***Here we go....

    Hiroshi Tanaka was a meteorologist at the University of
Japan in Tokyo. He taught a few classes, typed up a few
reports, and wished he could get a higher paying job on
television. His main concern, however, was to watch the radar
weather maps for trouble that could affect the country. When
severe weather threatened, it was Hiroshi's job to calculate
the chance that it would actually strike.

***Actually I am about 96% sure that there is a University of Japan (maybe more liike Japan Univeristy), but it's not a top tier University.

***I don't think that they have a "Tropical Storm" level here..at least it's never announced on tv, and they are definitely too weak throughout most of Japan to cause much damage...   (this it Tokyo north...not talking about Nagoya)

<SNIP>
     "Hmm..." The nurse made the fine adjustments necessary to
gauge the girl's weight. "Fifty-two kilograms and," she
adjusted the level at the top of the scale. "152 centimeters.
You've lost two kilos since your last checkup."

***Well.  Regular, yearly visits to the gyn are not part of the average Japanese females' lifestyle.  Unless you're pregnant and need oby checkups.  I know that this then goes into the question of pregnancy and STD's...which I have read and heard many stories of high school girls who hold off going until it gets bad hoping it will go away because they have to get the health notebook (hokensho) from their parents to go to the doctor.  Even for college students...you wouldn't have your own until you start working full-time or enroll at city hall and pay for it all out of pocket.

     "These are the results of your tests from yesterday. No
infections, no STD's and you aren't currently pregnant."

***There are such things as home pregnancy tests in Japan...avaiable at your local Lawson's, 7-11, Family Mart, etc.

     The nurse saved her from further embarrassment. "It's
good you've decided to take steps. So have you decided what
kind you'd like to try yet?"

***Sorry this is Japan there are few if any choices.  The pill just became legal around the middle of last year I think.  I haven't heard of depo-provera or any of the other many methods being available in Japan, including the morning after pill.  And despite it finally becoming available, not that many people use it.  There is quite a stigma against it, so kasumi would not be using it.  More of a chance that Akane or more like Nabiki would hit the pill first and try to convince the others that it's safe to take.  Most popular method in Japan is the condom...if you can get the guys to wear one.

     *So,* the receptionist thought to herself. *The perverted
Akane Tendou seeks to seduce my Ranma-sama with her pathetic
body. This will not do...*

***Now how did Kodachi get there???

     "What really gets me is just how awful they make all the
possible side affects seem," Megumi complained.

***Exactly...see what I wrote above about the pill...

     In truth, the lessons Megumi had been taking from her
suitemate were doing absolutely marvelous things to her thighs
and backside as well. Curves were a very nice thing to have,
but when you had curves *and* the kind of fine toning Ranma's
brand of training put on your body...

     "Look out, Nekomi!"

     "What?" Akane paused after only a few more steps, looking
back at the girl with confusion.

***Huh?   I think I get what happened here, but it's kinda confusing.


     "Now that I'm... Now that I've taken the shot, would you
tell me if you are..."

     Megumi grinned wickedly. "Actually, I've been on the pill
since I was twelve."

***Definitely would never happen (well...VERY low chance).  The whole dating, boyfriends and sex thing is not well-known between parents and children.  Not until they are ready to settle down and get married...or live together (been on the rise in Japan)...then the parents find out.  But usually  the kids don't talk about dating and sex with the parents, and vise-versa (yes including the birds and the bees).  Neither group needs to be informed by the parents (guys and girls that is)...there are wonderful manga that cover the subject in detail...and magazines as well.

"Welcome to Yang's!" she chirped in a fake Chinese
accent. "We have excellent dim-sum today, and special on won-
ton. Only three hundred yen for dozen!"

***Hmm.  I dunno...the Cchinese actually tend to speak Japanese better than the westerners...the Koreans as well too (better than the westerners that is).  I know that they make Shampoo out to have an accent, but...

     "Okay, spicy pork for Akane," Ranma set the bowl of ramen
down in front of the girl, impossibly balancing the other two
on one hand. "Veggie for Megumi, and Saotome's Seafood
Specialty for me."

***  Spicy pork?  Veggie?  Seafood Specialty?  Try Chashumen (extra fatty pork slices on top), tama (hard boiled eggs added), tanmen (salt flavored soup with veggies), wantanmen (wantans in ramen), miso ramen (miso soup with veggies and ground beef), karamiso ramen (like miso but spicy), shio ramen (salt flavored ramen), and then the specialities.  Ramen *usually* doesn't come with seafood (at least I've never heard, had, nor seen it).


     "Of course Ranma gets to make *his* own," Megumi chanted
mockingly.

     "You don't get a fish sausage, then." Ranma dropped one
of the round sausages in her own bowl and held the other out
grasped between a pair of chopsticks.

***May come on some, particualrly chain ramen and instant, but the good small shop ramen (yep those run by chinese people in TOkyo) don't have 'em).


<SNIP>

Message-ID: <000d01be3487$9ce78340$63a910cf@jws.utokyo.ed.jp>
From: "CPO E. McAtee" <emctee2@minnesota.navy.mil>
To: roto@jws.utokyo.ed.jp
Subject: Re: Depression 117
X-Mailer: RIFLE v1.1.7

***Acutally ac.jp  (academic computing).  Goverment is go.jp.  COmpanies are co.jp...


    "Okay," Hiroshi acknowledged, "But you gotta call the
networks!"

***Well if it's set to hit TOkyo, then it's definitely not worth mentioning. It'll be mentioned on the nightly news, but not big deal.  Typhoons from Tokyo north are just a lota wind, and a bit of rain in the beginning.  Down south they seem to be worse, but never been through one, so I can't really say.


***Zat's all for now

J





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