"CONBINI"

From Japan times.

Convenience stores which are called "Konbini" by Japanese started home derivery services recently. According to the article, target audiences are working mothers or elderly, and major chains including Seven-Eleven, Lowson, and Family Mart have already begun the deriverly services. "Conbini" can make our life more comfortable.

I am sure that convenience stores have made our life change and more comfortable!! As time progress, our needs change, and "Combini" meet them. I am so impressed. When we need something, we can get it easily using "Conbini". Anyway, I have ever watched a story about begining of convenience stores in Japan on TV. Those days, it was big challenging towars distribute trades, because the way to replenish stocks was different from now. Now shops can replenish stocks as much, but those day they must stock a large amount, becuse transportaion system was poor. If you got interested in this topic, you should search this on internet. "Conbini" and transportation are deeply related each other.

Questions
1, What is "Conbini" for you?
2, What do you need for "Conbini"?

Let's donate food!

I read this article on BBC.

British Red Cross is going to start to collect food for people who do not have enough food. In this campaign, British Red Cross will send vorlanteers to supermarkets to collect food from shoppers and then they send food to food banks through the charity. I think this campaign is going to lead good situation to provide food to people who do not have enough food or money because we know there are many people who are starving in the world, however, we do not know clearly what we should do to solve these problems. I think that it is easy to donate food because this campaign is going to take place in supermarkets, so people can easily join the campaing. In addtion, I think there are tons of problems that we have to solve about food. For example, the amount of food which is treated like waste in supermarkets,convenience stores and restaurants even we can eat them. We have to share food equally around the world, but it is hard to do, so there are some problems about famine and obese. I hooe that this campaign will lead a good way to solve the problem about food and many people will join this campaign. I have two questions 1, What do you think that if this campaign take plase in Japan? 2, Do you usually act something for the food problems such as famine?

A disaster has occurred in Bangladesh.

I read a terrible news this week on The Japan Times.
On October 9th 2013, There was a big fire at a factory where employees are making clothes for labeling like "Gap" or "H&M" in Dhaka. And Seven people has died. Firefighters fighted with putting out fire. One of the worker said that the reason of this disaster is the blaze, which broke out on Tuesday appeared suddenly by malfanctioning.

I am always getting sad after I read such a Asian accidents. In this case, the japan times said this  kind of disaster happened last year as well. I am wondering it is impossible to stop fires.
Moreover, after firefighters battled against fire, the most of the bodies that was found by police. But it was difficult to identify because the bodies were charred. If I imagine that my families were implicated, I can not say anything. I think there are a lot of incidents relating to fires in Asia recently so, I hope that it will never happen in the world from now on.

I have two questions for you.
1 Do you think that such disaster happened a lot in Asia? Why do you think so?
2 What do you think that the main cause of this disaster?

Important Discover!

I was wondering how the fox say since the last class.
So I searched, and found it !!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5i_EZl7MN4

See this,and know their voice : )

・・・but I don't know why this URL doesn't become direct link.
So, do CaP( Copy and Paste). Huh.

Amazing Old Man Ever!! ∑(゜Д゜ ;)

I found an amazing man video on youtube!
He can take a bath with his big friend, polar bear!

To see the video, click this link below↓
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7rZTZBOrqQ

If I could take a bath with animals, I wanna do it wiz capybara : )

Click! Click!

Let's get off the sofa and walk!!

I found this article on BBC

Walking or some other physical activity would decrease the odds of heart problems and stroke, report says. Furthermore, certain study showed walking at least an hour a day cut the risk of breast cancers, so the some charities are running the Waliking foe Health Program in an attmpt to make the people think the walking is more affordable way to get active.

However I recognize walking is good for health and the best way to keep good shape, I don't walk enough such ammount a day. I think it is because, I rely on transportations too much and use it every single day, so I don't walk long distance. And it is hard for me to make time to walk as an excise in everyday. When I finished reading this article, I found many remarkable advantages of moderate walking such as preventing the breast cancer or saving our lives and so on. Therefore, I would like to convey this fact I got to my family and friend! And also I want to make it rule to walk in my daily life.

Here is my questions!
How much do you walk in a week?
What do you think the charities doing for people to get up their feet?

Japanese language diplomacy

As a KUIS student, I am interested in an editorial written about language diplomacy and culture exchange on Japan Times. According to the article; a Japanese panel suggested Japanese teachers to teach language in Southeast Asian countries to exchange cultures. Therefore, they not only should come up with better ways to teach language, need to know how to adapt foreign lives to import their cultures.

