Texas Ojisan talks about Tibet

These days I enjoy to watch a Texas man's You-Tube movies. He is talking about Tibet on You-Tube. Ojisan means "a man, Mr, Sir". Maybe "Poppa". Well, let's watch the movie!







I have questions.



Chinese people can't see You-Tube? Really? I've seen many Chinese Kanjis on You-Tube.

Los Angeles Times are communists? Really?



"Annex" is a very useful word.



In addition, China forced Tibetan for work and many Tibetan has killed. China calls it as "解放(emancipation)".



Japanese TV reporting about Tibet

Please try and win, Dear Dalai Lama.

Two years ago, when I was reading a book, I found a sentence that "Vicious cycle will begins in 2008 in China.". Author's basis was Chinese fortune telling. I thought "What is this?". However, now they face reduction of the trade surplus in China, dangerous products, Tibet issue, etc. I'm a human, I feel the fortune telling as credible. For Tibetan issue, I'm get angry so much.



Basically, that China complains about Nanjing incident, ripping off and strangling Tibetan is very selfish. Tibetan issue is what they are doing now, what they have been doing for years. It is nothing special that Japanese people find offense with China. Japanese government, Cowardly samurais, should complain about Tibet issue more, if they think Nanjing incident was fault.



I know China doesn't want to kiss Tibet off because of underground resources. Hence, what China does is unseemly behavior.



They say "Dalai Lama planed to the civil commotion". Suppose he did it, what is problem? Tibet is a country of Tibetans. That China exercises their sovereignty over Tibet is the wrong!



English prime minister and Prince Charles will meet with Dalai Lama. China says "We have grave concerns for the meeting.". The ones who have grave concerns are us!



Anyway, Chinese government does very barbaric repression against resisters. Dalai Lama denies violent action. I hope Tibetans accordance with Dalai Lama, even though I understand their anger.





It is a photo of Sidare Zakura. I took the photo.

Basic Osaka dialects for beginners 5,6

Well, we can't distinguish clearly but Osaka dialects contains some dialects. For example, Senba-kotoba, Osaka dialects, Kawachi dialects and Kishiwada (Senshuu) dialects are representative. Osaka prefecture consist of ex-Settsu province, ex-Izumi(senshuu) province and ex-Kawachi province. Senba-kotoba is spoken by merchants in Senba(ex-centre of Japanese economy) and is the most elegance language, followed by Osaka dialects. Business men speak Osaka dialect. Kawachi dialect is an indigenous dialect of Kawachi province. Kishiwada dialect is an indigenous dialect of Izumi province(Senshuu province). I think Settsu's dialect and Kawachi dialect are mostly same. Kishiwada dialect is different from others. Kishiwada was a clan's territory while Most parts of Kawachi and Settsu were territories of Tokugawa Shogunate. I guess it is the because. (Kobe area was also Settsu province. ) In other words, I think I can say Osaka dialect is the formal language in Osaka.



けったいな (Kettaina) : bizarre (adjective)

えげつない (Egetsunai) : brutally (adjective)

えげつい (Egetui) : brutally (adjective)

あほらしい (Ahorashii) : stupid (adjective of Aho)

かなぁんな。(Kanaanna): What a dilemma.　Got me stumped.　It stumps me. aggravating etc

つれ (Ture) : Fellows, friends.



Kosei : Did you see the TV program last night?

You : It was a めっちゃけったいな TV program.

Kosei : Yeah, it was a めっちゃあほらしい TV program.

You : Yeah, it was a えげつい story. Many people has been killed.

Kosei : Yeah, めっちゃえっげつない。かなんな。

You : But my つれ enjoyed the TV program.

Kosei : Oh, what a けったいな つれ

You : Indeed.



Osakan people love to say jokes. They are good at saying jokes and comeback of words are very good. They love to chat funnily. They make even perfect ordinary topics funny. I show you an example of daily conversations between younger Osakans. The meaning of しばく(Shibaku) is the key word of this conversation. (I don't know nuance of Lynch but I used it.)



ちゃー(Cyaa) : Tea

しばく(Shibaku) : to go to somewhere, beat someone, to lynch. (Adults seldom say this word to express complaints) (Shibaku doesn't mean "to go to somewhere" in other region.)

ほな (Hona) : so, so then

すっきゃで(Sukkyade) : to say someone like(love) something, to do something, someone.



ちゃーしばく(Cyaa shibaku) : go to coffee shop, go to tea shop, drink a tea.



Younger Osakan's expressions.



ねずみ(を)しばく (Nezumi (wo) shibaku) : go to Disney Land

とり(を)しばく : (Ushi(wo) shibaku) : go to Kentucky Fried Chicken.

うし(を）しばく (Ushi (wo) shibaku) : go to Yoshinoya. (Yoshinoya is a beef bowl restaurant.)



codicil



とり : birds

うし : cows





Kosei : Maido!

You : Oh! Long time no see! Maido!

Kosei : We have a great deal to talk about. ちゃーしばく？

You: Now I'm hungry.

Kosei : ほな、うししばく？

You : I don't feel like eating Yoshinoya's gyuudon(beef bowl) now.

