Wednesday, December 30, 2009

VS NOUKAI

Yesterday was my last working day in this year. At the end of this busy year, my last job was to arrange NOUKAI in my office.
NOUKAI is just a drinking party, which is held in an office, usually on the last day, and usually in working time. The aim is to finish this year with colleague.
I voluntarily became a leader of NOUKAI arranging team.
I successfully negotiated to my boss, and got a big budget. I decided to use all money. Even 1 yen wouldn't be left after the party.
I organized my colleague, making two teams. One is to buy foods. Anothet, drinks.
I led a food team, and bought Sashimi, Tenpura, Sushi, cakes, snacks and so on. On the other hand, a dirnk team went to buy beer and wine by a car.

Another aim to have such a party was to encourage the communication among the people in diffrent divisions. Although I am working in my company's head office and there are a lot of people working there, the chance to talk with most people is not many. Actualy I don't know what kind pf job the people next to my division works for.
That's why NOUKAI is a good oppotunity to know each other.

Perhaps 100 or 150 people joined the party. As I wrote above, NOUKAI is held in a office. So, there were not enough space for people gathering. That's why the party was very crowded, but maybe everybody enjoyed it. We could finish this year's job successfully.

My winter vacation is short. Next year, I am going to work again from 4th. I will spend the time in Kyoto, as usual. See you next year.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

VS Christmas

Christmas has gone!
On 24th, the Eve, I worked late, then went home midnight. On 25th, although I didn't sleeep enough, I went to work, and I worked late again. After going back to Atsugi, it was impossible to go home soon without celebrateing something, so I drunk a little in a bar. There were four single men there, even though the day was Christmas! I was welcome because I also was single! What's the hell!
And now, on 26th, Saturday, I am working! OMG!
Why am I so busy now? There are some reasons. One of my coworkers will move to anther branch. And, another coworker will quit her job soon. I have to replace them, and I have to atrrange their good-bye party!
January is the first month of the last quater of Japanese fiscal year. So, I am always busy in this season. Many things have to be prepared now.
Today, when I went to a convenience store, Christmas gifts were sold by a half price. Price dawn is also fast. Time has passed fast. Christmas has passed fast.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

VS Sepak Takraw Games

It was one of the biggest challange in this year for me.
Last week I participated in a tournament of Sepak Takraw. It was also my debut game.

Sepak Takraw is a minor sport in Japan. By chance, a Aeon friend Akira played it for a long time. He introdued it to me, then, sometimes when we played soccer with friends, we played Sepak Takraw just for warming-up.
Gradually I realised the minor sport's interest. I don't know why, but we has the tendency to feel happy when we can control something with our foot. When we can pick up a remote controller for television to change the channel "with our foot", we feel happy.
Sepak Takraw's difficulty is to control the ball with our foot, and it is also the reason for the sport's interest.

However, to be honest, I am not an athlete. I have not practiced so much. So, my level is very low. I thought I don't deserve to play with "real" players, but because it was a good experience, we challanged the tournament.

It was held on two days in Saitama prefecture. Six Aeon students including me paticipated in it. We made two teams, Atsugi Central and Atsugi Pacific.
Around 250 people were there. I heard around 500 people play Sepak takraw in Japan. So, 50% player gathered in Saitama. They join private teams or university clubs. They practice everyday. On the other hand, we Atsugi teams drink everyday. The result of our game was clear before the games. 4 lost, 1 draw was my team's result. 1 draw was the game with an university in Niigata prefecture.
Although we couldn't win, I can say we enjoyed very much. Our level was low, but our guts was good. We could get scores. With playing, our level improved.

The organizer of the tournament worked very well. They have the strong passion to make Sepak takraw more popular in Japan. It must be a taugh job to organize 250 people from all over the Japan. I wanna celebrate them.
I decide to join next year's tournamnet. It's a good motivation for me to practice more. I will get 1 win next year.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

VS Hida Beef

The scenery of Hida-Takayama city is a little diffrent from other Japanese local city. When you visit a rural area, you can eat its local foods; Soba noodle, fish foods, traditinal vegetable dishes and rice foods are typical. They are classic Japanese cuisine. Of course, here in Hida-Takayama, you can eat such foods. But, maybe, the most astonishing food there is beef. Hida beef is one of the highest quality beef in Japan.

In the city, there are many steak restaurnts and butchers. Humberger shops and Beef "Suchi" restaurants are many too. In Tokyo, it's not special. But it's rare in local cities in Japan.

Like other types of beef we Japanese prefer, Hida Beef has oil like frost. So, it is very soft, and melts in our mouse naturally. This character of beef we like is friendly for our chin and teeth. But, that's why, they can be weaken. So, it might be a bad friend.
Anyway, the quality is high. Of course, I enjoyed it very well.

In the hotel I stayed, I ordered the special Hida Beef course. At the dinner, I started with beef, I finished with beef. Beef hors d'oeuvre, beef salad, beef nabe, beef sushi, baked beef, raw beef and son. I re-realised that beef is No.1 food then.

Hida-Takayama's local sake and beer match the great beef. I drunk too much on the trip, because there are many drinks I didn't know. I have to travel in Japan more for the new taste I've never experienced.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

VS Gifu Trip

One of my friends will change his job successfully. His salary must increse a little. In order to celebrate his success, some old friends gathered to Gifu prefecture last weekend.

