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<title>Episode 24 — “Listening to Bob Dylan” (Part 5)</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Themisunderstandingamonghisclassmateswasclearedupquickly.Thenextday,Yasuhiroapologizedinfrontofeveryone,andonceTakamoriexplainedwhathadhappened,thetenseatmospheredisappearedasifithadneverexisted.Ofcourse,YasuhiroalsoapologizedtoWatanabeprivately.“No,I’mtheonewhowaswrong.Iknewyoudidn’twantmetokeepdoingit.”Ratherthanacceptingtheapology,Watanabeapologizedevenmore.“ButIwenttoofar.I’msorry.”“Yeah.Still,yourstrengthisincredible.Iwasgoingtoapologizerightaway,butyourpunchwassopowerfulIcouldn’tevengetmyvoiceout.Thenyougrabbedmebythecollarand...well,that’swhenIthought,Thisisbad.”“Sorry.Icompletelylostit.ButifyouknewIdidn’tlikeit,whydidyoukeepdoingit”“...”“Irememberthinkingthatitwasstrangehowyoukeptgoing.Whydidyou”“...Forgetit.I’msorry.Iwon’tdoitagain.”“No,Imean,Iwaswrongtoo.Butthat’snotwhatImeant...”“Moreimportantly,isTsukiyamaokay”Watanabecuthimoff.ThatwaswhatYasuhirowasmostworriedabouttoo.EspeciallywhatMs.Takamorihadsaidaboutthebruise.Thatstayedinhismindandwouldn’tgoaway....Abouttwoweekslater,Tsukiyamafinallycamebacktoschool.Yasuhirowasrelieved,butatthesametimehenoticedthatadarkmarkstillremainedonherrightcheek.Whileshehadbeenabsent,hehadconstantlyworriedaboutit.Nowthathecouldactuallyseethebruisewithhisowneyes,hefeltasthoughhehadbeenremindedthatthewholethingwasnotoveryet.HehadrepeatedlytoldMs.TakamorithathewantedtoapologizetoTsukiyamahimself.HehadaskedhertotellhimwhetherTsukiyamawasallright.Everytime,Takamorisimplytoldhim,“I’mincontactwithherrightnow.Waitalittlelonger.”ShealsotoldhimthatTsukiyamawasn’tangrywithhimandthat,fornow,heshouldtrynottoworryaboutit.Thatday,Yasuhirowantedtoapologizetoherimmediately,buthecouldn’tfindtherightmoment.Beforeheknewit,schoolwasover.Forjustamoment,everyonearoundTsukiyamadisappeared.Yasuhirogatheredhiscourageandapproachedher.“Tsukiyama...I’msorryabouttheotherday.”“Yasuhiro,I’msorrytoo.Ijudgedyoutooquickly.”“...”“...”“Iwastheonewhowaswrong.Butwhenithappenedwithyou,Ireallydidn’tmeantohityou.Ipanicked,and...Anyway,I’msorry.”“ButyoumeanttohitWatanabe,didn’tyou”“Yes,buteventhen,Ijustlostmytemper.Ididn’tknowwhatIwasdoing...”“Youcan’thurtsomeoneandmakeexcuseslikethat.”“...”“Butwhathappenedtomewasanaccident.You’renotthekindofpersonwhoenjoyshurtingpeople,areyou”“No.I’mnot.But...yourbruise...”“It’sokay.Thedoctorsaiditshoulddisappear.”“...”BeforeYasuhirocouldfindthewordshewanted,Tsukiyamarespondedtosomeonecallingher.“Well,I’mnotupsetaboutit,sodon’tworryaboutme.Cheerup,Yasuhiro.”Therewassomethingveryimportanthewantedtotellher.Buthecouldn’tputitintowords.Thefeelingremainedinsidehimlikeaknot....“So,didyoutalktoTsukiyamaafterthat”TheMastergavehimafaint,knowingsmile.“No.Andthen...today,Ms.TakamorisuddenlytoldeveryonethatTsukiyama’sfatherhadbeentransferredforwork,andthattheyweremovingaway.”TheBobDylansongthathadbeenplayingallthistime,thoughYasuhirohadbarelyheardit,suddenlyseemedtoreachhimfromsomewherefaraway.“I’dnoticedshehadn’tseemedherselflately.She’dbeenabsentafewtimesinarow.”“Hey,Yasuhiro.Areyoucrying”“BecauseIneverproperlyapologized.Whatifthebruisestays...”“Yasuhiro,didn’tyousayeveryonehatedTsukiyama”“That’severyone.IneversaidIhatedher.”“Ah.Isee...”AstheMasterlistenedtoYasuhiro’sstory,itoverlappedwithamemoryfromhisowndistantpast.Aburiedmemory.Amemoryheneverexpectedtoseerisetothesurfaceinsuchastrangeway.BobDylan’s“Don’tThinkTwice,It’sAllRight”playedsoftlyinthebackground.“...But,Yasuhiro.”“What”“Youliedtomeaboutfightingwithyourmother.”“Ihadto.”Yasuhirodrainedtheglassofwater,nowemptyofice,inonegulp.Watchinghim,theMasterthought:(Don’tThinkTwice,It’sAllRight...)Don’tworryaboutit...It’snotthateasy,isit
