Monkeys in the hot spring


I found these photos.
There wasn't any details.
But,must be 地獄谷野猿公苑 [Jigokudani Yaen Koen].
It's in Nagano prefecture.
There is a open hot spring for only monkeys!!
there is no another same open hot spring in the world.



I've never been to there before.
I'd love to been to there and seeing Monkeys.
Baby monkey are very cute!!!!!

However,it's bloody cold!!!!!! eh?
I can't take it. (I live in quite hot place)
But,I think it's worth going there.　
I'd like to go to there if there is a chance.
Would you like to go??

official site (English)

NENGAJYO

Hello!!
I wrote about changing postbox last time. And,It's for Nengajyo.
As I wrote last time,Nengajyo means New year's greeting card.
It's the difference between postcard.
Please,look this photo.
Left is normal postcarsd. Right is Nengajyo's postcard.
Nengajyo is bit gorgeous...
Of course,it's Okay any postcard send as Nengajyo.
But,in that case,you should write 「年賀」[Nenga] in
red on the front of the postcarsd.
(年賀 [Nenga] means New year's greeting.)

What's the most difference between them?
Please,look right side photo.
This photo is zoom up the bottom of Nengajyo.
There is lottery numbers!!!
You can see what did people got with Nengajyo's lottery number.
Click here
(※This date is for 2005. I don't know new year's yet...)

If you live in Japan now and get Nengajyo, You should check that number!!
DEFINITELY!!!!

Changing postbox

Do you know, postbox has been changing in this season in Japan?
Usually,left side is for standard size mail and right side is for nonstandard size mail or express post.
But,now please look this photo. Can you see 「年賀状」 [Nengajyo] at left side top?
Nengajyo means a new year's (greeting) card.
In japan it more more common than Christmas card!!
This season Japanese post office is very very busy!!
So,they changed post box system and make easy to sorting.
It changed since 15th December. (Perhaps,until around 7th January.)
They gather up a lot of (GODZILLION!!!!) Nengajyo and keep until 31th December.
Then,1st January deliver all at once.
So,you might say "Why that system continue until (around) 7th January?"
Because,some people will be late for posting. I'm lazy too. haha.
Or,we got some Nengajyos from unexpecrted persons.
If so,we write Nengajyo and posting immediately.


I think it good system and custom.
Because,I look forward to get Nengajyos every year.
It's enjoyment opening letter box at 1st January!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Hello,everyone!!
Are you having nice Christmas day? I hope so.
To be honest,I don't like that day much... haha.
Because,in Japane it's for mailnly young people...
They want to have only party,only date...only want to drink...
However,I guess in your country it's more holy day.
Please let me know how did you do in Christmas day in this year.

By the by,23th December was Japanese national holiday.
It was the Emperor's birthday.
So,we are lucky. We have 3days weekend now. woohoo!!

By the way, there is good phrase for me about Christmas.

Christmas is not a time nor a season.　
but a state of mind.
To cherish peace and goodwill.to be plenteous in mercy.
is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
by Calvin Coolidge

I like this words.
Because,I haven't got any special thing in this Christmas day. ahahahaha.

Any way,
HAVE YOURSELF A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!


P.S. One of my favourite band The Perishers,I got their newsletter e-mail.
I got their wonderful Christmas song some days ago.
It's very nice song!!
You should listen it!!



[Blue Christmas] click here

Cold Japan


Hello!!
It's really cold all over Japan. It's weird...
Japan go through a cold wave...
I live in very hot place although it has light sonow falls...
I've never seen snow in December!!
How about your country??

And,look this photo!!
COVERD WITH SNOW AT 金閣寺 [KINKAKUJI]
KINKAKUJI means golden pavilion (temple).
A famous temple in KYOTO.
It's world heritage!!
It was built in 1397. But,it burnt down,and built again in 1955.
I went to there on school trip!! I'd like to go there again!!
If you have a chance,must go there!!

OSAKA castle



This photo is OSAKA castle!!
I went to there in this past Augesut with my friend Shane. (He has gone home England...)