Japanese postal code is from 000 to 999. Gifu's postal codes are on 500th. As you can easily understand, Gifu prefecture is almost at the center of Japan. It's an important area to dominate this country.

We stayed in the hotel near Gifu castle.
Look at this photo. Gifu castle is great and beautiful. One of the most popular general in Japanese history, Nobunaga Oda, lived there. He could understand the importance of the governance of Gifu.
The castle's location is also good. It stands on the top of a mountain which is near Nagaragawa river. The river is famous for "Ugai", which is the fishing methods to use a bird "U". In summer season, we can watch "U" catching fish on the river.

After the staying near the castle, I and the successful friend moved to Hida Takayama, the city on mountain area in Gifu. The city is far from the center of Gifu. I think it was hard to go there before. But, even though its location was not good for human's living, Hida Takayama was prosperous in medieval times because of natural resources; silver, copper and so on.

I visited Takayama Jinya, which is the only one now existing reginal office in Edo era. The office rooms and living rooms used by samurais are preserved well now. We can watch such things in the classical Japanese dramas on TV, but, of course, they are the imitations. Takayama Jinya's one are real.
Before visiting there, I didn't know its exsitence, so I was excited with watching it.

Hida Takayama is famous for beef, but I will write about it on another post. The taste is very good for Japanese tongue.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

VS Windy Enoshima

I went to Enoshima beach to surf last weekend. The day was very windy. It's a bad condition for surifing.
But the weather was good. I couldn't miss going to the beach. I am lazy recently, so I don't go to surf so often, though,

I like this season's Enoshima. Because the air is becoming clean after humid summer. Now we can look at Mt.Fuji very clear. In summer season, it is immpossible for us to see it.
It is also good that there are less people on the sea. (But, compared with ohter beach, many people are still there, though.)

Windy day's wave is bad. The shape of the wave is random. So, it's difficult to stand on my board. But, thanks to the existence of Enoshima island, we can escape from the effect of the wind on the some areas on the sea. The isiland becomes a natural brock against the wind.
That's why I could enjoy surfing the day.

The water temparature? No, problem. I haven't used the wet suits for winter yet. The water on the sea is still warm. Sometimes I thought it was warmer on the sea than on the beach.
Many people looking at me from the beach don't know the secret, so they must think I am a strong man. But the reality is opposite. Funny.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

VS Sauce Fried Noodles

I am happy for working in Japanese publishing world. Because I can sometimes meet great books to show Japanese publications are rich.
Recently a book to focus on sauce fried noodles is published in Japan.

The ad for the book says it is the first book only for sauce fried noodles in the world.
Yes! Certainly I have never met such a book. Even though it is a popular food and we can eat it on any places in Japan, and there are many books for noodles; spagetti, soba, ramen, udon and so on, AND sauce fried noodles are a very original noodle food born in modern Japan, nobody haven't published the book for it.

From the book, we can know there are may types of sauce frried noodles in Japan. The simplest one is noodles with meat and cabbage. Another one is with egg. In the northern Kanto area, potato is used! It's very surprising for the pople in other area.

For the pople bron in the western Japan like me, sauce fried noodles are like a daily food. In a house and a school, I ate it. In coffee shops, it is always on the menu as a light food, in the western Japan. In festivals, sauce fried noodles shops are one of the most popular shops.

One of my memorial things was that I had BBQ on the beach in Austlaria. I ate sauce fried noodles there. For Japanese, it's not special. But for Australian, what I ate there must have been strange.

I can't stop writing about my memory about sauce fried noodles, but the book is useful to understand Japanese food culture. I recommend it.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

VS Performance

The 2nd International Street Performance Festival in Atsugi is held this weekend. This kind of festival in Yokohama is popular. Atsugi has followed it since last year.
I was not sure whether Atsugi's one would become popular, but I am now surprised at the success. Many people come to Atsugi to watch street performance now.
Last year, the guide book for the festival was free. This year, it is sold in bookstores. Thanks to the gathering of many people, the restaurants and shops in Atsugi are running very well. This festival's economical impact on Atusgi must be great.
Now we can watch the performance at many places near Hon-Atsugi station. Because Atsugi is a compact city, we can move easily from one place to oter place. Atsugi's compactness might be a good advantage for this kind of festival. It can be more popular in the future than a large city Yokohama's one.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

VS Journal Business

It's cold in Japan. The wind from the north is blewing today. I felt the early winter has come at last. I also knew the news of the first snow in Sapporo city in Hokkaido. But, this cold seems to be temporary. This week, it will become warm again.

Last month was a big month for my business. I finished some contracts of annual subscription of academic journals with my customers, mainly Japanese universities.
This business is becoming difficult for the decreasing budgets of the universities, and the digitalization of journals. Some digitalized journals can be read free on internet, and many digitalized journals can be bought directly from publishers by my customers; it means they don't need distributers, book-sales men.
Of course, the situation is not so simple. Even though many journals are digitalized now, many publishers and customers still want to use distributers. However, the rate of profit for this business is garadually decreasing. That's why some competers of mine are giving up the business.

I think I made a success of the business this year. Under the bad conditions, my sales grew up, and even the rate of profit raised too. The negotiation with my customers were taugh, and there were tha holidays that I couldn't enjoy other things because business didn't move from my brain. But, now I am satisfied with the sales result.

