Monday, November 26, 2012

Do you know where Karaoke came from?


Do you know where Karaoke came from?

Karaoke was invented by Japanese for about 40 years ago.
Although Japanese people love singing, we are shy to sing infront of many people.

Long time ago, many Japanese people could sing at only drinking bars and the party room that have karaoke machine.
Karaoke was only adult hobby during my childhood age.

However now all generations can sing using karaoke.
And karaoke is very popular for not only Japanese but also all over the world.


copyright by electricnerve















You may think that the person who invented Karaoke became super rich.
But he is not rich because he didn't apply the patent.


Indeed it would be a waste not to have patent, but we might thank him.
Because I think that Karaoke would be expanding all over the world rapidly and give us a lot of fun because nobody have patent.






Sunday, September 9, 2012

Japanese popular popsicle GARIGARI-KUN's new flavor.


The lingering heat of the summer is intense.
I often ate popsicle this year and Japanese calls it "Ice candy"

The new flavor of GARIGARI-KUN is one of the most popular popsicle in Japan was released at the beginning of September.
The flavor is corn potage.
It was strange at first taste but afterwards I felt the sweetness of corn.



However the manufacturer stopped selling after three days since its release because of the overwhelming demand of the customers.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The one of the reason why we must study English



Do you have a mobile phone?

Mobile phone subscribers' rate in Japan became more than 100% in March of this year.

This is the sale's share of mobile phone in Japan.

Sharp, Panasonic, Fujitsu, NEC, Sony…
These are the renowned companies.
I suppose you're guessing that these companies are very profitable by mobile phones.
But the fact is different.
These companies had a large amount of payments due to deficits.
Sharp is about to be managed by a Taiwanese company.
Japanese electronic companies have taken the world market by storm during the 1980s are now been pushed into a corner.

Then, I'll show you the world's best 10 manufacturers of mobile phones.

There is not Japanese manufacturers.
Surprisingly, the share is only 1.9%.

Long time ago, It has been said that "JAPAN as No1"
It seems today that it is in a terrible slump.

What on earth is going on?

There are a lot of factors.
Here, I'll give one of them.
Until now, We should have to deal with huge market of Japan.
We created high performance products that meet the needs of Japanese luxury.
Japan have uniquely evolved just like Galapagos that Charles Darwin discover of the Theory of Evolution, 



On the other hand, South Korea had no other option but to go abroad because of their small market.
South Korea has been actively expanding overseas since the currency crisis in 1997.
They have been making products that meet the local needs for emerging countries.
Do you think that people in emerging countries want any items with such high performance like Japanese products ?
No!
They don't need such a product.

Many Korean students study English very hard because they cannot work in a good company without english speaking ability. 
For example, Samsung demands for new graduates from TOIEC900.



Therefore, many Koreans are going to the Philippines in order to study English Language. 
In number, there are only about 10,000 Japanese students while there are about 100,000 Koreans studying english in the Philippines.


So, many Koreans master English, they dominate the emerging country like Samsung, LG.
I think that this is the one of the reasons why Koreans have bigger presence compare to Japanese worldwide.


Actually, I also went to Philippines with my wife to study English in July.
Most English teachers have Samsung's mobile phone ,not Japanese mobile phone.
All household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioner in quarter I stayed are made in Samsung.
There are many Koreans products in electric shops.
I felt a shiver if it is same situation for other Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries.

Maybe, we could not stop this situation.
We should pay attention to the global situation, and improve our job skill, including English skill.

And for young people, junior high school, high school and university students, 
They must also master English.
But public education may not be easy to change.
We don't wait for the government.
We must prepare ourselves for the future.

If you give up to study English in foreign country because of high cost,
I recommend studying in Philippines.
It is very low cost compared to the West.






Sunday, August 12, 2012

Study English in Philippines



1.Prologue

My wife and I went to Cebu in Philippines in order to study English from July 9th to 13th.
This was the first experience in our life to study abroad.


The street in front  English school named "Langrich"



Many Japanese and Koreans went to Philippines to study English because most Filipinos can speak English fluently that is their second language.

While the number of students from Japan is about 10,000 people, Koreans are about over 100,000 people.
I think that this is the one of the reasons why Koreans have bigger presence compare to Japanese worldwide.

