Voting In Japan

 This weekend is a general election in Japan. The Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi announced this on January 19th, 2026.  Voting is set for February 8th, but you can vote before. David went yesterday because of his schedule.

The whole campaigning and voting system is a bit different here.

Campaiging is short, often just 12 days, because of this compressed timeline there is a burst of intense activity.

The first thing I notice are poster boards going up in various places. 

Board for candidates to put their posters

Each candidate is given a numbered square, only one poster per square is allowed. The boards are put up by the local election commission to make it fair.

Door to door campaiging is banned, the idea is that it would be to easy to influence voters by meeting them face to face. The candiates rely on the poster boards, public speeches and the one thing I hate, sound trucks!

photo by Hustvedt

This is a stock photo but these are the type of trucks that drive slowly around neigbourhoods. They call out the candidates name, saying something like "Please vote for Mr Tanaka" or "Thank you for your support". The noise is incredible. I always feel sorry for people working night shift who need to sleep during the day!

To be eligible to vote you must be a Japanese citizen for both national and local elections. I'm not allowed to vote, even though I have a permanet residence visa. You must be 18 years old to vote. The age was changed in 2015 from 20 to 18.

You have to register in the local registry which requires that you have registered address in that municipality.

Voting takes place in elementary or junior high schools, community centers and muncipal buildings.

One distinctive feature is the ballot itself. Instead of ticking a box or filling in a bubble, Japanese voters have to write out the candidates name.

I often wondered why campaign posters have the names written very clearly. Most candidates use easy kanji and any kanji that might be difficult to read or write is replaced with hiragana.

I'll be glad when this election will be over! The sound trucks drive me crazy. 

Also, we use a community center to teach in so during elections we can't use it. This time was alright but last year there was a local election that was held on a Thursday, we couldn't use the center for three days!

A Bit Better Day

 Even if it started off rather weird.

I woke up at 5 a.m., or rather, I got up at 5 a.m. I'd been awake since 3 a.m.; my allergies have started for real! Two hours of sneezing and snivelling was not nice! 

I made obento and breakfast. I took my painkillers and allergy medicine, both of which make me sleepy, but having both was a double punch! I dozed for a while, but I was feeling very strange. I felt my bed was vibrating, at first I thought it was an earthquake or maybe some big machine in the field behind the house. After a while, I realised it wasn't the bed but my body that was vibrating, at that point I opened my mouth and perceived that I was snoring, and that was what was making me feel vibrations.  I was asleep but aware of things at the same time, very weird.

I did manage to wake up in time to do a few chores, which I'm very happy about. Not a lot, but I want to keep on top of things. I don't mind a few dirty dishes or a bit of dust, but when it builds up, I feel overwhelmed and just don't want to deal with things. Doing something every day really helps!

I made ginger pork for lunch. I got distracted while I waiting for David, yes, I will admit I was scrolling on my phone. David came in and asked why I had only cooked one piece of pork. I had done two, we found the culprit, Fluffy! 

She looks so innocent! I had extra pork, so it wasn't a problem. David washed the sauce off, so she got to eat everything!

After lunch, I had a little walk around the garden. It's still a mess, but buds are starting to come out.

Plum Blossoms, maybe!

I don't know what these are, but they smell nice.

The side of the house we need to get cleared.

These little flowers are blooming all over.

More of these flowers.

I took a little video at the back of the property, behind the storage shed. I was looking at the fields opposite, it all looks abandoned. 

This afternoon I went to a local store with Mikey. One lady approached me, asking "Jackie Sensei desu ka?" "Are you Jackie teacher" As I said yes I reconized her as the mother of one of my students from many years ago. I asked after her daugher, who was a high school student when I was teaching her, she is now 45 years old, with a son in university! It was really nice to meet her, be be reminded of my former student!

A Nothing Day

 Tuesday and Wednesday, I go to the other city with Mikey to teach. My schedule isn't hard; I have a couple of classes, a lot of my time is spent waiting around, which is when I get a chance to read. We get back between 9:30 and 10 pm. 

But, somehow, Thursdays see me exhausted. This week has been harder because of the pain in my neck and the new medicine I'm taking.

Today I rested. I know that sleeping during the day isn't good, but I was really exhausted. The problem is that I don't feel I do enough to be that exhausted to sleep deeply for 2 or 3 hours at a time. 

Until we moved here, I had lessons almost every day, at least 2 a day. Plus, I would go out more by myself, especially at this time of year, as the nearest supermarket was only 5 minutes walk away. I was active all day, waking up to make breakfasts, do laundry, do chores and then teach. I would cook two or three meals a day, depending on schedules.

