Live in Japan and ever dreamed of having your own company? Rather than working for the big chain schools and making them rich, why not work on your own financial future and start your own private English school. It’s easier than you think.

But there are so many schools out there, it’s too crowded and it’s too difficult to get new students, you may say.

Whilst Japan might not have the immediate growth potential of China, Korea or even language teaching in US, and there is so much more competition, it is still a hugely positive and as yet still untapped market. For example:

* Kids Lessons: With the recent comments from the Education Minister, compulsory English in Elementary School has been delayed for a least a year, probably two and maybe longer if the current Prime Minister stays in power. This has taken away a huge, free, competitor.

* Adults Classes: Every time I sit in a coffee shop I can almost guarantee that the conversation of at least one group around me will turn to “I’d like to speak English”, and invariably ends with “But it’s so scary approaching a school”. These are usually women in their 20s or 30s who don’t have to, but would like to learn English in a casual, relaxed way. Where are the easy-to-walk-in-to-for-just-a-chat-about-joining schools?

* Silver Eikaiwa: There’s a huge market of “silver” (the Japanese word of the moment!) retirees with cash to spend and a thirst for travel. How many silver courses are there out there?

For the actual mechanics of setting up a business there are hundreds of books and websites, just do a quick Google search.. What you then need is the best product (i.e. really good lessons), fantastic service and great pricing. That’s not to say building your own school is super easy, but it’s almost always worthwhile. Finding other teachers is very tough, but if you’re happy to be the main teacher yourself, you’ll have a very viable business set up in no time. Advertising is easy; it will all be word of mouth from super satisfied students.

Pricing is a big part of it, and that’s where the art and magic is. You’ll always have customers who say “That’s too expensive” or “Why don’t you do everything for free?”. In most cases those customers wouldn’t buy the product even if it was free. But look at those women in the coffee shop talking about wanting to learn English. If you ask them they may say they can’t afford lessons maybe, but they are sat there sipping 400 yen cappuccinos that only cost 50 yen to make! The key is the extras that you give. At Starbucks you don’t pay for the coffee, you pay for the ambience, the artwork, the music, the sofas and the Wi-fi. AND they also have the best coffee in town. You need both.

I’ve seen some pictures of schools on the net and as an adult learner some of them would make me run a mile (bright white lighting, straight boring desks) and some of them just look so inviting that I’d sign up for lessons just to enjoy the atmosphere!

You just have to make sure that if you charge XXXX for a lesson, the student walks away with XXXX + alpha worth of value. It’s the extras, the smiles, the lollipops for adult learners (not for kids anymore sadly!), the interesting artwork on the walls, the personal attention, the music in the lobby, the jokes, the atmosphere that make this extra bonus.

Japan’s a great place to be, teaching can be a great way to make a good income and unlike selling arms to Africa or anything like that, you’re always making a difference in the World, you just have to decide how big you want it to be.

When you read Yagus's Heiho Kaden Sho, you can get an idea of ​​his fighting style. Often it would appear that he devised counters for favorite techniques of other martial arts schools in his lifetime. The amount of study you needed to do this was great. One of the special techniques of the Yagyu ryu is muto, or no sword. With these techniques, it is possible for an unarmed man to defeat an opponent armed with a sword. This is a very good indication of Yagtu's skills since the level of this training is very high.

Muneyoshi was born Yagy Shinsuke in 1529 in Yagy Village in Yamato Province. His father, Ietoshi, was a minor landed lord. When Muneyoshi was 12, Ietoshi joined a general named Kisawa Nagamasa in contesting the growing power of the warlord Miyoshi Chkei. However, Kisawa was killed in battle, and the Yagy found themselves on the defensive. With over half of Yamato Province under his control, Miyoshi left the rest of the contract to his lieutenant, Tsutsui Junsh.

The Tsutsui and the Yagy had feuded previously, and Junsh wasted no time. In 1544 he attacked the Yagy at Koyagy Castle with about 10,000 men. According to the Tamon-in Nikki, a chronical of the Kfuku-ji temple, at first the Yagy were caught by surprise, but Ietoshi rallied his troops for a defensive battle. Muneyoshi, a young man of 15, successfuly led a small troop of his own. The Tsutsui soldiers surrounded the castle, burned the surrounding homes and villages, took control of the outer castle and cut off the water supply, but the main castle still held out. The Yagy held out or three three days, but they were very outnumbered, and had no choice but to capitulate, and submit to the Tsutsui.

