o6asan's soliloquy.

   A year has passed since the day. Last week, I watched the TV programs “Rebuilding Japan“.

• Dreaming of Utopia
• Photos from the Sea
• Super Trains
• Return of the K-Cars
• Brewing Hope
• The Seaweed Makers

   They are positive thinking reports by Japanese. I know a lot of miserably situations still in the disaster area. But positive thinking is very useful. It is not to ignore the real disaster. It is not to neglect one’s post traumatic stress. Positive thinking rather makes us face the reality.

   My town had no disasters from the quake. But, I cannot help but concern I will have some disaster from some quakes some day as long as I live in Japan.

   When such a megaquake occurs, which brings some big afterquakes within a few years. The quake is no exception.

Note(4/29):
   Today, I’ve found the site below. This might help your understanding.
   Japan beyond 3.11 Stories of Recovery

Category: everyday life
by o6asan
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Juuni Kokuki — 十二国記
(The Twelve Kingdoms)

Rakusho no Goku — 落照の獄
(A jail of the declining Light)

By Ono Fuyumi — 小野不由美

Translated by o6asan

   The words Riri(李理) said might happen to be a truth of these hardest things. Eiko(瑛庚) had been thinking the death penalty and the murder are very different matters, but, did he really believe it? No, Eiko(瑛庚) felt as if he had known about it. No matter what someone says the death penalty is a murder definitely. That is to terminate other person’s life artificially.
   It is natural thoughts that the person who commits a murder is punished by death, and it might be natural feelings that people hate to kill others. Now, most of people insist on executing Shudatsu(狩獺) to Shiho(司法), or giving him to them if Shiho(司法) not doing so, but, how many people of them can kill Shudatsu(狩獺) if they meet Shudatsu(狩獺) face to face? At that moment, probably it is only the bereaved that can come forward and can use a sword to him. Eiko(瑛庚) thinks, himself would not hesitate to kill Shudatsu(狩獺) if Shudatsu(狩獺) murdered Riri(李理). Eiko(瑛庚) considers, nomal people can do it even if they hate to kill others, when they have their revenge. — On the other side of the coin, nomal people cannot do such a thing unless they lose their senses because of desire for revenge.
   The abuse of the death penalty that people fear, the violence of the death penalty that people feel, they are the same things. That is instinctive scare — which might have roots in the reflection for hating to kill others.
   As Eiko(瑛庚) said so, Sotsuyu(率由) sighed unwillingly.
   ”Perhaps you’re right, sir. — This is just my opinion, but while I insist on the death penalty, I remember one of my friends. He was a colleague when I was a local official, and he is a Shoriku(掌戮) now.”
   Eiko(瑛庚) could not help looking at his face. Shoriku(掌戮) under Shirei(司隷) give punishment on criminals for real. If Shudatsu(狩獺) is punished by the death penalty, the practice would be the duty of Shoriku(掌戮). Shoriku(掌戮) give it to him.
   ”It is natural that the person who commit a murder is punished by death — Shudatsu(狩獺) brings me such a guess, but I have a doubt my friend has the same thought or not. I know we cannot treat to sentence to death by the national law the same as to commit a murder by a personal selfish purpose. But, when we revive the death penalty, someone who terminates Shudatsu(狩獺)’s life exists for real.”
   ”But,” Jokyu(如翕) put a word in soothingly.
   ”We will use soldiers under Kakan(夏官) for the real execution. This is not a very nice thing to say though, soldiers are accustomed to kill others.”
   ”Do you think so? Crime control, counterinsurgency, in these situations, soldiers put themselves in the place to be killed if they do not kill. They can think about killing in the situations on the same level with executing a criminal who is fastened tightly at the site? I do not think so.”
   ”But …… Execution by executioner is not a murder. Justice executes the criminal, not by the executioner. Using executioner hands, the king of gods(天帝) does it. — I think telling its main point and rewarding abundantly will satisfy him.”
   ”…… Do you think he is really satisfied?”
   Jokyu(如翕) lowered his eyes and shook his head quietly. Eiko(瑛庚) also felt he would not be satisfied if he were the executioner.
   Jokyu(如翕) made a little snorting laugh.
   ”I want to give him the bereaved if I could…… They will take executioner’s duty with pleasure.”
   Sotsuyu(率由) also uttered a dry giggle.
   ”I agree with you completely. — But, that’s revenge. We, Shiho(司法), exist for preventing to take the law into their own hands, and stopping a cycle of revenge.”
   Sotsuyu(率由) said and looked up at midair weakly.
   ”Therefore, the executioner puts all of his effort……”
   ”I have a question for you two.”

