Bye bye, 2006

2006 will finish soon. I was lazy as usual. Remorse...

I finished cooking Osechi. I have eaten Toshikoshi-soba. (And drinking wine. So I am drunk a bit now.) I'm ready for a New Year. (Actually O-soji has not finished completely. hehe)

My cell phone was broken and I went to pick it up from the shop. Unfortunately, all memories were lost. ALL memories in my cell phone. Too bad! OK. Everything is refreshed for a New Year! Haha---!

Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

English Beckham speaks

Soccer player David Beckham came to Japan today for promotion of one cell phone company. He arrived at in Japan this morning and went back TODAY. He was in Tokyo only 14 hours.

Actually I couldn't understand English he spork at all several years ago. I was disappointed at my poor English but I heard what one English expert said. He said it was very hard to hear English David spoke because of strong accent.

Today, I can understand his English. Hmm... I wonder which is reason, what the reason is improvement of my English or improvement his standard English.

Thank you again, PA!!!!!

Only Japanese are working in Japan now.

It's the scenery at the entrance of one foreign securities company at the start of working hours yesterday. Many employees are coming to their office. Many. Hmm... There is something strange. I feel something is wrong. Oh, yes! There are no foreigners among them. It's the foreign securities company. Usually most employees are foreigners.

Oh! They have already been on holiday. Christmas holiday. Yes, always ONLY Japanese work at the end of the year in the companies. Every year's situation is the same.

Most companies in Japan finish at on the 28th at the end of the year. But finance-related companies usually open till 29th or 30th. Hmm... Good luck, hard worker working Japanese!

Thank you for the correction, PA!

My bad listening comprehension #7

"Could I how are you my guy?"

Hmm... There is no verb... I wonder I missed hearing "say" after "I". What is "my guy"? Does it mean my boyfriend? Why isn't there "to" before "my"?

Checking the script. Correct sentence is
"Could I hire you as my guide?"

"How are you"... "hire you"...

My hearing wrong of the past:
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2006/11/my-bad-listening-comprehension-6.html

Strange Weather

It rained so hard yesterday. So hard. Moreover, there were thunder and lightning during the night. It's strange! Now is November! As if it's the rainy season or the end of summer.

And it's very warm today. Better to say "hot". Highest temperature was 18 degrees C. (64.4 degrees F) Temperature of Autumn.

According to the weather forecast, from tomorrow, severe cold will continue.

Hmm... yesterday is summer, today is autumn and it's winter from tomorrow.

Merry Christmas 2006

Like I wrote yesterday, I didn't prepare for Christmas at all this year.
The following is the big Christmas tree in my neighborhood.

Here is the tree about one month ago.

Change the mood

I've not updated my blog for about one month...

There were sad and bad things. But I should recover from now!

I haven't prepared for Christmas. There is no Christmas tree, no Christmas cake... But it's OK. I concentrate things to do at the end of the year, writing Nenga-jo, O-soji and cooking Osechi.

Thanksgiving Day

When I sent e-mails to some people in the U.S. office these days, I received auto-reply to inform their day-off. Yes, Thanksgiving Day.

Whom or what do American people thank?

Anyway, they were eating delicious turkey. Huh? American people eat turkey at the Thanksgiving Day. So what do they eat at Christmas?

Moving office

My office moved to Shinjuku from Roppongi last Monday. So it was hectic these days.

New office, new desk, nice view from window. Working environment is so-so. But many employees complain because the building is a bit far from station.

But! I can go to the office ON FOOT! It takes just 5 minutes. It's very convenience. Too close??

Therefore and otherwise

I know meanings of "therefore" and "otherwise" but both of words seldom appear in my English study. So those words also don't appear in my conversation. But after joining the present company about 3 weeks ago, I found that people often use those words. Hmm... So I tried use "therefore" in my e-mail the other day. I'll try to use those in the future. I wonder both of words are formal words. Is it strange to say those words in conversation with friends?

My bad listening comprehension #6

I heard the following sentence from English learning CD.

"We're going to have a banquet to celebrate our 30 dollars graduation from university."

30 dollars graduation??

No. Correct sentence is "celebrate our son and daughter's graduation from university. Too big hearing wrong!!

My hearing wrong of the past:
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2006/08/my-bad-listening-comprehension-5.html

Christmas tree is under construction.

Christmas decorations started to be put up in the town. Christmas season is coming up.

A big Christmas tree is put up in my neighborhood every year, and I found it was being assembled today!

After the tough week

Finally, my tough week has finished. It was really tough week. I almost run out of battery in the late afternoon everyday, and finally I ran out of battery after work on Friday. I think it was due to MUCH English. When the tough week finished, I felt sort of sinking or lonely, as if kind of big event finished.

People who came from the office in the U.S. were very nice people. I was with one of them all the week and he was really nice person. He fully helped me my job, patiently. We finished our meeting on Friday but he leave from Tokyo next Monday (tomorrow) to do sightseeing. Unfortunately Saturday was rain. Today is fine but very windy. I hope he enjoyed his sightseeing.

During tough week

In this tough week, 2nd day has finished. When 1st day had finished, I had already been very tired. Haha. I bought cloths after work yesterday and I wore it to the office today... to get psyched up?

I'm very sleepy. I must go to work very early in the morning tomorrow. I go to bed. Hmm... I have no time to watch the Japan -U.S. All-Star baseball games, although Major Leaguers are coming to Japan.

Starting new job and need English...

I wrote about my job opportunities about 2 month ago.
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2006/09/story-of-my-job-opportunities-3.html
And actually I have started to work one of those companies.

It's a foreign company so English conversations are flying over my head. Whew... And 2 people come to Tokyo from one of offices in the U.S. and I have meeting with them all this week. I'm up to my neck in English for a week.

I leave home and go to office from now. Finally tough week starts.

The baseball season almost finished.

World series in the U.S. and Japan series in Japan has finished. It means the baseball season has finished. It's kind of sad for baseball fans. But we can watch the Japan-U.S. All-Star games that will take place next month in Japan.

Cardinals won the World series. I think Taguch who is a Japanese played very well. Good job!

<== Taguch with his son after wining the championship.

Nihon Ham Fighters beat Chunichi Dragons in the Japan series and became the national champion for the first time in 44 years.
I think Dragons was stronger team than Fighters but Fighters had momentum.

Players of Fighters throw the manager Hillman in the air in celebration. ==>

Shinjo who is one of players of Fighters announced his retirement in the middle of the pennant race. When he moved to Fighters 3years ago, he said they jam-packed their studium with many fans and won the championship. At that time, Fighters wasn't popular team so much and also strong team. But what he said went. I'm not sure he made much contribution to the wining the championship, but it's for certain that he made MUCH contribution to attracting and increasing fans.
Rakuten Eagles' manager Nomura, who was the manager of Tigers when Shinjo played for Tigers, complemented Shinjo's playing, when Shinjo announced his retirement. I was a bit surprised to hear it because Nomura is known for an outspoken person and he merely compliment. According to the Nomura's comment, Shinjo is a three-point player who is a shotgun, can play strong defense and run well. Hmm... I see. So his batting is?

