My opinion of this week(548):
According to a recent news, DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) decided to accept to make a prior consultation with ruling parties to form a common policy on the amendment of political fund law. DPJ must have accepted to make preparatory consultation on this issue for ruling parties agreed to accept some fundamental principles which both ruling and opposition fronts insisted to put into amendment of the law. It seems to be a good move.
The problem is that DPJ is still against to make any prior conference with ruling parties on the new oil supply law which replace the Anti Terrorism Law which expires on November 1. DPJ says that they are against to make any prior consultation on the new law so far as the government does not present several basic facts on the activities of oil supply made by Maritime Self-Defense Force at Indian Ocean. I can see the reason why DPJ resist to make any prior conference which ruling fronts request to make prior to formal discussion at the diet session which starts next week.
But many people cannot understand why DPJ is so inflexible to make any prior consultation on this very important issue regardless the fact that they may not change their disagreement with the new law. I agree with such feeling of general public in many ways.
Some DPJ law makers often compare the prior consultation to bid-rigging. I agree with the principle that any of bid-rigging sort of actions or easy give and take negotiation must be rejected in any of such prior talks on such many of important policies. But if it is urnest and serious talks, there is no reason why DPJ oppose to make any of such prior consensus building which is very necessary for making any democratic decision in political world. Such consensus building process is often refer to as Nemawashi in Japanese word which seems to be a good traditional Japanese style of consensus building.
Any of such prior, informal discussion is required at any political worlds in any countries as a matter of facts. It is not a special kind of process in Japanese political world.
Any of such prior consultation in various styles is entirely different from any bid-rigging sort of process which is necessary to make any democratic decision making at diet as well. I would suggest DPJ to be more flexible to accept offers on any prior talks from ruling fronts including the oil supply law.
2007/10/20
Tadashi HAYASE
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Why did US congress make such a silly vote?
My opinion of this week(547):
"WASHINGTON ? Turkey recalled its ambassador to Washington on Thursday and denounced as "unacceptable" a congressional panel's vote declaring the early 20th century slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a genocide.
Even as the Bush administration scrambled to try to stem the diplomatic fallout, Turkish President Abdullah Gul castigated the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday for its 27-21 vote, saying the decision "has no validity and is not worthy of the respect of the Turkish people."
-Los Angels Times Oct 12 2007
When I read this article of Los Angels Times, I remember the same kind of vote by US Lower House to condemn Japan on the issue known as wartime comfort women on July 30th of this year. The existence of such fact in war time was confirmed by a former cabinet which expressed a regret for what happened during the war time. But due to the lack of careful consideration of the then Prime Minister Abe and advocacy advertising made by some group of Japanese diet members expressing their views on the issue to stop such vote by Lower House, the vote to condemn Japan was finally made at US Lower House.
The decision itself has no validity, and Japanese government accepted it very calmly and people showed almost no reaction against it. But it is true that there were a number of people who were concerned with the fact that US ,the most important allied country for Japan made such vote to condemn Japan on the issue happened 60 years ago. Many Japanese might have been hurt in some way and felt adverse sentiment against US.
I understand what happened in Turkey at this time. The total nation showed such a great anger against the vote of US congress. While the case of comfort women happened 60 years ago, the case of Turkey happened 90 years ago, almost a century ago. It is a part of history of very very long time ago.
History of human being and human societies is a history of wars, in other words a history of murders between various territories and countries, domestic or foreign whatever they may be. There are a great number wars and cases of slaughter in many of those territories all over the world including Europe, America, Middle East, Asia and so on. Parties concerned with any of such wars and disputes share various kind of views from historical, cultural religious, and ethical point of views. Historian mainly work on them.
It seems that US congress often acts like a judge evaluating a foreign history in such manner. How can they condemn the case in Turkey which happened almost a century ago? I just don't understand why they do this. What is their purpose to do this? How do they relate such denunciation with the current diplomatic relation with Turkey?
I remember what I wrote in my BLOG on August 1 the day after US Lower House made a condemn vote for wartime comfort women case. In my BLOG, I suggested Japanese congress to make a condemn vote against such an inhuman act of dropping atomic bomb at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Nothing can be comparable with such nhuman act like dropping atomic bomb when it comes to historical slaughter.
I don't think it is just a emotional reaction but it is quite fair way to warn against US congress to stop such unreasonable votes against foreign countries.
2007/10/13
Tadashi HAYASE
"WASHINGTON ? Turkey recalled its ambassador to Washington on Thursday and denounced as "unacceptable" a congressional panel's vote declaring the early 20th century slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a genocide.
Even as the Bush administration scrambled to try to stem the diplomatic fallout, Turkish President Abdullah Gul castigated the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday for its 27-21 vote, saying the decision "has no validity and is not worthy of the respect of the Turkish people."
-Los Angels Times Oct 12 2007
When I read this article of Los Angels Times, I remember the same kind of vote by US Lower House to condemn Japan on the issue known as wartime comfort women on July 30th of this year. The existence of such fact in war time was confirmed by a former cabinet which expressed a regret for what happened during the war time. But due to the lack of careful consideration of the then Prime Minister Abe and advocacy advertising made by some group of Japanese diet members expressing their views on the issue to stop such vote by Lower House, the vote to condemn Japan was finally made at US Lower House.
The decision itself has no validity, and Japanese government accepted it very calmly and people showed almost no reaction against it. But it is true that there were a number of people who were concerned with the fact that US ,the most important allied country for Japan made such vote to condemn Japan on the issue happened 60 years ago. Many Japanese might have been hurt in some way and felt adverse sentiment against US.
I understand what happened in Turkey at this time. The total nation showed such a great anger against the vote of US congress. While the case of comfort women happened 60 years ago, the case of Turkey happened 90 years ago, almost a century ago. It is a part of history of very very long time ago.
History of human being and human societies is a history of wars, in other words a history of murders between various territories and countries, domestic or foreign whatever they may be. There are a great number wars and cases of slaughter in many of those territories all over the world including Europe, America, Middle East, Asia and so on. Parties concerned with any of such wars and disputes share various kind of views from historical, cultural religious, and ethical point of views. Historian mainly work on them.
It seems that US congress often acts like a judge evaluating a foreign history in such manner. How can they condemn the case in Turkey which happened almost a century ago? I just don't understand why they do this. What is their purpose to do this? How do they relate such denunciation with the current diplomatic relation with Turkey?
I remember what I wrote in my BLOG on August 1 the day after US Lower House made a condemn vote for wartime comfort women case. In my BLOG, I suggested Japanese congress to make a condemn vote against such an inhuman act of dropping atomic bomb at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Nothing can be comparable with such nhuman act like dropping atomic bomb when it comes to historical slaughter.
I don't think it is just a emotional reaction but it is quite fair way to warn against US congress to stop such unreasonable votes against foreign countries.
2007/10/13
Tadashi HAYASE
Sunday, September 30, 2007
First step toward two-party system
My opinion of this week(545):
The new Fukuda Cabinet has got a very high popular vote like 56% in recent several news paper research. It is surely a kind of complementary popular vote to be observed in any new born cabinets. But it seems that this is the result of a good fight by Tarou Asou who run against Yasuo Fukuda in LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) presidential election last week.
Tarou Asou got a strong support from local party members and non-partisan independent voters during election campaign. If Tarou Asou did not run for the election, the election itself might have been very indifferent and unconcerned one. The birth of new cabinet head by Yasuo Fukuda could not draw so much interest from general public. It is a kind of very cynical phenomenon as far as my view is concerned, although it is just my personal view by itself.
Leaders of LDP and Fukuda cabinet members welcomed this high popular vote against their cabinet, but I wonder how long this high popular vote will last from now on. It depends on how new Fukuda cabinet achieve their jobs which they promise to do for Japanese people. The diet debate has not been made for almost two months since LDP's historical defeat in House of Council election on July 29. People are looking forward to hearing a heated debate between ruling LDP and opposing DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan). Whether Fukuda Cabinet can maintain this high popular vote or not, depends on the result of the diet discussion which starts next week.
Prime Minister Fukuda called his cabinet "ragged edge cabinet" which stands at a edge of a cliff. Most of leaders of LDP repeatedly express a sense of crisis of their party in the present political situation. They all talk about the necessity to work with opposing front in many occasions. But it seems that they still underestimate the fact that they have lost a majority vote at the House of Councils.
One of the most important bill in diet session which starts from now is "Anti Terrorism Law" which expires on early November. Fukuda Cabinet and ruling fronts will continue to make oil supply to multi national navies at Indian Ocean because they say it is very necessary contribution of Japan expected by international communities. Opposition front including DPJ are against the bill for the oil supply does not really help to reduce terrorism at Afghanistan. There must be some other ways to attain the purpose.
Fukuda Cabinet and ruling fronts seem to give up to extend the law because time is up due to their slow action and they plan to submit a new law which make it possible to resume oil supply to multi national navies as soon as possible. They intend to pass this new law regardless the fact that the bill would be refused at the House of Councils. The ruling front bring the bill back to the House of Representative and let the bill pass the bill by two third of affirmative vote by LDP and Komeitou Party. It is very possible physically. But the big question remains whether or not it is really possible politically.
It involves very basic question on exercise of the right of collective self-defense which is prohibited by the present article of constitution. The ruling fronts say it is not the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. But opposition fronts will strongly insist it is exactly to the infringement of the principle of the constitution.
Any of such arguments at the diet were made at the diet without showing some very basic facts related with oil supply. Under the new circumstance at upper house, opposition front will ask Fukuda Cabinet to supply various facts involved with oil supply operation because they have now the right to ask to present all sort of information about national political issues.
Many of new facts which have never been disclosed before in front Japanese people will be presented at diet discussion. Majority of affirmative views on the bill may change if some of those new facts are disclosed at the diet. There are a great doubt about the fact that oil supplied at Indian Ocean to US navy might have been used for Iraq war.
Provided that such fact were disclosed, there were great change on the present political situation including popular vote against ruling and opposition front.
Another strong strategic measures for opposition front is the submission of various bills at the House of Councils. DPJ has been criticized in many occasions in the past. Whenever they are against bills submitted by ruling front, they are said that they just oppose to anything without having any counter measures at all. Contrary to this situation, DPJ and opposition front can present any bills and be able to pass them at the House of Councils under the present circumstance.
In coming diet session, DPJ is scheduled to present some very important bills such as unification of pension system bill, bill to prohibit diversion of pension fees for other propose and so on. Pension issues are still remains number one concerns for people of Japan and this will draw a big interest once the debate start at coming diet session.
As I stated above already, ruling front still seem to underestimate the situation that this kind of new political process will start in coming diet session. I do hope that such process will become the first step to establish two-party system in Japan which is definitely necessary to develop democracy in this country.
2007/9/29
Tadashi HAYASE
The new Fukuda Cabinet has got a very high popular vote like 56% in recent several news paper research. It is surely a kind of complementary popular vote to be observed in any new born cabinets. But it seems that this is the result of a good fight by Tarou Asou who run against Yasuo Fukuda in LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) presidential election last week.
Tarou Asou got a strong support from local party members and non-partisan independent voters during election campaign. If Tarou Asou did not run for the election, the election itself might have been very indifferent and unconcerned one. The birth of new cabinet head by Yasuo Fukuda could not draw so much interest from general public. It is a kind of very cynical phenomenon as far as my view is concerned, although it is just my personal view by itself.
Leaders of LDP and Fukuda cabinet members welcomed this high popular vote against their cabinet, but I wonder how long this high popular vote will last from now on. It depends on how new Fukuda cabinet achieve their jobs which they promise to do for Japanese people. The diet debate has not been made for almost two months since LDP's historical defeat in House of Council election on July 29. People are looking forward to hearing a heated debate between ruling LDP and opposing DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan). Whether Fukuda Cabinet can maintain this high popular vote or not, depends on the result of the diet discussion which starts next week.
Prime Minister Fukuda called his cabinet "ragged edge cabinet" which stands at a edge of a cliff. Most of leaders of LDP repeatedly express a sense of crisis of their party in the present political situation. They all talk about the necessity to work with opposing front in many occasions. But it seems that they still underestimate the fact that they have lost a majority vote at the House of Councils.
