Paper Tiger

The newspaper says that the largest opposition party "Democratic Party of Japan(DPJ)" rejected the measure to send Japanese self-defense force to Indian Ocean in the House of Councilors the other day. However, the bill has been passed later in the House of Representatives by the ruling coalition. I don't know why DPJ decided to refuse it because it's an important mission for international contributions. The party looked energetic and powerful when they won the latest House of Councilors election, but now they look like a paper tiger. Actually there's a a Japanese idiom "張子の虎" similar to "paper tiger". The meaning of "張子の虎" is totally the same as "paper tiger." What a coincidence! :D

新聞で見たのですが、最大野党である『民主党』は参議院で、自衛隊をインド洋に送る法案を先日否決したそうです。けれども、その法案は、後で、連立与党によって、衆議院で可決されました。なぜ、民主党が、その法案を否決することにしたのか、よくわかりません。直近の参議院選挙で彼らが勝ったときは、エネルギッシュでパワフルに見えたのですが、今は"paper tiger"のようです。実は、日本語の表現で、『張子の虎』というのがあります。その意味は、"paper tiger"と全く同じ！なんという偶然。(^^♪

NOVA to Reopen(NOVA再開)

Tuesday, November twentieth, two thousand and seven

According to G.communication's web site, which took over NOVA's business the other day, about 30 NOVA schools are going to reopen soon, including a school near my house, but not so close. :( The school's name is "Higashi-Kishiwada SATY school". "SATY" is a Japanese big supermarket chain's name as many Japanese people know. Actually NOVA built up many branches in supermarkets and shopping mall recently. Its promo word is "Study abroad in front of stations" but I think "Not only in front of stations but also in shopping malls" is correct these days. :D
"Higashi-Kishiwada SATY school" is also located very close to JR Higashi-Kishiwada station. The new management staff must have thought it's effective to reopen the school because students can come there easily by not only train but also car and parents can go shopping while their children are taking English lessons in NOVA KIDS classes. I mean, the brains must have considered that it's the most important to gather as many customers as possible and ASAP in order to make as much money as possible soon so that other schools can reopen. Do you think my thought is correct?
Anyway, I'm going to move to the branch reopened next week or so and ask the staff to let my level down. :) To be honest, I'd rather review ZONE-E and F lessons through real lessons than take ZONE-G lessons.

2007年11月20日(火曜)

ジー・コミュニケーション社(先日、NOVAを引き継いだ会社)のWebサイトによりますと、約30のNOVAのスクールが近く再開されるらしい。私の家の近くのスクール・・・といっても、それほど近くはないけど・・・(ToT)・・・とにかく再開されます。そのスクールは、『東岸和田SATY校』。SATYは、(大抵の日本人は知ってると思うけど)日本の大きなスーパーマーケットチェーン店の名前です。これまで、NOVAは、多くのブランチをスーパーマーケットやショッピングモールの中に作ってきました。そのキャッチコピーは『駅前留学』ですけど、『駅前だけでなく、ショッピングモールの中も・・・』が最近は正しいのでは？と思います。(^^♪
また、『東岸和田SATY校』は、JR東岸和田駅のすぐ近くに位置しています。新経営陣は、生徒が電車だけでなく車でも容易に来られる、また、親たちは子供がNOVA KIDSで英語のレッスンをしている間、買い物ができる、といった点から、このスクールを再開するのが有効であると思ったに違いないです。つまり、彼らは、できるだけ多くの顧客をできるだけ早く集めて、できるだけ多くのお金を稼ぐ・・・他のスクールを再開するために。私の見解、正しいと思います？
とにかく、来週くらいに再開される東岸和田校に転校しよう。そしてスタッフにレベルを落としてもらうように御願いしよう。実は、ZONE-Gのレッスンを受講するよりも、実際のレッスンを通して、ZONE-EとFをもう一度復習したいんです。

NOVA経営破綻の責任(Responsibility of NOVA's Bankrupt)