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</description>
<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260924061004/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:10:00 +0900</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Episode 24 — “Listening to Bob Dylan” (Part 4)</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Yasuhiro’shomeroomteacherwasawomannamedTakamori.ShetaughtJapanese,butherwayofthinkingwasaslogicalandmethodicalasamathematician’s.Afterward,Yasuhirowastakentotheteachers’room,whileTsukiyamaandWatanabeweretakentothenurse’soffice.“Ifyouweren’taminor,you’dbegoingtoprison.”SomeonecalledoutthosewordsasYasuhirowalkeddownthehallway.(Thisisbad.Howdidthingsturnintothis)Hefeltasthoughhehadlearnedfirsthandhowsomethingthatbeganwithamomentarylapseofjudgmentcouldgrowintosomethingserious.Heevenfoundhimselfthinking,indespair,thatperhapswarsbeganfromthingsjustastrivialasthis....Afterreceivingabriefscoldingintheteachers’room,Ms.Takamoritoldhimtowaitandwenttothenurse’soffice.Leftalone,Yasuhirostoodmiserablybesideherdesk.Atthedesknexttohim,Mr.Yamagishi,thehomeroomteacherofanotherclass,wastypingsomethingintentlyintohiscomputer.Yamagishiwasasocialstudiesteacherinhisthirties.EverynowandthenheglancedatYasuhiro,butperhapssensingthatsomethingserioushadhappened,hesaidnothingunnecessary.Afterawhile,hesuddenlygotup,wenttothecorneroftheteachers’room,andbroughtbackafoldingchair.“Ms.Takamori’sgoingtobeawhile.Sitdownandwait.”HeunfoldedthechairforYasuhiroinagruffvoice.“Sensei,ifyoutakemyside,you’regoingtogetdraggedintothistoo.”Yamagishiburstoutlaughing.“HuhWhatdidyoudoDon’tmakemelaugh.”Then,wipinghismouthwithahandkerchief,hetoldhimnottotakethingstooseriously.“So,didyousitdown”TheMastercouldn’thelpinterrupting.“No,Ididn’t.Youkeepinterruptingme.”“Sorry.Youweretakingforevertogettothepoint,soIcouldn'thelpmyself.”“Comeon.It’shardenoughtryingtoputthisstorytogether.Stopinterruptingme.”Yasuhirosomehowmanagedtopullhimselftogetheragain....WhenTakamorireturned,shehadacomplicatedexpressiononherface.ShedroppedheavilyintoherchairandtoldYasuhirotositaswell,turningthebackofthefoldingchairtowardherself.“...Wereyoutheonewhohitthemfirst”“...”“Isthatright”“Well...everyonesaysIwas,soIguessIwas.”“I’mnotaskingwhateveryonesays.Whatdoyouthink”“I...”Yasuhiroexplainedeverythingthathadhappenedfrombeginningtoend.Besidehim,evenYamagishihadstoppedworkingandwaslisteningintently.WhenYasuhirofinished,Takamorisighedslightly.“It’sthesamestoryIheardfromtheothertwo.”“What”“Well,that’sgood.”Yamagishisuddenlyspokeup.“Mr.Yamagishi!”Takamoriturnedtowardhimwithareproachfulvoice.“Oh.Sorry.”Heturnedhisfacebacktowardhiscomputer.“WatanabeandTsukiyamatoldmemoreorlessthesamestory.”Takamorirepeatedherself.“Neitherofthemblamedyou.”“Really...That’sgood.”“No,itisn’t!WhydidyouhitthemNomatterwhatthereasonwas,don’tyouunderstandthatviolenceiswrong”“I’msorry.”“SorryWhyareyousayingthattomeShouldn’tyoubesayingittothepersonyouhurt”“...”“Yasuhiro...You’reespeciallybig,whichmeansyou’restrongerthanmostpeople.Youhavetocontrolyourstrength.Youunderstandthat,don’tyou”“...Yes.”“Andthere’sonemorething...ThisissomethingIreallydon’twanttotellyou.”Takamoriletoutalongsigh.“There’salargebruiseonTsukiyama’sface.”“What”“Yousayyoudidn’tmeantodoit,butitwasbadenoughthatevenIwasshocked.”“...”AcoldsensationrandownYasuhiro’sspine.
