本文へジャンプ

【春らんまんの山地水明。なれど世界は混沌・・・】


　アメリカとイスラエルによるイランへの急襲から混沌とする世界情勢。われわれの暮らしにも石油価格の高騰が襲ってきたが、政権としてはかなり機動的に、税の見直し・備蓄石油の放出などが決定され即座に実施されたことで、いまのところ、市中のガソリン価格は沈静化の推移を見せている。
　また外交的には「G7首脳ら相次ぐ高市詣で〜米中との距離腐心、日本と協調模索〜」（日経新聞）の動きが報道されてきている。記事本文では「主要国首脳の来日が相次いでいる。フランスのマクロン大統領が31日から日本を訪れる。高市早苗首相が2025年10月に就任して以降の5カ月あまりのうちに主要7カ国（G7）はドイツ以外の首脳が来日。同盟国との協調路線を軽視のトランプ米大統領を前に各国は横の連携を模索している。中国とバランスをとるうえでも日本を重視する。」という報道。
　従来の世界政治が根底的に変化を見せてきている中でどのように自国の立ち位置を確立していくのか、非常に「きわどい」状況が世界を覆っている。とくに対米関係・トランプ政権の動向が予測不可能な中で、今回の高市訪米が大成功を収めたことで世界から注目が集中しているのだろう。やはり世界最強の軍事国家との「向き合い方」は永遠不滅の安全保障の「要諦」。一方でトランプ政権は１ヶ月前という直前時期に中国訪問を一方的に「延期」した。しかし中国自身は一切このことに反応を示していない。あの、大国としての面子をなによりも重視する独裁国家にしてみれば、驚愕を通り越している様子がこの対外的な無反応に凝縮している。茫然自失か。
　いかにも「戦後体制」という世界のバランス構図破壊が進行してきている。
　一方国内でも従来の社会の「ゆらぎ」が垣間見えてきている。昨日は自衛隊所属の人物が中国大使館に「侵入」した容疑で逮捕されている。さっそく中国は抗議声明を発出している。一方で先日来の辺野古反対派の抗議船転覆による女子高生溺死事故は司直によって「事件」立件化されようとしている。高校では保護者への説明会が開かれたが、保護者から「平和教育」の暴走・過激ぶりに驚きの声が挙がったという。
　昨日は医師から「100歳になるとほぼ脳の活性は失われるよ（笑）」との面談雑談でしたが、まだまだ強い「刺激」にふるえる心境。四百年間のいのちの履歴書の「道中」道すがらではあるけれど、明鏡止水にはほど遠い・・・

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Spring is in full bloom, and the mountains and waters are clear and bright. Yet the world is in chaos…]
A world reeling from the uncertain outcome of the situation in Iran. Amid the unpredictability of the Trump administration, the world’s attention is focused on Japan’s diplomacy. Meanwhile, there are also sources of domestic turmoil…

　The global situation has descended into chaos following the U.S.- and Israeli-led strikes on Iran. While soaring oil prices have hit our daily lives, the government has acted with considerable agility, promptly deciding on and implementing measures such as tax revisions and the release of strategic oil reserves. As a result, gasoline prices in the market have stabilized for the time being.
　On the diplomatic front, reports have emerged such as “G7 Leaders Pay Successive Visits to Takaichi—Striving to Bridge the Gap with the U.S. and China, Seeking Coordination with Japan” (Nikkei). The article continues, “Leaders of major nations are visiting Japan one after another. French President Macron will visit Japan starting on the 31st. In the five months since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office in October 2025, leaders from all G7 nations except Germany have visited Japan. Faced with U.S. President Trump, who downplays the importance of coordination with allies, these nations are seeking horizontal cooperation. They also view Japan as crucial for balancing relations with China.”
　As the traditional landscape of world politics undergoes fundamental changes, a highly “precarious” situation is enveloping the globe regarding how nations will establish their own positions. Particularly given the unpredictability of U.S.-Japan relations and the Trump administration’s moves, the fact that Prime Minister Takaichi’s recent visit to the U.S. was a resounding success has likely drawn intense global attention. After all, how to “engage” with the world’s most powerful military nation remains the eternal “essence” of security. On the other hand, the Trump administration unilaterally “postponed” a visit to China just one month ago, at the very last minute. However, China itself has shown absolutely no reaction to this. For an authoritarian state that values its prestige as a major power above all else, this lack of external reaction seems to encapsulate a state of shock that goes beyond mere surprise. Are they at a loss?
The destruction of the global balance of power—the very “postwar order”—is clearly underway.
　Meanwhile, domestically, signs of a “shaking” in traditional society are beginning to emerge. Yesterday, a member of the Self-Defense Forces was arrested on suspicion of “trespassing” onto the grounds of the Chinese Embassy. China immediately issued a statement of protest. On the other hand, the drowning death of a high school girl following the capsizing of a protest boat by anti-Henoko activists a few days ago is about to be formally classified as a “criminal case” by law enforcement. A meeting was held for parents at the high school, and it is reported that parents expressed shock at the excessive and radical nature of the “peace education” being taught.
Yesterday, during a casual conversation with a doctor, he remarked, “By the time you turn 100, your brain activity will be almost completely gone (laughs).” Yet, my mind still trembles at the thought of strong “stimuli.” Although I am on the “journey” of my 400-year-long life’s resume, I am far from being as clear and still as a mirror…

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
　
　

Posted on 3月 25th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【竹原の内陸故地「入野」の山上に墓域発見】


