SONRISAS DEL SOL: UNA FORMA DE ACERCARSE A LA RELIGIÓN / SMILES OF THE SUN: A WAY TO APPROACH TO THE RELIGION

Cuando era pequeña, siempre veía a mi hermano mayor leer un libro rojo con líneas rosadas todas las noches antes de dormirse. Como aún no sabía leer, siempre me intrigó saber de qué se trataba el libro. Ya cuando aprendí a leer, recién pude descubrir el secreto que mi hermano leía religiosamente todas las noches.

When I was a little girl, I always saw my eldest brother reading a red and pink lines book every night before sleeping. Since I still could not read, I always was intrigued to know about what that book was about. When I learnt to read, I could discover the secret which was read by my brother religiously every night.

Era un libro de cuentos con enseñanzas, a los que yo siempre lo comparaba con el famoso libro de fábulas de Esopo, y que en cada página tenía una fábula con su correspondiente moraleja en cada una. Pero, este libro era diferente, porque no retrataba a animales “humanizados”, sino a personas comunes y corrientes en su vida diaria, y cómo éstas afrontaban las situaciones o problemas y al final, nos dejaba una pequeña reflexión. Esta recopilación de cuentos y artículos titulada “Sonrisas del Sol”, fue al principio publicada y difundida en el Perú a través de Radio Inca y en el diario peruano-japonés Peru Shimpo (aunque en el libro no aparece la fecha, posiblemente fue en los años 70). El autor original de este libro titulado “Sonrisas del Sol” fue el sacerdote norteamericano James Hyatt (1922-2009) de la congregación Maryknoll con sede en Kyoto, Japón, quien utilizó los medios de comunicación como una herramienta eficaz para difundir la Buena Nueva a todos. Es así que tuvo un programa radial llamado Taiyo no Hohoemi (Sonrisas del Sol) en Japón y además, en 1967, publicó el libro “The Power of Man” (“El Poder del Hombre”).


It was a tale book with morals, which I always have compared with the famous book of Aesop’s fables, and each page has a fable with its corresponding moral. But, this book was different, because it depicted “humanized” animals, but common and ordinary people in their everyday life, and how these people faced these situations or problems and at the end, it gave a brief reflection to us. This compilation of tales and articles titled “”Smiles of the Sun”, which was at the beginning published and broadcasted in Peru by Radio Inca and in the Peruvian-Japanese newspaper Peru Shimpo (although no date is in the book, perhaps that was in the 70’s). The original author of the book titled “Smiles of the Sun” was the American priest James Hyatt (1922-2009) from the Kyoto-based Maryknoll congregation in Japan, who used the media as a useful tool in spreading the Good News to everybody. In that sense, he had a radio programme called Taiyo no Hohoemi (Smiles of the Sun) in Japan and also, in 1967, he published the book “The Power of Man”.

Tanto de su programa radial así como de su libro, fue de donde nació “Sonrisas del Sol”, que fue traducido del japonés al español por el sacerdote jesuita Luis Martínez Dueñas (1929-2007), quien al igual que Hyatt, participó activamente en la sociedad japonesa para difundir la fe de Cristo.

El libro “Sonrisas del Sol” pretende, como lo señala el Padre Martínez en el prólogo, “construir un mundo mejor”. Es un objetivo que puede ser algo descabellado hacerlo ante una sociedad tan fragmentada y modernizada, pero que muy bien puede resumirse en el lema con que se iniciaba cada programa “No te lamentes…haz algo para iluminar el mundo y la vida”.

Este libro contiene cuentos cortos en sus 258 páginas, (cada página contiene un cuento diferente), y cada uno tiene una enseñanza que nos puede ayudar en cualquier momento de nuestra vida. Entre los aproximadamente 200 cuentos que trae, elegí un cuento al azar, y que me pareció muy simple pero significativa, llamada “La Felicidad de Dar”.

