I like comics. I went to a comic cafe last Friday night, and read the last 4 volumes of "Higanjima". Higanjima consists of about 30 volumes, and I have spent almost 1 month to finish reading each and every volume of this series.
I have deepened my confidence that Higanjima is a platitude comic. The story is similar to "Momotaro". An evil boss governs an island named as "Higanjima", and a wise man is confined to the island. Young boys, including the younger brother of the confined man, and a young girl go to the island and fight with the evil boss in order to rescue the man.
Higanjima entices its readers into reading this childish story by using 2 measures. One is that Higanjima frequently depicts violence scenes. There are almost always fights between justice and evil. The other is the utilization of sex scenes. There are also almos always naked women, who are stripped of their clothes by evil people.
However, I was impressed with an interesting logic used in the comic. Evil is depicted by vampire and justice is depicted by human beings. Whoever gets infected with the bood of vampires becomes a vampire. The vampires always seek the blood of human beings, because the vampires become mad if they have not drunk the blood of human beings for a certain period of time.
15 to 20 minutes were required to finish reading one volume on average. I have spent 2 to 3 hours in comic cafes 4 to 5 times this October. I have been to the cafes at night without exception. After leaving the cafes at midnight, I have almost always thought that the comic was boring.
Although the comic was boring, I cannot resist my temptation to enter comic cafes. This temptation is similar to the one that I felt when I have approached men/women who were boring to me. Talking with such people was fun at the beginning, and I wanted to continue to contact them. However, soon or later I realized that something was different, and ended up being alienated from them.
I refrain from entering comic cafes, because I know my habit. Once I start to read a comic, I make myself to finish reading all the volumes of the comic. Since I do not want to spend my precious time in reading boring comics, I avoid entering comic cafes.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Love Marriage or Arranged Marriage
Couples get married through love marriages or arranged marriages. Although love marriages sound romantic, unmarried people usually find it difficult to meet good partners.
As far as I know, arranged marriages had been common in Japan before the World War II. My grandfathers and grandmothers both on my father's and mother's sides got married through arranged marriages. Love marriages were very seldom at that time.
However, love marriages started to prevail in Japan after the World War II. This is partly because the U.S. infused the concepts of freedom of love and freedom of marriage into Japan at that time. The concepts must have motivated youngsters to get married due to love.
As for modern times, love marriages have become frequent. Unmarried people tend to avoid searching potential partners through arrangements. Love marriages are common in Japan now. However, my friends living in India said otherwise. Many couples in India get married through arranged marriage. There seem to few barriers to arranged marriages in India.
When I heard it from my friends in India, I though that there were more freedoms in India than in Japan. Even though people can choose between arranged marriages and love marriages in Japan, Japanese society implicitly forces unmarried people to choose the love marriages.
As far as I know, arranged marriages had been common in Japan before the World War II. My grandfathers and grandmothers both on my father's and mother's sides got married through arranged marriages. Love marriages were very seldom at that time.
However, love marriages started to prevail in Japan after the World War II. This is partly because the U.S. infused the concepts of freedom of love and freedom of marriage into Japan at that time. The concepts must have motivated youngsters to get married due to love.
As for modern times, love marriages have become frequent. Unmarried people tend to avoid searching potential partners through arrangements. Love marriages are common in Japan now. However, my friends living in India said otherwise. Many couples in India get married through arranged marriage. There seem to few barriers to arranged marriages in India.
When I heard it from my friends in India, I though that there were more freedoms in India than in Japan. Even though people can choose between arranged marriages and love marriages in Japan, Japanese society implicitly forces unmarried people to choose the love marriages.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Pornographic sites
The Internet is full of information ranging from scientific, artistic, to business topics. However, I cannot neglect pornographic topics when talking about the Internet. If I were to goole pornographic keywords, I would hit millions of websites dealing with porn. This is the strongest supporting tool, especially for teenage boys who are hungry for female's naked bodies.
If I were to be a teen in this Internet area, I would be trapped in and addicted to the Internet. Every night, everyday, I would search and download or watch pornographic sites. No hindrance would be placed in the way of my addiction. This would be certain.
In addition, pornographic sites are like labyrinths. There are many links, one from another. Sometimes it is a very long way to reach a satisfactory site. This difficulty also would drive young people to get addicted to the porn.
