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It is an era when the number of foreign immigrants to Japan, exchange students, and workers are increasing. Many people criticize the technical intern trainee system, which does not allow spouses to accompany workers, as an immigration system, and how the technical intern trainee system used to secure a labor force. Among them, the news that a female technical intern trainee from Vietnam, got pregnant and hid her abandoned child, was put on trial and acquitted of the murder charge, the Japanese government and society’s contempt and prejudice against foreigners incidents of inhumanity exposed.

Many Japanese people also work and study abroad (more than 100 years ago, many Japanese immigrants migrated to work). Unaccompanied assignments, which were commonplace in the past, have decreased. And the number of international marriages has also increased. However, if childbirth, child-rearing, and education are not possible in the country with cold measures, they will become anti-state and return to their own country. However, although I don’t know the numbers, there are cases where it takes a liking to them, and they let their children live in a foreign country. The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology cares of Japanese children living abroad by establishing local Japanese schools and distributing Japanese language textbooks in remote areas. And even children of Kurdish refugees are applying for refugee status (including provisional release), and children of foreigners without Japanese nationality can study at school as Japanese children. This case is a part of the United Nations Charter.

However, there are many bilinguals who speak the language of their parents at home and Japanese outside. There are many cases where children have a hard time to communicating with the school at home. Depending on the region, many Japanese language classes run by volunteers. However, there is also a story that they can not keep up with school and become truant. In a worse case, some people get involved in crime after being invited by friends.

＠Below are my suggestions:

1. Japanese people want to accept more and more foreigners warmly. Words, greetings, invitations to exchange events, and explanation on how to put out household rubbish to garbage collection point, can do immediately!
2. I want to stop prejudice based on appearance, such as skin color or based on my hometown!
3. I want to naturally care for people with disabilities, such as foreigners and people with disabilities!
4. Returnee children are suffering, and the coldness of the Japanese government’s education for returnee children is behind it!

It was a self-talk of an internationally-minded older person. I want to continue and respect the good points. It is natural if you take pride in being a first-class country (developed country) in the world. Japan has good human resources and education even if it does not have resources. However, Japan is not yet called an international country! The 2023 revision (for the worse) of the “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” is one of the blemishes of the LDP-Komeito government and follower political parties. You can do more mature measures! “Work if you can afford the taxes!” and “Ratify international treaties and promote change.”

Please take in what each one can think and act! ! !

My 9-year-old granddaughter, born and raised in the US, doesn’t respond to traditional Japanese discipline methods or our self-taught discipline at home.

In the US, it is generally uncommon for grandparents to be involved in discipline, as “freedom” and “individuality” are respected. Therefore, living with grandparents is unpopular, and most people live independently. However, families often gather at the parents’ (grandparents’) homes for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas.

I’m afraid to tell you about the incident in our Japanese home. I entrusted my grandchild with the key, instructing her to leave a door open, but when I returned, I found the door locked and couldn’t enter. Upon investigation, I discovered the key left on the floor near the outside of the door. I expressed concern over her disregard for the agreement (not keeping her word) and the potential security risk. Its response differed from what I might expect from a Japanese child.

In this situation, my daughter (the child’s mother) viewed the child’s actions as correct, implying that my admonishment was unwarranted. As a result, my grandchild secluded herself in her room and reportedly brought food from the kitchen to her room to eat at 3:30 AM the following day.

It can be challenging when different cultural perspectives and expectations clash within a family. Communication and understanding among family members are essential in resolving conflicts and finding common ground. It may be helpful to have open and respectful discussions with my daughter about my concerns, expectations, and the importance of safety and following agreements.

I was concerned about this, so on that day, I went to my grandchild’s room to chat and discuss another plan. As a result, my grandchild returned to the living room, and we had lunch together. In the evening, they also visited my room. I felt like they could be a good playmate. Neither my daughter nor my grandchild offered any apologies. I did mention to them that “Mom (my daughter) told Grandpa” about it.

The situation got well, but it’s probably fine. My grandchild is half Japanese (25%) and half American (50%), but when asked “What are you?” in terms of nationality or race, they don’t say “American.” Instead, they respond that they were born (in Oklahoma).

