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Road Safety
2007-12-23 06:29:00
????The caption reads: "Please raise your hand on the crossing," followed by an ad for a clinic. Kindergarten-aged children are taught to raise their arms as they cross the road to be more visible. The old and vulnerable can often be seen doing the same as they navigate Japan's busy, vehicle-choked streets.Things are improving slightly for Japan's luckless pedestrians as the annual cull of their number by drunk and incompetent drivers is falling. In a country where sidewalks are a luxury, it pays to "be seen, be safe" and wear something bright at night. Public outrage at the number of deaths caused by drunk drivers finally forced the government to increase the penalties for such offences. Road deaths in Japan reached an all time high of 16,765 in 1970 gradually falling to 6,352 in 2006. The UK with roughly half Japan's population recorded 3,201 traffic fatalities in 2005, the USA with nearly triple Japan's population had a staggering 42,636 traffic deaths in 2004.Yahoo Japan Auc...
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Ozu Yasujiro Seishunkan Museum
2007-12-22 10:42:00
????????Matsusaka in Mie Prefecture is situated a little way north up the Ise coast from Toba. Matsusaka is worth visiting not only for its picturesque castle walls and former samurai houses (Gojoban Yashiki), but also for the small but fascinating Ozu Yasujiro Seishunkan Museum - dedicated to the famous film director, who spent his youth here in rural Mie Prefecture.Ozu Yasujiro, is best known for his classic film Tokyo Story which was released in 1953. His major themes of family life portray ordinary people in ordinary situations struggling to adapt to the changes of post-war Japan. Ozu's movies such as Early Spring, The End Of Summer and Early Summer are both mysterious and poignant.Ozu (1903-1963) was born in Tokyo but moved to his father's home town of Matsusaka aged 10 and lived in the town until 1923 when he returned to Tokyo to begin work for the Shochiku Film Company as a cameraman.The museum details Ozu's seemingly happy, though wild childhood with displays of his coppe...
More About: Nagoya

Chofu Shimonoseki
2007-12-21 08:46:00
?????Chofu is a small castle town of the Mori Clan just east of central Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture.It's not large and can be pleasantly explored on foot by following the free guide map available at the tourist office in the centre of town on Route 9.There are many Edo-period buildings behind the high earthen walls that line the streets and along the picturesque small river that is populated by many ducks and carp.Some of the samurai residences are open to the public as is the Chofu Mori residence, the mansion of the last Lord of the Chofu Domain. Not completed until 1903, but it has two nice gardens.Kazan-ji Temple (Tel: 0832 45 0258) was built in 1321, though much restoration was carried out in the 17th Century. The main building, the Butsu-den, is original and is designated a National Treasure.In the centre of the town is Iminomiya Shrine. August 7th to 13th is the best time to visit the shrine, during the Suhouteisai Festival . During the day the area in front of the shr...
More About: Kyushu , Monos

Roppongi Tunnel art
2007-12-20 07:39:00
??????????I was walking home from Roppongi last night, all the way to Nakano, about a two-hour hike, but?it was a beautiful crisp, cool winter night with stars twinkling in the crystal clear air and a yellow crescent moon low in the sky.I walked though Roppongi Tunnel , which comes out at the National Art Center Tokyo. Inside the tunnel are several murals sponsored by the Tokyo metropolitan government. One of them was the one pictured here: a series of stiched together slices of typical street scenes in Tokyo - although definitely of the city's better off areas.Anyway, I liked the clean, airy effect that comes across even in the somewhat dingy tunnel, and even after sundown. (BTW, the mural was taken as a panorama later stitched together, thus the wonkiness.)Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in JapanHappi CoatsTagsJapan Tokyo Roppongi Tunnel art

The Office Hours Are Un-Japanese
2007-12-19 15:31:00
??????????????????????People are always telling me I work really un-Japanese hoursTo emphasis the point of un-Japaneseness the girl in this ad on a Nagoya subway is wearing a blond wig and a false nose.It's been a while since I've seen the false nose used in advertising...though buying a gaijin set of false nose and accessories is not a problem. They are lots of fun at parties and Halloween and available on Rakuten.To emphasise "nose" (hana) there is probably a play on words with hanareshita (????) and dana (??) in the copy. Cool!Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in JapanHappi CoatsTagsJapan Advertising gaijin Nagoya nose
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Onizuka Mara Kannon
2007-12-19 09:08:00
????I was driving along Route 495 from Munakata to Fukuoka City, in northern Kyushu , when I spotted what looked like a really interesting Chinese-style roof on a small roadside shrine.Turned out to be another Mara Kannon temple specializing in fertility.As well as a some fine examples of carved penises, there were a couple of sculptures very reminiscent of Hindu sculptures, including one of a couple engaging in coitus.The shrine is located right on Route 495, just outside Tsuyazaki Town.Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in JapanHappi CoatsTagsJapan kannon Shinto shrine Kyushu
More About: Shrine , Anno