The Yagy served the Tsutsui for eight years. Muneyoshi studied the martial and liberal arts, becoming proficient with the spear and sword, as well as studying Confucianism, Zen Buddhism, and Shingon Buddhism. Muneyoshi soon gained notice as an able warrior and commander, and as many of orders were sent by Tsutsui to him, a young man in his 20s, as he was sent to his father, still an active lord in his 50s. One message sent by Junsh's son Fujikatsu to Ietoshi singles out Muneyoshi in particular for praise.

In 1559, the warlord Matsunaga Hisahide decided to attack the Tsutsui and take control of Yamato Province. He sent a message to Muneyoshi promising to restore their old lands and position to the Yagy in exchange for their service. The Tsutsui were overthrown, and the Yagy grown prominent under Matsunaga. In particular, Matsunaga cave Muneyoshi a citation for valor for his performance in a battle at To'unomine. Matsunaga's attempt to take the mountain was repulsed, and Muneyoshi cooked in the rearguard as the army retreated. He was wounded, but fighting with a spear he killed several of the enemy. Muneyoshi almost did not survive the battle, but a retained named Matsuda Muneshige sacrificed his life to save Munetoshi's. Muneyoshi would later make a statement of his extreme gratitude when he possessed a Shinkage-ry license to Muneshige's son Genjir.

It is not entirely clear what school of combat Muneyoshi studied, or who his teachers were. An Owari Yagy family record suggests that he studied Shint-ry under a man named Kantori Shinjr. But "Kantori" may simply be a misunderstanding of kanji meant to read "Katori", thus signifying "Katori Shint-ry". An Edo Yagy family record suggests that he studied Toda-ry, a branch of Chj-ry. All family records and Munetoshi's own surviving writings suggest that he was an enthusiastic student of the military arts from a young age, before he met Kamiizumi Hidetsune.

Muneyoshi served Matsunaga with distinction. The battle at To'unomine, for which Muneyoshi received a citation of valor, was either just before his encounter with Hidetsuna or shortly after. In 1568, Oda Nobunaga entered Yamato Province with overwhelming force and subjugated the Matsunaga and Tsutsui, ending their skirmishing. It is likely that around this time Ietoshi retired, and passed on the leadership of the Yagy to Muneyoshi. Nobunaga ordered Muneyoshi to go to Kyoto and attend to the new Shgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

With the passing of a few years, however, Yoshiaki began forming all to overthrow Nobunaga, among them the Yagy's old lord and present commander Matsunaga Hisahide and the warlord Takeda Shingen. In 1571, attempting to secure control once more over Yamato Province, Matsunaga sent the Yagy in an attack against Tsutsui Junkei at Tatsuichi, a town in Nara. The attack was a total failure, and in the course of the battle Muneyoshi's oldest son, Toshikatsu, was shot in the hip. This compounded an earlier injury he had received in his first battle, and made him an invalid for life.

Yoshiaki's coalition made its move against Nobunaga in 1573, but certainly early success the death of Takeda Shingen weakened it. Nobunaga drove Yoshiaki out of Kyoto in August, and Matsunaga rejoined Nobunaga to fight the other members of the coalition. It is likely that Muneyoshi took part in these battles. However, by 1577 Matsunaga again turned on Nobunaga, who then finally defeated his wayward vassal. It is not clear when, but around this time Muneyoshi withdrew from the world of battle, and secluded himself in Yagy Village.

Dog breeding in Japan has ancient roots, and in fact has been practiced for thousands of years. In that time, six distinct breeds of Japanese dogs have been carefully bred and refined for purity, beauty, and other desirable traits. These six original Japanese dog breeds include the Japanese Akita, Shiba, Shikoku, Kai Ken, Kishu, and Hokkaido. The Tosa is another well-known Japanese dog breed, although it is not considered to be one of the original six.

Akita
Of all the breeds, it is the Akita Japanese dog breeders are known for most of all. Technically, it is called the Akita Inu, and is sometimes considered to be separate from the American Akita. The Akita is a large dog with very thick fur and a variety of colors. It is known for being exceptionally loyal, kind, and playful. Akitas make good family pets and do well with children, although they do need plenty of time outside.

