2009
06.20
admin :: .Journal | 日記
Day 1: Sleep (really jetlagged)
Day 2: Hospital (consultation with radiation oncologist) –> bank –> Burger King –> home –> sleep
Day 3: Hospital (radiation therapy preparations) –> bank –> pick up sister from work –> Costco –> supermarket –> home –> sleep
Looks like radiation therapy for my father’s cancer is going to require going to the hospital for 30 min every weekday. I am going to need to make an effort to keep my distance from my family so that I am not sucked into their routine. I feel that could be dangerous–keeping me from working on my own projects (translation, writing, etc.). On one hand, driving my parents around allows me to be supportive, but I don’t think that I am doing either of us a favor by suppressing my own effort to be independent. Balance–that is what is required, and what I intended when I quit my job. Balance between working freelance and supporting my father in his illness, my mother in taking care of my father and sister. Balance between family and work, between parents and my wife, between Hawaii (where my parents are) and New York (where my wife will be).
Wish me luck…
2009
05.30
admin :: .Journal | 日記; Music | 音楽
One day I’ll write about the last two weeks. For now…
Five For Fighting – “100 years”
Lyrics
I’m 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I’m 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we’re on fire
Making our way back from Mars
15 there’s still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
I’m 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I’m of age
A kid on the way
A family on my mind
I’m 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I’m heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
15 there’s still time for you
Time to buy, Time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
15 I’m all right with you
15, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We’re moving on…
I’m 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there’s still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you’re on your way
Every day’s a new day…
15 there’s still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
2009
05.18
admin :: .Business; .Journal | 日記
(Originally posted on my new professional blog: www.mlatte.com)
My evidence is completely anecdotal, but I don’t think any current or past MBA student would disagree when I say that Japanese students studying for an MBA outside Japan are underrepresented in comparison with their Chinese and Korean counterparts. (And if I am wrong, I’d welcome the correction.) The situation is even more pronounced with Japanese women.
There are those in the Japanese business community who value the knowledge, theory, global and business-oriented mindset that MBA implies, but if one peruses job listings in Japanese, one rarely sees “MBA preferred”. The reason for this may be the lack of prospective employees with MBA degrees. The lack of managers with MBA degrees is certainly behind the lack of understanding and value placed on the degree.
The situation may change though as more and more Japanese universities themselves begin offering MBA or business-oriented post-graduate degrees. MBA programs taught in Japanese will enlarge the pool of MBA holders in Japan exponentially as the language barrier to the business-focused graduate degree falls. (Despite Japan’s dependence upon manufacturing, the domestic economy is large enough that fluent English is not a condition for entrance to the business elite.) However, until these programs spread and increase their reputations for producing outstanding business people, the MBA community in Japan remains small.
Tonight, because my wife will be an MBA candidate beginning this fall, I was fortunate to get a rare outsider’s glimpse of the small MBA community in Tokyo. The MBA Tomo no Kai (Friendship Association) holds a send off party every year to outgoing candidates, and my wife brought me to this Good Luck Party 2009.
The speaker, Tomoko Namba, founder and CEO of DeNA Co., Ltd., a pioneer in Japan’s mobile game market, spoke about how the two years that one spends at an MBA program should be used to accomplish something that cannot be accomplished once one returns to the work force. She herself seemed to regret not doing so in her two years at Harvard.
At the after party, Yoshimitsu Kaji, Executive Director of International Communications on the Tokyo 2016 Olympic committee, spoke about how Japan could either fall behind the curve or lead the world in developing technologies to save it from environmental destruction. The 2016 Olympics, if held in Tokyo, would put Japan’s technological prowess , and the ability of that prowess to contribute to positive global environmental change, on display for the world. He gave some hints at the scale of the overhaul to Tokyo’s landscape if the bid succeeds, and it was quite exciting.
In the end, Tokyo is a small city — I met three friends of friends at this event despite the fact that none of my own friends are MBA holders, candidates or applicants. At one time in my life, I despised the term networking and the sleazy nuance that seemed to emanate from it. Yet, as Ms. Namba pointed out, you cannot change the world alone. The network of contacts and acquaintances you build will become, along with your own talent, perseverance, discipline and dedication, one of the building blocks to success — in whatever form you choose to pursue it.
2009
05.09
admin :: Art | アート
Aiko Miyanaga’s exhibition “Dwelling in a boat” at the Mizuma Art Gallery near Nakameguro station.
