Twilight

Since I heard the reputation of "Twilight" in US last summer, I had wanted to read it.

After reading, I've understood the cause of "Twilight boom". I'm convinced that this book was written for young girl's.

In Japan, there are some famous idol groups who girls get crazy. And this boom is spreading to Asian countries, like Korea or Taiwan or Veit nam. I think that such a generation, adolescent children need something that fasionates them. But in US, untill now, there was no idol who young girls get crazy.

There are all kinds of items which fasinate girls, danger and handsome boy and endless love and forbidden love with this book.

The story begins with the heroine's move, to a bit mysterious town. Her name is Bella. She meets with a boy, incredibly good-looking, and she falls in love with him. But in fact he was a vampire. She was an ordinary girl in former town, but in this mysterious town, she suddenly becomes popular. This is a dream of every ordinary girl.

This story is written from Bella'spoint of view. So, as reading, girls would identify theirselves with Bella and they might feel to fall in love with him.

Interestingly, "Twilight" is really leaving from the real world. Girls would realize "this is just a story". So, this boom may not last for a long time, like a Japanes idol phenomenon.

And I'm looking forward to seeing what the last scene will come.

Fish-shaped cake

Today, I've seen a giggle at a food stand in a grocery store. It was a very very small fish-shaped cake.

We call it "Taiyaki" which filled with some kinds of stuffings, sweet red paste or chocolate or custard cream. Basically, one Taiyaki is the same size of my hand, but this small one was only my little finger size.I was really impressed by cook's work!

People say, " When fall into a recession, Taiyaki will become popular". Because unemployed people have to begin a business for getting money. The fish-cake stand is very easy to become a business, it's OK with small seed money and easy skill. And sales of Taiyaki will also become well, because we must be satified with only one fish-shaped cake, very cheap.

This very small fish couldn't make me fulled, but I really enjoyed it.

Caramel

During last week, I had been having an uneasy feeling, so I was always cooking.
Well, this is a basic raw caramel candy. After getting this skill, I often make varieties of caramel candies, and present them to my friends.
Now, in Japan, some how,“caramel taste” become a popular.
I think it is also influenced by financial crisis. After that, I've seen a lot of interesting booms in Japan, activities for marriage, SNS, twitter, self-catering, caramel, etc.
I’m one of riding on these booms.

E-book

Recently, I’ve often heard about e-book in the news. I ‘m a book lover. I have been waiting to see it for a long time, but I’ve never seen it in electric goods stores.
In fact, few years ago, some electric companies have once tried to enter the e-book market , but failed and bailed out of it,

why didn’t it become a popular in Japan?

And what happened from now on?
When they produced it in 2004, there were some devices in the market, DS(Nintendo), electric-dictionary and cell phone, and especially, cell phone has the same features as e-book.
I think that the reason cell phone wins is high-functions.

Usually, Japanese cell phone has very highly-functions which can use handheld texts and music and Web. Just at that time, Japanese younger generation got to be crazy for thumb novel. Their services were overlapping. In the end, consumer has chosen more convenience one.
Now, tastes are growing diverse, if they would try again, they might become successful. But I'm concerned about it.
It is due to differences between English and Japanese. In Japanese we can figure out a lot of information with less view, because of Kanji character. Kanji is shaped by picture, if I don’t know one Kanji phrase, we can imagine the meaning from each Kanji character. So then, we tend to prefer the good visual effects, even to books. In addition, we tend to describe with less words.

So I think, it would be difficult to get the win, like in US.
I’m convinced that enriched softwares will decide their future. When I read English books, I really think that English is difficult for reading, because, a lot of alike and meaningless line words. There is serious for poor readers, like foregner and Dyslexia and sight-dimmed eyes people.

I think there is in here the basic need, for the development of the software, to educate English and to facilitate visualization with emphasis or reading assistance tools or the screen good for eyes.
Also, they still have copyright issues. I'm ofeten impressed by effots of Japanese companies, but it would be difficult to solve these kinds of issues by only a company, so it’s important to cooperate with other companies, like Google and Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo. By doing this, if the new wave will come, they could change their systems for it.
Well, very recently, I’ve heard that some newspapers were forced to cease their publications. Drying up completely, I’ll really miss it. Reading newspaper is the most favarite things in the morning. The publishing industry will also face the powerful tide of change in society. I'm wondering what kind of world will be coming!

Japan was overwhelmed by cold.