Shiba
Where the Japanese Akita is the largest of all Japanese dogs, the Shiba (or Shiba Inu) is the smallest). Both its fur and its body share the same traits: short and thick. Bred for hunting, Shibas must be kept on leashes or they may try and chase something and run away. Their temperaments are confident, intelligent, and a bit independent. They should be socialized young so they don’t become too disobedient. They are also very loyal to their owners.

Shikoku
The Shikoku is, size-wise, halfway between the Japanese Akita and Shiba (the largest and smallest Japanese dog breeds, respectively). Its fur is also of medium length. Quite active, agile, tough, and energetic, Shikokus are known as good dogs for outdoor enthusiasts and the adventurous. They are more obedient than some of the other breeds and have a reputation for learning things quickly.

Kai Ken
The Kai Ken (sometimes just called the Kai) is a very rare breed, even in Japan, and is thought by some to be the purest and oldest of all the oldest Japanese dog breeds. In fact, the breed is considered to be a national monument for Japan. It is a medium-sized dog with rough, medium length fur and a dark colored black or deep reddish coat. The Kai Ken is known for being friendly, brave, intelligent, and alert. They are very loyal to their owners, and also have a history of hunting, which makes them good guard dogs.

Kishu
Similar to, but older than, both the Shibu and the Akita, the Kishu is one of the most beautiful and intelligent breeds of traditional Japanese dogs. Kishus have thick, short, white fur and are medium in build and muscular in stature. Brave, strong, and agile, the Kishu is known as a good hunting dog. They are very loyal to families and are instinctually drawn to one person or one family once they learn who their owners are.

Hokkaido
With its two coats (one short, one long) of thick fur, the Hokkaido is a unique and cherished breed among Japanese dogs. The double-coat also makes it very compatible with cold climates. A natural hunter, the Hokkaido has the ability to fight off bears and will be very protective of its owners. It does well with children as long as it is exposed to them while it is a puppy.

This is the first in a series of articles to help you learn useful Grammar patterns to help you master conversational Japanese much quicker.

In today’s article we will look at the Grammar pattern for ‘When I (verb)’ or ‘When I was a (noun)’ this is a very useful grammar pattern one of the first I ever learned. In Japanese it’s represented by ‘toki’ or ‘toki ni’.

The first thing we need to identify is what Base/Tense are used for the grammar pattern. There are 7 Bases in Japanese verbs. B1,2,3,4,5,Te,Ta. For a complete explanation of bases and detailed explanations on how to conjugate verbs properly in Japanese please check out our guide.

This grammar pattern uses the verb in its plain form (without conjugation except for tense). This makes it very easy to use. I will use some example sentences below to explain how to use it in a number of ways.

Using with a Verb

The verb iru (or past tense ita) goes immediately before toki ni to show that when I was in Japan I did…. In this case ate sushi.

Nihon ni ita toki ni sushi o tabeta/tabemashita.

(When I was in Japan I ate sushi)

Another example is:

Jitensha o noru toki ni herumetto o kaburu/kaburimasu.

(When I ride a bike I wear a helmet).

Again in this example the helmet wearing was taking place when I ride a bike so the Verb for Noru (ride) goes before ‘toki ni’

See how it can be used with either tense by changing the verb in front of toki to its past tense.

Using with an Adjective

You can use to connote when something was an adjective such as noisy or quiet.

Shizuka na toki ni / Shizuka datta toki ni …

(When something is/was quiet …)

When the adjective is in its present tense a ‘na’ is added between the adjective and the ‘toki ni’.

Using with a Noun

Watashi wa Daigakusei no /datta toki ni…

(When I am/were a University student….)

When using it with a noun you use the above pattern. Where it is NOT past tense you place a ‘no’ between the noun and the ‘toki ni’. When it is past tense you just use the past tense of desu or da which is datta.

Other useful notes about the ‘toki ni’ grammar pattern

You can drop the ni that follows toki as it creates a little additional emphasis that is not always necessary.

You cannot use this grammar pattern to indicate that someone will be surprised as a result of the ‘when’ you must use one of the other when patters we’ll explain later for instance BTa ra would be used.

