2013.8.26

At night I went to practice small ball exercise.  From today the new term started.  There were about 20 women and a man.  I know some of them from the last term.  It lasts for one hour and costs 500 yen each.  Today's menu was mostly from Yoga lesson.  Next time it will be mainly aerobics.  Both time we do small ball exercise too.  I enjoy Yoga. 

１０月１５日（jyugatsu jyugo nichi）： October 15

I watched the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Tokyo 2011 on TV today.
The result of Japanese women was not so good but men's was good.
Yesterday, Mr. Kohei Uchimura(内村航平) has become a champion for three times straight for Men's All Around which was the first in history.
Today he got a gold medal for Men's Floor Exercise. It has been 37 years since a Japanese man got a gold medal for this program last time. Congratulations!
He said he was glad to get it but not satisfied with the contents.
We can expect more for his future performance.

８月２０日（hachigatsu hatsuka）： August 20

There was the final match of the high school baseball games. Nichidai sanko (日大三校)from west Tokyo area became a champion at the 93rd summer tournament. It's been 10 years since they became a champion last time in 2001. They are the top of 4014 teams all over Japan. They had a match with Koseigakuin (光星学院) from Aomori (青森) and won by 11 to 0. Congratulations!
There were about 47,000 spectators at the Koshien (甲子園) stadium today.

Today I was glad to find a newspaper article of the person whom I met in Expo '92.

７月１３日（shichigatsu jyusan nichi）： July 13

New records were made in the Sumo (相撲) world, and women's world cup soccer. But they are still on the way to go to the new goal. Good luck!

４月２４日（shigatsu nijyuyokka）： April 24

There was an election for city assembly members today.

There was the 65th All Japan Gymnastic Championship. Mr. Kohei Uchimura (内村航平) became a champion for 4 times straight and Ms. Koko Tsurumi (鶴見虹子) became a champion for 6 times straight which was the first in the history.
He said first day he did well but he could not satisfy his performance today at all even though he became a champion.
She said she was going to enjoy without worrying about the result and that she felt relieved.

I have a friend in London and she often says "Come to see the Olympic." If I have a chance to see the London Olympic, I hope to see the exhibition of gymnastics.

４月３日（shigatsu mikka）： April 3

It was cloudy and cold. It will be cold again tomorrow, but warm from the day after tomorrow.
There was the final match of the 83rd Senbatsu (選抜), National High School Baseball Invitation Tournament. Tokaidaisagami (東海大相模) high school became the champion. It's been 11 years since they became the champion last time.
I did not watch any games but know their victory from TV news. Since they are from Kanagawa (神奈川) prefecture where I live, I am glad to hear that.
Congratulations!!

２月２７日（nigagtsu nijyushichi nichi）： February 27

There was the 5th Tokyo Marathon 2011 today. They say 33,353 people attended the full marathon race and 32,416 participants (97.2%) completed the distance of 42.195km.
The first male runner took 2 hours 7 minutes and 35 seconds and got 8 million yen for the prize. The first female runner took 2 hours 27 minutes 29 seconds.
About 330,000 people applied and 1 in 9.5 got the ticket to join. There were chances for those who donate the money as the charity. 706 people joined in this way and yen 71,760,000 gathered. About 1 million yen will be sent to New Zealand where had a big earthquake last week.

１月３０日（ichigatsu sanjyu nichi）： January 30

There was the final game of the soccer of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011. Japan became a champion. It was the fourth victory which is the most in history.
I did not watch the game but knew by the news.
Congratulations!

１月２２日（ichigatsu nijyuni nichi）： January 22

January Grand Sumo Tournament started on January 9 at Kokugikan (国技館) and will last until tomorrow. But before that Yokozuna Hakuho (横綱白鵬) became a champion. He has been a champion for 6 times straight. And this is his 18th victory.
Congratulations!

１月３日（ichigatsu mikka）： January 3

The first three days of January are called shogatsu sanganichi (正月三が日). Shogatsu is new year. Sanganichi is 3 days. Most office workers have holidays until today.
Today's big news was the second day of the Hakone Ekiden.
Waseda University (早稲田大学：waseda daigaku) won the race at 10 hours 59 minutes 51 seconds which was the new record in 87 years' history. It was the 13th victory for them after 18 years. They won Izumo Ekiden (出雲駅伝) in October and Zen Nihon Daigaku Ekiden(全日本駅伝, all Japan collegiate long distance relay race) in November, so they accomplished the triple crown of the main long distance relay races. It is the third university that got the triple crown.
The second was Toyo University after 21 seconds which was also the new record. They got 4 distances awards.
Congratulations!

１月２日（ichigatsu futsuka）： January 2

Things of January 2 in Japan are hatsuyume(初夢:first dream), kakizome (書き初め:first writing),Kokyo ippan sanga (皇居一般参賀:People's visiting at the Imperial Palace for offering their congratulations), and Hakone Ekiden(箱根駅伝:first day of the collegiate long distance relay race between Tokyo and Hakone).
It is a very nice day for Kokyo ippan sanga and Hakone Ekiden, and many people visited both places.
I watched the live telecast of the first day of the 87th Hakone Ekiden. 20 university teams joined and competed the 5 distances of 108 km from Tokyo (東京) to Hakone (箱根). Toyo University (東洋大学: toyo daigaku) won the race at 5 hours 29 minutes 50 seconds for 3 years' straight. It was their new record.
The 5th runner of Toyo University, Ryuji Kashiwabara (柏原竜二), aka Yama no kami (山の神: God of the Mountain) did not renew his record, but he got the 5th distance award for 3 years' straight. When he got the sash, he was in the 3rd, there were about 2 minutes 22 seconds behind. But he finished as the first, and the second runner came 27 seconds behind.
Congratulations!

