Fancy illumination in Hiroshima

Fancy illumination_2, originally uploaded by takashi13.

Sparkling White

Sparkling White, originally uploaded by takashi13.

Happy December

Now is happy December, this means we can get bonus in the beginning of this month. And also today is the first Sunday so I decided to go out to the downtown in Hiroshima and browsed through some shops.

Coming in front of the cosmetics section, I just remembered that I ran out of my fragrance. So I looked for my favorite one "Hugo BOSS" and bought it. I didn't hesitate to get bigger one. Because now is happy December!

After spending some hours and when I was just going home, I additionally remembered that tomorrow I'm supposed to go to Osaka for a business trip and I don't have a formal coat. Unfortunately, next few days it'll be getting colder and it might be snow. Therefore, I made up my mind to purchase a coat for tomorrow's trip. Because now is happy December!

Finally, I got a black and cool formal coat in the men's clothing section on my way home. It was cashmere coat and a little expensive so I hope I could wear it every winter for a long time to come. Tomorrow, it will make me warm physically and mentally.

"Million Dollar Baby"

(C) 2004 Lakeshore International. All rights reserved.

This film completely brew me away. I like the story about development and growing with much effort. From the beginning to the middle, the drama suited what I wanted so I was very excited and moved. As the story was moved on, however, heroine was in extreme trouble...

I learned it from this movie that we must consider how we have so much productive life. We are born and live and then die. Human life is not so long. So we should find and grasp our own real life.

Xmas is coming soon!

Xmas is coming soon 5, originally uploaded by takashi13.

Beautiful autumn color

Beautiful autumn color, originally uploaded by takashi13.

Switching Jobs...

Now I work in Hiroshima and design the industrial machines for 6 years. For around 2 years, however, I was thinking about changing the current job, actually. To tell the truth, I couldn't make up my mind whether I should continue present job or take over my father's job.

After having a conflict for a couple of years, I decided to go back to my hometown and take over my father's job in the near future. What makes me decide is, of course I made a decision by myself, that I should live near my parents and take care of them several years later, not right now. And also, I don't wanna break down my father's dream and his company and I wanna try to get more successful my own life by myself.

Leaving Hiroshima and my current job represents parting my friends and colleagues. Of course, so does my wife. I know she feels concerned about our future very much. So I must have much confidence in my ability and skills for work and encourage my wife. Moreover, I should try to make my family feel happier. Lastly, I'd like to appreciate that my wife allowed me to decide without saying anything.

Business trip with iPod

Today, November 1st, I went to Tokyo as the business trip. I waked up earlier than usual, 6 am, and got on the bullet train called Shinkansen wearing a suit and tie. But now I live in Hiroshima, west side of Japan so it takes over 4 hours to Tokyo even by Shinkansen.

As you may know, it's so hard to kill time in Shinkansen since there are no entertainments such as TV or radio service or newspaper in it. But in some cases, we can get some stuff like drinks and snacks inside Shinkansen. However, these stuffs are a little expensive. Therefore, I had to prepare some stuff for filling the time in Shinkansen.

Most of all, what helped me kill time was a music in iPod. Of course some magazines and books and some cans of beer were also helpful for me but iPod was the most useful tools. With music in iPod, I could enjoy this trip and have a good time in Shinkansen as if it had been 1 hour trip.

Happy Wedding, My Brother!

originally uploaded by takashi13

My younger brother "Katsushi" got married with cute and kind bride "Chiaki" who is nurse in Osaka. Until today, they've been going together for three and half years and also, Katsushi lived in Kyoto and Chiaki did in Osaka. I'm pretty glad to get a splendid sister. Starting today, I'm sure they will create a happy home! I'm looking forward to seeing your baby soon!

"Wicker Park ~White Lies~"

(C)2003 Lakeshore Entertainment. All rights reserved.

This love story was so painful and mysterious. If I remember right, this movie was remade of French movie, L'APPARTEMENT featuring Romane Bohringer, Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel.

Matthew who is young investment banker and has a beautiful fiance sees the woman who resembles Lisa in a cafe and the story begins. Lisa left him without saying anything around 2 years ago. And he finds the key of the hotel where Lisa is likely to stay. Getting her room, he finds weeping woman named Lisa but different person whom he expects to see.

In "Wicker Park", every character is lying and these lies are White Lies. Of course they don't attempt to rip apart somebody but all of them get hurt as a result. Matthew is concealing that he can't get Lisa out of his system. Lisa couldn't answer his proposal in a second. Luke who is friend of Matthew's and asking Alex for a date told a lie to Matthew as he already slept together. And Alex...

