On Thin Ice - the graded reader (not the state of Greenland)

Reading for detail - Read & Imagine

As you can easily see, there's a lot of text on the page, which most learners in Japan would baulk at immediately!

Our 'can do' learners at Luna have got used to this psychological barrier & can jump it with ease.

• Quiet reading? Yes
• Reading independently (at home)? Yes
• Overcome 'new' words? Yes
• Familiar with characters? Yes
• Enjoy the storylines? Yes
• Recycle language? Yes
• Personalisation with 'after reading' projects? Yes
• Work together with comprehension tasks? Yes
• Gain confidence with pronunciation of longer words? Yes
• Notice direct speech markers (punctuation)? Yes
• Read ahead for markers? Yes
• Look back in the story to refresh? Yes
• Travel in time & space, around the world? Yes
• Learn really cool stuff? Yes
• Put proper intonation into longer utterances (taking turns 'in character')? Yes
• Listening skills explored? Yes
• Gain confidence spelling? Yes
• Volume of vocabulary? Yes
• Expanding vocabulary sets beyond limited textbook content? Yes
• Yes.Yes. Yes.

There are so many benefits to our dedication at Luna to incorporating graded readers into our students' language learning careers. One of them is our adoption of Oxford's Read and Imagine + Read and Discover series - designed for young language learners with audio and activity books to enhance the learner experience. In our opinion, Oxford's Reading Tree is not fit for purpose, and the Extensive Reading Foundation's continued idolisation of that culturally loaded & unsuitable series is frankly annoying - driven by 'experts' who lecture from their high perches at universities without any idea what they're talking about wrt young learners, accessibility, learning styles, affordability. You never saw Oxford's Story Tree, which WAS ideal for the EFL classroom & independent home-readers?

Rant over? Not really!

Postcard from...Nagoya, Japan

Hi there blog readers!

I went to Nagoya to meet English teachers, school owners, an ex-student and a couple of really cool old friends I've not seen for a while. It was good to reconnect, talk about absent friends a bit, and to get new ideas for my classes and the year ahead.

My side hustle was making an excuse to finally photograph Nagoya Castle. I think I've been there before, but so long ago my photos will be faded as much as my memory. 

Honmaru Palace (foreground)

The first thing to know, is that it is a long walk from the station - so don't bother - get the subway! And understand this is a reconstructed, concrete job, with an awful elevator stuck on the side but ironically, no access to the main tower at the moment. Restoration to the walls is ongoing - somewhat slowly by the looks of it - and the grounds are sparse. The Honmaru Palace has been beautifully restored. A walk around the outer (now mostly dry) moat gives you a good idea of the scale (modest, I'd say). And don't be surprised when you see deer in the moat bed!

I got the impression that this castle was a bit of a peacock - look at my green roofing & golden kinshachi (fish) on the roof - but rather soulless and disconnected from the town (compared to Himeji, for example, which dominates the city...or Matsumoto, where there's ALWAYS something going on and the backdrop is stunning anyway).

Editing my photos, I realised black & white gave the structure more character. What do you think? The full set I took are here on Flickr

I was disappointed with this experience as there was not a lot of information to read, not much signage, and not a whole lot of story to attach to it....not a lot to explore or learn, nor clever angles to tease more out of the photography.

 

Train ride review - Shinano

I read recently that the trains on the Shinano service between Nagano & Nagoya will be replaced in 2027, and that the new ones will be 'tested' on the route this year. I'm looking forward to spotting one, and certainly riding them...the current trains are famously wobbly & can make you nauseus, especially if they are overheated or overcrowded & you have to stand. It will still be a tilting design, as the line will not change (lots of turns as it negotiates the Kiso valley and the climb up and over to Nagano from Matsumoto) but I've read there will be significant improvements to the rolling stock, with smart technology anticipating wheel slippageand anticipative breaking...we'll see.

My ride down to Nagoya the other morning was stunning; it had snowed heavily overnight, but for once my Shinano was not late. Every corner revealed another gorgeous carpet of white, hamlets blanketed & the hillsides jumping out from the blue sky. It was so pretty, I forgot to take any pictures!

