The rice problem seems to have been sorted out, and I am impressed that a
California-rice-buying-tour is on offer. This is truly a tour operator which
Believes in a free economy.
At the end of March I came back from Australia via South Korea. On the baggage
Conveyor belt at the airport there were several 10 kg bags of rice. On the side
Was printed the word “Hungle”, so I assumed it must have been Korean rice.
In the letter I received from Japan at the beginning of March it asked me to
Bring home some rice, but I thought this was a joke .In Australia 1kg of rice costs 1.5
Australian Dollars (About 120 yen). It’s cheapand delicious . In my homestay we ate
Rice about three times a week with curry or stew.
We are living in a border-free world. The fixed idea of one country being a bread- eating country and another being a rice-eating one doesn’t seem to hold true. Even
In Japan we are eating considerably more bread, and in Australia they often eat rice
Now.Cheap,quality goods are getting through. This is the main principle of a free
Society. Written by Yosiharu Idemitu
(これは、第1弾に和文あり。)
1994年4月28日掲載 生徒と共に教師もハッスル
(Teacher hustle with Students)
I am glad that I understand the benefits of teaching. Since April, four or five of the students at my school have come up to me after class to ask some questions. Each time
It’s a different face. During the class, they have listened well to what I have said. In the classes after lunch, when they are tired , they stand and ask me to let them keep standing as they are sleepy.
Recently, one student has been giving a self-introduction every class, and they have been doing it wonderfully. When I ask them to go to the front (platform) and give it a go, they say that they are shy and then do a good job! In the team-teaching lesson with the foreign teacher we use a video as teaching material for English conversation.
Unless I listen to this teacher’s advice, the lesson wouldn’t be a success. Since the students ask questions to liven up the]lesson , the two of us try our best to answer them. I lead the students by listening to the television. English conversation at seven o’clock in the morning ,and the radio English programme at seven in the evening.
Being forced to study with the students I have the most wonderful surroundings that a teacher could hope for. Written by Yosiharu Idemitu
(これは、第1弾に掲載済み)
1994年4月28日掲載 市街化調整区域の見直しを
Rethinking Urbanization Control Zones
When I wanted to buy a piece of land ,I asked my neighbors and was told that because it was an urbanization control zone, the common people couldn’t buy it . Even though it’s quiet, full of greenery and comfortable to live in, I am hindered by the law.
For what reason do we have this weird line drawn between those areas which can be urbanized and those that can’t ? Was it not the large real estate agents (house and land construction business) who made use of this very line to buy the land cheaply and then sell it at a high price ? Did not the authorities ,in partnership with the real estate agents, steal the]greenery ?
Does this system, which prevents individuals from buying farmland, not rob us of our constitutional right to freedom of work, freedom of job-change,and freedom of movement ? Just a small piece of land. Just a house in the country. I feel as if the doors have been closed on these wishes.
In spite of having to study as a middle student for exams, whenever I had time, I frequently absorbed myself in computer games.To be honest, they were fun!
At present, I live in the school dormitory. Strange though it may seem, computer games mean nothing to me now. On the contrary, I have even questioned what advantages there are to them.
The weakening of one’s eyesight, the waste of money, the cause of irritation and so on. While appearing to be having fun, we are actually being robbed of many things by these games. It almost seems as if humans are being controlled by them.
Having been isolated from computer games,it seems as if I can now see a different world. What’s more , now realizing the reason why my parents told me to refrain from playing them, I am suddenly saddened.
This is the reason why I will live without computer games from now on. I believe that this experience has given me an excellent opportunity to reconsider my life.
Taking lessons in a room with no air-con was hell. I was always tired; real heat exhaustion. I fought the weariness with healthy vitamin drinks, but it never lasted long. Meat and eels are the best thing to combat the fierce heat, but in my school we all live in a dormitory, so one can’t wish for such things.
However recently I’ve discovered another method- sport. As I work hard at practice with the volleyball club, my mind and body gradually improves. When all is said and done, I now realize that heat exhaustion is something that one can solve, if you just face it head on. Although my confidence to overcome this summer through sports was boiling over ,still, I secretly hope that one day we can see fatty, delicious eel and succulent meat on the menu in our dormitory.
