Your current location:HOME >politics >VOX POPULI: The power of old photos and a deficit 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 16:21:27 Source: Internet compilationEdit:politics
A photograph can bring the past back to life.Even if it’s black and white, the picture is in vivid c
A photograph can bring the past back to life.
Even if it’s black and white, the picture is in vivid color in the viewer’s mind, where the image becomes animated, so to speak, as if enkindled.
Has anyone experienced this strange power of photos?
The Yodo Line of the JR Shikoku Railway runs in the mountains of Ehime and Kochi prefectures.
I got off the train at Chikanaga station and took a narrow street in front of me. I soon arrived at a photo shop on a small shopping street.
Chikanaga Camera, as the shop is called, had many old pictures on display at the shopfront. All of them had been brought by neighborhood residents.
“Every one of these pictures tells an old story, and I am delighted to hear it from my neighbors,” said Tsugiko Kagajo, 64, the owner.
One photo showed a young man carrying a “mikoshi” portable shrine. In another, parents wore big smiles as they rooted for their children at a school baseball match.
And there was a picture of a bare-footed little girl, sitting on a pile of straw, her face all wrinkled from a huge grin that seems to be rippling throughout her body. What could have amused her so much?
The neighborhood used to be filled with people. But Kagajo observed, “A big road was built and life became more convenient, but that changed the fabric of our community.”
The Yodo Line on March 1 marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the entire line.
Unfortunately, however, this is one of the nation’s numerous deficit-ridden railway lines.
A revenue of 100 yen requires an expenditure of 1,718 yen. But the locals are pushing for its continuation.
Local towns are shrinking inexorably. Shinkansen lines may keep expanding, but there is no stopping local trains from going obsolete, one after another.
Somewhere along the way, we must have made a mistake and started going in the wrong direction.
Looking at pictures of smiling faces, I became lost for a while in glum, silent contemplation.
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 2
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation2024-05-21 16:11
China prepares to launch Tianzhou2024-05-21 15:51
Diverse cultures, radiance of glory2024-05-21 15:51
Day 4 of the Masters at a glance2024-05-21 15:43
Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co2024-05-21 15:30
Program targets lunar resources2024-05-21 14:51
Netflix fans go wild over 'must watch' new drama and say they 'need' a second season 'right now'2024-05-21 14:38
2023 Beijing Culture Forum to be held2024-05-21 14:08
Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas2024-05-21 14:04
Production base of China's large civil unmanned aerial vehicle Wing Loong in Sichuan2024-05-21 13:54
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain2024-05-21 15:26
Chinese firms can narrow AI gap with US within 1 or 2 years: founder of cybersecurity company2024-05-21 15:14
Tiger Woods BOMBS his 100th round at Augusta National as golf legend scores 162024-05-21 15:06
China accelerates building of new quality productive forces2024-05-21 14:52
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 20182024-05-21 14:28
DR ELLIE CANNON: Are the drugs I'm taking to blame for my hip pain?2024-05-21 14:22
Scientists identify new method of extracting chemicals from wastewater2024-05-21 14:11
Cultural exchange activities on BRICS cooperation held in South Africa2024-05-21 13:56
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry2024-05-21 13:55
Xi highlights advancement in education2024-05-21 13:35