Will Yamaga be promoted to J1? - A mock newspaper article

Now Yamaga are top of J2. Can they remain there?

They won the last game 2-1 against Omiya Ardija although the midfielder of Yamaga was ejected with a red card and the score was behind at 0-1 at the half. The second half of the game Yamaga players did a great job and came from behind.

Recently two main players have moved to Nagoya Grampus and Jef United Chiba and some players were injured, so the condition of the team is not so good. However, there are many brilliant substitutes in Yamaga. All members play aggressively and enthusiastically.

The matches will continue until November. There are 16 games remaining. To keep top of the league, it is important for Yamaga to maintain the recent strategy, return the injured players and strengthen regular class players.

We don’t doubt their promotion to J1. Yamaga give their supporters and Matsumoto citizens powers. We believe in their wins because they keep moving during games and are tireless thanks to their hard training. Above all, the head coach, Mr. Sorimachi has a reputation as a great commander. Yamaga unite behind him. There is nothing without promotion.

Posted for Haruka

My Wish - After reading of Five Children and It

If we can have one wish from the Psammead, I will wish to change all nuclear power facilities in the world to power facilities of natural energy. I understand well that the nuclear power facilities can generate electric power with stability and with effect and stable electric power may be necessary for economic growth. But, people have not found any solution to render free from highly radioactive nuclear waste and there has been an increase in the amount of highly radioactive nuclear wast. I think all nuclear power facilities should be stopped all over the world even though our life becomes inconvenience or economic stagnation is caused by unstable supply of electric power.
Also, I think that natural disaster including massive earthquake will increase in the future. By natural disaster, we need to concern if all nuclear power facilities operate without trouble and if there is radioactive contamination. I think it will be too late to change current energy policy when a similar trouble happened in the nuclear power facilities in Fukushima in 2011, happens in the future. The radioactivity impact may suffer children who born 100 years later.
I think that people who are living in Earth should bring safe environment to the future.

Tour de France - prediction

A very quick prediction from the sofa cyclist, after everyone's well-considered and in depth Football World Cup predictions (and congrats to Karen S who did really well in her Cambridge YLE yesterday ON TOP of getting France in the sweepstakes!)

The peleton is coming home, my friends, in a UK tricolour. Before the real action starts in the hills today (yes, the rough stuff was very grim on Sunday), I'm calling it for Wales and a G spot on the top of the podium in Paris. Yes, Team Sky will have to back the new lad in order to keep Adam Yates at bay.

1. G Thomas
2. A Yates
3. C Froome

Unfortunately, my man Cav seems to be off max gas this year, but I'll still back him for the last sprint down the Champs Elysee. And the Union Jacks will be flying in France...remember mystic Jim said it first!

By the way, two excellent podcasts for anyone interested...

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pcb42
• https://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/podcast

Gandhi, non-violent activist

I have heard of the name, Gandhi, but I really don’t know about him, so I researched him.

He was born in India with wealthy parents. He was trained to be a lawyer at Inner Temple in London. He became a lawyer in South Africa for the first time, but he was struggled for racism in South Africa. He first started non-violent activity in South Afriica. He returned to India in the beginning of 18^th, and He worked to decrease unfair tax of land against the government.

He seized the heart of India’s people and guided them to win their right. However, some people thought that Gandhi was too soft against their enemy. They assassinated Gandhi by gun, and Gandhi had to die at 78 years old. I’m sure that Gandhi have a good influence to the modern society, and we should never forget about his work.

Prediction of Second Semi-final game of World Cup 2018

Second semi-final game starts tonight at Japan time.

Croatia and England will meet for the first time at FIFA World Cup. I'm sure that the game tonight will be exciting.

The first half of the game will be probably 0-0, and they both have to be patient to get a goal. The game will change in the second half.

England has been staying away from Semi-final for awhile, and they are eager to be winners of World Cup 2018, so goddess of victory will smile at England.

In the second half, Harry Kane will win one goal and England will win the game at the end.

You will see tonight!!

World Cup Prediction for Semi-Finals

In the first semi-final, Belgium vs France, I suppose Belgium will have a perfect performance. They won't need to take a risk for getting more goals. I think the result probably will be 2-0. Lukaku will score 2 goals and be replaced in 2nd half.

Also, England will get to the final. Modric might play well, but will continue 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. In extra time, VAR could be used for a disallowed goal but in the end there won't be any goals. In the penalties shoot out I think Harry Kane should definitely score his penalty, England will beat Croatia as 3-2.

Posted for Yuki

Rudyard Kipling - after reading The Jungle Book

He had been to Japan twice in 1889 and 1892. He wrote the traveling in『From Sea to Sea and Other Sketches, Letters of Travel』(1899).  He had arranged trip using World traveling by Thomas Cook. He left from India and Singapore, Hong Kong and finally arrived at Nagasaki, in Japan. He visited famous places in Japan (Nagasaki, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nikko, Yokohama etc) for one month. He saw beautiful Mt. Fuji as well as growing modernism in Japan. 

According to the English magazine Masonic Illustrated, Kipling became a Freemason in about 1885, before the usual minimum age of 21. He was initiated into Hope and Perseverance Lodge No. 782 in Lahore. He very loved experience at Freemason. He wrote the experience in his novel “The Man Who Would Be King”.

World Cup 2018 prediction

2018 World Cup progress report for Group E.

So far in group E, there have been 4 games.

The most exciting game was Brazil vs Switzerland. The final score was 1-1.

Pre-tournament favorites Brazil failed to win their opening games.

In the other games, results here

-       The score of Costa Rica vs Serbia was 0-1. Kolarov scored spectacular free-kick.

-       The score of Brazil vs Costa Rica was 2-0. Coutinho and Neymar bailed Brazil out with stoppage-time strikes.

-       The score of Serbia vs Switzerland, 1-2. Xherdan Shaqiri scored brilliant solo 90^th-minute winner.

I think Brazil will probably beat Serbia and Switzerland might beat Costa Rica.

This will mean that Brazil win the group and play the runners-up of group F in the round of 16, and the runners up will play the winner of group H.

I think the round of 16 games will be Brazil vs France and Russia vs England.

Barzil has won many times in World Cup, so they might beat France.

Russia has been succesful in World Cup 2018. I would like them to play more, but their luck will probably end at the game with England.

My prediction for the quarter finalists is that Brazil and England will progress.

Postcard from...Chicago, USA

Hi Jim sensei,

I'm in Chicago O'Hare airport and waiting for my flight back to Japan.

I was hot in Chicago last weekend, which is over 95*F!

I enjoyed Mexican foods with local beer brewed in Chicago.

Tomoko