Kosei : ほな、とりしばく？

You : OK, let's lynch Colonel Sanders!



(At Kentucky Fried Chicken)



Cashier: Hello.

Kosei : Well, please lynch three pieces.

You : Give me four lynched pieces.

Casher : LOL. すぐしばきますんで、おまちください。(LOL, just a moment please. We are going to lynch them soon. )

You and Kosei : おおきに！



Kosei : By the way, let's go on holiday next month.

You : ほな、ねずみしばく？

Kosei : Oh, do you like Micky Mouse?

You : うん、すっきゃで。

Kosei : OK,　Let's lynch(go to) the mice!

You : Yeah!



The cashier replied because the cashier was also an Osakan. If you say it in Tokyo, absolutely the casher looks daggers at you.



It is a photo of Hirakata-great-chrysanthemum doll show.

Entry for March 19, 2008

I was studying about some states of America. States African-American is majority, State German-American is majority, etc. Mr. Bernanke is from Georgia. As to GERGIA, we have a can coffee brand called "GEROGIA" in Japan. It is a Japan Coca-Cola's products, but it seems they don't sell it in America. What is Red wood curtain? Oh, Microsoft is from Washington. Starbacks is too. NINTENDO's American central office is in Washington too. Oh, they have a Shinto shrine in Washington.



When I stayed in L.A., I visited Colorado, Arizona, Utah too. Well, Mr. Ralph Lawrence Carr, governor of Colorado championed Japanese-Americans during WW2. Aha, I think no one knows. We should share this kind of knowledge, indeed. Now I read his speech, Japanese-Americans would thanked him, I believe. Oh, Mormonism had a war against America? Oh, they were polygyny?



There are some states which designate English as the official languages. In fact, I heard Japan doesn't designate Japanese as the official languages. I believe Osakan dialect will be the official language. :-D Oh, Detroit is a city of Michigan? Oh, they have a sister city relationship with Toyota city in Japan. Oh, New Orleans was French territory?



Oh, San Francisco have a sister city relationship with Osaka city. I thought L.A. have it with Osaka. But L.A. have it with Nagoya city.



Oh!! San Francisco has a sister city relationship with Soul city!! But Osaka doesn't have a sister city relationship with Soul city! Sister's sister must be sister! But Soul city has a sister city relationship with Tokyo!!!!!! Tokyo doesn't have a sister city relationship with Osaka! It is very strange!!!!



Well,



It is very foolish that there is no president of "Band of Japan". In effect, we don't need its president because they can hold Monetary Policy Meeting without president of BOJ. Hence, it is not care. It is said but other countries don't think so. The situation caused by that Japan's two big parties don't work together to elect the president. Hmm, isn't there a Maestro in Japan?



nn?



Now I am reading Dalai Lama's web site.



He wrote



PRESS RELEASE

 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to world leaders and the international community for their concern over the recent sad turn of events in Tibet and for their attempts to persuade the Chinese authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with the demonstrations.

 

Since the Chinese Government has accused me of orchestrating these protests in Tibet, I call for a thorough investigation by a respected body, which should include Chinese representatives, to look into these allegations. Such a body would need to visit Tibet, the traditional Tibetan areas outside the Tibet Autonomous Region, and also the Central Tibetan Administration here in India. In order for the international community, and especially the more than one billion Chinese people who do not have access to uncensored information, to find out what is really going on in Tibet, it would be of tremendously helpful if representatives of the international media also undertook such investigations.

 

Whether it was intended or not, I believe that a form of cultural genocide has taken place in Tibet, where the Tibetan identity has been under constant attack. Tibetans have been reduced to an insignificant minority in their own land as a result of the huge transfer of non-Tibetans into Tibet. The distinctive Tibetan cultural heritage with its characteristic language, customs and traditions is fading away. Instead of working to unify its nationalities, the Chinese government discriminates against these minority nationalities, the Tibetans among them.

 

It is common knowledge that Tibetan monasteries, which constitute our principal seats of learning, besides being the repository of Tibetan Buddhist culture, have been severely reduced in both in number and population. In those monasteries that do still exist, serious study of Tibetan Buddhism is no longer allowed; in fact, even admission to these centres of learning is being strictly regulated. In reality, there is no religious freedom in Tibet. Even to call for a little more freedom is to risk being labeled a separatist. Nor is there any real autonomy in Tibet, even though these basic freedoms are guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.

 

I believe the demonstrations and protests taking place in Tibet are a spontaneous outburst of public resentment built up by years of repression in defiance of authorities that are oblivious to the sentiments of the local populace. They mistakenly believe that further repressive measures are the way to achieve their declared aim of long-term unity and stability.

 

On our part, we remain committed to taking the Middle Way approach and pursuing a process of dialogue in order to find a mutually beneficial solution to the Tibetan issue.

 

With these points in mind, I also seek the international community’s support for our efforts to resolve Tibet’s problems through dialogue, and I urge them to call upon the Chinese leadership to exercise the utmost restraint in dealing with the current disturbed situation and to treat those who are being arrested properly and fairly.

