The king Brazil went away. -- the World Cup quarter finals 4

Brazil vs. France. Likeliest Brazil left from the World Cup. It was said that this World Cup became Ronaldinho's one, but he couldn't perform brilliantly.

Person of the match I choose is Ribery. I know everyone thinks Zidane was best. Yes, playing of Zidane and Henry came to the fore. But Ribery ran and ran, and made a lot contribution.

Top 4 was decided. Germany, Italy, Portugal and France. The teams I cheered for, England and Ukraine have been eliminated...
So I hope Germany win the cup. I have a good feeling toward team of Germany. The final game is... Germany vs. France? Because I don't like teams of Italy and Portygal so much.

the draining duel again -- the World Cup quarter finals 3

The World Cup showed an exciting game again. The game was a cliff-hanger.

England vs. Portugal. Both of teams fought on to the end for 120 minutes and there were no goal, so penalty shootout again... and then England lost... I'm too shock for words. Even the penalty shootout was dramatic. England players were crying.

Person of the match I choose is... I can't think about it now because of despondentness.

Probably this game will be handed down as a historic game.

England leaves from the World Cup this time. That's really a shame, and a shock...
Bye bye England

England players stand with arms around shoulders during the penalty shootout
Beckham gave away as injury, Rooney was ejected for red card, so both of them aren't in the picture.

My six sense

My friend started to work for a university as an assistant professor in April. Generally members of laboratories put their pages on laboratories web site so I checked his site before but he hadn't put it yet.

The other day, somehow I checked it again. No special reason. Just casually. I found his page and told him it. He said he put it just 3 days ago. Oh! Feeling in my bones? Haha.

I often have such experiences. So I believe my six sense. For example, when people tell a lie, I sometimes know it's a lie. I don't know why and there are no grounds. But I know. I don't tell anyone though. When I was a university student, my friends, a guy and a girl went steady but they kept it secret. But I knew that. There was also no reason. Just I thought and I was sure.

My six sense was more sensitive when I was a kid. This ability is getting lower and lower as I get older. Come to think of it, I was far ahead of others in my studies when I was a kid. Just listening in classes, I got a perfect score on every test. Many friends went to cram school. But I didn't study even at home, I just listened classes. Even if every other student answered the question wrong on the test, I aced the test. When I think back, my parents should have done something to develop my ability. Haha.

And then, unfortunately I am a mere mediocrity now.

Ukraine lost the game. -- the World Cup quarter finals 2

The game Ukraine vs. Italy, Ukraine I cheered for lost the game. That's a shame but most people thought Italy would win.

Italian soccer is known for their solid defense called Catenaccio. Yes, their defense was really impregnable wall. They perfectly prevented Shevchenko from his playing as a world number one striker.

Person of the match I choose is Cannavaro of Italy. He is an excellent defender. He and goalkeeper Buffon are key persons of Catenaccio.

I want to say to Ukraine that they did well in spite of their first appearance in the World Cup.

After the draining duel -- the World Cup quarter finals 1

At the World Cup, the top 8 were decided and the first game of them started today.

The first game Germany vs. Argentina has finished just now. It was very good and exciting game. The game was sent to the extra time but it wasn't decided, and then Germany won by the penalty shootout. In this game, I cheered for Germany, but I felt very sorry for Argentina when the player who missed his penalty kick was crying. Both of teams played great and tough game. The penalty shootout is cruel way to decide a winner.

I like watching sports. But I always have heartache when I see losers.

Person of the match I choose is Lehmann of Germany. He made many great saves. I can understand that he took over the regular position of the goalkeeper from Kahn.

It's 3:20 am in Japan now. Midnight. But the game of Ukraine I cheer for will start soon, at 4:00 am. I can't sleep yet.

Where is their sportsmanship?

I'm watching the World Cup these days. But today, I mention bad things about soccer I always think.

I always think there is no sportsmanship in soccer. Players are doing not only too much dirty plays but also simulations. Simulations! Shame of you! Rugby and American football are rougher sports than soccer. But they don't do foul plays as much as soccer, and they hardly complain to judges. There are too much complains to judges in soccer games.
If I have a son, I want him to play sports except for soccer.

But it is a fact that I enjoy the World Cup very much. (^o^)
Go for it, England and Ukraine!

Microsoft Office 2007

When Microsoft upgrades their products, they sometimes make strange changes. Even if it is the function that is not changed at all, its place for setting or even its name was changed. Why? I've been a computer trainer and when I teach new release products of Microsoft I sometimes have troubles. Especially Windows Server and functions of networking. Application is no exception. It seems to be HOBBY of geek engineers of Microsoft?

Microsoft Office 2007 will be released half year later. I saw about it in a computer magazine. New functions are not surprising but its screen and operability are much different. Wow.

I'm thinking of buying new PC after the release of Office 2007 (and Windows Vista). My PC is dickey, it's more like "it's broken". I wonder if the PC will keep until then. I hope so...

The supplement to the magazine was CD-ROM of beta version of Office 2007. But I shouldn't install it because of my PC's erratic behavior?

Interesting insurance for the World Cup

I've heard that there were some strange insurance.

"The trauma insurance" in England.
One man insure against psychological trauma when England team exits from the 1st stage of the World Cup. Its insurance fee is 105 pound and benefit is million. If England exits, the insurance firm asks 5 experts whether England's exit is too early or not. And the man has to prove medically that he suffered trauma.
The insurance firm added Rooney's match absence due to his fracture to the exclusion clause.

"Taking a sicky insurance" in Holland.
If employees are absent from work because of pretended sickness to watch the World Cup, the insurance firm compensates against the companies. According to the news site, when the 2004 European Championship was held in Portugal, the tens of thousands Dutchmen took a sicky in Holland. I wonder how the insurance firm judges real or pretended illness.

Those are interesting insurance in football-orientated Europe.

Japan exited from the World Cup.

Japan couldn't win even one game. Many Japanese supporters were very shocked but I know it's Japanese team's real ability. In fact, Japanese team's playing gained a bad reputation from many medias abroad.

Japanese players looked very very shocked. Not because they lost games... I'm sure because contents of their games were terrible.

What they are missing are...
1. Scoring abilities
2. Strong mental power

About "1", one media said there were no forward in Japanese team. It's an accurate expression.

As for "2", Japan often gives away goals the end of the game or even in added time. They have a short attention span.

And Zico who is a coach of Japanese national team said that they lack professionalism. It's also an accurate expression.

Fighting against English vowels

I think Japanese is one of the most difficult languages, but its pronunciation isn't so difficult, I think.

There are only five vowels in Japanese. But English has 22 vowels! 22!!
It's very difficult for Japanese to distinguish and pronounce English vowels.