Book Review: The Asian Vegan Kitchen
2007-12-18 08:37:00
??????????????????? The Asian Vegan Kitchen The Asian Vegan Kitchenby Hema ParekhKodansha InternationalISBN 4-7700-3069-6192 ppEven the unreconstructed meat-eater in me could not resist this book. Hema Parekh has collected a wide variety of recipes from around Asia that look and sound wonderful. She is a well-known teacher of vegetarian cooking in Tokyo, and has chosen 200 recipes from many countries in the Far East.The recipes include sushi, northern Indian curries, Vietnamese spring rolls, and spicy Chinese tofu. There are also recipes from Burma, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.The recipes are simple, and the book contains an easy-to-use glossary.This carnivore was nearly converted.Review ed by C. Ogawa Buy this book from AmazonUSA UK JapanBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsJapanese FictionHappi CoatsTagsJapan Hema Parekh Asian Food Vegan
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Anti-Racist Graffiti Poster
2007-12-17 02:38:00
???????On the way back from an outing to a hot spring in Shiga Prefecture, which is just east of Kyoto, this poster stared me in the face as I stood at a urinal in a JR train station toilet.What this poster says, literally, is:"If you find racist graffiti, please tell a station employee immediately. People hate [the red is peeled back] thoughtless, crude graffiti..."The word covered by the "Graffiti Banned" poster within a poster is no doubt "buraku" or perhaps worse.Any reference to "human rights" in Japan--from the small signs on Kyoto buses to large banners outside schools near certain stigmatized communities--is code for Japan's "buraku" community, and to a lesser extent Koreans.These signifiers--the signs and banners and pleas for "thinking about human rights"--tell the uninformed that Japan's outcaste population lives nearby in one of the many buraku, or "villages," spread throughout Japan.The amazing thing, in the case of the burakumin people, is that they are racially and ...
More About: Poster , Discrimination , Racist , Anti

Japan This Week 12/16/07
2007-12-16 12:03:00
????? Japan stunned by shooting at sports club.YomiuriJapanese wives forcing men to sit on the toilet while peeing--lest they"miss" and foul the bog. Almost half of men surveyed admitted to sittingwhen taking a leak.GuardianBusiness sentiment in Japan is falling in part because of the US economy,the rising yen, and the cost of oil.AsahiMan arrested for throwing panties into neighbor's gardens described as"friendly and a stickler for cleanliness."MainichiLast week's Japan newsBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsJapanese FictionHappi CoatsTagsJapan Japan News Japan Statistics sex politics
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Nima Sand Museum
2007-12-15 10:33:00
???????????How long does it take for 1 ton of sand to fall through an aperture 0.85mm wide?Exactly one year!At least according to what is believed to be the largest hourglass-sandtimer in the world, located in the Nima Sand Museum in Nima, Shimane .Every December 31st at midnight the huge timer, measuring 5 metres in height with a diameter of 1 meter, is ceremonially turned over to begin marking time for the next year.Opened in 1991, the Sand Museum was built because the local mayor thought that the sand at a nearby beach, Kotogahama, which squeaked and "sang" when walked on, was worthy of being a tourist attraction. Other than the giant sandtimer, the museum has a handful of artworks that utilize sand, but like many attractions in Japan, the architecture is far more interesting that what is housed inside.The Sand Museum is built into the side of the hill, and is topped by 6 glass and steel pyramids, the largest of which houses the Sandtimer.The Sand Museum was never a great draw, an...

