Heisei 13 the third (2001) in the morning

A.  The controversy surrounding the use of animals in experiments

 

 I know that a guinea pig is often used for studies, because it is easy to keep. I have hardly heard about the trouble in the use of animals in experiments. Japan has a law to protect the life of animals, but it seems to be rarely administered. Guinea pigs are mammals like human beings. So it is proper to use guinea pig in order to run a simulation for new drugs, because we will have the same result as guinea pigs when we take them.

 I don't know how many guinea pigs are killed for studies each year. But I sometimes see on the TV news that a research group in a certain university held a memorial service for guinea pigs. Someone may think that we abuse animal by using them in experiments and it is against the law mentioned before, but I don't think so, because animals can't think. On top of that, most animals are more fertile than human beings and they can sometimes be harmful.

 

B.  Would you live in a space station?

 

 I would not live in a space station. A space station is still a dangerous place to live, I guess, even though technology has developed a lot. Only a few billionaires can now enjoy private space travel. But (s)he has to go through special training. It means that living in a space station is very dangerous. I don't want to die. I'd like to live as long as possible. I have to avoid being in peril in life.

 Thanks to the development of technology, we can now enjoy viewing our earth by TV cameras which the astronaut handles. Its pictures are going to become clear. So I don't have to live in a space station in order to check how the view from a space station looks.

 But if it becomes much safer and cheaper in the future, I'd like to experience living in a space station.

 

C.  The role of cultural traditions in modern society

 

 Japan has many indigenous cultural traditions. For example, Kabuki, Kyogen, Bunraku and so on. I don't think that the performers should stick to classical performances. Of course, it is important to learn classical performance, but new works should be created.

 Generally speaking, they can attract many people. People appreciate good works. I think that arts are international languages, because they can attract many people from all over the world. As I think so, the cultural traditions in modern society should play an important international role. They should be introduced to foreign countries. They might create new works influenced by foreign culture. This is ‘internationalization'.

 Kabuki has already been performed in several foreign countries. Kyogen and Bunraku must also have such a tendency. They may be on the way. International exchange is important in modern society, after all.

 

D.  Saving or spending ? which should the government encourage?

 

 I think that the government should encourage people both to save and to spend. I mean that it should encourage people to save in certain fields and that it should encourage people to spend in other certain fields.

 Generally speaking, the government should recommend that people don't waste things. We have to live energy conservation-oriented lives. This is necessary for Japan to survive in the 21^st century, because she has scarce natural resources.

 Obviously speaking, the government should recommend that people spend more money on educating children. Children especially have to learn foreign languages, because they are going to have more chances to communicate with foreigners than now. This is also necessary for Japan to survive in the 21^st century.

 Well, I think that it may be time when I should spend money. But I can't help hesitating now. I am scared “ten no koe.” A leader in Miyazaki prefecture committed a crime and he had to resign from his post as the governor. As a result, people chose Higashikokubaru as the governor. I'm sure that he will never commit a crime. I guess that the former governor must have overdone by adding something to “ten no koe” (I believe hidden speakers are installed in some places). This incident gave a lesson that I shouldn't be too confident in myself.

 

E.  Do school curricula have a well ? balanced content?

 

 Roughly speaking, they have a well ? balanced content, I guess. Children have to learn much more now than before. The heritages are increasing as the world is developing. For the example, the Internet has recently been invented. Children may have to learn how to use Internet in the near future. Technology is rapidly developing. So children have to keep up with it.

 The textbook editors have to omit more sections now than before, because the Japanese Ministry of Education adopted a five-day week and the classes were reduced. The textbooks have to have a well ? balanced content in such circumstances. They must unwillingly have to omit some sections, I guess.

 There are a lot of things which children have to experience without textbooks. For example, a field days, school excursions and so on.

 School curricula have been revised many times. So I should think that they are well ? balanced. But I think that there is still room for correction in that they never make experts.

 

Heisei 13 the third (2001) in the afternoon

A.  The environmental issue that most concerns human civilization

 

 I think that the environmental issue that most concerns human civilization is hormone disruption. Scientists discovered that some chemicals impair reproduction system. The chemicals are dioxin, DDT and PCB etc. These chemicals may make human beings sterile. These are called hormone-disrupting contaminants. Scientists call them endocrine disrupters. On top of that, the synthetic chemicals are common and widespread and are linked to disrupted sexual development; genital defects. This disruption is serious, because it is related to whether human beings can survive or not.

 Quoting her book “Our Stolen Future,” Dianne Dumanoski said at a meeting at the Japan National Press Club that, while cancer is an important and frightening concern, people should pay much more attention to hormone-disrupting contaminants.” In an effort to communicate a complicated idea to the public, she said, journalists have searched for more colorful language and “my personal favorite is ‘hormone havoc.'”

