hydrogen sulfide

The crazy new ''boom'' in Japan.

Since the beginning of April, EVERY day, I mean, EVERYDAY somebody has been committing suicide with hydrogen sulfide.

Apparently you can make hudrogen sulfide at home by mixing some liquid detergents that cause poisonous gas.

This method not only kills the person actually committing the suicide in a few second, but also whoever is around the gas at the time. Out of 50 cases there have been surrounding victims in 18 different places. In most cases the the suicide(r) are under the age 40, who have regular access to internet. People can research how to die without pain on the internet these days, totally scary.

It is said that Japanese counseling/psychology is a century behind one from the States. Unlike Christianity Japanese religions don't teach cutting off one's own life is a taboo.

Where is this nation heading to?

The Spring has past....almost

Normally, Japanese people talk about weather when they have nothing else to talk about. But today, even my friend Ben would want to talk about the weather. He has quickly learned the Japanese phrase ''Tenki ga ii ne.''-It's such a good weather today. And today, indeed, is the day he can use the phrase without thinking, ''ugh, again?''

It rained a lot past few weeks here in Tokyo, and even with beautiful cherry blossoms, it has been still chilly outside. Today you see not only some big foreigners but some Japanese wearing T-shirts.

Japanese New Years

In Japan, if you are a working adult, you give money to your kids or younger relatives.

You better be glad you are not Japanese :p

I have three cousins. Two of them have three kids, one has two. So i have 8 kids to give money to. You cannot give the same amount to 15year old kid and 3 year old.

So you give ￥5000(about USD45) to the olderst one, and ￥4000 to his brother, ￥3000 to his sister, and so on......

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr


but for the kids, this is THE day for them, they count money the collected and think of what they can buy with it :)

You can tell which kids are smarter than others by observing how them spend money. Some will save it all and some will spend it on silly toys. Some parents tell the kids that they will take care of their money and put it in their bank account so that the kids won't waste money.

Anyhow, this New Years, I returned home to give away money! but at least the kids were happy :D