For the Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana Victims in the Philippines
Dear friends, colleagues and co-residents, Pardon for the cross-posting but I felt it necessary to extend this minute effort of reaching to your compassion and benevolence for the victims of Typhoon "Ondoy", code name Ketsana, which struck the capital of the Philippines, Metro Manila and its immediate tributary areas. On September 26, the calamity seem to have raided the city in great surprise, amidst weather agencies warning about its coming. Typhoon Ondoy claimed quiet a number of lives already and left those who survived the onslaught, stranded, homeless and no food and drinks. As of press time, the death toll hits 246.
For those who want to give money/goods donations, you may course it though the Filipino Association of Scholars in Tsukuba (FAST). They are collecting money and goods for donation, which will be forward to the RED CROSS.
PLEASE CONTACT:
Vallerie Ann Innis Samson
X-ray Laboratory
National Institute of Materials Science
1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan
Other related blog posts on the web :
- How to help Typhoon Ondoy victims
- Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) disaster relief efforts in San Francisco, CA
- Donating to Manila from abroad
- Ondoy Victims - Send Online and In-Kind Donations
- Some Photos taken during the height of the Typhoon
And if you visit YouTube, you would find lots of videos there to see how Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila.
Thanks and be safe to all.
======
dimaks blogs at skamid.com
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In Late June Its Raining YAMAMOMO (under Tsukuba`s YAMAMOMO trees)
YAMAMOMO on campus at Tsukuba U
Leaving the offices of the Tsukuba University Medical School, I crossed over the pedestrian bridge which takes you into the OIKOSHI cluster of dormitories at the southern end of the unusually long and narrow campus. With the morning air already sweltering, and my mind (and stomach) set on some ONIGIRI (rice balls) which I hoped to get at the convenience store just up ahead, my ears were grabbed by a muffled, yet distinct series of rapid-fire THUDS- thud..thud..thud..thud. When I stopped to search for the source of the sound, I looked to my left and saw a large tree. At that moment I was also just able to catch a glimpse of an excited looking group of birds descending greedily into its foliage. The ground beneath the tree was littered generously with what looked like large round rasberries, and the branches themselves were heavy-laden with these same fruit, which were in fact falling from the tree at a quick and steady pace ( the pecking of birds no doubt helped keep the fruit falling).
A closer look !
Too late in the season to be mulberries , I stepped onto the grass for an up-close look- YAMAMOMO - which anyone who has been to China (or a Chinese grocery store) might know of as YANG-MEI (楊梅). The Japanese reading of these characters is YO-BAI (which it is sometimes referred to as in written sources in Japan), but in this country these fruit are almost only referred to in conversation using the rustic moniker YAMAMOMO , which literally means mountain peach, or wild peach.
Luckilly, this particular tree was low enough for the fruit to be within easy grabbing reach (other trees in Tsukuba are often too high for casual foraging), I picked one, popped it into my mouth and savoured its soft texture and sweet-sour flavor. My fingers were stained dark red in the process, but that did not stop me from pulling off a few more to enjoy as I walked on.
Sometimes called Chinese bayberries in English (scientific name- myrica rubra), YAMAMOMO are native to Japan and China, and can be found growing in East and South-East Asia. The YAMAMOMO tree flower in April and bear their fruit, in clusters, in June. The berries do not keep very well, so if you do pick them you will want to eat them right away (and NOW is the absolute best time, and the harveting season lasts about 2 weeks). Japanese people also use the berries to make jam and YAMAMOMO flavored liquor.
A full view of the tree
In China YANG-MEI (yamamomo) are something of a major product, especially south of the Yangtze. They are harvested and processed as dried fruit (some flavored with licorice), canned fruit, and various types of liquor. Recently, Chinese companies have been making juice from YAMAMOMO and marketing it in the west as YUMBERRY JUICE. If you are interested, I have found a New York Times article about this beverage. Fortunately, those of us living in Tsukuba (and other parts of East Asia) can enjoy FRESH YAMAMOMO, and for free, at that.
Here is the NYT piece
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/dining/12yumb.html?_r=1
YAMAMOMO contain plenty of important vitamins (vitamin c, carotene, riboflavin etc.) and minerals.
Remember, you have a bout a two week window of opportunity to pick these berries at their most delicious. After that its back to dried, canned and frozen! There are plenty of their trees around Tsukuba ( I have alreadt told you the general location of one)and in Tokyo as well (where they are a common roadside tree). Im not gonna give any more details on the trees whereabouts ! I dont want to spoil the joy of the search for you!
