JAL Plane Crash Remembered 30 Years Later

The crash of a disabled Japan Airlines Boeing 747 on August 12, 1985 in Japan is an incident I remember.

The crash was commemorated yesterday by family members of crash victims who hiked up the mountain where the jet crashed.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

UENO, Gunma -- As dawn broke on Aug. 12, bereaved family members began the hike up to Osutaka mountain ridge where 520 people were killed in an airplane crash 30 years ago. 

Shortly after 10:30 a.m., the hikers gathered at a cenotaph located 1,539 meters above sea level and rang the "bell of safety" to honor those who died in the Japan Airlines (JAL) crash on Aug. 12, 1985; some also blew bubbles for the children who perished in the accident. According to JAL, 302 people from 75 families had made the hike as of noon, the greatest number of people hiking on the anniversary of the crash in the past five years. In 2011, 240 people from 64 families hiked up the mountain.

To read more, go here.

Godzilla 2 Will Be “Bigger” and “Better”, Japan’s ‘Godzilla’ Reboot Will Feature Amazing Hybrid Effects

People in and around the movie industry are beginning to talk about what's in store for Legendary Pictures's Godzilla 2 and the upcoming Toho Godzilla.

/Film (Slash Film) has posted an article on the two Godzilla movies.

They begin with:

Godzilla scribe Max Borenstein, who was brought back to script Godzilla 2, is speaking out for the first time giving us an idea of what we might expect from the monster sequel — and he’s throwing around words like “bigger” and “better”. Also we learn the details behind the hybrid visual effects that will make up Toho’s Godzilla reboot.

To see what they came up with, go here. 

George Reeves's Tarzana

Above, the El Paso Barbeque Co. restaurant in Tarzana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A year ago this month, Tarzana, California garnered some attention when the Adventures of Superman plaque was dedicated.

The community of Tarzana is named for Edgar Rice Burroughs's most famous character, Tarzan the ape man. Burroughs used to own a ranch in the community.

Above, the Adventure of Superman plaque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The plaque site was chosen as it was only location shoot in which all principal cast members appeared. It was for "The Man Who Could Read Minds" episode of 1953.

There is one other public place in Tarzana in which Adventures of Superman star George Reeves is referenced.

It is at the El Paso Barbeque Co. restaurant at 18938 Ventura Blvd. Inside the restaurant's foyer, there is a framed Hopalong Cassidy move poster with George Reeves receives a billing (photo below).

So, besides the Adventures of Superman plaque that pictures and names Reeves, there is a movie poster hanging in a restaurant with his name prominently featured.

I mentioned all this tonight to Teddy, the owner of the El Paso Barbeque Co. restaurant, and showed him pictures of the plaque dedication.

By the way, if you should stop in to see the poster, the El Paso Barbeque Co. has excellent meals!

Environmental Nightmare, Courtesy of the EPA

Above, a view of the Animas River from the Durango train. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to the dumb-asses with the Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado's Animas River is an ecological nightmare and it may take a long time for it to be back to normal.

According to Weather.com:

An accidental wastewater spill from an abandoned mine in Colorado that turned the Animas River orange last week is actually three times worse than previously thought, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials announced. 

The agency on Thursday estimated that a million gallons of highly acidic mine wastewater were released from an abandoned mine that contaminated the Animas River in La Plata County, Colorado. But after using a stream gauge from the U.S. Geological Survey, the EPA now says that real figure is actually 3 million gallons of wastewater.  

In an ironic twist, a mining safety team working for the EPA that was trying to access, treat and pump out the wastewater for an ongoing cleanup project triggered the release using heavy equipment, the Durango Herald reports.  

The wastewater, which spilled into Cement Creek before flowing into the Animas River, contains high concentrations of metals like manganese, aluminum, cadmium, zinc and copper.

I have been to Durango, Colorado several times to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. I have also river-rafted down the Animas River twice.

The Animas River feeds into the Colorado River which, I may add, is a major source of drinking water. With the current drought in the Southwestern U.S. and this ecological disaster, where are people going to find safe drinking water?