The last run of Schumacher

Formula One racer Michael Schumacher has retired. His last run was in the Brazil Grand Prix on 22nd. He missed the series champion but he was a really accomplished racer. He showed splendid race to the last.

He keens on charities. His private bodyguard and his family died in the earthquake off Sumatra, so he donated 10 million U.S. dollars to the relief of the sufferers of it. 10 million dollars!!

By the way, he is identified as being unemployed in the country he lives. Probably he lives in Switzerland and Switzerland doesn't admit "a racer" as an occupation. So he pays just minimum tax, although he was the highest paid athlete. Hmm... Living in Switzerland is his tax strategy

He had dominated F1 world for many years. I wonder who is a next top racer.

How could anybody hear so wrong as me?

Present dialogue I'm studying is a news about retirement of a tennis player Agassi. I downloaded it from the site.

It's about 10 minutes dialogue. As always, at first I hear it without seeing the script. Hmm... I can't understand what they say well. It's my present real skill of English...

In McEnroe's interview in the dialogue, I hear "sleeping, my wife". What?? Agassi slept with McEnroe's wife?? No way, haha. Terrible listening skill. I wonder what he said. After hearing it 30 times without seeing the script, I will hear it 30 times seeing the script. So I'm looking forward to checking what McEnroe said in the phrase.

Google docs & spreadsheets

As I wrote in the last article, my PC almost breaks down. Most terrible thing is that Excel doesn't run, I tried to uninstall and reinstall Office though. (Can you believe?)

TV news introduced "Google docs & spreadsheets" just now. (http://docs.google.com) Oh! So I checked it. Hmm... It's not bad, it doesn't run smoothly so much though. Unfortunately, it's Beta version so there is no Japanese version yet. (I can input Japanese on files.) And it seems that there isn't page setup function. I guess it's OK. I can make do with it until I buy new PC. It might hold off buying PC? No, no. Problem of my PC is not only Excel.

If someone uses "Google docs & spreadsheets" (especially spreadsheets), please let me know how its usability is.

Happy birthday to me!!

Yesterday was my birthday! Happy birthday to me!!

I intended to put a happy birthday article on this blog yesterday but I was a bit drunk so I went to bed soon. I ate TWO cakes... It's not good for health.

On the last birthday, I made the future chronology and set up a goal. But!! I was very lazy during the year. I made no progress. Remorse... So I keep it firmly in my mind.

I'm thinking what I give to me on my birthday. Present for me from me last year was a bicycle. This year is...
There are many things I want, an electronic dictionary of English, a ring, a bag, a piano, PC... My PC is breaking down. It's in crisis situation. I must buy it. So it's better to say one of necessities of life than a present.
Actually there is one more thing I want. It's one of the health-enhancing products. Those kinds of things are often introduced in TV shopping. Some people like to buy those products but I'm not interested in those so much. But I want one product. It's a horse-riding machine. Riding horse brings some health benefits and those benefits are DEFINITELY necessary for my body. Hmm... I wonder what I should buy me.

Driver's license renewal

I went to the metropolitan government for driver's license renewal. 3 books, "safe driving instruction", "people-friendly safe driving" and "traffic rules manual" (what is difference between them?), and a fly sheet "safe driving self-diagnosis" were distributed. As always.

Who read all of them? Don't you think it's waste of tax money? It's an opinion of one citizen of Tokyo. Next license renewal is in 5 years.

Go for it, all people who study language!

When I went to a library today, I somehow saw a book of a person next to mine. It was a textbook of Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). He looked like a Japanese but probably a Korean or a Chinese. I've heard that JLPT will be conducted on December. As I said before, I like foreigners in Japan who try to study and speak Japanese. I said in my mind "go in and win!" to him. I also go for it!

Ex-president is the president?

I finished watching "24 season 4" for 9 nights in a row the other day. I felt its story was a bit boring more than season 1 - 3. I sometimes could see where the story was going. At first, most casts were someone I didn't know and I thought where familiar people were. But as the story continued, they appeared, Tony, Michelle (I like her), the former president Palmer...

By the way, people called Palmer "President". Why? I watched it hearing dubbed Japanese so I don't know what they said in English. Is it common that former president is called "President"? Is Mr. Clinton still called President Clinton?

Getting a perm

I went to a hair salon today. I got a perm after a long time.

There was a foreign customer. I was interested in how he explained hairstyle he want.

There are many foreigners in Japan, especially in Tokyo. Many of them can't speak Japanese, and don't have willingwillingness to learn Japanese at all. (I like foreigners who try to speak and study Japanese.) They work for foreign companies and their Japanese wives speak English fluently. So they can live without speaking Japanese. But I always think how they explain to a beautician their desired hairstyle at hair salon.

That's why I was interested in the foreign customer. I listened with all my earsintently to their conversation. But, haha, he could speak Japanese.

If I live in other country, I would be worried about conversation at a hair salon. Always I can't explain my desired hairstyle very well even in Japanese. So my hairstyle today is... a bit uncomfortable feeling...

>PA, Thank you for your pointing out!

Busy soccer players in Europe

I always think that European top-level soccer players are very very busy. They play in each league, UEFA champions league (or UEFA Cup), and UEFA EURO 2008. It's very tough schedule!

I wonder which game they place emphasis on best. They place equal importance on them? Isn't it hard to keep their motivation without ultimate goal? Money?

They get VERY high money. And yes, money is important and it's one of recognitions of their playing. But they seem to SIMPLY like playing soccer like boys.

I keep enjoy watching top-level playing.

"You know"

English speakers often say "you know" in their conversations. According to the dictionary, it has many meaning. And it has no important meaning, right?

It's hard for me to understand its nuance situation by situation. Of course I can't use it in my conversations.

It's very easy word but very difficult to use. I always think language is culture. "You know" represents it.

Nuclear test by North Korea

North Korea carried out nuclear test yesterday. TV news have been spending MUCH time to air about it but there is no paticularly information.

I take notice of future behavior of China and Russia. I wonder if they keep being on the side of North Korea.

I'm worried about destruction of nature, especially water pollution in this case. Is there any damage to people? Human beings break the earth with their own hands.

Fine autumn weather

It had rained for a while but it's fine day today!! It's lovely autumn weather so I brought my camera when I went out today.

These are photos of my neighborhood I took today. (Click on each photo to enlarge.)

24 season 4 airs at midnight

American TV drama "24 season 4" started to be air last night, better to say early this morning? I have watched only season 1 - 3. (Yes, I'm way behind.) I don't remember well those stories because I watched them long time ago.

It airs from 0:30am for 9 nights in a row, 2 - 3 hours a day. So
Hmm... undersleeping days continue...

Formidable athletic ability

Major League Baseball's regular season finished prior to finishing of Japanese professional baseball's one. The morning paper reported the Twins player Joe Mauer who won the American league batting title.

It is the first time in the past 64 years that a catcher got the batting title. In AL, it's the first time. He is still 23 years old. Surprisingly, he gained fame as basketball and football player when he was a high school student. I can't believe! How talented in sports!!

Sometimes there seems to be such a thing in the U.S. But normally, Japanese baseball players have played ONLY baseball since they were kids. At the latest, they begin it when they are junior high school students and do just baseball. So the story of Joe Mauer seems worlds apart.

