Nippon Energy

This is not a blog about global warming.  There are several arguments for and against it, and if it helps the reader, I will preface this blog by stating plain and clear that I support the evidence that humans are contributing to global warming.  However, like I said, this is not about global warming.  Instead I want to focus on what I consider a greater catastrophe, the inefficient use of our limited resources.  I think that it is something that concerns everyone.  When they are gone, they are gone, so why not focus on creating a more efficient harmony with those resources - both renewable and non-renewable.  Perhaps this quote from Thomas Friedman's, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, states it better:

"We humans are now playing lead electric guitar in Mother Nature's symphony orchestra.  In doing so, we forget a fundamental truth: We are the only species in this vast web of life that no animal or plant in nature depends on for survival - yet we depend on this whole web of life for our survival.  We evolved within it.  As we adapted to it, it shaped us into what we are.  We humans need that web to survive - it doesn't need us.  But we sure need it - and it thrives only if the whole system works in harmony."

It is true that changing the way we harness and use energy will be expensive, problematic, and come without road blocks and failures.  But that's what happens in the natural cycle of development.  And if we don't change, those scarce resources become more and more expensive.  So, doing nothing now, will cost us dearly in the end.  I believe an energy revolution is the next great revolution and it would be very beneficial to invest in now.  The wheels of ingenuity are spinning all over the globe, even in the countries that choose not to reign in their carbon emissions like China and India.  It is a race, and right now, America seems stalled at the start line.  Private investment is always the preferred method, but there is a case to be made for government initiatives to stir that inventive and entrepreneurial spirit that Americans are famous for.


Japan is a great example of a country off and running.  After living in Japan for nearly two years, it became quite clear that there is a completely different mentality.  There is a greater sense of urgency and a greater spirit for change. Consider this article from Tokyo by Martin Fackler in The New York Times (January 6, 2007):

"In many countries, higher oil prices have hurt pocketbooks and led to worries about economic slowdowns. But here in Japan, Kiminobu Kimura, an architect, says he has not felt the pinch. In fact, his monthly energy bill is lower than a year ago...Energy -efficient appliances abound in the many corners of his cramped home. There is the refrigerator that beeps when left open and the dishwasher that is compact enough to sit on the kitchen counter. In some homes, room heaters have a sensor that directs heat only toward occupants; there are enegy navigators that track a home's energy use. And then Mr. Kimura, 48, says there are the little things that his family of four does to squeeze fuel bills, like reusing warm bath water to wash laundry and bicycling to buy groceries...Japan is the most energy-efficient developed country on earth, according to most specialists, who say it is much better prepared than the United States to prosper in an era of higher global energy prices...Its population and economy are each about 40 percent as large as that of the United States, yet in 2004 it consumed less than a quarter as much energy as America did, according to the International Energy Agency, which is based in Paris.
Japan's obsession with conservation stems from an acute sense of insecurity in a resource-poor nation that imports most of its energy from the volatile Middle East, a fact driven home here by the 1970's shocks. The guiding hand of government has also played a role, forcing households and companies to conserve by raising the cost of gasoline and electricity far above global levels. Taxes and price controls make a gallon of gasoline in Japan currently cost...twice America's more market-based prices. The government in turn has used these tax revenues to help Japan seize the lead in renewable energies like solar power, and more recently home fuel cells...Higher energy prices have also created strong domestic demand in Japan for more conventional and new energy-saving products of all sorts. That has spurred the invention and development of things like low-energy washing machines and televisions and high-mileage cars and hybrid vehicles, experts say. Japanese factories also learned how to cut energy use and become among the most efficient in the world. Companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are now reaping the benefits in booming overseas sales of their highly efficient electric turbines, steel blast furnaces and other industrial machinery, particularly in the United States. The environmental ministry forecasts that exports will help turn energy conservation into a $7.9 billion industry in Japan by 2020, about 10 times its size in 2000."

Japan, the article noted, has also encouraged development of energy-saving appliances with its Top Runner program,

"which has set goals of reducing energy use. Products that meet the goals are awarded a green sticker, while those that fail get an orange sticker. Japan's trade and industry ministry says consumers heed the stickers, pushing manufacturers to raise the energy efficiency. The average air-conditioner now uses two-thirds less electricity than in 1997, and the average freezer 23 percent less, the ministry said. The savings add up. The average household here used 4,177 kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2001, the most recent figure, according to the Jyukankyo Research Institute in Tokyo. In the same year, the average American household consumed more than twice that, or 10,655 kilowatt-hours, according the the Energy Department."

