インスタントラーメンの作り方 (3/22) How to cook instant noodles

ちょっと気分を変えて、インスタントラーメンの食べ方、などと言うのは如何か。かつて、麺の製造に使う古い油が体に悪いと、麺とスープを別々に調理する、と言う方法があったが、どうも物足りない。ノンフライ麺もそう。何かあっさりし過ぎている。どうも古くとも麺に付着した油が、ある種のコクを生んでいるようだ。

炒めたキャベツや玉ねぎを最後に上に載せる。出来上がってから少量のバターをスープに溶かす。これは兄の受け売り。ベーコンと缶詰コーンを炒めて上に載せる、これは友人の受け売り。鶏ガラと人参のヘタ、キャベツの芯と長ネギを煮込んでスープを作るのだよ、と言うのは亡き義兄の受け売りである。どれもイケます、お試しあれ。

To change the mood, how do you like to talk how to cook instant noodle, not pot noodle but instant noodle to cook. Some years ago, it was said that old cooking oil used for fry the noodles was not good for health, and it was recommended to boil the noodles and to cook soup separately. But I feel like leaving something to be desired. I feel the same for ‘non-fried noodles’. I feel it non-fatty than expected. It seems cooking oil on noodles makes some kinds of richer taste even if it is old cooking oil.

Put stir-fried cabbage and onion on the cooked noodle and add little butter to the soup. It is the way recommended from my brother. Put stir-fried bacon and canned corn. It is the way recommended from my friend. Make soup stock from chicken born, hull of carrot, core of cabbage and Japanese leek, boiling together. It is the way recommended from my dead brother in law. I think they taste good. Would you like to try some?

サムライの美学 (3/20) Aesthetic of samurai

桜の花が咲き始めた。程なく満開になることだろう。散り際の桜の美しさ、と誰かが述べていた。散り際は、潔さ、はかなさも相まって美しい。桜吹雪の中で、木に最後までへばりついた桜の花に誰も見向きもしない。光り続けられる人間はいないのだから、一瞬の輝きを自覚し、潔く散るのを美徳としたいものだ。

オリンピックが終わり、良い成績を残した選手、残念な結果に終わった選手。引退を表明した選手、改めて次の挑戦を表明した選手、皆、それぞれの思いで決断したのだろう。もう1回輝くために努力を続けるか、自らの思いを後輩達に託すか、悩んだ末だろう。どちらも現状に満足せず、栄光にしがみつかずだから潔い。尊敬に値する。

It is almost the season for cherry blossom. They will be in full bloom shortly. Someone said that Japanese cherry was impressive just before falling petals rather than blooming. Old Japanese warriors, samurai, thought that they want to live with grace of death like falling petals of Japanese cherry. During ‘Sakura fubuki’, it’s petals shower like snowstorm, no one is interested in the last petal remaining on a tree. No one can continue to shine, we should be aware of short-lived glow and have virtue for grace, like a falling petal.

After closing session of Olympic game in Vancouver, some athletes achieved good record and some athletes didn’t quite well. Some of them announced their retirement and some of them announced to challenge the next Olympic game. They decided to obey their own thoughts, I wonder. They had a choice to make an effort to shine again or to place their hope in younger athletes, they decided after wavering. But in any way, they were not satisfied what they were, and did not dwell upon remembered glory, they were high-souled. We can respect.

古い細胞 (3/18) Old cells

体の維持・成長に必要な細胞も、時が経てばがん細胞に変わる。医学的には間違いかもしれないが、人間界では言えそうだ。業績を伸ばし、功績をあげれば尊敬に値するとしても、だから人物も立派で、リーダにふさわしいとは限らない。いや、かつては立派な人物であったとしても、祭りあげられれば驕りが出るのが人間である。

川が澱めば水は濁る。流れをせき止めては、川が死んでしまう。縁のある某社の状況を見て思った。定年を過ぎ、会社を離れても影響力を行使する人がいるのは噂には聞いていたが、真実だったようだ。引き際を間違えると、英雄も凡人。いや、そもそも真の英雄はそんな愚は犯さない。がん細胞と言われないうちが花だと思うのだが。

Cells necessary for maintaining and growing bodies may become cancer cells in time. It may not be correct from a medical viewpoint, but it is really true in the human world. If someone contributes to expand a reach and become a person of merit, he may get much respect, but he is not of upstanding character and is not of suitable person as a leader always. Even if a man was of upstanding character formerly, he was elevated to a heroic position and getting rude, that’s human nature.