I have been intrigued a lot about the Japanese Character. I had a Japanese girl friend when I was doing a course in French. She was a nice girl and we drank endless cups of tea as we both learnt French. I also came to know that the Japanese are mainly Buddhists. The Buddha, as we all know renounced the pleasures and comforts of life and went away to seek enlightenment. He propagated a path to salvation that had as its main pillars non-violence, peace, friendship and respect for human life. To top it the Japanese had also built a temple dedicated to Buddha at Gaya in Bihar.

However a look at the Japanese conduct during the last century and one wonders whether the Japanese Army and people really imbibed the teachings of Buddha. It appears they negated every concept enunciated by Lord Buddha. His teachings of compassion, help, truth and non violence were just thrown to the dogs.

A look at the Japanese occupation of China is a case in point. In 1937 Emperor Hirohito issued a royal decree that Chinese soldiers captured were not to be treated as POW’s. This resulted in the Japanese Army butchering over 57,000 POW’s. Going further the Japanese Army started what is known as the ‘rape of Nanking’ and on their occupation of the city unleashed a terror that just cannot be imagined. More than 200,000 Chinese citizens were killed and over 100,000 women raped and then butchered with swords or simply shot.

I fail to understand the rationale of this Japanese conduct, particularly of a people who believed in Buddha. China was not the exception and they carried out such activities at other places as well.

The Japanese treatment of POW’s of British and Australian origin was abhorrent and the Geneva Conventions thrown to the wind, with daily beheading and torture. No apologist for Japan has been able to explain this conduct of the Japanese. What was the reason for the Japanese to indulge in these massacres and tortures? Even now at the end of the war in the 21st century the Japanese leadership still honor their dead soldind have no remorse for what they had done.

Perhaps scientists must study this aspect of the Japanese character. I cannot understand how the Japanese justify to themselves the complete negation of all that Buddha taught. It is an enigma to me.

Learn Japanese easily! When you visit Japan, it’ll be crucial that you can understand and give directions. You’ll need to know all sorts of phrases and questions such as, “The pharmacy is over there” and “Do you know where the hospital is?”

By learning some important words and phrases, you’ll surely make it around in the streets of Japan. In this Newbie Japanese article, master the words and phrases you need to give and understand directions. Just a few of the Japanese vocabulary words you’ll discover are yakkyoku (“pharmacy”) and konbini (“convenience store”). You’ll also learn how to explain locations using the Japanese words for “near” and “over there.” If you want to make it around Japan with no trouble, don’t miss this article!

Vocabulary: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:

chikaku – “near”

yakkyoku – “pharmacy, drugstore”

konbini – “convenience store”

tonari – “next to”

kusuri – “medicine”

ya – a suffix which means “store” or “seller”

tsuukoo-nin – “passer, passerby”

Grammar: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases at a hospital

konbini – “convenience store”

Konbini is the abbreviation of konbiniensu sutoaa.

asoko – “over there”

Asoko is one of the so-called ko-so-a-do words. For more information about Ko-so-a-do words, see Newbie Series Season 4 Article 7.

Please review the following vocabulary:

Demonstrative Pronouns:

kore – “this one”

sore – “that one”

are – “that one over there”

dore – “which one”

Demonstrative Adjectives:

kono – “this”

sono – “that”

ano – “that over there”

dono – “which”

Locations:

koko – “here”

soko – “there”

asoko – “over there”

doko – “where”

Chikaku ni yakkyoku wa arimasu ka.

“Is there a pharmacy near here?”

Please review the following vocabulary and usage:

chikaku – “nearby”

ni – particle indicating place

yakkyoku – “pharmacy”

wa – topic marker

arimasu – “exist”

ka – question-marking particle

In the Newbie Series Season 4 Article 27, we introduced the sentence structure Chikaku ni __arimasu ka. Now you’ll see that either ga or wa follows the site the speaker is looking for.

Chikaku ni  / place you are looking for / (wa / ga) arimasu ka.

Chikaku ni / yakkyoku / wa arimasu ka.

Chikaku ni / yakkyoku / ga arimasu ka.

Chikaku ni / yakkyoku / arimasu ka.

Examples:

1. Sumimasen. Chikaku ni toire wa arimasu ka.

   “Excuse me. Is there a restroom near here?”

