On a Floating Bridge » Archive for December 2009

Winter Solstace Sakura

Winter Solstace Sakura

Oh dear. The cherry blossom tree on my balcony opened a flower on the shortest day of the year. Now in full bloom…. Only 3 months early. Download article as PDF … Read entire article »

Filed under: Being Green in Japan, Generally Japan


Best Japanese learning tools of the year

Best Japanese learning tools of the year

Next year I’m hoping to bag the JLPT 1, which is a helpful if somewhat archaic measure of Japanese ability that is useful proof to show to companies / scholarship foundations or annoy friends with at parties. It theoretically covers all the day to day kanji you would need to, say, read a newspaper, roughly 2000. Despite its drawbacks, I’ve definitely benefited from a more focused vocabulary building, and the consensus among me and friends … Read entire article »

Filed under: Learning Japanese


COP15 fails, back to normal life

COP15 fails, back to normal life

No comment necessary. Good luck, if you are a wealthy citizen of a first world country, perhaps you might consider investing in this alternative to a sustainable society. Download article as PDF … Read entire article »

Filed under: Eco Seikatsu, The Green Agenda


Japan COP15 Demo

Japan COP15 Demo

Japan manages a single vigil, is Prime Minister Hatoyama listening? The jury is still out at Copenhagen, but round the world popular protest has tried to bring home the urgency of the situation. Here in Japan, a single vigil was organised, (a full 70 times less than the UK…) The new prime minister made a promising gesture by pledging 20% cuts (not sure on which level…) but let’s hope the polar bear kits on sale for … Read entire article »

Filed under: Being Green in Japan, Eco Seikatsu, The Green Agenda


Rob Hopkins pinpoints Peak Oil

Congratulations Rob, about time you had the ear of the TED audience. Download article as PDF … Read entire article »

Filed under: Eco Seikatsu, The Green Agenda