Today is the voting day in Japan. I've not decided to vote for who even now. But, I've already decided to vote against the ruling parties. I don't have any reason to keep my country unchanged.
Not only I but also many Japanese think so too. From the newspaper's analysis, it seems to be clear that the ruling parties will lose. And, the point at this moment is how many seats in Diet they will lose. If the lost seats are too many, Prime minister Abe can't keep his position. I think he shouldn't keep it. Maybe, the position is too heavy for him. When he started to work as Prime minister, he was seen a strong young leader. But, now, he looks like an immatured man. And, in addition, his thinking smells an old man's one, at least for me. He wouldn't be fresh at all.
It might be better for him to be our country's leader again someday after experiencing many things. Ont the day he will be older physically, but many experiences will make him fresher mentally. I am looking forward to the result of this election.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
VS Egyptian Child Book
In Tokyo International Book Fair, I could know many interesting books from foreign countries. Egyptian books were one of them. I couldn't totally understand what is written for my no-understanding of the language, but I could enjoy the covers and the illustlations enough well.
As other foreign pulisher's booths did so, Egyptian booth displayed a lot of child books. Because, like me, most Japanese can't understand their language, so the books with many illustlations are easier for us to understand. In addition, the market of "child" books are growing in Japan, even though the market of books itself are shrinking now. It is nice that Japanese can afford their children's education.
From the view point of the worker in Japanese publishing world, Egyptian child book have to be changed more for Japanese customers. A huge numbers of child books are published everyday in Japan. The competition is hard. The story, the illustlation and the material of the books are very sophisticated. In Japanese public library, it takes the longest time for librarians to sellect child books.
If Egyptian publishers want to make a success in Japan, they had better know this super-hard competitive situation.
In a picture book, the main character is a soldier. He battles, beats his enemy, and helps people. The story looked simple.
Like a police officer and a nurse, it might be natural for Egyptian to read the story of a soldier in a child book. However, my impression was embarrassment when I found the book. I am not sure whether this feeling is only Japanese one or not, but most Japanese, I think, think it is bad to describe a soldier or an army beautiful, in the books for kids. So, in my life, I have never watched Japanese child book to describe a soldier.
I don't know this thinking will be alive in the future in Japan, but at this point, such a book is impossible to sell in Japanese market. If I have a chance, I will give this advice to them.
As other foreign pulisher's booths did so, Egyptian booth displayed a lot of child books. Because, like me, most Japanese can't understand their language, so the books with many illustlations are easier for us to understand. In addition, the market of "child" books are growing in Japan, even though the market of books itself are shrinking now. It is nice that Japanese can afford their children's education.
From the view point of the worker in Japanese publishing world, Egyptian child book have to be changed more for Japanese customers. A huge numbers of child books are published everyday in Japan. The competition is hard. The story, the illustlation and the material of the books are very sophisticated. In Japanese public library, it takes the longest time for librarians to sellect child books.
If Egyptian publishers want to make a success in Japan, they had better know this super-hard competitive situation.
In a picture book, the main character is a soldier. He battles, beats his enemy, and helps people. The story looked simple.
Like a police officer and a nurse, it might be natural for Egyptian to read the story of a soldier in a child book. However, my impression was embarrassment when I found the book. I am not sure whether this feeling is only Japanese one or not, but most Japanese, I think, think it is bad to describe a soldier or an army beautiful, in the books for kids. So, in my life, I have never watched Japanese child book to describe a soldier.
I don't know this thinking will be alive in the future in Japan, but at this point, such a book is impossible to sell in Japanese market. If I have a chance, I will give this advice to them.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
VS Iranian
Last weekend, I went to Tokyo International Book Fair in Odaiba. It is one of the biggest events for publishing companies and book lovers in Japan. It is a wonder that I've never been to the fair even though I am working for book-sales. So, I had been looking forward to joining it.
A huge numbers of publishers had their own booths to display their publications. Watching many new books itself seemed to be exciting for heavy readers. All booths were very crowded. People could buy the books on cheap prices. They could get special discounts in the fair. They looked happy.