For example, followings are same pronunciation for Japanese.
luck - lack
stamp - stump
bird - bard

I'm training English pronunciation using the text book "Eigo mimi" (= English ear)
It shows tongue position etc... by pictures.

I'm training every day but it seems that there are many pronunciation using the back of the throat in English unlike Japanese so my throat hurts, sometimes I feel like throwing up. Is it right training?

Ice cream corn??

I had thought that "Ice cream cone" was "ice cream corn" for a long time. I knew the correct word today... Pronunciation between cone and corn is different. And yes, ice cream cone is conical in shape. But cone and corn are same pronunciation in Japanese. And I had thought that ice cream cone was made of corn.

I think there are some Japanese people who think so... I think...

Foreigner's age

I'm enjoying watching the World Cup these days.
When I watch international sports events such as the World Cup and Olympics, I'm sometimes surprised to hear age of foreign athletes. Even if I think they are veteran, actually they are 24 years old, 22 years old, even teenagers! Foreigners sometimes look old, I know Japanese (Asian) rather look younger though.

For example,
John Terry (England)
I thought he was older than Beckham... but he is 25...






Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
I also thought he was veteran. But when he got a goal, an announcer said "the young player Robben.....!" Young player? Yes, he was 22. I couldn't believe!





Djibril Cisse (France)
Unfortunately he isn't a member of the national team this time due to injury. I remember that he played at the 2002 World Cup and I thought he was a good player. I was very surprised to hear that he was 24. It means he was 20 at the last World Cup I remember?? Oh---!




I wonder how old Japanese players look for foreigners.

My bad listening again

Hmm... I found my bad listening again. This time is...

"---s to have"

I hear it one word "stahave". What is "stahave"? It's a sister shop of Starbucks? Haha.

It was going on bad season.

It's in the rainy season in Tokyo. Humid... very humid. I really HATE humidity. (So I don't like even taking a sauna.) After rainy season, humid summer will come. Oh---! Summer in Japan (except for some areas) is very humid. High temperature or rain doesn't matter for me, but humidity is terrible. So I like summer like in Hawaii, haha.

By the way, there is Teruteru-bozu in Japan and I thought there was that in foreign countries too. But I couldn't find English of Teruteru-bozu from dictionary. Why? Teruteru-bozu is only in Japan?
Japanese kids make teruteru-bozu and hang it up window when they want to have a sunny next day, for example there are a school athletic meet, a school picnic and so on next day.

England vs. Paraguay --- the 2006 World Cup ---

The game; England vs. Paraguay, was finished just now. England barely won. That was close. Was England really a favourite? Whew! Although most England players are top players in several famous club teams, especially MFs. Look England MFs! Formidable talented players.


(Lampard, J Cole, Gerrard, Beckham)


A goalkeeper of Paraguay was injured early in the game and changed to another goalkeeper. He was crying when he left the pitch. Very poor thing...
Many many players are striving to get regular positions. He finally has got No. 1 jersey and was on the pitch of the World Cup. But he played only 5 minutes. He must have felt frustrated and been sad very much.

I was playing sports when I was a student. Training was very very hard. So I know players feelings. I always tend to give an eye to players who missed the game or couldn't play because of injuries. When I see such a situation, I always ruminate about how hard they were practicing and so on.

I hope the goalkeeper will come back next game.

Origin of the word "Dutch treat"

I found a funny article in a newspaper.

There were postcards in a souvenir shop in Brussels. Its title was "the Perfect Europeans". Following phrases were in it.

- The good cook like a British
- The big name like a Luxembourger
- The humorist like a German
- The good mechanic like a Lusitanian
- The reliable person like a Belgian

Of course these are "sarcasms". Hmm... I see.

One more,

- The big spender like a Dutchman

Oh! So splitting the bill is said Dutch treat (account) or going Dutch?

The inauguration of the 2006th World Cup

Finally, the World Cup begins!

The team I cheer for best is Ukraine. The second is England. I cheered for England last time too. England is the country where soccer originated but they can't win the cup for a long time, they were not even favourite team. That is why I'm cheering England. But it seems that's not the case this time. It seems that England is one of favourite teams. Yeah. There are many talented players in England team this time, Gerrard, Lampard, Becham, Rooney...

As for Ukraine, player I know is only Shevchenko. I learn Ukraine team while watching their games. So please roll, Ukraine!

Before the inauguration, some players were injured. Cisse of France broke a bone. Poor things. He is a very good player and important to France.

Ballack of Germany was also injured and misses the first game. Germany, pinch!?

Oh! Polar bears I love are...

Like I wrote in this blog before, one of my favorite animals is polar bear. IUCN announced the Red List about one month ago. Oh! The polar bears were designated as an endangered species. Main cause is the global warning.

According to one new site,
They need lots of ice to hunt on and to raise their cubs. As more ice melts because of rising temperatures, they are finding it hard to survive.

Sad...

The movie "White Planet" will hit screens soon. I will go to see it of course. The director of the movie said that scenes in the movie would disappear in the future. Very sad...

http://www.whiteplanet.jp (Japanese site)

The game of Giants

I went to see the baseball game, Giants vs Swallows, with my friend in Golden week. (about 1 month ago) When I go to see the game, game was boring and Giants always couldn't win. But Giants won and it was a very exciting game this time. Wow!!

Giants maintained a lead in Central league and many people thought Giants was strong this year. But I was concerned as a fan. As suspected, Giants fell from the top after I went to see the game.

Giants was in the lead again a few days ago but my worries about Giants are endless.

Unfortunately, my camera has no zoom function. Players are very small...

If the world were a village of 100 people Part 4

I watched the TV program "If the world were a village of 100 people, Part 4" today.

It featured 3 children this time. One of them was a 9-year-old boy who was a street children in Ukraine. He escaped from his father's violence. He has HIV because of his father who is a drug addict.

He asked a Japanese reporter if she was hungry and eats food he had. He had food... probably it was not food for Japanese. And it was today's first food for him. But he considered her who probably has never have trouble eating. He also was worried about his younger sister who was in an orphanage. He said he hoped his sister didn't spend life like him and want her to go to school and spend normal life, he also wanted to go to school. I couldn't stop crying.

He is always running away from police. If he is taken into protective custody by police, he will be taken to the orphanage, and end up with going back to home where violent father is in. TV program staff tried to talk him into going hospital but he adamantly refused to do.

There are many street children who escaped from their family's violence. They have only 2 choices, being street children or living with violent family? Why country doesn't protect them?

There are many children who are under harsh situation. Many associations act for helping them. But I think the root of the whole problem is "country (government)". Each country must take appropriate policies to resolve this problem.

