The Japan Coast Guard’s New Challenge for Global Cooperation Among Coast Guard Agencies/ Functions by Yasuhiro Okamoto The Japan Coast Guard (herein after called “JCG”) has supported various countries’ coast guard organizations with their capacity enhancement since 1969, aiding over 81 countries and 3 regions. In addition, JCG has also played an important role in the establishment of the international cooperation framework in the region to facilitate further cooperation among coast guard agencies in Asia and the North Pacific. In this article, I would like to introduce JCG’s new challenge in creating an international framework for the Coast Guard Global Summit. The 1st Coast Guard Global Summit (hereinafter called as “CGGS”) was held in September 2017 and was co-hosted by the Nippon Foundation. The aim of this meeting was to enhance dialogue and cooperation beyond the existing regional framework, and to focus the experience and knowledge of the participants to resolve common issues that every country had faced. Although it was the inaugural meeting, representatives from 34 countries, 1 regional, and 3 international organizations visited Japan to attend. In this meeting there was recognition of the rarity for coast guard’s to gather and discuss the creation of global frameworks, the importance of doing so, and of the necessity to consider human resource development systems and the best forms of inter-regional and international cooperation. With continued interest by participants to further facilitate global cooperation among coast guard agencies, the 1st working level meeting of CGGS took place in November 2018 with the participation of 66 countries and international/ regional organizations. In this working level meeting, the following three agenda points were mainly discussed: Meeting guidelines for smooth future meetings Global human resource development Information sharing According to the meeting summary of the CGGS working level meeting, during the discussion on global human resource development, various advanced and unique programs were shared. Furthermore, there was broad support when JCG proposed to form the voluntary core member group for intensive study and discussion of this matter. It has already been decided that the 2nd CGGS will be held in Tokyo in November 2019. JCG’s new challenge has just started, and it’s not difficult to imagine that they will have additional obstacles that will need to be solved. For example, in comparison with their past cooperative activities, the JCG is unexperienced with organizing an international meeting of this size, with an increase in the number of participation confirmed as compared to the last two meetings. To plan and execute such an enormous event on a regular basis also must create budgetary and operational issues. Furthermore, there is the obvious struggle for JCG to convince participating agencies of the necessity of a global framework. As for the meeting agenda, it seems that human resource development will be a key topic. Unlike other regional cooperation frameworks, a global framework would require consideration of each regions unique issues and/or features. The first challenge for agencies from different regions is to try and cooperate for a unified goal, and to clarify ways to develop human resources in each region. I would like to closely observe the activities, discussion, and results of the 2nd CGGS to know the answer to this question, and I really hope this framework will bring great benefits to coast guard activities across the entire world. Image courtesy of the Japan Coast Guard Back to All JITTI Journals May 2019 Feature Article

Back to All JITTI Journals September 2022 Cultural Article Unique Vending Machines in Japan by Akito Okabe “In Japan, everything comes in a vending machine!” We often hear this opinion from tourists who have come to Japan, and it is true that no other country has vending machines that are as well developed. Living in Japan, it is commonplace to see vending machines not only indoors, such as at train stations or convenience stores, but also along the street. Vending Machines Located Outdoors (by Lordcolus) In terms of the simple number of vending machines, Japan lags behind Europe and the United States, but in terms of the number relative to the population, it is by far the largest, indicating that Japan is a "vending machine superpower.” I would like to introduce a few of them in this article because Japanese vending machines are a rarity for people from overseas, and it is uniquely part of Japanese culture. There are several reasons why vending machines became widely used in Japan. The first instance of expanded usage was in 1964, around the time of the Tokyo Olympics, when Japanese National Railways (JNR) introduced ticket vending machines and a large number of coins were put into circulation. Later, around 1974, "hot and cold machines," which were exclusive to Japan, became widespread, and these machines were popular with consumers. Hot and Cold Machine (Image by: acure) The fact that Japan is a safe country and there was little risk of robbery or vandalism when vending machines were introduced also contributed to their spread. The vending machines also offered significant advantages for sellers, such as higher profit margins, the perk of beverage manufacturers being able to display their products alone, and the ability to