Memory of my local train station

When I was a high school student, I used to take the train from the nearest local station every morning.  Trains came frequently during morning time.  It came usually every five to ten minutes.  I always got on the same train and stood in the same spot near the train door.  After a while, I noticed that the same people were there with me each morning.  I didn’t know their names, and I never asked which schools they went to, but from their uniforms and bags, I assumed they were also high school students.

 

I usually traveled alone, so the routine of the morning train became something I looked forward to.  During the ride to the station where I got off, I often listened to their conversations. They talked about homework, teachers, club activities, and sometimes their boyfriends.  I never spoked to them and I never even said “good morning” to them.  We   shared the same space and time.  So, it felt as if we were part of a team, commuting to school together every day.  Secretly, I felt a quiet connection to them.  

 

When one of them was not on the train, I found myself worrying.  I wondered whether she had overslept, or she was sick.  Even though we were complete strangers, their absence made my morning routine feel incomplete.

I want to follow the BFG’s example! ~Talking About the Amazing BFG~

 

The BFG is different from the other giants.
First, he doesn’t eat people. Even when he is very hungry, he keeps eating snozzcumbers, which taste very terrible. He hates their taste, but he still eats them because he does not want to hurt people.

Also, while the other giants are violence, but the BFG is kind. He catches dreams and sends good dreams to people so that they can sleep happily at night. This shows his warm heart.

In the end of story, the BFG works together with Sophie and talks to the Queen of England about the man-eating giants. With the Queen’s help, the giants are caught, and people can live in peace.

If I were the BFG, I might not be able to eat bad food when I was very hungry. The BFG is amazing because he values his kindness to protect people more than his hungry.

Like the BFG, I’m going to resist hungry, eat vegetables (though vegetables have greater taste than snozzcumbers!), and try to my diet :)

What “Shopaholic” shows us

 

Due to quickly growth of Internet, we can buy something online very easy. We do not have to give real cash to shop staff, so it is difficult to feel how much money we really used. Because of this, people may spend more money. There are full of goods from all over the world, I think that many people can become ‘’ Shopaholic’’ like a Beckey.

I almost become a Shopaholic. I loved collecting goods of Pokémon, and I was exited everywhere I pressed the ‘’buy’’ button. I can’t stop myself. Next month, I saw my credit card bill and I was very surprised and scared. The bill showed me clearly the result of my actions. I learned that it is important to look back at what we spend money and think if it was really needed. （Even so, there are times when I feel like I can’t control myself to say , “I want that.” The internet is scary!!! ）

In the story, Beckey keep shopping and ignoring credit card bills and letter from the bank. I think this is a bad habit. In the end, Beckey tries to pay back her own debt, but she loses many important things such as trust from friends and family. One wrong choice, I feel that I might have become like Becky. This story teaches us to think carefully about how to use our limited money.

 

 There was a time when I did not want to go to junior high school.The reason was school-provided lunch.

As you may know well, the school lunch is nutritionally balanced and included meat or processed meat every day. Furthermore, there was a policy at the time that it was good to eat all of our school lunch and not leave any food, so it was not allowed to leave food on my plates. I struggled to finish my school lunch thinking how to swallow it itself or with other foods because I am unable to eat meat or processed meat. If there were things that I could not eat no matter how hard I tried, I packed them in my lunch box behind my teacher’s back to dispose them at home. However, I always had another concern because I had trouble that the juice from garbage made my school bag dirty.

I understood at that time that during growth period, it is important to eat without being picky about what I eat. Also, I learned some problems about food until now. There are a lot of people in the world who are unable to eat enough. Leaving food is not good action to aim for the 17 SDGs. I think the current school lunch style to share the food in advance to someone who wants to eat more is better and I often wish I was in junior high school now.

A famous musician who died tragically young: Linkin Park

I'm sure you've heard about Linkin Park’s song somewhere. A debut album was a worldwide commercial success, and this band is very famous around the world. 

One of my favorite bands is Linkin Park. Especially I like the vocalist’s voice. The lead vocalist was Chester Charles Bennington.

Bennington was born in 1976 in America. He was interested in music since he was child and dreamed to become a member of his famous band. He had experienced something hard in his childhood. An older male friend sexually abused him until he was thirteen. He couldn’t ask help for anyone because he didn’t want them to think he was gay or liar. When he was eleven, his parents were divorce. After the divorce, his farther had gained custody of him. He started to drink alcohol, using drug. Because of his lifestyle was changed, he was skinny and looked difference. To remake his life, he moved to his mother’s home. He worked at a hamburger’s shop until his musician career was started. 

He joined the predecessor band; Xero, the band’s s name was changed to Linkin Park after signed to a major label. They had phenomenal success in early 2000. Meanwhile, he was struggled health problems. 

