Think Pieces reviewed and written by Lakshmi and Seetha Ram

Songbird competitions are a popular pastime in Indonesia from TheEconomist https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/05/26/songbird-competitions-are-a-popular-pastime-in-indonesia

Former JR Central boss Yoshiyuki Kasai, a leader of rail privatization, dies at 81 | The Japan Times https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/05/27/national/jr-central-chairman-yoshiyuki-kasai-dies/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/05/27/national/jr-central-chairman-yoshiyuki-kasai-dies/?utm_source=pianoDNU&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=72&pnespid=oO3IjppIvvLU4bexqwWuuf8VtRtJ8jNuiwggGBErsRyVsY2uiOECdOrn6f3B6mB3UflD

The power of small gestures from TheEconomist One is that recognition can have a meaningful impact on workers. The other is that this impact is amplified if shows of appreciation are personal and unexpected. In their haste to act on the first lesson, plenty of companies completely forget the second.  https://www.economist.com/business/2022/05/26/the-power-of-small-gestures

Bhaja Govindam of Adi Shankaracharya - Slokas, Traslation, Meaning https://www.shankaracharya.org/bhaja_govindam.php

https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/20220523-OYT1T50036/

Japan launches university fund to spur innovation | Financial Times Japan launches university fund to spur innovation The move recognises the urgency of supporting new ideas to solve the country's problems and boost competitiveness   https://www.ft.com/content/5273734e-1768-4209-9321-b3a7e89d187e

India could allocate such large funds like this to implement your visionary ideas.  https://www.ft.com/content/5273734e-1768-4209-9321-b3a7e89d187e -- Best regards, Seetha Ram

Making brainstorming better from TheEconomist By its nature brainstorming is insiderish. Someone has to arrange the session, and that person is often the manager of a team. If decision-makers are not in the room, then the suspicion will grow that time is being wasted. If they are, then hierarchies easily assert themselves: good ideas can wither with a frown from the boss, and bad ones can survive with a nod.  https://www.economist.com/business/2022/05/19/making-brainstorming-better

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/business/worker-happiness-management.html?referringSource=articleShare

Tatami mat platform with built-in vibration speakers promises ultimate sound experience - Japan Today https://japantoday.com/category/features/new-products/Tatami-mat-platform-with-built-in-vibration-speakers-promises-ultimate-sound-experience ?

Without 'watercooler' chats, companies facilitate natural conversation – The Japan News I've been working from home ever since joining the company, but by making it easy to talk to my bosses and senior colleagues, it's made conversations about work easier too," said an employee who has been with the company for two years. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/business/companies/20211211-7277/

Ceremony marks 50 years since Okinawa's return – The Japan News However, Okinawa's disparities with other regions in Japan have not been eliminated — the prefecture's per capita income continues to be among the lowest in Japan, and the child poverty rate is about twice that of the nation as a whole. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-society/20220515-28478/ https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-society/20220515-28478/?utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3629&pnespid=8Pabg5lP7bffpqSxrkf_vegY6gwGvCR4mAwmElti6UOV_w7sOySfBNf6ho8Lyg7DBptXGg

Devasahayam Pillai becomes first Indian layman to be declared saint by Pope Francis - The Hindu Pope Francis, 85, canonised Blessed Devasahayam during a Canonisation Mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. A miracle attributed to Devasahayam was recognised by Pope Francis in 2014, clearing the path to his canonisation in 2022. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/devasahayam-pillai-becomes-first-indian-layman-to-be-declared-saint-by-pope-francis/article65416757.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/devasahayam-pillai-becomes-first-indian-layman-to-be-declared-saint-by-pope-francis/article65416757.ece?utm_source=eveningwrap&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter&pnespid=77N2GDtMK7hGhuafoDWwCo2CtQP.DoJsL_bnkOphtkFmbkF_EN1zXbf.2hM7E7wM..r3DxEL

We turn not older with years, but newer every day."  Emily Dickinson  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinson -- Best regards, Seetha Ram

    NHSRCL ⁦‪@nhsrcl‬⁩ Mr. Masafumi Shukuri,Chairman (InternationalHigh SpeedRailAssociation) visited #MAHSR construction sites between Surat and Vapi. He was apprised of the various methodologies being adapted by #NHSRCL for the construction of India's first high speed rail ⁦‪@RailMinIndia‬⁩ ⁦‪@JapaninIndia‬⁩ pic.twitter.com/WPemdsLdsI   5/15/22, 11:32 AM    

https://ndap.niti.gov.in/

Brilliant indeed ! A school dropout rides high, selling donkey's milk for ₹7,000 a litre - The Hindu The donkey milk with more than 99% TFM (Total Fatty Matter) is refrigerated at the farm and sent to Bengaluru to make the cosmetics including bathing soaps, lotions for skin and hair care, cream etc. While a 130 gram hand-made soap with donkey milk costs ₹ 799 on e-commerce platforms, it costs USD 16.77 (₹1,299) in the U.S. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-school-dropout-rides-high-selling-donkeys-milk-for-7000-a-litre/article65413647.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-school-dropout-rides-high-selling-donkeys-milk-for-7000-a-litre/article65413647.ece?utm_source=eveningwrap&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter&pnespid=s_VnBHlOM6NLxubaoT.oAYCUu0yzSsZtKbik3bAxqxpmNWLMruHuQ1uvL2LDFxTaI4n9hRbA

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/27/magazine/disgust-science.html interesting insights.

