December 2024 is fast approaching, and for writer Tsugae Manamiko, this year has been marked by upheaval, starting with the sudden collapse of her brother, who suffers from dementia, during Golden Week. This distressing event led to significant changes, including her brother's move to a care facility. Just as the year was winding down, Tsugae witnessed something shocking.
Reflecting on life's significant news, she recalled her astonishment at hearing a biologist on the educational program E-Tele answer a middle school student's question—"Will humanity eventually perish?"—with stark honesty, asserting, "Biology suggests rapidly advancing species also tend to decline just as drastically, so I believe humanity will eventually face such a fate." Tsugae was taken aback, wondering how such blunt truth would impact the next generation.
But beyond these philosophical musings, Tsugae encountered something harrowing. "Have you ever stumbled upon someone bleeding and collapsed?" she asked her readers. Recently, she had been confronted with such a distressing sight—a glimpse of someone lying on the ground amid red. Heart pounding and mind racing, she battled between fear and disbelief. Unable to approach the individual for what seemed like mere seconds, she reported the incident to emergency services even though her instincts urged her to do more.
Later, she learned it was not her timely call but someone else's reporting of the accident. The person had fallen from height and was taken away by ambulance, leaving Tsugae haunted by her inability to act. Yet, through this experience, she developed greater respect for medical professionals. This incident became one of the biggest stories of her life, overshadowing even the year's significant events.
Around this time of year, she also paused to pray for her brother at their family's Buddhist altar, reflecting on how incidents and accidents pervade life, often out of one’s control. She noted the importance of ensuring one does not become the cause of such events, emphasizing gratitude for having navigated her life without encountering significant crises until this point.
Interestingly, 2024 is deemed the year of 'rebirth and regeneration,' as per the Chinese zodiac's association with the snake shedding its skin, giving Tsugae hope for new opportunities even after experiencing loss.
Looking back at this whirlwind year, Tsugae expressed deep sorrow over her brother’s decline, acknowledging the strained circumstances they had endured as he dealt with early-onset dementia which had been diagnosed at 57, leading to his retirement and eventual move to special care. After overcoming many challenges, she wished her brother peace and comfort.
On another note, the boat racing community gears up for the 58th Suminoe Championship, slated to kick off on the 25th. At its heart, the stories of athletes like Terashima Misato, 35, exemplify determination. Rising up with unprecedented enthusiasm, she had claimed five wins at the Amagasaki Venus Series back in October, eleviating her 2025 early-season win rate with aspirations for immediate success.
With the race set to return, Terashima reflects on her newfound approach to racing at high stakes alongside her brother, Terashima Yoshihiko, who also reached the A2 class—a moment of pride for their family, echoing sentiments of triumph even through adversity.
Both Tsugae’s personal narrative and the excitement surrounding the upcoming race reflect themes of resilience and hope. While one story grapples with the poignant realities of life, the other anticipates thrilling possibilities on the racetrack.
