saki loves thumper

My last last bolg!

2006-01-25T07:53:00.000-08:00

I cant belive it is the last day of IES and my second year at Kansai Gaidai..... I have not known even the word "blog" at the beginning if this year. But finally i have done all my blogs, and actually I fould blogging was interesting and is good way to kii a time. Sometimes when I have a lot of things to do, I felt blogging was annoying, but now that I have no more worry about blogging homework, I feel freedom, and I think I like this! This year, many things happened to me. I could know more and more about bs, and I found they are really important part of my life. I havent thought I could make such wonderful friends here in Kansai Gaidai. Because I met them, I could find new things in myself, and I really want to say thank you to all of classmates. And also I want to say thank you to the all IES b teachers (Allison, Mr. Berger, Scott, Peter and Darren). Thank to all of you, I could improve my English, and I could get a little more confident through two years. And two scholarship I got... that is because I was a member of IES bs. Thank you sooooo much!
Im sure I will be sad tomorrow that IES bs is over..... sooooo sad..... All memories I had with them come though my head now.... But I hope we will be good friends forever. Thank you!
I should say million of thanks to all bs and the teachers! Thank you very much! See you tomorrow with a bog smile!

Isamu Noguchi who was called as "Sculptor on the Earth"

2006-01-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

I was watching TV show called "Sma station" an hour ago. It was about Isamu Noguchi. He was a great sculptor who has been known in the world. I didnt know about him until I watched the show, but now I was very impressed, and I respect all works he has done.
Because his father was Japanese, and his mother was American, he had a lot of difficulties in the time of WWⅡ and the time after. Although he was about to sculpture a statue at the dome of atomic bomb in Hiroshim, he was refused because he was half American. The same thing happened when he was asked to make a grave for John F. Kennedy because he was half Japanese. However, he didnt lose against the hard circumstance, and he made a lot of great works which had been combined various kind of tradition in the world.
To tell the truth, I dont know about art, and I really dont know what is great and what is not in the art... But I felt his works were very beautiful and profound. I defenitly want to go to see his works if I have a chance!

the movie about peak of oil

2006-01-17T21:23:00.000-08:00

I watched a movie about peak of oil yesterday in Darren's class. To tell the truth, I have never thought about how scarely it is if there would no oil could be pumped out. However, it is different now.... Im really scared about it because I notice how much my life is dependent on oil, and so do most of people in the world especially in developed coutry. I could not get clearly, but I have heard that it is already too late to transform the energy sorce completely into the new renewable sorce because it is much faster that oil get disappeared than people make everything change in order to fit in the new energy sorce system. Japan is one of the most richiest country in the world, and most of people do not consider that this way of life have to be changed in the future because of no more oil excists. But according to many pfoessional people, the time must be come in the near future, so I felt scared and worried..... at the same time, I felt "What can I do??????" It is a really serious issue in this world.....

my destiney is......

2006-01-14T06:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, university told me that the university I will attend from next summer! It is Pacific University in Oregon which was the first choice, so I was happy. However, on the other hand, I was a little shocked that it was not the second choice university which I asked a lot of questions about my major, and recieved a lof of kind reply. So I sometimes imagied me as being studying at that university. But I also sent many questions about my major to Pacific University, and I know the professors are really nice and kind, so Im thinking that was my destiney to study at Pacific university! But still Im worried if I will be able to be major in Environmental studies which I really really really want to learn. I will keep contact with the professor in Pacific, and I hope I will be able to study what I want to study.
I wish bs will be able to attend the university they want to go! I can imagine bs are having a lot of fun and great experience in the world!

Why there were no women writers in Elizabeth time?

2006-01-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

I learned in Darren's class that there were no women writers in Elizabeth time. I think it is because the status at that time was much lower than that of now, so it was very difficult society for women to advance to the society even if they had a talent of writing.
I have heard before that women were regarded not to have feeling same as animals in the past. Now people know it was not true, and it is clear that women and also animals have feeling. But people though women didnt think and they regarded women like objects, women could not get enough education to develp their talent. As a result, women could not be accepted as writers in that time. That is why now we do not see any women writers in that time.

Why is it toooo cold this winter?????

