Pen Pal from Wollongong, Australia

Pen pal from Iowa, U.S.A

Notes in Nagoya

One way to get an abundance of English teachers in the same place? Put on an Expo. On Sunday I went to one of the many that are on throughout Japan; armed with a pen and notepad I made my way down to Nagoya, ready to learn about different techniques and tools that I could use in class and how they would benefit the students. My personal favourite was from David Paul and hearing about his seven-step sequence to teaching phonics. As this is a very new topic for me, I found hearing about these techniques from someone who spent so long developing them here in Japan to be incredibly valuable; thank you David! After meeting many other teachers, hearing about how their teaching journeys and going to a handful of lectures, I can honestly say that this is one field that will never stop evolving. The number of resources we constantly have at our fingertips is astounding and I can’t wait to slowly make my way through them.

Sculptures around the Castle

When Jim mentioned the Ice Sculpture festival around Matsumoto Castle I was very eager to go, until he mentioned that the best time to go was at night, when no one else was around. Whenever I’m asked about what Matsumoto is like in the winter there’s always one very clear thing that comes to mind: it’s exceptionally cold. Coming from somewhere that you’d be pushed to find a day with a temperature below 10 degrees, I don’t think this is something I’ll ever get used to. I headed out at about 9PM, equipped with enough layers to make me look like a marshmallow, camera in one hand and a hot chocolate in the other. But boy was it worth it, as the crowds started to slim out (and the temperature started to drop), we got to see the full process that went into the incredibly intricate sculptures. Despite having to take several breaks in the nearest FamilyMart, we made it until 3AM before the cold (and tiredness) got the better of us and we found our way home. If you’re willing to brave the cold, or are just better at handling it than I am, this is definitely the place to be!

Tristan's last letter

Dear Rual,

How are you’ve been? Are you all well? I’m sorry I haven’t written so often. Sometimes I miss you and everything in Lyonesse.

I serve to King Mark as a good knight. I was welcomed by King Mark’s court, and he loved me like his son. He teaches me many things and I always think that I want to be helpful for him. I already fought many battles and I won. A few days before a big man from Ireland came to the castle and he required an unpleasant demand. I fought him. He was very strong but finally I won. I got hurt my leg. It was small wound but unfortunately there was poison on his sword. I’m ill. Doctors in Cornwall can’t cure me. Only The Queen of Ireland can cure it. So I have to go to Ireland. Don’t worry I’ll go there as a minstrel.

In Lyonesse I learnt to play the harp, that helps me. I’ll recover and be back. I promise.

Tristan

Posted for Misako

Postcard from...Kamakura, Japan

Dear Jim,

Hope this finds you well…I’m on holiday in Kamakura this weekend. I went to the Silk skin care products’ laboratory with my friends who joined from Tokyo yesterday. This lab was one of my friend recommended to visit and it’s worth to be there.

I stayed at Japanese styled hotel with hot spring near Kamakura and today I tried SUP (Stand-up paddle surfing) in the sea. This is the first experience to do SUP in my life! Other friend who lives in Kamakura helped me to try. It was really difficult to stand up on the surf board at the first time, but finally I could make it! I’m going to stay one more night and I will go to temple called ‘Hokoku-ji’ before on the way back home.

At this temple I can enjoy the traditional Japanese tea ceremony with fancy sweet while I enjoy to see the bamboo garden. I would be great rest day after hard working on the sea!
Look forward to seeing you in Matsumoto!

Lots of love,
xxx
Naomi

Postcard from...Connecticut & Massachusetts, USA

I went to Mark Twain House & Museum with some students.

The house is located in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built in 1874, though, the house has a lot of facilities such as nursery rooms, school rooms for the children, guest rooms, a study with billiards table, and so forth. We walked around the house and enjoyed the architecture of the house. After the visit to the house, we did the shopping in the souvenir shop and I bought a post card of a cat. I really liked it at once because the cat stared at me saying “let me come with you.” We left the Mark Twain House & Museum and headed for the next destination, Boston

Now, I am in Boston! It is one of the academic cities in the US. I am visiting Prudential Center, which is a very famous building in Boston. From the observatory of the building, I can see a lot of red brick buildings, which, by the way, remind me of the atmosphere of London. I like Boston because there are a lot of famous universities such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, and Tufts University. I visit some of the universities and listen to the talks by the students in the universities. I also watch a match of Boston Celtics in TD Garden. The “Celtics” is named after “Celtic.” This is because Boston has a lot of emigrants from Ireland.

