Author Archive

Early sweet potato harvest

Written by: adekun on 10 October, 2008 10:26 pm - Filed under: garden — 4 Comments »

Some of the harvest, kintoki at the back

In an effort to beat the bugs, the sweet potato harvest has been brought forward. Three fifths have been lifted. Working from the outside rows inward, the third row didn’t bear much. In addition to timing and lack of feed, it could be the rows were spaced too closely together or that I’ve been a bit too heavy handed on earlier pickings. However, those that were harvested were of good size. (continue reading…)

Tags: garden, sweet potatoes

Soy bean ruin

Written by: adekun on 5 October, 2008 10:02 pm - Filed under: blog — 2 Comments »

I’ve found a chore that far surpasses the tedium of weeding. For some time, is has been apparent that the soy beans were riddled with holes and unlikely to produce much of a crop. Instead of harvesting them early for edamame, I hoped to leave them and harvest daizu. Rather than wait and see, I decided to ‘cut’ my loses. Each pod seemed only to hold disappointment; a vivid green caterpillar or black purée. (continue reading…)

Tags: compost, garden, harvest, legumes

Sports Day

Written by: adekun on 30 September, 2008 7:59 am - Filed under: blog — 4 Comments »

Imbuing a few more ounces of gambarimasu

Not to be confused with Sports Day, a public holiday in October, schools have been hosting their sports day throughout September. The districts are already divided into communities with a leader to manage the many differing day to day aspects. These communities within the catchment area form the teams and people of all ages compete, regardless of their own ties to the school. (continue reading…)

Tags: japan

Ethnically homogeneous

Written by: adekun on 28 September, 2008 3:54 pm - Filed under: blog — 4 Comments »

It has been just four days since Taro Aso and his new cabinet have taken up the chalice. The new PM welcomed the USS George Washington, whilst the masses of protesters were welcomed by riot police. The newly appointed Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has already overstepped the mark and has stepped down.
In addition to stating “Japanese do not like foreigners” and that the country is “ethnically homogeneous”; the former minister for education described the Japan Teachers Union “as a cancer for Japan’s education system” and vowed to destroy the group. (continue reading…)

Tags: japan, news, politics

Rice harvest

Written by: adekun on 24 September, 2008 1:43 pm - Filed under: blog — 5 Comments »

Shigeki-san sporty a straw Stetson

Juggling people’s work commitments and the weather, meant it took a public holiday to harvest the rice. It was Autumnal Equinox Day and very overcast too. Shigeki-san had already harvested one of the smaller fields. This left the two large fields, one of which had a smaller adjoining counterpart. With a late morning start and the threat of rain, Shigeki spent most of the time at the controls. I was porter. (continue reading…)

Tags: garden, harvest, inekari, rice, weather

Taro Aso to be Japan’s latest PM

Written by: adekun on 22 September, 2008 3:37 pm - Filed under: blog — 6 Comments »

As expected the LDP have chosen ultra right wing/conservative/nationalist Taro Aso to lead them. He achieved two/thirds of the vote. Famous for his “one nation, one civilization, one language, one culture and one race.” speech and love of Manga, he is certain to become the next Prime Minister.
Why does the ruling party get to choose the Premier and not the public? It’s not just a one off in this case. (continue reading…)

Tags: japan, news, politics

Tree of Happiness Award

Written by: adekun on 20 September, 2008 7:19 am - Filed under: blog — 7 Comments »

Tree of Happiness Award

Thank you to Top Veg for bestowing upon me the Tree of Happiness Award. It is my turn to choose six things that make me happy. As the entries have been a bit light on the garden that will be my focus: