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. 

Revisiting Sapporo - a Cambridge weekend

It's been quite a while since I last visited Sapporo for work, and many things have changed - Centres have openned (and closed), people have moved on - physically and/or professionally. 

So quite a bit of trepidation 'going back', as a lot of water has passed under the proverbial bridge, and an existing team of Speaking Examiners were probably not too excited about the organisational changes that have taken place. Maybe so, but I was relieved to meet a really nice team of  really 'can do' teachers who obviously care about the bigger picture of delivering Cambridge exams in Sapporo, and not carrying any grudges - just getting on with things.

Some of this group I have come across online through zoom certification meetings during covid, so this was a welcome opportunity to actually meet & get to know people, find the rugby/BBQ fans, establish who knows who & for how long, what the various hierarchies are & the employment faultlines etc.

I was very grateful to be accepted into the general flow of things, with JP026 Kawaijuku/Keiko Ohashi integral to making things go smoothly. We added new members to the team as well as re-certifying existing SEs across a number of levels - in all we tackled Young Learners Starters & Movers, A2:Key, B1:Preliminary, B2:First and C1:Advanced over the weekend, with folks coming & going like musical chairs.By the end, a bit of a blur, but a very good one. A number of new friendships established, I hope, and one in particulr rekindled.

Last of the Summer Wine - Tokyo training

Two clocks, two scales...two candidates

I ran my final 2025 Speaking Examiner training session for Kawaijuku (JP026) recently in Tokyo, for B1:Preliminary and B2:First levels. 

Some of the trainees were completely new to Cambridge Assessment, so it was a balancing act with other recruits familiar to another level 'joining in'. Although the exams are similar in design and task types, each level is unique and needs to be administered in its own way - to script, within time parameters and levels of examiner participation (or not!).

Practicing with fellow teachers is somewhat unrealistic, but a necessary short-cut given the time & logistal issues of going to a school, for example & using 'real' students. The main focus is on making sure procedures are standardised, and that interlocutors realise they have to pay attention to what is, or what is not, happening bewteen the two (occassionally three) candidates in front of them. Must be familiar with the speaking test process to recognise & react to non-verbal clues across the table. Need to encourage? Need to provide support? Need to prevent collusion?..and need to consider overall candidate performance as well. Remember names? Watching the clock (only need one, by the way!)...

What do you think? Why?!

Every single recruit comes to training with unique teaching experiences and in-work roles. Only through open, honest and varied discussions with peers and (some gentle guidance from the side) can we all align our assessing around Cambridge's criteria. Everyone tunes in to different "bits"...its making sure we tune in to 'all the bits' without comparing or applying personal bias which is the learning!

It's always a professional pleasure to meet so many English language teachers who are keen to deliver, and assess, globally recognised standardised speaking tests - and who after a long weekend "Can Do". I love the diversity of our team, the camaraderie & trust established....and adding to SE Team a fresh group of enthusiastic 'newbies'!

Applying the Standard

I'm already looking forward to enhancing my training sessions in 2026 with lessons learnt this year. Stay tuned ;)

My mum thinks I can't read or spell!

Refereeing each other!

Delighted to share the news that mummy is horribly mistaken, and that her soon to be 10 year old is battering all the reading & spelling challenges I can think of!

The pathway has been - not trying too hard at the start...on the carpet variety rug-rat class to get used to just doing 'different' stuff, being brave, singing out loud, jumping about & being a 'whole' learner. Making mistakes, exploring words & having fun.

Pushing on now with Oxford Phonics World (3) and Everybody Up series + Oxford Read & Imagine graded readers > sky is the limit. A 'bullet-proof" class as they dive into any & all activities beyond the predictable. Makes my Friday afternoons a lot to look forward to and always a challenge to come up with something new & challenging!

Being bold readers

Game in play today - first time my class had seen it = Chip-O

Fantastic outcome (no idea who won!) with reading skills above level; helping each other out, and also asking for help when a bit stuck (not really stuck, just unable to decode eg consonant clusters like 'truck' or 'flag' etc which we have not got to yet). When a game is not a waste of time!

Make your own game, kiddo!

Trying to make a game...the lad succeeded but I need to go back to the drawing board slightly!

I made this game!

Two ways of trying to achieve the same thing - read! Acquiring the vocab relatively 'easy' given the fun presentation tools in Oxford Phonics World...I really wanted to make sure we implement 'look at the words' and 'flip between the pages' fluency.

Personalised art work was lovely (but a week later "What's this?" had us both a bit stumped - bear?!)

Obviously, I've nicked this idea from somewhere (apologies & willing to add a mention but I've forgotten where the brain wave came from!). I do recommend it as a way to slow down a class/build in solid review (yeah, the old drill baby drill concept!). 