Pero antes de eso, ¿cómo es que tengo este libro en mis manos?. Algo muy simple: mi abuela no practicaba todos los ritos católicos, pero si era muy creyente. Ella, al igual que muchos otros issei (inmigrantes japoneses) en Lima, se reunían en un grupo religioso llamado “Comité San Francisco”, en donde recibían charlas (tipo catequistas) sobre el catolicismo y que estaban dirigidas por el Padre Manuel Kato en aquellos años (aproximadamente la década de los 50-70).

En este comité, mi abuela conoció no solamente a Cristo, sino también a muchos otros issei como ella, con quienes compartió muchas charlas, misas, paseos, etc. En este comité, ella recibió varios libros (biblias, pequeños catecismos escritos en japonés, etc.) que aún no puedo encontrarlos (creo que se perdieron o los regalamos), pero el único que he podido conservar es este libro, “Sonrisas del Sol”.

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Both his radio program as well as his book, were the origin of “Smiles of Sun”, which was translated from Japanese to Spanish by the  Spanish Jesuit priest Luis Martínez Dueñas (1929-2007), who as Hyatt, participated actively in the Japanese society in spreading Christ’s faith. 

The book “Smiles of the Sun” attempts, as pointed by the Father Martínez in the prologue, “to build a better world”. This is an objective which can be a little ridiculous to meet to a so -fragmented and modernized society, but which can well summarized in the motto “Do not complain…Do something to bright the world”.

This book has short tales in its 258 pages, (each page has a different tale) and each tale has a moral which can help us at any time in our lives. Among its aproximately 200 tales , I chose one tale at ramdon, and which seemed very simple but significant for me, titled “The Happiness of Giving”.

But, before that, how I have this book? It is simple: my grandmother did not practice all the catholic rites, but she had a strong faith. She, like many other issei (that is, Japanese migrants) in Lima, met in a religious group called “Comité San Francisco” (Committee Saint Francis of Assisi), where they listened talks (catechist type) about the Catholicism and they were conducted by the Father Manuel Kato by these years (approximately in the 50's-70's). In this committee, my grandmother did not only met Christ but also many other issei like her, with who many talks, masses, trips, etc. were shared. 

In this committee also she received many books (bibles, small catechisms in Japanese, etc.) which I have not been able to find them (I think they are missing or we gave them away), but the only one I could keep was this book, “Smiles of the Sun”. 

TRANSLATION OF THE TALE "THE HAPPINESS OF GIVING":

The Happiness of Giving (page 83)

A man from Tokyo came to the hospital bringing a small package under his arm. He came from a small city in northern Japan; the man came to visit his nephew hospitalized for a broken leg while he was skiing.

Hiroshi, as his nephew was called, a 12-year-old boy, was moved when his uncle opened the package and saw the elegant chocolate box. The uncle suggested that he could open the box and eat the chocolates later….But the boy asnwered: I will keep it for later.

As soon as his uncle left, Hiroshi wrapped the box again, took his crutches and went down the stairs. Finally, he came to the room of an old woman with rheumatism and he gave the chocolate box to her. This woman had been very kind to Hiroshi when he was admitted to hospital and since he was grateful, he had been waiting the chance for giving something to the woman. As his wish was fullfilled, Hiroshi came back to his room.

A few minutes later, the rheumatic woman left her room to come to another block, carrying a large bag. Her visit was for Akiko this time, a young office lady who was recovering from a surgery. Once she was at Akiko’s bedside, the old woman opened her bag and gave the chocolate box received from Hiroshi to Akiko. She talked to her for a while and said goodbye with a graceful smile.

That evening, Hiroshi was going for a walk around the ward where Akiko was. He stopped by for a moment to say hello to her. “Look Hiroshi”, Akiko took the initiative and said, “I have a present for you”. She opened the drawer of her nightstand and Hiroshi was surprised to see again the same chocolate box which was received from his uncle in the morning.

