This is an official English blog site for the internationally recognized Japanese visionary acrylic artist, Hikaru Hirata - Miyakawa.
Hikaru has followed Leonardo da Vinci since he was ten,and Hikaru is very skilled in art, music, dance, acting, writing, and teaching. Hikaru is also known as hikalux and hicarucci. Hikaru lives in Boulder, Colorado and paints murals, too.
{Inherent Goodness in Nature? - Lesson from the radioactivity}
Today, on this Vernal Equinox Day, I am going to write about something that can be considered controversial. I hope you can read the entire article before you make the final decision. I thank you in advance for your patience.
We all know that the radioactive rays (via radiation) can be both beneficial or harmful to our health. Some of us may not realise how much radiation we are receiving naturally. There are so many different rays and waves whether radioactive or not. The different waves with the unique frequency emitted via the radio stations, cell phones, Internet and much more are constantly bombarding and penetrating our bodies. We just don't realise that since we cannot "see" nor experience them. I remember watching one of Akira Kurosawa's movies called, the "Dream". It is based on the compilations of different dreams dreamt by Kurosawa himself , and each segment begins with the statement, "(I have) dreamt this sort of a dream..." Well, one of them had to do with the nuclear holocaust/accident where people were trying to escape the horror of dying the horrible, painful death by committing a mass suicide (jumping off the cliff). In it there was a man in charge of the nuclear power plant explaining the differently colored gas-like radiations. Yes, each radioactive "rays" and particles had been tinted, so that one can identify them easily. We are in so called, "shiranu ga hotoke", condition, roughly meaning that we are "(pretending to) be happy go lucky because of lack of knowing what's really going on" ... in a way.
Perhaps it maybe is a good thing that we cannot know otherwise some people may start to panic. In the movies, "Nihon Chinbotsu (Japan Sinking)", and "2012", the people in the government had to make the difficult decisions whether to inform the people of eminent disaster or not. It is always an issue for the government to whether to tell the truth and risk the mass hysteria and "destroy the country", or to not inform them until the very end and make it the mass hysteria proof for as long as possible. When we look back on "some" of the historic events, we can understand that the mass hysteria can be devastating as a natural disaster. ...think about "looting" and arson... so, in a way, I don't blame the officials not being able to trust the reaction of some of the people. It is a difficult task to achieve harmony in any situation. It is much easier to talk only of idealism. Of course, the reality in the stoic reactions of people in Japan are some of the exceptions, and it also needs to be considered. The reality is quite complex.
What is more complex is to know the possibly harmful byproduct coming out of trying to achieve the stability and balance... sort of a necessary evil. The world/universe is not an "either or"/ "black and white" place.
The good example is the radioactivity.
"Atoms found in nature are either stable or unstable. An atom is stable if the forces among the particles that make up the nucleus are balanced. An atom is unstable (radioactive) if these forces are unbalanced--if the nucleus has an excess of internal energy. Unstable atoms are called radionuclides. The instability of a radionuclide's nucleus may result from an excess of either neutrons or protons. An unstable nucleus will continually vibrate and contort and, sooner or later, attempt to reach stability by some combination of means:
- ejecting neutrons, and protons - converting one to the other with the ejection of a beta particle or positron - the release of additional energy by photon (i.e., gamma ray) emission."
It is interesting to note in the statement above that "an unstable nucleus will ... attempt to reach stability..." Emission of radiation is a byproduct of radioactive decay where nucleus is trying to achieve stability and balance, sort of.
There is an inherent condition or nature in this tiny universe called the atoms to seek stability whether the movement of each atom is predictable or not. If we are to equate the word, "stability", with the word, "goodness", can't we state that it is the inherent condition of nature/universe to be and to become "GOOD"?
Yesterday, Emperor Akihito of Japan had given a video message to the people of Japan. The intention of the Emperor was to enable the emergency news to override the speech. It is extremely rare for the Emperor to appear in the news to give the official public speech. Yet, as an honorable human being, he was putting the emergency broadcast as the highest priority, In the event of emergency (catastrophic event), he was allowing the news media to cut him off...
