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A Comparison of Financiers and Madeleines

August 16, 2023

By Kokoa Takashima
Financiers and madeleines are popular baked sweets that are often found at convenience stores and cake shops. They taste somewhat similar, but they have interesting differences.

The origin of the shape of the financier is interesting. The financier is a rectangle, which reminds of a gold nugget. The shape is auspicious for those who work in the financial industry, and the name of the sweet means “rich” in French. It is also a sweet that businessmen can eat quickly without getting their hands dirty. It is said that it was born in the 19th century. The ingredients of it include egg white, sugar, almond powder, cake flour and burnt butter. The freshly baked financier is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
　　The origin of the shape of the madeleine imitates a scallop. There are several theories about the origin of madeleine, but it is not clear. One theory says that a maid baked the cake that her grandmother had taught her. Her name was Madeline. In Japan, people may see round chrysanthemum-shaped sweets called madelines, but they are are not real madeleines. The ingredients of it is whole egg, sugar, almond powder, cake flour and melted butter. Some of them are flavored with refreshing citrus fruits such as rum and lemon and have a moist texture.
　　The basic ingredients are almost the same, but financiers use egg whites and almond powder, and madeleines use whole eggs. The texture of the financier is crispy, and the texture of the madeleine is soft. Financiers and madeleines are very similar, but in fact, the origin, ingredients, and texture are different.

A Comparison of Disney and Ghibli Movies

A Comparison of Disney and Ghibli Movies

August 16, 2023

By Sakura Yamane
There are many movies in the world. Two famous animation companies are Disney and Ghibli. This essay will presens the difference between Disney and Ghibli movies from three perspectives: who and where each movie is produced, how each of them is created, and why they are popular.
       Disney movies are produced by Walt Disney Studios which is part of the Walt Disney Company. There are seven main subsidiary companies in Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures. For example, one of Walt Disney Studios’ main subsidiary companies, Disney Pixar is an American animation production company. Therefore, Disney movies are produced in America. And Disney movies are produced by computer. Disney Pixar draws storyboard by using story Pad and special apps of iPad. Many staff including directors and writers are involved in the production of a movie. And they have a lot of discussion about storyboard and decide the contents. Disney movies have charming songs and music. Three features of Disney movie’s music make Disney movies famous and popular. Those are integration with video, expression of feelings of story and characters and a wonder that makes you want to sing. Also, Disney movies convey messages from the story structure and the characters way of life. These messages are one of reasons that Disney movies become famous and popular. Also, Disney movies are produced by many people from the beginning to the end. It is interesting to see each person’s personality though the process of the making each movie.
        But Ghibli movies are produced by only four people, Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. And Ghibli is a Japanese animation production company. Therefore, Ghibli movies are produced in Japan. And Ghibli movies are produced by full hand-drawn and computer on the last edit. In Japan, it is said that directors or writers work alone facing storyboard. So, Hayao Miyazaki as a director of Ghibli doesn’t have any discussion until the outline is completed. In addition, because Ghibli movies are produced by one person at first, the audience may feel Japanese from the characteristics of working alone. Also, Ghibli music is unique. Most Ghibli’s music is composed by Joe Hisaishi. His music is very famous and popular not only in Japan but also overseas because the music he composed have a mysterious power that get drawn into the world of Ghibli movies. Thanks to his music, we can enjoy seeing Ghibli movies. Also, Ghibli movies convey messages from a unique worldview. So, Ghibli movies became famous and popular because they have these features of music and messages.
       In conclusion, there are also similarities between two kinds of movies, but they clearly have different points, such as who and where each movie is produced, how to produce and draw and why each movie is famous and popular. From now on, each new movie will be born while maintaining the different features.

A Comparison of High School and College Students in Japan

A Comparison of High School and College Students in Japan

August 10, 2023

By Haku Matsutani
Both high school and college students are expected to obtain knowledge. They go to school, to attend classes and meet their peers. However, they are worlds apart.

The life of high school students is similar across Japan. In high school, students take courses that are mostly decided by their schools. They can choose concentrations: humanity or science, but their timetables are pretty much fixed. Everyone has the same schedule. Also, high school students often required to wear uniforms, which are usually formal and designated by their schools. Some schools do not permit students to put on even short or colorful socks. Not only clothes, but also their hair styles are usually limited; they are required to keep a clean hair style. They are not allowed to color their hair, or put on make-up. They are not supposed to show their individuality though hair or make-up.

In contrast, the life of college students is free. College students have more flexibility in creating their schedules and choosing their courses. Of course, there are some required courses, but they can usually choose course they want to take. , College are more expected to take responsibility for choosing their own learning than high school students, and their schedules are all different. Also, college students are allowed to wear their own clothes when they go to school. There are no regulations which limit what to wear. They can change their hair color and put of make-up, too. They can express their own individuality.

