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Yesterday was a historical day in Japanese political history. Did you voice your opinion and vote?

Read all about DPJ's Victory below.

"DPJ takes power in Landslide win"
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200908300210.html

And try counting all those votes with the abacus below.
p.s. Can you use an abacus?
I can not.

Sports, Obon Dance, Election, What if...and Malta 2

TGIF, Thank god it's Friday. Really, thank god!! This weekend is the last weekend of August...It's a wrap. Summer is officially over.

So instead of getting depressed about this thought, I want to be optomistic! So today I will begin with sports.

First, Matsui for the Yankees is HOT! I mean sizzling! He hit an abnormal number of home runs and rbi's (runs batted in) in August.

Ichiro, who reportedly dreamed about Bolt the other day, injured his calf and is listed as "day-to-day." For Ichiro, who stays very fit and has a vigorous work ethic, to have an injury is really quite unusual, because basically he has been blessed with an injury-free career. Probably next week he will be back hitting singles at an abnormal pace...I hope.

Ozaki, Japan's new female marathon hope, really did a fantastic job in the Berlin World Track and Field Championship Marathon race. I watched the latter part of the race on tv and it was exciting to watch her battle with the runner from Chinese and Kenya. I look forward to watching her again in the Olympics.

Chukyo-dao-chukyo. High School Baseball's summer tournament chamionship. What a team! Some of the players are reall ybig and look like they are on steroids!! But actually, according to an article I read in the newspaper the other day, they just follow a very rigid weight training regimen and strict diet. Diet, I am not sure is the right word. Basically, the eat a lot!!! That was the best offensive baseball team I have seen in while. And they didn't bunt!! I only saw them try one bunt! (Maybe they tried more, but I only saw one...) I don't like that Japanese High school teams bunt so much! Swing! swing! swing!! You only live once, and life is short!!!

Ah-, the next topic. Tonight is the second and last day of the Minami-mido Obon Dance festival! It is a truly fabulous event! If you have time, check it out!

On this Sunday, the 30th, there is a big election. I do not have the right to vote in Japan, so for me this means: NOTHING is on TV Sunday night. ALL shows are related to the election, and counting votes. It is BORING! So I must get a good DVD to watch that night. Any recommendations?

And for all you Japanese people, it is your right and duty to vote! So don't forget to go to the voting booths and cast your ballot!

What would you do if you were Prime Minister of Japan?
Please read below for the answers of some people:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20090825vf.html

And to finish up, some more great pics of the town in Malta. Thanks again Ms. K.

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Malta

Do you know where Malta is? I didn't. That was until I met Ms. K. She informed me it is a small island off of Italy and it is about the size of Awajishima. I forget what she said the popluation was...but maybe something like 40,000 people (I may be wrong.) And she said there were MANY, thousands of cats on the island. Not pets, stray cats.

About her purpose there, she studied English for 2 months there. She told me that it was a wonderful place, and highly recommended it for everyone, espcecially me because I love the sea. And, she showed me her album from her trip. From her pictures, I could tell that she wasn't lying. The photos of the scenery were beautiful. It's difficult to explain, but it was close to my image of a Greek Island. And, after seeing the pics and hearing her stories, Malta is officially on my list of "want to go" places. Thanks Ms. K!
Below is one of Ms. K's emails about her trip.

And I'm glad you are interested in Malta.Malta is famous for resort island in europe. A friend ofmine who I met Malta said "It's like Hawai."I've never been to Hawai, but I was imagining that place,(Hawai is like Malta... so It must be comfortable andrelaxing place!) I have a lot of memories of Malta, almost good, and I wantto talk their so much. I think Mediterranean sea is one of most impressive bluethat the earth has.

Some recommendations, thoughts, and more...

Recently, in the morning and at night, it is a little cool. This is good and comfortable, but also a little sad for me. Because I love summer...so getting cool means that the summer is coming to an end...

Usually I do not do this, but today I want to write about some places, things,products, events which I recommend. First, right around the corner is a new coffee shop, Komeda Coffee. (Please look at the pics below for Komeda's specialities) It opened about 6 months ago. Literally, it is about a 30 second sprint from the classroom door, down the staairs and across the street to it. If you are Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter who it he world record holder in the 100m dash, maybe you can make it in about 20 seconds.

