A student draws Captain Johnny Ocean

He had a red scarf tied across his head, but his long hair fell on his shoulders in an untidy mess. Around his eyes were dark circles, and his moustache and beard were dark and untidy too. Under his right eye was a long scar from a fight he had had as a young man. His leather boots reached his knees, his trousers were dark and dirty and his shirt loose and baggy with dark stains on it. In his left hand he held his sword, and looked ready to fight.

Posted for Reiko

A student draws Madame La Knife

She was tall and slim, but you could see she was very strong. Her blonde hair was very short. Her thin eyebrows sat over small, snake-like eyes. Her nose was straight and her lips thin, and her smile was always cold and cruel. She wore high heels, a straight skirt and a black jacket that had ten large metal buttons. Her right hand held the famous knife/ It was long, sharp and dripping with blood.

Posted for Misuzu

Ayumi's mini-guide to Japan

Japanese Black Bear

• This is a Japanese black bear.
• They live in the forest.
• They eat small animals and fish and honey.
• They are bigger than me
• They have thick black fur and long claws

Mount Fuji & Hokkaido

This is Mount Fuji.
It is the highest mountain in Japan.
It is beautiful.

This is Hokkaido.
It is the biggest prefecture in Japan.
It is beautiful.


Posted for Ayumi

Life Choice_Marriage

I agree that Marrying for Love is a good thing. I think that it is miracle and very happy to meet a person who wants to marry and to actually marry the person.
Even if you marry a person who falls in love with, it will be necessary to gradually change mutual course of action to life together and happily because he/she has a difference in value and has a different life style.Also, by a marriage, a life may be changed especially for Japanese woman because woman usually becomes a part of a partner’s family. It may not be easy, but will be possible with a person who falls in love with.
Your life is yours and one time. If you can find a person who you want to live with forever, you must marry the person even if you need to make some sacrifices to regret nothing.

The Railway Children - Steam trains in Japan

My mother's hometown is in Akashina, Azumino city. There're lots of things about a steam train. Then I always went Akashina, I would get on a train with my mother and sister. The steam train had run through the Shinonoi line from Shiojiri to Nagano until I was about ten years old.

It takes 20 minutes to get Akashina station from Matsumoto. My mother told me not to open a window widely. Suddenly the smoke entered in the train depend on the wind direction. The seats were made of wood, so it was not comfortable to sit. But it was a cozy space with my family.

My grandparents house and rice fields were by the train line.  The house was on the higher place than the Shinonoi line. So I could see the magnificent figure of the steam train, when I went out of the gate. In front of the rice fields, there was a small crossing, then the train whistle blew. I liked to watch the steam train at that time.

In early summer, I played with my younger aunts while grandparents planted rice. In fall, the season of rice harvest, I always waved the passengers in the train from the rice fields. They waved back from the windows. I wondered where people were going? At that time, the train was not so fast, I could see the features of people. It was really interesting.

Posted for Hiroko

My holiday report - Rukiya

Dear Jim,

Tempura soba

I ate soba at a restaurant in Matsumoto in the Golden Week. It was around 11 a.m. but the restaurant was crowded. We went by car.

It was cold because it was on a high mountain.

There was tempura, not only soba. The food was very good.

Posted for Rukiya

The Brontë Story - A letter from Maria Brontë

To Elizabeth, Maria, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne I love you all very much. I can't tell how much I love you. I am a lucky woman to have such a wonderful children. My life was full of happiness and love with you all. But I am afraid I have to say good-bye to you soon. Because I feel my body is getting weak and weak. I know I can't live long. I wish I could live till you all will grow-up. But I have to accept the reality. When I am gone, you will be so sad. But remember I will be always with you. Even you can't see me or remember my face, I will be with you in the heart of each of you. So, if you want to see me, just close your eyes, then you will feel me. After I am gone, my sister Elizabeth will take care of you instead of me. I asked her to do so. She has a strong conscience and is a determined Christian. I trust her. So, don't worry. But you have to help her doing what you can. Life is full of joy, but sometimes it isn't easy. I hope you all help each other and all of you have wonderful life. I'm sure your father will lead you to the right way.
Please study hard, work hard and enjoy your life. I'm always with you. I love you. Your mother Maria

Posted for Yasumi

A holiday report - a teen writes

Dear Jim,

I went to a adventure park in Norikura with my family in the Golden Week.

