Nagoya Trip

This is a Japanese scroll. Below the scroll is a vase with a flower in it. In the background you can see a a tatami mat and also a typical traditional Japanese paper screen window. Many Japanese people have a room in their house with a hanging scroll decoreated with flowers. Can you read what the scroll says?
Nagoya Castle! I have never been there but I want to go there one day. There are many famous castles in Japan. I have been to Osaka Castle, and also Himeji Castle. How about you, what Castles have you been to in Japan?
This is a Japanese sweet that is eaten when drinking thick macha-style green tea. It goes perfectly with that green tea I think, because it is very sweet and the tea is very bitter. I really love Japanese sweets.
This is a great photo of a woman making green tea! I love this photo! Look at that red parasol! It`s so cool!
Green tea! The real deal! Have you ever tried it? Ever made it? Do you like it? Some people "study" how to make this green tea in Japan. It is a traditional art of Japan.

It`s warm this week...

Sorry for the photo on it`s side. I don`t know how to make the photo upright. I am computer illiterate...This week is realtively warm for the end of December...Can you believe it, it`s almost December! Time flies! too fast!!! In the beginning of December many people in Japan get their big bonus! That makes many people happy! In America, many people get a big Christmas bonus! Also, many people are happy! Will you get a bonus? If yes, what will you do with your bonus money?

Next week I heard it will get very cold, so let`s enjoy these last warm days of November!

Arashiyama Fall leaves

All of the photos are from Arashiyama, which is a very famous and popular pleace to see the colorful fall leaves in Kansai. Ms. N sent me these pics. I know many people who went to see the foilage this past weekend? Did you go? Where do you recommend to go?
In Arashiyama there are many old street and buildings and shops too. It feels like "old Japan."
Speechless...
What a view!
What is this? Do you know?

Thanksgiving Turkey!

Thanksgiving in America is a big holiday! Have you ever heard of Thanksgiving? Do you know what it means? Today is Thanksgiving in America. Schools and businesses are closed and it`s a national holiday all over the country. When I was a child my family, including my parents and brother and grandparents and aunts and uncle and cousins all got together and had a big dinner to celebrate Thanksgiving. We ate a huge turkey, and mashed potatos, pumpkin pie and a lot of other special foods. It was a great time! If you have the opportunity, I recommend to particpate in a Thanksgiving dinner with an American family. It`s a great experience.

From the airport in Nagoya..

No, don`t worry! Unfortunately, I am not going on a trip! Ms. N sent me this pic! She went to Nagoya a few weeks ago. A few of my other students also went to Nagoya recently! Nagoya seems like a popular place lately! I have never been to Nagoya..well, actually I have driven through Nagoya once...My students all said good things about Nagoya. It still has not reached my top ten list for places I want to go, but I am not interested in going to Nagoya a little. Nagoya is famous for a castle, MISO, and The Dragons. What else is Nagoya famous for? I will post some pics from Nagoya over the next few days. Please look forward to them! Hope everyone enjoys the National Holiday tomorrow!

Today is the first day of Beaujoais Nouveau! Have you tried it yet? I haven`t, but I hope to have a glass this weekend!!! It is a little sweet and fruity wine. I think it is easy to drink. Also, I think many air cargo shipping companies were very busy these past few days, because a lot of wine was imported to Japan.

Gion, Geisha, and tough business in Japan! ;)

My student Mr. M. He is a president of a medium size company in Honmachi. He speaks English well and comes from Kyushu. His father had a shoe business but Mr. M thought that the shoe industry had a bleak future so Mr. M left Kyushu and came to Osaka to start his own company in the I.T. field. Since then he has been working very hard as you can see above! ;)

Mr. M`s friend. He looks very stressed! And 2 Geisha! Geisha are part of an old culture in Japan. There are many? some? in Kyoto. It is NOT cheap, but I don`t know exactly how much dinner and dancing with Geish`s in Gion cost because I have never done it.

Can you see the Geisha playing an instrument in the background. Many Geisha must practice dancing (below) and and an instrument. They need to master a special talent!!

This is a great pic I think. True Traditional Japan.

There he is again. Mr. M. Dancing with the Geisha!!! I don`t think he could get any more stressed. Well done!

Business Trip to America

Mr. I went to a couple fo cities in America for a business trip. He went to Newark and Chicago and Los Angeles, and one or two more I think. He goes to America about 2 times a year for business, to meet clients and sometimes do presentations. He always has interesting stories. Actually his business partner from America visited Osaka(JAPAN) for ONLY 2 days. That`s a tough trip I think! The above is the sky in Los Angeles! A sky pic is always nice! The below photo is of a lonnnnnnnnng road in America. It looks a little hilly in tha area but I think from the car, maybe the surroundings look very flat. I once drove on a raod in Nebraska (=country!!). It was only raod and very flat land...nothing else...

Uniqlo is coming to New York!

I don`t know if Santa Claus or Uniqlo is coming first, but Uniqlo will be opening soon. Myabe just in time for Matsuzaka to buy his spirng clothes in the States! Uniqlo is a HUGE cheap but good? quality clothing chain in Japan. The simple design and color co-ordination of the clothes is good I think. I am interested to see how Uniqlo does in New York.
The above is from a winery in Napa Valley! Mr. I went around to many wineries during his trip. I am jealous because I like win. I once went on a wine tour in Australia. I was a lot of fun! Have you ever been to a winery? Anyway, have a good weekend! See ya next week!

BREAD, delicious bread! And ORGANIC, no additives or perservatives used!

Ms. T made this beautiful bread. She is really into organic food and cooking. In Japan such food is just beginning to become popluar. Sometimes I eat organic food too. Ms. T also goes to cooking class and studies how to make such food. The bread realy looks delicious! My favorite type of bread is rasin bread. How about you?
What kind of bread do you think this is?
How about this? Do you recommend any bread shops in Osaka? I do! I will tell you about it next time. Thanks a lot for the pics Ms. T!!!

COSMOS-Here comes winter...

Now it just got sunny outside. This morning it was cold and dreary and rainy. It felt like winter was just around the corner. (Which does not make me happy!!) I have to go shopping for winter clothes soon. I want to buy a fleece, sweater, jacket, hat and gloves before it`s too late. Did you already go winter clothes shopping? What did you buy?

The above is the exact opposite of winter. It looks like a photo from the spring, but actually my student Ms. T took it recently on a trip. Do you know what kind of flower it is?

Pin Collection

Look at this wonderful pin collection. Ms. N has collected pins for many years now. She loves the Rolling Stones, especially the guitarist, Keith something..I forget his name. She also collects pics from the hard rock cafe! She said "My pics are my treasure! I cherish them." And she was worried that if I put them on my blog, a robber might come to her house to steal them...haha
I used to collect pins when I was a child too. I collected pins from many ski resorts. I went skiing many times when I was a child. It was fun and I liked skiing very much. But now, no thank you! I hat ethe cold and would much rather prefer the beach for a vacation!
Do you collect anything?

Jet

Have you ever ridden in a propeller jet? Miss O had that experience the other day. She said it was cool. I don`t like flying so much. Number one, I am scared of heights. Number 2, I just dont like it. But I have to fly sometimes if I want to go to America or some other place overseas. Last week, a student Mr. I went to America on a business trip. His company has a subsidiary on the East coast, and he had to meet some clients in a few different states. On his way back, he got an upgrade to business class. He said it was very NICE! I was jealous, because I have never gotten an upgrade...always economy class. ;(