Some heads at the EPA should roll over this.

To read more, go here.

Public Lands Campgrounds Maps

During my recent stop over at the local office of the Automobile Club of Southern California, along with the two Woodall's campground directories, I also picked up some maps of Public Lands Campgrounds, one for Northern California and one for Southern & Central California.

These maps show the location of different campgrounds available for public use administered by the National Park Service, California State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, County Departments, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and City Departments and Special Districts.

The maps contain information such as telephone numbers, elevation, months open, basic nightly camping fee (if any), reservations, designated tent sites, designated RV spaces, the number of tent/RV spaces, hookups (if any) for water, electric & sewer, drinking water availability, toilets (flush or other), showers, barbeques/fire rings, tables and if wheelchair accessible.

Camping in a public lands campground is a great alternative to private/commercial campgrounds. Sometimes, private campgrounds may be full or too pricey, so having a guide to public lands campgrounds would come in handy to see if there are any available in the area you're in.

These maps are offered free of charge to Auto Club members. 

Travel Guide Work Requires A Trip

Above, Atami Castle overlooks the city from a hilltop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The next "order of business" for travel (something that's actually planned) is a trip in October to Japan to gather remaining (necessary) on-site material for the planned (there's that word again) revised/updated edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Cities to be visited include Tokyo (have to get the new Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku with the Godzilla head next door and the new Godzilla mural at Toho Studios), Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto.

Along the way to Osaka and Kyoto, an overnight stop in Atami will be made for a stay at a ryokan hot spring (onsen). This will provide a little break to soak up (in more ways than one) the surroundings. This stop will also mark the first time since 2004 that I'll be visiting Atami.

I was hoping to have the new edition of the travel guide done by now, but Japan keeps adding new attractions fans will want to see and that should be included in such a monster-related travel guide. So, work marches on!

Above, copies of the first edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan are still available.

But, if you can't wait for the new edition to be published, I still have some copies (less than 100 left) available of the original edition (pictured above). For ordering information, go here.

Tokyo Tops List of Most Expensive Hotel Rates

Above, Tokyo Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The law of supply & demand appears to be affecting room rates in Tokyo and other Asia Pacific countries.

Japan Today reported:

HONG KONG —According to the HRS Q2 2015 Hotel Price Radar, hotel room rates in Tokyo, Sydney and Singapore emerged as the most expensive in Asia Pacific between April and June 2015. 

With an average room rate of S$258, Tokyo also showed one of the highest rate increases of 33.30% (year-on-year comparison) in the region. 

The majority of the markets studied saw solid double digit growth in room rates during the same period, based on a year-on-year comparison. Seoul was an exception showing slower growth with only a 4% increase in rates, most likely due to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) situation in Korea in June.

Japan is seeing record-breaking numbers of foreign tourists and this, quite naturally, is likely pressuring room rates in Tokyo. Still, since the U.S. dollar is performing very well against the Japanese yen (it is around ¥124), that takes some of the price increase bite away, at least for American tourists.

To read more, go here.

Japan's Five Tallest Towers

Above, Tokyo Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Towers have appeared in a number of kaiju movies over the years.

Tokyo Tower first appeared in Mothra (1961) and Fukuoka Tower was featured in Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994), to name just two of them

Japan Info has listed the five tallest towers of Japan. Most of them have been attacked by giant monsters in the movies.

To see the five towers, go here.

Japanese Banknotes and Coins

One thing a visitor or a new expat to Japan needs to learn and know about is Japanese money.

Roughly, 2,000 yen is roughly $20.00 U.S. and 10,000 yen is roughly $100.00 U.S. 500 yen is roughly $5.00 U.S. An easy way to figure the dollar equivalent is to move the decimal point two digits to the left from the right.

Fortunately, Japan Info has posted an article describing Japanese banknotes and coins.

To read it, go here.

The First 6 Months With The Beast

Above, The Beast at the West Entrance KOA just outside of West Yellowstone, Montana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I bought The Beast (daughter Amber came up with the name) earlier this year, we've managed to get plenty of use out of it. Yet, it still has under 7,000 miles on the odometer. I heard that the "national average" for RV use is 3,000 miles annually. I have my doubts about that.

