Secret US nuke pact

Vice foreign ministers had a "secret duty" to inform their foreign ministers of the clandestine Tokyo-Washington accord that has covered the handling of nuclear arms in Japan since 1960, a former vice foreign minister said Monday.

I am not surprised to hear the news. Because I have thought that something like that has happened between Japan and the United States. I hope the truth will be disclosed.

Ivanovic wins the third round

Ana Ivanovic defeated Samantha Stosur 7-5, 6-2 at the third round on Saturday. She performed very well according to the report. I'm looking forward to see her next match, against Venus Williams.

U.S. teenager Melanie Oudin defeated Jelena Jankovic. It was a really surprising result. I'd better notice her.

Federer advances 4th round

Roger Federer defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 on Friday. He moved to the fourth round.

I think Federer is playing very well. I expect he will win the title.

I'd better wait to buy new phone, PC

I want to buy a new phone and a new PC. But I am still thinking about that.

According to the report, new-generation cell phones will be released next year. New computers loaded with Windows 7 are going to hit the marketplace in Japan on October 22.

I had better wait and see now.

Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett

I heard the news of Farrah Fawcett's death this morning. And Michael Jackson also passed away. I feel very sad. I wasn't their big fan. But I know their great performance. May they rest in peace.

By the way, Michael Jackson was scheduled to have his comeback tour. It would be hard for the organizers to do its post handling, I suppose.

Habu defends Meijin title

Yoshiharu Habu Meijin defeated Masataka Goda 9-dan Wednesday at the Shogi Meijin championship final seventh match. Habu defended the title.

I think Habu had an easy win. There are some turmoils in the shogi world. I hope to watch exiting games at least. Good luck, Habu.

Sharapova leaves Wimbledon

Sharapova is out of the tournament. I'm so disappointed. I should have cheered her more. I'm going to sleep.

The first round of Wimbledon

Wimbledon began on Monday. My favorite players, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer, all advanced to the second round. I'm very happy.

I listened to Ivanovic's match on the Internet radio. Ivanovic was taken the match point. My heart beat rapidly. I was glad she won the game.

Well, Sharapova's match is going to start. I'll cheer her listening the Internet radio.

AYSOS

Unpopular Prime Minister Taro Aso and the Liberal Democratic Party are in anguish about the upcoming general election. When should they hold the election? That's a big problem.

According to the media, they are also considering changing their leader. But changing the leader again might well outrage voters.

I laughed before I know it. Are they stupid or something? Prime Minister Aso should seek the judgment of the people immediately.

Getting hotter and hotter

It's getting hotter and hotter. Summer is on its way. It seems like it's going to get hot this year, too. I have to take care of myself. And I have to pay attention not to heat up my PC too much.

Nadal withdraws from the grass-court Grand Slam tournament

Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon Friday because of his knees injury.

It is a sad news. And it makes a likely scenario that Roger Federer will win the Wimbledon title. I hope so.

The world economy to be in a lost decade as Japan?!

I read an interview with the Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman in The Japan Times. He said the world economy will stagnate just as badly, and for just as long, as Japan's did in the 1990s. Krugman also pointed out that we get deeply into debt.

I need to read the interview again more carefully to understand Krugman's idea. It is an important point at least that we get deeply into debt.

Tokyo more at risk than Seoul if another war with Pyongyang happens

North Korea would attack Japan if a war erupted as a result of efforts to implement recently strengthened U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang over its second nuclear test, a U.S. scholar said Wednesday.

According to the report, Selig Harrison, Asia program director at the Washington-based Center for International Policy, said North Korea would attack Japan because U.S. bases are in the country.

Nationalistic younger generals with no experience of the outside world are now in a strong position in the North Korean leadership while Kim Jong Il reduces his role in day-to-day management. All North Koreans feel threatened by U.S. nuclear arms deployed near their border. And they would be united if tensions caused by attempts to implement the sanctions should escalate to war. "In the event of another war with North Korea," Harrison also said, "it is Japan that North Korea would attack, in my view, not South Korea."

