I'm back!

Typical Tourist photo of Hawaii (^^)

      I returned today from Japan. From cold to hot. First things first! Laundry and house cleaning. The life of a house husband starts he takes a step into the house! Gaaaaaaaa! (**;)

     I hope to get some vids onto the blog sooner or later. Need to figure out why the uploaded vids won't show!!!! It looked alright in the camera but once I saved it onto the hard drive........Maybe I'll just to a PC store and have them retrieve the vids.

     All was well with Michele and her mom when I left. As matter of fact Michele had emailed that she had passed her written tests and gotten her temporary driver's license. One more week of driving at the school and then she qualifies to take the national exam.

     The radioactivity issues are still very convoluted with government explanations still obfuscated. The last I heard was that the President of France was coming to Japan to formally offer French assistance in the issue.

As things "settle down" the Japanese media seems to changing their focus on national leadership problems.

I think every one's efforts should be focused on recovery for the devastated areas. It is sad to hear on the news that there are cases of fraud going on with the monetary donations and that houses that remained intact in some form was being burglarized. Not on a massive scale but never the less, sad that there are people that take advantage of the situation.

    Oops time to do the third load of laundry! More to follow.

A night with the ladies (^^)

      On Friday night I was able to visit Hayashi Shihan's Dojo in Shinjuku prior to another "session" with former counterparts. I was asked to give a brief SDF class to her ladies. I kept it short and simple using basic techniques and reaction drills.

Hayashi Shihan (front row left) and her ladies.

Explaining an application of the inside block against a wrist grab.

     Hayashi Shihan is expected to join us at the last session in Yokohama. I am hoping that she will be able to show us Taekwondo kicking techniques that the kids can apply to full contact tournament fighting.

      By the way the several of the Yokohama Dojo kids participated in a tournament of Saturday. They all learned the importance of keeping their guard up ! Y (^^)Y



Wristbands for Japan Fundraiser Begins

We received our first order of 1000 wristbands today. We have the wristbands in my school, and in our dojo. We will also have them in the local Public Library, and two other school systems by the weekend. Mono, Sensei has enlisted the help of several teachers and art students to make posters and organize sales by the children.

We have received a great deal of support from the community, and we are hoping to make a difference for few of our friends in Japan. I am reminded of the young man who comes to the beach and finds millions of starfish, washed on the beach. He looks down and picks one up, and returns it to the ocean. A passing ADULT watching the child looks down at him and asks, “What is it you’re doing?” The child said, helping the starfish. The ADULT looks and says, “But there are so many you can possibly make a difference”. The child looks up and replied, “to that one I did”. I am sure I messed up the story, yet we all here hope, and “will stand by you”.

Graduation Photo

GRADUATION PHOTO!

Michele in formal graduation wear. I haven't put on a suit in years!

      In midst of all the gloom today was a happy moment of taking my daughter's formal graduation photo. The photo studio was gracious enough to allow me to take a picture with my own camera (^^).  It was the first time to see my daughter with make-up on. The results It made me not to worry about her looking like me! After the photo taking we had a "graduation lunch" at First Kitchen. Gahahahaha. Not to worry we will have a "real graduation dinner" come Wednesday.

Left to right; Burnt Shoyu, Butter, Consomme flavored fries

Spaghetti Meat Sauce, Hamburger Stewed in gravy.

Sauces for French Fries; Counter clockwise from bottom; BBQ (better than Arby's), Garlic Mayonnaise, Cheese. Guaranteed to fill your sodium requirements for the day! (^^)

