2018.2.28

The last day of February.

How fast time flies!
One 6th of 2018 has gone.

How was your February?
I believe most of people enjoyed watching Pyeong Chang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Around noon today mascots of the Tokyo Olympic 2020 were published. They were chosen by students of more than 16,000 primary schools in Japan and abroad. This is the first trial for primary school students to participate in this kind of decision making.There were three pairs of candidates chosen out of 2,042 designs. Each class out of 205,755 classes discussed and chose one pair and voted. The number one candidate got 109,041 votes.
Their names will be decided around June.

Isn't it interesting?

2018.2.27

It was fine but cold.

The biggest event of this month was over. It went well.
From next Monday another program starts.  Since March is the last month of a fiscal year, there will be a lot of paper work.

At night I saw the digest of the beautiful scenes of the Pyeong Chang 2018 on TV news program. I have not seen them at the real time. I wish I could have watched.

2018.2.26

It was fine.

I started the day earlier than usual because there was a special event.

In the afternoon we went to Kasumigaseki. Usually we estimate the moving time from door to door for 30 minutes, but to my surprise we arrived there by 15 minutes because we took the different walking route as usual.

At night we had a catering buffet style reception. There were about 30 people including one guest from Indonesia. Therefore they did not use any pork nor alchol for the food including sushi rice vinegar.
They decorated the table beautifully with Japanese tea ceremony utensils, paper umbrella, and stackable lacquered wooden food box called jyubako (重箱).

Thank you for your service and consideration.

2018.2.25

It was cloudy and cold.

I slept long after a long time.

In the afternoon I went grocery shopping. Then I prepared the kimono for this weekend.

Today is the last day of Pyeong Chang 2018 Winter Olympic. Japan team got the most medals in history.
Congratulations!!

Watching the closing ceremony, I thought of the one in Nagano 1998 where I was invited by one of friends from tea lessons. It's been 20 years. I can't believe how fast time flies!!

2018.2.24

It was fine and warm in the morning, but became cold at night.

In the morning I went to Ginza to attend a tea party. The venue was a very nice place, and I hope to come back again to have afternoon tea next time. Coffee and tea are rather expensive about yen 1600, which is Ginza price but refill is free, and you can change ice to hot or vice versa for one time.  Cake set is reasonable compared to the cost of drink itself. But the afternoon tea set is much nicer.
There were 6 women and we enjoyed talking about mileage earning technic and world traveling. It was fun to talk with people of the same interest.

After that I went out for lunch with one of them and heard about the first-class traveling technic. I got much useful information today.

Then I went to office to take care of things for the events next week.

After that I went to Kawasaki to see a Japanese movie, Konya Romance Gekijyode (今夜、ロマンス劇場で), which neans "Tonight at the Romance Theater."
I read some comments by Facebook friends and decided to see it.
I think it was a moving movie and it reminds us of what the true love is.

It was a fruitful day.

2018.2.23

It was fine but very cold.

Using the flex time system, I left earlier to go to Oji to attend SRC convention. This is the 5th time for me to attend. It was very interesting to know three different types: Audio, Visual, and Kinesthetic. I am A-type.
After the convention, I could meet some of the members of the same community. Three of us went to Tokyo and tried to find a place to eat something, but it was rather difficult. There were many gift shops but there were a few restaurants.We decided to eat ramen.I saw many foreigners there and I found more English signs than ever at the Tokyo station.

2018.2.22

It was sleeting and very cold today.

I went out for lunch with a colleague whose birthday is also May 8 at a barbecue restaurant which we will use for the farewell luncheon next month. There were only four set menus at lunch time, therefore the serving time is very short. They have so many wine selections and atmosphere looks nice. It might be good at dinner time too.

After work I went to Takebashi to attend a seminar of rhythm. There were about 200 audience. I happened to see an acquaintance and sat next to her.  It's been very long since we met each others last.

The lecture lasted for two hours and it was interesting.

I took pictures with lectures. One has the same rhythm, the other has the same birthday, May 8. Interesting, isn't it ?

I met some friends after the lecture.

2018.2.21

It was cloudy and cold today.

I was rather busy at work.

On my way back I watched the Facebook live. The battery has gone so quicky.

After coming home I happened to see the Women's Pursuit at the Pyeong Chang 2018 on TV. The Team Japan became the champion by the new Olympic record of 2.53.89.

