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Biwako beaches pass water-quality tests

Jul 17th, 2009
by philbert.
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Omi-Maiko

Omi-Maiko

It’s summer again and before people flock to the beaches, Shiga Prefecture in May conducted water-quality tests at nine of Shiga’s most popular swimming beaches. Based on the water-quality test results, the beaches were ranked “AA,” “A,” or “B.”

Receiving the highest “AA” rating were Omi-Maiko (Otsu), Miyagahama (Omi-Hachiman), and Nihonmatsu (Nishi-Azai).

The second-highest “A” rating was given to Matsunoura (Otsu), Matsubara (Hikone), Minamihama (Nagahama), and Makino Sunny Beach (Takashima).

Earning a “B” rating were Nagisato (Moriyama) and Shingaihama (Hikone). A “B” rating is still safe enough for swimming.

The water-quality tests measured water transparency, oil film, and E. coli bacteria count. Last year, eight of the nine beaches received an “AA” rating, but only three beaches this year were rated that high. Note that the results of the tests can differ depending on the weather of the day when the tests are conducted.

At any rate, Shiga’s beaches are safe to swim in. Enjoy!

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Swine flu update: 40 infected in Shiga

Jul 14th, 2009
by philbert.
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Although the swine flu scare/panic has largely passed, be aware the bug is still out there. On July 13, 2009, ten new cases of H1N1 patients were confirmed, increasing Shiga’s total to 40 people infected.

Eight students attending Higashi Otsu High School were found to be infected, along with a Ryukoku Univ. student, who was a graduate of Higashi Otsu High, and his junior high school brother. The college student had attended a school festival at his old high school on July 8.

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Using mobile phones while bicycling prohibited

Jul 7th, 2009
by philbert.
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Be aware that from July 1, 2009, it is illegal to use a mobile phone while riding a bicycle. Using a cell phone while driving is already illegal, but now it is also illegal while riding a bicycle.

According to the police, there were eighteen bicycling accidents in Shiga caused by the rider using a mobile phone while cycling. Four of the accidents resulted in serious injuries. The police has concluded that when you use a mobile phone (keitai or K-tai) with one hand while riding a bicycle, you cannot focus your attention on the road and you are more prone to lose your balance and crash.

You cannot talk on the phone, write/read email, nor watch videos on your mobile phone while riding a bicycle. So, just do not hold your mobile phone in one hand while riding a bicycle. If you get caught, you may be fined no more than 50,000 yen.

If you need to use your phone, just stop riding your bicycle. Problem solved.

自転車も携帯電話使用禁止

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Otsu mayor earns more than Shiga governor

Jul 1st, 2009
by philbert.
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On June 30, 2009, the 2008 incomes and assets of National Diet members, prefectural governors, and prefectural assembly members were made public as required by law. In 2008, Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko earned 17.27 million yen. This included her 15.06 million yen annual salary as governor and the rest was earned from royalties, speaking fees, writing fees, etc.

On the other hand, Otsu Mayor Mekata Makoto earned 18.73 million yen which included his 15.59 million yen salary as mayor. Other mayors of major cities in Shiga earned around 10 to 11 million yen. Shiga prefectural assembly members earned an average of 13.81 million yen which includes income from outside sources besides their salaries.

Since 2007, Governor Kada volunteered to give herself a 20% cut in her monthly salary which may explain why her salary is lower than Mekata’s.

National Diet members representing Shiga also made as much as 28.84 million yen (Okumura Tenzo from Koka).

Note that incomes 10 million yen or more in Japan are subject to a large chunk going to the tax man. (I speak from experience.)

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My information sources for Shiga news

Jun 2nd, 2009
by philbert.
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The news about Shiga which I present here are gleaned from various Japanese sources. When I’m in Shiga, I always try to watch NHK TV news at 6:10 pm on weekdays which is when the local station in Otsu broadcasts Shiga news. I also check for Shiga news online issued by major newspapers like Asahi Shimbun, Kyoto Shimbun, and Chunichi Shimbun. (I’m bilingual enough to read a Japanese newspaper.)

