Weights and Measures, Temperature, Money, and other conversion facts and factors

In true Japanese custom, I feel I must begin this blog with a huge apology. I haven't had internet access quite as readily as I thought I would, so haven't been able to post much lately. Another assumption crumbled, technology is great in Japan but only in limited areas. So, on to the next blog...

Like every nation on Earth except Liberia, Myanmar and the United States, Japan uses the metric system. In the US, most of us are more comfortable with the antiquated and difficult British Imperial system we use. Honestly, the fact is that anyone who can add, subtract, multiply and divide by tens will have a very easy time with conversion the "metric way."

Weights
In the US, food and drinks are sold in pounds and ounces, grocers in Japan deal in grams, kilograms and liters for all measurements other than sake. A kilogram is equal to 2.2 U.S. pounds, and a gram is 1/1000th of this amount.

Temperature
Temperature in Japan, of course, is measured in Celsius. Here is a temperature conversion table for you.

Money
The standard of monetary exchange in Japan is the Japanese yen, approximately 0.00993345 US dollars, or $1USD = 100.670 Yen. It's an interesting thing to watch, the rise and mostly fall of the value of the US dollar, on international markets.

Here is a bit of historical piece... Shakkan-ho Although more complicated than the metric system, the old Japanese shakkan-ho standard of weights and measures - still used in the sake (rice wine) manufacturing industry - is remarkably consistent. The base unit is known as sho, which is the standard size for a bottle of sake - just short of two liters, which is roughly equivalent to half a gallon.

Traveling abroad and the metric system

When traveling abroad, it is important to understand the metric system and conversion factors related to what we encounter abroad. I've talked about a few things above, but have come up with some really helpful conversion factors everyone should know.

Helpful Conversion Factors
Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi
2000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won ton
1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope
Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond
Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram
Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour = Knotfurlong
Half of a large intestine = 1 semicolon
1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz
Basic unit of laryngitis =! 1 hoarsepower
453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake
1 million microphones = 1 megaphone
2 million bicycles = 2 megacycles
365.25 days = 1 unicycle
2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilomockingbirds
52 cards = 1 decacards
1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton
1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche

Weather or Not...

Japan lies between 25 ° N and 45 ° N latitudes and 122 ° E to 145 ° E longitudes. Because of its wide range of latitude, Japan has a variety of climates, with a range often compared to that of the east coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Tokyo is at about 30 ° N , comparable to that of Tehran, Athens, or Los Angeles. Socorro, New Mexico lies at 34 ° N.

There are four distinct seasons, and the severity depends upon how far north or south you are. In the south, in summer, it is rather humid and hot, but in winter it is mild and somewhat drier, making it a great place to visit or live. Interestingly, places located along the coast of the Sea of Japan experience snowfall in the winter and places along the Pacific coast are drier. the far north, such as the Hokkaidō Prefecture, there is significant snow fall and cold temperatures in the winter.

The 1972 Olympics were held in Sapporo Japan, capital of the Hokkaidō Prefecture, a part of the country where there is a lot of snow, mountains, and great skiing. Until these Games, the XI, Japan had never won a gold medal in the Olympics. In 1972, Japan won three medals, one bronze, one silver, and one gold, sweeping the men's ski jumping event and placing 11th in highest number of medals won/country.

Here is some good trivia for you...These Games are the last where a skier won the gold medal using all-wooden skis. Now cross-country skiers use skis made mostly of fiberglass synthetics.

Back to weather in Japan...

The rainy season, "Tsuyu", is during June and July. Average annual rainfall is about 1700-1800mm (67-70 inches), falling throughout the year, but mostly in June-September.

The best time to visit Japan for the most pleasant weather is April and October. The temperature is very cool during this time and in spring, there are beautiful cherry blossoms. Rainfall and humidity is low during this time.

As you can see from my photos of Tokyo, our weather today, October 16, is perfect for exploring and sightseeing. While most of our day is full of classes and lectures, at breakfast I caugtht a shot or two of the landscapes from the hotel. Tokyo Tower is the tall tower that looks a little bit like the Eifel Tower in Paris, which can easily be seen from my hotel. It is the tallest building in Japan. With a little imagination, you can see Mount Fuji in the second city scene. The teenagers and the man on the bicycle with his dog were at Shebuya Station, enjoying a beautiful night out.

What makes the weather in Japan? Japan is an interesting country when it comes to weather, with several complex, influencing factors. Two major ocean currents affect Japan's climate pattern: the warm Kuroshio Current (Black Current; also known as the Japan Current); and the cold Oyashio Current (Parent Current; also known as the Okhotsk Current). The Kuroshio Current flows northward on the Pacific side of Japan and warms areas as far north as Tokyo; a small branch, the Tsushima Current, flows up the Sea of Japan side. The Oyashio Current, rich in plankton enjoyed by coldwater fish, flows southward along the northern Pacific, cooling adjacent coastal areas. The meeting point of these currents at 36 north latitude contributes to Japan's abundant fisheries.