Today I saw snow! It's not inherently bad, I like it, but I had a PE class at the outdoor for a marathon event on next week. It was too cold to speak well, and my skin was so dry and my hands were numbed. I need more warmly clothed.

Well, this change in climate is thought to be caused by global warming. Once the process is going to the one side, then the rewind will occur like a clock hand. It will become unstable climate.

But I'm convinced that goloval warming is progress steadily.

Relax

January and February is the most comfortable season. I can have 1 or 2 hours as free time at home. So, in the meantime, I would like to enjoy TV programs, because someone say, I’m a bit far removed from the practical world.
Well, today some how, my interesting programs are concentrated in 10 pm.

“ガイアの夜明け”
“プロフェッショナルの流儀”

“まっすぐな男”.

My DVD can record only 1 program. I’m wondering what I should watch?
Today’s sweet is a piece of Baumkuchen. Though people are talking about Roll cake in Japan, I prefer Barmkuchen to it. I’m very happy.

Going into a market

How should you do for going into a market?
When you have a good idea and found a company, even good idea, it’s not easy to enter the market and new area.
Of course, the first people will get a great advantage without pain. But in many times, we have to go into the market already reigned by someone. It means " fight them for a share of the market".
Few years ago, I have seen an interesting competitive war in Japanese cell phone market.
In Japan, Cell phone has become popular since 1990’s.
At the beginning, “Docomo” cell phone company, NTT-independent dominated the cell phone market. After relaxation of regulations, various companies were entering this market. And now, some companies coexist together. “au” and ”soft bank” have succeeded to get some share.

Docomo 48%
au 27%
Softbank 19%
2009. 12
Why they could eat away at the Docomo realm?
Stylish design is the commonality among them and they have distinctiveness. “au ”is strong for music, and ”soft bank” is very cheap and tie with iphone. Especially, “soft bank” have been promoting an effective advertising program, and be success only for 2 years.

Strategies for going into the market summarized as follows
First, research what demand and needs are there. They depend upon their culture and history, and adjust to them.
Second, make the originality. It would become a major benefit for competitive success, and even in the same field, you would be able to coexist peacefully with other companies.
Third, display your concerning. now, there is no inferior product in technologically advanced society. So, we attached importance to the cost and convenience, more than performance. Unprofessional people don’t know detail than professional person think. It is important to promote simply and clearly to stand out in people.
Finally, Good image would be valued more than anything. Good image is shaped by good appearance and smart concept going along at the time. Interestingly, how many people judge something by looks.

Well, I’m looking forward to seeing new interesting share competition.

3 day holidays

During 3 day holidays, I met some friends and contacted some friends, I had fun. But I got to become unstable.

So, this evening I knitted a coaster. And I got settled.

The policy of letting the yen fall in value

On January 7th, the financial minister Kan spoke that he will tolerate the lower yen. The maket recognized it as the policy of letting the yen fall in value on foreign exchange markets and the yen keeps weakening into 92yen.
Now, people have been discussing about the goverment intervention.
In my opinion, it's not fair policy. Japanese goverment tend to support the major companies. They depend on exports. Actually they make most of the profits, but Japan is also a resourceless country. If the yen go more weakening, the rising price of materials will happens. It means a real inflation, rather it is down in the value of the yen.
Besides, when the yen become lower, stocks will lift up regardless of riging GDP, because bringing in some foreign exchange. And business might be beginning to pick up by good mood.
I'm wondering if that is the best way.
Japan has a huge amount of govement bonds, the debt ration has reached 217% for GDP. It is the worst in the world, even America is 82%. Well, why Japanese goverment bond wouldn't tumble down, because it was trusted by Japanese companies as being outstanding through the world and Japanese huge savings, it's said to reach 1400 trillion yen. The real inflasion means the exploitation of Japanese property.
Recently, I was often impressed with the good service from bussiness efforts, but I got to hear a news which drop out from a price-cutting war. Export industries such as car and electric companies are the major industry in Japan. They got profits by exports and they always need the demand. Now, everyone goes to China and, after that will go to Africa. I wonder that we have to serch for new market for ever, what one would require to for the future?
I guess that the good point of Japanese is the trust, so Japanese bank or insurance company or walfare also could become a grobal service. They have a manual for aging society. Even emerging contries eventually go to it, especially in China, it will come soon.
In addition, in Japan, there is a need for law, such as consultation about contract and bond. We think that it is necessary a lot of money and time for the trial, but the trial is originally for the solution of problems. I guess, if it become quickly and cheaply and come in useful, that's bussiness will grow up.
Well, I bear no immediate relationship to these issues, but such a thing will have indirect effects on our life, and I can't see my whole life ahead of me, and I feel less secure.
After the budget cut, Japanese goverment spoke that they attached importance to science and tecnology. And then they should invest our budget in it. I wish the Japanese goverment would keep trying for the new future with far-sighted policies.

