Kurashi - News From Japan

The Kyoto Journal cover story this month (issue 63) is an interview with Ainu art historian Kitty Dubreuil, by Jean Miyake-Downey and Rebecca Dosch-Brown, that provides an impressive overview of an indigenous culture that is both ancient and still thriving. While Native women are credited for the creation of traditional works of art, little credit is given to those women artists who are also cultural leaders. Of course, we who identify with an Aboriginal culture know it is the women who are at the center of our universe.

Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha Ltd., a chemical products manufacturer headquartered in Osaka, has shown shocking disregard for its corporate social responsibility in responding to accusations it buried huge amounts of toxic material at construction sites. This editorial in Asahi is providing details about the Shocking Pollution Scandal : An Ishihara Sangyo manufacturing plant in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, was ordered by the Aichi prefectural government remove the material, a recycled product made from sulfuric acid waste that is believed to be dangerous to human health. Instead of rushing to remove the substance, however, the company went to court, seeking an injunction to annul the prefecture's order. The recycled product, called ferrosilt, is used to fill holes created by construction work. The company buried 700,000 tons of the material at some 30 sites in Aichi, Mie, Gifu and Kyoto prefectures. The contamination came to light when red-colored water seeped from the burial sites. The liq...

The major South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo is completely rejecting the fabrications put forward by Mr. Kim Yong-nam , who was reunited briefly with his mother yesterday: Who would believe that a wooden raft drifted hundreds of nautical miles out to sea into Northern waters? Or if Kim found himself in waters near the island, a North Korean ship must have infiltrated deep into South Korean waters. And who would believe that a man leading such a happy life in the North did not once in nearly 30 years write to his family in the South, apparently insensible that his mother must be out of her mind with anxiety? Apparently, the press conference felt like a clumsy monodrama that embarrassed both the performer and his audience. The government was there. What will it do? Will it nod sagely, say, “I see, that’s what happened,” and turn its back again? Also, Chosun Ilbo interviews a high-ranking South Korean government official , with details that I have not seen in any Japanese newspaper: Kim Y...

Japan plans to fight global warming and surging oil prices by requiring all vehicles to run on an environment-friendly mix of ethanol or other biofuels by 2030, according to The Mainichi : The new policy, adopted by the Environment Ministry this month, will require all new cars to be able to run on a blend of 10 percent ethanol, an alcohol fuel made from corn or sugar, and 90 percent regular gasoline, starting in 2010. This is a very modest goal, but at least it is a first step to combat global warming. However, Toyota Motor Co., the world's No. 2 automaker, already meet the new 10-percent standard, and Mainichi also points out that GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler already have produced 5 million flexible fuel vehicles that can run on 85 percent ethanol. So why is Japan's government so terribly modest and satisfied with a 10 percent goal?

Food safety is always a big topic in Japan, especially in the summer time. Today, there are several stories in the news, including food irradiation, BSE and a NHK feature program about residues of chemicals on foreign foods. Since Japan imports a lot of its food from other countries, there are often opinion polls that ask people if they trust food from certain countries and so on. For readers in other countries reading such polls, that may seem like a leading question and some may even take it as an example of a xenophobic attitude (Indeed, the Crisscross news site has some of the most ridiculous debates about Japan). In the case of BSE and meat imports from North America, today's opinion poll in Asahi reveals the following: When asked about the planned resumption of U.S. beef imports, 52 percent opposed, compared with 37 percent who supported it. Moreover, 71 percent said they do not want to eat American beef even after the resumption, the highest percentage in surveys that have...

A mass outbreak of food poisoning at middle and high school cafeterias in Seoul has caused havoc in South Korean schools, caused by the same company that was involved in a similar mass poisoning scandal in 2003: Some schools saw a large number of students go home with food poisoning while others postponed end-of-term tests. Some 91 schools nationwide stopped providing meals, leaving students with no option but to take a lunch box from home. The Education Ministry said Friday some 1,700 students in 25 schools had showed symptoms of food poisoning such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting since eating school meals supplied by CJ Food System on June 16. The cause seems to be norovirus, a common virus that is usually not serious, although people may feel very sick and vomit a lot. Most people get better within one or two days, and they have no long-term health effects. However, sometimes people are unable to drink enough liquids to replace the liquids they lost because of vomiting and diarrhea...

All you need is "konjo" (guts) according to the always smiling NHK expert commentator. Frankly, while I did enjoy Beckham's goal in the England vs Equador game, I'm a bit World Cup-ed out after Sweden lost to England, and after no Asian teams made it past the "kesho" -tournament (knock-out) stage. And there is just too much complaining about the referees. I think I will just read the boring but straight forward reporting on the official FIFA pages.