Job changing

"Today is my final day at this company" I got this e-mail from one of my co-worker last week. However I wasn't surprised, because it was over 10 people who left from our design studio since I came here.

As you know, Job changing is not at all uncommon thing in the U.S.

According to my internet research, young people change jobs every 18 months. And when they get a job, they start job hunting three days after their starting date. However, at the same time, some people were laid off by lower productivity. So, there are two types of job changing. One is a positive job changing and another is negative job changing.

Generally speaking, American business style is dog eat dog world. So, people who have talents can get a better salary or they can change their job for going their career path. However, if you don't have a talent, you might have to stick to a company.

Meanwhile, Japanese business style is not dog eat world. It focus on more harmonized world. There is no salary gap between career and non-career.

So, most of co-workers tend to keep working in one company that they entered first. As people who have talents, their salary is not enough but as people who have no talents, it's comfortable world.

Which style is better? it is hard to say simply.

I think American style has advantage for productivity, but it requires employment cost, because companies have to pay higher salary to talented employees.

Japanese style is good for normal employees, because it's not dog eat world.

Also, most employee keep working long years means that companies can hold a lot of higher skill employees and it's succeeded easily. But at the same time, it's difficult to lay off untalented employees.

I personally think it's fun to keep working in one company and improving

professional skill and succeed to the next generation.

I understand American style benefits such as a good productivity.

So, the ideal situation that I'v been thinking long time is keeping their job at least 5 years then they can judge to keep working or not. It's impossible to feel or satisfaction if you only work for short period of time. Also, companies should give them good education programs and give a chance to keep their motivation higher.

"keizokuha-chikaranari" is my favorite Japanese proverb meaning that Endurance makes you stronger. Keep working one job and trying to master their individual career is fun and great. I don't like to quit in the middle of things.

I would like to give this Japanese proverb to young generation workers.

Written in Jul 2011 and revised in Jan 2012

Great speech performance

Martin Luther King Jr's Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January in the US. He is best known for the name of reverend King and he was civil rights advocate for Black Americans in the US. He is also known for giving his historical famous "I have a Dream" speech. However, I haven't heard his speech before, so I watched it on You Tube. Then I was impressed by his great speech.

The first thing I can think of when thinking of historical great speech is Lincoln's and Kennedy' one. However, I cannot come up with Japanese people speech. In the next moment, one question went through my mind.

"Why are Japanese people poor at speech and presentation?"

I have been thinking the reason is just Japanese people are shy.

As I thought about it more deeply, I realized some other reasons.

I have three reasons why Japanese people are poor at speech and presentation.

One is a structure of Japanese that a conclusion comes last. The second is 

that Japanese are homogeneous race and they have a closed-off village society called "Mura-shakai" The third is that Japanese people receive no training of a speech in front of people.

On the contrary, the situation in the US is completely opposite.

As for the first reason of the structure of language, a predicate verb always come after a subject in English. Then adding some additional information such as time and place. It's a structure that it's easy to understand what you want to say first.

Meanwhile, Japanese people tend to put their conclusion in the end of their conversation because of Japanese language construction character.

It's a disadvantage in speech.

As for second reason, American society is multi-racial. So there are few common recognition between races. Therefore, American people have to say clearly what they want to say.  Meanwhile, Japan is single race country and Mura-shakai situation. It means that there are a lot of common recognition in there. So Japanese people tend to make the other person understand by A and UN breathing(A-UN no kokyu) instead of trying to explain with words.

As for third reason, Japanese people don't receive any training for speech in front of people at their home and school. By contrast, American people receive a lot of training since the time of elementary school. Even elementary school kids make a power point document and give presentations in front of classmates. In Japan, most of people start giving presentation when they start working in society.

I think that American people are not good at speech from the beginning; they just get used to the stage through their tons of training.

These are the reasons why Japanese people are poor at speech and presentation. I personally think that Japanese people are good at thinking deeply and in detail, but Japanese people lack of output skill.

