2011年11月18日
The Olympus Scandal (Feedback)
Thanks for your comments. As I expected, not as many people were as interested in this subject as some of the others we have discussed recently. Actually, I think that is one of Japan's biggest problems - the fact that the general public is not really interested in politics, economics, or business. Maybe that is why it is so easy for these old men (and it is usually old men!) to get away with the things they do.
Mind you, as some people mentioned, this problem is not unique to Japan. The Enron scandal was even worse, and there have been plenty of similar stories in Britain as well. There was a report the other day that the CEOs of the top 100 companies in Britain have had a 49% pay rise over the last year. This was despite the fact that the share prices of the companies did not go up, and also despite the fact that the salaries of regular employees were falling. People are getting angrier and angrier about corporate greed (as you can see from the demonstrations in the US and London), and economics is becoming a topic of daily conversation, even for people who were not interested in it at all five years ago.
Actually, I read this morning that the British CEO who was fired by Olympus has agreed to come back to Japan to talk to the people investigating the scandal. Some people even think that he might be employed by the company again in an effort to restore its reputation. Whatever happens, I hope for the sake of all the employees that the mess can be sorted out. As I said, I have been using Olympus cameras since I was a child, so I hope the company can get rid of these dishonest people and become strong again.
Here is some feedback on your comments...
I can just say that I was surprised when I learnt this news at the first time.
(I can just say that I was surprised when I heard this news.)
By the way, it would be more natural to say, "臭い物にふたをする."
Thanks :-)
How could a worldwide company do a thing like that on such a big scale and for such a long time?
(Very nice sentence, and a very good point. I guess a lot of people are thinking, "If Olympus was doing this, how many other companies are doing the same thing?")
Of course, I've heard about Okympus scandal on the news but I didn't much notice about it.
(... but I didn't take much notice / didn't pay much attention.)
One thing for sure is that the products they make are still good.
(Nice sentence, and very true! I hope that is enough to save them.)
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and one of the tax haven states located in the Caribbean Sea.
(My country's role in international finance is very shady. The Cayman Islands is just one place where dishonest people hide money.)
Have a great weekend, and see you on Monday.
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Hi David,
Oh dear! Oh dear! It's too late! But just let me say this. I believe there is enough corporate pride and determination left by employees, and I hope Olympus makes it through its difficult time and survives in some way.
Ash
- ashmoleanmuse
- 2011年11月18日 21:59
Hi David and everyone,
Thank you for the feedback. As you pointed out, Japanese general public is not really interested in politics, economics, or business. I have to admit that I am one of them and also those are my weak point. I grew up not understand these things enough. But I think I shouldn't let other people to decide things about politics, ~. I should study about these thngs by some books of Akira Ikegami.
I don't understand the structure of the second sentence of your entry.
>As I expected, not as many people were as interested in this subject as some of the others we have discussed recently.
"not as ~ as", I checked example sentences of this phrase. I can't find any sentences with "not as subject VERB as". If the sentence was "~not as many people were interested in this subject as some of the others ~", I understand. I am sorry to bother you.
I didn't know "economics" has the meaning of 経済問題。Am I right that you used economics as 経済問題 not 経済学？
Have a lovely weekend!
Fumie
- Fumie
- 2011年11月19日 05:51
Hi David and everyone,
David, thanks for your feedback!
As for Olympus problems, things seem to have been moving day by day, and I hope they will turn out to be settled.
Hi Fumie,
構文の事はよく分かりませんが、とりあえず、the others=the other subjects と考えて、「予想したように（or そうは思っていたんだけど）、最近僕たちが話した話題のようには、あまり多くの人がこの話題には関心を示さなかったですね。」の意味になると思います。
"many people were not as interested in this subject as some of the others(=the other subjects) we have discussed recently."
残りの'as'は。。。。不明。。。
I was out today, and when I went back home in the evening, a young guy spoke to me saying, "How can I get to XXXX?" It was in the evening, dark, and raining. That spot was 2-3km away. To my surprise, he was running to the place where he didn't know!
Have a lovely weekend,everyone!
Anne
- Anne
- 2011年11月19日 21:21
Hi Anne,
Thank you for your help.
Aren't you frightened when the guy talked to you in the dark? Please be careful when you go out during night time.
Fumie
- Fumie
- 2011年11月20日 06:15
Hi David,
Thanks for your feedback. I am sorry that I wasn't able to make a comment on last topic. I was busy whole week and as I said, this kind of topic is not my thing, so....
Hi everyone,
How is your weekend? I went to my sister's place yesterday. I was invited her youngest daughter's birthday party. It was fun but the weather was awful, so I was soaked all over when I was walking to a nearest bus stop from her place. It took only 5 minutes or so. I brought my umbrella but it was useless:(
I am going to the movies with my friends today, and I'd better go get ready.
Have a nice day,
amo
- 匿名
- 2011年11月20日 12:03
Hi Fumie,
Yes, I was because she had no umbrella and wore a cap pulled down .
- Anne
- 2011年11月20日 15:41
Hi Anne,
I thought the guy who spoke to you was a he.
Ash
- ashmoleanmuse
- 2011年11月20日 19:58
Hi ash,
Oops, thanks!
Anne
- Anne
- 2011年11月20日 23:21
Hi David and everyone,
It 's already on Friday(of David's feed back day)!
It was a shame that I didn't post my comment this week.
Actually, I post once. but it hasn't appeared yet#I pasted link there. Was this a part of reason that my comment rejected?)
Anyway, I commented here to say need to study more before I post here.
However, David's feedback reminds me something
>As I expected, not as many people were as interested in this subject as some of the others we have discussed recently. Actually, I think that is one of Japan's biggest problems
Yes, that was true.
If I had a strong interest, I would write something here as soon as David's entry appears on this blog.
It might be late, but
The Olympus scandal makes us re-recognise Japanese vicious customs.
As David pointed out, this type of story spread over Japanese culture/business.
"臭い物にふた" always suffers workers but superior people like, President, minister, rich people...and so on.
I want ex-CEO to fight against this issue, and hopefully Japanese-old-stubborn-leaders give their position to real experts for reform,bravely.
noriko