We know that the Japanese are very nice and gentle people, but we saw the pictures of whales being killed and we're sure that the big majority of Japanese do not support the cruel hunting, which is totally unnecessary and also stupid because it has led to a near extermination of some of these fascinating species — only strict protection measures prevented that at the last minute.

We hope that media coverage of what the whaling fleet is doing helps Japan to follow the rest of the world and protects whales in the future.

Having been in Japan now for some considerable time, I have discovered the many possible and interesting uses for the famous Japanese face mask.

While living in England I often heard people remark that this mask, especially as seen in Tokyo on British TV programs, was for protection against bad pollution. While there may have been a grain of truth in this, it is perhaps akin to the foreigners' misconception that English businessmen use their umbrellas for rainy days. Not so. They are really, tongue in cheek, used for stopping taxis as, when rolled up, they provide an excellent 1-meter extension to the extended arm!

So the mask, now obtainable in a three-dimensional parrot beak style, has many uses of which the following are perhaps the most common: to prevent other people catching your cold germs, to prevent you from catching their colds, to protect the face in cold weather, for protection against pollen for hay fever sufferers and perhaps also for disguise when distributing leaflets or taking the dog for a walk, coupled with the pulled down hat to provide face-saving anonymity when less than smartly dressed.

I have been sorely tempted to ask the mask wearer, "Have you robbed any good banks lately?" I guess the result would be a mystified stare, or if understood, especially by a hay fever sufferer, such a jocular remark would go down like the proverbial lead balloon!

When reading the Weekly, I am most interested in the science articles. I don't read magazines specializing in science, but I like reading the most up-to-date science news in English papers. I wish the article "Palm tree that kills itself discovered in Madagascar" on page 19 of the Jan. 26 issue, had been run on the science page with more scientific details. I also wish the article had a color photo.

I find it surprising that Americans use 1 billion plastic shopping bags a year as they are so damaging to the environment. The Japanese also use a lot of plastic bags, and this needs to stop if we wish to save the environment.

I always try to carry a shopping bag from home around with me, but think Japan is behind many countries in solving this environmental problem. I had to pay for plastic bags in Europe 20 years ago.

The Japan Times Weekly: February 16, 2008
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