Mahiru Shiratori's past comments

  • 0

    Mahiru Shiratori

    I stay because I married a local but trust me, if I hadn't, I would've packed up long ago and left.

    I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope you can leave Japan sometime soon. BTW, 神風 is spelled kamikaze, not kamakazi

    Posted in: Why are Japanese averse to immigration?

  • 0

    Mahiru Shiratori

    @NetNinja, Thank you very much for responding to my post. You say "Whoever told you those things was concerned for you." I didn't get that at that time. I was very worried and panicky, and really needed more information with scientific figures. As I posted then, the radiation level rose to 0.45 microSv/hr. Some mothers in our community left here for Kyushu leaving their husbands here. And then,there was a huge criticism towards those mothers because they were just overreacting. It was sort of chaotic situation here and I was really stressed out. I really needed information with scientific figures which would make me calm. Then I posted, *"According to NRC, Denver, Colorado radiation level is around 0.6 microSv/hr all the time. Although Colorado has the highest average background radiation levels in the US, the state has some of the lowest cancer incidence and death rates in the country, around 10% below national levels." Does anybody have any different info or anything, I would like to hear it. Thank you." *Then you said, "@Mahiru, you are so radiated and you're gonna get cancer..." without any scientific figures. I think I was very vulnerable then, and couldn't take messages like yours. I'm very sorry that I took your message as bullying. Internet communication is difficult because one cannot see their facial expressions and tone of their voices. And then totally misunderstand what they are trying to say. You say, "You may have found a friend online here." That would be great :)

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  • 5

    Mahiru Shiratori

    Internet bullying is very serious. As Makoto says, it's easy to say things not facing the person. One day, someone said to me on the internet forum, "You are so radiated. You're gonna get cancer. You'd better get a good lawyer and insurance." because I live in a radiation hotspot Kashiwa. I was in tears for a few days because I don't have enough knowledge about radiation and I was really worried. The person said it's ok to say such things because he/she would never meet me in real. I was hurt, still I am.

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  • 5

    Mahiru Shiratori

    This hotline of this article is organized by The Regional Legal Affairs Bureau which is under Ministry of Justice.

    I receive some human rights consultation fliers from local government through kairanban(pass a notice around from house to house in the neighborhood) for DV, child abuse...etc. Almost all local governments have Human rights consultation section. I think many victims are advised to call or visit the local government rather than national government. After you call, the social workers come to your house and talk to you in person. They then talk to the community and get some information from the neighbors. Neighbors also can call the local government and report possible DV/child abuse in their neighborhood. Elementary & middle school children receive hotline number for child abuse at school. Teachers tell students "The number is for YOU to call for help if your mom or dad abuses you."

    There are hundreds of hotlines for DV by NPO, some are 24/7 available and toll free.

    There are about a hundred of shelters for DV victims. "Zenkoku Josei Shelter Net" is one of the biggest NPO

    http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%A8%E5%9B%BD%E5%A5%B3%E6%80%A7%E3%82%B7%E3%82%A7%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88

    Posted in: Women's abuse hotline hours extended until Nov 20

  • 1

    Mahiru Shiratori

    This is what I understand how to check your food in Kashiwa where I live.

    A do-it-yourself radiation measuring station will open in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture.The privately run station opens Tuesday and will enable consumers to measure the amount of radioactive substances that may be in food and other products they have bought or grown.The facility is equipped with eight radiation measuring instruments. Consumers pay to use the self-service devices for 20 minutes to check for radioactive material.Checking food takes between 15 minutes and 20 minutes.(Yomiuri Shimbun Oct. 8, 2011)

    I watched the news about this facility the other day. People need to bring food DICED, place them in the container, and wait for 15-20 minutes. I heard this is the way how to measure radiation accurately.

    Posted in: Firm makes iPhone Geiger counter for worried Japanese

  • 3

    Mahiru Shiratori

    3.11 earthquake/tsunami was just huge and everybody was panicky and confused. But still a lot of those lives of kindergarten children could have been saved by proper education for the teachers and the kids.

