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Archive for Japan

Worried About Radiation?

Unfortunately, the misinformation about Japan’s radiation situation continues to seep into the consciousness of society and become a false reality. People, in the USA anyway and probably much of the world, picture Japan now as a radioactive wasteland thanks to the media not presenting an accurate picture. If you look at actual radiation readings taken by independent citizens (or even biased groups like Greenpeace) you will see that radiation levels in 99% of Japan are no different than they were prior to the Tohoku Quake, tsunami, and Fukushima Nuclear Reactor problems.

The media’s influence is even warping the minds of Japanese living in the USA. The top photo is from a Bento/Hot Dog stand in Ashland, Oregon owned and run by a Japanese person.

In addition to the top photo sign, which made me cringe, Koko’s Bento Dog helped raise some funds during Friday night’s “art walk.” I attended and it was a great event. I didn’t realize there were so many Japanese people in my hometown.

Despite the radiation sign, which I disapprove of, Koko’s Bento Dog Cafe makes a fine hot dog.

Sakura Sakura

I’m realizing, with the blossoming of the cherry trees in Ashland, Oregon this year, just how many different varieties of cherry trees there are and how the ones in Oregon aren’t much like the ones in Japan (pictured above). For starters, most in Japan have white blossoms. Most in the USA, or in my part of Oregon anyway, are pink. Even the ones in the USA that have been around for decades look like they could have been planted just a few years ago, while those in Japan all seem larger and more ancient.

How are the cherry blossoms where you are?

A couple of samurai

Another time-machine photo, courtesy of Nikko Edo Wonderland… These guys were in a comical play of sorts. They were using an old Edo dialectic, which I’m sure was very funny for the Japanese in attendance. However, it made it very difficult for me to understand much.

Hideki Matsui

It’s finally opening day, and I’ve got just three words for you.

Let’s Go A’s!

Godzilla is going to lead my fantasy baseball team (and the Oakland A’s) to victory this year.

Spider Monkeys (クモザル) in Tokyo

These spider monkeys can be found in the Edogawa-Ku Nature Zoo (江戸川区自然動物園) in Gyosen Park (行船公園) in Tokyo. I’m sharing them with you today simply because they were my random desktop background. They are kind of cool looking though.

Sakura haiku (桜俳句)

The cherry blossoms have officially opened in Tokyo. I long to be there, but it’s not going to happen this year. I walked along the Kanda River nearly every night during sakura season last year. The massive cherry trees bent over the river and the lanterns lit them ever so sweetly. Notice the signs posted every few feet on the fence along the river. On them were written haiku by neighbors about sakura, the Kanda River, or both. Some of the poems were beautiful. Others were funny. This one was sad.

It says “桜見ず、パソコンながめ、勤務中” and was written by someone who calls himself 05パパ. Dad5’s poem reads, “Without viewing the cherry blossoms, I stare at my computer, in the middle of work.” I hope Dad5 is able to get out and see the cherry blossoms this year.