a traveler

Um.... How come I'm always doing like this?

I was just looking for a language partner who study Japanese. However I decided to contact a German traveler. Why? Because I couldn't leave the site as if I pretended not to see his ad. I like those who are trying to challenge something new.

The German is going to go on a trip by bicycle from Tokyo to Hokkaido in July. He can not speak Japanese at all, and he don't know where to buy a bike, where to find a good map etc... He needs some help to prepare for the trip while he stay in Tokyo for several weeks.

And... Although I don't know anything about Hokkaido and where he should buy a road-worthy bike, I really wanted to support him somehow. Then, I said to him that maybe I could ask to Japanese bike freak on the Internet anything he wanted to know. I'll translate whatever he asked me, and seek the answer, then let him know.


Of course, it is better if he could contact a well-traveled-in-Japan man. It is hard for me to give him some advice he expected. But I got a lot of support from local people while traveling abroad. So, it is pity that he hasn't any offer of support in Japan.

Thank you for reading.

aversion therapy

I'm studying for my next test, psychiatric medicine and psychologic treatment. What I should memorize is extremely huge. I really hate the rote exercise. And in the test, there are some questions that the students can never give an answer to even if we memorized whole of the text book. That sort of test lose my motivation. I'm sure the professor is so mean that she makes her students be lost in a maze. But my obligation as a student is studying hard. So, it is no use complaining a lot to the professor...



Anyway, reading my psychologic treatment text book, my eyes were fixed on a word, "aversion therapy". The major use of aversion therapy is for the treatment of a bad habit. Whenever patients start the bad habit, simultaneously doctor gives patients "aversive stimulus" such as electric stimulus or chemical drug.

The therapy is a kind of punishment. I really surprised that the therapy is permitted by law.

The aversion therapy reminds me of a movie. Have you ever seen a movie titled "A Clockwork Orange" directed by Stanley Kubrick?

In the film, there are a scene of a fictitious therapy which based on aversion therapy. A doctor forces a prisoner to look at violence scene, and keeps giving drugs of vomiting simultaneously. So, after the therapy, the prisoner can not help vomiting whenever trying violence.

I never recommend you to see it if you are suffering from trauma of violent action. There are a lot of ultraviolence scenes and horrible rape scenes.

However I recommend you to see it if you have a lot of social conscious. Because you can not help considering the ultimate social ills from the film.

Thank you for reading.

Japanese grammar

As I mentioned before, I am looking for a language exchange partner who is a native English speaker and a basic learner of Japanese. But I wonder whether I can teach Japanese grammar. I know that between English language and Japanese language has very different grammar.

So, I wanted to know what kind of question a basic learner has. Then, I read several articles at a English forum for a learner of Japanese.

And one good question jumped to my eyes. The title was "The difference between wa and ga." Actually I tried to explain this difference in English as a trial before I read this article. What a coincidence!

A questioner thinks "wa" and "ga" mean the same thing, but he knows they cannot be use interchangeably in every situation. Then he asked to give him an easy to understand explanation what the difference between these two sentences is ; "Watashi wa gakuse desu." "Watashi ga gakuse desu."

I had though if there was no good answer on the site, I would try to post my explanation. However much better answer than me was already posted by non-Japanese. Now, I have no confidence to explain Japanese grammar better than a learner of Japanese.

I'll put the best answer by Mark below.

--------------------------
That is a good question. Both are correct. The difference is:

If I say: Watashi wa Mark desu. It means that the information I want to highlight is after the "wa".

If I say: Watashi ga Mark desu. It means the information I want to highlight is before the "ga".

Here are two examples:

If someone asks me "What is your name?" and if someone else asks "Who is Mark?" In English, the answer to both is "I am Mark".

But in Japanese the answer to "What is your name?" is: Watashi wa Mark desu.
Because "Mark" is the information I want to give.

For the question: "Who is Mark?" for example when a teacher is asking a group of students, then I will answer: "Watashi ga Mark desu".
Because "Mark" is already given, the unknown information is who. So in the answer, I want to highlight "I", therefore I use "ga" to indicate that is the information I want to focus on.

I hope you can understand what I am trying to say.

by Mark
------------------

Don't you think this was a perfect answer?

I wanted to say the same thing about this answer, but I didn't know the proper word for "highlight". It is not good too much explanation for a beginner. A beginner just get confused if I didn't know the proper word to explain. In addition, it would be possible that a beginner grow to hate Japanese language.

After that, I read "A Japanese guide" on the Internet. But I gave it up after reading a little.
What a complicated language!!
I really hate to read grammatical explanation. I want to say it to those who want to learn Japanese:

"You shouldn't study Japanese!!!"

I'd better look for a language exchange partner who learned already a basic Japanese grammar...

Thank you for reading.

How could avoid risk?

My father e-mailed me this morning to be careful enough not to get involved in a murder case.

I understand why he said that. Now, the top news in Japan is a murder case of a women who were killed by a man who lived on the same floor in an apartment building in Tokyo Koto Ward.

What could you have done when next-door neighbor appeared suddenly and hold a knife to your throat? The case happened to the women when she just were entering into her room. The apartment has self-locking system, and there are security cameras, but they didn't work enough for security.

My apartment also has self-locking system, but I can not feel that it works for security. Nobody can refuse someone who try to go into the apartment following you. There's almost no meaning about having them.

When I was young, I had a horrible experience on my way home. A boy on a motor scooter was chasing me, and touched my behind by a pair of scissors again and again.

I was thinking while running how I should do.

If I ran into some-one's home, it would be worse when the door didn't open, the boy might stab my stomach by the scissors.

If I screamed on the road, the boy might run me down and run away.

