Why are there so many events to celebrate kid's growth in Japan?

March 3rd is Girls festival(Momo-no-sekku) day in Japan and  Japanese parents celebrate their girls growth with displaying gorgeous dolls as Doll’s Festival(Hina-matsuri) Also, on May 5th, they celebrate their boys growth with flying carp-streamers as Boy's Day(Tango-no-sekku)

In addition, there is an another event called The Seven-Five-Three Festival in Japan. On the day of the festival, parents with boys aged three and five, and girls aged three and seven dress their children in kimono and take them to shrines where they pray for their children's future health and well-being.

There are also Obiiwai-obi-tying ceremony designed to ensure safe birth of a child, Omiyamairi-visiting a Shinto shrine after a child's birth, Okuihajime-first eating ceremony after 100 days from child's birth and Seijinshiki-celebrating 20 years old growth as a final event.

Thus, there are a lot of traditional events to celebrate growth of children in Japan. The more I research these events, the more I realize there are a lot of meanings in the costume and food that are used in these events. Then I feel how wonderful older generation people express their thankfulness for growth of children.

There are also events to celebrate changing seasons like Setsubun-The close of winter and Tanabata-The star festival. Additionally, if adding imported events from Western counties such as Christmas, there are tons of events in Japan. Without a doubt, we can call Japan as a big event celebration nation.

In contrast, there are St. Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas in the U.S. I realized that all events are related to Christian except Halloween and Thanksgiving.

As children's point of the view, Christmas and Halloween are fun events for kids because they get gifts. However, looking at the original meaning of these events, they are celebrating for the birthday and resurrection of Christ or appreciate for Indian and harvest NOT celebrating children's growth.

American parents celebrate their children's birthday with great alacrity instead.

Especially, there is a custom in the U.S that parents celebrate girls 16's birthday called sweet sixteen as becoming from girl to adult lady.

Why are there so many events to celebrate kid's growth in Japan?

As Japanese people may know in ancient time in Japan, people think it's happy and lucky if children would grow up smoothly, because the environment for kid's growth was not good in the nourishment side, hygiene side and medical care side. So, in the society of a court noble and samurai family in Heian era, they conducted these events that were introduced above and celebrated their children's growth.

In contrast, why are there not so many events to celebrate in the U.S?

I think American history is not that long compared to Japan and modernized so rapidly. So, American people could think it's common thing that children grow smoothly which is why they didn't develop events to celebrate kid's growth purposely.

Now, technology improved in the nourishment side, hygiene side and medical care side. So, it became a rare case that children die from these reasons like old time Japan, but at the same time, cases where children die from car accidents and suicide are increasing in modern society. Japanese people should continue these events with realizing the meaning of these events that has been passed down from generation to generation and we should keep reminding ourselves to appreciate kid's growth. We don't want these to be "just" commercial event, because they have historical ceremony. I wonder if it would be better if there are similar events in the U.S, isn't it?

Written in Mar/2013

日本語版

なぜ日本には子供の成長を祝う祭りが多いのか？

３月３日は日本では桃の節句で華やかなひな人形を飾りひな祭りとして女の子の成長を祝います。また５月の端午の節句では鯉のぼりを立て男の子の成長を祝います。それだけでなく日本には七五三という男の子は３歳と５歳、女の子は３歳と７歳に、晴れ着を着て神社・氏神に参拝して無事成長したことを感謝し、将来の幸福をお祈りする行事があります。

その他にも安産祈願の帯祝い、無事生まれたらお宮参り、１００日経ったらお食い始めと続き最後は２０年無事に成長したら成人式があります。

このように日本にはたくさん子供の成長を祝う伝統的な行事がたくさんあります。これらの行事では着るものや食べる物にもいろいろと意味が込められていて調べれば調べるほど昔の人の子供の成長に感謝する思いが感じられてすばらしい行事だなと思います。

日本にはこの他にも節分や七夕などの季節の変化を祝う行事もあります。加えてクリスマスなど西洋から入って来たイベントを加えるとすごい数になりまさにイベント大国と言えるでしょう。

対してアメリカの年間行事ですが、年始から言うとバレンタイン、イースター、セントパリックスデー、ハロウィン、サンクスギビング、クリスマスと続きます。こうしてみるとハロウィン、サンクスギビング以外はすべてキリスト教にまつわる行事ですね。

