Japanese Trains

Hi, Do you know the news that the Keio line crashed into a car between Simotakaido and sakurajyousui. Fortunately, no one were injured, but I was surprised at the picture of the accident.the car was destroyed completely. When it occureed, I was near Sakurajyousui,becasuse I did part-time job until midnight. Several ambulances and appliances passed in front of me in hurry. Unlike foreign trains, Japanese trains are accurate and are believed that they are never late.Therefore, I think the number of accident doesn't decrease.

Chosing a course

Hello, I have a difficulty to choose a course for next year. Which course do you choose ,and how do you decide it? I would like to know your opinion.

influenza

I have a cold.... Yesterday,I was sleeping all day.I could noting.Just sleeping..... I wake up this morning and still feel bad.Of course,my physical condition is better than yesterday.Temperture is 37.5 degrees Celsius. I heard strong infulenza will be popular this winter. If you have it ,you have to spend tough days. So, you care about it in advance as soon as you can.

FLU

Hi!! i want to tell you about flu.... In korea, 6000 chickens died because of bird-flu. that flu was strongly toxic and so dangerous!!!! and about us human, there will be new kind of flu........ i am sooooooo afraid of that..... but!!!! a new kind of vaccine will be approved before next year☆★☆★ and our government is planning to stockpile that vaccine enough for 10 million people. however i have to strive to keep my healht with my lism of life, foods and so on...... be careful not tobe down with flu!!!!!

10 years after Princess Diana's Death

Next year, 10 years will have past since former princess Diana. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Henry are now planning to have a charity concert for their mother. The concert is planned on July 1st, which is princess Diana's birthday. The concert will be broadcasted throughout the world. It is said that many famous singers including Elton John are going to play on the concert. After I read this article, I realized how big princess Diana was. Even after she is dead, many people will do various things for her. At the same time, I realized how small I am. i will be forgotten after i'm dead...or maybe even while I'm still alive!!

About Death

Hi, there. This week, my pet has died,so I was really sad and thinking about death. I think most of us are scared of death. We know that everyone is going to die someday, but no one think it might be a near future. We regret when our neighbors die, but it is too late to do something to the neighbors. Have you ever read a book called "Tuesdays with Morrie"?The story about old university professor who suffered ALS, and going to die within some years.But he faced with death bravely. In the book, Morrie(the old professor) didn't afraid of death. He wanted to show how he die, with happy and a satisfied feeling. If he can show the people "the sample of good dying", he could become a human textbook. Morrie said that;"To know you're going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. That's the best way to have more involved in your life while you're living. Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live." This book influenced me a lot. And this time, I read this book again. If I read this book earlier, I wouldn't feel sorry about my pet. My pet and the book lead me to think about death. I recommend you to read this book, and have a opportunity to think about death.

"Everyone's late but me"

Hi. Today, I read an strange article. According to a survey, nearly all Portuguese people think they are punctual but believe other Portuguese are not. The survey also showed that two-thirds of buisiness meetings in Portugal start late, and over 50% of buisinesses do not meet deadlines. I think it is funny. Don't you think? I felt that the survey represents the national character. I watched a TV program before in which many foreign people working in Japan talked about Japanese culture. They said that in their country, they decide time to meeting 30 minutes earlier because people are not punctual and they are usually late for about 30 minutes. But, they have never heard such story in Japan. I think Japanese people are punctual when they work. And in Japanese factory, Japanese workers hardly make defective products. Those points are good. And I think I cannot notice those good points without comparison with foreign countries.

A winning prize=CAT

"Hide and seek only for the aged" was held in China. The content of this game is that about ten aged people hide in some buildings and one aged man/woman try to find others. The person who found most numbers was the winner. The winner was surved a prize, which was a cat. For most aged, this game seem to be hard exercise. Therefore, they get sweat by the time it finish. A doctor in China says that this game is good for old people's health and make them feel their childhood again. When I get old, I want to be a person who is able to run like kids.

Depopulation

Have you ever really feeled the decrease in population? Recently, I had a chance to go to the rural part of the west Tokyo several times. There were almost no high-rise bulidings, and the local taxi driver told me that the amusement park, the only place they can gather visiters, and many other shops are closing down. In that underpopulated town, there are few schools and there are no big department store nearby. So people need to go out of the town to do many of the things they want or need. This inconvenient causes the people to move out of the town and live in the center area of Tokyo. This causes the further decrease of the population in that town. It is a vicious cycle. Living in the center of Tokyo all my life, this is a surprise to me. We need to take the point that children cannot have their views in the future in their home town seriously.

