Wish your effort to find the truth of Fukushima (2/2) Most of Fukushima residences feel baffled with wrong concepts towards their hometown. They are saddened to know that people over the world view them residing in the place soaking a high level of radioactivity. One says that it’s a dead place where no one should go. Others say that we should not trust a quality of crops there any longer in order not to jeopardize our health. I am very willing to ask them what the hell made you end up believing in them. This question should be applied to myself, either. No matter how they might show their sincere grief and spare some money to the charities, nothing works best for them unless we attempt to blow off bullshits and find the truth. To do that, we individuals must not believe single aspect of information, keep doubting rumors and examine by multiple recourses. That is the long-term support to give them a hope to restore their beloved hometown. Once again, her artistic talent deserves to be spotted. However, she should be admitted that her work this time potentially gave a chance to discourage Fukushima to go on revitalization.

Wish your effort to find the truth of Fukushima (1/2) I happened to watch the YouTube video called “Abita”—an award-winning animation that triggered huge sensation over the world and directed by a Japanese collegiate girl who is pursuing her field of study in Germany. This few-minutes animation depicts the aftermath of the remaining tragedy in Fukushima that has been exposed to nuclear pollution since 2011, convincing that the area turned into nowhere to play with freedom for children in a dramatic way. Her genuine talent really enabled to express the calamity inciting pure sympathy of viewers towards the residences of the place, along with the overall fantastic footage and unique touch of art. Regardless of my homage to her great work, I must give a heads-up to all people; DO NOT take it as serious as the way it’s seen. Art is significantly influential. It purely infuses a great impact of message into human’s minds by audiovisual means. It shares a framework of idea of artists and would become true if the majority accepted. Assume that an art is designed in accordance with the artist’s lifetime experience or inspiration by on-the-spot investigation, it would deserve to be applauded without questions. However, in this case she—the director of the short animation—had learnt the fact indirectly. All information she had gleaned was nearly equal to just a rumor. Remember that she lives in Germany, though she is a Japanese. Plus, I am sure that she is from neither Fukushima nor its vicinity. There was no such a way left her to examine the real life of children in Fukushima except through broadcast or the Internet, both of which are yet filtered resources; namely, they are ideally manipulated by third parties. Ironically, since grabbing more attention comes first for them, they rather exaggerate the truth than convey as it is by a series of ridiculous edition. That’s why we must remain in mind that information by mass media could be distorted by their commercial convenience all times. Therefore, she is nothing but one of us who are danced on a tide of unascertainable information.

Jungfrau (2) The tram was very charming, going up slowly letting passengers hear of rickety sounds caused by gears underneath it matching the track. After transferring at the halfway station, Kleine Scheidegg, the view became even more mysterious. The bottom of valley opened up widely as if absorbing everything, wild animals were living their own life without distress, and the higher the tram went up, the less trees were seen but the more ragged surfaces with a sprinkle of snow appeared. It came into a dim tunnel through the top. Despite the view blinded, I was getting more excited at what would be in store for me as good as riding Disney rides. Finally it arrived at the top, 3454m from the sea level, all the way from 1000m. It was like a mine featuring entertainment. There are plenty of activities inside from a standing dynamic theater on a path, ice-curving statues, to interactive exhibitions. Nevertheless I single-mindedly sought a way to an observation deck in order to suffice my high-beating heart. Seeking out the way leaking a shine of outside, I was led to the place. It was stunning moment. The tips of mountains consisting of the Alps were viewed with my bare eyes, chunks of clouds were underneath, and the sky was intensively blue. When I looked downward, I was feeling like ascended to the heaven and watching down a deep ocean. It helped me trace back my entire memory from my birth through the presence and admire the achievement. What’s there to hope? That moment was one of signatures in the 38-day adventure won’t be wiped away and brought to my grave.

Jungfrau (1) Conversing with my colleague just a while ago reminded me of memories in Switzerland where I actualized one of my yearnings during a 38-day backpacker journey. It was on the 24th day. I was on the train departing from Luzern bound for Interlaken. The train was snaking into a bunch of greenish trees as it went slowly forward, soon surrounded by exquisite lakes. While relishing ever-changing scenery through the train window, I remember I kept myself busy for taking pictures with excitement. Before I knew it the train arrived at Interlaken, and I transferred to the local train bound for Grindelwald that was my destination. I was amazed at what the scenery had been changing drastically into more idyllic and peaceful, and getting approached a belt of dynamic, steep mountains. It was brimmed with gems of nature resources. Grindelwald is a tiny village, sitting on a gorge of the Alps, of which altitude hits approximately 1,000m. It is seen noting but a bunch of accommodations in front of the terminal, and yet every building there was harmonized with the atmosphere. More significantly, a world famous mountain, Eiger, which has kept enchanting alpinists, is in your arm’s reach alongside of paralleled mountains. It was more than overwhelming to tremble me with dignity of nature. Checking in an inn straight ahead, I managed to get a fast sleep to get ready for the next day. Glare of the sunshine through the window woke me up in the early morning, took a fresh shower and rushed out for a long-awaited activity, climbing up to the peak of Jungfrau by tram. I had made a purchase for the ticket beforehand at the inn, which was a bit pricy in spite of being moderately discounted, though it found worthwhile after all. The ticket was assigned at a further station in 20 minutes walk, and thereby I decided to take a stroll down to the station. It was just a short walk, though I was impressed by the sophisticated sweeping view. No matter how far I kept at walk I was able to overlook anything without being obstructed with annoying buildings unlike urban places.

