Posts published in “Japan”

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.

Kanazawa Castle

August 8, 2023

By Ryota Kawamoto

Have you ever been to Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan? Kanazawa is a good place for sightseeing. There are a market where you can enjoy delicious food, a downtown where you can see old-fashioned streets. If you want to experience traditional Japanese culture, Kanazawa Castle is best spot for your sightseeing. Kanazawa Castle is a great sightseeing spot.
The Castle was built 400 years ago. It is surrounded with white walls and stone walls as if it protects the headquarter from enemies. The traditional castle let you feel 400-years history. After pass through the gate, there is a lot of nature there. The park has lush green grass, and you can take a break while feeling nature everywhere. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom and the park is so beautiful. At night you can enjoy cheery blossoms lit up at night. In autumn, the park is filled with maple leaves which turn bright orange and red colors. Right next to Kanazawa Castle, there is a wonderful park, Kenrokuen. Kenrokuen is one of the three most famous gardens Japan. The spacious garden was built by the lords of Kanazawa Castle.

If you come to Japan, please visit Kanazawa. It is a great place to feel the atmosphere of traditional Japan.

Medically-Assisted Suicide for Terminal Illness

February 21, 2023

By Mai Takeshita

Today, the medical technique is getting better and more sophisticated in the world. People can live healthier and longer thanks to the developed medical care, and it is called “The 100-year time period” today. However, there are many diseases that even the medical technique today cannot treat, especially “terminal illness”. There are some arguments in the world whether patients with a terminal illness should be able to request medically-assisted suicide or not. Actually, in Japan and many countries, assisted suicide is considered illegal, even if it is “medically-assisted”. Followings are the three reasons that medically-assisted suicide should be allowed in case of patients who are in terminal-illness: physical suffering, mental and social distress, and respecting the patients’ intention.
        The first reason that medically-assisted suicide should be allowed is physical suffering of patients. According to Hoshino (1996), an emeritus professor in Kyoto University, patients are suffering from mainly four pains physically: the symptom from the disease, therapeutic drugs, surgical operation and examination, and other sufferings that are different from pain. Here is an example of physical suffering in terminal cancer. For the symptom from the disease, in case of terminal cancer, patients are struggling from the pain at their internal organs which the cancer have spread. The patients feel severe pain. For therapeutic drugs in case of cancer, the anticancer drug treatment is common. But the drugs have side effects. Hosokawa (2016), a professor in Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, explained that some of the side effects of the drug are numbness and pain. The anticancer drug damages the peripheral nerve, and those numbness and pain appear. It is called “Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.” Patients are struggling from something that is different from pain. According to Hoshino, patients are struggling from general malaise, sense of fullness in the abdomen, difficulty in breathing, etc. Patients are suffered from those unimageable pains, and patients in terminal-illness should not struggle with them anymore.
         Secondly, medically-assisted suicide should be allowed for the reason of mentally and social distress. According to Clinic C4 (Clinic for Comprehensive Convincing Cancer Care) (n.d,), there are many types of mental and social distress that patients face. For instance, economic distress, working distress, and family distress. In addition to physical sufferings, patients are strongly stressed by these distresses. For the patients who are in terminal illness, they no longer have to suffer from these stresses. They should be given a choice of medically-assisted suicide.
        Third reason that medically-assisted suicide should be allowed is respecting the patients’ intention. There was a Japanese who chose euthanasia in Swiss in 2021. SWI Swiss Info.ch closely covered him from him visiting Swiss to euthanized. He had suffered from motor neuron disease, which is very similar to ALS, from 2016. He decided to be euthanized three years ago, in 2018. He answers the doctor’s question why he chose to euthanize, “Since I cannot contribute to society anymore because of the disease, I’m now worthless. I will never depend on ventilator after I lose ability to move. I don’t want to be alive with losing human dignity.” His parents hoped to keep him alive whatever way he uses. However, he said that that idea ignores the patient’s suffering and dignity. Just before he took the drip by his own to die, he told his doctor and parents “Now, I’m going.” His mind to die was very determined. As the example shows, patients will choose medical-supported suicide with not temporary feeling, but very determined. Therefore, doctors and families should highly respect patient’s significant decision.
        Medically-supported suicide is now illegal in Japan, and families of patients who are in terminal-illness hope the patients will stay alive. However, medically-supported suicide should be allowed in case of patients who are in terminal-illness for these reasons above. Patients are suffered from physically pain, and mentally and socially stress that general people and even doctors will never experience and understand. Medically-supported suicide should be allowed as one of the choices for patients.

