CHICHIWEB

【Conversation】 Learn Life Lessons from “The Analects of Confucius” - Explore the Way Human Beings Should Live and the Way Leaders Should Be in the Universal Document



Yoshiyuki Kasai (Chairman of Central Japan Railway Company) & Hei Seki (Critic)




Mr. Yoshiyuki Kasai was one of the key players of the privatization and separation of the Japanese National Railways, and he is also one of the leaders in the Japanese business world. He has achieved large-scale reforms in businesses, and underlying that force was the words from “The Analects of Confucius”, of which he was taught by his father, who was a Japanese teacher, when he was in elementary school. On the other hand, Mr. Seki also learned about “The Analects of Confucius” from his grandfather during his boyhood, at the peak of the Cultural Revolution in China, and the teachings have become his body and soul. Although the two were born in different nations and at different periods in time, they exchange their views here on human studies through “The Analects of Confucius.”
⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation】 Live the Present, Led by the Teachings of Old Sages


Aoji Tanasawa (President of ELEGANCE Co., Ltd.) & Ryuichiro Misaki (Writer)

Ms. Aoji Tanasawa suddenly developed myasthenia, which is an intractable disease with unknown cause, in her twenties. On the other hand, Mr. Ryuichiro Misaki developed cancer in his forties, when he was a busy corporate director. Both of them had a brush with death, encountered teachings of old sages, became conscious of their missions, and have lived their new lives. The two people, who are walking their own ways respectively to do their best to radiate their saved lives, talk about the impressive teachings of old sages.
⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation】 Advance, while Learning and Being Taught

Jiro Ushio (Chairman of USHIO INC.) ＆ Danjuro Ichikawa XII (Kabuki Actor）



This March, Kabuki, the traditional performing art that Japan can be proud of, has opened a new page. A Kabuki performance was performed for the first time in history at the Paris Opera House with a proud history and tradition. Danjuro Ichikawa XII made a strong impression on the world, by setting the audience alight with his heroic Roppo* and the statements in French. While basking in the afterglow of the historic stage, he talks about the path to reach there, and conditions of first class people etc., together with Mr. Jiro Ushio, who has been continuously supporting his activities.
*Roppo is a unique way of walking to express the character, and is mainly used upon getting out off the stage. In this case, Danjuro got out of the stage by using his heroic Roppo of energetically stamping the stage.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Recent news from Cambodia reported that a girl, who had gone missing at the age of 9 while taking care of buffalos, was discovered and rescued after 18 years. According to the news report, she had become 27 years old, and seems to have lived in a jungle. Therefore she doesn’t understand any language, tears off her clothes, walks on all fours, and has completely become wild.
　This incident reminds us of the fact that human beings are not born as human beings, but become human beings. If this is the case, then what makes human beings, human beings?

　Mr. Mitsukuni Tokugawa, the lord of the Mito domain known as an enlightened lord, was the second son of Yorifusa, the 11th son of Ieyasu*1. Although Mitsukuni was brilliant, he was also eccentric and impudent when he was young, a bad boy to the extent that his close aid described him as having bad morals. However, Yorifusa was determined that Mitsukuni would be his successor, seeing his potential. Having said so, Yorishige, Yorifusa’s first son, was mild and had better reputations from those around them. Compared to that, Mitsukuni was thought of as being an outrageous eccentric and that his future most likely would not amount to much. Mitsukuni, who was regarded as such, completely transformed his way of living, by reading “Hakui-den” , or “The Story of Hakui” in “Shi Chi”*2 at the age of 18.
*1Ieyasu Tokugawa was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868) of Japan.
*2 “Shi Chi” is a series of Chinese classics completed around the 1st century B.C., depicting Chinese history.

