Hiroko's Hitokoto

I found a small news item about an "amateur" abduction in Chiba. A 17-year old woman was abducted by a group of three other women in their 20's. They called the victim's family for a ransom of only JPY1m. The Police found them in a family restaurant in Saitama, and arrested all 3. The victim was safely returned home. Don't you think this is weird? Who would kidnap someone, hide out at the local Denny's, and ask for a ransom of only JPY1m?! Amazingly, the 3 called the woman's family and told them to bring the money directly to the restaurant where they were drinking coffee. Don't they watch TV? Just following a good movie plot, they could have done better. Apparently, the core of the plot was that the victim and one of the 3 had the same boyfriend... Ok, so now I understand, they really did follow a TV plot -- one of those flamboyant, tragic Venezuelan soap operas. Okashii ne?

It's getting warmer and warmer, and this makes me feel like going out for a picnic. But, some poor souls can't go out even if they want to, due to Kafunsho allegy (hay fever). The reason is because the Japanese cedar tree pollen (JCP) will increase to 2900-3300 grains/cm2 -- which is about about 1.5 times the average. Kafunsho/Pollinosis because of Japanese cedar pollen is said to be one of the three worst causes of pollinosis in the world, resulting in a plague of severe symptoms and hospital outpatients. In Japan there are about 50 manifestations of pollinosis. There are a number of therapies: self control, drug therapy, allergen-specific immunotherapy, and operations. The standard therapy now is self control combined with drugs. "Self control" means to prevent yourself coming into contact to pollen (and other allergens) by staying indoors, wearing a mask and goggles, and maintaining a careful life style... Hmmm, sounds worse than the sickness!

The news people seem to be reporting a new police scandal every other day, and you can't stop wondering how stupid they are. But the thing that makes me wonder the most is the abduction crime, of a 9-year old girl being held as a slave for 9 whole years. It's insane that this could happen and that the police couldn't find her. But in light of all the other scandals, the abduction has fallen out of the news somehow. I wonder why? Are the press focusing on the police scandals in order to get some action, or are they getting a social conscience and have decided to protect the abducted woman from more intrusive coverage? I hesitate to say that the Japanese press know how to control themselves, but compared to previous big breaking stories, this one has been very well controlled and restrained. What is really going on here?