In Japan, there are no street children, no child labor, every child can go to school... although until about 60 years ago, many poor children couldn't go to school and did heavy work.
Why did Japan could make present good, and rare situations?

Japanese TV sometimes airs the program like this. And then? Is that all? For what purpose did they air those? Most Japanese who watched the program feel "poor thing!". That's all.
Japan (including me) should DO something.

Somebody! Help me with English!!

After I joined new company this month, I have already had meetings and conference call in English some times. Conference call with overseas people is too hard for me! I must improve my English IMMEDIATELY but it's impossible. Worst of all is that most people think I can speak English fluently.

My new boss who is a bad workman.

I'm very busy with my new work. Too busy is no problem for me. But my immediate boss is very dull and bad workman. That's too stressful for me.

Most people who are bad workmen are good at suck-up and dodging responsibility by excuse. My boss too.
His way of working is terrible. Even young girls do much better than him.

I think everyone have hopes about their job. Me too. In my hopes about job, there are two important points I can't compromise. One is whether I can do professional jobs as a professional person. The other is whether I can work with capable workers, at least I don't want to work under a dull and bad work boss.

It seems that those are unattainable hopes in the present company. According to the employment contract, at first I work as a contract employee for 6 months, then I will become a permanent employee. I intend to endure this situation stoically for 6 months. And I also intend to search another job during 6 months.

Too----- busy!!

I don't update my blog at all... Like I wrote in my previous blog, I started to work new company. And I get very very busy. I'm on a hectic schedule so I can't have even time to boot my private PC.

I will update my blog this weekend!

Engaging in the humanitarian assistance

I watched the movie "Beyond Borders" on TV although it was aired midnight, because I'm thinking about engaging in the humanitarian international relief operations. Like I wrote on this blog before, I want to do activities to help children go to school.

At the price of yourself, even your life, can you support others? I don't have confidence at all.
When I see children (people) who are under harsh and terrible conditions, tears always came into my eyes. That's not good. At least, I must be stronger to engage in the activities.

By the way, the filmmaker of "Beyond Borders" might have described the heroine Angelina Jolie performed as a brave woman. But on reflection, wasn't she just selfish? I felt bad for her husband. Haha.

The 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident

This April 26th marked the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl Accident. It was really horrible accident of course, but reaction of the former Soviet authorities after the accident was also horrible. Concealment of socialistic countries is terrifying.

I remember what one Chinese said. He worked in Japan. When someone asked him how was Japan, he answered that Japan valued people's lives. What?
He said that China didn't value human lives. Many years ago, one big accident (I didn't remember well. maybe earthquake? Mudslide? I think it was something like natural disaster.) was happened in China. Many countries offered the disaster assistance but China declined them. After several days later, at last Chinese authorities declared the number of dead from the accident. He said that if China accepted the offers, many lives were saved.

Those are a part of life in the socialistic countries?

Tibetan Buddhism culture series 1: about Kanjo

It has been more than one year since I began to be interested in Tibetan Buddhism. I went to the Tibetan Buddhism Promotion Association that name was Potala College to take a lecture class today. Potala College provides many kind of classes about Tibetan Buddhism and I took "Tibetan Buddhism culture series" class. Today's theme was "about Kanjo". Although this class is for beginners, it was a bit difficult for me. But it was VERY impressed! I can't explain this feeling.

I don't intend to be a believer of any religion. But teaching of Tibetan Buddhism is very interesting and there are some things I sympathize with.

But it is very profound. It is difficult to understand it soon. I try to know it little by little.

Next class is next month and its theme is "variety of tangka".

TOEIC exam result

I got my result of TOEIC exam.

Total score is 660. Listening section is 355, reading section is 305.

Oh! I reached my goal score that was 650! I can't believe. As I wrote on this blog, I did badly on the exam... I'm sure that my real English skill is lower than score 660. I need to study more and more.

I intend to take the exam in September again. Next my goal is 730.

My favorite characters

I watched "The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King" on TV. Actually I haven't watched Part 1 "The Fellowship of the Ring", and I have watched only half part of Part 2 "The Two Towers". So I couldn't understand some words, especially proper names, such as person's name, place name, tribe name... Even if someone talked about one tribe, I couldn't understand if it was ally or foe. Haha. But I enjoyed the movie.

Who is your favorite character in this movie? Probably Frodo, Aragorn, Legolas (Orlando Bloom is very popular in Japan) are popular characters. But I like Sam! He isn't handsome and cool, but he is very faithful and pure.

My favorite character in the "Star Wars" is Chewbacca. Don't you think he is also faithful and pure? I want Chewbacca as a pet!

By the way, in "The Lord of the Rings", at last peace has come. Isn't person who contribute most is Sam?

Bye bye, Calvin

It's April from today.

I changed back to Japanese newspaper. I was taking English newspaper for about 6 months to improve my English. But newspaper was one of the most important things for me and I liked reading newspaper, even insertion, which has many infromation, not only news but also other various things. I missed them so I changed back.

Today, I read Japanese newspaper after a long time.

In the English newspaper, there was my favorite cartoon. It's "Calvin and Hobbes". The main character is Calvin who is a kid. (Maybe about 7 years old?) He is insolent and often pesters his parents. His best friend is Hobbes that is a stuffed tiger, but in Calvin's imagination (maybe), Hobbes is a real tiger and they are always enjoying many things together.
I feel sorry that I can't read this cartoon from today.

Too bitter chocolate

I love chocolate very much. Especially bitter one. I don't accept too sweet chocolate, such as white chocolate, as a real chocolate. Haha.

Recently, chocolate that contains much cacao component is very popular in Japan. I found two new chocolates in a convenience store today. One was "Cacao 75%", the other was "Cacao 85%". Hmm... I don't know how much cacao was contained in chocolate I eat usually, but I like bitter chocolate so I bought "Cacao 85%" chocolate.

Too bitter!

I can't eat it because of too bitter. This is the first chocolate I can't eat.

I took the TOEIC exam for the first time.

I came home from taking the TOEIC exam. Hmm... My English is very poor, I knew that though.

I couldn't catch English well in listening section. In reading section, I didn't have enough time to answer every question because my reading speed wasn't fast as usual. My problems are same... It means that my English doesn't improve at all.

I will get the exam result one month later. Too late. Most certification exams are conducted on CBT so we can know our test result as soon as we finished exam. Why is TOEIC conducted on old way? I must wait the result about for a month.

Movie: Eight Below

Hollywood movie "Eight Below" is hitting screen in Japan now. It is remake of a Japanese movie that title is "Nankyoku Monogatari" (Antarctic Story).

