I visited University of Darma Persada for making a TV show and I had a chance to have an hour and a half lecture on Preventive Nutritional Science as a compound science toward more than 100 students who belong to Society of Japanese Linguistics. University of Darma Persada is a very unique private university which provides four departments; Society of Linguistics specializing in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, Engineering Technology, Technological Oceanography, and Economics.

What makes this university the most unique about goes back to the year of 1985 when it was established as a university. More than 100 out of all the founders who studied in Japan through a postwar compensation program raised the funds for it because they all knew this university was essential to build up a firm relationship with Japan in order for Indonesia to develop more. Some people were so passionate about this university that they even sold their own houses to donate money. There is such a heart touching background that students who studied in Japan wanted to put their hands together, but what made me more surprised was that most of them were in their early 30s. I imagine how stimulating it was to stay in Japan.

During the high economic growth era after World War II, it may not be too much to say that people in Japan grew out of the pain of a defeat and regardless of occupations whether private or public employed, united for the same aim, to flourish the nation. The elites standing at the forefront of Indonesia led their nation to follow the example of Japan’s historical success to unite and aim for a growth instead of having political disputes between the majorities. This is so similar to Samurai warriors who traveled to the United States on the Kanrin Maru around the Meiji Restoration. Those Samurai warriors found the United States stimulating and wished to make Japan as such.

The current President of the University, Mr. Oroan, sponsored my lecture this time and he is one of the 100 founders, who also graduated from the graduate school of University of Kyoto. He believes that Indonesia and Japan should continue to share good parts, support each other, and work together to develop both countries from now on. He has a passion behind his gentle and refined smile. I respect him as I have the same idea.

80% of the people of Indonesia are in favor of Japan. I believe they have the closest sensitivity to the Japanese people. People in Indonesia are kind. They care for children and the elderly. They are earnest. The personality common to Indonesians is optimistic. They smile frequently. Back in times as shown in a movie, “Always Sunset on Third Street,” Japanese people used to laugh more as exchanging greetings or having chats with neighbors. I recalled those old memories when I saw people in Indonesia.

Posted on Good Housekeeping
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/research-institute/summer-exercise-safety

You’ve found your long lost 　hiking boots, put air in your bicycle tires, and washed your dingy sun hat. But before you head out for your active summer vacation, make sure to prime your body for the extra exercise. A little prep work can mean the difference between a successful trip and a sidelining injury.

Take your muscles out of storage

Camping, hiking, and biking are great ways to stay fit with your family. But if you’ve been hibernating all winter, ease back into exercise. I talked to American Council on Exercise (ACE) exercise physiologist Jessica Matthews to get some tips on prepping for outdoor activity. To get ready for long hikes, she suggests alternating walking workouts that focus on endurance (build up to continuously walking at a moderate pace for 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, etc.) with ones that emphasize intensity (alternate walking and jogging or flat and uphill inclines). To get ready for long summer bike rides, slowly add cycling to your workout routine, either on a stationary bike, in an indoor cycling class, or outdoors. Start with a warm-up, and then work up to workouts that also vary in duration and intensity. And don’t forget to stretch when you’re done!

Stay safe in the sun

Outdoor exercise means extra sun exposure — so don’t forget your hat! Never leave home without applying the right sunscreen, and bring the bottle with you for frequent reapplication.

Exercising in high heat can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be life-threatening. So take precautions like limiting activity to cooler parts of the day, wearing loose, light clothing, drinking plenty of fluids, and being careful not to get too overheated. Pay attention to symptoms like heavy sweating, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea, and rest and drink cool water or sports drinks if you experience any of them.

Snack smart

Pack healthier versions of your favorite road-trip snacks to ward off hunger on the drive — and on the trails. Dried fruit and nuts will help keep you fueled up, are easy to bring on hikes and bike trips, and don’t need refrigeration. And don’t forget to bring plenty of H2O!

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Please check the original article here GoodHouseKeeping.com for there are many other useful ideas!

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/research-institute/summer-exercise-safety

I visited a plant where the bioethanol is produced from super sorghum located in a suburb of Jakarta in Indonesia for making a special TV program.

