JJWalsh

A new start after 60: I’d had several careers but no degree – then I became a palaeontologist at 62 In search of a new adventure, Craig Munns went back to school. Now, at 65, he spends his days examining long-vanished life forms

A new start after 60: I’d had several careers but no degree – then I became a palaeontologist at 62

Old before Kyōto was born, Jōnan-gū stood conveniently to the capital's south west and was thus considered protection against this unlucky direction.
Emperor Kanmu probably established the shrine that we know, and even now people pray here for protection from unlucky directions.

Weeping plum blossoms at Jonan-gu.

Weeping plum blossoms at Jonan-gu.

Weeping plum blossoms at Jonan-gu.

Nao-san enjoys the plum blossoms at Jonan-gu.

🗺️🤔SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL🧭🌸

Second only to Kitano Tenmangū as the go-to destination for plum blossoms, Jōnan-gū's "Spring Mountain" (春の山) reimagines a Heian-period style garden.

even the mean monks
come to eat rice cakes-
God of Jōnan
腹あしき僧も餅くへ城南神
-Yosa-no-Buson (与謝蕪村).

Recovery following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis has been uneven across northern Japan. What do those efforts reveal about reconstruction as the country prepares for the next megaquake? 👉 ebx.sh/jHTJ4L

"Japanese people should face reality": A member of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women called on the Japanese government to confront the country's entrenched gender inequality. 👉 ebx.sh/Br3p1m

She made a promise before her friend dies in the tsunami. Fifteen years later, she's finally following through. 👉 ebx.sh/OZ8EZ7

Counterpoint: here

I would like to report Mating Season.

Tasty vegan Vietnamese lunch makes me wonder if I'd enjoy traveling more in Asia than as a vegetarian in the 90's might be many more options now! 😋

Absolutely 💯

He's right. The documentation work is incredible but it's a stopgap. Without funded apprenticeships the techniques die with the last person who knows them, no matter how good the records are.

Online ads top 50% of annual ad spending in Japan for first time Spending on TV, newspaper, magazine and radio ads in 2025 dipped 1.6% to ¥2,298 billion, down for the first time in two years.

Total spending on advertisements in Japan in 2025 marked a record high for the fourth straight year, with the share of online ads topping 50% for the first time, a survey has shown.

Fukushima nuclear power plant discharging final round of treated water for FY2025 The operation, scheduled to run until March 24, will result in the release of about 7,800 tons of treated water containing tritium.

The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has started its seventh — and final — round of treated water discharge into the Pacific for fiscal 2025.

How fossil fuel disruptions lead to booms in solar and batteries The war in the Middle East has roiled oil and gas markets. Under a severe scenario, one estimate says that crude could reach $108 a barrel.

When fuel prices spike, paying a premium or burning less fuel were the only options. But now, falling prices of solar and batteries offer another.

One in 10 Japanese workers want to labor longer, survey shows Meanwhile, 30.0% hope to reduce their work hours, and 59.5% are satisfied with the status quo, according to the labor ministry survey.

A labor ministry survey has shown that 10.5% of workers in Japan want to work longer hours.

Getting japanese automobile makers to develop autonomous EV electric delivery fleets like being developed in California is an important future labor shortage measure

Pollen dispersing at higher rate than usual in western Tokyo The hay fever season could die down earlier than in previous years as a result.

Pollen is dispersing at a higher rate than usual in western Tokyo, causing misery to those allergic to it, though the hay fever season might end sooner because of it.

Cherry blossom season set to begin up to a week earlier than usual Somei Yoshino cherry trees are expected to begin flowering on March 17 in Nagoya, before those in the Kanto-Koshin, Shikoku and Kyushu regions start blooming.

Cherry blossom season is expected to arrive up to a week earlier than usual this year, with blooms forecast to begin in Tokyo on March 19.

Japan and Canada are planning to establish an economic security dialogue, with discussions to be held at the vice minister level and China sitting at the top of the agenda. 👉 ebx.sh/2Igqcl

Hong Kong’s democracy fight is also a battle for women’s freedom Despite gendered repression, smear campaigns and imprisonment by Beijing authorities, women in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement continue to lead and resist.

Commentary: On International Women’s Day, we honor all those women who refuse to be sidelined, no matter the odds.

The limits of Japan’s immigration charade Until now, the quality and training of Japanese-language teachers were largely left to the private sector, including academia.

Commentary: Japan is expanding professional Japanese language education for foreign workers, but its refusal to acknowledge immigration raises questions about how fully migrants will be accepted into society.

UNIQLO could boost its global brand by launching #fairtrade #ethical #sustainable #upcycled and a #repair #reuse service of clothes made-in-india for the huge Indian market & ethical #supplychain beyond #winwin

Until working women get equal pay and equal opportunities for work in Japan in addition to childcare support & benefits we will see more & more cash-strapped working women feel they have 🙂‍↔️ choice but to choose professional life over motherhood - supporting fair employment will improve birthrate

Seek Sustainable Japan | JJWalsh LIVE Talks & Podcasts & Tours from Japan ❤️ with a focus on how we can live, work and travel with a lighter footprint while promoting and engaging with Japanese culture and local people doing great t...

MARCH has so many great talks about sustainable Japan travel, biz & culture

Talks with deep-japan insiders 'good people doing great things' on the SEEK SUSTAINABLE JAPAN TALKSHOW & podcast

Join us LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn & FB @gethiroshima.bsky.social

youtube.com/@seeksustain...

Absolutely 💯 true! When I saw him recently I said we need to clone him & he replied seriously, actually the Japanese government needs to fund apprenticeships in Japan more seriously there's only so much one person can do
But still so grateful he's doing sooo much!

Douglas Brooks is one of maybe two or three Westerners who've actually apprenticed with Japanese boatbuilders. The scary part is several of the masters he trained under have since passed away, and their techniques only survived because he documented them.

The long, humble history of the umbrella From ancient courts to Meiji streets, the umbrella shelters commerce, faith, folly and fragile human longing.

From 17th-century merchants to Meiji fiction, the humble umbrella traces commerce, belief and loneliness across Japanese history.

Delicious vegan Japanese Shojin-ryori dinner set #japan #hiroshima YouTube video by Seek Sustainable Japan | JJWalsh

Video clips of last night's incredible vegan shojin-ryori meal
youtube.com/shorts/x1YE5...

Incredible vegan shojin-ryori at Tenzo Hiroshima (shojin-ryori not always vegan in Japan) Advanced booking only but worth it 😋
maps.app.goo.gl/LsRu7TcuNUEF...

Webinar poster, showing the main speakers: Elizabeth Tasker, Tomo Usui, Seiji Sugita, and Rui Tahara.

What are little asteroid grains made of? 🪨🔬 Find out in two hours (03/05 at 5pm JST) where Tomo Usui and I will discuss the science of the Hayabusa2 mission to asteroid Ryugu! 🛰️🔭🧪 Registration is free: www.trybooking.com/events/landi...