La Vita e' Bella

Hello Again From Geneve, Swiss

2007-08-02T19:13:00.000+09:00

Hi all! Thanks for your constant encouragement. My life has been slightly changed since 2007 started. Hope we can share some of it through this blog again!

A landmark of Geneve, Switzerland

Left;'Jet d'Eau, 200 km/h, 500 litres/sec, 140m altitude Right; The set of Tori Amos live at Auditorium Stravinski in Montruex Jazz Festival, which is famous known as an international music festival in the world since 1967 (The legendary Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and more also played here in the past! ) It is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lake Léman.

Nature vs Building Rush

2006-11-02T06:53:00.000+09:00

A Beautiful Moment is build by nature everywhere now.

Bishopsgate; Building Rush launched at Liverpool Street in London based on the Mirror Mozaique City Project.

"Swiss Re Building" a.k.a. "The Erotic Gherkin"

Stone Henge

2006-10-23T00:17:00.000+09:00

Do you feel any mysterious power?

Summer

2006-06-27T05:11:00.000+09:00

St. Mary's Cathedral in Salisbury
Too hot! Get off clothes, and get sun tan!

St. George's Cross

2006-06-13T06:51:00.000+09:00

The World Cup has started! I won't mention about the terrible match, Japan vs Australia, which was also a magic game on the side of Aussies coached by Hiddink. Just here are England daily views in this season. Everywhere England flags, St. George's Cross!

BBC, talk show, Jonathan Ross wearing red cross suits and a guest, one of Desperate Housewives

Spring Everywhere

2006-05-05T05:35:00.000+09:00

Finally Spring has come! I've never had a such a long winter in my life. Getting dark so quickly and chilling like a freezer!!! Now it's beautiful everywhere. Spring in Dublin last weekend.

As my friend Kaori said in her blog before, Cherry blossoms in Dublin are bigger than Japanese one. Can you feel the weight of their blossoms?

Cherry blossoms in UK is similar and familiar to Japanese. Today the temperature actually hits 24 Celsius here!!! Spring is not anymore and early summer is around, isn't it?

Cadbury

2006-04-17T07:36:00.002+09:00

This is the world for chocolate lovers!

My Dutch friend feels the history of chocolate related with her country.

Cadbury made this town for workers and contributed to this town and community of people a lot by making houses, church, hospital and Football club too!

To know the history of chocolate is interesting. According to huge information website, Wikipedia, at the end of the 18th century, the first form of solid chocolate was invented in turin. In 1828 Dutchman Conrad J. van Houten patented a method for extracting the fat from cocoa beans and making powdered cocoa and cocoa butter. Van Houten also removed the bitter taste. It is believed that the Englishman Joseph Fry made the first chocolate for eating in 1847, followed in 1849 by the Cadbury brothers. Now Cadbury is well known as a most common chocolate brand all over the UK. ちなみに、イギリスの一人当たりのチョコレート消費量は、ヨーロッパ一だそうです。同僚の男性も、いつもおいしそうに食べてます。クリスマスはもちろん、仕事場でのミーティング、ティータイムも、チョコやチョコクッキーなど必ず登場します。イースターは、オフィスの十数カ所に隠されたチョコエッグを、さがすゲームがありました。もしかして、世界一かもしれません。

UK Trains

2006-04-11T08:35:00.001+09:00

Platform in Snow Hill station, Birmingham. Very Artistic.
が、しかし、電車ネタはトコトンつきない。

各駅停車の電車は、電車の色で確実に分かるのだが、明らかに停まるはずの電車が構内に入ってきて、ちょっとスピードゆるめたか？と思い、乗客もレール側に一歩前進、そう思いきや、その電車は全力疾走して停止せず通過してしまった。。。あれは、いったいなんだったの？乗客も結構乗っていたのよ（しかし、決して満員ではなかった）。アナウンスも一切無し。一歩前進して迷わず乗りかけたイギリス人のおじさん、思わず怒って独り言ブツブツいってた。分かりますよ、その気持ち。まったく思わせぶりな電車に遭遇しました。

質問
１）オーバーランはどうしてそんなに頻繁におこるの？イギリスでは電車の運転手の減点または罰金にならないの？
２）到着時間の表示で、後１分が５分に、（その間特急が通過、それは納得）、5分は５分以上の時もある、そして８分が15分に。さんざん待たせた挙げ句にCanceledってなんなんですか！？
３）窓口で電車の来ない理由きいて、分からないってどういうことですか？

独り言
今日乗った電車、降りて電車が通り過ぎるのをよくみたら、「Not In Service」って表示。私の乗った電車はいったいなんだったんだ！？ちゃんと行き先くらい表示してください、そうじゃなきゃ・・・そうじゃなきゃ、なんとなく悲しいです。やる気なさすぎです。

Balti

2006-04-10T05:30:00.000+09:00

This is Balti.

Balti is the name for a style of curry first being served in Birmingham UK since 1975, most likely taking its name from the steel or iron pot.

Balti is not only delicious but also cheap. And customers who wish to drink are welcome to bring their own alcohol with them. So we brought lots of Beers!

Ronda

2006-03-06T05:30:00.000+09:00

深い峡谷をはさんだ崖の上に広がる町。イメージは、天空の城ラピュタ。

Puente Nuevo　ヌエボ橋

左は、スペイン最古の闘牛場Plaza de Toros。右は、闘牛場のすぐ横にあった記念碑。Glorieta Miki Haruta Pintor 2003 Rondaってあるんだけど、調べてみたら、春田美樹さん（1925年生）でした。帝劇ミュージカル『モルガンお雪』で森繁久彌と共演、日劇ミュージックホールでは即興で絵を描くタレントとして人気があったそうです。テレビタレントとしても活躍したものの、目を患い、交通事故で不自由な体になったのを機に画業に専念、スペインのロンダに移り住み風景画を描き続け、１０年前に他界。記念碑の年代とギャップがあるんだけど、これは謎です。

Memory of Trafalgar

2006-02-23T07:41:00.000+09:00

Trafalgar Beach

西暦 1805年10月、ネルソン提督指揮下のイギリス艦隊が、トラファルガーの海戦でフランス・スペイン連合艦隊を撃破。ネルソン提督率いるイギリス海軍が勝利を得たおかげで、ナポレオンのイギリス上陸作戦が不可能になった。ロンドンのトラファルガー広場といえば観光名所の一つで、いつも人々で溢れかえっています。歴史的にみて、イギリスにとっては記念すべき栄光の場所です。しかし、海戦場所だったここスペイン、トラファルガーの海はひっそりと静まりかえり、そして記念碑は200年前の事実だけを後世に伝えています。

White Town

2006-02-11T21:31:00.000+09:00

Vejer de la Frontera
What a narrow street! White walls reflect Sunshine to the blue sky!