Here is the story of “Hakui-den”. Hakui and Shukusei were the children of a lord of a small country. The lord designated the youngest brother, Shukusei, as his successor and passed away. However, Shukusei tried to concede the position to his elder brother, Hakui. Hakui didn’t accept that, saying, “It is against our father’s will”, and left the country. Shukusei also followed him. Hakui and Shukusei tried to look for King Wen of the country named Zhou*3 for support. However, King Wen had already passed away, and his son, King Wu succeeded him, and was trying to topple the supreme ruler, Yin*4. Hakui and Shukusei expostulated King Wu, saying, “It is against filial piety to topple Yin when you have not even finished your father’s funeral. Yin is the lord of Zhou, and therefore it is against benevolence for the vassal to topple the lord.” The guards tried to kill them, but they were saved by the general serving King Wu, saying, “These two are the sons of righteousness.”
　Soon after that, Zhou toppled Yin and came to rule over the whole land. Although everyone else was going to Zhou, Hakui and Shukusei denied getting a salary from Zhou because the country was against righteousness. They hid themselves in a mountain, and died from hunger. They consistently adhered to their faith.
*3 Zhou is an ancient Chinese dynasty.
*4 Yin is the oldest Chinese dynasty whose existence was confirmed archeologically.　──Mitsukuni was tremendously overwhelmed after reading this story at the age of 18. “I have taken it for granted to become the successor as I am of better caliber than my brother, Yorishige. Have I ever considered his feelings even a moment…? Do I have even a little bit of the admirable attitude of Hakui and Shukusei to adhere to righteousness…?”
　From that point, Mitsukuni has transformed. He named his study room as “Jisshinsai” and devoted himself into reading classics. Through the experience, he strongly felt that history books were required to know the trails of the ancients. This feeling triggered the idea of editing “Dainihonshi”, or “The History of Great Japan.”
　Mitsukuni was determined to do one more thing, which was to adopt Tsunaeda, his brother Yorishige’s son, and make him as the successor without bearing a child of his own. Mitsukuni notified his brother of this determination at the age of 36, upon their father’s death, and executed it at the age of 63.
　Mitsukuni had become a human being from the teachings of “Hakui-den” and realized his motto in life: “Human beings become human beings by having classics in their minds. Learning becomes learning by living a life with morality.”

　The Chinese character to describe “teaching” consists of two parts. One of them indicates “filial piety”. Mr. Masahiro Yasuoka*5 said that this “filial piety” is not limited to among parents and children. Rather, it indicates succession and unification of old and young, and new and old. He preached that both individuals and peoples would advance and prosper where there was no disconnection. The other part of the character indicates pointing to something with a whip. The character exactly embodies what teachings are all about.
Human beings need to learn from teachings, and pass on the teachings.　
*5 Mr. Masahiro Yasuoka was a famous scholar of Oriental philosophy. He was a spiritual advisor to many high-ranking members of Japan's political and business elite, including a number of postwar prime ministers.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Prefatory Note


Be Considerate of Others


Hidesaburo Kagiyama, Advisor of YellowHat

■People with No Sparkle in Their Eyes“Although there are many people who are alive but live like zombies, you are still alive even after you have passed away.”　
　These are the words of Ms. Michiko Sato, a poet who lives in Osaka, presented to the deceased boy, Migaku Okui.
　The boy Okui was considered a genius, but sadly, he was suddenly killed in a traffic accident. The paintings he left were put together and published as a book entitled “Shouts of a 19-year-old,” which is fabulous.
　Currently in Japan, I have seen an increase in the number of people with no sparkle in their eyes, nor light or power in their words. Recently, I have seen the unlively faces, figures, attitudes, and behaviors of people I happen to come across with on public transit or to pass by on the street, and they have made me think there are many people who personify Ms. Sato’s expression: “There are many people who are alive but live like zombies.”
　Some of them may have become exhausted by being cracked by the irrationalities of society, or have been suffering every day from excessive expectations by their companies. Also, some of them are responsible for their own demise, as they made wrong decisions in life. The “ki” or vital energy from them has a common negative, passive, and dark image.

