Archive for January, 2010

Japan to provide China with assistance in the battle against smog

As you may already know, smog clouds drifting over from China are a serious problem for Japan. Japan’s Environment Ministry recently announced a new plan that will hopefully improve teh situation:

The ministry plans to offer technological and other advice based on its experience in curbing air pollution, in the hope of helping China put together a new five-year plan to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

The ministry has earmarked ¥18 million in the government’s fiscal 2010 budget plan, including related expenses for the project such as studies and research.

The project mainly involves holding seminars for China’s central and local governments, conducting joint Japan-China on-site surveys and research, and informing the Chinese about illnesses caused by pollution such as Minamata disease, a neurological ailment resulting from mercury poisoning, the ministry said.

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Wakakusayama Mountain Burning

A cool HD quality YouTube video from the Asahi Shimbun showing Wakakusayama mountain in Nara being set ablaze:

Why do they do it? Here’s a little explanation from the Kansai Institute of Information Systems:

On January each year, burning of the turf which covers the hills begins at the signal of the shooting of fireworks (Yamayaki).

There are various theories about the origin of this event; for example, one suggests that the practice was initially started in order to resolve territorial disputes among the Kofukuji and Todaiji temples and the Kasuga Shrine and another that its purpose is to slay goblins living on the hills.

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Dead whale in Japan

A dead humpback whale washed ashore in Chiba prefecture, so news cameras were there to have a look:

An aerial view, from the Asahi Shimbun:

Some people brought their kids, and one guy even carried his dog over to get a closer look at the whale, creating a rather odd background for the shot of the reporter in the first clip:

Note: Humpback whales are not among the species of whale currently hunted by Japanese whalers. Humpbacks, which are not an endangered species, were almost added to the Japanese whaling quota last year, but the plan has been postponed. The news reports say that this whale carcass will be buried – not eaten.

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Chimpanzee makes mochi

Everyone’s favorite performing chimp, Pan-kun, learns how to make mochi:

The clip begins with Pan-kun meeting Miss International Queen Ai Haruna. Pan-kun’s reactions to Ai seem to indicate he recognizes her as a woman.

They then teach the chimp some good ol’ fashioned mochi-pounding techniques. When it’s time to eat the mochi they made, Pan-kun doesn’t seem to like it very much and chows down on grated daikon instead.

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It’s been 15 years since…

It’s been 15 years since the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit the Kansai region on January 17th, 1995. It is a day Japanese people will not forget. The TV commercial of KEPCO, or the Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. makes us feel somewhat emotional. It’s good especially with the BGM sung by Angela Aki.

The commercial:

Those who were born that year turn to be 15 years old today.
The earthquake devastated the Kansai area, people cried and things looked desperate.
“We have to keep illuminating the future of these kids!” Workers at KEPCO were inspired by kids.
Thanks to kids, the Kansai area has totally recovered from the earthquake.
Kids were ray of hope, and will be so…

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Full music video of the Angela Aki song used as BGM:

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Contributor Bio: Kirin is a Japanese woman spending her life so far somewhere around Tokyo. She now works from home and is also spreading Japanese kawaii culture and etc. through her popular blog, Tokyo Kawaii,etc.
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Terry Gilliam on Japanese TV

Terry Gilliam was recently in Japan for the Tokyo premiere of his new film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Japanese comedy duo Bakusho Mondai were sent to interview him about the movie, and wackiness ensued:

The interview starts with Hikari Ota noting Terry’s resemblance to Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson. They talk a bit about the film, and then engage in weird behavior like sending shout-outs to Japanese TV hosts and making director/sumo poses.

This was actually the third time they had met and interviewed Terry Gilliam. Some clips of a 2005 interview they conducted (with Patrick Harlan acting as interpreter) can be found on YouTube, courtesy of tmyl1pik:

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