Gake no Ue no Ponyo Lyrics (崖の上のポニョ歌詞)

A last song syndrome hit me this afternoon after visiting a local bookstore in Kita Yono in Omiya. After buying the JLPT Application in Isetann, I kept on hearing this main soundtrack of a recently shown kid's film here in Japan. It's title is Gake no ue no Ponio. I am entirely clueless about the synopsis of this film but I hear a lot of kids singing this song in the bookshop. The kanji literally means Upper Cliff Ponio. To who Ponio or what it is, sorry but I do not know. After a careful research about the music, I found a clip on You Tube.

Here is the lyrics.

「崖の上のポニョ」の歌詞
作詩：近藤勝也・宮崎駿 作曲：久石譲

※ポーニョ　ポーニョ　ポニョ　さかなの子

Po-nyo Po-nyo Ponyo sakana no ko

青い海からやってきた

aoi umi kara yatte kita

ポーニョ　ポーニョ　ポニョ　ふくらんだ

Po-nyo Po-nyo Ponyo fukuranda

まんまるおなかの女の子※

Manmaru onaka no onna no ko

ペータペタ　ピョーンピョン

Pe-ta peta Pyo-n Pyon

足っていいな　かけちゃお!

Hashitte ii na kake chao!

ニーギニギ　ブーンブン

Ni-gi nigi bu-n bun

おててはいいな　つないじゃお!

Otetewa ii na tsunai jyao!

あの子とはねると　心もおどるよ

Ano ko to haneru to kokoro mo odoru yo!

パークパクチュッギュッ!　パークパクチュッギュッ!

Pa-ku Paku chyukkyu! Pa-ku Paku chyukkyu!

あの子が大好き　まっかっかの

Ano ko ga daisuki makkakka no

(※くり返し)

フークフク　いいにおい

Fu-ku fuku ii nyoi

おなかがすいた　食べちゃお!

Onaka ga suita tabechao!

よーくよく　見てみよう

Yo-ku yoku mite miyou!

あの子もきっと見ている

Ano ko mo kitto mite iru

いっしょに笑うと　ホッペがあついよ

Isshoni warau to hoppe ga atsui yo

ワークワクチュッギュッ!　ワークワクチュッギュッ!

Wa-ku waku chucchu! Wa-ku waku chucchu!

あの子が大好き　まっかっかの

Ano ko ga daisuki makkakka no

ポーニョ　ポーニョ　ポニョ　さかなの子

Po-nyo Po-nyo Ponyo sakana no ko

崖の上にやってきた

Gake no ue ni yatte kita

ポーニョ　ポーニョ　ポニョ　女の子

Po-nyo Po-nyo Ponyo Onna no ko

まんまるおなかの元気な子

Manmaru onaka no genki na ko

Pictures from Kuki's Tenou Festival

Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival (熊谷市夏団扇祭)

Pictures from Kumagaya City's Uchiwa (Fan) Festival.

Kamakura Photos

Glimpse of Kamakura City. A city of Temples, Shrines and everything about Japanese tradition.

Sites visited
1. Kamakura Station
2. Kamakura Komachi Doori Shopping District
3. Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha)
4. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu-Shrine
5. Wakamiya Oji St.

Atsuin da! (暑いんだ！)

Atsuin da! means "It's hot!"

Yes. Terribly hot the past week. The mercury hit a 35 mark last week. As a matter of fact, this plastic covering in a pipe fitting in a parking lot has melted as the terrible heat of the sun lashes out through entire Kanto region. In the middle of August, the temperature will peak as high as 40 to 43 in some areas in Japan.

Big Buddha in Kamakura

It was an unplanned activity. The train that we rode was bound for Zushi via the Shonan-Shinjuku Line. So we hurriedly decided to go to Kamakura and see the temples and the Big Buddha. Here are some of the pictures.

This picture is inside the Buddha Structure. The photo shown below is the inside portion of the head.

Slippers?

On Diet Pills

Looking for the best diet pills on the market? Recently there have been reports that some health supplements that are being sold on the market lack the actual content that they should have. Moreover, people are lured by the marketing advertisements of these food supplements and products that promises effective and best results in just days. How could these irresponsible companies fool the consuming public? The problem with most of us is we do not conduct some sort of background check on the product. We should check some available information on the Internet and know what is the reputation of this product in other countries. Furthermore, we should only buy those granted with certification by the country's food and drug administration to be safe, effective and true to its contents. An online consumer website on diet pills and other drugs has been setup and they have listed a 12-point criteria in selecting the best diet pills on the market.

1. Value
2. Ingredient Quality
3. Customer Feedback
4. Safety
5. Company Reputation
6. Reorder Rates
7. Customer Service
8. Product Sensation
9. Packaging
10. Long-Term Benefits
11. Product Convenience
12. Weight-Loss Potential

Kuki's 2008 Tenou Summer Festival (久喜の天王夏祭)

Tenou Matsuri or (Heaven King/God 天王祭) was held yesterday in Kuki. Access is via JR Utsonomiya Line around less than an hour from Tokyo central station.

The festival involves several huge rolling carts beautifully decorated with stacks of 10x10 lited lanterns bearing a kanji of the district/temple they represent. Around 100 lanterns cover the entire facade in each sides. The whole structure would comprise of more or less 400 lited lanterns. Inside the rolling structure are taiko drummers, flute performers who hand-in-hand replace each other and relentlessly playing in the entire procession. The highlight of the festival is when the two structures' entrance window face each other. With this, they intend to provoke the other rolling structure into a dramatic fight of pushing and show of arrogance. Around 8 of these structures participated and wonder in the streets of Kuki as early as 530PM and try to challenge each another in every intersection in the city. All of these 8 structures gathered infront of the Kuki station where they do the same ritual of provoking until 9PM. Afterwhich, they went back to their stations as they were followed by many people. The festival was very interesting specially in their scripted fights with each rival structure.

My Last School Lunch

One of my most memorable moments in the academe was my last school lunch about 3 days ago. The meal was pork curry, rice, moyashi salad, milk and my first ever ice cream in Japan. A subsidized school lunch would roughly cost around less than 400 yen per meal. The best part of it, everything is well-balanced, from vitamins, minerals, protein, and fibers.

Prime Minister Fukuda Should Be Blamed?

I have been complaining for almost 2 weeks already on why the air-conditioning units in our faculty room has not ever been opened. Do you know why?

