Living here for nine years, I think nothing will cultural surprise me more. But…

In front of our cafeteria, a stall was opened today. Shoes sale. Yes, shoes.
Even it seems a bit funny for IT company of our style to have stall selling non-IT, non-service related product, but that is the agreement with other company when we want to open stall at their place to sell our product.
The line of shoes offered are all of men’s formal shoes.

"No shoes for you, T-san?" I asked my senior colleague when we walked with full stomach after lunch.

"Oh no, that shoes are not walking shoes."

"But you need formal shoes for work and party?"

"No, all of my shoes are walking shoes. Even formal look, but it is special walking shoes. A bit expensive, but it’s ok."

"Oh, you care much for the comfortable."

"Yes, actually the reason is, if big earthquake happened, I have to be ready to walk. On foot, my home is four hours away from office, so my shoes should be that one comfortable to walk for four hours."

"Wow, really? You are so prepared."

"Well, I am not the only one. Many other Japanese too. See under their working table, they always have this walking shoes in preparation for the earthquake home walk."

"I never notice that."

"Check around."

And it is true, after lunch my curiosity brought me from under table to under table found the extra pair of shoes of colleagues.

Suddenly I feel the most unprepared person. I don’t even prepare the emergency bag (fill in with water, battery, radio, dry ready to eat food, torch)  government suggested every house to have, in case of earthquake.
This people, they even have the shoes…

Some damage found in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata after the quake last month. The plant has been shut down for further investigation, resulting the significant decrease of power supply for Tokyo and Kanto area.
Tepco, the electricity company for Tokyo has been buying some additional power capacity from neighboring electricity company outside the area.
However, the demand of electricity these days when the mercury hit the all time hottest record (last week was over 40C !) is rocketing high.

Everybody worry of the possibility of blackout when the demand over-numbered the supply. Specially this week, when people back from Obon vacation period last week, weather still crazily hot and the office and business back to full operation.

Colleagues at my office keep the Tepco official website which list down data of electricity supply and demand.

Data of now (Wednesday 8/22, 11:00AM update)
Electricity Forecast today 61500000kW
Current demand               60560000kW
Supply                             63500000kW

Could Tokyo experience what Los Angeles experienced two years ago?

For you who live in Kanto are (Tokyo and surrounded cities), check the real-time number (one hour delay, actually) here.
Be informed and ready in case there is a blackout.
Try to reduce the usage of electricity, specially at the peak demand time (2PM-3PM)

Who said it can only happen in Indonesia?

My cousin feel being cheated when she came to Japan for a visit some years ago and bought a cute Japanese cat doll and just realized at home that the label of the doll carried the word "Made in Indonesia".
Damn! Why would I want to have a Made-in-Indonesia product. I came so far here.

Contrary to that, I feel so happy and proud if found any Made-in-Indonesia product here in Japan. Numerous times I purchased things I don’t really  need only because of that tag. From apparel (GAP, Nike, Adidas), towel, stationary, toys, spaghetti, till ratan dresser. There are a lot of Made-in-Indonesia things sold in the market here in Tokyo, and I tell you, they are really good ! Something called as export quality back home.
The model and quality is up to Japanese standard. The price isn’t that cheap, but so what, it is just par with Made-in-non-Indonesia and having them make me happy.
I know some Indonesian who avoid the product originated from the country. Reason can be vary from quality conscious till personal image.

Not sure how much percentage of the price is actually landed in Indonesia.
Not sure how my tiny yen can contribute anything to the country.
But for sure, forty something Japanese colleagues on the same floor office building as mine knew that most of our AC Adapter used for everyone’s official notebook PC has "Made in Indonesia" written on the back of it. And this Indonesian lady working here, is so damn proud of it.

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia !

She is a cute Japanese girl, just turned six.
Her father is a policeman, mother is a head nurse. Both work even on Saturdays and Sundays.
She spends most of her weekends in Hoekoen (Day Care Center).
Behind her sad face, she is the girl with a lot of affection, vulnerable heart. She needs lot of praises, hugs and love.

When Raisa just about ten month old baby, a new smaller baby join her class at Hoekoen.
Since then, we met her almost every day. She sees us every morning and evening.
Every time we picked Raisa, she will cry asked to be pick too.
We don’t have a heart even to imagine she has to spend all day of the week without family.
Without weekend park trip, catching balls with father.
Without weekend family meal, helping mother cook.

So she’s been part of our weekends this year.
Saturday morning 7:30 the bell rang, she was standing on the door with sleepy face.
She calls us "Mommy" and "Daddy".
We treat her no different with Raisa and Ken.
When she cried and sad, we hug and comfort her.
When she is bad, she got punishment.
When she is good, she got kiss, praise and present.
She got to follow the house rule. Clean after play. Eat vegetable. Help. Share.
She goes everywhere with us.

When we went for three days holiday trip, she cried so bad wanted to come along.
Even parents are home those days, she wanted to go with us.
Her parents can’t stop her.
She spend the first nights out from home away from her mother.
She doesn’t have to be worry that she still wet her bed at night, Mommy can understand.

She is Rena. Our third child.

"Don’t let the kids snacking any Made-in-China food. They contain formalin. Dangerous additive!" warned my mother in our phone conversation three days ago. It is a hot news in Indonesia lately.

I should not worry about this so much. Other that my kids doesn’t like snacking that much (thanks to the Japanese Day Care system who trained them), if they snack, it is only selected food, the brand known to me, but also because I still believe in Japanese strict food regulation. They must be long procedure and laboratory check before you got licence to import the food. I know some experience about this.

But last night, when my everyday-getting-cuter-almost-three-years-old-boy, Ken, fell in love with the tiny Big Bird doll, his favorite character,  on a shelf of Donki-Hotei a department store in our neighborhood, I hesitate to consider to buy it for him. Ken is not the type of boy always wanted something to buy, so I put attention to him if his once-in-a-very-while request involve educative products. Last night I told him to say good bye to Big Bird cause we can’t bring him home.
What worry me was the news everywhere about well-known, reputable toy maker: Fisher-Price toys’ recall. About one million (!) toys from this company made-in-China are recalled cause they contain excessive amount of lead beyond the limit of health safety regulation. The toys include the famous character of Big Birds, Elmo, Dora. I am not sure if any of the product enter into Japan market. I am not sure if that particular yellow pal which my boy fell in love was in the list of the product. But I know for sure the very product was of the Fisher-Price’s and prevention better than cure.

Just some months ago people were so anxious about the Chinese product tooth-paste which contains a chemical found in antifreeze agent. They were over the supermarket counter all around the world. How dangerous.

I was happy that the last five years, the price has been declining in Japan. All type of product has the Made-in-China version for half the price. From fresh vegetable, furniture, fashion, until all Japanese traditional items including Japanese souvenir.

Now, I think I got to be more careful when purchasing cheap vegetables. Organic is double the price, but seems worth it.