After our time in Japan, I was inspired inspired to take a look at how our energy use while living in Nagoya, Japan compared to our energy use while living in the States (Michigan to be precise).  Using old bills, I compared the energy use from the same time span over the course of 10 months.  The Michigan data is from 2007-2008, while the Nagoya, Japan data is from 2008-2009.  To take the size of each apartment out of the equation, I have calculated the cost and energy use per square foot.  Also, the climates of the two locations are slightly different, so the average monthly temperature is shown.  Finally, it should be noted that I used the average daily exchange rate for 2009 (93 JPY = $1).  The results are below:

It is clear that while living in Japan, we paid quite a bit more for energy per square foot despite using significantly less kilowatt-hours of electricity in every month but January.  Friedman suggests in his book that the US will be on the right track when our monthly energy bill begins showing an increase in cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity, while the overall bill remains the same or has been reduced.  In this 'energy revolution' there are two phenomenon's:

1. A smarter grid paid for by the increased cost per kilowatt-hour
2. A move to cleaner power and efficient means of delivering it

Is this revolution possible?  It'll be up to you and I, and a healthy nudge from the government.  Japan did it, and is continuing to move forward trying to optimize that balance and harmony with our resources.

Where Do You Think You're Goin'? Grab a Rake!

As pointed out on a previous post, it's not that often that you see grass in Japan.  For the most part, what available space there is after housing, buildings, and infrastructure, is generally designated for rice fields or gardens.  Parks are liberally mixed in most cities where possible, but they don't necessarily come with grass.  Even the parks meant for soccer, field hockey, baseball, etc.  Instead of grass, which requires too much upkeep and water to survive the climate, generally these pitches are simply fine gravel or dirt.

So, what about grounds-keepers?  They aren't very common as far as I can tell.  You use it.  You clean it up.  That's the rule.  And you learn that rule quickly if you grow up playing sports.  I first learned of this rule the hard way.  After a friendly match with another gaikojin (foreigner) team last year on an excruciatingly hot, humid Nagoya day, all I wanted to do was get to the sideline and douse myself with shade and water.  Not so fast.  All of my teammates - the other team got to relax as we were the hosts - quickly told me to pick up a rake from the nearby shed.  We got in a line at the end of the pitch and walked the length of the pitch back and forth until the entire field was nicely groomed.  A bit like a zamboni - only not automated!!!

This is the rule.  If you host a team, or simply use a field for a day of fun, you clean it up.  In this case, rake it up.  I managed to snap a photo of some kids raking this field on a recent Saturday.

I like the rule.  It teaches you a little discipline, while at the same time, makes you appreciate the people who keep our parks clean and beautiful.

My Lovely Japan Car Accident (Part 3: The Wrap)

It's been over two weeks now, and the dust has settled.  I've had plenty of time to reflect, which, in hind-sight, I guess gets at the heart of some of the public shaming I went through.  To be honest, all of the frustration with work - the reports, the speeches, the safety videos, the funny yellow hats and signs we stood with at the scene of the accident, etc etc - were hard, but not overbearing.  As funny as it sounds, I was okay with it.  In fact, it gave me a chance to brush up on my public speaking.

The hardest part was the waiting and worrying that came with the week between the accident and the policeman's verdict.  His verdict would determine if my wife and I could leave the country as planned on April 29th, or if we would have to wait around for a court case.  You see, a week after the accident, I had to meet with the policeman, the person I hit, and my bosses at the sight of the accident.  There, the policeman gathered both of our stories, to make sure there was no dispute of fault and the exact severity of the accident, before making a judgment on the case.

We drew chalk lines, and discussed the details of the accident, as well as the extent of the whiplash sustained by the man I hit.  Luckily for me, the police judged that the injury was not that severe based on the doctor's official note.  Also, the policeman mentioned that he appreciated my efforts to learn and speak Japanese.  Although I didn't follow a lot of the details of the conversation, he did mention that he would look kindly on my situation because of my efforts to understand Japanese.  'Phew,' I thought at that moment, 'What a relief.'  I couldn't help but think that finally I had a solid reason for waking up at 5am every morning during this Japan adventure to spend an hour studying the language before work.  It was going to get my wife and me home as originally scheduled!

Since the accident, I have lost the privilege of driving my car to work.  Although there was no rule, and despite mine and my colleague's comments from back in America, there is no changing the mind of the department head.  This is also part of the unspoken social rule - don't disturb the balance, and in this case, don't undermine the authority.

