The Irreverence Of Chindogu

There is a prevailing picture of the Japanese as a polite and proper people who, aside from an almost fanatical passion for karaoke (and Frank Sinatra’s My Way), strictly move based on the dictates of tradition and respect. Such a boring picture, isn’t it?

But that is a mental picture of the Japanese before the 1950s. Today, the Japanese is as cosmopolitan as the Europeans, as fashion-forward as the Italians, and yes, as crazy as the Americans – perhaps more so if we are to base it on the popular pastime of useless inventions.

The useless inventions, or Chindogu movement clearly shows the fun and irreverent side to the Japanese. The movement, which was founded by Kenji Kawakami, pokes fun at the spirit of innovation that the Japanese are long known for. It’s a delightful look into the relentless drive of the Japanese to excel as seen through circus mirrors – distorted, irreverent, silly and ultimately delightful. Chindogu also gives us a glimpse at how wild is the imagination of the Japanese. How else would they have thought of dust mops that you attach to your pet cat’s feet so that they can help clean the floors when they are moving? Or the handy sling where you can rest your chin and then attach on to the hand rails of a commuter train if you want to sleep standing up?

One of the ten tenets best describe the spirit of Chindogu: Inherent in every chindogu is the the spirit of anarchy. It has broken free from the chains of usefulness.

Only the Japanese can think of this.

Transcendental Paper Art

I have always admired the Japanese people’s love (or does it already border on obsession?) for precision. Even though their art and culture can sometimes be considered ascetic because of the severity of its rules and the traditions that need to be followed (which could be a reflection of the country’s Zen and Shinto belief). Take for example the traditional art of paper-folding called origami. This Japanese art, which literally means to fold (Oru) paper (kami), transforms a simple piece of paper into exquisite works of art. With a few folds here and there, a one-dimensional sheet of paper becomes a delicate swan, a regal lion, or a mythical dragon. The fact that the word “Kami” is also a homonym for the Japanese word that means spirit or god tells much about this transcendental art. Paper folding becomes a spiritual exercise, a kind of meditation with the hands where you can also contemplate how one form fluidly transforms into another. For me, I see origami as a spiritual experience that is also a delicate form of art, it is rare to see these two worlds meet and as seamlessly as it does in origami. I think Japanese culture has successfully melded spirituality and art in most of its traditional art forms, most especially in origami. It is also typically Japanese that even these traditional arts are being dragged into the 21st century. There is now a new technique called wetfolding where you wet the paper while folding in order to create soft curves as well three dimensional forms.

Sleepover Tribute For Michael Jackson

It’s been almost a year since the King of Pop passed away and fans are still not over it. I highly doubt serious fans will ever get over it, anyway. In any case, June 25 marks the first anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death and you can bet your bottom dollar that events are going to be held all over the world to commemorate his passing.

Japan, where the King of Pop has some of his most ardent fans, is going to hold a Sleepover Tribute come June 25. The idea is for fans to sleep with memento that belonged to Michael Jackson from 10:30 pm. The sleepover ends at 8:00 am the next morning. Tickets are being sold starting today, May 23, 2010. Ticket prices can go up as high at $1,000 can you imagine that?

The tribute coincides with the current exhibit at the Tokyo Tower. The exhibit is dubbed the Neverland Collection. Obviously, it features some of the most-prized possessions of the King of Pop. Some of these include costumes from the iconic Thriller video, musical instruments, and the late Michael Jackson’s 1967 Rolls Royce Phantom. (I bet people will be clamoring to sleep inside that!)

FYI – in Japan, being in the presence of a departed loved one’s possessions at the anniversary of his/her death is an important ritual. So, if you are wondering how this sleepover was conceptualized, wonder no more. I think that the cultural experience just might be worth it.

So would you want to pay a thousand bucks for this pleasure?

Japan’s Nuclear Reactor Reaches Milestone

Nuclear energy has long been controversial, and even in today’s modern societies, not everyone is convinced of the safety of nuclear energy. Take Japan, for example, perhaps the most progressive country in terms of technology today. They have been working on a nuclear reactor for a long time, and it was even suspended for 14 years.

The nuclear reactor is considered a fast-breeder. Dubbed the Monju Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, it has once again come under the spotlight. The news is that the nuclear reactor has reached the status of criticality. That is, the nuclear chain reaction is now self-sustaining. This was the first of many tests that the nuclear reactor has to undergo before it can become fully operational. The target date is 2013.

The Monju Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor has more than technical issues to face. When it was shut down, it was for a serious reason: a fire occurred in 1995, which was covered up – or at least a cover up was attempted. Naturally, when the news came out, it sparked an outrage among the people of Japan. From the looks of it, though, the nuclear reactor just might be back in the game.

Fast-breeder reactors are supposed to be more advantageous than regular light-water reactors. The former uses uranium and plutonium; more so, it produces more plutonium than it consumes. The danger, as many governments see it, is the amount of plutonium produced – plutonium that may be used to make weapons. Japan, however, is placing utmost importance on this technology and aims to produce fast-breeders commercially by 2050.

Japan To Get Tesla Electric Sports Cars

The environment-conscious Japanese are about to receive another treat: electric sports cars. Recently, I wrote something about electric cars hitting the market in the very near future. Now, it’s more than these Japanese electric cars that is getting me (and a lot of other people) excited.

Tesla Motors Inc. has announced its plans to launch one of their electric sports cars in Japan! Tesla is an American car maker that specializes in electric vehicles. According to their official statement, they are launching the Roadster early next month. That’s pretty soon, especially since we’re almost at the end of April!