Drawnbacks of Free Health Care

February 21, 2023

By Natsumi Shirasaka

These days a lot of cities, towns and villages adopt free health care. Indeed, this enables people to go to hospital easily and live longer. However, this causes financial deterioration at the same time. So, I disagree that all people are entitled to free health care. There are three reasons to support my idea.
First, free health care causes higher medical costs. According to O (2015), through the launch of free healthcare for elderly, aging population has been advanced suddenly because of the increase of national standard of living, the development of medical technique, the decrease of birthrates, and so on. Including Tokyo, a lot of local governments started free health car, but when the national government also started it, a lot of elderly people started to use medical services, so national medical expenses have been increased. Medical cost for elderly have become three times higher than ever, so elderly outpatients means the increase of overall medical costs. Also, according to the Japan Medical Association (2015), through the development of the medical technology, of course it helps people’s health but on the other hand, it also costs a lot of money. For example, X-rays, which exist from before, is only 1,000 yen once, but MRI, which is used these days, costs 14,000 yen once, so the total cost is increasing. So, free health care increases the national medical expenses.
Second, free health care can cause too many consultations. According to Asahi Shinbun (2018), “Convini consultation” happens. It means that people have unnecessary medical tests and treatments at night and on holidays even when their pain is very small. Some people go to the hospital when they can treat their conditions or buy medicine at the drug store. This type of easy-going medical treatments is also paid as national tax or insurance by the nation. If the government considers people’s health, they should use money for prevention of diseases. For example, the newborn baby’s thorough examination, is preventive because it discovers diseases early. Thus, the government can cut the cost of medical treatment fundamentally.
Third, according to Asahi Shinbun (2018), free health care causes injustice. Of course, in order to keep free medical treatment, the nation must have pay and support the system. These needs increasing tax. However, the Ministry of Health, labor and Welfare’s survey on this Asahi Shinbun indicates that the working-age generations argue that it is injustice to pay tax. Many people who are more than 70 years old think that the working-age generations should pay, but many people who are 30-39 years old think that elderly people should pay more. So, free health care causes unfairness.
In conclusion, I’m not in favor of all people having free health care. It causes higher medical costs, wasting consultation, and injustice. The Japanese government has to consider what health care should be.

References
Japan Medical Association. (2015). DOCTORASE. https://jpn01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.med.or.jp%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7C70a24f76fa9249b9400708dae7028e25%7Cf11434e8abcf41f48154a9b2608dcd42%7C0%7C0%7C638076296315836330%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=f8ykvz1oqS0NlaEkiJiBkATLaeM4HB%2FmPGQCVEMLgn4%3D&reserved=0
doctor-ase/vol2/2page_09.html
O, S. (2005). 老人医療無料化制度の形成と国民医療費. 佛教大学大学院紀要第33号. https://jpn01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Farchives.bukkyo-u.ac.jp%2Frp-contents%2FDO%2F0033%2FDO00330L223.pdf&data=05%7C01%7C%7C70a24f76fa9249b9400708dae7028e25%7Cf11434e8abcf41f48154a9b2608dcd42%7C0%7C0%7C638076296315836330%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MPMBhofjZFwENyWmAD6ABB3WnPf5T9NCJLZ%2BVCD7FYs%3D&reserved=0
Yoshikawa, K., Nichiura,T. 子ども医療費の無料化拡大、是か非か?. (2018). 朝日新聞DIGITAL. https://jpn01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asahi.com%2Farticles%2FASL2P3QVKL2PUBQU006.html&data=05%7C01%7C%7C70a24f76fa9249b9400708dae7028e25%7Cf11434e8abcf41f48154a9b2608dcd42%7C0%7C0%7C638076296315836330%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=h4eLsbtp0ctkUeAR7Mq1CTp7ORPt%2BnelNc6eVDTTjD0%3D&reserved=0

Is The Death Penalty a Just Punishment?