2006-01-08T04:03:00.000-08:00

Dont you think it is really really cold this winter???? There were many snowy days, and one of these I couldnt even go out because of the snow..... I was talking with friends why we have so much snow and cold days even though global warming is one of the serious issue. I am known as the person who is interested in environmental issues by my friends, so I really wanted to answer their question, but I couldnt..... That was a shame.... SOSOSOSO! I was looking on the nternet the reason. I dont know if the source I got was the academic one, but I want to tell you the reason I found!
Which is..... "global warming cause abnormal weather such as drought, flood as we learned in class. And according to one theory, abnormal weather includes the increasing amount of snow. It is because as tempreture goes higher and higher, ice on the glacier melts, and which make the ocean colder. then the ocean current become also colder and this brings a cold weather...."
It was difficult to understand the system even in Japanese, so I didnt explain well.... if you want to know more..... please research by yourself..... or you can ask me again! and lets figure out with me!

Sumo tournament

2006-01-08T03:16:00.000-08:00

Sumo tournament has started since today. Actually I am not a fan of sumo, so I usually dont watch it on TV. But today I watched it on TV after a long time, and thought it could be very exciting to watch.
There had been only one grand champion sumo wrestler from Mongol called "Asashoryu" for a long time, and no other wrestler could win against him. However, these day it is different! Kotooshu who came from Bulgaria won against him at last tournament, and because he is a good looking man, he is now a big sumo star.
Today while I was wathing the game, I got under tension thinking which wins which, and especialy the games Asashoryu's and Kotooshu's were really fun to watch.
Thank to the foreing sumo wrestlers' good play, it is very exciting to watch sumo! I think I will watch sumo on TV some time.

Coming of age day

2006-01-08T01:36:00.000-08:00

Finally, it is the coming of age day tomorrow! Im really happy to see the weather cast saying it will be sunny day tomorrow. It must be miserable and terrible if it were rainy day.... BUT I dont have to worry about it!!!! Im sure it will be a beautiful day!
Anyway...! Im looking forward to seeing my old friends wearing kimono! I will also wear kimono which my grand mother made. I think I will wear kimono in my life only for a few times in the future, so I have to have a good time and make good memory.
I hope Bs will have a great time seeing old friends again tomorrow, and I hope I can see the picture of Bs wearing beautiful kimono with a big smile!

What is happening now?????

2006-01-05T06:54:00.000-08:00

Hello! I only have 4days before class starts..... Thats scarely..... I dont have a confident that I will wake up in the dawn again.....
Anyway! Im having a lot of fun now! Now Im at Yuu's house with Miki, Towa, and Midori and stay at her house over the night!!!!!! Im excited to talk with them until the midnight!! Towa will leave for Australia about one month later so I think I will tell her how much I will miss her, and how much she has been supporting me..... so sad that she leaves without me..... BUT Im sure it must be the great great great experience for her, so I have to see her off with big smile, havent I...! We (IES bs who will go study abroad) will be the best best exchange students!
By the way.... I want to tell you what's happening at Yuu's house now. Yuu is keep talking and talking and talking..... Midori is somewhere...... Towa and Miki are laughing....! How wonderful they are! I hope we can stay over night at somebody's house again soon!

New Year~!

2006-01-03T06:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! I wish you will have wonderful year!
How are you spending your winter break?? I had a lazy and sleepy break so far.... And I noticed I havent done anything about my homework.... How lazy I am..... I even dont feel like its the beginning of the new year now because I am toooooo lazy.....
What is your new year resolution??? Mine is..... "I wont be behind." Last year, I havent done my homework until the last days, so I was almost crying on the day before the due date.... So!!!! This ysar, I am different!!! I will be ahead of everything, so I dont have to blame myself and cry. Because my parents gave me a wonderful name "Saki" which means "ahead"....!!
I only have week before the class starts, but I will enjoy my holiday and I will do my homework!!
I hope I see you after the break with a big smile!