Then, I finally decided to run into a house which several lights were on, then screamed as loud as I could "Open here!!".

The door was not open, but fortunately a women opened a window quickly, and she said to me "Can I call to police?"

Thanks to her, the boy ran away.

I suffered traumatic experience after that, but I could overcome it. I really think it's no use having a scare for everything. If you want to live in safety, you have no choice but to stay in jail. Only in jail, no-one has potential weapon. If you live out of jail, you carry risk as long as you live.


Maybe my father will worry about me, if he knew what I had done, and what I think now. So, I have to reply like this "Thank you for your concern. I'll be careful."

Thank you for reading.

station master, Tama

I've read a funny article on BBC web site today.

Please click below.



BBC : Cat puts Japan rail firm on track






I like the picture on this site. I laughed reading the comment. She must have said that, "Tickets please!".

I don't like to make animal obey from punishment like circus. But this is not that situation. According to this report, it seems Tama is sitting on her own free will.

However, don't you think it is too long that she works from nine to five, six days a week?

Although a spokeswoman for the rail company said Tama never complained, I think she says like this : "My good job deserves to get fresh raw fish for my dinner!".

Yeah, it'd be unfair that she get only cat food for salary.

But she might be happy with local people, because she was born and raised at the station.

Thank you for reading.

I'm bored

I'm getting very bored to keep a diary AGAIN!!

I've noticed that it is not important for me whether my English sentence is perfect or not.

It is more important for me to make a conversation. To know how you feel is the most interesting things for me. Just writing only my thinking is NOT fun.

Have you ever met a visitor from oversea via some language exchange free service on the Internet?

Last summer, I had several chances to exchange language with a English man who had visited in Tokyo from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for one month.

It was very interesting experience at that time. But it was not good for my English speaking because he could speak Japanese very well.

So, this time, I am going to look for a Japanese learner whose skills are very basic. And it will be better if I could meet a native English speaker who works in Japan and wants to study very seriously.

Thank you for reading.

Global Peace Index 2008

Global Peace Index 2008　：　The ground-breaking Global Peace Index (GPI) has been expanded and updated with the latest available figures for 2008, a year on from the completion of the first GPI, which ranked 121 nations according to their relative states of peace.

-Global Peace Index 2008-
Rank Country
1 Iceland
2 Denmark
3 Norway
4 New Zealand
5 Japan
6 Ireland
7 Portugal
8 Finland　
9 Luxembourg　
10 Austria　

Japan is ranked No5. However it is not a pleasure to hear that. I'm feel awkward about this ranking somewhat.

To keep the peace of country, almost all the nations take a lot of effort in the world. But the Japanese people take peace for granted. Most of the Japanese are peace-addicted.

I think most Japanese never believe in public officers and lawmakers. We know they cannot take measures enough for anti-earthquake, stockpiling food, self-defense, etc. However most Japanese people try to empty our mind about the situation. And we are indifferent in politics. I can not understand the nerve of Japanese.

People in the Congress reflect the citizen. All politicians care only about their-self because every citizen only think about your own pleasure.

Thank you for reading.

I miss my host-family

I really miss my host-family after seeing lovely scenery of Cotswold which were aired on TV tonight.

I'm just looking at pictures of them in my photo album. Everyone were smiling a lot in the pictures.

I've not laughed with happiness like this after coming back in Tokyo...

Although I want to attach several pictures of Cotswold here, they were all developed photographs.

I've just scanned only one of them.

I found nice pictures of Cotswold on the Internet. If you are interested in wild flower, click here.

Derek, Claire, me, Brenda and Colin

Thank you for reading.

Cotswold

I've just submitted two papers to tutors, so now I'm feeling great! I feel like drinking a lot tonight. Maybe after writing this, I'll make a dash for a supermarket to buy something alcoholic.

Anyway, have you been to the country side in England? A TV show (Sekai fushigi hakken) features Cotswold in England tomorrow night. I am really looking forward to watching the program. Why? Because I did home-stay near there!
The name of town I stayed is Cheltenham which locate in the center of Cotswold. So, my host-family took me for a drive to several villages sometimes.

I remember a memory whenever I heard the name Cotswold. When my host-family and I were walking in a narrow pass, some tourists were coming across from the other way. We all gave the way each other, and went off the pass, so nobody were walking when crossed each other. Then, we were smiling and greeting and joking while crossing. I really loved the conversation with strangers. So, I was excited when I saw some people in distance.

However, there were a bad memory in the pass. As Cotswold is the most famous as traditional English rural area, so, many Japanese tourists also visit there. When my host-family and I went off the pass to give them the way, despite the fact that they noticed what we did, went away walking in the center of the path for granted saying nothing and no-bowing. All of the Japanese regardless of age and sex were same as this.

Soon after coming back to Japan, there was a bad story again. When I were walking in pavement, a man on the bike were coming from behind. But he couldn't pass in pavement, so he went off to the road, and he went away saying to me, "Die!" ("Sine!" in Japanese)

I am not a person who is pure-hearted. But I was almost crying at that time. How come?

Thank you for reading.

secondary disaster

More than a week after the earthquake in China, the death toll has climbed to over 40,00050,000. I wonder how many children experience PTSD(post-traumatic stress disorder) after the earthquake. TV news reported 20 counselors are taking care of children, they started to display some signs of mental instability.

TV reporter said that some children could not believe their parents died, and have been still waiting for the day when their parents come pick them up. I feel so sorry for them....


I've read the following article in a blog site of an American photographer. It was a message of the mother's day.


We owe a debt of gratitude to our Mothers for bringing us into the world, nurturing us, teaching us, consoling us, healing us, and loving us. I recently read on a blog a statement that rings so true:

"God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers."