Posted for Takafumi

Knocked off the Bucketlist

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to find my way to the Sapporo Snow Festival. Being on my bucket list for an exceptionally long amount of time, I was definitely overly excited that I got the opportunity to visit. Three days of sculptures, snow and a very large amount of seafood and I've got to say this festival deserves all of the hype it receives and more. It was even worth bracing myself for the sub-zero temperatures (and in my world, that’s definitely saying something). I was chased by human-sized bears, found my way into the media section of the festival and slipped over more times than I could keep track of; definitely an experience of a lifetime.

Memory with my first pet

My first pet was a dog.  He was Shetland sheepdog which had beautiful brown and white hair.  His name was Mark.  He was given by my father’s friend and he had been in my house before I was born.  He was much bigger than me, but his character was very gentle and friendly.  I did not have any brothers or sisters, so he was like my brother and friend.  Even if it was cold or snowed, I enjoyed taking him for a walk.

He got sick and died quietly when he was eight years old.  It was my first experience to face death.  I was very shocked and could not believe the world without him, but he taught me life is finite.  After his death, I believe he watches my growth from sky and I looked back at the days with him whenever I see beautiful sky.

Did you know? Manufacture of medical mannequins in Nagano

When you dig up a history of your hometown, you can find someone who had an extraordinary achievement. Back in 1822, a man named “Fumimoto Kobayashi” created a medical mannequin in Saku city. His mannequin was designed densely based on a famously known medical text, Kaitai Shinsho translated by Genpaku Sugita in 1774. It is 55 cm tall, and made of paper, wood, and copper wire. What is so surprising is that its gender is switchable from an original female body to a male body. As far as I searched on a web, medical mannequins from Edo period are extremely rare. It is remarkable that there was a man who learned human anatomy and made one of the most valuable masterpiece of medical mannequin, so far away from Tokyo and Kyoto. 

I have no idea why the locals like me have never heard of him. 
You must have someone like him in your area. He/she will definitely stimulate your intellectual curiosity.

M.Toyama

Reference:
The Hachijuni Culture Foundation
https://www.82bunka.or.jp/bunkazai/detail.php?no=1302&seq=0

(Topic: Write a magazine article about your home town in 1822)

New Year holidays -After reading

Dear all.

I write about my family during New Year holidays.
I always go back to my hometown, Komagane city, to spend New Year holidays with my family.
Do you know Komagane city? Komagane city is in the southern part of Nagano.
It’s a city surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Komagatake.

 I clean my parent’s house when I go back because my family is working on New Year’s Eve.

Many Japanese clean houses on New Year’s Eve like me. It’s called ‘’Oosouzi’’ in japan.
When my mother and sister return to home, we cook Soba together, and we watch New Year’s Eve TV program while drinking alcohol.
I slept through this New Year’s Eve because I was tired from driving and cleaning.

We see the sunrise and we made a wish for this year in the morning of New Year’s day.

The Rising Sun from Komagatake is so beautiful.
We don’t visit a shrine every year because every temple and shrine is crowded.
We intend to relax at my home after seeing the sunrise.

Thank you for your reading.

Momoko

Postcards from Scotland - After reading

Postcard 1

Hi, I am in Edinburgh of Scotland. I am visiting here to see “The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo” event near the castle of Edinburgh. Have you ever seen in TV etc that the people who put traditional kilt and play music instrument near the Edinburgh castle? I am exiting that I can see it soon!! I learned this time that the first performance conducted by the solders of Scotland and England to bring citizens back into good spirits after World War Two.

I am going to explore this city tomorrow. Let’s see together a lot of pictures taken in Edinburgh when I am back to Japan.

