Picasso and his Photos

I've read an interesting article about Picasso. It said that there were many photographs as sources of his great works. Before his death the fact was hardly known to public that he used photos by his work.

In about 1910, he declared, "I've found photos. I don't mind dying now," the article said. But I can't understand what he meant. His painting titled "the first Holy Communion" was painted after an ad picture. By his work "the Portrait of Renoir," he made his sketch after the photo of Renoir that he took himself.

After some photos of West-African women that he had he created the abstract painting titled "the Girls in Avignon." The photo that he himself took on the Dinar Beach was boldly deformed into the painting of "the Bathing Woman."

At the same time he often took photos of the painting at work. He left about 17,000 of photo source, which were contributed to the Picasso Museum in Paris.

If you observe his works again through the deep relationship between Picasso and photos, you can revise your former image of Picasso.

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The impression of Vienna and Paris

First of all I would like to thank both Ms T and Ms O from the bottom of my heart.
For a long time I had been longing to go abroad, especially to Europe. So I was extremely glad to be able to realize this trip. Besides it was incredibly lucky to go with Ms T who had lived in Paris and speaks wonderful French and Ms O who had a lot of experience of going abroad and speaks good English.

I couldn't tell you all that I want to say about this trip in a short time because everything was wonderful and memorable and surprising. I believe both of them will tell you delightful stories later, so I tell you something about my impression of both city Vienna and Paris.

As you know Vienna and Paris are very old cities and each of them has own long history.

The center of Vienna surrounded by the circular road called Ring is unexpectedly small and about 4 kilometers around.
As we walked around the city, I was so impressed with the fact that old things are very carefully kept well. Old buildings are used in the daily life as residences, as museums, as offices, as restaurants, and so on. The famous castle "Schoenbrunn" is partly used as a museum and open to public for sightseeing. To my surprise it is also used as public housing because it has over 1400 rooms in all. Old traditions are also preserved. Today concerts are held in the place where the young Mozart and other musicians played music long ago. And we enjoyed the happy concert there one night.

Here and there in the city the constructions were going on. But they were not constructions of new buildings but repairs of old buildings. Of course there are many new buildings, but they match the old ones without a feeling of wrong. As they continue to repair the old things, they keep the beautiful city very well.
I was so touched by the people's love and pride toward their own city of the people.

As for Paris the same thing can be said. Old buildings are still used in many ways. It must be much more expensive to improve the buildings without electric facilities in order to use electricity, I think. But they dare to repair and conserve the old buildings. When I noticed that every floor was different in the walls, the decorations and the forms of windows in one building, Ms.Tunomura explained to me the meaning. That is, the main floor is the one with balcony outside and it is mostly the third floor. A concierge uses the first floor, and the second floor is used for office. Old days when an elevator did not exist, the upper floors were for cheap rental and the attic was for servants.

I'll tell you one more thing about toilet. In both cities there are not any public toilet in the Japanese sense. When we are called by nature, we have to go to some cafe or hotel to use the restroom. In Vienna we used the toilet in the cafe, hotel, museum, and in the airport freely.

In Paris it doesn't work even. It was very interesting for us to go to several toilets in Paris. One in the basement under the road in the city where we must pay 2.70 French franc a person. One in the station where 2 French franc a person. One in the cafe at Montmartre where one French franc a person. There, to our surprise, the customer of the cafe also must pay the same fee. In the suburbs like Chartres and Auvers-Sur-Oise free charge in the cafe and museum.

At first it was a little strange for me to pay for using toilet even in the cafe, but it turned out to be very reasonable in order to use the toilet at ease. And besides the cities are clean from that point of view.

At last I have determined to go back there by any means!

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Summer Evening Party

This summer was very hot for me and at the end of August I was really worn out.

But it was impossible for me to lead a lazy life, because this year my husband was the chairman of the managing committee of our apartment and so I had to help him.

Every year we hold a summer party for all the residents toward the end of August. The site is the bicycle shed in the front yard. It is a kind of "Beer garden" party. Yakitori, grilled corns, fried chicken, oden, yakisoba, and something to eat with beer are offered. It is a good opportunity for the residents to get acquainted one another, so to speak a get-together. This year it was held on the thirtieth in August.

Members of the committee and volunteers prepared everything. And this year I was one of them for the first time. To my surprise some people have helped for more than 5 years and they take their own part in charge like oden, yakitori and so on. As the residents have many kinds of job or hobby, each of them takes part in preparing according to his own specialty. It was incredibly fantastic.

In advance the man who works for some kitchenware and facilities let two huge stainless pans made especially for our party.

Three days before the day some ladies went to buy necessary articles by car. Three ladies had prepared delicious oden at home since the day before.
The man who works for fuel company offered charcoal at cost. The man who deals fresh food arranged yakitori and fruits.

On the very day two ladies went to buy fresh food in the morning. Some ladies cut cabbages, carrots, and green peppers for yakisoba. In the meeting room some ladies made many rice cakes wrapped in leaf. Four gentlemen who are the members of golf club made the fireplaces for yakitori and grilled corns. Some person brought several concrete blocks.

