Apple cutter enabled Hair raising moments!!
As I was passing through the customs check in Centrair, I was stopped to open up my bag. Having cleared hundreds in the last 2 decades, I was quirky at the fact but the young officer said you have some thing like a Apple cutter. I said exactly I have a apple cutter and removed it. The rest of the hard luggage was fine.
I didn’t want to check-in for this apple cutter but questioned the officer the reason that this can’t be carried along. The customs rules are universal and there’s nothing he can say it’s specific for Japan. The officer tried to explain that the cutter has stainless steel blades which is not acceptable. In a natural instinct I asked the young guy if he was sure, he went towards the rule book and he was checking to be double sure. By this time, a supposedly senior guy came up , took a dump of the situation and then quickly helped him to go to respective sections. They found that if the blades are not removable then it’s acceptable to carry. This is similar to the razor that you can carry. The senior guy told that l can carry it along.
He said I’m quite knowledgeable on this stuff. In a flow, I told him my dad has done this his entire career. The senior guy said that Indian customs guy are one of the best in the world in-terms of their acumen to catch only the culprits & not disturb others. The senior officer certainly had a deep loud voice which was kind of uncommon among the Japanese. He quickly replied that Japan is way behind to catch up though we have lots of technology.
I was pleasantly surprised at his observation though I didn’t munch more as my job was done. As I was putting my stuffs back into the bag & I walked out of the baggage screening, some where I felt proud more as an Indian & the so unsung heroes at the customs who really carry such high reputation among their peers globally was certainly amazing to hear. Certainly, their acumen is keeping us safe every day. Maybe the senior officer was just saying things in air or he said it with a deep knowledge and appreciation, it was certainly a hair raising moment to hear these appreciations & felt more proud for my dad & like men’s service.
Japanese aren’t religious? Not really!!!
I just came across a video forward in Whats-app that pointed out the Sanskrit mantras recited in the prayers by the priest in the Buddhist Kyoo-Gokoku-ji temple of Kyoto. Many of you should have come across this if have traveled across Japan. Yes, the video is just pointing out an observation but in my view it’s a long deep religious history about the land of Japan. In my own experience I have inquired the priests and they are ignorant about it b’cause they don’t know the lineage..Not just in Kyoto... You can hear the same in any Buddhist temple if you request a prayer by the priest... There are lots Hindu gods imbibed into Buddhism & there are many temples dedicated for them. You can see Buddha in the sleeping posture resembling Vishnu & in yogic posture resembling Siva. You can see Benzaiten derived from Saraswathi or Kichijoji derived from Lakshmi. Many Buddhist Temples of derived Hindu gods exists & these Hindu gods are not much popular in today’s Hindu worship. All the Buddhist temple are not in daily worship and all temples are open only on a limited period even on festivals day in a year. All these lineage are not seen in practice in today’s Japan and majorly people have little knowledge about the same. There are no goers to temple & scarcity of priests to do daily rituals.Majorly Japanese will decline any talk on gods and they say they don’t know anything. Today’s old Japanese have respect that it’s something great but they have no idea about the same. It has amused me always when I hear Japanese talk about Japanese way of doing things and has relation to any religion. The answers from Japanese to the basic question of where their ways of doing things derived have always amused me further. Yet, the entire country have lots of festivals, Obon practices, Temple visit on new year, Worshiping Nature, Ascetic Mindset of Homeless people, Orderly behavior during crisis & the list is endless will only further throw a lots of questions.
In short, Japanese aren’t atheists as perceived by many but they are very religious as they proudly follow their ways of living which they have derived through generations.
Over centuries, Japan has blended religious thoughts with real understanding. Shintoism which existed in Japan believed in worshiping the demised elders in their family as they were considered gods in the form of nature. So, nature in all forms were worshiped & that explains the nature's beauty maintained in Japan till date. Shintoism doesn't believe in absolute right or wrong and it acknowledges nobody is perfect. The old elders in the family, village was always heard with respect and devotion as they carry generations of knowledge of wisdom & this practice is imbibed even till today. Shintoism doesn't have any sacred scriptures but its descended from one generation to another through ways of living found in its four major books of knowledge.
When Buddhism came into Japan, Buddhism had a better structure and more in-depth explanations of ways of living & life after death. Today, in any Buddhist temple in temple will be associated with Shinto shrine and you will see the cemetery of great sect leader and wise people who have lived over the generations. Hence, Buddhism was a perfect blend into the then Japanese society. So it is not Buddhism in its original form that propagated into japan. No one has given a name to it but it was a confluence of Shintoism and Buddhism.