 

I learn English with ELI teachers, so I strongly sure that learning language with native speaker improve language skill very well. Therefore, when I read this article, I thought that the proposal is good because it benefits both students learning Japanese in ASEAN countries and Japanese people. This article just mentions teachers, but I believe that their cultural exchanges will concern other Japanese people, especially their future students in japan. In addition, I also agree that both Japanese people and Southeast Asian should study the language each other owing to so-called globalization. Profound cultural understanding will encourage international relationships in ASEAN countries.

 

I want you to ask two questions.

1.    Do you think Japanese teachers should go to teach in other countries?

2.    Do you have any other ideas to learn different cultures?

Woman killed by train after saving man

I found this article on The Japan Times News.

On October 1st, a woman was killed by a train after saving an old man in Yokohama. Natsue Murata was in car with her father in front of the crossing. She found the man lying on the railway and she tried to help him. Although he was saved, she died.

When I heard this news, I felt really sad about her. It is pity that a woman who tried to save an old man’s life was killed by the accident. According to this article, her father said to her “Do not go. There is not enough time,” to try to stop her from doing so, but she did not obey him and rushed out of the car. I thought she was a kind person and she had a strong sense of justice, so it seemed hard to her that the man is killed in front of her because of her doing nothing.

If you were the woman, what did you do?
Do you have any ideas to save both of them?

Walking is a good way to decrease the odds of diseases.

I found an article about an interesting effect of walking on BBC.

According to the article, walking decreases the odds of diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and many cancers. It was shown that exercise like walking is as effective as pills, and walking at least an hour a day is recommended as a way making your condition better.

I didn't know walking has such an effect on people's health although it is obvious that  exercise like walking is important and good for human body. Especially in contemporary developped society like America and Japan, it is becoming difficult to have a time to walk longer or do exercise because we can go almost anywhere by car, bus, train and motorcycle and we are so busy at work, and in fact, inactivity is one of social problems and causes diseases. In my case, I surely don't walk more than an hour a day even though walking is the most accessible and affordable way to avoid getting ill. So, I'll make it a rule to walk at least an hour a day.

Then, I came up with 2 questions for you.
1: Do you do something good for your health?
2: Do you walk at least an hour a day?

Friendships at work

I read this article on BBC this week.

Having friends in the same workplace affects the performance of workers. It is not same as personal friends and Dana Ardi said that to take care of courtesy is important. Sometimes, there are inadmissible things inside of the work even be allowed outside of the office.

Having good friends affect the workers because if they have difficulties about their work or some other worries, it is difficult to consentrate their work but they can solve these problems and can be motivated to work if they have good friends at their office. Also, I have the same opinion as the author, that is a friend in the same workplace is little different from personal friend. People can talk about only personal things with personal friends and sometimes it is hard to talk about own works to them. On the other hands, it can be possible to talk about the work with friends of the same office. They can share the feeling of hardships or pleasure with people who work at the same place.

Please think about following questions.
1. Do you think about the etiquette to your friends?
2. What do you think the difference between the personal friends and the friends at work?

It's humans, not hornets, who are invading

I found an opinion about a serious problem on　CNN.

Around this season, giant hornets come into Asian countries such as China, Japan and Taiwan. Due to these hornets’ invading, more than 40 people have been dead. However, this author points out it is ‘human invading’ because they destroyed the hornets’ habitat by paving.

I will be scared if I see hornets looking like killers, so I understand why people wanted to exterminate them. As a result, the hornets killed many people. I agree with the author’s idea that human beings are responsible for these incidents. It is because I think although the hornets originally have not given any pain toward people, they might have threatened the killers as soon as people see them. I remember that in my childhood my parents told me that ‘Don’t attack hornets, they will not attack you’, and actually I haven’t  undergone any pain since then. It is clear that the hornets’ stings are so horrible, but we should consider another measure against this problem and how to live with these fierce insects.

Then I’ll give you some questions for discussion.

1. Have you got any pain from insects? If yes, what?

2. Please assume that there are many dangerous hornets now in Japan,do you think now Japan has any measures to resolve it? If yes, what? If no, can you come up with any ideas for resolving this problem?

Violent wintry weather struck the U.S.

I found this news on Japan Times.

