We live in an age where goods and services are overflowing at an accelerating pace.
To accept this abundance, I have continually emptied myself, creating space for these goods and services to fill every crevice.
I thought they would keep coming endlessly, an inexhaustible supply granted to me forever.

Then, an unknown epidemic struck.
Its influence overwhelmed the world in ways unlike anything before.
And today, the ordinary days we took for granted are no more.



“Make an uninteresting world interesting; the key lies in your heart.”
「おもしろきこともなき世をおもしろく　すみなすものは心なりけり」



Though it may seem abrupt, this is the theme of today’s reflection.
As you may know, this is the famous farewell poem of Takasugi Shinsaku (or so it is said).
He raced through his short life with an overwhelming intensity.
He inherited the fiery spirit of his mentor, Shoin Yoshida, and was described as being like thunder and storms.
Interpretations of his farewell verse vary, but here’s how I understand it:

There’s joy to be found in anything.
Even when plagued by illness or faced with hardship, if you can shape your heart properly,
you can live through the world with a sense of joy.

This phrase offers profound insight into how people suffering from a loss of freedom today can reshape their mindset.
Though the epidemic is a hateful scourge that has claimed many lives, it also provides a chance to reflect on oneself.
A chance to revisit the empty spaces within ourselves.

From merely receiving goods and services to cultivating a mindset that finds joy in all things.

For those providing goods and services, this might also be a great opportunity to step away from a profit-first mindset.

By the way, I believe smallpox also had a significant influence on Shinsaku’s life, alongside Shoin’s mentorship.
Thanks to vaccines, smallpox is no longer a fatal disease today, but in his time, it was a terrifying epidemic with a mortality rate of up to 70%.
Around the age of 10, Shinsaku contracted smallpox and miraculously survived.
This brush with life and death must have profoundly shaped his view of life, forging a new and powerful perspective.
The rest of his life, as many know, was extraordinary.

Uncompromising, with a broad vision, always flexible and open to updates.
Using clan funds for playful indulgences, yet still endearing.
Once he made a decision, he acted swiftly and thoroughly.
A lifetime of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, all within less than 30 years.

He made the most of life in an uninteresting world, living with boundless interest and joy.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has far exceeded our expectations at the start of the year.
Even the postponed Olympics may not take place.
To navigate such times, we must use our present moments meaningfully.
Let us learn from the spirit of Shinsaku Takasugi.

閉じる ▲