November 2009 Archives
Oita Godo Newspaper (evening edition on November 19, 2009)
On November 19th; the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology together with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare did a survey and found that the number of prospective graduates next spring who get unofficial job offers is 62.5 in percentage as of October 1st. This is 7.4 point dropping compared to the statistics in the same period last year.
This drop is the most since the ministries started the survey in 1996. For junior college graduates, the percentage is the least of 29.0% with the most 10.4 point of dropping scale. The ministry of Education stated that the government ought to give a support like appropriate policies to job hunting activities.
Comment: The employment is a very sensitive issue as you know it is directly related to the economy. Students need to be stronger to fight for job offers and must be able to appeal the companies with your most attractiveness which they can't find in anyone else! But I would say it is not the end of the life if you do not get any. May be it's the chance for you to initiate your own successful business, who knows?!? Be optimistic.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (evening edition on November 18, 2009)
We usually notice someone nearby having a sweet which looks delicious, don't we? According to the ranking based on the family budget survey by item conducted by the department of statistics under the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, citizen of Oita city was the 1st rank for consuming snacks and chocolates the most in the country per person (average rate of 2006-2008).
From interviewing, "I usually put some chocolates and candies in a bag for taking out" said mothers coming with children in Oita city. Male employees usually have gums and spearmint "FRISK" with them for breath-refreshing and getting rid of sleepiness. Female employees talked their opinions that sweets received as souvenirs are the most sweets they usually eats at the companies; gums and candies when feel a bit hungry.
" 'Cheap, Delicious, and Safe' is the current trend" said the manager of "Oshima-Ya" sweet shop in Oita city.
Comment: Please count me in!!!! I love sweets especially chocolates, too. In fact, I think no one dislike. Even so, I didn't expect Oita is the first rank before. Sugoi! But, don't forget to take a good care of our health also (tell myself first - -")
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (evening edition on November 18, 2009)
West Japan Railway (Fukuoka city) or so called Nishitetsu expressed the big-scale shrinking of bus business on 18th that because of the decrease of passengers as an impact from the economic crisis and the reduction of the high way using fee, the company plans to abolish some route sections and stop hiring new drivers in 2010. "The bus companies will face the biggest restructuring in the history." Until now, they use the profits from high-way buses to cover the deficits of other route buses however earning profits from high-way buses has become worse also. This composition shows the collapsing shape of the firm.
About the abolishment of route sections, it is planned to implement to as many as 10-20 sections in Fukuoka and Saga prefectures which are under the management of Nishitetsu's subsidiary companies. About the reduction of number of buses, 20-40 buses will be stopped from formerly approx. 100 buses inside Fukuoka city. Most of stopped routes and buses are due to too small number of passengers triggering the deficits. Moreover, there is a tendency not to employ more drivers in 2010 despite roughly 300 drivers usually newly employed by Nishitetsu every year.
Comment: Here is another business impacted by the bad economy right now. Personally I was happy to know that the fee for using high ways became 1000 yen only. Of course, that is good for general people but bad for the bus business. However, I believe they will find some creative solutions to solve such problems. It is Japanese people's strong point!!
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
Oita Godo
Newspaper (evening edition on November 11, 2009)
Preparing for coming Winter, in this 11th there is going starts wrapping the pine trees in Beppu park in order to protect it from the harmful insect.
In winter, the harmful insect will move out from inside the tree to the ground to hibernate. Thus, we put a straw mat to gathering them together, or in another word, to get rid of them. Then, when the hibernating period gone (around 6th March) we will collect the straw mat and burn them.
In the same park, the prefecture's officers are professionally covering the straws mat to the trees at the height around 1 meter from the ground. It is estimated that within this 16th, all 15 parks in Beppu city (around 1,000 trees) will be all covered with the straw mat.
Comment: Oh I see! That's why they cover it up. I have been thinking that they cover the mat around the tree to protect it from the coldness. Hahahaha Seriously! Anyway, it isn't an easy work to cover the every tree in the city with the straw mat. Such a delicate and well preparing mind ^___^
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
Oita Godo
Newspaper (evening edition on November 13, 2009)
"We are now in an aslant hull, please sending a rescue team!" A sound from Mie Prefecture, Kumamonada in the early morning of 13th, aslant ferry "Ariage" has found. Through the heavy winds and rains, the rescue team had to use helicopter to reach the spot.
