Yesterday, I enjoyed shopping at Harbor land in Kobe. I took a rest on the bench, seeing the view in the photo below. I felt peace and happiness there and then, even though I felt sorry for the people in war zones around the world. 

And today I woke up with the news of a big earthquake hitting the area near Ikata Nuclear Power Plant. If the plant had got serious damages, Kobe would have been contaminated with radioactive substances. 

Nobody can stop earthquakes, but we can stop nuclear power plants. 

It seems insane to use nuclear power on this shaking archipelago.

(Sorry, I have no tanka-poem today)

Japan is now filled with cherry blossoms. They are stunning and make us forget everything else, even the tragedies happening in Gaza or around you yourself.

Oh Cherry blossoms 

Bloom at your best as usual

You are the messenger 

Of oblivion traveling 

Through the archipelago

めぐりくる桜の季節よ汝こそは列島をゆく忘却の使者

Meguri kuru Sakura no kisetsu yo Nare koso ha

Retto wo yuku Boukyaku no shisha

The tanka poems and photo by Kaoru Kobashi.

https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/

It was chilly in March, so I felt "spring has come!" when I saw white magnolias in full bloom. The photo was taken yesterday, April 1st, on the way to Kikusui Mt. in Kobe where I often go for a walk.

White magnolias bloom 

like white doves taking flight in

the clear and blue sky

澄みわたる弥生の空に白鳩の

飛びたつごとく咲く白木蓮　

Sumi wataru Yayoi no sora ni Shirohato no

Tobitatsu gotoku Saku hakumokuren

I hope the world will someday be filled with flowers and white doves bringing peace.

The Japanese tanka poem and English haiku by Kaoru Kobashi

https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/

On March 25th in 2004 "Flowers and Bombs: Stop the Violence of the War Now!" was published, and I started this tiny charity project for children in Iraq and Afghanistan. The war zones have been spreading and everybody may feel powerless in this cruel world, but I still cry for your help.

I need your help, my friend, to change the chain of violence into a chain of hope.

暴力の連鎖を希望の連鎖に変えるために、あなたの力を分けてください。

Bouryoku no rensa wo kibou no rensa ni kaeru tame ni, anata no chikara wo wakete kudasai.

Stop the Violence of the War Now!

もう、戦争の暴力はやめようよ

Mou, senso no bouryoku wa yame you yo.

The cover picture of the first edition of "Flowers and Bombs: Stop the Violence of the War Now!"

The words and cover from "Flowers and Bombs: Stop the Violence of the War Now!" by Kaoru Kobashi

https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/

Here is the post of 20 years ago:

https://tankaagainstwar.blogspot.com/2004/03/

"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

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

 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