A month ago, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced that they are aiming to lessen carbon dioxide emissions in Japan by 2020. The result? He ordered all government facilities to keep the air-conditioning units to not lower than 25 degrees Celsius or to not turning on at all. The effect? Well, some inconvenience on most employees, students and stakeholders of most government offices. Japan has been recently very fanatic about minimizing C02 emissions. Well, good. But at a terrible inconvenient price. Temperature here during summer swells up to 40.5. Yesterday, plastic coverings in a pipe fittings in a parking lot melted due to extreme temperature. I was terribly sweating two (2) days ago because of PM Fukuda's initiative. Yet, despite this, how can the government attain its goal if most government offices are open during weekends and beyond 6PM even if there are no official transactions during this day?

With PM Fukuda's proclamation, convenience stores are also targeted. People want them to stop operate after 10PM or 12AM in order to "lessen C02 emissions." Many rejected the proposal as it would put their businesses down. Well, especially in Tokyo, Tokyo would not be Tokyo without it. Tokyo never sleeps and it has been Tokyo's oasis in the wee hours of the evening.

They have also launched all sorts of so-called "ECO" products and concepts. The ECO Necktie, the ECO home, the ECO car, ECO shopping bags and all sorts of ECO.

One more thing, if they want to really lessen C02 emissions, why don't they ban people from driving cars alone. Instead of that, they should use the train or bus to lessen C02 emissions. One more thing, put all idle VENDING MACHINES to sleep mode if no one buys cigarettes. Also, government should also penalize all schools who have excess food on their school lunches. The efficient food consumption is, the method of preparation will also be efficient. Thus, less gas is needed to cook the food. Ban the use of dryers of clothes in laundry. Encourage the populace to dry them under the sun. If clock strikes at 6PM in all government facilities, all should leave so that lights and other equipment will not use electricity, thus, eliminating zero C02 emission. Force the deployment of hybrid cars of Honda uses only water. In 10 years, Japan will be the only country where vehicles are running in water.

What can you say?

Contributing for Jeepneypress

I just recently contributed an article to a Japan-based free newspaper. I hope this is a start for a writing career for me. Hahaha... How I wish... Anyway, feel free to visit their website. Here is the link of my article. My column's name is Achi-kochi, as suggested by Dennis. Achi-kochi means "there-here" or a slang used to describe as going everywhere.

My article was actually a personal experience of wrestling inside the train during rush hour in JR's Chuo Line and Yamanote Line. I wanted to share my experience that riding a train during rush hour in Tokyo is very challenging. I hope my article would give the commuting fellow Filipinos the idea of what to expect during this rough times during the ride.

Admittedly though, as time passed by, I began to love Chuo Line. I want to make it clear that I am not a densha otaku (train geek). It's just that trains in Japanese society have already been engraved and embedded in their culture. Train travel have had a long history in Japan since the mid 1800s. Trains in Japan is one symbol of its economic strenght and incomparable uniqueness to the rest of the world.

With this, I have regarded it with high respect. This maybe the same feeling with some foreigners who travel in Manila via Jeepneys. The uniqueness that I have encountered and somehow resisted to accept during the first few weeks of my travel, have already engulfed me to accept this culture of trains in Japan.

The Wrath of a Dust Storm

In connection with yesterday's strong wind which swept the suburban parts of Tokyo, I would like to recall one of my most scary and unusual experience here in Japan last February 2008.

It was a cold afternoon in JR Musashi Takahagi Station along the Hachiko Line when I noticed that the horizon was brown. At first I just ignored it. I thought that it was just normal. From the horizon, it was as if the sky was equally divided with a straight brown line. There was no unsual strong blow of wind at that time. Everything seemed okay. After a while, the one who was scheduled to pick me up arrived. When we went on the opposite side of the station, I saw a very huge mass of brown something coming within our direction. It seemed weird. I did not recognized until the wind passed by us and it was all dust! Dust storm was pounding us. The nearby surroundings were covered in dust and it was like a scene from a real dessert with a dust storm. I was a little scared but a bit thrilled to experience dust storm for the first time. When we got inside the car, we just stopped for about several minutes to let the wind pass by. But we decided to just go. Many twigs and branches of trees were broken by the strong wind. All we could just see is an unclear road and lots of leaves flying. When we arrived in the house, an ample amount of snow fell for about 20 seconds. Wind continued to blew very fast until it stopped after 10 minutes. When we went home, it was a terrible news. We were trapped in the station from 3PM until 7PM because trains were cancelled due to strong winds. Below is the picture of the approaching dust storm.

Hanyu Mikoshi Festival

The streets of Hanyu City were finally woke up this evening with the commemoration of its yearly Natsu Mikoshi Festival. Mostly men and some women, in their pretty and colorful yukata (summer kimono) dress,vcarry in their back this Mikoshi (a kind of portable shrine) in honor of the gods.

Yamanote Line Melodies

ピアノで山手線の各駅のメロディになります。

Yamanote Line Song

The better way of memorizing the Yamanote Line. Come and sing to this tune.

Toukyou 東京
Kanda　神田
Akihabara　秋葉原
Okachimachi　御徒町
Ueno　上野
Uguisudani 鶯谷　
Nippori　日暮里
Nishi-Nippori　西日暮里
Tabata　田端
Komagome　駒込
Sugamo　巣鴨
Ootsuka　大塚
Ikebukuro　池袋
Mejiro　目白
Takadanobaba　高田馬場
Shin-Ookubo 新大久保　
Shinjuku　新宿
Yoyogi　代々木
Harajuku　原宿
Shibuya　渋谷
Ebisu　恵比寿
Meguro　目黒
Gotanda　五反田
Oosaki　大崎
Shinagawa　品川
Tamachi　田町
Hamamatsuchou　浜松町
Shimbashi　新橋
Yuurakuchou　有楽町

Davao City: 2007's Most Competitive City In The Philippines

My hometown again managed to win and this time, at the top spot. In the recently concluded 2007 Asian Institute of Management City Competitiveness Survey, Davao ranked first and beating the rest of the cities in the Philippines like Makati, Manila, Quezon City, and Cebu City. I am proud to be a Dabawenyo.

Here is the original article from Inquirer.
Further article can be read from Sunstar Davao.

Japan's Coin Laundry

The driers. A 100 yen is around 10 minutes.

Sneaker drier is 100 yen for 20 minutes.

The 7 kilogram washing machine is around 400 yen for 50 minutes. No need to put detergent powder. It's all automatic.

The 17 kilogram huge washer for huge blankets is 800 yen for 40 minutes.

The coin changer.

Open from 6AM to 1AM. Spotted in Kunitachi City, Tokyo. Around 15-minute walk from Kunitachi Station.

Kanji Lesson in Saitama Aquarium

Kanji of Aquatic Creatures

Corresponding Pictures

Reading of the Kanji in Hiragana

面白かっただよ！ It was interesting!

Hosto Club in Shinjuku

A whopping 3000 to 5000 yen per hour is a tempting offer of most Male clubs in Shinjuku for women and the gay market. This is one of the famous club in Shinjuku. Kanji is read as "ai" or love. Spotted in the outskirts of Shinjuku.

