Reviewing my friend's book

I spent most of today writing up a review of a friend's book. It is an excellent work, and useful to her audience. I hope she sells tons, not the least because she's donating 20% of profits to Survival International!

ONE GOOD DEED: Promote a friend's book with a review.

FACE - Truth and Clarity about Alcohol

For personal reasons I was attracted to do something against alcoholism today. FACE works to educate and demonstrate action on alcohol-related issues.

ONE GOOD DEED: Give to a charity combating alcoholism.

Can I get a laugh, please?

It was snowing heavily when I stepped off the bus in the neighboring town of Onishika this morning. On my way to the junior high school I passed three elderly Japanese--a man and two women--dourly braving stiff joints and aching backs to shovel the snow. As I passed I hesitated, turned to them, and said, "Working hard, aren't you?" They looked at me funny for a second, then burst out laughing. Strangers don't usually talk to each other in Japan, and foreigners don't usually speak Japanese. So they were shocked and then delighted. They were still laughing and making jokes to each other as I went on my way.

ONE GOOD DEED: Make an elderly trio laugh.

Thanking a friend

After the funeral last night, I got to thinking how much I will miss some of the people here when I leave Japan. The person I will miss most was someone I never would have expected five years ago, though she's my closest Japanese friend now. M.K. is one of those people who are so nice you just want to slap them. Honestly I was suspicious for a long time--I kept feeling like "what are you gonna expect me to do to repay all this kindness?" Only after knowing her for about a year was I able to realize that she doesn't expect anything in return, she's genuinely that nice.

Tonight she had me over for dinner before English class (she's a student, and she has me over every week). I told her in the plainest words as I could manage just how happy I was that she was my friend. Unfortunately her English level isn't so high, and that contributed some awkwardness to the moment. But at the end of the day I think the point hit home.

ONE GOOD DEED: Tell a friend how grateful I am for her friendship.

Another funeral

A friend's father died of muscular dystrophy, at age 67. Tonight was the ceremony called Otsuya (お通夜, "vigil"). Friends and relatives gather in the evening for a service involving Buddhist chanting, the offering of incense by all attendants, and a eulogy. Last, attendants file out past the closest family members, who are usually in tears.

The decor of an Otsuya is breathtaking. While everyone dresses in black, the altar display is awash with color. A photograph of the deceased rests within an ocean of flowers. Examples can be seen here and here.

This was my fourth funeral in five years in Japan. That's too many. Too many.

ONE GOOD DEED: Express my condolences to my friend by attending her father's funeral, and bringing the traditional monetary gift.

A new friend from an old friend

A certain friend has been commenting for ages on my livejournal, but I never realized until today just how like-minded we are. Somehow it had missed me. I'm glad I replied and kept replying to him today--this may be the beginning of a new friendship.

ONE GOOD DEED: Get to know a friend deeper.

My friend's poem

Today was a day of contemplation. I woke to a clear morning, and went outside to sit in the snow for a while. Later I researched various forms of depth psychology, and under the same impulse wrote a musing on the foundations of religions. At various points I went outside to stretch, and watched the weather change from clear to blizzard-like, and back to clear again. Just now the stars came out and twinkled around the waxing moon.

I picked up some trash on my walks, but today's deed would have to be critiquing a friend's poem. Creative works are important to all of us, vital to well-being. I was happy to help my friend out. He's supported me quite a bit in the last few months.

The world is good. ;-)

ONE GOOD DEED: Offer constructive criticism on a friend's poem.