Congratulations!!

2018.2.20

It was fine.

In the morning I saw many contrails on the sky. I wondered why. Because the time schedules of airlines should be the same but I usually do not see the contrails in that direction.

At work I was rather busy for the preparations of the programs of early next week.

On my way home I dropped at Yokosuka-chuo to go to some banks because today is a payday.

At night I enjoyed the zoom seminar.

2018.2.19

It was fine.

Today I attended an English training at lunch time. I took my lunch time before and after the training.
Usually I watch two TV programs at lunch time, but today the training was from 12 noon to 1:30 pm so I watched Olympic games for a while.

The training was about Telephone skills which was very useful and interesting.

2018.2.18

It was fine.

I went to the Kimono-style Miya to have my pictures taken in the morning.

Then I headed for Meguro to attend the JOI almuni luncheon. It is a knid of annual reunion because at this time of the year JOI coordinators' selection is held and the related members in charge in the USA come to Japan for interview.

I was one of the 5th year coordinators and dispatched at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach,  Florida for two years from 2006 to 2008.
This was a kind of volunteer work to be a grass-roots ambassador.
Each site is different. Be flexible. Have fun! These were the lessons I learned from this program.
Every coordinator has valuable experiences which enriched our lives.
I am so grateful to be a part of this program and have worked at the Morikami and met so many people.

About 20 people got together today and we enjoyed delicious foods and chatting.

I left a little bit earlier to meet somebody in Meguro and Shinagawa.

On my way I visited two shrines.

Then I went to Sugita.

It was a rather busy day but I enjoyed seeing many people.

Thank you.

2018.2.17

It was fine, but became cold with strong winds in the evening.

In the morning I went to massage which is my once a month healthcare maintenance event. After massage she put moxibustion seals on my soles to warm up. She used the special massage brush on my head and treated my ears wit h special pressure points seals like pierce. I am not sure but I felt different feeling between left and right ear. I am looking forward to feeling the improvement in a week.

After that I went to Shinjuku to attend a seminar which is bimonthly event, and measured AGE.

Then I went to Yoyogi to have crab and blowfish dinner.

After coming home, I cooked something for tomorrow's potluck party.

Today at the Men's Figure Skating, Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生結弦) got the second gold medal which happened once in 66 years. The silver medal was Mr. Shoma Uno (宇野昌磨). Congratulations!!

2018.2.16

It was fine.

Today was the last day of one of the international programs I have been in charge of for the past two years.

It went well.

After that we had a dinner party congratulating the  past 2 years' efforts. The restaurant is specializing in  chicken dishes.
We enjoyed talking, eating, and drinking.

2018.2.15

It was fine.

I visited two shrines before going to work. At that time I saw the beautiful sun. Usually I see the sun from the different direction, so it was a fresh sight.

After coming back I went grocery shopping after a long time. I happened to find Tsubugai (つぶ貝), shellfish which I like but have never cooked. So I asked the sales person there how to cook. His expression was interesting. I bought them and checked by Internet how to cook. It was different from his explanation. I just boiled with water and sake. They tasted so good. I hope to buy them if I found again.

2018.2.14

Happy St. Valentine's Day!!

How do you celebrate St.Valentine's Day?

In Japan it is a day when girls and women give chocolates to boys and men they like. In return boys and men give something sweet to girls and women one month later on March 14, which is called White Day. It is only Japanese custom.

This morning I woke up very early but fell asleep again. When I woke up next time, it was about the time I usually leave home.
My office introduces flex time system, and the core time is from 10 am to 3 pm. I usually leave home around 7:30 am arriving at the office around 9:40 am. I took 7:59 am train this morning but to my lucky I arrived at office in time.

Some colleagues gave me chocolates from Germany, Italy, and Japan.

What chocolate do you like?

I like Belgium, Swiss, American, and Japanese chocolates very much.

2018.2.13

It was fine and beautiful.

The busy week has started, and I needed to overwork till 8pm tonight. On my way back I had to stand up in the train for more than one hour....

Are you enjoying Pyeong Chang Olympic Games?
I am.  There are many cool sports. I do not know much about the rules, but I enjoy watching figure skating, ice dancing, snowboarding, mogul, half pipe, jumping, and so on.

