Since leaving America August 2006, I have traveled to sixteen countries. A great deal has happened. This site is to share my thoughts, photos, music, writings, travel experiences, and developing political/social commentary with you. I hope you find it interesting and informative.
I was born and lived in Michigan, for over thirty-four years. I lived that entire time through Michigan winters. They were both brutal and beautiful. We had snow on the ground two to three months out of every year. It would typically snow once or twice a week. 1” – 4” was the routine. Since the temperatures in late December up through March were usually well below freezing, the snow remained.
Obviously, that all changed dramatically when I moved to Los Angeles, California. The only “snow” I saw was on the inside of my freezer. It was hardly enough for a snowball, much less enough to make a snowman.
When I then moved to Portland, Oregon, then finally where I now permanently live in Japan, on rare occasions the white stuff fell from the heavens — three or four times a year — but then usually melt either the same or the next day. I still find it amusing that there’s so much drama when we get so little snow. Granted, people neither are used to it, as I was in Michigan, nor is there any of the necessary equipment and staff to deal with it. But only the slightest thin blanket coats the roads and sidewalks. And since it’s gone within 24 hours, it’s hardly a worry.
Well … this past weekend, I was transported back in time four decades! We got hit with a real blizzard! When the storm subsided, we had over 30 cm (12 inches) of snow to deal with, along with three days of sub-freezing weather. I have to say, while I sympathize with the locals who have little clue how to drive in this, I’m nostalgically ecstatic! I feel like I’m back to my original home.
I even made a couple snowballs and gave them a good toss!
It sure is good that this doesn’t happen very often. I don’t have snow tires for my bike!
America’s current political leaders are addicted to war. They are obsessed with world conquest, drunk on power, convinced of their infallibility, have no respect for democracy or the will of the American people, believe other nations are “unexceptional”, meaning they regard them as inferior to the U.S. thus treat them with contempt. These megalomaniacs believe they are ordained by destiny to rule over the world and the people in it. They ignore treaties, scoff at U.S. and international law, doing whatever they deem necessary to promote their tyranny over the planet, including America itself.
None of this will stop, the wars will never end, the colossal waste of money, resources, and human capital will only accelerate until the vast majority of good, decent U.S. citizens unite and oppose their insane agenda. The “people” must embrace and execute a decisive, game-changing plan to remove our current ruthless, war-obsessed leaders from positions of power and replace them with individuals who will embrace peace and engage the rest of the world in a spirit of cooperation and harmonious co-existence.
This book offers just such an actionable, game-changing plan.
No . . . NOT THAT type of crown. One for a tooth that fell apart. It had a crown from long ago but that fell out leaving a jagged mess of a molar.
Now, we have in Japan what most Americans would call “socialized medicine”, a one-payer, government health insurance program, strict controls which prevent profiteering, and national standards for everything medical.
Uh-oh! Socialized medicine! That means long waits to get help, crowded waiting rooms, inferior service, all the problems that come with massive bureaucracy.
Well, I got an initial appointment within 48 hours, and only waited about ten minutes to get in to see the dentist. He took an X-ray, an impression, then filled the exposed area of the tooth with a temporary filler. One week later, after maybe a five minute wait in the reception area, he cemented in the new crown — which, by the way, fit perfectly and didn’t require any grinding or adjustments — and sent me on my way.
Two appointments, a total of less than 40 minutes in the dentist chair, and I had a new crown!
Now some research (here and here) tells me this: “Typical prices in the U.S. for a molar dental crown range from about $800 to $3,000 per tooth before insurance, depending on factors such as the material used (metal, porcelain‑fused‑to‑metal, zirconia, etc.), geographic location, and any additional procedures required. With dental insurance, out‑of‑pocket costs often fall between $400 and $1,200, but exact amounts vary by plan.”
Here are my receipts for the two visits:
According to XE Currency Converter, 1340 yen = $8.55 and 2560 yen = $16.33, meaning the total cost for my new molar crown was $24.88. Of course, I used the “socialized” one-payer national health insurance, as I do for all my medical care.
$24.88 … vs. … $400 to $1200.
Do you think that the bad rap that socialized health care gets in the U.S. — as with anything remotely suggestive of SOCIALISM — might just be a big pile of propaganda, to keep the gravy train of bloated profits for the broken system in America rolling along?
An entertaining array of similar stories can be yours as a perfect adornment for your coffee table. Live From Japan! is a large-format, full color paperback with 58 anecdotes and over 450 photographs, offering a heart-warming, funny, and informative look at contemporary Japan, through the eyes of an American expat — ME!
A deluxe full-color paperback from the printer HERE.
All we hear about these days is China. What’s their problem? Are they trying to prove something? Like what? That Communism works?
Frankly, it’s pretty obvious what’s going on. It’s a classic case of trying too hard.
I mean, come on!
They keep showing off, rolling out amazing stuff. Like we’re supposed to be impressed.
Here are a few over-the-top examples of a country that blows its horn a bit too loud.