Wasted Food

A couple of weeks ago, I read this article in Saitama Newspaper. I should feel guilty and concern for the Japanese people. Do you know why? The article reads "食品の２５％無駄に." This means that 25% of Japan's food is wasted. The photo inlet shows hundreds of unsold bentous are being prepared for proper disposal. Inline with my previous article on Excess Food, I hope the Japanese people feel sensitive that from a foreigners perspective, this food could have saved many children from starvation from other poor and desperate nations. My point is, responsibility and accountability towards this food. I know there are thousands of homeless people living in Yoyogi Park and some other parks including train stations. Why could they not just give it to them? Japanese law is very strict regarding expiry date. But I believe it can still last for 2 to 3 more days, based on my experience. So why not give it to hungry homeless people rather than throw all of these?

Seibu Lions' Baseball Game

My first ever glimpse of a professional baseball match in a very huge stadium. Thanks to Mr. Harada, Ms. Kakinuma and Ernest who tagged me along in this trip. Rain has not stopped us in witnessing this match. Afterall, the field is covered. Seibu Lions, the home team of Saitama Prefecture, won the game agains the Chiba Lotte Marines. I hope I can watch more games in the future, for free. :-D

Portable Beer Dispenser

Spotted in Seibu Lions Baseball Stadium in Tokorozawa, Saitama. This roving chick is carrying a backpack of beer dispenser which costs around 800 yen per large-sized plastic cup. The chick is probably cooler than the beer she carries. Hahahaha.

Norton Anti-Virus Character

Spotted in Shinjuku. The launch of the new Norton Anti-virus in Japan along with their 50-foot standing inflatable mascot.

Cebu Inmates Have Upgraded Their Genre

After the Smash Hit Thriller, Inmates in Cebu Drug Prison have upgraded their choice of song-and-dance choreography with up-beat ones such as Soulja Boy, MC Hammer and with this song Low by FLO Rida and T-pain.

This one is a protest against President Gloria Arroyo concerning the ZTE Broadband Corruption Scandal.

Which is the Best Online Japanese-English Translation Tool on the Internet?

Well, I received a letter this morning before I left home and I have just finished encoding it. Since my Japanese comprehension, especially with KANJI, is not close to being a high school student, I consulted with the best available online JAPANESE-ENGLISH language conversion tools. The original text appears below and the translations for each website. Judge for yourself if who do you think is the most accurate. For sure, you will laugh to death on how hilarious some sites translate these kanji characters.

Original Text:

拝啓時下ますますご清栄のことと喜び申しあげます。

このたびはりそなカードご入会のお申し込みを頂きまして誠に有難う御座いました。

さて早速で御座いますが、今回のお申し込みにつきまして、弊社のカード登行基準に照らし合わせ検討させて頂きましたが、登行をお見送りさせて頂くこととなりました。

お申し込みの意に添いかねることとなりましたが、何卒ご了解賜りますようお願い申しあげます。

Translator No. 1: http://babelfish.yahoo.com
Result:

At the time of Dear Sir-Madam under thing of the glory you say to rejoice more and more clearly. This each time the beam [so] receiving the application of card admission, it was grateful truly. Well promptly is, but it collated in card Noboru line standard of our company concerning the latest application, made examine and received, but the send-off being able to point to Noboru line, it came to the point of with receiving. It came to the point of with being unable to accompany to the mind which is application, but no soldier/finishing comprehension it grants, the fish you say to ask.

Translator No. 2: http://dictionary.reference.com/translate/
Result:

At the time of Dear Sir-Madam under thing of the glory you say to rejoice more and more clearly.

This each time the beam [so] receiving the application of card admission, it was grateful truly.

Well promptly is, but it collated in card Noboru line standard of our company concerning the latest application, made examine and received, but the send-off being able to point to Noboru line, it came to the point of with receiving.

It came to the point of with being unable to accompany to the mind which is application, but no soldier/finishing comprehension it grants, the fish you say to ask.

Translator No. 3: http://translate.google.com/translate_t
Result:

Sakai Kiyoshi時下more and more of our greetings and joy申しあげます.

As the beam every time the card member can sign up for giving me so much to有難う御座いました.

で 御座いますNow I'll go, but this time with regard to your application, our line card Sign standards we consider to combine the best of the region in line with our Terms send-off.

添いKANERU applicants can give, but thank you for your understanding賜りますask申しあげます.

Translator No. 4: http://www.excite.co.jp/world/
Result:

I am pleased that it is in good health more and more. last at the Dear Sir

Thank you indeed for your application for the card admission.

Well, it immediately came to see off Nobogyou though this application was compared with our card Nobogyou standard in the much more and it was made to examine.

Please receive up consent humbly though accompanying the applied mind became impossible.

Translator No. 5: http://honyaku.yahoo.co.jp/
Result:

Dear sirs I am pleased at time when a bottom is I'm glad to hear that you are well and prospering more and more.

Thank you very much for an application for このたびはりそな card enrollment.

By the way, I examined this application in light of our card up line standard, but I see off the up line and will do it at once.

I cannot comply with the will of the application, but ask to have the consent.

Yokohama - February 2008 Album

Photos of my 2008 Yokohama travel.

1. China Town
2. Port Area
3. Ramen Museum
4. Minato Mirai Area

Kanto Festivals for Summer of 2008

Torigoe Chinowa-kuguri/Suijousai-Katashiro-nagashi or Misogi Matsuri
June 30 to July 1
Torigoe Chinowa-kuguri, a traditional ceremony to　pray for good health and longevity, will take place at Torigoe　Shrine, Taito-ku, at 8 p.m. on June 30. Suijosai-Katashiro-nagashi,　a Shinto ritual, features a purification ceremony. On July 1, a　gozabune boat carrying katashiro (paper cut in the shape of dolls),　escorted by dozens of boats, will depart from Yanagibashi Bridge close to JR Asakusabashi Sta. at 10 a.m. and will go down the Sumida River as far as Tokyo Bay.　

Access:
(1) Subway Toei Asakusa Line or Toei Oedo Line to Kuramae　Sta., and then walk 5 min. to Torigoe Shrine.　
(2) JR Sobu Line or Subway Asakusa Line to Asakusabashi Sta., and　then walk 1 min. to Yanagibashi Bridge.

Summer Fair of Zoshigaya Kishibojin Temple
July 6 to July 8
Summer Fair at Zoshigaya Kishibojin Temple,　Toshima-ku, features about 40 stalls that sell potted morning　glories, wind chimes, gold fish and other items, from around 11 a.m.　to 10 p.m. every day during the fair period.　

