Thursday, July 22, 2004

How do you think baby’s names should be chosen?

In my opinion, a baby can be given any name. Parents should be free to choose whatever name they want. Though some names have some meanings and even a role in the old period, it doesn’t matter what the name is.
However, parents should take into account three points. First, they should not forget that their child will have that name forever. Therefore the name should not be difficult to use. The second point is that the name should match the customs of a culture. A name which has an extremely strange meaning should be avoided. And finally, parents should name their child seriously and with love.

Marketers target children

Nowadays video games are getting more and more popular among children. These are the best products for the marketers who target children.
I remember that I used to enjoy the TV commercials in which popular characters introduced some goods for children. I think they still do now.

Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Designer Babies

I absolutely don't agree with using genetic engineering to make a baby. The baby is no longer a human being. We usually call it an android. However, nobody can oppose that parents, including me, reject an embryo that has been known to have fatal diseases or a serious handicap at birth as a result of gene testing.

Surely the superhuman, which the special designed baby has become, will be made by someone in the near future even if the law prohibits that. I hope indeed that the purpose will not be something selfish or something violent.

Sunday, June 20, 2004

Interviewing about the death penalty

I interviewed the assistant in my dormitory. She was opposed to the death penalty because it is an unfair system. She said most executed people belong to poor families or minority races.

I also interviewed a friend from Japan. He is in favor of the death penalty because he thinks the family of a murder victim needs a chance to get revenge. He said the death penalty is for that.

My opinion about death penalty

In my opinion, it is necessary to execute a murderer under the law. Consider how you would feel if your son was killed by someone. The death penalty is not enough to help you recover but at least it helps you heal. It is also useful as a deterrent. The man who is doing something bad may stop doing it because he is afraid of the death penalty. I’m for the death penalty for these reasons.

Thursday, June 17, 2004

The child obesity problem

  “Who is responsible for obesity problem?” I believe indeed that the answer to this question is themselves. However, nowadays child obesity is getting to be a big problem. In this case, I cannot say that they should overcome it by themselves. This was due to the lack of responsiblility of their parents or society. Now that it is getting international problem, we should learn about it and ponder it. Here is useful article. Please read it.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

anmWhat is globalization?

I have a lot of things made in foreign countries, for example, a Japanese watch made in Thailand, an American sweater made in Korea, the a Japanese shirt made in China, a European rugby jersey made in China, an American polo shirt made in Cambodia and sneakers made in the USA. Am I globalized? My answer is no because I only have the globalized things. Indeed I need two skills to be globalized indeed. One is that I can exactly understand and tell the value of things. Another is that I can give the some idea or something, which is useful for me to somebody a in foreign country. That is the reason why I am learning English in the U.S.A as one step of globalization.

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

The Japanese folk tale "The Snow Lady"

A long time ago, a young man and his father went to the snow mountain with their rifles on their shoulders. The weather became bad, so they spent the night in mountain hut, waiting for the weather to get better. Around midnight, a beautiful lady who had snow white skin and wore a white kimono, appeared in front of them. Suddenly, her eyes turned red, she blew the cold white breath on the father. Soon, his face and his body turned white and he died of the cold. She said to him, “I am not going to kill you, because you are young,but never tell anyone about this incident” and then she disappeared into the snow.

One year later, on a rainy day the young man met a beautiful lady who was ill and sitting in the street. He took her into his house and took care of her. Her name was “Oyuki”.(Oyuki means snow). When she got well, they fell in love. Soon, they got married and had a child. For a few years, they lived very happily.

Then one showy night, he carelessly told her about the incident on the snowy mountain. Soon, her face turned sad and really white, she became the lady in that incident. She was the snow spirit. She said, “Regrettably, you broke the promise. I must kill you, but we have a sweet little baby. I can not kill you, but I can no longer live as a human being” Then she disappeared. “Oyuki! Oyuki!” he cried again and again in vain.

Introduce myself

Hello. My name is Jiro Yoshisato. I'm from Japan.I'm an ELC student in MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY only for two months.To tell the truth I am an engineer of JAPANESE construction company. Now I am studying English to be a business man who can manage all over the world. I hope you have a good time in my small world and give me your opinion. Thank you.

Friday, June 04, 2004

The influence of English

English has influenced the Japanese language.We use English words to talk about cars and sports. Most of the names of cars are based on English, for example, we say Corona and Vigor and Land cruiser. We also use English words like to describe cars. The reason why Japanese cars have English names is that these words create a strong impression. They make us imagine high technology and modern design.

English has influenced the Japanese language in another way. We use English words to talk about sports. For example, we say volleyball, baseball and jogging. The reason why sports in Japan have English names is that the new sports came from ,then continues such as the U.S.A or Europe. On the other hand, the sports that were popular before World War II have Japanese names, for example, we say "yakyuu" meaning baseball ,"suiei" meaning swimming.