My buddy Dane Scott has published a small article over at LeBuzz (which is the place for BeOS Audio news) about the Japanese BeOS community. I have said here myself, the Japanese community is very important for the BeOS future and can not be overlooked by any of the running projects. Here's the article in it's totality:

"After the attack on Pearl Harbor, a famed Japanese naval commander is said to have related his fear that in launching the attack, they might have "awakened a sleeping giant." I'm hoping that by writing this article, I might have the same impact on the Japanese.

Don't worry, it's nothing politically incorrect...

The giant I refer to is the giant potential of Japanese BeOS programmers. I have heard freqently...frequently...that there are Japanese programmers who have done brilliant things with BeOS that the rest of the world has never seen. A variety of exciting things, including audio programming. It would not only be beneficial if more of these efforts were unversally available, but there would also be great benefit if their efforts could be better-coordinated with those of programmers elsewhere, to help create even more exciting stuff.

Be, Inc. recognized the value of the Japanese, and made efforts to assure BeOS was well-marketed to the people there. Wouldn't it be terrific if something might now also be done to tap into the resultant power of the community of Japanese BeOS programmers and enthusiasts?

I don't know the answers, but I am placing this before our listeners in the hopes some of you might have ideas on how to help overcome the language or cultural barriers that have, in large part, isolated many of these fine Japanese programmers and programming efforts from the rest of the BeOS world."

A very good read if i do say so myself and i hope it hits home and wakes up not just the japanese community, but everyone around the world who's been... hibernating. It's a good momentum, things are happening, YOU can make them happen.