十一月二十六日（jyuichigatsu nijyuroku nichi）： November 26

At the 16th Asian Games many Japanese athletes and players got the medals.
Today men's volleyball team, softball team, men's javelin thrower, women's 55kg wrestler, women's 61kg karate, men's single free skating, canoe men's kayak pair 200m, canoe women's kayak single 200m, canoe men's kayak single 200m got the gold medals. Congratulations!!
I happened to see the interview of Yoshida Saori (吉田　沙保里), woman wrestling champion of 55kg on TV. She said even she got the gold medal today, she exercised after that too.
I thought "Practice makes perfect."

十一月二十二日（jyuichigatsu nijyuni nichi）： November 22

I have just watched the women's 100m race at the 2010 16th Asian Games. Chisato Fukushima (福島千里) became a champion at 11'33 seconds. It's been 44 years since a Japanese woman became a champion last time in 1966. Congratulations!
Women's soccer team Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン) also became a champion.　 Congratulations!
　　

十一月十四日（jyuichigatsu jyuyokka）： November 14

The 16th Asian Games are being held in Koshu, China from November 12 to 27. About 10,000 athletes and swimmers from 45 countries will participate. There will be the 476 events from 42 sports which is the most in history.
Some Japanese athletes and swimmers have already got some medals.
Congratulations!

十月二十四日（jyugatsu nijyuyokka）： October 24

It was cloudy and startd raining.
The last day of NHK Cup of the figure skating in Nagoya, the first match of the Grand Prix series of this season.
The bronze medalist of the Vancouver Olympic Daisuke Takahashi (高橋大輔) became a champion. And 15 years old Yuzuru Haynu (羽生結弦) became the 4th. Another 15 years old skater, Kanako Murakami (村上佳菜子) became the bronze medalist. This was her debut match. Congratulations!!
I have just watched the exhibition on TV which I like to see always. Someday I hope to see the exhibition at the skating rink.

九月三日（kugatsu mikka）： September 3

They say September 3 is the anniversary of home run. In 1977 on this day the professional baseball player Sadaharu Oh(王貞治) hit the 756th home run and broke the world record of Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron.
Two days later the Japanese government decided to give him the first People's Honour Award (国民栄誉賞：kokumin eiyo sho).
He has hit 868 home runs in his player's life for 21 years. His uniform number was one, and he has used that number for 30 years straight as a player and a manager. This is the longest record for Japanese players. Now the number 1 was retired by the Giants in honor of him.

八月二十二日（hachigatsu nijyuni nichi）： August 22

Speaking of summer sports, it is swimming.
An Olympic gold medalist for Athene and Beijin, Kosuke Kitajima (北島康介) became a champion for the 200 meter breststroke with a world record of this year at 2:8.36 today at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2010 in Irvine, CA.
He became a champion for 100 meter breststroke too. Congratulations!

八月二十一日（hachigatsu nijyuichi nichi）： August 21

Speaking of the Japanese summer sports, it is the high school baseball games held at Koshien (甲子園). Today there was the final match of the 92nd National High School Championship (summer Koshien) between Tokaidaisagami koko (東海大相模高校) from Kanagawa (神奈川) vs Konan koko(興何高校) from Okinawa(沖縄).
Since I live in Kanagawa prefecture, of course I supported the Tokaidaisagami for their victory after 40 years. However, unfortunately for them, Konan was very strong and defeated Tokaidaisagami by 13 vs 1. Congratulations!
It is the first time for the high school in Okinawa to become the champion and this was the 6th school which won both spring and summer Koshien tournaments in a year since 1998 the Yokohama High School at the 80th tournament. Now the winner pitcher of the Yokohama High School is active in the United States. He is Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂大輔) of the Boston Red Sox.
Today's hero may be a hero of the future too.

Tonight I could see the beautiful fireworks festival from my house. I felt lucky.

七月二十八日(shichigatsu nijyuhachi nichi) ： July 28

There was the 2010 July Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya from July 11 to July 25. Prior to this tournament there was a gambling scandal among the Sumo World. Therefore NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai: 日本放送協会), Japan Broadcasting Corporation decided not to broadcast live matches this time. Usually the champion is awarded with the Emperor's Cup, but this was also cancelled. There was an audience of 94,900 for 15 days but this was 9,400 less than last year.
Yokozuna Hakuho (横綱白鵬) became a champion with a perfect 15-0 record for his 15th Makuuchi Division title. He has won all his 47 matches and become a champion with perfect matches three times straight which was the first in history. Congratulations!
But since there is no Emperor's cup this time, I feel sorry for him.

六月十一日（rokugatsu jyuichi nichi）： June 11

2010 FIFA World Cup (ワールドカップ）South Africa has begun, it will be held between June 11 and July 11.
The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930. This is the19th World Cup, and the first one held in South Africa. 32 teams are divided into 8 groups and the Japan team belongs to Group E with Holland, Denmark and Cameroon.
There are many special TV programs regarding the World Cup. And actually I am watching the documentary now.
During the 18 tournaments that have been held, only seven national teams have wond the title. Brazil has become a champion for 5 times by now and this is the most. Other champions have been Italy, Germany, Uruguay, Argentine, England and France.