2018.1.31

It was fine.

It is the full moon and there was the total luner eclipse after 3 years tonight. It is the super blue blood moon. They say this three things (super, blue, blood) happened  once in 256 years.
I am glad it was fine at night too.

After work I visited the Fuji Film Square. They were having the exhibitions of Northern lights which were taken in Alaska and Canada. They were so beautiful. I could take pictures by smartphone. How generous the photographer is! It lasts until tomorrow. So if you have a chance, I recommend you to visit.

At night I attended the meeting by Zoom. It is very interesting to be connected with people from different places by online.

Today is the last day of January.  One twelfth of the year has gone. How fast time flies!

2018.1.30

It was fine.

It was a nice day for me.

In the morning I found a Facebook friend request with a message from a good friend from Argentina whom I met in 2004 when I went to the Antarctica. He visited me Aichi when I worked at Expo 2005. It has been so long since we comunicated last. We chatted through messenger and What's App while I was on the train to go to work. There is 12 hours difference between Japan and Argentina.
He said he wrote me emails. But I have not checked my yahoo emails for a long time and I did not know about it at all.
When I checked a part of emails there today, I found some Christmas greetings and other emails. If he did not mention it, I would not have noticed them.
While chatting with him, I chatted with my Facebook friend from the Netherlands too. There is 8 hours difference between Japan and Netherlands.

Both of them were surprised to know that I commute for more than 4 hours everyday.
I enjoyed talking with them very much.

When I went to the supermarket to buy my lunch, I found a campaign of Coca Cola and got a star-shape ice maker which I wanted to have.

At work I had two meetings and many jobs done today, which makes me feel good.

I talked with my friend over the phone at lunch time and made an appointnent to see next month.

After work I went to Shinagawa to see friends. I had a cake set which was delicious.

I could see the beautiful moon tonight.

I had a joyful day.

Thank you, my friends.

2018.1.29

It was fine.

I could get up earlier and practice radio gymnastics after a long time.

I got some mails today. One of them was the invitation of upgrading the gold credit card to plutinam credit card. Their service looks nice but the annual fee is yen130,000. I have felt the annual fee of gold card was expensive, but it is about three times more.

I am glad to have receive the invitaion and known the services.
I wish I was rich enough to change!!

.

2018.1.28

It was cloudy and very cold.

I was going to attend a seminar to accompany my friend but since she changed the schedule to February, I decided to go to see a movie in Yokohama.
The title of the movie is "uso wo aisuru onna" ( 嘘を愛する女: A woman who loves a lie).

This morning I happened to read the article of this movie at my friend's Facebook timeline. So I expected a lot but I did not cry at all.

After that I went to Shinagawa to have a meeting. I brought two of my friends whose birthday is May 8 and 9. Their family names happened to be the same.

Isn't it interesting?

2018.1.27

It was fine, cold and beautiful.

In the morning I went to Kimono-style Miya to have hairset, makeup, and dressed up. Then I have my pictures taken with the man-powered vehicle called jinrikisha (人力車).

Sky is blue, air is clean, the sun is shining.  It was a perfect day to take pictures outside.

In the afternoon I went to my Alma Mater of Doctor's course to attend my adviser's last lecture of his career. It's been a long time since I went there. I met some research mates and had a good time at the following party. Many of them have already been professors which inspired me a lot.

2018.1.26

It was fine and Mt. Fuji looked very beautiful this morning.

There was something wrong with the printer at the office.I called the customer service. They said "Is there any warning message about changing the unit?" I said "yes." They said "If you change the unit, it will be all right. If I come to check, it would cost yen 18,000." So I tried to change it by myself, and it turned out to be fine. I am glad to try.

There has been something wrong with the wearable device. I tried and tried but could not use. However I remembered about using bluetooth, and finally I could connect.

Trying by myself is very important, isn't it?

2018.1.25

It was fine and Mt. Fuji was very beautiful.

I got an invitation for Saturday event. I have already made three appointments on Saturday, so at first I thought I should keep the plan but this is the last lecture of my teacher of graduate school, so I decided to make time by canceling two events. One was the symposium for interpreter guides at Yokohama. The other was to see someone at Kamakura. I called during lunch time to re-schedule.

Life is made of by choosing every moment.

I hope to choose the better one.

2018.1.24

It was fine and beautiful.

I left the office earlier to go to Takadanobaba. I attended the SRC Convention. This was the fourth time for me to attend. It started at 4 pm and lasted for more than four hours without break.
I met some acquaintences.

I had a question and could ask about it and knew how to solve it.

There were many guests and usuful information. I really liked the message from Mr. Aurther Masayuki Hollands.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2018.1.23

It was fine.

