I’m glad to report that on July 14, 2010, I heard my first cicada of the summer. One lonely soul was buzzing away outside my office window. It was a sound of relief for me as they seemed to be delayed compared to previous years. The next day, he must have called his friends because there was now a chorus of cicadas humming outside. Soon, it will be so loud that we won’t even be able to talk on the phone in our private conference room (which, actually is outside. Since we all sit in one room there’s absolutely no privacy so you have to go outside if you want to talk to anyone without everyone hearing you.) We witnessed many holes in the soil outside, where apparently the cicadas are emerging. Cool.

And with the cicadas comes the end of the rainy season and the really hot and humid season as well as typhoon season.

On June 13, 2010, rainy season was declared for my part of Japan (Tokai). As I have posted before, I love the official proclamations of seasons, whether it is 梅雨 (tsuyu), 花見 (hanami), or any other artificial season. My interpreter knows my fascination with an official announcement as well and was kind enough to send me the following:

Above article says that the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that it seemed to begin rainy season in Shikoku, Tyugoku, Kinki, Tokai, and Hokuriku regions on June 13th. As you know, even the declaration of the Japan Meteorological Agency is inarticulate and not clear:-).

Sorry JMA! And the article …

梅雨入り：四国、中国、近畿、東海、北陸で平年より遅く

気象庁は１３日、四国、中国、近畿、東海、北陸地方が梅雨入りしたとみられると発表した。平年より北陸は３日、東海は５日、近畿と中国は７日、四国は９日遅い。四国は０７年と並び過去３番目の遅さだった。梅雨入りした各地は、今後１週間も気圧の谷や梅雨前線の影響で曇りや雨の日が多い見込みという。

That’s all very interesting. However, I think the screen capture below says it all.

I really am looking forward to the next few days.

Today has been a strange day. I was in Tokyo, and today started out by a look outside this morning to see rain mixed with snow. What? It is almost March, and it hasn’t been that cold, so it was really odd to see that it was actually kind of snowing. Not much of course, and mostly rain, but clearly there were snow flakes in the mix.
 

Tsunami

We learned of the earthquake in Chile yesterday, and at this point when I am writing this I doubt anyone really understands the extend of damage or loss of life. I’m actually sitting on the shinkansen for the first draft of this as well, so I’m not particularly wired except through my iPhone.

Last night, I checked the Japan Meteorological Association webpage to look for any tsunami warnings. With such a big earthquake, it was clear to me that there would be some sort of tsunami. The reports were saying that warnings were issued for the whole Pacific region, yet nothing was showing up on the Japanese sites.

When I woke up this morning, the situation had changed. As a resident of the Eastern Pacific and Western Pacific, with domiciles in both locations, I have a bit of a reason to care. My condo in LA is far closer to the beach than my apartment in Nagoya, but the tsunami would have to rise over a REALLY big hill before it found my house. In Nagoya, I am a long way away from water. So I personally do not expect to be impacted but I still care. As a matter of fact, a friend of my was in Thailand for the Boxing Day tsunami as I think I’ve mentioned before. Also, a colleague of mine quit work and she and her husband and children are sailing around Mexico and I worried about her as well. She’s OK, but they definitely went out to sea to ride out the waves and their marina was impacted.

Tomo flipped on the TV to watch the Olympics and saw that there was a tsunami warning. I then went to the JMA website and saw the same.

The Japanese television coverage is interesting, and I took a few snaps of the TV screen. Of course, they had the roving reporters at various sea side locations to do on the scene reporting. The tsunami was hours away from hitting, so the reporting was mostly looking at preparation. It is not unlike hurricane or snow storm reporting in the US, where there is as much anticipation of the event as there is the event itself.

I was too slow on the draw with my camera as my small digital camera was buried away in my bag and my iPhone camera menu selections were to deep to catch the picture of the reporter in his hard hat reporting on the preparation. Hard hats are extremely popular as safety devices here. We have hard hats at work in case of earthquakes and other falling objects. So when you see the B and C movies from Japan with everyone running around with their hardhats on it is real folks.

The anchors don’t have to wear hard hats, but their treatment of the ensuing tsunami is very serious. And of course, they’ve got the typical graphics overlay showing the warning area.

Interestingly, as I was heading back to Nagoya, there was an alert on the Yamanote Line that train service on one line had been suspended due to “waves.” Once in Tokyo Station, there was a sign describing the closure and station personnel ready to assist travelers trying to reach their destination.

… it is now several hours since I started writing the blog on the train. It seems that we are still under a warning, and there actually has been some damage by a 1.20 meter tsunami. Let’s hope the worst is over.
 

Marathon

While we were out about town, we discovered the Tokyo Marathon was crossing our path. Literally. I snapped a few iPhone pictures as we also discovered we were at halfway!

