日本を取り戻そう ！！！(2)

The Japanese government started charting a great new course for this great nation and the slogan (so to say) for this move is “日本を取り戻そう” (read; Nihon wo tori modosou, (hereafter; NWTM)).

Literally meaning, “Let’s take back Japan”. The questions in your mind might just be the same ones I have on mine or the might be different. What I do know for sure is that we all have questions about NWTM.

1.      Take back Japan, from what or who?

2.      What happens after taking back Japan?

3.      What exactly is to be done to take back Japan?

4.      Is the plan or strategy to take back Japan foul proof?

5.      Who are those actively involved in this take back Japan quest?

6.      What are the plans laid down for the youth of Japan with respect to this quest?

7.      What do the youth of Japan stand to benefit from NWTM?

8.      Would the youths of Japan be actively involved or are they going to be spectators?

9.      Is NWTM really about Japan or is it just politics?

10.  Japan is essentially governed by aged and ageing men, would NWTM ensure that the youth of Japan not only actively participate in politics but also contribute both directly and indirectly to the building and structuring of a nation that that they all love and hold ever so proudly?

日本を取り戻そう ! ! ! ! ! !

日本を取り戻そう (read; Nihon wo tori modosou, (hereafter; NWTM)) was coined by the prime minister of Japan. It implies taking back Japan. For folks who aren’t very conversant with Japan and its pre-war and post- war history (ies), it may sound like an ordinary political rhetoric, a catch phrase, a campaign slogan or jingle for the purpose of acquiring the maximum votes simply because it sounds sweet to the ears [particularly if you are Japanese].

 This phrase, I tell you, is very far, very far from this. It originates from a man who has been there (in the seat of power), tasted it, left it (owing to ill health) and returned (He did say “I’ll be back!”).

 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is BACK!!! After a short few years honing his strategy(ies) away from the public glare. It is obvious that he spent a great deal of time re-examining his every step / move made during his first stint as prime minister. Not only has he returned as a healthier prime minister but also as one with grand ideas about what and what to achieve for his beloved country.

This Abe is very different from the one that presided over Japan during his first stint in office, and that is why rather than “美しい國を作りたい” we have “日本を取り戻そう”.

NWTM was coined by a man who was sickened by the state in which he found his beloved nation. He stepped aside after a few months into his term as prime minister the first time because not only was he overwhelmed by what he saw, he as not prepared for what he saw.

However, this new, reformed, revitalized Abe has the resolve and the mettle to deal with the situations that he initially encountered. He has had more than ample time to analyze the situation of things, identify the main problems, the symptoms of the problems and the root causes of most of these problems. He has returned with a passion to set the ship of state on a course that guarantees safe passage through the global socio-economic and political waters of today’s world.

NWTM is not just about the now of Japan but about the future and the sacrifices that MUST be made to ensure that this island nation itself makes history, leaving tracks in the sands of time for others to follow rather than become history.

I think all Japanese should work with Mr. Abe in charting this great course for Japan.

Obesity and your BMI.

What is Obesity?

Obesity is the excessive accumulation of fat in an individual to the extent that it has negative effects on the health of the individual. If an individual's body fat or weight is more than twenty percent of the the acceptable limit (i.e more than twenty percent of the optimum) then the individual is considered to be obese. So in essence, If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9 you are considered to be overweight and If your BMI is 30 or over you are considered to be obese.

What is BMI?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a statistical measurement derived from your height and weight. It is considered to be a useful method of estimating healthy body weight but it does not measure the percentage of body fat. It was developed in the 19th century by the Belgian statistician and anthropometrist Adolphe Quetelet. The BMI is an accurate reflection of body fat percentage in the majority of the adult population but it is less accurate in people such as body builders and pregnant women. The BMI, age and gender can be used to estimate a person's body fat percentage to an accuracy of about 4%.

BMI is calculated by dividing the subject's mass by the square of his or her height.

「Classes of Obesity

1). Enviable obesity: This kind of obesity is one wherein the individual involved looks huge and well built. Any attire just fits beautifully. This sort of obesity leaves the individual to be envied by his/her peers. We get comments like chubby guy. plump guy etc

2). Laughable obesity: This kind is one in which the individual is kind of on the funny fat side and clothes don't seem to fit properly or when seen in public riding the bus, train etc, the individual is kind of expected to pay for two seats and things like that. Even the body movements, the cloth sizes tend to get you to laugh. This is called laughable obesity

3). Pitiable obesity: This kind is one where people around feel pity or empathy for the individual involved. Like in cases where the person has to make use of a wheel chair because the excess weight makes it difficult for the person to to stand let alone trek. Usually, the individual is even pitied the more when seen with fast foods or with super-sized drinks, colas etc.」

On a more serious note the classifications of obesity as laid out by WHO are as follows;

1). Severe obesity (class I obesity) : This is for BMI  ≥ 35 or 40.