Now I find myself constantly exhausted. I do the bare minimum, but there are always things that need to be done, but I tell myself, tomorrow!

I'm wondering if this tiredness is emotional, not liking this house, not being able to deal with the problems here, not having a reason to be out of bed except to fight this house and the constant cleaning that needs to be done.

Or is it something physical? I've never had great stamina, but I have always managed. The past year, however, I've seen a decrease in my stamina. I'm wondering if I should ask for more tests when I have blood drawn in March, maybe checking vitamin levels and any other markers for fatigue. During my last blood test, my A1C number was down to 5.9, which is very good. So that shouldn't be making me tired. I've noticed that my blood pressure is a lot lower than before; most nights it's 119/60, but some nights it goes down to 115/50, which might be too low. I'm still taking medicine for both diabetes and high blood pressure. Maybe I can stop these medicines!

Is it just ageing? But I'm only 63! In today's world, that isn't really old, is it? 

I know that I have to get my act together. I have to get over my negative thinking and really try to focus on a better future, building it one day at a time. But on days like today, when everything seems hard, it's so difficult to feel positive!

Just to give you a laugh, an awful selfie with David. I never know where to look when taking selfies!

At least I'm smiling!

Doctors.......Again

 I don't know if it's a sign of ageing or just bad health, but I seem to be going to the doctors a lot more than I used to!

The pain in my neck, shoulder and arm is from a herniated disc in my neck. It slips out and presses on the nerve. Most of the time, it's okay, but every now and then it flares up, causing pain and misery. I also get very frustrated as I can't do all the things that I want to do!

David took me to the doctors yesterday, we arrived to a full parking lot, so I thought I would be waiting for an hour or so. I was surprised to see that the waiting room was empty, just two other people waiting. I think most of the patients were there for the rehabilitation clinic.

I was called in after 10 minutes. David is supposed to translate, but the doctor tries to use English; the problem is that he knows the words but not how to make sentences. Makes things very interesting! David jumps in when he sees I'm totally lost. My Japanese isn't great, but I can usually follow what is being said. With medical terms, there are words that I just don't know!

The doctor recommended a neck brace so I can rest my chin on it and take the pressure off my neck. As the nurse was fitting it, David said, "Now you know how Fluffy feels" She has to wear a collar a lot to stop her from over-grooming! I couldn't stop laughing at that!

With my neck brace on

Fluffy with her collar on.

I was prescribed three types of medicine. One is a strong painkiller, which has helped; another is to relax the muscles and to help with stiffness. The third, however, scares me, and I don't think I'm going to take it.

It's called Tarlige. It's for neuropathic pain and contains the active ingredient mirogablin. I was given a pamphlet just for this medicine with a long list of side effects. The side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. It can also interfere with blood sugar control, potentially leading to a higher A1C number.

I'm supposed to take two tablets a day, so I took one last night, and I was alright. I took another one at 6am; the side effects were awful and scary. I felt sleepy, so I decided to doze for a bit after making breakfast. I fell asleep but couldn't wake up. My alarm went off, and I couldn't figure out what the noise was. David called me, but again I had no idea what was making the noise! I finally got out of bed to use the toilet, but had to hold onto the wall to get there. 

David made lunch, as I had no confidence that I could actually stand up or use the stove! Even as I was eating, I was falling asleep. It actually felt similar to when I had my operation and waking up after the anaesthetic. 

I want to get better, but I think those tablets will only make me feel worse. I'm going to try some simple exercises to see if that helps, and find a rehabilitation clinic near here! I'm wondering if a chiropractor or acupuncture might help!

I really need to be finished with all these health problems. I have much to do, and being sick isn't helping at all.

Risshun: When The First Breath Of Spring Arrives

 Last year, I wrote about the Setsubun festival that takes place every February 3rd. https://jackiesjapanjournal.blogspot.com/2025/02/setsubun.html

The day after Setsubun is Risshun. If Setsubun is the dramatic clearing-out of demons and bad energy, Risshun is the soft inhale that follows, when the world feels newly washed and ready for what comes next.

Risshun has long been seen as a kind of spiritual reset button. In the old calendar, this wasn't just a seasonal marker; it was the beginning of the year's energetic cycle. It's a time when farmers look for signs of warmth in the soil, housewives take the chance to refresh their spaces. Even if the temperatures haven't quite caught up, there is a sense that winter is losing its grip. 

I've noticed that the sunrise is a little earlier and the sunset is a little later, marking the promise of longer days to come. Also, the ume blossoms are beginning to bud; they are very resilient, defying the cold!

