LIFESTYLE The Peninsula Tokyo joins battle against breast cancer

OPINIONS What’s cool? Everything changed after March 11, 2012 / The only phase-out we can afford

Store owners with vision seek rapid recoveryBUSINESS

FOOD Cupcakes Conquer Tokyo!

TRAVEL Oeshiki: The Festival of Lights

ENTERTAINMENT The 15th Tokyo Girls Collection

JAPANTODAY’S PREMIER ENGLISH DIGITAL WEEKLY MAGAZINE ISSUE 10 / VOLUME 01 / OCTOBER 2012

https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/

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Editor in ChiefChris Betros

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ContributorsVicki L. BeyerDreux RichardLauren ShannonChika Shishido

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FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BY VICKI L. BEYERPHOTOS BY VICKI L. BEYER AND JOHN ADAMS

In September 1282, a frail and ailing Buddhist priest is crossing the Musashino Plain when he becomes too ill to continue. His companions take him to the nearby home of one of his most devout followers, Ikegami Munenaka, the local daimyo. The priest is Nichiren, founder of the Lotus Sect of Buddhism.

Over the next 3 weeks, despite rest and care, Nichiren’s condition continues to deteriorate. Propped against a pillar in Munenaka’s home, he actively preaches to those who come daily to see him. But he is dying and he knows it. He designates which of his most trusted disciples are to lead the sect upon his death and consecrates a new temple on the top of the hill above Munenaka’s house.

On October 13, 1282, propped against a pillar in Munenaka’s house and reciting the mantra he introduced, “namu myoho renge kyo,” Nichiren passes to Nirvana. According to legend, a cherry tree in the courtyard outside the house bloomed in mourning. Even today, in the courtyard of Munenaka’s house — now Daibo Hongyoji Temple — there is a cherry tree that blooms in mid-October.

That cherry tree is not the only thing remembering the life of Nichiren every October. From October 11 through October 13, the Ikegami area — now a Tokyo suburb — hosts the O-eshiki ceremony in memory of Nichiren. As part of this ceremony, representatives from many of the Lotus Sect’s 5,000 temples across Japan participate in the “Mando”

TRAVEL

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parade of 10,000 lanterns that takes place from 6:30 p.m. to midnight on October 12.

Each group enters a float that looks like a pagoda with streamers of paper flowers — symbolic of those cherry blossoms — trailing over it. The pagoda structure of the float has decorated paper sides and is lit from the inside. The members of each group wear a happi coat identifying them to their group. Some of them also carry “matoi,” Edo-period fireman’s poles, topped with a distinctive figure with white straps hanging from it. Periodically, when there is a pause in the parade, the matoi bearer performs a dance, raising and spinning the matoi, sending the straps flying.

The parade begins from two locations in the “village” of Ikegami and proceeds down Ikegami-dori from opposite directions, joining together at “Shin Sando,” the new temple approach. From there, they make their way to Honmonji, even carrying the float up the 96 steps leading to the temple atop the hill. The entire parade route is lined with spectators and the usual vendors of festival foods, getting more and more crowded in proximity to the temple itself.

Once inside the courtyard in front of the main temple, each group gives its best performance of drums, bells, whistles and dancing. It then goes into the temple for a special blessing while the next group takes its place front and center.

After completing this ceremony at Honmonji, most groups take their floats out the back/side gate and down the other side of the hill to Ikegami Daibo, where they participate in a more subdued ceremony on the site of Nichiren’s passing. On their way down the hill, they pass a beautiful red stupa, the only one of this design in Japan. The stupa was built here on the site of Nichiren’s cremation in 1830 and most recently restored in 2010.

Some people refer to October 13 not as the day of Nichiren’s death but as the day of his birth. Certainly the festival atmosphere of the o-eshiki is anything but mournful. Rather, Nichiren’s adherents are celebrating his life and his achievement in reaching Nirvana. The colors, sights, sounds and smells are all uplifting and well worth experiencing.

Whether you can make it to Ikegami for the o-eshiki, the area is also worth a visit at another time (ie, in daylight) for a deeper look at its history and architecture.

