International Standardization and Information- Communication Industries

Most industries are trying to change their structures from vertical integration to horizontal specialization. This is because of the presence of international standardization that one specific product of company A can be compatible with other products of other companies. This method, I think, can broaden their market because when integrated with other products, the inferior product can be sold on the market. Still, there are some companies still vertically integrated especially automobile because all components have to be well fit in one set to ensure the low probability of danger, and it is also the whole responsibility of the firm if thing goes wrong. Other companies, in particular in Japan, still preserve the vertical integration structure because they want to keep Japanese practices " lifetime employment" and "seniority-based wages" to build employee skill and loyalty. Though human beings are equal, but they are different. Hence, different skills are applied to different people.

Besides, another term to think about horizontal integration. Horizontal specialization is focusing on only one product by improving its quality control (QC), and try to make its product standardized, while horizontal integration is trying to extent its products to some extent to meet users' satisfaction based on what have already done.

These are what I have learnt today :-)

My Master Student's Life at Waseda University

Ｍy real Master student’s life in Japan began. For this fall semester, I take seven subjects; I have to make strong efforts especially on subjects that are quite new to me such as Basic of Modern Finance Theory, Economics and Social Impact Analysis of Telecommunication. For other courses like Industry R&D Activity in Information and Communication Technologies, Internet, International Standardization and Info-Communication Industries, Ubiquitous Health and Welfare Information System, and Media Industrial Organization and Policy are okey, I guess. Let’s wait and see ..

I would also like to take a course “ CIO theory”; it is quite interesting; will consider it next semester then…..

Most are bilingual courses, English and Japanese, because students came from different directions for the world; some cannot understand Japanese, while some cannot understand English, therefore, two-pronged approach is worthy used in this situation.

Waseda’s 3 ceremonies in a row: GITS commencement, Waseda Entrance Ceremony, and GITS Entrance Ceremony.

Waseda University known as one of the best private universities in Japan has celebrated 3 ceremonies in a row. Sep 20th, 2008 was the Graduate School of Global Information and Telecommunication Studies Commencement on which three Cambodian Students: Mr. Sun Socheat, Ms. Run Kunthy, and Ms. Ouk Phavy have successfully completed their Master degree in the field of ICT. As Socheat and Phavy got JDS scholarship, it is time for them to return to Cambodia to utilize their knowledge and skills acquired in Japan to develop our mother country, while Kunthy, a Monbusho scholar, will pursue her ph.D degree in Japan.

Bong Bong, Congratulations!!! You have not tried for nothing! At last, you are qualified Master degree holders!

(from left to right: me, Phavy, Kunthy, Phanou, Socheat, Dara, Samphors, Channa)

On the following day Sep 21st, there was a Waseda Entrance Ceremony for all new Waseda's students. Deans of all Graduate Schools were introduced.. Look at their official dresses on this special day!

Sep 22nd, the last Entrance Ceremony specifically for GITS students hold at Honjo Campus where students studying Computer Network or Multi Media base at. For students who choose Info-Telecom, Socio-Economics, Network Bussiness and Policy area will stay in Tokyo because most subjects they are going to take are lectured in Nishi-Waseda campus.

However, no matter where students locate, they can still attend academic guidance via a distance learning system through which students at another campus can see, hear, and ask questions as if we are in the same classroom.

See! ICT makes our life easier, you don't have to waste time and money travelling back and forth :-)

(Honjo Campus)
(Nishi-Waseda Campus)

Preparatory Japanese Language Training

Following the long orientation was Japanese Training Course conducted at Waseda Hoshien. All Cambodian fellows in Tokyo took 初級 (elementary) course with some other students from Laos, Myanmar, The philippines, and Kyrgyzstan. For me, my course was from July 18^th to August 29^th, 2008 which is equal to 152 hours. I ‘d been studying every Monday to Friday, and five hours per day: 9:30am -12:00am, and 1:30pm – 4:00pm.

Japanese language is quite difficult to learn, but it is very important for surving in Japan espcially in Tokyo. Hence, the class was very busy due to overloaded homework everyday. However, the class was very interesting thanks to the professional skill and efforts of all sensei.せんせい、いろいろ　おせわに　なりました。どうも　ありがとう　ございました。

I was finally given a Japanese certificate:

Honestly, my Japanese is still poor, I still cannot full understand what Japanese people are saying. It’s pretty easier to ask question, but getting answer is a matter :-)

First JDS orientation

From the second day of entering Japan until July 17^th 2008, there was an 12 days long (no program for Sat and Sun) orientation prepared by JICE at TIC - Tokyo of International Center, for all JDS fellows who came to Narita airport, Tokyo.

