Foreigners in Japan: A Handbook for Survival

In the past year, the Takaichi government has introduced significant changes to immigration policies, making an extended stay in Japan difficult for some, rendering a change in visa status a distant dream for others. A mate and I are working on a YouTube channel about this to help foreigners in the country navigate the new and changing regulations. First stop: Spousal Visa

Akane Tomoko, ICC Judge

Akane Tomoko is a Japanese judge serving on the International Criminal Court. Like other members of the court, she has been sanctioned by the criminals in Washington DC. I strongly recommend this small volume, which crackles with righteous indignation at the attacks on the court and the essential work it does holding to account state actors accused of using the powers of government to violate human rights. "世界はトランプの暴挙を許さない" roughly translates as "The world does not tolerate Trump's outrages". Well done, USA.

Vintage Clothing Store: Memory Lane

Insider Trading

Akutagawa's story アグニの神 is set in Hong Kong at the home of a soothsayer who receives a visit from an American merchant who will pay handsomely for inside information regarding the impending outbreak of hostilities between Japan and America. The passage in question: 亜米利加人は煙草を啣くはへたなり、狡猾かうくわつさうな微笑を浮べました。 「一体日米戦争はいつあるかといふことなんだ。それさへちやんとわかつてゐれば、我々商人は忽たちまちの内に、大金儲けが出来るからね。」 I am reminded of prescient stock trades made by Trump insiders before US bombings of Iranian targets.

Getting Old As An Expat

It's difficult when medical, end-of-life issues arise for family back 'home'. As I'm now experiencing.

The Magic of Akutagawa

The story: 魔術 It's become one of my favorite Akutagawa stories, I've now read it numerous times, new discoveries with each rereading. The scene in question involves an act of,what, legerdemain, and Akutagawa's choice of the term 撒き散らす to describe spreading or scattering. Now, 撒き散らす is an unusual choice, in my opinion, as either kanji (撒くor 散らす) by itself would have done. 撒き散らす。So, where's the difference, what's the point? The point: 撒き散らすrefers to spreading or sprinkling, of course. But there's more: there's a sense of wasting money. And squandering money (and other things), is what the second part of the story is about. A wonderful story. さすがに芥川。

The Constitution Does Not Apply To Foreigners

This appeared in the Tokyo Shinbun yesterday: 重病で生活保護適用を求めたガーナ人の敗訴確定　最高裁が上告棄却、裁判長は反対意見「著しく人道に反する」：東京新聞デジタル https://share.google/00IgzodKxgpi3lyWQ The report is about a man from Ghana who arrived in Japan in 2015 and thereafter was diagnosed with kidney failure. (The article suggests he was allowed into Japan on that basis- or for some health reason- and was not permitted to work- 療養を目的とする在留資格で就労はできない- Why not allow him to work?)) After years of receiving thrice-weekly dialysis treatments, he applied for welfare assistance and was rejected. The man's case eventually made its way to the supreme court, which ruled against him, arguing that the Constitution of Japan guarantees such benefits only to Japanese citizens (not the first such ruling). The author of the majority opinion also opined that he's (a he and former prosecutor) opposed to such an excessive (remarkable, noteworthy, 著しい;) sense of humanitarian (人道) responsibility on the part of the local authority being sued. It's not a simple case: the man was allowed to enter Japan for treatment, apparently, and under what terms is unclear. What is clear is that I could be denied such assistance. I'm not a citizen, true. And I'm not being told I have to pack my bags and leave, like Brits in Sweden. What's common is the shock to the system when you are told your contributions (socially, culturally, economically) to your adopted and adoptive home just don't matter enough.

畑の子, Kanazawa: One of the Best Meals I've Ever Had

畑の子 https://share.google/aschb5IPAjA8kv9aOt A small place, one lunch menu (went then), three seatings, 11:30 to 12:20 the first. We didn't have a reservation but were lucky. Reservations strongly recommended.

Shogi Champion Fujii Wins Again

Reigning shogi king Fujii Sota wins his seventh consecutive title. His annual earnings are estimated to be between 100 and 200 million yen, more than many professional athletes in Japan. 将棋の王位戦、藤井聡太王位が伊藤匠二冠破り7連覇　「最後まで粘り強く指せた」：中日新聞Web https://share.google/y1bYGuSs8GG7yt8p0

Surprising Sweatshirt Sighting

From 31 years ago, the Million Man March on DC, to downtown Niigata City. Unimaginable - I mean the march.