Learn something new

In writing class last Friday we discussed the type of statements found in a Japanese 論文 [ronbun], which I guess is an academic paper: facts, opinions, and uh... something I guess you could call "intentional" (I will describe...). Our assignment for this week is to write a short report in the form we discussed using these types of sentences in the ways we discussed. The topic: "Young people and _____" where "_____" is a current trend of some sort.

I'm not very cool or hip (despite what my sister thinks). Fashion doesn't interest me much, and I think most popular music is crap. The example we read in class was about Karaoke and how kids use it with their friends. I don't really have any friends so don't have any of my own experiences to draw on. The point of the above is that I have no idea what trends young people are into these days. (Wow, did writing that make me feel old.)

So I googled "current trend youth Japan," and this was the first link Google provided. My interest piqued, I attempted to investigate further. I don't think this is *quite* the "trend" Sato-sensei had in mind, but I even made a point of googling in Japanese "Japan," "trend," and "suicide" just to be sure the word he used for "trend" applied to the situation. So it appears that I am indeed following directions.


And while we're on the topic of how fascinated I am by the ways in which Japan is messed up, here's an entertaining read.