The day before yesterday was the first day of spring.
The season has changed to spring, and the year has begun.
It is actually from the first day of spring that the sexagenary cycle changes.

And this year is the year of the Rabbit,

the year of the “癸卯” for the first time in 60 years.

“癸卯” is a combination of

“癸” which is the 10th of “十干” Chinese zodiac and

“卯” which is the 4th of “十二支” Chinese zodiac, and

is the 40th combination of “十干十二支” Chinese zodiac.

In the theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements,

“癸” represents the yin energy of water, and

“卯” represents the yin energy of trees.

“癸” represents the calm, warm, and blessed water that quenches the earth.

And “癸” corresponds to the end of “十干” Chinese zodiac,

so it means the end of life and the state where the next new life begins to grow.

In addition,

since it is a part of the Chinese character for “揆”,

it also seems to have the meaning of “the seeds have grown to a size that can be measured, spring is approaching, and the buds are about to bloom.”

“卯” has the meaning of safety and mildness from the appearance of a calm rabbit.

It also has the meaning of jumping up like a rabbit, and

it is said that the year of the rabbit is

auspicious to start something, overflow with hope, and

be a good year for economic recovery and improvement.

The word “卯” is said to have its origin in the character “茂”,

which means “to feel the coming of spring“.

It is also said that the shape of the kanji character ‘卯‘ is reminiscent of ‘a gate that is open’,

so it has the meaning of ‘a winter gate that opens and jumps out‘.

 

The combination of these two, “癸卯” seems to represent good luck, such as “the efforts made so far will blossom and begin to bear fruit.”

Recently, 2011 and 1999 were the year of the rabbit.

2011:
While working as a Specialist in Hematology at the National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Medical Center,

I became a Associate Professor at Department of International Medical Cooperation, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University.

I got an environment where I could immerse myself in research, and

I had the opportunity to publish a number of papers.

1999:
After three and a half years as a Visiting Fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI/NIH) in USA,

I returned to Japan as a clinician and got a new position as an Assistant at Kochi Medical School Hospital.

Taking this opportunity,

I became a Lecturer at the university, giving lectures to medical students and research guidance to graduate students.

In this way, there are many events that mark the end and the beginning of my own life.