I can not say that a mother's love is best of all, because it also can say that a father's love is the same as a mother's one. But in any case, there is no doubt that children should grow up with love which asks nothing in return.

Thank you for reading.

biological clock

I studied today about circadian rhythm in physiology.

Do you know how long horse have a sleep a day?

They can do well with two hours sleep a day.

How about dolphin?

Because of lung breathing, dolphin can not fall asleep. But they have a short sleep by switching both right and left brain alternately. (What a clever system they have!)

About human being, it is a famous story that Napoleon had three hours sleep a day, and Einstein had 10 hours sleep a day. And surprisingly, even there are a record of 8.4 minutes sleeping two weeks on an average.

But, usually human have 6to8 hours sleep a day. It is important to get non-REM sleep to recover brain fatigue. (REM stands for "rapid eye movement". When eyes are moving quickly during sleep, brain works as busy as in daytime, instead of that, muscle can take a rest. Then, non-REM sleep is the opposite.)

And, almost all the global creatures (even bacteria!) have "biological clock", and there are a "circadian rhythm" which means a roughly-24-hour cycle. According to a experiment of squirrel, even after keeping a life in darkness for one month, the circadian rhythm lingers on. The rhythm keeps the time of changing rest and action, and control of body temperature and amount of hormone at the same pace.

In which part of the body is biological clock located? Ummm, I want to write about this in English but it needs tooooo specialistic term to explain. So, I'll give it up.

It was a main point of this article though. hahaha:p

Thank you for reading.

anti-paternalism

I've just finished my pepper of bioethics assignment-3. The theme was medical paternalism as mentioned before.

Almost all the assigned books were English translation version. I understood why all of the arguments were anti-paternalism. Because Western culture is based on self-identity, so it is natural for them to assert oneself to protect their rights.

As you know, the western culture has greatly affected the Japanese culture. In spite of that, we couldn't learn how to create self-identity, and we don't know how to assert ourselves. In Japan there are a lot of claimers who are an unreasonable person just arguing foolishly. Therefore, even when you claim your legitimate rights, there are some risks being regarded as an unreasonable person in our society.

In Japan, parents still make their children obey, and children rely on their parents. It is the same as the relationship of patients and doctors. If each patient can create self-identity, they will fight against doctor's paternalistic opinion. But if you are just waiting to ask your opinion, the situation won't change.

I know that a professor evaluate us highly if we wrote the right opinion related to the assigned books. But I took the risk, and I pointed out that the books were one-sided in the Western culture, and wrote that Japanese were too immature to protest paternalism.

Thank you for reading.

Eco-terrorism

quote (wikipedia): Eco-terrorism or ecoterrorism is neologism to describe terrorism conducted for the sake of ecological, environmental, or animal rights causes.


As you know, crew members of a Japanese research whaling ship had been stealing a large amount of whale meat they caught.

However, members of Greenpeace Japan had stolen several parcels from delivery company's distribution center to seize evidence.

Japanese whaling is legal. But I think anybody can do protest activity if you believe the hunting whales isn't right. However, you MUST NOT do any illegal protest.

Greenpeace is famous from the violent demonstrations. Despite their admirable assertion, people can not admit their activities. It is a pity that Greenpeace is assumed as Eco-terrorist. But nobody admit their activities as long as they do that illegal actions.


Though I say it as should not, I think sometimes like this, how would be nice if a sniper shot the military ruler of Myanmar. Honestly speaking I even think I want to be the sniper if I could. However that doesn't justify the killing. Even for the sake of saving many thousands people's life, we can not kill someone in the name of justice. We can not live out of legal framework.

Thank you for reading.

mass media's role

BBC reported today: Burma says some 78,000 people have died and 56,000 are missing since Cyclone Nargis hit the country on 2 May.Burma has so far been refusing most offers of international aid. However, a team of 50 Indian medical personnel has been given permission to fly into Burma, equipped with medical supplies. Meanwhile, a UK-based charity says young children may already be dying of starvation. Save the Children estimates that 30,000 children under the age of five in the worst-hit Irrawaddy Delta were already "acutely malnourished" before the cyclone struck. It says that thousands of children will die within several weeks unless food reaches them soon.


All Japanese media have been reporting about the China quake as a top news day and night. But they informed nothing else about the Myanmar cyclone. Of course world media are strictly restricted under Myanmar military rule. Even so, thinking of media's role, they have to announce what the problems are.

Japanese social commentators usually say: we have to be careful to be brainwashed by Chinese media strategy, they air edited video which made for political intention.
But I think why media air the same video again and again, if they thinks so. I guess, because they could get the news easily, and Japanese audience would be interested in earthquake hazards than cyclone hazards.

I read a report of the World Vision today. The World Vision's cyclone response manager said: NGO volunteers who had been supported at local for over 30 years can supply essential goods to victims directly, because Myanmar military know that NGO activities have nothing of intervention from government. Now, increasing the chances of infection, much more children's deaths will be inevitable. It is a matter of the highest urgency.

I think Japanese media should get the disaster situation from over the world, and they have to point out to us what the most important thing is now.


BBC: Burma cyclone in video

World Vision: What we can do, now. (Japanese)

Thank you for reading.

flea market

It was a good weather for a walk today! Not very hot, it's right temperature. So, I went out for a walk to the Koganei park.

When I was strolling as usual, I saw there was a crowd of people in the distance. The park is about 770,000 square meters wide. Usually I can see that a few people sit under each tree. And only when an event is held, many people get together at the one place.

