6.4 Cosplay

What is Cosplay? Somehow, I don't like Cosplay very much, but I think dressing up is fun. Is there a difference between Cosplay and dressing up for Halloween day? I feel that I could understand the difference between them when reading this article and some other articles about Cosplay. I think the most important difference is their purpose. People who like dressing up just want to enjoy dressing up in costumes. On the other hand, Cosplay fans want to completely become the characters that they like to dress up as. It is a big difference. I like comics, but I don't become overly enthusiastic about them. Therefore, I don't want to identify myself with the characters in them. Maybe it is the reason I don't like Cosplay very much. However, I have to say that I don't dislike Cosplay fans. They are enjoying their hobbies. I think that it's great. In addition most of them make their own costumes, and the quality is excellent. Cosplay is one part of Japanese culture.

http://jollyandy.com/home/?p=306

4.5 The cowardicer. --Genta Koto

4.5 The cowardicer.

Hikaru Utada has a good heart, good righteousness. She said “I don’t want to make fans pay for this because my heart is not in this release.” Another media said Universal Japan was aimed releasing their CD on the same day with EMI studios. She didn’t allow to Universal Japan to release the CD because they are against her opinion. Finally she decided to dissolve them. However, these CDs seemed to be sales well.

GC2 Genta Koto

8. Two Monkeys Appointed StationMasters in Japan

i. Read the short article about Monkeys being appointed station Masters (click here)

respond to the article by stating your opinion, and why you think so.
Responses should include the reasoning behind your response...
ii. Next, watch the video about 'Tama' the station master cat of Wakayama.

article can also be found at:
http://www.weirdasianews.com/2010/11/22/monkeys-appointed-stationmasters-japan/

7.3 For all passengers

I agree with the situation that obese people must sit on big seats and they should pay extra charge. But, who is the irregular people for airlines? One policy is necessary for airlines to make rules for obese passengers. Each airline has each standard for fat customers. For example, according to Southwest Airlines' website, they need customers who cannot seat economy seats to reserve two seats for their width. They declare the width fir each seat is 17 inches. Also, United Airlines has its own regulations for obese customers. They want passengers whose size is bigger than armrest size to buy two seats. They do not say the width clearly. On some another airlines' websites I could not find such rules, but it is said that every airline has their own rules for obese people.
The reason that airlines want extra charge for fat people is to keep them safely, even if the reason is just outward. So, they should decide the same standard for such people, or customers would wonder if they can be regular people for airlines or not.

4.4 Cosplay

 Dear Mondy,

Cosplay is kind of culture.
I feel difficult to understand them but actually I don't have strong opinion to them.
If they appear in front of me I watch them and try to guess who is a main character of this anime.
I think to guess what is fun. Because usually I know the character and maybe you know the character too.
Japan is filling with funny things.  These subculture make good culture. Many many people are watching animes and through it we can have a same image about our self, sometimes it is a model of future, sometimes it is a idea. So anime is not a harm thing.

From Genta.

1.7.Obese Passengers GC2 Daisuke Ohta

According to the article, the growing number of people who are too fat to sit on the seat in airplane. I think it’s a serious problem for the airline company, because some fat passengers complaint about seat and make an unjustified demand for them. If airline companies accept their demand, obesity passengers behave as if they are king. So, airline companies shouldn’t change the size of seat. Anyway, obesity has not only problem from this article, but also, it cause lifestyle-related illness, so, all people in the earth try to walk and exercise. I think it’s the only way of solving the problem.

8.7 My opinion about regulations for obese people

I think that the customer services for overweight people should be changed in some points. For example, it would be better for the airplane companies to make more economy class seats for obese people and make those seats to be next to their associates. So they don't have to be separated. Or it would also be better to make bedrooms for obese people so they don't have to care about the size of plane seats. But if they do so, they have to consider the amount balance of the numbers of seats and bedrooms into calculations. And the airline companies should care about the structure of seats or beds when they make those things to prevent them from collapse.

5.6 Such bad guranter brokers should be arrested.

I don't believe why such sleazy gurantor brokers aren't arrested. It is clear that they are swindlers, take advantage of such weak people and try to get much money irregally. Government should make and enforce laws which can protect such weak people immediately. I think there are lots of same cases which aren't known and sued for damages, because such weak people can't demand lawyer caused usually poor. Government should take some steps immediately before the situation will get completely out of hand.

N.Sakurai

7.Obese Passengers

Read the short article about Obese Passengers (click here)

Make sure to also read the comments section at the bottom of the article. Please respond to the article by stating your opinion, and why you think so. Responses should include the reasoning behind your response...

