Good Reading on China

I just finished reading a book, "Oracle Bones" by Peter Hassler, who worked as a freelance journalist for Boston Globe, New Yorker from 1999. Previously a English teacher and a peace Corp volunteer in Sichuan, Peter wrote his first book, River Town-Two Years on Yangtze, about his teaching in China.

Aimed to introduce China to American audience from its past to present, Oracle Bones did a good job in putting together such significant events and sensitive issues such as Beijing bid for Olympics, Urygur minority's fleeing from the country, Falungun, etc, mass demolishing historic areas in Beijing, etc, it also used the author's quest for prominent academics of Oracle bones-Chen Mengjia, as a thread to put together China's old glories and its new realities.

It is certainly helpful to know nowadays China better by reading Oracle Bones.

China Japan News Roundup

• Tickets for 2008's Beijing Olympics will be on sale starting next year, total 700,000 tickets will be sold through Internet and telephones. The number of tickets available for pubic to view openning ceremony will be about 60,000. (asahi)
• 
  China successfully launched a first MIC (made in China) broadcasting satelliate in Xichang, Sichuan province. (Niikei)
• 
  A top officer from Japan's ruling party-Liberal Democarcatic Party(LDP), Shoichi Nakagawa, held a TV conference with Taiwan's president Chen Shuibian. Chen called for a trilateral conference among Taiwan, Japan and the U.S. to discuss corss Taiwan Straits issue. (Yomiuri)

Laowai Superwoman in Beijing

Just when everyone in China thinks that it happens all the time and it is not dangerous and illegal to drive within bicycle special lines, a nicely dressed laowai superman steps in and insists changing this bad behavior.

However, even the fact that she is a laowai(foreigner) in China, she is a lady and she is politely smiling all the time doesn't stop her from being smashed by the Chinese drivers. Her bicycle was even taken away and thrown to the ground, however, the laowai lady was so determined to stop the drivers, she turned around and still stop her bicycle in front the violated car, insisting the driver to use the car lines instead driving inside the bicycle lines.

Viva and Bravo to the Laowai Superwomen!

Halloween in China:wedding

Just when most of the U.S. is embracing annual Halloween, when kids turn themselves into princes, vampires, superman and ninja, and adults turn themselves into kids, in China, Halloween is just to catch fire.

A bridal photo place promotes a package for new wedding couples, some photos include vampires series, prehistory sets, prison wedding sets, etc.

Any tricks for the treat of the photo for me?

Rice: US is to Denfend Japan

US secretary of state, Condi Rice, giving a speech on her last week's trip to Japan, China, South Korea. When being asked U.S.'s reaction to weather Japan should develop its own nuclear weapons, a topic that is hotly debated inside Japan, including both Japan's FM Aso and Defense Minister Kyoma, Ms. Rice promised that the United States will follow US-Japan Security guarantee agreement , and will defend japan.

Youtube vs. Toodou(土豆）

After Google bought Youtube for 1.65 billion dollars, Youtube MIC(made in China)-Toodou gets a lot of attention. If you are somehow like me, like reading technology news across the Pacific occean, you will notice there is Chinese search engine that a MIC of Google, Beidu, at the first trading day at NYSE, the price of Beidu jumped over 200 dollars per share.

Does Toodou has a Beidu future, too?

I doubt it. Youtube takes off on its speciality in video uploading and sharing, and speed of the website plays a big role in Youtube's success. However, I tried out Toodou and found it is sooo slow. It takes 15 seconds waiting for the homepage to open, and after clicking a title, it takes 30-40 seconds for the video to appear. While I tested Youtube, both tasks take less than 5 seconds.

Why is Cat's pee so smelly?

Have you ever wondered why your Neko-chan(pet cat) pee so smelly? I did, just one week ago when the boy cat peed by livingroom's windows. I barely had time to react, all in a sudden, the room is smelled like rotten rate house.

So, Why Cat's pee is way more smelly than human?

A Japanese research team in Rikagaku Research Institute and Iwate University, gave out their answers.

In human's case, only when a person is having kidney dieases, the pee will be consisted of large porton of protein, however, in cat's case, even when a cat is healthy, his/her pee will be filled with protein. Among the protein, one kind of amino acid is extremely smelly.

To know more, check out the Japanese report here.

Japan's Demon wife(鬼嫁)

A popular Japanese blog becomes a hot topic recently, named as " 鬼嫁"(Oniyome dairy)(Demon wife's dairy)", a Japanese housewife writes about everything she does considers to be "bitchty"in Japan. The blogs gets so popular that a TV drama shows was made by Fuji TV later last year. A woman dominating household where a houseband is subject to all kinds of "abuse" by his pretty wife is still rare in Japan.

In real life, even Japan is still a society that is heavly dominated by men, however, Japanese women, especially housewives, certainly have a say on making decisions.

Check out the Blog 鬼嫁日记 here and the TV show page here.

