Now many Japanese politicians are busy to preare for the coming election for the House of Councilors in July. We can find easily the politicians making a speech on the street recently. My friend reported me that he saw an ex-prime minister eating ramen in an local city ramen restaurant. I think he comes to the city to make a speech for the election.
I am often checking the manifests of each political parties on a newpaper or the parties' home page. It is interesting for me to read their future vision of our society. As you can easily understand, thier vision is made beautiful. We wouldn't trust it at all, though. But, anyway, thier vision must influence on our society more or less. So, we should know them fully.
When recently reading the biggest two parties in Japan, LDP and DP, I thought, to be honest, our future vision is very poor. Certainly they are talking about many issues Japanese are interested in. For example, the pension problem is a big issue. Now Japanese pension system have to be designed totally again, due to the bad management by the government. Some people have the risk to lose their pension in the future.
Event though I know the pension problem is important for our life, I am not interested in it so much.
The problem of the people kidnapped by North Korea seems to be a big issue in Japan. To solve this issue is treated as the important issue for our future especially in LDP's manifesto. But, I can't have, unfortunately, the same sympathy with the issue.
What am I unsatisfied with?
For me, their manifestos look very domestic. They are looking only at the issues the voter are interseted in. It is okey to get their vote, but I think Japanese future vision at this moment should be more international.
As I wrote it in this blog before, Japan should have their own immigrant policy. Even though Japanse government is thinking that Free Trade Agreement is an important economic policy, they don't think the physical moving of foreigners is the key of the success of the policy.
It is very surprising for me that there is not the word "foreinger" in their manifests. The existence of foreign people seems to be out of our future.
Now the number of foreirners coming to Japan for sightseeing is growing. Last year the number was the biggest. The percentage of international marriage in Japan is also growing. Now 5% of all marriages in Japan is the combination of Japanese and foreigner. So, I can't understand why Japanese big political parties don't have general policy for foreigners.
At the end of July, can I vote for anyone? I am not sure now.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
VS Rain
At last rainny season has started in Japan. The ministry of weather mis-forcast the beginning as usual, though. They thought it would come earlier.
For a book-sales man( maybe for everyone), this season is very annoying. Rain is a big enemy for books. So, I don't want to go out from my office. I tend to stay in my office now. It's more confortable. My business performance might be bad now.
But also for my cliants, this season seems to be bad. They are losing any motivation to work. Today, I met a professer for business. He is old. He doesn't want to do anything this tiring season. When I visited him, he gave me a cup of coffee soon without talking about business. At the moment, only he wanted to do was just to be relaxed with someone. It was the same thing I wanted to do then. we talked about something which is totally not important for a long time, and I said good-bye to him, and I went home. I can say business is impossible now.
How about taking a holiday in a rainny day, like farmers. They wouldn't work in a rainny day and a windy day. I think they are very rational.
I want to propose this new working rule for our society.
For a book-sales man( maybe for everyone), this season is very annoying. Rain is a big enemy for books. So, I don't want to go out from my office. I tend to stay in my office now. It's more confortable. My business performance might be bad now.
But also for my cliants, this season seems to be bad. They are losing any motivation to work. Today, I met a professer for business. He is old. He doesn't want to do anything this tiring season. When I visited him, he gave me a cup of coffee soon without talking about business. At the moment, only he wanted to do was just to be relaxed with someone. It was the same thing I wanted to do then. we talked about something which is totally not important for a long time, and I said good-bye to him, and I went home. I can say business is impossible now.
How about taking a holiday in a rainny day, like farmers. They wouldn't work in a rainny day and a windy day. I think they are very rational.
I want to propose this new working rule for our society.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
VS Yokohama Stadium
The game arrangement of professional baseball changed a little in Japan last year. Japan has two diffrent leagues, and the games were basically produced in a same league. The team A belonging to the league X didn't fight against the team B belonging to the league Y. But, from last year, A vs B has been possible in the early summer season. We can watch more varieties of games now.
So, I went to Yokohama Stadium yesterday, to watch the game, Softbank howks vs Yokohama baysters. To be honest, I am not the fan of both teams, but I could enjoy the game very much. I sat on the seat of Softbank side. Unfortunately the day was not for Softbank. The picher of Yokohama was good the day, so Softbank couldn't get scores at all.
Even though our side couldn't have the chance to win the game, the fans had been excited through the game.
Japanese baseball fans are funny. Some of them don't watch the game. They are very busy for singing songs for each players, and dancing on their seats. Compared with Major league, the fan's watching style is very diffrent. I had thought Major league style was good for a long time, but yesterday I thought Japanese style is also okey. For loseing team's fans, the existence of another excitement is very good.
