Autumn ARW

         I think autumn ARW was very helpful for me. Everyone was so busy and there were a lot of things to do for class. Moreover, some of the reading section was difficult to understand and long essay was hard to write, but I think it was good to do in this autumn. Especially, writing long essay was hard for me, and I did not have enough time to write. However, I think it was good experience to writing long essay, because it will be good for winter ARW and sophomore English classes. I changed my essay topic twice but I think I could choose the best essay topic, "Child Adoption",  and it was fun to research and write about it. I was so lucky to have Mark for my autumn ARW teacher. I think most of (actually everyone in) the BG think same way.  Thank you, Mark!!!
        

Reaction to Diamond

     The common sense about race is that divide the people into group with their skin, eyes, or hair color, says Diamond. All human are in the same species but they look different with people to people. Old people think that a trail which one race has is not shown in other race, but it is not true. Diamond explain the idea with using warblers and whistler. He explain the "concordant" that same racial classification species has difference of their looking or habitat. Diamond believe that racial classification with their looking may cause mistakes. He argue that system of racial classification with different appearance is the most unnecessary thing to do in our life.
     I agree with his thinking of not using the appearance or different hair, eyes, or skin color for the racial classification. I though this article is a little bit difficult to understand, especially the part that he talks about  "concordant", but it was very important to understand, in order to know his main idea. It is natural for us that different racial group has same habitat or same classification group has different appearance. However, it is not usual at the old time, so we need to know that and change our old types of thinking.

Child Adoption: How Should We Improve the System of Adoption in Japan

           “I am an adopted child.” My American friend told me with a natural voice tone　and smile. It is awkward to speak out and unusual to hear that in Japan, but it is common in the U.S. Children adoption means that responsibilities of the child transfer to the adopter. The adoptee will be orphan children or children who have parents but they cannot take care of their own child. The adopters could be either a person from relatives or not a relative person. According to Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, there are 31,593 orphans in Japan. It is more than about 1,000 orphans than 2008. The Japanese orphans’ age average is 10.6, and they became orphans when they are 5.9 of age on average. In Japan, children adoption is unusual and there are two systems, which is regular and special adoption, so it is a little complicated. Japanese citizens should learn and know more about children adoption, should be aggressive to it with in country adoption and international adoption, and the Japanese government should make the system simple for the both Japanese and foreign adopters.

Japanese children adoption is getting lower every year. There are two possible reasons of that. The first reason is about the system. There are two systems of the children adoption in Japan. One is Regular and the other is Special adoption. Regular adoption is made agreement between children’s parents and adopters. In addition, children’s position on the family register is shown as “adopted child”. On the other hand, Special adoption is thinking for children, because children’s position on the family register is “real child of adopter” and original parents cannot interference for the child. It means that children could have a “real” family and it is recommended by organization of child adoption these days. However, the number of the Special adoption is 300 to 400 and it is getting lower and lower. It was 1223 adoptions in 1989, when the special adoption started (Yoshida 78). Special adoption is good for both children and parents, but it is difficult to do and takes much more time. For example, for special adoption, adopters would have 6 months of trial for adoption.

The second reason is people’s thinking. In Japan, adoption is still unusual and Japanese citizens do not know much about adoption. It makes it hard for Japanese people to do adoption and even decreasing the number. Adoption is more a natural thing in the U.S. People in the U.S. do adoption not only because they cannot have their own children but also after they got old and they still want to have another child. Japanese people tend to think that if they could have their own child, they do not have to adopt. In addition, Japanese are not accepting to mix with other blood or different culture. (Adoption.com) Sometime, it is just because they are not familiar with other culture and different kind of thinking. However, some strict Japanese people do not accept foreign children to come as adopted child or foreign people to have Japanese children.

               Children adoption should be increased, because it is good for both parents and children. According to American Pregnancy association, adoption is one of the choices for mothers or parents who cannot have children (“Adoption Options”). It is the last choice for sterile mothers or parents. There is a case that some old parents who already raise their own child and adopt another child after they got old. It is usual in the U.S. and it could be another chance for adoption. Further more, there are benefits for orphans to be adopted. Children could have parents and they will love and raise children. Having parents and experiencing family life is good for children’s lifetime. Orphan children should live with family and have parents than spend whole their lifetime in orphanage. According to NPO interview, it is important for children’s personal growth to have family time and loved by people at the early childhood because their personality will be depends on family time. In addition, children learn kindness from their family the most. Therefor, adoption is necessary and it will be good for children.