The Human Spirit

     Everday, here in Japan we are exposed to the strength of the human spirit displayed by the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami. I often find myself shedding tears as I watch a report on TV and at the same time feel the strength of the human spirit.
     Just as the temperature is dropping here in Yokohama,the temperature is dropping mid-winter levels in the disaster areas where fuel and other essentials are severely lacking. Supplies are not reaching some areas.
Earlier in the day there were reports of trcuk drivers making U-turns on supply runs because they refused to go near areas with alledged radioactivity. The towns requiring the supplies are no where near the restricted zones. They are currently surviving on one riceball and one banana a day. Fuel is lacking to keep warm.
      One reporter followed a grandfather and his grandson (perhaps lower elementary) searching for his daughter, the mother of his grandson. They were looking for the car she had been driving when the tsunami had it the town. The found the battered car in a parking lot and rescue was called. You have to remember 7 days had already passed. When the rescue folks put up a blue sheet to block footage of a body being recovered it was clear the mother had not made it. The mother's sister was also at the scene and you could hear her calling out to the deceased. At the end of the report, the sister kept on repeating "I have to be strong". The look on the son's face was heart breaking.
     I was shocked when I read on  Face Book that my High School had sent a band to Japan on Monday!
I cannot understand why they would even think of coming much less coming at a time like this.  I feel it is very disrespectful to the dead and the survivors struggling to get back their lives. Not only that they put themsleves at risk. Just a while ago we had a RS 4 qauke which lasted long. Now it seems our government is cautioning US citizens to leave Japan.

The pitfalls of information or the lack of (**#)

 5 Days After

       I guess the biggest concern for many here in Japan are the nuclear plants in Fukushima which have been severely damaged and the potential of radiation leaks. The population surrounding the plants have been already evacuated outside a 30 kilometer radius. All day and night updates are being broadcasted on the current situation. HOWEVER, much of the information may be understood by academics and nuclear professionals, but to me ?????.  Last time I took a CBR class was many many moons ago. Even expert commentators that theTV stations find do not make it any easier. Well, I guess everyone concerned realized this and now they are making comments that a layman could relate to. Still it is very wearisome.

The usual spokesmen for the Nuclear Plant, I would not want to be in their shoes as the information is very obfuscated.

I hope this does not become a regular scene in Yokohama.

I guess the winds will make a big difference in the case there is a major radiation leak. As of now there is a no height limit to air traffic in the vicinity.

      Earlier this afternoon Michel mailed me to "Stay indoors" as the sky looks really strange. With the nuclear plant in mind, I decided to take her advice and took refuge in an Internet/Comic cafe, Three hours later she mailed me an "All Clear". I got to catch up on all the comics I hadn't read in years! (^^)

Amazing how many businessmen were "taking a break" from work!!! (^^)



Mind Boggoling

  

I am sure that all of you have already seen news footage of the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami. I am very lucky to have gotten by with just the quakes. Here in Yokohama tremors continue and just a minute ago a RS 3 quake was registered in Nagano Prefecture. Hopefully they will get the damaged nuclear plants under control.
     For those of us here in Tokyo and Yokohama, the biggest effect has been the blackouts. I am pretty sure everyone was surprised with the rippling effect it had on their daily lives.
1. Trains stopped running or on drastically reduced operations which resulted in people not getting to work.
2. Offices and stores reduced operations due to lack of employees.
3.  Resupply of stores continue to be hampered and essential goods are basically gone from the shelves.
4. Patients requiring hemo dialysis and or rely on life lines that depend on electricity. Fortunately blackouts are for a three hour duration.
     Another problem arising is the overload of cell phone traffic. Docomo and Soft Bank just announced some measures that need to be taken.
      Emergency supplies are not reaching the devastated areas as hoped for with many of the roads blocked with debris.
      It is kind of unreal as life goes on here in Yokohama while people are fighting for survival up north with not even having the bare essentials.
      I wonder how Hawaii will survive a real tsunami. I could not help but feel anger when I read a thread calling on having a "We survived the tsunami" party when it never materialized. I recall seeing folks gather up on the mountain side to "watch" a tsunami come on only a year or two back. They need to fully understand that it is no laughing matter.
     Oh well, see what today brings. Not much I can do for now. I'll be checking on relief volunteer activity and see if there is something I can do.