If river current stagnates, water of the river is getting turbid. If a river is held back, no life lives in there. It was how I felt when I heard about the news of a certain company. I’ve heard a rumor that someone did not give up his muscle within the company after leaving the company by retirement. What I heard seemed to be true. A hero may become an ordinary man if he does not know when to quit. A real hero does not act as a fool in the first place. A man should leave before he is called as a cancer cell, I wonder.

黒い玉、白い玉 (3/16) Black ball and white ball

経験豊富な方々の意見を聞くことは意義があるし、参考になることが多い。しかし、常に正しいとは限らないとも思う。あの人が言ったから正しい、と言うことが常に真である保証はない。そんな考えだから、誰が言おうと是は是、非は非だと思っている。黒い玉は飽くまで黒い、誰かが言えば白くなる訳ではない。

だからサラリーマンには向いていない。「上からの命令だから仕方ない」と言われれば納得もするが、理由も説明できないことを押し通すだけなら、上に立つ資格がない、と思っている。時には、生意気と思われるらしい。先日、お会いした昔の上司にも肯定された。黒い玉を白いと言うのが大人だと言うなら、子供と思われても良いのだけどな。

It is quite meaningful to hear from experienced matured people, their words are of some help. But I think their words are not always right. It is not true what a person said is always right. Based on this opinion, things that seem to be right should be accepted and things that seem to be wrong should be rejected, it is my basic attitude. A black ball is always black one and is not white one no matter who say it is white.

This is because I cannot work in a salaried worker’s world as yes-man. ‘I really cannot reject an order from my boss, even if it is wrong’, if I hear such word, I can understand the situation. But if a person insist and push with force even if he or she cannot explain the reason why it is necessary, such a person has no right to be in management position, I think. Sometimes I was called as ‘sourcebox’, this is because. My former boss agreed to this when I see him the other day. If we regard it adulthood if we call a white ball as a black bal, and if it is really adulthood, I would like to be childish guy.

かつての上司との楽しい時間 (3/14) Good time with former boss

先日、昔の上司と数年ぶりにお会いする時間をいただいた。実際、仕事を離れて話をするのは、初めてだったと思う。明るい話題ばかりではなかったが、久々に楽しい会話で時間を忘れた。年長者や上司に敬意を払うのは当然であるが、尊敬することと指示や命令を聞くのは別物だと思っている。そんな考えではあるが、尊敬できる数少ない上司だった。

伝言ゲームで降りてきた指示や命令は、聞いていると直ぐにピンとくる。何故、必要か、が説明できないのに、部下に下すだけなら存在意義がない。ましてや、上司の命令だから聞け、では薄っぺらな人格を晒しているようなものだ。背景をちゃんと説明できる数少ない上司だったから、今でも尊敬している。

I had a chance to see my former boss during my days as company employee the other day. Actually it was the first time to talk with him apart from upper management-subordinate relation. Some topics were not encouraging ones, but I enjoyed talking with him and time passed so quickly. When we meet elderly person or upper management, of course we should pay our respect. But it is quite different between respect and following someone’s order or instruction, in my opinion. Based on this, my former boss is the one among quite a few respected persons.

It comes across clearly if orders or instructions come by telephone game. If a person cannot explain why it is necessary, he should not give this kind of order or instruction to subordinates, otherwise he is only a messenger or orderly man. If he or she insists to follow this order or instruction only because this is upper management order, he or she is flimsy person. My former boss can explain the backgrounds and reasons why, sometimes it is coming from big boss but he explained in this case, then I respect him in these days and now.