Spanish Foods

2006-02-08T21:28:00.000+09:00

Paella パエージャ（パエリア）
元は、バレンシア地方の料理ですが、今はどこでも食べられるみたいです。おいすぃ〜！

Jamon Iberico and Goat Cheese
ハーモンイベリコは、スペインで作られる生ハムの一つで、イベリア半島原産の黒豚（イベリコ豚）の後脚から作られます（ハモンセラーノは白豚）。イベリコ豚は、イベリア半島西部に広がる樫の林で放牧され、どんぐりの実を食べます。その飼育にも手間がかけられ、出荷されるまでの熟成期間も長いため、ハモンセラーノより高め。しかし、これが泣けるぐらいおいしいのです。口の中で生ハムが溶けます、感動です。

Bar, Puerto de Santa Maria
パブ内でも、塩漬けにした豚肉を長期間気温の低い乾いた場所に吊るして乾燥、熟成させています。

Chorizo and Tortilla (Spanish Omlet)
トルティージャ（トルティーヤ）は、メキシコでは小麦粉またはトウモロコシでつくった薄焼きパンを意味しますが、スペインではオムレツを意味します。写真の具はジャガイモ、タマネギ、パプリカですが、トマトやベーコンといった色々なバージョンがあるようです。塩と黒胡椒で味付けします。このスペイン風オムレツのいいところは、冷たくてもおいしい。だから次の日、翌々日のランチに持って行けるのでサイコーです。スペイン料理万歳！

Under The Sun

2006-02-04T21:25:00.000+09:00

Spain Cadiz, Costa dela Luz
Cadizはスペイン南部、大西洋側の町で、紀元前１１〜１２世紀にフェニキア人によって造られた要塞・港湾都市、3000年たった今でも現役の港があります。冬はこんな風に静かだけど、夏はビーチも通りもスペイン人で埋め尽くされるそうです。レストランやバーは夏に一年分を稼ぐので、冬は全くやる気ありません。
Costa dela Luz

Catedral

London (Part 5)

2006-01-09T08:24:00.000+09:00

These are final of London series!

Canary Wharf Tower
イギリスで最も高い、50階建てのオフィスビル（244m）。アメリカ的なデザインをしているため、ロンドンのイメージにふさわしくないといってチャールズ皇太子などにも嫌われている...らしい。（なんでも、５階以上のモダンなビルは、イギリスでは嫌われる風潮があるようです）テロ対策によりビルの上階は一般非公開。しかし今回、このビルで働く知り合いが特別にビジターパスを申請してくれて、許可が下りたので、ちょっとだけお邪魔しました。ちなみに最上階の５０階は、ロンドンオリンピック委員会の事務所になってます。４８階からみたミレニアムドームと蛇行するテムズ川。

Millennium Dome and The River Thames
ここは、ロンドンの東側で、もともとは海運業の栄えた18世紀頃から戦前まで、水揚げした物品を倉庫に保管したり、物流と貿易の要所だったのが、第二次大戦で爆撃を受け壊滅状態に。最近まで手付かずで荒れ放題だった所を、再開発して新しい高層ビルが立ち並ぶようになったそうです。最近では、世界モーターショーがあったり。
ミレニアムドームは、2000年に開かれた博覧会会場。サッカーフィールドがゆうに２面とれる広さで、東京ドームの約３倍らしいです。しかし、今は使われてないんだそうです。ロンドンオリンピックまでとっておくのでしょうか？

That's all for London! Next, sunny Spanish photos will be posted!

London (Part 4)

2006-01-07T08:08:00.000+09:00

British Museum　（大英博物館の中庭にかけられた世界一の大きさの天窓）
コレクションの数が半端じゃない。ローマ、ギリシャ、さらにエジプトからのものはあまりにスゴすぎて（こんなものまで持ってきちゃったの！？というカンジで）、罪の意識まで感じさせます。現在エジプトには、ピラミッドの他に何が残ってるんだろう。。。と思わせるくらいです。本家のエジプトやギリシャ政府は、これらを持ち去った英国に対して、返還するよう求めていますが、今のところ見込みなし。そのかわり英国は、これらをすべて無料観覧（写真ビデオもOK)という形で、世界各国から集まるファンや観光客に素晴らしい展示を提供しています。下は、ミュージアム内のライブラリー。

Natural History Museum

歴史を感じさせる荘厳な建物の中に、奇抜でアイディアあふれる展示方法によって、恐竜好きを圧倒させます。ここは、デートスポットとしてもオススめです。ミュージアム内は、家族づれも多く、子供から大人まで本当に楽しめます。何百という鳥の剥製の前で、じゅんたんに座り込んだ家族は、子供はスケッチを、母は家から持ってきたサンドウィッチをかじるかじる。まるでピクニックでした。これも許されるのがイギリスなのです。

London (Part 3)

2006-01-04T08:00:00.000+09:00

St.Paul's Cathedral.
Julie Andrews sang "Feed The Birds" here in the film "Mary Poppins" (1964)! I've met this song when I was three years old by its LP record, not knowing the film. So I often used to imagine in what kind of place she's singing it. That was HERE!

Theatres! More than 40 theatres are on the map just only in Covent Garden!

London (Part 2)

2006-01-03T08:17:00.000+09:00

Piccadilly Circus.
日本でいうハチ公的場所（か？）。待ち合わせの人々でいっぱいでした。私には一見、アキバにみえるんだけど。。。

Where's tea shop??? In everywhere, you can see Starbucks coffee and big Italian brand cafe, Costa Cafe and Caffe' Nero!!!.... Chinese cuisine is popular here!

WASABI is a Sushi take away shop. They also serve a hot miso soup. 2 nigiri (peices) is about ￡1.5~2 (¥300~400). I think this is the shop for busy Londoners!

London (Part 1)

2006-01-02T02:50:00.000+09:00

Four months have passed since I moved to UK, and I had no chance to visit capital city. Finally I could reach there, London!

Tube is not square type like Japanese one but its really tube like! "MIND THE GAP" is always annouced. The depth of underground level is amazing... "DEEP" and "NARROW". Oh I have to tell you something. "ロンドン地下鉄、初乗り６００円（￡3, zone 1). How can they manage to do it???

They are also typical, aren't they?

Hello 2006!

2006-01-01T08:18:00.000+09:00

Thank to all of people whom I've ever met. New year is always a special moment for me to think back my life. It's a pity that I could not spend New Year holidays with my family this time. Instead, I'll post some of wonderful place's photos where I've been in this holiday. Tons of happiness to you all! Best Wishes

All About Christmas

2005-12-06T10:39:00.001+09:00

Wow its only a month left this year. Time flies! Before having a new year, people here are very busy for decorating everywhere, shopping for Christmas and are ready for it in proper ways!

Decorated office in cheep way. A Chocolate box to countdown for the X'mas is opened every day till then.

