Friday, March 25, 2011

Let The Music Keep Our Spirits High


Ever since the massive disaster hit the nation on the 11th of March, so many things have come in and out of my mind that I haven't been able to post anything at all.
However, I will just attach the link to YouTube video of this song that Jackson Browne recorded in 1974, and its lyrics (excerpted) with my translation. It doesn't need any comments.
あの甚大な災害がこの国を襲ってから、あまりに多くのことが胸の内を去来し、ブログに何も書けませんでした。
でも、1974年にJackson Browneが書いたこの曲の(YouTubeへの)リンク、歌詞と訳詞を入れます。説明の必要はないでしょう。

(from the album Late For The Sky)

Some of them were angry
At the way the earth was abused
By the men who learned how to forge her beauty into power
And they struggled to protect her from them
Only to be confused
By the magnitude of her fury in the final hour
一部の人たちは怒りをおぼえていた
その美しさを力へと変換できる人たちによって、地球が悪用されていることに対して
彼らはこの星を守ろうと奮闘するが、最後のときの地球の憤りのあまりの莫大さに、ただただ困惑するだけで終わってしまう

And when the sand was gone and the time arrived
In the naked dawn only a few survived
And in attempts to understand a thing so simple and so huge
Believed that they were meant to live after the deluge
そして最後の時が来て、砂がさらわれてしまう
丸裸になってしまった夜明けに、僅かな人たちだけが生き残る
こんなに単純で重大なことだったと理解しようと思いながらも
彼らは「大洪水の後にも」生きていく運命にあるのだと悟るのだった

Let the music keep our spirits high
Let the buildings keep our children dry
Let creation reveal it's secrets by and by, by and by
When the light that's lost within us reaches the sky
音楽でわれわれの気持ちが落胆しないようにしよう
建物で子供たちが濡れることがないよう守ってあげよう
「創造」の神秘が次第に明らかになっていくのを見つめよう、少しずつ、少しずつ...
われわれの中で失われてしまった光が空に届くころに...

©1974 WB MUSIC CORP.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Almost 90 Years Old, But She Keeps Going















On Sunday, 13th March, Ms. Hatsume Sato, who has dedicated herself for more than 50 years to helping hundreds of people, is invited to have a lecture.
She has welcomed people who suffered from social burden or mental illness to her house called "Ischia in the Forest" which is located in the foothill of Mt. Iwaki, Aomori prefecture. There she simply listens to them while serving her genuine dishes and was brought into the spotlight when she and her compassionately prepared Omusubi (rice balls) were featured in the movie, "Gaia Symphony No. 2 (1995)" directed by Jin Tatsumura.
This is going to be a precious opportunity to listen to the 89-years-old quiet activist who has discouraged many from killing themselves.
▶presented by Obihiro Inochi-no-Kai (Life Society)
▶on Sunday, 13 March, 2011 from 1:30 p.m. -
(the venue opens at 1:00 p.m.)
▶at 2F, Tokachi-kan
(2, W7 S6, Obihiro/phone: 0155-24-1040)
▶1,000 yen tickets available at Kachimai Salon, 7F and Ticket Pia, 5F, Fujimaru Department Store
▶childcare service (booking required)
▶information (Japanese): 0155-21-5759

[まもなく90歳。でも動き続ける]
50年以上も多くの人々を助けるために半生を捧げてきた佐藤初女(さとうはつめ)さんが、3月13日(日)に講演会のために訪れる。
初女さんは、青森県岩木山麓の「森のイスキア」と名付けられた自身の家を、社会的な重荷や心の病に苦しむ人々に解放してきた。彼らに耳を傾け、心づくしの食事を提供する彼女が注目を浴びたのは、映画「地球交響曲(ガイアシンフォニー)第2番」(1995年・龍村仁監督)に、彼女自身と心を込めて作る「おむすび」が取り上げられた時。
多くの命を自殺から救ってきた89歳の静かな活動家のお話を聞く貴重な機会になる。
▶講師:佐藤初女氏
▶主催:帯広いのちの会
▶とき:3/13(日)13:30〜(13:00 開場)
▶ところ:とかち館 2F 金枝の間(帯広市西7条南6丁目2番地 0155-24-1040)
▶チケット:1,000円(藤丸デパート 7F 勝毎サロン/5F チケットぴあ)
▶託児室あり(要予約)
▶お問い合わせ:0155-21-5759 (tel. & fax)