South Korea's Kimchi threatened

Hello! Today, I read an article about South Korea's facing first ever trade defict in kimchi, Korea's traditional dish. According to JoongAng daily, Korean newspaper, South Korea's kimchi export to other countries dropped down 29 percent compare to last year. This is due to the increse of Kimchi import which is made from cheap Chinese cabbages. In fact, the sales of Chinese Kimchi increased to 76 percent in the same period. This means that South Korea is now importing more Kimchi than they are exporting. South Korea started to import kimchi from China since 1996. Why are imports incerasing in South Korea. This is because South Korean food service industry's demand is growing. These companies are in competitive situation and in order to cut the cost, they are using cheap Chinese Kimchi. When I read this article, it reminded me of similar situation in my country. In Japan, national rice industry is also suffering from cheap rice exported from China, U.S. and so on. But now, I think the situation is changing. Despite of the higher price, many consumers are choosing to buy Japanese rice which tastes better. Aloso, restaurants are putting more emphasis on quality than quantity or price. So, I think this trend will also appear in South Korea.

Visiting Asakusa

Today I visited Asakusa with my friend. After taking a picture at Kaminari-Mon, we walked Nakamise-Dori. We drunk Amazake (a sweet beverage made from fermented rice or sake less), tried some rice crackers, Imo-yokan (a sweet bean jelly made from sweet potatos), and Ningyo-yaki (one of the Japanese-style buns stuffed with azuki-bean paste). I ate too much but they were great! I recommend some Imo-yokan for you. We went to Asakusa shrine, where we tried fortune slips. Our slips were very good luck, and written in English too, for foreign visitors. Anyway, we had great time there in Asakusa, so you should visit there anytime soon!!

future dream

I entered this university to be a teacher at first, but dismissed to take the licence, for it was different from what i'd imagined... In this several month, I thought what I wanna do. Now, though I haven't ensured in detail, one field attracted me - food related jobs. There are a number of them such as chef, food coordinator, nutritionist and more. I love cooking, eating, and serving. This salad is one of my favorites! Your appetite will be satisfied, for there's tasty beef and more than 10 kinds of vegetables in it! it's wonderful, isn't it?:) However, there's a problem...I hate washing though I use many tools or dishes, so my sink is soon filled with them. Every time before start cooking, I have to wash them...LOL

Academic-background society

I saw a feature program about the studying abroad of Korean elemetary school's students. The program said that in South Korea it has become a trend to make young children in elementary schools go to overseas and study. It is famous that academic background is extremely important in Korea. So this studying abroad during elementary school days is one arrangement to gain the English skills in early years because English qualifications are required condition to be employed in upper-class companies. Australia is introduced as one of the typical country to study. For example one school in Sydney, 10% of the students are such students from Korea. The school adds Korean signs in front of their schoolrooms. The program tells also bad aspects of this boom. Children are too young to go to another countries alone, so in many cases parents have to go with the children. It leads many husbands and wives divorce. And there was the sad affair. One man died of disease, but his wife and child were in abroad for studying. And he was detected after 5 days. From the program, I realized that to dapt the academic-background society is sooooo difficult for me. "Strike while the iron is hot". I think it is true. If the student studied hard in thier young days s/he would become hardworker. However I actually disagree with making children adapt to academic-background society in so early years. I think childhood is important to grow one's mentality. They should have chance to think about and dream their future freely. It is very sad if a child studied without any thinking of himself and just because their parents forced them. But, if the society requires academic-background absolutely, should people do more practical things rather that have a daydream? I don't know. How do you guys think? Anyway I think Japanese students had better to follow them a little bit. Some Japanese students are too apathetic about their study...

Thanks

I found some picture book when I cleaned the room today.. The picture book was given by an ex-colleague when I quitted the job three years ago..(That job was nightmarished for me.. but I got good friends..) and she attached her message to me on the end of picture book.. I was trying reread.. The book moved me to tears.. Then I tryed translated the book from Japanese into English.. ummm.. something wrong?? It seems became like LOVE LETTER.. Between in Japanese and in English has several shades of meaning? or the story is love letter originally?? It's lovely story whatever...

shocking pictures

today, i was reading articles and some of them showed the pictures of bodies. a city was bombed and people were killed. they were burned. i've seen pictures of atomic-bomb victims before. everytime i see those picture, i get very shocked. there are a lot of murders and suicides these days... people shouldn't kill other people, or themselves. no one's unworthy to live, no one's allowed to kill people.. how come we kill each other? how come we kill ourselves?

recent news

Hi! How are you? Now, I am considering which course I will choose for next year. It affects rest of my college life so much , so I can't dicide right away... Anyway, today I heard the news about the man who killed cats and released the pictures of its dead body on the internet was arrested. He captured cats in nearby park and smashed its head under his foot and killed it. He said that little animals will hurt people so he did it for justice. I thought he is crazy. I love cats so I can't understand why he can do such a thing!! I heard some people likes to see cruely things or pictures... May be he is one of those people. I hope not to happen same kind of cases again.

