JITTI Journal Cultural Article July 2018 Back to All JITTI Journals July 2018 Cultural Article AWAODORI: A Japanese Traditional Dance Festival Held in Tokushima by Daisuke Miyamoto There are many different kinds of festivals in the world, and we can learn the unique characteristics of each country from their festivals. Japan has many kinds of festivals in every region. GION-festival, TENJIN-festival and KANDA-festival are the most famous in Japan, and these three are recognized as Japan's major ones. Many tourists from foreign countries visit so that they may enjoy seeing the festival. In this article I would like to introduce a unique, Japanese traditional dance festival called AWAODORI, which has been performed in Tokushima for about 400 years. Why? Because not only can you observe the festival, but you can also easily join in. AWAODORI is one of Japan's three major BON ODORI-festivals, which is a type of Japanese traditional dance festival held in the summer. It is held all over Tokushima prefecture and has recently been held in other locations as well, but Tokushima City's festival is the biggest with over one million people attending last summer's festivities. AWA was once the name of Tokushima, and ODORI means dance. There are two types of dance forms. One is called Man-dance which expresses briskness, and the other is called Woman-dance which expresses glamour. Men cannot dance Woman-dance but women can dance both. This is the rule, but the dance forms are similar. The biggest difference between the two are the costumes. Those wearing white costumes are dancing Man-dance. Those wearing pink costumes are dancing Woman-dance. (Daisuke Miyamoto) How do you dance AWAODORI? Don't worry. It's very simple. Just wave your hands over your head and step to the traditional music which is played by Japanese flutes, drums, bamboo, and chimes. How do you join in? Don't be afraid. Many groups called "REN", consisting of dancers and music players, parade the street. The REN is formed by region, business company, or some other distinction. When you find the municipal office a REN group, you can join it if you want. Finally, I would like to leave you with a famous proverb about AWAODORI. It goes, "there are silly watching people and silly dancing people. You might as well dance if you're going to be silly anyway." The most important thing is to be silly and enjoy the dance!! It is very popular with children as well. (Daisuke Miyamoto) The finale of the dance -they're so excited!! ( IMG_4999 by shalma is licensed under CC BY 2.0 )

JITTI Journal Cultural Article May 2021 Back to All JITTI Journals May 2021 Cultural Article Going Wild: Japan’s Native Animals and Where to Find Them by Mamiko Kim When I taught English in Japan several years ago, I tasked a handful of my elementary school students to guess what types of animals might live in our region. These clever 7- and 8-year-olds were quick to name off a long list of potential candidates, including accurately naming deer and snakes, but they also had some interesting guesses, like wild boar and monkeys. The biggest shock to me, however, was that they struggled to think of one that is so commonplace here in Washington, D.C. that the Washington Post has an annual local photography contest of these creatures. Can you think of what animal it might have been? You likely see one of their kind outside your window right now. The students were able to correctly guess that eagles were in our region. Mr. President, a male bald eagle that shares his nest at the National Arboretum in NE Washington, D.C. with a rotating number of First Ladies, is a minor local celebrity with a 24/7 live cam. The answer is squirrels. I later learned how very smart and logical my students had been in their responses. Later that year, an announcement was made over the school intercom. “Do not exit the building, as it is dangerous,” it said. “There is a monkey wandering the school yard.” Monkeys may have been an occasional visitor to these students’ schools, but squirrels were a sight rarely, if ever, seen. Animals are neighbors that we sometimes take for granted, and it is fascinating to think how the animals we see every day are not common elsewhere, and vice versa. Japan has a rich diversity of animals, and luckily there are means for travelers to learn more about them. Here are a few native Japanese animals and where to find them: Japanese Macaque Also known as the snow monkey, the Japanese macaque is perhaps the most famous Japanese native animal outside of the country. Measuring as long as 2 feet, these macaques live across the Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu regions, ranging from subtropical to subarctic climates. In fact, among nonhuman primates they live the farthest north and in the coldest climate in the world, surviving temperatures as chilling as -4° F (-20° C). With such blistering cold weather, it may be no surprise that these characteristically gray or brown furred, red faced, and stubby tailed monkeys have found ways to adapt. In a country that takes pride in its natural hot springs and bathing culture, Japanese macaques can be found soaking in hot springs as warm as 109° F (43° C). These ingenious creatures have been observed inventing new behaviors and sharing them with others in their group as well, including washing food in rivers, seasoning sweet potatoes in salty sea water, and making snowballs for fun.1) With their high intelligence and human-like behavior, they are a popular character in Japanese folklore and even appear in Japanese Shinto and Buddhist religions. The Wise Monkeys originated from Japan (source 2), with “mi-zaru, kika-zaru, iwa-zaru,” or “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,” being a play on words for the Japanese word for monkey (s/zaru). The monkeys carved here are on the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, opened in 1617. Jigokudani Yaen-koen, established in 1964, is perhaps the best place for visitors to see a wild Japanese macaque up close. The park is in Nagano Prefecture within the monkeys’ natural habitat, which encompasses several kilometers of the surrounding mountain forests and valley. Within the park is a man-made hot spring, which is a popular spot for the monkeys seeking a warm soak during the winter months. While they have become accustomed to seeing humans, the park is not enclosed, and the monkeys come and go as they please. The macaques may be found in the mountainside as well, but are more apt to keep their distance, so the park truly gives the greatest opportunity for visitors to take photographs. Meanwhile, travelers can also enjoy the natural hot springs in the area