If they will get this skill, it's a double advantage

Written in Jan 15th and revised Jan 27th 

Reference URL

Reverend King "I have a dream" speech in Japanese translation page
http://longtailworld.blogspot.com/2006/02/i-have-dream-speech.html

You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

 

Happy RV life in the U.S

I traveled to the Antelope canyon and the Monument Valley by RV(recreational vehicle) for my summer vacation.

It was to be my very first trip by RV and I was really excited about it.

Yes, it was tremendously comfortable and fun.

My RV has a lot of functions for household stuff such as refrigerator, microwave,

bathroom, and bedrooms. In addition, I was surprised not only about the functions of RV but also RV park situation in the U.S.

As you know, there are over ten thousands RV parks in the huge country of U.S. We can use them with cheaper price compared to Japan. It's an average of 25$ per night.

No other country besides the U.S have such a perfect infrastructure for RV.

According to the research conducted by Michigan University, one of twelve households own their RV. There are approximately 7.5 million of RVs in the U.S. and it's expected that it will became over 8 millions in 2011.

So, RV market is really huge in the U.S.

Meanwhile, I heard interesting story from one aged couple whom I met at RV park in Zion. They said that it's really common that retired aged couples buy a huge RV and travel around the whole U.S. As you know, they have a lot of money and time so, their travel is basically slow and long.

According to the research conducted by Auto camper magazine, the average age of RV owners is sixty one years old and their average income is approximately sixty five thousand dollars per year. They have 2 cars and one track and they stayed over eighteen days per year in average.

Why did such kind of RV culture firmly established in the U.S?

The history dates back until the western reclamation era.

At that time, people used the covered wagon to move with their tons of stuff.

It was called "Conestoga wagon"

According to the Wikipedia, The Conestoga wagon was used extensively during the late 18th century in the U.S and sometimes in Canada as well.

Looking at carefully, it looks different, but the concept is almost same.

Yes, the RV is modern version of the Conestoga wagon.

After 19th century, automobile developed widely and covered wagon was discontinued.

Meanwhile, Japan doesn't have big land to travel over one month without meeting people. So, covered wagon culture connected to RV didn't develop.

However, the posting station(宿場)industry was developed instead of the covered wagon culture.

In addition, Japanese people prefer living with nature to protecting from it.

So, we Japanese like a tent style camping compared to RV style.

I am also the outdoor camping style guy.

However, once people experience these kind of RV's comfortable life style,

it's difficult to back to get the tent style camping.

I will enjoy tent style camp for a while and then after I retire,

I will live a leisurely life with a big RV.

Show business in America

I went and saw the show of the O by Cirque du soleil and Blue man group in Las Vegas at the end of the year. The O is based on the circus performance and added artistic elements and a stage direction which featured the theme of water. The blue man group show is a comedy show based on street performances by three blue painted face guys. Their performances were excellent, what's

more, I was surprised by their promotion skills which are very show-biz country America and how much American people have a lot of fun.

Speaking of their promotion skills, that means they established their own business style. They modified the circus and the street performance which are childish and cheap originally to high quality and adult oriented one. Therefore, they put a high price tag on their tickets. It's about two to three times price compared to normal circus.

Of course, they are investing their ticket price worth. Cirque scouts former Olympic athletes and dancers from all over the world and Cirque prepares the perfect facilities to train them and to get maximum performance show.

In addition, they make enormous investment for stage directions which is beyond audiences imagination. It's a surprising thing that they use 10 million dollars per year (approximately 1,100 million yen).

Meanwhile, they have a lot of cost saving ideas for their business.

For instance, their shows don't use language during their performance. That means they can use the same program in all over the world without any changes.  In addition, they try to hide performer's personalities by not setting the star performers and giving them a strong makeup. That means avoiding the risk of performers from injury and retirement. Also, they don't use any animals in their performances like a typical circus. It's important for eye catching, but it costs too much to maintain a lot of animals. Therefore, they avoided the risk of cost eating program.

