2021.11.30

It was fine, but it seems to have rained in the daytime around here because the earth was wet when I got back to my station.

I published the 28th ebook today. It is about Nepal where I visited in September 2011.

At night I had a zoom tea party to share the good stories happened in November in English. Three of us enjoyed a lot.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2021.11.29

It was fine.

There were thin white clouds like waves and wings in the morning, and I saw the beautiful Mt. Fuji and the half moon.

In the morning there was an accident and the train delayed a little bit.

On my way back I saw the new Keikyu train with the bathrooms. There are fewer seats than usual and I had to stand.

Usually I wait for another train to sit, but there are lots of things I want to do at home and chose to stand.

2021.11.28

It was fine.

I got up early,  made lunch, left home before 6AM  and went to Isehara to get together with 6 Reiki friends to go up to Oyama Aburi Jinja shrine located at the top of Mt. Oyama at 1,251.7 meters high.

Weather was perfect and Mt. Fuji looked so beautiful and we could see not only Enoshima and Miura peninsula, but slso Chiba, Tokyo and Izu peninsula.

We really had a good time.

Thank you, thank you  thank you.

2021.11.27

It was fine.

I took a trial seminar about fun reading in the morning. It is a kind of speed reading but the main point is not speed but fun. Using four different brain functions at the same time and enhancing the right brain. It was interesting.

After having lunch I went to Sugita, then Ueno to visit the calligraphy exhibition and visited the Bentendo and Daikokudo at the Shinobazu pond.

At the Ueno park I happened to see the moving exhibition of Patrick Gerola, and asked him to take a picture with me.

After that I went to Roppongi to visit the Izumo taisha Tokyo branch and two art exhibitions at the National Art Center, Tokyo.  I met some Strings Mandala Artists and talked and took some pictures.

After that I went to Yokohama to see a Japanese movie "Moe yo ken (燃えよ、剣)" Baragaki, Unbroken Samurai.  Last Sunday I visited Takahata fudoson temple and knew it has a close relationship with Shinsengumi (新撰組), especially Toshizo Hijikata (土方歳三) and Isami Kondo (近藤勇). And I felt that I'd better watch this movie while it is showing.

2021.11.26

It was fine.

At night I atteded a zoom seminar, and after that I had a chance to talk with my friiends over the phone for nothing. It was nice to talk to know each other without paying and worrying about the cost.

Online seminars are very convenient because people from different places can get together easily without paying transportation. This was one of the benefits we got from the Covid-19 situation, wasn't it ?

2021.11.25

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!

It was fine.

It is Thanksgiving in the USA, but not.in Japan.

So we do.not have anything special to eat.

At night I attended an exchamge meeting, snd there were thee breakoit roons. Each time there was a theme about Chridtmas. When did you know there is no Ssnta? What did you get for the Christmas present ? What fid you eat for Christmas? 

I did not remember well when I was small.

2021.11.24

It was fine.

At lunch time I went out to visit the Iwate products market which opens only once in a month.  When I went to the place, the venue itself was closed.  I was wondering what has happened.  I just walked around and found the market at the end of the corridor. I was glad to find it but unfortuately there were nothing attracting me this time.

At night there were some options to do  and I chose the PC support meeting.

Today I got an invitation to the end of the year and the beginning of the year service from the  Kashihara Jingu shrine in Nara. There was a present of ingredients of making Toso (屠蘇), the new year celebration sake in the envelope.

Thank you  thank you, thank you.

2021.11.23

It was fine.

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

It was used to be Niinamesai (新嘗祭), a Japanese harvest ritual.

There was a Niinamesai, Shinto ritual festival at the nearby shrine and I went to see it around 3PM.

After that I went grocery shopping.

I cooked rice with the one I got at the Izumo shrine the other day.

2021.11.22

It was a rainy day.

Today is shosetsu (小雪), one of nijushisekk (二十四節気), the 24 solar terms. Last one was ritto (立冬) on November 7, and the next one is taisetu (大雪) on December 7.

Shosetsi literally means small snow and taisetsu literally means big snow.

November 22nd is known as iifufuni hi (いい夫婦), Day of the Good Couples.

2021.11 21

It was cloudy and rainy.

