Oita Godo Newspaper (January 16, 2010, 08:45)
Large earthquake in Haiti, the Caribbean Island, has occurred at 4.53 pm. on Tuesday 12 January, 2010. The minister of Haiti said the number of victims will reach to 200,000.
The officials had said this earthquake that devastated Haiti was the worst to strike in two centuries. Its magnitude 7.0 brought down buildings great and small - from shacks to President Rene Preval's white National Palace. Now they found the death bodies around 50,000 people but the forecast of death people will be around 100,000-200,000 people.
The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton,had meeting President Preval. Her plane is bringing in supplies and will carry evacuated Americans back home. In addition, The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, estimated that in the worst areas 50% of buildings were damaged or destroyed, leaving 3 million people without access to food, water, shelter and electricity. Ban said he will plan to visit Haiti soon.
Comment: I guess this is the most sadness news of this year. It's sad to see the number of people died and those got injured in Haiti. I hope they all will get recued soon.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (January 14, 2010, 20:57)
Tokyo Tower was lit up in two colors during Protecting Disaster& Volunteer week, 15th to 21st January, 2010 to remind the Great Hanshin Earthquake in south Hyogo prefecture.
It was colored in green and yellow lights. The meaning of green color is "to safe" while yellow means "to hope". The purpose of this project is to encourage people to raise their awareness of disaster protection since the Great Hanshin Earthquake has occurred in the Hanshin area on January 17, 1995. Many Industrial buildings, factories and houses were damaged at that time.
Mr. Nakai, the tower operator officials said that the top and the bottom part will light up in yellow and the middle of the tower will light up in green. Many people who are passing around also stop and look at the beautiful of the tower or take a picture of it.
Comment: I myself have been to Tokyo many times but never been to Tokyo Tower. So next time I must go there to see the beautiful of the tower and go up to the top deck to see the view of Tokyo!!
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (January 20, 2010 17:24)
KDDI (au), on September 20, announced the start of "Gan Gan Student Discount", a campaign to discount 390 yen of basic monthly fee for cell phone up to three years towards students from elementary school up to college students. And in the case of "Simple Plan E", the basic fee will be a half of 390 yen again.
Application period is from February 9 to May 9. In the spring selling season coincided with the increase of new subscriber enrollment, they aims to attract new users, whom mostly are young student first allowed to buy a mobile phone, by appealing a lower rate.
To obtain this discount, a user must join the specified plan with two-year contract. Those who are already using au mobile phones can also apply.
Even after you graduate from a school, this discount campaign will still be applied for three years counted from the application. New subscribers will receive family discounts on basic charge as well.
Comment: Oh my god! This is so attractive and it is a war between Japan's mobile companies, which then become the most beneficial for customers like us! However, I already made a contract with Softbank - -"
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (December 15, 2009, 14:56)
Oita's accident-zero movement at the end of year and the New Year was begun on December 15. This will last until January 4 for the total of 21 days with "Prevention of Fatal Traffic Accident in the elderly" as the theme, calling for better compliance with traffic rules and manners, strengthening the crackdown on traffic vicious violations including drunken driving.
The provincial council, the police, the provincial administration for safe driving, and etc. held the departure ceremony for the enforcement and publicity activities at the space in front of the prefectural office. Approximately 150 people attended. As the representative of the administration, Yakushiji-san (23) of Nishi Tetsu Oita Techno Support declared that "I will drop the speed if I see elderly walking pass the street and yield a course when I see a maple mark."
As many as 14 buses and taxi, with the magnet plate written "Let's prevent accident in elderly people", were launched. The magnet plate will be stuck on approximately 2,500 more cars of participating enterprises.
Comment: Very good and careful consideration of elderly safety. But I wonder that does Japan have more elder than younger traffic accident victims during the New Year vacation? In Thailand, we do not have such specific safety campaign for elderly but general safety campaign for everyone.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
(Oita Godo Newspaper, January 19th 2010, morning paper)
Japan Airlines had applied for company restructuring, and from January
19th the reconstruction of company under the government's management had
started. The employees of Japan Airlines expressed "Today, we have become one
and we will do our best!" Also, from the customers of Japan Airlines who have
been using the services, words of support and encouragements could be heard,
such as "we hope for the successful reconstruction" and "we want to use more of
JAL's services to help".
The employees of Japan Airlines had gathered from 8 o'clock in the
morning at the headquarter in Shinagawa area, Tokyo. A lot of journalists from domestic and overseas were
present, but the employees refused to give any comments and silently rushed to
the headquarter.
A female employee in her forties who works in the Business Operations Department expressed, "We are attached emotionally to the companies. I am worried about the restructuring process but today we can only do our best. I feel like crying..."
A male employee in his forties said, "We can only do our best to support
in a safe way. If there is any accident happening, we will lose the trust in
society, and eventually we will not able to help Japan Airlines. I am feeling a
sense of crisis".
Comment:
I feel symphathetic to Japan Airlines who has to undergo the restructuring. According to the news related to the executive compensation the I read last year, I came to know that the CEO of JAL actually cut his own salary and compensation in solidarity with the other employees and he even takes public bus and eat in the canteen together with other employees. I felt really touch by his actions. However, the financial condition worsens, as airline industry is indeed easily affected by financial crisis. Nonetheless, I hope for JAL's recovery.
NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama
Indonesia
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, APM3
Oita Godo Newspaper (December 15, 2009 11:16)
The mayor Masayoshi Shimizu of Ota city and the mayor Yasutomo Suzuki of Hamamatsu city, Gunma prefecture met Masaharu Nakagawa, Vice Minister of Ministry of Education, on 15th to hand in a proposal seeking for the urgent establishment of "Foreign Office" in order to mandate foreign-related measures after "The City Conference of Foreign Collective Living" held at 7 prefectures and 28 cities where there were many Japanese-Brazilian residents.