After spending several weeks outfitting it, it was ready to go out on the road with all the comforts of home.

During the first six months of ownership, we've taken the following trips:

• Las Vegas, Nevada - The purpose of this trek in April was not to gamble, but to take daugher Amber over to The Mirage Hotel to try out for a possible internship position with the hotel's dolphin show. This was the "shake-out cruise".

• Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks - This was the first lengthy trip (a week) in which Amber and I headed up north in June to see the wonders of both national parks and points in-between. The Beast passed without a hitch.  

• Lake Havasu, Arizona - I have always wanted to try out jet skiing (you may call it one item in my "bucket list"), so I went for three days to do just that in July. 

I had some major engine problems with the 1989 Mustang in May, so while it was in the shop, The Beast came in handy for transportation to work and other local places. That was one of the other reasons for buying it. I needed a second vehicle in case something should go wrong with the car and it filled the need very well. This provided me with more driving time to get more experience in driving a large vehicle with its V10 Ford Triton engine.

The map above shows the locations of different campgrounds we've stayed at during the first six months.

Starting at top, the West Entrance KOA, Richfield (Utah) KOA, Beaver (Utah) KOA, Circus Circus RV Park in Las Vegas and Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Reviews for each are posted at RV Park Reviews and can be accessed by going here.

Above, The Beast at Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu City. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What's in the future? At present, I have no current plans except for some weekend getaways to Thousand Trails' Soledad Canyon (only an hour's drive). A one-year membership in Thousand Trails came with the purchase of the motorhome, so I might as well make use of it. And, starting next year (when my retirement kicks in), I'll be out camping with different chapters of The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.

Rep. Brad Sherman Opposes Iran Nuke Deal

Above, Rep. Brad Sherman.

Readers of this blog know that I have had numerous disagreements with my area's U.S. Congressman, Brad Sherman. (Note: I did back Sherman two years ago in his election battle with Rep. Howard Berman.)

On occasion, Sherman has shown that he could be independent of his party's policy positions. I will continue to point out those positions where he's right, and those where he's wrong.

This week, Sherman announced that he will oppose the Iran nuclear deal recently negotiated by Secretary of State John Kerry. (See http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/7/brad-sherman-defects-obama-iran-nuke-deal/)

Kudos to Rep. Sherman for opposing this bad deal.

Why You Should Travel While You're Young

Above, Armand at the Tokyo City View in the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.

Last February, I celebrated the 22nd anniversary of my 39th birthday. One of the reasons I recently bought a motorhome is that I am planning to retire soon and I plan to do a lot of roadtrip traveling. But don't wait until you're my age to begin traveling.

In my early teens, my family went traveling around to different national parks and camping in them. Then from my early twenties to age 30, I traveled around the state of California going to state political party conventions and events and to three national conventions (Kansas City, Detroit and Dallas).

Later, after getting married and starting a family, we traveled around and camped in a tent trailer or a micro-mini motorhome.

Then during the past 15 years, I have made several trips to Japan, taken a cruise to Alaska and visited other cities while going to Godzilla or other conventions.

So, as far as traveling goes, I have done my fair share. But I am not done yet. So while I am still in excellent health, I plan to continue to visit other places.

The Passport Lifestyle has picked up on the theme of traveling while a person is young. In fact, they present eight reasons for traveling while you're young. Especially those who are in their twenties.

Even former President Richard Nixon advocated traveling while a person is young. During his famous early-morning visit to the Lincoln Memorial, he told Viet Nam war protestors:

You must travel when you're young, If you wait until you can afford it, you will be too old to enjoy it.

The Passport Lifestyle starts their "eight reasons" article with:

We do a lot of traveling and people often ask me both how we travel so frequently but also why. As for the how and the why, the simple answer is because we can and because we want to. So we make it happen.  

I’ve learned so much over the years with my passport alone and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Traveling the world has definitely changed my life and my entire perspective on the world in an enormous way. 