2). Morbid obesity (class II obesity) : This is for BMI of ≥ 35 or 40–44.9 or 49.9.

3). Super Obesity (class III obesity) : This is for BMI of ≥ 45 or 50.

BMI	Classification
< 18.5	underweight
18.5–24.9	normal weight
25.0–29.9	overweight
30.0–34.9	class I obesity
35.0–39.9	class II obesity
≥ 40.0	class III obesity

Causes of Obesity

Obesity occurs when a person takes in more calories than he or she burns. This could mean eating too much and exercising too little. There however are other factors that may cause obesity. Some of these include:

1) Genetics: One's genetic make up tend to play a role in determining whether one is fat or thin. If for instance your biological parents are obese, fat or heavy, there is a 75% probability that you would be heavy, fat or obese.

2) Gender: Gender appears to play a role in whether one is obese or not. Women have a higher tendency than men to be obese. Men have a higher resting metabolic rate in that they burn more energy at rest than women, so men require more calories to maintain their body weight. In the case of women, when the attain menopause, their post menopausal metabolic rate decreases and that is why women gain weight after menopause.

3). Age : As one ages or gets older, metabolism slows down and the required amount of calories to maintain one's weight decreases. This is why people a lot of people realize that though they eat the same and do the same activities as they did when they were in the teens and twenties they gain weight, still doing same activities at an older age.

4). Physical activity: People who exercise a lot or work a lot require more calories to maintain their weights compared to people who live sedentary lives as couch potatoes.

Some other contributory factors include Illness, psychological factors, environmental factors, medication etc.

Treatments of Obesity: The treatment for obesity among others include the following;

1) Exercise

2) Dietary changes

3) Medication

4) Surgery

Japan's Abe's Impeccable Timing.

I grew up hearing this adage; "He who is down needs fear no fall". In the case of the current Japan - China relationship, I believe the adage would be best adjusted to read "That which is down needs fear no fall".


The visit of the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe to the Yasukuni Shrine to pay his respects to Japanese war dead seems in my opinion to have come at the most opportune moment for Mr. Abe.


If we consider the already below sea level relationship between Japan and China since China's establishment of a "NO FLY" zone over the Senkaku Islands which it claims as part of its territory, one would understand that at a time when the relationship between these nations is at its lowest ebb, the Prime minster must certainly have calculated that the best time to visit the Yasukuni shrine is of course before beginning to or attempting to repair the already damaged relationship between both nations.


Yasukuni is a shrine that holds the remains of Japan's war dead. Quite unfortunately, some individuals who have been labeled or classified as war criminals are also interred in the same shrine. Now, going to pay one's respects to those who sacrificed their lives for their beloved nation is a practice that takes place in most nations across the globe and Japan should not be an exception. In some countries, it is known as the armed forces remembrance day.


Japan is a sovereign nation and holds the right to pay respect to its war dead regardless of what other nations think of the character of the fallen soldiers. While Japan (or the Japanese) may view them as war heroes, other nations reserve the right to view them as war criminals but do not have the right to dictate whether or not the memory of these fallen soldiers be honored.


I however, think that the way forward would be for Japan to take responsibility for its war history and crimes, offer unreserved apologias to the offended parties, stop rewriting its war history and move on. I think that the continuous denial and defense of its war history and crimes is the "Fons et origo" of its problems with other Asian countries. It would be best to toe the line of its wartime ally (Germany) in accepting and taking responsibility for its war past instead of trying to doctor the books. In fact we have the Chinese also offering the same piece of advice to their Japanese counterpart as seen in this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-25751420 on the BBC News blog Echo Chambers.

Regardless of the statement just made in the preceding paragraph, I stand strong on my conviction that Japan as a sovereign nation should not be dictated to on whether or not it should honor its war dead regardless of whether they are labelled as war criminals in other nations or not.

Would one or should one not give honor to whom honor is due simply because there are some dishonorable people in their company? Or would you not express your salutations to your father because an uncle whom you hate is seated by him?

Japan, short of saying "we are sorry for the atrocities we meted out on fellow Asian nation" has worked hard to build the economies and technological know how of a great number of the nations in which they committed these atrocities with China and Korea benefiting the most from Japan directly or indirectly.

It seems to me that aside from territorial disputes between these Asian nations, the underlining reason for tension and some degree of animosity or hatred towards Japan expressed by these other nations is the fact that Japan, unlike Germany has found or made itself too big to say　”Ｗｅ did you wrong and we are truly sorry". This, I feel is the main reason why any move by Japan is viewed by China or Korea as "A DANCE OF ARROGANCE".

