When you’re a kid you don’t think about being a kid—you’re just a kid. It’s not until you get older that you become a little more aware, and maybe the “kid stuff” turns into “older kid stuff” or “teenage stuff” or, worst of all, “adult stuff.” With my kids, I’m reminded daily of the “kid stuff” and how I need to be more patient in understanding where they’re at. It becomes harder to do that when so much time has passed since I was their age.

 

Why share this at a university that is filled with students who don’t have kids? Because it is easy to forget where we came from. At this time, my kids couldn’t even get out of their bedroom if my wife and I didn’t pick them up and take them out. We do not remember life from that time, but that is what happens when we grow up: we forget how much we’ve grown.

 

I know that my kids will not remember much from this time. They may not remember the “what” from this time in their life but the “how.” Their impression of me and their mom will be made clearer, and, later, their feelings about the outside world will also be shaped. Will they be excited or fearful about the real world? A lot of that starts from the time when “the real world” for them is the play area in our home and getting a chance to see the other rooms from their height (or when we go on errands with them strapped to our chests). We can help shape those feelings up to a point, but it’s better for them to determine it for themselves.

        

Life can be like that. You are left to wonder how something is a certain way, but you cannot be given the answer to everything. You have to find things out for yourself. Maybe you are ready for that, or maybe you just want to be told what to do. Regardless of how you feel about stepping out into the unknown, it may help to think back on where you started out and how far you’ve already come. A few more baby steps are fine—just keep moving forward.

 

 

Photo Credit: Kateryna Babaieva @pexels.com

 

 

Blog Quiz

Q1. Why should we remember how we were when we were young?

Q2. What is something the author's kids cannot do on their own?

Q3. How can life be difficult when we get older?

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz Answers

Q1. To remember how much we've grown

Q2. Getting out of their bedroom

Q3. We have to find answers on our own.

How do you feel when you hear the word "poison"? You will probably feel scared, or you might remember scenes from some detective movies or TV programs. Obviously, the term does not have any positive connotations.

 

Despite the impression we receive from the word, poison sometimes plays an essential role in our lives. For example, professor Funayama at Nihon Pharmaceutical University explains that there is basically no distinction between "poison" and "medicine". According to him, we distinguish the words only by whether the element is beneficial to the human body. We call it “poison” when it does harm to our bodies. Medicine, on the other hand, does good for our bodies. Both have in common that they have a particular influence on our bodies. We, in a sense, live with poison.

 

A lot of creatures live with the poison as well. For example, some animals risk their mobility to eat poison, and others intake it to protect themselves from predators. You often see sleeping koalas when you visit a zoo. They often spend their days sleeping most of the time. This is because they cannot survive without eating eucalyptus leaves, a plant which is poisonous to their body. They sleep to digest the harmful substances in the leaves.

 

Some frogs and snakes intake poison from their food and utilize it to protect themselves. Toads, for example, have a potent poison called bufotoxin in their body. Dogs and cats sometimes, unfortunately, lose their lives when they eat the frog while they are taking a walk. The tiger keelback, yamakagashi in Japanese, are bold enough to eat the poisonous toads, and they use the toad-derived poison as a weapon against their predators. Poison dart frogs, toxic frogs, save poison in their body using the same method. Wild poison dart frogs eat some ants and millipedes (yasude in Japanese) with poison and keep the poison in their skins. Interestingly, captive-bred poison frogs lose their toxicity because they don't have the chance to capture such food.

 

"Poison" might sound scary, but the substance with the label can be a blessing to animals, including us. It will be interesting to see how other creatures make use of poison.

 

 

Photo Credit: Doug Brown@pexels.com

 

 

Blog Quiz

Q1. According to professor Funayama, how are poison and medicine different?

Q2. What can happen when dogs eat a toad?

Q3. What do tiger keelbacks and wild poison dart frogs have in common?

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz Answers

Q1. A substance is called poison when it has a negative influence on the human body. Medicine refers to a substance with a positive effect on the human body.

Q2. It can lead to a deadly accident for the pet.

Q3. They both capture poisonous creatures and save the poison in their body.

During Spring 2022 of this year, I saw off a large batch of students, both Japanese and International at Ritsumeikan University’s Graduation Ceremony. It is indeed amazing to witness the growth of students during their time in what I call the “World of Ritsumeikan.” Seeing them so full of life, energy, and great anticipation motivated me to do what I love to do – dedicate a poem filled with all of my thoughts.

