡藩の伝統が五十六の思いとつながっていることを強調した。

（2013年5月9日21時33分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

It was in Nagaoka city of Niigata that the envelope and letter regarded as written by Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) was discovered, he was the commander in chief of the old navy combined fleet; just before the Pearl Harbor attack it was addressed and sent to the intimate family head of a Nagaoka local lord, the Makino family.

Mr. Tadamasa Makino (71) the 17th generation family head that was living in Zushi city of Kanagawa clarified this on the 6th at the lecture meeting for the "Isoroku Festival" held in Aore Nagaoka in Nagaoka. Discussion was held regarding making public "The Nagaoka Local Lord Makino Family Archives (tentative name)", to be opened in the city next year.

     According to Mr. Makino, what was found was a card size envelope which Isoroku mailed to his father and addressed him as Tadanaga who was staying in Shibuya of Tokyo in those days. The address and name were written with a brush and "afternoon 0 - 4 (4:00 p.m. after noon)" and postmark of "16.12.8" (December 8, Showa 16) were printed. At the rerse side, there were the sender's  position and address and the name of "Isoroku Yamamoto"  was written. Also written were the words "Nagato", it was the Isoroku’s flagship when commanding the Pearl Harbor attack.

Mr. Makino in April discovered them when he investigated the data material of the family, which was succeeded from generation to generation, in preparation for the archives establishment and the lecture meeting. It was said that "It is very much a surprise that it is an envelope sent out on the date when the Pearl Harbor attack occurred and from the flagship".

Although the content of the envelope was not found, in view of a mail situation of those days, it was regarded as having written before the outbreak-of-war. Mr. Makino said "my father kept the diary almost every day. There was a possibility that the letter may have been kept somewhere else together with the diary etc."; and he showed the intention of continuing to search for the contents.  

The lecture meeting was held in the form of a talk with Akio Inagawa the superintendent of the Kawai Tsugunosuke Memorial Hall in Nagaoka; Mr. Makino introduced Tadanaga who had become intimate with Isoroku. It was said that "Isoroku marshal considered peace first and also considered people's life. Makino family must also cherish the people under its dominion", and emphasized that the tradition of the Nagaoka dominion was connected with the thought of Isoroku.

It is an interesting story. I hope they can find the letter eventually.

印度日本首腦会談

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

新幹線技術の導入確認…麻生氏とインド首相会談

【グレーターノイダ（ニューデリー郊外）＝河野越男】麻生副総理・財務相は４日、訪問先のニューデリー郊外のグレーターノイダでシン首相と会談した。

　インドでの日本の新幹線技術の導入や、レアアース開発での協力を進めることを確認した。日印が原子力発電に関する技術協力などを行えるようにする原子力協定の締結交渉についても協議を進めていくことで一致した。

　日本の金融緩和などデフレ脱却の取り組みについて、シン首相は「非常に目覚ましい措置」と評価したという。麻生氏は記者会見で、日本の金融緩和に対し、アジア開発銀行総会など一連の会議で各国から懸念は示されなかったとし、「日本が好況になることはアジアのためにも世界経済のためにもなる」と述べた。

（2013年5月4日23時31分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the fourth Finance Minister cum Deputy Prime Minister Aso conferred with Prime Minister Singh at a visiting place at Greater Noida at the suburb of New Delhi.

It confirmed further advancing the introduction of the Shinkansen technology of Japan to India, and the cooperation on the development rare earth. The Japan and India was in agreement in advancing deliberations to conclude negotiation for a nuclear agreement which would enable them to perform technical cooperation in nuclear power generation etc.

About the measure to break away from the deflation, such as Japan’s money market relaxation, Prime Minister Singh said that he estimated it as "a very remarkable measure". Mr. Aso at the press conference did no touch on the concern that would come from countries at a series of meetings, such as the Asian Development Bank general meetings about the money market relaxation by Japan. He just said "That Japan becomes prosperous would benefit both Asia and the world economy".

It seems that Japan is increasing its diplomatic ties with India.

中国廣東省廣州市發現有染汚米

Yesterday the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

カドミウム汚染米、情報小出しの広州当局に批判

【広州＝吉田健一】中国広東省広州市で、有害物質のカドミウムに汚染された米が流通していたことが発覚した。

　中国では「食の安全」への住民の関心が高いが、当局が情報を小出しにしたため、インターネット上やメディアで当局批判が噴出した。

　市当局は１６日、調査した米と米加工品の計１８サンプルのうち八つから、基準値を超えるカドミウムが検出されたと発表した。だが詳細の公表は拒んだ。

　これに対し微博（中国版ツイッター）では、「住民の健康より業者が大切なのか」と批判が噴出。広州の大学生は情報公開条例に基づき、関連情報の開示を求めた。世論の反発に押された当局は１７、１８日の２回、サンプルを抽出した飲食店名や米のブランド名などを立て続けに公表することを余儀なくされた。

（2013年5月21日22時54分 読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

It was revealed that the rice polluted by cadmium, a toxic substance, was being circulated in Guanzhou of Guangdong Province in China.

   Although the residents’ concern for "food safety" was high in China, the authorities gave out information in small bits only. In the Internet and the media there was an out pour of criticism over the authorities.

   The City administration announced on the 16th that cadmium exceeding the safety standard level was detected in eight of a total of 18 investigated samples of rice and rice processed products. But the administration resisted giving more details in its official announcement.

