Rakugo

 One of the Japanese traditional arts is known as "rakugo" around the world. I found an article on Japan Times.

 According to this article, Shunputei Ichinosuke is going to go to Europe to perform sit-down comedy, which is called "rakugo", from October 11 to 22. This is the first time for him to tour and perform "rakugo", so he is going to use Englesh subtitle to make audiences enjoy.

 I was excited to read the article, because through his tour, many people in Europe may get intetested in Japan, even though there are already a lot of foreigner who are interested in Japan and Japanese culture, so I am rooting for him. Anyway, I have never seen "rakugo" in theater, so I would like to go to see it in the future at least once. Sometime, "rakugo" is broadcasted on TV, and when I watch it, it always makes me attract. Performers are just wearing kimono and have a fan. Using it, they make audiences fun. I am sure that "rakuga" can meke audiences in Europe understand how interesting it is.

Questions
1, Have you ever seen rakugo before? How is it?
2, Do you think rakugo can make audiences in Europe feel fun? Why?

New start

I found interesting article on CNN.

[Summary] Shinzo Abe who is the prime minister of Japan is going to press on a proposal that hikes tax next year. Consumption tax in Japan will be raised to 8% from 5% in April 2014. By 2015, it will be increased to 10% depending on the situation. He expects it to be an economy recovery.

[Reflection] I think it will end in failure. I mean it will not go well. It is not good to impose consumption tax on all products. For example, it is better to impose consumption tax on only luxuries such as car, house and jewel. It should not impose on everything. Food or clothes are daily necessities and consumers would try not to buy them if imposed on all products. It would be meaning less plan if demands decreased sharply. However, I like Shinzo Abe’s attempt because he manages to raise funds to recovery an economy. it will be the help to Fukushima recovery.

[Question]
Q1. Do you think it will go well?

Q2. Are there any other solutions to an economic problem?

It was very shocking news.

I read very sad news this week on The Japan Times.

On October 2nd 2013, A woman saw a man who was lying on the inside of crossing. She was in the car with her father at the time, and waiting at the crossing. After she noticed the man, she immediately tried to move him a safe place. However the train was coming, and unfortunately she died. On the other hand, the man did not die thanks to her action.

As soon as I read this news, I felt her death is a great loss. Of course she was very kind person, so she managed to help him. If I was a position of her at the time, I do not think I could help him, so I was very impressed by her action. What is more, the woman was in a car with her father, her father said to her, "don't go, the train is coming." That means he saw the accident in his presence. I can not say anything if I consider his feelings. I believe it is only help his heart that the man did not die.


What do you think her action?
Why do you think that she entered the crossing in spite of she knew how dangerou are?

The preparation of Japanese Olympic Committee

I read about an eargerness of Japanese team to be the host of Olympics (Japan Times) this week.

The members of the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee said that they would do their best to win the vote to be the host of next Olympics. Expect Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul ran for it. After the news conference on Friday, the kickoff ceremony was held with approximately 830 guests.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Bid Committee won the vote on September 7th. The news made me so happy and I expect that it will be successful. However, I did not know about the process to become the host city of an Olympics. Through reading this article, I understood that the members of the team did their best for the presentation with their incredible passion. For Madrid, it was the third consecutive bid, and for Istanbul, it was the fifth time to challenge. I also noticed that to be the host is not easy because the other cities could not win even through they have bid for it many times.

I have two questions for you. What do you think is the decisive factor of Japan’s win? In addition, what are your expectations for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020?

Ballet dancers' brains ‘adapt to spins’

I found this article on BBC.

Summary

A study found that brains of ballet dancers have different structures from others. As the dancers train to spin in a special way not to feel dizzy, their brains decrease signal to get dizzy. The mechanism may be useful for patients suffering from chronic dizziness.

