VS Sepak Takraw Revenge

I will participate in the tournament of Sepak Takraw this weekend. It is held in Saitama prefecture. My participation is second times.
Last year was my first time. Because I was completely a beginner of the sport, I was very nervous then, surrounded by many skillful players. Actually my team couldn't win the games at all.
However, after the tournament, I and my friends practiced very much. Basically I am a lazy person, but I could continue to practice for one year. I think my technique is getting better. So, now is the time to revenge. My skill deserves to win.

Last weekend, my team played some games with Tokyo University's Sepak Takraw teams. Some games, we won. Some games, we lost. But, I think my team could get something about how to win, in other words the pattern to control the game. Even if the team we play with is stronger than us, we don't have to give up. Any team has some weak points. The player who is proud of his play can take a mistake easily. The enemy is inside us. To keep myself's play style is the shortest way to win. I think I can do it this weekend.

Today was the last practice before the tournament. My team checked our game plan. Each player has each role. Do your job. Do the communication with your team mates. Don't care your enemy. Be calm and keep your pace.
Now I am looking forward to the result of our games.

Of course, I am not so strict player. To find out a great drinking place is an another mission to go to Saitama. Last year, I didn't have the room of my heart for pub-hopping. This year, nighttime is also the time to revenge.

VS Violin

Recently I am listening to Violin music.
One day, when I visited a concert hall for my job, I found an advertisement of Violin concert by chance.
I am not familiar with Violin, but because the violinist on the advertisement was cute, I was interested in the concert and the music instrument.

My friend told me that the person getting old tends to be interested in more sophisticated things. I think it is true. Actually I was not interested in Violin music before, but suddenly I started to listen to it. Now I am listening to Violin music CD everyday.
Moreover I bought the ticket of Violin concert.
I don't know whether Violin concert is interesting or not, but I want to enjoy it.

Now I am reading the book about Violin. From the book, my image of Violin is like a singer. Violin's position is always at the center of the music. So, it work as a singer-like in the music.

I like CALMEN very much. It is a great song for Violin.

VS Beef Tongue

I had a business trip to Sendai, Miyagi prefecture last week. My mission was to sell many medical books to hospitalians. One of the biggest hospitals group in Japan, Japanese Red Cross Society had a big conference in Sendai.
I think I worked very much.
I could take a big success there. My knowledge for Medical matters is poor, but I know medical "books". So, I can successfully talk with doctors, nurses and comedicals.

In this season, oyster is the best in Sendai. It's big and milky. I enjoyed it, of course with Sake. OMG, it's a perfect combination. Even though I had to get up early everyday, I drunk too much until every midnight there. That's why my body condition was bad after coming back to Atsugi. It's ok though.

If you go to Sendai, the thing you can't miss is beef tongue. There are many beef tongue restaurant in Sendai city. The most famous restaurant is Rikyu. The beef the restaurant serves is thick but soft. The quality is very high. This time I tried to go to eat there, but I couldn't because every time the restaurant was full. However, the quality of other restaurants is high, so I could enjoy very much.

Sendai is the place I lived in when I was in a kinder garden just for one year. I lost most of all memory, but when walking on the street, I felt I know many things I watch. Delicious foods and sake stimulated my brain?

VS Curling

I tried to play curling for the time. It was a very funny sport.

After the finishing of the service of a skate rink in Sagamihara city, the school of curling started. I was a totally unmature player, but veteran players taught me the sport very kindly.
Before trying the sport, I had thought it was not difficult. But, the reality was different. I could deeply understand our action on the ice is utterly different from the non-iced ground.

Curling uses 20 kg stones. It's very heavy, but fortunately we don't have to fell the weight to move the stones because the friction on the ice is zero. However, throwing the stones needs our power to some extent. In addition, it is difficult to keep our body balance on the ice to move the stones. If you try it, you must understand soon the muscle you use on the ice is different from the soil. That't why now I have muscle ache now.

Anywho, Curling was a funny sport. I enjoyed it. One team is composed of four people. One is a thrower. Another is a director. And, other two are cleaners of the ice.
I think the most difficult job is the cleaning. Actually, I couldn't try it. Because, we don't know how to clean well. And, sometimes, it's difficult for corking beginners. Because, we have to keep our body balance with the moving stone on the ice.
So, this time, I could only throw the stones.

