Masaya's days: March 2009

31 March 2009

Vegetable juice

Sometimes, I get intense cravings for something. For example, Kentucky Fried Chicken's chicken. I don't eat so many times but I like it. I think, many people would agree with my opinion.

For example, vegetable juices. I don't care about my health such like health nuts. But sometimes I get intense cravings for vegetable juice.

Yesterday, I got intense cravings for vegetable juice. Then, I went to the nearest vending machine. But I couldn't find vegetable juice.... I went to another vending machine. But I couldn't find it too... At last, I searched for 3 vending machines but I couldn't find vegetable juice... :(

Today, I didn't get intense cravings for vegetable juice like yesterday. But I tried to find it.. I searched for 10 vending machines near my house but I couldn't find it... Of course, if I will go to the convenience stores, I can buy it.

I considered why.

1. Problem on bottles

Most of vegetable juices are contained in carton. But most of drinks that are selling in vending machines are can or plastic bottle.

2. Problem on best-before

Vegetable juices have shorter best-before than other drinks that are selling in vending machines. (?)

3. Problem on demands

Most of people don't want to drink vegetable juices. (?)

1 -> There are vending machines that are selling carton drink. Then this is not right.

2 -> I think, there are not big difference between vegetable juices and other ones. (unconfirmed)

3 -> I think, many people want to drink it. (unconfirmed)

I searched it on the Internet.

Then I found why.

In vegetable juice, there are big difference of its taste. Then many people tend to buy the same brand's vegetable juice. So, it is not suitable to sell in vending machines.

So, I need to go to the convenience store if I wanna buy vegetable juice.

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

30 March 2009

eco-bag

In Japan, the new school year will begin in April. I will go to other college from April. Some of my class mates will work for companies from April. On Friday, Japan productivity center for socio-economic development released the naming of new recruits. "Eco-bag style" is the naming of this years new recruits. Japan productivity center for socio-economic development is releasing this naming every year. They started this naming from 2003. Before that, Sakio SAKAGAWA president of 現代コミュニケーションセンター(modern age communication center) had been naming that since 1973.

This is based on the data from many colleges and companies. According to the research, this year's new recruits have trend that they are eco-minded and they dislike needlessness.

Anyway, naming of last year's new recruits was "curling type".

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

27 March 2009

Tokyo marathon

Last Sunday, Tokyo marathon 2009 held in Tokyo. This was the 3rd time to held as Tokyo marathon. I'm really interested in this event. If I have a chance, I wanna try it. In Tokyo marathon 2009, 30,000 runners run. And 97% of them could finish.

But I have two big problems. One of them is depend on this event. And another one is depend on me.

First, the problem that depends on this event. That problem is capacity of this event. In Tokyo marathon, 30,000 runners run for 42.195 km but there were other runners. Then there were exactly 34,971 runners joined. But there were 261,981 of applies. And its competitive was 7.5. Then it is really hard to run in Tokyo marathon... This is one of the problem.

Secondary, my problem. I've never try to run 42.195 km. 42.195 km is really long distance. Sometimes, I jog around my house. But it is about 5 km or less. Then if I would run in Tokyo marathon, I need to train more.

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

26 March 2009

Not McDonald's

Japan national team became the champion of WBC 2009 again. Then McDonald's Japan is now on sale to celebrate WBC Japan national team's won. We can buy McDonald's burger in special price. But today I went to another hamburger chain store.

MOS BURGER. Mos burger is now selling burgers that is using domestic grown cattle. Its prices are 390 yen (about 4 USD) and 420 yen (about 4.3 USD). It is not so cheap but its taste was really good. I think, it is better than McDonald's Quarter Pounder.

I love to eat Mos burger's burger. Because its taste is really good. But Mos burger is famous for its expensive price... We can buy cheaper burger in McDonald's. But I would like to choose Mos burger. lol If you have a chance to eat it, you should try it..

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

25 March 2009

ECONOMY or ECOLOGY

According to most of media, we are in depression once in a century. Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda and other automotive makers are suffering with this depression. Sales of cars in Japan marked the lowest since 1979. But Honda’s new eco-friendly car Insight received over 10 thousand of orders. Insight is eco-friendly and it is an economy car. It is cheaper than Prius (Toyota’s eco-friendly car).