 

Dalai Lama

Dharamsala                                                                                                                        March 18, 2008



http://www.dalailama.com/news.218.htm



---------



Hmm. Even though I'm not Tibetan buddhist, anyway I trust him.　



It is a photo of Mt. Fuji.

About Presence

Today, I listened to a song by a Japanese singer whose name is Tamaki Koji. I like his songs. I heard he was popular in Korea and Taiwan too. The song name is "Present". Now "Present" is a Japanese word. Usually the word means only gift in Japan but you know it has also another meaning "presence". I translated its lyrics a bit.



"プレゼント (by 玉置浩二)" : Present (by Tamaki Koji)



Morning sun calmly touches your hand.

The sky comes of your eyes looking up.

Here, the ordinary days you spend

is a present from me

Embrace even sorrows.

It turns to mercy some day.

The world granted a wish to us,

and it has bushel of love.



Sometimes decedent shows their presence more than their during their life. Around 5 years after my father passed away, I listened this song and I found my ordinary days were a present from my father. Perhaps it was the greatest present in the world. I was fool because I didn't notice it. I hope you practice filial piety.



I took the photo. The flower is 福寿草(Fukujyu-sou).



I composed a haiku.



川縁で (Kawaberi de)

拈華微笑の (Nenge-mishou no)

福寿草 (Fukujyu sou)



Just I translated it into English sentence.



At river bank,

A Fukujyu-sou shows

existence.



Have a nice day.

Bush contradicts himself

These days I often come on a word "Japan-style" in the newspaper. What kind of "Japan-style"? The word means "a deep and protracted recession". Hmm,,,,,,, it is a dishonorable term. Well, yesterday $1=98yen. When I wrote about currency exchange rate first time, $1=123 yen.



It is said America would not suffer a Japan-style recession. But if Bush doesn't buy defaulted credit, America likely to suffer a Japan-style recession.



アメリカはいわゆるジャパンスタイルの不況には突入しないと言われているが、ブッシュ大統領が不良債権を公的資金によって買い取らない限り、ジャパンスタイルの不況に陥る可能性が高い。



Bush said he goes for a strong dollar and he doesn't purchase nonperforming loans. He contradicts himself. Because increase of bad loan is driving the dollar lower.



ブッシュは、強いドルを支持するが不良債権は買い取らないと言っている。これは矛盾した考えだ。なぜなら不良債権の増加がドル売りを加速させているからだ。



As long as housing prices are declining, American personal consumption will be curbed. The cycle cause other bad and doubtful debt. Not to fall in a vicious cycle, all Bush can do is to actively purchase nonperforming loans.



住宅価格が下がり続ける限り、アメリカ経済を支えている個人消費が抑制される。それが新たな不良債権を生み出す。この悪循環に陥らないためには、公的資金によって不良債権を買い取る以外にない。

I took the photo of Sudare-zakura(cherry) and Japenese bee.

Another Momotaro legend

Momotaro is a popular folk tale in Japan. Today, I show you another Momotaro's story I and my friends made. You can read true story on Hayato san's blog. If you don't know the story, please read Hayato-san's at first.



Hayato-san's blog

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-hU4ASjUldK1h7fc3jag6m__N8Bi_gg--?cq=1&p=1341&n...



桃太郎別伝



昔々、あるところに、おじいさんとおばあさんがおりました。おじいさんは、山にしばかれに、おばあさんは、川に洗濯に出掛けました。おばあさんが洗濯をしていると、川上の方から、大きな桃が、どんぶらこ、どんぶらこと流れてきました。



「まぁ、なんて大きな桃！」おばあさんは桃を拾い上げ、家にもって帰りました。ボコボコにされたおじいさんが、家に帰ってきました。二人は包丁で桃を割ってみることにしました。おじいさんが、えいっと大きな桃を切ると、中から、真っ二つに割れた赤ん坊がでてきましたとさ。おわり。



しばく＝lynch

( しばかり＝mow a lawn　the old man went to the mountain to mow a lawn in true story.)

　しばく and しばかりsounds similar.



Another Momotaro.



Long long ago, there was an old man and a his old wife. Old man went to the mountain to be lynched, his old wife went to the river to wash clothes. When the old woman was washing clothes, a big peach was floating out from upstream, Donburako Donburako(echo-word).



What a big peach!! The old woman grabbed up the peach and took over it to her house. Her husband who had been lynched came back to the their house. They decided to try to cut the peach with a kitchen knife. Immediately after the old man split the peach evenly, they found a baby who was split evenly. FIN



I took the photo.

Today's English studying

I got a CNN's magazine for English learners. The magazine contains a CD too. I read it and found averagely there are three or four unknown words in each topic. It is not a big problem because I can grasp what they are saying in most cases. However, I think I should practice sometimes to understand perfectly.



"aaa" is confusing. For example, "The internet search aaa titan Google has .....". I had to think "aaaa" , "Searcha?" or, might be, "er"? All told, to catch perfectly is difficult and often meaningless.



There are unknown idioms too. "on-site massage". Hmm. they enjoy on-site massages in their company... Hmm.. Cool.