There are many language schools established by Koreans in Philippines.
Taxi driver said to me by Koreans language.
Koreans are popular than Japanese in Philippines.
Many Koreans master English,  they dominate the emerging country like Samsung, LG.
Most teachers have Samsung's mobile phone.
There are many Koreans products in electric shops.



2. About lesson

Back to the concept,
I studied English one-on-one for eight hours a day from eight to five.  
It was very hard. 

I studied with six teachers.
Each teacher is very upbeat and warm.

In addition, I was glad with their warm hospitality.
During our stay, my wife and I celebrated our birthday by them.
Thanks to all the staffs of English school Langrich !


I had enjoyable time with them even if I studied eight hours a day.

I learned from different teachers.

A teacher who taught me about the poverty in Philippines,
A nurse who worked hard in order to live in Canada for her future,
A college student who worked hard in order to pay for his tuition.

They worked very hard but their eyes were very shining.

Many Japanese think that Japan is number one in Asia in spite of our shrinking economy.
While Japanese live in idleness,  People all over the world work hard for better life.
I had a valuable experience to hear their real voice which we could not acquire only by sightseeing.



3.After School

We spent time in our own way after school.
Some study by themselves.

This is a TOEIC special class.
This class was very good for us.


Some went to the shopping mall. 
JY Square Mall is near the school.


Ayala Center is located in Cebu city,

Some did sight-seeing.
This is a high-class resort Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa




4. Graduation 

How one week had quickly passed, I graduated from school.
All graduates made a graduation speech.


Finally, everyone sang !

And, Party.






5. Epilogue

I didn't improve English skill very well because of only one week.
But I was given the power and I was motivated.
And I realized that I am a part of this world and unique.

I am glad that I study English.
My world is expanding.
I felt regret that I did nothing during my college days.
However,  I think it is still not too late to study English even if I am 42 years old.

For young people, go abroad !
You have infinite possibilities.


At last,
I'd like to thank all the staffs and students of Langrich.
I gave them my speech at the graduation party.
The link of my graduation speech is here.

And, I'd like to thank a Twitter's friend.
I came here under the influence of him.
I didn't think that I would study English in foreign country when I followed his twitter account.

Social networking service like Twitter and Facebook mix thoughts and lives of many people like a popular Filipino dessert Halo-Halo (from Tagalog word halò, "mix")  and changes our life amazingly.

I am extremely grateful for SNS.
Life is like a Halo-Halo.


Halo-Halo




The very end, 
Let's sing this song that everyone sang at the graduation party.

Carly Rae Jepsen
"Call Me Maybe"



See you again at somewhere in the world.

Daghang Salamat !



Sunday, August 5, 2012

Let's be the fire monkey!


Let me talk about top two suicidal countries.
First of all,
I'll give you an interesting number.

30,000

What is 30,000 ?
Let me give you a hint.

The third most economically powerful country in the world is no other than Japan.
There are numerous developments.
Technological developments are countless in this part of the world.
Nobody dies of poverty and starvation.

But here's the catch, 
30,000 Japanese commit suicide ever year.
This overwhelming fact places us in the top ten most suicidal country all over the world.
The limelight is also shared by the Samsung genius, Korea.

The country which embrace communism, a hardwired political belief against capitalism, are in a tip-top state of dying by suicide.
This fact makes us realize how strange far-east countries are.

What on earth are they thinking?
It doesn't take a lifetime to know that Korea and Japan place a hefty price tag to the society more than the individual.

There is no Steve Jobs in Japan.
Because the people who have been bitten by the western bug is irrationally brought out of the wall.

However, 
development of human being has been attained by person who are different from everyone else.

Let me show you examples:

Thomas Edison
Albert Einstein

and 
The monkey who made history by creating fire using stones.


So, I think that we must live following our belief and intuition.
Life gives us only one chance.
Life is very short to live for someone else.


Let's be the fire monkey !




Sunday, July 15, 2012

The graduation speech


Last week I studied English in Philippines for one week.
Today's entry of my blog is the graduation speech.

Here is my speech.


Good evening lady's and gentleman.
First of all,
I'd like to share that I celebrated my birthday and my wife's birthday here in Langrich.
I'd like to thank all the staff and students of Langrich for the warm welcome and for celebration with us.
And also I'd like to thank all the teachers for imparting their knowledge to me.
They inspired me to study English more.
So I promise to all my teacher that I will continue to learn English.


