2026.8.21

 It was fine in the morning but rained in the night.

Before going to the office, I went to the bank to transfer the annual handling charge for septic tank.

After working at office, I headed for the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center again to attend the farewell party. There were more people than I expected. There was a presentation by the main participant, self-introduction of all the participants, watching the movie for the event, and dancing, etc. It was nice to know the history of participants.

There was something to do, so I came back to the office again. At the office, there was an earthquake.

Today, I used the Chiyoda Line from Kasumigaseki to Yoyogikoen and walked about 7 minutes.  This is the nearest way from the office. At Yoyogikoen, I happened to find a donut's shop, and bought souvenirs.

Tomorrow, I have to go to the seminar at Akihabara.

2026.8.20

 It was fine.

In the morning I went to Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau again to ask the status of CoE we submitted. This was the third time for me to visit there this month.There were so many people waiting there today.

At office there were still lots of things to deal with and I overworked till 20:00.

I came home around 22:00.

I fell asleep while waiting for the bath ready.

2026.8.19

 It was fine.

In the morning I went to the National Olympic Youth Center to attend the event after a long time.  IOn my way there I went via Shinjuku and Sangu bashi. It was supposed to start at 10 AM and I arrived around 9:35 AM, but it was already begun.  After the meeting and lunch, I attended another session for the first time and decided to go back to the office.  On my way back I walked through the Meiji jingu shrine and took a train from Harajuku. I will visit there on Friday, so I will try to go from Yoyogi Park.

I went to the office in the afternoon.  There were lots of things to deal with and I overworked till 20:30 or so and come home around 22:30.

I finished reading Dr. Yoro's book finally.

From tomorrow I will read a book by Higashino Keigo who passed away recently. I have never read his book before, but I liked his drama and movies. RIP.

2026.8.18

It was fine.

Yesterday I got up very early, but today I could not get up early.

We will have a new staff from next week, therefore most of us moved to the new place, one by one. Today three of us moved to the next desk.

There was a video meeting with Swiss counterparts in the evening.

I canceled a restaurant I booked yesterday and booked the new one for this weekend's dinner meeting.

2026.8.17

 It was fine.

It is my father's death anniversary.  It's been 11 years since he passed away.

Today I was also busy and overworked till 19:30 or so but came home earlier than usual.

Recently I have tried to make frozen fruit ice cream and eat them with milk. Tonight I ate frozen watermelon I made yesterday and ate it with milk. I had tried melon and kiwi before, but this was the best for now. I used the half of small watermelon, took out the center and put it in the freezer yesterday, and I put milk in the center and let it be while I was eating supper and ate as dessert by mixing.  It was very delicious.

I am glad to receive a very nice email from my book lover. 

2026.8.16

 It was cloudy and rainy.

There was a zoom session in the morning.

I changed to Kimono and left for Kamakura to visit Dr. Takeshi Yoro's house. I was with the Acting Chair of The Blue Star of Life, Mr. Shumei Matsuzaki and the Living National Treasure, Mr. Shonosuke Okura and his assistant. We arrived around 13:30 and Mrs. Yoro had a tea ceremony. She served both thick tea and weak tea.  It's been while since I had thick tea. We left round 16:30.  It was a really special experience.

After that I visited Tsurugaoka hachimangu shrine again to see lotus flowers.

I enjoyed shopping here and there.

It was a nice day.

 

2026.8.15

 It was cloudy, rainy, but fine.

Today is the End of World War II Memorial Day.

From 12 PM to 2 PM I attended zoom event to pray.

In the afternoon I prepared for tomorrow.

In the evening I visited the nearby shrine and went to Nagai Uminote Park Soleil Hill to see sunflowers and fireworks.

I shopped and ate supper there.

On my way home I went grocery shopping too.

I finished reading a book "Wall of Life."  There is one more book to read.

2026.8.14

It was fine and rain.

In the morning I went to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau again.  There were lots of people there as usual, but I could ask at the counter without taking the waiting number ticket. When I visited there last time on Aug. 4, they said it would take another week or two to receive COE. Today they said they were under the final judging stage. I hope we can get the COE for the participants soon.

