Here I Go

So I decided to start updating my English blog again. But I will keep updating my Japanese blog, too, so that people who helped my research in Japan can keep up with what I am doing.

The reason I am resuming my English blog is that I have somehow become introspecive again. I don't know when this "re-introsoectivization" began. Perhaps in September? After I spent the entire summer analyzing data that I collected in Japan and writing up 4 preliminary essays based on my analysis... and after I starting anticipating entry into the job market...?

In any case, I'm glad that I'm writing again.

I wasn't Slacking

I've been thinking of switching blogging services because I want more (and better) functions for my blog.

For now, I will concentrate on my blog in Japanese. http://blog.livedoor.jp/postnationalism/ In the US, my current audience consists of academicians, and what I should do for them is not to write a blog but to write papers (one of which is forthcoming in a sociology journal).

My Japanese audience is different. They are teachers and students who have helped my fieldwork and know me personally. After I return to the US, I should like to be accountable for them, that is, to keep them posted with how I will analyze, interpret, and present data that I have collected in Japan.

New Year's Resolution

1. To stay healthy.

2. To live with humility, patience, and gratitude

3. To complete my dissertation.

4. To make connections with people with whom I might collaborate in the future.

5. To publish two papers.

6. To learn basics of programming.

7. To play with my digital cum recorder.

Singing Competition

On 12/31 every year, NHK airs "Kohaku Uta Gassen" (Singing competition between red and white teams) It showcases singers of almost every generation who have been very popular among the Japanese. So it's quite interesting to watch those different generations of songs, performers, costumes, and so forth, within the same program. They do carry different cultural idioms and histories of the supposedly single nation called Japan.

Libraries in Japan... Suck!

I went to Nagoya today to visit Toyota Museum. But, first I took a subway to check out the prefectural library in the same area. Well, it was closed! They didn't say anything about it on their web page. Since other prefectural employees were still at work today, I assumed that the library would be open.

In general, libraries in Japan are not as good as their counterparts in the U.S. They are smaller with fewer hours, books, and internet connections. (I think that most Japanese will be astonished to see the public libraries in Ann Arbor.) The Ministry of Education is aware of this, but they seem to be slow in implementing effective measures...

The More You Know, the Better You Like?

I've been thinking about the relationship between familiarity and favoritism. I took a look at a review article in psychology on the relationship between exposure and attitude; however, previous studies are inconclusive.

It's probably moderated by representations. If one is exposed to "negative representations" of a certain thing, person, or group, he or she may not develop favoritism. But can small kids understand what representations are positive and negative? It seems that kids think of representations in terms of intelligibility. They seem to negatively evaluate what is unintelligible or strange. So, maybe I also have to examine the relationship between intelligibility and attitude. Hey, wait, didn't I just come back to the problem of familiarity-favoritism?

Playing with Preschoolers

It's been 5 months since I started going to a local kindergarten. Gosh, kids grow up really fast. 4- and 5-year-olds have developed their speech tremendously and they look stronger now. They are heavier as well, and playing with them is definitely a good workout.