Comments on: A Novelist Re-Reads Kaitokudo http://bourdaghs.com/blog/2010/03/05/a-novelist-re-reads-kaitokudo/ Michael K. Bourdaghs's Blog Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:29:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bourdaghs http://bourdaghs.com/blog/2010/03/05/a-novelist-re-reads-kaitokudo/comment-page-1/#comment-700 bourdaghs Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:54:52 +0000 http://bourdaghs.com/blog/?p=584#comment-700 Thanks for your comment, Nianshen. The Japanese word Oe used for Said's "will" was "ishi" (意志), with the sense of 'resolve' or 'intention.' As you note, though, there was a touch of nostalgia throughout the talk, though and a sense of sadness at the difficulty of maintaining "a quiet metaphoric reminder" (Najita's words) of the importance of light, reason, and ethicality. I'm glad you were inspired by the speech, as was I. Thanks for your comment, Nianshen. The Japanese word Oe used for Said’s “will” was “ishi” (意志), with the sense of ‘resolve’ or ‘intention.’ As you note, though, there was a touch of nostalgia throughout the talk, though and a sense of sadness at the difficulty of maintaining “a quiet metaphoric reminder” (Najita’s words) of the importance of light, reason, and ethicality. I’m glad you were inspired by the speech, as was I.

]]> By: nianshen http://bourdaghs.com/blog/2010/03/05/a-novelist-re-reads-kaitokudo/comment-page-1/#comment-699 nianshen Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:22:02 +0000 http://bourdaghs.com/blog/?p=584#comment-699 It really was a successful speech and it broadened my understanding to Prof. Najita's books. Thank you very much for the interpretation. I was directed to here by googling the phrase "optimism as an act of will." When I heard it yesterday I thought the word "will" was just referred to "desire" or "hope", but after a second thought, I had this hypothesis that this "will" might refer to another thing, that a "wil" entrusted by someone who is leaving this world. Sadly, my Japanese is too bad to understand in what way Mr. Oe used this term. Neither could I find in what circumstances Said used this phrase. Maybe I am just overinterpreting but I can't helping sensing a concealed sadness in his speech, especially when he talked about Said, Miyoshi Masao and Najita (who has been fighting with illness for years). Like Said, Oe himself is being devoted to a battle (Constitusion and Art. 9) which, perhaps, is very hard to win. That action--to protect kogi and jingi, like what Kaitokudo scholars did 200 years ago--has true beauty in itself. Isn't this bueaty,"in today's world situation", a representation of mono-no-awa-re? Thank you again and hope can have your opinion on that. It really was a successful speech and it broadened my understanding to Prof. Najita’s books. Thank you very much for the interpretation.

I was directed to here by googling the phrase “optimism as an act of will.” When I heard it yesterday I thought the word “will” was just referred to “desire” or “hope”, but after a second thought, I had this hypothesis that this “will” might refer to another thing, that a “wil” entrusted by someone who is leaving this world. Sadly, my Japanese is too bad to understand in what way Mr. Oe used this term. Neither could I find in what circumstances Said used this phrase.

Maybe I am just overinterpreting but I can’t helping sensing a concealed sadness in his speech, especially when he talked about Said, Miyoshi Masao and Najita (who has been fighting with illness for years). Like Said, Oe himself is being devoted to a battle (Constitusion and Art. 9) which, perhaps, is very hard to win. That action–to protect kogi and jingi, like what Kaitokudo scholars did 200 years ago–has true beauty in itself. Isn’t this bueaty,”in today’s world situation”, a representation of mono-no-awa-re?

Thank you again and hope can have your opinion on that.

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