Hmm, on-site massages,,,,,, I'm jealous....



on-site massages,,,,



I'm jealous....



I want an on-site napping service too.....



Have a nice weekend.

Shidare-Zakura and Bee

Several days ago, I took a photo of Shidare-Zakura and Japanese honey bee. Have a nice day. It seems Cherry-blossoms(Somei-yoshino) begin to bloom from 26th of March in Tokyo.



It is said honey made by Japanese honey bee is very delicious. I had not seen any Japanese honey bees for more than 10 years until I found the honey bee.



When I was a kid, one day my elder brother was pulling on his pants, and he was stung by a wasp. A big bee, called Ashinaga-bachi, was in the pants. LOL. He screamed out and I roared with laughter. LOL



We know there was a beehive on the wall of our house. I fought them with me spraying pesticide. But they didn't shrank. Then I used the pesticide spray as a flame gun by firing up with a lighter. Then they were completely destroyed. I won.



Have a nice white day.



I took the photo.

Basic Osaka dialects for beginners 3,4

まいどおおきに！First of all, let's brash up Lesson 1 and 2. まいど (Maido): Hello (まいど ritually means "Always".)(relaxed and informal greeting) おおきに (Ookini) : Thank you. まいどおおきに : Thank you very much (This ritually means "I always feel grateful to you." mainly merchants use this expression.) ほなまた。(Hona mata) : See ya. (ほなまた ritually means "so then, again") ほんま？(Honma?) : Really? (relaxed and informal expression) ほんま。(Honma) : I'm sure, (relaxed and informal expression) めっちゃ(Meccya) : very, so マクド(Makudo) : McDonald's (People in Tokyo say "Makku" but Osakan never say so. Because Makku is Tokyo dialect's word."

うち (Uchi) : I, my, me (These years mainly Osakan women use this word.) あかん(Akan) : shouldn't/ mustn't/can't なんでなん？(Nandenan?) : Why?/Because of what? しゃーない(shaanai) : I have very little choice./ There are no alternatives./There is no choice. ええで (Eede) : All right



OK, let's get started.



Lesson 3



しっとる？(Shittoru?) : Do you know?

しらん (Shiran) : I don't know.

ちゃうちゃう(Cyaucyau) : No, it isn't/No, I'm not/ etc

わからん？(Wakaran?) : You don't know? / You can't understand?/ etc

わからん (Wakaran) : I don't know/ I can't understand. / etc

あほや (Aho ya) :You are stupid. / He is stupid./ etc

すんません (Sunmasen) : I'm sorry.





Conversation about Steven Seagal, a Hollywood star, is a fluent Osaka dialect speaker.



Kosei : しっとる？

You : しらん。Steven Seagal is a Japanese?

Kosei : ちゃうちゃう。Do you know him?

You : わからん。

Kosei : わからん？

You : わからん。

Kosei : ほんま？

You : ほんま。

Kosei : あほや。

You : The person who says あほ to someone is the あほ。

Kosei : Then, you also said あほ to me. Hence, You are あほ too.

You : すんません。

Kosei : すんません too.





Lesson 4



おもろい？(Omoroi?) : Is it funny?/ Is it Interesting? /etc

おもろい (Omoroi) : It is funny./ It is interesting./ etc

しょーもない? (Shoomonai?) : ___ is not interesting? / ___ is not funny?

しょーもない (Shoomonai) : ___ is not interesting. / ___ is not funny.



Kosei : One day a mother found a SM magazine in her son's room. She read it. It seems her son is M(masochism). She was upset about it and showed her husband the magazine and said "What should we do?". Her husband said "Hmm. At least, we should not hit him.".

Kosei : おもろい？

You : おもろい! めっちゃおもろい！

Kosei : One father got a toy in the lottery. He came back to home and called together his kids and said "Well, who should I give this toy to? Who is amenable to Mom? Who does not answer back to Mom? Who does do what ordered by Mom?". Kids answered "OK,,,, it is yours, Dad. ".

Kosei : しょーもない？

A man : しょーもない。

Kosei : なんでなん？

A man : It can be mine too.

Kosei : ほんま？

A man : ほんま。



Well, there are some Osakan dialects non-Kansai people don't understand. But Japanese people understand all words I showed you. I think ちゃうちゃう is the most useful word among words I showed you today.



Please ask me when you have a question.



:-D



Hona mata!



It is a photo of Osaka South Port.

Basic Osakan dialects for beginners 1,2

Hi, まいどおおきに！When you watch Japanese TV programs, you would notice some or many people, especially comedians, speak Kansai dialects. Without studying Kansai dialects, you would never master Japanese. And all Japanese people understand Kansai daialects. Therefore I decided to explain about some Osaka dialects. Especially you like to say jokes, Osakan dialect will be a great help. This time I chose very common Kansai dialect's expressions which are easy to use and which are common in all Kansai area(Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe etc)



Lesson 1



まいど (Maido): Hello (まいど ritually means "Always".)(relaxed and informal greeting)



おおきに (Ookini) : Thank you.



まいどおおきに : Thank you very much (This ritually means "I always feel grateful to you." mainly merchants use this expression.)