　「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」シリーズ。記録が残されているもっとも古い「故地」は、広島県竹原から10数キロ内陸側で、現在東広島市河内町の「入野」地域であります。わたしは住宅雑誌をやってきた人間なので、やはりその「現場空間」というものから惹起される認識に強いこだわりがあります。
　住宅は人間を包み込んで、その雰囲気全体で社会の荒波から人間を保護する目的。
　その一族が守護されつづけてきた土地空間にも、同様のパワーがあると思っているのです。もちろん古記録や伝承などの認識系情報も、他者との対話を成立させるには不可欠で決定的ですが、いわば「内発する同意力」はいわば出発点なのだと思う次第。そんな思いから数回、この故地を訪れている。
　いまから約300年ほど前の時代を生きたわたしの家系の六世の祖が、かれの時代から百数十年前の祖先の足跡を探索して、古文書として書き記してくれているのです。そこに「山上に」一族の墓地の記述があり、参詣したと記されていた。この記録に基づいてわたしの次兄は河内町教育委員会に委託して、所在確認をしていただいていたのですが、1998-1999年当時の調査では発見されず、どうやらふもとに移設されたようだと返答を受けていたのです。
　今回３月16日に当地を再訪して、かろうじて確認できた山道を踏破していたら、ふもとからは百数十メートルで山頂からはやや下の平坦な場所に大きな塊としては３つの墓域があったのです。
　そしてその中に墓名がハッキリ確認できるものがあって、わたしの家系の元姓である「原」家名の人物で昭和22年に亡くなられた方の墓碑を確認することができた。一応個人と家系の情報なので公開は差し控えますが、しっかり確認することができた。ミッシングリンクの適合とも考えられる次第。「よくぞ」。
　そういう発見に基づいてさらに確証を求めて、入野の歴史についての資料を探し始めている。現代の利器AI探索などを繰り返した結果「入野郷土誌」という出版物が確認できた。20年ほど前の出版だそうなのだけれど、国立国会図書館では存在が確認できた。また東広島市の図書館でもあった。しかし貸出は不可という資料扱い。
　やむなく出版人である地域団体に問合せしているところ。どうしても手間はかかる（笑）。
　しかしいろいろな記録類は残されていることを実感させられますね。人類の痕跡。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Graveyard Discovered on a Mountain in “Iri,” the Ancestral Homeland of the Takehara Clan]
This graveyard, discovered during our exploration on March 16, remains on a mountain in the clan’s ancestral homeland. I wonder if this is the “remnant of life” emanating from this place…

　The “Four Hundred Years of Life’s History” series. The oldest recorded “ancestral land” is located about 10 kilometers inland from Takehara, in the “Iri no” area of Kawachi-cho, Higashi-Hiroshima City. As someone who has worked in the home design magazine industry, I am particularly drawn to the insights evoked by the “spatial context” of a site.
　Homes are meant to envelop people and protect them from the rough waves of society through their overall atmosphere.
I believe that the land and space that a family has continued to safeguard possess a similar power. Of course, cognitive information such as ancient records and oral traditions is indispensable and decisive for establishing dialogue with others, but I believe that what might be called “internal consensus” is, so to speak, the starting point. With these thoughts in mind, I have visited this ancestral land several times.
　The sixth-generation ancestor of my family, who lived about 300 years ago, traced the footsteps of ancestors from over a century before his own time and recorded them in ancient documents. In these records, there is a description of a family cemetery “on the mountain,” and it was noted that he had paid a visit there. Based on this record, my second older brother commissioned the Kawachi Town Board of Education to confirm its location, but the survey conducted in 1998–1999 failed to locate it, and we were informed that it had apparently been relocated to the foothills.
　When I revisited the area on March 16th and managed to make my way up the barely discernible mountain path, I found three distinct clusters of graves on a flat area slightly below the summit, about a hundred and some meters from the base.
Among them, I was able to clearly identify a gravestone bearing the name of a person from the “Hara” family—the original surname of my lineage—who passed away in 1947. Since this involves personal and family information, I will refrain from making it public, but I was able to confirm it thoroughly. I believe this may fill a missing link. “Well done.”
Based on this discovery, I began searching for materials on the history of Irino to seek further confirmation. After repeatedly using modern tools like AI search, I found a publication titled “Irino Local History.” It seems to have been published about 20 years ago, but I was able to confirm its existence at the National Diet Library. It was also available at the Higashi-Hiroshima City Library. However, it is classified as a reference-only document and cannot be checked out.
I have no choice but to contact the local organization that published it. It’s definitely a lot of work (laughs).
Still, it really makes me realize that various records have been preserved. Traces of humanity.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 3月 24th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【重要文化財「竹原絵屏風」に魅了される・・・】



　竹原塩田は1650年頃の開発創始だけれど、その起源では広島浅野藩の「新田開発」公共事業がきっかけになっている。1640年頃から1670年代頃まで、米作のための新田開発が竹原で活発に造営されたという記録。このなかで一部が「塩田」に切り替えられた経緯。
　入り浜塩田には莫大な土木工事費が必要で、また成功したとしてもその後の「販売」の市場問題も不安定要因になるきわめてリスキーな事業だった。それに対して竹原では、賀茂郡代官・鈴木四郎右衛門からの官営工事として行われたのだという。かれは入り浜塩田の先進地域・赤穂から太郎右衛門・七兵衛という２人の技術者を招いて工事させたところ、これがうまくいって良質の塩を得ることができたので、一気に1650年に「慶安の古浜」を開発した。この塩浜も予想外の高収益を挙げたために、当地や、領海各地の港町や首府・広島の広範な「商人層」が争うように塩浜経営を希望するようになったとされる。
　上の「竹原市重要文化財　紙本著色竹原絵屏風」は、こうした活況を呈した様子を表現したもの。当時の商家層が、より大きな利益の拡大を狙っての宣伝目的で絵師を招いて描かせたものだろう。日本の絵画の伝統を踏まえて、斜め上空からの目線で詳細に竹原の「繁盛ぶり」を描いている。

　これが現代の街並み写真とされていたけれど、江戸期を通して栄え続けた「竹原の塩業」がこの地域を支えてきた実相がつたわってくる。
　わたしは絵が大好きな人間なので、こういった表現にはついつい「魅入られ」てしまう。
　人類の、とくに日本民族の「視点」の基底にはこういう客観的で、公明な見方があるのだろう。中空からの目線にはそういう「ものの見方」を伝えてくる強さを感じさせられる。この目線は現実には存在しない対面側の山上からフラットに全体を把握する意思を持った視線。この方角にそのような山とか岬とかは存在しない。
　ただ絵師としては竹原の街並みを詳細に歩きまわってメモは取り続けた上で、平面的にも間違いがないようにチェックした上で、こういう目線角度で表現していったのだろう。はるかな後世のわれわれも、ひと目でこの頃の竹原の町の様子が活写されて伝わってくるのだ。
　探訪者としても、深く納得できる表現かと。・・・

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Captivated by the Important Cultural Property “Takahara Picture Screens”…]
This flat, bird’s-eye view that captures the entire scene from a slightly diagonal angle above. It must be one of the traditional “conventions” of Japanese painting. I suddenly realized the artistry behind it. …