Category: translation
Tags: « Juuni Kokuki • Rakusho no Goku »
by o6asan
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   Last week, it was very cold in Japan. My town, which is on the Kyūshū(九州) island, was no exception. On Thursday temperatures were 2 ℃(36℉), and On Friday 0 ℃(32℉). What time? Around 8a.m. Where? My living room(茶の間). (^^)

   I rebuilt my house about 20 years ago. It is, if anything, a traditional Japanese-style. My old house was built in the early 1880′s. It was a traditional Japanese-style house for me. But for people in the early 1880′s it might be a modern house because it was a two-story one. When it was built, the first two-story house in my town, I hear.

   When I decided to build a new house, the old one was almost 100 years old. Actually, the decent traditional Japanese-style house stands more longer time. But my town was old coal mine lands. It has a lot of tunnels under the ground. So the ground isn’t firm, which makes a house lean. Rain has harmful effects for the house because a traditional one is made of wood, paper, and soil. Result of that, its life goes shorter.

   Until an air-conditioner invented, how to build a house in Japan makes it a principle to how to live out Japanese summer. (^^;) About it, Yoshida Kenkō(吉田兼好) wrote in Tsurezuregusa(徒然草), section 55(第55段).
   Even now, almost everywhere in Japan except for Hokkaidō(北海道), a house is not sealed in a high level. Most of them don’t have a central heating system. So does mine.

   The heating system of my living room(茶の間) is an oil heater and a electric kotatsu(電気ごたつ). Main is kotatsu and sub is oil heater. When I relax in the living room, I use these devices and wear a wataire(綿入れ). In many cases 綿入れ might be called as 綿入れはんてん.

   Now i.e. 10p.m., temperatures are 18 ℃(64℉) in my 茶の間. I feel a little bit too warm. So, I turned off the oil heater. (^^)

Category: everyday life
Tags: « Japanese customs »
by o6asan
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Update　　Edit(Feb/7)

   Today, I made it.　Thanks juneさん.

   Now I’m going to talk about ‘How to use Ajax Edit Comments v5.0.7.0′. :-)

1. Install Ajax Edit Comments v5.0.7.0. But, when you finish installing it, you never activate it immediately.
2. Access your server by FTP client software.
3. Make directory ‘aec’ under /wp-content/uploads and change its permission to ’707′ or ’777′.
4. Activate the plugin from your Dashboard.
   You need 7 files in your ‘aec’ directory, admin.js, edit-comments.css, ajax-edit-comments.js, comment-editor.css, frontend.js, popups.js and index.php. At this point, only two files exist there, admin.js and edit-comments.css.
   When you click ‘Update Settigs’ bottun on the AEC setting page, other 4 files are created.
   About index.php you have to make it manually, and write in it   ’<?php // Silence is golden.’.
5. About 6 files are created automatically, their owner is server and they are unwritable. If you use shell or something, change owner and permission by it.
6. If you can’t use such tools, follow the next steps.
7. Access your server by FTP client software.
8. Download directory ‘aec’ and remove it.
9. Remake directory ‘aec’ under /wp-content/uploads and change its permission to ’707′ or ’777′.
10. Reupload 6 files, admin.js, edit-comments.css, ajax-edit-comments.js, comment-editor.css, frontend.js, popups.js and change their permission to ’606′ or ’666′.
    Upload index.php to directory ‘aec’.