I will continue to handle situations by considering specific examples as they arise, as this interaction with my grandchildren is both enjoyable and challenging. Many grandparents have experience in this regard as they navigate the ups and downs of intergenerational relationships. I would greatly appreciate any valuable advice you may have to offer.

During subsequent conversations, there was word of an “invitation to our home in the US” in our discussions. If we take a deeper perspective, it could be a suggestion to “learn about the home ground approach.” It was an opportunity for growth. My grandchild often says, “It’s okay to do this or that in the US.” So, the story I shared involved a bilingual girl with three different cultural styles.

Recently I learned that the Saitama Psychiatric and Neurological Center provides mental health care. In Japan, there is a shortage of clinical psychologists (counselors), and there is prejudice against mental illnesses such as dementia, which makes it difficult for people to seek help openly. The above can lead to difficulties finding employment or receiving welfare benefits. Although those directly affected by these issues face tough challenges, their families and those around them struggle to provide adequate support. Whether this is a “disease” or something that can be “cured” is still not fully understood, and there is a lack of research and understanding of the situation. Currently, no law is legislated to provide care, and treatment (medication) is inadequate, leading to confusion and frustration for those seeking help.
However, these years, there have been signs of improvement in Japan. While I was aware that former US President Reagan had Alzheimer’s disease, it is now urgent to address the fact that one out of every seven people over the age of 65 in Japan has some form of dementia, which is similar to the one in three people affected by cancer.

SUCHITOO provides care for the elderly, many of whom have dementia. I have gradually progressed from experiencing occasional forgetfulness to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). While drugs can help slow down brain degeneration, there is no cure. However, giving up is not an option as it would compromise human dignity. Support is necessary to the fullest extent possible. Laws and measures are in place for people with physical and mental disabilities, but not yet for those with dementia. While there are some (schizophrenia-related) cases, the situation will improve from now. I have considered a treatment for this issue based on my knowledge gained from training sessions, previous experiences, and future involvement. The above is my personal opinion as SUCHITOO.

The overview of the training session is as below:
Knowledge about understanding dementia are – Four guidebooks, Lewy body dementia, symptom-specific support, and supporter training.
Additional course materials are – Forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment, young-onset dementia, medication knowledge, and improving oral function.
Three work groups are – Information on Activities for People with Dementia and their Families, Lack of Support, -Care as an Orange Partner.
It was a two-day training session with over 50 participants, and more than 90% were women. The training was packed with appeals from senior support centers and was comprehensive.

The summary highlights the following points:
For the improvement of mild cognitive impairment, “improvement of lifestyle, training through hobbies, and medication therapy” were recommended.

Regarding medication therapy, it was mentioned in the last section that “medication for dementia cannot restore the patient to their state before developing the condition or cure them. However, it expectes to delay the progression of dementia and allow the patient to live their life as much as possible. In addition to medication therapy, non-pharmacological therapies that activate the brain, such as light exercise like taking a walk, reading aloud, doing calculations, and playing musical instruments, can enhance the remaining cognitive function and the ability to perform daily activities, allowing the patient to live a more fulfilling life.

The importance of creating a stimulating and fulfilling life by finding joy, purpose, and motivation, were emphasized. Conversely, forcing oneself to do things they dislike or do not want to do can cause stress and loss of confidence,” according to Eiko Nobuko, a certified dementia care nurse.

I reported on the first installment in this BLOG on March 31. After reviewing the materials again following the workshop, I realized that it also applied to me. On my Buddhist altar, I have written and posted “Meals, exercise, stress.” Specifically, I have decided to reflect on what I have done so far and continue doing good things such as eating small, balanced meals, walking or “any3tai chi” exercises for half a week, practicing playing the ocarina and listening to music, and reciting Buddhist sutras. Of course, I am also mindful of getting enough sleep and taking a bath. I wonder if it is good or bad that my “anger has decreased” recently, and I am also considering whether it is a good thing for human hearts to become more rounded.

Dr. Hideki Wada, a psychiatrist, emphasizes in his book that “depression” is more frightening than dementia, and we should be careful.