This is a big move by the American car maker, as Japan is well known to protect its domestic industries, and Mitsubishi and July are also releasing their own electric vehicles this year. While it means stiff competition for the car makers, it means more choices for the Japanese people.

The Roadster is a high-end sports car – a two-seater right-hand drive. Its rate of acceleration is 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.7 seconds. For an electric vehicle, that is not bad. Not bad at all!

The only drawback to Tesla’s Roadster is that the price will be about double the selling price in the United States. It’s currently selling for USD 101,500 (9.4 million yen) in the United States, and it will go for about 18 million yen when released in Japan. That is quite a considerable sum, ensuring that the Roadster will probably not be a common sight on the roads.

Japanese Girl To Play Baseball In The U.S.

Here’s something else that the Japanese nation can be proud of: 18-year-old Eri Yoshida is going to play pro ball in the United States! The pitcher learned knuckleball with Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox right-hander, during spring training. That in itself is something else!

Next month, Yoshida will be living the life which is only a dream to many – both male and female. She has signed her contract with Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. She will be joining their training camp in May. Believe it or not, she isn’t the first woman to pitch professionally for the U.S. Prior to Yoshida, there was Ila Borders, who has been retired for more or less 10 years now.

What does the young girl have to say about all this? Yoshida says that she is “grateful for this opportunity. This is a dream come true for me and I hope I can contribute to the team and help them win and also to continue to improve as a pro baseball player.”

Indeed, this is something that does not happen everyday. Yoshida is a mere five feet tall and 114 pounds (although you don’t really have to be physically big to play pro baseball) and might be taken lightly by unbelievers. The team is quite excited to have her play, though, and fans even more so.

Despite the odds, things are looking good for this young baseball player. She has a good track record and at her age, she has so much to look forward to.

Electric Cars Starting To Get Japan’s Attention

It’s not really a surprise, is it? After all, the Japanese people are known to be very conscious when it comes to the environment. With electric cars poised to be one of the major solutions to the carbon emission problem, it is quite logical that they will make it big in the Japanese market. We also have to consider the fact that electric cars involve a lot of advance technology, and this nation is also well known for that.

Last week, the first mass-market electric car was launched in Japan. The brainchild of big brand Mitsubishi, the car is called i-MiEV. It is shaped like a bubble (yeah, like something from the future), and it costs 2.8 million yen. That’s roughly $30,000. This price is not the original selling price, though. In fact, the price will only go down to that amount (from 4 million yen or $43,000) after you take into consideration government incentives.

This brings me to another point – the importance of government action in encouraging people to become more environmentally-aware. Who would want to purchase a car that is so much more expensive and maybe not as well-performing as the “good old fuel” cars? With such incentives in place, however, the playing field is somehow leveled.

Mitsubishi is not the only Japanese automaker that is offering an electric car. Nissan has its Leaf, which it is already taking orders for. This car is much cheaper at around $25,000. Needless to say, other car makers are already rolling out plans to join the fray.

Japan Wins Bluefin Tuna Case

Japanese food is known around the world for being only the best. While that is generally accepted wherever you go, Japanese cuisine does have its controversial points. Perhaps one of the most controversial things right now is the bluefin tuna. Think sushi and sashimi – only the best kind. The bluefin tuna can fetch astronomical prices in the local and international markets due to its incomparable quality.

This popularity has led to the decline of bluefin tuna populations, and conservationists have been trying to get a ban – albeit temporarily – imposed on bluefin tuna fishing and trade. According to scientists, the population of bluefin tuna is in danger, and this fish just might very well become extinct if we do not do anything about it.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) was held in Doha last week, and countries took opposite sides of the argument. Naturally, Japan was on the side of continuing with the bluefin tuna trade. Not only does it involve business matters, but the bluefin tuna is an integral part of their cultural heritage. Japan did have a lot of support from other countries, and despite the influence of the European Union and the United States – who were leaning towards imposing a temporary ban – Japan emerged the victor.

There will be no ban on bluefin tuna fishing.

That’s good news for those involved in this business. That’s good news for those who can’t get enough of tuna. And, that includes yours truly.

I can’t get over the idea, however, that we might end up killing all the tuna fish out there. And, when that happens, what are we to do?

Nintendo To Become Educational

I have long been a fan of video games and gaming consoles, and I strongly believe in the potential of these as tools to promote learning. While there are a LOT of people who will disagree with this idea, one of the most influential and most creative minds in the world of video games has made it his mission to incorporate Nintendo handheld consoles into the classroom.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the man behind Mario (the most recognizable video game to date – arguably, perhaps) says that he is devoting himself to this massive project. CBS reports:

Speaking through a translator, Miyamoto said that Nintendo’s DS console was already being used in Japanese museums, galleries, and aquariums, and that his company was beginning to roll out the Nintendo DS system “in junior high and elementary schools in Japan starting in the new school year.”

He framed the project as part of his company’s effort to broaden the audience for gaming consoles.

I think that it is but fitting that Japan, once again, take the lead in this kind of revolution. After all, they have always been at the head of the pack when it comes to new video games and gaming hardware. Why shouldn’t they be the first one to inject the use of video games in education? We cannot deny that technology has become so much more attractive to the young people of this day. With more modern tools, the whole learning experience can become much more effective. I look forward to the day that other countries will adopt this way of thinking.

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.