2018.2.12

It was fine but very cold.

The last day of three day weekend.

I went to Nakameguro to have luncheon with people who are either interested in the spiritual world or Africa or international matter or travel or dogs. There were 15 people in total. I have met some of them before but most of them were for the first time. To my interesting I happened to see my ex-colleague of JICE.

After lunch we walked along the Meguro river where will be very beautiful with cherry blossoms in spring.
We went to another place to have drink.
It was a very interesting gathering.

I left earlier to visit my ex-colleague who also has worked at JICE before we met each other. She went to New York but came back for delivery. We enjoyed talking, eating Japanese sweets, and visiting the plum gardens nearby. To our surprise we could see the beautiful Mt. Fuji.

It was a nice holiday.

2018.2.11

It is a national holiday called Kenkokukinen no hi (建国記念の日), National Foundation Day. Since it fell on Sunday, we have a transferred holiday tomorrow.
That is we are in the three day weekend.

The day before yesterday I came home by taxi, so my car has been at the parking lot. Therefore I had to walk to the station.
There is a cherry blossom festival in my area from Feb. 5 to March 5, and I decided to go to Miurakaigan station by seeing the cherry blossom festival on my way.

Compared to last year at the same time, it seems fewer blossoms were in bloom.
But at my garden I found some butterbar sprouts and felt spring is coming.

It was fine when I walked to the station.
In the evening it became cloudy.

On the train I happened to see a mother of my student. We enjoyed talking for more than one hour up to Shinagawa and said goodbye there.

Then I went to Yoyogi to attend a seminar with my friend.

After the seminar we looked for a tea room, but could not find any attractive place. So we decided to go to eat Vietnamese foods. On our way we happened to find the very attractive ads saying only yen 29 for a dish of raw blowfish called Tessa (てっさ) which usually costs more than yen1000. So we decided to go there. Blowfish is fugu (河豚) in Japanese. That restaurant offers yen 29 dish every year around this time because of February 9 which is the day of fugu, blowfish.  2 is read as fu, and 9 is read as ku. So Feb.9 is 2.9 and it is a day of fugu.
We enjoyed the dish and sweets very much.

2018.2.10

It was cloudy.

I stayed at home all day long. I slept long and watched Olympic games on TV most of time.

This is the beginning of the three day weekend.

It's been while since I stayed home and relaxed last.

2018.2.9

It was fine.

After work I went to Jiyugaoka to see my friend from the 44th peace boat cruise which was from Christmas of 2003 to March 31, 2004.

It's been so long since we got together last.

We went to two places. Both of them were so crowded, but to our lucky we could get the seats as the last one for both places.

First one seems very famous because a famous writer wrote about there in an essay. To our interesting, their menu is written by pencil, and we ourselves had to write what we want by ourselves in a small piece of paper.

We enjoyed the reunion.

2018.2.8

It was fine in the morning and daytime.  So I was surprised to see the frozen window shields of my car at night.

I can't believe the winter olympic will start soon.

Since 1992 in Barcelona  I have been to the Olympics until 2004 in Athens. As winter olympics, I went to Nagano in 1998 and Salt Lake in 2002.
Every time I have special memories.

2018.2.7

It was fine, and Mt. Fuji looked so beautiful in the clear air.

This morning I sent an email to my high school classmates about the schedule of the grand reunion of five months later.
People connected by Facebook reacted quickly.

In the evening I sent an invitation by Facebook, Line and email. Facebook and Line users responded earlier than email users.

In Europe and South America What's App is more popular.

In China WeChat might be popular.

SNS is very convenient, isn't it? We can communicate for nothing.
Thank you for the advancement of technology.

2018.2.6

It was fine today.

After work I went to Suidobashi to attend a monthly meeting. There were many speakers. Their talks inspired me a lot.

After that I went to a wine bar with two friends whom I met last night too. One of them is a friend whom I met at the shrine visiting tour last March, the other is a new friend whom I got to know last night. Her advice is very sharp. She knows some kind of fortune telling, and checked about my life. I did not agree about the result, but the destiny number she mentioned seems showing my characteristics after checking by Internet.
I enjoyed spending time together and hope to see them some day again from the early time.

2018.2.5

It was fine.

I left the office earlier than usual and headed for Kinshicho to see my friend's opera "L'elisir d'amore."
I could not decide if I could attend or not until this afternoon because of my job schedule.

