After reading - Stories from the Five Towns

Which was your favorite story? 

Why (or why didn't you like one of the other stories)? 

The most favorite story of the five stories is “The burglary”. Sir Jee was neither good man nor bad man, he just had a lot of money and used it for himself ,not for the other people. We can easily imagine such kind of man around us. So, it is very funny that Sir Jee was trying to bluff but got taken easily in by the thief conversely.

 This story is a good lesson for us. In case we got a lot of money, we should use it for the other people, not only for my own. The worst story for me is “The silent brothers”. I could not like all characters in this story. The brothers are so adamant and stupid. They can talk each other if there is any chance to get lots of money. They should have recognized how they wasted their time earlier than Annie tested in love for her. Annie and Powell looks good people, but they tested the brothers and put them in one room finally… I could not understand why he did. If he was a good friend of them, I think there is another way to guide them back to the right path.

After reading - Stories from the Five Towns

How do you usually begin the new year?

On the New Year’s eve, my family usually watch the famous TV show called “Kouhaku Uta Gassen”. It is a music program which has a long history. It is broadcasted until 23:45. Since we go to bed late, we begin the New Year slowly.

I cook “Ozouni” for breakfast. Ozouni is one of traditional dish for New Year. Ozouni soup is made from dried bonito and put rice cakes and various vegetables such as carrots, radish, Japanese mushroom called shiitake, etc. As the rice cake is sticky and chewy, we wish for long life by eating Ozouni.


After we finish the breakfast, we visit our parent’s house for seasonal greeting. The families get together and eat and drink a lot. We usually eat Osechi which is another traditional dish for New Year. The kids get Otoshidama from grandparents and uncle/aunt. Otoshidama is money in the small paper envelop which has the cartoon character. It is a gift from adults during the New Year.

During the New Year holiday, we go to shrine to pray for good luck throughout the year. Every shrine gets crowded with the people and there is a long queue for Omikuji. Omikuji is paper fortune which we can pull out from box. We talk about who has the best luck and buy Omamori which is a charm against bad luck.

Stories from the Five Towns; meet the parents

How did you tell your parents/family about your engagement?  How did they react?

Telling my father about my engagement was difficult and a challenge for me.  My parents and husband met first time six months after  I started going out with him.  I took him to my house and introduced him to my parents.  My mother very much welcomed him, but my father didn’t as he was the eldest son.  I am  an only child, so my father wanted me to take a husband.

One year had passed since then, my husband proposed me.  I was very glad, but I hesitated to tell my father about it.  I asked my mother to help me, but she told me I should say to him by myself.  I couldn’t tell my father about the marriage proposal straight, so I told him that my husband wanted to see and talk to him, then asked him when he would be available.  It seemed that he was a little bit uncomfortable and got my message soon.

When my husband came to my house and told about the marriage, my father didn’t accept and asked my husband and me to consider the marriage again.  Consequently, my husband came to the house to have the discussions with my father three times in total and then my father was reluctant to accept the marriage.  I couldn’t say thank you to my father straightforwardly at that time, but I could say that in the speech on the wedding.