Human right issues have been of concern to people with a lot of common sense. Although I totally agree with the illegality of uploading and downloading, for example, child porn photos or movies, the ethics itself is inadequate to prevent teenange boys from watching such sites. In addition, imposing legal punishments seems technically difficult to implement. Furthermore, technological countermeasures such as filtering have not been distributed in Japan. Today's teens have no other choices but to waste time and energy through Internet surfing. Oh, how sad this reality is.
If I were to be a teen in this Internet area, I would be trapped in and addicted to the Internet. Every night, everyday, I would search and download or watch pornographic sites. No hindrance would be placed in the way of my addiction. This would be certain.
In addition, pornographic sites are like labyrinths. There are many links, one from another. Sometimes it is a very long way to reach a satisfactory site. This difficulty also would drive young people to get addicted to the porn.
Human right issues have been of concern to people with a lot of common sense. Although I totally agree with the illegality of uploading and downloading, for example, child porn photos or movies, the ethics itself is inadequate to prevent teenange boys from watching such sites. In addition, imposing legal punishments seems technically difficult to implement. Furthermore, technological countermeasures such as filtering have not been distributed in Japan. Today's teens have no other choices but to waste time and energy through Internet surfing. Oh, how sad this reality is.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Marriage of my friend
A friend from my university days has recently informed me of his coming marriage. 3 to 4 years has passed since we have seen each other. He and I shared the same room when we were in our first year. We had the 2 other friends in the same room. However, we two hit it off well.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Work and Life
The term of "work and life balance" has been prevailing in Japan for 3 to 4 years. This is easy to say, but difficult to accomplish. This term implies that the more we work, the less we have time with our family. Thus, we are expected to work in balance with our private life. Accordingly, the quality of our work will increase.
However, although I do not have any strict reasons, I do not agree with this movement. To begin with, I cannot accept an easy-to-hear phrase like this one. There must always be hidden a negative effect when someone distributes easy words.
I understand that overwork does not guarantee a good job. However, I want to say that work should be managed not by the government or society, but by oneself or individual organizations. Imposition of an ideology will reduce the width of our individuality.
However, although I do not have any strict reasons, I do not agree with this movement. To begin with, I cannot accept an easy-to-hear phrase like this one. There must always be hidden a negative effect when someone distributes easy words.
I understand that overwork does not guarantee a good job. However, I want to say that work should be managed not by the government or society, but by oneself or individual organizations. Imposition of an ideology will reduce the width of our individuality.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1)
I have been reading Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell for the past 2 weeks. The book consists of 3 chapters. I am now in the last section of the chaper 2.
Nineteen Eighty-Four is a very famous novel. I came across this book when reading the Japan Times, a newspaper written in English and published in Japan. I remember that an article in the Japan Times described an unstable political phase in Zimbabwe 2 or 3 years ago. At that time, a tyrant governed the country. Members of the opposition parties to the tyrant were reported to be killed by accidents or suspicious reasons.
The article referred to a one-party dictatorship described in Nineteen Eighty-Four. In some other article in the Japan Times, there was also a reference to Nineteen Eighty-Four. Almost 50 years have passed since the book was written in 1949. However, there were still references to the book, from which I sensed that something universal would had been written.
My intuition was correct. The book is well written. I cannot do any other thing except reading the book in my free time. I will post my impression on the book in a future blog.
Nineteen Eighty-Four is a very famous novel. I came across this book when reading the Japan Times, a newspaper written in English and published in Japan. I remember that an article in the Japan Times described an unstable political phase in Zimbabwe 2 or 3 years ago. At that time, a tyrant governed the country. Members of the opposition parties to the tyrant were reported to be killed by accidents or suspicious reasons.
The article referred to a one-party dictatorship described in Nineteen Eighty-Four. In some other article in the Japan Times, there was also a reference to Nineteen Eighty-Four. Almost 50 years have passed since the book was written in 1949. However, there were still references to the book, from which I sensed that something universal would had been written.
My intuition was correct. The book is well written. I cannot do any other thing except reading the book in my free time. I will post my impression on the book in a future blog.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Tea Ceremony Utensils
One of my wife's acquaintances is a ceramic artist, and he currently presents an exihition of his tea ceremony utensils. My wife and I visited there today. There are various utensils ranging from tea cups, calligraphy mounted on a hanging scroll to flower vases. Besides, I could attend a tea ceremony in which the artist's utensils were used.
Tea and a Japanese-style confection were good taste. In addition, talkings with the artist was also good. On the other hand, I found myself not to be relaxed because the tea ceremony was conducted according to traditional manners.
