2024.1.31

It was fine.

The last day of January.

How was your January?

I have three ways to look back the past month.

1.  To make a photo album by Nohana. I choose 20 pictures and make a photo album. There is a coupon of free album, therefore I can get the album by just postage of 290 yen.

2.  In the evening of the last day of every month I have a zoom meeting for two hours or so to share the good things happened in a month. It is a fun meeting to practice to speak English.  Today there were four people and we enjoyed talking.

3.  To make a photobook of Sunlight pictures of the month by Kindle Direct Publishing.  It is free.

My events of this month were to see the first sunrise, first visit to the shrines and temples, visit seven lucky gods in Ebara, and have a reunion of the high school in China Town in Yokohama.

I published two books and they became No.1 in the USA and Japan.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2024.1.29

It was fine but cold. During the daytime it became warm.

At work I had a chance to talk with a colleague. It was fun to know each other. We decided to have dinner near future. 

There was an interview with Division Manager for the next contract.

After work I went grocery shopping just for a few items, but I bought too much. 

There has been an offer of a chance of cultural exchange, but it was canceled.

2024.1.29

It was fine. 

Mt.Fuji looked very beautiful.

I stayed at home all day long and worked.

 

In the evening I cooked dinner.

At night I ordered the boxes and some clothings through Internet.

2024.1.28

It was fine.

There was a big earthquake this morning.

I was surprised to receive the registered mail in the morning. It was a set of gift certificate I applied for the other day.

I walked to the station and got one day ticket in Yokohama. I went to the China Town to attend a luncheon of high school classmates. 10 people attended.

This was the third time for us to use the restaurant. There were 10 dishes with all you can drink and It cost yen 8000 for cash only. It was fun to see old friends.

After that I went to the Artrick Museum and Guan Di Miao Temple in Yokohama China Town.

It was a nice day.

2024.1.27

It was fine.

I stayed at home all day long.

In the morning I received the redelivered registered mail.

Around noon a buyer came to evaluate and buy things I do not need any more.

I just wanted them to take everything, but they could not.

Only they could buy were some bags, some watches, and many ties by a very small amount of money.

They say their salary depends on how much they could buy. After they buy, they clean everything and resell or make donations.

There are so many things I want to throw away. So some day I will ask them again.

At night I attended a zoom seminar about February calendar. It was fun.

2024.1.26

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

There was an accident and the road was so crowded on my way to the office.

Sky after sunset was so red and beautiful in the evening.

Wolf full moon is so bright and beatiful at night.

It may be because of coldness.

I was surprised to receive the goods I ordered last night.

I attended a zoom meeting at night.

2024.1.25

It was fine and Mt.Fuji looked so beautiful with white snow. 

Color of the Sagami Bay was so blue, and

color at the sunset sky was so red.

Tomorrow is the fullmoon and the white moon looked so beautiful.

What a beautiful world we are living!

I was going to make a new book, but after all I watched TV dramas, and I could not.

2024.1.24

It was fine. 

It seems the bottom snow of Mt. Fuji was melted.

I stayed and worked at home.

To my delight my 112th book became No.1 in the USA and Japan.

At night I attended a zoom meeting  about travel abroad.

2024.1.23

It was fine, but there were strange clouds too.

Mt. Fuji looked so beautiful covered with snow all the way to the base.

It was warm during the day time.

Now it is windy.

The color of sunset sky was so beautiful.

Today free promotion of my 112th ebook started.To my delight it's been No.1 in Japan before I announce the promotion.

Isn't it great?

After work I went grocery shopping.

2024.1.22

It was cloudy in the morning, and became rainy in the evening.

I published the 112th ebook this morning. It became No.9 in Japan around noon.

After work I went grocery shopping.

I cooked dinner but while I was checking the mails, it was overcooked, and the pot burned. I could manage to have it cleaned.

At night I watched some TV pqograms.

2024.1.21

It was cloudy and cold.

I stayed at home all day long.

I cleared in the morning, and made the 112th ebook in the afternoon.

I watched some TV programs at night.

My 112th book is just released.

2024.1.20

It was a cold rainy day.

Today is Daikan (大寒), one of nijushisekki (二十四節気), 24 solar terms. The last one was Shokan (小寒) on January 6 and the next one is Risshun (立春) on February 4.

Daikan literally means big cold and it was really cold today.

In the morning a salesman of the fire and earthquake insurance company came to explain the plan and tried simulations. I decided the insurance amount for household goods to be reduced.

In the afternoon I tried to make a book.

2024.1.19

It was fine.

Five years will be passed. 

Since when?

It's been almost five years since I made the contract of fire and earthquake insurance.

Before that my father did and pay.

After my father passed away and the contract expired, I had to purchase insurance for the house by myself. 

It is rather expensive. It is possible to pay annually but if you purchase for five years you can save for 10% or so.

