１１月３０日（jyuichi gatsu sanjyu nichi）： November 30

There was a thick fog this morning. We call thick fog "noumu (濃霧)". Later it became fine and I could see the beautiful snow-capped mountain range of Japan Alps.
Nagano (長野) is famous for soba (蕎麦) noodle, so I ate it for lunch.
I came back to Shinjuku (新宿) by bus. It took about 4 hours and a half. On the bus I tried Wi-fi for the first time.
Last day of November. How fast time flies! There is only one month left.

１１月２９日（jyuichi gatsu nijyuku nichi）： November 29

It was cold but rather warm compared to average year. I have been very busy for meetings today. I went to 7 places and met many people.

Now I am staying at a Japanese style hotel with hot spring, we call this onsen ryokan (温泉旅館) in Japanese. Japanese people love to take hot spring to relax or to cure health problems. It is open until 8 in the morning. So I am going to take the hot spring bath now.

１１月２８日（jyuichi gatsu nijyuhachi nichi）： November

I am now in Iida, Nagano (長野県飯田市). I came here by highway express bus. It took about 4 hours and 15 minutes from Shinjuku (新宿). If I came here by train, it would take about 6 hours or so and cost more.
When I went out for dinner, it was nearly 8 PM, and the most stores around the station were already closed. I walked around and entered the Japanese style bar near the hotel. I ordered the local foods and drink. They are uma otaguri (馬おたぐり), dish of horse's intestines, and basashi (馬刺し), raw horse, and kikusui (喜久水), Japanese sake. All were good.

１１月２７日（jyuichi gatsu nijyushichi nichi）： November 27

Today was senshuraku (千秋楽), the last day of the grand sumo tournament of this year. Yokozuna Hakuho (横綱白鵬) became a champion. This is the 21st time for him to be a champion. He was about to make a complete victory but unfortunately he lost the match today. His 26th birthday was March 11, 2011 when the Great East Japan Earthquake happened.
There was another big news in Osaka (大阪). Osaka is the second largest city in Japan. There were 2 elections. One for Osaka City Mayor, the other for Osaka Prefecture Governor. It's been 40 years since the double elections happened in Osaka before. The Ex-Osaka Governor Mr. Toru Hashimoto (橋本徹) became the Osaka City Mayor.

１１月２６日（jyuichi gatsu nijyuroku nichi）： November 26

It is a season for preparing the new year.
I have ordered the new year's post cards (年賀はがき: nenga hagaki) to be delivered at the post office and they were delivered today as I asked. Until last year there was a chance of getting a present for 50 postcards each, but this year it seems there is nothing like that.
I like to receive Christmas cards and New Year's cards to know how people close to me lead their lives. E-greetings are nice too, but I like to receive the hand-written mailed one best, though I cannot prepare many of them.

Today I was surprised to see the new year's decoration rice cakes (鏡餅：kagami mochi) at the supermarket. New year's cards are reasonable at this time, but foods seem a little bit early. Don't you think so?

１１月２５日（jyuichi gatsu nijyugo nichi）： November 25

It is getting cold, but very beautiful. Not only in the morning, but also in the night sky. Air is clear and clean, and we can see beautiful stars.
It is November 25. In one month Christmas comes. How fast!
In the US it is the day of shopping. They say it is called Black Friday. When I was in the US, I was surprised to know the stores open at 4 or 5 in the morning of the next day of Thanksgiving. But I hear it opened at midnight today.
Did you buy anything?

１１月２４日（jyuichi gatsu nijyuyokka）： November 24

It was cold but a beautiful day.

The Year-end Jumbo Lottery (nenmatsu janbo takarakuji:年末ジャンボ宝くじ) was sold today. The first prize is yen 300,000,000. They say about 1000 people waited at the Ginza booth where is the good luck spot before 8:30 AM.
What would you like to do if you have such money?

１１月２３日（jyuichi gatsu nijyusan nichi）： November 23

It is a national holiday called kinro kansha no hi (勤労感謝の日), Labor Thanksgiving Day today.

It is shosetsu (小雪), one of nijyushisekki (二十四節季). Last one was ritto (立冬) on November 8 and the next one is taisetsu (大雪) on December 7. Shosetsu (小雪) literally means small snow and taisetu (大雪)literally means big snow.

