The last day

Hi, everyone!

Today is the last day of the year. Compared with when I was a child, I can't feel something special now. It's a day that I need to reconcider of my own year. I really feel happy thinking back over this year's many unprecedented events.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

A roller coaster

Hi, everyone!

What sort of impression did you get from spending this year? For me, I moved forward as if I was riding on a roller coaster all through the year. The driver was Plum, of course. That coaster was full of thrills, rolling at high speed, which could take me a height of the world on learning English. Thanks to Plum, I have managed to follow all of you, in spite of my poor English. Now I express my appreciation to you.

There are only one day left till the New Year starts. Please take care of you, friends.
See you…

'Asia stories'

Hi, everyone!

From time this week: The 10 biggest Asia stories
#1 Pakistan in crisis
‘The country reels from the imposition of emergency rule, a beleaguered presidency, a spate of suicide bombings and an escalating Islamic insurgency.’

The day before yesterday, this story changed crueler one. The ex-president Bhutto was assassinated by a person of Islamic. It’s really sad, but I can’t feel so much reality in my life because of my ignorance about it. In the first place, the concept of ‘Asia’ has not appealed to me for a long time, for there are too large differences between Japan and other Asian countries. I feel our country has something special for better or worse.

Think back to this year on TIME, we couldn’t see so many Japanese women. I only remembered Ai Miyazato. I hope more women can be actively involved in the front line of the world.

So, see you!

The best books

Hi, everyone!

Cosmos, I am just serving my role as a mother at the minimum, so called tenuki. I sometimes feel pity for my kids, but it may foster a spirit of independence in them in the near future.

Alice, I was surprised with your energy for your research. Hokkaido in winter, it’s great!
As Plum said, I also believe your amazing power of action will produce excellent results. How about Kushiro? Could you take any delicious foods there?

I’d like to mention the best books of this year.
1) Web jidaiwo yuku (Mochio Umeda)
2) Sasaki kaorino techojutu (Kaori Sasaki)
3) Zainichi nihonjin(Masao Miyamoto)
They could greatly influence on me.

Plum, now you have tripped to Kyusyu, which might be hard for you. Please take care and enjoy your New Year holidays!

So, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. See you!

Mild weather

Hi, everyone!

It has been mild weather today, and I enjoyed window cleaning of my house. While cleaning them outside, I could feel the heat of the sun. I love this calm climate.

I’d like to show my opinion about the best movies of this year.
1) Letters from Iwo Jima
2) Soredemo bokuwa yattenai
3) Hula girl( last year’s movie)
I have interested in Japanese movies these days, which may show a variety of contents.
At the beginning of the year, I decided to go to see movies once a month, but I couldn’t. Although I like go to theater, I have no time to go there lately. I must consider the order of priority in my life carefully.

So, I hope you will go through with your works. See you!

Cleaning up

Hi, everyone!

Magnolia, thank you for your detailed comment about the status of mothers in old time Japan. It’s easy to understand for me. Now there are still such examples in the emperor system of Japan, aren’t there?

We have gotten along with our cleaning up today. I could feel comfortable fatigue now, but it seems endless. I have still many works to do tomorrow. Take it easy…

So, see you, bye!

A very early stage

Hi, everyone!

Plum, I’m sorry for your cold, and for correcting my composition in spite of your bad condition. I was surprised at many mistakes on it, and I feel I am still at a very early stage in English. I hope you will get well soon, and I thank you so much!

I will start a big cleanup of my house with my kids tomorrow. It may be easy because of these days’s warm weather. Be careful of our health…

So, see you tomorrow, bye!

To see Santa Claus

Hi, everyone!

When I read magnolia’s comment today, I wondered why Japanese religious base is mother-oriented. I have once heard that Buddhism teaches ‘nyonin jobutu,’ which tells us that women can’t attain Buddhahood unless they are born again as men. Some temples used to be clothed to women. Is there any difference between a woman and a mother…? The point of view on religion is complicated for us, but very interesting. Sunflower, I think your subject will surely stimulate our frame of reference.

