Mai Pen Rai

Translating

2005-07-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Translating

I borrowed two types of books of Bushido from one of my friends and a library of my university. At first, I did not expect that the book was translated by two translaters in different ways. However, when I saw first page, I was so suprised that atomosphere of the book between two books was so different.

I like a book which was translated with easy words. It is easy to understand and imagine the scene. It is natural to be expressed the same thing in different ways.

Business in Taiwan and Japan

2005-07-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

Business in Taiwan and Japan

I have a friend who is Tiwanese. He study business in Japan now. I had supper with some of my friends including him. And we talked about business in Taiwan and Japan.

He said that we could not say whether Japanese business was good or bad, because it has both sides. Japan has a seniority system, therefore young people have to do what seniors said. In addition, at Japanese company, some times people who do not work hard and who do so hard can get the same amonts of money. On the other hand, in Taiwan, each people have each level of responsibility, and the president or the manage director have the most havy responsibility. Therefore, every people work hard for the company. When I heard his speaking, I thought that some Japanese company has the same system with most companiese in Taiwan. I forgot when and which newspaper, but I have read the article that junior said his idea which against his senior. And the writer of the article use the word at the title of the article "surprisingly..l." In Japan, juniors seldom tell their opinions, however the company thought that every workers have the same right to say the opinion. I think this is very good idea!!

After talking about the seniority system, we talked about trade too. It was so fan to talk with him, and I can learn business which I do not study. When we do not understand, he explained a lot. Therefore, I could understand what is important in business. At the end of the conversation, all of us agreed that we have to think about not only the present situation but also the situation in the future.

Submiting Final Project

2005-07-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Submiting Final Project

Today, I have to hand in final project by 5 o'clock. After I learned how to create own blog, I started to keep writing a journal as much as possible. I think it was a good oppotunity to think about what I really think or feel. I do many things in each day, and I face with difficulties almost everyday or every week. When I wrote a diary, some of my friends geve me comments. I was so happy that I can talk about what I did or my problems. And, when I visited my friend's blog, I could find some good ideas and get information. I think blog can be a kind of communication tool like e-mail, we can talk about more difficult problems or explain with pictures and so on.

Although my blog for final project finish today, I will continue writing.

Thanks to people who read my blog and gave me some comments and link my blog!!

Like oneself

2005-07-13T22:21:00.000-07:00

Like oneself

Today, I realized that I should live like myself. I do not have to do the same thing with others. Some of my friends said that they were going to study abroad from spring 2006, I also want to study abroad. However, I realized that I am very worried about studying abroad. Although I have many things which I want to do, I need to think carefully now. I can not do many things at the same time. In addition, I think later is not bad. Therefore, I decided to study abroad from fall 2006, if it is possible.

In addition, I often ask questions to my parents, peers and teachers, when I decide something about me. This is not bad habit, however sometimes I should decide completely by myself.

Today I put picture of natural water. This water is made in nature, however the water continue flowing even when sorroundings change. I remembered that my teacher said washitedozezu. This message means that we shoul cherish harmony, but each of us should be different from others. I like this phrase.

Japanese Flute

2005-07-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is Japanese flute which is used in Akita prefecture. When I was an elementary school student, I played the flute for 2 years. The sound of this instrument is different from Western flute. However, when I practiced this instrument, I have heard very similar sound with Western flute!! I'm looking forward to go to Kanto festival in Akita.

Lecture about an official book

2005-07-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Lecture about an official book

Today, I had a class of comparative cultural studies. And some teachers and the President Nakajima joined our class. The president Nakajima choose Bushido as an official book of our university, Akita International University. In the class, he explained why he did it. He explained that the writer, Nitobe Inazo, was a great person so that he could tell Japanese spirits to not only Japanese but also non-Japanese. According to Dr. Nakajima, Nitobe Inazo entered Tokyo foreign language school, when he was 11 years old. He was so smart!!