There were many emails, calls, making documents as always, and I overworked till 20:00.

The train delayed again due to the heavy rain though I did not see rain.

I finished reading the 4th book of Dr. Yoro. There are two more to read within tomorrow.

I did not understand what he said as "the wall of fools" but through the conversation with my colleague this morning I felt that I realized what it was.

2026.8.13

 It was cloudy in the morning but became heavy rain with thunder in the evening.

Trains delayed because of heavy rain in Chiba on my way home.

In the morning when I go to work at the stairs to the station, I happened to see a cicada emerging from its shell for the first time.  I wished to see from the beginning to the end, but I had to take a train, so I just took two pictures.

I was busy at office again.  In the evening I had a video meeting with Denmark Office Staff.

When I left the office and went to the station, I happened to see a poster of Chinese restaurant which I have been interested in.  Therefore, I decided to have dinner there. Their special menu was offered by yen1280 which is usually yen2000. So, I tried.  But when I checked out, they requested to pay yen 1738 adding cover charge which was unexpected. I felt like I had been tricked.

Today is the new moon when is a good time to make wishes.

They say in Spain they could observe the total solar eclipse.

2026.8.12

 It was cloudy and rainy.

After a day off there were so many emails to reply.

I had a video meeting in the afternoon.

I overworked till 20:30 and joined a zoom meeting after that but since I was on the train I attended only by listening.

I came home around 22:30.

I watched a TV drama of wartime for 30 minutes later.

To my glad my 216th eBook has been No. 1 in the USA and Japan.

2026.8.11

It was fine and rain.

Today is a national holiday called Yama no hi (山の日) Mountain Day which was established 10 years ago. 

I stayed at home all day long.

I talked with the representative of the IWPG Tokyo Group in the morning.

I cooked Sanuki udon noodle which I received the day before yesterday when I met with my tennis friend from high school. It was delicious. I ate the jelly which other friend gave me too.

I was going to make another eBook but decided to wait for one more week to take other pictures.

I prepared Kimono for the next weekend.

2026.8.10

 It was fine.

There were many emails, some calls, preparation of cover letters, and a video meeting in the evening.  

I overworked till 21:30.

Since I wanted to sit on the train, I waited for the train starting from Shinagawa thinking to change at Horinouchi. However, when I realized it was the terminal.  I had to go back to Horinouchi, but there was no train to go to my final destination. Therefore, I had to take a taxi for a distance of one station. It cost yen1,500.

I should have waited for the train bound for my final destination from the beginning.

These days I did not sleep on the train reading books therefore I think I would have a good connection at Horinouchi.  But I was too tired to stay awake.

From today my 216th present campaign started. I got some comments directly. I am glad to read these comments.

2026.8.9

 It was fine.

I got up early as usual.  First, I visited Kurihama tenjin sha shrine in Kurihama. To my glad there was a festival.

Next, I visited Kurihama Flower country to see sunflowers.

I moved to Kamakura and visited Tsurugaoka hachiman gu shrine.  There was Sanetomo sai to celebrate Minamoto no Sanetomo's birthday. After that I was invited to the tea ceremony.

After that I had luncheon with high school tennis mates. Four of us got together.  It's been a long time since all of four got together.  Usually somebody had something, and we had got together with three.  We had lunch and went to sweets shop too.

After saying Good bye to them, I went to Kencho ji temple to see the insect tomb because next Sunday I will visit the founder.

After that I went back to Tsurugaoka hachiman gu shrine to see the Bonbori festival. I thought the lighting ceremony started at 6:00 but it was 6:30 PM.  There was koto music dedication from 7 PM for nearly one hour.

So, I came home later than expected.

It was a long but fruitful day.

2026.8.8

 It was fine.

I stayed at home all day long.

I slept long to recover from week work in the morning.

I read a book of my favorite singer which I happened to find last week at the bookstore.

Present campaign of my 215th eBook was over and I published the 216th eBook about my trip to Manazuru last month.