Spreading my wings abroad has been one of the best investments into my personal growth imaginable. We’re fortunate to be born in the USA and have the unique freedom and ability to travel the world. I definitely don’t take this for-granted. 

Traveling while you’re young doesn’t have to be hard and honestly it’s the best time in your life to travel. So here are some reasons to use that passport as much as you can in your twenties!

To read more, go here. 

GOP Debate Drew Whopping 24 Million Viewers!

The biggest winner of last night's GOP presidential debate is: Fox News!

According to Adweek.com:

In the estimation of many reporters who cover the political and media beats, Fox News was the winner of the first GOP debate. And with the just-released ratings we can confirm that. 

A whopping 24 million watched the debate from 9 p.m. ET to just past 11 p.m. ET. FNC drew 7.9 million in the A25-54 demo. 

This is now the highest non-sports cable program of all time, the highest-rated cable news program of all time, and Fox News’s most-watched program ever.

Since I don't have cable, I was only able to listen to it on KFI-AM radio. But, during my workshift last night, I was able to see quite a bit of it and the analysis.

The debate should give a lift to Senators Cruz and Rubio. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, not so much. The jury is still out on whether the debate helped or hurt Donald Trump. I, oddly enough, found myself more impressed with Governor Christie than I had been before the debate.

To read more, go here.

Trump Fires Back On Twitter At Megyn Kelly

Tonight, on a Fox News post-debate analysis program, Megyn Kelly guessed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump "threatened" to take a shot at her on Twitter.

Sure enough, The Donald made good on his threat and posted this a few minutes ago:

I like Trump, but I think he should not have posted this and walk away. Kelly is a good journalist who asks the tough questions, no matter to whom they are directed at.

New Tourist Spending Website Introduced In Japan

Above, a duty-free shop at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tourists planning to visit Japan with shopping in mind now have a new tool to assist them in finding duty-free shops, currency exchange and Wi-Fi.

According to The Financial Express:

Hyojito has introduced ‘TaxFreeShops.jp,’ a comprehensive information website of tax-free shops in Japan allowing users to easily search or browse tax-free shops (containing the address, items sold, and map of the shops) online. Travelling to Japan could be rewarding as a recent survey by ‘Consumption Trend Survey for Foreigners Visiting Japan’ published by the Japan Tourism Agency shows that some 90 per cent of foreign visitors to Japan are strongly interested in visiting tax-free shops, in spite of the current situation where actual tax-free shop usage remains low due to lack of information. It has been witnessed that many visitors encounter difficulties after arrival in Japan like where to find tax-free shops, where free Wi-Fi is available and easy methods for exchanging currency.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Times: Japan's New Godzilla Will Not Be Cuddly or Kitschy

Above, the Godzilla statue at the main entrance to Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times has posted an article featuring the director of the new Toho Godzilla movie, Shinji Higuchi.

According to the article:

Radiation-breathing Godzilla destroyed so many cities and fought so many monsters, the original Japanese film series outgrew its budget and audience. 

Shinji Higuchi, the director and special-effects whiz chosen by Toho Co. for the made-in-Japan revival of the series, plans to go back to the basics for the new installment, while still looking to surprise. 

Higuchi is hoping to one-up last year’s Hollywood version, with not only the biggest Godzilla yet, but one that takes up challenges previous ones haven’t attempted.

Above, a sound stage at Toho Studios where the next Godzilla will begin filming next month. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Shooting of Toho's Godzilla movie begins next month, mostly at Toho Studios in the Setagaya section of Tokyo.

To read more, go here. 

Radical Libs On L.A. City Council Propose New Gun Storage Ordinance

Above, another "great" scheme by the City of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles City Council, dominated by radical-liberal Democrats, are proposing a gun storage law that infringes on citizens' 2nd Amendment gun rights.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported:

Amid complaints Congress is failing to address gun safety, Los Angeles city leaders backed a sweeping new ordinance Tuesday requiring local handgun owners to safely lock up their weapons or face misdemeanor charges. 

The proposed law, set to be one of the strictest in the California, follows a national trend of children and teens accessing unattended handguns with sometimes fatal results, said Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who spearheaded the ordinance. 

