<div dir="ltr"><div>* * * * * * * * * T E R R I E 'S T A K E * * * * * * *</div><div>A weekly roundup of news & information from Terrie Lloyd.</div><div>(<a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>terrie</span>.com)</div>
<div><br></div><div>General Edition Sunday, June 30, 2013, Issue No. 716</div><div><br></div><div>+++ INDEX</div><div><br></div><div>- What's New -- Evolution of Japanese in 100 years</div><div>- News -- Medical fees to rise in 2014</div>
<div>- Upcoming Events</div><div>- Corrections/Feedback</div><div>- Travel Picks -- Orange Cafe in <span class="" style>Hayama</span>, Iris Festivals in <span class="" style>Ibaraki</span></div><div>- News Credits</div><div>
<br></div><div>SUBSCRIBE to, UNSUBSCRIBE from Terrie's Take at:</div><div><a href="http://mailman">http://mailman</a>.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com/mailman/<span class="" style>listinfo</span>/<span class="" style>terrie</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>BACK ISSUES</div><div><a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com/<span class="" style>terries</span>_take, or,</div><div><a href="http://mailman">http://mailman</a>.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com/<span class="" style>pipermail</span>/<span class="" style>terrie</span>/</div>
<div><br></div><div>-------------------- DELTA AIR LINES -----------------------</div><div><br></div><div>DELTA LAUNCHES NEW TOKYO-<span class="" style>HANEDA</span>-TO-SEATTLE SERVICE WITH A FUN QUIZ AND A TRIP TO SEATTLE.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Want to win a trip to Seattle- Now’s your chance.</div><div><br></div><div>To celebrate the June 3rd launch of its new daily, nonstop service between Tokyo-<span class="" style>Haneda</span>(<span class="" style>HND</span>) and Seattle(SEA), Delta has organized a quiz with prize of trips to Seattle.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The quiz is called “Sleepless Nights in Seattle” and asks a variety of questions in a multiple-choice format. All you have to do is answer as many questions correctly as fast as you can within one minute and you could win a pair of round-trip tickets from Tokyo-<span class="" style>Haneda</span> to Seattle, three nights hotel accommodation, a Seattle City Pass, and a special dinner for two.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Test your Seattle knowledge and you could soon be enjoying a sleepless night or two in the Emerald City.</div><div><br></div><div>Find out more at <a href="http://www.delta-new-route.com/Seattle/">www.delta-new-route.com/Seattle/</a><span class="" style>jp</span>/en</div>
<div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>+++ WHAT'S NEW</div><div><br></div><div>Back at the start of June there was an interesting article (http://<span class="" style>dailym</span>.<span class="" style>ai</span>/1aYF02d) in the Daily Mail of the UK about what humans would look like in 100,000 years, inspired by a study done by artist and researcher <span class="" style>Nickolay</span> <span class="" style>Lamm</span> and Dr Alan <span class="" style>Kwan</span>, a PhD Washington University in St Louis. Their findings were that humans of the future will have huge foreheads, flat faces, and saucer-like eyes. While the graphics and the content of the study are rather cheap looking, the article itself inspired a lot of web commentary about whether the two researchers really understood the dynamics of human evolution. </div>
<div><br></div><div>On the face of it, they did their job, taking into account the natural physiological developmental changes in humans over the last 100,000 years and extrapolating both the changes and rate of change to the next 100,000 years. But they ignored one important new dynamic in human development -- that of scientific breakthrough facilitating human needs and desires. As one commentator said, it's highly likely that within 1,000 years or less, mankind will be able to and indeed will want to transfer personal identity, memories, and intelligence to a long-lived machine rather than a naturally created host. Just as we get cosmetic surgery and take longevity supplements today, we will want to trade our bodies for androids in the future.</div>
<div><br></div><div>This got us thinking about Japan and its challenges, and how it is likely to develop in the next millennia. Considering Japan's inclination towards <span class="" style>incrementalism</span>, commentators (see this report: <a href="http://www.21ppi.org/">http://www.21ppi.org/</a><span class="" style>pdf</span>/thesis/120827.<span class="" style>pdf</span>) pessimistically say that Japan will happily see its fortunes decline and that the demographics in 2050 will be: 92.5m people, 39% of the population over 65, 6m home care patients, 2 retirees for every worker, and the eventual ejection of Japan from the list of developed nations. But these projections ignore the core aspects of human nature, such as the willingness to change when a certain threshold of pain is crossed, or when external factors (including technology and migration) cause a new outcome to be more desirable and less threatening. In Japan's case the pain and desire are just not strong enough yet.</div>
<div><br></div><div>[Continued below...]</div><div><br></div><div>-------- Japanese Editor/Writer for Dog Portal ------------</div><div><br></div><div>www.<span class="" style>doglovers</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> is looking for a Japanese editor/writer who loves dogs, to join its team and become the content/community manager for the portal. <span class="" style>Doglovers</span>.<span class="" style>jp's</span> mission is to change attitudes of Japanese dog owners to their pets by introducing the psychology of dogs, the rewarding social aspects of living with a dog, and fun stuff that is happening overseas relating to dogs. The site is already up and running and has major sponsors. </div>
<div><br></div><div>The job involves:</div><div>- Setting standards and "tone" for the content on the site</div><div>- Working with contributors to help them improve their writing and photographic efforts</div><div>
- Working with recruiters to attract, assess, and apply applicants wanting to become contributors</div><div>- Creating content ideas and campaigns to get community engagement (we offer contributors incentives)</div><div>- Creating stories, especially in the early stages of the project</div>
<div><br></div><div>This position is open to full-time (preferred) and part-time (possible) applicants, including, potentially, applicants not residing in Japan. You must be fluent in Japanese, able to write to commercial level, love humans, and love dogs.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Contact: info@<span class="" style>doglovers</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> for details.</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>[...Article continues]</div>
<div><br></div><div>So in looking into Japan's future, but taking an even less scientific view than Messrs <span class="" style>Lamm</span> and <span class="" style>Kwan</span>, we think there will be one of two outcomes: either Japan will be comfortable with its loss of world influence and docilely accept irrelevance and poverty for its elderly, OR, it will regenerate its population with fresh blood -- meaning immigration. This is an interesting conundrum for the nation's rightist leadership: whether to let Japan become so weakened that China starts extracting territorial claims, or to accept a bunch more foreigners moving in. We think that Abe and his bureaucrats can see the writing on the wall and that in some way or form foreign immigration is on the cards. It's just a matter of when and how. </div>
<div><br></div><div>So how will immigration happen? </div><div><br></div><div>In fact, we suspect there is a master plan already in motion, started under the guise of tourism, which is being skilfully sold to the populace as a savior for the nation's financial situation. For example, have you noticed how before the <span class="" style>Senkaku</span> problem, the Japanese mainstream media liked to focus on how much more cash Chinese tourists were spending than Westerners? Ergo, Chinese tourists were desirable as an all-important source of income to struggling sectors of the economy. Now that the <span class="" style>Senkaku</span> dispute has put a wrench in that wheel, the government has quickly picked up and moved its game to the next acceptable source of tourists -- the citizens of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia. </div>
<div><br></div><div>There was an interesting comment from the Japanese embassy in the Philippines about how although Thais and Malays would get visa-free travel to Japan, Filipinos would have to settle for multi-entry visas due to the fact that after China and Korea, Filipinos are the nationals most likely to overstay their visas in Japan. <span class="" style>Ahhh</span>, OK, so the Japanese government is very conscious of the connection between tourism and unregulated immigration and is trying to tie reward to reliability. Again, this is reasonable on the face of it, but if they were really concerned about <span class="" style>overstayers</span>, why relax travel restrictions for that nationality at all? We think the answer is that because in fact they do want people to come here and feel that they can handle those who won't go home again. We're sure the authorities realize that for SE Asian tourists, for every genuine tourist there will be two job seekers, who with easy repeat access and <span class="" style>LCCs</span> will be more likely to return home and apply for a work visa legally than start working straight away as an <span class="" style>overstayer</span>. </div>
<div><br></div><div>An article in the ABS-<span class="" style>CBN</span> news website, (<a href="http://bit">http://bit</a>.<span class="" style>ly</span>/15TL46o), reinforces the fact that with repeat access to Japan, there will be an increased problem with prostitution (in this case forced prostitution -- a despicable practice) and other abuses (sweat shops, etc.) of certain demographic groups. Yes, that's what happens when you make borders porous. People do what they do at home in the new country, and if there is money there, they will want to stay and make a living out of it. Not just prostitutes, but also cooks, engineers, sanitary workers, home workers, and many others. This is human nature and it's what immigration is all about. </div>