On July 20, 2017, he killed by himself at the age of 41. He was found dead at his home.

Two months before he died, his best friend was suicided by hanging. Oddly, the day Bennington died was best friend’s birthday.

Love always comes in a hurricane

My favorite story in this book is “Sherlock Holmes and the strange Mr. Angel”. After I read it, I knew that this story is generally called “A case of identity”. This is the third short story of “Sherlock Holmes” series, exhibited by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1891.

Honestly, I had a distorted image of “Sherlock Holmes” as the writings before I read this story. I had taken it into my head that Holmes deals entirely with cases of murder. However, nobody dies in this story. I think that the action and motive of Miss Sutherland’s mother and Mr. Windibank is very human, and in a way, I feel close to them.

Like Miss Sutherland, a woman’s longing for a man is stronger than you may think, and nobody can stop it. I feel Miss Sutherland’s mother and Mr. Windibank took it too lightly. I grasped the meaning of the line from “ONE PIECE”, a Japanese famous manga, that “Love always comes in a hurricane”.

This case doesn’t cause human casualties, but Holmes proves his ability, for example an amazing insightfulness and astute observation, and he succeeds in solving the mystery. Arthur Conan Doyle is considered that he was not thrilled with writing “Sherlock Holmes” series, but I would like to appreciate him continuing and developing it.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Letter from Brown to his doll

 Hi, my doll

I found you in a small shop when I took a walk in the warm sun. I was sometimes sad and often bored because I don’t have many friends, and usually don’t talk to many people. I didn’t have any definitive reason to buy you, but it might be one reason to buy you that I wanted someone to talk to even though you had never talked to me.

After I bought you, there were some strange incidents. For example, when I was taking a bus to go to an office, I heard that someone abused an old lady verbally, but all passengers including the Old lay thought I said it to the old lady. As this example shows, the strange incidents caused bad impact for me. Were the strange incidents caused by you? What is your purpose? Do you have something against me that you hold grudges? I do not understand at all why you caused me some troubles. If I am with you continuously, some bad incidents will happen to me continuously and you will break my life. It is much better for me to lead a boring life than having some troubles.

I am really sorry, but I have decided to say goodbye to you. And I hope that someone you love takes you new home.

Best regards, Brown

My lovely dogs

My family had two dogs. The first dog was sheltie and lived for 4 years. The second dog was beagle and lived for 15 years. The first dog called “BAU” liked to look for animals in the ground. When she winded a mole, she spent long time to dig a hole, and my family surprised much when she hunted animals.

The second dog called “ARAN” was very active and liked humans. When she went to a park only for dog, she did not play with other dogs and was always near other dogs’ owners.

They make us happy and taught us how tough we have a dog. We went walk a dog every day and sometimes went to big park on weekends. However, after they left, we think that we wanted to give them happiness more. We should have talked with them more because they could understand what we said thought they could not answer.　Also, we should have made more time to play with them because they have no one to play other than my family.

We have regrets a little for the two dog’s life, so we often recall the life with two dogs. The memories with our dogs make us happy again. 

Review of extreme sport "Crashed ice"

Hi,

I’ve watched a video of Crashed Ice. I had seen this sport before, but I didn’t know this is categorized as extreme sport. This sport is extremely fast, so it’s hard for me to follow player with my eyes. The game was over in the blink of my eyes.

I think the game was hard and dangerous. Although players wear a protective clothing which like ice hockey’s costume, they might be died if hit their head in the wrong spot.

It is unbelievable that player skates at top speed from beginning to the end. Just keeping balance on the ice is hard, however the player goes around a corner and jump over obstacle at an incredible speed. As the course is narrow, they clashed between each other. So, some players fell down during the game due to losing their balance. Even if a player could come out on top, there is possibility to be last.

Spectators didn’t know who will win the game. They were really excited watching the sport and the stadium had energy. Of course, I was excited to cheer the game!!

I recommend you that watching “Crashed Ice” and you should collect a lot of videos.

Have a nice holiday.

Miyuki

Sumo -Japanese traditional wrestling-

Dear my friend,

 

How are things with you? It's very cold here in winter.

If I remember right, you want to enjoy sport in my country, Japan. I recommend Japanese traditional wrestling “Sumo” as the sport you should see in Japan. In strained silence, wrestlers, called “Rikishi”, bump into one another with ripping through it, and in most cases, the match settles in a moment. I think this is a very entertaining sport that you will enjoy.

