HOOK HAND

VS Internship

2011-11-26T20:25:00.001+09:00

This summer, an unverdity student worked in my office for a short time. It was the unversity's internship program. She worked very well and experienced many things.
Today, I had the good oppotunity to join the university's class. In the class, many students including her reported their experience working in many companies. I was very interested in their image to jobs and companies.

I think recent Japanese students are very straight. They are not critical to society and companies. Looking back to my younger days, I hated working in a company. I was very skeptical to the social structure and the rules made by the older people. Still now, even though I have worked in a company for a long time, I continue to be, to some extent.
But, the young student I met today were different. They think it is their duty to hurry to adjust to the companies. It might be a good thing for them.
Actually it becomes difficult for students to get their job in Japan now.
To survive, they have to adjust soon.

Anyway I enjoyed listening to their report very much. After the class, we had a small party in the restaurant in the university.
Because all students were female and it was a day time, we were served cakes and juice only. The party without beer was my first experience. The students looked happy. How I looked was...

A student asked me about working in a company. She joins a newspaper club. I thought she likes to communicate with many people at first, but her desire was different.
She asked me how to find the job without communicating with the people she doesn't know. Perhaps, she seemed to have a bad experience in her internship. It was a silly question. But, I didn't think it is not good just to say "Silly." That's why we tried to find such a job.
How about the accounting division? Oh, no, they have to talk to the banker. How about the programmer? No, they have many meetings with their cliants. How about the job to make a pottary? Can you do it? No.

In the end, she realised there are no job fitted to her desire. And she looked to realise her desire was wrong.

To be honest, her desire is not always wrong. She can choose any life style. So, I did't want to say "Silly" or "Wrong". But on the other hand, as the man with more experience, I have to give the person like her another viewpoint, in this kind of case.
I am not sure she was filled with my advice. But at least of all, I could learn many things.

VS Kyoto Life

2011-11-07T11:15:00.002+09:00

Two months has passd since I moved to Kyoto.
I seems to be accustomed to my new life.
I am finding out the beauty and uniqeness of Kyoto again, even though it was my hometown.
I like this city's darkness.
To keep the atomosphere of Kyoto, it seems to be restricted to use the lights.
In addition, the hight of bulidings is also regulated. So, in night time, the sky is wide. We can look at the mountains surrounding Kyoto city very clearly.

My job is same here as Tokyo. Book sales. My impression of customers here is that they are classic.
Based on thier religious backborn, thier respectation to books is vety high. They have collected great books.
For booksales, this kind of customers are excellent. That's why I can enjoy my job here.

Thanks to Kyoto city's compactness, my living place and my office is very close. And, the drinking area is also close!
The biggest night spot GION is near my house. I can go to Kawaramachi street on foot. It is a big shopping street.
If I have the same benefit in Tokyo, my living cost must be high. But, in Kyoto, the cost is not so high. The reason might be because there are many students living here. Actually the number of schools and universities in Kyoto is same or more, compared with Tokyo.

My language is a little strange. I sometimes speak Eastern Japanese and sometimes Western Japanese. On business, the tendency to use Eastern version might be strong. For emotional conversation, Western Japanese is useful. But, for logical communication, Eastern is better.
And, English! It is the great tool in Kyoto because this city is the one for travellers from all over the world. I can have many oppotunities to talk with many countries' people here.

I should go to many historical places during I stay in Kyoto. To be honest I don't know temples and shriens so much, because I was not interested in them in my childhood.

VS Change & Unchange

2011-08-24T09:28:00.002+09:00

I stay in Kyoto now. I have to find my living place here soon. I have to be accustomed to my new working place soon. The time to leave Atsugi is gradually and certainly coming close to me.
I feel my life is changing now. My life is moving to the next stage.
"Next stage!"
I remember I shoutd the phrase many times in Atsugi.
After the drinking party, I always go to another place for more drinking.
Although I somtimes sleep drunk in a party, I like to continue the party.
I might think life is like a party.
It does not mean I don't see it serious. Reversely, I see it what I should truely and utterly enjoy from the bottom of my heart. I learned how to enjoy it in Atsugi.

Now I sit on the chair in Tully's coffee in Kyoto. I drink coffee and watch the passangers on the street.
A beaitiful woman looks at me. No, she looks at the window to look at herself.
This kind of laughing thing has happend in Atsugi too.
It is an unchanging part of my life.
Maybe, I will sleep drunk in a bar in Kyoto. I should love such an unchanging part of myself.

