Posted in: Edible bug businesses at crossroads in Japan See in context
Whole Insect eating with the creature intact will never be more than a curiousity.
But insects as a highly nutritious powdered food source - esp protein - will probably become more common.
Used as an additive to fortify foods like the examples in the article seems extremely likely.
While the producers in hte article are having a tough time economically - the realities of producing high quality protein via the insect method vs the abnormally wasteful destructive animal farming method is not even on the same page.
Re the "ick" factor - well that's non-issue imo.
People eat cute little (and big) animals everyday and don't blink an eyelid.
They can ooohh and aahhh over little lambs/sheep, calves/cows, chickens etc and never give a thought that the dish they are munching on is "one of them".
If people can dis-associate themselves from the images of eating cutesy mammals, should be able to do the same for a protein flour.
1 ( +3 / -2 )
Posted in: 98-year-old woman found dead; eldest son unconscious in suspected murder-suicide attempt See in context
A great tragedy.
An elderly man - health condition unknown - being the care giver for his extremely elderly mother.
A giant ask putting yourself in those shoes.
Can't imagine the daily toil.
Sad all around.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Why is anti-Japanese sentiment remaining from the World War II era almost non-existent in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, unlike in China and South Korea? See in context
No doubt the victim/we were wronged card played by political leaders to garner domestic support explains partly the reasoning. Creating a Them vs Us dichotomy is a strategy used by politicians world wide and Korea/China are no exception.
Also as others indicated, the length of time of occupation and manner of brutal subjugation probably instilled an aversion to Japan in both countries.
Japan's encroachment in Korea and Korean affairs began in the 19th C, was solidified with annexation in the early 20th C and only finished with the end of the war in 1945. During that time - over 2 generations - there were so many incidents and actions that exploited and demoralized the Korean nation. People grew up as did their children, knowing only Japanese Rule.
Japan's "taking control" in mainland China began earnestly in the early 30s. The rule of Military Might was to continue for 15 years with again many terrible incidents, and only ended in 1945.
The scars of these long occupations no doubt cut deep.
But on a positive note millions of Koreans, Chinese & Japanese do not bear grudges and mouth hatred at each other. Substantial business, economic, social, tourist etc ventures exist that create a level of tolerance and harmony.
Many ordinary folk don't play the political games encouraged by certain members of society - political or otherwise - and get on with peaceful co-existence.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: The noise problem in conflict averse Japan See in context
Another of the intriguing paradoxes of Japan.
Silence is Golden - except when it isn't.
Social etiquette requires low voices, but go anywhere as the article suggests and you can come across mind-numbing levels of loudness.
The petrol pump at my gas station "yells" in a loud voice instructions and blasts noisy ads.
The local shopping center plays never-ending music on a loop - a lot of it inappropriate as they don't understand the English lyrics.
As the writer indicated - loud intrusive noise is common.
But quietness is a bastion of society.
Go figure.
5 ( +7 / -2 )
Posted in: Rumors of Aya Nakamura Paris Olympics appearance sparks far-right backlash See in context
Aya was a fan of the SF series Heroes.
One of the main characters is Hiro Nakamura.
He was just an ordinary guy in Tokyo who found he had super powers - ability to change space and time.
He worked for change and for the good of all.
Aya (her real first name) took Nakamura as her stage name honoring Hiro Nakamura.
10 ( +12 / -2 )
Posted in: Sumo great Hakuho could lose stable over protege's bullying: reports See in context
Hokuheiso was rightly forced to quit for his violent actions.
And Hakuho must bear responsibility for those under his charge.
But this dismantling of the stable seems a little more of finally a chance to get rid of arguably the GOAT.
He has never been liked by the establishment. His manner, his style and his ethnicity!
Meanwhile Sumo needs to take a close look at the world it has created based on an ancient hierarchy that treats most of the underlings as serfs. Juniors are subjugated to years of systemic bullying as part of the "toughening up" process in order to stay within the ranks. The toxic culture that is based on this violence will surely produce violent young men. It surely has always been the case, just that until recent years no media service would dare report on the hallowed goings on in the "sacred " world.