Oh yeah, speaking of Bolt. The other day, after I watched him on tv set a new world record in the 100m dash, 9.58 seconds, I went to the park and got out a tape measure and stop watch, and made a course. On your marks, get set, BANG!! I ran very fast. My time was 11.1 seconds. Then I woke up ;)

From Monday of this week, I have been drinking "Healthy-ya" every day. It is a new drink. You can find it in almost any convenience store. It is made by Kao. My friend Mr. F recommended it to me. He said "Since I began drinking Healthy-ya, I don't have a hangover every day." (fyi: he drinks about 4 or 5 glasses of shochu, plus a beer or two every day. Too much!!!) I only drink a little, 2 or 3 times a week, but I was feeling a little sluggish from the summer heat and humidity, so I decided to give it a try. There are a few different types of Healthy-ya drinks. The regular type which is a little bitter, the "mild type", the "green tea" type, and one grapefruit and one plum sports drink, and also a lemonie carbonated drink. I have tried them all. I like the regular type and the grapefruit sports drink the best. The others are all OK too, but I don't need the carbonated one. Anyway, it is a little expensive, about 198 yen for only 350 ml, but so far I like it.

Oh yeah, before I forget, one of my favorite festivals in Japan, the Minami-mido Obon Dance festival will be held next week. It is just down the street and I try to go to it every year. It is very festive, special, and a really good time! This year, as always, I am looking forward to it! But before that, there is also a good Obon Dance festival at Kita-mido, which is also just stone's throw away. It is just a little smaller than the one at Minami-mido. Actually, it was held last night, but it will also be held tonight too. Last night I walked by there on my way home. It looked fun. If you have time, I recommend that you check it out!! (Sorry for the late notice.)

One last recommendation is an Italian restaurant, La Laterna, which I went to a few weeks ago. The owner is Italian and so is some of the staff. It is the first Italien restaurant which I have ever been to in Japan which I really thought was authentic, "real Italian." Also, all of the bottles of wine are only 2000yen. That's a bargain!! However, the food is a little pricey, so it all evens out. It is located in Umeda, and if you are interested, please search for it on the net. Maybe you can find it. But if you can't find it, please feel free to ask me and I will draw a map for you and explain where it is. It's easy to find.

Anyway, that's all for now. Have a good weekend!

Summer Vacation and New York

Hey, I am back. Did you miss me? Unfortunately, maybe no... ;(

How was your Summer Vacation?
Mine? Thanks for asking.

My vacation was very low-key. But at the same time, it was fabulous!!!
To be honest, I didn't do anything. I really did Nothing, with a capital N!
I didn't go anywhere, just laid around my place all day, each day.
Maybe that is why my 4-day vacation was so great...
To re-cap, on Thursday, actually I just remembered...I did go to one place. I went to Koshien Stadium to watch High School baseball.
I was lucky and could watch a great game, Kumamoto-ko versus Mieko. It was a close game, a real sea-saw battle, and in extra innings Mieko came out on top. What a game! And to make it even better, I could sit in the second row. Other than that, I basically just chilled every day...watched some DVD's, ate out, went to the gym, swam, jogged, lifted some weights, sweat...took a long bath at the spa, and also sat in the sauna watching high school baseball for a while. And, oh yeah, I almost forgot, slept a lot. It was nothing exciting, but it was good!

Below is Ms. J's comments and pictures from her trip to New York. Please read it. It is interesting...after seeing the pic of the food, I remembered how big the portions are in the U.S. And, actually, even though I am from Philadelphia which is pretty close to New York City, and even though I have been to New York a bunch of times, I have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State building...Do you think that's strange? After i read and heard about her trip, I thought "Ah~~, I can't wait to get back to New York too!!"

From today, I have 4 OBON-holidays.
I'm happy! but, I already spent much money ; actualy I paid by credit car,
but, I don't pay yet; I can't go to anywhere, but I can enjoy see many NY pictures.

I want to send you some pictures, but I can't choose only one !
It's difficult.

These 2 photos are this time NY, 3rd one is last time NY.
From this time, I chose big pan cakes plate ; It was my breakfast.
And this landskape is from the Empirestate building.

I can see The Statue of Liberty, but I can't see WTC. It's too sad.
And a big pan cakes phote,in fact, pan cakes are 3 peices ! but, I ate all! wooops!

Last photo is also The Statue of Liberty, but I took from Brooklyn bridge,
and I love this phote most !

Can you see all photos?

I already think about next travel, and maybe I'll go to NY soon!

Some thoughts, Summer Vacation...Fireworks! ! !

So, this is the last blog I will write before summer vacation begins (for me, in a few minutes...) First, I think that last week's news and heavy coverage about that famous female idol and drugs (if you don't know what I am talking about then you must not live in Japan, because everyone in Japan knows) really overshadowed a more important news. The news which I am referring to relates to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and war, and nuclear weapons. There were some articles in the newspaper about these topics, but not as much as in years past. I really wish more media focused on these issues, which make us remember and think about the past, which also making use think about now and the future. These issues are simply more important.

