Is Shamu happy in SeaWorld

Shamu is the nickname for killer whales in SeaWorld in the US.

I had this title's feeling when I went to the San Diego SeaWorld last week.  Of course, all the shows that I saw such as Sea lions, Dolphins were fantastic and fun. And my favorite was Shamu show called "believe", because it was the biggest scale compared to other shows.

However, I didn't see the typical performance that trainers and Shamu swim and jump with each other. All of their performances were conducted by only Shamu. I think the accident that happened in SeaWorld Orland last year had some effect on their components of their show.

According to the TIME on the internet, the 16-year veteran trainer at SeaWorld was killed by Tilikum, a 12,000-lb. (5,500 kg) killer whale. On Feb. 24, 2010 in the middle of a routine show, the 40-year-old trainer was standing at the edge of a tank when the 29-year-old animal leaped from the water, grabbed her by the ponytail and began thrashing her. Tilikum then dragged Brancheau underwater to her death.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1968071,00.html 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuN4qF32q28

I think that Tilikum didn't want to kill her; he just wanted to play with her.

However, Tilikum is not a first-time offender. Two accidents happened in 1991 and 1999.

So, even American people who like whale said that Tilikum should be killed or taken back to the wild. Don't do the performance anymore ! Media also said similar thing. However, SeaWorld announced next day that we still keep him, because it was our fault not Tilikum. And they added that we should have paid more attention to him. So, we don't have the option such as taking him to the ocean or putting him down. And her family agreed with this opinion and said that my daughter had a really bad day but we are still in deep sorrow.

I was surprised by their quick decision and announcement. I think if he did the same thing in Japan. It might take long time to make a decision and Tilikum must be put down as murder. Also taking him to the ocean means killing him anyway. It is because he can't catch his food by himself.

I wonder as being creature in the sea, is it happy to live in the SeaWorld?

This is only a generalization, but people feel sorry for keeping them in a small tank and having them perform in the show is giving them a lot of stress.

Meanwhile, looking at a different point of view, there are no enemies, no need to get food and live in the comfortable environment. These points could be good for the creature.

Many people said that living in the wild is best for animals, but this opinion is created by human being. Also, SeaWorld appeal that we help a lot of creatures and breeding. However this opinion also stand in human being side. 

Biologically speaking, species preservation is the most important thing.

So, breeding by people and keep their population means good strategy for them. I don't know but, Shamu could understand about it.

Personally, I agree that people catch creatures and eat them to live.

I agree with people breeding creatures as their pet for relieving their stress.

But at the same time, I understand people feeling sorry to breed animals. Important thing is having meaningful discussion and building our sense of ethics.

What I can say finally is that animals are always not wrong.

Written in Aug 2011 and revised Feb 2012

American people are not rough and ready

"American people are rough and Japanese people are precise"

That is stereotype image that Japanese people think.

However, it's not true.

American people are precise.

I've been living in America for three years. Without doubt, I sometime feel like American people are rough in daily life. For instance, messy writing, getting incorrect change and postal delay, but these are just one aspect of American people.

So, what is precise in American people?

It’s their strategy for achieving their goal. It applies well in business and private scenes as well.

For instance, American government makes in-depth strategy for accomplishing their goal. They consider about every possibility including failure and set the countermeasure ideas, then they carry it out. As for TPP, we can see this concept that American government made the strategy which gives a lot of advantages to America in the negotiation and then they put it in action. 

It's completely different from Japanese government who act without deeply thinking about every possibility and then they fall behind the curve.

As for business, Apple also is running with really precise strategy.

One thing that I was surprised recently was the Apple TV's remote control bar.

It's made by milling from one solid aluminum bar.

It has amazing quality that people say "Only Apple could have done it"

I know it costs too much, but Apple got a strong position and image.

In addition, they secure high profitability at the same time.

Yes, Apple set their goal clearly that gives people the image that Apple means good design, then they made the precise strategy.

So, they invest maximally to everything they need with no trace of hesitation

and they cut all inessential things for them. Of course, they seem to think cost cutting for using same way to make other Apple products.

http://manirazaghi.com/disassembling-the-unibody-aluminum-apple-tv-remote/

As for a hobby world, there are a lot of people who have a better precise hand than Japanese. In motorcycle custom, they are very particular about the detail.

One American person is making amazing details in origami world that Japanese people are good at.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079227/Origami-creatures-piece-paper-talented-Brian-Chan.html

Meanwhile, I think it's true that Japanese people are basically precise.

However, I think their disadvantage point is that Japanese people tend to focus on the detail too much and they lose their big picture. If Japanese people design a remote control like Apple TV's one, they will focus on adding function, using a lot of color for easy use and saving the cost as much as possible. As a result, it becomes a complicating product.

Look at from another perspective, Japanese people look closely in equal.

American people tend to look at big pictures, but they don't care about other areas.

I think American people are not interested in small branch and leaves.

Then it causes small mistakes and rough finish in their daily life.

In conclusion, American people are not rough and ready.

American people are precise. They set a final goal clearly and make a precise

strategy including failure and the countermeasure ideas and then they conduct it.

Instead, they cut everything they don't need.

I think that what Japanese people need to learn from America.

As for diligence, Vietnamese are much better than Japanese.

As for ambidexterity, Chinese are much better than Japanese. I think it's about a time that Japanese people should throw out their old glory and go forward to the next stage. Referring to Soichio Honda saying "As for the spear, pulling speed is much important than stabbing speed.

Written in Jan 24 and revised Feb 10