One of the most important bill in diet session which starts from now is "Anti Terrorism Law" which expires on early November. Fukuda Cabinet and ruling fronts will continue to make oil supply to multi national navies at Indian Ocean because they say it is very necessary contribution of Japan expected by international communities. Opposition front including DPJ are against the bill for the oil supply does not really help to reduce terrorism at Afghanistan. There must be some other ways to attain the purpose.
Fukuda Cabinet and ruling fronts seem to give up to extend the law because time is up due to their slow action and they plan to submit a new law which make it possible to resume oil supply to multi national navies as soon as possible. They intend to pass this new law regardless the fact that the bill would be refused at the House of Councils. The ruling front bring the bill back to the House of Representative and let the bill pass the bill by two third of affirmative vote by LDP and Komeitou Party. It is very possible physically. But the big question remains whether or not it is really possible politically.
It involves very basic question on exercise of the right of collective self-defense which is prohibited by the present article of constitution. The ruling fronts say it is not the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. But opposition fronts will strongly insist it is exactly to the infringement of the principle of the constitution.
Any of such arguments at the diet were made at the diet without showing some very basic facts related with oil supply. Under the new circumstance at upper house, opposition front will ask Fukuda Cabinet to supply various facts involved with oil supply operation because they have now the right to ask to present all sort of information about national political issues.
Many of new facts which have never been disclosed before in front Japanese people will be presented at diet discussion. Majority of affirmative views on the bill may change if some of those new facts are disclosed at the diet. There are a great doubt about the fact that oil supplied at Indian Ocean to US navy might have been used for Iraq war.
Provided that such fact were disclosed, there were great change on the present political situation including popular vote against ruling and opposition front.
Another strong strategic measures for opposition front is the submission of various bills at the House of Councils. DPJ has been criticized in many occasions in the past. Whenever they are against bills submitted by ruling front, they are said that they just oppose to anything without having any counter measures at all. Contrary to this situation, DPJ and opposition front can present any bills and be able to pass them at the House of Councils under the present circumstance.
In coming diet session, DPJ is scheduled to present some very important bills such as unification of pension system bill, bill to prohibit diversion of pension fees for other propose and so on. Pension issues are still remains number one concerns for people of Japan and this will draw a big interest once the debate start at coming diet session.
As I stated above already, ruling front still seem to underestimate the situation that this kind of new political process will start in coming diet session. I do hope that such process will become the first step to establish two-party system in Japan which is definitely necessary to develop democracy in this country.
2007/9/29
Tadashi HAYASE
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Start a full-fledged argument on Afghan and Iraq war at diet
My opinion of this week(544):
The U. N. Security Council has approved a resolution to extend the activities of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The resolution also express gratitude for the first time for the maritime interdiction activities of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), to which Japan has dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to help refueling in the Indian Ocean although no specific name of Japan was mentioned in the resolution.
The resolution was approved Wednesday with 14 votes in favor. Russia abstained from voting for several reasons. There exists a heated debate over how to interpret the wording of the appreciative comments in the preface to the resolution since the Antiterrorism Law, which underpins the dispatch of MSDF vessels used in OEF, is due to expire on Nov. 1. DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) is against the extension of the Antiterrorism Law for such MSDF operation has never been approved by any of UN resolution. Afghan war itself was a kind of war started by US only according to the interpretation of DPJ.
The views of several major Japanese papers on how this UN resolution will affect on political stance of DPJ differed very much each others. While Nikkei and Yomiuri said the resolution would be a big blow for DPJ in coming diet debate, Asahi and Mainichi said the resolution would not provide any big support for ruling front to extend the Law. The resolution caused some kind of adverse sentiment among members of U.N. Security Council for Japan made some lobbying activities against US to pass the resolution.
Yukio Hatoyama, Secretary General of DPJ, confirmed that the party would not change the opposition against the Law denouncing such lobbying activities at UN demanding appreciation for MSDF activities is rather shameful. The party will provide the firm reason why they are against the Law in coming Diet discussion.
The diet runs idle right now. Prime Minister Abe expressed his resignation from the position suddenly last Wednesday and election campaign to select new President of LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) is underway. The new Prime Minister will be elected on September 25 after new president of LDP elected on September 23. The diet session will start finally after such long absence.
All most two months have passed since the land slide victory of DPJ at House of Councils election on July 29. The extension of Antiterrorism Law has been a major issue during this period between ruling and opposition fronts. There were a number of approach against DPJ which oppose the Law from diplomatic sources such as US ambassador to Japan and German Prime Minister who visited Japan incidentally during this time. President Bush expressed concern on it directly against Prime Minister Abe at Sydney ASEAN meeting. And there came another pressure from UN as stated above. All approaches were from outside as a matter of fact before people hear any debate at diet. It is very strange indeed, isn't it?
The government and ruling front should start diet session immediately after new cabinet is born on September 25. It is expected that people can hear a number of new facts and information first time on MSDF activities at Indian Ocean since this law was initiated. The issue is not just whether continuation of oil supply to US and other nations is OK or not.
The issue will be concerned with more fundamental issues how Japan would cooperate with US, other allies and UN on various activities at Afghan and Iraq. The issue is basically related with right of collective defense.It is the very issue of Article 9 of Constitution. This is very basic issue of this country. All of acts which concerned with Afghan and Iraq war are now reinvestigated from this point of view.
We people of Japan are looking forward to hearing all of those very important and interesting resting debate at two entirely different stages of diet soon.
2007/9/22
Tadashi HAYASE
The U. N. Security Council has approved a resolution to extend the activities of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The resolution also express gratitude for the first time for the maritime interdiction activities of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), to which Japan has dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to help refueling in the Indian Ocean although no specific name of Japan was mentioned in the resolution.
The resolution was approved Wednesday with 14 votes in favor. Russia abstained from voting for several reasons. There exists a heated debate over how to interpret the wording of the appreciative comments in the preface to the resolution since the Antiterrorism Law, which underpins the dispatch of MSDF vessels used in OEF, is due to expire on Nov. 1. DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) is against the extension of the Antiterrorism Law for such MSDF operation has never been approved by any of UN resolution. Afghan war itself was a kind of war started by US only according to the interpretation of DPJ.
The views of several major Japanese papers on how this UN resolution will affect on political stance of DPJ differed very much each others. While Nikkei and Yomiuri said the resolution would be a big blow for DPJ in coming diet debate, Asahi and Mainichi said the resolution would not provide any big support for ruling front to extend the Law. The resolution caused some kind of adverse sentiment among members of U.N. Security Council for Japan made some lobbying activities against US to pass the resolution.
Yukio Hatoyama, Secretary General of DPJ, confirmed that the party would not change the opposition against the Law denouncing such lobbying activities at UN demanding appreciation for MSDF activities is rather shameful. The party will provide the firm reason why they are against the Law in coming Diet discussion.
The diet runs idle right now. Prime Minister Abe expressed his resignation from the position suddenly last Wednesday and election campaign to select new President of LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) is underway. The new Prime Minister will be elected on September 25 after new president of LDP elected on September 23. The diet session will start finally after such long absence.
All most two months have passed since the land slide victory of DPJ at House of Councils election on July 29. The extension of Antiterrorism Law has been a major issue during this period between ruling and opposition fronts. There were a number of approach against DPJ which oppose the Law from diplomatic sources such as US ambassador to Japan and German Prime Minister who visited Japan incidentally during this time. President Bush expressed concern on it directly against Prime Minister Abe at Sydney ASEAN meeting. And there came another pressure from UN as stated above. All approaches were from outside as a matter of fact before people hear any debate at diet. It is very strange indeed, isn't it?
The government and ruling front should start diet session immediately after new cabinet is born on September 25. It is expected that people can hear a number of new facts and information first time on MSDF activities at Indian Ocean since this law was initiated. The issue is not just whether continuation of oil supply to US and other nations is OK or not.
The issue will be concerned with more fundamental issues how Japan would cooperate with US, other allies and UN on various activities at Afghan and Iraq. The issue is basically related with right of collective defense.It is the very issue of Article 9 of Constitution. This is very basic issue of this country. All of acts which concerned with Afghan and Iraq war are now reinvestigated from this point of view.
We people of Japan are looking forward to hearing all of those very important and interesting resting debate at two entirely different stages of diet soon.
2007/9/22
Tadashi HAYASE
Monday, September 3, 2007
Why I use a hand-made PC
My opinion of this week(541)
I started using NEC PC8001 in 1979. It was nothing but very primitive BASIC perating machine. It was not such a very high spec application machines as those of today. I remember to pay \180,000 to buy PC8001, main memory of which is just only 32K, at a PC shop in Akihabara. It was the beginning of my PC life. Since then, I have been engrossed in PC in many ways in business and hobbies.
There were some MS-DOS days after BASIC and Windows became a major OS (Operating System)for PC in 1995. PC had become useful tools for business and personal use in any respect first time in the history. I have used a number of PCs during these period whenever there occurred the change of OS and change of communication environment. I have spent a lot of money to buy a kind of expensive machines throughout my PC careers.
Most of PCs I bought at BASIC and MS-DOS days were products of NEC. But since
Windows had become main OS in computer world, I started using hand-made PCs rather than store-bought PCs especially in the past seven years. Two of my Xp desk top machines are hand-made.
I did not make them by myself. My son assembled them based on my specifications
for PC such as type of mother board, CPU, main memory, and other peripherals.
Since Vista was introduced in January, I plan to change the old machine for PC of Vista Home Premium. I finally agreed my son to assemble Vista desktop PC two weeks ago at his summer vacation. It is considerably a high spec machine. CPU is AMD Dual Core 2, 2G byte main memory, 120G hard disc and so on. He proposed me to introduce I/O DATA's 22 inch wide display. The total cost is \110.000. If I bought the same spec machine at store , the cost may exceeds \200,000 easily.
But the reason why I use a hand-made machine is not the cost. Although assembly
of the machine itself is not quite difficult,there involves a lot of troublesome process before final use. Installation of OS, of various peripherals, of various utility software and so on. There is no guaranties for the completed products like store goods although there are guaranties for each parts. I really faced a number of troubles as a matter of facts whenever I use hand-made machines.
Nevertheless, why do I use a hand-made machine? I would rather buy a note PC from some stores for sure. But I would dare to use a hand-made machine in the case of desk-top.
The reason is rather clear. I can learn a lot of things by doing all sorts of troublesome works concerned with new hardware and software to install OS and other utilities software. You have to go into BIOS (BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM) world from time to time for initial set-up.
Those works help me to utilize PC fully later on. Such process help me to
understand some of the basic knowhow to solve several hardware and software of PC. That may help me to answer several basic technical questions from member of PC club.
It is really troublesome and time consuming process as a matter of fact. But it is one of a pleasant and productive learning process as well for me.
2007/9/1
Tadashi HAYASE
I started using NEC PC8001 in 1979. It was nothing but very primitive BASIC perating machine. It was not such a very high spec application machines as those of today. I remember to pay \180,000 to buy PC8001, main memory of which is just only 32K, at a PC shop in Akihabara. It was the beginning of my PC life. Since then, I have been engrossed in PC in many ways in business and hobbies.
There were some MS-DOS days after BASIC and Windows became a major OS (Operating System)for PC in 1995. PC had become useful tools for business and personal use in any respect first time in the history. I have used a number of PCs during these period whenever there occurred the change of OS and change of communication environment. I have spent a lot of money to buy a kind of expensive machines throughout my PC careers.
Most of PCs I bought at BASIC and MS-DOS days were products of NEC. But since
Windows had become main OS in computer world, I started using hand-made PCs rather than store-bought PCs especially in the past seven years. Two of my Xp desk top machines are hand-made.
I did not make them by myself. My son assembled them based on my specifications
for PC such as type of mother board, CPU, main memory, and other peripherals.
Since Vista was introduced in January, I plan to change the old machine for PC of Vista Home Premium. I finally agreed my son to assemble Vista desktop PC two weeks ago at his summer vacation. It is considerably a high spec machine. CPU is AMD Dual Core 2, 2G byte main memory, 120G hard disc and so on. He proposed me to introduce I/O DATA's 22 inch wide display. The total cost is \110.000. If I bought the same spec machine at store , the cost may exceeds \200,000 easily.