China claims it has more high-speed train tracks than the rest of the world combined. Over 50,000 km, just over 31,000 miles. And they’re building more. They plan on expanding to 60,000 km within the next five years. Talk about overkill! They just developed the fastest bullet train in the world, which clocks in at 450 km/hour. Good luck getting across the tracks, arms loaded with groceries, when there’s a train coming at you at 280 mph!
On the socio-economic side, over the past 40 years, China has rescued 800 million people from poverty, completely eliminating extreme poverty across the entire country. I’m wondering, did the people have any say in this? I doubt it. Maybe some people prefer to live off the grid, living minimal lives. The communist country just barged ahead and gave everyone a higher standard of living. You sure won’t see this kind of “social engineering” in the U.S.
China’s cities look like something out of science fiction, or maybe the 22nd Century . . .
. . . if you like that sort of thing, all those fancy lights and glitter.
Speaking of which, China has claimed the Guinness Book of World Records crown for the most elaborate drone show, utilizing 16,000 drones last year in Liuyang for a dazzling display of artistry and technology.
Well, Mr. Xi Jinping, you might want to note that the U.S. has drones too. Don’t push your luck or our drones will bomb your Confucian ass!
Claiming another “triumph” — isn’t boasting tedious? — the Chinese car company, BYD, has recently taken over as the major producer of electric automobiles in the world. Apparently, they’re less expensive than Teslas and people who have driven them claim they’re superior to anything else on the market. Fortunately, as a result of the enlightened trade polices of the U.S. government, you can’t buy these “spy cars” in America. That’s all we need is for the Chinese to be snooping on us every time we get behind the wheel, with BYD’s clever screen and AI powered computer brains.
Yeah yeah yeah. I could go on. Deep Seek, quantum computing, greening of deserts, Kela Power Station (the world’s largest hydro-photovoltaic power station), Taihu Tunnel (the world’s longest underwater tunnel), AI-Powered Humanoid Robots, etc.
All I really want to say is that this orgy of “progress” is well and good if you want a tiny group of commies, cloistered in a back room deciding what’s good for the country, dictating what will make the lives of its citizens more efficient and enjoyable, telling people HOW TO LIVE!
Sounds like DICTATORSHIP to me!
Any red-blooded, democracy-loving, freedom-loving American will set your thinking straight, make you to appreciate the incredible system America and the Western democracies have in place. They’ll tell you that the proper and right way to run a country is to let the PEOPLE decide, not some bureaucratic ideologues who read Karl Marx and think they know it all.
Capitalism is the name of the game in America. Consumers get to decide for themselves what’s important to them. Capitalism responds to demand, that is, the desires of the PEOPLE. American industries always have their ears perked, their fingers on the pulse of the consumer. When people make choices and decide what makes them happy, what enriches their lives and that of their families — what they’re willing to lay out cold, hard cash for — the engines of industry fire up, and voilà ! Some new, amazing product appears on the shelves. That’s how America got to be the most powerful nation in history.
Take a recent example.
Americans know that the strength of the country relies on diversity and acceptance. Everyone is a member of the greater American family. And everyone should be made to feel so.
An American manufacturer heard the call. With the creativity and innovative genius only seen in the great U S of A, Mattel Toys just announced the latest addition to their collection of iconic dolls: AUTISTIC BARBIE!
As the referenced article points out: “This launch builds on Mattel’s previous efforts to broaden Barbie’s representation. Over the past few years, the company has introduced dolls with Down’s syndrome, Type 1 diabetes, visual impairments, and mobility challenges, reflecting both physical and neurological diversity.”
Hurray, I say! Autistic girls will no longer feel left out. Now they have a Barbie Doll they can identify with. While I can’t find an official announcement, I take it on faith that Mattel will soon follow up with an Autistic Ken doll.
By the way, my wife and I were recently in China and did extensive shopping in some of the most spectacular malls in Chengdu. I DID NOT ONCE SEE ANY BARBIE DOLLS, much less an Autistic Barbie. This clearly demonstrates how tightly the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) controls the information ecosystem in China. Chinese people are woefully kept in the dark on so many important things.
Yes, without a doubt, the U.S. is the innovation capital of the world. Which makes me think: we don’t have to make America great again. It’s always been great and it’s still great! In spite of the nattering nabobs of negativity who campaign for high office by planting seeds of doubt. Yup! It’s true. Or my name isn’t Wayne Gretzky.
Again, it’s time to send some love to the wonderful fans of LIVE FROM JAPAN!
My my how time flies! LIVE FROM JAPAN! was published end of January, 2021. I sent the first shot of love here to the fans of the book June 2023, and again July 5, 2024. On those two occasions, as now, I let everyone know that the adventure continues, as I regularly post articles on new happenings and my evolving perspective on life here as an American expat.
While I believe my understanding of and appreciation for the customs and people of Japan is always growing in depth and subtlety, one thing has not changed: I love living here!
There’s no simple explanation for this. All I can suggest is read my book, then read the articles that have subsequently appeared. Judge for yourself..
Here is the entire list of “living in Japan” essays that have appeared on this website, to date:
All of those were written after this splendid book got published. My way of keeping you up to date and hopefully dazzled and delighted.
If you don’t have a copy, you have no idea what you’re missing. Time to remedy that. You can order it from your local book store or visit one of these sites:
