世界には親心しかない in KOBE

日本語入力アプリがずいぶん賢くなってきたので、誤変換は少なくなってきたように思う。が、ユーチューブの字幕はまだまだ誤変換が多い。やはり音声から、ほぼリアルタイムに文字に起こすのは難しいのだろう。 もしかすると漢字が難しいのかもしれない。誤変換だから、音声はちゃんと聞き取っているわけで、それを適した漢字に当てはめるのが難しいのだろう。 「公用パソコン」を、「紅葉パソコン」と変換してたので、コパイロットに絵を書いてもらった。

The practice of working for just one day, known traditionally as "day labor," is now often referred to as "gap work." Thanks to the widespread use of smartphones, day labor has become very convenient. First, finding a job is very easy. By installing an app on your smartphone, you can search for jobs effortlessly and receive notifications for positions that match your criteria. The app may also recommend jobs based on your previous work experience. Once you find a suitable job, you can apply for it via your smartphone. Perhaps due to the current labor shortage, I have never been rejected after applying. Without making phone calls or attending interviews, you can secure a job just by using the app, saving both time and effort. Recently, I worked a one-day job near JR Kobe Station, and my pay was deposited the next day. Historically, day labor jobs allowed you to receive cash payments on the same day, known as "daily pay," but now payments are typically made ...

I boarded a JR train for an errand and found myself surrounded by kindergarten children. As I absentmindedly thought about how hard the teachers must have it, I noticed many of the children coughing and wearing masks. Worried about the spread of some virus, I decided to get off at the next station. The station was JR Maya. Although I knew of its existence, it was my first time on the platform. Hoping I hadn’t been exposed to the virus, I sat on a bench on the platform. In the past, benches at train stations faced the tracks, but recently they are often aligned parallel to the tracks, supposedly to prevent drunk people from falling onto the tracks when they stand up. I'm not sure if that's true. Anyway, I sat on the bench and checked my phone. It turns out that Mycoplasma infections are currently spreading in Kobe. This risk is inevitable when traveling by train. However, driving would mean paying for parking, which is quite expensive, especially in areas like Sannomiya and Moto...

There are many cities in Japan known for their slopes, but an urban sloping city like Kobe is quite rare. When I first arrived in Kobe, my wife showed me around various places, but I had a hard time memorizing the maps. I could tell the general direction, but I often lost track of my altitude and would frequently ask, “Which floor are we on right now?” It may sound strange to some, but it truly was confusing. For example, you might enter a building from the sidewalk and take an escalator up, only to find yourself at ground level again when you step out. I would think, “Wait, didn’t I just go up to the second floor?” This kind of thing happened often. You might enter a building from the sidewalk, take an elevator to an upper floor, walk around, take another elevator to a higher floor, and end up at ground level again when you step outside. This was a daily occurrence. Since buildings are built on slopes, it’s natural that the floors differ between the mountain side and the sea side. How...

There are three main railways in Kobe: Hankyu Railway, JR, and Hanshin Railway. JR, formerly the national railway, is highly convenient. For example, if you are going to Osaka or Kyoto, JR is the fastest. I was surprised when I came to Kobe because there were no JR lines near my hometown. Seeing regular freight trains running was astonishing. It's only natural when you think about it; JR handles logistics across Japan, delivering goods from Osaka through the Chugoku region to Kyushu. People also travel on the same lines. When waiting on the platform for a train during the usual commute or a casual outing, a long freight train passes by. For someone like me, used to only local private railways and subways, this sight was quite surprising. JR is perceived as a railway for long-distance travel. It's somewhat inconvenient for short-distance travel, but the fare is slightly cheaper for nearby trips. When going to Sannomiya, if JR is an option, it's preferable. Hankyu and Hanshin...

News has come in that former Governor Saito's re-election is now certain. I believe Japan is on the brink of change. In the Tokyo gubernatorial election held this summer, Yuriko Koike was elected. The battle was between the old type of Tokyo residents who rely solely on newspapers and TV, plus vested interest groups, and the new type of residents who gather information from the internet, including social media. The old type won in Tokyo, but in the Hyogo gubernatorial election, the new type emerged victorious. Compared to the Tokyo gubernatorial election, the Hyogo election seemed more straightforward. I can hardly remember what the issues were in the Tokyo election, but the Hyogo election was clear. The main issue was whether the power harassment allegations against Governor Saito were true or fabricated by those wanting to protect their vested interests. Takashi Tachibana supported Saito, and it seemed easier to fight on this front. Many people believed the power harassment alleg...

There is news that Rakuten Card is accepting investment from Mizuho Financial Group. While "accepting investment" sounds positive, in reality, it feels more like a sell-off to manage finances. Rakuten Card is the core financial arm of the Rakuten Group, but the truth is that they had to sell a part of it. Rakuten Group's internet mall, Rakuten Ichiba, and its point system, Rakuten Super Points, are doing exceptionally well. However, Rakuten Mobile has been dragging down their performance. Comparing this to SoftBank, which can be said to have pioneered Japan's internet industry and succeeded in the mobile business, Rakuten seems to be struggling quite a bit. Recently, the number of Rakuten Mobile subscribers has been increasing, so if they can get through this, the entire group might improve. But to overcome the current situation, they had to sell part of Rakuten Card, which is central to the group. Since Mr. Mikitani, who founded Rakuten and still serves as its presid...