I could see in this movie that people can't help falling in love although they have trouble with it. Moreover, we might rip apart someone without knowing when we love someone.

and then...

Today, we carried out Walk-rally convention as planned. It was raining all day, but we have to make it because we arranged the foodstuff, a few drinks beforehand. The part of the course determined in advance was minimountain pass so we had to change and shorten the course as people didn't walk the dirt road.

Consequently, the time was shortened and the schedule was changed but all participants seemed to enjoy it and have fun. No one complained and felt satisfied, which gave me lots of pleasure. In any case, I was relieved as this event was finished without incident. I've felt tired too much...

Oh my...

Tomorrow, we are supposed to host Walk-rally & enjoy a BBQ and a few beers. Walk-rally is to walk a course which is determined beforehand with a map in hand. This is an annual event of our company. And every year, I planned the course and check-points where people answer the quiz or play the game and got ready the foodstuff and a few drinks for the BBQ.
But... It's been raining for several hours... And the forecast says that it's gonna rain tomorrow. I feel disappointed too much. Please somebody, stop raining! Don't let me down!

HOPE

HOPE, originally uploaded by takashi13.

on the street

Hiroshima, originally uploaded by takashi13.

North Park Univ., Chicago

North Park Univ., Chicago, originally uploaded by takashi13.

This is North Park University in Chicago. My friends are supposed to go there. But before entering this university, they have to study English because they are International students. Actually, I've never been to this university but I hope this is the best place for them to study a lot.

Speed

Chicago, originally uploaded by takashi13.

Words to live by...

For love,
to trust what she says completely
to respect what she has entirely
to understand what she thinks of totally
to love her with my body and soul

For life
never abandon
never excuse
never say die
to become somebody!

the end of the world/thee michelle gun elephant

"I thought you were the one at fault, I thought you were cracked"
I'm muttered by you like that, however I act deaf with gazing absently

you begin to giggle by fits and starts and say that
the end of the world is waiting there
I'm heard that that is the end when the moon with reddish cast rises

it's gonna change gradually, softly and certainly
you already realized it was likely to collapse, didn't you
you thought something weird was going on, didn't you

you are waiting quietly with red tea in your hand and say that
the end of the world is watching from there
you're looking forward to it baking the bread

by Yusuke Chiba/thee michelle gun elephant (1996)

We love soccer!

Originally uploaded by takashi13.

This is my soccer team.
We practive soccer every Friday evening.
We need the strong opponent!
(just kidding...)

Travel to Okinawa!

Originally uploaded by takashi13.

Good trip to Okinawa!
We are in front of Shuri-castle. We looked around the Shuri-castle and we felt it was a pretty historical landmark.

Who is this sexy girl?

Originally uploaded by takashi13.

On the beach in Okinawa.
The sunshine is so hot!
We got sunburned...

I miss Carbondale!

I stayed Carbondale, Ill and studied English for 2 months. For the purpose of improvement of English skill, I had decided to go abroad and be away from my family.
Now that I think about it, 2 months are too short to learn a lot, and how fast time goes by... However, I can get many precious things such as friends, experiences, and so on besides study.
I never forget about my friends I could make there and Carbondale and the time I spent there. And also, if I have time to travel, I wish to go there again.

Getting tired from pedaling... (_ _)

May_5_05_02
Originally uploaded by takashi13.

We, Rachel, Joyce, Young and me, went to the campus lake and rented the pedaling boat. It was so hot day, so 1 hour pedaling could exhaust us too much!

We got scolded by the attendants twice since we stood up on the boat and approached the shore without asking.
I am very sorry MAN!

May_5_05_01
Originally uploaded by takashi13.

"What are you looking at me for?!"

131_3119
Originally uploaded by takashi13.

"I wanna play with ANPAN-MAN!"

My Family

Apr. 18/05
Originally uploaded by takashi13.

This is my wife & my daughter!
Now they live in Japan. I wonder if my daughter can walk by herself. 2 months enable her to grow up quickly and healthily.

Project Report “School Shootings”

Our topic is "School Shootings". In 1999, two high school students rampaged with guns in the Columbine high school in Denver, Colorado and 25 people were killed. In addition, two attackers shot themselves in the library. After 6 years in Red Lake high school in Minnesota, the same thing has happened. A 16-year-old school killer caused 9 people to die by gun and then committed suicide. Moreover, he had created the violent film months before his rampage. There are some similarities between the two shooting rampages other than the fact that they shot themselves finally. In the former case, there is the information that the suspects had faced a bully. In the latter case, the suspect's father had committed suicide 4 years before his rampage and his mother was in the hospital. So that means, they were the weak of society and nobody could notice a sickness in their heart, so they had no ways of overcoming their problem without a gun.