The postseason games of MLB will start tomorrow. And Joe Mauer will come to Japan next month with some other major leaguers, such as Ryan Howard who led the NL in both RBI and homers and Johan Santana who captured the triple crown of pitcher (winningest pitcher, ERA and strikeout king), to have games with Japanese players. I'm looking forward to it!

By the way, I found another picture of Joe Mauer. Is it the same person?

Work on the bolg

Look! I tried to set counter to my blog site. (See the lower right of the blog.)

And I set labels to each articles. I finally finished about 50. About 200 more articles. Whew... After finishing setting labels to all articles, I will put label lineup in the right side of the blog. Who knows when?

New function on the blog

I shifted this blog to "blogger in Beta" today. There are new functions including "labels". I wanted this category function very much.

I set label to my article from now but I also want to set it to my all articles I have placed. It's very hard... so little by little.

I'm happy to use this function but why there is the lineup of categories on the blog? Boo... Do I have to set it myself using HTML tags?

Attempt to make minor revisions in my learning method

Like I keep saying, the part of English I'm poorest at is "listening".

I use CDs for my studying English and I can almost catch English in the CDs. But I can barely catch what people say in usual conversation, in interviews in TV, in movies and so on. The reason is apparent. Although text of the CD says that speakers speak at the same speed as native speakers, they speak much more clearly.

So I'm thinking about adding usual conversation audio to my studying, such as someone's speeches, interviews and movies. Fortunately there are many sites that provide such audios free of charge.

I don't know if it's useful for improving my listening skill, but I'll give it a try!!

My ex-language partner came (back) to Japan.

I had a language exchange partner last summer. He was a nice person and highly motivated to study Japanese. His staying in Japan was temporary because he was a student, and he came back to his country. So unfortunately, I lost a very good language partner.

He graduated from his school and he came to Japan again at the beginning of this month. But he lives in Osaka, not in Tokyo. His cousin lives in Osaka and runs a business, he also do the business with his cousin.

According to his mail, he really enjoys to speak and listen Japanese since he came back to Japan. He was studying Japanese even in his country. His present situation is the best to learn language. If I see him sometime, his Japanese must be MUCH better than my English...

The Abe Cabinet's inauguration

The Abe cabinet was formed on Sep. 26th.
Abe calls his own cabinet "the beautiful nation building cabinet". Hmm... I don't know well what it means though. I hope it wouldn't end up with just a slogan.

The first smell of orange osmanthus

Although midnight, I went to a convenience store and came back just now.

When I went outside, there was a good smell of orange asmanthus. It's the first time in this autumn. It's one of autumn features. I smell it every year and I'm happy when it smells.

Orange osmanthus is "kin-mokusei" in Japanese. I didn't know its English. Hmm... orange. I liked English name. In Japanese, "kin" of "kin-mokusei" means gold. Yes, gold osmanthus. I like orange better.

Becoming a member of the Imperial family

Son of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, Prince Hisahito who was born 6th this month, was registered in the Imperial Family's registry today. He is 3rd in line to the imperial throne. By his birth, the issue of revision of the Imperial House Law to allow a woman to ascend to the Imperial Throne, was shelved. I'm dissatisfied with it though.

I hope the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Masako will have a boy sometime.

Which English?

Reviewing the TOEIC mock exam I took, I found one of reasons why I couldn't catch at all what speaker was saying.

Of course, main reason is my poor English. But other reason is difference of English. As I mentioned before, British, Canadian and Australian English (including New Zealand) joined in the listening section. I found I couldn't catch one pronunciation. It is... I can't explain how the pronunciation is... it sounds somewhat being dragged?? But it's for certain that plosive, such as "t" and "p", were pronounced very strongly. Is it British, Canadian or Australian? Which English?

I wonder how I should study those English...

LDP's leadership race; Shinzo Abe won

As was widely expected, it was a clean sweep for Abe. He garnered about 66% of the votes. But according to a news article, his campaign office aimed to have over 70%. Hmm... it means Aso and Tanigaki made better fight than expected?

Abe's wife who will become the first lady appeared in a TV program. She looks very young!

There is no surprising in the result of the election, of course. I focus on Abe's Cabinet that will be established on the 26th.

By the way, newspapers overseas call him a nationalist. I wonder why. I don't think so though.

I get discouraged very much...

Today, I reviewed the TOEIC mock exam I tried yesterday.

Even if I see the scripts, I can't catch the English!! I can't hear what speaker says!! Oh no...

Is it because British English, Canadian English and Australian English (including New Zealand) joined in the listening section? I don't think so. Are those English different that much?

What should I do in my studying English? I feel like crying.

Oh no, terrible result of mock exam

For taking the TOEIC exam next Sunday, I tried to take a mock exam at home today.

I couldn't understand what speaker said at all!! I wanted to stop in the middle of the exam.

Percentage of questions answered correctly was 48.5%. Terrible!!!!! Shock...

My misunderstanding of English #1

The theme of today's dialogue I study is "a good flight".

One girl says, "I feel a little sleepy now. I was a little too excited to sleep on the plane".

"Excited to sleep"? It means sleeping much and very deeply? I thought she was fast asleep on the plane so she was sleepy. Yes, I'm also sleepy after sleeping all day. (I LOVE sleeping.)

But!! of course it's my misunderstanding. I found it to see the Japanese translation. And then I found that there is "too". Oh---!! It's "too --- to ---" construction!!

My motivation to study English is a little up?

I don't like being praised. It sometimes makes me uncomfortable. (Am I strange?)

English speakers praise my English. But I'm sure it's a flattery because I know well my English is very poor. In fact, I praise foreigners who speak Japanese even if their Japanese are not so much. (But I really praise their effort to learn Japanese that is much more difficult than English.)

I had the interview with CEO of one company yesterday and he praised my English. I know it was flattery as usual. But he also said that my pronunciation was good. I was a bit glad even if it was flattery too. Hehe... :-) I thought I would continue my studying English for believing my way.

By the way, his character was very nice and amiable. I think he has an ability to create a favorable impression. I realized I was with people around me with a soft heart for a while after the meeting with him.

Amazing Godzilla!!!!!

After adjustive playing at the minor league, finally Matsui came back to the New York Yankees. In spite of the first game in the Major League in 4 months, his result was 4-for-4! It's remarkable thing!

I've known him since he was a high school student. I know well he has very strong mind.

He got a standing ovation before getting to the first at-bat and he acknowledged the cheers of the fans by taking his helmet off. It was a very splendid scene but I felt a bit lonely. He isn't a player of Japanese baseball more. He is a real major leaguer.

I started a SPECIAL correspondent study.

Like I wrote on this blog, I met my friend who lives in Australia and came back to Japan temporarily last month.

Her husband is an Australian and I started to the SPECIAL correspondent study with him. I write English sentence and have it corrected by him. I received the first correction. Wow, it's very useful for my studying English.

I pay correction charge but they set reasonable price. Thank you!

The most difficult language?

I always think Japanese is much more difficult than English. So I compliment foreigners who speak Japanese or study Japanese. But there are languages that are more difficult than Japanese. What language is the most difficult?

I studied a new English idiom the other day. It's "be Greek to". For example, "it's all Greek to me.", "it sounds Greek to me." and so on. Hmm... Greek is difficult that much? I've never heard Greek.