ほなまた。(Hona mata) : See ya. (ほなまた ritually means "so then, again")



ほんま？(Honma?) : Really? (relaxed and informal expression)



ほんま。(Honma) : I'm sure, (relaxed and informal expression)



めっちゃ(Meccya) : very, so



マクド(Makudo) : McDonald's (People in Tokyo say "Makku" but Osakan never say so. Because Makku is Tokyo dialect's word."



-Let's practice.-



Kosei : まいど！(hello!)

You : まいど ! (hello!)

Kosei : I give you a book.

You : ほんま？(Really?)

Kosei : ほんま。(I'm sure)

You : めっちゃおおきに！（Thank you very much!)

Kosei : ほなまた(See ya.)

You : I treat you at まくど(McDonald's)!

Kosei : ほんま？

You : ほんま！

Kosei : おおきに! めっちゃおおきに！





Lesson 2



うち (Uchi) : I, my, me (These years mainly Osakan women use this word.)

あかん(Akan) : shouldn't/ mustn't/can't

なんでなん？(Nandenan?) : Why?/Because of what?

しゃーない(shaanai) : I have very little choice./ There are no alternatives./There is no choice.

ええで (Eede) : All right



Kosei : Who was in the room?

You : うち

Kosei : なんでなん？

You : I wanted to enter the room.

Kosei : You must not enter the room because a ghost is in the room!

You : I wanted to enter,,,,I must not enter the room?

Kosei : うん。 あかん　(うん = Yeah)

You : しゃーない。Then, can I eat Makudo in this room?

Kosei : ,,,,,,ええで。

You : ほんま？

Kosei : ほんま。



Please ask me when you have a question.



Have a nice day.



It is a photo of Universal Studio Japan in Osaka.



Osaka dialect lesson web site

http://mayumik.seesaa.net/

And about Japan.

When I see You Tube yesterday, I found a movie which summarized Fuji Television's survey. I guess the survey might not be a good survey but generally it is no problem, I think. The survey's controversial point is that the surveyors don't explain how they surveyed. My feeling is that If they send out questionnaires to older people, the figure would be different.



Well,



My source is







"Do you like Japan?"



("No" means "I hate Japan".)



In Taiwan

Yes : 93%

No : 4%



In Thai land

Yes : 96%

No : 4%



In Singapore

Yes : 94%

No : 6%



In China

Yes : 20%

No : 75%



In South Korea

Yes : 12%

No : 86%



As I wrote before, we can think most/many countries have a good feeling toward Japan. I cited this last time.



Click to see BBC and PIPA's survey



There, the BBC's survey, were only two country, South Korea and China which feel negative about Japan. To put it the other way around, I think I can say they think Japan's economic power is no longer a threat.



For Taiwan, I heard westerners get be surprised when they hear Taiwanese are relatively close to Japanese in this region. I feel an affinity with Taiwanese and they feel an affinity with Japanese. I guess westerners don't know that when Chinese and Koreans released their hostility to the Japanese, A Taiwanese, 金美齢, led the charge for China and Korea at Yasukuni shrine.



I found a movie on You Tube. It is a TV program "AINORI"'s movie.

Taiwanese old woman's story



The old woman said "I'm a Taiwanese, my Chinese family name is Lee, my Japanese family name is Kabajima, I like Japanese people and still I think I'm a Japanese at heart. Japanese people came to Taiwan and build many things. All(prosperity etc), thanks to Japan. (snip) All Taiwanese like Japan and don't hold a grudge against Japan. Now all Taiwanese don't think we are Chinese but we think we are Taiwanese. But at heart it seems we think we are as if Japanese at heart. In Japan's age, Japan gave us education and taught us Japan's spirit well. Do you know Japan's spirit? Japan's spirit is having a keen sense of duty, decent, diligence. Taiwanese uphold Japan's spirit more than Japanese. You all, cherish Japan I love, and be a role as a bridge with between Taiwan and Japan.　I look very much to you all because I like Japanese people.".



I guess her story is interesting to non-Japanese people. I don't know how many people are same as the old woman in Taiwan but I know at least she is not a rare person. If you read books written by Lee Teng-hui, you will understand. I'll write about Taiwan later. This time I only write about the old woman. Woo, I want to go to Taiwan to visit Palace Museum!



As far as I know, China hasn't ruled Taiwan squarely even though they ripped off Taiwan. So, always I feel something is strange when China says Taiwan is a part of China. I want to write about Tibet later, I found a odd and dreadful movies in You Tube.



As to Thai land. It is a pro-Japan country since olden days and an allied county of imperial Japan including during WW2. Singapore is the first country which opened commerce with Japan after WW2 as I recall. It seems old people tend to hate Japan but young people are different from old people.



Next question.



"How do you think about Japan?"



