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Savings and Investing

Children often learn their money skills from their parents. For example, parents often tell their children to make a habit of saving money.

The problem is that many parents have very poor money management skills. Studies show that in America more than 25% of people have less than $1000 savings.

This situation is obviously stressful for the individual, as any job loss would spell disaster. The individual is locked into a job that they may not like, and they, and their family, are in a financially precarious situation.

The importance of saving and investing, and teaching these skills to our children, cannot be overemphasized. The power of compounding interest shows that a person who invests $10,000 at the age of 20 and leaves it in an ETF paying 7% would have over $210,000 if they retire at the age of 65 (and almost $300,000 if they retire at 70!!) with no additions!

Do you save? Do you have a part time job?

What are your financial goals for your 20s? For your 30s?

What age would you like to retire?

What does financial stability mean to you? How much money do you need to reach financial independence?

Recently, the idea of financial independence and even early retirement has taken hold in American and many western countries. What financial independence means to one person will, of course, be different from another person. One person can live a simple life surfing and playing guitar in a small beach town, and live very frugally. Another person may wish for boats and sports cars.

Neither preference is better or worse than the other. The important point is, however, to be true to yourself, and know what will make you satisfied with your own life.

How much do you need to retire (or become financially independent)? The question is not one of values, but a simple mathematical equation. When your income from passive investments (or “passive income flow”) exceeds your outgoing expenses, you have reached a position of financial independence.

The art of learning to save money (and learning to invest our savings) is a skill fundamental to our daily life. Unfortunately, this skill is very poorly taught at schools. The necessity for schools (and parents) to instill the mental requirements for saving and investing in children has many additional positive effects.

Questions:

Q1. What percentage of US citizens have less than $1000 in savings?

Q2. Who teaches kids about money?

Q2. What is the main problem when parents teach their kids about money?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. Over 25%

A2. The parents

A3. The parents are poor money managers, so they do not know how to teach good habits.

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Risk is an essential part of our human journey. We take risks all through our lives as we grow up. Think about how you learned to speak your native language. You experimented with sounds and meanings all the time. You used humor and emotion and wild ideas. You took risks. And it felt natural to do so.

How can you imitate that natural risk taking in your learning of a new language?

Firstly, think about the environment you have cultivated around your language learning. Do you study alone? Do you mostly read or listen to the target language? Are you a passive learner in this sense? Or do you prefer to interact with others in the language and use it primarily to communicate and connect and share? In this way, you might be a more active learner.

Everyone is different in their approach to learning, but what is essential is that you take a risk by stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself to use the target language in new settings and in new ways as much as possible. Join a discussion circle in the BBP Communication Room on campus, make friends with students from other countries, set up a social media account in the target language and chat with other accounts in real time online (chatting during live sports matches is a great way to do this). All these activities involve a certain amount of risk taking.

Secondly, set challenging goals. Use one of the many online level checks for a language proficiency test. If it’s English, there is EIKEN, IELTS, TOEIC, or TOEFL. Ideally, target a level that is a little beyond your current ability. As extra motivation, register for a test at the same time as a friend for some friendly competition. Set achievable and measurable goals that push you harder. If it’s within your ability to remember 10 new words a week, try 10 new words a day. If it’s easy for you to write 100 words without pausing, try writing 1000 without looking at a dictionary or erasing any words. Using an official language test as a goal and targeting a level that is currently a little above your ability is a great way to add more risk to your language learning.

Adding an element of risk is a great way to become a better language learner. And maybe it’s easier than you think.

Questions:

Q1. True or false: it is unnatural to take risks in life.

Q2. True or false: commenting online in a foreign language about a soccer game is a fun way to interact.

Q3. True or false: language learners should only take aptitude tests that match their levels.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. False

A2. True

A3. False

Photo credit: The author 

As an architect and a designer, Antoni Gaudí has spoken to countless people through his many creations, most of which can be seen in Barcelona. Do you know that one of the people to whom Gaudí’s work has spoken quite loudly and eloquently used to attend a university in Kyoto? It’s true. He is the Japanese stone cutter, Etsuro Sotoo. 

Sotoo, a graduate of the Kyoto City University of Arts, traveled to Europe in 1978, one year after he graduated. As you can see, he was not much older than most of the students at Ritsumeikan University when he did that. That’s amazing, isn’t it? 

