The things my cousin gave me

 

My Artifact is these two cases. 

The big one is multicase. I use it as an insurance card, pass book, and passport case. The small one is my signature stamp case. The bigger one’s size is about a pass book. Those textures are like leathers, but it's not a true leather. These are small birds like in a picture book in gold and blue color. Also, a big one is written ‘ Taisetsunisimasyou’ , that says let’s cherish it in Japanese. The small one is written ‘ Kiotsuketetsukaimasyou’ , which says let’s use it carefully in Japanese and it has a clasp on the top of it.

  

These two things are my precious treasure. I was given it as graduation gifts from my cousin who is the same age as me. “Congratulations! And I respect you for passing the examination.” She said it to me and gave me presents. I can’t forget the memories.  I used to play with her in my childhood because she lives in my hometown, Yamagata Prefecture. Sometimes, I meet , talk and go out with her even now. She is my important existence. In my family, someone gives a signature stamp for someone who graduated. In my case, it’s me,  and my cousin did it. This is our family’s tradition. But one day, I dropped the bigger one somewhere. I fell down because it contains my important personal things. Then, someone who is very kind delivered my special things! 

I decided I will treat those respectfully and never drop at that time.

How important are traditions? In Japan, people often respect traditions. For example, Festival, Sumou, Kendou, Zyuudou, Calligraphy...all Japanese traditions. I think my family's tradition is very good. I remember my cousin who gave me the signature stamp case. I want to send my young cousin a signature stamp case because he remembers me when he uses it.

　Also, these days, the necessity of a signature name stamp is beginning to be lost in Japan. The main cause of this is adopting IT. Up until now, Japan has not been aggressive in adopting IT. In other countries, it is adopted actively. Thus finally,Japan started introducing IT. But, there is a new problem. It's the conflict with the stamp industry. The stamp industry is worried about the sales loss. Through this problem, I think it's more conventional without the signature of a name stamp than using it. But there is a new problem again. It's privacy.  I think Japan needs to establish the technology of protecting privacy and adopt the system that doesn’t use name stamps.