About 5 years ago, I read "The Book of Tea" written by Tensin Okakura. The book introduces and explaines an essence of a Japanese tea ceremony. The book was easy to read, but at that time difficult to understand what the author wanted to express. I forgot the details, but I remembere that the author said "The tea ceremony can create a small cosmos among a mind of the attendees."
The tea ceremony utensils which I saw were good ones. Textures and structure of, and paintings on the utensils seemed to be all based on the traditional manner. By seeing and surrounded by them, I sensed as if I had not lived in the modern time. I mean that I could drop the concept of time at a single moment.
Busy is good, and nothing to do is wrong. This scheme is easy to be accepted in the modern developed society. However, looking back on the Edo era (about 150 years to 300 years ago), tea ceremonys were common among samurais. Although the level of science and technology in the Edo era were lower than in the modern era, the cultural levels and the hearts of human-beings seemed not to be lower than in the moder era.
Tea and a Japanese-style confection were good taste. In addition, talkings with the artist was also good. On the other hand, I found myself not to be relaxed because the tea ceremony was conducted according to traditional manners.
About 5 years ago, I read "The Book of Tea" written by Tensin Okakura. The book introduces and explaines an essence of a Japanese tea ceremony. The book was easy to read, but at that time difficult to understand what the author wanted to express. I forgot the details, but I remembere that the author said "The tea ceremony can create a small cosmos among a mind of the attendees."
The tea ceremony utensils which I saw were good ones. Textures and structure of, and paintings on the utensils seemed to be all based on the traditional manner. By seeing and surrounded by them, I sensed as if I had not lived in the modern time. I mean that I could drop the concept of time at a single moment.
Busy is good, and nothing to do is wrong. This scheme is easy to be accepted in the modern developed society. However, looking back on the Edo era (about 150 years to 300 years ago), tea ceremonys were common among samurais. Although the level of science and technology in the Edo era were lower than in the modern era, the cultural levels and the hearts of human-beings seemed not to be lower than in the moder era.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Eiken Grade 1 Test
I will take the Eiken Grade 1 test next Sunday. This will be the third time that I have taken the test. I got better scores in the second test than in the first one, but I failed to pass even the second test. I would like to gain a higher score in the third test, and pass it.
Eiken Grade 1 is regarded as one of the most difficult English tests in Japan. One of my relatives has passed it. My parents has referred to her as "that lady who is the Eiken Grade 1 holder."
As far as I can see the score gained at the second test, I would have passed the exam if I had not made 2 mistakes. However, even now, I cannot believe why I have gained such a high English capability that I would have nearly passed the Eiken Grade 1. I've neither had an experience to live in a foreign country outside Japan, nor been enrolled in a school or university specializing in foreign language studies.
I have a Japanese friend who is fond of communicating in English. I have written letters in English or spoken English language often when I have contacted him. This communication created an opportunity for me to eliminate any phychological barriers to English in my teen's.
Moreover, I have contacted, not limited to the friend, many foreign friends, teachers, clients, and contractors both in my personal life and business life. All the opportunities have nurtured my English skill.
My parents will be surprized if I pass the Eiken Grade 1 test.
Eiken Grade 1 is regarded as one of the most difficult English tests in Japan. One of my relatives has passed it. My parents has referred to her as "that lady who is the Eiken Grade 1 holder."
As far as I can see the score gained at the second test, I would have passed the exam if I had not made 2 mistakes. However, even now, I cannot believe why I have gained such a high English capability that I would have nearly passed the Eiken Grade 1. I've neither had an experience to live in a foreign country outside Japan, nor been enrolled in a school or university specializing in foreign language studies.
I have a Japanese friend who is fond of communicating in English. I have written letters in English or spoken English language often when I have contacted him. This communication created an opportunity for me to eliminate any phychological barriers to English in my teen's.
Moreover, I have contacted, not limited to the friend, many foreign friends, teachers, clients, and contractors both in my personal life and business life. All the opportunities have nurtured my English skill.
My parents will be surprized if I pass the Eiken Grade 1 test.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
A Resolution on my Thirtieth Birthday
I turned thirty years old today. I am now healthy, and have a place to work. I have novels which I want to read. (I am now fascinated by "1984" by George Orwell, and wish to finish reading it within this October.) I have many haves. I feel good now, and today is my thirtieth birthday.
