This week is long.

I think this was foreordained, but the Diet candidate for whom Sam and I were working lost (I can only think of one winning campaign I've worked for - and he was an incumbent in a primary). The margin was pretty shocking - 33.5% to 56% for the winning LDP candidate - especially considering that this guy was the incumbent, and had been serving his district for 4 years and some change. Incumbancy apparently doesn't confer the advantage that it does in US House races. The fact that Inoue's loss was part of an overall 60-seat loss for the DPJ makes it seem not quite as personally damaging to him, at least. I think the guy will get back on his feet.

Anyway, I have a six-day work week this week (bringing this week to somewhere around 55 hours, with no overtime - joy). On Saturday our schools each have their annual daiundoukai (大運動会), an event where the kids do a bunch of chants, dances, acrobatics, and track and field events for the viewing pleasure of their parents (and the mayor). It's weird. I went to one last year, and was vaguely reminded of scenes from the Nurenberg rallies. All this takes lots of preparation, lots of practice outside, and me getting to work at 7am on Saturday to set up tents and tables and chairs and things for the important people. You wouldn't think a town of 8,000 could cough up too many "dignitaries", but I assure you, a Japanese town can.