February 21, 2023

By Hazuki Kajiume

Is the death penalty a just punishment? The answer to this question is divided. However, the death penalty has more demerits than merits. The following is a discussion of the problems of capital punishment.
The first problem is that the death penalty can cause irreparable human rights violations by misjudgment. Since criminal trials are conducted by human beings, it is impossible to eliminate the possibility of misjudgment. The death penalty is life threatening and should never be executed by misjudgment. According to public opinion polls by the Ministry of Justice in Japan (2020), the most common reason for demanding the abolition was the opinion that “if there is a mistake in the trial, it cannot be withdrawn.” Therefore, the death penalty is irreversible once it is executed, so the death penalty should be abolished as there is a possibility of misjudgment in the trial.
The Second is that the existence of the death penalty affects treaties with other countries. According to Amnesty International, 142 of the world’s 198 countries have abolished the death penalty in law and practice, 56 have retained the death penalty. Of these only 20 countries, including Japan, carry out executions. Of the 36 OECD member countries, only the United States and Japan carried out executions in 2019, but the number of states that abolished or suspended executions in the Unites States is increasing year by year. Abolishment of the death penalty is now an international trend. According to the same article, the existence of the death penalty is an obstacle to concluding treaties with countries that have abolished the death penalty. In fact, Japan has concluded extradition treaties only in two countries, the United States and South Korea, where the death penalty exists. Since few countries maintain the death penalty, succession to the death penalty affects exchanges with other countries.
The Final problem is that the death penalty is killing people. The death penalty allows the law to take the live of a person, which is an inhumane and grave violation of human rights. All people have the right to live. This right to live is the fundamental and most important right of human beings and should never be taken away. Also, this right is specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which stipulates the prohibition of torture and cruel punishment by public officials, but the death penalty violates this clause. The Supreme Court ruling in 1948 ruled that the death penalty was not a cruel punishment, but now that times are changing and the death penalty must be reviewed again, because the way of thinking and social trends are different between the times when there was war and today. Therefore, even a nation cannot be allowed to kill people.
As mentioned above, the death penalty has many bad aspects. From the perspective of public opinion, the world, and the Constitution, the death penalty is not very good. It is necessary to reconsider whether capital punishment is indispensable.

Three Reasons that Japanese Have Poor English Ability <br>

Three Reasons that Japanese Have Poor English Ability

February 21, 2023

By Honoka Akazawa

Can you fluently communicate in English with native speakers of English ? A lot of university students in Japan have an aversion to speaking English. According to the study by Tang & Ohashi, “66% university students in Japan said that the were not good at speaking English.” The necessity of speaking English will increase in the future. However, a lot of Japanese don’t speak English well, much less office workers don’t have time studying English. Why are not Japanese people good at speaking English? I would like to present three reasons why Japanese cannot speak English well; studying English for university entrance exams, cultural barrier to speak English, and having less chances speaking English.
Firstly, most Japanese people have a recognition that studying English is for university entrance exams. This way of thinking is affected by English education in Japan. Japanese students take English classes to improve skills reading and writing. They don’t have English classes for practicing speaking and pronunciation. According to a study by Sugiura (2017), “some students who left an impression what classes focused on language format said that they don’t have sense of using English by themselves. So, we can understand they are passive that they studied English for their tests.” Then even though students in Japan take English classes for six years, most people don’t speak English well. This is a fact in Japan. We need English classes that teach, listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Secondly, modesty in Japanese culture discourages Japanese people to speak up in front of English speakers. Tang & Ohashi point out that “Taking a passive role in the daily communications in Japanese seems to be a major problem for difficulty of cross-cultural communications in English.” Japanese feel that making a mistake is embarrassing. A lot of Japanese people are afraid of making mistakes. This is a Japanese culture, a culture of shame. According to Tang & Ohashi, “Japanese people are aware of what other people think about us and how other people react, and act to avoid being ridiculed by other people.” This culture of shame has a bad influence on speaking English. Therefore, people make neat an atmosphere that discourage speaking wrong English. They care about more correctness of grammar than communication.
Thirdly, Japanese don’t have a chance to speak English with other people. Since Japanese people do not experience speaking English enough they can’t have confidence about their English. And they don’t feel necessity of using English. I think that is because of an island country. If Japan connected by land, Japanese have more chance talking in English to people who speak English.
For these reasons, most Japanese can’t speak English. I think that Japanese English learners should change how to study English.

