journal features

hello, Tokyo and your electric vehicles

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2018.07.01

Hello, Tokyo, it's been too long - 5 1/2 years! We're only passing through, but I had to comment on your electric vehicles.

First, the new taxis are a wonder. Spacious, quirkily reminiscent of London's design, and powered by LPG with an electric assist. Nice!

Then there are the electric-assist bikes: they're everywhere, and they've sprouted windscreens for the kiddies. It's clear that these are replacements for vehicles.

Tokyo, you're leading the way. Thank you.

rand()m quote

On the endless saga of Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto; "It shouldn't have had to come to this. I'm so tired of getting up every morning and wondering, 'What will it be today?' I'm so tired of giving the benefit of the doubt again and again, only to be let down again and again.... Somewhere a responsible adult has to appear, draw a bright moral line, tell the truth and say unequivocally what won't be tolerated. Somebody has to do the right thing."

—Denzil Minnan-Wong