After arriving in Barcelona, he was so moved by Gaudi’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, that Sotoo chose to stay and learn about him, his genius, and his work. He said “I just came to Europe to carve stone. I was looking for stone and stone introduced me to La Sagrada Família and La Sagrada Família introduced me to Gaudí” (National Geographic, 2013). 

Sotoo strove to understand Gaudí and honor him through his own stone cutting work. In so doing, he has, for more than 40 years, made significant contributions to the construction of La Sagrada Família. This includes the work Sotoo did on the east façade of the basilica. It is there, in the Nativity scene, that we can see fifteen statues of angels that Sotoo created. He even created a few of them with Asian faces. After all, according to Sotoo, angels from the east are needed, too (Public Relations Office, Government of Japan, 2012). (A photo of Sotoo’s angels can be seen above.) 

Sotoo’s passion for Gaudí’s work caused him to reconsider his values and to become Catholic. As you can see, art can be a very powerful language. Does it speak to you? If so, which medium (language) do you prefer to listen to, or with which one do you prefer to create? 

References  

National Geographic (2013, Dec. 14). Unorthodox sculpting. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MW5Us3E--0  

Public Relations Office, Government of Japan (2012, Dec.) Realizing Gaudi’s Unfulfilled Wishes: Etsuro Sotoo (Spain).

https://www.govonline.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201212/201212_05.html

Questions:

Q1. When did Sotoo travel to Europe?

a. Straight after he graduated.

b. A little while after graduation.

c. A year before he graduated.

Q2. Where can you see many of Gaudi’s works?

a. Barcelona

b. Ritsumeikan University

c. In the Public relations Office of the Government of Japan

Q3. How did Sotoo show his passion for Gaudi’s work?

a. He introduced Gaudi to Japanese visitors.

b. He helped to build Gaudi’s greatest work.

c. He looked for stone to use for La Sagrada Família.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers 

Answers

A1: b

A2: a

A3: b

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Lacrosse, often hailed as Canada's national summer sport, has a rich history and has seen significant development over the years. Originating as a game played by Indigenous peoples, lacrosse has grown into a beloved sport across Canada and is now gaining popularity in countries like Japan.

Historical Roots and Evolution in Canada

Lacrosse has deep roots in Canadian history, tracing back to Indigenous tribes who played early versions of the game. These tribes, including the Iroquois and Algonquin, used lacrosse for more than just recreation; it was a spiritual and community activity, often referred to as "the Creator's Game." The game played an essential role in their culture, serving purposes from training warriors to settling disputes. European settlers in the 17th century observed these games and started to play lacrosse themselves. By the mid-19th century, lacrosse had evolved significantly, and in 1856, William George Beers, a Canadian dentist, founded the Montreal Lacrosse Club. Beers is often credited with modernizing the game by setting standard rules and equipment, which transformed lacrosse into an organized sport. Lacrosse gained immense popularity, becoming Canada's national game in 1867. The first national governing body, the National Lacrosse Association (now the Canadian Lacrosse Association), was established in 1867. Since then, the sport has continued to thrive, with various leagues and teams forming across the country. Canadian lacrosse now includes multiple forms, such as box lacrosse, field lacrosse, and women's lacrosse, each with its own unique rules and playing styles.

Lacrosse Today - A Global Perspective

While lacrosse remains a significant part of Canadian sports culture, it has also started to spread internationally. One of the surprising new hotbeds for lacrosse is Japan. Over the past few decades, the sport has seen a remarkable rise in popularity. Lacrosse was introduced to Japan in the 1980s by exchange students returning from North America. The first official lacrosse team was established at Keio University in 1986. Since then, the sport has grown rapidly, especially at the collegiate level. Today, Japan has a robust lacrosse community with numerous teams and leagues for both men and women. Japan’s national teams have also made impressive strides on the international stage. The men's team first competed in the World Lacrosse Championship in 1994, and since then, Japan has consistently been a strong competitor. The women's national team is also competitive, often ranking well in international tournaments.

The Future of Lacrosse

Lacrosse's development in Canada and its spread to countries like Japan highlight the sport's global appeal. With ongoing support and promotion, lacrosse continues to grow, fostering international camaraderie and competition. As the sport evolves, it remains a testament to its roots, celebrating both its Indigenous heritage and its modern incarnations around the world.

Blog Quiz

Q1. Who is credited with modernizing lacrosse in Canada?

 a) John A. Macdonald

 b) William George Beers

 c) James Naismith

Q2. When did lacrosse become Canada's national game?

a) 1867 

b) 1900

c) 1980

Q3. When was the first official lacrosse team established in Japan?

a) 1976

b) 1986

c) 1996

Scroll down to see the answers below.