The first solution for increasing adoption is solution with in country adoption. If Japan keeping strict for international adoption, especially the cases of foreigners adopt Japanese children, in country adoption should be more increased. Although Japan decided to start the special adoption for better adopting, it is still difficult and takes time. In addition, Japanese do not understand or do not know much about the adoption, so that Japanese government should release information. Both government and adoption organization should tell story and do more PR for the Japanese citizens about the adoption. It is one good way to solve the present situation of in country adoption. People know the system or adoption more it will lead people to adopt children more often and it will become familiar for Japanese society. At the same time, the system should be easier. Now a day, many adopters want to adopt child with special adoption, because adoptee will be shown on the family register as their “real child”. However, for special adoption, Japanese government makes adopters to have 6 months trials and after that they will be judged by family court for adoption. It is necessary to have 6 months trial, but examination could be start at the same time as trial. Japanese adoption system could be improved.

                  The second solution is about international adoption. These days, international adoption is common and there are lots of adoption associations. There are 32 cases of international adoption, which means the case of the American families adopted Japanese orphans, in 2010 (“Intercountry Adoption”). In addition, there are many add of sinternational adoption and American people get adoptees from many different countries. Some of the countries are China, Korea, India, and Mexico, which are all open to intercultural adoption. Japan is open to intercultural adoption, but it is what happened recently. Japanese government is not aggressive to adoption as the U.S. government. According to the Embassy of the United State, for example, put the ad or information of the adoption up on their HP and it explains that how to international adoption in Japan works or which organization will help it.

               In conclusion, to improve adoption in Japan, the government must make the system simple and do PR more about adoption. As mentions above, children adoption has benefits for both parents and children. Children could have family time in their life and it will connect with their personal growth. In addition, parents who surely love their adopted child could have their own child by the system of adoption. Therefor, Japan should be more aggressive of adoption. It is possible to think both international adoption and in country adoption. There are 31,593 orphan children in Japan, so Japanese should take care of them as country, government, and personal. For the future, Japanese should solve in country orphans problems and have to see adoption or orphans in the world. Moreover, Japanese adoption would be more usual and easier, and much more children could live with family and loved by them.

Works Cited

"Adopting from Japan: Factsheet, Page 2." Japan Adoption - International, Agencies, Programs, Information, Costs - . N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://japan.adoption.com/foreign/adopting-from-japan-factsheet,2.html>.

“Adoption.com International Adoption Support.” Adoption Forums, Group, Baby Adoptions. N.p., Web. 20 Oct. 2011.

<http://forums.adoption.com/international-adoption-support/291207-anyone-ev

er-adopt-japan.html>

"Adoption Options: American Pregnancy Association." Promoting Pregnancy Wellness: American Pregnancy Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.americanpregnancy.org/adoption/adoptionoptions.html>.

"Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan." Home | Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-adopt.html>.

"Intercountry Adoption." Adoptions Home | Intercountry Adoption. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=japan>.

"Japan Adoption Requirements - Adopt.com." Adopt a Child Adoption - Adopt.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.

<http://adopt.com/japan/index.html>.

Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. "Jidou Yougo Shisetsu Nyusyo Jodou Tou Chousa Kekka no Gaiyou [Summary and Result of the research of Orphans, Orphanage, and etc. in Japan]." Kousei Roudou Sho [Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare]. N.p., 1 Feb. 2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jidouyougo/19/index.html>.

NPO Baby Pocket. Email interview. 20 Oct. 2011.

Yoshida, Hifumi. “Tokubetsu Youshi Seido no Seiritsu Katei [The Process of Establishing the Special Adoption System].” Ritsumeikan Ningen Kagaku Kenkyu Ronbun [Treatise of the Ritsumeikan’s Human Science]. 4 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.

       <http://www.ritsumeihuman.com/publication/files/ningen19/19_77.pdf>

Reaction to Shreeve

     How to use the word "race"? That is the Shreeve's main question. He explain that the word race is difficult to use and it is different definition from people to people. Sometimes, people think that their race is what they look like or where they born. Moreover, people may have gap with the race what they thought and their biological race. In addition, Jonathan Marks says that people's race is same as their cultural category, so people cannot divided into group by only one category. On the other hand, Alice Brues and Vincent Sarich think that there is no problem to use the word "race" and it is good to grouping people. it could work for identify people to people and define they are developed person or not. Shreeve conclude the article with the definition of word "race" is depends on what people think the difference and what the question is.
     This article made me think with the my definition of the word "race". It seems easy to use the word race, but there is no clear definition of that. So, it is really depends on user of the word and the meaning could be easily change.

Reaction to Golud

     In Gould articule, there is Blumenbach's idea of "race" introduced. Gould thinks that Blumenbach made big mistake with spreading idea of race and his thinking of race is so different from now days. Blumenbach thought human race starts from white people called "Caucasian" He explain with the race as the most beautiful race. He got idea of the race from his teacher Linnaeus. Linnaeus divided the human (Homo sapiens) into four varieties. It was Europaeus (Caucasian), Americanus, Asisticus, and Afer (African), and Linnaeus divide the varieties by geographic way. However, he define these varieties with personality or characters, so people think there are ranked by the beauty of looking. Therefor, Blumenbach add the four race system to Malay and he ranked the race. Gould think he should not make such a misunderstanding change to the world. In addition, he thinks that people should have correct view for "race".