Ikegami, for centuries a fishing and farming community, is now just another Tokyo suburb. It’s a pleasant neighbourhood that has retained its village feel as well as its history and its strong connection to Lotus Sect Buddhism. It is dominated by the hilltop Honmonji, which is surrounded by a number of subordinate →

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temples scattered around the base of the hill, including Daibo Hongyoji, as well as guardian Shinto shrines.

In spite of its 730-year history, most of the buildings of Honmonji, including the main temple, were built after World War II. The site was badly damaged in the fire bombings of March and April 1945, with only three of the temple’s structures surviving. One of those surviving structures is the main gate at the bottom of the hill. Another is the kyozo, a building housing a rotating library containing Buddhist scriptures, which was built in 1784 and sits to the left of the main temple. The point of the ability to rotate the library was that doing so was regarded as the equivalent of having recited all the prayers it contained. Alas, while the doors of this building are often open, the library can no longer be rotated.

The third of the surviving pre-war structures is the temple’s 29.4 meter pagoda, down a lane through the cemetery to the right of the Nio-mon gate at the top of the stairs. This jewel, built in 1608, is the oldest pagoda in the Tokyo area. On the eaves of the lower level of the pagoda are carvings of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac — three on each side, according to the points of the compass with which each is associated.

The cemetery itself is a peaceful place to wander, with many interesting graves including that of Rikidozan, a professional wrestler in the 1950s and early 1960s and a mausoleum in the shape of an igloo belonging to a nurse’s guild. Toward the back of the cemetery, to the right from the pagoda, is a walkway leading to the roof of the Ota Kumin Kaikan, a public hall that hugs the side of the hill. From this rooftop you can enjoy expansive views across the Tama River valley. If you’re lucky, you can even see Mount Fuji.

Although the main temple building is not particularly historical, the temple and the courtyard in front of it combine to create a serene atmosphere. The courtyard is bounded by a belfry and a museum/treasure hall on the left. On the right is the fountain for pre-worship ablutions and a building where incense and other accoutrements of worship are available. Behind this building is a small stone marker commemorating

American sailors who died when the U.S.S. Oneida sank in Tokyo Bay in 1870 after being struck by a British steamer. Many fishermen from Ikegami assisted in the rescue and recovery operations and then made arrangements for this marker commemorating the 125 men who could not be saved.

The other sights not to be missed on a visit to Ikegami are down the hill from the left side of the Honmonji temple—the red stupa on the site of Nichiren’s cremation and Daibo Hongyoji, where he actually died. Like Honmonji, Daibo Hongyoji is not a single temple but a complex of temple buildings. The main temple is attractive, but nothing out of the ordinary. More interesting is the Gorinju-no-ma, the building where Nichiren died, which is behind and to the left of the main temple. Ordinarily (ie, when the o-eshiki is not happening) it’s possible to go inside to see the pillar where Nichiren sat propped as he breathed his last. The pillar is easy to spot because it’s covered in brocade. At the back of the building you can also relax in comfy chairs and enjoy the view of the pond and traditional garden.

Sitting overlooking the garden, it’s easy to imagine this place in Nichiren’s day.

Getting thereIkegami is a station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line, running between Gotanda and Kamata. It is 20 minutes from Gotanda and 3 minutes from Kamata.

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LIFESTYLE

The Peninsula Tokyo supports organizations that help to enhance the lives and health of women and children, as well as volunteer programs in conjunction with four local charities – The Peninsula in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Japan, Hands On Tokyo and Hands On Tokyo’s Disaster Services Division benefiting the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

PHOTO BY JUN SATO As part of its ongoing “Enriching Your Life” campaign, the hotel shows its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October by staging “Peninsula in Pink” as part of a group-wide campaign of the Peninsula Hotels to raise both awareness and funds. Featuring signature pink-themed promotions, including afternoon tea and a specially designed pink ribbon pin, a percentage of the proceeds raised goes to local breast cancer-related charities.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world today, accounting for one in 10 of all new cases diagnosed worldwide and afflicting one in four female cancer sufferers. It is also the most prevalent type of cancer among women in both developed and developing countries, and the principal cause of death among women globally. Although it is far less common than in women, men can develop breast cancer too, and, in fact, they account for approximately 1% of all cases.