Access:
(1) JR Yamanote Line to Mejiro Sta., and then walk 10 min.
(2) Toden (street car) Arakawa Line to Kishibojin-mae Sta.

Hozuki Ichi
July 9 to July 10
At Hozuki Ichi, in the area around Sensoji　Temple, Taito-ku, hundreds of street stalls sell hozuki (Chinese lantern plants) and wind chimes from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (or until the time when all are sold out on the 10th).

Access: Subway Ginza Line or Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa Sta.



Ueno Natsu Matsuri
July 12 to Aug. 3
Ueno Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival), on the banks of Shinobazu Pond and in the



compound of the Pagoda in Ueno Park. On the 17th from 7 p.m., toro-nagashi (floating of lit lanterns) will be done on Shinobazu Pond. On the 19th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., a parade is scheduled on Chuo-dori Ave. On the 22nd from 3p.m., an exhibition of ice sculpture will take place on the banks of Shinobazu Pond. Ueki ichi (potted plant fair) and kotto ichi (antique fair) will be held from 4 p.m. to around 10 p.m. every day during the festival period.

Access: JR Yamanote Line, Subway Ginza Line or Hibiya Line to Ueno Sta.

Toro-nagashi
July 13
Toro-nagashi (floating of lighted lanterns on the water) in the Palace Moat at Chidorigafuchi Park, Chiyoda-ku, from 6:30 p.m. to around 7:30 p.m. The event will be cancelled in the case of heavy rain.

Access:
Subway Tozai Line, Hanzomon Line or Toei Shinjuku Line to Kudanshita Sta.

Mitama Matsuri
July 13 to July 16
Mitama Matsuri (Soul Festival), which is associated with the bon festival, is held at Yasukuni Shrine, Chiyoda-ku. There will be various events such as a demonstration of traditional martial arts, a parade of mikoshi dedicated to the shrine, wadaiko (Japanese drum beating) and a performance of Japanese dance and music (biwa, taishogoto and tsugarujamisen) during the festival period. Hours and dates of the events are still not set.

Access:
Subway Tozai Line, Hanzomon Line or Toei Shinjuku Line to
Kudanshita Sta.




Bon Odori folk dance
July 13 to July 15
Bon odori (folk dance), open to all comers, takes place at around 1-chome, Tsukuda, Chuo-ku, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will be cancelled in the case of rain.

Access:
Subway Yurakucho Line or Toei Oedo Line to Tsukishima Sta.
(No. 6 Exit), and then walk 10 min.

Mizudome-no-mai
July 14
Mizudome-no-mai (Dragon Dance) is presented in the precincts of Gonshoji Temple, Ota-ku. The festival dates back more than 500 years, when the area experienced a catastrophic drought. A monk of this temple prayed for plentiful rain for a good harvest and his wish was fulfilled. However, since then there have been long periods of abundant rainfall, and people conversely had to pray for the rain to stop. Three dragons present a dance praying for the rain to stop on a makeshift stage after they have paraded in the temple's neighborhood, from around 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Access:
Keihin Kyuko Line originating at Shinagawa Sta. to Keihin Omorimachi Sta., and then walk 7-10 min.

Summer Noh Performance
July 18 Summer
Noh Performance will be held at the Noh Theater of Kanze, Shoto, Shibuya-ku, from 2:30 p.m. to around 6:30 p.m. Admission is ¥5,000 for reserved seat, ¥3,500 for unreserved seat. Tickets are sold at Tickets Pia and convenience stores such as Lawson, Family Mart and CircleKSunkus.

Access:
JR Yamanote Line or Subway Ginza Line to Shibuya Sta. (Hachiko-guchi Exit), and then walk 12 min.



Asagao Ichi
July 18 to July 20
Iriya Asagao Ichi (Morning Glory Fair) in the precincts of Iriya Kishimojin Temple, Taito-ku. About 140,000 pots of morning glories are expected to be sold during the fair, held from 5 a.m. until midnight.

Access:
(1) Subway Hibiya Line to Iriya Sta., and then walk 1 min.
(2) JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin Tohoku Line to Uguisudani Sta., and then walk 5 min.

Sumomo Matsuri
July 20
Sumomo Matsuri (Plum Festival) at Okunitama Shrine, Fuchu, on the outskirts of Tokyo, a 40-min. train ride from Shinjuku Sta. Temporary stalls selling plums or uchiwa (fans) displaying a pattern of crow are set up in the shrine precincts from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kagura (shinto music and dancing ) will be performed from 2 p.m. to around 8 p.m.

Access:
(1) Keio Line to Fuchu Sta., and then walk 5 min.
(2) JR Nambu Line or Musashino Line to Fuchu Honmachi Sta., and then walk 5 min.

Hanabi Taikai
July 22
Katsushika Noryo Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) on Edo River near Shibamata Yakyu-jo (baseball ground), Katsushika-ku, from 7:20 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. (about 10,000 fireworks). In case of rain or strong winds, it will be postponed to the following day.

Access:
(1) Keisei Kanamachi Line to Shibamata Sta., and then walk 10 min.
(2) Hokuso-Kaihatsu Railway to Shin-Shibamata Sta., and then walk 15 min.




Awa Odori folk dance and Hozuki Ichi
July 23 to July 26
Kagurazaka Awa Odori folk dance, similar to the one in Tokushima Pref., Shikoku Island, will be presented by townspeople wearing yukata (cotton Kimono) along Kagurazaka-dori Ave. from 7 p.m. to around 9 p.m. on the 25th & 26th. Hozuki Ichi (Ground Cherry Pod Fair) will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the 23rd & 24th.

Access:
(1) JR Sobu Line or Subway Yurakucho Line, Tozai Line,
Namboku Line & Toei Oedo Line to Iidabashi Sta.
(2) Subway Tozai Line to Kagurazaka Sta.

Hanabi Taikai
July 24
Adachi-no-Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) above the riverbed of the Arakawa River lying between Senju Shimbashi Bridge and Nishi-Araibashi Bridge will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. (15,000 fireworks).

Access:
(1) Subway Chiyoda Line, Hibiya Line or JR Joban Line to Kita-Senju Sta., and then walk 15 min.
(2) Tobu Isezaki Line to Kosuge Sta., and then walk 15 min.

Hanabi Taikai
July 26
Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) will be held on the Sumida River, centering on Sakurabashi and Kototoibashi Bridges and on Komagatabashi and Umayabashi Bridges, from 7:10 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (22,000 fireworks in total). In the case of rain or strong winds, it will be postponed to the following day.

Access:
Subway Ginza Line or Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa Sta. (There are some other stations close to the sites to see the fireworks, such as Honjo-Azumabashi Sta. on Subway Toei Asakusa Line, Ryogoku and Asakusabashi Sta. on JR Sobu Line or Narihirabashi
Sta. on Tobu Isezaki Line.)