"bridge" people

Hi, i saw the news that prime minister Abe and his wife visited Vitnam. I am interested in his wife Akie and her activities. she works to connect the world in many way, so i respect her a lot. another, there are many Japanese people work as bridges between the world!! Like Daisuke Matsuzaka or also Ichiro, matsui and so on, many japanese athletes are becoming popular and familier to foreigners with their wonderful performsnces. Or HikaruUutada or kinki-kids are also connecting the world with their songs. I think these people are important for all of us living on the Earth, because of the present globalization. We need some medium which is familier to us in order to communicate with people who have different backgrounds. I hope i can work as "bridge" like them even if wht i can do is smaller than them.

Shool will have green yard

Hi. Today I read the news that Tokyo-to decided that the schoolyard of all public elementary and junior high shools in Tokyo will be made of grass. They hope that it will prevent heat island phenomenon. It is the phenomenon of high temperature at small area. They also hope that children will play outside and improve their ability of exercise. I think it is great to have green shoolyard, because it is good for children's body. These days, some school have yard which is made of asphalt. If children play on the yard of asphalt, I think they will have load on their body like knees. However, there is no worry about it if schools have green yard.

APEC forum in Hanoi

Summit talks held among leaders of 21 countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Hanoi, where Abe has accidentally wore traditional Vietnamese ao dai costume. Even though the declaration included no mention of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, 21 leaders of APEC criticized North Korea for its recent nuclear test. For all APEC members, North Korea's disarmament has been a great concern. Another important point is that U.S. government proposed to create a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). However, Asian people generally take time to make consensus, so the idea of FTAAP is unlikely to be realized anytime soon. I'm interested in Asia-Pacific area because our peace and our development are closely connected to the situation of Asia-Pacific. By making economic relationships and by keeping peace, we should create a new strong community here in Asia-Pacific and overcome our identity problem.

U.S. soldier Pleads Guilty to Iraq Astrocity

Hi! Today, I read a terrible article. Last Spring, in Iraq, one of four U.S. soldiers raped a 14- year-old girl and killed her and her family. Then he was pleaded guilty Nov.15, and agreed to testify aginst others. When asked by the judge why he had paricipated in the attack, the solier said, " I hated Iraquis, Your Honor, They can smile at you, then shoot you in your face without thinking about it." I have watched a TV program before about a U.S. soldier escaping from Iraq. When he was in Iraq, he was almost crazy because he could not stand fight with people and he decided to desert from the battlefield. Now, though he lives with his family peacefully, he still has nightmare about the battle and he is afraid of big noise because it reminds him of war. So I thought that the soldier had also unusual mind in Iraq. In conditon of war, people might tend to commit such crimes more easily than usual. However, I think it is not completely impossible for him to have been rational. So I think it is proper that he was pleaded.

Gay Penguins

In Illinois, the United States, some people request that the book called "And Tango Makes Three", which is a book about homosexual penguins, should be removed from elementary school library. This book is based on a real story which occured 7 years ago. Some parents, who are conservative catholics, claim that the story of gay penguins is not good for education and shoud be taken away. However, the principal said that "Various kinds of people in different beliefs use the library" and the book is not planned to be removed. What do you guys think about this issue? do you agree or disagree with the idea of removing the book?

Iraq

I saw the news that UK president, Tony Blair recognized Iraq is not peace. I also think so. Japanese government help Iraqi reconstruct thier country,but it's not enough. America should adopt other measure,because Iraq is ruined because of America.

Thank you manner

Hi! This time, I would like to write my personal opinion! First, I have a question to all you guys. "Do you usually say "thank you", when you leave a restaurant you visited?" Today, I had a part time job at restaurant, but only few people said "thank you" to us. Recent Japanese don't have a feeling for appriciate to others?! We all work hard to come up to customer's expectations!!We all want to offer good service for customers.!But only a few people said us "thank you." I think it is a shocking phenomenon. So the request for you all is; to be a polite customers! Your "thank you"encourage all employees and make them happy! see-ya:)

Nobel Peace Prize 2006

I learned about Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank who received the Nobel Peace Prize this Year in another class last week. I didn't know about this bank before and was very impressed. Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi who founded the Grameen Bank and started Microredit. Microcredit is the extension of very small loans to the unemployed, to poor entrepreneurs and to others living in poverty who are not bankable (2006/11/19 wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcredit 2006/11/16). I have a friend who use to live in Bangladesh and she told me that only 20% of Bangladeshi people are able to use electricity. I was very surprized that 80% percetn of the people live without electricity. Those people need help and what Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank did was great. It's not what everybody can do, even if we are thinking we want to help poor people in developing countryies. This is a thing I always think when I hear people doing great things, but I want to try from the little things I can do.