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THEPENINSULA

TOKYOJOINS

BATTLEAGAINST BREASTCANCER

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LIFESTYLE

True to the architect’s original vision of a Japanese lantern when lit at night, The Peninsula Tokyo becomes a shining pink landmark every October. Standing 100 meters and 24 storeys tall, the hotel’s sweeping exterior and crown are illuminated in pink to raise awareness about the fight against breast cancer. It also supports the “Peninsula in Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in a number of other ways; for example, by donating 400 yen from every sale of “Peninsula in Pink” restaurant and spa promotional items to the Japan Association of Breast Cancer Screening and Keep A Breast Japan. Peninsula staff members wear original Peninsula pink ribbon pins, and they hand out pamphlets about ways to detect the early signs of breast cancer to the guests.

Early detection is the best way to fight breast cancer. The Peninsula Tokyo therefore provides mammograms for all female employees from the age of 30 upwards as part of its annual medical check-up program.

The hotel’s annual “Rockin’ Pink Party” is an important event in the “Peninsula in Pink” program. Staged in Peter on the hotel’s 24th floor, with its sweeping views of Tokyo’s skyline, and supported by prominent Japanese celebrities, industry executives and the media, the evening raises funds by donating the entire 5,000 yen fee for each guest to the Japan Association of Breast Cancer Screening and Keep A Breast Japan.

Other “Peninsula in Pink” promotions at the hotel’s four restaurants, bar and spa from Oct 1-31 include:

“Peninsula in Pink” Bento Lunch Box at Peter An elegantly presented Western lunch in a beautiful pink triangular-shaped lacquer box 3,800 yen per person.

“Peninsula in Pink” Cocktails at Peter: The Bar A variety of pink-themed cocktails are offered and guests receive an original Peninsula in Pink pin. 2,200 yen per cocktail.

“Peninsula in Pink” Rice Balls at Hei Fung Terrace Pink glutinous rice balls with fresh strawberries for dessert. 980 yen dish (three pieces).

“Peninsula in Pink” Champagne Purchase a glass of Moët & Chandon Rosé Champagne and receive a Peninsula in Pink pin or a bottle and receive four Peninsula in Pink pins at Peter, Hei Fung Terrace, The Lobby or The Peninsula Boutique & Café. 3,000 yen per glass / 14,000 yen per bottle.

“Peninsula in Pink” Classic Afternoon Tea at The Lobby The Peninsula’s celebrated classic afternoon tea includes an original Peninsula in Pink pin for each guest. 3,800 yen per person or 6,000 yen per person, including a glass of Moët Chandon Rosé Champagne.

“Peninsula in Pink” Chocolates at The Peninsula Boutique & Café Executive Pastry Chef Nojima creates original pink chocolates with raspberry and pear ganache. 3,000 yen per box (nine pieces).

All prices include consumption tax and are subject to a 10% service charge, excluding merchandise items. For more information or to make a restaurant reservation, please contact

The Peninsula Tokyo at (03) 6270 2888. All prices include consumption tax and are subject to a 10% service charge, excluding merchandise items.

“Peninsula in Pink” Ceremony at The Peninsula Spa An exclusive “Peninsula in Pink” spa treatment ceremony begins with a soothing foot bath, while enjoying a cup of traditional Japanese green tea and original Peninsula in Pink macaroon. This 110-minute body treatment includes a skin exfoliation, body mask and express facial cleanse. A relaxing head massage and aromatherapy body massage target areas of tension and help to soothe the body and mind, while improving overall skin tone. The weekday price is 32,000 yen and weekend and national holiday price is 38,000 yen. The prices include consumption tax and service charge.

The Peninsula Spa is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. For more information or reservations, please contact The Peninsula Spa at (81-3) 6270 2299 or e-mail: spaptk@peninsula.com

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STORE OWNERS WITH VISION SEEK RAPID RECOVERYTemporary shopping streets are opening one after another in the disaster-affected areas. The scale of these streets varies from a few stores to more than 50, but the will to restore the local community is a common one.With such will, a temporary shopping street called Rikuzentakata Mirai Shopping Street (“mirai” meaning future in Japanese) is up and running before its official opening. Rikuzentakata is a coastal city in Iwate Prefecture where some 1,700 people lost their lives and more than 3,000 homes and apartments were completely destroyed by the tsunami.

