tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post1051807629059920409..comments2008-08-04T16:07:45.247+09:00Comments on My So-Called Japanese Life: The Dead Helping the LivingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-4372000367278458492008-03-08T09:07:00.000+09:002008-03-08T09:07:00.000+09:00gaijinalways: I agree with you about a body having...gaijinalways: I agree with you about a body having nothing to do with spiritual life and am more than happy to donate my carcass to science or medicine when I shuffle off the mortal coil. However, I try to be respectful of others beliefs on these matters. This isn't because I believe (or fear) that they are right, but just that I think beliefs aren't the sort of thing logic can be applied to.<BR/><BR/>Joseph: You're welcome for the comments. It's all true and well-deserved in regards to you blog. <BR/><BR/>It would be good if people could overlook their spiritual beliefs in this regard, and I think some do, but it's tough, particularly when they haven't seen the information your audience did.<BR/><BR/>In the U.S., there was advertising encouraging organ donation at one point and the system is made easier by having the option to tag driver's licenses with "donor" stickers, but Japan has no such systems in place. I think that's part of the problem with overcoming apathy and creating awareness.<BR/><BR/>The statistics you found were frankly shopping. I had no idea so few people donated over such a long period of time.<BR/><BR/>Edies: I actually had heard that livers can be donated in relatively small pieces and grow in recipients, though I believe that they're the only organs that can manage this. Cloning of organs carries some promise as well, but also some controversy.<BR/><BR/>Turner: I read your article and found it quite interesting. It does a good job of relating some of the points that were made in the L.A. Law episode that I summarized. Oddly, I was also aware of the organs from executed prisoners information because I used a news story from Voice of America about 8-10 years ago to write a textbook for my former company and that was part of the news we used. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, you can't stop unscrupulous governments or people from doing such things. You can only hope those who need organs will consider the source. On death's doorstep though, most people turn a blind eye.<BR/><BR/>Many thanks to all for reading and commenting!Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17419851636570519145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-48219837933055541372008-03-07T20:03:00.000+09:002008-03-07T20:03:00.000+09:00I did some research on this a while back as well -...I did some research on this a while back as well - you might be interested in this:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.groundreport.com/World/Take-My-Please" REL="nofollow">http://www.groundreport.com/World/Take-My-Please</A>Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10372867185647178937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-32192261597722622702008-03-07T18:29:00.000+09:002008-03-07T18:29:00.000+09:00One of the wonderful things about current biochemi...One of the wonderful things about current biochemical/genetic research is that for some or=gan donations or uses, we can stretch out available resources. For example, did you know that the liver can be divided up and will grow in a recepient? There has cases where a small portion of liver was given to a reciepnt, and it grew to help the reciepnt. Now, the cases I heard of were where it was relatives donating apart of themselves, but still, there would be a way to help with a limited and very precious resource.Edie Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01219876544685036156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-38226359030456704542008-03-07T17:19:00.000+09:002008-03-07T17:19:00.000+09:00Thanks for that Shari. It's important to put stati...Thanks for that Shari. It's important to put statistics in context, something I neglected to do. <BR/><BR/>It was really interesting to see the reactions of our Japanese audience yesterday. Many were staggered that one little girl could actually save so many lives.<BR/><BR/>As with our presentation last week on climate change, our goal was not simply to demonstrate our language ability, but to actually have a real impact upon their attitudes towards the topic under discussion. A couple of people left us looking a little stunned, saying how they had been moved by these stories which showed that when they die, they have the ability to do the most amazing thing for someone else - give them the gift of life.<BR/><BR/>They commented on how that knowledge could help to overcome the cultural / religious norms that you describe. If relatives chose to not focus upon the physicality of it all, and instead see organ donation as their departed loved ones performing what could almost be described as a 'miracle', they may be far more inclined to allow the procedure to go ahead.<BR/><BR/>Prior to our presentations, we were asked to watch a 20 minute interview that our teacher recorded last year in Japan with several university students. Their thoughts mirrored what you said pretty closely - comments such as not being able to move on without all of their body parts - but they also felt that a general lack of awareness of the need for donors led to apathy.<BR/><BR/>It's been an interesting topic to study, and certainly got me thinking.<BR/><BR/>----<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your kind comments about my blog. Genuinely very much appreciated!Joseph Tamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03365575476759898696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-71889673188757174672008-03-07T12:05:00.000+09:002008-03-07T12:05:00.000+09:00I would agree, it's their loss when trying to get ...I would agree, it's their loss when trying to get organs that peopl don't wish to donate (or their wishes to donate were overuled by their families' beliefs). The physical body in my mind has little or nothing to do with the spiritual one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com