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Vol.70
Wanted |
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May 15,2023 |
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Wanted - Part I
We often see a poster saying "Wanted" along with a facial sketch of a criminal and prize money in Hollywood Western movies. The period of the American Frontier is said to be from 1860 to 1890, which means it began around the end of Japan's Edo period (1600-1868).
In the Edo period, public notice boards were used to announce criminals. In TV dramas or movies, portraits on these boards are drawn by painters or criminal sketch artists. In reality, however, the characteristics of criminals are detailed in writing without facial sketches.
Only about 250 years have passed since the end of the Edo period. There are still many unrevealed truths. It has been said that Hitsuke Tōzoku Aratamekata posts, which are often seen in my favorite samurai drama "Onihei Hankachō," were fictionally created for the drama, so no such posts were installed in front of feudal lord or central government buildings. Just for your information, the drama's main character Heizo Hasegawa, also known as Onihei, is fictional as well.
Wanted - Part II
Security cameras play an important role in criminal investigations in today's society.
A study conducted in 2020 shows that the number of security cameras installed is 200 million in China, 50 million in the U.S., 13.5 million in Russia, 5.2 million in Germany, and 5 million in the U.K. and Japan. These figures must be higher now as more security cameras are installed at a rapid pace these days.
Criminals on the run are caught on security cameras, and getaway cars are caught live on street cameras. What currently leads to a criminal arrest the most is questioning by police, followed by security cameras. However, they will switch places in a few years.
Some people oppose the installation of security cameras, citing the protection of privacy. However, we have recently seen many incidents not necessarily caused by a mental disorder, such as group robberies, random murders, murders with a death penalty wish, and pranks at conveyor-belt sushi restaurants. Under such circumstances, I am sure that security cameras will be essential to help prevent crimes and apprehend criminals.
Japan has been rated as one of the safest countries among modern states but may end up following other unsafe countries if the number of these crimes increases? I think there are various reasons for recent crimes, including vulgar TV programs, irresponsible provocative online content, and a sense of being entrapped by advanced or controlled life.
I have been living in a mountainous subdivision for three years. I sometimes see monkeys and wild boars and feed about 20 swallows twice or three times a day. My wife is worried, saying "What if all swallows in town gather around our house?" Living in an environment full of nature makes me aware of things that I have not noticed in my 79-year life. One example is that every human is part of nature by nature.
This means nature seems to be on my current wanted list.
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