Heading back next day, a lot of the snow was gone, and the roads looked safer. I remembered to press record, so enjoy a little bit of the trip, racing the trucks north as we wriggled through tunnels & over bridges, hugging the base of the hills. My advice is to get a seat on the west side of the train for the best views/photos from Nagoya to Shiojiri, and take a battery charger (there's no ac supply on this train - nor food & drink service, for that matter, so stock up at the platform convenience store). Between Matsumoto & Nagano, you want to be on the east side. 

No matter which season you take this train, the 'wide' views are very distracting! Give up reading a book and glue yourself to the window. To really make the most of your trip, reserve a seat at the very front...you won't regret it.

Hard Worker Boxer - after reading "Animal Farm"

 The animal that I felt sorry for is Boxer. He deeply trusted Napoleon, and he made his best in the Battle of the Windmill and worked hard to build a new windmill as per the pigs’ instruction/decision, though he was old, had not enough food to eat, and hurt his hoof in the Battle of the Windmill. After his hoof got a little better, he worked harder than before like slaves together with all the animals except for the pigs.

When he could not work for a few days, he was taken by a company that sells Dog Food.Boxer was sold by the pigs who Boxer deeply trusted for the pigs’ money. And after his death, the pig Squealer lied about Boxer’s death and his last words.

The pigs Boxer trusted, deceived and betrayed him throughout his entire life. The pigs said that Boxer died in the animal hospital with his last words being: “I’m sorry I couldn’t finish the windmill”, and “But remember: Napoleon is always right”. This is the point that I feel most sorry for Boxer.

Take it outside!

Started this week's lesson with "Put on your shoes" song...reason being, I wanted to hurry up, hurry up, let's go outside!

A beautiful blue sky, but a bit chilly - makes sense to put on your coat! (A silly idea in summer!)

A simple game I learned from the kids = with a partner, rock/scissors/paper. Loser tags on behind winner. Find another pair, leaders do rock/scissors paper again and repeat until you have one long caterpillar/conga line :)

My take on this = play music at each challenge - I used the 1st half of the Hello song. Everyone joins in anyway because they love the song/know it, and also want to keep warm AND be on the winning team :)

In an earlier class, I played the Walking Walking song - a winner - but everyone ran off or crashed into each other > needed a rethink. This elegant solution, though I say so myself, meant everyone more or less under control, and safe, and in frame :)

No, I'm not fine!

"How are you? ""How are you."

Try again. "No. How are you?" "Oh. I'm fine."

How's he? 

And that's the end of the conversation for most Japanese students - get out of the conversation as quickly & as 'safely' as possible, with a generic response & no fuss. Certainly no extension, or attempt to broaden the scope - like enquire after the speaker's health. It's SO frustrating! Especially when I hear the inquirer react with "Oh good". Agghh!

So, I love unit 1 of Everybody Up 2, because we can break that mould. Here we meet 10 different emotions/feeling, none of them "fine" (which has lost all meaning). After this, require a 'proper' answer, every class, and a 'pass it on' reflex...either return the question, or turn to the next student as a round the room drill. Also, insist on different responses. And add a negative ( eg "I'm happy. I'm not sad."). Extension for bonus points in ay Cambridge speaking test!

Doing the same thing again...but it's a game?!

And sit down. Coats off (it's winter), rehydrate (in summer), blow noses (hayfever season)...

Teacher switches the grammar into a memory challenge; "How's Yuki?" Listening to other people? Becoming flexible with grammatical structures? "She's happy. She's not sad." 

And...every time, insist on meaningful, melodic intonation across utterances; prevent false starts/heads down...avoid 'speed of the slowest' answering as a group.

Mood meter

Personalise this - draw pictures into the back cover of the workbook is my favourite ploy. As a class, make a mood meter for the doorway (reminder, entrance routine etc).

Check spelling? In a way - but use the picture dictionary to start more extension.

Drill it to bits (pardon the pun) - another job for wordwall, again doing more with less. Embedding learning so it becomes a reflex, not an allergy!