But it's okay, actually.  I have a longer commute now - bus and train - which I've come to enjoy.  Plenty of time to read.  Plenty of time to relax and listen to music I haven't listened to in ages.  Plenty of time to properly reflect.  No, not reflect on the accident.  Time for reflection and worrying about that is over.  I'm going home in a few weeks.  It's about time I reflect on the time spent seeing a beautiful country, time spent meeting interesting people from all over the world, and time spent learning an amazingly complex, sometimes stressful, but always intriguing culture.  Time that I will always treasure.

My Lovely Japan Car Accident (Part 2: The Shaming)

The Japanese are fond of an old proverb:

"A pebble thrown in the water creates a ripple eventually felt by the entire pond."  In other words, the Japanese like to do what they can to avoid disrupting society because every action, no matter how small, has its reactions.

It wasn’t until my recent car accident that I finally understood fully what that philosophy means.  You see, I thought the worst of my problems occurred the day of the actual accident  - dealing with the insurance, police, rental cars, and the person I rear-ended…and all in a foreign language of which I understood little.  However, it was the fallout afterward that truly tested my patience and strength of character.

I quickly found out that this accident wasn’t just about me or the person that I hit.  It was the company’s problem because there is an image to uphold, especially as an automotive supplier.  It was my superior’s problem because they are responsible for my training and me.  Finally, it was my peers’ problem because this was a problem within the system.

Perhaps my father’s analogy for the situation explains it best:

"You are part of a machine, and a fly flew into your gear, so now, if this was on the assembly line think of what would happen.  Meetings to evaluate why and how that fly got in there, by the whole work team of course.  And the Manager will have to answer for that fly every day at staff meeting with some sort of action plan.  So, more grease applied daily now, hourly inspection for any more flies, the whole department must spray fly killer every two hours, etc."

So, what was the fallout, list of activities, countermeasures, what-have-you…

1)     The day after the accident, Tuesday, I had to watch a safety driving video showing potential accidents and the damage they can cause.  With my entire division, of course (about 80 people).

2)     The following day, Wednesday, I had to write a report detailing my commute to and from work complete with detailed maps and potential accident locations.  The potential accident locations had to explain what the problem was and what I should do every day to avoid it.

3)     Thursday I stood in front of the department and explained the accident, what my error(s) were, and how they should be avoided in the future.  The speech itself was nerve-racking enough, but doing the speech partially in Japanese was even more humiliating.

4)   Finally, on Friday I got the wonderful news that the department general manager had decided that I could no longer drive to work.  Of course, the length and details of the penalty…ahem…risk management…was unclear, but it was clear that the general manager had spoken and there was no challenging that.

This all came on the heels of news from the police – through my manager – that the report may not be complete before the date I was due to leave (April 29), and thus, I may not be able to leave the country.  That news would not be finalized until a final meeting between the police, and both parties the following week.

So, by last Friday, this pebble had definitely caused some waves, and the wheels were in motion by everyone to calm the waters.  The water seemed pretty calm to me, but I guess that’s what cultural education is all about, and I was definitely feeling the reverberations.

So, what did I learn?  What was my ‘reflection’?  Stay tuned for the final installment…

My Lovely Japan Car Accident (Part 1: The Incident)

There's a fantastic scene in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in which a traffic accident is portrayed through the series of events and encounters that lead up to the climactic accident itself.  The idea being that had any one of those chance events occurred any differently, the woman involved in the accident would not have been crossing the road at the exact time same time that the taxi, its driver, and his passenger were driving through, and thus, no accident.

We had just watched this movie over the weekend, so naturally, a similar thought process went through my mind last Monday as I sat stunned stunned, staring at my sunglasses that were now resting on the floor mat.  A few seconds prior to this, they were blocking the sun from my eyes on a normal, sunny, morning commute.  Now that they sat on the floor of the car, I realized things were suddenly about to change.

I thought about how I decided to fore-go one more cup of coffee, and the opportunity to sit and chat with my wife before leaving for work.  I thought about the fact that I chose today to return my co-worker's golf clubs that I had borrowed for over a year and the extra time it took to pick up, carry, and load the clubs.  I thought about the time I spent laboriously unloading our recycling including half a dozen beer bottles  - not 3, not 8, only 6 - into the community bins before getting into my car.  I thought about how I drove a bit slower than usual on the highway because - at the time - I knew I would be early to work.  And then I thought, what if the girl who had crossed traffic on her bike had been any later or any earlier?