I've noticed these thick sushi rolls in the supermarkets; you are supposed to eat one, facing the year's lucky direction. This year, the direction is east and southeast.

I haven't made these, so I had to get a photo from the internet!

We live in a world that is always on the go, moving fast to the next thing, the next new trend. I like the idea of these older traditions, a way to slow down for a day, to reflect and notice how nature is changing. A quiet visit to a shrine, a walk outside to notice the very first buds, the chance to quietly renew our spirits and our surroundings. A gentle pause, a chance to breathe and redetermine ourselves for the rest of the year!

Pain

 Another post about my aches and pain!

I thought I was doing a lot better; the seasonal allergies aren't as bad as usual. I'm taking over-the-counter medicine, but only in the morning. I usually have to take them twice a day. 

I'm eating a lot better and have recovered from the Christmas and New Year's binges! I've added interval walking to my exercise regimen, along with chair exercises. I should be feeling great!

But yesterday morning I woke up in pain! The left side of my neck, left shoulder, and arm are really painful. I have a herniated disc in my neck, and sometimes it presses on the nerve, causing pain on the left side. Looks like going to the doctor tomorrow morning! 

I will still try to do some exercise this afternoon, maybe modify it a bit.  No stretches using the left arm, just something very gentle! 

Having this pain made me wonder about people who have lost a limb. I'm right-handed, so not using my left arm isn't a big deal, or so I thought until I was making lunch! I couldn't lift anything or even hold the vegetables properly to cut them. How do people who have had an arm amputated manage? I can still use my arm, but it's painful; not being able to use it at all would be awful.  

 This realisation has me thinking more about how I should be grateful for my situation. I'm in pain, but I know that I can get help for that. I live in a country that has good medical services. I don't have to wait for months to get an appointment; I can just walk in and see a doctor after a few minutes' wait. I can get painkillers without too much bother. 

Even though I feel miserable because of the pain I'm in, I'm also very grateful that I have a way to deal with it!

I guess this is part of ageing! Or rather, not really taking care of myself when I was younger. I keep telling my kids to take care of their health now, as things only get worse as one ages! 

Tomorrow off to the doctors! I really want to deal with this pain now. I have a few plans for February, some places to visit. I want to have the energy to do things I have planned, not sit around moaning all the time!

The full moon was very beautiful the other morning. My phone camera doesn't do it justice, but you can get an idea of what it was like.

This was very early in the morning, about 4:30 am!

Shrines vs Temples: Understanding Japan's Sacred Spaces

 Recently, I've visited a few different shrines and temples. Tera Machi in Kurume, where there are 17 different temples representing six different schools of Buddhism, Kora Shrine and Ukiha Inari Shrine. All beautiful sacred spaces, but what is the difference between a shrine and a temple?

Japan's spiritual landscape is shaped by two major traditions, Shinto and Buddhism. Both have a long history in Japan.

Shinto is the indigenous belief system of Japan, it's rooted in ancient nature worship. There is evidence that Shinto practices go back to the Neolithic period. Over centuries, shrines were formalised as places to honour kami, spirits associated with natural features, ancestors and local deities. The Emperor of Japan is the head of the Shinto Religion. The enthronement ceremony is based on Shintoism. 

A Shinto shrine has tori gates. Most tori gates are red; a few are a natural colour.

Tori gates at Ukiha Inari Shrine

Before you enter the gate, you should bow. Also, when leaving, you offer a bow. There is a place to wash your hands before offering prayers. The two main structures in a shrine are offering halls (haiden) and main sanctuaries (honden).

Seasonal festivals are held at shrines. Also, there are purification rituals and community celebrations.

Some of the most famous shrines are the Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture, which is dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess and Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, which is famous for its thousands of tori gates.

Part of the Fushimi Inari Taisha that I visited a few years ago.

Buddhism entered Japan in the 6th century from China and Korea, it bought new philosophies, rituals and artistic traditions. Temples became centres of learning, mediation and political influence.

The entrance to a temple is through sanmon gate. There is a main hall (kondo), pagodas, statues of Buddha and gardens.

One of the most famous temples is Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo.

Senso Ji Temple

I would like to visit there, but every time I look at photos or videos of the area, the crowds seem overwhelming! 

One thing that puzzled me when I first came was seeing what looked like the Nazi swastika on maps indicating where a temple was. The original symbol is called the manji (卍), which is a sacred emblem representing good fortune, eternity and the footprints of the Buddha. The Nazis took this symbol and reversed it, making it a symbol of hatred and violence.

I've been to a few temples and shrines near here, but there are so many more to explore. 

I hope that, as the weather improves, before it gets too hot to go out, I can visit a few of these places!