Since earthquakes are pretty rampant around Japan, they’ve now made a new warning system that can detect an earthquake immediately after it occurs to warn people before the ground starts to shake.
This system detects P-waves in the immediate aftermath of a temblor and informs people that the destructive S-waves are coming. This groundbreaking Japanese system has been widely publicized on TV and in other media since October, and many Japanese have high hopes for the system.
Difference in Wave Speed the Key
Japan is extremely prone to earthquakes, and these seismic events have caused a great deal of damage on numerous occasions in the past. The development of this revolutionary system is the result of many years of research by seismologists and others. The system uses data collected by the National Meteorological Agency and others via seismic instruments at around 1,000 locations across the country. When an earthquake strikes, the seismic instruments nearby measure and instantly analyze the P-waves. (P-waves are primary waves and travel at a speed of 7 kilometers per second.) The system then notifies the areas that are about to be hit by the slower but stronger S-waves. (S-waves are the destructive secondary waves and travel at a speed of 4 km per second.)
The topic of religion can be a very sensitive matter to some especially when followers of a religion is steadfast about their religion being the only ONE true thing in the whole wide world while other religions are false and lies. This video is about a Christian man who is currently living in Japan with his non-Christian Japanese wife. They have a son. I applaud his beliefs of not baptizing his son at such a young and tender age because he believes that choice to be a Christian should ultimately be his son’s decision. I find that very reasonable and logical.
I personally try to respect all religions although I don’t believe in the systematic order of a religion. Reason being, I feel that a person’s relationship with god is not measured by
1) the number of times s/he goes to church/temple or
2) the number of people s/he converted or
3) the number of lines s/he is able to memorize and recite or
4) the amount of money s/he donates to the church/temple
5) the confessions made in the confession’s booth
To me God(s) does not lie in any four walls or in a book. To follow without questioning is liken to follow in the dark. While this man in the video is in Japan to be with his wife, he is also there to spread Christianity. At least, that’s what I am getting from him. I have nothing against him spreading his beliefs unless he starts shoving it down on other people, which he is not doing (which is good). But there is judgment from his video and in the comments he’s posted in replies thus far that has rubbed me the wrong way. He said that he loves truth and hates lies - implying that other religions/culture/beliefs as lies - wouldn’t that equate to hating other religions/cultures/beliefs?
In a way, while this guy sound like a friendly bloke who is open to the Japanese culture, there is an air of being judgmental in him. Well, not just him but in many Christians, I know. That look they give and that blinding deep belief that other religions are lesser and cannot be comparable to their “one true religion” ….which incidentally is being torn down bit by bit with scientific proof that Jesus isn’t more than just a human being but a great one like Martin Luther King/John Lennon of his era. Except Martin Luther King/John Lennon was not made “god” after they were shot to death.
I know the guy in the video explained how it’s not like this: Xtian = good ppl = heaven. But explaining that only means he admits that not all xtians are good people, fair enough, BUT he probably wouldn’t deny that Xtians go to heaven; while non-xtians would not.
To believe without questioning in a religious book/scripture/sutra when we are never quite sure of its authenticity is liken to following in the dark. For argument sake, how can you be sure anymore if these “holy books” are the very same passed down thousands of years ago? It’s been rewritten, re-volumed, reprinted, re-everything - passed down from one century to another, and if you’ve played the game called Chinese Whispers, you’ll know that the messaged when it reached the last person can sound very different from the original message.
To me, a religion like Christianity is like an army - recruiting as they go. Some of them even call themselves god’s army. While this guy may not be as extreme as the fools we see and read on TV and the News, it is in the essence of the Xtian teaching to convert as many people as they can with the purpose of “saving lost souls”. And in some places, this purpose is taken very seriously that it bores undesirable social expectations and actions against non-xtians. Lost souls… isn’t that a judgment to think that non-xtians are lost souls?
While I understand it’s nice to find another fellow christian in a land like Japan, it’s human nature to want to belong in a group, it’s not very feasible to want to change the culture and beliefs of the Japanese that’s already etch far too deeply in their grains - there wouldn’t be a Japan like today had the Knights of Templar set foot on this land of the far East; that we know for sure.
And since, there are many different people in the world and no one individual is the same, where is the logic that beliefs and cultures should be uniform? Believe all you want but don’t belie being human; differences is what makes the world tick.
John Marcus touched on a very interesting topic. Frankly, I don’t know if Permanent Residents should be allowed to vote - it’s a right for the citizens but I guess he has his gripe about his rights when he has to pay the tax and stuff like a normal citizen.
These are two very interesting videos that touches on the modern day lifestyles of women in Japan. I find that shift has created an alternative look on how the woman live, work and their outlook on relationships. Much have changed in the past 10 years - marriage was an obligation for women in Japan before but now, many older generation are opting for divorces and the younger generation delay getting married. After watching the two videos, I feel that it is the lack of time, despite being more empowered, and maybe, just *maybe* women today are purging the old tradition of being obligated to a marriage - a sort of like an exorcism of such practice, beliefs and customs. If you look at it on a collective mode of things and term “women” as one entity, instead of looking at women as many different individuals.
Or maybe Japan’s women are currently undergoing a new phase of cynicism towards marriage and prefers, what usually used to be a men’s only activity, visiting nightclubs (or Host clubs) and having one or many male gumars (Italian for mistress).