Reflection

I have been thought that ballet dancers do not get dizzy only when they are dancing and they are same as other people when they do not dance. Therefore, I was surprised that they are better than others after they spin on a chair. I easily felt sick by using a car when I was a child, so I used to really want not to feel dizzy like ballet dancers. I still want to be not to feel dizzy, so I would like to train it. Also, I thought that practicing hard is important because it is written that dancers with more experience tend to be strong against spin.

Questions

1.      If you know how to train spins without feeling dizzy, would you try it?

2.      If you can get an ability like an athlete, what would you like to do?

Gunmen open fire on sleeping college students in Nigeria

I found a serious article on CNN.

Summary

Gunmen killed at least 40 college students in Nigeria on Sunday. They approached when the students were sleeping on the male dorm. The gunmen are members of Boko Haram which targets school or church so far. Nigerian President decided to a new wing and declared an emergency. (47 words)

Reflections

I cannot believe Nigeria’s situation and the existence of such an evil group when I read this article. The way to target college students is not fair because they were sleeping. I think Africa has many problems not only something like this but also wars and some conflicts among countries. The problems also have caused poorness of food there.When I heard sad news in Africa on TV or on the Internet, I felt disappointed about it and it makes me sad. It is just my opinion but that is why the poorness and the existence of evil group is a little bit connected each other.　I wonder whether the president can manage this gunmen or not. Killing people is very serious problem, so I want the other rich countries to help people like children and the elderly who may be caused harm by enemies. (144 words)

Discussions

1. What do you think if are there gunmen in Japan?

2. What should other countries do to punish to the gunmen?

Nasa plans first 3D printer space launch in 2014

I found an interesting article on BBC website.

<Summary>
 

 Nasa is planning to use 3D printer in space, the world of no gravity to help astronaut’s' works in next year. This plan is first time for all human mankind, and also it will make the crafting in space. Nasa is trying to make this machine more smaller to put it in space ship, and space station for sending important data to the Earth. (68 words)

 

<Refrection>

 This machine can help them and space development. I have heard that the 3D printer has many possibilities, for example, it can print the other machine, foods, and even human bone. With correctly program for printing something, it can produce exact stuffs which they want, even if that is difficult to bring or make in space. However, this machine is invented just several years ago, so I think it's too big and heavy to bring. According to the news, Nasa is trying to make it easier, but I worry that will be done or not. The natural resources and fields for living is getting smaller on the earth, so space develop ment is really important. Therefore, I hope this project will success. (122 words)

<Discussion Questions>

1. Japan should try to develop the space more, like Nasa or Russia.
2. What things do you want to bring when you are going to go space travel ?

Can you believe the 'invisible' tower?

I found this article in CNN.

（Summary）

The South Korean government permitted to build the first invisible tower all over the world. It would be used mainly for leisure such as a movie theater or roller coaster. The height of this tower is not main selling point, but it would be the sixth highest tower.

（Reflection）

As this article says, it’s the first invisible building, of course I’ve never heard about it, so I couldn’t imagine the ‘invisible’ tower at first. This phenomenon is just state of the camouflage of LED, but the pictures in the article show the invisible state, it might deserves to be surprised. I was surprised that the appearance will be changed by adjusting the lightning of LED, so it can be changed incrementally. Also, it isn’t just a tower, it would be a leisure facility, so it must be popular and famous not only in South Korea, but also the neighboring countries and regions. It will be built near the international airport, so foreign tourists will be able to visit here. I want to go there and see it with my own eyes after the tower has built. (133 words)

(Discussion Question)

1.    Can you imagine the completely invisible building?

2.    Do you have any unique ideas of buildings like this invisible tower?

 

The strike action by teachers against the changes of their pay and conditions

2E-7 3121279 Takuya Shimada  

This week I read about the strike action by teachers. 