A joined up lesson - making the most of students' flashcards

Making a learning record with flashcards

I'm a firm believer of doing more with less - and a massive fan of good text books. Students need something familiar in the hands/bags, a structure they can grab onto and a bit of a routine they can enjoy diverting from...not glued to turning the next page at all, but able to thumb back through recognisable patterns, structres, chunks & lexical sets. And then have the confidence to be able to close the book, with learning internalised, push their English skills into deeper water with friends to help & to challenge.

Oxford Phonics World textbooks have a lovely set of flashcards tucked away at the back, which are a great resource to expand learning; introduce or review words (in this case CVC patterns), make sets or mix everything up! 

• Teacher tip = have each student mark each of their cards with their own favourite colour (important these are different, so you can unmix easily when you play games etc) before cutting them out. And give each student a ziplock bag with their name on, to prevent losses!

Here we went at 16 recently studied words (shoert i and e sounds). Quiet time to cut carefully = also time to recall the pictures/sounds (which are on the reverse side). Many ways to review at this stage - teacher-led or students challenging each other etc. 

Matching & categorising: Wordwall

There's a 'blank' picture dictionary at the back of the classbook, which I love, because the artwork is the same, but it is in alphabetical order (not by unit)...a subliminal dictionary skill implanted! My approach with strong students = take a card, find it in the picture dictionary, and 'do your best' spelling it (after you've sounded it out) logically. Then check on the back & high fives, noticing a consistent pattern with the middle vowel sound/spelling. Students can do this together & correct/reinforce/referee each other (including comments on letter writing/legibility!) or competitively. Either way, teacher is passive but actively monitoring output carefully & encouraging constantly :)

Using wordwall as a follow up - I love this as there are so many different formats of game you can select per set of words (in this case). The thinking bit = different images, but clearly the same item. Creating these sets, you can add audio - male/female voice, lots of dialects to chose from. Be careful that you use a consistent sound that you want your students to model/mimic (US, Kiwi or Scottish ones that bend vowel sound? Or consonant sounds that disappear into glottal stops?!). You can have wordwall 'pronounce' all your cards, both sides, or just the one. Or none. Think about what you want your learners to do!

Postcard from Yutoku inari Shrine, Saga pref, Japan

 

This one of the most stunning shrines I've ever seen! Up on a hillside, well off the beaten track in rural Saga Prefecture, Yutoku Inari Shrine is an absolute belter!

Wow! I got the right bus after all!

I was not optimistic on the busride from Takeo Onsen, as I was the only person on the bus...was I on the right one (never really know in Japan!)? The bus terminus itself was even less inspiring, just a gravel turning area, and not a soul around. But I followed the signs and along the main drag beyond a large stone torii, familiar trinket shops & snack vendors came into view. And then around a corner, wow! The view (above) was breathtaking. Couldn't help but congratulate myself for persevering to get here.

The weather was spot on; the leaves were just changing; not too many tourists though a few charmless ones walking through my photographs (not half as bad as Dazaifu though!). I hope my photos do the complex justice - full set is here on Flickr - every footsteep revealed another gorgeous angle or detail. Very Japanese contrast of colours. What I really was not expecting was the path up behind the shrine, through countless bright, and older more faded, red torii. A steep climb, and not for the faint-hearted (witness the 9 or 'rescue stations' along the way) though there were a number of people considerably older than my staggering up the roughly hewn steps.

How many torii? Hundreds!

The view from the top of the hill was also very rewarding - Saga airport in the distance across the sea, and a chance to suck in some air, share knowing smiles with other game hillclimbers that we'd just hiked up an incomparable, culturally & spiritually unique, path through the gods.

A must visit, off the tourist route, photographers' dream. Skip Kyoto & Asakusa!

Just in time for autumn

Yumi's Air BnB offering

Enjoy staying in a nostalgic, atmospheric Heisei-era house

Although it was built in the 90’s, it’s been recently renovated. This one-bedroom house is in a convenient location in rural central Japan.

The rooms

The spacious master bedroom has two single beds. The beds can be moved, so you can use them as a double bed if you connect them. The large living room has a mid-century-design sofa, which two people can comfortably sit on. The modern, fully appointed kitchen is big enough for two people to enjoy cooking together. A new IH cooktop has been installed, and there are plenty of kitchen utensils. The supermarket ‘BIG’ is only three minutes’ walk away from the house, so you can find fresh Japanese vegetables and prepare a delicious meal at home.