By the way, I think it is right that English is an international language, because English isn't so difficult, is very simple language. Despite this, why can't I speak English so well? Haha...

What was the cause of my cell phone's freeze-up?

I went to the Tokyo Dome to watch the baseball game, Giants vs. Swallows with my friend yesterday.

At the present time, Giants is 4th, Swallows is 3rd in the Central League and both of them are MUCH distant from 1st and 2nd teams. So I thought spectators were few but not really.

Giants won 2 -1.

My friend brought and gave me a cheer megaphone of Giants. I left my own one at my parent home, so thank you!

I'm a Giants' fan but she is a Swallows' fan, so she also brought a megaphone of Swallows and cheered with it. I took a picture of her cheering with the megaphone by my cell phone to put it on this blog, but my cell phone froze up when I tried to save the pic. Cell phone freeze up? It's the first experience and I've never heard freeze-up of cell phone. Any problem with her pic???

Godzilla, Comeback!

The New York Yankees player Matsui finally returned to the game about 4 months after he got injury! He played for Minor League team the Trenton Thunder as a DH cleanup batter and got good results. Good job! According to the news, his comeback to Major League will be at the game against Devil Rays on 12th.


Matsui wearing a uniform of the Trenton Thunder.
His comment: "I think it's cooler than I expected. How is it?"

Movie: UNITED 93

I watched "UNITED 93" today. Cram-packed with breathtaking scenes... It is the first time I watched such a tension-packed movie. I praise filmmakers of it very much. I was thinking which I would watch UNITED 93 or Pirates of the Caribbean. It was good to choose UNITED 93. (I intend to watch Pirates of the Caribbean sometime though.)

UNITED 93 was really remarkable great movie, except that its terrible occurrence was true story.

----------------------------------------------

I watched the trailer of "World Trade Center" before watching UNITED 93. Watching just the trailer, I was nearly in tears. The movie will hit screen next month in Japan. I will go to watch it.

Caramel Corn

Caramel Corn is one of my favorite snacks. I wonder it is sold in other countries. It's Japanese company Tohato's product and it remains a long-selling product in Japan.

The other day, I found new type products of Caramel Corn at a convenience store. It's "Caramel Mini Corn". As its name suggests, its package is smaller than normal Caramel Corn's one. And a piece of snack is also smaller. It's cute.

Caramel mini Corn - Royal milk tea taste

There are 2 kinds. One is the brown caramel taste. The other is royal milk tea taste. I tried to eat both of them. Oh, royal milk taste is very good. Its taste is much different from original but I also liked it. I searched and found English web sites that put Caramel Corn information. But it seems that Caramel Corn isn't sold overseas, I found mail-order site though. (Buying Caramel Corn by mail-order??) Hmm... Why doesn't Tohato sell Caramel Corn overseas? It must become big hit!

Getting into the 2nd song

I have finished "Yesterday Once More", and I got into the 2nd song "Top Of The World". I'm in step 1 phase so I'm listening it over and over without seeing lyrics. I don't understand what she says (sings)... I can't see any improvement of my English.

I hope "song phase" finishes soon.

Good Finish children

Do you know about "PISA"? It stands for Programme for International Student Assessment. It seems to be survey on abilities of children (15 years old) in the world. (I wonder people usually don't call 15 years old boys and girls "children".)

I found one article that mentions why Finish children's abilities were high. Following is the result in 2003.

Ranking	Mathematical literacy	Reading comprehension	Scientific literacy	Problem-solving abilities
1	Hong Kong	Finland	Finland	South Korea
2	Finland	South Korea	Japan	Hong Kong
3	South Korea	Canada	Hong Kong	Finland
4	Netherlands	Australia	South Korea	Japan
5	Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein	New Zealand
6	Japan	New Zealand	Australia	Macau
7	Canada	Ireland	Macau	Australia
8	Belgium	Sweden	Netherlands	Liechtenstein
9	Macau	Netherlands	Czech	Canada
10	Switzerland	Hong Kong	New Zealand	Belgium
11	Australia	Belgium	Canada	Switzerland
12	New Zealand	Norway	Switzerland	Netherlands
13	Czech	Switzerland	France	France
14	Iceland	Japan	Belgium	Denmark
15	Denmark	Macau	Sweden	Czech

Hmmm... as the article said, Finish children are excellent. Didn't Japanese children also get good result? Other Asian countries, such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Macau, are also good. Liechtenstein got good result but I heard Liechtenstein for the first time. (I'm sorry, Liechtensteinian) So I checked this country. It's very very small country. Marquis governs the country! and it is absolute monarchy. Switzerland acts for Liechtenstein's diplomacy and there is no passport control between Switzerland and Liechtenstein and they can freely travel back and forth between the two countries. Liechtenstein is a permanent neutral country same Switzerland. That's all I know about Liechtenstein.

The U.S. never placed any sections. THOUGHT AS MUCH. Is the present situation that the US is leader in the world OK? I often wrote that there could be no peace on earth as long as the U.S. is leader of the world. (ref. my article 1, my article 2)
I wonder which country is appropriate for the leader in the world. Oh, there isn't name of the U.K. in the ranking too. Oh, German too, and...

Challenge to the 2nd TOEIC

Half year have passed since I took TOEIC exam for the first time. I intend to take TOEIC twice a year so I will take it again this month (24th).

My score was 660 last time and my goal this time is over 730. But it seems that it's impossible...

TOEIC exam changed to new version in May so I checked what was different from old version... There are 2 bad things for me.

One is that number of long sentence questions was increased and conventional long sentence questions became longer.
The other is that British English, Canadian English and Australian English (including New Zealand) joined in the listening section.
Whew... It's hard to meet my goal, I'm more likely to get lower score than last time.

By the way, I didn't know there was Canadian English. I thought Canadian spoke same English American spoke.

Story of my job opportunities #3

This is my 200th article on this blog!!
I had a telephone interview with a person who works for a headquarters in the US of opportunity 1 this morning 7am.
I'm poor at talking English on the phone as usual. Especially purpose of the interview was checking my technical skills. I usually explain technical matters to participants in my training classes, of course in Japanese. Explaining those matters in English was MUCH more difficult than daily conversation. So I don't think it proceed to next step.

Job opportunities Update

Job Opportunities		Progress
1	Technical Trainer	1st interview - PASS => 2nd interview-PASS => Telephone interview with person overseas -done and waiting for the results
2	Training Planning Manager	1st interview - PASS ==> Next step is 2nd interview next week
3	Instructional Designer	1st interview - PASS ==> Next step is 2nd interview next week

Atmosphere of Autumn

It's September! Of course the lingering summer heat is still here, but I feel autumn atmosphere. Mmm... I love this atmosphere very much. Happy! Summer I hate will leave and autumn I love will come soon!

Story of my job opportunities #2

About one year ago, I wrote about A Inc. (tentative name) that was a recruiting agency on this blog. It was very terrible company.

I wrote about my present job opportunities on previous article. One of them, opportunity 2, surprisingly a person in charge of hiring is that person of A Inc. It seems that she switched companies. The company of opportunity 2 is one of the biggest and most famous companies everyone knows in the world. But I started to worry about the company because they hired her. Hmm...

