My opinion of this week(446):

Koizumi children

After the general election in September, there were many reports on
those new lawmakers so called "Koizumi Children". Some of them are
doing already good jobs by becoming a new cabinet member, by 
participating question and answer session of committees of the diet.
They can do the job even if they are quite new at political world
for they were experienced career members of UN office or 
bureaucratic offices. 

So I understood  the word "Koizumi Children" is a kind of joke. But
it was not. There is a new lawmaker who is exactly deserved to the name. 
That is Taizou Sugimura, a young lawmaker elected at the last general
election due to landslide victory of Liberal Democratic Party. Neither
LDP nor Taizou Sugimura himself must have not expected that would happen.

He said that he is a representative of NEET. But I just wonder if he
really understand the meaning of the word. According to Arc dictionary
in internet, NEET is an abbreviation for young people Not in Education,
Employment or Training. NEET is a young man who is not student, not 
employed in place and have no intention to work at any rate. What does
Taizou Sugimura means by saying he is a representative of NEET. 

Since he became a lawmaker by running for the election, he is not 
NEET by himself. But how can he represent interest of those who have
no interest in any matters in the society? His behavior and saying look
very childish and thoughtless as a matter of fact. He is exactly a 
child as a statesman.

Mainichi newspaper reported yesterday that Liberal Democratic Party
appointed a godfather to check and control his behavior and way of
thinking so that he will be able to act as a full-fledged lawmaker in
diet.  

I was quite surprised to read the news. If work places are private
firms or any public offices, any new young fresh men may be trained that
way under the control of advisers or trainers. 

He is not a freshman at private firm or public office. He is an elite 
elected by a general election. Why does he need a god father?

This is obviously an after effect of the last  Koizumi Theatre election.
It is Japanese voters who applauded for the play directed by Prime
Minister Koizumi at his theatre at last election. 

Japanese voters are responsible for this low level of Japanese politics.

2005/11/5
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(447):

A prodigious feat by Shogi world  

Shoji Segawa, an amateur shogi player, was permitted to become professional
league player by winning three victories against professional shogi players.
The news was reported by many media, but it was not necessarily accepted as
an big issue. However, I would like to pay a special attention on it though.

I personally like shogi very much and was interested very much in the
result of this entrance test for Shoji Segawa. He was originally in the
Syoureikai, which is a preparatory school for professional shogi player.
People who are in this school must win fourth grade to become a professional.
He could not make it, though, and retired from the school. He stopped 
playing shogi itself.

He started playing shogi later on and got stronger than before in many 
amateur shogi tournaments. He sometimes won even against professional
players. He appealed Nihon Shogi Assciation to accept him as a professional
by making some tests. 

Surprisingly enough, the association accepted his request to make a series
of test by setting a game for one third grade amateur and  for other 
professional players who have the higher grade more than 4th. The association 
admitted to set a consolation game for him.

In the past there was no consolation game whatsoever. Once any amateur
players resigned from the preparatory school, they could never come back.
The decision by the Association opened a big road for resurrection. 

Many of Japanese associations are not that way. They are mostly very 
closed. They are usually very conservative keeping old custom  and 
tradition. They seldom introduce any new rules and systems for new comers.

The shogi world was different. The management committee admitted to make
a test for Shoji Segawa. It may be due to a strong leadership of President
Yonenaga of the association.

The meaning of decision made  by the association is not limited to shogi
world. This is a symbolic event of Japanese society which will be more 
opened in one way or the other from now on.

2005/11/12
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(448):

Democracy and historical perception 

President Bush visited Kyoto to meet Prime Minister Koizumi just before
APEC. Two leaders agreed with the fact that Japan US alliance is the most
important base not only for two countries but also for the peace of Asia
and world. 

Some media such as Asahi made sarcastic comment on President Bush's
approbation on structural reform being made by Koizumi cabinet concerning
the meeting.. But the paper did not make any affirmative comment on the
importance of Japan US alliance and its relation with increasing influence of
China power in Asia. 

Needless to say, Japan US alliance is now becoming a big check balance 
against increasing China power. Economic development of China has provided
a great advantage for Japanese economy. Replacing US, China is now No.1 
trade partner for Japan. But their military expansion is becoming  a big
concern for the peace of Asia and world.   

In the top meeting, it is natural that President Bush and Prime Minister
Koizumi expressed the concern for the internal domestic political system
in China while stressing the importance of keeping good relation with 
them. The two leaders agreed to ask China to improve the lack of freedom
in their political system. 

Separation of politics from economics is a big inconsistency of the social
system of this country. Democratization of politics and social system
of China is absolutely necessary to keep peace in Asia and world from
Japan and US point of views.  

China continued to accuse Japan's historical perception by bringing up
Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine. But when it comes to historical
perception, it is now the time to talk about concept of values today rather
than 60 years ago. Japan is now more democratic country compared with
China. It is China which is far behind the perception of historic value in
itself.

Although we compromise to China' assertion concerning the matter of
Yasukuni Shrine in one way or the other, all Japanese will never admit the
fact that Japan still follow militarism as 60 years ago. Japan is now the most
peaceful country in the world in this respect. It is China which is now providing
some concern on world peach. 

Let's ask the world. Which is more peaceful and democratic country today, 
Japan or China?

2005/11/19
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(449)

PC life

The 7th Ranzan PC Seminar was held on November 23rd and 24th at National
Women's Education Center in Ranzan, Saitama Prefecture. The seminar was
very successful participated by total 30 people including two men who
participated in the seminar just for a single day. The seminar itself 
has lasted for three years and half holding the meeting twice a year.

Main participants are from MPC (Murayama PC Club) but many more 
participants are from many parts of the country as lecturers and as
students. It is my great pleasure to see it happen.

The main purpose of the seminar is to learn PC and internet. Various
subjects have been taught by several lecturers such as basic function
of PC, operating system, basic application software like Word and Excel,
PC drawing, digital camera, PC music, use of internet, home page, Blog
and so and so forth. 

Three main subjects at this time was "How to make a new year card by Word", 
"How to use Auto Shape for drawing picture" and "Slide presentation by Photo
Story3". People seemed to be very eager to learn about them. 

The purpose of the seminar is not limited only to learn about PC. The
lecturers who have abundant experience working abroad talked about their
experience in various foreign countries. Some talked about their unique
hobbies in the interim sessions of seminar. People showed a great interest
in them also.

The party to be held in the first night after dinner is another enjoyment
for all participants. They enjoyed chatting with people from various 
fields.

As a seminar planner, I am not necessary satisfied with PC and internet
facilities and environment of the multi media room of the  national center.
The speed of internet connection is rather slow. There are various 
restraints  for normal use of PC and internet for the sake of security 
reasons. Several troubles often happen which we never encounter  when we
use our PC personally at home.

Nevertheless we are entirely satisfied with the total natural environment of
this center. The center is in the middle of very huge garden. We can enjoy
very nice morning walk and even a bird watching early in the morning.

I am not sure how long we can continue this seminar in the year to come.
But I wish we could continue this seminar many more years with people
who participated in it so far. Many more themes to learn about PC remain
in front of us. 

In addition, the theme we have to learn is not only limited to PC. The
theme is to learn about our life itself. I understand that the primary 
purpose of this seminar is to learn about our life through learning PC 
and internet.
 
I would like to continue to pursue this purpose with my friends and
ask their comments and some concrete ideas how to pursue this purpose 
from now on.

2005/11/26
Tadashi HAYASE