30 July 2010

Will e-books spread in Japan?

Yesterday, Amazon released their latest version of Kindle on their web site. I've never touched the device, but it looks nice. Because I can read books anywhere I want and I don't have to worry about the battery life. I felt so because I just read the document on their web site. I should check more, before I would buy it...

Anyway, amazon Kindle finally support Japanese. So, now I can read Japanese books on kindle. Yay!

But I found one big problem.

That is


There is no kindle store for Japanese books. And that means, I cannot buy Japanese e-books and read it on kindle right now.

Well, I hope they will open new kindle store for Japanese books. And I want to know more about new kindle. If you have it, please tell me.

Thank you.

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29 July 2010

Top of Japanese pops


I like some Japanese pops. For example, Tokyo jihen, B'z, m-flo, southern all stars and so on...

Yesterday the leader of Southern All Stars, Keisuke Kuwata(桑田佳祐) unveiled that he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Fortunately, his cancer found early, so he would back soon. I'm concerning about his pathology, but it seems not so serious.

Anyway, I hope he will be back soon.

The photo on top is some CD and records of him and Southern All Stars.


Thank you.
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28 July 2010

Death penalty

These days, the government do many things that I cannot understand. For example, they decided not to specify that Takeshima is Japan's territory on white paper on defense. Why? Kim Hyon Hui's luxurious Japan visit...

But today I'm going to write about that Justice Minister hanged two death penalty inmate. Since the Yukio Hatoyama became Japan's prime minister on 16th September, 2009, Justice Minister Keiko Chiba had never permitted the execution of death penalty.

To decide execution is the duty of Justice Minister, so I don't think it's big problem.

BUT...

Justice Minister Keiko Chiba was the lawyer and member of the diet members for the abolition of the death penalty. But finally, she did it.

Also, she rejected by citizens in the election on 11th July. She made the decision after she rejected.

How do you think about this?
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27 July 2010

2766


The emergency number is different in countries, I think. For example, the emergency call number in the United States is 911, in Japan it's 119 (for medical and fire).

These days, needless call for emergency number is becoming social problem in Japan. For example, they call it like a taxi. I heard that more than 50% of emergency call were in less urgent situation. I don't think, it's good. I hope these needless call for emergency number would decrease.

BTW, it's really hot these days. Last week, the day which the highest temperature was more than 35 degrees (Celsius) continued 4 days. It's the record-equaling.

Because of these crazy weather, many people suffered heat exhaustion.
So, today's title.

2766 ambulances sent out in a day. It's the new record in one day, ever.
This is the number only in Tokyo. This is record made on 24th July, and the highest temperature on 24th July was 35.8 degrees (Celsius). 178 of 2766 were diagnosed heat exhaustion. Also most of them were suffered disease because of this crazy weather.

We should take care...

So, I drunk Perrier today... lol
Photo on top is the Perrier that I drunk at lunch.

Thank you.
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26 July 2010

A month with iPhone 4


So, a month passed since I started to use iPhone 4. Today, I'm gonna write my honest review of iPhone 4.

Before I start the review, I'm going to review my quick-review that I made on 24th June... lol
You can check the full article from here.
I wrote 6 points at that time. Display, Camera, Hardware design, Speed, Battery life and Bluetooth Keyboard.

I think, I don't have to say about display and speed this time, because iPhone 4's retina display is just beautiful and iPhone 4 works so quickly.

So, let's start with camera. I felt it looks a little brighter. Sometimes it's good because it's easy to take photos of fireworks at night. But sometimes it's not good. I think, it's tough when we take sunset photos. Maybe I should take more photos with iPhone 4. Also, I took some video and I felt it's good. Now I'm planning to upload some videos to flickr, and I will announce it when I upload them.
(the photo on top is what I want to write)

Second, hardware design.
Last time, I didn't know about "antenna-gate", so I didn't write about that at that time. But after I heard about that, I didn't drop call during I'm touching across the slit. I think, I'm in strong mobile signal area and I don't have to worry about it when I'm in such areas.

Third, battery life.
I didn't have to bring extra battery during this month, I felt so. In fact, I didn't use iWalk (small battery for iPhones) since I started to use iPhone 4. But I think, it's depend how you use it. So, you might need to bring it... lol

Fourth, Bluetooth Keyboard.
After I could use Bluetooth Keyboard with iPhone 4, I felt I don't have to bring laptop computer anymore... lol
I can write long sentence with it. So, I sometimes post some article for my blog from my iPhone.

Fifth, gyro sensor.
I felt, it's crazy. It work sooooo nice and cool! You should try it with some games, it will response you so quickly and correctly.

I think, these are all positive side of iPhone 4, but of course there are some negative side on it. I will write about them from now.

First, some bugs on software.
Sometimes, I meet some bugs. I felt it increased. I believe these bugs will be fixed soon.

Second, jack and connector.
I think, it's not problem of iPhone 4. It's problem of iPhone 4 bumper. Because of this bumper, some earphone jacks (not apple made) and dock connecter (not Apple's one) connect well...

Third, proximity sensor.
I felt, it's not working right. I hope it will be fixed soon.

That's all.
I'm planning to upload some photos and videos that I took with iPhone 4. Please check it when I upload them.

Thank you.
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24 July 2010

Luxurious trip of the terrorist

I couldn't understand that why Japanese government decided to hold such a luxurious trip for terrorist. Kim Hyon Hui an ex North Korean spy (or I should say the convict of bombing of a KAL airliner on 29th November, 1987).

Japanese government invited Kim Hyon Hui like a state guest. She even took a hoverplane ride during her 4 days visit. Of course, she came and back to South Korea with chartered government jet.

But they couldn't find out new facts to settle the abduction issue so far.

So, what did the government want to do?

Why did they must invite her now?
I think, if the government want to know any facts from Kim Hyon Hui, they should go to South Korea to get some information. There is no necessity to invite her now. But I hope the abduction issue will be settled soon.

Thank you.
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22 July 2010

The 2,000 yen banknote

The 2,000 yen banknote was issued on 19th July, 2000. So, it's already 10 years have passed since the bank of Japan started to issue it. There are several reasons that they started issue it, I think. For example, there are many banknotes such as 20 dollar note are issued in many countries. So it might be useful for Japanese people to use it than other expensive banknotes such as 10,000 yen note and 5,000 yen note. Also, it have a meaning of commemorate the 26th G8 summit and millennium.

Anyway, I didn't see the 2,000 yen banknotes these days. I've got it when it started to issued but these days it's really rare to use it. Of course, I don't have it right now. According to some sources, the bank of Japan is not issuing new 2,000 yen banknotes now. So, total amount of the 2,000 yen banknote is not changing after it issued.

I agree with this data because the 2,000 yen banknote is not useful. We cannot use it on vending machines. Also, it's better to use other banknotes for me. How do you think about that?

Thank you.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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21 July 2010

Draft beer on the airplane




Mostly I don't have to ride airplane, but sometimes I may use it. Today I found an article that about new service on the airplane.

ANA a Japanese major airline company announced that they started to offer draft beer to their customer on their airplane. According to the article, it is the world's first draft beer offering on the airplane.

Until I read this article, I didn't know that we cannot drink draft beer on the airplane... There are many kinds of drinks on the plain, so I though we can drink draft beer too. But I heard there are several difficulties due to pressure differences.

Civil Aeronautics Act is not allowing to bring gas cylinder into the plain and that means usual type of draft beer generator will not be used on the plain. So, they made a special generator that work with dry ice.

Anyway, the draft beer service is now available only on the domestic lines. Also, it's only 20 draft beers on one airplane, and it's price is 1,000 JPY (about 11.57 USD) for a cup of draft beer with snack. I felt it's quite expensive... But maybe this is because they developed new system... Would you like to drink draft beer on the airplane even you have to pay 1,000 JPY for a cup of draft beer?