themselves with two old-fashioned resort towns nearby, Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen, which boast a wide range of historic guests, from samurai to poets, and Japanese-style inns as old as 400 years.3) The monkeys do come into the villages as well at times but prefer their own hot spring. Only a 5–10-minute bus ride from the park, the towns offer a respite after the monkey-watching of the day.4) No monkey business here- just honest relaxation for human and macaque alike. Steller’s Sea Eagle As the boat captain tosses the prepared butchered fish onto ice, you hold your breath. You’ve come to see the Steller’s sea eagle, one of the least observed or understood birds in the world due to it only being found in the remote reaches of Siberia Russia and northern Hokkaido, Japan.5) These migratory birds, the largest sea eagle and the heaviest eagle in the world (wingspan up to 8 feet/284 cm and weighing up to 21 pounds/9.5 kg), only come down to Japan during the winter where they follow the Pacific cod and Alaska pollock so important to their diet.6) While generally wary of humans, they’ve been known to walk within a few feet of fishermen that they’ve seen before, and even feasted on deer killed by huntsmen. In Japan, they come close to boats and as many as 20-30 can be seen at a time. This would be a rarity in Russia, where the birds breed along cliffs and spread out into pairs as they nest, making them more elusive. You hope today’s venture will be fruitful, and you are soon rewarded. A dark brown bird is spotted, and as it gets closer you can see the white tips along the ridge of its wings and on its tail. It lands gracefully among the pieces of fish laid about and begins to enjoy the prepared spread. The Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido is registered as a World Heritage site, specifically as it is a winter nesting ground for several rare birds, including the Steller’s sea eagle, which has been named a Japanese National Treasure and is protected. Winter cruises depart from the town of Rausu on the peninsula for wildlife observation expeditions, and along with the Steller’s sea eagles, Blakiston’s fish owls, white-tailed sea eagles, spotted seals, ribbon seals, and clione (sea angels), may be seen. February and March are the best months to visit the peninsula, as drift ice floats into the Nemuro straight, essentially cutting it off from the ocean, constructing a calm surface where the wildlife gathers. If visitors come any later, these rare birds will have flown back to their breeding grounds, and hopeful bird watchers will have to try again the following year. A size comparison between a white-tailed eagle (left- about the size of the American bald eagle) and the Steller’s sea eagle (right). Both birds nest at the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido over winter. Japanese Giant Salamander If you were walking by a river, and saw something move, what would you do? Would you be intrigued and go closer, or back away in caution? Now, what if that something was almost the same size as you? If you are lucky, you may have caught a glimpse of a Japanese Giant Salamander, who have captured the public imagination for generations. The Japanese giant salamander can be found in rivers in southwestern Japan, growing to 5 feet (160 cm) and 55 lbs. (25 kg), and living to nearly 80 years in the wild. Without gills and with poor eyesight due to its small eyes, one may wonder how well it can survive submerged, but its skin has the remarkable ability to absorb oxygen in flowing water and is also covered in hair-like sensory cells that detect vibrations. This characteristic is helpful when the salamander hunts insects, frogs, and fish at night, and its brown and black spotted skin also makes for excellent camouflage during the day when it hides under river rocks. Its name in Japanese, Osanshouo (大山椒魚), or Giant Pepper Fish, also gives a hint to another hidden talent it possesses, which when threatened, can excrete a strong smell reminiscent of Japanese peppers. "Beware of the Yokai!" from Discovery Channel Magazine June/July 2009 issue. Calligrapher: Ai Tatebayashi It is no surprise that Japanese giant salamanders have inspired legends and curiosity for ancient and modern Japanese people alike. Within Japanese mythical folklore, it is thought that the idea for kappa, or river monsters, may be based on them. With webbed hands and feet, a turtle shell on its back, and a plate on its head, kappa were dangerous creatures who were blamed for drownings. It must have given ancient Japanese people a fright to see a vaguely human-sized figure in rivers, though of course we know now that Japanese giant salamanders are generally ambivalent towards humans. More recently, the world-wide famous Pokémon franchise took an interest to Japanese giant salamanders, which were the inspiration for the cartoon creature Quagsire. Quagsire is described as carefree swimmer who likes collecting round objects, which are lucky if found by others. This certainly is an image upgrade! Quagsire from Pokémon The Japanese giant salamander’s habitats are under threat from development, with scientists estimating that further destruction will lead to the animals’ extinction (they are currently labeled as vulnerable). With this in mind, in Tottori Prefecture the Nichinan Town Office, the Daisen Oki National Park, leading Salamander Researcher, Dr. Sumio Okada, and regional expert, Richard Pearce have formed the Nichinan Japanese Giant Salamander Conservation Experience, an educational opportunity bringing participants along to assist Dr. Okada as he surveys the salamander population. Surveys are done in an ethical manner, with locations specifically selected and rotated to leave the salamanders as undisturbed as possible. Furthermore, no such expeditions are made during the breeding season (late August to mid-September). The price of the experience includes a donation to the Tari Hanzake (Giant Salamander) Conservation Group, which will further assist in conservation efforts. With the salamander’s welfare placed first in importance, travelers participating in the experience can feel good about giving a helping hand in preserving one of Japan’s important endangered creatures. These are just three of Japan’s native animals, but there are many, many more. For animal lovers, Japan offers a grand escape to see many animals up close. Including the wild animals listed above, Nara is famous for its deer that come up to ask for snacks, Okunoshima has a large population of rabbits that will hop along after you, and lounging foxes can be photographed at the Zao Fox Village in Miyagi. Of course, tame animals