Mohammed Bouazizi never lived to see the history he made. He was a Tunisian, young, educated and unemployed, and on Dec. 17, out of sheer rage and frustration, he set himself on fire. He died on Jan. 3. He was 26. Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution, seiten no hekireki (晴天の霹靂, a bolt out of the blue, expected by no one) was consummated within 10 days of his death. Gaitō no demo (街頭のデモ, street demonstrations) were organized via yobikake (呼びかけ, appeals) on Facebook and other intānetto no kōryū saito (インターネットの交流サイト, Internet social networking sites).

Throngs tens of thousands strong demanded minshushugi (民主主義, democracy) and an end to the chronic shitsugyō (失業, unemployment) for too many young and able people lacking only personal connections to a fuhai shita (腐敗した, corrupt) seiken (政権, regime).

With muchitsujo (無秩序, anarchy) looming, President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, a dokusaisha (独裁者, dictator) who had ruled all but unchallenged for 23 years, jinin shita (辞任した, resigned) and fled to Saudi Arabia.