I remember these thoughts, I suppose, because had any one of these events been different or had not occurred, I wouldn't have been staring at my glasses on the floor mat.  And I wouldn't be looking up at the man getting out of his car in front of me rubbing his neck, taking in the damage.  And I wouldn't have been wondering how in the world I had just gotten into my first ever traffic accident.

The police and the insurance companies would later decide that it was a 100-0 incident, meaning I was 100% to blame.  And they were right, I looked down momentarily, looked up and traffic had stopped to allow the girl to cross the street on her bike.  I tried to stop and swerve, but it wasn't enough.  You're run-of-the-mill rear-ender.  I hit the car in front of me - an old 1980's Nissan station wagon built in the days before cars were engineered to absorb energy, when they were built like rocks.  Thus, the front of my 2009 Toyota Auris was bashed in pretty good, and the rear corner of the Nissan only had a slight dent.  The Auris absorbed much of the blow and I was unharmed.  Unfortunately, the Nissan did not do much absorbing, and the seat lacked any sort of whiplash-preventing head restraint.  Needless to say, the person I hit walked away with a bit of a sore neck, which makes matters worse, but I'll save that for the follow-up blog.

This all happened right in front of work, so a lot of my co-workers recognized me and stopped to help.  I was fortunate for their help in dealing with the police, the tow trucks, and insurance.  They helped sort out everything, and I tried to answer questions as best I could.  Everything took about 2 hours, and in the end, both cars were towed, the police said to wait a week for any report or fine, the person I hit was on his way for a routine examination to make sure there was no damage unseen, insurance was notified, and rental cars were in the works.  I wanted to feel some sort of relief, but I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that I hadn't fully grasped the situation from not speaking the language well.  For the time being, I was worried about insurance, the person I hit, and what this might mean for my pocket-book.  Unfortunately, I had no idea what a nightmare this incident would soon become.

Living abroad, we are told to represent our country with class and dignity, and to abide by the host country's laws and culture.  This ambassador would certainly be tested over the next few days.

What's in a Greeting? A Lot.

President Obama faced heavy scrutiny from the 24-hour news programs again this week for none other than bowing. Yes, bowing. Apparently, the fact that the president had been traveling in Asia, and was caught (gasp) bowing in Japan (the nerve) set off a wave of scrutiny from CNN, to MSNBC, to Fox News. In response, the most relevant point I can make is that they do, in fact, bow as a show of respect during greetings or farewells in Japan. Is that so crazy?

Actually, I give the president a lot of credit for trying to bow here. It’s quite hard to pull off the intricacies without looking silly. I always feel awkward trying to bow myself, and have compared it in recent posts to giving a limp handshake in western cultures. You can go throughout your life giving limp handshakes and never know it; meanwhile everyone you encounter will judge you for it.

If anything, the president should be scrutinized for his bowing technique. I thought he showed good form with the angle he bowed to, and his foot and leg posture were good, but he threw in a simultaneous handshake, which deviates from tradition. In the end, like I said, I applaud the president for making an effort. What it boils down to is a generous show of respect for Japan and their Emperor, and not a sign of weakness.

Shouldn’t that be our aim? Think about our everyday life. What would be the outcome if you met a colleague for lunch and didn’t stand up to shake his/her hand? My guess is that the lunch would be a little cold from the start and not progress very heartily. If it were a business lunch with a potential investor, do you think he/she would at least think twice about why you didn’t offer a formal greeting? Now take that idea broader. Let’s say you’re travelling in France and you’re hungry. You can walk up to the counter and say, ‘I’d like a sandwich.’ Now, that might get you some service; heck, you might even get a little more acknowledgment if you say it with a polite intonation and add a ‘please.’ The problem is that more often than not, the nice little French lady running the counter will not understand a word you say. She might know a little English, but won’t be able to follow what you’re saying. What if, instead, you try a little French to break the ice before slowly making your request in broken French or slow English? My guess is, the store worker will acknowledge your sincerity and try to help you with your sandwich. You might even get a pickle out of it!

The point is, it’s not always necessary to be the aggressor, and it doesn’t always get you far acting like a bully. ‘My way or the highway’ or ‘Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.’ Which do you think will get you further in the long run?

