Blog #9 : My favorite films!!

Kako Furukawa

Hello. This time, I would like to recommend my favorite films to you.
There are three films. Let me introduce.

Now, Christmas is coming soon. So, first film is an thrilling and romantic story in a Christmas day.
The title is "Die Hard". there are four stories about Die Hard, but, I recommend the first and simple Die Hard. I wouldn't explain the story in detail. Please watch this movie yourself. If you watch it, you may feel uneasy. Certainly, there are a lot of thrilling scenes in this film. But, I think you will find the heartwarming and romantic climax. Please watch this film this Christmas.

And, this is a preview.

Second, I would like to recommend a comical film.
It is "The Blues Brothers" If you like music and bands, you should watch this film. this is very exciting and makes us very happy.
Whenever I feel unhappy, I watch and listening to this music.
 Now, it is very cold. So, please watch this film in your house, with tea and on the sofa.

Then, please watch this exciting music. 

Third film is "The Devil wears Prada". this film gives us energy and makes us cheerful. It may be for women, but men also watch this film. When I watch it, I thought about fashion, personality, work, and love. With this film, we can think and make our lifestyles by ourselves. After watch it, we will find what we want to do. 

Please watch this short preview.

These are my favorite films and they make me feel good every time.

Please watch them and let me know your impressions if you can.

Thank you for your reading!

Blog #9：Our Lecture at Gakushuin

Masashi Yamada

    On December 7, my circle held a lecture about "THE BODY SHOP", the England cosmetic company and it is famous for many women and the people who are interested in contribution to society at our university. It was so successful because 40 and more people joined in it. I was happy so much!

・THE BODY SHOP official HP：http://www.the-body-shop.co.jp/index.html

    I want to introduce 4 points when holding a lecture.


(Ⅰ) Select the Theme and Concept

    "What purpose is this lecture?", and "If this lecture hold, what do you want to change the people who join in it to? My senior advised me so much because if the theme of this lecture was vague, this event isn`t useful for everyone. I obeyed this advice, and decided that the theme of our lecture is "the value of THE BODY SHOP", and we aimed for participant to know new knowledge about contribution to society and fair-trade.


(Ⅱ) Deciding the guest

    It is important whether the guest whom we want to invite can come in the particular day which we thought of. At first, we thoughat to invite a gratitude in our university worked in THE BODY SHOP, but this person can`t have come in this day. So we give up and were introduced to Ayako Yamazaki, the speaker of this lecture.


(Ⅲ) How to Gather the people

    There are many ways to do it. The first is to urge our friends to participate. Second is to request many seminars and student groups to come and advertise. Third is to make ad for gathering and advertising. That is the ad made by me. And the last is to use social media - twitter and facebook. I made "fan-page" in facebook to gather and advertise. About five people know this event for this page and joined.
 

・facebook fan-page：http://www.facebook.com/events/281917955178637/

(Ⅳ) Place

    This event can be held in higashi-nigoukan 201(法経棟) because Isao Sakaguchi, professor of international politics, helped us. Normally, undergraduate students can`t use higashi-nigoukan, but this time, he booked this room by using his seminar`s name. This room can accommodate 55 people, and there were about 40 participants and 15 our circle`s member! So this lecture was successful. Moreover, professor Sakaguchi helped us one more. When using big advertisement, he gave us his name to use it.

    That ad was posted near nishi-nigoukan(西２号館) from December 2 to 8!! When we can have posted this ad, I cried a little because my effort payed in that time.

    As a result, this lecture was so successful, and I felt happy so much!

Blog #8 : I've grown up !!

Kako Furukawa

Hello!! This time, I would like to tell you about my coming-of-age celebration.
Last September, I became 20 and next year, I will join a coming-of-age celebration.
In Japan, people often take pictures before the celebration.So, I had my photograph taken the other day.
November 4th, my family had a good time at Chinzanso and Four seasons hotel. URL and URL.
They are near Gakushuin.