Postcard 2

Hi, I am walking to see Old and New Towns of Edinburgh. This area is very beautiful and I could see a lot of impressive architectures that blends the character of Old Town and New Town. There are many tourists because here was world heritage-listed area by UNESCO and I will see many tourists in fudge shop because fudge is famous as souvenir of Scotland. I will take some fudge to enjoy them with you with a cup of English tea.

I am going to visit the Isle of Skye tomorrow.

Postcard 3

Hi, I am in the Isle of Skye and this island was referred to “Skuy” (Isle of could/ misty isle). This isle is the northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland and you can enjoy a lot of nature activities by walking, boat etc.

I am visiting Fairy Pools, and there are crystal clear blue pools. I have never seen such a clear pools and recommend you to visit here someday. You can see the beautiful pools like photo of this postcard actually. I think it is worth to travel long distance to see beautiful or impressive natures in the Isle of Skye.

I will be back to Japan and look forward to talking you about this journey with a lot of pictures.

Postcard from...Cairns, Australia

G’day! Australia

   My family went to Cairns, Queensland, Australia from 30^th Dec. 2018 to 6^th Jan. 2019. I had been to Australia 3 times, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Albany. I researched about Australian education when I was a graduate student so it has been familiar with me.

   At first, we stayed at a hotel in Palm Cove, one of the beach resorts near Cairns, for 2days. It took about 40 minutes by taxi from the Cairns International Airport. Unfortunately, the sea was rough because of a hurricane so we couldn’t swim in the sea. Instead of that, we could enjoy swimming in the beautiful pool of the hotel. Especially for Sou, it seemed to be better because he was still afraid of the waves of the sea at that time.

   At the night of New Year’s Eve, we could see many fireworks with the countdown by the local people and tourists at the beach. It was really different from Japanese one.

   Next 2 days we moved to the Green Island which is located in the Great Barrier Reef. It took only about 50 minutes by ferry from Cairns. There is only one hotel in the island so we stayed at there. Sou was scared of swimming in the sea in the beginning and he just played in the sand, but, as he could saw many fish in the sea he gradually began to swim and seemed to have fun a lot. My husband, my elder son and I enjoyed snorkeling. We could see coral reefs, many kinds of tropical fishes, green sea turtles, manta rays and even small sharks! Sharks were frightening but they didn’t try to attack humans.

   Besides that, we rode a glass bottom boat, went night hiking around the island and I was amazed by the starry sky. In a morning, my husband and I went to the sea and swam. There was no one except for us. I felt dignity and somewhat holy there.

   The following 2 days we went back to Cairns and walked around the city. There is a big complemental outdoor swimming pool and free barbeque sites. Many people had a good time there. We also went to Kuranda, a village surrounded by tropical rain forests. We rode a gondola, called Skyrail on the way and took a railway, which has a history from 1900s on the way back. It was my first time to see the trees and plants of the rain forest. We went shopping and a zoo. My elder son could cuddle a koala and my younger one petted the back. We took some picture with it. The Koala seemed to be angry because he/she woke up even he wanted to keep sleeping. I felt sorry about that but it was a definitely wonderful experience for my kids.   

   I’m really glad we could have a special time and go through the days without any problems in Australia.
Haruka

A Year End Party

 The day before the New Year’s Eve 30 December, my husband and I had a year end party with our friends at home. I arranged some flowers and my husband set fire to the fireplace. We prepared roasted porks with salads with celery, potatoes, turnips, romanesco, mushrooms, paprikas, and smoked salmons with marinade onions for the table. I also cooked “paella” the typical Spanish seafood fried rice, for the main dish.
 We enjoyed dinner and recalled the year which we shared lots of wonderful things together. The outside of the house was freezing but we had a really good warm time.
 
 Teruki
 

Singapore shines!!

Hi all,


I am in Singapore for a business trip.It is excessively cold inside the office of my client, but nice weather welcomes me outside.

I would like to share the moment that I always wanted to see. 

This is "Infinity Pool" at Marina Bay Sans!! I wish I could climb up there yet I am here to make a deal. Singapore should be on my trip wish list.