   That’s it. Good luck. ;-P

   We still have two errors, ‘Stack overflow at line: 2′ from IE8 and ‘too much recursion’ from FireFox 9.0.1. But the plugin works in a sort.

   I almost forgot to write. When you try other versions, you’d better clear your browser cache. Or, you don’t get new effects well.

   NOTE) When you change the permission of directory/file, you may need some minutes to take effect.

Edit(Feb/7):
   I think v5.0.7.0.’s trouble has roots in owner and permission of the directory ‘aec’. Why do I think so? Because, on my own server, whose OS is WindowsXp Professional Sp3, the plugin works. As we know, WindowsXp server has poor owner and permission managements. And most people say the older version works and it does not have the directory ‘aec’.

   At any rate, v5.0.7.0. is not a WordPress plugin, I think. A WordPress plugin is easy to install and easy to activate. Soon you can use it. That’s a WordPress plugin.

   I sent an email about this to the support team the day before yesterday. I’ve not had a reply yet. I wonder I’ll have a good news. I hope so. I love this plugin. If I give up it, it’s a shame for it.

   Also, both older and new version have an error, ‘Stack overflow at line: 2′ from IE and ‘too much recursion’ from FireFox. Most of people are unaware of it in normal use. But it’s for real. It is probably from some JavaScript codes, I want to fix it if they can.

Category: WordPress
Tags: « plugin • TroubleShooting »
by o6asan
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Juuni Kokuki — 十二国記
(The Twelve Kingdoms)

Rakusho no Goku — 落照の獄
(A jail of the declining Light)

By Ono Fuyumi — 小野不由美

Translated by o6asan

   Eiko(瑛庚) squeezed his grandson’s hands back without a word.

   Eiko(瑛庚) had heard their voices. He didn’t think that encroached on his own responsibility, but he couldn’t allow himself to behaving as if nothing had happened. The next day, he reported to Chiin(知音) about it. Chiin(知音) told him to wait for further instructions and to advance the trial while waiting. Three days later, he got called from Chiin(知音), and Chiin(知音) he saw had a sour face more than when he had reported.
   ”We have no problem because Shujo(主上) understood you.”
   Eiko(瑛庚) looked at Chiin(知音)’s face.
   ”I held a consultation with Sho-shiko(小司寇), and we decided reporting to Shujo(主上). I sought for Shujo(主上)’s directions, but Shujo(主上) said no problem.”
   Chiin(知音) talked in a dejected voice. Eiko(瑛庚) became depressed, too. Although thankfully no scolding for him, he felt dejection at the same time. He thought he must judge the case by his own decision after all. Above all else, he had a major dejection for that Shujo(主上) already gave up the case.
   ”…… Shujo(主上) is not interested in Shudatsu(狩獺) at all, isn’t he?”
   You’re right, Chiin(知音)’s voice became more lower.
   ”What’s Dai-shiko(大司寇) thinking in his mind?”
   ”I don’t know, he’s not contact me yet. I think he heard about you.”
   ”Considering his thought, you’d better replace me as Shikei(司刑), sir.”
   ”I have Shujo(主上)’s word, so there is no need to.”
   Chiin(知音) said and looked at Eiko(瑛庚).
   ”I know your burden but I want to you to judge the case. Whatever results follow, I am convinced of your decision, I mean the decision of you three, Jokyu(如翕), Sotsuyu(率由) and you. — As I thought so, I left this to you three.”
   Appreciating his words, Eiko(瑛庚) bowed deeply. While his way to trial’s room, he became depressed more and more. When he entered the room, he saw Jokyu(如翕) and Sotsuyu(率由) with an anxious look on their faces and was profoundly depressed.
   ”…… Shujo(主上) already gave up the case as we already thought.”
   The first words just came out of his mouth was not about his own treatment but this.
   Their country was going to declining — definitely.
   This put him back where he started. The country was inclining, would they be permitted to revive the death punishment at this time? When their country was sick severely after for years, can Shiho(司法), Eiko(瑛庚) and others, really stop the abuse of the death penalty?
   Eiko(瑛庚) saying, both Jokyu(如翕) and Sotsuyu(率由) were lost in thought. At this time, they were still thinking what they should do. They could not make up their mind, what is right or not. Considering Shudatsu(狩獺)’s crimes or bereaved families, they thought they couldn’t be helped the death penalty. But after this decision, a fear of the death penalty in their minds reared up.
   Eiko(瑛庚) felt it’s neither taught nor learnt. As well as the death penalty for murder is neither taught nor learnt, the hesitation for the death penalty is neither taught nor learnt, he thought.
   He heard his daughter’s voice in his mind.
   – Daddy, are you going to be a killer?

