Everyone knows the Mercator map. Europeans have been using it since the 16th century. It is a very good map for sailors, but it makes countries in the north look bigger than they actually are. For example, Greenland looks almost as big as Africa, but it is only 1/14 the size of that continent. In 2018, a group of mapmakers created the Equal Earth map. It is a flat map like the Mercator map, but all the countries are shown in their true size. The mapmakers had to change the shape of the countries a little, so it looks strange at first. Last week, African countries at the UN asked the world to start using this new kind of map. Almost all the countries agreed. I think we will start seeing this new kind of map soon.     (137 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid

I was walking through an underground passage at a subway station in Nagoya the other day, and I saw a large container-like room with a door but no windows. There was an image of a baby bottle and the name “mamaro” on the outside. The explanation said that people should use this room to take care of babies. It can be used to breastfeed, to feed babies formula and other food, and to change diapers. This room can be used by men as well as women. This is a good idea. Until now, public toilets were the only places to take care of babies, but a private space like mamaro should make life easier for mothers and fathers.    (118 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week, go to “Support Jaremaga” below for more information. You can send

I was working at an environmental center yesterday afternoon when we got a heavy rain warning. We closed the center and went home. I had to borrow boots because the water was about 5 centimeters deep in the parking lot. I remembered the news about the flooding in Chiba Prefecture. Now, it was happening in Nagoya. I was worried that my car would stop and wouldn’t be able to start again. Some of the roads looked like rivers, and there was one place where the water was about 15 cm deep. As I passed a school near my house, the water came rushing out onto the road. I didn’t know if my car would make it, but I managed to get home safely. It was a scary ride home!   (129 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week,

Corn is one of my favorite foods, and I especially like corn on the cob. When you buy corn in a can, the yellow kernels have been cut off the cob. That kind of corn is okay, but I think fresh corn on the cob is much better. I just boil the corn and eat it on the cob while it’s still hot. When I was young, I used to eat it with melted butter. These days, however, I prefer the natural sweet taste of the corn, so I don’t put anything on it. I have eaten a lot of corn on the cob this summer, and I hope I can have it a few more times before it goes out of season.   (123 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week, go to “Support Jaremaga” below for