A photo from Japan

This photo has been sent from Japan.

Sure, this is a hammerhead shark, probably displayed in front of some shop. Below the species name in Japanese (しゅもくざめ, pronounced 'shumoku zame'）, the sign says 'I don't eat humans'.

I don't know why, but I like this photo very much.

Snapshot of my stimulating life in Konstanz

I was on a ferry at around 19:00 this evening. Sun, lake and science. No explanation needed.

Many sharky stuffs in Germany

Yesterday, I received a request of a pdf file for one of my recent articles. The request was sent from the administrator (in Germany) of the private database of literature about cartilaginous fishes. This database is called 'shark-reference.com', and is very organized for a private database.

Apart from this literature database, there are many shark-related activity, especially in Germany. My knowledge is limited, but it is probably mainly because of the campaign for shark protection. We can easily find shark books, calendars, and products for kids in shops in town. Personally, I am collecting books for kids about sharks, irrespective of where they are published.

Tough time for Japanese overseas

I hope this blog post reaches as many people as possible.

There was a shocking news from Belgium. We had a tragedy, and it is still going on. Japan is polluting the world, I know. But, ....

There is another shocking page here (original article is here). This German page (of a prestigious magazine!!) kindly (?) used English words, and titled the picture 'Atomic Park'. ... why 'park' ?? Warum 'Spielplatz' ??

I recently wrote an article (sorry, in Japanese) about what I heard, saw and felt in Germany/Europe in a newsletter of the Japanese Society of Evolutionary Biologists. One researcher in Sendai (near one of the most severely affected regions by Tsunami) who read that said to me ... 'in a sense, it sounds more severe in Germany than here'.

I hope Japanese people overseas, as well as those inside, can maintain their dignity for life as I have managed to do so far.

' Tookuni itemo minnade gambarimashou! '

150 years since the discovery of Archaeopteryx

It has been 150 years since the fossil of Archaoopteryx was discovered in 1861. In Germany, about a week ago, they started to sell memorial stamps and coins. I have already got the stamps and ordered the coins for myself and palaeo friends in Japan.
















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