A touching letter to a mother

Today, I found the article about one letter to a mother. The letter was written by a university student, who died in the Great Hanshin Earthquake 14 years ago.
I'm very impressed by it.

He needed to move to Kobe because he would go to university. His mother came to Kobe to help his movement. When she was on the train to go back her home, she was in tears due to sorrow for living far from him. He saw her from the platform and conveyed with gestures to look in her jacket pocket. There was a letter from him in it.

After his death, his mother framed his letter and is treasuring it.
I think when touching words or phrases are translated into other languages, its impression is decreased. However I'll try to translate it because I want to you to know it.
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Dear my mother,

It's been already 20 years since you gave me a life. I never had any time which I didn't feel your kind, warm, great and strong love. I have been given a lot of feathers by you. To love people, to admonish myself, to be loved by people... Worthy feathers have gathered in my wings. Now, I'm going to take off with those wings which enable me to fly higher, stronger and freer than anybody else. I'll try to do them with my best. I'll try to keep flying as long as my strength lasts, not to bring your and everyone's hopes and expectations to naught. Please keep watching me.
I look forward to seeing you again. Finally, I'm thankful to God for giving me you as my mother.
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If you can speak Japanese, it's much better to read it in Japanese.

親愛なる母上様

あなたが私に生命を与えてくださってから、早いものでもう二十年になります。これまでに、ほんのひとときとして、あなたの優しく温かく大きく、そして強い愛を感じなかったことはありませんでした。　私はあなたから多くの羽根をいただいてきました。人を愛すること、自分を戒めること、人に愛されること……。この二十年で、私の翼には立派な羽根がそろってゆきました。そして今、私はこの翼で大空へ翔び立とうとしています。誰よりも高く、強く自在に飛べるこの翼で。　私は精一杯やってみるつもりです。あなたの、そしてみんなの希望と期待を無にしないためにも、力の続く限り翔び続けます。こんな私ですが、これからもしっかり見守っていてください。
また逢える日を心待ちにしております。最後に、あなたを母にしてくださった神様に感謝の意をこめて。

翼のはえた“うし”より

One sad affair

Yesterday, I visited some my favorite blogs as usual. One of the bloggers told that her nephew passed away.
He was 15 years old and suffered from cancer.

I had read the article about him just once in her blog before. Then I thought I would read the book written by him and wrote down its title "Hope and the Dragon". Just it. Although I read about him just that one, I was really shocked to hear his death, and I couldn't move my hand operating my PC for a moment. I was almost crying. I don't know why.

I grew up healthfully and am still health. I should be thankful for my current situation.

I was very impressed by the blogger's word, "after a hard and courageous battle with cancer".
He had been battling against cancer all his life, for 15 years. It must be terribly hard. However he was always smiling in his photos.
I believe that he is now enjoying life without cancer in heaven.

Happy New Year 2009

As I wrote, I might have moved to Okinawa for business. It was decided on 29th not to move, so it was the hectic year-end. Now I can relax on New Year's Days.

I made a New Year's visit to shrine today. I wanted to avoid terribly crowded shrines and temples. I can't move at all, jostling and shoving, taking for hours to reach a main hall. It's far situation from praying.
So I chose a neighborhood Kumano shrine. I guessed it was not so crowded.

When I was out of my apartment, the sky is very clear.
I think you can see such a beautiful sky every New Year in Tokyo.


This is the gate of Kumano shrine. Wow! I can't believe it! It's empty rather than uncrowded.


Look at this short line! Hmm... I predicted it was not crowded, but there are much fewer people than I expected. Even though it is not such a famous shrine, it's in the center of Shinjuku. (Shinjuku is one of the biggest towns in Tokyo.) I can't believe it.
I could reach the main hall soon.


This is a charm shop. In popular shrines, it's hard to reach a charm shop as well as a main hall. Buying a charm is always like a battle. I used to be worried about my obi of kimono. But here is... haha. I didn't buy any charm. I focused on my job for wishes of this year, but there were any charms for job luck.
It was good that I chose Kumano shrine! I might come here again next year.


It is my custom to drink amazake whenever I visit to shrine on New Year, I don't know why though. Although my family didn't drink it, I always drank it since I was a kid.
It's yummy. But I burnt my tongue. Uh... It's painful.