“It will help protect children,” Krekorian said of the law. “It will help prevent momentary instances of anguish from becoming tragic suicides.” 

Under the ordinance, which returns next week to the council for a vote, gun owners must store their firearms in a locked container or disable them with a trigger lock. Guns don’t have to be stored if the weapon is carried or “within close proximity and control that the owner can readily retrieve and use the handgun as if carried on the person.” 

Lawmakers and city attorneys worked on the wording up until Tuesday’s City Council vote after pushback from gun advocacy groups and several City Council members, who sought the additional word “control” in the law. Critics feared that without that phrase, gun owners could leave their weapon on a bedside table, for instance, and fall asleep.

Do you really think a drug-crazed criminal, who has just broken into your home at 2:00 AM, will wait while you fumble around in the dark trying to unlock your 9mm handgun so you can protect yourself? The stupidity of radical liberals knows no bounds!

To read more, go here. 

Film of Truman Meeting Atomic Bomb Survivors Surfaces

Above, a screen shot from the film.

A film of a meeting of former President Harry S. Truman and atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha) has surfaced at a U.S. library, the Mainichi Shimbun reported.

Truman, while president, ordered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The video was shot in 1964 at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

According to the article.

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri -- A video showing a meeting in 1964 between former U.S. President Harry S. Truman, who had ordered the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, and a group of atomic bombing survivors has been found preserved at a U.S. library, it's been learned. 

While justifying the atomic bombing, which he said was necessary to end the war, Truman, who served as president from 1945 to 1953, expressed hope that nuclear weapons would never be used again, the video shows. This was the only occasion when former President Truman met with atomic bombing survivors, or hibakusha. The video was aired on TV only in a limited area at the time and the meeting had not been widely known.

To read more, go here. 

Inside Japan Tours: Top Eight Things To Do In Hiroshima

Above, the torii gate at Miyajima Island's Itsukushima Shrine is near Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thousands of people are flocking to Hiroshima to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city in August 1945 this week. Besides the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, there are other things to see and do.

Inside Japan Tours has posted an article on the "Top Eight Things To Do In Hiroshima."

They begin it with:

Well-known throughout Japan as being home to some of the country’s warmest – and most passionate – people, Hiroshima gets kind of a bum rap in the outside world. Of course, being the first city in the history of mankind to be destroyed by an atomic bomb is quite a grim legacy. But Hiroshima is so much more than that and is well worth a visit on any trip to Japan. Quietly and consistently voted as one of the most livable cities in the country, Hiroshima is still an under-appreciated destination spot on a first-timer’s Japan bucket list. With the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing coming up this week, visiting any one of these top eight attractions will hopefully change anyone’s outlook on this gem of a city!

To read more, go here. 

Nagasaki Now A Dashing City

Above, the Hypocenter Park statue that is referenced in the article on Nagasaki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The city of Nagasaki is about to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on August 9, 1945.

Nagasaki is now a "dashing city" that rose like the mythological phoenix from the ashes of the bombing.

The United Kingdom's The Independent has a good article on Nagasaki.

It starts with:

There is something vastly humbling about standing in the precise place where a nuclear explosion occurred. It does not take me long to find the Hypocentre Park in Nagasaki, but it takes me a few minutes to come to terms with the magnitude of this location. 

Right here, at 11.02am on Thursday 9 August 1945, an atomic bomb did its dirty work. In doing so, it effectively ended the Second World War, while reaping a body count that may have totalled 80,000. 

This was, perhaps, the most decisive moment of the 20th century. And yet it is also treated as something of a footnote. The tale of Japan's downfall in the summer of 1945 usually focuses on the destruction of Hiroshima – the victim of the first A-bomb dropped in anger, three days earlier on 6 August. That unprecedented move caused the deaths of around twice the number of people, and came wrapped in the stark shock of the new. Nagasaki was "just" the sequel. Yet the 70th anniversary of the event will be remembered just as solemnly as ever next Sunday during the city's yearly Peace Memorial Ceremony. 

