Lost In Translation

Temple #3

This one is on Kasuga-dori near Ikebukuro.

Vandals In Seattle

I saw this in the Daily Yomiuri today:

Sadako statue in Seattle vandalized

Kiyoshi Morita / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

The statue of Sadako Sasaki, who died of leukemia aged 12 after being irradiated during the Hiroshima atomic bombing, in the Peace Park in Seattle was vandalized late last year.

The incident occurred after a debate had arisen over the way the completely resembled Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was being displayed. Three days later, a different aircraft dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

Sadako is known worldwide as a symbol of people's aspirations for peace. She also was the model for the Children's Peace Monument in the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

Sadako was 2 when she was irradiated. She believed she could overcome her illness by folding 1,000 paper cranes. She devoted her life to making cranes from medicine wrapping papers, but died after folding 644 cranes.

The late U.S. sculptor Floyd Schmoe, who was a peace activist and an honorary citizen of Hiroshima, worked to establish the Peace Park in 1990.

The right arm was cut off the bronze statue, and the right leg also was damaged after somebody tried to cut it off with a saw.

A witness said a white man was responsible for the damages.

Although the motive for the vandalism is unknown, some people believe the incident was linked to protests made in December, by Japanese atomic-bomb victims who expressed opposition at such places as the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum to the way the Enola Gay was being exhibited.

A Japanese woman living in the city is calling for donations to repair the statue, and about 2,000 dollars has been donated by local citizens.

However, a further 3,000 dollars is needed to repair the statue.

Michiko Pumpian, 48, who promotes peace by keeping the paper-crane movement alive, has appealed for money over the Internet.

"I'd like children of the world to know that even a mere 1 dollars or 100 yen per person would mount up and become a strong force," she said.

Pumpian hopes to have the statue repaired by Aug. 6, the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, and to offer paper cranes sent to her by well-wishers to the statue.

For more information on how to send in donations and paper cranes, e-mail michiko@sadako.org

Temple #2

This interesting little temple is on a busy shopping street near Edogawabashi station.

Calexico Live

Last night I saw Calexico at Club Quattro in Shibuya and it was great. I forgot that they released "Feast Of Wire" in 2003, and it surpasses the White Stripes? "Elephant" as my favorite album of the year. They really sounded great live. I was really impressed with the concert, not only were they tight, but there were a few surprises as well. They did two covers one by the Minutemen, obviously with an arrangement by Calexico and Love's "Alone Again Or." It?s impressive in that they used probably more than 30 instruments several guitars, trumpets, xylophone, lap pedal steel guitar, keyboards, accordion, various percussion instruments and upright bass. It?s spaghetti western music meets traditional Mexican music. It just sounds so cool; I can?t believe they?ve only done one soundtrack to the lame Committed. I think their music is perfect for a movie soundtrack. They also backed Neko Case on her excellent Black Listed CD.

More On Freeters

Here a link to another blogger in Tokyo(Jean Snow) with links to some other bloggers on the issue of "freeters"-intersting stuff...here's some thoughts I have about the issue:

Interesting link, it was refreshing to see that some people are more objective about what this freeter movement means, there are so many doomsayers who always talking about the end of Japan, as Robert points out is impossible to see if you come here?what recession? There are other mitigating factors as well. Most of the freeters I know live at home (hence no rent) and those that don?t are crafty and know how to live on the cheap. Arguably, they have a much better lifestyle than my friends who sometimes work until 1 am at their companies, these friends make good salaries, but are limited in their ability to travel and indulge in their interests. My freeters friends are constantly saving to travel abroad and are musicians, engage in hobbies, or keep up with movies and hanging out with friends and go clubbing or whatever.

I think people will always follow the convention path to success, because there are rewards, but at a price. I?m glad that a lot of Japanese are beginning to think outside the box, I was thoroughly disgusted when I taught in a Junior High School here and asked students what they wanted to do when they grew up, "salaryman" was a very common answer.

On the negative side I see that this "indulgent" attitude toward life makes them less likely to take some types of risks or compromise in their lives. For example, I?ve met girls who refuse to seriously date, because they are working two jobs in order to travel abroad, or don?t want to deal with a complicated relationship, because they don?t plan to be here two years from now, etc... Or why get married or move in with a lover, when the food and rent at home is free.

No.2 Not A Temple

This is funeral home near Hakusan which I thought has a very traditional feel to it. I think funeral homes are associated with Buddhaism, since most Japanese are cremated in a Buddahist ceremony. However, in yesterday's post Eric asked the difference between a Shinto Shrine and a Buddhaist Temple. The basic difference is that Shrines tend to have the large Torii Gates at the entrance of the grounds. But for more specific info click here.

Danger Country

"Abunai" means danger or "watch out/carefull." You hear it all the time, about how dangerous America is and how Japan is "safety country." Someone recently said that the part of Tokyo that I live near (Ikebukuro) is dangerous-ha! This month's Japanzine's feature story looks at this issue:

It is interesting that the Japanese often seem overly concerned about things they aren't familiar with and find them dangerous... or at least risky. Of course, this is pretty much human nature anywhere. However, the term "Safety Country" has oft been used by Japanese to compare and contrast the relatively orderly and admirable civil society they have been able to construct. On the face of it, the phrase is both naive and humorous. After all, this grammatical malapropism is indicative of both a mind set and a misunderstanding. It attests to a perspective that Japan is safe; the rest of the world, well... let?s just say "watch out."

Click here to read the rest.

First In A Series

I came across several interesting little temples on a couple of walks around the Bunkyo-ku/Shinjuku-ku area recently. This one was near Hakusan, where the main Toyo campus is. I had to go there for a meeting the other day.

Yaki Imo

In the winter it is common to have these trucks driving around with a recording advertising "yaki imo" for sale. It is basically a baked sweet potato, and isn't really my thing, but they seem to be quite popular. This truck is selling its wares in Shibuya.

ADLV

I have some friends who opened a cool little bar in Shibuya earler this year, called ADLV. These bottles are in the passage way outside the bar. I went there after the Valentine's Party last night, since Wednesday was a national holiday, National Foundation Day.

This is Kyoko, who cooks at the bar, next to a ceramic bottle of awamori, which is a strong alcoholic drink from Okinawa.