Decorated downtown in fabulous way. For some reason, we have Frankfurt market till the X'mas! German Beers, Hot wines, German Sausages, and German Christmas cake, Stollen!!! Birmingham is now surrounded by German Christmas mood.

Of course, even though its cold night, they drink beers outside under the statue of Father Christmas, Santa Claus!

Snow Affair

2005-11-28T22:22:00.000+09:00

Bham had snow today, finally!

先週、すでにスコットランドとサウスウェールズでは雪が降っていて、１４cm積もる所もあったそうです。そのため(?)、すごい車の渋滞と、子供たちが学校から帰れず（親が車で迎えにこれないから）、学校で一夜を過ごすという信じられない事態が起こりました。今夜もこの雪で、各地でひどい渋滞が起こっているようです。なんて雪に弱い国なんだ〜〜〜！！！

BBCニュースは、なかなか進まない車の長い列の映像を流しながら、”ドライバーのみなさん、どうか車を乗り捨てないで、辛抱強く車の中で待ちましょう”と呼びかけています。どうしてこんなことが。。。実は、これ高速道路なんです。イギリスの高速道路はどこも無料。あまりに、車が進まないのと、寒さと、高速道路という逃げ道のないところで、車を乗り捨てる人が続出。これがまた渋滞を呼んでいるようなのです。分からない、分かりたくない。。。

もう一つ分からないのが、うちのリビングのヒーター。３週間前に壊れて大家にクレーム。修理不可能、新しいのをオーダーするといわれ、本日やっときた。何故かドイツ製。だからこんなに長くかかったの？大家のこだわりどころがわからない。さっそくスイッチを入れたが、いくら待てども暖まらない。電話で問い合わせると、”それはエコロジー暖房、夜１２時以降の深夜電力で働くストレージヒーターだから、スイッチをオンにしたままにしておくんだ、朝にはきっと暖かいよ♪”って回答が。。。朝は早く出勤するし、今暖房必要なんですけど。。。分からない、分かりたくない。。。

Great Escape to Oxford

2005-11-21T07:27:00.001+09:00

Frost, Coldness, Broken Heater, Much Work, Industrial Matters, Traffic Jam,..... I wanted to escape from the life in Birmingham for some moment, so I jumped into the train and headed to Oxford for a weekend. (Photo was taken in observatory, Green College)

In Oxford, the town is in the University campus which has 39 colleges. Even on Sunday, college serves meals to the students and they can eat together in huge old historical dining as like you can see in the film, Harry Potter which dining was based on Christ Church college in Oxford) Everything is old and lovely there. Libraries, Cosy Houses, Boat Race, Debates, Bicycles, Long Wool Coat, Parties, D-Phil (it is called as PhD, only in Oxford and Cambridge in the world).

Anyway most of the time while I stayed there, it was chilly, misty and foggy. Amazing thing was that it hit the most coldest temperature at that day in UK in this season. I could not help without laughing by coldness while walking in the street. But now I'm happy to come back from there with these pictures, drinking tea sitting in the sofa in my flat in Birmingham. Now I'm ready for getting into two weeks' hard work!

Japanese Princess

2005-11-15T10:02:00.000+09:00

On a way to the office this early morning, I heard the news of Japanese Princess Sayako's wedding, by BBC radio. I was slightly happy to get some tiny japanese news in such a local place in UK. They also told that she had lost her royal status after she married commoner Yoshiki Kuroda with some episode like the following;

今朝のBBCラジオは、紀宮さまと黒田さんの結婚を伝えていたので、こっちにきて日本のニュースが聞けてちょっと幸せ・・・もつかの間、以下のように続いたニュースキャスターのやりとりで、BBCが、実は何を伝えたかったかが分かりました。

"To prepare for her dramatic change of lifestyle, Princess Sayako has reportedly been taking driving lessons and practising shopping at the supermarket"

”劇的な生活スタイルの変化に備えて、さやこ姫は、車の運転とスーパーでの買い物の練習をしているとのことです。”

"Do you need to practice for shopping at the supermarket, don't you?"

”（相方のニュースキャスターに,イジワルく質問）あなたもスーパーでの買い物の練習必要じゃないの？”

"Hahaha, no way.......!!!"

”（あきれた口調で）ハハハ、そんなバカな”

Totally ashamed... My little happy morning has gone.

フー。。。。私の小さな朝の幸せは、どこかへ行ってしまいました。

British Weather

2005-11-14T19:30:00.002+09:00

イギリスに来て、同僚と天気の話をしたり（ネタがそれしかない訳ではない）、天気予報を頻繁にチェックするのは本当です。ファッションショーや、ポップミュージックのビデオに雨傘（もちコウモリ）を登場させるのも、さすがです。（でもあんまり傘をささない）毎日毎日、あめ、アメ、雨。イギリスまできて梅雨なのか！？って思わせるほど、太陽をみなかった今日この頃。それが、ここにきて、素晴らしい晴れが続いています。これはこの季節には珍しいです、ホント。寒いけど。土曜日のFOG(霧）ってのも笑えます。

２日前からリビングの暖房が壊れて、また不動産屋と終わりなき戦い。雪の気配も感じる寒さだけど、積もっても２センチ程度らしい。しかも、こちらの人々、雪というものに慣れてないらしく、ちょっと降っただけで、交通がマヒするらしい。お手上げだわ。。。

Remembarance Day

2005-11-11T11:11:00.000+09:00

イギリスでは11月11日はRemembarance Dayと呼ばれる第１次世界大戦の終戦記念日です。1918年11月11日午前11時に武器を下ろしたことから、毎年各地で11月11日午前11時に２分間の黙祷を持ち、戦没者を追悼し世界平和を祈ります。11月11日に最も近い11月第２日曜日はRememberance Sundayとして、特別礼拝、マーチング、集会あり。。。今年は、第２次世界大戦から６０年目にもあたり、ガイフォークスナイトに続くアニバーサリーでありました。

この日が近づくと、子供からお年よりまで多くの人が、胸にポピーの花（紙でできている）をさし、同僚も例外なく、２週間前からジャケットにそれをつけているのであります。かの首相も、ポピーを胸に、気軽にフットボール番組に出ていました。

Guy Fawkes Night

2005-11-05T23:30:00.000+09:00

The 400th anniversary of the gunpowder plot!!!

もう、どこもかしこもこの３日間、狂ったように花火大会です。今日にいたっては、午後６時から途切れる事なく、四方八方打ち上げ花火（午後１１時半現在も続いております。）。おかげで寒い中、外出することなく部屋から十分花火を楽しみました、嫌になるくらい。。。さすがに３日連続、しかも約５時間ず〜っと、町中が公的に、公園、個人宅庭でも打ち上げ花火をやるので、ちょっと美しさ半減、狂ってます。

"Remember, remember the fifth of November.
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot."

