Oka Masaharu Peace Museum

In Nagasaki little museum called the Oka Masaharu Peace Museum. The museum aims to: "... to reveal the reality of aggression by Japanese army;" to highlight the irresponsible attitude of the Japanese government, and to demand its honest apologies and proper compensation to victims.
The exhibits depict the war crimes, atrocities, massacres, etc. committed by the Japanese military.

A tribute on behalf of The Global Art Project for Peace was presented to Dr. Yasunori Takazane (Director) on May 27, 2009.

• Photos: http://eagle.webster.edu/global/2009_05_27_Nagasaki/
• Museum homepage (English): http://www.d3.dion.ne.jp/~okakinen/English/indexE.htm
• Museum homepage (Japanese): http://www.d3.dion.ne.jp/~okakinen/
  

Article 9 Event in Toronto

Hello,

On May 15, we organized the first Article 9 event in Toronto. Here are the information and its report.

http://peacephilosophy.blogspot.com/search/label/Article%209http://peacephilosophy.blogspot.com/2009/05/toronto-event.html

I look forward to meeting everyone in Japan.

Satoko

WHO | Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)

The World Heath Organization (WHO) maintains a website, "Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)" providing information and worldwide news updates on the Influenza A(H1N1) situation. For details, see: http://www.who.int/csr/en/

British Ask Prime Minister Aso for Apologies

Japan Today reports (May 21 2009) from London that British campaigners are calling on Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan to apologize and offer compensation to the families of British men who were forced to work at a mine owned by Aso’s father during World War II. For the full story, see: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/relatives-of-aso-mines-british-laborers-demand-apology-and-compensation

Quarantine Inspections at Japan's Airports to End

The Japan Times reports (May 20 2009) that the health inspections on airplanes arriving from North America to identify people infected with the H1N1 virus will be terminated by the end of this week. For details see:

• http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20090520a1.html
• http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hAaiTF1vU9D2n-_yTxtg_WF0yfcg
  

Touring Japan as "Global Citizens"

This video is a young student's take on touring Japan as a "global citizen." The meaning is expressed in via visuals (slides) and music background only. An explanation (text) of the meaning of global citizenship is left to the viewer's imagination.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=972vL819dtU

Business / Visiting Cards

Business cards or visiting cards (Meishi) are important in Japan. The web sites below give guidelines for creating business cards for use in Japan, and for exchanging business cards:

• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2227.html
• http://www.ehow.com/how_2149803_exchange-business-cards-japan.html
• http://www.japanese-business-cards.com/etiket.html
  
• http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/jcards.html
• http://www.spidacom.co.uk/cards.htm

Video (in Japanese) from YouTube.com:

New H1N1 Cases in West Japan

On May 18, 2009, various sources report that at least 32 new cases of individuals infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus were identified in Kobe and Osaka. This has prompted the closing of schools and the canceling of community activities in the area.
For details, see

• http://www.todayonline.com/articles/320480.asp
• http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/429972/1/.html
• http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/429928/1/.html
  
• http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-05/17/content_7784637.htm
  

Travel Insurance

There is a risk of being delayed, detained or quarantined upon arrival in Japan due to the Japanese Government policies in response to the new influenza A (H1N1) virus outbreak. If you came in close contact with someone who was infected or were infected yourself, you could be detained and quarantined for 7-10 days at a medical facility near the airport.

Class members may wish to consider purchasing trip insurance to cover losses such associated with risks like this. Go to http://www.squaremouth.com/ for more information. You may purchase trip insurance from various insurers directly from this website.

Please note that the information above is provided only to inform you of the current situation, which is subject to change. This is not an endorsement of the vendor named, nor is it a recommendation to purchase insurance.

CDC: H1N1 (Swine Flu)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides updated information about the novel influenza A (H1N1), also known as "swine flu" on the following website:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ The information includes statistics on the cases in the U.S.A., background information on the virus, what you can do to stay healthy, and guidelines and advice for various sectors.

H1N1 Information from U.S. State Department and Government of Japan

The following U.S. State Department web sites provide information about traveling to/in Japan. It includes recent bulletins about Japan's policies regarding the H1N1 flu outbreak; as well as useful information on entry and exit; safety and security; and health concerns.

