Beautiful

Do you want to know how to stay beautiful. Well if you do, you should read the below article.
It is an account of a foreign woman who noticed that many Japanese woman have beautiful skin, and then she decided to find out why. She makes a list of 10 foods which she says keeps the skin beautiful and the face and body beautiful.
I eat 5 out of the 10 on a regular basis...so I guess that makes me "semi-beautiful."

"How to stay beautiful in Japan through your diet"
http://www.japantoday.com/category/commentary/view/how-to-stay-beautiful-in-japan-through-your-diet

From now, I will be heading to Okinawa to have a meeting with the fish. Talk to yall when I get back.

p.s. Below are some scenic shots from the campus of the University I graduated from, Cornell University.

Paris and baseball...

A few weeks ago, Ms. R went to Paris. She went with her friend and her friend's mother. She said has been to Paris about 3 or 4 times, so she acted as a tour guide for everybody. And she set a world record!! She sent me 4 postcards, one for every day of her trip. 4 postcards from one trip!!! That has never happened before, and it will probably never happen again. I was very happy. Thanks a lot Ms. R and thanks also for the great photos (look below)!

And today some other random...First about sports. My team, The Phillies, won the first game of the National League Chanpionship today. I was pysched!! They play the Dodgers, and in Game 3, Kuroda is scheduled to pitch. I like Kuroda, but I hope the Phillies whip 'em like children!!! Repeat!! (=because the Phillies won the World Series last year too). And, speaking of baseball playoffs, they begin in Japan tonight. I am rooting for the Rakuten Eagles!!! I hope they win it all. And some sad sports news, is two of the best managers in Japan won't be managing next year. Bobby Valentine, of Lotte, and Nomura, of the Eagles. Bobby's salary was too high, and the top management hated him, so I can understand a little, but he still won...And Nomura, is in the playoffs this year with the Eagles, an expansion team. Without Nomura next year, the Eagles will turn in crows...and be nothing!! Japanese baseball sometimes amazes me...how can you fire, not re-hire two of the best in the game? No wonder so many players want to go to the Majors...

Next about Peace...The Nobel Peace Prize. I was stunned when I heard that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. Stunned...speechless...He only said, "I want to get rid of all atomic weapons..." He hasn't actualle done anything yet...Unbelievable...

The day after that, before the newspaper and tv reported about it, Mr. I told me "I think Hiroshima is a great choice for the 2020 Olympics!!!" and boom!!! The next day on the news, and in the newspaper, here was the headlines :"Hiroshima hopes to bid for the 2020 Olympics!" Again, I was stunned...speechless. Now I think that Mr. I is one of the top 5 most imtelligent guys I know...

Anyway, that's all for now folks...
Enjoy the weekend!!

Typhoons and waterfalls...

Good morning.
How was your three-day weekend? What did ya do?
On Sunday night, I met some friends for the first time in a while. They moved in August, so I visited their house, gave them a small house gift, and then we all went out to dinner at a restaurant near their house. We talked about this and that, and the time passed by quickly. It was a good time and I hope to do it again sometime soon. On Monday, I just did my usual (some jogging, strecthing, the sauna, books, a little tv...) and chilled. It was nice.

Last week on Wednesday night, the night before the Typhoon, Ms. H sent me the below email and photos(not the most beautiful photos i have ever seen, a little blurry...but I love waterfalls, so it is OK ;)

"A tyhoon is approaching and it has brought powerful winds and rain. I'm sceard.
By the way, you are going to put my photo on your BLOG. Really?
I'm OK! So I'm favor of you.
That waterfall is KEGON NO TAKI(華厳の滝）. It's very famous in JAPAN. It's one of the best3 waterfall.
One is KEGON　in TOCHGI. Another is NACHI in WAKAYAMA(那智の滝). I do'nt know the one of the lasts.
Could someone teach it for me?
Be careful in the typhoon tommorow !!! "

If you know the answer to her question, please lemme know.
Thanks and hope everyone has a good week!

Oktoberfest

"The good times flow at Oktoberfest"
http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/the-good-times-flow-at-oktoberfest

Do you know what Oktoberfest is? If not, well basically, it is a huge beer festival in Germany. And this festival is always held in October. For more info on this festival in addition to the festivities in Japan, check out the above article.

After all the rain this week, it looks like it will clear up a little this weekend...That's good! Hope everyone has a good 3-day weekend!!

