I Moved My Blog

My new blog is here. http://makonosk.hatenablog.com/
Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Miu Won the World Cup Table Tennis

Miu Hirano became the first Japanese to win the table tennis World Cup in the women’s singles on Sunday. She became the youngest winner at the championship.

NYT Summary

Demands for retaliation are growing in India after a deadly attack by armed military in the Kashmir region controlled by India near the border with Pakistan. Pakistan has denied involvement. 

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir. Both countries have nuclear weapons. It would be disastrous if the current situation escalated into a full fledged military confrontation.  

Only a durable political solution can bring peace to the Indian side of Kashmir. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Shin Gojira

I watched a Japanese science fiction movie Shin Gojira today. I really enjoy it. I used to watch some Gojira movies when I was a child, but I didn't watch recent Godzilla movies. 

There were lots of interesting episodes in the film, especially political procedure sceans. The monster would represent something that human can't control. 

The story was nice, the picture was also nice. I can understand that some fans have been watching the film many times. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

From Australia

I went to Matsue Castle for volunteer guiding. Soon after arriving there, an elderly couple asked me a guide to the castle. They were from Australia. 

The husband asked me many questions. I answered him as much as I could, but I hardly answered for some specific questions. I have to study more about Matsue Castle. 

He really liked Kurosawa movies. That was one of the reasons they came to Japan. We talked about Kurosawa films like Seven Samurai, Kagemusha and Ran. He said he liked hose riding scenes in battles. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Autumn

It's been raining here since this morning. The temperature is decreasing. The real Autumn is here.

A new typhoon was born in the southern sea. I hope that won't cause disaster this time. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

NYT Editorials

I've subscribed to the New York Times Weekly for the sake of improving my English ability since last year. To be honest, I wasn't a serious reader. I rarely read the paper. 

To get more English vocabulary and  knowledge, I'll try to read three editorials in a week. I'll check unfamiliar words in the editorials. And if I have time, I'll make the summary of the editorial. I prepared a notebook for it. 

To continue to do that would be important for me. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Murder on the Orient Express

I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie since I was in elementary school. I've read all of her mystery novels. A lot of her novels were made into films and TV dramas. Murder on the Orient Express was one of them. 

Orient Express was a gorgeous novel for me. The luxury train traveled between Istanbul and Calais. I really wanted to travel by the express when I first read the story. 

It will return filmed by Kenneth Branagh of the U.K.  Johnny Depp will play an important role in the film. I reall look forward to watch the movie, even I completely remember the plot. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Hard to Understand

I'm listening to GRIT and almost finish it. To tell the truth, I had a hard time to understand some parts of the audiobook, especially about experiments. I should check the original text later. And also, I'm still suffering lack of vocabulary. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Kayou-kyoku

I watched a music show on tv the other day. The show featured old Japanese songs, kayou-kyoku in Japanese. I really like these old Japanese songs. 

I listened these songs when I was child. These songs brought me to my childhood. These songs are like short movies for me. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Dr. Ohsumi Wins Nobel

Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi on Monday won the 2016 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. According to news reports, he's been studying about cell autophagy, a process that helps the body remove unwanted proteins.

Japanese scientists won the Nobel Prize in these three years and Dr. Ohsumi became the 25th winner of the award. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Shizuka Arakawa and Mortorbike

I happen to know Japanese Olympic gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa is a motorbike lover. She has Yamaha 1300cc bike which has the weight of 300kg. I watched her riding in a video, she looked really nice. She is an elegant figure skater, but handles a big machine. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

GRIT Again

I began to listen to GRIT in English with Audible app. I just finished the Japanese edition so I should relatively understand it easily. But with my lack of vocabulary, I was lost sometimes. I felt the importance of vocabulary, seriously.

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

GRIT with Audible

I finished "GRIT" in Japanese. It was a good book. Grit is important for our business, study and life. 

I'll listen to the audiobook in English next. The Japanese edition will help my understanding for the audiobook in English. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Bad Whether

It's been raining. The temperature became lower recently. Time flies. 

I've been busy for work this year. It might be good for me, but I'm frustrated because I don't have enough time for studying English. It might be an excuse, but I really think so. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Fighters!

Congratulations! Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters has won the 2016 Pacific League Championship for the first time in 4 years. It's the first title for Ace Otani who was the winning pitcher in the game. 

I hope Fighters and Carp will succeed the Climax   Series. I want to watch Fighrers and Carp in Nippon Series games this year. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Translator

When I was an elementary and middle school student, I liked mystery novels. I was a big fan of Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle. I realized there were translator. They translate English into Japanese. I had a vague images of translator then. And I dreamed if I can be a translator. I just remembered. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Audiobooks 300 days

I began to listen to audiobooks in English 304 days ago. At that time, I listened to English news with Tuneinradio app every day. 

Since then, I listened 19 titles. I even tried to listen some titles several times. I really enjoy audiobooks now. I would be very happy if the prices were little bit lower. 