I wish I could add the link to the original Japanese news article for my news entries, but those links usually disappear after a month or so. (In the case of NHK, it disappears the next day.)

Here are a few links to Shiga news online in Japanese:

NHK TV Shiga
http://www.nhk.or.jp/otsu/lnews/
(The news changes daily.)

Asahi Shimbun Shiga news
http://mytown.asahi.com/shiga/newslist.php?d_id=2600000 

Chunichi Shimbun Shiga news
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/shiga/

Kyoto Shimbun
http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/index_shg.php

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Breaking news: Swine flu hits Shiga, schools closed

May 20th, 2009
by philbert.
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On the morning of May 20, 2009, Shiga’s first case of swine flu has been confirmed. A 23-year-old male student at the Biwako-Kusatsu campus of Ritsumeikan University has been confirmed as the first patient. His symptoms are not serious and will be hospitalized. None of the swine flu cases in Japan have proved to be fatal. It seems to be similar to seasonal flu.

The student lives in Otsu and was visiting his parents’ home in Kobe during May 15-18. In Kobe, he worked part-time at a fast-food place where a high school student also working there was later diagnosed with swine flu.

He attended university classes in Kusatsu on the 18th. They are now contacting his classmates who had classes with him at the university.

Ritsumeikan University and most of Shiga’s public schools (especially in Shiga’s six southern cities) will be closed for seven days starting today. Many public and sports events have also been cancelled. Shiga is Japan’s third prefecture hit with swine flu.

School trips to Shiga are being canceled one after another. One school switched its trip from Shiga to Kyoto which I cannot understand. Matter of time before Kyoto gets it too.

Watch all the surgical masks sell out in Shiga from today.

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Cherry blossoms in full bloom in most of Shiga

Apr 8th, 2009
by philbert.
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Kaizu-Osaki

Kaizu-Osaki. Click image to see more photos.

Cherry blossoms at most of the major spots in Shiga are now in full bloom, as of April 7-8. Otsu, Hikone, Nagahama, Yasu, etc., are in full bloom. Only the colder areas like Oku-Biwako Parkway, Biwako Valley, and Enryakuji are still not in full bloom yet. Kaizu-Osaki and Hachiman-bori will be in full bloom by this weekend it seems.

Japan is having a really good string of sunny days during the best time of the sakura season. Great for picnicking and for taking pictures.

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Slush funds discovered at Shiga Prefectural government

Apr 1st, 2009
by philbert.
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Another reminder that not everyone in Shiga’s government is upright and honest.
On March 30, 2009, the prefectural government announced that they found at least 44 suspected cases of slush funds or suspicious accounting created for illicit purposes by prefectural government departments and employees. The alleged backdoor money (called uragane 裏金) totaled at least 6.9 million yen.
Bank accounts with fake department names (like 「コナンドボクジムショ」「シガケンドボクジム」) were created to receive the money and numerous withdrawals were made.
Not only that, gift certificates and taxi coupons purchased since 15 years ago were found to be unaccountable in 25 departments and sections including the governor’s office, Board of Education, and health and welfare section.
At a press conference, Lieutenant Governor Sawada apologized to the people of Shiga and vowing to introduce countermeasures to prevent a recurrence.

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Kyaffee (Caffy) now Shiga’s official mascot

Mar 7th, 2009
by philbert.
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Caffee

Caffee or Caffy (キャッフィー) has been called back to duty. The mascot character used for Sports Recreation Shiga 2008 has been sworn in by Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko on March 4, 2009 as one of Shiga’s official mascots, especially for sports events.

I saw an awful lot of Caffy mascot costumes last year at Spo-rec Shiga and wondered what they would do with Caffy afterward. His (or her) last appearance was at the Hikone Yuru-Character festival in Oct. 2008. I asked what would become of Caffy, and I was told that it would be discontinued.

