Glimpses of Japan

The Death of Abubakar Awudu Suraj

2012-02-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Abubakar Awudu Suraj, a Ghanian national who entered Japan in 1988 on a 15-day visa, was deported as a visa overstayer on March 22, 2010, having been arrested in an immigration sweep in 2009.

Mr. Suraj never made it to Cairo, the destination of his Egypt Air flight, on that fateful day in March, 2010. In fact, for him there was neither take-off nor landing. What happened? This post will try to provide some background. See here for an informative piece from the Japan Times.

As I see it, this matter really concerns excessive force used by airport police, regardless of whether one believes, as I do, that Mr. Suraj deserved amnesty for his visa violations.

Difficulty Verifying Johnson's Claims

2012-02-14T19:35:00.000-08:00

A visit to Reuters's site does not produce any search results to support Christopher Johnson's claim on the sidebar of his site 'globalite' that "Reuters named our Yak Packer photos of Tibetan riots among their Pictures of the Decade".

Maybe I just don't know how to use search engines.

Christopher Johnson, Tibet Uprising

2012-02-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

As written previously, any attempt to reach an informed opinion in the case of Canadian freelance journalist Christopher Johnson necessarily involves Mr. Johnson's credibility.

Johnson is a bona fide journalist- there is no disputing that. But certain of his boasted journalistic accomplishments do not appear to hold up under scrutiny.

Take for example the claim on Johnson's site's sidebar that he "witnessed Tibetan uprising in Lhasa, broke story via Reuters, Toronto Star, Christian Science Monitor (CSM), others".

Johnson did indeed write a piece on the uprising for the CSM. But the dateline is March 14, 2008, Tokyo- not Lhasa, Tibet. In other words, Johnson was not a witness of the unrest. Who provided eye-witness accounts? Johnson writes in his report that information on the uprising was obtained from a group of foreign backpackers who communicated to reporters via phone and e-mail that day.

Christopher Johnson: Redux

2012-02-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I wrote (and later deleted) several posts about Canadian freelance journalist Christopher Johnson on this blog. If you haven't been following Johnson's ever-changing tale of alleged intimidation and abuse at the hands of Japanese immigration at Narita International Airport and the security detail employed by airlines to supervise foreign nationals denied entry into the country, see here.

Now, I am not the only one who has doubted parts of Johnson's narrative since his story surfaced, as the former of the above links shows. But why did I delete my blog posts about Johnson? Simply, I felt they were too harsh and that I was being a bit of an asshole. More than a bit, really. I had challenged Johnson's assertions and impugned his credibility without performing more than a superficial background check of claims he makes on his blog.

Johnson's story raises important issues. First and foremost is the question of what goes on in immigration detention facilities in Japan. Setting aside for a moment the matter of Johnson's veracity, it seems fair to conclude, based on reports of others' experiences (links forthcoming), that Japanese immigration authorities sometimes cross the line. The Japanese justice ministry, under whose bailiwick immigration falls, needs to investigate vigorously claims of detainee abuse and to be forthcoming regarding practices at its detention centers.

Another crucial issue raised by Johnson's account is that of his own reliability. We have only his own word for what happened. If we are to add Johnson's tale to the body of evidence (links forthcoming) demonstrating that Japanese immigration sometimes abuse detainee rights, then we must be able to trust him. As Christopher Johnson is a journalist, this is especially true.

Links: See here , here, and here to read about 2 Ghanian men who died in separate incidents in 2010 while in the custody of Japanese immigration.

The Global Detention Project provides valuable information (several years old, though) on Japanese detention practices and facilities here.

A Retraction: Thousands of US Infants Die from Fukushima Radiation

2012-02-14T05:25:00.000-08:00

In a post from December of last year concerning fallout from Fukushima, Japan, I cited a study conducted by 'respected' epidemiological experts whose research was published in the International Journal of Health Sciences.
The study purported to trace a link between the nuclear catastrophe at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi plant and an modest increase in infant mortality in the US last spring.

The journal is peer reviewed, and I trusted the editorial staff and reviewers to do their job. Which they didn't.

Turns out I was very wrong about the authors' findings; in fact, the authors, anti-nuclear activists, cooked the books.

I stand corrected- thanks to a good friend for alerting me to problems with my post.

See here for a powerful debunking.

Thousands of US Infants Die from Fukushima Fallout

2011-12-20T17:18:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month the peer-reviewed International Journal of Health Studies published a study by respected epidemiologists on the correlation between a spike in infant mortality across the US earlier this year and the arrival in mid-March of a radioactive plume from Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear facility. The authors suggest that a dramatic increase in infant deaths, totaling nearly 14,000, is attributable to the fallout from Fukushima and is strikingly similar to a rise in such deaths in Europe following Chernobyl. See here for the original report and here for a summary.

I remember dismissing as alarmist and uninformed the dire warnings of foreign observers on the severity of Fukushima back in March. Nuclear experts from around the world strongly suspected that meltdown was underway in one or more reactors in the hours and days following March 11 even as the Japanese government and the operator of the Fukushima facility strenuously rejected the very possibility of this, instead assuring the international community that the reactors' fuel rods were completely submerged at a safe temperature and that the situation was under control.

The failure of government and nuclear industry to give careful consideration to historical evidence of massive tsunami in the past- geologic findings published a decade before 3/11 showed that waves easily capable of overtopping the Fukushima plant's defenses had been generated by powerful quakes in the region 1000 years earlier- coupled with the superstitious belief that to prepare for the worst was to invite it, established a pattern of complacency that was seen in the authorities' response to the catastrophe.