I went to Osaka quite many times although It's first time went to the castle.
I thought Osaka castle is very interesting!!!!!
Because,the castle is surrounded with a lot of high-rise building.
The historical building in the urban!!

ABOUT OSAKA CASTLE...
It was starting to build 1583 by 豊臣秀吉 [Hideyoshi Toyotomi].
He modeld on 安土城 [Aduti-Jyou (Aduti castle. It was built by Nobunaga Oda)]
He spent time for building castle keep for 1 year and a half-year.
But,he tried to perfect for rest his life 15 years.
And then the 徳川 [Tokugawa] shogunate had repair work.
Actually,we can see the castle now,it's almost Tokugawa shogunate work..

My English is poor,so you should read Osaka castle English site. It's better. haha. here

KANJI of the year (Continuation)

I write about KANJI of the year 2001's to 2004's...
It's a last time about it!!!! (I'll write it next year!)

2001「戦」
It means war,battle,fighting...
Of course,there was 11th September terrorist attacks.
It was very big incident,you know.
And,we had fightinf for economic distress...



2001「帰」
It means come back,get back,return...
There was a big reason.
Some Japanese came back Japan from North Korea.
They had been kidnapping by North Korea long long time.
Actually,there were many other Japanese kidnapping there and still can't come back yet.
Ummm...It's very serious ploblem...

2002「虎」
It means tiger...
I guess you think why tiger...?
Actually,HANSHIN TIGERS got league titlle. It has been 18 years!!
HANSHIN TIGERS is Japanese pro baseball team.
There are a lot of fans in mainly KANSAI area.
Some of them are addicted sometimes. It's famous...
And,there are some Japanese common expression use Tiger.

2004「災」
It means bale,disaster,harm...
Wow! Last year was so bad...
Because,there was a big eathquake in Nigata prefecture.
10 typoon struck in Japan. Some of them were very big.
It was the gratest number typoon coming.
And,there were ibad ncident which hostage were killed in Iraq etc...

That's all for KANJI of the year for past 10 years.
What do you think??

Have a nice day!!
SEE YA!!

Result

Hello!!
I wrote about FIFA Club World Championship TOYOTA Cup Japan 2005 last time.
There was the final match last night.
Perhaps,you already know which team was victory...
But,I write...

1,Sao Paulo FC
2,Livepool FC
3,Deportivo Saprissa
4,Al Ittihad
5,Sydney FC
6,Al Ahly

Yeah,Sao Paulo FC is best in the world in this year!!!
MVP player is Ceni/GK from Sao Pailo FC.

I'm hoping that Japanese team appearence in this convention next year!!

SPORTS


I write one more thing today.
Because,2 big sports tournaments have been helding in Japan now.
First off is Grand Prix Of Figure Skating.
It's a important for Japanese athletes.
Because,they tryout to TORINO olympic!!!!!!






And,second off is FIFA Club World Champion Ship TOYOTA CUP 2005.
I don't know about soccer much.
But,I was impressed that Liverpool FC is strong!!!!!
There was semi final match yestday.
Liverpool FC 3 - 0 Deportivo Saprissa
Wow! They got 3 point!

And, Do you know him??
He is Kazuyoshi Miura.
Please remember we call KAZU.
He play at Sydney FC now.
Wining Sydney FC today!!!!! It made decision 5th place.
He might be last play in that team.
He is traded to Sydney FC from Japanese team since last mounth.
It's short time treader...
Sydney FC's coach is Pierre Littbarski.
He was playing Japanese teame before.
So,they can good communication with play.

KAZU is 38 years old.
He has played of course Japan and also in Brazil 8 years,Italy 1 year,Croatia 1 year and Australia now...
He greatly contribute to Japanese soccer woeld.

FIFA.com (English)

KANJI of the year (Continuation)

Hello!!
Today,I write about year's KANJI 1998's to 2000's!!