Before his explanatino, I guessed that Dr. Nakajima chose bushido as the official book of our university, because he wanted students to become an international person like Nitobe Inazo who introduced Japanese stpirit to many people by using a foregin language.

Link 2

2005-07-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce a web page.

This is my university's web page.

Akita International University

Our university is very unique.

An official language of our university is English. All students take classes in English, except for Japanese Language calss.

All students are required to study abroad for a year.

Our university is located in very rural area.

In addition, we have more characteristics!!

Link 1

2005-07-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce some blogs.

At first, I would like to introduce some blogs.

First one is one of my friend's blog.
Her name is summerworld.
She writes journal. It is interesting to read it.

Summer is a great season!

Second one is also one of my friend's blog.
Her name is Chika.
She mainly write about what she did in a class or what she thinks. May be types of her blog and my blog are similar.

wonderfulaiu

Third one is my blog in composition class.
I use this blog as a kind of record of my writing.

AIU Composition 2

Conversation Practice

2005-07-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

Conversation Practice

I joined a special lesson of Chinese. Today, I did practice of conversation. It was difficult for me to understand immediately what a teacher and other members said. However, today only four students joined, so it is good oppotunity so that I was corrected by the teacher. When I made a mistake, the teacher did not tell the correct answer, because he wanted me to make a sentence by myself. It was really good practice!!

The Yoshida Brothers

2005-07-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

The Yoshida Brothers

I read some articles about the Yoshida Brothers. They are players of shamisen. Shamisen is one of the traditional musical instruments like a guitar. Their music is different from completely traditional style. Their appearance is not different from people in their age. They change their hair color, and wear jeans. In addition, they try to new things. For example, they integrated shamisen to other musical instruments such as a guitar in Spain. It means they have been making a new style of music with traditional musical instruments. I reall respect them. No matter how change the style of music, they keep or improve their skill of shamisen.

Talking with an adult

2005-07-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

Talking with an adult

I talked with my friend's mother at night about three hours. It was so fun, and I learned many things from her speaking. She is very friendly, knows many things, does what she wants to do and says what she thinks. It is said that Japanese people are less acctive, however I think she is active and aggressive. She has been to many countries in the world. When she visit a country for work, she go to some places where she can understand about the country. In addition, she said that she would do what she want to do next, after her daughter graduated our university. Although I am negative, she is possitive. So I really respect her. And I want to be a person like her.

Performance of Music

2005-07-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

Performance of Music

I had an oppotunity to listen to playing the violin by Reiko Watanabe. It is said that she is the best violinist in Japan. Her career is amzing for me. In addition, Dr. Nakajima introduced her as a person who not only play the violin so well but also have knowledge about history and characteristics of music. I really like to listen to music, of course, I also like to play musical instruments. I realized her music has a power to make people relax or feel comfortable.

Thinking of myself

2005-07-07T21:45:00.000-07:00

I am very indecisive and nervous. Therefore, I always have worries.

Today, I faced with some problems.

One of the problems is about studying abroad.
I am planing to study abroad from next spring. I do not know which university is the best for me. Therefore, today I talked about studying abroad with a director of the course which I want to go. I was told to take classes in Chinese at the first half of a year by officers who support studying abroad, however I do not think I can do it.

Another example of my problems is about doing what I really want to do.
I have many things which I want to do during summer holidays which is only one month. I want to go abroad, and I have to experience a job at a hotel for 11days with one holiday. In addition, I want to go to my friends hometown in Japan.

I know that I can not change my characteristics completely, however I can remove my stress and enjoy my life. I think having many choices means I am happy rather than unhappy.

Nitobe Inazo

2005-07-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Nitobe Inazo is a very famous and known as a great person. Recently, Japan changed the design of money, and the previous bill of 5000 yen had a picture of Nitobe Inazo. He was born in Nanbu-han (the present Morioka in Iwate) as one of sons in a bushi family. Later, he went to Tokyo English University (now: Tokyo Foreign Language University). Then he went to some countries to be a person who brought Western thoughts to Japan, and introduce Oriental thoughts to Western countries. Althogh he learned many foreign things, he never lost Japan.