It is a terrible scenario. A lot of Japanese are frustrated with North Korea. If another war with North Korea happens, Japan may be very aggressive against North Korea.

Japan should step up diplomatic efforts, especially through China channel.

Wimbledon begins Monday

Wimbledon will start on Monday. The last year's final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer was fantastic. But its repetition seems to be difficult because of Nadal's injury. I expect Federer to win the title and make a new record of number of career Grand Slam titles.

On the women's side, I don't know who will be the champion. Three players have held the number one ranking already this year but two of them have never won a Grand Slam. Dinara Safina is top seed and Serena Williams is second seed. Of course I hope Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic will perform well. Gook luck Maria and Ana.

I sleep too much

I wanted to do several things. But I did nothing except getting a rest. I slept too long time. I was tired, wasn't I?

Daily habits

I introduce things what I do everyday due to learn and enjoy English.

1) I read The Japan Times about two pages, the front page and interesting stories.

2) I listen to the radio on the Internet, mainly the Bloomberg radio.

3) I post a story in this blog.

4) I watch TV drams in English such as "ALF" and "Full House," and English educational programs by NHK educational channel.

5) I read paperbacks. I have been reading "Billionaire who wasn't" recently.

6) I surf English websites. "The Onion" and "Dilbert" are my favorite these days.

7) I use "The New Victory Anchor English-Japanese Dictionary" as a wordbook.

8) I read some books for studying English.

I actually do 1, 2 and 3 everyday. From 4 to 7 are almost everyday. 8 is sometimes.

I feel my English is improving. I think the key of success is to enjoy English. Because it cause to continue learning English.

I want to command English fluently. I will enjoy English more.

It's frustrating to fail to make a draft

When I don't feel like writing a story, I just make a draft and save it. Somehow I fail to do it. Things like this happen. I will try again.

Sharapova advances first semifinal since return

Maria Sharapova reached her first semifinal in more than a year by defeating Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 Friday at Aegon Classic.

She seems to be below the mark. But she is gaining confidence gradually, I suppose.

She next plays Chinese Li Na. Good luck, Maria.

Nikkei 225 closes over 10,000 line

The benchmark Nikkei stock index rose Friday to 10,135.82 up 154.49 points, or 1.5 percent, closing above 10,000 for the first time since Oct.7, 2008.

Investors consider the worst situation of global economy to end and are increasingly concerned about risks of not owning stocks. However, there are growing worries among players that the market is overheating.

I'm still thinking about the direction of the market.

Teach English in elementary school

Almost every public elementary school across the nation has voluntarily started teaching English this school year, two years ahead of the scheduled implementation of new curriculum guidelines.

According to the education ministry, 58 percent of public elementary schools plan to hold at least 35 English lessons a year for children in the fifth and sixth grades as recommended in the new guidelines for foreign-language education. One lesson lasts 45 minutes.

As far as I know, these English lessons are consisted of simple conversation, playing games in English and so on. My impression of these lessons is kindergarten-style lessons.

According to the media, many teachers are poorly prepared and have worry about teaching English. I think the hours of teaching English are too short to get the results in the first place.

I think teaching English at elementary school is good. But it has a down side. I am afraid some students will lose interest in English.

Funemployment

I read an interesting story in The Japan Times. It was about "funemployment."

I have read the word "funemployment" for the first time. According to the story, it means the condition of a person who takes advantage of being out of a job to have the time of their life.

Millions of Americans who were laid off are struggling to find work as they face foreclosures and bankruptcy. But some people enjoy the time of unemployment. They don't spend their days poring over job listings. They travel on the cheap for weeks, head back to school or volunteer at the neighborhood soup kitchen. And at least until the bank account dries up, they are content living for today.

It is a happy unemployment life. I think the current recession in the US is not the worst circumstances. Because there are some people who can afford to choice their lifestyle freely such as funemployment.

By the way, I have a job. But I feel I am doing similar things.

Tetris has been so popular for 25 years

I found a story about "Tetris" in The Japan Times.