■Live a Way of Life with Consideration and Class
On the other hand, in Japan now, if you ask if all the people taking actions based on having a positive and active way of thinking are all “lively and living humanly,” the answer is not necessarily “yes”. People who disregard others to satisfy their own desires, showing egoism, though living life with enthusiasm. People who ignore others for their own benefit. People who do not try to understand other’s efforts, burdens, sincerity and continue to gain from them endlessly, also fit the definition of the “living dead”.
　The cause of this is that they live without a humane heart. The selfishness is active, rather than passive, and therefore, has become a negative legacy in society, by producing people, who are suffering and exhausted, one after another.
　“The Black Gold”, a British independent film depicting the reality of the coffee industry, which continues to prosper, tells you the predicament of the commercial farms producing coffee. (The film is not screened in Japan.) The commercial farms can get only 1/1000 of the price of coffee, whose taste and flavor we fully enjoy.（Morning edition of the Tokyo Shimbun on February 21.）
　We would like to take thought for the fact that our activities to enjoy the pleasure alone and to show our egoism, are forcing tough labor on others, and agonizing many people including those who live immensely apart from us. It is important to notice that our desire “to purchase even 1 yen cheaper only for myself” is the cause of producing worn-out people.
　One of the proverbs of Mr. Kanjiro Kawai* says, “Going to purchase a product, going to purchase myself.” I believe that it is a graceful way of living to take into account other people’s feelings, which can not be seen with eyes, and be considerate of others, rather than gorgeously decorating your outlook.
*Mr. Kanjiro Kawai (1890~1966) was a Japanese potter, who was also active in writing.　The only distinction among people is “whether they have class or not.” There is no one in between, so those who are without class are all vulgar. This is what I have learned from Mr. Tanaka, who lives in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Currently in Japan, there has been more and more number of people, who are without class.
　In order to realize a “Beautiful Country, Japan”, which Prime Minister Abe is aiming for, it makes more sense for Japanese people to become people whose way of living is with consideration and class. Such a way of living is exactly the way of living that of having “life even after passing away,” according to the words of Ms. Sato.



⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

This is an anecdote of a Kabuki actor, Sojuro Sawamura the First*1, who made Genroku Kabuki*2 flourish. It was upon his final performance, where all the actors were quite nervous to support the brilliant close of the career of this master of Kabuki.
“Allow me to inform you. Allow me to inform you. Allow me…”
In a scene, one of the actors had forgotten his lines and got flustered. Sojuro, who noticed this, promptly said,
“It sounds like highly confidential. Come closer, come.”
　With that, he invited the actor, who inched along toward Sojuro and whispered,
“I’m sorry. I forgot the lines.”　
Sojuro listened to this with his hands over the ear, and then put his hands over the mouth and said,
“I think this is enough. Just say ‘That’s it, Sir’ and get yourself out of the stage. It will work.”
The actor raised his voice to say “That’s it, Sir,” and got himself out of the stage. It did work and the stage performance could go on.
I admire the prompt response of Sojuro, who had a quick wit and took advantage of the opportunity. It must be something that could be done because of his many years of discipline and magnanimity as a person.
*1Kabuki actors inherit their names, like Sojuro Sawamura the 2nd, Sojuro Sawamura the 3rd, etc.
*2Kabuki thrived during the Genroku period (16731735). The structure of a Kabuki play was formalized during this period. Conventional character types were determined.　
　When Mr. Gaishi Hiraiwa (Former President/Chairman of the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated) was young, he worked as a secretary to the then president, Mr. Kazutaka Kigawada. During the period, when the president Kigawada tuned his face to Mr. Hiraiwa, he could tell what the president wanted to say, and what the president wanted him to do. He could enable such miracles, as he always tried to become single-minded with the president, and lived a time shared with the president.

”I Ching”, one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts, says, “Isn’t it the God who sees signs and can predict an incident faster than anyone else?” It also teaches us, “If you seize an opportunity, execute it immediately.”