I think Dr. Nakajima who is a president of our university wants his students to be a person like Nitobe Inazo. I hope students of Akita International University can be a great person who act as a go-between among many countries in the world.

Nutritive Balance

2005-07-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Nutritive Balance

From April, I started to think about nutritive balance. Until April in this year, I had never cooked by myself everyday. I can eat what I want to do, and it is possible to eat only instant foods although I have never done it. However, I think about nutritive balance almost all of the meals. I don't have knowledge about nutrition so much, so I have to learn.

Since I started this life, which I cook everyday, I lost my weight. So I asked to a school nurse what I should do, however she told me that my meals did not seem to have so much problems, it was just because of change what I ate. While I stayed at a domitory of our university, I often ate fry. However, now I eat fry once a week. I realized what I should do is eating what is good for my health, and doing something for a charge.

Ball Meet

2005-07-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ball Meet

Yesterday, I joined ball meet of our university. Not only Japanese students but also international students such as American, Mongolian, Taiwanese and so on. It was so fun!! It is very difficult for me to speak Enlighs during the game. However, we could cooprate with non-verbal communication. I think this ball meet was a good oppotunity to talk with international students and reducing stress. I seldom see international students, although there are more than 50 international students in our small university whose Japanese students are less than 300. (Maybe there are about 270 Japanese students.) Recently, I started to excise three times a week. However, I think it is not enough. I live in an apartment which I can arrive at our university about 5 minutes on foot. So I need to walk or jog much more. Therefore, tha ball meet was so nice for me!!

Conversation in Chinese

2005-07-01T22:46:00.000-07:00

Conversation in Chinese

Today, I had Chinese class. A teacher said that conversation and hearing are very important if we want to study abroad in Chinese speaking countries. The teacher is so nice teacher that he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an anounce in Chinese at one of Japanese airport is done by him. Although he is so severe, he always think about students so that they can improve their skills of Chinese. So I really respect him.

I agree with his opinion that hearing is important. Even if we can say what we want to say in Chinese, we can't understand correctly. However, if we have a skill to understand what people say in Chinese, we can communicte with them. Of course, I think we will make lots of mistakes in Chinese, but mistakes of speaking is less matter compared with that of hearing.

Japanese Soul 2

2005-06-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

Japanese Soul 2

I have read Bushido which is translated in Japanese. This picture is also very Japanese. I took this picture in Kakunodate in Akita on the same day with yesterday.

Today, I read about women in the book. Women learned martial arts to protect their family, when their husband left home for fighting. Many women died for their husband. I think a husband and a wife really loved each other, and showed their feeling toward the partner.

Thinking and understanding about people is very difficult for me. However, it is interesting!!

Japanese Soul

2005-06-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Japanese Soul

I took this picture at the beginning of May. I went to Kakunodate which is called a small Kyoto(Kyoto means the capital city in the past). I think this picture is very Japanese.

Now, I am reading Bushido, the way of samurai, and thinking about the soul of samurai. Samurai's spirit is a little difficult for the present Japanese and foreigners to understand. For samurai, killing by themselves was a honorable deed. Even children, sometimes they had to kill by themselves. More and more killing themselves is regarded as a honorable deed, more and more samurai tried to do that. However, it was not regarded as a honorable deed, but regarded as just a meaningless deed.

Actually, I seldom read a book. However, this book is so interesting for me. I want to read more and more for a presentation in a class, and for my knowledge!!

Jodo-Kata-

2005-06-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Jodo-Kata-

Today, I did Kata-geiko. So I practiced Jodo in a pair. It was difficult to perform in front of my peer, I was worried to hit him. When I said I was afraid of hitting him, he said it was O.K. However, it is hard stick, and Jodo is not the way of defeat an opponent violently. I had to pay attention not to hurt him.