The Japanese nuclear establishment and regulatory agency were as unprepared for 3/11 as was the Japanese shogunate of yore for the massed hosts of Mongol invaders. Unfortunately, this time there was no 'divine wind' to come to the rescue.

The Tochio Fertility Festival

2011-11-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

Tochio, Niigata, is known for two things: its fried tofu and its fertility festival. The video (sorry for the poor quality) speaks for itself.

The Tsugawa Fox Festival

2011-11-09T06:17:00.000-08:00

Tsugawa, Niigata, holds it's "Fox Festival" every May to celebrate the nuptials of a local couple. For the event the faces of bride and groom are so painted as to resemble those of the stylized foxes seen at Shinto shrines dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, whose familiar is the fox.

By the by, it's unclear to me why Tsugawa, which is not located in one of Niigata's rice-growing regions, should have a prominent festival honoring Inari. I'll have to do a bit more research, evidently.

Incidentally, vinegared rice wrapped in fried tofu, the latter traditionally favored by foxes, is called inari zushi.

The Shirone Kite Festival

2011-11-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

One of the largest festivals of its kind in the world, the Shirone (Niigata City) kite festival is held in June every year.

The Nebuta Festival

2011-11-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

The most famous nebuta matsuri is held the first week in August in Aomori, the northernmost prefecture on Honshu, Japan's main island. The event typically draws over 3 million visitors, making it one of Japan's top summer attractions.

Shukunegi, Sado Island

2011-10-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

The Edo era village of Shukunegi, situated at Sado's extreme western end, is known for its narrow alleys, roof stones, and for the prow-shaped house in the bottom photo. Shukunegi is sometimes used as a location for the filming of period dramas. Unfortunately I had only 15 min. to explore the village. It's another "must-see" spot on the island.

Sado Shipbuilding Museum, Ogi

2011-10-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Pictured is a reconstruction of a sengokubune, a large Japanese sailing vessel (the mast is shown at bottom). Gold mined on Sado was a major source of revenue for the Tokugawa shogunate, and sengokubune were used to transport the precious metal to the mainland for its final, overland ourney to Edo. This particular vessel, called the Hakusan Maru, is on display in Ogi at the shipbuilding museum, which is attached to a larger Sado folk culture museum housed in a former elementary school. I arrived late in the day and hadn't the time to do its exhibits justice. If you ever visit Sado Island, make sure a stop is on your itinerary, and give yourself a couple of hours for the complete tour.

Labor of Love

2011-10-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Retired carpenter Hiromichi Nakagawa makes these fantastic scale models at his workshop in Ogi, Sado Island. He doesn't use a kit but instead fashions every single piece himself.

Interesting Sado Sights

2011-10-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hasakake, or reaped rice hung on bars for airing, at the entrance to a farmhouse on Sado.

Not sure how the fishing boat came to be here.

Issunboshi, or Little One-inch

2011-10-06T22:56:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman. The couple had no children, so they prayed to god to give them a child. “Even a tiny little boy or girl no bigger than my pinky would be welcome”, said the old man in his prayer.

No sooner said than done, for the next instant a very small boy the size of the man’s little finger appeared. “We’ll call him ‘Little One-inch’” said the two.

One day Little One-inch announced, “I’d like to go to the town to look for work. Please help me to prepare for the journey." So the old man set about fashioning a sword just the boy's size out of a needle.  The woman in turn made from a miso soup bowl a little boat in which the boy could sail down to the town on a nearby stream.

When all was ready Little One-inch said, "Look, I'll carry this sword made from a needle. Look, I'll use this chopstick to paddle the boat. Well then, I'm off." Expertly maneuvering the soup bowl into the current, Little One-inch set off for the town.

On arriving Little One-inch went straight to the largest house in the town.  "You can rely on me, you can depend on me" he shouted repeatedly at the door, which was eventually opened far enough to admit the head and shoulders of one of the master's retainers.

The retainer's face wore a puzzled look as he inclined his head first to the right, then to the left. "Dear me, no one's here," he muttered.

"Over here! No, here!"

"If it isn't some kind of miniature child", said the retainer when he finally discerned Little One-inch under a wooden clog beside the entrance.

In due course Little One-inch became the attendant of the master's daughter, a girl famed throughout those parts for her beauty.

One day as Little One-inch was escorting his charge home from a visit to a temple, two ogres suddenly appeared ahead of them in the road.

"Such a beautiful girl, the likes of which we've never seen. Let's get her," said one of the ogres.

Hearing this, Little One-inch drew his sword and flew at the attackers.

"What's this thing that looks like a tiny insect? Come here, you!" said the other.

The ogre picked up the "insect" and swallowed it whole, whereupon he soon experienced acute pain in his stomach, as if some sharp object were pricking the inside of his belly.

"Ouch, ouch" he cried, spitting out Little One-inch.

"Let me at it, whatever it is, I'll grind it to nothing under my finger" said the second ogre, whose turn it now was to feel the keeness of the tiny sword, this time in the eye.

"Run away, run away" cried the two.

When the ogres had gone Little One-inch discovered a strange object lying in the road. "It's a mallet of good fortune," explained the girl. "If you make a wish and shake the mallet, your dream will come true."

"Pray that I may become the strongest and tallest boy in town, and shake the mallet for me," urged Little One-inch. In a trice the little "insect" became a strapping lad. And of course the two married and lived happily ever after.


* Translation by Brian S.

