Industrial Promotion, Exchange, and Internationalization in Shimane

Central Prefecture Office, Matsue

Vice Governor Courtesy Visit - Address

Commerce and Industry Policy in Shimane

Kirara Beach, Taki Shimane

Shimane Industrial Technology Institute - Projects

Project - High Thermal Conductive Composite Material

Factory Floor - Hi Lex, Hamada

Leading Tour, Adachi Museum of Art

The Crew

Environment & Civic Affairs Luncheon

Industry and Labor in Shimane

Windsurfing Magazine

Windsurfing community mourns Ned Keys
"Go big or go home". Anyone who knew northern Michigan sailor Ned Keys had heard the gutsy sailor's life-long mantra. As of September 26th, 2006, it will be heard no more, as the Keys family and windsurfers across the nation mourn the unfortunate passing of a dear friend and a perpetually stoked sailor.

Born in Sandusky, Michigan, in 1941, Ned Keys was a life-long adventure seeker whose many hobbies included sailing, waterskiing, snowboarding, kayaking, riding motorcycles, and of course, windsurfing. The 30-year veteran of the windsurf industry also had a penchant for exploration – after sailing his 33-foot sailboat, the Ishtar, through the Inland Waterway all the way to the Bahamas and back, Ned's adventurous spirit led him to organize numerous trips to windsurfing destinations. Ezzy's Tim Ortlieb, who Keys introduced into the windsurfing industry, remembers being among the first Americans to visit the island of Margarita.

Of course, Ned was as eager to sail the Great Lakes' chilly waters as he was to sail the warm waters of theCaribbean. Former pro sailor Maui Meyer recalls visiting Ned while doing traveling windsurfing clinics during his college years. "You can't honestly call yourself a well traveled windsurfer until you've sailed the Great Lakes in the Summertime," says Meyer. "White sand dunes, blue water, and a surprising amount of exploration to be had up there. I remember Ned taking us around to all the local spots, and being a perfect example of someone in the windsurfing family that I could always return to and be welcome." But surely Ned's favorite sailing was in the fall, when blustery storms whipped Lake Michigan into a frothing sea of foam and water. "The Northwest Gales that took down the Edmund Fitzgerald are the same ones that make for a pretty good 3.2 day with mast-high swell on Lake Michigan," says native Michigander and long-time friend Rob McCready, "and Ned was always the first one rigging up."

In addition to catching every storm sesh Lake Michigan had to offer, Ned was incredibly active in his community teaching windsurfing, snowboarding, and kayaking, right up until he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in July. Once the tumor was removed, Ned battled strongly, fighting with swelling in the right side of his brain which limited his speech and impeded movement of his limbs. When the occupational therapist who was helping Ned regain movement of his limbs asked him what he wanted to be able to do, the first word out of Ned's mouth was "Windsurf". Unfortunately, three months after the initial surgery, Ned Keys passed away when his brain tumor re-grew. Ned is survived by his mother, Dorothy Miller; his children, Aaron and Hilary; his stepson, Jamie Walker, and their mother, Debbie Keys; stepsisters Claudia Federer and Linda Miller of Cleveland, Ohio, and Rosemary Gordon of Tucson. Arizona.

A memorial service in celebration of Ned's life was held on Thursday, October 5th. In lieu of flowers, gifts were made in Ned's name to some of the organizations he supported during his life. If you would like to make a gift in Ned's name, contact Tim Ortlieb at ezzy@gorge.net.



© World Publications, LLC

Edward Donald Keys III

Edward Donald Keys III (Ned Keys), age 65, passed away at his home Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - three months after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.



Ned, son of Dorothy Aiken Miller and Edward Donald Keys Jr., was born July 29, 1941 in Sandusky Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1965 with a BA in business and a teaching certificate in marketing. After graduation, Ned taught a marketing high school course in Madison Heights until 1968. His love for sailing and skiing brought him to Harbor Springs. Ned spent his summers working at Irish Boat Shop and his winter weekends at Nubs Nob working first as a member of the National Ski Patrol from 1961-1972 and then as a ski instructor (Professional Ski Instructors of America - Level III).