Couple all of this with the history of corruption, yakuza links, illegal gambling, outdated notions, match fixing etc etc and you get a picture of a world far removed from the rules of normal society, that operates on it's criteria in it's own time loop.
Now with digital media being able to access and report on what it want's - and not sparing sumo scandals - the Sumo Association is trying to be seen to acting in the interests of all, mainly in an attempt of staying relevant in the 21stC.
It will need more than an "example setting" by downgrading of seniors. It will need to hose-out the whole toxic environment that may have stood it well in Taisho and before, but will not succeed in preventing the demise of sumo if not enacted.
But I doubt it can clean itself.
9 ( +10 / -1 )
Posted in: Ceremony held to mark 79th anniversary of U.S. firebombings of Tokyo See in context
The Tokyo Firebombing - a true display of the Insanity of War.
First the act itself - targeting industry, but knowing full well millions of civilians were directly in the bombing zones. And the use of incendiary bombs - napalm and phosphorous - was used knowingly to cause the maximum destruction and death over the widest area - 60% of Tokyo obliterated, 100, 000 killed and 1 million injured many horrifically. McArthur himself acknowledged that these were probably war crimes.
Second - that the Japanese powers to be at that time did not surrender, knowing full well that defeat would be inevitable. The Tokyo attack resulted in the firebombing campaign of all major cities in Japan over the ensuing months culminating in the Atomic bombs being dropped.
That the Japanese political leaders, military leaders and the emperor all ignored this devastation - pre-atomic - resulting in further deaths and injuries to millions.
Just insane.
19 ( +23 / -4 )
Posted in: Djuce the sommelier-approved canned premium wines now available in Japan See in context
During the process of winemaking, the juice comes into contact with metal (stainless steel) on any number of occasions.
Depending on the machinery used, but common for most wineries small to large to have stainless crushers, pressers and fermenters. At the direction of the winemaker, usually after storage in stainless tanks, wine may be aged in wood - oak barrels, bariques - for any length of time.
Plastic hoses and metal pipes are the mainstays of transfer for most wineries.
Some small niche operations will utilize wooden basket presses, fermenters and store in bariques or larger wooden barrels like puncheons and the biggies - foudres.
So wine in it's making rarely avoids contact with metals.
That such can be presented in cans is more an emotional debate as opposed to anything truly objective.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Speed skating victory See in context
Takagi just keeps on going.
A great champion over many years.
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Discover the serene beauty and cultural significance of mosques in Japan See in context
Just can't help being dumbstruck by the photo of the wonderful ambience of the Kobe mosque, pictured "behind" a chaos of power lines, cables, wires and poles.
Ask most people and they'd say, "What lines?"
0 ( +1 / -1 )
Posted in: Djuce the sommelier-approved canned premium wines now available in Japan See in context
Understandable environmental benefits - this has been discussed, proposed by the industry for a while now.
But I'm not so sure of the cutesy pics.
Obviously a marketing ploy to attract a younger set (esp women) to the world of wine, ie alcohol.
Reminds me of a campaign years ago in Australia by wineries to sell wine in soft hand held decorative "fruit juice" style packs of about 185ml.
This was knocked on the head after a short while for aiming at the youth market.
Probably no such uproar here.
3 ( +4 / -1 )
Posted in: Doctor gets 18 years for consensual killing of woman with ALS See in context
Once again I bring up the topic of my post a few days again - an "in family" murder of a 3 year old girl by the mother (and partner) in a most cruel and painful manner results in a 2 year sentence.
This case of consensual death with apparently no pain or cruelty, results in an 18 year sentence.
Many points about euthanasia still need to be discussed, but the difference in approach and sentencing to both cases by the judiciary is shocking in the least.