This month, I will consciously release my mind from business to many funs. Balance is important. I will beat tension to be relaxed.
That's why, last week's Halloween party was good for changing my mental mood. We enjoyed the party very much and after the first stage we stayed until fifth stages(it was the early morning.)the day. It was along night, but I didn't get tired.
And, I have some plans more; the travel with my friends to some old villages in Japan, Sushi dinner event with friends, joining Sepack Takrow tournament in Saitama, Karaoke party in a bar, etc. It might not be good to make many plans for relaxing, but my brain is familler with busy schadule. So, it's Ok.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

VS Bouts in Zama

I went to Zama camp.
The aim was not to show my idea about the reconstruction of US army in Japan; Okinawa base shuld be relocated to Narita, but to watch professional wrestling bouts there!

New Japan Pro-Wrestling comes to Zama camp every year for the communication of Japanese and US army. "Camp Zama SlamFest" was held there last weekends. I enjoyed it very much.
When I was a child, professional wrestlers were my hero. Every week I watched their bouts on TV. Especially, a New Japan Pro-Wrestling wrestler Antonio Inoki was hero's hero.

Of course, now, fortunately or unfortunately I know, all bouts are fake.
That's why I lost the interest of professional wretling. I haven't watched it for a long time.
However I don't know why, but I sometimes check the information of wrestlers on magazines until now.

This time I realised the reason for my unlost curiosity to professional wretling. Their bouts must be fake, but their taughness and physical performance is true. In addition, their communication skill with the audience is so great. The young, the old and many kids were excited with their fight.

After the bouts, it was lucky that I could go inside the wrestler's dinner party.
I could get many wrestlers signature and took pictures with them!
They are really big and gentle. Now, I have no reason why I will not be interested in professional wrestling again.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

VS Octoberfest 2009

Recently my post is about Beer. The reason is because I always drink beer, but it's not all. My post is based on a social backbone. This month, October, is one of the important season for the world beer drinkers.

Octoberfest is one of the biggest beer-drinking festival in the world. It started originally in Germany. Now, the festival is held in many places in Japan too.
Today, I will go to Octoberfest in Yokohama. Today is the last day. I am afraid whether some beer have already been out of stock. So, I have to hurry up! I wanna enjoy great German white beer and sausages. It's the best combination like Sake and Sashimi in Japan.

Time to go.

Monday, October 12, 2009

VS THE GRIFFIN

I sometimes go to THE GRIFFIN, a bar in Hon-Atsugi. This bar is new, opened in February. The bar looks like a typical beer bar, but we can drink wine and whisky too. Especially its collection of whisky is great. There are some bottler's whisky, which is the whisky before brending. Of course the price is high. But here is Atsugi, a local city in Kanagawa. So, compared with the bars in Tokyo, the price must be attractive.
However, because my favorite is beer, I go to drink beer before going home after hard work.

This bar is inside a business hotel. So, I thought many people staying the hotel use the bar, but the bar master Kyojima-san says over 90% of customers are outsiders including me. I don't know why? Sometimes there are no customer but me. I worry about the management of the bar.
The former prime minister Aso liked to go to hotel restaurants and bars. But the present prime minister Hatoyama likes Izakaya. Izakaya style and price is convenient and reasonable. So I like it too. Under this economical situation, cheap Izakaya mught be the trend.

Recently THE GRIFFIN started their community in MIXI. The member is increasing gradually. I hope their success in Atsugi.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

VS Beer Brewing

I went to Ibaraki prefecture last week to brew my original beer with my friends. We visited Kiuchi brewery, which is originally an old Sake brewery, and now making much original beer. Nest beer is their brand.
It was our first challange to make beer, so we were so excited.
Although it took three hours to drive to the place, it was no problem for us.

The old brewery is located in a rural area in Ibaraki. It looks like an old Japanese warehouse. When we arrived there, their staff took us inside the brewery, and explained us how to brew beer.
Before making beer, we tasted some beer to decide what kind of beer we should make.
Ale? White beer? Staut?
After our discussion, we decided to make red ale.

We used five diffrent types of malts, and three diffrent types of hops.
The taste and aroma must be very rich!
During boiling them, we learned the difficulty of controlling its temparature. If we failed to control the temparature, we could kill the beer taste.
After the boiling, the mixture of malts, hops and water was going to be made cold soon. What we did the day was that's all!
After this, yeast is going to be put into it by the staff. We have to wait for around three weeks. Now we are waiting our beer coming.

At the end of this month, maybe at Halloween party, we will enjoy our new beer. Cheers!

Saturday, October 03, 2009

VS Alumni Association

I went to Kyoto again last month to join my university's almuni association. It was held for my university teacher's 50th anniversary and the celebration for the teacher's getting an award for his book recently published. He wrote the book about Adam Smith.

Many students gathered to a hotel in Kyoto, and waited the teacher's family. The party was originally planned as a surprising party, so prepared with only his family. But, it is diificult to keep secret. A student called our teacher before the party, and said "Hey teacher, I am busy the day. Can you change the date of your party?" Of course, everybody got angry.
But the party itself was great. Our teacher's speech reminded us of our university days. He was still energetic. I think it encouraged us to be challenging.

For me, to meet an old teacher or friends is Merkmal for my life. I can realise people's change and unchange, and I can realise my change and unchange. My change is going toward a right direction? My unchange is keeping a good principle? Everytime I meet old friends, I can ask me such questions.

