Coming of Age Day

8th, Jan. I had a celemony of coming of age at Fukuoka City. It's important tradition in Japan, you know. However, something was strange for us... At first, I was surprised at the number of people were so many...about 1 milloion!! Since the celemony was held only once, the hall was filled with new adults. The first thing I felt strange was the period of it; it was separated into 2 parts, one is formal (20min.) and the other is informal (45 min.) . Additionally, in the formal period, the speech of the City mayor and City Chairperson was 5min. or so each... Really short!! In the informal part, Hakata Hanamaru Daikichi came, performed and talked. It was interesting and we enjoyed it. Since the celemony ended so fast, I didn't feel I was celebrated. What the charperson said was empty because of the shortage of time. As you know, there are some problems in holding this event, for some guys cannot stand sitting silently for long time, and actually there had some troubles with police and some bad guys... I wanted to drow a line between public through that, but I don't think I could...

Shinichi Hoshi

Do you know Shinichi Hoshi?He is my favorite author.His books were written many years ago,but his books are so interesting and are not out of date.His famous book is called "Bokkochan". By the way,he died the same day as my birthday!!I'm very pleased with it!! His style is called "short-short",and his works contain comedy,environmental issue,science fiction and horror. I'm sure his books don't get you boring!! How about reading his books if you are tired with life!? His books will give you some excitements!!

Brazil opens central Amazon to logging

I read this article, "Brazil openz central Amazon to logging" in International Herald Tribune (Jan 15, 2007). It said that the Brazilian gobernment plan to set to go into effect this year will bring large-scale logging deep into the heart of the Amazon rain forest for the first time. I'm writing a report about environmental problem in another class and found this article. I was a little shocked and am worry about the rain forest. I don't want it to be destroied and if it gets badly damaged it sure will affect the earths environment and encourage grobal warming. I understand that it's a problem to live for the people in Brazil, and we Japanese are the ones that are buying the woods from other countries eventhough we have lots of trees inside our country. We say we should save the green, and it means green IN JAPAN, and we keep on using woods from oversea. We need to realize this point and reconcider about the environmental issues.

SAW

Do you know the movie called "SAW"? I watched this movie with my classmates. This is a kind of suspense and horror movie. The murderer in this movie said "if you really want to live, you have to do anything like killing inoccent people. " When I was seeing the movie,I carefully tried to find out the murderer,but I couldn't. And maybe you'll be surprised when you see the last scene. My opinion about this movie is surely living own life is very important thing,but killing inoccent people to live is wicked thing!! But in the war, I can't say such ideal words... Anyway "SAW" makes you think something important!! But if you don't like horror movie, you don't have to see because after you see the movie, you can't go to restroom alone!!

HUMAN ZOO

Do you know about HUMAN ZOO in Australia?? An Australian zoo has put a group of humans on display to raise awareness about primate conversation. The humans will be locked in an unused orangutan cage at Adelaide Zoo. They will eat bananas and will be monitored by a psychologist who hopes to use the findings to improve conditions for real apes in captivity. Audiences can vote for their favorite "ape". At the end of the month, a "super human" will be selected to represent the zoo. One of the human apes said, "get myself out of my comfort zone and to get a week off work." On the ather hand, some onlooker disappointed this human zoo. I am surprised at this news! I do not understand why this human zoo has been selected as the way to create awareness of the closeness of humans to their primate cousins because the article did not have much information. So I cannot say whether human zoo is good. If you interested in this zoo, check the web site! (Humanzoo.com.au)

Fujiya scandal

hi. Im sure you already know about fujiya's old-milk scandal and some of you posted adds about it. I was surprised and shocked to hear that news. But I don’t think this is a very serious problem. For one reason, consumption date is usually written a few days before than the real consumption date. Next, this is from a kind of a biologic point of view, but bacteria propagate many times in normal temperature. Before, pastry chefs kept ingredients which could easily get lots of bacteria like custard cream in normal temperature, not in the fridge. This is not permitted by the Food sanitation law now as biology developed. But no problem happened at that time, and Fujiya had no customer who ate those products and got ill so far. I felt that as biology and science developed, there would be more strict sanitation standards. Although they are very improtant to protect our health, the progress of those doesn’t always give us a good result, I think.

U.S. extra troops

hi, last Friday, i read an article about U.S. troops. George W. Bush has decided to send about 21,500 extra U.S. troops to Iraq. the purpose of this is "secure Baghdad." his new strategy will be better to resolve the Iraq problem than the old strategy, he thinks. i think, however, his new strategy will improve nothing. just think, who are the U.S. troops? they are American young armies!! i suppose this new plan will lead to an increse of American victims.