Exhibition of morning glories
July 27 to Aug. 3
Asagao-ten (exhibition of morning glories) will be held in Hibiya Park (in the neighborhood of the tennis courts), Chiyoda-ku. Hours are still to be arranged.

Access:
Subway Hibiya Line, Chiyoda Line or Toei Mita Line to Hibiya Sta.

Asagao-ten
July 27 to Aug. 3
Hono Asagao-ten (exhibition of morning glories or Asagao) will be held at Yasukuni Shrine, Chiyoda-ku, from 6 a.m. (Morning glories usually can be seen until around 10 or 11 a.m.) A class of pressed asagao flowers for children will be held from around 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every day during the exhibition period.

Access:
Subway Tozai Line, Hanzomon Line or Toei Shinjuku Line to Kudanshita Sta.


Narita Gion Matsuri
July 4 to July 6
Narita Gion Matsuri (festival) of Shinshoji Temple, with a history of 1,000 years, Narita, Chiba Pref. Ten colorful floats and mikoshi (portable shrines) will parade along the city's main streets until around 10 p.m. every day during the festival period. The main event of the festival is sobiki (parade of floats and mikoshi), which starts at 1 p.m. on the 6th from Nakanocho near Shinshoji Temple and march through the city until 10 p.m.

Access:
JR Narita (Sobu) Line to Narita Sta. or Keisei Line to
Keisei Narita Sta., and then walk 10 min.






Tanabata Matsuri
July 4 to July 7
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri (The Star Festival) at Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Pref., a 70-min. train ride from Tokyo Sta. The city streets are filled with glittering decorations and rainbow-colored streamers hanging from bamboo poles. During the festival period, everything is illuminated at night until around 9:30 p.m. Major events include: a kiyari-matoi (firemen's chant) parade scheduled for 12 noon on the 4th; a parade of sennin odori (a thousand of folk dancers), starting from 1 p.m. on the 7th; and a parade of "Miss Orihime Tanabata" (beauty queens) with brass bands parading from 1 p.m. on the 6th.

Access:
JR Tokaido Line to Hiratsuka Sta.


Yasaka Jinjya Gion Matsuri
July 11 to July 13
Gion Matsuri (festival) of Yasaka Shrine, Katori, Chiba Pref. The main feature of the festival is 10 beautiful floats with large dolls modeled after historical figures and other people, which are paraded along the city's main street from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day during the festival period.

Access:
JR Sobu Line to Sawara Sta., and then walk 15 min.

Kurihama Perry-sai Hanabi Taikai
July 12
Kurihama Perry-sai (Commemoration of Commodore Perry festival) at Kurihama Beach, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Pref., features a fireworks display held from 7:20 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. (about 3,500 fireworks); a bazaar held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m;. and parades scheduled from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. In the case of rain, the fireworks display will be postponed to the following day and other events will be cancelled.

Access:
Keihin Kyuko Line to Keikyu-Kurihama Sta., and then walk 15 min. to Kurihama Beach.


Tenno-sai Festival
July 13
Tenno-sai at Yasaka Shrine (Enoshima Shrine), Fujisawa, Kanagawa Pref. Mikoshi owned by the shrine will be paraded by about 150 youths and carried into the sea from around 11 a.m. The scene of the youths jostling with one another in the sea is a festival highlight. Mikoshi will be returned to Yasaka Shrine at around 6 p.m.

Access:
(1) Odakyu Line to Katase-Enoshima Sta., and then walk 20 min.
(2) Enoshima Dentetsu (Enoden) Railways to Enoshima Sta., and then walk 30 min.

Yudate-no Shishimai
July 15
Yudate-no Shishi-mai (Lion Dance) at Suwa Shrine, Miyagino, Hakonemachi, Ashigara Shimo-gun, Kanagawa Pref. The dance is dedicated to the shrine and represents a prayer good crops and no disease, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Access:
40 min. by bus for Kojiri Togendai from Odawara Sta. to Miyagino Bus Stop, and then walk 10 min.

Annual Summer Festival
July 19 to July 20
Annual Summer Festival of Kainan Shrine, Misaki Kaigan, Miura, Kanagawa Pref. Huge wooden lacquered male and female lions, carried by 50 to 60 men, are paraded around the town from 1 p.m. through the town and arrive at okariya (temporary resting place) at 9 p.m. on the 19th. After these lions are kept at Okariya all night long, they begin their journey back to the shrine, with the bearers jostling one another from 1 p.m., escorted by a parade of mikoshi and floats, and come back to the shrine about 11 p.m. on the 20th.

Access:
15 min. by bus from Misakiguchi Sta. on Keihin Kyuko Line to Misaki-ko Bus Stop, and then walk 3 min.



Kawase Matsuri
July 19 to July 20
Kawase Matsuri at Chichibu Shrine, Chichibu, Saitama Pref., features a procession of colorful floats. On the 19th, the floats assemble in the shrine precincts around 7 p.m. On the 20th, the floats are carried through the town from early morning. Mikoshi and the floats parade near the Arakawa River around 1 p.m. and arrive at Takenohana-bashi around 3 p.m. The festival reaches its climax when mikoshi are carried into the river. They eventually return to the shrine around 5 p.m.

Access:
(1) 1 hr. 10 min. by JR Takasaki Line from Ueno Sta. to Kumagaya Sta. From there, 50 min. by Chichibu Tetsudo Railway's Express to Chichibu Sta.
(2) 1 hr. 30 min by Seibu Railway's Limited Express "Red Arrow" from Ikebukuro Sta. to Seibu-Chichibu Sta.

Hanabi Taikai
July 20
Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) at Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref., a 30-min. train ride from Tokyo Sta., will　be held from 7:30 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. (about 6,000 fireworks). It will be postponed in the case of rain.

Access:
(1) JR Negishi Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Kannai Sta., and then walk 15 min.
(2) Minato Mirai Line to Motomachi-Chukagai Sta., and then walk 5 min.

Uchiwa Matsuri
July 20 to July 22
Uchiwa Matsuri (fan-offering festival) of Yasaka Shrine, Kumagaya, Saitama Pref., features a parade of 12 beautifully decorated floats to the accompaniment of flutes, drums and gongs. On the 20th, the floats assemble in front of JR Kumagaya Sta. at around 6:30 p.m. and proceed to the okariya (temporary resting place), where they stay all night long. On the 21st, the parade of floats proceeds along Route 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. On the 22nd, the festival reaches its climax from around 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at Omatsuri Hiroba near JR Kumagaya Sta. Uchiwa fans are distributed on the streets during the festival period.

