A little shorter today.
What I thought when I saw the news about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It was a good thing that my grandmother, who experienced the war, didn't have to watch this news.
My grandmother was born in the Taisho era. During the war, she was trained to stab enemy soldiers with bamboo spears.
My grandfather served in China and was seriously injured after being shot in the collarbone, but he survived and returned to Japan after the war ended.
Soon after the war ended, the two met and got married.
My grandfather passed away quite some time ago, but my grandmother passed away two years ago at the age of 97, during which it was difficult for people to visit her due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It may be inappropriate for me to say this, but it was not a bad time for him to die without seeing the current war.
Considering my grandmother's very caring nature, sensitive to others' feelings, seeing the tragic images may have opened a drawer in her life that she never needed to open again.
That's why I'm glad I don't watch the news about the current war.
Remembering my grandmother's gentle smile and my grandfather's collarbone, which was broken but still attached, I plan to visit his grave during the equinox and pray for peace.
One more thought on the subject of war.
On television, I have seen a sign with the word "Zа Россию" written in large letters behind Putin many times while he was giving a speech.
My knowledge of Russian is such that I can read the alphabet, but don't really understand what it means (I studied a little Russian in college), but it seems that it translates to "Z for Russia," or "Operation Z for Russia."
This time, the letter "Z" has begun to be used everywhere as a symbol of the operation to invade Ukraine. The letter "Z" is written in large letters on Russian military vehicles, and can be seen on the clothes and cars of people who support the country's policies. The "Z" was also on the chest mark of Russian athletes who performed well in the Gymnastics World Cup.
In response to this, it was reported that Zurich, a major Swiss insurance company, has stopped using the "Z" in its corporate logo on social media, apparently to avoid being misunderstood as supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
I was surprised to learn that even such things have an impact, but then the first thing that came to mind was the "Z" in wine. In the wine industry, the grape Zinfandel is sometimes abbreviated to "Z." It is a variety that is widely grown in the United States and has a rich, mellow flavor. It is also popular in Japan.
And there are many wines that actually have the letter "Z" written on the label. I wonder how the producers are feeling right now. They are worried that the things they have made with so much care could be said to be the same as a sign of support for war. It's unbearable. I hope that the misuse of "Z" will not spread any further.
By the way, the Japan Sommelier Association is working on a humanitarian aid initiative in Ukraine by purchasing Ukrainian wine, thereby indirectly supporting the economy through wine.
Winemaking in Ukraine is a traditional industry that is said to date back to the 4th century BC. However, during the Soviet era, winemaking was banned and vineyards were destroyed in the now independent Eastern European countries, including Ukraine. In other words, the Eastern European wine industry has always been at the mercy of wars of aggression.
We hope that this invasion will not result in any further civilian casualties, and that the wine industry will not be damaged.
The Sommelier Association will also be holding a Ukrainian wine seminar led by Chairman Shinya Tazaki. As someone involved in the wine industry, I would like to know the world situation from the perspective of wine, so I will participate in the seminar via Zoom.
Before being an expert on New Zealand wine, I am a person involved in wine. Before being a person involved in wine, I am a person who wishes for peace. I think about what I can do every day.
