Reposted by Shima
At last! My translation of Michio Hoshino's The Traveling Tree is out today in the UK! I’ve been dying to translate this beautiful book for more than 15 years.
Read my thoughts on translating it:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Or purchase a copy:
www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-T...
#japaneseliterature
Read my thoughts on translating it:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Or purchase a copy:
www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-T...
#japaneseliterature
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 AM
At last! My translation of Michio Hoshino's The Traveling Tree is out today in the UK! I’ve been dying to translate this beautiful book for more than 15 years.
Read my thoughts on translating it:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Or purchase a copy:
www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-T...
#japaneseliterature
Read my thoughts on translating it:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Or purchase a copy:
www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-T...
#japaneseliterature
Reposted by Shima
Switching 50km/h speed limits to 30km/h would protect cyclists while barely affecting commutes, research finds
Switching 50km/h speed limits to 30km/h would protect cyclists while barely affecting commutes, research finds
One expert says a cyclist hit by a car travelling 50km/h has about a one-in-ten chance of surviving, while at 30km/h it was a nine-in-ten chance
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Reducing residential speed limits from 50km/h to 30 km/h would protect cyclists from danger and make riding less stressful while not causing traffic delays for cars, according to new research.
Researchers from RMIT University rated traffic stress levels for every road in greater Melbourne and modelled the effect of lower speed limits on bicycle and car travel. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Switching 50km/h speed limits to 30km/h would protect cyclists while barely affecting commutes, research finds
Reposted by Shima
How can anyone be so simple as to believe that he is free to find fault with others while his own foibles are passed over in silence? Yet when someone hears that he has been discussed unfavorably he is always outraged, and this I find most unattractive.
September 16, 2025 at 4:45 AM
How can anyone be so simple as to believe that he is free to find fault with others while his own foibles are passed over in silence? Yet when someone hears that he has been discussed unfavorably he is always outraged, and this I find most unattractive.
Reposted by Shima
Japanese food and beverage maker Kirin on Tuesday started selling the Electric Salt Cup, which uses electricity to enhance the perception of the salty taste and umami in food.
Kirin releases electric soup cup that enhances salty taste
The cup is available on the company's official online store at a price of ¥26,950 ($182).
ebx.sh
September 10, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Japanese food and beverage maker Kirin on Tuesday started selling the Electric Salt Cup, which uses electricity to enhance the perception of the salty taste and umami in food.
Reposted by Shima
Reposted by Shima
Reposted by Shima
The 113th NHK asadora #BakeBake, starring #TakaishiAkari, releases the local poster visuals for Shimane and Kumamoto prefectures, where the story is set.
Based on the life of Koizumi Setsuko and Lafcadio Hearn.
#ばけばけ #朝ドラ
Based on the life of Koizumi Setsuko and Lafcadio Hearn.
#ばけばけ #朝ドラ
September 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The 113th NHK asadora #BakeBake, starring #TakaishiAkari, releases the local poster visuals for Shimane and Kumamoto prefectures, where the story is set.
Based on the life of Koizumi Setsuko and Lafcadio Hearn.
#ばけばけ #朝ドラ
Based on the life of Koizumi Setsuko and Lafcadio Hearn.
#ばけばけ #朝ドラ
Reposted by Shima
Paris has removed the paving from its city hall square and transformed it into an urban forest. Stunning! 🤩
August 19, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Paris has removed the paving from its city hall square and transformed it into an urban forest. Stunning! 🤩
Reposted by Shima
This feels like the place to hunt out New Zealanders that randomly pop into my mind: does anyone know a Lisa and Bruce from Hamilton - this is going back to 2001-2 - Lisa worked at Waikato university I think in anthropology. Anti war activists - we did some actions targeting Helen Clark
August 3, 2025 at 1:27 AM
This feels like the place to hunt out New Zealanders that randomly pop into my mind: does anyone know a Lisa and Bruce from Hamilton - this is going back to 2001-2 - Lisa worked at Waikato university I think in anthropology. Anti war activists - we did some actions targeting Helen Clark
Reposted by Shima
Apologies for sharing an X link - but for the interested this video shows the impact of a 40cm tsunami surge. Translation is available.
Even as ‘little’ as 40 cm will knock you off your feet, and tsunami are often debris filled.