My father drove our family car to Norikura. The road wasn't crowded that day. There were many

people in adventure park.

I played adventure. The activity was scary but it was fun. Zip line was very high but I like the wind during the zip line.

I ate very sweet ice cream at a restaurant in Norikura. It was cold and windy in Norikura. I had a really nice time there.

Posted for Ayumi

Martin Luther King - A person who changed history in your country

Hideki Tojo

Hideki Tojo was born in Kojimachi District, Tokyo on December 30, 1884. He was an Imperial Japanese Army general and the 27th Prime Minister of Japan during much of World War II, from October 17, 1941, to July 22,1944.

As the Prime Minister he was responsible for ordering the attack on Pearl Harbor. After Japanese unconditional surrender in 1945, he shot himself in the chest with a pistol when American soldiers surrounded his house.  He attempted suicide but was unsuccessful. He was arrested and recovered in a U.S. Army hospital. He was tried by the International Tribunal for the Far East for war crimes. He accepted full responsibility in the end for his actions during the war.  He was sentenced to death on November 12, 1948 and executed by hanging 41days after on December 23,1948.

He was thought to be the villain of the war. However, the evaluation for him changes now.
According to the document, he endeared to evade war with the United States.  But he couldn’t.

In his final statement he apologized for the atrocities committed by the Japanese military and urged the American military to show compassion toward Japanese people, who had suffered devastating air attack and the two atomic bombs. 

Long time have passed after the end of the war, there is a question whether a person can judge war.
He might be the scapegoat that was convenient for both countries, the United States and Japan

Posted for Olga

My favourite day...is Sunday

My favourite day of the week is Sunday, because it's an enjoyable day.

I get up very early during the week, so on Sunday it's nice to get up late. I always saty in bed until about 8:00. Then, I usually go shopping.

I often have lunch at a restaurant with my family. After lunch, I go to the park. We play baseball, football, and jump rope.

In the evening, I cook dinner for my family. After dinner I study English, check my son's homework, and drink some wine. I never go to bed before 1:00am.

Posted for Kanako

Rukiya's quick guide to Japan

• This is the Tokyo Sky Tree. It is the tallest tower in Japan. It is new.
• This is the Japan Hayabusa E5. It is the fastest bullet train in Japan. It is new.
• This is a Japanese Black Bear. They live in the forest. They eat fish and small animals and honey. They are bigger than me. They have thick black fur and long claws.

Goldfish - The Mystery of the Stolen Pearls

Today, the insurance company announced the famous big pearls that calls the Leander pearls are found. They were stolen by Wally Sype. It was a maid-car robbery. Police announced he had hidden on the train, got into the mail car and shot the clerk. Then he took all the valuable mail and got away. But when they caught him later in Canada, they couldn’t get any of the stuff.  They sent him to Leavenworth prison for life, but they never proved he got the peals. According to one source, Mr. Sype said he never had the pearls. The pearls were on the train, and they were never seen again.

First of all, the pearls were bought by Sol Leander for his wife.  Just two of them cost two hundred grand at that time. The worth is not only how big they are.  The insurance company had been still offering a reward of twenty-five grand for them.

According to the insurance company’ announce, the rewards have given two people. There were some victims. It because the rewards were big, of course, and for a long time, nobody had found the pearls.

The insurance company has never said that who has got the rewards. But hopefully it will work for them that the pearls brought only for them who are lucky people, their own bright future. 

Posted for Naoko

My Favourite Day is...Friday

My favourite day of the week is Friday, because I take my children to swimming, piano, gymnastics and English classes during the week, but on Friday I only take my daughter to Luna and the next day is the weekend.

I usually get up at 5:30, then cook my husband's lunchbox & serve my children's breakfast. I take my older two children to school on foot at 7:10, then I have breakfast & take my youngest to kindergarten by car at 9:00. I do housework until I have lunch.

I usually have lunch at home. I have noodles. After lunch, I have a short time to relax. I pick up my youngest at 3:00, and hear her piano practice. I pick up my other two at 4:00 from school and then we go to Luna. My youngest goes to English class, and I check that  my son & older daughter do their homework there. I go home at 6pm and then I cook dinner.