I heated that curling is very similar to golf. Compared with the exercise or training, the game is better for increasing our level. Maybe, I should try to join the tournament of Curling soon.

VS Digestive Disese

Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW) had been held in Yokohama last week. It is one of the largest conference for medical doctors in Japan. My company opened a book store there.
The store opened from eight o'clock. So, to prepare for many things, I had to get up at five o'clock. Usually it is my sleeping deeply time. Then, my body condition during the conference was very bad.
Why did my company opened the store everyday so early? Because doctors are very busy, they started their meeting from early morning. At breakfast time, lunch time and dinner time, they had many meetings. That's why we had to start to work from early morning along with them.
Even though my mooring was early, my night was same. After hard working, my body requires for liquer heeling. So, next early morning, I had to get up with more damaged body.

The study of Digestive Disease in Japan is developed the most in the world. I don't know the reason. Maybe we Japanese have week digestive organs, or we tend to eat and drink manta types of food, thus we have many digestive diseases.
Anyway, because the study in Japan is the highest, we can sell only Japanese books. Of course, my company displayed many foreign books there, but I couldn't see the scene that the books were bought.

As you know, doctors are rich. Their shopping style was good for me. They wouldn't check price tags. For they are busy, their decision making for buying is very fast. And, usually medical books are expensive. I have to add that their credit card is always sparkling.

Next year, this conference is going to be held in Fukuoka. Around 20 thousands doctors will join it. I have to arrange my business trip.

VS Guild

Last weekend, I participated in a business meeting in Yokohama and had a business dinner in China town witness many publishers and book sellers. The meeting has been managed by medical publishers, once a year. It was my first time to join it. From this summer, my main job is to sell medical books. So, the meeting was very useful for me. And more, the key note in the meeting was about electrical publication. A famous publisher taught us the trend of electrical books. I could get many useful informations there.

Each publishers are competitors. And, each book sellers are competitors. But, they looked friendly.
The world or market of medical publication is very special. They treat a very specific theme. The community is very small. That's why they know each other very much. They are connected by a kind of professional spirit.

It reminds me of a guild in the Middle ages. Although their relationship is very tight, they are very exclusive to others. Actually, it is very difficult to take part in the market of medical publication. Nobody teach us how to join it. Fortunately my company is big to some extent that I can contact the community. But, most book sellers can not reach the world.

Next week, I will join the biggest conference for the study of digestive organ in Japan. Maybe because Japan is one of the richest food intake countries, their study of digestive organ is the highest level in the world. I will be able to sell many books in the conference. Thanks to the knowledge I got from the Guild, my sales talk will work tremendously well.

It is very fortune that, next to the place of the conference, a big German beer event is held next week. After the work, I can enjoy German beer and sausages there. My digestive organ will also work tremendously well!

VS Senkaku islands

This news must make most Japanese surprised, and get angry. After watching the news, I checked Twitter soon, and investigated how most people's reaction is. As I anticipated, most of tweets were anger stimulating our nationalism.
Japanese prosecutors decided to release a Chinese ship captain who were arrested for his ship operating illegally inside Japan's sea and to be worse colliding against Japanese patrol vessels.
Chinese government claimed for the captain's release soon, because they think the area where this incident happened is China's territory, so Japanese patrol vessels were more illegal.
However this China's view is minor. Nobody but China think the area near what we say Senkaku islands is their area. So, most Japanese thought the arrest was natural. Most Japanese must have thought Chinese government's reaction was too strange. Even if China's view was true to some extent, their lack of understanding the separation of the three branches of government was too bad. Judicial branches shouldn't and can't be effected by other branches of government and at least of all by foreign governments. So, we thought China's reaction was too childish.
However, I don't know why but, Japanese prosecutors thought about China and Japan's relationship (even though it was not their job.), and decided to release the arrested Chinese man! They made the example that judicial process can be stopped when the relationship with foreign countries looks valued more.
I had thought Chinese people don't understand what law is and why it's important, and it will take a long time for them to understand it. But, now, I understand so do Japanese! Now the two countries people stand on the same ground. It might be good for the two friends to understand each other. Their friendship might be stronger.
But, they are bad friends.