　Although the development of the Takehara Salt Fields began around 1650, their origins can be traced back to a public works project for “new field development” undertaken by the Asano Domain of Hiroshima. Records indicate that from around 1640 to the 1670s, new fields for rice cultivation were actively developed in Takehara. It was during this period that some of these fields were converted into “salt fields.”
　Inner-bay salt fields required enormous civil engineering costs, and even if successful, the subsequent market for “sales” remained an unstable factor, making it an extremely risky venture. In contrast, the project in Takehara was reportedly carried out as a government-sponsored construction project under the direction of Suzuki Shiroemon, the magistrate of Kamo District. He invited two engineers, Tarōemon and Shichibē, from Akō—a leading region for inlet salt fields—to oversee the work. When this proved successful and yielded high-quality salt, he proceeded to develop “Keian no Furuhama” in 1650. Because this salt field also generated unexpectedly high profits, it is said that a wide range of “merchants” from the local area, port towns throughout the domain, and the capital of Hiroshima began vying to manage salt fields.
　The “Takehara City Important Cultural Property: Colored Ink on Paper Takehara Picture Screen” shown above depicts this bustling scene. It was likely commissioned by merchants of the time to promote their businesses and maximize profits. Drawing on the traditions of Japanese painting, it depicts the “prosperity” of Takehara in detail from a diagonal bird’s-eye view.

　Although this was considered a modern street scene photograph, it conveys the reality that the “Takahara Salt Industry,” which flourished throughout the Edo period, has sustained this region.
I am someone who loves art, so I can’t help but be “captivated” by expressions like this.
I suppose this kind of objective and impartial perspective lies at the foundation of the “worldview” of humanity, and particularly of the Japanese people. I sense a power in this aerial perspective that conveys such a “way of seeing things.” This viewpoint represents an intentional effort to grasp the entire scene from a flat, bird’s-eye view—a perspective that does not actually exist on the opposite side of the mountains. There are no mountains or capes in this direction.
As an artist, however, he likely walked the streets of Takehara in detail, taking notes all the while, and after double-checking to ensure the composition was accurate, he chose to depict it from this specific angle. Even for us, living in a distant future, the scene of Takehara at that time is vividly brought to life and conveyed at a single glance.
As a visitor to the town, I find this depiction deeply convincing. …

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 3月 23rd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【初訪問なのに記憶再生の「竹原塩田」逍遥】




　「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」シリーズに復帰であります。
　今回の旅路でついに310年以上前に家系の人間が深く関与していた「塩業」の始原の地・竹原を訪れることが出来ました。瀬戸内海に面した風光明媚な海岸線の様子と、そこで生き抜いてきた祖先の
「息づかい」の痕跡が脳内に「ひたひた」と残照してくれていた。
　伝承ではこの当時のわが家系は、広島藩から「所務役」という地域経済管理者という立場に任じられていて、広域的にはこの竹原塩田を含む一帯を管理していた。ただし、中核的な「市域」については藩の直轄地域として、担当は外れていたけれど、周辺地域・吉名浜ほかの塩田については直接管理もしていたという記録が残っている。家系の本拠地は入野という、ここから12-3km離れた農村なのだけれど、その農業については家族や家人が労役にあたって、当主はこの管理地域を常時巡視しつつ、年貢の状況を把握することに鋭意務めていた。藩にとっては、もっとも現場的で不可欠な経済根拠を担保するような役割を果たしていたことになる。
　そして当然ながら、塩田という、この当時の画期的ニュービジネスについて、その発展可能性から事業実態について把握しコントロールしていたことが見える。
　竹原塩田には同じ「浅野藩」で著名な分家藩である播州赤穂藩がある。赤穂浪士の中心人物・大石内蔵助はそもそも塩業の「総元締め」的な家主であったという。全国に先駆けて「入浜式塩田」という江戸期の最先端技術を開発運用して、経済的利益を赤穂藩にもたらしていた。その最先端技術がこの芸州浅野藩領・竹原に移入された。経緯は、赤穂からこの竹原地方まで塩田で不可欠な加熱燃料として、材木を入手するのにこの地を訪れていた船が、当時この地域で米作用の新田土木開発を行っていたところ、「この浜辺では塩気が強すぎて米作には適さないよ。塩田ならば好適だよ」という情報をもたらせたという「事始め」。
　わが家系は、そういった江戸期の経済発展のリアルタイムを体感していた。
　そして江戸期社会の必然的な政治・経済的破綻の現場に身をさらすことになってそこからの「転身」をこの塩業への転換で果たしていくことになる。江戸期の庶民の「生存戦略」が興味深く発動されていくことになるのだ。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[A Stroll Through “Takahara Salt Fields”: Recalling Memories on My First Visit]
The greatest “turning point” in my family’s history—gaining an understanding of the structure of the salt industry and its advanced nature, and taking on the role of managing and contributing to it. Takahara is the “birthplace” of that journey. …

　I am returning to the “400-Year History of Life” series.
On this journey, I was finally able to visit Takehara—the birthplace of the salt industry, in which members of my family were deeply involved over 310 years ago. The scenery of the picturesque coastline facing the Seto Inland Sea and the traces of the “breath” of my ancestors who survived there
lingered in my mind, slowly and deeply.
　According to tradition, at that time, our family was appointed by the Hiroshima Domain to the position of “Somu-yaku” (local economic administrator), and on a broader scale, we managed the entire area including these Takehara salt fields. However, while records indicate that we were not responsible for the core “city area”—which was under the domain’s direct control—we did directly manage the surrounding areas, including the salt fields at Yoshina-hama and elsewhere. Although the family’s main base was in Irino, a farming village some 12–13 km away, the family members and household staff handled the agricultural labor, while the head of the household was constantly patrolling this administrative area and diligently monitoring the status of tax payments. For the domain, this role served to secure the most practical and indispensable economic foundation.
　Furthermore, it is evident that they understood and controlled the operational realities of this groundbreaking new business—the salt fields—based on its development potential.
The Takehara Salt Fields were located within the same “Asano Domain” as the renowned branch domain of Banshu Akō. It is said that Ōishi Kuranosuke, the central figure of the Akō rōnin, was originally a landowner who acted as the “overall coordinator” of the salt industry. They pioneered the development and operation of “Irihama-style salt fields”—the cutting-edge technology of the Edo period—bringing economic benefits to the Ako Domain. This cutting-edge technology was then introduced to Takihara, a territory of the Asano Domain of Aki Province. The story began when a ship visiting this area from Akō to obtain timber—an essential fuel for heating the salt fields—noticed that new rice paddies were being developed in the region. The crew reportedly provided the information: “The salt content on this beach is too high for rice cultivation, but it’s ideal for salt fields.”
My family experienced this economic development of the Edo period firsthand.
　We then found ourselves exposed to the inevitable political and economic collapse of Edo-period society, and it was through this shift to the salt industry that we achieved our “transformation.” It was a fascinating example of the “survival strategies” employed by the common people of the Edo period.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 3月 22nd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【樺美智子の殉死と、辺野古での少女の死】