子供の目線でこれらの行事を見るとクリスマス、ハロウィーンがプレゼントがもらえる楽しい行事という事になります。ただこれらアメリカの行事の起源をみるとあくまでキリスト教の誕生や復活、インディアンや収穫に対しての感謝など子供の成長に感謝するという目的のイベントはありません。その代わり子供の誕生日を日本以上に派手に祝うのでしょうね。特に女の子の１６歳の誕生日ではスィートシックスティーンといって成人女性として転換する節目として豪華に祝うという風習もあります。

なぜ日本にはこれほど子供の成長を祝うイベントが多いのでしょうか？

日本人なら知っているともいますが、昔は栄養面や衛生面、医療面も今のように行き届いていなかったので順調に成長する子供達は幸運とされてきました。そこで平安時代の公家や武家の社会では、先に紹介したような儀式を行ってその成長を祝ったそうです。

これに対してアメリカはなぜ子供の成長を祝う儀式が少ないのでしょうか？

それはアメリカの歴史は日本に比べて短いですし近代化されたのも早かったので子供が順調に成長するのはあたりまえという感覚が形成され、それをわざわざ祝う儀式は発達しなかったのかもしれません。

現代社会では栄養面や衛生面、医療面が発達してそれが原因で命を落とす子供は非常にレアケースになりました。逆に交通事故や自殺など現代社会ならではの理由で命を失う子供も増えてきました。今一度日本人は先人達の行って来た祭りの意味を再認識して子供達の成長に感謝しながら各種イベントを続けて行きたいですね。単なる商業イベントにしたくない歴史のある儀式なのですから。アメリカにもこのような子供の成長を感謝するイベントがあっても良いですね。

IKUMEN situation in Japan and the U.S

IKUMEN-fathers who take part in child care are increasing in Japan, but American fathers participate much more. Many American fathers participate in their children's school events even they are held in weekdays and it's a common thing that they have dinner with their family. In addition, there is an atmosphere that we are allowed to do this in the U.S.  

According to the internet, it's under one hour that Japanese fathers take part in child care and house work in one day. In contrast, it reaches three hours in the U.S and Sweden. Also, Japanese situation is the worst in the advanced countries. Meanwhile, the total time of house work and child care that are covered by Japanese women are longer than other advanced countries. So, in Japan, women still have to bear the burden in house work and child care.

Why can American fathers take part in child care three times longer than Japanese fathers?

First, as you may know, the biggest reason is the difference of the labor environment such as over work and social drink. In Japan, 43% of the people do extra work over 50 hours per week. In contrast, American people do only 17%. In this way, the labor environment in the U.S is better than Japan.

I think it's influenced by the existence of the Christian faith. In Christian thought, family ties is very important and it's not good to sacrifice family to work overtime and to do other things. So, many American people think spending time with family is the best priority than spending time for overtime work and social drinking.

There is nothing in the U.S that people can't go home until their boss leaves, drinking with their boss as a social communication and working until mid night everyday like in Japan.

Also, the thought of "work balance" that is focused on the balance of work and private time appeared in the 90's. As the result, flextime rule started and then, the labor condition that people can control the balance of work and private had been getting better.

The thinking of sexual division of labor such as men work outside and women do       housework still remain in Japan. From Japanese men's point of view, they think that "how can I get enough time to take part in child care and to spend time with my family? " It's not true that they don't want to take part in child care. The tough situation in terms of time and mental atmosphere makes them suffer.

Many mothers think that my husband doesn't take part in child care, but it's not his fault. The bad labor environment and society makes him unable to join.

Sharing child care by father gives mothers room to relax physically, time and mentally. It's true and in this regard, Japanese society where father is tied long time in office is really unhappy. In this situation fathers can't meet their children because of getting home late in week days. it's easy to understand that mothers who are in charge of child care with 24 hours a day become child care stress. Also, mothers tend to stand alone because of no help in the nuclear family society.

Japanese fathers say "I work overtime for my family" but once I saw the American way, I think it would be happier that fathers do NOT work overtime for family.

Japanese farmer couples used to share their all works like agricultural work and child care. So, the word "IKUMEN" is not a new trend in Japan. It used to be a common thing in old days.