Most booths were Japanese publishers' ones. But, new players in publishing business also joined this event. Google was the representative of them. Their booth was bigger than other old media companies, and they showed us some new ways for publishing. By chance on the day, I read an article in a newspaper that Google entered into an alliance with Keio University to digitize a large numbers of books. We don't know if they are our friend or enemy, but their project can not be ignored by all players in the publishing world.
All booths were interesting, but my purpose was to watch the booths of foreign companies. I could enjoy watching many books from other countries there.
It was surprising for me that Iranian companies' booths were the most there. I had no idea of Iranian books, so everything in thier booths were new for me. Unfortunately most Japanese including me can't read their words.
That's why the main books displayed there were art books or visual books. Pictures can be understood by anyone. The quality of each books were high, so I could enjoy watching them.
I had the chance to talk with the staff in Iranian booth. He is an Iranian student studying in Japanese university. I wanted to know the publishing world in Iran more, so I gave him some questions.
I: How many publishers are there in Iran?
He: Mmm, many. It's countless.
I: Ok. How many bookstores are there in Iran?
He: Mmm, many. It's also countless.
In Japan, there are 5000 publishers and 20000 bookstores.
I wanted to compare Japan with Iran, in order to understand the situation of publishing in Iran. But, I couldn't know anything due to his unclear answer. Maybe, he was not familier with it. So, I gave him another question.
I: The bookstore in Iran is so same as in Japan?
He: Mmm, a little diffrent. Like Akihabara for electorical equipments in Japan, we have a big town for books.
His answer made me surprised.
Certainly I know there are big towns for books in the world, like Frankfurt in German, or Kanda-Jinboucho in Tokyo. But, the book town in Iran was utterly out of my image. Why?
I thought publishing business can flourish only under the freedom of speech. That's why I couldn't imagine that Iranian have a big publishing economy in their country. Their religious thinking looks very strict, so I had thought that they couldn't express their free thinking. My image of Iranian publicing was very poor.
However, from the Iranian student's words, I knew they have a very rich publishing society. I felt the respect for the country soon. Some people see the country very dangerous. But, now I can say they are very intellectual. So, I think we can understand each other by communication, even if their government is making atomic bombs.
Unfortunately Iranian doesn't have the route to sell their books in Japan. Their great history and nature deserve to be shown here. I would get my new mission in my job.
A huge numbers of publishers had their own booths to display their publications. Watching many new books itself seemed to be exciting for heavy readers. All booths were very crowded. People could buy the books on cheap prices. They could get special discounts in the fair. They looked happy.
Most booths were Japanese publishers' ones. But, new players in publishing business also joined this event. Google was the representative of them. Their booth was bigger than other old media companies, and they showed us some new ways for publishing. By chance on the day, I read an article in a newspaper that Google entered into an alliance with Keio University to digitize a large numbers of books. We don't know if they are our friend or enemy, but their project can not be ignored by all players in the publishing world.
All booths were interesting, but my purpose was to watch the booths of foreign companies. I could enjoy watching many books from other countries there.
It was surprising for me that Iranian companies' booths were the most there. I had no idea of Iranian books, so everything in thier booths were new for me. Unfortunately most Japanese including me can't read their words.
That's why the main books displayed there were art books or visual books. Pictures can be understood by anyone. The quality of each books were high, so I could enjoy watching them.
I had the chance to talk with the staff in Iranian booth. He is an Iranian student studying in Japanese university. I wanted to know the publishing world in Iran more, so I gave him some questions.
I: How many publishers are there in Iran?
He: Mmm, many. It's countless.
I: Ok. How many bookstores are there in Iran?
He: Mmm, many. It's also countless.
In Japan, there are 5000 publishers and 20000 bookstores.
I wanted to compare Japan with Iran, in order to understand the situation of publishing in Iran. But, I couldn't know anything due to his unclear answer. Maybe, he was not familier with it. So, I gave him another question.
I: The bookstore in Iran is so same as in Japan?
He: Mmm, a little diffrent. Like Akihabara for electorical equipments in Japan, we have a big town for books.
His answer made me surprised.
Certainly I know there are big towns for books in the world, like Frankfurt in German, or Kanda-Jinboucho in Tokyo. But, the book town in Iran was utterly out of my image. Why?