Uganda

Earlier today I saw Ms. T for the first time in about a month and a half. During that interval, she went to Uganda. I have never been to Africa, but it is one place, continent, I would really like to visit once in my life. My image is just that Africa is so different from anything I have ever seen...So, I want to see it. Next year, the World Cup will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, but I am afraid that I can't mae that.

Anyway, it is just a little, but please read some of her comments about her trip. Also, there are some interesting pics below the comments.

"I came back to Japan from Uganda before 10 days. Staying in Uganda was so excited and very important opportunity to understand developing country.Please see some pictures of Uganda. I learn from this internship a lot.First of all, I could understand objective of my research and filed more than ever before.In Uganda, there are some issues about education. For example the unemployment rate of students who passed secondary schools is higher than other groups. And some vocational schools do not have enough textbooks and facility.So I would like to contribute on improving these situations through my research some days. For achieving my goal, I need to learn and study more and more.Secondly, Uganda people are very kind and helpful for internship students. They always cooperated with my research, they introduced some schools which I could go to and advice me about my research. I am really glad to see them.Totally, it was very special opportunity for me. "

Billy's in Osaka

That's right, he's here!! In Osaka. For real. And not temporarily, not on a tour or something, he is here for good. To live. In additon, he opened a gym(for "boot camp," social dancing, yoga, self-defense, etc...) in Shinsaibashi, actually right across the street from the gym which I go to.
Anyway, rather than writing all about Billy's history, I prefer you to read the below article. If you read the article, you can learn a lot about him, his past, where he is from and how he grew up, his beginnings in stardom, his reasons for coming to Japan, and his thoughts about what he wants to do here. He is a well-spoken guy, and it is interesting. You can pick up a magazine in the classroom anytime.

And, speaking of self-defense and the need for it, did you hear about the business man who was stabbed this morning after accidentally hitting umbrellas while walking to work in Nakanoshima (about a 15-minute walk from here)? Well, read all about it:
http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/man-seriously-injured-after-being-stabbed-onosaka-sidewalk

It's dangerous out there...and the weather is also crappy...dreary...rainy all day. And a typhoon is coming soon too...Everyone, be careful!!

Chicago, Rio, and Vienna...

Last week the 2016 host city for the Olympics were decided. I was sure, 100% sure, that Chicago wouldbe selected. There was no doubt in my mind...But boy was I wrong. Chicago was knocked out, eliminated, in the first round. Horrible. And pathetic. And disappointing. And after that, Tokyo bounced. This was not surprising to me, as I had not expected Tokyo to be selected anyway. And then it came down to Rio and Madrid....and the winner is...Rio! The Olympics will be great for that city, and boy is it gonna be a party!!! Congrats to Rio!

Read here for Tokyo Governor Ishihara's opinion of why Tokyo lost.
"Ishihara Blams Tokyo 2016 faliure on behind-the-scenes deals":
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/ishihara-blames-tokyo-2016-failure-on-behind-the-scenes-deals

Below is more pics from Vienna. Thanks Shiro!!

Bon Voyage and Have a safe flight, and Good luck in Vancouver!

Yesterday was the first day of October. My birthday is in October, so basically I like this month. And, if anyone wants to get me a little b-day present, and if you don't know my birthday, please just ask me and I will be happy to tell you when it is. ;) Just joking!!

In October, it begins to get a little cooler so I can't wear shorts and tee-shirts anymore and I have to wear jeans/pants every day, the baseball playoffs begin in both America and Japan, a bunch of typhoons often hit Japan...what other things happen in October? Think about it and lemme know your thoughts.

And, Today, October 2nd, is Mr. O's departure date. He will depart Kansai Airport and fly to Vancouver via Soeul. or maybe it was some Chinese city. I can't remember if he is flying Korean Air or Chinese Air, but I know that he has a long flight, with a long layover...I don't like long layovers (=stopovers, connections.) I like my flights and layovers to be short and sweet because travelling makes me tired and I am scared of flying. But when all is said and done, Mr. O will arrive in Vancouver and head directly to his homestay family. And then the true adventure will begin...

Below is a photo of us in the classroom and I will also post his email to me.

"Hello, Glenn.
I read the article of Danjiri festival in your blog today.
I love this festival as I have grown hearing Danjiri's drum sound every year since I was a baby.
I am very glad that you enjoyed Danjiri festival.
All of my family say that they had a very good time with you.
We will welcome you if you come to Kishiwada next year’s festival.