After the party we went to Kawaramachi street for the second stage. The street is one of the main streets near Kamo river in Kyoto. I drunk many times there in my days in Kyoto. I remembered my memory of Kyoto very much. I don't think about the past so often, but drinking in a hometown is so nice.

Monday, September 21, 2009

VS Soy Sauce

I went to KInokuniya in Shinjyuku with my friends. Now university goods fair is held there. We browsed many goods there.
The fair is named Gaku-ichi Gaku-za. This name comes from a word in Japanese history, Raku-ichi Raku-za.
Raku means "free" and Ichi is "market". And Za means normally "gathering place" but historically it had the meaning of exclusive economical communities.
So, Raku-ichi Raku-za means Free market and Free from exclusion. The word was used from 16C to 18C in Japan.

Now the famous word in Japanese history is changed a little to name a bookstore's fair. Gaku means "study". So, maybe, Gaku-ich Gaku-za means "Study the market. Study the gathering place." And maybe it means "Study Universities." Or, it can have no meaning.

I bought soy sauces made by some universities. One is made of blowfish(Fugu or Fuku in Japanese). I don't know how to make fish soy sauce. Maybe it's a result of the study of fish in an university. I wanted to buy soy sauce of sea urchin(Uni in Japanese). But it was out of stock.
And, I bought vinegar made of sweet potato. I have not tasted it yet. I can't image the taste.

The studies in universities are interesting. Although I am not sure the studies make our society progress, I think they can make our daily life interesting.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

VS Something

Long time no post!
Now, the new Japanese government starts. Because the governments new policies are too agressive, many Japanese think they are impossible. But, at least, we are excited.

The sound of "Change" is similar to "Challange". (You don't think so? My ears think so.) I am not sure that the government's attempt to change will be success. Only I can do is to enjoy their challange together.

This summer, I was too busy. I had helped a woman challange a new business for a few months. The business was related to privatization of Japan's public sector. Maybe you think it sounds difficult. Yes. It is too difficult! So, we were too busy.
When I am busy, I tend to drink and eat a lot.
That's why my weight is now going up!
From today, I eat Tofu only. Weight controll is sometimes important.

Time to go. This is a short post.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

VS Transition

Around one week before the coming election day, it is reported on the research of media that it is going to be certain that Japanese Democratic Party will win. The point is now not whether they will win or not, but how much they can win.
I have already decided to vote for DP, so the report is welcome.
Safely I add that I don't support DP's policy fully and their ability to manage our government is still low, yet I will support them. Because LDP's management is too terible. Their governance is very bad. Change is needed in Japan. So, many will support DP now.

As I wrote a few articles ago, I am disappointed with DP's lack of interest in Japan's immigrant policy. Thay talks about Free Trade Agreement with US or Asian countries, but they don't say anything about human. Free Trade includes Free move of human. But, they ignores it.
Or, from the view point of decreasing population in Japan, immigrant policy is needed for our country's growth. But they looks not interested in such a thing.
DP's future vision is still unclear.
However, again, I will support them. To change Japan, we need strong inpact on politics.

During summer vacation I watched a TV program for Japanese politics by chance. It was a debate by many citizens. For Japan's defense, some said we should have nuclear weapons to fight against North Korea. This opinion is not majority, but becoming popular now.
I don't agree wtih it. Even in the era of cold war, we didn't have nuclear weapons. If now is the more critical era than the days of Soviet vs America, I could agree with it. But so?
I think the argument about the national defense is usually too imaginary and non-realistic and boring. So, we can ignore the diffrence of national defense policy as the factor of the decision to vote. Some complain for DP's unclear national defense policy, but I don't care it.

I'm looking forward to this election day for fun.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

VS Short Vacation

This year, my summer vacation was short. It was five continuous days only. Today it was finished.
I spent the vacation in Kyoto as usual. I saw my family and friends there as usual. I tried to invite a special guest to Gozannookuribi(fire relay among five mountains), a classical event in Kyoto. But, it was canceled. So, my going back to Kyoto this time was utterly as usual, not special.
Thanks to the discount of highway fee, trains were not crowded. It was reported on TV that highway was very crowded during this summer vacation. I am not sure the government's proce policy is good.

The reason why my vacation was short is that I have a job to train young coworkers this week. Although it is an interesting job, I have to prepare for it very much. So, I am busy.
Busy days seems to effect on my life pattern, especially my food-eatig cycle. My parent told me that I became fat. I didn't think so, but when I checked my weight, actually I got new 4 kilograms. I don't care that, but it might be better to check my weight sometimes.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

VS Festival

Yesterday, I went to the summer festival in Camp Zama with my friends. Camp Zama is close to my town, but I didn't have many chance to visit there. I have ever been there only a few times.
Basically we can't go inside without the invitation from the camp's resident. But, on the festival day, we can enter the gate after the easy check by NP.
When reaching the center of the camp, the atomosphere was filled with festival mood! People was enjoying drinking beer, eating BBQ, wearing Japanese Kimono and dancing.
We could sit on the VIP seats, thnaks to Camp Zama worker Haruka's innvitation. We watched Japanese dance by American people. It was fun.