The chrysanthemum doll exhibition

2005-12-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I have not posted blog for a long time, and finally I realized Im in trouble.... So I will write about my weakend today! Last Saturday, I went to Hirakata park to see the chrysanthemum doll exhibition with Midori. I have not planed to go there, but Midori asked me to go there, and since I wanted to spend time with her, so I decided to go. The exhibition has been hold since 1910, and it was the 96th one. How traditional it is! However, to our sadness, it was the last the exhibition was hold this year, and was closed today (Sunday). The reason was because it had made deficit for years since only a few people visited, and also there are few craftmen to make chrysanthemum doll. Isn't it sad that we lose one of our traditional culture....???? People (including me) rather go to shopping, movies tham going to see the traditional culture now. But, there were many kinds of chrysanthemum at the exhibition, and the dolls were dressed beautifully with them. Very colorful, and vivid! I felt very excited and had a great time seeing the dolls which took a long time to be covered with chrysanthemum. Thank you for asking me to go there with you, Midori!

Thank you for coming to my town!!!

2005-11-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, some of IES bs friends visited my house!!! Thank you for coming, really! It took more than two hours to get to my house from Kansai Gaida, but, no one complained about it, and keep saying they were enjoying. There are nothing except the nature around my house, but I was happy to show friends the place where I grow up and where I like. If I had more time, I could show you around my town more, but unfortunately, we had only a limited time.... so I hope I will have the next time to show friends around more.
There are less than 3months left before IES b is over now. I'm sure that it is not the end of our friendship. BUT I will really miss IES b soon..... I have not had friends come and stayed at my house since I was an elementary school student, so I was very very happy that I had some friends stayed over night. I have goooood friends from elementary, junior, and high school, but friends in Kansai Gaidai is very special, I think. Bs are very unique (in good way), and they are like none of my friends I know. So very important! Many people go study abroad next year, and Im sure we will make goooood friends there, but I never forget about you!!!!!
Anyway, we still have IES b for 3months, and have to do many works together...... so, keep working hard! See you in next class!

Bad smokers, read "Stop Smoking Therapy"!!!!!!

2005-10-31T19:19:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about a book called "Stop smoking therapy??" That book was written for smokers to quite smoking. A few weeks ago, when I went to a book store, I found that book, and I bought for my father. My father is not a heavy smoker, but he had been smoking for 30 years. There were comments from people who could stop smoking by reading it. First, I was curious if the comments were true, and I did not think it worked for my father because it is just a book, and he has never stop smoking even he heard about the serious disease he would get by smoking. However, he has finished reading it, and now...... He has not smoking for one week!!!! I could not imagine he stoped smoking...!!!! He said "there is a devil inside of me whenever I want to smoke. I will not listen to the devil from now!" I was very surprised the power of the book.
There are many young people who smoke in Japan. The smoking is really harmful not only smoker themselves, but also harmful to people around them. I think smoking alone and not addicted it is not bad, but opposite is very bad. I feel like bad smokers are just selfish and have feeble mind because they listen a devil and just let it goes. I strongly want to say that all bad smokers should read "Stop smoking therapy." It is not only for themselves but also for people who are annoyed with smoke.

Hope Hanshin Tigers will win... but......

2005-10-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight (Oct. 22) is a very very important night. Maybe many of you know, there is the first baseball game between Hanshin Tigers and Lotte Marines to deciede which will be the Japanese champion. I really hope Hanshin Tigers will win because I am sure that there will be huge sales in Kansai area, and there are so many things I want to buy such as MP3 player, dictionary..... and so on..... I do not think I will be able to buy all of them, but at least one! So if Hanshin Tigers will win or not is very important for me. However, I admire Lotte Marine's fans. Maybe the fans should be called as "supporter" because they really support the team. Since their manner in the studium is so great that they got the sport cultual prize in 2002. They clean the studium after games, and even if Lotte Marines loose, they clap their hands toward the other side of players to show their respect and thanks to have a great game. Don't you think that is what Hanshin Tigers fans should have?? I have been to Koshien baseball studium twice, and I thought the manner of Hanshin Tigers fans were very bad. They throw trush, and don't clean..... They drink beer toooo much..... They get very crazy if Tigers win campionship..... I understand how much they love Tigers, but if they really love the team, they should show the respect for the studium and the games. I hope the games against Lotte Marines will be the great example of showing respect toward the team.

