Being Vocal and Take Action

(unrelated picture: the new prime minister of Japan, Hatoyama Yukio and his wife, Miyuki when they were young. Picture taken from The Independent)

Albeit the fact that I am supposed to write a 2 A4 pages essay for Panasonic Essay Contest, I ended up writing some nonsensical stuff here. Writing in Japanese is quite a new thing for me, considering my shaky intermediate level of the language, especially in kanji/漢字(the Chinese character) and bunpou/文法(grammar). I admit I still have a long way to go in mastering Japanese verb conjugation and bombastic vocabulary.

And I'm dying to read Murakami Haruki pieces in its original language.

I am currently reading the online homepage of Al-Jazeera regarding concern voiced over climate change all around the world. News in Japan has focused on their new prime minister, Hatoyama Yukio speech in United Nation meeting in New York regarding Japan's upcoming 25% CO2 reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 level. Some commented that it is a very high aim for Japan to cut that much, especially with pressure from the industrial sector (like Keidanren/経団連/Japan Business Federation) and current economic condition.

Whether Japan will succeed on its vision to save the earth, it all depends on the succeeding plan and strategy. Japan is known as one of the most energy efficient in the world, just look to their dedication towards hybrid car and energy efficient air-cond.

Putting Japan outside the frame, how about other major emitters that supposed to take similar or stronger action regarding greenhouse gas emission? United States for example, has been criticized globally for their unwilling act on ratification of Kyoto Protocol, despite their image as the sole power in United Nation. China, who is the largest emitter, has made a better move by ratifying the protocol, but response to critic against their energy policy as unjust and not fair, with regards to their gigantic population (they made one-fifth of total human being on this globe).

It is a good news to know that these powers has started to voice their concern regarding the climate change issue and ready to take necessary action on it. On the other note, topics regarding food and energy security and also world peace need further attention as well. Referring to the speech made my the president of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi on recent United Nation meeting, he called for major reformation in Security Council, quoting the 'Security Council' as 'Terror Council' due to his view that the decision taken by Security Council does not reflect the stand point of the other 192 member of United Nation. And as expected, Gaddafi's speech has been lambasted by African and Middle East media for the reason he did not mention anything about climate change in spite of the focus of the meeting.

If we look at Malaysia as another sample study case, comparing the verbal action voiced over and physical action taken with regards to any issues of concern, you will observe a high discrepancy there. Issue regarding illegal immigrants has been in the media for ages, with thousands of response and opinions heard. But I would feel sorry to realize nothing much has been done to solve it.

Being vocal is necessary. Taking action is undeniably would be much better.

Will the great powers unite to tackle the climate issue? Finger crossed.
Will the world be at peace forever like the Snow White ending? I doubt it would be possible in recent years to come.
Will the illegal immigrant issue in Malaysia be solved? A stronger reinforcement would do (I am an immigrant myself now in this foreign land, but at least I'm legal)
Will I manage to complete the essay in Japanese? Maybe I should just translate this thing back to Japanese. Sigh.

Post Raya Thoughts

It is second day of Raya and here I am at lab, connecting to the Internet since I lost my connection at home (serve me right for stealing, sigh). Too lazy to upload Eid pics to Facebook, instead I spend the day reading the news and blogs I missed since last week. Not much of updates, in Japan mostly it's all about the new Hatoyama line up and his plan to cut out CO2 up to 25%. The new environment minister, Sakihito Ozawa would soon pass the basic bill to Diet regarding the emission trading system and environment tax to meet Hatoyama emission vision.

And my fingers not really in the mood of typing. In my mind now:
1. internet connection at home (thinking of NTT Flets Hikari),
2. English teaching certification,
3. Copenhagen and aurora trip (watching aurora in front of my eyes is one of my life must-see list and I always want to backpack to Scandinavian country albeit its crazy super expensive cost), 4. Olympus Pen EP-1 (oh, that Panasonic GF1 looks good too),
5. autumn peacoat at Hanjiro (definitely must buy),
6. United Arrows's Green Label Relaxing chronograph (surprised to know their sunglass and wrist accessory collection are not that expensive),
7. walk around Ochanomizu neighborhood (to look for sax and some cheap CD title include My Favourite Ennio Morricone presented by Junichiro Koizumi) and Ueno.
8. Panasonic essay contest (still deciding what to write though, sigh)

On another note, Murakami Haruki's Norwegian Wood is awesome. Still few chapters more to complete, what a difficult book to put down. Murakami Haruki definitely one of my favourite author to date, especially in modern Japanese literature. Really can't hardly wait to be able to read his pieces in Japanese though I know that need a lil bit of hard work (kanji, and so on, sigh again)

I'm trying my very best to stop listening to Raya songs this few days, but still can't stop listening to Amy Mastura's Setahun Sekali



and Black Dog Bone's Cahaya Aidilfitri.