Story of my job opportunities #1

I found some good job opportunities on the web sites and contacted some recruit agents about those this month. And then, I have had an interview with one of them.

Surprisingly, at the same time, some other recruit agents contacted me after another to introduce job opportunities. I don't know why. Is it an oracle that I should find new job? Haha.

So now, there are 3 job opportunities that are proceeding.

Job Opportunities		Progress
1	Technical Trainer	1st interview - PASS => 2nd interview-PASS ==> Next step is telephone interview with person overseas
2	Training Planning Manager	1st interview - PASS ==> Next step is 2nd interview next week
3	Instructional Designer	1st interview - PASS ==> Next step is 2nd interview next week

Reading those job descriptions, I felt all of them require higher skill than mine. But I was selected for their interview, and I've had interviews with all of them. So I was busy this week. I went to have the interviews after working on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. After the interviews, I realized they required much higher skills so I didn't think those didn't proceed to next step. BUT!! they offered me the 2nd interviews! Wow. At the present time, it seems that they liked me.

All of three companies are famous global companies, so English skill is required...

Tokyo became a bidding city for the 2016 Olympics.

Bidding city in Japan for the 2016 Olympics was decided. Fukuoka vs. my city Tokyo. Tokyo won.

Then Tokyo bids to host the 2016 Olympics and competition for about 3 years, till the IOC General Assembly in October 2009, has started.

My prediction is negative...
The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing, where is in Asia, same Tokyo.
The 2012 Olympics will be held in London, where is one of the biggest cities in the world, same Tokyo.
Olympics will be held in cities that are similar Tokyo for the second time in a row. So I don't think Tokyo can be selected.

But if Tokyo wins the right to host, I'd be happy. I want to work for the Olympics as a volunteer. So I must improve my English by then.

I can't sing Carpenters well?!

Like I wrote on previous article, I try to sing "Yesterday once more" hearing CD. Hmm... Karen's key is lower than mine so I can't sing with her singing well. I wish key were higher, or lower. It's half-key for me.

But I'm singing, I'm never able to sing for someone though.

I'm a singer??

As I wrote on this blog before, now I'm studying English using the textbook "Eigo-mimi" (English ear) to improve my listening skill. I'm in the phase that is singing English songs. Singing English songs!? Actually I usually don't hear English music at all. A writer of the book recommends songs of Carpenters because Karen's pronunciation is a sort of bible of English learners, I don't know well though.

So I'm hearing "Yesterday once more" now... everyday. According to the book, I must hear it more than 300 times. Step 1: hearing it 100 times without seeing lyrics, step 2: hearing 100 times seeing lyrics with phonetic symbol, step 3: singing together 100 times. I move to step 3 from now. Whew... It's a bit boring. But I intend to choose "Top of the world" for next song.



By the way, it's said that the reason Japanese can't hear English well is difference of passband. Left graph shows passband of each language. Hmm... According to this graph, I wonder French isn't difficult for Japanese? No, no! It's more difficult!!

Pluto

In the last few days, it became a hot topic whether Pluto remains as planet or not. Then it was decided that Pluto was excluded from planets in the solar system.
I felt fuss that was made about it was strange. Being Planet or not is decided just by humans who live in the earth that is small planet in the solar system.
Even if humans change definition of the universe or appellation, nothing changes in the universe.
By the way, textbooks makers and astronomic observatories become get busy with changing explanations about planets. Pluto, you won't be excluded from Disney characters, right?

Meeting my friend after a long time

My friend who lives in Australia came back to Japan and stays for a short time. I met her today after a lo---ng time. It was our first meeting in a long time so we had quite a chat. I was also complaining that my English didn't improve at all. Haha...

A year ago, actually I felt that we would meet in the near future, and then that's really what's happened.

I wonder when we will meet again. I hope I could visit her in Australia sometime.

Movie: the White Planet

I have mentioned this movie on this blog before.

http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2006/06/oh-polar-bears-i-love-are.html












Surprising and valuable images!! I wonder how they catch those images?? It's hard to believe.

At the opening of the movie, following sentence appeared on the screen.
"The scene you see from now, you may not be able to those after 10 years."

And a narrator said in the movie.
"It is human's fault."

I saw an actor Ren Osugi.

On my way to the library by bicycle, I past Ren Osugi, who is a Japanese actor, on the road today. I've heard that he lives in my neighborhood but I saw him for the first time.

He is famous in Japan. But I think there are some people who know him overseas, because he often appears in the movies of director Takeshi Kitano.

He looked tall in the movies or TV dramas but he doesn't actually tall. He was just a man in the street. Haha.

Elizabeth Sanders Home

Today is the anniversary of the end of WW2. Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi visited Yasukuni shrine and it is becoming a big hot topic now. Of course China and Korea are making a big deal of it. By the way, I agree with his visiting Yasukuni shrine, better to say I don't think he need to avoid doing.

I watched a TV drama based on the true story about the founder of Elizabeth Sanders Home, the late Mrs. Miki Sawada.

She founded Elizabeth Sanders Home for half-blooded orphan children after WW2, the Allied Occupation forces came to Japan. Japan was very very poor at that time so many women sold sex to American servicemen for survival. And many American servicemen raped Japanese women. So there were many half-blooded children. At that time, half-blood were discriminated terribly so many women despaired their half-blooded children's future. Many of them repudiated their children and those children died.

So Mrs. Sawada founded the orphan home for such children. She grew up in a very rich family but managing the home required much money so she relinquished her all property and rushed around trying to raise funds. Many Japanese looked at them coldly, and the Allied Occupation forces also do so calling those children "American's embarrassment ".

During watching the drama, I couldn't stop crying.

I always think I want to do activities to help poor children in the world. Mrs. Sawada had very strong mind. I need to be more like her.

Lazy Sand as usual

I'm off this week so I decided that this week was "movie week". I intend to watch movies a lot. But I slept till 4pm today. 4pm!! I love sleeping but I think I waste my time.

I will go to Roppongi to watch a movie I have wanted to watch.

Unfortunately, it's bad weather during my holiday week...

My bad listening comprehension #5

Theme of today's English dialogue I study was "wedding ceremony". There was explanation about one custom. I've heard about that before.

A Japanese girl asked.
Can you tell me what the famous phrase, "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blomins?

?? Bloomins? I wonder it's bloomings and I couldn't hear "g". Yeah, "blooming" is suitable for wedding! But why is there "s"?

Correct is "blue means?". Oh, yes. I've heard that a bride wears something blue in the U.S. (not only in the U.S.?)


My hearing wrong of the past
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2006/07/my-bad-listening-comprehension-4.html

Joke in English

I talked with my friend who is a foreigner in English on the phone yesterday. My English is poor as usual, and talking on the phone in English is more difficult for me.

When he told a joke, I couldn't understand. It is not uncommon for me. I always don't understand jokes in English conversation. So I sometimes ask back repeatedly... I end up having my friends tell a joke again and again. Repeating a joke sucks, doesn't it? I can understand if I hear the same joke in Japanese.

I think problem is my rhythm of conversation. I guess I don't get into the rhythm of English conversation due to my poor English. Jokes appear in rhythmic conversation, right?

Probably, I continue to have many friends repeat jokes in the future. Forgive me, my foreigner friends!