　最近のメディア報道や教育界の沈黙に、かつて新左翼かぶれ少年だった私の内奥が激しくざわついている。私はAIという『客観性の鏡』にこの割り切れない思いをぶつけてみた。私たちの世代がかつて持っていたはずの『倫理』は一体どこへ消えたのか？と。
　わたしはふつうメディア報道は見ない。Yahooトップページを一瞥するのが関の山。一種、遁世的な心境とも言える。しかしそういうなかでも悲しい出来事として例の「辺野古抗議船沈没事故」報道には胸が痛んでいた。孫の成長を願うごくふつうの人間の感情として、犠牲になられた女子高校生のご冥福を祈りたい。合掌。ご遺族には深く哀悼の意を捧げます。
　・・・わたし自身の人生での「68-69左翼高校生運動」の頃の心象に思いが向かわざるを得ない。あの頃の運動は60年安保闘争からの流れが基本潮流。わたしがまだ8歳の小学生ころに起こっていた「樺美智子さんの死」に内面が反応し、そこを起点として自然に68-69年の頃の新左翼運動に身を置いて行ったのだ。あまりに不条理だと。
　これは個人の内面史だけれど、同世代にはそういう共通の思いはあったと確信する。その記憶再生が今回の事件での最初の思いだった。その後、事実関係が明らかになってきて「戦後世界の終焉」という思いがより強烈になってきた。
　今回の事件は、反権力を標榜・呼号し続けるオールドメディアや戦後教育を担ってきた「同志社」を先頭とした教育界の完全破綻を示している。もちろんわたしは新左翼運動からは完全に訣別した人間ではあるけれど、今回の少女の死にあたってのオールドメディアや教育界のあいまいで不誠実な対応には、まことに驚かされている。
　朝日は当初、船の目的を「移設工事に対する抗議活動のため」と表記していたのを翌日に「抗議活動という記載は誤りで平和教育の一環だった」と訂正したとのこと。生徒たちは「抗議ではなく平和学習の一環」で乗船したという学校側説明に沿ったのだという。何をかいわんや・・・。
　AIの返答では「抗議活動ではなく平和学習であれば、運動体の政治的責任やメディアの連帯責任を薄められるという力学が働いているのではないか」と看破されてしまっている。不都合な真実。
　以前、高校生活動家だった当時、一般の学友たちを鼓舞して学内デモを組織した際に、学外デモには巻き込ませなかった経緯をブログに書いたけれど、今回の件は「平気で学外デモに少女を巻き込んで、しかも交通事故で死なせたようなもの」ではないかと、身震いしてしまったのだ・・・。
　本日の写真は、本日未明の「帰ってきた札幌の冬景色」

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Michiko Kaba’s Martyrdom and the Death of a Girl in Henoko]
Has the “collapse of postwar education” finally crossed the tipping point? I shudder at the utterly insincere response of the education sector and the mainstream media to the death of this high school girl. …

　Recent media coverage and the silence of the education sector have stirred up a fierce turmoil deep within me—a former young man who once dabbled in the New Left. I decided to confront this complex, unresolved emotion with AI, that “mirror of objectivity.” Where on earth has the “ethics” that our generation once supposedly possessed vanished to?
I don’t usually watch the news. At most, I might glance at the Yahoo homepage. You could call it a kind of reclusive mindset. Yet even so, the reports of the “Henoko protest boat sinking incident” pained my heart as a tragic event. As a perfectly ordinary person hoping for my grandchild’s growth, I pray for the repose of the high school girl who lost her life. I bow my head in prayer. I offer my deepest condolences to her bereaved family.
　…I cannot help but reflect on my own impressions of the “1968–69 Leftist High School Student Movement” from my own life. The movement back then was fundamentally a continuation of the 1960 Security Treaty Struggle. My inner self reacted to the “death of Michiko Kaba,” which occurred when I was still an 8-year-old elementary school student, and from that starting point, I naturally became involved in the New Left movement of the 1968–69 era. It was simply too absurd.
While this is my personal inner history, I am convinced that my generation shared this sentiment. Recalling those memories was my first reaction to this incident. As the facts became clear, my sense that “the postwar world has come to an end” grew even stronger.
This incident demonstrates the complete collapse of the educational establishment—led by “Doshisha,” which has long been responsible for postwar education—and the old media, which continues to profess and champion anti-authoritarianism. Of course, I am someone who has completely broken ties with the New Left movement, but I am truly astonished by the vague and insincere responses from the old media and the education sector regarding this girl’s death.
　It is reported that the Asahi Shimbun initially described the ship’s purpose as “a protest activity against the relocation work,” but corrected this the following day, stating, “The description as a protest activity was incorrect; it was part of peace education.” It seems they followed the school’s explanation that the students boarded the ship “as part of peace education, not for protest.” What can I say…
An AI response has already seen through this, noting, “If it’s peace education rather than protest activities, isn’t there a dynamic at work here that dilutes the political responsibility of the movement and the media’s shared responsibility?” An inconvenient truth.
　I once wrote in my blog about how, back when I was a high school activist, I organized on-campus demonstrations to rally my fellow students but deliberately kept them from participating in off-campus protests. Yet this incident made me shudder—it feels as though they’ve “blithely dragged a young girl into an off-campus demonstration, and it’s practically as if they’d caused her death in a traffic accident”…
Today’s photo: “The Return of Sapporo’s Winter Scenery” from early this morning

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

　
　