I dressed a long-sleeved kimono and wore makeup. I was very happy and felt special.But, I had very hard time at the photo studio. Can you guess the reason?Because I rarely had my photograph taken, I couldn't make a smiling face and I forced a smile.And the photographer requested that I drew my jaw. I was not used to photography and I was uterly exhausted.So, after the photography, I felt acutely that fashion models and actress worked very hard to make smiling faces.

Moreover, when I wore the kimono, I couldn't walk and eat well. I wanted to eat my favorite "Sushi" in a relaxed posture.
Thank you for reading.

Blog#7: The King's Speech

Hello, I'm Narumi.

I’m sorry to be late to post my blog.(dead line was November,16)

I introduce to one movie The King’s Speech.

I have just finished a presentation about this film in my film study class.

At film study class, one of the students has presentation about one film that won or nominated Oscar at Academy Award.

I choose The King’s Speech as a film on my presentation, because I was very moved when I saw this movie at theater.

The King’s Speech is based on the true story.

You can hear his real speech.

King George Ⅵ suffered from his stuttering,  he has to speech for all citizens.

A key aspect is that "The King's Speech" is based on the true story of the relationship between Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist, and Albert, the Duke of York, who was forced to confront his debilitating stammer in the years leading up to his 1936 coronation as King George VI.

I researched the movie reviews on a big paper in the U.S.

“The King’s Speech” takes a relatively begin view of the monarchy, framing Albert as a somewhat poor little rich boy condemned to live in a fish bowl, an idea that Mr. Hooper unwisely literalizes by overusing a fisheye lens. 

Like many entertainments of pop-historical type, “The King’s Speech” wears history lightly no matter how heavy the crown. 

 

Manohla Dargis/The New York Times/November 25.2010

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/movies/26king.html

There’s a sly moment when Bertie is wistfully transfixed by a motion-picture newsreel of the epoch’s most potent orator, Germany’s new chancellor, Herr Hitler. Now there’s a fellow who doesn’t hold back! (George Orwell was only one of many who believed that the hooplah inherent in a constitutional monarchy saved Britain from domestic fascism.)

The grand finale has the whole nation listening as invisible Lionel “conducts” the King’s declaration of war in ’39—hard-won eloquence discreetly goosed by Hooper’s use of gradually swelling background music. That’s the official Rocky moment, although the movie really finds its voice in those therapy sessions, when it bids to be a feature-length episode of In Treatment.

 J.Hoberman/Village Voice/November 24,2010

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-24/film/the-king-s-speech-how-therapy-saved-monarchy/

The King’s Speech is evaluated a lot of critics, but some say that this movie has a problem that it is not completely true story.

Will Hitler Kill "The King's Speech"?

The New York Times today raised an interesting question about the Oscar front-runner for best picture, "The King's Speech." It wondered whether the real King George--who aggressively endorsed a policy of appeasement toward Hitler, something the film entirely ignores--might derail the film's chance for capturing the golden statuette.

The Jewish Times Submitted by Eric Herschthal on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 20:05

http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/well_versed/will_hitler_kill_kings_speech

I’m interested in the two aspects of one film.

Narumi Tsunashima

 

BLOG#7 The exciting festival

Shuhei Wada   

 I would like to introduce you about the festival called La Tomatina

What do you imagine when you hear the word festival?

This La Tomatina would exceed what you imagine!

 “La Tomatina” is a food festival in Spain. During this festival, people throw tomato each other. It was held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. There are no historical evidences that when did La Tomatina start. However, La Tomatina already had existed since 1944. No one is completely certain how this event originated. One theory is that the event started as a quarrel. There were no rules at that time. Local people just throw tomatoes each other. Today, more than 20,000 tourists come to the tomato fight and enjoy this cultural event. State of Buñol created the certain rule of tomato fight. Tourists will enjoy this forever. 

Picture from wikipedia 

For more information

latomatina.org 

spain.info

Blog #6:Table For Two

Masashi Yamada

    There are the billion people who are starving, but on the other hand, there are also the billion people who have the problem of obesity. This problem is often called "Imbalance in the diet". On 2007 some Japanese people founded the system which solves this problem. It is one of the international corporation and that names "Table For Two".

