| The_Sinister_Hand Script of an Australian Broadcasting Corporation news feature on lefthandedness, particularly the biological origins of handedness. (April 30, 1998) |
| Lefties__The_Science____of_Handedness "Science Friday" program in RealAudio. Links to other Internet resources on handedness. (August 8, 1997) |
| Creation_of_the_Sinister__Biological_Contributions_to_Left-handedness Critique of the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda (GBG) Theory of Left-Handedness and other theories that associate lefthandedness with developmental disorders. Published in the Harvard undergraduate neurosc |
| Center_for_Latin_American_Monetary_Studies Promoting a greater awareness of monetary and financial matters by training and research. |
| Ancestor_Detective Offers accredited speakers for genealogy workshops and listing of sites which provide misleading or inaccurate genealogical information. |
| Genealogy_com Offers FamilyTreeMaker software, subscription based access to searchable databases plus forums, news, and research tips. |
| German_Genealogical_Translations Service to translate old German script into English. |
| Gordon_Hartig_Translation_Services Translations of historic German handwritten papers, and old printed German. Translations of handwritten French and Dutch papers also. |
| Pastplaces_com A database to find or list memories of houses, people, property, streets, friends, schools, workplaces, or towns. Includes instructions and a way to create an account. |
| Alternative_Futures_Associates AFA provides futures research services to business and industry. Using such methods as vision coaching, scenario development, environmental scanning and forecasting, and futures workshops, they provi |
| Amber_Network_-_Creative_Coaching_and_Leadership_Development Leadership workshops and training programs for businesses and organizations; focussed on multiple leadership skills including foresight. |
| Annimac_Consultants Futurist Anni Macbeth provides seminars, workshops, keynotes, and essays; this site includes current and archived newsletters and articles exploring forecasts, ideas about the future, and life coachin |
| Christensen_Associates_Management_Consultants,_Inc_ Offers seminars and workshops in futures research, project management, product development, and manager development. Located in Playa del Rey, California. |
| Creating_At_Will Describes services offered by Laurie Sheppard in life coaching, individual change management and strategic planning, and career development; includes client testimonials, workshop descriptions, and bo |
| David_Pearce_Snyder Contains current papers, interviews, letters, lecture descriptions, publications, and reprints; each focussed on a different change trend. |
| The_Domani_Group Research, training, and design services in issues management, forecasting, and scenario-based planning; conducts focus groups and Delphi analyses of organizational stakeholders regarding critical iss |
| Future_Management_Group Research and training to enhance entrepreneurial foresight, including data on change and emerging markets and management of both opportunities and uncertainties which result; presentations, research, |
| Future_Speak Coordinates requests between organizations and futures speakers and facilitators for lectures, briefings, workshops, and conferences; lists sample forecasts. |
| The_Futures-Lab Forecasting and foresight for businesses, emphasizing creativity and the unexpected for purposes of branding, reinvention, and strategic positioning; on-line resources include program descriptions, ar |
| Futurist_com Offers keynote speeches, seminars, scenario building and preferred future workshops; site contains many articles on future trends, ideas on business, space, and science fiction. |
| Gene_Stephens,_Futurist_ Includes background, clients, "creative futures" (a brief overview on futures thinking), and "food for thought" (examples of emerging change). |
| Global_Future_Forum A fee-based service linking futurists, decision-makers, and business leaders in order to inject foresight into decision-making and expand available foresight tools; organizes conferences, research rep |
| Global_Options Offers resources related to futures studies, peace studies, systems studies, conflict resolution, and spirituality; essays, course descriptions, course modules and workshops, and an introduction to fu |
| Infinite_Futures__Foresight_Training_and_Facilitation Includes futures research-based presentations, essays, course syllabi, research tools, and group process exercises to enhance foresight in communities, organizations, and individuals. |
| Jim_Pinto Consultant with expertise in industrial automation offers technology foresight, business strategies, angel investing, and merger and acquisition services; site features extensive essay collection and |
| Joseph_Coates_Consulting_Futurist,_Inc_ Offers services including consulting, articles, workshops and speeches about the study of the future; extensive online resources list. |
| Karl_Albrecht_International Lectures and workshops to improve thinking, leadership, and awareness of emerging change; includes lecture and workshop descriptions, books, videos, and downloads of powerpoint slides. |
| Leading_Futurists_LLC Services include research on emerging issues of change, scenario building, keynote speeches, workshops, and strategy formulation; site includes "Insight" essays on futures thinking. Principals: Jenni |
| Marcel_Bullinga Offers presentations and workshops focussed on emerging Internet trends and their impacts on organizations; site contains article reprints and description of "Future Check" workshops. |
| Planet-TECH_Associates Designs community and policy innovations for social, economic, and environmental progress; creates interactive websites for community learning and decision-making; and builds on-line futures learning |
| Prospectiva Offers training in foresight, emerging issues analysis, scenario building and planning, and in futures-focussed curriculum resource development for teachers, including an on-line interactive module fo |
| Prospektiker Basque futures consulting firm specializing in economic development and local and urban planning using trends-based impact assessment and strategy formation. |