永遠の仔 ” Eternal child” ｂｙ Arata Tendou

When I read "告白confession", I remenbered " 永遠の仔eternal child".

It was written by Arata Tendou in 1993, and has sold around 1.3 million copies and was featured in TV drama in 2000.

The story set in Ehime, and revolves around 3 characters raised in an orphanage, who try to live as suffering total trauma from childhood abuse. The sentence is very sophisticated and detail and well worth reading. And they end in disaster. Two die tragically, and the last person has to live alone with more deeply trauma. I got deeply depressed.

In fact, I know this orphanage, an actual hospital. When I was in a graduate school, I often visited there to meet a girl having a mental problem like them. She was a very beautiful and fragile person, so then she had been suffering from her backgraund. At that time, I was just a student studying psychology, so I couldn't do special, just listen and be near her. After graduating, I had been concerned about how she was. Very recently, I was delighted to hear from a psychiatrist that she was well.

I know, there are people who grow up in unpropitious environment, as hating to do it, but go in for crime. It's not only their faults. I want to believe that everyone can start over any number of times and any time. It is necessary that he has an strong and unshaken heart.

According to psycology, it is made up by a kind of love, selfless love, usually we give it from our mother. Though you couldn't give it, you should give it from someone who love you without seeking return.

When I read a book, I find out something from it. Sometimes it was a new point of view, sometimes it was a new experience. I would hope book was a hope. If I try to find a hope in this book, it would be the strengh from the last person has to live alone.

告白”confession” ｂｙ Kanae Minato

This book was elected the best recomended book by bookstores, and will be made into a film in 2010.

The beginning of the story starts off with a woman teacher at a high school confessing a crime which her daughter was killed.

She says to her students, "There is a murder(murders) in you ", and she trys to hunt down them.

The story is described in people involved of the crime, very clearly and lively. It is not only simple, but also polished style, even junior hight schoolstudent can enjoy it. Besides, there are a lot of ideas, elements of mystery, a dramatic development and ingenuity and unlooked-for last scence. I 'd much fun the first.

But, after reading, I have something on my mind.

It was the last scence, I'm wondering why criminal is never helped, no chance to reform. Especially, about the main killer. He had been also suffering from a mental problem, from his background, abondoned by his mother. I believe that everyone has everyon's existence value. I wanted to see a hope even for the cruel criminal.

Gift

Today I had a lot of meetings with co-workers for the third term.

So, yesterday I made festive cookies and candies for celebrating the new term with co-workers. Cookie is "PORUBORONE", it's eaten on holiday in Spain. They were very crumbly. I couldn't wrap, so I served them just on a plane dish. But I got very nice comments than I expected.

Candy tastes honey and ginger. It became a soft than I expected. It isn't for children, but for adult, because I put good meaning ingredients, honey and ginger, in it. it's good for topic.

http://cookpad.com/recipe/1006121

I also brought sweets to English class, I wish that they would enjoy it.

Ｄuring cooking, my mother was watching me beyond criticism. Sometimes she says to me, "You tend to go to express for others".

I know that.

I just like to share happiness with loving people.

Gift is not sending goods, but expressing my thanks, so good heart is the most important.

It's true that I have some very sad memory about money. Of course, I know, I need money for living, but I don't need a lot of money.

And I want to do something that's doing for other people.

Any way, it's doing it because I think it's going to be fun. I'm sure!

