Monday, March 11, 2024
Kobe kara no inori
"Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but you must do it. We do these things not to change the world, but so that the world will not change us." Gandhi
『あなたがすることのほとんどは無意味であるが、それでもしなくてはならない。そうしたことをするのは、世界を変えるためではなく、世界によって自分が変えられないようにするためである。』ガンジー
It is the 11th of March. Thirteen years have past since the East Japan Great Earthquake and Fukushima-daiichi nuclear power plant accident.
I held a candle vigil in Kobe, 「神戸からの祈り~Kobe kara no inori」, with friends working together for a nuclear-free world. I introduced the words of Gandhi there.
After 13 years, the government of Japan is saying that they will make the most of nuclear power on this shaking archipelago.
I can't understand why they insist on nuclear power. I may not be able to stop that trend now, but I would keep doing whatever I can for Japan without nuclear power plants. I hope I will make it before I lose my homeland.
Kobe kara no inori |
Thursday, March 07, 2024
“Language Is Inadequate” to Describe Horror in GAZA
I've also lost words for now.
Please watch and listen and imagine:
Back from Gaza, Palestinian Writer Susan Abulhawa Says
“Language Is Inadequate” to Describe Horror
Democracy Now! Web Exclusive MARCH 06, 2024
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/6/back_from_gaza_palestinian_writer_susan
A drawing from "Flowers and Bombs: Stop the Violence of the War Now!" by Kaoru Kobashi |
Saturday, March 02, 2024
Peach Festival
The 3rd of March is called Peach Festival, momo no sekku, in Japan.
Collect warheads of
Nuclear missiles on the earth
Send them to Jupiter
'Cause peach trees will be blooming
Next spring on the brown planet
核弾頭を集めて送ろう木星に
春には桃の花が咲くから
Kaku dantou wo Atsumete okurou Mokusei ni
Haru niwa momo no Hana ga saku kara
March reminds me of Castle Bravo and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident. I do believe the world with no nukes will come.
It is also a day called Doll's Day to pray for girls' happiness.
I pray for girls' happiness in all the war zones, especially in Gaza on this day.
Ohina sama The special dolls for March the 3rd. I was presented those dolls on my first Doll's Day, and they are still displayed today at my mother's. |
The tanka poems from "Flowers and Bombs: Stop the Violence of the War Now!" and the photo by Kaoru Kobashi
https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/
©Kaoru Kobashi
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
National Cat Day!
Do you know we have a special day for cats in Japan? It is the 22nd of the 2nd month, February, because 2 is pronounced "ni" in Japanese and "ni, ni, ni" sounds like what cats say. In English cats may say "meow", but in Japanese they say "nya."
If you know more about Cat Day, I have just found a good site:
https://en.japantravel.com/news/national-cat-day/68647
In a town full of
Debris left after an air raid
A cat is crouching
Alone with his whiskers cut
Looking up to the full moon
髭切られうずくまりいる猫独り
瓦礫の街の月を見ている
Hige kirare Uzukumari iru Neko hitori
Gareki no machi no Tsuki wo mite iru
I wish all the wars end now in Gaza and everywhere else.
The tanka poems and drawing from "Flowers and Bombs: Stop the Violence of the War Now!" by Kaoru Kobashi
https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
All we need is love
All we need is love
The Beatles sang before
All we need is love
Ceasefire now in Gaza!
Ceasefire now everywhere!
All we need is loveと歌いしビートルズ All we need is love
今すぐガザに世界に平和を!
All we need is love To utai shi Beatles All we need is love
Ima sugu Gaza ni Sekai ni heiwa wo!
Tanka poems by Kaoru Kobashi
Monday, January 29, 2024
Tanka Poems for Children in Gaza
The sanctions imposed
On UNRWA so lightly by
Western countries are
Like taking away bread from
The hands of starving children
飢えし児の手に持つパンを取り上げる欧米諸国のUNRWA制裁
Ueshi ko no Te ni motsu pan wo Toriageru
Oubeishokoku no UNRWA seisai
On 26th of January 2024, the International Court of Justice found a plausible risk that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. I believe that the US and its allies should stop military aid to Israel before imposing sanctions on UNRWA, which has been providing key aid to Palestinians displaced by Israeli attacks.
= Related News =
■Doctor Just Back from Gaza:
Cutting UNRWA Funds Is “Unconscionable” as Hospitals Barely Functional
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/29/dr_thaer_ahmad_gaza_part2
■International Court of Justice Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide in Gaza
But Fails to Order Ceasefire
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/26/icj_provisional_ruling_israel_genocide_gaza
The tanka poems by Kaoru Kobashi
https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Am I in the hell?
Am I in the hell?
Nobody can stop the ongoing
Massacre in Gaza
Nor the nuclear power plants
Near the trembling peninsula
地獄絵のガザ虐殺も止められず原発回帰も止まらぬ睦月
Jigoku-e no Gaza gyakusatsu mo Tomerare zu
Genpatsu kaiki mo Tomara nu mutsuki
This is one of the first tanka poems I wrote in 2024.
I feel helpless now, but I would bounce back.
Japanese traditional plat for celebrating a new year, Habotan Still vivid in the snow |
Tanka poems and the photo by Kaoru Kobashi
https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/