Movie director who was called "the emperor"

2005-10-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

I was watching TV show called "Sma Station5" last Saturday evening. It featured on Akira Kurosawa who is a very very famous Japanese movies director. In fact, he was so great that people called him "the emperor." As Darren wrote he likes "the Seven Samurai" on his blog profile, he is very famous not only among Japanese, but also among foreign people. However, I can not see why he is so famous.... I have watched his movie called "Youjinbou." I forgot what was called in English, but it means kind of a guard. While I was watching the movie, I could not keep awake... I thought it was not excited or fun to watch it.... It might be because it was white and black colored screen and boring to see it, but maybe because I am used to watch American movies which include huge actions and speedy development. My views about movies are now too westernized, and almost lose Japanese movies soul. BUT I am Japanese, so I think I should not forget Japanese soul and Japanese beauty. I learned from Sma Station that he made a lot of effort to make his movies perfect, so maybe I will feel differently from last time I watched his movie if I watch his movie now. It is not the matter of wheter I like or not, but it is for me to feel the greatness of making movies. Also I think it is good for me to watch his movies because many foreign people asked me if I know Akira Kurosawa, so I will be able to answer their questions about his movies! Let's enjoy a journey to Akira Kurosawa's movies world together!!!

The new flu????

2005-10-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to see the news that said new bird flu infection was found in Rumania and Turkey. People are now researching if it is the same strain as the last one that spread in Asia, H5N1. Since I have read the article about the new flu would kill 150 million in the future, I imagined the terrible situation when I saw this news. Now we can not decide whether the bird flu found a few days ago is a serious one or not.... However, it is too late to take action after the the serious influenza has started to kill people. So, people must get ready for the time when the serious one comes. United Nation already have warned about the new influenza pandemic in public, so I am sure that experts already have started to research how to prevent from getting infected. But I am worried how much result they could get so far... and if people could be survived even the serious one comes.... I feel like humans are small in the big nature...

The autumn of.....

2005-10-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

It is getting really cold recently.... I can not believe it is already October. I have difficulties getting out from bed every morning because it's nice and warm inside.... However, we have some great things in autumn. It is called "Autumn of appetite, arts, and sports, and maybe studying...." It is the best time of the year to enjoy them! Today, I went to see a movie "Charley and the chocolate factory" with my friend. We arrvied at the theater 2 hours before the movie begun. BUT it was already full of people, and we could not watch it.... I learned there were many many many people who love too enjoy arts in autumn. However, my friend and I enjoyed eating dinner together a lot! It was very nice dinner, and ate a lot until my stomach was about exploding! So, I enjoyed the autumn very much today!! And also about sports.... Hanshin Tigers won the league championship! The sale for celebrating Tigers in Osaka is not so much big compared with the last time they won, but still it is fun and cheap. Tomorrow, I am planning to go sale! Let's enjoy the autumn until you satisfy with it!!!

Hello to the world!

2005-09-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog! I have said good bye to my own blog once during last summer vacation, and have'nt written anything since I had done my the 15th blog last semester.... But it is nice to see my blog again! Today, I would like to write about what my ideal second semester is like. I always make a resolution to be ahead of studying in every new season, which I never achieved, but I say this semester also, I will be ahead of school works (although I am already on time or a little late now...). I have not even known that students have syllabus to follow until I got in the second year at university here. But I am now getting used to it, and I have some ideas what and when I have to do things. So although I am not well planned about everything, but I am now trying to organize my time well. I have learned some global issues last semester, so I am looking forward to learn more about the world though Darren's class!!! So far, I found the readings in the textbook were fun to read, and giving me ideas that I have never though. So this semester, I will keep in my mind that I should be ahead, do things with enough time, and also learn many things and will be the better knowledgeable person.

50,000 people in the world are killed each year by....

