Topic1

1. When you use the Internet, do you attach weight to customer’s reputation on the web or “word of mouth” (kuchikomi)? Have you ever found shills (sakura) there?

2. How do you use “word of mouth” in the cyberspace? Do you have some principals when you use it?

3. A lot of people see “recommendations” made by various Internet sites. Have you ever purchased goods by mainly referring to those recommendations?

4. Most of recommendations are made by computer algorithms automatically and it is said that these computer algorithms dominate the cyberspace. Do think this phenomenon does us good or harm?

If you are interested in computer algorithms, you may well be riveted to this Ted-Talk session.

https://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_slavin_how_algorithms_shape_our_world

Topic2

Trash Separation

How should the government strike the balance of waste separation to reduce garbage in society?

1. Trash separation is an effective way to reduce waste, so a lot of municipal governments are making efforts to introduce it. Why trash separation makes it possible to reduce waste?

2. Some municipal government officers lament that they cannot afford to introduce garbage separation because of the budget shortage. Why garbage separation, which induces recycle and reuse and so on, is costly?

3. I lived in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, where trash separation rule is one of the hardest one in Japan. When we throw some trash, we have to put them in designated plastic bags purchased from the city with so many separation rules.

On the other hand, in Osaka, I think waste separation rule is lax. Why does this happen? Please explain the backgroud?

4.How should the government strike the balance of waste separation to reduce garbage in society?

Material1
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2017/06/10/environment/plastic-fantastic-tokyo-recycle-waste/#.W7riT_ZuKF4

Material2
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2005/12/31/national/yokohama-leads-way-in-trash-separation/#.W7rjHPZuKF4