1998「毒」
It means poison,lurid,toxic...
Wow! horrible year!!
Actually,there was big incident.., One woman mixed arsenic (poison) into a pot of curry when the town summer festival in Wakayama prefecture. Some people were killed by eating curry with rice.
And,we talked about dioxin a lot...

1999「末」
It means end,last,sunset...
Because,you know 1999 was the end of century.
And,there were some bad news about critical accident,police scandals and so on...
We thought that it could be the end of the world.
And,we hoped that things widen toward the end!!!!　

2000「金」
It means gold,money...
We were glad that Japan got 5 gold medals at Sydney Olympics.
And,new 500 yen coin and 2,000 yen bank-note coming.
Ummm...it was better year than 1999!!!!

I hope you enjoy about KANJI.
Have a nice day!!
See you soon!!!

KANJI of the year

I wrote about 2005's KANJI last time.
I got a question that What KANJI was chosen each past 10 years.
Thanks give me a talk topic,Pallaver!!

1995「震」
It means shake,shiver,tremble,quake...
Because,there was big reason that the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake at 17th January.
And,there was serious crimes by Aum-Shinrikyo clut.
We trembles with that scary incident.


1996「食」
It means food,meal,eat,appetite...
Because,there was panic over O-157(Escherichia coli food poisoning).
There was the first scare BSE. (There wasn't BSE cow in Japan in 1996 yet.)

1997「倒」
It means fall,succumb,destruction...
Because,there had been a spate of company bankruptcy,even big company.
And,Japan grabbed first ticket to the World Cup soccer finals.
Japan smote the other teams!! [smite] is sometimes means like...「倒」

Well,break for the day...
I'll write about it 1998～ next time!!
See you soon...

This year's KANJI

「Mirror the society KANJI 2005」Decision!!
Tosay,it made an announcement in KYTO....
Can you see KANJI in this photo?
That KANJI is 「愛」 [Ai]. It means LOVE.
It was 11th that an announcemnt. It's choose from among the public.
This year,there were 85,322 enter.
And,there were 4,019 enter 「愛」. No.1!!!!
Because...There are some reason...
Japanese imperial princess got married last mounth.
There was an international exposition in AICHI prefecuture. That theme was 「愛」.
There were many misery cases (kids were killed and so on...),people hope everyone have LOVE...

I think it good idea!!
Because,only 1 KANJI although people understand what does it mean...

BY THE BY...
rank the second...「改」
It means reform,revolution...etc

rank the third... 「郵」
It means mail,post service...etc
Is it starnge? haha.
Actually,the government decision privatize the nation's postal business.

Japanese Technology

Hello!! How are you?

MADONNA came to Japan 5th December.
It has been 12 years she came last. She is Japan now...
And,she said....
「I love Japan!!! foods,culture,fashion,MEN.」(MEN...haha)
But,there is a Jaapanese thing she likes very much.
GUESS WHAT?? What do you think?
It's washlet warm lavatory seat!! (Ummm...I don't know how do I say it in English exactly...)

So,I took that photos in my office. haha.
There is a control space in left side.Can you see??
What can you do it...
・You can get warm as you like on lavatory seat in winter season.
So,it's comfortable sitting on the seat.
You can have nice bathroom time (aha) even cold weather...
・You can shower and warm air...It's a sanitary system...
Of course, there are not that system seat every house in Japan.
There are that system in new house (I mean new house is built for around this 10 years...)and department stores or companys etc...
Of couse,you can see atill a lot of Japanese-style lavatory.

What do you think that Japanese technology??
MADONNA is RICH!!! I guess...she buy warm washlet lavatory seat and install her house's bathroom...

MONEY
Have you seen that Japanese (bank) note??
Even if you saty in Japan now,you might not see it!!
It's 2,000 yen note.
[Give you a information!!]
1＄=120.93 yen
1Euro=141.82 yen
1￡=209.37 yen
(7th December rate.)
This note had issue in July 2000.
But,It couldn't put into circulation well...
Actually,I don't see it in shop or bank...recently.
I've got some that notes. It's like a collection. haha.
I don't know why the goverment had issue it...?
However,it's quite good Japanese design. What do you think??
If you stay or come to Japan,you can change 2,000 yen note at a bank.