Shocking Murder

Do you know the news that college student was killed by her own brother? His reason of killing his own sister is just because he got angry when his sister said to him,"You can't have dream because you never study." Such a word killed her life. I think youngstars in Japan should learn how to calm down themselves,and they also have to learn that killing people is most worst thing.

HERMANN KAFKA

I am reading a book whose name is HERMANN KAFKA written by Haruki Murakami. I wanted him to be awarded a Nobel prize for literature, but it didn't happen. His nobel includes some kind of philosophical ideas, so I have difficulity in understanding what he want to say. Besides, I must study hard now because of tests and reports. therefore, after ending tests, I will read this book again. In next time, I will spend more time in reading it.

Japanese culture

On New Year's Day, I spent time with my family at my grandmother's house in Ibaraki. I wore a Kimono, ate Osechi, and had a very good time with my relatives. Of course I got Otoshidama. In Japan, there are many traditional events and customs. However, I think young people are now not interested in them. Actually there are litttle opportunities for us to wear a Kimono and we tend to prefer Western food to tradtional Japanese food. I suppose we Japanese should be proud of our culture and protect them.Fortunately, our culture has become very popular all over the world such as Manga. I had belonged to tea ceremony club for 3 years, but there are still so many things I don't know about. I think it is very important for us to learn and send our culture to our posterity.

anxiety for life

According to the survey of the government, about 68% of Japanese people are worried about their daily lives by various aspects such as life plan of their old ages, social security, and health. and the number of people are the largest. This survey shows that especially they requests the government the structual reform of social security and a mesure of aging society. It is said that the economy has recovered in Japan, but there are many problems to solve.

morals in Japan

A fall of morals becomes a serious problem in Japan recently. I watched TV news which reported about a coming-of-age ceremony. The scene that a new adult acted violently was not rare anymore. However, I think it to be very ashamed as the same Japanese. A person should take responsibility for one's behavior because I think all the more if it is an adult. Moreover, graffities to Shinto shrines and troubles between passengers in a train become a serious problem, too. We have to be careful about not only ourselves but also others wherever we are.

Natto

Do you like Natto? I love it!!! But i often hear some people don't like because of its smell or its taste. According to the article,there is a boom ofNatto for Diet. Because it get much popular than before,Natto is sold out. I'm happy to hear that. let's eat Natto for your health .

Tokyo Disney SEA!!

On January 7th,I went to Tokyo Disney SEA with my boyfriend. It was my first visit so I enjoyed it very very much!Because of strong wind all of shows were called off but it was fine day so no problem. When we took dinner in a restaurant,unexpectedly 5 spanish people came into the restaurant and they started to sing and play instruments!Live concert!!It was wonderful.I take Spanish class at the university so I could hear some of the spanish words. Next time I'll go there,I want to stay at HOTEL MIRACOSTA.

Does 'Kouhaku' still need?

'Kouhaku uta gassen' is one of the Japanese famous TV program which broadcasted on new year's eve and many musician sing his or her hit song.Last year was 57th 'Kouhaku'---but its audience rating was so terrible.Especially in Kansai it was 28.5%. I think Japanese people are no longer interested in 'Kouhaku' because its TV structure is boring and young people do not like enka.Also there is K-1 at the same time so young people tend to see it. To keep traditional style is very important of course,but it is aiso needed to change as time changes.

Beckham go to America

David Beckham will leave Real Madrid and join the Los Angels Galaxy in MLS(Mejor League Soccer), the soccer league of America. And Ronald and Davids(Dutch player) may go to America, too. You might think soccer is not popular in America, but it's not true. Soccer is now very popular especially among young people. Besides, the national team of America is very good and much stronger than the national team of Japan!!!!!! Soccer become more and more popular in America by those famous players. And someday, America may win the World Cup!!! Try hard, Japan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

four thousand million yen!!!!!

Can you guess how big the scale of four thousand million yen is? It is the money that the office of Ichiro Ozawa ,the leader of democratic party,used as annual budge in 2005. They don't need the receipt for the reckoning,according to the article that i read.I was so surprised. Sometimes we hear the news of scandal on the political finance. There was a distrust to Shintaro Ishihara ,principle of Tokyo-to,last year that he used the some money to go out with his family.(i don't know the details...sorry) anyway,how to use and move the politival finance should be more definitely.

four thousand million yen!!!!!

Can you guess how big the scale of four thousand million yen is? It is the money that the office of Ichiro Ozawa ,the leader of democratic party,used as annual budge in 2005. They don't need the receipt for the reckoning,according to the article that i read.I was so surprised. Sometimes we hear the news of scandal on the political finance. There was a distrust to Shintaro Ishihara ,principle of Tokyo-to,last year that he used the some money to go out with his family.(i don't know the details...sorry) anyway,how to use and move the politival finance should be more definitely.