４００年前の今日、１６０５年１１月５日にガイ・フォークス率いるテロリストが国会議事堂を爆破を企て、外部の密告により未遂、逮捕されました。それ以降、イギリスではこの11月5日にかがり火でガイ・フォークス人形を燃やし、その後花火を打ち上げるのが習慣のようです。ということは、この狂った花火大会、ここバーミンガムだけじゃなくイギリス中やってるってことですよね。恐ろしいです。ホント冗談じゃないくらい、うるさいんです。国のお祭りですから、仕方ないけど。私には、銃声にきこえて仕方ありません。テレビ番組も、霊能力者を使って、４００年前のガイフォークスとコンタクト、当時の様子を再現、かくされた謎にせまったりしてます。やっぱ狂ってます。

Daylight Saving Ends

2005-10-30T04:30:00.003+09:00

"Britain was the first nation to adopt daylight saving schemes in 1908.
Some people believe the pragmatically minded British did it to make economy on candles." TASS, Moscow

Summer Time, which is from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October, ends! Like most states in Europe, Summer (Daylight-Saving) Time is observed in UK, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour; 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1). After the Summer months the time in UK is shifted back by 1 hour to Western European Time (WET) or (GMT).

UK Standard Time = GMT (Greenich Mean Time since 1884)
UK Summer Time = BST (British Summer time) = GMT+1,

Clocks go back 1-hour from Summer Time! ということで、今日からイギリスと日本との時差は、９時間に戻ります。

Before You Drink (Advert #3)

2005-10-21T17:54:00.000+09:00

イギリスは、大学構内にパブがあるので、放課後パブに集まりガンガンビールを飲む。金曜の放課後ともなれば、ビール片手にした人がごったがえし、キャンパス内の芝生まで群がる。他のヨーロッパの大学はどうなんだろう。女性でも３パイント（１パイント＝0.56リットル）は軽く、皆普通に５〜８パイントいっちゃっいます。（私は無理でしたけど）
There's no doubt that pub is a culture of UK. The funny thing is there's pubs in the college campus and also adverts for those who drink beer like below,（大学の構内にある広告）

親切にも、酔っぱらう前の心得と酔っぱらいの定義が記してある。
Unfortunately these adverts don't work so well in this country. Here's a recent example.

Being drunk can make a hole on your jeans!!! (I fell down from bike after drinking....Ouch!) But it's fashionable, isn't it?

Dear Researchers (Advert #2)

2005-10-18T11:07:00.000+09:00

I'm very relieved to know that all with good brain or bad brain are welcome to this university!

Dear Drivers (Advert #1)

2005-10-14T00:32:00.000+09:00

Adverts in the train alert drivers taking high speed.

この国はホントジョークがキツイです。むしろグロイね。ここは運転教習所じゃないんですから。

Its too real, isn't it?でも効果大！？

Replacement Service

2005-10-09T21:38:00.000+09:00

　今日、大学に行くのに、電車が利用できませんでした。駅のアナウンスによると、ダウンタウンから大学への路線だけ工事しているらしいのですが、これで、３週連続日曜、丸一日駅お休みですよ！日本なら、真夜中とかに工事してできるだけ影響を少なくするのに。こちらの人は、日曜は電車なぞ利用せず、車で郊外へ出かけるか、家でゆっくりするんでしょうね。それでもバスの代替サービスがあるので（しかも無料）、かわりにバスを利用するのですが、この日はおもしろかった。

その１）行きのバスで。無料バスに乗ったはいいが、運転手が道に迷い、途中路肩で地図を広げる始末。おいおい。。。いくら普通の路線じゃない（特別に電車の路線に沿って走るので）からって、これで３週目（私が知る限り）の代替サービスですよ、しっかりしてくれ〜。。。しかも、交差点手前でハザードだしてるんですけど・・・邪魔でしょ！今までワイワイガヤガヤやっていた乗客も、一瞬にして凍り、シ〜〜ン。見かねた一人の乗客が、道案内するハメに。

その２）帰りのバスで。バスの１階は混んでいたので、初めて２階にあがってみることに。おお、景色いいじゃないですか！普段の目線と違うので、とても新鮮、かつ地理的位置もよく分かる。ロンドンバスはこれで、屋根がないんだよね〜、すごいな〜と２階からの景色を堪能。しかしその感動もつかの間。並木道に入ったとたん、この２階、街路樹の枝にことごとくぶつかって、しかもそれが、サササ〜とかいう葉っぱがかすれる音ならまだしも、ビシャ、ペキッ、ボコッ、バシッ、ギギギ〜、窓が割れるんじゃないかと思いました。それでも、運転手はスピードを落とさず、住宅街を疾走。みなさん、２階は危険です。たぶん普段のバス路線を走っていなかったせいだと思うんだけど、爆笑でした。この国、まだまだいっぱいおもしろいことおこりそうです。

　

WAGAMAMA

2005-10-04T21:39:00.000+09:00

味の追求はわがままなくらい徹底する！？これがモットーの、今イギリスで全国チェーン展開する、日本食レストラン"WAGAMAMA"。噂には聞いていたけど、ここバーミンガムにもありました。

店内はモダンなカンジで、東京とかで最近みる某ラーメン屋にも似ています。本日は平日遅めの夜ともあって、ガラーン。
サイドデッシュは枝豆、唐揚げ、ぎょうざ（具も色々）、焼き鳥、ネギマなど。メインにはラーメン、焼きうどん、焼きそば、野菜炒め、チャーハンなどがありました。値段は昼食には高めだけど、夕食としてはまずまず。味もほぼ日本の味をだしているけど、ラーメンはこちら風にアレンジされています。中にはイタリアンパスタか？とも思えるラーメンメニューも。野菜をふんだんに使っているので、こっちの人はヘルシーレストランとして利用しているようです。各テーブルには、キッコーマンの醤油とラード、七味がありました。まさに日本ね。

興味のある人はこちらのサイトをどうぞ。
http://www.wagamama.com/
このサイトの中のコメントをみると、いろんな国の人がこのワガママに感動しているようです。さらに、オーストラリア、アイルランド、ベルギー、オランダ、ニュージーランド、ドゥバイも展開中！感心いたしました。

Station

2005-09-30T17:30:00.000+09:00

This is the station I use everyday. Time schedule is not reliable and they rarely check your tickets. Tonight is no soul so that I feel like this may lead me to Auschwitz or somewhere scary place....!!!

The tiny flight company, BMI baby again! It's a funny advert, isn't it?

Where's the bin bag???

City Centre

2005-09-25T22:49:00.000+09:00

Birmingham city has canals and a Ferris wheel. Both are within 15 min walk from my house.

People say the dark and cold winter is coming soon, but today is very sunny and warm day here! Here's more shots of city centre, high street.