But the reason why I use a hand-made machine is not the cost. Although assembly
of the machine itself is not quite difficult,there involves a lot of troublesome process before final use. Installation of OS, of various peripherals, of various utility software and so on. There is no guaranties for the completed products like store goods although there are guaranties for each parts. I really faced a number of troubles as a matter of facts whenever I use hand-made machines.
Nevertheless, why do I use a hand-made machine? I would rather buy a note PC from some stores for sure. But I would dare to use a hand-made machine in the case of desk-top.
The reason is rather clear. I can learn a lot of things by doing all sorts of troublesome works concerned with new hardware and software to install OS and other utilities software. You have to go into BIOS (BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM) world from time to time for initial set-up.
Those works help me to utilize PC fully later on. Such process help me to
understand some of the basic knowhow to solve several hardware and software of PC. That may help me to answer several basic technical questions from member of PC club.
It is really troublesome and time consuming process as a matter of fact. But it is one of a pleasant and productive learning process as well for me.
2007/9/1
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Energy policy of Japan
My opinion of this week(535):
Energy policy of Japan
The whole country is now in the middle of House of Council election. I have just noticed one thing about Manifesto presented by several political parties. No energy policies are mentioned in any of Manifesto of major parties. Most mention about ecology, specifically about the reduction of CO2. But no parties show any of energy policies connected closely with the necessity of reduction of CO2.
When it comes the securities of a nation, I think there are three categories concerned. The first one is defense from military attack from other countries. Most parties show their policies on it in connection with the change of constitution. This would have become the most important issue if pension record issue did not occur just before the election campaign started.
The second securities of a nation is securing food for people. Food self-sufficiency rate in this country is just only about 40% while other Western country's food self-sufficiency rate is almost 100%. It is a serious issue as a matter of fact. Some major parties including Democratic Party of Japan mention the necessity to improve the rate in relation with basic agricultural policies of the country in their Manifesto.
The third securities of a nation is securing energy for national economy. No parties virtually show any of their basic policies about energy at this time as I wrote already.
Just in the middle of the election, there occurred Nigata Cyuetu Earthquake on July 16. This was the second large earthquake following the big earth quake happened three years ago almost at the same territory. The serious issue was a fire at Kashiwazaki-Kariha Nuclear Power Station caused by the earth quake. The safety of nuclear power station itself has become the major concern not only for Kashiwazaki-Kariha Nuclear Power Station but also for nuclear power stations in this country. City of Kashiwazaki ordered Tokyo Electric Power Co. to stop all nuclear seven reactors at Kariha Power Station. Some serious shortage of electricity will occur during this summer at Tokyo metropolitan area.
Japan is earthquake countries and safety of a number of nuclear stations spread all over Japan will become the third serious security issue of energy for this country sooner or later.
We must reduce CO2 gas. But at the same time, we must secure energy which is
necessary to live. Nuclear power station now share about 30% of total electric
power source. The country cannot stop using nuclear power to get electricity so easily. Or shall we stop using it like Germany to secure the safety for residents?
I found no imagery policies especially on nuclear power generation in Manifesto
of any of political parties at this time. It is sure that this will become on other very important policy issues in the year to come. I suggest that each major parties especially of LDP and DPJ are responsible for showing their basic energy policy in the long run even in this summer election in one way or the other.
I think it another big issue for the people to decide their voting performance.
2007/7/21
Tadashi HAYASE
Energy policy of Japan
The whole country is now in the middle of House of Council election. I have just noticed one thing about Manifesto presented by several political parties. No energy policies are mentioned in any of Manifesto of major parties. Most mention about ecology, specifically about the reduction of CO2. But no parties show any of energy policies connected closely with the necessity of reduction of CO2.
When it comes the securities of a nation, I think there are three categories concerned. The first one is defense from military attack from other countries. Most parties show their policies on it in connection with the change of constitution. This would have become the most important issue if pension record issue did not occur just before the election campaign started.
The second securities of a nation is securing food for people. Food self-sufficiency rate in this country is just only about 40% while other Western country's food self-sufficiency rate is almost 100%. It is a serious issue as a matter of fact. Some major parties including Democratic Party of Japan mention the necessity to improve the rate in relation with basic agricultural policies of the country in their Manifesto.
The third securities of a nation is securing energy for national economy. No parties virtually show any of their basic policies about energy at this time as I wrote already.
Just in the middle of the election, there occurred Nigata Cyuetu Earthquake on July 16. This was the second large earthquake following the big earth quake happened three years ago almost at the same territory. The serious issue was a fire at Kashiwazaki-Kariha Nuclear Power Station caused by the earth quake. The safety of nuclear power station itself has become the major concern not only for Kashiwazaki-Kariha Nuclear Power Station but also for nuclear power stations in this country. City of Kashiwazaki ordered Tokyo Electric Power Co. to stop all nuclear seven reactors at Kariha Power Station. Some serious shortage of electricity will occur during this summer at Tokyo metropolitan area.
Japan is earthquake countries and safety of a number of nuclear stations spread all over Japan will become the third serious security issue of energy for this country sooner or later.
We must reduce CO2 gas. But at the same time, we must secure energy which is
necessary to live. Nuclear power station now share about 30% of total electric
power source. The country cannot stop using nuclear power to get electricity so easily. Or shall we stop using it like Germany to secure the safety for residents?
I found no imagery policies especially on nuclear power generation in Manifesto
of any of political parties at this time. It is sure that this will become on other very important policy issues in the year to come. I suggest that each major parties especially of LDP and DPJ are responsible for showing their basic energy policy in the long run even in this summer election in one way or the other.
I think it another big issue for the people to decide their voting performance.
2007/7/21
Tadashi HAYASE
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Fundamental reform is necessary for the present pension system
My opinion of this week(534):
The election of House of Councils has started on Thursday. I am quite anxious to watch TVs and read newspapers on various issues. The biggest concerns of people concentrated on pension system which is ignited by incorrect recording problem at Social Insurance Agency. Prime Minister Abe repeated to say that all people who paid insurance fee will be guaranteed to get pension money. People seem to take it very funny. Why not? People take it for granted because the Government is fully
responsible for it at any rate.
People are now more concerned with the basic pension system itself rather than recording issues. Prime Minister Abe and ruling parties started criticizing new pension system proposed by Democratic Party of Japan. They said there exists no fund which is able to pay basic pension money to all low income people. Ruling fronts criticize that such pension plan is quite unrealistic.
Ozawa Ichirou, President of DPJ answered to such criticism saying they can create such fund by making fundamental change of administrative system of central and local governments. Such debate itself still involves a number of ambiguous points. But I
think it fine that such debate is being done in various way under this ircumstances. Most people of Japan now feel that the present pension system is not working any more. Young ages are afraid that they may not be able to get pension money when the time comes.
A number of young men do not participate in the plan based on such observation. There is no definite way to force them to pay insurance fee as far as the present system continues.
This pension issue was also brought up at the general election in last fall. But the issue had been wiped out by such silly issue of privatization of the postal system led by then Priminister of Koizumi. Japanese people themselves are responsible for the result that brought up at this time. They should not make the same mistake and they will not at this time.
There is no doubt that present pension system must be reformed basically from any point of views. The only concrete and comprehensive counter measures to the current system is the scheme proposed by DPJ. People must learn more about their proposal in detail and vote for them in coming election.
The change of the pension system is only possible by the transfer of power in coming election and possible general election in near future. I do hope this will happen as soon as possible. Unless this would happen, there is no hope for improvement of our life, especially of young people in next two and three decades.
2007/7/14
Tadashi HAYASE
The election of House of Councils has started on Thursday. I am quite anxious to watch TVs and read newspapers on various issues. The biggest concerns of people concentrated on pension system which is ignited by incorrect recording problem at Social Insurance Agency. Prime Minister Abe repeated to say that all people who paid insurance fee will be guaranteed to get pension money. People seem to take it very funny. Why not? People take it for granted because the Government is fully
responsible for it at any rate.
People are now more concerned with the basic pension system itself rather than recording issues. Prime Minister Abe and ruling parties started criticizing new pension system proposed by Democratic Party of Japan. They said there exists no fund which is able to pay basic pension money to all low income people. Ruling fronts criticize that such pension plan is quite unrealistic.
Ozawa Ichirou, President of DPJ answered to such criticism saying they can create such fund by making fundamental change of administrative system of central and local governments. Such debate itself still involves a number of ambiguous points. But I
think it fine that such debate is being done in various way under this ircumstances. Most people of Japan now feel that the present pension system is not working any more. Young ages are afraid that they may not be able to get pension money when the time comes.
A number of young men do not participate in the plan based on such observation. There is no definite way to force them to pay insurance fee as far as the present system continues.
This pension issue was also brought up at the general election in last fall. But the issue had been wiped out by such silly issue of privatization of the postal system led by then Priminister of Koizumi. Japanese people themselves are responsible for the result that brought up at this time. They should not make the same mistake and they will not at this time.
There is no doubt that present pension system must be reformed basically from any point of views. The only concrete and comprehensive counter measures to the current system is the scheme proposed by DPJ. People must learn more about their proposal in detail and vote for them in coming election.
The change of the pension system is only possible by the transfer of power in coming election and possible general election in near future. I do hope this will happen as soon as possible. Unless this would happen, there is no hope for improvement of our life, especially of young people in next two and three decades.
2007/7/14
Tadashi HAYASE
Monday, July 9, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Consumer tax becomes a main election issue
My opinion of this week(532)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed at a TV news show that he has never denied any possibility of rising consumer tax in near future. Several top executive members of Liberal Democratic Party criticized Abe's comment that he should have never mentioned it for rising consumer tax is another critical minus issues in coming election for ruling front.
Whether they worry about the effect or not , it is very clear that Abe Cabinet and ruling front will rise consumer tax in near future when introduction of new pension plan is planned. Most Japanese people know that it is very possible for the Government to rise consumer tax sooner or later when time comes. People now worry about the pension recording system itself but they have another concern about how the current pension system will be revised . They know how those revision will be financed so that new system will really work as planned.
Most people know the fact it is possible that consumer tax will be raised by 3% or 5% to finance the new pension plan.
As a matter of fact, this issue was debated by two top leaders a week ago. Prime Minister Abe asked Ichirou Ozawa, President of Democratic Party of Japan how they can make money to fund new pension plan as they proposed before without rising consumer tax. Ozawa answered to Abe that the new Government when DPJ would be in power can create fund without rising consumer tax by cutting administrative cost
significantly. Abe criticized Ozawa that such plan is not practical at all.
Abe must have indicated to say that the introduction of new pension scheme is possible only by rising consumer tax as they have already indicated. So it does not make sense for LDP leaders to say they should avoid this argument about rise of consumer tax at this summer election.
I think it is fine for Prime Minister Abe to argue this point in this election in connection with pension issues. Main concerns at this moment is about recording of pension plan but this issue will be extend to basic revision of total plan at the next stage. And the issue will be discussed with the necessity of rise of consumer
tax sooner or later as to a necessary fund to support the plan.
DPJ proposed a new plan which involves no increase of consumer tax. Many people of Japan are not quite sure whether or not their plan are practical. But it is fine if the plan really works as DPJ proposed. People must look forward to hearing their plan more in detail in coming election campaign. The party should explain the
plan to people in more concrete way.
I just don't understand why LDP tries to avoid the argument in this election. It is not the matter in the long run but the issue is the one at near hand.
2007/7/7
Tadashi HAYASE
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed at a TV news show that he has never denied any possibility of rising consumer tax in near future. Several top executive members of Liberal Democratic Party criticized Abe's comment that he should have never mentioned it for rising consumer tax is another critical minus issues in coming election for ruling front.
Whether they worry about the effect or not , it is very clear that Abe Cabinet and ruling front will rise consumer tax in near future when introduction of new pension plan is planned. Most Japanese people know that it is very possible for the Government to rise consumer tax sooner or later when time comes. People now worry about the pension recording system itself but they have another concern about how the current pension system will be revised . They know how those revision will be financed so that new system will really work as planned.
Most people know the fact it is possible that consumer tax will be raised by 3% or 5% to finance the new pension plan.
As a matter of fact, this issue was debated by two top leaders a week ago. Prime Minister Abe asked Ichirou Ozawa, President of Democratic Party of Japan how they can make money to fund new pension plan as they proposed before without rising consumer tax. Ozawa answered to Abe that the new Government when DPJ would be in power can create fund without rising consumer tax by cutting administrative cost
significantly. Abe criticized Ozawa that such plan is not practical at all.