Characteristic of Ned’s life philosophy, he took a year off to fulfill one of his goals when he sailed his 33’ boat, Ishtar, through the inland waterway, to the Bahamas, and back. Returning in 1976, Ned decided to make Harbor Springs his home: he married in 1980, had two children, worked at Bahnhof Sports until 1985, and then at the Outfitter until 2005. Ned contributed to the community with many endeavors: he organized the annual Moose jaw cross-country Loppett and the Surfin Safari, helped plan the Zoll Street Beach and SK8 Skate Park, and helped introduce kayaking to the area. Ned began and coordinated the Harbor Springs Snowboard Team from 2001 to 2006, he also taught snowboarding at Boyne Highlands in 2005.

Filled with the entrepreneurial spirit, Ned started and ran a number of venture business projects: Chandelle of Harbor Springs, Bay Computers, Sunsational Tanning, and Windsurf Harbor Springs. The last, established in 2001, was the manifestation of Ned’s desire to support and promote his favorite sport through sales, lessons, and rentals. A veritable pied piper, Ned also planned and led friends to numerous windsurfing hot spots; destinations such as Aruba, Bonaire, Cape Hatteras, the Gorge, Margarita, Maui, and South Padre. His was never an attitude of show; rather, Ned wished to share his enjoyment of the sport and demonstrate where the next challenge lay.

Ned was actively teaching windsurfing and kayaking with his son until late in June 2006, when he became ill. Ned’s passion for adventure was contagious, he lived every minute of his life to the fullest; he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Ned is survived by his mother, Dorothy Miller; his children, Aaron and Hilary; his stepson, Jamie Walker; and their mother, Debbie Keys; stepsisters, Claudia Federer and Linda Miller of Cleveland Ohio, and Rosemary Gordon of Tucson, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his father, E. Donald Keys Jr.; stepmother, Marion Hrebek Keys; and stepfather, Cliff Miller.

A Memorial Service will be held at Nub’s Nob this Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006, at 4pm. Reverend Charles Stuart will conduct the service. Immediately following the Memorial Service, a celebration of Ned’s life will be held. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to “The Edward Donald Keys III LIV TR CO Aaron Keys TTEE.” Alternatively, contributions may be made directly to the following organizations on behalf of Ned Keys: Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, H.S. Snowboard Team and H.S. Sk8 Park.

these government relations have a depth i'd not have expected. there are men who work far from their families; there are men who are starting theirs. we're all working to improve the economic conditions of this prefecture - one that continues to recess and lose its youth - as the nation as a whole has again resumed its climb. the means may differ, but each project in some way attempts to ensure an environment hospitable to job creation and youth retention.
for me, these things will go on hold as i return home. in spirit, my coworkers are very much with me - though our time's been short, we've already got plans: for texas, for shanghai, and for JETRO.

we fall out onto the streets transformed by the night. but i've got a personal mission from here; and they know it. something they honor and respect.

together, we are many; and i don't feel those disconnections. humanity is all around me.

dad's asking for me. i'm hearing hilary, mom, and grandma's fears. i'll be departing in just under 24hr.

but it's time to pick up and go into the office. they'll be there, shapes not so unaltered from the night before. words we're speaking aren't spoken now, but they're very much still here.

Shimane Arrival

Ned Keys

If you are interested in helping the Keys family financially
you can donate via paypal at the Ezzy Website

Matt & Stephanie are organizing an ice cream social/fundraiser to help Ned out. The Keys family has okayed the idea and it is slated for Sunday August 27th in downtown Harbor Springs.

Checking on Ned

Thanks for Checking on Ned is the name of a blog that Matt, a friend of my Dad's, has created which provides friends with a way to receive and contribute updates on Dad. This is proving to be a more efficient means of communicating - and saving me time so that I can focus on Dad and Dad's recovery/rehabilitation/treatment.

for those friends of mine who are unaware, my family and I are currently battling with a sudden and unexpected illness. my father was diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer and has since undergone neuro surgery. we're now in an acute rehabilitation center - solely focused on winning back dad's independence.

[ニュース] 北朝鮮の真意は？Taep'odong-2 Launch Preparations

ASAHI SHIMBUN (center-left) reports as of 23:42 6/19:
What's The Reason Behind North Korea's Taepodong Missile Preparations? linked-file-source from the International section.

"Will they or won't they attack?"


As both U.S. and Japanese governments consider holding UN Security Council meetings and revisiting economic sanctions, so too will 融和的なS. Korea and China have little choice but to react to the launching of the long-range missiles. Though international calls for self-restraint are self-evident, North Korea continues its tenuous "battle of nerves" to call-out the U.S. for direct negotiations.