A Trip to Sado: The Taraibune, or Tub Boat

2011-09-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

The taraibune is used to fish for crustaceans and seaweed in shallow water. The rectangular section in the boat's center has a transparent bottom, allowing the fisherman (or woman) to survey the bottom with ease. The photos were taken in Ogi, Sado.

A Trip to Sado: Misc. Sights Part 3

2011-09-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

These anchors, leaning against the seawall, have just received a new coat of paint.

A Trip to Sado: Hokusetsu, Rob DeNiro's Favorite Sake Brewery

2011-09-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

A Trip to Sado: Misc. Sights Part 2

2011-09-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

A Trip to Sado: Matsugasaki and Nichiren's Honganji

2011-09-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

A Trip to Sado: Misc. Sights Part 1

2011-09-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

A Trip to Sado: First Stop, Himezaki Lighthouse

2011-09-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

A Trip to Sado: Arrival

2011-09-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

A Trip to Sado: Departure

2011-09-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

A Soba Run

2011-09-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

Shioya Soba, located in a renovated 150-year-old dry-goods shop in Tsugawa, Niigata. Lovely building, pleasant atmospehere, excellent soba.

More Lantern Festival Photos

2011-08-02T02:29:00.000-07:00

A Summer Lantern Festival

2011-07-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

The paper lantern kit is free and is assembled and decorated at home or school for this annual festival.

The Kayabuki Thatch Roof

2011-07-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

A Tale of Two Countries in Times of Crisis

2011-07-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Politicians suck- that's a given. But some suck more than others. Faced with daunting challenges earlier this year in the aftermath of one of the country's worst natural disasters, Japanese politicians set aside their differences for a time to concentrate on the reconstruction of the country. Switch scenes to the US during the current debt limit impasse, every bit as serious for the country as 3/11 was for Japan. America's so-called "leaders" refuse to compromise for ideological reasons on the depth of cuts to social programs (apparently the only way to reach an agreement is on the backs of the most vulnerable- the parties differ on how many people to allow to slip through what remains of the safety net). President Obama, monsieurs Cantor and Boehner- hell, the entire Republican Party, the Tea Partyists, all but one or two Democrats- Washington D.C. is teeming with assholes.

More Photos from the Marathon Scoot

2011-07-14T03:53:00.000-07:00

evidence of some serious flooding here

quiet rural area in Yamagata near Yonezawa City

Shirabu, a famous onsen village in Yamagata

nearing the mountain pass on the border of Yamagata and Fukushima; elev. here 1200 m

Views from a Vespa- 320 km Scoot in Niigata, Yamagata, Fukushima

2011-06-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

The photo was taken in Sekikawa Village, Niigata. The main tourist attraction in Sekikawa, the Watanabe Yashiki, was under re-constructition at the time of my visit, but other local structures had been completely restored, including this home with a kayabuki thatch roof.

In the photo below the Vespa is parked outside a traditional plaster and lath storehouse called a kura.

entering Yamagata prefecture

recently planted rice in the background

Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You

2011-04-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes men's actions throw the concept of "goodness" into such relief that it becomes appropriate, even necessary, to resort to capital letters (as is likewise true in the case of exemplars of the bad). So let's meet an example of Goodness and of Badness .

Masatoshi Son (shown above, of course), CEO of Softbank and head of Yahoo! Japan , is The Benefactor. He announced today (April 4) that he would give more than $115 million of his own money to aid victims of Japan's worst natural disaster, the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. And as if that weren't enough, this mensch added that he would donate all of his future earnings until retirement to help children orphaned by the earthquake and tsunami. Well done, Mr. Son.

Now meet a Wall Street Scoundrel, John Thain, The Asshole former CEO of Merril Lynch who spent upwards of $1,000,000 in 2008 redecorating his office suite while his tanking firm was still peddling shit, shedding jobs, and demanding taxpayer bailouts.

A tale of two men, a tale of two countries...

The Art of Understatement

2011-03-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago it was reported that standing water in one of the turbine rooms at Tokyo Electric's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was measuring more than (TEPCO did not know the exact amount) 1,000 milli sieverts of radiation/ hour (To put that in perspective, 50% of those exposed to 3,000 milli sieverts die within 30 days; and, the amount is at least 4 times the maximum legal limit for plant employees, meaning they could work for no more than 15 mins. and not again at the site for 12 mos.) Furthermore, it was stated that the 6,000 cubic meter room was full of this water. A TEPCO official was asked to confirm that the room contained 6,000 cubic meters of water measuring at least 1,000 milli sieverts. His reply: "The chance that such is true is not zero."

Men at Work

2011-03-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

The world's costliest (in economic terms) natural disaster and second worst nuclear accident are nearly three weeks old. What have we learned from Tokyo Electric's handling of the latter? Well, if you were an executive search consultancy with the odd task of assembling a team of the most incompetent corporate managers on the planet, you couldn't do better (or worse) than recruit the guys at Tokyo Electric Power Co. All of them.

When the Going Gets Tough

2011-03-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

Times of crisis often show us the stuff of which men are made. Let's consider the case of monsieur Shimizu, president of Tokyo Electric, the operator of the stricken nuclear plant east of Japan's capital. While the country's costliest natural disaster and the world's second worst nuclear accident were unfolding, Shimizu decided he needed a holiday. From March 16-23, as employees of his company (as well as firefighters and national guardsmen) were risking their lives to try to stabilize the Fukushima Dai-ichi facility, Shimizu was missing in action. At first it was reported that he had taken leave to alleviate the stress of overwork- apparently he had put in some long hours at the office from March 11 (the day of the quake)-15. Subsequently, in a pathetic attempt at damage control, the company stated that in fact Shimizu had been ill. Pull the plug on this guy.