After coming back from the circumnavigation around the world, I had been to Kinshicho to learn about International Business Administration for about half year in 2004. It's been so long since I went there last.

The opera started a bit later than schdule. There was a 20 minutes break in between and there were two scenes. My friend was the main charactor. She did a good job.
I met some acquaintances there and enjoyed chatting at the recess. So I am glad to be there tonight.

On my way back I saw the Tokyo Sky tree.

2018.2.4

It was fine.

Today is risshun (立春), one of nijyushisekki (二十四節気), the 24 solar terms.
The last one is daikan (大寒) on January 20, and the next one is usui (雨水) on February 19.
Risshun literally means stand spring, it is the first day of spring, and regarded as the begining of the new year.
Happy New Year!!

In the morning I went to Kimono-style Miya to try being a maiko-san (舞妓さん). Maiko-san is a young entertainer well-dressed beautiful kimono of long sleeves.
It did not take a long time to get dressed but it took a long time to get hairset. I got on jinrikisha (人力車), man-powered vehicle again.

In the afternoon I went to the beauty salon to have my hair permed.

It was a nice weekend.

2018.2.3

It was fine.

I had a rather busy day going to Shinjuku, Akasakamitsuke, Shibuya, and Daikanyama.

First I went to attend the monthly meeting of Morinda. I was very glad to hear the message of Mr. Kelly Olsen. I measured AGE after that.

Today is setsubun (節分), which literally means dividing the seasons.That is today is the end of winter and spring starts tomorrow in luner calendar.
On this day we do mamemaki (豆まき), scattering the roasted soy beans saying "Oni wa soto fuku wa uchi (鬼は外福は内)" meaning "Devils out fortunes in."
This year I went to Toyokawa inari Tokyo branch to see the special event. There were many celebrities there. I met Ikko san and took a picture together. They gave the visitors some roasted soy beans and red & white rice cakes.

After that I went to Shibuya and visited some places in Hikarie including a pappet gallery of Kawamoto Kihachiro. This reminds me of Iida city in Nagano.

Then I walked to Daikanyama to attend the bit late New Year's Party of Happy Traveling Club. I met some friends and had a good time. There were some people who have traveled around the world by business class flights.

It was a fruitful day.

2018.2.2

It was sleeting in my area in the morning. When I got to Ropongi, it was snowing. It snowed a lot in the morning, but it became rain in the afternoon and did not pile.

There happened the law of attraction today. I heard somebody whom I needed to talk but have never talked yet would come to my institution today. I went to the bathroom before going to the venue to say hello to her. Before that I had just checked her by website and seen her picture and known how she looked like.
When I entered the bathroom I happened to see her and started talking and was able to say what I needed to.
It was interesting.

2018.2.1

A new month has started. February is nigatsu (２月), the second month or kisaragi (如月).

I visited two shirines as usual before going to work, one near house, the other near office as a routine of the first day of the month which is called otsuitachimairi (お朔日参り).

It was fine & cloudy in the morning but started raining around noon. It is very cold, and it is said to be snow again tonight.

I am glad it was not raining last night to see the beautiful super blue blood moon.

At lunch time I went out with my colleague. We went to the pasta restaurant which is very close from the office. It is very popular and I tried to book before but they said they would not accept booking at lunch time. Therefore I have wanted to go there since that time. They have a unique system. They offer yen 300 discount to those who work around the restaurant if you show the company ID.  After checking out they offer either soft ice cream or cup of drinks. You could choose different kind of pasta, ingredients, toppings or dressing, ingredients, toppings of salad.
I wanted to order the sea urchin taste pasta which looked the most expensive, but there was no discount.
After all I chose the seafood tomato sause pasta set. Set menu includes a drink and bread. There were many different kinds of drinks both hot and cold and it is rather difficult to choose just one.
When the waiter brought my friend's dish first, he brought the big pepper grinder. It was about 1 meter long. So I asked him to take a picture.
When he brought my dish, he offered us apron which was very nice of him.
After checking out, I wanted to get soft ice cream, but the cup was too small and it looked very difficult to put soft ice cream there, moreover it was cold rain outside, I decided to get a cup of peach tea today.
It was a nice experience.

They say today is one of the best days of this year to start something. Are there anything you started today?