2. Asoko desu.

   “It’s over there.”

3. Sumimasen. Chikaku ni eki ga arimasu ka.

   “Excuse me. Is there a station near here?”

4. Sumimasen. Wakarimasen.

   “I’m sorry. I don’t know.”

Grammar Point

In this article, you’re going to learn how to explain a location.

Yakkyoku wa konbini no tonari desu.

“The pharmacy is next to the convenience store.”

Please review the following vocabulary and usage:

yakkyoku – “pharmacy”

wa – topic marker

konbini – “convenience store”

no – possessive particle

tonari – “next to”

desu – copula (linking verb)

Konbini no tonari means, “next to the convenience store.” Please check the usage in the following examples.

1. Yakkyoku no tonari

   “next to the pharmacy”

2. Byooin no tonari

   “next to the hospital”

3. Eki no tonari

   “next to the station”

4. Daigaku no tonari

   “next to the university”

List of Positional Words:

“English” / Japanese

“on, above, over” / ue

“under, beneath, below” / shita

“in, inside” / naka

“near” / chikaku

“next to” / tonari

“in front of, before” / mae

“behind” / ushiro

Usage

Eki no (Japanese Positional Word)/ “English”

Eki no (ue) / “on the station”

Eki no (shita) / “under the station”

Eki no (naka) / “in the station”

Eki no (tonari) / “next to the station”

Eki no (chikaku) / “near the station”

Eki no (mae ) / “in front of the station”

Eki no (ushiro) / “behind the station”

Practice – Please fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

1. “The pharmacy is in the hospital.”

   Yakkyoku wa Byooin no __ desu.

2. “The restroom is next to the elevator.”

   Toire wa erebeetaa no __ desu.

3. “The convenience store is in front of the station.”

   Konbini wa eki no __ desu.

The cherry trees blossom between January and June, depending on every region in Japan, but the most festivals take place between March and Mai. In this time, there are many festivals in different places in the country, so you have every chance of finding one if you decide to participate to these marvelous events.

The most important festival are: Yaedake festival in Motobu city (februaary 16th – January 7th), Matsuyama Shiroyama Koen festival Matsuyama city (April 2nd-4th), Matsue Jozan Koen festival in Matsue (march 27th – April 15th), Tsuyama Kakuzan Koen festival in Tsuyama (start of April), Takato Koshi Koen festival in Takato-machi Ina (April), Takada Koen festival in Joetsu town (April 2nd – 18th), Kitakami Tenshochi festival in Kitakami (April 15th – Mai 5th), Hirosaki Koen festival in Hirosaki (April – Mai) or Matsumae Koen Park festival in Matsumae (April – Mai). These are only the biggest in Japan, with a few hundred trees to tens of thousands cherry trees. There are certainly many other small festivals in every place that these grow.

The cherry blossoms are only the main attraction of these events, while Japanese celebrate through many other activities. Among the most beautiful things that you cannot miss, are the small representations of traditional Japanese music and theatre, the tea ceremony demonstrations or family gatherings to eat under the trees. The celebration does not stop after the day ends, most orchards being lit throughout the night. These are the perfect circumstances to understand a part of the Japanese culture and traditions, which remained unchanged through centuries. The sakura trees, which mean cherry in Japanese, are one of the sacred symbols in Japanese culture. In some of the biggest festivals, you can have the possibility to take chariots in parks or boats on rivers, while being surrounded by falling cherry flowers.

If you want to reach one of the many cherry blossom festivals around Japan, you can find plenty or air flights towards the biggest cities of the island. From here, there are many possibilities to go anywhere in the country, since the transportation system is one of the most modern in the world. The great distance to Japan is worth all the sacrifices in the moment you will discover the true value of Japan. If you want to do something truly special and unique, it is time to start planning your journey in country of the Rising Sun. The cherry blossom festivals will be waiting for you every spring!

“I’ll bring the drinks.” “I’ll bring my computer.” Simple phrases, right? We talk about things we’ll bring or take all the time. What about, “I’m going to take my mom to the doctor?” Another example of a simple phrase we use all the time. One thing’s for sure, if you get invited to a party, you’ll want to say “I’ll bring the…” Use this Beginner Japanese article to master another critical element of Japanese sentence construction. Learn to use mottekite (“to bring”) and motteiku (“to take”). In addition, discover a number of important vocabulary words and phrases. Don’t miss this Beginner Japanese article!

