Christmas message 2009

Christmas is a peaceful time of the year. It is an occasion for people to think and meditate about the year that has passed and for the year that will come.

I would like to introduce an interesting Japanese thought that fits the atmosphere of this Christmas message.
The Japanese word keirin ( 経綸 ) means ‘ to manage ‘, ‘ to govern ‘.
In reference to a country, keirin means ’ bring salvation to its people ‘.
The first ideogram of keirin is kei and contains the kanji of ito (糸) thread.
Rin ( 綸) means gradually unite and bring under an order.
The basic meaning of keirin is “ threads woven together “ . It points to a woven cloth, LACE!
Lace is one of the finest forms of woven textiles in the world.

Already for 2009 years, Christmas is considered as a feast of peace. But was there one year when anywhere in the world at Christmas there was no war going on? A dispute? A disagreement?
I hope in the next year and the following ones friendships will form threads which can be woven together into a cloth that covers the world in unity.

A work of lace is similar to a life. The lace maker starts from nothing. She makes her plans on how to create a magnificent textile. Same as we humans do in our life. We start from basic plans.
How complicated and exquisite the lace will be is up the lace maker.

My family and myself wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a serene beginning of the New Year 2010.