offer companionship in the many various cafes throughout Japan as well, including cat cafes and Shiba Inu cafes. Regardless of your length of trip, there is always an opportunity to see Japan’s native animals. References: https://blueplanetbiomes.org/japanese_macaque.php https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803104448685#:~:text=The%20Wise%20Monkeys%20originated%20in,Roads%2C%20whose%20attendants%20they%20are . https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6029.html https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6028.html https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/stellers-sea-eagle https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Steller%27s_sea_eagle#/overview https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/new-zoo-japanese-giant-salamander#:~:text=A%20supersized%20salamander%20recently%20debuted,up%20to%205%20feet%20long ! https://jpninfo.com/28101 https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Quagsire_(Pok%C3%A9mon)

As the coronavirus continues to impact air travel on a global scale, airline passenger data reflects how individual countries have responded to the pandemic. Read how the United States and Japan have fared. < Back Civil Aviation The Impact on Airline Passengers Due to the Spread of Infection of the Novel Coronavirus (Statistics from Japan and the United States) By Shuntaro Okimoto As the coronavirus continues to impact air travel on a global scale, airline passenger data reflects how individual countries have responded to the pandemic. Read how the United States and Japan have fared. Download the Report

JITTI Journal January 2023 Back to All JITTI Journals January 2023 Feature Article Autonomous Driving in Restricted Areas at Japanese Airports By Yoshihiro Fujimaki 1. What is “autonomous driving in restricted areas”? Development of the autonomous driving car is progressing not only for public roads but also for airport environments. It looks easier to ensure traffic safety in restricted areas of airports, so-called “Airside,” than on public roads because neither the general public nor cars driven by them are present. In addition, while the Japanese government has set an aspirational target of 60 million inbound tourists in 2030, the capacity of airports may be constrained by a shortage of labor working at airports, especially those working for ground handling services. Therefore, autonomous driving cars at airports are expected to be a quite useful tool for labor-saving. Based on the above circumstances, in 2018, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) established a committee to study demonstration experiments of autonomous driving in airport restricted areas. This committee aims to realize autonomous driving in restricted areas by conducting several demonstration experiments. Since its establishment, the committee has been considering the guidelines, selecting participants, and reviewing the results of such demonstration experiments. The committee focuses on towing tractors and ramp buses, some of which are currently at “Level 3” autonomy and will be at “Level 4” autonomy in the future. The differences between “Level 3” and “Level 4” in autonomy are shown in the table below. Table 1: Differences between “Level 3” and “Level 4” in autonomous driving (Prepared based on “Public-private ITS Initiative/Roadmaps 2020” (in Japanese, definitions of these Levels are equivalent to SAE International J3016 (2016)): https://cio.go.jp/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/its_roadmap_2020.pdf ) 2. Autonomous driving towing tractor Towing tractors are used for transporting passenger checked baggage and other cargo within the airport. Serving as the demonstration experiments which I mentioned earlier, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have been conducting several trials of autonomous driving towing tractors. ANA has been holding tests at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport). Their autonomous driving towing tractor is manufactured by Toyota Industries Corporation, and it runs along the pre-defined route based on information gathered from camera, GPS and Laser imaging Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) integrated sensors. In FY2021, they performed over 200 transportations of passenger checked baggage and other cargo, over 1,100 km in total, without any delay. JAL has been conducting tests at Narita International Airport. Their autonomous driving towing tractor is manufactured by TLD Group, and it also runs along pre-defined route based on information from odometer, inertial measuring unit (IMU), GPS and LiDAR sensors. In FY2020, they performed over 300 transportations of passenger checked baggage, over 300 km in total, and have officially introduced the autonomous driving towing tractor since March 2021. (The above figure is reprinted from the JAL’s website: https://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/202103/005973.html ) 3. Autonomous driving ramp bus Ramp buses are used for transporting passengers between airport terminal buildings or between airport terminal buildings and aircraft. An autonomous driving ramp bus is now undergoing demonstration experiments at Narita International Airport. That autonomous driving ramp bus is for 10 passengers, and is manufactured by Tajima Motor Cooperation with autonomous driving system developed by TIER IV, which is a software development company in Japan. It runs along the pre-defined route based on information from camera, IMU, GPS and LiDAR sensors, and ran in total for about 80 km in 4 days for a demonstration in FY2021. Currently, the consortium including Narita International Airport Corporation and TIER IV is conducting trials where a single remote supervisor monitors up to three vehicles at the same time. (The above figure is reprinted from the Narita International Airport Corporation’s website (in Japanese: https://www.naa.jp/jp/docs/20220210-5g_HP.pdf ) 4. Towards “Level 4” autonomy Besides vehicle development, several challenges regarding infrastructure and traffic rules still remain in order to realize “Level 4” autonomous driving in airport restricted areas. Particularly in restricted areas, generally there are no traffic lights at intersections and tall traffic lights may become a hazardous obstacle to aircraft in those locations . Regarding this point, it is still under consideration for how to ensure traffic safety using infrastructure and/or traffic rules. JCAB has set the target to realize “Level 4” autonomous driving both for towing tractors and for ramp buses by 2025, and continues working with the participants of demonstration experiments.