When I moved closer into the crowd, noticed a flea market were held today. Soon, I found there was much of a difference between crowded places and quiet places. If you sell single-species stuffs like CDs or books or clothes, people stopped easily to see. But it was not good if you sell a variety of stuffs.

As for me, I didn't stop in front of any stuff. Because I am not interested in kind of shopping. Getting bigger and bigger for stuffs, it is one of my annoying things. I want to live out of a suitcase if I could. Don't you think it might be good idea to live with only essential goods? Even when devastating earthquake hit, if you could get water and foods, you might feel few inconvenience.

PS

Do you know why they call a place where people sell old things "flea market"

Professor Jarrell taught us, : People used to think that old things had fleas on them, so the event became known as a “flea market.”

paternalism

I sit down to study today. Next my paper's theme is about medical paternalism. (it's too hard to write in English...but i'll just try.)

Paternalism is related to paternal authority etymologically. Generally you regard paternal counsel is good for his children. Because children have not ability enough to decide everything correctly, so usually paternal counsel is assumed a good way to lead children to be happy.

In the old days, doctors used to be assumed the same as father for the patient. Because doctors make the best decision for the live of patient.
But in recent years, it becomes a big problem if doctors see their patient as their children. Of course, doctors have mach more expert knowledge than the patient. But individual value of patients are extremely diverse. There are high possibility that doctors impose hard medical cure in the hospital to the patient for living long.
But the patient might hope to live with his/her family at home until end of life.

So, paternalism means to invade patient's identity. Doctors have to regard the patient's opinion as important. And doctors have to make opportunities for communicating with the patient, and give the patient "informed consent".

But there are some problem. Usually doctors must impose a cure to the patient whenever doctors regarded as the patient could not make a decision rightly. For example, even if an alcohol addicted patient hopes to drink, doctors impose stop-drinking. The situation isn't assumed as paternalism. On the other hand, at the case of patients who suffer from cancer, it depends on each patient's decision. Because doctor regard the patient as a person who has personal integrity(identity). But it is difficult to tell the difference whether patient keep their identity or not.

I can guess what kind of identity my family have. But I can not say I know my friend's identity perfectly. And I can not say they keep their identity as usual even when they have a ill. So, if doctors or social workers or nurses need to know the patient's identity, the job will become huge task.

I know doctor have to examine a patient as a human, not just examine a illness. But we are in the rising cost of health care, isn't it idealistic theory?

Thank you for reading.

time is life

It's sunny and warm today! The temperature forecast is 23 degrees in Tokyo today. The figures is eight-plus of yesterday.
This morning, I felt my muscles became weaker as I've stayed in bed for 2 days. So, after turning on the washing machine, I went walking in a neighborhood park for 15 minutes. My guess was right. After that, I felt heavy. I'm a little shocked that I got tired from only fifteen-min-walking.


Anyway today's topic is inevitable subject.

BBC reported about China quake yesterday: More than 25,000 are still trapped in the rubble two days after the 7.9 quake struck, flattening homes, schools and entire villages and cutting roads.

It's a shame that Chinese government refuse a hand of Japanese rescue teams despite saying to Chinese rescuers "time is life". They are the same as Myanmar. To keep their honor, they don't want to cooperate with other country.

Japanese construction professional said there were a lot of human disaster because the buildings were too unsafe. It's obvious that the concrete bricks were too weak and bars were too thin.

Japan learned much from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Chinese government have to accept Japanese advice at once to prevent second disaster, and to reconstruct properly.

I can not say Japan is in enough preparation though...


PS
Channel News Asia reported:
BEIJING - China said Thursday it will allow emergency rescue teams from Japan to aid earthquake relief efforts, the first country from which it has accepted such help.

Thank you for the information,Happi! I didn't know that.

Thank you for reading.

taspo

Today's topic is taspo. But I am interested in cigarette as I am a non-smoker. Then, why do I pick up this topic today?

Actually, I've read a enviable article at a blog site. He said a native English speaker who read his blog site offered to correct his English sentences. And he said he had been able to notice his English sentences was not natural, thanks to the native.

I am sure I can not write correct English. I was wondering whether readers who visited here understand what I wanted to say, or not. But I can not write anything if I think over about my English, so I tried not to worry about it.

However, I've really wanted to know how much I make a mistake in English after reading his article　today. Then, suddenly a light bulb went off in my head! I know that there are English article with a Japanese translation. So, to notice my fishy English, I read the Japanese translation first, and write the sentence in English without reading the English article, after that I compare that one and original one. How is this idea? It sounds good, doesn't it? I'll try the way.


Trendy Japanese #28:taspo

At one time, someone said Japan is a heaven for smoker. There were some reason for it. The price of one carton of 10 pieces was about 300yen(about $2.8), we could smoke anywhere include an office and a restaurant, and anybody, even children, could buy a cigarette from vending machine all through 24 hours.

Some people used to say that Japan was a smokers' paradise. There were several reasons for that. The price of cigarettes was around 300 yen (about $2.80) for a pack of 10. You could smoke almost anywhere, including in the office or in a restaurant. And anybody─even children─could buy cigarettes from vending machines 24 hours a day.

It is true that the cost has not changed, but the total situation for smoking in Japanese is changing in rapid pace. In 2002, Chiyoda-ward Tokyo started to ban smoking in the part of the ward, and fine people. Since then, no-smoking streets have been expanding, on the other hand, people have been taking it for granted to separate smoking and no-smoking areas in an office and a restaurant.

It's true that the price hasn't changed, but the overall situation around smoking in Japan is rapidly changing. In 2002, Chiyoda ward in Tokyo became the first municipal district to ban and fine people for smoking on some streets within the ward. Non-smoking streets have been expanding since then, while the separation of smoking and non-smoking areas is becoming common in offices and restaurants throughout the country.

