2020.11.30

It was fine and cold.

It is the last day of November, and today is the fullmoon.

It is hard to believe there is only one month left.

Every last day of the month I make a photobook. First I upload about 30 pictures and choose 20 of them.

There are only 30 days this month, but I had many memorative events, and at each event I took many pictures. Therefore it is very difficult to select only 20 pictures.

What a happy life I am having!

After coming back I went to a gas station to fill up my car. I felt relieved to do so.

There were two surprises. One is a good one. My garden was cleaned by a volunteer. The other was not good. It was an additional estimation for repair construction of the roof. I hope my insurance will cover all.

2020.11.29

It was cloudy and fine.

I stayed at home and did not go out at all on the contrary to my plan.

I started the day with  Kids' yoga for adults. It was nice to chat wih online friends.

After that I attended the zoom exchange meeting for the Power Spot Meisters for two hours or so.

I contacted with roof repair related people to apply for insurance.

I was going out to fill up the car but gave up and read a book and a magazine, cooked dinner, watched a YouTube Live, made some plans for December, and so on.

I could relax.

It was a nice weekend.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.28

It was fine and cloudy.

I went to Isehara to learn Mandala String Art. I started around 10:15 and finished around 13:15. First I chose 7 colors. 

Second I hit 64 pins on the wood board. 

Third I marked at the 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, and 60th pins.

Fourth I tied the gold thread to the first pin, and hooked the 31st pins until it came back to the first pin, and tied with the other end at the first pin.

Fifth I tied the silver thread to the first pin, and hooked the 29th pins until it came back to the first pin, and tied with the other end at the first pin.

Sixth I tied the pink thread to the first pin, and hooked the 23rd pins until it came back to the first pin, and tied with the other end at the first pin.

Seventh I tied the purple thread to the first pin, and hooked the 19th pins until it came back to the first pin, and tied with the other end at the first pin.

Eighth I tied the blue green thread to the first pin, and hooked the 17th pins until it came back to the first pin, and tied with the other end at the first pin.

Ninth I tied the blue thread, and hooked the 13th pins until it came back to the first pin, and tied with the other end at the first pin.

Tenth I tied indigo thread and hooked the11th pins until it came back to the first pin, and tied with the other end at the first pin. .  

Eleventh I glued all the knots at the first pin.

I am very happy to have made a very beautiful artwork.

After that the instructor and I went to have late lunch and I headed for Narimasu to attend a commemorative lecture of Ms. Utako Shiratori's new book. It started at 17:00 and lasted for three hours. I learned a lot.

After that eight of us went to have dinner.

It was a nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

2020.11.27

It was fine.

After work I had dinner with my friends at Shibuya. I know both of them and connected them when I was working at the previous job in 2015.

Finally I could introduce them directly.

We had a good time.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.26

It was fine.

Do you know something about 12 zodiac signs? There is a cycle of 12 zodiac signs for time, day, and a year. Today is a day of cock. In November there are three days of cocks this year, and there are festivals on this day at the bird related shrines. Festival of the first cock day is called ichi no tori (一の酉), the second cock day is called ni no tori (二の酉), and the third cock day is called san no tori (三の酉). Today is san no tori, therefore I visited the Otori jinja (大鳥神社) shrine in Meguro.

I arrived there around 7pm and the ceremony has just begun. There was a long waiting line but when I approached at the main building, they were just dedicating the music and dance called okagura (お神楽). Therefore I felt lucky.

This was the third year for me to visit there on the day of cock which is called "Tori no ichi (酉の市)", Cock Market and I bought a rake shaped charm for the first time.

At the shrine there were many shops selling the decoration of rakes. The say the value is from yen1,000 to yen 300,000.

After that I ate dinner at a seafood casual restaurant.

It was a nice evening.

2020.11.25

It was a rainy day.

There was something I wanted to order today for the Cyber Monday special. In the morning it was too early to order. At lunch time it was too late to do. They say the goods were sold out for just 15 minutes.

I applied for a seminar tonight, and it seems accepted.

There is a saying "If a door is closed, a window is open."

This is the fortune telling of May borner written in the newspaper today.

2020.11.24

It was cloudy and very cold.

After four days off I was rather busy at office but it is better than nothing to do.

Usually I read ebooks or emails or Facebook and so on during my commuting. Today I read a book instead after a long time.

In the evening I booked a restaurant for Friday. It must be very delicious.

I got an unexpected call at night. What looks bad usually becomes good. So I am looking for what the future brings.

2020.11.23

It was fine.

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

It is the day when one of the important ceremonies of the year called niinamesai (新嘗祭) is held at the Imperial Palace. The ritual is offered the harvests of the year to the shinto gods by the Emperor and he himself eats with them later. In the shinto shrines around the Japan the ceremony is also taken places.

I visited the nearby shrine to see the ceremony.  It started at 3 pm and lasted for an hour and was very sacred. I am glad to have attended.

I had a good four day weekend.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.22

It was fine.

I expected the roof inspector would come at 10 am, but it seems he has forgot the appointment.