I had an interview about "School Shootings" with a woman who has two children, 17 and 12 years old. She said that some kids could get the gun from their house easily and also they could buy the air gun at the shop. And she wonders if they wanted to show someone their power, or proof of ability "I can do this!", "I have the power". Furthermore, her opinion is that we have to notice their signal and understand that their mind is unbalanced. And also the most important thing is that the kids know each other and make a relationship with teachers and parents. In addition she also thinks both the family and school, parents and teachers, should have responsibility and take more care of the kids.

Reading Reaction "Cars smarter than their drivers"

This article mentions the safety device in the vehicle. Continental Teves, Inc., Auburn Hills in Michigan, has developed the automotive safety system for the purpose of decreasing the accident and injury. This system is named the active passive-integration approach (APIA). This APIA system has many sensors and control module to perceive the information surrounding the cars such as speed, direction and distance between the two cars. If the car in front brakes and distance between the cars are shortened, this system makes it possible to add pressure in the brake system and also to fasten the seat-belt and to close the whole windows so that the drivers can escape from the danger of an accident. Furthermore, the author participated in the test of this system as a part of a group of automotive journalists in Germany. In this test, several cases and situation were considered. However, the action against an accident risk still depends on the driver.

Recently the technologies have being improved in many fields and especially the safety systems are considered in many industries. Surely this kind of development is valuable and meaningful for our society if it causes to decrease the car accident and injuries. And also if this system is utilized for elder person with slow to respond or handicapped person during their drive, everyone can drive a car without anxiety.
However, I also think that a number of drivers who possess the car equipped this safety system might get to drive carelessly. Furthermore, this safety system might prevent the drivers from paying attention to their surround as well as it prevents car accident. Therefore, it may be that the number of car accident could not decrease.
Nevertheless, I would like to mount this kind of system to my car because I drive with my family. In Hiroshima, Japan, some road is narrow and lots of cars run very close each other unlike the US. In addition, I get caught in a traffic jam very often. Therefore, there is a possibility of car accident even though I drive a car very carefully since another careless drivers also drive their car. I consider that the primal thing is not to rely on the safety system but to interpret the function and master it.

Interview on Campus

I had an interview about "School Shootings" with a woman who has two children, 17 and 12 years old. She said that some kids could get the gun from their house easily and also they could buy the air gun at the shop. And she wonders they wanted to show someone their power, or proof of ability "I can do this!".
Furthermore, her opinion is that a huge school should worry about this issue more than small school because in the small high school, the students know very well each other. In addition she also thinks both of the family and school, parents and teachers, should have responsibility to the kids.

Nonverbal Communication: Japan And the US

We always use a lot of nonverbal language for the purpose of assisting our communication. Nonverbal communication is gestures, for example moving the hands, or expression in the face. Some gestures have almost the same meanings in different countries; on the other hand, there are also many differences in the same movement between the countries. In this essay, I would like to introduce a comparison and contrast of the nonverbal behavior between Japan and the US.

First, concerning gestures, there are some similar points between these countries. For example, people express “I got it” or “That’s great” with their thumb up. And also, when people say hello or good-bye to friends, they raise their hand and show their palm. On the other hand, we can see the different meaning of the sign “OK” by making the circle with thumb and index finger. Sometime Japanese will recognize that this circle to mean money. Moreover, the direction of the palm is totally opposite between the countries when people call someone over.

Next, facial communication has also some similarities and differences. No matter what their nation of people's are, almost all facial movement such as joy, anger, sadness and happiness or fear are alike. However, due to cultural background, many Americans are willing to smile and show their teeth even in the formal pictures, some Japanese tend to smile with their mouth closed. Some older Japanese consider to laugh with their mouth wide open as disgraceful.

Finally, the aspect of eye contact between Japan and the US could be almost same. If people know each other a lot or they are attracted to each other, they try to look at their eyes while talking. Furthermore, when people feel guilty or something, they tend to turn their eyes away.

In conclusion, there are some differences in manual gestures between Japan and the US, but we use almost the same facial expression in communication. In addition, our view of eye contact is almost similar to each other. Japan is one of the most influenced countries regarding American culture, so we have many opportunities to be exposed to their gestures in Japan. Therefore, the differences of gestures between Japan and the US might be decreasing.