China stops flight to Pyongyang

One of the big three airlines in China, Southern Airlines stops its flight from Beijing to Pyongyang amid a stong urge by US Secretary of State Rice to strengthen sancitons over North Korea. The three flights a week will be stopped immediately, and will not be resumed until further notice. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Faced by a possible second round of North Korea's nuclear tests, China sent its top diplomat-Tang Jiaxuan to Pingyong, how Kim Jung Il will follow China's direction will be a big question mark. (Asahi Shimbun)

Car sales in China grows 31.4% from Jan-Sept this year, driven by a strong demand for light cars. (Niikei Net)

DC Asian Mania:Animals

DC Asia Mania goes on,from lots of academic discussions on China, Japan and South Korea, to a new Asia Trail in the Naitonal Zoo.

Asia Trail is home to seven Asian animals: sloth bears, fishing cats, red pandas, Japanese giant salamanders, clouded leopards, Asian small-clawed otters, and giant pandas. The star is certainly the Baby Panda Taishan, now 15 months old has its own webcame on the Internet.

Openning ceremony for the Asia Trail is from today to 21st. If you are in DC, it may be a good place to hang out. For these of you who are outside of DC, Check out the site here.

Song Zuying in DC

Chinese Singer宋祖英 (Song Zuying) was spotted around the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Saturday, and she is in town for a solo concert.

Watch the video clips from Xinhua.

China all over in DC

Once in a while, all kinds of talks about China, from its policies toward North Korea, to impact of its energy policy to the world. Today around DC, there are following events on China,

8:30 a.m. -- The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission holds is second open meeting to prepare its annual report to Congress. Topics to be discusses include: China's regional, and energy activities, China's financial system and its effect on the United States, and China's proliferation to and relationships North Korea and Iran.

8:30 a.m. -- The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) holds a discussion titled, "China's Challenge in Strengthening its Energy Security." Participants include Delly Gallagher of the Energy Technology Innovation Project; Jeff Logan of the World Resources Institute; and Minxin Pei of CEIP.

12:30 p.m. -- The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) holds a discussion titled, "Toward a New Market Architecture: China's Recent Financial and Stock Market Reform," with Yang Yanqing, assistant editor-in-chief of China Business News.

Dating in Beijing, Shanghai

For young Chinese couples in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, finding a romantic place is always hard. Home is a big NO, NO, as traditionally Chinese homes are small and cramped. Several years ago, a couple would go to a McDonald's or KFC's, where the fast foods chains serve western foods such as hamburgers, fried chickens to young people who are willing to try new things and can afford them.

Nowdays, Shopping becomes trendy for young city hippies. Beijing Wangfujing (王府井）and Shanghai's Xintiandi (新天地)offers both Chinese brands and Western luxury stores. Kind like a Mall in the U.S., Xintiandi in Shanghai offers fasion stores, restaurants, movie theaters and fitness center. (See a Japanese article on Nikkei Net)

North Korea Nuke Clearing House Event

CSIS(center for Security and International Studies) held a press briefing on North Korea, With four experts/former Clinton/Bush administration officers giving their takes, I consider it as a Clearing house event for North Korea's recent Nuclear test.

Participants are: Kurt Compbell and Jon Wofthal(officers in Clinton era) vs.Michael Green and Derek Mitchell.

There are a lots of insights regarding China, South Korea, Japan and further implicaitons. Check out the full transcripts here or/and watch the video here from C-span.

Chinese woman tops list of the Richest

Zhang Yin, a Chinese women business owner tops the list of the nation's 500 richest people, with a worth of $3.4 billion according to the annual Hurun Report. By exporting recycled paper to China and eventually produce high quality paper products from two factories in Dongguan, Guangdong, Zhang's story indicates the new Chinese rich that is rised from scratch to become billionaires. (Marketplace)

Kim helps Abe:China Japan News Roundup

North Korea Nuk is still dominating both China and Japan's attention, it even overshadows the Abe's visit to China and South Korea, Here are some highlights,

1. Is Abe getting a helping hand from North Korea's Kim? New York Times this article thinks so.
2. Abe gets not only Chinese top leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiaobao's hospatility, he also gets fanfare in China. Washington Post article reports.
3. China is obviously concered about nuclearanization of Japan after North Korea's bang, Xinhua news agency put out an article to assure China itself that Shinzo Abe still claims that Japan will stick to Non-Nuclear three principles. (Ff you so believe what a politican says...)
4. Even there is clear difference between Shinzo Abe and Hu Jintao in many problems facing SinoJapan realtions, and Abe didn't say he is not going to visit Yasukuni, as China repeately insisted. A commentary of Yomiuri Shimbun still think, the weekend Sino-Japan summit achieved substancial results.

China turns deaf on Abe's new controversy

Shinzo Abe, during a Japanese Congressal Q&A session, said,” According to Japanese law, WWII class-A war criminals are not criminals." Major Japanese media, even conservative Yomiuri Shimbun reported the statement; however, there is nowhere to be found in Xinhua News agency's website.