Update (Mar. 30): Shimizu's called in sick again. He's being treated at hospital for high blood pressure, or so TEPCO says.

Earthquake Update for Saturday, March 19

2011-03-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant

From the Asahi Newspaper comes the following:

* There are 4,546 spent fuel rods at the Dai-ichi facility, which comprises 6 reactors. (Today is the first time I've seen this figure.)

* Steam is issuing from the damaged spent fuel containment pool at Unit 4, where high levels of heat have been detected.

* The system which pumps water into the containment pool at Unit 4 is not functioning.

* It is thought that rods at Unit 4 have been damaged because of overheating.

Earthquake/ Tsunami

* The number of dead stands at 6,911.

* The number of confirmed missing is 17,000.

Relief Efforts

*Relief supplies, including medicine and fuel, have begun reaching hard-hit areas but remain in very short supply this morning.

Earthquake Update for March 18

2011-03-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

The Yomiuri newspaper reports today that the Japanese government has rejected US offers of technical assistance towards resolving the nuclear crisis in Fukushima.

As for the crisis, there is little news this morning. Steam has been observed rising from the faciity. No other developments are reported.

Fukushima Nuclear Plant Update, March 17

2011-03-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

The Sankei newspaper reports this afternoon that this morning's helicopter drop of seawater onto damaged Unit 3, whose fuel is a MOX mixture containing plutonium, dropped just 28 units, from 3782 micro sieverts, to 3754 micro sieverts, over a 40 minute period this morning.

It was reported yesterday that all personnel had been ordered to evacuate the crippled plant, but this was erroneous- between 50 and 100 plant engineers, self-defense personnel, and police remain on site.

The total confirmed dead or missing from last week's quake and tsunami stands at 14,000 today.

In addition, 18 hospital patients have died while being transported away from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The World's Response

2011-03-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

The international outpouring of aid, assistance, and compassion has been most welcome and encouraging.

Rescue and relief workers from other countries have arrived in Japan and begun to contribute their expertise and elbow grease in noticeable and meaningful ways, in some cases in dangerous situations.

Thank you.

Earthquake Update, March 16

2011-03-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Mainichi Newspaper reports today that white smoke has been seen rising from Fukushima's Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Facility Unit 3. There is a strong likelihood that highly radioactive vapor has been released.

Flames have been observed off and on this morning at Unit 4.

The facility has been deemed too dangerous for workers, and TEPCO has ordered an evacuation.

Last-ditch efforts are being considered by the plant operator, including using helicopters to drop flame retardant and water on the crippled facility.

People in Tokyo are hoarding food and emergency supplies.

Some multinational corporations in Tokyo are flying people home or sending them to offices in other parts of Japan hundreds of kilometers away.

The number of confirmed dead or missing has been raised to more than 11,000.

No one appears to be in charge.

Update 1: this is required reading.

Update 2: The attempt to dump water by helicopter on Unit 3, which is believed to lack sufficient water in its spent fuel pool, was abandoned after radiation levels proved too high.

Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture

2011-03-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

Kamaishi City, Iwate, (pop. 39,174) was devstated by a 10 meter tsunami less than 30 minutes after the massive quake on March 11. The area has a history of destruction by tsunami. In 1896 4,985 of the town's 6,529 people were killed by a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.6 quake.

In 1933 another tsunami ravaged the town, this one triggered by a magnitude 8.5 quake.

One of the sights in Kamaishi prior to the tsunami was a statue of the goddess Kannon nearly 50 meters tall.

Today, March 16, the port was reopened and a ship carrying humanitarian relief supplies was able to dock.

Oofunato City, Iwate

2011-03-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

Oofunato City, Iwate prefecture, had an estimated population of 40,753 on January 1, 2011. Its port, with a depth of over 13 meters, could accomodate ships of up to 40,000 tons and was one of the most important in the prefecture. The city suffered extensive damage from the tsunami but as of March 14 had a relatively modest total of confirmed dead or missing: 391

Update: March 15, 2:15 PM

2011-03-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

More than 6,000 are reported dead or missing from last Friday's quake and tsunami, an increase of over 1,000 since this morning.

The explosion earlier today at the crippled nuclear facility in Fukushima released a massive amount of radiation, according to Japanese media. Residents within a 30 kilometer radius (up from 20) have been urged to evacuate or remain indoors. The government has issued instructions on preventing radiation sickness.

An explosion and fire have occurred at the facility's Unit 4. The fire has been extinguished.

Eight hundred plant workers have been evacuated.

Prime Minister Kan has expressed anger with the plant operator, TEPCO, for its failure to notify authorities promptly of developments at the site.

This is bad, very bad.

Earthquake Update- Tuesday, March 15

2011-03-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

At 6:10 this morning there was an explosion at Unit 2 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Japanese media are reporting that 965 micro sieverts of radiation were released into the atmosphere.

Japanese media put the number of those confirmed dead or missing at 4895 this morning.

March 14- Explosion at Fukushima Nuclear Plant Dai-ichi 1, Unit 3

2011-03-14T05:42:00.000-07:00

The explosion at 11:01 AM on March 14 of Unit 3 at the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima was more serious that initially thought. Eleven workers were injured, one with serious burns. It is believed that a partial meltdown has occurred in the reactor core of the unit. Moreover, the cooling system of Unit 2 (like those of Units 1 and 3) was disabled by the tsunami last Friday, and it is now showing problems likely to result in the same trajectory of developments.