Abe must have indicated to say that the introduction of new pension scheme is possible only by rising consumer tax as they have already indicated. So it does not make sense for LDP leaders to say they should avoid this argument about rise of consumer tax at this summer election.
I think it is fine for Prime Minister Abe to argue this point in this election in connection with pension issues. Main concerns at this moment is about recording of pension plan but this issue will be extend to basic revision of total plan at the next stage. And the issue will be discussed with the necessity of rise of consumer
tax sooner or later as to a necessary fund to support the plan.
DPJ proposed a new plan which involves no increase of consumer tax. Many people of Japan are not quite sure whether or not their plan are practical. But it is fine if the plan really works as DPJ proposed. People must look forward to hearing their plan more in detail in coming election campaign. The party should explain the
plan to people in more concrete way.
I just don't understand why LDP tries to avoid the argument in this election. It is not the matter in the long run but the issue is the one at near hand.
2007/7/7
Tadashi HAYASE
Friday, June 29, 2007
Unfair labor practice
My opinion of this week(531)：
Unfair labor practice: Instruction to return summer bonus
Kiyoshi Murase, Director General of Social Insurance Agency, said to all management people and workers in the Agency to return some parts of summer bonus paid to them recently to show their feeling of sorry for misconducts happened in their office. Most of top and middle management people and some workers followed to the instruction. Some workers refrain from returning bonus for it should be done only on a voluntary basis.
In connection with this move, Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Secretary General of Abe Cabinet issued a statement yesterday at the news conference. He said the new born organization will not rehire any of those old workers who refused to follow the instruction to return some parts of summer bonus at this time. According to the plan to reform the Agency, all employees will be fired at once without any exception. The new agency would rehire some of those old employees if they are good all right. They would not rehire some of those who are were found out no good. Shiozaki indicated this stance.
I already pointed out that that kind of procedures itself to fire all people when they dissolve the Agency involves some problem. It may against to some fundamental labor laws in Japan which define some basic right of workers concerning employment. How can they fire all workers in the agency at once without any specific reason? How are all general workers in the Agency are responsible for what happened in various stages of failures in their organization? I wrote about this doubt in my BLOG on June 24.
For argument sake, let assume that the Agency Reform Law which was passed at the diet at this time justifies the action to fire all workers at once in connection with the disorganization of the Agency.
Is it justified to make it a rule to decide some are rehired and some are not. More specifically, Secretary General Shiozaki meant to say that some one who returned summer bonus would be rehired but some who did not return bonus would not be hired.
I was quite surprised to read this comment. His statement is obviously very wrong. What he said is against the very important principle of labor laws. His statement forced workers to follow very unfair condition to keep employment in a organization. It seems to be a typical example of unfair labor practice from my point of view.
I believe Shiozaki's statement will present a serious argument in coming election in July. I do hope there will be many appropriate criticism against series of mismanagement by Abe Cabinet on this critical issue concerning the disorganization of Social Insurance Agency.
2007/6/30
Tadashi HAYASE
Unfair labor practice: Instruction to return summer bonus
Kiyoshi Murase, Director General of Social Insurance Agency, said to all management people and workers in the Agency to return some parts of summer bonus paid to them recently to show their feeling of sorry for misconducts happened in their office. Most of top and middle management people and some workers followed to the instruction. Some workers refrain from returning bonus for it should be done only on a voluntary basis.
In connection with this move, Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Secretary General of Abe Cabinet issued a statement yesterday at the news conference. He said the new born organization will not rehire any of those old workers who refused to follow the instruction to return some parts of summer bonus at this time. According to the plan to reform the Agency, all employees will be fired at once without any exception. The new agency would rehire some of those old employees if they are good all right. They would not rehire some of those who are were found out no good. Shiozaki indicated this stance.
I already pointed out that that kind of procedures itself to fire all people when they dissolve the Agency involves some problem. It may against to some fundamental labor laws in Japan which define some basic right of workers concerning employment. How can they fire all workers in the agency at once without any specific reason? How are all general workers in the Agency are responsible for what happened in various stages of failures in their organization? I wrote about this doubt in my BLOG on June 24.
For argument sake, let assume that the Agency Reform Law which was passed at the diet at this time justifies the action to fire all workers at once in connection with the disorganization of the Agency.
Is it justified to make it a rule to decide some are rehired and some are not. More specifically, Secretary General Shiozaki meant to say that some one who returned summer bonus would be rehired but some who did not return bonus would not be hired.
I was quite surprised to read this comment. His statement is obviously very wrong. What he said is against the very important principle of labor laws. His statement forced workers to follow very unfair condition to keep employment in a organization. It seems to be a typical example of unfair labor practice from my point of view.
I believe Shiozaki's statement will present a serious argument in coming election in July. I do hope there will be many appropriate criticism against series of mismanagement by Abe Cabinet on this critical issue concerning the disorganization of Social Insurance Agency.
2007/6/30
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, June 16, 2007
A concrete idea of Pension Record Book
My opinion of this week(529):
The election of House of Representative will be made soon in July. Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party of Japan announced their manifestoes for coming election and are now preparing to win the election based on their manifestoes.
Manifesto did play much importance in the general election of last fall due to former Prime Minister Koizumi's poor election style in which only privatization of post office became a key issue for the election.
Pension plan was one very important issues as well to be debated in the last election but the issue was not discussed so much due to Koizumi's election tactics. That was very unfortunate thing about Japanese politics and for Japanese people.
Several serious problems on recording system of pension plan have been disclosed recently. More than 50 million pension records are missing at the office of Social Insurance Agency. Several other serious problems have been disclosed one after another and the basic revision of pension plan and their management system become one most important issue for coming election.
Tow major parties are now asked to present their manifestoes on this issue in some what concrete way. Any general and abstract approach on pension issues will not be accepted by people at this time.
Since pension recording issues were disclosed, the reaction and counter measures Abe Cabinet and ruling parties took were not necessarily quite appropriate. They said they would question the responsibility of successive ministers of Welfare Ministry in the past including Naoto Kan, deputy president of Democratic Party of
Japan. They also criticized workers' morale and working style in the Agency insisting that is another background for such poor office management in the Agency.
Without talking much about the responsibility of poor management,they blamed public labor union exists in the Agency. All ruling front tried to do is to transfer their administrative and management responsibility to someone else such as successive ministers of Welfare Ministry and labor union in the Agency. It doesn't make sense.
Abe Cabinet and ruling front submitted the bill to dissolve the Social Insurance Agency suggesting to make a new privatized organization. Opposition fronts including Democratic Party of Japan opposed the bill insisting that that will not solve any basic recording problems. Majority of people of Japan seem to think the same way according to the recent public vote. They are looking for some good and concrete answer for this complicated and serious issues.
The creation of Pension Record Book replacing the present Pension Book suggested by DPJ in manifesto seems to be a good concrete answer in this respect. The new book for all participants of pension plan records all payment records of insurance fees and all receiving records of pension later on. It is something like deposit book people have for bank accounts.
I believe this is really a good idea to be introduced to avoid any further confusion in the future. In along with the introduction of such pension management system, it is absolutely necessary to revise the present pension scheme basically.
It is requested that the total grand design concerning pension plan is argued thoroughly in the coming election in July. This may be last chance for this country to make a good pension plan in the long run.
2007/6/16
Tadashi HAYASE
The election of House of Representative will be made soon in July. Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party of Japan announced their manifestoes for coming election and are now preparing to win the election based on their manifestoes.
Manifesto did play much importance in the general election of last fall due to former Prime Minister Koizumi's poor election style in which only privatization of post office became a key issue for the election.
Pension plan was one very important issues as well to be debated in the last election but the issue was not discussed so much due to Koizumi's election tactics. That was very unfortunate thing about Japanese politics and for Japanese people.
Several serious problems on recording system of pension plan have been disclosed recently. More than 50 million pension records are missing at the office of Social Insurance Agency. Several other serious problems have been disclosed one after another and the basic revision of pension plan and their management system become one most important issue for coming election.
Tow major parties are now asked to present their manifestoes on this issue in some what concrete way. Any general and abstract approach on pension issues will not be accepted by people at this time.
Since pension recording issues were disclosed, the reaction and counter measures Abe Cabinet and ruling parties took were not necessarily quite appropriate. They said they would question the responsibility of successive ministers of Welfare Ministry in the past including Naoto Kan, deputy president of Democratic Party of
Japan. They also criticized workers' morale and working style in the Agency insisting that is another background for such poor office management in the Agency.
Without talking much about the responsibility of poor management,they blamed public labor union exists in the Agency. All ruling front tried to do is to transfer their administrative and management responsibility to someone else such as successive ministers of Welfare Ministry and labor union in the Agency. It doesn't make sense.
Abe Cabinet and ruling front submitted the bill to dissolve the Social Insurance Agency suggesting to make a new privatized organization. Opposition fronts including Democratic Party of Japan opposed the bill insisting that that will not solve any basic recording problems. Majority of people of Japan seem to think the same way according to the recent public vote. They are looking for some good and concrete answer for this complicated and serious issues.
The creation of Pension Record Book replacing the present Pension Book suggested by DPJ in manifesto seems to be a good concrete answer in this respect. The new book for all participants of pension plan records all payment records of insurance fees and all receiving records of pension later on. It is something like deposit book people have for bank accounts.
I believe this is really a good idea to be introduced to avoid any further confusion in the future. In along with the introduction of such pension management system, it is absolutely necessary to revise the present pension scheme basically.
It is requested that the total grand design concerning pension plan is argued thoroughly in the coming election in July. This may be last chance for this country to make a good pension plan in the long run.
2007/6/16
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Unfair cheating
My opinion of this week(526):
Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested Thursday two top officials of the Japan Green Resources Agency (J-Green) who allegedly rigged bids for forest road survey consulting contracts ordered by the government-affiliated agency in fiscal 2005 and 2006. It is just one other example of scandals caused by such public corporation. Toshikatsu Matuoka, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, have been provided a lot of contribution from this corporation in the past. The issue of politics and money are still in the darkness in many ways as far as I see it.
An intensive discussion on the transparency of political fund have been made at diet during this week. The opposition parties continued to question Minister Matuoka about huge amount of light and fuel expenses written in his political fund report. He has never explained them in detail for the current rules do not require it. Opposition fronts insisted that it is one important responsibility as a politician to explain such details to some extent in transparent manner. It seems that there is no question about such necessity.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has supported Minister Matuoka saying he is making enough explanation alright on this issue. The tactics of ruling front to avoid attack against Minister Matuoka from opposition front is to bring up the case of purchase of high value real-estate by Ichirou Ozawa, President of Democratic Party of Japan. Prime Minister Abe let one of his man ask about it at the diet session and pointed out such purchase of high value real estate by political fund may possibly end up with unfair ownership by one man.
Prime Minister Abe's and ruling fronts' tactics on this issue is very obvious.
They try to make up Matuoka's unfair practice by hitting their strong enemy Ichirou Ozawa by bringing up a kind of different accounting procedures.
The editorial of Asahi Newspaper on Wednesday criticized this stance of Prime
Minister Abe. The editorial mentioned that Ichirou Ozawa explained the details
of the purchase of this real estate. It is quite fair by itself. On the other
hand, Minister Matuoka has never disclosed any details of high amount of the
expense item. Why can he not do it ?
Before they argue whether it is good or wrong from accounting rule point of view, politicians must disclose details of account to some extent if required. It is common sense for any people including general public. It is quite natural for
us to prepare receipts for any payment when it comes to some public matters.
When it comes to politicians who spend our tax and many of such public contribution, transparency of their accounting procedures is absolutely necessary.
I just can't believe the stance of Prime Minister Abe who continue to support Minister Matuoka on this very important issue.
2007/5/26
Tadashi HAYASE
Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested Thursday two top officials of the Japan Green Resources Agency (J-Green) who allegedly rigged bids for forest road survey consulting contracts ordered by the government-affiliated agency in fiscal 2005 and 2006. It is just one other example of scandals caused by such public corporation. Toshikatsu Matuoka, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, have been provided a lot of contribution from this corporation in the past. The issue of politics and money are still in the darkness in many ways as far as I see it.