Following are the very rough translation of mine. I was compelled to do so as my contribution to the victims and the rescue workers in Japan and, of course, to the Emperor Akihito. Although I have translated it to the best of my knowledge and ability, some areas may need to be corrected. You are free to re post this, and share this with anyone. If possible, give me the credit for the translation.
You can view and listen to the message via youtube below.
...and here is the English translation.
"At this time, Tohoku earthquake was unprecedentedly large earthquake with 9.0 magnitude, and my heart is aching towards the devastating/tragic status quo of the disaster areas.
The death toll, due to the earthquake and tsunami, are rising/increasing daily, also the (total sum of) number of victims are unknown. I am hoping that the safety of as many people would be confirmed.
Furthermore, I am currently deeply concerned about the unpredictable situation at the Nuclear Power Plant, and I sincerely hope that with the endeavor of the persons concerned/involved, much worse situation will be averted.
Currently, the whole nation is going into the rescue operation, in the middle of the severely cold weather, many people are taking refuge at the shelter in the dire condition, due to lack of food, drinking water, and the fuels, owing to circumstances beyond their control.
I do hope from the deepest of my heart for the swift rescue of the people by putting all of the might towards it, and for the improvement of victims' condition, and to be lead to the hope for the rebuilding/recovery/revival of the people.
More importantly, I am deeply touched by the courage of these people who have lived through the disaster, and while encouraging oneself despite being a victim, planning to live for their future.
I am grateful for the effort and would like to show the deep appreciation for the works/troubles of the people, who are continuing to be involved in the rescue missions day and night through the National gov. and the local self-governing body starting with the Self-Defence forces, the Police department, the Fire department, the Coast Guards, and the people who had arrived in Japan from various countries for the rescue missions, and the people who belong to the various rescue operations within this country, while being in the dangerous situation involving the after shocks of earthquake.
At this time, various condolences from the world leaders/heads of the countries were delivered, and the many of those were carrying the messages that the hearts of the people from various countries are with the disaster victims. I shall report these messages to the people at the disaster areas.
I have heard that there were many comments touching upon the subject of Japanese people showing the orderly correspondence and calmly helping each other, despite being in deep sadness. I am hoping from the bottom of my heart that everyone would continue to join and have sympathy for each other and overcome these unfortunate time.
I feel that it is very important for all of us to share as much of the load (and the painful days) through various forms with the disaster victims. I am wishing from my heart for the victims to never to lose hopes and live through the days from tomorrow (afterwards) while caring for their bodies(health), and for each person (citizen) of this nation would continue to draw the hearts closer for a long time, and to continuously watch over the path of recovery of each (affected) area with the disaster victims."
Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa is a citizen of the archetypal world beyond the boundaries of folk, tribal, race oriented identities.
Of course, part of him embodies the genuine Japanese aesthetic, as his maternal great grandfather was an Imperial Court - appointed artisan. His gift shop and the studio was visited by the Court. Hikaru's great great grandmother was a wet nurse (Meno-toh) to the Emperor Hirohito's father - Taisho Emperor.
Hikaru's initial training in art, music, and writing had begun when he was 4 years old.
He has exhibited in Europe (Germany, England, Italy, Greece, France, etc),, Japan, Australia, and the U. S. A.
Hikaru is listed in the 5th Edition of "Who's Who Amongst America's Teachers," and his portfolio is on file at the Etude (Archive) department of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France via the recommendation from the President of the Louvre Museum, Mr.Pierre Rosenberg.
He is also listed in the First edition of "Lexikon der Phantastischen Kunstler" (Encyclopedia of the Fantastic Artists) along with William Blake, Salvador Dali, Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Hikaru is one of the 50 artists featured in the "Metmorphosis 2" by beinArt Publishing.
Today, on this Vernal Equinox Day, I am going to write about something that can be considered controversial. I hope you can read the entire article before you make the final decision. I thank you in advance for your patience.