 

B.  Space exploration: Is it worth the price?

 

 I think that space exploration is worth the price, even though it costs a lot.

 Firstly, because, it always leads to development of technology. Making a new rocket needs new technologies in many fields. Moreover it often happens to invent new products which contribute improving our standard of living. For example, we can now enjoy watching live TV programs from all over the world, thanks to artificial satellites. And the precise navigation system for vehicles became realized by GPS (global positioning system). In other words, we can easily get information exactly on where we are on the Earth. I heard that useful new metals were invented by special experiments in space station.

 Secondly, because, it promotes international project. Many engineers and many scientists from all over the world cooperate to launch Space Shuttle in the United States. It is possible for both Russian rockets and American rockets to dock with the International Space Station. This surely leads people to promote world peace.

 But there is one demerit. Space exploration brought more powerful weapons, such as international ballistic missile (ICBM).

 I still think that space exploration is worth the price, even if there is a serious demerit. I firmly believe that top engineers and top scientists are people with peaceful mind.

 

C.  Are professional athletes overpaid?

 

　I think that they are properly paid. First-class professional baseball players get paid  enormous amounts of money.

 For example, Mr. Wada was born, raised in our Shimane prefecture. He was a popular, gifted, pitcher at Hamada high school. He was recommended to enter Waseda University and the baseball club. He joined the Softbank team led by the world homerun king, Sadaharu Oh. He became a first-class pitcher just after graduating from Waseda University. He was contracted for about 100 million yen. He won more than 10 games last baseball season. He got more than 200 million yen this year. He got married a few years ago and now has a baby. This year will be his fifth year as a professional baseball pitcher. He donates some money every year to his home city office to encourage children to practice baseball. His picture often appears in the local newspaper. Everyone hopes that he will play as an active first-class pitcher for years. He is a celebrity, so he has received nationwide media attention. He must often be tired out, except for his real job as a pitcher. I don't know how much private time he is able to have.

 Being a first-class professional pitcher must be very hard. On top of that more than 60 percent of his income will be imposed as a tax. Furthermore, it's not certain whether he will be able to work in his 40s. I don't think that he is overpaid.

 Well, I own a certain amount of money now. I may be criticized by people because of it. Whether I took over a reasonable amount of money must be judged by people. I know that a lot of money makes me be in dangerous situation, so I may have to find the way to spend it as soon as possible. I know that I have to struggle forever. I wonder why people tend to pay too much attention to a person who owns a lot of money. I think that they should think themselves more and should make efforts to improve themselves. Now I say, “Don't hito no dohyo de sumo wo toruna (Don't be concerned about only other people, too much so that you always try to avoid being criticized).”

 

D.  The social responsibilities of large corporations

 

 I think that the social responsibilities of large corporations are very serious. I know that all large corporations have a department called Public Relations. This means that relations with public are very important for large corporations. When a corporation markets a new product, it is mainly up to the popularity of the product whether it sells well or not.

 A defective gas heater produced by a famous company was discovered. It recently appeared in the newspaper. At first, the executives denied having marketed the defective goods. But at last they had to admit it. The company must have lost the trust of the people. They decided to recall the product after all. It will take a long time for the company to recover the trust of the people. I think that a large corporation tends to be lazy about safety, because it has a good reputation and it can sell the product without any efforts. So these kinds of accidents sometimes happen. They have a great impact on the public, because large corporations can sell a lot of products. So the social responsibilities of large corporations are very serious.

 

E.  Praise or punishment ? which is more effective in educating children?

 

 I liked to praise my students. I worked as a senior high school math teacher for a long time. I made it a rule to praise my students in order to encourage them to study hard. This way worked well. I think that praising can lead children to become active and independent.

 But this way wasn't effective for the students who were pessimistic or had self-hatred. They tended to give up on everything. In addition, it's very difficult to give praise again and again. This education doesn't last a long time.

 A teacher is an expert of education. So it is easy to find students' mistakes and to point them out. I think that it is easy to find fault with students and to scold while pointing out their mistakes compared with praising students. But this way may offend students. They may be disappointed and may lose confidence. So I think that praise is more effective in educating children than punishment.

 Generally speaking, praising is effective when children are very young and un-matured and punishment is effective when children are matured. As a matter of fact, I'm not good at punishing at all. This is one of my weaknesses as an independent educator. Speaking of an independent educator, I ordered my new business cards at Saty the other day. I have ordered my business cards there before, but I forgot the clerk because of a long interval. I couldn't help feeling like I was customized. I meant someone made me meet a certain female. I tend to behave cold in such situation, because I don't want to hurt anyone. I may be too passive. Now I think that the best way for me is to find my compatible partner among my acquaintance. Time flies quickly. I've kept looking for the best way.