Most of countries are announcing their policy to boost the economy. In Japan, the government decided to provide 12,000 yen (about 120 USD)to all of Japanese person. (20,000 yen (about 200 USD) for kids and elder person)
Also they decided to special deal of using express way with ETC. (ETC is electronic toll collection systems. If you use ETC, you don’t have to stop your car at toll gate.) If we use ETC and drive our car on express way, we don’t have to pay more than 1,000 yen (about 10 USD). This special deal is only for private use car and only on holidays. I think it is good for car users to go to trip.

According to the JITA (Japan Electronics Information Technology Industries Association), February’s sales of ETC was 45% more than its sales in January. Yes, many people are buying this to get the special deal. This policy is effective for most of car users in Japan. But this policy is not good for business drivers. They must pay usual toll even they are using ETC. I think, it is not good. The government should act for business drivers too.

By the way, today’s title “ECONOMY or ECOLOGY”. This special deal is good for economy. But how about for ecology? ETC users are increasing day by day. And most of them will use express way more than before. They will drive their car to go to trip with using express way. Then I think, amount of exhaust gas would increase rapidly. Most of ecologist are saying this exhaust gas is one of cause of the global warming. Of course, most of them are driving eco-friendly cars like Insight and Prius, it is not so bad. But most of people are driving old and not fuel-efficient cars, I think.

So, what should we do? Buy the expensive eco-friendly car?

For ecology, the government decided to aid for eco-friendly car buyers. It is good deal for rich person who are planning to buy eco-friendly car. Most of cars’ prices are including tax of course. But this is aid to reduce its tax. I heard, if you buy Prius or Insight, you don’t have to pay tax price. The government believe that this aid would boost the sales of eco-friendly car more. But I don’t think so. Because most of eco-friendly cars are expensive than other cars because these cars including new technology. Then we are in depression, most of people are not planning to buy new car, I think. Some rich person would buy these eco-friendly cars but most of us wouldn’t buy it...
But it is good aid for rent-a-car companies. If these companies would stock these eco-friendly cars, some people that can’t buy eco-friendly cars would rent it like me. I don’t have plan to buy eco-friendly car because I don’t have to drive car so many time. But if I have a time to drive a car, I wanna rent eco-friendly car:)

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!
http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

24 March 2009

Again and again part 2

Today I watched WBC game on TV again! Today was the final game of WBC 2009. This game started at 10.30 am in JST. And this was 6th game with South Korea national team. Of course, I believed that Japan national team would win the game and became the champion again!

Then today's game.

Japan national team took a 1 point lead in the 3rd inning. But Korea national team also took 1 point in the 5th inning. At end 9th, score was 3-2. Japan had one point lead. And I believed that Darvish will keep this one point. But....

In the 10th inning, Ichiro did great job! I was a little concerned about him but he did it!!

Then Japan won!!!

Yes, Japan became the champion of WBC again!

Of course, South Korea national team was really nice team and this final game was the best game of WBC 2009. But we won...

I also hope that Japan national team will be champion next time again. But I don't know when the next WBC will be hold... lol

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

23 March 2009

Again and again

Did you see the WBC game? Of course, WBC is World Baseball Classics. Today I watched the semi-final game Japan national team vs. the United States national team. I didn't have a much time to go to the United States then I watched it on TV. Japan national team is the defending champion of WBC. And I hope day will do it again!

Today Japan national team won the game then they will have game tomorrow. Tomorrow's game is Japan national team vs. South Korea national team. They did game 5 times in this WBC. In 2006, they did it many times too. I don't know who made this schedule but I felt something different.

Why did we need to have game 5 times? Of course, South Korea national team do nice play. And they are strong I think. But I hope Japan national team will win and become champion of WBC again!!

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

20 March 2009

Graduation ceremony

Yesterday, we had the graduation ceremony. Then we could graduate from our college. lol

Our college is different from other universities in Japan. Half of my class mates will work for their companies from April. Rest of them go to other universities or advanced course. I will go to advanced course. Every one chose different course. We might not be able to see them again... But we might be able to see them again...

Japanese words "一期一会(ichigoichie)" means meeting only once in a lifetime. Also we must savor every meeting that will never recur.

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

18 March 2009

Convenience stores

Last week, I went to Okinawa with my friends. We were driving car there because we couldn’t use train... At that time, we couldn’t find 7-ELEVEn there.