VS Kinokuniya Bunzaemon

Today, by chance, I found a Japanese Sake with the same name of my company, Kinokuniya, in a liquor shop. It was unfortune that I remember my company on my holiday, but the taste was good. The correct name of the sake is Kinokuniya Bunzaemon. It is made in Wakayama prefecture. Now I am drinking it with Sashimi. I love Sake and Sashimi combination.

VS B-1 Grand Prix

B-1 Grand Prix has held in Atsugi! We, all of Atsugian, had waited for this day after this city was chosen as the place for the event.
Needless to say, B-1 is one of the biggest food events in Japan. Its unique point is that all foods are what we call B-class foods: it means cheap but delicious foods. In addition, the foods must have locality. Like that the cuisine is very local or the material in the food is used in the limited area in Japan, all foods in the event have to show us it's locality. That's why national food companies can't participate in this event at all. They have no locality.
This unique point made B-1 very popular five years ago. And, two years ago, Atsugi's local food, ShiroKoro, got awarded as No.1 B-class food. So, after that, Atsugi was selected for the city where the event are held this year.

Many many people are coming to Atsugi from this morning. When I went to the event place this morning, it took half an hour to buy tickets to buy foods. (Again! Not to buy foods! To buy the tickets to buy foods! After getting the tickets, I have to be on the line to buy each food.)
Anyway, after I got the tickets, I enjoyed some foods. Sesame and fish flavor noodle in Ooita prefecture was delicious. Black curry in Nagasaki prefecture was spicy and tasty. But, although I didn't eat it today because it became out of stock soon, I am cheering up Shizuoka prefecture's Oden. I think its simple but natural taste deserves the prize. If this event were held in winter, Oden could have a strong advantage because it is a hot food. But, September doesn't match it unfortunately. I hope it will be cooler tomorrow.

B-1's economical impact on Atsugi must be big. Today, around 200,000 people came here. I hope they have a drink or go for shopping in Atsugi city after enjoying the B-1 foods.
I will go to some bars tonight to check Atsugi's economical situation.

VS GEGEGE

GEGEGE's WIFE is a popular TV drama in Japan. It's the story about Japanese Manga author, Shigeru Mizuki. The drama is described from the view point of his wife. GEGEGE comes from his famous Manga, "GEGEGE Kitarou". It is the story about Japanese ancient monsters.
All Japanese know his Manga. In my childhood, I liked to watch his cartoon on TV. The monsters in his works are unique; the cat lady, the mouse man, the old man crying like a baby, the old woman throwing the sand, the wall man and so on. Such monsters are as common as Dracula and the wolf man, in Japan. Mizuki's works have influenced us very much.
But, most Japanese don't know his excellent another type works. He had made a lot of War Manga.
It is famous that he lost one of his arms in the world war II. The war was a fatal incident for him. That's why, even though War Manga was unpopular from the view point of commercialism, he made many War Manga. When I was a teenager , I read the Manga about Hitler described by Mizuki.
Most Japanese thought his Manga was for children because his famous Manga was monster stories. But, thanks to the TV drama, people start to know his another aspect, his deep experience in the war.
Now my company arrange a book fair for his works in Tokyo. I hope many people can know the depth of the world Mizuki has described.

VS iPad

I got iPad at last! Now I am writing this post on iPad. To be correct, this iPad is not mine, it is my company's one. But anyway, the iPad is for me. I use this mainly for my business and often for my fun! I don't have a television. I don't have a computer. But now I have joined a high technology society. I became civilized.
I think iPad will be a great weapon for my business.
Because, first of all, I look cool.
I show iPad to my customers. They will say, "Wow! It's iPad!" Then I will say, "I am the man with it."
They must think I am a modern man. They will trust the modern man's recommendation when they buy books.
I can show them eBooks. Not only traditional paper books but also electronic books are my commodities. They must think I am a postmodern man.
I had thought iPad is lighter. Maybe it is better to use a bag to carry it.
I like iPad's keyboard. Sometimes I make wrong types due to the small keyboard, but it is ok. But, I want to find Function keys. If possible, I want find Ten keys too. And, where is a mouse? I want to know how to print the screen.
It might take a long time for me to master how to use iPad and know what it is. But it is certain that many ladies gather to the person with iPad. I realized it today in Aeon.