Soma City, Fukushima

2011-03-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

Soma City, Fukushima, had a population estimated at 37, 730 on January 1, 2011. Soma was an important town during the Edo era with a castle of 60,000 stones (by contrast, the walls of Nagoya Castle may contain as many as 200,000 stones)- the structure, unfortunately, was razed during the Meiji Restoration, but nice photos of the historical site as it was before the tsunami are available here . The tsunami that hit the city on March 11 was over 7 meters, making it one of the most destructive. More than 1,800 homes were lost.

Minami Sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture

2011-03-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

Minami Sanriku, Miyagi, had an estimated population of 17,393 on Jan. 1, 2011. Nearly the entire town was inundated on Friday, March 11. Media report today that search teams have discovered 1,000 bodies in the town. Furthermore, the present location of 10,000 residents is unknown.

Earthquake Update: 11:30 AM, March 14

2011-03-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

The national broadcaster NHK reports that an explosion occurred just after 11:00 at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nclear power facility. Smoke can been rising from Unit 3.

Additionally, it is reported that a new tsunami has formed and is heading for already stricken areas. It is thought to be between 3 and 5 meters high.

Update 1: Media are reporting that an insignificant amount of radiation was released in today's explosion and that the reactor core remained sound.

Update 2: The tsunami alert was a false alarm.

Update 3: At 2:30 PM on March 14, NHK reported that 10 workers at the nuclear plant were injured in this morning's explosion.

Japan Earthquake, 2011: Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture

2011-03-13T18:44:00.000-07:00

Rikuzentakata, Iwate, population 23,197 (1/1/11) was virtually destroyed on the afternoon of March 11. Some 25 minutes after the massive 9.0 quake, a tsunami swept through the town, razing nearly everything in its path. As of Mon., March 13, 17,000 residents had been located in evacuation shelters. The whereabouts of the others is unknown. The video was shot by a local firefighter as the waters poured into the city and citizens ran to high ground.

Earthquake Update- Monday, March 14

2011-03-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Japanese media report this morning that the radioactive vapor released from the stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant measured 1,557 micro sieverts. The micro sievert is the unit used to measure the biological effects of radiation exposure. Humans average 2,400 micro sieverts per year of natural radiation exposure.

In other news, the operator of the nuclear facility, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), announced rolling blackouts of three hours' duration to offset a loss in capacity equivalent to 25% of normal energy use. The blackouts will affect Tokyo and other areas supplied by TEPCO and will occur in cycles over the coming days.

Earthquake Update, Sunday, March 13

2011-03-13T03:05:00.000-07:00

The magnitude of Friday's quake has been upgraded to 9.0.

Fuji News Network reports that 3,000 persons have been confirmed dead or missing.

The chief of the Miyagi Prefectural Police says that the number of dead in his prefecture will likely reach the tens of 1000s.

To reduce pressure in the reactor core, radioactive steam was released from Reactor 3 at the troubled nuclear plant in Fukushima. A nuclear power expert analyzing the situation at the plant for Fuji News rates yesterday's explosion of part of Reactor 1 a "5" (on the IAEA's scale of 6), in other words, between Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in criticality. Evacuation has been ordered for those within a radius of 20 km.

Nuclear Disaster

2011-03-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

ANN News is reporting that 190 people have been exposed to radiation from explosions and deliberate steam releases (the most recent of which occurred at about 8:30 AM today, March 13) at the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima. Evacuation of everyone within a 20 kilometer radius was ordered on March 12.

In other news, the FNN network puts the number of dead or missing at 2,700 as of Sunday, March 13.

Earthquake, 2011- Help Us

2011-03-12T05:07:00.000-08:00

Last night was bad- strong aftershocks occurred throughout northeastern Japan almost without break .

At 3:59 AM, Niigata (where I live with my family) and neighboring prefecture Nagano (of 1998 Olympics fame) registered a quake of magnitude 6.7. Damage to road and rail lines was sustained.

Reports of tsunami-affected areas are quite worse today (March 12th) than last night- it's hard to be hopeful.

Today: entire cities are gone. Roads and raillines have disappeared. Surviving communities are unreachable. Many areas look like Hiroshima or Nagasaki after the atomic bombings.

The number of confirmed casualties has been raised to 2,000 (since last night): estimates of total casualties reach the tens of 1000s.

Additionally (as of 3 PM) , 1 of 4 reactors at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture has exploded, releasing radiation into the atmosphere.

This is very serious. It feels like the end of the world.

If you can help in any way, please do.

Thank you.

Brian Southwick

The Great Earthquake of 2011

2011-03-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

Today, March 11, at 2:46 PM, a magnitude 8.9 earthquake, Japan's strongest ever, occurred offshore Miyagi prefecture. Over the next 45 minutes 4 more quakes were recorded, each with a magnitude of at least 7, at points along a line stretching hundreds of kilometers, roughly parallel to the Pacific coast, in the direction of Tokyo. Within 40 min. of the first quake, tsunami had begun inundating coastal areas, with devastating effect. As of now, multiple waves of tsunami have devastated hundreds of kilometers of Japan's coastline and lowlying areas inland. Nearly 9 hours have passed as of this writing, and tsunami warnings remain in effect for most of the country, with the most vulnerable areas told to expect waves as high as 10 meters. NHK, the public broadcaster, puts the death toll as of 12:20 AM at more than 200, with hundreds confirmed missing. Petroleum refineries are ablaze, fires are raging out of control in several communities, millions are without power, thousands of homes are uninhabitable, and rail networks are paralyzed.