conduct market research. However, it is said that the number of vending machines installed in Japan is already saturated. In fact, after peaking at about 5.6 million in 2000, the number has been gradually declining year by year. In order to expand the market for vending machines and increase their value, Japan has been evolving its own vending machine business. Here are some examples unique to Japan. Ramen: (Image Credit: macaroni and DIAMOND SIGNAL) These vending machines sell ramen from famous restaurants in frozen form, allowing you to enjoy delicious ramen in the comfort of your own home Fresh Foods: Image Credit: Hyogo Official Tourism Navigation They don't just sell frozen foods, they also sell fresh foods! The strawberries in the photo are very fresh because they were picked that morning. They are very popular and sell out quickly. Such cases of vending machines selling local specialties are also common in Japan. This article only introduces food, but there are many other vending machines in addition to these. Some sell gold and jewelry, and others allow donations to be made through them. Vending machines can be found in places close to wherever you would be, such as subway stations, so please try using one when you visit Japan! Image Resources: Kyoto_20101020_E100G-Roll-27_28 by Lordcolus is licensed under CC BY 2.0 acure macaroni DIAMOND SIGNAL Hyogo Official Tourism Navigation

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Back to All JITTI Journals January 2019 Cultural Article Hatsu-moude by Tomomi Dodd Many Japanese people visit shrines or temples at New Years in a practice called “Hatsu-moude.” “Hatsu” means new or first, and “Moude” means visiting shrines or temples. Traditionally people are supposed to visit their local shrines or temples. This is because it is believed that the spirits worshipped in local shrines or temples protect their regional areas. However, there is no strict rule, and many people visit big places such as “Meiji Shrine” in Tokyo or “Kawasaki-daishi” in Kanagawa Prefecture. People pray to God/spirits to show them appreciation for the last year and to wish for a good new year. Some people wear kimonos to go to Hatsu-moude. Some people wear new clothes, including underwear, as it is a Japanese custom to refresh oneself in the new year. ( DSC_4405 by Éric Fournié is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 ) It is said that Hatsu-moude became popular in Japan after World War II as the development of transportation progressed. Many people start Hatsu-moude after midnight, despite the cold weather and long lines, as trains operate 24 hours on Dec 31st through Jan 1st , and there will be food trucks waiting for visitors at many temples and shrines. ( 靖國神社 初詣 2012 by CLF is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 ) People also draw fortune slips at shrines or temples. These are called “omikuji.” Each omikuji predicts different levels of luck for the new year: very good luck, good luck, OK luck, bad luck, or extremely bad luck. It also tells your fortune in specific areas of your life, such as health, romance, money, and education. Many people tie them to the trees at the grounds of shrines or temples after reading them, as it is believed you can tie a bond with God by doing so. ( kichi by fui :-) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 ) I recommend you go to Hatsu-moude if you ever have a chance to visit Japan during the new year.

Back to All JITTI Journals November 2023 Feature Article Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM) in Japan by Shinichiro Tsuri 1. Background Advanced air mobility or AAM, defined as “a transportation system that transports people and property by air between two points in the United States using aircraft with advanced technologies, including electric aircraft or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace” in the US Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, is the next-generation of air mobility that is expected to operate in the near future. There is also a term known as the Urban Air Mobility (UAM), which is a subset of AAM focusing on air transportation services in and around urban areas. In order to provide a vision of the future operating environment for UAM, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the Concept of Operations (ConOps) v1.0 for UAM in June 2020, followed by the ConOps v2.0 published in May 2023. AAM (or UAM) is now a worldwide hot topic, and the concept and regulatory framework are being developed in many countries. In Japan, for example, the Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM) was published in March 2023. In this article, I will introduce the overview of the ConOps for AAM in Japan. Image of AAM (Image Source: the FAA’s website Advanced Air Mobility | Air Taxis ) 2. Overview of ConOps for AAM in Japan On March 31, 2023, the first issue of the ConOps for AAM in Japan was released under the activities of Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility, which was established in 2018 to have public-private joint discussion on technology development and regulatory issues of AAM. The ConOps consists of 1. Introduction, 2. Overview of Advanced Air Mobility, 3. Phases of Advanced Air Mobility Introduction, and 4. Conclusions. In the following, I will highlight some key topics among them. Aircraft In the section 2.1, three