The location of Yokohama stadium is good. There is China town near it. The old-modern bars around Kannai station closest to the stadium are nice. In additon, the open-air stadium is very comfortable. Now, most stadiums in Japan are Dome-type. They are actually convenient even in a rainy day, but we can't watch the sky and feel breeze. I could find again the goodness of the old style stadium yesterday.
So, I went to Yokohama Stadium yesterday, to watch the game, Softbank howks vs Yokohama baysters. To be honest, I am not the fan of both teams, but I could enjoy the game very much. I sat on the seat of Softbank side. Unfortunately the day was not for Softbank. The picher of Yokohama was good the day, so Softbank couldn't get scores at all.
Even though our side couldn't have the chance to win the game, the fans had been excited through the game.
Japanese baseball fans are funny. Some of them don't watch the game. They are very busy for singing songs for each players, and dancing on their seats. Compared with Major league, the fan's watching style is very diffrent. I had thought Major league style was good for a long time, but yesterday I thought Japanese style is also okey. For loseing team's fans, the existence of another excitement is very good.
The location of Yokohama stadium is good. There is China town near it. The old-modern bars around Kannai station closest to the stadium are nice. In additon, the open-air stadium is very comfortable. Now, most stadiums in Japan are Dome-type. They are actually convenient even in a rainy day, but we can't watch the sky and feel breeze. I could find again the goodness of the old style stadium yesterday.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
VS Human Death
Although I had many happy things recently in my daily life, I write down an unhappy thing here. Because it was the most impressive thing for me last week.
A man I know a little committed suicide in his company midnight. Before his death, he emailed his colleagues to apologize to them, because his sudden death would make them shocked.
One of his colleagues reported soon the email to his boss. The boss went to the company soon midnight with the man's family, to search for him.
The man was found by the boss in a warehouse at 3:30 am. He hanged himself in the cold place.
Soon after that, the police came to the place, and checked the hanged body for a while. To check it carefully, anyone couldn't move it. So, the body had to be hanged for a while even after it was found out.
While the police was checking it, the dead man's family stayed in a room far from the warehouse. Because it must be very shocking for the family to watch the man hanged. But, the boss who found the body was beside the police to check it together.
I heard that the dead man had a mental illness. It might be the reason why he commited suicide, but nobody know the real reason of his death. Some said that his bad working position killed him, and his suicide in his working place meaned his protest.(Actually his working position was bad. He had nothing to do in his company.) Some said the only one place left for him was his company, so he chose it as his death place.(He seemed to have no friend.) The rumors or interpretions changed, depending on the talkers.
I had the chance to talk with the boss for my business a few days after the incident. I thought he had heavy shock in his mind, before meeting him. But, he told me that he was not shocked even though the incident was a very sad thing.
He said to me, "A person will die someday. So, we have to think about human's death anytime. It must be sad for a person to commit suicide, but it is his/her choice. Before the suicide, he/she must think about it seriously. So, the only thing we can do is to respect and accept his/her decision. Don't you think so?"
When facing a human death, we tend to ask why? But the boss didn't care for it. He thinks the asking is meaningless. For me, his thinking was very impressive.
Afetr talking about his death for a while, we started to talk about our business soon.
Some might think the boss's thinking is cold. But I didn't. He told me that, when he found the body, he wouldn't scared with it. Watching the dead man's face, he thought the man looked relieved from something.
His impression might be too beautiful, without thinking about the dead man's mental crisis. But it's not my point to agree and disagree with him. The most impressive thing for me was that he always prepares for human death including his own death. Because I think I wouldn't die, his viewpoint of death and live was unique for me.
A man I know a little committed suicide in his company midnight. Before his death, he emailed his colleagues to apologize to them, because his sudden death would make them shocked.
One of his colleagues reported soon the email to his boss. The boss went to the company soon midnight with the man's family, to search for him.
The man was found by the boss in a warehouse at 3:30 am. He hanged himself in the cold place.
Soon after that, the police came to the place, and checked the hanged body for a while. To check it carefully, anyone couldn't move it. So, the body had to be hanged for a while even after it was found out.
While the police was checking it, the dead man's family stayed in a room far from the warehouse. Because it must be very shocking for the family to watch the man hanged. But, the boss who found the body was beside the police to check it together.