Category: translation
Tags: « Juuni Kokuki • Rakusho no Goku »
by o6asan
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   Recently, I fall into a TV drama, ‘カーネーション‘. It is based on the life of the fashion designer Koshino Ayako (小篠綾子).　She was the mother of the famous designers, Koshino sisters.

   There are two characters, Yasuoka Tamae (安岡玉枝) and Yasuoka Yaeko (安岡八重子). Tamae is a mother-in-law of Yaeko. Tamae had two sons she took care of after her husband dying from a disease in a war, and both of them were killed in another war. Because of that, she carried grudges. One of her sons was Yaeko’s husband, so Yaeko lost her husband in the war, too. But Tamae said that all of them was Yaeko’s fault and blamed her. In such cases, to blame the nearest person to oneself is not at all unusual.

   After the episodes of the war, the drama had some other ones, then today, the reconciliation between two persons aired. Tamae apologized to Yaeko about the past and Yaeko kept silence. But we can see Yaeko’s forgiveness on her face.

   When I finished watching it, I remembered my own episode about ‘The letter.‘ As I look back on myself, I probably can’t forgive him even now. I wonder why Yaeko can do it. She is a big-hearted person, and, her situation is very similar to her mother-in-law’s, so she might get mother’s feelings very much and might sympathize with her. Still, it is very difficult for me to relive the tolerance of Yaeko.

Category: private remark
by o6asan
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Juuni Kokuki — 十二国記
(The Twelve Kingdoms)

Rakusho no Goku — 落照の獄
(A jail of the declining Light)

By Ono Fuyumi — 小野不由美

Translated by o6asan

   Eiko(瑛庚) laughed with pain……He thought ‘You talk about Shudatsu(狩獺) at the moment?’
   But Hogetsu(蒲月) gave his head a subtle shake.
   ”My sister, Seika(清花), feels uneasy. I don’t know why she made up her mind for seeing Shunryo(駿良)’s parents, but I think I know about her purpose. For the death penalty of Shudatsu(狩獺) — and for making herself easy by it.”
   ”I told her the death penalty has no power of stopping crimes……”
   Eiko(瑛庚) said, but Hogetsu(蒲月) nodded no.
   ”I think she didn’t have such an idea. Now, the peace of Shiso(芝草) is broken, and the process influences into the palace before we know. They already feel uneasy, the existence of Shudatsu(狩獺) makes them realize the existence of such criminals who are beyond saving. Beyond understanding and beyond empathizing with. The existence of someone who violates axiomatic justice and who does not care for it at all makes them uneasy, which put people like her into severe anxiety.”
   Hogetsu(蒲月) said and smiled weakly.
   ”If even Shudatsu(狩獺) is removed, the uneasiness of them is removed, too. People or she can believe the world on some level. In that way, they are going to fix the world they can see.”
   ”That — Did Seika(清花) say?”
   ”No. I think so by myself. Ordinary people in my mind tell me so.”
   I see, Eiko(瑛庚) murmured in his mind.
   ”They fix the world by removing……”
   Suddenly, he remembered Enga(淵雅)’s words.
   ”The word, monster, regards a criminal who cannot be understood easily as inferior to other things as human……”
   Hogetsu(蒲月) put his head on one side mystifyingly.
   ”It’s Dai-shiko(大司寇)’s words. When I heard the words, I think there was something in them, and it is true for me still now. We are coward more than we think about ourselves. We cannot be easy except we disconnect from things we never understand……”
   When he ignored the fourth letter of apology from Keishi(恵施), the feelings must have been in his mind. At that time, he felt he couldn’t keep up with her any more — It must have been an impulsive movement to disconnect from things he never understood and to drive her out a place where he could not see.
   When he looked back, Eiko(瑛庚) did to offer her discharge and to redeem for her victims, but he never met her personally. Probably, he must have wanted to separate Keishi(恵施) to the place where he never saw. Though he helped her because he felt responsibility and obligation, probably he should have visited her in jail and have talked with her personally. Keishi(恵施) might not have repeated the same crime if he did so at least.
   ”Such a creature human being is.”
   Hogetsu(蒲月) said and was patting Eiko(瑛庚)’s hands consolingly.
   ”But I have an official of the country in my mind, too. I know I have to think about and I know I have to put my feelings aside. I don’t belong to Shukan(秋官), but I think I know your burden you have on your back now, grandfather.”
   Eiko(瑛庚) just nodded.
   ”Please leave Riri(李理) and me to look after my sister, and devote yourself to your duty as Shikei(司刑), sir.”