Posted on 3月 21st, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【北海道と耽溺の瀬戸内／「２地点故郷」か（笑）】



　わたしは1905年に祖父が福山市近郊の故地から、北海道へ渡った家系の末裔。
　今の時点から言えば120年ほど前にこの瀬戸内海に面した至福の気候風土の地から、過酷な寒冷地域に流離していった一族ということ。で、血脈のルーツの地について格別のこだわりを抱いて、巡り歩くことに「数寄」を感じるタイプということになる。仕事の現役を離れてきて、そういう自分の内心について向き合う時間を持てるようになって来たのだとも言える。たいへんありがたいと深く感謝。
　なんですが、北海道のきびしい自然環境の寒冷さからはこの瀬戸内のしまなみ街道など、異次元の涅槃感を感じさせられてきている。単純に天国に一番近い空気感の地だと思う。しかし、明治期にはこういう土地から多くの人びとが新天地を求めて、あるいは北海道に、あるいはアメリカハワイなどへ旅立った。
　そのような末裔には、望郷の念のままにこの瀬戸内海地域に墓地を求める人もいる。一方、そのあらたな故郷に骨を埋めるという人もいる。わたしの家系では、父は後者として北海道にやってきた祖父の遺骨といっしょに北海道の墓域に眠っている。一方父の兄の系統はこちらで縁のある寺の墓域に葬られた。
　わたしはたぶん父の定めた選択に従うように思えるが、この故地にも敬意は払っていきたいと思う。
　次兄がルーツ探索の言い出しっぺなので、末弟としては従順に従うことになる。「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」というテーマで掘り下げてくると強く愛着も起こってきますね。とくにこの半年ほどで３回も探訪していることになりその分、資料データも多くなってきて情報積層もハンパない。今回の旅では福山駅前のホテルで宿泊していましたが、そういう風に「毎日帰ってくる」経験まで重なってくると一層ですね。
　まぁ「ダブル故郷」とでも言える感じになって来ている（笑）。そういえば最近は２地点居住ということも現実化してきているので、現代人の生き方のひとつのモデルになるのかも知れませんね。
　せっせと取材の写真や情報整理に没頭しながら、妄想が膨らんでおります・・・。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Hokkaido and the Alluring Seto Inland Sea / “Two Hometowns”? (lol)]
Since modern lifestyles have become increasingly complex, perhaps defining the very concept of “hometown” has also become more complicated? …

　I am a descendant of a family whose grandfather left his ancestral home near Fukuyama City in 1905 to settle in Hokkaido.
From today’s perspective, this means that about 120 years ago, my clan left this land of blissful climate and natural beauty facing the Seto Inland Sea to settle in a harsh, frigid region. Consequently, I am the type of person who feels a special attachment to the land of my ancestral roots and finds a certain “passion” in traveling to explore it. Now that I have retired from active work, I’ve finally found the time to truly confront these inner feelings. I am deeply grateful for this.
That said, compared to the harsh, frigid natural environment of Hokkaido, places like the Shimanami Kaido in the Seto Inland Sea give me a sense of nirvana that feels like another dimension. I simply think it’s a place with an atmosphere closest to heaven. Yet, during the Meiji era, many people left this land in search of new horizons, setting off for places like Hokkaido or Hawaii in the United States.
Among their descendants, some seek burial plots in the Seto Inland Sea region, driven by a longing for their homeland. On the other hand, there are those who choose to be laid to rest in their new homelands. In my family, my father rests in a cemetery in Hokkaido alongside the remains of my grandfather, who came to Hokkaido seeking a new life. Meanwhile, my father’s older brother’s family line was buried in the cemetery of a temple with ties to this area.
I likely will follow the path my father chose, but I also wish to pay my respects to this ancestral land.
Since my second older brother was the one who first suggested exploring our roots, as the youngest son, I will obediently follow along. As I delve deeper into the theme of “A 400-Year History of Life,” I find myself developing a strong attachment to it. Especially since I’ve visited three times in the past six months or so, the amount of data and information I’ve accumulated is staggering. On this trip, I stayed at a hotel in front of Fukuyama Station, and when experiences like “coming home every day” start to pile up, it really deepens the connection.
　Well, it’s starting to feel like I have a “double hometown” (laughs). Come to think of it, living in two places has become a reality for me lately, so perhaps this could serve as a model for how modern people live.
As I diligently immerse myself in organizing the photos and information from my research, my imagination is running wild…

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
　
　
　

Posted on 3月 20th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【「塩」が最重要移出産品／江戸期経済・尾道研究】



　さて昨日夕刻、広島県東部の家系の故地探訪旅から帰還。福山市が拠点での調査で３日間宿泊していましたが、トータル調査ポイント20件の取材だったので、そのそれぞれの「解析」をしっかり行っていきたいと考えています。調査プロセスでは、公益財団法人・ふくやま芸術財団の学芸員の方とも突っ込んだ話合い機会を持つことも出来て、素人の研究としては望外のよろこびでありました。
　これからまとめることになりますが、きょうは「尾道商業会議所」古建築での調査結果から。
　わたしの家系は、安芸国東部〜備後、そして江戸期の「商都」とも言える尾道という地域で、商家的な生き様で江戸期以降、明治末での北海道移住までを過ごしてきている。
　そういうなかで、尾道の経済構造全体を歴史的経緯を含めて詳細に把握できないだろうかと考えていて、今回は尾道商業会議所建築を訪ねてみた次第。そうしたら、２枚目の図のようなピッタリの資料を参観することができました。
　江戸期の尾道の国内交易活動の基軸は、塩の取引、それも日本海北方沿岸地域から北海道地域との「北前船交易」がメインであったことが明確になったのです。
　移入の産品に、ずらりと昆布・ニシン・サケという北海道らしい名前が並んでいる。
　そして北海道地域にとっていかに「塩」が決定的に重要だったのかが、わかる。江戸期の「経済統計」のような基礎資料は幕藩体制下で広域的「貿易」内容を一覧的に把握することが出来なかった。
　ここまで明示的にわかったことで、北海道人としてももっとこの安芸備後地域に着目すべきなのだということが、よく叩き込まれる思いでした。

　また建築としてもこの尾道商業会議所の建物は1924（大正13）年建築。「この新建築は尾道の交通の中枢たる土堂町605番地に凜然として立てり。様式はモーダンスタイルにセセッションを加味したるきわめて新しき様式にして・・・」と当時の地域新聞「芸備日日新聞」2/24号が伝えている。〜注／セセッション：19世紀末から20世紀初頭にかけてドイツ・オーストリアで興った芸術革新運動「分離派」のこと〜
　このような表現スタイルの建築が受け入れられていたというのも、なにか、北海道の時計台や道庁赤煉瓦建築とも通底するような「時代の風」のようなものを感じさせられていた。
　いよいよ「望郷」の思いが肉感させられるようになって来たかと（笑）・・・

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[“Salt” as the Most Important Export Commodity / Research on the Edo-Period Economy and Onomichi]
I had always assumed that Hokkaido’s relationship with Tokyo was decisive, but when I look at trade activities as a whole, the Kitamae trade reveals deep ties with the Geibi region. Salt, is it…?