And,there is one more information about money.
Do you know Hello! Kitty.
It's very famous Japanese cat character!!!!!!
Kitty's EUro coin hsd isssue in France.
WOW!! I was surprised. (We can buy them in Japan since 5th December)
1 ounce gold coin 50 Euro=168,000 yen.
4/1 ounce gold coin 10 Euro=52,500 yen.
silver coin 1 Euro or 1/2 Euro=8,400 yen.
Of course you should not use them if you have got them.
50 Euro= about 7,000 yen although that coin is 168,000yen!!!!!!
Would you like have Kitty's expencive coin??
You can see all design kitty's coin here

SUMO the second


I write about SUMO again.
Can you see the photo?
He is 朝青龍 [Asashoryu].
He is 横綱 [Yokozuna]!! Yokozuna is the highest rank in SUMO wrestling. We also call 大横綱 [Dai Yokozuna] to him. Because,he had a lot of victory.
So far he is the only Yokozuna in SUMO world...

He is a Mongolian. (I know non Japanese SUMO wretler are storonger than Japanese now. haha)
His real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj...
His father and 4 brothers are Mongolian SUMO wretler.
One of his brother is Japanese professional wrestker...His name is Blue Wolf.

This photo is the prime minister Koizumi gave to him the cup.
It was 27th November in Fukuoka.
It was rare that Koizumi come to there and giving the cup.
But,Asashoryu had 7th straight victory and won 6 times tournament in this year.
So,Koizumi came to there.
He said...
It's a new record!! big record!! excellent!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

Add a postscript...7th December 9:30 p.m.
I've got a question.
Asashoryu is the 68th Yokozuna.
There was 67 Yokozuna before... They resigned SUMO now...

S U M O



Do you know him?
His name is 琴欧州 [KOTOOSHU].
He is famous SUMO wrestler in Japan.
He was promoted to 大関 [OZEKI] at 30th November.
OZEKI is the second class in the SUMO world.
He is the first European OZEKI wrestler!!!!
He is a Bulgarian.
His real name is Mahlyanov Kaloyan Stefanov.
And,just 22 years old. Wow!! quite young!!!
height:204cm
weight:143kg
He is endowed with great body!!!!!

Actually,OZEKI get quite big money... haha.
And,they can take a first-class train or an airplane when tour some places SUMO matches.

I think he is a nice guy.
He'll be more popular wretler with Japanese.
He already got an offer of a TV commercial!!!!!!!!

Have you seen SUMO wrestling??

English SUMO site

About KANJI the second

I wrote about 漢字 [KANJI] before.
Today,I write about Countries name.
There is 1 KANJI for each country... Did you know that??
Firstly,Japan (the government??) decided country's KANJI from only sound (pronunciation).
For example...
America:made for KANJI. 亜米利加.
And then, pich out 1 KANJI. 「米」=America.
Actually,「米」means rice. haha. So,it's only sound.
I write country's KANJI common in Japan.
I don't know why but some countries not common KANJI.
Perhaps,It depends on became common the past or no...

America:「米」
Australia:「豪」
China:「中」
The Democratic People's Republic Of Korea:「朝」
France:「仏」
Germany:「独」
Holland:「蘭」
Italy:「伊」
India:「印」
Korea:「韓」
Russia:「露」
Taiwan:「台」
The U.K.:「英」

And,Norway and New Zealand person gave me the comment here. (Thank you!)
So,I write...
Norway:「諾」
New Zealand:「新」
I din't know them!!

If you want to know about your country's KANJI without here.
Please ask me!!
I hope KANJI not become garbled on your computer!!!!!!!

Japanese meal


Can you see the meal in this photo?
It's call そぼろごはん [Soboro Gohan].
そぼろ [Soboro] means break up foods (fish,meat...etc) into pieces and cooking.
ごはん [Gohan] means rice.

This foos is ground meat with say sauce taste and scrambled eggs on rice.
It's a common meal in Japan...
Is there similar meal in your country??


