＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49) on X
<Added September 9, 2022> Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8th due to old age at the age of 96.
We offer our deepest condolences.
There aren’t many interesting TV shows these days, so I don’t have a favorite show that I always watch.
For that reason, I never read the TV listings beforehand to choose what to watch.
The other day, I happened to be watching TV and came across this show.
1. What is “Another Stories: Crossroads of Destiny”?
It airs on BS Premium every Tuesday from 9pm to 10pm (reruns the following Monday from 11:45pm to 12:45am). The show explores the truth and hidden stories behind historical events.
I hope that there will be more shows like this, and that more people will become interested in and love history.
According to the show’s website, the concept is as follows:
The accidental death of Princess Diana, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Beatles’ visit to Japan…
People watched these “events” with bated breath. What were the people involved thinking on that day, at that time?
Each person’s life took a major turn at that moment, unfolding various dramatic stories.
Reconstructing surviving footage and photographs capturing crucial moments in 3D using cutting-edge virtual technology, this multi-angle documentary uncovers “another story” of the events.
2. “Queen Elizabeth’s Speech of Hope” broadcast on July 14, 2020
I watched Queen Elizabeth’s “State of Hope Speech” on July 14, 2020.
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (1926-2022) turned 94 this year (she will die in 2022 at the age of 96). She was born in London, England, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V, as the first child and eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Queen Elizabeth.
She was not originally intended to ascend to the throne. In December 1936, her father, Prince Albert, ascended to the British throne as King George VI following the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, and became the “heir presumptive” (first in line to the throne).
Incidentally, King Edward VIII (1894-1972) is known for his “love at stake,” abdicating after just 325 days to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American commoner, making him the shortest-serving British monarch in history.
His father, King George VI (1895-1952), had no intention of becoming king in the first place. Not only was the throne forced upon him, but he also struggled with public speaking due to a stutter. However, with the help of a speech therapist, he overcame his stutter and delivered a bold, inspiring speech to the entire nation on September 3, 1939, the day World War II began. This speech was made into a film, “The King’s Speech,” which I also saw.
Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603, reigned Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603) also overcame crises with a brilliant speech (the Tilbury Speech).
Queen Elizabeth II has also overcome numerous crises with speeches.
In the midst of World War II, 14-year-old Elizabeth gave her first radio speech to encourage 3 million evacuated children.
“It is up to us children to make tomorrow’s world a better, happier place,” Elizabeth said powerfully. Then, together with her sister Margaret, who was sitting next to her, she said “goodnight.” It was a simple yet moving speech, and it seems that many children were inspired by it.
Since becoming Queen, Elizabeth has only given speeches addressing current events four times, aside from her annual Christmas speeches.
The first was during the Gulf War.
The second was her speech after a long silence following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. There were reports of various feuds between the Queen and Diana, and the public was increasingly critical of her for not expressing any condolences after her death. After a long silence, realizing just how deeply the public adored Diana, the Queen finally gave a speech expressing condolences for her.
The third was when the Queen Mother passed away.
The fourth was a speech on April 4, 2020, titled “A Speech to Offer Hope to the British Nation in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
He began by saying, “I want to speak to you about this increasingly challenging time,” and first expressed gratitude to the staff of the UK’s NHS (National Health Service) and other essential workers for their dedication, and then thanked those who are staying at home. “We are in this fight against this disease together, and if we stand united and resolute, we will overcome it.”
He then looked to the future and said, “I hope that in years to come, you will all be proud of how you overcame this challenge. No doubt future generations will say that this generation of British people was the bravest of all. The qualities of self-discipline, quiet but humorous determination, and compassion for one’s fellow man continue to define this country today. The pride we take in who we are is not part of the past; it defines our present and our future.”
Such moving speeches are rare in Japan, whether from the Emperor or the Prime Minister. The only one that has resonated with me is that of Empress Emerita Michiko, titled “Peace Through Children’s Books – Memories of Childhood Reading – Michiko.”
I watched the Empress’s dignified English keynote speech, “Peace Through Children’s Books – Memories of Childhood Reading – Michiko,” at the 26th International Board on Books for Young People New Delhi Conference in 1998 on video in Japanese. It was very rich in content and left a lasting impression, conveying the Empress’s profound learning and dignity. This made Niimi Nankichi’s fairy tale “The Sadness of the Caterpillar” very famous.