日本むかしばなし (3/12) Japanese folk tale

昔々、日本と言う高い文明を持った国がありました。でも、重税と細る年金を嫌った若者達は移住してしまい、国に残ったのは、年金をもらう人々と、税金で高額の給料をもらい続ける官僚と、机上論議に明け暮れる政治家でした。結局、税金を払う人はいなくなり、国は崩壊したのでした、と言う伝説が、後世に残るかも知れない。

未来のある若者達に借金のツケを回して良い訳がない。古いシステムが崩壊したのだから、新しいシステムを導入するしかない。しかし、過去の責任をうやむやにしたまま、消費税を上げれば済む話ではない。当然、痛みは伴うが、バケツの穴を塞いで、少しづつ水を増やして行くしかない。一部のマスコミの誘導に踊らされずに。

Once upon a time, there was highly civilized country, named Japan. But young generation migrates to other countries because heavy taxes and poor pension expectation. Remaining people in this country were pensioners, bureaucrats who get high salary from taxes and politicians who discuss only about desk plans. At last, a person who pays tax was left, and this country disappeared. Some decades later, there may be this kind of legend.

We should not hand a large amount of debt to hopeful young people. Because the old system has not been functional already, we should apply a new system. But we should not agree to increase the rate of consumption tax without pursuing the issues of past responsibility. Surely, we may have to accept many painful programs, but we should watch how much extent the holes of bucket are filled to stop leakage and how much extent water level is increased. We should not be manipulated by the campaign of some mass media.

消費税論議 (3/10) Discussion on consumption taxes

前から気になっていることに消費税論議がある。借金の額がこれだけだから、年金制度が崩壊するから、と理由はその通りだが、今に始まったことではない。不思議なのは、マスコミが消費税上げの方向に世論を導こうとしていることである。政府が上げません、マスコミが上げろ、では立場逆転ではないのか。

穴の空いたバケツに水を入れても、穴から勢い良く漏れるだけ。先ずは穴を塞ぎましょう、と言うのは至極、真っ当な考え方だと思う。こんな先の見えない状況で、消費税を上げたら、もっと消費が落ち込むだろう。放っておいて良いはずはないが、税率を上げれば全て解決ではないだろう。誰が猫の首に鈴を付けるか、誰もやりたくはない筈だ。

I’ve been having concern about the discussion of consumption tax. Because there are trillions of debts in central and local government or the pension system is almost collapsed, they are the reasons. We can understand and agree the situation, but it has been obvious fact for long. It is quite strange some mass media want to manipulate mass opinion to increase the rate of consumption tax. The politicians of government announced that the rate of consumption tax is not increased and some mass media take the campaign to increase the rate of consumption tax, it is like a role reversal.

If we fill a bucket that has many holes with water, we have to see gushing water from the holes of bucket and have nothing to do. It is quite reasonable to fill these holes first. Many of us have uncertainty about future. Under the circumstance, we will have sharp downturn of consumption. We cannot leave this situation, but everything will not turn out right. Who bell a cat? No one want to do that, I’m sure.

マヤ文明の悲劇 (3/8) Tragedy on Maya civilization

国境の意味が希薄になると、人々が移住を始めるのではないか、と思う。他県へ引っ越すのと同じ感覚で。それはそれで自然の流れだ。税金を上げても見返りが少なければ、逃げ出す人は居る。栄華を誇ったマヤ文明が崩壊したのは、圧政や汚職に嫌気がさした人々が逃げ出してしまったから、と言う説があるらしい。為政者だけ残った国も悲惨だ。

膨大な借金があるのに、未だ借金を続け、役人は不要な車やカラオケマシンを買う、では、税金などは払う気がなくなる。ましてや、首相が税金逃れをしている国である。税金を上げて、その一部でも無駄に使うのであれば、多額の税金を納める人は逃げ、税金を使う人だけが残る世の中が来るのではないでしょうか。

People may start to migrate to other countries if the meaning of border is getting dilute, I’m sure. It is the similar feeling to move to other cities or prefectures/states. I think it quite natural. If a government raises taxes and we cannot see any merit from this, there should be many people to walk away from heavy load. Maya civilization, at the height of its glory, has been disappeared. There are some theories why this civilization has been ended, but one of them was people in Maya left from Maya caused by despotism and corruption, I’ve heard. It is quite tragic situation that there are only policymakers living in a country.

