Tunisia terror attack

I feel my condolence to the victims of the terror attack at the national museum of Tunis, Tunisia. Among 23 victims, 3 Japanese are included. Another 3 more Japanese are injured. At the same time, I strictly condemn the suspects and the organization where they belong to. It is reported the organization has a strong tie with ISIS. ISIS is also condemned.

On the following day, there was another suicide bomb attack in Aden, Yemen and the death toll reached 137. At least 13 children are included in the number. A purported affiliate of ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.

I wonder how they could do such horrible things. I am concerned that the area and countries targeted and affected by ISIS are widening day by day.

20 years has passed since sarin attack happened

On this day today of 20 years ago, The Aum Supreme Truth cult made an attack by sarin, which is a colorless, odorless liquid that is used as a chemical weapon owing to its extreme potency as a nerve agent and caused that 13 people died and more than 6,000 injured.

At that time, I was a university student and lived along the Marunouchi Line which was one of the targets of the attack. I used to use Marunouchi Line at Shin Nakano station to the university of Tokyo which locates near Hongo 3 chome sation of Marunouchi Line. The time of attack was morning 8 am. I often got on a train around that time if I had a class in the morning.

However, as school was off at that day due to spring vacation, I had been back to my home town and away from the terror fortunately. I felt scared when I saw the news and received many calls from my friends.

It was a horrible crime and the suspects were arrested and the leaders have already sentenced death penalty including Chizuo Matsumoto, head of the Aum. They deserve death for their sins.

Shunto talks

“Shunto” is translated as Spring fight, which means wage negotiations between company and its labor unions. This year, pay scale hikes are record high in the major auto and electronics makers. However, wages of the small size companies are not raised as expected, the gap between major companies and small companies become wider.

School English education does not work

The education ministry revealed the results of English test for the 3^rd year high school students. It shows that 70% of them remains the level of middle school. It implies that the school English education does not work. Especially, speaking and writing are awful.

I guess the biggest reason of the result is that they are not motivated to skill up English because they are forced to learn English not for communication but for entrance exam for university. It is reluctant for most of them to study hard. Among other things, English is one of the most reluctant subjects with mathematics.

Students try to remember English words as many as possible without having a chance to utilize the words though it is more important to express with simple words in real communication.

I suppose the subject music should be more connected with English such as singing English songs or playing an English musical.

Momii should resign soon

It is found that the top of NHK, Katsuto Momii used the NHK’s official hired car for his private purpose.  An anonymous accusation was brought by an NHK employee the other day and Momii was questioned at the Diet committee over the incident. He acknowledged the fact and he insisted that he was going to compensate for the fee.

However, it is very inappropriate that he used an organization resource for his private purpose as NHK depends on its viewers’ fees. Large criticism may be anticipated as once the former top of NHK Katsuji Ebisawa was forced to resign when the fact that employees of NHK made a fraudulent accounting.

Momii should resign immediately.

Abe’s approval rate is falling

According to NHK, the latest approval rate of Abe’s cabinet is 47.6% down by 3.4% compared to the previous month. I guess money scandals of the ministers and the love scandal of a woman vice-minister affect the falling down. Abe cannot be arrogant as he now is.

The Univ. of Tokyo ranks the 12th

According to the “Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2015”, the best university is Harvard University. The second and the following top rank order is Cambridge, Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.

The University of Tokyo ranks the 12^th. It is the only university except for the USA and British universities ranking till the best 12^th. Seeing the top 100, the USA universities occupies 43 out of 100. It’s amazing.

I hope the university of Tokyo ranks within 10 as an alumni.