Persistance is power!!!

Today, there are so many methods of diet. we can get the information from TV, the Internet, magazines, etc. And we often try to lose our weights by using those methods. Then, Why can't we lose our weights even if the methods are almost not false. The reason is that we can continue one method. There are many booms of diet like Soy milk, Kuro-ZU, cutting carbohydrate, natto, etc... And everytime the booms happen, we try to use those methods. We stop one method before the effect appears. We should continue only one method and do it thoroughly!!!!!!!!!

A gig should be.......

The other day, I went to a gig of my friends' band. I"ll list up what I thougt when I watched the gig. ①A Vocal should sing facing forward. ②Guitarists shouldn't use too many effecters(divices which change the sound ) . ③It'd better if the guitar sound is straight and simple. ④Players should have confidence. ⑤Players should be either cool or strange.The halfway is not good. ⑥The atmsphere the band makes is very important. ⑦The most important thing is that doing thoroughly. Anything is OK.

immigration

Yesterday,one family from Iran went to immigration office in Tokyo and urged to permit the stay in Japan with all family members. They have ordered to be back to their homeland,Iran,last year because they undocument residents. In this case,the elder girl who is going to go to the junior college this April will be permitted the stay. Generally,Japanese foreign ministry is said to be negative to accept foreigners as immigrants.It's true.Now it's getting moregraing society and declining the birth-rate,we need the workers from foreign countries. So,I hope it's getting mush easier to stay in Japan for foreigners or immigrants.

FUJIYA

Did you hear the trouble of Fuji-ya? They used the milk which is out-of-date into cream puffs. What is worse,they didn’t announse to the public for 2 months!!!!! I think it is deserved that consumer can’t believe and come not to choose their product for a while.All company should be care their products,ingredients and manufacturing process.If they ignore to do so,they should be punished strictly.

my favorite TV drama

Tonight,my favorite TV drama,it names”tyura-san”start again!!!!!I think most people knows this drama because its famousness. The story is just telling daily life.But its so heartwarming story with many loves. Recently many sad affairs are around us.This drama gives hints to improve the communication and reduce affairs like someone kill his/her family.Why don’t you check it out!!It starts at 9:00 tonight and next Saturday,too.

difference in the class

In this week ,one teacher ,whom class I took during this semester, taught me and other students about the diffrence of the class in the university between Japan and United States or other countries.It’s so interesting for me. When we are job-hunting,the companies in Japan tend not to pay so mush attention to our grades although companies in other countries tend to pay attention to the grades. In Japan(I think our department’ International communication depatment’ doesn’t match.),many classes are easy to be absent or pretend to be present,like sleeping or daihitsu in Japanese.And if we do so,they are almost no trouble like we come to be disable to catch up with class or other students.But the class in the U.S. and the other countries are not easy to do so because the class is so hard with many reading or reports and we can’t catch up with the class. It means there become the gap of the quality of the class,I think. I hope both the quality of the class and the eagerness of the students to learn improve and what my teacher said became wrong someday.

American soldiers in Iraq

At the congress in the United States,the discussion whether the number of soldiers in Iraw should be increased or not. According to the research,over 60 percent of citizens in the U.S. disagree to increase the soldiers .On the other hand, under 25 percent of citizens agree to do so. I don’t want to increase the soldiers in Iraq because it is not effective against its condition.Now,it look like war in Iraq. I saw the documentary TV program about the reality of soldier in Iraq. Many soldiers who sending to frontline,the most dangerous zone,are from local fire company or like that.It means they don’t discipline enough and they also aren’t given enough weapons even for their protection of themselves. Actually I don’t know the real condition.But I think it’s possible. I’m eager to improve their environment and decrese the number of death in Iraq.

lost the brother...

This morning,I heard the news that Hitomi Yosizawa,the leader of morning-musume,lost her yonger brother to traffic accident. I know how sad the lost of family member forever is.So,I can imagine her feeling just now. She has noticed the importance or her love to her brother when her brother was alive (I don’t know it was enough or not for her…).Most people can’t truly realize the feeling of gratefulness or preciousness of the someone before they lose the someone. Now do you truly think about how wonderful it is that family or friends exist beside you?

Nutscracker

On December 25th,I appeared one of the famous ballet piece 'Nutcracker' in Mie.It was my previous ballet school's performance and I was special guest as OB. Nutcracker is the story about one girl named Clara,starnge dool(nutcracker) and the world of sweets.One christmas night at Clara's house there was big christmas party and she was given nutcracker by one of the bidden guest.At that night she fell asleep in her sofa---in her dream,she went to wonderful world of sweets. This piece is one of the great works of Chaikovskii.I want everyone to see this at least once in your life!If you hope,I lend you MY video.

