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 - readers in China!

Hello Jim sensei!

Yumi & I have been in China factory this week. We've been busy for the meeting everyday. The Chinese that Yumi learned is "Ming Pai Ra"

See you next class :)

Graded readers on tour!

 

Postcard from...Berlin, Germany

Berlin sights & cold beer

 Dear Jim sensei,

We stayed in Berlin for three days. We walked around the city to see some historical buildings. 15K+ steps per day!

It was hot and sunny, which was perfect weather to have cold beers :)

Reiko & Tomoko

Postcard from...The British Museum, London.

The British Museum

 Hi Jim sensei,

We had a chance to visit The British Museum. It was so interesting to see objects from the ancient period. We were lucky to have sunshine earlier today! (Beautiful picture isn't it?) The temperature is much lower than that in Berlin. It was like late autumn.

Tomoko & Reiko

Reiko’s best buddy

His name is H.He's from Japan and he lives at home with his parents and two sisters. He's 14 years old and he's a junior high school student.

He's short and he has curly black hair.He usually wears glasses.

He's shy and quiet, but he's talkative when he is with good friends. I think he's kind but a bit stubborn.

He likes reading books and newspapers. He reads a book whenever he gets free time.He's interested in many things, especially science and mathmatics. He belongs to the Science Club at school and he enjyoys it's activities.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

In 1913, Emperor Franz Joseph commanded Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, to visit the military exercises in Bosnia in June of 1914. Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg were assassinated on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip. Princip was one of a group of six assassins (one Bosniak and five Serbs) coordinated by Danilo Ilić, a Bosnian Serb and a member of the Black Hand secret society.
The purpose of assassination was to break off Austria-Hungary’s South Slav provinces so that they can be combined into Yugoslavia.
The assassination led directly to World War I. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia after it happened. However, a part of them was rejected by Serbia since Russia promised military support for Serbia. Then, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia because Germany promised military support.
Under the Secret Treaty of 1892, Russia and France were obliged to mobilize their armies if any of the Triple Alliance mobilized. Russia ordered general mobilization. With the Russia's general mobilization, Austria-Hungary and Germany also Austro-Hungarian and German mobilizations. Soon all the Great Powers mobilize their armies and gone to war. As the assassination of Franz and Sophia was the trigger of starting World War I, it is important historically especially for European countries.

Megacities: Istanbul

 Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the country’s economic, cultural and historic center. It is in the northwest of Turkey and spreads over the Bosporus Strait. It spreads in both Europe and Asia with a population of 14.1 million. It is a period of about 1600 years, the city was the capital city until Ankara is the new capital of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Istanbul has a borderline Mediterranean climate, humid subtropical climate, and oceanic climate under both classifications. Istanbul’s weather has a special feature as high humidity 80% usually in the morning. In summer, the average maximum temperature is 29 degrees Celsius and it has low rainfall.

by Reiko

Harry Potter – Books and Movies

There are seven Harry Potter books in the series, and eight movies. When I was a university student, my sister, who loves reading books, recommended I read these books. As they are fantasy stories, we need to use our full imagination when we read them. Most of the things in the world of wizards and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry do not exist in our real world. I realized that I couldn’t enjoy the stories perfectly, because sometimes I couldn’t imagine such unreal things. When you watch the movies, you can see how these things are, and you can also enjoy the differences between what you thought and what the author thought. Therefore, I recommend watching movies after you have read the books.

The Fugitive

This is the story from these film The fugitive (1993), a big Hollywood film with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The film came from the famous 1960s American TV program, The Fugitive. In this story, Dr. Kimble found his wife was killed when he came home, and tried to find the murder even though he was suspected. Gerard who was chasing Kimble as a detective while he wondered if he was a real criminal or not.

