…we wonder if the foreigners could say a few words.

1. Huh?

2. So I was at the 62nd Anniversary of the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima for most of today, starting with the Memorial Ceremony this morning. We walked about all day, and we wanted to go and hear the survivors speak about their experiences, with the promise of English TranslationTM. So we went to the place that we thought was it, and we found the promised English TranslatorTM, and after a bunch of people gave their short speeches, it seemed like we were in the wrong place. Then, the bombshell:

“…we wonder if the foreigners could say a few words.”

3. Again, huh?

4. It turned out that we were in fact at a meeting of a Japanese Anti-Nuclear group’s public meeting to ratify a draft “Statement of Action”, and the previous speeches were of members who were talking about why they joined the movement. After a bit of buck-passing, I decided to grab the microphone, being no stranger to impromptu speeches (I prefer to go impromptu where possible; guess I am more than a bit lazy after all), and said a few words.

5. So I guess that’s how I accidentally spoke at a Japanese Political Rally. Not something you do everyday.

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