Oxford

2005-09-23T22:29:00.000+09:00

Oxford is just one hour by train from Bham and I went there to attend to some research meeting. Oxford is so different from Birmingham and I think its very special place for every uni students and researchers.

We spent 3 days there and all packed from early morning and till late with beers in a campus pub in a part of University of Oxford!!!

Cyclist and Suneo

2005-09-19T05:37:00.000+09:00

This country, you can get on the train with your own bike. Surprise!

I'm sure most of viewers here know one of Japanese famous animations, "DORAEMON". I found this in the nearest station of my house. It's SUNEO kun (Sune chan)!!! I can see him every morning here, hehe!

First cook in my new flat

2005-09-17T20:13:00.002+09:00

Staying in the hotel for ten days while working, it's so much stressful. In the end, I got my own flat. Even though I still don't have Table, TV, phone, bed mattress, I am very happy now. These are my first cooking in my new flat, Spagetti pomodoro and Spanish Omlet!!! Tesco is within 5 min walk from my house and always cheap. Great!

The University of Birmingham

2005-09-09T04:59:00.000+09:00

This is a symbol of university.

These are my office and research room. Can you see my tiny iBook on my desk?

Fly to UK

2005-09-07T22:44:00.000+09:00

After 24 hrs delay, my flight was launched! Waiting for 8 hrs in Singapore and 3 hrs in Amsterdom for transit. Finally I'm in Birmingham!!!

I saw many cheap flights, like Ryan, Easy Jet, Thompson, but BMI baby is so cute!!!

Typhoon

2005-09-06T06:33:00.000+09:00

This is the image of typhoon core and we're actually in the core like these below,

Due to this huge typhoon, my flight was cancel. What a fantastic start of my trip is!!!

The last summer in Japan

2005-08-31T15:07:00.000+09:00

Oops, these are my memories in August in Japan.

Isla de salsa in Noko Island
Thanks to my all friends and the Elboraccho owner, Su-san!

Mt.Sakurajima and To-mi Banzan in Ijuin
These places always make me encouraged before I go to the next big step!

Aquarium
Since I was born, I've been living near beach and bay side.

かに食べ放題
My colleague asked me what I wanted to eat for the last in Japan before I move to UK", so I said "Kani (Crabs)"!!! We ate incredible amount of crabs at that night.

Intermission

2005-07-30T15:00:00.000+09:00

Finally my project was accepted. It took so long time. Thanks for all your support. Need a break before I go to the next.

Good bye Osi chan!

2005-07-29T14:51:00.000+09:00

The cutest girl in Fukuoka is going back to her country. Natto, Kaki-P, Yukata....we all miss you, Osi!

JHAR at Early Believers

2005-07-26T14:28:00.000+09:00

The last our gig was hold on tonight. The sound was great, the atomosphere was excellent and the stage light was so hot!!! Started from Irish style of instrumental intro, via Shannon's beautiful new song, and reached out James' hit songs included in "Just another cigarette". I was so happy to spend wonderful time with all of you. Thank you for coming even in the late night of weekday!　皆さん、本当にありがとう！
For more article and photos,

click here

Yamakasa

2005-07-15T15:21:00.000+09:00

Hakata Gion Yamakasa is an annual summer festival held from July 1 to 15 by Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka City with a history stretching back over 750 years.

Summer in Hakata starts with the Yamakasa as beautifully decorated kazari-yama (decorative floats) made by the masters of Hakata ningyo doll production are shown at different places around the city on July 1st.

In 1241, to drive away an epidemic in Hakata, a high-ranking priest was carried by local residents around the town on a shelf and sprinkled holy water along the way. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa of today evolved from this event.

The origin of the Yamakasa festival dates back to the Kamakura period when, unlike now, 15m high decorated floats were also carried. Floats were divided into 2 types in the later Meiji era due to obstacles such as electric wires posing safety risks; one type being for kazariyama (display) and the other type for kakiyama (carrying). Even though the weight of one kakiyama float is around 1 ton, each float is successfully carried by teams of 300 men taking turns as the floats compete for the best time possible in covering a 5-km course.

The climax of the festival is "Oiyama," which starts from 4.59am on the 15th and sees floats rushing around the town as they are incessantly bombarded with water and cheered on by ecstatic crowds on the streets.

Noted; Its for mens' festival. Women are not allowed to entry, even though women are not allowed to enter their team meeting! But I know they support their husbands in every way...!

Beyond the Sorrow

2005-06-20T23:32:00.000+09:00

Mt.Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepalese, Chomolangma in Tibetan) 8,850m

The time has come to say good-bye to my grandfather. He named me after the first woman to climb Mt.Everest. 28 yrs later, when I came to see this mountain in Nepal, it was just too great and frightening. Climb every montain? Hmm...have to think about the route. Anyway I found one thing in these hard times. That's the more sorrow people get, the more kind to the others people can be. And life still keeps going on.

To Read or Not To Read

2005-06-04T20:29:00.000+09:00

Only two posts in May.....what a busiest month it was in my life! And what a wonderful start of my thirties it IS! Just want to have a rest like lying in my bed for reading books.

Ouch, these are too many books to read and make me feel discouraged again.

Concert on the Rock II

2005-05-14T23:55:00.000+09:00

Photo was taken by Rie.

Thank you everybody for coming to the Concert on the Rock II in Oita. I really appreciate all of you and I had a great time with you. And thank you so much for celabrating on my birthday there.

It's a pity there's few photos in my camera, but you can also enjoy other fantastic photos of this concert in James' music blog.

click here

Golden Week

2005-05-08T16:42:00.000+09:00

That's my Golden week holidays this year.

Aso, Kusasenri in Kumamoto. To see an active volcano involved by incredible traffic jam.

Kagoshima central station. To see my family, relatives and old friends in the rain.

Kuju in Oita. To take a wild Onsen and enjoy driving mountain area. Kuju always makes me in peace.

The Mysterious Universe

2005-04-25T13:00:00.000+09:00

Today I found that I ran out of shampoo while taking a shower. Then I looked into the inside of shampoo's bottle, there's the small mysterious space made by shampoo babbles. It seems like a neuron network, but also seems like the small universe!

So I ran to my desk to get a camera and back to the bathroom in naked to take a photo of it. (Because I could not wait any moments since the babbles get disappered by seconds!!!) But I found "what the hell am I doing in naked!?" "Damn, I need to be cool down." So I took a shower again.

I don't want to be hit by earthquake while taking a shower, seriously.

Henry and James

2005-04-21T17:24:00.000+09:00

I'm not talking about Prince Harry nor James Heneghan, and neither is a novelist, Henry James. But these are unique VACUME CLEANERS!!!

Numatic is one of the world’s largest and best-selling producers of cleaning machines since 1974. The upper blue one who has a house is called Henry produced by Numatic. Henry's name and its special features come from the british butlers. Do they often wear the black cricket hat to go out?