Next, it was ungodly hot last week. The high temps reached over 35 degrees celcius in some places. And then, from Sunday it rained and was cloudy for a few days. On Tuesday, in Hyogo prefecture, not so far from here, a big typhoon hit and many people were injured, and even worse some people died. Then yesterday, there was a big earthquake in a different part of Japan. The weather, Nature, is recently unpredictable and not so kind....we all must be careful...

About summer vacation, I have no big plans. Just R&R! (rest and relaxation) Sometimes doing nothing is better than doing something. That is my motto for the next few days.

Talk to ya again next week, so in the meantime, please take care!

Below are pics from the Yodogawa Fireworks. Thanks Ms. Y. Magnificent! Unfortunately I couldn't go... but maybe next year!

*** SWEET PEPPER = PAPRIKA ***

The price of vegetables rises recently beacuse weather is bad. The photo is many SISITOU( = a variety of green pepper) harvested in this summer. My parents plant many vegetables every year. For example, It is a cucumber, a tomato, a mini-tomato etc. A SISITOU was the second challenge. Did you know a red color SISITOU. Surprisingly! the taste was sweet. A red color is fully-ripened SISITOU changed the name a paprika. Of course this is not right.

Thanks for the interesting blog and great picture Reiko. Personally, I love green, red, and yellow peppers and eat them often because I love salad. Usually, I don't even use dressing because the peppers have so much natural sweet flavor. Since I was a child, I always eat a big salad AFTER every meal. This is my style. Do you like vegetable? Do you eat salad often? Well, if you don't, you really should! Vegetables are the best, and very healthy!!

Ah, speaking of a vegatable, did you hear about the new watermelon diet? (yes, actually watermelon is techinically a vegetable, not a fruit! did you know that?) Yes, just like the infamous natto(fermented soy beans) and banana diet, there is now a new watermelon diet. So, for all those watermelon lovers out there, you better stock up on watermelon this weekend, because by next week all of the watermelon might be sold out!!

It's hot!!!

Recently it is very hot... really hot. I am managing, but it is tough. And, because I don't use the air-condioner in my place, it is sometimes difficult to sleep...

But in order to stat cool, I go to the gym and swim. And the other day, at the pool, a funny thing happened. So, I will tell you. I was doing my normal 1 km plus a little swim. Before I used to swim constantly and never stop and the pace was slow. But recently I changed my style, and I spring about 50 or 100 meters, then I take a break for a minute or so, then sprint again. In all, I swim the same distance as the long slow swim, about 1km or so. So, let's get to the story. I was swimming, and after my 100m sprint, when I was taking a break in the water, another regular of the pool, an older guy about 50yrs old with a big gut, but a semi-fast swimmer, said "Have you taken a swimming lesson?" I said "Nah." He said, "Well you really should. Because your form is absolutely terrible! You are big, and if you take a lesson or two, your swimming will get so much better." I was shocked!!! Speechless!!! To be honest, recently I think my speed has gotten better, faster, much faster than one year ago!!! So now I am thinking about taking a lesson, or buying a new swimming suit(one that will help me swim faster just like all the pros wear!) But, I don't know...I am thinking...

Below is the the Kanemoto Bento which is exclusively sold only at Koshien Stadium. If I eat one, do you think I can swim faster?

Have a good weekend, or beginning of summer vacation for some!

p.s. below is also some more "Tough English." Give it a try and let me know if you understand or not.

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) We must polish the Polish furniture.
4) They were too close to the door to close it.
5) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
6) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

"UP"

IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE BELOW USAGES OF "UP," YOU ARE PRETTY GOOD. GIVE IT A SHOT!

You lovers of the English language might enjoy this. There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than anyother two-letter word, and that is 'UP' It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top ofthe list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and whyare the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary towrite UP a report ? We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polishUP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. Welock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times thelittle word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special. And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP atnight. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP. To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In adesk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you migh ttry building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP alot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with ahundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP... When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP ... When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When itdoesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP,so........it is time to shut UP ! Oh . . . one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U-P

GET IT?

Which beer gets your vote?

Many of you know my answer, but if you don't, then my answer is at the bottom of this blog. If you are interested, please look. Which is your favorite beer?
For all you beer lovers, this link is a must read!!
http://www.japantoday.com/category/have-your-say/view/which-brand-gets-your-vote-for-the-best-beer#show_all_comments

By far, my number one, favorite, beer is.......................................................................

Kirin Lager