2007年11月11日(日曜)
Sunday, November eleventh, two thousand and seven

NOVAの事業の一部を引き継ぐ企業が決定しましたが、30万人とも言われる生徒全員の救済、元生徒に対するレッスン料返還は、期待できそうにないみたいですね。

新聞によると、このままでは、戦後最大の負債者を抱えた倒産になるらしい。

今年の春、経済産業省は、NOVAに業務改善命令を出し、一部の新規契約業務を停止させた。そのとき、こういった事態になることは予想できなかったのだろうか？NOVAが赤字経営であったことは、周知の事実だったし、業界最大手であることから、万一経営に支障が出て、当時40万人だった生徒に影響が出ることはシミュレーションできなかったのか？『食料品メーカが、不正行為をしたので、営業停止にする』といった処置と同じではないのだ。その会社の事業には、40万人の国民が顧客として関与していたのである。

もちろん、NOVAを経営破綻させた最大の原因は、前社長の猿橋氏と経営スタッフによる、超低レベルの経営マネジメントにあったことは疑いのないところであるが、国(経済産業省)にも、少しは責任があるのではないか？特に、雇用面(外国人教師、日本人スタッフ)・生徒サポートの面で、もっと国はサポートしてもよいのではないか？何しろ、"戦後最大の負債者集団"なのである。過去、不良債権を抱えた銀行に対して、国は公的資金を注入した。これと同じ考え方は、できないのか？今回のNOVAの経営破綻は、30万人がお金を預けていた銀行が破綻してしまったようなものである。国民の30万人が不良債権に悩んでいるのである。これは、不公平ではないか？政治は公平であるべきではないのか？

そういう国、特に政治家に対して、英語の名言を授けてあげよう。

Government is too important to be left to the politicians.
(政治家どもに任せておくには、政治は重要すぎる。)
(＝政治はとても重要なので、政治家に任せることはできない。)
by Chester Bowles US diplomat & economist (1901 - 1986)

国だけでなく、マスコミにも責任があると思う。今回のNOVA問題だけでなく、とかく悪いニュースは取り上げやすいので、マスコミはそういうニュースを安易に取り上げる傾向がある。マスコミ各社は行政処分を受けた直後、NOVAたたきに動いた。NOVAの悪い面ばかりをニュースにしたのだ。NOVAの生徒という立場から見ると、経営面は確かに悪い点が多々あったが、少なくとも私にとっては、週末のNOVAでレッスンを受けたり、VOICEというフリートークルームで、英語でおしゃべりすることは、普段の多忙な生活を忘れさせてくれる絶好の気分転換の場であり、週末の楽しみでもあった。不平・不満は言いやすい、ニュースにとりあげやすいであろう。しかし、肯定的意見も取り上げて欲しい。この不平等な対応は、いかに日本のマスコミが怠慢であるかの証明といっても過言ではない。

少なくとも私にとっては、NOVAは生活の一部、週末の楽しみと言ってもよいほど、重要な場であったのだ。お金うんぬんよりも、そういう重要な場所を奪った、旧経営陣の面々、先見性がなく平等性に欠ける国と政治、とかく無責任なマスコミの対応・・・全員を恨みます。

ともあれ、今回のNOVA破綻を機に、英会話を楽しめる場を、自分で事業として地元に立ち上げてしまおう、と思いつきました。将来、この夢が実現できたら、これは前述の馬鹿モノ達のおかげですね。そのときは、『ありがとう。あなたたちの馬鹿さ加減に、深く感謝します』と申し上げましょう。(^^♪

■余談
mixiに、新しいコミュを作りました。『大阪泉州で英会話を楽しむ会』
できれば、英会話喫茶などを立ち上げて、お金に困っているNOVAの先生達の役に立てたらなぁ、と思ってます。

According to the newspaper, a Japanese company, which manages English schools and cram schools for children, is going to take over part of NOVA's business, however, it's nearly impossible to help out all 30,000 NOVA students and won't refund the lesson fees to them.