Thank you.
(The photo on top is the draft beer that I took before, so it's not the draft beer that you can drink on the airplane...)
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20 July 2010

after holidays



Yesterday was 海の日(Umino-hi: the day of Sea) and it was holiday. That mean I was in 3 series of holidays. But before my 3 series of holidays the rainy season have gone finally!

On Saturday the Meteorological Agency announced that but I felt the rainy season have gone on Thursday already. Also I felt that the rainy season of this year was a little different from usual year. Rainy days were less than usual.

But I heard that most of points in Japan rained more than usual. For example, in Tokushima prefecture the amount of rainfall during the rainy season marked 453.5 mm and it's twice as much as in usual year. On the other hand, in Tokyo the amount of rainfall during the rainy season marked 159.0 mm and in usual year it marked 216.4 mm. So, it's less than usual year in Tokyo.

I was worrying about water poverty, but I heard it's not so big problem. This is because of dams that we usually use. Most of people living in Tokyo use water that came from dams and these dams are located not in Tokyo. Most of them are located in north of Kanto area. In these areas, the amount of rainfall during the rainy season was as much as usual year. So, that means we don't have to worried about that...

Anyway, we have to care about these problems even we are not in water poverty. These days I took a seminar course and that about environment. After I took that course, I started to think more about virtual water, carbon dioxide, NOx, and etc... I'm not going to write about these things today. (I may write about these things someday...) But we should think about these environment issues.

Thank you.
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16 July 2010

2053


I surprised after I watched this 15 minutes of video.

2053

What do you think about this number?


It's the number of nuclear explosions during 1945 to 1998. A Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto made this video. I don't know much about Isao Hashimoto, because I couldn't find any information about him online... But I could know that he is a graduate of Musashino Art University in Tokyo, and this video is his graduation thesis.

If you have a time, please check this video and please tell me what do you think about this.

Thank you.
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15 July 2010

After the world's hottest sports event


4 days have passed since Spain beat Netherlands and became champion of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. I could watch many many games during a month. Also the World Cup made me lack of sleep. But now I'm OK.

During the World Cup, I could learn a lot of things. I didn't know about vuvuzela until the World Cup started. And the World Cup remind me that really many people around the world loves football. These days, I miss vuvuzela sound from TV... lol

Anyway, FIFA unveiled their latest version of FIFA ranking. Spain back to top. Japan could increase their ranking position into 32. I don't know how they judge, but they increased Japan from 45. Would you like to check your country? Please check full ranking from "http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html#confederation=0&rank=194"

Thank you.
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14 July 2010

Rainbow


I think, today's weather was totally strange. In the morning, it was a little chilly and weather was not so good. Around the noon, weather got better. It was sunny at noon and I went out but it was raining. Sunny rain.

When I got back, it was sunny. I believed that the weather got better and this would not change today, but it changed. Heavy rain. I think it was guerilla heavy rain (ゲリラ豪雨).

After the heavy rain, I took the photo on top.

Rainbow. 

I think, it's really rare to see it. It was beautiful.

Thank you.
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13 July 2010

Starbucks Card



Yesterday, I've got an envelope from job hunt support company. Inside the envelope there was a Starbucks Card. According to their letter, I've got a Starbucks Card because I registered the web site during their campaign and I won the lots. I've almost forgotten about the campaign, but I'm sooo happy.

But wait.

How to use it?

I sometimes drink a cup of coffee at Starbucks Coffee Shop, but I've never used Starbucks Card. So, I learned a little about Starbucks Card before, I started to write today's article.

First of all, Starbucks Card is prepaid card which can use only at Starbucks Coffee Shops. We can deposit money in it up to 30,000 JPY (about 330 USD).

Also, the card will be invalid after 3 years of unused record. So, we must use it at least once in 3 years... lol (Maybe I will use it more)

I need to check more, but my card is valid only in Japan. So, I cannot buy Starbucks Latte in the United States with this card...