I take a bath with my youngest at 9:00, and then wait for her to fall asleep. I usually go to bed at 12:00

Posted for Reiko

My favourite bug is...

My favourite bug is a butterfly. Butterflies are small. I like black & white butterflies. You can see beautiful butterflies at my garden.

My favourite animal is a dolphin. Dolphins are light blue and big. You can see a dolphin in the ocean. Dolphins eat fish. Dolphins are beautiful and smart.

Nanaha (8)

The Phantom of the Opera - an alternative ending

Erik was dead. Raoul and Christine and Persian did not talk to anyone lifetime about that terrible night of the event. Raoul and Christine got married. Their cute child was born. Christine who has a wonderful voice never sang in the Opera House. She sang for only husband and a child with love. They lived happily ever after. The Persian told that Erik was dead to the King of Persia. The Persian did not return to the King. And He lived calmly throughout the life. In the Opera House in Paris, the people still talked about the ghost. A few of the singers and dancers said ‘we had seen a strange man who always wore a black cloak and wore a white mask over his face.’ Box Number 5 is still empty. Nobody sits down the Box Number 5. But when somebody put a program on a chair in the Box, there is always 20 francs on the chair after a performance.

Posted for Reiko

The Last Leaf and Other Stories - Great Detective Ben Price's Diary

Yesterday I found Jimmy Valentine at last. It is surprising he became the owner of a little shoe shop. He had stolen big money just after released from prison. I asked a lot of people about Jimmy in this town. They didn’t know him. But they talked much about Ralph D. Spencer. He was Jimmy. I knew he was going to marry Annabel, the banker’s daughter. I thought I didn’t make him do that and I would arrest him.

  Today I followed and watched him from early morning. Jimmy was with Annabel’s family. An unexpected accident happened. At the bank a little Annabel’s sister was closed into the big safe, a new strong-room. It was just built yesterday. It had a very thick door and a complicated combination lock. The banker proud of it but he didn’t know the secret numbers to open it.  They cried and were in panic situations.

  Jimmy did.  He broke the safe, cut the door and the lock with his special tools. If he didn’t broke the safe the girl would die. If he didn’t do that he could marry Annabel. He stole big money. It’s true. He saved a little girl at the cost to lose his new life.  It’s true too.

Posted for Misako

Picture Puzzle - Gangsters in Japan

My town is very peaceful. I`ve never locked the door of my house in day time. When I was young, I lived near Nagaya city. There were rice fields. It looks like peaceful, but that town was more dangerous than my town. I lived girls dormitory, there was a gangster`s boss`s house near the dormitory. It looks like common Japanese house, but Young gangsters came his house night time. His car changed every month, that was always imported car.

One day there were many police officers near my dormitory. We didn`t know what happened. That night, we watched TV news, we knew the reason. A murder run away near my town. He killed a man by a gun and robbed his car. We locked every doors and windows, checked again and again. We never walked outside night time till he was arrested. Two or three days after, the murder was arrested, we got ordinary life.

Posted for Misuzu

Northanger Abbey - A letter to a dear friend

My dear Eleanor

I am very happy to read your letter. I want to see your young, very handsome and very rich man. Where were you meet a valuable man? I wish you every happiness! And I'm relieved to hear your Father's agree. I'm in love with Henry. I want to marry Henry. I want to meet him soon. And it's nice sound "Let's be married on the same day" I'm looking forward to our marriage. Where does we get married in the summer? Where do you want to get married? I can not sleep well tonight in excitement. And I will wait Henry's letter. I talk my parents immediately. I think they are as happy as me.

Your dearest friend,

Catherine Morland

Posted for Yoko

Postcard from...Kagoshima

Hi everyone,

I’ve spent the weekend in Kagoshima, in southern Kyushu. The weather was great yesterday, and I could just see Sakurajima spewing ash into the sky - everywhere & everything in the city is covered in fine grey powder! 

It has been raining all day today, and I only just made my flight back to Tokyo! I’ve met some great people, taking Starters/Movers/Flyers/KET/PET exams, as well as catching up with local school owners and our examiners. 

I am looking forward to getting home, and finishing setting up our new Cambridge Assessment English office during the week. 

See you soon!

