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Print Story "Dust & Pollen... Sniffle"
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By lylehsaxon (Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:05:21 AM EST) (all tags)
For the past few years, every spring the media cranks up the "the tree pollen this spring is worse than before..." reports, and - this year in particular - I do believe they're right. Pretty much non-stop for the past three weeks or so I've had itchy and/or sore eyes, runny nose, sneezing fits, etc. The story is that after the war, they planted a fast-growing type of pine tree ('sugi' in Japanese) forming near-mono cultures in the mountains, and now these trees dump massive amounts of pollen into the air every spring. -----

And something I hadn't picked up before, but hear isn't new  - apparently, there is an increasing amount of dust blowing in from China's deserts - and one sand storm I even witnessed myself. I wouldn't have though that sand from deserts in China would ride the winds all the way to Japan, but the winds are strong, the sand particles are small....

And so it was that - on the way home - I dropped by a park to see the cherry trees in blossom, armed with a towel in one hand and a camera in the other. It was a typical experience for this time of year, except for one detail.

At the entrance to the back side of the park (where most of the cherry blossom trees are) , I noticed a sign saying that cherry blossom viewing ("hanami") was only allowed until 9:00 p.m., and it warned people not to sing karaoke (good, good) or play music, and - get this - not to talk too loudly! I looked over at the large pricey houses bordering the park and thought "What's this? Did one of you guys complain to city hall about the noise? Do you think this park is your personal property or something?".

An over-reaction I suppose, but I remembered an article I'd read about a park in Nishi-Tokyo-shi that had some sort of sprinklers for kids to run around in the summer. Great idea. But they shut them down. Why? One neighbor complained that they could hear the sound of children playing and it disturbed them.(!!) What blows my mind is that one deranged lunatic is listened to and the sentiments of thinking people are ignored. A person can't stand the sound of children playing in a park? They should move to the Sahara Desert, or Mars, or something.

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/

< It's a dreary day outside, here's a round up of things I think are interesting | Mutter, Mumble (continued) >

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"Dust & Pollen... Sniffle" | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
Similarly by sasquatchan (2.00 / 0) #1 Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:05:54 PM EST
dust storms from Africa are hinted at having some role in regulating hurricane formation. High altitude tests have shown spores, molds, fungi, viruses and bacteria ride those dust storms across the Atlantic, remaining viable and can infect those in the Americas.

Anyway, sounds like you've seen the Japanese equivalent of "Get off my lawn, damn kids!" or "No Skateboards allowed" etc.



Lack of tolerance for sound in Japan by lylehsaxon (3.00 / 2) #2 Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 01:45:50 PM EST
But there's something strange here about a growing intolerance for sound!  A friend's son in a high school band has to practice in the school's basement (which is really hot in the summer) with all the windows shut because there have been complaints from people living near the school that they can (gasp!) hear the sound of classical music!  OMG!  The horror of it!  Sound!  Personally, I think the school should tell them to either move or go straight to he*l!

The company I'm working at - some TV bimbo moved next door and complained that people in the company building could see her house - so the company frosted over all the windows on two sides of the building!!  Bloody incredible!!  They should have told Ms. TV Bimbo to jump in a lake with heavy shoes on!

Something is out of whack and beyond the realm of reason in these situations.  1,000 people locked into a sightless building because some bloody idiot doesn't understand how to shut her own curtains.  I mean, come on!  It's weird!  It's wrong!

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

So...Question: by MartiniPhilosopher (2.00 / 0) #3 Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 02:17:08 PM EST
How does this fit in with the "fencepost" mentality  you mentioned a while back? It would seem to me that those people lacking this common (sense of) civility would stick out because of that and get smacked back into place. I can understand, to a certain extent, the idea of trying to keep the peace and civility by asking for a certain amount of compromise, i.e., closing a park after ten at night or the like but it sounds like the authorities in this case are simply capitulating instead of seeking a compromise.

It makes me think that there might be something else going on culturally here. Are those that are complaining in some way culturally different or special to be able to get a highschool of all things to silence itself.

Whenever I hear one of those aforementioned douche bags pontificate about how dangerous [...] videogames are I get a little stabby. --Wil Wheaton.
[ Parent ]

Might is Right, etc.... by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #6 Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 10:07:23 AM EST
A couple of things: "Might is Right"  Powerful people are another category - they get to do whatever they want and are not subject to the norms for the rest of us.

"PL" as in "Product Liability".  Since Japan passed product liability laws, people have gotten stupid about a lot of things they think are related, but aren't.  Western influence here is often a disaster.  Take the term "sexual harassment" - people here confuse "sexual discrimination" for "sexual harassment.  Certainly both are areas that needed to be improved, but a comprehension of the difference between them would be good!  One is one thing and one is another - they're not identical!

And then just the usual thing that people are people, nothing is totally static, and things are always changing.  The conformity thing is actually quite a bit less compelling than it once was, still it's a real factor....

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

Hi Lyle by creo (2.00 / 0) #4 Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:49:12 PM EST
The fam (and I) are heading over to Japan for 10 days or so in April. CU1 is learning Japanese and we are over there with her school trip. This will be her (and her Mums) second time and my first (except for 2 days in Tokyo last year). At the moment we will be in the Tokyo and Osaka regions for most of the time.

Anyway, we have 3 days at the end of the trip unaccounted for. I was wondering if you had any recommendations (or links etc.) for a place/places to visit in that time? We are happy to travel, and to go off the beaten track, as at least CU1 can get us by with the Japanese.

Also interesting to hear about the hayfever, as U2 suffers from that, and i will make sure he has his tablets when we make the trip.

If you have a chance, any advice/guidance would be appreciated.

Cheers
Creo.

"I shall do what I believe to be right and honourable" - Guderian


Posibilities... by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #7 Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 10:18:56 AM EST
There are a lot of possibilities!  If you're in Osaka and have extra time from there, Kyoto could  be a good bet.  Just be forewarned that a lot of Kyoto is standard modern city, but still there are a lot of cultural things to see there.

Which brings up another question... what sort of things do you want to see?  The new modern stuff, of the old traditional things?

If the modern parts of Kyoto are hard to ignore, you might like Takayama.  It's much less significant than Kyoto historically, but is better preserved - as a whole - than Kyoto is (Takayama is a small town).

If you'd like to fly about to several places, look into getting a Japan Rail Pass (you have to buy them outside of Japan - you can't buy them within the country), which would enable riding the Shinkansen (bullet) trains wherever.

If you're into modern city stuff, there's plenty to see in Tokyo, etc.

If you'd like to contact me, just send a note to lylehsaxon at gmail dot com.

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

difficult people exist everywhere by R343L (2.00 / 0) #5 Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 12:03:38 AM EST
Witness: Some lady here who is making trouble for basically anything in her neighborhood .. even when other neighbors have no problems.

"it's been a long time since i let self doubt keep me from doing anything. much to the chagrin of those who have to observe the consequences." -- 256


"Dust & Pollen... Sniffle" | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

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