 

To those who I saw on graduation day March 20, 2022 and those who I did not get a chance to see and congratulate, I am sending a poem filled with much Love and Pride for you. Thank you for allowing me to witness your growth during your four years. I am so very proud. Good Luck and please keep in touch.

 

Owning Your Best

 

Glittering eyes

Shy side-smiles

Energetic cheerfulness

Nervous anticipation

Desire to do well

Dreaming to achieve

Sigh of relief, the rushed passing of the first year

Shoulders broaden with a bit more confidence

That wasn’t so bad, what’s next

Ears open to growing new knowledge

Formulating own thoughts, trying out new verbal

Testing uncertain shallow waters

Can I do it, can I make it, the waves may be a bit high

Paddling the mid-line, groping in the subliminal

Say goodbye to the growing pains of the terrible twos

A junior already, feeling quite grown-up

Got to make plans

Intern here, intern there

What’s the plan, gotta get concrete

Not a minute to waste

A glimmer of light, a glimpse flickering at the end of the tunnel

Three times a charm

It went by so fast

Giddy greetings of let’s keep in touch

Humble thank you to all those who mattered

A flash, a click, a heartfelt smile for the camera

The final day, unbelievable, but it’s here

A sigh of relief, tinged with a sweet sadness

Descended a small hill

A new peak awaits

Strengthened with knowledge

Assured with the certainty of experience

 

I watched you grow from that first hello

Up, down, up again

Becoming You of Now that I behold

I gaze as you slowly turn towards the invitation

Called to challenge by the beaming light

Beckoning the You that I witnessed grow

A future all your own

My heart beats with quiet pride

With a tinge of warm nostalgia

I send you off, with great expectations, to a very lucky future

Whispering a prayer for the Best that You will own

 

 

Photo Credit: Tara Winstead @pexels.com

 

 

Blog Quiz

Q1. Who is the poem written for?

 

Q2. How many years does the poem reflect upon?

 

Q3. What does "Owning Your Best" mean?

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz Answers

Q1. Graduating students of Spring 2022.

Q2. 4 years

Q3. Having pride in one's ability and taking ownership of all given talents

Don’t you naturally wear a mask when you go outside today? Don’t you even feel insecure sometimes when you go outside without a mask? In both 2021 and 2022, more than 85 % of Japanese people wore masks in public. On the other hand, in the U.S., 69% of American people wore masks in public in April of 2021; however, the percentage decreased to less than 45% in March of 2022. In Sweden, 43% of Swedish people wore masks in public in April of 2021, but only 12 % of them wore masks in April of 2022.

 

The numbers above include people who are above 18 years old. In Japan, it is recommended that even 2-year-old children wear masks. I have a daughter who is one and a half years old. It is unrealistic to put masks on children around that age. They would be full of drool, and I can’t even imagine how many times we would have to change their masks because they get too wet. Even if 2-year-old children wear masks, they share toys at nursery school, and they put everything in their mouth, they lick their hands, and they touch everything. Therefore, I feel wearing a mask would not prevent them from making close contact at that age.

 

Even for adults, wearing a mask all the time is hard; however, it is good manners to wear a mask when you are in public today. In my opinion, there are few things you have to be careful of. First, wearing masks all the time can cause oxygen deficiency. When you wear a mask, you inhale the carbon dioxide that you have exhaled, and that can lead to the lack of oxygen. It can cause headache, decrease immunity, decrease concentration, and increase anxiety and irritation. Second, wearing a mask in summer can increase the risk of heatstroke. When you wear a mask in summer, try to avoid vigorous exercise and keep in mind not to get dehydrated. Don’t forget you can take off your mask when you are two meters away from other people. It is important to wear masks to avoid getting infected, but at the same time, you should be careful when you wear a mask. I’m looking forward to the day when we do not have to wear masks, so I can see people’s smiles and their expressions.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Tuấn Kiệt Jr.@pexels.com

 

 

Blog Quiz

 

 

Q1. Which country wears masks the least?

A: Japan

B: Sweden

C: The U.S.

 

Q2. In the author’s opinion, why is it unrealistic for 2-year-old children to wear masks?

A: Because most of the masks are too big.

B: Because they do not like to wear masks.

C: Because they are usually full of drool and the masks get too wet.

 

Q3: According to the author, what are two things we have to be careful of when we wear masks?

A: Heatstroke

B: Masks getting too wet

C: Changing masks every day

D: Oxygen deficiency

E: The materials of the masks

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. C

Q3. A & D

My daughter is a super-friendly two-year-old girl. Every time she goes to the park near our house, she tries to talk to the children there. My husband and I are happy about her outgoing attitude. Some people had said that this social distancing under the Covid-19 pandemic would harm the children's ability to communicate, but her attitude seemed to drown out our concerns.