    The lives of 1,927 elementary school children and 999 junior high school children of Kamaishi, a small coastal town in Iwae, managed to survive the tsunami. That's a survival rate of 99.8%. Many people said it was a miracle, but it wasn't. Toshitaka Katada of Gunma University has been visiting Kamaishi and giving disaster education.

    That day at Kamaishi-Higashi Junior High School when the earthquake struck the school's intercom system was damaged and didn't function, but the children took it upon themselves to leave the school. "A tsunami is coming," they said, as they headed for the designated evacuation area. The children from the nearby Unosumai Elementary School, who always took part in evacuation drills together with the junior high school kids, followed close behind. Then, as it seemed like the cliff behind the evacuation center might collapse, one of the boys suggested that they move to an even higher place, which they did. Looking back on the road along which they had just come, a cloud of dust caused by the tsunami boiled high into the air. Around this time they encountered some young children fleeing from a local kindergarten. As they fled to higher ground, some junior high kids were leading elementary school children to safety, while others were pushing baby strollers. Before long the designated evacuation area was engulfed by the wave. But the children had just managed to reach higher ground.Kamaishi Elementary School near Kamaishi Port was operating on shortened hours at the end of the school term, so most of the children had already left for the day when the earthquake hit. But all the children from this school managed to survive the tsunami.

    The students, teachers, and parents have been learning the following. "Don't put all your faith in hazard maps" No matter how much knowledge you acquire, with time you forget it. To be able act without thinking when a disaster happens, you need to make this knowledge your own through actual practice. With this in mind, elementary schools in Kamaishi spent from five to 15 hours per year on tsunami education.To sum up the disaster education, what he tried to teach children and their parents was that they shouldn't put too much faith in hazard maps. These maps contain places that are considered safe and the high-points that tsunami may reach, based on the latest scientific knowledge. But at the end of the day these are no more than scenarios. Ultimately you have to assess the situation for yourself and act accordingly. No matter how big the tsunami walls and other physical defenses you build are, the tsunami may be bigger than you envisaged. At the end of the day, what you have to rely on is the ability of each member of the community to respond appropriately. This ability can be enhanced through education, training and drills.

    The detail is on the website: http://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/1334?page=1

    Posted in: Families of 2 kindergarten kids killed by tsunami to file suit

  • 2

    Mahiru Shiratori

    Masao Yoshida, one of those Fukushima 50 a plant manager, has been said "the most trustworthy manager" by other workers. On March 12, about 28 hours after the tsunami struck, Tepco executives had ordered workers to start injecting seawater into Reactor No. 1. But 21 minutes later, they ordered Yoshida to suspend the operation. (Tepco executives were saying something like this, "We do not have government approval yet. Injecting seawater means reactor decommissioning. We need PM Kan's approval...blah blah blah"). Yoshida chose to ignore the order and continued injecting seawater, otherwise...

    He had an official interview yesterday for the first time since 3.11. He is answering to the questions quite frankly and I found it very interesting.

    http://www.ytv.co.jp/press/n-movie/movie.cgi?movie=20111112_0054.300k

    Posted in: TEPCO says conditions for nuclear plant workers improving

  • 3

    Mahiru Shiratori

    After I became exhausted waiting on the train platform, a homeless person gave me a piece of his cardboard. "Lie on it, its freezing out." Even though we are always ignoring them. It was so touching. @aquarius_rabbit

    One of the tweets on 3.11

    Posted in: Tough times

  • 0

    Mahiru Shiratori

    I love watching female figure skating. I hate male figure skating. I just can't stand a guy wearing tights...