VS Weight Control

Recently I am thinking I should be more conscious of my weight. Ont reason is because when I came back to my hometown Kyoto this summer, my mother told me that my body shape was becoming a typical middle age man's one now. Yes, it is. I know it. My body is becoming sexyer and sexyer recently. My body has graat elasticity and felxbility. It is healthy and juicey. It's hard and soft.
But I am not a model. I don't have to be too much sexy. So, I am thinking taht my body shape can be more normal.

Another reason is because when I play Sepak Takraw recently, I feel a little pain on my knees. I didn't know why, but maybe it's because my weight effects on my knees. Now I am 75 kilograms. Two years ago, I was around 70 kg, so the additional 5 kg can possibly damage some of my body parts.

That's why I decided to start to control my weight. The first thing I have to think is my food intake. The tendency of my food intake is too much carbohydrate: rice, noodle, bread and so on. I love a carbohydrate. When I eat it, I fell to get power. If I eat it before going to bed, I can sleep very well even in a hot summer night.
However, it is famous that a carbohydrate is the most strongest enemy for a diet.

Because I am thinking I want to be a carbohydrate after my death, I can't stop eating it. But, I will try to control the amonut. I will take it once a day. If I eat rice at lunch, I don't eat it at dinner.
Is is possible? Yes. The great supporter of this plan is beer. Insead of eating rice, I will drink beer. Beer has calorie, but it is low and "empty". Its calorie doesn't stay in our body for a long time. This beer diet program is going to work well.

Exercise is also needed. I sometimes surf, and play Sepak Takraw. But, they are usually one a week. It's not enough. However, it is difficult to get more exercise time. One solution is that I will work more. Because I am a sales-person, I have to go to my customers if I had more business chances. In that case, I have to walk more every day. It's a good idea to use the advantage of sales job for diet.

My dream after death is to be a pounded rice, but at this moment a dry rice might be better.

VS Medical Books

I will make a new sales division in my company this summer. The division will sell mainly medical books, journals and databases to hospitals, medical institutes, medical schools and doctors. To prepare for the new division, I will and must be busy this summer.

I know medical books. These books are very medical.
They are useful and difficult. Sometimes the pictures in the books are grotesque. And the most important character from the view point of book salesmen is that medical books are expensive.

Because my main customers were univesities in my carrer, medical customers are not familier for me. So, when I heard about the plan of making a new division and my moving there, I worried about it a little. But, it must be a great oppotunity for me to start a new business.

For the new business, I am reading some books about Japanese medical system. For not only Japan but also all developed countries, medical system is a big issue. Japanese system was designed in 1961, and basically has been unchanged. The character is the non-market price system controlled by the government, and the limitation of medical care within the medical insurance. In short, we have no choice. But, now, the old system has to be changed.

By the way, medical books are heavy. Please compare them with other kinds of books in a book store. You will feel medical books are like an iron dumbbell. The more I will sell books, the more macho I will be.

VS ASCJ

The Asian Studies Conference Japan (ASCJ) was held on 19th and 20th in Waseda University. I joined it to sell books there. This kind of coference is the good chance for me to see many scholars. The books about Asian studies, especially Japanese study, is one of the most sold publications in Japan. So, it's important for my job to meet the scholars joining the conference.

A female scholar coming from Hiroshima looked at and checked many books exhibited there for a long time, and bought just one book. She wanted to buy more, but, to be honest, the scholar studying Asia is not rich. They need many books for their study, but they can't get enough budget from thier institution and the government.
That's why our business in the conference was not good.
But it's okey. To meet many interesting people itself is a fun job. I and other stuff enjoyed there.

It was surprising that I met Colin there. He studies the wildlife in Japan. Unfortunately I couldn't listen to his presentation, but his study of Takeshima (Take-island) sounds interesting.

The image of scholar might be a high-class image. But, they are ordinery people. Like us, they went to drink after the conference, and watched the World Cup. In front of their students, they are strict, but among their peers, they are very loose. It's funny. I like such customers.