2005-07-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

This is my 15th blogs, so I was thinking what I should write. I wrote about animals so many times in my blog, so I thought I would write another topic, but since I'm very interested in animlas, I would like to write about animlas!!! Yesterday (July 9), I went to Osaka to take a lecture for my qualification Im studying now, pet care adviser. It started from the morning to the late afternoon, so first I thought I would be tired and sleepy at the end. BUT I was so interested in the lecture I almost forgot the time. One thing I found I havent known a lot about was hydrophobia. It is called "kyou ken byou" mad dog disease, so it sounds like a kind of disease only for dogs, but most of mammals can be infected (maybe many people know this). Each year, about 50,000 people are infected by hydrophobia, and there are only 2 cases that those people could be survived each year, so almost all of those people are killed. 80% of the accidents happen in Asia except Taiwan and Japan. In Japan, there were no one killed by that accident since 1957, it is maybe there is a law to prevent hydrophobia in Japan, on the other hand, developing countries in Asia do not have....(?). When I went to Thailand last spring, I saw many many homeless dogs. But I didnt know how scary hydrophobia was, I didnt care if there were dogs around me, and even I tried to come closer and pad those dogs...... Those dogs were calm so they were not hydrophobia I think, but it is very scary when I imagine if I was bitten by them and those dogs had hydrophobia. I love animals especially dogs, I like to pat dogs when I meet. For me, dogs are cute cute cute animlas, but I thought dogs could be very dangerous animals, and lack of knowleage hurt myself. And I also learned that owners of dogs have a great responsibility to get their dogs vaccined so that they do not harm anyone.

Where will hold 2012 Olympic??

2005-07-06T03:21:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Olympic has not started yet, but the city where the 2012 Olympic will be held will be decided by IOC (international Olympic Committee) soon today. The sites where propose for it are Paris, New York, Moscow, London and Madrid. If there was Japan among them, I really want Japan to be the site, but Japan is not, so acually I do not care where will hold the 2012 Olympic. BECAUSE Olympic is always wounderful and energetic wherever it is held. Maybe Madrid is the best for me because I am learning Spanish, and I am interested in Spain, so I may live there in 2012.... (Maybe!!), and will be able to go to see it. I like to see Olympic because I like watching sports, but also I can know many countries that I have not known or even never heard before. Last Olympic held in Athens, I found many countries I havent known before in the opening parade. The opening ceremony begun from maybe from 1am. to 6am(?), I was very sleepy, but I watched almost whole ceremony because I enjoyed seeing people from many countries, and wearing cute costumes, and smiling nicely. In the games, of course I was happy when Japanse people won medals or made great scores, but I was also happy to see anybody who did great or made great efforts no matter where they are from. So I felt that sports does not have any borders. And the Olympic is like a little peaceful village because everyone are equal, and even if they lost, they are still admired each other. I really do not know what will be happening in the world in 2012, but I hope the world will be more peaceful, and a place where everyone is equal like the Olympic village...... That is my wish.
I am now looking forward to knowing where will hold the 2012 Olympic!!

Please do not forget Fuuta-kun!!

2005-07-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

How many people still remember a lesser panda called "Fuuta-kun" ??? I still remember as a little victim of the boom. It is natural for lesser pandas to stand by their two feet, but soon after people found Fuuta-kun could stand by his two feet, Japanse people started to love him, and even people started making a CM using him. But, haven't you thought we have not seen him recently???? I have. Maybe the boom of standing lesser panda was gone. In the past, there were some other animals that had boom for a short period, those are scarf lizards (I dont know how to call them, but lizards that seems like they have scarf around their neck and living in Australia), sea otthers and so on. These time, people were found of them, and many people might go to a zoo to see them. But after the boom was gone, many of them never care about those animals like saying "lets find another cute animal!!" What are brounght by these boom??? I think nothing. Many people saw Fuuta-kun as one kind of objects as if he is one kind of arts in a museum. Do these people know lesser pandas are indanger, and could disapper from the earth in the future?? And the it was caused by human beings???? I think zoo is great place to tell people how wonderful that we have many kinds of specied living together on this earth, and tell the facts about what is happening to those species. However, the boom of Fuuta-kun, many people only looked a cute side of lesser pandas, and never looked a dark fact about them. It is said that lesser pandas will extinct in wild because human are destroying their habitat, so that zoo is only a way to conserve them. I think there are many other ways to conserve lesser pandas, but zoo is the key to protect them because it can tell many people about what happening to those animals, and encourage people to take actions because all kinds of animals are sooo cute!! Please do not forget Fuuta-kun because if people no more care about him, those people never have a chance to know that the fact lesser pandas will extinct.

I am happy to have rainy days (lie....)

