Friday, June 29, 2012

Excellent Asian immigrants in the U.S


















According to CNN, Pew Research Center released on Jun 19th that Asians have taken over Hispanics as the largest group of new immigrants to the U.S.
According to this result, in 2010, 36 percent of new immigrants to America were Asians, compared to 31 percent who were Hispanic. A decade ago, those numbers were 19 percent Asians and 59 percent Hispanics.

Research also said that Asians have the satisfaction of their life, their income and direction of the country compared to other groups.

As for the ratio of university graduates, Asians are 61 percent and others 30 percent. It's approximately two times. 
According to the U.S Census Bureau, the definition of Asian includes the main six countries of China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam and Indian.
Also, as for the level of income and education, Indian-American is the top. 70 percent of over 25 years old Indian-American people are university graduates. Meanwhile, Korean, Chinese, Filipino and Japanese-Americans are 50 percent.

In addition, Asian American's annual household income average is $66,000 and it surpasses the average of general annual income of $49,800.

Generally speaking, Asians are known for hard work and 69 percent of them have conception of working hard and high ethical standard compared to 58 percent Americans. 93 percent of Asians also think proud of people who live in their home country as they work so hard. 

Historically, Asian immigrants used to be very poor, because they were uneducated and unskilled. So, they were subject to discrimination and prejudice.
However, these situation changed dramatically compared to 100 years ago.

People who live in luxury houses are not only white but also Indian-American and Chinese-Americans in the area where I live. Their children also make excellent grades in school. That means parents of Asian immigrants have a fervor for education.

As I explained, now in America, Asian immigrants are expanding and succeed in business and getting wealthy. Unfortunately, Japanese-American is not in this center of the circle.

So, do people other than Asian Americans have a poor grade, not-hard working and low income? The answer is completely No.
Of course, as compared to the average, the result is right, but there are super excellent people in America. Actually, these superman pull politics and economy of America. In contrast, I think that Asian immigrants are likely diligent and excellent on average, but there is no superman.

In the future, Japan will have to accept a lot of immigrants from other countries as the reduced birthrate goes on. In addition, these immigrants' children and grandchildren might control Japanese politics and economy after 100 years.
I hope Japanese people succeed our diligent and polite culture so that everyone will not say that Japanese people are sloth.

Data source


Written in Jun 28 and revised Jun 29

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Legalized the marijuana

In California, the news of legalizing the marijuana is enlivening the media. The penalty of selling and buying and growing the marijuana will be abolished if people are over twenty-one years old. By conducting it, the revenue of California will increase about ten billion dollars. The marijuana for medical treatment has already been admitted in some states.

According to the survey, 40% of people agree with it and 46% of people disagree. I was surprised and I couldn't understand why 40% of people agree with it. As a matter of fact, it's more than 40% of people have experience of smoking the marijuana. Even former president Clinton and current president Obama had the experience.


The people who agree with the marijuana said that the marijuana has less damage for body than smoking and drinking. Also, if the marijuana is sled in public, the black market will be reduced. On the other hand, the people who disagree with the marijuana said that it could be "gateway drag".
It means if people starts smoking the marijuana, it could lead to stronger drag such as a cocaine and heroin.

Some people fake illness to get the marijuana for medical use. They try to get the permission for the marijuana use and they get the prescription so easily.
According to the internet information, the marijuana vending machines for medical use had already debuted.

In my opinion, it's out of reasonable thing that lifting the rule due to the budget problem even it was banned before because of bad health. If the same thing happened in Japan, it must be a serious affair and it never will be accepted.
However, sad to say, the marijuana is getting popular among young people in Japan recently. Japanese government might say the same idea in the future.

Written in Mar 2009 and revised Jun 2012

Monday, June 18, 2012

Sustainable life~we need to find a solution of garbage issue.

I moved recently and learned how to throw away garbage in the U.S. Unlike in Japan, it has little classification. It's very easy at a glance, but at the same time, I doubted about it.
So, this time, I will describe the garbage issue.

Have you ever heard of Dave Chameides?
The man who never takes out his trash. anytime, anywhere. He also runs a website "Sustainable Dave" He would keep all the garbage he created at home and outside in his house. His purpose is to enlighten reducing garbage to many people.
He writes the blog in his website and it's very interesting.
On recent vacation to Mexico with his wife, he brought all his garbage he made. When he encountered security officials at the airport in Mexico, the woman in the security line opened his bag and really was surprised and said "What are they?"