The plot is well organized. It makes us surprised when we reach a final chapter. It isn’t just a story of running away but contains action, suspense and mystery. The story is nail-biter. After Kimble decided to find out a murder, he continues to keep moving around and finding clues in different places. The detective Gerard was kept chasing him and starts thinking about a real culprit. As readers know Kimble is not a murder, we may want Gerard to know it and can feel like we are finding the real criminals together with Gerard.

How Kimble found the murder of his wife, and how he got back his normal life, you must enjoy the whole story without stopping.

A letter to my friend, Othello

Dear Othello,

 I am writing to tell you about something very important, so please read this letter carefully and quickly. I know about Iago’s plans for revenge. Iago hates you because he could not be chosen as your lieutenant. Everyone told him that you should choose Iago as your lieutenant, but you gave the job to Michael Cassio. Iago thought Cassio is not appropriate person as lieutenant because he has never sent an army onto the battle field in his life. He pretends as a good officer but try to destroy your life. He tells a lie to Roderigo who loves Desdemona, and let him kill Cassio so that he can make a story that Cassio and Desdemona love each other. It is true that Cassio is an innocent and Desdemona loves you from the bottom of her heart. You should trust them instead of Iago. As I found a letter from Iago to Roderigo and would like you to tell you the truth before you have a second thought on Cassio and Desdemona.
Sincerely,

Reiko

Letter for Mr. and Mrs. Walsh

Matty Doolin

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walsh,

It has been 6 months since our son, Matty started working on your farm. Hope he works hard and to be a good farmer.

When we allow him to go camping with his friends, it’s because we felt sorry for him due to death of his dearest dog. We thought we could forget his painful memory after spending holiday for camping in the field and he would work in the town like his father.
When you called us that Matty was rescued on the mountain while storming and raining heavily, we rushed to go to your house. On the way to your house, we decided one thing, that we would allow him everything he want to do if he was fine.

Now we think it was the goods decision for him to work on the farm. We much appreciate for both of your love for our sun from the bottom of our heart.

Sincerely yours,

Frank and Jenny Doolin

Postcard from...Chino, Japan

We're in Chino at a piano competition. I can see my children playing piano. I am with my husband. It's sunny but cold outside. My daughter won! She will go to Tokyo next month.

I was in Matsumoto yesterday. I took my children to swimming class, and did housework. We had dinner at home.

We are going to buy souvenirs for my parents tomorrow. I will drive my car to the shops in Minami Matsumoto.

My children start school again this week.

I look forward to seeing
you on Tuesday.

Reiko

Alien Alert in Seattle - Reiko's hobbies

My hobby is painting, pottery, watching movies, going on a trip, and so on. I love drawing since I was a kid, and my grades of art were also good.

Since I became an adult, my job was to draw a picture. So, after I quit my job I draw a picture as a hobby. I also like to make things. So I am making pottery. I like traveling so I can have a different experience from the usual. I am excited. Before the exhibition, I am drawing a picture. And I go to the pottery class twice a month. I always go to the movies twice a month.

Unfortunately, I do not like moving my body very much. I do not play sports now. However, when I was in my 20s, I loved skiing and went to the ski area weekly. Some friends have the same hobbies as me, but they are not the same hobbies.

Posted for Reiko.

Postcard from...Aomori, Japan

I'm watching a Tachineputa festival in Goshogawara city in Aomori prefecture. The Tachineputa is very big. It's 23 meters high and its weight is 19 tons. About 70 people parade through the central city pull a Tachineputa with musical accompaniment.

Reiko

Northanger Abbey - famous writers from Japan

The popular Japanese writer is Keigo Higashino, Miyuki Miyabe, Jun Ikeido, etc. I like their novels. Their novels are very interesting and are easy to read. There is a writer called Haruki Murakami in Japan. Before, his novels “Norwegian wood” became the bestseller. And he won Franz Kafka Prize as an Asian for the first time. He became the most likely candidate for Nobel Prize in Literature every year. He is very famous and popular in Japan. He is known in abroad too. His enthusiastic fan is called Harukist. I have read only “Norwegian Wood” and “Kafka on the Shore”. However, I was not able to enjoy the novels that much. I was hard to finish reading it. Many people love his novels and read. And he is a man with talent as he became Nobel Prize in Literature Candidate every year. But I am no good at reading his novels. I don’t seem to have literal ability.