I left home around 9:20 and went to Ono jinja shrine where my friend dedicated the dance.

After that I went to Takahata fudo temple. There were many things to see there.

Then I went to Otori jinja shrine for Ni no tori (二の酉), the second cock market.

I had dinner with my advisor of the graduate school after a long time.

2021 11.20

It was fine.

I went to Kimono-Style Miya to have hairset, makeup, dressed up, and my pictures taken.

After that I visited  shrines and temples.

And I went to Sugita to visit another kimono shop.

It was nice day.

2021.11.19

It was fine.

Today is the fullmoon, and also lunar eclipse.

I saw the vague moon from the train.

I watched a movie my power spot meister classmate was one of the main characters on the train. It was interesting.

After coming home, I prepared kimono for tomorrow and other things.

2021.11.18

It was fine.

Today is the opening day of Beaujolais nouveau.

On my way back I attended a zoom follow up seminar on the train. It was supposed to finish at 10 pm but lasted for more than one hour and a half.....

I was going to attend another event, but could not.

2021.11.17

It was fine.

After waking up, I fell asleep, and got up at the time I usually leave home. I was in a hurry and took a later train and managed in time.

At lunch time, I went out.

After work I dropped at Yokosukachuo to visit some banks.

At night when I was reading the newspaper, I happened to find an article which my neighbor posted. I was surprised to see the age.

2021.11.16

It was fine.

I have felt muscle pains on my calf and thighs because of climbing Mt. Misen since yesterday.

Today it was broadcast the YouTube by Mr. Fujimoto which we witnessed the recording at the Takenoya in Izumo in the night on November10.

I am glad to see that finally.

2021.11.15

It was fine.

I went to the nearby shrine before taking a train as the ritual of the 15th day of the month.

Today is shichihosan (七語), literally seven, five, three.

Those who have children at the age of seven  five, and three usually have them dressed up and go to the shrine to pray for their healthy growth.

2021.11.14

It was fine.

I checked out the hotel in the morning, left the suitcase there, and headed for Miyajima by train and ferry. 

There I visited the Itsukushima jinja shrine first as usual.

I was not going to climb Mt. Musen, but after all I used the ropeway and went up there. Weather was nice, so as scenery. 

After all I stayed there two more hours and decided to take a later train.

I came home around 11:30 pm.

It was a nice trip to Sanin Sanyo.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2021.11.13

It was fine.

My uncle came to the hotel to pick me up at 9 am, and we went to our family graves at Koenji temple and Jissoji temple for my grandmother's side.

After that we went to my dead aunt's house. It's been just a year since she  died of cancer.  

We went to a crab restaurant to have lunch. I love crab, so as my aunt in law.

I went to Shukkeien garden, and met a Facebook friend. It was the first time to see each other, however we enjoyed talking as if we have known each other for a long time.

Finally I met my ex-colleague of the first year of teaching job to have dinner.  It's seen a while since we  saw each other .  We enjoyed eating and talking.

It was a nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2021.11.12

It was fine and partially rained.

I met my friend after a year and went to Jinnoko lake and Daiseiryu jinja shrine for the first time. There were many good things happened and we had a good time there having lunch at a very nice place and had sweets at a special place my friend recommended.

And we went to Ogashira jinja shrine and Imose no taki waterfalls after a year.

At night I met two friends at a nice place to have delicious dinner. We have known for four months or so through zoom, but this was the first time to see each other. We enjoyed eating delicious foods and talking.

It was a nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2021.11.11

It was fine, cloudy, and rainy but every timing was perfect and I did not have to use an umbrella.

I got up around 6 am and after the TV exercise, I changed to kimono, and ate rich breakfast.

We left for Miho jinja shrine and Bukkokuji temple around 9 am and came back to Izumo around 16:00.

I had tea and dinner with participants of the tour and came to Hiroshima by bus.

It was a nice trip to Izumo for the third time.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2021.11.10

It was fine in Hiroshima, but partially rained on my way to Izumo, happened to find a beautiful rainbow in a valley, and slightly rained in Izumo but I did not have to use an umbrella.