• http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html
• http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-swine-flu.html
• Possible International Travel Delays Due to Novel H1N1 Flu Screening Procedures
  

The Government of Japan has issued the document "Screening of Arriving International Air Passengers for H1N1 Flu" which details the procedures followed. See page 4 of the following document:

• http://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/kenkou/kekkaku-kansenshou04/pdf/09-e02.pdf
  

HealthMap: Global Disease Alert Map

The HealthMap: Global Disease Alert Map combines a database of worldwide alerts for swine flu (H1N1) and an their locations on a world map. See: http://healthmap.org/swineflu Click on the county name in the left panel to see the alerts for each county.

First Case of 'New-Flu' in Japan

The Associated Press reports (May 9 2009) on the first case of the "new flu" in Japan. Three Japanese males, including a high school teacher and two of his students, returning from a high school trip to Canada were confirmed to have been infected with the new flu.

For the full article, see: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D982C11G1&show_article=1

Comparing the U.S. and Japanese Financial Crises: "The Lost Decade"

In July 2008, Money Morning published an article, "The Lost Decade: How the U.S. Financial Crisis Resembles Japan’s Ten Years of Misery - And How to Play it" a 2-part story by Executive Editor William Patalon III. The author describes the parallels between Japan's economic collapse of the 1990s and the looming U.S. economic crises (in mid 2008), when many experts were fearful that the U.S. version of the "Lost Decade" that was looming would be much worse.

• Part I -- See: http://www.moneymorning.com/2008/07/17/the-lost-decade/
• Part II-- See: http://www.moneymorning.com/2008/07/18/lost-decade/

Book Resources on "The Lost Decade"

Callen T. and Ostry, J. (Eds.) (2003). Japan's Lost Decade: Policies for Economic Revival; International Monetary Fund.

Koo, R. C. (2009) The Holy Grail of Macroeconomics: Lessons from Japan's Great Recession. Wiley

Saxonhouse, G. and Stern, R. (2004) Japan's Lost Decade: Origins, Consequences and Prospects for Recovery (World Economy Special Issues); Wiley-Blackwell

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Resources on Yumi Kikuchi

Journalist, author, environmentalist, and activist Yumi Kikuchi will be a guest lecturer for the Global Issues: Japan course on June 3, 2009 in Tokyo. Here are some resources on Yumi Kikuchi:

• きくちゆみのブログ http://kikuchiyumi.blogspot.com
• 911真相究明国際会議　http://2nd911.globalpeace.jp/
• 平和省プロジェクト　http://ministryofpeace.jp
• 平和の書店　http://ministryofpeace.jp/bookstore/bookstore-menu.html
• 東京平和映画祭　http://www.peacefilm.net
• 911ボーイングを探せ http://www.wa3w.com/911
• テロリストは誰? http://www.wa3w.com
• 911の嘘をくずせ ルース・チェンジ http://www.wa3w.com/LC2J/
• グローバルピースキャンペーン http://globalpeace.jp
• グローバルピースキャンペーン・ストア http://store.globalpeace.jp
• Harmonics Lifeセンター http://harmonicslife.net
• Global Peace Campaign (English) http://english.globalpeace.jp
• Yumi's English Blog http://yumikikuchi.blogspot.com

American Passengers and Crew Detained in Tokyo

NBC News and MSNBC reports that 37 passengers and two flight attendants on an American Airlines Flight 169 (from Los Angeles to Tokyo) were detained overnight at Narita Airport near Tokyo, Japan because of concerns about swine flu. For details, see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30564215/

A video report is available: CLICK HERE.

Resources: Global Citizenship

Books:

• Schattle, H. (2008) The practices of global citizenship. Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield Pub.
• Noddings, N. (2005) Educating citizens for global awareness; developed in association with the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century. New York: Teachers College Press.
• Abdi, A.A. and Shultz, L. (2008) Educating for human rights and global citizenship. Albany: State University of New York Press.
  

Web Resources:

• Webster University (2009). About Webster: Mission and Values. Web page available at http://www.webster.edu/about/mission.shtml
  

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See also: Resources: Books, Articles and Videos

Tokyo Sonata (2008) and Article 9 debate

Tokyo Sonata (2008) [PG-13] directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa is a story of a contemporary Japanese family. When the father, Ryuhei Sasaki, loses his job, he tries to save face by pretending to go to work every day. The movie is a poignant story of the breakdown and redemption of the modern Japanese family.

There is a small reference to the Article 9 debate throughout Japan in the movie. It is not in the dialogue, but rather on a television news program shown in the background.

• Description and movie trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/tokyosonata/
• IMDB Listing: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0938341/
• UK Distributers Website: http://www.tokyosonata.co.uk/
• San Francisco Chronicle Review