Four stores are currently open for business, and Osamu Ogasawara, who runs one of the first two stores to open – Fashion Rope Tokyo – lost in the tsunami his store which had been open for 52 years. He also lost his storehouse and home, but decided to rebuild his store in the local community, saying “If it can be done in the Rikuzentakata I’ve lived in, then I will try my best here.”

By co-operating with store owners affected by the disaster, appealing for nationwide support via the internet, and other means, he managed to re-open the business on Feb 14.

Ogasawara says with ambition: “I hope this shopping street becomes the heart of shopping in Rikuzentakata.” He also wants to make it a place where residents can come together and relax, and is full of dreams for the streets’ future.

A workshop was held in Rikuzentakata Mirai Shopping Street to decide on a vision for restoration of the shopping streets, and was attended by a specialist team led by Associate Professor Hideki Koizumi of the Urban Land Use Planning Unit at the Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo. Store owners gathered and exchanged opinions in a frank manner, and team staff will assess needs. Ogasawara is enthusiastic and says he hopes to make good use of this kind of specialist support.

Delays in building and installation are among the serious problems facing temporary shopping streets such as Rikuzentakata Mirai Shopping Street. Koizumi points out:

BUSINESS

“Even though they are temporary shopping streets, more than a year has passed and yet many parts are incomplete. Owners cannot have prospects until their stores are rebuilt. If too much time passes the owners will give up on re-opening their businesses there.”

Indeed, Rikuzentakata Mirai Shopping Street did not open until February this year, almost one year on since the disaster. The official opening is scheduled for this autumn, but given the delays in procedure and building, it will possibly be later than that.

There is an eight-year business recovery plan for Rikuzentakata City – a three-year period of repairs which started in 2011, followed by a five-year period of development starting in 2014 – and in which there are six objectives including building “a safe town well-prepared against natural disasters” and “a comfortable and attractive town.”

Ogasawara voices his unease with the plan however, which spans some 57 pages, when he asks the question: “Do we have to run our stores in temporary facilities for eight whole

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AboveEntrance to Rikuzentakata Mirai Shopping Street

TopThe Ogasawaras outside the clothing store they run

years?” According to the current plan, a rapid restoration of permanent shopping streets seems difficult as raising the level of low-lying areas will precede construction of the shopping streets.

In regard to this, Koizumi says: “Places like Rikuzentakata Mirai Shopping Street which are determined and are attempting to build new shopping streets should be assisted separately. If a broad framework for urban planning is solid and clear, in the end there shouldn’t be a big discrepancy.”

Keeping in mind the move to permanent facilities is also of importance when setting up temporary shopping streets. If the location is appropriate and a community comes together smoothly, the work required when re-building shopping streets from scratch can be reduced. In addition, a more stable, long-lasting shopping street can be expected. In some cases a move to a permanent location ahead of schedule may be possible. Pursuing a uniform or standardized restoration “for the sake of fairness” or the like cannot be said to be the best policy.

What is important for temporary shopping streets are flexibility and promptness after meeting the conditions of a broad framework. In order for the shopping streets to realize a sustainable level of business promptly and to function as the core of the community, specialists need to create opportunities for dialogue when approaching the communities. We hope that the determination of store owners who have decided to take the difficult path of rebuilding local communities results in success.

Courtesy of Rising Tohoku(http://www.rise-tohoku.jp)

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FOOD CUPCAKES CONQUER TOKYO!

TRUE TASTE TOKYO BY LAUREN SHANNON

The Global love affair with the sweet, nostalgic cupcake can certainly no longer be considered a fad or a trend. Cupcakes are apparently here to stay in a worldwide industry that may have started in London and NY but is now reaching around the globe.

Many thought that the cupcake craze would never make it Tokyo- but Japan too has it’s own cupcake company right here in Tokyo. Started by a foreign entrepreneur but now beloved by Japanese women across the city. Bella’s Cupcakes have become the leader in the Tokyo outpost of the global cupcake phenomenon.