Compared to first time reporting of Koizumi's every statement on history and Yasukuni, Chinese government suddenly turns deaf to Abe.

What have changed?

Obviously, Hu Jintao wants to make a friendly environment for talks with Abe over this weekend. However, considering Abe's Yasukuni visit this year and strong stance on China, there is little to be expected from the talks. If Abe can open a door for further talks between the two leaders, I consider that to be a big Achievement.

A gift for today's Mid-Moon Festival? Happy Mid-Moon Festival to all!

Shinzo Abe(安部晋三)=Shintaro Ishihara（石原伸太郎）

Following my previous post, American journalist and author, Michael Zielenziger thinks that the new Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe has someone at his back, an ultra-conservative, governor of Tokyo, author of "Japan can say No", Shintaro Ishihara.

In his words, Zielenziger said, Shinzo Abe's weekend trip to China and South Korea is more a symbol, the result from these meetings will be extremely limited and a breakthough cannot be expected.

Is he right on Shinzo Abe and his first trip to China?

Japan according to Michael Zielenziger

I just came back from a discussion with Michael Zielenziger, author of “shutting out the Sun: how Japan created its own Lost Generation” at New American Foundation in Washington DC.

Some of Mr. Zielenziger’s points are:

1. On Japan in general：Even politicians start talking about Japan’s withdraws from deflation, Japan is not back yet. Compared to American’s growth rate of 3-4%, Japan grows at .2%, and national debt is 127% of Japan’s GDP.

Socially, Japan’s young people are isolated into their own world. A survey shows that nearly 50% of people under 25 years old have Zero friends of opposite sex.
Japan’s population is about half as many as that of the U.S but has same suicides.
Young women, called Parasite, live with their parents and don’t marry and bear kids until their 40s.

2. On Hikikomori: like NEET (Not in Education, Employment, Training), a social withdraw group. Most of them are men, and can’t be diagnosed. In his book, Mr. Zielenziger cited a young man called Kenji, who was bullied in school, decided to stay home to relieve social stress, and days turned to weeks, months and years。 Kenji has been locked himself in for two decades.

3. Roots for Japan’s failure: Japan knows how to make computers, cars, but never engages the system of innovation, appetitive for risks, check and balance of a civil society, NGOs and Watchdogs, etc. In Japan, individual expression is nowhere to be seen.

It seems Japan takes the Bullet train from a federal society to an industrialized nation, without a systematic modernization.

How to correct the problem? A Japanese men, who provides schooling for Futoko(refusing to go to schools), told Zielenziger, “there are Two things to teach: 1. choice, 2. responsibility

According to the author, even Japanese people express their frustrations over lack of changes, they say only changes can be done through “Kurofune (black boat)” or “A-bombs”

You can check out a video of the event here.

Hikikomori(引きこもり): Japan's lost generation

Just when news of laptop batteries made by Sony and cars made by Toyota got recalled flood the consumers worldwide,another Japan's problem draw attentions everywhere, being called "Japan's lost generation", Hikikomori(引きこもり)is the young people, most of them are men,give up on schools and society, and lock themselves in a cramped room inside their homes. there are 1-2 millions Hikikomori in Japan.

Is there is a relationship between Japanese falling quality and the anti-social, lost generation?

American journalist, writer Michael Zielenziger explores the topic, and in his book, Shutting out the Sun: How Japan Created its own Lost Generation" , he shows how Japan's social problem has affected its reputation as King of Quality.

China and Abe are on Honeymoon

Xinhua news agency, the Chinese government's mouth, is having a harmony with new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Xinhua not only puts Abe's photos permanentlyon its top page, International news section, but praise Abe's every move and word on Sino-Japan relations. For example, when Abe reiterate Murayama's statement on Japan's aggression during the WWII, and he has nothing further to offer, China's Xinhua put out a headline, praising Abe for "determination to build solid ties with China and South Korea".

No doubt China is having a high hope for Abe's visit to China this weekend, and China has restrained from critizing Abe for being more right wing than Koziumi. The result, will see...

Anime Mania in China, Part II

Animemania in China is going even bigger, the first ever Anime Exhibit opens in Beijing, over three hundreds fans line up outside the door waiting to enter.

Even Chinese government encourages Animation products to be MIC(made in China), and it even put out an order banning TV stations broadcasting foreign products during golden hours(6pm-7pm), however, Japanese comics books and characters dominate the exhibit.

To compete with established Japanese Anime, China has a long way to go. Chinese fans care more about good ones than MIC ones.

Shinzo Abe is to visit China this weekend

China Japan News Roundup:

1.New Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is planning a trip to China and a talk with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Oct. 8. It is certainly a chance for the two leaders to improve ties, and Abe's first trip to China and South Korea also highlights his determination to have a better relationships with the two neighbors.(Asahi Shimbun)

2.A 29 year old Chinese national in Tokyo is sentensed to death, for killing a Japanese couple four years ago during a robbery. (TBS news-製麺所夫婦殺害、中国人に死刑判決)