Yesterday, I discussed about business with clients and received the order, happy happy.
People took me to one of the most famous seafood restaurant last night.
Although I saw turtles and frogs in a kitchen, I confirmed that none of them were on my dishes and enjoyed nice crabs and lobsters!! South east Asian spicy foods are so addictive!

For tomorrow, clients will take me to factories and working sites where my products are used. One of the most essential moments in business...that is, I am going to have many reports to write to my bosses on my way back to Japan. 

Goodbye, the latest movies on my way back.
Thank you Jurassic Park, Kingsman, and Venom on my way to Singapore.

Best wishes,
Manabu

Post card from Gofukuji Shrine

Dear Jim,

I’m at Gofukuji Shrine with my husband and daughter.  It is crowed so we parked far from the shrine and had to walk a long way.  I’m tired, but I prayed for a happy life in 2019.

It’s the first time for my daughter to pick a New Year’s fortune.  She put money in a machine and the fortune came out automatically.  It said “Kichi” which means ordinary, and my husband also picked “Kichi”, but I picked “Daikichi” which is the best.

I was nervous because I would have to talk about my New Year’s resolution in front of company’s people after the holiday.

For my resolution, I will get up 30 minutes earlier than last year to have enough time for taking care of my daughter and will read 3 books or magazines in a month.

I wish you have a good year.

Chinasa

After reading: The piano

Yesterday was Sir Anthony Evans’ eightieth birthday concert.

He played music for the piano by Liszt, and hundreds of people  came to listen to this very famous pianist. Before the concert, I went to see him and his wife, Lady Linda Evans, in the theater dressing-room, and Sir Anthony told me his story.

He came first in a music competition when he was fifteen, but the story really began before that. One day  in an old building a boy called Tony found a old piano. He was fourteen at the time. He didn’t come  from a musical family  and he didn’t know a lot about music, and when his fingers touched the keys of the piano, half-forgotten music danced through his mind.

After the win of the music competition, he has given thousands of concert as we know.

He told me to tell our readers that he was very lucky man.

Postcard from Obasute service area

I am going back to my home town to stay with my family for New year holidays.

I am stopping at Obasute highway service area on the way.

The weather is not very good, but the night view from the service area is very beautiful.

Yesterday, I went to cell phone shop.

I bought a new cell phone there.

The feature of the phone said we could take a beautiful photo even in the night.

Tomorrow is New year's Eve.

I will stay with my parents at home.

I will have delicious dinner and drink alcohol watching that TV program which is broadcasted in New year's Eve every year.

Freezing Chicago

Hi All.  I was in the States for a week and spent the last weekend in Chicago.

First of all, it was colder than Matsumoto and had snow on Saturday.

Luckily, I could have a fun this time.  I went to the United Center to watch the ice hockey game, Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights.  It was my first time to watch the ice hockey game.  The players moved around on the ice so quickly and the speed of shooting was so fast.  It was the exciting game until the last minutes, but Blackhawks couldn't beat VGK.

If I could have another chance to watch the ice hockey game, I want to learn about rules, teams and players so that I can enjoy game more.

It's like riding a bike

Before coming to Japan I hadn’t rode a bike in a long time. After a classic ‘no hands’ incident I swore off the concept indefinitely.

When I returned home to New Zealand from my stint in South America, I became worried for what was to come. Much like the fear of getting back on my bike, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to pull through with what I thought was expected. Although I had left home once before, heading into something where I knew exactly what was going to happen seemed a lot more difficult than heading into the unknown. But luckily for me, as I arrived in Japan, I was gifted a new pair of training wheels in the form of Jim, Yukari, and everyone who surrounds and forms Luna’s family.

It always starts off tough and there are always setbacks and learning curves, but it’s just like riding a bike. The expectations you place on yourself and those that you believe others have set for you are what inevitably limit you from your best ability, but if you keep riding, it’ll be like you never stopped.

