Head line is classified with colour. −−Your comment welcome−−
Black Political matter
Purple Web, computer matter
Green miscellaneous
2003 07 21 ETC (Electronic Toll Control?)
2003 07 20 Who is responsible for the murder by 12 years pld boy?
2003 06 05 Temporarily my network is switched back to ADSL
2003 06 03 Optical fiber (FTTH) is introduced into my home.
2003 05 31 The US government says that explosion in Saudi was responsible by Al
Qaeda.
2003 05 30 I expect common sense of U.S. citizens.
2003 04 10 British response to the Iraq war
2003 04 06 Mr Koizumi, please do not make mistake again
2003 04 02 Stand on the right or Stand on the left?
2003 03 29 Why we call western part of Japan as Chugoku area
2003 03 24 The meaning of the country abandon the militaly action
2003 03 19 Bush's choplogic and Koizumi's doubled tongues
2003 03 14 Democracy is to employ majority opinion, is it not?
2003 02 27 Additional proof of safety of the Shinkansen
2003 02 24 To dear bureaucrats and publc servants
2003 02 17 Let's learn from technology and operation of Shinkansen
2003 02 12 Strange word of Prime minister
2003 02 10 Doctors are phoenix?
2003 01 27 My proposal of completion of the road network
2003 01 26 My opinion to Road Privatazation Promotion Ccommittee.
2003 01 15 Old town (Alte Stadt)
2002 12 27 I encoutered a train with women's only car
2002 12 23 I realized removable HDD is very convenient
2002 12 22 The landmark decision has made by Tokyo District Court
2002 11 25 Stop the women's only car!
2002 11 20 at an airport my small scissors in daily washing set was refused carry
in
2002 11 10 Expectation to the TV media journalism
2002 11 02 Bank management insists something wrong?
2002 10 20 Japanese health insurance system
2002 10 16 Good news is two Nobel prize winners from Japan
2002 10 14 Cabinet shuffle in Koizumi Cabinet
2002 10 08 Personnel assignment in Democratic Party
2002 09 17 Top meeting between Japan and North Korea has heen held today.
2002 09 10 Weather forecast in Japan
2002 09 05 The conduct to deteriorate natural resource for the daily life must be punished
2002 08 25 Recently I hear a phrase offensive to th ear.
2002 08 24 How should a top management of the company be decided?
2002 08 01 The contradiction of citizen's will between a top governer and a assembly
members.
2002 07 28 It is possible to use over 8GB HDD by a bit old notebook PC
2002 07 10 Wimbledon Tennis TV broadcast
2002 07 01 Is it not breach of the law to have a female only car?
2002 06 18 What is the insurance?
2002 06 17 Ministers who can not answer to the question
2002 05 12 Unfortunately, Japanese democracy is not matured.
2002 05 09 The money necessary for political actvity should be paid by national
budget?
2002 04 25 Appraisal of Koizumi cabinet
2002 04 16 Many people or organization protects oneself
2002 04 14 The effect of the TV Commercial Message (Part-2)
2002 04 06 Binding of the vote by the political party.
2002 03 26 The effect of the TV Commercial Message
2002 03 19 What is the confidential information?
2002 03 15 The Diet debate is just like a my last comment.
2002 03 06 Mr prime minister Koizumi, I can tell you how to regain nation's support
2002 02 24 Copy protection and copy right (Part-2)
2002 02 23 Copy protection and copy right
2002 02 22 We can not say Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games were successful.
2002 02 21 Medical insurance system
2002 02 13 Does prime minister make mistakes on minister assignment?
2002 02 06 fraud by Snow Brand food company, I lost the word to mention
2002 02 01 Is the testimony in the diet trying seriously to find the fact?
2002 01 29 The second response to the prime-minister office
2002 01 24 Rail companies are studying to stop ticket inspection in the car
2002 01 21 Is one step interval of Japanese taxi fare counter too large?
2002 01 18 TV reported. "To the foreigners who have permanent stay visa, voting right is given.
2002 01 16 There is a big difference of the sound quality among the MP3 players
2002 01 14 Patent system
2001 12 30 Global police
2001 12 26 What is the difference terrorist's behaviour and America's action?
2001 12 04 National assembly member should vote based on his or her personal belief
2001 12 03 Many sports casts on TV is unnecessary too noisy.
2001 11 20 The rail way companies should involve more cargo transportation.
2001 11 19 Privatization of the road management office? (douro koudan)
2001 11 01 I responded to the mail magazine from the prime minister office
2001 10 25 Continuation to Oct 22 comment.
2001 10 22 I decided to put MP3 files in addition to WAV files.
2001 10 20 Military action of US is making casualties of citizens.
2001 10 14 Baseball season is going over.
2001 10 08 Today I announce official opening of my home page.
2001 10 05 People criticizes government countermeasure against BSE in Japan.
2001 10 02 Afgan tension is very high now.
2001 09 20 My opinion to US reaction to the terrorism.
2001 09 15 It should never happen again such a action of terrorism,
2001 09 12 Yesterday unbelievable happened at New York.
2001 09 04 From 1st of September, I use dynamic DNS services
2001 08 16 Recently, having a lot of free time I often watch ball games on TV.
2001 08 13 It is big debate Prim minister Koizumi's should go to the Yasukuni or
not.
2001 07 14 It is decided Osaka is not the Olympic game hosting city in year 2008.
2001 07 10 Now ADSL is in my house.
2001 07 01 It continues political subject because of high concern about politics.
2001 06 19 Me too, registered as a reader of the mail magazine from prime minister
office.
2003 07 21
ETC (Electronic Toll Control?)
Japanese motor way has entrance/exit gates almost every 10-15 km interval.
What a wasteful system it is! All the developed countries' motor way is free to use it is waste of money to build facilities, barriers, system and hire personnel.
In addition, development of ETC is more money wasting business. It does
not help to clear the traffic congestion by the ETC barriers which certainly
slow down the traffic.
If there is no barriers then it may help （refer comment 2001 11 19). It may help to activate economical recession too if motor way is toll free. This is today's Japan's problem. Of cause it is necessary to find out the money for the maintenance, construction of new motor ways. Certainly the total cost must be smaller than barrier/ETC system.
Who willingly pay the cost of the ETC hardware? Driver? Certainly not for
no benefit. Who pay the development cost? The system developer must take
a risk of return of the investment, they should consider social benefit
of the system. It will never be spread to the drivers unless the discount
amount is significant.
The system should be abandoned immediately not spending more money.
2003 07 20
Who is responsible for the murder by 12 years old boy?
Is he responsible? According to today's Japanese law he is not responsible. Then who is responsible, parents, school teachers, community or social system?
It should not be nobody is responsible, otherwise it is not possible to
prevent similar crime, and it will never be accepted by the victim's family.
Following is my opinion.
Even to the primary school children it must be taught at school that such
a crime as murder should not be allowed and if the crime has been committed
it will cost fatal burden to his (or her) life. And they should be old
enough to understand this importance.
If the boy is not responsible then responsible person must be identified
by individual level, whoever it is his mother, father, school teacher,
school master or even justice minister. But I do not think they are primary
responsible. The boy himself should be responsible.
I would propose to make a new rule that such a serious crime as murder
or arson, the crime should be applied from age 10, and the other crimes
may be from age 15 as it is, some other offense may be from 18.
2003 06 05
Temporarily my network is switched back to ADSL, due to the frequent disconnection
from the network.
It may have a problem of setting of the router.
After establishment of stable connection, the network will be optical network
again.
The return to FTTH will be announced on this page.
2003 06 03
Optical fiber (FTTH) is introduced into my home.
For web surfing, the ADSL is not much problem. But my home is located far from telephone exchange facility and it is not possible to enjoy full capability of the ADSL.
Now, you may download my large music files in a short time, if your internet environment is fast enough.
Nominal maximum speed of the FTTH is 100Mbps and the cost is not much different
from early days of ADSL..
Now I may be able to use internal network and external network with not
much speed difference.
2003 05 31
The US government announced that explosion in Saudi Arabia was a terrorism
by Al Qaeda.
The original excuse of Iraq war was to attack terrorist supporting country (refer 2003 03 19). Cynically, it proved the war was not so effective to stop terrorism although U.S. won a battle.
It is questionable the terrorism is more frequent if U.S. did not attack
Iraq.
It is necessary to stop the terrorism, but it should not be allowed to
kill thousands of citizen by the war that may or may not effective to stop
the terrorism. To the Iraqi citizens this war is not much different from
9.11 incident of New York in terms of killing of innocent citizens.
The result was too many killing of innocent citizen by blind attacking to the invisible enemy.
In addition mass destructive weapon which is another reason of attack,
is not found yet.
This should not be allowed to anybody.
2003 05 30
I expect common sense of U.S. citizens.
U.S. nationalism behavior backed by super military power is concerned and
criticized by many other countries. On the other hand more than half of
U.S. citizens support Iraq war. U.S. citizens should realize this ratio
is entirely different from world opinion.
This fact indicates how big was the shock of 9.11 to U.S. citizens who
have no experience of killing to the citizens by the war.
The number of killed by 9.11 incident (U.S. people says terrorism = war) is only 1% of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing by American. But majority of Japanese people does not hate Americans, rather thanks for giving the opportunity to understand importance of the peace and the war should be abandoned.
Recently in Japan young generation who has no experience of the war is
increasing and some people look the war like a game.
It is not difficult to imagine U.S. people who has no experience of the
war (except soldiers) pays less importance attention to the peace and war.
Although you think it is good to do but if many other people think it is
not to do then it should be assumed it is better not to do. This is democracy.
I think, now, American people are intoxicated temporarily by their super
military power. I hope this phenomenon is really temporally and calm down
quickly.
It is more than adequate to rebuild Iraq by international frame work and not blood shared U.S. and U.K initiative.
2003 04 10
British response to the Iraq war
I understand British are friendly and rational people, they are candor, have human touch and wisdom.
I could not believe that most British are in favour of starting war, I
think Mr Blair's decision to follow U.S. is not representing nation's will.
I understand U.K. has a close relationship with U.S. but at the same time she has also important neighbors.
I think the only man who could stop the war was Mr Blair. He could also contribute to lay weight on the U.N.
I touched upon poor Japanese prime minister (refer 2003 03 24, 2003 04 06comments), but his influence to U.S. is small compared with British prime minister. In this sense Mr Blair's responsibility is very large.
I hope he will not follow easily to Mr. Bush opinion such that an initiative
of Iraqi restructuring should be by U.S. and U.K. and not U.N.
I expect a wisdom of British people and prime minister.
2003 04 06
Mr Koizumi, please do not make mistake again
It is regrettable that Japan could not contribute to stop the war. Japan should not make a mistake again when discuss about reconstruction of Iraq.
This time again, Mr Koizumi, you should not change mind following American
intention from U.N. initiative to U.S. initiative. Such an attitude of
prime minister damages Japanese international credibility and is not Japanese
national interest.