Game 1 was to match a word against his drawings (my writing, 1st letter in red, as I also 'edit' the class books/workbooks) from a choice of 16 word cards...intended to be unique so each card could only go in one place (top/bottom/left/right - but I messed up!).

I can do this!

Game 2 was the other way around. Match the book's flashcards to the four templates. No children were harmed making this game - but many brain cells were fired into learning mode :)

Give me a thumbs up if you like this idea?!

An away day - Cambridge in Nagoya

I don't recommend insisting on a formal dress code in Aichi/Gifu/Chubu region in the middle of summer - quite likely to have people passing out on parade, even with the air-con turned up...step outside you you melt like a cheap ice cream!

The Chubu SE team with Hyogo assist

Nevertheless, great to see speaking examiner team that has been together for quite some time now, tackling ALL levels between them from Young Learners to C2:Proficiency. Obviously, YLE is close to my heart as we at Luna offered these exams for 20+ years to our students in Matsumoto & around the country to numerous schools & venues; a whole generation of learners across Japan. Sadly no nore.

OK from the boss!

Our team 2025 also briefed on how to potentially deliver & assess exams remotely, in case of emergencies or unavailable local staff. Not easy to achieve, for technical & logistical reasons, but another 'can do' we have made sure we can provide if necessary.

As you can see, Jim's boss at JP026 is pretty happy with things - so let's hope Jim gets asked back to Nagoya next year?! Good news too - looks like candidature will be rebounding 2026, so I hope we will also be recruiting new talent to join the team. Get in touch if you are interested in examining for Cambridge.

Postcard from Hakata, Kyushu, Japan

Hakata ramen

I don't usually post 'food porn' pics, but I know Luna students well be jealous again! 

Here I am in Hakata, Fukuoka for work and enjoying Hakata ramen (shop in the huge train station as good as any, which the queue to get in suggests!) with a cold beer after a busy 'Cambridge' day, decompressing with my boos - from Fukuoka = she's an ideal food guide!

She also showed ne around the yatai area along the river - overpriced and pushy (ask you to hurry up & eat/drink after you've waited for a seat for ages in the drizzle)...food is OK but only for the outdoor eating experience & banging elbows with strangers - no Michelin stars here!

I'm not complaining though - I love visiting Kyushu, and Fukuoka people are really laid back & cool!

Hakata River yatai (food stalls)

Saaya's favourite animal is...

 Check out Saaya, telling her classmates about her favourite animal!

Great pic, lovely answers...outcome from an after reading project of her graded reader (Crocodile in the House).  Animated version created with Duck Duck Moose's app 'Chatterkid', which my learners could manipulate immediately!

Nice work Saaya!

Shizuku's animated Lion - after reading project

 After reading Crocodile in the House, and a confused robot, Shizuku couldn't wait to talk about her favourite animal, a lion. Lovely drawing and great answers written dow, this interview with a classmate was a first take success! Reading/talking aloud the final act to complete an after reading project - no performance pressure or stumbling over unknown words - rather, unstoppable keenness to get it said!

Nice work Haruki, getting over the giggles to ask the questions quickly. Another stunning Friday success story at Luna!

An away day with Cambridge - Jim on the job in Kyushu

Fukuoka cadre B1 & B2 Speaking examiners

 My apologies for not being 'at work' once or twice recently. I know it looks like I was only having fun ridinng the shinkansen, eating Hakata ramen or climbing hills looking for castles...the side-benefits to being asked to do a really important role for Cambridge Centre JP026 (Kawaijuku) which is to train English teachers to become speaking examiners.

In late August I was asked to train a group for B1:Preliminary & B2:First levels, with the number of candidates likely to rise significantly in Kita-Kyushu. The weekend was the culmination of months of recruiting. A group of teachers, some of whom had met in 2024 training for A2 Key, but also 60% 'new' teachers to the Cambridge team. Blending previous learnings with wide-eyed "what's this all about" is tricky, but fun...made all the easier by the ample preparations by JP026 and a proper interview & induction process avoiding unecessary disappointments or FAQs slowing us down.

Hakata headaches? A2 team

Needless to say, a lot of hard work involved by all participants, but a team we did construct after a follow up certification process on the Sunday. This group will be heading out to high schools in northern Kyushu later this autumn to deliver speaking tests cheerfully to nervous first-time exam takers, encouraging a lot of 'can do' and applying universal assessment criteria for valid, globally accepted results. I'm really looking forward to seeing this group of professionals in demonstrating their skills soon, and to welcoming their debuts in-person (yes, another weekend away - I know you won't miss me, as Kazumi will again be entertaining my students!). 

Meet Moe's (talking) pet dog!