In addition, high school students and university students have different approaches to learning. In high school, students often focus on their grades or getting good scores in examinations, so they would be motivated by external factors. Also, they rely on their teachers and parents to guide them to the right course. While high school students might learn class subjects for getting high scores in exams, university students choose their courses by themselves and learn class subjects which they choose themselves. University students are expected to be more independent in their learning. They are motivated by their own interests, so they usually go to university to learn specialized areas or academic topics. University students develop a deeper level of understanding or to pursue their strong, academic interests.
In summary, there are some clear differences between high school students and university students. At the point of scheduling classes and wearing clothes. University students have more freedom than high school students. However, they need to be more self-directed and independent.

Which Style of Okonomiyaki Do You Like?

August 10, 2023

By Teppei Morimoto
One of popular Japanese dishes is okonomiyaki, which is a pancake with meat and vegitable. There are two styles: Kansai-style and Hiroshima-style. Japanese want to discuss their favorite foods, so I am going to show the differences of this popular dish from three perspectives.
The biggest difference of them is the existence of noodles. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki contain noodles. Noodles are first boiled and placed on stir-fried cabbage.

The texture of Kansai-style one is harder than that of Hiroshima style. The cabbage is cut into 3 cm wide pieces in Kanasi, while it is smaller in Hiroshima. The pancake batter of Kansai-style is thicker. In Hiroshima, however, the batter contains a lot of water and thinner. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki does not use a lot of flour and the batter is baked thinly like a crepe.

The way it is prepared is different, too. In Kansai, all the ingredients are mixed in the batter and spread on a hot pan to be cooked. In Hiroshima, however, the ingredients are cooked separately and placed on each other to create layers.

They tastes similar, but Hiroshima style’s sauce is a little sweeter. As the name, okonomi, meaning “as you like it” of the dish describes, people enjoy as they like it. They may add mayonnaise and other toppings to make it spicier or sweeter.

Lastly, the price is different. The Kansai-style one costs about 500-600 yen, but the Hiroshima-style one cost about 800-1200 yen. Nonetheless, both are very good. If you have a chance, please try both.

School Lunches in Japan and the U.S.

School Lunches in Japan and the U.S.

August 10, 2023

By Tomoka Eri
When, where, and how did school lunches begin and spread around the world? There are a lot of theories about the beginnings of school lunches, but it is said to have started in the 18th century in Munich, Germany, when aristocrats fed poor children. Later, school lunches were provided in a lot of countries around the world as an effective means of combating poverty. School lunches are very familiar in Japan, and most elementary and junior high schools offer them. Similarly, school lunches are available in the United States. However, there are interesting differences between Japanese school lunches and American one.

     Firstly, where school lunches are eaten is different. In Japan, each class eats school lunch in the classroom. Then everyone in the class, including the teacher, prepares for school lunch together. After saying “Itadakimasu” a greeting of gratitude for the food, everyone eats together. In the U.S., however, students are instructed to eat in the cafeteria or outdoors at lunch tables. Therefore, in the U.S. there is no need for school lunch duties such as, serving food. Lunch breaks in the U.S. are very casual, so they can eat lunch wherever they want with whomever they want.
      Secondly, there is a difference in the frequency of eating school lunch. In Japan, all students eat school lunch almost every day, so Japanese students pay a monthly school lunch fee once a month. In the U.S., however, students apply to the school only when they need a school lunch and eat it. Therefore, many students in the U.S. bring their own lunch boxes from home, and when this is not possible, they eat school lunches so that each student can have lunch as they like, so American students pay for every school lunch, and in some schools, when students authenticate their student ID cards, the money spent on school lunches is deducted from the registered parent’s bank account.
     Thirdly, there is a difference in the school lunch menu. In Japan, a nutritionist prepares a very healthy and varied menu, considering the nutritional balance of the day. For example, there are menu items such as rice, miso soup filled with vegetables such as onions, carrots, and radishes, fried chicken, a salad that has been cooked and milk. However, school lunches in the U.S. have fewer varieties than in Japan and are rotated among several types throughout the year. Furthermore, they are relatively high in milk and fat and low in dietary fiber. Examples of American school lunch menus are hot dogs and French fries, raw vegetables, potato-chips, pizza, and whole apples, and the style is to pick and choose what they like.
      From the above, both Japan and the U.S. consider school lunches important as a remedy for children to grow up healthy and not to be deprived of food. However, there are a lot of differences between Japanese and U.S. school lunches, in terms of location, provenance, and menu, and both are suited to the characteristics of each region.