 

Her motivation is great, but there is always something wrong. Her routine at the park is like this. First, she approaches the targeted child. Then, she speaks to them. This is the strange part. She describes what the child is doing: "(He’s) playing with the ball," "(She’s) riding her bike," and so on. The children she talks to usually ignore her or give her a quick glance and resume what they were doing as if nothing had happened. If you were nearby, you would feel sorry for my little one. The problem is not only about what she says. She usually talks to older children, like primary school students. In their eyes, a two-year-old is just a baby. Babies are not good for their playmates.

 

Looking back on my own childhood, I don't remember how I made friends. Do you remember what you did? Perhaps I made friends during activities in kindergarten or when I had the opportunity to meet the children of my parents’ friends, and we played together. I never really thought much about how I made friends myself.

 

Let us look at her situation. She also goes to daycare every day. But there are few children, and she has only about 10 friends there. According to the teachers, she is having a good time with her friends there. Since parents are not allowed to enter the nursing rooms to see their children, we learn how our children are doing through the notebook we exchange with the teachers. When my friends bring their children to our home, of course she’s happy to play with them. The other day, my friends came over to see us from Nagoya with their children. Their four-year-old daughter was kind enough to take care of my daughter, and they became nice friends right away! I wish they would live around here.

 

As a parent, I want to fulfill her desire to make more friends. One option might be to send her to a larger daycare or kindergarten. Another option would be to send her to a music club or an exercise class. We’d like to take her to places where she can interact with other children. But the important thing is that when she gets a little older, she will have the skills to initiate friendships on her own. I hope she will bring her best friends to our home in the future.

 

 

Photo Credit: Anna Shvets@pexels.com

 

 

Blog Quiz

 

Q1. What is the second thing the author’s daughter does when she finds children at the park?

 

Q2. According to the daycare teacher, how is the author’s daughter doing at school?

 

Q3. How old was the author’s friends’ daughter?

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz Answers

A1. She talks to the children.

A2. She’s having a good time with her friends.

A3. Four years old.

My students in a business administration presentation class asked this question and in groups researched and presented on five companies that you may not have heard of doing interesting things. Here is a description of them.

 

One interesting company is called Caulipower, which has a range of food in which high calorie ingredients are replaced with low-calorie cauliflower. The presenter opened by asking the audience if they like eating junk food. Most of the audience raised their hands. Then she followed up by asking for a show of hands of people who think junk food is bad for them. Again, almost everyone raised their hands. However, with Caulipower, people can eat pizza, pasta, and even fried chicken made with low-calorie ingredients. The group presented some interesting charts comparing the calorie differences between Caulipower and its rivals and displayed some pictures of mouth-watering examples of tasty meals, such as Buffalo wings pizzas and cauliflower linguine. In addition, the products are gluten-free. The presenters ended with the company slogan, urging the audience to come on and “Join the Vegolution!”

 

Another delicious-sounding company was Oishii Farms, founded by a Japanese CEO and operating in the United States, which uses vertical farming to produce strawberries all year round. The strawberries are just like those that you can get in Japan, and the environment they are grown in is exactly like a perfect day in Japan and yet, the farms are in New Jersey in the United States. Furthermore, there is no need for pesticides or GMOs. The presenters made good use of satellite images to show where the farms are located and pointed out that there were opportunities within the company for those with skills in sales or engineering.

 

Innovation can also include how people live. Two companies were presented that aimed to revolutionize our lifestyles, and these were Sonder and VR Chat. Sonder is ranked as the number one most innovative travel company by the online magazine Fast Company. It is a competitor of Airbnb and has a similar booking system, but it also includes design and furnishing to guarantee quality accommodation. Finally, VR Chat takes its customers into cyberspace using virtual reality. In addition, those who work for the company have a lot of freedom by being able to work from home, play games, and work on their own projects.

 

From food to virtual reality, innovative technology, and social concerns means work opportunities will continue to change in the future. There are many more innovative companies in the world, so consider researching something fresh and interesting!

 

 

Photo Credit: Solare Flares@pexels.com

 

 

Blog Quiz

Q1. What makes Caulipower low calorie?

Q2. Where is the strawberry farm run by Oishii farms?

Q3. Which company is a big rival for Sonder?