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Nihonglish
The year 2008 marks 150 years since the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce, an agreement which signaled the official commencement of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Japan.
Ever since these channels of communications were opened, Japanese and British people alike have often remarked upon the similarities between their two nations – despite the vast distance separating them. As a Briton living in Japan, this is something that I decided to take a first-hand look at for myself.
Perhaps the most obvious trait that the two countries share is geographical; on opposite ends of Eurasia, both are composed of islands that overlook large oceans on one side and comparatively small expanses of water on the other that separate them from the main super-continental landmass.
Such close proximity to oceanic currents induces unique climates in both nations, yet here this particular similarity ends; whereas Japan has four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters in most of the country, we Britons often jokingly complain that we have only a single season all year-round.
Certainly, the most compelling similarities are cultural, and incidentally one noteworthy quirk that we seem to share is our ‘island mentalities’.
Just as Japan traditionally sees itself as separate from mainland Asia, so too Britain thinks of itself as detached from mainland Europe. To this day it has refused to give up the pound sterling in favour of the currency of the European Union (the Euro), despite being one of its most prominent members for many years.
Indeed, there are also political likenesses. Both states have constitutional monarchies for governments, and ceremonial heads of state (positions currently held by Queen Elizabeth II and Emperor Akihito) – vestiges of long periods in the past spent as absolute monarchies.
It is arguable, however, that the Japanese of today more actively appreciate this aspect of their history than do their British counterparts, and the existence of an annual Japanese public holiday in commemoration of the incumbent Emperor’s birthday is perhaps the best evidence of this. Monarchs in Britain in fact have two birthdays – an official* and an actual one – and neither is a public holiday for the majority of British citizens (only civil servants are given a ‘privilege day’).
Possibly it is fair to say that one of the few areas where things are wholly different lies in language, something to which multilingual speakers of both English and Japanese frequently attest.
Surely, though there will always be differences between the British and the Japanese in all avenues of life, it would certainly seem that there are undeniable likenesses, too – whether they are political, cultural, historical, or even geographical. But personally, the most interesting ‘British’ traits that I have found I share with the Japanese are too unique and peculiar to be categorised.
They are my very British habit of talking about the weather to avoid discussing what’s really going on inside my head.
And my very British love of a good cup of tea.
Footnote: *For example: though Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21st in 1926, her ‘official’ birthday celebrations are held on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd June of every year. The tradition was initially begun by King Edward VII for purely practical reasons; prior to its inauguration, parades and outdoor celebrations to commemorate the birthdays of monarchs born in winter months were often spoiled due to bad weather!
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Plenty of BLUE BLOOD passing through Tsukuba’s Main Arteries
A few weeks ago I was surprised to see that there were policemen at each corner of every intersection along Higashi-Odori (one of Tsukuba's main thoroughfares), for as many kilometers as I would travel down it. Each of these officers had a little decoration on his shoulder, so it was clear that this was VIP related. Since I had read that Prince Charles was in Japan on that day, I assumed that he had made a surprise visit to Tsukuba.
Well , it turns out that the Prince of Wales never did come to Tsukuba. However, I was not very far off the mark. Royalty, was in fact coming, and in heavy doses. What I had seen was merely a dress rehearsal. There would be still more rehearsals (not only for the police) after the one I had seen -- because this was going to be MAJOR == the Emperor and Empress of Japan (representing the longest continuous dynasty in the world) would be visiting Tsukuba. This in itself would merit a rehearsal or two, but putting more pressure on security services and Tsukuba City officials, they would be bringing along two very special guests, also of very ancient lineage: the King and Queen of Spain. (The King is a successor to the Capetian Dynasty which is the oldest in Europe. He is a descendant of Charles V, Louis XIV and Queen Victoria, among others.)
Though we have had a Nobel Prize winner or two among us, since the Tsukuba Expo of 1985, when a whole slew of world leaders and royalty whipped in and out of town, there have been few such occasions to excite our local royal and celebrity watchers.
I was surprised to learn (since I come from a very security conscious country) that a detailed itinerary of the visit was released in advance, and even more surprised to eventually find that it was followed, to the minute.