These days, I have thought about Samurai spirit. They cherish politeness, courage,emptiness, duty and so on. All of them may hurt people, so I think without trusting a leader or loving the coutry, people can not cherish those things.

The Differences between Culture and Civilization

2005-06-27T23:42:00.000-07:00

According to the oxford advanced learner’s dictionary, culture is “the custom and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group,” on the other hand, civilization is “a state of human society that is very developed and organized” and “all people in the world and the societies they live in, considered as a whole.” Therefore, culture emphasizes spirit compared with civilization. And civilization related to technique and substances.
When we compare a culture with other cultures, we categorize with types of cultures. For example, we can make categories such as culture which people burn trees to make a good soil and culture which people dominate animals for eating so that people can live. On the other hand, we categorize with regions and period. For example, we can make categories such as civilization around Yellow River in China and Chinese civilization in 1990s. Therefore, the way of comparison among cultures and civilizations are different.
The relationship with our daily life is different between culture and civilization. Culture is what people pass down from generation to generation and what people do in their daily life. In addition, culture and social structure influence each other. On the other hand, civilization is what people create by advancement of human’s wisdom. Moreover, culture is a generic term of lifestyle, religion, the way of thinking and so on, and civilization is a general term of development of technology and economy in order to make more convenient life. Therefore, culture maintains forever or for a long time unless cultures are not forced to change the cultures or people who have unique culture die out. However, civilization may vanish or stop developing and new civilization occur.
The way of measuring is also different between culture and civilization. Actually, we can not say which culture is superior or inferior. In addition, the number of sorts of culture is much more than that of civilization. Culture can be divided into more small cultures. Our university was established in Yuwa in Akita city in Akita prefecture. So our university has at least four cultures which are cultures of Akita prefecture, Akita city, Yuwa, and Akita International University. On the other hand, civilization is sometimes compared with other civilizations, and people use the expression like more civilized. Moreover, civilization goes up and down, and splits and combines. The number of people who are related to civilizations also can be big and small. However, it is human who creates civilization, so even small civilization more people are related to the civilization compared with the number of people who are related to a small culture.
Finally, we tend to use the word conflict for culture and clash for civilization, when we want to express disagreement. The meaning of conflict is a circumstance of disagreement or violence among two groups, and that of clash is a fight or argument between two groups whose beliefs or thoughts are different each other. Therefore, disagreement among cultures is weaker compared with that among civilizations.s

Playing the musical instruments

2005-06-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Playing the musical instruments

I like music, and I play some musical instruments. I took a pianolesson for more than 10 years unitl when I wan 17years old. After coming to this university, I had a lot of oppotunities to play the piano as a member of a kind of brassband club. Last night, club members performed at an auditorium at our university. I quit the club, so I did not join but listen their music as an audience. At that time, I realized what performing in front of the audiences is. Players need to think about listeners. And I decided to listen my playing before playing the musical instruments for people. It is because music need feeling and hearts. I need to be harmonized with other members more, and express image of the music.

HPE Lecture

2005-06-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

HPE Lecture

Today, I took a lecture of helth and physical education course. Today was the secont time which students took this course. We learned about muscles. There are three types of fibers. One is "slow-twich fiber." This fiber is used an excise like walking slowly. Other fiber is "first-twich fiver," this is used in hard work like running or jogging. Another is "fast-twich oxidative fiber," this is used not so easy but also hard work like walking faster than we feel easy but we can still smile.

These three types of fivers are not known so much by people, however all people are using even when we are just sitting. I would like to recommend to my friends to learn about our body.

Studying Chinese for a quiz

2005-06-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

Studying Chinese for a quiz

Tomorrow, I'll have a quiz in a Chinese class. It is difficult for me to remember Pingin, alphabet which shows pronunciation. In Japan, we don't use tone marks, however people use tone marks in China. And Japanese kanji and Chinese character are different. Sometimes it is quite different, but sometimes it is very difficult to notice the difference between two similar letters.