"one dog" policy

Hello! I think many of you know about the law in China which limits a family to have only a single child to stop the growing population. Well, there's going to be another restriction in Beijing, China. On Wednesday, November 8th, Chinese authority announced that families living in Beijing are allowed to have only one dog per household. Part of the reason for this is to extinguish rabies (in Japanese,"kyouken-byou"). In China, problems related rabies are serious. In 2004, 2,651 deaths from the disease are reported in China alone. Also, only 3 percent of China's dogs vaccinated against rabies. Anyone keeping dogs without licence will be punished. It is a good thing that government is working hard to stamp out such horrifying disease. I heard that once you were bitten by a dog with rabies and get ill, there's no cure. In other words, he or she won't survive. However, on the other hand, what would happen to the unlicenced dogs which are caught?? The dogs are certainly slaughtered or killed. Although it is said so in the law, I think it is against ethic. What do you all think??

the anniversary of the founding

hi there!! what did you do today? I'm sure everybody had no class because...today is Aoyama Gakuin's birthday!! Aoyama Gakuin was established in 1874. what a old school!! dont you think so?^^ It must have a loooong history, and there must have been many changes til now. but that makes me feel strange somehow. i dont know why.. thats maybe because our department has just begun since last April. we are the very first students majoring in international communication, so we havent been able to get any certain information about our department. anyway, I hope the department of international communication wont be closed. (actually once there was a department of international business, but it was closed.)

Sports noodle☆

Instant noodle maker Nissin on Wednesday announced a capital alliance with rival food company Myojo. (Mainichi Daily News, November 16, 2006) Do you eat cup noodles recently?? Since it's becoming cold recently, I eat cup noodles often. Nowadays there are many types of cup noodles such as ramen noodle, udon, yakisoba, etc. In those types of noodles, there are also many types of tastes like miso, soy sauce, and salt in ramen noodle. Do you know that there is a cup noodle called "Sports Noodle"?? It's not yet becoming famous, but getting popular for some people. There are two types or tastes in Sports Noodle which are burning type (chicken taste) and recovery type (creamy taste). The burning type includes 300mg of L-carnitine and it helps burning. On the other hand, the recovery type includes 4000mg of soy peptide and it helps recovering the body after doing some exercise or sport. I've tried the recovery type which is creamy taste, and it was good!! I don't know if I recovered after eating, but it might had some kind of effect. Well, please try them if you have interest!!

nuclear powers

Hi, everyone!!! I am concerned about nuclear problems in some countries and between them. In my opinion, owing any nuclear weapons as a country or also as a person is so bad thing because those arms possibily ruin their owners add to destroying the surroundings. I think having weapons which appear the stongest ones means being the most weak in the world because owners possess these to get away from being attacked and controled or to protect them without considering that their opponent to use weapons and even descendants of them will groan for so long time. So using or planing to use nuclear weapons are completely self-centerd action!!!!!! Don't you feel contradiction seeing that an opend, big country bombard closed and small country? I want to ask the delegate of big power how dare they can assail the small country hazing nuclear arms though they also have????????? I am always irritated at their contradictory, unreasonable and unworthy behavior.... I storongly wish that nuclear weapons or even ordinary arms will disappear from our Earth...

tornado prospect

The news says that "the tornado prospect study group" will be set up!!!!!! They will do research and development of tornade prospect system. I hope their study will succeed and people all over the world wil get the way to be in safe from tornado!!!!!! I am afraid of earthquick too, so I hope there will be same group for that.

Green energy contributers decreasing

Hello. Today, I read an article related to environmental issue. According to industrial officials, a fund for renewable energy such as solar and wind energy is losing contributers. You might not know this, but there's a system where indivisuals and bussineses can donate moneyalong with their electricity bills. This system has started in 2000 to expamd the budget for costly green energy. However, due to decrease in number of donaters, the amount of money donated will drop to about 650 million yen, 90 million yen lower than last year. As you know, there's no limit to renewable energy whereas fossl fuels only last for another 50 years. With these type of enegy, we don't have to worry about loosing energy. Green energy is also less harmful for the environment. But what happenes if the subsidies for promoting them decreases? It would be impossible to provide enough energy to houses and buildings after using up all the fossil fuels. I thought we should realize the importance of such energy before it's too late.

Blue Note TOKYO

I went to "Blue Note TOKYO" last Saturday.. Well, I have to tell you something before write to this blog.. To be frank with you.. I don't understand music anything... I don't know what is a popular song of the world.. I don't have audio set either.. It was just an accident! "Blue Note" is most popular JAZZ CLUB... The live performance was so impressive.. singing voice, tones of a piano, saxophone.. mellow sound.. sullen tones.. so beautiful.. The tones woke me up some feelings from deep in my heart.. I've never feel like that feelings.. I couldn't stop tears.. I felt a lump in my throat.. What is that.. Nobody knows.. I just keep in my heart so deeply... "Music recognizes no frontiers.. no words.." At last I realised that meaning... http://www.bluenote.co.jp/what/index.html

