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 ?