<div><br></div><div>We think the macro view of government is that immigration is inevitable, and by massively relaxing tourism entry requirements there will be a sudden influx of millions of friendly and non-threatening foreigners who will help change citizens' otherwise hardcore attitudes to immigration and having foreigners participate in the economy. This view goes a long way to explaining why the Japanese government was so insistent in bringing in the new <span class="" style>Zairyu</span> cards and stricter control of foreigners last year, because they know that they will be needed. Tourism is a surreptitious, but welcome, move to opening the nation's borders and letting what comes naturally happen, naturally. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Therefore, extrapolating what future Japanese will look like in 100 years (let alone 100,000 years), our forecast is that thanks to tourism-begets-immigration, they will have huge foreheads, flat faces, and saucer-like eyes. Yup, who needs 100,000 years when you can get the same result through interbreeding in 2-3 generations? :-)</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>...The information janitors/</div><div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>------ English Community Manager for Travel Portal --------</div>
<div><br></div><div>www.<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> is expanding and is looking for a English native editor/writer who has previous experience managing online communities and curating content. <span class="" style>JapanTourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> was set up to help Japan promote its many attractions to foreign tourists and in particular to demystify and remove anxiety by travellers about how to get around and deal with Japan. The site has been running for 18 months and is now Japan's largest online inbound travel portal.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The job involves:</div><div>- Servicing the needs and concerns of our partners around the <span class="" style>country</span></div><div>- Working with Technology to prioritize software development of the site</div>
<div>- Working with Sales to harmonize and integrate the efforts of that team with the <span class="" style>Partners</span></div><div>- Curating the best stories (and occasional editing) for display on the top page of the site</div>
<div>- Working with contributors to help them improve their writing and photographic efforts</div><div>- Creating content ideas and campaigns to get community engagement by contributors</div><div>- Creating incentives and campaigns to re-engage dormant contributors</div>
<div><br></div><div>This position is open to full-time (preferred) and part-time (possible) applicants, including, potentially, applicants not residing in Japan. You must be able to deal with the many personalities involved in the community and have a clear sense of mission and have a self-starter attitude. Japanese capability is helpful but not essential.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Contact: info@<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> for details.</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>+++ <span class="" style>NEWS</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>- Easier visas for <span class="" style>Filipinos</span></div><div>- <span class="" style>Lixil</span> to buy American <span class="" style>Standard</span></div><div>- Japan's <span class="" style>TPP</span> position seeks 5 categories of <span class="" style>protection</span></div>
<div>- Housing starts up again in <span class="" style>May</span></div><div>- Medical fees to rise in 2014</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>=> Easier visas for <span class="" style>Filipinos</span></div><div><br>
</div><div>While visas will still be required for Filipinos, in line with relaxation of country entry regulations for nationals of other SE Asian countries, Japan is going to start issuing multiple-entry tourist visas to Filipinos as well. The new rules will come into place on July 1st. Apparently the reason that Filipinos were not offered a visa-free status as for Thailand and Malaysia was because after Chinese and Koreans, Filipinos have the highest rate of people overstaying their visas. The government reckons that the new rules will increase visits by SE Asian nationals by 250%, to 2m people a year by 2016. (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from <span class="" style>philstar</span>.com, Jun 28, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://bit">http://bit</a>.