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＊Since the terrorism attack against the World Trade Center in New York, three months have passed. Memorial ceremonies for sacrificed people were held all over the U.S.A. by singing the National Anthem of the U.S.A. It is really a surprise that the entire world has changed so remarkably in politics and economies. I am afraid that the steady and good life in the past would never be able to revive.
＊The starting time of radio therapy would be delayed an hour from today to December 13th, I had been informed. When I arrived there an hour later than usual, I was told that the Microton was under repair and asked me to wait until past eleven o'clock. As I had made up my mind to give the top priority to the radiation therapy, I accepted what they asked for and waited at a restaurant on the 39th floor (top floor) of hospital tower. It was fine but had strong winds. So the air was clean enough for enjoying the panorama view from there. I saw a white Mt. Fuji on the right side of the Tokyo tower. I saw it fairly well with my eyes. But my small digital camera could not take it well as shown in the bottom left. The instruments were restored earlier than expected and the therapy was finished by 10:40.
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| On my way back, I made a ten minutes walk to the Higashi Ginza station on Asakusa line of Metropolitan Subway. On the opposite side of subway entrance, the Kabuki Theater building was standing out prominently with the morning sun, |
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＊In evening, I attended a dinner meeting of Toko graduates which was held at a club near the Sangu bridge in December, every year. The club is owned by "S" company. I drove my Prius to the club following the guidance of Car Navigator. I put the destination in the navigator by pushing its telephone number. But I could never reach the club. I stopped the car at road side. Then I put the destination again by pushing its address and at last I got to the club. I was late by thirty minutes. The attendants of today are Mr. Tomisaburo Hirai, Mr. Ryoichi Kawai, Mr. Seiichi Ishizaka, Mr. Takehiko Yasuhara, Mr. Hitoshi Kubo, Mr. Takao Koizumi, Mr. Seiichiro Tanaka, Mr. Kazuhiro Sato, Mr. Takao Tominaga and me, a total of 10 members. Although Mr. Hirai is 92 years old, he is healthy and active and drinks five bottles of sake every evening, plays a round of golf once a week. Mr. Kawai said that the learning ability of Chinese youths were excellent, from his experiences with Chinese students. Mr. Ishizaka reported that the smaller enterprises in Toyama prefecture moved their production facilities to China resulting in the collapse of industries within the prefecture. Mr. Yasuhara looks well. plays golf frequently. Although he has enough physical power for his daily life, he has a poor memory. Mr. Sato said passionately the latest trail of Japanese opera are getting good results. Mr. Tominaga and Mr. Tanaka are also ardent opera lovers. Recently Mr. Koizumi's wife was dead only three days after she was hospitalized. It is pity.
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＊Ms. Chieko Hara, a pianist, was dead. Mr. Kitano wrote a condolence message on her death.
Ms. Chieko Hara, an outstanding pianist, faded away in night on October 9, 2001 at the age of 86 years. Ms, Chieko Hara and Ms. Kazuko Kusama (later called Yasukawa), both of them were pianists, Ms. Nejikio Suwa and Ms. Mari Iwamoto, both of them were violinists, were outstanding players among musicians when I was a student.
I attended concerts held at Hibiya Public Hall frequently with a commutation ticket from Nishichiba to Tokyo. I went there even the midst of term end examinations. Other than them, I like Ms. Yoko Matsukuma, a violinist as she looked pretty. In my room of students board in Midorimachi, Chiba city, I had a phonograph and played discs continually every night. Not a few friends came to my room to listen musics. I liked Violin Concert No 1 D major op.6 by Paganini .
Ms. Mari Iwamoto and Ms. Kazuko Yasukawa, a golden combination, came to our university in September, 1946 and played the concert cerebrating our graduation. I fully enjoyed their splendid sonata.
A piano recital by Ms. Chieko Hara was held at the auditorium of Konan Girl School in 1950. As it was not far since the end of war, there were few concerts in Kobe by maestros. The hall was filled to capacity as many people were anxious to see her, "A Miracle of Orient." The first part of concert was made of Chopin and Mozart. but the second part were made of difficult musics which were not familiar. When the concert was approaching its end, she stopped suddenly the move of her hands. She looked at the front of her a moment. Then she stood up slowly and told the audience "I have to apologize you. I cannot remember the next music." She bowed down to the audiences. It caused a stir among them. Without any delay, audience started to applaud her. A few girl students run up to the stage and handed her bouquets. But smiles did not come up to her face. The audiences were not familiar with the music so that she might be able to continue the music somehow without being noticed by audiences. She hanged on the conscience of true artists. It was an unbelievable accident. I was impressed by the very spirit of maestro as an artist. I became her fan since that time. May her soul rest on peace!