The date of my departure for Vancouver is coming up.
I worry whether I can have some good friends in Vancouver.
At the same time, I believe everything will work out.

See you again when I come back.
I look forward to treating me to Ichiba sushi! Go, Giants!

P.S. We all had a photo taken at Kishiwada Castle but did not show up in the photo unluckily.
So I do not have a photo which we all show up.
I send you a picture which we took at last class."

Hope everyone has a good weekend!!

Kishiwada's Danjiri Festival, and Mr. O

I went to the Danjiri festival, in Kishiwada, the other day. It was my first time. And quite honestly, I loved it. It was very exciting and itneresting. And the partipants of the festival, many of them pulling the heavy danjiri(carriages) were so passionate. I could feel their emotion, and actually got a little choked up once or twice. (choked up=almost cry.) However, I could not have had such a good time if it wasn't for Mr. O. He and his wife met me and gave me a "special tour" all around Kishiwada. I went to the wonderful Kishiwada castle, and also could go to the famous "S spot" to view the danjiri. At the S-spot, the danjiri reach high speeds and have to make two shapr turns. If they make a mistake they crash into the wall of a house or restaurant. Luckily, all the danjiri which I watched made the turns safely and no one was injured. In addition, he invited me to his house and I could meet his mother, a housewife, his father, retired and now an avid fan of cycling, and also his brother, a train conductor. His mother made and served a lot of delicious food, including crab, which is always eaten in Kishiwada during this festival. Did you know that? While eating and drinking a little beer, we could all talk a lot and have a good time.
And, for Mr. O, this was one of his last times to eat Japanese food for a while, because on this Saturday he will go to Canada for 6 months to study English. He has guts! Maybe he was born with those guts in Kishiwada, because Kishiwada is a tought town!! He resigned from his job and decided to make a new start, a new beginning. He will go to Canada by himself and go to school and do a homestay...I am very excited for him! And I am very much looking forward to see him when he gets back to Japan...It won't be easy, and it will take a lot of sweat and tears and bravery to overcome the challenges of living in a foreign country and speaking a foreign language every day, but I know his English and his confidence about English will be amazing at that time! I can't wait!!! Mr. O, thanks a lot, and truly Good luck and safe travels!!

below is a picture of a different friend of mine, who i ran into by chance at the Kishiwada Danjiri festival. Mr. N. He kept his promise of a few years ago and treated me a beer.

Welcome back!

I am sure today is going to be busy for most of you, because it is your first day back to work after 4 or 5 days off. So I will be short and sweet.

My vacation was fantastic. Pure R & R!! Some of the little highlights were:

-went to Kishiwada's famous Danjiri Festival (I will write more about this later. Thanks Mr. O!)
-had a BBQ(I will write more about this later too...thanks T.D.) and also ate sushi(of course hand-rolled, NOT turntable!)
-went jogging(twice) and swimming (once)
-went to the spa and sauna(once)
-splurged and went out to eat to a really nice restaurant (If you are interested to know where, please ask me in person, and I will tell you the name of the restaurant. it was really good!)
-read some books and watched a couple DVD's (the best DVD was "The Grand Torino." I really liked it. BUT if you do NOT like a little dark story, ending, PLEASE do NOT watch it!!)
-spent a lot of time outside

...that's about it. I know it doesn't sound too exciting, but it was really good!

What did you do over the Silver Week Vacation?

The race for the 3rd spot in the playoffs is heating up. My two favorite teams, THE TIGERS and THE EAGLES are hanging in there!!

Below are some "behind the scenes" shots from Koshien. (Koshien Food)

Water event

There is a big event along Yodogawa river now. I think it is called "Suito," but I am not certain about that.
I don't know exactly when it began, but I heard that it will be held for a couple of months. I know many people who have gone there, and the reviews are mixed. The jury is still out on this one...Some people like it a lot, and others don't. If I have time over the Silver Week vacation, I might check it out.

Speaking of Silver Week (the naming of this vacation, 5 days off in a row, is funny I think. It is a play on words of the yearly vacation in the spring "Golden Week."), what are you plans?
Do you have any exciting plans? Any trips or small excursions planned?
I have a few things planned, but I am not totally decided yet. Some things might not materialize. So after the vacation I will let you know the highlights and lowlights of my vacation.

Hope everyone has a safe and good vacation!!

Below are photos from the "Suito" event

Drinks

What is your favorite drink?
What do you drink every morning?
How about at night?
What do you drink when you are tired? feeling sluggish?

