Hyakuen shop ... in the Philippines?

When I was still in Japan, I frequent the hyakuen shops where I can buy all sort of things -- things that I would only realize I need them when I saw them in 100yen shops.

And when we went back home, I was only able to bring home some of those 100-yen stuff, and had to throw away most of them. :(

Luckily, I recently discovered this shop that promotes and upholds the concept of 100-yen shops in Japan. As I scan around the items sold at the Japan Home Centre, I could see familiar stuffs that I usually buy back in Japan. But no, the price is not 100 yen, but 88pesos. At first, I was excited to buy some, but after thinking twice, I felt it is a bit expensive for me. In Japan, it is easy to buy anything for 100 yen. But buying the same thing for 88pesos here in the Philippines, the price is doubled. So, in the end, I just grabbed a pack of bathroom tissues (hoping that I could flush it in the toilet bowl, the way I used to do in Japan) and bathroom cleaner.

Anyway, I think I would still visit this shop to buy those only-in-Japan products that are not/hardly found in other shops.

So, if you want to try out Japan-made stuffs, go visit the shop.

Photo from: Japan Home Centre website

PM Abe visits Manila

It's his first visit to my dear homeland since taking office last September.

I wouldn't ask how did he find Mrs. Arroyo nor what special Filipino dishes did he eat during the visit. I am more concerned, as others are, about the things accomplished for this visit, despite the last-minute cancellation of the ASEAN Summit and six-party talks (well, this is another story, and quite interesting, I'm telling you).

Japan Times said that the visit affirmed the two countries' position in "condemning North Korea's nuclear test and vowing to quash global terrorist threats."

In a joint statement, the two leaders "expressed their grave concern" about the Korean Peninsula, blasted North Korea for its October nuclear test and urged Pyongyang to give up nuclear weapons.

They also "shared the view that the threat of terrorism remains a regional and global security concern and reaffirmed their determination to prevent, suppress and eliminate all forms of terrorism," according to the statement, signed at the presidential Malacanang Palace.

On other issues, Abe and Arroyo agreed to promote policy dialogue in the fields of security, maritime and consular affairs, and to enhance cooperation on efforts to prevent and eradicate human trafficking.

In terms of economic cooperation, Arroyo expressed appreciation for Japanese official development assistance to her country, and Abe said Japan is considering providing new yen loans.

Did I read that right? NEW YEN LOANS??? Well, while that sounds good at first, it would mean a more "baon sa utang" situation. And, if I may ask, how much do we owe the Central Bank again? I'm not good at counting you know, especially if it has to be 10 figures or so. Tsk, tsk.

Anyway, I hope Mr. Abe (and his wife who joined him in the visit and busied herself in visiting orphanages) are now back home safe. ;)

Jap soldier's confession

Japan Times reports,

A former medic in the Imperial Japanese Navy says he carried out vivisection on about 30 prisoners, including women and children, in the Philippines during World War II.

It is the first time anyone in the wartime military has admitted that experiments were conducted on human beings in the Philippines, said Keiichi Tsuneishi, a professor of science history at Kanagawa University.

It's not that easy to come out in the open for serious and sensational matters such as this. His reason for telling the truth? His conscience could no longer take an act that he was forced to do at that time.

"The souls of those who died would not be soothed if the story remained buried," he said.

And it is not soothing either for the Filipinos of today to hear such horrible acts. This is something quite difficult to accept, no matter how true it is/was. I can't even quite imagine how the whole process of vivisection was done on alive people. Sorry, it makes me throw up.

Sometimes, some truths are better kept hidden. Truth hurts, and this particular confession hurts me deeply. If there is such thing as emotional vivisection, that exactly is what I feel right now.

To my Japanese friends out there, let me assure you that this news doesn't affect my views of Japanese society TODAY because today's generation is entirely different from before. Just let me vent on this though, coz I really feel sorry for the victims.

Given this testimony, what should we do then?

"We should not let this horrible thing happen again," Makino said. "I want to tell the truth about war to as many people as possible. If I'm given the opportunity, I'll continue to testify in atonement."

Yeah, that's right.