If U.S. ,who started the war against U.N. and world opinion, is allowed
to have an initiative for reconstruction of Iraq, it shows physical power
is everything.
This is a society of an animal and not civilized human being society.
Many countries will aim military giant country. There is no convincing
reason not to possess mass destructive and/or bio/chemical weapons.
If the war is a penalty against to Iraq by world consensus then we must
thank U.S. for it's sacrifice and financial expenditure.
On the contrary, this war is neither agreed by U.N. nor world opinion.
The U.S. has no right to speak about reconstruction of Iraq, if U.S. wishes
to reconstruct Iraq then U.S. should not destroy the Iraq. It is not allowed
to destroy a country for rebirth to convenient regime.
The U.S. is responsible to supply a money for rebuilding but no mouth.
The Japan should contribute to establish such an international rule and
mechanism.
And it is Japanese responsibility let other countries understand "the meaning of abandoning military action for resolving international conflicts" and "define the case of the war is inevitable".
2003 04 02
Stand on the right or Stand on the left?
This discusses the way to give way on escalator. In Tokyo, they stand on
the left and keep RHS room for the person in a hurry. But strangely in
Osaka, on the contrary they stand on the right and give LHS way. I wondered
where is the crossing point and observed at Nagoya underground. The answer
is, it is same as in Tokyo.
Only Osaka area in Japan, they stand on the right.
It looks Tokyo system is more reasonable because Japan uses LHS traffic
system.
Wait, wait a moment I think (my memory may be wrong) there was a indication in London underground "please stand on the right" it is same as Osaka system and also U.K. use LHS traffic system.
Recently international tourism is common and majority countries use RHS traffic system. Therefore, it is more reasonable to use Osaka system.
Dear Tokyoites please change and follow to Osaka system.
It should not be so confusing or dangerous comparing to the change in Okinawa from RHS to LHS traffic system.
2003 03 29
Why we call western part of Japan as Chugoku area.
Today the area around Hiroshima is called Chugoku area. The word Chugoku is the name of the country of China in Japanese.
Whenever I find the letter of Chugoku in paper, always the state name of
China comes first not Hiroshima area.
It is confusing to use same word, the name of the state should have priority
as we can not change the name of the foreign countries.
Before we called China as Shina and had no confusion with Chugoku area but today we call China as Chugoku.
The meaning of Chugoku (China) is shortened name of Chukajinminkyowakoku, and the meaning of Chugoku area (Hiroshima area) is centre of the country and it is not geographical fact, it is rather western part of Japan.
I would propose to call Sanyo area, the meaning is sunny side area of the
mountains.
Similar name is given to the area of northern side of Chugoku area (Sanyo)
as San-in, the meaning is shadow side area of the mountains.
2003 03 24
The meaning of the existence of the country abandoned the military action
Japan may be only one country having constitution in which clearly declare that military action is abandoned forever for resolving international conflict.
The prime mister of this country declared a support of U.S. military action
on Iraq. This declaration is not adequate as Japanese prime minister whatever
the reason, nor it does represent Japanese mentality.
Such a country as Japan is responsible and should make effort to solve
conflicts without military force.
This peaceful country's opinion must be valuable and convincing and. But Mr Koizumi lost opportunity of appealing Japanese peace philosophy to the world. It is against Japanese benefit.
If we must support U.S. military action due to the Security Treaty, we
must reconsider how to protect ourself, it may even reach to the change
of The Constitution.
It is regrettable if our peace constitution does not influence to the peace of the world.
Before doing this, The prime minister should fulfill the duty as Japanese
prime minister appealing to international society how to resolve the conflicts
without military force.
2003 03 19
Bush's choplogic and Koizumi's doubled tongues
Is the war so important than to continue the inspection? Majority people
do not think so and support French opinion. UN should extend inspection
period. And if mass destructive weapon was found then it could be inevitable
to attack Iraq.
George Bush's purpose shifted from Iraqi connection to Al-Qaeda to disarmament and to Hussein regime destruction, there is no logic and
changing purpose.
Japanese government attitude is stink. At the beginning Mr Koizumi said to go with UN but as soon as US decides to ignore UN security council then Koizumi declared to follow US, double-tongued.
And there is no explanation why he has changed his mind.
He is reliable if he says from the beginning, "go with UN as much
as possible but if US go with own decision then we do not support but not
against" something like that.
Mr Koizumi, how about the idea Japan to be a state of US, your attitude is dependent country to US.
If Japan is really independent country, Japan should have a clear policy to respect UN and make effort to establish force management by UN for the world peace and security system including Japan.
2003 03 14
Democracy is to employ majority opinion, is it not?
Now, military action to Iraq is on focus, the international and U.N. opinion is separated in favor and in against. But the majority is against, at least to giving some more time for disarmament action by Iraq.
Apparently U.S. is against to this opinion. In contrast, Japanese government has no autonomy nor responsible. Prime minister only says "observe international opinion and decide Japanese view"(refer 2003 02 12).
As described majority is against the war but it seems, against his own
word, Japanese prime minister (reluctantly) supports U.S.
This is a deed of fooling the nation, such a prime minister and less capable
foreign minister (who was nominated by prime minister) should be resigned.
The democracy is the system to employ majority opinion although it may
not the best. If prime minister thinks majority is wrong, certainly majority
is not always right, then he must explain or convince why majority is not
right to the nation.
2003 02 27
Additional proof of safety of the Shinkansen (refer comment of 2003 02 17)
Yesterday, there was a incident (but not accident) in Shinkansen. The driver of the train was sleeping when carrying passengers.
This should not happen, but during sleep of the driver, the train stopped
at the station with 100 meter tolerance. Surprisingly, this driver was
still sleeping when the train stopped at the station.
The Automatic Train Control System was activated and it worked. I commented by (2003 02 24), the Shinkansen's no accident achievement is remarkable due to the no crossing, in addition, it is evident this ATC system is also contributing for making record.
No need to say sleeping should not be allowed, but the situation the driver is unable to drive does happen in such a case of heart attack to the driver.
This was a great proof that the train will stop safely in case the driver
is unable to control the train.
2003 02 24
To dear bureaucrats and public servants
The way of doing job in public office is called "bureaucracy work", it is a pronoun of inefficient work and wasting time and money.
What is the problem in the public office.
The point is the action is based on the assumption that current system is the best and stay unchanged is the best service to the people.
It is important to do the best, but the judgement is by people not by their boss.
It might be the best when the rule was made, but circumstance changes by
time, private companies improve daily basis denying today's rule.
The job of bureaucrats or public servants is the realization of nation's desire or provide information by which people can judge.
It is also important to lead nation to better direction, although sometimes the people may choose unwise.
The biggest blame of "Bureaucracy work" is a lack of speed sense,
everything goes too slowly than people wants. Second blame could be no
flexibility, their work is not for the benefit to the people but keep rule
strictly so as not make a least mistake.
Public organizations will be appreciated and trusted if they do the job for the people as a servant. This is the way to maintain their secure job.
This is entirely different from keeping organization unchanged or creating new organizations for their posts.
2003 02 17
Let's learn from technology and operation of Shinkansen
The accident resulting injury or death in Shinkansen is null, this achievement
is remarkable. Sometimes it brings some delay by snow fall or earth quake,
but this may be a result of the safety first operation although more improvement
can be done.
Also Shinkansen proved there is no relation to accident rate and speed.
The biggest contribution to low accident rate is, no doubt, no crossing.
Learning from this fact, private railway companies removed crossing by
elevating the trucks, this contributed accident and congestion reduction
tremendously.
Nevertheless why road management does not learn from Shinkansen management,
on the contrary, road crossings and traffic lights are increasing, it also
increases accident accordingly.
The most effective way to reduce accident and congestion is to reduce crossings
and traffic lights. The point is to consider how to reduce crossings and
increase speed. This is easy to learn from Shinkansen although management's
brain is not so bright, otherwise they might have a cozy relationship with
utility pole and traffic signal makers.
2003 02 12
Strange word of Prime minister
Now military attack by U.S. against Iraq is subtle situation, but Japanese
prime minister and foreign minister, strangely enough, do not build Japan's
opinion to the world.
Contrast to Germany, France or U.K. Japanese prime minister Koizumi says "Japan's opinion will be after hearing the result of inspection (14 Feb.) and after observing world opinion".
What a strange comment it is! Is it a word of Japanese prime minister?
Koizumi-san should listen nation's opinion and make Japanese position clear if we support U.S. or not. And if not, it is very important to influence U.S. direction change as early as possible.
The world opinion or consensus is formed, as a result, stating each country's own opinion first.
Koizumi's logic is upside down.
If it is fact Japan can not make a statement unfavorite to U.S. due to
the Security Treaty then (although I do not think this is the reason) it
is necessary to reconsider security treaty itself, and we must have a solution
how to protect ourself from foreign attack.
2003 02 10
Doctors are phoenix?
It took more than 40 years since I visited my native place down town Tokyo
again. The area has changed tremendously, only major roads are still there,
dirty river has been been reclaimed as a new road. Factories beside the
river are gone and reborn as new apartments. In spite of decreasing child
population primary school is expanding, high school became bigger and well
equipped diminishing ground space.
In totally changed town, I found a doctor I went when I caught a cold also a doctor I received tonsil remove operation, it was rather a surprise.
Why only doctors are still there for so long time while large factories or shops are gone.
Doctors must be a well protected occupation, never heard about bankrupt.
I hope doctors must have license revalidate system, because they deal with a life of the people. Is it not? The system must be similar to the pilot licence to maintain the skill level and it is not necessary to have a licence renew system in driving.
An old friend of mine told me "I have no capability to be a doctor,
but my father is a doctor and he has all necessary equipment for a doctor
then I will find a medical school enter and graduate by using money".
It is not a joke, I hope he is not a doctor today.
2003 01 27
My proposal of completion of the road network
I would propose the way to make road network with less cost.
As commented before (2003 01 26) ,in less traffic area, not making motor way but improve national road. There are lot of idea to complete the network by less cost.
1) Stop unnecessary expenditure for golden parachutist. Introduce fair
tender.
It is necessary to introduce efficient management method of private company.
2) Maintain national road to be able to run at 80-100kmh, reducing crossings, make a by-pass to congested area.
3) Add a overtake lane only for steep upper slope.
4) Increase toll fee of congested city are and prepare for smooth traffic.
Even if introduce all of these items, the cost will be less than to construct
new motor way.
Is anyone against to this idea? Diet backer?
2003 01 26
My opinion to Road Privatazation Promotion Ccommittee.
The good is reasonable conclusion has submitted to prime minister although
big debate was in the committee.
Unbelievable 40 Chou-Yen (350 billion Dollars) debit of road corporations
must be reduced as 1st priority.
The responsible people must take a responsibility or be punished, the person
who requested, the person who made a decision to construct three bridges
between Honshu and Shikoku. Although it may be difficult to reimburse the
cost.
