- 19 Jan 2005
- 1,972
- 232
My wife and I were shocked to hear and see video of the train wreck in Osaka yesterday. According to the news it is the worst wreck in over 40 years. The death toll is unbelievable. 76 dead and 456 injured. Our sympathies really go out to those who have lost loved ones.
But I guess it was inevitable. It had to happen sooner or later. What surprised me the most was that the engineer was only 23 years old! That is awfully young I think. Back in the day when I was there, a person couldn't become an engineer until he or she was at least 27 years old and went through a rigorous training course which included taking tickets and working as a conductor. In other words he had to go through all aspects of the company before even dreaming about becomining an engineer. This usually took anywhere from 5 to 7 years or more.
It seems to have changed these days. Could it be due to Japan's low birth rate with less and less people going into the work force that they are forced to have younger workers do the job of someone who would usually be older and more mature? I don't know. It's just a thought.
Anyway for those not in Japan, if you want to see video and analysis of the train wreck, check out this site:
http://broadband.biglobe.ne.jp/index_news1.html
It is completely in Japanese, but with a little clicking around the page you will be able to figure out what they have to offer for your viewing pleasure.
On the left side of the page is the menu. From Top to bottom it goes in this order: News & Weather; Headlines; Society; Business; Economics; International News; Sports; Movies & Dramas; Music; Anime & Games; Shopping & New Items; Business and New Electronics Review; Travel & Leasure; etc. The list changes often, so it may not be in the exact order I described.
After you click on a catagory, another menu appears between the video screen and the main menu that lists what's available for viewing within that catagory.
On top of the video screen is a menu that allows you to view the selected item in Windows Media Player 10. From left to right it is: "View Full Screen", "Select Your Own Size", View on this page", and "Higher Stream Rate"
You will also be able to view 10 or 15 min or more clips of Japanese and Korean dramas on TV, plus music and anime and all that good stuff that JRef members seem to enjoy somewhere in there.
So click around and learn what's going on in almost every facet of Japanese life and culture.
But I guess it was inevitable. It had to happen sooner or later. What surprised me the most was that the engineer was only 23 years old! That is awfully young I think. Back in the day when I was there, a person couldn't become an engineer until he or she was at least 27 years old and went through a rigorous training course which included taking tickets and working as a conductor. In other words he had to go through all aspects of the company before even dreaming about becomining an engineer. This usually took anywhere from 5 to 7 years or more.
It seems to have changed these days. Could it be due to Japan's low birth rate with less and less people going into the work force that they are forced to have younger workers do the job of someone who would usually be older and more mature? I don't know. It's just a thought.
Anyway for those not in Japan, if you want to see video and analysis of the train wreck, check out this site:
http://broadband.biglobe.ne.jp/index_news1.html
It is completely in Japanese, but with a little clicking around the page you will be able to figure out what they have to offer for your viewing pleasure.
On the left side of the page is the menu. From Top to bottom it goes in this order: News & Weather; Headlines; Society; Business; Economics; International News; Sports; Movies & Dramas; Music; Anime & Games; Shopping & New Items; Business and New Electronics Review; Travel & Leasure; etc. The list changes often, so it may not be in the exact order I described.
After you click on a catagory, another menu appears between the video screen and the main menu that lists what's available for viewing within that catagory.
On top of the video screen is a menu that allows you to view the selected item in Windows Media Player 10. From left to right it is: "View Full Screen", "Select Your Own Size", View on this page", and "Higher Stream Rate"
You will also be able to view 10 or 15 min or more clips of Japanese and Korean dramas on TV, plus music and anime and all that good stuff that JRef members seem to enjoy somewhere in there.
So click around and learn what's going on in almost every facet of Japanese life and culture.
