2012.6.29

It was fine.
I took a compensated holiday.
The refrom of the bath room has started.
Since they finished working earlier I went to see a movie "Girl."

2012.6.28

It was fine.
I went out for lunch with a colleague who will leave our office next month.  We went to sushi restaurant where I went first.  I think it is rather cheap. There were seafood bowl (kaisen donburi:　海鮮丼), noodle (udon: うどん), steamed egg hotchpotch (chawan mushi :　茶碗蒸し) and pickles (tsukemono: 漬物). It cost yen 880.

2012.6.27

It was fine today.

Wimbledon tennis matches started.  They are broadcasted after midnight.  There are 6 Japanese players participating.  Mr. Kei Nishikori (錦織圭) won the first match and Ms. Kimiko Date Krumm (クルム伊達公子) lost.

2012.6.26

It was fine today.
I took a compensated holiday to take my father to the hospital for the monthly checkup. After the hospital we went grocery shopping.

Do you remember what happened today three years ago?  Michael Jackson has passed away at the age of 50.

2012.6.25

It was rather cool today.
I had lunch with 4 colleagues to celebrate the birthday of one of them. She chose the Vietnamese restaurant, but it was full and we went to a Japanese restaurant instead.
In the afternoon we went to check the conference rooms and hotel for the next program.
Then I went to the office and overworked till 22:00.

2012.6.24

I was very busy from the early morning.  I was not sure if I can wake up,  so I decided to stay up all day long.
What a long day!
I came home after 8 days.

2012.6.23

I went to see a professional football game for the first time in my life.  It was the match between Vissel Kobe and Albirex Niigata at Home's Stadium in Kobe. Vissel Kobe won by 1 to 0.
I enjoyed watching supporters' cheering for both sides.

2012.6.22

The weather forecast said it would be rain, but it became very fine.
I went to Kaiyukan (海遊館), the aquarium and the Osakajo (大阪城), the castle and Kuchu teien (空中庭園), the floating garden today. 
It was the first time to visit the aquarium.  It's been a year since I visited the castle last time.  The floating garden opened on July 2, 1993.  So I think it's been about 19 years since I went there last.
These three places are touristic spots in Osaka.

2012.6.21

I am now in Osaka for a business trip for 8 days.  The place I am staying is located rather far away from the center.  It seems it is a newly made island and many people have not known its existence yet.
I was very sick and went to hospital today  On my way to hospital it cost yen 2,180 but on my way back it cost yen 6,080 because the driver did not know the place. How shocked!

2012.6.20

The typhoon No. 4 left with many damages here and there. 
After the typhoon weather usually becomes very nice which is called taifu ikka (台風一過), literally typhoon one past.
In Tokyo the temperature went up to more than 30 degrees centigrade and became the first summer day.
Now there is another typhoon No. 5 which is nearing.

2012.6.19

The typhoon No. 4 hit Japan.
Usually typhoons come early autumn from the middle of August to the end of September.  Therefore this is very rare.
In the morning it was raining.
Around lunch time the warning of strong wind and heavy rain was announced and we stayed inside all afternoon.
Now it is in Kanto Area.
I have a fever today.

2012.6.18

I am now in Kansai.  It is hot and humid here.  It was cloudy.  They said the typhoon is coming tomorrow.
Yesterday I stayed at the hotel near the Kansai Airport.  I stayed at 40th floor.  The Kansai airport is rather small compared to the Narita Airport.  I think it was about 20 years ago that opened.  How fast time flies!

2012.6.17

The third Sunday of June is chichi no hi (父の日), Father's Day.
Since I had to come to Kansai (関西) one day before, I left a present for him.
What do you do on Father's Day?

2012.6.16

It has been raining.  It is the rainy season.  So we have to put up with rain, however next week there are outdoor soccer matches,  soI hope it will be fine.
I came to Osaka for the meeing.
Whenever I come here, I find it is different from Tokyo, that is, in Tokyo we stand in line in the left side when we use the escalator to let those who are in a  hurry to pass. However in Osaka people stand in line in the right side.

2012.6.15

Today is the first day of selling my book through eBook.
When I published my book and put the link on Facebook, my friend in Europe was trying to buy it.  However it cost 3 times just for shipping charge.  When I heard about it, I felt sorry.  So I am so glad that today has come. 
He said he has just downloaded the book for yen 500 which is about the half price of the paper book.  And he said it was easy to buy.
Recently I bought 2 books through eBook which were also very cheap compared with regular books.

Someday I want to publish my book in English and Spanish too.

Please take a look at the following link.  Thank you in advance.

http://www.boon-gate.com/books/details/3734

2012.6.14

It was chilly in the morning, but became very fine. 
I went out for lunch with 7 colleagues to a hotel restaurant near by.  Though I booked the table of 8, when we got there, we had to wait for a while.  We were disappointed.
Today there were two number magic.  I had to pay a certain amount of money for the shared present for my colleague's birthday next week.  And I just had the same amount of the changes. No coins left.
I contributed an article to the booklet of my graduate school.  The number of the booklet was No. 58 which corresponds to my birthday, and I wrote about my book which was published on my birthday.
I feel good.

2012.6.13

It was rather chilly this morning.
At lunch time I went to a Korean Restaurant with 3 colleagues.  The restaurant was so crowded.   We were lucky enough to get the table when we arrived.  When I left for bathroom, there was a waiting line.   We enjoyed big lunch and chatting.
I like my job because I can meet many people and learn many things.  Every one of my colleagues has a   unique international experience.  When I joined, there were about 30 staff or so but now there are nearly 50 in our department.  So there are some whom I do not know well.
I am looking forward to hearing their experiences.