P.S. Two months in and I haven't yet fallen off my bike. Progress?

post card from Komagane city

Hello, all
I go back to one’s home town Komagane city. I watch the program which I recorded in parents' house. And I eat my mother’s home cooking.
I cleaned my apartment in Matsumoto city yesterday. I cleaned the fan and filter for air conditioning equipment. Because I don’t clean there usually.
I’m going to get up on 6:00 am tomorrow. Because I’m going to watch first sunrise of new year and pray for happiness new year. And I’m going to eat sushi and rice cake with my  family. Thank you for your reading.
Momoko Kurata

Post card from Disney Land

Hi, I am in Tokyo Disney Land with my sister's family. We are enjoying parades and shows of Disney Halloween. This is the first visit for the mother-in-law of my sister and my nephew. They are happy to see Mickey Mouse and his friends actually.
We left Matsumoto at A.M.3:00 to arrive here before opening and because it had an annoucement to restrict entry to this park. We didn't sleep much last night, but we will stay here until seeing night parade.
Tomorrow, we are going to go Ueno zoo. I hope to have a chance to see a Giant Panda named Shanshan.
Let's see photos at Disney Land next weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing you next weekend !
Ritsuko Takeuchi

Postcard from...Bulli Beach, Australia

Dear everybody in the freezing cold in  Matsumoto!

Unfortunately I'm leaving the sunny hot beach at Bulli today.

Pool, ocean, wildlife, sport, food, wine, Santa and my family. Extremely relaxing and loads of fun. Perfect end to a very busy year.

Best to you all for 2019.

Jim

(posted Dec 29th with Touchnote)

Postcard from...New South Wales, Australia

G'day everybody!

Today is my last day in Australia. I just had a big bbq lunch cooked by uncle Mike. I was hungry - this morning I was jumping through the surf and swimming in the pool. It is 32 degrees!

I have had an amazing time here, and can't fit it all on a postcard!

Qantas will take me home to freeing Matsumoto tonight - no more football or cricket or sliding in the garden :(

Goodbye summer - hello winter!

Ceilidh (posted on Dec 29th using Touchnote)

Postcard from...the Lego Shop

I'm in the Lego Shop in Karuizawa now. I can see Toy Story's caracter Lego block. The weather is cloud. I'm with my wife and son. I'm taking my son's pictures and watch playing my son's lego block. I'm staying an hour in Lego shop.

I was in my house yesterday. I made a big sock from newspaper with my son, for Santa's presents.

I am getting a rare Pokemon tomorrow.

I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Masahiro

Postcard from...year end party

I'm enjoying dinner with my team members. We're having a delicious french dinner.

I went to Sakudaira on business yesterday. I had a meeting with my customer. It was my last job in 2018.

I am going to Tokyo Haneda tomorrow. I'm going to fly to Fukuoka the day after tomorrow to enjoy a
rock concert.

I look forward to seeing you next week.

Kazuhisa

Postcard from...Tokyo, Japan

Dear Jim,

I'm at Ariake in Tokyo. I can see some cars. The weather is fine. I am with my friend, watching tennis game in the Japan Open. It's a day trip - I'll catch the train home tonight.

I was at Hiroo in Tokyo yesterday, to see my friends at a wedding party. I ate delicious beef and drank a little champagne and some tea. I got there by train, and stayed two days.

I am planning to go to my parents house tomorrow, by highway bus.

I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Hiroyuki

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

Happy New Years!

Happy New Years!!

Hello, My Name is Cedric. I am new to the Luna Family. I work at Matsumoto Tandai Kindergarten for Luna and I have also taught a few lessons at Luna too.

Starting in April of 2018, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. However, from the get go I was immediately impressed by Jim's teaching philosophy and his vision for the students in Luna.

From then on, it has been an amazing experience working with Jim and the Luna crew. What makes Luna unique is its family friendly environment. Luna actually CARES for their students! Which is lacking in other English teaching schools I have come across.

The students have been great! Their infectious enthusiasm makes teaching enjoyable and it constantly encourages me to always go the extra mile for them!

I am looking forward to create memorable memories with everyone in Luna for years to come.

Let's start the year of with a bang!

Cedric

Luna's super Marios meet Super Santa!