And it was no exception in about the 620000 of vending machines which occupied around half of the total cigarette sales in Japan. In 1996, cigarette industry started regulations of sales by vending machines, which rule was to stop the sales from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.. Nowadays, it is almost impossible that we can buy a cigarette at midnight.

And about 620,000 tobacco vending machines, which account for almost a half of the total sales of tobacco in Japan, are no exception. In 1996, the tobacco industry began to regulate selling cigarettes from vending machines, stopping most sales from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Now you can't purchase cigarettes from almost any vending machine late at night.

And now, new IC card named taspo is getting installed. In near future, we will be unable to buy a cigarette from vending machine without own taspo. Because taspo can be used as chargeable electronic money card, it will be useful for people 20-year-old or older who are allowed to smoke in law. And it will be obviously in-convenient for people under 20-year-old. That's why taspo is installed. But the possibility of taspo is not still sure. People said it won't work as long as it is possible to borrow a taspo from someone. Nevertheless taspo might change the culture of cigarette in Japan. We will see...

And now, a new IC card called "taspo" is being introduced. Soon you won't be able to purchase cigarettes from vending machines without your own taspo. A taspo can also be used as a rechargeable electronic money card, so it'll be convenient for people 20 years old or older, who are legally allowed to smoke in Japan. It'll surely be inconvenient for those who are underage, which is why taspo is being introduced. But the effectiveness of taspo is yet unknown─some people say it'll be meaningless as long as people can borrow a taspo from others. Nevertheless, taspo may still change Japan's smoking culture─well, let's see how it goes.


Umm.. I don't mind too much.
Analysing this sentences, I'll try to correct my own tendency.

ALC: Trendy Japanese #28: taspo

Thank you for reading.

merciless country

There is no doubt that Japanese education is completely wrong!!!!

I am furious to Japanese government. It is difficult to say in English how I think about Japanese education. I have poor English skill and now am sick. But I don't want to excuse myself. I'll just try to say in English.

Since I want to know about global population growth, I googled some keywords in both Japanese and English.

I could read some thoughtful comments at "Yahoo answer UK". But I was depressed when I read Japanese comment. If you are Japanese, please read here.

Somebody asked to us: "Don't you think that to save deprived children might become a vicious circle?"

And somebody replied: "You've got that right. Those who work as a volunteer is just self-pleased. The self-deception with not to take responsibility is the same as to feed the alley cat.


I don't think this merciless opinion is minority in Japan. When I learned about international cooperation, a professor asked us whether Japanese ODA budget have to be cut or not. All the students without me answered that we have to cut the budget. Of course I have doubt about the way of using ODA money. But if the way is wrong, we can change how to use. Japanese ODA is much less than 1% of Japanese GNI(Gross National Income). It was small(only 0.25% of GNI in 2006), not enough. The ODA is not only for developing countries but it will be good for Japan. We can not stand on our own feet because we have overpopulation for our small island. Making a real relationship with other countries is the only way to save our life.

Yesterday, I wrote global population growth, and said we can not say to India to be slow population growth. Because before World War II, Japanese women had 9-10 children in her lifetime. Why? Japanese need more labor, and many children died before grown-up.

After the Japanese population explosion, Japanese government started war, and recommended to emigrate.

After Japan lost World War II, we loaned huge money from the world funds. And we got plenty of aid supply from civilian agency. If nobody offer a helping hand, most Japanese children starved to death. It means we might not have been born.

I think Japanese education is completely wrong. It is important to learn that why and how we were saved by world aid. We don't have sense of charity because of wrong education. Just because Japanese are hard-workers does not mean Japan could develop.

Our grand-father or grand-mother were saved by humanistic aid, such as LARA(Licensed Agency for Relief of Asia), and CARE(Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere). For example, the amount of CARE's aid is about 400,000,000,000 yen if it converted at today's price. It was not loan but all grant aid. And if there weren't world lending fund, we can not rebuild our country and can not live like this.

If we don't learn our history correctly, Japan become merciless country. Don't you think so?

Thank you for reading.

global population growth

It was cold for May yesterday. I felt chill, so I got a small heater out from the closet again. But I couldn't stop shivering. I feel dizzy, and have a fever now, so I am going to stay in bed all day today.

I read an article about global population growth.

Can you believe this figures?

343,000 : Amount by which the population of all European Union Countries combined grew in 2000.

343,000 : Amount by which India's population grew in the first week of 2001.

Quote: population growth project


No way, I could not believe my eyes!
343,000 a week??? Is it true span that they say "a week"?

Although there is no use of worrying too much, we are already short of foods. But we can not say to India to control to be slow population growth.

Although I want to think some about this, I have no idea in my mind.

It is time to go to bed, I have to stop wondering about this. If someone come up with something about this issue, please let me know. Good night.

Thank you for reading.

who is winner of life?

I got a good friend on this blog. We have in common(I hope so), but she has nature which is complete different type of me. Sometimes she leave me some message which I never think so. I'm really truly glad that I can have a chance of rethinking about her opinion. It is a lot of fun to accept of differences.

Over thinking of yesterday's article, she left me a thoughtful comment. Although I understand why she think so, I've had different opinion.

Because she is challenging to new her stage, she left the cheering massage like this: "I want to say to people who is suffering from mental disorder. We must be strong and can be strong."
It is good of her that she could notice that. But I don't want to say this. Because I think it is not good, if only people with mental illness try to adjust harsh the world, without we not try changing this evil society.