Danchi (団地) is the Japanese word (literally ‘group land’) for a large cluster of apartment buildings. During the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, the Japanese created many such low-rent apartment complexes in the outskirts of urban areas to offset the housing demand of the then-increasing Japanese population. Fewer and fewer Japanese live in the gradually aging danchi, generally desiring individual housing left over from the Japanese bubble — new and exclusive private apartments, called mansion. Many danchi are owned by large corporations, who encourage employees to live alongside their colleagues, sometimes rent-free, in order to foster a corporate ‘family’ atmosphere.
The rent payment for a danchi is much cheaper than the lease of a mansion or mortgage of a used or new house, but usually the prospective tenant must participate in a lottery in order to be assigned an open apartment. The Japanese housing authority then assigns the tenant. Some danchi are extremely new and modern, but since there is a lottery for assignment and many open apartments in the older danchi, it is a risk to enter public housing.
It seems that the Danchi way of living is starting to recuperate again. The minimalistic living style is attracting Japan’s youngest and trendiest and it won’t be long before you see these grey/beige public housing monuments erected and re-glorified again.
Long regarded as eyesores and monstrosities that blighted the landscape, Japan’s concrete block monolithic public housing estates have started attracted a strong following smitten by what they say is their visual appeal, according to Cyzo (December).
The estates, known across Japan as danchi (which literally means “group areas”), are made in a minimalist style reminiscent of architecture during the Soviet Union’s heyday, but the usually pale cream or gray buildings are starting to attract enough fans that their appeal has spawned an admiration industry.
Symbolizing the new look at danchi is the recently released DVD “Danchi Mania: Danchi Purei Hajime no Ippo (Danchi Mania: Your First Step to Playing With Housing Estates).”
“I’d be delighted if people who don’t have a fascination with danchi picked up a copy of this DVD. There are danchi just about everywhere, but I’d say most people haven’t really taken a close look at them. I’d like people to take a different viewpoint when looking at something in their daily lives and discover just how much fun they can be,” Akira Oyama, maker of the danchi DVD, tells Cyzo.
Danchi first popped up in Tokyo suburbs during the 1950s as large numbers of Japanese deserted the country lifestyles their families had maintained for centuries and flocked to the cities so they could take part in the economic miracle then encompassing the country. Urban population growth skyrocketed and the danchi were a quick, cheap and nasty way to house people in a country then working full throttle to try and catch up with the West.
Oyama’s movie provides information on all sorts of housing estates across Japan, giving them unexplained ratings such as “sexy” “evil” or “upper crust.” Much of the material in his video can also be found on the website he operates, also devoted to public housing estates.
I like the mock bowl and noodles, music performers in suits and tie, cycling through the narrow alleys of Japan, picture taking booths, sushis, little cute japanese kids….this is pretty much everyday Japan :P
I love this clip and whoever filmed this rocks! It’s another day in Japan for another person and this video makes life in Japan look so wonderful. I think it’s the bicycling around town ;)
They’re grander than just kids knocking on doors asking for candies here. The video is from last year, this year’s Kawasaki’s Halloween’s Parade’s video is not up yet but a photo of the week in Metropolis showed variety and grand costumes better than it’s western counterparts ;)
Renting an apartment in Japan seems to be quite a tedious business. Reason being, after reading up on the basics on renting in Japan, I realize that there many loopholes in tenures and agreements that comes with apartment rental. For example, the minimum apartment rental is usually 2 years and some foreigners do not stay in Japan for 2 years. Also, some landlords are very reluctant to rent their apartments out to foreigners who do not speak Japanese. The fear of “friction” is what they call it there.
But anyway, if you speak some Japanese and is determine to try looking for an apartment - we’ll walk you through some basics. As accommodation is an important factor in living just about anywhere at all, let’s be familiar with the know-how’s of going about renting an apartment in Japan. Bear in mind, the whole business is not very friendly to foreigners so you would need to go with the flow and do what the Romans do, when you’re in Rome. Or Japan, in this case.
Firstly, most apartments are rented out through a real estate agent. So you would need to look out for listing boards or real estate offices with apartment rental boards usually located outside of their offices. Considering you speak Japanese or your friend is Japanese, you will need to contact the real estate agent to view the apartment and if all goes well, you will be forwarded to these 4 steps of securing yourself a place to stay.
The first stage is the Reservation fee (tetsukekin), you would need to put a down payment to secure the apartment of your interest. It serves as a guarantee to you that the apartment will be reserved for you. The money is like insurance so to show that you are serious about the place - it is usually about 1 month’s rent and will be refunded as soon as the agreement is signed.
The second stage is the Deposit (shikikin) where it is paid as an insurance to cover future damages to the apartment should it happen during your tenure. If there is a damage done to the apartment, the deposit will be used to cover the cost for repairs and the rest will be refunded back to you. The deposit is usually worth a few month’s rent. Unused deposits will be returned.
The third stage of apartment rental is Key Money (reikin); this money is non-refundable and is usually worth a few month’s rent as well.
Fourth and final stage is Service free (chukai tesuryo), a fee for the real estate agent for going to and fro securing your apartment for you. It is non-refundable and the fee is worth about a month’s rent usually.
And here’s a little video about housing in Japan - similar stuff to apartment rentals I suppose :)
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