Historian by Elizabeth Kostove

Finally, I've finished reading "Histrian". It took so long time, because it was very long long story for me. But, I really enjoyed it.
This book was written by Elizabeth Kostove, American, she won the 2003 Hopwood Award for this novel, and this will be made into a movie in 2010.
The Historian deals with a young woman searching for her father who is in turn searching for the grave of Vlad the Impaler (the inspiration for Dracula).
Vlad Ⅲmade famous in the Bram Stoker's fictional Dracula(1958), was a real person. the supposed connections between Vlad Ⅲand Bram's Dracula attracted popular attention. During his main reign (1456–1462), he is said to have killed from 40,000 to 100,000 European civilians and 100,000 Ottoman, mainly by using his favourite method of impaling them on a sharp pole.He was a hero scared Ottoman, but on other front he was a bloody dictator. The fear from the inhumanity of the matter was long remembered by the people and would pass into legend.Later, every time when plague was striken people, they would remember it.
The story span three generation. All is the historian. It was narrative and lyrical poetry text, especially, the old and histrical cities in Eastern Europe were described very detail and beautiful.
Most characters were scholars. You will give a grimpse into the academic circles.
And in my opinion, the most exciting part was the scene of chacing the true monestery be burried Dracula.
I bemoan the scences of meeting with Dracula and the cause of floosing Rosshi's memory. Even by these long story, it was too short to discribe the Dracula's mystery.
When make a movie of it, I hope that they tell the story of that's part in detail.
Well, why now, at the end of a century of scientific advance, Dracula is becoming popular in America?
I'm convince that comes from the financial cricis in 2009. Well, how about 1958( which Dracula's movie became a hit. )? 1958 was in the middle of not only the high economic growth, but also the Cold War era and before the Berlin Blockade. People would be perturebed about the world affairs, in between two extremes, and they might feel some indefinable anxieties.
I've realized, now is the one of these eras.
In fact, I read the Japanese translation of this novel, because of winter vacation. I prefer the original to the translation. It became too feel tight, caused by the correct trabslation.
Well, next I'll try to read "twilight", it is also a vampire story and become so popular in America.
I'd like enjoy reading!

New year greeting card

One of the pleasures of this New Years holiday will be receiving greeting cards with friend's photo on them.

They might change little by little, but pictures brought me back the scene of old days.

In this year, I post my e-mail and blog address on my card, and then some friends send mails to me and promised to coming to Ehime. It was a good thing that I post it.

Well, today I visited my friend's new house, I knew it from her new years card.

There was a home theater in their living. It was made to order. What a gorgeous!

Building a house or picking up household goods seems to be having fun!

And she cooked lunch for me, until now, it was my role.

Besides, her cooking skill improved, beautiful kitchen would motivate her to cook.

It may be important to start from the form.

If you keep doing anything long enouh, you can experience almost before you realize it.

Shopping

Today I went to Matsuyama to go shopping with my sister. Many stores already started winter sales. From Jan.2 or more early, it's getting to be early year and year.
We went around the city for the two hours or the three hours.
My sister is particular about her appearances.
She picked out very quickly and a lot of clouthes, besides as thinking total-coordinate with them she has. It's an astonishing ability.
I am diametric opposite. Basically, I like simple and natural style.
And I don't like to buy a lot of things.
Usually, I buy something what I really want.
After deep contemplation, I bought a pair of black boots with some advice from my sister. It was 2,2500yen. It was not cheap, but I'm OK, that is exactly what I needed it. If I bought a fake leather or at the shopping center, I could be less money. I buy not only in high-priced shops, but also mail order or UNICLO. I decide if it is right for my needs, price and quality and purpose.
I think this is the value judgment.
In the end, though I was supposed to buy some clothes, that was all. Perhaps I got satisfied with it.
On my way back, we dropped at a nice italian restrant, and take lunch.
My sister made an unique toy made from straw's paper. She is unexpectedly skillful with her fingers.
Well, I had a good time at Mid Matsuyama in a while.

New Year's holiday's

During New year holiday's, many people retun home from the city. And my sibling's families came back to my home.
I was really looking forward to seeing them, but I had to stick to cook traditional New Year's food's dishes for them. Recently, it became easier than before, because many modern wives can't take such an enough time for cook. It is called "osechi." I'm a good cook, but it was not easy work.
The foods that make up osechi each have a special meaning associated with good luck.
For example, black beans wish for hard work, herring roe are for being gifted with children, lobsters are for long life, etc.
And we eat a zouni which rice cakes boiled in vegetable soup.
A wide variety of ingredients used for zoni are particular to the region where it's made. In the Kansai area, people enjoy a zoni miso soup, while a plain zoni soup is popular in Kanto.
The ingredients of zouni depend on the region, farm harvest is different by location. So, traditional foods will be opened to each region's life and culture and history.
And, I gave a New Year's monetary gift to my loved niece. we call it Otoshidama. It is one of the happy events for children during the New Year holidays. I can't betray the expectation of her.
Finally, I got a gift from my brother. It was a lucky charm. I've realized Japanese is very superstitious. But I'm OK as long as everyone's happy. I just wish my loved people's happiness in 2010.