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