In Tokyo, there are many types of convenience stores. These are 7-ELEVEn, LAWSON, FamilyMart, Circle K Sunkus, Ministop, am/pm, Daily YAMAZAKI and etc. But in Okinawa, we found only LAWSON and FamilyMart. According to the Ministry of Economy and Industries’ research, there are 32.16 convenience stores per hundred thousand people in Okinawa. There are 33.47 convenience stores per hundred thousand people (national average). So, there are many convenience stores in Okinawa. But we could find only LAWSON or FamilyMart there...

Then, I searched other convenience stores’ web site afte I came back from Okinawa. According to their web site, 7-ELEVEn, Circle K Sunkus, Ministop, am/pm and Daily YAMAZAKI don’t have there stores in Okinawa prefecture. I didn’t know about that... I believed that there are 7-ELEVEns in Okinawa too... lol

Anyway, I went to the main island of Okinawa only this time. Then if I have a chance to go there again, I wanna go to the other island too.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!
http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

17 March 2009

It's like negative campaign

I think, many people love to use this magic word. “The worst recession in 100 years”. Of course, we are in recession, I think. But I don’t think it is so bad. Most of media in Japan especially TV stations love to use that word. I think, they are doing negative campaign. They should do positive campaign especially in these time. I hope they will do that.

Economic recession like now is also a good turning point for everybody. If we hear so much about bad economy on TV, we must feel like “we need to do something” or “how about my company?”...
I think, we need to develop our skills. For example, taking some qualifications. It is good for us if we can’t take that qualification, we can study about that.

If we study for something during these recession, we can be the person who is ready for the next step. There are many temporary staffs who fired in these days. I don’t think, they did their best to get ready for the recession. Study for something, make the strong connection.

Some people told me, “don’t watch TV or you can’t study anything from that black box”. And some people said like “turn off your television, they are not so interesting : turn on your computer, there are a lot of interesting web sites”. Especially in Japan, TV programs are not so interesting. They couldn’t get enough money. It is fatal for most of TV stations I believe. I believe that they should focus on news programs, dramas and documentary programs. Comedy shows, gourmet shows and other variety shows are not good for TV stations. We can search funny show on YouTube, we can search the nearest restaurant on iPhone and other mobile phones. I think, web sites are more interesting than TV shows...

Anyway, I don’t like the TV station that are doing negative campaign. So, turn off your TV.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!
http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

16 March 2009

TOEIC

Yesterday, I took the TOEIC examination in Takushoku University. This is my second challenge to take the TOEIC examination in other college. Last time, my score was 645. I hope I could take over this score.

BTW, there is the award about English in our college. If we take over 450 in TOEIC exam, they give us Tosho-card (¥5,000). But we need to apply for it by ourselves. Of course, I applied for it and I got Tosho-card on 5th March. :)

I will go to advanced course from this April. In advanced course, we need to take over 550 in TOEIC exam. But I’ve already taken over 550 in TOEIC exam, then I’m not worrying about that. I think, I can get Tosho-card again next year. That is good thing, but I will keep trying. Of course, score of TOEIC exam is not the only way to scale our English ability.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile! 
http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

13 March 2009

Today is “Friday the 13th”. I think, many people know that there was “Friday the 13th” even in February. Also we have “Friday the 13th” November. Do you know that?

Anyway, I will write about the numbers today. 13 is the first number of course, in Japan, 13 is not so bad number. We don’t treat it as unlucky numbers in Japan. Of course, there are some unlucky numbers in Japan too. But 13 is not unlucky number in Japan. I didn’t know that 13 is unlucky number in other countries like UK, the United States, Germany and so on. Someone told me about that when I was elementary school student. I don’t know exactly why 13 is the unlucky number so I can’t write about that.

The unlucky numbers in Japan are “4”, “9”, “42” and “49”. I searched about the unlucky numbers in wikipedia... lol
(I believed that “6” is also the unlucky number in Japan. But according to the wikipedia, “6” is not unlucky number in Japan...)
In Japanese, death means “死(shi)”. And 4 has the similar pronunciation in Japanese. (I wrote “shi” but I think it is better to pronounce “C” or “she” in English.) This similar pronunciation evoke 4 as death. Then 4 became the unlucky number in Japan.

Also, 9 is the same reason. We pronounce “9” as “ku” or “kyu(Q)” in Japanese. And “ku” is the similar to this kanji “苦”. “苦” has a lot of meanings, hard, uphill, bad, tough, harsh, bitter and so on. I think, these words has negative meaning. Then 9 became the unlucky number in Japan.

