Chrismas Wishes

A very happy holiday to you all!


I am on holiday time off and will be back after the Chrismas. Here are some links you can check out while enjoying the time off:

CSIS at iTune University (comments, interviews, etc)


Asahi Shimbun Yearend Special (great way to understand Japanese culture at the end of a year)


Yomiuri Shimbun's 10 Biggest News of The Year (Chinese Dumping Scandle is voted by the readers as the Top 1)


Xinua News Yearend review. (The title is What a Year!)

Career Lunch Party

Today I hosted a career lunch party at home.

Amid the first snow of the season in DC, eight people came from near and far, a total of 36 ideas were brainstormed and many of them are great and actionable.

Since my career councilor brought the idea to me in September, to today when the party took place, it has been a while. I am very glad I did it, as it was definitely worth the efforts.

Since it might be the first ever career launch party (I googled career launch party and found nothing, my 43 things list of "hosting a career launch party" came on the the top), many things need improving, such as more background information will be helpful for guests to propose ideas, etc.

However, for everyone who made it and presented at the party, I say, Thanks and You made the history!

Let me know what you think about the party and you can still write in your ideas, simply leave a comment or email me dongyangxiyang at gmail.

G-20 Finance Summit Opens In Washington DC

Leaders of the largest twenty economies are coming to the town, and on the way home, I was glad to sit on the Metro subway train and looking out only to see traffic jams everywhere inside the beltway. With a tightened security, including several blocks were closed to traffic around the National Building Museum, where the G-20 finance summit is being held, your best bet in DC, if you are not one of the White House invited guests, is to take the Metro.


With Washington DC takes over as the host city for the summit, Japan is already hoping to host the next summit


No wonder Japan wants to take the leadership from the U.S., you will understand after reading Prime Minister Aso Taro's Restoring Financial Stability published at today's WSJ Asia.


Hillary Clinton, the next Madam Secretary?


China will ban lip sync. Even the practice has been around for at least twenty years, it is coming to an end only after the Olympic scandal that has drawn worldwide attention.


India will replace China to be the most populated nation in the world by 2022.


Americans all over the country are in search for a place to stay in Washington DC around January 20 for the Obama Inauguration, will the mania catch up internationally too? Like.... Japan...


One Chinese market is booming from the financial crisis, students studying abroad. Shanghai sees more students going overseas to study. Reasons: lower tuition due to strong RMB currency rate, and more foreign schools lure Chinese students and easier to get a visa now than before.


Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit is being held Nov. 14-16 in Tokyo


Why Shanghai has to change policy on recycling PET bottles?

Obama Defeats Macain, Youth and Minority Win

Historic Moment in America!

The moment the news of Obama winning announced, I couldn't help but feeling good about the country. The country which has elected Nixon and Lincoln, tonight handed the reign to a black president, the first in its 221 years history. Next thing you know, some years from now, we may see a Asian American president.

Clearly, the win also signals that previously invisible groups such as youth and minorities finally take over their front row seats, and they came out to the politics in a strong force. Many first time voters, immigrates and youth, voted for change.

Around the world, people are cheerful about the result. One American friend told me, "Finally, America will be liked again". I certainly hope so. From what I heard back in China, it seemed many are very attached to the election and Obama, considering him as someone who comes to rescue of the poor.

I stayed up late to watch the election coverage and then analysis, I had to say that I liked both Obama and MaCain's speeches, both men delivered a very gracious and upbeat tone, however, one statement stuck in my mind is, "Yes, We Can!"

Some coverage from Chinese and Japanese media are:

Biden has been an asset to Obama will be one in Obama's Asian Policy


First Lady Elect Michelle Obama profiled by Japanese media


Blacks and Youth are the strongest Obama voters


Hu Jintao Congratulated Obama


Xinhua News: Warren Buffet among candidates for treasury secretary


Xinhua Analysis: Washington Needs Beijing more than ever

Halloween in China and Japan

Today's Halloween in the U.S., and in Tokyo, Halloween is fairly new thing and it seems Halloween is being celebrated only by foreigners, to be exact, drunk foreigners. Yamanote subway line has beefed up security to prepare for any misconducts by the "crazy" Gaijins, such as taking off clothes and sleeping on the racks, taking off lights inside the cars, etc.


In Shanghai, Halloween is becoming trendy, even it is not as big as Christmas, but young people who like parties still embrace it as another excuse to have some fun.


On the food safety fronts, China is recalling Japanese soysource due to a chemical is found.


Japan's Air Self Defense Chief was forced to resign for saying publicly that Japan has not invaded Korea and China.


And China reports the news promptly.

Food and Finance Crisis

A this Wold's Food Day, more tainted foods were found in Japan that were imported from China, this time, frozen vegetables. However, Chinese denied anything went wrong in its side. (TBS News)


Finance market went further down, after Dow closed down by over 700 points, Tokyo Nikkei is now dipping below 9000 level. No end is seen yet to the current wide spread crisis. (Nikkei Net)


Smaller, Better for auto?
Would you like to drive a car shorter than 3 meters made by Toyoda? (TBS News)

Worldwide Stock Market Crash

The Dow Jones Index dropped 687 points, in three days, the stock market has down over 15 percent, if you think that is scare, consider this:


Tokyo Stock Market dropped over 1000 points this morning, to a new low of 8,100. The Market has to shut down temporarily due to overwhelming sale orders. The scare feeling of no site of a bottom can be seen cause a wide spread selling. Where are the bargain hunters?


China, fears even worse than Japan, the Shanghai market dropped to below 2000, and one analyst predicated that if the Shanghai Index touches 2,000 point, the next target is 1,000. Around the same time last year, Shanghai Index reached over 6,000, that means two thirds of value has evaporated in a single year.