Answers:

1.         b

2.         a

3.         b

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When you are younger, you usually do not spend time thinking about what it means to be “old” because you’re too busy doing the things that will become your life as you get older. When you’re older, you can get caught in the trap of looking back and wondering “what if I did this” or “what if I didn’t do that.” Both have very innocent reasons behind them, but have their strengths and weaknesses, positives and negatives.

At a younger age, you are (hopefully) full of inspiration and focus and in the pursuit of possibilities. There should be any number of things for you to pursue and consider, and only your willingness to explore may decide your path. A negative side of this freedom is you could get lost in the labyrinth that life can become sometimes, ever wandering and not sure how you got where you are. Sometimes that part of the journey and the deeper lesson have value, but it can also lead to restlessness in not knowing what you’ll find.

Once you get “older,” your life has (hopefully) balanced itself out and it’s easier to settle yourself on the things you want to do and not be thrown off by the events that don’t seem to go your way. You can afford to be content with what you’re doing and how you got there. On the other end, though, some people settle too soon and the comfort of predictability can narrow your vision of other things. You may question those who have made different choices than yourself, or, over time, begin to question your own choices. This can still lead to a positive path and some people get a new lease on life by reinventing themselves despite the challenge in doing so, but it can also push someone into the famed mid-life crisis.

The “why’s” and the “what’s” that life tests you with are not the same as other people, but they’re not meant to be predictable or avoided. Young or old, some people would try to minimize or soften the bumps by making the ride as smooth (and uninteresting) as possible. Wherever the destination may be and however you choose to get there, don’t worry about what you might leave behind or how difficult it may be to get there. The world is full of people who traded ambition for safety.

Don’t be afraid to be a little careless as your explore possibilities for yourself, and on the other hand, do not doubt yourself if you think you found what you want to do. A truly dangerous person is someone who knows what they want and are willing to give it their all once they found it.

Blog Quiz:

Q1. What decides where a person can be when they’re younger?

Q2. How can someone overcome problems when they’re older?

Q3. According to the author, what does he think the world has too much of?

Scroll down to see the answers below.

Answers:

1.         A willingness to explore

2.         Reinventing themselves by choosing something new for their life

3.         People who have traded ambition for safety

Photo Credit: Nobuaki Irie@pexels.com

On my 11th birthday, my cousin gave me a record of the popular singing duo, the Carpenters as a present. Of course, I didn't understand English at all back then. However, fascinated by the beautiful singing voice and melody, I wanted to know the meaning of the lyrics. That was my first encounter with English. At the age of twelve, I was impressed by the dynamic singing voice of The Three Degrees, a black trio who was as popular as the Carpenters in Japan, and that was how I became interested in Soul Music (R&B).

The following year, a group of five black brothers called Tavares caught my eye while watching TV. I instantly became a big fan of them and joined the Tavares fan club, which was backed up by a Japanese record company (Toshiba EMI) when I was in junior high school. Perhaps because I was very enthusiastic about the group, I ended up becoming the president of the fan club during my high school years. I often held Tavares record concerts and even went to radio stations to promote their songs. My dream was to go to a Tavares concert and meet them in America someday. So, I studied English hard to make that dream come true.

Tavares eventually disappeared from the music scene, not releasing records anymore in the late 1980s. When I was giving up my dream of meeting them, I heard the news that Tavares was coming to Japan to give concerts even in my home town of Osaka! Right after reading the news, I wrote to their record company even though I wasn’t sure if my letter would reach the group. I really wanted to thank them for their music that had enriched my life and given me a lot of joy and happiness. It is no exaggeration to say that they helped me become an English teacher. On the day of their concert in Osaka, my dreams finally came true. Not only was I able to hear their singing live but also allowed to meet them backstage. Tavares looked at me and said, "You are the one who wrote us." Yes, they had received my letter! The members were very happy to see me, and we took pictures together. The photos are still my lifelong treasures even to this day.

Just like this, through English, I was able to fulfill my dream. I hope that you too will meet many wonderful people and have valuable experiences by using English. Make your dreams come true with English!

Blog Quiz

Q1. How did the author encounter English?

Q2. What was the name of the group that the author became the president of the fan club for?

Q3. How did the author’s dream come true?

Scroll down to see the answers below.

