Public-Policy Lab

 SNS, which contains Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube, etc, affected the result of this year's upper house general election in Japan. The main reason is that the younger generation uses SNS more than the elderly generation.  source) https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/politics/9ed3fc8bd0124a25a89b308a72553cdd What are the pros and cons of SNS? Pros of SNS Information spreads instantly compared with mass media. Anyone can post or access content without expensive infrastructure. As everyone posts their opinion, a variety of voices can be delivered.  Minor opinions that are not adopted by the mass media prevail in society. SNS can react to opinions, such as comments, shares, and discussions. SNS is a tool that is more difficult for the government to control the opinion. This is especially important for democracy. Algorithms can deliver content based on user interest. Cons of  SNS Lack of fact-checking by professionals allows misinformation and rumors.  As anyone can...

This May, I visited  Boston , a city known for its rich history, academic excellence, and vibrant culture. One reason for my trip was to meet my son, who works at the Boston branch of a Japanese pharmaceutical company. But beyond the family visit, I had another goal, such was to observe how  Toastmasters clubs  operate in the United States. A City of Knowledge and Tradition Boston is famous as a “town of universities.” World-class institutions such as: Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are located here. It's also home to Fenway Park , the oldest baseball stadium in the United States and the home ground of the Boston Red Sox . Harvard university MIT Fenway Park Over 50 Toastmasters Clubs in Boston As a regular Toastmasters participant in Japan, I was curious about how clubs function in other countries. I was surprised to find that there are over 50 clubs within 10 miles of central Boston —a reflection of the city's strong academic a...