We just have been grown up over through hard competing education. So it might be natural that we want to be winner.
We live in small island which there are little mineral resources and small flat ground.
If Japan was low population ratio, we might have grown up with spirit of mutual helpfulness.
But we can not be humanistic if we have hope of a better life.

Many people might think that they can't help but work hard if they want not to be loser.
But who is real loser for life?
I think that if we noticed we live with too much desire, we could see what is real life for human. I think that only those who noticed this become winner of life.

I don't mean that we should not work hard. Of course most people cannot eat without working, and to keep living needs money. But it is definitely misunderstanding that those only who has a plenty of money and buy everything are a winner of life.


I like below poem. It is a world-famous poem as being loved by Audrey Hepburn.



Time Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

by Sam Levenson



I want to be strong like Audrey Hepburn. It means I want to be strong enough for helping other person, not for only myself. That's why I start restudying. I'm still not sure that I have to do though.


Before going off here now I want to say this, thank you for your comment yesterday, koto. My opinion is never counter opinion of yours. I agree with you, and just added a view of mine.

Thank you for reading.

manner mode

As my bioethics assignment-1 was returned (it was 90point!), soon I've submitted my assignment-2. It was hard work, but I am glad I could organize my opinion clearly. So, I was going to go out somewhere if weather was nice, but unfortunately it was raining all day. Although I was not going to study today, I'll do some as I have nothing to do.

The below article is a part of my assignment of English course. The textbook is named "The Right Track", written by Agnes Chan. I will write my impressions of this last.


Unit3: Manner Mode - It's only natural.

East Japan Railway Co. made two welcome announcements recently. The company will discourage the use of portable phones on its trains, and "silver seats" (seats reserved for the elderly) will small children and disabled people can also use them. Priority seats are to be installed in all cars of JR East's regular trains.

Both of these decisions can be seen as steps toward "training" people to be more considerate, which raises the question: Are Japanese considerate or not? Here are some opinions on this subject from some of my foreign friends in Japan.

One friend from the United States commented, "Japanese do not apologize for pushing others around in train stations, and men do not free obliged to give up their seats to elderly people or pregnant women."

Littering is another sore spot. A friend from England remarked, "I went to enjoy cherry blossom viewing with some friends and was shocked at seeing the amount of litter other groups of Japanese had left behind."

Judging from these comments, one might conclude that the Japanese are a very inconsiderate people. However, the same friends have told me that they do have a lot of nice and kind Japanese friends. There seems to be a gap between how my friends feel toward Japanese as a whole and Japanese as individuals. As for me, I think Japanese are very polite when it comes to personal communication, but they can be very rude and inconsiderate when they are in a group.

One of my neighbors in an apartment where I used to live was an ardent supporter of the recycling movement. She collected cans, bottles, newspapers and milk cartons, then sent them to a place where they could be recycles.

One day whole I was driving down the ramp of a highway near my apartment, I noticed that the driver in front of me had tossed a plastic bag full of cans and rubbish out of the windows, throwing it into a bunch of bushes by the sidewalk. This made me furious, so I drove up alongside the car to give the driver a piece of my mind. But to my great surprise, it was my neighbor, the recycling enthusiast. She didn't see me, so I drove on past her, trying to figure out why she would do such a thing. Maybe she felt obliged to do the right thing in front of others, but deep down inside didn't really believe in the whole process of caring about the environment. When she felt she wasn't being watched, she didn't bother to put up a front.

I find that a lot of Japanese who live in rural areas are very considerate and kind, but that many city dwellers are inconsiderate and selfish. Many Japanese do not believe that kindness is free. The logic is, "If nobody is kind to me, why should I be kind to anyone?" Obviously, this logic is all wrong. It should be the other way round: "If I am not kind to people, why should they be kind to me?" Or, even better, "If I am good to people, people will be good to me." Or, the best logic of all, "I am kind to people just to be kind, not because I want them to be kind to me."

Being considerate must come from the heart, not from civil obligation or shame. Being considerate is not the right thing, but the natural thing for a human to do. I wish more Japanese living in cities would be as nice to strangers as they are to their friends, and that they would act the same both in front of people and behind their backs. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be in "manner mode" all the time?

# My impression #

What she said is absolutely true. Japanese, especially those who live in city, are not polite, not kind. But it is same as other countries. Those who live in city tend to be mean to stranger because they are too busy worrying about their-self. People can not care anybody if they have no spare room in their heart. If nobody lives at own pace and they feel in rush, there are little smile in the city. At the such city, who could be kind to stranger?

leaving the opinion aside, Agnes pointed out that Japanese feel obligated to do the right thing only in front of acquaintances. YES,YES,YES! It is really famous that Japanese have two faces. When I was a junior high school student, I was worried a lot about this. I could not understand why girl really want that everybody think her a nice person. I though it was impossible for her. That's why Japanese tend to be two-faced person, I though. Everybody has both good and bad aspects. If they struggle to be nice person for everyone, their mind would be broken. I don't mean we don't care people's mind, but we should not act over thinking what someone think about us. I believe someone understand me if I try to be on the right track. So we don't have to feel obligated for everything. And if we have a plenty of spare room in our heart, we could be kind to everyone naturally. I think so.

Thank you for reading.

nature

I go see to a zoo, an aquarium and an botanic gardens sometimes. All of them are interesting there, I feel something satisfy. However, in there, I can not feel nature, I feel every each one is not happy, I can't help thinking of arrogance of human.

Why do we collect wildlife from all over the world? Only developed countries do that. A visitor of this site taught me, the places will be important trigger that think over wild life for children in city.

However, all of the facility is not wild life but artificial. It's just arrogance of us that for example we want to see animals who live in arctic, fishes who live in deep sea and trees who live in rain forest. To collect wildlife from oversea is just to be satisfy our interest.