Last Friday, abnormal terrible thunderstorms brought a big downpour, hail and no less than nine tornadoes and hit Midwestern United States, above all, the snowfall records for early autumn of Black Hills in South Dakota have been updated for the first time in 100 years.

In these days, in Japan, several typhoons and tornadoes have been observed and hit many cities. So I have thought that these terrible weathers are not so rare today, but this news of thunderstorms made me surprise because it is unbelievable for me about a lot of tornadoes and a snowfall. According the article, some of the most severe tornadoes caused damage to Nebraska and Iowa as many as nine times and some buildings were destroyed by them. Moreover, in South Dakota, the new snowfall record which was 48 centimeters broke the previous daily one and monthly one which were set in 1919. Also the snow in South Dakota lay 110.5 centimeters deep. Through this article, I felt the terror of the nature afresh.

Now, I want to ask you that how did you feel about this extraordinary weather and what should we do if the abnormal weather like the tornadoes of this article hit Japan in the future.

Walking more 'would save thousands' of lives in the UK

Hi, I read interesting article on BBC.

The Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support stated that walking was a free activity which could change people's health. If people, did moderate physical exercise every week it would save lives, prevent cancer etc.

When I read the article I thought that it was a very easy way to maintain or improve our health. I walk about 20 minutes from Makuhari station to KUIS (from KUIS to the station) every day. I like walking on sunny day. It is also good to clear my mind so I recommend walking to my friends who take a bus every day. It does not have to be long walk. Do a small amount of light exercise; it would benefit our health greatly. Moreover, we have to realize that we also need a well-balanced meal and enough sleep.

I'd like to ask you the following questions.

1.    How long do you walk every day?

2.    What do you do for your health?

How to sleep well

This week I read this article from here.

According to new study, sleeping six hours or fewer or ten hours or more a night lead to health problem such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Sleeping longer is not linked that to have a good sleep, when and how we sleep is important. When I read this article, I was surprised because I had thought that sleeping longer is linked with a good sleep. I feel good after I sleep longer. Recently,feeling stressed in our life becoming a serious health problem. In addition, it is said that heelth problem is linked with stress, but if we knew how to sleep well and feel good in our sleeping time, I think that it leads to solve general health problem easily. I usually sleep about six or seven hours, and I thought I need to keep this length and sleep comfortably because I having a good sleeping is a easy way to keep our health better. I have two question for disscution, 1, How long do you usually sleep if you feel good? 2, Do you think that we need a health education at school?

How to help syrian refugees

Hello, everyone. I found one of the articles that we should think about.

The article is about Syrian refugees.There are more than 2 million Syrians who have escaped from their own country. However, there is no place to go and many of them end up in refugee camps that are congested. Many organizations are donating supplies and supporting them.

After reading this news, I felt I need to know what is happening in Syria in more detail. I know the long-term and serious civil war has occurred, but I don't know the detail like what is the cause or how the war is giving pain to the people. So, I researched it and I was very shocked to know that 52 percent of the refugees are under 17 years old and conflicts with neighboring countries have started to happen. I can't believe until now that one third of the country is refugees, that is like a nightmare. This Syrian refugees issue is very huge, serious, and worldwide but I think there some ways we can do for them. I don't know if this issue will be solved in the future, but I believe it. It might take long time, but we should think how to help them and take an action.

I'd like to ask you the following questions.
1, What supports can we do to help them?
2, Now, Syria's neighboring countries have troubles because many Syrian refugees rushed into the countries. If the refugees escaped to Japan, how would you feel?

The Tooth Became Eye!

This is an incredible news.

One men lost his sight after factory accident. He could not see his son until they became four years old, but he had an operation, and he saw his son at last. The operation was to transplant his tooth to his eye. He said that he cried when he saw his son for the first time.

When I read this news, I thought that it was not true because I did not believe that the tooth can be the eye. I think that it was scary to transplant the tooth to the eye even he was anesthetized. If I were him, I could not decide to take the operation immediately. The rate of working the tooth as the eye was low, but he decided to try it for his self and family. It was good choice and his choice was right. It must sad to be blind because we can not see family's face, so he was dipressed at that moment. However, I think that he is very happy now.

If your important person became blind, what would you do for him or her?
Can you recognize your family by only touching their face and body?

Baby showers: the New Japanese custom from America

This week, I checked Japan Times and read about a new Japanese custom from America.