4 ( +8 / -4 )
Posted in: Michigan cop's mistake leads to $320,000 deal with Japanese man wrongly accused of drunken driving See in context
So it appears he was detained for only a relatively short amount of time as the blood test would have been promptly carried out, thereby proving his innocence.
$320K, minus tax & fees, is a nice payload for a few hours.
Imagine the same scenario in Japan. An American guy wrongfully tested.
Just squeezing an apology out of the authorities would be tough, let alone money to buy a new house and car and some - lol.
-3 ( +8 / -11 )
Posted in: Mother gets 2 years in prison over death of 3-year-old daughter See in context
I'll play that broken record again.
Don't know how many times I've posted on this forum over many years saying that "In Family" murder is treated way more lightly than "Stranger Danger" murders.
The violence, pain and cruelty inflicted on such a little girl resulting in death and 2 years is the sentence.
Like - Be Real.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Teacher fined over 2019 deaths of Japanese teens in Australia See in context
John - good points.
But swimming in a 25m shallow school pool does not generally equip kids with water safety awareness.
Sadly the kids who died obviously could swim - one wanted to swim across the lake - but swallow a mouthful of water in playing antics, will soon seen one gulping for air leading to sudden panic, grappling with your partner and losing rational decision making quickly.
I've witnessed it as a teacher/swimming supervisor in Australia years ago. I was lucky as other students quickly alerted to me the failed-to-follow-instructions-boy was going down in a flurry of arms.
First rule of water safety esp for kids in groups is "You can die". Then work back from that.
3 ( +4 / -1 )
Posted in: Teacher fined over 2019 deaths of Japanese teens in Australia See in context
From the Official Magistrates Court of Queensland findings document delivered February 8 2023 re the Huckleberry tour company case.
*"......Lake McKenzie 23. Lake McKenzie is a freshwater lake near the middle of K’gari (Fraser Is). Its surface area is approximately 150 hectares and it is approximately 8 to 9 metres deep. The initial gradient of the lakebed is slight from the shoreline out to about 10 metres, before it drops away at an angle of approximately 30 to 35 degrees. The lake was not fenced and was accessible to members of the public. *
*It was not patrolled. There were a number of visible signs in the area, including one sign with the following warning*: "Safety around water. People have suffered serious injuries in water related accidents. The lake is not patrolled by lifeguards. Swimming is not recommended. Avoid tragedy — do not dive into the lake; always stay with children when near the water...."
The boys were swimming and playing way out of their depth. Simply this should not have been allowed. Many people failed to exercise strict management of a potentially dangerous situation. The tour company, the Bus driver/guide, the interpreter, the teachers all should have prohibited swimming.
The whole document gives clear insight and background to the tragedy.
Guilfoyle v Huckleberry Australia Pty Ltd [2023] QMC 1 (sclqld.org.au)
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Dreaming of summer peaches? Some gardening tips for growing a peach tree in many climates See in context
The yellow clingstone peaches pictured in that bottom photo - I've never seen here in Japan.
Many are ok, but way too hard and not juice dripping everywhere succulent.
I'm going to search harder this year.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan eyes 20-year background check for those working in jobs involving kids See in context
@mark -
my kids are happy in Japanese schools, i have no troubles at all with their staff / teachers, everything is taking care to the full details. I will say, their school management system is best of the world
That's great that your kids and you are happy with their schools. Best in the world - compared to what?
The high school I teach at I also think is pretty good in most departments. In fact from my years of teaching there I'd say the teacher / student relationship is extremely positive and caring with individual support for troubled students.
The schools my kids went to - not at all the same. Elementary and Senior high focussed on study, study, study. Rules, Rules, Rules. In Junior high, thankfully the air was breathable and my kids enjoyed to a greater extent.
The PTA and OBs had way too much say in trivial matters and control and regimentation was the order of the day to "protect" the school image.
There's no-one-size-fits-all when talking about schools anywhere.