This is where the short-sightedness of the talking heads on the 24-hour news cycles got it wrong. This wasn’t a story, this was an opinion set to fire up a response. First of all, any credibility that these stations might have had is in serious jeopardy in the wake of the balloon boy fiasco. Second of all, it points to an increasing pattern of poor journalism. They are making stories out of opinions, and masquerading as news sources. I would love to see the ratio of budgets for pundits compared to actual investigative journalism at these news stations. Unfortunately, that would require some investigating…how ironic.

Jolly ol' Vending Machines

Vending machines are deeply ingrained in Japan life as both my wife and I have conveyed in past blogs. Automated convenience everywhere you look for just about anything you want - drinks in a cup, drinks in a can, snacks, batteries, ice cream, etc. But on our walk home from dinner last week, we stumbled upon this vending machine slice of Christmas heaven. It's the Christmas gift that keeps on giving all year round!

Climaxing

While the baseball playoffs are well underway back in the States, this weekend brings the beginning of the Japan baseball league playoffs. Better known here as the "Climax Series."

There are a total of twelve professional baseball teams here in Japan, and much like the US's Major League Baseball there is an American League and a National League. Only they are called the Pacific League and the Central League (six teams in each). Each year, these teams battle to reach their climax. Sorry, to reach the Climax Series.

The top three teams in each league's standings by year's end move on. In the first round of the Climax Series, the 2nd and 3rd place teams fight in a three-game series for the right to move on to round two where the 1st place team is waiting. Round two is a six-game series, which seems odd because usually you need an odd even of games to determine a series winner. But not in Japan. For winning your league during the regular season, not only do you get an automatic pass to round two, but you start with an automatic one game lead in the six-game series. The winner is the first to four wins. Confusing, but fun nonetheless, especially with all the climaxing.

Finally, the winner of the Pacific League Climax Series moves on to face the winner of the Central League Climax Series in the Japan Series best of seven. The winner is the champion of Japan.

This weekend we'll be rooting for our hometown boys, the Nagoya Dragons. They finished second to the Tokyo Giants (aka. Yankees of Japan), which means they will face the third place Yakult Swallows in the first round of the Central League Climax Series. Go Dragons!

I'm hoping a Japan Series playoff run by our adopted Japan team will make up for the void left by our precious Detroit Tiger's late-season collapse back in the States. But enough moping, it's time to Climax!!!

Influenza Masks

Well, it's finally happened. I had to spend the last week wearing one of these...


One of my co-workers - my boss in fact - came down with the H1N1 flu last week. He was visibly sick the two days he came to work prior to finally going to the hospital, which made the news that he did, in fact, have the H1N1 flu that much worse. Let me just say, in general, it sucks when people come to work sick. I get it. You can't imagine how the company would survive without you...and all that work would just pile up. But for crying out loud, the company is going to be in worse shape when more people get sick from the virus you bring to work. Stay home people!

Ok, now that I've got that off of my chest...I promise, no more yelling.

As you might imagine, there's a lot of panic and tension in the air, and the company has gone into containment mode. Everyone is following the procedures laid out in a memo sent a few weeks ago. The H1N1 prevention policy was issued reminding us of general precautions to take on a day-to-day basis. There are rules for who must wear masks depending on the proximity to co-workers and family members, how long we should wash our hands, and gentle reminders to cover mouths and such.

Now, we're putting it to the test. So far so good. Only one other person on our floor was diagnosed and had to miss a few days. Of course, he was in close proximity to the original carrier during those two courageous days he came to work, so it shouldn't count against our preventative measures. I've also heard of other cases on other floors, but nothing crazy. I've since been able to stop wearing my mask temporarily - oh darn - but now there are now spray bottles of disinfectant at every entrance and exit. I won't miss the masks (I'm still reserving judgment on the effectiveness of those things), and part of me wants to joke about all of the policies and procedures, but I just don't want to jinx myself...oh, who am I kidding? The flu hits us all, and we're probably better off once we've gotten it. If only I could only guarantee that these policies and preventions work until after this next weekend because I have a date with my wife...oh, and maybe the weekend after that because we have visitors coming into town...oh oh, and it's not going to work in November because of that trip we have planned...and come to think of it, December's not so good because we're going back to the States for a visit and that would just ruin everything...

I guess there's just no good time to be sick! Until then, I'll enjoy smelling my own breath!!!

Nagoya Castle Summer Festival

The summer is nearing it's end here in Nagoya, but it wasn't without plenty of firework shows and festivals. Last month, we had the opportunity to experience the Nagoya castle at night and partake in the summer festival atmosphere there.