・Table For Two official HP：http://www.tablefor2.org/

    What is "Table For Two"? This is the program that if we buy the food or drink which Table For Two covers once, 20 yen are sent by Table For Two to African children, which countries are Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and South Africa, and 20 yen changes a school meal in Africa. That means 20 yen is relevant to the price of an African school meal. These foods and drinks which are covered by Table For Two are "healthy", and these calories are low. That is because Table For Two aims at solving the problem of obesity in developed country. In the long run, Table For Two can solve the two problem - our obesity and African children 's starving. Still more, this international corporation system has other merit. We can join in this program easily and continuously because what we have to do is only to buy the food or drink which Table For Two covers, and eating is the act which we do every day. This is the innovative system!

    Table For Two started in 2007, and at present, this program is introduced to many company, cafe, convenience store, and university cafeteria! Recently, FamilyMart started selling the products which are covered by Table For Two. According to Table For Two, 444 organizations import it. Plus them, Table For Two in America started in 2009, and this program started in some countries - Korea, England, Taiwan, India, and Switzerland.
    On the other hand, how did African situation improve by Table For Two? I will explain children 's situation. After introducing Table For Two, the situation and tendency of children improved for some aspects - nutritional and health status, powers of concentration and motivation of studying, and the school attendance rate! For example, in Rwanda, 15% elementary school students could pass the examination which are decided to by the national government. However, after introducing Table For Two, children 's situation came to improve, and after all, 100% students could pass it! That is the valuable thing!

Table For Two×FamilyMart；http://ow.ly/7rIJ9

    I participate in Table For Two University Association. That is the community which students who are interested in this program, and take the responsibility for it in their university participate in. At now, there are 82 universities which introduce Table For Two. But Gakushuin, our university,  dosen't. So I and my circle member do our best to introduce this program in our university!

Table For Two University Association HP：http://tftua.jimdo.com/

Blog #5:Gakushuin.com

Masashi Yamada

Recently, I was followed by an account in twitter. It names "Gakushuin.com", and I was surprised that this is an internet web-site for our university students, and this site is managed by our university students!

・Gakushuin.com：http://gakushuin.jimdo.com/
・twitter account：http://twitter.com/#!/gakushuin_com
・facebook account：http://www.facebook.com/pages/%E5%AD%A6%E7%BF%92%E9%99%A2com/214940491907752

Next, I want to explain "Gakushuin.com". According to this site, it was opened on October 31, this year, and the reason why that was opened is that there is the situation that it is difficult for us, our university student to expand the information which we want everyone to know. For example, when we want to spread information, we use the notice board for students（学生掲示板）, but this site says if we want to use this board, there are many terms and regulations. So, it isn't easy for us to use it. To solve these problem, this site was opened, it notices.

When doing this blog article, I come to remember a web site. It is "WASEDA-LINKS", which is the web site for Waseda university students, and made by them. And I think the people who managed "Gakushuin.com" referedd
to "WASEDA-LINKS" in the aspect of making the web-site for stundets.

WASEDA-LINKS URL：http://waseda-links.com/

However, there are two problems in this site. The first is no students spread their information in this site. That is because this site was opened on October, and most of Gakushuin university students don't know the existence of this site. And if more and more sutudents know it, what will this site be? I'm interested in this point.
The second is this site dosen't write the name of the responsible person. This is very serious problem! Because if some problem occurred in future, who takes the responsibility? The people who manage this site should open their name.

Although this site has some problems, but I think the manager of this site can't afford to renew that. In addition to this point, the replacement rate of this site is very quickly in the aspect of open date, 31, October. I want this site to become the platform among the studnts who want to expand their information, and who want to know some information. If this situation will be realized, the values of Gakushuin University may be better.

Thank you for your reading!

#5; My best of the movies (Narumi)

This blog, I’d like to write about my favorite films.