| Roger_Dennis_-_Technology_Strategy_and_Research Technological forecasting, research, and strategy services focussed on the computer and telecommunications sectors; contact information and link to example work on client's site. |
| Social_Technologies Offers services in technology foresight, forecasting, scenario planning, vision, creativity, and leadership; includes examples of typical "Global Lifestyle" briefs. |
| Van_der_Werff_Global Concentrates on global trends that affect business and the future of the workplace. Offers critical trends listed by sector, a strategic planning model, articles, and an annotated bibliography. |
| The_Vision_Center_for_Futures_Creation A Swedish consulting and training company specializing in studies of the future; includes a futurist "learning style inventory," articles, an on-line newsletter (free registration required), and book |
| Weiner,_Edrich,_Brown,_Inc_ Firm founded in 1977 identifies and evaluates emerging issues of change for strategic management. Services include research, workshops, and speaking; the "From Our Files" section offers synopses of pa |
| Z_+_Partners Specializes in emerging futures and forecasting as bootstraps to ideation, design innovation, and branding; articles, interviews, book reviews and blog available on-line. |
| Vivaphilosophy Portal to Western and Eastern philosophy. Covers news, references, branches, and philosophers. |
| Alexander,_Bevin US military historian, strategist, and author. With excerpts, articles, commentary and a Q&A section dealing with military history and foreign affairs. |
Business & Economy 
Left-handed scissors have blades that cross in the opposite direction from that of regular scissors. Until 20 or 30 years ago, lefties in Japan had a tough life. Holding one's chopsticks with the left hand was considered to be ill manners, and many parents "corrected" a child's left-handedness, thinking that it would give a bad impression on others. In recent years the pressure on this minority has eased considerably, however, as the trait is coming to be seen in a different light. Lefties Are Cool Just as in the English language, where a left-handed compliment is insulting and the word sinister has a Latin root that means "left-hand," there are many Japanese words containing the kanji character for left that have derogatory meanings. When a corporate employee is transferred to a section of lower importance, this is called sasen, its kanji literally meaning "to be moved left," while hidarimaki--"winding up in the left direction (counterclockwise)"--refers to stupidity or insanity. The standard term used for left-handedness, hidari-kiki, can also denote a heavy drinker, and another colloquial term, giccho, has a discriminatory connotation. In a society full of words like these and taboos against using the left hand, southpaws could enjoy an advantage over right-handers only when playing certain sports, like baseball and tennis. A recent survey has revealed, however, that a growing number of Japanese, especially young people, are coming to see left-handedness as a desirable trait. Approximately half of the respondents in their teens and twenties said that, at some point in their lives, they have wished they could become southpaws. They have positive images of lefties, connecting the trait with good reflexes and creativity, apparently influenced by their knowledge of accomplished athletes and artists who are left-handed. There are even those who train in using their left hand, hoping to become southpaws themselves. Living in a Right-Handed World Left-handers in Japan are networking through the Internet to exchange information of interest to them. The Japan Southpaw Club, launched in spring 1996, maintains a Website for this purpose. The site provides a channel for the 400 or so club members, as well as nonmembers, to seek advice on issues specific to being left-handed and share amusing experiences, and also introduces products made for left-hand use. 
Some left-handed goods: The numbers on the ruler and tape measures progress from right to left, and the watch has the crown on its left side. In September 1999 the club sponsored a sandlot baseball tournament exclusively for lefties. The direction of the baseball diamond was reversed to make it easier for infielders to throw the ball, so that the batter would run to third-base position after hitting a ball. The event was held in the hopes of making the world a more comfortable place for southpaws by demonstrating what it means to be left-handed. Despite such efforts, so far not much has changed in Japan, where--just like everywhere else--right-handers make up most of the population. Just about every implement (unless symmetrical) is geared for right-hand use. Automatic ticket gates at train stations, vending machines, and home appliances, are all designed for easy operation with the right hand, and even pen stands at bank and post office counters are usually positioned to the right of the customer. Living from day to day in such an environment can be stressful for lefties. Activities like those by the Japan Southpaw Club have begun making at least some difference, though: More and more goods designed for lefties are coming on the market. Left-handed scissors and can openers may appear perfectly normal at first glance, but a careful look will reveal that they are mirror images of the usual products. There are also watches with the screw on the left, bottle openers that are made to be turned counterclockwise, and folding fans that open from the right to the left. Recently there is a growing tendency to value left-handed goods for their interesting "designs." The more these products become fashionable, and the more lefties speak out for themselves, the better the quality of life will be for the 10% or so of Japanese who are left-handed. Some Famous Left-Handed Japanese People Shintaro Ishihara (governor of Tokyo)Sadaharu Oh (world lifetime record holder of 868 home runs, currently manager of Japanese pro baseball team Daiei Hawks)Hiroshi Nanami (pro soccer player, now playing with Italy's AC Venezia)Danjuro Ichikawa (kabuki actor)Ryuichi Sakamoto (musician and composer) Back to Main Index 
Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government. 