I do not completely agree with privatization of the road, because the roads should be constructed and maintained by the state and not toll by tax.
But rationalization must be introduced same as private company.
There is a short (2km) toll road in my town almost in parallel to free
national road and the fee is 300 yen.
The reality is toll road is always empty but national road is always congested.
If toll fee is set to 100 yen I believe the congestion of the national
road will be gone and toll road traffic will be more than 3 times but still
empty.
It is a failure of the town's governess although the road is controlled by the state.
Not only my town, remote area such as Hokkaido or Kyushu motor way is the same situation but parallel national road has very limited congestion.
It is understandable the expression, "the number of bears cross the
motor way is larger than the cars running in Hokkaido".
2003 01 15
Old town (Alte Stadt)
Recently there is a movement to restore old buildings such as Empress Michiko's
native house or an old primary school in Toyosato by local people. It is
good to utilize old buildings.
In Europe, several hundred years old buildings are being used today.
Not only restore and keep them but use them is more meaningful.
In Japan, new buildings are built destroying old historical buildings under the name of revitalization of the town.
I think new town should be planned not destroying the old but new town in another place not far from old town.
European old towns always have old part (Alte Stadt) and newly developed
area.
It is preferable to keep old town coexists together with new more comfortable
town.
More large scale, renewal of concentrated Tokyo is problematic, it is rather better to develop new area with new concept. In this sense, Shinkansen station of Gifu-Hashima is foresight decision, if Mr. Banboku Ohno promoted another area apart from his election constituency then he must be admired his decision by nation wide.
It is pity to see the statue of Mr. Ohno at the front yard of the Gifu-Hashima
station.
2002 12 27
I encoutered a train with women's only car at JR station, adjacent to my
car was women's only car.
For this reason my car was full with passengers but only two ladies as far as I could see.
I had a feeling of abnormality of the situation. This feeling was since
my visit to Middle East.
In Middle East social work of the woman is not allowed, therefore the receptionist
of the company is male, bed making at the hotel is beard male too.
This situation I felt was abnormal, you can imagine the situation.
The feeling in the car remind me the Middle East experience.
What a deserted and abnormal country the Japan is!
2002 12 23
I realized removable HDD is very convenient, for switching operating system
or data exchange between the computers.
Software switching of OS at boot is known, but this requires one bay for not used OS (although one HDD could be partitioned to several drives) it is waist of the bay space.
Another application is data exchange. The data exchange could be made by
network connection without exchange of the HDD, but this case related PCs
must be switched on. Boot of plural PCs takes time and not always convenient.
By the way, 2.5 inches HDD by USB connection is very handy you can carry thousands times of floppy disk capacity. If you invest 30$, old note book HDD will be thousands of FDD. Even for the people who has no interest to open the case of note PC, a new internal HDD will be an external HDD, in addition good point is accessory parts of 3.5 and 5 inch bay adapter supplied with main case.
If you mount this accessory to desk top PC, main HDD case used as external
HDD for note book PC is directly inserted to desk top 3.5 or 5 inch bay.
Although you need not use the bay if a USB port is in front of the desk
top PC.
2002 12 22
The landmark decision has made by Tokyo District Court.
The decision is to remove over 7th floor of the building which is already
built 14 story building.
The reason is the building destroy scenery view of the street which is
common asset of the resident of the area.
I completely agree with the decision, today resident's common asset of scenery must be protected but no action is taken so far.
As I commented with (2002 09 05) not only buildings more disturbing is power line and poles, this too may be against the law with same reason to this building.
I would repeat my intention that "power lines should be buried in
the ground and remove power poles".
2002 11 25
Stop the women's only car!
The possibility of an illegality of the women's only car is described in (2002 07 01) comment.
By men's view point why only women receive such a treatment, and no men's only car.
Gentlemen, you need not flee from the coach when you unexpectedly meet the women's only car, women have no right to complain to men passengers in the car. Although a man needs a little bit bravery to keep on a seat.
Some days ago I overheard a women's conversation in the train "If
the train has a women's only coach, and if we do not get on a women's only
coach, the other passengers may think we are something abnormal. Even for
women such a coach is not necessary, isn't it." Really, this is a
stupid and short sighted idea for preventing a sexual molestation in the
train.
It reveals decision makers of the railway companies has no common sense.
2002 11 20
Since September 11 2001, security check at airport is intensified.
By the x-ray check at a domestic airport my daily washing set was opened
and small scissors was found saying this can not be carried on board.
I complained claiming this is small enough and should be allowed to carry
because many other airports allowed me to carry in.
It may be possible to injure crews if I really want but it is difficult
to take an aircraft down and kill people instantaneously. If I were terrorist
I may not use scissors which will be clearly visible by x-ray as weapon
but use more complex shaped camouflaged effective weapon.
I heard the story of the person next to me at the X ray machine complaining
against refusal of carry in "a nail cutter".
It can be possible to carry more dangerous weapon than scissors into aircraft if a person really wants.
Is there no other reasonable way to restrict the possession of the dangerous
materials into aircraft?
It is necessary to increase sensitivity to detect weapon which could destroy
crew or air craft instantly.
My experience shows these small things like scissors will be forgotten
to collect when disembark air craft particularly after long flight. When
deposit such a dangerous(?) goods, it should improve procedure of collection
to more simple way for example, give it back at the exit door of the aircraft
or at the end of the peer corridor.
Next time I wish to find the scissors it's edge is not sharp but round.
I hope it will not be taken out from my daily washing set with sensible security officer.
2002 11 10
Expectation to the TV media journalism
It is very strange to see Japanese TV channels are occupied by the entertainers,
it seems TV stations do everything sponsors want, i.e., to get higher viewing
rate. this is the reason the TV media is not respected and positioned just
for entertainment.
An example of action to do everything sponsors want is baseball game broadcast.
Why they terminate broadcast even though game is not over but time is over,
this is the evidence broadcaster is only looking at the sponsors ignoring
viewers.
Recently there was a interview broadcast to a daughter of kidnaped Japanese
mother by North Korea and this broadcast is criticized by many viewers
and kidnapped families as senseless, lack of consideration. It is evident
the broadcasters are only aiming high sponsor fee and high viewing rate.
Before protesting against media restriction bill more self control by the media journalists is necessary, although I am against the bill.
The role of the media is not only just for amusement but importance is
disclosure is standing on viewers side and benefit to the viewers, at the
same time media is the means of education whichever they aware or not.
OK, private broadcasters are financed by advertisement income, but the
way of sending CM is high-handed to the viewers, not only termination of
the game in the middle, but sudden high modulation of the sound, undiscriminatable
switch of the contents to CM, sudden switch to CM at the peak of the interest
of the contents and so on. Many viewers do not want to see CM although
accepting the CM is necessary for broadcasters.
Now, TV is shifting to digital then it is possible to keep channel(s) for CM. (refer comment 2002 04 14)
It is questionable forced viewing of CM is effective for the sponsors, if this is true, we viewers should become more wise.
It may not necessary many commercial broadcasting stations sending same
or similar contents. It may happen bankrupting of the station some day.
I am prepared to pay some cost for (not only to NHK) journalism by private
broadcasters providing the way of broadcasting is more beneficial to the
viewers.
2002 11 02
Bank management insists something wrong.?
A representative of Japanese major banks comments against Mr. Takenaka's
policy of bad assets revaluation saying Mr Takenaka changed the rule "we
were playing football without using hands but now we realized we are playing
American football".
This comment seems to be stupid.
The change of the rule is just like strike zone change of the baseball
game, from this season year Japanese pro ball game's strike zone is extended
toward higher area so as to be similar to American.
The influence is not small but it is not so big as different game. This
is a result of effort the rule should be international.
The more strict definition of the own capital rate in bank is the change
to be closer to U.S.
It is exactly same as the change of the strike zone in ball game.
The bank management should be more responsible and has more international
sensibility.
2002 10 20
30% payment of medical cost is no longer insurance system (refer comment 2002 06 18 and 2002 02 21). It is well known Japanese patients are almost pickled in medicine, I show another example of waist money in medical treatment. It is essential to reduce such a waist and reduce patient's expenditure. The insurance system is primarily for patients secondary for doctors, hospitals or pharmacies.
I have a gout and in Japan every three months blood is sampled in three test tubes. It takes a week to get result probably because the test carries out by external body. Meantime I must go to hospital every month for having medicines.
Last time I went to hospital successive four months only for the medicines. And I was told medicines can not be given but check by doctor necessary.
On the contrary following is the process in Germany.
The doctor takes only a drop of blood sample from a finger. And put it
in small test chamber, after 90 seconds, uric acid value is read. Then
doctor makes prescription and says next check is after 6 months.
What a big difference it is! I can not believe there is no such a small
test box in Japan. If the symptom is stable every 6 months check may be
good enough.
If we think about the cost difference of this treatment Japanese cost is
certainly more than 5 times. Although increasing the payment to the doctor,
it should be possible to reduce patient's expenditure.
2002 10 16
Good news is two Nobel prize winners from Japan. Every time winner announcement
is made I wonder how selection is made. Most of the case it seems selection
is reasonable and fair, i.e., no bribery nor pressure.
This must be a result of high quality of The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
The method of evaluation in Academy could be applied not only to the scientific
performance but to find out leaders of the nation or entity.
I.e., nomination is made not restricted area, not by title, not by age. Additional
evaluation from different angle may also be necessary before final nomination.
If these pre-condition is removed, Japanese political leaders or entity executives will be more reasonably selected.
Why not learn from Swedish Academy. It is certainly improve the quality of Japanese political leaders.
It is pity that the company has no capability to appraise it's employee's
performance but sudden promotion by the award from external body. Unfortunately
this is the situation of performance appraisal in Japanese entity.
Nevertheless it is better than to ignore and do nothing.
2002 10 14
Cabinet shuffle in Koizumi Cabinet
In one word, what is the intention of the change?
But a direction is shown to the recovery method from financial crisis.
Only the result proves the direction is right or wrong.
In previous comment (2002 04 25) I put the appraisal marking to the cabinet, and some minister's performance
is so far not remarkable but stays in position.
Perhaps these ministers may be convenient for prime minister (or his office,
i.e., beneficial to him).
It is acceptable his policy "one minister one cabinet" but at the same time there is no reason to stick on it.
The leader must have an insight to judge his subordinate performance not for his convenience but for contribution to the nation.
Mr Takebe's (agricultural and marine product minister) resignation is reasonable
his poor performance against BSE countermeasure should be responsible.
Replacement seems to be too late. Mr Nakatani (defense minister) done so
so, unfortunate leakage of confidential(?) information. It is necessary
to sort out what is confidential and what is not. More information which
is so far treated as confidential should be open to the sovereign=public.
Mr Katayama who introduced nation's internet numbering system high-handedly
in spite of many opposition from local governments and created confusion.
Is he not responsible? The leader should have more knowledge about benefit
and risk of the information computer network society.
