Disney English Learning

Disney is moving into the English teaching business in China. The company is trying to set up a Shanghai Disneyland and with China's economy on the rise, this sounds like a pretty solid international business strategy. The plans are to establish more "Mickey Mouse" operations in other countries as well. Could Japan be next?

Utada Hikaru: New Album

If you follow J-pop music at all, you'd know who Utada Hikaru is. She has been hugely popular as a J-pop artist over the past decade or so and tried breaking into the US market a few years ago with the all-English album, "Exodus". Unfortunately, it didn't fare too well from what I recall.

The new album titled, "This is the One" (with current single, "Come Back to Me") came out in the States just yesterday. We'll see how well it does. Had a listen to a few of the sample tracks. So far, it doesn't sound too bad. Definitely much more modern sounding than the last album. If you're curious, have a listen to some of the material here:
"This Is the One"

Hanami

Spring is here! And that means hanami is here as well. What is hanami you ask? Hanami is a tradition that dates back to 7th Century Japan when aristocrats would enjoy looking at beautiful cherry trees (sakura) while writing poems. Hanami festivals are held all over Japan. Hanami parties usually consist of people having fun drinking, eating, and singing during the day or night.

There are over 400 varieties of sakura in Japan. The most popular one is called "somei-yoshino". An interesting thing to note about Japanese cherry trees is that they do not yield fruit like other cherry trees.

A Smart Car Vending Machine?

I've seen iPods in vending machines, but, wow, Smart Cars? What'll they think of next? Actually, this is a faux vending machine that spits out brochures. Pretty neat marketing idea, though, especially in the land of vending machine worshipers: http://tr.im/huQN

Toyota in talks for 200 billion yen (US $2b) bailout plan

And you thought the recession was only hitting the U.S. automakers hard. Toyota is in talks with a Japanese government-backed bank for a 200 billion yen bailout loan:
http://tr.im/gYEX

Teaching English through Obama's Speeches

It looks like getting students to practice reciting President Obama's speeches is the latest trend in Japan. Why not try to incorporate some of that into your own lesson plans?