And the new Yuzu's Niji comes in between.



Have a lovely day everyone.

Eid Mubarak, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Lebaran

(picture from my own collection, taken during Panasonic Orientation for new scholars, April 2009)

Two days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Or known globally as Eid or some called it Lebaran. I am not coming back to Malaysia and celebrate Eid there this year because I just feel that it is better for me to stay here since I already know the feeling of celebrating Eid back home. And back home, I come to realize that I am no longer have 'kampung' like I used to back in childhood days, since my grandmother of my mom side passed away few years back. And my grandmonther from my dad side is no longer stay in Johor, she's in KL now.

It has been a while since I feel any joy celebrating Raya. For me, every year, Raya turned out to be a simple celebration, our small family just celebrate it in KL and everyone knows what KL should look like during Raya days, empty and spacey. And ever since I celebrate it, for me Raya always has this sad image, depressed and melancholic songs (although there are cheerful Raya songs out there, but my mind always associate the feel of Raya with sorrowful feel). And for that I take it that I didn't really appreciate Raya as I supposed to 25 years back.

But I do have beautiful memories during Raya. They said Raya is for the kids, and I can't hardly argue that is so true. My childhood Raya memories was always look beautiful in my mind, the joy of balik kampung (going back to hometown of dad and mum side), spending the time with cousins and relatives, glorious Raya foods, fireworks and awesome TV shows. And not forgotten the euphoria feel of getting duit Raya. But year by year, when I start to grow up, the feel is slowly fade away, left me with the feel of assuming that Raya just like other ordinary holiday in my life.

This year marks my first Raya celebration away from family, abroad. To think it will be the same feeling like previous years, I don't dare to make any pre-assumptions yet. But I do miss my family, friends and somehow the sensation of Raya back in Malaysia. Some said you will appreciate thing more when you lost it. Which I feel so true.

"Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri buat mak, abah and adik di Kuala Lumpur. Kupohon kemaafan zahir dan batin andai ada tersilap kata mahupun perbuatan. Tidak lupa juga buat saudara-mara, teman-teman akrab, sahabat handai yang mengenali diri ini. Semoga Hari Raya tahun ini lebih berkat dan menjadikan diri kita insan yang lebih baik dan berkualiti daripada sebelumnya"
-Fid Anuar, Tokyo, Japan September 2009

Ada Apa Dengan Nagoya?

(picture taken from flickr@sinkdd)
Summer will be leaving us soon, goodbye heat, and welcome coldness. Welcome chilly wind, welcome melancholy.

And I will be leaving Tokyo tomorrow, to one place called Nagoya/名古屋. Interesting fact about Nagoya:

1. Stuck between Tokyo and Osaka, it is one of the most populous area in Japan after Tokyo-Yokohama and Osaka-Kobe region.
2. I have been informed that it is also one of the area where girl is said to be uglier than other part in Japan (日本三大ブス), the other two includes girl from Sendai/仙台 and Mito/水戸. No pun intended anyway. So, where have all the beautiful girls gone? They are all said to be concentrated in Akita/秋田, Kyoto/京都 (the reason why it is famous for geishas maybe?) and Ishikawa/石川, three areas called 日本三大美人 in Japanese. Boys, now you know the place of interest to visit when you're in Japan.
3. Contrary to the above fact (if I can call it a fact), the cost for wedding ceremony in Nagoya is the the most expensive in Japan. A contradictory statement I reckon. Uglier girl costs you more money in Japan. Again folks, no pun intended. I'm just making a conclusion based on the pool of information I received from local friend.
4. Home to one of the largest automotive industry in the world, Toyota. Nagoya also base to many manufacturing company in Japan, instead of textile image for Malaysian. Oh, Nagoya also the birthplace of pachinko, the Japanese version of pinball.

Welcoming autumn, I am expecting beautiful yellowish leaves on ground, more attractive wool sweaters and cardigans and also a pair of Timberland boot. More on fashion talk, UNIQLO, the Japanese version of Gap is going chic with their recent collaboration with Jil Sanders, in a project called +J UNIQLO.