A second major contributing factor to the weather in Japan is its proximity to the Asian continent. In winter, a high-pressure area develops over Siberia, and a low-pressure area develops over the northern Pacific Ocean. The result is a flow of cold air eastward across Japan that brings freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls to the central mountain ranges facing the Sea of Japan, but clear skies to areas fronting on the Pacific. The climate from June to September is hot, wet weather brought by tropical airflows from the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia. During this time, several typhoons pass over or near Japan, occassionally resulting in significant damage.

The Japan Weather Association, begun in 1950, has helpful information about information such as weather forcasting, public awareness of weather and natural disasters, working for safety and comfort of human and natural environments.

You can learn interesting facts and up-to-date forcast information from the US National Weather Service.

Here are weather reports for the cities I am visiting...

Tokyo Weather Fukuoka Weather Hiroshima Weather

To explore the weather of more Japanese cities, click here.

To learn more about the weather in Japan, check out the Japan Meteorological Agency, Tropical Cyclone or Storm Information, severe weather warnings.

Ring of Fire

My dream of experiencing an earthquake has not yet come to realization, but I keep hoping! I am in Fukutsu City now where earthquakes are pretty rare, at least from Japan`s perspective! There was an earthquake here three years ago, magnitude 6. Few injured, only one person hurt, but most of the time it is very quiet.

You can learn more about earthquakes in Japan at the United States Geological Survey website. As you can see, earthquakes happen all the time, all over the world, probably even close to where you live. For New Mexico, you can see it has been pretty quiet, but sometimes we may have earthquakes as strong as 4.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale along the Rio Grande Rift. You can learn more about New Mexico earthquakes here. This Seismicity Map of the Western United States clearly shows the intensity of earthquakes along the California faults, but New Mexico has very little.

For Japan, earthquakes are a common event, but lately, it has been quiet. Does this mean the big one is going to shake, rattle and roll during October? The Pacific Rim World Seismicity Map gives you a pretty clear picture of earthquake frequency in Japan. Lots! In 1995, near Kobe Japan, over 5000 people were killed in a powerful 6.9 magnitude quake.

Japan's Meteorological Agency keeps a close eye on earthquakes in Japan.

Did you know there is another way to measure the intensity of earthquakes other than the Richter Scale? There is! Another way to measure the strength of an earthquake is to use the Mercalli scale. Invented by Giuseppe Mercalli in 1902, this scale uses the observations of the people who experienced the earthquake to estimate its intensity. The Mercalli scale isn't considered as scientific as the Richter scale, though. Some witnesses of the earthquake might exaggerate just how bad things were during the earthquake and you may not find two witnesses who agree on what happened; everybody will say something different. The amount of damage caused by the earthquake may not accurately record how strong it was either.

For those of you who want to create intriguing earthquake learning environments about earthquakes for your students, check out the USGS Earthquakes for Kids. You will find lots of fun information about the science of earthquakes, science fair project ideas, animations, earthquake pictures, puzzles and games, and much more. There are grade level activities for students at this "For Students" website. And teachers, you can learn more at this "For Teachers" website.

Why did I entitle this blog posting "Ring of Fire"? I'd love to hear from you about this! Take a look at this World Seismicity Map and see if you can figure it out and let me know.

Where am I going?

This trip takes me to many areas of Japan. Here is the itinerary:

October 12 San Francisco Orientation
October 13 Depart for Japan
October 14 Arrival in Tokyo
October 15-17 Tokyo Program lectures, seminars, traditional art performances (Kabuki and Kyogen)
October 18 Independent Activities-Explore Japan
October 19–27 Host City Program school visits, homestay, cultural experience
October 28 Project Resources sessions
October 29 Debriefing and group presentations
October 30 Departure from Tokyo / Return to U.S.

My host city is Fukutsu City, Fukuoka, Japan.

San Francisco JFMF Orientation

To begin my trip, I am in San Francisco for the JFMF orientation. On Sunday, after the orientation, I participated in a reception at the home of the Japan Consul General, Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine.

Consul General Nagamine's home overlooks San Francisco Bay, just a lovely location. About 180 of us enjoyed the beautiful home, gracious hosts, and a great introduction to Japanese food.

Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine graduated from Tokyo University and joined Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1977. He graduated from Oxford University in 1980. Mr. Nagamine has worked in the Asian Affairs Bureau, Treaties Bureau, European Affairs Bureau, North American Affairs Bureau and Foreign Policy Bureau. His overseas assignments have included the Embassies of Japan in Washington D.C., New Delhi and London. He began his tenure as the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco in September 2007.

Mr. Nagamine and his wife were very gracious hosts for us and provided a wonderful meal full of adventure! This is our first official event of the experience!

Why am I going to Japan?

I am very humbled and excited to have been chosen as one of 165 educators to participate in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund experience in Japan during October 2008. During this three-week educational adventure sponsored by the Japanese government, I will learn about the Japanese educational system, culture, and ways of living and visit some very famous places. The most exciting aspects of this experience for me are to have opportunities to live with Japanese families, eat what they eat, visit their schools and cultural events, learn about their art, history, and music, and come to know new friends in a country I have not yet visited - and, crazy as it sounds, I really want to experience an earthquake, a little one...

Travel along with me October 12 through 30, meet my new friends, and learn a bit about a fascinating country and wonderful people!