Access: JR Takasaki Line to Kumagaya Sta.
Hamaori-sai
July 21
Hamaori-sai (Down-to-the-beach Festival) of Samukawa Shrine, Chigasaki, Kanagawa Pref. Around 5 a.m., 40 mikoshi are gathered by partially clad men at Nishihama of Chigasaki Beach and carried into the sea. Afterward, a Shinto ritual will be conducted on the beach from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. with the mikoshi-bearers shouting "Dokkoi! Dokkoi!"

Access:
JR Tokaido Line to Chigasaki Sta. (South Exit), and then walk 20 min. or temporary bus service from South Exit to Nishihama is available.

Kaikoku Dancin
July 26
Kaikoku Dancin' (Dancing Performance at the port), Yokosuka, Kanagawa Pref. A performance of Japanese folk dancing by groups will be demonstrated at Shiyakusho-mae (City Hall) Koen (park) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at Verny Koen from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. When it rains, the event will be canceled.

Access:
(1) Shiyakusho-mae Koen: Keihin Kyuko Line to Yokosuka-Chuo Sta., and then walk 7 min.
(2) Verny Koen: JR Yokosuka Line to Yokosuka Sta., and then walk 1 min., or 5-min. walk from Shioiri Sta. on Keihin Kyuko Line.

Kibune Matsuri
July 27 to July 28
Kibune Matsuri of Kibune Shrine, Manazuru-machi, Ashigara Shimo-gun, Kanagawa Pref. features a sea parade of mikoshi, colorfully decorated sacred boats and floats at Manazuru Port from 1 p.m. on the 27th and from 7 p.m. on the 28th. A fireworks display can be seen from 7 p.m. on the 28th.

Access:
(1) JR Tokaido Line to Manazuru Sta., and then walk 20 min. to the Shrine.
(2) 8 min. by bus for Saboten Koen from JR Manazuru Sta., and then get off at Miyano-mae Bus Stop to go to the shrine.


Akaya-ko Hanabi Taikai
July 27
Akaya-ko Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) at Akaya-ko (lake) in Sarugakyo Onsen (hot spring), Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma Pref. A fireworks display is scheduled from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Access:
(1) JR Joetsu Line to Gokan Sta. From there, 30 min. by bus to Sarugakyo Onsen Bus Stop.
(2) JR Joetsu Shinkansen Line to Jomo-Kogen Sta. From there, 30 min. by bus to Sarugakyo Onsen Bus Stop.

Kosui Matsuri
July 31
Kosui Matsuri (Lake Festival) on Lake Ashi, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa Pref. In the evening, ceremonial rites will be held on boats in the middle of the lake by priests and parishioners of Hakone Shrine. Toro-nagashi (floating of lit lanterns in water) from 7:30 p.m. and a fireworks display (4,000 fireworks) is scheduled from 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Access:
1 hr. by bus from Odawara Sta., and then get off at Moto-Hakone Bus Stop.

Saitama Cty Fireworks Display
July 30, 2008 to Aug. 23

Saitama City Fireworks Display is scheduled at three sites (5,000 fireworks each): at Owada Koen (park) from 7 p.m. on July 30; at Urawa Racecourse from 7 p.m. on Aug. 9; and at Iwatsuki-bunka Koen from 7 p.m. on Aug. 23.

Access:
(1) Owada Koen: Tobu Noda Line to Omiya Koen Sta., and then walk 15 min.
(2) Urawa Racecourse: JR Keihin Tohoku Line to Urawa Sta. or Minami Urawa Sta., and then walk 15 min.
(3) Iwatsuki-bunka Koen: Tobu Noda Line to Iwatsuki Sta., and then walk 35 min. (Shuttle buses are available on the day.)

Summer is Here

This afternoon, it felt like the Philippines. Mercury hit at 30 degrees Celsius and I feel really good about it. It was the official start of Summer here in Japan. The Philippine’s, especially Manila’s temperature is around 30 to 34 all year round and usually it beams up to 38 the most in summer season. I hear a lot from my colleagues say hot. Even me, it felt very hot but I was happy about it. Finally, I was able to use all of the t-shirts I have brought from the Philippines. And probably the best thing about it is that my skin and hair won’t be after all be dry since I am used to a hot climate. People in the faculty have been wearing shorts, short-sleeve t-shirts, light material clothes and men have already undressed their suits and neckties. At last, my salary man attire was able to rest.


As Japan changes its season this month, people brace themselves for a whopping 40 degrees Celsius especially in Kumagaya, Saitama. That place is a barren flat land where it is most popular for having the hottest temperature in Japan every summer. In connection with Japan’s CoolBiz campaign to reduce C02 emissions, air-conditioning units are set to medium temperature or to not switched-on at all in most offices and almost all government offices and facilities. This is the first time that the government had its campaign. I remember last year when I was still in Makati wherein I watched NHK Channel that there was a news about all power plants in Japan, wherein their power has been fully utilized and that power consumption have increased to its full capacity. In short, way back then, people have all turned on their air-conditioning units up to the coldest level of temperature that an air-condition unit can accommodate. But now, things have changed. The government, for its objective and adherence to the Kyoto Protocol has stepped up in reducing C02 emissions by not using thermostat-based devices such as air-conditioning units.

By this time, schools are about to end for their summer vacation. Airline fares are again up during this season as many people especially in the academe and the students, travel within Japan or overseas. Most department stores are in full swing for its summer shopping campaigns. Sale here and sale everywhere! That is the campaign of most malls and department stores here. They want to get a slice of the pie of Japan’s youth market during this time. Travel agencies and resorts are very popular this time. Almost all amusement parks, pools, theme parks, and other similar facilities will be experiencing a sudden surge of clients during this season. Beer is another popular drink this season. It’s completely opposite in Philippines. Beer is more drinkable during the cold season but here in Japan, beer is ever popular during summer. Beer, as according to some, quenches their thirst during the hot, humid and sweating months of the summer season.

Japan is also a country of festivals. During this season a lot of city-wide and prefecture festivals are being held. Here are some of them.

School Breakfast Program to Launch in Conflict-Affected School

Kidapawan City – A “School Breakfast Program” for the students of Datu Ambel Memorial High School in Barangay Kilada, Matalam, North Cotabato will be launched on July 8, 2008 (Tuesday) at 9:00 in the morning.

School Breakfast Program is a pilot project of Mindanao Land Foundation Inc. (MinLand), a non- government organization based in Davao City and Kidapawan City which aims to help increase motivation of students in conflict affected areas to finish high school, provide nourishment and energy to respond to the everyday physical and mental challenges in school, and help improve school participation.

