I have been a computer programmer, a software engineer, a system consultant or whatever you name it. I've been doing this for 20 + some years. And I have been specialized in the software black magic called internationalization (or i18n for shot becuase this long word has 18 letters between "i" and "n").
I program in C, C++ and Java. I don't like Windows because its unpredectable behavior frustrates me. I like Unix-based OSes because it behaves predictably, and it doesn't break as easily as Windows. I am hoping Windows' domination would not last forever.
I entered this area when I was a graduate student. I was very frustrated by the fact that most innovative software products were always developed first in English. The Japanese version of such product typically became available a few years later, only if it was popular enough to develop the localized version, that is. Most software products were not localized and available only in English. Because of this frustration, I decided to be a software engineer specialized in "internationalization".
Currently, I am looking for a new project. Although my speciality is in internationalization, localization, globalization, and linguistic processing, I will also work as generic Java and C/C++ developers. See my business page.
I am also looking for a very good opportunity that can relocate me back to Japan. Any lead will be appreciated! My resume can be found here (Word format - unfortunately).
"Kuro", meaning black, is the first two sylabls of my surname Kurosaka (Black slope). My givenname is Teruhiko (Shining man). Many people asks me why I don't call my self Teru or Teruhiko. They asks why I don't spell my name in the proper order, Teruhiko Kurosaka.
In Japanese (and in Chinese, Korean, Hungarian and probably more languages), the surname comes before the given name. I believe the order of the name parts is an essential element of the name. That is, John Smith and Smith John are not the same. So I am merely trying to preserver my original name.
Secondly, in my bringing up in Japan, I was never called by my given name outside of my family. I am an only child. So that means only my parents called me by my givenname. I feel very uncomfortable if somebody I just met calls me Teruhiko.
Since I live in the supposedly free country, I am asking people to call me "Kuro" or "Kuro-san", just because I feel more comfortable this way. I hope you understand.
Having said that, I confess that I do use the name in the reverse order, Teruhiko Kurosaka, on an occasion where the money or formal documet is involved. I even use this mixed notation: T. "Kuro" Kurosaka. Why? This is because the government officials in both U.S. and Japan, and financial institutions alike do not seem to accept my argument that the Japanese name should retain its order even when we write it in Roman (Latin) alphabet, and I do not want to take chances. One day, when I became rich enough to waste money in law suite, I would challenge them in court...
I'm not good at sports, but I have tried many anyway. Here's the list of sports I tried and failed:
After I failed on sports, I tried many forms of dances, some I could do an OK, some I failed, but I have never mastered any of them.
First, I was a sambista, people who enjoy Samba, the Brazilian dance and music. I was even in the parade in San Francisco Carnival and Tokyo's Asakusa Samba Festival a few times. But I couldn't remember lyrics of any samba songs.
Then I tried Salsa for quite few years. I reached at the level where I could fake to be a good leader to the beginners, and only to the beginners. I still have many basic movement I couldn't get at all.
Now that I realized I am too old to dance Salsa, I began learning Tango. Of course I am strugling.
My other hobby, so to speak, is eating out. San Francisco is great for this. There are many restaurants that are very good at half the price of Tokyo. My only problem is that I have a young son who doesn't eat anything other than rice, plain pizza and spagetti, and I cannot go to any decent restaurants with this monster.
Oh, did I mention I have a family? I have a wife and a pre-teen monster imported from Japan.
Below are the entrances to Kuro's other pages: