We sang an Audioboo - and had a ball!

listen to ‘I have a ball!’ on Audioboo

What do you think of our singing skills? We think we are pretty funky (actions and everything!)

My Olympic hero - Sayaka Sato

In this Olympics, Sayaka Sato (Badminton woman's singles player) inspired me. It was the first Olympics participation for her. And she advanced to the final tournament. 

The first round, she played a game with a Danish player, and in that time she led a point.
But suddenly an accident attacked her. When she did receiving, she was wounded in the left foot. She fell down by an acute pain, but she was going to continue playing the game.
However, unfortunately she had to renounce the game. 

Badminton snowballs (Photo credit: ijiwaru jimbo)

When she was going to leave the court, all spectators sent warm applause to her and her tears. I was impressed by her unyielding mind.
 
I hope she participate in the next Olympic and hope that we can watch her smile next time. 

Miyako

Related articles

• London 2012 Olympics: Japanese badminton player Sayaka Sato left in tears after injury
• Japan's Sato suffers disappointing exit from badminton
• Olympics: Sasaki advances in badminton, Sato wins opener

My Olympic hero too! Kaori Matsumoto

London Olympics 2012 (Photo credit: Andrea Vascellari)

The judoka, Kaori Matsumoto who had become Japan's first gold medalist at the London Olympics inspired me. I was so astonished when I saw her for the first time just before her semifinals. She showed up with sharp game face. I 've never seen such a fierce look,though she is a young lady. She continued attacking her opponent aggresively throughout the semifinals and she won.

When she turned up at the finals, her eyes were full of fight and she gave her opponent a fierce look. She did'nt hide her strong desire to win and concentrated all her efforts on the finals. She was dying for the gold medal and then finally she became the gold medalist.

She has often been reffered to as the " beast " because of her fiece look. But she dropped her fierce game face and stood on the top of the medals podium. Her face broke out into a wide smile and there was'nt the beast there.

I heard she started judo at a dojo which was known for its strict training when she was 6 years old. Since then she must have been practcing judo desperately. An instructor Katsuyuki Maruta who practiced with Matsumoto at the same dojo said, "She was strong-willed. I never heard her complain or show any weakness." She deserves the gold medal.

                                                                                                Chisato

Related articles

• Judoka Matsumoto wins Japan's first gold, while Nakaya takes silver

It's a girl!

I am sure everyone will want to join me in congratulating our new friend Tim, who became a father again on Monday evening to a bouncing baby girl "Cleothea Majesta Jennifer" - lovely name and we can't wait to see some pictures.

We know this is not an easy time for Tim, as family are still in the Philippines, but we are all looking forward to your family reunion asap.
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xxxxxxxCONGRATULATIONS TIM & family xxxxxxxxx

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My Olympic hero - Kaori Matsumoto

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Gold medalist Kaori Matsumoto of Japan, Silver medalist Corina Caprioriu of Romania, Bronze medalist B Automne Pavia of France, Bronze medalist A Marti Malloy of the United States the Women's -57 kg Judo on Day 3 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on July 30, 2012 in London, England. (Image credit: Getty Images)

In the London Olympics, I was inspired by Kaori Matsumoto, 57kg class Judoist, who got the Gold medal first as a Japanese athlete. When she came up to the hall, her face was frightful, looked like a beast. I have known what her nickname is “Beast”, later. Her eyes were pointed very strongly, seemed angry. They made fear everything. Her air never changed during the match. Her powerful spirit beat all of the enemies. I was inspired by her strong powers of concentration and strong mind and body. 

 She looked a very strict, difficult stoic person in the matches, but surprisingly, she showed her charming smile after the matches. The interviewer asked her after the match “What would you like to eat the most now?” She asked “I really want to eat a parfait”. She is actually a lovely lady. I became one of her fan!

Teruki

The insect collector - cicada stories

This week Rei wanted to tell me about his insect collecting hobby; I am sure his mum hates it! Cicadas ("semi" in Japanese) are those enormous doodlebug size insects that make a racket this time of year. They really are a bit gross. The worst experience I ever had with one was when I was riding my old Kawasaki, quite quickly, visor open (need air!) & wallop - a cicada flew into my helmet & splattered all over the right side of my face/ear. Remarkably, I didn't crash, but I did feel very well! Funniest cicada experience was on Sado Island, watching the Kodo drummers - one dived-bombed straight down the crack of my friend Paul's shorts (never to be seen again!) What is your best/worst cicada story?!

This week Rei wanted to tell me about his insect collecting hobby; I am sure his mum hates it!
Cicadas ("semi" in Japanese) are those enormous doodlebug size insects that make a racket this time of year. They really are a bit gross. The worst experience I ever had with one was when I was riding my old Kawasaki, quite quickly, visor open (need air!) & wallop - a cicada flew into my helmet & splattered all over the right side of my face/ear. Remarkably, I didn't crash, but I did feel very well!

Funniest cicada experience was on Sado Island, watching the Kodo drummers - one dived-bombed straight down the crack of my friend Paul's shorts (never to be seen again!)

What is your best/worst cicada story?!

listen to ‘Rei - insect collector’ on Audioboo

Postcard from...Budapest, Hungary

Dear Jim & Yukari,

I arrived in Budapest safely. Here is very cooler than Shinshu, so I have to take care of my health condition. The language is Magyar, but many people can speak English. I feel that staying here became easier than before.