VS Baby Wave

It is becoming hot in Japan. Spring is over. Summer will come soon, after the brief rainy season. From this month, I re-started to surf in Enoshima.
I am using a surf shop in Enoshima to keep my surfboard and wetsuits. During the last winter, I didn't go to the shop. When I went to the shop after a long time, I realised soon that the shop changed very much. It started a restaurant!
The restaurant name is DIEGO BY THE RIVER. The menu is mainly Italian food. The owner chef was a surfing instructer before, but he quited the job and went to Italy to learn real Italian food. (He already had the experience of chef job though.) And now, he stared the new restaurant in his previous working place.

For me, the new restaurant's open is a good thing. Because, I always become hungry after surfing. As soon as I come back from the sea, I can eat something. It's great.
Another reason is because the wave of Enoshima is sometimes very weak. In the case, we can't surf at all. Thanks to the new restaurant, I can give up surfing soon, go back to the surf shop and start to drink. Actualy the wave was very weak yesterday. I couldn't stop thinking what to drink and eat while I was on the still sea. I got how to enjoy even on the baby wave.

VS Futenma Relocation Issue

If I was Prime Minister Hatoyama, I would have already given up solving the issue for myself, broken up the House and asking the people in the election where US army should be in Japan. Most Japanese think US army is needed for our security in Japan, and most Japanese think it is better for the army to stay far away from our living place. That's why the relocation issue is very difficult to solve. I don't know why PM Hatoyama made the deadline (the end of May) to solve the difficult issue.
For not only him but also anyone, it is too much heavy resposibility to decide any conclusion. So, the responsibility should be divided into all people.

It is said that US army's deterrent must weaken if Futenma base is relocated far from Okinawa. It might be true. However it doesn't equal tha danger of Japan's security. Because it is an option that the Japanese Self-Defence will replace the base in Okinawa. It means Japanese stands on the front line of danger. It's good or bad? I think it's meaningful for us all to think about the question and make our own answer. I think Okinawa people will agree with the idea, Japanese Self-Defence replacing Futenma base. The danger of living next to the army is unchanging, but they can feel safer. Because their stress is caused by many past troubles with US soldiers.
US army in Futenma base can go to an empty base used by Japanese Self-Defence. They can be still strong deterrent for Japan.
The biggest problem of the relocation issue is that it's very dificult for the residents in a new place to accept for the base. But, US army and Japanese Self-Defence exchanging method can possibly solve the problem. Because the residents in the new place are accustomed to the existence of solidiers near their living place.
Our government think Tokunoshima island is a candidate after Futenma, but it is obvious that is's a bad idea. Because there has been no soldier there.

VS Niigata

My challange of Sepak Takraw games was held on Myoukou hill in Niigata prefecture. It was regrettable for me and my friends to lose all games, but we enjoyed very much.
The people in Niigata was very kind. They arranged not only the tournament, but also all lunches for Sepak Takraw players (approximately 200 players) for three days and the dinner party after the tournament. To be honest our playing level didn't deserve such too much hospitality, so it made us humbled. We have to pratice more and more.

Myoukou hill is near Myoukou mountain. It is a good place for skiing in winter season. I am not sure what we can do in summer season there, but the cool condition seems to be good for any sports.
In this spring season, the mountain vegetables are very tasty there. Every night I enjoyed them with Japanese Sake after playing Sepak Takraw.

The only one bad thing is that Niigata is far. During Golden week, the trafific jam was disqusting. Fortunately we could escape from it (because we got up very early, 3 am), but it took 5 hours to go to Niigata from Atsugi by car. For the regidents in Kanto area, the access to Niigata is not easy. Of course, it wouldn't ruin the city's value, though.

By chance, I could look at the flower of a skunk cabbage (Mizu Ba Syou) on the hill. The flower is in bloom from the end of April to the begining of May. Because it's a very short time, I was lucky. If I can enter for Sepak Takraw tournamnet in Niigata next year, I will enjoy the nature there.

VS Sepak Takraw Tournament

I started to play Sepak Takraw last year, and challanged official games for the first time in December. Now, I am going to try a big tournament in Niigata prefecture this weekend. For me, Niigata was the place for skiing, not Sepak Takraw, but I knew the tournament is held every year there. I and four friends will participate in it.

Last weekend, We jined a practice of one of the biggest Sepak Takraw team in Tokyo, Ooyama Sepak Takraw Club. The club has a long history, and its level is high. Because we thought we have to experience a high level training before the tournament, we played with them.
As you can easily imagine, because the sport is very minor, they don't have enough money to manage their team. So, they use a small gymnasium of an elementary school for their training. On the other hand, our Atusgi team always use a big company's gymnasium for our practice. Training atomosphere seem to be beteer in Atsugi.
But, of course, the club's training level was high. It was a great experience for us.