An intensive discussion on the transparency of political fund have been made at diet during this week. The opposition parties continued to question Minister Matuoka about huge amount of light and fuel expenses written in his political fund report. He has never explained them in detail for the current rules do not require it. Opposition fronts insisted that it is one important responsibility as a politician to explain such details to some extent in transparent manner. It seems that there is no question about such necessity.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has supported Minister Matuoka saying he is making enough explanation alright on this issue. The tactics of ruling front to avoid attack against Minister Matuoka from opposition front is to bring up the case of purchase of high value real-estate by Ichirou Ozawa, President of Democratic Party of Japan. Prime Minister Abe let one of his man ask about it at the diet session and pointed out such purchase of high value real estate by political fund may possibly end up with unfair ownership by one man.
Prime Minister Abe's and ruling fronts' tactics on this issue is very obvious.
They try to make up Matuoka's unfair practice by hitting their strong enemy Ichirou Ozawa by bringing up a kind of different accounting procedures.
The editorial of Asahi Newspaper on Wednesday criticized this stance of Prime
Minister Abe. The editorial mentioned that Ichirou Ozawa explained the details
of the purchase of this real estate. It is quite fair by itself. On the other
hand, Minister Matuoka has never disclosed any details of high amount of the
expense item. Why can he not do it ?
Before they argue whether it is good or wrong from accounting rule point of view, politicians must disclose details of account to some extent if required. It is common sense for any people including general public. It is quite natural for
us to prepare receipts for any payment when it comes to some public matters.
When it comes to politicians who spend our tax and many of such public contribution, transparency of their accounting procedures is absolutely necessary.
I just can't believe the stance of Prime Minister Abe who continue to support Minister Matuoka on this very important issue.
2007/5/26
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, May 12, 2007
What is High School Baseball Association?
My opinion of this week(524):
High School Baseball Association advised all member high schools to stop their baseball club members getting scholarship for their special talent as ball players. The purpose of such notice is to ban member club teams to collect many excellent ball players from all over Japan to make team stronger.
Member high schools were asked to report number of scholarships given to baseball club members. There were so many high schools which introduce such scholarships not only for baseball players but also for many other sports and even some cultural activities. So many high schools which introduce such system cannot stop scholarship only for baseball club members. If scholarships were stopped, those members of baseball team could not continue to attend to school itself.
A number of complains and requests to ease the associations action were raised by so many schools all over Japan.
Even Bunmei Ibuki, Minister of Education and Science, called Haruo Wakimura, President of High School Baseball Association, to his office and asked him to ease such step to ban scholarship for baseball club members. Regardless the existence of the request by the minister, President Wakimura have already announced to ease their action to ban scholarship for baseball member students. There are so many number of
students who are getting such scholarship to continue to play baseball in their school teams.
The association announced to say that numbers of scholarship reported was beyond their expectation. They were obliged to take step to ease their first action to ban such scholarship system basically.
I was quite surprised to see the association's reaction to the reports made by member schools. It is quite common for all those famous high school baseball club teams to introduce such scholarship system to collect good players from all over Japan. Such scholarship system exists not only for baseball clubs but also for many other sports and cultural activities as a matter of fact. What's wrong with it? Why does the association try to stop it? There raised so many criticism from various
places in mass media for what the association tried to do.
The association have conducted so many unreasonable actions to show off their power in high school baseball world. If there were some scandals happened in or around baseball teams of high schools, the ball teams were often ordered to stop participating baseball tournament to go to Koushien Ball Park. Some baseball teams had been taken away the ticket to Koushien which they got already because of some scandals happened at the high school with or without direct connection with baseball team.
The association have been very tyrannical in many ways. They believe in pure spirit of amateurism and think high school baseball is the one which materializes it in every sense of the word.
I have had some doubt about their actions and their existence itself in many years. The happening at this time is a typical evidence of such unreasonable behavior of the association.
Bunmei Ibuki, Minister of Education and Science, should have suggested some action to reform the organization itself against the president of the association.
2007/5/12
Tadashi HAYASE
High School Baseball Association advised all member high schools to stop their baseball club members getting scholarship for their special talent as ball players. The purpose of such notice is to ban member club teams to collect many excellent ball players from all over Japan to make team stronger.
Member high schools were asked to report number of scholarships given to baseball club members. There were so many high schools which introduce such scholarships not only for baseball players but also for many other sports and even some cultural activities. So many high schools which introduce such system cannot stop scholarship only for baseball club members. If scholarships were stopped, those members of baseball team could not continue to attend to school itself.
A number of complains and requests to ease the associations action were raised by so many schools all over Japan.
Even Bunmei Ibuki, Minister of Education and Science, called Haruo Wakimura, President of High School Baseball Association, to his office and asked him to ease such step to ban scholarship for baseball club members. Regardless the existence of the request by the minister, President Wakimura have already announced to ease their action to ban scholarship for baseball member students. There are so many number of
students who are getting such scholarship to continue to play baseball in their school teams.
The association announced to say that numbers of scholarship reported was beyond their expectation. They were obliged to take step to ease their first action to ban such scholarship system basically.
I was quite surprised to see the association's reaction to the reports made by member schools. It is quite common for all those famous high school baseball club teams to introduce such scholarship system to collect good players from all over Japan. Such scholarship system exists not only for baseball clubs but also for many other sports and cultural activities as a matter of fact. What's wrong with it? Why does the association try to stop it? There raised so many criticism from various
places in mass media for what the association tried to do.
The association have conducted so many unreasonable actions to show off their power in high school baseball world. If there were some scandals happened in or around baseball teams of high schools, the ball teams were often ordered to stop participating baseball tournament to go to Koushien Ball Park. Some baseball teams had been taken away the ticket to Koushien which they got already because of some scandals happened at the high school with or without direct connection with baseball team.
The association have been very tyrannical in many ways. They believe in pure spirit of amateurism and think high school baseball is the one which materializes it in every sense of the word.
I have had some doubt about their actions and their existence itself in many years. The happening at this time is a typical evidence of such unreasonable behavior of the association.
Bunmei Ibuki, Minister of Education and Science, should have suggested some action to reform the organization itself against the president of the association.
2007/5/12
Tadashi HAYASE
Friday, April 20, 2007
Gun free country
My opinion of this week(522)
It was such a big tragedy. A Korean student killed 32 people by gun including students and teaching stuff at Virginia Technical Collge. I was surprised with the news a little bit when I read the news in Maiinichi Newspaper.
The article said and I quote:"The inspecting agency is trying to find out the motives for the accident. They are investigating how the criminal could get guns he used for mass murder."
"What are you talking about? It is quite easy for American citizens to get guns in US different from any other countries". I mumbled myself.
I remember the shock when I saw various kind of guns were put on shelves of gun sale counter at one of a big super market in Berkeley when I lived there in 1963. Such huge super market store itself was an big surprise for me. It was just about the time when Daiei, the first Japanese super market chain in Japan started their business in Kansai district.
The shop sold all sort of goods which were so abundant in quantity. But my biggest surprise was that various kind of guns were sold at the shop together with all sort of real bullets. Any people could buy those guns just by showing some kind of identifification cards.
I understand that various kinds of restrictions have been done as to the purchase of guns guns even in US since then. But such restrictions differ from states to states. It is easier to buy guns in some states.
Virginia may be one of such states where people can buy guns without so much checks for security.
According to the ABC news in internet, gun stores were making sales campaigns to sell guns. Sales leaflets says:
・No child safe lock necessary
・No safety lock necessary
・No investigation about the motive to buy guns
・No fingerprint registration necessary to buy guns
The criminal Korean student could have bought some number of guns without any difficulty at a gun shop in the town. Many other people in many other states can buy guns in US, while a number of other American citizen are against such cicumstace and insist to put some stronger restriction to buy guns.
Nevertheless, people and Government authorities are in general still very generous about gun control. I don't understand about it.
I remember one big tragedy happened for Hattori, a Japanese high student who visited US in 1992. He was killed by a shot gun when he visited to the house of American for Halloween routine practice.
The owner of the house warned him to stop approaching to his house any further. The boy could not understand the word when the owner of the house appealed to stop him. The boy was killed by the gun.
The owner of the house was arrested and sent to the law court.But he was released without any serious sentence. The case is typical example about how Americans in general make judgment as to the use of guns. They are very generous about it.
Criticisms about such very loose gun control in US have been raised from various countries of the world including Japan. I just wonder why Americans are so generous as far as gun control is concerned.
I just ask myself if US is really civilized as a cultural country in
that respect.
2007/4/21
Tadashi HAYASE
It was such a big tragedy. A Korean student killed 32 people by gun including students and teaching stuff at Virginia Technical Collge. I was surprised with the news a little bit when I read the news in Maiinichi Newspaper.
The article said and I quote:"The inspecting agency is trying to find out the motives for the accident. They are investigating how the criminal could get guns he used for mass murder."
"What are you talking about? It is quite easy for American citizens to get guns in US different from any other countries". I mumbled myself.
I remember the shock when I saw various kind of guns were put on shelves of gun sale counter at one of a big super market in Berkeley when I lived there in 1963. Such huge super market store itself was an big surprise for me. It was just about the time when Daiei, the first Japanese super market chain in Japan started their business in Kansai district.
The shop sold all sort of goods which were so abundant in quantity. But my biggest surprise was that various kind of guns were sold at the shop together with all sort of real bullets. Any people could buy those guns just by showing some kind of identifification cards.
I understand that various kinds of restrictions have been done as to the purchase of guns guns even in US since then. But such restrictions differ from states to states. It is easier to buy guns in some states.
Virginia may be one of such states where people can buy guns without so much checks for security.
According to the ABC news in internet, gun stores were making sales campaigns to sell guns. Sales leaflets says:
・No child safe lock necessary
・No safety lock necessary
・No investigation about the motive to buy guns
・No fingerprint registration necessary to buy guns
The criminal Korean student could have bought some number of guns without any difficulty at a gun shop in the town. Many other people in many other states can buy guns in US, while a number of other American citizen are against such cicumstace and insist to put some stronger restriction to buy guns.
Nevertheless, people and Government authorities are in general still very generous about gun control. I don't understand about it.
I remember one big tragedy happened for Hattori, a Japanese high student who visited US in 1992. He was killed by a shot gun when he visited to the house of American for Halloween routine practice.
The owner of the house warned him to stop approaching to his house any further. The boy could not understand the word when the owner of the house appealed to stop him. The boy was killed by the gun.
The owner of the house was arrested and sent to the law court.But he was released without any serious sentence. The case is typical example about how Americans in general make judgment as to the use of guns. They are very generous about it.
Criticisms about such very loose gun control in US have been raised from various countries of the world including Japan. I just wonder why Americans are so generous as far as gun control is concerned.
I just ask myself if US is really civilized as a cultural country in
that respect.
2007/4/21
Tadashi HAYASE
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Irrelevant criticism against NHK by Finance Minister Omi
My opinion of this week(520):
Many people in Japan and in US must have felt relieved to see the result of Matuzaka's debut game at Major Baseball League yesterday. I was in the bath yesterday morning when many math media including NHK reported Matuzaka's victory pitching over Royals. So I did not see so much about it in the morning TV news.
I missed again the good time to watch NHK and other news of TV station at noon time but watched enough some good scene on Matuzaka's pitch in many net news later on in the evening. I was quite excited about it, of course.
I happened to watch NTV's TV news show at noon which reported how Japanese rofessional baseball is now very popular in Korea. Many baseball funs in Korea were exiting about game of Yomiuri Giants at public bars. I never expect that happened in Korea and I was very surprised about it. The reason for that phenomenon is obvious. Koreans famous ball player, SeungYuop Lee, is now playing very well in Yomiuri Giants. So Gaiants is now very popular in Korea. It is good to know that fact although I am not a fun of Yomiuri Giants at all.
I read so many net news last evening about Matuzaka's debut game at Kansas which were interesting for they were reported from various point of views. I understood how mass media in Japan and in US have been paying so much attention this news.
Among many of such interesting articles, I found one very strange article in Mainichi Newspaper. Finance Minister Koji Omi criticized NHK's coverage of Daisuke Matsuzaka , saying that such public broadcaster NHK should not devote too much time
to the Boston Red Sox star.
