Things I like: dogs

 I have 4 dogs. Eren, Rona, Marusu and Rohan, they are toy poodles of 3 generations. The oldest is Eren.

16 years ago, my daughter and I met her in a pet shop in Aoyama. She was very cute and just 45 days old. We fell in love at first glance. 

At that time my daughter went to the high school in Tokyo. She lived alone. Perhaps she felt lonely. She was eager to buy this pretty dog. 

Eren saved her. They were necessary for each other. Time has passed and my daughter is a mother of two children and Eren is also a grandmother. 

She lost her eyesight and can not hear. She was a very clever dog but now she has dementia. From daybreak to midnight, we have to look after her. But she is the existence that is more important than the past. We are very happy with this dear great dog. 

The picture was taken from: https://www.mediastorehouse.com/ardea-wildlife-pets-environment/new-images-august/black-poodle-grey-poodles-dogs-outdoors-15299394.html

By Olga

Martin Luther King - A person who changed history in your country

Hideki Tojo

Hideki Tojo was born in Kojimachi District, Tokyo on December 30, 1884. He was an Imperial Japanese Army general and the 27th Prime Minister of Japan during much of World War II, from October 17, 1941, to July 22,1944.

As the Prime Minister he was responsible for ordering the attack on Pearl Harbor. After Japanese unconditional surrender in 1945, he shot himself in the chest with a pistol when American soldiers surrounded his house.  He attempted suicide but was unsuccessful. He was arrested and recovered in a U.S. Army hospital. He was tried by the International Tribunal for the Far East for war crimes. He accepted full responsibility in the end for his actions during the war.  He was sentenced to death on November 12, 1948 and executed by hanging 41days after on December 23,1948.

He was thought to be the villain of the war. However, the evaluation for him changes now.
According to the document, he endeared to evade war with the United States.  But he couldn’t.

In his final statement he apologized for the atrocities committed by the Japanese military and urged the American military to show compassion toward Japanese people, who had suffered devastating air attack and the two atomic bombs. 

Long time have passed after the end of the war, there is a question whether a person can judge war.
He might be the scapegoat that was convenient for both countries, the United States and Japan

Posted for Olga

Goldfish - Nazi treasure

It is said the number of art objects such as paintings, sculptures and art prints which Nazi looted from Jews and other countries is 600,000. The art works, Chagall, Matisse, Renoir, etc. which cost 1 billion were discovered in 2012 at the apartment of Munich. But over 100,000 artworks have not been discovered yet.

This book's author is Kouichi Fujita who worked in Berlin as a correspondent of Mainichi news company. He wrote this reportage in April 2011. He wrote about 'Room of amber ', 'Gogh collection ' and Vermeer. Hitler persisted in Vermeer. He wanted to open Linz Museum. But he couldn't do because the war situation became worse for Germany.

I was surprised that 'Astronomer' of Vermeer was looted by Nazi.So, there is Swastika which was symbol of Nazi on the back of 'Astronomer'. I saw it at Louvre Museum. It was a small but very wonderful painting. Most of the artworks which Nazi collected were changed to gold by the help of Swiss Bank and British Bank. Then they were sold and disappeared as the cost of war.I think some people have the artworks which were looted by Nazi. Perhaps they will not be discovered easily.

I hope that all artworks are discovered and can see them at the museums in many countries. The wonderful artworks are not Nazi treasure. They are our treasure forever.

Posted for Olga

The Brontë Story - A book review

Jane Eyre 

This is the story of a little girl called Jane Eyre. Her parents die, so she lives with an aunt and her children. Then Jane goes away to a school called Lowood. Jane ‘s best friend is Helen. Helen falls ill at the school and dies. Then Jane works as a governess in Thornfield Hall. She meets Rochester and falls in love. But she knows his terrible secret. Jane leaves Thornfield Hall. Then she meets Sant John. Sant wants her to go India with him as a wife.

What kind of decision dose she make? What kind of action does she take finally?