     I think Blumenbach and Linnaeus's view point is interesting, because they were not try to divide the human with ranking them but they did by accident. However, Blumenbach made the five race system and it was obvious that he divided human with developed or not and it was ranked. I think we should know the historical thinking and learn not to do that again. 

JLP&ELP

           It was so much fun to have ELP&JLP exchange class. At the JLP time, the topic got me think about Japan more. Our group's topic was "日本人と外国人" and I never think the difference. Some of JLP students have negative image of Japanese personality. For ELP time, I think it was good chance to hear different opinion about my essay topic. I could realize what I was not think about or have not done researching. Their opinion was different point of view with Japanese people and it was new for me, so it was great time for me.
          I think every ELP or JLP class should do that. It is useful and good chance to make new friend, too. :)

Essay Topic

I am thinking that my essay topic will be something connect with intercultural communication and study abroad.

In my opinion, student should go studying abroad, learn different culture or language, and study different thinking way or systems. However, the number of Japanese people go studying abroad is decreasing. The issue is how the Japanese government increase the number and why they should do so. In addition, we need to know what is the benefit of going abroad for studying. I am also wondering what other country do for problems for study abroad how does it work and why not Japanese government does not do anything for this problems. If the government do something, why does not work?
Those are my possible essay topic.

Reaction to Fisher

           I liked to read the article, "Perception Of Self" by Fisher, because it was interesting to read. In addition, it was pretty easy to read, because it easy to connect our own experiences. What I was most interested in was the section "Perception Is Inaccurate". It is, of course, true but people do not think that way. Fisher said, Perception is experiential, selective, inferential, evaluative, and inaccurate. I think people tend to believe their own perception is most likely true and correct, because they see things with their own past experiences, select what they want to believe or see, inference if necessarily, or evaluate with their own view point. However, Fisher said perception is more likely incorrect. When I read this Fisher's explanation was so natural for me, but we do such thing as normal thing. In my opinion, it is important to know perception is different with people to people. Furthermore, it is important to understand those perception could be inaccurate.

Reaction to Barna

                I thought the content of Barna is interesting. For some part, I know about it and I could totally agree with. Language difference and some biased view or assumption are of course would be the difficulty of intercultural communication. In addition, many people tend to do easily and people do not realize their misunderstanding or prejudice. I may have prejudice or arbitrary assumption when I communicate with person who is from different culture or who has different way of thinking. Furthermore, some part like “High Anxiety”, I never thought that it would be the difficulty of intercultural communication. At this part, I had fun with reading and study new things. 

Summer Reading Book Reaction

          The Giver by Lois Lowry

          I chose this book, because I have heard the name of the book and it says, “There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community” for the synopsis of the book. I could not get the meaning, so I was interested in and wanted to read the story.
          The main character of the story is Jonas, who lives in the Community and 11 years old. He is excited to be 12, because he will be assigned for a job. When he becomes 12, he is assigned for the Receiver of the Memory. It is very special job for the community, so that Jonas is afraid of having the job. Jonas receives a lot of memories from the Giver, like snow, sunshine, color, and even feelings. It is all that the community does not have and they cannot see any colors. People in the Community takes pills to stop their emotional feelings. All because of the thinking way of "sameness". Jonas begins to have questions about the community and he escapes from the community for change them.
         I liked the part, which Jonas receives memories. Especially, when he receive the memory of the color or feeling of Love. At first I was surprise that they do not have colors and some kind of feeling. At the same time, I could not image the Community and interested in the story more. I did not like the part, which Jonas gets the memory of the feelings of anger or pain, and memory of the war. However, it shows importance of the knowing those things. This book made me think about the "sameness". At first, I thought sameness is not good for our life, because we should have individual and we should have chance to choose by our own opinion. However, if there are organized by sameness, we will not have fight or feeling of hates. I thought it would be nice to have sameness for some time at the right point, but I do not really know nor it may be different thinking by person to person. 
          I really enjoyed the book, "The Giver", so I hope my section mate will read it someday in the future.

Summer/Autumn ARW

          I had a GREAT SUMMER VACATION! I went to the beach, went to Osaka, did firework,  visited my grandparents, went to amusement park, and  so on. What I did most in this summer was dancing. I belong to Smooth Steppers and I had a lot of practice. Sometimes, I practiced dancing 7.5hours in a day. Practice was hard, but I like dancing and I really excited about ICU festival, so that it was good time and I will continue  practicing for ICU festival.
          I am not really ready for study hard, because I do not feel like the autumn term. However, I want to study hard for writing essay. I am not good at writing. I want to learn how to write good long essay. This term will be so hard, because this term is short but I have a lot of things to do. Reading section will be also hard, so that I will use my time effectively and study hard.