Entering college is hard in Japan, but it is even harder in South Korea. I recently discussed the topic with my Korean friend. His son goes to five supplementary private schools a week, and it cost him more than $1,000 a month. His family is not special. Actually, he told me that his son goes to less private schools than others - some children go to more than 10 private classes a week.
In South Korea, a person's career opportunity largely depend on which university they graduate. It is every parent's dream their child goes to Seoul National University. In Japan, we also have fierce competition to get into good colleges, and many students go to cram schools to prepare for the exams, but the competition is not as hard as in South Korea.
In my case I didn't go to cram school at all, but managed to enter my university. My Korean friend told me that does not happen in Korea. It is prerequisite to go to preparatory schools and study from morning to midnight to win the ticket for their dream school. I respect my Korean friends who survived such a tough competition. I'm not sure I could have survived if I was born in South Korea though..
This video shows university entrance exam fever in South Korea
12/23/2008
12/20/2008
Seoul trip
I went Seoul from Dec 15th to 18th for business meetings.
KANGNAM-GU area. This is a relatively new business district in Seoul. Many IT companies have their office around the area. Work, work, and work!
Whenever I go travel, I try to enjoy hanging around city, talking with local people, and eating good foods!
On the first day, my colleagues brought me to a traditional Korean dinner, which was really good. On the second day, I had dinner with my Korean classmates from business school. I really had a good time with them.
These are the pictures around Myong-dong and Insa-dong area in downtown. Full of energy, beautiful scenery, and mixture of traditional and modern culture.
I should visit Seoul again.
Kamsahamnida!
KANGNAM-GU area. This is a relatively new business district in Seoul. Many IT companies have their office around the area. Work, work, and work!
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| 送信者 Seoul 2008 Dec |
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| 送信者 Seoul 2008 Dec |
Whenever I go travel, I try to enjoy hanging around city, talking with local people, and eating good foods!
On the first day, my colleagues brought me to a traditional Korean dinner, which was really good. On the second day, I had dinner with my Korean classmates from business school. I really had a good time with them.
These are the pictures around Myong-dong and Insa-dong area in downtown. Full of energy, beautiful scenery, and mixture of traditional and modern culture.
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| 送信者 Seoul 2008 Dec |
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| 送信者 Seoul 2008 Dec |
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| 送信者 Seoul 2008 Dec |
I should visit Seoul again.
Kamsahamnida!
12/06/2008
YouTube Symphony Orchestra
A new initiative,YouTube Symphony Orchestra, has started. It is full of imagination and creativity, and global!
11/24/2008
YouTube Live TOKYO
Nov 23rd, 2008 became one of the most memorable day in my career. At YouTube Live Tokyo, 2000 audiences enjoyed varieties of performances from professional artists to user performers. This diversity is the spirit of YouTube.
Though I was very busy during the event, I managed to find time to enjoy artists performances as a user as well. In the end, I was the one who were looking for this event the most. All the performances - BoA, Yu Sakai, Ayuse Kozue, Blue man, Genki Rockets, and KREVA, were so great - they are great professionals indeed.
User performances showed the heart of user community. I was almost crying when I watched Canon Rock played by amazing guitarists led by Jerry C. That was a great moment indeed.
It has been crazily busy since this August and I felt really exhausted sometimes, but it was worth it.
Thanks everyone who made this happen !
Though I was very busy during the event, I managed to find time to enjoy artists performances as a user as well. In the end, I was the one who were looking for this event the most. All the performances - BoA, Yu Sakai, Ayuse Kozue, Blue man, Genki Rockets, and KREVA, were so great - they are great professionals indeed.
User performances showed the heart of user community. I was almost crying when I watched Canon Rock played by amazing guitarists led by Jerry C. That was a great moment indeed.
It has been crazily busy since this August and I felt really exhausted sometimes, but it was worth it.
Thanks everyone who made this happen !
11/23/2008
11/09/2008
The largest shopping mall in Japan
Today we went for shopping at AEON LakeTown shopping mall in Koshigaya,
Saitama. The shopping space is 218,483 square meters, which is the largest in Japan. This type of shopping mall is now everywhere in Japan. Shopping malls have been expanding around suburban area since the government changed the law which restricted building large shopping malls around 2000.
Shopping mall is a very convenient place, but I feel somewhat stuffy whenever I go there. I'm overwhelmed by too many shops and goods..
Saitama. The shopping space is 218,483 square meters, which is the largest in Japan. This type of shopping mall is now everywhere in Japan. Shopping malls have been expanding around suburban area since the government changed the law which restricted building large shopping malls around 2000.Shopping mall is a very convenient place, but I feel somewhat stuffy whenever I go there. I'm overwhelmed by too many shops and goods..
I've heard the worlds' largest shopping mall is the Mall of Arabia in Dubai, which has 550,000 square meters for shopping space - more than doulbe of AEON LakeTown! I can't imagine what it would be like shopping in such a huge place..
11/08/2008
AUDACITY of HOPE
Obama had an overwhelming victory over John McCain. I don't have a voting right for the US president election, but I was really interested in the election. I've read his book "The AUDACITY of HOPE" last year, and I was so inspired by his aspiration to overcome the difference of race, religion, and sense of value among people to unite as a nation. This is the aspiration that all of us should share in this global, but dispersed world. I hope Obama extend his "hope" for the good of the world.
10/25/2008
Hard days
It has been extremely hard days. Hard negotiations and difficult decisions, but finally made it.
10/11/2008
Spam?
Somehow this blog is identified as a potential spam by blogger system ^^; Absolutely, this is not a spam! I don't know the logic of identifying a potential spam. Anyway, I requested a review claiming this blog is not a spam. Let's see if I can continue using this.
Your blog at: http://koike-blog.blogspot.com/ has been identified as a potential spam blog. To correct this, please request a review by filling out the form at http://www.blogger.com/xxxxxxx
Your blog will be deleted within 20 days if it isn't reviewed, and you'll be unable to publish posts during this time. After we receive your request, we'll review your blog and unlock it within two business days. If this blog doesn't belong to you, you don't have to do anything, and any other blogs you may have won't be affected.
10/05/2008
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