Most of readers will notice that Jane is a new type of woman who has an iron will. She isn’t so beautiful but is full of deep culture with wisdom. She gives decision based on a keen sense of morals. She has a job. She makes money by herself not by a husband.

This book’s author is Currer Bell. He is one of the man who understand women’s thought. He wants to tell us the importance of women’s independence. Ladies, stand your own feet even if it is men’s society.

This is a wonderful and beautiful book. This is the best book in 1847. I think this book will get the sympathy of many women even in 100years.

Olga Urakawa

The editor of ‘English Life’

Rabbit-Proof Fence - The Long Walk

The Long Walk. This is the true story of Slawomir Rawicz, a Polish Army lieutenant who was arrested by Soviet Army during World War II. He and six others escaped from a Siberian camp. They walked 6500km, Mongolia, Gobi Desert, Tibet, the Himalayas from Siberia for one year.

Rawicz was prisoned and was sent to Siberia although he hadn’t done anything crime. He had to work there for twenty-five years. The weather of Siberia was severe, the labor was tight and the prisoners died one after another. So Rawicz and the others escaped from the camp. They began a long journey to India on foot.

At the time of escape, they had only some bread, an axe and a knife. One died in the severe nature. But the kindness of Mongolian who appeared occasionally helped them. They met the girl who ran away from Kolkhoz on way and calm time came. But a happy time was moment.

They had to cross the Gobi Desert on foot. It was the most terrible time in this trip. They walked in the extreme state. They were robbed of the physical strength and two of them died. But they continued to walk. Finally, they arrived at India.

I was deeply impressed that they had helped each other without losing hope to live even if it had been long severer trip. This story taught me the importance of what I didn’t give up till the last.

Posted for Olga

Postcard from Moscow

Hi Jim,

Here are pics as promised.

Sorry I have not visited any touristy places and I doubt that will have time to... .
Anyway, this is indian summer in Moscow: the best season here.

Best wishes,

Olga

The Wind in the Willows - a letter to a rescuer

Dear Mrs. Keeper's daughter.

Sorry l haven't written for a while but I've been spent very tough days. I hope you're well. I have no words to express my gratitude. I am writing this letter in my Hall now. I think I was saved by the grace of you.

In prison you heard my rubbish story. At that time, I thought I hadn't been silly at all. Although I was in prison, I had such a foolish thinking. How foolish I was! Now I know I was silly, dangerous and boastful. I want you to know the reason of changing my thinking. Please read my story about escape.

I wore an old washer woman's dress which you bought and I passed the guards of the castle entrance easily. Then I got on the train. In the morning I met a barge -woman who said I was a fat lazy little toad. I stole her horse which I sold to a man later. At that time, I said to myself. "What a clever Toad l am!" l am ashamed of me in that time. I was just a criminal and an escaped prisoner. How silly I was!

I came to a road and began to walk. Then a terrible thing happened. The person whose car I had stolen recognized me. They chased me through a wood. I dropped into the deep water. When I was too tired to pull myself out of water, the Rat helped me.

The Rat told me about my Hall. The Scots and the Weasels and the Ferrets - they had taken my Hall. They had been living there.They had got guns knives and sticks. They kept guard round the house night and days.They said they were going to stay there for ever. At first I couldn't believe it. But my good friends, the Rat, the Mole, the Badger and I made a plan to get the Hall back.

When they held a big birthday-party we run into dining hall. W could go there because there was an under ground tunnel. They didn't have any guns or stick s with them at the party. So we could chase them and beat them and hit them with our weapons.

What a battle it was! But we won the battle. Our attempt was a great success. I have fortunate to have good friends. I changed my ways and became a sensitive animal.

Still now I love to talk. But it isn't only about myself. It is about my likable friends. I am a very different Toad.

I'm going to talk if your will visit our river under the Willows. Of course you had better come here in spring. It will be very peaceful and beautiful. Maybe you will like here.

See you again next spring!