Many people are now entering the era of getting dementia, with Alzheimer’s-type dementia accounting for 70-80% of cases. Understanding and caring for those around them, including family members, hospital doctors and nurses, and many others, is important because many cannot be hospitalized (which is also a problem).
SUCHITOO has been volunteering at a nursing home for about 15 years and actively attends training sessions to learn more. The first session was five years ago, but since then, there have been stepped-up training sessions hosted by the Saitama Psychiatric and Neurological Center, which was probably heavily sought after, as previous sessions had a lottery system due to high demand. However, this time the number of participants limit increased to 50, so they were able to attend.

It was a rigorous 4.5-hour “appeal” given in two curriculum sessions. In this era where the administration alone cannot do everything, the appeal is necessary! This is why the sub-organization of the Regional Comprehensive Support Center was seeking volunteers from citizens interested in supporting the activities related to dementia, not just individuals with dementia and their families. The government uses our taxes and supports these activities indirectly. The justification for the program is targeting groups such as “pregnant women,” “housewives,” and “retirees.” While some aspects are understandable, some are not.

“Even so, I wanted to participate because the number of people with dementia is increasing, so I want to support them. In Thailand, a guy who’s been living there for 20 years is a heavy drinker. He seems to have Lewy body dementia, so I want to give him advice and care. Also, a travel companion who lives in Japan has severe memory loss and once went to the wrong station for a meeting. These days, they haven’t responded to letters or emails completely, but there is still answering the phone (they were diagnosed with dementia after cancer surgery). Due to the pandemic, volunteering for Tai Chi has been canceled, but over half of the participants in the day service are people with mild dementia who don’t remember my face or name. Once, when I called out to someone, they said, ‘The teacher hasn’t come yet,’ which was disappointing. Although there’s a chance I might develop dementia myself, as long as I have time and energy, I want to volunteer and support them.”

During the group discussions in the two training sessions, some good opinions were raisong, such as “People with dementia should be eligible for a disability certificate,” “Care such as taxi transfer should be provided because going to the hospital or shopping costly,” “It is absurd to recommend motorcycles and bicycles even if driving a car is not allowed,” and “Saitama City should provide more care not only for physically disabled people but also for people with mental and physical disabilities.” However, it did not seem that the administrative staff could find a solution or take an action. They were just salaried workers and subcontracted local government officials rather than bureaucrats from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Some suggested that city council members should attend the training sessions and listen to the opinions raised.

After completing two sessions, I have summarized my thoughts as follows. While I will only present my conclusion here, there are also some excellent studies and views on the topic, so I would like to read and analyze the materials as P2 and offer my insights.
1. One of the new things I learned about is “mild cognitive impairment” (MCI), which seems to be worldwide research items given its prevalence and importance.
2. The doctors mainly introduced American research and materials and pointed out the backwardness, and lack of research in Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
3. Although there are misunderstandings and insufficient definitions of dementia and other psychiatric conditions in Japan, it is essentially a “brain disorder.”
4. There are “Orange Cafe” groups at the comprehensive community centers promoted by the government, which offer care for family members and provide a venue and time. However, I wonder if this is enough. It’s still having difficulies, and there’s still much we don’t see.
That’s all for the “dementia seminar” P1. Although I am an outsider and an amateur, I will continue to study and support the cause with interest. Actual care is more critical than theory!
I posted P2 on April 26th on the Japanese Suchitoo site, and an English translation will follow this post.

Since I have been volunteering at Tai Chi school for seven years, I quit volunteering in December 2022 because the independent nursing home has proposed introducing a membership fee system instead of holding the class as an event of the facility (independent nursing home). And also the number of members has decreased for a reason. Nationwide, the decrease in the Tai Chi population is announced since the beginning of COVID-19.
Although many people are on the waiting list (persons wishing to enter)* at special-nursing homes for the aged, the number of additional facilities is declining, and private nursing homes are entering an era of competition. It seems like a way to cut costs.

*On December 19, 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare announced that there were 233,000 people on the waiting list for special-nursing homes for the aged and 213,000 people with 3-5 nursing care needs.