Open a memory box – Aiko Miyanaga
A visit to the Aiko Miyanaga’s installation at the Mizuma Art Gallery near Nakameguro Station is a metaphor for recalling a treasured memory. Located on the second floor of a forgotten building, you are greeted by a short narrow hallway. At the opposite end is the entrance to the gallery – a door with a small window and a message that invites you to “open the chest.” What chest? As you peek through the window, an ancient, coffin-sized chest is spotlighted against a black background. From a crack in the top and from beneath the lid of the chest, a white glow invites…
Read the full version on Tokyo Art Beat’s TABlog:
http://www.tokyoartbeat.com/tablog/entries.en/2009/05/open-a-memory-box.html
More on Aiko Miyanaga (宮永愛子)
Japan Times article: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fa20090130a1.html
ART IT interview: http://www.art-it.jp/e_interview09.php
Official HP: http://www.aiko-m.com/index.html
The outside of the chest.
The below image comes from another installation not shown at this exhibition.
2009
04.27
admin :: Books | 本; Japan | 日本; Marketing | マーケティング; Relax | ゆっくり
The spread of anime and manga–and indeed Japanese culture in general perhaps–from Japan’s shores across the world was a result of the sweat and passion of fans who subtitled and dubbed anime and manga. Many of them do not realize the illegal nature of their work, justifying distribution of the copyrighted material by the fact that they do not claim ownership nor do they seek to make a profit (though some do profit). And the widespread nature of the activity of course makes it extremely difficult for publishers to take action, nor would it make sense for them to do so as it would alienate fans.
Then again, such a situation makes it extremely difficult for publishers and the artists who create the manga loved by so many around the world to earn money from their work. Instead websites offering fan-subtitled scanned work for free make money off web advertising (albeit probably not enough to turn it into a full-fledged business for most sites).
In walks Shogakukan, publisher of Takahashi Rumiko of Ranma 1/2 fame. Takahashi’s newest work will be available for view by those in America and Europe as it is published in Japan for free online at: The Rumic World (http://www.therumicworld.com/manga.php).
For those in Japan:
How to make online business models work for traditional print publishers…the search continues.
2009
04.26
admin :: .Personal
最近、このインスタントにはまっちゃった。とんかつ飯、博多風。うまいっ！
Recently, I have been addicted to this instant soup. Tonkatsu meshi, hakata-style. It’s the grinz!
メーカーの詳細：「ポークとチキンのエキスをバランス良く配合し、香辛野菜を加えたとんこつスープに、たっぷりのネギときくらげ、紅しょうがを加えたとんこつ飯です。濃厚でとろりとしたコクのある味わいが食欲をそそります。カロリーは、うれしい140 Calories です。」
From then manufacturer: ”A tonkatsu soup made from well-balanced mix of pork and chicken extract with vegetable spices, lots of green onions and cloud-ear mushrooms, and red ginger. The thick, rich taste will stir up your appetite. Fortunately, only 140 Calories.”
この坦々飯も美味しそう。This tantan meshi looks good too!
2009
04.15
admin :: Music | 音楽; Web | ウェブ
勝ち目のない人が勝つことを見たら、誰でも感動すると思うが、イギリスの「Britain’s Got Talent」というアイドル卵を探す番組に出演したスコットランドのスーザン・ボイルが歌った瞬間は感動の中の感動だった。47歳で未婚、キスさえ経験したことがなく、飼い猫のPebblesと一緒に一人暮らししているスーザンは、イギリスのミュージカルの名人イレーン・ページのような歌い姫を目指していると発言したら、観客が爆笑してしまった。しかし、歌い始めた瞬間、その爆笑がスタンディング・オベーションに。いくつかのビデオがあって、多分合わせたらもう700万回以上見られている。埋め込むことができないので、このリンクで見てください： http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg
Everyone loves an underdog and loves when the underdog wins. But Susan Boyle’s surprise on “Britain’s Got Talent” is just simply AMAZING. Not just good, but amazing. She is 47, never been married, never been kissed, unemployed, lives with her cat pebbles and she thinks she has the talent to sing like Britain’s first lady of theater Elaine Paige. I’d like to write more, but you just have to watch the video and be stunned. Adding up the several videos that are showing her performance, I think she’s been watched more than 7 million times!
Can’t embed it so here is the high quality link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg
2009
04.13
admin :: Relax | ゆっくり; Web | ウェブ
会社の同僚から「
初恋の人からの手紙」というサイトをおしえてくれた。アンケートを答えた後、初恋の人からの手紙が表示される。そして最後に自分の恋愛診断の結果を分析するページも出てくる。http://letter.hanihoh.com
僕の結果はなんだって？教えない！！