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz Answers

A1. High calorie ingredients are substituted with cauliflower

A2. In New Jersey, USA

A3. Airbnb

The progressive rock band, Pink Floyd sang “We don’t need no education. We don’t need no thought control” and the musician, Paul Weller sang, “All I see, the more I know. The more I know, the less I understand”. What do you think these artists are saying with their words? Do they sound anti-education? And, for that matter, what is education?

 

University education, as you should be aware, is more than just learning facts to regurgitate at an end of year/term test. Education is a never ending process that should continue for life. That is what Paul Weller was saying – the more one learns, the more one realises how little one knows. This can be an intimidating thought for some people. For others, it’s an exciting thought – there’s always more to learn! That is how you should be as a university student. The root of the Latin-derived word university means the whole – everything. We should all be curious about everything and not just our own country or area of study, but the whole world. It’s big and there is a lot to learn about it.

 

I used to conduct a lesson on intelligence in which I asked the question “Who is the most and least intelligent between Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein and David Beckham?” For pretty much everyone the usual answer was to place Einstein first and the students would then often debate who was last between Monroe and Beckham. What do you think? If you said Einstein as first too, you might be wrong as it’s widely believed that Monroe had a higher Intelligence Quotient than Einstein. However, it misses the point. Neither Einstein nor Monroe could mentally calculate the necessary dynamics that made Beckham a world-class football player. Equally, neither Monroe nor Beckham could perform the physical calculations of Einstein, and the other two could not act, dance and sing in a way that made Monroe a cultural icon. There are different kinds of intelligence.

 

The key is to always have curiosity. Always ask why and never be afraid to say I don’t understand. Your teachers want this. They would rather you said “can you repeat that?” if there is something you do not understand. The mathematician, Charles Proteus Steinmetz said “There are no stupid questions and a person only becomes stupid when they stop asking questions.” So many ideas have come from that one question why…? As the American financier, Bernard Baruch, said “Millions saw the apple fall, but only Newton asked why?”

 

Education is a life pursuit. Enjoy it and never stop asking questions. Play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Einstein may have said “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”. This is true. Always learn. Always ask questions. This is the point of education. Failing that, “It’s good for an uneducated man to read books of quotations” (Winston Churchill).

 

Photo credit Pixabay@Pexels.com

 

 

Q1. Who sang “we don’t need no education”?

 

Q2. What does the word “university” mean?

 

Q3 When does education end?

 

 

 

 

Scroll down for answers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1: Pink Floyd

 

A2: The whole/everything

 

A3: Never

Every day, we are reading in the news media and experiencing the effects of climate change. Often here in Japan, this may seem unconnected with our daily lives, and it may seem like there is nothing we can really do about it. We may think that one person's actions will not make any difference. But remember, this global problem that will affect our future was caused by a lack of awareness of how our daily lifestyles were creating all the environmental problems we are now facing. Therefore, since we humans are the cause of the problem, we can also be the solution.

 

Many people may think that adapting our lifestyle to one that is more sustainable and eco-friendly means giving up things that we enjoy.  However, discovering new environmentally friendly activities can actually bring us a sense of joy and a renewed sense of hope. They can also be a gateway to meeting young people all over the world who are exchanging creative and innovative ideas.  The solutions to this issue are connected with three main parts of your daily lifestyle: what you eat, what you buy, and the energy you use. The greenhouse gases we are producing (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) come mainly from these three parts of our life and do not just lead to climate change but are also poisoning and polluting the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil from which our food comes.

 

Here are some simple suggestions that you can try, step by step, to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.1. Eat less meat and buy organic and locally produced in-season food whenever possible. 2. Think “quality” rather than “quantity” when you shop. Be prepared to pay more for something that is durable and well-made and that you can use for a long time. 3. Spend just five minutes switching your energy provider to a company that is using renewable energy to provide your electricity. There are many such small companies now in Japan and you can easily find them on the internet and decide which one is best for you.

 

Finally, remember that humans are the only species that make garbage (waste) and that often this 'waste' can be made into a resource, such as by composting your leftover food, using old clothes for rags, or to give to younger friends as presents, or reusing plastic bags as many times as you can. Remember, it is YOUR future and you are the ones who can make a difference!

 

Photo credit Markus Spiske@Pexels.com

 

 

Q1: What are the three main parts of our life that are connected to climate change?

 

Q2: What are the three main greenhouse gases our lifestyles are creating?

 

Q3: How long will it take to find a utility provider that is eco-friendly?

 

 

Scroll down for answers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1: What we eat, what we buy, the energy we use for electricity and travel.

 

 

A2:  Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide

 

 

A3: It only takes a few minutes.

