A POSTCARD FROM SOCHI

MORE ABE PROMISES

NHK GOVERNORS BACK ABE AGENDA- NO SURPRISE THERE!

From the Japan Times:

Minutes of a recent NHK board of governors meeting seem to back up suspicions that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, despite his denials, is trying to use Japan’s news giant to promote his nationalist agenda.
The minutes, posted on NHK’s website, show conservatives appointed to the board by Abe voicing their opinion on coverage at the Jan. 14 meeting.
One of the four new members favored by Abe proposed that NHK should do more to educate the public about Japan’s territorial claims on islands at the center of a dispute with China, its wartime history, as well as the problems with the post-World War II U.S.-led Allied tribunal that prosecuted Japanese war criminals.
“I think there should be room for programs that provide the most basic knowledge about history and the challenges Japan is faced with,” said one governor, Naoki Hyakuta, author of a bestselling book on a wartime suicide fighter pilot.
Another governor, Abe confidante Michiko Hasegawa, stressedthe need to promote “correct education” for the public.
It’s unclear whether their statements are affecting coverage, and NHK denied any political influence over its editorial decisions. The board members’ comments reflected their personal views, NHK said in a statement, responding to inquiries by AP.

SUMIE'S IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

~ Just published by Shisei-Do Publications ~ 

Sumie's Impossible Dream by Aoi Tokugawa

A furry, roly-poly cat dancing ballet? Pretty improbable! In fact, it’s downright impossible! But don’t ever say that to Sumie. She is bound and determined to do exactly that no matter how much ridicule, mockery, or discouragement is thrown her way. She would love to be a superhero, but even more than that, she would love to dance in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake more than anything in the world and will give her all to make it happen.


http://www.amazon.com/Sumies-Impossible-Dream-Aoi-Tokugawa/dp/1494867168/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389999220&sr=1-1&keywords=sumie%27s+impossible+dream

A VERY TINY STORY AND A HOLIDAY MESSAGE

A VERY TINY STORY AND A HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM CATMAN COMIX AND THE KITTY MAFIA ART WORX: If you have just a minute, please take the time to read it.

     Being a superhero in San Francisco can be a lot of work and a lot of fun. There’s crime to prevent, evil doers to apprehend, and when things are quiet, there is always time to fly around the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower, or do aerobatic exhibitions for the tourists. And then, when the day is done, you get to go home to a nice meal and a warm bed.

     Both Catman and Super Sumie have a very nice home indeed, located high up on Russian Hill next to the cable car line, with a view of Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay, dry food in a bowl all day and night, plus tuna or salmon, sometimes with bonito flakes, three times a day. There are lots of toys to play with and a soft warm bed to sleep in. However, in flying about the city, tiny Sumie had noticed that things were not always so pleasant for other people in the city. She became curious, as cats will do, and one day decided, without telling anyone, to pack a few of her belongings and then to head off on her own down to the Tenderloin District, where she might be able to find out about the “other side” of life.

     Once she arrived, having walked all the way from home, and dragging her suitcase behind her, she quickly found that things were indeed not good — not good at all. Down in the Tenderloin, things were anything but tender. The neighborhood was cold, dirty and smelled bad. And the people — why, many of them were mean, ugly, smelled bad, and some were dangerous — very dangerous! She spent the entire day walking around the streets looking first for a friendly face, but she couldn’t find one. Then, as the day wore on, she grew hungry; however, she hadn’t brought any money with her. As the sun set and it grew dark, it started to rain; and there she was —cold, wet. no friends, no food, and no place to go.

     Sumie walked and walked until at last, she found a dry place to rest beside an old wooden shack in a dark, weed-filled alley. She took a rolled up blanket she had strapped to the top of the suitcase she had pulled around behind her all day, covered herself with it, hoping to fend off the cold, and then took out the one true friend she did have with her — her teddy bear.

     There she sat for hour after hour, alone, cold, and afraid, until she fell asleep. Then Catman, who had never been very far off, and who had watched over her all day, picked her and her belongs up and took her home where he tucked her safely into her warm, soft bed.

     Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who don’t have a Catman to watch over them, or to take them home to bed. A lot of folks have no home, no money, and no food —not even a teddy bear. On Thanksgiving Day, we have a lot of things, things we often take for granted, to be thankful for. But what about the others? If you have the means, drop by your local food bank and make a donation, or if you have nothing else to do that day, you might consider volunteering some of your time at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, to make Thanksgiving just a little bit better for someone who doesn’t have much at all. There’s still time if you’d like to.

     Happy Thanksgiving from Aoi, Hayato, Catman and Super Sumie.

TEAMING UP TO MAKE SAN FRANCISCO SAFER

Copyright © 2013 by Aoi Tokugawa, Hayato Tokugawa, Shisei-Dō Publications, and the Kitty Mafia Art Worx. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior written permission of the artist, author, or publisher.

ABE AND TEPCO: More than meets the eye.

    

 Is there a relationship between Abe's lack of decisive action on Fukushima Daiichi and TEPCO? One wonders.