about NEET people

Hi, everyone! Today, I watched the special selection about NEET people in Japan, so I considered about them. I think recent increase of NEET people in Japan is due to company's principle, negative thinking of young people, and the attitude of their family. To begin with, companies that avoid adopting new graduates increased because of the depression. Young people who studied a lot, and get qualifications for the sake of getting ideal jobs, are confronted with some difficulties that they won't be able to unofficial decision from the company's principle has changed. So the cause of increasing NEET people is not only accountable for young people but also companies.On the basis of that situation, they started to think of themselves as having no abilities. They also feel like they are not needed from the society. From that thinking, they can not discover the value for working, and will get cold feet for working. Besides, they can not share that distress with their family. Parents prod them to find and get a firm job, yet they don't notice their child's feeling. That action leads them more uncomfortable, and to demoralize. If companies try to adopt more people, change their principle for adoption, young people could change the way of thinking, and has comfortable environment in which they are able to share their thought with their family, increase of NEET people can be stopped some day. Hmm....I think of them really seriously!! I'm looking for this problem will be solved in someday!

Education in China

I read an article about China in the Asahi newspaper. In China, there are suburbs where the emigrates (emigrates means people working in another places far from their hometown) live in, while the cities are developing now for the Olympic 2008. In those suburbs, emigrates' children cannot receive an education because they have to help their parents and it is expensive to go to school in the city. Therefore, some men and women have founded the schools not permitted by the Chinese government for those children. However, since this summer, the government started to close the unauthorized schools because the government insisted that those unauthorized schools do not have enough quality for education. Some children cried to hear their school are closed. They pressed themselves against their teachers and said "we want to stay this school". For theOlympic, the chinese government spend enormous money. On the other hand, they do not give their people enough education. It is a big problem. Few days ago, I watched a TV program and I heard an interesting opinion. Mr. Fujiwara, who is the author of "the style of the nation", said Japan had developed after the WWⅡbecause the literacy rate is very high compared with other countries. Thus, education is a key to become a developed country. In addition, we all have a right to receive an education. It must not be forgotten. Nowadays, I have many homeworks and often complain about it. But when I read this article, I realised that I have to thank to receive enough(high?) education. It is not usual to live comfortably like me.

Starbucks Coffee

Hi everyone! Do you guys like Starbucks coffee? I love it so much!!!! I haven't had coffee for a while, but lately I've started having it. And now I'm addicted to caffeine. Too bad. LOL Today, I had the new flavor, Taffy Nuts Latte. It was soooo good! You better try it someday! The problem is, though, the price of coffee has increased. I don't really understand why Starbucks increased the price, since lots of people buy coffee everyday.... sigh I'm getting so poor... lol

TOEFL New Test

As some of you have already known, TOEFL test changed from CBT to iBT. I read newspaper written about this new test. Today I want to show you the part of the article a little. This is quoted from The Daily Yomiuri below. In this article, the writer especially pays attention to listening section. According to writer, the change makes TOEFL test more complex and difficult than the old one. Also it allows the test to include college-level material or academic topic. Because each lecture of listening section is close to six minutes long!! What a long!! I’ll bet I would go tired of listing if so long!! (By the way, a CBT listing lectures approximately two minutes long.) This greater length permits each lecture to cover several important aspect of the lecture. This means the test can ask us very challenging questions!! Wooo!! I’ve gotta study hard!!!

Bush's Approval Rating Has Fallen To 31%

On 11th, Newsweek announced that, according to the public opinion research, approval rating of George Bush, the current president of the U.S., has fallen to 31% which is 4% lower than the last research in the begging of November. In addition, 66% of respondents said that George Bush won't be able to do anything great in the next 2 years. Also, 48% wanted the president from Democratic Party. The research was done on November 9th and 10th and　about 1000 people answered.

Is Prime Minister Abe Good or Bad?

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first stated that he was going to make Japan as a "beautiful country." From the time he emphasized this word, actually I feel that he is shady. What does he mean by "beautiful"? People are very beautiful, and nature is very beautiful in Japan. Well the contents must have been written in his book, which I haven't read yet. Have you read it? Hmm... He is intelligent and he is working very hard. And by visiting China and Korea, he is trying to make good relationships with Asian countries. In diplomatic point of view, he seems to be better than Koizumi. But for domestic issues, his opinion is always abstract and we don't understand what he is exactly going to do. Well...what I want him to do is to state his way of thinking clearly and logically like Koizumi did. Also, I want him to continue changing the old temperament of the system of the bureaucrats in Nagatacho into something open to the public, into something creative. The important thing for us is to keep waching political movements by waching TVs or reading newspapers. Abe has both good points and bad points. Some of us already have a right to vote, don't we?? Surprising!!

CURRENT EVENTS CLASS

Hi everybody, This week we will do our presentations so next week we will have the news article reports. Cheers, Sebastian

Wiping distrusts off ?