Huanu, T. & Makoto, O. , A study on different communication-consideration-Focusing on the culture of “shame” and “emotional dependence.” Qingdao Language School of Science and Technology, and Tokushima University School of Education. rsr_8_1.pdf
Rie, S. (2017), English Language Learning of Japanese University Students-A Qualitative Investigation based on Narrative Frames- J. Higher Education, Tokai University (Hokkaido Campus) jheTmplt2010 (u-tokai.ac.jp)
Takunori, T. (2021, October), Frequency of Japanese Workers Using English-Based on Web-Panel Questionnaires- Kwansei Gakuin University Repository. ８.pdf

Japanese English educational problems

February 21, 2023

By Ryota Kagehira

Japanese English learners have the lowest speaking score of TOEFL in the world. This is shocking. TOEFL’s the speaking score of the Japanese test takers is only 17 points, which is the lowest speaking score in the world. Why are Japanese English learners cannot speak English?
Firstly, the curriculum of Japanese English education does not teach English pronunciation. The number of consonants and vowels in Japanese is far fewer than that of English, so it is necessary to teach pronunciation of English consonants and vowels. However, most Japanese people do not learn English pronunciation. So, Japanese people cannot pronounce English sounds correctly and do not have confidence when they speak English. In this situation, they are afraid of making mistakes.

Secondly, English education does not provide enough speaking time for students. According to Kenzo Tokunaga, a survey for 12 thousand public Junior highs and 38 hundred public high schools by MEXT showed data about English classes. Some schools answered that the English class is using English mostly. The first year in Junior high is 3.9%, the second year is 3.7%, the third year is 4%, and high school is only 1,1%. As you know, it is said that Japanese students do not have the opportunity to speak English in a foreign language class. Also, conversation between students and teachers is spoken in Japanese. For this reason, a lot of Japanese students cannot speak English.
There are two problems with Japanese English education lack of pronunciation instruction and speaking time. If these problems of Japanese English education are solved, Japanese people will be able to speak English better.

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Problems in English Education of Japan

