An ideal world is one that has no nuclear weapons, no violence and no death penalty. But in our current free and open society, these troubles are facts of life. Some people resort to violence to get out of difficult situations and others are violent by nature. Regardless of intentions, it is the responsibility of law officers to catch criminals and of the courts to punish them. I am hopeful that in the future we eliminate nuclear weapons and cut down crime dramatically.

Regardless of the country or the current state of affairs in the auto industry, is the proverb, "A tall tree catches much wind" really representative of the way the world works?

Currently, Toyota Motor Corp. seems to be facing a difficult situation. I think the latest recalls were a powerful reminder to go back to basics. I hope Toyota will deal with the situation in a sincere manner and quickly regain people's trust regarding the quality of its products. I also hope that Toyota can help save Japan from its current economic stagnation.

The article "Costa Rica 'growing' edible insects" (March 6 issue) made me a little optimistic after reading the article "GM eggplant debate consumes India" (Feb. 27 issue). In fact, I felt gloomy after reading that story because I didn't know beforehand that GM foods could be unhealthy.

When it comes to food safety and costs, indigenous insect species are a more reliable prospective food source. Also, The Weekly once reported on the eating habits of Nagano residents. They often eat processed locust products, which are tasty and healthy. These products are also popular as souvenirs.

Because food scarcity is a big problem in developing countries, I think researchers should continue to look into insects as a food source. Insects are edible and healthy, not as gross as everyone thinks!

What a coincidence! I recently saw an otokeshi no tsubo (urn for covering toilet sounds) in Tomonoura Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture. At the time, I was on my way to a hina doll festival at the house of a well-known family. I was surprised when I saw the otokeshi no tsubo in the home's garden. This particular otokeshi no tsubo was also from the Edo Period and was similar to the one at the Yakage Folk Museum in Okayama Prefecture.

I think using such a gadget is quite peculiar in modern times, but I was amazed to learn that they were used so often so long ago. Seeing such an old device made me think about the differences in social graces between now and the Edo Period. Even back then, people must have felt embarrassed about their bodily noises. Although our toilet aids look different theses days, they have the same function: helping save us from a small embarrassment when we use the toilet. Maybe times haven't changed as much as everyone says they have!

The Japan Times Weekly: April 3, 2010
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