Japanese diaries.

“May disease ” .

My train has stopped today. 3 stations away from destination.Why?

“Human accident “. “They” announced. People running with stretchers ,multiple announcements, organised chaos at the station …

We know all about kamikaze. It was fearful, strong and not so efficient weapon during WWII.

In Japan suicides are widespread for many different reasons. Work stress, family matters. Sometimes it is called “gogatsubyo”(“May decease”) related to the stress going back to work after long May holidays . But recently “depression” is the name being used ( and it should be). Official data says Japan has about 13 suicides per 100,000 people. Australia around 12. To compare, the highest will be in Lesotho with more than 70 people. I think it is more in Japan than official data shows. Given the kamikaze history. Don’t want to call it “national sport “ though . But given the range of the accidents I have experienced in the last 5 years. .. it is high .

So, now at my station, people line for the taxis. NO, too long. I go for a yakitori ( chicken skewers) joint. And I think. Suicide is when your brain is in the lower shelf. OWN your brain and move it to the upper level. . To the depression level may be. Then

further up. The brain likes traveling up, not down. Hence I’m always hungry for any travel. I have experienced the way down once. Not interesting.

Here is my yakitori joint picture. I don’t know yet when I can get home. And it is past midnight already.