I read a news article about the State Department of the United States has apoointed some named people like athletes for publicity courier to wipe the distrusts to the United States since the Iraqi war. In the ariticle Michelle Kwan, the famous fiugre skater, was itnroduced. I am skeptical whether this will wipe distrusts of the United States. When I read this aricle, I thought that the U.S. government is using famous and popular people just to make a good image of America. But it gave me a bad image that the U.S. government is trying to dodge and varnish about the Iraqi war. I ask them for the content more, not the appearance. It even lowen my image of the named people who joined this like Michell Kwan.

Baby Postbox

I saw one interesting news story in this morning. One hospital (I think Jikei hospital) decide to set up a "baby postbox". According to the TV show, the baby post is like a big postbox(letter box). The postbox has air-conditioing and heating system, also alarm which tells nurses if someting into the box. This postbox is for deserted babies. The parent who couldn't grow his/her baby in many reasons can bring the baby and leave it in the postbox secretly; then the nurses pick up and care it afterward. In Germany these postboxs have already adopted. A German doctor said in the TV show that they were glad to set it up because they could save the life of baby, not killed by leaving it cold outside. However to put these kind of boxes maight encourage parents to give up raising their children. And Japan has not developed its adoption system. So there is another concern how to raise the children who have been put in the postbox. How do you think about it? I think to put the box is better than to do nothing... Please tell me your idea.

Suicidal student

A boy wrote a letter to the education minister on Tuesday threatening to commit suicide at school this weekend because he was bullied. At a news conference the minister, Bunmei Ibuki, pleaded with the author of the letter not to give up. The boy wrote on the letter that he is going to kill himself at school on November 11th, that is very soon. I hope he will stop thinking about killing himself. My sister was saying that the boy who sent the letter is very rude sending the letter in that way. It might be rude but I think the more important thing is he should stop committing suicide.

Today!!

Today, I announced about my research in my laboratory. Because I have not achieved the results of my research, I received indication from the teacher. So I think I want to do my best from now.

Class Canceled !!

This morning, when I found out that today's class had been canceled, I was sooooooooooo depressed because I was doing the research for today's sub culture presentation till 4 a.m.!!! however, later it turned out to be a good thing for me because one of my group mates hadn't done enough research for the presentation. THANK YOU SEBASTIAN

without home

The other day, I heard that a man who do not have own home spend night at a comic cafe and sometimes at a tube hotel only when he get very tired. It rarely helps to get rid of tired from him. It sounds sad that there is nobody to talk with when he is relax. I think we are truly happy that there is a home to come back.

general education

According to the investigation of the ISI, the scholarship of university students seems to be getting lower. The invstigation aimed at the students from 50 universities in the USA. One of the results was that 1st grades students of universities and 4th garades showed about same scholarship. ISI says that this is because students study only required subjects. Therefore the universities that showed high scholarship have more required subjects than other universities. I think it is not good that students do not have general education, because common knowledge is necessary for our lives. Recently, there was a studying problem in Japan, too. It is important to know expertize or what he/she want to learn, but we can not promote our society or world without common knowledge.

cooking

i recently make dishes for myself almost everyday. i did not cook so frequently like now because i do not like washing dishes after my eating, but i now feel so fine when eating meals i made that i do not hate washing dishes so much. i will try to make many kinds of dishes even if it is difficult to make. And i love to make meals not on the books but i create. Cooking is so fun that i can forget negative things while doing that.

Reading

Recently,I read books every day.and I finish reading one book within one week.I have never read many books in such a short terms.Now that I found reading fun,so I'll continue this habits. Please recommend your favorite books so that I am not tired of reading.

Slow-Food

In the 1960s, Japan's first instant ramen(maybe cup-noodle) changed people's eating habits by making it possible to have dinner in a few minutes. Also fast food companies from U.S changed them greatly. We can eat anytime, anywhere we like. But these chnges raise questions. Do we forget the pleasure of taste? Are we really enjoying the act of eating? I heard in some cuntries people spend more than 2 hours on eating. In such a situation, we can enjoy not only, of course, eating but also conversation. I guess eating make it easy to talk about many things from our heart. That is partly a reason a man asks a woman whom the man likes for a dinner?, I think. Today, many young students commit suicide. I feel it's partly because it is pretty hard for them to have people whom they can tell thier anxieties or worries in present ages. I wonder if slow-food would make thier opportunities to speak thier minds increase?

challenge

hi guys, how are you? On November 4th, there was the figure skating competition. Fumie Suguri, who won 4th prize in Torino Olympic, was one of the attendees of the competition. This time, she has done big challenge to use the music with voice which is banned in the competition. Though she did not acutually use the music with words but the chorus, if the chorus is considered as words, her score would be marked down. Well as a result, her score was not marked down and she got 2nd prize. I think this is really big challenge and she did succeed. It is difficult to change the traditional way, but it is also important to promote the skating situation, I think.