Today is the day of 8.8.8. in Japan.  August is 8, 8th is 8, and 2026 in Japanese calendar is Reiwa 8.

2026.8.7

 It was fine and hot in the morning; it seemed to have rained during daytime because when I got back to my car at night it was wet.

Today is risshu (立秋), one of nijushisekki (二十四節気), 24 solar terms.  The last one was taisho (大暑) on July 23, and the next one is shosho (処暑) on August 23.  Risshu literally means stand fall, it is the first day of autumn. From this day greeting changes.  

Until yesterday, we said "Shochu omimai moshiagemasu(暑中お見舞い申し上げます)" but after risshu we say "Zansho omimai moshiagemasu (残暑お見舞い申し上げます)." Both are greetings of hot summer.  The former means "Wishing you a pleasant summer during this summer heat."  And the latter means "Wishing you a pleasant summer during this lingering summer heat.” On the lunar calendar, it is already fall.

There were two meetings this afternoon, and I called to many people and wrote many emails as usual and overworked till 21:30.

After coming home, I watched very interesting documentary TV program about the Haneda Airport by 100 cameras.

2026.8.6

 It was fine and hot.

Today is Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Day. It's been 81 years since the Atomic Bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. There was a documentary TV program tonight about the background of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome's Designation as a World Heritage Site.

When I worked at JICE from 2009 to 2013, I heard students in Hiroshima went to school on this day to have a ceremony for the first time from my colleague from Hiroshima.

I have finished reading the latest book of Dr. Takeshi Yoro whom I will visit in two weeks. Now I started reading the third book.  I hope to finish reading all 8 books before visiting him.

The ranking of my 215th ebook in the USA is still No. 2.  Someone rated it as two stars.

2026.8.5

 It was fine and cloudy during the daytime, but when I got back it was slightly raining.

This morning when I charged to the convenience store's application, but it did not work well, and I used cash after a long interval.

I got some sweets of souvenirs today.

Since the time limit of e-learning was nearing, I used the most of time in the afternoon watching the disaster prevention video.

After that I called and wrote emails back, therefore I overworked till 21:30 and came home 23:30.

2026.8.4

 It was fine and cloudy, rather cooler than usual.

I went to the Immigration Office to ask the participants' COE situation in the morning. It's been a while since I went there last. Because we have started to try online application.

During daytime I have been very busy for answering phone, writing emails, having meetings, and so on.

I overworked till 22:10 and came home by the last train again.

I have finished reading the first book of 8 books I bought the day before yesterday.

From today 215th book campaign started. To my glad it has been No. 1 in Japan. No.2 in the USA.

2026.8.3

It was cloudy and slightly rainy. It was rather cool.

I was busy as usual and came home by the last train.

When I got on the elevator from the office I noticed there was no belt.  I went back to the office but there was nothing.  I wondered why and where I lost it. When I returned the key, I asked there to report me if there was lost and found items.  When I got to my car at the station, I found it was caught in the door. I felt relieved.

From today 215th present campaign started.

I wanted to finish reading a book every day, but I could not.

2026.8.2

It was fine and very hot.

My 215th E-book was released.

I attended a zoom seminar in the morning.

After having lunch, I headed for Hinodecho to attend a monthly seminar.

After the seminar, I visited Iseyamakotai jingu shrine and Naritasan Yokohama branch. To my surprise the latter was already closed.

On my way home, I dropped at Kamioooka to go to my favorite bookstore. I like their book cover. I bought 8 books, because I will visit the scholar in two weeks. It's been a long time to buy paper books.

At night I took an online lesson.

2026.8.1

A new month has started.

August is hachigatsu(8月,八月 ) or hazuki (葉月) in Japanese.

As the first day of the month rituals, I changed plants, rice, and salt of the in-house shrine, 5 dishes of the mounted salt. I posted the good days of August calendar. And I visited the nearby shrine.

After that I went grocery shopping.

On the first day I want to start something new. So, I started using the new sandal and slippers.

At night I submitted the draft of the 215th ebook.

I should have learned online lectures about disaster prevention but did not have time.