A beach on Tokunoshima, one of the Amami islands between Okinawa and Kyushu.
2010年6月29日火曜日
The Road Less Taken (2)
A beach on Tokunoshima, one of the Amami islands between Okinawa and Kyushu.
The Road Less Taken
Tokunoshima is located a little north of Okinawa, part of the Amami island chain. During the US occupation of the Japanese island Okinawa (which continued until 1972!) Tokunoshima was the southernmost point a Japanese tourist could get to without a passport.
If you transferred this scenario to the US, it would mean people from NJ who wanted to escape the snow and go to Florida would need to apply for a passport and a visa first. What would you do to have a nice vacation without the hassle? Probably go to the islands off the Carolinas instead. And that's how Tokunoshima came to enjoy a teeny bit of tourist prosperity.
2010年6月22日火曜日
The Jan-Ken Game
Everyone has probably played Rock, Paper, Scissors--or the Jan-Ken game as it is known in Japanese. It's light hearted, fun, and a speedy way to settle tiny controversies. Who gets to choose the movie or the restaurant, for instance.
Did you know Rock/Paper/Scissors has a dark sequel? It is often followed up by another game that lets the inner bully come out to play.
The follow up game involves the winner chanting a little incantation and pointing a finger, then screeching with eldritch laughter when the loser obediently looks in the direction to which the bully finger is pointing.
For some reason, the dolphin movie that so many people are up in arms about reminds me of that game.
While we are being told to look with cold eyes at people who are trying to balance the fish from which they make a living and an overpopulation of dolphins, what are we not seeing?
The list is long, indeed.
Did you know Rock/Paper/Scissors has a dark sequel? It is often followed up by another game that lets the inner bully come out to play.
The follow up game involves the winner chanting a little incantation and pointing a finger, then screeching with eldritch laughter when the loser obediently looks in the direction to which the bully finger is pointing.
For some reason, the dolphin movie that so many people are up in arms about reminds me of that game.
While we are being told to look with cold eyes at people who are trying to balance the fish from which they make a living and an overpopulation of dolphins, what are we not seeing?
The list is long, indeed.
2010年6月18日金曜日
Something No Man Could Ever Do
Hokkaido is the northern island that is mostly open land, fields and forests. It has some lovely winding highways, and those highways--stretching on forever--bring out the speed demon in even the mildest driver. Except me.
The car was borrowed, the single lane roads were unfamiliar, and it was raining. When I drove in Hokkaido, I took my time, with predictable results. Traffic built up behind me.
I think the natural temptation would be to drive faster so as not to have to wear the dunce cap and the slowpoke label given to the lame drivers who clog up traffic by sticking to the speed limit. But there is another alternative, and that is the one I chose: to pull over and let the speed demons pass.
Sometimes it IS right to swallow your pride and just say no.
I wish the teachers in charge of the expedition in which a seventh grade child on the threshold of his life drowned because the man who should have said "No, this is no weather to take kids out on the river in an open boat" had possessed the same courage. Sometimes it is braver to back down.
"No" is a valid choice. You can always go another day. Except for the child who died.
The car was borrowed, the single lane roads were unfamiliar, and it was raining. When I drove in Hokkaido, I took my time, with predictable results. Traffic built up behind me.
I think the natural temptation would be to drive faster so as not to have to wear the dunce cap and the slowpoke label given to the lame drivers who clog up traffic by sticking to the speed limit. But there is another alternative, and that is the one I chose: to pull over and let the speed demons pass.
Sometimes it IS right to swallow your pride and just say no.
I wish the teachers in charge of the expedition in which a seventh grade child on the threshold of his life drowned because the man who should have said "No, this is no weather to take kids out on the river in an open boat" had possessed the same courage. Sometimes it is braver to back down.
"No" is a valid choice. You can always go another day. Except for the child who died.
The Amazing Power of Lilies
How do they do it? It is hot, it is wet, it is pouring rain--and still the lily stays clean and fresh and pure. Amazing.
2010年6月3日木曜日
Tale Wagging the Dog
People believe what they want to believe, and the US media apparently wants to believe that Japanese public support for the Hatoyama government plummetted because Mr. Hatoyama rejected US domination of Japanese foreign affairs policies.
How about reading the Japanese newspapers? How about talking to real people who live in Japan?
What Japanese people are rejecting is fiscal irresponsibility and a leader who backs down on public promises. You cannot run a country without treating the people's money with respect and still expect them to support you. You cannot do with promises what Lucy does with Charlie Brown's football: make people believe what you say you will do, then do the opposite.
It is very sad that a country that cannot go even ten years without engaging in multiple wars thinks it is in charge of a country that engages in peace for centuries at a time and is still in mourning for its last military adventure.
How about reading the Japanese newspapers? How about talking to real people who live in Japan?
What Japanese people are rejecting is fiscal irresponsibility and a leader who backs down on public promises. You cannot run a country without treating the people's money with respect and still expect them to support you. You cannot do with promises what Lucy does with Charlie Brown's football: make people believe what you say you will do, then do the opposite.
It is very sad that a country that cannot go even ten years without engaging in multiple wars thinks it is in charge of a country that engages in peace for centuries at a time and is still in mourning for its last military adventure.
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