One day, the manager of an A office suggested that “if we introduce a membership fee system, attendance will improve, and the number of participants will increase.” This facility has been operated by Haseko, a major construction company, for over 20 years. It seems that the number increased one after another because the expensive one-time entrance fee can use for the construction costs of the next facility. However, in terms of its operation, it claims to operate 24 hours a day, but it seems that “money” is necessary to ask for anything service even if you are sick.
There is no significant difference in the purchase price, but you must pay the amount for about ten years in advance.
So if you live there for more than ten years, you got merit.
However, Report said that some facilities for the elderly are experiencing problems with early termination (moving out).
Another characteristic of Japan is that there are many female residents in private and special nursing homes (about 80% in this facility). It may be the best idea to work hard and have nursing care for the rest of your remaining life and meals (you can cook for yourself). Or someone who has lost the comfort of being alone and the ties of family. It seems that there are not many people who sell their homes and move in with their spouses.

I have volunteered (Tai Chi, listening, etc.) at 3 or 4 nursing homes, but I won’t compare them.
After constructing nursing homes, Haseko has a subsidiary called Seikatsu Kagakukan (recently changed to Plancière in French), which operates nursing homes and also independent nursing homes, and group homes. There are many in Saitama, and four in the neighborhood of SUCHITOO’s house, so I see mutual use (transition from independent type to nursing care facility, participation in events, etc.) as possible. However, depending on company policy, I won’t go into it this time.
They have invited me to festivals and events held at a facility. They intend to do PR in various ways plans which are fun activities after moving in and recruiting new residents. In addition, They have introduced me to planning consultations and solicitations, such as inheritance in partnership with administrative scriveners and banks.

However, perhaps due to the lack of staff, four facility managers (house managers and office managers) have been replaced in seven years. The general staff members also change frequently, so I hear from residents that they have difficulties communicating with staff.

A cafeteria, karaoke equipment, and a book corner are in the common area of its facility. Gardening is not possible because there is no garden. The rooftop is not open for residents, probably because they judged it dangerous.  He spends most of his time in his room, and if he wants to take a large bath, he can go to Haseko’s facility for the elderly nearby. We do not hold funeral ceremonies or farewell parties when a resident passes away (many do not even do at nursing homes for the elderly).

@SUCHITOO doesn’t want to move into a nursing home. First of all, I don’t think there is freedom, but there are “rules” and “group life,” and there are some things that are natural because it is a communal life, but I feel that it is difficult to move in.

What is convenient is that there is always someone to take care of you, which gives you a sense of security. You can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner as your request. Facility usage fees are other than the burden and Common service fees (management fees) (there is no cost for the house).

The number of users of the national long-term care system is small in independent facilities, information and decisions will depend on consultation with care providers, and I am not sure whether the guardianship system and the public administration departments are well-taken care of. The conclusion is that it is good to stay at home (apartment, etc.) while you can live independently or if you are a mild caregiver. Even in that case, if necessary, you can use the home-visit nursing care system by consulting with an area Comprehensive center operated by the national long-term care insurance. I think that a special-nursing home for the elderly is the best option for those who require serious care.

However, I always feel that the confined type, who is a resident and is not allowed to go out or take a walk, is not a positive for his mental and physical health, so I look at him and comfort him. Also, if you’ve been living in a rented house for a long time, it’s ok, but I’m opposed to selling my home and moving in, but it would not be suggested to live a double life.

Property management is having difficulties, so it is necessary to use the guardianship system and prepare a will as an inheritance. Of course, many residents will be able to live on their pensions, but if you are a couple, you may find yourself in poverty even if you can afford it, so you need to think and prepare about it in advance.

Above are my impressions of volunteering at some nursing homes, and guidelines for his path for more than ten years. I am not talking about this independent nursing home.

On this blog site, I will also post an article on “Infectious Diseases, Depression, and Dementia.”

I am interested in “Infectious diseases,” “Clinical depression” and “Dementia.” Before getting Dementia, there is also Forgetfulness, but it seems to be the difference between cases without Dementia and potential Dementia. Of course, in this blog, I would like to focus on myself, analyze and appeal if possible. I would like to introduce them, but there are too many, so I would like to introduce them in moderation.

