Fumiaki's Blog

Polish culture festival showcase

2007-07-25T16:27:00.000+09:00

Polish people in Northern Ireland have held a festival which present the best of their homeland's culture. During Polish Cultural Week, Photography and art exhibitions, movies and concerts exist.The festivities are rounded off with a picnic in Belfast's Botanic Gardens, where many delicacies from Poland can be sampled. Glosik photo editor Jakub Swiderek said Polish people were made to feel welcome in Northern Ireland, and he said "We want you to know us better and the best way to get to know somebody is through culture - integration is the most important thing.".

from BBC NEWS. Published: July 23, 2007

Carl Lewis shares insights into running, life

2007-07-25T15:44:00.000+09:00

Carl Lewis, Nine-time Olympic gold medalist, give a public performance on Saturday, June 30 in Osaka. He explained how he realized his goals as an athlete and urged audience members never to give up on their dreams. "I tell everybody to try everything you think you can try," Lewis said. "If you have the least idea that you can attempt something in life, go for it." Lewis attributed his gold medals in the Olympics and world championships to preparation and planning, but he also said it was important to be flexible enough to change plans.

from Daily Yomiuri. Published: July 1, 2007

Gun culture's toll on Papua New Guinea

2007-07-25T14:57:00.000+09:00

According to US state department, Papua New Guinea has one of world's highest violent crime rates.The authorities say up to 75 per cent of criminal deaths unreported and real homicide rate is likely much higher.In the highlands of Papua New Guinea, guns have become a part of life. Since guns were added to more traditional weapons on tribal wars, the toll risen dramatically. From time to time, the police offer amnesties to try to get weapons off the streets. But the toll of gun like M16 is often very high, so that gun is likely to be recirculated because somebody is prepared to pay a phenomenal price for it.

from Al Jazeera. Published: JULY 23, 2007

'Takoyaki' czar looks to spread tentacles to U.S.

2007-07-25T14:02:00.000+09:00

Morio Sase,president of HotLand Corp, is aim for expanding the market to the U.S. and he said
"I worried whether Americans could eat octopus, but 'takoyaki' sales at a special event proved they love it,". HotLand Corpoperates operate about 300 Tsukiji Gindaco takoyaki outlets across Japan and 11 in other parts of Asia.He also said "Gindaco grew to become the No. 1 brand here and it's time for us to open the first one in the U.S.,". The company aims is having 20 stores in California by 2010. The 44-year-old president's confidence is backed by the recent trend in the U.S. toward healthy Japanese food, including sushi, sashimi and tofu.

from The Japan Times. Published: June 5, 2007

Some in Hokkaido preserve Ainu culture but the lack of young supporters does not bode well for future efforts

2007-07-25T13:25:00.000+09:00

Ainu are indigenous population to Hokkaido and its neighboring islands. Officially, there were 24,000 in Hokkaido in 2000. The number of pure Ainu is not known. This year marks the 10th anniversary since a law on conservation and promotion of Ainu culture took effect.Shigeo Toyokawa, a 75-year-old Ainu, is one of a dwindling number of people devoted to preserving Ainu culture.In 1982, Toyokawa and his colleagues revived the "asir-cep-nomi" (new salmon-saluting ceremony) for the first time in 100 years. There are people who try to preserve Ainu culture but many people are old, so transmission of Ainu culture to young generation is worried.

from The Japan Times. Published: January 25, 2007

'Takarazuka Boys' touring Japan

2007-07-25T09:43:00.001+09:00

"Takarazuka Boys,"a stage play focusing on a men's troupe that existed shortly after World War II premiered in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Saturday, 7 July. Takarazuka is theatrical company which is composed of all-female member. The men's troupe was established by Ichizo Kobayashi, founder of the Takarazuka Revue, after he received a letter requesting that the troupe stage a full-scale musical by adding men to the revue. But the men's troupe was disbanded in 1954 because of the fans' resistance to having men perform at the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture. Six men who belonged to the troupe visited the Hyogo Performing Arts Center in Nishinomiya on Saturday to watch the performance and engage in a bit of nostalgia.

from Daily Yomiyiuri. Published: July 8, 2007

Two Koreas begin military talks

2007-07-25T05:12:00.001+09:00

North Korea-South Korea talks by Senior generals have held from 24. The talks will hold for 3 days.They will discuss about the western sea border. The western sea border has been a long-running dispute between South Korea and North Korea. Number of naval clashes was broke out because of rich fishing waters. Six South Korean sailors were killed in one clash in June 2002. Negotiations have failed in the past because North Korea wants the sea border to be redrawn further south.

from BBC NEWS. Published: July 24, 2007

Brazil Plane Crash May Haunt Gov.