My kids were excited yesterday, because they expected to see Santa Claus in a couple of days. Older daughter said to me, ‘I am going to set a trap for him so that I can see him!’
I frustrated her and put presents for them on their bedsides last night. This morning they were surprised with it and disappointed at their failure. ‘We didn’t hear he came last night!’ They sighed. I couldn’t help laughing behind them.

So, I wish you a Merry Xmas! Bye!

'Web jidaiwo yuku'

Hi, everyone!

I really felt happy to read your comments, enjoying your valuable holiday. It’s wonderful.

This afternoon I was reading a book I borrowed from the library yesterday and very impressed with it. Although I haven’t read it yet to the end, I’d like to recommend it for the best book of this year. The title is ‘web jidaiwo yuku,’ written by Mochio Umeda, a sequel of the bestseller book which was published last year. The author compared the Web world to a free superhighway for learning, and everybody could arrive at some point along that way.

His statements were very positive, optimistic, and realistic. For example, he quoted a proverb, ‘in the right place at the right time,’ and said he learned this word at Silicon Valley. In addition to this, he mentioned that ‘only the paranoid survive.’ That is to say, this book is not only for a computer programmer but also for anyone who try to attain something great through Internet. I think I am surely ‘in the right place at the right time.’ I’m sorry for my poor comment about it, but it must be worth reading.

So, see you tomorrow. Good bye!

The influx of Chinese workers

Hi, everyone!

From TIME this week: Chasing the Japanese dream
‘This influx of Chinese white-collar workers is forcing Japan to rethink its very national identity. Traditionally, the island nation has been inward-looking and xenophobic. Today, however, grappling with a labor shortage caused by decades of declining birth rates, Japan knows it must import workers if it is to remain the world’s second-largest economy.’

I have forgotten the truth that Japan is just a small island nation. It is rather difficult to keep it at all times in my mind as long as I spend my days in peace. I think it is natural that people of the world don’t recognize our lives in Japan as the Far East small country, especially women’s ones, as Plum mentioned before. But now we have to show our lives and thoughts to the world so that we can survive in these hard surroundings. As Magnolia and Azalea taught us, it’s also very important to think about a relationship with U.S. I must open my eyes and ears wide.

So, I’ll go back to my household chores. See you tomorrow, bye!

The starting line

Hi, everyone!

Plum, I appreciate what you said for us, and I now feel easy about your access on this Blog. Frankly speaking, I am usually puzzled what to do and write on it, and the more I know, the more I find I don’t know about English. Yes, exactly I just come to the starting line of my improvement in English. Without your warm advice, I would already give up.
And I am happy if you will point out my mistake.

I also thank you for teaching me the book of アルク. When I tried an oral test of EIKEN about three years ago, I got 起きてから寝るまで口慣らし練習帳, which came in very useful at that time. But I have forgotten almost all of this, and not ever used a CD, attached to this. I’d like to re-use this.

Sunflower, I was interested in the subject about Christianity. I also wonder why it remains so little numbers in Japan.

So, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, good bye!

Relieved at home

Hi, everyone!

Today was my last business day of the year, and now I am relieved at home, turning over various things in my mind. I can recognize nothing is happier than our good health, and good relationships with friends. I hope we will be in more fortunate circumstances year by year.

So, see you tomorrow, good night!

Be relaxed

Hi, everyone!

Magnolia, I suppose I am a little obsession of this blog, and so last night, I felt exhausted about it. From today, I can be relaxed on it. Thank you.

Azalea, I also sometimes feel as if we can be together and peacefully talk to each other. I could enjoy your stories everyday.

So, I will talk to you tomorrow. Good night!

Just six months!

Hi, everyone!!