Toad

Posted for Olga

A Chirstmas Carol - A letter to your business partner

Dear Jacob,

I have no words to express my gratitude. If you didn't warn me, I didn't notice what was the most important thing in my life. I didn't imagine what happened to my life. Maybe l went to Hell.

I paid Bob Cratchit only fifteen shillings a week although he had his family to keep. His family! What a nice family was! But poor Tiny Tom! He had not walked since he was born and although he could pull himself and his thin little legs along with the help of wooden crunch. He would die soon. The Cratchit family were very unhappy.

I lived a lonely life and took no interest in other people at all. The only thing that mattered to me was the business, and making money. My heart grew colder and colder until one day I died lonely. I would lay on the graveyard in the cold hard ground and nobody would visit.

But you and three spirits showed me what was the important thing. I did everything that I promised to Bob, did more. Tiny Tim didn't die. I became his second father. Now I can keep Christmas cheerfully and live a happy life. That is what all of us want.

Thank you so much, Jacob. I hope you are already free from your horrifying chain. Your spirit doesn't travel endlessly anymore. Because you helped me and Tom.

See you again in Heaven!

Posted for Olga

Current Magazine - Nujeen Mustafa

Inspired by reading a snippet of Nujeen Mustafas's 'Nujeen: One Girl's Incredible Journey from War-Torn Syria in a Wheelchair' in Mary Glasgow's Current magazine, some students wrote about the toughest journeys they've experienced in their lives.

It was the first time I had been to Hawaii. I was sixteen years old. I went to Hawaii with my brother
and my high-school friends. That journey was hard before leaving Japan.

Before summer vacation, we made a plan to go to Hawaii. I decided saving money to go to Hawaii. I worked in my uncle's factory from Monday to Friday at the beginning of the summer vacation. First my job was very easy. But some old women complained about it. They thought it wasn;t fair so my uncle changed my job. My job was getting harder and harder. Every weekend I worked at swimming school. I liked teaching swimming. I was very tired but finally I saved enough money to go to Hawaii.

We arrived at Hawaii early morning. We wanted to go to Hanauma Bay. It was a fine day. We decided to go there by bicycle. Hanauma bay wasn't so far from Waikiki  but our bicycles were gear-less, so it was very hard to pedal. The road wasn;t flat, it was a slope. If you slipped and fell into the car road you'd have been killed by cars. Finally we arrived at Hanauma Bay. We were all very tired but we were very excited.

Next day we borrowed an open car. It was a nice BMW. We were very excited. It was the first time I had ridden in an open car. In these days there wasn't navigation. We lost our way and wandered into a strange place. It was a beautiful residential area. There were many beautiful houses. When my brother (Lui) was driving slowly, suddenly one big dog appeared. The dog attacked us. Unfortunately our car was an open car! When I screamed, Lui drove at full speed. We were all safe.

Every day I swam in the sea without blocking sun, because in those days a tanned face and body were very attractive for me. So I wanted to get a suntan. But the place was Hawaii, ultraviolet rays were very strong. I got a terrible sunburn. My face grew bigger and I couldn't open my eye. I felt a stinging pain in my body. I was childish and immature, but sometimes I remember those sparkling young days.

Posted for Olga

Holmes' diary - The Last Sherlock Holmes Story

April 1891 Switzerland

Tomorrow I will kill Watson. I will kill my best friend.

I know that something was wrong when I found my bedroom's door was locked by Watson. When I got up in Watoson's house, I saw that Watson's cook had his letter. I took it from her hand while Watson were calling the cab. It was the letter telling Lestraid that I was the Whitechapel murderer. What a rubbish! How Scotoland Yard would laughed! But I have the letter here. You have failed Watson! No, he was't Watson. Nori arty had killed my friend and had taken his place. I saw that he injected the cocaine into his arm. Perhaps cocaine had destroyed him. He was two different people in him. One is very intelligent doctor,Watson. The other is an evil itself, Moriarty.

