Tokyo's Big! Yeah yeah yeah!

It's not small! No no no!

This is a view towards Shibuya and Shinjuku from the main observation deck of Tokyo Tower. I climbed 500 meters up the central stairs to get to this two-story deck. The line for the elevator to the very top was so long, I decided to walk as far as they'd allow. I'm not squeamish about heights, just about human constructions that take us to those heights. I don't trust 'em. So huffing and puffing my way up some steel steps was actually more comfortable for me than taking the elevator and watching Tokyo vertiginously fall away from my feet, thoughts of structural and mechanical failure rampaging in my mind, sending panic-currents flowing through my nervous system.

The observation deck was crowded, due especially to the holiday. I went to Tokyo Tower during Golden Week, that special time of the year when three national holidays in a row shut down a lot of businesses and send families hither and yon across Japan in search of fun. I don't know what someone who suffers from both acrophobia and agoraphobia would do at Tokyo Tower; I don't recommend you try if you have both these fears unless your doctor recommends it as some kind of immersion therapy.

The Shibuya Scramble...

"Black Hole Sun" cover by Cibo Matto.

Melt-Banana Redux

Here's the Photobucket version of the Melt-Banana video. I'm just testing to see which has the higher quality. Both have that guy's head in the way, though.

Melt-Banana at Shelter Shimokitazawa, April 29, 2010

This is a short video I made the other night at the MxBx show. I'm going to post a review of the happening later. Things are kind of in flux right now so I don't have as much time as I'd like or the ability to concentrate. Sorry! But enjoy the jittery video!

Iceland's Volcano Strands Hundreds in Narita Airport

Wow, that's some volcano if its effects are reaching all the way across the world from Europe to Asia. There are rumors the Icelandic government plans to parachute Bjork into the volcano to calm it with her music, but while Bjork is impervious to temperatures beyond 1,160 degrees Celsius (2,120 degrees Fahrenheit), there's some concern as to whether or not the volcano will be able to hear her through the bulky breathing apparatus she must wear.

Meanwhile, I know it's no fun being stranded at an airport for days. Sakura Hotel & Hostel of Tokyo reports some of their guests from France have had to extend their stay; these are the lucky ones, because the Sakura people are just incredible and they plan a lot of activities for visitors. Even so, I know these weary travelers simply want to go home.

Yoshida Eri Brings Her Knuckleball to the United States...

Remember Eri? She's the girl who plays professional baseball in Japan. Well, she used to play professional baseball in Japan. Now she's joining the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. Yoshida Eri was the first woman to play professional ball in Japan, but not the first in the United States, of course. She's no publicity freak either; last winter, she threw 4 2/3 innings of shut out ball against Team Canada.

Her official signing ceremony takes place April 13th here in Japan. Here's wishing Yoshida Eri the best of luck as she embarks on this exciting new phase in her baseball career!

The First Japanese Mother in Space!

There's really no overestimating the importance of the mother to the Japanese family unit. While this is no doubt true of every country, I've met more mothers on a one-on-one basis here in Japan than I have anywhere else so I 've come to appreciate the unrelenting work they do to keep their households running smoothly. They're usually the ones with all the hands-on duty, whether they're shufu (homemakers/housewives) or kaishain (company employees). It's up in the morning to make breakfast and bento (lunchboxes) for everyone, then work and more work, maybe a quick English lesson, a trip to the supermarket and dinner for kids and husbands-- if any of them get home in time.

Discipline, finances, planning trips, taking charge of their children's educations. These are the things left in their care. I doubt many (if any) of the positive aspects of Japanese society would exist without Japanese mothers. And do they complain?

Well, yeah, constantly.

Occasionally, Japanese mothers even go into space to operate robotic arms and inspect space shuttle heat-shielding tiles for damage. Aerospace engineer Yamazaki Naoko is just the second Japanese woman to travel into space and here's hoping she has a safe, productive journey. The Mainichi Daily News says this about her:

Her role will be one that affects the success or failure of the entire mission.

That's true in space or here in Japan, whether the mission is delivering supplies to the International Space Station or producing functioning, contributing adults who are a benefit to their communities. What an amazing person. What amazing people I've met and taught and talked to since I've been here. The Japanese mother. I stand in awe and open admiration.