Fortunately, they could rescue the whole passenger and all crews. "I didn't feel like I'm living", said the survivor in a very frighten and tired voice after being rescue by climbing up the rope that flown from the helicopter.
The guys said that when he was going to sleep around 5am. , he heard the sounds like "Crack" and then the ferry was slowly slant to the right, all televisions and refrigerators are turn up side down. People were freaking out. It was very mass in the ferry that time. One of the crew said, when he woke up and found that the ferry slanted he was in shocked. He really feels sorry for the whole passengers about this.
Comment: Such a bad news, but thanks God no one hurt! These day the weather change so easily. Although we can forecast the weather, we can not foresee the accident. Safety first! Avoid going to the risky place. Furthermore, when you face the accident, be aware; try to clam down as much as possible and do according to the rescue guideline.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
The program was adopted from a script titled "Keisei Hangonko" that was written by Ichikawa Ennosuke, a Japanese playwright. The characters like Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Enya, and Ichikawa Emisaburo, appeared in the play. There were 1300 pairs watching the Kabuki performance, who were selected from 5,719 pairs who applied to obtain the performance tickets. After watching exciting fights between the characters, the courageous acts disappeared and the audience's emotion was stirred by the love and affection between a husband and wife. Those were impressive, famous scenes which are known among the Kabuki fans to be the trademark of Ichikawa's plays. "Omodakaya!" was one of the enthusiastic shouts by the audience, which was followed by a hearty applause afterwards.
At the lobby, a fund-raising activity was held with the purpose to promote traditional culture in Oita Prefecture. The money collected will be donated to the Social Welfare Association in Oita Prefecture, the Social Welfare Association in Oita City, Kunimi Kabuki Preservation Association (Kunisaki City), and Matama Kabuki Preservation Association (Bungotakada City).
Comment: I attended the evening performance and I was very exciting since it was my first Kabuki show. I received the free ticket sponsored by ANA through my university, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. I think this event achieved its goal which was to promote and preserve Japanese traditional culture. As a foreigner myself, Kabuki used to be unfamiliar. Infact, many of my Japanese friends have never watched a Kabuki show before. With this charity event, the organizers managed to reach more people to get to know Kabuki and experience the enjoyment of watching Kabuki. Through the Kabuki show that I watched, I had some new insights about Japanese culture. I hope that there will be similar events in the future, which promote other Japanese arts. It will definitely help foreigners to understand Japanese culture.
NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama
Indonesia
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, APM 3
Oita Godo
Newspaper (evening edition on November 13, 2009)
JR Kyushu is holding a tourist campaign "Fabulous Kumamoto Zan" for the second time under the theme of "Sea of Amakusa" during December to January next year. Houhisen, a famous train since 1962 and also a tourist spot, is on sale as a limit package trip to Amakusa.
The campaign plan was from the involving company and Kumamoto City with cooperation from Kyushu Shinkansen lines. In this opening event was promoted by Susanne, a famous talent, since October under the theme of "Mountain Sea and Hot Spring for beautiful woman".
This second theme would spotted on the high speed train that will especially run for tourist only on Saturday, Sunday and Holiday until January 17th next year. The limited campaign is included 2 places of Onsen Hotel in Amakusa trip in a very special price.
Comment: It sounds interesting! I would love to go there during my holiday if I have a chance. Travel with a train is one of a amuse trip. And also can enjoy the natural scenery and onsen hotel. Moreover, you can do it all in one trip and in special prices! Wow! Everything is special! Nothing sounds more interesting that this for this holiday!
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo
Newspaper (evening edition on November 13, 2009)
London- The biggest airway of England, British Air West (BA) and Spain's airway, Iberia are going to hold the public ceremony of joining the business in 12th January 2010. They announce that the essential agreement was approved by both sides already.
Amount the European airlines, by boarding distance in total now, excepted German's Luftansa, they are going to rank the second largest airline company in Europe and the 5th largest company in the world. Due to the worldwide Airline business condition, to avoid being under danger the combination of companies is a good idea. Not only sharing and expand the stocks but also accelerate the rationalization.
British Airline will put 55 percents of the whole shareholders to this new coming combined company. The headquarters would locate in Madrid, but the executive management would run in London.