Founded in 2010, Bella’s Cupcakes has been operating for almost two years as a premium cupcake business. Bella‘s Cupcakes originally came about in 2009 when arriving the owner and proprietor, Farah Bashir, realized that she just could not find authentic cupcakes here in-spite of this being an amazing food city. So she began baking and sharing with friends and at events. In 2010 as word began to spread about Bella’s deliciously light cupcakes made from classic recipes, they launched Tokyo’s first cupcake truck. Bella’s took the city by storm as they appeared at events around Tokyo. Bella’s even caught the notice of CNN in their coverage of the world wide take over by the humble cupcake http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/eat/tokyo-next-line-invasion-cupcakes-620802

Though cupcakes have been around in the USA for over 100 years- the modern cupcake movement has introduced new bold flavors and serious artistic frosting and fondant decorations but has still maintained the cupcake’s fun childlike spirit. Bella’s satisfies both the young and the young at heart here in Tokyo with an amazing variety of sweet treats and in a DIY spirit Bella’s founder also teaches cupcake decorating and baking classes.

Some of Bella’s signature flavors include carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, lemon cupcakes filled with lemon curd, and in a nod to Nippon—green tea cupcakes with vanilla frosting. The cupcakes are always baked fresh on the day of delivery and are intended to be enjoyed on that same day. They are available in a regular size box of a dozen or bite size in multiples of 25.

If you have not yet had a chance to try Bella’s you are in luck as this month you can enjoy some seasonal special, sweet and scary Halloween cupcakes! Contact Bella’s via their website to order for your party or to find out where around town you can come and pick up from the cute and cozy Bella Cupcake truck!

Web: www.bellas-tokyo.com

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ENTERTAINMENTWhat

theDickens

What the Dickens!Wide selection of British and other beers both bottled & draught. Stouts, Ales Lagers and Cider on tap! Live music nightly. Enjoy listening to local bands playing ’live’ on the Dickens stage! From Jaz to Rock, oldies and new. ’Home

cooked’ British Pub food. The old pub favourites, Chikens Pie, Steak Pie, chips & veg, plus many more!

OPEN: Tuesday to Saturday (17:00 ~ Late), Sunday (17:00 ~ 24:00), CLOSED Mondays.Address: 4th floor, Roob 6 Bldg. 1-13-3 Ebisu-nishi Shibuya-ku Tokyo, (Just 3min. from Ebisu Station).

Tel/Fax: 03-3780-2099 Web: www.whatthedickens.jp

❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊

Live music schedule this week

10/5 (FRI)Cashell

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10/6 (SAT)Chris Grundy Connexion

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10/7 (SUN)Open Mic Poetry Session then Kev Gray and The GT`s

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10/9 (TUE)Dixieland Jazz

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10/10 (WED)Billy Ross

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10/11 (THU)Sean Tait Lounge Groove Trio with Special Guest

Kevin Jones from Hawaii

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10/12 (FRI)Mackie The Band

❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊

15TOKYOGIRLSCOLLECTION

TH

The 15th Tokyo Girls Collection 2011/12

Autumn/Winter will be held at Saitama Super Arena on Saturday October 13. The wildly popular biannual collection,

which lasts about six hours, draws well over 20,000 young women as well as many foreign media, looking to see

the latest “kawaii” (cute) fashions worn by Japanese models and celebrities.

The theme for the October show is “Tokyo Classic,” mixing trendy styles with nostalgic and modern themes.

There are two style sub-divisions. “Rich-classical” will showcase different materials such as fur, leather, glitter patent and tweed. The result is an overall rich style coordinating totally different pieces, for example,

voluminous knit tops and skinny skirts. “Big Volume” keeps a feminine touch with coats and knits, with a mannish touch. Coats are worn over skinny pants or cropped pants

Models and celebrities scheduled to participate include Anna Tsuchiya, Yu Yamada, Karina, Elena, Karina, Reina Triendl, Maki Nishiyama, Rina Fujii, Angelica Michibata, Maomi Yuki, Anna Nose, Emiri, Suzanne, Ellie Toyota, Nozomi Sasaki, as well as new mothers Yukina Kinoshita and Aki Hoshino. Kyarypamyupamyu and Sonar Pocket will

perform as well.

Popular comedian duo Hiromi Fukami, who have been chosen as official supporters, will liven the event for the younger female attendees, who are of their same generation. The day’s program also includes live performances by artists,

charity auctions and collaborative shows.

