Big Suitcase? Make Reservations

In Japan, the Shinkansen trains are fast and convenient. There are no luggage fees or check-in procedures.  

Beginning in May, this will change for those who have large luggage. Passengers with large suitcases will be required to make reservations, which cost more than the non-reserved seating. Reservations can be made online or at Shinkansen ticket counters.  If you fail to make reservations ahead of time and show up with your big suitcase, you will have to pay a 1000 yen penalty, and upgrade to the more expensive reserved seating area.  I don’t know what happens if the reserved area is full.  Maybe you have to wait for the next train.  

“Large” suitcases are those having a combined length, width, and depth of between 160 and 250 centimeters (63 and 98.4 inches).  

So, how big is your suitcase?

Dog Toilet Area

At Itami airport in Osaka, traveling dogs have their own toilet area. The dog toilet area is in a fenced area outside the terminal and has water bowls and a shower area.  In addition, the “pee pole” flushes. This is the first canine rest room facility at a Japanese airport.  

Is there a dog toilet at your airport?

Sad News - Chitetsu Watanabe, dead at 112

Less that two weeks after being named the oldest man in the world by Guinness World Records, Chitestu Watanabe died at his nursing home in Niigata Prefecture. He was born March 5, 1907, was married and the father of five children. 

The oldest man in Japan is now Issaku Tomoe of Aichi Prefecture, who is 110 years old.  It is not yet known if he is the world's oldest man.

Work In Progress Wednesday

I'm continuing to do rhodes stitches in the spaces, with Accentuate thread.  I'm using a bright color of silver in this section of light blue now. I like it.

Train Manners in Japan

Signs in the Toei subway station in Tokyo.

Monday Morning Star Count - Week 42

Year Three of the temperature quilt  

Week 42

February 9 - 15 

46, 46, 50, 57, 64, 61, 59

I am reporting the high temperature each day.  My Year Three temperature/color (Fahrenheit) scheme remains the same: 

100 + Brown 

90-99 Red  

80-89 Orange 

70-79 Yellow  

60-69 Green  

50-59 Blue 

40-49 Purple 

30-39 Pink 

20-29 White 

10-19 Black  

You can see my finished Year One Quilt here.

Most Popular Baby Names in 2019 in Japan

According to the annual survey of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company customers, Rin (凛) was the most popular name for baby girls and Ren(蓮) the most popular name for baby boys in 2019. Rin, meaning dignified, last topped the list five years ago, while Ren, which means lotus, was the most popular name for the second straight year. 

The second most popular name for girls was Himari (陽葵), followed by Yua (結愛), An (杏) and Tsumugi (紬). For boys, Haruto (陽翔) and Arata (新) tied for the second most popular name, followed by Minato (湊), Aoi (蒼) and Ritsu (律).

Meiji Yasuda said it surveyed 8,407 customers who had daughters this year and 8,455 who had sons. 

Top Names in 2013 

Top names in 2015

Cat Day

In Japanese, the number two is read as ni or with some stretch of the imagination nya, which is often what your children call cats - nya nya.  According to this wisdom, February 22nd or triple two,  sounds like nya nya nya, and that is why we celebrate our feline friends on this cold winter day.

World's Oldest Man - Chitetsu Watanabe

The Guinness World Records has now named Chitetsu Watanabe, a 112 year old Japanese man, as the world's oldest man.  He was born March 5, 1907 in Niigata.  The previous record holder Masazo Nonaka, also Japanese, died last month, age 112 years and 266 days. Watanabe is married with five children and claims the secret to a long life is to "not get angry and keep a smile on your face."  The oldest living person is also Japanese, Kane Tanaka, a 117 year old woman.

New Adult Diapers in Japan

With a large elderly population in Japan, you might be able to guess that adult diapers are big business.  In Japan, adult diapers have outsold baby diapers since 2011 and are growing at an annual rate of five percent.

Unicharm Corporation, in collaboration with Hyogo University of Health Sciences, has developed the first adult diapers to help wearers with walking difficulties move around more easily. This new product went on sale in Japan in early February.  According to Unicharm representatives, aging causes abdominal muscles to weaken, causing the body's natural center of gravity to move forward, making it more difficult to walk.  The new adult diaper stabilizes the pelvis through a special sheet that increases pressure around the abdomen.  Unicharm's newest product is priced at 1600 yen for packs of 18 medium-sized diapers (waist of 60 - 85 centimeters) or packs of 16 large-sized diapers (waist of 75 - 100 centimeters). 

How does that compare with the price of baby diapers?

Work In Progress Wednesdday - from Eyelets to Rhodes Stitches

I finished the eyelets and started working on rhodes stitches in the openings. I'm using accentuate threads in the spaces.

Tokyo International Quilt Festival 2020 - Until Next Year

The quilt festival is held in the Tokyo Dome. You can't imagine how many quilts and people this place holds!

I liked this woman's dress. Maybe I'll make something like it.  So many ideas!

Afternoon cake and coffee. You really have to take a break in the afternoon.

More ideas.

Thank you, my friend for spending the day with me at the show!

That's all for this year.

Monday Morning Star Count - Week 41

Year Three of the temperature quilt  

Week 41 

February 2 - 8 

54, 57, 52, 57, 43, 43, 54

I am reporting the high temperature each day.  My Year Three temperature/color (Fahrenheit) scheme remains the same: 

100 + Brown 

90-99 Red  

80-89 Orange 

70-79 Yellow  

60-69 Green  

50-59 Blue 

40-49 Purple 

30-39 Pink 

20-29 White 

10-19 Black  

You can see my finished Year One Quilt here.

Tokyo International Quilt Festival 2020 - Eiko Okano

Do you like buttons?

Tokyo Interational Quilt Festival 2020 - Wa Category

The Wa Category is for Japanese quilts - Japanese materials or techniques or subjects.

And the winners ---