I think more many unsuitable persons, I dare not mention the names, are
in the cabinet. I hope Mr Koizumi is brave enough to change ministers for
better to the nation.
Appraisal of the cabinet members by the nation (≒myself?) is somewhat
different from Mr. Koizumi's.
2002 10 08
Personnel assignment in Democratic Party
In Democratic Party it is criticized that personnel assignment is done
based on "ronkou-koushou", a prize for the benefit to the boss.
The story is that newly elected D.P. leader Mr. Hatoyama nominated Mr.
Nakano as chief secretary in D.P., because Mr. Nakano withdrew his candidate
in leader election and changed his mind to support Mr. Hatoyama. The word
"ronkou-koushou" means the reason position given to Mr Nakano
is that "he contributed making Mr. Hatoyama to be the leader"
and it is big benefit to Hatoyama although no much relation to his capability.
Personnel assignment in Japan whichever public or private sector is more or less the same "ronkou-koushou", but this does not give good result to the nation or employees. This is evident in the incidences of "Snow brand"," Nippon Hum" and many.
The executives chosen by traditional way even made a crime for giving benefit to their bosses or company that is negative heritage of old Japanese feudal loyalty still alive today. And the company collapsed driving employees into unemployment.
It is expected to establish new rule or equation to select executives. (related comment is in 2002 08 24)
We can not expect much to the D.P. of which leader and chief secretary
is elected such a way, the method is not much different from ruling LDP.
If the DP is different from LDP and have a power to take over the regime,
Japan will be very different.
It is necessary the party to start from scratch.
The comment to new Koizumi cabinet follows next.
2002 09 17
Top meeting between Japan and North Korea has been held today. In the meeting
kidnapped Japanese safety has revealed by North Korea. The result is 4
out of 12 alive and 8 dead. What a high rate of deceased. If they are alive
today they are 40 to 50 years old, although starving in North Korea is
serious this figure is strange enough. Is it natural death? Did Mr Koizumi
think reasonable?
This must be explained before promising economical aid to North Korea.
Kidnapped family's anger is about to explode seeing the interview on TV.
Why Mr Koizumi did not ask further investigation of the cause of death.
It seems a communique has been pre-arranged with condition if they provide the information of missing persons. North Korea prepared the information simply answering to Japan's request whatever the result is.
It is Japan's burden to express apology for the past war and give aid to
the recovery of the country, it is good to offer economical aid to North
Korea, but before doing that further inquiry had to be made.
Is it not Koizumi-san?
2002 09 10
Weather forecast in Japan
On TV broadcast, weather forecast of all stations seems to be same, it
looks like the source is just one.
Although the data source is one forecast may not be identical, interpretation
of the data should be different with personal knowledge of weather (wo)man.
what meaning is the value of certificated weather forecaster?
It is interesting if we can find weather forecast of ABC is more accurate than NHK, and It should happen.
Keep an Identical position may be Japanese specific mentality.
Another strange thing is there is no information at all the weather of
neighboring area for instance South Korea.
Recently typhoon hit South Korea and made large damage, if Japanese Radio
or TV forecasts the weather of neighboring area this information must be
useful to the typhoon path area.
It seems as if TV stations are saying it is lucky not come toward Japan
and went to Korea. It is selfish and irresponsible. It is good to provide
Japanese weather forecast technology to neighboring countries.
I think this is the same mental logic to show weather area county by county, more large view is expected.
Lastly, another irresponsible forecast is "rain probability" what does it mean 50% of rain probability? The answer is with very similar weather system 5 times out of 10 was rain. It does not help to know rain or not rain this time.
weather forecaster does not forecast but say "guess by yourself, I
will give you a probability".
2002 09 05
The conduct to deteriorate natural resource for the daily life must be
punished.
It is necessary to prepare a new law for protection of essential resource
or environment.
The essential resource includes the land (including landscape), the air
(including air temperature, electromagnetic spectra) and the water.
The only resource obtained an exceptionally important position is LAND.
The land is an object for trading and is protected as a property. I insist
these things (air, land, water) should not be a property of private person
but should be controlled as local common property.
Compared to the air, the land, the water and the electromagnetic wave is
treated reasonably.
There is a regulation to use the wave and an interference to the wave is a target of the penalty by the law.
It should not be the target of money making by selling it although some
countries think it is an object for trading.
On the contrary, the use of air and water is almost free and contamination
(exploitation, stealing) penalty is very little compared to the land.
It is good thing to use freely as far as personal use, but the deterioration penalty should be defined more seriously.
To the deterioration of the landscape there is almost no penalty.
Too small congested (rabbit) houses, no green housing area, ugly power
poles and lines, these must be the target of penalty (criminal offense)
by setting a law, similar to the use of somebody's land without permission.
If it (green area, power poles, small houses or air, water contamination) does not satisfy a pre-determined standard the use of natural resources or constructions should be restricted.
2002 08 25
Recently I hear a phrase offensive to the ear.
There was a announcement in a train using a phrase "to keep manner".
Is the manner to be kept? To be kept is I think a law or a rule, isn't
it?
I think a manner is to put on like a dress for brushing up individual.
As a person in social life, minimum requirement to keep is a law (if you
violate to the law it will be punished), based on the law there are many,
(if you ignore the rule you will have disadvantage). The manner is higher
conception you may have no penalty or disadvantage but you may be assumed
somewhat lower class people.
Among Japanese law makers, there are many suspicions of privatization of
their secretary's wage which is paid by tax payers.
It seems that they think they can do anything if it does not against the law, or even violating the law they can do anything if there is no evidence.
Although there is no violation of the law or no enough evidence, if his
or her activity is not appropriate to be a representative of the nation,
they are bad mannered, and there is enough reason to resign or to be fired.
2002 08 24
How should a top management of the company be decided?
Recently, there are many scandals of the corporate level. Whenever we hear the comment or apology or excuse of the company's top management, I have a feeling why this company has such a top manager.
Certainly many people think he is not suitable as a representative of the company.
The reason is clear there is no rule to select top management in the company.
This is not only scandalous company but is common.
The top selected is generally person who is "not against company policy
owner or founder decided" and "who brings benefit to his boss
= to the company" in any respect.
This is the green house of the scandal or crime by the company.
Larger the company it has a public nature, it must get rid of out this carrier success equation.
There is a system management are confidenced by the share holders, but
this is just formality generally the share holders do not know well the
management activity or personality.
It may be a better system to ratify the top management by the employees.
2002 08 01
There is a discrepancy between a top governor and assembly members although
both are elected by the citizens.
Prime minister Koizumi had a popularity of over than 80% when he nominated
as the prime minister by national assembly, on the contrary LDP to which
Mr Koizumi belongs is supported by 30ies (%) of voters.
In Nagano prefecture, governor Tanaka is elected directly by the local people and still has a popularity of over 60%, but assembly member elected also by local residents rejected him by non-confidence vote.
What does this mean, a contradiction of people's mind?
There will be two reasons:
One is when election assembly members only say comfortable to the people and after getting a seat they behave as a benefit to the party or to himself.
Two is the people chooses the top person not (only) by the capability or philosophy but popularity.
By the questionnaire "who is the most expected prime minister",
there are questionable names at the top.
The election is not popularity poll. But it may be unreasonable we can
not choose prime minister directly.
Although there will be no ideal election system but it may be the time
to discuss best system for deciding prime mister of Japan.
2002 07 28
It is possible to use over 8GB HDD with Windows2000 by a bit old notebook PC of which BIOS does not recognize over 8GB HDD.
I replaced 2.1GB HDD to 10GB, but this HDD does not function as 10GB but 8GB due to the BIOS and there is no problem to use as 8GB HDD throwing 2GB away.
By chance, when I looked at Windows2000 disk management utility I discovered abandoned 2GB is visible as unused partition.
I tried to format this area with FAT32, but it was not successful leaving the message that this HDD is damaged and not usable. But strangely a drive letter is put for this damaged partition although the partition is not usable.
After the restart of the Windows2000, I found still a drive letter is on (but damaged HDD) so I tried again to format the partition.
This time it was successful to use the area!
Although the gain may not so big, it may worth only about 3$ because recently you can buy 60GB HDD with less than 100$.
Nevertheless, it is very lucky and satisfied.
2002 07 10
Wimbledon Tennis TV broadcast
I already have commented poor (noisy and unnecessary comment of) sport casters (Refer comment 2001 12 03), but I must comment again seeing TV broadcast of Wimbledon Tennis.
When I watch Wimbledon Tennis broadcast I always select sub sound channel
on which English comment (BBC) is transmitted, main sound channel is Japanese
(NHK) commentator.
The reason is very simple, I want to see tennis match and not necessarily the comment. The BBC's comment is rather quiet (less) than NHK's commentator who is speaking needless words all the time.
Sometimes, BBC uses ex-champion as commentator, in this case there is a
tendency to enjoy the talk of ex-champion, naturally this case the talk
is more than normal broadcast.
I suggest Japanese broadcaster(s) (NHK) to learn more BBC broadcast.
Too much speaking is worse than less speaking for sport cast.
2002 07 01
Recently, there was a report that a female only car appeared in Tokyo's
railway.
Is this not breach of the law? There is an Equal Opportunities Act which
prohibit sex discrimination.
If there is a females only car, at the same time it must have a men's only
car.
I think this is an outcome of irresponsibility of the railway management, they don't want to be involved in sexual molestation or harassment in the car. In social life the separation of male and female is strange and not normal.
In the congested Japanese railway, it may happen to touch somebody else's
body unexpectedly or expectedly.
It is very difficult to prove the touch is expectedly. I hear an innocent
male passenger is arrested against sexual harassment law.
It may look convenient and reasonable for both sex, but this is an abnormal conduct of ostrich policy by the company's management.
2002 06 18
The insurance is a system to help unexpected expenditure from possible
disaster or disease by the people who has same worry paying a small amount
of money for the people who unfortunately met such a disaster or disease.
Now in the Diet, it is in discussion to increase the payment of medical
fee to 30% in addition to ante.
If we must pay 30% of total medical fee in addition to health insurance
ante, this is no longer insurance system.
To keep insurance system, it should not increase medical fee payment but
increase insurance ante at least, more national budget support is also
necessary.
It is understandable that the money is needed for medical care, the point
is who should bear the burden, by the patient?, by the tax?, by the insurance?
Nobody wants to be taken ill. but everybody has a chance to be taken ill.
This means the best solution is by insurance and because everybody has
a chance to be taken ill, it should be acceptable to prepare ante by national
budget (tax).
I would propose first to rationalize medical cost particularly medicine price. After that I am prepared to accept increase of the tax.
Japan is very behind in social welfare. Every cost must be paid when a incident occurred, not only education, disease but insurance philosophy should be applied to the delivery, the funeral and toll road as well.
But the tax increase is certainly after expelling tax eating politicians,
bureaucrats and establishing small government.
