Question for jiro

Harry’s going to need a bit to get into Freeman character and will be along shortly.

War Eagle. I guess in a word, just SHOCK. I am still in shock - I think everyone is. Everything changed with such a brazen assassination in public in broad daylight. My two teenage kids live with their mother - we've been separated for about 5 years - but I wrote them a long message yesterday trying to frame what this all means and a reminder that we are truly living in crazy and dangerous times and no one knows what may happen tomorrow. It felt like a 9/11 moment when something considered unthinkable became a turning point in history in a day. In many ways, as nearly all leaders of the opposition and coalition parties' leaders said, it was an attack on democracy. Abe was giving a speech in support of LDP (Liberal Democratic Party, which is actually very conservative) candidates before next week's Upper House (I think, like the the US House of Reps in Japan's Parliamentary system) election.

I think we are still trying process everything. Thankfully, Japan has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, but people who want to kill others can still find other ways, like plowing their car through a crowd of people, stabbing rampages happen on occasion, or if anyone remembers the Sarin Gas terrorist attack by Shoko Asahara and the Aum Shinrikyo cult about 25 years ago on Tokyo's subway system. That was also an "unthinkable" thing until it happened.

Sorry so long, but I guess the most concise answer to your question is shock, outrage and sadness, on many levels. Thanks for the question. Stay safe and take care everyone - no one knows what might happen tomorrow, so let's make today count.

ETA Corch, I am Harry Rex Vonner's doppleganger. It's a small running joke - see my sig.

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My oldest son and his family just arrived in Okinawa this week. I can't make the Japan/ new Zealand/ Australian trip in 2022 but expect to pass through in late '23 early '24. Suggestions?

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Come visit and stay a while with me? Big house, ping pong table in a beautiful area an hour and a bit west of Tokyo in Izu peninsula. World class beaches, mountains, food, history, people, hot springs all around me.

I lived and worked in Brisbane Australia for 6 months in 2005. Australia is awesome. My mom flew over from Auburn for my last month there and when my project was finished, we flew over to NZ and toured the South Island for about 10 days in a rental RV. One of the most memorable and truly amazing trips of my life. I had a handy travel Lord of the Rings guidebook detailing where all of the scenes were shot and we visited them. Breath-taking scenery, mountains, glaciers, trout fishing and lots of sheep. Stay in touch and as I have repeatedly offered on this board, my home is your home and always open to AU Fam. I can easily accomodate 8 people on the 1st floor of my home - 3 bedrooms, bath / toilet, a brand new kitchen, and yes, it opens onto a big DECK in the back. I am still trying to get Lanier's arse over here and help him work through his past Japan trauma, lol. War Eagle, come visit and enjoy. As I told Lanier, the JPY is still at about 135 yen / $, the lowest in almost 30 years, and I imagine it will stay low or drop even further over the next year or so = even cheaper Monopoly money. "Mr Yen" ex-something something financial expert and former Central Bank Pres. Mr. Sakakibara says the JPY may drop to as low as 150 JPY / US$ by year end. Bring it.

There are 50 states in the US, and I have experienced / traveled to all of them except Hawai'i. In Japan, there are 47 prefectures (like states), and Okinawa is one of the 3 that I have not yet been able to visit. Definitely bucket list. Can I assume your son / family is military? Wish nothing but the best for them and hope they enjoy their time and life here. I originally had a "2-3 year plan" to live and work here, but it has stretched a bit, going on 27 years now, in a flash. I'm always happy to help if I can re: anything, including Japan. Just hit me up.