Japlish??

A nice combination? a can of beer and a magazine!
The news shows and papers today were filled with news about a former executive of a humongous conglomerate, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi of the Kokudo Group getting arrested by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office violating the Securities and Exchange Law.
The second longest time and space was spared for Horiemon again, this time speaking to the foreign media. Horiemon declined to speak in English at FCCJ today, excusing himself of speaking in an unfamiliar language.
As I returned home tonight, in my mail post was this week's international edition of Newsweek with the cover story about how English has spread throughout the world with non-native English speakers outnumbering native ones 3 to 1. Japan was mentioned only a couple of times as the story tells about how other countries have successfully (? well not too successfully...) transferred the English into their own styles. "Japlish" is mentioned as a strange form of the language used by copywriters. I wonder which candy is mentioned here with words "Your health and loveliness is our best wish" on the wrappers. I better look for it at convenience stores! (called "conbini"s in Japanese-English!)
Reading the article I was left with a feeling that education in Japan is still forestalled by many of our Asian neighbors. Using English as a fundamental tool in our everyday life is what we still lack and this will lead to a real disadvantage in Asia.
I'm so lucky I spent my younger days in the States, giving me a chance to aquire the skill to speak native English with ease. (Thanks to my dad taking his chance of a lifetime to cross the Pacific Ocean)
Still my English is deteriorating at a high pace and writing this diary is now one of the only few ways to slow it down. This testifies how English is so unnecessary in everyday life here. According to the story by Newsweek there's still needs of native English speakers in the education industry... I better keep up my skills to be ready for a dismissal at work!!