aircraft types are described as the classification of eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft used as AAM. The first one is “multirotor.” Lift and thrust are provided by three or more electric powered rotors rotating vertically. The attitude of aircraft can be controlled by combined forces generated by changing the rotation speed of these multiple rotors. This type of aircraft is used only for short‐distance trips due to high battery drainage during the cruise phase. The second one is “lift and cruise.” Multiple rotors are used to generate lift during vertical take‐off and landing. During cruise, the multiple rotors are turned off, and fixed wings and propellers are used to generate lift and forward thrust for a level flight. This type of aircraft has better energy efficiency than those that are the multirotor type in the cruise phase due to the use of fixed wings, and is therefore suited to longer distance trips. The third one is “vectored thrust.” Vertically positioned propellers generate lift during vertical take‐off and landing. During cruise, the same propellers tilt to generate forward thrust and lift is generated by the fixed wings. In the same way as a lift and cruise type, this type of aircraft is suited to longer distance trips than the multirotor type, and potentially provides higher cruise speed and distance than other types of aircraft due to the use of the same propulsion system for take-off/landing and cruise. On‐ground infrastructure Section 2.3 explains about on-ground infrastructure for AAM, called “vertiport,” which is defined as an “airport etc.” under the Civil Aeronautics Act, and as a type of a “heliport” dedicated to AAM. While existing aerodromes/airports are expected to be utilized for initial AAM operation, new dedicated vertiports will be needed to operate AAM where existing aerodromes/airports do not exist. Furthermore, additional facilities may be needed such as battery swapping equipment, electrical chargers*1, and fire extinguishing systems for battery fires. *1 Currently, two methods are known to charge eVTOL aircraft: (1) battery replacement and (2) direct charging. Airspace, Traffic Management Section 2.4 describes airspace and traffic management for AAM. Considering the expansion of UAM operations and the emerging remote control or automated/autonomous operation technology, flight safety may not be fully secured only by the VFR (visual flight rules) operation. Therefore, a new concept of airspace and traffic management is needed: the new traffic management service is called Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) service and the airspace where UATM service will be provided is defined as a UATM Service Area (UASA). UATM services include, but are not limited to, Information Exchange: Exchange timely and accurate data (such as flight data, restrictions, air route information, active special activity airspace (SAA)) among low‐altitude airspace stakeholders including ANSP (Air Navigation Service Provider), to support the safe and efficient operation of AAM aircraft. Airspace Management: Establish UASA, vertiport airspaces*2, and UAM routes*3/UAM corridors*4 to efficiently use low‐altitude airspace along with the demand. Introduction of dynamic airspace management may be considered as the scale of operations expands. *2 The airspaces around vertiports flexibly activated and deactivated in which entry/exit points, arrival/departure paths, missed approach paths, and obstacle limitation surfaces etc. are established. *3 The routes established to connect airports/vertiports and to increase the predictability of UAM aircraft locations, thereby improve situational awareness of other low‐altitude airspace stakeholders. Setting UAM routes does not necessarily require significant regulatory change compared to setting UAM corridors. UAM routes can be used by aircraft other than UAM. *4 Dedicated airspaces connecting airports/vertiports in which aircraft must comply with specific rules, procedures, and performance requirements. Their dimensions are defined and they are established when UAM operation density is particularly high and airspace capacity needs to be increased. Conflict Management: Manage arrival and departure times and slots in order to ensure that demand of AAM operation is met as much as possible under the limited capacity of airspace and vertiports. Flight Plan Confirmation/Authorization: As the scale of operations expands, the process of flight plans authorization may be needed. Submitted flight plans are authorized after review and coordination as needed. Conformance Monitoring: Ensure that AAM aircraft within the UASA is flying in compliance with the confirmed/authorized flight plan. Provide timely information and actions to be taken for non-conforming aircraft affecting the operation of UATM services and for other AAM aircraft affected by the non‐conforming aircraft. Phases of Advanced Air Mobility Introduction In section 3, the expected phases of AAM introduction are described. The introduction process is comprised of four phases shown in the table below. Phases of AAM Introduction Phase Maturity Level Timeframe Phase 0 Test flights and demonstration flights prior to commercail operations Phase 1 Commencement of commercial operations - Low density operations - Pilot onboard operations, remotely piloted operations (cargo transport only) Around 2025 