Cleaning up the streets
Mangetsu-man turned up in Tokyo to help clean a bridge in Nihonbashi. Who is Mangetsu-man? I don:t know, but he has a big, round head like a yellow moon and a purple cape. He sweeps and cleans the streets with a broom and a dustpan, so I count myself among his fans. He wasn't the only one. Some helpful civilians also turned out. I am a fan of those people, too.
I go to Nihonbashi occasionally in search of American comic books. There's a nice little shop there called Blister that sells them, plus imported toys. It seems a fairly quiet place with a few restaurants and a number of office buildings. I'm not sure what its main focus is. You know, Shibuya is for shopping, Shinjuku is for fun, Akihabara is for AKB48 and geeky interests.
The next time I go to Nihonbashi, I'll keep an eye out for Mangetsu-man and his anti-garbage crusaders.
Showing posts with label life in Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life in Japan. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
The newest, most annoying excuse for doing stupid, asinine things: Man arrested for pouring ink, ketchup into mailboxes
Man arrested for pouring ink, ketchup into mailboxes
And what did this arch-fiend, this master criminal, this rogue genius, tell the high-tech, multi-national taskforce that finally brought him to justice after a worldwide hunt?
"[He] told [the Science Patrol, Sherlock Holmes, Batman and Charlie's Angels] he poured the liquids into at least 13 mailboxes because it helped him forget his stress at work."
This is the second crime this week where the suspect has confessed all and used the same excuse. The first guy admitted to slashing seat covers on a local train line. Stress relief, he said. At least the jackass who uploaded a video of himself drowning a cat had a specific anti-feline agenda he was trying to promote. These two boobs need to be locked in a cell together so they discuss ways of coping with work stress.
I have a lot of stress at my job, too, but I handle it the American way. I suck it up and complain at home. I read a book. I write a short story. I make a drawing. I go hit some baseballs at the batting center. I search the job ads. I read stupid news and write smart ass blog entries about it. Whatever happened to the grand old Japanese tradition of getting blotto, tying your tie around your forehead, and screaming out Blue Hearts at the karaoke box? Joining the local festival and spending three days half-naked and drunk out of your mind? Building intricately detailed Gundam models accurate down to the atomic level? I guess that's not good enough for some people. On the other hand, this country really could use the de-stigmatization of seeking professional help for mental problems.
And what did this arch-fiend, this master criminal, this rogue genius, tell the high-tech, multi-national taskforce that finally brought him to justice after a worldwide hunt?
"[He] told [the Science Patrol, Sherlock Holmes, Batman and Charlie's Angels] he poured the liquids into at least 13 mailboxes because it helped him forget his stress at work."
This is the second crime this week where the suspect has confessed all and used the same excuse. The first guy admitted to slashing seat covers on a local train line. Stress relief, he said. At least the jackass who uploaded a video of himself drowning a cat had a specific anti-feline agenda he was trying to promote. These two boobs need to be locked in a cell together so they discuss ways of coping with work stress.
I have a lot of stress at my job, too, but I handle it the American way. I suck it up and complain at home. I read a book. I write a short story. I make a drawing. I go hit some baseballs at the batting center. I search the job ads. I read stupid news and write smart ass blog entries about it. Whatever happened to the grand old Japanese tradition of getting blotto, tying your tie around your forehead, and screaming out Blue Hearts at the karaoke box? Joining the local festival and spending three days half-naked and drunk out of your mind? Building intricately detailed Gundam models accurate down to the atomic level? I guess that's not good enough for some people. On the other hand, this country really could use the de-stigmatization of seeking professional help for mental problems.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
We all love paying taxes, right?
Millions go on shopping spree ahead of sales tax hike
There are few things in life people enjoy more than paying a higher sales tax when they buy things. Time spent with family, photos of cute small animals, paying a high sales tax. These are the three things that make life worth living.
I haven't seen evidence of these "millions [on a] shopping spree," but we didn't venture out yesterday because of the weather. Saturday, however, seemed like business as usual here. But I have witnessed a flurry of news stories on TV covering the subject of the consumption tax increase. The Japanese public, if they've been paying attention, will certainly be well-informed on this topic and its potential effects. That's assuming the news reports have provided good information. And I don't see the why or wherefore of assuming otherwise. It's pretty straightforward stuff, news stories to the effect of, "Instead of paying an extra 5%, you're now going to pay an extra 8%. Here are some examples of price changes you'll see as a result."
From my experience, and I'm talking as a person who has only a slightly-more-than basic level of Japanese language ability, news programs here in Japan tend to be demonstrative. Like the one we watched with the segment on the icebound ship back in December. The presenter used a scale model to show how it happened. Another on a sign that fell even resorted to computer animation. Stories on the tax increase have used actual products and graphics of sales receipts. Things like that.
Anyway, the sales tax hike. A three percent increase doesn't seem like much, but we'll be subjected to analysis of the results for years to come. And, obviously, we'll get to experience it firsthand starting this week.
I can't wait!
There are few things in life people enjoy more than paying a higher sales tax when they buy things. Time spent with family, photos of cute small animals, paying a high sales tax. These are the three things that make life worth living.
I haven't seen evidence of these "millions [on a] shopping spree," but we didn't venture out yesterday because of the weather. Saturday, however, seemed like business as usual here. But I have witnessed a flurry of news stories on TV covering the subject of the consumption tax increase. The Japanese public, if they've been paying attention, will certainly be well-informed on this topic and its potential effects. That's assuming the news reports have provided good information. And I don't see the why or wherefore of assuming otherwise. It's pretty straightforward stuff, news stories to the effect of, "Instead of paying an extra 5%, you're now going to pay an extra 8%. Here are some examples of price changes you'll see as a result."