Today, I tried to use Chinese a little bit to international students, however she did not understand at all. So I will study much harder so that people who speak Chinese can understand what I say in Chinese. I'll study Chinese from now!!

Studying Abroad

2005-06-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

Studying Abroad

Our university requires all students to study abroad for 1 year. Today, I realized that the country which I really want to go is Taiwan. Now I don't know when I can go, which subject I can take. So I have to get more information. Fourtunatelly, I can take a lecture about two universities which our university has a special relationship. By listening and talking with some faculties, I can think about studying abroad more carefully.

I think it is very important to learn in foreign countries, so I really want to cherish this good oppotunitiy.

Bushido

2005-06-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

Bushido

My teacher of Comparative Cultural Studies told us to read and think about "Bushido" which was written by Inazo Nitobe. I heard that this book is related to Samurai. Accirding to Sachiko Maehama, this book was written when he was sick in America. Dr. Nakajima, the president of our university, really likes this book. And he said that students should read Bushido. I have to think why Dr. Nakajima recommend to read this book. Our university is Japanese Universiy, however our official language is English. I know it is so hard to read this book which was written in English, but I'll try to read in English. But to understand more clearly, I think it is better to read in Japanese. Inazo Nitobe is Japanese, but his Ensligh is quite good!!

Essay about Globalization

2005-06-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today, I did peer review in a class and after the class. And reading and thinking aout some essays of my peers were interesting.

One of my peers wrote about relationship between China and Japan. In her essay, she explained about visiting Yasukuni shrine by Junichiro Koizumi who is a Prime Minister in Japan. He goes to the shrine to play for people who died in the war. However, Chinese government against that he goes to the shrine. So she has thought whether his action cause the problem of the relationship between China and Japan. In conclution, she said that he should not go to the shrine.

When a teacher told us to write an essay about globalization, each student wrote about other things. So it is interesting to read and think about the topic which I did not write.

Civilization of clash

2005-06-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

Civilization of clash In the Introduction to Global Studies, we are told to make a presentation. Our group studied about the clash of civilization. It was a little hard to understand what the author, Samuel P. Huntingston wnated to say. However, by discusssioning with my peers, I could understand much more compared with the time when I read alone. I leaned that identity make a border between "us" and "them." I really agree with this opinion. I think identity is thought toward a group, so people in the group and people are not in the group are reagarded as the different kinds of people. Of course, identity is important, however I think we should not reject non-members of the group. Anyway, what we should do to prevent bad clash of civiliation is understanding and recognizing other cultures.

The same Culture

2005-06-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

The same Culture I learned about culture in a class on Monday. A teacher asked students whether it is possible to share the same culture in any countries in the world or not. What do you think?? I think it is impossible. The meaning of culture is very broad. So I may not meet with some ideas which anyone can share, however I think about war. Although many people think peace is the best, some people seem to think that war is important to protect their important things or war is the only way to get peace for them. And they also seem to think that they cannot get peace society without fighting. I heard these comments which support war on TV. I don't like war, and I don't think that war brings a better world. That's why I don't think we cannot share the same culture.

Traditional Musical Instrument

2005-06-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

Traditional Musical Instrument

Last night, later than 10 P.M. I changed my topic of essay 2 in a composition class. I was going to write about reform of education of music in Japan, however I decided to write about changes of styles of Playing Japanese traditional musical instruments. I found some articles which shows changes of playing Japanese traditional musical instruments. Yoshida brothers who are players of the shamisen play the shamisen with electric guitar players. He played the shamisen in a rock music. It is very interesting for me. They can introduce Japanese traditional musical instruments to many people nor only who are interested in these kinds of musical instruments but also who are interested in rock music. So I think this is an effective way. However, players should cherish their spirits as a player of the musical instruments which succeeded from their teachers or ancestors.

conflict

2005-06-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

conflict

Today I learned about conflicts in the world. Each country has each culture, so it is natural to have different thoughts. Conflicts exist in some kinds of levels. Of course, it is difficult to solve problems between two or more cultures. However, if we try to understand others, the conflicts seem to be decrease. I'll try to understand other cultures even if it is unbelievable.

