pp58-59 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections are welcomed!) Disappeared Red Thread Me and her, we were tied up to each other with a red thread. But she killed herself. For what? Why? I hate her. But I still love her. Where has our red thread gone? Disappeared? Cut off? When I read this poem, I was aghast and about to choke. I took it all literally, but after I listened to his story more carefully, I felt, "Oh? Does it contain some fantasy?" Something in his mind inevitably made him express in this way, I guess. Behind that, there was his complicated and harsh family environment. When I think of its extreme weight, I sigh. I cannot but wish his future happiness.

pp54-55 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) Hot This summer, especially hot. Why so hot? TVs and newspapers talk about 'global warming.' The the cause of it is each one of us all, isn't it? Nara Juvenile Prison is a brick building completed in 1908. It is one of the 'Five Largest Prisons of Meiji Era', which is a magnificent building under the control and authority of the government. Out of the Five Largest Prisons, it is the only one on active services, which is very valuable. All the bricks are handmade by prisoners at the time. Although those bricks are unique, elegant and really beautiful, in summer, they are heated and emit infrared light even at night, like an oven. And in winter, they make us chilled to the bone. There is no air-conditioner in the dormitory. Living in the prison is not easy. In such environment, the boy J's imagination extended so far as global warming. Even though separated from the world, J is interested in world affairs and perceives them as his own affairs.

pp52-53 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) Time Looking at clocks, I often think, Time passes too slowly... But when I am concentrated, time flies. On the contrary, when my concentration is poor, time passes slowly. Whenever I had better not panic, I cannot but look at the clock and I panic because I feel as if I were pressed by something. If I use time cleverly, Time will be on my side. As for prisoners, time has a special meaning. Everyone is waiting impatiently for the day he is released from prison. But those who have come to prison have got a chance of reeducation. Time they have before release is not just waiting time. It is important time for introspection and reeducation for rehabilitation.

pp50-51 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) Words Words connect people with people. One word makes them happy. One word makes them sad. Words are magic. If we use them rightly, We can make each other happy and comfortable. But if we use them wrongly, We hurt each other and make each other sad. Words are difficult. But we use them everyday. I want to use them carefully. I hope to be closer friends with words. Since he talked in front of his friends about his loneliness as a motherless child, he has changed. If you can be close friends with words, you can release yourselves, and can be close friends with people, too. You can surely get along with the world. Your feelings are conveyed properly by words.

pp48-49 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) Pretending To Be Tough I sometimes pretend to be tough. Really it hurts, painful... Really I want to depend on the people around me... But what I am most scared of is to be swayed by the people around me And to corner myself. And what I am sad about is to pass the point of no return. So, before I come to that point, I want to admit my weakness and live on. To Live To feel pain To feel happiness To feel sadness To live To live is to experience

pp46-47 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) Don't Make An Excuse On that day, you didn't take that one step forward. Don't make it an excuse for not doing your best now. From now on, I want to be a person to make the most of the present. "Take it easy," the instructor called out to him. The boy bashfully dropped his eyes. Those boys who write noble things like proverbs and slogans often put unnecessary strain on themselves, harden their faces, and cannot be relaxed. Since they are perfectionists, they cannot stand their own deficiency. They often become unstable, and sometimes end in committing crimes. It's okay to take it easy sometimes. If you can allow your weakness, your life is going to be easier.

pp42-43 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) Blue Badge Today's sky is fascinatingly blue all over. Watching at this sky, What does everybody think? What does everybody do? As for myself, like today's sky, My badge is blue. If my badge is blue forever, My feeling is as fine as the blue sky. Each prisoner has a badge on his chest. According to his attitude, a prisoner is promoted to a higher rank: black, red, blue, yellow, and white. The higher his rank is, a prisoner can enjoy more freedom in the prison. On this day, the boy 'I' was promoted from red to blue, at last. 'I' was so happy about that. But if he causes any trouble, he immediately falls in rank. His hope that he wants to be with his blue badge forever helps him stay patient, how much he wants to fight. Hold on, I! The next color is yellow.

pp39-41 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) My Favorite Job My favorite job is a sheet metal worker who makes things like a roof of a factory. What I like about it is a thrill of walking on steel frames And a joy of competing with fellow workers. But it is very hot on roofs at the height of summer. Thunder on a rainy day was so scary. Outside work is cancelled when it rains. That is another thing I like about it. Making vinyl houses is my favorite job, too. Although it is hard to walk on a field after rain, One place can be finished only in two days at most, So I went to many places and could see many people. I liked it because we could talk while working in a small group of people. University entrance rate in Japan is 50%. If you do not go to university, you are sometimes treated as dropouts. But even college graduates cannot get jobs they like. If everybody can get a job he likes and find a purpose in life, That is the best thing. Jobs such as called 3K(*) Are no easy jobs. They often require intelligence, strength and skill. Those jobs should be paid more respect. I wish everyone in this world can work with pride! *3K=3D in English (Dirty, Dangerous and Demeaning)

pp36-38 (This passage is translated from a Japanese book. Corrections welcomed!) Healthcare Staff Until I became one… I wanted to be a healthcare staff because he can hang around. I wanted to be a healthcare staff because he is not scolded when he chats openly. But now… Although it is a good point that I feel closer to the old man, I am always scolded. Some boys complain about everything to their healthcare staff. A healthcare staff is not a　baby-sitter! But… When I memorized everyone's name and designated number, I do not know why, but I was happy. "Healthcare staff" is formally called "healthcare administrator." He is a gofer in the factory for job training and in the dormitory. He has to do everything from clearing the table to washing clothes. Between the prison guard called 'old man' and prisoners, he has to care about many things, like a middle manager. This poem by 'H', who became one of such healthcare staff, is his honest confession close to grumbling. A healthcare staff has to memorize the numbers designated to each one of the prisoners. A prisoner has a two-digit factory number and three-or-four-digit personal number, that is, five or six digits per person. He has to memorize those numbers for 50 prisoners working in a factory. "You're brilliant, H! You have memorized all! I can't do that" I was deeply impressed. Then, "I have memorized, too""I can recite them, because I am a healthcare staff, too" There came several proud voices. This sense of accomplishment straightens the boy's back, and guides him to brighter life.