　Then, what should we do to take advantage of an opportunity? I believe the requirements can be summarized into the following 4 items.
　The first item is “sincerity.” Work wholeheartedly, and you will see that “sincerity reaches heaven”, functioning like God. This is something everyone who lived seriously has been insisting upon since ancient times.
　The next item is “agility.” You have to maintain a positive sense of tension, in order for you to have something that rings a bell. The following are the words of Mr. Masahiro Yasuoka*3.
“The core meaning of agility is to make your mind and body work, so as to be careful as much as you can, to be helpful, to serve frequently in order to make your life beautiful, for your work, for your friends, and for the world. In plain words, never slack off and always stay agile. Instead, you can substantially slack off when it comes to mundane things in the world.”
　The third item is “commitment.” Surprisingly, people are not good at making commitments. “Shu Ching”, another oldest of the Chinese classic texts, says, “Everyone has his or her own important mission. However, there have not been many people who commit to the mission since olden days.” Most people end up lukewarm. However, there is a stage that only those who commit can reach.
　The last item is “courage.” Be constantly active. If you hesitate, you can’t take advantage of an opportunity.
*3 Mr. Masahiro Yasuoka was a famous scholar of Oriental philosophy. He was a spiritual advisor to many high-ranking members of Japan's political and business elite, including a number of postwar prime ministers.

　Let’s learn how to take advantage of an opportunity from each life of those active in his or her own field.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation: Be Desperate, and There Is Always a Way out of an Impossible Situation. Always Have Someone to Respect in Your Mind Devoting Life to the Recovery of the Resona Group】


Jiro Ushio (Chairman of USHIO INC.) ＆ Eiji Hosoya (Chairman of Resona Holdings, Inc.)



4 years ago, “the Resona Group” requested for an injection of public funds of 2 trillion yen, and was forced into nationalization. The direction of its recovery was an important issue, which could influence even the direction of the Japanese economy. As the instrument of change, Mr. Jiro Ushio singled out Mr. Eiji Hosoya, who had achieved remarkable results for the privatization of the national railways. How did Mr. Hosoya take advantage of the opportunity in the impossible situation? He looks back to the road of reform, together with Mr. Ushio.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation: A Light Found in the Darkness】



Hiroyuki Yoshiie (Head of the Education Rebuilding Council Office/Member of the Yokohama City Board of Education) ＆ Hiroyuki Sugimoto (CEO of S-GRANT.CO.,LTD.)



In Japan, currently there are 640,000 youngsters called NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training), who can’t find what they want to do and lost the energy to live. Mr. Hiroyuki Yoshiie and Mr. Hiroyuki Sugimoto also once had a period of wandering in a long tunnel. The two men have overcome unfathomable anguish and conflicts, and they are currently running their own way of education and management respectively with the utmost effort. How did they seize opportunities in their lives to take advantage of them?

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)


【Conversation: How to Take Advantage of the Current Opportunity in This Country】



Shoichi Watanabe (Professor Emeritus of Sophia University) & Terumasa Nakanishi (Professor of Kyoto University)

Currently, discussions are increasing in Japan, on exercising the right to having a collective self-defense and constitutional amendments etc. On the other hand, if you look abroad, there are movements wielding a keen edge to Japan, such as the Resolution protecting the human rights of comfort women, and the production of a film featuring the Nanjing Massacre, and we can’t help but wonder “Why at this time?” Mr. Watanabe and Mr. Nakanishi, both have the eyes penetrating the history, exchange their views on the future international situation, touching upon the movements of the anti-Japanese organization behind that, and how Japan should advance under such circumstances.


⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Prefatory Note


You Can Become a Millionaire If You Are Considerate of the Situations of Your Peers and Respect Their Position
Takanori Nakajo, Honorary Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd.

■Japan Is Losing the Altruistic Mind
　The trend of self-centered people who never consider others, rules Japan, “the divine nation Nippon.”
　Although intellects are concerned about this state of affairs and passionately preach the importance of altruism, there are not only small numbers of people who do not get enlightened, not only among youngsters but also among the management of large-scale companies.
　The ancient words of a sage cited in “I Ching”, one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts, preach that “what goes around comes around”, by teaching us to do lots of good for others, if you want to become happy. Such people (houses/companies) are sure to be blessed with fortune.
　“The Analects of Confucius” also has a scene where one of Confucius’ disciples asks, “What is the most important thing among your teachings?” Confucius answered his question, saying, “I assume it is consideration.” In other words, he preaches that the most important thing is to have you in the opponent’s shoes and be considerate.
　The same thing is underlined in modern business administration as well: You can’t win with “Product-Out” (producer/complacent mindset.) You can never win unless you are with “Market-In” (customer-centric.)
　Even without theorizing like this, you can see it in the fact that the singer Haruo Minami*1, whose job totally depends on the number of his fans, shouted from the bottom of his heart, “My fans are my God.”
　If you do business in a selfish way, you will end up bringing about your own ruin, like Horiemon of Livedoor*2 and Mr. Murakami of Murakami Fund*3. Even facing these incidents, people are not taking it as piercing reproach. This reality of Japan is lonely and agonizing.
*1 Haruo Minami was an Enka singer famous for his message, “My fans are my God.”
*2Horiemon is a nickname of Mr. Takafumi Horie, the founder of the Internet service provider Livedoor Co. He was regarded as the icon of the new era of young entrepreneurs in Japan, before he was arrested for violating Securities and Exchange laws in 2006.
*3Mr. Murakami is the founder of Murakami Fund, which was famous as an activist fund. However, he was also arrested for insider trading in 2006 in relation to the Livedoor incident.