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/8below

It was released no less than 23 years ago! I watched it and remember it well because the movie was a big hit. It was very impressive movie.

But I wonder why Hollywood remade it 23 years after its release.

8 dogs appear in the movie. But what does "Eight Below" mean? Word "below " is used for, such as "below average", "below 30 degrees C"..., isn't it?

Japan won the WBC.

Japan became the first champion of the World Baseball Classic! Congratulations!!

We were almost ready to give up advancing to the final 4. But Japan could barely do, and won the championship. I watched the games full of nervous excitement and really enjoyed them.

Favored teams, the U.S., Dominican Republic, Venezuela, that all members were Major Leaguers, couldn't advance to the final 4. Especially this WBC was coordinated all for America's wining, for example judges, paring of the tournament, location and so on. The U.S. couldn't even advance to the final 4 although everything was in its favor.

This time was the first WBC so there were many problems as the world game. I hole WBC would reach maturity as world championship. Next WBC will be held in 3 years.

The cherry blossom front

Cherry blossom will be in season soon. At this time of the year, the Meteorological Agency releases the flower forecast of cherry blossom. This year it seems to be earlier than usual.

In Tokyo, it is about 22nd March. So I wonder the weekend after next is best for Hanami (cherry blossom viewing).

This is map of the cherry blossom front. -->

Is it only Japan?

Movie: Hotel Rwanda

I went to see the movie "Hotel Rwanda". I was thinking about seeing it, it's not famous and popular in Japan though.

It was the story of the genocide in Rwanda.
I can't write my impressions of the movie here because the subject is too deep. Actually I can't understand my own feeling... sadness? anger? empty?

I want many people to see this movie.

http://www.hotelrwanda.com/main.html

Polar bear Peace

My favorite animals are "dolphin" and "polar bear". Most people are surprised when hearing that I like polar bear.

There is one polar bear whose name is Peace at Tobe zoo in Ehime prefecture. She is a hand-raised bear and it's very rare case.

Sometimes, TV program about her aired. I love watching it! She looked like a stuffed toy when she was child. Very cute!!

Moving Peace is much cuter. You can see some her videos in the following site. (It's a Japanese site.)

http://www.tobezoo.com/shiiku/peace/p_w/html/indexmain.html

She is 6 years old now.
Oh! Very big!

Health spa

I went to health spa with my friend today. At first, we took a bath leisurely. After that, we got a massage for about one hour. And then, we talked over drinking beer. What a wonderful day!
Yes, today was supposed to be relaxed day, but!

Before going to the health spa, I was in a coffee shop and studied English. And I received a phone 3 times. Every call was business call... I took a day off today though. I had to take some business calls even during I was in the health spa. And I ended up going work after the spa, although I said that I couldn't meet with our client because I wore jeans.

In spite of my day off, it was a hectic day today. But I enjoyed the health spa enough!

Open-air bath in the health spa I went to

Trying new method of learning English

I bought 2 books for studying English today. I'm thinking about trying new method of learning English after I take TOEIC exam on 26th this month.
Left book, "Dialogue 1800" is for increasing my vocabulary. Right book, "Eigo mimi (English ear)" is for improving my listening skill. I put emphasis on my 2 weak points.

By the way, I heard English wrong again. It was almost same mistake I made the other day.

I caught an English sentence a speaker said.

"A man is taking office hat."

What is the office hat? Correct answer is

"A man is taking off his hat."

Whew...

2006 is sports year!

Olympics have finished. And then, World Baseball Classic started yesterday.
http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006

There are many sports events this year. Olympics, WBC and Soccer World Cup. I like watching sports very much so I'm happy, especially I like baseball.

Japan whitewashed China, 18 - 2, yesterday. Japan will place in the top 4, but I wonder it's difficult for Japan to take the first place. There are many heavy odds, such as the U.S., Dominican Republic, Venezuela...

The result of Japan on the Olympics was terrible. Probably Japan can't advance to the final 16 in the Soccer World Cup. So I hope Japan get a good result in WBC.

I can't catch English sentence as usual.

On one of the questions of TOEIC mock exam, a speaker said,
"The man is cleaning off his glasses."

But I could hear
"The man is cleaning office grasses."

?? Office grass?? Is there grass in an office? Does someone sometimes clean it? Hahaha...... ha...ha... My listening skill is too bad as usual.

Spring will come soon?

March has begun. According to the calendar, it's spring... but it's still cold. It's also rain. I feel that spring is far.

But spring is approaching with every rainfall every year.

Right is a photo of ume (Japanese plum) my friend gave me.
Spring is just around the corner.

Arakawa won the gold medal!!

Japanese figure skater Shizuka Arakawa I was cheering best won the gold medal. I'm very happy!

There were two strong opponents, Russian Irina Slutskayta and American Sasha Cohen, both were from big figure-skating powers, but Arakawa defeated them.

Her skating was very beautiful and perfect. Of course she showed us her best performance "Ina Bauer" (the right photo). Ina Bauer isn't the performance that gets a score but she stuck to beauty.

I also enjoyed the exhibition by top skaters after the competition. They were skating being free tension because they had finished their competition, and I could watch their performance free from anxiety.

Hina-arare

When I came back from my business trip last Thursday night, I found that hina-arares were sold in a convenience store. Oh! Hina-arare.

3rd March is Doll's Festival Day in Japan and hina-arare is sweet food for it.

<== Hina-arare

I like it very much, but unfortunately it is sold just from mid of Feb to 3rd March. Now is only time I can eat it. So I'm eating it every day. Haha. But hina-arare is made of rice so it is high in calories. Don't eat too much. But it's hard to stop!

Lazy day, happy day

Like I wrote on this blog, I was very tired because of the long business trip.

I was in bed all day yesterday... Haha. I was very lazy as usual, but I LOVE sleeping so I spent happy time.

Come back from a business trip

Finally I came back to Tokyo last night. I was really tired. And I caught a cold. Too bad. I got more and more tired during the business trip and the air in hotel room was very dry, and I was full of stress because a manager and a leader of this project were very poor at business control and managing project. It was the situation that welcomes a cold.

This very bad project finished today and I will engage in a new project from next Monday.

I want to be relaxed this weekend but I have many things to do because I was out of Tokyo for a while...

Culture gap - Valentine's Day

I worked in Kyoto today and I came back to Osaka now.
Kyoto is one of most popular tourist spot in Japan. Many foreigners visit there.

But today, I went to Kyoto station and had a lunch at a fast food restaurant, and I rode a subway, then I arrived at the office. After job, I rode a subway again and I came back Osaka. So I didn't see anything in Kyoto. That's what business trip is all about. Haha...