2005-07-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

It has been like rainy seasons about a week, I think. It is humid, rainy, and hot..... I hate rainy season because my hair gets wavy, and I feel blue. One more thing I felt unpleasant was I found mystery mushrooms in one of plant pot..... It was really disguisting, that I got gooseflesh on my body.... However, there are many people who appreciate rainy season, one of them are the farmers. My father works outside, but on the weekend, he takes care of rice field to make rice for family, some relatives and some of their friends. He said he was very happy it has raining these days because it hepls rice to grow well. Although I hate raining, I wish God to bring enough rain because it helps a lot of farmers including my father. If it has not raining, and continue to be sunny days like last week(?) every day, my family gets in trouble not only can not grow rice, but also will have difficulties getting food from grocery stores because the cost of the food will gets higher and higher, and also we have to depend on much more food from other countries. So, even though I feel unpleasant about this weather, I should accept it, and appreciate it.

sleepy multipled by one hundred

2005-06-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

These days, I do not have enough sleep because of part time job or homework..... I really really want to go sleep right now because Im toooo sleepy now..... However, I still have some things I need to do tonight, so I cant go to bed right now. If I can not get enough sleep, my brain does not work, I cant think anything, and even tone of my voice gets really low.... so maybe it is easy for you to notice wether Im sleepy or not. Im a person who needs a lot of sleep, so I was very surprised to find an article about killer whales mothers and babies who have few sleep or rest for almost one month after the babies are born. It is because they keep away from enemies, and keep their body temperature stable. Can you believe you do not sleep for one month???? I can not!!!! I respect killer whales a lot...... If I were killer whales, and dont need to sleep for one month, I can do much more homework, and do many things for my pleasure. At average, people sleep about 8hours that is same as the hours that rabbits,guinea pigs and pigs sleep. Im not sure the accuracy of this information, but I found that the animal that needs the most hours to sleep is sloths who sleep about 20hours a day.... I really envy them. And the animal that needs the least hours to sleep is horses. I also envy them.... but also I feel sympathy to them because sleeping is pleasant things, at least pleasant thigs for me. I can have wonderful dreams, and I can do anything in my dreams, so I love sleeping! But now that I do not have much time, I really want to be a horse who do not need much sleep, but run very fast. Maybe tonight, I will dream about I become a horse who runs very fast and eat a lot of carrots!!

My life in the nature

2005-06-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

These days, I really really appreciate the environment where I live, even thought it is not convinient to go out to cities. It is because there is a beautiful nature all around my house, and I can feel the greatness of the earth everyday. Since I have only a few houses near my house, I can always hear the sound of the nature such as sounds of wind, birds, and even a loud song of frogs! All the time I hear the sounds or see the trees around my house, I become happy and can think like "I'm living!" And also what I like the environment of my house is I can meet many kinds of wild animals which people in city can not see so often. For example, there are pheasant family, deers, wild boars, racoon dogs, and wild rabbits, which I haven't known the wild rabbits lived near my house until recently. My life is like a world of the Disney movies although there are many things that are not happy things all the time.
Since I have grown in a nature, I am the strong environmentalist. I think that all people must concern about the environment, and take action to protect the earth! I am one small person who can not change the world by oneself. But I want to do as many things as possible to conserve the environment, and show to as many people as possible what they also can do. Will you join me???? And, if you want to feel the great nature, and experience the life of Disney movie, you are really invited to come to my house!! Midori!!! Please come to my house!!!!

All species of animals are one piece of the puzzle(Nature)

2005-06-19T05:29:00.000-07:00

According to IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) announcement in 2004, there were about 15,000 species of animals categorized into the levels of Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable. You may know some of species that are in danger such as tigers, African elephants, giant pandas. They are too far away from our life, you might think "even if those animals die out, nothing will change our life." BUT it is not true. I think all kinds of animals are like a piece of puzzle. We are all support each other, and only one lost cause the puzzle unperfect. AND human is also a just a piece of the puzzle. But human have been thinking that we are the top of the nature, and made an enormous number of animals died out. In the fact, about 98% of the causes that many kinds of animals were already died out were brought by human beings. Those are hunting, destruction of animals' habitation, and bringing animals from foreign coutries and release them into the nature. They have been done for benefit for humans. I am thinking what we can do to save animals from extinction, but I do not have any good ideas about this now.... However, there are many organizations to preserve animals from extinction, and tell people what one extinction would cause to humans. If people listen to them seriously, and keep in mind that we are all interconnected, help each other, people may be able to save those animals from extinction. What do you think??