We have finally done today!　
December 18, 2007, today, it is just six months since we launched this blog, and I am very happy to having gone ahead with all of you, especially with Plum. Thanks to you, I can spend most fantastic time than ever in my life. Without your great support, we couldn’t keep writing on this blog. From now on, I have no idea about this blog, but I will follow you as possible as I can. Thank you very much!!

About six months ago, I couldn’t manage to write English smoothly. But I have enjoying writing on English lately, even a little bit. I’d like to improve my English more.

So, I will have a sweet dream tonight, and I hope you, too. See you tomorrow.

The coldest morning

Hi, everyone!

It was the coldest morning today, wasn’t it? Hard winter of Nagoya has come at last. On TV news this evening, a newscaster said that there are many ‘winter days,’ or fuyubi, during which the temperature falls below zero degrees, in Nagoya as three times as in Tokyo or Osaka. I didn’t know about it. We have to survive this tough season.

Cosmos, thank you for your report on Dr Ueno’s lecture. She is still so young that we will be able to get her wisdom more.

So, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Good bye!

A saga drama

HI, everyone!

Plum, I’m sorry for Ulala-san’s fever and your hectic days! As you said Yujin-kun is very big boy, I’m afraid baby-sitting is so hard on your hands and neck. I hope she will become well soon and you’ll feel easy about it.

This evening, a saga drama of this season on NHK was over, which made me feel a coming of yearend. I don’t like such Japanese costume play so much, but my HD loves them. He has always made it a rule to watch them every year, and give us a detailed explanation about it. While listening to his talk, I have a feeling I understand many circumstances, but after a while I found I didn’t know them at all. Why…? Probably it is because I’m not interested with those Japanese histories, which tend to depict men’s war.

So, see you tomorrow, good night.

PS I could change our post time. Thank you, Alice!

Longer holidays

Hi, everyone!

Azalea, did you go the Diet Library to study about your essay? It’s fantastic! I hope you could find some data you want.

We have just 2weeks this year, and will spend some hectic days. I agree with Cosmos’s opinion that we should not to do many things at once. OK, take it easy. By the way, about a week ago, my HD suggested going to Tokyo Disney Land at this yearend, because he will able to take longer holidays this year than usual. It seems wonderful, but I’m afraid of its coldness, overcrowding and difficulty. We have never been to Disney Sea, but I don’t feel terribly keen on it. I have no idea about it…

So, I hope all of you have a nice plan on this yearend, good bye!

'Oprah's favorite candidate'

Hi, everyone!

Alice, you have many works to do, and I hope you will be able to do them all.

From TIME this week: Obama finds his moment
‘Oprah’s favorite candidate---Now the Obama campaign is hoping that Oprah Winfrey’s golden touch will have a similar impact on the residents of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.---And the day after Oprah’s plans were revealed, Hillary announced that she had her own diva supporter: Barbra Streisand.’

President campaign of USA will become more and more intense and some famous persons tend to announce their support for a favorite candidate officially. In Japan, not many people are willing to volunteer their opinions in public, partly because there are very few politicians worthy to be considered. It’s a pity.

So, see you tomorrow, bye!

My best music

Hi, everyone!

Today I’d like to talk about my best music of this year. I have become a lover of old favorite songs, as I mentioned before and it’s because of my age. I like a cover trilogy of Hideaki Tokunaga these days. Those songs on it are all women’s songs, such as Miyuki Nakajima, Mariya Takeuchi, Yuming, and so on. His voice has a feeling of transparency and cool, and I usually enjoy his CD while my cooking in the kitchen. I chose this without hesitate as the best music of this year.

For my essay, now I’m reading ‘ warawa no hansyogai’ by Hideko Fukuda, a pioneer of women’s liberation movement. This book was published at about one hundred years ago, when she was forty- years old, but her statements on it are not only fresh, but also very powerful even for people today. I’m interested by those who were energetic in women’s empowerment in Meiji era.

So, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, good bye!

About discrimination

Hi, everyone!

