Step up to the plate and do your best, newbies

　僕は英辞郎を使って英語を読みまくり、インターネットラジオのNHKのラジオジャパン英語ニュースで時事英語を聞きまくってます。（＾＾；
参考「こんな感じで英辞郎を使ってます」

Step up to the plate and do your best, newbies

04/02/2005

There was a faint spot of white on the tip of a twig. A closer look revealed it was a cherry blossom that had just opened its dark pink bud.

2005年04月01日（金曜日）付
【天声人語】

　小枝の先に、ほんのり白いものが見えた。濃い紅のつぼみがほどけて生まれたばかりの、ひとひらの桜だった。

The new fiscal year starts when the ``cherry blossom front'' begins to trace a wider curve on the meteorological chart of Japan. On the first day of the fiscal year, many people start out afresh in new cities or towns, places of work or schools. All sorts of expectations, hopes and fears are felt around the nation.

　開花した範囲を示す曲線が日ごとに広がるこの時節に、新しい年度は始まる。今日からは、これまでとは違った土地や職場、学校で生活を始める人たちも多い。列島の各地で、様々な期待や希望、そして不安が行き交っている。

There is a mention of newcomers in ``Makura no Soshi,'' or ``The Pillow Book'' authored by Sei Shonagon in the 10th century. April 1, the first day of the fiscal year, will be a day to remember for many newcomers as well as those who receive them.

　「枕草子」に「あたらしうまゐりたる人々」というくだりがある。今日は、多くの「新しう参りたる人々」にとっても、それを受け入れる側の人にとっても、記憶に残る一日になるだろう。

For a certain period in the past, an advertorial written by novelist Hitomi Yamaguchi ran in newspapers around April 1 each year.

There were words of encouragement and wisdom directed at rookie workers. I was already well past my rookie year by then, but I was sometimes soothed by Yamaguchi's words as if I were listening to an older colleague in an intimate bar after work.

　毎年４月１日ごろ、作家・山口瞳さんの文章が広告の形で新聞に載った時期がある。新社会人への、はなむけの言葉がつづられていた。当方は、すでに旧人の部類だったが、夜の止まり木で先輩に語りかけられているような懐かしさを覚えることがあった。

Let me reproduce some of Yamaguchi's exhortations: ``Step in, step in! Don't be afraid to make a mistake!'' ``Life is nothing more than repetition.'' ``Listen, folks! Life isn't easy.'' ``Whenever I am asked what matters most to a company worker, I now answer `sincerity' without a moment's hesitation.''

　「踏み込め、踏み込め！　失敗を怖れるな！」「此の世は積み重ねであるに過ぎない」「諸君！　この人生、大変なんだ」「会社勤めで何がものを言うのかと問われるとき、僕は、いま、少しも逡巡することなく『それは誠意です』と答えている」

The advertorial was directed at newcomers to the work force, but Yamaguchi's exhortations could have been meant for all workers. I imagine the novelist reflected on his younger days and examined his conscience at the start of each fiscal year to give encouragement to salaried workers of this world. It was this attitude that inspired even seasoned workers. He wrote novels that had businessmen as the hero.

In spring 1995, Yamaguchi wrote, ``Persevere, persevere, persevere.'' He died that summer. How time passes: It's now 10 years since we last heard his encouraging words.

　これは、新人に向けた形をとってはいるが、勤め人全体への励ましとも読める。新しい年度の初めごとに、山口さんは自らの時間を巻き戻し、自省しながら世の「江分利満氏」を励ましていたように思われる。それが旧人の胸にも響いた。９５年春は「一に忍耐、二に我慢、三四がなくて五に辛抱」。その夏に、山口さんは亡くなった。今年で１０年になる。

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 1(IHT/Asahi: April 2,2005)