Japanese Traditional Music

2005-06-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Japanese Traditional Music

Today, I had a composition class, and I researched on the Internet for an essay. I decided to write about education of music in Japan. It will be about Japanese junior high school. Some years ago, Japanese government suggested to reform education system in Japan. And, all Japanese junior high school students have to learn how to play the Japanese traditional musical instruments for three years in a particular prefecture. Before the innovation, Japanese musical educating focused on Western classical music. I remember that we practiced and listened to Western classical music compared with Japanese classical music. And I sang a western song in an important ceremony like a graduation ceremony. However, Japanese education has changed, and think about Japanese music more carefully!!

I like Western classical music, especially Moses Mendelssohn. So I'm happy when I can learn about composers of Western classcal music, on the other hand, I think Japanese should know about Japanese composers, instruments, and so on. Among Japanese composers, I like Akira Miyoshi. His music relaxes me.

Excel

2005-06-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Excel

These days, I have learned Excel in Computer Literacy class. I think Excel is very useful!! I have never used Excel before, but now I can happy that I can make a table without calculating by myself.
Now, I can use some functions, so after I master Excel I want to make some tables. At first, I want to keep household account with Excel. I think I do not have to calculate and it is easy to see. Next, I want to make time table of my schedule. At the beginning of the semester, it is difficult to remember when and where a class is hold or which cass I take.

I want to master Excel as soon as possible.

Chinese Language

2005-06-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

Chinese Language

In this semester, I take a Chinese class. Although it is very interesting for me to learn foreign languages, it is hard to pronounce correctly and make a sentence. In addition, the way to use adjectives is very difficult to understand!! And in the Friday class, a teacher almost never speak neither Japanese nor English. He speaks Chinese a lot in a class, so I had to listen to a teacher so carefully. After the class, I got really tired, but it was fun. I like Chinese.

Shaolin Kungfu

2005-06-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

Shaolin Kungfu

Today, I handed in an essay in comparative cultural studies course. To write a paper, I researched a lot on the Internet. In today's class, I was told to do a presentation in a class based on the paper. In my presentation, a teacher told me that I was misunderstanding. I thought Shaolinji Kenpo and Shaolin Kungfu are the same thing, however it was wrong. Shaolinji Kenpo is Japanese martial art and Shaolin Kungfu isChinese marital art. So the length of history, and the patriarch is different. Although I already handed in, I should study more about martial arts, especially Shaolin Kungfu.

Jodo

2005-06-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

Jodo

Today is Wednesday!! So I had Jodo class.

Today I learned combination of forms, and next class I'll practice with my friends. One person use Tachi(wooden sword), on the other hand, another person use Jo(wooden stick) and strike or thrust each other. We have to pay attention to timing. It is very important in this kind of practice.

Today, I had written test. At the last part of the test, I had to write the impression of Jodo. I wrote about Ki (a kind of spiritual energy). Now I had some opportunity to learn about Ki. One is in Jodo class, and the other is in comparative cultural studies. I think opportunity is very important in any martial arts!!

Research Essay

2005-06-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Research Essay

It is sunny now!! So I feel happy.

Now I'm thinking about my research question. From next week, I'm going to write an essay about globalization. And my teacher told us to think about at least two researchable questions. I'm interested in music and musical, so I want to write an essay which is related to them.

When I heard the word "globalization," I imagine many things like food, clothes, dance, music, politics, economy and so on. Now, it is easy to find CDC of foreigners. However...the number of singers who can release their CDC in foreign countries is limited. For example, I found many CDC of Japanese singers in Thailand, but I can't find so much CDC of Thai singers in Japan. I know only two Thai singers who release CDC in Japan.