It is this perceived dance (coupled with the fact that Mr. Abe has been sounding the trumpet for the revision of Japan's constitution) that has prompted the Chinese to fly their "BANNER OF STRENGTH" by having the Chinese War fleet sail around Japan．This act alone was intended to induce shivers and quivers in the Japanese Bureaucrats. China appears to be playing to the fact that the US would not like to engage China in any form of warfare and would do almost anything (including the possibility of abandoning Japan) in the event of a breakout.

This thought pattern not only emboldens, it also encourages the Chinese to act without fear or caution especially because it is perceived by the Chinese that the US would prevail on Japan for the sake of peace to work out a way of exploring the disputed islands in partnership with the other claimants or give up claim to the islands altogether. 

Anyway, with respect to Mr. Abe visiting the Yasukuni shrine, what better timing could there be than now? Mr. Abe is a shrewd politician and I am certain that his calculations were certainly based on the fact that the relationship between Japan and China at the moment is almost non existent so "Why not?"

Personally, I think it came in good timing considering that "That which is down needs fear no fall". The relationship between both countries is messed up already anyway and it can't get any worse.

When Women take the LEAD !

It seems like since the beginning of time, men have taken the front seat on the affairs of the world but men are very egotistic and believe that talking is a waste of time.

Men believe that might is right, they believe "if I can't have it, you mustn't either (even if it was yours to begin with).

Men's view arm wrestling as diplomacy, they keep squeezing the balls of the other guy until they provoke a "reaction" which they then frame as an "action" with the help of government controlled media.

The next step is to take young men to war.

If women are at the helm of affairs, I can almost guarantee world peace. Women would rather negotiate even if it takes months rather than fight.

They would rather share that quarrel when things can be shared.

They seem to know how to manage and manipulate issues better than men.

Women value life more than men do, it's true ! They do the bringing forth of the baby and know the pains involved in rearing a child to adulthood.

I am yet to see a country which has a woman as its prime minister or president engaging in war.
Women do everything possible to avoid and avert war.

Men would rather thump their chests forward shouting "BRING IT ON" well of course, they wouldn't be on the battle field.

Take George Bush for instance, he dodged the draft but was quick to send young men to their deaths when he took office.

I could go on and on about why I support women leading the world but here http://ieet.org/index.php/ieet/more/pellissier20110215 are some views from someone else on the same issue.

The long and short of it is that when women take the lead, world peace can ALMOST be GUARANTEED !.

WOMEN ARE NOT THINGS !

I have been reading the news and what keeps hitting me these days are the stories about rape and or gang rape. It seems that unless this issue is properly addressed to ensure the safety of our women, some billy goats in human skin would stop at nothing.

In Oyo state, Nigeria, the police recorded 365 rape cases in 2013. This amounts to 1 rape case a day ! But don't be fooled by the number because it clearly represents only the number of reported cases.

http://www.punchng.com/news/oyo-police-recorded-365-rape-cases-in-2013/

So that means that there were others who were raped but for fear of stigmatization did not report the case.

In India, the news keeps coming in about this assault on women. 

http://www.dawn.com/news/1078724/polish-woman-raped-in-india-while-travelling-with-daughter

Last year a lady was gang raped to death. This is not an isolated case but it made headlines the world over because of the death of the lady and recently a girl was gang raped and then set ablaze.

http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/02/india-teenage-gang-rape-victim-burned-to-death-by-her-attackers-say-police/

In South Africa, the rape of lesbians is referred to as "corrective rape". What can be corrective about rape?

http://www.edgeboston.com/news/international/News/153873/%22corrective_rape%22_against_lesbians_rises_in_south_africa_

Even in Japan, on the news, there is a cause for worry. As it appears that this dastardly act can also be perpetuated in a country where everyone "appears" to be well mannered.

http://www.geo.tv/article-133382-Thousands-of-Japan-police-in-manhunt-for-rape-suspect

In Australia, a female asylum seeker in detention on Christmas Island was reported to have been sexually assaulted (raped) by another asylum seeker.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2014-01-02/rape-allegation-by-female-asylum-seeker-in-detention-raises-security-concerns/1241866

It seems to me that if you sift through the news for each and every country, you would find that rape is not isolated to any one country neither is not isolated to any class of people. The rich, middle class and poor and all into this terrible sin and for different reasons.

RAPE IS UNPARDONABLE AND  UNACCEPTABLE. IT MUST NOT BE CONDONED !

The World Talks of Energy Conservation but..................