I like drinks and I drink a variety of things...If I had to choose my favorite, I would probably say beer or water. It is a tought choice.
Every morning I drink coffee. Usually two cups of Instant Nes Cafe Gold Blend. It is the begging of the day and wakes me up, my mind and my body. While drinking coffee, I like to read the newspaper or surf the net.
After that, all day I usually drink water or tea. About tea, hot tea or cold tea, green tea or English tea or flavored tea, bascially I don't care. Anything is OK. I drink a lot of fluids every day. In the summer, I drink more than 2 liters of water/tea every day for sure.
At night, with dinner, I usually drink water. Speaking of water, the other day I tried sparkling water, Pelligrino, for the first time. To my surprise, I liked it very much and felt it was healthy, and I am scared that I will get hooked on it because Pelligrino is a little expensive...Have you ever drank Pelligrino? If not, I recommend you try it.
And, do you drink sparkling water?
About 2 times a week I drink alcohol. Beer is my beverage of choice, followed by shochu (on the rocks,) and also wine. I like both red and white wine. About red wine, sometimes red wine is served chilled in Japan. It is always served at room temperature in the States and in Europe. At first I hated chilled red wine...but recently I got used to it and actually developed a liking for it.
I rarely drink Japanese sake...maybe about twice a year at a sushi restaurant for a special occassion. I used to like the hot type, but recently I prefer a high quality cold one. And, whiskey also, about twice a year. I used to hate whiskey when I was younger, but my tongue must have changed because now I actually like it.

Below is the Doctor7s favorite ginger ale. Have you ever seen this brand before? It was my first time. I only drink ginger ale on an airplane. It is one of the many rules which I have.

Hope everyone has a good week!

Nine eleven ...and Ireland in Osaka

9.11
Do you remember 9.11? Where were you? What were you doing when you heard about the terrorism?
I wrote about my experience on that day on past blogs of September, so if you are interested, please check them. For those of you who have already read them, I don't want to repeat myself... Just click on "September 08"
"September 07"..etc. You can find it if you try!


On to another topic, a few years ago I went to Ireland. It was my first time to Europe, and I really had a rgeat time and learned a lot. Since then, I always like to look for a new Irish bar or restaurant in the neighborhood. And, the other day, I found one. (Look at the photos below)

Speaking of Ireland, that reminds me of an article I read a while back.
Check this out: Green beer in Hokkaido
http://www.japantoday.com/category/new-products/view/green-beer

To change the topic, how do you feel about Prime Minister Aso being kicked out of power?
Please write your opinion and and show me in class.
For reference, read below for the opinions of others:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20090908vf.html

This weather this week, the second week of September, had been gorgeous. Cool in the morning and evening, and gorgeous in the afternoon. Perfect! I wish the weather was like this all year!! I think typhoons will start hitting Kyushu and Okinawa, and other parts of Japan too, soon. Please watch out and hope everyone has a good weekend!

Free Cafe's English Home Page

This is the English version of the Free Cafe right around the corner. It is a very informative and interesting English page, with info not only related to the company and management concept/system, but also to solving various environmental problems. For general knowledge, as well as for English study/practice, I recommend that you check it out.

http://www.harimayahonten.co.jp/pc_english/index.html

Below are more sunflower photos from Mr. M

Ichiro gets 2000, and Sunflowers

Read all about it here:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10032452/Ichiro-second-fastest-to-2,000-hits

What did you do over the weekend? I ran into some friends by chance on Saturday night, and we had a few drinks and chatted together. After that, my friend got me a reservation at a very popular and crowded restaurant, which is really difficult to get into on the weekends. But he has connections, so we were lucky! It was a good way to finish up the summer. Ah-, maybe I forgot to mention that this year I was also very luck to be able to go to the Obon dancing festival, not only once, but twice. It was really relaxing and fun both times.

To enjoy the last days of his summer, Mr. M went to a sunflower field the other day and took many pictures with the new camera which he bought.
Sunflowers are my favorite flower. Did you know that?What is your favorite flower?

Hope everyone enjoys the week!

Koshien and September

Below are some of the best photos I have ever seen from Koshien. On Wednesday, Ms. A went to Koshien. She loves the Tigers and every year buys tickets for one game each month during the season. So, Wednesday, the 2nd of September, will be her last game this year...BUT if the Tigers make the playoffs...there is still a slim, slight, chance that they can make the playoffs. If you don't know about the Japanese baseball playoff system, basically here it is: presently the Tigers are about 5 games behind the third place team, the Yakult Swallows. In order to make the playoffs in Japan, you must finish in first, second, or third place in your division. So Ms. A, keep your fingers crossed...It's not over yet!! Go Tigers!