English radio news and audiobooks help improving my listening ability. But I feel lack of my vocabulary. It depends on my effort. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Guiding to Matsue Castle

I went to Matsue Castle for volunteer guiding in English. There were lots of tourists there today. After designated for a National Treasure, the number of visitors have been increasing. 

Soon after arriving the castle, a Taiwanese woman asked me guiding to the castle. And we went to the castle. She asked me lots of questions. I tried to answer her questions as much as I can. But I couldn't explain everything precisely. I have to study more about Matsue Castle. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

A TOEIC Day

My Twitter time line is filled with TOEIC because tomorrow is the day of the test. I don't take the test this time. I even didn't take that test since last May. I'm scared of taking TOEIC now. The test is so harsh for me. The test makes me confused. Lack of my knowledge is the problem.

Anyway I hope everyone can perform well tomorrow. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Ai Gets Married

Japan's table tennis star Ai Fukuhara announced her marriage to fellow Taiwanese table tennis Olympian Chiang Hung-chieh. They had press conferences twice, both in Japan and Taiwan. 

At the conference in Taiwan, she answered questions in Chinese. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese because her coaches were from China. She also played Chinese Super League for a long time. She is popular in Japan, China and Taiwan. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

B. League

A new Japan pro basketball league began today. It's called B. League. The opening match was on prime-time television for the first time in Japan's basketball history. 

Will the league go well? It depends on the quality of their games. Basketball fans might watch NBA games often. They need a high level of performance. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Reading GRIT

I'm reading GRIT in Japanese. It's a really  interesting book. In the Chapter 9, the author said that she had a favorite Japanese saying: Fall seven, rise eight, 七転び八起き. She also said "the hope that gritty people have has nothing todo with luck and everything to do with getting up again."

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Nagoya Open

My son came back from Nagoya. He took part in a table tennis taurnament there. He couldn't win both singles and doubles matches, but he said he enjoyed the taurnament.

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

A Big Typhoon Again

Super powerful typhoon No. 16 will hit Kyushu area soon. It has heavy rain and strong winds. The massive typhoon will take a path through the eastern parts of the country, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. We have to prepare for the typhoon as much as we can. 

How many times did typhoons hit Japan this year? This will be the sixth typhoon. Authorities said one of the reasons was high temperature of the Pacific Ocean. That provides huge power for making typhoon. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Table Tennis Reunion

I took part in a local table tennis taurnament. Members were from Yamaguchi, Kyoto and my city Matsue. We didn't care much about the taurnament. We were looking forward to have a party after the games.

The party was like a class reunion. We talked about not only today's games but also our old memories. One of my team mate came back from Rio de Janeiro Olympics and talked about the event. His daughter was a member of the bronze medal winner at the Olympics. 

We enjoyed the taurnament and the party. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Silence Again

I'm listening to a Shusaku Endo's novel Silence in English again. I had a hard time to listen to the audiobook, so I'm trying to do it again.

I read the novel when I was in my teens. I was really hooked on his novels. I've heard the news that a famous American film director Martin Scorsese has made its movie. I look forward to watch the film.

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Reunion

I'll take part in a table tennis team taurnament on Sunday. My team members are all my old friends. They will come from Yamaguchi, Kyoto and this prefecture, Shimane. 

After the games, we are going to have a party with our old teachers like a class reunion. Every year, we enjoy the annual event. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Goes to Nagoya

My younger son is going to got Nagoya to take part in an open table tennis taurnament. He's been going to many places for table tennis, Fukushima, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Okayama and so on. He is making a lot of good memories. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

GRIT

I'm reading "GRIT" in Japanese. I think I'll read the original text after the Japanese translation. Anyway, it shows the importance of grit. 

The author revealed that mature paragons of grit have four common features.  

"First comes interest. Passion begins with intrinsically enjoying what you do. 

Next comes the capacity to practice. 

Third is purpose. For most people, interest without purpose in nearly impossible to sustain for a lifetime. 

Finally, hope. Hope is a rising-to-the-occasion kind of perseverance". 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Dual Nationality

One of The Democratic Party presidential candidate Renho said earlier that she didn't have Taiwanese citizenship. But she finally admitted she has both Japanese and Taiwanese citizenships. Japan's law forbiddens dual citizenship for over age of 22. 

She had always said that she was an overseas Chinese, but after running for The Democtatic Party president, she said she had given up Taiwanese nationality since she was 17 years old. She obviously told a big lie. Moreover, she said that Taiwan wasn't an independent country. I don't think she deserves a Japan's Diet member. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

My Son and Motorbike

My older son came home from motorbike touring for Shikoku island. He is really hooked on mortorbike. Every holidays, he rides motorbike. He says he never tires of riding motorcycle.

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

My Son Takes the Third Place

My son came home from Hamada. He took part in a prefectural high school table tennis taurnament. Thanks to my son's partner, he won the third place at doubles taurnament for the first time since he became a high school student. I'm really proud of him. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Hiroshima Becomes Champion

Japanese professional baseball team Hiroshima Carp has won the 2016 Central League championship for the first time in 25 years. The last victory was in 1991, so the fans were waiting for the triumph long lond years. 