１１月２２日（jyuichi gatsu nijyuni nichi）： November 22

An astronaut, Mr. Satoshi Furukawa (古川聡) came back to the earth from ISS today. He has stayed in the space for 167 days which is the longest for a Japanese astronaut. Welcome back to the earth!
At the interview he was asked what he wanted to do first, and he answered that he wanted to take a Japanese style bath with hot water in a bath tub. I understand the feeling well. Whenever I go abroad for a long time, the first thing I want to do in Japan is to take a Japanese style bath.

１１月２１日（jyuichi gatsu nijyuichi nichi）： November 21

I thought it would be warm but it was cool today.

This week there is a national holiday called kinro kansha no hi (勤労感謝の日), Labor Thanksgiving Day on Wednesday.
In the USA this Thursday is Thanksgiving, Turkey Day. They have a long weekend.
We do not have a special dish on our Labor Thanksgiving Day, but a holiday in the week is nice for workers.
How will you spend this weekend?

１１月２０日（jyuichi gatsu hatsuka）： November 20

It was cloudy in the morning, but became fine later. It was rather warm, very rare for November.
There was women's Yokohama International Marathon race and Ms. Yoshiko Kisaki (木崎良子) won at 2.26.32. They say if it was cooler, the record was much faster.
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks became the 5th champion after 8 years for the Nippon Series 2011.
Congratulations!

１１月１９日（jyuichi gatsu jyuku nichi）： November 19

It has been raining. It was rather warm but very windy. Strange weather in winter.

Today I got a call from my tea master about the first tea ceremony (hatsugama:初釜) next year. I feel how fast time flies.

１１月１８日（jyuichi gatsu jyuhachi nichi）： November 18

It was slightly raining and cold in the morning. But it was not raining in Tokyo.
In the night it was not so cold. They say it will be warm tomorrow.
It seemed last night was the peak to see the meteor shower of the Lion. Have you seen them?

１１月１７日（jyuichi gatsu jyushichi nichi）： November 17

What kind of beverage do you like to drink? Tea, coffee ,cocoa?
How about alcoholic liquors? Cocktail, beer, wine, or sake?
The third Thursday of November is known as the day for Beaujolais nouveau. I am not a big drinker of wine, but they say this year's wine equals to that of 2009.

１１月１６日（jyuichigatsu jyuroku nichi）： November 16

It was very cold in the morning. Winter is coming.

I went out for lunch with colleagues. It's been a long time since I went to that restaurant. Their lunch menu is very reasonable with a variety of dishes.

On my way back from office I happened to be with a colleague whom I have not talked much before. To our surprise we found we have a mutual friend. What a small world it is!

１１月１５日（jyuichi gatsu jyugo nichi）： November 15

I took a day off to go to hospital for myself in the morning, and to take Father to the hospital in the afternoon.
I have had a neck, shoulder, and back pain, but after all the doctor did not treat at all.

November 15 is known as shichi go san (七五三). It is a day to celebrate 7 years old girl, 5 years old boy, and 3 years old girl to wish their healthy growth.

１１月１４日（jyuichi gatsu jyuyokka）： November 14

It was fine in the morning but rained in the evening.

I left my purse behind at home and did not notice until I went shopping and was going to pay. I have never experienced such a thing. Usually I have some money and credit cards in my other wallet or card holder. But I could not find any money and they did not accept credit cards therefore I gave up buying my lunch there.
At lunch time my colleague invited me to lunch. I said I left my purse at home and to my surprise she also left hers behind at home. What a coincidence!
I paid with my PASMO which is a commuter ticket with some deposit money. This is the first time for me to use PASMO besides buying tickets or using coin lockers. How convenient!

１１月１３日（jyuichi gatsu jyusan nichi）： November 13

It was very warm today.
Since it was very cold two days ago, I prepared kotatsu (炬燵), a low table with heater used with blanket and futon (布団).
I watched the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2011/2012, NHK Trophy on TV. Mr. Daisuke Takahashi (高橋大輔) became a champion, and Mr. Takahiko Koduka (小塚崇彦) became the second. Congratulations!

１１月１２日（jyuichigatsu jyuni nichi）： November 12

I slept long but am still having a cold with cough. Cough is seki (咳). I had a fever but am getting better.
Yesterday it was very cold but today it was rather warm.
I watched the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2011/2012 NHK Trophy tonight on TV. Ms. Akiko Suzuki (鈴木明子) became a champion and Ms. Mao Asano (浅野真央) became the second. Congratulations!