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260924060859/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:09:00 +0900</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Episode 24 — “Listening to Bob Dylan” (Part 3)</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[
“Coffeeisbitter.”“...”Yasuhiroaddedmoremilkandstirreditaroundandaround.Then,seemingtopullhimselftogether,hecontinued....ItouchedmyheadseveraltimestomakesureIwasn’tbleeding,buttherewasnoredliquidonmypalm.Instead,abiglumphadformed.“Yasuhiro,areyouokay”ThemomentheheardtheslighttraceofmockeryinWatanabe’svoice,Yasuhirowascompletelyoverwhelmedbyanger.Beforeheknewit,hehadpunchedWatanabehardintheleftcheek.“Aah!”Agirlnearbyscreamed.Hearingthatonlymadehimpanicmore.HegrabbedWatanabebythecollarashefellbackwardandpunchedhimagain.Theatmospheresuddenlybecamechaotic,andYasuhirocametohissensesalittle.HequicklybackedawayfromWatanabe.Inthissituation,Watanabeobviouslylookedlikethevictim.Thegirlsrushedover,askingifhewasallrightandpressinghandkerchiefsagainsthisface.Yasuhirowasn’treallyoutofbreath,butbecausehefeltsoawkward,hewasbreathingheavilyasifhewereexhausted.Then,suddenly,aloudvoicecamefrombehindhim.“Whatareyoudoing!”ItwasTsukiyama,theclassrepresentative,standingbehindhim.Tsukiyamawasaloud,overbearinggirlwhowasn’tparticularlylikedbyeithertheboysorthegirls.Theteacherstrustedher,thoughshewasn’tespeciallygoodatacademics.Sometimes,whenteachershandedbacktests,theywouldannouncethescoresaloud.Yasuhirowasn’tgoodatstudying,andeverynowandthenateacherwouldtellhimhislowscoreandencourageorperhapsscoldhimtotryharder.Tsukiyamaoftenfoundherselfinthesamesituation.Wheneverthathappened,shewouldturnredwithembarrassmentandlowerherhead.Butatthatmoment,theclassrepresentativeseemedsomehowworsethananyteacher.“Didyoudothis,Yasuhiro”“...”“Isthatright”“Yeah!ButwhydoIhavetoanswertoyou!”Yasuhirofelthorriblyembarrassedandshouted.“WhatkindofattitudeisthatYoubeatsomeoneupandstillactlikeyou’retheoneincharge.That’sdisgusting.”“Hestartedit.Watanabedid.Andyou’retheoneactingallhighandmighty.”“IsthattrueDidWatanabestartit”SomeoneexplainedthatWatanabehadbeenhit,fallenagainstadesk,andthatYasuhirohadcontinuedattackinghim.“That’shorrible.Don’tyouunderstandthatyoucan’thitsomeonelikethatjustbecauseyou’rebiggerandstronger”Yasuhirosuddenlyfeltthatnoneofthestudentsaroundhimwereonhisside.“Someonesawit!Hehitmeontheheadwiththebroomfirst.Andtherewasagirlwhotoldyouguystostop,remember”Butnobodysaidanything.“Anyway,let’sgototheteachers’room.”Tsukiyamatookasteptowardhim.“...”“Let’sgo!”ShereachedforYasuhiro’sarm.“Leavemealone!”Ashetriedtoshakeherhandaway,Yasuhiro’srighthandstruckTsukiyamahardinthecheek.Hersmall,slenderbodywassentflyingontothefloor...
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</description>
<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260924060803/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:08:00 +0900</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Episode 24 — “Listening to Bob Dylan” (Part 2)</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Yasuhirofinishedeverythinginnotimeandleanedbackinhischair,lookingsatisfied.“Hey,Yasuhiro.Coffee-shopchairsarebuilttobesturdy,butthey’realsodesignedwithcare.I’dliketothinkyoucanseethatjustbylookingatthem.Everycoffeeshopisthesame.Theownerputsalotofthoughtintothesethings.Understand”“Iunderstand.”“No,youdon’t.Someoneasbigasyoujustcasuallyleaningbacklikethatcouldbreakit.”“Oh.Isee.”“Yousee...You’vegottothinkaboutthings,youknow.Understand”“Iunderstand.”(No,youdon’t.)TheMasterwatchedtherestlessboyandthoughtthatperhapsheneededtostartwithteachingthekidafewmannersbeforeworryingaboutanythingelse.“Nowthatyou’veeaten,gohome.Yourmother’sworriedaboutyou.”“She’snot.ItoldherIwascominghere.”“Yousaidyouhadafightwithyourmotherandlefthome.”“Yeah.”“Oh”(Idon’tlikethephrase“kidsthesedays”...butstill...)Withawrysmile,theMasterpouredYasuhiroacupofcoffee.“Drinkthatandgohome.”Yasuhirosuddenlylookedunusuallyserious.Hetookasipofcoffeeandsaid,“Master,canItellyousomething”“What’swiththatseriousfaceItreallydoesn’tsuityou.”“Don’tmakefunofme,Master!”“I’mnotmakingfunofyou.”“Today...”WhatYasuhirotoldhimnextsomehowstrucktheMasterdeepinthechest.“Ithappenedalittlewhileago...”Yasuhirobeganspeakingwithasolemnexpressionthatseemedstrangelyoutofplaceonhim....Aboutthreemonthsearlier,oneday,Iwenttoschoolasusual.Itwasmyturntocleantheclassroom,soafterthefinalhomeroomIwassweepingthefloorwithabroom.ThenmygoodfriendWatanabestartedfoolingaroundwithme.“Hey,cutitout.”Atfirst,wewerejustmessingaround,laughingandpokingeachotherwithourbrooms.Normally,IwouldhavegonealloutfoolingaroundwithWatanabe,butthistimeIalsofeltlikeIshouldtellhimtostop.“Hey,seriously,cutitout.”IthinkIsaidsomethinglikethat....Idon’tthinkhediditonpurpose,butthebroomWatanabeswunghitYasuhirohardrightonthetopofthehead.Peoplesayyouseesparkswhenyougethitinthehead.Forasplitsecond,Yasuhiroactuallythought,Sothat’swhattheymean.“Hey,Yasuhiro.Youreallyareanidiot.Youokay”“Master,don’tinterruptme.”“Idon’tknow.Yourstoryiskindofstupid.”“...Hmm.”Yasuhirotookanothersipofcoffee,madeabitterface,andcontinued.