Let’s consider infectious diseases first:
Viruses, starting with COVID-19, are the enemies of mankind, but they seem to have overcome a lot of them (in the past, yellow fever and rubella, which is still ongoing, and the recent one is COVID-19).
The method of cure for these diseases is being established day by day. I, SUCHITOO don’t like going out in crowds, so I am currently free from COVID-19.
However, since I was born in Japan, I have been bitten by mosquitoes and have gotten sick many times since I was a child, and since I became an adult, Tropical Onyx mosquitoes bit me in Thailand and infected Dengue fever twice.　 If the cause of the disease is known, there are medicines and cures, but there are a lot of unknown diseases. It is necessary to take measures before the treatment, but the water for humans to live flows from trees and becomes a water source, but mosquitoes carrying pathogens live in the forest, so they are stronger than us. How should I be careful? Humans lose to them, so “Stay away,” use preventive medicine if available, don’t drink raw water, don’t go into the jungle, don’t rely on the government, etc.　 Experience points are the way to deal with them. There are also syphilis and sexually infectious diseases contracted by humans and pets such as cats and dogs.
There are a lot of insects, animals, and plants that attack humans in tropical regions.  I hope there to come up with treatments for that.

Think about Depression:
It is a “mental disease” that many people suffer from stress, and many of them are serious. It is the reality for me also, when I’m depressed, and it can cause problems one after another, make me feel sick, and sometimes, alternately repeat between mania and depression. The recommendation is to get away from this cycle is important to live relaxed for a serious person. And to be diligent, or not, both will be needed in life.
There are many hospitals and depression researchers, but Dr. Yuichiro Tokunaga, the author of “Not only antidepressants and counseling, but nature and the power to stimulate the five senses organs, can change people.’ And some other doctors are working hard to make a full recovery.
SUCHITOO says that one of the things that cause mood disorders is a lack of energy in the brain, by which sometimes makes him depressed. If you feel tired quickly, cannot sleep, have any appetite, Lack self-confidence, or cannot adjust the balance between your mood and emotions. You should have time to rest and maintain your common balance without relying on your doctor. I recommend it because I am doing things like eating, and other things, such as hobbies and lifestyles, sometimes hot springs and travel are the best medicine.

Now think about Dementia:
Dementia is attracting attention because deceived by the phrase of rumor that affects one in seven Japanese. It is a disease that reduces the function of the “brain,” so it will be difficult to recover. In the future, someone develops many cure methods (including medicine) will be available, but I would like to distinguish them from schizophrenia, gambling, and many other addictions.
These types are known as dementia diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Lewy bodies, and Frontotemporal, but there is also juvenile dementia. The definition of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan is the deterioration of cognitive functions, such as memory, judgment, and thinking, which is brain function deterioration.  So that it is difficult to recover and annoys and causes surrounding people troubles (wandering, Violence/verbal abuse, paranoia, etc.).
Therefore, that is regarded as a problem. It also appears to be associated with diseases of the duodenum, liver, kidneys, and lungs that affect the body. The treatment methods include medical therapy, which is not very good, occupational therapy, music therapy, exercise therapy, and reminiscence therapy. Acquaintances recommend farming and horticultural therapy.

Then I find out my solutions:
Advertisements, such as treatments for depression and dementia, are published in general Japanese newspapers. The Asahi Shimbun (newspaper) had an article about “the power of nature” (Dr. Tokunaga) against dementia, and I found the existence of dementia and rehabilitation study group on the website. Also, to prevent depression and dementia, a psychiatrist Hideki Wada and others have published books on how to think about how to live, and they seem to be selling well. However, I would like to point out that there are not many studies and books on infectious diseases that are common in the tropics, and there are few specialists (there are two hospitals specializing in tropical diseases in Tokyo). I have an acquaintance who died after being mistakenly diagnosed as having a cold by a town doctor in that situation.
I do not want to agree with standing still in the 100-year lifespan, but I think it would be good to refer to the comments from experts, hospitals, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

• 

Wat Paknam Bhascharoen in Thon Buri, Bangkok, is not a tourist temple but an international meditation exercise hall and temples, the theory and practical method of the monk Phra monkon teep-ni, the founder of meditation, are spread throughout Thailand and the world. It is not the founder of Paknam Temple. It is a monk of restration monk. He recently learned from a phone call from a monk of the Obaku sect that the Somdet, the No.2 of the Thai Buddha, died a few years ago. It seemed to be 96 years old, but I remember taking pictures together in January 2016.