2002 06 17
Ministers who can not answer to the question
On TV relay broadcast of Diet session, we see many ministers who can not
answer to the question. Does not (s)he understand the meaning of the question?
or (s)he can not find the answer? or (s)he does not want to answer? Most
of the case (s)he can not find the answer and they receive a whisper to
their ear from a bureaucrat, this scene indicates the minister has no capability
to judge things by her or himself.
It is pity and disgraceful.
If the content of the question is too specific the mister can ask bureaucrat to answer instead, if the matter can not be answered immediately, it should be allowed to answer later opportunity, but I understand the questions are informed to the respondent in advance of the session.
Even questioner says "please answer by yes or no" but a minister answers (actually this is not the answer) completely different matter, and this is a waist of time.
Watching these scene on TV, it is unavoidable to loose nation's interest
in Diet session and politics, and this causes distrust of the politics.
The chairman of the session should urge the respondent to answer directly, simply but sufficiently.
Not only the ministers but it is also necessary the improvement of the quality of the chairman as well to be more independent. They are the representative of Japanese people.
2002 05 12
Unfortunately, Japanese democracy is not matured. There are many incidents
which reveal poor awareness of importance of the freedom. It is serious
matter to restrict the freedom. Japanese people should learn the history
that many countries came into possession of the freedom from blood shared
battle.
National emergency legislation law and privacy protection law is on focus
in the diet. It seems these bills are proposed by the government based
on easy use of the power but these bills must be explained what is the
benefit for the nation and more importantly what is the restriction to
the nation.
Knowing all these advantages and disadvantages, the nation should judge
the balance.
The government attitude, focusing only on the benefit and hiding the restriction
to the people, and officer's attitude looking at only themselves and their
bosses and not looking at people, is inheritance of Japanese feudal ruler.
It should not happen today.
The incident happened at 審陽(Shinyang) China typically shows Japanese
democracy immaturity. The reaction of Japanese embassy and foreign affair
ministry is stupid. The Consulate's behavior is not acceptable as far as
seeing the media picture. Not only to make a strong protest to China but
calling the Consul back to Japan, foreign minister should take strong action
including to fire them. This is the national emergency.
But as I appraised by the comment of 2002 04 25 (Appraisal of Koizumi cabinet), it is questionable if foreign minister has a capability to handle this matter properly.
Regrettably, this showed Japanese government's poor awareness of the importance of the freedom and democracy to the world, it's shame!
I thought Chinese democracy is not yet fully developed, but seeing the incident Japanese democracy is also not yet developed too.
The government should realize that infringement of the sovereignty is not
only by missile attack but exists in daily life.
2002 05 09
As a national assembly member, the money necessary for political activity
should be paid by national budget in proportional to the votes gained and
should not ask donation from the supporting organizations. The donation
from the company (legal entity or industrial union) should be banned.
The reason is that the company is consists of individual person, and each person has different opinion or party support.
It is not the matter to decide by majority rule or by company owner to which political party the company money should go. The donation by the company may be against constitution.
I would propose, 10 million yen for their private life, another 10 million
yen average which is proportional to the votes gained (political activity
allowance) and additional max. 5 million yen according to their post (for
ministers, house of representative chairman and chairman of house of councillors
including vice-).
Another proposal is to reduce the number of national assembly member to 1/2. If it is too busy by halving the member, proportional portion could be increased.
A preconceived idea that politicians need money, must be wiped away.
For instance, the use of the internet could reduce the activity cost dramatically.
Setting the limit of expenditure, the mind change of the member is necessary,
otherwise there will be no creative use of the money for political activity.
They should learn how to reduce the activity cost from private companies.
2002 04 25
Appraisal of Koizumi cabinet
It is one year anniversary and is good time to make appraisal of his cabinet.
My evaluation is as follow, ordinary people may have similar opinion.
○good、 ×bad、 ××should be fired out、 - so so
Kawaguchi Foreign Affairs × Controlled by Prime minister
office
Tanaka ex Foreign Affairs × Popularity only was not
enough
Shiokawa Treasury - Good person but optimistic
Ishihara Administrative Reform ○ Doing seriously, need more
support of Prime Minister
Sakaguchi Welfare, Labour ○ Good decision not stuck
in the past
Takebe Agriculture, Marine ×× Too slow and messy handling
Moriyama Justice ×× Puppet of bureaucrat
Ohgi Land, Infrastruc, Transpo- Not bad
Tohyama Education, Science - No particular comment
Takenaka Economy ○ Doing well in difficult
situation
Katayama Home Affairs - No particular comment
Yanagisawa Finance × Questionable judgement
capability
There may be some more ministers, but they are not visible unfortunately.
Koizumi Prime ? He is the boss of above
ministers. How do you appraise him?
Insufficient Action and
weak Leadership is evident.
General Review:There are many female ministers but their capability is
question, it look like just attraction of the Koizumi Cabinet.
Prime Minister should appraise his ministers and if he or she has no capability
or activity is not acceptable by nations, he should act to replace the
ministers. There is no meaning of "One minister one cabinet"
2002 04 16
Many people or organization protects oneself declaring the action was right.
There was a immediate declaration "It was justifiable defense"
when unidentified vessel has been sunk by the attack of Japanese Coast
Guard. Some days ago police declared "The use of gun was within manual"
when policeman used a gun for the running away suspect and shot dead.
When officer fulfill a duty, unexpected will happen and it is not necessary to declare that " I or we have done right". Unexpected result must be investigated by third party (not by party concerned).
Third part should investigate by the law it was right or not.
Recent another example of self protection is the word of top management of the largest bank. This bank made operational trouble by the merger of three banks for more than a week. He said " There is no real damage".
The user wants to say "there may be no real damage to your bank, it
is our decision whether we had a damage or not".
This trouble caused a delayed transaction and lost credibility of the bank.
Damage given to the society is large.
Unbelievable top-management's word! I can't trust such a bank any longer.
2002 04 14
Compare to terrestrial broadcast, I feel Satellite station's (BS) commercial message is less and more advertisement of own program. Is this just my feeling or simply no sponsor available?
I would recommend CM only channel in digital broadcast. This station is
very useful for the person seriously looking for the goods. This satisfies
not only these persons but sponsors and program viewers as well.
Many of NHK's (public broadcaster) programs are simulcast with terrestrial
or re-broadcast, it is difficult to ask payment of BS fee add on to the
terrestrial. Hi-Vision is one feature but just fine picture doesn't worth
to pay more.
Program contents of BS stations (public and commercial) are cheapie (but
I do not say terrestrials are rich). They should utilize the digital advantage,
broadcasting still pictures or plural programs for example. It seems many
stations appeal bi-direction but upper link by telephone line is just additional
feature.
I believe there will be many people even who does not connect telephone line to the tuner.
2002 04 06
Binding of the vote by the political party.
I think this is not right way to vote. The problem is similar to political
donation by legal entity and by labour's union. (This will be explained
in another opportunity)
Does no one in LDP think Minister Takebe or Suzuki or Kato should resign?
Forcing a party member vote to party's decision, which has made by majority or political trade, may against the basic of the democracy.
Even in Komeito (Clean Party), no one is in favor to censure motion that
request Mr Takebe's resign by oppositions?
Komeito is irresponsible to decide it is against because this censure motion is proposed by oppositions although the many party members wishes his resign. And Komeito decided, forcing the member, not to vote knowing this censure motion will be rejected.
Vote should be by personal decision because constituency voted to the person.
(But in House of Councillors there is a system to vote to party. This system is strange and it should be changed.)
If the vote in assembly is by forced party members then the meaning of the debate in the assembly is less. (The result can be read by the number of person in the Party)
National assembly member should act (vote) according one's will not by party's
decision. This is the responsibility to the constituency.
When Mr. Kyosen Ohashi got a seat of House of Councillors, he commented that he will not obey to the Democratic Party's decision in the national assembly when
vote.This is sensible comment.
2002 03 26
The effect of the TV Commercial Message
I fed up with advertisement of commercial TV broadcasters (terrestrial).
Sudden switch to CM is a deed of fooling the viewers. In Germany, there
is a message of "Werbung" when switch to CM. Japanese broadcasters
should do the same. I always change the channel by remote control avoiding
CMs, it does not matter which station to watch because all the Japanese
commercial station's contents are more or less the same and are not worth
keep watching tolerating the CMs.
It is waste of precious natural resource of "electro magnetic spectrum"
Do sponsors analyze the CM is so effective?
To me, CM is the mean to select goods not to buy. The goods are flooded in the market we can eliminate the goods or company of which presentation is not agreeable.
But, to the babies, it seems TV-CM is very attractive.
My grand daughter (she is 14 month old) responds sharply to some TV-CMs, particularly to the "Takemoto Piano" CM.
I hear this phenomenon is not only to my grand daughter but to many other babies.
Do sponsors expect the effect of the message 10 to 20 years later?
What a long term strategy it is!?
Anyway, in CMs there is a something to attract baby's attention.
2002 03 19
What is the confidential information?
It is sure that some information is confidential. The interpretation of
the "confidential" is depends on the person who decides the matter.
In the company, many documents which do not look like confidential are
marked as confidential such a document as financial figures which should
be disclosed to share holders, internal publication or technical report
which is rather behind to the competitors and it is rather shame to open.
These are not necessary to open to the public but it may not confidential, most documents have value if these are open to the public.
It was found by the testimony of the parliament session that many reports or memos which do not look like confidential are marked "permanent confidential".
These documents and memos suddenly opened to the public changing the policy
of the confidential so as to drive Mr Suzuki into cul de sac (Mr Suzuki
commented like this).
Japanese public offices are not properly managed particularly, nation's right to know is disturbed by the stamp of "confidential".
Basically all the information should be open to the nation, but some information
such as military capability information may be better keeping as confidential
reducing the chance to be known to the enemy or spy. Or negotiation plan
which is under discussion, with foreign country may be confidential.
The decision maker must be a person who can judge what is confidential and what is not confidential.
The person who stamps "confidential" and hide the information from nation is rather debtor against national interest.
2002 03 15
The Diet debate is just like a my last comment.
Mr Koizumi should take leadership for cleaning up suspicious national assembly members and this is the only way to recover nation's support.
But it seems Mr Koizumi is not so keen to take leadership to clean and reform the politics, this may cause continuous drop of the nation's support.
The collusiveness between lawmaker and public office is not only Mr Suzuki but some more. Mr Koizumi is responsible to reform this structure revealing to the nation although it brings LDP's collapse (probably LDP will be fragmented).
Some LDP or national assembly members say it is national assembly member's
task to bring benefit to the local constituency. These members have no
qualification to be the national assembly member. They should resign national
assembly member and to be the city assembly member.
The reason why national assembly member is elected from various part of Japan is to reflect local specific situation so as to form a national consensus.
The election system which generate a member with voters who receive local benefit by the influence of a member may be the problem.
But local area is suffering from shortage of the money and expecting money from national level. It is difficult to improve the situation expecting local voter's moral improvement alone.