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260924060657/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:07:00 +0900</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Episode 24 — “Listening to Bob Dylan” (Part 1)</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[
KStationhadtwoexits.TheEastExit,withitsbusterminal,wasrelativelybusy,withpeopleconstantlycomingandgoing.ThentherewasthedesertedWestExit.LeavingthroughtheWestExit,youwalkedalongtherailwaytracksforaboutfiveminutes,thenturnedintoanarrowalley.Thatwaswherethecoffeeshopstood.Itwassurroundedonallsidesbyhouses,sittingtherealmostalone,yetsomehowitdidnotstandout.Itsimplyblendedintotheneighborhood.Manyofthehouseswereold,butitwasaquietresidentialarea,andmostofthepeoplewholivedthereweregentle,elderlyresidents.Mostofthecustomersatacoffeeshopcalled“Knockin’onHeaven’sDoor”wereregulars,manyofthemlivingnearby.Theshopopenedatnineinthemorningandclosedatnineatnight.Throughouttheday,BobDylan’ssongsplayedquietlyinthebackground...ItwasanordinaryThursday.Thelargeclockonthewallshowedeight-thirty,andaslowdaywithfewcustomerswasdrawingtoaclose.Then,suddenly,thedooropened.“Master,goodevening.You’restillopen,right”ThecustomerwasYasuhiro,ajunior-high-schoolstudentwholivednearby.“Whatareyoudoingherethislate,YasuhiroKidsaresupposedtobehomestudyingatthishour.”“...Master,I’malreadyinmysecondyearofjuniorhigh.”“So”“SoI’mnotakidanymore.”“...Ofcourseyouare.Yourparentsarestilltakingcareofyou.”“...Well,Iguessthat’strue.Butthat’snotwhatImean.”“Thenwhatdoyoumean”“Imean...Iaskedifyouwerestillopen,didn’tI”Evenasheaskedthequestion,Yasuhirohadalreadyploppedhimselfdowninachair.“Youhaven’thaddinneryet”“Ihadafightwithmymom.”“Soyouhaven’teaten”Henoddedsilently.“ReallyYoudidn’talreadyeatandthencomeherebecauseyouwerestillhungry”“No!”TheMasterputdownaglassofwateranddisappearedbehindthecounter.“It’spastthelast-ordertime,soallIhaveissomethinglikemyownstaffmeal.Thatokay”“Yes,please!”Themomenthesaidit,hisstomachgrowled.“Well,Iguessyoureallyhaven’teaten.”TheMasterstrokedhisproudmustacheandgaveawrysmile.Hetookthedinnerhehadpreparedforhimself,divideditup,andusedwhateveringredientshehadonhandtomakeYasuhiroalargeplateofspaghetti.“Whoa!Thatlooksgood!Thanks!”Yasuhiroateasthoughheweredrinkingit.“Youshouldchewitalittle.”“...Yeah.”Hewaseatinglikeacastawaywhohadfinallyfoundfood.(Thisisn’tgoingtobeenough...)TheMasterputsomespaghettiintohisownmouth,stoodup,andbeganmakingoneofhisstandarddishes,afrankfurtersandwich.Watchinghimfromacrossthecounter,Yasuhirosaid,“Master,thatlooksgood!Iwantonetoo!”“Youidiot.It’sforyou.”“What...Thanks!”Hiseyeslitup,andheburiedhisfaceevendeepertowardtheplate,pickingupthepace.“Hey,slowdown!Youreallyaregoingtochoke.”(Whatonearthdidhegetintoafightwithhismotherabout,eatinglikethis)TheMasterslowlybroughthisforktohismouthashewatchedYasuhirodevourhismeal.
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260924060341/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:05:00 +0900</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 22: “Experiencing War” (Part 5)</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Grandfatherremainedsilentforawhile.“Grandpa,shallIgetyousomewater”“Yes.Please.”YoungMasayaturnedthefaucetallthewayon,filledaglasswithwater,andhandedittohisgrandfather.“Thankyou.”Grandfatherdrankthewaterasthoughitweredelicious.Then,slowlyleaningbackintohischair,hebeganagain.“...Towardtheendofthewar,therecameatimewhenwehadnothingtoeat.“Evenso,westillhadadestinationtoreach,andwemarchedtowardit.“Itwasunimaginablydifficult.“Littlebylittle,myvisionbegantoblur.Ilostallfeelinginmylegs.“AllIcouldhearwasthelifeless,rhythmicsoundofthethingsinourpacksknockingagainstoneanother.“Ishuteverythingelseout.“AllIcouldthinkaboutwasmovingmyfeetforward.“Forward.“Forward...“SometimesIwouldloseconsciousnesswithoutrealizingit.“AndwheneverIcamebacktomyself,Irememberthinking...IwishIcouldhavestayedgonealittlelonger.“Bythen,evenouremergencyrationsweregone.Idon’tknowexactlyhowlong,butIthinkithadbeenthreedayssincewehadeatenanything.“Anditwasn’tjustyourgrandfather.“Noonehadeaten.“Noteventhesmallestscrap.”Hefellsilent.“...ThenIwouldsuddenlynoticethatthemanwhohadbeenwalkingbesideme,strugglingjustmomentsbefore,wasgone.“Then,anothertime,Iwouldrealizethatthecomradewalkingbehindmehadsomehowbeenreplacedbysomeoneelse.”“...”“...Bythetimeyourgrandfatherbegantothink,Thisisit.I’mfinished...theofficerfinallyorderedustorest.”Masayahappenedtolookathisgrandfather.Thesettingsuncomingthroughthewindowhadturnedhisfacered.Masayastaredathimcarefully,buthestillcouldnotclearlymakeouthisexpression.“...Wewereinaforest.“Ileanedagainstthenearesttreeandsatdown.