[Japanese] Self-Defense Forces and US Forces, Japan, proceed with mutual intelligence-gathering operations:
According to Reuters, a number of US authorities confirm that the Taepodong missiles have been fueled, the Japanese and American governments have not yet formally confirmed this.

ASAHI reports the condition (6/19) of the missiles as:

1) Stage-2 booster rockets confirmed
2) Unclear whether or not warheads have been loaded
3) Stage-1 and 2 boosters are fueled separately via a mobile tank and metal pipe
4) Fueling requires 10-odd hours to complete
5) Risk of launch high once fueled (missiles are usable for up to 3-days owing to the rate with which fuel deteriorates)

S. Korea analyzes North Korea's objective(s) as being:

1) Use crisis to "shake-up" the US
2) Provoke an invitation for direct negotiations
3) Demonstrate the progress of their military technology
4) Focus the attention of its people away from their daily suffering and instead on the notion of National prestige

update 6/20: YOMIURI (center-right) reported at 20:46 on 6/20:
South Korean intelligence judges the fueling of the missiles to be incomplete. The country's intelligence community has observed roughly 40 tanks at the site presumed to hold roughly 65 tons of fuel. This is not believed to be sufficient for missiles' propulsion systems. The report did, however, admit that the missiles' status is difficult to determine.

update 6/20: earlier reports indicating fueling was complete are now believed to be based on incomplete information, the Washington Post says. The same paper hints that this is just another in a long line of North Korean gestures meant to provoke the attention of the world.

The main issue for North Korea is US monetary sanctions (金融制裁):
The country's stability is directly related to the "thinning flow of what might be called 'blood' money." but the US remains persistent in its demand for North Korea to return to the six-party nuclear proliferation talks.

"It's because of the United States' hostile policies that we have little choice but to expand our [self defensive] military power." -North Korea Department of International Affairs

From North Korea's viewpoint, developing missiles is a right of a sovereign nation. For a North Korea seeking nullification of monetary sanctions, reinstating a missle launch moritorium becomes an ingredient for negotiations with the U.S.

This article's author concludes by surmising North Korea's goals also include two other aspects: the display of its military might for the benefit of its citizens and the re-affirming of the union's system.

do you YouTube?

there's a whole host of "post your own video" sites out there;
non-archival quality free streaming video sites like YouTube,
Myspace recently added video hosting functionality, and many more.

so, is copyright infringement and free IP distribution an issue?
what happens to content provider's revenue streams when YouTube users post low-quality feeds of their IP?
there's no standard "preview format."
does viral marketing make-up the difference?
can internet ads target more specifically than traditional regional/local broadcast ads?
whom do our dollars reach?

these questions pop-up and are blocked wherever firefox-using bloggers exist (probably in the Blogosphere* that i keep hearing so much about on my beloved 24-hr News Recycle fest of CNN).

*okay, that links to the NY Times - but [unfortunately] i saw it first on some CNN gabfest (CNN's search engine isn't very good - and couldn't find it)...

anyway, before i get even more side-tracked, here are a few YouTube feeds that got me thinking about this post:
Look Around You: Maths



Hey Clip


now, this is the first time i've ever embedded YouTube (has the levee breached?); and these feeds weren't actively searched out by me. like so many other things on the Internet - you never really have to seek-out content. it is virally brought to your attention.

i thought on my initial viewing of the above feeds that (in respective order):

1) i wouldn't ordinarily be exposed to obscure (to my American sensibilities) British television programming - and thus wouldn't ordinarily be able to ponder that there might be a number bigger than 45,000,000,000 (!).

2) there would be a network of users who - though goofy - exchange adeptly edited video that makes one want to listen to the Pixies.

[Photo] Windsurfing Crooked Lake

Great day of windsurfing today over at Crooked Lake. i was sailing a 6.6 Ezzy (camber inducers and all!) on a 155 GO starboard (courtesy of Windsurf Harbor Springs).

I was working on my jibes and water-starts today...

Dad isn't content with sailing on mere water.
Kenny in a jibe.

[ニュース] 在日米軍再編：Calls for Steadfast Implementation

The two pillars of the new Japanese-American consensus for military security are

• 1) a reduction of around 8000 marines from Okinawa


• 2) moving Futenma Airfield to Camp Schwab

As discussed in a 5/31 editorial published in center-right Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest-circulation daily, 多くの難題がある! While editorials are usually cast as "merely one man's opinion," I believe they serve as valuable indicators of the tone and temper of public debate. It should also be noted that this editorial was chosen to run on the daily's podcast as well (they only read one editorial/day).

