Successful Launch: Japan's H2-B Rocket Lifts Into Space

This week, Japan's Space Agency (JAXA) announced the launch of an unmanned Kounotori7 cargo vessel atop an H2-B rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. This re-supply mission will achieve orbit and dock with the International Space Station bringing supplies, food, and scientific equipment. The cargo ship built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries includes a small return capsule which will bring back experiments. We at American Mishima salute JAXA's contribution to the continued exploration of space and the discoveries Japan will make.

Japanese Billionaire to be First Space Tourist to Circle Moon

Space X announced this week that Japanese 42-year-old billionareYusaku Maezawa will be their first Space Tourist to circle the moon on their new Big Falcon Rocket aka BFR sometime in 2023. Company founder Elon Musk hasn't disclosed what Maezawa is paying for this trip, but he says this ticket has helped propel the project. Earlier stories about this planned space tourism to the moon runs suggested that these flights would be completely automated. I don't know about you, but the idea of going to the moon without a pilot scares the crap out of me particularly with unproven technology far from home. Then you have to take into account the re-entry process back to Earth. I would rather trust the professionals at NASA who have been doing this for over half a century. That being said, NASA plans to make their own run to the moon sometime in the next decade. No one has been there since 1972. I wish Mr. Maezawa and his group of artists he intends to take with him much luck. I personally think this is crazy, but then again fortune favors the bold. Both Elon Musk and Maezawa have both these qualities that have made them both billionaires. I suspect, they will come on top. Ganbatte Kudasai!

Birthday Not Forgotten

Today marks what would have been my father's 77th birthday. It's an occassion we had learned long ago never to forget how important this day was to him. And so in his honor we shall continue to have a birthday dinner featuring his favorite enchiladas and remeber the man who he was and how we know at peace he is.

一日の画像 Picture of the Day

All things come to pass and a new day begins.

Beloved Actress Kirin Kiki Dead at 75

Famed comedic actress Kirin Kiki passed away at her home this September 15th, 2018. She had been battling cancer and had recently undergone a mastectomy. Born during the war in 1943, Ms. Kirin Kiki has had a long career both in film and television. For us, she will always be best known for her portrayal as the wonderfully delusional Miss Orin in Sonny Chiba's Kage no Gunden aka Shadow Warriors.  Since that time, she had played the aging grandmother in recent films such as Kamikaze Girls. She appeared with her granddaughter in Sweet Bean and made her final film Shoplifters in 2018. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and was recently quoted as saying that "Cancer had spread throughout her entire body," something in her final years had come to accept. She had great comedic timing and played many colorful characters, but for us, she will always be Miss Orin chasing Mr. Han. She will always be remembered in film and in our hearts. Sayonara Kirin Kiki, Sayonara.