No one is able to forecast one's future life and career; neither scientist, business executives, nor engineers. All we can do is to live our life & perform our role imposed by our society as best we can. As a result, so-called fortune or success will turn up. Compromises and laziness will create no satisfaction. I wish to conduct my best performance during my 30's. This is my resolution made on my thirtieth birthday.
Yes, no one knows his/her own future, but I think that if I keep doing the following things during my 30's, I will enter my 40's with great pleasure.
- To keep recording my life in a blog/diary,
- Commuting to my office by walking from my home,
- Reading/watching/listening good novels/movies/music,
- Socializing with nice people.
No one is able to forecast one's future life and career; neither scientist, business executives, nor engineers. All we can do is to live our life & perform our role imposed by our society as best we can. As a result, so-called fortune or success will turn up. Compromises and laziness will create no satisfaction. I wish to conduct my best performance during my 30's. This is my resolution made on my thirtieth birthday.
Yes, no one knows his/her own future, but I think that if I keep doing the following things during my 30's, I will enter my 40's with great pleasure.
- To keep recording my life in a blog/diary,
- Commuting to my office by walking from my home,
- Reading/watching/listening good novels/movies/music,
- Socializing with nice people.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Taking a seat of directors of CSIJ
A periodical meeting of the board of directors of the Citizen Science Initiative Japan (CSIJ) was held today, and the board tentatively nominated me as a new director of the CSIJ. According to the statute of the CSIJ, new directors are to be selected and appointed at the annutal general meeting held usually in summer. Although I have not become a formal director yet, I will be involved in activities of the CSIJ more often and harder than ever, sooner or later.
The CSIJ is a non-profit organization comprising more than two hundred supporters as of August 2009. A mission of the CSIJ is to discuss and propose better blueprints of science and technology which are mainly provided for citizens.
This is the first time for me to deeply get involved in an NPO's activities. I have been and am currenly working in a private company, and one of the main missions of my company, probably every company, is to produce monetary profit. The mission - to produce a profit - is very simple and easy to understand. However, I have been seeking other or hidden purposes of private companys. Even though I have been working for 5 years in my company, I am still uncertain what the hidden purposes are. I would like to seek them by socializing with people I meet through the activities of CSIJ.
The CSIJ is a non-profit organization comprising more than two hundred supporters as of August 2009. A mission of the CSIJ is to discuss and propose better blueprints of science and technology which are mainly provided for citizens.
This is the first time for me to deeply get involved in an NPO's activities. I have been and am currenly working in a private company, and one of the main missions of my company, probably every company, is to produce monetary profit. The mission - to produce a profit - is very simple and easy to understand. However, I have been seeking other or hidden purposes of private companys. Even though I have been working for 5 years in my company, I am still uncertain what the hidden purposes are. I would like to seek them by socializing with people I meet through the activities of CSIJ.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Purchase of House
One of my friends got married a couple of months ago, and he will hold his wedding reception in the coming months. I talked with him over the phone today. He said that he was currently preparing invitation cards for guests. He requested my wife and me to attend the reception. He also talked about his new life with his new wife. It sounded good. Even over the phone, I could imagine his face seemed content with the marriage.
On the phone, I informed him of my decision that I would move to a new house. The house is close to my current home. I rent the current home on the condition that I have to leave this place in a couple of years. I, thus, have been looking for a new place to live for about one year. And, I found the one. The new house is also a rented house.
The friend mentioned that he and his wife sometimes have wondered about purchasing a house. They now rent a house and live there like I do. The friend asked me whether I have a plan to purchase a house. I answered no, because I do not want to bear a housing loan. The friend said he will purchase one if he finds a good one, since paying a rent creates nothing.
I remembered that some other friends of mine had bought a house, and my colleagues own their house. I suddenly realized that I compared my life with that of my friends and colleagues. When I was single, I did not do the comparison. If I were to purchase my house, would I feel superior to my friends who would not own their own house?
Thinking on a possibility of purchasing a house reminded me of one phrase which my former girlfriend said during my student days. She said that any materials would not satisfy me. House, car, money, nor any countable materials. I would feel satisfaction only when I accomplish self-imposed goals or encounter serendipity. The goals would not be materials, but be uncountable things, such as understanding complex logic, deepening friendships, or falling in a love.
More than 5 years has passed since I graduated my university. I have not yet bought a house not because of ideological reasons. But because I do not want myself to be bonded with a long term housing loan.
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