Areas in red have been warned of tsunami reaching more than 10 meters.

Update, 12:40 AM: death toll raised by NHK to more than 300

Futagawa: View #36 of Hiroshige's Tokai Road Series

2011-03-10T05:28:00.000-08:00

Futagawa, Aichi prefecture, as depicted by Hiroshige

Hiroshige's "Yoshida" View, with Toyokawa Bridge: #37

2011-03-07T22:28:00.000-08:00

Hiroshige's woodcut shows steeplejacks, or tobi, repairing a castle beside the river Toyo in present-day Aichi. Years ago one of my students at middle school decided not to continue his education, opting instead to become a steeplejack. I suggested to one of my colleagues that perhaps this wasn't a particularly wise move for the young man. The teacher's wry comment: the accomplished tobi can make as much as 1,000,000 yen in a month (approx. $11,000). By the way, the Japanese term for "black kite" (the bird) is tobi, and the two share the following Chinese character: 鳶 .

On the Tokai Road Again: Hiroshige's Woodcut Series, # 38

2011-03-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

Hiroshige's print shows a view of Edo-era Goyu, a neighborhood in present-day Toyokawa City, Aichi prefecture. The man seated at right has a tub for bathing the feet and appears to be directing the attendant's attention to a particularly bothersome blister, no doubt caused by the chafing of his straw sandals, or waraji. The lower photos show views of the area today.

Japanese Minister Quits over Donations

2011-03-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

Seiji Maehara announced on March 6 his resignation as Japan's Foreign Minister. Maehara bowed to pressure that he quit after it was discovered his political funds committee had accepted donations from a Korean permanent resident over a period of five years. (Japanese law prohibits political donations from non-citizens and corporations that are 51% foreign-owned.) How much did Maehara receive from the Korean friend whose restaurant the former often visited when a schoolboy? Brace yourself: 250,000 yen, or approximately 3,000 American dollars. What would the US Chambers of Congress look like if foreign persons, corporations, and governments were forbidden to buy US politicians?

Supreme Injustice

2011-03-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

The US is stuck with this supreme court criminal until he croaks. In Japan most supreme court justices are over 60 when appointed and must retire at age 70. And, in Japan court justices are subjected to a people's review and can be recalled by popular demand.

The Evil Twins

2011-03-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

In an earlier post I refer to the "evil twins", the brothers Koch. These bastards own the second largest privately held conglomerate in the US and the 16th richest corporation in the world. Oh, did I mention that these fascist pricks also own the Tea Party Movement and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, among other elected officials? Hooray for the US, that has such people in it! Koch-controlled companies to boycott: Invista, Georgia-Pacific, Flint Hills Resources, Koch Pipeline, Koch Fertilizer, Koch Minerals, Matador Cattle Co. The Japan angle: Hideki Tojo.

Codpiece in Chief

2011-03-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

What's the Japan angle? I'll come to that later. First, allow me to introduce Scott Walker, my nomination for Putz of the Year (We're barely a quarter into the annum, but this guy is a pants-down favorite for the honor.) Walker, Governor (sic) of Wisconsin, is hoping to destroy public workers' unions (particularly that of public teachers) in the state that gave birth to the movement, and his draconian measures would starve the state's school districts of their tax base. Did wonderboy Walker come up with these brilliant ideas on his very own? No, he's a myrmidon of the evil Koch twins. The Japan angle: while labor unions in Japan are generally weaker than their US counterparts (and that's saying something), the developments in Wisconsin are unthinkable to my Japanese teacher-colleagues.

The Sumo Match-fixing Scandal

2011-02-14T23:28:00.000-08:00

The Japan Sumo Association is embroiled in the worst scandal in the history of the national sport. Evidence obtained from wrestlers' cell phones during an unrelated investigation into illegal gambling revealed the not-illegal, but certainly unsportsmanlike, practice of match-fixing among a number of wreslers just below sumo's upper division. The term yaocho refers to this practice, and the word has an interesting derivation. It seems there was a greengrocer, one Chobe, who lived during the Meiji Era. Now the Japanese for "greengrocer" is yaoya, and as Chobe was the tencho, or manager, of his shop, he went by the appellation yaocho. Chobe was an avid and accomplished player of the Japanese game of go, and a frequent visitor to his shop was a former sumo wrestler who fancied the game himself. Rather than risk offending this customer and losing the man's custom, Chobe, the superior player of the two, would allow his opponent to win. And this is how throwing a sumo bout came to be called yaocho.

The Matoi, or Fireman's Standard

2011-02-14T22:38:00.000-08:00

The fireman's standard, or matoi , is not just for firemen or the fully clothed.

The "Thrice" Sedge Hat

2011-01-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

Sando means "three times," "thrice". So why is this mushroom-shaped hat called the sando kasa? In the Edo Era (1603-1868), Osaka merchants established a courier service connecting Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Letters and parcels were sent three times a month, on the 2nd, 12th, and 22nd, and were delivered by "postmen" wearing hats like the one above. In this way the hat came to be known as the "thrice sedge hat". The sando kasa became widely adopted for the protection it offered against rain and sun, shielding the heads of travelers and farm laborers as well as the postmens' pates.