Students committing suicide

Recently we hear news about students committing suicide because of bullying very often. It's too awful that young children are feeling helpless and despair and killing themselves. I also read news article about a principal who committed a suicide because of the required classes issues. I think that he shouldn't have done this not only because we should cherish our lives but also because he is a teacher. He was in a position to teach the students to cherish their precious lives, and help out students from committing suicide. He should have been a person to teach how wrong and tragic suicides are to the children, not kill himselves. I suppose the required classes isuue wasn't the only reason he killed himself, but it's vexing that he did this when we are trying to find a way to show a light to live for the bullyed children. We need to make a environment to help the children from bully by the cooperation of school, family and the government. All the adults and all children ofcourse needs to care about this issue. There's no easy and simple solutions to this problem. We need a great care and perseverance.

killing time??

I 've just got an animation titled"Midget Dancing in Subway" from You Tube. I thought it's interesting, if you have time. Go "You Tube" and watch the animation!

We will never be overweight?

Last Friday, I read an interesting article in USA TODAY. "Scientists find hunger gene." A team of France and Swiss scientists said they discovered a hunger gene in mice that could pave the way for treatments for obesity or alcoholism. The gene generates signals warning of hunger, partly based on a notion of time. The scientists managed to decrease and even cut off the signals of hunger in their experiments. I think this discovery is great because it will prevent being overweight and alcoholism. But on the other hand, I wonder whether it is good to operate our gene. We will not be fat and alcoholism without the operation if we take care of ourselves seriously.

Smoking

In these days, smoking in Aoyama Gakuin univeusity is distinguished. In Sagamihara Campus, some students are same age as me, but they are smoking. So this time, I think about smoking. According to the World Health Organization, smoking kills three million people worldwide each year, and is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the developed world. It is amazing that, in the US, more people are killed by cigarettes than drugs like heroin, auto crashes, homicides and suicides combined. Also in Japan, there is a problem that young people’s smoking. Young boys & girls’ health care are too bad. Their life style is very irregular and has a lot of risk. Cigarette relates most to this serious problem that is now occurring in this society. How can we solve this problem? Nicotine, a drug in tobacco, is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Children and young people often have little understanding of the concept of addiction, and are likely to start smoking because they think it is ‘cool’ to smoke. I think the most important action is to know the danger of cigarette. First, smoking causes lung cancer, and other kind of sickness. Tobacco effects a person under eighteen ten times more than an adult. It means if young people smoke, the percentage of death resulted from smoking goes up. Second, nicotine has a property of dependency. So if you smoke once, you can’t stop smoking because of smoking. It can make free us from stress but not good for our body. Third, smoking has very bad influence on the people around. Smell of tar make people feel worse and the smoke of tobacco make people cough. Smoking has bad influence on your own body, and also other people. These facts are clearly proven by over 50000 studies on tobacco and health in dozens of countries. Nevertheless the problem still not solved. Since in Japan, there are a lot of advertisements about tobacco. A large billboard like “today I smoke”, on the magazine, on the train, at the station and so on. And in Japan, there is a tobacco dispenser. This is the biggest reason why the problem not resolves. I think the government should restrain the advertisement of tobacco. I think it is difficult to stop smoking. But for our age, we must stop smoking. Tobacco effects a person under eighteen ten times than an adult. There are many ways to make free from stress for our age. Do exercise, play outside with friends, you can do anything you like. So I think young people can stop smoking.

it reminds me....

hi, how are you guys doing? it's getting cold, isn't it? i need to get new clothes to keep me warm... lol by the way, the weather reminds me of last year... ya, the ENTRANCE EXAM!!!!! i wasn't studying super hard, but it was still challenging for me. today, i had green tea at home. i was drinking green tea everyday not to catch a cold last year, and today, i was like "ooh! green tea! it reminds me of the studying for entrance exam!! noooooooooooo!!!" yea... lol also i decided to start making my vocabulary bigger, so now im using the book which i used for the entrance exam!!!!!! yes, as you know, everything reminds me of the entrance exam.... sigh i was so depressed when i studied for the entrance exam so i want to forget... :( good thing i passed the exam and have met you guys anyway!!

