Facts of Japan: Vol. 2.2

The ongoing crisis in Japan has caused a lot of deep thinking about the country in general by the Western media, and one article I caught on CNN was titled, "Are the Japanese Different?" This is certainly an interesting question: does Japan's calm, ordered response to this unparalleled disaster indicate that they're somehow fundamentally different from the rest of us? On the one hand the answer is yes -- Japan is an island nation with an incredibly unique and strong culture that enabled it to resist colonization by the Mongols and the European powers (the only Asian nation other than Thailand to achieve this), and it spent 250 years closed off to other nations, living in a highly structured inward-looking society. On the other hand, the common Japanese belief -- really more of a national meme -- that they are fundamentally different, that (for example) the Japan ese langauge is more difficult than every other language in the world and that Japanese brains are are uniquely tuned to speak it, is obviously untrue. These beliefs are part of what's called nihonjinron (lit. "theories of the Japanese people"), a body of ideas about the Japanese as a race put forth by both Japanese and Western writers who were trying to describe Japan's "special" role in the world before, during and after World War II. Among other things, the Japanese fascination with blood types determining one's personality derives from nihonjinron ideas, from back in the days when the Japanese Empire tried to figure which blood type made the best soldiers (it was type O, if you're wondering).

Facts of History 1.0: The Real Battle of Los Angeles

You might have heard of the movie coming out called "Battle of Los Angeles" but did you know it was based on a real event. In 1942, five years before Roswell, a huge craft was spotted coming in low over Los Angeles. It was hit by spotlights and photographed. The first thoughts were not of Extra-terrestrial but that it must had been sent by the Japanese. While it sat over the city, nearly motionless, and in plain view of thousands of folks and because of the recent Pearl Harbor incident the army started shooting anti-aircraft guns at it. 1300 rounds, 6 people died and shrapnel rained down. What ever it was, it eventually cruised off over Long Beach and disappeared into the night. The next day the above photo was published in the LA Times. Several years later the government claimed it was a weather balloon. Why is that always their explanation?

Japan Relief Work - Update 1

I would just like to give people a heads up on my current situation. I have just been notified by CRASH Japan that I just might be a contender to volunteer for relief work in Japan. I am very emotional right now because I feel like this is it. That GOD has been preparing me for the last 6 years and did not let me go to Canada because this is what he wants me to do. I am asking that people pray for the blessings of GOD to rain down because in reality if they ask me to volunteer I don't know how I can pay for the whole thing and even if it will be possible. I am completely putting my faith in GOD that if I am to do this that it will happen and it will the greatest testament to GODs glory and grace.

Thanks,

Joel Greene

Facts of Japan. Vol. 2.1

Please consider making a donation to the U.S. Red Cross or CRASH Japan. CRASH Japan is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world.

It's moments like these when you really see the good in people, and Japan has been touched by the outpouring of help from other countries in their hour of need -- 91 countries so far. Everyone is thankful for the rescue teams coming from the U.K., South Korea, Germany, Mexico and yes, New Zealand (thank you everyone!). The U.S. brought the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and several destroyers in to airlift water, food and other needed supplies, a mission that's been named "Operation Tomodachi" (Operation Friendship), and I saw more than a few Japanese on Twitter saying things like, "I laughed at the silly-sounding name...then I cried and cried." There was a massive show of support on Pixiv, the Japanese artist community website, as artists from Japan and around the world created art of Miku Hatsune saying, Ganbatte, nihon! ("Do your best, Japan!"). It's been really amazing to see.

USS Ronald Reagan is in Japan

The character of the Japanese people is really visible at a time like this. While it's common for disasters to be followed by certain desperate actions by the citizenry, e.g. looting, this idea would be unthinkable in Japan. At the shopping mall in Tokyo, Japan, when the quake hit everyone ran outside holding the items they had intended to purchase. Though they could have just kept on going to their cars, everyone waited for the shaking to stop then went back inside to make their purchases before rushing home. There were no reports of looting or other problems, though basic foodstuffs and gasoline disappeared pretty quickly. In general Japan has been extremely calm and collected considering what they've been up against.

Road Blocks of Life

As some of you might have heard I have run into a huge road block on my way to Prince Albert, SK, Canada. I, Joel T Greene, Was denied access to Canada. I tried to enter on two separate days and the first day I was told no because there was no proof that I had any intention of leaving the country. Then the second day the Border Agent denied me access for he was concerned that I would be performing work while on a visitors visa. This is a huge disappointment but I believe that there is a reason stuff happens.

I can not believe the major disaster that happen this morning in Japan. There was a M8.9 off the coast of Sendai and the tsunami that followed destroyed a lot of structures and reshaped that coast line. Please pray for the Japanese as GOD helps them get thought this. Partially because my trip to Canada failed and because I have a heart for Japan, I am looking to volunteer for any groups that will be helping with the relief efforts.

Facts of Japan. Vol. 2.0

By and large, Japan is mostly free of corruption

I happened to catch an article about some corruption scandals cropping up in India recently, which are causing some big problems for the country. I've heard stories along these lines from friends who have lived in India before, for example the speed that the phone company installs your phone line is proportional to the size of the bribe you pay the clerk. That's one good thing about Japan: compared to most countries, it's very "clean," and the idea that you'd get someone to do something by applying palm grease is all but unheard of -- heck, you can't even tip someone who has given you outstanding service, as the custom of tipping never caught on here. So important is personal honesty that a ridiculously small campaign contribution of just $500 has brought down Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, who quit his post over the weekend when the news leaked out. (He received the campaign contribution from a "foreigner," which is not allowed under Japanese campaign law, though the individual who made the donation is azainichi Korean, born and raised in Japan but maintaining South Korean citizenship for cultural reasons.) Of course, I'm not saying Japan is perfect. Influential Japanese politician Ichiro Ozawa is under indictment over a controversial land purchase, and Japan still has a big problem with hakomono, lit. "box-thing," the name for pork barrel construction projects with little social value. Still. as a rule Japan does pretty well at keeping corruption at bay. When Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya was found to have been receiving financial and other perks from defense contractors, he was promptly arrested, and prosecutors descended on the Ministry of Self Defence to collect evidence. Can you imagine the U.S. Justice Department executing search warrants and scouring the Pentagon for evidence of wrongdoing under any circumstances?