The city of Tsukuba spent quite a sum of money to provide special bicycles in key locations to help people get around in this city with less than adequate public transportation. It was a great idea and very convenient, as all you had to do was put a 100 yen coin in the slot, and then you could ride off somewhere, even leaving the bike at some other drop-off point (where you could retrieve the coin someone else had left for a different bicycle.)
Where have all the bicycles gone? It seems that more than a few of these brightly colored bikes have been seen parked and locked in front of the residence of certain foreigners who apparently think they have "bought" a nice bike for 100 yen! Such selfish thinking, however, defeats the whole purpose of having these bikes available for the temporary (less than 24 hours!) use of Tsukuba citizens. Plenty of cheap bikes are available, and if you look around, you can often find abandoned bikes that can be rehabilitated easily. So if you've "checked out" a bike from the local "open air library", please return it immediately! Likewise, if you see such a bike (smaller than average, "solid" front wheel brightly colored) parked in front of an apartment somewhere, please point this out. Such selfish action on the part of a few reflects very badly on us all.
www.findateacher.net
This is a clever new site that links students with teachers in Japan. If you are a teacher, you can register so students can find you. Include as much or as little information as you like. Your information will then appear on the Japanese site hosted at www.senseisagasu.com, translated into Japanese for potential students. Teachers don't have to pay anything to register, but students have to pay a nominal fee to receive your contact information. Have a look at the site. It's a great idea and makes excellent use of the internet.
www.alientimes.org
The new Alien Times site is still a work-in-progress, but you can get good information from the site while we work on it. In particular, have a look at the topics page. If you have any suggestions of useful links for us to add, please email us at: email@alientimes.org. We are working on a project to get all the back issues of Alien Times (1987-2002!) online. If you have access to a computer and can work with MS Word files, please help! Even if you can only help with one issue, it will make a big difference. You don't need to know anything about HTML, as I can teach you the basics. Email us if you are interested in helping.
www.city.tsukuba.ibaraki.jp
I wouldn't say this is the best city website I've ever seen, but it will do. Click on the "English" link to get to the English newsletters and other information. The newsletters are not presented very well because you have to scroll through every page to see what is on each one, but the information is there, so I guess we should be happy about that at least. The events listings are quite good.
Have you ever said that? Never say never, my friends, because where there's a will, there's a way. And a very good way to buckle down and learn those pesky squiggles is to do as the Japanese do, and join a juku. Have you ever heard of Kumon? Kumon offers a set collection of workbooks and tests to get you anywhere from Grade 1 to Junior High School graduate. The Tsukuba Office is open on Tuesdays and Fridays and you can go anytime you want between 3pm and 8pm. Stay for as long or as short a time as you like, start at whatever level you feel comfortable at, and finally become literate! For more information, go to the Kumon website (www.kumon.ne.jp), follow the link that gets you to the English page, and then click on "contact us". Fill out the form and ask any questions that you like.
Until recently, the laws about foreign drivers licenses were quite slack. You could drive with a foreign license accompanied by an international drivers permit (IDP) from a sanctioned country for one year. Then, as long as you left the country for a while, you could renew your international permit and keep on driving.
However, as of June 1, 2002, things have gotten considerably more strict. The basic rule now is that you can only use an international drivers permit for ONE YEAR after your arrival in Japan, or whenever your IDP expires, whichever is SHORTER. This means that if you arrived on October 1, 2002, but you got your IDP on September 15, your legal permission to drive in Japan will expire on September 14, 2003.
If you then leave Japan for AT LEAST THREE MONTHS, you can get another IDP and start your year all over again. If you stay in Japan after that one year, however, you have no option but to get a Japanese Drivers License.
Residents from GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, and FRANCE do not need an IDP, but can drive for one year in Japan on their home country's drivers license provided the driver also has a Japanese translation of the original. After one year, residents of those countries must get a Japanese license unless they leave for a period of three months.
Residents from AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, GREAT BRITAIN, and IRELAND (North and South) must get the Japanese license after one year, but are exempt from taking the practical driving test and need only produce the relevant documentation and pay the fees.
Residents from other countries must take the full driving test. Also, people from countries who do not have a bilateral agreement with Japan on the International Driving Permit issue will need to get a license right away, and may not use the IDP at all.
Translations of your license are available through the Japan Automobile Federation (www.jaf.or.jp) or through your country's embassy. JAF charges 3000 yen, plus 290 yen for postage. Translations from other companies will not be accepted.