The course was splitting Ginza into different areas. There was a particularly difficult scene as Ginza 4-Chome as runners make a turn towards Asakusa and other runners are returning from Asakusa and sort of in the last bits at about 34 km. Now, I’m sure the “last bits” is a bit of an overstatement for one who has never run a marathon, but definitely at the intersection it was especially difficult to watch. Those just making the turn were really struggling, and the pack was thin. This was about the 22 km mark. Those returning actually looked a lot fresher, had a good pace, and were moving along.

 
Abercrombie

As we were walking away from the marathon we stumbled across the new Abercrombie & Fitch in Ginza. This was quite the anticipated opening in Japan. A&F is popular here. We had some Japanese greeters at the door, decked out in a little winter gear. They utter English phrases at you when you go in, but that’s about it. I don’t think that the management staff will be too pleased with the picture I happened to snap. Talk about the imperfect moment? Which makes it perfect for me. I just wish I had gotten the store name in the frame. It sure looked that way on my phone!

We walked in and there was the typical bare-chested model in the entryway. I am always embarrassed for them. It was a little cold, so he had a jacket on. The inside was SO dark, and the cologne SO strong. We started stumbling up the stairs, got to the first floor, decided it was too stinky, too dark, and too loud and promptly left the building. I fear I am showing my age by whining about A&F. But Tomo didn’t like it either and he is still part of their demographic.

Happy 2010 to everyone, or in Japanese, あけましておめでとうございます (or alternatively あけておめでとうございます). May 2010 be a happy, healthy, and prosperous year for you. I’m not sure what the year has in store for me – lots of variables at play. But we will see. I hope that I can do better with the blog than I did in December.

I have not spent enough New Year’s in Japan to know how these recent years compare to the past. My expectation is that New Year’s is a family time, and many shops and restaurants are closed. This morning I went out and about to check out the fresh snow and much to my surprise, my local Starbuck’s was open. Yeah! I was hungry. While I feel bad that they had to work, it was nice getting an easy breakfast, especially since I didn’t have any food at home. I’m guessing that in recent years, more and more shops and restaurants stay open on New Year’s to catch all the other workers that are off. As for me, I’m planning on laying low, although we will see as the day wears on. I suspect jetlag may be the controlling influence of the day.

One Japanese custom is to send out New Year’s cards, or 年賀状 (ねんがじょう, nengajou). Of course, I don’t. But I don’t send out Christmas cards either. The idea is to get ALL the cards delivered on New Year’s Day. So that means the post office is jammed with these cards. I even got some this year. Apparently there is a day that you have to get them submitted so that they can be sorted and ready for delivery. I got cards from businesses and friends. I guess I’m becoming more integrated! Wikipedia, has a good description of New Year’s customs. I stumbled across a Japan Post moped filled with 年賀状.

And the office building next to me was decorated with traditional 門松 (門松, kadomatsu).

As with last year, my New Year’s transportation was not without difficulty. This should not come as a surprise though. In general, this trip has not been transportationally easy. My flight arrived late to Narita, and security to get from one international flight to another was backed up. A family of 5 was kind enough to let me in front of them since they had 4 hours until their flight. I got to the departure screens and saw my flight had been advanced by 20 minutes and was on-time. I hurried to the gate, and the sign said “boarding” but all the queues were blocked off. I still had 9 minutes to spare. I wild-eyedly went to the counter to see if I could board. Ah, but the flight has been delayed due to weather in Nagoya. The fact that every sign indicated otherwise was a bit confusing.

Our flight, originally scheduled for 5:50 pm, advanced to 5:30 pm (how can they do that?) was now going to leave after 7:00 pm, maybe. The weather in Nagoya had an advisory for heavy snow and gale. Nice. Things didn’t look good. I did a little pacing and then came back to see people queued. I found out that the airline would allow us to take the train in lieu of our flight. I prefer the train anyway, so I hopped at the chance. And I waited in line. It was probably about 7:15 pm or later before I was processed. I then had to clear immigration, pick up my bags, clear customs, and catch a train. All possible. I went down to baggage claim and saw everyone processed before me still waiting. Not a good sign. I waited a while and struck up a conversation with a guy from Indianapolis and a Japanese guy returning from Thailand. The J-guy was very helpful to us.

By the time we got our luggage, there were no more Narita Express trains. Drat! The best we could do was take a local express at 8:08 pm and get to Tokyo Station around 9:35 pm. Then we’d have to take a Shinkansen (slower Hikari instead of the fastest Nozomi) at 10:00 pm, arriving Nagoya at 11:49 pm. Just in time for the New Year.

Our local train was empty for quite a while except for the Nagoya refugees. J-guy and I both had iPhones. About midway through the local train, we checked the status of our flight and learned that it had taken off at 8:06 pm. Say what? They actually left before WE did! How did that happen and how did the airline not know? So while the passengers who chose not to hop over to the train were probably home and in bed, we were still chugging down the tracks.