In account of the modernization, the thought of "men work outside and women do house work" made root in Japanese society, but it's about time to rethink our style using American way and old Japanese life style as a reference isn't it?

Written in Feb 2013

日本語版

日米イクメン事情　

イクメンいわゆる育児参加するお父さんは日本でも増えていてブームのようになっていますが、アメリカ人のパパは日本と比べ物にならないくらいもっと育児参加しています。平日の学校の行事にもお父さんがたくさん参加しているし、夕食は必ず家族食べる人という人も多いです。またそれを許す雰囲気があります。

インターネットで調べると日本では、子どもがいる世帯の夫が家事や育児にかける時間は、１日平均で１時間にも満たない。アメリカやスウェーデン、ドイツでは３時間に達しており、 他の先進国と比較して日本は最低の水準にあるそうです。一方、女性の家事・育児時間は、他の先進国よりも長く、まだまだ家事・育児の負担は女性に集中している状況にあるといえ ます。

ではなぜアメリカのパパは日本人パパの３倍も育児参加出来るのでしょうか？

まずご存知の通り、残業や付き合いなどの労 働環境の違いが大きな要因です。日本では週に５０時間以上働いている男性の割合は４３％にもなります。これに対し、ア メリカでは５０時間以上働く男性は１７％に過ぎません。

このようにアメリカ人の労働環境は日本より恵まれています。おそらくこれはキリスト教の存在が影響してるのでしょう。キリスト教では家族の絆に大きな価値が置かれ、仕事や他のことにために、家族との時間を犠牲にすることを決して善しとしません。

なのでアメリカでは勤務時間以外は職場の同僚や仕事上の付き合いよりも、家族と共に過ごすことが大切と考えます。日本ではおなじ みの、上司が帰るまで帰れないとか、付き合いで飲みに行くとか、残業で毎日のように深夜に帰宅するとかいう話は、アメリカではほとんど聞くことはありませ ん。

またアメリカではワーク・ライフ・バランスいわゆる仕事と仕事以外の生活のバランスを大切にしようと言う考え方も９０年代頃から登場しました。結果としてフレックスタイム制などが導入され仕事と家庭を両立できる環境をいち早く整えてきました。

日本には「性別役割分業」すなわち「男性は外で仕事、女性は家庭で家事」という意識がまだあります。男性の視点で言うと「残業が当たり前、付合いが当たり前の会社社会で、どうやって育児を楽しみ、家族といる時間を増やせるのか!!」といったところです。決して日本のパパが育児参加したくないのではなく、時間的にも精神的にも厳しいのです。

多くのママさんは旦那が育児に参加、協力してくれないと思いがちです。しかし、実際には男性が悪いのではなくて、環境や社会が彼らを作り上げていると思ったほうがいいかもしれません。

父親が育児をシェアすることによって、母親に肉体的・時間的・精神的ゆとりが生まれます。これは事実です。この観点から見ると、父親が仕事に長 時間拘束される日本社会は本当に不幸です。父親の帰宅が遅いために、平日は父親と子供が顔を合わせることがないのも当たり前、といった状況の中では、２４ 時間３６５日、休みのない子育てを一手に背負う母親が育児ストレスに陥るのも当然です。核家族が当たり前の社会では助ける人も少なく母親は孤立します。

日本人男性は家族の為に残業していると考えています。でもアメリカの社会を見ていると家族の為に残業しない方が結果幸せになれると思う。

昔の日本の農家は夫婦で働き夫婦で育児をしていました。今流行のイクメンは実は新しくも何ともなく昔の生活では普通に行われていた事なのです。近代化とともに「男性は外で仕事、女性は家庭で家事」という考えが定着していましたが、今こそアメリカや昔の日本の生活を参考に考えを改める時ではないでしょうか。

Apology by close-crop hair is Japanese culture.

I was surprised to hear the news on CNN radio during my drive to my office yesterday morning that Japanese girls pop star AKB 48 Minami Minegishi has shaved her head and offered a filmed apology after breaking her management firm's rules by spending a night with her boyfriend. I think it seemed weird in the U.S that a 20 year old adolescent girl apologized with close-crop hair by only staying one night with her boyfriend. In the U.S, it's nothing special to flirt in public like Selena Gomes and Justin Bieber. So, I can imagine that many American people thought why she had to apologize??, why top pop idol girl had to shave her hair?? 

