Diary+Entry+2+_JH

date: 21st December 1938 weather: frosty cold time: 11.02

Dear Diary, Yokatta, my sons are finally at sleep. They were both going on and on about how excited they were for Christmas. They said they couldn't wait for "Santa Clause", an old man with a white beard and red clothes on that they learned about in school, coming to our house to give them Christmas gifts. How excited they were about the gifts.

Reading the news these days, I realized that Japan was expanding. I feel that Japan is gaining more power day by day. Many of our neighbors are having debates about this. One side claims that Japan must keep expanding and take over the South East Asian countries. They even assert that our country should even try to capture China for the economy of Japan. Japan is becoming more powerful day by day, and I'm guessing now, it is right to say that Japan is the unchallenged leader of Asia. However on the other hand, some claim that keep going into wars will unstablize the country and that the country is putting too much focus on the military and army. Also, they say that we are bound for misfortune if we keep being so greedy and getting into conflicts too much.

Nonetheless, I am quite relieved that Japan possesses great power in East Asia. If our country broadens, it will be better for my sons to study and for their generations. They will be able to encounter more different experiences in their lives and they will be able to have pride in their own country, that Japan is a very strong country. However, despite this advantages, I'm also quite afraid of the adverse affect this might have on us. In order for Japanese to enlarge, they have to keep going on war and they are bound to get in some kind of conflict with foreign countries. This may make the country unstable and insecure. I'm still not so sure whether Japan is making the right decision. And most importantly, my son, Echizen could get hurt if he is in a war frequently. This is what I am most fearing. All I care about, dear Diary, is my children. I'm very sure that my husband also would've wanted that if he had been alive.

These days, I can't hear much about my oldest son, since he doesn't write letters. I'm so afraid he might be injured or something. I keep trying to calm myself down, telling myself he is only busy and he should be, since he must work hard for our country. However, I don’t know what to do. I just pray everyday for my son to return safely. I sure hope God is listening to my earnest prayers. I'd better go to sleep now after praying for awhile. I'm worn out due to listening to my children talk away about Christmas.