Joe DL4CF

It was in late '80s when I often worked Joe Y62QH, later DL2HQH and presently DL4CF. It had been 2 or 3 years before the iron curtain between West and East Germany was pulled apart. As with the other old communism countries, most hams in East Germany used to make only rubber stamps those days. Joe was a bit different from them. Possibly being young, possibly in his late teen age at that time, and brave, he often talked to me something other than that stereotypical QSO. I haven't asked about that to him yet. The censorship of ham radio might be loosened since the communist hegemony was being lost over there. Anyway, this young guy in East Germany was remarkable with his freedom in operation as well as his great fist.

A few years later than I did, he joined FOC. We have talked even oftener at that time. As soon as the two Germanys were merged, he told me he would visit the US. I was surprised to hear that because it might not be very easy for him to travel abroad at that time. He would, however, go out of the country and see things in the western countries as soon as it became possible, I believe. I have introduced him a good friend of mine, Bob, W6CYX in San Jose. Joe has visited him and stayed there for a week, if I remember it right. Bob is located on a foot hill of Mt. Hamilton overlooking the entire Bay. I am sure they have become good friends.

Bob and his wife Mariko have visited Joe in 2 or 3 years since Joe's visit to the US. I can't remember who has sent this photo to me. It was taken at Joe's shack.

In winter, late at night in our time, 40 meters opens to both NA and Eu at the same time. I have had a big round table with both of them over the north/south pole for a few times. I guess Bob and Joe were through the long path at that time. It could never be a lengthy leisurely chat. It was, however, a big thrill for me to listen to both of them at the same time. Even though it was tricky for Joe and me what direction we should beam to.  

This morning, 20 meters was fascinatingly opened to Eu. An hour later than sunrise, Joe has given me a call with usual big punchy signal here. His call was not hit with my PC log which I had started using 3 years ago. It has been, at least, 4 years since we talked last time. For the past several years, he seemed to have been busy at work, which had prevented him operating radio too much. He seemed to ride, not motor bike like before, but bicycle now. He said it took 45 minutes one way from home to office on the bicycle. We have rumored about Bob as well. Joe told me he had not heard Bob for a while. I told him neither did I. He used to tell me he had been just listening the bands but won't call the stations he heard. When 40 meters starts to open between NA and Eu via long path, he could not resist giving us a call and we might make another big round table then.

Joe is now 48 years old. All of us are getting a bit older. 

Beef and potato stew

Beef is cooked with potatoes, onions, carrots and snow peas. Potatoes and onions were the products at our garden farm. Potatoes were fresh while onions have tasted slightly sweet. 

I am still cooking almost everyday. The problem is that I tend to cook too much in quantity for a dish. 

From a hospital staff in Syria

It is a real hell. It is not a struggle against illnesses but a never ending tragedy due to the conflict going on there.

There is no instant solution to this problem.

It must be, however, banned to export the arms to the countries in conflict or to anyone who would trade the arms to them.

Trading arms is a really profitable business, so that the politicians and the merchants of death won't get out of it. I heard that once the people in France knew the bombing air plane used in Syria had been successful and had been ordered by several countries in Middle East, they shut their mouth against the war in Syria. I won't blame them in particular. But if we won't be free from such an idea, there won't be ceasing military conflicts anywhere.

As I posted in this blog previously, our government has changed the policy of exporting arms from ban to encouragement. It is a real shame and disgrace. We have been proud of not exporting arms anywhere. Our government has unlearned that policy of pacifism.

Read the article linked above. What do you think of that?

Japan US Joint Committee

I have recently learned about this committee for the first time. Maｙbe, it has been to my ears in the past. But I have never realized how it had worked on the politics/economy in Japan.

It has started immediately since the WWII was over. While japanese members of this committee are the top bureaucrats in Japan, the US side is composed of military people except for the US minister as the only non military diplomat. The meeting has been closed keeping the agenda in secret. The main agenda has been regarding the US base and its military operation. It seems they have discussed of diverse issues there. The State Department in the US has been repeatedly recommended the US military to convert the system to the ordinary diplomatic relationship. The US military has been denying that. One reason is that Japanese government won't agree to undertake the change. This system seems profitable for both US military as well as Japanese bureaucrats. Yes, the occupation of Japan by US military after WWII is still continuing. It has been over 70 years ever since.

"The collective self defense" our government has established against our constitution last summer has been based on the requirement by the US military to join military conflicts all over the world lead by the US military. Most likely, this requirement has been done at this committee. The other issues in relation with the US could be understood from the perspective of presence of this committee.