I like movie, especially heartwarming, adventure and action movie. I will announce my best three films.

No.3 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

The story is about human drama among the participants suffered from mental illness in the hospital.  Main actor is Jack Nicholson.  His acting is so good and attractive.

Firstly, the story goes on with comical. However, this film contains serious part.

You will be surprised at the climax scene.  After seeing this movie, I became so nervous because this movie had a heavy topic.  Anyway, I recommend it strongly!!

No.2 The Beautiful Mind (2001)

This movie is based on a real person’s life.  His name is John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. Main actor is Russell Crowe.

 This movie is included some genres, for instance, suspense, biographical and human drama. If you see this film, you will be surprised and cry at the climax scene.  And I thought about the importance of friend and family.

No.1 Back to the Future (1985)

I love this movie because this movie is full of dream and hope. Main actor is Michael J. Fox. I always want to ride DeLorean when I see this film. I also recommend that the Universal Studio’s attraction Back to the Future.

   In this attraction, you can ride DeLorean and move to the past and the future as if you you were in the movie!

You can feel how the attraction does at this URL.

You can find and see these titles in LL class at 6th floor Chuo-to.

Please tell me about your favorite movie if you have one.

Thank you for reading.

Blog #5: My volunteer activity in Gakushuin

Kako Furukawa
   Do you know CIE in Gakushuin University?   It's the center for international exchange located in the second floor of 中央棟. Ihave done volunteer activity there since last year. There are about 20 regular volunteer wokers who are students of Gakushuin University now. We take care of international students who want to study Japanese and its culture at Gakushuin. We teach them Japanese and check the grammar. We often tell them the way to the sightseeing spots, how to buy the tickets or cellphones. And, we enjoy having lunch time with them there once a week.
   Most of them are good at speaking Japanese, but some of them are not good at conversing with us. So, I sometimes should speak foreign language. But, I can only speak elementary English and Chinese. Therefore, this is the worry to me these days. Though I sometimes have hard time trying to express myself in my poor foreign language, I have more enjoyable time with them at the same time.
   Let me introduce our concrete activities to you. We often hold parties as a welcome party, a halloween party, and farewell party for them. And, we often  have a lunch at Yoyogi park or the Imperial palace Plaza. It's so exiciting!! The events which the international students enjoyed were making Japanese cakes, taking a hot spring bath, and seeing a Kabuki performance.
When they looked happy, I felt happy too!!

This photo was taken at a halloween party on October 28th. It's so cool.

If you come to the CIE, you can communicate with foreign people. We are on facebook: HERE.
Thank you so much.

Blog#3 information gap

Shuhei Wada

Now days, information gap (digital divide,情報格差) is becoming a very big problem. 

There are big differences between the person who can use a computer and who cannot use a computer. Especially in Japan, the computerization is proceeding and for me, I cannot live conveniently without computers. In the world, the computerization is proceeding amazingly fast. 

There are 3 big problems in the computerising world.

1.  economic matter

Put computers in public facilities

Distribute cheap computers as a volunteer

2. skill

Open the free lecture meeting

Learn it in school

3. physical matter

Guide for people who have handy cap by government

4. geographic matter

Infrastructure

In this post I would like to focus on the skill information gap.

   In Japan, no mass media is broadcasting about the information gap but the information gap is very serious problem. There are big difference between people who can access to information and people who cannot access to information. For me, I cannot live freely without computer.  

In our university, we have to use computer to check the HW and in our English class, we have to use computer. Information is also important in term of communication tool. 

   In japan, it is said that about 80% of people are using SNS to communicate with others.  Communication, relationship with group is very important in Japan so if he/she couldn’t use internet, he/she might be out of the room. Information is also important in Japan. In Japan, emergency information   about earthquake is sent to all mobile phone e-mails about 10 secunds~2minutes before it occur, automatically sent to all mobile phones so if he/she does not know how to use it might be very serious problem

This topic must be argued in the world.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8568681.stm

http://itpro.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/COLUMN/20070115/258721/

Blog #4: The Japanese archery ! !