Omi said, "Considering the overall news balance, there's a problem with taking up issues like this every morning on NHK's 7 o'clock news." He continued saying , "It's very good that people are becoming global, just like economy, and that good people are discovering new spheres." However, he raised criticism about the time NHK spent on Matuzaka issue.
He said there many more important world wide issues which should be reported in good balance by such public mass media like NHK. NHK lacks the balance to spend time to report such important events.
My first reaction to hear what Omi said is how hard the head of Japanese politicians are. The head of the Finance Minister is one typical one as such.
What is happening now in MLB is one typical phenomenon of globalization as Omi personally admits. As a matter of fact, the phenomenon is not only limited on baseball. The reason why Red Sox have invested so much money on Matura may be various. They must have expected many other economic effects which are good for Red Sox management and local community like Boston itself.
According to various net news, many new Japanese restraints have been opened in Boston expecting many visitors from Japan to this city. There are many other social and cultural effects in addition to economic effects when it comes to Matuzaka's effects. It would provide some big impact both Japan and US in various fields. It was my intention to point out the same effects exist between Japan and Korea when I mention the the case SeungYuop Lee as above.
Matuzaka's effects is one typical example of globalization. It is not the first time that we see this kind of phenomenon. Nomo was the first starter and Ichirou and Matui followed. Matuzaka is just another big case of globalization.
There is no problem for NHK to spend so much time to report on Matuzaka's case. I even think it important work for NHK as public broadcasting corporation. It is neither only on Matuzaka nor on Red Sox. It is the issue of two different cultures such as Japan and US.
2007/4/7
Tadashi HAYASE
Many people in Japan and in US must have felt relieved to see the result of Matuzaka's debut game at Major Baseball League yesterday. I was in the bath yesterday morning when many math media including NHK reported Matuzaka's victory pitching over Royals. So I did not see so much about it in the morning TV news.
I missed again the good time to watch NHK and other news of TV station at noon time but watched enough some good scene on Matuzaka's pitch in many net news later on in the evening. I was quite excited about it, of course.
I happened to watch NTV's TV news show at noon which reported how Japanese rofessional baseball is now very popular in Korea. Many baseball funs in Korea were exiting about game of Yomiuri Giants at public bars. I never expect that happened in Korea and I was very surprised about it. The reason for that phenomenon is obvious. Koreans famous ball player, SeungYuop Lee, is now playing very well in Yomiuri Giants. So Gaiants is now very popular in Korea. It is good to know that fact although I am not a fun of Yomiuri Giants at all.
I read so many net news last evening about Matuzaka's debut game at Kansas which were interesting for they were reported from various point of views. I understood how mass media in Japan and in US have been paying so much attention this news.
Among many of such interesting articles, I found one very strange article in Mainichi Newspaper. Finance Minister Koji Omi criticized NHK's coverage of Daisuke Matsuzaka , saying that such public broadcaster NHK should not devote too much time
to the Boston Red Sox star.
Omi said, "Considering the overall news balance, there's a problem with taking up issues like this every morning on NHK's 7 o'clock news." He continued saying , "It's very good that people are becoming global, just like economy, and that good people are discovering new spheres." However, he raised criticism about the time NHK spent on Matuzaka issue.
He said there many more important world wide issues which should be reported in good balance by such public mass media like NHK. NHK lacks the balance to spend time to report such important events.
My first reaction to hear what Omi said is how hard the head of Japanese politicians are. The head of the Finance Minister is one typical one as such.
What is happening now in MLB is one typical phenomenon of globalization as Omi personally admits. As a matter of fact, the phenomenon is not only limited on baseball. The reason why Red Sox have invested so much money on Matura may be various. They must have expected many other economic effects which are good for Red Sox management and local community like Boston itself.
According to various net news, many new Japanese restraints have been opened in Boston expecting many visitors from Japan to this city. There are many other social and cultural effects in addition to economic effects when it comes to Matuzaka's effects. It would provide some big impact both Japan and US in various fields. It was my intention to point out the same effects exist between Japan and Korea when I mention the the case SeungYuop Lee as above.
Matuzaka's effects is one typical example of globalization. It is not the first time that we see this kind of phenomenon. Nomo was the first starter and Ichirou and Matui followed. Matuzaka is just another big case of globalization.
There is no problem for NHK to spend so much time to report on Matuzaka's case. I even think it important work for NHK as public broadcasting corporation. It is neither only on Matuzaka nor on Red Sox. It is the issue of two different cultures such as Japan and US.
2007/4/7
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Making moral education a subject to be learned
My opinion of this week(519):
Education Reform Council has proposed to make moral education a subject to be learned at elementary school and junior high school. The proposal will become a law after discussing at diet. Ruling parties will agree with the plan but opposition parties such as Communist Party and Liberal Socialist Party will disagree with making such law.
I personally agree with the proposal provided that further discussion is to be made on the contents and the process before changing basic education laws concerned. Because it is very obvious that the biggest disadvantage about the present elementary school education is the lack of teaching moral and ethic to live in a society. Some other basic subjects such as math and Japanese language can be taught at any stage although it is a little bit later on. But teaching of moral standards should be done at very early stage such as 1st and 2nd grade at elementary school. The teaching must be continued, of course, until the end of compulsory schooling.
Moral education can be done in any other main subjects such as social studies and Japanese language without making it as special subject in calicuram. Moral education has been done very complementally in that respect until today.
Education Reform Council pointed out the fact and said that is not enough. Their proposal concluded that moral education should become one specific subject to be taught at school in order to improve moral standard of children. I basically agree with that direction.
Once moral education become a subject in the whole calcium, the subject must be evaluated in report card. A certain absolute evaluation such as grade A, B, C, etc. will be made in report card. There exists some serious concerns about it. People who are against such evaluation say that how they can make such absolute evaluation where there is no absolute concept of value in society. There exists a great variety of values in this world according to the idea of those people who are against such moral education.
I don't agree with that way of thinking at all. There definitely exists a standard moral value to be used as definite criteria to evaluate whether it is right or wrong. The biggest troubles and chaos at school today derive from the lack of such basic moral standard. They are not taught at all at school.
I know the background why some of those opposition front are against to make such moral education at school. When they hear the word moral education, they remind the moral education done at world war II. Japan was destroyed by the militarism due to such wrong moral education. No body including myself will never admit such moral education done at last war time.
We should not keep such trauma any more. I believe that it is now the time to set up a kind of good moral standard again in our society. Moral education at compulsory school is very necessary to attain that purpose.
2007/3/31
Tadashi HAYASE
Education Reform Council has proposed to make moral education a subject to be learned at elementary school and junior high school. The proposal will become a law after discussing at diet. Ruling parties will agree with the plan but opposition parties such as Communist Party and Liberal Socialist Party will disagree with making such law.
I personally agree with the proposal provided that further discussion is to be made on the contents and the process before changing basic education laws concerned. Because it is very obvious that the biggest disadvantage about the present elementary school education is the lack of teaching moral and ethic to live in a society. Some other basic subjects such as math and Japanese language can be taught at any stage although it is a little bit later on. But teaching of moral standards should be done at very early stage such as 1st and 2nd grade at elementary school. The teaching must be continued, of course, until the end of compulsory schooling.
Moral education can be done in any other main subjects such as social studies and Japanese language without making it as special subject in calicuram. Moral education has been done very complementally in that respect until today.
Education Reform Council pointed out the fact and said that is not enough. Their proposal concluded that moral education should become one specific subject to be taught at school in order to improve moral standard of children. I basically agree with that direction.
Once moral education become a subject in the whole calcium, the subject must be evaluated in report card. A certain absolute evaluation such as grade A, B, C, etc. will be made in report card. There exists some serious concerns about it. People who are against such evaluation say that how they can make such absolute evaluation where there is no absolute concept of value in society. There exists a great variety of values in this world according to the idea of those people who are against such moral education.
I don't agree with that way of thinking at all. There definitely exists a standard moral value to be used as definite criteria to evaluate whether it is right or wrong. The biggest troubles and chaos at school today derive from the lack of such basic moral standard. They are not taught at all at school.
I know the background why some of those opposition front are against to make such moral education at school. When they hear the word moral education, they remind the moral education done at world war II. Japan was destroyed by the militarism due to such wrong moral education. No body including myself will never admit such moral education done at last war time.
We should not keep such trauma any more. I believe that it is now the time to set up a kind of good moral standard again in our society. Moral education at compulsory school is very necessary to attain that purpose.
2007/3/31
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Safety of nuclear power station
My opinion of this week(518)
A number of critical accidents at nuclear power stations which should have been reported properly to Government authorities have not been reported at all in many cases. This has become a big issue in recent news of mass media.
Although there were some small accidents at nuclear power stations from time to time in the past, no critical ones as such which have been reported recently did not occur in recent years. The topic concerned with nuclear power generation itself does not seem to draw so much so social interest in recent years.
In addition, when it comes to issues on ecology, warming of earth by carbon dioxide is a major problem to be solved. Nuclear power generation is now considered to have good advantages in this respect. Owing to this social atmosphere , management of electric power stations seems to have lost some sensitivity concerning public relations on the safety of nuclear power generation. This is why so many hidden cases of accidents at power stations have been disclosed one after another these days. Some mass media explained the case that way and I agreed with their analysis
to some degree.
Japan is prone to earthquakes. Observing so many critical accidents at nuclear power stations these days, people may start having some basic concerns about the safety of nuclear power stations. Are all those sites safe enough if they are hit by such epicentral earthquakes like Hanshin Awaji Earth quakes in 1995 ? But people in general seem not to have not so much interest in this issue.
Local election is now starting. The election of House of Representative starts in July. Some main political issues are on constitution, income disparity, pension system and so on.
But according to my belief , this issue of nuclear power generation should be another central issues in the election to decide the basic energy policy of this country in the future.
2007/3/24
Tadashi HAYASE
A number of critical accidents at nuclear power stations which should have been reported properly to Government authorities have not been reported at all in many cases. This has become a big issue in recent news of mass media.
Although there were some small accidents at nuclear power stations from time to time in the past, no critical ones as such which have been reported recently did not occur in recent years. The topic concerned with nuclear power generation itself does not seem to draw so much so social interest in recent years.
In addition, when it comes to issues on ecology, warming of earth by carbon dioxide is a major problem to be solved. Nuclear power generation is now considered to have good advantages in this respect. Owing to this social atmosphere , management of electric power stations seems to have lost some sensitivity concerning public relations on the safety of nuclear power generation. This is why so many hidden cases of accidents at power stations have been disclosed one after another these days. Some mass media explained the case that way and I agreed with their analysis
to some degree.
Japan is prone to earthquakes. Observing so many critical accidents at nuclear power stations these days, people may start having some basic concerns about the safety of nuclear power stations. Are all those sites safe enough if they are hit by such epicentral earthquakes like Hanshin Awaji Earth quakes in 1995 ? But people in general seem not to have not so much interest in this issue.
Local election is now starting. The election of House of Representative starts in July. Some main political issues are on constitution, income disparity, pension system and so on.
But according to my belief , this issue of nuclear power generation should be another central issues in the election to decide the basic energy policy of this country in the future.
2007/3/24
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, March 17, 2007
My opinion of this week (517)
How can ordinal citizen can drink \5000 mineral water?
It appears that only Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is willing to accept farm minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka's foolish explanation about his massive office utility bills. Matsuoka's political fund reports say his office spent 5.07 million yen in lighting, heating and water expenses in 2005 alone and nearly 30 million yen in a five-year period to December 2005. It can't happen because because the office is in the Diet members' office building, which provide public cared , cost-free office space to lawmakers. How he could prepare such expense report ?
The 5.07 million yen Matsuoka reported as his office's utility bills represents 22 years worth of such bills for the average Japanese household headed by a corporate employee. Asked such fact by opposition front at the diet session, he said no men these days drink tap water. He prepared some special device to improve the quality of running water and he drinks some special mineral bottle water which cost \5000 or so. What a silly explanation it is!
A few days after this comments, several lawmakers of Democratic Party of Japan visited his office without any notice and found out the fact that there is no such water device at all. That's quite a laugh as a matter of fact.
Matsuoka's more critical comment is about tap water. According to news reports, some hundreds of people protested his comments about tap water. I want to make the same protest about what he said about tap waters.