The 61st anniversary of the atomic bomb day of Nagasaki

Americans made a big deal of September 11th, even now. Of course I was very shocked to see the live TV news at that time, and think it was a devastating tragedy. But I make a point to say that Americans made a big deal of such a small thing. They don't know that the U.S. is the country that did much more terrible things?

The number of death from 9.11 was about 3,000.
About 210,000 (140,000 in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki) were killed by the history's worst conduct; dropping atomic bombs by the U.S. It took 61 years after it but even now many many people died from that atomic bombs. All deaths are about 340,000.
By the way, about 100,000 were killed by the Great Tokyo Air Raids by the U.S. at March 10th 1945, and in the Battle of Okinawa, about 200,000 civilians were killed.
Americans often say about Pearl Harbor, but how many CIVILIANs were killed at that time?

Two buildings disappeared by 9.11 terrorist attack.
Two cities disappeard by the U.S. atomic bombs.

Japan also did terrible things and made big mistakes in the wars. Other many countries too. But the U.S. doesn't acknowledge its past mistakes, and they repeat those mistakes now. Most Americans are persuaded to believe that dropping atomic bombs to Japan was necessary to finish the war, and don't know those horrible damages at all. The number of wars isn't decline, in fact it has increased. As long as the U.S. is leader of the world, there can be no peace on earth.

One European told me that Americans don't think with their head. Recently I think his opinion might be correct. Even now, 40% of Americans think that a war with Iraq is right.

Is there a RIGHT WAR?

Japanese English isn't even equal to native babies' English skills

I found a SHOCKING(?) article on one blog. That blog is written by an American woman who has two boys. A younger boy (very cute!!) is maybe 21 months old and he speaks some words, according to her blog, he says "meeyanyo" (piano), "nunnel" (tunnel) and so on. And I found the article that he had a new word. He can say McDonald's. Some people put comments on the article and they said their kids too. Really???

Actually McDonald's is one of the most difficult English pronunciations for Japanese. If I write the pronunciation of McDonald's Japanese speak forcibly, it's... maybe "mukoodonarudo"? Even if Japanese say McDonald's repeatedly, native speakers can't understand.

I have often heard that Japanese get a coke when ordering a cup of coffee from a flight attendant in the flight. Haha. Japanese pronunciation of "coffee" is... cauhe. Does it sound like cola or coke?

My first elementary school in a long while

I went to an elementary school to teach computer to schoolteachers today.
Hot! Very hot! There were air conditioners but it was not enough unlike offices. Especially corridor and toilet were like sauna!! And there was no vanity in bathroom unlike in office's one. It was terrible environment. Haha. Yes, school is not office.

Usually, participants in my training call me "sensei". Sensei is "teacher" in Japanese. But today, I also call them senei because they were schoolteachers. Haha.

In spite of summer holiday, many students came to school, most of them came to take pool class. Although it is very hot, kids are very powerful. When I was an elementary student, I also didn't think it was too hot even if there was no air conditioner. Kids are really lusty and powerful. I thought schoolteachers also must be powerful because they are always with those many powerful kids. It's a tough job, they have long holidays and don't work overtime at all though.

School doesn't change at all compared with one when I was a kid. Form of classrooms, student's desks and chairs, shelves for students' baggage, blackboards, school yards... every things are same. Many things change so rapidly in the world, but it seems that time stops in school.

Congratulation my first anniversary!

It's been one year since I started this bolg. I wrote my first article on the blog a year ago today.

Unfortunately, my English doesn't improve after a year. Whew...

The 61st anniversary of the atomic bomb day of Hiroshima

Today, 6th August, is the day that America did the worst thing in history. In spite of the worst thing, America did it not once but twice. The second is 9th in Nagasaki. I will write about it on 9th.

Three young German soccer players

FC Bayern came to Japan to have a game with Japanese team Urawa Reds the other day. They stayed in Japan just 44 hours! Haha. It was very tough schedule!!

In spite of during that tight schedule, young players, Podolski, Schweinsteiger and Lahm appeared one Japanese TV soccer program. All of three performed brilliantly in the World Cup as players of the Germany national team. The TV program was aired last night.

They are 21 -22 years old. They looked like naughty boys, especially Podolski and Schweinsteiger. Haha. I hope they show us wonderful plays in the future.

Talking with my friend after a long time

My friend lives in Australia with her Australian husband. She moved to there about 4 or 5 years ago.

She came back to Tokyo because her grandmother is sick and stays for a while. I called her and talk after a long time today. She has a cold due to difference in the temperature, (yes, it's winter in Australia now.) but she seemed to be good.

We talked about many kind of things, the World Cup, English, job and so on, for about 90 minutes! At last, we finished talking as running out of my cell phone's battery. Haha.

The nation that like war, America

The situation in Lebanon is getting worse and worse. Every country, European and Arab countries argue immediate cease-fire, expect for the U.S. that is pro-Israel. It seems that human life is very slight for the U.S. Many rich arms traders that include politicians must be making many profits.

Israel attacked a building in a village in South of Lebanon where many civilians evacuate to, and 54 civilians including 37 children were killed on 30th Jun. In spite of those Israel's shocking outrage, the U.S. president Bush avoided accusing against Israel in his statement.

I know well Bush is very foolish person. But I think Rice was very clever. Unfortunately she has become a person like Bush. I guess it is necessary for her to stay the present position and even make her rise.

As long as the nation that dominates the world is the U.S., there can be no peace on earth.

The end of the rainy season

Finally the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the end of the rainy season in Tokyo. It was very long rainy season this year.

And finally summer has come. There are many kind of festivals in summer, especially fireworks displays!! I love them! There has been a festival in my neighborhood last weekend. Hooray!

But I hate too muggy, too humid Japanese summer. Have a patient for about one and a half month.

The first encounter with bad taste curry

I went to a family restaurant and ordered beef curry today. But it tasted bad! I can't believe that CURRY is taste bad! It was for the first time to eat tasteless curry for me!

In Japan, EVERYONE likes curry. Japanese curry is much different from authentic Indian curry and Japanese curry is Japanese dish in a sense.

One of the Japanese children's most favorite foods is curry.
Typical dish cooked at camp is curry.
Dish kids cook for the first time is curry.

And anyone can cook curry deliciously.

So I was very very surprised that I ate that curry... It was like spicy beef stroganoff with much ketchup, I haven't eaten such a dish though.

Aflac Duck

I got an Aflac's mascot yesterday. If you put its tummy, the duck sings theme song of Aflac TV commercial.

Let's think carefully---. Money is important---.
Aflac, Aflac, Afla--c!

<-- It doesn't look like a duck?

Waste of time

Suddenly, I couldn't send mails from my PC address to my cell phone address today. There was no problem till yesterday though. I set my PC mail system to transfer its mails to my cell phone so I could read mails I received anywhere at any time. But no mail was sent to my cell phone today! Too bad and inconvenience!

I was trying to make many kind of investigations into the cause of it. And then I called a support center of cell phone. An operator indicated some operations but I have done all of them before calling. After that, I mailed support centers of both PC mail and cell phone. I struggled against this problem for about 4 hours without having a meal!