Let me introduce a little about myself.

I am just 42 years old.
I am an old person.
I have never studied abroad.
I have never lived in a foreign country.
I am just an ordinary middle-aged business man.
I don't need to use English at work.

Why do I study English?

Because of a simple reason :  Globalization !
The world becomes closer and closer.
I think in the near future it will be quite difficult for Japanese to live and work in Japan without English ability.
This is why I embrace English as if it's my nature language.

I am 42 years old.
Is it too late to study English?

Nooooooo !

I beg to disagree.
It's not too late.

Japanese average life expectancy is approximately 80 years old
So, I still have 40 more years.


So, young people, please lend me your ears.
Don't give up in studying English.
Never never give up to fulfill your dream.

Study hard !
Keep practing !

So, your dream will come true.

Thank you.
Da Ghang Salamat, Maayon Gabie.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Bar-hopping of Japanese Sake


Two weeks ago, my wife and I including her friend participated in a bar-hopping event called 'Zig Zag'

Participants must buy the wrist band for 500 yen.


Those who wear the wristbands could drink sake at 500 yen each Izakaya , Japanese-style pub, which joined this event.


It was a good event because we can find new Izakaya I have never visited.



We enjoyed eight kind of sake at eight different Izakayas.

I recommend this event to sake drinkers.



Thursday, June 14, 2012

The report of Volunteer Tour




Last month, my wife and I participated in the Volunteer Tour of Debris Removal in Tohoku area which was devastated by the massive earthquake and Tsunami last year.
I have already joined the event thrice.


I suppose we had about 40 people, about two-thirds of the group were comprised of women.
Everytime I participate in the event, there is always more number of women compared to the males.
I realized that women are more sociable and altruistic than men
I think that if women's social advancement is improved, Japan would become a better country.


Back to the concept,
I will report the situation of Tohoku which I saw that day.


It is In Rikuzen-Takata City, Iwate prefecture.
This is the 'miracle pine'  

Copyright: jetalone , Tokyo, Japan

















The tree is the sole survivor among the 70,000 pines in the area.
It may be just a chance, but we believe it might have another meaning.
We prayed to this pine for the early realization of rebirth.


Rickuzen-Takata City was in a devastated state.
As far as I can see, there was nothing to look at; only the color gray.
There were many mountains of rubble, which cast shadows on our hearts.
I hope that many people will witness this sight in order to share the reality of the disaster that occured in this area.


Then,
In Kesen-numa City, Miyagi prefecture,
A big ship was washed up from the port to the center of the city and has been there for more than one year and three months.


This made us realize the grave situation that city is under because of the catastrophe.
It costs about a million dollar to remove this ship.
However, it costs about a hundred thousand dollar per year to keep this. 
So the government doesn't have any idea what to do.


In Kesen-numa city, we worked as volunteers to remove the debris in the fishing port where it was hit by the tsunami.
Removing the debris was a laborious job because of the tremendous amount of rubble but it was understandable because it's a volunteers duty to remove job it.
Finally, we were able to remove the rubble by our sheer force of number.


People that were affected by the catastrophe said that the most necessary thing to do to reverse the situation in Tohoku is to have human relationships and bond.
They are encouraged and hopefull whenever they see a coming bus full of volunteers.


It's been over a year since a massive earthquake and tsunami destroyed Tohoku area.
The Japanese people and some of the business companies keep on supporting and helping each other to recover from the terrible incident that has happened.
Even though extra efforts were being given by the people, the reconstruction and recovery of the nation is taking too long because of the lack of human power and resources.
What our country needs to have a faster recovery from the disaster, is massive human power and government support.

I want many Japanese people to visit Tohoku, and realize the present situation.
And I want them to tell their experience and something to see to their family, friends and acquaintances.

All Japanese people should not forget this.



On my way home,
I saw the moon from inside the bus.
The moon is bigger than usual.
This is called "Super Moon"
Photo by S.S my friend
In this precise moment
people in disaster area also saw same moon that I saw ,
people in Tokyo, people in Japan.
people in China, Korea, and Phillipines…

In this precise moment
In this precise moment


We are not alone.


Go for it Tohoku!
Go for it Japan!  

and

Go for it myself !!