Vocabulary: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:

daidokoro – “kitchen”

otsumami – “snacks which go with alcohol”

motte kuru – “bring”

kaa-san – “mother”

tsurete kuru – “to bring someone along”

sagasu – “to search, to look for” (class 1 verb)

keisatsu – “police”

kyuukyuusha – “ambulance”

yobu – “to invite, to call, to call out” (class 1 verb)

gootoo – “robber”

Grammar: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:  

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

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keisatsu “police”

kyuukyuusha “ambulance”

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Vocabulary related to police:

keisatsu kan “police officer”

keisatsu sho “police station”

keisatsu ken “police dog”

kooban “police box”

Emergency numbers in Japan:

Police: (keisatsu) 110

Ambulance: (kyuukyuusha) 119

Fire truck: (shooboosha) 119

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yobu “to call out, to call, to invite”

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As you learned in Beginner Article 6, yobu is a class 1 verb that means “to invite.” However, it also means “to call” or “to call out.”

Example:

1. Keisatsu o yobimasu.
   “I’m going to call the police.”

2. Kyuukyuusha o yonde kusasai.
   “Please call an ambulance.”

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Today’s Target Phrase

Haizara o motte kite.

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In the previous article, you learned how to combine two or more consequence actions using the te-form. The focus of today’s article is [te-form of a verb] + [kuru] and [te-form of a verb] + [iku phrases].

Please review the following vocabulary and usage:

haizara – “ashtray”

o – “object marker”

motte – (te-form of the verb motsu) “to have, to hold”

kite (te-form of the verb kuru) “to come”

Motte kite literally means “hold something and come” and corresponds to the English “to bring.” We use tsurete kuru when discussing people or animals. It’s translated as “bring someone along.” Motte iku means “hold something and go.” It means “take” in English. Tsurete iku is “to take someone along.”

Example:

“to take” (motte iku) / (tsurete iku)

1. Kasa o motte iku.
   “I (will) take an umbrella.”

2. Kaisha ni konpyuutaa o motte iku.
   “I (will) take a computer to work.”

3. Kaisha ni inu o tsurete iku.
   “I (will) take my dog to work.”

“to bring” (motte kuru) / (tsurete kuru)

1. Haizara o motte kuru.
   “I (will) bring an ashtray.”

2. Uchi kara konpyuutaa o motte kuru.
   “I (will) bring a computer from home.”

3. Kaisha ni inu o tsurete kuru.
   “I (will) bring my dog to work.”

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More Example Sentences

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1. Ashita no paatii ni kanojo o tsurete kite mo iidesu ka.
   “Can I bring my girlfriend to the party tomorrow?”

   *[verb te form] + [mo ii] –>See Beginner Series Season 2 Article15 for more details.

2. Gakkou ni inu o tsurete kite wa ikemasen.
   *[verb te form] + [wa ikemasen] –>See Beginner Series Season 2 Article 15 for more details.

3. Kore o sensei ni motte itte kudasai.
   *[verb te form] + [kudasai] –>See Beginner Series Season 2 Article 9 for more details.

4. Daidokoro kara gurasu o motte kite kudasai.

What’s Japan’s role in alternative energy investment? Japan is among several countries that are addressing energy needs by making advances in water treatment, electricity storage and in solar power. Currently, SPI Holdings, Inc., has $3 billion in private equity investments meant to access growth in Asian companies with a venture capital fund, and will be among the new alternative energy funds expected to appear.

Specifically, global investors are expected to come up with 30 billion yen, or $330 million, from sovereign wealth funds like Masdar Clean Tech Fund of Abu Dhabi and Temasek Holdings Pte. Expected internal rate of return on investment is expected to be 25 to 30%.

Clean technologies are increasingly in the public eye because President Barack Obama and Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama are focusing on projects that will deliver electricity to consumers from wind power and solar plants, both renewable energy sources, without disruption to the current system; the current system largely depends on fossil fuel sources like coal for its electricity generation needs.