“Andsuddenly,Ibecameterriblysleepy...“IknewIshouldn’tfallasleep.“Somewhereinthedistance,Icouldhearthesoundofartillery.“Forsomereason,whenevertheartillerybeganfiring,italwaysseemedtorain.“Ineverknewwhy.“Iusedtowonderwhetherthosehugeshellsflyingbackandforththroughtheskysomehowchangedtheatmosphere.“Maybethatwaswhy.“Idon’tknow.“Butitalwaysseemedtorainwhentheartilleryfired.“Andthatday,too,alightrainwasfalling...“Iwashungry.“Itwasraining.“Mylegswouldn’tmoveanymore.“AndjustwhenIthought,Thisisit.Ican’tgoon...yourgrandfatherfellasleep.”Hepaused.“Idon’trememberhowlongIslept.“ButthenIwokeup.“BecauseIsmelledmeatbeingcooked.“Someonehadbuiltafirenearby.“Andtheyweregrillingmeat.”Hegaveafaintsmile.“Atfirst,IthoughtImustbedreaming.“Iwassohungry,IthoughtperhapsIhadenteredsomekindofworldofhallucinations.“Butthatsmell...“Thatsmellthatfilledmynose...“Icanstillrememberit.“IwassohungrythatIfeltasthoughIwerelosingmymind.“Iwantedtoeat.“Iwanteditsobadly.”“Afterawhile,theofficercameoverandbroughtmeapieceofcookedmeat.“Hesaidonlyonething.‘Eat.’“Andthenheimmediatelywenttoseetheothersoldiers.”Grandfatherwassilentforamoment.“Istaredatthemeatforawhile.“ButbeforeIknewit...“Iwasdevouringit.”“...Afterthat,Istoodup.“AndImadeittoourdestination.”Hepaused.“Becauseofthatmeat.”“Wasitgood”“Yes.”Grandfathernodded.“Itwasdelicious.“Itdidn’tseemlikesomethingfromthisworld.“Evennow,Ihavenevereatenanythingthattastedbetterthanthatmeat.”“Whatifithadn’tbeenthere...”“ThenIwouldhavedied.“Withoutadoubt.“Andyouandyourfatherwouldneverhavebeenborn.”“AuntKeikotoo.”“Ofcourse.“Keikowouldn’thavebeenborneither.”Grandfatherseemedtosmilealittle.“...Notlongafterthat,thewarended.“Andanewerabegan.“YourgrandfatherandtheotherslistenedtotheEmperor’smessageontheradio.”Hepaused.“Almostnoonecried.“WhenIlookedattheofficer...“Hehadthefaceofademon.“Hewasstaringstraightahead.”Grandfatherslowlyraisedhisrighthandtohisforehead.Hegaveasalute.“...Thatofficerkilledhimselfthatday.“Heputapistolinhismouth...“andpulledthetrigger.”“What!”“Thereweremanyothers.“Notjusthim.“Manypeoplediedafterthewar.”“Butwhy“Thewarwasover.”Thistime,Grandfathersmiledclearly.“...Becausethewarwasover.”Heslowlyletthetensionleavehisshouldersandsankdeeperintohischair.Thenhelookedoutthewindow.Attheworldoutsideunchangedfromanyotherday.
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260909073332/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:34:00 +0900</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 22: “Experiencing War” (Part 4)</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Masayasataloneinthelivingroom,drinkingwhiskey.Hiswifehadalreadygoneupstairstobed.Thetelevisionwasoff.Ashewatchedtheicefloatinginhisglass,imagesfromearlierthatdayseemedtoflickeracrossitssurface.(Thetruthis...thekaratestorywasn’twhatfirstcametomind.)Hesimplyhadn’twantedtotellMiyauchiwhathehadreallybeenthinkingabout.Forsomereason,wheneverhefoundhimselfconfrontedwithbetrayal...withsomeonechangingtheirheart...thisparticularmemoryalwayscamebacktohim.Masayatookalongdrinkofwhiskey.(Butstill...whydidGrandfathertellmethatstory)Hehadbeenthirteenyearsoldthen,inhisfirstyearofjuniorhighschool.Wheneverheclosedhiseyes,hecouldstillseehisgrandfather’sexpressionashespoke.Itwasimpossibletodescribe.Helookedlikeamanwhowantedtocrybutcouldn’t.Likesomeonewhowassuffering,yetsomehowsmiling.Yes...Therewassimplynootherwaytodescribethatexpression.“Yourgrandfatherwenttowarwhenhewastwenty.”ThatwashowMasayarememberedhimbeginningthestory.Butwhetherhisgrandfatherhadtrulyintendedtotellhimsomethingimportant,somethinghewantedhimtounderstand,Masayahadneverknown.“...Yourgrandfathercan’tdrinkalcohol.Notadrop.“Butinthearmy,anofficer’sorderswereabsolute.‘Goon,Ishikawa.Haveadrink.’“Theofficersaidthattome.“Hewasinagoodmoodthatday.Isupposehewantedtorewardmeformywork.Somethinglikethat.“Thatofficerhadalwaystakenaparticularlikingtome.Hetreatedmedifferentlyfromtheothers.”Hepaused.“...Itwaswar,yousee.“Weheldourriflesandfiredfromthetrenches.Sometimesbulletspassedrightinfrontofus.“Sometimesthemenbesideusdied.”“Died”“Ofcoursetheydied.Itwaswar.“Thebraveonesdiedfirst.“Ifyouraisedyourheadoutofthetrenchtoaimandfire,youhadabetterchanceofhittingtheenemy.“Yourgrandfatherneverraisedhishead.“Ijuststuckmyrifleoutandfired.”“Wasthatokay”“Thatofficerwouldcomeupbehindmeandkickmeinthebackside.‘Howthehellareyousupposedtohitanythingifyoudon’tevenlookwhereyou’reshooting!’“Iwasafraidofthebullets,andIwasafraidoftheofficer.“Andthestrangestthingwasthis...thatofficerwouldwalkaroundbehindus,kickingthesoldiersinthebackside,andsomehowhenevergothitbyabullet.”“...Canthatreallyhappen”“Itwasstrange.Verystrange...”Hisgrandfatherpausedagain.“...Thatday,Isupposewemusthavewonsomekindofvictory.Wesoldiersdidn’treallyknow.