2016.1.28

It was fine and cold, but not so cold as  yesterday. My colleagues said "it is warm today." But I felt cold.
They say it will be cold tomorrow again.

On my way home I went shopping. I have been wondering where to go, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Yokohama, Kamioooka, Yokosuka chuo, or Kurihama. After all I chose Kurihama because the destination of the train was Kurihama and in any case I had to change the train there.
I bought some stationeries and foods for breakfast.

The Economic Revitalization  MinisterAkira Amari resigned tonight due to the political fund mishandled scandal.

2014.10.7

It was fine but became cooler at night. I saw the beautiful moon tonight which I wished to see last night.

 

After work I attended a welcome party for new international students. We welcomed just 100 international students this fall term.  I hope they will have a good time in Japan.

 

There was a big news today.
Three Japanese researchers (professors) will be awarded Nobel Prize in Physics for the contribution of inventing blue LED.  Congratulations !

2014.9.14

It was very fine and hot.  This is the middle of three day weekend.

I went grocery shopping in the morning.  Unfortunately I left behind the point card at home, so I felt disappointed.

After coming home, I ate lunch and went to Yoga lesson for an hour and machine training for 2 hours in the afternoon.

2014 September Grand Sumo Tournament has begun.
I have just watched the news of Ms. Caroline Kennedy, US Ambassador to Japan, attended Tour de Tohoku 2014 for 60km.


 

2014.9.7

It was a cool rainy day.  The second day of the local shrine festival.

I went to grocery shopping in the morning. Then I went to Yoga lesson for an hour and two hours training in the afternoon.

There came a service person of water purifier which has had something wrong for a week or so.

I was going to see the local festival but did not after all.

Today's big news was US Open Tennis.  Kei Nishikori won the semi-final.  This is the first record for Japanese to go on to the semi-final at the Grand slam.  All of us wish him to be a champion.

2014.9.4

It was fine and hot.

I took a day off to take my father to hospital for once a month checkup.  There were so many patients and it took all morning.

After coming back home, I went to tea lesson.  Since I started working in May, I have stopped going to the lesson.  However once a month I take my father to hospital on Thursday morning.  So I decided to practice tea ceremony once a month when I take a day off for my father.  Even only once, it is better than nothing.  Practice makes perfect.
Today's sweet looked like chrysanthemum.

I like the phrase "issekinicho (一石二鳥)", literally one stone two birds, which means to kill two birds with one stone.

Today's big news was Kei Nishikori became the best 4 at the US Open.  They say it's been 96 years since Japanese men became the best 4 at the Grand Slam.  Congratulations!

2014.4.24

It was fine and very warm.

I took my father to hospital.  He needed to visit two departments.  One for removing the stitches from the surgery which he had last week, the other is once a month check up for internal medicine.
After that we went out for lunch.  Both of us chose the menu we had never asked.  When we got home, he became weak.  He had a high fever again.  So he has been in bed.  At night he became better.

I went to stretching exercise at night.  This was the last lesson for me because I will start a new job in May and come home late and cannot attend the lessons unfortunately.  I said good-bye to my instructor and some friends. To get something means to lose something else.

The US president Mr. Barack Obama has come to visit Japan as a state guest (国賓:kokuhin) since yesterday and spent busy schedule.  I hope he will have a good time in Japan.

2012.12.17

Finally I sent Christmas cards.  I hope they will be delivered in time.  I received two Christmas cards today.  One was with a present which I missed buying when I was in the USA last October.  It is very nice to get what I have wanted.  The other was from an ex-counter partner whose mailing address I lost when he moved.  I  am glad to have them both.
Yesterday there was a general election in Japan and so was there the one of the governor of Tokyo.  Mr. Naoki Inose (猪瀬直樹) who was the vice-governor under the Ishihara (石原) Government was elected as the next governor of Tokyo.  He got the most votes in history which is more than 4,300,000.

