Keene on path to Japanese citizenship

Donald Keene, a prominent scholar of Japanese literature at Columbia University, has decided to move permanently to Japan after he delivers his final lecture at the university later this month, sources close to him have said.

The 88-year-old professor emeritus has started the process of acquiring Japanese citizenship, they said.

While he has been spending half of each year in Japan, he determined around January to live in the country full time, partly because travel has become physically demanding for him.

The sources also indicated the March 11 calamity has distressed him and intensified his desire to make Japan home.

He was awarded the Order of Culture in 2008.( Kyodo )



-- iPadから送信

Where has the oasis gone?

Where has the blue ocean gone which provides rich resource ?
Where has the green field gone which cattles and horses graze in spring?
Where has the fresh pupils gone who wear new bags on their backs?

It's Sad Silent Spring covered with distruction.
It's Scary Sorrowful Spring never been before.
It's Severe Savage spring never had in my life.

If the persistent natural disasters were the punishment, what was the sin?
If the evil mind in human were the the crime, we should remove illness from our heart.
If the the manpower were too arrogant, let us behave to respect the mother earth.

Please stop the flame of anger
Please stop the shaking and waves
Please let us share the peaceful land again.

[Spring attacked by monster disaster]







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Zubin Mehta to conduct Tokyo charity concert

Acclaimed conductor Zubin Mehta has arrived in Japan to conduct a charity concert benefitting the survivors of the March 11th disaster.

Mehta arrived in Tokyo from Russia on Friday. He held a rehearsal with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, which will perform Beethoven's Symphony Number 9 in Tokyo on Sunday. All proceeds will go to the disaster-hit areas.

Before the rehearsal, Mehta told orchestra members that he hopes for Japan's recovery, and that his thoughts are with the people.



"All the world is with you and with your country.

Everybody is crying with you.

I want to do part of something to lift the spirit of people.

Don't ever underestimate the power of music."



NHK online

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The rescued dog on the float after three weeks has met the owner!

The good new has uploaded.
The dog floating on the water was rescued in Kesennuma a few days ago.
The news was broadcasted at the refuge in Kesennuma and the owner found it and he offered the dog might be his.
Finally the female dog met the owner and she will be taken care of warmly.
The press reports that she was really showing her joy shaking her tails happily.
I'm very relieved to hear that.




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A symbol of the disaster the only pine tree

A single pine tree is pictured near the coast of quake- and tsunami-devastated Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 25, 2011. The area was well-known for its beautiful pine trees, which were all knocked down by the powerful tsunami on March 11, except this one. (Mainichi)





The ruins are being removed and cleaner than before and the solo standing tree is significant memory of the deadly disaster.
This tree is one of the 70,000 pine trees and it only has been survived.
The city of Rikuzentakata is to assign it the city memorial tree.
It will be an unforgettable tough incident but need to keep it in the history.


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A dog on the float rescued after three weeks

It's amazing and good news!
A dog on the float on the water was found and saved after the disaster!
Wishing the dog would be treated well and warmly and taken care of by the owner soon.

A dog rescued on the float