Answers:

1.         The author’s cousin gave him a record of the Carpenters for his birthday.

2.         Tavares

3.         The author was able to see Tavares' concert in Osaka and meet them backstage.

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What do you think is the best job? There actually existed a multi-award-winning campaign, “The Best Job in the World” in 2009. The Australian government launched the project globally. It offered a six-month dream job as a caretaker of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, tasked with spreading the beauty of the islands via social media. Its goal was to raise Queensland’s international profile as an attractive holiday destination. The campaign predominantly targeted the international youth market in the UK, Europe, USA, New Zealand, South Pacific, Ireland and Nordic regions, South East Asia, China and South Korea, and of course, Japan. The campaign attracted unprecedented levels of global attention and saw about 35,000 applications submitted from over 200 countries.

The main location for this job was Hamilton Island. According to some travelling websites, Hamilton Island is one of Australia’s most desirable holiday destinations. It is the largest island in the Whitsundays, an archipelago of 74 scenic islands that make up just one part of the Great Barrier Reef. Luxury resorts, scuba diving, beautiful beaches and scenic flights – this is a place with remarkable beauty both above and beneath the water. It has a high reputation, suggesting that Hamilton Island just may be paradise. So, what is the job on the island actually like? As it is a caretaker, the person needs to do some chores. However, the main job is “enjoying the life on the island and the Great Barrier Reef.” For example, the person can visit nearby islands and enjoy marine sports like snorkeling or swimming. It is even fine if the person just lies on the beach, relaxing some of the time there. And the person posts pictures and videos via social media to showcase the charms to the rest of the world. That’s it. The government covers fees for such activities and they also offer the accommodation. The contract is for about six months, and you can earn around 15,000,000 yen! This is indeed a dream job, isn’t it? To apply for the job, all you need to do is create a short video (about one minute) for self-promotion. Out of 35,000 people applying, 16 final applicants, including one Japanese woman, were selected. In the end, a British man got the job.

During his six-month role, he visited almost 100 Queensland destinations, fielded more than 450 media interviews, posted more than 60 blogs and generated 2,000 photos, 47 video diaries and more than 1,000 tweets. According to his interview, he did enjoy his life on the island, engaging in various activities every day. The job was indeed the “best” job for him. The campaign increased international awareness of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and delivered more than $430 million in estimated global public relations value thanks to global news coverage and an 8th place ranking on the list of the world's top 50 PR stunts of all time. If there is such a campaign again, would you like to apply for it?

Blog Quiz

True or False?

Q1. Only Australian residents could apply for this job.

Q2. The main job was to enjoy life on the island.

Q3. This job contributed a lot to tourism in Queensland.

Scroll down to see the answers below.

Answers:

1.         F

2.         F

3.         T

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The Japanese tea ceremony, known as “sadō/chadō” or "chanoyu,” is a profound cultural practice that transcends the mere act of drinking tea. Rooted in the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, Japanese culture and spirit are woven into every aspect of tea ceremony etiquette.

At its core, the Japanese tea ceremony is not just about enjoying a cup of tea but also about appreciating the beauty of simplicity, mindfulness, and life. The ceremony is often held in a special tea room, a pure space designed to foster a sense of tranquility and mindfulness. The architectural elements and seasonal decorations within the room play an important role in creating an atmosphere that complements the tea-drinking experience. The tea room welcomes guests by being decorated with hanging scrolls and seasonal flowers and plants.

A typical example of a Chinese character phrase often used in hanging scrolls is wa kei sei jaku,” meaning harmony, respect, purity, and solitude, representing an atmosphere of respect and harmony between host and guests. Silence is often maintained during the ceremony, allowing guests to enjoy subtle sounds such as the rustling of the tea whisk or the quiet pouring of water.

During a tea ceremony, the main activities are observing “teishu” (the host) make tea, eating Japanese sweets, and drinking powdered green tea. Every gesture has a deep meaning, from the way the host purifies their utensils to the direction they turn to leave and how they present the tea bowl.

In the tea ceremony, there is a moment when “chashaku” (the tea scoop) and “chaire” (the tea caddy, a container for powdered green tea) are wiped with a silk cloth called "fukusa." This act is not about cleaning due to dirt but rather symbolizes purification. In reality, it may seem unnecessary, wasteful, and inefficient. However, it is done to welcome and treat guests to the fullest extent. Throughout the tea ceremony, the host may leave the tea room several times. Typically, the host avoids showing their back to the guests when moving around or exiting, but when leaving with a water container called “kensui,” the host deliberately turns their back. This is because the water in the container is not pristine after being used, so the host turns away from the guests' view. Tea bowls usually have a distinguishable front and back, and when serving the bowl, it is placed in such a way that the front faces the guest.