As Christmas sneaks up on us, in tow comes our annual Christmas party!
A huge thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us and a special shout out to Yukari for the incredible organisation of food, venue and fun, Cedric, Matt and Naomi for helping to keep the whole thing afloat, Jim for being the backbone of the entire celebration, and Santa himself for taking time out of his busy schedule to help us spread Christmas cheer!

Complete with games, smiles and presents galore, it was a brilliant way to end 2018.
We look forward to seeing you back at Luna from the 7th of January.

Take a peek at the festivities with the link below:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskP7zoey

Merry Christmas everybody!

The Unseen Danger

 There has always been a stigma around solo female travellers. As one myself, the questions “you’re travelling by yourself?” and “aren’t you scared something will happen?” have hung around like a bad smell ever since I left home. I’d always had the idea in my head that I would be fine; I’m smart about how I travel, I contact my family every chance I get and I trust my gut. I’ve always been a very trusting person, believing the best in people until proven otherwise. That is, until now.

On the 1st of December 2018, a young woman went missing. She went by the name of Grace Millane and she was six weeks in on a year-long trip around the world. Having spent most of that time in South America, she headed to New Zealand and explored the Far North before checking into a backpackers in Auckland. Here she stayed for less than a week before supposedly going on a date, and this was the last time known that she was seen alive.

New Zealand is globally recognised as one of the safest countries in the world. I should know, I grew up there. What some people fail to recognise is that this could happen anywhere, any time, to anyone, regardless of the situation. I’ve always walked around and believed that as long as I stick to what I know and don’t put myself into bad situations that everything would work out okay. I travelled and lived in South America for seven months believing this, just as Grace had done. But the thing is, she never did anything wrong. She went about things in the right way, but it could happen anywhere.

The fact that some people pinned the blame on her, saying that she had ‘asked for it’ after speculation arose that she had met her date on Tinder is absolutely ridiculous. People should be free to go on dates with whomever they want, without being worried that their date will harm them. People should be able to walk down a street without being worried that the person walking behind them will harm them. The world is developing at an incredibly rapid pace, but no one is going to truly benefit from any of it until the people living in it do as well.

After reading - SHERLOCK THE SIGN OF THREE - How main characters have changed one year later

John and Mary have a girl and spend happy life.  John is busy for work and is out of house frequently.  Mary is also busy for taking care of the girl, but she understands John’s job and their relationship remains good.

Janie has not gotten married yet.  She has met many men, but has not been interested in them.  She sometimes meets Sherlock and enjoyed talking with him at John’s house.  She has been waiting for his offer of date.

Jonathan Small has been in prison and sometimes writes letters to Bainbridge and Sholto to make apologies to them.  Sholto received the letters from Small, but he has never replied to Small.  In the meantime, he looked back at the fight in Afghanistan and recalled Small’s brother.  He decided to visit the grave soon.

Sherlock has been busy to solve many crimes.  He sometimes works with John and sometimes works alone.  When he visits John’s house, he looks forward to talking with Janine.  When she is not available, he looks very disappointed.  John and Mary believe he begins to love her, but Sherlock does not realize it at all.

The letter from five children to the Psammead

Dear Psammead,

It has been a long time, Psammead. How have you been doing? We are all doing fine.

We thought we could learn a lot of things from meeting you when we were children.

We are writing this letter to tell thanks for that.

In those days, we asked for a lot of wishes to you. The wishes were to be beautiful, have the wings, and be rich, etc.

You could fulfill any wishes we asked for. But any wishes had never given us the happy end.

We had been in trouble every time you fulfilled our wishes.

We could know the important thing in our life from your giving us wishes. That is ‘easy come, easy go’. We learnt we cannot get anything easily.

We could have ever grown up from this. We could get our wishes in each way now.

We really appreciate you.

We look forward to seeing you again someday.

Best regards,

Five children

Who is your favourite Smurf?

Yuu's favourite Smurf

I like Papa Smurf because he is the leader.

He is very old.

He can make magic

Yuu K

Yuu's favourite Smurf

 I like Poet Smurf because he is Smurfette's
good friend.

He writes poems for her.

Yuu H

Moeka's favourite Smurf

I like Papa Smurf because he is the leader.