This news was teated not only in the U.S, but also in England such as BBC and Daily mail website by broadcasting her movie. Comments were separated to pros and cons that "I don't think it's too much. We should learn and respect to other country's culture" "I can't understand shaved hair apology culture".

In addition, some people understand about AKB business style and left comments like "It's just a publicity seeking" " It's one of their entertainment" 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21299324 

Global standard point of view, I think apology by close-crop hair is strange and difficult to understand. However, it's also weird that to change their culture easily  just because it looks strange from western people. There are other original style to apologize, like Dogeza(Apologize with kneel down on the ground) in Japan. Also, I understand the American style that American people tend to NOT admit being wrong easily. However, as you may expect, I think the thing that is not fit to modern society like Harakiri in Japan should be die out.

Looking at the history of Japanese "Close-clop hair",  shaving his/her hair as warning means the first step to reach Buddhahood  in buddhism from ancient time. So, shaving their hair originally comes from Buddha. In addition, in late years "Sanpatsu-datto-rei"(a freedom of forming their own hairstyle-noble and warrior class to not yield their swords at all time) was proclaimed after the Meiji Restoration, and a chonmage (a type of topknot) was prohibited, and new hair style called "close-crop hair" seemed to be born by the import of hair clippers. Besides, when the conscription order was promulgated, the close-crop     that is the standard hairstyle of officers seemed to take root in the nation .

These days in Japan, long hair and brown hair are common things in men's hair style and it's not so big of a difference compared to western people. However, close-crop hair culture is still remains in Japan.

For instance, close-crop is standard in high school baseball players. Also, if people who made a fault and caused a trouble to someone or they couldn't achieve their pledge, Japanese people shave their hair as for expressing their apology. Famous Japanese baseball player Yu Darvish who plays in Texas Rangers now also shaved his head as putting more sprit into himself when Japanese baseball team was defeated in a preliminary league at Beijing Olympic 2008.

Thus, I think that shaving their head as admonition is the culture that took root in Japan.

However, why does this close-crop culture never disappear in modernized Japan? I think it's a really efficient way to solve the trouble in short time, isn't it?  First, it has big impact in appearance. I think it's easy to understand to everyone and it's easy to treat as media contents. Next, it's really good cost saving and fast. It has really good cost performance like taking only ten minutes with under eleven dollars. Finally, There is the word "Hito no uwasa mo 75 nichi" (A wonder lasts but nine days) and that means after troubles are resolved, the hair can get longer and be back to the original naturally. In English, It's easy to resolve only 9 days. 

In conclusion, close-crop culture should be maintained as one of really efficient way for solving problems that was born in Japan. Isn't it good idea that Japan exports this culture to the U.S?

Written in Feb 2013

日本語版

丸刈り謝罪は日本の文化だ　

昨日の朝、車で会社に向かっている途中にCNNラジオからAKB４８の峰岸みなみさんが男性宅でのお泊まりスキャンダルに対し、丸坊主姿で謝罪したというニュースが聞こえてきてびっくりしました。２０歳の恋愛盛りの女の子が男性とお泊まりデートしただけで丸刈り謝罪っていうのがアメリカではとても奇異に映ったようだ。アメリカのトップアイドルで同い年のセレーナ・ゴメスが公の場でもジャスティンビーバといちゃいちゃしていていてもOKな国アメリカにおいて、なんでだめなの？なんでトップアイドルの女の子が丸刈りなの？という事になりますね。

このニュースはアメリカだけでなくイギリスでもBBCやデイリー・メールの電子版で動画付きで取り上げられたようです。コメントとしては「やりすぎだとは思わない。イギリス人も海外の文化を学んで尊重すべきだ」とか「丸坊主は、理解しがたい文化だ」と賛否両論だったが、やはり日本同様「売名行為の何者でもない」「AKBのエンターテイメントの一部ではないか」というAKBのビジネスをちゃんとがわかってる意見も見られた。