Article: "School killer made a violent film"

This article describes that the high school student who shot at Red Lake and committed suicide had created a violent animated film before his rampage. And also this article said that this teenager was in peculiar circumstance. His father died four years ago and his mother is in a nursing home in Minneapolis because of brain damaged in a car accident.
If someone could support his life like his parents or notice his mental health, this tragedy might not occur.

Takashi

Sports Drinks: Who Needs Them?

This article is about the sports drinks. We have too much choice of neon-colored sports drinks and Americans spent over $5.4 billion on last year.
In this article, there are two different opinions. One is that sports drinks have little value to the average user. And the other is that sports drinks are healthy and safe, and have fewer calories than sodas and skim milks.
Do we need sports drinks or not?

Takashi

Reading Reaction "Electric Racer"

This article describes that some teenagers, a group of Philadelphia students, could convert the gas-powered vehicle into the electric-powered vehicle (EV) for the contest. They also have made a completely EV by changing a gasoline engine to an electric motor before. Concerning the gas-powered vehicle, the explosive combustion inside the cylinders creates the motion needed to revolve the wheels. On the other hand, an EV can run by the energy provided by batteries. Furthermore, EVs do not create pollution such as smog which is produced by gasoline engines. And also, it is easier to maintain the EVs than the gas-powered ones. However, the EVs have some drawbacks. Whereas it takes within a minute to fill the tank of the gas-powered vehicles, recharging the batteries for the EVs takes six hours. Moreover, the ordinary car can run several hundred kilometers until the tank get empty. In contrast, the EVs can run at most 160 kilometers with one recharging. However, the technology of the EVs needs to improve for our future, and also studying these EVs can give profits to students.

This article makes me surprised very much because the teenagers could create the completely EVs. At the same time, I also feel envious the circumstances of American students. In Japan, most high-school students have no chance to build the car. If the students can experience the practical work and training besides the cars in their early age at the school, more students can perceive the necessity of the sciences, math, physics and technologies.
Nowadays, we can hear that there are many problems of pollution against our life and the earth. And also I know the EVs and other eco-car(ecologically friendly car) have been made progress. In the other hand, some people including me prefer the exhaust noise of the gasoline engine and vibration of the gas-powered vehicles. Therefore, I do not think the gasoline engine will disappear from our society in the near future. Furthermore, the internal combustion engines have also been improved as much as eco-car in many country such as LEV(low-emission vehicle). In addition, harmful gas, such as COX, are created in making the electricity for the EVs at the thermal power plants. I think what is important is that considering how much convenience we are able to sacrifice to the earth.

Reading Reaction "Materials Engineering"

This article is about the materials that could replace the metal or alloy which already exist and are used in our life. Author took the parts of engine in dirt-track vehicles for instance. A carburetor serves as converting the fuel into air-fuel mixture and feeds this mixture into the cylinders and also, equips with pickup tubes made from PPA. Some companies are planning to use the plastic parts in the engine such as this pickup tubes instead of aluminum by reason of lowering the cost. However, severe heat-to-cool cycles of the parts in the dirt-track competitions causes to transform the pickup tubes. Therefore, the companies are trying to develop the materials which are capable of enduring the harsh heat cycles. On the other hand, in the cardboard packaging industry, a Germany’s company supplies a different kind of cardboard packaging from previous one. This new type of packaging is capable of strong moisture-barrier without a plastic-film wrapper so that it would have least impact in our ecology and lower in cost.

Lately there are lots of plastic products in our every day life for reason of lightening the parts and lowering the cost and ease of manufacturing. As everyone knows, the plastic products are useful for our life so that these products seem to be increasing in the future. However, these products also have some problems. For example, tiny organism cannot resolve the plastic garbage and also burning the plastic products causes dioxin contamination. These are significant problem for our life.
The Japan Steel Works, Ltd. for which I work manufactures the Injection Molding Machines and also, I belong to the molding machinery design group. This machines produce the plastic products and is operated in many country and in many field. Therefore, this plastic materials are related to my work. And also, our company has the division which researches the biodegradable plastic materials in the laboratory. Of course, my work is not to improve the plastic materials but to design and develop the machines. However, we have to consider the influence of this plastic materials on our environment.

Sony aims to beam sights, sounds into brain

This article describes the technique will enable us to smell, taste, and touch in video game as virtual reality. Sony Corp. has obtained this patent. In addition, this technology helps person who are blind or deaf see a view or hear sounds without medicines.
In my opinion, I wonder if blind or deaf person can get satisfied in virtual reality even though this technology is safe to the human body. And I also think this technology might be too much for us if it is used in video game.