<span class="" style>ly</span>/<span class="" style>1cCd6ab</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>Lixil</span> to buy American <span class="" style>Standard</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>The toilet fittings business is a competitive one, and Japan's number two player, <span class="" style>Lixil</span>, has just upped the ante with an offer to buy out the largest US maker of toilets, American Standard. <span class="" style>Lixil</span> has offered somewhere around US$342m for the business, which includes assuming US$200m of debt. American Standard may be the largest toilet maker in the USA, but with an <span class="" style>EBITDA</span> of just US$49m last year, it is not the largest player nor the most profitable in that market. However, given that <span class="" style>Lixil</span> already owns the American Standard <span class="" style>asian</span> business, presumably they know what to do with the brand going forward. (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from <span class="" style>wsj</span>.com, June 28, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://on">http://on</a>.<span class="" style>wsj</span>.com/<span class="" style>1aYrZWe</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> Japan's <span class="" style>TPP</span> position seeks 5 categories of <span class="" style>protection</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>It's hardly surprising to learn that the five categories of farm products Japan wants to protect from the <span class="" style>TPP</span> free trade deal are: rice, wheat, beef, sugar, and dairy products. Considering that most of the other nations in <span class="" style>TPP</span> produce one or more of these products, one wonders why the Japanese are even bothering to put these items up -- other than to be seen to be sacrificing wheat, beef, and dairy as the talks progress, perhaps. In the end, we see Japan keeping rice and sugar protections, and possibly dairy. The actual date from which Japan can officially participate in the <span class="" style>TPP</span> talks is July 23rd, after the US clears some regulatory issues to admit Japan. The <span class="" style>TPP</span> participants are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan (from next month), Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, USA, and Vietnam. (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from <span class="" style>globalpost</span>.com, Jun 28, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://bit">http://bit</a>.<span class="" style>ly</span>/<span class="" style>19Lftb5</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> Housing starts up again in <span class="" style>May</span></div><div>
<br></div><div><span class="" style>Abenomics</span> profits trickling down, OR simply a logical market reaction to consumption tax doubling by 2015 and near-term mortgage rates going up? Apparently housing starts in Japan are up significantly, with 79,751 dwellings approved for May, up 14.5% over last year. This is the highest number of starts since October 2008. Most of the dwellings are condominiums, and both rental and owner-occupied unit sales are up. ***Ed: While it's good to see cash being cycled back into the economy, the problem with property acquisition is that it locks up the consumer's cash in a long-term singular purchase.** (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from e.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com, Jun 28, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://e">http://e</a>.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com/e/ac/<span class="" style>tnks</span>/Nni20130628D28SS920.<span class="" style>htm</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> Medical fees to rise in 2014</div>
<div><br></div><div>Consumption Tax is going up next year, so of course the Health Ministry sees next April as the ideal time to also put up the basic costs of health care. From next year, patients will have to pay more for outpatient visits at hospitals and clinics across the nation. There is no word of what the increases will be, but the Nikkei is giving examples in the order of 30%-50% more. ***Ed: So, what's the bet this is the government's back door subsidy to the medical sector in return for support on <span class="" style>TPP</span> and other <span class="" style>deregulatory</span> measures being planned? Either way, demographics and the government's debt repayment obligations ensure that health care will not stay cheap in Japan for long.** (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from e.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com, Jun 27, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://e">http://e</a>.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com/e/ac/<span class="" style>tnks</span>/Nni20130626D2606F01.<span class="" style>htm</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>
NOTE: Broken <span class="" style>links</span></div><div>Some online news sources remove their articles after just a few days of posting them, thus breaking our links -- we apologize for the inconvenience.</div><div><br></div>
