Driving Schools in Japan

My son, a high school student, got a letter from his future work place. The letter said he should get driving licenses for both ordinary cars and motorcycles. I thought he's going to go go driving school in April after graduating from high school because his school doesn't allow to go to driving school until then. He have to get a special permission for go to the school.
Unlike other countries, the cost of attending driving school in Japan is really expensive. It costs around 300,000 yen for a normal school. But you can go to one at a cheaper price if you could go to some intensive camping schools usually in remorte areas. It costs around 230,000 yen including a dorm and meal fee. Don't you think it's ridiculous?

KFC for Christmas in Japan

Perhaps many Americans would be surprised at a Japanese tradition at Christmas. Eating KFC at Christmas is popular among Japanese. KFC, of course, is the American fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken. KFC started the tradition in 1974 with a successfuladvertising campaign.
The catchphrase of the marketing campaign was ‘Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!’ (Kentucky for Christmas!) The copy hit with Japanese people and many people thought eating KFC or chicken was an American custom and seemed ultra cool.
Another tradition is eating a cake decorated with strawberries at Christmas. I'm not sure when it started but maybe because of a Christmas campain that some sweets shop did.

A miracle

This story comes from my wife who works at a shop in a local general hosoital. An old man came into the shop in a wheelchair with his wife. She said he had severe brain damage and became paralyzed on his right side. He was a former policeman and after retireing he worked as a security guard. His right side cannnot move anymore except for only one thing. He proudly gave my wife a smile and a perfect beautiful salute with his right hand!

Bitcoin

The other day, I listened to the radio and heard about Bitcoin. And sometimes I read some articles about Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not involved with any governments. Some Japanese guy invented the currency system. They say like gold, the amount of Bitcoin is limited and that's why it worth as much as gold. 

I can't understand well about Bitcoin because if I want to learn it I need high level math and computer knowledge. I wonder if I will use Bitcoin someday.

Marriage in Nepal

As I said, I took English private lessons several years ago. The teacher was a Nepalese woman and was just married with a Nepalese doctor's course student.

We talked about many things even I was not good at speaking in English. Marriage was one of the topics at that time. Her marriage was arranged by her parents because of their custom. She said they have to marry with the same caste and their parents decide who is the right person to marry. I asked if she wants to marry with a person against parents' will would you marry him? Her answer was no. She never thought against her parents. She first met her husband a month before her wedding day.

A beautiful English teacher

Several years ago, I took private English lessons from a beautiful Nepalese woman. The class took place once a week in a cofee shop and lasted three months. She came to Japan with her husband who took a doctor's course at Shimane University and she was an English teacher in Nepal.
The first thing she tought me was 'speak politely' It was really impressive for me and I think it's important for all language learners. People tend to want to speak casual way but it sounds rude sometime.
She went private schools in Nepal and learned all subjects in English. Of course local language were allowed in class at lower grade. To be continued, maybe.

Celebrate my son

My family had yakitori for dinner to selebrate my older son's acceptance for prefectural government employment tonight. He is a high school student but he doesn't want to go to college. He likes studying but doesn't like study for school. In fact, he has poor school record. Actually his record was second to the last. He studied only for the employment test since he was freshman at high school. That was all his decision. I really proud of him and my family had a wonderful time together.