Read another article in the Washington post before writing your response (click here)

Cartoon By: Mikhaela B. Reid (2010). Angry Cartoonist, retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/4386184154/

Video can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx9ICWLyHfU&feature=related

Video can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kynejmXQtB4&feature=related

8.4 My opinion about cosplaying as animation characters

I think that it is funny for animation character fans to cosplay as their favorite characters. Japanese animation is very fascinating and it has individual features. Many Japanese animations or comics are becoming more popular all over the world. I have seen some scenes which foregin people cosplay as Japanese animation characters. I think that those people have found enjoyment in these actions. It would relax themselves. But those actions would be allowed in places where some comics or animations derive.
I would consider cosplaying my favorite animation characters. For example, I like a Japanese animation called 「Detective Conan」. I may want to cosplay my favorite characters in that animation in places where the homeland of that animation's auther exist. Which is Tottori prefecture.

8.3 My opinion about the customer services in Japan

I think that there are many people who think that customer is superior standing point when it comes to servicing business in Japan. I cannot deny that there is a tendency that the staff have to listen to whatever customer says in Japanese society. Because of that, there are many remarkable cases that show unreasonable claiming cases against the manager. These phoenomenons often occur particularly in food businesses and restaurant chain worlds. I think that one of the reasons that Japanese food business related jobs like restaurants or food shops are very severe and oppressive is because there are some customers who complain unreasonable claims and the top of the company let shop owners resolve these problems by themselves. The working conditions in food business related jobs like restaurants or food shops are like hell because of not only the few holidays for the workers but also the tendency that the shop staffs have to listen to whatever the customers request. So there are many people who resign these kind of jobs or become melancholia.
I think that Japanese government must take action to resolve these problems and try much efforts to improve the working conditions of food related businesses as soon as possible. Otherwise, the working conditions in food related businesses like restaurants or food shops will become worse and worse.

3.6 Government must protect the nation by laws

Japanese government must make a new law or review the present law about guarantors. The present law is so weak that some malicious companies can continue their "hoshosaabisu" business.
I would like to tell you about the system of Japanese guarantor. This system's origin was "Ninjo"(like humanity and heart) in Edo era. Government made the law about guaruntor(Mimotohosho ni kansuru houritsu) in 1935. The law just explains "the contract of guaruntor". Goaruntors must guarantee money losses if the person who he/she grantee make some miney losses deliberately. But, this system is not duty, but just traditional Japanese custom. Also, there are no laws to ban companies from wanting their employees to prepare their guarantors. So, if workers don't prepare their guarantor, companies can lay them off. This dismissal is legal.
There are two problems in this system and the law.This law has never been reviewed since 1935. The situation and society in Japan have changed very much. Also, this law accepts the existence of guaruntors but doesn't show penalties, fine, and prohibition clearly. So, it is easy for malicious companies to keep their "hinkon business". I want Japanese government to make new law or revise the present law soon and protect us firmly.

Satoko

8.6 It is not good to take advantage of poor people's conditions

I think that it is not good to take advantage of socially poor people's predicament for social working guarantee organization's own purpose. If they get money for introducing jobs to their customers, the guaranteers should take responsibility because it is the social common senses. It is also unfair that the work introducing guaranteers don't have to take responsibility if it comes to impossible situations even if they got money. I think that the government also should consider some solutions for introducing many jobs for people who are socially poor and are in predicament that their life-style is unstable.

1.6. Sleazy guarantor brokers prey on the desperate GC2 Daisuke Ohta

The article say that malicious business called “muen shakai” and “Hinkon Bussiness” are spreading in Japan. Also it says “hosho business” has been growing. Nowadays, income of workers are decreasing, however, why malicious bussinees are growing. A person in this article paid 50,000 yen, but the company which provide services didn’t find guarantor for him. I think not all companies are doing illegal things, however, some company take advantage of one’s weak point of poverty. Bad economy allow malicious business to grow.

8.2 I also love Tom Cruise

I also love Tom Cruise because he is good at acting and he has been popular for long times. His looks is also nice and I think he has nice body enough to challenge many action and fighting scenes. But I felt a little different atmosphere when I saw the movie called Valkrie in which Tom Cruise acted a German official millitary man in World War 2 in an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

I know how popular Tom Cruise is because he has visited Japan many times and he attracted many fans and he lent Shinkansen for himself. He was welcomed at Kyoto when he visited many sites. But it is regrettable that he has no much time to stay in Japan because he is too busy. I am looking forward to watching his next movie Mission Impossible 4.

I think Cameron Dias is also fantastic because she is beautiful and a little taller. I think that she became more beautiful than she ever was. I thought her voice charming when I watched the movie Shrek.