　Well, I returned yesterday evening from a trip to explore the ancestral lands of my family in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture. I stayed in Fukuyama City for three days while conducting my research, and since I visited a total of 20 sites, I plan to thoroughly analyze each one. During the research process, I also had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions with a curator from the Fukuyama Art Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation—a source of immense joy for an amateur researcher like myself.
　I’ll be compiling my findings soon, but today I’d like to start with the results from my investigation at the historic Onomichi Chamber of Commerce and Industry building.
My family lineage traces back to the eastern part of Aki Province and Bingo, and to the region of Onomichi—which could be called a “commercial hub” during the Edo period—where we lived as merchants from the Edo period through to our migration to Hokkaido at the end of the Meiji era.
　With this in mind, I wondered if I could gain a detailed understanding of Onomichi’s overall economic structure, including its historical context, which is why I decided to visit the Onomichi Chamber of Commerce and Industry building this time. There, I was able to view materials that were exactly what I was looking for, as shown in the second diagram.
　It became clear that the backbone of Onomichi’s domestic trade activities during the Edo period was the salt trade—specifically, the “Kitamae-bune trade” between the northern coastal regions of the Sea of Japan and Hokkaido.
The list of imported goods includes a long row of names typical of Hokkaido: kelp, herring, and salmon.
This also reveals just how critically important “salt” was to the Hokkaido region. Basic sources such as “economic statistics” from the Edo period did not allow for a comprehensive overview of wide-ranging “trade” activities under the bakufu-han system.
Having gained such explicit insight, I felt it was driven home to me that, as a native of Hokkaido, I should pay much closer attention to this Aki-Bingo region.

　Architecturally speaking, the Onomichi Chamber of Commerce and Industry building was constructed in 1924 (Taisho 13). As reported in the February 24 issue of the local newspaper *Geibi Nichinichi Shimbun* at the time, “This new building stands majestically at 605 Todo-cho, the transportation hub of Onomichi. Its style is an extremely innovative blend of Modernism and Secessionism…” ~Note: Secession refers to the “Secessionist” art movement that emerged in Germany and Austria from the late 19th to early 20th centuries~
The fact that architecture in this style was accepted made me sense a certain “spirit of the times” that seemed to resonate with the Clock Tower in Hokkaido and the red-brick architecture of the Hokkaido Government Office.
I began to feel a tangible sense of “nostalgia” (laughs)…

Posted on 3月 19th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【日本の軽自動車 住環境と道路事情、燃費性能】


　写真は今回の取材での「生活文化」取材のワンシーン。
　ある瀬戸内海の島での家と「前面道路」との関係。このような「伝統的な暮らし方」から、北海道人は少し日本の常識レベルが乖離する部分なのですね。
　写真で見えるようにこのお宅は家の玄関前に軽自動車を駐車させて、生活の「足」として活用されていることがよくわかる。前面道路幅は３mに満たないような目測。こういう「道」ではそもそも基本的な基準を満たしているのかどうかわからない。検索で確認すると、
　〜道路幅員に関する主な基準は、道路法（道路構造令）では道路の種類や交通量に応じた「車線幅員（一般国道で3.0〜3.5m）」や「歩道（2.0m以上）」の合計、建築基準法では接道義務として原則「4m以上」と定められています。〜とのこと。
　しかし日本のいかにも「ふつうの伝統的な暮らし」を取材すると、このような道路幅はごく一般的に遭遇する。わたしのような寅さん的旅人はこういう場所にこそ行きたいのですね。東京都内や近郊地域でもこういうレベルの道路幅はごくふつう。そういう中で日本の庶民の暮らしは存在している。
　瀬戸内の温暖で風光明媚な暮らしの「豊かさ」は旅人目線からも実感できる。
　それはこのような環境で満喫できる「おだやかさ」。旅人としては羨むほど。そのことは「生活利便性と交通環境」を超える、質的な満足感でしょう。
　しかし暮らしの利便性ということでは「軽自動車」一択にならざるを得ない。また、そういう実感を共有したい当方としては「寄り添う」一択になる。
　そんなことからわたしはレンタカーでは「軽」を選ぶことが常態化しています。

　これが今回の取材で掛かった「ガソリン代」で3,474円。２日間トータルで走行距離は356kmとレンタカー屋さんから告げられましたので燃費効率はリッターあたり19.26km。メーカーや車種によって当然前後はするでしょうが、日本の軽自動車の燃費性能の良さには、あらためて驚かされる。
　おかげで折からの価格高騰での心配も、わたし的にはほぼ杞憂に終わった。
　日本の軽自動車の利便性と性能のバランスって、やはり世界の中での超優位性を実感。ヨーロッパでもアメリカでもこのポイントが注目されてきているそうで、中国の電気自動車メーカーまで「軽」市場に殴り込みを掛けてくるという情報。
　軽自動車をめぐる住環境と道路事情、さらに燃費性能。大きく頷かされました。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Japanese Kei Cars: Living Environments, Road Conditions, and Fuel Efficiency]
Enjoying the mild climate of the Seto Inland Sea, these are days of a “high-quality” and peaceful lifestyle. The Japanese “Kei car” culture, perfectly adapted to the local road conditions and convenience. …