The neighbourhood

The house is located near a busy main road, Route 19. However, you will not be annoyed by traffic noise as long as the window is closed. Shiojiri train station is about 30 minutes’ walk, but there is a ride-share taxi service; the stop is only a few steps away from the house. You can make a reservation easily using an app. The ride-share service is not punctual, so it’s recommended to book your departure one hour ahead of time.

Postcard from Ouo Shrine - The Floating Gates in the Ariake Sea, Kyushu

 

What a great find, on the Ariake Sea! This is a beautiful spot to slow down and take in the view! Regardless of the tide, these Torii (gates) are stunning in red, against the sea & skyline of Saga.

I took the local train down the Nagasaki Line, from my sake stop-off at Hizen Hama. Not too far, but a lovely glimpse of the sea all the way. A short walk from the deserted station of Tara (and a careful note of the next trains from the timetable!) and this stunning view appeared behind an abandoned restaurant and discarded fishing gear. 

As you can see, the tide was out - so I could walk around to the ocean-side as well, for some reverse angle shots. Dilemma, walk on the soft sand & get wet feet, or crunch over the razor-sharp oyster shells & shred my shoes? As you can see, this was a superbly photogenic, lesser known yet iconic 'must' for any camera-toting traveller wanting to find the real Japan. 

And, as my train was not due for ages, why not tackle a few deep fried oysters & wash them down with a Super Dry?! Technically, "sitting down in the shade to edit my photos" :)

Want to see more photos? Check out the album on Flickr right here - and please leave a comment!

Postcard from Karatsu Castle, Kyushu

I think this castle has been famous on Japanese TV/manga? How would I know!

My journey here across NW Saga prefecture was delightful (but slow), with trains not connecting and a lot of sitting around in Imari (honestly, not much to see or do there at all!). So, I bought a beer, found a nice place to sit in the sun, and read my book.

I was worried the castle would be in the dark already, but it was beautifully illuminated as I got into Karatsu station at sunset. I could see it resplendent on its perch, and made straight for it. Obviously a hilltop castle, and commanding the coastline of Karatsu Bay & the mouth of the Matsuura River. 

Nobody else was around, the stars came out. The shadows danced, my batteries ran low. Although I couldn't get into the keep (and no chance next morning as I had to really run to back to work on the first train) I did have plenty of the evening to absorb the majestic location, see the fishermen out on the bay, and hear absolutely nothing else - just the gentle breeze in the trees. Chance to sit down, take a breath, and really enjoy being where I was!

Yes, the castle is rebuilt. Yes, it's concrete...the masonry is awesome, the ramparts bewildering, the location breathtaking; the history & the legends abundant. I'll post again about the trains & their marvelous liveries (stay tuned, they're incredible!). I know I will not have many chances to come this way again, so allow me for indulging myself :)

If you have any chance at all to head west from Fukuoka, I really recommend Karatsu-jo!

Postcard from Taipei, Taiwan

 Dear Jim-sensei,

Happy New Year!

I had been Taipei in New Year's Day. It was very nice place, people and food than I expected!! I'd like to visit again :)

I hope you will have a great year 2026

Nene

Postcard from Himeji Castle - an evening's stroll

Himeji Castle floating in the night sky

I unexpectedly had an evening to kill in the famous castle city of Himeji, so of course I dumped my bags at my hotel and made for the castle as quickly as I could - I had no idea when they'd turn the lights off!

My progress was delayed by the numpties at the hotel check-in, who could not compute that I was not carrying my passport (the check-in machine they were lurking behind would not work without it...), nor was I going to let them require it anyway. Guy checking in next to me, probably Japanese = not asked for ID. Numpty #1 went for a translation app & assumed "English" etc. Been there, got the t-shirt & a crap way to start trips in 2026. Mini-rant over.

Sitting pretty on its hilltop, Himeji castle dominates the skyline. Illuminated brightly at night, it almost floats, as you can see in the picture. There was almost nobody about, as I strolled around the inner moat  apart from a noisy group of Americans wondering if they could do a bit of trespassing (silly idea, as a secuirty guard was following them!).