With 105 enrollees for School Year 2008 – 2009, Datu Ambel Memorial High School primary caters students coming from poor families in conflict affected barangays in the Municipality of Matalam, North Cotabato. Many of its students have experienced the hardship associated with conflict: tension, harassment, hunger, illnesses, evacuation, homelessness, disruption of schooling, separation and death of family members and friends.

UKAY-UKAY (Photo Above) Proceeds of the 2-day ukay-ukay fundraising would be able to cover the costs for breakfast of 105 students in Datu Ambel Memorial High School for two (2) weeks. (www.minland.ph)

Aside from going to school hungry most of the time, students of Datu Ambel Memorial High School take a long walk to and from school where some even cross a river on foot. These are blunt and real reasons why student motivation to attend school is very low.

Expected guests for the said activity are representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd), LGU Officials, PTCA Officers, Academe, among others.

In support of a community’s aspiration in sending their children to school, this program will be jointly undertaken by MoveOn Philippines International, an organization of Filipino migrants in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, Datu Ambel Memorial High School in Kilada, Matalam, Cotabato and Mindanao Land Foundation (MinLand).

Interested individuals may also offer further support to the Breakfast Program. One may donate only P15.00 a day or PhP 390.00 a month per child for a simple breakfast to fuel the minds and motivation of students.

Do email us at minland-cmo@minland.ph or asbato@minland.ph for questions and for details on how to send your financial support. You may send PhP195 every payday to cover one child's breakfast for half a month or PhP390/month or even a school year's needs for as many students. (www.minland.ph)

Meeting Former Colleagues

It has been already two years since I met my colleagues before in Makati. Last Saturday, I met them in Tokyo. I was glad that Saori was able to bring some Filipino food for me. Well, enumerating it, 555 corned beef, Purefoods luncheon meat, Alamang shrimp paste, Sotanghon ready to eat noodles, Filipino style tomato and spaghetti sauce, Adobo mix, Mechado mix, and my favorite commodity, the dependable Knorr Sinigang mix. I was very surprised and relieved that I need not to go to Ameyoko in Okachimachi for the time being just to buy Filipino food. For us Filipinos, these are simple treasures what we tend to take for granted when we are in our hometown. But once you are here, it’s hard for you to procure some of them.

Afterwhich, Yuichi wanted to play batting and pitching in Oslo Batting Center. So we went there. I was amazed to know that there is such facility in the middle of Shinjuku. Probably, only a few of my beings know that there is such a facility like this in the urban jungle of Shinjuku. It was not really far. It took us only a couple of minutes to reach it from the Shinjuku train station. The facility has around 5 to 6 batting lanes and one pitching lane.

Everything was automatic. A thousand yen will comprise of four games. For the batting lane, it would be around 10 or so bats. While for the pitching, probably it was around less than 10 pitches. I was caught unprepared for it. Imagine, that was the first time I was able to hold a bat and pitch a ball in nearly 15 years since I was in High School. I think I only did it when I was in 1st yeah high school. Then my turn came. The ball was really speeding crazily fast and I could not hit the ball. I was able only to hit it after around 4 missed balls. After I hit it, it felt that my whole body vibrated. The feeling was good and the longer I pitch, the more I hit. But of course, there were more missed balls than the hit ones. Until now, I am suffering from back pains. Believe it or not, the following day, it felt like I played badminton for 3 long hours. I felt tremendous muscle pains and it felt like I just want to lie with my back. Saori also tried to pitch and only hit a few balls. Well, it was our time to try the pitching lane. Pitching was tougher than I thought. You have to maintain a certain trajectory so that the ball will be strike. Beyond the special 3x3 yellow machine is already a ball. Unfortunately no ball hit in any of the 9 square boxes. Yuichi was the only one who made a hit. It was fun. Thanks to him because after all it was his treat. I also saw that there is one batting lane there wherein the ball surges up to 70kph. Wow, ultra-fast. Looks like a pro did it.

Exhausted yet thrilled with the experience, we went to look for some place to eat. Shinjuku is a real busy area during weekends. Restaurants and Izakayas are almost fully booked especially if you decide to go around 6PM or so. We tried going to a couple of restaurants but it was fully reserved already. Waiting for more than 20 minutes would spoil our enthusiasm. Thus, Yuichi had an idea to go in this Prison-like restaurant. When we got there, it was very dark. No one in the podium was able to entertain us. After a while, WHOOOOM….! Our heartbeats leaped! An unknown attraction to most innocent patrons is the prisoner locked inside the cage which tried to make clamping sounds every now and then scared us. Saori decided not to go. So we then chose another place to dine. We went to search in the Eastern part of Shinjuku. Luckily, it was not full yet since it was just around 5:30PM. Thanks again to Yuichi for saving our pockets that day. It was his treat again. I actually met Yuichi in Makati just for several days since he was just temporarily sent by the main office for a week or so. I didn’t expect that he will be that nice to me. I was also very amazed with Saori because she has already acquired mastery in English and know a few Tagalog words and phrases. Yuichi is also very fluent in English. So I didn’t have the hard time speaking my broken Japanese. Restaurants in Japan, especially in heavily populated areas, have a time limit. Regardless if you dine in buffet or not, there is a time limit. Normally it would range up to 90 minutes the most.

After our time expired, we decided to go to Roppongi. I was excited to try because it is my first time to enter a bar in Roppongi. For a long time, I have not tried Roppongi because if I decide to hang out, I would have to go home by 5AM in the morning, just in time for the train’s first trip. We went inside a bar which was situated downstairs. Luckily, there was no entrance charge and it was still their happy hour. All drinks cost only 500 yen. And that’s the cheapest in Roppongi if you are talking about bars. One thing caught my attention is that the bar was having a Masala Night. A lot of Indians (not the Native Americans) filled the dance floor. There was an exhibition of traditional Indian dance. I even saw a fire exhibition of one dancer. Next to our table was a group of Indians who looked like blended Japanese along with some Japanese men. Most of them were ladies. There were 5 of them and the rest were men. As the Indian music played, I was really amazed on how they managed to dance with choreography. We all know that Bollywood music videos have choreography. It seemed like all of the Indian music which played that night have been memorized and properly executed in front of my eyes. It was really amazing. All of us enjoyed the night. Well, I probably drank 3 cocktail drinks, 1 shot of tequila and another shot of undisclosed whatever drink that was. They said that it was a mystery drink. Okay whatever. It tasted like mixed tequila and vodka.

