Many foreigners will be leaving Japan for the holidays, and I am no exception. It's always a scary thing to leave my house for more than a few minutes: Japanese houses are so -- delicate. Almost anything could obliterate a Japanese house during your absence, which is probably the real reason Japanese people don't take long vacations. During the last typhoon, for example, I'm quite sure the added body weight of family members is the only thing that kept my house from getting blown away.

With all the typhoons, earthquakes and heavy rains Japan has had this year, we have reason to feel uncomfortable leaving our houses at home alone. Call it global warming or global climate change, whichever you like; I call it angry Shinto gods. With over 8 million gods in Japan, you have to figure that there are going to be feuds now and then. The population of Japan is around 120 million. With 8 million gods, that's almost one god for every 15 people. Not a bad ratio. Nonetheless, since the gods are obviously very busy, the shrinking population must be very appealing to them: fewer people, less work. And remember, not all gods are good gods. Many of them like to instill fear among us.

I suspect most of the spats among the gods concern early retirement. And rightly so. Think of all the years they have been working -- thousands and thousands! With the shrinking population, some gods will become redundant and some will fall into "amakudari," but who to let go first? I hope they'll have their welfare system and a new benefits package arranged by the annual October god summit at Izumo Shrine. Until then, however, we have to consider the possibility of a Christmas typhoon or a New Year's quake. Especially if the gods decide to have a dance party on New Year's Eve. Run for cover if you hear them playing Elvis' "Shake, Rattle and Roll."