Walls reflected in the glass-like moat

It was a chilly night, and very still. The moat was like glass, casting fabulous reflections of the impressive fortifications. Each corner offered a new angle of the keep, and the inner walls looming above, with shadows emphasising its defensive might...A very different (and better) experience than my first visit here during Covid, socially not distanced from thousands of elbows-out Chinese visitors and their annoying selfie sticks.

A lovely evening's walk. Super peaceful - I thoroughly recommend this night-time exploration.

Check out my photos from this, and my previous trip on Flickr!

Memories at the Hot Springs—Talking with a Stranger

 

I have had a long conversation with a complete stranger.

One day, I was at a hot spring. An elderly woman dropped her towel in the bath. I picked it up and squeezed the water out for her. That small action started our conversation.

She told me that she was traveling from Tokyo. She was born and raised there, but she loved the nature in Nagano. She said she comes to Nagano every year because the air is clean and the scenery is beautiful. I thought Tokyo was a great place where you can do anything, but she said Tokyo is a very tiring city.

We talked about how hard life in Tokyo can be and how relaxing Nagano is. 

The conversation continued while we stayed in the bath.

I usually go to hot springs alone because I like to relax quietly. However, talking with her while warming my body felt nice too. I think it is not good to talk to strangers for no reason, but I also think it is important not to ignore conversations that start naturally.

About “Horiemon,” who shocked Japan with his fraud

 

Takafumi Horie, known as “Horiemon,” is a famous Japanese businessman. When he was a university student, he founded an internet company called Livedoor and grew it into a large business. He was often featured in the media, and many people praised him. His popularity on the internet was especially strong.

However, in 2006, he was arrested for fraud. He used the false financial data to make his company look more successful than it really was. By making the company’s value look higher and using it to buy other companies, he deceived society. The court judged his actions to be serious and sentenced him to two and a half years in prison. This case shocked many people who had admired him.

When he entered prison, he broadcast the moment live and continued writing blogs through his staff. He was criticized for showing no regret, such as appearing with a mohawk hairstyle when he appeared at the police station.

Today, Horie remains very active. He writes books, appears on television, starts school, and works on space-related projects. Even after a major failure and strong public criticism, he continues to move forward. I think this shows a level of courage that most people do not have.

Both Anna Delvey’s case and Horie’s case show that when people become blinded by money, they can easily deceive others. It made me wonder whether I could stay honest if I ever gained a large amount of money myself.

My Tropical Rainforest Project - Kokona

 

Orang-Utans live in Indonesia's rainforest. Orang-Utans sleep in nests in trees and eat birds, insects, some frogs. 

Bali Mynas live in Indonesia's rainforest. Bali Mynas eat insects and fruit. 

Atlas moths eat smaller insects. Atlas moths lives in Sarawak.

Old memories for talking with Strangers

Looking back, it might have been risky. When I was a high school student, I had a long conversation with a stranger who was an older man.

After school, I went to a bookstore alone to read magazines and manga. I spent some time there, and suddenly a stranger spoke to me. He said, “I saw you riding an electric bicycle. I was interested in it.”

At first, I felt a little scared. Where did he see me? Did he follow me just to talk about the bicycle? Honestly, I just wanted to have quick talk and then went to home. I told him how it was easier than normal bicycle. He didn’t leave and asked me to show him my bicycle. It meant we had to go outside the bookstore. 

Normally, children are told never to follow a stranger. However, I thought it would be interesting to talk about this at school the next day.

So, I went out of the shop with a stranger and showed my bicycle to him. He looked at it in the parking area and asked some questions. At first, we talked about the bicycle, but then he started telling me about his work, his life, and even gave me advice. I don’t remember everything we talked about, but I do remember he advised me to become a pharmacist because you can work anywhere and the salary is well.

We talked for a long time in front of the store until the sky was dark. Then my mom called me, so I went home on my electric bicycle. 

As a parent now, I realize it was really dangerous. I tell my child not to spend too much time talking to strangers.

A modern three-bedroom house in Yamagata village

 A modern three-bedroom house in Yamagata village, with easy access to Matsumoto city center.

The house has three bedrooms on the second floor.  The main bedroom has two single beds, while the other two rooms have a single bed.