In his new book, released on Tuesday by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Fukuyama argues that liberalism is threatened not by a rival ideology, but by "absolutized" versions of its own principles. On the right, the promoters of neoliberal economics have turned the ideal of individual autonomy and the free market into a religion, warping the economy and leading to dangerous systemic instability. And on the left, he argues, progressives have abandoned individual autonomy and free speech in favor of claims of group rights that threaten national cohesion. "The answer to these discontents," he writes, "isn't to abandon liberalism, but to moderate it." https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/arts/francis-fukuyama-history-liberalism.html?referringSource=articleShare

Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority's path to progress - The Source https://www.thesourcemagazine.org/phnom-penh-water-supply-authoritys-path-to-progress/

https://www.grips.ac.jp/teacher/oono/hp/course/lec19_cambodia/cambodia_water1.pdf

Pariah to president: Marcos Jr returns family to Philippines supremacy - Japan Today The eldest of Marcos Jr's three sons with wife Louise -- a lawyer from another wealthy family -- was a first-time candidate in these elections, seeking one of two congressional seats in Ilocos Norte. The clan's turnaround has been aided by public disenchantment over an enduring gulf between the rich and poor, and graft allegations that marred post-Marcos administrations. https://japantoday.com/category/world/pariah-to-president-marcos-jr-returns-family-to-philippines-supremacy ?

Companies envision taxis flying above jammed traffic - Japan Today Joby has also announced a partnership with Japanese airline ANA to launch air taxi service in Japan. And Toyota has additionally joined the alliance, with an aim to explore adding ground transportation to such a service there, Joby said. Hurdles on the path include establishing infrastructure and adapting attitudes to make air taxis a part of everyday life. https://japantoday.com/category/tech/companies-envision-taxis-flying-above-jammed-traffic ?

Cost of enlisting women into NS, even in non-military roles, far outweighs benefits: Ng Eng Hen | The Straits Times https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/cost-of-enlisting-women-into-ns-even-in-non-military-roles-far-outweighs-benefits-ng-eng-hen https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/cost-of-enlisting-women-into-ns-even-in-non-military-roles-far-outweighs-benefits-ng-eng-hen?utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ST_Newsletter_PM&utm_term=Cost+of+enlisting+women+into+NS%2C+even+in+non-military+roles%2C+far+outweighs+benefits%3A+Ng+Eng+Hen&utm_content=09%2F05%2F2022

Japan's aging billionaires think they are indispensable. That's a problem. | The Japan Times By 2025, around 2.45 million small- and medium-sized businesses will have owners aged over 70, with more than half of them undecided on successors. It's time for leadership to come from the rich men at the top: Know when to walk away. Well written: Success is successor https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2022/04/29/commentary/japan-commentary/japanese-billionaires/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2022/04/29/commentary/japan-commentary/japanese-billionaires/?cx_testId=6&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=1&cx_experienceId=EXXFDXJ86ALZ#cxrecs_s

Auspicious Sankara Jayanti Day (May 6 2022) On May 6 1992, we celebrated Sankara Jayanti at a hall in the basement of the residence of Mr. Ryuko Hira.   We had arranged a panel discussion on that day in which Professor Hajime Nakamura (famous sanskrit scholar who had interacted with Kanchi Mahaperiyavaa) and Professor Cyril Veliath at Sophia University were panelists. Swami medhasananda of Nippon Vedanta Kyokai (Ramakrishna mission in Japan) was a special guest.   After the program ended Mr Ryuko Hira opened a curtain on the wall and showed me the picture of  Shirdi Sai and  Sathya Sai Baba and  The basement venue is the Prayer Hall that hosts Tokyo Sai Center.    On this auspicious Sankara Jayanthi day, I composed this bhajan- drawing insights from the nectarine six words from the 8th anuvaka of the Rudram — that inspire us to seek His blessings and grace. (Raga: Suddha Danyası, 6 beats) Sankara Mayaskara       (Mama)   Sundara  S hirdeeshwara Sambhave Mayo Bhave     Prarthana (aham) ...

Emperor's 1st 3 years on throne show desire to be close to the people – The Japan News Sunday marked three years since the Reiwa era began with the Emperor's accession to the throne on May 1, 2019. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/imperial-family/20220501-24682/ https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/imperial-family/20220501-24682/?utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3629&pnespid=pvGAndJY_.KZ8bXsvQb.ov0P4x0U_HFqwActHxIotxaVg2iuh3luHAYcjfPr2I3tjRpeng