I thought publishing business can flourish only under the freedom of speech. That's why I couldn't imagine that Iranian have a big publishing economy in their country. Their religious thinking looks very strict, so I had thought that they couldn't express their free thinking. My image of Iranian publicing was very poor.
However, from the Iranian student's words, I knew they have a very rich publishing society. I felt the respect for the country soon. Some people see the country very dangerous. But, now I can say they are very intellectual. So, I think we can understand each other by communication, even if their government is making atomic bombs.
Unfortunately Iranian doesn't have the route to sell their books in Japan. Their great history and nature deserve to be shown here. I would get my new mission in my job.
Monday, July 09, 2007
VS Punk Rock
Punk Rock is one of the farest things from my life, but I went to listen to it tonight. A punk rock party was held at Club 24 West, in Yokohama. The place was very small, and it doesn't have the stage for bands. But, we can listen to their play very close to them. So, I could enjoy to feel tonight's bands' energy very much.
My and my friends' purpose to go there was to watch the performance of our friend's band, Herts The Turks. This time was the last one that we can watch, because they will leave Japan soon after the live. So, we couldn't lose the last chance to listen to their play.
Before their play, some Japanese bands played. They were very powerful, and the listeners were also powerful. They ran, jumped, kicked and tackled each others on the floor. I didn't think they were dancing then, but it might be a genre of dancing.
Anyway, their energetic performance made the floor warmed up very much. So, the play of Herts The Turks was very hot from the beginning. Everybody enjoyed it very much. This time was the second time that I listened to their play. Compared with the last time, I thoguht their performance became better. The combination of Turkish female vocal and British male vocal became more beautiful.
I heard that they will go to England after leaving Japan. Their combination is going to become better and better.
After the live, my ears were strange for a while. The too noisy place seemed to damage my listening capability. However, the damage was also comfortable for me. This feeling might be the charms of Punk Rock.
My and my friends' purpose to go there was to watch the performance of our friend's band, Herts The Turks. This time was the last one that we can watch, because they will leave Japan soon after the live. So, we couldn't lose the last chance to listen to their play.
Before their play, some Japanese bands played. They were very powerful, and the listeners were also powerful. They ran, jumped, kicked and tackled each others on the floor. I didn't think they were dancing then, but it might be a genre of dancing.
Anyway, their energetic performance made the floor warmed up very much. So, the play of Herts The Turks was very hot from the beginning. Everybody enjoyed it very much. This time was the second time that I listened to their play. Compared with the last time, I thoguht their performance became better. The combination of Turkish female vocal and British male vocal became more beautiful.
I heard that they will go to England after leaving Japan. Their combination is going to become better and better.
After the live, my ears were strange for a while. The too noisy place seemed to damage my listening capability. However, the damage was also comfortable for me. This feeling might be the charms of Punk Rock.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
VS Translation
From the beginning of this year, I have tried to read a science book "Warped Passages" in English. But I don't finish reading it, and I almost give up reading it. It's too difficult for me. The theme of the book is the extra-dimension of space which is the newest theory in applied physics. I could understand the theory roughly in the book, but it's hard to read the descriptions for physics in English, for my lack of the knowledge and vocabulary of physics, which is the subject I hated in my high-school days.
However, it was very happy that this book was translated into Japanese at last. Because I heard that it might be impossible to translate the book into Japanese, I became excited when I knew the Japanese version. Of course, I ordered it soon. Now I'm waiting for the book coming.
Japanese is lucky. We have a very strong translation culture. Thet's why we can get new information soon, and understand even difficult knowledge easily. This translation culture can become obstraction of our English study, though. Anyway, once I will read it in Japanese, and next I will try it in English again.
From 5th in this month, the 14th Tokyo International Book Fair is going to be held. For book-sales business, it is one of some big events. The Book Fair gives Japanese and foreign publishing companies good business chances. The deal of the right to translate good books is the main topic. The coming last volume of HARRY POTTER must be the most expensive right.
However, it was very happy that this book was translated into Japanese at last. Because I heard that it might be impossible to translate the book into Japanese, I became excited when I knew the Japanese version. Of course, I ordered it soon. Now I'm waiting for the book coming.