To be honest, I am not an athlete type person. Only Sepak Takraw is not my aim to go to Niigata. Niigata has a very large rice field, and clean water. Yes. They are the two main components of Japanese Sake. That's why there are so many kinds of Sake in Niigata. Thus, I will drink Sake every night there. On the last day of the tournament, a big party is goimg to be arranged by Niigata people. I am looking forward to it.

VS JOJO

The recent biggest news in Japanese publication must be "1Q84 vol.3" by Haruki Murakami. The novel was released on April. 16th. Some bookstores started to sell it from 0 o'clock on the day.
However, I have to pick up another book here. Even though the book is written in French, it was sold out soon after released here in Japan.
The tilte is "Rohan au Louvre".

It's a French comic by the author of a famous Japanese comic, "JOJO's strange adventure". This comic has many fans. Before it was released, the community of the fans were interested in the French comic very much. Thanks to the existence of JOJO fans in my company, we can almost exclusively import the book. (Even Amazon can't catch up with us for getting the stock.)

JOJO fans are fantastic. Even though they can't read French, they buy it!
The last day that I read JOJO was ten years ago. After that, I didn't keep in toudh with it, so I don't know the story now. But, certainly, the first impact of the comic was very big. The tone of the graphic was original. The usage of ONOPATOPOEIA was eccentric. I want to get its English version.

VS MC

A week has passed since Haruka and Yuya's wedding party was successfully finished. I and Peter were the MCs for the day. The experience of MC was like the staying in the typhoon. That's why, after the typhoon has gone, it took a long time to look back to what it was, and understand what happened then.

First of all, it was a great wedding party. The foods and drinks were prepared for very well by the newlyweds. All attractions were exciting and interesting; boxer's punching mitt performance, karete fighter's plank breaking performance, and the race of drinking guava juice in a baby bottle.
I have to write about the great location of the wedding place, C33. It is located close to the sea. On a sunny day, the scenery from the party room is very beautiful, and on the day, it was thankfully sunny.

Before my MC job, I had thought MC was like Karaoke. The script was prepared. Music was set on each points through the party. It looked similer to the singing in a Karaoke room. But the reality was very diffrent. MC was like the singing with a live performance. So, I have to adjust to music players, another singer, and in addition the audience. Flexibility is important. And, it's the difficulty of the job. This experience was a great study for me.

Now, I am thinking I need to study it more. The good information I got from the people in the bridal industry was that they need more male MCs. I didn't say to them "I can.", but I understood they need the man like me. I think I will meet their expectation in the not-so-long future. Wait.

VS Moving Miyajima

An Aeon student and Sepack Takraw player, Masahiro Miyajima aka Miyazy will move to China, Shanghai soon. He will start to work there from April. Now he is going to Shanghai to find his living place. For last a few years, he had been to China for business many times. So, for his company, China seems to have a great business chance. At last, the company decides to send a staff staying there to China.
I heard that their original plan was a little later. But, maybe due to the speedy change of their business situation, he is going to Shangahi soon.
Because his contirbution on Atsugi was big, the lost of Miyajima must damage Atsugi community. We have to endure for a while. But for Shanghai, this is a good news. Also in Shanghai, he will contribute on the city.

Although many Japanese companies are going to economically growing China, Japanese publishing industry I belong to is not so possitive to enhance their bussiness to China. Because our business is basically based on the guarantee of the right of freedom of speech, many companies might think the business in China is still risky.
However, it is the fact that some Chinese companies are inviting Japanese publishing companies and bookstores to work with them in China. In the future, like other indutries, Japanese working in the publishing industry will have the chance to work in China.

My last visit of China was when? I forgot it. Long time no China.
Miyajima's moving is a good chance for me and other Atsugi people to visit China again.

VS Shop Management

Now I am manageing a small bookstore in a women's university. It is not my main job, and my main job is still to sell books to libraries and scholars, but I am enjoying the new job.
For the previous manager quited the job recently, my boss ordered me to replace it.

