Kiva

source: Kiva.org

I made 4 loans.
This picture is one of them. The bird attracted a attention to me.

tai yaki（たい焼き）

Recently, It's too hot and the humidity is high in Japan. I dehumidify every day.

Well, I ate a Tai-yaki, fish-shiped cake filled with red bean past, after such a long time. It was good.

Sharing business

source: social apartment

Recently, I hear the word "Sharing business" often in Japan. Zip car is one of the examples which I previously wrote on my blog.

I wonder why sharing business is so popular now, but I reckon it's because of the eco-friendliness and the recession in Japan. Zip car is the prime example.

A shareed house are so popular in Japan. I have been to a lecture by the CEO who runs a company for house sharing.

According to him, houses which are on the prime location, have good designs, have a cozy living room and women-only are very popular.

Relax

I relaxed without thinking of school this afternoon.
I tryed to empty my mind.

I'll try my best tomorrow.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

FIFA.com

The World Cup is being held at South Africa.

Japan team played against Cameroon on 14-June and won the game 1-0. This result made me very surprise.

There is Japan's game tomorrow against Netherlands. I hope that it's interesting to match.

Rainy season（梅雨）

The rainy season has begun in Japan. We usually say "Tsuyu (梅雨)" in Japanese. It lasts for about one month.

Old school

I took a picture of my old school so I went to my hometown after so long.

As far as I see my old school didn't change in whole. But the nice gymnasium was build.

I felt nostalgic, I took a walk around my old school before I went destination.

Sweet tooth

It's a my today's desert of fruit jelly.
I would say that I have a sweet tooth.

Today I run but I just came home after a short while. Because it's begun to rain. It's really too bad.

Recently I find it much easier to run. After all, the most important thing is to keep running.

Odawara（小田原）- farm land -

I went to Odawara City to meet a person yesterday.

It's a good farm land.

Odawara（小田原）- castle -

The Odawara Castle is very small in the picture.

Touched the 100km line

I run again.
I am glad that I touched the 100km line since starting Nike+.

In fact, up to now it was short-lived every time I tried running in the past. I owe my friends and Nike+ to continue running.

Kiva

I made two loans!

Electric Vehicle

An electric vehicle was parked at the post office. I hardly see an electric vehicle near my house. However, it appears that there are electric vehicles at downtown Tokyo.

Toyota Prius is a good example of hybrid technology by Japanese automakers (although Prius has had some technical problems and some of them have been recalled recently).

I wonder which world automakers have strength in electric vehicle technology. Tesra Motros and BYD Auto may have better EV cars rather than Toyota.

Kiva

I made a new loan. I hope to her succeed.

cat

Ordinarily I run, but today I went walking. I had a tired feeling.
During walking, I met a walker. Maybe the walker feel luck of exercise as I am.

50km

Since I started Nike+, I run the total to 50km!
I run about 5km at one time. So it's 10 times.

I keep on running.

Roots of Empathy

I read an article about William Drayton who is a well known social entrepreneur Ashoka : Innovator for the Public. In the article, he mentions the importance of empathy for entrepreneur. And he introduced a program of increasing empathy for children. The program is "Roots of Empathy".

Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression among schoolchildren by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. The program reaches elementary schoolchildren from Kindergarten to Grade 8. In Canada, the program is delivered in English and French and reaches rural, urban, and remote communities including Aboriginal communities. Roots of Empathy is also delivered in New Zealand, the United States and the Isle of Man.

Source: Roots of Empathy

I think that this program is interesting. Unfortunately, the program is not yet implemented in Japan.

Kiva

I made a new loan to S.d.a. Primary School, Masanga Group.

Starbucks Via

Starbucks launched a new product, starbucks via. Simply put, it's instant coffee. But it's not just a ordinary instant coffee. It spent two decade of development period.
I immediately bought it, and I tried... Yep, It's delicious!!

There is just one thing I have on my chest, which is the branding strategy of Starbucks. This new product could damage Starbucks as a brand in the long run. Starbucks VIA is essentially an instant coffee to make at home, which doesn't go with the usual selling point of Starbucks. The current success of Starbucks is it's unique coffeehouse experience (the Starbucks experience) and being the neighbourhood gathering place (Starbucks is the "third place" where people would be after home and work / school). I think the new product will increase the sales of Starbucks in the short run but the same cannot be said of the long run.


I think we need more time to evaluate the new product.