So we changed the schedule.

I left home around 11am and went to Ueno first to visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum to see Seiko Art Exhibition in which my old friend exhibited her art work. Unfortunately she got a cold and took a day off and I could not see her but saw her picture.

After that I visited Nedu shrine and Hakusan shrine which are both one of 10 shrines in Tokyo.

After that I went to Tokyo Big Sight to see the Healing Fair where I met some friends. Compared to the past fairs, the size and the number of the visitors seemed smaller. I have stayed there for three hours or so.

It was another eventful day.

2020.11.21

I slept long and attended the laughter yoga just for 5 to 10 minutes.

First I went to massage in the morning after a long time. She said my body condition was far much better than before.

After that I went to Kimono-style Miya to ask the estimation of repairing the zori shoes.

I visited Iseyama kotai jingu shrine and Naritasan Yokogama branch temple with friends and went to Yokohama to have high tea.

I booked a table of six, but I could not change the number today, so four of us had six sets.

After that I went to the China town to buy something that I learned from the seminar yesterday.

I went to Yokohama to see a Japanese movie. It was a heavy movie.

It was an eventful day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.20

I took a day off.

I walked to the station.

Frist I went to a beauty salon which is my once in two months ritual.

After that I went to Honatsugi to attended a tour which srarted from the Samukawa jinja shrine visit. I visited a nearby shrine and a temple there additionally.

We vistied the caw farm and ate croquett and s softcreme.

After three hours lecture we enjoyed eating and drinking.

It was a nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.19

It was anorher fine and warm autumn day.

There was a meeting in the afternoon, and I could solve some questions.

After coming home I joined a zoom seminar. It was about to create an income through what we like to do.

I like traveling, taking pictures, and publishing. I have been doing for one year and a hal but It does not create another pillar of income yet.

To know customers' needs and to offer them what I can is the way to create income.

To make a clear goal is important was what I learned tonight.

2020.11 18

It was fine and rather warm.

The number of the infected people in Japan and Tokyo is increasing. It exceeds 2200 people per one day nationwide.In Tokyo it was 493 who are newly diagnosed, and it is a new record.

Another news I was surprised was clams on the beach in Kujyukurihama. They don't know the reason why it happened.

2020.11.17

It was fine.

I woke up at 6 am but slept again and took a later train. To my lucky I was in time.

At lunch time and on my way home in Yokosuka I went to banks because today is a payday.

Today is one of the best days in our calendar this year.  It is called tenshabi(天赦日), which happens only seven days or so in a year. Today is the last day of this year.

I hoped to publish another e-photobook, but I could not prepare it.

Instead I enjoyed attending an interesting zoom seminar and made friends.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.16

It was fine.

I am still trying to organize the office room. There are many things left from the person who worked before. It is hard to throw them away and they are just accumlating.

I got some unexpected emails. One of them was from a junior of university. I do not remember but it seems I was with another from the university at the group of rhe seminar.

The other was from my uncle whose address I do not have. He wrote from my dead aunt's email account to tell me her funeral went well yesterday.

Another was from my high school friend. I thought she was in Germany, but it seems she was in Japan until recently to take care of parent-in-law.

2020.11.15

It was fine.

I went to the nearby shrine first as a ritual of the 15th of the month.

November 15 is known as shichigosan (七五三), which means seven, five, three. Those family who have daughters at the age of three and seven, and sons at the age of five go to shrine to pray their healthy growth.

I went to Yokohama to have my hair set and dressed to attend a kimono party.

My appointed time was 10 am.

After wearing kimono I went to see a friend, and had lunch with other friends and went to Iseyama kotai jingu shrine to attend a special prayer. It was held at the beautiful place.

We visited Naritasan temple and went to a kimono shop.

At night there was a big kimono party. There were kimono fashion.show.

It was a nice day.

Thank you, thsnk you, thank you. thank you.

2020.11.14

It was fine.

I stayed at home all day long.

In the morning I got a call from my uncle in Hiroshima. He said his sister, my aunt, died of cancer last night. Her funeral will be held only by her family.So my brother and I decided to send a bouquet.

I prepared the kimono for tomorrow.

Today was the last day of the free campaign. My fourth e-photobook became No. 1 in three sections and two sections in Japan and the USA respectedly.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11 13

It was fine.

The first day of the new office.

In the morning I attended the photo shooting session for the website.

In the afternoon I tried to clear the room.

After work I went to Shinagawa to have dinner. I checked Shinagawa and Shanghai crab by website and went to a Chinese restaurant but unfortunately rhey did not have Shanghai crab.

There were some Christmas decorations here and there.

2020.11.12

It was fine.

Today at the office I moved to another room. Physical moving was not difficult after a year stay, but there were many data accumulated in the PC, so it took a while to delete. To my lucky I could ask someone in charge of IT.

I booked the medical check for women's section. I was going to book this month, but it seems crowded.

After coming home, my neighbor visited me to tell something.

I gave her a small present from the trip. I am glad she liked it.