Problems in English Education of Japan

February 21, 2023

By Nao Yasutake

Do you think English education system in Japan have effects on improving student’s English-speaking abilities? Generally, Japanese people take English classes for more than 6 years at the school. If people spend time to study English more than 6 years, it seems that people can speak English fluently. However, practically most Japanese people who have learned English at school can’t communicate well in English. It means Japanese English education system has failed to develop English speaking ability. There are three reasons for the lack of English-speaking abilities of Japanese English learners.
        English education system doesn’t provide enough time to practice speaking for students. Usually, English teachers spend most of time to teach English grammar and vocabulary for students at the lectures. Sometimes students have time to read aloud English textbooks during class, but the time to practice speaking English is overwhelmingly not enough in current Japanese English education. Sugita (2021) showed that only 10% of students answered that improving communication skill was most focused in their high school English education, and 20% of students answered improving all four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing were focused on high school English class. This survey results shows that only 30% of students felt they spent time to improve their speaking skills in English classes.
        English teachers use Japanese when they gave English lectures in Japan. Therefore, students have more time to listen Japanese than listen to English during English class. Traditionally, Japanese English education gives “Grammar Translation Method” for students. It is s study method that teachers instruct English grammar and vocabulary in Japanese, and students translate English sentences to Japanese. This teaching method has disadvantage to develop student’s English communication skills. According to Tajima (2013), “The problem is student can’t cultivate their abilities of listening and speaking English, because students and concentrate on Japanese”. As I mentioned before, students learn English grammar and vocabulary in Japanese, so they end up thinking in Japanese in their brains when they communicate with English speakers. This is one of a bad habit which disturb to communicate smoothly in English.
       Japanese English education doesn’t teach enough English vocabulary for students. It causes the problem that Japanese can’t communicate in English even they learn English for many years at school. Japanese people learn basic 800 English words at junior high school, and they learn advanced vocabulary at high school. The reason why high school English education suddenly teach difficult vocabulary because students are required understanding advanced long sentences in English in college entrance examinations. Inoue (2004) suggests that, vocabulary of Japanese English learners lack between basic 800 words and advanced vocabulary for college entrance examinations. Therefore, they don’t have most important daily conversation vocabulary (p.232). English education system doesn’t teach daily language for students, so Japanese people don’t have English speaking ability.
        There are three problems of Japanese English education system in terms of limited time to practice speaking English, the language of lecture, and the lack of English vocabulary. Current Japanese English education system isn’t organized to develop student’s speaking English abilities. Therefore, current English education system in Japan have to change the contents of the English lectures to raise students who can be active in global society in the future.

References
Sugita, Y. (2021). “Hanasukoto”no gijutsu kojoni tsunagaru kokoeigozyugyono arikata:
Kokoeigo zyugyoni kansuru daigakusei taisyono sitsumon chosano kakkakara [The best high school English class that promote the skills of “speaking”: Results of a survey of the high school English classes by college students]. JACET KANTO Journal, 9, 5-24
https://jpn01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstage.jst.go.jp%2Farticle%2Fjacetkanto%2F9%2F0%2F9_5%2F_pdf%2F-char%2Fja&data=05%7C01%7C%7C26579c5d0d5042b0047508db08a5ad75%7Cf11434e8abcf41f48154a9b2608dcd42%7C0%7C0%7C638113281079887345%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SesnMtU73%2BFqktN6OihPQpGxK3aw3kQ0My8a3dyQ5mo%3D&reserved=0

Tajima, H. (2013). “Eigode eigowo osierukoto”ni kansuru kenkyu [Regarding the survey of “teaching English in English”]. Teikyo University Department of Education Bulletin, 1, 77-85
https://jpn01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fappsv.main.teikyo-u.ac.jp%2Ftosho%2Fkyoiku-38-07.pdf&data=05%7C01%7C%7C26579c5d0d5042b0047508db08a5ad75%7Cf11434e8abcf41f48154a9b2608dcd42%7C0%7C0%7C638113281079887345%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DA25IbGxzrgL%2BAEElY6em%2FJCON7pLG1PGi5wzkfiUPs%3D&reserved=0

Inoue, K. (2004). Tsukau tameno daigaku zyuken eigo [English of university entrance examination to use practically]. Chikuma Bookstore

