I just got back from an interesting visit to Japan.  Over the last 40 years I have visited Japan many times.  This was a first for me, first startled by a missile launch then chased by a typhoon.

Last Wednesday I was just sitting down to a peaceful breakfast with the TV on in the background.  Just around 7:30 an urgent alert flashed on the screen warning of North Korean missile launch.

The missile path was over Hokkaido island and although I was on Shikoku island at the time, it was still unnerving as we awaited news of the progression.

The missile landed out in the Pacific, suspiciously just the distance of Guam from North Korea although much more North.  It really is unsettling to see a dictator and redneck playing silly buggers with each other.

Hiroshima Peace Park

My wife, son and daughter in law visited Peace park in Hiroshima this visit and although I have been there many times the experience is always incredibly moving.

Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump should visit, probably would put an end to any thought of nuclear weapon use (Hiroshima was a small bomb by today’s standards)

Typhoon #18

TV coverage of Typhoon #18 was delayed on Wednesday morning as the entire morning was filled with missile commentary.  I mean how much can you say about mad men and thier missiles, apparently quite a bit.

I love the way the Japanese are so efficient in their naming of these destructive forces of nature, no humanization or personalization needed (unlike hurricane naming conventions).

Typhoon #18 and my party were both on the way to Osaka, the typhoon expecting to land on the 17th and my party expecting to leave by plane that day.   Two things that really don’t go together well.

JR Rail to the rescue

We were saved by frequent, fast and always on time trains.  Changing our departure to Tokyo and travelling by train from Osaka to Tokyo we left Japan at virtually the same time as originally planned.

Typhoon #18 was left in our dust along with a shut down Osaka Kansai airport.  I faced the typhoon and ran.  (I wish I could say I faced the typhoon and won but that would be tough to do.)