In Thai land



1. diligence and overwork ...24%

2. stable economy ...18%

3. advanced technology ...17%

4. patriotic feelings and solidarity ...14%

5. strict about time ...13%



In Indonesia



1. intelligent ...46%

2. advanced technology ...46%

3. diligence and overwork ...37%

4. polite ...17%

5. rich ...17%



In Vietnam



1. diligence and overwork ... 50%

2. advanced technology ...49%

3. intelligent ...44%

4. rich ...26%

5. prioritized economy ...24%



In Malaysia



1. diligence and overwork ... 68%

2. intelligent ...36%

3. polite ...23%

4. advanced technology ...19%

5. rich ...9%



In China



1. polite ... 26%

2. diligence and overwork ... 25%

3. advanced technology ...17%

4. stressful life ...16%

5. high productivity ...14%



In Korea



1. colonial occupation ...32%

2. clever but sly and rudeness ...29%

3. brutality and appalling ...15%

4. diligence and earnest ...11%

5. kindness, courtesy and orderly society...11%



Overwork is very true. I'm a victim of overwork. I think they are right. We need a big oil field! :-D An interesting point is that Chinese people didn't say bitter words against Japan.　Although I am not approve of massive anti-Japan demo, I feel they can say a bit more bitter words. For intelligent, hmm, always there are so many stupid people in any countries. All people are stupid. It is the what human kind is. Thai's 5th place is interesting. It would reflect their national character, I guess.



Except the surveys, for example, English people tend to underestimate Japanese. France is a pro-Japan country. Ex-president Chirac is a Japan-Otaku. Russia kills Japanese fishermen soon. As far as I know, Sri Lanka, Islam countries including Iran, Israel(the government), Myanmar, Belau, Buryat, Mongol, Poland and etc are pro-Japan countries. I having been trying to recall anti-Japan countries now,,,,,,,, countries which has white racist tendency may have some anti-Japan sentiment more than average. Oh, I guess some latin American countries maybe a bit anti-Japan. I'm not sure though.



Well, I want napping. Medicine makes me sleepy.



Have a nice sunday!



It is a photo of Matsue castle. It is one of most beautiful castle in Japan. I've visited there. It has very peaceful air. Koizumi Yakumo who wrote "Kwaidan" lived in the city.

It hurts...

Now I feel dizzy. It is an outbreak in my mouth. My gum is swelling and aches. The swell spread to throat. I can eat only Okayu( rice gruel) out of need. Woooooooo. I have a temperature of 37.3 degrees. Of course it is not Fahrenheit but Celsius. 37.3 degree would be 97.5 degree Fahrenheit. If the 97.5 degree was Celsius, I would be killed. It would be a kind of こうせいなべ(Kosei-nabe). Well I shouldn't have said such a ludicrous thing. Any way it is strange difference between C and F. Anyway, I must go dentist this morning, I guess. Now my brain is a bit flying. I guess temperature around my brain is higher than it around armpit because affected area is my mouth. Is this divine justice? If so, what did I do? Hmm, I was a germ in my previous life? Haha.



It is a photo of 明日香村(Asuka village) where the Japan's capital was. I used to visit there by my bike. Asuka's pillow word(set epithet) is 飛ぶ鳥の(Tobu-tori-no). Therefore we write as "飛鳥" when we express that village too. The word Asuka's pronunciation is very nice. I guess someone has seen Asuka Big Buddha there. Asuka temple is a famous temple.



I used to take a day trip to Nara by my bike when I was a high school student. Nara was very close to where I lived. It took only 30 minuets to enter Nara prefecture. And I enjoyed to ride my bike in the mountains between Nara and Osaka.



Well, one more topic. I wrote this before.



According to a Japanese TV program, an anti-Japan Chinese news paper sent out questionnaires, and believe it or not, South Korea is the most hated neighbor country by Chinese. I thought it is Japan. I thought South Korea is a bit strange country because Korean say Kendo is originate from Korea. I couldn't believe it when I heard about it from my Korean friend. But I found I'm not the only one. Chinese people also feel it.







Chinese dislikable neighbor countries.



1. Korea 40.1%

2. Japan 30.2%

3. Indonesia 18.8%



According to the TV program, Korea alleges 江陵端午祭(a Chinese traditional festival), Chinese medicine, print technology, Kanji and geomancy originate from Korea, and Confucius was a Korean. I guess Chinese people fed up. Koreans also alleges Kendo, Jyudo, Sumo, Sado, Bonsai, Japanese sward, Sashimi and Janken(rock, paper, scissors) originate from Korea.



The reason why Chinese hate South Koreans.



1. Koreans disrespect Chinese people.

2. Koreans rob Chinese cultures.

3. Korean mass medias are intolerant.



I don't know the why but it looks like some Korean people tend to think anything originate from Korea. As to Japanese cultures, Japanese people basically only laugh about what they allege and have nothing of them but Chinese would get angry, I guess. And Koreans often say Korean are the greatest race in the world. Hmm.



As to "Koreans disrespect Chinese people.", A professor etc said Koreans are Big-Ego in China and Koreans make money talk, and Koreans value top-to-bottom hierarchy and Chinese also do it. Koreans think Korea is superior to China, and koreans are creep for Chinese.



Chinese favorite neighbor countries



1. Pakistan 28%

2. Russia 15.1%

3. Japan 13.2%



Hmm, they also love Japan.



Even though, the TV program said as if all Koreans allege so, so far as I know not all Korean allege them and my Korean friends are good people.