The other day I found a terrapin in a river. My town in the countryside, so I was surprised to come across a terrapin in a river where construction work is being done.
Recently an amazing number of development projects are being carried out even in small cities, towns, and villages. Even in my town we are faced with problems such as river construction work and the building of a golf course.
Without doubt these projects are a great help to the public in preventing disasters and improving the employment situation. However, when they are related to the destruction of the environment ,it’s a different matter.
Recently we often hear about the destruction of the environment on a global scale.
This is a problem that we have all played a part in, in such things as throwing away rubbish, and driving in our cars which emit carbon dioxides.
Humans have no justifiable right to destroy the environment. Yet, having gone this far, we are now left with the problem of what we can do from now on to prevent further damage.
Various counter measures are in operation, such as the reduction in the use of CFCs, paper recycling and the collection of cans. I feel that an important way in which to protect our natural surroundings is for each one of us to take care of the environment in our daily lives. Writteen by H.N.
The other day I went swimming in the sea for the first time in ages with six friends. As it was a Sunday there were lots of people there and so we couldn’t swim so well, but we were able to reconfirm the greatness of life.
It was just one squid. We had never seen a real live squid before, so half in fun we cornered it on the seashore ,and succeeded in killing it. The squid made a vain attempt to resist by squirting its ink, but we were absorbed in our game. Then….we heard the cries of children around us repeating “Poor thing !.” I suddenly came to. Although the squid was desperately fighting for its life, we continued our meaningless fun,and finally killed it.
It was just one squid. The gentle hearts of those children .From this we high school students felt as if we had discovered the meaning of life, and had been touched by its greatness.
Written by H.N.
1994年8月20日掲載 早起きの得、三文以上
The Early Bird Catches more than the Worm !
The intense heat every day of the summer holidays created many problems, but always made sure to get up early. If I were lazy during this time, it would make things hard for me in the dormitory in the second school term.
To tell the truth,during my time as a middle school student I usually got up around eight o’clock,and so I am not very good at getting up early now. But as they say, the early bird catches the worm. The freshness of those early mornings is something unique. On those days I feel that all is well. On the other hand, when I sleep in, my body is tired and I don’t feel like doing sports or anything.
It’s not easy to get through this hot summer, but if you get up early every day, it makes it a bit more pleasant. In addition, in order to get my body strength back, I’d like to add jogging to my daily routine, as well as getting up early.
Dear Mr. Osugi, I’ve been listening to NHK’s English Radio programme ever since I became a high school student. In our school we all live in a dormitory. About three hundred of us, including the third year of junior high school, listen together to the broadcast which our teacher has recorded on tape beforehand. The way in which we study English in my school is different from other schools. Every day, after having memorized the English conversation of the radio and a page of idioms, we goto school and are given a test of ten questions about it. If we achieve less than 75% , we have to make up the shortfall in the additional test.
Around April or May, it used to take me about an hour to remember the day’s conversation, but since having got used to English from listening to the broadcast, I am now able to learn it all during the broadcast. The one thing that does make me sad is that I cannot hear “Music on Parade”, the Saturday broadcast.
At this time we all have to study, so I can’t listen to it. “Music on Parade” is often featured in “Voices Corner” too, and seems to be somewhat interesting. I think I will record it myself next time, and listen to it that way.
Finally, looking at the country as a whole, I think that the reason why English grades in our school are so good is due to the fact that all the students here have to listen to the Radio English conversation. Many thanks. So, everyone, take care and do your best !
P.S.Mr. Osugi, your cheap jokes are rich! Whenever you crack a joke, the study room is filled with pleasure, causing much concern for the dormitory teachers too ! Please keep the cheap jokes coming !
Written by H.N.
【Mr. Osugi’s Comment 】
I am happy to hear that all the students at your school listen to the programme. What a wonderful school ! (I bow towards Saga.)
To the dormitory teachers, I have one thing to say: my jokes will return ! I am sorry for the trouble these will cause.