Yes, he has family; James is yellow and Henry's brother. He is a smaller, more compact and cheaper version of Henry according to this company. Then there’s Charles. He’s blue, and he is a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. Then we come to George. He is Green and has the ability to shampoo carpets and upholstery. Nuvac is fasionable french version which customers can make their own Nuvac's face by affixing its face seal or stecker by themselves!!! Surprise! More surprising thing was that those are not only cute but also super poweful and are used at Hotel or Office in the world!!! Huh very international!

When I see the kids patients on the dental chair, some kids really scare of dental vacuming noise with crying and it makes it hard to give a dental treatment. So I often recommend their parents to have a training with vacume clearners at home for kids to get used to the noise before they sit on the dental chair. If they have Henry or James machine, I'm sure more kids don't scare of dental vacuming but also get to like cleaning their room with lovey machine!!! What do you think?

One month later

2005-04-20T18:24:00.000+09:00

This morning at 6:11 am, we had the most biggest aftershock since 20th March in Fukuoka. It was really big noisy shaking and scared again. Fortunately this time, I haven't replace all the staffs and make them in the safety place since last month, so nothing were dropped or broken. Only some furnitures moved ahead. Normally I love to be in the high place, like buildings, mountains, bridges, flight, and so on. But I don't want to live in 12F anymore!!! Unfortunately my parents house is also in 13F. Agh......no place to escape for me.

Sakura Fallen

2005-04-12T22:47:00.000+09:00

Graduation/Entrance ceremony and new starting day at school, the smell of new goods, new school uniform, new meeting, hope, wish, challenging, being nervous at the new surroundings......these are my images of Spring and Sakura!

This beautiful season of Sakura, especially when they have fallen at the mercy of the wind, it reminds me of the song "桜の花の咲く頃に” "SAKURANO HANA NO SAKU KORO NI". This is the song of Watanabe Misato (渡辺美里). Yes! Cherry blossams are now falling and young green leaves are coming out. Some says the time of full blossoms are at their best, but some other says the time of falling is more beautiful to see. I agree with the latter. The following is some of part of the song;

「覚えていてね　思い出してね　桜の花の咲くころに
　　覚えていてね　思い出してね　風の強い春の日には」

Remember me....

Con Te Partiro

2005-03-29T00:46:00.000+09:00

This is one of my favorite songs, performed by Andrea Bocelli and it is also sung as the title "Time to Say Goodbye" by him and Sarah Brightman. Tonight we gathered at i-bar to say good-bye to good friends. Losing good firends gives an empty hole in our heart. Actually "Con Te Partiro" is not a song to say good-by at all. But this is the song something new to start. We all have own way to live. Sometimes we come across and sometimes we are apart. But I believe that we will be surely able to meet again as long as we keep wishing and hoping. Good luck to all of my friends who leave here tomorrow. Hope to see you again!

Kimono and Hakama

2005-03-25T22:58:00.000+09:00

"KIMONO" is the traditional costume of Japan. However, even if you visit Japan you hardly would see Japanese who is wearing KIMONO. Although many Japanease have pride in KIMONO, they do not put on usually from following reasons;

1) They are so expensive.
2) They are not active clothes.
3) It is difficult to wash them. (Most of them are silk)
4) There are traditional rules to wear. (Most of ppl cannot wear by themselves and need somebody's help to put on!)

However, many Japanese possess some kind of KIMONO and are wearing them in special occasion: wedding ceremony, coming-of-age ceremony, New Year, graduation ceremony, Japanease tea ceremony, summer festival etc. Today was a good chance for me to wear Kimono and Hakama to attend the graduation ceremony!

Taken by James Heneghan.

"Hakama" is a long pleated skirt worn over the kimono, and it is very populer with the students.This style had been populer In the Meiji era and in the Taishou era before. An interesting thing is its footwear. In most of cases, we wear a zori for Kimono. but only in Hakama case, we often wear Western Boots!!! Because of those era, our life had been dramatically westernized since opening country. The style is called "HAIKARA" There're some Japanese Manga called "Haikara san ga to-ru". The story about the woman wearing Hakama and always riding a bike!!! What do you think of Haikara women???

36hrs later

2005-03-21T17:05:00.000+09:00

I flew to Yokohama to attend the conference the day after earthquake. Honestly I thought I could be relaxed without thinking my disaster room and suffering from aftershocks at 12F of the building, but it was not true. The hotel in front of Yokohama station gave me a room on the 19th floor and the TV says that next big possibility of earthquake in Japan may be in Yokohama or Shizuoka where has a Mt. Fuji!!! Agh............No relaxzation wherever I am.

Any small sounds and shakings by subway or trains scared me now. So many passengers and many cabs at Yokohama station are busy and crossing street. And beautiful lighted up Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo bay can be seen through the big window of my room. But where can I seek for a peace?

Earthquake

2005-03-20T21:00:00.000+09:00

As you already know, we had a big earthquake which had a magnitude of 7.0 and damaged buildings and utility supplies, at 10:53 a.m. on Suday here. I was on the ground and just about to get on the lift to go back to my room 12F at that moment. All of a sudden, I felt a big shaking with incredible noisy sound from the bottom of the earth, and the sound was more bigger than one by a train's passing under the ground. There's something pieces falling down from the ceiling. It was really scared and there's no place to hide by myself. I had to run away immediately and to escape from the shaking and chaose entrance hall of my apartment to the outside road. The escape was like a hell under the big sound and earth shaking. We still have several strong aftershocks here.

My room had no space to walk in, but I had to leave them for a while. Because I had a friends' wedding party to attend on that day and had to leave for it in 10 minutes. It was amazing that wedding party was kept going while we're having aftershocks every 20 min. I played the piano and sang two songs for them even in such a situation. We usually have the second party and third party after the wedding party, but all shops and restaurants were closed by this earthquake. so all the other parties were canceled. Anyway it was an unforgettable wedding party.

Now I have a slight PTSD; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, by this earthquake. I have no idea how many and how long people are/have been suffering from PTSD after the big earth quake in the world. The only thing I can say now is that it wouldn't disappear easily.

A Mystery of Japanese Academic Year

2005-03-10T11:57:00.000+09:00

Why we start a new term at school in April in Japan? This was a question by Ms.Albury who's a traveller from Britain. Well it's a good question actually. In Japan, the academic year starts in April, and ends in March of the following year. It's not only academic system but also it happens to the office or companies in most of cases. Some says because our traditional. Since when? Some says because we care of each four seasons so much. Plants and animals get to start to live actively in Spring. All right, who decided spring is the best season to start everything?