At the same time, the woman, who gave the chocolate box to Akiko appeared again. Akiko’s face blushed when she saw her to come up to him. The same thing happened to the woman, when she saw Hiroshi with the chocolate box in his hands. With exchanging glances between the three of them, everything was explained…At that moment, all three burst out laughing, the three friends’ eyes were moist with tears of happiness. Hiroshi, finally, opened the chocolate box and shared out the chocolates with his two friends.

A single chocolate box had brought happiness to that hospital. Three people received that box as a present and these same people had given it, in turn, as a sign of gratitude. The great joy the three patients were feeling came from the happiness providing the act of giving.

LINKS DE INTERÉS:
Remembering  Fr. James Hyatt
Biografía del Padre James Hyatt (en inglés) / Biography of Father James Hyatt 

INTERNATIONAL PRESS DIGITAL
Noticia del fallecimiento del Padre Luis Martínez / News about the decease of Father Martínez (in Spanish)  

PADRE LUIS MARTÍNEZ DUEÑAS  
Fanpage del Padre Luis Martínez Dueñas / Father Luis Martínez Dueñas Fanpage (in Spanish) 

NOCIONES BÁSICAS SOBRE EL ACCIDENTE NUCLEAR EN FUKUSHIMA / BASIC NOTIONS ABOUT THE NUCLEAR ACCIDENT IN FUKUSHIMA

El 11 de marzo Japón enfrentó un devastador terremoto que destruyó gran parte de la parte norte de Japón y cuyas consecuencias fueron peores que el terremoto mismo. El terremoto no ha sido el causante de tantas muertes, desaparecidos y pérdidas materiales, sino que ha sido el tsunami que lo siguió, aunándose a éste, el accidente nuclear que aún continúa siendo el tema principal de los diarios a nivel mundial.

Desde la segunda guerra mundial, con la explosión de las bombas atómicas en Hiroshima y Nagasaki, hemos visto la reconstrucción de Japón, que en base al esfuerzo en conjunto pudieron salir, cual ave fénix, literalmente de las mismas cenizas. Es esa unión y el concepto sobre el prójimo, que nuevamente sean los protagonistas en este tipo de situación, y que veamos, como una vez más, el pueblo japonés parece levantarse nuevamente ante una adversidad.

El terremoto ya pasó, el tsunami también, pero la tensión aún continúa. El incidente nuclear, el temor a que se produzca la fusión de los reactores,  es lo que preocupa.  Como peleando contra un enemigo oculto, al cual no podemos ver pero cuyas consecuencias las podríamos sentir, es lo que intentan combatir, arriesgadamente, aquellos trabajadores  de TEPCO encargados de evitar dicho proceso.

Pero ¿por qué existe tanta calma aparente?, si en otros países hubiese pasado lo mismo, estarían pidiendo ayuda internacional a países que hayan tenido experiencias similares en el manejo de este tipo de crisis o hubiera mayor información sobre lo que está pasando. Puede ser para no ser alarmistas y no generar un caos colectivo tal vez innecesario, tal vez con la posible esperanza de poder solucionar esta coyuntura sin injerencia foránea ("foránea" no solo en el sentido de intromisión extranjera, de países sino también, de personas ajenas al “tradicional” círculo político, encargados del manejo gubernamental y de sus anexos). Pero también puede ser simplemente por desconocimiento y se crea que se podrá solucionar utilizando los recursos (mano de obra, logística) disponibles en el archipiélago japonés.

En esta oportunidad, solamente voy a compartir un artículo y un video, que están escritos en inglés y español, en donde se explica lo que está pasando en los reactores de Fukushima y la razón o razones por las cuales no hay que pensar que sería un segundo Chernobyl. Más que nada, comparto unos recursos informativos muy buenos (en el sentido que son fáciles de entender y muy didácticos, especialmente para los niños y adolescentes, y por qué no, para muchos de nosotros adultos, que somos inexpertos en la materia.). Estos no tratan de exponer la situación actual, pero si, las nociones básicas relacionadas sobre este accidente nuclear.

