Why I love iwate

2012-01-26T21:47:00.001-08:00

Iwate and tohoku seem to me to hold the true spirit of Japan . They are unpopular among Japanese . The modern world has ignored the region, thus leaving the true heart and soul of Japan untouched by the outside world. Unbeknown to most Japanese, Iwate has the world's top rated spring water . It also has award winning sake and Japan's top rated, though expensive , beer. The region was very much untouched by WW2. So many things are as they were prior to WW2. Also this is the region Jesus supposedly visited(Japan the 10th tribe of Israel ?)!
They even have a city for tourists to visit where people act as they did over 100 years ago!

My heart goes out to iwate

2012-01-26T21:38:00.001-08:00

It is a tragedy what the people of iwate and tohoku have been through. I wish I had some good ideas about how to revive the region.

Trying new blogger ap on the iPhone

2012-01-26T21:36:00.001-08:00

This is awesome. What I have been waiting for. Blogger made simple w adsense .

tohoku no zunmu tachi - book & movie

2012-01-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

The isolated village of Tohoku is surrounded by high mountains, and has a tradition that only the eldest sons may marry and inherit. The filthy, unshaven younger sons, called yakkos, work the land and never have sex. To redress an ancestor's crime, the widow Oei has to take each yakko for a night. However she refuses to take Risuke, who has particularly vile breath. So Risuke's eldest brother Tasuke tells his wife Asa to take Risuke for a night, while an old blabbermouth suggests another alternative to Risuke. http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0051092/

The importance of blood type in Japanese culture

2012-01-18T18:48:00.001-08:00

TOKYO — It is a good idea to know your blood type. While most Japanese know their blood type, many foreigners do not (and Japanese are frequently surprised to hear this). Many Japanese people believe that each blood type has a certain personality and affinity, so it is common for them to ask someone their blood type or try to guess someone’s blood type by their personality. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for women in their 20s and 30s to even select a prospective husband based on his blood type. There are many books about the various blood type personalities. For example, “A, B, O, AB gata jibun no setsumeisho” (A Guide to A, B, O, OB blood types), written by an unknown author who uses the pen name Jamais Jamais, have become best sellers in Japan. Here is a look at what it’s all about. General personality of people who have type A blood —Consider things carefully —Can understand other people’s feelings easily —Kind —Good at hospitality —Don’t express themselves in order to avoid possible quarrel —Do things carefully and steadily, and don’t take the next step if they are not satisfied —Honor student types who don’t go off the rail —Fastidious —Big on cleanliness —Can be calm even when accidents happen —Strong on taking responsibility —Hard workers —Safe drivers Type A blood people’s affinity with each blood type Partner who is type A – They have many common points; however, both of them are highly strung, so they may be irritated by each other. Partner who is type B – Type A person envies type B’s happy-go-lucky personality. However, type A person worries about type B person’s personality. Partner who is type AB – Type AB person is reliable for type A, someone they can turn to for good advice and help. They can have a stable love relationship. Partner who is type O – Type O person is protective of type A. However, if type A talks about every small thing, the relationship won’t be good. General personality of people who have type B blood —Like to go their own way —Do what they want without considering other people’s feelings, rules and customs —Happy-go-lucky and masters of breaking rules —Optimistic —Friendly and open their heart to anybody —Not pretentious —Afraid of being alone —Get lonely easily —Quick to adapt —Flexible thinkers —Pragmatists —Don’t chase a dream much —Like to play —Love festivals and parties —Have been in love many times —Don’t get heart-broken over lost love Type B blood people’s affinity with each blood type person Partner who is type A – Type A person is always willing to help type B person; however, they get tired of each other easily. Type A often complains to type B. Partner who is type B – Both of them are not careful, so they may do things that are off the rail. Partner who is type AB – They attract each other and they may quickly start a relationship. They love each other very much. Partner who is type O – They can understand each other easily. Type O person covers for type B person’s bad points. They are a great match for friendship. General personality of people who have type AB blood —Chase ideals and dreams —Don’t have secular needs such as greed and a desire to succeed —Have strong spirituality —Calm and rational —Sensitive and easily hurt —Have a complicated personality —Private life is important —Don’t like interference from other people —Have various hobbies —Vigorous in pursuit of knowledge in wide range of fields —Are bookworms —Have unique ideas and are creative —Have fairy tale-like hobbies —Calm and frank about love relationship Type AB blood people’s affinity with each blood type person Partner who is type A – Type AB person respects type A person, and they have a passionate love for each other. However, they may quarrel frequently. Partner who is type B – They are a good match and connect with each other easily. Partner who is type AB – Their relationship is always proceeding along parallel lines. They cannot open their minds to each other. It is best not to be too close to each other, nor be too far apart. Partner who is type O – They can succeed in business and at various activities together. They can produce new things together easily. General personality of people who have type O blood —Realistic —Good at developing economic concepts —Vigorous at earning a living —Strong in face of adversity —Romanticists —Dream of getting rich quick, but actually take a steady approach —Ambitious —Go straight toward their goal —Have leadership ability and often take care of younger people and people below them —Very cautious —Don’t care about small things, taking a wider perspective instead —Devoted, but with a strong desire to monopolize Type O blood people’s affinity with each blood type person Partner who is type A – Type O person always wants to take the lead for type A person. They are a good combination. Partner who is type B – They can talk freely and openly and have a comfortable relationship. However, type O person gets confused by type B person’s moody personality sometimes. Partner who is type AB – Their thoughts are a match. However, if they are in the same “arena,” they compete with each other strongly. Partner who is type O – They cannot understand each other basically, and they feel alienation easily. It is best not to get too close together. Source: Ketsuekigatabetsuseikaku (Each blood type’s personality) Dieting methods by blood type Erica Angyal, a Miss Universe Japan official nutritionist and health consultant, has published books on health and beauty by blood type, such as “Bijo no Ketsuekigata BOOK” (beautiful women’s blood type) and “Bijo no Ketsuekigata-bestu Obento BOOK” (beautiful women’s lunch box by each blood type). Also, the fitness and health magazine FYTTE’s February edition introduces a dieting method by blood type directed by Angyal. Here is brief introduction to the dieting method. Recommended diet for type A Recommended foods for type A people are carbohydrates such as rice and grain, vegetables, and fruits because type As originated from agricultural tribes who mainly ate foods from plants. However, type As usually don’t digest dairy products easily, so it is better to have yogurt. Also, meat is difficult to digest and turns into fat easily for type A people, so it is better to eat beans and fish for protein. Japanese traditional foods such as miso soup, natto, tofu, and so on are a good match for type A people. Recommended exercise for type A Stress is the main enemy for type A people, so slow exercise such as yoga is the best way to relax. Recommended diet for type B Type B people have the ability to digest various foods such as vegetables, fruit, fish, meats, grain and dairy products because type Bs originated from nomad tribes who ate various foods to survive in their extreme environment. It is best to have various foods, especially protein, otherwise type B people get irritated and tired easily. Lean meat with low fat, especially beef and lamb, are good because they are easy to digest and make metabolism faster for type B people. However, chicken, sesame, corn, soba noodles and wheat make type B people fat. Recommended exercise for type B Type B blood people have high stress, so it is best to play active sports such as tennis and golf, and also try slow exercise such as yoga to relax. Recommended diet for type AB Type AB people have features of both type A and type B. For example, type AB people don’t have enough stomach acids to easily digest some kinds of meat like type As. Protein from soy beans is good for type AB people, as are some dairy products. Therefore, it is best to take protein from fish and soy beans, and other various foods such as vegetables, fruit, nuts, yogurt, and so on, with a good balance. Wheat, chicken, corn, sesame and soba noodles are not good for dieting. Recommended exercise for type AB Type AB people have negative feelings such as anger and hostility and it is bad for their body when they get excited too much. So the best exercises for type AB people are yoga to relax their body and aerobics to let stress out. Recommended diet for type O Type O people can digest meat easier than other blood types. However, lack of protein tires them easily too because type O people originated from tribes that hunted animals and gathered nuts, fruit and plants. The tribes ate low fat meat, so low fat beef and lamb are good for type O people. Especially fish with omega-3 fatty acid are the best protein source for them. Eating fresh vegetables and fruit is recommended. The early tribes did not eat grains and dairy products, so those foods are difficult to digest for type O people. Wheat and dairy products make type O people get fat easily. Recommended exercise for type O Exercises which improve the heart rate function and muscles, such as running and boxing are good for type O people. Active exercises keep their hormone balance right. Source: FYTTE (in February, 2012) Japan Today