JITTI Journal Cultural Article March 2021 Back to All JITTI Journals March 2021 Cultural Article Introduction of Japanese Anime and Manga by Tomomi Dodd A number of Japanese anime/manga have been produced in the past. They have been translated to many languages, and been popular all over the world. In this article, I would like to briefly describe the history of anime/manga in Japan, and introduce some of the most popular ones. The history of Japanese anime started from “Tetsuwan Atomu”(Astro Boy) in the 1930s. Since then, many anime were produced and introduced to the world. It is said that watching the anime “Captain Tsubasa” influenced Frenchman Zinedine Yazid Zidane’s aspirations to become a soccer player. Now Japanese anime is very important in serving as a soft power while promoting the “Cool Japan” image to the world, particularly with regards to popularizing Japanese culture and bolstering the economy. Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) has been very popular in Japan since last year. The pure and positive hero fights hard to return his sister, who has become a demon, back into a human. The story takes place in Japan’s Taishō-era (1912 – 1926). If you watch this show, you can see some parts of Japanese culture, such as scenery of downtown Tokyo during this historic time period and kimono. You can watch it now on Netflix-U.S.A. with English subtitles. Above is the official English dub trailer for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba from Anipliex USA . One Piece is another world famous anime/manga I would like to mention. A shared dream of all boys, it depicts the story of a boy who wants to become the pirate king, embarks out to sea, and goes through adventures with his friends. I like One Piece as it has dynamic and touching stories, which teach important ethics to readers, as well as giving viewers/readers moments to laugh. Watch the 20th opening theme, "Hope," from One Piece with English subs (published by Funimation ). Studio Ghibli Inc. is a Japanese animation film studio. It is known for the high quality of its filmmaking and its artistry. The Studio Ghibli films do not only have interesting stories with beautiful and attractive pictures and music, but also have moral values that appeal to viewers from children to adults. Each movie has some sort of background setting that raises social issues, such as human rights and environmental issues, to viewers. My most favorite film from Studio Ghibli is “Spirited Away” (2001). It shows a girl’s personal and mental growth at a bathhouse after she gets spirited away to a fantastical world. In my opinion, the charms of this film are the strange and humane story setting and interesting characters. Studio Ghibli films are now available on HBO Max with English subtitles. Japanese marketing image of Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli Inc. Japanese anime/manga is now loved by various people all over the world. This pandemic has been challenging for everyone, but is also a good opportunity to discover new things as you have more time to spend at home. I hope you can find a new Japanese anime/manga to enjoy. References: https://yumenavi.info/lecture.aspx?GNKCD=g007578 https://www.vogue.fr/fashion-culture/article/studio-ghibli-everything-to-know-japanese-animation

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JITTI Journal Cultural Article May 2022 Back to All JITTI Journals May 2022 Cultural Article My Mother, the Inventor of Okinawan Taco Rice by Mamiko Kim My mother would feel sheepish to know that I am writing about her. I can picture her now giving me a side glance before saying her usual 「言わなくても良い」(“You don’t need to say anything”). Over the years, her frame seems to have shrunk to reach just 5 feet, and her straight, shoulder-length hair that was once naturally and then later meticulously dyed raven black has now transitioned to a soft ivory. Yet, despite these outward changes, her inner mantra has always remained the same- to serve others generously and not boast about oneself. So here I am bragging on her behalf. According to family lore, my mother is the inventor of Okinawa’s famous taco rice dish. My family feels well-founded in our claims, but before delving into our side of the story, I should first explain the official version of how taco rice was created and became a popular dish. Official Origin Story of Taco Rice In 1984, Matsuzo Gibo opened Parlor Senri, a sit-down restaurant located outside of Camp Hansen, an American military base, serving an array of dishes to American military members missing the taste of home. Recognizing that he was in a glamorous part of town and that his clientele craved something quick and inexpensive, he began experimenting with his menu. Originally, he substituted potatoes as the base of his tacos, removing the tortilla shell. This, however, proved to be too time consuming to make. He then swapped the potatoes out with white Japanese short-grain rice, which could be kept hot and prepared in advance. This, he found, was delicious. At first, his new creation was snubbed by the Okinawan locals, but as more and more young servicemen began pouring into Gibo’s restaurant for this cheap, late-night meal, they began to take notice. Soon other restaurants also began adding taco rice to their menus. Vloggers TabiEats get a taste of Matsuzo Gibo’s taco rice recipe at Taco King. Legacy Gibo’s success allowed him to open his first King Taco fast-food restaurant in Kin, the same town where Parlor Senri was located. Eventually, he did so well that he was able to open 5 other locations. While Parlor Senri closed its doors in 2015, King Taco in Kin is still operating, and is open daily from 10:30 am- 1 pm. Additionally, dozens of other restaurants across Okinawa serve the dish. Most famously, Yoshinoya, a 14,000-strong chain restaurant known mostly for their beef bowls, has it as an item on their menu, but only in Okinawa. Even the U.S. fast-food restaurant KFC briefly served taco rice across Japan in the 1990s, furthering the dishes popularity and sealing its association with Okinawa nationally.  