I want to go to Antarctica for these reasons. First Antarctica would have some nature I canft imagine at all. It might be hard but I take it for granted that nature is difficult and severely cruel. I propose that human beings had better experience such true nature at least once in their lives. Secondly, we can study various interesting phenomena, like animals and global environment problems. I am curious to see an aurora, penguins and examine the ozone hole and CO2 concentration from ice columns. Thirdly, Antarctica brings you health. You may think you tend to catch a cold there, but there are no viruses that can cause a cold and sickness at all in Antarctica. So everyone is able to live healthy. But you must be careful of freezing to death. Finally an engineer from my lab has been to Antarctica for research for two years. He experienced many things generally people cannot do. I was envious to hear his story. Someday I want to live Antarctica.

A good restaurant is located at S6W8. The name is eKushizenf, and it offers ekushiagef in other words, pieces of pork and vegetable fried on a skewer. There are many kinds of creative kushiage, for example, tomato, eel, and cheese as well as the more common pork. You may be surprised to see fried tomato at first, but this is very delicious. Open daily from 11:30 AM until midnight. The restaurant is closed every Sunday. Why donft you try to eat there sometime?

I went to Mt. Usu last summer with my Korean friend, Jang. He had been studying in Japan for only 6 months. He said to me gI want to see a volcano because there are no volcanoes in Koreah. So I planned our driving trip. 

In the morning we first went to Hitsujigaoka, where there is the statue of Dr. Clark and a nice view of Sapporo. I was surprised to discover that Dr. Clark is known all over the world. Then we drove through Nakayama and arrived at Lake Toya. We had lunch there and walk to Mt. Usu. We could see almost to the mouth of volcano. I found the nature had threatened to destroy houses and roads. There were many tourists taking pictures and Jang asked me to take a picture. Although I didnft feel like taking photos because the explosion made heavy damage local people and I felt it might show a lack of prudence, I took some pictures so he would remember his stay in Japan.  Then we went home after taking a bath in an Onsen.

      It has been about one year since he went back Korea, but even now we send e-mail to each other. I think we will be able to meet again someday. Though each country has various problems, I believe Japan and Korea can compromise more and more.

              I think Arudo is right. His human rights have obviously been infringed upon. But I donft know whether he will win the lawsuit or not. In every country it is supposed to be difficult to win at judgment against the government, police and other public institutions.

Besides I think Otaru city has no responsibility to him. Why did he take Yunohana and Otaru city to court? I think Otaru city has nothing to do with this litigation. I have no idea about his real intentions and purpose. Not every Onsen prevents foreigners from taking baths. Why did he insist on entering in Yunohana?

Here is a cultural difference between Japanese and Americans as far lawsuits are concerned. Generally speaking, Japanese people prefer to settle a case out of court, while American people prefer to receive a fair ruling in the case. And in Japan it is a virtue to tolerate even something unconvincing, while in America it is a virtue to affirm definitely. Unless he understands this difference, he may be thought of as a busybody and be ridiculed for being motivated by money.

In fact he is right as was mentioned at the beginning, as he would no doubt well know how to take a bath and the appropriate manners at Onsen. But there is another kind of manners. It is this. An onsen should be a comfortable place to get rid of fatigue and refresh the body, not to gratify someonefs pride. I worry whether he will able to take bath comfortably in Yunohana after winning his judgment.

I have a Russian sister-in-law. I resent the fact that she canft enter that onsen even though she has a valid reason. But she doesnft feel that way. She said it is the truth there are many leg breakers in Otaru. Then I thought the worst person was the  Japanese customer who couldnft caution the noisy Russians directly. So he complained to Yunohana, and Yunohana had no other choice but to consider some measures.

In conclusion, Japanese people should have courage and foreigners in Japan should learn a symbolic Japanese word, gkikubarih.

‚hfound out for the first time about Audreyfs life after she finished acting. I thought she did a very good job and this couldnft be accomplished by anyone except her. I have come to regard her as charismatic actress. So Ifm looking forward to watching one of her films next time.

              By the way, in parts of Africa or Asia many children are suffering from starvation. I first knew about this fact when I saw a TV program about campaign finance for African children when I was a very young boy. That was about 20 years ago. However the circumstances still havenft changed. It is true public health is improving gradually, but their countries canft afford to provide pensions and social welfare.

 Why donft their circumstances change? The answer is the rapid growth rate of population. And I guess the death rate is not as high as the birth rate. In any era, in any area when the birth rate begins to fall, the quality of life rises for the first time. For example the Renaissance was caused by a virulent infection and fast economic growth in Japan stemmed largely from a lost war. Now it is possible to control the population without war or famine. What is needed is education especially for woman. People in countries suffering from starvation should have  fewer children. Generally speaking they have large families, because they look on children as the insurance for their old age. However there is not enough food and work to provide for children. Therefore it causes more poverty. So their circumstances are unchanged. We can volunteer to teach them that children are not insurance or labor and women have a right to choose whether or not to have children.

              According to the total production of wheat allover the world, there is enough to provide for children suffering from starvation. And Japan throws out about 20,000,000 tons of food annually. Statistics and economics cannot save people because they are used for the pursuit of benefit. The easiest and best volunteer activity we can carry out is to always remember the children suffering from starvation. I am studying about water and sewerage now. I hope I can work as an engineer in developing countries.