During I write this article, my cell phone is receiving many mails one after another. Wow! It was fixed!

Hmm... It was definitely due to server of cell phone mail. Boo... I wanted to go to bed early because of lack of sleep. BOO---!

My cell phone is keeping receiving trapped mails now.

The deterioration of a situation in Lebanon

Israel's attack against Shiite Muslim militant groups "Hizbollah" based in South Lebanon, is intensifying. Many unrelated civilians including children were killed. Terrible.

Finally, Israel bombed the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and 4 Ceasefire Monitoring Committee Personnel, an Austrian, a Canadian, a Chinese and a Finish, were killed.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan accused Israel of obvious intentional attack in his statement.

I can't mention deeply Arab-Israeli dispute because there are many immeasurable issues and deep history and it's hard for me to understand that.
But I can criticize the U.S. The reason that the U.S. always side with Israel sucks big time. As is well known, there are many many Jewish voters in the U.S. If anyone is against Israel's behavior, he (or she) can't be elected, can't be president.

My bad listening comprehension #4

Title of today's English dialogue I study was "Shipment". I heard a word "customs decoration form" in the dialogue. decoration??

Yes, right word is "Customs declaration form".

I'm seldom able to catch pronunciation of "la" in this case. Whew...

My bad listening comprehension #3
My bad listening comprehension #2
My bad listening comprehension #1

Doyo no Ushi day

It's the Doyo no Ushi day (the day of the ox in midsummer) today. I don't know the origin of it. It is Japanese traditional day and we eat broiled eel at the day. It is said that eel is good for prevention of summer weariness. It's the wisdom of the people of the past.

I ate it today of course. Eel is not reasonable food though...

<-- Today's my supper, broiled eel on rice.

My English conversation skill is still poor.

I talked with foreigners in English after a long interval. Hmm...

My English show no improvement at all!!