Buddhism on the other hand is a derivation of Hinduism where Buddha had an atheist ideology that he wanted to find the god with oneself against the idol worship ideology of Hinduism. However, Buddhism also defines the similar ways of living like Hinduism. After Buddha, the Buddhist sect leaders were in search of knowledge from the land where the religion originated (India). Many travelers from China had carried back the ways of living from their experience which eventually reached Japan from China. The Mahayana Buddhism that exist today has had his ways into Japan and idol worship was required to spread the ancient ideas from a far off land to the ones who no idea such existence. So, they much imbibed the ideology of idol worship and all the prayer practices similar to Hinduism. Much to the contrary of Buddha's ideology, Buddhism has temples and Buddha himself is worshiped as an idol. This confluence of religious realization established and has establish deep roots in the ways of living, thinking of the homogeneous Japanese society.
However, the religious realization got a jolt when in 16th century AD, the kings in the pursuit of industrial revolution ordered all the citizens to westernize. It was the need of the hour for their empire to be sustained from occupation. Japan being part of the silk route was in dire threat from the powerful westernized armed silk route travelers. If Japan had not westernized, Japan would have been colonized in its history. However the kings decisions resulted in blood bath in the society where the samurais went against the ruling & the kings took westerners help to shoot the samurais & those captured were moved out to far off lands to south america. There was a collapse of much traditions which has deep rooted confluence of Buddhist and Shinto beliefs and practices. In a way the society was prepared for change that westernization was pushed into Japan.
However, Japanese when they westernized had their unique way of getting westernized. They retained their best ways of living which are descended through generations or the ways of living which they could not digest with the western influence was never accepted by the society and they created their unique ways of embracing westernization.
Today, leave alone the fact that Japanese are ignorant majorly about themselves, like Hinduism which defines ways of living, Today’s Japan talks about Japanese ways of doing things which is exactly derived from the confluence of Buddhism & Shintoism & with a married blending of westernized thoughts. Its a unique confluence here and Japanese has this uniqueness. Hindus can relate themselves and westerners can relate themselves in this society as it has excerpts imbibed into their ways of living. Its a unique unnamed religion in itself and the religion survives as it is just ways of living. Just like Japanese today marry in church and have Japanese way of living ( Shintoism & Buddhism) and go to Benzaiten (Hindu Saraswathi god) on new year is always unique to the land of rising sun!!!
Labels: Buddhism in Japan, Hindu gods in Japan, Japanese religion, Japanese religious belief, Japanese religious life, Japanese ways of living, Sanskrit prayers in Gokokuji
Policing Policy takes over Trust Policy!!
Japan is revising it's policies on determining the mileage for the automotive industry. After the MMC scandal that came to light where they had an abnormal practice to determine the vehicle mileage and they had fooled the public for the last 25 years. While it was surprising that the country which had its huge part of growth and development under the automotive industry boom is trying to fix it's basics. The existing policy was based on the trust that the automotive manufacturers would be true to publish the data & basis of the data was not verified. Now, they are contemplating at a policy that would be based on no trust & would be based on the fact of reconciliation, validation and verification of the data. Further, the policy will empower the lawmakers to penalize the wrongdoer.
Well, the society and the system would be systematic to implement the revised policy for the issue witnessed wouldn't repeat in future.
Corporate scandals are no new to Japan. The scandals are less researched topic in Japan as the society keep them aside as an unfortunate incident and it goes as a passing cloud. Japan has many instances in the last decade that I have witnessed where such scandals surfaced when the trust and truthfulness based upon which most of their policies are made were broken. Everyday newspapers bring out stories of corporate scandals. The big scandals of Livedoor Co., IHI Corp., Nikko Cordial Corp., Nikko Cordial Corp.,Kanebo Ltd.,Olympus Corp.,Yamaichi Securities Co. & Toshiba Corp surfaced over the last two decades & over has shaken the system and the policies based on trust and truthfulness.
Of late, these scandals have surfaced that has directly hit the common man. The house hold corporate giants name figure up the list. This is more vulnerable that it is breaking the basics of the society. Such scandals are not to be looked only as a financial breach. It has huge social implications on the mindsets of the country citizens and their self pride. These scandals break the roots of the Japanese society strength based on trust and truthfulness.
The construction scandal involving Asahi Kasei Construction Materials where data was fabricated shook the public trust on architecture safety they were proud about of;
The drug scandal involving Aakeda Pharmaceutical where data is fabricated and another scandal by Novartis where critical data was hidden has shook the public trust on safe drugs;
The car safety scandal where the Air bag manufacturer of Takata misinterpreted Inflator data for years.