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21299324

グローバルスタンダードな目線でみると日本の丸刈り謝罪はとても変で理解されにくいものだと思う。でも世界的に見ておかしいからなんでも西洋のスタンダードに迎合すべきというのものも安易すぎると思う。なぜなら日本には土下座のように日本独自の謝罪のスタイルがあるし、逆にアメリカのように自分の非を簡単に認めないスタイルがあってもいいと思うからです。さすがに切腹のように現代的でない物は淘汰されていいと思いますが。

日本の「丸刈り」の歴史を見てみると古来より仏教では、己への戒めとして「頭を丸める」ことは悟りの境地へ達する"解脱"への第一歩とされて剃髪の由来は釈迦に倣ったものだそうだ。また近年では明治維新後に「散髪脱刀令」が布告されて髷（まげ）が禁止となり、またバリカンの輸入により「丸刈り」というスタイルが誕生したそうだ。さらに徴兵令が公布されると、軍人の髪型である丸刈りが国民に定着したようだ。

現代の日本に於いては長髪、茶髪はあたりまえで日本人男性の髪型は欧米人のそれと比べてもさほど変わりがなくなったと言うのが一般的な見方ですがまだまだ丸刈り文化は日本に残っているのです。

例えば日本の高校野球では今でも丸刈りがスタンダードです。また誰かに対して大きな過失を負い迷惑をかけてしまった場合や、公約を達成できなかった場合、“頭を丸める”という自粛の意味で丸刈りにすることもあります。

今やアメリカで大活躍しているダルビッシュ有も２００８年の北京オリンピックで予選リーグで負けたときも「気合いを入れ直す」といって丸刈りにしていました。このように己への戒めとして「頭を丸める」ことは日本に定着した文化だと思います。

しかし近代化した現在の日本においてなぜ丸刈り文化はなくならないでしょうか？それは問題を早期に解決する手段として丸刈りは非常に効率の良い方法だからではないでしょうか。なぜならまず見た目のインパクトが大きいこと。メディア的にも非常に伝わりやすく扱いやすいコンテンツだと思う。次に早く出来てコストが安いということ。１０分で１０００円もかからない非常にコストパフォーマンスの高い手段ですね。最後に人の噂も７５日という言葉が日本にはありますが騒動が収まれば髪はまた伸びて自然に元通りになります。英語でいうと　"A wonder lasts but nine days"(不思議なことも９日まで）ですね。アメリカの方が騒動の収まりも早いので楽ですね。

結論、丸刈り謝罪文化は日本が生み出した大変効率の良い問題解決手段として残すべきです。アメリカにも輸出してはどうでしょうか？

Is autopilot justice?

If there is an autopilot car now, do you want to get it? Whenever I asked my friends about this question, I heard that "I don't want it, because it's boring" or "I'm good at driving, so it's no need me. However, I agree with autopilot car and I want to get it right now. When I was an university student, I loved driving a car and I often went to mountain and coast roads. However, I prefer driving more safely and comfortable rather than enjoying to drive. That's why I welcome an autopilot car.

As for an autopilot car, Google is known for being active in the area of this technology, but Toyota also announced that they started to develop their own autopilot car at the CES(Consumer Electronics Show) that started from Jan 8th at Las Vegas. So, it's easy to imagine that these technology will improve in the near future.

There is already an autopilot car race that competes for the technology of autopilot. It's called Urban Challenge hosted by DRRPA(Defense Advanced Research projects Agency). It's the race that autopilot cars drive in the city area within speed limit and on time without any support. It's weird that the main purpose is for military use, but it's no doubt that the technology will improve in competition principle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-xibwwNVLgg 

As for the advantage of autopilot, it has a overwhelmingly low probability of error than human-operated cars. In other words, autopilot has a low probability of a car accident. Machines are never tired and never frustrated. Of course, machines never look away even if a beautiful woman comes into their sight.

There are other advantages such as keeping a perfect speed automatically and driving with shorter distance between cars. So, these advantages lead to an efficient use of road, reducing traffic jam and improving in fuel economy.

In regards to current responding to safety driving by auto company, they appeal their safety support technologies to cover human errors like a brake assist for prevention of rear-end collision, lane keep assist and a blind spot camera. The car that I got recently also has these kind of equipments, but the machine tries to inform me a warning with using beeps. And whenever I heard this sound, I think "I know that!!" That's why I want to say " Under my responsibility, I'll leave the matter to you"

Also, I think autopilot could be a good solution for mobility problem in an aging society. I saw the news that convenience stores in country side started delivery service for elderly people, but young drivers are required. In addition, autopilot can give the opportunity of communicating with other people in the town during their shopping. If small electric autopilot cars are available in this society where one of four people is elder, most of all elders might say "This is what I wanted!!"

