U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, sampled a variety of Japanese high speed rail transport modes last week: the latest permutation of 700 series Shinkansen and Japan's 320 mph magic carpet, otherwise known as a MAGLEV!  Do a web search for "Secretary LaHood + MAGLEV" for news and videos of his positive impressions including "the thrill of a lifetime" and "it's very fast"!

 On May 27, the Japan America Society will host "The Future of High Speed Rail in California" with former Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and speakers from JR East, Mitsubishi, Siemens and others. 

Satsuki is an old word for the month of May. Koi (carp) streamers, called koinobori, are flown in May to celebrate Children's Day. Like a windsock,  the wind can blow through koinobori. Such a person is "clean as a whistle." A person who is without ill will or maliciousness is "a windswept fish of the month of May."

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The Japanese government has announced that financial support will be made available to support key Japanese green-house-gas (GHG) reducing technologies in advanced economies - including the United States.  This includes Japan's shinkansen high speed rail technology which is being considered for deployment in California and throughout the U.S.!

Deputy Chief Terry S. Hara of the Los Angeles Police Department and Mr. Ted Tokio Tanaka of Ted Tokio Tanaka Architects received the "Local Heroes Award" from Union Bank and KCET on May 6, 2010 in commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.