Japan is a country of earthquakes and there were big earthquakes on January 1 this year. So I feel the necessity of having the insurance.

Recently I received the documents and a call today. The person in charge will come to explain tomorrow.

I hope I can negotiate the reasonable one.

2024.1.18

It was fine.

Yesterday there was the announcement of the lucky numbers of Otoshidama new year's cards. Today they were on the newspapers. So I checked my new year's cards. 

No. 1 is yen 300,000 in cash or yen 310,000 by electric money or special stamps with yen 200,000 in cash.

 

No.2  is a mail order gift.

No.3 is a sheet of stamps.

I got 2 postcards of No.3.  There were three numbers, but both were 00.

Many people stopped sending the new years cards. And the postage will be raised from yen 63 to yen 85 this year. So more people will stop sending next year. But I hope to keep sending as long as possible.

2024.1.17

It was fine.

I stayed and worked at home.

Good things of the remote work are to save time for commuting and money for lunch. I cooked French toast today.

After work I went to cafe for an appointment. I tried the new menu.

I got a Christmas letter from my first American friend's family whom we have become friends in the summer of 1983. Their son and nephews and niece will be coming to Japan in March.

I am looking forward to seeing them.

2024.1.16

It was fine but very cold.

After coming home, I cooked dinner and ate in a hurry.

After that I had a zoom session as a gift, but it seemed she has totally forgotten. 

So the purpose has changed, and after all I consulted about the publication of the book. It was fun.

There was something I promised to make on Sunday, and I did.

2024.1.15

It was fine.

I went to a  nearby shrine before going to work as a ritual of the 15th.

Today is my dead father's 89th birthday.

There was an online meeting with colleagues in many different locations. I expected to see their faces but they were too small to recognize.

After work I went grocery shopping.

I listened to the recorded radio program of Kansai area in which my teacher appeared as a guest speaker by podcast. How convenient this world progressed!

2024.1.14

It was fine.

I got up and wore kimono and went to the Kimono Style Miya to have my hair set, makeup, dressed up, and pictures taken.

I went to Iseyama kotai jingu shrine and Naritasan temple Yokohama branch for the first visit of the year.

After that I went to Waseda to visit Anahachimangu shrine to receive the special amulet called "Ichiyo raifuku (一陽来復) ” which is only given from winter solstice to setsubun (節分), a day before the first day of spring, and there are only three timings to put on the good luck direction of the year. 

This is the fourth year for me to visit there with friends and have afternoon tea. It had been crowded for the past three times, but this year it was not so crowded.

We visited Hojoji temple, Ryusenin temple, Horinji temple, and Hosenji temple after that, and we headed for the Garden Lounge of RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo to have Afternoon Tea.

It was a nice day.

2024.1.13

It was fine but cold. 

I saw the beautiful sunset.

I stayed at home all day long to prepare for tomorrow and make the next book.

To my delight my 111th ebook has been No.1 in the USA and Japan.

Tomorrow I will visit Anahachimangu shrine and have Afternoon Tea with friends. This is the 4th year event. I am very looking forward to seeing them after a long time.

2024.1.12

It was fine.

　　

I stayed at home and worked at home.

Promotion of the 111th book started yesterday. When I checked the rank, in the USA it was No.1 in Star Gazing, No.2 in Japanese Travel, and No.3 in Nature and Wildlife Photography and No.1 in Japan in many sections.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I was going to publish the 112th ebook but did not but at least started preparing.

Today I received the return gift from Hekinan City in Aichi.

2024.1.11

It was cloudy and very cold.

January 11 is known as kagami biraki (鏡開き),  opening mirror.

It is the day to eat the kagami mochi (鏡餅), mirror rice cakes, which are round piled rice cakes decorated for new years.

I ate as oshiruko (お汁粉), sweet red bean soup.

Present campaign of the 110th book was over, and of the 111th has started. It is a collection of sunlight pictures I took in December 2023.It was released on January 1, and it's been No.1 in Japan since then. How nice!

I hope you enjoy it too.

I watched a recorded movie on TV, but it was not recorded everything. How disappointing!

I am planning a shrine visiting and afternoon tea event next Sunday. This is the 4th year. I hope everything will be all right.

2024.1.10

It was fine and cold.

On my way home I dropped at the gas station I went to yesterday to register the credit card information which I could not do because I did not bring the card.

After dinner I revised the manuscript of the No.110 book which is now on promotion.

My ex-colleague found the typo and let me know. How kind!

At night I attended a zoom meeting, which my friend wanted to let me know the benefit.

Indeed it might be good, but I don't feel like becoming a member now.

I got pictures taken on December 23, 2023.

2024.1.9

It was fine but very cold.

The other day when I went to Meiji jingu shrine, I bought a bag of my favorite candy and I distributed it to my colleagues. It was a very small one, but two of them gave me another sweets in return saying ''thank you always." They were very delicious.

