Crayon Shin-chan, Live or Dead

Crayon Shin-chan is one of the national popular anime which was originally cartoon serial started in 1990. Since broadcasting started in 1992, Shin-chan has become very popular with his weird jokes. (But his jokes was in PTA’s bad books.) In proof of its popularity, Crayon Chin-chan is still broadcasted and entertain TV viewers. However, we don’t know we can see Shin-chan any more.

Amazingly, the author of Crayon Shin-chan, Yoshito Usui(51) passed away. His body was found at tha bottom of the cliffs of Mt. Arafune (Gunma prefecture) on 19th September. The news poses quite a shock to all Japanese.
Detail of the cause of Usui’s death has not been revealed. Usui told his family that he would climb Mt. Arafune and leaved his house on the morning of 11th September. However, he didn’t come back, so his worried family asked the police to search for Usui. What we now know is his remain was found at the bottom of the cliffs of Mt. Arafune, Along trail up the mountain, there is a precipitous cliff and it seems that Usui felled down the cliff.

The concerned parties of its anime stressed that they don’t want to end the contents because Crayon Shin-chan is big earner. Now Crayon Chin-chan is extensively used for character goods, stationeries, foods and TV commercial.
Shin-chan’s anime on air bring one-fifth of Usui’s original piece and the other four-fifth plot is created by anime production company. Hence it is possible to continue Shin-chan.
But anyway, at this moment, TV-asahi, one of the main Japanese TV station broadcasting Crayon Shin-chan, announces that continuance or not is decided by conference with concerned parties of Shin-chan
In Japan, a few very popular national anime, such as Sazae-san and Doraemon, has been broadcasted even after the author has been dead. Concerning the popularity of Shin-chan all over the world, now Shin-chan plays a role as a private diplomat. I wish Crayon Shin-chan would last.

Preparation: Climbing Mt. Fuji (1)

Mt. Fuji- Still I cannot see the top of the mountain!!

Not only for Japanese but also tourists from abroad, climbing Mt. Fuji is very attractive. Mt. Fuji is famous as symbol of Japan and the highest mountain (3776m/12,388 ft) in Japan. Climbing Mt. Fuji has been more popular these days, and it seems pleasant in term of regional vitalization and tourism. However, there is negative side. Some people think that climbing Mt. Fuji is easy and do not collect information. As a result, light-armed climbers with lack of preparation climb Mt. Fuji and are affected by altitude disease or upset their health.

Why did I decide to write an article about Preparation for climbing Mt. Fuji? I am neither experienced climber nor amateur climber. Beside, I haven’t climbed Mt. Fuji every year. I just only once climbed Mt. Fuji. Of course, there is no qualification for me to tell you my information about Mt. Fuji. However, when I climbed Mt. Fuji, I saw some climbers from abroad were all too light-armed. Half sleeve, short pants, vinyl raincoat (anyway not for climbing,) denim skirt with spats, shoulder bag, flat pumps, small back pack etc…

This was what I found in Mt.Fuji. And I imagined that those tourists from abroad might not have much information about climbing Mt. Fuji with their understandable language.

As one Japanese, hoping many people from abroad to enjoy their wonderful trip in Japan, I would like to be your little advisor for your safe visit in Japan.
I hope my lists will help you.

to be continue