Nanachan Nagoya
2007-12-13 16:00:00
?????Nagoya is a fashion-conscious city. The prevailing creed: "If you have the cash - flaunt it!"This industrial, no-nonsense city has even spawned its own look among young women - the "Nagoya gyarusu" trend.Carrot beehives, feather boas, tight, satin hot-pants even when the weather is hovering just above zero, high-heels, shed loads of make-up and a Louis Vuitton accessory or six all thrown together for the complete $50 "hooker look."Well, its understandable when you consider one of the city's defining icons is the 7m tall mannequin Nanachan. Turn right out of the Hirokoji exit of Nagoya Station and there she is -- white, bald, legs akimbo and very, very tall.Nanachan gets a makeover two or three times a month and usually dresses according to the season. This year the 600kg girl with the 2m bust has been seen in a bikini, a festival happi coat and a Chunichi Dragons uniform after the local team won the Japan Series.At the minute Nanachan is in a fetching Santa kind of thing.To se...
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Chinese Character of the Year: "False"
2007-12-13 01:42:00
???????Every December the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation chooses a single Chinese character that is supposed to best represent the past year.Submissions are sent in from around Japan.Then, at Kyoto 's Kiyomizu Temple, the head priest reveals the kanji that has been chosen. On December 12, Seihan Mori drew the chosen character on a sign measuring 1.5 meters high by 1.3 meters wide.This year's "winner" was ?, which can be read "gi" or "nise." The meaning is "false."In addition to the usual political and business-world scandals, 2007 witnessed many cases of mislabeling by some of the big names in the food industry: Senba Kicho, Shiroi Koibito, McDonald's, Akafuku, Fujiya, and more.The sign bearing the kanji will be on display at the Temple until December 31.Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in JapanHappi CoatsTagsJapan Tokyo Kyoto Kanji Kiyomizu Temple
More About: Character , Year

Get slightly richer ever so slowly
2007-12-12 13:09:00
??????In my mailbox this evening from one of Japan 's biggest banks, a special offer called their "Winter Gift Campaign": government bonds for the ordinary consumer!...and at a compelling 0.68% for 10 years (actually 0.544% when tax is deducted) and an irresistable 0.94% (0.752% after tax) for 5 years.Well, with Japan's total borrowing standing at the end of September this year at (get ready for it) 833,698,200,000,000 (eight hundred thirty-three trillion, six hundred ninety-eight billion, two hundred million) yen, or, in US dollars, 7,499,210,647,971 (seven trillion, four hundred ninety-nine billion, two hundred ten million, six hundred forty-seven thousand, nine hundred seventy-one) - which is well over 150% of the nation's GDP - you can imagine them not wanting to pay a lot for the privilege of yet adding to it further!Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in JapanHappi CoatsTagsJapan finance government bonds...
More About: Finance , Bank , National Debt , Richer

Spiral Towers Nagoya
2007-12-11 14:29:00
?????????A new skyscraper in the Nagoya Station area is nearing completion. The 170m Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers building will join Midland Square and the Lucent Tower as the latest high rise in the Meieki district.The tower, which bears a passing resemblance to the Gherkin, designed by Sir Norman Foster in London, was designed by Nikken Sekkei and built by Mitsui Real Estate. The building is due to open in February 2008.Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in JapanHappi CoatsTagsJapan skyscraper Nagoya
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Links for 2007-12-09 [del.icio.us]
2007-12-10 07:00:00
Dongyue Temple Beijing :: Beijing Visitor
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Japan This Week 12/9/07
2007-12-09 12:11:00
????? As a result of economic reforms, Japan 's cities are booming while rural areas are dying.New York TimesGovernment task force recommends earmarking 6.8 trillion yen (US$60 billion) to combat Japan's declining birth rate.Japan TimesDemocratic Party of Japan Head Ichiro Ozawa in Beijing to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao.AsahiInterview with the King of Pink: Director Koji Wakamatsu.Midnight EyeCompared to the English-speaking world, the Japanese have gone blog wild. They write Web logs at per capita rates that are off the global charts.Washington PostJunior high school students to learn about the AV industry.MainichiJapan StatisticsTokyo has an estimated 35,000 taxis operating from 333 taxi companies.Source: Construction & Transport MinistryThree prisoners on death row were executed on Friday and for the first time their names were released by the Justice Ministry. There are presently 104 individuals awaiting execution in Japan.Source: Justice MinistryThere are more th...
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Abandoned Cars in Japan
2007-12-08 14:12:00
???Abandon ed cars are a common site in the suburbs of Japan 's main urban areas. Once the shaken (vehicle safety certificate) has expired after two years on an old car it is often more economical to buy a new or second-hand motor than have the old one fixed up to a standard to pass the shaken test.However, it costs money to have a car scrapped and also the license plates must be handed in to the vehicle registration authorities in a process that can take half a day if you do it yourself rather than pay a company to do the paperwork on your behalf.Result -- lots of abandoned wrecks on Japan's streets. After a few days the neighbors will report the abandoned vehicle to the local ward office, who will slap a yellow and red sticker on it...and then do nothing.The car in the photo was ticketed on November 19th 2007, I'll let you know when and if it finally gets towed away.Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in Japa...
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Monkeys
2007-12-07 07:46:00
?So..., I was sitting quietly at my desk when I was disturbed by a noise on the roof above me, so I popped my head out the door just in time to see a big male monkey jump off my roof with a persimmon in his hand and bound off into the woods. From the other noises and movements in the trees I could see that the whole troop of about 20 monkeys were paying us a visit, or rather were engaging in a raid not only on my persimmon trees, but also the gardens, where daikons are a favored choice.The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) are common and widespread throughout Japan, and its estimated that there may be as many 150,000, having enjoyed a population explosion from about 15,000, 60 years ago. I grabbed my camera and went outside and was lucky enough to get some shots thanks to my trusty zoom lens. I?ve spent many an enjoyable hour sitting looking out of my window and watching the monkeys behaviour,? the moms with their babies on their backs, the adolescents, not yet frightened of man and...
More About: Monkey , Shimane , Monkeys