Have a nice weekend!

Chinese SWF etc

SWF means Sovereign Wealth Funds. Now China's one, Singapore ones, Oil money ones and Norway's one are famous. It is said SWF can be threat. Chinese SWF bought a Japanese company's stock several weeks ago. It is a big problem. The company's name is "INPEX Holdings(国際石油開発帝石ホールディングス)".



The company has the gas concession of a gas field which is in Senkaku Island chain. After we discovered the gas field, China began to claim sovereignty over the island chain but Japan has been ruling the island chain and furthermore some of them are private property of Japanese people. The gas field is cross-border.



As to the gas field, Japan and China acceded to co-develop. But China is solely mining it without permission now. Japan gave the company the gas exploration rights. And Chinese SWF bought their stocks.　What does it mean? Why China bought their stocks? It is a security issue. It can mean Japan gave China the the gas exploration rights. They bought not all stocks but ８% or so, as I recall.



In addition, in fact, Japan's pension fund is the largest SWF in the world but there is a matter of definition and Japan's one is not regarded as the largest. Also Japan's post-office savings funds were the largest in the world but it was made private last year. Also now Japan are planing t establish another big SWF. NIKKEI is bearing up Sub Prime mess because Japan's Pension Funds is buying Japanese stocks now.　It already has become bargain prices though.



Japanese government doesn't have a policy to maintain stock prices and people sniffs investors, and prices are plunged, then China got a big chance to buy the stocks at low price. Japanese are smartest people in the world, indeed. My feeling is that Japanese people confided in mass medias too much. They confuse extreme money-mad investors and others. And also I can say Japanese people don't have confident in Japan's future hence they don't buy stocks. However, their forecast is wrong, I think. As above there were other causes to plunge, basically Sub-Prime-Mess happened in Western countries, but it is sure Japanese did bargain sale. They would do bargain sale again. China can buy latest technologies at cheep price. It is said now China is planning to invest to other Japanese companies.



Some analysts say SWF are safe. But it is sure SWF can have a political purpose. Many technologies can be diverted to military use too.



Several years ago, Chinese submarine violated Japan's territorial sea. But Japan did nothing. If I was a prime minister, I never failed to seized the submarine or overwhelmed it. I think this kind of Japan's reacting was a cause of the rude attitude of China.



The pic published by Pentagon explains China wants to expand their naval supremacy to the area. Hmm, Okinawa is China? Furthermore, Osaka Bay is China's? I guess Pentagon blowed it out of proportion to get budget though.



Oh, I have to go.



Have a nice day.

Kosei's Japanese lesson. Tounge twisters in Japanese

Anyone, could you tell me English easy jawbreaker to me? I found many jawbreakers but I don't know which ones are easy. Tonight, I found a more efficient way to practice listening English. It is "To speak faster than native speakers". I trained for 4 hours today, hey presto, now I feel natives speakers speak slower than yesterday. (As to unknown words, it is a different matter.) However, I am tired so much. I feel muscle pain on my tongue. Now I'm stretching my tongue. I don't want to be seen this aspect by anyone.



As to Japanese jawbreakers(はやくちことば）:



Easier ones



生麦生米生卵

なまむぎなまごめなまたまご なまむぎなまごめなまたまご

Namamugi Namagome Namatamago Namamugi Namagome Namatamago

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



隣の竹やぶに竹立てかけたの誰だ

となりのたけやぶにたけたてかけたのだれだ となりのたけやぶにたけたてかけたのだれだ

Tonarino Takeyabuni Taketatekaketano Dareda Tonarino Takeyabuni Taketatekaketano Dareda

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



隣の客は良く柿食う客だ。

となりのきゃくは、よくかきくうきゃくだ。となりのきゃくは、よくかきくうきゃくだ。

Tonarino kyaku ha yoku kaki kuu kyakuda Tonarino kyaku ha yoku kaki kuu kyakuda

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



パパのパジャマはパパパジャマ、ママのパジャマはママパジャマ

Papa no pajama ha papa-pajama Mama no pajama ha mama-pajama

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



かえるぴょこぴょこみぴょこぴょこ、あわせてぴょこぴょこむぴょこぴょこ。

Kaeru pyokopyoko mi myokopyoko Awasete pyokopyoko mu pyokopyoko

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



あかまきがみ　あおまきがみ　きまきがみ　あかまきがみ　あおまきがみ　きまきがみ

Akamakigami Aomakigami Kimakigami Akamakigami Aomakigami Kimakigami

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



バスガスばくはつ　バスガスばくはつ バスガスばくはつ

Basu gasu bakuhatu Basu gasu bakuhatu Basu gasu bakuhatu

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



東京都特許許可局

とうきょうととっきょきょかきょく とうきょうととっきょきょかきょく

Toukyou tokkyo kyakakyoku Toukyou tokkyo kyakakyoku

(This is very famous, all Japanese know this.)



