Laguna comments

When my son misbehaved, I would have him sit seiza in the genkan and explain to me exactly what he did and why it was wrong. It was much more effective than corporal punishment.

Kohakuebisu, Japan and California are roughly the same in size, but California is dominated by mountains (the Sierra Nevada) and deserts and faces serious water problems. The sensitivity of its environment makes it an expensive place to live, so many depart for cheaper locations such as Arizona or Texas, but still even more continue to move in, as evidenced by the thriving housing construction sector. The geology and hydrology of the state limits habitation.

My father moved from Boston to California when I was a tot. He said that there was less constraint there. While there are many environmental constraints (necessarily), there are none culturally. That is the secret of California's success - let it all hang out (but don't pollute).

IMHO, it's not the rice - it's the water it's cooked in. Here in Kumamoto we've got the best water in the world, and thus the best rice. It doesn't matter where the rice comes from.

Many professional women, while changing their surname legally, remain called by their maiden name. It must be disconcerting. But then, I'm called by three names: my nickname by those I'm close to, my formal name by those I'm not, and my family name in official situations.

In California, there are no taxes on non-prepared food, so those low-income people who cook for themselves pay no sales tax. Japan should adopt a similar system.

The food. I go with Korean Airlines.

He should have had おでん。

He needs mental care under confinement.

Trump often appears more interested in fealty than veracity

The only edit I would make to this to change "often" to "always."

An eye for an eye, and the whole world goes blind.

I very seldom return to the US, and when I do, I dread immigration. Last time I went, the official got on his phone and said, "Yeah - he's here."

When elephants fight, it's the grass that gets trampled.

As I age, sleep has become an issue. I go to bed at ten with the aim of sleeping until the crows caw but often find myself up at 3:00, reading. But my doctors told me not to worry - naturally, you'll get the amount of sleep you need, they said.

I used to have tight calves but have taken up walking and now they are udderly different.

One thing Washingtonians learn is not to stick their nose into LA affairs - it will get chopped off.

LA is hosting its third Olympics. I was a volunteer at the second in '84, and the way the city coalesced around the event was magical. If there is one thing LA does well and rallies around, it is sports.

Trump will learn this at his peril.

Russian is a kleptocracy. Good luck getting any more outside investment.

It wasn't a "pair of quakes." We had quakes continuously for over a month.

When my wife died, I was too shaken to do anything. My daughter took care of documentation at city hall. My local government (Kumamoto) has been very helpful.

When my elderly mother visited, the local family restaurant was kind enough to give me a menu which I translated into English so that she could order just by pointing.

Smartphone?! - mind-blowing.

Oh, of course it's going to happen again. It's happening every day, only with guns, not dynamite. America is a sick society and will not recover until it comes to terms with this.

Trestles is the spot! Good waves, great vibe.

I've been asked to become a Japanese national, but Japan doesn't allow for dual nationality, and there is no way I'll give up my US citizenship. Japan should allow for dual nationality, as most western countries do.

A bit of humor is crucial. If you levitate the situation, you make it easier for both sides, increasing the chance that you can be friends.

Yeah - they probably need a perm visa.

As I age, I find myself getting up at 3:00 AM. That's too early to do anything except to be with myself.

I was a seasonal worker at Disneyland in Anaheim. I actually worked there for quite some time during my school vacations but grew bored with it so started exploring, going behind the scenes of many rides. I was finally caught climbing the rails of Space Mountain after the park was closed and was suspended for four days. I used that time to find a much better job.

Good article, JT. Thanks for this.

And now he'll cut income taxes on the upper class.

Tariffs are just his way of shifting the tax burden.

Get the vaccine.

I had shingles, and it was the single worse experience of my life - and that includes spending the night in the desert with a broken leg.