Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä Glider Turned Reality

Last week at Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, we attended a lecture hosted by Kazuhiko Hachiya, the owner, builder, and pilot of the M-02J Experimental ultra-light aircraft modeled after the Mehve glider featured in the 1984 Studio Ghibli film The Valley of the Wind.

Inspired by the animated Hayao Miyazaki film in High School, Hachiya set out on a thirty year quest to turn this fantasy into reality. Naturally, this wasn’t going to come cheap, so in the late 1990’s he created a email application in Japan known as Post Pet which popularized email for the masses at a time when only business saw its use. With the success of Post Pet came the resources to embark on his quest. Along the way, Hachiya learned to hang glide, fly ultra-light aircraft, and then build the first unpowered prototype known as the M-02. To date, the total cost of ownership has amounted to $1.2 million US Dollars and counting.

Not having an aviation or engineering background led to a lot of trial and error along the way. He would go through issues with airframe stability, jet engine problems, and general flight characteristics to be worked out. But in the end, he managed to bring his second prototype the M-0J2 to life. The small eight-foot craft is essentially a flying wing with no cockpit or vertical stabilizer. The pilot must rely on shifting weight like a hang glider in order to control pitch and yaw. The pilot must also fly the craft lying down for the controls are not set up for standing flight as in the anime classic. The ceiling for this craft is around 400 feet with a flying time of ten minutes with its current fuel capacity. From the looks of things, this looks like it would take a lot of physical endurance to pilot this bird like craft.

Having no commercial sponsorship, Hachiya has struggled to keep his project afloat. He did find a publisher to write a book in Japanese about his achievement and even sought and got the blessing from Hayao Miyazaki himself to use the name Mehve who said, “please use the name, I don’t mind” with the added note from the famed beloved animator, “Please don’t die.” How cool of Miyazaki! Could you imagine if this was Disney? They would have sent an army of lawyers to ensure the Mehve would never see flight and the builder crushed in litigation so they could have their royalties. Fortunately, Studio Ghibli is not like that. We wish we could say the same for anime fans who get all bummed to see an "Oji-san" fly the Mehve insead of some cute post-pubescent anime girl with unrealistic boobs and unnatural eyes. We say to them, give the man his due! After all, he had the balls and the passion to build this thing which is more than your average fan will ever do. 

Despite Hachiya’s success, he has managed to go through two jet engines and looks like he will need a third. It’s unclear if his volunteers have ever heard of the FOD walk (Foreign Object Debris) but he’s lost two engines to FOD despite putting a protective screen over the jet intake. His scheduled California flight in Corona was cancelled due to this problem. Fortunately, he did manage to fly the Mehve at this year’s OSHKOSH Air Show to the thrill of thousands. We hope he can resolve his remaining issues to one day build another aircraft. It truly is a wonderful bird to see fly. We invite you hear to see this work of living aeronautical art take flight. Please enjoy.

To learn more or to help fund the Mehve, please visit: Open Sky

 

JMSDF Launches New Destroyer Haguro

This week in Yokohama saw the launch of Japan's newest Maya-Class Aegis destroyer DDG-180 Haguro which bears the same of it's IJN predacessor of the heavy cruiser that fought in WWII. The Haguro is currently undergoing sea trials and is expected to recive her full commission in 2021 before heading out to join the fleet.

JMSDF Strength and Readiness

We recently came across this 2018 video produced by the Japanese Government that showcases the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai) capabilities. With 114 warships and 45,800 volunteer personnel, this small, yet effective Navy, is by far, the best in Asia and one of the best Navies in the world.While there is no subtitles in this video, none are needed to see the JMSDF in action. Pay special attention to their US-2 Flying Boat SAR crews. Enjoy!