Now, Cirque du soleil is giving seven performances in only Las Vegas. However, it's not true that they made their original theaters by themselves. They co-fund with Hotels or finance in full by Hotels. 

For example, as the permanent running show Ka( car ) in Las Vegas, MGM Grand hotel cast 135 million dollars (approximately 14,600 million yen) and built the original theater. Surprisingly, MGM hotel recovered their investment costs in only several years.

Meanwhile, how about Japanese show-biz situation?

Japan has some traditional entertainments such as Noh and Kabuki. Then after the Taisho era,  a lot of Western culture based shows such as American musical, European operetta, stage show and French review were imported to Japan.

In addition, the pioneer of Japanese musical group the Takarazuka and the theatrical company Shiki famous for long running musical "Cat's" are running their own show business in Japan. However, I feel there are big differences between the US and Japan not only market volume but also people's sense of values for shows.

I mean that musical exist for few enthusiast in Japan, but in the US it's for everyone.  

According to the data comparison of Japan and the US about live entertainment which I found on the internet, as for the market volume per person, Japan is 116 dollars and the US is 157 dollars. The US is approximately 1.4 times in Japan.

 In addition, as for the number of times the live entertainment participation per one person in one year, Japan is 2.7 times and the US is 7.1 times.

I think expensive tickets prices is one of the big reason, but the prejudice could be the another reason. I mean, a lot of people think it's difficult to understand for a beginner. Also, as for a musical, it's only for people in the 20s to 30s to watch after five not casual and not for family like in the US. I hope going to see musicals will be more casual in Japan like the US.

I want people in Japan to see great shows and be able to smile and lift their spirits. Therefore, I hope people who work in show-biz world like the Takarazuka and the theatrical company Shiki will do their best and boost Japanese show-biz world.

background materials

http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/cg/ss/08jasrac/zenki/6/kougi6.htm

TPP kills Japan

TPP (Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership) originally FTA between the countries of Brunei , Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, entered into force on May 28, 2006. Then US president Barack Obama expressed to participate in it as well. Then Australia ,Malaysia, Peru, Vietnam joined it. After that, TPP is controlled by the US that has overwhelming economic power. These countries aimed at the agreement by the time APEC summit meeting in Hawaii in November 2011.

It's easy to explain the purpose of the US.

The economy of the US is confusing by facing the issue of finance and the high unemployment rate. Barack Obama announced " national export initiative" that the US will get double export in five years and make the employment of two million people. So, TPP is one of the American export expansion strategy.

Therefore, TPP changed character after participation of the US.

The goal became the American oriented direction that focused on the broad-based economic cooperation with keeping the liberalization concept.

Speaking in relation to Japan and TPP, Former Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan announced negotiation to join suddenly in October,2010.

Business community expressed the welcome attitude immediately and the major media reported that if Japan does not join it, Japan will be destroyed.

Japanese government, business community and the major media said that the TPP's standard rule of liberalization will become the world standard and they encouraged a sense of crisis that if we miss out on the wave of this trend, Japan must be left behind the world growth.  

I agree with the way of thinking that promoting the trade liberalization in the future, but I can't agree with participating in TPP that is controlled by the US.

Because,

There is no advantage for Japan.

If Japan participates in this negotiation table of TPP, 90% of the GDP is occupied by Japan and the U.S. In reality, TPP is Japan-the US. FTA (free trade agreement) in effect.

Participating in TPP means giving first priority to the decision by TPP compared to the civil law, the system and the policy in the country

For instance,

1, Safety of food issue

Japan sets the limit to import cows for preventing mad cow, but the US will demand to abolish this regulations as it's a trade barrier.

In TPP agreement, once the US consider as trade barriers, all the rules will abolish.

The food safety standard and the pesticide consumption rule will be relaxed, too. Also the inspection of the farm import will be simplified. Yes, the freedom of the economy will be given priority over the health of consumers.

As for the genetically-modified food, the regulation of the manufacture, selling and caution label will be abolished, too. A lot of low quality and low cost food products will be spread widely in Japanese market for economic priority.