By the way, sorry,I forgot to write on the day...
23rd November was Japanese national holiday.
It was 勤労感謝の日 [Kinrou Kansha No Hi].
It's Lobar Thanksgiving Day.
There was origin event long time ago...
It became that name of day and 23rd November,since 1948...
As I wrote before,there are 2 national holidays in November.
You might think many national holiday in this mounth.
However,Japanese office worker difficult to get paid days-off... haha.

Today's title is my hand writing.
Are you intersted in 漢字 [KANJI]??　
KANJI is Chinese character.
I saw on the nwes that KANJI tattoo is rising in popularity with young people in the U.K on TV. (Probably,other some countries too...right??)
It was funny that some people have got nonsense KANJI words tattoo.
However,I know that some Japanse people wear T-shirt with nonsense English. haha.

In Japan,there are 2 way to read.
1,Chinse way to read.
It's mainly (noun) substanitive.

2,Japanese way to read.
It's use with ひらがな [HIRAGANA]. And,an adjective, a verb...etc

For example...
「美」
1,(Chinse) pronounce...BI.
It means beauty.

2,「美しい」
(Japanese) pronounce...UTSUKU shii(HIRAGANA part).
It means beautiful.

So,there are several way to read or use in each character.
It's difficlut,even Japanese...
I'll write about KANJI again!!!!
SEE YA!!
Hava a nice day!!

Celebratory Mood


We've got celebratory mood now.
Because,princess 清子 [Sayako] got married 15th November.
She got married 黒田慶樹 [Yoshiki Kuroda] (40). He is a Tokyo civil servant.
They held a wedding ceremony at 帝国ホテル [Teikoku Hotel].
Her parents came there. It was first time!!
I mean Their majesties the Emperor and Empress joined private ceremony.
She became general citizen now.
She name was 紀宮 (It's the imperial name) [Norinomiya]清子. Now,her name is 黒田清子 [Sayako Kuroda].

And,the ceremony was modest. It was like a tea party.

Give you just a information!! Do you know 名古屋 [Nagoya] ? It's a place name in 愛知 [Aochi] prefecture.
It's farmos that Nagoya people hold very grand wedding ceremony. haha.

So,I felt that she reminded us Japanese modest woman...
What do you think??


title and illustration by Craig Molloy...Thanks!!

I K E B A N A



Have you heard IKEBANA? It means Japanese flower arrangement.
I had a that lesoon today. (Can you see the photo? I made it!!)
I've been learning it over 10 years although still poor. haha.
Because,I don't care about a licence and an exhibition!! It's just a hobby hor me.

What did I use today...
･十月桜 [JYUGATSUSAKURA] sort of Japanese chery.
･ピンポマム [PINPOMAMU] sort of chrysanthemum.
･けいとう [KEITOU]
･のんすらん [NONSURAN]
Sorry,I couldn't get English name well... 　　

Sometimes easy, sometimes hard...
It depens on what are flowers and branchs coming...
Have you ever done before??
There is a difference, set way to arrange in each school.
But,you should try as you like!!

ARE YOU HEALTHY?

Probably you know 豆 腐[TOFU].
It's Japanese healthy food. (The origin is China. But,difference taste)
It has been popular in America or some other countries since some years ago...
TOFU made from soybeans.
Soybeans is consumed 500,000t/a year for making TOFU.
Domestic soybeans is 18%, America 66%, Canada 14%...
TOFU is contain many kinds of nutrients such as protein!!

By the way,Do you know 豆 乳[TOUNYU]?
豆:This KANJI means beans.
乳:This KANJI means milk.
It's soyamilk.
It's formed from in the process of making TOFU.

There are many soyamilk drink or sweets in Japan.
It a low-calorie. So,it's poplar with women or person who care about health.
And,recently there is soyamilk sweets, getting common stayle.
There are soyamilk sweets (like a pudding or mousse) and sauce (There is some kind of taste in each company...) pouch-packed in same paper container.
I like them very much!!
YOU SHOULD TRY!!

