New Year of 2010

As you already aware, In Japan, a new year starts from April 1 in many fields, such as fiscal year in the companies, schools, government etc. So, probably you saw many people having flowers in their hands on their way home last Friday night.

And today, one of the famous TV program ended, which is the talk show hosted by Mr. Souichiro Tawara. It has been broadcast for 20 years, and covered mainly political and economical topics on Sunday morning. It was one of the most influential TV programs. Some people didn't like Mr. Tawara because he sometimes interrupt while his guest is still talking and summarised their points differently from what they were talking. He was inflammatory, provocative. But the program certainly contributed to make politics more close to general people.

It is said that the reason of the end of the show is not because of the viewer ratings but because of Mr. Tawara's high commissions. Major TV stations are suffering the decrease of the revenue, so they needed to cut back its operation cost. It is sad to see such TV program is disappearing from private TV programs.

He was born in 1934. He is one of the few active journalists, born before WW2.

Sakura -graduation

It's getting warmer and warmer these days, and TV news says that Sakura in Kyshu area already bloomed. Probably, Sakura in Kanto area will bloom soon. It is expected that the best time to see cheery blossom this year will be from next week.

That means it's time to graduate from school in Japan. Sakura represents the season for graduation; departure, leave from someone you spent so many times with, and encounter someone new.

There are a lot of Sakura songs.
Here are most favorite Sakura songs;

No.1. Sakura; by Kobukuro
They are boy duet. Their voices and harmony are beautiful.

No.2 Sakura; by Naotaro Moriyama
He is a solo singer. His voice is also clear and sweet.

No.3 Sakura; by Ketsumeishi
This is not my choice. But this is popular as well.

No.4 Sakura color: by Angela Aki
She sings about her days in Washington D.C. Lyrics are about Tidal Basin.

Bluefin Tuna and Nuclear weapon

It was a relief that the ban for bluefin tuna was rejected at a vote of U.N meeting. The total consumption of Tuna in Japan has been flattened off for these 5 years. The reason of the rapid growth of the Tuna consumption is not because of Japanese, but because of the increase of the numbers of the countries that newly started eating Tuna fish. Actually, the one who bought Tuna with the highest price in the market at the beginning of this year is a Chinese trader.

My wife told me.
"Look at the nuclear weapons. The countries who owned the weapons keep possessing them, while newcomers are banned to possess them. If we ban the Tuna fishing, we should follow this rule. Disappearing Tuna from our dishes is like disappearing beef from American dishes. Eating Tuna is tradition and culture for Japan started before Christ was born. (Yes, this is true.) So, countries newly started eating Tuna should be banned the consumption in the first place."

She is so convincing.

Princess Akiko had been bullied at school !?

Of course, royal family's gossips are the things most tabroid papers had been persuing all the time. But this news was different. All major madia covered the story as top news.

The spokesman for the Imperial Household agency officially announced on Friday that the 8-year-old princess complained of a stomachache and expressed deep anxiety and has not attended school since early Tuesday.

This issue has two aspects;

1) Masako-sama,
Masako sama, princess and this girl princess's mother, has been getting better from her severe depression, and gradually has started working again for her official jobs as royal family member. If she realized that the absence of her daughter from school has now widely broadcast and provoked many arguments, she would be depressed again and may stop her jobs again, which always provoke many critics from her opponents.

Royal family has a lot pf pressures to behave in accordance with traditional written or unwritten protocols. Current emperor's wife was the first woman who married with emperor from outside of nobility. Thus, she had criticized from everywhere about her outfits, the way she speaks, and even the way she waves her hands. Then she suffered aphasia.

When Masako sama was proposed by Prince, she refused to accept it in the first place. She was the most expected diplomat at that time. She had graduated from top national university in Japan(Tokyo Univ.). And she passed the exam and became a diplomat. She had opened her way by her own intelligence and efforts. But finally, she accepted the proposal and gave up all of her dream, because prince had made commitment, saying "I'm going to protect you with my all efforts." Despite of prince's commitment, Masako sama became suffering severe depression, because she could not bear baby for long time. After long medication, she had a baby, but it was a girl, who is now in question. She's loved by many Japanese. but since Masako sama had been struggled with child-bearing issue. I simply have deep concerns of whether Masako sama get worse of her disease or not.

2)Eduction system