2, Collapse in medical system

If Japan participates in TPP, the public medical insurance system is recognized as trade barriers that will against companies including the foreign capital from entering to the medical business in Japan. If foreign capital enters in Japanese medical business world and they aimed for profit, expensive free medical treatment will become popular and the hospitals will become for only wealthy people. Then, local public hospitals will decline, and people who are treated for public medical insurance will be shut out of medical care. Of course, Japan Medical Association objects TPP.

Regulations and duties are originally for protecting industry and employments of country. I don't think overprotecting domestic industries is good idea.

However, Japanese people have their original culture and lifestyle.

So, I'm worried about them participating in the US-driven TPP, because there is high possibility that the U.S will require to change the rule to the US oriented one. The conventional common sense that Japan has will not work at all.

And the biggest issue in Japan is

Not giving correct information to the people.

According to Cabinet office, If Japan participate in TPP and abolish all the custom duty, GDP will increase to 2.4～3.2 trillion yen. However, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries expect that if Japan participate in TPP, the influence of agriculture and affiliates will decrease 7,900 billion yen in GDP. As above, information is not informed correctly.     

Also, Japanese government said that it's no problem to join the negotiation because if we receive disadvantage requirements for national interest, we can reject this. However, it's ridiculous, because once Japan sits in the negotiation table, Japan will have to write a contract with the US oriented agreement. It's clear if we see the result of Korea and the US  FTA agreement.

Japanese government should inform people the correct information and question the necessity of TPP. Unfortunately, it looks like it's running out of time. Japan will reach the agreement in TPP. For the future, Japanese people have to get the true information by themselves not from mass media . Then if they feel strange about it, they should do something like joining the demonstration.

 I personally agree with Japanese market being globalized in the future.

I think that the over protected industries should choose a way of going themselves. However, it's essential that Japanese government protect the national interest and safety. Therefore, they should refuse the disadvantage liberalization in future. I think that the genetically-modified food and mad cow issues which will be abolished in TPP should be considered for nations' healthy and safety first not economy growing.

Reference source

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEf6bzEe1R8

Written in Dec 30 revised Jan 10

Women's intuition

Why is the woman's intuitions always right? Why is men's love affair always found out?   One woman said on her blog that The only thing that could probably be more accurate than the government's tax computations is a woman's intuition. This "skill", honed by hundreds of years of women listening and catering more to their senses, has been a very accurate gauge of knowing when something's wrong or amiss"

I wonder why women can find out when men lie to her without evidence.

I was interested in this theme and tried to find the reason.

According to the internet, woman don't have an intuition.

They just have an acute power of analysis.

Women can catch the small differences of men's expression,tone of their voice and the speed when they talk with their partners. Then, they start analyzing

all of their information and they judge. It's conducted without a thought.

It's just a sex difference. Unfortunately, men don't have this skill.

Women usually check their partner's appearance at least ten spots and men

check just a few spots when they meet.

Scientifically speaking, we can explain the reason. The female hormone estrogen send their emotional informations to their hippocampus(海馬）that is part of the brain responsible for memorizing through their temporal cortex(頭皮質）Therefore, women stock all their impression they feel and they can make an accurate judgments by using these informations.

I also think that women who are less physically able than men had been improving their analyzing skill to survive and it succeeded through their DNA.

With these in mind, the fact that women's intuition is always right is not true.

They just have an acute power of analysis without a thought.

However, almost all women said " I feel doubts with my parter and it comes from my intuition. My intuition is always right"

Also, women tend to be quick to assume compared with men.

They don't need evidence when they judge.

In contrast, men always judge after a deeply thinking.

They think logically and they need evidence.

In conclusion, men shouldn't think of fighting with woman's intuition.

Men should live confidence and try to be normal as much as possible.

We men shouldn't take a shower as soon as when you go back home.

We shouldn't hide your personal organizers in front of your partner.

We shouldn't be nice to your partner suddenly.

If you do so, your love affair must be found immediately.

Written in Jun 28 and revised in Jan 2 2012