CULTURE DAY

I was lazy. So,sorry I write about past day.
3rd November was CLTURE day
It's Japanese national holiday.
There are many cultual events during November.
For example,school cultuals festivals, art festivals and so on...
Autumn is good season for Japanese.
Because,the weather is good (not too cold,not too hot) and the food is good (some vegetables,fruits and fish etc are in season now)!!

So,we call...
スポーツ (sports)の秋。(Autumn of sports)

食欲（appetite）の秋。(Autumn of appetite)

読書（reading）の秋。(Autumun of reading)

(秋[AKI] means Autumun.)　

So,we've got a lot of enjoyment things in this season. haha.
It's good season anything to do in this season.
What do you think??
If you live in Japan,how about starting something from now??

I was beat.

Hello!! How are you?
I went to a film preview [The Brothers Grrim] on last Friday after work.
In Japan,it's coming 3rd November. I got the preview ticket!!
I love Monty Pyhton. So,I love Terry Gilliam!! I was so glas I saw his film on the cinema. Because,I had seen his films only DVD or video before!!
It was very good!! I was enjoyed The Brothers Grrim very much.
I think Terry Gilliam can image what his mind. Because,he can make a picture whatever
he want. So,every his film staffs have same image. It's very good for them.

Matt Damon and Heath Ledger were brother in that film. I guess they tried to speak to British English.
I was thinking that Heath is better than Matt...
Probably,because he is Australian.
Is it right in my thought?? I'd like to ask about it to native English speaker!!

And,why I was beat.
Because,I also saw [Sin City] after The Brothers Gllim.
I was so tired. Sin City is grotesque film,you know.
However,it was cool!!

I hope all of you are having a nice day!!

becoame new star?!


Do you like BASEBALL? I'm not interested in BASEBALL. But,it was interesting this year. Because,千葉ロッテマリンズ (Chiba Lotte Marines) got Japan series!!
It has been 31 years since they got it last time. Wow!!very long time...　
And,the manager is Bobby Valentine (55).
It's the first time that non Japanese person manager get the Japan series.
He is very lovely person!!
He speaks Japanese,not well although...haha. But,we're glad his speaking.
The president Bush invite him to welcome reception. When the Japan-America summit hold next mounth...　　 　


※For your information.
Chiba is a prefecture name. That's next prefecture Tokyo. There is NARITA international air-port,
And,Lotte is Japanese famous foods company,especially CHOCOLATE!! So,I contributed much to their sales. Absolutely!! haha.

O L D T O W N
I took this photo on March. This is NARA prefecture.　NARA is old capital before KYOTO.
And,you can see big temple in this photo. It's 東大寺(Todaiji). WORD HERITAGE,you know?!
Todaiji was constructes since 728 by 聖武天皇(Shomu Emperor). Firstly,it wsn't Todaiji.
It continued to constructing...and then it became Todaiji. And,it's the largest wooden building.
There is the GREAT BUDDHA a little farther on...
It's around 18 merters in height. WOW!! very big!!
I went to there the firs time when I was younger. It was a primary school trip.
Actually,then I thought NARA is boring. BUT!! I enjoyed there so much when I went to there on March this year again.
Perhaps,because I've grown up. haha.
I'm intersted in old culture...
Probably,you can enjoy there!!
And,you can see a lot of tame DEER!! (I don't know, why they are...)
You must watch out for not tame deer... haha.
SEE YA!!!
Information NARA English site

What are you listening?

I like MUSIC.　Do you like??
I like overseas music very much.
It's easy to get information about English-speaking countries music.
However,there are some other country's music my favourite.
I found good Swedih band recently.
It's The Perishers.
Have you ever listen to??
It was something accident,when I found them.
Their music is excelent!!!!!!!!! good melody,good coice...I think.
Their song make me relaxing...

In Japan,of course there are a lot of good singers or bands.
But,there are also many pop singers can't sing well. terrible. haha.
I hope you listen to good Japanese song if you have a chance to listen to Japanese.
　 　

The Perishers official site