Wish Upon the Moon

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to launch its first lunar orbiter this August. The project, called SELENE (SELenological and ENgineering Explorer), is already understandably delayed due to its ambitious nature. In fact, the SELENE is considered to be the largest lunar mission since the US Apollo program. SELENE’s mission is to conduct observations for studies of the ENTIRE moon and not just parts of it. It aims to “collect scientific data on the formation of the moon and its transitional history up to today.”

The SELENE project if successful will not only be a triumph to the scientific community but will also give Japan the edge it seeks to get ahead of China in their heated space race. Japan has grander plans after this project making SELENE a mere (but huge) stepping stone towards a lunar landing and even manned missions to space.

For their awareness campaign JAXA has launched the “Wish Upon the Moon” Campaign where anyone can send their names and messages, which will be delivered by SELENE to the moon.

Kapuseru Hoteru (Capsule Hotels)

A capsule hotel is a type of hotel accommodation popular mostly among travelers stranded for the night and those who are on a tight budget. Capsules are usually about 2m by 1m by 1.5m in dimension and so is unsuitable for those above six feet tall and, of course, for a claustrophobic. Despite the very limited space you will be surprised at how well equipped these hotels are. Each capsule usually comes with a built in mini TV, radio, and alarm clock, plus fresh bedding of course. You can also use the hotel’s lockers, shower rooms, laundry facilities, restaurants, vending machines, and clothes shop. An overnight stay costs ¥2000-4000 while an afternoon nap is usually even cheaper.

Capsule hotels have been around since 1979 and is pretty common in Japan. However the concept still hasn’t spread to other countries despite the convenience they bring.

Earthquakes as Usual

A 5.4 magnitude quake hit Japan yesterday at 12:19pm. The quake was centered in Mie prefecture, which is about 200 miles southwest of Tokyo. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported 11 injured with one serious injury. Other damages include partial damage to 26 houses in Mie and a 400 year old castle.

Earthquakes are pretty common in Japan being one of the most earthquake prone countries in the whole world. The reason for this is that the country sits atop four different tectonic plates. Japan, of course, being technologically advanced manages to cope with the problem with cutting edge earthquake-resistant buildings and regular earthquake drills. However, despite all their preparation they are still powerless when nature decides to unleash a powerful quake. All anybody can do then is hope that the preparation minimizes the damage and casualties.

The last killer quake (magnitude of 7.2) occurred in 1995 at Kobe wherein 6,433 people died.

Takayama Festival

The Takayama Festival being held today until tomorrow at the Hie-Jinja Shrine in Shiroyama,Takayama City is considered to be one of the most beautiful festivals is Japan. The festival is most known for its Tokeiraku parade wherein people wearing costumes and bells drum a beat for dancers who dance the shishimai lion dance. The parade of people is followed by an equally if not more spectacular sight as the yatais (floats), featuring clever contrivances like marionettes, come into view. The contrivances showcased by the yatais are not ordinary ones since they make use of the technologies that existed in Japan during the Edo Period (from the 17th to the 19th century).

For those interested in catching up to watch the festival tomorrow you can go the the Hie-Jinja Shrine via train. The shrine is a 25-minute walk from Takayama Station. Takayama Station is on the JR Takayama Honsen Line.

Matsuzaka Versus Ichiro

Japanese baseball fans all over the world had their stomachs knotted in anticipation when Japan’s most successful pitcher faced off with Japan’s best hitter at Fenway just yesterday. Torn between their two favorite players Japanese fans cheered for either Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ichiro Suzuki while many who couldn’t make up their minds ended up cheering for both. The “battle” between the two ended with Ichiro grounding out to Matsuzaka.

Daisuke “The Monster” Matsuzaka joined the Boston Red Sox December 13 of last year. He has quite a repertoire of pitches but his “best pitch” is considered to be his screwball-like changeup.

Ichiro Suzuki, known all over simply as Ichiro, moved to the US in 2001 playing for the Seattle Mariners. He is known to be one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball and has won a Gold Glove award and is part of the All-Star selection in each of his first six years in the majors.

Sanctions Against North Korea Extended

Japan has announced its intent to extend its sanctions against North Korea for another six months due to North Korea’s “insincere efforts to solve the abduction issue”. The abduction issue mentioned here refers to the 17 Japanese kidnapped in the 1970s and 1980s. North Korea acknowledged the kidnapping of 13 of the Japanese citizens and returned 5 of the people in 2002 while claiming that the rest were dead. Japan wants North Korea to account for the 4 missing people as well as address its programs for disarmament.