<Source> BBC    <Date> 1 October, 2013  
<Headline> Teachers set to strike over pay and conditions

<Summary>

Teachers who belong to the two famous teaching unions are set to take strike action against changes to their pensions and increased work load. The walkout would diturb students' learning, inconvenience parents and spoil estimation of teachers in the east of England, the Midlands and the Humber. (47 words)

<Reflection>

I agree with the teachers who are set to strike against the change of their pay and conditions because I think they have a right to protect their working conditions. In Japan, some students and their parents tend to regard teachers as volunteer. (I don't know if it is the same in other countries or not.) Their job is teaching, discipling and supporting students, and they probably love their students and are proud of their job. In addition, education is really important to make their country stronger and richer, so teachers shoulder a big task. Therefore, I think government should change their attitude to teachers. (116words)

<2 questions>

1, Do you think Janese teachers deserve respect? Why/Why not?

2, Which job do you want to have, a high paying job or rewarding job? Why/Why not?

typhoon hit China and many people have been missing.

ME 7 3121113 Kato satomi

I read about typhoon happen in China on BBC

Typhoon Wutip: Many missing as Chinese boats sink
Data 30 September 2013

Summary

Chinese state media said that after typhoon Wutip hit china sea, at least 70 people missed and three of five boats which were caught in the typhoon sank. What is more, these ships carried more than 150 people and only 14 people have been rescued yet. This typhoon also hit Vietnam on Monday, but reports said that villagers have escaped the typhoon.

opinion

Recently, Japan also has been injured by terrible typhoon and many people were injured, so I sensitize to natural disasters news like typhoon. I am really sorry to hear the news that typhoon hit china and many people missed. However, we know that from December to October is a season that many typhoon occur. Since I encountered the big earthquake called Tohoku daishinsai, I learned that we should prepare for escape any disaster. We should think and guess the worst case in daily life not to be confused when disaster happened. It is too late to hurry to escape or do something when tragedy happen. Therefore, I understand Chinese case, but they should think more about that how terrie natural disasters give, and Chinese media should warn stronger.

questions

・   

・  What should we prepare for escaping disasters?

・  Do you think Japanese are be careful about natural disaster?  Why/why not?

Italian pasta brand Barilla in gay advert row

I found this article on BBC.

(Summary)
On September 24th’s radio, Guido Barilla who is chairman of an Italian pasta brand said he would not use gay people in his brand’s advertisement, and if they dislike the concept, they could eat another brand. The gay rights organization criticized him and demanded a boycott of the company’s products.

(Reflection)
When I read this article, I felt sad about the thought of discrimination against gay people. I can not understand the concept which the “classic” family is fundamental, and I think it was natural for gay people and the gay rights group to get angry and call for a boycott. I was surprised that the incident was occurred in Europe because I thought European countries had understanding about homosexual people than that of Asian countries. According to the article, in fact, Italy is one of the few countries in Western Europe which does not recognize same-sex unions in law. I hope there will not be any such discrimination in our society.

(Questions)
・How do you feel about this article?
・What do you think about the rights of gay people in Japan? Are they respected?

U.N. climate change report points blame at humans

I read this news from CNN.

Summary
Human activities have affected climate change and caused global problems such as the rise of seas. Global warming has been occurring with obvious changes. Scientists said the last 30-year period is "very possible" the warmest in the last 800 years.

Reflection
I often hear the news about global warming, and actually I feel the changes in my daily life, especially summer. Abnormal weather like hurricanes or extremely heavy rain attacked Japan. Now, it is a common idea that human activities are contributing to global warming, and we need to take actions to lower the speed of warming. Each of us is responsible for this change as one of lives who lives in and share the earth. We can take small actions for stopping the warming in our daily life, and I think talking about the measures with friends or family is very effective to keep having consciousness of environmental problems.

Questions
1. What small action can you take for stopping global warming?
2. Have you ever felt global warming influences the environment or our daily lives?

The Earthquake struck in Pakistan

This article is on BBC. It is very interesting, but also very sad news.

