Agricultural Minister resigns - again and again!

農林水産大臣<br /> <br /> Japan is about to get its fourth Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in less than a year! What is more, the latest incumbent, Takehiko Endo, lasted a mere 8 days before being felled by a money scandal - just like the two that went before him. This is the fifth resignation of a cabinet minister under a cloud of scandal since the present prime minister, Shinzo Abe, took over the reins a year ago.<br /> <br /> The first agricultural minister of Prime Minister Abe's cabinet, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, was in office for 8 months from September 26, 2006, to May 28, 2007. News of his swindling of the government of large sums of money by means of fraudulent office expense claims (at least USD2 million) was his undoing. He tragically ended his term on the day he was due to be officially questioned by hanging himself in his apartment.<br /> <br /> His successor, Norihiko Akagi was minister for only two months, from June 1 to August 1 this year, but fell for almost exactly the same reasons as Matsuoka: for claiming for over 17 years "expenses" for freely provided government office space, as well as for a non-existent “office” in a house belonging to his wife. He thereby embezzled sums in the same ballpark as his predecessor Matsuoka.<br /> <br /> The just-fallen Takehiko Endo, appointed on August 27, resigned yesterday morning - again for money reasons. His undoing was the revelation that the Oitama Agricultural Cooperative Society, in Yamagata prefecture, of which he is president, overstated by over one million yen its claim for government compensation for crop damage to a vineyard back in 1991. In spite of this having come to light in 2004, the cooperative has still made no move to repay the money - a fact that led to his downfall.<br /> <br /> The new Minister will be Masatoshi Wakabayashi. How long he will last is anyone's guess. In February of this year the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper revealed that 3 years ago Wakabayashi failed to declare an unspent 4 million yen of the election funds he received. Although never charged with any crime, this nevertheless appears to be in contravention of the Public Offices Election Law.<br /> <br /> So, it's OK: you can probably hold your breath for No.5!<br /> <br />

Agricultural Minister resigns - again and again!

農林水産大臣 Japan is about to get its fourth Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in less than a year! What is more, the latest incu...

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National Foundation Day

建国記念の日<br /> <br /> February 11 Kenkoku kinenbi - National Foundation Day<br /> <br /> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/1600/japans-myth.jpg"><img alt="Myths and Legends of Japan - Buy this book from Amazon" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/320/japans-myth.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" title="National Foundation Day" /></a>According to the ancient myths of Japan, on this date in 660 B.C. the Japanese nation was founded by Emperor Jimmu. February 11th is also the date that the Meiji Constitution of 1889 was proclaimed.<br /> <br /> Because of these connections to the Emperor worship system, the Occupation administration after World War II cancelled the Foundation Day, but the Japanese government reinstated it in 1966. In most cities, various groups take to the streets and demonstrate against the revival of the Imperial system.<br /> <br /> <b>Myths & Legends of Japan - Buy this book from Amazon</b><br /> <br /> USA<br /> UK <br /> Japan<br /> <br /> Books on Japan - Japan-related book reviews

National Foundation Day

建国記念の日 February 11 Kenkoku kinenbi - National Foundation Day According to the ancient myths of Japan, on this date in 660 B.C. the Japan...

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The Steele Collection

カラーでよみがえる日本６０年前：米軍人が撮った戦後<br /> <br /> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/1600/steele-collection.jpg"><img alt="1945-1952 Steele Collection" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/320/steele-collection.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a> I went to the photo exhibition on at the headquarters of the Shinsei Bank in Shinbashi: the "1945-1952 Steele Collection". It's a collection of photos from directly after World War II, discovered in an old US soldier's - Mr Steele's - Washington attic by a Japanese guy in 1980.<br /> <br /> They are not professional photographs, but are a selection of random shots of immediate post-war life in Japan by a number of different American servicemen. They are, however, good photos. They show the familiar faces of Japan in the unfamiliar setting of poverty.<br /> <br /> I was struck by how upbeat and completely together everyone seemed for having just lost a war: in hindsight an attitude that must have guaranteed that they'd have few regrets a generation later.<br /> <br /> The photos are in full color - a rarity for the 1940s, and one of the main reasons for exhibiting them. They certainly convey a lot more than if they were in black and white. There are 120 on display (from a full complement of 10,000, says the blurb), so there's plenty to keep the viewer occupied and interested for the best part of an hour.<br /> <br /> The only downside things were the sometimes haphazard - and often plain absent - English translations of the captions, and the awful BGM: shite on a short loop.<br /> <br /> It's on until this Sunday (14 February) at the very smart glassy headquarters of the Shinsei Bank in the Marunouchi district. Get out at either Uchisaiwaicho on the Mita subway line (exit A7) or Kasumigaseki on the Chiyoda subway line (exit C4).<br /> <br /> <b>Find Bars, Restaurants and Clubs in Tokyo Here</b><br /> Tokyo: Entertainment: Bars, Restaurants, Clubs in Tokyo

The Steele Collection

カラーでよみがえる日本６０年前：米軍人が撮った戦後 I went to the photo exhibition on at the headquarters of the Shinsei Bank in Shinbashi: the "1945-1952 Ste...