So far the sanctions, which includes a ban on imports from North Korea, a ban on the entry of North Korean ships to Japanese ports, and a ban of entry of North Korean officials on Japanese soil, seems to have little effect on North Korea’s efforts towards the resolution of the abduction and disarmament issues.

Candy Sushi Recipe

Purists will definitely hate this tip but dessert lovers will love the fushion between western sweets and the Japanese food - sushi. The candy sushi here do not taste anything like sushi but they really are pretty to look at and very delicious too.

Ingredients:
Fruit by the Foot (preferably green)
Mini powdered donuts
Swedish fish
Pull and Peel licorice
Marshmallows
Jelly beans
Strawberry, caramel, or chocolate syrup.

Candy Sushi Version 1:
Place a strip of Fruit by the Foot on your working space.
Place a Swedish fish in the center.
Cut a mini-donut in half and place this on the Swedish fish.
Wrap the ends of the Fruit by the Foot around the fish and donut.

Candy Sushi Version 2
Wrap a strip of the Fruit by the Foot around a marshmallow.
Place the marshmallow on its end.
Cut a jelly bean in half and place it on the marshmallow, inside facing up.
Cut some small pieces of liquorice so that they look like small balls or fish eggs and place them around the jelly bean half.

Candy Sushi Version 3
Using a knife, carefully carve a hole in the middle of a marshmallow.
Thread some liquorice through the center of the marshmallow.
Wrap a strip of the fruit roll-up around the marshmallow.

Recipe compliments of WikiHow.

Save the Endangered Languages

Language is an integral part of culture and Japan is a country rich with culture. Compared to other countries though Japan suffers from the degradation of a significant number of its indigenous languages. Of the 16 living languages in Japan today eight have 10,000 or less speakers each with three of those having less than a thousand speakers. The three languages are the Ainu (15 speakers), Yonaguni (800 speakers), and Yoron (950 speakers).

Endangered and with one nearly extinct the death of these languages do not represent just the death of the language itself but the death of an entire sub-culture. As Japan strove to unite the nation and become a force to be reckoned with some sacrifices were made. With standard Japanese used everywhere and for everything the more ancient languages are losing relevance and dying out. While it is good to be able to communicate in one language the older languages should be fought for and preserved. As Japan faces a brighter future it is their duty and honor to look back in the past and make sure they honor where they came from.

Land of Louis Vuitton Lovers

Louis Vuitton Malletier à Paris (LVMH), more commonly known simply as Louis Vuitton, opened its first store in Paris on Rue Nueve des Capucines way back in 1854. More than a hundred and fifty years later it is still very much famous with its leather goods considered as a status symbol all over the world.

When the first Vuitton store opened in Japan in 1978 they expected the product to take off but never anticipated as warm a welcome as they got. In fact by the 1980s Vuitton sales in Japan alone accounted for nearly half of the ENTIRE revenue of the company. To this day Loius Vuitton is more like a cult phenomenon among Japanese females instead of just a popular but passing trend. Sales in Japan stil account for an estimated 55% of all sales. According to Akira Miura, chief editor of a fashion paper in Japan, “Almost every grown-up Japanese woman already owns at least one Louis Vuitton item.” But even then people continue on buying more Vuitton items, after all a single Vuitton trunk in your closet looks incredibly lonely.

Gray Is The New Black

Modern Japanese fashion has always been one of the most interesting things about the Japanese culture. People’s interests are always piqued when it comes to this country’s fashion sense. Yet in the first quarter of this year, it seems that a shift in colors is occurring. Casualness seems to be going out as a new color emerges.

While it used to be white and black that were considered the base fashion colors, now it is gray that is emerging. As with everything related to fashion, base colors have undergone major changes throughout the decades. They have gone from blue to brown to beige then black. What exactly is a base color anyway? It is defined as the keynote color in a person’s outfit. This means that the base color is the predominant color in a material. There could be other colors on the cloth, of course, but the base color is what sets the tone or the mood of the outfit. The base color, as you may have noticed is usually more low key than bright flashy colors. However, they have a large impact on the overall look of the person wearing the outfit, whatever style it may be.

Fashion experts in Japan state that gray as the new base color is the sign that the casual look is on its way out. They claim that gray radiates innocence and refinement. As such, what we could expect to see this year in the streets of Japan are suits and uniforms in gray.

[tags]Japan, Japanese fashion, base colors, suits, uniforms[/tags]