Have a nice holiday!

From Atsuko

My favorite Olympic memory

 Kōhei Uchimura is a Japanese artistic gymnast.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Olympic scene which I liked the most was when Uchimura won in the individual combined gymnastics.
Uchimura started gymnastics at the age of three and he has won many competitions since then. His parents run a gymnastic school and he has been practicing gymnastics there.

Now he has won the world gymnastic championship three times in a row. In the Beijing Olympics Uchimura couldn't get a gold medal and he ended in silver. His dream was to to get a gold medal in the Olympics. This year, in the London Olympics, he finished his performance with a perfect landing and he was able to win a gold medal. I'm glad that he has won a gold medal.

 Takuro

Japan's men's footy team leave London empty-handed

London Olympics 2012 (Photo credit: Andrea Vascellari)

Japanese men&s football team at the London Olympics ended without a medal.

Japan, who lost the semi-final match to Mexico, played South Korea to get a bronze medal on August 10th, 2012.

In the first half, Arsenal's striker Park Chu-Young, and in the second half Augsberg's Koo Ja-Cheol scored goals. Japan could not break down a well-organised Korean rearguard; Korea won
2 - 0. They claimed their first Olympic football medal.

Posted for Hiroyasu

The Phantom of the Opera - after reading

I chose after reading #1:

To the Persian

I am leaving this letter for you, because once you were my friends. Now, of course, I have only enemy. People scream when they see my face. I am clever, it is true, but no woman can ever love me. And how can a man live without love?

When I was a child, I was very unhappy. My mother never kissed me. She didn't want to look at me because I was so ugly. And years later, when I was a man, I did many terrible things. I know that, I am sorry now. But I did one good thing in my life. Christine is free. She can marry the Vicomte and be happy.

But I can never forget her wonderful voice, and I cannot live without her.
And so, goodbye.
Erik

I know this story really famous around the world, however I have never read book. After reading I felt the Phantom is lonely person.
If I have a chance, I would likely to see this story as opera performance.

I was glad to see Tim Sensei today :D
Miyuki

The President's Murderer - after reading

I read "The President's Murderer" and here is my answer for after reading# 6.

I think that the army killed old President. They did not like his political strategy and wanted to change the President so that they could control the country as they like. Therefore, old President was killed by them, and their very good friend became new President.

This is just my guess. I would like to know the author's answer. I am also interested in who Marta was.

The Monkey's Paw - after reading

I have read "Monkey's Paw". That story was very painful but very thrilling. It was much more interesting to me than expected. 

 

２　Perhaps Tom Morris’s friend wrote a letter to Tom before he died.

Dear Tom,

I am going to die soon and I want you to read this letter after I am dead. I have no family, but you can have all my things. You can have the monkey’s paw too, and be very careful. Think before you make a wish. My life was very unhappy because I wished for the wrong things. It’s never good to want to change things so the wishes don’t bring happiness. The old Indian told me that, but I did not listen to him. So, please be careful, Tom.

Posted for Hiroshi

Christmas in Prague - after reading

After Reading #2: What happened in 1956 and 1957 ?

1. Josef and Lenka got married and had two sons, Jan and Pavel.
2. Josef and Lenka wanted to change things in Czechoslovakia but it was dangerous. 3.　Josef and Lenka couldn’t stay in Czechoslovakia because people were not free or happy.
4. Josef carried Jan across the border on 24th December and after that they went to England.
5. Lenka tried to cross the border with Pavel on 25th December but the guards shot her.
6. Stanislava didn’t lose Pavel so she told Josef that his wife and son were dead.

Posted for Yuri

The Red Planet - audioboo

Artist's rendering of a Mars Exploration Rover. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have been very excited with the story coming from NASA & their success landing my fellow tweeter on Mars @MarsCuriosity and I can't wait to see some of the results this massive scientific project will produce.

Meantime, Yuta has been reading The Red Planet, and as his reading is very good, we wanted to share! Your comments are very welcome :)

listen to ‘The Red Planet - Yuta’ on Audioboo

Match report - Olympic football QF: Japan vs Egypt

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Hiroshi Kiyotake of Japan holds off Eslam Ramadan of Egypt during the Men's Football Quarter Final match between Japan and Egypt, on Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Old Trafford on August 4, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Japan beat Egypt in a quarter-final match in the Olympic football tournament. In the first half, Nagai, a fleet forward player for Japan, scored a goal with the best use of his quickness.

An Egyptian player committed a foul with dangerous play, and the referee gave him a red card and made him leave the pitch in the first half.

Later in the game, Japan scored another two goals and won three - nil.

They got a place in the semi-final stage for the first time in 44 years! Then, they are going to play Mexico to advance to the Olympic final.

Hirayasu

BonBon Slideshow

Thank you everyone for making our evening such great fun!

Bon Bon 2012 - Olympic edition

Bon Bon 2012 - Olympic edition, a set on Flickr.

We had an awesome night around the streets of OUR town last night!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and danced so well.

Big thank you to Yukari for organising everything/everybody.

Did you have fun too? Share your pictures and name your frineds on our flickr page as well as on Facebook!