By the way, today is Valentine's Day. In Japan, women give men chocolates for Valentine's Day. But it seems that it's the other way around in other countries. Men give women something. So my friend I met yesterday gave me chocolate. He is a foreigner. Hmm... I envy foreign women because I LOVE chocolate!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Meeting a friend after a long time at Osaka

I'm in Osaka now. Business trip again.
I meet my friend who lives this area last night after a long time. He lived in Tokyo but moved to here because he joined a company that was located here.

Probably I met him for the first time in a year. When he lived in Tokyo, he was a graduate student, and he got a Ph.D. then joined the present company. He looked more adult than ever. I wonder because he isn't a student now.

Today's my working place is Kyoto. I move to Kyoto from now.

TOEIC exam

This is a memorable my 100th contribution on this blog!

I applied for the TOEIC exam that will be held next month. I've tried to take mock exams twice but it's my first real TOEIC exam. TOEIC exam will be change from next time, so the exam I take is the last exam of the old version.

My goal of this year is 730 score. This time, target score is 650.

Olympics opening ceremony

Finally Torino Olympics has started. The opening ceremonies of the Olympics are always so moving. I always think I must see the opening ceremony live before I die. Tokyo intends to run for Olympic host again. I hope Tokyo can win the right to host.

It takes so----- much money to host the Olympics game, so there are only several countries that can host the Olympics game in the world. I realize that I'm very lucky to be born in one of those countries. There are many people who don't know even Olympics in the world. During we are enjoying the Olympics now, many people are suffering, such as in disaster areas, in battle fields, in the starving situation...

Snow runs after me?

I came back from a business trip last night. I'm very tired...

I left for Fukuoka last Sunday and it was fine weather in Fukuoka. But when I woke up next morning, it snowed! I was surprised! I think Fukuoka isn't a snow region.
I came back Tokyo Monday night. And next morning, there were much snow outside a window! What?

I left for Hiroshima on Wednesday and it snowed next day. Why???

I move to Takamatsu Thursday evening and I came back from there. It was very tough week. But I must go on a business trip next week again... I wonder snow follow me again.

Busy week

This week was very busy week because there was big trouble in project of my job. I was tired. So I couldn't have time for writing this blog. And I go to various places in Japan on business next week and the week after next. I must leave from Tokyo tomorrow. Very busy! I will go to Fukuoka (in Kyushu), Hiroshima, Takamatsu (in Shikoku), Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. If I have time, I will put some photos of those places on this blog.

During my business trip, the Torino Olympics will start!

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!

Living in Osaka? 2

I was offered officially from the company I had interviews the other day. Working place is... Osaka. Hmm... I must make preparations for moving early in the new year.

As I wrote on this blog the other day, I LOVE Tokyo and don't want to leave from here, and I dislike Osaka most. But there is Japanese old saying, "once you live in a place, it grows on you." I wonder I will like Osaka.

Christmas has finished.

Today is 26th. Christmas has finished completely, at least in Japan. All Christmas trees, Christmas lights and other Christmas decorations have been taken away. There isn't a trace of Christmas. It's a usual situation in Japan.

Maybe foreigners who are out of Japan are surprised to see that. I've heard that they don't take Christmas trees away till next month, for example till 6th Jan... it seems that it depends on countries.

Most Japanese aren't Christians. (There are a few Christians though.) And Japanese have no Christmas holiday. We enjoy Christmas as Just one joyful event, and after 25th, the event is finished. Most Japanese are working today and there hasn't been a trace of Christmas in Japan.

Except for selling unsold Christmas cakes at discount prices.

Living in Osaka?

One headhunting company introduced me a job opportunity and I had some interviews. At first, I had the interview with HR person on the phone. (I don't know why it was on the phone though.) Next, I had the interview on the phone with a director who is in Osaka. He is a foreigner so of course the interview was conducted in English. As I sometimes write on this blog, I'm really poor at English conversation on the phone and don't like it.

And today, I had two face-to-face interviews. One was with a manager, the other was with an another director. The manager is a Japanese but the director is a foreigner so I've been prepared for the English interview.
But! he spoke fluently Japanese, mostly native. Haha.

This job opportunity may be in Osaka. Hmm... Osaka... I was born and raised in Tokyo, and I LOVE Tokyo, so I don't want to leave from Tokyo. But on choice of job, place isn't top priority for me. But actually I don't like Osaka... better to say I hate. I bother myself about that.

Singlish

In past days, I have watched a TV program about English that was spoken in Singapore. It's very specific English so it is called "Singlish".

The program introduced some examples of Singlish. I was surprised! Those almost were not English! Especially grammar is different... hmm... different? Better to say very incorrect. For example, there was no verb in a sentence. Every word in the sentence was noun.
I have heard that many native English speakers have trouble on English conversation when they are transferred to Singapore.

My English is also incorrect. I often speak or write strange phrases, native speaker can understand them though. Sometimes Americans ask me, "Is it British English?" Haha, no, no. I wonder I call my English "Sandlish".

The program I mentioned first introduced that when someone ask Singaporeans, "can you ---?", they answer, "can, can". Oh, I liked it. It's cute!

Age limit on entering the Olympic

The GP final of figure skating that top 6 skaters of GP series participate was held. Three in the top 6 women are Japanese. Japanese figure skating is really strong.

Mao Asada (she is a Japanese.) won! That's great!! The second place is Irina Slutskaya who is a Russian, and she is the favorite for the Torino Olympic gold medal. So chance is fairly good that Mao Asada win gold in Torino. BUT!! She can't be selected a member of the Trino Olympic because of the age limit. She is still 15 years old.

President of the International Skating Union said no exceptions. And he also said that he hasn't receivied any petition from the Japan Skating Federation. WHY??
If it happens in other countries, most countries must petition strongly, certainly. Why Japanese don't say anything? The Japan Skating Federation said that rule was rule.

Yeah, it's typical Japanese behavior. Japan don't say its opinion strongly, although some other countries say their opinions very strongly even if it is wrong or contrary to reason.

It's one of the reasons that Japan is poor at diplomacy.

Long vacation

I watched one TV program about French vacation.

As you know, Japanese vacation is very short. We rarely can take a long vacation. American vacation is much longer than Japanese one. But even American is surprised at length of French vacation. One French said that she takes 5 weeks vacation. Over one month? Other French said that he takes 8 weeks vacation!!

If Japanese take such a long vacation, they must be consumed with worry about their job, companies don't allow them to take such a long vacation though.

Mr. Ogi passed away.

Ex-baseball manager, Mr. Ogi died.

Everyone says he was very good manager. It is very famous that he built Nomo and Ichiro into good players, and both of them have performed well in MLB. And his skills as a baseball manager were called "Ogi magic".

