Armature Pro-wrestling

There are many amateur pro-wrestling groups in our region. They perform in many places. I watched their performance on TV. They perform very well like reall pro wrestlers. The wrestlers are dentists, civil servants and office workers. 

I really like watching pro-wrestling, especially old style one. But I don't like amature pro-wrestlers because they are performing too much dangerous things. They even perform German suplex. That's a very dangerous performance. Someday, they would get serious damages on their body. If they get hurt seriously, how do they earn maney for live?

The First Goodwill Guide

I went to Matsue Castle for volunteer guide there. It was the fist time for me to do the volunteer work. I was reall looking forward today ,but unfortunately, no tourist came to the volunteer information desk.

I was bored but I could read English books instead. A senior member told me earlier that the number of foreign tourists are reducing here after the Great East Japan Earthquake. I hope more foreign tourists come to Japan. I will introduce Japan's attractive points to many people as much as I can.

Dinner with My Family

I went out for dinner with my family at a local izakaya restaurant in this evening. My older son began to work from April, so he offered me to pay a half of the charge. In fact, he is the richest person in my family at all. 

Tuna

I bought a tuna which weigh 40 kg. I filleted the tuna in four blocks. Tuna fishing in the Japanese sea in this season is controversial for some reasons. I don't want to deal tuna, but I have to do that because that's my business. 

Reading

I've stopped reading English novels these days. So, I picked up a children's book called Mister Underpants series. These are funny stories and easy to read. I should read easy books more for just enjoy reading.

Withdraw From Brazil

Japan's national soccer team lost a match against Colombia at FIFA World Cup in Brazil. As a result, Japan has to withdraw from 2014 World Cup. The players of Japan performed as much as they could, but other three teams were strong enough. That was the simple reason of this result.

Few Fish in the Market

I go to two fish markets every morning. There weren't many fish at the markets in this week. We call this phenomenon "Natsu-gare" in Japanese. Natsu means summer and gare means withered.

Usually, this phenomenon lasts until September. During the Natsu-gare season, fish prices are much hier than usual. 

Once a typhoon come to around Japan, Natsu-gare will end.

TOEIC Score Sheet

I've got my TOEIC official score sheet today. It said grammar is my weak point. What should I do for improve my ability of English grammar? I don't like studying grammar text books but I have to do that. 

Mas Oyama

I've read Oyama Masutatsu's biography. Oyama was a famous Karate master. 

He was born in Korea and he came to Japan when he was a teenager. He established a famous Karate organization, Kyokushin-kaikan and known as God Hand. 

I joined Kyokushin-kaikan, so I respect him as a karate master. I didn't know much about him. He loved karate, Japan and Korea so much. And of course, he was great.

Japan's Soccer Team

The Japanese football team hasn't won a game in FIFA World Cup so far. Of course, the next match would be a very important one. If they lost the match, they have to withdraw from this World Cup.

In my opinion, Japan's national team practiced too much before the first match. I watched the first game, and I felt they look very tired. I believe they lost the match because of their fatigue.

I hope they perform well in the next much and get a win for themselves and Japanese soccer fans.

Eiken Grade Pre 1, Practice 3

Dear Tomoki,

I hope you’re well.

I read an interesting article in a technology magazine yesterday. It said that thanks to the Internet, more company employees will work from home in the future. Do you think that this is a good idea?

The magazine also had an advertisement for an electric car. Do you think that such cars will become more popular?

By the way, I heard that many Japanese people spend their vacations abroad these days. What do you think is the reason for this?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Matthew

My answer

Dear Matthew,

Hello. I'm doing well, thanks.

I think that is a good idea to work from home. If you work from home, you could save time to go to office. You could spend more time with your family.

I believe that electric cars will become more popular in the future. Recently, many people are concerned about the environment. Electric cars are good for the environment because they do not emit CO2. 

Recently, many Japanese people spent their vacation abroad recently because the Japanese economy is getting better these days. People can earn much more money than before, so they can spend more money for travel abroad.

Write again soon.

