Concrete, concrete everywhere

[Nagged]

Today, the construction industry in Japan accounts for almost 10 percent of the workforce -- or about double the percentage in the United States. During the mid-1990s, Japan used about 30 times as much concrete as the United States, in relation to the size of the two countries, according to Alex Kerr, author of a book on public works projects in Japan.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17272-2003Nov8.html

[Taro Toporific]

...according to Alex Kerr, author of a book on public works projects in Japan.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17272-2003Nov8.html

Let's fun concrete.

Get's anal-retentive concrete.

Tour Trad concrete All but 3 of Japan's castles are concrete fakes.


BTW:
Yep, I read Kerr's book "Dogs & Demons"
and met him since he lives just over the mountain from my Rice Ranch in Ehime, Shikoku. I rate in the top 10 books about Japan along with "You Gotta Have WA", "Zen Bones" and "The Engima of Japanese Power."

[Nagged]

Ha ha. I knew the mere mention of concrete would lure you into posting Taro.


What's this about a rice ranch in Ehime?


Read the review about "Dogs & Demons".

While riding the train into Utsunomiya, about 100 kilometers north of
Tokyo, I was subconsciously struck, almost to the point of nausea, by
the profound ugliness of the bleak, cemented-over urban landscape I
was witnessing for the first time.

I live not too far away from the Expo 2005 site. What they are doing there is pretty disgusting. Here's a photo of them planting trees after they tore everything up in the first place.



Everywhere around these parts is being bulldozed into submission for more houses and factories too.

[kamome]

I've read Alex Kerr's book, too. A real eye-opener. Necessary reading if you want to understand the subtle humor in some of Taro's posts.

[Robato]

"The politicians and the construction industry are ruining this nation. If we don't stop this now, they will leave Japan with nothing but cement."

havent they already? Ive only seen one town that still has open fields.

[Taro Toporific]

"The politicians and the construction industry are ruining this nation. If we don't stop this now, they will leave Japan with nothing but cement."

havent they already? Ive only seen one town that still has open fields.

My little joke with alien guests taking the road/train from Narita airport is:
"Don't look at those green fields and bamboo groves. They're just clever paintings on concrete barriers ."
Rice trompe l'oeuil

[Taro Toporific]

I've read Alex Kerr's book, too. A real eye-opener. Necessary reading if you want to understand the subtle humor in some of Taro's posts.

Sad to say, my father was a ferroconcrete engineer/architect and I apprenticed under him for several summers---several larger complex here in small part came off our drafting tables . Little did either of us know how much the Japanese have a cheerful need to cover every square meter of the country with it with more gray.

Gunkanjima

[Big Booger]

Can concrete be colored? I am not talking about painting it, I mean adding a color to the mix to make it different colors? I know the textures can also be changed depending on the aggregate used. I have about 2 years experience with concrete (my old man made me take ("Concrete and Electricity in High School"), and I have never seen concrete with dye added to the mixture.

Not to say that coloring it would make it better, but it sure would beat the hell out of that crap ass grey..

I think the future building material for Japan will be legos made of purashichiku LOL

[Taro Toporific]

Can concrete be colored?

Yep. But color can add 10-20% to the cost and slightly reduce strength (it's classified a filler). All new construction on Interstate 70 going through the Colorado Rockies is colored sandstone red to blend in all bridges and structures with the environment. However, the heart of Japan is gray and that's the way it's gonna stay.

[Video-Link Japan]

Today, the construction industry in Japan accounts for almost 10 percent of the workforce -- or about double the percentage in the United States. During the mid-1990s, Japan used about 30 times as much concrete as the United States, in relation to the size of the two countries, according to Alex Kerr, author of a book on public works projects in Japan.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17272-2003Nov8.html

Ok.. just hope you guys Don't Flame me Too Much..!!

I'll toss in my 2bits worth on this thread.. in somewhat random order]this[/url]) seems to rant on alot about the comparative construction costs to GDP between Japan and the U.S (but makes no mention of their military/nasa spending..?!?) and whines about the level of politician grift here.. again not a peep about the same golden handshakes awaiting the U.S administration cronies from the Carlye Group types. I'm currently reading Michael Moore's Dude Where's my Country.. that makes the Japanese political situation seem pretty mild.

