一月三十一日（ichigatsu sanjyuichi nichi）： January 31

There are some world famous movie directors in Japan. One of them, Mr. Yoji Yamada(山田洋次) will receive the testimonial, Berlinale Camera at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. This is the third Japanese who receives this award.
His recent film "Ototo (おとうと)," younger brother which released on January 30 will be shown as the closing piece. He will have joined this festival for 7 times including the last work "Kaa bee(母べえ)," mother of 2008. Tonight I watched this movie on TV.　
Ototo is a comtemporary movie, but Kaa beeis the story before the World War II till now.
It is a family movie. In their family every one is called with "bee (べえ)" as suffix. Kaa (母) means mother. So Kaa bee(母べえ) is dearest way to call their mother among family. Their father was arrested and imprisoned under the Maintenance of the Public Order Act. And mother brought up two young daughters. It is a moving movie.

一月三十日（ichigatsu sanjyu nichi）： January 30

One of the good things in the new year is new year's card. There are some friends who only contact once a year with this new year's card and we can catch up. Some use their family pictures, others write only stereotyped phrases. I like the one with special messages.
Many people usually use so-called nenga hagaki (年賀はがき), new year's greeting postcard which has lottery. The drawing was held on January 24.
The first prize is hit one in 1,000,000. You can choose one gift from the five selected items (liquid crystal television,travel coupon, note PC, digital camera with printer, office goods). The second prize is hit three in 1,000,000. You can choose one gift from the five selected items (Wii, digital camera, DVD player, air cleaner, special rice). The third prize is hit one in 10,000. You can choose the one gift from 38 special local products. The fourth prize is hit two in 100, and the prize is a sheet of stamps for the year. There are special limited prize which is hit one in 100,000. The prize is gift tickets for yen 50,000.

You can check the items here:
http://www.yubin-nenga.jp/otoshidama/number.html

If you win the prize, bring the cards to the post office from January 25 to July 26 to exchange the gift.
I only got 6 of the fourth prizes.

一月二十九日（ichigatsu nijyuku nichi）： January 29

On January 30 last year four restaurants in Yokosuka (横須賀) started to sell "Yokosuka Navy Burger. " Less than one year they sold more than 100,000. On January 15, it recorded 101,020. There are 13 restaurants now.
There will be a special campaign from February 10 to March 22. The first 15,000 people who order the Yokosuka Navy Burger at the 12 restaurants will receive the original badge of each restarurant. 50 people by drawing will receive special T-shirts. 150 people will receive a meal coupon (yen 1,000) which is available at those 12 restaurants.
Living in the next city, I have never tried the Yokosuka Navy Burger yet.....