From the morning it was cloudy and in the afternoon the sky got darker and darker.
Those who are good at outdoor life made the emergency roof for the site. It was made of camping sheets and old lumber.

Around at four, just before the opening, suddenly it began to rain very hard.
The rain was caused by the typhoon in the southern sea and it was pouring off and on during the party. Some of committee members took care of the extra roof and when the roof went down because of the water, they let it go to the outside of the roof. Owing to their great effort everybody could enjoy the party in spite of the terrible weather.

Some brought the ice-crashing machine but unluckily he was disappointed at the poor business because of the cool weather. Some tried to force every adult to drink more beer.
The man who works for some noodle company supervised yakisoba project. The man who works for the city cooked yakisoba and I helped him. It was really fantastic close teamwork. In the evening we made yakisoba for about 7o persons and sauteed vegetable for about 20 persons in all.

Before the event my younger son worried about arsenic poisoning which now causes a sensation all over Japan. But luckily nobody seems to get sick after the party so far.
The children were happy to eat delicious food, to get little gifts, and to enjoy firework after that.

As I was very busy with cooking yakisoba, I couldn't taste the other dishes, and besides I couldn't have happy talk with others at that time.
But I could become friendly with the ladies who put things in order after the party. So far I only attended the party, talked with friends a little and went home without making new friends. This time I could make some new friends. It was very useful experience and happy event for me this summer.

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Straight Kids

This is the letter from Mr. Rossini Emero, 36 year-old man, who lives in Hirakata City in Osaka.

"Eight years ago I came to Japan because I had been attracted by Japan since I watched Mr. Kurosawa's movie in my mother country Italy in my childhood. But it was so much modern that I lost my image. It was just after I began to have lessons of kendo and iaido at the training school in Kobe that I could find the mysterious image of Japan in me. The teacher reminded me of it.

Three years ago the Great Earthquake took place in Hanshin area. Although it destroyed my house and my training school in Higasi-nada-ku in Kobe, I could know that there was true warmth of human being and thoughtfulness of the people who could be called present-day samurai.

I lived in the shelter. In the daytime I worked as a volunteer, and in the night I took out my bamboo sword which I hid in the bedding and swung it for practice with tears in my eyes. I was expected to take part in the important tournament in Takamatsu. But I didn't have any other way to practice than swinging outdoors when I lost my training school.

One day I got a letter from a teacher of kendo and iaido in Kyoto saying, "Come to my training school." Besides the kids over there sent me the commuter ticket to Kyoto, and brand-new hakama and protector. They clubbed together their money, went shopping and sent me the things so that I could take part in the tournament and continue the training.

The intention of kids reached me as straight as a swing of bamboo sword. At the same time I learned the important lesson from them. They taught me that I should continue first. And they taught me what I should have in my heart when I continue.

Now when kids swing the bamboo sword saying loud, "Straight!", I also say to them,"Right, be straight!". I would like to take the straight feeling back to Italian kids someday."

After reading this article I found out again that we Japanese have lost something good particular to the old Japan, that we ourselves should miss it, and that we have to try to get it back again. All that is new and occidental is not good. Most of all I think we should be proud of Japanese culture and being a Japanese.

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Japanese Drum

From November 20 to 22 Kamakura Artwork Festival was held at Kamakura Geijutukan.

This festival was the fifth anniversary of Geijutukan, and the executive committee consisting of citizen members managed it. The theme was to offer the chance to feel our relationship between people and to find us again. Many events were offered like picture postcard workshop, puppet show, playing dolls, citizen musical, chamber music, street performance, photo exhibition, drum workshop and so on. Have you enjoyed some event there?

I applied for Japanese drum workshop because I had been longing for beating a Japanese drum since I was very impressed by the performance on TV. 35 members were picked out of 118 applicants by lottery. The range of the members was from the girl of the primary school to the retired man.

We practiced twice a month since September. To make up a tune by playing drums together is very difficult for big team, let alone our improvised group. But our teacher was so much generous, patient and wonderful that we felt his heartwarming character and followed his leading so eagerly. He taught us the pleasure of beating drum and jubilee of making something together. Although we were beginners and so our technique was poor, he encouraged us very much to come to feel that we could do better than before and try hard.

After practicing 5 times we had two stage rehearsals on 20 and 21. To tell the truth I had been in Osaka for 8 days just before the rehearsal.

On 20 I came back home at 3 in the afternoon. And I attended the rehearsal from 5. Our beginners' program was performed after the comical prolog by our teacher and the staff, and before the professional drum playing by them. It was the first time for us to hear the staff's wonderful performances. On 21 we had the second rehearsal from noon. All the programs were tried and the rough outline of Japanese drum program was explained.

On 22 before the performing in front of the audience, we did the last rehearsal. To our surprise the new staff of several women and also the little three boys joined our program. According to the later information the youngest boy is 5 years old, and the two boys are 10 or 11. They have been practicing the drum for 6 or 7 years. It was the first and last joint rehearsal all together. It was also the whole rehearsal but it was still unfinished. The lighting was checked, the music tape was tested, the set change was slow and clumsy, and it seemed many things were left undecided.