I was very surprised to hear that he was 70 years old. He really looked like younger.

May his soul rest in peace. And please keep watching Japanese baseball.

The Da Vinci Code

As you know, "The Da Vinci Code" is the best-seller in 2003. Though belated, I read it.

I borrowed it from the library. When I tried borrowing it, many people had already made a reservation for this book, surprisingly more than 100 people! I wondered I could have my turn. And finally my turn have come! I can't remember when I made a reservation.

It was very interesting story. I can understand that it became the best-seller worldwide. I read it at one sitting. (I usually read books in a oner. It seems that I'm not good at "little by little" on anything.) In this time, I read Vol. 1. And I'm waiting for my turn for Vol. 2.
I can't wait!

Alleged irregularities of World Cup final draw

Italian TV covered that there might be alleged irregularities on Germany's drawing. Is it worth covering this news? Basically I don't think the World Cup drawings were conducted fairly.

When the 2002 Word Cup was held in Japan and Korea, I've heard some things about the drawing before the final draw was conducted.
There has never been the World Cup that the host country couldn't advance to the final 16, and if the host country can't advance to the final 16, its World Cup would be flopped. So FIFA needed to make Japan or Korea advance to the final. In the result, Japan was in ve--ry easy group. Japan was the host country so of course Japan was dealt as a seeded team. But the group Japan joined was too easy. So Japan could advance to the final. These conducts weren't needed because Korea placed in the top 4. At that time, Korea was really strong, Italians are probably dissatisfied though.

And I also heard before the drawing that the U.S. never joins the Groups that games were hold in Japan.
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks happened one year before the World Cup. So games of the U.S. should have been hold in Korea that has the army. Japan has no army, it has Self-Defense Forces though. And that's really what's happened.

Anyway, there is no doubt that the strongest team wins the cup even if it joins any group.

The first snow in Tokyo

It's very cold!
According to news, it snowed last night in Tokyo. Where in Tokyo? I didn't know that. The first snow in Tokyo in this season came 22 days earlier than average year.

I usually don't wear gloves. But I bought a bicycle and it's hard to ride bicycle without gloves. TOO cold! So finally I bought gloves yesterday.

According to the Meteorological Agency, this cold will continue for about 1 week. Ugh... Actually, my room is very cold due to apartment's structure. Usually apartment is warmer than isolated house because an apartment room is covered by other rooms, on the left, right, top and bottom. The same can be said for hotels. But my room is...
My room is the 2nd floor of a 5-story apartment. My room is endmost so there is the next room only one side. There is no room on the opposite side. And there is no room over my room, because my apartment's shape is a staircase pattern. I don't explain well in English. Can you imagine? And! the high point is... under my room isn't a room, it's parking. Oh! It's cold!

World Cup final draw

The 2006 World Cup final draw was announced. Japan is in Group F, with Brazil, Croatia and Australia. I was surprised to hear that Croatia's ranking of FIFA is bellow Japan's one. I can't believe. (Japan is 15th place, Croatia is 20th place.) If I remember correctly, Croatia came out 3rd in the 1998 World Cup. At that time, Japan was in same group as Croatia.

But it seems that FIFA ranking is uncertain. Germany is 16th, below Japan. That can't be it. Advancing to the final is difficult for Japan.

By the way, Man U missed both the final tournament of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup. Oh... Battle in Europe is intense.

It's finally "Shiwasu".

Recently, there are many bummers. Hmm... I wonder I'm at the bad position in my fortune biorhythm now. I don't do my best and am lazy recently. Those are paramount cause, I think. God is seeing my recent behavior.

I bought cakes to encourage me. Haha. I just wanted to eat it. My favorite cake is chiboust. I plan to cook it myself.

By the way, I got a Christmas card from my friend who lives in Germany. Oh, it is that season already. I must prepare for some things.
[Writing nengajo]
Nengajo means New Year's cards. Usually Japanese send New Year's card instead of Christmas cards.
[O-soji]
It means BIG year-end cleaning. Japanese clean house on a massive scale at the end of year.
[Cooking osechi]
Osechi food is Japanese traditional New Year's food.

Every one is busy at the end of year. Japanese sometimes call December "shiwasu". Shiwasu means "even the master (or teacher) runs (because of busy).

BIG mistake!

I went to a foreign company and talked with a foreigner in English on business today. Today's my English conversation was not bad for me. Goody! It seems that speaking with confidence is good.

BUT!! I made a BIG mistake in the conversation. (It has nothing to do with English.) Oh my god! I was saying to myself it can't be helped but I was regretting it and sighed on my way home.

I just came home and I work out a strategy for recovering it from now. Hold on!

Please don't call me any more.

Like I wrote on this blog the other day, the movie that title is my name will hit screens soon.

When one foreigner spoke to me to solicit to the English school and asked me my name, he said that my name was most famous Japanese name now.
The English teacher who checked my English level yesterday also said the same thing.
Sigh...

And the movie publicity is airing here and there. It means my name is called repeatedly everywhere. I'm a bit fed up.

But I think I will watch the movie because I've heard it is very beautiful movie. And I found a paperback of the novel of the movie today. After watching the movie, I should try to read it to study English.

Checking my English level

I took the English level check at an English conversation school today and I just came home. The school is where I took the TOEIC mock exam last week.

My level was level 5. (From level 1 that is the lowest to level 8 that is the highest.) My lowest part was pronunciation. It was the low of level 5. One of my highest parts was grammar, which was level 6. Surprisingly listening was also level 6, although I always think it is my weakest. I think it isn't correct evaluation, because the assessor (English teacher) spoke English very slowly and clearly. Usually English speakers don't speak in that way. In fact, I couldn't understand what English teachers spoke when they spoke each other decorating the Christmas tree.

After the level check, a school staff introduced me the school's courses and materials. Of course it was the purpose of theirs. So I could take the TOEIC mock exam and the level check free of charge. Those were very expensive.

The solicitation of an English school

When I was walking in Ginza yesterday, one foreigner suddenly spoke to me in English. It was the solicitation of an English conversation school. We talked in English for a few minutes, I didn't intended to go to English school though.

He said that I seemed to have a foreign boyfriend. What? Why? What is the criterion of judgment?

Full-scale winter

It becomes very cold at a stretch from tomorrow. Bye-bye autumn I like. (It's winter already though.) It is sad that autumn finishes but I like winter better than summer. Most winter's days are fine in Tokyo. Not a cloud in the sky. So I can see the Sun every day. But fine day is very cold. The basis of Tokyo's winter is...
Fine day -----> Very cold
Occasional cloudy or rainy day -----> a bit warm

I hate summer in Tokyo. Temperature doesn't matter. VERY HUMID!! I hate humidity very much. (So I don't like sauna so much.) I love Tokyo so I don't want to leave here. But summer is...
I wish Tokyo's summer were like Hawaii's one.