<div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>------ The Robert <span class="" style>Grondine</span> Memorial Scholarship Fund ------</div><div><br></div><div>In 2011, we lost a great friend and colleague, Bob <span class="" style>Grondine</span>. Bob made considerable contributions in Japan to the legal and business community as well as important civic and charitable efforts. Not only was Bob a wonderful friend, family man and mentor, he was also a role model as a leader in US-Japan relations.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Among a number of US-Japan causes, Bob was an important supporter and chair of the Japan Advisory Committee of the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, an organization established to grow global leaders through a program providing scholarships to American college students to study in Japan. Students designated as <span class="" style>Grondine</span> Scholars will be selected for their ability to emulate Bob's intellect and spirit as well as his dedication to the</div>
<div>US-Japan relationship. The fund will keep his mentoring spirit alive and memorialize his great legacy.</div><div><br></div><div>Donations of all amounts are welcome. To learn more, visit www.<span class="" style>bridgingfoundation</span>.org or click on the link below. Thank you.</div>
<div><br></div><div>https://<span class="" style>donatenow</span>.<span class="" style>networkforgood</span>.org/us-<span class="" style>japanbridgingfoundation</span></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div><br></div><div>+++ CANDIDATE ROUND UP/<span class="" style>VACANCIES</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>BiOS</span>, a leading bilingual IT services and resourcing company, is actively marketing the following positions for customers setting up or expanding in Japan, as well as other employers of bilinguals.</div>
<div><br></div><div>** HIGHLIGHTED <span class="" style>POSITION</span></div><div><br></div><div><span class="" style>BiOS</span> is urgently looking for an Account Manager with experience in recruiting and account management for IT infrastructure service delivery, at our <span class="" style>BiOS</span> office in the <span class="" style>Minato</span>-<span class="" style>ku</span> area. The candidate will be responsible for supporting the continued development and management of our existing clients, and serving as the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> <span class="" style>frontline</span> and primary point of contact for new clients and <span class="" style>onsite</span> staffs, as well as networking and developing opportunities with potential clients. You will also be responsible for providing a permanent recruitment support.</div>
<div> </div><div>Due to the technical nature and demanding work environment, this position is suitable for someone with solid experience in recruiting, sales, account management, or similar client-facing tasks, preferably in IT. In addition, since this role requires direct communication with both internal staffs and clients who are bilingual in English and Japanese, fluent English and Japanese will be required.</div>
<div> </div><div>Remuneration is JPY3.6m - JPY4.5m plus commission, depending on your experience and skill level.</div><div><br></div><div>** POSITIONS <span class="" style>VACANT</span></div><div><br></div><div>- Bilingual IT Support Engineer, Japanese IT services provider, JPY4M - <span class="" style>JPY5M</span></div>
<div>- Corporate Assistant, <span class="" style>BiOS</span>, JPY3M - <span class="" style>JPY4M</span></div><div>- Service Delivery Manager, data center services provider, JPY5M - <span class="" style>JPY7M</span></div><div>
- HR/Office Manager, global licenses renewal services provider, JPY5M - <span class="" style>JPY7M</span></div><div>- Bilingual Data Center Engineer, global financial firm, JPY3.5M - JPY4M </div><div><br></div><div>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to: <span class="" style>tomohiro</span>.<span class="" style>kimura</span>@<span class="" style>biosjp</span>.com. Check out the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> web page for other jobs: www.<span class="" style>biosjp</span>.com/careers.<span class="" style>php</span>.</div>
<div> </div><div>** <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job Mail</div><div> </div><div>Every 2 weeks <span class="" style>BiOS</span> sends out a regular communication to its job seeking candidates, called <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job Mail. Every edition carries a list of BiOS’s current and most up-to-date vacancies, with featured entries containing a short job description and every job being linked to the main entry on the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> home page. Regardless of whether you are unemployed and searching, thinking about a career change, or just curious to know if there is something out there that might suit you better, the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job Mail newsletter is an easy and convenient way for you to stay informed. If you would like to register for the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job Mail, or to find out more, please email <span class="" style>tomohiro</span>.<span class="" style>kimura</span>@<span class="" style>biosjp</span>.com.</div>