Sumo is Japan’s national sport. It has been practiced as a part of the Shinto ritual since olden times. Once you look at Sumo, you’ll realize it's more than a sport. If you want to see Sumo live, you should go to arenas during the period of the grand sumo tournament in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka. Especially, three tournaments take place Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena (Tokyo) in a year. You can buy tickets over the Internet or at the wicket of the arena. However, the tickets of the final day always get sold out immediately.

A lot of wrestlers go in for the tournament. My favorite wrestler is Hisashi Mitakeumi. He was born in Agematsu town, Nagano prefecture, so he is massively popular in Nagano.

I hope to see Sumo with you when next time we meet!

Best wishes,

Azumi Yanagida

A memo of three-day trip to London

First day: Go to the Big Ben. It’s the first time for me to visit to London. So, I think I should go the famous place. Don’t forget to take a photo in front of the Big Ben!!

At lunch time, I’ll have fish and chips at a famous restaurant around the area. (Before trip I must research good place.) At the dinner time, I go to pub😊

Second day: I visit the Windsor Castle where the Queen Elizabeth II stays at the weekends. There are some historical buildings. Especially I want to go inside of St. George’s Chapel.

I shouldn’t miss the castle town. There are also many historical places too. I enjoy sightseeing at the castle town. I’ll book nice hotel and stay there. At the night, I go to watch a play at theatre.

Third day: Going to Harrods to buy some souvenirs. I want to buy some tea, unfortunately I I’m not familiar with tea, so let’s ask shopper for the recommended. I wish to have teatime with scone before my flight if possible.  

During staying at UK, I’ll use ride a Red bus, Black taxi and the Tube for traveling as much as possible.

Time travel - a dinner party with Buddha

If I could time travel, I would like to go to ancient India in 6th to 5th century BCE, and I want to meet Buddha.

Known as the founder of Buddhism. Buddha was born into an aristocratic family. His family had high expectations for him, giving dedicated palaces, luxurious clothes etc. If I were in his position, I wouldn’t work, but live in luxury. However, he entered into the priesthood, even though he had a wife and child!

There are some legends to explain why the Buddha went his own way with beliefs, but I would like to listen to him for myself. There would be some disciples at our table, who I would like to ask how to train in order to achieve enlightenment. At the dinner, we have a Buddhist vegetarian meal together with nonalcoholic drinks.

I think meeting them would change my life.

Animals should have the rights as people?

How do you think about an opinion that Animals should have the same rights as people?

My answer is Yes. In a movie “My 10 promises with dogs”, I learned following importance things to have a life with dog.

Firstly, please do not forget that the animals have emotions.  Secondly, Humans have a school and friends, but Animals only have owner and owner family. In addition, Get along well even when Animals get old. Lastly, Animals can live for about 10 years, so let’s cherish our time together. And from my experience that had two dogs and the movie “My 10 promises with dogs”, I am keenly aware that that animals’ life depends on how owner contacts with.

I can agree with the opinion at following points. Animals are not be treated violently. Should be laws against abuse of pets. Should be illegal to neglect pets. Animals are not kept making clothes. Animals are not kept for medical experiments. Safe places to live in the wild. Animals are not kept in zoos. Lastly, Humans should take good care animals like human baby/children

On the other hand, I disagree with the opinion at following points. Animals cannot vote. Animals have no access to education. Animals cannot own land or property. Animals cannot have money

In conclusion, Animals do not need same rights as people, but should be taken good care like human baby/children. Humans cannot converse with animals, so humans should see how animals want/think.

How is affecting to Alaska & Venice due to Climate change?

-       Alaska:

    The average temperature in Alaska has increased by approximately 3°F over the past 60 years. This increase is more than twice the warming seen in the rest of the United States. In the winter season it has increased by an average of 6°F and it effects to ecosystems, such as earlier breakup of river ice in the spring.

Due to this problems, indigenous people lose their home. They are forced to move new place. Polar bears are facing more serious situation. They lost living place as well as their food. They are designated as an endangered species.

 

-       Venice:

The ancient city in Italy will be vanished underwater within a century if global warming cannot stop. Venice will be flooded because the Mediterranean Sea is forecasted to rise by up to 140cm before 2100, according to the research.

 

My suggestion is as below.

1.     People grasp own carbon footprint.

2.     Think how to reduce CO2 which can do easily.

3.     Try it.

Superstitions of Japan

There are famous superstitions which have been passed down from olden days in Japan. One of the superstitions that my mother told me when I was child, “If you whistle in the night, snakes appear”. It is said that Snakes stated herein are the symbol of ominous things. I like to whistle from childhood, so I’m often told this superstition by my mother. I remember this superstition even now when I whistle.

Another superstition that I know is “If you show your navel, thunder god falls from the sky and picks it.” I heard that this superstition is a certain warning that you will feel sick to your stomach from parents to children. I think that early people passed on their lore through these superstitions.