Tomomi

New Air Conditioner

A new air conditioner has just arrived at my house. The old one broke about four years ago. Since then, our family had to put up with severe hot summer days. We had to survive with only electric fans. We were always tired in summer because of the heat. Poor us. But now we've got a new weapon. Come on, hot summer days!

Eiken Grade Pre 1, Practice 2

Read this letter below.

Imagine that you are Charles, and write an appropriate response to Olivia in the space provided on your answer sheet.

Your response should be around 100 words in length.


 Dear Charles.
Hello.

The other day, I was reading the article on the Internet and it said that NASA scientists had discovered a new planet that was similar to Earth and there might be water on it. I thought it was really exciting! Do you think life exist in outer space?

I also read many other articles. The Internet is so convenient! Do you think the Internet will replace newspapers?

By the way, I've heard that many people are suffering from depression these days. What do you think are the cause and solution of this?

Write back soon.
Olivia

My answer

Dear Olivia

Hello.

The news about discovering a new planet is really exciting. Some water has found in space. Our life comes from woter, so I think there are some life exist in outer space. 

The Internet is really useful and I think the Internet replace newspapers. We can get much information from the Internet than newspapers. In addition, we can get many of the Internet news for free.

I think depression comes from loneliness. We need to communicate people as much as we can. 

Take care.

Charles 

EIKEN Grade Pre 1, Practice

Read this letter below.
Imagine that you are Yuka, and write an appropriate response to Ryan in the space provided on your answer sheet.
Your response should be around 100 words in length.


Dear Yuka.
Hi, how's it going?

I watched the TV this morning and there was a lot of news about celebrities. Do you think it is a good idea for the media to broadcast the private lives of celebrities?

The TV program also said that most children today have cell phones. Do you think this is a good idea?

By the way, I've heard that more than 30,000 people commit suiside in Japan every year. What do you think are the causes of this?

Write back soon.
Ryan


My answer

Hello, Ryan.

I'm doing well, thanks.

I don't think the media should broadcast celebrities' private lives because the media has more important things to broadcast like politics, economics and entertainment.

Next, I don't believe children should have cell phones. Children have to study hard, so they don't have time to use cell phones. Moreover, using cell phones costs a lot of money.

Many people commit suicide in Japan because of mental illnesses. Japanese people work hard and don't take enough vacations. That would destroy their mental health.

Write again soon.

Yuka

TOEIC

I took a TOEIC test in May. I checked the result today. I got a 790, out of 990. I'm not good at reading section but I could get 335 this time. The last time, I got only 285, so I did well in May. I want to get 400 at reading section next time. I need to read English articles more.

Japan Lost the First Match

I watched FIFA World Cup in this morning. Japan faced Côte d'Ivoire and lost the game. 

Japanese player Honda scored first but 

Côte d'Ivoire got two goals in the second half. Japanese players looked tired, so they couldn't perform well. I think they need a good rest. Just relax and concentrate. Enjoy the game. They might practice too much recently.  

2018, 2022 FIFA World Cup

Every four years, soccer World Cup is held. Brazil is the host country in 2014. I didn't care much about the future World Cup but I just realized the 2018 event is held in Russia and 2022 is in Qatar.

Russia is facing a huge conflict between Ukraine and terrorists attacks are often occurred. Russia sent their troops to Crimea even though they were holding the winter Olympic Games. Can Russia hold the World Cup safely?

Qatar is one of the hottest place in the world. It will be 40 degrees Celsius in the World Cup season. Can players perform well in that harsh conditions? And they have many troubles in construction sites for the World Cup. Qatar has few population, so they have to relay on migrants to prepare for the big event. Many foreign workers were killed by poor working conditions. Can they held the event at the price of migrants life? In addition, there are rumors about corruptions for voting.

I'd like to watch the big event in safety and stable place. I think that's also good for players and audiences. FIFA should reconsider future World Cup.

FIFA World Cup Has Started

Brazil won 3-1 to Croatia at the opening match of the World Cup today. Japanese referees were doing well, even though there was a controversial penalty kick.