Among these problems:

• Guaranteeing nearly 3 trillion yen (~$26.7 billion USD) in reorganization expenses

This total is inclusive of necessary maintenance of the Self-Defense Forces and related equipment. However, the Yomiuri editorial necessitates "rationalization for certain relics of the cold war era." On the other hand, the editorial goes on that as the US Military continues to build maneuverability, rapid-response, and information assimilation capabilities, so too should the SDF address similar attitudes that will foster smooth cooperation between the two (日米). This means efficient reorganization [of the newly integrated SDF - 3月下旬から始まった陸海空3自衛隊の統合], arrangement [of resources], and equipment inspections.


• Planning and scheduling for construction and moving

The issue here is described as being two-fold.
1) National expenditures based on cabinet-level decisions
2) The disconnect between National and Local (Prefectural and/or Municipal bodies)

Citing the case of the Marines in Guam, the editorial calls for a "polite explanation" as to the necessity of national expenditures for overseas American military equipment and related expenses - even while the [Japanese] government proceeds with "important" maintenance legislation.

Okinawa Prefecture felt consultations beforehand were inadequate and opposed the cabinet’s decision.

Thus, the editorial claims, the government must utilize consultations with prefectural and related municipal bodies and with this understanding proceed to quickly determine policies for construction and scheduling.

Incentive packages are written into the current decision, but funds must not be allowed to be scattered among unrelated projects. Here, the editorial cites a promise made in 1999 to invest 100 billion yen ($889 million USD @ 112 ¥/$) in Futenma over ten years, which resulted in yearly projects but produced "no discernable progress" in moving Futenma.

"National expenditures relating to regional incentives share the local burden; it's our contribution."

The editorial supposes that by responding to development plans and subsidizing the various municipal bodies, the scope of understanding will widen.

However, the business degree in me screams inefficient whenever it hears the word, "subsidy."

wind just came up, i'm going windsurfing...

Categories

[Net] We Have a Map of the Internet

これは結構面白くない？
I came across this sweet little JAVA app through a story over at Monkey Bites that linked to Sala's Aharef Blog. i've seen this type of website mapping application before, but this one has some pretty slick animation and is a snap to run. Try running it on your own site here.

there are probably more robust mapping apps out there; but Sala's represents HTML tags according to the following scheme:

This is the key for the final output:
blue: for links (the A tag)
red: for tables (TABLE, TR and TD tags)
green: for the DIV tag
violet: for images (the IMG tag)
yellow: for forms (FORM, INPUT, TEXTAREA, SELECT and OPTION tags)
orange: for linebreaks and blockquotes (BR, P, and BLOCKQUOTE tags)
black: the HTML tag, the root node
gray: all other tags

here's the Tokyo Wave:


a new project of mine over at .MAC:


my first website:

[Net] Situation: breakdown - All Images Down

The Tokyo Wave has been proud to provide a total of 54 (now 55) earth-shatteringly enticing entries that can only be described as detailing the truth that something is amiss.

Chiavi Surf has enjoyed listing his friends, links, and ramblings - but sometime soon, access to University of Michigan's servers will be lost. as many of the images/files hosted here find their home on those servers and as it is not deemed a time-worthy investment to re-write the links, much of this site will cease to function.

御心配なく, however, Tokyo Surf is seeking out a new domain and service. pertinent links are forthcoming but will be provided here.

これからもよろしくお願い致します。

[エンタメ] ハウルを人口減少の社会から見ると

Thanks to the kindness of my landlord and his family, I was able to head over to Borders (the fine folks at Borders Group, Inc. have their headquarters in Ann Arbor) and purchase myself a copy of Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城).
David Edelstein's review of the English language version is here.

i enjoyed how Miyazaki choose Diana Wynne Jones' children's story by the same name to frame his latest theatrical release. Perhaps it is coincidence; but, with Japan's birthrate at 1.38 per couple, a story where a young girl only truly discovers herself after turning into a 90-year-old woman might be a poignant choice for 団塊の世代 (1947~'49).

i'd seen the film once before, but it was a thrill to see it in its DVD format.

meanwhile, Miyazaki's next project　（ゲド戦記） is slated for a July roadshow in Japan. the face of humanity is changing...