Information on how to obtain a Japanese drivers license can be obtained from JAF website and also, (soon) from the National Police Agency's website (www.npa.go.jp). Back issues of Alien Times, once they have been uploaded (any volunteers to help - contact us at email@alientimes.org), may also provide some insight.
Fines for driving without a proper license are extremely high. Furthermore, driving without a proper license often negates insurance coverage, so it is in your best interest to know and understand these new laws.
September 15 was "Respect for the Aged Day", so the local newsletter published by the city (Kouhou Tsukuba) ran a few statistics to help us learn to respect our elders.
Average life expectancy for a Japanese woman: 84 to 93
Average life expectancy for a Japanese man: 78 to 87
Number of people in Japan who are above 65: 22,000,000 people or roughly 17% of the population
Number of people in Tsukuba who are above 65: 21,356 people (9126 men and 12230 women), or roughly 13% of the population (1 in 8 people is over 65)
Number of people in Tsukuba who are above 100: 14 people
Age of oldest Person in Tsukuba: 108, the next closest is 104 and the oldest living person (also Japanese) is 115.
Also, here are some population figures for Tsukuba.
Population of Tsukuba: 169,340 (87,770 men, 81,570 women)
Number of Foreign People Registered as Residents of Tsukuba: 6,719 (4%)
From Kouhou Tsukuba September 15, 2002
Modern science arose in no small part by freeing itself from the dominance of religion. The scientific method has provided powerful knowledge about the world, and the useful technologies that flow from it, because it limited itself to empirical evidence and testable theories.
But gradually during the modern period many people began to interpret the success of science as proving that all that could be known, and indeed all that could possibly exist, was accessible to science. If values, questions about the meaningfulness of one's existence or the purpose or life beliefs about gods or ultimate reality are not accessible to scientific testing, then all such ideas must be discarded. In recent decades leading scientists from many cultures have begun to question these assumptions. They have found resources within their cultures and spiritual traditions for addressing questions of value and meaning. This trend has been accelerated by the horrors of the 20th century, which in many ways were caused by developments within science and technology, and they have begun to speak forcefully, as scientists and as persons with religious, ethical and philosophical convictions, about the key issues that humanity faces: bioethics and medical ethics, the environmental crisis, the arms race, the dehumanizing effects of technology, the future of our planet and of the universe.
The symposium will be held on October 18 and 19, 2002 at a conference room with a capacity of about 240 persons in Gakushuin University, Tokyo. At the symposium 7 Japanese scientists and 5 scientists from outside Japan will address the question of science, values and the limits of knowledge in two sessions each day. At the end of each day, each speaker will give a short presentation based on what the other speakers have spoken earlier, and selected written questions from the audience will be addressed to the speakers. There will be an informal reception for the speakers and the participants at the end of the first day. The speakers represent a wide range of religious faiths, including Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim Shinto and Christianity.
The talks will be presented either in Japanese or English with simultaneous interpretation. The symposium proceedings will be published both in English and Japanese in one volume and will be distributed both within Japan and abroad. Further information is available on the following web site: www.ssq.net
Tsukuba Gakuen Church (across from the old Daiei) holds their annual bazaar on Oct. 19 (Sat.) from noon. Lots of interesting food and a variety of donated items available at cheap prices. A good way for newcomers particularly to find items they need. Contact info, 55-1907
The Tsukuba Catholic Church in Matsushiro (next to Hanamasa) likewise holds its bazaar on Oct. 20 (Sunday) from 10 am to 2 pm. Used clothing, household utensils, and many more items will be sold at cheap prices. English books will also be sold for as low as 10 yen each. Other interesting activities include a lineup of international foods from Asia, South America, Africa and USA. Don't miss this once in a year chance! Contact information: 0298- 36-0203.
The Annual Student Festival of Tsukuba University, called "gakuensai" (held in colleges all over Japan) for this year, will be held during October 12-14. This is a good chance to visit the University and interact with students. More information on website: www.stb.tsukuba.ac.jp/~sohosai
Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when East Pakistan (the former name of Bangladesh) seceded from its union with West Pakistan after a protracted 9- month long independence war.
