Like doughnuts

I wrote about the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts landed to Japan December and always long line.
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2007/01/krispy-kreme-landing-to-japan.html

I happened to pass the shop this morning, about 7:10am. In spite of early morning 7:10am!! there had been a long line already. I can't believe! The shop sells such special doughnuts? Or Japanese are strange? I heard the Krispy Kreme has their secret special seasoning. But it's just Doughnuts, isn't it?

"My friend" vs. "a friend of mine"

I can't understand a difference between "my friend" and "a friend of mine" for a long time.
One textbook describes the difference as follows.

a friend of mine ==> refer to one of friends vaguely
my friend ==> refer to a specific friend

What? I can't understand.

I always use "my friend", I guess because it's simple and easy. But most native speakers (Americans) say "a friend of mine."
Should I use "a friend of mine"?

Woolly

I'm falling into a glooming mood these days.
I feel woolly.
There are many sighs.
And my life become irregular hours and lazy.
It's the worst situation.

I have to find a cue to get out of this situation.

What a job offer expresses

For example, you got a job offer after having interviews with a company. They have asked your current salary and desired figure, but the offer is lower than those. And although the position was manager, the offer is assistant manager position. What do you think?

I always think details of offers express 2 things.
- How they value my skills and experience.
- How they want me join to their company.

From those points of view, the company I mentioned above doesn't want you so much and their evaluation of you is low. At least I think it is not happy situation to work for such a company, even if I'm interested in the position very much.

What would you do if you are very interested in the position and an offer is like above?

Expanding my repertoire of cooking #3

"Nikujaga" is one of the most popular and famous Japanese home-style dishes. It's boiled beef and potato.

The other day, one TV program introduced a dish of Nikujaga arranged for Western style. Nikujaga boiled in tomato soup.

I got the recipe from the internet and tried to cook it. Hmm... I think something is missing. I wonder what it is. OK, I will add mirin next time.

*mirin
It is one of Japanese seasonings. According to a dictionary, it is sweet cooking rice wine.

My new cooking of past;
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2007/01/expanding-my-repertoire-of-cooking-2.html

"Tuesdays with Morrie"

I often hear that "extensive reading" is good for learning English. So I have started to read English book. My first English book is "Tuesday with Morrie". Many people and learning books recommend this book for English learner.

I haven't finished reading but I'm impressed! It's a very good book. Although I can't understand 100% because of English, I am sometimes nearly moved to tears. I will read the Japanese version!!

Childish conversation

I talked about my job with CEO today, of curse in English. His speaking is very fast (for me) so I couldn't understand well what he said. I often asked him to repeat questions, and I'm not sure that my answers matched his questions. Terrible. Our conversation looked like one between an adult and a child. It's difficult to speak in English about job... I'm depressed.

Grounded British containership

A British containership went aground and many cargoes drifted down to seashore in Britain on 18th. I saw on TV news that many people came to the seashore and carried away those cargoes, such as expensive bikes, video cameras, wine cask and so on. What?? I can't believe! Stealing!! Japanese news say about it "depredation ", and call that seashore "predation seashore".

After that, I heard that carrying away waif is allowed in Britain if they apply for it in 28 days. I see.

Expanding my repertoire of cooking #2

Today's new cooking is "Jibuni". I'm sorry but I can't translate it to English. It is a local dish of Kanazawa in Ishilawa prefecture. It is a duck dish but I used chicken instead of duck.

Taste was so-so. I think it's typical Japanese favorite kind of taste. Actually I don't like Japanese foods so much (except for Sashimi!). So when I dine out, I always eat western dishes (or sushi!). But I'm trying to cook Japanese dishes at home as much as possible because those are healthy.

By the way, it was a climate in the middle or the end of March this weekend. It was very nice whether. But I was almost in the bed and thing I did this weekend was just cooking Jibuni. Whew... I am lazy as usual. I really love to sleep.

My new cooking of past;
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2007/01/expanding-my-repertoire-of-cooking-1.html

Learning a new word "direct report"

I always used "subordinate" to express people under their boss. For example, when I have to explain my work experience and mention one of them, I say "I was a manager of training department and had over 30 subordinates."

But today, I learned "direct report". I heard it for the first time. I wonder which is often used. And I wonder I can say "I had over 30 direct reports".

By the way, a document of work experience is "resume", isn't it? But I have heard that people use "CV" a few times. According to a dictionary, "resume" derives from French and "CV" derives from Latin. I wonder native speakers often use both words. Or it depends on their country?

Expanding my repertoire of cooking #1

I intend to expand my repertoire of cooking this year. I have tried to cook some new dishes. And I also I tried new recipe "soup with wings and cabbage". It was excellent!! It was very tasty. I didn't add any special seasonings, but just salt, pepper and sake instead of white wine. But wings gave delicious soup stock. It's easy to cook.

Today's new recipe was "boiled soybeans with orange". Before cooking, I wondered combination of soybeans and orange was a bit strange. Its taste is... hmm... it's the first taste for me. Haha.

By the way, it is difficult to express name of cooking in English.

On the train?

In the script I studied the other day, there was the following sentence.

"I can't believe how much Japanese people read! On the train, in convenience stores, in coffee shops, everywhere."

"On the train"
"In convenience stores"
"In coffee shops"

Only "train" is different from others. There is "the" and singular. Why don't you say "in trains", like others?