Although the government is deeply in debt, but they are still get into deeper debt and bureaucrats are spending money to buy unnecessary cars and karaoke consoles. No one feel to pay tax. Least of all, this is Japan, the prime minister evades taxes. If the government raises taxes and misspends a part of taxes even if it is a small amount, high-income taxpayers will walk away from this country and there will be tax-eaters remaining in this country, don’t you think so?

ユルい気持ちの応援 (3/6) Cheer on athletes with sense of loose relations

最近、リコール問題で叩かれ続けているが、トヨタは世界を席巻した自動車メーカである。でも、だからと言って、日本が素晴らしい訳ではない。独自の生産管理と、品質と、販売戦略で勝ち取った努力の成果であろう。全体として日本車はレベルが高いと感じるが、他の分野で世界に水を開けられているのは何故? 同じ日本の製品なのに。

企業やスポーツは国と切り離してはどうだろう。やはり、同じ国の選手だから、浅田真央選手を応援する。でも、それは同じ国にいる仲間だから。トヨタが世界一であってスゴいな、とは思うが、日産やホンダの社員達は、トヨタを誇りに思ったりしないだろう。もっと緩い気持ちで、仲間と感じ、応援したいと思う。

Although they are bashed in U.S. caused by recall issues, but Toyota is one of the world brand and still No.1. Toyota is one of the car manufacturers in Japan, however it doesn’t show any excellence of Japan. They obtained the current position with their own manufacturing control, quality and sales strategy. Generally speaking, Japanese cars are finished well, but why other products are poor in sales by lags behind of other countries, even though products are of Japanese manufacturers.

How do we think the country apart from companies and sports. Of course, we cheer on Mao Asada because she is the athlete from Japan. But this is because she is one of our company even if we have not seen her and she does not know us. We think Toyota is excellent company, but employees in Nissan and Honda are not proud of Toyota, I’m sure. I would like to have the sense of loose relations as friends or company, and cheer on them.

頑張るのは誰のため (3/4) For whom athlets endure hard training?

前出のメダル発言をしたのは、多額の税金を投入しオリンピック誘致に失敗した方だ。三位だから銅メダルだろうが、金メダルの取れなかったチームのリーダである。金メダル以外は意味がない？ それとも国家を意識し忘れた？ 日本はブラジルに負けた訳ではない。二度目の開催ができなくとも、初開催の南米の国に素直におめでとうと言えば良い話だ。

守りたい伝統と思えるなら、守る人は出てくる。守りたい領土と思えば、守る人は出てくるだろう。無理やり守れ、と押し付けるのはどうかと思う。守りたければ独りで守れば良い。共感すれば仲間も増える。国境の意味が希薄になった今だから、力んでもカラ回りするだけだ。それとも、だからこその焦り？

Those who told the aforementioned statement of gold medal is the just the person who failed to bid Olympic game to Tokyo again using the large amount of money from taxes for this purpose. It seemed to be third prize and bronze medal in this competition, but he was the team leader responsible for loosing gold medal. Was it meaningless activity because he failed to get gold medal? Or did he forget to be aware of nationality? Rio de Janeiro won the prize and Tokyo lost it. It didn’t mean Japan was defeated by Brazil. What we do is simple. It’s only say congratulation from the heart to the city and country in South America who will hold Olympic game for the first time.

If there is a tradition to be observed, a person who keeps up the tradition will be appeared. If there is a territory to be defends, a person who defends the territory will be appeared. Is it right way to force someone to observe a tradition or defend a territory? If someone wants to do it, he or she shall start to do alone by himself or herself. When this activity raises sympathy, others may come and help. Now that the border is getting meaningless gradually, such strained effort may result spinning his or her wheels. Or is it impatience caused by this situation?