Anyway, globalization is mysterious for me.

Globalization

2005-06-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

Globalization

Globalization has both negative effects and positive affects. I think globalization bring good effects to arts. My hobby is going to a theater, especially to see a musical. I love "cats" "MAMMA MIA" " Phantom of the Opera" and so on!! I think thanks to the globalization I can see these musicals in Japan. And, on the stage, I see some actors or actresses are non-Japanese. This is also thanks to globalization. However, I guess there are also negative effects which I don't realize yet. Anyway, I like seeing a musical both of Japanese one and foreign one. I should research globalization to understand the globalization much more deeply.

TOEFL

2005-06-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

TOEFL

Today, I had an oppotunity to practice to answer questions of TOEFL. And from my result, I could guess the range of the score of TOEFL I will get. My lowest score was lower than the score which I got about a half year ago. But the highest score was 13 points higher than my best score. I know that I sould study for TOEFL on the day after tomorrow, but I have to read lots of articles (more than 100 pages) to write an essay. And I have other homework, too. I don't know how much I can study by TOEFL. Anyway, I'll do my best!! And I hope I can get more than 550 points.

Japanese Children

2005-06-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

Japanese Children

Before I wrote an essay, I researched about Japanese education for elementary school children. And I found that only about 30% of Japanese children know that Japan belongs to Asia. When I found the article, I was surprised. I don't know why they misunderstand. I don't know what the most effective education style is. And I think every student are different from others, so we might not be able to say "This is the best education style!!" I think it is interesting to compare education style of many countries.

I think I enjoyed my schooldays at an elementary school. Our school had some characteristics. We had an morning assembly one a week. And teachers and students planed and executed it alternately. From when I was a 4th grader to 6th grader, I played a flute as one of the members of a brass band commity one two weeks, when other students left a gym. And when I was a 6th grader, I was asked to play the piano one two weeks, when students left the gym. So I played musical instruments every week at last!!

Music is so fun!!

Internship

2005-06-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

Internship

Today was a beautiful day.

I'll write about internship today.

I'm going to do internship at a hotel in my hometown. A sub general manager is so kind and flexible to me. He told me to send a letter written my desire. Probably, I can start working when I want to do. Now, I do not know what I can do at the hotel.

I have an experience of a part time job three times. But one of them was easy, because what I had to do was just answering questions for a survey. And next one was not so easy and a little hard work. I worked at a post office. And last one was the hardest. I had to sell goods, so I remembered the characteristics of many things. And I had to talk with customers actively.

Working at a hotel might be the hardest work I've never done. However, this is study. So I hope I can learn many things from workers and guests.

History of Jodo

2005-05-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

History of Jodo

Today, I had a Jodo class. It was so fun!!

We were going to take both of skill test and paper test (written test), however a new teacher also came to our class. So we had no time to do both of them. And we did only skill test.

I think many people, even Japanese, do not know about Jodo. I'll explain a little bit about Jodo. Jodo was called Jyojyutsu until 1940. Musou Gonnosuke Katsunoshi was one of students of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-Ryu. One day, he fighted with Musashi Miyamoto and he lost. Musashi Miyamoto used a technique which is called Jyujidome. Usually, Musashi Miyamoto kille people, but he did not kill Musou Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi. Several years later, Musashi Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi reached Mount Homan and trained a lot and got a message "holding a stick to know the Suigetsu" in his dream. And he invented a style of fighting which people use Yari (spear), Naginata, and Tach (sword). At last, he became a teacher at Kuroda clan in Fukuoka. This is a story I learned from my teacher.

In Jodo class, we use both of Jo (stick) and Tach (sword). I prefer Jo, because we can do many things like "basic hand strike," "returning thrust," "pull down strike" and so on.

Now, I'm interested in martial arts!!

Blog

2005-05-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

I created this blog!! From today, I'll try to wirte diary as much as possible.