Still, I’m glad I went for the sure thing, because the outcome could have been a lot different. I just wanted to get home. I bought a round of beers for my travel companions and we toasted the approaching new year and J-guy laughed at everything I said in Japanese. Not in a mean way, more in a tall beer on an empty stomach sort of way.

I got home almost exactly at the stroke of midnight. It was snowing heavily and I was inspired to take a few pictures. I love when it snows.

Last night I made sure I shut my alarm off, because I knew that once it went, that would be it – I’d be up because of jetlag. I was able to successfully turn off my alarm for Saturday. Unfortunately, today is Friday. Oh well. So I was up and went for a walk to check out the snow. It was still around although now it is melting quickly.

Unfortunately, even the snowmen smoke here.

The gas saga

I’m please to report that my gas was restored in LA the day before my departure. I am no longer at risk of blowing up the entire building. I’ll be interested to see what my gas bill looks like.

This is definitely NOT what you want your gas pipe to look like:

The elbow joint is completely corroded and basically disintegrated when the plumber got to that area. No wonder I had a big leak. All I have to do is deal with a small hole in the driveway. I guess I’ll be working that from abroad. Oh, and for all you people who are reading this blog looking for vacationers to rob, I do have someone living at my place so don’t bother.

Typhoon Melor is heading for an almost direct hit of Nagoya …. and I’m in the US on a business trip. I hope everything will be fine - I’m kind of sorry I won’t be there to experience it. It has the “snow day” kind of anticipatory feeling.

Another earthquake - this one closer so it felt bigger.  It was a 6.6 in Shizuoka, it felt like a 3 or 4 here.  Magnified of course by living on the 6th floor.  Also, looks like a 60 cm tsunamai in Izu as well.  Oh, and by the way, there is a typhoon hitting the same area at the same time.

At least this time I waited until AFTER the quake before I used Twitter.

In terms of damage, I have no idea.  We are seeing video from the TV news room in Shizuoka that shows stuff on the floor.  Typical earthquake footage.  And now grocery store images with drinks scattered on the floor.

Preliminary reports are 6.6 at 5:07 pm.  USGS says 6.4.

Of course, like California, Japan is very seismically active. There was indeed a 6.9 or 7.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan that definitely shook things up. Strangely, Tokyo felt it more than Nagoya although the epicenter was closer to Nagoya. I’ll have to check the fault lines.

I’m fine, Tomo is fine, and I’ve heard no reports of damage. I reported on it in Facebook, and Twitter, so now it seems my blog. Short of telephoning everyone I know or sending out a large email, I’ve done the best I can to communicate my status.

I remember one week in Mito in 2004 where we had the Niigata earthquake, a typhoon, and a volcano eruption in Gunma. Japan holds many surprises.

This year’s typhoon season seemed to be starting a little late. But now it seems we will get our first glancing blow of a tropical storm. Until Storm 10W (Ten), no storm had taken the turn up the coast of Japan. This looks like the first of the season. It doesn’t look like it will get to typhoon status, but it looks like we could get some pretty heavy rain. As always, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center provides good information, as does the JMA.

Here’s a picture of the path from the JTWC of Storm 10W (Ten).

All day today it looked like rain was right around the corner. Certainly western Japan is getting dumped on, but the wind seems to be moving the precipitation around Nagoya.

It is official, rainy season has been declared in Japan. Or at least my part of Japan. I am happy to report that it rained on the start day. There is a good chance of rain every day in the forecast.

I just wish I could find the official JMA announcement of the commencement of rainy season. How do you really know when rainy season starts and when it ends? What is the criteria used, and what is the vehicle for the announcement?

This can be a really nice time of year. Spring is trying to arrive. We’ve had some really nice days lately and today was no different. The temperature was not cold, the sky was clear, and the trees and flowers are JUST beginning to show their colors. In the next two weeks the cherry blossoms should explode. However, during the week the lows are going to hover just above freezing, so I worry a little.

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, so I really wanted to make sure I got out for a nice stroll in the sunlight. I brought along my camera to record the rebirth. I walked from my place to Nagoya castle and back. It isn’t a far walk, but I was probably out one and a half or two hours.

The magnolia tree directly in front of my apartment.

Along Sakuradori ….

In front of my local Starbucks

Of course, Japan only needs an excuse for a festival. This sign says さくらまつり or Sakura festival.

A few trees were in full bloom. Although this looks like a cherry tree, it is actually a plum tree.

I’m looking forward to the Spring. Although I will be busy, it will be nothing like last year. I don’t even remember anything about last Spring other than “Oh my God, what have I gotten myself in to?!?”

I am still challenged by work, but I feel more at home here in Nagoya and I feel fortunate still to be here.