A Service Announcement

2011-01-10T22:53:00.000-08:00

Most online shops retailing Japanese products sell items of inferior quality, if made in Japan at all. Japanese lacquer-coated chopsticks for only $2.95 a pair? Buy several, because you'll find the lacquer gone after only a few meals. Premium green tea for just $9.95. That's a half-brewed idea; the truly good stuff goes for a bit more.

If you can tell me approximately what you want and, more importantly, how much you want to spend, I can find the item for you. The product you desire at the quality you deserve. Guaranteed.

Drop me a line at japanglimpsed@yahoo.com.

Brian S.

A "Sumiyoshi" Shrine

2011-01-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

Osaka City's Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine complex contains a nice example of the sumiyoshi style. Note the crossed beams (chigi) at the ends of the roof and those perpendicular to the ridge, called katsuoki, the latter deriving their name from the Japanese word katsuo, meaning "bonito".

A "Nagare-tsukuri" Shrine

2011-01-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

Most of the shrines in Japan are built in the "Nagare-tsukuri" style. The distinctive feature of such shrines is the uneven length of the two roof sections, the front being somewhat longer than the rear.

Minehonsha, situated atop Mt. Oyama (3003 m) in Toyama Prefecture, is an example of the nagare style.

A "Hie-zukuri" Shrine

2011-01-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

Check out the curves of the Niigata Great Shrine, located across the street from my house in downtown Niigata City. The shrine is a fine example of the "Hie" style of Shinto architecture.

Japanese Shrines: You've Seen One, But You Haven't Seen Them All

2010-11-22T05:49:00.000-08:00

Shinto shrines may look alike, but there are numerous architectural styles. The above is the main hall at Izumo Oyashiro in Shimane, a famous example of the Taisha Style.

Fall in the City

2010-11-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

more town shots of fall foliage

More Fall in the City

2010-11-14T18:41:00.000-08:00

The former residence of a wealthy family of importers, the house and gardens date from the 1920s and are now the property of Niigata City and open to the public.

Fall in the City

2010-11-14T18:34:00.000-08:00

cherry trees (さくら) showing their fall color at a local park

Japanese ginko, with storehouse (kura) in the lower photo

Misc. Photos from a Recent Excursion to Yamagata Prefecture

2010-10-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

Japanese Clogs # 2: Nomeri Geta

2010-09-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

These shoes incline forward, towards the toe, and are named accordingly. What is the merit of this arrangement? I confess that I haven't the slightest, as they say. I shall ask my mother-in-law, an expert on such matters, about these geta. But in the meantime, let's enjoy the clogs' nice curves.

The "Koma" Geta for Women

2010-09-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

What a lovely shoe for women. As for the price, 7,000 yen (about $75), a quite reasonable figure.

Japanese Clogs, or Geta

2010-09-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

The traditional Japanese footwear is the wooden clog, called geta. Several styles are available, so the following posts will introduce the visitor to the world of Japanese shoes.

More Bits and Pieces: The Jizaikage

2010-09-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

The jizaikage is the pot hanger from which a kettle or cooking pot is suspended above the brazier (irori) in traditional Japanese homes.

The Bura Lantern

2010-08-31T05:38:00.000-07:00

I confess to being more than a little unsure where one lantern leaves off and the next commences, but so be it. Lanterns are an integral part of Japanese festivals and culture, and whether or not you remember their names, it is easy to appreciate their charm.

The Gifu Lantern

2010-08-31T05:10:00.000-07:00

The Yumibari Lantern

2010-08-31T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hako Chouchin (箱提灯), or the Box Lantern

2010-08-19T04:20:00.000-07:00

the box lantern, or hako chouchin

The Odawara Lantern

2010-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

- another Japanese lantern, the Odawara.

The Koubari Lantern

2010-08-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

- the koubari lantern at a summer festival. The lantern derives its name from the long pole to which it is attached.

The "Chouchin", or Japanese Lantern

2010-08-14T05:15:00.000-07:00

For me there is just something about the Japanese paper lantern, or chouchin. Hung beside the entrance to eating and drinking establishments, it is simply inviting, promising all manner of gustatory and bibulous pleasures. Depending from the gateway to a temple or shrine, it is awesomely impressive. And carried by Japanese children for the festival of the dead, the chouchin is unutterably touching. But enough of the purple prose. Did you know that there were no fewer than six types of paper lantern? No, you say? Then let's illuminate.

More Bits and Pieces: The "Chasen"

2010-08-14T04:39:00.000-07:00

The chasen is the bamboo whisk used to stir the powdered green tea in the tea ceremony. Not all chasen are equal: this baby will set you back 74,000円, or nearly $800. Must be something in the bamboo.

Motorcycle Diaries, Vol. III; Misc. Photos from Sumon Mura

2010-08-14T01:46:00.000-07:00

By noon I had hoped to go all the way to Niigata's border with Fukushima, but owing to delays caused by a flat tire and inclement weather, I opted to lunch and begin my return journey in Sumon Village, some 25k short of the goal. Before leaving home in the morning I emptied the contents of a couple of cans of beans into a plastic container and added some smoked ham and Crystal Brand hot sauce to the mix; one match fired up my EPI Gas stove, and within minutes my meal was ready. Afterwards I boiled a pot of water for post-prandial coffee. My vintage Optimus looks decidedly cooler as a cooker, but is nowhere near as fast or trouble-free as the EPI. In any case I discovered the former was out of fuel before departing.