■Deal with Others Like a Spring Breeze
　I was assigned to the role of Senior Sales Director when Asahi Breweries, Ltd.’s performance was at rock bottom. The presidents were selected from the then the Sumitomo Bank, Limited from generation to generation.
　Other than those who joined the company from other companies, I was one of the top employees who had gone up the corporate ladder, and as such, I was in a position to revive the company, which hit rock bottom after being divided up into smaller companies by the American occupation forces. The world authority Harvard University also regarded the Japanese beer industry as the typical oligopolistic business model, and used to teach that companies ranking second and below would never win in the industry, where the company K with the largest market share accounted for over 60%.
　During the course of this challenge, the employees tended to lose confidence. Upon such circumstances, I used to tell them the 10 important points of “You can become a millionaire if you are considerate of the situations of your peers and respect their position.” Let me share them with you.

1. The best way to understand your opponent’s feelings is with “love”
”Love” is based on considering in the opponent’s shoes. Love your customers. “Consideration” means to put your feet in the opponent’s shoes and consider their situation. Mother’s unconditional “love” that requires nothing in return is the best and pure.
2. “Courtesy” helps others as well as yourself
　People can never live alone. The mind of being strongly conscious of the opponent is “benevolence.” The Chinese character of “benevolence” consists of the parts indicating “Human beings are two persons.” “Benevolence” is something that can not be seen but is rather a concept that takes form when it is revealed through “courtesy.” When you thank someone, do it quick even simple, instead of being polite but late. Using a fax machine is better than a phone.
3. Keep your promises
　Just by keeping your promises, the opponent thinks that you value him or her. Promises of “nice to have someday…” are the kind of ones you have to make sure to keep. Although it might be easier to make a promise and break it later, don’t do it. Rather, have the courage to never make a promise that you can’t keep.
4. Become used to being scolded at. When you lose, you actually win
　No matter how many blunders you may make, if you are used to being scolded at, you can gain favor in those who scold you. If someone scolds you, become closer to that person! Scolding you proves the fact that the person cares for you.

5. Undertake works casually, especially the ones that your opponents feel burdened with
　Even a heavy work can get lighter if it is shared by two.
6. Whether or not “compliments” can reach your opponent’s heart depends on “your straight face”
　You have the mouth in order to praise others. “Compliments” seriously thought out can work, even if they are not sophisticated. Focus on your peer’s virtues.
The abuse of “compliments” can have adverse effects. Be able to distinguish “praise” from “flattery.”
　Nobody gets depressed by being praised. “Compliments” behind the scenes have an even more powerful effect than the “compliments” told in person.
7. Immediately put what you have leaned into use.
　Make others think that you are worthy of receiving education. There is a substantial number of people who write letters to me immediately after listening to my lectures or reading my books, to tell me how much they were moved by them. I reply immediately as much as possible to encourage them.
　This kind of sensitivity is equivalent to considering your peers’ feelings. It is such a simple logic that if you become humble, your peer’s position will elevate relatively.
8. Become the one to initiate
　The greetings you instigate are hundreds of times more valuable than the greetings you make in response.
In Japan, the country of “courtesy”, recently we have almost forgotten the preciousness of greetings. In view of the reality, where many people consider that making greetings doesn’t bring any money, “positive greetings” are highly valuable.
9. Those good at considering the opponent’s feelings know “the patience of time” and “the patience of preference”
　The most excellent Japanese word to express the consideration of how the opponent thinks and perceives is “Sontaku (surmise).” If you pursue the heart of “benevolence”, you will reach “Sontaku.”
　No matter how fun you think it is, keep your conversation less than half of the opponent’s. Even if you want to talk, hold your tongue, in order to sell Asahi beer. In other words, be a “good listener.”