Life in -35 degree Recently I just moved into one of the coldest region in Canada, where the actual temperature goes down to -35 degree and the feeling one to -45 degree in average. Not only did the fact that is still considered as a livable place blow the hell my mind, but it also taught me some survival tips there. Needless to say, there are tons of snow covering up all over the scene all times whether snowing on the day or not. Because of being severely cold out here, which the temperature cannot be defeats a standard that of freezer, snows never melts down and keeps accumulated on the entire ground. As stepping on, you hear squeaky sounds since it is finely powdery. The story up to here sounds appealing to those who reside in hotter regions, however snow fallen on the ground is as terrible as clouds of dust. Because it should be frequently removed especially for an entryway of property, blooming task is a mandatory chore which is a murder on your back. If you wandered around for more than 5 minutes, all of your sensitivities from fingertips to legs would go numb. Without blinking once ten seconds, you see both of your eyelashes frozen up. I was holding frozen items from the nearest grocery on my way home, and I actually feel more warmth than just exposing my bare hands to the air. Crows here grow over-the-top fluffy beard appearing to develop freezing tolerance in every way. Groves are one of the significant equipment in such places. Without it, you cannot touch any metal, such as doorknobs. You otherwise suffer from severe frostbitten as if you lick an ice cube directly with your tongue. For the reason, most of wholesalers provide a huge supply of groves and likely go out of stock because their high demands. There is no chance to witness any water running outside. When I took a look at drainage furnished on wall, sewage was frozen up and designed such an artistic icicle instead. Whenever I feel like putting some ice in a drink, all I do is leave some cold water out of a window for 15 minutes. It’s much easier to make ones in the freezer and need less time. It is actually very interesting study to take up here, which comes to good life experience, and I learn a lot of things to live while fighting with freezing coldness day by day. One more thing that I am excited about here is fair possibility to observe northern lights up in the sky. Please make my wish while I am here!

One determination Theory of cognitive dissonance was defined by an American psychologist Leon Festinger. Hypothetically you smoke a box of cigarettes and make an attempt to quit smoking responding to awareness of the poisonous aspect. You soon find it stressful to discontinue the habit and quote any reference pertaining to tertiary facts, such as an example of longevity smokers, to conceal the obvious negativities. It’s a convincing process to justify oneself to be less frustrated. Nevertheless I remain aware of that, the one whom I respect of hit the nail on my head today. I may have shunned thinking to let an offer go, though it was not really what I wanted in fear of no another opportunity further. I saw a handful of hope on the offer, though anxiety gets doubled, so was trying to go for it. However the word by him shocked me out, who was just intending to notify the decision that I made to be on the offer, and granted me a moment for reconsideration. To be on the right track, I should not stop here but get going to the deadline. I was definitely half-assed and shut down possibilities that can be open to. I’ve got some values that I hate to dispose of, however I was about to lose them without viable challenges. That is, perhaps, because I was bringing up a majority of dissonance, looking at a way out, and single-mindedly finding possibilities on one side, namely the offer. Now it becomes a turning point to take actions to get any better. I limit the time to short period and blast my passion out to the full. It might let others see me playing foolish, but it shouldn’t be the matter I care. Surrender is the stupidest thing. Being hunger is always the driving motivator to push oneself up. I'll do it no matter what is in store for me afterward. "Stay hungry. Stay foolish"

Common sense As one of my favorite art, I mention Optical Illusions. It's an artistic technique hiding more than two perspectives, entertaining audience with confusion. Once obsessed with one side of the perspectives extremely, it's merely possible to be aware of another one till someone else points out. It is not applied only for pictures: "common sense" works in the same way among human relation. Two individuals look at the same information and someone else asks them opinions to each of them. One might honestly answer what he/she actually sees, whereas the other brings up something not described at all, although it still fairly makes sense. Believe it or not, the latter one goes into that side so it shuts out another possibility and persistently insists on the one's own perspective, which is not acceptable to the opponent, too. After all, both of them resorts to the same word "common sense". It's not wrong to advocate either side, but still important to avoid employing the idiotic word to terminate the argument. It's not the matter of whether you wrong or me wrong, but whether you can willingly put yourself into the opponent's shoes. "Common sense" is the word that I hate the most ever.

Now what...? Region code setting on DVD player is inexplicably annoying… I unconsciously overreached the number granted to convert the region code on the DVD player of my laptop, and it has permanently locked so that won’t permit me to change again forever… I have been doing ample research in order to find out the free-charged method to watch the remaining of chapters of DVD, which I bought recently, but there seems no way out unless purchasing a new software or supplemental DVD player… I even made an attempt to hack the firmware to let it compatible to rewrite region code accordingly, but it didn’t work out… If only it was locked with the North America’s region code, I could continue on watching the intriguing American dramas… Drat, I really don’t want to buy paid software for the sake… damn

japanese Spa Scene (3) Public Bath is small community. It’s always friendly and vibrant. Once stepping inside, you will hear of people laughing with their companies. As the development of technology and the change of trend, most of Public Baths are getting a commercial hub equipped with abundant amenities. It gives us more entertainment and comfort, whereas, reduces the number of archaic bathhouses with lovely chimney, sadly. I found a travel article about Finland recently stating how special “Saunas” to Finns is. “Sauna is for your mind. It really helps you to calm down in a modern society where it is never quiet”, mentioned the article. The idea is closely relevant to a concept of church. The time visiting a church is when people seek a deviation from reality. That is what we call for in Onsen. The soothing time of bathing brimmed with Furyu will hit you a new idea and help you confess a concern to your buddy. That is a special ritual. In conclusion, bathing for Japanese is a way that we participate in physical and mental purification. Besides, it’s also a significant moment to develop communication with people. As the time evolves, people’s focus on bathing shifts the essence of life to its recreational aspect, and they more likely pursuit curative benefits, which has consolidated the idea of spa. My hope is that people will seize higher recognition toward Japanese spa and come visit us with full of curiosity. Closure.