2002 03 06
Unfortunately I had to comment the following to prime minister.
Mr prime minister Koizumi, I can tell you how to regain nation's support.
Mr. Muneo Suzuki is in focus of the scandal, but worst party is foreign
affair ministry. The foreign affair ministry should not be controlled by
lawmakers, this rule must be established and be shown to the nation. It
is not enough to chop the heads of the ministry's responsible officers.
The importance is to set a new rule or code with which prevents the same
scandal by the newly assignees, assuming these people could do the same
thing again. For example, firing of the officer by bad conduct discharge
could prevent the same affair.
So influential Mr Suzuki is in his position, it must be more influential
by higher position in the LDP, scandals are never ending story in LDP.
These suspicions must be revealed to the public and set new countermeasure
by the leadership of the prime minister Koizumi. This is the reconstructive
reform you promised to the nation and the reason the nation supported you.
National assembly member is not like criminal, they should be exiled from
parliament with not necessarily having an enough evidence to guilty but
with enough suspicions. If Mr Koizumi applies this to the LDP members,
this is not only to Mr Suzuki with foreign affair office, but more influential
key persons in LDP, have deep relation with another offices, will be out.
This may trigger fragmentation of the LDP. And this is the word of Mr Koizumi
nation recognize. " I make reconstructive reform even destroying LDP".
Today, although support is less than before people have some expectation
to you because of no alternative better prime mister available unfortunately.
And this is the last opportunity to recover your credibility from the nation.
The action is required for V shape recovery, economy as well.
2002 02 24
Copy protection and copy right (Part-2)
This is not copying of CD-ROM but installation of one software to plural
machines. I think installation of one software to plural machine should
be allowed in case of single user. Recently many person have plural PCs
desktop and notebook for example but normally they do not use them simultaneously
certainly identical software at same time although theoretically it is
possible.
It should be no problem to uninstall from desktop and reinstall to notebook
when you go out, and again when arrive to the home uninstall from notebook
then reinstall to desktop. This operation is time consuming and not practical.
This is the reason private user installs one software to desktop and notebook,
this should be allowed.
But some software makers are creating a way unusable for plural PCs. Is
it a right way?
The method that, installation is possible but very inconvenient to use by two computers requesting registration and give only one ID number, doe not solve the problem. This idea is understandable, but it is not the idea of user's convenience taken into consideration. Do you have a better idea?
2002 02 23
Copy protection and copy right
Music or film industry people are afraid of pirate products, and they are very much concern about copy guard technology. Should copying be prohibited? My answer is clearly no, copy should be possible whenever I wish.
Old days, DVD or CD did not exist, the artists' income was through cinema hall, theater or concert hall.
Even today these should be their working arena.
The idea to put copy guard trick on DVD or CD is selfish. If they do not
want a media be copied, they should not use the media and stick to theater
or hall business. Even the media is used only for promotion purpose to
invite cinema hall, theater or concert hall they must have a big advantage.
The person who create profit by copy products of other people's property
should be prosecuted as crime.
This is different from copying. It is not logical to say analog copy is
OK but digital is NOT.
2002 02 22
We can not say Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games was successful. Because it
left many scandals.
One is biased judgement, this created two pair of gold medalists in figure
skate.
Another one is misjudge, or possibly biased judge as well, of short track
skate, this created disqualifications to a Japanese skater and a Korean
skater. The misjudge can easily be justified confirming by reply of storage
media. It is unreasonable NOT to use VTRs.
I think questionable judgements in this Olympic Games are not only these cases but some others. Russian team boycotted the race because of unfair decision.
If these judgements are not rectified it is necessary to change the rule
of the race, for instance, in short track, you can do anything (push, interfere)
and winner is the person reached goal first.
Or, in Olympic Games, remove the games which include subjective judgement element such as "artistic", " technical merit" and the entry should be limited to the games which can be judged by "time", "length"or "height".
Even we should discuss to stop Olympic Games completely. This Olympic
left bad afterimage and not interesting to watch.
2002 02 21
Medical insurance system
Health insurance system provides equal medical treatment opportunity for
poor and rich whenever necessary. In advanced countries, all the fees are
paid by insurance but not by the patient. The government plan of 30% payment
by patient is against purpose of insurance, it is shame of the country.
The plan must based on how to make expenditure zero to the patients.
For the Achievement, large money resource is necessary, it is necessary
to review medicine price, reword, skill and license of the GPs, nevertheless
increase of the insurance fee may not avoidable. This should be fulfilled
by the tax increase, after the improvement of the efficiency of the government,
removing tax eating officers and politicians.
Tax rate is relatively small in Japan compared to European countries. I accept tax increase for the health insurance system. The level of welfare should be similar to Germany.
If the illness is the responsibility of the patient, then the payment should
be made by the patient, but everybody has a chance of illness.
The idea of payment by the patient is not acceptable, it is against philosophy
of insurance. And it gives bad influence to the recovery from recession.
2002 02 13
Does prime minister make mistakes on minister assignment? Some ministers doing quite well but the firing reason of foreign minister Tanaka is not accepted by the nation and the backing for Mr Koizumi dropped dramatically. Many people think this firing is a mistake of Mr Koizumi. The first mistake may be the assignment of Mrs Tanaka as foreign minister (refer to my comment of 2001 07 01), although prime minister expected Mrs Sadako Ogata as foreign minister.
Third mistake is the assignment of Mrs Kawaguchi as a successor to Mrs
Tanaka. Seeing Diet session, she can not answer properly to the questions
but reading a paper prepared by officer. This scene is rather sorry for
her. This time again, Mr
Koizumi wanted Mrs Ogata as foreign minister but she refused again and
he nominated Mrs Kawaguchi as foreign minister with no deep consideration
(?).
Mrs Ogata's refusal was easily predictable and prime minister should select second best person more carefully.
Fourth mistake is continuation of Mr Takebe as agriculture minister. He
made silly statements on BSE matter. In addition countermeasures against
BSE were not appropriate and this triggered Snow Brand Food Company's fraud
crime.
The person who can understand consumer's viewpoint is important for the
industry's prosperity, should be the minister. Without consumer, meat producer,
distributors and retailers can not survive.
I think there is another miscast in Koizumi cabinet, but he insists one minister in one cabinet. If he really thinks so he should chose cabinet member with very care.
This may be a Mr Koizumi's suggestion that his cabinet life is not so long.
2002 02 06
I did not mention about the everyday's topic i.e., fraud by Snow Brand
food company, because I lost the word to mention.
But It may be necessary to say something.
After the incident revealed, the MD of the company told that this is a commitment of a single person, a director of the Meat Centre and not organized deed. Soon after, the statement proved to be false.
Supposing this MD did not know the fact, this proves such a MD who has
no capability of knowing the fact in the company can not run the company
properly.
A person could be imprisonment or even death penalty if who commit a serious crime. A company is similar to a person (legally, in Japanese, company is called legal person =houjin) these company must be punished.
The crime by the company is not only Snow Brand, several month ago there was a report that Mitsubishi Motor company concealed the serious defect which must be re-called. The companies behave against law must receive a penalty, worst case cease of the operation. The employees and related companies may suffer.
The responsibility is in MD and involved persons. It can not be the finish
resigning the responsible position in the company.
2002 02 01
Is the testimony in the diet trying seriously to find the fact?
Hearing the words of Mr Onishi (a NGO representative), Mr Suzuki (administration committee chairman), Mrs Tanaka (foreign minister), Mr Nogami (administrative vice foreign minister), Shigeie (foreign ministry officer), theoretically it can be possible to conclude who tells a lie. Evidently at least Mr. Shigeie tells a lie, this is proved by himself telling two opposite comments. Why he is not prosecuted by perjury. If this is allowed, the testimony will be fooled and meaningless (It may already be fooled).
I think any law maker's comment to the government ministry should be no
problem,but if the comment is the pressure (such as, the budget will not
be given if you do not listen to me. .......) using his position, this
person is vulgar and no importance.
The point is the foreign ministry's sudden change of the mind (rejection of Mr.Onishi's participation to the Afghan Support meeting) without approval of minister Tanaka (but influenced? by this person Mr. Suzuki).
With or without influence of Mr Suzuki, this decision is evidently mistake
and is rectified later by minister Tanaka as soon as she had knowledge.
The problem is foreign ministry's decision making process, and prime-minister's old type of politics like nemawashi, compromise or no winner in quarrel (=Japanese old saying).
The nation, including myself may not support Mr. Koizumi any longer, the
only reason the nation supported him is his strong will of farewell to
the old type politics.
2002 01 29
The second response to the prime-minister office
Foreign ministry's attitude to the NGO
It is theoretically evident, that either Foreign minister Tanaka or permanent secretary Nogami or Suzuki MP makes false statement. Japanese has less guilty consciousness against the lie. If the person such as political member tells a lie, he or she should have fatal effect to the carrier. But in Japan most case the lie is not fully investigated due to the generosity to the lie.
This case it is not difficult to prove who tells a lie. We should change
the attitude against the lie of MPs, government should be more responsible
to the nation.
The most important point is the refusal of a NGO participation to Afghan
Support meeting hosted by foreign ministry. This is evidently misjudgement
of the foreign ministry.
Second important point is that, having no accurate information prime-minister office and prime-minister made a strange statements, if they had an accurate information the problem is more serious.
Prime minister office is neither police nor Hercule Poirot and it may be
difficult to prove the lie but if the prime ministry office listen the
opinion from plural sources at least, the comment of ministry secretary
general Fukuda and comment of prime minister Koizumi might be different.
Now Japanese nation is in suffer but is supporting current government direction.
The government should answer to the nation.
2002 01 24
On paper, rail companies are studying to stop ticket inspection in the car, and some private rail companies have already done. Also according to the paper, JR Shinkansen says it is not possible to stop ticket inspection in the car.
If there are many stops and many passengers, I think current electronic barrier system is more suitable and no need of in-car inspection. On the contrary, in case of Shinkansen in-car inspection only may be needed removing all entrance barriers.
This system is same as Deutsche Bahn in Germany. This system enables reduction
of station staffs and even enables no staff operation if the passengers
are not too many.
It may increase the work of the crew if remove the barriers at station.
At the same time it may be necessary to decrease the number of seat increasing
the comfort of the passenger to same standard as the other countries, changing
5 row to 4, 4 row to 3 in first class (green car), this helps crew's overwork.
2002 01 21
Is one step interval of Japanese taxi fare counter too large?
You may have experience that taxi fare counter stepped up just before you
got off, feeling
you should get off 10 meter earlier. The difference is only 80 yen but
it is little bit disappointed.
I hear recently new counter, which indicate timing before actually increment,
appeared. It is little bit brave to say "stop" just before meter
steps up. Is it not?
Why Japanese taxi fare does not increment by 10 yen interval or 20 yen
at least.
I have no experience such a large step of fare increase in other countries.