I think the U.S has a lot of places to throw away garbage, so they don't need to pay attention to how to reduce garbage like in Japan.

By the way, do you know how much garbage an American makes per day?
It's no way!! They make 2.0kg per day. Incidentally, it's 800g in Japan.
As for Asia, it's only 100g.

I think even though there are enough places to throw away garbage, there is a pollution problem. Also, in China water pollution by garbage is a big problem.

Dave said in his website " No one can do everything, but everyone can do something" I agree with his concept. In my case, I bring my chopsticks for lunch. I don't want to see the day when human will throw away garbage to space in the future.

Written in Mar 2009 revised May 2012

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Super size me













Do you know how many Americans have be obese(BMI over 30%)? According to the internet, it's horrible, 31%. Of course, this rate is the worst in advanced countries. Compared with this, Japanese obesity rate is only 3%.
And this rate is the best in advanced countries. This time, I tried to think about this background.

In my opinion, first of all, quantity is the biggest problem. For example, in supermarkets like Ralphs and Costco, every food products are too big: ice cream, milk and meat. Besides, there is a bad service that for example, if you buy two, you can get one more for free and shopping cart is too big.

Second, there are a lot of all you can eat restaurants. Unfortunately, usually, they are cheaper than normal one. Most of fast food chain restaurant such as McDonalds also gives free refill drink service, but not in Japan.

Third, I think American people especially in LA don't walk in their daily life and they often do something with eating, even if they are in the meeting.
They eat bagels and donuts. I wonder American people like eating a lot, but at the same time, they are also healthy oriented things: for instance, healthy food and exercise like Billy's boot camp, etc. It's difficult for me to understand.

In 2002, there was an interesting justice in the U.S. The point of the argument was that "My daughter got fat because of McDonalds."
After all, McDonalds won the suit, but after receiving it, one interesting guy made a documentary movie in 2004. The title is "Super size me"
The director's name is Morgan Spurlock. He not only directed, but also played in the movie. The story was that if I keep eating every food in McDonalds through one month, what would happen? He finally got sick, but when one Japanese guy tried the same experiment in Tokyo. It didn't happen at all in his health. And I think keeping same foods for one month is too bad for health even for healthy food.

http://keijiweb.com/kikaku/maclife/maclife01.html

In addition, in Southern California City council is trying to make the new law that it's not allowed to open new fast food restaurant in Southern California during one year(2009). I think it's so ridiculous, but over 70% restaurants in CA are fast food type. I think it's too many.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7831475

In my opinion, taking too many calories is not good for one's health in the view of medical science after all. Especially for children, I agree parents should pay attention foods that children eat every day. Taking a well balanced diet is very important.

In Japan, many people believe being fat is not good for health and the determined power that you should not be fat works very well.

However, I think it's difficult to change their mind in the U.S. At the same time, I think Japanese people must experience the same situation, because fast food restaurant are increasing so fast. Besides, recently, it's booming big size hamburger such as Mega-Mac and quarter pounder by McDonalds.

I hope it will not it, but no one can stop happen it.

Written in Feb 2009 revised May 2012

Monday, June 4, 2012

青文字系アイドルFrom 原宿

きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ











今、日本できゃりーぱみゅぱみゅというアイドルが大人気らしい。なんと最近ではTunes日本総合チャート1位!アメリカ、フランス、ベルギーでのiTunesエレクトロチャート1位!と勢いがあります。

日本にいない方は誰それ?だとは思いますが、ネットで調べたところ彼女は「青文字系」のファッションモデルであのperfumeも手がける中田ヤスタカ氏のプロデュースで昨年歌手デビューしたアイドルだそうな。写真にあるようにその個性的なファッションやpopで可愛い楽曲はiTunesYou tubeなどを通して日本だけでなくアメリカやヨーロッパでも知られ始めていて、昨年末にはLAでもミニライブが行われました。

オフィシャルサイト:http://kyary.asobisystem.com/
LAでのライブ映像;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jY2DhDZtFM

