New U.S. Ambassador to Japan♪

First of all, I wish to thank you all of your thoughts and comments for our recent losses in our family.  I can not tell you how much your sweets words comforted me. I'm SO blessed having such warmhearted oversea friends through blog. 

 *Well, I wish to write a quick bright post about New U.S. Ambassador to Japan♪*  

She visited Imperial Palace to the ceremony, riding the horse-drawn imperial carriage. Many people tried to catch a glimpses or take photos of her along the way. 

 So sorry that I only could find the long Japanese version from  TV news in you-tube.  She was welcomed by many Japanese people.

And this page introduces her visit to Imperial Palace in English.

*quote from the page*

In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, new U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, second right, presents her credentials to Emperor Akihito as Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, right, and others look on during a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan)

The shocking news about her father still deep in my mind. Even though I was 8 years old, the scene in rather new black and white TV left quite an impact on me.  It seems she is Japanophile (hope it is a proper word) wearing the peal necklace; TV news mentioned about it p;)  I DO hope she will be a big helping hand to tighten our ties between Japan and America.

PS> Please forgive me that I haven't been able to visit all my friends yet. I'll find time late tomorrow, my friends.

millisievert

We've been hearing this word (or unit?) after the accident of nuclear reactor.
Quote from today's paper

"82 millisieverts outside zone seen

Cumulative radiation outside the 20-km radius of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in the past three months has reached as high as 82 millisieverts, more than four times the limit of 20 millisieverts a year, a science ministry estimate showed Tuesday."

It is not just the question of the distance where high radiation level reported. Mothers are worrying about let the kids play outside the house even in Tokyo.
There was an another article with detailed map from the group of researchers; 
Jet stream has brought certain amount of radiation to Europe through America in a week right after the accident. What a devastating impact one tsunami caused. In some area, officials uprooted people from their home land.
I deeply hope the day comes when we no longer have to hear this "millisievert"

Rice-Duck Farming

Healthy Farming, Ducks eat Weed in the paddy 

 When I was watching news-show while eating dinner, it reported that the kids in our Pref. experienced to let the duck free to the rice-paddy. This video from you-tube is not that particular news, but I thought my foreigner friends may be able to enjoy the related video and get some idea about rice making. 

We are in the midst of rainy season now and  after let water flow to rice fields, rice planting is almost over in the east of Japan.  Haha, the cute ducks are huge helping hand for farmers, aren't they?  Please just have fun for a while♡♡♡

If you want the bigger screen click here,

After March 11th,

     Disappointment  and Distrust

In my way more than  half a century's life, I've never had disappointment and distrust towards our Government this much.  I can't help but feel  even anger.  Right now 15:30 Japan time, "nonconfidence motion" was voted down. I don't know why on earth they spend much time on that silly dispute between the ruling parties and the opposition parties. 
Aren't we facing the enormous national crisis?  

They are neglecting to implement countermeasures which is the very priority.  People are in torment not only Tohoku but we all will be.

God..., more than 100thousand people are at the evacuation center and many industries are affected. People are losing jobs. Not to mention, how can we deal with electrical power resource problem. After nearly 3 months has passed, we are hearing that initial measures were delayed. 

As the blue rose has in its floral language, I wish the impossible can be possible and "Recovery and Reconstruction" of Japan will be expedited soon.

Security got tightened after the Death of Osama bin Laden

This might be a bit belated post, however;

The attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001 left a quite unforgettable shock for me as well. I'm teaching English at home for supplementary education especially for school kids. I finished my job 9:30 as usual that night. My husband had already home, waiting dinner and watching TV in the kitchen. I glanced the scene two of the jet liners were flown into the World Trade Center towers.
 "What movie are you watching?" That was what I said to him. I do have fairly good knowledge of movies and I thought I might as well know the movie which has the scene with that kind of impact.

article from the paper
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110503005099.htm

It seems that Japan also stepping up its security for fear of  possible retaliatory acts. The article quote the comment of the professor who specializes in international terrorism; "Chances aren't so high that Japan will be affected, but people working for foreign companies [in Japan] should take additional precautions against terrorist attacks,"
Taking precautionary measurement must be inevitable. Deeply hope that this won't trigger another one. I mean NOWHERE in the world. My heart is for the people who suffered from the incidents, especially my new friends in here.   

Looking Forward to seeing the Royal Wedding

I may not be the only one waiting to see the Royal Wedding and the Parade. I cannot forget the day my eyes were glued to the TV broadcasting  Prince Charles and Lady Diana's  Wedding. I'm only 6years older than her. As not having started teaching job at the time and also young newlywed, I had plenty of time at home to enjoy the ceremony . I was SO enchanted, fascinated by the new princess and the whole wedding.  Might be a famine feeling of yearning♡♡♡
 Wishing Lovely Royal Couple a wonderful beginning and an abundance of love and happiness!   

                                                         image by Bliss Angels

Cannot believe how much technologies have developed☆

What a day and age

The recent news of cheating the entrance exam by using the high-tech really astonished me. Culprit sent the questions of the exam(mainly English or Math) through cameras of  the phone or the glasses to the accomplice's PC and got the answer. I knew the days without even TV and refrigerator. Haha, I cannot believe I am using PC and writing blog.

 As the article saids, elderly people are the fraudster's targets. The other day I saw gards at the ATM in the convenience-store. It was the 15th of the month, when elderly people's pension money is supposed to be paid.  Well, I should be cafeful as we are now surviving with it☆

the article from the paper

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Universities mull mobile jammers

Kyodo News

Cell phone jammers have come under the spotlight in the wake of recent cheating incidents during entrance exams at four prominent universities, including Kyoto University.

Zero tolerance: An examiner ensures a test-taker's cell phone is turned off Wednesday during the entrance exam at Taisho University in Tokyo. KYODO PHOTO

Such jammers transmit radio signals in the 800 MHz frequency band, which is used as the mainstream carrier frequency band for NTT DoCoMo's and KDDI's au phones. Products targeting other frequency bands are also available.

At present, the main corporate users of the jammers are the operators of hospitals, concert halls and cinemas, while some banks have also installed the device at their automated teller machines to help prevent "ore-ore" (it's me, it's me) frauds.

In the phone scam, culprits typically guide elderly people via cell phone to send money to the fraudsters' temporary bank accounts, pretending to be close kin or acquaintances suddenly in a financial bind.

According to dealers of cell phone jammers, universities have now been added to the customer list.

Tokyo-based Macros Japan said an increasing number of inquiries are coming from universities and other schools saying they are troubled by the problem of cheating.

Belated News (Secretary's Speech at George Washington university)

Found her speech from You-Tube, (for my learning sake)

As I don't have much knowledge how the Internet is affecting to the world, the incident in Egypt connected with Facebook interested me. I think her speech educated me in the sense of both learning cyber security matter and increasing English vocabulary (also found the transcription)

One editor's comment,  quote; it is difficult to get behind this idea of "Internet freedom" when the concept itself is vague. There is no universal standard for what a free Internet should look like. ;

Although I have no idea how she is doing as a the secretary of state, just impressed by her way of making brilliant speech and eloquence without reading manuscript note. (haha, she must be used to delivering speech)

Anyways, I was happy to have educational time for listening this despite hubby's influenza.  Well, he is feeling better thanks to the doctor's medication.