I could learn a little about Starbucks Card and now I can use it at Starbucks Coffee Shops... maybe... lol

I will try it when I go there next time...

Thank you.
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12 July 2010

DPJ lost, but Spain won

Today, I have 2 things that I want to write. 1 of them is election of upper house in Japan. Another one is World Cup. So, I will write both of them on today's article.

Yesterday was the election day, and I went and voted after noon. I didn't vote for DPJ of course, and it seems to be many voters made same decision. Democratic Party of Japan, the ruling party lost 10 seats at upper house. Also, the People's New Party the ruling coalition, lost all seats that they had before the election. On the other hand, former ruling party Liberal Democratic Party earned 13 new seats. So, the Diet became twisted again. It will be difficult to handle the government under the twisted Diet, but I think it's good because DPJ will think more.

Anyway, I thought that small parties such as New Renaissance Party would earn more seats before the poll count, but they couldn't earn much. Under such situation, Your Party earned 10 new seats. It was their first try for upper house, so it's pretty nice.

DPJ lost much, but I didn't feel that LDP won big. In my opinion, Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan will not to resign because of this result, but he must mind out his word.

So, I'll write about World Cup from here.

To tell the truth, I've rooted for Spain since the 2010 World Cup started. Luckily, the game Spain vs Japan didn't realize.

Anyway, I slept from 2200 in JST and woke up at 0300 to watch the game. I was soooo sleepy at this time, so I decided to drip a cup of iced coffee. After that, I turned on TV and tuned in the channel that broadcast the game.

The whole game was fulfilled with tense. And I couldn't miss any seconds. But finally, Iniesta made it!! I'm sooooooooooooooo happy! Finally, they made it!!!!! Did you check the game?

Thank you.
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09 July 2010

Why I decided to vote for candidate who is younger than 50 yrs old

Next Sunday, we have an election of upper house. And of course, I'm going to vote for someone from the candidates. But I decided to vote for the candidate who is younger than 50 years old. There are several reasons and I wanna write a little bit about that today.

Most of the member of the diet are older than 50 years old. Also the cabinet formed with aged members. For example, average age of the cabinet member is 59.0 years old when Naoto Kan formed it. Before Naoto Kan, Yukio Hatoyama formed the cabinet which average age was 60.7 years old when it started.

So, most of them will be able to get pension in 5 years. I don't think they must retire soon, but they should choose younger members. (I know this is disrespect opinion, but I wanna write) I don't think they are thinking the future of Japan seriously. They are thinking just few next years, because they are going to retire in a few years. I think, this is why there are many dole-out policies these years.

Also, there is a problem. Most of young voters didn't vote in election. So, I think the candidates started to focus on the old voters because they will vote. Because of this, the parties carry the policy which works good for old person. And young voters lose their attention from the politics. ( they don't go to the election again ) ... Well, we are in bad spiral, I think. They might say "government of the aged people, by the aged people, for the aged people". Of course, I'm joking.

Anyway, I have only a suffrage but it might change the politics and I will bet on that.

Thank you.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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08 July 2010

NHK's decision

I sometimes watch grand sumo tournament(大相撲) on TV. NHK the public broadcasting company in Japan was broadcasting every grand sumo tournament in the evening during the tournament.

These years, many scandals unveiled in sumo world. Drugs, lack of star wrestler, retirement of Asashoryu(朝青龍) and etc...
But NHK didn't decide to halt the broadcasting of the grand sumo tournament. This time, they finally snapped their patience.

Sumo Association unveiled some sumo wrestlers and stable masters were gambling on baseball with gangs. According to the association's report, totally 67 wrestlers and stable masters have got involved with gamble.

After this scandal, NHK received about 12,600 of opinions from their viewers until 5th July, and 68% of them were against to the broadcast of next tournament. Also 13% of them support to broadcast it, but NHK decided to halt the broadcast of next the grand sumo tournament that will hold in Nagoya.