[Summary]
A few days ago, the strong earthquake occurred in south-west Pakistani, and at least 400 people died because of this disaster. The US Geological Survey measured this tremor, and it is 6.8 magnitude. Rescue have been delayed by the broken roads, so many people still have to sleep in the open air.

[Reflection]
I remembered the Tohoku Earthquake when I read this article. I also remembered that an important thing is to prepare for an earthquake. An earthquake cannot be foreseen, so it is too late to be hasty when it occurs. And I hope that many survivors can eat something and sleep indoors as soon as possible. I think the Japanese Government should give assistance to the stricken area, because the Japanese Government has already known how to reconstruct than another country. I want the Pakistani Government to apply the lesson from the Tohoku Earthquake. I pray for early revival of the disaster-stricken area.

[Discussion Question]
1 What do you know about the preparation for the earthquake?
2 What can we do for the sufferers?

Can we live in the underwater city in the future?

I found the article about creating colonies under the sea.

Summary
According to Ian Koblick, there is the technology of building underwater colonies which have a capacity of 100 people today, and it can solve the over-population problems and protect people from natural or man-made disasters. However, it also have some problems about the energy and the water pressures.

Response
Sometimes I hear or watch some news about the Space colonies, although there are few information about the colonies under the sea. So when I found the image of underwater habitations, I am interested in this article. According the article, advocates maintain the underwater colonies could help mitigate over-population problems, or protect people against the possibility of natural or man-made disasters that render land-based human life impossible. It is said that the sea accounts for 70% of the surface of the earth, so I thought it is a nice idea. However, of course, there are some obstacles to create and build the colonies under the sea. For example, we have to gain much energy to operate these colonies and also we have to decrease the bad effects of the water pressures to stay the underwater cities longer than now.

Questions
1. Do you think human beings live in the underwater city in the future?

2. If we can live in the underwater colonies, what do you want to do?

Teachers get performance pay

This week I found this article on BBC.

[Summary] In England and Wales, teachers may can get performance pay because members of some unions striked against teachers over pay. However, it is said that most parents want school to follow a national pay system. It is required to pay the equality and suitable salaries to teachers.


[Reflection] When I read this news, I was surprised because it is rare to pay salaries to teachers according to their performance in Japan. I think that it is said that teachers get steady and good salaries, but I know it is hard to teach and prepare for their classes. I think they need to get good salaries because they take care of students who are going to play an active role in society. However, there is some problems about teachers behavior. If some teachers do not give lessons well and students get bored with these teachers lessons, I think they do not have to get good salaries. I am interested in this performance pay because this act will motivate teachers to wark hard.


[Questions]
・School should control teachers income according to students evaluate.
・What do you think if this performance pay introduce to Japan?

A dominant cause of global warming.

I found this article from BBC!

SUMMARY

The UN's climate published a report that human is the main cause of global warming. Especially, greenhouse gas which is emitted by people is deeply connected to the problem. Scientists said that the cause has been made worse since 1970 and the panel considered that it is important to decrease the amount of the gas. (55)



REFLECTION

I had not known that the situation of global warming has been existed as a serious problem since 1970 until I read this article. At that time, I was not born. Needless to say, I did not consider about the problem when I was childhood. These years, I felt the bad effects of the problem especially at the summer. In this year, there were a lot of days which are intense heat, and at the Kouchi prefecture in Japan, the Meteorological Agency wrote down 41.0 degrees as the worst record. The problem sometimes brings about not only abnormal weather but also destroying nature so I thought that people have to consider about greenhouse gas more carefully. (116)



QUESTION


1. What kind of an abnormal weather which is caused by global warming do you know? (How was that happened?)


2. Do you have any ideas to improve or solve the problem?

I read this article this week.

(Summary)
In the past three weeks, there are two deivers who came into the landing strip on the Fairbanks International Airport. Then, they were using Apple's Maps app,so the Maps showed them to the mistaken routes. Due to this happening, the airport has stopped working.

