Writers, Kosuke and Hiroki have teamed up to talk about their study abroad experience in the United States and some of the differences between Japan and the US on a new MNP blog, NINJAPAN BLOG.

Below you will find their first post in Japanese, look out for their blog posts every week on myninjaplease.com!

世界にとって今の日本とは

アメリカで生活していて人々に度々言われること。それは、日本は文化的に豊かで歴史があり、さらには技術が発展している素晴らしい国だということ。 Made In Japanは製品、技術においてとても信頼がおけると。私の友人の言葉で私が驚いたのは、日本人は新しいもの作り上げるのに実に長けている、それはきっと 日本に住み、技術や環境に幼少から触れていることで脳みその作りが違うからだと。

このように世界で、少なくとも私が生活していたアメリカで、日本人の評価は非常に高い。驚くほど高い。日本から来たというだけで、相手から食いついて来るような国なのだ。果たして他の国でそのようなことが起こるだろうか。

例えば韓国人が自己紹介したとして、

“I’m from South Korea”

“OH seriously, you know what, I love Kimuchi”

こうなったらいいほうだと思う。

正直いって日本はとってもお得な国なわけだ。しかし私がそんな環境にいて気づいたことは、日本人は自分の国の事についてとても疎いのではないかとい うこと。歴史や文化、他国の人々が興味を持っていることに対して、正確に答えることのできるだけの知識を持ちあわせていないんじゃないか。様々な国からの 人々と話をしていて、彼らの自分の国に対する知識の豊かさに驚くことがよくあった。

そういう環境で思ったこと。果たして今の日本は本当に世界の人々が考えるような国なのかどうか。文化が豊かなのはうなずけるが果たして技術は？今の 時代、アメリカが技術を開発し、中国が制作をする。日本はその技術を借り入れているだけだ。このまま何もしないで、何も発信していかないでいたら、日本と いう国の評価は確実に世界の中で減退していく。

なにかしよう日本人。

もう少し世界をみよう。もう少し日本を知ろう。そしてもう少し、日本を好きになろう。J*MPを立ち読みしてる場合じゃない。スポ*チ読んでる場合じゃない。

The Art of War by Sun Tzu brought to you by the Internet Classics Archive at MIT, translated tenants by Lionel Giles.

.:classics.mit.edu->

So you want to start a cafe, eh?

Michael Idov reflects on how it took all of 6 months for his cafe to close- Anthony Bourdain sums up the psychological gap that becomes between most aspiring cafe owners, “The most dangerous species of owner … is the one who gets into the business for love.”

We here at MNP, are looking to change this, by helping you get your cafe up and running and swing a profit.

Italy, the land of coffee, has over 200,000 coffee establishments- the U.S. has approximately 15,000, so there is plenty of room for new businesses.

If food security is an issue, then consider what Nomad Cafe in Oakland has achieved with their “green cafe” format. Worldchanging recently interviewed Chris Waters, the guy who started Nomad Cafe and he offered these pieces of advice- secure financing, establish relationships, get green certified, find a location, interview your staff well, make your business inviting to everyone, work long hours and don’t do it for the money!

Eugene Cho, founder of a non-profit community cafe called Q Cafe located in Seattle- after responding to inquiring parties with “Haiku emails,” he eventually buckeled down and made this informative video:

If after watching the video, you still have more questions, email Eugene and he’ll send you a manual and even do so some consulting for the cost of a donation to the cafe.

Green and community oriented? Check. In an effort to take away the intimidation factor that law offices bring, a brand new place called Chicago’s Legal Cafe just oppened last month where they basically have speciality lawyers on staff from a pool 20 professionals. Interesting right?

Still not impressed? The UK has developed an idea called Cafe Scientifique, where their mission is to promote discussion about exciting scientific ideas between experts and non-experts in an informal environment. Ahhh, the cafe.

If you want to set something up abroad, check here at the International Hotel and Restaurant Association.

Sydney Community College has an interesting agenda that could be a good checklist for the aspring entrepreneur.

Lastly, the innovative Cannabis Culture Magazine has an informative piece on starting a green friendly operation (where laws permit).

Need more motiviation? Here are 37 reasons to start your own business! Good luck!

: Originally posted on myninjaplease.com :

Eric C. Michaud, writes of the allure of stolen art and goes deeper- how can museums better secure their collections while “dealing” with the aftermath of the embarrassment of being a part of a breach?

Over the years, I’ve daydreamed about stealing a Vermeer, a Picasso, or Rembrandt. It tickles me, as much as watching the reboot of The Thomas Crown Affair.1 Why is it, do you suppose, so much fun (despite the obvious immorality) to think about stealing a world renowned piece off the wall of a major metropolitan museum? Is it the romantic thoughts of getting away with it, walking past infrared detectors, and pressure sensors ala Indiana Jones with the sack of sand to remove the idol without triggering the security system? Is it the idea of snatching items with such fantastic prices, where the romance of possessing an item of such value is less intoxicating than selling it to a private collector for it to never be seen again? I suspect others share my daydreams as they watch theater or hear of a brazen daylight heist at museums around the world, or from private collections.

With typically 85%-99% of a museum’s total holdings not being on display, most pieces stolen or legitimate are never seen by the public. Stolen art can serve as black market chips to trade and they usually involve insiders who use the museum’s closed software systems as a point of vulnerable entry. In the endgame:

By publicizing what is missing or stolen, cooperative security can take place.

.:jps.anl.gov->

:: originally posted on myninjaplease.com ::

Further reading on the net can be found after the break:

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