<div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>+++ UPCOMING EVENTS/<span class="" style>ANNOUNCEMENTS</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>------------------ <span class="" style>ICA</span> Event - July 24th-------------------</div><div>Speaker: Dr Greg Story, President, Dale Carnegie Training Japan</div><div><br></div><div>Title: "Igniting Workplace Enthusiasm - How to Create Engaged Employees"</div>
<div><br></div><div>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>icajapan</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span>/</div><div><br></div><div>Date: Wednesday, July 24th, 2013</div>
<div>Time: 6:30 Doors open, Buffet Dinner included and cash <span class="" style>bar</span></div><div>Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members). Open to all No sign ups at the door!!!!!!!</div><div>RSVP: RSVP by 5pm on Sunday, July 21st. Venue is The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>fccj</span>.or.<span class="" style>jp</span>/<span class="" style>aboutus</span>/<span class="" style>map</span></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>+++ CORRECTIONS/<span class="" style>FEEDBACK</span></div><div><br></div><div>In this section we run comments and corrections submitted by readers. We encourage you to spot our mistakes and amplify our points, by email, to editors@<span class="" style>terrie</span>.com.</div>
<div><br></div><div>=> No corrections or comments this week.</div><div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>+++ TRAVEL DESTINATIONS <span class="" style>PICKS</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>Hayama</span> Cafe “Orange Blue”, <span class="" style>Kanagawa</span></div><div>Cozy seaside spot inside the Museum of Modern <span class="" style>Art</span></div><div><br></div>
<div>“Orange Blue” is a cozy cafe, just in front of <span class="" style>Issiki</span> Beach, <span class="" style>Hayama</span>. It is inside The Museum of Modern Art, <span class="" style>Hayama</span>, but you can have tea here without entering the museum. The cafe is inside a long, glass covered room facing the expanse of the Pacific Ocean. You can enjoy a cup of pleasant tea, as well as beer, cake and some light meals. It's open from 10 AM to 5 PM, closed Mondays. By car, the cafe is 7.2 km from <span class="" style>Zushi</span> Interchange or a 20-minute bus ride from JR <span class="" style>Zushi</span> Station. Definitely worth the stop if you're in that area.</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://en">http://en</a>.<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span>/photos/<span class="" style>hayama</span>-<span class="" style>caf</span>%C3%A9-orange-<span class="" style>blue</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>Itako</span> Iris Festival, <span class="" style>Ibaraki</span></div><div>Blushing brides and purple petals in <span class="" style>Ibaraki</span></div><div><br></div><div>Most of the year, the canal-laced town of <span class="" style>Itako</span> in <span class="" style>Ibaraki</span> prefecture is a quiet place. Come in June, however, and you'll find the town awash with the color purple and traditional wedding parties being ferries gliding up and down the local waterways. On May 18th, <span class="" style>Itako</span> kicked off its 62nd annual Iris Festival. Over the course of six weeks, over one million irises (around 500 different varieties) will unfurl their indigo, pale violet, white and even yellow petals in the <span class="" style>Maekawa</span> Iris Garden on the bank's of <span class="" style>Itako's</span> river. The iris plots are <span class="" style>criss</span>-crossed by a series of wooden bridges, from which visitors and photographers can find the perfect vantage point to shoot pictures of the bloom.</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://en">http://en</a>.<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span>/view/<span class="" style>itako</span>-iris-<span class="" style>festival</span></div><div><br>
</div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>***********************************************************</div><div><span class="" style>END</span></div><div><br></div><div>
SUBSCRIBERS: 7,565 members as of June 30, 2013</div><div>(We purge our list regularly.)</div><div><br></div><div>+++ ABOUT <span class="" style>US</span></div><div><br></div><div><span class="" style>STAFF</span></div><div>
Written by: Terrie Lloyd (<span class="" style>terrie</span>.<span class="" style>lloyd</span>@<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com)</div><div><br></div><div>HELP: E-mail Terrie-request@mailman.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com with the word 'help' in the subject or body (don't include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions.</div>
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