(Reflection)
I was very astonished to hear this problem, because i am also one of the iphone users. Moreover, I often use the Maps on the iphone when I cannot find out the exactly way to my destination. In addition, this article said that this event happened after IOS.7 (the latest function) was updated, and the IOS.7 noted the Maps should have worked better than before. In spite of this, the problem still remains.I want Apple Company to make a settlement about this defect as soon as they can; otherwise, this is a possibility of making more serious issues. I will try not to use the Maps especially when I use a car.

(Discussion Questions)
1. Have you ever encountered the problems like this article?
2 How do you feel about Apple's products after hearing this problem? Do you still want to use their products?

Why has an India’s Calcutta city banned cycling?

I found this article from BBC.

 

<Summary>

The authorities in Calcutta telling people to get off their cycles in the city during the day because there is not enough space for all kind of vehicles and it cause traffic jam. However, many people still riding a bicycle.

 

<Reflection>

According to the article, bicycles are main transportation for Calcutta people who cannot afford to buy car or motor bicycles. If this rule is applied more strictly, their life will turn difficult. I am worried about them, and also I think there are another ways to change this situation.  For example, broaden roads or build roads for only bicycles. Some European countries (which regard bicycles as important transportation) apply the bicycle lanes. The authorities should not ban bicycles. Automobile exhaust does serve damage to the environment so they should encourage cycling for not only Calcutta people, but also for nature.

 

<Questions>

1. How often do you use bicycle?

2. If bicycle lanes will apply in Japan, what do you think?

Light of military threats in Syria

Introduction

I read about the problems of remaining chemical weapons in Syria this week.

Summery

 The UN Security Council has tackled the problems to eliminate chemical weapons from Syria, and lately the US and Russia affirmed the way of cleaning up the mess suggested by the agency. The proposed resolutions have been denied before, but a breakthrough could realize in the near future. (48 Words)

Reflection

 The article made me think that we had better not ignore military problems such as the case of Syria. We tend not to consider that kind of issues because it would not happen to us and is not so realistic. However, military threats, for example chemical weapons, should not be made light of. The UN Security Council played a great role in relieving the inhabitants in Syria of the threats of remaining chemical weapons there. Actually, Japan has nothing special to do with the problems, but I hope we also can be helpful to the residents disclosing the fears and support them. (102 Words)

Discussion Questions

-What kind of military threats disturb you? How would you overcome it?

-What should we do to help people suffering from problems that you don’t know?

Let us encourage disabled athletes

I found a interesting article on japan times. This is an editorial about paralympics.

Summary

 As a host of Tokyo Olympic and Paralympics in 2020, it is important  for public sector to provide financial support to disabled athletes and to nurture coaches who train them, because they need much money for technology such as their wheelchair or artificial limbs to make their performance level higher and good coaches.(53 words)

Opinion

I am so glad to hear that Tokyo has been chosen as the host of Olympic and Paralympic in 2020. I agree with the writer’s opinion because central and local government should prepare for them by 2020. I want to see that many participants in Japan get a lot of medals, and I think everyone in Japan has same opinion with me . About disabled athletes, I want them to get more medals and to do their best, and I want to encourage them. However, they need much money to buy higher technology to raise their performance, so all of Japanese should cooperate with each other and help disabled athletes.(109 words)

Questions

1 After 7 years , what will you do ? Can you imagine?

2 What do you think about disabled athletes?

Children-trafficking has not be solved in China.

I found this tragic news on BBC

Summary
On September 28th, 92 abducted children were rescued by Chinese police, and at the same time, 301 members of huge trafficking group were arrested for breaching the law. They and other group members have kidnapped so many children to sell them in other region. These issue have become a serious problem in China related to the country's one-child policy.