I wonder if our country is really independent under such a system. At present, unfortunately, we could not affirm of independence at all. Such a system would lead the relationship between Japan and the US toward undesirable way, I am afraid. I wonder how you Americans think of such a relationship like a suzerain and a colony. It is a reality that our Japan has enjoyed prosperity and no involvement in any military conflict or war thanks to this relationship, at least, partially thanks to it. But I think this relationship would be against fairness and equality.      

A university orchestra concert

Last night, I have been to a concert of the university orchestra I used to belong in the med school days. It was held in Kawasaki in Kaganawa Pref. The same hall as I went to listen to them in Nov 2013. It took me 2.5 hours to go there door to door.

It has been a joint orchestra of two universities since its beginning. Everything has, of course, changed since the days I was in it. Only the same bassoonist still remains as a trainer. There have been a number of different conductors taking the baton of the orchestra since our days. Yoshitomo Kawachi, the conductor, used to be a young and hopeful one in our days. The only thing unchanged is the ardent enthusiasm of the young people as players in the orchestra.

The seats behind the orchestra were not used. The front seats were all full. I had got the hall 10 minutes before the concert started. But I had to go up to the 4th floor for a seat.

The program was as follows;

Dvorak Carnival Ouverture Op92

Dvorak Cello Concerto B minor Op104

Sibelius Symphony Nr1 Eminor Op39

I was overwhelmed at the gorgeous dynamic sounds of the orchestra again. The contrabass and the brass have roared as if from the base of the ground. The woodwind instruments were all lovely and beautiful. The other string instruments were well trained and accurate. The step wise floor of the performers might be of help for them to see the conductor. The Einsatz was excellent. There were a few mistakes such as imperfect attacks of some wind instruments. Overall performance was really impressive for a universities' orchestra.

I was interested in the cello soloist, Y. Kigoshi. Honestly speaking, this concerto seemed overburdened to him at his age, I am afraid. He used to be a promising young cellist when I started cello. I have ever listened to a master class he played the very same piece. I can't remember who has taught him then. He has long taken the seat of top cellist at NHK Symphony Orchestra, one of the most famous orchestras in Japan. Having retired that position, he seems to teach cello to students at a music university. Even for such a performer, this concerto seems a tough one. He played Saraband of Nr2 Unaccompanied Suite by Bach as an encore. It was really excellent. His Stradivarius has spun a tune of deep emotion in a very natural way. It was worth attending to this concert only to listen to this piece. The program said he had loved the Unaccompanied Suites so much that he had been performing them as his life work.

Considering of the nature of university orchestra, I must admit almost all members are exchanged in 2 or 3 years. The concert master/mistress or the part leaders may take their part only for a year or two. They are devoted to this performance as if they were inflaming themselves at that moment. 

As we used to over 40 years ago. 

Petite Suite by Debussy

This season in early summer reminds me of this piece by Debussy. Petite Suite. It is often played by 4 hands duo of piano. But I prefer the orchestral version. Wood wind instruments sing beautiful songs. 

It is a kind of primitive program music and maybe not satisfactory to those loving his later works in impressionism. But it is still a fantastic and charming piece.

I have played this piece at the university orchestra over 40 years ago. We started practicing it in this season of a year. Crisp breeze was blowing among trees. Sun was gently shining. Whenever I listen to flute solo in the beginning of En Bateau, the fond memory is coming back in my mind.

Crapping Prime Minister

The G7 Summit held in Ise Shima of Japan has been over.

Our Prime Minister has emphasized the recession of the world economy in his address of the chairman. According to his view, the economy is at the risk of depression comparable to the Lehman Brothers' shock in 2008. He wanted the other countries to make monetary easing to deal with the situation. What a crap! Lehman Brothers' problem was due to the credit crunch caused by the bubble of financial capitalism starting in '90s. Abe should have analyzed the mechanism of Lehman Brothers' shock to deal with it.

All he announced there was to carry out the monetary easing all over the world. Even in the credit crunch, that easing might be of help only transiently as well as superficially. The effect won't last long and would leave deep side effects of unstable economy in the world, as it does right now.

Proposing a bubble economy world wide, he intended to mask his failure of his economical policy in our country. It was another intention in this statement to deffer consumption tax hike in our country. It was for the upcoming national election in our country in July. The Summit was to discuss what was going on in the world and how they should deal with it. Abe has tried to take advantage of the meeting for his egoistic purpose.

Abe should have picked up the problem of tax haven for the agenda. Tax haven has the asset of ten trillions USD all over the world. It is a result as well as a cause for the economical disparity all around the world as well as in a country. Tax haven is an unfair system. It is used for laundering money from crime or for a route of bribe around the world. It also reduces the tax revenue, which imposes us more tax.

Abe has been telling lies at the Congress. He seems to have believed the same tactics could do at such as g7 Summit.