Tetris, one of the most loved computer game, was created by Alexey Pajitnov in June 1984. He was a 29-year-old mathematician in Moscow. Tetris was very popular from late 1980s to early 1990s.

It brings back memories. I had often played Tetris in amusement arcades then. I was not mad about Tetris because I was busy with work and I was mad about shogi. But Tetris was very fun. When I heard the man created Tetris was Russian, I felt it was strange. Because Russia was not a capitalistic country then.

I visited a Web site introduced in the article and played Tetris. It is really fun. I can't concentrate on my work. Ah!

The day of paper waste

Today is the day of abandoning paper waste. I put old newspapers and magazines out in the specified place. And I vacuumed my room. It was a bit cleaner than before.

I have improved in English recently. But other things have not been progressing as much as I hoped. I have to think about something to do.

Federer is the sixth career Grand Slammer

Roger Federer defeated Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 in the French Open final on Sunday at Roland Garros. Federer tied Pete Sampras' record of 14 major singles titles and became the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.

Great! Federer won on clay at last. He is the best player ever, I think.

I want to see his live match once.

Kuznetsova wins French Open

Svetlana Kuznetsova won the French Open title over Dinara Safina with a 6-4, 6-2 victory on Saturday.

It was her second Grand Slum title. There isn't real number one player in women's single after Justine Henin retired. I think Maria Sharapova will be number one if she completely recovers from her shoulder injury.

The Onion

I read The Japan Times as usual. There was a column. It was "Japan Lite" written by Amy Chavez. And I knew of "The Onion." It was said "America's finest news source."

What is The Onion? I looked up on the Internet. I read about The Onion in Wikipedia and visited its homepage. That's fantastic! I bookmarked it immediately.

Now I have one more thing to enjoy reading. I want to write funny stories like this, too. Thank you, Amy.

Here's The Opinion. Let's check it out.

Lost seventeen years, a man wrongfully convicted

Toshikazu Sugaya sentenced to life for the 1990 murder of a 4-year-old girl was freed Thursday from Chiba Prison after 17 years behind bars as prosecutors opted not to challenge a recent DNA test that did not link him with the victim.

There was another false accusation. Why did the court retry the case more early? The DNA test has been improving very much.

Sugaya is 62 years old now. He lost the prime of his life. If I were him, I never forgive the fact. I hope he will live the rest of his life happily.

The French Open ends?!

Maria Sharapova was defeated by Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-2 on Tuesday in the quarterfinal of the French Open.

Sharapova was playing in just her second tournament after her a layoff of nearly 10 months because of a right shoulder injury. I think she did her best. She will have a lot of trouble until her complete recovery. I believe that she will win another Grand Slum title.

Ana Ivanovic had gone away from the tournament. And Sharapova had gone away, too. The French Open ends for me:'-(

N. Korea named Kim's third son next leader

Kim Jong Il named his youngest son Kim Jong Un North Korea's next leader according to the report.

North Korea aims to be a nuclear-armed country. It is a very serious problem to Japan. I think Japan must not allow to equip itself with nuclear arms. But I am afraid Japan will be lack of policy about it.

If N. Korea has nuclear weapons, it would bring threats to South Korea, Russia and even China. I think it is the key to solve the problem.

I don't know what non-democratic countries do. It is terrible.

Nadal, Ivanovic eliminated from French Open

Four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal leaves the French Open. Nadal was defeated by Robin Soderling in the fourth round on Sunday. I don't think Nadal defeated by any player other than Federer.

Defending champion Ana Ivanovic also defeated by ninth-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-2, 6-3 in the fourth round on Sunday. According to the report, Ivanovic was most certainly not herself. I was very disappointed.

Kitao cancels membership of LPSA

Professional lady shogi player Madoka Kitao resigns on her membership of The ladies professional Shogi-players' association of Japan (LPSA). Kitao will play on freelance position.

It is a really shocking news. I know the news on the Internet this evening. I don't have the details. And I can't judge her decision yet. But there are little good news in the shogi world these days.