Six years later, on a rainy day, September 29, 2022, a gloomy atmosphere remained in Wat Paknam when I visited this time. I went to the Bangkok Mass Transit System airport station from Chiang Rai since I thought I could have a chance to go again during the transit of 8 hours to the flight to Japan.

When I arrived at the station, an information clerk told me that trains were not moving because of car inspections, so he guided me to a luxury limousine tour company, its clerk talked to me in Japanese, so I thought I might have to pay too much. After making line at the general taxi stand at the airport for 4 hours, a driver from Chiang Rai seemed to be relieved with a polite response, so I asked him if he could wait for about 30 minutes at Wat Paknam on the condition of returning to the airport. He replied that I was glad to do so. The suitcase was on a night flight, so I didn’t leave it, and there was no corner to leave, so I could put it in a taxi and go back and forth was 1000 baht round trip (about 4,000 yen).

When I heard about the transition in a nearby office with a statue of Phra monkon teep-ni, and heard about the deputy priest, Phra Chai Kittisaro, it seemed to be still there, and when I visited suddenly, I was still in the same temple lodging in the same place. I had no time, so I apologized to him for my short visit of only 10 minutes, and we could not communicate for a long time. I got his phone number, so I promised to meet again in April 2023. The taxi was waiting at the parking lot outside the temple, so he could let me go to the airport soon after greeting them.

Also, when I went to a toilet for ordinary people outside the temple, I saw a large Buddha statue, and a photo of the Somded was seen below it. I knew that the pagoda with the highest towering interior in Thailand was completed before that, so I didn’t know that the Buddha statue was created. Is it a memorial Buddha statue of the transition of Somdet? (It’s too early), or is it a monument of his life? Phra Chai, a deputy priest, said that it was not a grave (mausoleum). Even so, it was big.

@ Wat Paknam’s website has a photo of the decease memorial service. Please visit Wat Japanese website regarding this.
http://marsk.html.xdomain.jp
In addition, there are many personal posts on the pagoda of the Paknam temple.
@Two photos are from Wat Paknam’s website. The photo of the Buddha statue, and the one with Somdet was taken by Suchitoo during his trip in 2016.

It has been ten years since we established a Japanese Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The plan was to have the facility open to the public. Traveling to the northernmost tip of Thailand is a challenge, but so has the hustle and bustle of the capital, Bangkok, and the second-largest city, Chiang Mai.
Chiang Rai has a JET capable airport, but no trains yet. It is a quiet ancient city at the end of National Highway 1, about 1000 kilometers from Bangkok, at the foot of a plateau. In addition, the Mekong River is a famous tourist destination, a large river on the border of Myanmar and Laos, known as the Golden Triangle.

There is a connection there, and it will be exactly ten years in January 2023 since the opening of the Japanese temple (Wat Japan). Rustic nature and mountain lovers will love it. The landlord, Lenna (this is from my Japanese name given by me, SUCHITOO, and her real name is a little long, so the locals call it Tim), was originally (and still is) a student at a Japanese school. She has been operating a cafeteria in the village for over 30 years, and it is a delicious and hearty Thai restaurant with a good reputation.