Sunflower, I was sorry to have missed seeing you at the yearend party. I wonder your daughter could get well. From your report she has already been well, hasn’t she?
By the way, it was interesting that you discussed about discrimination at Jonathan’s meeting today. I am impressed with his word that defining discrimination was so difficult. I think everyone can become both offenders and victims in different situations.

So, see you tomorrow, bye!

Women's liberation movement

Hi, everyone!

For my essay, I am now reading books about some women who had fought for liberty as a forerunner. Plum taught us before about Hideko Fukuda, and I found now that she was strongly influenced by Toshiko Nakajima. Both of them are popular activists for women’s liberation movement in Meiji era, but I have never heard their names and achievements. While reading books, I have recognized the modern Japanese history little by little, as Plum told to us. We used to learn our history from the viewpoint of men, and regard this as quite natural. And now, thanks to Plum’s many instructions, I could discover a new angle for women.

So, I will talk to you tomorrow, good bye.

Beautiful Korankei

Hi, everyone!

It was warm, nice day today. I went to Korankei for the first time with Azalea’s guidance for her kind invitation. We visited a Zen temple Kosekiji at first, and then walking along a clear river, crossed a rope bridge. The height season of color leaves has already gone, but rather quiet colors, shining in the weak winter sunshine, made my heart peaceful.
We took soba for lunch outside, and left for Azalea’s house. We enjoyed a delightful talking, in spite of not so much time. She also gave me a chance of cutting many fruits off in her back yard. Anyway, we must have been behaving ourselves, and it was a fine day today…. Thank you very much, Azalea.

So, I will write about my essay soon. See you tomorrow!

Happy lunch

Hi, everyone!

Today, thanks to Plum, we had a very comfortable, happy lunch and a lively conversation going with each other. I very enjoyed each delicious meal! Thank you very much, dear friends…

While talking about gender issue today, I thought of my real mission as an individual. When I read some feminists claims in former days, I disappointed that our surroundings haven’t changed a bit. But I also inspired by their great spirits. I am proud of being our women’s group and I believe, you, too.

So, see you tomorrow, good bye.

Who is Jeannette Rankin

Hi, everyone!

I found an interesting article on today’s Tensei-jingo, Asahi shinbun.

‘There may be few Japanese who know the name of Jeannette Rankin. She was born in USA 1880, and the first female member of Congress. She led the activity of women’s suffrage in USA, and she is a counterpart of Fusae Ichikawa in Japan.’
I heard to her name for the first time, and I didn’t remember that it is the memorial day of the Pearl Harbor Attack today.

From wikipedia:
Jeannette Rankin (June 11, 1880 – May 18, 1973) was the first woman elected to the United States House of Representatives and the first female member of Congress. A lifelong pacifist, she was the only member of Congress to vote against United States entry into World War II and one of fifty to vote against World War I. Additionally, she led resistance to the Vietnam War. To date, she is the only woman to be elected to Congress from Montana.

Azalea, men were made from women, that’s right.

So, I’m looking forward to see you tomorrow. Good bye!

'Global gender gap'

Hi, everyone!

Plum, I thank you for introducing a beautiful poem you received when you were 19 years old. (You take good care of your things!) Rhyming poem may sound fantastic, I suppose.

From TIME last week: Index
Global gender gap
‘The Swiss-based World Economic Forum released an annual list that ranks countries on the basis of gender equality. The report measures the discrepancies between men and women in four categories: 1) educational attainment, 2) economic participation and opportunity, 3) political empowerment, and 4) health and survival. The U.S. slipped from 22nd place in 2006 to 31st place this year, partly because of its low political-participation rate for women.’

It goes without saying that Japan is 91st place, and No.1 is Sweden. I couldn’t catch this news on Asahi shinbun in Japanese. I want to read such index on front page some day.

So, see you tomorrow, good bye.

Holding a barbell

Hi, everyone!

It was rather warmer today than yesterday and I could saw beautiful blue sky.