Some people say that autopilot must kill the fun to drive from the car, but I want to say " Times have changed" In other words, cars have matured. The history of car started as been faster than horse cart, then people required better handling and braking technology. After that, safety and ecology consideration have been required. During this history, the value that driving faster equals fun was born and car makers focused on this value in their business. However, now I think car makers  should change their mind that fun to drive should go to circuits from public roads or go to the virtual world like Gran-turismo. Horse has been used for as a transportation for long time, but now it persists as a horse riding that focused on just fun-riding not a transportation. Manual-operated car might follow the same fate as a horse. Sightseeing style train that is compared to airplane is also same concept.

I'm a car stylist, but I don't think it's a negative thing. Rather, I'm excited to make new styling. If a steering is gone, the cockpit design must be changed. If it might not be so important to keep visibility for driving, exterior styling could be changed.

It's clear that we have to set a lot of rules before we start the autopilot system. I think that drivers should accept to use an autopilot under their responsibility. That's because it's very difficult to decide who's fault drivers or car makers. As for the manual operating system, when the autopilot technology improves in the future and achieves mainstream recognition in society, it will fade away gradually. However, even technology will be improved, I don't think the emergency stop button is gone .

I expect that the most lowest accident rate car in autopilot will be the bestseller car in the future.

Written in Feb 1st 2013

日本語版

 自動運転は正義か？　

自動運転の車、あったら欲しい？と友達に聞くとそんなのつまらないからいらないとかそんなもの無くても俺は運転がうまいから大丈夫とかいう意見をよく聞く。でも私は大賛成で今すぐ欲しい。学生の頃は峠に走りにいったり海辺をドライブしたりする事が楽しくてしょうがなかったが今は安全に楽に移動したいという気持ちが強い。だから自動運転の車大歓迎です。

自動運転と言えばグーグルが力を入れている事で知られていますが、今月の８日からラスベガスで始まった国際家電ショー(CES)においてトヨタも自動運転の車の開発を始めるとアナウンスしました。今後この技術が飛躍的に進化するのは間違いないでしょう。

すでに自動運転の技術を競うレースもあります。アメリカ国防省(DRRPA)主催のUrban Charangeがそれです。町中を制限速度を守って時間内で無誘導で安全に走破するというもの。目的が軍事用なのはちょっとあれですが競争原理の中で技術が進歩するであろうことはいうまでもありません。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-xibwwNVLgg 

自動運転のいいところですが、まず人間が運転するより圧倒的にエラーの確率が低いことすなわち事故を起こす可能性が低いという事です。機械の良いところは人間のように疲れたりイライラしてたりする事がない。綺麗な女性が歩いていてよそ見する事もありません（笑）その他にもメリットがあります。自動で最適な速度をキープしたり車間距離も安全マージン無しの密着運転が可能なので道路を有効に使えて渋滞の防止や、燃費の向上にも繋がります。

自動車会社の現状の安全に関する対応ですが、ヒューマンエラーを低減させる運転サポート装備、いわゆる追突防止ブレーキアシスト、車線キープアシスト、死角サポートカメラなどが人気で各社こぞって新型車に採用して安全をアピールています。私が最近手に入れた車もそのような装備が付いていますが、最終的に機械が人に知らせようとして警告音が鳴ったりします。そんな時そうしても「そんなの知らせなくてもわかってるよ！！」という気持ちになってしまいます。だから私は「私が責任取るから後は君に任せた！！」と言いたいのです。

またこれからやってくる超高齢化社会において自動運転は一つの解決策になり得ると思います。田舎でコンビニエンスストアが出前で巡回しているニュースを見ましたがそこには若い運転手が必要ですし、自動運転の車があれば町中に出て買い物がてらに人と触れ合う事も出来ます。４人に１人が高齢者という社会において小型の全自動電動コミューターがもしあれば「こんなの欲しかった！」という事になると思います。