5000yen for 2725 piece of biscuit

2005-06-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

As I have been learning global issue, I am now interested in more about what happening in the world. Today, I was reading a newspaper, and one advertisement caught my eyes. That was the advertisement from UNICEF. It asked us to donate money to save millions of children who suffer from starvation, disease, and abusing from the force. They live in the most poorest countries, mostly Africa. Many children can live if there are enough medicine and food. I had been thinking that just donating money does not help poor people. However, these days, I found that what I can do now to help them is actually only donating money. According to the advertisement, if you donate 5000yen, you can supply 2725 piece of biscuit that have high protein to help malnutrition children to recover. If you donate 30000yen, you can supply equipment that provide safe water to 28 families. As my first step to involve in world issue, I decided to donate money. If you are also interested in donating money to those children, you just go to homepage of UNICEF, and you can donate! UNICEF is very believable organization, so your money will really help people who need.

Mottainai!!

2005-06-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

Do you know that the phrase "mottainai.... what a wast" is considered as a key to solve global environmental issues now? This phrase was introduced to the world by Professor Wangari Maathai, the Minister of Environment of Kenya, at the latest United Nations' Division for the Advancement of Women. Mottainai indicates 4R which are "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair." I think this idea is really great because every individual can do 4R and actually they bring a great change into the environmental issues. People had been forgotten this word, and they did mottainai things for a long time. However, it is a time to shout "MOTTAINAI!!!" Let's keep the idea 4R, and carry out them.
Because I am one of the mottainai fans, I have been trying to do many things. I have never used air conditioner in my room even I swet terribly at night and have a bad dream. I encourage my family to lower heater to 18 degrees in winter though my family sometimes think I am like smoke and annoying them.... I refuse to take a plastic bag to put things I buy in a store if I can put them in my bag. and so on..... It is a little thing, but if every one do these things, we can save the earth, I believe. If you are also a mottainai person, please tell me what you are doing to protect environment.

What does family mean for you??

2005-06-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought you are supporting or have to support your family?? I watched a video I recorded “If there are only 100 people in the world” today. That was on TV about a month ago, so some people may watch it, too. There were stories about mainly three young children who sacrifice their life, education and have to work in order to feed their families. The reasons why they have to work for family are depending on the people, but one girl in Philippine have to collect plastic or aluminum can in a trash mountain and change them into money because her father was killed by drunk people, and mother is sick. Even though she works from the morning to the night, she only can get money that she and her family (mother and two brothers) can eat once three days. What they eat is just rice with salt and water. But she still works there because she and her family have to live..... There were two other children who suffer from their harsh lives. Now that I have learned about why poverty happens in the world, and how malnutrition affects people, especially children, I could watch the video further more than just seeing what happens to children in the world.
If this world has only 100 people, you are one of two people who have a computer (you are using now). We are now spending the richest life in the world, and we are the people who can change the world better (I hope...). So, let’s think what we can do, and know what is happening in the world. Please tell me if you would like to watch the video, you can borrow it from me.

Slogan for 2005 "Health Professionals Against Tobacco -- Action and Answers "

2005-05-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

Did you know that tomorrow (May 31th) is the special day for encouraging people to stop smoking??? It is called "World Non-smoking Day." It was founded by WHO 18 years ago. The whole day, people are supporsed not smoke at all, so that they look at their health. To my surprise, there are 2011300people in the world who died from smoking related causes in this year so far... (it is only May 30, 7 o'clock) It is too many people.... I can not believe people spend money on something that harm their selves. But the fact is many young people smoke because they think smoking is cool thing, or maybe they think smoking is the symbol of being an adult. So I want to shout that "smoking is evil!!!!" Today, the attitude toward smoking people is getting strict, however, I see many people walk with smoking on a street, or everywhere. So it is not enough yet. I think in order to make people stop smoking, people should not show famous people smoking on TV because it greatly affects to the image of smoking especially for young people. Takuya Kimura is the worst example for this. He smokes too much on TV.... Young people see him smoking and may think smoking is the one way to be like him. I am very anti-smoking, so I criticize about smoking too much, but "people, please be aware that you are killing yourself and you are waisting your money!!!" If a person smokes one case of tabacco everyday, the cost for the tabocco in 10 years will be the same amount of money that are almost a person can buy one small car. I definitely prefer a car rather that tabacco to buy. I hope tomorrow will be the very special day for many people who are smoking!!!