アメリカ在住3年の私にとって「青文字系」って何だ??というところからスタートです。ネットで調べてみると青文字系というのは女性ファッション雑誌から来ているそうですね。「青文字系雑誌」とは、主に原宿を情報発信地とした、脱・コンサバ&同性受けするファッションを扱う雑誌で代表的な雑誌に、「ジッパー」、「sweet」、「spring」、「CUTIE」などがあるそうな。もともと、男性受けするコンサバファッションを扱う「JJ」、「CanCam」、「ViVi」、「Ray」などの雑誌のロゴが赤色系なので「赤文字系」という造語ができて、それに対してアンチテーゼ的に使われるようになった概念らしい。なので青文字系雑誌のタイトル文字は青いわけではない。

赤文字系雑誌と青文字系雑誌












Youtubeで動画をみてみると一見ばかばかしいが、とても可愛くて新鮮でいいと思うし世界でも受けるんじゃないかなと思った。ありそうでなかった感じ、なんと言ってもファッションと音楽が高次元でシンクロしてるので一度見ると忘れられない感じになる。
PVの出来もいい! どうしてもAKB48やKARAなどがめちゃめちゃ古くさく感じてしまう。あと10年前からヨーロッパなどで活躍してるMOON香奈さんもなにか同じ空気を感じる。

Moon香奈










オフィシャルサイト:http://ref.co.jp/moonkana/

でも海外の人からみるとアキバ系コスプレとの区別がつかないかもしれませんね。でもそんなことは気にせずにどんどん自由に表現の幅を増やしておけばOKでしょう。実験的なユニットのパフュームやバーチャルアイドルの初音ミクが受けたようにこのような新しい価値のトライを続けてほしいですね。

アニメがすっかり日本の文化コンテンツとして認知された今、次はアイドル、ファッションに於いても世界をリードするカルチャーとして育って欲しい。どうせならレディーガガを超えてほしい。

Written in May 31 2012

Aomojikei idol from Harajuku


Kyarypamyupamyu












In Japan, one idol called Kyarypamyupamyu seems really popular now. Surprisingly, she ranked a top in iTunes general album chart in Japan and also in electro music chart in the U.S, France and Belgium.

People who don't live in Japan may say "Who is she?", but according to the internet, she is the group of Aomojikei fashion model and then she made her debut last year produced by Yasutaka Nakata who is known for producing the famous idol unit called Perfume.
She is getting famous not only in Japan, but also in the U.S and Europe through iTunes and You Tube with her unique fashion and pop pretty music (see attached movie below) and she already had a mini-live in LA last year.


As for me residing in the U.S over three years, first of all, I had to clarify what is Aomojikei? According to the internet, Aomojikei(blue text group) came from woman's fashion magazines. Aomojikeizasshi is a magazine focused on anti-conservative and being liked by same-sex peers based on Harajuku as a trend information center. Representative examples are Zipper, Sweet, Spring and Cutie.
Originally, there are some woman's fashion magazines such as CanCan, ViVi and Ray. These magazines which focus on conservative and being liked by males are called Akamojikei(red text group), because these magazines' logo uses red end of the spectrum. Then, Aomojikei is used as an antithesis mean. So Aomojikei magizines don't use blue text on their title.


Akamojikei & Aomojikei
 












I watched her on You Tube and I thought it's ridiculous at first glance, but it's so cute, fresh and new. So I think she will be accepted not only in Japan, but also all over the world. It looks ordinary at glance, but it's not actually. Best of all, it's synchronized with the fashion and music perfectly and once I watch it, it leaves unforgettable impression to me. The promotion video is also amazing and cute. So, I can't avoid from this feeling that typical idol group such as AKB48 and KARA looks old compared to her. And it also reminds me one Japanese artist called Moon Kana. She is popular in Europe and the U.S for the past ten years.


Moonkana














As for non Japanese, it could be difficult to distinguish from Akibakei costume players(Animation costume players) . However it's doesn't matter and she should extend her range of expression more. Like accepting experimental idol group Perfume and Hatsune Miku, I hope she will keep on trying some new value.

Now Japanese animation became as one of the big Japanese culture contents. So, I hope Japanese idol and fashion culture will become as a new Japanese culture which lead the world and I hope she will surpass Lady Gaga in the future.

Written in May 31 2012