The paper says that the bankrupt will bring the largest number of creditors in Japan after the World War 2 if nothing is done.

This past spring, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry gave NOVA business improvement order and suspended a part of its new contract business. I can't believe that the civil servant wasn't able to suppose their decision could cause such terrible situation. Anyone knew NOVA had been suffering from being in the red and was the industry giant. It was easy to guess that 40,000 NOVA students of that time would be in trouble if the company goes under. This case isn't equal to the case that Japanese government suspend its business when a food producer act wrong, because 40,000 citizens were involved in NOVA's business as its customers.

Of course, I bet the principal factor responsible for NOVA's bankruptcy is due to the poor business operations of the previous president Sahashi and board members, but Japanese government and the ministry also have a part of the responsibility for the bust-out, especially in the employment(for foreign teachers and Japanese staff) and the support for the customers, because the number of creditors would be the largest one in Japan after the World War 2. In the past, Japanese government decided to deploy government money for some big banks that had a lot of bad loans. Why don't they do that again for NOVA's teachers and customers? This bankruptcy is like a bank's collapse in which has 30,000 people save their money. 30,000 citizens are suffering from the credits! I absolutely think it's unfair! Politics must be fair!

Let me give an English witty remark to such stupid government and politicians.

Government is too important to be left to the politicians.
by Chester Bowles US diplomat & economist (1901 - 1986)

And also, I personally think Japanese mass media has a part of the responsibility because they often picked up the bad sides of NOVA and hardly picked up the good sides, such as....

すいません。m(_ _)m
これ以上、前述の日本語を英訳するのは、私には難しすぎます。あきらめます。(ToT)
とにかく、私はNOVAでのレッスンやVOICEが大好きです。

Sorry.... it's too difficult for me to translate all the above Japanese sentences into English. Let me give up......

Anyway, I LOVE English lessons and VOICE at NOVA SOOOOOO MUCH!

P.S.
I've just made an online community in mixi, the most popular SNS in Japan, that's called "The community of having fun with English conversation in Sensyuu, Osaka."
If possible, I'd like to start a new English cafe around here and help out NOVA teachers who are hard up for money.

Stupid Japanese Business

Wednesday, April eleventh, two thousand and seven

Now that China has become a big economic nation, many enterprises of other countries have built up their branches or factories in the country recently. In my opinion, it's a silly idea to establish them there, especially for Japanese corporations. I bet the strategy that they invade the economy is so ridiculous, if Japanese companies do that without taking the long view of their benefits. According to some news web site, too much pollution has been caused in the big country due to the rapid development of the economy. In the near future, China will have a huge military power and great skills for space development, sending their pollution to the neighborhoods - including Japan - with yellow dust. I can't help but be worried about Japan's future.

Dandelions in Blossom

Wednesday, March fourteenth, two thousand and seven

According to a news web site, Dandelions bloomed almost two months ahead of schedule in Japan. And birds and butterflies made early appearances as well due to El Nino, some experts said. This winter must be the warmest on record for many parts of Japanese archipelago. Now that I'm a member of recycling industry, I can't help but watch the current condition of global environment. But I don't have such a big power to help the planet, so I've been thinking what to do recently. However, I haven't come up with a good idea so far. Anyway, I'll do the things I can do now. Let me work hard and recycle tons of chemical materials in my factory.

Ah! I have to watch my favorite TV program right now! Eh? I'm wasting lots of electricity? Could be... But I actually watch TV for only two hours a week! On the other hand, I spend a couple of hours a day in front of my PC, though. :) I might be a person who is a bad influence on the Earth...