At last the live started at 1:35 in the afternoon. The audience was seated and the light went off. When the curtain was raised, the drums and two chairs were set and the teacher seated himself beside a young girl and the both had shamisen in their laps. From the audience seats several staffs in comical costumes ran up the stage and started playing drums to shamisen in the comical way. Next two young men and a middle-aged woman began to dance So-ran busi to the music tape and the two young boys' drums.

After that our performance began. As you know, I got so nervous that my heart beat so fast and my knees were shaking. I didn't know how I played a drum or how the others did. All that I remembered was that I was trying to count the rhythm and not to look at the audience. After our performance we stepped down the stage and felt so much relieved.

Then we all enjoyed the incredible performance of the teacher and the staff. It was the first perfect one by all members with various costumes. Our teacher told us later that not only the sound but also the looks is very much important for the drum playing. It should appeal to eyes. That's it. It was the artistic combination of sound and motion. The motions of drummers were beautiful like dancing with sticks in the hands. We couldn't turn our eyes away from the wonderful performance to the end.

This workshop program was so much successful that the committee members were so glad and even our teacher was surprised to see our eagerness and the much better result than expected. All of us were also glad to hear that very much. Twenty people wanted to keep on playing drums with our teacher.
The theme of the festival has perfectly realized in our activity. If the leader and instructors were not so good or their attitudes were not so enthusiastic, the pupils couldn't be so devoted. If the members were not so pleasant or friendly, more members might quit the lesson. The hearts of the teacher and our members made one big power and has accomplished one goal, and still more it will keep on getting much stronger to reach another goal.

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Class Reunion in Osaka

I stayed in Osaka for 8 days frome 13th to 20th in November.
I went there for our class reunion of senior high school.

On 13 I went to my friend's house, and talked and talked till late at night. On 14 I enjoyed meeting again old friends of senior high after about 30 years' interval.

On 15 one of my old friends, who was also my classmate of junior high and primary school, took me to a memorial tour to our hometowns. In Ibaraki City we visited our senior high and my primary school, which were both rebuilt to unfamiliar looks. We passed our junior high and streets where the familiar buildings were almost gone. At the old place we used to live we were very touched to see the old building where we actually lived long before.

In Takatuki City we visited our primary school. We ran through the old streets to our old residence where we lived about 40 years ago. On the way we talked and talked our reminiscences. When I happened to tell her one of my close friends, we found out that she was our common friend.

Although it was already getting dark, we made up our minds to give her a surprise visit. She was at home and we met after 40 years. If we met in the street now, we couldn't recognize each other. But in the manner of talking, in the detail of features, in the way of smiling, we could find old images each other and we jumped back to 40 years ago in an instant.

On 16 I went to Rokkou Island where I met my classmate of senior high. At night I called up my classmates of college days and talked for a long time.

On 17 the friends in my Takatuki days held a small reunion of the primary school in Takatuki. We met our teacher. She is 77 years old and very fine. To our surprise she came to the meeting place by bicycle and she remembered so many things about us. After that we talked and talked until dark at one friend's home. At night I went to my last living town and stayed with one of my friends.

On 18 a friend in Hirosima came to see me to Osaka and we all 4 members went to north Kyoto to eat crab dishes. This was our reunion after about 10 years.

On 19 we came back to the friend's home and talked and talked until almost 3 in the morning. To tell the truth I intended to come home on 19 because of the next day's rehearsal of drum playing. But their strong wish and my strong desire made me to change the schedule.

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English Program on TV

I recommend you the TV program titled "the 20th century in English". It is on air from 11:45 p.m. to 12:05 on Monday. Mr.Hirono Jiro is the presenter, and the assistant is Mrs.Kiritani Elisabeth.

I have watched the show twice, the one about Edison and the other about the Beatles. Every time I could see the picture of them and hear the real voice of them. As the title shows the program offers the various scenes in which the famous people in the 20th century speak English. They don't speak so to speak complete English that we Japanese learn at school. And the recording condition is not so good even. But we can enjoy not only their English, but also various stories of the epoch-making events or people in the show.

In the last show the character was the Beatles. In the film they had a press interview, and they answered the questions in the random order. As I could hardly catch their English, I got quite a lot depressed.
But Mr.Hirano and Mrs.Kiritani said that the English of the Beatles was hard to understand because they had a strong accent. I was a little bit relieved to hear that. And they also said that when Queen Elizabeth awarded the Beatles the people in England were very surprised. Then could not believe that such naughty young boys could receive the most honors in the country. I enjoyed their story very much.

The most interesting point is that Mr. Hirano speaks in Japanese and Mrs.Kiritani speaks in English in that program. He understands English and she does Japanese, but they speak only their mother tongues. In general programs of English study the same sentences are repeated in both languages a few times. It is a little bit boring. But in this show the conversation between the two goes on very smoothly, and also they express their frank opinion. So it is a very unique English program. I enjoy their free talking very much. Besides Mrs.Kiritani's English is so soft and elegant that I couldn't catch all she says at first. I wish I could speak beautiful English someday.

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That's all in 1998.

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