“Buttheofficercalledmeintohisroomandtoldmetodrink.”“Thestoryyouweretalkingaboutbefore.”Grandfathernodded.“Yourgrandfathercouldn’tdrink.“Notadrop.“SoItoldhim,‘Sir,Ican’tdrink.’“Andthenhetookthesaberhangingonthewall.‘You’resayingyoucan’tdrinkMYSAKE!’“Andhepulleditfromitsscabbard...”“Really”“That’swhatmakesitsodifficult.“Becauseitreallyhappened.“Yourgrandfatherwasterrified.Igrabbedtheglassofsakeonthetable,drankitallinonegulp...andapparentlycollapsedonthespotandlostconsciousness.”“Really”“It’salltrue.“Thenextday,thatofficercameandapologizedtome.“Inthosedays,anofficerapologizingtoasubordinatewasunheardof...”“...Wasthatofficeractuallyagoodperson”“AGOODperson“Thatman”Hisgrandfathergaveafaintsmile.“Tome,helookedlikeademon.”Hewassilentforamoment.“Evennow,Ihaven’tforgotten.“Icouldtalkforeveraboutit,buttherearen’tmanygoodstories.“Eventually,asyouknow,thedayJapanlostthewardrewcloser.“Andlifebecameharderandharderformenlikeyourgrandfather.”“Japanlost...Thatmusthavebeenfrustrating.”“...Yes.”Hisgrandfatherlookedaway.“Yes,Isupposeso.“Butifthewarhadgoneonjustalittlelonger...yourgrandfatherwouldhavedied.”“Really”“Yes.“Withoutadoubt,Iwouldhavedied.”Hefellsilentagain.“ButwhenIthinkaboutthefriendswhodiddie...“Frustrating,yousay...“Perhapsitwas.“I’veneverreallythoughtaboutitbefore...”Hisgrandfathermadeasmallmovement,asthoughhewereabouttorisefromhischair.Thenheslowlysettledbackagainstthechairagain.Hiseyeswerelookingsomewherefar,faraway.(Tobecontinued)
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260909072111/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:22:00 +0900</pubDate>
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<title>Chapter 22: “Experiencing War” (Part 3)</title>
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Themeetingdidnottakelong.Twentyminuteslater,MasayaandMiyauchiwerealreadyinthecarontheirwayback.Theairconditionerwasrunning,butthesummersunwasmerciless,beatingdownonthesmallcarasthoughitmeanttobakethemalive.TheywereabouthalfwaybackbeforeMiyauchifinallyspoke.“President...I’msorryabouttoday.Youcameallthatway,andwegotnothingoutofit.”Therewasaheavinessinhisvoice.“Wedidgetsomethingoutofit.”“...”“Wefoundout,intheend,thatthePoolFieldShooterjobhadbeentransferredtoanothercompany.That’ssomething,isn’titAtleastnowweknow.”“Yes...unfortunately.”“Ifwehadn’tfoundthatout,Idon’tthinkwecouldhavemadeournextmove.Soyes,itwasunpleasantnews,butlearningthetruthwasstillsomethingwegainedfromthis.”“Evenso...IaskedthemaboutthePoolFieldordersagainandagain,andeverytimetheygavemevagueexcusesandavoidedgivingmeastraightanswer.Buttoday,theytoldussoeasily.”Miyauchitookanelectroniccigarettefromhisinnerpocket.“Sorry,President.”“Oh,that’sfine.”Miyauchitookalongdragandslowlyexhaled.(Thepresidentreallyisthechairman’sson.He’sinheritedhisspirit.)Ashethoughtthat,Miyauchirememberedthebriefbutmeaningfulexchangetheyhadjusthadwiththeircustomer.“...IunderstandthatitmaybedifficultforyoutoanswerthiswhileMr.Shibuyaisn’there,butToyama-san,letmeaskyoudirectly.WhatexactlyishappeningwiththePoolFieldShooteratyourcompanynow”“Whatdoyoumeanby‘whatishappening’”“Evenifit’struethattheworkwastransferredtoanothercompanybecauseofmistakesonourpart,wehavetoacceptthat.ButIwouldliketoknowwhyithappened.Wewanttolearnfromit.Iftherewereproblemswithourquality,orwiththewaywehandledefects,oranythingelse...wewouldliketodiscussthosethingsinternallyandusethemtoimprove.”“...Isee.Yes,that’strue.ThePoolFieldShooteriscurrentlybeinghandledbyanothersupplier.Asforthereason...”AccordingtoToyama,thedecisiontotransfertheworkhadindeedbeeninfluencedbytheseriesofdefectsthathadoccurredshortlybeforehand.Masayabelievedperhapssixtypercentofwhatshesaid.Andhisintuitiontoldhimthattheremainingfortypercentinvolvedsomeotherreason.Thechangeincompanypresidenthadprobablychangedthewaythecustomerviewedthemaswell.Masayahadvaguelysensedthatforsometime.Somethingassmallassimplynotfeelingcomfortablewithsomeonepersonallysomethingdifficulttoexplaincouldgraduallygrowintoaseriousobstacle.“I’msorryIputyouthroughanunpleasantexperience,Miyauchi-san.”“WhatareyoutalkingaboutIt’smyresponsibility.Ifailedtofullyunderstandwhatthecustomerwasthinking.I’msorry.I’mtheonewhoshouldbeapologizing.”“No.I’mnotsosureaboutthat.”“Butanyonecanseewhatcausedthisproblem.”“WhatI’mtryingtosayis,Miyauchi-san...peoplecanthinkcompletelydifferentlydependingontheirpositionandcircumstances.”Hepaused.“Thismaynotbethebestexample,butwhenIwasinhighschool,Ipracticedkarate.”“Iknowthat.Ofcourse.”Masayanodded.“Iwasmoreonthereceivingendofbullying,youknow.Iwantedtochangemyself.That’swhyIjoinedthekarateclub.