I personally drink tap waters from time to time everyday. It is not really so good but not so bad at all. But whether it is tasty or not is not a big issue.
The most critical issue is whether it is safe to drink or not. Matsuoka seems not like the taste of tap waters and he drinks \5000 bottle water. That's fine.
But if he means to say he does not drink tap water because it is not so safe for health, his comments is really serious. He denied the safety of tap water which is provided by local government as public service. I personally believe the safety of tap water because it is provided by public corporation. How can such man like Matsuoka who is in such an important position of Minister of Farm Ministry make such astonishing comments as to drinking water?
He said he would withdraw this comment concerning tap water after he heard a number of adverse criticisms. Since the start of Abe administration, we have heard so many inappropriate comments stated by several moisteners of Abe cabinet. This was just one of such silly comments.
Matsuoka shows no intention whatsoever of fulfilling his responsibility to cleanup
the suspicions with a convincing explanation . As such, he is not suited to serve as a minister. His attitude also shows he lacks the moral integrity to be a Diet member. Prime Minister Abe also should be criticized severely for failing to take any action against Matsuoka.
There is criticism about how Matsuoka is responding to the allegations even within the ruling camp. It seems there exists even no common sense in politics. It is not the matter of law but the matter of moral and common sense from our general public point of views.
Abe and the ruling coalition should make a sincere response to this issue.
2007/3/17
Tadashi HAYASE
It appears that only Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is willing to accept farm minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka's foolish explanation about his massive office utility bills. Matsuoka's political fund reports say his office spent 5.07 million yen in lighting, heating and water expenses in 2005 alone and nearly 30 million yen in a five-year period to December 2005. It can't happen because because the office is in the Diet members' office building, which provide public cared , cost-free office space to lawmakers. How he could prepare such expense report ?
The 5.07 million yen Matsuoka reported as his office's utility bills represents 22 years worth of such bills for the average Japanese household headed by a corporate employee. Asked such fact by opposition front at the diet session, he said no men these days drink tap water. He prepared some special device to improve the quality of running water and he drinks some special mineral bottle water which cost \5000 or so. What a silly explanation it is!
A few days after this comments, several lawmakers of Democratic Party of Japan visited his office without any notice and found out the fact that there is no such water device at all. That's quite a laugh as a matter of fact.
Matsuoka's more critical comment is about tap water. According to news reports, some hundreds of people protested his comments about tap water. I want to make the same protest about what he said about tap waters.
I personally drink tap waters from time to time everyday. It is not really so good but not so bad at all. But whether it is tasty or not is not a big issue.
The most critical issue is whether it is safe to drink or not. Matsuoka seems not like the taste of tap waters and he drinks \5000 bottle water. That's fine.
But if he means to say he does not drink tap water because it is not so safe for health, his comments is really serious. He denied the safety of tap water which is provided by local government as public service. I personally believe the safety of tap water because it is provided by public corporation. How can such man like Matsuoka who is in such an important position of Minister of Farm Ministry make such astonishing comments as to drinking water?
He said he would withdraw this comment concerning tap water after he heard a number of adverse criticisms. Since the start of Abe administration, we have heard so many inappropriate comments stated by several moisteners of Abe cabinet. This was just one of such silly comments.
Matsuoka shows no intention whatsoever of fulfilling his responsibility to cleanup
the suspicions with a convincing explanation . As such, he is not suited to serve as a minister. His attitude also shows he lacks the moral integrity to be a Diet member. Prime Minister Abe also should be criticized severely for failing to take any action against Matsuoka.
There is criticism about how Matsuoka is responding to the allegations even within the ruling camp. It seems there exists even no common sense in politics. It is not the matter of law but the matter of moral and common sense from our general public point of views.
Abe and the ruling coalition should make a sincere response to this issue.
2007/3/17
Tadashi HAYASE
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Is Yasunori Kawauchi's assertion appropriate?
My opinion of this week(516):
A lyricist Kawauchi Yasunori asked Shinichi Mori, a famous Japanese singer to stop singing "Ofukuro-san (Oh, my mother!)" composed by Inomata Kosyou and lyrics written by Yasunori Kawauchi from now on. "Ofukuro-san" is one of the most popular Japanese song and one of the main repertories for Mori.
Since almost 30 years ago, Mori started adding some additional words before singing the original part of lyrics by himself. He has continued such performance from time to time since that has been accepted very well by audiences.
Due to some emotional entanglement between Yasunori Kawauchi and Shinichi Mori, Yasunori Kawauchi said Mori that he should not sing "Ofukuro-san" itself, for Mori has sung the song improper manner for long time without getting any consent from Kawauchi , the original writer of the lyrics.
Yasunori Kawauch'si appealed to JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers) to clear legal right about what he requested Shinichi Mori. In response to Kawauchi's request, JASRAC has said Kawauchi's assertion is right in the sense that addition of some words to the original lyrics by someone else is against the principle of the basic right of Authors. If that is done, the identity of the original lyrics would be impaired to some great extent.
But it's OK for Mori to continue to sing the song so far as he sticks to sing the original lyrics. Several lawyers issued the comment saying Basra's decision is basically right. Mass media reported the possibility of bringing the case to the court decision by both parties.
I am not a specialist about the Right of Authors,Composers and Publishers and not sure about what court decision will be made about this case. But I think what JASRAC said is not necessarily right.
In any music concerts or show, singers often spoke something before he starts singing songs. After they add some words, they start singing original songs without changing the whole lyrics. What Mori has been done for many years is the same kind of thing. He adds some additional lyric like words before he start singing the original lyrics. Yes, it involves some problems if he changes the original lyrics itself, but he has not done it at all. Any of those added words seem not to impair
the original song itself. They rather work to improve the mood of the whole song. So I really don't agree with the decision of JASRAC in that respect.
I am not a professional about the law, so I don't know what will happen about this case. The best way is that Yasunori Karachi admitted such performance by Shinichi Mori without taking such legal action. But even if the case is brought into the court, it is very possible that JASRAC's judgment will be turned down from my point of views, which is rather quite common and sound.
2007/3/10
Tadashi HAYASE
A lyricist Kawauchi Yasunori asked Shinichi Mori, a famous Japanese singer to stop singing "Ofukuro-san (Oh, my mother!)" composed by Inomata Kosyou and lyrics written by Yasunori Kawauchi from now on. "Ofukuro-san" is one of the most popular Japanese song and one of the main repertories for Mori.
Since almost 30 years ago, Mori started adding some additional words before singing the original part of lyrics by himself. He has continued such performance from time to time since that has been accepted very well by audiences.
Due to some emotional entanglement between Yasunori Kawauchi and Shinichi Mori, Yasunori Kawauchi said Mori that he should not sing "Ofukuro-san" itself, for Mori has sung the song improper manner for long time without getting any consent from Kawauchi , the original writer of the lyrics.
Yasunori Kawauch'si appealed to JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers) to clear legal right about what he requested Shinichi Mori. In response to Kawauchi's request, JASRAC has said Kawauchi's assertion is right in the sense that addition of some words to the original lyrics by someone else is against the principle of the basic right of Authors. If that is done, the identity of the original lyrics would be impaired to some great extent.
But it's OK for Mori to continue to sing the song so far as he sticks to sing the original lyrics. Several lawyers issued the comment saying Basra's decision is basically right. Mass media reported the possibility of bringing the case to the court decision by both parties.
I am not a specialist about the Right of Authors,Composers and Publishers and not sure about what court decision will be made about this case. But I think what JASRAC said is not necessarily right.
In any music concerts or show, singers often spoke something before he starts singing songs. After they add some words, they start singing original songs without changing the whole lyrics. What Mori has been done for many years is the same kind of thing. He adds some additional lyric like words before he start singing the original lyrics. Yes, it involves some problems if he changes the original lyrics itself, but he has not done it at all. Any of those added words seem not to impair
the original song itself. They rather work to improve the mood of the whole song. So I really don't agree with the decision of JASRAC in that respect.
I am not a professional about the law, so I don't know what will happen about this case. The best way is that Yasunori Karachi admitted such performance by Shinichi Mori without taking such legal action. But even if the case is brought into the court, it is very possible that JASRAC's judgment will be turned down from my point of views, which is rather quite common and sound.
2007/3/10
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, March 3, 2007
My opinion of this week(515):
NHK should accept 20% cut of viewer payments
"The communications ministry abandoned plans to make viewer payments to Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) legally mandatory after the public broadcaster refused to slash the fees by 20 percent, officials said Thursday." Yomiuri March 2
Almost 30% of households of NHK viewers reject to pay viewing fee now and it is serious situation for NHK at the moment. It started to happen after series of scandals by NHK workers had been observed in recent years.
There is another reason why so many rejection of payments have been observed. Under the present Broadcast Law, households with television viewers must sign a subscription contract with NHK. But there is no clause in the law which require viewer to pay the fee mandatory.
Under such situation, NHK must have asked the communications ministry to revise the law so that they can collect the fee without so many troubles. The communication ministry agreed with it. But top officials of the ministry decided to ask NHK to cut 20% of viewer fee to exchange the action to revise the law to collect the fee mandatory.
The Government authorities including the communications ministry must have thought that such request to NHK to reduce 20% of viewing fees is necessary to obtain consensus from people and to pass the law at the diet. It seems that there is no concrete reason why reduction must be 20% or so. It may be 20% or more or less.
There exists a number of complaints about management of NHK among general public of Japan. Some believe NHK is not necessary any more. Some say NHK is necessary but their current management should be improved in many ways. I personally support the latter stance. I agree with the necessity of existence of public broadcasting media such as NHK. But I also agree with the idea that management of NHK should be improved drastically in many ways. I believe that majority of Japanese people think that way as well.
The request of 20% cut of viewer fee against NHK from the communication ministry seems to be a kind of very minimum one. There are a lot more requests to be included for the new law to pass the diet.
But President Hashimoto was very negative about the plan proposed by Communication Minister Suga.
He said he should be very careful about such big reduction of revenue which may give serious effects on the operation of NHK. That's for sure, of course. Minister Suga expressed discomfort with it saying that they would not submit the new law at this time. He said the plan to revise broadcasting law is realized only when NHK agrees to reduce viewer fee by 20 %.
I agree with this stance of the communication ministry. It seems that there are a lot of rooms for NHK to improve their management of their organization, although I don't point out it in some concrete way. President Hashimoto should at least send more positive sign against the plan shown by the communication ministry.
2007/3/3
Tadashi HAYASE
"The communications ministry abandoned plans to make viewer payments to Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) legally mandatory after the public broadcaster refused to slash the fees by 20 percent, officials said Thursday." Yomiuri March 2
Almost 30% of households of NHK viewers reject to pay viewing fee now and it is serious situation for NHK at the moment. It started to happen after series of scandals by NHK workers had been observed in recent years.
There is another reason why so many rejection of payments have been observed. Under the present Broadcast Law, households with television viewers must sign a subscription contract with NHK. But there is no clause in the law which require viewer to pay the fee mandatory.
Under such situation, NHK must have asked the communications ministry to revise the law so that they can collect the fee without so many troubles. The communication ministry agreed with it. But top officials of the ministry decided to ask NHK to cut 20% of viewer fee to exchange the action to revise the law to collect the fee mandatory.
The Government authorities including the communications ministry must have thought that such request to NHK to reduce 20% of viewing fees is necessary to obtain consensus from people and to pass the law at the diet. It seems that there is no concrete reason why reduction must be 20% or so. It may be 20% or more or less.
There exists a number of complaints about management of NHK among general public of Japan. Some believe NHK is not necessary any more. Some say NHK is necessary but their current management should be improved in many ways. I personally support the latter stance. I agree with the necessity of existence of public broadcasting media such as NHK. But I also agree with the idea that management of NHK should be improved drastically in many ways. I believe that majority of Japanese people think that way as well.
The request of 20% cut of viewer fee against NHK from the communication ministry seems to be a kind of very minimum one. There are a lot more requests to be included for the new law to pass the diet.
But President Hashimoto was very negative about the plan proposed by Communication Minister Suga.
He said he should be very careful about such big reduction of revenue which may give serious effects on the operation of NHK. That's for sure, of course. Minister Suga expressed discomfort with it saying that they would not submit the new law at this time. He said the plan to revise broadcasting law is realized only when NHK agrees to reduce viewer fee by 20 %.