１１月１１日（jyuichi gatsu jyuichi nichi）： November 11

It rained and was very cold like winter.
It's been 8 months since the Great Earthquake happened. Last weekend I went to Iwate (岩手) and saw the earthquake and Tsunami stricken area after a month. There I saw some progress of recovery but there are still long ways to go.
Today is 11.11.11.

１１月１０日（jyuichi gatsu toka）： November 10

Yesterday I had a sore throat. Today I have a fever, headache and running nose. I wore a mask.

In Japanese
I have a sore throat is nodo ga itai (喉が痛い).
I have a fever is netsuga aru (熱がある).
I have a headache is zutsuu ga suru(頭痛がする).
I have running nose is hanamizu ga deru (鼻水が出る).

１１月９日（jyuichi gatsu kokonoka）： November 9

It was fine but cool. However I have been in the building, I do not know how it was actually.
I've got a cold. In Japanese kaze wo hiita (かぜをひいた). If you hear kaze (かぜ) we imagine two things. One is wind　（風）, the other is cold　（風邪）. There are many homonyms. Homonym in Japanese is do on igi go (同音異義語), same sound different meaning　word.

１１月８日（jyuichigatsu yoka）： November 8

Today is ritto(立冬), one of nijyushisekki (二十四節季), the 24 solar terms. Last one was soko (霜降) on October 24 and the next one is shosetsu ( 小雪) on November 24. Ritto literally means stand winter, it is the first day of winter. Actually it was rather cold.
We went to the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park. Last time we just tried the Tokyo Earthquake 72h Tour and a movie. But this time we could listen to the lecture about the facilities and entered the Headquarter office and operation room and so on. It was a good experience.

１１月７日（jyuichi gatsu nanoka）： November 7

I went to Jodogahama (浄土ヶ浜) and Taro (田老) District of Miyako (宮古) City, Iwate (岩手) today. It is the place the big earthquake and tsunami hit. They had 10 meters high breakwaters because they have had experiences of big Tsunamis before. However this time Tsunami was bigger than the past one and it flowed over the banks. Light stands were leveled, so were handrails.

In the evening I went to the Tokyo Tower after a while.

１１月６日（jyuichi gatsu muika）： November 6

I came to Morioka (盛岡) yesterday and visited Rikuzentakata (陸前高田), Ofunato 大船渡, Kamaishi (釜石), Otsuchicho (大槌町), and Yamadacho(山田町) in Iwate (岩手) today.
I came here last month. I noticed some progress since that time. For example in Kamaishi I saw a big ship "Asian Symphony" was landed on the bank last time, but it was gone this time.

On the way to come to the coast line I saw beautiful red and yellow leaves on the mountains which we call koyo (紅葉), literally red leaves.

There was a shocking accident. A big deer dashed for our bus.

１１月５日（jyuichigatsu itsuka）： November 5

I had a chance to listen to the lectures in English by Japanese. Knowing new things is interesting.
At lunch time we went to noodle restaurant. There we ate tempura (てんぷら) first. It was hot and good.
We came to Iwate (岩手) by Shinkansen (新幹線). It stopped more stations than the last one I came here a month ago.
It was rather warm today.

１１月４日（jyuichigatsu yokka）： November 4

From early morning till late at night there were so many things to do.
I use a step counter (manpokei:万歩計). Man (万) is 10,000, po is (歩) steps, and kei (計) is to measure. Today I walked 16301 steps, which is about 8.15 km.

１１月３日（jyuichi gatsu mikka）： November 3

Today is a national holiday called bunka no hi (文化の日), Culture Day.
Usually it is fine on this day every year, but it was cloudy today.

１１月２日（jyuichigatsu futsuka）： November 2

I have been getting busier these days. I missed the last train (終電：shuden) again and came to the nearest station by taxi again.
I had a meeting in the morning and had lunch with 6 colleagues. Half of them are new faces. It is nice to know new people.

１１月１日（jyuichi gatsu tsuitachi）： November 1

Another month has started. November is jyuichigatsu (十一月) in Japanese. Its old name is shimotsuki (霜月). Shimo (霜) is frost,tsuki (月) is month.
It was rather warm today and it seems tomorrow is also warm and far from frost.
There are only 2 months left. There are still many things to be done.
How about you?