Takashi

Dancing Away Obesity

This article describes using the video game "Dance Dance Revolution" as losing weight for kids. West Virginia's public employees insurance group started this study and they believe this is an effective instrument for better health and lower costs. In U.S., the obesity is one of the most crucial matter and only in West Virginia, more than 25 percent of the nearly 6,000 children are obese.

I think the video game is just a game. If we want to lose weight, we have to exercise or diet continuously. What do you think of this?

Takashi

BBQ Party & Basketball Game

On Saturday April 9, I had a BBQ party in Ambassador Hall dormitory with my classmates, Sam, Young and Rachel, Kazuko, Joyce and Clerk. We started to light the fire around 4 PM, but it was hard for us to burn the fuel well. Finally we could eat the meat almost at 6 PM. We ate much meat and drunk beer and had fun very much, although we had trouble in making fire. And also, we played basketball on the court and there Clerk and Young, Joyce were good basketball player. We drunk beer and ate food too much so that we couldn't move quickly and got tired in a moment. However, we laughed with each other and enjoyed. I also could have fun and experience great time. Thank you guys! Let's have fun again!

Oh! It's so beautiful

Originally uploaded by takashi13.

We looked around the Japanese plum tree in Okayama! This is the Japanese traditional garden called Korakuen. This is also histrical landmark and chosen one of the 3 most beautiful spot in japan. Now I live in Hiroshima but I was born in Okayama and I spent lots of time here. So, I love this place and I'm glad my daughter gets to like here!

Reading Reaction "Rare is Getting Rarer"

This article describes the excitement of restoring the vintage motorcycles and automobiles. Many people have much interested in restoring classic vehicles as well as operating them. In addition, visiting swap meets for finding the rare parts in perfect condition is also their fun. They would be able to share their enthusiasms among fellows there. Nowadays, these parts for vintage vehicles seem to be decreasing so that some people may spend much time and money. And also to deal with a pile of old iron and sheet metal needs a patience. However, this hard work can bring more satisfaction than quick easy work by catalog.

When I was University student, I had a motorcycle, Kawasaki ZRX-2. My motorcycle is not vintage vehicle but current model. I also have interested in building up my motorcycle although I was not familiar with the detail of the machine. Some of my friends understood much about the motorcycle, therefore I had them assist my remodeling the bike, for example silencer and spark plug and so on.
As author said, some restoring of the vehicles need much time and money and especially patience. However, the ecstasy and joy and delight achieved by restoration are valuable and beyond price. In addition, restoring the vehicle is occasionally more interesting than handling the ones. Someday, I would like to obtain my own motorcycle and enjoy handling the vehicle again if my wife allows me to do.

The Best School Memory

When I imagine my school life, the memory of high-school is coming up. What remains in my mind is having played soccer on my high-school team. Of course, I studied well in classes, but for most teenagers, studying is a boring and a tiring subjects.I joined the high-school soccer team and practiced soccer after class almost every day. Although the practice and the training were so hard and also I didn't become the starting eleven, regular player, I had a lot of fun with my teammates. I spent the most time with them, after the practice, weekends, and holidays. Therefore, I have never met friends better than them. And now we still spend some time talking about those days.

Takashi

Reading Reaction "Designing Monster Machine"

This article represents the use of the technologies in designing the industrial machinery. In recent years the engineers have to design the complex, and massive machines in very short term. For the purpose of making the engineers in designing these machines easier, a computer-aided technologies are used and also improved. This designing tools are changed from wireframe to solid modeling because of a lot of efforts. It is easy for the engineers to check whether the assembly model can move without interfering each parts by 3D CAD. And also in many industries, the computer-aided technologies are used in a finite-element analysis and this analysis can shorten the designing time. In addition, the engineers don’t have to examine the machines minutely after manufacturing the test machines.

I work for Japan Steel Works, Ltd. and everyday design the industrial machinery by computer-aided design tools. And also I often analyze by finite-element method, FEM., in designing machines. Nowadays we need to manufacture the machine in very short time and the market will get to demand the quick delivery of our machines furthermore. Therefore it is most important that how we engineers can shorten the time in designing.
As this article said, using the solid modeling tools, 3D, can enable us to design the machines quickly and with accuracy. And our design division are in the process of applying the 3D computer-aided design system (CAD) from 2D CAD system. However, before designing the machines by 3D CAD system, we have to determine many things. For example, we need the many rules for designing by this tool. And also the cost of the computer technologies may increase. Therefore, we need much time for preparation. But I believe this preparation and advanced computer technologies can help us manufacture the outstanding machines.

Test blog

I check my blog in student center.