I agree with this stance of the communication ministry. It seems that there are a lot of rooms for NHK to improve their management of their organization, although I don't point out it in some concrete way. President Hashimoto should at least send more positive sign against the plan shown by the communication ministry.
2007/3/3
Tadashi HAYASE
Friday, February 23, 2007
Baby post
Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto plans to set up the country's first "baby hatch"where mothers are able to drop off new born and unwanted babies. Jikei Hospitalexplains they will begin to install the hatch as soon as they obtain permissionfrom local public health authorities and Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor. The Ministry did not necessarily admit the plan to go ahead to install suchbox but they say there is at least no laws which prohibits such conducts.
I have never heard of such a system until I read this article listed inYahoo news. I read the fact that the system seems to be functioning withoutmajor problems in one of a baby care center in Germany.
In along with the news article at Yahoo site, there is an questionnaire on thissystem asking whether you agree with it or not. I have posted the
affirmative vote without seeing the summary result so far. I was satisfied to find the result of the vote that about 60% of people were affirmative about the system.
Hospital director Shoichi Hasuda says the baby hatch “is an emergency measureand it is not aimed at encouraging parents to abandon babies.” Yes, that's it.I fully agree with this message. But while I read many other news and comments expressed from several central Government authorities later on, I found there expressed various concerns to introduce such system in this country.
One big question raised was of course, whether the system would encourage the abandonment of a baby that is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. The Criminal Affairs Bureau of the Justice Ministry declined to comment on the legality of the hospital’s plan. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor also seems to be very uncertain about it.
I understand some of those development. This is a good first concrete step to save valuable lives of abandoned babies. I do hope and believe that a number of discussion will be made on this system from various views including legal, social, humanistic, ethical and religious point of views from now on.
2007/2/24
Tadashi HAYASE
Friday, February 16, 2007
Decisive battle of Tokyo gubernatorial election
Screening of candidates from Democratic Party of Japan for Tokyo gubernatorial election in April is not going well. Shiro Asano, the former Governor of Miyagi Prefecture is now one most possible candidate, but he is not so eager to accept the candidacy at the moment. Several other candidates including some famous TV casters who were asked to be the candidate by DPJ also denied the possibility.
Naoto Kan, Deputy Representative of DPJ and Seiji Maehara, the former Representative of DPJ are also included in the possible candidates. It seems that there exists some possibility for Seiji Maehara to accept the candidacy but Naoto Kan seems to have no such intention at all.
Shintarou Ishihara, the Governor of Tokyo will run again and he is not quite so strong as before for he has several issues concerning spending of travel expenses for his fourth son and entertainment expenses from public fund.But he still keeps more than fifty percent support from citizen of Tokyo according to a recent popular vote for his strong leadership and policy implementation capacity. His proposal to hold the second Olympic Game in Tokyo also seems to have a good support from
electorates in Tokyo.
Regardless such situation in Tokyo, the gubernatorial election in April is very important for DPJ and they must win in this election to win the following House of Representative election in July. If they could win in April, they could win in July as well.
From this point of view, I wonder why DPJ is still wondering so much to select a candidate for the gubernatorial election. According to my belief they must select either Naoto Kan or Seiji Maehara as a candidate. Naoto Kan seems to be the best choice and several mass media forecast that DPJ could win in the election if Naoto Kan run for it. I agree with that view personally. He may be the only one candidate who could win against Shintarou Ishihara in all respects.
Nevertheless, Naoto Kan seems to have no intention to run for the election fortunately. Ichirou Ozawa, Representative of DPJ also denied the possibility of his candidacy saying Naoto Kan is very necessary man as a top executive of the Party. But I think the message is wrong.
It is the day of local autonomy. One typical example is that the Government itself is now starting to discuss possible introduction of Dosyusei(regional system) in this country in near future. The Prime Minister will be elected from governors of regions in the future as we see now in US.
I am very sorry if Naoto Kan and Ozawa lack this kind of view. It is very possible that Naoto Kan will be able to be the Prime Minister of Japan after he worked as the governor of Tokyo for one term or two.
DPJ should select this option if they wish to win in the election in April and in July.
I am not necessarily a dedicated supporter for DPJ. But I do hope that the party should take the power once in Japanese politics replacing Liberal Democratic Party. This is very necessary to improve the quality of democracy and politics in Japan.
It is my sincere hope that DPJ could now make a right decision now on the selection of a candidate for coming election in April.
tad
Naoto Kan, Deputy Representative of DPJ and Seiji Maehara, the former Representative of DPJ are also included in the possible candidates. It seems that there exists some possibility for Seiji Maehara to accept the candidacy but Naoto Kan seems to have no such intention at all.
Shintarou Ishihara, the Governor of Tokyo will run again and he is not quite so strong as before for he has several issues concerning spending of travel expenses for his fourth son and entertainment expenses from public fund.But he still keeps more than fifty percent support from citizen of Tokyo according to a recent popular vote for his strong leadership and policy implementation capacity. His proposal to hold the second Olympic Game in Tokyo also seems to have a good support from
electorates in Tokyo.
Regardless such situation in Tokyo, the gubernatorial election in April is very important for DPJ and they must win in this election to win the following House of Representative election in July. If they could win in April, they could win in July as well.
From this point of view, I wonder why DPJ is still wondering so much to select a candidate for the gubernatorial election. According to my belief they must select either Naoto Kan or Seiji Maehara as a candidate. Naoto Kan seems to be the best choice and several mass media forecast that DPJ could win in the election if Naoto Kan run for it. I agree with that view personally. He may be the only one candidate who could win against Shintarou Ishihara in all respects.
Nevertheless, Naoto Kan seems to have no intention to run for the election fortunately. Ichirou Ozawa, Representative of DPJ also denied the possibility of his candidacy saying Naoto Kan is very necessary man as a top executive of the Party. But I think the message is wrong.
It is the day of local autonomy. One typical example is that the Government itself is now starting to discuss possible introduction of Dosyusei(regional system) in this country in near future. The Prime Minister will be elected from governors of regions in the future as we see now in US.
I am very sorry if Naoto Kan and Ozawa lack this kind of view. It is very possible that Naoto Kan will be able to be the Prime Minister of Japan after he worked as the governor of Tokyo for one term or two.
DPJ should select this option if they wish to win in the election in April and in July.
I am not necessarily a dedicated supporter for DPJ. But I do hope that the party should take the power once in Japanese politics replacing Liberal Democratic Party. This is very necessary to improve the quality of democracy and politics in Japan.
It is my sincere hope that DPJ could now make a right decision now on the selection of a candidate for coming election in April.
tad
Friday, February 9, 2007
Qualification of a good teacher
"Democratic Party of Japan submitted the counter plan for Revision ofSchoolteachers' Licensing System" Asahi Newspaper Feb.8
There were a number of misconducts of school teachers reported in newspapers these days. Some teachers at elementary schools and juniorhigh schools participated themselves in some bullying at their class rooms. There is a formidable teacher who took pornographic photographof students in his class. Those are a number of such unbelievable news and there might exist many more such vicious teachers at school these days.
Many confusions at school today come basically from lack of ethics education at home according to my opinion. But it is also true that lack of ethics of children derives from the lack of training andteaching at school. Schools are not managed enough in that respect dueto lack of leadership of principal and lack of capacity of teacherin that regards at class rooms.
I agree with the idea of the Ministry of Education and Science that education boards of each cities will review the qualification of schoolteachers every ten years. Every teachers will be sent to training centerto refresh their motivation and skills as school teachers. I think thatthose process are very necessary to refresh their mind and skills.
I also agree with the counterproposal proposed by Democratic Party of Japanto take longer years to train school teachers from four years to six yearsjust like the license of medical doctors. They are trained for four years concerning basic skills as teachers and for another two years as intern toget trained at actual classrooms. That is really an good idea which shouldbe considered to be included to revise the law.
Cultivating good school teachers is one of the most important subject to improve a number of problems at school today. This is an issue whichshould be discussed by suprapartisan groups at the diet.
Qualification of good teacher are not only skills and knowledge aboutteaching subjects but also fundamental quality as human being. The lattermay be more important as a matter of fact as a qualification for a goodteacher.
The qualification may not be checked just by paper test. The qualificationmay be checked by principals and vice principals during their internship period at school. Some group interviews may be necessary at the final stage ofthe selection examination.
Since the training period gets longer just like medical doctors, their remuneration should be much higher compared with the present one althoughwhether or not that is considered in the revision of the law.
The most important thing to make any new teacher training system work is to create a general atmosphere in our society that school teachers are respected much more by students at school and by people at communities.
2007/2/10
Tadashi HAYASE
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
From TIME report
Reference is made with the article of Time.
I don't agree with the comment saying Kyuma and Aso were echoing what a majority of Japanese feel. I am not in the majority at least.
I am quite surprised to the comment and I quote: their statements seemed almost calculated
to cause embarrasment to their boss. May be so. There are no such comments by any Japanese
papers as far as I know.
tad
I don't agree with the comment saying Kyuma and Aso were echoing what a majority of Japanese feel. I am not in the majority at least.
I am quite surprised to the comment and I quote: their statements seemed almost calculated
to cause embarrasment to their boss. May be so. There are no such comments by any Japanese
papers as far as I know.
tad
Friday, February 2, 2007
Participation of injured persons to judgment
Legislative Council of the Ministry of Justice has submitted a draft plan for the participation of injured persons to a court judgment. So far in any court judgments, there are no room for injured parties to participate in court judgment process at all. All they can do is to come to a court and listen to what's going on at courts. They may enter the witness-box on the request of prosecutors or defense councils but it is all what they can do as far as court process is concerned.
In this new draft plan, injured parties can participate in closing argument with prosecutors. This is really epoch-making court process which has never been tried before in Japan.
It is hard to guess the sentiment of injured people who suffered some serious
criminals such as killing or sex-related crimes against their infant children.
In such case, we often observe that those injured families worked hard to punish criminals so that they are sentenced to death at some extreme cases.
We are puzzled very much to see that those injured people even devote their life to work for making criminal sentenced to death in court judgment. We understand their real sentiment first time when we know the whole background about what happened to those injured parties.
From outsider point of vies, having such kind of sentiment of revenge seems to be a feeling of very personal one of injured party. We should never say that way just by one word. The feeling may come not only come from personal sentiment but also from social viewpoint that such crime should never be repeated again in the future without wasting lives of their families.
The public court judgments exist to punish such crimes to avoid that would not happen again in the future. Participation of injured parties to court decision is very necessary from social point of view as Legislative Council suggested.
Such injured party participation systems are already introduced in various advanced countries such as US and Europe. But there involved some basic problems to make the whole system work. The system is not to protect the basic right of suffered parties but to make fair social judgment from overall legal and social point of views.
We must wait for further discussion on the draft plan at the council so that this will become a law in near future. I personally agree with this directional movement at any rate.
2007/2/3
Tadashi HAYASE
In this new draft plan, injured parties can participate in closing argument with prosecutors. This is really epoch-making court process which has never been tried before in Japan.
It is hard to guess the sentiment of injured people who suffered some serious
criminals such as killing or sex-related crimes against their infant children.
In such case, we often observe that those injured families worked hard to punish criminals so that they are sentenced to death at some extreme cases.
We are puzzled very much to see that those injured people even devote their life to work for making criminal sentenced to death in court judgment. We understand their real sentiment first time when we know the whole background about what happened to those injured parties.
From outsider point of vies, having such kind of sentiment of revenge seems to be a feeling of very personal one of injured party. We should never say that way just by one word. The feeling may come not only come from personal sentiment but also from social viewpoint that such crime should never be repeated again in the future without wasting lives of their families.
The public court judgments exist to punish such crimes to avoid that would not happen again in the future. Participation of injured parties to court decision is very necessary from social point of view as Legislative Council suggested.
Such injured party participation systems are already introduced in various advanced countries such as US and Europe. But there involved some basic problems to make the whole system work. The system is not to protect the basic right of suffered parties but to make fair social judgment from overall legal and social point of views.
We must wait for further discussion on the draft plan at the council so that this will become a law in near future. I personally agree with this directional movement at any rate.
2007/2/3
Tadashi HAYASE
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