“Guest house” is 500 baht (about 2000 yen) per person per night, and the rates cover all meals at the guest house. The more people you have, the cheaper it will be.　In principle, up to 3 people can stay in one group per day. It is a one-building charter method.
It operates by the landlord, Mongkol Lenna the restaurant owner.
The opening is on February 1, 2023.
@Place: Meakautomtashut village, Chiang Rai, Thailand
@Reservations; Please contact us at +81-48-863-5932 or send an e-mail to “m999matsusan9@gmail.com” Details will be announced later on the Wat Japan home page.
＠Please refer to the website of WATJAPAN (THAILAND) for directions, surroundings, and the relationship between Thailand and SUCHITOO.
If you have difficulties with Japanese, please use Google translate to see the website.
http://marsk.html.xdomain.jp
http://kawai.servebeer.com/~masahiro

@ This article is the first; Let us guide you in the series. It is planned for “surroundings”, “Lenna Shokudo”, and “questions/inquiries”.
@ Reservations will start on December 1, 2022.

In addition to the simple report from the field on 20th September, I will post Mae Sai (Myanmar) coverage on 16th September and the 4th Friendship Bridge (Thailand/Laos) in Chiang Khong on 23rd September.

I wouldn’t say I like long posts, so I’ll post them in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. And this blog can only attach three photos, so please take a look at it, as the remaining posted on Facebook.

Thailand’s northernmost border is Myanmar’s Tachileik city across the Sai River. Japanese people living in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai also pay 500 baht for visa extensions and go on day trips. In addition, in the middle of the long Mekong River from Yunnan Province in China to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, a bridge was completed with international aid between Thailand and Laos in 1994.

In the past, we used to communicate with each other by boat from ports such as Chiang Khong for a long time, and SUCHITOO has also been to Buan Balabang, a World Heritage Site, several times from here.

Mae Sai was originally a town where many Chinese lived. It is a town with many Chinese from Yunnan Province since the defeated Kuomintang soldiers fled from China’s independence in 1949. In addition to Mae Sai, Doi Mae Salong, is more than 10 kilometers away. It located in the heart of the mountains, had been the drug zone, but it became production area for tea, shiitake mushrooms, delicious chicken, and a scenic spot for Chinese cherry blossoms. There are many Chinese temples in this northern region of Thailand, and we are also involved in various businesses such as hotels.

On the day I visited, the border bridge (approximately 50 meters) was closed in both countries, and it was “almost three years” (because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Myanmar’s military coup in February 2021), the guards who were wary of illegal immigration at night were lamenting.

However, even if there are no tourists or businesspeople, Chinese-owned hotels, jewelry stores, souvenir shops, and general stores are still open, even though many are closing or closed. It fled from China, but there is nowhere to run anymore! If they kicked out of Thailand, what happens next? In a sense, it is also an area where it is easy to get information, so I can’t throw it away.
Mae Sai is not one of big distribution bases, but it is the best area with many people.

Logistics base is in the ancient city of Chiang Khong. Sometimes I see more than dozens of Chinese ships that are not that big. Also, the Golden Triangle between Mae Sai and Chiang Khong was once full of Chinese tourists when I went there three years ago.
It felt like the place was taking over by the Chinese.

The 4th Friendship Bridge that spans Laos and Thailand beyond that is a splendid bridge that you can go back and forth after completing the procedures for your car. I went there for the first time. Mae Sai was closed to in coming people and things, but here it was allowed a little, which surprised him. Several groups of Western tourists were returning from Laos. The Lao government allows 2-night, 3-day trips, but this is only for limited buses, and while general car are still closed, there were about ten people lined up for the truck service procedures.

It is also seeming to be only allowed cars, and the parking lot around the bridge was full of closed cars. Five bridges span Thailand and Laos. Starting with Australian aid in 1994, the second (Japanese ODA aid), third, fourth (Chieng Khong and Faisak, 2013), and fifth international bridge booms.

A word from SUCHITOO: Should it remain closed forever?! I am worried about the children who went to school in Mae Sai from Tachileik. It is worrisome that the work opportunities for the hill tribes have become distant from the mutual assistance of the Chinese. We now have phones and cars, but the competition for jobs will increase and the wage cost of employment will decrease! Will the drug age return without a job? I’m worried. I stayed at a large Chinese hotel in Mae Sai, but there were only a few groups of guests that day, and I couldn’t even eat.

*An US student of dual nationality is experiencing a trial enrollment as a student in a Japanese elementary school.