I heard that the dead man had a mental illness. It might be the reason why he commited suicide, but nobody know the real reason of his death. Some said that his bad working position killed him, and his suicide in his working place meaned his protest.(Actually his working position was bad. He had nothing to do in his company.) Some said the only one place left for him was his company, so he chose it as his death place.(He seemed to have no friend.) The rumors or interpretions changed, depending on the talkers.
I had the chance to talk with the boss for my business a few days after the incident. I thought he had heavy shock in his mind, before meeting him. But, he told me that he was not shocked even though the incident was a very sad thing.
He said to me, "A person will die someday. So, we have to think about human's death anytime. It must be sad for a person to commit suicide, but it is his/her choice. Before the suicide, he/she must think about it seriously. So, the only thing we can do is to respect and accept his/her decision. Don't you think so?"
When facing a human death, we tend to ask why? But the boss didn't care for it. He thinks the asking is meaningless. For me, his thinking was very impressive.
Afetr talking about his death for a while, we started to talk about our business soon.
Some might think the boss's thinking is cold. But I didn't. He told me that, when he found the body, he wouldn't scared with it. Watching the dead man's face, he thought the man looked relieved from something.
His impression might be too beautiful, without thinking about the dead man's mental crisis. But it's not my point to agree and disagree with him. The most impressive thing for me was that he always prepares for human death including his own death. Because I think I wouldn't die, his viewpoint of death and live was unique for me.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
VS Science Fiction
At the end of this August, the world-wide biggest Science Fiction convention, Worldcon, is going to be held in Yokohama.
This convention has a long history in SF fan's community. The first one was held in New York in 1939. This year's one is 65th.
In the history, all conventions had been held in USA or Europe. This summer's one in Yokohama is the first time in Japan, and in Asia. Some Japanese SF lovers had invited the convention to Japan for a long time, and the dream will become true. That's why, it will be a very memorial one. Japanese SF fans must be excited in this summer.
My company is planning to have a booth in the convention, cooporating with some publishers. Maybe, we will try to introduce many Japanese SF works (for example, novels, mangas, movies and so on.) to foreigners coming to join the convention. I am looking forward to it.
Japanese SF is not famous in the world because of the language barrier, but I think the quality is not low. So, I think it is a meaningful job to join the convention, and to display great works of Japanese SF for the people who don't know them.
From my junior high school days to my high school days, I loved to read SF novels very much.
SF is a wide category. Some think Fantasy like Harry Potter series is SF. Some think Space Opera like Star Wars is SF. For me, Hard SF was real SF. It was like a science book. The detail of the description in such a book is very realistic, but not real in fact. Star Treck series on TV might be a good example to explain my preference. The logic or discription of space travel in the work was of course a lie, but looked realistic. Great SF has a great lie, and we know it must be a lie, but we can believe it might be true. Or, we are willing to be cheated. What the truth is isn't a problem. The problem is what we can think is the truth. I learned the important philosophy of our life from SF.
Many novelists, movie producers and artists will join the convention. So, it is cultural and academic to some extent. But, I am guessing the convention will be like Halloween party. SF fans must like to wear very maniac costumes. I think thier mentality is similar to manga or animation freaks. So, many people will come to the convention in strange wears. I have to find a cool costume for the party.
The costume of Super Justice in "Dai Nipponjin" might be a good idea. (What's Super Justice? To know it, please watch the starange movie. It's unfortune it has no English subtitle, though...)
This convention has a long history in SF fan's community. The first one was held in New York in 1939. This year's one is 65th.
In the history, all conventions had been held in USA or Europe. This summer's one in Yokohama is the first time in Japan, and in Asia. Some Japanese SF lovers had invited the convention to Japan for a long time, and the dream will become true. That's why, it will be a very memorial one. Japanese SF fans must be excited in this summer.
My company is planning to have a booth in the convention, cooporating with some publishers. Maybe, we will try to introduce many Japanese SF works (for example, novels, mangas, movies and so on.) to foreigners coming to join the convention. I am looking forward to it.
Japanese SF is not famous in the world because of the language barrier, but I think the quality is not low. So, I think it is a meaningful job to join the convention, and to display great works of Japanese SF for the people who don't know them.
From my junior high school days to my high school days, I loved to read SF novels very much.
SF is a wide category. Some think Fantasy like Harry Potter series is SF. Some think Space Opera like Star Wars is SF. For me, Hard SF was real SF. It was like a science book. The detail of the description in such a book is very realistic, but not real in fact. Star Treck series on TV might be a good example to explain my preference. The logic or discription of space travel in the work was of course a lie, but looked realistic. Great SF has a great lie, and we know it must be a lie, but we can believe it might be true. Or, we are willing to be cheated. What the truth is isn't a problem. The problem is what we can think is the truth. I learned the important philosophy of our life from SF.
