My great cousin Hiroko

 I like my cousin Hiroko. She's my father's older brother's middle daughter. She is seven years older than me. I often played with her when I was a child, but we spend less time together  since she got married.

She is very active ! She likes to travel. When she was young, she went to India to volunteer at Mother Theresa's House, by herself. She plays Japanese drums with her daughter until recently.

She is tall and has brown eyes.

 One thing I love about her is her sociable, cheerful, and sunny personality, so she can change any atmosphere cheerfully.

She has a son and a daughter. Her son got a job this year, and her daughter will become university student from this April. So she  will become active again. She's trying a challenge 100km walking now!

Seiko Matsuda biography

She was born in Fukuoka on 10th March 1962. When she was born she almost died, but she survived. Her real name is Noriko Kamachi. She has a brother , Mitsuhisa Kamachi.

When she was in the first grade of high school, she thought she wanted to be a singer, so she tried lots of auditions. However they did not think she was going to be a good singer. She participated in a tournament, and she got first place. At this time she decided to be a singer, and she quit her school in Fukuoka., and she transferred to Horikoshi High School in Tokyo, which is famous because many idols and actors went there.

She appeared in a Japanese TV drama in October that year. At the same time, the name “Matsuda Seiko” was officially decided.

In 1980, she debuted as an idol, the most famous things about her is “Seiko chan cut”. Its name of her hair style. In the 80s, lots of Japanese girls had Seiko chan cut.

Her most famous songs are “Akai sweet pea” and “Aoi sangosho”. These songs are still famous and most people still knows her in 2026.

She also made her international debut in the 90s. She sings R&B or English Dance Music.

She got married in 1985, she had a daughter Sayaka the next year. In 2021, her daughter Sayaka passed away suddenly.

And now 2026, Seiko Matsuda is 63. She appeared on the Japanese big New Year TV show Kohaku Uta Gassen the end of 2025.

The pros and cons of getting older

 Some people say that getting older is the best time of your life. However, getting older has noth advantages and disadvantages.

On the plus side, you can have more freedom. For example, you can vote, drive a car, drink alcohol, spend money and make decisions for yourslef. Also, you can gain more knowledge and experience.

However, for every plus there is a minus. One disadvantage is that getting poor health, so you have to eat healthy foods and exercise. Also, you become too busy, because you have to work, so you don't have much free time for hobbies and interests. Maybe you will become stressed.

In conclusion, I think that getting older you will have less free time and poor health, but you can gain a lot of experience. Both childhood and getting older have good points.

Posted for Ayumi

Harrison Ford - a biography

 Harrison Ford was born in the United Stated on July 13, 1942.

After working for a local theater compnay, he moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. He made his debut in 1966 and appeared in many films, but he took a break from acting because of dissatisfaction and doubts about his way of becoming an actor.

After that, he studied by himself and became a carpenter. He thought of an opportunity to be  active as an actor while renovating house and making furniture. After that, he was introduced to Fred Roth, whom he met through carpentry, and appeared in the movie "American Graffiti". He was a ppreciated for his positive attitude, such as coming up with various ideas for his his role, and gained the trust of derector George Lucas, and was also noticed by Francis Ford Coppola, who was also the producer of the film, and continued to appear in many films.

Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Star Wars

In 1977, he auditioned for "Star Wars" through the introduction by Fred Roth, and the uneasy state of mind & manly atmosphere at the time of participation were the deciding factors, and he decided to play the role of Han SOlo, and with the explosive hit of the film, he became a world-famous star.

After that, he appeared in many films, such as Working Girl" and "Patriot Game", and he explanded his career as an actor by appearing in a wide range of genres from romantic comedy to suspense. In addition, in 1993, he achieved great box office success in the role of Richard Kimble, the main character in the film "The Fugitive", and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award, establishing himself as a Hollywood money-making star. I

In May 2023, the Honorary Palme D'Or was awarded to him at the 76th Cannes International Film Festival.

Posted for Ayumi

Hikaru Utada - a biography

 Utada Hikaru is one of the most famous singers in Japan.

She was born in New York in 1983, and lives in London now. She debuted in 1998 when she was only fifteen years old. She became quickly popular because of her beautiful & unique voice. So her first single "Automatic" sold more than two million copies and her first album "First Love" topped the Japanese album sales chart.

Hikaru Utada

Her songs were were getting more & more famous. Therefore, "Flavor of Life", which was released in 2007, recorded first place of degital songs sales in the world. She also received a prize named 'Artist of the Year' in japan Gold Disc Grand Prize. However, in 2010, she suddenly declared a pause. Nobody knew the reasons. It made many people sad and they though she might not come back. 

Then, in 2016, she suddenly started her activities again. Actually, she married and gave birth to her baby. "Fantome, which was first released when she came back was recorded first place in Billboard Japan. It show how she is loved by many Japanese people. 

Today, Utada Hikaru's songs are used by many daramas, animes, and movies. She and her songs are loved by many people all over the world.

Posted for Akane

J.K. Rowling - a biography

J.K. Rowling's journey to success was filled with hardship & resilience.

Born in England in 1965, she loved writing stories from a young age. After university, she worked various jobs but never felt fully satisfied. She dreamed of becoming an author, yet life presented challenges. Her mother passed away, her marriage failed, and she returned to England as a single mother, struggling financially & emotionally. Despite these challenges, Rowling started working on a story about a young wizard named Harry Potter.

Sitting in cafes, she carefully wrote while her baby daughter slept beside her. Rejection after rejection came from publishers, but Rowling didn't give up. Finally, in 1997, a small publisher took a chance on her manuscript. The first Harry Potter became an instant success, transforming Rowling's life.

The Harry Potter series went on to become one of the best-selling book series in history, leading to films, merchandise, and a dedicated fan base worldwide. Rowling;'s story is a powerful example of perseverance, proving that even in the hardest times, holding onto your dreams can lead to amazing outcomes.

Posted for Miki