In the society built on trust and belief that citizens are truthful, these scandals are difficult to come to surface and they take decades for realization.
While in emerging countries, the product from industrialized nations equals high quality, the product brands of corporate giants equals high quality inside these industrialized nations. These perception orders are shaken up with such scandals.
The scandals are bringing a paradigm shift in structuring the law enforcement policies. Policies based on trust and truthfulness which symbolizes a honest and healthy society is fading away. As policies are revised, the policies of rest of the countries are looked up and policing law enforcement policy comes in effect to benefit the society and avoid such scandals.
In the current global order, it will be a great challenge to maintain the law and order with policies based on trust and truthfulness though its would be great if any nation can survive with such policies.
The law enforcement authorities should distance themselves and get into a policing mode to avoid more hidden scandals for it will ensure better safe & healthy life to the people.
Labels: Japanese society, policing policy, Scandals, trust and truthfulness
Malakas & Chennai Floods
One of strongest Typhoon that I have experienced for so many years was Typhoon Malakas (No.16) that inundated Kyushu with a record high rainfall of 578mm in hyugu City, but all the rest of the place the rainfall yesterday is the range of 150-250mm is not any less. These places received 1 month rainfall on 9/20. Apart from power cuts, tree falls, while the reported rescue needed only for 6 people in Miyazaki should be greatly appreciated. While 70% of Japanese didn't experience the typhoon as it didn't reach Tokyo in the same vigor the power of nature is amazing to realize & get astonished!! Over a day after the severe summer,
All the rivers, streams & lakes operated at their full capacity& vigor is an amazing experience. Well, the drainage system is to appreciated that the roads that with in hours of the downpour everything's operating with business usual. The topology has been well utilized in the city planning!!!
I was just trying to draw a comparison with the Chennai inundation last year. The city received similar rains in a month period over different places. One would conclude that the preparedness are at different levels altogether. Though technically advanced, the country still have overhead electric transmission. The narrow roads & clustered matchbox houses posts similar threats. The rivers and streams are encroached heavily in many places. Housing in low level areas are a common site. Many old bridges that need strengthening are still high. With aging population concentrated out of Tokyo, old houses that are not strong pose threats to withstand such nature's might. The slackness of state governments are much comparable. Let me not get into it now as it will deviate the topic. But then there are differences. The land topology is not comparable. While its all plains in Chennai with height variations above sea level is few meters, most places in Japan are separated few tens of KMs has a steep drop in the height above level running from few hundred meters above sea level to few meters above sea level. Many rivers journey include only few hundred KMs but coming down across few hundred meters in height is notable. It's certainly aid in natural control of such inundation but then there is a great credit that should be attributed to the drainage system that has derived intelligence from with modern day technology. The cleanliness of the public helps in smooth drains and regular clearance of weeds across the rivers help in smooth flow.
Japan still maintains sizable area of its lands under forestry that certainly act as a regulator in such situations.
I'm not talking about the infrastructure all over here. Infrastructure helps in early alerts& preparedness. It helps in quick restoration back to normalcy.
In certain terms, when you look as how such nature's might can be handled is largely dependent on the society collective ability of love and coexistence with nature. Wherever there are deviations, the nature has punished when it was might & no technology nor infrastructure could circumvent the situation. Japan has been a classic example to derive various instances where they suffered brutally for their lack of natural coexistence.
Chennaites need to understand their topology, the intelligence of their city from the learnings over its history, The same is easier to say that do. The Chennai city did exhibit their strong attitude& hope they derive ways of coexistence with nature.
Labels: Chennai Floods, Kyushu, malakas, Tokyo, Typhoon no.16
Positive criticism on Japan's global stands!!
These days Newspaper come up with a lot of positive criticism on Japan's global stands!
Well, my take is that ....Japan's inability to attract foreign talent, imbibe them into their society and its inability to tackle is declining talent pools due to declining population will be its biggest killer that is shaking its pride and it to a downward trend!
1. Japan lacks in its much needed capability to explore deep sea and make suitable study to detect earthquakes,tsunamis, etc.The underwater exploration capability is only at 6500Mtrs with its Shinkai6500 and they are trying to fund a research where they can try unmanned mission till 12000mtrs(shikai 1200) as manned exporables are costly...not sure how long it will take to complete it; while US had developed manned exploration Trieste of upto 10000mtrs way back in 1960 to mariana trench and China had developed upto 7000mtrs in later 90's.
2. An UN research report identifies Japan as the worst country in the world in its measures against controlling passive smoking and japan has the highest fatal cancer & 22 other related disease cases due to passive smoking among all world countries.
