As July comes to an end, the sound of cicadas can be heard in the park. In the past, the sound of aburazemi was overwhelmingly dominant, but recently the sound of minmin-zemi has become more prevalent, becoming a fond memory of the summer season.
In Showa 38, there were 153 centenarians, but this year there are 92,139, and 89% of them are women, which is surprising. In the past, we were delighted to see Kin-san and Gin-san being celebrated for reaching 100 years old on television, but this year there are 92,139 centenarians. Truly astonishing. The oldest is said to be 116 years old.
By prefecture, Shimane ranks first with 155.1 centenarians per 100,000 people, followed by Kochi with 146.01 per 100,000 people, and Tottori with 146.01 per 100,000 people. Next are Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagano, and Ehime. Tokyo is ranked 42nd. It is amazing that 92,139 people are living beyond 100 years old. This might be because they started working again after retirement. People tend to become lazy if they don't work. Constantly looking ahead and working reformatively motivates people to live actively. Due to recent labor shortages, people need to work more and earn more money. This might be a sign of the times.
Why are 89% of these centenarians women? Perhaps it is because they live more relaxed lives without much stress. I hope this doesn't sound disrespectful to women. Prefectures like Shimane, Tottori, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto are calm regions surrounded by nature, making them good places for people to live.
After World War II, Nippon Steel and Baoshan Iron & Steel in China merged and grew steadily, but over time, their production capacity declined, leading to the dissolution of the merger. I nostalgically recall watching "Daichi no Ko" on NHK, which depicted a very different China from today. It makes me wonder how China will develop further and how Japan will adapt. This merger between Japanese and Chinese steel companies ended unpleasantly. This indicates that China's technology has advanced enough to no longer rely on Japan.
Japan plans to invest heavily in India for mergers and further intends to purchase the declining steel industry in the United States, but it seems the American government has not yet fully approved it. As a Japanese sword dealer, I travel to Tokyo and Kyoto to purchase Japanese swords, but recently, good quality swords have become scarce. One reason is that many are sold overseas. It is a common misconception among Japanese that there are few sword enthusiasts in Western countries. On the contrary, they have a great appreciation for Japanese swords.
Today, I was watching judo at the Olympics. The awkwardness seen in the past is gone, and foreigners were confidently competing with great enthusiasm. At the same time, they observe proper etiquette, drawing the sword for inspection, applying oil with a cotton cloth, wiping it off, and sheathing the sword with a bow. This etiquette, starting and ending with a bow, is now observed by many people from various countries. Their movements have become quite refined.
The problem for foreigners is how to deal with rust. Foreigners' polishing techniques are not as advanced, so there will come a time when Japanese swords need to be polished. Polishing is not something that can be easily done, and it will become a significant issue for foreigners. That is how much they love Japanese swords.
As I have mentioned before, more people are traveling around the world. They travel easily, enjoy their trips, and return home. Some even stay and get married in those places. Japanese people, who were once poor at English, have become better at communicating with foreigners. With translation devices and other tools making it easier to understand foreign languages, more people are living together with foreigners. Japan's population is steadily declining, but with advanced medical services, it is considered an easy country to live in. In the past, Japan was seen as a country where people could live peacefully without wars. In the future, more foreigners will choose to live in Japan, feeling safe and secure.
Times change quickly. I believe the war between Russia and Ukraine will eventually come to an end. As the world supports Ukraine, people will realize that this foolish war, which has caused many casualties, was unnecessary. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's actions in Gaza are forceful, and there is concern that the conflict will continue. The Jews who experienced the horrors of German concentration camps claim Israel as their homeland. However, this has led to conflicts over the land claimed by the state of Israel. This situation is difficult for many to accept. Israel is a wealthy nation, and many Israelis have strong ties in the United States. The fighting in Gaza often involves violent methods to seize land, which is problematic. I hope for a swift resolution to this difficult issue.
Take good care of your grandparents. Aging is challenging, and walking outside becomes difficult as their legs weaken. Make sure your wife enjoys her life to the fullest. Teach your children the difference between right and wrong, and praise them for their good deeds to motivate them. With the resurgence of COVID-19, be sure to gargle, wash your hands, wear masks, and use hand sanitizer before meals.
Best wishes to everyone,
Tsuruta Kazushige