Japan started Westernizing during the Meiji era (1868-1912). The idea of school system also came from western countries. Until 1872, there's no new term for the reason there's no grade at school. In 1873, at some school (pre Tokyo University) academic year started in September, and ended in July of the following year influenced by western system. After all, most of shool followed this academic calender. Most of professors at university or college were also from western countries in those periods, so it's very convenient for them to come to Japan to teach.

In 1887, high school started in April. Until 1921, in every (primary, junior high, college) school in Japan, academic year starts in April. Why did they change the system??? According to some historical information, it seems there's a reason for the budget fiscal year in our country in March-April. At that time, all the school expenses were controled by government, so it seemed more convenient and reasonable to do the start of work period as well as the budget siscal year in our country. Since then, Cherry blossam season is the best to say good-bye and start new life!

Nowadays, more our country is globalized and internationalized, more people tend to think this system is inconvenient. Many Japanese study abroad and many foriegn students come to Japan as well. In those situation, Japanese academic year doesn't match to other countries' one. (Or I can say their academic year doesn't fit to ours!) Some says this causes a tough situation to students who want to enter a college in overseas or who wants to enter Japanese college. On the other hands, some says it's an advantage to take a break or to prepare for something before they start college life in different country.

I heard Korean academic year starts in March and it starts in January or February in the southern hemisphere. What do you think the best to start academic year?

Music and Friends at I-bar

2005-03-05T14:17:00.000+09:00

Recently I'm having sessions playing the piano with James Heneghan. He usually plays his songs with acoustic guitar. Tonight I joined to his live show at International Bar "James In The House" Unfortunately there's no piano so I had to bring a keyboard to play there. Inspite of electronic sound, the songs we played together seemed succeeded.
I-bar is very small and old type of bar, but the staff there and the atomsphere is good and makes you feel at home. So we're very relaxed at playing. It was also nice to see our good friends there. Thank you for all of your coming even it was late night!!! I was so happy to spend the time with you guys!

Fever got a fever -Live Report-

2005-03-04T23:53:00.000+09:00

Tonight was the acoustic live show for FEVER feat. James Heneghan and Buck Natural at Sam & Dave. They are all my favorites so I was excited on that day.

Unfortunately a vocalist of FEVER, Havey got a sick and they canceled to sing as a group. Actually he was there and showed up his face to us, but we all undersood he was trying not to make his voice get worse for the next big show at BLUE NOTE!!! Instead of that, a guitalist Shige who's one of fantastic guitarists played and sang a few songs. Some were arranged by the songs that Havey often sings, and sung by Shige's own style, but it was still a great show.

James Heneghan always gives us a strong punch by his songs. Some of his songs are political or radical, as the titles say "WMD" (大量破壊兵器 : Weapon of Mass Destruction), "Hey Hey I'm gay" (though he's not gay at all)....but sometimes he sings out exactly what we want to speak out. His music and melody is also simple and easy to remember, so it comes to your heart touched easily, which is the most difficult in terms of composing music conversely. Do you know "Hata Yoku, a Japanese guitar Samurai"? Some friend said "James is a British guitar Samurai"!!! hahaha that makes sense.

After the knock out by British Samurai, Buck Natural gave us an energy to be recovered by their GENKI songs! Warren (G) and Jon showed a great gig at that night! We wish we could enjoy the slight fever and reverberations more after their show, but many clubbers started invading all of the floor with loud noisy club music as soon as it ends and it completely smoked away. So I had to leave there with smoky smelled cloths.

3,2,1, Action!

2005-02-27T23:50:00.000+09:00

Tonight, I and my good friend, Kaori went to see the annual perfomance by Tiempo. Tiempo is a Latin culture center where has Spanish, Protuguese language, flamenco, Argentina tango, salsa, guitar, and art classes. They also has a spanish restaurant and a dance floor. Every Saturday night, the dance floor is filled with those who like to dance salsa!!!

The show was going on with a story of girl's dream that she wants to be a movie actress. So the movie director leads her to the art, dance, and music world showing the all activity of Tiempo. (It quite works well, not only as an artistic performance but also as an introduction of their activity at Tiempo!) In the finale, everybody including back yard staffs went up to the stage in applause. I was surprised the numbers of ppl who belong to this group of Tiempo!!! and they are all amateurs but it was really fantastic show.

These latino atomosphere and activity, actually reflects on some other festival in my town. It is called "Isla de Salsa". This salsa dance festival is hold in the end of August in a small island for two days every year. This is hot and cool festival at beach side. My friends and I had a great time there last year! Can't wait for this coming summer!

Hot Stuff!

2005-02-25T23:00:00.000+09:00

Tonight I went to the chinese restaurant "HINABE-JO" "Fire Pot Castle" to celebrate on my friend's birthday. Why did we go to such a place for birthday party??? It was actually her request. She said "I need hot stuff"!!! All right...

As the restaurant's name says, the most of dishes are very spicy and hot. Look at this, incredible amount of hot chilipeppers! Once you eat it, your tongue and throat gets burning and your sweat gland tissues get to start working very hard! We needed to drink beers a lot!

Look at their smiles! Now you can imagine how much we enjoyed tonight! Sometimes we need spices in our life, don't you think so?

Local Music Live Scene

2005-02-22T23:59:00.000+09:00

Basically I was grown up with classical music and when it comes to talk about music live, for me it's always unplugged. So I didn't like the sound through the amplifier so much.

Last year, I got a friend whose boy friend (G) was a singer of some music band, so I had a chance to go and see their live show. They are very experienced singer and guitarist and showed good perfomance. The most impressive thing was that their music was not somebody's copy but their original. Even they sometimes play other's songs, but they arranged it and played completely as their style.

Since then, I sometimes go and check some live shows in my town. They have various kind of music back ground, Rock, Soul, Blues, fusion, R&B and so on. I especially like acoustic style live show. And Early Believers (Basement) is such a place where I can feel an ideal music live.

Tonight, one of my favorite vocalists from New Zealand and G played and sang on the same stage. If I see the audience, it's easy to get to know about the musician's reputation. And in the audience, there were other local musicians who usually play there. They are all friends and come to listen to the others, talk, exchange their information, somtimes do business (EIGYO) or PR. and inspire themselves! I like this atomsphere. It also activates my music life and makes it more creative!

Daddy-Long-Legs

2005-02-20T23:55:00.000+09:00

This photo was taken in a sunset time on a pitch after the football game on Sunday. The shadow reminds me of a childhood book, "Daddy-Long-Legs" by Jean Webster. This book is well known as the title with "ASHINAGA OJISAN" in Japan. The fact is that the name of "Daddy long-legs" is a kind of spider which has extremely long slender legs including Harvestman and the Japanese name is "ZATO MUSHI". But the Japanese title doesn't say anything about a spider at all!!! Anyway this shadow in this photo makes me look like having long legs, but not slender ones at all.

Spiderman

2005-02-16T12:04:00.000+09:00

When I'm down, this makes me feel better.

http://freekeer.free.fr/spider.htm

Much ado about chocolates!