3. The geographical inequality is among the highest in Japan with its 70% of population living in Tokyo and suburbs that impacting its economy growth.
4. The huge challenges that Japan faces with the decrease in its significance in its global portfolio due to increase significance of china in Mid east, Europe & Africa with its growing trade and partnerships along with brexit.
5. The less preparedness of Japan towards its self defense and towards becoming a softer target for terrorism, drug tracking & other crimes.
6. With the MMC scandal, the Auto output has plunged more than 3% straight for the second quarter and the MMC scandal increasing to many of Mitsubishi models in its uper segment vehicles over further investigation is wiping the Quality brand image Japan carries among the world.
7. Japan's export hurt severely due to unilateral decision of the G20 countries on its trade protectionism policies.
Jugaad => You should be OK with any food Sir!
Late spring this year on 20th March 2013, I took an early flight from Delhi to Chennai on Jet Airways during a short trip to India. It was my fifth time to transit via the Delhi airport after its renovation. Thanks to the new transit hotels at the airport as I could have a good sleep and a shower to keep me fresh. Normally, my day doesn't start without my sandhyavandanam and morning prayer with me giving a fresh look with my thilak in my forehead. I have been doing it form the age of 14 and continuing everywhere I have lived. Over a transit, I do my routines without any thilak in my forehead. The check-in, security and the corridors after the security was loud and busy. Certainly, Indians have to start speaking softer or inset some silencers in their throat. After a brisk morning walk over the long & loud corridors even at early morning, I reached the gate & further there was a long zigzag route that took me into the flight. We Indians would have cribbed if one had to do the same walking before the airport renovation. Thanks to the Airport ambiance that did keep every passenger silent.
Inside the flight, there were smart stewards. One of them was were busy telling the passenger that he would arrange the overhead compartment so that he would ensure all the odd sized luggage would be fitted inside. He told the other steward to do the same so that the passengers would not block the one body width walking space & make room for the rest of the passengers to get to their seats. Well that was a smart move and it was good customer service by the steward. I had a middle seat as I never did any internet check-in this time. I would normally take a seat near the exit to quickly escape after landing.
We reached the skies smoothly after a long taxi to the runway. The domestic flights didn't have any individual video screen and I had the newspaper which I picked up during checkin for the initial one hour. I was then left out to gaze the ambiance. It was time for some refreshments. Well they serve breakfast in this flight. Over a few seats in front of me when the food was being served, I heard the steward on the left. He was asking "What would you like to have for the breakfast sir/mam?". A typical question, he would ask every every passenger flight over flights. When the response was vegetarian food he was mentioning sorry to the passengers that the vegetarian food is exhausted and he asked then if they can have any non-vegetarian food. On the right, it was the same situation, but this guy was smarter. Probably, he never wanted to say sorry to every vegetarian choice select passenger. He had an different approach. He had very few vegetarian food left with him. Probably, He wanted to reserve it only for the needy passengers. I noticed that he took a glance at the passenger and with his charming elegant accent he dodged every passenger "You should be fine with non-vegetarian food. We have chicken and fish for the day. What do you like to choose?". Even when the reply was "do you have any vegetarian?", he dodged them again "Is chicken or fish completely unacceptable with you?". Well, I could see that most settled with chicken or fish. But, he did not dodge a selected few when they asked him for vegetarian. Well, it was smart enough that he could sense this out of the passenger. He was experience to know whom he can push and whom to give away. After trying out for few seats, he signed the other steward to the back whispering "Jugaad hai...aaja"and I could later see both of the trying to do the same though the former was trying out very confidently.
I was amazed at the very attitude of the Indian passengers and the approach took by the steward. At one end, every passenger requested vegetarian by default even though they were comfortable with non-vegetarians. Probably, they want to have a light meal in the flight or they might have thought of requesting non-vegetarian would give a bad aura about him to the adjacent passengers or requesting vegetarian is more elegant. The steward was on top of his job in taming the passengers. Probably, this situation was a usual for him that he had developed the tactic of judging the passenger over a single scan to check how much he can dodge him in the request.
I never imagined that I should have ordered an Indian vegetarian meal in the domestic flight. I took it for granted. I am strict vegetarian. I could have moved off without a meal as I would reach my home within minutes form the airport for a good home food. But, the steward increased my inquisitiveness about his judgment on me.