Phase 2 Scaled operations - Medium to high density operations - Pilot onboard operations, remotely piloted operations Late 2020's or later Phase 3 Establishment of AAM operations including autonomy - High density operations - Integrated with automated / autonomous operations 2030’s and beyond Phase 0 Test flights and demonstration flights will be conducted prior to commercial operations. Those flights require JCAB approval along with the safety regulations under the Civil Aeronautics Act. Phase 1 The initial introduction of commercial AAM operations in Japan will take place. In Phase1, for passenger carrying AAM operations, initial operations are expected to be low density operations and piloted under VFR, similar to existing aircraft operations. Initially, existing airports and rules will be utilized, but relatively small vertiport developments are also envisioned. AAM will be operated based on existing ATM (Air Traffic Management) concepts, but initial UATM services which do not require significant regulatory changes or technological innovation will be introduced. UATM services in Phase 1 may include: Information Exchange (Providing information by voice in vertiport airspaces and UAM routes) Airspace Management (Setting vertiport airspaces and UAM routes, etc.) Conflict Management (Capacity management of congested ports) Flight Plan Confirmation Conformance Monitoring (Obtaining location information using ADS‐B, providing information by voice, etc.) Phase 1 (Image Source: Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM ))  Phase 2 AAM operations in Japan will be scaled up, and medium‐to‐high density, piloted (and some remotely piloted) operations are expected. Larger and more complex vertiports will be developed including in complex urban environments (on the rooftop of buildings etc.). New airspace concepts and advanced UATM services will be implemented where required to support the scale and nature of AAM operations (e.g., remote piloting and IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions)). UATM services in Phase 2 may include: Information Exchange (Providing and exchanging information through data) Airspace Management (Setting UAM corridors and dynamic airspace management may be considered) Conflict Management (Advanced coordination including capacity management of airspace and flow management) Flight Plan Authorization Conformance Monitoring (Real‐time deconfliction will be also considered) Phase 2 (Image Source: Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM) ) Phase 3 AAM operations in Japan will be scaled up into high‐density operations. Operations in the UASA will be a mix of piloted and remotely piloted operations. Autonomous operations will become more sophisticated. It is expected that, at some point, all airspace users in the UASA will use UATM services. UATM concepts may be expanded to other airspace outside of the UASA and integrated with ATM and UTM (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management). 3. Future Prospects As the ConOps for UAM in the US was updated reflecting the continued maturation of UAM and feedback received on the initial version, the ConOps for AAM in Japan is also expected to evolve along with technological advances, overseas trends, and feedback from stakeholders. I hope that the Japanese industry will successfully operate AAM in the near future, fostering a better common understanding of AAM with this document and actively discussing regulations / technologies among stakeholders. References FAA, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Concept of Operations https://www.faa.gov/air-taxis/uam_blueprint Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_tk2_000007.html Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM) https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001611491.pdf

JITTI Journal Filter by Year Reset March 2024 Main Page: Read More Feature Article: Toward the Spread and Expansion of Sports Culture Tourism Cultural Article: Hina Hanging Decoration Festival in Izu Inatori January 2024 Main Page: Read More Feature Article: Japan's Strategic Countermeasures against the Pirates of the Seas Cultural Article: An Introduction of Japanese BBQ November 2023 Main Page: Read More Feature Article: Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM) in Japan Cultural Article: The Kumano Kodo: A Historic Pilgrimage in the Japanese Mountainside September 2023 Main Page: Read More Feature Article: The Current Use of Metropolitan Airports during the First Summer Vacation after the COVID Pandemic and the Latest Initiatives at These Airports Cultural Article: Your next adventure in Japan- Ekichika July 2023 Main Page: Read More Feature Article: Japanese Government Initiatives for Inbound Tourism Recovery Cultural Article: Oshiro- Japanese Castles May 2023 Main Page: Read More Feature Article: A Historic Moment: The Blossoming of Japan-US Coast Guard Academic Collaboration Cultural Article: Japanese Wisteria 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 7 Pre-2018 Journals