   On the other hand, in Weibo (the China version of twitter), criticism poured out asking that "whether a contractor's good being is more important than residents' health" and the college students of Guanzhou asked for the disclosure of pertinent information based on the access to information laws. The authorities pushed by the rebounding of public opinion were obliged to release in succession, twice on the 17th and the 18^th, the name of the restaurant which sample had been extracted and the brand name of the rice etc.

It is nice to note that the authorities have responded to the popular demand and released more information about the contamination.

日本指出歷史上中日交往很少是順利的

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

麻生副総理「中国とスムーズにいった歴史ない」

【ニューデリー＝河野越男】インド訪問中の麻生副総理・財務相は４日、ニューデリー市内のホテルで行った講演後の質疑で、日中関係について、「少なくとも我々は１５００年以上の長きにわたって中国との関係が極めてスムーズにいったという歴史は多分ない」と述べた。

　麻生氏は中国とインドは陸上で、日本とは海上で国境を接しているとし、「（日本とインドは）どうやってうまくやるかを常に考えておかないといけない」と指摘し、米国とインド、日本などが協力を深めるべきだと強調した。

（2013年5月5日17時25分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 4th Deputy Prime Minister Aso who was at the same time the Finance Minister while visiting India gave a talk in a  hotel in New Delhi; when answering a question regarding the Japan-China relations he said that "At least we had as many as 1500 or more years of long relation with China and probably seldom went very smoothly in history".

   Mr. Aso indicated that supposedly China was connected to India on land, and connected with Japan at sea where the borders touched; "(Japan and India) always had to consider how to do it well", and emphasized that that India and Japan etc. should deepen cooperation with the US.

It seems that Japan is strengthening its tie with India.

澳洲計劃建造12艘新潛水艇

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国海洋進出に抑止力、豪が潜水艦１２隻建造へ

【ジャカルタ＝梁田真樹子】オーストラリア政府は３日、「国防白書」を発表した。

　太平洋海域で米中の角逐が深まる中、中国の挑発行為などに対する抑止力を高めるため、新型または改良型の潜水艦１２隻の建造を目指す方針を示した。

　国防白書の発表は２００９年以来。当初は１４年の発表を予定していたが、中国が海洋進出を強め、同盟国である米国がアジア太平洋重視の姿勢を鮮明にするなど、地域の戦略環境が変化していることを受け、発表を１年前倒しした。

　白書では、インドから東南アジア、北東アジアにかけてのインド洋から太平洋にまたがる地域を、豪州にとって戦略的な「焦点」と位置づけた。潜水艦建造に加え、電子戦機「ＥＡ―１８Ｇグラウラー」１２機の購入計画も盛り込んだ。

（2013年5月3日20時41分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 3rd the Australia government released the "National Defense White Paper".

While the U.S.- China struggle had deepened in the Pacific Ocean area, in order to heighten the deterrent to the China’s provocative action etc., a plan which aimed at the construction of 12 advanced new model submarines was shown.

This announcement of the national-defense white paper was the first time since 2009. Although the announcement was planned for 2014, it was moved forward for one year because China was strengthening its advance at the ocean, and that the U.S. was showing a posture of focusing on Asia-Pacific with its alliance in response to the fact that the strategic environment of the area was changing.

In the white paper, the area at the Pacific Ocean from the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia and from India to Northeast Asia was regarded as the strategic "focus" of Australia. In addition to the submarine construction, the plan to purchase 12 electronic warfare machines "EA-18G Growler" was also incorporated.

It seems that the military situation in South-east Asia is changing gradually.

蒙古對北朝鮮提供食糧支援

Recently the FNN on-line reported the following:

深刻な食糧不足が指摘されている北朝鮮に対し、モンゴルが食糧支援を行うことが明らかになった。
北朝鮮側が求めていたもので、核開発の一方で、北朝鮮の苦しい国内事情がうかがえる。
モンゴル政府は、先週末までに、北朝鮮への小麦粉の食糧支援を実施することを決めた。
具体的な援助の量や実施時期は未定で、6月、国内で入札を行ったあと、北朝鮮に送られるという。
4月、モンゴルに着任した北朝鮮のホン・ギュ大使は、エルべグドルジ大統領に対し、「北朝鮮はひどい食糧不足に直面する可能性があり、北朝鮮への食糧支援を検討するようにお願いしたい」と直訴していた。
これまで、北朝鮮を支援してきた中国との関係が悪化したため、春から夏にかけて、慢性的な食糧不足に悩む北朝鮮は、友好国のモンゴルに救いの手を求めた形となる。

(05/13 21:33)

(試譯文)

It became clear that Mongolian would provide food assistance to North Korea where a serious food shortage was pointed out.

While the North Korea was asking, on the other hand, it could be imagined there was the embarrassing internal condition of nuclear development in North Korea.

The Mongolian government decided, by last weekend, to carry out the food assistance in sending some flour to North Korea.

It was said that the quantity and the schedule of the concrete assistance to be carried out was not yet decided. After holding a tender at home in June, it would be sent to North Korea.

In April, Ambassador Hong Kyu of North Korea who arrived at Mongolian for a new post directly petitioned to President Elbegdorj, saying that "North Korea would face a severe food shortage and would like to seek your help so that the food assistance to North Korea may be considered".

Because North Korea’s relation with China who was giving the support until now had got worse, and that North Korea worried about a chronic food shortage might occur from spring to summer, the Mongolian as a friendly nation was therefore asked to lend a helping hand.

I am interested to know why the Mongolian would offer help to North Korea. Common sense tells us that there is no free lunch.