Platinum tickets and gold reserved seats are already sold out but there are still a few reserved and non-

reserved seats left.

For further information visit:http://tgc.st/

ENTERTAINMENT

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OPINIONS

OPINIONS

What’s cool? Everything changed after March 11, 2011

BY CHIKA SHISHIDOFreelance radio personality

About half a year after I sought refuge from Fukushima in Hokkaido, I was asked by a certain guy one day: “Chika, you’re against nuclear power, aren’t you?” Skateboard in one hand, T-shirt, shorts, cap on. He was about the same age as me or perhaps a bit older. I’m not sure if he was just repeating the latest slogan, and there was no deep meaning nor ill will in his words, but I felt a very strange discomfort I had never experienced before.

I was born and bred in Fukushima. I’m friends with a lot of the young girls there. After graduating from high school, I was working as a campaign girl when I learned of a new free community magazine called Dip. I didn’t really like Fukushima before I got involved with the magazine, but working there made me see the beauty of Fukushima and I came to like it.

I met people, saw the beauty of the place, and conveyed

this in my own words. People said thanks and smiled at me, and this in turn made me smile. The interaction was a lot of fun and for seven years I conveyed the attraction of Fukushima and its people. I started editing and in the spring of my fifth year I also started working in radio, feeling that writing was not enough. I began working on a plan with my colleagues and the people of Fukushima as to how to go about making it a more fun place to live.

It was just when I came to love Fukushima that the earthquake and tsunami hit. Radiation filled the air and I was put into a situation where I had to choose whether to continue to live there or not. My work in radio and magazines was more important than ever, but I was surrounded by uncertainty and all kinds of information. I started collating information myself and gazed at the scary situation in front of me.

After a lot of consideration and worrying, I decided to put my body first and the new life that I hoped to conceive one day. I tearfully threw away everything I had worked on over the years and moved to Hokkaido by myself, prepared to work in a convenience store or do other part-time work. Women taking refuge by themselves were very rare and I finally moved to Hokkaido in December last year. Asking me if I were against nuclear power? Honestly I thought that was a dumb question more than anything else.

Changes in values brought about by the disaster

This discomfort was not just an emotional response. I think the most emotional part lay in a change in values of late. Being eco-friendly, movements to

preserve traditional and regional cuisines, minimalist lifestyles, pursuing barrier-free universal design ... the tendencies to think of the Earth, society, other living creatures, to co-exist with them and to not prioritize the economy or yourself, had been around for some time. Buzz words such as “konkatsu” (looking for a spouse) or “arasa” (being around 30 years of age) came onto the scene, but choosing how you live your life was surely nothing new. Having said that, I wonder if some trends haven’t picked up pace since the earthquake and tsunami. I feel that topics that were barely talked about before the earthquake and tsunami are getting more focus within the context of life in Tohoku.

To make a comparison, take the traditional image of businessmen and women. They worked overtime or spent time with colleagues until late every night. Work was first priority and home life or private time was brief. More joy was felt in contributing to the company and the economy rather than by spending time with family or friends.

But what is it like in the affected regions after the disaster? Leaders who have seen with their own eyes the importance of life consider this the most important thing and are doing their utmost to help families, communities and regions. They appreciate the connections they have and enjoy spending time with people important to them, even if it means not having much money.

I could change the comparison to one about where young people gather and I could say the same thing. The leaders who dressed themselves in fashion and identified themselves through their appearance would not concern

themselves with politics or the community, shrugging it off saying that nothing would change no matter what they did. I remember the high pride and it not being cool to approach difficult or bothersome issues. I’m embarrassed to say that I too was a part of that.

Now a year and a half later, me and my friends who moved their families out of Fukushima wear old T-shirts and shorts as we head for the coast to serve free meals, joking that the elderly there would miss us if we didn’t go. Those with individuality have energy and gather information themselves, form their own ideas and while searching for various methods of expression, take action. I started a group made up of Fukushima girls called Peach Heart which connects Hokkaido with Fukushima, and I’d be happy if people consider what I – someone who didn’t even know how many nuclear reactors Fukushima had – am doing is one of these forms of action.