    Posted in: Up you go

  • 0

    Mahiru Shiratori

    I agree with cleo that said, "It's people that make us happy, not places." Makoto found happiness in Connecticut. In my opinion, she found happiness there not because people in Connecticut accept different people. The people she met in Connecticut accepted her and liked her. If Julia Roberts the hooker from West Hollywood (Makoto calls it sub-society?) went to Connecticut, some people would accept her and some people wouldn't. That would depend on Julia Roberts' personality. And it's the same thing, if she came to a small town or a big city in Japan, it all depends on the people who she meets.

    And I agree with tmarie that said "hard to be different anywhere when you are young". It's true (at least from my own experience) especially being a girl in high school whether you are in Japan or in the U.S.

    FernandoUchiyama, I don't know what to say...but your story is a bit old? Maybe from non-Japanese point of view, Japan still looks that way, but I have never been taught to be same as everybody else. Not at school or parents or anybody. At least when I was in Japanese elementary school, there was a discussion class (called Gakkyu-kai) and there we were given one agenda and say different opinions, and tried to find the solution. Also there was a class called (Doutoku). I don't remember much, but I think we were learning more like "accept the difference" rather than "do just like other people do"

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  • -1

    Mahiru Shiratori

    Who clicked Bad to my comment "I'm in luuuuve xoxo"? How did you find me here? Some one is stalking me >< but I'm ok coz I'm in luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuve xoxo <3<3<3

    Posted in: JAL to decrease international fare fuel surcharge from Jan 1

  • 1

    Mahiru Shiratori

    There are pro-Join Talks on TPP, anti-JT on TPP, and Shinchou-ha(cautious)-JT on TPP among DPJ.Those pro-groups are simply saying, "Let's join the talks and see what will happen". Noda said clearly, "We will protect what needs to be protected, and win what we need to gain." I think those Shinchou-ha made complicated things more complicated. I thought Shinchou-ha is anti-Join Talks on TTP. Some senior members including former farm minister Masahiko Yamada took part in the Tokyo rally, which involved around 6,000 farmers, politicians and consumer groups. When Noda announced Japan will join talks on TPP yesterday, what Yamada said is, "I'm so relieved to hear Noda limit himself to announcing consultations rather than committing himself to join the talks." I have no idea what he was saying there. What in the world does Shinchou-ha mean??? TPP is a negotiation. Of course each country should be shinchou(cautious) to protect their own country. Those vague words from DPJ politicians, such as "shinchou-ha" "ittei no medo", make complicated things (or maybe very simple thing) more complicated.

    Posted in: TPP opponents accuse Noda of making hasty decision to join talks

  • 1

    Mahiru Shiratori

    I have the highest regard for men/women in uniform. These acts by a few tarnish the brave service of the majority of US military. I have an American friend who has been deployed in Afghanistan as an eod tech. I really hope he will come home safe to his family back in the U.S.A.

    Posted in: Ringleader of U.S. army unit jailed for life for killing Afghan civilians

  • -1

    Mahiru Shiratori

    I'm in luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuve xoxo

    Posted in: JAL to decrease international fare fuel surcharge from Jan 1

  • 2

    Mahiru Shiratori

    RIP Miyazaki san and big thanks again to all those Turkish people: the owner, the chefs, and other volunteers of a Turkish restaurant "Resat" in Ikebukuro for offering hot meals for 1000 + evacuees in Ishinomaki, Miyagi right after 3.11 earthquake/tsunami.

    Posted in: Japanese aid worker injured in Turkey quake dies

  • 7

    Mahiru Shiratori

    She has been known as "Depa-chika no Sato Baa" (Granny Sato of the food basement department store). She is a wealthy woman, an owner of an apartment and everything, living with her family. Her neighbors are talking about her like this. "I haven't seen Sato for a while." "She must be in jail AGAIN."