2005-02-14T13:20:00.000+09:00

This year again, I was involved in this typical Japanese crooked event, St. Valentine's day in the office. I saw lots of chocolates on our professor's desk, which seems very expensive, even they are small! GODIVA, Pierre Marcolini, Jean-Paul Hevin and...... Those are given to him by my female collegues included me.

Unlike most other countries, where Valentine's Day is a time for lovers to exchange gifts, in Japan, the day of love is one where it has become customary for women to present chocolate to men they have affection for. Even those for whom the women have no particular feelings for do not miss out, though. They sometimes receive giri-choco, or duty chocolate, which the women hand over through a sense of duty. Yeah it's very commercialized but we have to admid that it's almost one of our culture.

Men do not usually give presents to women on Valentine's Day in Japan. Instead, they are supposed to return the goodwill shown to them on Valentine's Day with a reciprocal gift given on March 14, or White Day.

In my office, as always, even I don't know when and who made this rule, these silly ideas and moods make female to give a chocolate to their boss or other male collegues. It may be a good time to show our feeling to thank to him or them by this. It's only just one time a year, you know. But nowadays, lots of high quality brand chocolates are popular and even among men. And it's surprising to see all one floor is filled with variety of chocolates in the department store of Japan since February starts. I guess some girls may spend much money easily in February! I won't be the one of them next year!!!

Kinko's

2005-02-13T23:50:00.000+09:00

Recently I've finished writing my thesis and I was looking for a bookbinder shop. 'Cause I could print out papers by my computer and printer at home, and just only needed to have them bound. So I went to the nearest Kinko's in my town.

Kinko's provides such services; copy and printing, binding, making original cards, envelope, letter head, poster, personal photo calendar, high-speed Internet access and computer usage, digital photo printing and enlargements, enterprise-level document solutions, and so on.

I thought this shop was made in Japan, because of the name! It sounds like Japanese, isn't it? But it was not true. I was surprised to get to know their history!

"In September 1970, Paul Orfalea, just out of college, borrowed enough money to open his first photocopy shop in Isla Vista, the campus community of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Instead of calling it "Paul's Copies," he called it "Kinko's" after the nickname given to him by his college buddies because of his curly, reddish hair."
-What!? The name of Kinko's comes from his curly hair!

"The first store was located in the corner of a building that also housed a taco stand (which later proved advantageous when Paul cut a hole in the connecting wall, allowing him to order lunch without leaving the store)."
-Hahaha, that's good idea! It seems he already knew how to succeed in business at that time.

"Now, 30 years later, Kinko's has expanded to over 1,100 branches in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, China and Great Britain."
-Wow its a long and surprising history! That's why we have Kinko's here now!

Now I'm very satisfied with my thesis book bound by Kinko's, as quick and in cheap! Thanks!

Snowboarders' life

2005-02-12T23:40:00.000+09:00

Basically I prefer to go to snowmountains alone or with a few friends taking with my own board and to enjoy snowboarding, the fantastic view from the mountain and quiet surrounding there pretty much.

This weekend, I joined to some ski tour group with 17 ppl who come from the US, the UK, Canada, AUS, and Japan. I didn't know most of them before I joined, but spending 48 hours with them together in every moment was enough to get to know some. Though some of them are too much funny, talkative, quiet, shy, and troublesome, everybody there seems so natural and open-minded. And more ppl gather, more we get problems or happenings. But they would be a fun if you can be a part of them and I enjoyed them.

We stayed at MINSHUKU which is a Japanese private guest house in some village and it was typical Japanese style and old. But OBACHANs there who took care of us were very nice and the atmosphere was good! We chatted with KOTATSU and sweet oranges and slept on TATAMI with FUTON. Breakfast at 6:30 am were rice, miso-soup, TAMAGOYAKI, YAKIZAKANA (baked fish), NORI and TSUKEMONO including TAKUAN and HAKUSAI!!! Amazing thing was that everybody ate those breakfast with smile, and nobody complained about typical heavy Japanese breakfast!!! Can you believe they ate YAKIZAKANA and NORI with rice as a starter of all day meal???

The weather was cloudy and snowing but snow at Mt.Mizuho was great condition this weekend. It was over 2m on top, almost snow powder and no pain even if we crush, drop and roll over. I guess we're very lucky to have this condition even in CHUGOKU area.

Thanks to Hawaian Matt who brought me to a crazy steep course which needs brave and challenging spirit! And thanks to Mee, Mika and Matt C. who organized this great tour!

Fantasista Nakamura!

2005-02-09T23:26:00.000+09:00

I know some NAKAMURAs in my life, but my favorite NAKAMURA is definitely "SHUNSUKE" who's a football player in Reggina, Serie A now. He's a MF and has a golden left foot. Today there's a match vs North Korea in the first game of the final qualifying round for the 2006 World Cup at Saitama Stadium.

"Japan scored after four minutes, the home team failed to convert numerous first-half chances. The flow of the game turned in the second half after North Korea scored in the 61st minute. A draw seemed inevitable before substitute Masashi Oguro snatched victory for Japan by slotting in a 91st minute goal. The game looked set for a disappointing draw before substitute Oguro latched on to a lose ball and drilled it home to seal an emotional victory."

Well it tends to forcus on Oguro and his goal which is worthy of praise. Yes, it is actually. But I know the second half was changed since Nakamura turned up to play on pitch! His eyes and skills were fantastic! The game with bad mood was totally cleared by a creative and aggresive style of his play. Fantastico!!! I believe he was the key person on the victory tonight. He's going back to Italy this weekend and a match vs A.C. Milan is waiting for him next Monday. What a tough guy! Buona fortuna!

Rainy days and Mondays

2005-02-07T23:10:00.000+09:00

"Hangin' around nothing to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down"

This is the song of Carpenters tuned in my head in such rainy days and Mondays. Today was not exceptional. I had started a blue Monday with this song since I woke up. Basically I like rain and rainy days, but going out in the rain by motor bike is not so nice. Especially it gets worse in winter!

Anyway I had to ride a motor bike to go to the office today. A 30 mins riding in the rain completely made me forget singing that song and I got so tired and exhausted when I came to work!!! However, fortunately, my work was over earlier and went well on such a terrible day! On a way back to home, the rain has stopped and the sky was clear. There's a Japanese saying, "OWARI YOKEREBA SUBETE YOSHI", means all's well that ends well. For this reason, I cannot dislike this song and it never gets me down!

My new guitar!

2005-02-06T22:05:00.000+09:00

I bought a guitar today! I'm sure this new instrument develops my music field more!

Welcome to "La Vita e' Bella"!

2005-02-05T01:47:00.000+09:00

Recently I've just done my big project, so now's a good time for me to reflesh myself! Hope this blog works it.