The living room is in the ground floor, which has a comfortable sofa that can seat three people, a wide-screen TV and dining table with four chairs.  Wi-Fi is available.  There is a stylish modern-equipped kitchen and a western bathroom on the ground floor.

The delightful living room faces the lawn which has a mini soccer goal.  You can also enjoy seasonal flowers in the garden.  There are three parking spaces.

The house is in a quiet neighborhood.  A convenient store is within walking distance - an easy three minutes stroll.  There is a shopping center about five minutes walk away, where you can fine a supermarket, a 100-yen shop, a drug store, some restaurants and, cinema.  

There is a bus stop near the convenience store.  Matsumoto city center is a forty minutes ride.  Matsumoto airport is about fifteen minutes drive from the house, with direct flights to Sapporo, Fukuoka and Kobe every day.

Postcard from Ariake Sea - Floating Torii Gates of Ouo Shrine, Saga, Kyushu

Floating Torii Gates of Ouo

When I was thinking about extending my little trip around Kyushu, I happened to notice this little spot onthe map as I was looking at local train routes...and I thought OK, maybe, if I have time. The Floating Torii Gates of Ouo Shrine.

Ariaki Sea, beyond the torii

As you can see, it was a really good choice to find the time, catch the late afternoon light, and make the10-minute walk from Tara station (Nagasaki Line) to these magnificent torii, that stand into the tidal Ariaki Sea; at low tide I could slip & slide along the 'undersea road' and crunch across the oyster beds as well.

Oysters & Asahi :)

The view was gorgeous, oyster farms & the Kumamoto coastline yonder. The torii themselves glorious in their bright red livery. And time to kill for the next train south = delicious deep fried oysters & a well-earned beer!

Postcard from Takeo Onsen, Saga, Fukuoka

Takeo station

 A quick 'hello' from western Saga - I got the train here from Tosu, via a walkabout in Saga to find the castle there (details about that detour soon!), and arrived after dark. Unfortunately I had a lot of work to do in my hotel after a Cambridge session, but did manage to finish in time to see the famous onsen's gate ('mon') lit up before it closed. 

I enjoyed a late onsen at the hotel, with a view over the town from the 10th floor...and an early start next morning meant I could bathe in the real onsen as well, before catching my bus to Yutoku Inari Shrine (again, another postcard owing!).

Sakura mon (gate) Takeo onsen

Kanji isn't my strong suit, nor vending machine ticket dispensers, but I ended up in the super hot Motoyu pool - 45.5 degrees hot enough to inflict actual pain! Water itself  'smooth' and very refreshing with its sodium bicarbonate content.

I wish I'd had more time (or actually a car!) to explore the area better, but this glimpse was well worth the trip!

lucky dip

Postcard from 1609 - Hirado Dutch Trading House

Unfortunately, I did not have the time to actually visit the Dutch Trading House in Hirado, but with the benefit of a zoom lens I got close enough to photograph it from across the quay...and from the top of Hirado Castle. Close enough, I think?!

Hirado Dutch Trading House

A very historical building (although destroyed by command of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1640... rebuilt 2011), as it is recognised as one of, if not THE, first western buildings built in Japan (1609), as a base of operations for the Dutch East India Company.

Not many people know where Hirado is these days, but way back in the early 1600s was one of the most sought after trading destinations from Europe & China...it's possible just as hard to get to now as it was then, though the newish Hirado Bridge has undoubtfully eased travel from mainland Kyushu & Japan's most western train station (more from there in another postcard!).

Postcard from Napa Valley, California USA

 Hi Jim,

I am in Napa!!

I managed to grab a postcard while I'm drunken!

Sorry for this messy message!

Postcard from...Dazaifu Tenmangu, Fukuoka, Japan

I was unable to visit this 1,100 year old shrine in northern Kyushu before, so I made it a priority 'stop' for my next visit to the region. Daziafu Tenmangu is on every parent's bucket list for their teenage childrens' futures!

I was fortunate enough to have a spare couple of hours on my way to an examining gig last week to make the detour, and explore this famous complex. I was not alone - several thousand Chinese tourists had the same intentions, thought they didn't get there on a local bus from Hakata station (Fukuoka International airport is only half an hour away from the shrine).