Posted for Reiko

Meeting my pen pal for the first time - Reiko

An informal e-mail to a family member, describing your internet pen friend after meeting them for the first time. Can you guess which pen pal each student has written about?

From: Reiko
To: Natsuki

Subject: Internet pen pal

I met her yesterday. She was really nice. In her e-mails she said "I am not cute and I don't have ,amy friends".
But I think she is cute and kind and I think she is loved by many people. I like her. We are going to become good friend.

Boss - Reiko's favourite Japanese detective TV show

The Japanese TV series, Boss is my favorite detective stories.

They are 2 seasons as below:
1st season is started from 2009 April to June, 11 stories in total
2nd season is started from 2011 April to June, 11 stories in total

There are 5 team members and 1 boss, and 1 upper management reported from the boss. (in 2nd season, it would be increased to 7 members)

The leading character is called “Boss” who is a woman bureaucrat in Japanese police but relegated to USA in the name of studying profiling for 5 years. When she came back to Japan, upper managements of police made new team for her, which is for special criminals because there is no department they wanted her to go back.

Although the team is made under no expectation, they resolve many important cases every time through special characters of every member, strong leadership and help by the upper management without being seen.

The upper management entered police at the same time of the boss and he got promoted smoothly but she could not be promoted because she tend not to follow the instruction of upper managements.

The inserted song is also good. It is sung by “Superfly” who is one of Japanese pop artist. The strong voice of the song matches with the strong character of the boss very much. Superfly provide their song for the both of series.

Posted for Reiko

A student draws Captain Johnny Ocean

He had a red scarf tied across his head, but his long hair fell on his shoulders in an untidy mess. Around his eyes were dark circles, and his moustache and beard were dark and untidy too. Under his right eye was a long scar from a fight he had had as a young man. His leather boots reached his knees, his trousers were dark and dirty and his shirt loose and baggy with dark stains on it. In his left hand he held his sword, and looked ready to fight.

Posted for Reiko

My Favourite Day is...Friday

My favourite day of the week is Friday, because I take my children to swimming, piano, gymnastics and English classes during the week, but on Friday I only take my daughter to Luna and the next day is the weekend.

I usually get up at 5:30, then cook my husband's lunchbox & serve my children's breakfast. I take my older two children to school on foot at 7:10, then I have breakfast & take my youngest to kindergarten by car at 9:00. I do housework until I have lunch.

I usually have lunch at home. I have noodles. After lunch, I have a short time to relax. I pick up my youngest at 3:00, and hear her piano practice. I pick up my other two at 4:00 from school and then we go to Luna. My youngest goes to English class, and I check that  my son & older daughter do their homework there. I go home at 6pm and then I cook dinner.

I take a bath with my youngest at 9:00, and then wait for her to fall asleep. I usually go to bed at 12:00

Posted for Reiko

The Phantom of the Opera - an alternative ending

Erik was dead. Raoul and Christine and Persian did not talk to anyone lifetime about that terrible night of the event. Raoul and Christine got married. Their cute child was born. Christine who has a wonderful voice never sang in the Opera House. She sang for only husband and a child with love. They lived happily ever after. The Persian told that Erik was dead to the King of Persia. The Persian did not return to the King. And He lived calmly throughout the life. In the Opera House in Paris, the people still talked about the ghost. A few of the singers and dancers said ‘we had seen a strange man who always wore a black cloak and wore a white mask over his face.’ Box Number 5 is still empty. Nobody sits down the Box Number 5. But when somebody put a program on a chair in the Box, there is always 20 francs on the chair after a performance.

Posted for Reiko