    Posted in: 79-year-old woman arrested for 24th time for pickpocketing

  • 4

    Mahiru Shiratori

    There has been so much to learn for me from other people's opinions and experience. It's true that Japanese public manner is worse than western countries. It's embarrassing to have "silver seats" on trains and a train conductor's announcement that says "Please give your seat to elderly, pregnant women". It's embarrassing to have to put up the posters that say "Don't touch women's butt on the train. It's a crime." It's embarrassing to have "Women only trains" during rush hour. Those are the things that Japanese are at least aware of and trying to fix it. But things that Japanese are not aware of is "holding a door for the people coming behind" as many posters here complain. I remember several years ago or more, when we used escalators, we did not make space for people who were in a hurry. But now we stand on the left side and make space on the right side so that people in a hurry can run down/up faster. I believe the idea is from the west. Also when we use the public bathroom, we make one line and wait. It wasn't like that before. The idea is from the West, too. Many Japanese people travel abroad and experience this kind of manner and we like it. That's why we've started doing it. I'd like to believe Japanese people still have HOPE for "holding a door for the people behind". Many of them must have experienced this manner overseas and liked it. Sometimes some people do it whether they learned it from their trip to the west, or maybe they just do it. But the number is still very low. Most of us are not aware that "not holding a door" is a bad manner. But when we experience someone hold it, we like it. Then hopefully more and more people will start doing it, too. It's just a door thing, but doing a little nice thing makes better and happier society:)

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  • 0

    Mahiru Shiratori

    A little bit of language tip for intermediate & advanced level of Japanese. If you are Japanese 101, maybe it's ok to think Arigato=Thank you. People understand what you are trying to say. But "Arigato" is not exactly "Thank you". If someone holds a door for you and you said, "Arigato", this is pretty rude. It's like someone holds a door for the emperor and he says, "Arigato". Even Empress Michiko wouldn't say "Arigato". Or maybe like a dirty old man would say "Arigato" when a high school girl with a short skirt holds a door for him. It's the same thing, when a waitress fills your glass and you say "Arigato", if I was the waitress, I would feel really insulted and might say like "What are you? Emperor?". I never say "Arigato" to my parents. They will be furious. If you are in Japanese middle school/high school, and you say "Arigato" to senpai (1~2 year older), you will be in biiiiiiig trouble. "Arigato" is pretty much 'ue kara mesen'. It applies to Japanese companies, neighborhood, stores, restaurants...etc. "Arigato" can be used only among close friends, couples, from sempai to kohai, a boss to his secretary (maybe), or if you don't know each other then from obviously older person to younger person(more like obaa-chan says to kids). "Arigato" is used very carefully among native Japanese speakers. It's not exactly the same as English "Thank you". If someone holds a door for you, or fills your glass, it is appropriate to say "sumimasen" or "suimasen" or just bow. "sumimasen/suimasen" is not exactly an apology. Some might say "Arigato gozaimasu", but it sounds a bit awkward if you just hold a door for you or fill your glass. "Arigato gozaimasu" can be used when they really appreciate your help. The word "Arigato" is actually very difficult how to/when to/where to/who to use.

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  • -1

    Mahiru Shiratori

    But very very few Japanese in my experience have a bad word to say about Japan, or will even acknowledge someone elses with a less than rosy view of this country.

    Nicky, my husband takes everything personal if I criticize Japan. He has no problems however with criticizing other countries. When I have pointed this out to him, he gets stroppy and I point out what he's doing is actually why Japan is in such a situation where they are - debt, crappy economy, horrific manners...

    I think it's only natural that when you are criticized by other nationality, they tend to defend your own country. When Chinese bullet train had an accident, I heard Chinese people were criticizing their government. But at CNN readers forum where non-Chinese criticize Chinese government, Chinese readers were furious of all those comments and started defending their government. If I (as a Japanese national) said "Mr. Bean is ugly" to someone from UK, s/he would get pissed and say, "What are you talking about!!! Shimura Ken is uglier!!!" even if s/he thinks Mr. Bean is ugly. Nicky and tmarie, why don't you tell your Japanese husband "Shimura Ken is ugly" and see his reaction. Maybe they will start defending Shimura Ken and would tell you how beautiful he is.

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  • 0

    Mahiru Shiratori

    But shy is cute if you are 90 year old obaa-chan :)

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