It was back when the era of CITY POPS which now captivates the world had ended, and I was going through a sort of lackluster phase.
At the time, I dismissed it as just another sentimental school song, but listening now, it's a masterpiece.
Angela's rustic charm, perhaps exemplified by lines like “in this appalling era where medical doctors are driven by money,” teaches us the preciousness of living strongly and refreshingly while upholding justice.
The chorus is magnificent.
It lacks the stiffness of a choir competition, with vowels sung clearly and expansively, surpassing even native speakers.
The explosive energy in the English sections, especially “Flapping” is truly breathtaking.
When I hear foreigners debating whether The Tale of Genji is the world's oldest novel, I simply cannot remain silent.
This topic came up during a casual conversation with architectural historian Mr. Ryozo Yoneda.
To put it bluntly, while we cannot definitively prove it, “the Imperial Household Agency holds the original Japanese version of The Tale of Genji.”
Mr. Yoneda has already established that The Tale of Genji is 360 years older than the conventional theory suggests. However, the existence of the original manuscript would cause a global uproar, so the Imperial Household Agency officials involved absolutely cannot blow the whistle.
Manuscript copies are made for three reasons: ① to distribute widely, ② to prevent paper deterioration, and ③ when alterations are made.
In case ③, after alterations are completed, it's unlikely the original would be discarded under normal circumstances; it would probably be concealed.
Even modern people often can't bring themselves to throw away the original after making a copy.
The Heian period was a dark age, it seems, when Fujiwarano Teika served as chief and devoted himself to falsifying the vast literature of the Yamato and Kyushu dynasties (relocating the setting of stories from Kyushu to the Kinki region, adjusting dates, and fabricating historical figures). This was entirely different from the history taught in schools.
It is reasonable to assume the Imperial Household Agency also holds other literary works.
For Japan to revive, no policy changes are needed. If an Imperial Household Agency official blows the whistle and newspapers and TV report it extensively, people worldwide would bow down.
Then, the results would follow later.
I tried mimicking an athlete's comment.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Ryozo Yoneda(米田良三)
Architect, ancient history scholar. Born in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, in 1943.Graduated from the Department of Architecture, Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1968. While continuing research that reexamines Japanese ancient history from an architectural perspective, he developed earthquake-resistant technology inspired by the fundamental structures of ancient architecture.
On September 27th, I posted an English translation about Tōdai-ji's South Gate on this blog, and nearly 50 foreigners showed interest.
Japan is now facing the crisis of extinction, yet few citizens realize this.
The reason is that the proud dynasty that existed until 672 (capital: Kyushu Dazaifu) is completely ignored.
In the conflict between the Kyushu Dynasty and Baekje versus the allied forces of Tang, Silla, and Yamato, the latter won.
Since then, the Yamato group (the very people controlling modern Japan) has dominated the Japanese archipelago.
Regarding the alliance between the Kyushu Dynasty and Baekje, while Baekje is sometimes mentioned, not a single historian aligned with the ruling powers acknowledges the existence of the Kyushu Dynasty.
This is the primary reason the public feels no sense of crisis about the current situation.
The current ruling powers are well aware of their own origins, but the people descended from the Kyushu Dynasty remain ignorant of their own lineage.
The Japanese themselves have not learned their true history.
If information is disseminated from the foreign side, the Japanese tendency is to provisionally trust its content.
This is the technique known as “utilizing external pressure.”
Please understand that future articles will be discussed based on the above principle.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
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Recently, many foreign tourists visit Nara, tour sites like the Great Buddha Hall at Tōdai-ji, and seem deeply moved by ancient Japanese history.
Yet Japanese people themselves haven't truly learned their own history, and you are taught falsehoods on-site.
For example, the capital of Japan's ancient imperial court, unknown to the Japanese public, was Dazaifu in Kyushu, and the original Tōdai-ji was built in Usa, Oita Prefecture, located to the east.
The site is now rice field, but an ultrasound scan from above would likely reveal the entire temple complex.
The largest model displayed in the northwest corner of Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha Hall shows its original form at the time of construction.
In fact, following the 672 dynastic change (from the Kyushu “Wa” dynasty to the Yamato dynasty “present”), the Great Buddha Hall was shortened in width and relocated to Nara.
At that time, the South Great Gate remained in place. It was only during the Kamakura period (1199) that it was relocated from Usa to its present site.
Therefore, the South Great Gate that today's tourists admire and marvel at was completed 1,455 years ago (AD 570), making it older than Horyuji Temple.
Not only was the Tang dynasty not yet established, but the Sui dynasty hadn't even begun.
It was around the end of the Sassanid Persian Empire.
If we delve deeper, fascinating facts keep emerging, but that's all for today.
Our country itself is a museum.
If careless people from all over the world come flooding in and start setting fires, it would be unbearable.
We rely not only on the unity of the Japanese people, but also on the respect shown by our foreign friends.