About supplement

Taking supplements has not only good points but also bad points. Recent young people has no time so if one cannot have time to take meal he can take necessary nutrition.Also we can choose what type of nutrition we have to take by taking supplements. But eating is one of the 3 big desires of human being.If people only take supplements and never eat anything,it is very dull story.Food has looks,smells,chews but supplements hasn't those wonderful factor. So it is important to think that our basement of taking nutrition is eating food and supplements are the second-hand means.

About Diet

I studied about DIET in the class of Aoyama standard.Today,I'll talk about diet. For 12 years I did classic ballet.As you know,ballerina have to do severe diet in order to keep her good proportion.Of course I did---when I was high school student I weigh only 42kg! My ballet friend nozomi was as old as me and she also weighed only 38kg.However, because of hard diet she lose her menstruation. She went to the hospital for receiving treatment but she couldn't recover her symptom. Recently one famous fashion model died of anorexia.We have to rethink about excessive diet.

Hakone

In November,Iwent to Hakone with my best friend Rina. She is my old friend from junior high school and she comes to Tokyo for university as well. Also she and I went to the same ballet school for 6 years so we are very good friend. In Hakone,we went to Pora Museum for seeing ballet feature.There were so many great pieces mainly drawn by Claude Monet,Marc Chagall and Salvador Dali.I like Dalis' one the best. It was cold and the leaves already turned red.It was so beautiful. Next time I want to go to spa.

bird flu

The disastrous bird flu is spreading all over the world. But a new chance to prevent the spreading has appeared from Osaka. According to Mainichi Newspaper on January 9th, Osaka Hygienic Institute has found the way to diagnose the bird flu virus in only ten minutes. Until then it took time to make a difference of the bird flu virus and human virus, but they have found the way to make a difference between the two. I hope this work would save our world from spreading the bird flu in some way.

Look at it!!!!!!!!!

When I eat " Koara no march", I look at the pictures and check what the koara like. But I've just noticed that when I eat "Ottotto", snacks which take the shapes of many kinds of fish, I don't check the figures!!!!! The same thing happens to " Tabekko Dobutsu", cookies which take the shape of many kinds of animals. I think we should look the pictures or shapes because the makers must have tried very hard to create those!!!www

Cut offed head left in Machida

Have you heard the news about the cut offed head left in a park in Machida? I was very shocked because he park was near my friend's house, and I have passed there before. I also heard that the murderer who killed the person and cut off the body parts, used Odakyu line carrying the head. I use Odakyu line to come to school and to go home everyday so I was threaten. We here many murder news these days. Why is this, and aren't there any ways to improve the situation? Everybody is tired of hearing all this horible news but there are no sign for and end of this rage. We still get shocked by these news and I'm glad that atleast we still are not completely used to the terrible mureder cases.

Thanks to...

You know that the we finished this class on last Tuesday, right? Now I want to say thank you to Seba-chan!! Thank you for your teaching and kindness! I think we came to think about issues around us more than before the class began. Well, still we are on the way to be mature(I think...), this class was very worthy for us to be. Also, I want to say thank you to my friends in this class! Especially to the members of some projects(I can not say who though...). I think we improved each other. Of course, we will corporate togather in next English classes! Thank you!!!!!!

My hopes in 2007

A happy new year, everyone!!!!!It's little to late to say that........but it'd be OK!!!!!!!! Anyway, What's your hopes in 2007?? My hopes are: ①Taking exercise regularly ②To stop eating between meals ③To stop eating fat things etc............ In short, I wanna be thinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Balance

Now I don't have a boy friend or am not in love with someone. It is kind of easy to live without such a boy because I do not have to suffer from the way to approach or how he thinks. Well, I kind of disturb my life when I worry about such things... :P But sometimes I come to be sad that I'm not in love with someone. We can live without such feelings, but to be in love is very precious and fun. Humm... difficult. Well, I'm not going to rush my self to love someone, just will see around and find someone special someday☆。・ Boys and girls who has lovers, please take care of him or her! Boys and girls who is in love with someone, please make much of the feeling of love! Boys and girls who is in the situation like me, please do not rush your self and just improve your self! Good luck everyone<3

English and Me

This is the last blog I write. I have never wrote my jounal in English, so this assignment was little difficult for me, but it improve my English skill a little. This time, I would like to write about English and myself. Practically, English is the most popular language in the world since many years ago. I started studying English when I was 1st grade of elementary school. Since my school was private school, I had a English lesson once a week. It was really fun, and I was interested in English a lot. When I became 4th grade, I had to go to America, because of my father's work. And English became the most important communication tool for me. In America, it was fun, but sometimes I had a trouble because my English wasn't good enough. These experiences let me enter to this department. Nowadays, I decided to study abroad. So, I study English harder than before. I hope I will be an international person in the future!!