Comment: These days it is not weird news to hear that the big companies get combined together, after we heard the incredible collapse of many big companies. Now might be the hardest time for everyone, both small and big businesses. I think this is rather good news for us that at least we will not see more unemployed people on the road.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo
Newspaper (evening edition on November 13, 2009)
Sydney- If you are trying to loose you weight by decrease consuming carbohydrate, you may feel easily get depressed or easier get angry. Australian research team found that there was a similar study published in the western medical magazine "achieving of internal medicine". The way to diet by extremely avoid carbohydrate might bring about to kidney trouble and other health problem. Also, it may harm your psychology.
The researcher divided the 106 obese volunteers age 24-64 into 2 groups, which are "low carbohydrate consuming" and "high carbohydrate consuming". They held the diet experiment for 1 year and observe the volunteers' weight and psychology. By having the same amount of calories, both group loose weight in average 13.7 kilos. But in psychological, "the low carbohydrate consuming group" has a problem with their mind. They unhappily found that they depressed very easily.
Now the research team is studying that the food such a carbohydrate group has influence the feeling controlling part in our brain or not.
Comment: Wow, there you go! People who are now on diet should listen to this news. Being on a diet is not a serious thing, but you should do it in the right way. Something too much is always bad. Keep being in the middle is the best!
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo
Newspaper (evening edition on November 9, 2009)
Here comes the season that we can eat a very delicious sweet potato. Has anyone ever experienced go digging a sweet potato? A sweet potato has rich vitamin C and fiber. With a low fat but high in protein, it is very suitable for diet. In this winter, let's make a sweet potato soup at home!
Ingredient (for 2 people); peeled sweet potatoes 200 grams, bouillon 1 cup, soya milk ¾ cup, salt 1/3 teaspoon, pepper a little, fresh cream ¼ cup.
How to make; 1) Peel a sweet potato, cut it for one big bite, wash the cut sweet potatoes then soak it in the water. Boil them.
2) Strain the boiled sweet potatoes, put it in the pot. Add the bouillon and soya milk, heat them up. Put the salt and add some pepper as you like.
3) Pour the fresh cream into the pot, cut the heat down. Pour the soup in the cup.
4) Slide the sweet potatoes into slim pieces, put in on the soup for decoration. Ready to Serve!!
Comment: So interesting and it sounds delicious. After I read this new I would like to make one by myself and it looks not that difficult at all! Not only it makes yourself warm and your stomach full, also have lots of vitamin C and protein. Such a quick menu during this coming freezing winter, don't you think?
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
Oita Godo
Newspaper (evening edition on November 9, 2009)
The white fat lies on the tuna meat is the reason why bluefin tuna, also known as Honmaguro, very popular and considered as high rank meat in Japan. This special tuna price might extremely increase in the nearly future. "Washington Proposal" is a proposal made by the group of people all over the world who concern about the animal which nearly going extinct. They are collecting the agreement to ban the import and export the bluefin tuna.
The bluefin tuna live in the sea nearby Japan, the Asia Pacific area, also around Atlantic Ocean. Their body has 3 meters long, weight around 400 kilograms, well known for the top of Sushi or Sashimi. In a high rank restaurant, one piece of this tuna might cost up to thousands yen.
The price is very expensive; on the other hand, its raising is extremely difficult. Thus, the fisherman all over the world came to Japan mainly for catching this bluefin tuna. Since its delicious and the need of bluefin tuna is increasing, these days they catch even the tiny tuna which bring about to the rapid decreasing of bluefin tuna. Therefore, Monaco has started banning the bluefin tuna imported from Atlantic Ocean since October according to Washington proposal.
In Japan, last year the imported bluefin tuna around 43,000 tons and half of that number were from Atlantic. If Japan is going to ban the import, there would be the lack of the bluefin tuna in Japanese market bring about to the extremely increasing price of tuna. However, the final conclusion will be discussed at Washington Proposal Conference at Qatar in March 2010.
Comment: Personally, I love the taste of Toro, but I have never taste Honmaguro yet. Though, I can guess it taste that would be as high as its price. To prohibit the import of tuna would be easy for other country, accept Japan that has a traditional way to eat raw fish. This is a very difficult question for Japan. I am looking forward to hear the answer from the conference next year.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