"quoted from LONGMAN Dictionary of Contemporary English"
dandelion [countable noun]: a wild plant with a bright yellow flower which later becomes a white ball of seeds that are blown away in the wind
ahead of schedule = before the planned time
El Nino: a change in the weather that happens every three to seven years, caused by a rise in the temperature of a large area of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America. El Nino has severe effects on the weather in many parts of the world, and can cause drought(=complete lack of rain) in some places and heavy rain and violent storms in other places.
archipelago [countable noun]: a group of small islands

Too Easy

Wednesday, March seventh, two thousand and seven

I personally think that the basis for leveling up the students at NOVA, the most biggest private English school in Japan, is too easy. Now that I'm a level-3 student at the school, my friends think that I can speak English fluently like a native English speaker, but I cannot do it that much, actually. I haven't perfectly mastered even the contents of the lessons for level-5 students so far. That's why I've reviewed some of them lately. The level-up system might be kind of a strategy that NOVA makes the students spend much more money there.
Anyway, The services of the school tend to become commercial and some of teachers who work for the school sometimes told me that NOVA is greedy. I absolutely agree with them, but I'm going to take lessons there as long as I have good times with nice teachers and study buddies. To tell the truth, many students often complain that the cost is expensive, but I actually don't think so. I suppose it's reasonable because there are lots of nice teachers as far as I know, and some of the students who I often take lessons together are really friendly! If I didn't study English at NOVA, I couldn't meet such nice people. That's exactly why I take lessons there even when I'm so busy.

... I wrote today's diary without my dictionaries after a long time, so I bet there are tons of mistakes in this content. :p

Politicians are good at wasting money

Tuesday, February twenty seventh, two thousand and seven

Whenever I read a newspaper, I can't help but think nobody are better at wasting money than politicians and government official. They are very good at wasting not only money but also time, I think. Any news related to political problems drive me furious and make me feel losing the motivation for hard working. I'd really like them to spend our tax effectively from my heart. Apparently, they don't know the proverb, "Time is money.", because they aren't aware of the difficulty we make money.
Speaking of politicians, the mayor of my city always have on a wig, according to one of my cousins who used to work for the city hall. No wonder his hair style is always perfectly the same. :) Actually, the mayor often appears on local TV programs. Whenever he is taken his pictures, he allegedly indicates the photographers the angle of pictures, left diagonal 45 degree. What a funny mayor. :) But his political ability is much more excellent than that of the previous mayor, I bet. In fact, he often says, "All the city hall staff must offer good services for this city's residents. We belong to a service industry, so it's important for us to be service-minded staff!" He tend to have a big mouth in front of people, though...


furious[adjective]: 激怒した、憤慨した
be aware of = know(?)
allegedly[adverb]: 伝えられるところによると
diagonal[adjective]: 斜めの

NOVA Should Provide Web Services

Tuesday, February thirteenth, two thousand and seven

I personally think NOVA, the biggest private English school in Japan, should offer Internet services, such as the reservation system for taking English lessons. All students have to apply for lessons by phone or at the reception desk of the branch that the student belongs to. Sometimes I feel irritated when booking my English lessons on the ways. NOVA's reservation system looks like an old-fashioned one. Since I used to be a computer system engineer, I think it's not too difficult to build up such a reservation system on the Internet. It's very common to have such a system among service industry because customers can access the systems easily　on the Internet or by cell-phone. Besides, the companies that have those systems can cut down the costs of reservation service. I can't understand why NOVA doesn't develop the system for the life of me.


for the life of me: どうしても

Horrible Climate Change

Monday, February twelfth, two thousand and seven

Recently the global environment has changed for the worse. According to a web site(http://www.enn.com/globe.html?id=1461), Indonesia could lose about 2,000 islands by 2030 due to climate change, because sea levels are expected to rise about 89 centimeters in 2030. So about 2,000 mostly uninhabited small islets would be submerged.

Holy cow! Nobody can say, "Whatever.", against global warming. I work in a recycling industry, so sometimes watch those kinds of news not only in the newspaper but also on the Internet, actually. Japan is the country held the international conference on the environment ten years ago, and the Kyoto Protocol was constituted at that time. I hope that many countries try to fight global warming under the Protocol and strongly hope that all advanced nations join the Protocol and make efforts for the planet's future.