I left the hotel around 8:30, and took a long distance bus to Izumo stopping at Enokawa for 10 minutes, and arrived at Izumo city and changed another bus for 30 minutes and arrived at the Japanese style Inn named Takenoya which owner is a famous pop singer song writer, Maria Takeuchi.

We visited the Izumo Oyashiro shrine for three hours, had a delicious dinner, and had two hours and a half lesson at night.

It was a nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2021.11.9

It was a rainy day.

Today is Ichi no tori (一の酉), the first day of cock market. In November on the day of cock which happens every 12th day, there will be a market at the cock related shrines. There will be two days of cock this yeat. So I will go to Otori jinja (大鳥神社) shrine on November 21 for ni no tori (二の酉), the second day of cock market, so called tori no ichi (酉の市). I thought it was a nation-wide festival, but found out they were more popular in the Kanto area.

After work I headed for Hiroshima by Shinkansen. It takes about four hours.

Hiroshima station was so changed in a year.

2021.11.8

It was cloudy, fine, and rainy.

Today last year I was in Sensuijima, Hiroshima and celebrated the new-born birthday on the boat.

A year passed so quickly.

I will go to Hiroshima tomorrow night and to Izumo the day after tomorrow.

I am looking forward to visiting some shrines and temples for three years straight.

2021.11.7

It was cloudy.

Today is ritto (立冬), one of the nijushisekki (二十四節気), the 24 solar terms. The last one is soko (霜降) on October 23, and the next one is shosetsu (小雪) on November 22. Ritto literally means stand winter, and it is the first day of winter.

I went shopping in the morning.

From 11 am to 4 pm there was an online festival to make both adults and children happy by my classmates. It was a nice opportunity to know them.

2021.11.6

It was cloudy.

When I checked FB messenger, there was a message of chair yoga starting in 5 minutes.

I felt lucky and enjoyed practicing after a long time.

I prepared Kimono for the next week.

In the afternoon I went to Ikebukuro to attend a special SDG's event which I got the invitation with a friend. It was held outdoor and it was rather cool. There were many programs in less than two hours.

The seat numbers were 99 and 100. Isn't it great?

There were sometime before the event, I visited my ex-work place.

After that we went to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Since it's been a long time since we met last, we enjoy talking while eating.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2021.11.5

It was fine.

I took an hour off to attend a monthly meeting. I was escorted to the front seat in spite of arriving just a few minutes before starting. I felt so lucky. It was nice to hear the success stories.

I walked to the place. It is one stop by subway but I could walk within 20 minutes or so.

2021.11.3

It was fine.

It is a national holiday called Bunka no hi (文化の日) , Culture Day.

First I went to the Beauty Salon in Sugita to have my hair cut and permed. I asked the owner to bring all the comic books of Kimetsu no yaiba (鬼滅の刃), which is very popular in Japan and enjoyed reading three books out of 20 or so.  

After that I visited a kimono shop and Softbank.

Second I went to a travel agency in Shinagawa to book the tickets for the next week.

Third I went to Hinodecho to get massage, and visited a shrine and a temple as always.

Finally I went to Kawasaki to see a Japanese  movie which was very nice.

After that I could buy mini roll cakes of chocolate taste at GODIVA which was sold out the other day using a gift coupon I got for my birthday.

It was a nice holiday.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2021.11.2

It was fine.

I read many ebooks today on the train. Some were as a free promotion, others were Kindle Unlimited, and another was a part of the book for a sample.

Ebooks are very convenient, and I enjoy reading a lot.

At lunch time I watch NHK's morning drama. The new series started yesterday. I also watch YouTubes.

At night I attended a monthly forereading meeting.

There are many things we can enjoy for nothing.

2021.11.1

A new month has started. November is juichi gatsu (11月 or 十一月), the eleventh month or shimotsuki (霜月), frost month.

November is the start month for tea ceremony world.

I changed the leaves, rice, and salt of the house shrine in the morning, and went to the nearby shrine before going to work.

At lunch time I went to some banks and the post office to transfer money. To my interest handling charges were quite different by the mode and sending banks.  Between the same banks, it cost yen110, from a bank account to another bank it cost yen330, and from the same bank window by cash it cost yen440. If it was from the different bank, it costs yen660.  If we use the internet banking, it is much cheaper.