Being constructive

The international hysteria induced by the 7 ranking of the reactors in Fukushima seems to have moved on to other pressing affairs such as the upcoming royal wedding…

A couple of days ago, in  a refreshing sign that national govt. policy is being a bit more constructive than the Tokyo Governor. (Governor Ishihara not only has been urging people restrain from economic activity, he also attributed the earthquake to divine punishment for Japan's selfishness....)

 PM Kan has started urging people to spend, to buy Tohoku goods to help affected areas. NHK news was running with the same theme last night –recalling that after the Hanshin earthquake centred on Kobe, the people of Kobe appreciated that Osaka people kept spending to rebuild the economy.  I turned on the TV to check the size & location of an aftershock this morning and there was a story  about a  farmers markets in NE Tokyo specializing in goods from Fukushima and surrounds (the goods have passed radiation tests).  Vegies were a bit cheaper than usual & selling out. NHK was interviewing people saying they are motivated by wanting to help farmers in the area - none confessed to being there just for the cheap vegies, though perhaps that was a factor too...

As far as I know (which may not be much) Japan doesn’t really have much history of “Buy Japan” campaigns that are designed to boost the domestic economy .  Buy Japan labels are displayed prominently, but as a mark of quality (much like product of Australia, it is a by line for this doesn’t come from China), rather than from a sense that buying it will have local benefits.      Yesterday in the supermarket, there was Ibaraki spinach with ‘ganbarou nippon’  sticker. (Ganbaru, ganbatte, ganbarou, ganbatteimasu  is not the easiest word to translate – it is often translated  - badly – as fight, but it’s a word to inspire, cheer and motivate – often against the odds.)   People were buying the spinach. I was pleasantly surprised.  Now how to use up the bag of  Ibaraki green capsicum (green pepper for the Americans), tomatoes, and eggplant  I have in the fridge....  I can feel a ratatouille coming on...