Departure of Tsukuba Express.

Last August 24, 2005,
a new railroad "Tsukuba Express" or "TX" has been inaugurated.
It connects 58.3km between "the city of technology" Tsukuba and "the city of electronics" Akihabara.

Starting fare is just 160 yen (about 1.45 US Dollars), and from Akihabara to Tsukuba is just 45 minutes, and it costs 1150 yen (about 10 US Dollars).
Expensive? Well, it's up to you, how to take the value of 45 minutes.

TX is also the "last commuter railroad" connecting to Tokyo.

There were so many people riding the "new train", and the stations were often entrance was restricted. Although, inside the station was not that crowded, since it takes universal design:

• big elevators
• lessen difference in ranks
• wide hallways
• protection fences on platform, which opens interlocking with the door of the trains
• ATC : "Automatic Train Control" system
• ATO : "Automatic Train Operation" system
• no railroad crossing

etc.
These are believed to prevent an accident like the one happened on April 25, 2005 in Fukuchiyama line.

TX also provides:

• wireless LAN (meaning connected to Internet)
• radio wave for cellphones (which means the signal is always maximum)
• small tables enough to put Laptop PC

and other things inside the stations or trains, suitable as a "scientific" railroad connecting not only Tsukuba and Akihabara, but also somewhere like Tokyo University Kashiwa Campus.

As you sense,
I rode TX. ^_^

In just 15 or 20 minutes from Akihabara,
rural landscape spreads over the window.
While watching and enjoying,
I was thinking that this landscape will be gone in few years.
The area along a railroad will be developed, and it should be.

In fact, Akihabara station of TX is in the eastern part of Akihabara, and this area is developing rapidly.
Soon, the weight of the city will be shifted towards east.

'cuz a railroad makes a flow of people.

Which makes the summer hot?

Tokyo's Summer is hot.

Well, one reason may be Cool-Biz,
all the aircon in public places are set 28 degrees Celsius.

But that doesn't explain the reason why last year's summer was so hot,
'cuz Cool-Biz began this year.

So why?

Global Warming?
Perhaps, but why is it hot especially in Tokyo?

Some scientific researches says,
One big cause is what-so-called "Tokyo Wall".

"Tokyo Wall" is a group of skyscrapers bristling on Tokyo Bay Side,
which blocks cool winds from Tokyo Bay,
and leaves the inland calm and very hot.

The worst thing is that there are plans to construct more skyscrapers on Bay Side.
Some estimate says, that maximum temperature in Tokyo will reach 40 degrees Celsius within few years.

All because of artificial landscapes.
They are made ecologically unplanned.
Now, the consequence is back to us.

Of course, those are not the only reason which makes the summer hot.

To live in urban is hard in many ways...

The Japanese I respect most.

Sugihara Chiune is the name of the street in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Seriously!!!
You can find it in a map.

Or do you want a story about Sugihara Chiune as a person?

...

He was Japanese (obviously).
He was a deputy consul in Kaunas, Lithuania during World War II.
He saw thousands of Jews surrounding the consulate and shouting in bloodshot eyes.
They came to ask for visa to escape from the persecution of Nazi.
Japan was one of the axis powers, as well as Germany.
Of course it is not allowed to issue any visa.

But he issued, with his own decision.

He issued the visa, even reducing the sleeping hours, even his arm began to swell, and even he was called back, he issued in the train going back and scattered from the window.
He carried through his convictions, took the responsibility, prepared himself for expected punishments and saved the life of 6000 Jews.

The honorary president of Chicago Mercantile Exchange is also included in the people who was saved by Sugihara.

...

He was imprisoned, and released.
He spent the rest of his life calmly and peacefully.
He never tried to go back to the world of diplomacy.

He was an ordinary Japanese.

He was not submissive, definitely.

But he's great as a human, don't you think so?

Fear of asbestos.

Asbestos is an artificial material, and cannot be decomposed.
It is poisonous to human body, once inhaled, it stays in lungs permanently.
It causes illness such as white lung or lung cancer.

This study was discovered for about 4 decades ago.
When this was known, many advanced nation banned usage of asbestos.

Japan didn't.
Well, Japan made a law to REGULATE the usage, but asbestos were still used in many constructions and other usages.
(There are some kinds of asbestos, and Japan banned the more poisonous ones, but allowed the less poisonous ones.)

Until now.
95% of asbestos usage are banned, but the remaining 5% are still used, since there are no alternative material for some particular usages.

This problem is RECENTLY spotlighted.

Begins with the news of "workers in a factory using asbestos DIED."
The known number of people died at this point is over 300, and more are in serious illness, caused by asbestos.
Not only the workers in a factory, but also some people living near the factory, or families of the workers.
News were talking about a housewife who used to wash the uniform with full of asbestos, and it caused her to death.

Condolences.

You might ask me, "Why Japan didn't ban?"

Well, I don't know. I was not there that time.
But I can speculate.

Japan was still a developing nation 4 decades ago.
Most probably, the industrial circles resisted against the prohibition that time. I think I know what they said, something like "We NEED asbestos for quick development of our nation".

Duh.
I don't want to hear their nationalism.

Is that the reason why we have to suffer for the consequence?

IS IT ALLOWED TO KILL SOME PEOPLE AS AN CONSEQUENCE OF DEVELOPMENT???

I'm disgusted.

Moreover, this is not the "past problem".

Because there are more factories using asbestos?
Because asbestos diffuses also in destruction of landscapes?
Because there are many landscapes in Japan which are constructed about 4 decades ago?

All of the above.

But that's not all.

We have to remember:
THERE ARE MANY DEVELOPING NATIONS IN ASIA RIGHT NOW.

History repeats.
Problems come back in different form, we just don't realize them.
I mean, asbestos is not the only problem.
It may be any kind of pollution.

So what's the solution?

Always remember to have a HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.
This "healthy" isn't only for people, but also for nation, society, and nature.

And that's the time when we can make a real contribution to the world.