Paparazzi

Do you know paparazzi? They are the camera men who chase famous people(actors, athletes...). It is now the propblem that the number of paparazzi is increasing in England since the pictures of famous people are sold at a high price. Therefore the English newspaper company, News International, has stopped publish those pictures in newspapers. I think paparazzi violate people's privacy, but generaly people are interested in such scoops. Since people want them, the paparazzi would never disappear, I think...

DJ OZMA

Did you see the Kouhaku Utagassen last year? If you did, you would remember DJ Ozma's direction. They had the costumes that looks like the dancers are naked. The problem is not only the costume but also that they have changed the costumes after the rehearsal. NHK banned them to go into NHK. Although DJ OZMA apologized NHK, I think they are repared to be scoled. I think they just wanted to leave big impression on people. Well, it is not so big problem for young peple, but it may have shocked old people and left bad imression of Kouhaku Utagassen. Therefore they should not do such thing again and should never appear on NHK TV.

The Devil wears PRADA

At the end of the year, I met a brilliant movie, which title is; "The Devil wears PRADA" I will quote the summary of this movie. The story tells the professional adventure of Andrea, whose greatest dream is to become a journalist. Andrea gets a job in the fashion industry through Runway magazine, the most famous of its type, to make ends meet. But Andrea won't develop her writing skills in the magazine, but her talents as the editor in chief's assistant, Miranda. The problem is that Miranda is a merciless, posh and cruel woman, making the experience a living hell for the girl. The environment in the place will be cold and extremely critical with the physical appearance. The girl will have to change her simple and plain style, for a more trendy and elegant one, in order to gain the acceptance of her ruthless boss and colleagues, specially Emily, her unpleasant workmate. Despite everything against Andrea in the office, she will consider the experience as a challenge, drastically changing her clothes and self-image, with the help of Nigel, the magazine's art director. Nevertheless, the job becomes extremely demanding, because of Miranda's tough work rhythm and nearly impossible tasks, leaving Andrea without a private life with her boyfriend, family and friends. Maybe the old Andrea has gone, now more preoccupied about her image and her future in the magazine. I think this was a wonderful movie! It uses really easy English, so I could understand what they said without caption. Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep acted so beautifully, and also interesting. So this movie become the best comedy I have ever seen! Also, costume was all pretty, so it made me happy! I reccommend this movie for all my friends, especially girls!

Solitary death

I read the article about solitary death caused by Hanshin Awaji Earthquake. There are 66 cases that the elderlies die alone. Some of their bodies were found a month after their death. I think that it is problem that the number of the elderlies' death by theirselvs. They experienced such a terrible disaster, then they live by their selves(since their parters went away...) and die alone. It's very sorrowful, I think. To solve the problem, there are some services that inform someone that the aged is alive or in danger. Therefore the government should forse people to put the service like this.

Global Issues 5

"To increase enrollment and provide better education, school systems have to invest in training teachers and improving facilities. But many poor countries already spend a substantial share of their GDP on education." (from miniatlas of Millennium Development Goals) This information is about Education Expenditure. (1998-2002) Public expenditure on education per student is 20% and over of GDP per capita in the United States, Japan Italy, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia and so on. In contrast, the expenditure figure is under 10% in Libya, Indonesia, Peru and so on. Many people think that education is like an investment for future. Education can be solution of many global issues such as Gender Equality and HIV/AIDS. I believe if many countries stop using money on war and decide to use the numerous amount of WAR expenditure for Education instead, the world might be good, confortable to live, wonderful world.

Global Issues 4

"The percentage of people living in eztreme poverty has fallen fastest in Asia, notably in China and India. In the rest of the developing world, poverty rates have increased or fallen only slightly." (from miniatlas of Millennium Development Goals) This information is about poverty. (1995-2003) Over 50% of people were living on less than $1 a day in Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and other some African countries.

In worldwide, 1.1 billion people were living on less than $1 a day in 2001.

Then, how about Japan? Thesedays, also in Japan, some people mentions a cleavage in Japanese society between the rich and the poor. But I feel we can easilly get food and waste food easilly in our consumption-oriented society. I am sure that it is necessary to notice that we waste things around us in daily life.

Tragic affair

Tragic affair has raised up at the beginning of year 2007. A girl who has a dream to be an actress has murdered; cutting her body apart, by her brother. He murdered his sister because she said to him"I have a dream, and I try hard to reach that dream. But you don't." What a tragic affair raised up? According to the newspaper, he kept his sister's remain in his house! I can not imagine his feeling or thoughts. Maybe he couldn't stop feeling an irresistible impulse to kill her. But isn't it just a arguing like kids? Also, I think lack of communication raise this affair up. Why the family didn't have any opportunities to speak together? If they did, it must be able to improve the situation. I hope the affair like this won't happen in the future.

