The population of Japan was 60 million in 1925, 73 million in 1940, 72 million after the war in 1945, 128 million in 2010, then dropped to 126 million in 2020, and further declined to 123 million in 2025. The falling birth rate has been the primary reason for the decline, but the economy, earthquake / tsunami / Fukushima nuclear disaster and COVID Pandemic also contributed.   In 2024, 60 countries/sites, yes, 60, had a drop in population.   Spain  -0.02% Thailand  -.06% South Korea  -0.08% Greenland -0.16% China  -0.22% Italy  -0.31% Germany  -.0.34% Cuba  -0.38% Taiwan  -0.43% Japan  -0.51% Russia  -.053% Greece  -1.77% Saint Martin -4.92% The U.S. population is projected to increase from 342 million in 2024 to a peak of 370 million in 2080, then drop to 366 million in 2100. The two main population centers in Japan are Kanto (Tokyo, Yokohama, etc.) Province with 43.7 million and Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, etc.) Provi...

 I understand that the video of the Japan Air airport lounge I inserted yesterday was on private You Tube.  So I'm doing this again, now that I know I want it to be seen. Also in the Japan Air airport lounge was Bob Nakasone, who was on his way to Okinawa. Our JAL plane. Taxi to runway. Departing Honolulu.  Some day I'll edit out my face.  I must have mistakenly pushed the wrong button. Started with champagne. Then two Japanese whiskies on ice, Hakushu and Kanosuke. My meal Watched a couple of movies.  Flight took 9 hours.  Approaching Kansai Airport. Took a taxi to the Marriott Miyako Osaka hotel. Checked in and it was time to enjoy the Club Lounge.  Good liquor selection.  Dinner buffet was fine. View from our room of Osaka Tomorrow the Osaka Expo. -

 We leave this morning for Osaka, Japan: You can vicariously follow our trip through this blog.  I hope to this time have few more videos.  I bought an OSMO Pocket 3 video camera. We will first be staying at the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel.  Read about our  previous visit in November of 2023 .  Our hotel is on floors 38 to 57 in the 60 story Abeno Harukas, the tallest building in Osaka. Then, on to the 2025 Osaka Expo: We than Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Shin-Yokohama Station, a train ride of two hours.  We will need to transfer to Yokohama Station so that we can walk to the  Sheraton Yokohama Bay Hotel , where we have stayed many times.  In Japan, it is traditional to just transfer any large suitcase from one hotel to the next for a reasonable cost.  This hotel sits on top of a very large shopping mall that connects to the train station. Then, 16 days on the Oceania Riviera. We have 5 days to spend in Vancouver.  Our hote...