Kako Furukawa

 This time, I would like to introduce something related to Japanese culuture to you. Japanese archery!
Do you know about "Japanese" archery? It is one of the budo and we call it "Kyudo".
Now, I do Japanese archery twice a week. It isn't the archery as Western archery.
Let me explain about Japanese archery.

First, please watch this image.

this is the "Japanese" archery. It's beautiful, isn't it?

The players must wear "hakama" and "kake". They are long pleated skirts and gloves.
And, the dojo where we do Japanese archery is very quiet and solemn.
Moreover, there are some rules in the dojo. We should walk with gliding steps and sit erect with our legs folded under us.

Next, I would like to explain the Kyudo.

In Kyudo, the first thing we make much of is the series of movements, from entering the dojo to leaving the place. In addition, we think that  "correct moving is correct hitting", for, when the technique of the shooting is correct, the arrow certainly hits the target. Then, what are the movements of Kyudo? It is said that there are about eight movements in doing Kyudo.

●First movement is "Ashibumi". It's placing the footing.
●Second is "Dozukuri". It's forming the body.
●Third is "Yugamae". It's readying the bow.
●Fourth is "Uchiokoshi". It's raising the bow.
●Fifth is "Hikiwake". it's drawing apart and widely.
●Sixth is "kai". It's the full draw.
●Seventh is "Hanare". It's the release.
●Finally, "Zanshin" is the remaining body or mind.

We do these series of movements with calm breathing. Now, please watch the upper image again with understanding of eight movements.

the targets are placed 28 meters from the dojo floor. it is very difficult for us to hit the targets.
So, we should do the movements intensively. But, the significance of doing Kyudo is it's difficulty at the same time. With calm mind, we can do Kyudo well. And the solem dojo makes our feelings composed and innocent.

More information of the Kyudo is here.
Thank you for reading!!

#3: TED speech (Narumi)

Narumi Tsunahima

     Hello!   How do you study English?  Is it fine? In this blog, I write about my recommended internet site named 'TED'.  If you want to improve your English skill or listen to a good speech, you had better check this site. 

     TED has so many good speeches and presentations by various speakers in English.  In TED, you can see English and Japanese subtitle, it makes you understand the contents of speech easily.  There are speeches by famous people like Steve Jobs. Today I state my favorite speech: Patricia Ryan: Don't insist on English!

     The reason why I like this speech is this is a good sample for persuasive speech.

   First of all, speaker uses certain statics in her speech.  For example, ‘a language dies every 14days’.  This data is very clear and interesting for audience.  They can understand the present situation that so many languages have been died by those catchy words.

     Secondly, speaker contains some amusing anecdotes in her speech.  For instance, she talks about the story of Einstein and a real Kenyan shepherd boy.  To hear these stories, audience can see that people can make a good works without special English skill.  I think that the anecdote of great person or kind of hero has a strong power to persuade audience.  She also quotes the words from Kenyan boy that is effective too.

     Finally, the speaker’s position is persuasive.  At the beginning of her speech, she said that she has been teaching English for 30years.  Audience may think she is a specialist at English education to hear that.
  

      I want to study to make persuasive speech from TED.  Thank you for reading.

Blog #2 My first volunteer in Tohoku

Masashi Yamada

On October 8, I went to Rikuzentakata city, Iwate prefecture to do volunteer activity with three friends.

That is my first volunteer activity, and before going there, my image of this area is devastating and there is little facility around them.

But actually, the rehabilitation of Tohoku proceeds little by little, and there are many facilities which people can use normally. We can have used family restaurant, gas station, and hot spring! At least, it is not unconvenient for us during our trip.

Look at this picture. This is "FamilyMart", and it is temporary construction. We can buy foods and many goods as same as normal convenience store.

However, on the coast area, there are many miserable things and I can't say anything when seeing them.

Some people who can escape above a signboard "MAIYA" can have been alive, but others died because of TSUNAMI.

