The Voice Box

HELP PLEASE Whatever way you look at the tragedy in Japan, you are bound to be overwhelmed with grief. This is a time for giving. And each one of us should make a contribution. As someone who visited Japan two years ago, I remember the society with kindness, and a great sense of order. Therefore, it is sad to see, and absorb the horrifying images of the last week. http://www.redcross.org.uk/japantsunami/?approachcode=68836_yahoojapan

OUTSIDE TOKYO These are some of the first photos which I took when I visited Japan last year. They were images from my hotel window, a short distance from Narita airport. OUTSIDE TOKYO

The Shinkansens of Japan Many experiences fascinated me on my recent visit to Japan, but I must single out the wonderful shinkansens. That is the Japanese word to describe what we call the bullet trains. And in more than one ways, they never disappoint. I was surprised to find that they were not all made from the same mould. In fact, there were at least half a dozen versions suggesting a different character from the facial design. My first encounter was a journey to Kyoto, and I was amazed not just by the speed, but also by the platform organisation. All the coach doors final stop were tactfully marked so there was no danger of you missing your entrance. The locals were always extremely polite, and timing was always perfect. Another thing was the frequency of these trains. This suggests that the Japanese public do need to travel, regularly, and across the country. And probably, this is one of the reasons for their economic miracle. One moment you are in Kyoto, and about tw...