Calling Jake Adelstein

PLEASE WAIT LOADING ,,,,,,,,, Uh-oh.

Japan firm wants to lease 1 northern island for tsunami debris
Saipan Tribune

A private Japanese firm has offered to lease one of the islands north of Saipan as a disposal and recycling site for tons of debris from the March 2011 tsunami in Japan, Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) said yesterday.

Tenorio said officials of the firm will be coming to Saipan next week to meet with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to discuss the proposal, which could mean millions of dollars of fresh revenues for the CNMI and help Japan in its recovery.

"If the response is good, there's a plan to charter a plane to fly to one of the islands and take a look at it. If the deal is okay, then we'll sign a lease," Tenorio said in an interview after meeting with the governor yesterday afternoon.

Tenorio, a former governor and speaker, pointed out that the tsunami debris from Japan that are planned to be shipped to one of the Northern Islands are "non-toxic" and "non-radioactive" materials...

Yeah, right. I am sure the certificate of guarantee will be printed on genuine "Govemnet of Japan" stationery, too.

This could all be legitimate, of course. Honestly. Truly.

Very Kind of Him - Reconstructing 311

PLEASE WAIT LOADING ,,,,,,,,, A while back Ourmani Nabiko, the hardest-working human being I have ever met, asked me whether or not I would be willing to participate in a group publication attempting to draw some conclusions about 3/11, revisit some of the stories of the triple disaster or tell some of the untold stories. I said "Yes," without hesitation. Given his astonishing Quakebook project, I felt honored.

Well, Reconstructing 311 is now alive and kicking and available from Amazon.com.

Mine is the least of the contributions, in my humble opinion. It does go part of the way, however, in fleshing out the argument answering the criticism Michael Penn (a knowledgeable and astute analyst - if you do not subscribe to his newsletter The Tokyo Diplomat, you are missing out) levels against my assessment of Naoto Kan, outlined in my post on Thursday. The inimitable Jake Adelstein writes about what he knows best, those charming business facilitators in the loud suits and big cars. Philip Brasor illuminates how the public gets none of the information it needs, with or without commercials. Natalie Stucky meets up with the last man in the dead zone, whose zest for life, just life, is bracing...

I could go on and on but will stop here.

Reform of the Sumo World

PLEASE WAIT LOADING ,,,,,,,,,

Former yokozuna Takanohana surrounded by talent-challenged and unfunny Yoshimoto Kogyo performers.

I remember gagging when I read this title and introductory paragraph.

Reformer Takanohana elected to sumo board
Kyodo News

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 - Reform-minded former yokozuna Takanohana was elected to the 10-man Japan Sumo Association board on Monday.

Takanohana was among 11 candidates running in the governing body's first board election in eight years, held because of his surprise departure from the Nishonoseki faction...

(Link)

Words and their meanings should have to have some meeting place -- or at least be in the same general vicinity as one another. A person is not a reformer just because is he someone under 40 years of age joining a group of half-catatonic septuagenarians and octogenarians. Reform is understood to be the effectuating of positive change.

In justification of my gagging reflex, Takanohana recently inked a contact with organized crime gang-infested promotion company and talent (their noun, not mine) agency Yoshimoto Kogyo. This was done in order to promote sumo, which has seen drastic declines in popularity due to numerous scandals and the multiplications of sports alternatives, the outcomes of which are not necessarily fixed in advance. (E and E)

On Saturday Takanohana joined a performance of Yoshimoto Kogyo players for the first time, ostensibly to promote the Spring Sumo Tournament. His appearance included such tasteful and hilarious moments as being passed a paper bag purportedly filled with 3 million yen in cash and being tapped on the penis by a female member of the troupe. (image).

This represents reform, I suppose, in a sport where, to borrow a phrase from disgraced former yokozuna Akebono, grown men walk about in public in diapers.

All appropriate, I guess, for the promotion of an event with its stars seriously crossed. The date of the opening of the Spring Grand (their adjective, not mine) Sumo Tournament: March 11, the one year anniversary of the Great Eastern earthquake and tsunami.

Where have you gone Chiyonofuji? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

Image courtesy: Daily Sports Online