Syswave Holdings Corp. initiated this project and Mr. Sugiyama gave a tour for us. Amazingly, the main business of this company was IT and nothing related on bio fields until two years ago. They started to cultivate super sorghum in Indonesia from September 2012. 　How wonderful their courage and passion for overseas operations is!

By the way, you might be wondering what super sorghum is. Super sorghum is a cultivated plant like a group of sugarcane. This plant can grow rapidly and contain juice having high sugar content. Now, alternatives to petroleum are a pressing issue in the world and each country is taking action for it. Though it’s possible to produce ethanol from crops like corns, other crops as substitution are really needed because of competitive problem with crops for food. Super sorghum comes under the spotlight at such a time.

In 2008, the “Team Sorghum”, a research group consisted of researchers from Tokyo University, Nagoya University and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, was formed in Okinawa and began the research about potentialities of sorghum. Objectives of the sorghum research were to increase the amount of crops, to accelerate the growth of sorghum, and to make it sweeter (15 degree of sugar content) by crossbreeding repeatedly. The team had made efforts continuously until they achieved the ideal ratio of crossbreeding which enabled the plant to increase the lactic acid bacteria after being fermented by itself.

30 types of crossbreeding are conducted in the field owned by Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI).
Mr. Miyajima, the president of Syswave Holdings Corp., made a collaborative research proposal to LIPI with his motto, “take your chance.” The head of LIPI who had tried to produce alcohol from cassava for five years made a great decision to take this proposal last year.

I am surprised that LIPI entered into MOU (memorandum of understanding) with a nongovernmental enterprise in such a short period. In the similar cases of Japanese government, it usually takes some years to reach an agreement. Now, Tapioca is in boom around the world and tropical drinks and desserts with tapioca gain much popularity. It’s difficult to produce ethanol from Tapioca anymore because the sales price of Tapioca has gone through the roof. However, this situation is good for the sorghum project.

Super sorghum under development by Team Sorghum makes 200kg ethanol production per 2 hectare possible, so the sales price in the market will be very cheap about 50 yen per liter. It shows super sorghum has a great potential to clear conditions as bioethanol.

Super sorghum can be harvested three times in one seeding throughout a year. If you cut the root and just leave it, some sprouts appear and grow up. This easy cultivation is a key to save the cost.

Motorbike is the major means of transportation for the majority of people in Indonesia today. The government supports about 50% of gasoline price and holds the price in 50 yen at the street price, but the burden of this subsidy is very heavy for the government. So, development of cheaper bioethanol is strongly requested as the national objectives.

The juice extracting from stalks is very sweet and alcohol is produced by its fermentation in a tank. It’s extracted ethanol by distillation as well as distilled spirit. Extracted ethanol can be mixed in gasoline. This mixed gasoline brings good things such as less pollution and good mileage.

The Institute of Science has now an ambition to establish a complete recycling-based model society in this field. Bagasse is the fibrous matter that remains after sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice and contains a lot of mineral and sugar. Compost mixed in fermented bagasse, sorghum leaves and stalks can be used for cultivation of organic vegetables. Also, a dairy farmer can produce delicious beef by feeding diluted fermented bagasse and its manure is good for compost. There are no parts of super sorghum to waste.

If the usage of fermented bagasse and its compost is developed at higher level and is focused attention in the future, super sorghum may grow up more than 6m and be harvested 4 times a year. Now, I expect great success of this sorghum project and I think this is the shortest way that poverty stricken people in the tropical forests can get money. Crop yields per hectare are big with lighter labor. Income source is stable and less dumpling risk because the purchase is assured by the government. This business brings one good thing after another. In fact, many farmers from all parts of Indonesia have already got their hands up for it. I think it’s great.

Posted on Wonderland Japan WAttention
http://www.wattention.com/archives/omotenashi-the-heart-of-japanese-hospitality/

Do you know what this Japanese word, “Omotenashi” means? I found a great web page for you to get to know Japan well. Please check!
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WAttention: http://www.wattention.com/archives/omotenashi-the-heart-of-japanese-hospitality/