Archive for February, 2010

Using dolls to explain the Haiti earthquake

N-H-K’s kids news program explains the earthquake in Haiti, Japan’s somewhat slow response to it, and the legal barriers to sending an SDF peacekeeping force overseas:

Somebody went through a lot of effort making little dolls and cartoon cut-outs to make everything easier to display, and I must say it is visually impressive.

—

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)

Asashoryu announces his retirement

Mongolian-born sumo Grand Champion Asashoryu was set to be almost certainly banned from the sport of sumo this week, but it seems he has preempted the Japan Sumo Association’s formal decision by announcing his retirement:

“I will retire,” he told reporters. “So many things have happened. I have caused a lot of trouble but I have no regrets about my sumo.”

The alleged attack took place on 16 January in the middle of a major tournament which he went on to win.

Reports in the Japanese tabloids said the 150kg () wrestler, who had been drinking heavily until the early hours, left his victim with a broken nose, a split lip and heavy facial bruising.

During an occasionally tearful appearance before the media, Asashoryu recalled the pride he felt when he defeated the then grand champion, Musashimaru, during his parents’ first trip to Japan to see him compete.

“That was my best moment,” he said. “I’ve been under a lot of mental stress and right now I want to get some rest.”

According to some of the Jap-hating comments I’ve already had to delete today, I think it would be fair to say that quite a few Mongolian internet users are not happy about what has happened. It seems that even their government officials are saying this is all part of an anti-foreign conspiracy:

One high-ranking official said, “I believe the Japanese side basically made use of this ‘violent incident’ to get him to retire from sumo. I feel that they did not want him to break the record for most titles. This behavior is unjust. The Mongolian people disapprove.”

—

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)

Swan, Prominent Japan Vlogger, Passes On

I was a causal viewer of Roger Swan’s movie reviews, but my surprise at his sudden passing pales in comparison to the outpouring of shock and grief that I have seen around the YouTube community in the last week or so. To be honest, I don’t have the chops to eulogize him properly. I just didn’t know him well enough, which I regret. But here are some things I want to share with you.

There was a touching video made quite quickly by Tokyo Cooney. You can see that here. There were many other video tributes as well.

And there was a really powerful tribute by Kevin at the blog Dogen, where Swan contributed articles. He says:

If you’ve ever seen the Truman show, then you may be able to understand Rodger’s existence, and its importance to everyone that knew him. He was that normal guy that was on video–all the time. He was that normal guy that everyone watched grow up. We saw him turn from a boy into a man. We saw him grow! And those of us who began watching, be it out of friendship or even a sympathetic curiosity, we all became hooked and hypnotized by Rodger’s complete lack of ego.

Please see the whole post here.

As I was a fan of the horror movie channel he put out, I offer his last video in that vein as a small tribute to a truly interesting vlogger’s memory.

I identified with Swan, as we both shared interests in Japanese novels, movies and culture. His death is a grim reminder of my own mortality, and I think the best thing I can do to honor him is to live my life to the fullest. For I’d like to think he died feeling quite content with all that he had done. Would that we all could heed such a lesson.

—
Contributor Bio: Claytonian blogs and vlogs about Japan, language, and news at The Hopeless Romantic.
—

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)

Toyotathon of Death

A massive recall of Toyota vehicles with safety problems has damaged the company’s image, as you can see from this portion of Tuesday night’s Daily Show:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Toyotathon of Death
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

—

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)

American politician: Healthcare in Japan sucks

As part of her campaign against Obama’s healthcare policy, Republic representative Michele Bachmann has been bad-mouthing Japan’s healthcare system:

“In Japan…to wait in and get health care is almost impossible. You get on a list and you wait and you wait and you wait. But he said this is something people don’t know: in Japan, people have stopped voicing their opinion on health care. There are things that are wrong with Japanese health care, but people [aren't] voicing. ‘Well why is that,’ I asked. He said it’s ‘Because they know that would get on a list and they wouldn’t get health care. They wouldn’t get in. They wouldn’t get seen. And so people are afraid. They’re afraid to speak back to government. They’re afraid to say anything.’ Is that what we want for our future? That takes us to gangster government at that point! And absolute abject corruption.”

It’s all based, apparently, on what a former resident of Japan told her.

When it comes to organ transplants, Japan does have a big problem with a lack of donors, so those with money often end up traveling to other countries to pay such procedures. I have not, however, heard of anything about terrifying “lists” that people have to wait on before getting medical care. I’ve never had to undergo a major medical procedure here, but everyone I’ve talked to has been pretty satisfied with the level of healthcare over here.

Chris Matthews has responded to her trolling with ridicule, saying he can’t wait until Japan hears about it:

[hat tip to Eric]

—

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)

McDonald’s New York Burger

Coming tomorrow to McDonald’s restaurants across Japan, it’s the New York Burger:

The limited time run of the Texas Burger has come to an end. The New York Burger will be a quarter pounder topped with bacon, tomato, Monterey Jack cheese and mustard sauce on a special bun.

—

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)