There are many opinions about volunteer activities. Some people says volunteer activity is hypocritical, and others it is not necessary to think of it difficultly. I fail to see which is right, but if we do volunteer activity, we will think of them. It is good opportunity for us!

Blog #1: The number of children waiting to get into publicly certified nursery schools decreases for the first time in four year.

Narumi Tsunashima

According to a October 5^th article on 6 pages in Asahi Shinbun, the number of children waiting to get into publicly certified nursery schools decreases for the first time in four year.  It is 25,556 children.  This total is less 719 children than the previous year. 

Actually but, the standard is still high.  The number of two income family may become increase because of current depression.  The article said it is unclear to improve the child care environment.

                     This graph shows the transition of the number of waiting child.

from asahi.com on October 5th

NHK TV news 845 on October 4, 2011 said many local governments establish new day-care center to solve the waiting child problem.  In spite of such treatment, the waiting child has not decreased drastically. 

NHK focuses on the problem of lack of the number of child care person.  According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the average salary of child care person is 217,500 yen a month.  This amount is lower over ten thousand than the average salary of all type of job.

NHK news web on October 4^th touched the future of child care person problem. 6years later, Japan will be short of 74,000 hands of child care person. 

Akiko Oishi who is a professor in Chiba university made a comment that to solve this problem, the nation have to improve child care person’s salary and treatment.

Please watch this video from youtube, it is TV news about waiting child on TBS.  If you watch this video, you will understand this problem easily.

Blog#1: The demonstration of Wall Street continued till night

Masashi Yamada

NHK NEWS WEB on October third said the demonstration around Wall Street has continued for over two weeks, and over seven hundred people was arrested on October first. Most of the people who joined in the demonstration are young generation, and they demand the improvement of wage differentials and high unemployment rate.
There are two points on the news. The first is that they use twitter and facebook to gather the participant of the demonstration. This situation resembles ''Arab spring"" from one point of view. Both of them use Social media, and this demonstration teaches us protest activity is inseparable from Social Media.
Another point is the people who are related in Wall Street aren`t interested in solving this problem.

 Look at youtube. This shows Wall Street people look down on the people who participate in the demonstration, and it is said that there is serious conformation in America. Their relationship will give bad affect on America in the future.
And more information

Blog#1 Tax and earthquake

Shuhei Wada

According to a 28 September 2011news,article called "Japan's ruling DPJ party outlines plans for quake-tax" in BBC news, the government ,democratic party" is planning to rise tax. "The new tax plan will increase taxes on incomes, companies, property and tobacco." by BBC news. According to the 2011/08/02   lecture meeting of "Mitsuhashi Takaaki,"  Rising tax in the economic deflation will cause lower tax income and it is common sense for economists. Government should print more money for earthquake and deflation.  According to the TV program According to 2011/09/11 nikkei women online "Rising of tax will makes your effort for saving money nothing", people will save money since the economic condition is bad. In addition to the economic condition, there might be rise of tax. This will promote people to save money. According to Mitsuhashi Takaaki, if people do not consume, economic in Japan will never be better. What Japan need is higher consumption to recover economic.

Blog#1: A Japanese tourist killed in Myanmar

Kako Furukawa

On September 28th, there was a murder case in Bagan that is the central part of Myanmar. A Japanese woman was taking a motorcycle taxi and killed by the motorcycle taxi’s driver. According to a September 29th article called “Japanese tourist killed in Myanmar” in the Asahi newspaper, the local Japanese embassy confirmed the identity of the woman and he didn’t released her name because of the intention of her bereaved family. However, TBS TV news on September 30th reported with her photo that the woman’s name was “Chiharu Shiramatu” and she was thirty years old. He said this information was informed by the local police. And, it was said that she was dead at a hospital. But, according to a September 30th article called “Japanese woman killed in Myanmar” in YOMIURIONLINE, ｔhe driver who was thirty-nine year old was arrested by the police, but, Chiharu Shiramatu was dead before she arrived at the hospital.

And more information