Trendiest Expressions of 2007
2007-12-05 12:56:00
????????The annual list of the trendiest words was announced in Tokyo yesterday.Topping the list for 2007 was an expression from a local dialect from Miyazaki Prefecture: ?????????? (Do gen ka sen to ikan). Meaning "I/we/somebody have/has to do something (to solve a problem)," it was popularized by former tv talent and current Miyazaki governor Sonomama Higashi (ne Hideo Higashi).Number two was ?????? (hanikami oji). This refers to the embarrassed smiles of teenage golfer and serious heartthrob Ryo Ishikawa. He is enormously popular among women. "Oji" means prince, "hanikami" bashful. Thus, the image is of an attractive, humble young man not sure how to respond to the attention of many women fans.3. ??? (o gui). Literally, this means "big eater" or "eat a lot." This was made popular by the tv idol Gyaru (gal) Sone, who is of a normal build but can eat with the best of them. She is alleged to have downed 70 plates of sushi in one go.4. ????? (kieta nenkin). The expression "vanished...
More About: Kyushu , Expressions , Kyoto

Four Stories -- Osaka
2007-12-05 12:37:00
Four Stories Japan Winter Season Opening Night in Osaka !Four Stories returns to Japan on December 16th. We are back in Osaka and have a great lineup.FEATURING prose readings from:* Jane Joritz-Nakagawa, author of Skin Museum and Aquiline; poet, essayist and associate professor at a national university in Japan, whose work has been featured in New American Writing, ACM, Tinfish, 580 Split, Otoliths, One Less, and numerous other literary journals, anthologies and zines.* Chris Page, editor of Kansai Scene magazine; author of the novel Weed; and writer of short stories and articles in The London Magazine, The London News Review, and more.* Tracy Slater, Four Stories Boston and Four Stories Japan founder; teacher of writing and literature in Boston University's Prison Education Program; author of essays in or forth...
More About: Tokyo , Verse

Hikone Castle Shiga Prefecture
2007-12-03 17:53:00
???Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture is one of Japan's most beautiful and historic castles.Hikone Castle is set on the shores of Japan's largest lake - Biwako - and is an easy day trip from Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya .Completed in 1622 after 20 years in construction, the ornate, black and white fortress was the base of the local Ii family daimyo (feudal lords).The castle's impressive, stone walls and double moats are designated as important cultural properties and the wooden stables (umaya), just outside the castle's main gate, are the only surviving example of a castle's stables in Japan. Horses were kept ready here for riders to take messages to neighbouring provinces and along the Tokaido via change of horse to Edo (Tokyo).Also worth visiting within the castle grounds is the Genkyu-en strolling garden, built around a large, ornamental pond in the Chinese style in the late 17th century. There are good views of the castle on the hill above and a chance to sample traditional Japanes...
More About: Kone