2007-07-25T04:23:00.000+09:00

Brazil's worst airliner crash could predicted because air safety concerns have been aired in congressional hearings for months, and pilots and traffic controllers have worried about the short, slippery runways at Brazil's busiest airport for a long time.The runway appears to have been a key factor of the crash. Critics criticized President Luis Inacio da Silva's government for failing to invest in safety measures adopted by other urban airports and failing to fix Brazil's air traffic problems in the months since 154 people were killed in the September collision of a Gol Airlines Boeing 737 with a small jet over the Amazon rainforest.

from TIME. Published: July 18, 2007

China ethics plea after fake buns

2007-07-25T03:15:00.000+09:00

Zi Beijia, a reporter of Beijing TV, ran a report about a food store that mixed cardboard into its pork buns. But later, it became clear that the report was fake. It is said that the reporter's aim was to become famous. After the happening, China's propaganda department has called on journalists to strictly adhere to news ethics. The Chinese Communist Party heavily controls its media, but it seems that it cannot always stop reporters simply making up stories.

form BBC NEWS. Published: July 24, 2007

Government to let IAEA inspect quake-hit nuke plant

2007-07-25T02:33:00.000+09:00

The government has decided to allow the IAEA(International Atomic Energy Agency) to inspect the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant which was hit by quake, officials said Sunday,July 22. The government had earlier told the IAEA inspection was not necessary by the nuclear watchdog for the time being, rejecting an offer by the U.N. agency.
In KASHIWAZAKI, Niigata Pref, many people who are forced to go shelters by the earthquake are worried about the safety of the nuciear power plant, but most approve reopening it. Kashiwazaki city depends heavily on the nuclear power industry. About 3,800 employees of Tepco and related companies work in Kashiwazaki and Kariwa.

from The Japan Times. Published: July 23, 2007

Aso defends Lee's visit to Yasukuni

2007-06-11T14:43:00.000+09:00

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said he seems no problem with former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's visiting on June 7, 2007 to Yasukuni Shrine which links the war. Lee’s brother died while serving in the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII, and honored at Yasukunin Shrine.Just after his visiting, China expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with Japan for allowing Lee.

from The Japan Times. Published: June 11, 2007

Amazon to Sell Music Without Copy Protection

2007-05-18T01:31:00.000+09:00

Amazon.com, the biggest online seller of CDs, plans to sell songs that can be freely copied to any computer, iPod etc. Amazon plans to add a music download store to its Web site this year. It will sell songs and albums in the MP3 format without D.R.M(Digital Rights Management).Amazon said its service would include music from one major label, EMI, and from 12,000 independent music companies that have chosen not to use copy-restricting software.
In April, it was announced that EMI will sell MP3 without D.R.M in iTunes Store.Other major music labels, like Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, have appeared reluctant to join EMI in forgoing copy protection. But Universal Music Group may be getting ready to make the leap.

from The New York Times. Published: May 17, 2007

Low-Crime Japan Seeks Answers to Killing of Mayor of Nagasaki

2007-04-27T10:50:00.000+09:00

The mayor of Nagasaki, Kazunaga Ito was shot by Tetsuya Shiroo who was member of Yamaguchi-gumi on April 18. The motive why Tetsuya Shiroo　shot the mayor is said that Tetsuya Shiroo was angry with the city over its handling of a traffic accident four years ago. But this reason hasn’t strong powers of conviction because the amount involved is small — only about $1,000. There are people who think the motive is the mayor’s peace activism.
from The New York Times. Published: April 19, 2007