Global Issues 3

"Official development assistance (ODA) is provided by the richest countries to the poorest. Through much of the 1990s ODA levels fell. Since 2002 donors have pledged to increase aid by $20 billion a year in 2006 and to provide more than $100 billion a year by 2010. But new commitments will meet only a fraction of the need." (from the sourse of miniatlas of Millennium Development Goals) Japanese government uses a lot of money for international aid. However, Japanese ways of international aid are often criticized by developped countries. It is clear that the quality of AID is more important than the quantity of AID. Japan should support in effective and maintainable ways in fact.

Asakusa

In winter vacation, I had a part time job at Asakusa! I worked at a rice-cracker store, which is the most famous store in Asakusa Nakamise-Dori. On Januay 8th, it was Coming of Age Day, and I saw a lot of beautiful women wearing pretty Kimono! They were all brilghtened and looked as they were perfect adult. A year later, I will become 20 years old. I hope I could be like beautiful women I saw at Asakusa! So, year 2007, I will try hard to be a beautiful woman!

Death sentences

According to Mainichi Newspaper on January 9th, death penalty declined in the US. The data went down to the data thirty years ago. On the other hand, according to New York Times on January 1st, death penalty rose. Japanese courts sentenced 44 people to death in 2006. I also heard on the news recently that China sentences death penalty easily. I was surprised when I heard that people who smuggled drug to China were sentenced to death. I think the US is starting to think about death penalty more seriously. For Japan, I think serious crimes are increasing. Or maybe there are some strange sentences of death penalty. I agree with death penalty, but I think this penalty should be sentenced more carefully.

Global Issues 2

"Globally, 42 million people are now living with HIV/AIDS. In 2002, 5 million were newly infected with HIV and 3.1 million were killed by AIDS. The epidemic is developing rapidly in new areas, and is growing fastest in parts of the Europe and Central Asia region. UNAIDS warns that 11 million more people will acquire HIV in Asia by 2007 unless effective action is taken." I got this information of HIV/AIDS from miniatlas of GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT. Not only in developing countries but also in developped countries, HIV/AIDS is a big problem. (in 2001) In Japan, infected adults (ages 15-49 years) is under 0.5% . In United States, the figure is 0.5%-4.9%. In South Africa (and some African countries), amagingly the figure is 20% and over! Even if the Japanese number of living with HIV/AIDS is lower than that of South Africa, the fact that many infected people are living without knowledge and effective care does not changed.

Woooooooooooo!!

New boyfriend!!! We got together on November 11st so yesterday was our 2 months anniversary.We are getting along so well! On December 21st, we did a small christmas party at my home with good taste 2 cakes and MOËT & CHANDON.I gave him a new wallet for christmas present and he gave me a pair necklace. Also this mouth has my birthday so... I expect him to give me a great present.hu-hu-hu...

Japanese religion

Happy new year, everyone! Long time no see!!To tell a truth, I forgot the existence of this blog... But I have to get a grade! Anyway,for my first point of year 2007, I would like to write about Japanese religion. In America, over 80% are christian, so they go to church every Sunday, pray before meals, and at Christmas time, they attend worship and celebrate Jesus Christ's birth. Their belief in God is very obvious in their daily lives. Even presidend Bush sometimes quote the part of bible in his speech. How about in Japan? I think the most major religion in Japan is Buddhism, but I think Japanese citizens don't know what religion we belong to. Because we don't have a custom that go to shrine every week. But almost all Japanese pay a visit to a shrine on New Year's Day! Isn't it strange phenomenon? I don't know why it happens. But I think it is one of Japanese characteristic. Anyway, I went to Meiji shurine too! There are soooooo many people! I can not understand Japanese peculiarity. see-ya:)

Global Issues 1

"Ninety-nine percent of maternal deaths occur in developing countries, with more than half occurring in Africa. In many poor African countries, on mother dies for every 100 children born." This is a statistic of Maternal Mortality. I get this information from miniatlas of Millennium Development Goals. Maternal death means that woman die in pregnancy or childbirth. I have not known that larges number of mother, especially in Africa, face to the dangerous and terrible condition. I am female. And I hope to have babies in the future. Is the problem far from us? Not only women but also men should know the facts worldwide.

