Archive for May, 2009

Flu spreads in Osaka/Kobe – JR West employees wearing masks

JR West had been using a “smile checking” device at a few stations to encourage employees to always force themselves to smile, but now that the swine flu has hit Kansai, they’re replacing smiles with masks.

Here’s a video news report from TBS news about the situation in Osaka and Kobe:

The report includes the following details:

• JR West has instructed its employees to wear masks.
• Travelers interviewed said that they were wearing masks to protect themselves from the flu.
• A shopping area was not very crowded, and many of the people shopping were wearing masks. (But one woman said she was not worried because it was about the same as normal flu.)
• Cram schools were closed because of the flu outbreak.
• At a baseball game being held at the Osaka Dome, mask-wearing fans were disappointed that “jet balloons” had been banned.
• A movie theater had placed bottles of alcohol spray in its bathrooms to help customers wash their hands. They are also ready to distribute masks upon request.
• KidZania has installed cameras that scan the body temperature of visitors. Staff have been told to wear masks and free masks are also being given to visitors.

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Aoyama Gakuin University forcing students to carry tracking devices

Or, as the hip folks call them, iPhones:

The faculty began providing Apple iPhone 3Gs to all 550 staff and students Friday, using the GPS function to determine whether they are in school or not. The university will initiate full operation of the system in the autumn. The school also has plans to expand their use to setting simple tests and questionnaires, submitting homework and reviewing class video materials.

The university is to pay the basic charges itself, ensuring no extra financial burdens will fall on students.

[via Asiajin]

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Japanese flight attendant complains about Zhang Ziyi’s rude behavior

A Japanese entertainment magazine has run a report from a flight attendant who alleges that Chinese movie star Zhang Ziyi was quite rude towards airline employees on a recent flight:

On one particularly memorable ten-hour flight to London, the 30-year-old actress requested for instant noodles three times, on top of the meals provided by the airline.

Each time, she simply tasted two or three mouthfuls before putting down her chopsticks. She then lifted her chin to indicate that she wanted the noodles to be cleared away.

The stewardess also said that the actress sat with one foot on the seat when eating her noodles, with total disregard for decorum.

She says that the Chinese beauty also expects the flight crew to bring her bags down from the luggage rack when she alights, and her diva-esque attitude is the subject of many complaints by the flight crew.

When contacted, her manager replied in an sms that “Ziyi does not eat instant noodles”.

Also in the news this week: Zhang Ziyi went out on an “all-night date” with X Japan’s Yoshiki.

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Taro Aso meets Miss Universe Japan

Prime Minister Taro Aso was all smiles when he met Miss Universe Japan 2009 Emily Miyasaka:

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Japan confirms first domestic H1N1 infection

Japan has confirmed its first domestic case of H1N1 flu, a high school student in Kobe:

A high school student from Kobe, western Japan, tested positive for swine flu after coming down with fever, Shinsuke Izumi, assistant manager at Kobe city’s crisis management center, said by phone. Test results show two more students from the same school are “99 percent certain” to have swine flu and the outcome of a final analysis by Tokyo’s Infectious Disease Surveillance Center will probably be announced today, he said.

Health officials are investigating how the first student, who said he didn’t go overseas, contracted the illness, Izumi said. Japan will introduce measures to prevent the infection from spreading, based on its investigation of the patient and those who came in contact with him, Prime Minister Taro Aso said in a statement, without giving specific details.

The Hyogo prefectural government has responded by announcing that the school high school in question will be shut down for 10 days, along with 75 kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high schools in the city (but not all of the city’s schools). A city festival has also been canceled. Schools in other prefectures have canceled planned class trips to the Kobe area as well.

Some other reactions to the H1N1 flu threat include:

• The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will distribute lots of posters urging travelers and public transportation passengers to wear protective masks. [The value of such mask-wearing has been called into question, but the MLIT doesn't seem to care.]
• JR West and Hankyu Railways are telling their employees to wear masks.
• Sporting events that were supposed to be held in Kobe are being postponed or canceled.
• The Osaka Kyocera Dome has stopped selling “jet balloons.” Warnings about wearing masks and washing hands/gargling throats will be made during baseball games.
• Those unlucky enough to enter the country on a plane containing a flu carrying passenger will be forced to undergo 7 days of quarantine if they happen to be seated within a risky distance of the flu carrier.
• Josai International University had to cancel an academic conference because it was feared that its international guests would cause flu infections.
• The Japanese women’s soccer team canceled a series of international exhibition matches. Children’s soccer teams also seem to be following this path.
• New Zealand and Canada are reporting large numbers of tour cancellations from Japanese. Hawaii’s tourism industry is also taking a big hit.

A panel of experts believes the virus may already be spreading throughout Japan. Those who may already be infected may not show symptoms for several days, and when they do, they will have likely spread it to other unsuspecting victims.

If Japanese authorities attempt to continue their policy of hyper sensitivity towards the flu, we can expect quite a lot of closures and cancellations in the near future.

Update: 5 students at another high school in Kobe have been found to be infected.

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Birds of prey terrorize highway service area

Aggressive black kites are terrorizing people who try to eat snacks outdoors at the Awaji service area (near the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge):

A large number of the birds have discovered that stealing food from humans is far easier than catching wild animals, so they gather around the service area, swooping down and literally grabbing meals from the hands of unsuspecting people. The service area has put up signs warning visitors about the black kites.

Some visitors have been deliberately leaving food on benches just for the thrill of watching the birds skillfully grab it, a practice which no doubt makes the problem even worse.

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