A Japanese house in space

The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), also known with the nickname Kibo (きぼう, Hope), is a Japanese science module for the International Space Station (ISS) developed by JAXA. It is the largest single ISS module. 

However, this is an experiment module so people can not sleep in Kibo. Japanese astronauts has to sleep in American Module.

A Japanese astronauts, Kouichi Wakata will go to Kibo in Nov 2013 as a expedition 38 crew member and he will be a first Japanese commander for expedition 39.

The commanders were mostly American or Russian. Now it's Japanese turn! I can't wait to see the launch for expedition 38.

Thank you!

How far can you drive by your car at one feed?

My car is 2005 Toyota Prius. It is made in Japan and very nice car. As you know, Prius has an electric motor. The electric motor starts first, and then a gasoline engine starts next when we need more power. As long as we drive by only the electric motor, we don't use gas. The battery charges when we press the brake pedal or from the gasoline engine.

In my case, I can drive about 700 km at one feed. The average fuel consumption is about 4.6 liters per 100 km (51.1 miles per gallon or 21.7 km per 1 liter). The current fuel consumption is 4.2 liters per 100 km (56.0 miles per gallon or 23.8 km per 1 liter). The average fuel consumption of the normal gasoline engine car is at under 8 litters per 100 km. 

So I can go approximately the double distance than the normal car at the same cost. Of course, the price of the cars are different but I just love the concept of Prius and the hybrid system. Please try to drive Prius if you have never driven Prius. You will love it.

Thank you so much.

"Are you hungry? Eat my head!" A Japanese super hero "Anpanman"

Anpanman (アンパンマン) is a Japanese picture book series written by Takashi Yanase. He passed away at 94 yesterday. I would like you to know his wonderful work "Anpanman" today and have to say this first to you that Anpanman is a very weird Japanese hero. 

Baikinman is a bad role in the story. He always wants to do something bad things for the people in the world of the story. If the the people got damage from Baikinman, they will call Anpanman for help. Ampanman always asks the people, "Are you OK? Are you hungry? If you are hungry, please eat my head. you will be fine. Here you go." And Anpanman give the some part of his head to the people. 

A red beans bun is called an "Anpan" in Japanese. Anpanman's head is made by Anpan. Uncle Jam bakes his head. If Ampanman give some his head, he gets damage, of course. And if his head soaked by water, he can not move. Baikinman knows about these. So he always tries to attack his head. But Ampanman is very strong. Baikinman can not beat him easily. 

Ampanman is very thoughtful and very lovely man. He always makes people happy by his heart and head. He protects others by the sacrifice of self. I think spirit leading to the Bushido is on in this story. Only Japanese can make this kind of story and get this idea. I believe so. Japanese kids learn something very important from Anpanman naturally. Kids loves Ampanman so much.

May he rest in peace. Thank you so much, Mr. Yanase. If you are interested in his work, please take a look below!

Thank you so much. 

A controllable beyblade won after it was dead!

A Japanese toy maker, Takara Tomy made "Beyblades". The beginning of the sales were so-so. And so, they decided to issue a manga and an anime. And then, the toy is in a megahit!

Beigoma

Bayblades is a contemporary version of "Beigoma". Beigoma is spun by wrapping a thin cord around it, then throwing it while releasing the cord to spin it onto a surface such as matting spread across the top of a barrel. The thrower aims it at another beigoma that is already spinning to knock it out of the playing area. The loser is the player whose top either stops spinning first or is knocked outside the area. Bayblades are similar to Beigoma.

You can not control Beigoma after you throw but you actually can control Bayblades. A controllable Bayblades has a tiny motor inside. If you press the buttons, the Bayblades moves. A picture is worth a thousand words. It is a lot of fun!

A controllable beyblade won after it was dead!

Thank you!

Who won the Nobel Prize in Literature 2013?

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2013 was awarded to Alice Munro "master of the contemporary short story". Congratulations!  She is a Canadian author. I didn't know about her so I want to read her novel. "The Moons of Jupiter", "The View from Castle Rock", her novels sound very interesting for me.

"Harukists" (big fans of Haruki Murakami) must be a disappointment. I saw a Japanese news on TV about them. There was a Harukists cafe in Japan. They were waiting the announcement of the prize in from of the internet. Absolutely, he is a great novelist too. So maybe, he can win next year! I look forward to it.