It is important to give children a chance to contact with nature. But thinking child's education, it is enough that there are Japanese mink, fox, monkey, bear and deer in artificial natural environment as much as possible like safari park.


Now,I can see only large group of crows and pigeons, or pets in our city. There were small zoo in my former neighborhood, so, whenever I wanted to meet animals, I could go there. In the zoo, one elephant named Hanako live alone in small cage. As you know, elephant is social nature. They never ever live alone in their true life. I was happy with Hanako, but at the same time I felt so sad of her.

Although I was a system engineer, I wanted to be a gardener. So, after quitting my job, I had a part time job at plant shop. Even though I love all of the plants, I threw away a lot of plants every day. And I learned to come up a lot of new breeding flowers every season. Most important thing is consumers' feeling. I felt the job was not for me.


I love to meet with white whale. They comfort and relax me. Even though,,, even though I want to go see them, I think we should not have aquarium.

Someone left me a message yesterday: "all animal the weight of life is the same." I really think so, too. But I know that not everyone think so.
Sometimes I think, if I could just enjoy my life without thinking like that, how would be nice. However I can't help thinking. I am who I am, it's natural.

Thank you for reading.

we need another panda?

Now, Japanese are heating up over the pros and cons of diplomatic panda of China. A newspaper asked us if we need panda in Ueno Zoo in spite of the super-high rental fee. According to a TV program, half of us agree to rent panda because parents want to let their children see them. On the other hand, half of us refuse to rent panda, because the fee is paid from our tax money(it costs $1,000,000 a year): panda is origin from Tibet: using rare animal for diplomacy is not allowed, etc.

In my opinion, we should not rent a panda any more. we can see 8 pandas in Japan. If parents really want to let their children see a panda, go and see to the zoo located west of Japan. Just leaving aside the issue of Tibet, panda is disappearing from China. And as you know, China is huge country, almost all the Chinese children can not see any panda over their lifetime. It is pity that Chinese government decide to make panda move from their inhabited area for their diplomacy. Chinese economy is increasing at a rapid pace, the government would be afford to run other panda protection facilities in many parts of the country in the future. However, the more we want to keep panda in Japan, the less chance to see a panda for Chinese children.

Because panda inhabit in China(most of them had inhabited in Tibet though), Chinese children are proud of panda. Although panda are loved world wide, I think Chinese children are the best fan of panda. Don't you think we should not have too much desire? Don't you think it is greed of the rich? We are not the rich any more, and we have to think over how we boost international exchanges without money. I wish both Chinese and Japanese government would notice about it.

Thank you for reading.

Myanmar Cyclone

According to TV news report, a massive cyclone hit Myanmar, more than 20,000 people were killed.
And State media reported today that another 41,054 people missing as a result of the cyclone.

Because of poor sanitation and lack of clean water, no wonder damage is expanding more and more. Even if the military has dominated Myanmar's government, there are no choice without involving the UN to save the victims' lives and prevent the damage.



I know there are hundreds of millions of people who should be rescued in the world. We tend to be regard all crisis as having nothing to do with us because we can not save all. Although we can not resolve all of the human-caused crisis and nature-caused crisis, we can do something. It is very important for each one to do what we can.

On 26th Dec 2004, I had been backpacking in Kingdom of Thailand. I was going to go to a famous beach, so it was possible staying in Phuket. But a local women recommended I would go to Samet island located at inner bay. If I didn't meet the women, I might have been one of victims of the Asian tsunami by earthquake of Sumatra bay.

At that time, I just had a open return tickets. So, if I decided to stay in Thailand to support for the victims, I could have done something. But I didn't have knowledge to get into action, and I didn't have enough heart to act because of my poor English skill. I learned at that time that I must discipline myself each day to make a decision on the right track.

I've been supporting a child who live in a slum since January 2005. But the supporting money is not only for the child, but also for reforming the slum area. I don't think it is the best way for me to do so, but I don't know another better way now. I've still been learning what is going on with the deprived children in the world. Although I have no idea if I see how I should do for them, I know I can not look away from the fact. Because I am an accomplice making the cause.

Manokar Tamilselvan

I hope he will smile with hopes someday.


Getting back to the cyclone crisis.
Myanmar will have huge problems after this disaster. I am sure Myanmar's government has not ability to rebuild. They should not reject foreign interference in domestic affairs any more. I hope world media keep an eye on the country long way because the military might use the reconstruction aid to keep their monopoly power like North-Korea.


Information for donation(Japanese)

Thank you for reading.

CNN:Cyclone victims face 'long-term' food shortages

relaxing in the park

Since both a neighborhood university and our university have been closing during GW, I went to the central library in our town. To my surprise, in the place, there were only elderly men (maybe in their 60s to 70s). Do you imagine the library where children and young men were nowhere in site. Umm... How can I explain the atmosphere? Anyway, I felt the place was not for me today.

But I felt it was a shame to stay home on such a lovely day. So, I went back home soon, and made some sandwich and a bottle of lemon tea, then went to the Koganei park around noon. There are a large number of families in there. A lot of yelping with big-delight made me feel so nice. Uh, honestly, I felt a little bit sad as I ate lunch alone, but it was much better than eating at McDonalds.

And for about two hours, I was reading my textbooks under a big tree. Staying under the tree, I felt like I'm dreaming. The light were falling and falling onto big round leaves, and the leaves looks like dancing with joy. A little light were falling down till my face. I said hello and thanks to the sun and breeze and trees in my mind.