　This photo captures a scene from our recent “Lifestyle and Culture” feature.
It shows the relationship between a house and the “road in front” on an island in the Seto Inland Sea. It’s clear that in terms of this “traditional way of life,” Hokkaido residents’ norms diverge somewhat from the rest of Japan.
As you can see in the photo, this household parks a compact car right in front of the entrance, clearly using it as their primary means of transportation. At a glance, the width of the road in front appears to be less than 3 meters. With a “road” like this, it’s unclear whether it even meets basic standards. A quick search confirms that:
　~The main standards regarding road width are stipulated in the Road Act (Road Structure Ordinance) as the total of “lane width (3.0–3.5 m for general national highways)” and “sidewalk (2.0 m or more),” depending on the type of road and traffic volume. The Building Standards Act, meanwhile, mandates a minimum road frontage of “4 m or more” as a general rule.~
　However, when reporting on what is typically considered “ordinary, traditional Japanese life,” road widths like this are encountered quite commonly. Travelers like me—who are a bit like the character Torasan—are the ones who want to visit places like this. Even within Tokyo and its surrounding areas, road widths of this level are quite common. It is within this context that the lives of ordinary Japanese people exist.
The “richness” of life in the warm and scenic Seto Inland Sea region can be truly felt even from a traveler’s perspective.
　It is the “tranquility” that can be fully enjoyed in such an environment. As a traveler, I find it enviable. This represents a qualitative sense of satisfaction that transcends mere “convenience and transportation infrastructure.”
However, when it comes to the practicalities of daily life, a “kei car” is the only viable option. Furthermore, as someone who wishes to share this experience, “joining them” is the only choice.
For these reasons, choosing a “kei car” has become the norm for me when renting a vehicle.
　This is the “gasoline cost” for this trip: 3,474 yen. The rental car company told me that the total distance driven over the two days was 356 km, so the fuel efficiency was 19.26 km per liter. Of course, this will vary depending on the manufacturer and model, but I’m once again amazed by the excellent fuel efficiency of Japanese kei cars.
　Thanks to this, my worries about the recent surge in prices turned out to be almost entirely unfounded.
I truly felt the overwhelming global advantage of the balance between convenience and performance in Japanese kei cars. Apparently, this aspect is gaining attention in both Europe and the U.S., and there are reports that even Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are making a push into the “kei” market.
The living environment, road conditions, and fuel efficiency surrounding kei cars—it all made perfect sense to me.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
　
　

Posted on 3月 18th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【「中津原夕景残照」広島県の家系故地めぐり】


　広島県の福山市に拠点を置いての重点探訪の旅中です。
　福山市は旧国名では「備後」に当たり、岡山と広島に挟まれた山陽地域。確実に家系の痕跡をたどれる四百数十年間のうち、1905年に北海道に渡って来るまでの300年ほどの時間が、光彩に満ちた瀬戸内の風景の中に沈殿しているのです。
　次兄から家系史探訪の業務引継命令を拝受してから、たびたびこの地域を探訪しています。それ以前もときどき来ているので、それなりに「懐かしい」心象に至ってきている。
　これは自分の経験知が影響してきているのでしょうが、内面的には「響き」としてなにかからの反応が身体に届いてきているようにも思われる次第。浪漫。
　で、昨日は旧国名では「安芸」国を回っていたのですが、最後にはやはりここの夕景を見たいと思って、芦田川が石鎚山周辺で大きく蛇行する「中津原」に来ておりました。家系の先祖の記録を確定させていくと、この地域周辺から当主が繰り返し５代にも渡ってこの地域から嫁取りしてきているのですね。いわばわが家系の「母性」が集中している地域。
　こういうケースはどれほどの確率であり得るのか、よくわかりませんが、現代ではあまり考えられない。なにかいのちと運命を暗示してくれているように思われる。
　しかし家系はこの地域ではなく、より海岸線に近い松永・今津や尾道などで、商家として活動してきている。この中津原はたしかに地域の最重要道路「山陽道」にほど近いけれど、どう考えても農業地帯。一見すると、しずかな風景と思えるけれど、しかし、芦田川がイキモノのように流量を変動させるなかでは、土木の歴史が重要なカギであるのでしょう。
　それはそれとして、今回も１日目の最後の風景として、やはり強く惹かれて来てしまった。
　１度来ただけだったので、多少はカーナビに関連ワードを入れて案内させたけれど、最後はカンでたどりついていた（笑）。案外最後は、あいまいな「行動記憶」が働いてくれる。そういう「導き」に素直にしたがった結果、切迫する夕景時間のなか、最後はこの光景に再会。
　山並みの果てに夕陽が落ちていく様は、耽美的。
　はるかな血脈のなかの「母性」が迷い子の手を取ってくれるのかも。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[“Evening Glow Over Nakatsuhara”: A Journey Through My Family’s Ancestral Hometowns in Hiroshima Prefecture]
I’m usually a bit of a daydreamer, but I was desperate to see this scene and spent every moment striving to make it happen. Finally, I was able to witness the last rays of the setting sun…

　I am currently on a focused exploration trip based in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Fukuyama City corresponds to the old province of “Bingo” and is located in the Sanyo region, nestled between Okayama and Hiroshima. Of the 400-odd years for which I can reliably trace my family lineage, the roughly 300 years leading up to my move to Hokkaido in 1905 are deeply embedded within the radiant scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
　Since receiving the assignment to take over the family history research from my second older brother, I have been visiting this region frequently. I had come here occasionally even before that, so it has begun to evoke a sense of “nostalgia” for me.
This is likely influenced by my own experiences, but on a deeper level, I feel as though a certain “resonance”—a response from something—is reaching my body. Romance.
　So, yesterday I was touring the region known in the old provincial system as “Aki,” but in the end, I wanted to see the sunset here, so I came to “Nakatsuhara,” where the Ashida River meanders widely around Mount Ishizuchi. As I’ve been confirming the records of my family’s ancestors, it turns out that the head of the family has repeatedly taken brides from this area over five generations. It is, so to speak, the region where the “maternal lineage” of my family is concentrated.
　I’m not sure how likely such a coincidence is, but it’s hard to imagine in modern times. It feels as though it’s hinting at something about life and destiny.
However, my family lineage has been active as merchants not in this area, but in places closer to the coastline, such as Matsunaga, Imazu, and Onomichi. While Nakatsuhara is indeed close to the region’s most important road, the Sanyo Highway, it is, by any measure, an agricultural area. At first glance, it seems like a quiet landscape, but with the Ashida River fluctuating in flow like a living creature, the history of civil engineering must be a crucial factor.
That aside, once again, I found myself strongly drawn to this scene as the final landscape of the first day.
Since I’d only been here once before, I did enter some related keywords into the car navigation system to guide me, but in the end, I relied on my gut to find my way (laughs). Surprisingly, in the end, it’s that vague “motor memory” that comes through. As a result of simply following that “guidance,” I was reunited with this scene just as the evening light was fading.
The sight of the setting sun sinking beyond the mountain range is truly poetic.
Perhaps the “motherly instinct” within that distant lineage is taking the hand of a lost child.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
　