“ItwasmuchharderthanIexpected.Iwantedtoquitalmostimmediately.ButIhatedtheideaofgivingupsosoon,soIkeptatitforawhile.”Miyauchistaredstraightahead,listeningquietly.“Icouldtellyoucountlessstoriesabouthowharditwas,butthethingIremembermostclearlywastrainingcampinthesummer.“Iwasdrenchedinsweat.Icouldbarelybreathe.Morethananything,mythroatwassodryitfeltasifsomeoneweretearingitapartfromtheinside.“Thefirst-yearshadtocleanthefloorbeforepractice.Therewasthisfilthybucketofwaterthewaterwe’dsqueezedoutoftheragsafterwipingthefloor.Someonehadleftitoutsidethegyminsteadofthrowingitaway.“Duringtheentiretrainingsession,thatwasallIcouldthinkabout.“Thatfilthywaterfromtherags.”“So...didyoudrinkit”“No!”Masayasaid.“Ofcoursenot.Thatwould’vebeeninsane.“ButIrealizedsomething.“Dependingonthecircumstances,peoplecanfindthemselvesthinkingaboutthingstheywouldneverevenconsiderinordinarylife.“Anditdoesn’tnecessarilytakesomethingdramatic.Sometimes,eventhesmallestchangeincircumstancescanpushapersonintoacompletelydifferentwayofthinking.”“President...thatreallywasn’taverygoodexample.”“Sorry,”Masayasaid.“Theexamplewasterrible,butyouunderstandwhatImean,right”Miyauchiburstoutlaughing.(Tobecontinued)
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260909071822/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:21:00 +0900</pubDate>
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<title>Chapter 22: “War Experience” (Part 2)</title>
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WhenMasayaexplainedhisplantoMiyauchi,Miyauchilistenedinsilenceunusuallyforhimthenslowlynodded.“ThenI’llarrangeadateforameetingwithPalm,andthetwoofuscangotogether.”“Thankyou.DoyouthinkMr.Shibuyawillbetheonemeetingwithus”“Iimagineso.He’sbeenhandlingouraccountformanyyears.AndIthinkMs.Toyamafromtheoperationsdepartmentwillprobablybethereaswell.”Toyamawasthewomanwhohandledtheadministrativesideofthings,suchasissuingpurchaseordersandtakingcareofthefinerdetailsofthepaperwork.“Ihopewecanhaveaconstructiveconversation.”“Well,ourpresidenthimselfisgoing,soIthinkwecanallowourselvestoexpectsomethingpositive.”“IsthatsoAllrightthen,Miyauchi.I’llleaveittoyou.”“Yes.Leaveittome.”Miyauchiwasinagoodmood.Thepresidenthadalwaystendedtofocushisattentionontheworkbeingdoneontheshopfloor,leavingcustomerslargelyinthehandsofwhoeverwasresponsibleforthem.ThiswasthefirsttimeMasayahaddecidedtotakeactionhimself.(Maybethepresidentisfinallybeginningtochange.)ThethoughtputMiyauchiinsuchacheerfulmoodthathefeltlikebreakingintosong.IshikawaPrecisionProcessingCo.,Ltd.wasasmallcompanywithonlytenemployeesintotal,butevennow,manyofthemstillheldthepreviouspresidentindeepaffection.(Nomatterwhat,Masayahastobecomeanevengreaterpresidentthanhisfather!)Miyauchibelievedthathisfeelingsrepresentedthoseofalltheemployees.(Onewayoranother,everyonehereowessomethingtothepreviouspresident.Insteadofexpectingtheoldercraftsmentoleadtheway,Ihavetosetanexamplemyself.)Whenhewasyoung,Miyauchidriftedfromonetemporaryjobtoanother,unabletofindsteadywork.Then,beforeheknewit,hehadachildontheway.HehadbeenatacompletelosswhenafriendintroducedhimtoIshikawaPrecisionProcessing.Notlongafterjoiningthecompany,hebegantothink:Thisworkisactuallyinteresting.WhyhadhecometofeelthatwayTherewereanynumberofwayshecouldexplainit,butMiyauchihadalwaysdeeplyrespectedthepreviouspresident,Mr.Ishikawa.Evennow,hebelievedwithouthesitationthatthiswastherealreason.“TakecareofMasayaforme,Miyauchi.”Thepreviouspresidenthadsaidthattohimonce.“Yes.Ifthere’sanythingIcando,I’lldoit.”Thatwashowhehadanswered.Butatthetime,hehadnotfullyunderstoodwhattheoldermanhadmeant.(Intheend,though,it’syourproblemtosolve,Mr.Masaya.)MiyauchiwasalwaysspeakingtoMasayathatwayinhismind.Evennow,hecontinuedtoaskhimselfhowheshouldanswerthepreviouspresident’swishes.Ontheappointedday,MasayawenttoPalmtogetherwithMiyauchi.Hehadonlybeenthereoncebefore.“Pleasewaithereforamoment.”Afemaleofficeworkershowedthemintoareceptionroom.Masayalookedoverthedocumentshehadbroughtonceagain,goingoverinhismindhowheshouldapproachtheconversation.Buttheirhostsdidnotappear.“They’recertainlytakingtheirtime.”“Yes.I’msurewetoldthemwhattimewe’dbehere.”Afteronlyfiveminutes,Miyauchi’snaturallyimpatientsidebegantoshow.Alittlewhilelater,Toyamaappeared.“Hello.I’mterriblysorrytohavekeptyouwaiting.”Perhapsbecauseshehadhurriedover,shewasslightlyoutofbreathandsweating.Toyamawasapleasant-looking,slightlyplumpwomanwhoappearedtobeinhermid-thirties.“No,notatall.Thankyouformakingtimeforustoday.”AsMiyauchiresponded,helookedaroundtheroom.“Um...whereisMr.Shibuya”“Mr.Shibuyaisoutvisitingclientstoday,soheisn’tintheoffice.”“WhatReally”“Yes.I’vebeenbriefedonthematter,soI’llhearwhatyouhavetosay.”“Oh...Isee...”Miyauchileanedbackinhisofficechairandletoutasigh.(Tobecontinued.)