- You Gotta Have Wa was a great book from Robert Whiting, although I enjoyed Tokyo Underworld even more..!!! You might like to watch this interview we did with the author on his upcoming book The Meaning of Ichiro.

Over-all, it would seem that like anywhere else in the world things could be better.. and they could be alot worse.

[Socratesabroad]

[AssKissinger]

Yep. But color can add 10-20% to the cost and slightly reduce strength (it's classified a filler). All new construction on Interstate 70 going through the Colorado Rockies is colored sandstone red to blend in all bridges and structures with the environment. However, the heart of Japan is gray and that's the way it's gonna stay.

How the Hell did you know that? You are a true iki jibiki.

[Video-Link Japan]

[Robato]

Hmmm.. whaaat..?!? The point still stands that Japan has 1/2 the population in about 1/2 the land mass of Calf. Even so, the 'entire country' being paved in concrete is not really painting an accurate picture.

but over half the population lives in an area smaller than california.....
If you take New York City, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Pittsburg, Los Angles, Washington D.C. and Seattle and threw them in California you would probably have MORE THAN the entire population of Japan and still have a ton of country side.

did you know that only 8% of Americans live outside of those cities I mentioned? ( I left out like 5 other major cities....but you get the point right?)

Oh and Japan is only slightly (and I do mean SLIGHTLY) smaller than california....not half its size.

[Caustic Saint]

Oh and Japan is only slightly (and I do mean SLIGHTLY) smaller than california....not half its size.

He's right.

Japan - 377,835 sq km
California - 411,469 sq km

[Nagged]

Whatever...Sorry to get away from the books & statistics for a while folks...

The thing that gets me about Expo 2005 is they are building it out in the sticks, destroying good forest in the process, and then they go on about how they working with Nature.

They also have to build a whole new set of public transportation facilities just so people can get out there (falling behind too it seems). I've seen plenty of good places about town, close to trains and buses, there is no good reason for them to build where they are doing so.

My hometown had Expo in the 80's, it was right in the heart of the city convenient to locals and overseas visitors alike.

[blackcat]

I really think its one of the three hobbies here in japan.

Concreting......smoking......Idyling.......

the best thing for those hell bent on destroying the country they claim to love so much is all of these can be done(and often are) at the same time!

The constuction industry is a runaway train....no can or will stop it.

[Taro Toporific]

...The constuction industry is a runaway train....no can or will stop it.

Ministry roads bill puts stress on ... more roads Asahi / Nov 25
.... Rather than push debt repayment, a proposed bill is likely to pave more of Japan. As if Japan doesn't have enough highways. The ``heavyweight favorite'' among competing versions of a bill to privatize highway public corporations is likely to favor more roads instead of reducing a mountain of debt accumulated over decades of road construction...

[Buraku]

Big Dreams of Concrete

https://www.instagram.com/tiendao06/

Yellen to push for CONCRETE actions at Paris debt summit

was in Niigata recently

https://japantoday.com/category/politic ... al-economy

History of Concrete in Jpn, Junko Furuta case was called the "concrete-encased high school girl murder case" 女子高生コンクリート詰め殺人事件 the group wrapped her body in blankets and shoved her into a travel bag. They then put her body in a 55-US-gallon (210-litre) drum and filled it with wet concrete. The case was also the inspiration for the film Concrete in 2004, where Miyano's name was changed to Tatsuo Oosugi, portrayed by Japanese Former Actor Sousuke Takaoka and Furuta's name was changed into Misaki and is portrayed by diseased ridden mind controlled prostitute Japanese Pornography Actress Miki Komori.

[Coligny]

Well, if she was portraying a drum of wet concrete at least her typical japanese actress skills were not overwhelmed.

[matsuki]

Well, if she was portraying a drum of wet concrete at least her typical japanese actress skills were not overwhelmed.

Seems like the right skillset.