We also visited a family's house in the camp, and enjoyed a home party. Because I like to eat and drink in other's house, I enjoyed the party this time. Maybe, I am a good guest. I ate a lot, and drunk a lot. The family laughed at me.

Yesterday was the Ayu festival day in Atsugi too. This year, I couldn't watch the fireworks, but I went to Aeon student Koji's house after Camp Zama fesitival, because many students were there. We enjoyed Takoyaki party there.

As usual, I drunk too mush on the festival day. I don't remember most thing on the day, but I certainly enjoyed the day. It's enough.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

VS Social Enterprise

The term of "Social Enterprise" is becoming popular in Japan. My company recently arranged a book fair for social enterprises, supported by Keio University. It was a good fair. Like many, I am becoming interested in it.
Yesterday, by chance, I met a person who worked for my company before. Now he is working for an university. His job is now mainly for pubishing books, but he has many other things to do. One of them is to make a scheme to encourage students to start social enterprises. I was inspired by his idea.

Many universities have been trying to establish a new business with enterprises last ten years in Japan. But, most of them were failure. It was ovious that university men were not good at business. Maybe, the mission of universities is not to earn money. Their mission is to contribute to our society. Of course, they have to earn money to keep their organization. But they don't have to be rich.
Social Enterprise is a good category for universities.
Although it is profitable to some extent, its mission is not to be competitive in the market, but to be good for our society. Such kinds of business is fitted to universities.

Now I am using Twitter. Recently a person follows my twitter, and from the person I knew Causecast.org. It seems to be a portal site for many social activities. Fmm, interesting. There are so many activities to do good to the world.
Tonight I will join Aeon's summer party. I will do good to others. I will pour beer into others' glass. My social contribution will start with the small first step.

Monday, July 20, 2009

VS Surprise Birthday Party

Yesterday I went to Tsukuba for my friend Peter's surprise birthday party arranged by her wife and friends. The party was held in a mexican restaurant.
It takes around 2.5 hours from Atsugi to Tsukuba.
I got up early morning, bought a canned beer in a convenience store and got on the Romance car on Odakyu line with Mr.Miyajima-kun. 2.5 hours was long. Of course, before arriving at Tsukuba, we were drunk.
Fortunately we arrived at the restarant one hour earlier, so we could have a time to cool us down. I waited for everybody's coming with drinking coffee.

The party was great. Around 20 people joined it. Peter's age seems to be a special one in Australian culture or in Western culture. It's like Japanese Kanreki (=60 years old). From the view point of Japanese, his age is too too young. But anyway, it is great to cellebrate him at an turning-point age.

After the party, I went to Izakaya and Karaoke with my old friend Scott. By chance, we met a German guy coming to Japan last day for the first time. The man looked happy to listen to Emglish conversation between me and Scott. So, we invited him to join us, and went together. He could experience Japan's two biggest culture, Izakaya and Karaoke. He was lucky.

I and Miyajima-kun went back to Atsugi on Romance car again on the day. Of course, we continued to drink beer on our way home. We were keeping on the cellebrating mood for Peter whole the day. We admired us by ourselves.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

VS Docomo

My mobile was broken.
After sending an email to my friend from my mobile, during waiting for the reply from her, my mobile's monitor's display suddenly became dark, and soon black. Because the mail was important, I was in a panic.
I tired to fix it, but the symptom became worse. Once I turned it off, it didn't work again.

I rushed to a convenience shop to buy a battery, and tried to charge an energy to it. And...it was back, imcompletely though.
Although I couldn't use email, I could call.
Frotunately I could call her midnight. And we could conform our nexy day's meeting.

Next morning, when I woke up, I realised my mobile was dead. Both emailing and calling was impossible. It seemed to be back for a very short time last night.
It was a miracle for me to call last night.

I brought my mobile to a Docomo shop soon.
A staff checked it, but he couldn't fix it. To be worse, he told me that it might be impossible to fix it. I thought I should buy a new one. However, there is a problem. Because the mobile I use now is completely dead, the new one can't get all data from it. It means I lose all my friend's information!

Now Docomo is checking my mobile. Kindly the checking fee is free. Docomo guarantees my mobile for three years. It's a good service. I love Docomo again.

I hope Docomo can make it.
But in the case taht they can't make it.....God.

Friday, June 26, 2009

VS Twitter

I don't know what Twitter really is at this moment, but I joined it and made my address (http://twitter.com/AkioKobayashi)
Is it interesting? Is it useful? I don't have any idea. But I heard that many people against the vote in Iran have used it. And, recetly, my company's young staff are trying to use it for their business. Maybe this new media? or tool? has much possibility.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

VS Troubling Friend

Recently one of my old university friends called me suddenly. The last time we met was over five years ago. That's why I was surprised and felt nostalgic. At the time, he had met another friend, and been in a baseball stadium. They seemed to enjoy a baseball game. We talked about the news of each other on the phone, and finished after promising the seeing next time.

After a few hours, the same friends called me again.
And he said,"Can you rent me money?"

He seemed to have a trouble with Yakuza. Even though he has a wife and a kid, he had a love affair with another woman. Unfortunately she is a Yakuza's wife. Their relationship was soon found by the Yakuza, and he told that he would sue my friend.
My friend worried that his wife know the incident. So, he tried to reconcile to the Yakuza, and promised to pay money. But, the amount was huge. He rent money even from his parents, but he couldn't gather the money. That's why he called me. Before calling me, he asked another friend in a baseball studium but his negotiation seemed to fail.

