Immediate Threat of Tsunami Passes

Nations all over the Pacific region braced for the arrival of deadly tsunamis in the wake of the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Chile Saturday. In Japan alone about 640,000 families were evacuated from coastal regions due to the tsunami alert. The Japanese government also stopped rail operations and blocked highways that could possibly be affected by the arrival of tsunamis. Fortunately the prediction of 9-foot (3-meter) waves in the northeast coast has, so far, not materialized. Tsunami waves did hit coastal regions in Japan but compared to what they have prepared for the waves are considered inconsequential. However, the Japanese government are taking no chances and will wait a few more hours to observe what will happen before the Meteorological Agency will lower the warning.

Japan is no stranger to tsunamis and is obviously one of the countries most often affected by this natural disaster since the word tsunami itself is a Japanese term. Japan has a very good emergency system in place for events like earthquakes and tsunamis, being frequently affected by these. They were especially wary of the possible effects of the recent earthquake in Chile having suffered from lethal tsunamis generated by a 9.5-magnitude quake in Chile in the 1960s. The 1960 tsunami reached Japan 22 hours after the quake hit Chile and resulted in approximately 2800 homes destroyed and more than 140 dead and/or missing persons.

Other countries that issued major tsunami warnings but now are breathing sighs of relief include Hawaii, Australia, Russia, and Philippines.

Hiroshima Remembered

The younger generation may not remember Hiroshima and what occurred there decades ago but those of us who are old enough to remember would know the significance of this place. On the 6th of August 63 years ago, this southwestern Japanese city was bombed by the United States. The atomic bomb brought on a disaster that lasted for many years after.

Today, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda attended a memorial ceremony to remember those that perished and suffered due to the bombing. Though it has been more than half a century since then, we cannot afford to forget what happened. It is a lesson that all people of the world should learn.

As such, Hiroshima mayor Tadatoshi Akiba is calling for the support of the United States on a proposed ban on nuclear weapons. According to the Associated Press:

Hiroshima’s mayor on Wednesday urged the next U.S. president to support a proposed ban on nuclear weapons, as Japan marked the 63rd anniversary of the atomic blast that obliterated this city and killed 140,000 people.

In a ceremony, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba also announced the launch of a two-year study to gauge the psychological toll of the Aug. 6, 1945, attack in the closing days of World War II.
Japan submitted a resolution in the U.N. last year calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Akiba said that 170 nations supported the resolution, while the U.S. was one of only three countries to oppose it.

“We can only hope that the U.S. president elected this November will listen conscientiously to the majority,” Akiba told a crowd of 45,000 gathered beneath at the spot where the bomb detonated.
A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the time of the blast. An estimated 140,000 people were killed instantly or died within a few months after the bombing. Japan’s official death toll of nearly 260,000 includes injured who have died in the decades since.

Regrets have been expressed. Ideologies have changed. Hopefully, something like this would never happen again.

The Edo Period

Anyone who has seen the Japanese anime, Samurai X (or Kenshin Himora) would at least know a little something about this period in Japanese history. One of the most prolific eras in Japan’s history, the Edo Period was a time of glory and controversy.

The Edo Period covers the years 1600 to 1867. Perhaps one of the most glaring symbols of this period was the samurai. Known as the toughest and most skilled of warriors, samurai were quite distinct from other classes in society. In fact, they were dressed differently from farmers and merchants. More so, they were not allowed to visit places of entertainment. Who’s to say they didn’t though?

During this period, monks and priests – believe it or not – were considered to be marginal elements of the society! They in fact lived in the outer edges of Edo, together with other marginal groups such as gangs and prostitutes!

[tags]history, Edo Period, samurai, Edo[/tags]

Japanese New Year

The New Year is always one of the most celebrated holidays all over the world no matter what the culture. Most people know about the Chinese New Year, which is different from the Western New Year. The Japanese New Year, or shogatsu, on the other hand, is celebrated at the same time the Western New Year is. From January 1 to January 3, all businesses are closed all over the country and families take the time out to spend these days with each other.

Parties are held, not only to welcome the coming year, but to forget the past year. These parties are called bonenkai, or “year forgetting parties.” Decorations usually involve plum trees, pine, and bamboo. The traditional food for New Year’s Eve is buckwheat noodles or toshikoshi soba. These noodles symbolize longevity.

Recently, a tradition has emerged which involves watching a music show called kohaku uta gassen. This TV program showcases the most popular J-pop and enka singers.

The Katana

Weapon lovers all over the world know all about the Japanese katana. Literally translated as sword, this weapon is a symbol that influenced the shaping of Japan as we know it today. Widely used by the samurais in the 15th century, the katana is a long sword that was used in conjunction with other similar weapons. As opposed to its partner weapons, the katana was mainly used in open combat due to its size and cutting power. It was meant to be used with both hands.

Though it was definitely used as a weapon in the past, today, the katana is one of the most prized items many a collector’s treasure horde. An original katana is quite rare and expensive today. Of course, you can find “copies” easily but the original ones are sought after. It is said that there is a secret to creating the katana, which was lost with the last sword master’s death.
[tags]weapons, katana, sword, samurai[/tags]