Explore Tokyo's waterways

Tokyo’s waterways have some tours designed to show how our life is connected to the rivers. An NPO called Enjoy Eco School operates group tours, using specially designed exhaust-free electric boats to cause minimal impact to the environment.

Different tours explore the Kanda-Nihonbashi, Onagi River and Tennozu areas on half- and full-day trips that offer glimpses of turtles, wild birds and other aquatic animals that inhabit the area. You can also learn about the boats that ply the rivers collecting garbage. Part of the cost goes toward supporting the organization’s monthly riverside cleanup gatherings. English tour guides are available on request

We can observe from the news that Japan has a wonderful environment. I think it is because Japanese always campaign to protect the abundance of the environment. I am the one who like to live in a pure surrounding. It is good to protect a nature that we live with. In my opinion, Thailand do not have a strict law about destroying an environment, so some places are not delightful as expected.

Gov't to set up a team for young people

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/govt-to-set-up-special-team-for-job-creation-for-young-people

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Saturday he plans to set up a special team to help promote job creation for young people including students graduating from university amid a severe employment situation. The special team will be headed by Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Manabu Terata, who serves as an aide to Kan, the prime minister told reporters in Kyoto. Kan made the remarks after visiting employment-related facilities in Kyoto as part of efforts to grasp the job situation for young people. The team is expected to compile short-term job creation measures as well as medium- and long-term employment support plans, as new graduates are facing difficulties in finding employment opportunities, government officials said. Kan also said he will accelerate work to compile fresh economic stimulus measures from next week. ‘‘I will put together various opinions from the beginning of next week and I want to move on to a stage to compile economic measures,’’ Kan said. The government has started preparations for its new round of emergency steps to address slowing economic growth and the yen’s recent surge in the currency market. In Kyoto, Kan visited the Kyoto Job Park, a job placement support organization which is operated by the Kyoto prefectural government in cooperation with the business community and ‘‘Hello Work’’ public job-placement offices, as well as a career support center of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies

The news told us that the government of Japan wants to support teenagers who graduated by giving them jobs. They will have an experience and improve their skills. They think this may develop an economy. I think this is a good idea because teenagers has fresh energy and new creative thinking. If they cooperate with adults who has more experience, they will produce a perfect work and upgrade the quality of the work. In my opinion, this idea can adjust to Thailand.

Panasonic to quintuple TV panel production capacity in China

OSAKA —

Panasonic Corp will boost its plasma TV panel production capacity at its factory in Shanghai, China by about five times in fiscal 2012 to meet the voracious demands of Chinese consumers for TVs. Company sources said the Shanghai plant’s output capacity will be raised to the equivalent of 120,000 42-inch panels a month by March 2013 from 25,000 at present.

Strengthening local production will reduce transportation costs and currency exchange risks because the electronics maker exports products from Japan when its Shanghai plant, which began output in 2002, falls short of supply. The Shanghai plant is one of the two plasma panel production bases for Panasonic. The other plant is located in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.

We can observe from the news that Japan is a leader of technology world. Many new technologies are created at Japan such as televisions. The information of the news told us that televisions are the extremely popular media. Nowadays, people all over the world has at least one television per house, so I think Shanghai has a good idea to cooperate with a big company like Panasonic. I feel impressed with Japan too because they try to cooperate with China which is a big country. In the future, Japan may be a lead country together with China.

China may allow Japanese travel agents to handle Chinese tourists

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/china-may-allow-japan-travel-agents-to-handle-chinese-tourists

HANGZHOU —

Chinese National Tourism Administration Chairman Shao Qiwei hinted Saturday that China may allow Japanese travel agencies to sell services to Chinese tourists heading for Japanese destinations. ‘‘We are now preparing to revise (relevant) laws,’’ Shao was quoted as saying in a meeting with Japanese Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara, now on a four-day Chinese visit, according to Japanese officials accompanying Maehara. Maehara later told Japanese reporters, ‘‘Japanese companies would be able to offer a wide range of travel plans to Chinese people who travel to Japan repeatedly, as they have explored tourism routes most extensively.’’

In my opinion, tourism is a main part that effects to economy. If China allow Japan to sell services to Chinese tourists, Japan tourism will spread more well-known because China is the very enormous country and has a strong influence to control other countries. I think we should improve our tourism to spread worldwide because Thailand has many interesting tourist attractions and festivals too.

Kanda River

http://www.japantoday.com/category/travel/view/kanda-river-hop-on-a-bicycle-and-head-upstream

Many people do not know that there are a nice relaxing river in the capital city like Tokyo. Kanda River is a wonderful attraction that many people can enjoy by taking a bicycle along the Kanda River, which runs for nearly 25 kilometers from Kichijoji’s Inokashira Park. There is a beautiful landscaped garden from the early 17th century which has many trees. If you ride a bicycle along the river, you will see a 1000 years old temple and a museum. I think many people can feel relaxed in this place. In Thailand, the place like Kanda River is not appear much in a capital city, so this is a new thing for me. In my opinion, Kanda River is a very great place to visit in Japan.

Japanese Cosplay

http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/italian-pair-selected-as-world-cosplay-champion

'Cosplay' is quiet famous to many people. It is a festival that people dress as a cartoon character that they like. It is a community for some people. The link above said that Italian will produce a contest for searching the best costume and give a big prize. I can observe from the news that there are many countries in different continent interested in Asia's festival. Cosplay is also popular in Thailand and other countries in Europe. This show us that Japan culture is spread all over the world. I think if Thai people support our festivals and our cultures more, it can be a development for tourism in our country that effect to an economy.

2 Japanese films nominated for Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion

ROME —

Two Japanese movies have been nominated for the 67th Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion award, organizers of the festival beginning Sept. 1 said Thursday.

One is “Norwegian Wood” directed by Vietnamese-born French director Tran Anh Hung, based on Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami’s bestseller of the same title. The other is “Ju-san nin no shikaku” (13 Assassins) directed by Japanese director Takashi Miike.

I think a movie industry in Asia has a very enormous development. I am the one who want to learn about film, so I feel excited to know this news. In my opinion, these two movies have a different style. Norwegian Wood is the romantic movie that has many beautiful scenes. I think the director want to show us a wonderful scenes and a impressive story in a same time. 13 Assassins is a former times movie. You can see that the movie show you many culture of Japan such as, hairstyle, clothes and daily life. I think it is a great movie that everyone should see.

I put links here, so you can watch them.

Norwegian Wood

13 Assassins