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Monthly Archives: July 2011
Kan’s good start
The Kan Administration has announced a policy package of (1) promoting energy-saving, which will likely include promoting the development of energy-frugal lifestyles and products, (2) gradually phasing out Japan’s dependence on nuclear power, (3) splitting the transmission grid off from … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese Politics Leave a comment
Nagatacho ijime
The massive bill for rebuilding the areas devastated by the earthquake/tsunami/TEPCO disaster has necessarily strained government finances. As a result, there is a very understandable cutting back on some other programs. Unfortunately, this “other programs” does not include military spending … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese Politics Leave a comment
So where is everybody?
I was talking with a friend the other day who complained that PM Kan is not demonstrating any leadership. His proof? He’s just saying the same thing everybody else is saying. On the shift away from nuclear power and to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese Politics Leave a comment
What quo for nationalization’s quid
Prime Minister Kan has put nationalization on the table by mentioning it in the Diet. Of course, this looks hugely radical. But it is not. The risks, as we have seen with Fukushima, are already nationalized. So why not the … Continue reading
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55Hz?
Japan’s electrical power market is currently divided between a 50Hz region and a 60Hz region, with only very modest sharing possible between them. Why has this been allowed to persist? Because of sunk costs. And ego. However, if the generation … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment
Of course it’s not safe, but …
I was watching an NHK “special” talk show about nuclear power and all this evening. The discussion started with a “should the plants currently shut down for inspection/repairs be restarted once they are declared safe?” question. But it quickly moved … Continue reading
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Energy policy (r)evolution
Prime Minister Kan has called for rethinking Japan’s energy policy. Needless to say, there are lots of people who are happy with the old policy of building more and more nuclear power plants and are thus unhappy with Kan. This … Continue reading
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Flowers for a hospitalized friend
No, this is not going to be about this or that friend. Rather, it is a reminder that there are a few rules about what you should and should not take someone who is in the hospital. For example, if … Continue reading
Posted in J-culture notes Leave a comment
Two on one
There are a number of don’ts associated with dead people and funerals. For example, after the body has been cremated, friends and relatives team up to pick what is left of the bones up and put them in the urn. … Continue reading
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