He might have been unlucky. The trouble with Yakuza could be planned by the Yakuza.
But the problem is his attitude to solve the trouble. It is the weak point that he can't disclose the problem to his wife. So, he have to pay the money he can't pay by himself.
I asked him how to pay the money back to your parents and friends in the future? His answer was unclear. I knew the answer must be "impossible", though.

I decide not to rent money to him. He will not be able to gather the money. The Yakuza will sue him. The problem will be known by his wife. As the result, if she will divorce him...., I think he should accept the result. If he need to make unfair dealing with Yakuza and hide many things to his family to keep his family, what is the family?

Saturday, May 23, 2009

VS Coming Birthday

Everything is fast. A month ago, we talked about the born of the new flu in Mexico. Now, it is reported that many Japanese get the flu.
During this time, the leader of Japanese Democratic Party changed, the new court system that ordinary people join judgements has started, a famous rock singer, Kiyoshiro Imawano, was dead for cancer, and a popular comedian, Hitoshi Matsumoto of Down Town, got married.
Many things happened. And time has passed fast.

I am facing the coming of my birthday soon. I feel the last birthday was like yesterday, so I am surprised that a year is short. I am going to be thirty seven years old. It means sixty three years are left for my life.
When thinking about my father's eara, the person of 37 looked more adult. But, when looking at my generation, they are still like university students.
Last night I drunk with my friends, went home, drunk more listening to the radio, slept midnight, got up late, got shower soon, and rushed to the lesson of English...
Actuallly my life style doesn't change from my school days.
Maybe also after the next birthday, my life style wouldn't change.

For birthday gifts, I don't request anybody to give me. However, I tried to make some memorized my birthday last year. Maybe some can't ignore it. I am the man with tactics. This character also doesn't change from my school days...

Sunday, April 26, 2009

VS Swine Flu

I had been thinking of writing about the news that the member of SMAP, Japanese TV star, was arrested because he was drunk midnight to be naked in public, but the news about swine flu must be important on both the global level and the local level.
I had thought pigs are the most safety animal to eat. Actually they had no schandal for illness for a long time. Cows got BSE. Birds took flu. But, pigs were always fine even though they were sometimes seen as a dirty animal. So, we didn't have to worry about eating pork.
However, the time has come. Even pigs are not perfect. Now, swine flu start to widen from Mexico and America. This flu seems to influence human-being easily. It is reported that some people were dead in Mexico. It's scarly.

My town Atsugi is becoming famous for its original pork cuisine. Last year Atsugi got No.1 in a B-class food competition. After that, many new restaurant serving pork dishes were open. That's why, if swine flu spread all over the Japan, Atsugi's economy would have a serious damage. So, Japanese government must protect Japanese pigs. The prime minister Aso directed the government officials to collect the information about the flu today.

Compared with bird flu, I feel the news of swine flu is treated bigger on Japanese media. I wonder pork is more popular than chicken in Japan.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

VS Beer Discussion

Today, in the disucssion class in Aeon, I became a MC to organize the class. Because the topic of the discussion was about Japanese beer, my teacher Sudhan thought I deserve to be the orgaqnizer there. It was my first time in my 10-year experience in Aeon that I sat down on the chair of teacher. So, I was excited.

Talking about beer in English was great. All students have their own experience of beer drinking. We couldn't stop talking about it.
At first, I asked them when or where they want to drink beer, which kind of situations are good for beer? : Midnight, before the dinner, With food, Without food, Near the sea, After working. Each has their favorite situations.
I think beer is the most flexible drink to the situations. So, anytime and anywhere is my answer.

Last night I drunk with two female coworkers in an izakaya. They got angry with their boss during their working time. So, I invited them to drink beer.
After a few glasses of beer, their anger became calm down. I thoght beer is a magical drink to make us happy and peaceful.

In the discussion class, I explained for Chimey. It's a worldwide popular beer brewed in Belgy, but no people in the call knew it. For the most Japanese, beer is Asahi, Kirin, Suntry or Sapporo. But there are a huge numer of types of beer in the world. Japanese beer career is still on the start line.

Anyway, I could know that it is a tough work to organize one-hour discussion. I sometimes have to summurise the talker's opinion. I sometimes have to encourage students to talk more. And, sometimes I have to change the flow of the discussion. Fotunately all students in the class were the people with experience. They supported me very much.
Next week, I will re-recognze the seat of a student is more confortable.

Saturday, April 04, 2009

VS Contemporary Art

Now Cherry blossoms are full. Spring and drinking season have come. It's the season that we feel something new will come. The missile from North Korea is no thank you though..

Due to the feeling of something-new, I went to a museum suddenly one day, even though I am not the person to familier with the art. I watched the exhibition of Japanese contemporary artist, Teppei Kaneuji. I didn't know him at all then, but I could enjoy his many works.

He uses a lot of things we use in our daily life, to create his works. He combines them, and make something new. It's sometimes a patchwork of other artists' work, and sometimes a re-use of toys. His style might be new, but at least for me, it was not surprising, but comfortable. Because his theme, interest, motive or subject is something we have already know. For example, a stain of coffee.
He makes a design by using a lot of stains of coffee. The stains are things we are familier with in our daily life, so we can watch his works feeling close to our life.