I guess you can tell what I’m talking about now. What I felt in the question from the guy at the beginning of this story was a sense of being behind the times. What I didn’t feel in that casual remark of “Chika, you’re against nuclear power, aren’t you?” was an interest in society, an opinion of his own, nor consideration for me. I don’t blame him however.

I regret that I wasn’t more interested until I found myself in this position of considering life and death, and it was only then that I began thinking and acting for myself. I have also learned the absurdity of attempting to force my opinions on others. Thinking about Japan’s future and the recovery of affected areas including Fukushima, the age when it was cool to

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not have an opinion or not be interested was washed away with the tsunami. I really feel that mood has taken root especially in the affected areas.

A new way to live

Before the earthquake and tsunami, all I talked about with my friends was parties and the comic One Piece, but my conversations with them now are about girls from Fukushima and how we can connect and support each other. As for men I find interesting, rather than appearance, I prefer a strong set of beliefs and a willingness to tackle life and societal problems head on. I think I could live my life with that sort of person. I’m impressed if he attempts to understand local sentiment even though he’s not from Fukushima, and if he says he likes Fukushima I enjoy myself and have more drinks.

For those who move forward with Fukushima, topics such as work, romance, marriage, radiation and so on are inseparable and are with us for life. That is not to say that this is limited to Fukushima nor the issues of radiation and nuclear power. There are any number of problems that need to be solved in the future, involving the environment, disabilities and discrimination, taking care of those in need of care, food supplies etc. Some people say that we have entered a tough era. But we can’t go back to before the disaster and it is something which impacts everyday life now. The question is how can we turn it into something positive. It is a chance for the younger generation to show what they can do.

Enjoy life at the turning point of this period, while making choices with your own ideas. Respect

each others choices and support friends and loved ones to get through this tough patch. That, I think, is the new way to live, changing slowly as a result of the disaster.

Reprinted courtesy of Rising Tohoku (www.rise-tohoku.jp).

The only phase-out we can affordBY DREUX RICHARDDreux Richard writes about Japan’s African community for a daily newspaper in Tokyo.

The Radiex nuke decontamination/waste management conference drew to a close this week amid the news – received with a collective groan by attendees – that Japanese regulators plan to slash licensing requirements for all new non-nuclear generating facilities.

There are a number of reasons to bemoan this development; new technologies produce unforeseeable, knock-on environmental effects, so rubber-stamping proposals that seem shovel-ready is only as safe and rational as the nation’s utilities choose to make the resulting (rushed) projects.

Sound familiar? The nuclear phase-out may be among the most revolutionary political exigencies in recent Japanese history, but the methodology thus far underlying it recalls the “just trust us” rhetoric that compounded the Fukushima disaster’s social consequences.

Despite all the lamentation at Radiex, the conference shares a fundamental misapprehension with those regulators who favor the senselessness of turning national trauma into energy policy (a method that renders Atoms for Peace and post-Fukushima activism oddly analogous in spirit): the mistaken notion that technology will render longstanding energy policy impasses somehow tractable. Be it the geologic storage of nuclear waste or the impossibility of reconciling cost expectations with safety demands, emergent technologies can only mitigate so much. Sound energy policy will ultimately require informed public debate and stakeholder compromise, neither of which can coexist with certain cherished delusions.

Consider, for example, Areva’s Radiex booth, dominated by a glowing map of an imaginary cartoon village where loaders hauled nuclear

debris from one cleanup facility to the next. The village was recognizably imaginary because it featured a final storage site, which could only exist in a place populated by make-believe people who don’t mind living next to radioactive rubbish bins.

It was an amusing display of tone deafness from a company whose shares have sunk to half their pre-Fukushima value, and whose aspirations for capturing 35% of the post-Fukushima nuke safety market may soon be crippled by the rumored spin-off of their less troubled instrumentation and consultancy subsidiary. One Areva rep scoffed at the notion that new company chief Luc Oursel has devised a serious plan B. “We’re certain reactor restarts are imminent,” said the rep.