Many novelists, movie producers and artists will join the convention. So, it is cultural and academic to some extent. But, I am guessing the convention will be like Halloween party. SF fans must like to wear very maniac costumes. I think thier mentality is similar to manga or animation freaks. So, many people will come to the convention in strange wears. I have to find a cool costume for the party.
The costume of Super Justice in "Dai Nipponjin" might be a good idea. (What's Super Justice? To know it, please watch the starange movie. It's unfortune it has no English subtitle, though...)
Sunday, June 03, 2007
VS Dai Nipponjin
Caution! The writing below is related to a new movie now on screen. If you will go to watch it, please read this blog after that. I don't want to give you any bias for the movie.
* * * * * * *
I went to watch the new movie, Dai Nipponjin (Big Japanese), directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japanese famous comedian. This work is his first movie. I was looking forward to it.
This movie didn't give us the advertisement. So, we couldn't get any information about it until it comes to the screen. Thus, our expectation became big.
It's difficult to say the genre of this work, but it is a kind of Hero movie. The image of Hero in this movie is very diffrent from our typical image, though.
This movie is filled with the Hitoshi Matsumoto's worship or respect for Hero character. It might be close to Taratino's maniac perspective. But, the expression style is utterly diffrent. Hitoshi Matsumoto's backborn is not movie but TV comedy. He prefers very cheap expressin very much.
So, watching this movie in a theater, everybody must think they are in front of television in their house.
The best part of this movie is conversation. The nuance of the conversation is great. To understand it, we have to master Japanese language. Fortunately I've already mastered it, so I could enjoy the conversation in this movie very mush. Some parts are very abstract and summarized too much. Even Japanese can't explain the exact meaning, but can laugh at it. Language is very interesting.
Like all jokes in the world, we have to have cultural resources to understand many laughing points in this movie. A lot of old Japanese comedy jokes are inserted into this movie. Many jokes look to have a special meanings in this movie, but they don't have it at all. But, we naturally think they mean something special. The tactics of Hitoshi Matsumoto is very magical.
But, to be honest, I think this movie is incomplete. Its basic idea is very good and interesting. But, the story is not organized well enough. I think this movie can be shorter. If it is more compact, it could be a greater work. When I finished watching it, the reaction of other audiences were disapointment. The lady next to me said "I'm sleepy."
I was not sleepy, but I could understand her feeling.
However, this movie is certainly very challanging. It has a great impact on the method of expression in movies. I think the blood of Japanese comedy was mixed with the world movie, in this work. So, I am looking forward to watching a second work by Hitoshi Matsumoto soon.
* * * * * * *
I went to watch the new movie, Dai Nipponjin (Big Japanese), directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japanese famous comedian. This work is his first movie. I was looking forward to it.
This movie didn't give us the advertisement. So, we couldn't get any information about it until it comes to the screen. Thus, our expectation became big.
It's difficult to say the genre of this work, but it is a kind of Hero movie. The image of Hero in this movie is very diffrent from our typical image, though.
This movie is filled with the Hitoshi Matsumoto's worship or respect for Hero character. It might be close to Taratino's maniac perspective. But, the expression style is utterly diffrent. Hitoshi Matsumoto's backborn is not movie but TV comedy. He prefers very cheap expressin very much.
So, watching this movie in a theater, everybody must think they are in front of television in their house.
The best part of this movie is conversation. The nuance of the conversation is great. To understand it, we have to master Japanese language. Fortunately I've already mastered it, so I could enjoy the conversation in this movie very mush. Some parts are very abstract and summarized too much. Even Japanese can't explain the exact meaning, but can laugh at it. Language is very interesting.
Like all jokes in the world, we have to have cultural resources to understand many laughing points in this movie. A lot of old Japanese comedy jokes are inserted into this movie. Many jokes look to have a special meanings in this movie, but they don't have it at all. But, we naturally think they mean something special. The tactics of Hitoshi Matsumoto is very magical.
But, to be honest, I think this movie is incomplete. Its basic idea is very good and interesting. But, the story is not organized well enough. I think this movie can be shorter. If it is more compact, it could be a greater work. When I finished watching it, the reaction of other audiences were disapointment. The lady next to me said "I'm sleepy."
I was not sleepy, but I could understand her feeling.
However, this movie is certainly very challanging. It has a great impact on the method of expression in movies. I think the blood of Japanese comedy was mixed with the world movie, in this work. So, I am looking forward to watching a second work by Hitoshi Matsumoto soon.
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