A traditional American party, which is called baby showers, is becoming popular in Japan. Baby showers are held for expectant mothers to celebrate the forthcoming birth of their babies. Japanese women hold it at cafés or hotels, and they give some presents to the expectant mother.

Japanese people like foreign events such as Christmas, Saint Valentine’s Day, and Halloween. The acceptance of these customs shows an interesting Japanese trait. In regards to the party, it is useful to support the women because if a woman has a baby, she cannot hang out with her friends or family because of the care of it as this article said. Thanks to the development of medical treatment, we can tell the sex of the babies, so the mother’s friends can give her boy or girl’s clothes or toys. Also, the housekeeping service, which is the one of the most popular presents, is a very wonderful idea to lessen the physical and mental burden of women. To spend a relaxing and happy time with no concern about the baby is important for their health and this is effective party.
I have two questions for you. Would you hold the party for yourself or your wife? Why? What do you think about Japanese Westernization? Is it okay or a bad trait of Japan?

Can we trust the government?

This is the article, Consumption tax raise misdirected, I found on Japan Times.

Prime Minister Abe announced the government will raise the consumption tax from 5 to 8 percent from April 2014. His plan is to improve Japanese economy but his statement; how to use that money which appear from the raised consumption tax, is not clear enough to convince the citizen.

I would say “No” if someone asked me whether or not I am on the side of supporting the idea issued by Prime Minister Abe. In some countries, it might bring a good economy situation to the countries to have the consumption tax higher. In Japan, however, I suppose it doesn't really affect the economy because of the government. I could say “Yes” if the government and Prime Minister promised us to use the money in people in Japan. Adapting the very high consumption tax, some countries such as Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark have been successful. The most rational thing is that these countries have provided extremely good benefits for nations and have earned trust from the nations, which is the reason why nobody complains about the high consumption tax. Japan should follow them and realize that we people in Japan won’t put a vote on supporting the government unless we can receive some benefits instead of paying high consumption tax.

1: Do you support that the consumption tax become higher from 5 to 8 percent?

2: What would you want to expect the government to do for you instead of paying a high tax?

New metals were discovered!

I found interesting news at BBC!

 A new metal crystal which is called"martensite" was discovered by scientists at University of Minnesota. The shape of the metal will be changed to much various forms. The metal is very flexibility so it can be categorized "shape memory" metals. The metal is expected to use from space vehicles to electronics to jet engines because of those applications.

 When I read the article I was very surprised at the report. I had thought that all kind of metals were founded by human. However, in this time, the new metal was reported so I considered that there any other metals are still existing in the earth! By the way, the article said about the metal that it can be used to improve electronic equipments and space vehicles more efficiently. These days, the development of the space vehicle is getting people's attention so I expect the metal to support the project. In addition, I am interested in how will the metal be used for those equipments.

After reading this,
What do you think that are there mamy undiscovered metals in the earth still?
Which field do you want to be developped most(space vehicles,electronics or jet engines) by using the metal?
why?why not?

The boy without a ticket

I found a curious article here on CNN.
It says 'Boy hops plane to Vegas, apparently alone and without ticket'.

A boy who is 9-year-old could get on the flight by himself from Minneapolis to Las Vegas without a boarding pass in spite of a lot of security checks and the crews. Fortunately, the crew made sure the boy's safety in the plane, but they still do not know how the boy could do it.

I think it is a wonder that the boy could enter without a boarding pass and he was alone. I have gone to some countries but it is impossible because the security at all airports was very severe, especially in America. Did not his parents or some people take care of him at there? If he was accompanied by them, this case never happened. It is possible that little children go anywhere with　their curiosity because they do not know where here is. Also, it is crowded with travelers at the airport, so people who have their little children should look at them carefully at all the time.  I also wondered if all crews did loose security because the boy was a child or not. Even though he is a child, I think passengers should be searched strictly whether they have their own tickets or not. If not, one or some of the passengers may have gone to other place or country as well as him. It is very dangerous and it will take much time and cost to fix it. 

What do you think which is bad, the boy or the crews and how the boy could enter the security?

Demonstrations in Egypt

　I read about the mess in Egypt on BBC this week.
　At least 50 people have been killed and many injured in Egypt in clashes between police and supporters of the deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi though jets and Apache helicopters flew overhead in formation.
　 I wondered this kind of mess would never happen in Japan because there are few, if any, protesters to claim about the results of elections. However, the forces were already set for a rainy day from the beginning of the celebration. Almost all of us have never seen such a situation where military arms are within a stone’s throw in Japan. That stands for how serious they are about a next president. Also, it is very good that Morsi supporters are working really hard to have him become a new president. At that point, I would praise their passion. I hope all of the Japanese also take it seriously to choose candidates in elections, not causing any violence.