Reflection
I was really shocked to hear this news because human trafficking does not exsist in Japan. I was also surprised at the number the people who was kidnapped. It said more than 24,000 women and children had been sold for adoption or slave. However China has great population, this number is huge. What a tragic problem! A remarkable point is that these problems have been occuring under the influence of the country's one-child policy and lax adoption laws. It allows to accelerate increasing the problems. Because, the people will be panished when they have children against the law, but they want child as a labor, so they tend to buy children under the market. I thought Chinese people seems to object the one-child policy. This issue looks hard to be solved, but I hope the country will be deal with this problem quickly.

Questions
*What do you think of one-child policy in China?
*How the China should take a measure against the traffickng network?

What Happen in Japan?

This is the article I read from Japan Times.

Summary:

This summer, unexpected weather hit Japan, such as heat waves, tornadoes and cloudbursts, which had rarely happened in the past. These phenomena as well as earthquake and tsunami affect our lives; therefore the agency has to consider improving the ability to forecast weather to issue the warning.(47 words)

Reflection:

Weather these days in Japan is just abnormal. I usually check the section of weather forecast in the newspaper in the morning but it doesn't guarantee us if it’s true, especially today. As the article said, the big part of cause is global-warming which we human beings have noticed for a long time but the progress of dealing with it has not been seen from my eye. However, the global-warming is becoming more serious. There is no doubt. I think the proposal the author suggested might be a good idea for temporary issue, but it doesn't seem to be a fundamental solution for earth. It may be important to find out the factors that triggered the unusual weather, but there is no point to get the final answer because we already know the half of the reason why such abnormal weather happened. The article including the information about tornadoes and sudden cloudbursts is absolutely a caution for us to be aware of something wrong with Japan. There used to be nothing like tornadoes in Japan. I guess it’s going to be much worse in the near future unless we all the human beings face and make an action to this nature crisis.(202 words)

Vocabulary:

Cloudburst   a brief time when it rains very hard

Torrential   coming in a large, fast stream

Downpour   a sudden heavy rain

Cumulonimbus   cumulus cloud having a low base and often spread out in the shape of an anvil extending to great heights

Materialize   to become visible: to appear especially in a sudden or magical way

Jurisdiction   an area within which a particular system of laws is used

Questions:

1 How much do you believe weather forecast?

2 Do you feel global-warming has been proceeding in Japan as well as in the world?

The Importance of Eye Contact

I read this article this week.

<Summary>
People always make eye contact with their family and friends, and sometimes they make it even with strangers. Therefore, eye contact is important for us to communicate with others. However, because of technologies like TV and iPhone, the number of making eye contact are decreasing. The technologies that we use everyday are killing our communication.

<Reflection>
I had awareness that watching TV and using phones obstract conversation. Sometimes I try to send an e-mail while I am talking with my family or friends. I think that it is not good thing, so I should stop doing such a thing. I think that it is good to use phone or Internet as the way of contact with people, but using too much is bad. I want to spend good time with my family and friends without any technologies. It is hard for me to look others in the eye a little, but I have to make eye contact to know about each other.

<Discussion Questions>
1. Do you try to make eye contact with others during conversation?
2. How long do you use your phone in a day?

Is it useful?

I found interesting article on CNN.

[Summary]
On Wednesday, Twitter said the new service called Twitter Alerts that is emergency notification service will be started. It makes it possible for agencies and non-governmental organizations to notify people of natural disasters or times of crisis. Twitter’s users can receive ‘’critical information’’ when they just sign up the service.

[Reflection]
I hope that it could work as help to people. These days, many people use SNS such as Twitter and Facebook and those services allow people to get much information. It is good for people but sometimes it is bad for them. There is not only accurate information but also incorrect information on the internet. It may bring about great confusion. For instance, people would be confused if somebody who do not have an authority on earthquake said ‘’A strong earthquake may occur in the near future.’’ and it spread on the internet. However, people can get important and accurate information by this great service.

[Question]
Q1. Do you think Earthquake Early Warning is useful?
Q2. What do you think of SNS? Good or Bad? Why?