Bangladesh is in Southwest Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India. The total area is about 144,000 sq km that is 1.5 times the size of Hokkaido. About 80 percent of Bangladeshis are Muslims, 12 percent are Hindus, 6 percent are Buddhists and the rest are Christian. The Bangladesh region contains relics of the finest specimens of Buddhist monastic architecture at Paharpur, Mainamati, Mahasthangarh and other sites located throughout the country that date from between the 8th and 12th centuries. The world's largest mangrove forest, named Sundarbans, is an absolute haven for wildlife. You may even get a chance to see a Royal Bengal tiger. In addition, you can visit the world's longest natural beach in Chittagong. Bangladesh is a small country, but is both picturesque and beautiful.
This month's guest speaker, Ms. Kashfia is inviting you all to visit this lovely country. She would like to introduce you to the nature, history, culture and many other aspects of Bangladesh. She lives in Ami town and is a doctoral student at Graduate School of Agriculture, Ibaraki University.
Date / Time: Oct. 23 (Wed.)14:00-16:00
Guest: Ms. Kashfia Ahmed (Bangladesh)
Place: Tsukuba Information Center 3F
A dream of the Muslim residents of Tsukuba had been to have their own meeting place. This was realized by their concerted efforts, as they were able to buy 500 sq. meters of land and get permission to build a multi floor Islamic Center that includes a mosque, a school, the Imam Resident apartment, a female mosque, toilets, ablution places and a lecture room on it. The total space of the mosque project will be 1600 square meters.
Tsukuba Gakuen Church
English interdenominational worship service on the 4th Sunday of the month at 2pm (this month: Oct. 27) followed by an informal fellowship time at the Tsukuba Christian Center next door. Japanese service on Sundays at 10:30am translated into English over earphones. English Bible study every Wednesday at 8:30 pm in the Christian Center. Call Tim Boyle 0298-55-1907. www.iinet.ne.jp/church
Tsukuba Catholic Church
English mass at 8am every Sunday. Japanese masses on Saturday at 6pm and Sunday at 10am are accompanied by a summary of the message in English. Spanish mass on the 3rd Sunday at 3pm. Coffee social after the English mass on the last Sunday of the month. (0298-36-1723)
Tsuchiura Catholic Church
English mass on the last Sunday of each month at 3pm. Portuguese mass on the 3rd Saturday at 7pm. (0298-21-1501) www1.accsnet.ne.jp/~mikokoro
Tsukuba Baptist Church English Bible study before the Japanese service every Sunday from 10am to 11am. (Inarimae just east of Nishi Odori on the street closest to the meteorological observation tower, 0298-58-0655)
Megumi Church
English translation of their 10:30am Japanese service over earphones. English Bible class every Sunday at 9am. International Fellowship group holds a monthly potluck dinner usually on the third Saturday. (489-1 Kami Takatsu, Tsuchiura, 22-2244, LDN03144@niftyserve.or.jp, www.bekkoame.ne.jp/ro/tmc, for potluck info contact Melissa Ishio at 38-1374)
Tokyo International Church, Tsukuba Branch
Chinese (Mandarin) service at 10:30am interpreted into both English and Japanese. English Bible study every Sunday evening at 7pm. (Across from Tsukuba University, Amakubo 3-3-5, Rev. Huang 0298-52-6820)
International Christian Assembly
Bible study on Sundays from 10am, worship from 10:30am. (Just off of Tsuchiura-Gakuen Sen east of Tsukuba, just behind the restaurant with the dragon on the roof, Tony Shreffler 0298-57-9006)
Nozomi Evangelical Lutheran Church
Programs in English, including worship service Saturday at 7:30pm and Bible class on Sunday at 9:30am. English Bible information courses are available any time. (23-27 Komatsu 3-chome, Tsuchiura, Glen Hieb 0298-21-3578)
Tsuchiura Christian Church
English message translated into Japanese every Sunday at 10:30am. (Paul Axton 0298-56-2167)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Services are translated into English over headphones. Sacrament Meeting at 10am followed by Sunday School at 11:10am and Priesthood and Relief Society at 12 noon. English Gospel Doctrine class is also offered. (Tsukuba ward at Sakura 2 chome 35-2, 0298-57-9795)
Jewish Community of Japan
Invites anyone of the Jewish faith in the Tsukuba area to feel welcome at any of their programs in Tokyo. Sabbath services each Friday at 6:30pm followed by Sabbath dinner. Kosher Kitchen, Saturday at 9:30am. (3-8-8 Hiroo, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, 03-3400-2559, 03-3400-1827)
Tsukuba Muslim Residents Association's Mosque
Gomaa prayer daily at 8 pm; Islamic lessons: Daily, for men after 8 pm & weekly for women on Saturdays 1:30 - 4:00 (Arabic and English). Lessons for men from 12:00 to 12:30 every Friday in English; Teaching Holy Quoran for children, 3 times per week; Islamic library, video & cassette tapes, etc.; Teaching Arabic Language free of charge every Saturday from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. www.geocities.com/tsumra
Some philosophers argue that some properties - such as colour - are bound up with human mental experience, and cannot be 'reduced' to physical properties. Where, then, does a property like 'redness' really reside? Redness appears to reside in the brilliant colour of a poppy. But physicists tell us that the colour red simply corresponds to a light wavelength of 7 x 10-7 metres. Is this part of the electromagnetic spectrum the residence of redness? Or is redness forever in the eye of the beholder - the subjective experience of a human (or non-human) observer?