And re the article - as I mentioned earlier - any institution involving kids from judo clubs to kindergartens to cram schools to high schools, background checks of staff is essential and should have been put in law way back.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: The Japanese look at the West and see that mass immigration is hardly helping ailing economies like Britain, France, and Germany. Japan's national cohesion also makes for a very liveable and safe country, unlike Germany or the UK. See in context
Speed - right to the point.
I don't think I've ever heard anyone talk about MASS immigration being required for Japan.
The EU shares common borders and are located close to the largest mass-upheaval of people through war, conflict, socio-economic hell etc.
Japan is not comparable at all.
It's needs are distinctly different.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan eyes 20-year background check for those working in jobs involving kids See in context
Decades behind.
This was proposed / discussed here ages ago and progress has been close to nil.
Hopefully something concrete comes out of this and not passed onto future meetings, meetings, meetings.
3 ( +8 / -5 )
Posted in: University of Tokyo to launch new 5-year program with 50% foreign students See in context
Following on from a previous article of a few days ago - Osaka Metropolitan University wanting to switch to English as the base language in the future - we have Todai's Headlined announcement of 50% of a new Under/Grad course to be offered to foreigners.
Then on reading we see this equates to 50 students. Hardly earth shattering for The Most Acclaimed University in Japan out of a student population of almost 30,000.
Yeah - I know their plan is to increase over the decades - good on them.
Maybe it's just the local media playing it all up, but not front page stuff.
NHK headlined it also on it's earlier news tonight.
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Woman gets 9 years in prison over death of 2-year-old granddaughter due to neglect See in context
Another case of an "in family" murder of a child by those entrusted with care, and receive a relatively light sentence.
I'll say again - as I have many times on these topics - the big bogeyman "stranger-danger murders" attract most media attention and severe sentencing (and rightfully so as they are heinous), while the domestic murders seem to be in a "Well....hmmm...it's tough...." category.
Being killed by those who society deem to be a child's natural love and care giver, just seems to me about as awful as it can get.
IMO such acts of cruelty demand harsher punishment than the equally horrendous stranger murders.
3 ( +4 / -1 )
Posted in: Osaka university globalizes with fall start date; governor wants English as official language See in context
rainyday - thanks for the response.
Actually my comments were in regards to an earlier comment re the failure of such "all English schools".
And I did mention it's small size/limited offerings, so obviously it's not in the same category as OMU.
But AIU is situated in the countryside of Akita - well known rightly or wrongly as real boondocks territory - with a very small population. Who'd thought they could do that???
Osaka on the other hand is a Major World city, a center of business, industry, education, culture etc easily accessible domestically and globally with a very large regional population.
That there exists a desire by leaders to establish an English based major public university in Japan is to be commended.
No one would suggest that it wouldn't be a steep cliff to climb, but "impossible" is the quote of naysayers.
That Japan does not have one such large public campus seems to indicate a realistic opening for those with vision - and of course backing and funding.
I'd hazard a guess that many Japanese students would like to enrol, as demand is shown by how many applicants try to enter AIU yearly.
I'm not sure if OMU is the place to set up or not, but looking far ahead Japan could comfortablyy support at least one such major university. It has to start somewhere.
The benefits would come.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Osaka university globalizes with fall start date; governor wants English as official language See in context
Akita International University (AIU), also a prefectural public university, is ALL English.
It is based on an American liberal arts format with the focus on Global Studies.
It has sister school arrangements with over 50 universities around the world and all students must spend at least one year studying at an OS university of choice (all in English). International students also attend of course.
It consistently ranks in the top tier in the fields in which it covers.
It has surpassed Todai a number of times as the school with the best teaching in Japan.
It's students are heavily in demand by the business world.
Pound for Pound it's the best overall tertiary institution in Japan, just it's small size limits it's offerings.
Osaka Prefectural University surely knows well the achievements of AIU and is bent on replicating the recipe as a necessary step towards global success in 2050 and beyond.
