Japan's oceans very rich, holding 14.6 percent of known sea species

A "murasakikamurikurage," a type of jellyfish unique to Japanese waters,

in the waters east of Izu Oshima. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTC)

The number of species identified in the waters off Japan has been measured at 33,629, 14.6 percent of the 230,000 ocean-dwelling species identified around the world. Japan's waters were found to be a treasure trove of marine species. It holding a greater variety than the ocean waters of any other nation in the world. Especially snails (7,013 species), fishes (3,770 species), and crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs (2,501 species) were abundant , star sand (383 species), cnidarians such as jellyfish and sea anemones (350 species). In addition , over 200 unidentified species were found. The researchers speculated that if research continues, over 120,000 new species will be discovered in Japanese waters.

(http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news)

This was a very excited news for me . It has a vary of species of aquamarine in the sea and many strange type of species. In Thailand , it also has an aquamarine in south seas.For example, at Andaman sea has a big colurful and beautiful corals , many of species of fishes such as clown fish , jelly fish , electric and ect.

‘Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea’ brings in 15 billion yen during opening weekend

Legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki’s latest movie, “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” sold an estimated 1.5 billion yen ($13.9 million) worth of tickets during its three-days opening weekend in Japan last week.

The movie failed to top the box office record of Miyazaki’s 7 year old Academy Award winning film “Spirited Away” but came closer to his production company Studio Ghibli’s previous movie, “Tales from Earthsea”, directed by his son Goro Miyazaki.

“Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” is the story about 5-year-old Sousuke and his sudden meeting with half-goldfish, half-human girl Ponyo by the shore of a quiet seaside town. The two meet after Ponyo has escaped from her mysterious father’s underwater tower in a dazzling intro scene where she rides on the back of a giant jellyfish. Ponyo immediately falls in love with Sousuke and decides she wants to become a human, a decision that ends up bringing unexpected consequences to the sleepy town.

(japannewsreview.com)

"According to paragraph above , it seems like to be a very good cartoon movie . The character was very interesting , the scenes at under water will be beautiful . I will wait for this cartoon animation .I think it will be a great film of the year. Have you ever seen "Spirit away" it was a very beautiful animation I have ever seen before.It's story was very good."

46,000 fans rock Tohoshinki concert in Japan

Three of the five members of boy band Tohoshinki (aka TVXQ) held their debut concert in Japan on June 5, signaling the start of their own activities as a new group. Some 46,000 fans filled the Kyocera Dome in Osaka to watch the "Thanksgiving Live in Dome" concert of Xiah Junsu, Micky Yoochun and Youngwoong Jaejoong, the three members who decided to form their own unit in view of the ongoing court case with SM Entertainment agency.

This was a very bad news for TVXQ fan clubs in many country and expecially in Thailand,most of teenagers in Thailand are Tohosinki's fan clubs.

I have heard from my friends who were Tohoshinki fan clubs that they were very sad about this news.

The Toyota's Bus-Train

A dual mode road/rail vehicle is being tested in Japan by Toyota and its truck-manufacturing division Hino Motors. The bus bridges the contract between road and rail with 4 rubber tires for road use and 4 steel wheels for riding on rails. It can hold 25 passengers and is based on the Toyota Microbus. The bus has been in service in Japan for the past 18 months, and there are plans to produce a newer version by June of 2008. Hino spokesperson Kenichiro Baba has stated that the bus “is expected to be another step toward more practical use of the dual mode vehicle.” This could be the mass transit vehicle of the future for Japanese commuters.

(http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/toyota-bus-train/)

I think it was very good idea because this bus can also drive on road and rail. But it was too small I think if there would have this bus in the future , they would develop it to be bigger and it could contain more passengers. In thailand , there are many bus that service .It has many number according to the way that they run , for example the bus number 140 run to victory monuments.It always full of people in the bus every morning and every evening.And most of the bus in Thailand use oil fuel energy, it makes air pollution and can cause disease to the people.

Japan's big four car makers issue over 100000 recalls

Nissan's cube

Toyota , Honda and Nissan motor will recall their cars because of the problem with the airbag inflator in the passenger seat that causes shards to fly out when the air bag opens , and the faulty seat belts that fail to buckle up.The recalls affect cars that built in 2000-2001 including Toyota's popular Corolla, Honda's Fit and Nissan's cube.

Japanese carmakers have been hit by a string of safety recalls this year, the most glaring being Toyota, which was forced to pull nearly 10 million vehicles worldwide and blamed for more than 80 deaths in the United States.

In Thailand , it also has Toyota Corolla , Honda Fit and Nissan Cube but

there have no problem with this type of car . And in different way , in Thailand it was very popular.You can see on the road many new cars are Toyota Corolla ,Honda or Nissan Cube.In United States , I think they have a very bad luck about having a big problem with their car .Not only the customers but also the car makers.The car makers lost their money and their prestige.The customers lost their money and someone lost their life.

Japanese Educational Reform

After World War II, the present Japanese school system was established. Currently in Japan children must attend 9 years of compulsory education from the ages of 6 to 15. As of 1997, nearly 96.8 percent of junior high students went on to high school and 47.4 percent of high school students went on to colleges or universities.

Japanese education has a centralized uniform program. It places a heavy importance on the school students attend .Therefore,these is high competition to attend famous school. As a result , most young students attend juku (cram school) in the afternoons, evenings, and holiday to prepare for the entrance exams.

But it has seen some problems about this current system. The competition has caused increased levels of suicide, increased dropout rates and problem with bullying.

" I think Japanese education can be example for other country.Because it has a high percent of high school students. But they shouldn't be too serious about cram school because many students will be serious with their studies. Thay maybe feel like studing is a competion and they will not happy with thei studies. "

Educators fret fate of nation's language

Last year, more than 10,000 people spoke out against the government's apparent disregard for Japanese-language education when it submitted a bill to effectively abolish the National Institute for Japanese Language. The semigovernmental institute, established in 1948 by the government, has been researching the spoken, written and other aspects of the language as it is actually used today. It is the most authoritative research entity on the language and promotes its study by tracking modern usage and providing raw data crucial to the management of national language policy.

" I had learned the Japanese language , I think it was a very hard language for me because it has many types of alphabet such as KATAKANA. It always confuse me with HIRAGANA which was on type of Japanese alphabet. Now I know only some word but I also like it and I will study Japanese language as soon as my English" language is well."