Japan's MAGA: Sanseito

Sanseito. Slogan: Japanese First. Vaccine conspiracy theories- ✓. Anti-foreigner-✓. Example: Party rhetoric purposely muddies the difference between the government's guest worker program (5-year visa) to combat the country's severe labor shortage, and immigration, which in Japan is unpopular and definitely not a thing anyway. Sanseito is on the rise, currently no. 2 in polling in the upcoming contest. The local candidate in the 7/20 election is Hirai Eriko. Like Hirai、I have 3 kids, though 'half', in Japanese parlance. My, children, born and raised here- does Sanseito consider them Japanese, or second class, to pure Japanese stock? Oh, Eriko-様、my eldest is a brain surgeon at a public hospital in Japan, treating Japanese with severe neurological conditions. And, he and his Japanese wife have a new baby (you know, the birth-rate thing). And my younger kids are adults, employed, paying taxes, and otherwise contributing to society. 'Half' as they are, do they fit into Sanseito's master plan, Eriko-様? Anyhow, a troubling development, particularly as other parties are rushing to board that bus.

The Monkey, the Human, and the Forest

Definitely read this book; サルと人と森. It was written over 100 years ago, but... It is the most relevant narrative for our times you will find. In the coming weeks I will be providing serial translations of this extremely rare text.

University Cafeteria

The daily special. Still just 500¥ despite price increases on just about everything over the past year.

Get Out and Vote

There's an upcoming election, and local secondary-school students have submitted original posters urging those 18 and older to perform their civic duty. A common theme: your vote can change the future.

Top 60 Blogs about Japan

This evening I received an email informing me Japan Glimpsed had been selected as one of the top 60 blogs about Japan. For your consideration: My name is Anuj Agarwal, I'm the Founder of FeedSpot. I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Glimpses of Japan has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 60 Japan Blogs on the web. https://bloggers.feedspot.com/japan_blogs/ This is the most comprehensive list of Top 60 Japan Blogs on the internet and I'm honored to have you as part of this! Please consider the above.

100 Days After

100日祝い (ももかいわい) is a traditional observance celebrated 100 days after a baby's birth. The ceremony commences with a visit to a shrine to pray for the child's future, particularly all matters alimentary, followed by a formal meal. My granddaughter turned 100 last Sunday, and the following are photos of the event.

2820- Go Figure

According to the Japanese Ministry of Welfare and Labor, the number of unhoused in 2024.

Strawberries

Is 20$ for a single Japanese strawberry ridiculous? And what about the carbon footprint?

So it goes

Japan. Natural disasters. Noto Hanto residents who experinced the 1/1/2024 earthquake were treated to devastating floods 9 months later. Response: it sucks, but so it goes. Life. Some folks need to believe that there's a plan. God's plan, test the individual's faith. Book of Job. Natural disaster。 No plan. Just is.