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Okonomiyaki

お好み焼き<br /> <br /> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/1600/okonomiyaki.jpg"><img alt="Okonomiyaki at Ichizyuu, Nagoya" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/320/okonomiyaki.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" title="Okonomiyaki" /></a>Okonomiyaki, that eclectic crossbreed between pizza and pancake, may not be the most well-known or highly-regarded of Japanese dishes overseas, but it can go down well on a cold winter's night like yesterday.<br /> <br /> The name roughly translates as "as you like it..fried (or griddled)". The pancake-like base is made of a mix of shredded cabbage, flour, water and eggs.<br /> <br /> Depending on "as you like it", seafood (usually cuttle fish and prawns), meat, mushrooms and other ingredients can be added to the mix, which is then fried like a pancake on a hot-plate (鉄板 <i>tenpan</i>) - usually at your table.<br /> <br /> After turning it with some wallpaper scraper-like implements, the finished article is somewhat reminiscent of a pizza with its different "toppings". Usually shaved tuna (鰹節 <i>katsuobushi</i>), green laver (青海苔 aonori), mayonnaise and a sweetish brown okonomiyaki sauce are then added on top for flavor.<br /> <br /> The wallpaper scrapers are then used to divide the dish between the diners. Okonomiyaki is filling and certainly warming with the heat of the hot plate adding to the winter feel - though okonomiyaki is popular year-round.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/1600/okonomiyaki-2.jpg"><img alt="Okonomiyaki at Ichizyuu, Nagoya" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5225/1196/320/okonomiyaki-2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a> Hiroshima is famed for its version of okonomiyaki which is eaten on top of a bed of yakisoba.<br /> <br /> Though making no pretence to haute-cuisine, okonomiyaki restaurants tend to be lively, friendly places, good for a few beers, where the "Do It Yourself" nature of the food adds to the fun.

Okonomiyaki

お好み焼き Okonomiyaki, that eclectic crossbreed between pizza and pancake, may not be the most well-known or highly-regarded of Japanese dishe...

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Demon Masks

節分 - 鬼の仮面<br /> <br /> On Friday night all over Japan all the <i>oni</i> (demons) came out! In the cities they mostly appear at Setsubun celebrations in well known shrines and temples - Setsubun being the last day of winter in the traditional Japanese lunar calender, and on which day a bean-scattering ceremony takes place to drive out the <i>oni</i> and attract good fortune.<br /> <br /> The first 2 photos show <i>oni</i> that appeared at the famous Yasaka Shrine in Gion, Kyoto. If I was a little kid viewing the oni from the safety of the crowd, I would not be too frightened: more entertained. They are hardly terrifying masks - in fact they look quite jolly.<br /> <br /> <img alt="Setsubun oni (devil) mask." border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2203/1206/320/mask2.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /><br /> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2203/1206/1600/mask1.jpg"><img alt="Setsubun oni (devil) mask." border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2203/1206/320/mask1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The photo below shows one of our local <i>oni</i>. This is a bit scarier, and in the villages the <i>oni</i> prowl around in a group visiting houses that have kids. Having a group of these really scary demons try and enter your house does provoke genuine terror in the younger kids.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2203/1206/1600/mask3.jpg"><img alt="Setsubun oni (devil) mask" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2203/1206/320/mask3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a> In Japanese cities, so many of the traditions and rituals have become mere entertainment, having lost their meaning. I know its a cliche, but in the remoter parts of Japan traditions and customs are still lived as they have been for ages, and still evoke the emotions that spawned them.<br /> <br /> "<i>Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi</i>!"<br /> ("Devils out! Good luck in!")<br /> <br /> Original Japanese Devil Masks from GoodsFromJapan<br /> <br /> Omote Kagura Museum in Oda Village

Demon Masks

節分 - 鬼の仮面 On Friday night all over Japan all the oni (demons) came out! In the cities they mostly appear at Setsubun celebrations in well...

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Setsubun

節分<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42319580@N00/95165468/" title="Photo Sharing"><img align="left" alt="Setsubun Roasted Beans" height="180" src="http://static.flickr.com/42/95165468_137c08504c_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>On a freezing snowy <a href="http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=357&pID=296">Kyoto</a> midwinter night, we celebrated the arrival of the first day of spring. According to the traditional Japanese lunar calendar, February 3rd or 4th is the first day of spring.<br /> <br /> In keeping with that, the custom in rural Japan--which is now followed in cities as well--was and is to hold rituals to keep evil devils at bay at such a propitious time of year. Highly superstitious Japanese of years past feared that evil spirits would curse the spring planting.<br /> <br /> In the past, people would cut off the head of a sardine and hang it--in all of its smelly, rotting glory--above the door to the house. According to my father-in-law, this was still done when he was a child in Kyoto. In addition, the sight of holly boughs was also common; both of these were thought to scare off evil.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42319580@N00/95165469/" title="Photo Sharing"><img align="right" alt="Maki Sushi" height="180" src="http://static.flickr.com/33/95165469_1d123ac743_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>At dinner, we all faced in a southerly direction and silently munched on giant maki-sushi. After downing these jumbo sushi rolls, conversation resumed. The sardines were duly burnt--and barely touched. And, oh the sins of modernity, we went through several bottles of French wine.<br /> <br /> After dinner, we performed the final ritual: tossing roasted beans out all of the windows of the house, chanting "oni wa soto" (out with devil!); and then, turning around, tossing more beans inside the house and yelling "fuku wa uchi" (good luck/prosperity inside!). Then, following that--and slamming the windows to shut out the snow and cold--we all picked up beans off of the tatami mats and ate the same number of beans as our age. (Though, full disclosure, aside from my seven-year-old daughter, we all just took the number of beans as the second number of our respective ages: my 73-year-old father-in-law ate three whole beans.)<br /> <br /> Japanese Goods<br /> <br /> Information on Kyoto

Setsubun

節分 On a freezing snowy Kyoto midwinter night, we celebrated the arrival of the first day of spring. According to the traditional Japanese...

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