Since I left my car at the parking lot last night because of heavy snow, I had to walk to the station this morning too.
Trains delayed this morning, so as in the evening but from different reasons.

After work I visited the Fuji Film Square. There are some new exhibitions starting last Friday. I liked some pictures.

When I got to the parking lot, there was no snow at all. All were melted! I felt lucky and could drive home.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2018.1.22

It was cloudy and rainy in the morning.
Weather forecast was right and it srarted snowing in the afternoon.

There was an alarm for big snow in Tokyo and we were recommended to leave the office earlier.
It's been four years since we had this big snow.

I was going to work as usual, but my colleagues worried about me because I live far away from the office and they were afraid of no train service. Therefore I decided to leave the office earlier as other staffs. Trains delayed and they were so crowded.Therefore I had to stand for a long time.
When I got to the station, there was a lot of snow and piled. I felt it dangerous to drive home because there are slopes. So I walked home. It took about three hours from office to my house tonight.

We have had blackout so often tonight.

Anyway I am glad I came home earlier.

2018.1.21

It was fine.

I went to Yokohama to attend a new year's party which I was invited by my kimono friend. I have never been to Center Kita station on Yokohama City subway. Venue was a few minute walk from the station. It was held at a Scandinavia Home. There were about 40 people or so attended. I did not know anything about the house but they have a warm flooring and I stayed there barefoot for all day long. They have a sauna and other special rooms to heal.

Not only eating and drinking, but also there were many programs. I enjoyed pounding to make rice cakes most. There were many different ways to eat rice cakes such as soy sauce with sugar, with seaweed, with red bean paste, with green pea paste, with sesami powder, with soy bean powder with sugar and so on.
The rice cakes were warm, soft and very tasty.
I have seen pounding rice cakes which is called mochitsuki (餅つき) many times, but this was the first time for me to do it by myself.

It was a nice experience.

2018.1.20

It was cloudy.

Today is daikan (大寒), one of nijyushisekki (二十四節気), the 24 solar terms.  Last one was shokan (小寒) on Jan. 6 and the next one is risshun (立春) on Feb.4.
Daikan means big cold. This is the coldest season.

Today I went to see a movie "Destiny  Kamakura Story" in Yokohama. I did not know about this movie but on Jan.1 my kimono teacher said she was interested in this movie because the location is Kamakura where is a familiar place for Kanagawa residents. And recently my friend wrote about it on Facebook. It was interesting.

Then I went to Shinagawa to see somebody. Before going to the venue I have happened to find a shrine so that I visited there. I have been to the area many times but not realized about it until today.

I had a meeting with a young successful businessman and asked everything I wanted to clear.

Then I went shopping. When I broke my favorite difuser, I once thought of throwing away, but tried using and knew it was still able to use. Therefore I ordered the glass part and it arrived at the shop this week. It cost yen 2000 and I bought it by the points. I am very glad to do so.

Tonight's main event was a meeting and New Year's Party for the high school great reunion. It's been 4 years since the first reunion after high school graduation. Every four years we decided to have a great reunion. And this is the year to have it. There got together 17 organizers from 10 classes.  From my class there were five and the most.  We were glad to have decided the date, venue, and price. We enjoyed eating and drinking.

2018.1.19

It was fine.

I took a day off and had a busy fruitful day.

First I went to post office to receive the delivered goods. Usually I ask the redelivery. But I knew it would be difficult to get it, so I decided to get it by myself. I exchanged the missed new year's cards and got the prize stamp too.

Second I went to Yokohama to attend a New Year's Party via Naritasan and Iseyamakotaijingu. There were 93 participants. Meeting fee was rather expensive from my lunch standard, but it was worthwhile attending. Meals were so delicious, the ball room was nice, landscape was beautiful, what is more there were special guests. It was a special experience.

Third I visited the Kimono-style Miya to greet.

Fourth I went to massage. This is my once a month health care event. I could talk many things and she was inspired and we had a nice time.

Fifth I went to Shinagawa to have dinner with my adviser. I got a souvenir. We ate a lot and drink a lot.

It was a nice day.

2018.1.18

It was fine and warm like spring.

I still had a slight fever and coughs but decided to go to work to take a day off tomorrow as scheduled.

As breakfast I prepared Chinese style porridge. I just added the dried scallops and powdered soup stock. I set the rice cooker last night and when I got up, it was  ready. It is easy and tasty. I recommend you when you need something healthy.

2018.1.17

It was cloudy and rather warm in the morning, and became rain and cold in the afternoon.

This morning I still had a slight fever and felt weak, but I went to work after 4 days.

I have coughs and am not fine yet but I could manage.

It's been 23 years since the Great Hanshin Earthquake happened. There were many TV Programs dealing with the day and the suffered people.