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Back to All JITTI Journals September 2019 Feature Article Development of High-speed Rail in the United States by Shuntaro Okimoto Since coming to Washington, D.C. last summer, I have been investigating various subjects in the transportation sector. In Japan, in recent years a hot topic is the development of high-speed rail in the United States. Currently, the only high-speed rail in the United States that is universally acknowledged is the Acela Express. Those who advocate for high speed railway development in the United States voice that by having this advancement, people will gain more transportation choices and will be able to live more conveniently. In Japan, high-speed railways are set up around the country, and the network continues to expand to this day. If you have been to Japan and have been on the Japanese bullet train, Shinkansen, you know that you can travel far, fast and comfortably. From Tokyo, it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to Sendai (4 hours and a half by car), about 1 hour and 40 minutes to Nagoya (4 hours and a half by car), about 2 hours and 20 minutes to Osaka (6 hours by car), and about 4 hours for Hiroshima (10 hours by car) or Hakodate in Hokkaido (about 18 hours by car). Because it is a very convenient transportation system, Japanese people (especially those who live in Tokyo, the center of the network) use the Shinkansen for business and family trips. Furthermore, because of their experience and knowledge of its usefulness, many Japanese want to recommend high speed rail to foreign countries, and especially to the US, which they feel a familiarity with. They are also ready to offer their technical skills. Therefore, there are both people in the United States who wish for the development of high speed rail, and those in Japan who are prepared to offer their expertise to make this happen. This then begs the question, “Why is there no progress for the developments of high-speed rail in the US?” Various hypotheses have been proposed as to why. Some of these include: Japanese people like railroads, but that most Americans don't as much, preferring cars and airplanes; it costs too much money for construction in the US; and that the US and Japan are too different in terms of country size, population density, and population concentration in cities to make high speed rail construction possible. In order to find the answer to this conundrum, I compared various data of both countries, such as preferences in modes of transportation, population, history, geography, and the government’s financial situation. An Acela Express high-speed train ( Amtrak Acela Express power car no. 2000, Boston South Station, MA by Michael Day is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 ) My answer to the question at the moment is that the lack of development is due to the fact that construction of high-speed rail is occurring after those of other traffic modes. In the United States, other modes of transportation developed significantly beforehand, as represented by the introduction of jet aircraft starting in the 1950s and the completion of about 65,000 km of highway in 1991 with a construction period of 35 years. For that reason, railways have been excluded from discussions for how to build comprehensive traffic modes or how to make them more convenient. The development of high-speed rail in the United States has only been considered as a means to recover the declined intercity passenger rail system. The situation is very different from Japan's high-speed railway, which has been developed to compete with highway construction. Of the specific issues deterring the development of high-speed rail in US, the biggest obstacle is finance. In particular, two major risks that occur with railway construction projects are increases in construction costs and the procurement of fare revenue. These problems are universal, and in addition the public often shares in some of the risk as well. Thus, a history of creating and maintaining rail after other modes of transportation is completed is an obstacle itself. How does one attain support for a high-speed railway when construction of said railway is continually postponed? I think that is very difficult. We cannot change the past. However, does this mean that high-speed rail development in the United States will remain a dream? I do not think so. I’ve observed that people in this country, whether consciously or subconsciously, like for travel to be convenient and comfortable. There are many services here that are not available or are not as prevalent in Japan that prove my point. For example, since coming to the United States, I've been addicted to ride-sharing services. I’ve also wanted to try riding the electric scooters in Washington, D.C. which are popular too. The Washington, D.C. subway SmarTrip Card is simple and easy to use. The buses here may be cleaner and more comfortable than Japan. The airport has many signs and is spacious. The highway has many lanes and it is easier to drive on them. I think high-speed rail will be definitely appreciated by people in this country who prefer comfortable travel. As people in the United States become more aware of high-speed railways, the solution to the difficult problem of gaining support mentioned above will be attained. I presented my research in Tokyo this summer, and introduced high-speed rail projects in the United States to a Japanese audience. It seemed interesting to them that the projects were being promoted in California, Florida, Texas, etc., despite difficulties. From the audience, I received the following comments. “It is the same as in Japan that high-speed rail projects include working with other modes of transportation and developing surrounding areas.” “ The disclosure of information, such as cost estimates related to the project, is more advanced than in Japan.” “I realized that Japan can also learn more by knowing about high-speed rail projects developing in the United States.” I want to continue to challenge myself to connect the consciousnesses of the people in both our countries through research activities. Pictured here is the Shinkansen in Japan, which has transported over 5 billion passengers ( Tokyo 4338 by tokyoform is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 )