Japan This Week 12/2/07
2007-12-02 13:04:00
?????China and Japan begin trade talks, hoping to improve bilateral relations.New York TimesOut of fear of angering the US, Japan cancels tour for Chinese sailors, in Japan on a historic visit, to an Aegis ship.Japan TimesJapan McDonald's falsely labeled food production dates for six years.Daily YomiuriBanned Mongolian grand champion sumo wrestler returns to Japan, vows to change his ways.GuardianSex brings good fortune, says soothsayer, especially when it involves women in red panties or couples that sprinkle themselves with gold leaf.MainichiJapan StatisticsJapan was in 91st place out of 128 countries for gender equality in a ranking by the Swiss-based World Economic Forum.Source: The Kansai Time OutTaxi fares in Tokyo will increase tomorrow from 660 yen to 710 yen. Kerosene prices have hit an all time high of 1628 yen (14.65 USD) for an 18-liter can.Source: Japan TimesA poll of 1757 adults found that 20.4% of Japanese people think that Japan does not have good relations with the...
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Nagoya Friends - Latin Fever at Salsa One 12/8
2007-12-02 12:40:00
Latin Fever at Salsa One in SakaeDate: December 8, 2007 (2nd Saturday) Time: 18:30 - 21:00 Drinks will be served between 6:30pm-8:45pm. Free Salsa Lessons for anyone who wants one! Place: Salsa One, Okuda Bldg 3F, 5-3-4 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya Fee: 3000 Yen Gentlemen, 2500 Yen Ladies Dress code: Anything (Casual, etc) Reservations: Not necessary but recommended and appreciated. Just show up to the party! Over 25,000 Yen worth of exciting prize giveaways each month! First 15 foreigners in the DOOR, only 2000 YEN There will be free food along with free drinks (beers, wine, cocktail drinks and juices). Our party is not a dinner party, but we will have light food & snacks. Quantities are limited, so please come early! Please free to come alone or bring your friends. EVERYBODY is welcome to join regardless of nationality/gender. Reservations are greatly appreciated. About 125-150+ people are expected to attend. Approximately 55% female and 45% male, 70% Japan ese and 30% non-Japanese. ...
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Nagoya Speed Dating 12/15 in Sakae!
2007-12-02 12:38:00
Nagoya International Speed Dating Returns Dec. 15th!!Date: Saturday December 15th, 2007 Time: 6-9pm registration from 6:00 to 6:30pmPlace: STEPS, a new exciting club in the heart of SakaeHasegawa Bldg. 2F, 3-2-29 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya Fee:2500 Yen Gentlemen, 1000 Yen Ladies Price includes 1 free drink!!Dress code: Anything (Casual, etc) Reservations:Regular Reservations,Pre-Paid Reservations, and Drop Ins all welcome Pre Paid spots are Gauranteed!Nagoya Speed Dating is a great way to meet new people in the Aichi, Gifu and Mie Areas! At Nagoya Speed Dating, you will receive a number, an assigned table, and a personalized Speeding Ticket form. When the host says to start you will have between 3 to 5 minutes to talk to the person at your table. When the time is up the host will give you a signal. At that time the men will change tables and the women will remain seated. All you have to do is mark your speeding ticket with a yes or a no for each person. At the end of the event, the tick...
More About: Japan , Tokyo , Kyushu , Nagoya