10. The first step to being considerate of your peer’s feelings is to make your peer feel good
　Consider your peer’s feelings even if that is your wife, child, or dog.
　The Bible, which was born in the West actively teaches to “do what you want others to do unto yourself”, while the Eastern sages are a bit passive, teaching, “never do what you don’t want others to do to you.” What both have in common is the concept of “the important thing is to make the opponent feel good.”

　I remember that Mr. Issai Sato*4 also preaches in his book, “Genshi-koroku*5”, to “Deal with others like a spring breeze, and watch out for yourself with rigidity like the autumn frost.” It is essential to be rigid to yourself like the autumn frost, and deal with others like a spring breeze and consider their feelings.

*4 Mr. Issai Sato (1772-1859) was a Japanese scholar who had taught around 6,000 students including those who became famous leaders later.
*5 “Genshi-koroku” is a generic name for his 4 books written in his later life over 40 years. The books are called as “the Bible for leaders” and beloved for long periods up to now.


⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Prefatory Note


There Are Youngsters Who Cultivate the Future of Japan

Hidesaburo Kagiyama, Advisor of YellowHat

■The Courage of Mr. Yuji Arakawa
At 6:00am of February morning, when the sun has yet fully risen, you can see figures of youngsters, who are kindly cleaning the square before the East Exit of Shinjuku Station.
　One of them has a cardboard signboard tied to his back, on which “HELP WANTED”, was written. People who gathered in response to this calling are all university students, and therefore the number of people differs, depending on the day. However, there are some students who regularly come and sweep the entire East Exit area.
　Although last winter was warm, it was cold before dawn on the street, chilling fingers of people separating wet garbage.
　I take off my hat to those youngsters, who are sedulous to cleaning under such circumstances. I think they are very cool, and look more attractive than those with mock gentility, who are conscious about appearances alone. Also, I can see a light in the future of Japan in the fact that this kind of youngsters have appeared.　
　The university student with the signboard on his back was Mr. Yuji Arakawa. I admire Mr. Arakawa’s courage, who started this effort alone in December last year. Do you have the courage to stand in public, with a cardboard signboard on your back?
　Speaking of cleaning outside, just sweeping around your home or office makes you conscious of the public eye and hesitate a bit, so let alone sweeping somewhere that has nothing to do with you, exposed to public scrutiny. It is something you can’t do, unless you have such high aspiration and true courage.
　This is not limited to cleaning. Whatever it is, you feel relatively at ease when you do it as one of the mass, because you rely on numbers, and also because of the ease that the public eye does not focus on you alone.
　On the other hand, if you do things by yourself something that normally people don’t do, you will be exposed to the public eye, which is unbearably painful and very straightening, as everyone who has gone through this knows. Even without such experience, by just imagining maybe enough to understand how tough it is.
■Practice Before Criticism　
As if trampling down the spirit and good deeds of Mr. Arakawa, who have been challenging this tough work, people who ridicule or mock him from a distance are not few.　
　There are even times when punks come and scatter all the garbage he had collected. People who don’t have the courage to do good and can’t practice, can only be passionate to hamper those who do good deeds.
　It is no easy matter to continue the work always with a smile, despite the malice to destroy one’s good intention.
　In aid of Mr. Arakawa’s fortitude, other students came to offer help, which was big, delightful news not only for Mr. Arakawa, but also for society.
If you are making blind assumptions about youngsters, saying, “Today’s youngsters are…”, please come and see the activity taking place at the East Exit square of Shinjuku Station. If you join in it instead of just watching, it will be good for yourself as well.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation】What You Can See in Extreme



Kazuo Murakami　（Professor Emeritus of Tsukuba University）＆　Ryojun Shionuma　（Priest of Jigen-ji Temple）




Mr. Ryojun Shionuma boldly took the challenge of Sen-nichikai-hogyo, which is said to be one of the most extremely tough trainings in Shugendo* , and completed it flawlessly. In the 1,300 year long history of the Kinpusen-ji Temple that holds the training, he is the second person who could complete it. With asceticism beyond imagination, transcending human norms and physical limits, what did he see past his ordeals? The authority in genetic engineering, Mr. Kazuo Murakami, Professor Emeritus of Tsukuba University, passionately probes into the reality of asceticism, and the truth of life that Mr. Shionuma attained through the experience.