骨粗鬆症訴訟勝訴

こつそしょうしょうそしょうしょうそ こつそしょうしょうそしょうしょうそ

Kotsu-soshoushou-soshsou-shouso Kotsu-soshoushou-soshsou-shouso



Extra Difficult one



海軍機関学校機械課今学期学科科目各教官協議の結果下記のごとく確定、科学幾何学機械学国語語学外国語絵画国家学

かいぐんきかんがっこうきかいかこんがっきがっかかもくかくきょうかんきょうぎのけっかかきのごとくかくてい、かがくきかがくきかいがくこくごごがくがいこくごかいがこっかがく

Kaigun kikangakkou kikaika konngakki gakkakamoku kakukyoukan kyouginokekka kakinogotoku kakutei kagaku kikagaku kikaigaku kokugo gogaku gaikokugo kaiga kokkagaku



Have a nice week.



It is a photo of Toyama prefecture. Those are Gasshou-Dukuri houses.

Gasshou means "praying hands". Dukuri means "structure".

Small topics

It seems Obama takes advantage of the circumstances. Basically Mr. Clinton was not a good president for Japan, rather he was an enemy of Japanese economy. Obama's skill is unknown. Clinton is Clinton's wife. My feeling is that Obama would be better president than Mrs. Clinton, I feel so without apparent reason. Anyway I guess candidate who can erase America's chronic deficits would be a good president, America would be forced to change in this respect in near future, I think.



An author of book I read pointed that "Bush didn't regulate housing market. The reason simply comes from that he didn't want to slow the economy during Iraq war and Afghanistan war not to lose support." If so, I think Bush is a big thief. I think I can say budget of those wars are not only from national budget but also from people's house and also from financial markets all over the world too. It was a costly war, indeed.



I watched the "Man in the Iron Mask" last night. I've watched it around 10 years ago. It was a very good movie. I want to become one of three Musketeers. Their English speaking was relatively easy to catch. Then I noticed I don't have any text book for English conversation now. I searched good one but I couldn't find any good one. Text books of NHK-Radio are popular here. But they don't broad cast it on internet. It is 21st century now!



Also I found my English grammar texts are lost. I have two and they are same books. I guess I've put them away in a closet. I often forget mistakable grammar rules and I need to brush up. Hmm. It is easier way to buy new one, I think.



It seems Chinese hackers invaded Department of Defense of America. It seems they have also invaded Japan's one. I guess it is easy to burst through Firewall of politician's PC for them. This is a big crisis, indeed. This is not a small topic.



It is a photo of Nara prefecture.



Have a nice week!

Japanese-learner Increasing

Japan Foundation announced there are Japanese learners in 133 countries, 2980,000 Japanese learners in the world. 26% increased since 3 years ago. They sent survey slip to 29,000 bodies and 77% of them answered. The figure doesn't contain self-taught students. Korean and Australian seems to majorities of the learners. Popularity of Anime and Manga pushes the trend.



Hmm. I wonder if Anime and Manga can be good texts. Some would be good texts. If they want to watch Anime and read Manga for study, I recommend decent ones. Once an American teenager student said "Matana" to me. I'm sure he will be laid off from his boss in the future. I coached him not to use rude expressions to elder people for himself. Then he said "Arigatoyo". I coached it for him again. Then he said "On ni kiruze". Hahaha, he can took mistake because he is a student. However, he learned rude expressions too much. (He adjusted his expression soon.) Some words used in Anime and Manga are strange and impractical as common Japanese.



(Of course, in the case of that one elder person is their close friend. they may be able to use casual talk. But basically they should not use it.)



I thought which Japanese movies are good for Japanese learners. I like this movie very much. http://www.hakase-movie.com/ I found its DVD contains English caption too. They don't use un-proper Japanese. The director, Mr.Koizumi, made Ameagaru. This original novel is written by Ogawa Yoko. Miss/Mrs Ogawa interviewed Fujiwara Masahiko, a mathematician and the author of Dignity of the Nation, and wrote the novel.



Also I recommend http://www.amidado.com/. This is also a works by Mr. Koizumi. They don't use un-proper Japanese. (I guess some of them speak some dialect.)



I think I can say Mr. Koizumi's style to depict is the mainstream of Japanese movie. Japanese learners would feel Japanese emotion.



It is a photo of Shuri-castle in Okinawa.

Entry for February 29, 2008

I am reading one book. I think Japanese people are not interested in water resource problem because it is said water and safety are charge-free in Japan since olden days. However, it seems the problem can do serious damage to Japan because Japan's food self-sufficiency is very low, according to the book.　The author said "global warming may makes Japan water-starved country. Hmm, might be. Now Japan is tropicalizing, I feel. The book is written by Mr. Akio Shibata, a researcher of Marubeni Co..



http://www.amazon.co.jp/水戦争―水資源争奪の最終戦争が始まった-角川SSC新書-19-柴田-明夫/dp/4827550190/re...



I finished to read a book about sub-prime mortgage issue. The author reasoned Bush is the main cause. The author showed what Japanese medias didn't reported to me. It was very interesting. The book is written by an economist, Shoka Haruyama.



http://www.amazon.co.jp/サブプライム問題とは何か-アメリカ帝国の終焉-宝島社新書-254/dp/4796661557/ref=sr...



I can't wait to get the etymology dictionally mailed.