Tom Cruise goes with the flow

Tom Cruise is the best actor who earn the money by staring hollywood movies. The latest one is "Knight and Day" in which he co-stars with Cameron Diaz. They last stared together in the 2001 film "Vanilla Sky". They are best partner each other. Cruise,48-year-old keeps good looks still now. Also he is multi-actor ,so he hasn't been afraid to go against type like comedy, romance and action. I admired his talent and toughness. He is really famous actor all over the world.

2.1Tom Cruise goes with the flow

No Hollywood movie star gets a bigger reception in Japan than Tom Cruise. The 48-year-old star cultivates his fans here better than any other actor. One week, 800fans were specially invited to a red carpet premiere of his new movie, "Night and Day," in which he co-stars with Cameron Diaz. Tom said "I ' ve always had a great relationship with this country and fan support is something that I have never taken for granted." Diaz also a regular visitor to Japan. In "Knight and Day," Tom plays a spy on the run."knight and day" reunites Cruise and Diaz who starred together in the 2001 film "Vanilla Sky."In interview, Tom said "It was great working with Cameron again." CameronDiaz also praise for Cruise. "There is no one better to work with than Tom."Actually, I watch this movie. Tom retains his boyish good looks, but the body of Diaz slacken.

6. Sleazy guarantor brokers prey on the desperate

Read the short article about Guarantor Brokers (click here)

Make sure to also read the comments section at the bottom of the article. Please respond to the article by stating your opinion, and why you think so. Responses should include the reasoning behind your response...

5.5 It is funny that two similar CDs release on same day

I haven't ever heard that two similar CDs for same artist by different companies will release on same day. And I don't understand why will Universal Japan release the CD without being endorsed by artist, Utada Hikaru. What is its purpose? I can't infer any reason, because I don't know well the background of Utada Hikaru and I'm not interested in her music.
I only know that she is a daughter of Keiko Fuji who used to be one of famous Enka singer and her first single was a big hit song. And I think releasing two similar Cds on same day is one of publicity stunt and probably lots of both CDs will be sold.

N.Sakurai

1.5Hikaru Utada GC2 Daisuke Ohta

This article says Hikaru utada has advised fans not to buy her album, “Utada the Best”. I think professional musician shouldn’t say such thing. It seems that singer doesn’t have confidence about her works. However, I can understand that her works is worse than before. So, I stop buying her CD since 2001. I think she released good works in her early carrier. For example, I like “automatic”, “First Love” “Addicted to you” etc. Also, I like her version of “Fly me to the moon” which is the standard Jazz tune sang by many singers. So, I hope she get back to her basis after she go back to music world.

8.5 Utada Hikaru album collections

I think that there is a good reason that Hikaru Utada think it unacceptable to know that two companies released her albums on the same day. Her fans have to pay for two albums and she may feel sorry about it. And she would not be able to understand why the other company chose the same day for releasing her albums. She may feel that her albums cause the companies much competetion. But she also says that she endorses her fans to buy the albums EMI studios released. I feel that it is her personal feeling and I guess that she likes that studio. I cannot stop feeling that there is her favoritism for that studio.

3.5 Meaning CDs for singers

In this case, Hikaru Utada was shocked at "Utada the Best" album by Universal Japan.
I heard from TV news that she did not really involve in making the CD. Belows are what the news said. Universal Music wants to earn money before she stops her activity as a singer, because she is one of the most popular artists in Japan. She belong to Universal Music in the United States, but in Japan she has been a singer of the company EMI Music. There might be some fights between these two companies.
For singers, their CDs are like their children. As an artist who belongs to one particular company, she has to follow the company's rules and manager's opinions. But, in my opinion, if she did not really involved in making the CD, the company's action showed the inversion of her right as a singer. Maybe a lot of fans will buy the CD "Utada the Best" because they want to hear her beautiful voice. However if they are " true fans" for her, they should not buy it. I think they must understand her feeling.

Satoko

6.3

Both of customers and clerks should have manners, because we should have a minimal standard of consideration. I'm working as a store clerk, so I can understand both feelings. I sometimes see customers who have terrible manners. I don't think that customers should think clerks are king, but customer should have kindness as a member of society. It is needless to say that clerks should have good manners. In this movie, the clerk's serving customers is horrible, but unfortunately, it's a true that we sometimes see attitude to customers like her. I need to pay attention to be customers and clerks who have good manners.

5. Hikaru Utada

Read the short article about Hikaru Utada (Click Here).

Make sure to also read the comments section at the bottom of the article. Please respond to the article by stating your opinion, and why you think so. Responses should include the reasoning behind your response...

http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/hikaru-utada-advises-fans-not-to-buy-her-album

Watch the interview with Utada Hikaru

Utada Hikaru 'This is the One' Miami Interview

or you can find it at...

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