A common feeling amongst my friends in Tokyo is that they badly want to help those in Northern Japan, but don't really know how. That includes myself -- I've been donating to random causes and doing random volunteer things, not entirely convinced of their impact, but not wanting to do nothing either. Nearly every party or concert has now become a charity party or charity concert.
A few new catch-phrases have crystallized, around which people are rallying, or at least printing lots of T-shirts and buttons. Probably the most popular one is "ganbaro nippon" -- "Let's do our best, Japan", akin to Boxer's "I will work harder". The nebulous phrases that nations rally around during times of crisis do say something about their culture, in my opinion. Compare the samurai spirit embodied by "ganbaro nippon" to, for instance, "support the troops" or "be vigilant". We live in a "post-9/11 world", or as it happens, a "post-3/11 world" now that bin Laden is yesterday's news. Annoyingly, that same samurai spirit compels many Japanese people to express surprise at each gaijin that didn't flee the country running and screaming. "You're still here??"
After hearing from some smart people who have thought about this a lot, my current assessment is this -- the summer is going to be difficult, with power shortages forcing people to curb air-conditioner usage. The Japanese economy will suffer this year as well, due to cutbacks in production, although there should be a bounce-back in 2012. The longer-term demographic and fiscal issues still prevail, of course. The primary risk that remains now is not nuclear radiation. Rather, it is the prospect of another earthquake that disrupts even more of the country's power supply (seismic damage itself is well-understood by Japan, I think).
Hanami came at a perfect time this year. We all needed to take a collective breather. Come on, exhale with me. Indeed, there were many who chose to skip hanami this year, and fair enough. I, for one, enjoyed hanami more this year than I have the previous two. At one point, I found myself rocking out to a deep house DJ in Yoyogi Park, in exactly the same grove as I had two years ago, when I had been in Japan for barely three months. I look back and I'm amazed at how much has happened since then.
In other news, India won the world cup! Sachin! Dhoni! I watched the quarters, semis and finals with some cricket-crazy Indians in Tokyo, which was great. Sadly, after the win, there were no mad street parties. God, how I wish I was in India for that scene.
I spent Golden Week in Toronto, my first trip outside Japan since last November. Good to see family and friends, as always. Most conversation, as expected, was about the earthquake. I came back to Tokyo ten days later, to find Tokyo a few degrees warmer that when I had left. It's now warm enough to leave the windows open at night. Mmm, fresh air.
Last weekend was Oxfam Trailwalker 2011, where The 4 Amigos (myself, Elsie, Gustav and Kalim) hiked 100 km through mountain terrain to raise money for charity. Painful, glad I did it, but I don't plan on doing it again. Maybe more on that in a separate post.
Ganbaro Nippon!
Hanami in Yoyogi Park.
Later that evening, India wins the world cup!
Nighttime sakura in Nakameguro.
Roppongi Hills.
UFC 129 at the Skydome, just before Machida went karate kid on Randy Couture.
Mom and Dad at Pearson with their camera phones.
In Telugu, these are called "kunkudu kayalu", which apparently translates to Eco Nuts in English.
The 4 Amigos.
My next mission is to find a store where they sell these.