The castle was absolutely beautiful lit up at night, and all of the people were fun to be around. My wife and her brother had their feet cleansed by an army of nibbling fish, and we had a blast trying some of the Japanese festival foods, but the highlight of the night was a tie. Decide for yourself...

It was really cool to watch this traditional Japanese song and dance, although it could be construed as Japan's version of 'The Hustle.'



And any magician - no matter how good or bad - should get bonus points for working in the theme from 'Beverly Hills Cop' to his or her act.

Toilet Buttons

Like most humans, buttons intrigue me. So, I usually push them to find out what happens.


In this environment, you wouldn't expect so many buttons. Nor, would you expect so much from a toilet for that matter. But, as I said, I'm only human. So, I experimented and pressed a few buttons.


The blue one nearly knocked me through the ceiling. Luckily, after composing myself, I was able to cover up what was going on with a little excess toilet flushing sounds!!

The Japanese are modest (hence the flushing sound and volume control buttons), but they are also known for their technology and efficiency. So, it should only make sense that they brought it into the place we spend a good amount of our lives in - the bathroom. And with heated seats, who would want to leave? More and more, these types of toilets can be found in most modern Japanese buildings, restaurants, or homes. And heck, they definitely beat the alternative of the traditional Japanese toilet, which amounts to not much more than a hole in the ground.

Richie the Flower Guy

Another shout-out for one of our Issha neighborhood stores. This time it's our local flower shop, Le Soleil. It's a modest shop with a bubbly store owner named Richie (of course that's just the name he gives to foreigners). Richie goes out of his way to accompany English-speaking foreigners with an English-based website, and pleasant conversation. The amazing thing is that he picked up the language on his own over the years through Western music (especially the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac) and movies. He spent 3 months in New York city over 20 years ago and fell in love with the culture. Now, it seems his eyes light up whenever he gets the chance to speak a little English and tell stories about New York.

I try to go in as much as the budget or special occasions allow for (Although I'm sure not nearly as much as my wife deserves), and every time I'm amazed at the customer service. In a way, you could say that Richie's service is a microcosm of the Japanese culture's consideration of others. The Japanese don't work for tips, it's considered an insult in the service industry to leave a tip. Instead, they work for the customer. It seems everyone in every service job no matter how small, performs it with the same meticulous detail and routine to respect not only the customer, but the job itself.

Richie does a lot to make the flower buying experience fun. With, 'You Can Go Your Own Way,' blaring in the background, Richie let's you pick and choose what flowers look good depending on what he has in the store for the season. Based on your budget, he fills in the rest, paying close attention to each flower, how it's cut, and how they are wrapped. Finally, he goes through each flower and writes what each one is on the back of his card, so you can sound like a connoisseur when presenting the finished product to your loved one. Thanks Richie!

New Japan Prime Minister's Lofty Goals

Japan's LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) has enjoyed political supremacy for the better part of the last 40 years. However, on the heels of one of the country's worst recessions, and calls for more agressive actions from critics, current Prime Minister Taro Aso and the LDP were soundly defeated in last week's elections here in Japan. The winner, Yukio Hatoyama of the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan), has come to office with a lot of support and some aggressive ideas.

Among them, new goals set forth to reduce the country’s greenhouse gases. The previous administration had put forth a goal of 8% reduction in greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2020 ahead of the Copenhagen meeting of over 200 countries later this year to renew the Kyoto Protocol. Hatoyama and the DPJ on the other hand, ran on a more aggressive campaign and this week promised to follow through. His goal is a 25% reduction from 1990 levels by 2020. Very lofty, and one in which Hatoyama hopes to follow through on because of the traction and popularity the topic received during the campaign.

I’m guessing these hot Japan summers make it a little easier to convince voters or gain traction on such an issue. August was brutally hot and humid here in Nagoya, and there hasn’t been a sign of letting up heading into September. With temperatures still hovering around 95°F and overwhelming humidity around 65%; many people are starting to refer to this season as 残暑 (ざんしょ), or extended heat. The ‘extended heat’ seems to make people anxious for action.

Hatoyama faces critics from industry regarding the new plan, but he hopes to use the initiative to encourage other countries to increase their own goals as well as financially and technically support developing nations with climate change. Hatoyama plans to meet these goals through a series of legislation such as creating a domestic emissions trading market, introducing a ‘feed-in’ tariff that financially rewards industries that expand their use of renewable energies, subsidized energy technologies, and backing jobs in the renewable energy manufacturing sectors.