Ah... The airport near my city, Kansai international airport, might be submerged in the near future as well as Indonesia's islets.


climate change: 気候の変化
change for the worse: 悪化する
uninhabited islet: 無人島
something be submerged : ～が水没する
Whatever. : どうでもいいよ。
constitute something: ～を制定する
the Kyoto Protocol: 京都議定書
advanced nation: 先進国
make efforts for something: ～のために努力する

Machines

Thursday, February first, two thousand and seven

Japanese Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa came under criticism for calling women "birth-giving machines" in a speech last Saturday. Many lawmakers urge him to resign, but he don't have the will to do that, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that he intends not to call for the minister's resignation.
Let me make a sentence for them.

Politicians are the "money-wasting and time-wasting machines".
『政治家は、時間とお金を浪費する機械です』

Customer Confidence

Monday, January twenty second, two thousand and seven

In Japan some incredible affairs have been caused by some companies recently. They betrayed trust of their customers, I think. One of them used old ingredients that had passed the expiry dates to make sweets. A TV show doctored(altered?) the data of natto which described how good for your diet eating natto is. Of course, almost all Japanese people know eating natto is good for health but didn't know it's also good for diet. It was not sure that eating natto is good for diet, though.
Actually, I often read such silly news these days in newspaper or on the Internet. Whenever reading those stupid matter, I think human being is a type of forgetting animals. In fact, there were a lot of similar wrongdoings in the past. But I have to say to them "Thank you.", because they are sort of teachers by negative samples, they are called "反面教師(hanmen kyoushi)" in Japanese. Although my factory belongs to a different industry from their companies, I was able to reconfirm that "Customer Confidence" is the most important policy to do business well in all industries as well as "Customer Satisfaction". Thanks a lot! I'm so lucky to hear the bad news that our products would sell like hotcakes!


betray: (信用・信頼などを)裏切る
expiry date: 賞味期限(?)
doctor(verb), alter: 改ざんする
forgetting animal: 忘却の動物(?)
teachers by negative samples: 反面教師(?)
something sell(s) like hotcakes: ～が飛ぶように売れる

The First Work Day of 2007

Thursday, January fifth, two thousands and seven

I had been concerned about whether the production line works well or not, partly because we hadn't activated it for almost one week. The machinery tends to have some trouble after a long vacation as far as I have experienced before.
Fortunately, it did work so well against my concern. We were really relieved...

To change the subject, I saw a frightening article on the Internet this morning. According to the web site, the increasing speed of creatures becoming extinct is one hundred times as fast as the natural speed because of the recent environmental destruction. Besides, the number of wildlife has reportedly decreased by forty percent in the past twenty years. I strongly hope that our industry is effective against the terrible current global environment and helpful to the environmental improvement from my heart.

All Japanese companies had better not export the materials they exhausted to other countries, such as China, and had better not shift their production lines to those regions just because personal costs in the nation is much cheaper than Japan, and had better recycle those stuff in Japan, otherwise Japan would be suffer from deindustirialization and lack of resources for recycling.

Ah.... I've written much more of difficult words in this article than I had expected. (ToT)

(I'm not sure that all sentences are grammatically correct, especially the last one.)


partly because (a clause): 一つには、～という理由で
activate something: ～を作動させる、稼動させる、起動する
something become extinct: ～が絶滅する
environmental destruction: 環境破壊
reportedly: 伝えられるところでは・・・
wildlife: 野生生物
just because (a clause): ただ、～という理由だけで
otherwise (a clause): さもなければ～(仮定法過去)
deindustirialization: the reduction of industrial activity or capacity in a region or economy(産業の空洞化、産業の吸いたい・・・じゃなくて、産業の衰退・・・笑)
be grammatically correct: 文法的に正しい

Must Work

Sunday, December third, two thousands and six

I'm about to leave for my factory to work a couple of hours. One of our suppliers made a call to my cell phone when I was having lunch yesterday. He asked me on the phone if it was OK to bring some materials to recycle into my factory today. Of course I replied "Yes, it's my pleasure.", because there aren't sufficient chemical materials to recycle in Japan nowadays due to Chinese. In fact, recently the people have been trying to buy up(corner) tons of the ones in Japan, so we must get as many chemical fibers to recycle as possible. That's why I must work today even though it's Sunday... (ToT) I think it's not fair to do business with the nation at the almost fixed exchange rate.