Motorcycle Diaries Vol. III; Misc Photos

2010-08-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

S(team) L(ocomotive) Land, Sumon Mura, Niigata. How did this train get here? The nearest line is only 2k distant, but the way is narrow, winding, and steep. A forlorn engine and sleeper car, neglected for some time. Twenty years ago the SL and neighboring campground and hot springs would have been a bustling tourist attraction. Today, the place is sadly derelict but by no means unique; the Japanese countryside is dotted with such mementoes of the bubble years.

Motorcycle Diaries Vol. III: Misc. Photos of a Trip to Sumon Mura

2010-08-14T01:33:00.000-07:00

A wet 175k on the motorbike, though this is not evident from the photos. I had my first flat ever on the machine some 50k from home on the outward-bound leg. Although it was his day off, Mr. Shimizu fixed my wheel, made some adjustments to brakes and chain, and even gave me a discount on the labor. Thank you, Shimizu-sama.

Motorcycle Diaries Vol. II: Soba for Lunch

2010-07-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

Motorcycle Diaries Vol. II: Misc. Photos

2010-07-25T05:28:00.000-07:00

Motorcycle Diaries Vol. II: Misc Photos

2010-07-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

Bits and Pieces: the Chigi and Katsuokiｉ

2010-07-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what the ornamental crossbeams atop the roofs of shrines were called? Probably not, but for what it's worth, they are chigi （千木）．The beams placed parallel to each other, at right angles to the ridge of the roof, are called katsuoki (鰹木）． Both function to strengthen the structure. The great shrine in Shimane prefecture, Izumo Taisha, offers noteworthy examples of the two features. 　

The Koban, or Police Box

2010-06-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

The predecessor of the modern neighborhood police box, or koban, dates at least to the Edo era (1603-1867)．Charles Dunn, in Everyday Life in Traditional Japan, writes "{The officer of the peace}took with him two or three assistants and called at the various watchpoints that were sited in the subdivisions, manned by a representative of the local residents' association." The powerful local residents' association, which today maintains a strict watch on, among other things, the garbage collection stations in its jurisdiction, meting out severe chastisement on those who deposit their waste before the mandated time or, heaven forbid, on the wrong day, was likewise in days of old a formidable social institution.
　

Goodbye to All That: Back to the Old Tokai Road：　Akasaka, #39

2010-06-30T00:00:00.001-07:00

ａｂｏｖｅ：　ａ　ｌｉｖｅｌｙ　ｉｎｎ　ｓｃｅｎｅ　ａｔ　Ａｋａｓａｋａ，　Ｔｏｙｏｋａｗａ，　Ａｉｃｈｉ

ｂｅｌｏｗ：　ｔｈｅ　Ｏｈａｓｈｉｙａ　ｉｎ　ｔｏｄａｙ’ｓ　Ｔｏｙｏｋａｗａ　

Louisiana- Intellectual Swamp

2010-06-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've dedicated several posts to berating British Petroleum for the negligence that led to the gulf spill as well as for the callous comments that have since gushed from its executive mouthpieces and its feckless response to the disaster. The Obama administration has tar on its face too, as I have written. But to date I have said little about the Louisiana yokels chanting "Drill, baby, drill" even as an ecological catastrophe of biblical proportions unfolds in their own backyards. The photos, taken in Houma, La. (location of clean-up's central command), speak volumes and require no further comment.

British Petroleum and the Cops vs. Andrew Wheelan

2010-06-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Andrew Wheelan is the conservation coordinator for the American Birding Association. As a trained biologist and official BP volunteer, he's been assisting the rescue of oiled birds and other wildlife in coastal Louisiana. Follow this link to the video in which he is hassled by local law enforcement outside BP in Houma, La., after an unsuccessful attempt to do his volunteer duty and warn the corporation of the risks posed by the oil dispersant Corexit. He's one of many doing great work in south Louisiana, and the ABA has established a fund to help them. Please make a donation, however small.

BP: The Big People and the Small

2010-06-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

Not long ago British Petroleum executive Carl-Henric Svanberg condescendingly told reporters that his company genuinely "cared about the small people" whose lives have been destroyed by BP's criminal negligence. Yes, in BP's worldview there are the small people (and creatures) who don't own $700,000 yachts named 'Bob' or live in palatial spreads like that of CEO Tony "I want my life back" Hayward. And then there are the big people who do, and therefore matter. Bastards.

Meet Joe Barton

2010-06-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

The Obama administration recently, belatedly, announced that it woud force BP, the oil giant responsible for the worst environmental disaster in US history, to set up an escrow account of $20 billion to compensate victims. Enter Joe Barton, US congressman from Texas. "A government shakedown," he thundered. "Screw the victims," he may as well have said. Joe, buddy, go 'Dick Cheney' yourself.

Back to BP: Bob and the Birds

2010-06-23T00:31:00.000-07:00

First, two great sites covering the environmental disaster in coastal Louisiana: http://www.rsairphoto.com/ and http://birding.typepad.com/gulf/ . Heartbreaking photos and infuriating news about British Petroleum, the US government, and local authorities' handling of the response. But I'm relieved to know that Tony Hayward, the BP bastard who until a few days ago ran his corporation's hapless effort to contain and clean up the spill, found time a couple of weekends back to attend a yachting regatta in southern England. He's a family man, we are told, and he hadn't had a day off since the explosion aboard BP's rig. He deserved a break aboard his $700,000 yacht, Bob (boat on the left, and I'm not making this up). Something I'm sure the people (not to mention the wildlife) whose lives have been ruined by BP's criminal negligence would appreciate. BP bastards.

High School Sports Day Photos: The Honey Bees

2010-06-14T06:19:00.000-07:00