I worked late today. This morning (I couldn't enjoy the daily English meeting on Zoom), I took a shower and had breakfast. After that, even though I was feeling quite depressive (or simply too lazy), when I wore my socks then it made my mood "firm" or "positive" enough to go out of my room (a jinx of mine). Even now, I can't tell why this can happen.
I went to AEON, where I called the city office to register for the coming English conversation class session. After that, with Boogie Down Production's and Scha Dara Parr's bangers, I read the homework text for the English study club. The text is titled "'Day of Infamy' Speech", which comes from a legendary speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt just after the Pearl Harbor incident. Yes, now we can treat it as a sort of "historical" text, or even an "antique" one because now the relationship between the U.S. and Japan is getting better certainly. However, even now (I won't do flatter about this), this text makes me think about the history before I was born (in 1975).
I remember last year I read a brilliant book "Victimhood Nationalism" by Jie-Hyun Lin, which teaches me how our national memory has been helping us to make the consciousness of nationalism. Also, I remember once when I was a teenager there occurred a discussion: "Should 'we' be responsible for these cruel, notorious acts which our ancient people had done?". Yes, it must be very controversial. How can I remember these dark side facts of my country? Or, shouldn't I do (or I never need to do) so?
After that, I started my work. At the break time, I enjoyed a great Japanese hip hop group, Scha Dara Parr's marvelous album "Towering Nonsense [タワーリングナンセンス]" again. I sent a Russian friend a Merry Christmas greeting (I heard in there they start celebrating that today). Oh, what an international/global connection across borders, and also several generations I have built. However, as the Scha Dara Parr "laughs" in their song, I shouldn't become a sort of snob who tends to think that Japan must be an out-of-date, simply uncool nation. On Discord and MeWe, literally every day (anytime) I see several people who show their love for Japan, their tolerance or friendship to me, or this country. I'm very thankful for THIS as a Japanese guy.