Very strange thing for me is "on" the train. My image from this word is we are on the roof of the train. We are inside the train, aren't we? Why isn't it "in the train", but "on the train"? I can somehow understand "on the plane" though.

My iamage of "on the train"

Small breakthrough?

I hadn't had English conversation for a while except for my learning. And I talked with English native speakers in English yesterday and today, it's the first time after a long time.

I know I should have English conversation as much as possible so I tried to have a language exchange partner before, but I found that it was SO hard to find a good language partner that I stopped to look for anyone. But I realized again that it's very important for improving my English. But I have little chance to speak English except at work.

Recently, it seems that my listening skill has improved a little increased. I hear English a bit clearer than ever. I had never feel such a thing. I always hear that language skills don't improve step by step. The skills don't improve at all for a while, and then suddenly it improves, for example one day you burst into understanding what people say. It's the breakthrough.

So I was waiting for my breakthrough, for a long time. Hmm... It's now? But isn't it too small for the breakthrough? Anyway, I think it's a good time to improve my English more and more!

What you can't say is what you can't hear.

In the script I was study today, there were 3 sentences I couldn't say.

- They've already had to hold it over for a second run.
- But I have heard tombs in Egypt were so airtight that...
- I wish they would have left them untouched.

I can say by alone but I can't say with a speaker in CD. I found one common thing among these sentensces. There are 2 things that 2 words run on. (I'm sorry, I can't explain that in English well.)
"had-to" and "hold-it". "tombs-in" and "Egypt-were". "would-have" and "left-them".
I tried to say those repeatedly but I couldn't.

And, yes, when the speaker says these sentences, I can't understand what she says. English learning experts often say that you can't hear sentences you can't say.

-------------------------------------------------
By the way, I ran spell check on this article. And "I wish they would have left them untouched." was corrected to "they had left...", it's from my English text though. Hmm... Which is correct sentence?

Beckham is moving.

I've heard surprising news yesterday. England soccer player David Beckham will move team from Real Madrid in Spain to Los Angeles Galaxy in the US.

Media is dealing largely with it and his transfer fee is also large!

I'm not surprised that he will leave from Real and move to other team, but why moving to America where soccer isn't popular and prospering in? Beckham is very famous top player, but there are many people who don't know him and it seems that his wife who is ex-Spice Girls is more famous in the US.

Why did you choose America, Beckham?

I'm really lazy.

One of my New Year's resolutions is "Leave my laziness behind me". BUT I have broken it already... Phew... I'm really dumb.

I wonder there is no cure for such a person.

I will try to best not to write the same thing again.

The word "Jinx"

Japanese use the word "jinx" even in Japanese. But I found there are a bit difference between Japanese and English. In Japanese language, "jinx" has both good and bad meanings. But I was surprised it seems to be used for just a bad thing in English. According to an English dictionary, it means bad luck, or a person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck.

I also checked a Japanese dictionary. According to that, originally it was also bad meaning in Japanese. But now, it is used for good luck too. Language is changing.

"Stay at" and "stay in"

I found 2 idioms of "stay" in a script I was studying the other day.

1) The hotel we are going stay in is the Hotel Ritz.
2) We stay at the Hotel Ritz whenever we can.

Hmm... What is different between "stay in" and "stay at"? Same meaning? I use "stay at". I don't use "stay in". but is there any difference?

Preposition is very difficult.

New Year's resolution

I saw the word "New Year's resolution" for the first time in other's blog the other day. I wondered what it meant. After that, I often found it in other's blogs. And then I heard it in the TV news. Meaning of "resolution" I know is... sort of "solution", "closure of problem", or "fixing up". What do they solve at New Year?

I checked a dictionary. I see. It has meaning like "decision" or "determination".

I broke my last New Year's resolutions. So it continues this year. And I add one more New Year's resolution. "Out of the Laziness" ==> "Leave my laziness behind me"

I will give it my best shot so that I can say "it was fulfilling year" at the end of this year.

Mochi (rice cake) is do-or-die food?

Usually Japanese eat mochi (rice cake) during the New Year's days. There are many kinds of ways to eat mochi, such as zoni, kinako-mochi and isobe-yaki.

At this time of the year, some elderly people have died from sticking mochi sticking in to their throat. According to yesterday's news, 7 people have died this year. The authorities are urging that elderly people and kids eat cut mochi cutting up into small pieces before eating.

I don't think mochi is food something that is can easily get stuck in the your throat. I wonder But, maybe I will realize it when I get older.

----------------------------------------
Thank you, Karekora!

Krispy Kreme, Landing to Japan

The first Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Japan opened 15th December in Shinjuku. Shinjuku is my neighborhood. But I haven't eaten its doughnut yet, because...

Look! There is a ve---ry long line! Everyday.

I don't want to stand such a long line to eat just doughnuts. What is different from Mr. Donuts's doughnuts?

OK, when its boom is over, I will go to eat.

Happy New Year 2007

Happy New Year!!

Today was my usual New Year's Day.
I ate zoni and osechi I cooked and drunk Japanese sake. (I chose the sake that includes gold leaf this year.) Osechi is traditional Japanese food and we eat it during New Year's days. Zoni is rice cakes boiled in vegetable soup. It is also traditional food and we eat it 1st January.

And then, I visited a shrine. I went to Shiba shrine this year. It is not famous so much, so it was not busy.

I hope the year will be happy one for all people in the world.

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.