I spent much time to watch his animation work, Tower. The work itself has no meaning, I think. But, I could enjoy meaningless time in front of the work. Please jump to the site I link above, if you are interested in it. You can watch the work.
Art is good to make my brain refresh! Now my mood is light. It's good for this new season.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

VS The Asiatic Society

My friend invited me to the meeting of The Asiatic Society of Japan, which is one of the oldest society for the foreigners living in Japan, established 137 years ago. Originally the society was for foreigners, but now many Japanese joins it.
I am not the member of the society, but I could participate in the meeting in Shibuya as a guest.

The day's meeting was for the photography in Edo era. The topic is so academic that I couldn't understand it in English, but I could enjoy it, thanks to the help of many visual images.
It is known that there were many foreign photographers visiting Japan from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period, and many Japanese photographers were born influenced by the foreigners. But the study of the "old" photography is not active in Japan, because the study of photography itself is minor here.
So, the meeting seemed to be impressive for the most audiences.

After the meeting, after some Q&As, drinking time started soon!
I can understand very well that drinking is good for our mind after listening to hard topic.

The next day after the meeting, I went to a museum with the friend in order to sell some old photos of Kabuki acter. They were very beautiful photos, found out in Europe. Now my customer is thinking about buying it. I hope for my business success.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

VS Playing Sepak Takraw

What is Sepak Takraw?
When I said "I played Sepak Takraw.", five to ten people gave me the question.
Another five people could know it is a sport. But, even they could not describe it exactly. "I know we use our foots to play it. And, . . . That's all I know!"

Sepak Takraw is the sprot like valley ball. But, we don't use our hand, but our foots. The court size is as same as badminton. One team is three players.
The ball was originally made by bamboo, but now by plastic. So, it is a little hard.
I played the minor sport recently in Atsugi for the first time.

One guy is working in Atsugi, and manage the only one Atsugi Sepak Takraw team. And he is the only one player in the team. He always practices alone!
But, recently, by chance, Aeon student Akira introduced me and other friends to the team (or, him). So, I could have the chance to play.

As you imagine easily, it is very difficult to control a ball on your foot. The ball size is smaller than a soccer ball, so we tend to fail to kick the center of the ball. In addition, as I mentioned above, the ball is hard. So, my ankle was damaged when I played, because my kicking-point was not good.
However, even though our playing-level was low, the game was exciting and interesting. I don't know why, but we like to maneuver something by foot. So, when I could kick the ball well, I felt happy.

Spring is the good season to start something new. I started this season with a new sport I've never experienced.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

VS New School

Endless working days are continueing on me. This month, I am very busy for my work. Actually I am always busy. But, this month is special.
Now I am working for a new-born school which is open from this April. The school's major is the oriental medcine. Now the school is rushing to prepare for their opening.
I sold them a huge number of books, magazines, book-shelves and so on. They need their library in the school. So, they bought many things related to library. It's good for them, and good for my business.
Unfortunately, and every so often, there is no librarian there, even though they made a library. In Japan, librarians have been a difficult job to be, since before starting this economical recession. The job of librarian is one of victims in a cost-cut strom in schools.

I sold a large number of books to a new library.
But, there is no people there.
And, there is empty book-shelves there.
Who have to set up the many books on it?

My customer told me, "You are professional. I trust you."
Oh my God. It means the setting-up is my job!

Medical books might be an unfamilier type of book for you.
The character for the content is that the book is for medcine.
The character for the physicality is that it is large and heavy!
So, it is a very taugh work to carry a lot of medical books. In addition, the books in a library have to be categorised. It is also taugh to sort books I can't understand.

Anyway, I finished the work without taking holidays in this month.
The people in the school look happy to the new, beautiful library.
But I worry about who manages the library after this April? I cat't ask them when looking at their happy face, though.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

VS Mobile Culture

Today I made my mobile blog. By chance, I found the mobile blog service in Google.
Honestly, I don't have to use it. But, I will use it for a while because it is good that I am familier with a new technology.

When it comes to my business, book-sales, mobiles novels are becoming popular among the young people in Japan. The market is becoming larger every year. The comparison with the old publishing market in Japan (it's shrinking now.) is interesting.
I read some mobile novels recently. To be precise, I tried to read some.
For me, they were boring.
The sentences in the novels are short, to fit them to the mobile's small screen. So, the novels are actually easy to read. But, I thought the novels don't have the depth of language expresson.

However, I wouldn't deny the new genre. The sentence shortage can be the energy for new arts. In fact, Japanese culture has two traditional styles of short wards poem, Waka (within 31 characters) and Haiku (17 characters). Limited usage of words can be an advantage.

I have to add my practical problem at last. Because I don't have a televison and a computer, I relay on my mobile very much to get informations in this world. So, I have to master my mobile to survive...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

VS Surfing Extra Cold

The season seems to move from winter to spring. But, the move is not smooth. One day is warm, we think spring hascome. Another day becomes cold again, we wear a sweater again.
Depending on days, the air temparature changes. Thanks to this change, strong wind and air pressure are born on the sea. The power of air hit the sea strongly. This is the origine of wave.
The wave born on the Pacific Ocean is very raugh. You can't control your ship there. But, the closer the wave comes to the beach, the milder the shape of the wave becomes. Surfing is the sport to ride on the mild wave.