When I was a middle and high school student, Carp was reall strong. But after free agent system was introduced, Carp lost many good players by the system. 

The winning game took place at Tokyo Dome against Tokyo Giamts. Even so, the stand was filled with Carp red uniforms as at Mazda Studiam in Hiroshima. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Goes to Hamada for Table Tennis

My son went to Hamada for a table tennis taurnament. He will take part in singles and doubles taurnament. The doubles is prefectural high school taurnament and the singles is the quarifirs for Japan's National Championships.

It would be hard to get to the National Championships, but I hope he will play well as much as he can. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Kei Upsets Andy Murray

"I definitely have great memories here. Two years ago, I made the final for the first time in the Grand Slams. This is a great opportunity for me, to come in the semifinal here again. This is one of my favourite Grand Slams". 

Kei Nishikori said after he defeated the Rio Olympic Champion Andy Murry at the US Open Championship quarterfinals with 3-2 in three hours 57 minutes. 

Kei didn't start well at first, but after rain suspension he took control of the game. 

I live in his hometown, Matsue, Shimane prefecture, so I really hope his first Grand Slam title. A big chance is here, go Kei! 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Izumo Taisha Trivia

Izumo Taisha is a famous tourist spot in Shimane prefecture and is also an important shrine in Japan. It has a long history, but no one knows when it was established. 

Some ancient history records described that around 950, the shrine was the highest building in Japan, reaching approximately 48 meters. Now you can see a tall national flag pole in the shrine. It is 47 meters high, almost as the same height as the ancient building. It's just a trivia. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Kochikame

Japan's famous police manga "Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikoen-mae Hashutsujo” or Kichikame will be ended on Sept. 17 after a four-decade run. 

When I was young, I used to read Shonen Jump. I read the manga, but I don't really like it. I didn't think it lasted so much long time. 

I remember the author, Osamu Akimoto, used to be named Tatuhiko Yamadime. It named after a popular manga artist Tatuhiko Yamagami who wrote a slap stick policeman manga, Gakideka. I really liked Gakideka, in fact. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Reviewing English Grammar

I'm rewiewing a grammar reference book. It has example sentences. The author said that they were good for practice speaking English. I'm trying to read aloud these sentences, but I couldn't do it a lot. I'm too tired recently. I have to save my works. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Practice Table Tennis

I'll take part in a local table tennis taurnament this month. I rarely practice table tennis these years, but I went to practice table tennis today. But, oh, I forgot to bring my racket! I had to borrow my friend's spare racket. 

I played table tennis only one hour this time, but I was totally exhausted. I bought a new rubber. My son fixed it with my racket. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Parents Meeting

I took part in a parents meeting of my son's high school and junior high school  table tennis club. About twenty parents and two teachers had a meeting and after that a party was held there.

The parents came from Yamaguchi, Kkayama and our prefecture, Shimane. I became one of a vice-presidents. I have to take care of the parents meeting for a year. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

English Grammar Book

I began to read a grammar reference book. I'll learn a lot from the book. And I'm trying to read aloud example sentences in the grammar book. 

I don't speak English much recently, so that will help me to speak English. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

The Road to the World Cup

Japan lost the first match for 2018 Fifa World Cup Asia Qualifires against UAE. It was fatal result lost the first match of Qualifires. 

I watched the second harf of the match. The UAE's goal keeper performed really well in the game, but more than that, Japan couldn't play well. I was really disappointed 

I don't think Samurai Japan has enough ability to pass the qualifires this time. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Shooting Man Killed Himself

The suspect of shooting incident in Wakayama shot himself and died at the hospital. 

The suspect, Mizobata, 45, shot his former coworkers yesterday. His coworkers died and injured by his shootings. After that, he escaped from the place and barricaded himself in an apartment with two pistols. 

The police surrounded the man, but couldn't arrest him. Finally, the suspect shot himself by his pistols. 

He was arrested last year over the drug crime and about to go to jail. The shootings occurred just one day befor the date.  

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Hitting on Tohoku

Typhoon No.10, Lionrock, is hitting on northeastern Japan now. This is the first typhoon hit the Tohoku area from the Pacific Ocean, so they haven't prepared for the conditions. Unexpected hard rain and wind cause damages there. Watching news shows on tv, I can see floods happen everywhere. 

I pray for safety indeed. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Massive Typhoon Hits Tohoku

A powerful typhoon No.10 is going to land the Tohoku area. This will be the first typhoon to reach the region from the Pacific Ocean. 

The typhoon will cause a lot of rain. The residents there should be take care of landslides or floods from now on. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Typhoon No. 10

A massive typhoon No.10 is traveling along the Japanese mainland and will across Tohoku region. The typhoon will cause a lot of rain. Be careful everyone. 

As I work for fishery industry, I'll face lack of fish next week. The fish prices will soar in the markets. That's the way it is around this season. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村

Bad Memory

I'm listening to an audiobook. The title is "The Five People You Meet in Heavn". It has full of impressive words. I want to remember these sentences, but I easily forget about that.

Getting older, I began to feel my poor memory. So sad. 

Click to vote →
                        にほんブログ村