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260909071653/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:18:00 +0900</pubDate>
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<title>Chapter 22: “War Experience” (Part 1)</title>
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“Still,somethingaboutthisjustisn’tright.”MiyauchiwasraisinghisvoicemorethanusualashepressedPresidentMasaya.“...”“Nomatterhowyoulookatit,we’veneverhadanythinglikethishappenbefore.”“...Well,that’strue.”“Whydon’tyousaysomethingtoo,President”Hemadenoattempttohidehisirritation.“Yes,well...let’slookintoit.We’llcheckwiththem.”Miyauchi,whohadbeenemotionallyattackingthepresidentforsometimenow,wasamid-levelemployeewhohadbeentrustedbythepreviouspresident.Hehadbeenwiththecompanyformanyyears.MasayaIshikawa,ontheotherhand,wasayoungpresidentwhohadtakenoverthefamilybusinessfromhisfather,thepreviouspresident,onlytwoyearsearlier.“I’mcountingonyou.”Miyauchispatoutthewordsandwalkedaway.Butasheheadedoutofthefactory,hespokeloudlyenoughforMasayatohear,deliberatelymakingsuretheworkersontheshopfloorheardhimtoo.“Ourbossnevergivesyouastraightanswer!”(Miyauchi...whatatroublesomeman.)Still,Masayaunderstoodperfectlywellthatthiswasnotsomethinghecouldsimplyoverlook.(Allright.Let’ssortthisout.)Heletoutalongbreathandleanedbackinthelargepresident’schair.(First,theordersforPoolFieldShootersfromPalm,ourmaincustomer,stoppedsometimearoundtheendoflastyear.)HebeganmakingnotesaboutthecustomerandtheproductMiyauchihadbeensoconcernedabout,usingthebackofanolddrawingthatwasnolongerneeded.(There’snoquestionaboutit.Backwhenmyfatherwaspresident,thiswasoneofourmainjobs.Evenwhentherewasagapbetweenorders,itwasnevermorethanthreemonthsorso...Atitsbusiest,wehandledasmanyasthreehundredlotsamonth.It’sJulynow,whichmeanswehaven’treceivedanorderinabouteightmonths.)Leaningtowardhiscomputerscreen,hecheckedthedeliveryslipsandinvoicesonceagain.(...AsfortheotherworkwedoforPalm...ifIcomparethesalesfigureswithoutPoolField,they’reaboutthesameaslastyearandtheyearbeforethat...)Palmwasatradingcompany.Tradingcompanysoundedrespectableenough,butbasically,theywerebrokersmakingalivingbytakingacut.(Andthecurrentpersoninchargeisparticularlytroublesome.Hisnamewas...right.Shibuya.)Hehadalwaysseemedlikeamanwhosethoughtsweredifficulttoread.PalmhadbeenentirelyMiyauchi’sresponsibility,soMasayahadonlymetShibuyaonceortwice.HewroteShibuyaonthepaper.HehadneverevenmetPalm’spresident.Miyauchihadsaidthatthepresidenthimselfwasrarelyaroundtheoffice.Still,MasayarememberedsomethingMiyauchihadoncesaid.“Tobehonest,I’mnotverycomfortablewithPalm’spresidenteither.He’swhatyou’dcallanold-schoolShowa-eracompanypresident...energetic,thetypewhogoesoutdrinkingandbringsbackbusiness.That’swhatI’veheard,anyway.AndfromwhatI’veseen,hereallydoesseemlikethatkindofperson.”(It’shardtoimaginethepresidenthimselfgettinginvolvedwithasmallaccountlikeours.Andevenifhewereinvolved,heprobablywouldn’tagreetositdownandtalkwithus...)MasayatriedtoimaginePalm’spresidentamanhehadnevermet.Andsomehow,theimageofShibuya’ssly-lookingfaceappearedbehindhim.(...No.Thistime,IneedtospeakwithMr.Shibuyamyself.)Masayasankdeeperintohischairandlookedupattheceiling.(Tobecontinued.)
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<link>https://ishii-oem.com/blog/detail/20260909071517/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:16:00 +0900</pubDate>
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