2020.11.11

It was fine and beautiful.

I went to Miyajima with a friend by car and ferry.

When we got there the ceremony started.

I could walk to the great torii gate in the sea for the first time, though it is under construction.

After having lunch, we also ate Oyster and Pie Momiji sweets which are local specialities.

We visited another shrine and waterfalls

I visited my grandparents' and uncles' graveyard after a long time.

I came back home safe and sound.

It was a nice refreshing vacation.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.10

It was cloudy, partially rained, and became fine.

I went to Izumotaisha in the morning by myself but someone talked to me and explained many things which I missed yesterday. I felt lucky.

After having breakfast I changed to kimono and attended the bus tour to Miho shrine. We ate lunch first, and visited a temple where was not included in our plan. There we had a chance to see four sculptures of national treasures. 

We paid a formal visit to Miho shrine.

Everything went well.

I changed my schedule and took an earlier bus to Hiroshima.

After checked in the hotel, I went out for dinner, and ate the famous local foods called okonomiyaki. Hiroshima's okonomiyaki includes noodles. I could use the local coupon.

It was another nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.9

It was fine.  

After checking out I took an earlier train than scheduled and headed for Izumo at 10:10.

 After arriving Takeoya ryokan where is very famous inn because the owner is one of the popular musicians.

I had one hour and a half before the meeting time, so I walked around.

After the visiting tour started, an accident happened. My zori shoes broke suddenly.

After the formal visit and other visit to the shrines, I tried to fix it. To my very lucky I happened to find a Photo studio, and I asked if they have zori shoes, and they did. I said I buy them, but they said "We don't need them and you can have them." So my big problem was fixed unexpected way.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Dinner was very delicious.

Lecture was interesting.

It was a Very nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2020.11.8

It was fine and beautiful.

We started early to see the sunrise. It was very nice.

Breakfast was nice too. Racoon dogs came to visit us.

From 10 am for an hour we enjoyed the cruise around the Sensuijima island. And we had a birthday event.

After that we cooked rice by bamboo trees, and we made salt. It was really nice.

After that I came to Matsue to have a crab dinner with my friend, but unfortunately the restaurant we were supposed to go was closed and we could not eat crab.

Because of Covid-19, the public bath of the hotel was also closed.

However I had a good time totally.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.7

It was cloudy and slightly rained.

Tidai us ritto(立冬), first day of winter.

I came to Sensuijina via Tomonoura via Tomonoura where I happened to see a volunteer guide and attended the free tour which was really nice.

In Sensui jima I enjoyed Edo buro.

Dinber was very nice.

I gad a good day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2020.11.6

It was cloudy. 

I attended a symposium in the morning.

I took an hour off to attend a monthly meeting in the evening.

I was supposed to take a 19:30 Shinkansen to Okayama tonight, but I changed the schedule to listen to the every important news at the meeting and took one hour later Shinkansen which is the last one tonight.

It is bound for Okayama, so I felt lucky to know that there is no fear to sleep over.

The hotel I booked was directly connected to the station. It was so convenient even if I arrived at midnight. I am glad to have sent my carry case beforehand.

Good start of trip, isn't it?

2020.11.5

It was fine and beautiful.

I submitted the Year-end adjustment document today. Until last year we submitted the paper document, but this year we submitted by online exceot the original certificates of payment for insurance.

I am trying to fix the plan during the trip to Sensuijima island.

I like planning.

2020.11.4

It was fine but cold. Mt. Fuji looked very beautiful with the moon.

They said the kogarashi No. 1 blew today.

In the USA it is a big day.  I can't believe it has been already passed four years!

When I was in the USA in 1996, the voting paper is one of the most surprising one. In Japan election is always held on Sunday, but in the USA it is held on Tuesday. That was also a surprise.

When I was in the USA from 2006 to 2008, I noticed about the seal "I voted."

We will see who will be soon.

2020.11.3

It was fine.

November 3 is a national holiday called bunka no hi (文化の日), Culture Day. 

It is Emperor Meiji's birthday, and had been called Tencho setsu (天長節) during Meiji era, and Meiji setsu (明治節) in early Showa era.

One this day, there is the award ceremony for those who contributed to the culture.

I stayed home all day long today to prepare for the trip this weekend.

2020.11.2

It was a rainy day.

I felt sleepy, tired, and shoulder tense today. I have never experienced this before but this may be what is called improving reaction after visiting the formal visit to the shrine.

I am glad tomorrow is off.

2020.11.1

A new month has started. November is juichigatsu(11月、十一月) or shimotsuki(霜月), frost month in Japanese.

Today is a good day to start something.

I have publushed my 4th e-photobook.

I started the day early.

First I arranged the plant, rice, salt, and water of the house Shinto shrine.

After that I visited the nearby shrine.

I headed for Kimono-stle Miya to have my hairset, makeup, and dressed up.

I visited Iseyama kotai jingu shrine and Naritasan temple.

I went to Hie shrine to have  a formal visit event. This is the first experience for me to organsize.

There were 7 participants .

It was a great success.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.