Japanese is lucky. We have a very strong translation culture. Thet's why we can get new information soon, and understand even difficult knowledge easily. This translation culture can become obstraction of our English study, though. Anyway, once I will read it in Japanese, and next I will try it in English again.
From 5th in this month, the 14th Tokyo International Book Fair is going to be held. For book-sales business, it is one of some big events. The Book Fair gives Japanese and foreign publishing companies good business chances. The deal of the right to translate good books is the main topic. The coming last volume of HARRY POTTER must be the most expensive right.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
VS Optimism and Pessimism
Last day's discussion class was interesting. We discussed about the future of newspaper in this internet eara. The theme itself was exciting, but, before the discussion, we talked about Optimism and Pessimism. "Are you optimist? Or pessimist?" was the question. It was the warming-up talk for the class.
Some students said "I am an optimist." Some were pessimists. I was on an optimist side.
Basically I think my future life is rosy. I think I am convinced of my opinion, idea and future vision any time. So, I must be an optimist, basically. But I am not sure whether it's good or bad. My teacher Sudhan's opinion was interesting. He had been an optimist for a long time, but he is now thinking that an pessimist can be better for his/her life. Because a pessimist can become happier than an optimist if something small but good happens. An optimist tends to have a big expectation, so he/she couldn't be satisfied with such a small happiness. I can understand his opinion well.
After the class, I thought I have to modify my thinking a little, even though I told that I am an optimist. Because, for love, I can easily move from an optimist side to a pessimist side. And, actually at this moment, I am moving at random between both sides.
Afetr meeting an ideal woman three months ago, my mental conditon has been unstable. Now I can't concentrate on anything honestly. My performance of working is very low, and my English study has been stopped. Sometimes I have even physical ache around my heart( I am afraid that I can die soon.), so my performance of surfing is also bad! I can say I'm facing an mental and phisical crisis now. Very tiny things between us influence on me. Even though I was an optimist yesterday, I suddenly become a pessimist today. At the moment that I am a pessimist, I tend to drink alcohol very much. On the other hand, when I am an optimist, I can't stop drinking because it's my real happy hour. So, recently the quantity of daily drinking is becoming bigger and bigger. My liver must be damaged very much.
To make my mental and physical condition peaceful, I am thinking that I hurry to get any judgements. I should ask the woman at least in a month if we can have a special relationship or not. But, the only thing I don't know is the timing. Should I ask her it in my optimist mood or pessimist mood? And, the only thing I am sure of is that I will use alcohol power for myself.
(Mmmm, this article would be too private.)
Some students said "I am an optimist." Some were pessimists. I was on an optimist side.
Basically I think my future life is rosy. I think I am convinced of my opinion, idea and future vision any time. So, I must be an optimist, basically. But I am not sure whether it's good or bad. My teacher Sudhan's opinion was interesting. He had been an optimist for a long time, but he is now thinking that an pessimist can be better for his/her life. Because a pessimist can become happier than an optimist if something small but good happens. An optimist tends to have a big expectation, so he/she couldn't be satisfied with such a small happiness. I can understand his opinion well.
After the class, I thought I have to modify my thinking a little, even though I told that I am an optimist. Because, for love, I can easily move from an optimist side to a pessimist side. And, actually at this moment, I am moving at random between both sides.
Afetr meeting an ideal woman three months ago, my mental conditon has been unstable. Now I can't concentrate on anything honestly. My performance of working is very low, and my English study has been stopped. Sometimes I have even physical ache around my heart( I am afraid that I can die soon.), so my performance of surfing is also bad! I can say I'm facing an mental and phisical crisis now. Very tiny things between us influence on me. Even though I was an optimist yesterday, I suddenly become a pessimist today. At the moment that I am a pessimist, I tend to drink alcohol very much. On the other hand, when I am an optimist, I can't stop drinking because it's my real happy hour. So, recently the quantity of daily drinking is becoming bigger and bigger. My liver must be damaged very much.
To make my mental and physical condition peaceful, I am thinking that I hurry to get any judgements. I should ask the woman at least in a month if we can have a special relationship or not. But, the only thing I don't know is the timing. Should I ask her it in my optimist mood or pessimist mood? And, the only thing I am sure of is that I will use alcohol power for myself.
(Mmmm, this article would be too private.)
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