Tohoku victims take part in ceremonies marking 17th anniv of Great Hanshin Earthquake

2012-01-17T21:00:00.001-08:00

KOBE — Victims of the March 11 disaster in the Tohoku region took part in events to mark the 17th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Hyogo Prefecture on Tuesday morning. The earthquake, which struck at 5:46 a.m. on Jan 16, 1995, killed 6,434 people in Hyogo Prefecture and neighboring areas. A ceremony was held in Higashi Yuenchi Park in Kobe where lanterns were lit and placed in the figures 1.17 in memory of the victims. About 5,000 people, including tsunami survivors from Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, attended the ceremony, at which prayers were offered for victims of both disasters. In a park in Itami, 6,434 candles were lit to honor the dead. In Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, about 40 residents gathered at 5:46 a.m. around a “light of hope” given to the city by Kobe, TV Asahi reported. They offered silent prayers out of appreciation for support they received from Kobe after March 11. One high school student said he prayed that Rikuzentakata would rise again like Kobe. Japan Today

Quake with magnitude of 6.3 rattles northern Japan

2010-07-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

Exploring Tohoku: A Guide to Japan's Back Country

Quake with magnitude of 6.3 rattles northern Japan

Sun Jul 4, 7:14 pm ET

A quake with a magnitude of 6.3 jolted northern Japan early Monday, but there was no danger of a tsunami, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The quake occurred off the coast of Iwate, some 310 miles (500 kilometers) north of Tokyo at 7:08 am (2208 GMT) Monday. The quake's center was 19 miles (30 kilometers) below the sea surface, the agency said.

Iwate police official Takahiro Fujibayashi said there were no reports of damage.

"I felt the tremor, but nothing fell off from bookshelves after the quake," he said.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. In 1995, a magnitude-7.2 quake in the western port city of Kobe killed 6,400 people.