#tsunami
Even as ‘little’ as 40 cm will knock you off your feet, and tsunami are often debris filled.
#tsunami
ABEMAニュース on X: "【津波の威力】 カムチャッカ半島で地震 太平洋沿岸に津波注意報 高さ30～40cm程度の津波でも、足をすくわれる危険があります 海や川から離れてください ※身長160cmの女性と171cmの男性が 津波の威力を体験した時の映像です ▼アベマニュース では、最新情報を随時放送 https://t.co/3pVi5xmsBD https://t.co/TBEsD7MbDa" / X
【津波の威力】 カムチャッカ半島で地震 太平洋沿岸に津波注意報 高さ30～40cm程度の津波でも、足をすくわれる危険があります 海や川から離れてください ※身長160cmの女性と171cmの男性が 津波の威力を体験した時の映像です ▼アベマニュース では、最新情報を随時放送 https://t.co/3pVi5xmsBD https://t.co/TBEsD7MbDa
x.com
July 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Apologies for sharing an X link - but for the interested this video shows the impact of a 40cm tsunami surge. Translation is available.
Even as ‘little’ as 40 cm will knock you off your feet, and tsunami are often debris filled.
#tsunami
Even as ‘little’ as 40 cm will knock you off your feet, and tsunami are often debris filled.
#tsunami
Reposted by Shima
On X, Masaki Nobushiro posts a recurring (and useful) drawing about how people wrongly think a 1m tsunami is a cresting wave when it's actually a wall of water filled with dangerous and deadly debris that's strong enough to sweep up a car.
#tsunami
#tsunami
July 30, 2025 at 3:29 AM
On X, Masaki Nobushiro posts a recurring (and useful) drawing about how people wrongly think a 1m tsunami is a cresting wave when it's actually a wall of water filled with dangerous and deadly debris that's strong enough to sweep up a car.
#tsunami
#tsunami
Reposted by Shima
I wish more disabled and/or neurodivergent people (not to mention the ableds) would understand that the explicit openly stated goal of tech companies re gAI is to replace every public/social service from healthcare to education and more with their tech.
And they’re using us to build consensus.
And they’re using us to build consensus.
‘It’s the most empathetic voice in my life’: How AI is transforming the lives of neurodivergent people reut.rs/4feiSqq
‘It’s the most empathetic voice in my life’: How AI is transforming the lives of neurodivergent people
AI tools like ChatGPT are helping neurodivergent users communicate more clearly and confidently — though some experts warn that overreliance could come at a cost.
reut.rs
July 26, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I wish more disabled and/or neurodivergent people (not to mention the ableds) would understand that the explicit openly stated goal of tech companies re gAI is to replace every public/social service from healthcare to education and more with their tech.
And they’re using us to build consensus.
And they’re using us to build consensus.
Reposted by Shima
Globally, roughly a third more power is being generated from the sun this spring than last. If this exponential rate of growth can continue, we will soon live in a very different world, @billmckibben.bsky.social writes.
4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment
In the past two years, without much notice, solar power has begun to truly transform the world’s energy system.
www.newyorker.com
July 19, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Globally, roughly a third more power is being generated from the sun this spring than last. If this exponential rate of growth can continue, we will soon live in a very different world, @billmckibben.bsky.social writes.
Reposted by Shima
It was so moving to learn that Pope Francis was calling Gaza’s Catholic Church nightly to talk to the priest & others sheltering there. These calls continued even as the Pope was ailing.
Israel has just bombed that church, killing two and injuring the parish priest.
apnews.com/article/gaza...
Israel has just bombed that church, killing two and injuring the parish priest.
apnews.com/article/gaza...
2 killed and several injured in Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
Two people were killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church on Thursday morning, according to church officials.
apnews.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM
It was so moving to learn that Pope Francis was calling Gaza’s Catholic Church nightly to talk to the priest & others sheltering there. These calls continued even as the Pope was ailing.
Israel has just bombed that church, killing two and injuring the parish priest.
apnews.com/article/gaza...
Israel has just bombed that church, killing two and injuring the parish priest.
apnews.com/article/gaza...