From my experience, and I'm talking as a person who has only a slightly-more-than basic level of Japanese language ability, news programs here in Japan tend to be demonstrative. Like the one we watched with the segment on the icebound ship back in December. The presenter used a scale model to show how it happened. Another on a sign that fell even resorted to computer animation. Stories on the tax increase have used actual products and graphics of sales receipts. Things like that.
Anyway, the sales tax hike. A three percent increase doesn't seem like much, but we'll be subjected to analysis of the results for years to come. And, obviously, we'll get to experience it firsthand starting this week.
I can't wait!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Pollen season expected to peak in late February
Pollen season expected to peak in late February
Well, fart. We planned to get a jump on hay fever season early this year, and it's decided to one-up us in turn. Seasonal allergies are no joke here in Japan. While they can be pretty severe just about anywhere, apparently a cedar-planting program following WWII has turned spring into an annual misery for people living here. My first few years here were relatively allergy-free, but exposure over time has caused me to become just as susceptible to hay fever as anyone. My wife is fortunately allergy-free, but last year I experienced the full force of pollen-induced sneezing, runny nose, clogged sinuses and many, many sleepless nights. It wasn't like having a mild cold for over a month. It was like having a severe one.
There are masks and nasal sprays, antihistamine pills and even salves you dab in your nostrils or clear plugs to shove in there, but these only turn down the pain a notch, from a Spinal Tap-like 11 to a Who-ish 10. Last year's allergies were an Isle of Wight experience, the nasal equivalent of being stuck inside Pete Townshend's amp. For three weeks. One of my friends rarely sets foot outside his house during the season's peak. I have no choice. I have to walk to work and we rarely close the windows at our school. You know what this means.
I'm going to make an appointment with an allergy specialist as soon as possible and see if I can't take action before things get out of hand this year.
Well, fart. We planned to get a jump on hay fever season early this year, and it's decided to one-up us in turn. Seasonal allergies are no joke here in Japan. While they can be pretty severe just about anywhere, apparently a cedar-planting program following WWII has turned spring into an annual misery for people living here. My first few years here were relatively allergy-free, but exposure over time has caused me to become just as susceptible to hay fever as anyone. My wife is fortunately allergy-free, but last year I experienced the full force of pollen-induced sneezing, runny nose, clogged sinuses and many, many sleepless nights. It wasn't like having a mild cold for over a month. It was like having a severe one.
There are masks and nasal sprays, antihistamine pills and even salves you dab in your nostrils or clear plugs to shove in there, but these only turn down the pain a notch, from a Spinal Tap-like 11 to a Who-ish 10. Last year's allergies were an Isle of Wight experience, the nasal equivalent of being stuck inside Pete Townshend's amp. For three weeks. One of my friends rarely sets foot outside his house during the season's peak. I have no choice. I have to walk to work and we rarely close the windows at our school. You know what this means.
I'm going to make an appointment with an allergy specialist as soon as possible and see if I can't take action before things get out of hand this year.
Friday, January 31, 2014
This is getting out of hand: Flu epidemic warning issued for Tokyo metropolitan area
Flu epidemic warning issued for Tokyo metropolitan area
But it's no surprise. When people get sick, they go to work, school or even their English conversation classes anyway. Just wear a mask, use the "Air Doctor" and some of the hand sanitizer at the store entrance and continue spreading the flu far and wide. On the other hand, I don't know too many people who take the precaution of getting the flu vaccination at the start of influenza season. The vaccine doesn't guarantee you'll breeze through the cold weather months flu-free, but it works a lot better than any of the other methods people tend to rely on. Which includes, as I said and I cannot stress enough, going about their daily grind despite being sick.
My wife and I got shots back in November. As you know, I work at a school and she works at a daycare. So we're around all kinds of fun viruses and bacteria daily. I like to think we do pretty well. We wash our hands when we come home at night and don't even hug or kiss until we've changed clothes. We're both pretty paranoid about germs. Which is another reason why I rarely talk about illness. And yet I've been blogging up a storm on the topic lately, haven't I?
I'm longing for spring and simple seasonal allergies. Spring is my time to suffer. This year, I'm going to do something similar to my flu preparations and get on some kind of prescription medicine before the cedar pollen starts wafting about and irritating my immune system into attacking me despite my relative health.
In the meantime, avoid all human contact if possible. Seal yourself in, adopt quarantine protocols and live off your emergency supplies until the authorities issue an all-clear bulletin. Which should come any... day... now...
Transmission complete.
But it's no surprise. When people get sick, they go to work, school or even their English conversation classes anyway. Just wear a mask, use the "Air Doctor" and some of the hand sanitizer at the store entrance and continue spreading the flu far and wide. On the other hand, I don't know too many people who take the precaution of getting the flu vaccination at the start of influenza season. The vaccine doesn't guarantee you'll breeze through the cold weather months flu-free, but it works a lot better than any of the other methods people tend to rely on. Which includes, as I said and I cannot stress enough, going about their daily grind despite being sick.
My wife and I got shots back in November. As you know, I work at a school and she works at a daycare. So we're around all kinds of fun viruses and bacteria daily. I like to think we do pretty well. We wash our hands when we come home at night and don't even hug or kiss until we've changed clothes. We're both pretty paranoid about germs. Which is another reason why I rarely talk about illness. And yet I've been blogging up a storm on the topic lately, haven't I?
I'm longing for spring and simple seasonal allergies. Spring is my time to suffer. This year, I'm going to do something similar to my flu preparations and get on some kind of prescription medicine before the cedar pollen starts wafting about and irritating my immune system into attacking me despite my relative health.
In the meantime, avoid all human contact if possible. Seal yourself in, adopt quarantine protocols and live off your emergency supplies until the authorities issue an all-clear bulletin. Which should come any... day... now...
Transmission complete.
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