Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Best Face Masks for the Flu

The best bet for protective masks are what are referred to as "N95 respirators," a commonly used term in Canada that refers to NIOSH-certified, disposable, particulate-filtering, half-facepiece respirators.

Not all high-quality masks are labeled N95. Health Canada said masks should offer protection equivalent to N95 to be considered effective. Such masks should:

  • Filter particles one micron in size or smaller.
  • Have a 95 per cent filter efficiency.
  • Provide a tight facial seal (less than 10% leak).

CBC News Marketplace tested three types of N95 masks in the wake of the SARS outbreak in 2003. Each filtered out between 97 per cent and 99.7 per cent of all the virus-like particles.

--CBC News

Sunday, April 19, 2009

World Laughter Day Yoga in Tokyo

Sunday, May 3rd, 11AM -2 PM Yoyogi Park

Laughter Yoga started in India in 1995 and has since then been spreading like wildfire around the globe. It is a unique form of exercise developed by a medical doctor, Madan Kataria. It incorporates breathing techniques from yoga but is fun and easy for anyone to do regardless of physical or other limitations. A sense of humor is not required. Laughter begins with exercises but soon becomes contagious, and the result is prolonged and hearty unconditional laughter. Laughter Yoga, providing tremendous physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual benefits, is a complete well being workout.

World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of unity and friendship through laughter. Please join us for the Japan celebration of this very special annual event!

We'll meet before 11AM on the far side of the fountains (middle of Yoyogi Park) if you are coming from Harajuku Station.
You can also meet us at 10:30AM at Harajuku Station, Omotesando Exit, where someone will be holding up a sign.
In case you get lost that day, please call Linda: 090-9373-7652 or Susie: 090-4265-8502.


If it rains:
the celebration will still be held but at Saginomiya Taiikukan
http://tinyurl.com/3xoshn (4 minute walk from Saginomiya Station on Seibu Shinjuku Line; 10 min from Shinjuku; 8 min from Takadanobaba). You can go directly if it's raining hard, or we can take you there from Harajuku Station. In case the weather is iffy, we'll decide where to hold the celebration by 10:30 at the latest. Please call Linda: 090-9373-7652 or Susie: 090-4265-8502. (Note: We start around 12 but there won't be any of us at Saginomiya Taiikukan before 11:30)

What to bring:
Comfortable clothes, water, lunch and a picnic mat to sit on.
There are drink machines in the park, but food is hard to come by, so it's best to bring something from home.

Schedule: 11am –12 noon Laughter exercises 12 noon – 1pm Lunch and Laughter games

The World Laughter Day celebration is free. Donations are welcome.


Reservations are not absolutely necessary but would be very helpful to the event planners.
If possible, please email Akira:
dmt@apost.plala.or.jp

For more information:
World Laughter Day in Tokyo:
http://laughteryogaleaders.net
Laughter Yoga International:
http://www.laughteryoga.org/

dmt@apost.plala.or.jp Akira Sugiura

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Japan Living is Now at Facebook


Pictured: Sunset at Enoshima, looking towards Mount Fuji
in the distance.

JL is also available at Facebook if you prefer that format for forum
posts etc. A good place to make friends in Japan as well, or make
friends interested in Japan.

Check it out here.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Tengu Natural Foods, Organic food sent right to your door in Japan!

Tengu Natural Foods sells a huge variety of natural foods (organic food).
You can visit their shop in Saitama or have it delivered right to your door,
which is what I do.

Visit Tengu`s Website

More from Tengu:

You can now take part in the various services we have to offer you. Some of these services include:

  • Permanent Cart - Any products added to your online cart remain there until you remove them, or check them out.
  • Address Book - We can now deliver your products to another address other than yours! This is perfect to send birthday gifts direct to the birthday-person themselves.
  • Order History - View your history of purchases that you have made with us.
  • Products Reviews - Share your opinions on products with our other customers.

    For help with any of our online services, please email the store-owner: tengu@alishan.jp.
  • Thursday, April 2, 2009

    Sanno Hospital in Tokyo

    Sanno Hospital in Tokyo has English speaking doctors and interpreters
    available. It also has an informative website in English:

    Visit Sanno Hospital