Back to All JITTI Journals July 2021 Cultural Article Shohei Ohtani Trivia by Tetsuhiro Nakagawa If you're interested in Major League Baseball, you've undoubtedly heard of Shohei Ohtani. If you haven’t, he's the hottest player in the MLB right now. He has hit the most home runs in the league so far this season and throws a ball over 100 mph. He is the first real two-way player since Babe Ruth in the Major Leagues and Ted Radcliffe and Charles Rogan in the Negro Leagues. Here is some trivia about him. Shohei Ohtani by Erik Drost is licensed under CC BY 2.0 1. Where He is From He was born in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan. He went to Hanamaki Higashi High School, which is a powerhouse in the Japanese high school baseball world. Incidentally, it is the same high school as Yusei Kikuchi, the Japanese left-handed pitcher of the Seattle Mariners, though they were three years apart and never played together on the same high school team. 2. Family His father worked as an employee of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, and played on the company's baseball team. After moving to Iwate Prefecture, Ohtani’s father served as a coach and manager for his elementary and junior high school teams. His mother was a badminton player and went to the national tournament as a student. Shohei has a brother who is seven years older and a sister who is two years older. Shohei Ohtani and His Siblings. Image from Birth Day (TBS) 3. High School and After While competing at the Iwate Prefecture tournament in the summer of his 3rd year in high school, he became the first amateur player in Japanese baseball history to throw a 100 miles per hour pitch. After graduating from high school, he announced that he would strive to join the MLB instead of going on to Japanese professional baseball. This is a very unusual decision, as almost all Japanese baseball players have played several years in the NPB before joining the MLB. In the end, however, he was persuaded by the manager of the Hokkaido-based Nippon Ham Fighters to join the team. The number the Fighters gave him was "11," the same number that Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres had worn. 4. “Goal-achievement Sheet” In his high school years, he created a goal-achievement sheet in which he set eight goals, including "body building," "control," and "speed of 100 MPH," in order to achieve his main aim of being selected first in the draft by eight teams. One of the eight goals also included "(gaining) luck." In order to achieve this state of "luck," goals such as "picking up trash," "offering greetings," and "having a good attitude toward umpires" were set. He says that by picking up trash, he is "picking up luck." Shohei Ohtani's high school goals for succeeding in baseball. Image from Birth Day (TBS) 5. Two-way player Playing two-way is called "Nito-ryu (Two-swords style)" in Japanese. It is derived from a school of Japanese swordsmanship founded by Miyamoto Musashi, a master swordsman in the early Edo period. It means fighting with two swords, or in baseball, playing on one hand as a batter and the other as a pitcher. You may perhaps be surprised to learn that this word is used completely naturally among the Japanese when describing Ohtani. In terms of the sound and profound meaning of the word, I think it is the perfect one to describe Ohtani, who is exploring his own unique path as an athlete. Portrait of Miyamoto Musashi 6. Pitcher or Hitter There were different opinions in the Japanese baseball world when Ohtani crossed the ocean to become a major leaguer. While some gave a shout-out for his passion to compete two-way, others contended that he should give up playing two-way and concentrate on pitching, while others argued that he should concentrate on hitting. Ichiro, who played for the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees, said, "There are a lot of great pitchers out there. But a hitter like him doesn't come along very often.” Knowing better than anyone else the grueling MLB game schedule, Ichiro seemed to recommend that Ohtani concentrate on hitting. 7. Final Thoughts Shohei Ohtani is currently 27 years old. With the excitement we've seen from him this season, and the many more golden years that we can expect him to continue playing at this high caliber, there will surely be more impressive performances to come. I, for one, will continue enjoying watching him play baseball and cheering him on. Image Sources Cover Image- Shohei Ohtani by Dinur is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 ) Shohei Ohtani by Erik Drost is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Birth Day (TBS)

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)

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