Kin has truly embraced its heritage as the birthplace of taco rice by calling itself the “Taco Rice Town.” In 2010, they gathered some 2,000 local volunteers in a challenge to make the largest taco rice. After negotiations with the Guinness World Record, who had to create a category to recognize the challenge, the townsfolk succeeded in cooking up a 1,645 pound (746 kg) world record meal of taco rice, consisting of 683 pounds of rice, 441 pounds of taco meat, 220 pounds of cheese, 195 pounds of lettuce, and 106 pounds of tomatoes. A base layer of Japanese rice being prepared at Kin’s 2010 Guinness World Record attempt at making the largest taco rice. (Image credit: RyukyuLife.com) My Mother’s Story So how does my mother fit into this narrative? To fully understand, we have to go back to the start of my parents’ relationship. My father grew up in a small farming and manufacturing town in Washington state, and while my grandmother was known to be an adventurous cook, the area’s food scene lacked diversity. The one exception was tacos. When my father met my Japanese mother in college and began to talk more seriously of marriage, he likes to joke that his one condition was that they ate tacos at least once a week. Needless to say, my mother agreed, and they married in 1981. Whether he meant it in jest or not, since the start of their marriage tacos have been a weekly dinner item, and with my father joining the military, taco seasoning was always readily available wherever they went. However, while stationed in Okinawa in 1983, my sister was born, which brought an unexpected challenge. When my mother was introducing solid foods to her, she worried about whether the hard tortilla shells, which were the only kind sold at the time, would be much too dangerous for a baby to consume. After some thought, she substituted them with Japanese rice, which both baby and husband joyfully ate. With my brothers being born soon afterwards, this became the de facto way they ate tacos, which my mother had renamed taco rice. She even shared this new take on tacos with neighbors and friends and took the creation to potlucks for the local church congregation off-base. These friends and neighbors then began making taco rice in their own homes as well, and it became a community favorite. A Surprising Coincidence Shortly after, with a new military assignment, my parents moved away from Okinawa. They continued to thrive, had two more children (including yours truly), and kept their weekly tradition of eating taco rice on Sundays. As everyone grew older, my mother would comment on how much taco rice she would have to cook to keep up with demand. My brothers would heap their whole plates with rice, meat, and cheese during their teenage years, which us kids called taco mountains, as my mother insisted that they add more vegetables. My father retired from the military, and my parent’s time in Okinawa was a fond, but distant memory. It wasn’t until one of my brothers went to Japan that we heard the news. Cooking for himself and a roommate, it came naturally for him to make a staple from home. When the roommate joined him at the table for a meal of taco rice, however, he turned to my brother in wonder and asked him how he knew about this dish. My brother, in shock, responded in kind, puzzled by how someone outside our family would know our mother’s cooking. Turns out this roommate was from Okinawa, and our humble family tradition had become a famous regional meal. One of my favorite Japanese cooking bloggers shows how she makes taco rice. One big difference that we have in my family is in the assembly. We always put the cheese on the rice, not on top of the meat. This ensures that the cheese gets extra gooey and melty when sandwiched between the two warm components of the dish. Conclusion I don’t wish to downplay Matsuzo Gibo’s ingenuity or initiative in creating taco rice in his own right and for making it so widely popular. At the same time, it has been a bizarre feeling knowing that an entire Japanese region is enjoying something that is an embodiment to me of my mother’s love for our family. When I went to Okinawa several years ago, I was invited to dinner by some locals who had known my parents when they lived there. Perhaps fittingly, we ate a meal of taco rice, and they relayed to me how they had first heard of and eaten the dish when my mother had brought it to their community potluck. As we sat there talking, them reminiscing of times before and swapping stories, I looked across the table at their growing family. I felt the warmth of three generations of Okinawans, including grandparents, adult children, and babies, enjoying taco rice together. In that moment, it didn’t matter to me who had invented the dish or whether my mother was properly acknowledged. It just felt like home. I think my mom would agree, this is really what taco rice is about. References:  https://explorepartsunknown.com/okinawa/the-story-behind-okinawas-national-dish/ https://www.visitkintown.jp/en/spot/king-tacos-kin-main-branch https://www.thehawaiiherald.com/2019/10/09/food-culture-the-taco-rice-story/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150519220526/http://okinawa.stripes.com/news/tribute-taco-rice-us-militarys-favorite-mex-oki-fusion-food

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Japan's Strategic Countermeasures against the Pirates of the Seas Japan's Strategic Countermeasures against the Pirates of the Seas By Daisuke Komatsu Towards the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, a series of piracy incidents, including the capture of cargo ships and tankers, occurred in the waters around the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen and Somalia. Additionally, there has been an increase in pirate attacks in Southeast Asian waters in recent years, posing significant threats to the safety of nearby vessels and raising major concerns for economic security. In light of this background, this journal article aims to elucidate Japan's counter-piracy measures. Tracing back the history of piracy in Japan, references to pirates can be found as early as the latter half of the 5th century in the "Nihon Shoki" (Chronicles of Japan). Notably, during the late 15th century and the Sengoku period (Warring States period), pirate groups known as the "Murakami KAIZOKU,” a group functioning both as pirates and a naval force, were frequently active in the Seto Inland Sea. In more contemporary times, incidents such as