Imagine somewhere deep in space a monochromatic planet: the local sun is a pale white star, shedding a moonbeam-like lustre on a dull metallic landscape. Everything is a shade of grey. The native alien life-form has evolved monochromatic eyes. If it arrives on Earth, it sees only in black and white. It regards a red poppy, and understands the wavelength of its colour is 7 x 10-7 metres, but its subjective experience is quite different from the human one - the poppy appears to the alien only as a rather fine shade of grey.
Or, at the other extreme, we can imagine an alien species equipped with senses that directly experience the whole electromagnetic spectrum (as we sense the visible portion directly through our eyes). This pan-electromagnetic-detecting alien is able to sense directly everything from gamma rays to radio waves, and can tune straight into TV transmissions from Earth (to start with, admittedly, rather quaint old TV shows in black and white). Its impression of the TV shows might be the same as if we were viewing them at home - though its interpretation of their meaning may only be guessed at.
But the fact that these experiences are subjectively different does not mean that they may not ultimately be reconcilable within a scientific framework. For now, physics may describe only a few narrow aspects of colour, such as wavelength or frequency. But we are on a long journey of human understanding. To be able to recognise and name different colours was a start. In a sense, this recognition allowed us to claim colour as a 'human' construct in the first place. Who is to say what advanced understanding might not achieve in the future? After all, to the ancients, it might have seemed like science fiction that something as sensual as 'redness' could be expressed using such hard, brain-bendingly small units of distance or time (i.e., wavelength and frequency).
Some might then wish to redefine redness as that bit of the colour that is experiential - that cannot be attributed simply to its wavelength. But who is to say that we could not also capture or synthesise this sense of redness, as experienced by human vision? After all, when we hear a voice on the telephone, we interpret it as a person talking, rather than a mechanical sound generated by a vibrating diaphragm. Similarly, without a thought we say we saw so-and-so on TV, when all we saw was a cathode-ray trace. If we can fire off the pleasure centres in our brains using electrodes, can we not recreate the sensation of redness in our minds? Surely it is not irredeemably beyond the scope of physics to synthesise the experience of seeing a red poppy - for humans or aliens of any visual capacity?
But some philosophers might still object that redness does not reside in anything to do with the physical experience of that colour of light hitting our retinas. They may forever wish to reserve redness for something that cannot be captured by any objective means. Then, however sophisticated our pinning down of redness as an objective property, there is a philosophical argument that insists that there will always be a remainder - some residual something - that must be reserved for the subjective, experiential world of what it is to be human - or alien.
In the face of a pan-galactic scientific convention for the definition of colours, we would be insisting that our redness is different from anyone else's. In the ensuing argument, even the human philosophers would start falling out with each other, as some insist they always experience everything uniquely anyway.
The dark recesses of individual conscious minds become the last refuges for the things we can't explain physically. As science expands our understanding of the composition of colour, light and matter, and human senses and mental processes, we surely 'reduce' the concept of redness in reserving it for the bits that yet remain beyond our ken. Is that really where redness resides?
by Stephen Marshall
stephen@cyberspace.co.jp
Meetings every Wednesday night at Hot Stuff from 9pm. Future walks and information at eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp/twmc. Please contact Tadashi Takemori at takemori@eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp.
Join the Ibaraki Hash House Harriers, the international drinking club with a running problem. Meet at the Frontier Bar at 2pm on Sunday October 27th. Check our homepage at ibarakih3.infoseek.ne.jp and leave a message on the BBS.