He is very old.

He can make magic.

Moeka

Kei's favourite Smurf

I Like Poet Smurf because he is Smurfette's good friend.

He writes poems for her.

Kei

Yokohama - city profile for visitors

Sightseeing

Yokohama city is full of interesting places to visit. Minato-mirai town is a beautiful area. It has very beautiful views at night. If you want to see modern Yokohama city, then go to Sakuragi town. There are lots of new offices, shops, restaurants.

Shopping

Yokohama Market is a busy area with lots of shopping malls. Yokohama station & Sakuragi station are fashionable shopping areas with designer stores like Bulgari and Gucci.

Eating

Famous food in Yokohama are Shumai sweets. There are many shops in Yokohama & various things can be eaten eg a shop called "Kyoken". This area is famous for its pancakes.

Getting around

Transport in Yokohama is great but expensive. Taxis are always busy so you need to spend a lot more than in Matsumoto.

Posted for Yusuke

It's a boy!

Congratulations Ayano & family!

As you will have noticed, Ayano eventually needed to leave Luna as she was expecting her first child... delighted to be able to share that she had a baby boy on Dec 11th & mum and son are super healthy, if a bit tired!

We are very happy for Ayano, and at the same time would like to thank her for her hard work in the short time she was with us as assistant manager this year. We are all looking forward to a peek at the young man son :)

Festivals around Nagano prefecture, Japan - by Ayumi

Ayumi's after reading "Festivals around the World" poster

Festivals around Japan - nationwide by Rukiya

Ruikya's after reading "Festival around the World" poster

Living with Ataxia - a must read

Dear readers,

I invite you to read another blog's posting today, written by the daughter of two of my closest friends living in Dorset - they used to live & teach right here in Nagano prefecture as well as in Kofu.

Please take time to reflect on her story, and share a comment to her directly on the Ataxia blog

Postcard from Lincoln, England

Hello everyone at Luna!

Hope you have been looking after Damian and Laura?
I have had a very busy ie too short a week in UK.
I really wanted to show my nephew the Magna Carta in Lincoln Castle, but we had to settle for battlefield news from 1217!
This cathedral is stunning, built in 1185 no less! Reunited old school friends & my home city Sheffield and the Peak District.
Had an enormous fish and chips plus a couple of cheeky pints. Surprised?!

Jim

Postcard from Wollongong, Australia

Hello all!

How are you?
I enjoy going to school near beach.
I made Australian friends!

See you next year :)

Ceilidh

See you later, take care, goodbye!

So the day finally arrived when we toasted Damian for being the star of the show at Luna for last 3+ years, and into the bargain welcomed Laura back to our car park BBQ (she joined us last year with her parents, remember?!).

For a while there, sad & lonely Jim was on his own there snuggling his beer & reflecting on how lucky we (Luna) have been with his endless enthusiasm for the "job" here - which is as much as a teacher can make of it...and he has made it a very big job with countless attributes & thorough preparation.

Therefore, no surprise when a whole host of students and rugby types rocked up & shared fabulous munchies, smothered the lad with hugs and sayonara messages.

He's not gone yet though - covering Jim's classes for a final hurrah and to help super cheerful Laura find everything!

Find the rest of the photos here https://flic.kr/s/aHsmvPx9sE and also on our FB page

Pre-teens on future plans

About my sister I

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.

Miami Police File: the O'Nell Case - The Utsukushigahara Open-air Museum

The museum stands on the top of the mountain, the Utsukushigahara. It located at the center of Nagano prefecture. It is about 2000 meters high and the top is flat and very wide. At the corner of it there are a lot of big outdoor sculptures of modern art. We can see all directions view, sometimes Mt.Fuji in a fine day.  And we can see a various beautiful alpine flowers in every season.

There are restaurant, gallery, indoor museum, a huge sculpture for kids playing in it and so on. The admission fee is 1000 yen for adult. It opens from April to November every day. 

It takes about 60minutes from the centre of Matsumoto city by car. And we can go down from the top to Suwa city or Ueda city if we like to.

Posted for Misako