I was driving around in the afternoon some days ago, got to convenience store and noticed again for the umpteenth time the sign that says "idling stop". This sign is designed to remind drivers to turn of the ignition once in the parking lot for a number or reasons :

(i).  reduce carbon emission
(ii).  as an effort to step global warming
(iii). reduce wasteful consumption of gasoline (fuel) among others.

However, looking into the convenience store, I noticed that nothing less that twenty (20) fluorescent tubes all lit up (in a hot afternoon). This set me wondering if this store was really worried about global warming or if it was just to create the impression that it was.

I stepped out the convenience store and I almost jumped out of my skin because a lot of shops had lights on. If the lights were inside the shop I probably would not have worried but I was stunned to find a shop with about ten (10) flood lights lit up right in front of the shop's bill board placed strategically on the roof of the shop, this also on a hot afternoon.

If this shop were a new entity, I would have thought well this was done to make to attract attention of pedestrians, drivers or commuters generally but NO!, this shop has be on that corner for no less that eight (8) years.

These and many more set me thinking about the statements that are usually made about conserving energy.

I started asking questions with respect energy conservation.

1). Are we for real?

2). Do we really need all those lights on in and outside the convenience stores and supermarkets?

3). What steps can we put in place to drastically reduce our electricity consumption levels?

4). Why are the schools and other parastatals made to keep the temperature dials at 25 or 27C when the continuous opening and closing of doors ensure that the temperature never gets up to the regulated temperature?

5). Is there any reason why the government cannot take advantage of the space on the roof tops of schools to set up solar panels for generating electricity?

6). Isn't there a way the government to take advantage of the natural course and flow of rivers, using micro-turbines to generate electricity? There certainly is no need to dam every river, destroying natural biospheres in the name of power generation !

7). What is the government and multinational companies doing to encourage research in the field of Magnetism especially for the generation of power? I strongly believe that Nikolai Tesla got it right when he said magnetism was the way to go if we wanted free and sustainable energy.
But of course, we all know that "FREE" is a word the governments and big corporations are afraid of. I wonder why.

I have been thinking and still am ! I hope you are too before our culture of waste damns us all.

The world keeps talking about Energy conservation but all I see is WASTE !!!!

Riots, Protests, Marches and collision with our brothers and sisters in uniform (defending what we are fighting against!!!)

The new headlines, for last year and already this new year is littered with reports about riots and protests. It is also ridden with reports of clashes with uniformed gentlemen and women.

 I have been pondering a lot about this issue. I mean the masses collide with the police, the army etc. every time they protest. Some people get shot, some loose their lives and many more are injured.

I had to ask myself some hard questions.

1).  Where are the uniformed individuals from? Are they humans or aliens?
     Are they our fellow citizens? Are we related in anyway, blood or marriage or even plain friendship?

2).  Do they suffer the same things we suffer that have led us to protest?
     Are they part of the people on whose behalf we are protesting?
     If our protests are successful, would they be beneficiaries of the dividends of our protests?

3).  How come we never get to see the faces of the people who actually plunge our countries into chaos?
     Why would they risk their lives for people who are enriching themselves at their expense?
     Is their sworn oath really that binding that they don't mind clashing with their fathers, brothers, mothers, sisters, cousins, aunties, uncles and friends?
     Do they realize that these people protesting are also fighting for them because they realize that their take home pay can't take them home?

4).  Would a time ever come when the military, police etc. give politicians the middle finger when there is a protest and let the voice of the masses prevail?
    I used to think that it was generally agreed that Vox populi vox Dei....The voice of the people is the voice of God! I guess politicians no longer believe in the voice of God.

5).  Why can't politicians all over the world be like Japanese politicians who through in the towel once there is a protest (or criticism) about their conduct or use of power?
    Japanese politicians simply step aside for someone else to carry on once the criticism becomes too much. They understand that no one is indispensable and that if the people who elected you to office are not satisfied with your performance, then it is time to step down and re-plan, re-brand and then re-apply for the office. They are not power huggers.

6).  When would the politician ever learn that they would NEVER be able to sleep at night as long as the Poor are AWAKE from hunger and joblessness?

7). (i) What would you do if you are on a protest and you find a family member (a policeman or soldier) deployed to quell the protest.?
    (ii) Would you continue with the protest or go home?
    (iii) If the protest degenerates from a peaceful one to a one on one with the guys in uniform, would you still go on with it even if it means clashing with a family member with the probability that one or both of you may get injured or loose your lives?

Well, I am just thinking because at the end of the day a lot of these guys in uniform go back home to meet at least one of the protesters. Both of them broke because the politicians he's been protecting keep laughing to the bank with money meant for the masses.

My final analysis is that the boys and girls in uniform are Brain washed with some words called oaths and codes of conduct so that they can be used and of course abused.