The Al Bartle Show: Recent Episodes
Al Bartle
The Japan Time's interview of 10 prominent people in Japan regarding what Japan should do in 2013 to begin to set things straight was very interesting. The government has recently enlisted the help of the Bank of Japan to set an inflation target of 2% this year. the Yen has risen from about 77 to 90 yen in the past few months which is almost 15% so I imagine it will be easy to achieve 2% inflation if not 5% or more given that Japan imports all its energy and a lot of food and raw material. The consumption tax is set to go up in 2014 to 8% and to 10% soon after that so as Noriko Hama says, wages, somehow, must be raised to compensate for 10-15% inflation including the tax. Aye, there lies the rub! Why will wages go up??????
This episode was recorded live on the train in Japan, so there is quite a bit of background noise. I spoke very quietly to make this message as I did not want to disturb others. The tendency for people to not make room for others to sit on the train is becoming more common in Japan, especially over the past few years. But the addition of armrests in some of the private railway cars seems to have made a difference. Listen to today's audio blog and let me know your thoughts.
Al talks about a way to stimulate the Japanese economy and provide a vision for the future of Japan.
A short blurb about Forbes Magazine naming Pittsburgh as a comeback city and a new movie with a similar title.
In this episode I mention two articles:
Mark Schrieber's article in the Japan Times of April 22, 2012
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120422x1.html
Rebecca Milner's article in the Guardian:
http://m.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/feb/03/maruhaci-ryokan-takayama-maze-japan?cat=travel&type=article
As we approach the beautiful spring season, Mr. Hashimoto, Osaka's Mayor kicks off his ISHIN SEIJI JUKU to select and groom an election army to take on the existing parties in the next election which will happen by summer of 2013. Go Hashimoto!
(Oh, the House of Councils is the Upper House instead of the Lower House as I said in the podcast)
Today I just talked about the fact that so few Japanese students who are studying English actually grab the chance to speak. They have a chance every day. Maybe on the train, it's because they want to believe that they are anonymous and that is why women and girls can put on make-up on the train. Anyway, to say there is no chance is pure bullshit!
In this episode I talk about the current situation in Japan (March 2012) and discuss issues facing the government and a recent report on a survey of Junior HS students about the importance of learning English and their desire to use English in their jobs in the future.