And Armani Xchange watches and shades are super attractive. Not within my current budget anyhow, I should stop dreaming and read more books.

Off to Nagoya people. I'll be reading Miyuki Miyabe's All She Was Worth and Murakami Haruki's Norwegian Wood and listening to Arashi's One Love, With You I'm Born Again by Mariah Carey and John Legend, Yuzu's new single, Niji and my favourite Kobukuro's pieces, Niji/虹 and Toki no Ashioto/時の足音 along the journey. At least as a replacement to food I cannot consume during Ramadhan. The travelogue will be posted after the journey.

On Holy Scriptures

I didn't go to the lab today because I'm waiting for the postman to deliver my halal meat to my door. And suddenly my door bell chimes, and when I open my front door, two 40-ish Japanese lady stand in front of me and greet.

They are actually Christian missionaries. It is pretty normal sight in Japan especially during weekend that these missionaries come knocking your door and preaching about Bible and Christianity. Some people might be annoyed, and that including me because I don't like to be disturbed during my own personal quality time. But being me, I am not that rude to simply ignoring these people or reject them away.

So there I was. Listening to their words and voice out my thoughts here and there. And they look surprised because they said they rarely heard about Islam in Japan, let alone seen any Quran with Japanese translation. I quickly bring my Quran (but with Indonesian translation), and they totally amazed to see Quran for the first time. I said I will try to find Quran with Japanese translation and give them to read next time.

Later I found myself thinking, where have all the Islam missionaries been? I encounter few situations before regarding local people who really wants to know certain issues about Islam to solve their religion conundrum and since they know I am Muslim, they seek the answer from me. I admit I myself not a good resource but I'm trying my best to explain. Muslim is not a big community in Japan, but I think it would be much better if people who concern to know more about Islam can easily access Japanese website that can provide them with true and authentic information they looking for. And since many local here browse the Internet from their 携帯/keitai/mobile phone, a website accessible from mobile phone would be very informative indeed. Any website to recommend? Wikipedia excluded please.

And now where I can buy the Quran with Japanese translation in Tokyo?

Landslide and Responsibility

(picture taken from Linda Sieg's Reuters blog)

I am not gonna talk about any disaster or whatnot but more about the current political updates here in Japan. As some of you already read the news, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ, Minshutō - 民主党) lead by Yukio Hatoyama has won the Lower House election on 30th August 2009. This marks a new history in Japan political landscape where the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP, Jimintō - 自民党) who had ruled Japan since its formation in 1955 (post-war period) had lost goverment, and only manage to win 26.7% of lower house of Diet of Japan's seat.

That means a landslide victory for Hatoyama and his party, DPJ. And following normal Japanese response towards responsibility, Taro Aso is going to step down as LDP leader to take full responsibility for his party's defeat.

I'm not normally blog about politic since my topic of interest ranges from music, movie and daily personal stuff. Although I love to read about environment and sustainability things, still I'm not really keen to blog about those two topics either. All this while my life has been exposed to Malaysian political scene (since my dad is a huge fan of that :p), but I rather label Malaysia political milieu is a bit disappointing.

Nevertheless, observing foreign political process when I have the chance to (since here is where I'm studying now) is somehow interesting, with regards to comparing it with our political scene back in Malaysia. Watching all parties campaign in mass media (each parties have their own TV commercial, and equal coverage in news).

It is somehow feel like deja-vu to see DPJ landslide victory over LDP as the most recent election in Malaysia seen a close call to that situation. The different part is just UMNO, the Malaysia's ruling party since our independence in 1957 was not defeated, but lost its two third majority, the first time in our history as well. And Pak Lah didn't stepped down immediately in response to that.

Albeit their triumph over the current election, most Japanese I known (and went voting) says they're not really happy Hatoyama wins. They're quite unsure whether DPJ has enough financial ability to perform what they promised in their manifesto, and in today's Yomiuri Shinbun survey shown 66% respondents believe LDP will regain back their power, just mere 2 days after election. Frustration and exasperation aside, now people have to wait for the next 4 years to elect the government again.

Thus, place your vote wisely. Not based on manifestos, emotions, branding or image.

Cool fact: Taro Aso known for his fond interest in comics and anime, and Yukio Hatoyama is known as E.T (the alien) among his supporters and opposition alike.