Guests at English Guided Tour by JFS

2006-01-12T22:17:00.000-08:00

ANNIE LA CHAPELLE & MAXIME THIBAULT
(left) 　　　　　　　　　（Right）
“Annie and Maxime were very attractive individuals from Montreal. What was interesting was that their first language is French! Very nice people, and with smiles they have answered my interview!”

Shiro: Hello, is it all right to ask you few questions about the exhibition?

Maxime: Sure, but our first language is in French, we are not sure about giving you good English. We are from Montreal Canada!!

Shiro: No worries! My first language is in Japanese and I am having very hard time with it myself! Well, first timer in Japan?

Maxime: Yes!

Shiro: You like it here so far?

Annie: Yes! We love the Japanese food.

Shiro: got to be sushi right!!

Annie and Maxime: yes!!!

Shiro: Ok, let’s get rolling with question since your bus to the hotel will be here soon. What are your thoughts about Eco Product 2005?

Maxime: It’s incredible! Many huge and big corporations are here. Like Hitachi and many corporations has great ideas and knowledge about existence of its product. The methods of production are incredible! Some things look really easy, such as simple eco-product, but easy things　has deep and incredible deals of technology! Also, eco-product has really deep meaning, such as making decision to what they produce, especially the appearance. To make decision, there is complex track of information to go through. And there is also small NGO with strong movement. It was really interesting to see Japanese NGO

Shiro: Wow, that is great information; I am going to look at many products from different angles from now on. Thanks for the tip! Then, what was missing in this tour?

Maxime: No English pamphlet!!

Shiro: No doubt! Nothing I can say about that! I felt the same! Will you come next year?
Maxime: I hope! We love Japanese food!

Dr. Patrick D. Eagan
Associate Professor of Department of Engineering
University of Wisconsin at Madison

“Dr. Eagan joined the tour with his son, who lived in Japan as an exchanged student in the past. Dr. Eagan was in Japan for conference for eco design 2005”

Shiro: Dr. Eagan how did you think about the exhibition?

Dr. Eagan: I think it is remarkable to assemble big corporation and great production to attract many people here in Japan. About 10,000 and many various gather this exhibition is outstanding number.

Shiro: So Dr. Eagan, what was missing in this exhibition?

Dr. Eagan: there are language barriers, a lot of information here are not in English. The way information are sold and projected is very hard to interpret. It is international exhibition, so there should be flexible with language.

Shiro: Ok, planning to come next year?

Dr. Eagan: I hope so, it is very interesting exhibition.

Georges Nagels
Embassy of Belgium, trade commerce brach
“Mr. Nagel is very humorous individual. He always smiled and treated our staff very nice. He has been living in Japan over 6 years, so he was really familiar with exhibiton”

Shiro: Mr. Nagels, did you like the tour and exhibition?

Nagels: Yes!!

Shiro: Thanks, but what was missing in the exhibition?

Nagels: Not sure yet, I got to see more because all I saw is from the tour. But from the tour, I noticed there was limited English information.

Shiro: Since you live in Japan, planning to come and join this tour?
Nagels: Yes!!!!

Jeremy Lemer
Journalist
“Jeremy is one of guests that had great interest at the exhibition. His main focus stands on sustainability in Japan. He writes articles to independent newspaper in England”

Shiro: Mr. Lemer how did you like the tour?

Jeremy: It was very interesting. There were various products, approach, and the concept was very eco-friendly and interesting. The way this exhibition was engineered was amazing too. It is nice mix of big corporation and small NGO.

Shiro: So, in this exhibition what was your main question?

Jeremy: I had question about what the big corporation have in their mind. What is their driving force in their environmental exhibition? Its either they want to commercialize their product for profit reasons, or to show that they really care about environment.

Shiro: Yes, I feel the same, the way it was engineered in this exhibition was somewhat questioning. But one thing that was missing in this tour will be?

Jeremy: English pamphlet!