Hideyoshi and Nene

Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Kodaiin (Generally, she is called “Nene”.) are the famous couple in early Japan called the Sengoku period. They became a married couple after they had got over the hardship.

They were married in 1561, despite the objections of Nene’s families. Especially Asahi-dono, Nene’s mother, strongly opposed to their marriage, and she had not approved it until she died in 1598. At that point in time when political marriages were the norm, they were a rare case of marriage for love. I think that they are similar to Romeo and Juliet.

On the other hand, there are some differences in love stories of between Hideyoshi and Nene and Romeo and Juliet. The marriage of Hideyoshi and Nene was a misalliance. Hideyoshi was a soldier of low rank, and Nene was a daughter of the royal “samurai” families. Above all, Hideyoshi brought the country under one sway, and Nene supported Hideyoshi secretly. I think they are the happiest couple in the Sengoku period.

“The valiant fighter” Marcus Túlio Tanaka

Marcus Túlio Tanaka is the former football player of Japan’s national team. Although he showed many brilliant activities on the pitch, he passed through many difficulties.

He was born in Palmeira d'Oeste, São Paulo, in 1981. His farter is a Japanese-Brazilian, and his mother is an Italian-Brazilian. He came to Japan for the first time when he was sixteen years old. Of course, he didn't know Japanese, and he suffered mentally.

He studied Japanese eagerly and had been a leading player on the football team of his senior high school. He joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2001 after he graduated, and he launched his career as a professional football player. He became a naturalized as Japanese in 2003 and participated in 2010 FIFA World Cup as a player of Japan’s national team. He won many prizes until his retirement in 2019. He was one of the most dominant players in the football history of Japan.

Memo to Leonardo da Vinci

Dear Da Vinci,

As you know, you have not finished a lot of paintings yet. I know you are so busy, but it is better for you to finish your painting. So, let me share my tips to improve your work performance.

1. Grasp your whole work:
To recognize how many works that you should finish.

2. Put priority:
Maybe, a lot of orders come in because you are the famous painter. You should consider a priority as it takes time to complete your painting.

3. Make a check list:
Even if you are a genius, your brain has a limit to memory. If you could have the check list, you don’t need to remember how many works are unfinished. Then you can focus on painting in front of you.

4. Hire some staff:
As a paper is expensive , so it might be difficult to prepare a check list. I recommend you to arrange person in order to organize your works.

I hope the above would be help your work. Please kindly image or invest how to arrange human task easily.

Best regards,
Miyuki

A soldier Yokoi Shoichi - After reading

You may remember a Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi? He was called up for army activities again in 1941 and combatted at Guam against the U.S. forces.

When Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration in Aug and the war ended, it was announced by radio, newspaper, flyer etc. to all Japanese who stayed/combatted in Japan and territories of America and/or American’s ally. A soldier Shoichi Yokoi and his two brothers-in-arms saw the flyer, but they did not believe that Japan defeated the War and guessed that the flyer saying Japan’s defect was plot created by U.S. forces.

The Japanese were controlled/taught to believe that their country was very strong. Most  Japanese bore starvation, deprivation and a lot of Japanese gave their lives, believing in beating U.S. forces.  Japanese soldiers were taught that it was considered a disgrace to come back alive from the front. It was no wonder that some Japanese could not recognize Japan’s defeat and did not go back to home.

After Japan’s defeat, the brothers lived in the jungles of Guam for two decades. His two brothers-in-arms died by huge typhoon, but a soldier Yokoi stayed more 8 years in jungle of Guam until local people found him.

When he returned to Japan, he said that he stooped to coming back alive from the front, but he believed his return might be of any help. His life in/after war is unbelievable for people nowadays, but we must know how terrible the war is and must do all efforts not to cause any war forever.

“The father of electricity” Nikola Tesla

 Nikola Tesla (1856.07.10-1943.01.07) is an electrical engineer and an inventor from now parts of Croatia.
I think that Tesla’s best achievement was inventing the transmission system utilizing AC. Electricity is something that we cannot live without. It is no exaggeration to say that we can live a comfortable life thanks to his idea and invention.
Tesla emigrated to America in 1884, and he was employed by the institute of Thomas Alva Edison. But, they had opposite opinions about transmission systems and lost his job. In 1887, Tesla organized his company. There was keen competition between Tesla and Edison. Finally, Tesla won, and the transmission system utilizing AC has been become the mainstream of the whole world. Today, the competition between Tesla and Edison is called “War of Currents”.
It is said that Tesla lived in obscurity in his later years. When he was dead in 1943, he was almost flat broke. I think that his inventions and ideas form the basis of many technological innovations of 20th century. Therefore, I feel that his end is really lonely.