Ways to Solve Wild Animals Appearing in Residential Areas

Ways to Solve Wild Animals Appearing in Residential Areas

August 10, 2023

By Riho Bando
These days, as many people move to urban areas, they seek houses in the suburb. Due to this, the habitat for wild animals are destroyed to build houses. Development of wild areas negatively impact both humans and wild animal. People are afraid of meeting wild animals and animals in the city are in danger. Although this issue is serious, there are ways to protect humans and wild animals.
The issue of wild animals showing up in urban areas has gained attention over the last few years. Recently, bears, boars and monkeys often appear in residential areas. A research group in Hokkaido University say that brown bears show up in cities because they don’t have enough foods in a forest. Still, there is another issue. Animals that stepped into dangerous and noisy cities sometimes attack a human. According to the Ministry of the Environment, 81 people were injured by wild animals in Japan in 2022. You can’t be safe if a wild animal rush at you while you are talking a walk. To protect humans and animals, people should come up with solutions.

A good way to protect lives is to stop developing forests. Instead of using land more and more, the government should encourage to build taller apartments. Japan has enough technology to build tall buildings without risks.

Another way to avoid using too much land is to encourage remote working. People have gathered to cities to work and the suburb has been developed to build houses for commuters. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was unthinkable to live in the countryside to work. Now, however, it is possible to work online and living in their hometowns. Therefore, they should be able to live in other places that are far away from urban areas. I believe that remote working will contribute to protect nature and animals. The problem of wild animals appearing in cities is serious. People should consider how to solve the issue. Avoiding cutting off trees and encouraging online working style will solve this issue. I hope that people could live safely with wild animals in the future.

A Better AI Education for All

A Better AI Education for All

August 9, 2023

By Fuu Tanikawa
     What do you think about using AI in education? AI, which has made great progress in recent years, has the power to greatly change our lives. Of course, it makes life more convenient, but it also has harmful effects. Under such circumstances, will the use of AI in the field of education have a positive impact? I believe that the use of AI will benefit not only students who use it, but also teachers.
   By using AI, it is possible to provide education that matches the level of understanding of each student. Many Japanese schools take the form of classes in which everyone in the class learns the same content at the same pace. However, this is a very difficult environment for students who are not good at studying and are falling behind other students. It’s also a bad environment for students who take longer than others to understand, but also for students who have extraordinary learning abilities. There may be some students who give up learning because the class goes on without understanding or lose the opportunity to develop their talents.
AI can solve such problems by giving appropriate advice tailored to each individual.
Some of the major reasons why students dislike studying is that they don’t know what they don’t understand in the first place, they don’t know where they stumbled, and they are taught materials that aren’t suitable for their levels. Then AI　can tell the students what to do based on their individual learning data. AI can provide advice in real time, preventing wasted study time. In addition, AI can help students with areas that are difficult to notice by themselves, as AI will tell them what to review.
     The introduction of AI has benefits not only for students, but also for teachers. Recently, long working hours for teachers has become a problem in Japan. The reason for this is the huge amount of work. They are required to do. AI can do some of that work. For example, the use of AI, which has an automatic scoring function and a function that can detect eye movements, can reduce the burden of teachers. They will be able to use the time saved by AI as the time for their students or themselves.
     Although AI-based education has many advantages, some people believe it may hinder students from developing their own thinking skills. Certainly, when used without proper adult involvement, it may lead to such a situation. So, adults should provide guidance, and children should create new and original things based on the answers obtained from AI. Also, AI is suitable for children to independently pursue their own interests. So, if children use it wisely, their ability to think and pursue should not only stay the same, but rather improve.
     In conclusion, the use of AI in the field of education certainly has disadvantages, but it also has many advantages, and its introduction will greatly contribute to improving the quality of education. In addition, I believe that the use of AI, which is likely to become common in society in the future, will have great significance in the career development of students. Promoting AI education will help people grow as a result.

Two Ways to Solve Insomnia

Two Ways to Solve Insomnia

August 9, 2023

By Hinano Saigo
Do you touch your cell phone before going to bed, because you cannot sleep well? Many people suffer from insomnia these days. If people do not sleep well, they cannot only concentrate on work or study during the day. Fortunately, there are some ways to improve insomnia.

     The issue of insomnia has gained attention over the last few years. It is well known that insomnia causes negative effects such as the inability to concentrate. When concentration decreases, the quality of work decreases, which is negative to both the individuals and organizations. Gradually, problems begin to appear in the body and eventually have a bad effect on the body and mind. Symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness appear, and lead to low motivation. At worst, you might lose control of your emotions and develop depression.
     One way to relieve insomnia is to exercise during the day. Exercising such as jogging and swimming is one of the treatments for insomnia. Exercise increases the heart rate and raises the body temperature. The warmer body temperature has the effect of relaxing the body. Relaxed muscle improves the quality of sleep. In addition, you will feel sleepy at night because of the fatigue from the exercise. It is expected that you will fall asleep naturally through exercise.
     Creating a bedtime routine is another solution. Bedtime routines establish habits that help our brains recognize when it is time to sleep. Some people put their favorite perfume on their pillows before going to bed. It seems that they can sleep soundly by virtue of the perfume. Listening to music while darkening the room is also effective. Any genre of music is fine, so try to find music that makes it easy for you to fall asleep.      These methods are good ways to relieve insomnia. There are many people who cannot sleep and are not physically and mentally healthy. However, they can solve insomnia. Exercising and making routines are free and easy. People suffering from insomnia should try these methods.