*Shugendo is an old Japanese way of studying the relationship between Man and Nature. "Shugendo" literally means "the path of training and testing." It centers on an ascetic, mountain-dwelling lifestyle and incorporates teachings from other eastern philosophies. The focus or goal of Shugendo is the development of spiritual experience and power.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Interview】I Will Continue to Fight As Long As I Live, Carrying My Patients’ Lives

Hiroyasu Kamiyama　（Chief of the First Department of Neurosurgery/Head of the Apoplexy Center, Asahikawa Red Cross Hospital）

Cerebral aneurysm is a clog formed in cerebral blood vessels. If it is left untouched, it will burst, cause subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the patient’s life will be in danger. However, corrective operations are extremely difficult, and one wrong move could result in permanent brain damage. Mr. Hiroyasu Kamiyama, brain surgeon, receives dozens of requests for this difficult operation every month. Patients who were turned away by other hospitals rush to Surgeon Kamiyama, desperate help. He accepts the patients and stands up heroically to challenge himself to save them. He shares with us what he has to say.



⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation】／I Bear My Burden by Myself
Supported by the Way of Living of My Stepfather, Yoshio Toi

Yokuko Toi　（Bomori 〔Wife of a priest〕 in Toko-ji Temple, Jodo Shinshu） &　
Issei Terada　（President of Fujin-sosho-kankokai）




Ms. Yukuko Toi married an elementary schoolteacher and started to live in Tantocho, located deep in the mountains in Hyogo Prefecture in 1981. However, her husband, who was passionate in education, suddenly collapsed during a physical education class and fell into a vegetative state when he was 45. Peaceful days changed drastically, and Ms. Toi was determined to manage a snack bar to support her bedridden husband and raise the children, over the protests of people around her. Through lots of hardships, she has come to grasp the deep meaning in the words of her stepfather, Yoshio Toi, who was an educator as well as a Buddhist. She looks back her life that she lived desperately, touching upon the memories of her stepfather, with Mr. Issei Terada, with whom she has been closely associated.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

A disciple once asked his Zen master, Dogen*1,
”You taught me that every human being is born with Bussho*2, but if that is the case, why do some of them succeed while some don’t?”
Dogen replied,
“It’s easy to tell you the answer, but you should once think through it by yourself.”
　With that, the disciple spent a night thinking over the issue, but he couldn’t figure it out.
　The next morning, the disciple visited Dogen and asked again,
“I thought about the issue last night, but still I don’t understand why. Please let me know the answer.”
“Then, I will let you know. Those who succeed make efforts. Those who don’t succeed don’t make efforts. That’s the difference.”
　The disciple was overjoyed, feeling he got it. However, another question came to his mind during the night. If human beings are supposed to have Bussho, why do some make efforts while others don’t? The next they, he went to see his master again and asked,
“I went home yesterday, feeling I got it. However, I still can’t figure out why some make efforts and some don’t, if human beings are supposed to have Bussho?”
“Those who make efforts have spirit. Those who don’t, have no spirit. That’s the difference.”
　The disciple was well convinced with Dogen’s answer, and went home in delight. However, during the night, again, another question surfaced. If human beings are supposed to have Bussho, why do some have spirit while some don’t?
　The disciple came to see his master, which was the fourth time, and raised the question. Dogen replied,
“Those who have spirit know that every human being is mortal and is sure to die. Those who have no spirit don’t know this fact in its true sense. That’s the difference.”
　This is an anecdote of Dogen, which bears close resemblance to his words in “The Shobogenzo Zuimonki*3.”

