Sunday, August 31, 2014

Fireworks Festival

Matsue Suigosai Fireworks Display was held yesterday. The event was postponed due to the approaching of a big typhoon in early August. Thanks to the good weather, 290,000 people enjoyed the 9,000 of fireworks. 
There were many yatais, or food stands, in the square near the city hall where people were watching the fireworks. My two sons went to see the display with their friends and enjoyed it. 
The summer events is over and autumn is just around the corner. Time flies. 

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Shinkansen

I watched a TV show featered Shinkansen-line in Japan. I'm really proud of Shinkansen because the trains are safe, comfortable and of course, fast. 
At first, the government and critics didn't think Shinkansen was effective because they thought air planes would bcome more important transportation system. But Shinkansen made a big success. 
Many countries have learn from Shinkansen transportation system and many European cities tied with the high-speed rail lines like Shinkansen now. 
Several years ago, Chinese high-speed trains were crashed and many people were killed by the accident. If the Chinese railway company had learned high-speed railway technology from Japan, the accident wouldn't have happened. I feel sorry for the victims. 

Friday, August 29, 2014

Unsatisfactoriness

A Buddhism term 苦 doesn't mean pain, but unsatisfactoriness. Buddha wanted to get rid of unsatisfactoriness and succeeded. He didn't want to let anyone else know how to do that at first, but he changed his mind and tought that for someone who wanted to know it. He didn't think everyone can understand it. That is, of course, my understanding. I really interested in Buddhism. 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Sanrio Shook the World

A famous Japanese cartoon character Hello Kitty is not a cat, according to Sanrio. This news has spread out all over the world. She is a girl and a friend, so that she never walk like a cat. In addition, she has a pet cat called Charmy Kitty. 
She is a British and her real name is Kitty White. Her mother is Mary and father is George. She was born 40 years ago, but she is forever-third-grade girl. 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Milk at a Hot Spa

I went to a public hot spa the other day. After taking a nice hot spa, I found a milk vending machine. Drinking a bottle of cold milk after taking bath would be a happy moment for many people. But it cost 170 yen! I couldn't believe the high price. I couldn't resist to buy it, though. 

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Name of a Place

I've read an article about the name of a place in Hiroshima where the massive landslid has occered. The place is simply called Yagi, but it used to be called Yagijarakujiasidani, 八木蛇落地悪谷. Looking at the kanji, it doesn't seem a good place to live. 
They said, the name of a place is a fossil of the history. If you want to have a house, I think you should look up the name of the place carefully. The name would tell you something. 

Monday, August 25, 2014

Visual Eibun Kaisyaku Part 1

I've read an English grammar book. This was the first grammar book for me that I've ever read from cover to cover. I'm not familiar with English grammar rules, so I couldn't understand the book. But still I was able to learn lots of tips about how to read English sentences from the book. I'll move on to the part 2. 

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Cool Summer

Usually, August is the hottest month in Japan. It's hard to survive without air conditioner here. But our family had to survive without using AC for several years because our AC had been broken. 
We finally bought a new air conditioner in this July. I thought the new AC would work hard for my family, but I was wrong. It's been cool this summer, so we rarely turn the AC on. We can save the electricity cost. That's good. 

Saturday, August 23, 2014

To Shot Cram Schools

Yoyogi Seminar, one of a major college preparing school in Japan, will shut down its branch schools all over Japan, according to the school official. They have 27 schools now and will close 20 schools next spring. 
The birth rate in Japan has been decreasing. That would be one of the reasons of the closing. 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Sentence Structure

I'm trying to analyse English sentence structure when I read English articles. I didn't do that before, but I'm doing it as much as I can recently. It helps my understanding of English. 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Death Tall 39 in Hiroshima

Landslides in Hiroshima left 39 people dead while 51 people are still missing, according to the police. 
I watched a news show and it said that the soil of the disaster areas' surface is mainly masado. That kind of soli can absorb rainwater easily compare to others. And after holding enough water, the soil would slip down unexpectedly. 
Rescue workers are struggling to help victims because the bad conditions which prevent using heavy machines. 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Landslides in Hiroshima

At least 36 people were killed by landslides early in the morning in Hiroshima today. The deadly landslides were caused by intense rain in the area. I'm really sorry for the victims. 
I've heard about the similar disasters caused by heavy intensive rainfall at many places in Japan. Residents living near the mountain area should be careful when it's raining hard. 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

TOEIC

I'll take TOEIC next month. I don't prepare for the test using TOEIC text books, but I'm studying English grammar recently. I'm looking forward to take the test because I'll be able to know how I improve TOEIC reading section. I hope I could get over 400 point at reading section. 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Studying English Grammar

Learning grammar is important for studying foreign languages. It's obvious, but I didn't care much about it before. The only thing I did for English was just reading English books without using dictionaries or grammar text books. Becaus of that I couldn't read news papers and magazines well. 
Once I learned English grammar, I feel comfortable when I read English articles and books. It's a magic for me. I should've studied English grammar earlier, but it's not too late to learn it. 

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Koko-yakyu

Koko-yakyu, High school baseball tournament, represents hot Japan's summer. Many Japanese people look forward to watch the summer national event. But I don't really like high school baseball. 
I think Japan's high school baseball has been destroyed many young players, especially  pitchers. They have to pitch handreds of balls day after day not only at practice but also at Koshien. As a result, like Matsuzaka or Tanaka, many of them get hurt their arms and have to withdraw playing baseball. I reall feel sorry for the players. They are victims of Koko-yakyu. 
If the High School Baseball Federation, Koyaren, think of Koko-yakyu as a sport, they should limit the number of pitch, but I don't think they can do it because Koko-yakyu is an only a long-run show business event for the promotors, Koyaren, The Asahi Shinbun, The Mainichi Shinbun and NHK. 
I hope the promotors change their policy any time soon. They should treat high school players as fragile treasures, not money-making machines. 