Visiting my biology teacher

The other day I went to the school festival at Tokyo University of Marine Science & Technology with my friend to meet my former biology teacher. When I was a high school student, I was in his biology class. Thanks to him, I loved biology. Since he is a man of knowledge, his lecture was very interesting. He was only one teacher who had a doctor's degree in my high school, but he moved to Tokyo University of Marine Science & Technology to start his new life as a researcher. His major is systematics of alga, which seems to be kind of boring for most of us. Every day he finds alga in the water, takes it to his laboratory, and categorizes it. And if he finds a new one, he names it in latin language. He said, "Teachers always try to output their knowledge. And I've been a teacher for many years. But now I wanna learn (input) something new, like my students did..." He is in his late 40s, yet he is energetic, with enthusiasm toward learning. Oh, I should study harder than him...'cause I am a college student!! He told me to read a lot of books and newspapers.We talked about our society. At last, he said, "Please don't forget to take me to a bar in Ginza someday. Can't wait for it, ha ha..." I respect him very much. Someday I'm sure I'll meet him again...in Ginza bar. ^o^*)

like a spectacle, too much

I saw today's valley ball match between Japan and Korea on TV. The match itself was really excited... but I feel really strange. What is strange? I think there are too much things that irrevant to the match. Nowadays it has be common that famous singer or entertainer become a "official supporter" and appear on the TV program to cheer the athletes. Or, before or in the middle of the match, those programs broadcast the interviews for athletes in very dramatic way like "She endures hard practices...(in soft and gentle voice)" like that. I heard that TV stations do so is not able to avoid because they must gather people's special attention. And I know that people tend to see such show if the famous actors or actresses appeared. However I think to make sport like a TV show too much bothers the real its attraction. Also those "making stories" are one of the cause of dramatizing news, more important things that happen in real world. I think this "spectaclizing" of sports or news may continue and deepen. How do you guys think about it? is that just too warry?

Bullying System in Japan

In my writing class, we get one assignment to write Problem-Solution essay "what can we do for decrease the number of suicide after being bullied or prevent the suicide with a bullying origin. Exactly, these days I often watch very sad news "students committing suicide after being bullied". "Some people says that Japan is a country that people tend (want?) to bully someone everytime whether they are aware of it or not", famous broadcaster said in his TV program. Thus, Bullying System exists in Japan, nation's mind. I don't necessalily think that the subconscious exists only Japanese, but is it one of the national characters? I also feel that this problem might be related to the discrimination against the minority such as Ainu and Buraku people. Even if it may be impossible to sweep away all bullying completely, what should be done? Or how should we change ourselves?

HORRIBLE

In the hospital in Ehime prefecture, there was a problem that the doctor had been donated ill kidneys to patients who need new kidneys. Most of ill kidneys had a suspicious of cancer or tumor. Recently, we hear many hospital problems. As I hear those news, I feel I don't want to get serious sick.

High Schools failed to teach compulsory subjects

Hi! This week, I heard a very shocking news which is actually related to myself. On Octiber 31st, it turned out that out of 236 high schools in Tokyo prefecture, 11 high schools didn't teach compulsory subjects, such as world history. Of the 11 high schools, Aoyama Gakuin High School was one of them! In Aoyama Gakuin, all 476 third year students failed to learn health, which they were supposed to and lacking 1 credit for graduation. Instead of including health class, the school included gym class in the second year od high school. When I heard about this, I was very surprised and also shocked because I'm a graduate from Aoyama Gakuin High School. That means, my classmates and I didn't get enough credit, but still graduated from high school. I didn't know that you had to take 2 years of health until now. I think it's not fair that some high schools like Aoyama Gakuin didn't teach what they were supposed to teach. Also, I thought that the Japanese university entrance exam system might be the cause of this problem. Other schools cut classes like world history and ethics because these classes are not imprtant for the preparation of the university entrance exam.

things to do

hi there. do you have any plans for these 3 straight holidays?^^ i hope we all can be excited and relaxed, making good use of time. but... next week we have lots of things to do, such as presentation and homework, dont we? i always postpone doing what i should be doing and stay up late finishing it to meet the deadline. meybe i should stop procrastinating^^; anyway, have a wonderful weekend and dont forget to do what you should do!!

Big shopper or Tiny shopper

Well, Do you like shopping at the supermarket?? I love to go supermarket especially foreign to buy something.. of course just have look around there shoulld be good mostly I do that.. I've never missed to go supermarket when I was in overseas.. anyway.. Oneday, I went to Costco to buy some "tiny tiny" things.. As we entered the parking I could smell like feeling overseas.. The feeling is very diffrent from Japanese one.. I got my wish or didn't get my wish..? (To see photo) and big shopper or..? How do you think..? Hope to many bloggers pass comments.. So, I will make sure... If you go to Costco do not get a train.. need a car.. but if you get there by car.. do not buy so much.. the car didn't work well on freeway.. cause of my friend bought too much bottle of soaps and so on.. We got a troubule on freeway....... (just kidding..)

Running Away Naked

A cadre of Palestine's aremed group chosed to be naked in public when he was attacked by the Israeli military. he was taking a shower at his parents's house on a night in October. Then he heard some soldiers scream and realized that he was getting attacked by the Israeli military. He escaped through the window and ran into his friend's house which was 200m away. He is on the wanted list of the Israeli soldiers, and he prefered to be naked in front of people to being caught in prison forever. He said "Next time, I'll go take a shower with my clothes on."