Try speaking English !

This picture on the left is “Meishi" in Japan, which is used in the business world. It's a very useful tool to communicate one’s name, company, and telephone number to others and is used all over the world as a Business card.

Basically "Meishi" is used in same way as Business card, but in Japan when you meet Japanese clients, the first thing we do is swap "Meishi" with each other. If you have a meeting with clients, you have to swap "Meishi"　with everyone, so you have to prepare enough "Meishi" before the meeting. It is also used as a reminder, so you are not forgotten or evidence of your visit if your client unavailable. In this case, you can leave your "Meishi" on client's desk.



You see, most Japanese business cards "Meishi" are simple design in the business world because of our nationality and our view of business, so when you show us an individual design of "Meishi", it attracts our attention. But be careful, if your "Meishi" is too colorful or flashy, it may not impress a Japanese client, it can give them a bad impression, but it depends on their view. If your Japanese client is accepting of different cultures, there is no problem.


When you, a foreigner to Japan, give "Meishi" to a Japanese client, if it’s made from something of Japanese culture, you will be engaging in a Japanese custom. If I was you, I'll choose "Meishi" made from "Origami" or Japanese paper "Washi", because Japanese would feel a great interest in you, affinity and it could make a good impression, even if　it’s very colorful and flashy.

Japan is westernizing more and more, Japanese are forgetting true and old Japanese customs. This exchange between business men would remind Japanese of what Japan is.



"Meishi" is paper. Paper was developed in China to replace stone board, leaves and wood scrolls. It was carried to the East and the West through the Silk Road. Chinese paper uniquely evolved in both the East and the West and Japanese paper "Washi" was born about 1400 years ago.

Japanese paper "Washi" has the following characteristics.


1) preserves well ( lasts about 1000 years ),
on the other hand, the western paper only preserves for about 100 years.

2) high-strength against breaking, tearing.

3) thin, light and flexible.

4) beautiful tone

5) breathable


All these great characteristics are beneficial to "Shoji screen", "Husuma", "Byobu", "wrapping of Japan ware", "paper of Japanese calligraphy" in Japan.


You know "Origami". This is a Japanese word and it is said that the existence of "Washi" and the Japanese spirit were two things that created the “Origami” we know today, but its origin is not clearly known.　However, People have put forward some ideas about this.

The most famous "Origami" is the crane.　 You can see a thousand origami paper cranes in the Peace memorial park in Hiroshima, Japan, which is one of the World heritage sites.


The origin of a thousand origami paper cranes is from a story about a girl.　 The crane is a symbol of longevity, so people believe that to make a thousand origami paper cranes will recover anyone's health.

The girl was an atomic bomb sufferer and had hoped to get better by she kept making a thousand origami paper cranes, but unfortunately she died of leukemia. Her statue was built in the Peace memorial park after that. Now a thousand origami paper cranes is a symbol of peace.

"Origami" is really close to us because we Japanese have been practicing not only the crane, but also the paper plane, the paper air-ball and so on, for pleasure since we were childen, so if you have a "Meishi" made from "Origami", it will really attract Japanese people. This is also true for "Washi".

I've been driving a left-hand drive car since last November, but I'm still not accustomed to it.
I had driven a right-hand drive car for around 8 years. I used to race through the mountains at nights.
The feeling of RHD (right-hand drive) is second nature.

I sometimes notice I'm rightish in lane when I'm driving my LHD (left-hand drive) car.
This means the right side of my car is over the centerline! Danger!!
When I was almost in an accident, my left hand immediatly went for a RHD gear shift
and my eyes looked to the upper left, serching for a RHD rear view mirror.
In addition, I often walk up to the right side of the car when getting in.

This habit is difficult to break, but interesting.

We went to Zao where is famous for skiing and Onsen in Yamagata prefecture from the end of 2006 to the new year. Zao is famous for Ice Monster or Snow Monster as well. I ate a fragment of Ice Monster (Juhyo). It was a amazing texure and very crunchy. You should try to eat!

For reference about Ice Monster.
http://www.miyagitheme.jp/cd/main_data/area_db_e/ad_zao/ad001_zao/index.html
http://www.outdoorjapan.com/TO/03-winter-special/TO-1-winter03-zao.html













Tow days before we arrived, it was raining. The day before we arrived, the rain changed to snow, so we had really good powder-like snow. When we walked, it sounded like mice squeaking. In addition, it was fine, clear day when we skied. We were lucky! Wonderful opening of 2007!


As I was riding the bar lift, I found a jump and decided to try it without disturbance! I used to live in Niigata where is one of prefectures of heavy snowfall in Japan. I used to make lots of jumps, so I had many experiences.


The jump lasted for around 3 seconds. The moment I left the ground, I felt sudden fear because of my unexpected high speed. Because I started to ski straight at a jump from around the top of ski slope, I was speeding up too much. This picture shows my fear, doesn't it?

I thought almost nothing from the time I jumped to the time I landed. After that, both my skis flew away and I felt great pain in my knees. I failed to land!

I thought that my knees broke at that moment because I couldn't move my legs by itself. I had to move my legs by my hands. I'm okay now.
After my failure, no one tried jumping...

I haven't posted for a long time.
My car broke down a month ago I repaired it and 2 days later it broke down again.
I was going to get my skyline serviced at the end of November. It costs a lot, so I have decided to sell it or not even though I have driven 160,000 km. It still looks great new.
Finally I decided to get an another car ! It's secondhand, and it was made 10 years ago.
I'll get it tomorrow (actually today), I'm looking forward to seeing it for the first time.

Finally I completely restored the Operation System in my personal computer !
I replaced my Hard Disk Drive because the system warned about hard drive trouble when my Operation System started up. I was very tired, because I spent 60 or 70 hours on it.

By the way, I watched the news on the web today. You won't believe this, it was about python !
Take a guess !

The Python gobbled up a sheep ! He crawled on to the road when the policeman found him.
His Body was too big to run away, so the policeman caught him easily.
I've heard a rumor that snakes can eat sheep,
but I didn't believed it before I saw this picture. This happened in Malaysia.