Source: Japan Times (09-08-2009) Hatayama Firm on 25% Emissions Goal

Putting the Scare in Scarecrow

It's just about time to start harvesting the rice in Nagoya. And the closer the harvest has come the more scarecrows have started popping up in the rice fields. Rice fields are very common, even integrated into some dense city areas. So, I have seen quite a few different types of scarecrows, known as kakashi (案山子), throughout Nagoya. Usually handmade, and thrown together with old Cd's or bright rags, you can tell they aren't put out for show. Whatever it takes to keep the pests away.

I gotta say though, this field on my way to work that absolutely takes the cake. These guys even scare me. I was half nervous just trying to snap their pictures!


That's right. The ol' mannequin head-on-a-stick trick. At least they had the decency to give this guy a helmet to protect him from the angry birds getting their revenge.

Tanuki-chan

I’m a big fan of this character. Tanuki is actually the common name for the raccoon dog found in the wild, but Tanuki also has deep roots in Japanese folklore as a mischievous character with a love for sake, uncommonly large testicles, and a welcoming personality. As a result, Tanuki statues can often be found outside of restaurants, bars, or homes beckoning guests to come in and enjoy themselves.

Because of his love for sake, Tanuki is always shown with a large sake bottle and a promissory note or empty purse. This is seen as a reminder not to be stingy and enjoy life. Also, Tanuki is always depicted with a bamboo hat to protect against trouble, a big tail, a big belly, and a friendly smile.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t explain the uncommonly large testicles that are a big part of the folklore. Also known as Kinbukuro (金袋), which means ‘money bags’ or ‘golden balls’, this feature can be found on all the statues as a symbol of financial luck. Legend also has it that Tanuki has large testicles because he is over-sexed, which is actually biologically true of the real-life raccoon dog because of fierce competition among males for female ‘companionship.’

To see Tanuki and his…ahem…testicles in action, check out this link!

Haaiiii Cheezzu!

According to a recent USA Today article, Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada, and Virginia do not allow drivers to smile for their license photos, and more states are expected to follow suit. (from the USA Today article):

The serious poses are urged by DMVs that have installed high-tech software that compares a new license photo with others that have already been shot. When a new photo seems to match an existing one, the software sends alarms that someone may be trying to assume another driver's identity.

But there's a wrinkle in the technology: a person's grin. Face-recognition software can fail to match two photos of the same person if facial expressions differ in each photo, says Carnegie Mellon University robotics professor Takeo Kanade.

Here in Japan smiling for government or business-related photos also seems to be discouraged. I first noticed this when a few of my co-workers commented on my id badge during the first few weeks working here. When they snickered at my smile in my photo I started noticing that everyone has a rather serious look on their face for their id badge.

When I got my Japanese driver's license I had to go through the process of getting my photo taken three times. After the first time, it was explained to me that, you guessed it, smiling was prohibited. I was shocked and tried to smirk during the second attempt - a hidden smile out of protest I thought. Not to be. I was caught and finally gave in on the third attempt. So now, I have a plain, ordinary, dull face on my Japanese id. It was later explained to me that you just aren't supposed to smile for 'official' photos - work, school, government, etc.

Truth be told, nobody ever really seems happy with their driver's license photo. It's true in the States, and I'm sure it can be said for most places. I just don't like the idea of taking smiling out of anything.

The Subways Here are Filthy

Actually, they are the cleanest I've ever seen. I've been lucky to ride on the L in Chicago, the subway in New York, the Tube in London, the Metro in Paris, and the Person...I mean People Mover in Detroit. None of them stand up to the cleanliness of the subway's here in Japan. Ok, the People Mover is pretty clean, but that's likely more a result of its lack of use. I kid because I love ya Detroit!

On a few Saturdays, we've been lucky enough to see the reason why. These women mean business and seem to take a lot of pride in it. I have no idea where they come from, but it seems there's an army of them that silently, yet earnestly go about their work spreading elbow grease. No sticky piece of trash goes un-scraped, and no stubborn brake dust gets by them.

Photos taken at Issha station and Kakuozan station along the Higashiyama line in Nagoya.

Sake in a Box

Thanks to a suggestion from my friend and co-worker living upstairs, Special Agent ADub, I decided to do a little research about why the heck our glass of sake was served in a box on a recent night out.

