Kodomo-no Shiro, "Children's Castle"

Kodomo-no Shiro, "Children's Castle", originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

I will give a talk on my book, "How should Mormonism be viewed? A Third View" at Kodomo-no Shiro, Tokyo, on Feb. 16, 13:00-15:00. Mis Machiko Takayama will also talk at the occastion. Anyone is welcome!

Jesus in Gethsemane

Jesus in Gethsemane, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

This is my favorite drawing of Jesus in Gethsemane as I saw it when I was a boy in my parents' house in Nishinomiya, Japan. It was embroidered on a cloth base. More magnificent, solemn, and impressive than those produced later by other artists. Very unfortunate that I could not show this picture to my lds Sunday School class today in Takatsuki, Osaka.

Jiro Numano, "How should Mormonism be viewed? A Third Viewpoint."

Jiro Numano, "How should Mormonism be viewed? A Third Viewpoint.", originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

It is a compilation of my lifework viz., how I see my own religion, Mormonism. Currently my stance is of an objective but understanding researcher/observer. The book includes LDS history in Japan and problems they face. It is written in Japanese.

The Last Supper by a Chinese artist

The Last Supper by a Chinese artist, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

I found a very good picture on a Chinese SMS site, QQ. Faces of deciples and Jesus are drawn to show western features, but the landscape behind is typically Chinese.

In Sophia Cathedral, Harbin, China

In Sophia Cathedral, Harbin, China, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

I felt I was treated with a wonderful singing group in this museum-turned cathedral. I would like to visit Harbin again.

A book to add to libraries

Books, originally uploaded by nnnnox.

I am about to finish writing a draft of my book on Mormonism in Japanese. It looks like a collection of my research papers, so I hope it will be edited to look more readable. The tentative title would be, "Mormonism I now know: a story by a convert who tries to be intellectually independent."

Mountain Meadows Massacre Memorial

Mountain Meadows Massacre Memorial, originally uploaded by briantravelman.

As the photographer says, the incident was the most un-Mormon tragedy. I am going to mention it in my forthcoming book on Mormonism in Japanese.

'Aqua-pia' in a park green. Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan

'Aqua-pia' in a park green. Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

I go to this small park near my house almost daily to tend the garden by weeding out. A voluntary work I cherish.

A house in Osaka, Japan

A house in Osaka, Japan, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

I live in this house with my wife. It is located in Takatsuki, Osaka. I am enjoying my retired life, reading, writing, attending various lectures, and taking a walk.

Students in Harbin and Elder Maxwell

Students in Harbin and Elder Maxwell, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

Back in 1982 Elder Neal A. Maxwell visited Harbin, China with Lamanite Generation performing group of Brigham Young University. He and students exchanged applaud. I found this photo while preparing for a presentation on lds presence in China in Calgary this June.

一本松 A Single Tree Survived

一本松 A Single Tree Survived, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

After the devastating 'tsunami,' a single pine tree remained alive for more than a year. But as sea water damaged its root, the community nearby of Northern Japan gave up the idea of protecting the tree. From its seeds people try to take over this strong tree's life into future. (The pictures are taken from Asahi Newspaper. A correspondent's name, Atsushi Yamanishi, is given in the photo article.)

At the funeral of Elder Hiroshi Aki

At the funeral of Elder Hiroshi Aki, originally uploaded by njflickrspace.

Another senior passed away 18 March, 2012.

Some Haikus in English Translation

Here are some of the best ‘haikus’ I received last Autumn in the Japanese Course of Chinese Faculty at Star College in Harbin, China. Enjoy the world-shortest verses which express the writers’ mind and the changing environment in which he or she lives.

