Are you serious, Japan?

I've been really busy/stressed out lately because I have been having issues trying to renew my visa, which expires in less than a month. I won't get into it here because it's a long story, and I have already told it so many times I am sick of it. Instead of that, here are some more examples of why Japan has no idea what it is doing half the time.

Because I am enrolled in the nationalized government health care plan (though that is not crazy, eh-hem, America, eh-hem), I received an educational pamphlet in the mail pertaining to a couple of important health issues from the city of Kawasaki (where I live). The first section was about avoiding "metabolic syndrome," which I first heard about 2 years ago when I moved here. It is an actual medical condition that affects 1 in 5 people, many of who are overweight or obese. However, not all overweight people have it and normal weight people can have it as well. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_syndrome)

Japan, however, has taken to shortening the term to "Metabo" and using it to refer anyone who is overweight or has been gaining weight. Some examples of this usage that I have actually heard include, "Recently, I've gotten metabo" and, "Oh, you are metabo" (said to a portly, non-Japanese gentleman while the speaker patted his stomach).

As you can see from the photo above, the pamphlet from the Kawasaki City health care department decided frogs were a good mascot for Metabo prevention. To be fair, the pamphlet itself does describe what metabolic syndrome is using the accurate medical definition. But the ways to prevent it, including eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, are the same things all doctors everywhere have always been telling people to do if they want to lose weight. So, it really seems like the health care marketing department is using the catchphrase "metabo" to get people to eat healthier and lose weight. That's just fine, but I'm pretty sure the people out there who, because they're not be prone to gain weight genetically or who eat less than their daily allotment of calories, but eat it all in cake and soda, so that they stay thin think they are in no danger of metabolic syndrome and are not going to be paying attention because they are not "fat." So, nice try, but ultimately: FAIL.

The second half of the pamphlet was about the understanding and prevention of AIDS. They included information about the ways AIDS can and cannot be spread (i.e. the stuff they taught us in kindergarten like, "you can't get AIDS from hugging someone with AIDS"), which I'm pretty sure most Japanese people have never been told before. And also includes a list of locations where you can go to get a free AIDS test and counselling (way to go Kawasaki!). All in all a very good resource full of information that everyone should be aware of. Unfortunately, there is one little problem:

The title of this section is "Learn about AIDS with a Dolphin." Yes, the one teaching us about AIDS is a cheerful dolphin, jumping through a red ribbon. Seriously? Is anyone going to pay attention to this now? If they are out of elementary school, I think not. FAIL

In conclusion, from this pamphlet I have learned that the Kawasaki health care department is really great, but the Kawasaki health care department's person in charge of marketing is either a grade-schooler or is mildly mentally handicapped. Maybe they hired Ex-President Dubya?

Considering the season I would also like to mention Halloween. I think I have talked about how Japanese people like to dress up as "Halloween" by wearing as much orange and black crap that they can fit on their person, or simply put on cat ears/witches hat/devil horns. This is actually understandable, considering that Halloween is so new to Japan and the people that are dressing up never experienced it as kids, so they don't really know how to make/wear a costume. In Kawasaki, however, they go nuts for Halloween (I heard they are even making a run for Halloween capitol of Japan) and have been hosting a "Halloween Village" around Kawasaki station for 13 years running. I have never actually gone, but hope to this year to see a screening of "Rocky Horror Picture Show." I've heard that the costume parade is great, because people actually go all out and put a lot of effort into making creative and impressive costumes. They also have events for kids and adults so it seems like fun for the whole family. However, after seeing the following video of a dance and song that kids must learn in order to participate in a mass Halloween dance-off on November 1st (wait, what?), I think they still do not quite understanding what Halloween is about:

http://lacittadella.co.jp/halloween/s_movie/oyugi.html

A translation of the lyrics to "Everybody Come to Kawasaki Halloween" (which were apparently written by a 7 year old):

Halloween! (Clap your hands everybody)

Hallo-Hallo, Halloween, Kawa-Hallo

Hallo-Hallo, Halloween, sparkle-sparkle (Yah!)

A skeleton in a cobweb hat, Snaps and cracks in a fun rhythm

Be wild in black and white, Let's go to this thrilling night!

Hallo-Hallo, Halloween, Kawa-Hallo

Hallo-Hallo, Halloween, sparkle-sparkle

A black cat with wide eyes, Meow-Meows in a stylish rhthym!

Be cute in purple and orange, Let's go to this exciting night!

Happy Hallo-Hallo, Kawa-Hallo, Everybody come to Kawasaki

Halloween

Hallo-Hallo, Halloween, Kawa-Hallo

Hallo-Hallo, Halloween, sparkle-sparkle

Hallo-Hallo Halloween Kawa-Hallo

A black bat will show you the way

Hallo-Hallo Halloween Kawa-Hallo

The Jack-o-lanterns are calling you too

Hallo-Hallo Halloween Kawa-Hallo

Everyone come to Kawasaki Halloween

Everyone gather, Kawasaki Halloween!

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Yikes, at least when I was a kid we Halloween dance-offed to the Monster Mash.

To answer the questions this song has undoubtedly raised:

1. Yes, those costumes are what I was talking about--dressed as Halloween.

2. If you didn't already figure it out, Kawa-Hallo is a combination of the words "Kawasaki" and "Halloween." Japan love combining words like that.

3. Japan seems to think that purple is a Halloween color just as much as orange is; is it they way they clash so beautifully with each other? I don't know.

Anyway, that's all for now. Wish me luck with my visa...of course if I can't get one and have to move back to the US, I will have a lot more time to blog...though I won't have anything interesting to write about.