2018.1.16

It was fine.

I thought I could go to work today, but I still had a fever and backpains, so I decided to take another day off.

I hope to be better tomorrow.

2018.1.15

It was cloudy and windy.

I have had a high fever so that I could not go out today either.
I took a day off and stayed in bed all day long again.
Good thing is I can check the office emails at home too.

Today is my dead father's 83rd birthday.
Happy Birthday to You, Dad!

2018.1.14

It was fine.

I was too sick to go out having a high fever.I canceled attending the seminar and asked to listen from the Internet. I saved four hours to commute and listened from the bed. It is covenient, isn't it?

After all I stayed in the bed all day long.

2018.1.13

It was fine.

It seems I got a cold. I do not have a fever but am suffering from running nose and sore throat, headache, and feeling dull. I fell asleep on the sofa last night which must be the reason of my cold this time.

I stayed at home all day long.

I called two teachers who called me during the week but I culd not return.
One is a master of tea ceremony.  There will be the first tea ceremony of the year tomorrow, which is called hatsugama (初釜), but unfortunately before I knew the schedule, I made an appointment. Since last year it was suddenly canceled by her husband's health condition, I was looking forward to attending this year but it was too late when I knew the schedule.
The other is my high school teacher who received my new year's card but his wife and sister passed away last year and he could not write back.
Both of them are in their 80s but seemed fine.

My Yoga teacher's birthday is today and I sent a message by messenger. We chatted for a while.

I talked with three of my teachers who taught me different things in my life.
Isn't it interesting?

2018.1.12

It was fine.
Mt. Fuji was so beautiful this morning from my house.
In Tokyo sky was so beautiful.
It's getting colder and colder, and becoming harder and harder to get out of bed every morning.

It snowed a lot in the northwestern side of Japan yesterday and the trains stopped at the middle of nowhere for a long time. Some people had to stand and wait for hours.
Even in Kyushu, the southern part of Japan, it snowed.

2018.1.11

It was fine and beautiful.
It's been getting colder, and becoming harder to get out of the comfortable bed.

After work I went to Gotanda to attend the first monthly meeting.  The venue was 1 minute away from the station but since I got out from the wrong side of the exit, it took longer time than expected.
It started at 6:30 pm and lasted for mote than two hours. The new year party was scheduled but since I live far away I gave up.

January 11 is known as kagami biraki (鏡開き). It is a time when we eat the round rice cake offered to the gods at the new year. These rice cakes are called kagami mochi (鏡餅), literally mirror rice cake and usually two of them are piled, and an orange is placed on the top. Usually we eat them as oshiruko (お汁粉) or zenzai(ぜんざい) which are sweet red bean soup.

2018.1.10

It was fine in Kanto area.

But it snowed heavily in the western and southern Japan which is very rare. In Miyazaki it snowed for the first time this winter and it was about a month earlier than last year.

2018.1.9

It rained last night and was very cold.
But this morning it was cloudy and rather warm.

Today was the first working day of this year for me. Since some colleagues have started working since January 4, there were some sweets souvenirs on the desk.
Unfortunately I did not travel this winter, there was nothing to distribute from me.

Tonight on my way back from office I joined the Zoom meeting.  Since I was on the train, I could not speak but hear what other people said.
After coming home, I could talk too.
It was interesting to be connected with people who lived here and there in Japan. All of them have learned Kirei Design and had same knowledge about it, though the length and depth were different.
We were divided into the same rhythm group first, and same category group next. It was fun.

2018.1.8

It was cloudy in the day time but became cold rain in the evening.

It is a national holiday called Seijin no hi (成人の日), Coming of Age Day. It used to be on January 15, but has become on the second Monday of January to have a longer vacation. In Japan being 20 means to be adult who are allowed to smoke and drink. Voting age became 18 since 2016.
On this day each municipaity has a memorial service. Women usually wear the long-sleeved kimono called furisode (振り袖) which is very expensive and gorgeous.

This is the last day of my winter vacation.

I went to Okachimachi to attend the new year meeting and CEO's lecture of JMOA. This was the first time to hear the CEO 's speech. 
There was about an hour until the party.
So I visited Bentendo (弁天堂) and Daikokuten(大黒天) at Shinobazunoike and went shopping.
At the party I happened to be seated to the next to the CEO. I felt very lucky to be able to speak with him.

Around me there were two fortnune tellers, and they checked my fortune in many ways. It was very interesting.
I had a very good time to have talked with them.

2018.1.7

It's been a week since the new year started.
January 7 is known as Nanakusa gayu (七草粥), porridge with seven spring herbs. Since we eat delicious foods at New Year's Days, we'd better take care of our stomach by eating porridge.
This morning I ate porridge with one of spring herbs, suzushuro (清白) which is the old name of daikon (大根), radish.