On my way home I went to a gas station to fill up the car. I used the Key to pay. They said if I use the application, I can save more. So I registered, and they gave me a box of tissue paper.

I received many new year's cards after three day weekend today. Most of them were return messages of my new year cards.They admired my activities of 2023 which I summerized. I am glad to hear that they looked forward to reading my new year's card every year.

The postage will be raised this year, and I will reduce the number of cards I send next year but I hope to keep sending as long as possible.

At night I attended a zoom event but fell asleep.

2024.1.8

It was fine.

Today is a national holiday called Seijin no hi (成人の日), Coming-of-Age Day.

It used to be on January 15, but it has become the second Monday of January since 2000.

In Japan to be 20 years old was to be an adult, but from April 1, 2022 adult means to be 18 years old. 

How old is an adult in your country?

Today is the last day of the three day weekend.

I went to Sugita to have my hair cut and perm, to a kimono shop, and to see a Japanese movie.

2024.1.7

It was fine.

I stayed at home all day long and watched some recorded movies.

January 7 is known as Nanakusa, seven herbs. At new year we eat lots of delicious foods and drink too much.

Therefore we eat seven herb porridge to rest our stomache.

I cooked  porridge for lunch.

My 109th book campaign was over and the 110th started. To my delight it became No.1 in Japan.

It's been a week since the Great Earthquakes in Noto peninsula. There are still earthquakes happening and it's been raining and snowing and very cold.They need support.

2024.1.6

It was fine and very beautiful.

Today is shokan (小寒), one of nijushisekki (二十四節気), 24 solar terms. The last one was toji (冬至) on December 22, and the next one is daikan (大寒) on January 20. Shokan means small cold. It is the beginning of coldness.

I went to Aomono yokocho to visi the Seven Lucky Gods in Ebara. It is about 6.5km and takes about 2 hours. However one of the shrine was so crowded that I had to wait for two hours before entering the precinct.

After that I went to the Meiji jingu shrine.

Then I went to Ochanomizu to attend the monthly meeting.

Three of us went to have dinner.

I walked and walked and got tired.

2024.1.5

It was fine and cold.

I got up early, did TV exercise after a long time, made lunch, read newspaper and went to work.

After work I went to grocery shopping.

After coming back I cooked dinner and ate.

I attended a zoom tea party of my friend, and since there was only myself we enjoyed talking. 

After that I attended another zoom semimar.

2024.1.4

It was cloudy and fine and very cold.

Today is the first day of the work this year. 

I got up early and prepared for lunch.

To my delight my 109 ebook became No.1 in the USA. 

I am glad to receive an email whom I sent the new year's card but who stopped sending the new year's card.

2024.1.3

It was fine.

Today is the last day of my winter vacation.

I stayed at home all day long.

The 100th anniversary Hakone Ekiden Day 2 was ended by the new record of Aoyama gakuin University. Congratulation!

My present campaign of 108th ebook was over and of the 109th has started. To my delight they became No.1 and No.2 in Australia.

I watched many TV programs.

I attended the zoom session by my friend which was very interesting.

2024.1.2

It was cloudy.

I stayed at home all day long.

In the morning I attended a zoom meeting of new yeas's gift presentation.

There was the first half of Hakone Ekiden road race. After the race I happened to see my friend who is an alumni of the winner university.

I watched a movie and a drama on TV.

There was an accident at the Haneda Airport.

2024.1.1.

Happy New Year 2024!!

After midnight I went to the nearby shrine for the first visit.

I received red and white rice cakes and a small cup of sake,  I saw  the charm for the first time so that I bought it.

After coming home I went there again to return the amulets of the last year to burn.

I took a bath and went to bed, and got up early to see the sun rise.  

It seemed to have rained before I went to the shrine, but it was fine all day long.

I saw the beautiful sunrise and sunset.

I published the 111th ebook.

I got new year's cards early morning, and I prepared the ones I did not and I went to the post office to post.

 After that I went to the Kainan jinja shrine. It was so crowded. I bought the charm I saw on the Town news.

There was lion dragon dance performance and I attended.

I happened to see my friend.

After coming home I cooked Ozoni by the rice cakes I got at the shrine.

I watched three movies on TV.

It was a nice New Year Day for me.

But there were big earthquakes in Hokuriku.

2023.12.31

New year's eve.

It rained in the morning but became fine in the afternoon.

We can expect to see the first sunrise tomorrow.

I stayed at home and prepared for the New Year such as inhouse shrine and new year's cards.

How was your 2023?

Mine was another impressive year.　

From January to March I studied calendar reading and tour conducting.

From April I started the new job. 

Almost every month I went somewhere.

I enjoyed visiting waterfalls, having Afternoon Tea wearing Kimono, meeting friends, watching movies, publishing 50 ebooks, and so on.

I