The store is very small. From the viewpoint of business, the store can't make a big business. But the store is important for the unversity students, because they have to buy many textbooks there. The store is mostly only for their textbooks.
Actually, if we can't sell their textbooks there, the store have to close soon.

The revenue of the store is mostly earned when the new educationl year, April in Japan, starts. Because the most texbooks are bought then.
So, for business, it is reasonable to open the store only in April. But, of course, it's impossible. If we do it, the university will kick us out soon.

In the bookstore, we sell not only books but also many other goods; snakcs, stationeries, women's stockings and so on. Recently a cosmetic maker visited me offering their goods and supplemets.
Because I don't know whether their goods are good or bad, I am asking some young female coworkers for their opinions now.

Before the job starts, I thought it is an annoying one. But, for everything is new for me, I seem to enjoy it. I will try to understand my customers (young female students) completely.

VS Deconstruction

Today, Aeon Hon-Atsugi school is being under deconstruction.
The school will move to a new place, from 1st and 2nd floor to 4th floor in the same building. I heard the new place is more beautiful and gorgeous. Actually the place was used by a estheetic salon before. It must be more beautiful and gorgeous.

Around ten years ago, I visited this school by chance. Since then, the school's location has been same. So, although the movemnet of this time is small (because it's just floor change.), I feel it's a kind of turning point of the school.

Refelcted by the growning down of Japanese population, the number of the students is decreasing, with the decreasing number of the teachers. So, two floors are too many now. I can ubderstand this decision is right. 4th floor might be a disadvanatge to get new students, but strange people might not be able to come into the school easily.

3rd floor? It's Izakaya.
After the lesson, we can move to a drinking place, just only for TEN SECONDS!!
I am not sure whether it is good for our study, but it must be welcome for busy people.

VS Jail Breaker

I watched a Japanese movie, THE KING OF JAIL BREAKERS. Its directer is a Japanese comedian, Itsuji Itao. The movie is his first one.
I like concept-movie because of the simplicity. Gang movie is about Gang. Kanfoo mivie is about Kanfoo. They are simple. They are easy to understand.
This movie is also concept-movie. It's about Jail-breaking.

The directer is a comedian, so there are some laughing points in the movie, but the expression is very moderate. Basically this movie is serious. I thought it was the successful point for the movie.

The story was about a (fictional) jail breaker in Japan before the War. He was arrested for a small crime, a bilk in a restaurant.
Because his crime was not a big one, his jail days was originally short, a few months. But he tried to break a jail and made success, many times.
"Many times" means he was arrested again and again, after his successful jail breakings. Before breaking a jail, he was very smart and taugh. But, after escaping from the jail, he was always arrested soon.
For his jail breakings, his jail days were plused to be endless at last. And then he was sent to the worst jail on a island.

The reason why he broke a jail many times is made clear on the island, at the climax of the movie. If you can understand Japanese, watch the movie and know the reason.
The movie time is 94 minutes, not long. If it is 120 minutes, I think we could feel bored a little. So, the time length of the movie was very successfully calcurated.

VS Japanese Society

Happy New Year.

I spent my short new year's holidays in Kyoto. It was very cold then. I didn't want to go outside, so I was relaxed almost all the days in my parent's house. With playing with my dog, I watched TV.
I realised soon that some programs on air were rebroadcasted ones. It must be the effect of cost-cut of TV companies. I enjoyed the programs with the name of 2009.

Last year was the year of change in Japan. DPJ got political power at last. But, soon, it became clear that we were not accusomed to change. Almost all people didn't image what would happen after the change. So, after we knew our new government was a perfect amateur for country governance, we suddenly started to worry about our future. Now the approval rating of Prime minister Hatoyama is growing down from 70% to 50%.
However DPJ's rating is still high. It means the change itself is still supported by Japanese. Because we are responsible for our own decision, I am happy with the unchanged spirit for change.

This is a small thing but, a trouble happend around me at the end of last year. In a drinking party, a woman was drunk, and then her frined had a money trouble. From my view, when drinking, all responsibilities are on the drunker herself. I thought it's a natural discipline and a drunker's duty. However, I knew many blamed for the party organizer.
This trouble has already solved, so at this moment it's a small thing, but I am thinking that now we Japanese are being on the process of studying what self-responsibility is and why it's important.
This society must be matured more and more.