*1Dogen was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher and the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan. He was a leading religious figure of his time, as well as being an important philosopher.

*2Bussho is Buddha-nature, or pure humanity.

*3”The Shobogenzo Zuimonki” is a compilation of teachings orally delivered by Dogen. It explains training rules for monks in a way that is easy to understand.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Prefatory Note


The Joy of Reading


Takanori Nakajo, Honorary Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd.


■ The Source of Shoin Yoshida’s Influence
“Without reading through tons of books, how come you can be an immortal person, whose name lasts for long periods? There is no chance.”（Chichi Publishing Co., Ltd.: “Daily Word from Shoin Yoshida”）

　It is 3:00am on March 1. I usually get up around 4:00am every morning, spend about 1 hour on organizing newspaper clippings of the day before, and then learn teachings of the day by reading out loud the daily words of sages of old, such as Shoin Yoshida, Masahiro Yasuoka, and Shinzo Mori, which are available in books from Chichi Publishing Co., Ltd.
　As it is the due date for the May issue of this “Prefatory Note” of “Chichi”, it seems I was concerned about it, so I woke up earlier than usual by about 1 hour.
　Taking advantage of this leeway, I explored some teachings regarding reading from “Daily Word from Shoin Yoshida.”

“You can not expect better effects from reading, unless you try reading hard at all hours of the day and night, without wasting even a short period of time.”

“The important thing in reading is to fully understand the meaning of the ‘core part’ and achieve mastery of it.”

“Please take good care of yourself for the sake of this nation. When you have time, please try to read as much as possible.”

　Shoin Yoshida was a leading disciple of Shozan Sakuma*1, whose hometown is the same as mine, and was said to be an incomparable bookworm.
*1Shozan Sakuma was a Japanese politician and scholar of the Edo period.
　Although he passed away so young, he is such a strong influence on today’s world. There is no doubt that it is due to what he had learned from reading a large number of books including Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, springing forth like a fountain. It is really like Shoin that he is encouraging Kogoro Katsura*2 to read books, while talking him into serving the nation.
*2Kogoro Katsura was a Japanese politician during the Late Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji Restoration.

■ My Adolescence and Reading
　I have been living in this world for 80 years, and if I were to be proud of myself, it would be because I have always lived surrounded by many books, and have continued learning from them.
　Since my childhood, I have adored books so much as to be called as a “bookworm.”
　I had 4 elder sisters and they were all married. When they came back to their hometown for the New Year holidays or festivals, they made it sure to bring me books such as those on lives of great men. The volume of reading seemed to have improved my power of expression, although I was still a child. I received the Minister of Education Award from Mr. Ryutaro Nagai (the then Minister of Education) at the nationwide children writing competition, and the fact was announced by the school principle to all the students in my school.
　This made me exhilarated and drove me to reading even more. What I found tough during the days at the Japanese Army Military Academy was neither tough training, nor extreme hunger. It was the tough environment with no freedom of choice on books to read, and with no time to read at all, which was too tough to endure.
　After the World War �U, I studied at higher school under the old system of education, whose environment was exactly the opposite from that of the Japanese Army Military Academy. People of the same period include famous writers of the later days, such as Morio Kita, the author of the “Dr. Globefish” series, and Kunio Tsuji.
　I devoted myself to reading, in a bachelor apartment, or in a lodging, while lying covered by a futon. I used to boast that I would deeply devote myself to reading various books, master the secret of life, and generate depth and width as a person. Reading was common to all the higher schools under the old system of education. I used to study German with Mr. Hattori, who went missing in the Alps and whose body has never been found, and with Mr. Orii, who committed suicide. I remember these two friends as fierce readers.

“I open a book sometimes, read it, and am happy to find the supreme joy in it.”

　Mr. Shoin Yoshida expresses his love for reading.
　Looking at the current status of our country, it is really abundant and people have a tendency not to read. This tendency has been accelerating. I have been concerned about this, therefore established the “Nakajo Library” in each school of my hometown several years ago, and have been donating books ever since.
　I receive letters of appreciation from children who felt the joy of reading one after another, and it doubles my supreme pleasure of life.


⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)