it's not life that matters but the journey...

I thought I'd share with you the latest encounter that I had with the Japanese insect world - a bug that I found outside the sliding screen door of the second floor balcony - just outside the room where I use the computer.  It was nighttime and I heard this giant bug fly against the screen door.  When it landed, I was able to see it clearly with the light from the room, and I took this picture so that I could ask Masahiko what it is.  He was out that night with friends.  Of course I kept the door closed  and watched it safely from the other side of the sliding glass door.  The bug was at least two inches long, not including the long feelers that you can see.  Masahiko told me its what the Japanese call "kamikiri mushi" - which translates to "paper cut bug" (kami is paper, kiri is cut and mushi is bug - little Japanese lesson for you).  It is so named because if it were to bite you (which it would if you touched it), it would feel like a paper cut.  I couldn't find any information about it online - its related to the asian longhorned beetle, but looks slightly different.