BSE

Now I'll talk about BSE problem. I think that it is O.K. to accept American beef because of three reasons---Japanese good quality check system, our lack of knowledge and our everlastingly desire of comsumption of meat. First, Japanese check system of BSE cows has very good quality so if we import American dangerous beaf Japanese BSE checker will help us to infect BSE desease. Second,we won't be able to judge if that meat is dangerous or not because of our lack of expert knowledge.We just buy packed meat so there is no difference for us comsumers whether Japan will accept American beaf. Third, our desire to want to eat beaf will not end off.Nowadays our life is full of meat so we can't put up with NO-MEAT life. Because of these reasons, I think there is no prolem to import American beaf.

vice-ambassador

In October, I became vice-ambassador of my snowboarding circle. From childhood I like to pull people together.In fact I did the leader of my class when I was in the first year of junior high school. So I'm very looking forward to doing my jobs.

granpa went into the hospital

In september, my grandfather suddenly fainted on his way work. He works at hospital and he fell down just in the front of THAT hospital, so he was lucky because there were many people and appropriate procedure was taken very soon. His symptom was anemia but when fell down he broke his left arm so he had to be in hospital for 14 days. Now he is fine and works at the hospital. We have to take care about our nutrition balance too.

Miracle

Hey, guys. How are you doing? I recently think the miracle that I could meet you. As you know, the number of people on the earth is more than 6billion. In this huge nuber of people, we could be born in Japan, pass the exam of AGU, then come to this class. How wonderful that is! Well, it can say not only in our class, but also in our daily meeting. I think all of our encounters are miracle. Family, friends, teachers, people who pass by... and so on. Maybe your life is not like how it is now, if you didn't meet some of them. Well, if your parents did not meet each other, you are even not here!! As think this way(all the meeting is miracle), don't you come to think that we should take care of all the relationships around us? Now, don't you ignore your parents? Don't you take it as a matter of course that your friends are there for you? Please rethink about the people around you.

Fujiya

I read the article that sweets maker 'Fujiya' used theingredients which are out of expiration date and conceal it. I think that sweets make people happy and give kind of dreams to children, but since Fujiya did such a silly thing, we have to have doubt whether the sweet is safe or not. When we have sweets, we usually relax and are healed, however this doubt will make us worry and unconfortable. Therefore I'm really sad that sweets maker caused this kind of problem... 'Peko-chan' has nothing to deal with it :(

War and Environmental Issue

Do you think War has some relationship with Environmental Issue? During this winter vacation, I found an interesting book in the book store. The title is "I have thought that War is not related to the Environmental Issue"(Tanaka Yuu/ Iwanami booklet). When I caught the title at first time, I thought "yeah, I think so. Is there any connection between them in reality?" Then, I reached the book and read a little bit. ...I was shocked. It explained the system of War and Money, and some relationship between War and Environmental Issues. Also, it had shocking graghs as evidence. I bought it. Now, I start to read it and to face to the reality. If anyone get some interests in this book, please try to find in the book store.

Aoyama Gakuin High English entrance exam in 2005

Do you know that Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School hurt feelings of people who survived the Himeyuri squad of the battle of Okinawa in its entrance examination in 2005, saying "boring"? As the problem was widely broadcasted by mass media, not only people who survived the Himeyuri squad but also people in Okinawa, and even people in Japan depressed and got angry. Actually, I've read the whole text. In my opinion, this is a problem, but what the author wanted to say is significant and persuasive to us. The text is too careless to war victims. Perhaps they don't want to talk any more, but they are telling their terrible experiences because they don't want young people to make the same mistake again. It could be a personal opinion, but not in the entrance exam. However, I sympathize with the author in other parts of the text. We have less opportunity to listen to firsthand messages from war victims in the future, and how we can pass our war experiences to the next generations? In the text, the author says it is very important to visit war sites. From my experiences, I think visiting war sites is the most effective way to start thinking about the war, especially for younger people because we can feel something spiritual there and experience what had happened.

Apple's iPhone

Happy New Year everyone!! For my first post of the year 2007, I'd like to tell you all about the Apple's new product which was introduced last Thursday. On Thursday, January 4th, after 2 and half years of development, Apple Computer Inc. introduced a new product, iPhone, which has multifunction of cellphone, iPod music player, and internet. It's very thin, close to the appearence of iPod nano and operates by touching the screen.The price will be $499 for a 4-gigabyte version and $599 for 8 GB. It will be available in June. I really am looking forward to seeing the iPhone although, it's little to expensive to afford it for myself. I sawthe picture of the iPhone on the internet and it doesn't look like a cellphone at all! It's more like a smaller PC screen. I'm also interested in how the new product is going affect the cellphone market in Japan. Will it affect the percentage of major companies share like DoCoMo, au, and Soft Bank?? We definetly have to keep an eye on the iPhone!!