If the increase step interval is 10 yen, it is fair both for passenger
and driver, and we can use taxi with more peaceful and relaxed. 10 yen
is good size and convenient to handle.
2002 01 18
On 18th January, TV reported. "To the foreigners who have permanent
stay visa in a town in Shiga prefecture, voting right is given . This is
first time in Japan."
I'm very surprised hearing "first time in Japan." What a exclusive country Japan is! It's shame.
Although the foreigners have no permanent stay visa but registered as citizen
and duty paid, this person should have a right to participate local and
national governing.
The town is consists of the people come from other towns even from other
countries, all these people should have a right to participate and cooperate
to build attractive town.
Regrettably the Japan is very behind in democracy.
2002 01 16
I discovered there is a big difference of sound quality among the MP3 audio
players. Up to now I could not find the difference but this time I tried
to upload Goldberg Variations (Cembalo) and listened with some players.
There is unbelievable difference between the players but there is no difference
with encoders. The conclusion is as follow.
Player MP3File WAVFile
Hardware player - Reference
(No problem)
SCMPX good -
Winamp poor good
CDex130 poor good
Windows Media-player very poor very
poor
Listening impression is that SCMPX is close to the original sound. Winamp and CDex130 has unclear low level of the sound, the sound is very different from original. Windows Media-player sound is far from the original, it is not acceptable level, There is no crisp cembalo sound but like string sound. This tendency is not only MP3 but similar with WAV sound.
The best way to listen is by CD-ROM with CD player. This is the sound I
made.
I would strongly recommend to use SCMPX when you listen MP3 file with computer.
I could not compare hardware MP3 player, because I do not have MP3 player.
Following is the environment I made the comparison, it may have a relation
to the conclusion.
PC: AMD Athlon 1Ghz RAM 512MB OS: Windows 2000 Pro
Sound Card: Montego/Turtle Beach. Listened with head phone via USB
Encoder: CDex130-192Kbps, no pre-emphasis, and SCMPX-192Kbps （No difference
of sound quality between the two）
2002 01 14
Patent System
I, as an engineer, made inventions and they are filed as patents. Patent is a source of the profit of technology companies.
At very early days of mankind, the source of the profit must be physical
force. This is evident if we see an animal society.
After having intelligence, the man is trying to change the profit making equation from force to intelligence. Why I said "is trying" is that even today some people think force is more useful for making profit than intelligence (Military power is the mixture of physical force and intelligence).
It is evidently wrong that stronger the physical force (military power)
man (country) should be more rich.
Is it not wrong more wise people should be more rich?
It seems patent system is a conversion system of cleverness and money,
although a friend of mine, who is a patent lawyer, says patent is a system
to spread clever people's idea to the public for better life. I completely
agree, it's great.
Old days, when patent system is not exist, cleverness must be target of
the respect and it may not always mean rich in money.
The person, who's idea is contributed to the society, should be reworded financially somehow. But today engineers are using their cleverness to invent somewhat different to avoid infringement of the other patents, this is waist of use of the intelligence sometimes and it does not fit to system's original purpose.
I think it is necessary to improve the patent system so as to fulfill the
original task as my lawyer friend said.
May it be no longer necessary the system itself???
2001 12 30
Global police
It is difficult to say that attacks of the terrorists to the US facilities are war. This is criminal action. This sort of action should be resolved by the police force. Unfortunately, there is no global police organization and today we must rely on the military force of some countries. More unfortunately, attacked nation is US and she has world biggest military power.
As a result the UN had to accept US initiative military action. It is dangerous to allow one super power country to use military power by it's own control.
It is urgently necessary to establish more complete rule to use police
and military force under the control of the United Nations.
2001 12 26
What is the difference terrorist's behavior and America's action? (continued from 2001 10 20)
Still today, original objective is not achieved, i.e., terrorist leaders are not captured. Seeing the life of Afghan citizens, it is questionable if America's actions could be justified. The amount of dead could be the same order as WTC (i.e.; thousands, although accurate number of the dead is not reported)
Terrorists say "America is the terrorist". This may be true,
in some sense, if we remind over the nuclear bomb to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Japanese government should support US more properly. Although it is understandable
the US's retaliation, Japanese, who has peaceful constitution (abandoned
military action for resolving international conflicts and only the country
experienced mass murder by nuclear weapons) should contribute making effort
to remove the cause of the terrorism, it is joke to send the war ship to
the place enemy's shoot is out of reach and carry materials for the combat.
2001 12 04
National assembly member should vote based on his or her personal belief
and not necessarily party's direction.
Democratic party is trying to apply penalty to the member who voted against
to the decision of the party (in favor to overseas operation of Self Defense
Force).
I think, forcing the personal opinion to the party's decision is not democratic
way. This enforcement is visible not only Democratic party but LDP, Communist
party as well.
We voted to the individual and not to the party. Exactly speaking this is not true, because we can vote to the party or to the individual for the House of Representative.
I think this system is something wrong and it should be rectified, because
some people move to different party after the election.
The party member should have a right to vote according to his opinion,
if the party is democratic. We can not rely on such a party which put penalty,
instead of expelling, to the members who voted against party's decision.
If a party member always vote against the decision of the party, he should not be a member of the party and he should be dismissed.
I expect the parliament member should behave based on his personal belief
and not necessarily party's direction. In addition I expect also Parliament
member should have a channel to listen nation wide opinion not only listening
to the local constituency.
"The Parliament member is The National Assembly member".
2001 12 03
Many unpleasant happens with sports casts on TV (see my comment of 2001 08 16). It is too noisy unnecessary casters comment as if it is an passed radio broadcasting trying the scene as real as possible to the listeners.
Even TV era such as horse racing it is not easy to distinguish the horses on TV screen, then it may be necessary similar comment as on radio, but in case of football game, the viewers can easily recognize the scene of the goal. But commentator screams " Goooooaaaaaa------l" himself excited. his excitement does not increase viewers excitement but decrease. Viewing is more powerful than listening. Japanese (Chinese?) old saying says " A glance is worth more than 100 times hearing".
Another dissapointment is supporters noise on ball games particularly Koshien
Ball Ground which is Hanshin Tigers home ground. It is very noisy with
drams brasses. Mixer engineer should reduce the gain of stand microphone
and increase the gain of directional microphone to the ball.
In addition it is necessary to restrict the use of such an instrument.
To me, this is certainly one of the reason US ball game broadcast is more
interesting than Japanese.
Japanese broadcasters should learn more how to pass on the emotions of sport event to the viewers.
2001 11 20
Not only the passengers but the rail way companies should involve more cargo transportation. Shinkansen runs nearly every ten minutes, if this frequent service is used just by adding one cargo car, the purcels, home deliveries will be reached in a day to the most of big towns in Japan, in addition this will conribute to reduce traffic conjestion on the road.
Many years ago this system was introduced, but I guess due to the inefficiency
of the (national) rail way, small cargo delivery is defeated by road transport.
Today rail is privatized and it should be more competitive than before, it is worth to reconsider again.
It is unusual to see the many big lorries, tracks on the road compared with the other advanced countries like US, UK, Germany even though Japanese road is toll.
Japanese cargo transportation system should be reconsidered.
2001 11 19
Prime minister should not mix up with efficient management and toll road
system, and should not buckpass the responsibility to private sector.
The road is considered free to use for long time it is different from the rail.
In Japan, motor way is not free but very expensive, this indicates Japan is not still advanced country like US, UK, or Germany.
It is understandable that the road construction and maintenance needs money
but this should be managed by tax and not by toll.
I would accept the raise of the tax for this purpose.
The efficiency of the operation must be like private company. At least today, it should not construct unprofitable remote area roads.
Some cases it is necessary to make a road to promote the movement of the
population by government initiative although the road is not profitable
at first.
Even if the road management office is shifted to private sector, the toll road is not the way but government should pay to the private company based on actual count of the vehicle passed from the tax. If toll is inevitable (to minimize the tax) toll should be applied only to business cars and large vehicles (buses lorries trucks) first and not to small passenger cars.
2001 11 01
I responded to the mail magazine from the prime minister office as follow.
As a reader of the mail magazine from prime minister office, I make a comment
as follow. Frankly speaking, content is not thick as I expected.
The reason is, there is no communication between office and readers about the hot topic.
Ministry's action should be based on public opinion and this mail magazine is very effective for gathering public opinion. If this opportunity is effectively used, beef eating performance of the ministers saying " This beef is safe and good taste" would never happen.
The government may say discussion is made in the Diet, but does this discussion represent public opinion? It seems the opinion is representing (organized) voters to the Diet member. Especially LDP members.
Many people does not go to voting, but has opinion. These people are disappointed
with government but opposition parties are too weak no worth to vote and
loose interest in politics.
If the government is really democratic, it should represent not only the party(ies) in power but including oppositions assigning opposition minister(s).
But this may be impractical for smooth government operation, it may be better to form a government only by the parties in power, and give the power to the opposite if public support is failed.
But, in Japan, very few government change happens due to the large portion
of the none voters. In these case the government should make an effort
to pick up hidden public opinion with no connection to the constituency,
no connection to regional benefit utilizing the response from the readers.
Unfortunately, interesting part of the mail magazine to me is "editorial
postword" only.
2001 10 25
Continuation to Oct 22 comment. Because the MP3 sound was different from
WAV file, I checked setting option of MP3 encoder and found encoding bit
rate was 128kbps. From now on I will use 192kbps for MP3 endoding, although
sound quality difference is not evident. This occupies 1/8 of WAV file
space. This has been already applied for the files ADIOS_P.mp3, BESAME_S.mp3,
Inv12S1Q.mp3, NUTOV_GP.mp3 and NUTWF_GP.mp3
2001 10 22
A friend of mine who is an audio expert recommended to put MP3 file rather
than WAV file which is too large for WEB-surfer.
So, I decided to put MP3 files in addition to WAV files. I found the file
size is about one tenth and it is much quicker to download it should be
quick enough for ADSL users.
But, I have some feeling of the difference which is very difficult to explain
by word, there is no evident difference, but "after glow?"or
"secret source of the cuisine?". It can also be said "sound
is too clear?"
Anyway my play is by synthesizer, it should be good enough with MP3 encoding..
The software encoder used here is CDEX v1.30 and player is Windows Media
player or Winamp.
2001 10 20
Military action of US is making casualties of citizens. Public opinion
of the world is not always support the military actions.
Is this retaliation justified? Even if accurate pinpoint attack, killing
of innocent citizens is inevitable. Can one say casualty is very small
compared to New York attack? No, one can not say that.
If one can say, the killing by New York attack is very small compared with
nuclear bomb to Hiroshima and Nagasaki which killed 200 thousand and 70
thousand innocent people respectively. Japan did not take retaliation action,
on the contrary we achieved friendly relationship with America.
The Japan has such a experience, the opinion of Japan should be respected
and should be influential to the world.
It is the time that the Japan show the leadership toward the peace of the
world.