In the same row as mine near the window, there was foreigner and I presume he was a south korean. My judgment on the Japanese,koreans and chinese have improved with my long stay in Japan. When the steward rightly dodged him for non-vegetarian, he took time to prepare his English statement and said "vegetarian please". The steward went ahead with his second dodging statement. This time the south korean replied "No food thank you." Assuming that he has not properly communicated with the south korean, the steward change his tongue to american accent and then dodged him once again for the non-vegetarian food. This time the south korean was sharp in his reply and said "I am a vegetarian." Well, the steward would have thought that as a good bouncer but he did not offer him any food. He said he will check & come back later.The south korean reaction did puzzle me as he was munching a non-vegetarian snack before the which has chicken in his hand. Probably, some do & don't that he would have read about India would have advised him to stick to vegetarian food throughout his stay.
After a few passengers, it was my turn. I gave a face -face look and the steward went ahead with his formula of persuading for non-vegetarian. Probably, if I had my thilak he would have only offered vegetarian without much discussion. My one quick question to him was "I am vegetarian and why did you judge me as a non-veg?" I had to ask him out for my own mental peace. The steward was quick enough to reply with a smile " I suppose you are an NRI and I thought you should be comfortable with any food Sir ". I never wanted ask him as what made him judge me as a NRI & by that time I had no doubts about his judgment on people as he has mastered it as a part of his job. Though I went on & told him to offer vegetarian food or I am fine with nothing. He said he will check & come back later.
He went on with his formula and after one full round of serving, he came back with the vegetarian set food one by one to the guys like me who insisted vegetarian food.
"Jugaad"-I had used it very much When I was working in Delhi but never used it for very many years now. It took me to very many memories of my life in Delhi and good jolt brought me back to reality when I realized I have reached Chennai. Well, it was a nice trip to remember,write and share across. It did really tell me "Welcome to India!".
Should Japan stop using nuclear power?
The very austerity of this topic has been prevalent across the nuclear powered nations across the globe in the light of the nuclear crisis that we are witnessing in Japan. Recently, The Daily Yomiuri had called in for views from its readers forum. Here is my piece of views.
The world nations always had a choice between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. During 1920s, coal accounted for the maximum part of total energy supply of the world. Later in early 1990s, its share dropped to only 26%, while 40% of the worlds energy needs was taken by oil. Due to the technology immaturity or cost ineffectiveness of the renewable energy generation methodologies in those eras, non-renewable sources from fossil fuels were observed as a reliable source of energy and huge investments were made for domestic and industrial uses.
As the concerns of green house emissions ruled the world and with the advent of the nuclear age, nuclear power was considered as a more reliable and clean source of energy. The developing countries are trying to invest in nuclear power to circumvent their power shortages and it has become the popular, status quotient and state of the art in power generation and it’s a dream for many developing and under developed nations.
Now, the concern today is not only green house emissions but a safer future world for our future generations.
Different types of renewable energy are Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydropower and Geothermal. Japan has deferred the usage of this energy though it has invested fairly on its research.
Solar energy usage needs more promotion with more innovations.
Wind energy is best tapped in coastal and mountain areas. Japan has vast of its geography on this front and not much of this energy is tapped for its use.
Research on Biomass energy has not been tapped fully.
Hydropower and geothermal power are hardly realized.
With the above pretext I will further ponder on as if Japan should stop nuclear power.
Should Japan stop using nuclear power?
Yes, if we have a choice, Japan should stop nuclear power and should turn to renewable energy sources from Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydropower and Geothermal. There have been huge advances which have occurred in each of these energy sources and it’s time to closely review these options and invest in necessary R&D for a bright future.
With the light of nuclear usage seen across the globe over the usage of fossil fuels, the nuclear crisis over the previous decades was due to human error and today we are witnessing another crisis which arose due to a natural disaster. Mankind is driven to make choices and necessity has been the mother of all inventions.
Japan, with its geographic over 4 tectonic plates need to change or transform to a more reliable, clean and Safe form of energy.
We are trying to answer is not just 30% of power from nuclear energy; we are searching a choice for the following:
1. A better world for the energy needs which is reliable, clean, safe and self-reliant.
2. A peaceful world without energy wars that we saw in the previous century.
3. A beautiful world to create energy and can love and preserve the Nature.
4. A world safe even in dire disaster must be ensured to the future of Japan.
Need of the hour for Japan on energy front:
1. Decentralize power generation to the maximum extent and develop domestic self reliance to power should be realized. Prefecture’s self reliance in power needs provide wide set of options to recover natural disasters.
2. Japan should turn 100% to renewable source of energy and become self reliant for an economic stability unaffected by political disturbances across the globe.
3. Japan to use its diverse geography to create energy from all possible renewable sources