Q1. Why do you think the protesters support Morsi in such a way?
Q2. Would you take part in demonstrations if you saw someone assemble protesters in Japan? Why?

Russian President Putin take part in a celemony for the Olympic torch relay

I found an article about the next year’s Olympic on BBC.

 

The next winters Olympic will be held in Sochi, and Vladimir Putin who is the Russian President took part in a ceremony for the torch relay in Moscow. The Olympic fire has arrived from Greece, and Mr. Putin said the Games would show Russia’s “respect for equality and diversity”.

Actually, I do not know why the theme is “respect for equality and diversity, so I want to know more about the culture and the way of thinking of Russia. Russia has a large area, a lot of people and the influence in the world, so I hope that the next Olympic will be memorable for people all over the world. The distance of the Olympic torch relay is about 65,000km (40,000miles), and I look forward to watching the situation of the relay on TV. Also Mr. Putin said the Olympic flame is the symbol of peace and friendship, I think so too. There are many bad news in every country, but I expect all people will be impressed strongly by players all over the world.

 

Question

1      Do you know the Olympic flame and the torch relay?

2      What do you think about the influences of the sports?

Baby makes you smile : )

 I found a cute video on Youtube!
When ya wanna be smile, watch it : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYLj372c-zM

Click! Click!

Hokkaido’s best dishes to feature at Tokyo fest

I found an interesting, and fantastic news on Japan Times : )

This is "Hokkaido’s best dishes to feature at Tokyo fest". To see the picture of this article, click the link of its URL below ^▽^
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/10/03/events/hokkaidos-best-dishes-to-feature-at-tokyo-fest/



According to this news, the Hokkaido festival is going to be held, and more than 60 booths of food service will be featured. These food are originally eaten in Hokkaido and there are many kinds of dishes, such as grilled fish, seafood soup and chicken BBQ. Moreover, the imported draft beer also will be sold for the event.


It sounds very interesting for me because I am a man like eating absolutelly, so I became hungry during I was reading this article. Hokkaido is famous for its products, forexample the fresh fish from the sea of Okhotsk tastes much more delicious than Tokyo's. I think I want to search other information about its product. Actually I don't know how do they come from and how do they grow( it is about vegetables, Hokkaido is alos known that it is vast and good producing district of them). So I will google to know that or visit library.


Well, here is my questions to you guys.
1, What is your favorite food and why?
2, Which is better to you, meat or fish?

eating tomatoes reduces the risk of having prostate cancer

 Swap red meat fro tomatoes to cut prostate-cancer risk

 

I found interesting news on the japan times!!!

 

According to this article, if men eat more tomato instead of eating red meat, they can reduce the risk of having prostate cancer. In addition, researcher said that who spent healthy life and practiced eating tomato in this way had a 39 lower risk of being prostate cancer. It is said that lycopene which is the element included in the tomato can block the action of cell-damaging free radicals.

 

Actually, I would not have prostate cancer because I am not a man, but I was surprised with that fact. According to the article one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, so it is really common disease for men. Furthermore, I heard that it is very difficult to recover from cancer, so I was glad to get the helpful information. People know that they should spend good life style like not smoking, do exercise or eat healthy meals. However, it is difficult, so men would be happy to eat tomato to reduce their risk of dying of prostate cancer.

1. would you try this plan? why/ why not?
2. if you got cancer and said that you would be die, what would you do for your days left.

about the consumption tax

I read this article from 'The Japan Times' this week.
The decision that Japanese government will change the consumption tax from 5 percent to 8 percent next year has serious effects on some families's economy. Also, the tax will be increasing from 8 percent to 10 percent in 2015. People will have more burden than now.
Actually I agree on this decision, because the Japanese economy has been worce recently. when i have to search for my job, it will be a serious problem for me. If the economy is still bad ow worse than now, a lot of companies try not to employ many people. If so, we have a few chances to get the jobs. That's why I support this new rule. However, to increase tax makes some families a serious condition as this article says. It says that if ths Japanese government increases the tax to 10 percent in 2015, the burden people should have would increase twice as much as they have now. Considering this situation, Japanese government should consider the another measures in order not to make another serious situation.