When a guest, on the other hand, is about to drink tea, they pick up the tea bowl, presented with the bowl’s front facing them, they should turn it twice in their hands, and then begin to sip. This gesture is a consideration to avoid placing their mouth directly on the depicted scene on the front of the bowl. In this way, the Japanese tea ceremony is a culture that fosters a sense of respect for everything and everyone present, transcending the immediate participants—both the host and the guest—making it an enjoyable experience that values mindfulness and appreciation for all aspects, including those not physically present.

We, modern people, are sometimes so engulfed in the hustle of our daily lives that we do not have time to relax, enjoy time, and reflect on our own lives. However, I believe that occasionally participating in a tea ceremony can provide a precious opportunity to sense that we are living together in a vast world.

Blog Quiz

1 What is the significance of turning the tea bowl twice in the hands before sipping tea?

a) It adds a decorative element to the ceremony.

b) It prevents spillage.

c) It avoids placing the mouth directly on the depicted scene.

d) It follows a specific dance routine.

2 Why does the host turn their back when leaving with a water container called Kensui?

a) To show disrespect to the guests.

b) To hide the water container.

c) To demonstrate efficiency.

d) To maintain purity in the water container.

3 What does the act of wiping the tea scoop and tea caddy symbolize during the ceremony?

a) Cleaning due to dirt.

b) Aesthetic decoration.

c) Symbolic purification.

d) Expressing efficiency.

Scroll down to see the answers below.

Answers:

1.         C

2.         B

3.         C

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In English conversation classes, sometimes the topic turns to “What is the best way to learn English?” Of course, there is no one best way to learn—each person is different, but... as an English teacher, I have my opinions. When someone suggests that watching movies in English is an interesting way to get listening practice, I mostly agree with them. Movies are interesting and a learner can usually hear a lot of English. However, I think that watching television programs is probably better. I have a couple of reasons for this.

The first reason is that television shows are both shorter and longer than movies. Why shorter? On one hand, an episode of a TV program is usually between 25 and 60 minutes long—under one hour. On the other hand, a movie might be two hours long. If someone is listening intensely to their second language, a shorter time will be less tiring and more enjoyable. Why longer? An episode of a TV program is like a chapter in a book, but a movie is like a whole book. TV programs tell a story over are the entire series: that could be six episodes or twenty or more! In TV shows, the story can become deeper and more interesting because the person watching spends much more time with the characters.

The second reason is that television programs are just talkier. In an episode of a TV program, characters will talk more than characters in a movie. TV programs tell more of the story through dialogue than movies, so a learner will hear more English in ten minutes of a TV program than they will in ten minutes of a movie.

Why do I say that television is talkier than movies? This is because of the different histories of the two mediums.

Movies are a visual experience. They have always been primarily a visual medium. Until about 1930, movies were silent. A language of visual storytelling was developed for films, and this visual language has continued, changed, and expanded until the present. Television influenced some of the changes to visual storytelling because, when TV began in the 1940s and 50s, people started going to movies less. To get more people into the movie theatres, the movie industry created movies that offered a visual spectacle—colour, widescreen, even 3D—that TV could not match. For these reasons, much or most of the story in a film today will be told through the images and spectacle.

Television is more an audio experience. TV came from radio—almost all early TV performers and writers came from radio rather than the movie industry. This made sense because the radio networks already had infrastructure that could be adapted to broadcast television signals and were producing regular programs that could be easily adapted to television. As well, early television sets had small screens that could not show detail like the big screen of the movie theatres: characters had to talk more so the viewer could understand the story. Because television programs were written like radio programs, people listened to the television in the same way they listened to the radio. Someone might cook dinner with the television on or do homework while watching a favourite TV show. No one cooks dinner or reads a book in a movie theatre.

The emphasis on using dialogue to tell a story in television shows has continued even until the present day. This is why I think television is better for listening to English than movies. Of course, I always tell students that movies are good... but television is better.

Blog Quiz

Q1. Why are TV programs shorter than movies?

Q2. Why are TV progams longer than movies?

Q3. What kind of experience are movies?

Q4. What kind of experience is television?

Scroll down to see the answers below.

Answers:

1.         They are usually less than an hour for one episode, but a movie is usually two or more hours.

2.         There are many episodes used to tell a story. Movies usually tell the whole story in the movie.

3.         Visual experiences

4.         Audio experiences