Reposted by Shima
Last year at Todaiji, Nara did an about turn and came face to face with Esme Young (sewing bee), without thinking said ‘ oh, hello’ as though she was an old friend. Ended out having a great chat.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Last year at Todaiji, Nara did an about turn and came face to face with Esme Young (sewing bee), without thinking said ‘ oh, hello’ as though she was an old friend. Ended out having a great chat.
Reposted by Shima
The bird dance for the ages
June 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The bird dance for the ages
Waipapa, Northland 22:32pm Since then full cloud cover.
June 1, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Waipapa, Northland 22:32pm Since then full cloud cover.
Reposted by Shima
If you live on the western side of Auckland's isthmus & you had flooding over Easter I'd love to hear from you - I'm trying to map where the hot spots are, to advocate for small and major projects to address them. I've been doing this work for a while but need your stories & photos etc please... /n
April 28, 2025 at 2:21 AM
If you live on the western side of Auckland's isthmus & you had flooding over Easter I'd love to hear from you - I'm trying to map where the hot spots are, to advocate for small and major projects to address them. I've been doing this work for a while but need your stories & photos etc please... /n
Reposted by Shima
Like many people, the recent glut of Studio-Ghibli-styled AI images has left a bad taste in my mouth.
My grandma (we called her “granarch” because she was 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤) wrote “Howl's Moving Castle”, which was adapted by Hayao Miyazaki into a film of the same name.
My grandma (we called her “granarch” because she was 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤) wrote “Howl's Moving Castle”, which was adapted by Hayao Miyazaki into a film of the same name.
April 2, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Like many people, the recent glut of Studio-Ghibli-styled AI images has left a bad taste in my mouth.
My grandma (we called her “granarch” because she was 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤) wrote “Howl's Moving Castle”, which was adapted by Hayao Miyazaki into a film of the same name.
My grandma (we called her “granarch” because she was 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤) wrote “Howl's Moving Castle”, which was adapted by Hayao Miyazaki into a film of the same name.
Reposted by Shima
Gift link to an interesting article 👇
An interesting take on what's going on with Trump 2.0
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
One Word Describes Trump
A century ago, a German sociologist explained precisely how the president thinks about the world.
www.theatlantic.com
March 28, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Gift link to an interesting article 👇
Reposted by Shima
“The question of who can claim authority over a culture and engage with it is deeply meaningful. Can there be a genuine cultural exchange unmarred by the spectre of exchange value?”
A formidable #longread by Reina Miura on the current state of Ramen.
A formidable #longread by Reina Miura on the current state of Ramen.
The current state of ramen - Overland literary journal
No longer exclusively the domain of Japanese chefs with deep roots in traditional culinary practices, the new mix of casual dining and simple sweet shops reflect the ever-changing construct of Japan w...
overland.org.au
March 28, 2025 at 2:16 AM
“The question of who can claim authority over a culture and engage with it is deeply meaningful. Can there be a genuine cultural exchange unmarred by the spectre of exchange value?”
A formidable #longread by Reina Miura on the current state of Ramen.
A formidable #longread by Reina Miura on the current state of Ramen.
Reposted by Shima
If you want to enjoy the cherry blossoms in DC but avoid the MAGA hat tourists, try visiting the MLK and FDR memorials. Here's a thread of some of the quotes chiseled in stone at those memorials.
March 27, 2025 at 8:45 PM
If you want to enjoy the cherry blossoms in DC but avoid the MAGA hat tourists, try visiting the MLK and FDR memorials. Here's a thread of some of the quotes chiseled in stone at those memorials.
Reposted by Shima
Why I won’t write about swimming
Why I won’t write about swimming
Poet Kate Camp learned to swim late in life. Now it's a defining component of her identity. But why won't she write about it?...
thespinoff.co.nz
March 14, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Why I won’t write about swimming
Reposted by Shima
As Japan braces for another summer of record-breaking heat, the health ministry has decided to make businesses that fail to take heatstroke countermeasures criminally liable.
Japan to get tough on businesses not taking heatstroke countermeasures
Violators will be punishable with up to six months' imprisonment or a maximum fine of ¥500,000 ($3,380).
www.japantimes.co.jp
March 13, 2025 at 11:36 PM
As Japan braces for another summer of record-breaking heat, the health ministry has decided to make businesses that fail to take heatstroke countermeasures criminally liable.