Charms of Roman Holiday

Charms of Roman Holiday

August 9, 2023

By Akari Inoue
Roman Holiday is a very charming film produced in the United States in 1953. Anne, a princess of a small country, is alienated from her constricted life and sneaks out of her embassy in Rome during her stay. Anne then wanders to the streets of Rome. She happens to meet Joe, an American reporter. The charm of Roman Holiday includes the beauty of the filming location, the leading actress, and the music.
     One of the attractive points of this film is the beautiful city of Rome. The film was shot in Rome. The beautiful music, dialogues, costumes, and script used in the film are also wonderful. But it is the beautiful cityscape of Rome, the setting of the story, that stands out. Some places have become tourist attractions as a result of this Roman holiday. For example, Piazza di Spagna with its 135 steps. Roman Holiday is a film that showed the landscape of Rome in its full glory. After the moview was released, Piazza di Spagna became a popular spot.
     Another good thing about this film is the beauty of Audrey Hepburn, who played the leading role of Anne. It is Audrey Hepburn’s innocent and dainty beauty that underpins the classiness of Roman Holiday. She has studied classical ballet since she was five years old. As a result, she has good posture and a beautiful standing posture. At the time she was selected for Roman Holiday, she was an unknown new actress. However, the director, who found Audrey Hepburn attractive, hired her. This led to the success of this film.
     The third attraction is the music used in the film. The music played in Roman Holiday is the kind of music that leads you to another world. It is undeniably the music that creates the world of this film. Since it is a simple black and white film with no CG, music plays a major role.
     This film is a miracle of various good conditions. It is a little bit old, but it still fascinates us today. It is a work that transcends the boundaries of film genres and matches the versatility of the noble and innocent Audrey. And it is a work in which Audrey’s graceful and innocent beauty, the streets of Rome, and the music that creates a world view shine through. So I hope many people will see this work.

Trailer screenshot Licencing information :https://web.archive.org/web/20080321033709/http://www.sabucat.com/?pg=copyright and http://www.creativeclearance.com/guidelines.html#D2 – Roman Holiday trailer

Ways to Tackle Aging Population of Rural Areas of Japan

Ways to Tackle Aging Population of Rural Areas of Japan

August 9, 2023

By Saki Tanaka
     Shimane Prefecture is one of the areas that is decreasing an aging population. The birth rate in Shimane is on the decline. Young people in Shimane tend to move to urban areas when they go to college or get a job. Those who got jobs in urban areas continue to work and live there and they do not come back to their hometowns. This trend causes the population and economic declines of Shimane. I think there are two ways to solve such problems.
     First of all, let’s think about why young people move to cities. In general, jobs in the city have higher wages and a variety of occupations, so teenagers and twenties who are going to work or go to college think that urban areas are attractive places. In addition, it is thought that smart people who have excellent skills tend to go to cities such as Tokyo. I think those people think that working in the city is better than working in the countryside because they can demonstrate their own abilities. It can’t be helped for them to go to the city once to go on to higher education or get a job, but eventually a lot of people of Shimane Prefecture want their young people to come back to Shimane Prefecture again.
     One way to prevent population outflows to urban areas is increasing wages. Companies in Shimane should try to raise wages. There are a lot of people who go to urban places to get high wages. Many people judge that if wages are low, they can’t support their children. It is important to raise wages so that everyone can have decent wages so that they can have families.

Another way is to create a good environment for raising children. In order to do that, it is necessary to enhance childcare services so that parents with children can work, and to create a place where they can go to play on weekends such as parks. Many parents are grateful to be able to receive support from a community and the company that they work for in raising children. In my hometown, Oda City in Shimane Prefecture, children during the compulsory education period, who are elementary school and junior high school students, can receive reduced medical expenses. In some cases, medical expenses may be free. So many parents will be very helped because the burden is less.
The problem of local population decline is serious. In order to prevent further problems from becoming more serious, I think these solutions should be implemented. It is important to improve the workplace environment in Shimane Prefecture. Local companies inform young people that the wages are high and encourage them to work in rural areas such as Shimane Prefecture. After young people start working in Shimane, it is required to create an environment where it is easy to raise children to build a family there. Then people who want ease of living will gather. I’m looking forward to the future in Shimane.