Spring is here: almost everyone is out taking a walk.
--- Jia Haonan

Ever cherished but short-lived is our youthfulness.
--- Guo Tian-yi

Among friends the principles of trust should abound.
--- Chu Yuhang

Reflected up-side-down upon the surface of the lake is your face.
--- Ning Yue

Right at this moment, I long to be with you, my beloved!
--- Wang Yuting

Translation is done to transfer the meaning, rather than the form (number of syllables).　 (Translation is by Jiro Numano, the teacher)

Preparatory note of apology for 731st force operations

A Japanese language teacher in Harbin, I am planning to visit “The Site of the Japanese Army’s 731st Force” in March. The site is notorious for its operations of developing, experimenting and producing chemical weaponry during the last years of World War II. The force experimented various poison gases with civil living humans. The number amounted to 3,000 according to Chinese sources. I prepared a statement of apology in Chinese. The following is an English translation.

“As a Japanese, I feel very sorry for the fact that Japanese army developed such grievous weaponry, and that victimized countless citizens in its process. I should like to apologize those victims and their families from the bottom of my heart. I know that there is no room for any excuse. I am really sorry. I suppose the wound the Chinese people suffered and the grudge as well as unpleasant feelings you have toward Japan would not disappear easily. Though I was not involved in the damaging operations directly, I wish I could make up for the harm in the range of my capacity. And as one of the pro-China Japanese, I would like to cherish the close affinity I feel toward Chinese people and try to advance harmonious and cooperative relationships between the two nations.”

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

A Feeling on the Result of US Presidential Election

Lines that came to my mind on 5 November:

A sigh of relief I breathed
at the long-awaited change of the chief of state.
With the people of the whole world over
I yelled with delight.

At long last, the leader of America is going to be replaced
after the long four years. Even though the head of state there
be changed, what the current super power will do, insist, and
require would not change in essence. However, I would like to
have hope that it would at least shift its political postures
and would not make the same kind of mistakes the predecessor
(or the incumbent) has made.

lds in Asia

I am interested in contacting lds members in Asia. So I started to collect URLs of blogs or home pages Asian lds members keep. (If there are persons who would not like to have their URLs listed here, please notify me. I will immediately delete theirs.)

1 Almost Faye-mous 2.3 URL http://fayemin.com/blog Beijing, China

2 jacky chin's journal URL http://jackychin.blogspot.com Ipn Perak, Malaysia

3 Curbside Puppet URL http://www.blogger.com/profile/00173985274383203868
Philippine

To be added. (If viewers would like to add the list, please assist me. Thanks.)

A poem read before BYU students

The Passage of Time

I am not here by accident.
Born in Shanghai, China, a few days before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor,
I was taken back to Japan by my mother in 1945.
The packed train we rode in passed Hiroshima to Nishinomiya, a suburban town near Osaka. I was three.
A few months later an A-bomb was dropped in Hiroshima.

As an elementary school pupil, I saw two documentary movies on Hiroshima's tragedy.
The films were very vivid and powerful for a small boy.
Horrible afterimages stayed in my mind.

I began to find special meaning in the message Hiroshima has been sending out to the world.
Whenever I see the atomic dome, somehow I feel a solemn atmosphere which is to be held dear.

Now, I notice the Japanese, particulary survivors of the tragedy, are beginning to say "it was against humanity and wrong for the US to have used the weapon."
What I desire of you is that you become aware of different perspectives shared by other nations.

Although I am not a native of Hiroshima, nor a survivor of the bomb, I think it is not by accident that I meet you here as one of the representatives of this city of peace.

(Read on 29 July, 2007 at an exchange meeting held at Hiroshima Kokusai Gakuin University. Eighteen students of Brigham Young University and 10 Japanese met.)

A farewell verse to a colleague

A poem sent to an English teacher:

A dear colleague of ours,
You have endured a hard time
To prove to be the bright pivot.

A better future
Let us wish you and us.

To a teacher who moves to
another institution. March 2006

Rough-&-Ready Baptism Period in Japan

Abstract from 8/9/2002 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium

Title: The Rough And Ready Baptism Period In Japan

From 1979 to 1981, requirements for Japanese convert baptisms were loosened and area administrator pressured mission presidents to increase the number of baptisms. The result was a large number of converts who mostly left the Church. Are there still scars from this policy? How do converts from this period feel? How about the members called to visit them? How has this period affected Japanese perceptions of the Church?

Presenter: Jiro Numano

The presenter plans to publish a paper on this issue in future.