To change the subject, today my cute daughter is going to take part in the musical event at the piano school she attends. Needless to say, I'm going to see it in the interval of my work. I've been tied up with not only my work but also my private.... orz

buy up(corner): 買い占める

SoftBank would Lose

Wednesday, November Fifteenth, two thousands and six

I've heard of a lot of news related to new businesses of an information-technology industry giant lately. The company is famous for software supply and managing a famous portal web site, Yahoo Japan, and also has a professional baseball team in Fukuoka prefecture.

The organization has started some new projects in networking service category recently.

One of them is cell-phone service that was set up by the acquisition of vodafone's subsidiary. Actually, the number portability system has just started in Japan though a little too late. The cell-phone service provided by SoftBank seemed to get a number of new customers on its new cheap fee structure at first, but they caused a serious accident on their network system built for contract of the service.

In addition, they launched a social networking web site in Japan, a Japanese edition of Myspace, by tie-up with News Corp. In Japan, mixi is the most popular, famous, and multifunctional SNS, so I personally think the Japanese version won't succeed even though Myspace is the most largest SNS service in the world. The reason? It's very easy. Anyone who works in IT industry is expected to know why I think so.

acquisition: 買収
subsidiary: 子会社
though a little too late: 遅まきながら
a number of: 大量の(many)
tie-up with: ～との提携
be expected to:～するはずだ、 ～すると期待される

The global warming

Wednesday, November eighth two thousands and six

Since my factory belongs to recycling industry, it's sort of my responsibility to watch the status of the global environment - especially the global warming. According to The World Meteorological Organization(WMO), the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere - such as carbon dioxide, reached a record high last year. And an environmental research is warning that the amount of Australian wine production would come down by 40% in 2050 and most products of the sea might go extinct in near future. In addition, a Japanese newspaper announces that Japan won't achieve the aim of Kyoto protocol if nothing is done.

It's autumn(fall) in Japan now but it's comparatively warm for the season. I bet the global warming causes the recent strange climate. Besides, a neighbor big country has been manufacturing tons of industrial products without any green actions and brought about environmental pollution. According to my book, it's not acceptable to export chemical recycling materials to such a silly nation, which is called "world factory". :-p I personally think Japan should trade with the nation on the condition that they equalize the exchange rate.


WMO: 世界気象機関
carbon dioxide: 二酸化炭素
products of the sea: 海の幸
go extinct: 絶滅する
if nothing is done: このままでは
comparatively: 比較的
climate: 気候
green action: 環境対策
bring about: 引き起こす(cause)
According to my book: 私の意見としては
on the condition that: ～という条件で
equalize: 平等にする

Happy Birthday

Tuesday, November seventh, two thousands and six

Today is my eldest son's thirteenth birthday. Actually, he is an ADHD child. ADHD stands for 'attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder'. What a difficult technical word! In Japanese, the disorder is called "注意欠陥過活動性［多動性］障害"... Wow! Sounds super hard to read for me even though I'm Japanese. :-p

His scholastic ability(achievement) is usually above the average of his junior high school. In fact, he often gets full marks(perfect scores) on his English tests thanks to an excellent home teacher, whose name is plow7010. :) But he sometimes has panic disorder and he is occasionally hurt by himself. He takes 'Ritalin' almost everyday to improve his concentration. On the other hand, the medicine have potential of side effects. Frankly speaking, I don't necessarily agree that he often takes it. Because, from my point of view, it seems to be sort of a drug. However, my wife is often so nervous with his behavior that she offers him taking the tablets whereas I often wonder if we should stop giving them to him or not. Nobody knows the best way to take care of him.... Anyway, I have no choice but to think "What will be, will be." (なるようになる naruyouni naru) (^_^;

Ability of Debate

July 23th, 2006

I suppose I've posted some articles like this on this blog before. But I'd like to post one more article about this theme - "Why are Japanese people poor at English conversation?"