Last week, I went to Enoshima beach with Akira 1 to surf. It was my first surfing in this year. It was a fine day. The air temparature was over 20. We didn't have any problem to go to the sea. Before going to the sea, I checked the wave information on internet. Good waves were coming now! I rushed to go to Enoshima.

There were many people in the surf shop my board was kept in. Many seemed to come from the early morning. I have the handycap that I have to drink every single night, so I couldn't get up early the day, but anyway I tried to catch up with other surfers. But...

I say to you that enough warming-up must be needed on the winter sea! At the first moment when I went insede the sea, I felt something inside my body stopped.
Although it was a warm day, the water wouldn't catch up with the air. It was still very cold! I was shocked not to the cold water but to the lack of my immagination before going into the sea. I rushed to puddle soon to make my body warm! Don't stop on the cold sea. Move for survival!

Human body is strong. I could saty on the sea for 2 hours and a half the day. I could enjoy surfing very well. I recomend you to give a shock to your body sometimes. You can know the body is taugher than you think. Maybe.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

VS The first wind

Today, strong winds blew in Tokyo. We call it "The first wind". It is the sign that Spring is coming. Actually it is 25 degrees in my area. It is alomost like early summer! There are many people walking without their coats.
Of course, the king winter is taugh. He will come back soon in a few days. It is too early for you to bring your coats to a cleaning shop. But, it is the time to start to search for your spring clothes.

Spring is the season for change in Japan. Students graduate from their school. Many start to study or work. Some new people will come to my office.
For book-salesmen, this season is for textbooks. Now, I am preparing for many medical textbooks for a school.

In this season, I have to say good-bye for some. Recently I joined a good-bye party for one of my company's staff. She worked for my company for 15 years. When I stared to work, she had already worked in my company. So, I remembered many things in my old days in the party.

Only hey-fever is annoying in this season. I sometimes sneeze recently. It is also the sign of spring. I had better regard the allergic phenomenon the gift from spring. I will take medcine though.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

VS Pauwel Kwak

My trip to the best beer in my life is endless. Thanks to strong yen, I can drink many types of beer from other countries. My weaker salary in this economical recession is a problem though.

I asked a beer pub manager near my company to import a very strange beer from Belgium, and drunk it recently.
The beer is Pauwel Kwak.
The glass for the beer looks very original. The bottom of the glass is not flat, so it can't stand alone. It needs a special wooden stand to stand vertical.
The strange shape of the glass makes it difficult to wash the glass. In addition, it's a little difficult for us to drink the beer.

Long time ago, a crazy beer lover wanted to drink beer when riding a horse. But, there was no place to put a beer galss on his horse. The beer lover was not only crazy but also genius. He invented a special galss to fix on the stirrup ( the place his foot is on when riding a horse).
The bad habit of driving drunk might be started by Pauwel Kwak.

The taste was sweet. But, the alchool percentage is high. Too much drinking is dangerous even when you don't drive.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

VS Unversity Goods

Busy days have passed from the beginning of this yaer on me. January is the first month of the last quarter in a fiscal yaer in Japan. For all book-salesmen, everydays in this season must be busy if they want to survive!

I had some meeting recently with my business partners. One is with some librarians from an association in U.S. They developed a very progressive library system. We discussed about the possibiity to apply to Japanese libraries. The topic was very technical, and I had to listen to their talking in English. Although there was an interpreter, it was a taugh situation for me. But, of course, I could enjoy it.
Another meeting was with an American pulisher. She expalined me for their publications. I like to talk with publishers because they are very interesting. But, this time, the American publisher's publications were about Physics. And, I don't know Physics at all. I tried to study Physics very much in my high school days, but I gave up soon. So, the meeting was also taugh for me. However, as you can imagine, I could enjoy the situation.

In this economical recesion, fortunately, my business is ok. I can spend busy days on my business. But, in general, book-sales in Japan is growing down, due to decreasing population. My company is also on this trend.
Recently my company's store in Shinjyuku has an event to display and sell many goods made by universities all over Japan. Now, most of Japanese universities are producing their own original goods; for example, mag cup, sake, beer, wine, soup, sweets, T-shirts, rice and so on. The aim of this event is to gather the people into the bookstore. For the students of each university, the goods are not rare, but for most people, they are unknown goods. So, it seems that many people are coming to our store.
Book store can't survive without selling new things except books. I am living in a funny era.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

VS Gaza

We are enjoying a happy new year enough well in Japan, but there are many people far from happiness in Gaza. Neither Israel nor Hamas can stop fighting. They don't listen to UN call for cease-fire. Only we can do is to watch their battle on TV with drinking beer. But it is less exciting than watching K-1 fighting match. So, we will change the channel and watch a comedy program.

For Israel and Hamas, what is their new year's destination? To kill their enemy? If such a destination could be achieved, nobody can fell happy. They will continue to worry about the revenge from somebody.
I know they have thier own aim to fight. I can't understand it, though. But, I don't think they imagine the result after the war. They don't know how to end their conflict.

Compared with their sad situation, Japan starts this year with a very peaceful condition. Economy is not good, but not too bad. The weather is fine from the beginning. I feel the air is clean. It's due to Japanese environment technology? I am not sure.
When thinking about the people in Gaza, I can't complain for anything in Japan. I must be happier than them. Although it was the coldest day in this year in Tokyo, I felt warm.