Referring the Opening Match

FIFA said, they have chosen Japanese Yuichi Nishimura as the referee for the opening match of the World Cup soccer between Brazil and Croatia. And other two Japanese have also been chosen as assistant referees.

I'm very glad to hear the news. I think FIFA might think Nishimura would judge fair and unwavering. I'm really looking forward to watch the opening match. 

My Son's Table Tennis Tournament

My son is going to take part in the Matsue city middle school table tennis tournament. It takes two days. 

If he lose early round of the tournament, he can't take part in the prefectural tournament. I believe he will participate the next tournament. I hope he plays well at the tournament.

Soccer World Cup

FIFA World Cup will start in three days. I've heard that the construction sites in Brazil have delayed due to some reasons and protestants are everywhere in the nation. I hope the event will go well.

I think the Japanese team has prepared well this time. I don't think it's impossible to get top 8 at the World Cup.

Writing My Blog

I've been writing my blog for over six months. At first, I didn't expect that I could write a blog every day. But I was able to write a blog every day. Sometimes I upload this blog on Lang-8, a language exchange site, and thankfully, many people have corrected my writings. Those corrections help me a lot. Thanks, friends!

I'll continue to write my blog as long as I can. Without writing my blog, I can't sleep. That's for sure.

Matsue Castle Guide

I went to help as a volunteer guide at Matsue Castle. It was raining today, so few people came to the castle, let alone foreign tourists. 

I stayed at the volunteer guide office for  two hours. During this time, no one came, so I had nothing to do. I was able to talk with a senior volunteer member, though. 

We talked about guiding and learning English. I've learned a lot from him. I didn't guide today, but I had a nice time there.

Yakiniku

I went to a yakiniku restaurant with my family. The yakiniku restaurant is our favorite one. The first time I went thre was 28 years ago. My two sons have gone there since they were only babies.

Since my older son got a job form April, he kindly bought tonight's yakiniku for us. It was really nice evening for my family.  

Reading Hemingway

I read "The Old Man and the See" the other day and then, I started reading "The Sun Also Rises". I stopped reading at chapter 9 out of 19. It's been a long interruption. Maybe, two weeks or so.  It's time to resumption of reading now. I'll complete the second Hemingway as soon as possible. 

Raining

The rainy season has just started. It will last until late in July. It was hot these days but it was quite cool today. On a day like today, I would sing "Raindrops Keep Falkin' On My Head" out of tune.

Tuna Fishing in The Japanese Sea

Tuna fishing season in Sakaiminato port, Tittori Prefecture, has just started. Sakaiminato fishing markets deal the largest amount of fresh tuna in Japan.

Fishing boats caught 70 tons of tuna from the Japanese sea on the first day of this year. Fishermen, middlemen and workers in the markets were glad for the catch but I wasn't happy about that even though I work for a fishery company. There are some reasons that I have to oppose tuna fishing at this time.

First, in this season, tuna gather around the area for spawning. Off the coast of Sakaiminato is their spawning place.

Second, they catch too many tuna at one time with a huge round haul net. They catch as much tuna as the Ohma region in Aomori Prefecture does in one year.

I'm sure these things are the reason for reduction of tuna in the Japanese sea. The authorities should ban tuna fishing there in this season.

The Rainy Season

A weather forecast said it will rain from tomorrow. I wonder if the rainy season will start soon. I think many people don't like rainy season in Japan because of the powerful humidity. Of course I don't like humidity but I like rainy day. I like the sound of raining and the scene of raining. They make me comfortable.   

To Enter High School

My younger son becomes high school student next year. He have to choose his future high school and send the decision to his teacher. It isn't the final answer but the first one.

He's very anxious about this issue because he's not good at studying. He even doesn't study for preparing mid term and final exam at school. It's apparently his own fault. He has only a little time left, so he should study well at

least from now on. 

My Son's Table Tennis Taurnament

I played table tennis with my son today. He is going to take part in a middle school students' table tennis taurnament in Matsue on 12th and 13th in June. If he reaches top 16 in the city taurnament, he can participate the prefectural taurnament. I'm a little nervous if he could perform well in the game.