The other day I wrote about Ms. e's thoughts about September. Now I would like to say some of my own thoughts...

I don't love September, but I don't hate it. In recent years, for various reasons, actually I like September more and more. In America, September is the start of the school year...elementary school, junior high school, and high school, and Univeristy and Graduate School. So, September
has a feeling of "a new beginning," "a new change."
Also, for many Americans who are die-hard football fans, September marks the beginning of the NFL (National Football League) season. Have you ever watched a football game? It's pretty exciting IF you understand the rules...
I am a big Philadelphia Eagles fan. So Go Eagles!!!

and this is Ms. Y's thoughts about that ALL FREE CAFE:
Hi.
I took your class after that I went to free rice cracker café.
I could drink a cup of coffee or tea or juice and eat one plate rice cracker.
It was beautiful.
I recommend it.
I will go there again next week.
And I will talk to my friends about that cafe.
She work at Yodoyabashi.
She will go there too.

Ehime and a FREE CAFE in Honmachi!!

Nature, nature, nature...I really love it...
So, the other day when I got this email from Ms. K, I was really jealous. Her hometown is deep in nature, in Ehime. I don't know much about Ehime, other than that it is famous for oranges and fishing, and fresh fish. One day I want to go to Ehime and pick oranges...


Below are Ms. K's email and photo:
"Hi,Glenn.How are you today?I'm fine.I have 5days off since yesterday.So,I went back to my hometown from yesterday.My parents and grand mother lives a country in Ehime.There is only nature in this place,but here is very nice place. Can you see a picture in your PC mail?I took this picture in front of my house. I'm reraxing here. Have a nice day!"

And yes, it's true, a free cafe in Honmachi. Yes, I am serious. It is FREE. 100% FREE!!! No strings attached. And it is clean and convenient. They have coffee, tea, and orange juice. They may have a few more drinks but that is all that I saw. And they also have rice crackers. Many delicious rice crackers!!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the place...so I had to go in. And it wasn't a lie. Everything is FREE. You have to check it out. It is on Midosuji street in Honmachi, next to Shinseibank, or about across the street from Risona Bank. The name of the place is "FREE CAFE HARIMAYA STATION." You have to check it out!!!

Have a good rest of the week!

Welcome to September!

Do you have a message for the new Prime Minister? If yes, please voice your opinion and speak up like the people did in the below link:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20090901vf.html

You should speak loudly, and strongly, so the new Prime Minister can hear you.
For example:
"Mr. Prime Minister, I want you to______________________"
"Mr. Prime Minister, I insist that you_____________________"
"Mr. Prime Minister, I urge you to_______________________"

Try to make a few sentences of your own.

Today is a beautiful day...Sunny and blue skies. The first day of September. What do you think about September? Some people like this month, and some people don't.

This is what Ms. e thinks about September:
"What's up ? August is almost end..I don't like crazy hot summer these days, so I'm happy but I don't likeSeptember,Because it is not summer but not autumn and I feel a loneliness a little.When I was a student,I always had finished summer homework until thebegging ofa new school term,so it is not the reason that I don't like September !"

Personally, September is not my favorite month, but it is also not my least favorite month. It is OK. And this year is extra good because there is Silver Week, a 5 day vacation in the middle of the month. What do you think about that? I am pretty happy about it, and even though I don't have any big plans, I wanna chill out and take it easy again, just like Obon Vacation.

A small tidbit: Yesterday was the first day since summer began that I wore a long sleeve shirt in the morning...It means summer is definitely over. Recently it is a little chilly in the mornings and evenings, so I am sure I will be wearing pants or jeans, not shorts like I have been wearing, soon too...

Below is a message and some photos from Mr. T. He is in Montreal to study Law at University for about a year. The photo of his apartment and the one of the classroom and the squirrel are pretty cool.

"It has been more than two weeks since I came to Montreal.Everything is going well. The weather is nice, although it is sometimes hot and humid here.The student of McGill buddy program took me to the tour of the Facutly of Law. The other day, I played tennis with him. He is a sincere and nice guy. My mother is leaning English through the notebook with your memo. Now I am preparing blog( in Japanese!), so I will let you know when it is completed."