On March 11th, Japan faced a devastating earthquake, which destroyed much of the northern part of Japan and whose consequences were worse than the earthquake itself. This earthquake was not the cause of many deaths, missing people and material losses, but the subsequent tsunami was what caused it,  and with the nuclear accident  which still continues  being the main subject of the newspapers worldwide.

Since the WWII, with the atomic's bomb explosion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we have seen the reconstruction of Japan, on the basis of joint efforts they could emerge literally from the ashes itself, like a Phoenix. It is the union and the concept on the others, which play the key roles again in this type of situation, and we see once again, how the Japanese people seem to rise, again,  in the adversity.

The earthquake is over, also the tsunami, but the tension still remains. The nuclear incident, that is, the fear that the meltdown can happen, is what concern us. Like fighting with an invisible enemy, which we cannot see it but whose consequences could be felt later, is what those TEPCO employees, who are responsible for avoiding them, are doing right now with risk.

But, why is there so much apparent calm?, if the same situation has happened in other countries,  they would been asking international aid to other countries that have had similar experiences in the management of this type of crisis or more information would be available about what is happening. This calm would be to not be alarmist and to cause  a possibly unnecessary collective chaos, perhaps with the possible hope of being able to solve this situation without foreign interference ("foreign" in the sense of not only foreign interference, about countries, but also in the sense of people  outside the "tradicional” political circle,  who are in charge of the governmental management and its annexes). But also this calm would be  also mere by ignorance and so there is  the conviction that  it could be solved  by using the resources (workforce, logistics) available in the Japanese archipielago.

This time, I have one article and one video to share with you, which are in both English and Spanish, explaining what is happening with the reactors in Fukushima and the reason or reasons for which it should not be seen as a second Chernobyl. More than anything else,  I  am sharing some very good information resources (in the sense that they are easy to understand them and very educational, specially for children and adolescents, and why not, for many of us as adults, inexperienced on this matter). These resources do not  attempt to explain the current situation, but the basic notions regarding these nuclear accident.

A continuación, podemos ver el video que está circulando en todo el internet y que ha sido subtitulado en distintos idiomas. Es una creación del artista japonés Kazuhiko Hachiya, quien a partir de una simple analogía, trata de explicar a los niños la situación de los reactores en Fukushima.

 

We can watch a video which  is circulating on the internet and has been subtitled in several languages. It was a creative work of the Japanese artist Kazuhiko Hachiya, who from a plain analogy, tries to explain the situation of the reactors in Fukushima to the children.

Akira Uchimura Moraga, un nikkei chileno y director de Nikkei Youth Network, nos explica en su blog "Chileno Japonés" (artículo escrito en español, francés e inglés) el por qué ha decidido permanecer en Japón junto con su familia después de estos trágicos acontecimientos.

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Akira Uchimura Moraga, a Chilean nikkei and director of the Nikkei Youth Network, explains to us about the reasons for which he has decided to stay in Japan with his family after these tragic events, in his blog "Chileno Japonés" (article written in Spanish, French and English).

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A simple vista, podemos pensar que esta situación no es tan grave como así se explican en estos informativos. Pero, la magnitud del problema parece que es tan grande como el silencio alrededor de ésta. Muchos de nosotros sabemos que Japón podrá nuevamente reconstruir aquellos lugares afectados por el tsunami o terremoto, debido a la idiosincracia particular que comparten todos sus ciudadanos, y que deberíamos de tomar como ejemplo. Sin embargo, el daño o las consecuencias derivadas, no del terremoto o tsunami, sino del accidente nuclear, es algo que aún no podemos cuantificar.


At first sight, we can consider this situation as not so serious as explained in these information resources. But, the dimension of the problem is as big as the silence surrounding it. Many of us know that Japan will rebuild those places affected by the earthquake or tsunami, due to the particular idiosyncrasy shared by all its people and which we should take it as example. However, the damage or consequences arising from the earthquake or tsunami but from the nuclear accident, is something that has not yet been measured.

FUENTES / SOURCES

Blog Chileno Japonés!

Youtube (English) , Youtube (Spanish)