Snowman

I watched a movie last night and I found difference between U.S. snowman and Japanese snowman.

We Japanese use two big snowballs when making a snowman.






But in the movie, the snowman consisted of three big snowballs.



Hmm... Three snowballs snowman doesn't sit well with me and I don't feel it's cute so much.

How are snowmen in other countries? I wonder there are one ball snowman or four balls snowman.

Much snow in Tokyo

It's snowing all day today. It's very rare in Tokyo. It seems that full-fledged snow in Tokyo is for the first time in five years, I don't remember the snow 5 years ago though.

Today was the University Testing Center Examination day. I feel sorry for entrance test takers. They had to go to the test sites in this snow.

By the way, from this year, listening test of English was added to the Center Exam. We Japanese learn English, for 3 years in junior high school and for 3 years in high school. (And more 2 years in university) But most Japanese can't speak English. So adding listening test in the Center Exam may be one of the attempts to change English education in Japan. I've heard mock exam a little in the news. Hmm... It seems to be very easy test. I wonder it isn't useful attempt...

Yoga class

I participated in the yoga class today. It is very cheap because Shibuya ward I live in holds it. So many people apply for it every time and chance for getting in it is very low. I have applied for it three times and I can get in it first time.

This class is held 5 times and today is the first. I'm doing yoga at my home by myself but I realized that it's much better to be taught from a teacher (Yoga master) than doing myself.

Although my body is very stiff as usual.

It's like a ski area.

It was fine weather but very windy today. So it's very cold. It's really cold as if I'm in the ski area. It's reminded me standing in line for ski lift. Most ski areas in Japan are very small and many people come to there, so we must stand in line for ski lift for a long time in the cold.

It's not only Japan to be very cold. According to the news, Moscow is hit by a record cold. -30 degrees C. -30!? I can't imagine!

There are many street children in Russia. It's harsh season for them...

Not to go to Osaka

Finally, I decided not to go to Osaka. I turned down the job offer.

Actually, this offer was very good, salary proposal was much high, the position was good, and the company would pay most my house rent so I would be able to live a house much better than one I'm living now. Yes, it was very good offer... except for living in Osaka.
I was thinking about various things, not only living place, and I decided not to accept it.

Anyway, I continue to live in Tokyo. If I accept that offer, my life would change SO MUCH. It would be the biggest change in my life. But I'm here now. Nothing special.

I will go to business trips next month. My co-worker and I, two persons must go round all over Japan for a month. One will go to the North area and the other will go to the South area. Hmm... It's winter now and this winter is ve--ry cold. So it seems that going to the South area is better. Hmm... But the North area isn't so bad because Sapporo is included. Date of going to Sapporo is during the Sapporo Snow festival that is very famous. I've never seen it. It's a good chance to see it.

I wonder which area I go to. I should be able to know that next week.

National character

I've heard one interesting story about national character before.

Everyone knows about the story of the Titanic. When the Titanic was sinking, women and children were given priority for taking to the boats. So the crews must have made men stay on the ship. There were British men, American men, German men and Japanese men. What did crews say to them to do so?

To British,
"You could be a gentleman if you stay on the ship."

To American,
"You could be a hero if you stay on the ship."

I knew two of the above. And...

To German,
"It's a rule."

Oh, I see. And?

To Japanese,
"Everybody does that."

Haha... exactly.

Cold, cold, cold---!!

It's very cold this winter. Ve--ry cold.

Winter gets warmer year by year due to global warming. Recent winter was not cold so much compared with winter when I was a child. BUT! this winter is very cold. According to the Meteorological Agency, December's average temperature of this winter was the lowest in the postwar period. There were many accidents in areas along the Sea of Japan due to heavy snow. The Sea of Japan side is area of heavy snowfall so those areas and people are used to heavy snow, but it's terrible in this winter.

It seems that this extreme weather is also due to global warming...

It seldom snows in Tokyo. But it's cold!

The first fine day of this year

Usually, winter in Tokyo is almost fine day. But unfortunately New Year's day was cloudy and it was rain on 2nd.

And today is the first fine day of this year!

This photo is the view from window of my place. The skyscrapers in Shinjuku I like, the temple next to my place and clear blue sky. It's my favorite view. Unfortunately, there is hindrance... And I can't see this view in summer because central tree leafs and cuts off the view.

I enjoy seeing this view every morning this time of the year.

New Year's visit to a shrine

I went to a shrine and came back just now. Many Japanese visit a shrine or temple at the beginning of the new year. Japanese call it "hatsu moude". I visited the Yasukuni Shrine this year.

I always go hatsu moude on 1st Jan. (It's normal.) But this year, I went today, 2nd. After eating Osechi foods (Japanese new year dishes) on 1st, I felt asleep very much. So I took a nap, long nap. Haha. So I couldn't go hatsu moude. From at the beginning of the New Year, I was lazy...

After visiting the shrine, I went to a department store for shopping. The department store was ve--ry crowded because of New Year sale. I don't know why but there were many Chinese or Korean. Why? I wonder it's not unusual that they come to Japan for New Year sale??

a Happy New Year!

2006 has started. I want this year to be a good year.

~~~ My keywords of this year ~~~

Trust
Taking faithful action

Preparation
I always should be well prepared. I tended to neglect preparation.

Do My Best
I do my best to do above things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope the new year will bring you good luck and happiness!