Not surprisingly, drinking sake has its own rituals for making, serving, and consuming. In this case, I'm going to focus on the fun stuff - serving and consuming (Although, I stumbled upon this website describing how sake is made, which is really quite interesting).

The box that our sake was served in is called a masu. In the restaurant, our sake serving consisted of an overflowing glass inside the masu. It turns out that the glass is not standard for serving. The main thing is that the sake has to be served overflowing either from or into the masu. If, as was our case, the box contains a glass brimming with sake, that is best sipped without hands until the glass can safely be picked up and used without fear of spilling. Once the glass is empty, the overflow can be drunk from the box.

Our plastic masu was more for show. Traditionally, the masu is made of wood in order to complement the wooden cask, which traditional sake is brewed in. A true masu will hold the standard measurement of 1 fl oz. Filling to the brim and over is a customary sign of prosperity.

As the traditional sake-serving cup and a symbol of prosperity, the masu still has a place in modern times and is still used for the purpose of ceremony or to show generosity. Lot's of Japanese restaurants, however, will serve it in an overflowing glass inside of the masu in order to highlight the tradition and enhance the drinking experience regardless of whether you are celebrating a special occasion or not.

Whew, all that research has made me thirsty. Off to fill my masu!

Sonne Garden

I owe a shout out to our friends at Sonne Garden. This, of course, is the local organic grocery store where our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box comes from every week. You can read about some of the interesting veggies and recipes that my wife has worked with from the contents of this box on her blog here. On occasion we are even given 'extra' fruits deemed too sweet for Japanese taste buds. It has really been a great store right around the corner from us for its location, friendly staff, and organic way of life.

Being on my own while my wife has been visiting family in the States, I have had to be more active in the kitchen and with the groceries. So of course, last week I forgot to pick up our CSA box as I thought we had skipped a week. Never fear, though. Our friends at Sonne Garden hunted me down through friends in my office. I felt terrible that I had forgotten our box on Monday, so when I went in to pick it up on Wednesday I was very apologetic. To my surprise, I was given a discounted rate because the veggies were 2 days old (mind you it was my fault). However, as I was leaving one of our friends, the owner, came running out to replace some of the greens and potatoes that I just received a discount on with fresh ones. Amazing!

Thanks for taking care of me Sonne friends! You guys always have a smile and are always open to helping your community. In a world that seems to be increasingly moving faster and where everyone seems more apt to find and maintain friends in online communities, this is one relationship that I'm proud to have in the 'real world' and in my community. Sometimes it pays to slow down and be involved in your community, and our friends at Sonne garden are a good reminder of that.

Japan & Guns

Spurned on by all of the model novelty guns showcased at KAC's CAFE Beer & Kiyono Arms - a combination bar and US Marine Corp novelty store located down the street from us (see 5/10/09 post) - I decided to check out Japan's gun laws. I've heard from some co-workers that guns are illegal in Japan. I've heard from others that they are, in fact, legal but only can be used to hunt. After a little research, it appears both statements are accurate.

While gun control in Japan is considered stringent compared to most democracies, there a some exceptions. No citizen is allowed to possess guns, unless they are for sporting (hunting, skeet, or trap shooting). Furthermore, the guns are limited to shotguns and single-shot rifles. No handguns or semi-automatics are permitted. Before you can acquire one of these guns for hunting or sport, you must take a class and pass a written test. After passing the first time, the gun owner must repeat the test every year thereafter. Furthermore, every 3 months police will come on an 'unexpected' visit to inspect gun and ammunition storage. And oh yeah, the gun and ammunition must be stored in a designated locker with a corresponding map of its location in the house for when the police show up.

It should be noted that the military and police are allowed to carry semi and full automatic guns. But the main point is that there is no, 'Right to bear arms', mentality here. That is a far cry from the message often referred to in the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution - a rally cry for many in the States. I know it's our right, and I'm far too naive to seriously argue for or against the right to bear arms. Truth be told, I've just never liked guns. It is an awful lot of power for a human to hold, regardless of how 'responsible' he or she may be. I've also never understood why that right has to include semi automatics. It's just a different mentality I guess. Perhaps that's the best way to explain Japan's gun laws - just a different mentality as well. A mentality that has produced a nation with one of the lowest amount of gun violence in the world. From a 2007 Japan Times article:

According to the 2006 Police White Paper, in 2005, Japan had a grand total 19 firearms-related homicides, of which only five were non-gang related and none of whom were minors. This remarkably low number, moreover, represented a marked decline from 2002, when 42 people were killed in gun violence.