I went to Yotsuya to attend a secret seminar by Ms. Natsuko Yokota who is a very successful travel blogger having 1300 group members. It started at 12:30 and lasted till 6:30 pm. I learned a lot.

From tonight the new NHK's taiga drama (大河ドラマ) starts. Its title is Sego don (西郷どん) which deals with the revolutionist at the end of Edo era. This is the 57th drama.
This year is 150th anniversary year of end of Edo and beginning of Meiji era.

I am sure this year many people will travel to Kagoshima where the main character, Takamori Saigo (西郷隆盛) was from.

2018.1.6

It was fine and beautiful.

I went to Shinjuku to attend the Morinda's first monthly meeting of this year.
I measured AGE. It was 10 years younger last time but today it was 4 years younger.

After eating lunch, I went to Anahachimangu (穴八幡宮) in Waseda where they offer the special charms from Winter Solstice to Setsubun. There were many people there today.

Then I decided to walk to Kagurazaka to have tea at the Gallery. When I visited there last time, they gave me a drink coupon. So I just ordered Fondant au chocolat.

Then I went to Kawasaki to see a movie "Star Wars Episode VIII."

It was a fruitful day.

2018.1.5

Today is shokan(小寒), one of nijyushisekki(二十四節気), the 24 solar terms.  It is literally small cold. Actually it was cloudy and very cold, slightly rained too.

I went to the Toyopet, car dealer. At the new year they always offer special sponge cake and fortune drawing presents for the customers. Every year they prepare the hand towel with the design of animal of the year. This is the year of dog. It is not the best prize, but I'd rather get them to sweets because we can buy sweets at the department store, but this hand towel is not sold aywhere.
This year I got the clay bell of dog too.
After that I went grocery shopping.

2018.1.4

It was fine and beautiful.

Many people started working today.

Since I could not decide the New Year's plan during last year, I took two days off on Jan. 4 and 5 to travel.  But after all I gave up traveling abroad this time and decided to relax.

So I stayed at home most of time except  going to post office, bank, and shopping after listening to the Prime Minister's New Year's Greeting. He visited the Ise shrine today and started Twitter.

I saw the beautiful suset tonight too.

2018.1.3

It was fine and beautiful.

There was the second day of Hakone Ekiden (箱根駅伝), long-distance relay road race between Hakone and Tokyo by university students.
Yesterday Toyo University won.
Today Aoyamagakuin University won. This was the fourth year victory for them.
There are only six universities which won four times straight.
They made the new meeting record of 10 hours 57 minutes 39 seconds.
It's been 150 years since its school foundation and this is the 100th anniversary for their running club.
Congratulations!!

2018.1.2

It was fine.

I slept a lot after a long time and had a good rest.

I cooked zouni (雑煮) which is new year's soup dish with rice cakes for lunch.

Jan.2 is a day for kakizome (書初め), first writing. I finally wrote some Christmas cards and New Year's cards. I wished I have done them a month ago.

Today is a full moon and it is a supermoon.
It is very beautiful.

2018.1.1

Happy New Year!!

It was very fine and beautiful today.

I got up early to see the first sun rise called hatsuhinode (初日の出). I usually go to see it  at Miurakaigan beach.
But this time I went up to a nearby hill and saw the beautiful sun rise. I am glad to see both sunrise and Mt. Fuji.

Then I went to a nearby shrine for the first visit which is called hatsumode (初詣).

Today New Year's cards which is called nengajyo (年賀状) were delivered very early. Thank you those who sent me.
I was very happy to get them. I realize I have met so many people in my life, from school, from work, from travel, from relatives, and so on.

Then I went to Kimono-style Miya to have hair-set and dressed up.  I was the first person to be taken care of today.

We ate the special new year's dishes called osechiryori (御節料理) and we went to Iseyamakotaijingu (伊勢山皇大神宮) shrine for hatsumode.
I asked the special red stamp called goshuin (御朱印), and my waiting number was No.1. I felt very lucky.

I also visited Naritasan (成田山) temple and seven lucky gods (shichifukujin 七福神) of Noge (野毛).

Then I went to a bookstore to buy "my book" which looks like the real pocket-size book but actually it is a diary of the owner of the book. I have written my books so many years. So I am glad to get the one today to start writing today.

I went to the ATMs of many banks. They used to close at the beginning and ending of the year which is called Nenmatsunenshi (年末年始) but these days they have become available for 24/7 which is really convenient.

I had a good start of 2018 and hope to have one of the best years of my life.

I wish you a very happy healthy prosperous new year!!