Stakes

Jinbei Yagura

Forestry Manager, Wakayama Mita-kai Member, 1967 Commerce

This year marks the 1,250th anniversary of the birth of Kobo Daishi Kukai. On June 15th, his birthday, a grand memorial service was held at the sacred site of Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture to celebrate his birth. Related events will continue to be held hereafter.

There are said to be over 5,000 legends regarding Kukai throughout Japan, excluding Hokkaido. One such legend exists in Kushimoto Town at the tip of the Kii Peninsula. The Hashigui-iwa Rocks, designated as a national scenic spot and natural monument, have long been said to have been built by Kukai. According to the legend, while Kukai and an Amanojaku (mischievous spirit) were traveling, the Amanojaku suggested building a bridge to Oshima Island across from Kushimoto in a single night, as it was impassable during storms. Kukai agreed, saying "That's a good idea!" and began placing massive rocks weighing tens of thousands of kan into the sea one after another as bridge stakes. Realizing the bridge would actually reach Oshima and he would lose the bet, the Amanojaku mimicked a rooster's crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo," to trick Kukai into thinking it was morning. Kukai stopped working, and the remaining stakes are the Hashigui-iwa Rocks we see today.

Over 40 rocks of various sizes tower over a length of 850 meters from Kushimoto toward Oshima. In reality, Hashigui-iwa was formed by a massive caldera eruption 14 million years ago.

Masayuki Fujimoto

President of Saiyo Co., Ltd., Historian, 1972 Letters

Rangui (scattered stakes) refers to stakes driven into a riverbank for shore protection. Because these types of stakes are driven in haphazardly, the term "rangui-ba" (crowded teeth) for poorly aligned teeth comes from this. I became familiar with the word "rangui," which is nearly an archaic term today, because I encountered it in military epics like "The Tale of the Heike" and "Taiheiki," which I studied at the Juku's Faculty of Letters.

For example, when Minamoto no Yoritomo's army fought Kiso Yoshinaka's army across the Uji River, "The Tale of the Heike" notes that the Kiso army "drove scattered stakes into the riverbed and stretched thick ropes across." These were obstacles similar to modern barbed wire. During this battle, two brave warriors under Yoritomo, Sasaki Takatsuna and Kajiwara Kagesue, competed to be the first to charge on horses they had received. Sasaki called out to the leading Kajiwara, "The cinch (harubi) that stabilizes the saddle on the horse's back is loose!" While Kajiwara tried to retighten the cinch, Sasaki overtook him. "The Tale of the Heike" describes how "Sasaki drew his sword, swiftly cut the ropes caught on his horse's legs, and crossed to the opposite bank." It was a strategic victory for Sasaki.

Takuro Shibayama

Chairperson of Medical Corporation Faith, Dentist, 2008 Business Management Training

Crowded teeth (rangui-ba) refers to a state where the alignment of teeth is uneven. It is not a precise definition and includes things like snaggleteeth. This condition occurs when the total size of the teeth is large compared to the size of the jawbone. However, crowded teeth are not an unhealthy state. There is no data suggesting that having crowded teeth leads to cavities or periodontal disease; the primary benefit of treatment is improving the aesthetic alignment. Since it is difficult to change the size of the jawbone, we change the size of the teeth. If the crowding is minor, the teeth are filed down; if it is significant, teeth are extracted.

Orthodontic treatment uses appliances and wires to fix the teeth. The appliance is placed on either the front or the back of the teeth. Since orthodontic treatment emphasizes the alignment as seen from the front, placing the appliance on the front has the advantage of making the treatment easier to control. On the other hand, while the back side has the disadvantage of being harder to control, it has the advantage of being less visible to others.

Issei Fujishiro

Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Special Keio University alumni

"Hangzhou" was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty. It is one of the eight ancient capitals of China and is designated as a National Historical and Cultural City. Originating from a JST bilateral exchange project, I have served as a Guest Professor at the School of Computer Science and Technology at Hangzhou Dianzi University, a key university in Zhejiang Province. I have also accompanied the current president and his delegation on a courtesy visit to the Mita Campus. Located in the western suburbs of the city, West Lake is a world-renowned scenic spot and World Heritage site. On its oldest artificial island—Huxinting (Penglai)—there remains a stone monument inscribed by the Qianlong Emperor, the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The mysterious red characters for "insect" (chong) and "two" (er) surprise all visitors. They are interpreted to mean that by removing the "borders" from the characters for "wind" and "moon," a pleasant and beautiful view expands infinitely. I have often thought of this from that land. What characters should crystallize the essence of the Gijuku? "Kei" (celebration) conveys a heart of blessing, and "O" (response) shows a heart that responds. How about taking the "heart" (xin) radicals from both characters to make "Xin Xin" (Heart to Heart)? I believe this best represents the philosophy of Keio Gijuku Shachu cooperation.