Miki’s holiday report

Visiting Grandma in the woods

Bugs & Insects in Luna's garden

As part of English Time 1's Project Time at the end of unit 3, we all went outside to explore the garden and see what bugs and insects we could find. We looked in flower pots, under rocks and between every nook and cranny. Here are some posters of our findings!

Meet some of our authors!

Only fair to share with you some of this blog’s regular contributors - “inspired” by their extensive reading hobby. 

We have recently chosen OUP Bookworms as well as Scholastic titles for this term. Students chose the titles themselves, and avoided murder & ghost stories! I hope they will enjoy reading for fun - they have been ploughing through graded readers for a couple of years now (we’re auditing their total word count at the moment) and are very good at sticking to their goals. 

The written work you read from them here is prompted by considered ‘after reading’ tasks that are intended to reflect Cambridge Assessment English writing paper exam tasks (ie chose from a variety of  different writing tasks - an essay, a memo or a letter etc) with a suggested word limit, intended audience (such as a teen magazine readership, work colleagues or persons unknown to require consideration of tone & formality, as well as format & style). 

As students are in-work, time demands are obviously pressing & they’re often unable to proofread each other’s first drafts - so what you see is what you get! 

We try to read a book a month; we provide students with Google Forms to encourage pre-reading (looking through the pictures, reading the blurb on the back cover & maybe checking out the cast of characters...and crucially, getting their teeth into the glossary using dedicated Quizlet sets for each book, lovingly created by our teachers in preparation). Without this getting ready stage, we know the actual reading phase can be slowed, stalled, or even derailed. 

We really enjoy reading our students’ original and thoughtful contributions - I thought you, gentle reader, would like to know a little bit more about how the blog sausage is made. Your encouragement motivates them to be brave & push “publish”!

And yes, we love graded readers :) 

Thanks for reading. 

Karen’s Golden Week holiday report

A teacher's mother writes?!?! - Luna's Hanami BBQ 2018

Mother and son enjoying a beer together!

One of the hottest day in April 2018 in Matsumoto was a great day for me.  It was my 2nd visit to the Luna International School BBQ party since 2014.  Lovely to meet up and chat about with people whom I knew of from the previous party.  So many happy people shared the fun time at that day near Susuki river were students or parents of them or grandparents of them and a parent of a teacher like me.  It was absolutely fabulous BBQ party I must say.  There were plenty of food, chilled drinks.  The wonderful thing is that everyone of the attendance brought such a delicious and a gorgeous homemade cakes, sushi and Okazu.  Many brought their own outdoor picnic stuff like tables and chairs, parasols and such.  The cook, I assume that Jim was in charge of this important task of the day.  Hope he had enough chilled beers... 

I totally enjoy the warm, relaxed and caring atmosphere with the Luna International School bunch.  The younger students (I mean the teenage or younger) were not shy about responding back to me in English.  That is WOW. Thank you everyone at Luna for a wonderful day.

Posted for Damian's mum, Hideko

A description of a film

I saw “Jurassic World” from a Friday night on TV last year.  This is an science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg.  It takes place on the fictional island of “Isla Nublar”, where a theme park populated with dinosaurs.

Brothers Zach and Gray visit Islar Nublar to see their aunt Claire Dearing, the park’s operations manager.  Clair assigns her assistant to be their guide, but the brothers escape from her and start exploring the park on their own.

The most exciting moment is when the T-Rex, this series’ hero and the Velociraptors have a battle with the Indominus-Rex.  I’m so excited to the scene and pumped about the next series.

Bus service in western of Matsumoto

“Community bus” is one of the transportation services in Matsumoto city.  The service started from 2012 in order to secure the effective public transportation way in western area of Matsumoto city.

There are bus stations, but you can get off wherever you like except the crowed roads like Route19.  In addition, you can amass points every boarding.  The points can be exchanged to some services at some corporate shops.

In the meantime, the bus doesn’t go to Matsumoto station.  If you would like to Matsumoto station, you need to go to the nearest stations like Hirata or Niimura by bus and then you make a transfer to the train to Matsumoto directly.  In addition, the bus runs from 6:00 to 20:00 and it doesn’t run on Sunday, National holidays and during the year change period.  In case you drink in night or holidays, you can’t use the bus.

However, the bus service is well received by elderly people who don’t have car or can’t drive car.