the 1999 attack on the Arlanda Rainbow, which was en route from Indonesia to Japan, and the 2005 attack on the Japanese-flagged ocean-going tugboat Idaten in the northwestern part of the Strait of Malacca, have occurred. Globally, piracy has been a longstanding maritime security threat throughout history, evident from occurrences in the Roman Empire era, the Vikings in the 8th century, privateers during the Age of Discovery, the Barbary pirates in North Africa, and pirates in the Caribbean and Indian Oceans. Revisiting the definition of piracy, according to Article 101 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, piracy consists of: (a) Any illegal acts of violence, detention, or depredation for private ends by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against: (i) Another ship or aircraft, or persons or property on board in the high seas; (ii) A ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state. (b) Voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or aircraft with knowledge that it is a pirate ship or aircraft. (c) Incitement or intentional facilitation of acts defined in subparagraph (a) or (b). Article 105 of the same convention outlines that any state may seize a pirate ship or aircraft, or a ship taken by piracy and under the control of pirates, and arrest the persons and seize the property on board in the high seas or any other place outside the jurisdiction of any state. The courts of the state which carried out the seizure may decide upon the penalties to be imposed, and, with due regard to the rights of bona fide third parties, may determine the action to be taken with respect to the ship, aircraft, or property. In essence, piracy is robbery conducted on the high seas and is considered a universal enemy against which any state may act. Pirate acts occurring within territorial waters of coastal states, as opposed to the high seas, are defined as armed robbery at sea. Considering the above, an overview of Japan's counter-piracy measures is provided. As an island nation with low food and energy self-sufficiency rates, Japan relies heavily on maritime transport routes for 99.5% of its imported resources essential for maintaining economic activities and social life. Thus, protecting merchant vessels from piracy is a lifeline for the country. Created by the author using freely available resources. Direct enforcement in pirate-infested waters like the Malacca and Singapore Straits was not feasible for Japan due to territorial limitations. Consequently, the Japan Coast Guard led the adoption of the "Asian Anti-Piracy Challenges 2000" at this conference, proposing measures such as mutual visits of patrol ships, joint training exercises, continuous expert meetings, and conducting seminars on maritime crime control. Initiatives also included accepting students for maritime crime seminars at the Japan Coast Guard Academy and JICA, dispatching long-term JICA experts, and supporting capacity building through joint training with coastal countries. These efforts led to a significant reduction in piracy incidents in Southeast Asia after 2004. However, piracy in Somalia, particularly around the Gulf of Aden, surged post-2007. A notable incident in February 2007 involved the hijacking of the MV Rozen, a cargo ship chartered by the World Food Programme for humanitarian aid to Somalia, leading to the abduction of 12 crew members. This incident underscored the international community's need to collaborate in combating piracy in the region. Created by the author using data sourced from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports. In contrast to the pirates in Southeast Asia, those operating in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia are characterized by their heavy armament, organized operations, and operations in a broad maritime area far from land. Notably, they often kidnap entire crews and ships, demanding ransoms, rather than just looting goods or cargoes. Since 1991, Somalia has been in a state of anarchy, lacking a functional government capable of combating piracy, differentiating it from the situation in Southeast Asia. With the passing of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions in 2008, the CTF151 (Combat Task Force) fleet, predominantly comprising EU and NATO member states, was dispatched to protect ships in these waters, leading to an increase in the forceful suppression of pirates. The United States also joined the efforts with its Navy and Coast Guard as part of the combined maritime task force. Recognizing that about 10% of the vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden annually are Japan-related, and to fulfill its role as a responsible nation in the United Nations, Japan acknowledged the importance of counter-piracy measures in the region. The Japan Coast Guard, tasked with protecting lives and property from piracy and maintaining security, faced challenges in collaborating with CTF151 and exercising jurisdiction over maritime crimes in international waters. However, dispatching the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) was considered. Under the Self-Defense Forces Law Article 82, JMSDF's maritime security operations are primarily limited to protecting Japanese lives or property, presenting challenges in guarding non-Japanese vessels like those protected by CTF151. To address these challenges, Japan legislated the Anti-Piracy Measures Law in June 2009. This law enabled the Japan Coast Guard to exercise jurisdiction over piracy, considered a crime in international waters, and allowed JMSDF escort vessels to guard foreign-flagged ships in coordination with CTF151. A significant feature of this law is that it defined piracy as a crime within Japan's legal system for the first time, allowing for the protection of not just Japanese vessels but also foreign ships. The law also permitted preventive actions against piracy, such as firing warning shots when pirates approached civilian vessels. This legislation marked a milestone in asserting jurisdiction in international waters, a domain typically governed by the principle of flag state jurisdiction. JMSDF has since been conducting escort operations and surveillance activities, regardless of the ships' nationality, based on their requests in the Gulf of Aden, with