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Driving with My Family

My family went for a drive to the mountain area in Okayama. We visited a limestone cave, Makidou, the ruins of a copper mine and some historical buildings there. It was nice drive and visiting. The cave was especially nice for me. The insid of the cave was fantastic and the air was crisp and cool.  
On the way home, we went to a public hot spring. We took a nice bath at the Onsen. I was really relaxed. 

Friday, August 15, 2014

Visiting Graves

I went to visit family graves today. It's a Japanese obon tradition. The graves, my wife side and my side, are on the hill. They have long stairs, so I had hard times to get these graves. I felt tired today. 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Fish Prices Soared

Today was the last day before fish markets' obon holidays. The fish prices at the market here were deadly high. All the prices were about three to five times expensive than usuall. I lost all of bid at today's auction. I was really disappointed.
 

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Playing Table Tennis

I played table tennis with my son after work today. It was hot in the gym. I was exhausted but it was fun. 
There were three groups playing table tennis at that time there. Four high school students, two elementary school sister and brother and us enjoyed playing table tennis. My son and I played seriously and others played with shouting. 
I played one and half hours and it was a good exercise for me.  

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Robin Williams

The actor Robin Williams has passed away. Many people all over the world were stunned by the news. 
I've watched many of his movies and comedies. I love his works so much. Once I was trying to understand his standup comedy on YouTube, but it was so hard for me to understand. But someday I could laugh it without subtitles. It's one of my dreams. 
May his soul rest in peace. 

Monday, August 11, 2014

Fireworks Comes Back

My city's firework festival was canceled bucause a big typhoon had approached here. But it will come back on August 30th. 
At first, the festival was two days event, but it will change into one day event. We can watch 9,000 of fireworks at one night. It'll be an exciting summer event. 

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Asahi Should Explain to the World

The Asahi Shinbun admitted the wrong articles of so-called war time confort women the other day for the first time in 32 years. But during the long time, or even now, Japan's incorrect image has been spred out to the world. It's obvious the Asahi has the responsibility to contradict these wrong articles to the world. I think they have to inform the wrong process of making confort women's fake issue to the world in English. And of course, the need to apologize to Japanese people. 

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Police Drama

Even though I don't watch TV drama so often, I can find a lot of police drama on TV. My wife watches almost all of  these kind of dramas. While she is watching police dramas, I can't talk to her. If I say something, she would get mad at me. Her most favorite detective drama is "Aibou". During the "Aibou" time, only I can do is sit still or studying English in silent. 

Friday, August 8, 2014

Asahi Admits Incorrect Reports

A Japanese news paper company Asahi Shinbun has admitted their wrong reports about so-called comfort women during the World War 2. 
The articles was based on interviews with Mr. Yoshida. He said, he was involved with comfort women activities and he had forced handreds of Korean women to work for Japanese soldiers as comfort women. But no one couldn't find any evidence for confort women. In addition, Mr. Yoshida confessed that he told wrong story about comfort women. 
I have no idea why they withdraw the articles 32 years later. Media have to admit and withdraw their false reports as soon as possible. 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Firework Cancelled

Two days of Matsue City Firework Festival will be canceled because a big typhoon is approaching here. The festival is an annual big event in Matsue. I don't really like watching fireworks, but my wife and son really look forward to see it. Of course, many people living here also would be disappointed with the cancellation. Many businesses like hotels and food stands would get damaged by the typhoon. Really bad timing. 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Typhoon is Comming

A big typhoon is comming to Japan again. The weather forecast said the typhoon is heading towards Japan's main land. If the typhoon hit our region, we won't have enough fish for Obon holiday season due to the bad sea conditions. I hope the typhoon will decrease its power soon.   

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Studio Ghibli

I've heard that Studio Ghibli will withdraw making animation films. They say Studio Ghibli has not raised any good animation directors after master director Mitazaki retirement. Moreover, Ghibli spent too much money to make an animation film than they earn from audiences. That would be another reason of their withdrawing to make a new film. 
To tell you the truth, I've never seen a Ghibli's animation, but I think it's a huge loss of Japanese culture. I hope Ghibli gets back to make a new animation film someday. 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Blog

I've been posting a blog for 250 days straight. I'm writing my blog for improving my English skills. It would work for not only writing skill but also speaking skill. I've written 250 topics, so I could speak 250 topics. The reality is a little bit different, though. Anyway, I'll continue to write a blog as much as I can. 

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Guiding

I went to Matsue Castle for volunteer guiding today. Again, I had no tourists for guiding. Since it's summer vacation season, there were lots of visitors there but I found no forein travelers. 
I think I have to do something for getting foreign tourists. 

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Foreign Tourists

According a news paper, the number of foreign tourists have been increasing in recent years. I think famous sightseeing cities like Kyoto or Tokyo have got lots of visitors from all over the world. 
On the other hand, my city, Matsue, is suffering from decreasing foreign tourists. That decrease is because we don't have convenient public transportation system.  
If we have Shinkansen line here, we would have more foreign travelers. I hope Shinkansen line comes here soon. 

Friday, August 1, 2014

Busy Week

I've been busy this week. I don't have enough time to practice English. All I can do is listen to the radio in English while driving.