 

Check out Moe's project from her reading book (OUP's "Read & Imagine" series 'Crocodile in the House'). In this Chatterkids talking photo, she's interviewed by her classmate to read her own answers from the prompts provided. Yes, one word answers would 'do' but why not 'go for it' and fully exploit the chance to say more?!

Cute drawing, and lovely pronunciation = great job Moe!

 

Postcard from Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan

View from Otaru Station

 A very quick side-trip to the lovely (touristy, usually?) & historic port of Otaru, just west of Sapporo. I was already going to be in Sapooro for work over the weekend, so what's another little train trip?!

19th century western influence immediately obvious around the canal (not many of these in Japan that are not actually moats), with stone warehouses & factories I guess, as well as remanants of Hokkaido's first railroad (to haul coal to the port, I think - sorry, not a planned trip but a whim!).

Charming unrushed feel to the place - a lovely sunset over the old dockyard...some yakuza having some sort of ceremony stylishly in a car park...tourists jostling to get into a 50m boat cruise along aforementioned canal!

Canal cruises - not ocean going!

Had to go for seafood - sushi & tempura - after sundowners in a German-style "beer garden" - my size of steins for once!

Shrimp tempura - divine!

Postcard from Iwakuni Castle, Yamaguchi Pref., Japan

This concrete "Moji" recreation of the medieval castle originally built here in 1608, was started in 1962. It was a "Yamajiro" or hill-top castle, as opposed to a flat-land "Hirajiro" castle. Kikkawa clan leader Hiroie was responsible for its construction, under the Mori banner. I think!

The oringinal pile only survived for seven years, for some reason incurring the displeasure of the Shogun and being ordered destroyed. Pity - stunning location atop Mount Shiroyama command the view over the Seto Sea & defensively, the Nishiki River curls aound the foot of mountain's steep slopes just right!

Thank god there's a ropeway up he 200m climb these days - only takes a few minutes. The actual climb in mid-summer would have been brutal, let alone 400 years ago trying to build, service or even worse, attack the place.

Kintaikyo Bridge nestles at the foot of the hill, itself a fabulous medieval construction and well worth a visit. The castle itself  boasts the largest dry moat, "Hakabori", around any Japanese Castle. Most of the lower mountaintop defences are overgrown and home to poisonous snakes - no place for sandal-shod visitors! Mostly unbothered by tourists, this is a peaceful spot, and the outlook from the top of the castle well-worth the effort. There are interesting displays of samurai swords, photos of other Japanese castles & detailed explanations of the castle's history & construction. The legend of the place + more photos on Flickr

My tip = if you've got time, a worthy day-trip from Hiroshima, beyond Miyajima (itself, a stunning day out!)...bit more off the beaten track in Japan without being inaccessible. Easily found by local train & bus :)

Haruki's after reading project

Listen to Haruki being interviewed by his classmate Moe, about his original artwork & description of his favourite animal!..Unusually for most japanese kids his age, he likes snakes...budding herpatologist?

This is a project derived from an after reading task, following up 'completing' his OUP Read & Imagine graded reader "Crocodile in the House". I'm a big fan of getting 'more from less' - here exploiting the Chatterkids app to anonymously add audio to a picture, and to have to hurry up within a 30 second limit. Thus, no teacher pressure to get on with it - a timer. Ideal, as this means students can practice, restart, retry before agreeing that they could do it to their own satisfaction (not the teacher's!).

Great practice for Cambridge exams or any speaking activity; personalised and with a peer, importantly not getting interrogated!

 

Postcard from Omiya, Saitama Pref., Japan

 Hi everyone at Luna, and fellow trainspotters & "anoraks"!

Hokuriku line - Asama

I was lucky enough to finally get the train to Sapporo for work - Cambridge speaking examiner training & certification - and thoroughly enjoyed the trip (although I stupidly left my tickets sitting on my desk in Matsumoto...another story some day?!). I have taken this Tokkaido line before, but only as far as Hachinohe. I've wanted to experience the whole extension to Hakodate & the Seikan Tunnel for absolutely ages.

I still cannot believe how quickly the shinkansen rolling stock for the Hokuriku line were replaced after 1/3 of the fleet were converted to submarines by flooding from Typhoon Hakibis = first leg of the bullet train love-in. Asama still smell new!

Shinkansen fans will love Omiya station (and its nearby railway museum - which I should visit...). Shinkansen constantly pulling in & departing (precisely on time, of course), of all sleek shapes & liveries.

Conjoined Shinkansen

There was a national panic recently when ONE coupling failed and the whole JR infrastructure was in danger of falling to pieces...NOT. Its the amazing safety record of these things that a single mishap shines the light on incredible maintenance & attention to detail! Such conjoined trains decouple further north to split onto different routes (as a passenger you do not notice - unless you're sitting in the wrong half of the train and end up in Yamagata...)

