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ALC Newsletter No. 061 06/07/07
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By the International Marketing Team at ALC Press
http://www.alc.co.jp/international
Contents:
1) The "Dear Readers" Column: Messages from the International Marketing Team at ALC Press
2) Topics in Japan #21: Eco-friendly shopping bags (Eco-bags)
3) Japanese Students Speak Out #61
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Dear Readers,
Greetings from sunny Tokyo!
We would like to thank those people who dropped in at our booth
at the NAFSA conference in Minneapolis last week. NAFSA is one
of a few chances we get to meet you in person and every time we
realize how easy and effective it is to explain our services to you
face to face, compared to the written format! We are going to
continue to work hard to offer you helpful media for promoting
your school in Japan.
Best wishes from the International Marketing Team at ALC Press
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Topics in Japan #21: Eco-friendly shopping bags (Eco-bags)
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One thing which you may surprise in Japan is the excessive packaging
of products. When you buy a pack of cookies, the cookies inside may
be individually wrapped. When you buy clothes at an apparel store,
they may first be wrapped in a plastic bag and then put in a paper
bag. The main purposes of this excessive packaging are probably to
handle the products carefully (so they won't break), to make the
products look nice, or to show customers some respect.
However, it is obvious that excessive packaging is against the global
trend towards environmental protection. So, these days, more and
more Japanese are becoming conscious of how they can reduce the
amount of wasteful packaging. One of the easiest and most effective
ways is to carry your own bag and not receive plastic bags at stores
─ especially at supermarkets.
Most Japanese supermarkets have long been providing their customers
with free plastic bags. However, more and more supermarkets are
now encouraging customers to carry their own bags. Such approaches
to reduce packaging waste have accelerated since this April, when
the government implemented the Container and Packaging Recycling
Law. Some supermarkets give discounts to customers with their own
bags, and some charge customers for the actual cost of plastic bags.
Consumers are also making attempts to carry their own bags. Some
bag makers have made cute, colorful and design-conscious shopping
bags. These shopping bags are now called "Eco-bags," and they
have attracted consumers ─ especially the younger generations.
For them, to make efforts to protect the environment is not only
something they "have to" do, but also something they can enjoy
doing as part of their fashion.
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Japanese Students Speak Out #61
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Let's take a look at some of the interesting comments from Japanese
students abroad to find out what they are thinking.
I was trying to buy a used car, and there was one that interested me.
I sent the car owner an e-mail and we decided to meet on the weekend
so that I could see the car. The owner gave me the directions to his
house, saying, "... Go straight, and turn left at the next traffic light,
and ..." So I followed the directions, and found that "the next traffic
light" was more than 10 miles away! It reminded me that I was not in
Japan any more.
(Male/College Student/USA)
My host sister's boyfriend comes to our house quite often. He's nice
and I like him, but they kiss right in front of my face and that's so
embarrasing to me! It also hurts my feelings, especially as I've
just broken up with my boyfriend in Japan ...
(Female/College Student/Australia)
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Thank you for reading!
*Back issues of the ALC Newsletter are available at:
http://www.alc.co.jp/international/Newsletter.html
*If you wish to be removed from this newsletter or change the e-mail
address to which it is sent, please let us know by e-mailing us at:
intl-mag@alc.co.jp
Publisher: ALC Press, Inc.
2-54-12 Eifuku, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 168-8611 Japan
Writers: The International Marketing Team at ALC Press / Ayako Ishimoto
Editor: The International Marketing Team at ALC Press
Copyright (c) 2007 ALC Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
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