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

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.

"The Green Mile" - Preference books vs films

My favorite movie is "The Green Mile". This movie is based on a book written by Stephen King. 

To be honest, I seldom watch movies or TV shows, but I was drawn into the realistic performance of Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan. This movie makes me cry every single time I watch it.

I prefer movies rather than books. I understand that books have their strong points. But, whenever I read books, I feel sleepy. I don't think I'm cut out for reading books.

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.

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.

Pure & Sad love of Romeo and Juliet

I think that Romeo of the Montagues family and Juliet of the Capulet family should talk the marriage over the Prince Escalus of Verona.I guess he always hope that Verona will be peaceful.He will be happy to take an action for their marriage because he will think that their marriage will be a chance to finish the arguments between the Montagues and the Capulet and to bring peace to Verona forever.
The Prince Escalus could stop the fighting, but the Montagues and the Capulet hated each other.Even if he could remove/alleviate feeling of dislike, the dispute was happened at any moment in Verona.I would like the Prince Escalus to persuade them to apologize for past sins firstly, and then to promise not to fight again and to be good friends.
Romeo and Juliet are loved by their parents.With the advice from the Prince Escalus, their parents might consider their marriage unwillingly, but eventually they will be able to accept it because they want to be happy for their child.

If you had as much money as Toad, how would you spend it?

If I had as much money as Toad, I would do three things. At first, I would buy some real estate assets and land for investment. If I keep going to spend money, it would be used up in the end. Thus, I would buy apartments or lands for lent or sale as one of method of keep my assets. Secondly, I would travel all over the world. Then, I would travel to Europe, south America and Australia firstly because I’ve never been there. I would like to visit France to drink good wine and eat delicious food. Thirdly, I would like to purchase anything I want. As I love shoes and bags, I want to visit where is the famous of animal skin and try to purchase bespoke products. I think I may get a little bored with buying things in the end, but on the other hands, I am curious about my feeling after buying all things I want.

Sport is a greatest way for better relationships - After reading

In 2019 Rugby World Cup, Team Japan called “BRAVE BLOSSOMS” defeated team Ireland ranked No. 1 now. When they defeated South Africa 4 years ago in last Word Cup in Brighton, it was said that team Japan could defeated with luck, but this time they could defeat team Ireland with their hard training and strong brave.

Confident Ireland fan - before!

The rugby was not popular well in Japan like Judo, Football, Volleyball etc and had limited chance to see Rugby games in TV. However, the 2019 Rugby World Cup made a lot of fans or supporters of rugby in Japan and became an opportunity to know opponents. When we can know opponents’ history and relationship with home country, we can play game with them with respect and can give praise opponents’ good play/behavior.

My favorite football team often lose game, but I could switch positively when we could win at next game and remove the mortification because I understood opponents very well and saw that opponent made their best as well as my favorite team.

I think that Sport may not make us hold a grudge for a long time even if we lose the game. The positive cycle is able to establish better relationships between countries.