2012.6.12

It was cloudy, windy and slightly raining in the morning.  When I got to Shinjuku, I did not have to use the umbrella, but at night it was raining and I had to use it.  It was rather chilly.
The flower of the rainy season is ajisai (紫陽花：hydrangea.), literally purple sun flower.   There are many colors such as blue, pink, purple, white and so on.  They change the color from blue to red purple therefore they are called shichihenge (七変化), literally seven changes.
At my house they are still buds, but on my way to the station I see some blooming.  

2012.6.11

It's been 1 year and 3 months since the East Great Earthquake happened. We still have earthquakes these days. 
The news related to the earthquake these days are how they are trying to reconstruct or how artists are trying to encourage the victims.
Last weekend at night I happened to watch the TV programs of the live concerts of Mr. Masaharu Fukuyama (福山雅治) and Mr. Kazumasa Oda (小田和正) in Tohoku (東北).  Both are my favorite singers. 
Girls unit, AKB 48 also visit devastated areas often and have charity concerts. They say it's been 13 times.
I hope early recovery of the places and people's happiness.

2012.6.10

Today is nyubai (入梅), entering the rainy season on calendar,  though we have already entered actually.  However it was fine today.
Today is toki no kinenbi (時の記念日), Anniversary of Time.
It's been already one third of the month passed.  How quickly time passes these days.  When you are happy or busy, time passes quickly, so I think I should be glad.
How about your days?

2012.6.9

It's been raining since yesterday, and it was rather cool today.

The rainy season has set in one day later than the usual year. 

Rainy season in Japanese is tsuyu (梅雨), literally plum rain.   Entering rainy season in Japanese is tsuyu iri (梅雨入り).  Umbrella in Japanese is kasa (傘). Rain in Japanese is ame (雨).

2012.6.8

It's been a month since my book was published.  I have had some reunions since my book was ready and gave them as a present.  Some people read them as soon as they got and told me their impressions.  Most of them said or wrote it was very interesting and the cover is very beautiful and they felt like going to Florida. Other people have not read yet or still reading or have not informed me their impressions.
There are still some people I want to present but I have not done yet..... Sorry about that.  Please be patient for a while.
There are some people who bought the book at the bookstore or via Internet.  Thank you very much!! I really appreciate each one of you.　　
Some friends abroad asked me if there will be English version or not.  I want to try translating when I get time.  Please give me some time.
I hope many people will enjoy my experience in the USA and visit there some day.

2012.6.7

It's my Turtle Anniversary.
That is I have seen the turtle nestling in the beach for the first time in Florida in 2008.  It's been 4 years since that time. Florida is abundant in nature lives.
Turtle is kame (亀) in Japanese.  In Japan turtle and crane (鶴：tsuru)  are symbols of longevity, and there is a saying:
Tsuru wa sen nen, kame wa man nen (鶴は千年、亀は万年), meaning cranes live for 1000 years, turtles live for 10,000 years.

2012.6.6

It was windy and rainy in the morning because of the typhoon.  Therefore unfortunately we could not have a chance to see the transit of Venus across the Sun directly.  People living in the western part of Japan seemed enjoyed the show.  This will happen next time 105 years later in 2117.
When I got home at night, it has already stopped raining, and the moon looked beautiful.

2012.6.5

Today is boshu (芒種), one of nijushisekki (二十四節季), the twenty-four solar terms.  The last one was shoman (小満) on May 21 and the next one is geshi (夏至) on June 21.
The year especially since last month to this month there are many space shows such as annular solar eclipse (金環日食： kinkan nisshoku) on May 21, partial lunar eclipse (部分月食：bubun gesshoku) last night, and the transit of Venus across the Sun (金星の日面通過：kinsei no nichimen tsuka) tomorrow. 
It was cloudy on May 21, so was last night.  And it may be typhoon tomorrow....
I hope to witness the once in a life show if possible.

2012.6.4

I went out for lunch with colleagues at a Japanese Restaurant.  At lunch time it is hard to make a reservation and there were two options which we can reserve, one for Japanese restaurant the other for Western style restaurant.  There were 8 people today.  We could enter the Japanese style  room with horigotatsu (掘りごたつ), which has heater in the winter time but not at this time. We can sit like a chair and it is very comfortable.
They offered the lottery but nobody get anything, then they offered the lottery again.  Only one of us got cash after the second trial.

2012.6.3

I went grocery shopping in the morning and went to see a Japanese movie "uchu kyodai (宇宙兄弟 )" meaning Space brothers in the afternoon.  I am glad to see it and remembered my days in Florida.
Before going to see the movie, I went to a bookstore to buy some books.
After the movie, I went to Yokosuka (横須賀) for shopping.

2012.6.2

It was cloudy.
In the morning I attended the monthly meeting.
In the afternoon I visited my friend's house, where I have wanted to visit for a long time.  She left our organization at the end of May. There were more than 10 colleagues there. Since everyone brought something, there were many dishes.  We had a very good time.  Thank you.

2012.6.1

A new month has started.  June is rokugatsu (六月) in Japanese. Its old name is minazuki (水無月), meaning water without month.
June 1 is known as koromo gae (衣替え), meaning clothings change.  In schools, students start wearing the summer uniform instead of the winter uniforms.

2012.5.31

It was fine today.
Three colleagues left the office today. One of them joined the organization on the same day as I did. Since then it's been more than 3 years and 2 months.  There are so many things we shared together.
We had luncheon and farewell party.
At the lunch table there were 7 including her.  To my very interesting, mothers of 3 out of 7 are twins.  I am so interested in the lives of twins, so I am glad to know about them.
At the farewell party we had two guests of honor.  There were many surprises which we enjoyed. 
I came home by the last train.  How I wish it is holiday tomorrow!