Mysteries of the Human Body

2005-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today, I went to Kyoto to go to the exhibition "Mysteires of the Human Body." It was the day before ended, and sunny day, so there were many people there. In the exhibition, there were many kinds of real human bodies..... We could clearly see the shape of human muscles, internal organs, skeletons, everything that exist inside of human. I really really thought they were mysteries!! I found human are so complicated than I have ever thought. One of exhibits I thought "beautiful..." was blood vessel. They were like spider cobweb but are all around body. Soooooo complicated.... One probrem on blood vessel even it was small causes a big difficulty, so I thought it was miracle that I am still healty and no problems on blood vessel. At the same time, I thought I have to thank to my body that makes me healty. You should, too!! As I learned in Environmental Science class, human beings were evolved from the microorganism that were the first lives on the earth about 3.5billion years ago. I can not imagine how much evolution we had on the earth, and truly that is mystery!! I recommend you to go the exhibition once in your life because I think you can feel the miracle. As The catchphrase for this exhibition "you want to see because you can not see" shows, I had a great time there to see what I can not see usually.

JR train crash

2005-05-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, I have not write on this blog for a time.... And it passed about two weeks since the JR train crushed. I started writing about this accident on this blog on the other day, but I could not keep writing. But I want to write about this crash today. It took a time to accept what happened to 107 victims and many other people who were on that train because I know some of them since I was a child. In the morning April 25th when I have got email from my family and some of my friends who told me that JR train had an accident, I did not think that that crash was so terrible. I have heard JR train often have an accident with suicide people, and train get stuck, but on one else killed. So I thought that accident was the same kind of accident as before. However, when I got home night, and saw the news on the TV, I got frouzen. I could not believe what I saw. It was the line that I take for Kansai Gaidai, and on the day I took the same line as usual. That was only earlier train than the train that crashed. I tried to imagine myself being on the train, but I could not because I was too scared. I tried to imagine what the person I know who was killed in the crash felt and thought, but I could not. That was a terrible terrible accident because people who say "see you later" with smailing when they leave a house were killed. Every time I read an article about this accident on the new paper, or watct news on TV, I feel a great pain in my heart.... and angry. Why could JR people go bowling and go drinking beer on the accident day. Why could JR people just leave the accident scene to go work even though they were on the crashed train without rescuing people. Why could people put a stone on the railway and say "I wanted to see the same kind of accident as the one that happened to Fukuchiyama line."
I pray for the souls of the victims.

outside is beautiful today!!

2005-04-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hello, everone!! I love this time of the year. Its nice and warm outside!!! BUT bad thing about this weather is I get sleepy and sleepy....... Im now sleepiest in the year....!! So I really really need a chage!! I liked todays Scott's class activity in outside. It gets me up!!! Also I could see how big diverstion there is between poverty and rich. Im now living rich country, I have to do something. But its difficult to find what "something" is. Some people just donate money to poor people, and think they are helping people. I agree that money is very important. But in my opinion, I dont feel just money dont help people. What we, now spending rich life, should do is to learn more about "why" there is that issue. AND people should get TOGETHER to solve!!!!!
One more thing I want to say today is, Im taking a course for getting a qualification of companion animals to live happy. Im sorry I dont know how to call in English... I will learn how people can make companion animals life happier and comfortable to live with human. Sooooo please good luck for me to pass the examination though its coming in the winter....!!! Thank you!!!
By the way.... Dear Scott, Im sorry that I handed in the last homework about Global issues definition in handwriting. I sometimes feel I dont want to sit in front of computer..... Im sorry if I drove you up the wall....!! I try to be a friend with computer this year!!!

My goals for IES this semester

2005-04-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

One of my goal for this class is I can give my opinions in English about what happening in the world. I tend to listen others opinions rather than I talk, so it takes a time to get used to this, but if I get a knowleage of global issues, I think I will be confident to tell other my opinions.
Other goal I just made was to type computer much quicker as if Im talking. Im sure it will be very hard to think what I want to say in English and type in English, but if I can type more quicker, it will save my time more. I think my goal can ve achieved little by little with doing your (Scott) homework....... I hope.

My first blog

2005-04-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hello, this is my first blog.