Shiro: Wow, everyone is saying the same! Yes, I also had been out of Japan for long time, and I have trouble reading lots of things! Well Mr. Lemer, hope you are coming next your, will you?

Jeremy: absolutely!!!!

John Rankin
Choice Organic Tea/ Musician (producer)
“John has a father that works in Choice Organic Tea. Parents that have strong feelings about environmental preservation raise John. John graduated from University of Washington and now lives in Japan working for his father’s company.

Shiro: Hey John, thanks for joining the tour! How did you like the tour?

John: Very informative, I learned a lot!! And I am not too much of eco-follower, but this exhibition opened up my interest. I have more attention regarding environmental issues.

Shiro: That’s great to hear! Before I was in Boulder Colorado, I did not great depth of information about the environmental issues. But, as your vision toward environment opens, you realize that it’s important business. So John, what was missing in this exhibition?

John: I wanted to know about how corporations are lowering their reliance on petroleum. I also wanted to know the facts about how societies are structured regarding usage of energy. These days there are lots of political concerns regarding energy resources. Also, I wanted know the new wave regarding bio-diesel.

Shiro: Yes, I know what you are talking about! I majored in environmental studies and a lot of courses dealt regarding political issues. There is always something behind the curtain. Well John, thanks for the time and hope you will join again next year!

John: Sure will!

Shiro Hosojima
Interviewer 1
Internship at JFS
Now, about myself!

I have lived in US over 10 years, and it was first time for me to join as a staff in giant Eco-exhibition! I was really amazed about large numbers of organizations and companies involved in environmental activities. The products were so technologically advanced and I am hoping what I saw at the exhibition was not just a technological competition, but to be put in the markets soon! Since I am not big fan of Japanese writing, I had trouble reading kanji!! From my stance, I think I understood about 80percent of what is written on pamphlets, posters at booth, and directory of the exhibition. I am very confident that they need pamphlet or brochure in English next year! This is international exhibition right? I had great time meeting many great people, and I am hoping I can volunteer to be part of Eco-Product 2006! I have to give big hug to JFS for giving me this experience! Thanks!!!

MS. CHRISTINA HSU
Graduate student from Princeton University
Major : Sustainable Society

KAWARAGI: Hi, how was the tour?
Christina: So great!! I really enjoyed this informative tour. Thank you!

KAWARAGI: Well, how was the whole exhibition?
Christina: Not about the tour?

KAWARAGI: No. I’d like to know about the eco-product 2006.
Christina: OK, but…actually I didn’t have enough time to look around other booths beside the tour course.

KAWARAGI: Really?
Christina: Yes. But I think it is good opportunity to know that Japanese enterprises have keen awareness of the environment problem. It’s interesting.

KAWARAGI: I think so, too. Do you want to visit eco-product next year again?
Christina: I hope so, and I will enjoy the English guided tour again.

KAWARAGI: It sounds good! Thank you for today!!
LEE: Thank you!!

Asa Anderrson
Embassy of Sweden

KAWARAGI: Did you enjoy the tour?

ASA: Yeah, thank you for well organized tour.

KAWARAGI: I’m glad to hear that. Then, beside the tour, if you have some comments about the whole exhibition eco-product 2006, I would ask…

ASA: About the whole exhibition? Um…I’ m sorry. In fact, this tour was the only time to spend to look around the exhibition. So I’m afraid I couldn’t make any comment about it.

KAWARAGI: Ok, it’s not so problems. You can enjoy them next year again.

ASA: Yes. But the only problem is there is no English information. Actually some corporations published a kind of brochure in English, but not so many.

KAWARAGI: So it is the missing point in this exhibition, right?

ASA: Aha.

KAWARAGI: Will you visit this exhibition again?

ASA: Next year? I hope so. Thanks a lot!!

Ms.Kawaragi
2nd interviewer
JFS internship

Guests from English Guieded Tour(ECO PRODUCT 2005)

Guests at English Guided Tour by JFS