Dear Fumi,

Thanks for sending the fifteenth message. My comments follow.

Sincerely,

Prof. S. Stiner

s2396055@slb.cgu.ac.jp wrote:

>

> Dear Dr. M. Susan Stiner,

>

> Thank you so much for your last message.

>

> Now, Japanese economy seems to face the worst condition since

> the World War �U.

>

> As you know our excise tax rate is 5% now. The rate was 3% before April 1, '97.

Wow! I did not know the rate had climbed so high, so fast. I imagine

that is having an effect on purchases. I assume people are starting to

cut back on purchases, since the yen doesn't stretch as far now. Is

that happening?

> Some economists say that increase made consumers cut back on purchases

> and that is one of the factors that led to the bad economy.

That certainly is logical, from a Western point of view. Some

economists here say that the lending policies among the members of the

keiretsu were the main cause of the bad economy. The banks would lend

to members that were doing poorly, but there was no incentive to do a

lot better. The members knew that the banks would "always" lend them

money in hard times. Eventually the money supply dried up.

> Some department stores, Ito Yokado, Daiei, Jusco, etc carried out

> "Excise Tax Return Sale" in mid-November nationwide. Especially, Ito Yokado

> reported that sales in that days got 40 to 80% increase by last year.

> I think that clearly shows consumers' desperate demand for decreasing

> the excise tax rate. We hope this stimulate the business in the future.

>

Can you tell yet if the measures the government has taken have had an

effect on the economy? Has the government cut the excise tax?

> Let me answer the questions in the evaluation.

> 1. Why did you take this course? (You may give more than one reason.)

> Because I wanted to improve my English ability, and I was interested in

> Accounting, so I wanted to learn more about it. Above all, I looked forward

> to talking to American professor, and that's been quite a great experience

> for me.

>

> 2. What helps your learning in this course?

> Many webpages, websites that you gave me in each lesson and your advice

> for my query.

>

> 3. What slows your learning in this course?

> Everything was useful for learning in this course.

>

> 4. Can you think of anything to make this course better?

> I think Japanese education system is quite different from that of American.

> In many classes, we students just sit and take a note while the professor

> gives a lecture. We rarely argue about the problem about the topics. I think

> we must be more active and have a own opinion.

>

> 5. What was the most difficult part of the course?

> Assignment at Sources of American Accounting Information.

Fumi, can you tell me more? What made the assignment so hard?

> 6. What was the easiest part of the course?

> Homework at The Balance Sheet Part1.

>

> 7. What could you do for yourself to make this course better?

> Still I should brush up my skill in English and I need to study more about

> basic Accounting in Japan, that helps understand the American Accounting theory.

>

> 8. Was it helpful to have the lessons as Internet web pages?

> Yes, it was very helpful and practical. I didn't know so many information is

> available at the Internet webpages and websites.

>

> 9. Was it usually helpful to visit the web sites given in each lesson?

> Actually, even I tried to find the keys to solve the problem, I was overwhelmed

> by the mass of information sometimes in earlier this course. But now, I feel I'm

> used to reading English materials a bit. I wish I could continue this course.

Feel free to email me anytime, Fumi! We can continue informally.

> 10.What problems did you have in getting to the web sites?

> Sometimes when I search the corporate information at the Internet, it takes a

> lot of time to connect to the sites.

>

> That's all.

> Thank you very much for reading them all.

>

> I'm really looking forward to your next comments.

>

>

> Sincerely,

> Fumi

Fumi, thank you for your reply to the evaluation questions. We will

study all the answers to make the course better.

The final lesson is at-------------------------.

Your homework is to answer this question:

What will you do to keep practicing English, now that this course is

over?

Thursday of this week is Thanksgiving Day. We will celebrate with a

delicious turkey and other food. You can learn more about Thanksgiving

on "Thanksgiving Stories". You will go to this page:

--

Prof. M. Susan Stiner