運転する楽しみがなくなるという人もいますが私はもう時代が変わったのだと言いたい。成熟したとも言えるでしょう。車は馬車よりも速く移動出来るといところから始まり次に曲がる、止まると行った技術が求められその後、安全や環境性能というところが求められてきました。そのなかで速く走る事＝楽しいとい価値が生まれ自動車会社はそこを付加価値にして商売をしてきました。でも今走る楽しみは公道ではなくサーキットやグランツーリスモなどのゲームなどの世界に行くべきだと思います。馬も移動手段として利用されてきましたが今は走る楽しみとして乗馬という形で存続しています。手動運転の車は確実に同じ運命をたどるでしょう。飛行機に対する観光電車も同じコンセプトです。

私はカーデザイナーですがちっともネガティブには考えていません。むしろ新しい価値のデザインが出来るので楽しみです。ハンドルがなくあれば世界も変わるし視界なんてそんなにシビアに考えなくても良いかもしれません。そうなると車のフォルムも変わります。

自動運転を始めるにあたりいろんなルール作りが必要なのは明白ですが基本的にドライバーが責任を持って自動運転を選ぶという事になると思う。事故が起きたときに自動車会社かドライバーの責任かというところが一番難しいからです。手動運転を残すか残さないかは自動運転のテクノロジーが進化して社会的に認知されれば次第になくなって行くと思う。さすがに機械もエラーは起こすので緊急停止ボタンだけはなくならないと思いますが。

自動運転での事故率が最も低い車がベストセラーになる日も近いと私は思います。

 

Gun

Two years ago, I went to LA on business trip and I met an accident that one gang's car was shot by another gangs car then, crush into the fence of the hotel that I stayed at. This was the first time that I strongly felt about the gun society in the U.S. and I had a doubt why guns still exist in the U.S.

So, I watched the movie "Bowling for Columbine" directed by Michael Moor.

This is a non-fiction movie douched on the affair of shooting to death at Columbine high school in 1999. In this movie, he tried to investigate why the total amount of shooting incidents in the U.S. isn't reduced. He prepared a lot of interesting examples. For instance, In Canada, the rate of having guns per person is higher than in the U.S., but the total amount of shooting incidents is much lower than in the U.S. and he gave the interview to Charlton Heston. He was former leader of NRA(National Rifle Association) Finally, Michael succeeded to stop selling bullets in K-mart, but in 2007 a new terrible massacre happened at Virginia Tech University. Thirty three people were killed. It was about twice as much compared to the Columbine high school massacre.

And now, I'm living here in the U.S. So, I can't pass without describing about the gun society in the U.S. I think there are a lot of reasons why the U.S. people still have guns.

First of all, the existence of Text of the Bill of Right in United States Constitution. In second, amendment It says" A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of s free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed "（規律ある民兵は、自由な国家の安全にとって必要であるから、人民が武器を保有し、また携帯する権利は、これを侵してはならない）

So, American people are allowed to have guns by law. Also, to see the history of America, frontiers fought the native people. After that, they took black from Africa as slavery. After they released them from slavery, they had to guard against black. So, the U.S. history means always fighting. It's natural to use gun for protecting themselves. So the spirit that our security should be protected by ourselves still remain in their heart so deeply. Living without guns means like being naked. In addition, the existence of NRA is one of the big reason why gun control can't spread. NRA is the biggest lobby group in the U.S. They have tons of fund and big influence to politicians. Basically, the Democratic Party takes a positive attitude toward the gun control, but they are afraid of NRA. So, no one appeal about gun control even president Obama. That's why the total amount of people who were killed by gun is still over ten thousands per year. Compared to the U.S., guns are really well controlled in Japan. The rate of using gun in total amount of murders in Japan is three to four percent. It's the second best in the world. So, for us Japanese, the gun is not important something faraway. Our image of guns is that police man and the Self Defence Forces are allowed to have them. So I think living in the U.S. especially in LA, means that we have to be scared about being shot anytime, anywhere. I think people are animals that are easy to get mad. So if people have easy more access to guns, they can use them easily not only for defense, but also for killing people. I hope president Obama will conduct "the gun hunt" from all the people like shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi's "Katanagari"(sword hunt) in the future. No gun means no shooting to death. I'd like to live with my family in the place as safe as possible.

Written in 2009 and revised Oct 2013