“42” evoke the phrase “go to the death”. “49” evoke the phrase “tough things happen four times”. I think this “four times” is not just “4 times” but it is more than 4 times.

There is unlucky number in English-speaking countries. “666” is unlucky number in English-speaking countries, I think. But it is not unlucky number in Japan. Some friends of mine know about that but most of my friend didn’t know that “666” is unlucky number. I know about that but I don’t know why. Then if you know about why “666” and “13” are unlucky number in English-speaking countries, please tell me..

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!
http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

10 March 2009

Post from Okinawa

Yeah, I arrived at Okinawa at 14.30 on Monday. The weather was not
good... (It was rain) And we needed to wait to rent a car. Then we
couldn't go anywhere yesterday.

But today, according to the weather foecast, it will be sunny day!! We
are planning to go to ちゅら海水族館(aqualium). And the weather
looks nice!

If I can upload some pictures that I take here, I wanna upload it too.
But I couldn't take nice pictures... I hope I can take nice pictures
today~

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!
http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

09 March 2009

the stage

Yesterday, I went to see my friend's play. He is also student in same college. And we are in same laboratory. We are in the technical college, but he love to play. He played in many places, many theatrical groups. I hadn't seen his play but I wanted to see his play. Then I got the chance. On Saturday, and Sunday, he would play. I got the ticket and I went to see it.

I have seen plays two or three times before yesterday's play. And I like to see it. The play was really nice, there are some lough points and touching scenes.

Anyway, I will go to Okinawa today. I will be in Okinawa at 14.00 (JST), I believe. If I can, I wanna update my web log there. But I might not be able to update it...

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

06 March 2009

Financial literacy in Japan

I think, financial literacy in Japan is really low. And today my perceived notion realized... According to the achieve of the Yomiuri Shimbun, over 60% of Japanese think like they don't have enough knowledge about financial commodities. And over 70% of Japanese don't know about the policies of protecting the consumers. I think, we need to know about these things. But I don't have enough knowledges on these area.

These days, I strongly feel that I need to study about financial system more. It is necessary for us to protect our property. Especially we are in recession worst for 100 years. I won't be financial expert but I wanna study about these things...

Anyway, I will go to Okinawa for four days next week. Then I might not update my web log but I will update my web log possibly. (The symbol on the top is Okinawa prefecture's symbol)

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

05 March 2009

Tokyo Round will start

Today is the day of '09 World Baseball Classic Tokyo Round's first game. Today is China national team vs. Japan national team. Of course, I'm cheering for Japan national team and I hope they will win. But there is one big problem. I can't watch it... I'm working during the game.

But I believe they will win.

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

04 March 2009

After the research presentation

I couldn't wrote much about the presentation. Then I wanna write about that. On Monday, we had the research presentation. About 30 students including me made their presentation. It was about their research paper. Some of my class mates couldn't make presentation at that time. But I heard that they will make presentation tomorrow.

Anyway, the presentation finished at 16.00. After that, we talked about many things because we will graduate the college at 19th March. From 18.30, we started to hold the drinking session at the restaurant. We drunk alcohol and ate many foods. The session continued until 21.30. Then I couldn't update my weblog correctly...

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

03 March 2009

3rd March

Today is the doll festival(ひなまつり) in Japan. The doll festival is the day for girls. In this day, we display dolls like the photo on top. But only the family that have non married girl(s). Long time ago, the doll festival is not only for girls. The doll festival was for both girls and boys.

Anyway, today is also the day of commercial broadcast radio. I love to listen to the radio. I don't know exactly why today is the day of commercial broadcast radio. But I think, it is because today is the ear's day. In Japanese, we read 3 as "さん(san)" or "み(mi)". So, 3rd March is "みみ(mimi)" under duress. In Japanese, "みみ(mimi)" have same pronunciation of "耳(mimi)". "耳(mimi)" is ear.

We need ears to listen to the radio. Then today is also the day of commercial broadcast radio. I didn't know that but there are over 100 commercial broadcast radio stations in Japan. I love to listen to the radio but I have listened only three or four radio stations yet...

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

02 March 2009

Finished

Today, we had a presentation. That is the final presentation of our research papers. After the presentation in our college, most of us went to the party.

I went there too. Now, I came back from the party. And I drunk on that party.... Then I think, I'm not in good condition. Sorry. I will update this blog on tomorrow...

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

http://web.mac.com/masaya.09.11/MaSaYa_Web_Page/

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