Shinto Returns to Los Angeles

Seen here is Shinto Priestess Izumi Hasegawa of the Shusse Inari Shrine of America performing the Nagoshi-no-Harae - Mid-Year Purification in West Los Angeles. The event was attended by a small group of people who each participated in the ceremony. While it has not been possible to travel up to Washington State to the Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America, this mobile shrine enabled us to still participate in the Mid Year Purification in person. While there has not been an established Jinja in Los Angeles in years, We welcome Reverend Hasegawa's small mobile shrine to help our connection with nature and Kamisama going in this complex urban setting we live in. 

Reverend Hasegawa seen left with volunteers setting up the traditional wreath participants walk through in a figure eight pattern with a series of bows of reverence. 

 A small tent setup to greet participants and the mobile shrine is seen in the background.

A quick view of the altar. While Hasegawa Sensei was okay with taking photos, we opted to keep this to a bare minimum out of respect as well as to not become a distrationfrom the work at hand. While he have seen the Shusse Inari Shrine of America small mobile shrine at New Years, we hope to see more of them here in Los Angeles and wish them great success in their effort to bring Shinto back to the City of Angels. To learn more about the Shusse Inari Shrine of America please visit their website.

Petulant Pettiness: USS John McCain Ordered To Protect Fragile Ego

In an incident that is beneath the office of the presidency, Donald Trump has stooped to his lowest level of vile pettiness by having the White House order the crew of the USS John McCain to have the destroyer currently under repairs to be hidden from sight for his visit to Japan. The ship's name was covered by a blue tarp and sailors wearing caps bearing the ships name were given leave. This is the third incident in less than a month (The Mike Pence strip club cheer order, USS WASP patches, and now this) that this now exposed (by Robert Mueller as being elected with the help of the Russian GRU) illegitimate regime has brought shame to the men and women who proudly serve in the United States Navy. No president in our entire history has acted in such a vile and vindictive way towards a late Senator who criticized his policies. This is the act of a Third World Two-bit dictator despot, not an American President. We deserve better. We sure hope those guys on the USS WASP who were caught out of uniform wearing unauthorized patches bearing his likeness were paying attention. This isn't about politics, this is about NAVY Pride. No Navy veteran or current active duty sailor should stand for this insult and neither shall we. #GoNavy!

New Book Release: CONTACT AT FIERY CROSS

In a direct challenge to the People’s Republic of China, the United States Navy has been sent to the South China Sea. They, along with their Japanese allies are there to conduct Freedom of Navigation operations in International Waters near the disputed Spratly Islands chain. But as escalating tensions mount, something extraordinary has taken place. Lurking high up in the clouds at 20,000 feet above sea level, an elusive object of unknown origin or intent has intruded upon contested airspace leaving little room for error. As the geopolitical balance of power inches closer toward armed conflict, it will be up to U.S. Naval Aviator, Lieutenant Commander Eileen Hunter, to push man and machine to avert a war and discover a forbidden truth.

In continuation of the intrigue in ROBOT PLANET, American Mishima author Louis Edward Rosas presents a new high-flying adventure that delves into the current geopolitical tensions taking place in the Far East. Contact at Fiery Cross will not only further question if we are alone in the universe, but if so, to what extent have they influenced our affairs.

This book is now available on Paperback and eBook editions. To order your copy, please click on the following link for: CONTACT AT FIERY CROSS. Thank you!

American Mishima Classic Re-Release

Late last year, we had pulled The Setting Sun: Death and Deception on the Bakumatsu Trail for a major re-edit and reformat. New editing software and improved techniques allowed us to go back and fix this story. What's changed is the cover and the book title which has been streamlined to just The Setting Sun. There is also a change in the overall length of the story. We also removed some of the Japanese dialog as well as some other elements which took away from the story. We at American Mishima hope you will give this epic tale set in 1860's Japan by American Mishima author Louis Edward Rosas a second chance for we believe you will enjoy this improved story now available on Paperback and eBook. An Audiobook will also be available soon. To get your copy, please visit the following link for THE SETTING SUN. Thank you!