He told me that next day he wanted to walk over the mountains to the famous Rechesland falls. I know he will try to shoot me there. Poor Watson, he will not succeed . Because I took the bullets from his gun. He is clever, but he is just a doctor. I am the greatest detective on the world. I will win tomorrow.

I will keep this diary into a locked box and order that it must not be opened until many years later. I want none knows Watson's secret.

Tomorrow will become the great successful day!

Posted for Olga

After-reading - an e-mail to a friend

Subject:Christmas

Time:22:50

Date:25 December

Hello from Germany!!

I'm staying with a family in Munich. I came here 1 December. My host family are Frank, Eva and two children. They are a very nice family.

In the middle of December we went to Nuremberg. It took about an hour from Munich. It is famous for Christmas market. There were many shops of Christmas ornaments. I bought some nice ornaments for you. Frank bought a big Christmas tree and put it inside the house. They put colorful ornaments on it. They also sent cards to friends and family.

The Christmas holiday has begun from yesterday: Christmas Eve. People stopped working early and drank together. Children left a stocking for Santa Clause when they went to bed. Frank and Eva went to church at midnight. They listened to the Christmas story and sang carols.

Today is Christmas Day. Two children wake up really early and found nice presents around the tree. Before we started to eat Christmas dinner, Frank pulled crackers. It made a loud noise. Dinner was turkey with potatoes and a Christmas cake.

Everyone looks happy. I've just remembered my family 's Christmas Day when my children were in elementary school. Alice,my dog was still young and cute. It was the happiest time in my life. Of course I have a good time today and I will enjoy my life from now too!

See you!

Olga

Posted for Olga

Death in the Freezer - A journalist investigates

Ellen Shore is guilty of murder. She tried to kill her brother Al with dangerous bacteria in strings and her fingerprints were on these strings.

Ellen Shore's family was an ordinary American family and Ellen was six years old when Al was born. Her parents loved him more than her. But he gave her nothing besides their old parents ' house.She wasn't nearly as happy as he was. He began a rock band and made records. Soon he was very rich and famous. He had many cars and a big house. As time went on , there was great difference between their life. She had a difficult life with three young kids and very little money. Perhaps Ellen began to hate him from her childhood. Ellen thought when Al died all his property was going to belong to her. They gave a dangerous sleeping drug to Al and froze his body to -196c. She stoled drugs and syringes from her hospital to give Al. Perhaps she put dangerous bacteria in them. She wanted to kill Al gradually.

But the situation took unexpected. Al was killed by the Futures.
Poor Al Shore was killed by both Ellen and the Futures.When Ellen switched off the freezer,Al was already dead. She killed a dead man.

Posted for Olga

After-reading - Sally's column

Today I want my readers to know one miracle person. His name is Anthony Evans.

He is a very famous pianist. I thought he started to learn the piano when he was three like Mozart. But he was forteen years old before he touched a piano for the first time. It is a very strange and exciting story.

Tony Evans was the name when he was a boy. Tony wasn't a clever boy but he liked only music lessons. His family was poor so he had to work Mr Wood's farm from he was thirteen. He worked very hard for Mr Wood. Mr Wood was kind to him. Tony was happy.

One day Tony found an old piano. His fingers began to move when he touched the piano. He could play an old song from then. He practised the piano very hard, and he became a very famous pianist.

Perhaps I can say that the didn't find the piano but that piano found him.

Posted for Olga

Luna's anchor ladies - Yasumi & Olga

Driving stories - riding without a windscreen

Mountain road (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I was twelve years old my father had been driving with my family for about two hours. He drove very narrow mountain road. There are no fence beside road.

Suddenly he shouted "Oh no!" and the car fell from the road. It revolved and landed on the road below. The front window broke all of it.

But we didn't have an injure. Only my father cut his finger a little. Then he drove to his university hospital. We were examined. We were all well.

We went home from Kyoto to Osaka by that car. It was very cold because there wasn't front window.

Olga