I posted an album of photos from my visit on Flickr - please take a look & leave a 'like' or a comment!

Traditional Japanese farmhouse in rural Azumino

More than 100 year old Japanese traditional bungalow

There are four cosy tatami bedrooms, one spacious dining-kitchen room and one Showa-style living room. The kitchen is fully appointed with a gas range.

One traditional bathroom and rest room.

The nearest station is JR Nakagaya fourteen minutes ride from Matsumoto in the Oito line and a ten-minute drive from the bungalow. The nearest convenience store takes five minutes by car.

Surrounded by peaceful rice fields and beautiful vegetable, flower and traditional Japanese gardens.

You can also enjoy the breath-taking views of the mountain; the Japanese Alps.

As it’s set in the quiet countryside, you can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

 

Postcard from O'Hare airport, Chicago USA

 Hi Jim sensei,

During the past two weeks, I traveled a lot. The first week in Shanghai and the second week in Chicago. It was still warm in Shanghai while it was freezing cold in Chicago (It snowed the day before we arrived!). 

I enjoyed the local foods and would like to share some pictures here :)

Tomoko

Happy or Unhappy dinner party with strangers

 At the dinner party, I would like to find out if three strangers are dangerous, if they are trying to deceive me, and what their motives are. I must invite my sister and a childhood friend to the party because I am not good at judging people.

I am going to ask a lot of questions so that my sister and my childhood friend can see their behavior and eye-tracking, and check what contradictions there are in their talks. In case three strangers are dangerous and may harm us, I will hold a stand-up party in the garden where we can easily escape and must carry my cellphone to call police. Having many people at the party may make it more difficult for dangerous individuals to act, which is why I want as many people as possible to attend. Their family, their local area, their childhood, their school memories, and their job will be discussed. We will only ask a few questions. I want to create an atmosphere where three strangers can talk freely.

If three strangers are nice to me, I will be able to make new friends.

Postcard from - Asama Onsen, Matsumoto, Japan

This was a lot of fun!

In all the years (decades) I've lived up here in Central (and rural) Japan, I've always managed to miss this really cool, really local, really smoky festival. Stupid me!

The Taimatsu Festival is a really traditional festival through the narrow streets of Asama Onsen, nestled above Matsumoto city. Local groups/clubs/businesses/neighbourhoods drag/haul/carry or wheel their huge straw bundles up the hill to Jinguji Shrine - usually utterly deserted & unvisited...I don't think I've ever been up this particular little hill myself.

Faces blackened with soot, straw bales kindled & fanned into life, and the air full of encouraging taiko drum beats - and welcomed to the destination bonfire beside the shrine by the firefighters' bugles!

The usual matsuri yatai selling takoyaki, grilled squid, okonomiyaki etc + less traditional 'doner' kebabs (sic), and the chance to bump into ex-students in the dark...sights & sounds of the lesser travelled parts of Japan well-worth discovering & exploring, photographing & enjoying. 

My photographer advice = come early, scope out a decent perch or two - a small pair of steps will give you excellent above head-height vantages. And walk about, talk to folks, get fun-groupies - this yomp up the hill stops every couple of minutes - migrate down the hill & 'do' a different group at each rest stop. Forget the fireworks though - a distraction. Once a year this shrine is the focus - grab a free sake and enjoy the buzz. Let the town come to you on a lovely autumn night!

Sound negotiating

I've found that the best arbiters in any dispute about sounds are my students themselves - their ears are as finely tuned as mine, and their 'varieties' of prounciation tend to merge towards 'an average' = where they probably need to be...provide a really good model/template first of course, and let them 'explore options' > then make sure they insist on each other complying with their consensus.

That way, it's not the teacher helipcoptering during a game (ha, a drill by any other teacher's book?!) but students paying attention when 'it's not their turn'...they're the referees. Unresolved? OK, ask the supreme authority if you need to!

I try to also apply this approach to letter writing. Coming down too heavily on an oversized/wonky/backwards/miniscule/mangled letter with the dreaded teacher's red pen can be detrimental. Instead, ask them to look at each other's output carefully...everything OK? High 5.