Azalea, I thank you for your detailed story about the skin fossils of dinosaurs. I can’t imagine 65 million years ago…! But it is also mysterious for us, who have to get along our small daily life.

Cosmos, I feel sorry for your struggles with your PC, and I’d like to hear your following talks next time.

This afternoon I went the gym to do new program with some barbell. I was really tired with many squats holding a barbell over my shoulder! I’m sure that I should feel some muscular pains tomorrow morning. So, it’s the end. See you!

The coldest day

Hi, everyone!

It was the coldest day today, wasn’t it!?　I had to put on my down jacket to go out. Winter finally has come. They say the flu will go around this winter, and I’m afraid of that I might catch it this season. I must wear a flu mask on a subway so as not to receive others germs.

When I went to the lecture meeting of Dr Ueno several days ago, as I told you before, I got some copy materials of her story, published on Fujin koron and Nikkei woman. I was interested with one article on it, saying she had hated her mother because of devoting to her bossy father. Azalea taught me before that Fusae Ichikawa, a great advocate for women’s suffrage, had also been disappointed by her father’s violence against her mother. It is interesting that those repressions of their mothers made them aim toward women’s empowerment.

So, it’s time to prepare a bath. See you tomorrow!

Cold wind

Hi, everyone!

It blew cold wind today, and I finally put a carpet on the floor of living room. We will have to heat rooms this night, won’t we?

Azalea, I already caught the news on the radio, but I haven’t recognized its real meaning. I’d like to learn about this subject from you next time.

Magnolia, you have done at the guide test two days ago. You must look forward to the result, mustn’t you.

I have some works tonight for my kid's PTA, and see you tomorrow. Good bye!

Western food lunch

HI, everyone!

This morning, I went to parental visitation of my kids’ school in pretty cold rain. At that class, a friend of mine asked me for lunch with her friends. I gladly agreed to it, because I haven’t gone to lunch with my kids’ mothers for a long time. Then we went to a Western food restaurant by her car. Since I have never talked to her friends, I felt a bit nervous with them. But gradually we began to relax each other, we enjoyed to chat and chat of several issues, and have delicious food. I am shy person and will take a long time to be a good friend.

Plum, it seems really effective for me to think everything, everywhere in English. On the way to my work, I always listen to CNN radio news on my ipod and do shadowing in a low voice. It is very easy way to learn listening English with ipod, which makes my commuting enjoyable. I will try to replace the thought in my mind with English.

It became winter from autumn. I hope you have good sleep. Bye!

Organizing a citizen sector

Hi, friends!

This afternoon I went to hear a lecture meeting of Dr Ueno, which I was also looking forward to. The topic was ‘organizing a citizen sector of minorities to survive,’ and I have imagined that she would tell us about some political issues, because the host of this event was an activists’ group for women’s political empowerment. But almost of her talk was about the nursing care for the elderly. Through her fieldwork, she could find several examples which have succeeded in an undertaking for nursery business. It is certainly important problem for us, especially those who have to face their too old parents. But I hoped to hear a point of view about women’s political participation. I suppose she can do that well, so I was disappointed a little bit. I’d like to listen to her lecture of those issues near future.

At the meeting, I could meet Cosmos, Alice, and Asahi-san.( sorry, I can’t remember your blog name.) I was happy to see them after a long time.

So, see you tomorrow. Good bye!

The beginning day of December

Hi, everyone!

These days’ weather was mild, and it’s fantastic to enjoy late roses at Tsurumai Park.
Ballerina is so pretty name, isn’t it? I fancy its tiny flower.

Today is the beginning day of December, and we will have to do many our business until the opening of the New Year. I feel depressed when I think about a big cleanup, in spite of my small house. I also worried about a winter vacation with my kids. If I could teach them a kind of cooking, or knitting, we could enjoy more precious time…

So, I hope all of you will enjoy this late autumn. See you tomorrow!