significant collaboration from the Japan Coast Guard. Coast Guard officers, deployed on JMSDF ships, play a crucial role in enforcing the Anti-Piracy Measures Law. This joint operation ensures effective law enforcement and escort operations. From 2013, Japan has participated in CTF151, further intensifying its anti-piracy measures. These efforts have significantly reduced piracy incidents around Somalia. Japan continues to support the enhancement of maritime security capabilities in Somalia and neighboring countries and aims for the fundamental resolution of the piracy issue, contributing to the reconstruction and stabilization of Somalia. Moreover, some analysts suggest that the piracy incidents mentioned earlier might be linked to 2023 Israel-Hamas War, , underscoring the necessity for continued international cooperation and efforts to address the root causes of piracy for ensuring maritime security in the region. Back to All JITTI Journals January 2024 Feature Article

Airport Concession Policy in Japan Airport Concession Policy in Japan by Sarah Fraser Earlier this year, in February, JITI USA held a workshop regarding airport redevelopment using public-private partnerships or P3s. I would like to take a moment to check in with this issue and see what developments or changes have been happening since this time. As you may remember from our workshop, we had speakers from a variety of organizations such as the Eno Center for Transportation, as well as a speaker from the LaGuardia Airport and MLIT Japan. In the seminar we discussed recent cases of airport redevelopment using P3 in the United States, such as the LaGuardia Airport Terminal B project, as well as the efforts in Japan, such as the Sendai Airport and the Fukuoka Airport. In addition, we discussed many of the challenges and benefits there are in utilizing P3s in airport redevelopments. JITI staff, former president, and the speakers of our 2018 Airport Workshop From left: Hiroki Sakamoto (JITI), Makoto Washizu (JITI), Robert Puentes (ENO), Lysa Scully (LaGuardia), Azuma Kato (MLIT) I would like to take a moment to review the Japanese approach to airport concession, as explained by Mr. Kato during our seminar. Regional economies and airports in Japan are and were facing a tough time which created the idea to call for airports to serve as points of regional revitalization. In this way, areas could attract tourists and there would be more flexibility to fly in and out of Japan's regional airports as opposed to hub airports. Concessions would also give the addition benefit of improve efficiency for airport governance. When the airports were governed by MLIT for aeronautical activities and private companies were in charge of non-aeronautical activities there was a disconnect between the management strategies. The idea behind using a concession system was the ability to unify this strategy and attract airlines to various airports. In addition, by using a concession strategy, there would more incentive for efficient airport management and operations across the board, as well as more incentive to promote individual airports for tourism or in connection with local business and other entities. With concessions in place, there are a variety of important benefits, such as improved accessibility to destinations, a stimulus for Japan's overall airline industry, and local revitalization, one of the main focal points. For more information, you can find Mr. Kato's presentation here (link to presentation) via the JITI website. Attracting airlines is one benefit of implementing concessions systems. ( Airport by Jorge DÃaz is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 ) Recently, MLIT has announced that starting in 2020 they will outsource the operation of four national airports, as well as two specific municipal airports and one municipal airport, to the private sector. In accordance with this, MLIT has developed an application guidelines document, which contains conditions and procedures, the selection methods for P3s, and schedules/deadlines for applications and selections. According to the schedule, the terminal building operations will begin in January of 2020 with runway operations continuing at later dates from June of the same year to March of 2021. Using the private-sector know-how and P3s, MLIT hopes to promote tourism and improve the regional activation of the seven airports in Hokkaido. It will be interesting to see the process and the fruits of this extensive P3 project in Hokkaido. Back to All JITTI Journals July 2018 Feature Article

JITTI Journal May 2025 Back to All JITTI Journals May 2025 Feature Article Status of Automated Driving on Subways by Naoki Sato Automation is advancing across all sectors of society, from logistics and warehouse operations to familiar areas like automobiles and home appliances. In recent years, developments in generative AI and robotics have brought about systems that operate without human intervention, gradually becoming integrated into our daily lives. Many of you may have already experienced some form of this transformation. Subways, which support urban mobility, are also taking part in this trend toward automation. In the past, subways were typically operated manually by drivers and conductors, but in recent years, automatic train operation (ATO) systems have been increasingly adopted in countries like Japan and the United States. In this article, we will explore the definition and classification of automatic train operation in subways, introduce examples of its implementation in Japan, and compare them with the situation in the United States to gain a deeper understanding of subway automation. When people hear that a train has "automated driving" they often imagine a fully unmanned train with no driver or conductor. However, automatic train operation in the railway industry consists of several levels, which are internationally classified under the “Grade of Automation” (GoA) system. For example, GoA1 refers to "non-automated operation" (manual operation), where drivers and conductors control acceleration, braking, door operations, and respond to abnormalities. At GoA2, acceleration and braking are automated, while the driver is mainly responsible for monitoring and emergency handling. This GoA2 level is currently