Izumo Taisha
2007-12-01 11:36:00
????Izumo Taisha, also known as Izumo Oyashiro, is said to be the oldest shrine in Japan having existed on its present site for 1500 years.The current buildings date from 1744 and the main building (honden) is also the largest shrine structure in the country.One of the shrine's presiding kami (gods) is Okuninushi, the deity of marriage and visitors here often come to pray for luck in finding a partner.Outside the main hall of worship are massive straw ropes - shimenawa - good fortune falls on those who can toss a coin that lodges in the cut ends of the ropes.Izumo Taisha is 8km outside Izumo city in Shimane Prefecture and can be reached by train to Izumo Taishamae on the Ichibata Line. The tourist office (Tel: 0853 2100) is just outside the main torii gate to the shrine on your left. Izumo city can be reached by overnight bus from Tokyo and Nagoya and by overnight train from Tokyo Station (the Sunrise Izumo).Yahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Servic...
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Narita Airport Immigration
2007-11-30 17:44:00
???????I went through the new immigration procedures today at Narita Airport near Tokyo .There are now distinct channels for native Japanese citizens, re-entry permit holders and "other foreigners."Narita is so far the only airport to our knowledge that has set up a separate channel for re-entry permit holders so re-entry permit holders at other airports will have to queue in the "other foreigners'" channel.As re-entry permit holders now have their own channel at Narita Airport it should speed up immigration procedures for them as they no longer queue in the Japanese line. However at other airports throughout Japan, immigration procedure times will no doubt lengthen for all foreigners entering the country.The actual fingerprinting of the left and right index fingers is fairly seamless and the same machine takes your mugshot without any blinding flash as you stand at the immigration booth. The surrounds of the screen show cherry blossoms, shrine gates and traditional temples but that...
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Book Review: Losing Kei
2007-11-29 15:26:00
Losing Kei Losing Keiby Suzanne KamataLeap Frog PressISBN 0972898492216 ppSuzanne Kamata touches a nerve, something that may be too painful for some to read. In Losing Kei, she tells the tale of a young mother far from home fighting to regain a son lost permanently due to divorce.In Japan, divorce represents the severing of two ?ie,? or households. If there are children, they almost always are awarded to the mother. The children will henceforth have nothing to do with their father; he is literally ?dead? to them. (A very public example is the case of former Prime Minster Junichiro Koizumi, whose now grown children did not see him for more than a decade following his divorce.) In the case in which the mother is foreign, however, custody is nearly always awarded to the father?and the mother is now the one who no longer exists.Shared custody or visitation rights remain unheard of.Jill Parker is a painter living in rural Japan, an American woman far from home. To support her art she wor...
More About: Divorce , Literature , Book Review , Review , Book

Kyoto Gundam Manga Exhibit
2007-11-25 14:43:00
???????Kyoto 's Eki Bijutsukan, a museum located on the seventh floor of the Kyoto Station building in the Isetan Department Store, is currently hosting a wonderful exhibit of manga drawings by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. He is well-known within Japan; abroad he would be better known for the characters that his work spawned: Gundam .These are the figures that can be taken apart and rebuilt in many ways.The 300 drawings and actual figures in the exhibit are stunning. From large canvases, clearly influenced by traditional Japanese folktales, to huge standing figures--an amazing exhibit.The themes of love and conflict run throughout the works.The Exhibit ion of YASUHIKO Yoshikazu's WorldKyoto Station Museum, 7th Floor of Isetan Department StoreUntil December 2, 200710 am - 8 pmAdults 700 yenYahoo Japan Auction ServiceBook a hotel in Japan with BookingsTokyo Serviced ApartmentsBudget accommodation in JapanHappi CoatsTagsJapan Tokyo Kyoto Manga Gundam

Japan This Week 11/25/07
2007-11-24 13:10:00
?????European aquariums boycott Japan ese goods over Japan's whaling policy.Japan TodayTokyo sees Michelin stars, lots of stars.GuardianFailed investment firm sent $40 million to the US in shrimp scam.Daily YomiuriJapan struggling with its immigrant "problem."BBCVintage Japanese porn.MainichiJapan StatisticsFewer than one in four companies have introduced means to allow workers to balance their private lives with work. Such systems include flex-time, shorter working hours, or "leave for volunteer activities." 24.5% of polled companies said they had flex-time, 20.2% said they had the option to work shorter hours.Source: The Yomiuri ShinbunThe average monthly earnings of full-time employees in September 2007 was 273,008 yen, which was a 0.6% decrease from the previous year.Source: Health, Labor & Welfare MinistryThe Meteorological Agency predicts Japan is in for a very cold December, primarily because of the La Nina weather pattern. Current average temperatures are calculated base...
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Mountain Whale (Yamanokujira)
2007-11-22 13:21:00
???Just had a delicious meal of locally-caught Mount ain Whale ribs!The mountain whales were raiding the village gardens more heavily than usual recently, I lost all my sweet potatoes, half my pumpkins, and half my taro, and most of my neighbors suffered too. All up and down the river I've noticed a lot more garden fences going up recently.My neighbor set a trap at the place at the bottom of the mountain where they come out of the forest to raid the gardens, and over the past month 4 have been caught. We don?t have a hunter in our village anymore, but one from a nearby village comes over, and, wearing his official hat and armband dispatches the beast with one shot.Afterwards the tail is cut off and taken to the local town hall where a bounty is paid. In our town its 3,000yen (30 USD), but in other towns its more. The mountain whales are classed as a pest because of all the damage they do to gardens, hence the bounty.I?ve met plenty of town and city-dwelling Japanese who have never e...
More About: Shimane , Hunting