The program of the orientation included:

Briefing and Orientation on Rules of Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellows and Information for Living in Japan.

Exchange view with senior JDS fellows on academic life and research methodologies as well as daily life.

Welcome Reception with the presence of officials from respective embassies, professors and staffs of respective universities, ministry of Foreign Affairs, and JICA.

Courtesy call to the Embassy

Opening bank account

Lecture “Policies and Administration of Japan” by Mr. Akira Nakamura, Pro. Graduate School, Meji University

Lecture “Outline of JICA’s Activities and Expectation for Participants” by Mr. Masaei Matsunaga, Deputy Director General for Training Affairs and Citizen Participation Dept. JICA

Move to Tachikawa-Bosaikan by bus; a center is designed in order to exercise how to prevent yourself from various emergency and natural disaster.

Workshop on “Cross Cultural Understanding” by Ms. Mariko Watanabe, Certified clinical psychologist of Tokyo International Center, JICA

Lecture “ The Japanese Experience through Economic Growth and Restructuring in Post War” by Mr. Ryokichi Hirono, Pro. Emeritus, Seikei University.

Lecture “ Japanese Society and Culture” by Mr. Kenichi Namai, Pro. Waseda University

Culture program/ Inspection of Tokyo:

Tokyo Stock Exchange

Asakusa

Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Imperial Palace

Alien registration at the Shinjuku Ward Office

On July 10^th 2008, some students from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Kyrgyz moved to branch office IUJ – Internation Universtiy of Japan, and on July 14^th 2008, some moved to branch office Toyohashi University of Technology, Nagoya University, and tsukuba University.

Handouts and CDs were also provided for reference :-)

First Impression of Japan

The JL704 took me to Japan at 7:30 am on July 1th 2008 along with my commitment to take advantages from Japan both academic life and daily life. When I first got into Tokyo, I had the impression that Japan is in an apple-pie order; despite the high population density (5796 /km²), Tokyo has overcomed the traffic jam thanks to the well-organized transportation system including train, subway, shinkansen, taxi, etc...which are linked from one place to other places. However, such a modern system is confusing such a countryside girl like me because most of the signs are in Kanji characters and most of Japanese people don't speak English. Luckily, police working at the station are very helpful, though they can speak only a few English words for telling direction such as "left", "right", "straight", we finally always reach our destination.

Most JDS students from the ten countries were arranged to stay in one of the most famous hotel chains in Japan, Shinjuku Washington Hotel, surrounded by major commerial and administrative center as well as department stores, specialist electronic and camera shops, cinemas, restaurants and bars. Tokyo is one of the very costly cities in the world where everything is expensive, so most of the time I spend, I like to convert and compare to the price in my country, Cambodia. Having been in Tokyo for amost 3 months, I am now graduatlly accustomed to this such a high cost of living. There are also 100 yen shops available where most goods like snack, drink, vegetable, meat, fruit, stationery,.. cost 100yen or so.

Let me briefly describe about Japanese people in Tokyo. They seem to be so busy with their work. Giving value to the time, every morning the crowd in neat suit hurriedly walk back and forth believing that time and tide wait for no man. I do uphold this spirit of being punctual. Moreover, they are polite behaving in a way that shows awaressness of and caring for other's people feeling; they respect each other, in general.

According to JICA's documentation, the average household income is US$70,000 a year. Every family has its own colour TV and microwave. Most Japanese consider themselves middle class. The gap between rich and poor is small. Still, there are street people sleeping in a paper box under bridges.

Though there were news about suicides and murders, Japan is still one of the world's safest countries. I feel secure to live and learn in japan.

Pre-departure English Training Course

Before coming to Japan, all 25 successful JDS fellows were required to attend the Pre-departure English Training Course conducted at IFL- Institute of Foreign Languages from Feb 4th to Jun 14th 2008 while students from some other countries like the Philippines, Viet Nam, Mongolia, etc..got Pre-departure Japanese Training Course in their respective countries. It was an intensive course requiring all students to work hard not only on English proficiency but also on academic study. The first part of the course mainly focused on TOEFL skills: listening, grammar, and reading. The second part added research methodology, debate, and presentation skill.