widespread in countries such as Japan and the United States, as mentioned earlier. GoA3 is known as "driverless train operation with an onboard attendant" — trains run and stop automatically, with no driver onboard. The attendant, who is not required to be in the front cab, is responsible for tasks such as emergency evacuation guidance. The most advanced level, GoA4, is fully unmanned — all operations, including monitoring, door control, and abnormality handling, are managed entirely by the system. In Japan, a unique intermediate level called "GoA2.5" — which is not included in the international standards — is also being considered. At this level, a crew member without a train driver’s license rides in the front cab and is responsible for emergency stops, providing a transitional form of operation. Classification of Grades of Automation (GoA) in railway operation. (Adapted from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), September 13, 2022, "Railway Autonomous Driving Technology Study Group" p. 2) In Japan, GoA2-level operation, which eliminates the need for a conductor, is commonly referred to as “one-man operation,” and it has already been implemented on many lines. For example, on Tokyo Metro’s Namboku Line, one-man operation using ATO (GoA2) was introduced when the line first opened in 1991. That same year, the Toei Subway also introduced one-man operation (GoA2) on the newly opened sections of the Ōedo Line. Since then, this system has expanded to other lines, including Tokyo Metro’s Marunouchi and Yūrakuchō Lines, as well as Toei’s Mita Line. Alongside the introduction of one-man ATO operations, platform doors have also been installed to enhance safety, reflecting efforts to develop the necessary infrastructure for secure automated operations. Through such comprehensive initiatives, urban subways in Japan are steadily progressing toward automation, even if full driverless operation has yet to be realized. More recently, Tokyo Metro announced that starting in 2025, it will conduct demonstration tests aimed at achieving GoA2.5 operation on the Marunouchi Line, in conjunction with the transition to a CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) system. A photo of the platform doors installed on the Namboku Line （ by Metro Cultural Foundation ） Meanwhile, subway automation in the United States began earlier than in Japan. In Washington, D.C., WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) introduced GoA2-level automatic train operation (ATO) when the system opened in 1976. However, after a rear-end collision occurred in 2009, automatic operation was suspended. Following various safety improvement measures, ATO was reintroduced on the Red Line in 2024. While there were plans to expand automated operation to other lines beginning in 2025, issues such as train overruns emerged after the reintroduction. The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) called for thorough investigation and verification before any further expansion. On May 23, 2025, WMATA received approval from the WMSC and began expanding ATO to the Green and Yellow Lines. In recent years, New York’s MTA has developed plans to upgrade its aging signal systems to CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control), and along with this, the introduction of GoA2-level automatic train operation (ATO) is also being pursued. However, due to the substantial costs involved, it appears that expanding the number of lines with ATO will take many years. WMATA GoA Initiatives （Adapted from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), April 24, 2025, “World Class Transit Safety and Operations Committee”, p.9） Up to this point, we’ve taken a brief look at the state of subway automation in Japan and the United States. But why is automatic operation being introduced in subways in the first place? One major reason is to address labor shortages. In Japan, where the population is aging and birthrates are declining, it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure sufficient numbers of drivers and conductors. Automation helps reduce the number of required personnel on-site and contributes to maintaining a sustainable operational system. In addition, by systematizing train operations, it reduces human error and improves the precision of on-time performance. (Japan had a high level of punctuality even before autonomous driving was introduced.) Furthermore, in the case of Japan, automation has been implemented in conjunction with platform doors, helping to create safer environments for visually impaired passengers and others. The advancement of automation in subways is not merely about reducing manpower—it also plays an important role in ensuring safety and peace of mind for a diverse range of users. To maintain subways—the “lifelines of the city”—in a safe and sustainable way, automatic operation technology will become an increasingly vital tool in the years ahead. While some countries and regions around the world have already introduced GoA4-level fully automated systems, it is our hope that Japan and the United States—each with well-developed existing networks and similar conditions—will deepen their cooperation and continue working toward even better subway systems. References Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute website (Research report on autonomous driving) https://www.jttri.or.jp/events/2024/sympo55.html Tokyo Metro website: https://www.tokyometro.jp/news/2023/214836.html (Consideration of GoA2.5 on the Marunouchi Line) https://www.tokyometro.jp/news/2024/219601.html (Introduction of CBTC on the Marunouchi Line) Metro Cultural Foundation https://metroarchive.jp/pic_year/year1990/%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%83%89%E3%82%A2-2.html Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism https://www.mlit.go.jp/tetudo/content/001512320.pdf WMATA https://www.wmata.com/about/calendar/events/Safety-and-Operations-Committee-April-24-2025.cfm https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metro-to-launch-Automatic-Train-Operation-on-the-Green-and-Yellow-lines-on-May-23.cfm The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/04/09/metro-automation-red-line-safety/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/05/21/green-yellow-metro-automated/