月: 2018年11月

This week a very important man in the world of comic books died. That man was Stan Lee. Stan Lee was the creator of superheroes. He created Spiderman, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, The Avengers, Black Panther and many other famous heroes. Stan Lee lived a very long life. He was born in 1922 and died this week on November 12, 2018. He was 95 years old.

Japan is very famous for its culture of manga and anime. In many Western countries, before we knew about manga, we only had comic books. It is very interesting to see how different the comic books are between Japan and other countries. When I was a boy I read a lot of comic books. I loved to read superhero stories. I think that a lot of boys my age did the same thing. Maybe we liked the feeling of adventure. Maybe we liked to feel we could be strong, just like the heroes we saw in the comics. Maybe people in Japan have the same special feeling for Tezuka Osamu and the stories he made.

Some people might say that comics are only for kids. But, just as you know in Japan, that is not true. There is a great variety of manga and comic books that people can read and enjoy. There is a communication between art and story that is special in manga and comics. It is a unique and important form of expression, and an important form of art.

Of course some comics and some manga are crazy. Some are not very good, or very interesting. Some are too simple. Some have terrible art. Some have boring stories. But, when we find a comic or manga that has great art, a unique style, wonderful characters, and excellent writing, a comic book or manga becomes something wonderful. Maybe you have a favorite manga or comic book. Why do you like it? Is it the art only? Is it the story only? Or, is it something about the combination of those two things?

Comic books and manga have a great power for education. In the style of manga or comics we have many chances to learn something new or important. We can learn about history, science, geography, literature, drama, and government through manga and comics. It is a very good place to begin your study, and a place to get some interesting or unique information.

But comics and manga is not the end of our study. It is at the beginning. From comics and manga we also need to move up and graduate to books, novels, and literature. We need to develop strong reading skills so that we can understand more, and be able to make our own opinions and deeper understanding.

Many students do not enjoy reading so much. This is understandable. It is easier to watch TV, look at YouTube, or look on the Internet. You do not see people in coffee shops reading books so much. You see everyone holding a cell phone. But books are still very important, and very beautiful things to enjoy and explore. A good staring place to look at literature and history can be a manga or comic book. Many times the writers of such comic books also love reading and want to introduce you to some new things you can learn.

To the Western world we are very happy that Stan Lee, the father of Spiderman and so many heroes, came to us.

Tezuka Osamu was the god of manga in Japan. Stan Lee was the god of comic books in the West. We are grateful for these men and the gift of making stories through art and words

In the country of India there is a large group of native people living there. That group of native people is called the Lothas, and they have a very interesting autumn festival. It is a festival that is for nine days.

The Lothos celebrate a festival that is called Tokhu Emong. The word “Tokhu” means “to go out in a group and go from house to house”, and the word “Emong” means “to stop at a special time”. In this festival the people are very happy because they have finished the hard work of autumn. They have gathered in the rice, corn, and vegetables. They are now ready to have a celebration and to make a party.

In this festival groups of the village go to each house and they ask for food and drink. All the food and drink is brought together and the people can enjoy eating and drinking together. There are a few interesting things about this festival that are unique.

If a stranger is in the area at the time of the festival he or she must stay for the food and drink. The village is very kind to new people and to strangers.

If a family had a member of the family die in that year, the priest will pray for them. The family is treated very well by the whole village at this time.

If people have some argument, fight, or trouble, this is the time when everyone must forget their feelings and to make peace.

The Lothas people believe that this festival is important because it is a time to be thankful for food, drink, and good friends. It is a time to have a feeling of gratitude and to make peace. It is a time to be happy today and to make good plans for the future.

Recently, here in Kagawa there are many autumn festivals. There is a similarity between the festival of Tokhu Emong in India, and the autumn festivals in Japan. Both are about collecting the rice, corn, and vegetables from the fields. Both are about enjoying a time after hard work. And both are about being thankful for the end of the farming season.

Festivals are very important for our communities and societies. Festivals give people a chance to meet and to be together. Festivals make a good society and help people communicate with each other.

Maybe some people feel that a festival is a waste of time or a waste of money. That seems to be a sad way to think. We should not be too busy to enjoy a festival, and we should not be too busy to meet our neighbors and talk with them. When we meet the people around us in our community we make our homes safer and more enjoyable.

I hope that you will have a chance to enjoy a festival near your home. I hope that you will have a chance to participate in festival activities. It can make a great experience and a wonderful memory for your whole life.