Category: translation
Tags: « Juuni Kokuki • Rakusho no Goku »
by o6asan
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Juuni Kokuki — 十二国記
(The Twelve Kingdoms)

Rakusho no Goku — 落照の獄
(A jail of the declining Light)

By Ono Fuyumi — 小野不由美

Translated by o6asan

7

   At night, Hogetsu(蒲月) rushed into Eiko(瑛庚)’s study.
   ”– I heard a serious matter happened. –”
   He said so with gasping for breath. Eiko(瑛庚) nodded simply.
   ”I’m sorry, sir. I wish I were here and could have kept her back.”
   ”You need not apologize. …… Who told you the story?”
   ”My manservant. — Before that, I heard something had happened at Shikei(司刑)’s residence. But I could not hear what happened really.”
   Eiko(瑛庚) smiled wryly.
   ”Anybody can know because that was at the gate. Or, in my servants I have someone who can’t keep a secret. — Well, either way, people will talk.”
   Said Eiko(瑛庚) and looked out of window. From the dark garden, cool night wind blew in. He felt — autumn has come.
   ”If Shiho(司法) or Sho-shiko(小司寇) know this matter, what will they do?”
   ”They will order me to get out of this case.”
   Answering to him, Eiko(瑛庚) thought he can accept it if it happens. This case was above and beyond Eiko(瑛庚)’s ability. Not only he got out of the case but also he lost the position, Shikei(司刑), those might happen, but he felt it wasn’t so bad.
   Eiko(瑛庚) thought so, and looked at Hogetsu(蒲月).
   ”…… It may have harmful side effects on you.”
   Hogetsu(蒲月) kneeled down across from Eiko(瑛庚). He took Eiko(瑛庚)’s hands between his.
   ”Don’t worry about such a thing, sir.”
   ”But –”
   Hogetsu(蒲月) was only beginning an official of the country. He might lost his position which he obtained with effort.
   ”Don’t blame Seika(清花), son.”
   Eiko(瑛庚) didn’t understand what Seika(清花) thought about but he knew her actions were never from evil thoughts. Hearing the details from the people around him, recently Seika(清花) went down to Shiso(芝草). Besides, she visited and talked with not only Shunryo(駿良)’s parents but also the bereaved. She would sympathize with their having talked story. The action that she caused was too hasty, but he could not deny her heart.
   Eiko(瑛庚) said so, and Hogetsu(蒲月) agreed with him.
   ”It may be the result that we had poor communication. I should have explained as much as possible in words about my duty. At that moment, what I think, and what I hesitate.”
   Though, he did not think himself did so if he could. He believed Seika(清花) could not understand it, and he did not want her to understand. — This is not denial. It is maybe opposite idea for him. Seika(清花) shows righteous indignation simply and is angered candidly, which he wants her to do.
   But, his self-centered idea like this might make Seika(清花) angry, and Keishi(恵施) angry, too. All of them were Eiko(瑛庚)’s fault because both of them blamed him by the same things at least. — When he thinking, Hogetsu(蒲月) talked to him calmly.
   ”Grandfather, it’s not your fault, sir.”
   ”…… Do you think so?”
   ”Indeed, sir. It’s not your fault and it’s not my sister’s fault, either. All of them is caused by Shudatsu(狩獺).”