Israeli Baseball League

Happy New Year! Last year was a good year for me. I got many friends and I experienced various things. I hope this year also will be a nice year for you all and me! Today, I will talk about the baseball league in Israel. In June, the baseball league will be start in Israel, and now, the former general managers for major league are giving tryouts to the people who love baseball. The league is welcoming Jews and gentiles alike in hope of bringing baseball to Israel and turning the violence-torn Jewish state into the next great baseball power. All the people who wants to play in the league are not young. There was a 67 year-old unsuccesful man who survived Holocaust. I am glad to hear this news!! because I love baseball. I have been sorry about baseball to be popular only in America and around Japan. So I hope that Islaeli league will be succeded and more and more people will be interested in baseball. Then, I want the conflicts to decrease through playing and cheering baseball. I think baseball has a big power! By the way, one more thing I am interested in is the way to cheer the baseball team. Like between America and Japan, the way to cheer is very different. Japanese baseball fan always sing and loud together, but the American do no that . American supporter cheer the players in their own ways. The way to cheer represents the national character. So, I am interested how Israeli people will cheer the players:-)

School for returnee kids!

According to an article from the Japan Times, the Nagoya Municipal Government has decided to open a public school in 2010 for students who return from abroad before entering 10th grade. The reason lies in the fact that there are many returnee students these days because of the companies expansion to overseas. According to this article, 725 returnee students are enrolled at public and middle schools in Nagoya, and the number is rising. The goal for this school is to help children aquire an international way of thinking and is planned to teach Japanese and mathmatics in an proficiency -based way, and other classes such as Japanese history and geography together with other regular students. It said that they are also planning to provide English conversation lesson after school as well. In my opinion, I think that this is a great opportunity for returnee kids, because there are many kids who cannot catch up with the school work easily. Also, given an opportunity to speak English after school is a good way to maintain their English skill. When I returned from abroad, I remember taking many extra lessons at cram school to catch up with the school work. However, if they could be taught Japanese and mathmatics, the subjects which are hard to keep up with just by going to Japanese schools abroad, they would not have to do such thing, and easily aquire the skills. Therefore, I am for the plan to open a school for returnee kids.

Carbon Offset

Do you know the word "Carbon Offset" or "Carbon Neutral"? I found those words in Asahi Shimbun, yesterday evening. One woman joined the eco-tour to Austria to look around its power plants which generate alternative energy. But by using planes to her round-trip, the plane exhausted 2 tons of CO2. It worthes 1/5 of an annual amount of discharged CO2 per capita. She paid a NGO and ask to plant some trees in Mongolia. The NGO calculated that trees would compesant the CO2 which she had generated in 20 years. Such movement to compesant the CO2 which a person discharged with cooperation in activities that decrease CO2 or generate alternative energy is called "Carbon Offset" or "Carbon Neutral". Last year it was gathered some attentions. The world cup which held in Germany was involved this activity; 0.1 million of CO2 that has increased during the games was compensated by investment in environmental services in developing countries. I haven't known such activity. I think that cannot be fundamental solution in CO2 problems because investment and afforestation can't catch up the discharged amount. We have to serch more effective way, I think. But it is better to do something than not to do anything. I will do it in my next trip...

killing younger sister

I have read an article about big brother killing younger sister and cutting her body apart. He killed his younger sister just beause she said "I have dreams, but you don't have any dreams. and you don't study, your dreams wouldn't come true." to him. I could hardly imagine it was the reason for a murder. It's just like kids arguing. Also, cutting the body... How could we do that? It's ridiculous. Family members should love each other, don't you think so?

The Importance of HUG

The other day, 100 years old man who still works as a preschool director was interviewed in one TV program. Interviewer asked, "Last year, 2006, we watched a lot of news about commiting suicide after being bullied. It became a big big problem. What can solve this bullying problem?" He answered, "Some people says that in order to solve the problem, school should take some measures like withdrawing the person who bullied in practice from school. However, I feel that the most important thing is parents' love for children. Especially, It is really significant for children to be loved untill 3 years old." After watching this program, I think of my childhood. When I was a child, my mother often hug me. Still now, I remember the warm hug of my mother. Then, I came up with one idea, HUGGING! American often do it, but in Japan, hugging is not so popular. To show love warmly and directly, let's get accustomed to hugging! I hope that in the future, children will feel parents' love more easily through hugging and children who being bullied will take another choice, not commiting suicide.

How do you spend new year holidays?

According to data from Yomiuri Newspaper, many people spend first three days of new year at their home. On the first three days of year 2006, more than 45 percent of people spent their holidays at home almost all day. Those people mainly watch TVs and surf on internet to relax at home. On the data, second to most is "go to shrine on January 1st" and the third "go to new year sale from 2nd." I had a part-time job today so I did not get to go to new year sale, but I will on the third!! I'm so excited! But did you know there are something that we cannot forget? TESTS and REPORTS!!!!! Oops, better get started!!