Have you ever seen a toad? Toads, called "hikigaeru" in Japanese, have very interesting features. Unlike most frogs, they do not live in water, except during the breeding season. However, during the very short breeding season between February and May, after they awaken from hibernation, they congregate in watery areas and engage in breeding behavior. Japanese people call this “kawazu gassen" (frog war) because of the large number of toads riding on each other while fighting for female toads. It is said that toads have an excellent sense of smell and remember the pond where they were born, so they can go back to the same place at the same time every year for breeding. When the breeding season is over, they leave the pond and return to the mountains.

 

Their movements are so slow. You might wonder how these creatures survive from predators, but they have two strategies for survival. The first method is to secrete a strong poison on their skin when attacked by other animals. This poison is called "toad oil" (“gama no abura” in Japanese) and is sometimes used as a medicine. However, the secretion of the poison is very rare. I have two toads in my house and they have never produced it. The second method to protect themselves is mimicry. Toads in Japan are colored with a brown base with black lines and red spots. This color pattern provides excellent camouflage in mountains with dead leaves, and it is very difficult to find them hiding there.

 

In the past, most toads lived in the same habitat as humans, so they are often mentioned in stories. The toad is often represented as a symbol of ugliness, but it is also portrayed as a creature with mystical powers, appearing in Naruto and Harry Potter.

 

Toads are very interesting creatures. However, their numbers are dwindling due to the development of mountainous areas, and it may be difficult to see these creatures near your house. When they appear in your path on a hike or mountain climb, please don't tease them, but cheer them on so that they can reach their goal safely as they move slowly.

 

Photo credit: Jose Aly Hoyo@Pexels.com

 

Q1: What is "toad" in Japanese?

a.    Hikigaeru

b.    Kamakiri

c.    Kaeru

Q2: How can toads go back to the pond where they were born every year?

a.    They are smart

b.    They go back to the pond by tracking the smell of the place.

c.    They know the mountains well

Q3: Where do toads usually live?

a.    In the city

b.    On paths near the river

c.    In the mountainous area

 

 

Scroll down for answers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1: hikigaeru

 

A2: They go back to the pond by tracking the smell of the place.

 

A3: They live in mountainous areas.

 

 

I hate applying for jobs. Like many countries around the world, there is a culture of changing jobs on a regular basis in my home country of the UK, but I still do not enjoy it. The whole process of selling your best features to companies does not feel particularly modest. And the judgment process of job interviews feels even worse. A panel of three or more people judging your appearance and every response to their questions is a little scary for everyone. There is also only so much preparation you can do. You can research the company and prepare yourself for the obvious questions, but there are often unexpected questions and surprises.

 

This is the same in Japan to some extent. Many Japanese companies will have a first interview at a job event and then a series of interviews afterwards, all within the hiring season. However, the graduate hiring season is more organized in Japan, usually being held at one time of the year as specified by the government. This is different from many other countries where hiring events are organized at a more local level. Outside Japan, companies may tour around several universities over a series of months holding many events to attract potential employees. Second and third interviews may then be held up until the time when the student graduates or afterwards. In Japan, most companies would like to secure graduates even before they enter their final year, but the labour shortages in Japan are causing this practice to change. Many companies now fail to hire as many full-time permanent workers as they would like and so are hiring graduates and other workers outside of the traditional student job-hunting season.

 

Another change that has happened because of Covid is the move from paper applications to online applications. Many large corporations now process all applications online. Resumes submitted online can be screened using Artificial Intelligence to save time and money. Applicants can upload their application documents without having to print out and post them. This enables the company to attract more applicants and saves applicants time and money as well. It also means it is cheaper and easier for applicants to apply to multiple companies in the search for their ideal job. This change can also be seen in Japan with some of the larger corporations. It may be a matter of time before paper applications are a thing of the past.

 

These changes do not make the job application process any less scary though. There will always be job interviews, even if these are done online and not face-to-face. The best advice is to just try and relax. Research the job before the interview, make some possible interview questions, and practice answering them. On the day, take your time and answer their questions slowly and carefully. Finally, remember that there are always more chances out there. Your job should fit you well.

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki @Pexels.com

 

 

Q1 What does the author think about interviews?

 

Q2 How is the hiring period in Japan changing?

 

Q3 How are companies using Artificial Intelligence with Job applications?

 

 

Scroll down for answers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1 The author finds job interviews scary.

A2 More companies are hiring outside of the official “hiring season”.

A3 Companies are using AI to filter job applications.