Those who visit Nagasaki, Japan's most westerly city (pinned to the left flank of Kyushu, the third largest and most south-westerly of the four main islands of this archipelago nation), will encounter plenty of landmarks relating to the bleak events of seven decades ago. 

But, as the article points out, Nagasaki is now a vibrant city:

Yet, visitors will also unearth a place that has shown remarkable resilience, emerging from the rubble and ash as a dashing metropolis where intriguing restaurants, galleries, shops, and bars abound.

I have to agree. I visited Nagasaki in 2007 and also found it to be a dashing city.

To read more, go here. 

"Back To The Future" Concert In Tokyo In November

Japanese fans of the 1985 hit movie, Back To The Future are in for a treat on November 23. A commemorative concert at the Tokyo International Forum celebrating the movie's 30th anniversary (has it really been that long?) will be held that day.

According to RocketNews24:

2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the classic 80s blockbuster film Back to the Future. And if you consider yourself a fan of the movie series, then you’re in for a treat! In honour of this milestone, a special commemorative Back to the Future concert event is being planned! You’ll have the chance to go back in time and relive the adventures of Marty McFly with a concert featuring a screening of the movie accompanied by a live full orchestra.

The Back to the Future live film concert is making its way around the world with performances throughout America, Australia, the UK, and Japan.

Above, original Godzilla Haruo Nakajima meets Lea Thompson, Back to the Future's
Lorraine McFly, at the Mad Monster Party convention in 2013. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

So, if you happen to find yourself in Tokyo on November 23, you may want to check out the concert.

To read more, go here.

It's A Good Thing We're Not In Australia

It is a good thing that we aren't in Australia (or traveling there today) as workers are set to go on strike today for four hours.

TravelPulse reported:

A pay dispute between the Australian government and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection as well as the Department of Agriculture has come to a head. Thousands of workers in those two government agencies plan to strike Monday at international airports and seaports across Australia during the busiest hours, The Australian reported.

 To read more, go here.

August L.A. To Tokyo Airfare Check

Above, seagull feeding in Matsushima Bay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It seems like only yesterday that my daughter and I were in Yellowstone National Park in June and then Denise and I were in Lake Havasu in July jet skiing. Now we're in August. Where does the time fly?

Well, since we're in August, it is time for the airfare check for flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo.

The Los Angeles Times Travel section reported yesterday that round-trip airfares for L.A. to Tokyo ranged from the low end of $977.00 to the high end of $1,153.00. These are before any taxes or fees are added into the mix.

For being in the middle of the summer travel season, these fares seem to me to be a little lower than usual. Perhaps it's my imagination.

Following my perusal at the L. A. Times Travel section, I then checked with my favorite source for airline tickets to Japan, GatewayLAX to see what they could come up with on low airfares. This is for an August 15 departure and return on August 23.

This is what they came up with:

Keep in mind that the above fare does not include taxes and fees and the flight is to and from Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

GatewayLAX came up with cheaper fares (in the $500-600 range), but they involved stopovers. Some of the stopovers didn't make much sense. I saw some that departed Los Angeles to Minneapolis, Minnesota and from there to Narita International Airport. Others had stopovers in Portland, Oregon. At least the Portland stopovers made some sense as Portland is generally on the way to Japan. But Minneapolis?!

It looks like the Los Angeles Times beat GatewayLAX this month. Then again, we don't know if any of their fares involves stopovers.

Unless something interesting comes up regarding airfares between now and next month, the next airfare report will be in September.

Reagan Ranch and Young America's Foundation

Above, the Reagan Ranch edition of Libertas.

Recently, I made a contribution to Young America's Foundation's Reagan Ranch fund.

As you are probably aware, President Ronald Reagan had a mountaintop ranch in Ventura County near Santa Barbara, California, Rancho Del Cielo ("Ranch In The Sky"). It was at the ranch, President Reagan vacationed and "recharged his batteries" while doing ranch work. This blog is named after Reagan's ranch.

After Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and he could no longer enjoy the ranch or safely ride horses, the ranch was put up for sale. Prior to this, President Clinton refused to have the ranch preserved and protected and the California State Assembly failed to act to do the same. Reagan's last visit to the ranch came on August 15, 1995.

Fortunately, Young America's Foundation bought the ranch for preservation and for future generations to enjoy and learn about the 40th president of the United States, much like Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and George Washington's Mount Vernon.

As one can imagine, the upkeep (and probably taxes) for the ranch are pricey and that is why Young America's Foundation continues to raise funds for the ranch.

Yesterday, I received a package in the mail. Inside, were a DVD, a weekly planner and the Reagan Ranch edition of the YAF magazine, Libertas as a thank-you for my contribution.

Above, the Reagan Ranch DVD.

According to Libertas, there is now the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara. The center is described as "a schoolhouse for Reaganism."

Above, the weekly planner.

The DVD is hosted by the late Charlton Heston and features son Michael Reagan. It describes what people can do to help fund the Reagan Ranch and the benefits their contributions would entitle them to along with a look at the ranch. There is one clip of the 1980 Republican National Convention during Reagan's acceptance speech where I can be seen in the audience.

They have a website for more information and contributing to the Reagan Ranch and the Reagan Ranch Center. To access it, go here.

The website for Young America's Foundation is http://www.yaf.org/.

Hirohito's Surrender Speech Released In Digital Form

Above, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito.

An item of great historical value, the broadcast recording of Emperor Showa (Hirohito), has been released in digital form to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

According to The Japan Times:

A recording of Emperor Hirohito’s voice declaring Japan’s surrender in World War II has been brought back to life after 70 years, in a previously unavailable, higher quality recording of the historic broadcast that was made available to the public Sunday.

The Imperial Household Agency had earlier posted on its website the audio recording of the Emperor, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.

For more, including a YouTube audio, go here.

Tsunagu Japan's "20 Souvenirs You Should Buy In Tokyo"

Above, number one on the list are goods from Asakusa's Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

No matter where people travel, the purchase of souvenirs for themselves or for friends and family back home is one of the rituals of travel.

If one finds himself/herself in a quandry about what to buy, Tsunagu Japan has a list of "20 Souvenirs You Should Buy In Tokyo."

They start it off with:

In Tokyo, where you can buy souvenirs from each region of Japan, here are some souvenirs that are specifically from Tokyo. You can buy some standard items reflecting Japanese culture to items that are currently trendy, so definitely check out this list for some ideas.

Above, Godzilla toys at the Bandai Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Godzilla and kaiju fans in general, souvenir items featuring Godzilla, Rodan, Gamera, Mothra and others are the "must-get" items.

To see what Tsunagu Japan suggests, go here. 

Foreign Tourist Spending In Japan Hits New High

Above, the Tokyo Sky Tree and Asahi Beer Hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is reaping the benefits financially from the boom in foreign tourism.

It has been reported that during the last quarter (April-June), foreign tourist spending has jumped.

NHK reported:

Foreign visitors in Japan spent more than 880 billion yen, or seven billion dollars, in the April-June period. 

The Japan Tourism Agency says the figure is a record high for a quarter. It was up 82.5 percent from the same period last year. 

The amount includes spending on accommodation, shopping, food, and transportation.

To read more, go here.

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hachiko

Above, yours truly with the Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station in 2001. Photo by Richard Pusateri.

Everyone's favorite meeting place, the Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station, is only one honoring Japan's most famous loyal dog.

Time Out Tokyo has an article on "Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hachiko."

They begin with:

You undoubtedly know about Hachiko statue, Shibuya's de facto meeting spot. And you probably know a little bit about how the pup waited patiently at Shibuya Station every day for his owner to come home from work, even after his master passed away. The story has inspired Japan to such an extent that a brand-new statue was recently erected on The University of Tokyo’s campus, causing the country to shed even more tears over the bittersweet tale. Since we can't help getting swept up in the emotion, we decided to create our own ode to Hachi with a list of little-known facts about man's best friend ever.

One additional bit of Hachiko trivia: The Shibuya Station statue was engulfed in Gamera's flames in Gamera 3.

To read the ten items, go here.