He’d better hope so: sitting behind him was Areva’s piece de resistance for Radiex, the inspiringly-monikered Field Monitoring Vehicle. Its slapped-together appearance led to an unprintable nickname among conference-goers (“Field Monitoring Vehicle? Oh, you mean the s***box”). It’s a rolling radiation detector that hitches to the back of a tractor. When it detects radiation, an alarm sounds and an attached can of spray paint marks the spot – pardon me, you mark the spot; that system hasn’t been automated yet. The offending soil can then be scraped and relocated to a storage site in Areva’s imaginary village. And by the way, the imaginary village belongs to Kajima Corp, because Areva (like other Radiex exhibitors) is selling to the government and its major general contractors; there’s no money in civilian tech.

The first half of waste disposal is settled science. Radioactivity will inevitably diffuse – one can only hope to place effective, redundant barriers between radioactive waste and, say, groundwater, so that by the time diffusion occurs, the isotopes will have experienced several cycles of decay. In other words, it’s a matter of building a better trash can. While materials and design are subject to emergent technology, no paradigm shift is forthcoming.

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OPINIONS

OPINIONS

18 INSIGHT ISSUE 10

Radiex featured its share of concrete vessels: if TEPCO tires of cubes, it can switch to cylinders.

So, in a country known for nuclear subsidies that verge on outright bribery, why won’t anyone accept geologic storage? Besides the obvious (NIMBY), the answer may partly lie in the degree to which geologic storage has become a favorite political football. For opponents of nuclear energy, waste storage provides the ultimate unfeasibility; meanwhile, the lack of scientific consensus and political capital allows utilities to continue storing waste on-site instead of funding the large-scale projects needed to identify, develop and implement long-term solutions. All at the cost of addressing present waste stockpiles.

What kind of runaway has the political-perceptual dimension of waste and siting problems produced? University of Tokyo energy analyst Paul Scalise believes that what he calls “the cost of NIMBY” is now the driving force behind the rising expense of nuclear power generation; he also believes journalistic misrepresentation has shaped the psychology underlying the costs. Kicking the geologic storage can back and forth ad nauseam in the media has created a powerful distraction.

And the cost of distraction is high. Consider that the Environment Ministry has set a target date of March 2014 for Fukushima decontamination. Any related work not already ongoing is imminent. The Guardian has reported that such work, which will be undertaken at a scale heretofore unseen in human history, could

produce myriad unforeseen ecological consequences.

Taken in combination with the forthcoming wave of new facility licenses, Japan could be on the verge of experiencing a “nuclear phase-out syndrome” wherein the side effects of a sudden, poorly-managed policy shift render the admirable accomplishment of a politically-willed phase-out an environmentally ambiguous one over time.

For example, major contracts for the unprecedented decontamination effort have already gone to a familiar list of unresponsive, cronyistic major general contractors. While politically active citizens inadvertently blinker themselves by fixating exclusively on the end of nuclear energy in Japan, decontamination efforts will proceed with the usual bureaucratic absurdity and ineffectiveness in Fukushima.

At Radiex, evidence was already apparent in the degree to which smaller firms and foreign companies had been sidelined by Japan’s closed contractor system, though their innovations are needed now more than ever. Decontamination clearly calls for the critical attention and discourse that only an engaged citizenry can provide.

An energy future worth fighting for will require a number of shifts in perspective. Concerned citizens must be ready to accept that circumstances call for an energy policy that includes painful compromises, not just in terms of power consumption (which must decrease) and reliability, but also in terms of safety/sustainability expectations for economically viable energy sources in a densely

populated, resource poor archipelago.

Furthermore, we must make peace with the certainty of further accidents at electrical plants (whatever their energy source), work in earnest to distinguish the serious from the trivial, and address critical issues as they arise with a minimum of hyperbole and recrimination.

The soundness of the media’s judgment bears a heavy responsibility here; sensationalism sets power utilities’ public transparency and financial solvency in diametric opposition, and transparency must be at the heart of any energy policy that hopes to implicate its citizen-stakeholders. A press that thrives on stoking nuclear fears without performing its own due diligence is no less a part of the ‘nuclear industry’ than the utilities themselves.

This asks a great deal, I know. Few are the moments when the citizens of beleaguered nations achieve the vigor and the unity necessary to steer their own political and economic destiny. But Japan’s history of nuclear disaster imbues it with a special responsibility. Contrary to what has so often been said, that responsibility is not merely to lead the world into an era free of nuclear energy. It is to lead the world into an era free of irresponsible energy – all its forms and causes.

http://www.ecentral.jp