To change the subject, I had a coffee with co-worker, Joe today because I had an errand to go near his office. He said that he went to New York on business and came back two weeks ago. I'm jealous. I want to go to Manhattan. And he stayed the $1,000-a-night hotel. Wow! I haven't stayed at such an expensive hotel, and I'm sure I never stay for years to come...
He said I might write about this on my blog. Yes! I wrote!

By the way, I wonder the title of this article "Full-scale winter" is correct English... It's strange??

The lecture about Denmark

I who am interested in Denmark went to hear the lecture about Denmark after taking TOEIC mock exam on Sunday.

Its title was "wisdom of living and design in Denmark". Speaker was Mrs. Takako Bundgaard. She is a Japanese and has lived in Denmark over 30 years after she married Danish.

Her talking was interesting. Unfortunately, she somewhat denied Japan when she conveyed Denmark's good points comparing with Japan. But I became more and more intrigued with Denmark!

I'd like to go to Denmark sometime. Before that, I want to know more about Denmark.

The result of the TOEIC mock exam

As I said yesterday, I went to take the TOEIC mock exam this morning.
Score was 590. When I tried the book of mock exam at my place, the score was 730. I'm sure that today's result appreciated my real English skill properly.

The exam was hard for me. In the listening section, I couldn't catch English a lot. In the reading section, there wasn't enough time so I couldn't answer the last four questions.

There is much challenge I face. I plan to take a real exam on March and the target score is 660. And I want to get over 730 in a year. But it seems that is my wishful thinking. According to a person of the English conversation school, you must study English over 200 hours to raise your score by 50 point.

I'll go to take the TOEIC mock exam.

The other day, I took a TOEIC mock exam. It was just I bought a mock exam book and took it at my place. But the exam I will take tomorrow is almost same as real TOEIC exam.

One English conversation school hold it under the same conditions as real exam. Probably the school holds it to get customers (students).

The score of my last mock exam I took at my place was 720. I wonder how many scores I will get tomorrow.

I will report the result tomorrow.

My name's movie

One Hollywood movie will come out across Japan and the U.S. next month. Its story is about a Japanese geisha girl. So of course it set in Japan. The movie's title is my first name! It's name of the geisha who is a heroine of the movie. (English title is different.) I wonder why this name was chosen.

English site => http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/memoirsofageisha/
Japanese site => http://www.movies.co.jp/sayuri/

Many Japanese actors and actresses appear in it. BUT an actress who plays HEROINE isn't a Japanese! Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang plays it. WHY??? I shake my head...

And everyone speak English in daily conversation. It's really strange. That can't be it. In another Hollywood movie "The Last Samurai", Japanese samurai also spoke English.
Story of movie "K-19" (leading actor was Harrison Ford) was about A-sub of Soviet. The story was played out almost in the A-sub. Of course crews were Russian in story... but it was Hollywood movie and actors were Hollywood stars. So everyone was speaking English in A-sub. I have heard that many people felt strange.

Walking around Tokyo station

It was ve--ry fine weather today!! It was warm (better to say hot?) It's "koharu-biyori". Koharu-biyori means..., literal translation is small spring weather day. It seems it's "Indian summer day" in English. Summer? But Indian summer is suitable for today's weather.

I went near Tokyo station on business. So I came by the hot new place "TOKIA". And then, I walked around Tokyo station because of fine weather. I like the Marunouchi exit side better than the Yaesu exit side. That area weaves old historic buildings with new intelligent fashionable buildings. And there are wonderful nature "Imperial gardens" nearby. Great!!

Tokyo station

My PC is in danger!!

My note PC is in pretty bad shape. Actually it hasn't been good since I bought it. Problem is its hard disk. It always hangs and doesn't shut down properly. And it is getting worse recently. It is in danger! I guess that it will stop moving soon! Before that I need new PC.

I was planning to buy a sheet-like piano for Christmas, but I must buy PC?

Denmark missed 2006 World Cup berth.

I'm interested in Denmark. There are some reasons. I omit to write the reasons today. I wondered if Denmark earned 2006 World Cup berth, so I checked web site. Hmm... What a pity! They missed it.

Denmark was in Group 2 and it was called "Group of Death". Greece that was the last Europe Champion was also in Group 2 and missed the berth.

The number of the berth for Europe is 13 except Germany. 51 countries competed for it. It's fierce competition! Compared with that, competition in Asia is so easy. If Japan is included in the Europe competition, Japan could never play in the World Cup. It's impossible! It is said that the number of berth for Asia is too many.

The Final Draw will take place on 9 Dec. I wonder which team I cheer for instead of Denmark.

Refreshing change

My English doesn't improve AT ALL. My learning way isn't appropriate? What is better way for me? Recently I'm thinking about those and I feel woolly. (Woolly... I'm not sure that this word means correctly what I want to say.)
I realized yesterday that speaking skill was worse rather than not improve. Terrible.

So I planed to change my English material for a refreshing change. I don't change the way to study, dictation, overlapping, shadowing. Just changing material. I hope I can emerge from chaos.

It was said that with making a line graph of language proficiency level, the line isn't rise averagely. The line is horizontal for a while and then rises up suddenly. And it's horizontal again for a while. That is repeated. It seems that the sudden sharp rising is called "breakthrough".

I wonder when my "breakthrough" comes?

Bird flu pandemic

U.S. president Bush said about the warning of bird flu pandemic. U.S seems to put much money into the measures against that.

There is concern about stocks of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) in Japan. In case new type flu appears by mutation in the bird flu, it is said that Tamiflu is useful for its treatment.

But!
Recently, it is reported that Tamiflu has side effects, for example abnormal behavior and hallucination. In fact, after taking Tamiflu, one high school boy ran to the driveway and got hit by a truck, and one junior high school boy died from jumping down from the 9th floor of building. Hmm... I hope flu pandemic won't happen.

But!
Some people perished by bird flu in China. And one boy has the bird flu, but China announced it ONE MONTH after his getting bird flu. I can't believe!
When SARS went around, China was criticized for its cover-ups by all over the world. China didn't learn anything from it! This isn't just Chinese problem!!!

The frontal lobe

Recently, many books about human brain are published and brain training is popular among Japanese. Especially, the prefrontal cortex in the frontal lobe. Main ways to train them are reading aloud and simple calculation.

I read some books that were written by Professor Kawashima who is a foremost researcher of brain imaging. According to him, the frontal lobe of animals isn't developed. To put it simply, it is responsible for humanlike behavior. And the frontal lobe is off work during sleeping. I understood!