2001 10 14
Baseball season is going over. It was very successful season for Japanese
players in major league in US. This is reported in Japan almost every day.
I did not expect such a good result of Ichiro of Mariners, because of that
I thought there is a difference of baseball style between US and Japan,
and I thought there is a difference of the level. It proved my thought
was wrong.
If Ichiro, Sasaki, Nomo, Shinjo played in Japan, the result may be similar
or may be little bit lower than in major league.
This does not mean US level is lower than Japan but, almost same, the difference
of the style. I think ball game is basically the battle between butter
and pitcher. Japanese ball game is more team play and sometimes sacrifices
individual for the team and they can not extract their capability fully.
This influences performance result in figure and possibly this is the reason
I feel US ball game is more interesting than Japan.
Anyway I expect there will be a lot of exchange of players, games between
US and Japan for more exciting ball games.
2001 10 08
Today I announce official opening of my home page. Although this page has been on the web with the mark "Under Construction" for months. Only the difference is "Under Construction" removed, although server environment or home page contents are not satisfactory. In this occasion, I updated server Operating System, home page contents also will be updated.
For the improvement your comment is always welcome.
The update will be new WAV files of my MIDI play, and my opinion concerning
direction of Japanese way as a part of world society, based on my experience
with foreign people and countries.
2001 10 05
People criticizes government countermeasure against BSE in Japan. I am
one of them.
We were talking we might have taken BSE infected beef when my family had been in U.K.
Although we lived in U.K. 6-9 years before the disclosure of British BSE.
Since we live in Japan today, we felt it is safe as far as BSE is concerned.
But now one BSE infected cow was found in Japan, and it is revealed that
Japanese government took no action at all since British BSE disclosure
for 15 years, in addition meat powder is imported from Europe, including
U.K.. Unbelievable default of the government. The government responsible
persons should be prosecuted as a criminal act. Similar affair was experienced
in AIDS case.
2001 10 02
Afgan tension is very high now. Let's talk about Japanese role of anti-terrorism.
Japan should also contribute prevention of the terrorism although we have
a limitation of use of the weapon. In Japanese Constitution we clearly
say we abandon militaly force for resolving international conflict.
There is a Diet debate from opposition parties that Japanese Self Difence
Force should not go to dangerous war area, this is a violation against
Constitution. I think this opinion is stupid and selfish. Once we have
decided to support refugees or wounded people by the war, the SDF must
go into the dangerous area although we have no intention to fight against
enemies. But unfortunately, if refugee camps or hospitals are attacked,
Japanese SDF should protect them as much as they can using some weapons.
This is I believe within our Constitution.
At the same time, many people think Japan can take different type of prevention
of the terrorism with no relation to military actions which can only be
done by the country who has peaceful Constitution. But unfortunately Prime
minister Koizumi chose former support, then there will be no way the SDF
only work in the safe area with no shoot, this is stupid argument.
It is necessary to argue whether Koizumi's choice was adequate or not.
2001 09 20
My opinion to US reaction to the terrorism. Is is necessary to behave calmly
based on law although President Bush declared retaliation assuming this
is the war. This is easy way to build up national solidarity and it is
easy to direct US citizen, (not only US citizen but many of the other countries)
to retaliation. But the role of the president is not agitate people but
calm them down what people should do now and future.
United States should take action not as a military superior country but
same as the country which has not big military forces like US. Namely,
actions should be controlled by international organizations although main
force may be from US.
Since Bush regime I can see many America-ism, for example Kyoto protocol
concerning environment control, missile defense matters, Middle East peace
keeping.
I can not say there is no relation at all to the attack on World Trade
Center.
It is good timing to think about Japanese contribution, leadership to the
peace of the worls, also how to keep security of the country.
2001 09 15
It should never happen again such a action of terrorism, but I am afraid
it is very difficult to stop completely. U.S. is preparing military retaliation
under the international endorsement, but history of the gulf war proves
it is very difficult to catch leader of the organization, Sadam Fussein
is still president of Iraq.
Even if U.S. attacks all of Afghanistan land, sacrifice will be many of
ordinary citizens and not Usama Bin Laden. The attack may be self-satisfaction
of the U.S. Although in these occasion self-satisfaction may be granted.
In Japan, when war time, tactics to attack enemy sacrificing own life is used as "Kamikaze". This method is similar to the attack to WTC building although there are differences of war time or involvement of citizens. This method may be the only way to fight against massive power different enemy.
As a short term measure it may be necessary to eliminate terrorists. But
as a long term solution, not coloring the people as enemy and ally and
support ally and push enemy to corner, but more importance is, I think,
to eliminate the reason why U.S. is target of the terrorists.
The destiny of the country should be decided by the people of the country
whichever in favor or not to U.S. It must be a way to keep in touch with
unfavorable part of the people, this is the diplomatic capability.
2001 09 12
Yesterday unbelievable happened at New York. I used airplane hundreds times
and it was lucky enough I did not encounter such a accident. It should
never never happen. Only the accidents I met were two occasions.
One was in the U.K., When just about to take off, suddenly braked heavily
and stopped at the end of runway. cabin announcement was "alarm lamp
is on, and take off is abandoned, it sometimes happen when very cold weather.
try take off again" Second time, took off as normal. Second was in
U.S., about 30 minutes after the take off a "Bang" noise heard,
and pilot was trying to control the machine straight flying, soon after
cabin announcement says "One engine out of four failed and stopped,
now return to the airport". The day was unusually bad weather and
raining heavily and no visibility.
After one hour unsteady flight, plane touched down safely, immediately
all the passengers clapped celebrating one's safety. I had to take following
day's flight to Osaka.
It is sad event plane crashed into WTC building and many people are killed.
To expressing my mourning to the people killed, I added one picture in
the page of photo gallery 100, which is beautiful Christmas decoration
in front of WTC building, where must be the mountain of rubbles now.
2001 09 04
From 1st of September, I use dynamic DNS services for this home page. My URL is http://www.terry.instat.ne.jp although it is not officially opened the home page. It was surprising to find many of dynamic DNS services with no charge. It is very helpful for the private home page users.
Contrast to this fact my ISP charges 3500 yen for one fixed global IP address
another 1000 yen for DNS per month. In addition initial fee is too charged
8000 yen for fixed IP service and another 12000 yen for DNS. Moreover monthly
ADSL connection fee is most expensive 3980 yen. (this is reduced fee from
1st Sept. but I suppose another reduction may be applied soon due to the
competition against recently joined ADSL ISP. Importance of the competition
is evident)
With this opportunity I noticed my URL to some friends having advise of
my home page.
It seems impractical to download huge WAV files unless low cost ADSL environment
is widely used.
Meantime, I decided to put small -mini file of introduction part of WAV
file as index.
2001 08 16
Recently, having a lot of free time I often watch ball games on TV. Tonight
again there was a trouble with the judgement of umpires whether the ball
was direct catch or bounced catch in the game of Baystars against Swallows.
There was another trouble of umpire's judgement in the game of Giants which
was the ball was home run or foul. In this game umpires retracted previous
decision. This decision was evidently correct seeing repeated VTRs.
The point is that interruption of the game by the appeal should be kept minimum whatever judgement is correct or not.
Umpires should be flexible to correct the misjudgement. Even if the judgement
was found to be mistake afterwards, by using VTRs. Umpire(s) should be
punished in some way, for example suspension of a few games, or cut of
the salary and so on.
By the way most of Japanese ball game broadcast stops at certain time even
if the game is close or exiting. This does not change for many years. seldom
it covers full game unless the game is very short. The interest is not
for the viewers but interest is for broadcasters or sponsors making a fool
of viewers. I utilize this information for identifying the goods sponsored
the games not to buy.
2001 08 13
It is big debate Prime minister Koizumi's should go to the Yasukuni or
not. The conclusion is to go and worship Yasukuni Shrine not on 15th August
but, 13th August
Koizumi says this conclusion is by the deep thought after deep thoughts,
if it is so his thinking seems to be very poor. I think this is evidently
violation of the constitution. Our constitution says religious activity
and politics should be separated clearly.
The reason why he said he makes decision after deep thinking is, I think,
he didn't want to change his mind by the pressure of the other persons
since he declared he will worship to Yasukuni. If he does not go then he
may loose his credibility.
I think prime minister should behave for the benefit of the nation, this
is more important than stuck on previous wording so as not to loose his
face. He should mind Japanese people knows this very well
2001 07 14
It is decided Osaka is not the Olympic game hosting city in year 2008.
It is little bit disappointment as an Osakan. But honestly Osaka is not
suitable town as a hosting of Olympic games, Osaka is not attractive compared
with other candidates. How many people in the world wants to visit Osaka
at the occasion of Olympic game period.
Osaka has no green and has the hottest summer air temperature in Japan
today, in addition traffic congestion is heavy and driving manner is poor.
I believe Osaka has lot of things to do before inviting Olympic games,
for instance Kansai airport is most expensive and inconvenient and has
only one runway. This fact alone indicate it is not suitable as a host,
although most probably Itami airport will be international airport again
if it really happened. There is a discussion Haneda in Tokyo should be
a international airport again, this sort of decision should be made convenience
of the user to take into consideration and not local government convenience.
2001 07 10
Now ADSL is in my house, the introduction is switch from ISDN. I chose
an ISP with connection to ADSL company. Then a few days later Yahoo announced
990 yen fixed fee ADSL which is 1/6 of my ISP. the reason of choosing current
ISP is fixed global IP address service. Many other ISP has no such a service.
I'm expecting reduction of the connection fee otherwise I must switch to
another ISP soon.
As far as the speed of the ADSL is concerned, maximum speed is about 500kbps
although max. speed specification is 1.5Mbps, the reason may be the distance
from the telephone exchange office, my telephone office is 6 km far away.
Nevertheless, it is faster than ISDN and stress is small. I expect dramatic
reduction of telephone charge from next month.
2001 07 01
It continues political subject because of high concern about politics.
The popularity of prime minister Koizumi and foreign minister Makiko Tanaka
is unusually high, but capability can not be measured by the popularity.
Their contribution to the nation is bring politics closer to the people. I would support the attitude of Ms Tanaka's restructuring of the foreign affair office, she should be possible to improve the organization of foreign affair office by the back up of the constituency. But it seems she has no experience how to work with boss and subordinates in the organizations. I would recommend Makiko-san to work in the office as an ordinary office lady at least two years, it is not too late after that to be a foreign minister
2001 06 19
Me too, registered as a reader of the mail magazine from prime minister
office. Popularity of this mail magazine is extremely high and it seems
registered readers are more thsan a million.
But Koizumi-san should mind all the readers are not always supporter of
the prime minister. There will be lot of criticism or opposite opinions
if he does something wrong.
It is very good thing to publish such a mail to the constituency. I feel much closer to prime minister.
Please do not misunderstand Koizumi-san, Makiko-san that popularity is
not the support yet but this is the expectation of the constituency for
comming improvements.
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