Hakuunboku


In my way home, I dropped by my neighborhood's garden. I don't know who live in there, but I like peeking inside the garden from pavement. Recently I was looking forward to see which buds blossom first. Although below bud has not flowered yesterday, she is blooming today! Hello, my small rose!(no, not mine.)


Climbing Roses

Thank you for reading.

assertiveness

Do you know about assertiveness training?

Introduction: The Importance of Assertiveness

TO ASSERT - To state an opinion, claim a right, or establish authority. If you assert yourself, you behave in a way that expresses your confidence, importance or power and earns you respect from others. - From the Oxford English Dictionary

And as Wikipedia says about assertiveness : It is linked to self-esteem and considered an important communication skill.

It is difficult for you to express real your intention to others. In addition, there are high possibility to get you wrong, if you are not good at reading people's minds.

So, Japanese tend to be quiet whenever someone ask to remark your own opinion. And,in debate games, most of Japanese feel awkward to controvert an opinion.

I think KY is very Japanese. KY stands for the Japanese words Kuuki Yomenai. It means you can not read an atmosphere of the situation. KY is used like this: " You are a KY guy. Read this atmosphere!" I think there are two different meanings of the word. First is Japanese tend to be keep staying same atmosphere, so they feel unwell when someone change the atmosphere. Second is Japanese tend to be expected to act for others' feelings.

It might be good to do KY, if everyone has common sense in Japan. But although I am Japanese, I feel strange that everyone try to share same opinion or same atmosphere. What's the matter with that? I sometimes say something wrong. But never mind, I can correct it after. It is important to try to express my true opinion without KY.

I try to write my own opinions in English here. Because I want to get not only English skill, but also assertiveness ability. My purpose is to communicate in English with non-Japanese. If I didn't do the training, I won't be able to get true communication skill.

However assertiveness ability is requested to remark own opinion while considering others feeling at the same time. Even in Japanese, it is too difficult to deny opponent's opinion without harm. I wonder how long I study English, I could get assertiveness ability in English. Thinking of that, I feel gloomy.

Thank you for reading.

temptation

I have to concentrate on my study! Despite this, I was really curious to see what opinion thrown out at koto's blog site all day today. Because koto wrote about a review whose theme is reproductive technology which I wrote it before.

At the site, koto and someone who is a regular visitor of koto's site remarked their reviews in JAPANESE!! Just because I wrote my opinion about the theme here, does not mean I said my whole opinion. Because I imposed writing in English on me, I could not say even the half of it in here.

I wrote about my opinion at koto's site in Japanese to satisfy myself. It was a lot of fun. I even thought that I want to change here from English-writing to Japanese-writing. But now is not appropriate time. I have to keep a daily in English, at least for three months. Don't forget it!! I swore it to myself, didn't I!!? And one more thing, I myself have to scold me. Go ahead with my short-thesis, right now!!!

Thank you for reading.

World Press Freedom Day

Today,3 May, is Constitution Day in Japan. But worldwide, today is World Press Freedom Day. This international anniversary was established in 1993 by UNESCO.

Especially, there are heated debate about the Beijing Olympics this year. Because, as you know, the Chinese authorities is famous for their crackdown on journalists.
I think we can criticize a lot to China, but we can not attack China fiercely.

Because China is still developing halfway now, you know, there are huge amount of domestic controversies in China. So, if Chinese authorities allowed freedom of the press, all the nations will fall into chaos.

We have to understand they need the time to give out information in bits and pieces. I don't know how long it takes. But as the proverb goes, "slow and sure wins the race" so it's important to be sure step by step. Otherwise they might go back to the old regime.

According to news reports, Dalai Lama have arrived in China for talks with representatives. But I guess eyes of the world think about like that: It can be just policy performance, there are still long winding road to have optimistic wishs.

Thank you for reading.

Tom and Jerry

What do you do when you feel blue?

The other day, I watched a cartoon "Tom and Jerry" on YouTube by chance. When I was child I watched this TV rerun again and again and again and again. But no matter how many times I watched it, I never got tired of.

Some stories are not only comical, but also sweet and tender. Above all, I don't need a lot of time, just it takes only several minutes to watch one story. It's nice for me to change a mood so quickly.

I recommend you watch them whenever you feel unwell. Below is one of my favorite. Please watch it if you have time to spare now. Hope you'll like it.

Have a good Golden Week holidays!! I'll just stay home though.

Thank you for reading.

reproductive technology

It's already May!!! Where had my April gone? I'm a little bit behind the schedule of my assignments. I have to speed up my work.

I started bioethics assignment-2. Although I don't know yet whether assignment-1 passed or not, I'm going to write with wishful thinking.

The title of the short thesis is about issue of reproductive technology. There are many opinions about reproducing babies with new technology. First of all, I have to understand some different type of view, such as view of legal, view of ethical, and view of human rights.

These views will work to create new my thought. But I want to think first about view of sacred. Whenever thinking over childbirth, I feel sacred. Because, there are some risk of the life for both mother and baby, and there are big moment the baby can start new own life.

In my opinion, it is most important we feel sacred about childbirth. So, whatever technology advance, top priority for birth is to save mother's life and to protect baby's right. Especially it is very big issue that the baby will face an identity crisis. I want to pay the most attention to the baby's life.

I mean, we don't have to pay attention whether there are the rights and happy for legal parent. I think legal parent should not state human right if someone's life involve risks.

I think we have to awake philanthropism in our society. It is unhappy for us if we think we want to bring up only own babies. Babies were not born for parents. Babies are treasure of human. I want to clean out the consciousness that it is unhappy for married couple if they don't have own babies.

So, my bottom line is this. If there are husband's sperm and wife's egg and uterus together, I don't against new reproductive technologies.

Thank you for reading.