In the dream, there are many unbelievable affairs, for example, I can fly in the sky, I talk with animals, etc... If those things happen in the real world, everyone are surprised and think it is strange. But in the dream, I am not surprised even if I fly in the sky. I always think why I'm not surprised and feel strange at all in the dream.

I understood now. It's because the frontal lobe is off work. Professor Kawashima said the dream is coherent if the frontal lobe works during sleeping. I see.

Princess Nori's wedding

It was Princess Nori's wedding today. Many TV channels featured it.

Her mother, Empress Michiko, married into the Imperial family from a civilian. At that time, it was very rare case so it was said that she had many cares. Princess Nori married into the civil family from Imperial family. I think it is harder. I wonder if her husband can support her well. He looks like a person who doesn't have what it takes.

Lazy Sand...

I neglected English study these few days. I'm really lazy person.

Reflection...

Tahitian Cafe?

I found new cafe near Shinjuku the end of last month. It's Tahitian Noni Cafe.

In the cafe, it was Hawaiian atmosphere. Hawaiian music and interior. Yes, I was wrong. Probably those are Tahitian music and interior but I don't know about Tahiti at all so I felt Hawaiian atmosphere. Winter is drawing closer in Tokyo, but it's summer in the cafe.

There are many cafes that are from overseas. But that is cafe I haven't heard of before. What kind of drink is Tahitian drink? And there were some foods. I ordered a chocolate drink. I could choose kind of chocolate. It's first time.

I will try to check more unique Tahitian foods and drinks next time.

Today is...

There was a bad thing. I am depressed. And I am disgusted with myself...

That is all today's blog. Sorry...

I will write proper blog again from tomorrow.

Giants should know better.

Giants is trying to get Mr. Noguchi who earns his free agency from Chunichi Dragons. I'm a Giants fan but I'm fed up with Giants which get anybody who earn their free agency. Anybody.

Giants has gotten many players who earned their free agency. They were certainly good players in their ex-teams but their peaks has already finished in spite of their high annual salary. Giants has had many fails about it. Many players, who came from other teams and Giants paid much money, didn't make their marks in Giants at all.

Giants should think of its team situation and strategies. Team doesn't need that many clouters. And Giants also should develop its own players without getting players from other teams.

Don't tell a lie to foreigners about Japan.

I was in a cafe tonight. Old Japanese man and young foreign woman were sitting next to me. They seemed to be language exchange partners. (But old Japanese man and young foreign woman... It's a bit rare combination...) The women asked him about Japanese and the man asked her English. They were speaking almost English so I eavesdropped on their conversation because I thought it was good for listening training. Hehe...

His English level was very low and his teaching ability wasn't good. But I think it's no problem. But his opinions that he thought her were very biased. For example, when she said she wanted to eat Yakitori, he said she should not have gone to Kabukicho in Shinjuku and Roppongi because of very dangerous. What??
In a sense, there are parts of danger in both place, and many country people think Kabukicho is dangerous. But I often go to Kabukicho to drink, watch a movie and so on, especially when I was a university student. And there are many nice restaurants, pubs and bars. His opinion (advice) that is she shouldn't go to those places is TOO biased.

Person who says biased opinions always doesn't know well about those. Probably he barely goes to Kabukicho and Roppongi.

The relation between music and learning language

One Japanese who is an expert of English said that many Japanese who can speak English very well like music, is good singers and have a good ear for music.

Hmm... It seems that music and rhythmic senses are important to learn English for Japanese. Japanese language has no intonation and stress accents so much. It's almost flat monotone. So I think Japanese are unused to speaking with strong stress and intonation. I've heard that it's good for Japanese to speak English as if they sing.

I advise foreigners who study Japanese that you speak Japanese as monotone as you can. So your Japanese is close to native speakers' one.

"Farm" and "Firm", "Travel" and "Trouble"

I often mishear English words.

I can't distinguish sounds between "farm" and "firm". Each pronunciation symbol is different. I heard both of words from CDs over and over but those sound all the same for me.

I also can't distinguish sounds between "travel" and "trouble".
When I heard the sentence "It used to cost a lot more to travel", I thought "trouble"? I couldn't catch "to" in front of "travel". So I heard "It used to cost a lot more trouble". ??? What did it mean?

I've heard that it's difficult for foreigners to distinguish sounds of following Japanese words.
kite (Come...)
kiite (Listen to...)
kitte (Cut...)
kiete (Disappear...)

Hmm... The only way is getting used to it?

TOEIC exam requires reading fast.

I bought one TOEIC mock exam and took it today. I've never take the TOEIC exam.

My score was 720. I think my English skill is lower than this score, I don't know well about TOEIC.
I always think my weakest English skill is listening and want to improve it. But I thought it was also important to READ FAST for TOEIC exam. There is no time for reading with caution.
I need to train my reading speed too.

Everyday I am reading English newspapers aloud as fast as I can. During taking TOEIC mock exam, I read it aloud unconsciously... I can't read aloud in the official exam site.

Holocaust Day

UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on designating Jan 27th as Holocaust Day.

The resolution underscores that it's the warning against the dangers of hatred, bigotry, discrimination, bias and so on for people. The resolution also declares to refuse to negate Holocaust as a historical event. According to the article, there's movement to negate Holocaust. Negating Holocaust? I didn't know. And I can't understand it! Why do some people negating it? What of Holocaust do they negate? I will check some books and the Internet about that.

I hope that A-bomb day also is designated worldwide. All people in the world should know horrors of A-bomb. But U.S. must reject it.

It was very hard to write today's article. I wrote many words I didn't know. I'm not sure that I chose appropriate words.

The lecture about learning English

I went to hear a lecture of Mr. Matsumoto about learning English and English conversation. He is a simultaneous translator.
Hmm... That was not good enough. Things I gained were not many.

I'm looking for the better way to learn English. He said English conversation programs on NHK were not good to learn English. I'm using one of them.

What are differences?

I found English sentences I didn't know. (There are many many sentences I don't know though.)

(1) "Do you happen to know ----- "
What is difference from "Do you know ----- "?

(2) "It's worth while to ----- "
What is difference from "It's worth to ----- "?

What are "happen to" and "while" for? Large difference or delicate difference?
Hmm... It's enough for speaking English to know only "Do you know" and "It's worth to", but I must master both phrases to listen to English.

If someone asks me "do you happen to know ----- ?", I would think "what's happened to me?" at first...

Halloween was finished. Halloween decorations disappeared from shops without trace and Christmas trees have been sold already instead of those. It's still 1st Nov.