Then I suddenly forgot that I now live in the mountains of Saitama. And I was anxious with the time. I wanted just to stay and party all night long but my ever dependable train route would have had me slept in the nearest McDonalds. I missed the fun and when it was around 1020PM, I decided to leave early. I am quite disoriented with the alcohol intake. I decided to take the Shonan Shinjuku Line because for me to catch the last ride somewhere in Kuki. When I arrived there, I was like being chased by a killer. It took me a while to figure out where was the train platform. Shinjuku is probably one of the largest, massive, and most complicated train stations in Tokyo aside from Central Tokyo Station. When I went down to the platform, Oh Gosh!, I went in to the wrong platform., It was the opposite bound train platform. When I managed to transferred on the other correct platform, the train already left. Grrrr… After 15 minutes, the 3rd to the last trip train bound for Omiya arrived. To my surprise, the train stopped for about 10 minutes. I was in panic mode. So I called Rowena to search in the Internet if there is a train delay. Normally, it would be very weird to have some train delays and information in the JR East website posted in the Internet at that late. But I just called her to search on the Internet. I wanted to make it sure if I can really go home. She said there was no train delay since that day. So I was in a way relieved. It was around 1100 and the worst part it that, it was only bound for Akabanebashi. I still have to ride another pesky train from there going to Omiya. I really needed a miracle for me to go home. Because I am drunk, I can’t really read the signs in the platform where I was. I just asked the next person standing with me if “この駅は赤羽橋ですか？” or “Is this the Akabanebashi train station?” Grrr… Mendokusai. When I was inside the train, I wondered why I was not hearing any announcements. Usually new JR trains have voice over announcements. Then suddenly when I got off, I figured out that I rode the wrong line. I was suppose to ride in a Shonan-Shinjuku Line but instead rode in a Saikyo-Rinkai Line. Oh God! I am relieved that it stopped over Akabanebashi. Afterwards, the Takasaki Line arrived bound for Takasaki. Whew, another change of line again in Omiya because it’s going on an opposite way. Furthermore, I was running out of time. It was around 1210AM something when I arrived in Kuki. And finally, I rode on the last trip bound for Tatebayashi. Whew. Just in time. I only slept for a couple of hours because the following day we are off to Tokorozawa for a baseball match.

Eco Campaign

Japan is a little bit fanatic about its ecological campaign recently. To curb the emission of carbon dioxide in the environment the citizens themselves are doing their part in helping the country achieve its goals this year. The campaign states that most employees of offices and other industries are encouraged to wear light clothes so that air-conditioning units in their workplaces will be turned on only at a minimal cooling capacity or to entirely being shut off. As a result of this, Japan has to respond to a demand of eco-friendly clothing. Shops in central Tokyo now sell neckties that are of mesh composition around the neck part and some inner clothes have been redesigned to resemble that of cool colors such as blue, aqua, white and the like. With the adherence of Japan to the Kyoto Protocol, which was signed by most leading industrial nations, Japan has been the leader in promoting Eco-friendly practices. Schools have circulated memoranda on turning off their lights and shutting down desktop and laptops if not being used. If possible, put the machines in hibernate mode if it’s idle. There are several homes which harness solar power. They install solar panels in their rooftops and use them for lighting and other purposes. This is to help reduce their energy consumption especially this coming summer, which has been notoriously known to reach 40 degrees Celsius in Saitama Prefecture.

However, from a foreigner’s point of view is that these are all just façade for the image of their country. Do you know why? Japanese people have the reputation of overstaying in the office. Imbued in the roots of their society, the underdogs or the newbies in the company must wait for their bosses to leave first before they leave. If their boss leaves at 8:00PM, then they leave the office several minutes after it. Also, in most government offices, they always work beyond office hours and even on weekends and holidays. Most schools, whether government, privately-owned, elementary, junior and senior high schools, and colleges, use their facilities almost every weekend and even holidays. Thus, even how they conserve energy, they still relatively use almost the same amount of electricity. Of course, if someone uses a facility, they use lights, water, computers, photocopy machines and all sorts of electronically-pluggable machines. So I don’t think the entire society is contributing a significant change. If we are talking about work efficiency, job should be done by 600PM sharp. No more overtimes and overstaying. Most Japanese pretend that they are doing something just to show their superiors that they have accomplished something. Though honestly, some really work, but some just do the habit of staying beyond office hours and wait for their boss to leave. Of course it’s not a policy but it has been their culture. Once you leave ahead of your boss, people think that you are either impolite, or just stubborn to do work.

So why not try this one rather than buying fad clothes? Leave the office once exactly strikes at 6:00PM. In most cases, if the company is a trading or engage into selling/human power or production, I think it’s excusable. But for government facilities, I think they should set an example. If they always insist that they are hardworking that is why they stay late at night in their desks, then I think they should think otherwise. If efficiency is to be question, then all of their pending tasks should be finished within the office hours. Government offices, I believe, have no point to operate beyond office hours or even weekends and holidays. Do you know why? There is even no money coming in to their office because it is in fact close. So why do you operate and spend for electricity wherein there is no money coming in? Take a City Hall as an example. Transactions are over after 5:00PM. In short, it’s close after 5:00PM. Then why do most employees have to stay as late as 8, 9 or even 12:00AM before they go home? Most of the requests have specified time frame before the deadline, thus, there is no need to rush within that night. I can observe that most of them are just wasting electricity.

But despite that, there are real and visible eco campaign by the Japanese like the hybrid car of Toyota and Honda. Most of these cars run on water, and some run on batteries only and charged. Let’s give these Japanese the credit on automobiles.

Rising Prices of Commodities

Just this morning when I turned on the television on my favorite morning program, NHK 7AM News, the headline dismayed me. Fuel, basic commodities such as egg, mayonnaise, cooking oil, butter and the like, electricity have already risen up starting today. There is a 10 percent or approximately 120 yen increase in most utilities such as electricity and in gas costs. As we all know that gas here in Japan is being used as a heating agent for our water we use everyday. For the past months, it has already taken a toll on me. Gas prices are higher and relatively expensive than electricity costs. Water is probably the only utility that is very cheap here in Japan.

Also, the price of egg will also increase. It’s quite interesting to know that since the 1980’s, Japan’s egg prices have not really gone up and it’s just this time that they will increase the price. Japan is also faced with recent shortage of butter, and some of these dairy-like commodities have also gone up. Recently, their Agriculture Department planned to export more butter from abroad to fill up the slack and equate the high demand that will surely surge this coming autumn as winter season and the holidays are near. And around almost a year ago, taxi fare has also gone up to a staggering 710 yen from the previous 640 yen flag down rate. Globally, food costs and anything being moved is affected by the rise of fuel costs. Just a month ago, Japan also increased its fuel pump prices and it caused some of the ones who own cars to get irked with this. The good thing was that yesterday, I read on the news that prefectural and local government unit employees’ salaries were already raised. Lucky are the government employees. But how about the typical corporate salary man who just rides the train everyday? These surging prices must be hitting them so hard. And also for me where my salary is not that much, I feel that this will hurt a bit.