2012.12.11

It was very fine today.  Not only Mt. Fuji but also everything looked beautiful in the clear air.
I took a day off to take my father to the hospital for once a month check up.  Unfortunately the doctor became sick and he could not see my father today.  Still we visited two other departments and it took long as usual.  After that we went shopping.  I am glad to buy the heater of kotatsu (こたつ) which was broken recently.
Today's big news was the award ceremony of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.  Dr. Shinya Yamanaka (山中　伸弥) received it at the age of 50.  Congratulations!

2012.11.24

It is the second day of the three day weekend.  It rained in the morning, but cleared in the afternoon.

I delivered  a lecture about my JOI experience from 2006 to 2008 at the nearby Citizen Center this afternoon.  I knew about a third to half audience and I am glad to see them again after a long interval.  It's been 20 years since I met one of them last.
My publisher sent me a bouquet and another person also gave me a bouquet which are very beautiful.
I talked for more than 1 hour.  I am glad to have shared my precious experience in the USA.

There was an earthquake at 17:59 this evening.

I have just watched women's figure skating of NHK Trophy.  Both men and women the No. 1 & No. 2 were Japanese, and No. 3 were American.  Congratulations!

2012.1.14

I went to dentist today. Dentist in Japanese is haisha (歯医者). I have had a slight pain on the right teeth for a week or so. It seems it is hyperesthesia, which is chikakukabin (知覚過敏) in Japanese.

Now the season of the entrance examination for the universities has begun. It was the first day of the National Center Test for the university admissions. There were about 555,000 students who took the examinations at 709 venues today. Good luck!

９月２日（kugatsu futsuka）： September 2

I went out for lunch at the Chinese Restaurant with my colleagues. Every day I walk the same route from the station to the office and usually eat lunch at the office. Therefore I did not know that restaurant. The street looked quite different from the one I walk every day even if it is just a few blocks away. I felt I have missed many things by just having a routine life.

Today the new cabinet was formed. I do not know how long it will last.....

Now a big typhoon is coming and it is raining heavily in Shikoku(四国), Sanin (山陰), and Sanyo (山陽) area and many people have already evacuated.

十一月二十八日（jyuichigatsu nijyuhachi nichi）： November 28

I went to see a Japanese movie "Ghost" in the morning. It is a remake version of "Ghost" in 1990 by Patrick Wayne Swayze and Demi Moore. I can't believe it has been already 20 years. The story looked the same, but the situation was different. A company owner heroine became a ghost, and her husband is a Korean ceramicist.
After that I went to see a concert of my friend from high school. It was small but a nice one.
In Japan there were some big events. Today was senshuraku (千秋楽), the last day of grand sumo tournament in Kyushu, which is the last tournament this year. Yokozuna Hakuho(横綱　白鵬) became a champion again after the playoff with Toyonoshima (豊ノ島). It is his 17th victory and five tournaments in straight. Congratulations!
Today there was the final episode of Ryomaden (龍馬伝), NHK's year long drama.
And there are some gubernatorial elections too.

七月十七日（shichigatsu jyushichi nichi）： July 17

There was a special event at the Hibiya kokaido (日比谷公会堂) in the afternoon and I attended that with friends. There were many interesting performances, speeches, a lecture, and an award ceremony.
The lecturer was Mr. Toshitaka Mochizuki (望月俊孝) who is very famous for the Treasure Map. Last year I attended his joint lecture with Mr. Ken Honda (本田健) once in June. He showed us how to grant your dreams. He said "The formula of life is quality by quantity. Write your goals. But it is better to have goals not by letters but by images. It is important to work to your subconscious by repeating the impact."
On our way home, we could happen to see the fireworks festival from the window of the train. We felt lucky.
By the way the new Skyliner has just started running between Nippori (日暮里) and Narita Airport(成田空港：narita kuko). It takes only 36 minutes and costs yen 2,400. Very good!