This has boded well for the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which has gone up about 30% in the last year, more than benchmark equities indices’ gain in both Japan and the United States. (It should also be noted, however, that some investors are taking losses, resulting in what seems to be at least a temporary financial crisis. In 2009, for example, clean energy investment fell 6.5% versus 2008.)

This interest in renewable energy technology is not new, but its actual inception, including sustainable, renewable, clean or “green” energy sources, is indeed new and has been exciting to watch, for many. Japan’s own focus on developing renewable sources like wind power has made it a perfect partner to the US in developing these technologies. managing director of the Institute of Energy Economics Japan, Kensuke Kanekiyo, has said that, “Japan is also getting this trend off the ground and money follows.” Specifically, alternative energy funds like the one being developed by SBI prevent new opportunities for investors.

A year ago, SBI joined with a unit of Mubadala Development Co., a sovereign fund of Abu Dhabi, meant to speed the development of alternative energy so that a reduced dependence on oil as possible. Now, SBI’s plan for the 30 billion yen fund is waiting for investors’ commitment, with two companies so far involved.

Takashi Nakagawa, director of Tokyo-based SBI, says that the plan is to look at water management, light emitting diodes, solar and batteries. Clean technology is paramount and one of the “three pillars” of SBI’s investment policy, including the other two “pillars,” bio-science and information technology.

One of the companies SBI has chosen for the alternative energy pilot fund has found a way to produce silicon solar cells that are shaped like spheres, do not require as much material as standard solar cells, and yet have more power output. Another of the companies SBI has chosen for the pilot fund has developed a lithium rechargeable battery that is both safer and lighter than current models.

One of the major developments in Japan’s use of renewable energy is that its solar panel sales achieved record levels in 2009 as the government used incentive programs so that citizens would switch to renewable power, which meant an increase in local demand and helped to offset the negative aspects of a decline in exports. Sales in solar panels increased 21%.

Indeed, perhaps the current high price of fossil fuels like oil is not an entirely negative thing, given that it spurs the growth of these technologies. Of this, the Institute’s Kanekiyo says, “There are plenty of untapped technologies that can be developed when oil is priced at the current level.”

What might this mean for the development of alternative energies in the US, besides the development of alternative energy funds?

Although it is not quite known what the far-reaching benefits of this will be yet, in October of 2009, President Obama unveiled a plan to invest $3.4 billion in government grants so that a smart grid could be developed and installed; this “smart grid” would make electricity delivery more reliable and would also help deliver power from “green energy” sources like solar panels and wind turbines. In November of 2009, the US Department of Energy also announced $620 million in funding for these smart grid projects.

The development of smart grid technologies and renewable “green” energy technologies, such as is being done in Japan and the US, bode well, of course, for our economies, in that oil prices are skyrocketing and making this type of energy much more expensive to acquire; additionally, development of these types of “green energies” will also garner independence, in that our countries will not be able to generate our own energy from these renewable technologies. Exciting for any investor who wants to sink his or her money into alternative energy funds that support not only financial success, but national independence from fossil fuel imports and environmental benefits, too.

Remember Pearl Harbor?

Thirty years ago this week – on Dec. 7, 1941 – Americans had this place and this date etched in their memory.

But the Japanese had a retentive memory then that enabled them to fashion the sneak attack, and subsequent Pacific naval war, from the pages of a book written sixteen years previously by an English reporter.

It is a startling but true fact that Hector C. Bywater, naval correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph, prophesied the Pacific campaign of World War II in uncanny detail in 1925.

Evidence published just a year ago by William H. Honan in the American Heritage, proves that the Japanese high command followed Bywater’s blueprint almost to the letter – all except the warnings that Japan could not defeat an aroused United States.

“The Great Pacific War” opens with Japan’s seizure of Manchuria, Formosa and Korea. “But in thus pursuing a policy which aimed at the virtual enslavement of China, Japan had inevitably drawn upon herself the hostility of the Powers,” wrote Bywater.

An ensuing exchange of diplomatic notes between Japan and the United States are described as “bellicose” and “truculent” on the part of Japan and “courteously worded” by the Americans who are “determined to prevent the catastrophe of war.” It is in the midst of these negotiations that Japan strikes by surprise.

Bywater wrote that the “complete destruction” of the U.S. Pacific fleet would come off Manila Bay as our Asiatic Squadron cruised in open sea. This was one of the book’s few variations from subsequent reality.