The Impact of Social Media on Long Distance Romantic Relationships

The Impact of Social Media on Long Distance Romantic Relationships

February 21, 2023

By Karua Ono

Have you ever missed your lover in a long distance romantic relationship? During a long distance romantic relationship, it is difficult to due to the physical distance. However, all couples in long distance relationships can talk face-to-face at any time thanks to social media. Couples can fill their own lonely hearts and share their feelings or current situations by using social media. In the following essay, there are three examples about the impact of social media on long-distance romantic relationships.
        Couples can share the same time even if their phsical distance are far by using social media. Thanks to the progress of technology, we can send messages easily and quickly because there are many social media sites such as LINE, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. According to a report by Morgan (2020), “communication is a great tool for combating relational issues in long-distance romantic relationships” (p. 2). By talking to their partners about funny or sad events of the day on the LINE every day, couples can relieve their loneliness of not being able to meet face to face and it can avoid conflict between them.
       On social media such as spotify, couples can share favorite pictures, funny videos and music. For example, we can make own playlist and share it to the other person by using sites like Spotify. By listening to the same music, we can feel connected with partner. According to a report by Morgan (2020), the impact of sending songs are “1) we just heard and really like and need to share 2) remind us of one another; a form of romance or intimacy 3) communicate in a way we can’t always put into words.” (p. 10). Also, according to the same report, sharing humorous content like sending funny videos and pictures is important to maintain a long distance romantic relationship (p. 9).
        The most important role that social media play a big role is couples can talk watching face each other in real time via video call. It is almost the same as speaking directly, they can feel like partner is in the same place. We can notice that changes of partners hair, make up, and facial expression. If there are no video call like Skype or Zoom in the world, long distance romantic relationship couples may forget partner’s smile or facial features.
        In conclusion, the impact of social media on long distance romantic relationship couple is very big without social media ,it would be difficult to keep a long distance relationship. However, the functions like messages, sharing music and video call make it possible to keep in touch.

The Effect of Social Media on Students Life Decisions

The Effect of Social Media on Students Life Decisions

February 20, 2023

By Tomoka Izumi

Do you know that social media have a big influence on your life decisions? Now that social media are part of the life of young people, they have a big impact when they make major decisions in your life, such as going to college or getting a job.
    Social media refer to blogs, social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter, video sharing sites such as YouTube, messaging apps such as LINE and other media in which users transmit and share information. Social media are characterized by the various mechanisms that promote connections among users and allow them to visually understand each other’s relationships. And social media has become an important part of the use of the Internet since the 2000s.
　　 Social media has influence on students when they enter college. Students who want to go to university in the future must first gather information about what kind of university they want to go to. And then using social media can help students. Many universities have an official Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. And there are posts about university events and student life. Then, prospective students can follow such accounts and see the social networking posts to find out what kind of university they are aiming for. Thus, social media can be very helpful for students who want to gather as much information as possible about the schools they are interested in.
　　Social media can also help students find jobs. Orido and Murata (2012) state that in recent years, the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter has attracted attention. They also noted that job-seeking students also try to appeal to prospective employers by disseminating information of themselves. In this way, social media are very useful for students not only to know information about companies, but also promoting their own information. And according to Orito and Murata (2012) social media also allow students to exchange information with each other and with alumni and alumnae. It is reassuring to be able to exchange opinions and information with other students who are seeking employment, and it can also improve motivation for job-hunting activities. Also, by talking directly with alumni and alumnae, students may be able to hear information that will help they find a job.
　    To summarize, using social media in this way has several positive impacts for students seeking for information of colleges employment. How about using social media to help you make big life decisions too.

References
Orito, Y. & Murata, K. (2012). Job hunting using social media and its influence over the construction of digital identity. 2012 Fall National Research and Presentation Conference, 291-294.https://jpn01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstage.jst.go.jp%2Farticle%2Fjasmin%2F2012f%2F0%2F2012f_291%2F_article%2F-char%2Fja&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cbed604f82fe2403d849208db0b656040%7Cf11434e8abcf41f48154a9b2608dcd42%7C0%7C0%7C638116303015753686%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=v%2Bnn50f9ANQhhEt9vh5O5I1F1Ndi4tddi95%2F1Btjuhk%3D&reserved=0
     Ministry of Internal affairs and communications. (2017). Changes brought about by the proliferation of social media. https://jpn01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.soumu.go.jp%2Fjohotsusintokei%2Fwhitepaper%2Fja%2Fh27%2Fpdf%2Fn4200000.pdf&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cbed604f82fe2403d849208db0b656040%7Cf11434e8abcf41f48154a9b2608dcd42%7C0%7C0%7C638116303015753686%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZB%2FY3Ygx%2BYw4qhB0w%2FcksB2RxXJfy7zyGqidR%2F7Er2I%3D&reserved=0