The plan to visit Tsukuba certainly came about due to a shared interest on the part of the Emperor and the King in science and technology. But by this I do not necessarily mean the space and robot technology that they would be shown at the Tsukuba Space Center or at Tsukuba University. It seems that the planners of this trip took into consideration both monarchs' particular affection for a more classic technology -- TRAINS! (I was glad that Juan Carlos was not taken to indulge in one of his favorite pastimes: BEAR HUNTING!)
The two couples would be setting out from Ueno Station after having boarded the Imperial Family's new PRIVATE TRAIN, several cars long, which would let them off at Tsuchiura Station. Later, they would be going back to Tokyo by TX (with the whole train specially reserved, of course).
The day of the royal arrival was dark, drizzly and a little cold. This did not deter lovers of the Imperial Family from waiting by the road, for an hour or two, at various locations along the route of the Imperial procession, so that they would be able to watch as it passed by. They came, mostly women over 60, by the busload (many of these women also volunteer, at no small personal expense, to clean the grounds of the Imperial Palace every year -- the subject of a future entry).
However, with all the blue blood seated in their specially made limousines, these women were mostly interested in catching a glimpse of a commoner. Of course, I'm talking about Empress Michiko, the first woman of non-aristocratic lineage to marry into the family of the Sun-Goddess. I have found that many Japanese, again, usually women of a certain age, are deeply moved by what they consider to be Michiko's kindness, patience, concern for the people, and beauty.
(I have my own Michiko moment. In Tokyo, on another drizzly day near the Empress's alma mater, Seishin, we found a street lined with policemen. I asked what was going on, and was told that Michiko would be passing by soon, on the way to a class reunion. We asked if we could wait and were told that by all means we could. A plain-clothes officer then proceeded to talk into his radio. I couldn't overhear him, but I assumed he was reporting our presence for security. I was wrong, however. He had informed the procession that some foreigners were standing and waiting outside in the rain to greet the Empress. Anyway, I guess that is what he said, because the car Michiko was in (in the middle of a convoy, of course), came to a near halt. The window then rolled down and we were given a very elegant nod by Her Majesty. I'm almost embarrassed to say that it was a MOVING experience and that I've had a special feeling for the COMMONER EMPRESS ever since.)
I had no particular plan to watch the processions, but as it turned out I was able to see both couples clearly, on at two different times of day, as they slowly drove by, waving to the crowd from open windows. I was also able to snap some pictures with my cell phone camera, which by shear luck (I held the keitai high over the crowd and shot at random) captured the moment.
An important impression which remains after any imperial sighting of this sort is the sheer sense of thrill in the air -- exuded not only by the older women who had come by chartered bus, or by the few 30-ish, male amateur paparazzi (though they seem to be just ardent fans of the Imperial Family) mounted on tall step ladders with very long and expensive-looking telephoto lenses who proudly show off their shots to the excited ladies after the procession has passed (to cries of "Michiko's face really IS kind and gentle"), but also the local policemen who show genuine emotion which lingers strongly even after the royals have been long gone. They bow, to the well-wishers and give an emotional thanks to all those who came out in the bad weather - ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA!
For me, this double royal visit was less thrilling than thought provoking. Of course ,one cannot be but baffled at what makes blue blood so captivating for the public in this day and age. I would recommend reading a little about Juan Carlos- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Carlos_I_of_Spain
and the current Emperor of Japan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito
and then tying to imagine what they spoke about sitting side by side during the train rides from Tokyo and back.
The visit also gets one to reflect on the history of Japanese-Spanish relations,which go back to the16th century. Spain in fact had an immense impact on the course of Japanese history. It was distrust of the motives of the Spanish and the missionaries who came with them (fuelled of course by the opinions of the Dutch and English), which led to the banning of Christianity, and the more than 200 years of National Seclusion(sakoku) which followed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku .
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TODAY: Showing of Hana Makhmalbaf Film
Special Showing of Hana Makhmalbaf Film,
"Buda as sharm foru rikht"
When: TODAY, Oct. 17, Saturday
Time: 14:00
Venue: Namiki Kouminkan by the Namiki Shopping Center (MAP)
Admission: FREE
Tsukuba based group called Kibou no Gakkou will hold a special showing of Hana Makhmalbaf film called "Buda as sharm foru rikht" (子供の情景/ Kodomo no Joukei) today at Namiki Kouminkan.
For more information,
please contact Kibou no Gakkou:
http://www.kibou-school.org/
Ref.:
Buda as sharm foru rikht
http://kodomo.cinemacafe.net/index_pc.html
Hana Makhmalbaf
http://www.makhmalbaf.com/
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