Posted on 3月 17th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【わたし年代から体験した「戦後教育」の未来は？】



　写真はたぶん1960年代初頭の札幌市内の中学校の「昼食時間」の様子。わたし(1952年生まれ）より４才上の兄のクラスのようです。モノクロ写真のカラー化ですが、この写真は光度の設定がおかしかったようで、思ったような効果は得られませんでした。悪しからず。
　わたしは第２次大戦の終結から７年後に生まれ、まったくの「戦後教育」によって育てられた世代。戦争はひたすら日本が悪くてアメリカが正義だとされて、憲法も押しつけられたなかでの教育。ある意味、原子爆弾以上の「民族文化破壊」。その思想のなかでわたし自身も高校生時代には新左翼運動に走って散々世間を困らせた。運良くわたしは、父との真摯な対話を経て違う人生価値観で生きてくることができたと思っている。
　それは「働いて、よりよく生きたいと考える」と父が訴えてきた生き様の価値観。
　父との人生をかけた「対話」のときに、父から発せられたこの言葉で、わたしは自分の内面を深くえぐられていた。「そこかよ・・・」。
　まぁ人それぞれなので、あの時代のような狂乱的な「かぶれ」症状のままに生きることを全否定はしないけれど、その後の人生の中で、それを超える全人格的体験を持たなかったのだなと思って見ている。言ってみれば父の発した言葉は日本人庶民の「生き方哲学」だと思えている。
　江戸期武家社会でも秩序のある「百姓一揆」というものが庶民の哲学を表していたと思う。わたしの家系が２度も遭遇した江戸−明治の一揆について、その倫理価値の高さに深く頷いてしまう。一方で、戦後反体制運動には連合赤軍事件のように「倫理」の点で巨大な劣化があると思う。少なくともそういう反省や「変革努力」をわたしは知らない。
　戦後「反体制」運動というものが、現代に至っていよいよ完全否定されようとしてきている。
　今次予算委員会での論議の無内容ぶりは目を疑うばかり。そしてメディアというものが「オールド」という形容詞に対してまったく反論できないことも、明白になってきている。
　どうして予算委員会で、政府方針への「良き反提案」がなにひとつ出てこないのか？
　およそ「予算」論議とは隔絶した悲しいほどのケチ付けだけ。劣化ぶりだと思わざるを得ない。申し訳ないけれど、江戸期民衆の百姓一揆の世直し的な倫理感に学ぶべきだ。一揆では基本的に「予算（税金・年貢収奪）」の縮減を何度も実現させてきた。
　あの一揆ではきちんと民衆は「予算」に対しての意思表示を明確に示した。事実を掘り起こすほどに、日本的民主主義の真実・実相を見る思いがしている。
　さて、この国の未来はどう開いていくのだろうか？

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[What Does the Future Hold for “Postwar Education,” as Experienced by My Generation?]
The “postwar” ideology used for “national reformation”—a process more devastating than the atomic bombs. The ultimate manifestation of postwar education. The result is the reality of modern anti-establishment thought, which falls far short of the ethics of the peasant uprisings. …

　This photo likely shows “lunch time” at a junior high school in Sapporo in the early 1960s. It appears to be a class of my older brother, who is four years older than me (born in 1952). I tried to colorize this black-and-white photo, but the brightness settings were off, so I didn’t achieve the effect I was hoping for. Please bear with me.
　I was born seven years after the end of World War II and belong to a generation raised entirely on “postwar education.” We were taught that Japan was entirely at fault and the United States was the embodiment of justice, and our education took place under a constitution that had been imposed upon us. In a sense, it was a “destruction of national culture” even greater than the atomic bombs. Influenced by that ideology, I myself got involved in the New Left movement during high school and caused quite a bit of trouble for society. Fortunately, I believe I was able to live by a different set of life values after engaging in sincere dialogue with my father.
That is the value system embodied by my father’s way of life, which he always advocated: “Work and strive to live a better life.”
During those life-defining “conversations” with my father, these words he spoke cut deep into my soul. “Is that what it comes down to…?”
　Well, everyone is different, so I don’t completely condemn those who choose to live with that frenzied, “fad-driven” mindset of that era. However, I observe that they never went on to have a holistic, life-changing experience that transcended that phase. In a sense, I believe the words my father spoke embody the “philosophy of life” of ordinary Japanese people.
　I believe that even in the Edo-period samurai society, the orderly “peasant uprisings” represented the philosophy of the common people. When I think of the Edo-Meiji uprisings that my family encountered twice, I find myself deeply nodding in agreement with the high ethical value they embodied. On the other hand, I believe that postwar anti-establishment movements, such as the United Red Army incident, suffered a massive decline in terms of “ethics.” At the very least, I am unaware of any such reflection or “efforts at transformation.”
　Postwar “anti-establishment” movements are now, in the modern era, on the verge of being completely rejected.
The sheer lack of substance in the recent Budget Committee debates is hard to believe. It is also becoming clear that the media is completely unable to counter the label of “old-fashioned.”
　Why is not a single “good counterproposal” to the government’s policy emerging in the Budget Committee?
It is nothing but pitiful nitpicking, completely detached from any actual “budget” debate. I cannot help but see this as a sign of deterioration. I’m sorry to say this, but we should learn from the ethical sense of social reform found in the peasant uprisings of the Edo period. In those uprisings, the people repeatedly succeeded in reducing the “budget” (taxes and tribute levies).
　In those uprisings, the common people clearly expressed their will regarding the “budget.” The more I dig into the facts, the more I feel I am seeing the true nature of Japanese democracy.
Now then, how will the future of this country unfold?

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
　
　

Posted on 3月 16th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

次ページへ »