I don't think it's good decision, because 67 wrestlers and stable masters will not attend the grand sumo tournament that will hold in Nagoya from 11th July because of the punishment. And NHK got another opinions from their viewers after the announcement of their decision. According to some news sources, 46% of them were against the decision of NHK. On the other hand, 27% of them were fore to it. I think, many people want to watch the tournament on TV.

Anyway, next tournament will hold from 11th July and will end 25th July.

Thank you.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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07 July 2010

Tanabata

Today is 7th July and this is Tanabata in Japan. I could see many people who were wearing Japanese summer kimono (浴衣:Yukata). I heard some restaurants and cafes will discount if the customer visit the shop wearing Japanese summer kimono.

BTW, if the weather is fine, we could see the milky way in the sky. But it seems to be difficult... It's raining here...

Thank you.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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06 July 2010

Sleeping like dying


I was in a little bit sleepless days. Mostly it's because of my fault for example, watching some football games at night, making materials for my presentation, doing my tasks and etc...

Anyway, I could take a rest in a while today. I was sleeping like dying for about 2 hours...

But I could refresh my mind by myself. Sometimes I need such a rest... lol

Thank you.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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05 July 2010

Manifesto




I didn't know that word "manifesto" is Italian word...

BTW, the election of upper house in Japan will be hold on 11th July. Yeah, it will hold on next Sunday. In my opinion, the Democratic Party of Japan, the ruling party might lose their seats in upper house in this election. There are several reasons, I think.

Sometimes they are saying crazy things. For example, Prime Minister Kan announced that they are planning to pay buck consumption tax to low-income earners. I think, indirect taxes such as consumption tax must not be refunded. Also I think tax refund for low-income earners ( they are saying lower-income earners mean household which annual income are less than 4 million JPY and that means nearly 50% of Japanese are low-income earners) will make Japan's economy worse.

Anyway, I found 2 apps that about manifesto for this election. (I think, they must make their manifesto not only for the election, but they are making it only for the election)
Using these apps we can compare the manifesto easily. I recommend "エレクション マニフェスト ビューアー(Election manifesto viewer)". Of course, this app is available on app store and this app is written in Japanese....

If you like, you should check it. Of course, I'm gonna decide my opinion using these ways until 11th July.

Thank you.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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02 July 2010

Ghibli


I turned on TV at around 21.00 and I've got that Studio Ghibli's old movie "Porco Rosso"is on air. "Porco Rosso" is one of my most favorite Ghibli animation.

Have you ever seen that?

There are many animations that Ghibli made, and most of them are wonderful, I felt. I searched a little bit about Studio Ghibli. They have already released 16 feature-length animated movies. Also they have already released 16 animated short movies.

But I've never watched their animated short movies yet... I think, I should check these...

Anyway, which animated movie do you like the most?

Thank you.
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01 July 2010

Second half of the year

Today is 1st July and that means it is the first day of the second half of year 2010. I felt the time has gone so quickly.

I think, I should check my declarations that I made 4th January on this blog.

1. I will read over 100 books in this year!
Well, I think, it's doing good and I believe that I can read over 100 books in this year because I've already read 47 books. It's bit later than I expected but it's ok because I can read more books during my summer vacation.

2. I will start new things!
I was in a bit busy days. That means I couldn't start new things during 6 months. But I could know about other things that I've never done before. So, I believe I can start it within next 6 months.

3. I will improve my language skills!
I think, I should check it.

4. I will be morning person!
You know, it's season of World Cup. Most of games starts at night and mostly I'm watching these...
But I hope that I will be morning person after 12th July... Maybe...

5. I will keep posting this blog!
I could do that during this 6 months. And now I'm posting blog from my iPhone 4 because it became easier than before. So, I can keep it.. I believe.

I believe that I will be able to post an article that I could clear all of these decorations on 31st December.

Thank you.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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