Category: translation
Tags: « Juuni Kokuki • Rakusho no Goku »
by o6asan
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   Happy New Year! It is the beginning of a new year.

   This is the year of the Tatsu, according to the Oriental Zodiac.

   Though ‘tatsu’ is called ‘dragon’ in English, I think they are more different than might first be surmised. Both of them have their own history, so I’m not surprised it. In the Oriental Zodiac we write it by 辰, and we also use 龍 and 竜 as a mythical animal. In Japanese the year of the dragon is called ‘Tatsu doshi(たつどし)’. You can see ‘Ryu’ on a right-side painting by Hokusai(北斎), ‘ryu’ and ‘tatsu’ mean the same mythical animal.

   Last year, we had a lot of natural and artificial disasters in and out of Japan. I pray this year will be a happier year.

   Gods bless you, guys!

Category: everyday life
by o6asan
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Juuni Kokuki — 十二国記
(The Twelve Kingdoms)

Rakusho no Goku — 落照の獄
(A jail of the declining Light)

By Ono Fuyumi — 小野不由美

Translated by o6asan

   He sighed in front of the door where he couldn’t hear any sounds, and returned to the main building. At the steps of the main building, Riri(李理) wrapped up in a small ball and was on the verge of tears.
   ”Riri(李理)–”
   ”……Do you drive Mammy out, Daddy?”
   His daughter who held her knees looked up at Eiko(瑛庚)’s face, and asked. Eiko(瑛庚) sat at her side and nodded no.
   ”I never do such a thing.”
   ”But, Mammy says so. You do drive Mammy and me out, Daddy.”
   Eiko(瑛庚) wondered how she took care of Riri(李理). He could accept Seika(清花)’s leaving, but how she would do about Riri(李理). She would maybe take her daughter with herself as a common person, but, the thought brought the double sights of Riri(李理) and Shunryo(駿良) to him immediately.
   The lower world(下界) was wasted. He felt as if he threw out his innocent young daughter in the monster-ridden world as Shudatsu(狩獺) dominating over.
   ”I never throw out you and your mother. I always want you two to be with me. Or do you want to get out here, my daughter?”
   Riri(李理) shook her head.
   ”Then, will you promise me? You are never going anywhere.”
   –And you are never caught by a monster as Shudatsu(狩獺).
   Riri(李理) nodded with a very earnest expression. Seeing her face, Eiko(瑛庚) feared.
   If anything happens to my daughter.
   Jokyu(如翕) said that the person got the death if he murdered someone is not the theory but a reflex. Eiko(瑛庚) thought he was right. Such a thing, to kill such an innocent young creature as his daughter with unsparing brutality, should not be tolerated. He never overlooked it and the person who dare commit such a crime should be prepared himself for his death.
   If Shudatsu(狩獺) had murdered Riri(李理), Eiko(瑛庚) would never have forgiven him. If Shiho(司法) didn’t kill him, Eiko(瑛庚) would put Shudatsu(狩獺) to the sword by himself. As a result, he didn’t mind even if he was accused of a crime.
   –There is no choice except the death penalty.
   As soon as he thought so, he got a chill down his back. He felt like making a step toward the place where not making a step into.
   He wondered what his hesitation was. — Eiko(瑛庚), who was in thought, patted Riri(李理)’s cheeks.
   ”Can you comfort your mother?”
   Riri(李理) nodded her head, got up abruptly and ran in her mother’s room. Her small back went away. It was getting away smaller and smaller.
   Eiko(瑛庚) stared after his young daughter.

Category: translation
Tags: « Juuni Kokuki • Rakusho no Goku »
by o6asan
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