Author Archives: owwls

On Watching the News in Japan

Posted on March 18, 2011

Watching the Western media explain Japan can feel like watching a caveman explain the future. About these ads

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Posted in Earthquake, Tradition, Uncategorized | 21 Comments

After Disaster, Laundry.

Posted on March 15, 2011

I went to work today. Normally that wouldn’t merit a blog post, but in a country with nuclear emergencies, multiple earthquakes, rolling power outages and an active volcano, the normal stuff starts to get noteworthy. As I write this, rescue … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquake, Tradition, Uncategorized | 31 Comments

Explaining Fukushima to a 12-year-old

Posted on March 13, 2011

Nuclear Power Plant Explodes As of 12:41 a.m. JPT Saturday, a nuclear power plant had exploded, though there wasn’t a “meltdown.” As of Sunday, there was a second nuclear power plant with reactor problems, also in Fukushima. Ninety people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquake, Video | 4 Comments

Earthquake, Tsunami Warnings in Japan

Posted on March 11, 2011

I’m in the yellow area in the center of the map, near Korea. So, we’re OK.

Posted in Earthquake, Video | 5 Comments

On Being Late to Work in Japan | 遅出

Posted on March 9, 2011

I know people who have shown up to work 3 minutes late to their jobs in Japan. They lost an hour of vacation pay and then sat at a desk with nothing to do for the next 7 hours. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Culture Shock, Tradition | 24 Comments

On Drinking Canned Coffee in Japan | 缶コーヒ

Posted on March 2, 2011

Coffee in Japan is more of a vague allusion to coffee. Just like Japanese conversations. You don’t really say anything too straightforward. You hedge a lot. You tease out the meanings. Perhaps it’s coffee. It’s probably coffee.

Posted in Food, Uncategorized | 7 Comments