The proposal points out that there becomes a necessary to have the measure to treat foreigners as salaries persons since the number of foreigners who lost their jobs due to the economic crisis in Japan is very large. Other than Foreign Office, in order to enhance the educational environment for foreign children, it is mandatory to seek for financial assistance to enter public schools and to do job hunting.
"The City Conference of Foreign Collective Living" is aiming to coexist with the local foreign residents, exchange information and solve common problems. It was established in 2001. The proposal submitted this time was the agreement the regular meeting held at Ota City in late August.
Comment: Oh, Japanese people are so generous to foreigners. Thank you so much. I myself have been living here for about 4 years, I know it well. In response, I behave as a good resident of Japan, too.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (December 17, 2009 13:49)
Saga prefectural Takeo police station arrested unemployed Onoe Ayako (27) living in Omura city, Nagasaki, on 17th on suspicion of cosmetic theft at supermarkets. The police seized total of 2391 unused cosmetics from her house.
According to the police, the suspect Ogami said "steal and calm when feel nervous". In addition, she has repeatedly shoplifted hundreds of times over since 2004, at large commercial facilities in Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima prefectures.
All seized goods were stolen ones. The investigator believed that some had been sold through eBay. The suspect was arrested around 3:20 pm on 5 December on suspicion of stealing of one bottle of foundation (1600 yen) inside Takeo city, Saga prefecture.
According to the police, seized cosmetics included 792 pieces of the foundation, 458 pieces of eye shadow, and 206 pieces of eyeliner. Only half of the seized number (1976 pieces) valued as much as 540 million yen. She packed them in cardboard or paper bags hidden in a closet and the car.
Comment: Another rare case in Japan, isn't it? May be because of the economic crisis, she decided to did it. The news did not state when she started to steal.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (December 18, 2009 10:20)
Due to the influence of strong coldness and the pressure pattern in winter, the land on the side of the Sea of Japan was covered by heavy snow on 18th. Referring to Meteorological Agency, the heavy snow would continue on 19th mainly in the region west of Tokyo on Japan Sea side of Japan including Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui prefectures. The agency also called for attention to the road surface freezing and avalanches. On 19th, there would be certain places in the East Sea and northeastern Pacific side of Japan where snow piled up.
18th, the first snow happened at Wakayama, Takamatsu, Kochi, and Oita whereas the first freezing was observed in Tottori and Kobe. Sapporo morning temperature was the lowest at -7.9 degree, -3.7 degree at Akita, 4.2 degree at Tokyo, -0.6 degree at Niigata, 0.1 degree at Kyoto and 1.5 degree in Kochi. This winter is the coldest for every cities and towns.
According to the agency, the chill lower than -42 degree, which was over the Sea of Japan for five meters, would pass through northern Japan on Monday morning. The winter pressure pattern would increase further.
Expected amount of snow in 24 hours from 18th to the morning of 19th was much everywhere. Hokuriku 80 cm; the Japan Sea side of Tohoku, Tokai (Gifu) 60 cm; Hokkaido, Kinki, Kanto-Koshin (Nagano Prefecture) 50 cm; Shikoku 15 cm.
Comment: Woo~ it sounds so cold. I think I couldn't live there since I easily suffer from coldness. However, it is challenging for people from tropic area like me. I prefer not too cold season such as spring and fall. By the way, take care of your health, everyone!
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (December 15, 2009 14:47)
This plan is beyond a local information promotion site "BEPPoo!!" of a Student Organization (President Tamura Mariko). The chosen Beppu hot spring facility was "Yuya Yumetamate Bako" in Kitachu. There are students from 97 countries and regions. The organization actually gained approximately 80 responses to this plan but some canceled on the appointed day.
Ms. Mikiko Katsurao was the person in charge (22, 3rd year student) said deplorably that "some people couldn't come due to a cold. Some forgot to bring the passport to prove the nationality. I want to entrust the juniors to recapture the Guinness World Record. An exchange meeting was held in the city after the challenge, and then the result was reported. Finally the participants enjoyed Indonesian folk dance and Mochi making.
Comment: Unsuccessful result? Really!?! What a pity. I thought APU could surely make it this year also. However, since there are so many nationalities in APU, there will be a lot of next chances. This time became a good lesson. Little strict management and better cooperation must be obtained next tome.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (December 17, 2009 10:19)
Saiki City Tourism Association began a trial of "bicycle rental" for tourists. The purpose is to further promote remained famous places such as castles, samurai residences and streets as tourist attractions by expanding the tourists' "legs" to those who formerly walked only in the center of the city.
The bicycles are available at the City Tourist Association office near Oita Bus Terminal in Otemachi town, Saiki city, and the city tourist office in JR Saeki. After use, the bicycles can be returned either. Rental fee is 300 yen per 2 hours for adults and 150 yen for elementary school students or younger.
Overall 20 units including 4 for children are prepared. In order to tickle tourists, stickers read as well-known names in associated with the city like "Chrysanthemum Princess", "Hotappi", "Portman" and so on, are pasted in front of the front baskets.
Cycling route map will be well created within in the next spring. City Tourism Association said "At the heart of the city, there are Shiroyama and Yamagiwa Streets, and a lot of beautiful season changing sights at Banjou River to see. We hope tourists enjoy the relaxed bicycling. Contact the City Tourist Association (TEL 0972-23-1101).
Comment: Very good tourism improvement in Saiki. It is also good for tourists' health themselves! I have been to Saiki twice; one for a home stay and another for a speech at Rotary club. So I know that Saiki has made a lot of effort to develop the city's tourism industry. I wish it the big success!!
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