Well, it will be good to see Caffy back again. He (or she) is a Lake Biwa catfish (ビワコオオナマズ), one of the native species of fish in Biwako found nowhere else in the world.

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Backseat buckle up!

Jun 6th, 2008
by philbert.
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Did you know that Shiga Prefecture has Japan’s lowest rate of people buckling up in the back seat? According to a nationwide survey conducted jointly by Japan’s prefectural police and the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) in Oct. 2007, only 7 people out of 600 wore a seat belt while sitting in the back seat of a car in Shiga.  That’s only 1.2%.

This low figure shocked the Shiga Prefectural Police Department, especially when the new law would soon take effect requiring even back-seat passengers to buckle up. People in the front seat have always had to buckle up by law, but from June 1, 2008, the new law requires back-seat passengers to also fasten their seat belts. This applies to passengers in taxis as well.

Tour bus guides can no longer stand up and face their passengers while riding in a bus. They also have to sit and buckle up while the bus is moving.

So don’t forget to buckle up when in the back seat. Also, no smoking in taxis (another new law which has taken effect). 

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Hokuriku Line sees little passenger increase

Mar 31st, 2008
by philbert.
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The Hokuriku Main Line running from Maibara Station to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Pref. converted to direct current power in Oct. 2006, enabling trains to run directly from Kyoto all the way to Tsuruga. Passengers no longer have to change trains at Maibara or Nagahama Station when going beyond Nagahama. Anticipating a substantial increase in visitors, the train stations along the line built new station buildings. However, by March 2008, the passenger increase was only 0.5 percent, far below the target 14% increase.
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Emperor and Empress visit Shiga

Nov 15th, 2007
by philbert.
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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Shiga Prefecture for the first time in 13 years during Nov. 10-13, 2007. The main reason was to attend the 27th Zenkoku Yutaka na Umizukuri Taikai (National Convention to Make Bountiful Oceans 第２７回全国豊かな海づくり大会) held in Otsu.
On the first day, they visited a nursing home called Care Town Karasaki in Otsu. Some 20 patients there sang Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) for the Imperial couple and the Emperor demanded an encore for them to sing it again. It is Shiga’s most famous song.
On the second day the 11th, they attended the formal opening ceremony of the National Convention to Make Bountiful Oceans held at the lakeside Biwako Hall in Otsu. In his speech, the Emperor reflected, “It hurts my heart that the blue gill fish I brought to Japan from America for human consumption is now damaging the ecosystem of Lake Biwa.” In 1960 as Crown Prince on a trip to the U.S., the Emperor brought back the blue gill fish given to him in Chicago, Illinois and intended it to be raised in Japan for human consumption.
Some of the blue gill subsequently escaped from a research facility and entered Lake Biwa. The fish multiplied rapidly during the 1990s. Since it eats the baby fish of native lake fish found nowhere else in the world, the blue gill (and black bass) has become a major ecological problem in the lake. After the formal ceremony, the Emperor and Empress went outside the lakeside hall and released baby fish of native lake fish into the lake. Some of the ceremonial pomp included water-spraying fireboats and fishing boats sailing in a procession on the lake. The convention also had pavilions and booths in the Hama-Otsu area for the public to become more aware of fisheries in Lake Biwa.
After the convention, the Imperial couple took a boat ride to Karasuma Peninsula in Kusatsu to visit the Lake Biwa Museum. On the 12th, they visited Shigaraki Ceramic Park and the ruins of Shigaraki-no-Miya which was a detached palace of Emperor Shomu.
On the 13th, they visited Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei and returned to Tokyo via shinkansen train from Kyoto Station. It must have been a spectacle to see Shinto’s highest-ranking priest (the emperor) paying a visit to the headquarters of one of Japan’s largest Buddhist sects. Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko accompanied the Emperor and Empress during their tour in Shiga.
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