My Hayabusa whooshed out of Omiya & within an hour was pulling up at Sendai, smooth as silk. Frustratingly for work though, the wifi is really rubbish & I was in a middle seat without a power socket. The northern part of Honshu glowed green in late summer, with the approaching typhoon now 'behind' me. Diving into the Seikan Tunnel was prefaced with an announcement over the PA - and then darkness & loss of signal, pretty much like the dark side of the moon! A welcomely uneventful 58km of sensational engineering, 250m below the seabed!

Jewel in the crown - Hayabusa

Soon enough, detraining at the Shin-Hakodate terminus for a the rattler ride on to Sapporo, and the  contrast of  the local line to shinkansen construction work yonder; paused I've heard because the tunnel borer has got itself jammed into a tunnel & can't reverse out...might take a while then! 

Verdict = a lot more relaxing than flying, and not divorced from bags or having to check in & sit around with an over-priced coffee. An awesomely smooth journey!

Postcard from Berlin, Germany

 Dear Jim sensei,

It is sunny with clear blue sky in Berlin. This must be the best season to visit here. Not too cold, not too hot...just comfortable!

We came here for usiness, but we had chances to visit many famous places like Brandenburg Gate and East side gallery.

We walked around everyday, as our phone told us it's over 18,000 steps per day! We believe we became healthier during our stay in Berlin.

Ritsuko and Tomoko

Postcard from Kintaikyo, Yamaguchi pref., Japan

Hi everybody at Luna,

Magnificent Kintaikyo Bridge

I had a long train journey and I wanted to break it up with a scenic detour - and take another train and a local bus! 

This famous medieval bridge has been on my photographic bucket list for a long time, and I couldn't go past it yet again without stopping by.

Kintaikyo Bridge is a remarkable structure, first contructed in 1673 to replace previous spans across the Nishiki river. Several had been washed away, as indeed was this one in 1950 by typhoon flooding...and it was painstakingly rebuilt to its original design three years later (and subsequently restored 2001-3).

Stone paving & pillars, wooden arches

It truly blends into its surroundings, steep wooden arches atop stone paving & pillars - phenomenal engineering & craftsmanship, intiated by Hiroyoshi Kikkawa (3rd lord of Iwakuni domain).

Dimensions? 210m long along the arch; 193.3m in a straight line. 5m wide, sitting on pillars 6.64m high.

I think you'll agree it's uniquely beautiful, and well worth a detour if you are in the Hiroshima region!

(Thank you Kazumi for teaching my classes - I'm sure I wasn't missed!)

The latest update on Anna Delvey

 Anna Delvey posted some pictures on Instagram. The photos caused her trouble. She’s not scamming anyone, but her latest scandal was made by little bunnies in Brooklyn.

Earlier this summer, Anna did a photoshoot with some of the rabbits. When someone later found the same bunnies in a park in New York City. People started blaming Anna for leaving them irresponsibly.

An assistant for the photo shoot eventually admitted to leaving the rabbits in a park. They thought the rabbits would be fine there, but Anna quickly distanced herself from the situation.  

Anna said she doesn’t eat meat and didn’t help get or move the rabbits. She said she doesn’t support what happened. However, Anna is now selling “#Bunnygate” T-shirts on Instagram. The shirts cost $38.99 and show a cute bunny with the words:

“Missing. Have you seen me? #Bunnygate.”

I think she didn’t really pay for her crimes. After getting out of prison, she earned money from a Netflix series and even walked in a fashion show. Now, she’s become as famous as she aspires to be.

Big 'scam' by Toyota Shoji

 When you search the scam happened in Japan, you can see many articles about the scam by Toyota Shoji Co. Ltd. Toyota Shoji engaged in door-to-door sales of gold in the 1908s. They first made sales calls by phone to identify households that may have the possibility of making a contract. Their main targets were elderly people living alone.

Salespeople visited their homes, sometimes even helping with personal chores, gradually building close relationships, and they sometimes forced customers into signing contracts. Even after contracts were signed, the customers could not receive the gold. The gold was kept by Toyota Shoji, while customers only received certificates in return. In order to gain trust, they used the company name starting “TOYOTA” to make it seem like it's an affiliated with TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION and aired many TV commercials to appear a stable and reliable company. The number of victims reached tens of thousands, and the total damage amounted to 200 billion yen, which was the largest at that time.

Looking back now, it is surprised that people were deceived so easily, but in the 1980s, when door-to-door sales were often done and there were no cell phones or the internet, it was difficult for victims to realize they had been defrauded.I want to remember that a “get-rich” opportunity never comes only to me.