5 ( +6 / -1 )
Posted in: We should understand that the use of physical restraints and seclusion violates human rights and must be reduced. See in context
Extract from research article by BMC psychiatry 2020
............The mean length of stay in psychiatric care beds in Japan (mean length of hospital stay among discharged patients) was approximately 500 days in 1990 but fell to under 300 days in 2011 and further decreased to approximately 266 days in 2018........................................We are currently striving to integrate care to create a health care system centered on community-based integrated care. Several other countries, particularly in Western Europe, have already been actively transitioning from institutional care to community-based care. Based on our findings in this study and on these efforts in other countries, we conclude that it may be pertinent to consider the comprehensive structure of future mental health care.
Still a lot of work to do here in Japan.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: A new exhibition aims to bring Yoko Ono's art out of John Lennon's shadow See in context
Regardless of your taste or likes - of Ono or her art - the fact remains she was active in the experimental art world well before Lennon met her.
It was her edgy, abstractness at the time that grabbed Lennon's attention.
He wooed Her.
She may well have had a negative influence on the Beatles team, but her work with Lennon was consistent with her art. To suggest otherwise is to insist Lennon was not of sound mind and was being led. Hardly.
Lennon's post-Beatles work would never had been the same or of similar impact if he was totally solo.
-1 ( +7 / -8 )
Posted in: Are we about to find out moon's origin? Japan's space agency says it may now have clues See in context
Lots of work already done on this.
I remember reading a Science article years ago where the Oxygen isotopes trapped in the rocks were close to identical - apparently a key factor - meaning they originated from the same source.
This supported the "Big Impact" theory.
8 ( +8 / -0 )
Posted in: Frightening video shows Japan’s stop-and-listen-for-trains driving rule maybe isn’t so silly after all See in context
Of the Billions of vehicles crossing at the 10,000s of train-crossings every year, how many signal failures are there? How many accidents?
The same could happen at any road traffic light situation. There could be a signal failure or mishap.
We don't want drivers slowing cautiously at green lights, looking directly left and right...well just because.... you never know!
Other countries, when I've driven, I can only recall stopping if boom gates are down or signals are flashing and bells ringing. Otherwise it's always slow down (signs) and proceed carefully. When I drove a school bus long ago in Australia we were instructed to stop at all crossings - not sure if that's changed. And that's the only case I know of.
I believe the current dead-stop look both ways rules, were introduced way back in the infancy of car / train crossings and have never really been updated, even with modern electronics.
I understand at some of the crazy crossings like those in major cities, but they are not so many and could have separate rules posted.
My city here has only 2 crossings out of many that you don't have to stop as they have separate traffic lights installed called fumikiri shingo (踏切信号). It's heaven to just slow down a little and continue driving through. But still there are people who come to a dead-stop with Green Lights Blazing, causing all to suddenly brake.
There should be many more of such similar crossings nationwide.
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: International-hit candy Hi-Chew adds English to in-Japan logo, makes it bigger than the Japanese See in context
So many products already here are advertised, presented, sold in Japan with names/titles in English.
The article mentions Nintendo, Toyota and Sony and they are but a few of the 1,000s, many being major corporations.
So if anyone is "sad" at the loss of Japanese-ness, then they haven't really been paying attention.
English is ubiquitous.
Just a non-event imo.
2 ( +4 / -2 )
Posted in: COVID patients again rising in Japan; experts warn of 10th wave See in context
Long Covid is a Real Issue affecting 10+% of those infected world wide (650million).
In many cases they have debilitating problems including circulatory, neurological, deep fatigue, immune, gastro intestinal amongst others.
2ndary+ infections can cause more complications in a minor % as opposed to the expected decrease in volatility of symptoms. Genetics it seems plays a major role in initial susceptibility and further.
A lot to learn yet.
A link to an interesting article with further links.
Estimating the heritability of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity | Nature Communications
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44250-7
-7 ( +5 / -12 )
Posted in: An expanding NATO uses its diversity as strength
Posted in: An expanding NATO uses its diversity as strength
Posted in: An expanding NATO uses its diversity as strength