[エンタメ] More Truthiness Than You Can Shake a Stick At

Stephen Colbert - the man that makes me want to adopt ultra-conservatism, embrace ignorance, and align myself with the heartland values of America! certainly on the edge (if not, at times, over), Stephen Colbert pushes the envelope of what punditry can be - and how fantaticism in the extreme can both entertain and effectively convey political commentary at the same time.

i tune-in to Stephen's Comedy Central program via iTunes' new "multipass" product. the show's great, though i've since come to the conclusion that iTunes' video content leaves a little to be desired (it only allows data backups and does not allow the use of content in one's own authored DVDs).

4/29: White House Correspondence Dinner
Stephen Colbert attends as his "Lincolnish" and "Megalomamerican" character - amusing and offending the audience. You can check out his full bit by clicking on the title link or here.

運と縁

運：UN is basically "luck" or "fortune"
縁：EN doesn't lend itself to direct translation quite as well, though I might go with "destiny" or "pre-destined."

it seems my future depends on how these factors play out. gonna have to wait this one out.

[ニュース] 時代の寵児（ちょうじ）のホリエモン

NYTimes finally picked up the story today 2/13. Man, MSJ could have scooped the NYTimes if they'd run my story!


I'm not quite sure whether I should address Horie-san as Horie 前社長 (former company president) or adopt what seems to be the standard in Japanese media: Horie 容疑者　(criminal suspect).

The arrest of Livedoor President Takafumi Horie last week has surfaced more issues than illegal security trading. For one, the brash young Tokyo University dropout was once heralded as the new face of Japanese business and was practically made the poster child for Prime Minister Koizumi's LDP Reform movement.

Claiming ignorance now, Koizumi and the LDP leadership are taking steps to distance themselves from a potential PR fiasco. Both the Prime Minister and Economic Minister pushed for and supported Criminal-Suspect Horie when he ran for office in the 6th District of Hiroshima (he didn't win). At that time the Economic Minister even went so far as to call Horie a brother, a son – though it’s not clear if he ever decided on which he was.

However, all you'll hear from the LDP camp nowadays is 「不明」 (Unclear) and 「当時に違法行為知られていなかった」（At that time, criminal actions were unknown).

A PhD student in the Economics department at our University explained to me that there exists in Japan a certain phenomena:
出る杭は打たれる
or "the nail that sticks out is hammered back in."

Is this a case of Japanese Society correcting for the radical Horie-san and his aggressive (and often disrespectful) business style?

Лайка、早く帰ってきて、、、

On November 3rd, 1957, she became the first living creature to orbit the Earth; though it's now known that only a few hours later Laika had passed on. I think of Laika often: how she lived as a stray on the streets until she was drafted into the cosmonaut program and subjected to "training;" and how she spent her last three days alive on Earth - inside of Sputnik 2 - waiting in the cold with only the hum and a little warmth from an exhaust hose to comfort her.

冥王星への探査！〜Groovin' to Pluto

New Horizons (グランドピアノほどの大きさ) launched on the 19th at 1400hours from Florida. This baby's fast... maybe not quite Steve Job's "screamer" fast, but New Horizons will pass the moon in 9 hours (vs 2.5 days required by Apollo missions), reaching Jupiter in only 13 months. Nine years later? Pluto, "hello." The nuclear electric generator powered craft utilizes highly radioactive plutonium to power its instruments during its sojourn to the frozen outreaches of our solar system. Antinuclear activists picketed the launch, citing concerns of an accident. The launch planned for the 17th was delayed two days due to weather concerns.

It was interesting to compare the prominence the event received in Japan's Asahi Shimbun when compared with leading US News sources such as The New York Times.

[エンタメ] 1／25発売 Tokyo Incidents 大人（アダルト）

大楽しみ！これが、、、
You'll be able to get a sneak peek at one of the new tracks from 1/21〜28期間限定 on Virgin's site. Check it out.

謹賀新年

The Dashing Prince Riki and Elegant Princess Kasumi have returned to usher in the New Year!
You may recall my two younger siblings from last year's appearance, here. Let's make '06 one to remember.

Can You Keep A Secret?今までずっと秘密にしてた

The disparity between Japanese-sized Starbucks and the American variety has been mitigated! and in truth? well, they never were more than a menu apart... the hitch? we're not supposed to know about it. it's a secret. as the Starbuck Goddess masquerades around Japan with her tasty tempting flavor-packed mini coffee sizes, the American consumer is stuck sipping sickening over-sized blends of mostly milk - the ever popular "venti" size. well, as this Slate article suggests, i took a trip down to the local Starbucks and said, "make mine a short." and they did. $2.20 soy cappuccino. yum.