I haven’t made any new year’s resolutions (新年の決意/誓い/抱負) yet. I don’t quite know what I’d promise myself… that’s not to say that I can’t find things to improve, of course. But it’s just hard to find something to resolve to do that I’m not already striving for now. Things like “exercise every day” or “eat more fruit” or “don’t leave clean laundry in the dryer for half a week.” But they all seem like little things — life habits that would be good to change but that feel terribly mundane. I want to change something about my life outlook, something more than just little day-to-day actions. I’ll have to think about this.

And because I can’t resist, I’ll throw in something about media and Japan too. Japan’s Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, “broadcast” Japanese and English-language New Year’s messages on YouTube this year, using the new LDP YouTube “channel.” If I were more motivated, I might try listening to his greetings in both languages and comparing the content… maybe I’ll try later.

I’ll offer two comments, though (one serious, one not): First, I much prefer listening to Fukuda speak than listening to the previous Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. Abe has a staccato, clipped way of speaking, and he always seems to say a few words quickly, then pause awkwardly and start again in earnest. It just didn’t flow. On a more serious note, I’ve noticed that the LDP has been trying to enter the 21st century lately. This YouTube initiative is probably aimed at younger voters, but I suppose that only time will tell whether Japan’s YouTube generations will appreciate the LDP’s effort.