Magma spa

~~~ Today is the Marine day.

Bedrock spa is becoming popular in Japan now. But I heard "Magma spa" today. It seems that the magma spa's benefits are bit different from the bedrock spa's one. I didn't think I wanted to go the bedrock spa but I'm a bit interested in the magma spa. I checked it on the Internet. Hmm... It's not so expensive. But I don't like taking a sauna... I wonder it's similar to the sauna. I think I will try it sometime.

I need an iPod?

I listen English-learning CD every day on my OLD CD Walkman. I got it about 15 years ago. It is very durable, I don't see any person who has such an old equipment recently though. Haha. It doesn't matter for me because I use it only for listening the English-learning CD, it's a bit heavy though. But recently it has poor audio. Hmm... I wonder it's time I bought new equipment.

My cell phone is Vodafone, and SoftBank Corp. bought Vodafone in Japan. Where have I heard that SoftBank announced they would release the cell phone with iPod function in collaboration with Apple Inc? I'm not a heavy user of cell phone and I must use iPod only for learning English even if I buy it. So it's good for me to have one equipment that has both functions, cell phone and iPod, rather than having two separate equipment.

But there is no announcement of that on SoftBank and Vodafone websites, I checked their press release back numbers though. Did I dream??
My TOO big equipment

Blonde hair turns brown as kids get older?

I like babies and toddlers very much. I sometimes see blogs that parents put on their kid's photos. They are ve--ry cute!

There is a thing I wonder. Although both father and mother have dark brown hair, their kid's hair is blonde. Why? It is not uncommon? I don't know about it, because I was born and grew up in Japan so most people around me have black hair. (There are many people who color their hairs though.)

I wonder if blond hair is recessive heredity like blood type O. Or it turns brown sometime?

Oops! my futon is...

Although it's rainy season, it was sunny day (and terrible muggy day as ever) today. So I *aired out my futons and went to a neighborhood restaurant to have a breakfast.

I had a breakfast, read a newspaper and studyed English at the restaurant, then I went back my place. On my way home, it was getting cloudy, and it started sprinkling a little. Oh, I leave the futons putting out on the veranda. I thought I must have hurried back. And then, it began to rain shower. Shoot!

It was pelting down with thunder and lightning for about an hour. And then, it is sunny again now. The weather forecast didn't mention the showers. Boo...

-------------------------------------------
* airing out futons
Most Japanese air out their futons sometimes. People who don't do that are... for example dirty men who live alone...

Finding a new coffee shop

It's TOO muggy. I already can't wait for autumn.

I found a new coffee shop I had never seen the other day. It's "Seattle's Best Coffee". There are many (too many) coffee shops from other countries, such as Starbucks, Excelsior Caffe etc. But I saw it for the first time so I tried to enter the shop. Although it's coffee shop, there were some kinds of tea. I prefer tea to coffee so I liked it. But according to the website of the Seattle's Best Coffee, there are only 4 in Tokyo, there are 207 Starbucks though. What a pity.

Movie: The Da Vinci Code

I went to see the movie, The Da Vinci Code today.

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode

Hmm... It mostly stuck closely to the original, it means it scratched the surface of the story. The original is more complicated and deeper. For example, there are deep stories about Silas, but I think people who don't read the original think of him as a mere lunatic. But it can't be helped. It's difficult to condense such an original into about 2 hours.

Did you read the original and watch the movie? There was one thing that was MUCH different from the original. To be more exact, the thing was different from MY IMAGE.
When I read the original, I though Lt. Collet who was Captain Fache's subordinates was still young, late 20s or early 30s. But!! I was very very surprised because he was a middle-aged man in the movie. What!! He looked like even older than Captain Fache.

Is it Ron Howard's image?

My general comment on the 2006 World Cup

The World Cup has finished. I really enjoyed it, I often blame soccer though. I knew many foreign players I hadn't know, so I intend to take note of European soccer more than ever.
Most articles in this blog these days were about the World Cup. It is the last article about it, maybe. Thank you for entertaining me with nice playing.

I tried to choose MY AWARDs.

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Best Player Award _/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Klose (Ger_FW) and Lampard (Eng_MF)

Their positioning was very good and they were good passers. (Although Klose is a FW.) And they seldom overbalance even if opposition player hits them. Lampard couldn't play so well this World Cup, but it's enough for me to know his ability.

It's notable that they don't do soccer's typical bad things most players often do. Top players of top players are superior on not only playing but also mentality.



_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ New Face Award _/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Lahm (Ger_DF)

He is still young, 22 years old. And he is 170 cm tall, very small. (Actually He and I stand at even height. Haha. I'm tall as a Japanese woman.) But he ran and ran a---nd ran all around the pitch and made a lot contribution to the team that was the 3rd place.

When I saw his playing, I always wondered why his cheeks went red and its shapes were triangle.




_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Coach Award _/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Australia's coach Hiddink

He is really a good coach. At the 1998 France, his team Netherlands placed in the top 4. It's no wonder because Netherlands is on of soccer superpowers. But he placed in the top 4 again at the head of Korea at the 2002 World Cup! His ability as a coach was called "Hiddink's magic" at the time.
This time, I thought Australia was very good team. Unfortunately they were defeated by Italy but they played very well and I thought they would win the game against Italy. Italy won the cup. I think it represents how great Australia team.



_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Best Team Award _/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Germany

I was cheering for England and Ukraine, especially England. There were many talented players in England team.
But I choose Germany team for this award.
There are many young players, and both young and experienced players did well together. Prior evaluation of them wasn't good but they placed the 3rd. They were growing in the World Cup and became a good team.



_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Special Award _/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Japanese chief referee Kamikawa

Referees are also tournament system like games. Only good referees can be in charge of next game. Kamikawa refereed just one game at the last World Cup. This time, he refereed 3 games including the 3rd-place match with a Japanese assistant referee Hiroshima, result of Japanese soccer team was terrible though. We are proud of them. In fact, Kamikawa's judge was very good!
I didn't know referees also could get medals. They got bronze medals as with Germany.



_/_/_/_/_/_/ Nice-looking Award _/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Friedrich (Ger_DF)

My friend said she wasn't interested in the 2006 World Cup so much but she watch games. Especially she checked cool guys. Oh---! I forgot to do it because I was watching games with fascination. I might have missed out on any cool guys?






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for the Awards of MY CHOICE. By the way, real awards are followings.

Golden Ball Award ==> Zidane (Fra_MF)

Golden Shoe Award ==> Klose (Ger_FW) 5 goals

Best Young Player Award ==> Podolski (Ger_FW)
(Qualification is all players born on or after 1 January 1985.)

Les Bleus vs. Azzurri -- the World Cup final game

France vs. Italy. Italy won by a shoot-out.
Astonishing result. Zidane was sent off for an off-the-ball incident in which Materazzi was butted in the chest. The game was Zidane's last game as a professional though...

Person of the match I choose is Gattuso. If you see his gutsy playing, you can understand why his nickname is "Ringhio". It means a mad dog's growl. Haha. His contribution to the team in this World Cup was very great.
But surprisingly, he seems to be a funny and facetious guy. After the game, Italy's players were cavorting of course. But those of them were too funny! I thought it was "the merry Italian"! And the most humorous person was Gattuso. I liked his character.

It is becoming a hot topic what Materazzi said to Zidane. There is a lot of speculation. A media of Brazil that read it using lipreading said that he called Zidane's sister a whore. The Associated Press and Britain newspaper Guardian said that he called Zidane a terrorist. BBC said it was insult to Zidane's mother. A French TV station said it was insult to Zidane himself who is an Algerian immigrant child. I can't believe! Of course, Zidane's behavior was very bad but if it is true, shame of you, Materazzi. Many soccer players, especially Portugal and Italy, fight the game with "words", not playing. I often say I don't like both of teams because they often do typical bad things of soccer, dirty plays, simulations, complaining to judges too much... But I came so close to liking Italy team because they did very very well in the final game. But Materazzi made me lose this feeling. He is terrible as a player, no, as a human. But it seems that no Italian blames him and he is a hero in Italy. It's hard to believe. And most terrible thing is that such a behavior goes unmentioned in the soccer world.


Merrymaking Italian!

The Germanic spirit -- the World Cup the 3rd-place match

Germany vs. Portugal.

Germany is in a pinch! The Deutschen Fussball-Bundes announced that DF Mertesacker wouldn't show up for the game. He is injured and has left from the team for surgery. Oh... Moreover DF Friedrich also has an injured knee so his appearance is doubtful. Oh, 2 defenders...
And Klose is injured too. He said that he want to play but if he can't make a contribution to the team even if he plays there would be nothing he can do except give up.
Furthermore!! Germany's coach Klismann said that he makes Ballack absent. Oh, my goodness! I'm concerned about this situation... Germany team! Show us your Germanic spirit!

By the way, Japanese often use the word "the Germanic spirit" when talking about Germany. Do people in other countries often use it as well?

Klinsmann also announced that GK Kahn is in the starting lineup.

It's time that game started. I will come back to this article after the game. See you later.

------------------------------ after the game ------------------------------

The game was a clean sweep for Germany, 3 - 1. So Klinsmann could afford to send young players who hadn't play yet in this World Cup to the pitch from the second half.

Person of the match I choose is Schweinsteiger. He is still 21 years old. 9 players out of 23 in Germany team are 20 - 23 years old young players. Especially DFs. 4 players out of 9 are under 23. (Of which 3 are over 190cm in height. Very ta--ll!) This World Cup was very good experience for them.

By the way, a chief referee and one of assistant referees of this game were Japanese. I think the chief referee Kamikawa judged rightly. Cristiano Ronaldo often fell down in a very artificial way as ever, but the referee saw through his artifice and was never deceived. What a nice judge!

Congratulations on the 3rd place!

One article wrritten by one soccer journalist

I often wrote about bad side of soccer and some teams do those things very often. I found the article similar to my opinion. It was written by a British soccer journalist living in Japan. I extract passages from it. (I translate it so there must be many strange English in spite of the article in a newspaper. Sorry.)

===========================================
Show us "Beautiful Portugal" at the end

In the Portugal team, there are players who have brilliant talents, especially Cristiano Ronaldo. But there are also players who mirror the bad part of modern soccer, yes, one of them is Cristiano Ronaldo. When this young winger comes back to the Man U, he will be treated harshly by even fans of Man U. It is due to his role in Rooney's direct red. The revulsion against him is very strong and he was booed by even fans of France in the semifinal game.
His play is speedy and he is good at controlling the ball, but he can't quit playing foul. He falls down in a very artificial way and always aims for chance of FK, PK and cards against opposition players.
----- *snip* ----
If Portugal team concentrates on showing every good parts of soccer, it's fun to see their games. But they often do gamesmanship and spend a lot of time misleading a judge rather than playing. Especially they have a pronounced tendency to do that at being wining.
Figo also should serve as a model for young players in the world, instead of pretending to be injured or repeating complaining a judge. I guess I'm not only one who rejoiced at seeing that Figo's header went wide of the goal in the semifinal game.
----- *snip* ----
Portugal has one more game that is the 3rd-place match.
----- *snip* ----
Taking this opportunity, I think Portugal and Germany have a duty to entertain people in the world. I hear the word "the beautiful game" many times in the World Cup, but it is not so beautiful so far. There are few people who remembered which team won the 3rd-place match. The game is not expected for big things.
So I think both of teams have role to enjoy playing with smile and show fun like things soccer usually creates in the world. Or I wonder this hope is too high even in the 3rd-place match.
===========================================

Whew... It was too hard for me to translate it...

Oh, my favorite views are...

I live near the skyscraper in Shinjuku. I also grew up around here. So I like skyscraper views very much. When I come back from trip and see the view, I am relieved.

I can see the view at all around my neighborhood. Some of them that are my favorite are disappearing.





There are 2 highways around my place. There has been construction at one of them. Oh, no! New highway interrupts my favorite views of skyscraper! Shock! Boo------!!

The right photo was my most favorite view. The skyscraper visible from between 2 buildings. Especially night view was beautiful. But this view is mostly disappearing...

the Wimbledon tennis championships vs. the Soccer World Cup

The Wimbledon tennis championships is being held now. It is one of the biggest tennis tournaments, isn't it?

Hmm... Which game are British grooving to?

Tanabata day

Today, 7th July is "Tanabata" day. It is the day Altair and Vega meet at the Milky Way once a year. In our tradition, we (mainly kids) write our wishes on different colors of "tanzaku" and put it on bamboo leaves.

What wishes do you write?