Where railway museums are situated

When I practised footy on my own at Umekoji Park in Kyoto, my aware came up with railway museums were situated in the outer city or town in the wider region.

For example, Osaka is the main city of the Kansai Region, but the railway museum is located in Kyoto that is 45 kilometres away from Osaka.

This circumstance is applied similarly to York in the UK, Saitama and Otaru in Japan.

I conducted researches for all railway museums I mentioned above, but any reason what I wanted to knowledge was not found.

Japanese museums having been established at former yards or train depots were what I have found out.

For example, Kyoto Railway Museum is situated at Umekoji Steam Locomotive Rollingstock Depot. Otaru one was built at former Goods Train Depot as the 85th year anniversary of the Japanese Railway History.

Then let me making a point why rollingstock depots are built in suburbs. It's simple! Massive lands are essential to operate mechanical works and park trains.

Then when electricification is done, depots narrowed as less land is required to maintain rollingstocks, and the museums are built to promote the industry. Railway is unique and interesting so organisations could gain profits.

My favourite fleet on JR Osaka Loop Line

Misleading Article and English Teaching at Japanese Schools

This week, I read an online news article about English teaching at Japanese schools commentating what areas are important in the English classes.

But inaccurate information was given at first.

The author argues that speaking and listening are main areas for the last 30 years in the English teaching that Japanese schools provide.

It is inaccurate and no source is provided in the article.

In 1988, I was a Year 10 student at high school. I only learned reading, writing and grammar. Being taught speaking and listening was not what I refer for my English classes while my school days. Some readers comments are read as same as my experiences. Even youths born in the Heisei period (1989 and beyond) were not taught speaking o listening at school.

Then the author argues that being taught English at very young ages would affect children with their development and cognitive. Kids need plenty of time to function in their first language (Japanese), he says.

But once again, there is no source. Without study, how can anyone argue this point?

What I have been told is that kids pick up languages easier than adults. Starting to learn the second language earlier, ability of speaking that language is improving faster.

Also I do not agree with the point that grammar, reading and writing are important areas to teach. How come people understand the structure of the language without an ability to speak? How can anyone read and write the language unless being able to speak?

While I needed a lot of hardworking to improve English more than a decade ago, my British friend told me that no one can read English without speaking. Also he suggested me to have an easy reading book first as I had to go through the process that native English speaking babies and kids go through.

He has got great points of views in the language learning.

My first argument is put to the newspaper. How did they publish this article without reliable source? Have their editors checked the article and asked the author to provide sources?

I am sure none of them has been done. Editors only focus on deadline so that they could report the news first and make an attractive headline.

The publisher is called Toyo Keizai Shinbun that is a business newspaper. But their attitudes are what tabloid media does. Purchasing the newspaper doesn't meet the value.

Also I find their points have no alternative argument. The author should have presented how being taught grammar, reading and writing developed English skills so that Japanese people can communicate and debate equally with people from all over the world.

Indeed nothing will be demonstrated as I have already shown here.

Presenting facts and reasonable points are essential in media works, I learned online several years ago. This golden rule is broken in recent media. Development of the internet put much under the pressure on media, but misleading loses trusts by readers. I think media has already lost a lot of trusts in countries.

Then English programmes in many of Japanese schools are what I criticise.

They hire native English speaking teachers, but classes are conducted by Japanese teachers mainly. Also exams are organised by Japanese English teachers.

Then native English speakers get frustrated not being key English teachers and not being able to argue about mistakes in exams and teaching programmes.

I really think English SHOULD be taught by teachers who speak the language as their language. Japanse English teachers have to be assistants, like helping students in Japanese at the very last option.

Education boards should be replaced with reliable experts. Stupid old school systems are applied in the dysfunctional Japanse society systems. I really hate such society systems.

There are several ways to express one thing in any language. If a student writes in some different words that a teacher doesn't expect, she or he will be marked no or reducted points. Such attitudes should be banned. Then only native English teachers will be able to judge if the answer is appropriate or not.

English teaching programme needs to be overhauled, as well as media's attitudes on delivering news.

Don't rely on electrical devices too much part two

As the response to the last post, my friend suggested me that people should navigate the way with sun, dry clothes under the sun and wind, chop foods and grab a pen and paper.

This comment reminds me that we should look around to find answers and to take next actions. Looking around is needed on the footy field, I was told by my coach.

Relying everything on Google map and its navigation system means you are not looking around. Why don't you see surrounding buildngs or houses? How do you find you are on the right directions? Do you just trust everything on the technology?

It affects judging unfortunately. I always check with surroundings when I have to use such system.

My next argue is that many drivers don't look actual road signs. I doubt these technical systems don't get proper details of the road, such as peak hour bus lanes and school zones. Many stupid drivers just drive f***ing motor vehicles on my local school zones where only pedestrians and bicycles are allowed to go through. I always get annoyed with these stupid and selfish drivers.

My concern is that people think they can get everything when they want by using such electrical devices. Then they don't see others bring busy or care what others are doing. It is the same as they don't look around.

Walk or ride a bike without using devices and look around. Then you will keep health and respect others and keep your nature.

And talk to other people in person. That is what we are supposed to do.

Go to a bar for drink if you want to interact with others.

Enjoy non technology too!!

Don't rely on electrical devices too much

At first, my apology for not updating the blog for ages. I have been busy working and involvements in footy.

This post's title is what you have heard many times and been sick and tired of hearing again? But let me to explain reasons from different angles today.

Causing dangers

You seem to have heard and/or seen many campaigns, like no smart phone while walking, no texting while driving and etc.

It's too much, but has to be reminded all the time. Otherwise you will hit an innocent person and have to deal with police.

I have been scared of being hit by such silly pedestrians and cyclists who see smart phone screens while walking or riding a bike.

Simply don't do it!

Influences negatively on your health

Seeing screens too long and too much is obviously bad for your health. It breaks your physical / boby balances including senses. Also it will affect your mental conditions including being addicted.

Keep the balance with other activities.

Inaccurate machine translator

As a person who speaks two language fluently (English and Japanese), I know such software doesn't work properly and sentences translated don't make sense. I have tested between English and Japanese and found out they were crap.

Why do people rely on such rubbish technology to communicate with another person who doesn't speak their language? Do they just trust technology?

I think machine translator only recognises word by word and doesn't read the structures of sentences or grammar. Also they don't pick the collect meaning of words from various options.

Why software makes don't hire language experts to implement exact translations? Simply they can't afford to having such people?

But developing such software would make people being lazy to learn other languages and relying on the machine transltor more.

Being an English expert is my first choice to solve the issue.


Let's use the technology wisely and reasonably.