I learned from the movie (Tokyo Kurds) that the children of Kurds living in Japan (all are applying for refugee status, nationality is Turkey) are also attending school. On the contrary, there is a story of a child born to a foreign woman living in Japan who did not recognize the child by a Japanese man and is stateless. The child could not go to school.

However, even if you do not have a nationality, you have the right to education if you know your age, etc., because it is an international treaty, so it applied in Japan. International marriages are on the rise, and some children have ties to Japan, whether in Japan or abroad. Because of that, he will accept it even during his temporary return to Japan*. Also, even if you are abroad and you are a Japanese national, they will send Japanese schoolbooks.

The answer from O Elementary School is as follows.

Covid-19 continues, but trial enrollment is possible. We have summarized what we have discussed with each person in charge with the principal.

It is customary to enter the third grade by experience. If you have any concerns about writing or reading, please let us know as parents can do so for a first or second grade.

〇Experience enrollment period: 5 days from July 4th (Monday) to July 8th (Friday), Since it is the end of the semester, I think that the number of tests will increase in the next week, so I set this period.

〇Please check the body temperature and physical condition every morning. Of course, if you have a cold in your family, you are not allowed to go to school.

〇Please be accompanied by a guardian when attending school. (Because it is a short period, you cannot belong to the school group.)

When you leave school, you will return home with your friends in the same direction, but it is okay if you come to pick me up. (No cars allowed)

〇 School attendance is from 8:00 to 8:15. On the first day, go up the stairs in front of the main gate (west side) and enter from the staff entrance on the 2nd floor. Please wait until 8:25 at “Bookland (library).” The classroom teacher for trial enrollment will pick you up.

〇 Please bring slippers (cleanly washed outer shoes are acceptable), exercise clothes, [swimsuit (June-July), swimming hat, towel]. You can look at without swimming.

〇Please prepare a pencil case (5 pencils, an eraser, red and blue pencils) and one notebook.
We will lend you necessary items such as schoolbooks and drills.

〇 School lunch can provide if the student has no food allergies. One meal is 260 yen x the number of days. Please pay for the money on the first day. Please bring a toothbrush and a tablecloth (a large handkerchief). If a student has a food allergy, you must take various procedures, so we cannot provide them. In that case, please prepare a lunch box.
(It is possible to experience it only in the morning every day. It is necessary to pick up a guardian.)

〇 You cannot rent Tablet PCs from the school. Since you cannot register for an account, you will not be able to attend online classes when your absence.

〇 You may not be able to continue your experience due to class closures. Please note that.
It is okay if you can prepare your belongings as much as possible. Do not buy a new one, but use your one instead.

＠＠ I think this is an excellent example of the educational rights of the Constitution of Japan and the education of children from international treaties **. However, the topic of Afghanistan, an Islamic country where education is not available because of women, is also reported by many countries. And a good story (an elderly female student**) made into a movie in an African country.

Children of the weak in Japan and every country have seen and heard about child labor in Nepal and other countries where they cannot get satisfying meals (the worst part of the canteen “Children Restaurant” is a relief). This disparity is not only in peace bokeh (taking peace for granted) but also in Japan, a country of satiety! Is this all right? !! We want more help, compassionate politics, and culture, not the economy (gold) first.

@@ He learned and interacted with each other, and those experiences will show the best future for Japan. I am grateful to the school staff for their cooperation. As a result, I heard from him that he learned about the differences in education between Japan and the United States (number of class students, sweets, etc.) and that he enjoyed interacting with them. And he said, “I want to go to school in Japan again!” (July 14th, 2022)

*It is an introduction to that case.

** The Convention on the Rights of the Child consists of four articles below

-Right to live: Children are born healthy, have safe water, adequate nutrition, and the right to grow healthy.
-Right to be protected: Children are protected from discrimination, abuse, and exploitation.
-Right to grow: Children have the right to education. That is resting and playing, getting information, and protecting one’s thoughts and beliefs.
-Right to participate: Children are free to express their opinions, get together to form groups, and work on things that are relevant to them.

In addition, Article 2 states “Prohibition of Discrimination.” The Contracting States are responsible for equally recognizing and protecting all children’s rights, regardless of race, language, religion, social status, or property, of the child or her guardian.