At a time when the aircraft carrier was hardly more than an experiment, Bywater predicted that the Japanese attack would be led by carrier-based airplanes!

Simultaneously with the surprise attack on the U.S. fleet, Bywater postulated that the Japanese would invade Guam and the Philippines. He said the Guam attack would start with air bombardment followed by naval bombardment and the landing of troops by specially designed amphibious vessels.

“Large motor-propelled barges or pontoons were carried on board the Japanese transports for landing tanks and artillery,” wrote Bywater. After fitful skirmishes, he concluded, the American Marines would be compelled to surrender, as was the case on Dec. 10, 1941.

The actual Philippines invasion by the Japanese at the start of the Pacific war followed closely the script set down by Bywater.

“The chief danger the Japanese perceived,” wrote Bywater, “would come from the American aircraft. Moreover, thirty machines of a new and powerful type would have just arrived from the United States.”

In reality, thirty-five new B-17 Flying Fortresses did start arriving in late November 1941 and several flew into Pearl Harbor while the Japanese attack was underway.

Hostilities in the Philippines would commence when Japanese planes “heavily bombed the aerodrome at Dagupan,” said Bywater. In the real attack Clark Field – which had replaced nearby Dagupan – was bombed and strafed.

Bywater wrote that the Japanese would give a wide berth to the fortress at Corregidor guarding Manila Bay and the heavily fortified base on Subic Bay until the islands were secured. Then, the bypassed strong points would be starved and bombed into submission – as precisely happened in the real life events.

Bywater’s predictions of the Philippines invasion included major landings “at Lingayen Gulf, northwest of Manila, and in Lamon Bay between Cabalete and Alabat Islands southeast of Manila.” The two forces would then converge on Manila “simultaneously from north and south.”

The second largest island of the Philippine archipelago, Mindanao, would be invaded with a landing at Sindangan Bay.

The total invading force, he estimated, would consist of “an approximate strength of 100,000 men.”

Bywater’s informed estimate was astonishing.

The Japanese invading force consisted of 100,000 men.

There were two main landings on the Island of Luzon – one at Lingayen Gulf and the other at Lamon Bay, precisely between Cabalete and Alabat islands!

A third major landing party attacked the island of Mindanao.

Bywater postulated that the United States would have to defeat Japan with a slow, island-by-island march across the Pacific. The route he traced was only slightly south of that actually traveled by American admirals during the early 40’s.

Bywater imagined that once the Americans were within striking distance of retaking the Philippines, the Japanese Navy would be massed to stop them. The two navies would then fight a tremendous naval engagement that would become the turning point of the war. It was as if Bywater saw the Battle of Midway in his mind’s eye.

Even the desperate Kamikaze tactic of fanatic Japanese airmen was foreseen by Bywater. Seeing defeat imminent, the Japanese aviators “never hesitated to ram when otherwise balked of their prey, preferring to immolate themselves,” he wrote.

Bywater did not foresee the atomic bomb, but he did predict a dramatic end of the war. He wrote that the United States, desiring to spare itself and the Japanese he horror of all-out invasion, carried out a “demonstration” air raid on Tokyo in which the “bombs” contained leaflets urging the Japanese to surrender rather than “waste more lives.”

General Jimmy Doolittle did lead a demonstration bombing raid against Tokyo, of course; and, later, millions of leaflets were showered on Japanese cities.

In Bywater’s account the demonstration did bring the Japanese to their senses and a treaty of peace was signed stripping the enemy of many of its island possessions.

“The Great Pacific War” was published while Isoroku Yamamoto – the admiral who masterminded the Japanese naval strategy in World War II – was an attaché with the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C.

The novel was featured in the New York Times’ widely circulated book section in 1925, and the Japanese embassy registered an official protest over the review declaring it “provocative.”

Bywater’s prophesies that the Imperial Navy would be shattered, the Philippines retaken, and the Japanese homeland bombed were all brushed aside by the influential naval intelligence officer, Kinoaki Matsuo. The officer argued that Japan would display “a courage a hundred times higher than ordinary,” being possessed of “a burning determination to win.”

What tragedy that the Japanese, having taken Bywater’s theories seriously, failed to heed his warnings as well.

December 8, 1971

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