Some intellectuals say that Japanese people tend to dislike too assertive and aren't used to debates. So they say Japanese education system needs to be changed, and Japanese children should practice debates earlier so that they get used to discussion and expression of their own opinions and claims. It's more important than studying English.

I 100% agree on their view. In fact, Most of my English teachers, all of who are native English speakers, often require me to express my own opinion and claim. So I think it's necessary for Japanese children to have not only English skills but also such abilities, in order to take part in international activities someday.

Therefore, the Japanese education system must be changed right now. - That's my opinion, my teachers! :)

| Japanese education |

Preparing for exams

June 30th, 2006

My eldest son, a junior high school boy, is in the period of a term-end test. Of course I often try to teach him English. But he sometimes make a terrible mistake. For instance, he wrote a strange composition the other day, "I am my friend." The grammar is correct but the meaning is definitely strange! He might be much funnier than me. :)
Anyway, he has to take three-subject tests a day and the term-end test is going to be executed for 3 days. So he has to take nine-subject tests in total.

I personally think one of the purpose that they take a test is to measure their achievement objectively. But they can prepare for the test on the way of overnight cramming because there are only three-subject tests a day. If I were a person related to education, I wouldn't open the subjects executed on each day in order that students can't prepare for the tests on the way(overnight cramming) and teachers can really get to know more about the skills of their students.
In fact, I hadn't prepared for any exams when I was a junior high school student. My father would often say to me strictly, "Needless to say, you don't need to prepare for any exams if you study on a routine basis, right? So you have to help me in my factory!" Sounds awful.... (ToT)

By the way, I want my children to learn that it's important to concentrate on their study for their future. They will have many chances to get new knowledge in their life, and then have to concentrate on them. From my point of view, preparing for exams is a good way for children to practice the art of concentration.... Wow! I have to focus my English study, too!

| education |

English Education

June 3rd, 2006

According to yesterday newspaper, many of Japanese children don't have enough capability of their national language and some subjects. On the other hand, the Japanese government is considering if they should make Japanese children take English education in elementary schools or not, in order to improve the children's English skills. Because the English skills of Japanese children are reportedly very bad.

Studying English early is a good way to learn correct pronunciation. But, in my opinion, it's more important to learn our own culture, custom and history, if children don't have enough skills about those subjects. If children don't know most of them, there's no use speaking English fluently. I personally think that genuine cosmopolitans mostly know their own cultures, customs and histories and have their own opinions, in addition, they can discuss various kind of problems. If the parents of Japanese children want to make their children take English lessons, they should make their children attend private English schools. In short, the Japanese government had better not to start English education in elementary schools. The government have a lot of something else to do.

In my case, I can't speak English fluently but I often try to discuss many problems with native English speakers. Because I have a lot of experience in my study, actual life and business. So our children need to have such backbones before learning English. If they can learn those subjects at the same time, it's OK to learn English early. But most of children can't do that, I suppose.

I hope you understand what I mean. Thank you.

| English education |

Considering business, health

December 27, 2005

I'm still pretty busy at work. My brother and I made a prediction of whether our amount of production is enough or not. We have just guessed that our customer's orders would be ahead of our supply. We may have to work more hard... But we discussed our lives... We have been working so hard recently. It means breaking down our health to work more hard. We need to take a rest. So we have just decided not to push ourselves. I suppose most Japanese workers work too hard. For us, health is much more important than money.