VS Human Relatinship

2011-08-14T10:20:00.002+09:00

This month, I am drinking with my friends, business pertners, coworkers and so on every
day.
From September 5th, I start to work in Kyoto. So, this month, I have to drink with the friends around Tokyo, Kanagawa and Atsugi. This month, I don't refuse any drinking offer. And, on the no-offer day, I give the offer to my friends.

One thing I realised recenly is that my leaving can tighten my human relationship. I can know my friends' honest thinking. I can exchange the contact information with some people. Change might be a chance.

When I look back to the first day when I came from my hometown to Atsugi, I think human relationship is intersting. There was no friends and relatives here on the day. Although I forgot the process, I realised I am surrounded by more finds here than in my hometown.

Yesterday, I exchanged the contact information (e-mail address, mobile number and Twitter account) with a surfer. We sometimes see near the sea, but we didn't know each other well. We always just say Hello. But, he will give me the information of Shonan beach after I go to Kyoto. On the other hand, I promised him to send Kyoto information.
Now I am enjoying this kind of change or renewal of my human relationship.

VS Atsugi Library

2011-07-31T10:25:00.000+09:00

Before leaving Atsugi, I have to clean up many things. Human relationship is one of them. But it was and has been very clear for me in Atsugi. I don't worry about it.
What I worry about is my books.
During 15 years in Atsugi, I bought many books. Basically I didn't throw away the books after reading, so my small room is occupied by them. I have to make decision for their future.
Some will be moved to Kyoto with me. But many books have finished their role for me. That's why I decide to give them to Atsugi Library.

I am not sure the library likes my books. But I think I can give them some good collections. Because I am a professional book-salesman, I sometimes buy or get "rare" books. They are actually not rare. We can buy them easily. But I mean it is rare for Japanese public library to buy them. For their small budget, they always buy only popular books.

Today I brought a magazine collection to the library. The magazine started to be published only for the limited reader. It was not a commercial magazine. So, nobody couldn't buy it at that time. After some volumes were published, it became to be sold in bookstores. But its publication was finished a few years ago. The magazine's last volume was not in any bookstores. But I have it!
I hope Atsugi library can understand the value.

VS Transfer

2011-07-25T23:39:00.000+09:00

I got a transfer order to Kyoto from my boss.
It was too sudden. I did't anticipate it at all. So, I was very surprised.
For my book-sales business, Kyoto is a good place. That's why working in Kyoto is good for my career. And, also, Kyoto is my home town. I must win in my home town game.
However, to be honest, I feel sad to lose something here in Atsugi.
My Atsugi life is long. It's about 15 years. Even though the city is not my home town, it is now more comfortable than my home town.
My history in Atsugi is long. At this moment I am not sure how my future life is without Atsugi. It will be a good memory? If so, it's very good and it's a little sad.
Anyway, I have to prepare for my future life. This summer, I will be very busy.
Like my many friends who left Atsugi, I have to close my Atsugi life beautiful, with beautiful Sake.

VS Electric Books

2011-06-19T10:47:00.001+09:00

My company released Android version of new electric book service last month, and then iPad/iPhone version this month. The market of this new publication style in Japan is very small now, but will become bigger soon. Actually, the sales of electric books are bigger than the one of paper books in US. It must be the strong trend of publication.

When I talked about this new service with Japanese publishers, some had a strong interest and some were skeptical. A man of editorial job liked the new publication style. He seemed to think many new expressions can be made by authors and editors. On the other hand, a man of sales job seemed to think the sales would continue to be small. In fact, the sales of electric books in Japan is now just 4% in the market. His forecast of sales is low.

As a professional book salesman, my forecast is positive. Maybe the reading experience in electric books is different from paper's one. People can enjoy both styles. And, types of books will choose their publication format. Big and heavy dictionary should be electric, but for child books, paper is better because kids can bite, punch and throw them.
I am looking forward to the change of publication and my sales job.

VS Samurai Sheath

2011-06-11T22:56:00.002+09:00

I watched Japanese movie, Samurai Sheath (Sayazamurai, in Japanese) directed by a comedian, Hitoshi Matsumoto.
It was a very strange movie.
The story was about a samurai without sword. He always has only the sword case, sheath.
Only he can do is not yo fight, but to run away.
The character is very unique.
In addition, the casting is also unique.
The main character in the movie is not performed by a professional actor, but by a complete amateur person. Thus, he doesn't talk so much in the movie.
To be worse or better, he hadn't known he was acting in a movie until the half of the movie. He didn't know the reason why he was in a samurai wear for a long time.

This movie's story is funny. The main character was arrested and sentenced to die. But if he could make a governor laugh within 30 days, he can be released. So, he tries to make it.
If you like comedy and movie, this movie deserves to be watched.

VS Nagaya-kun

2011-06-05T18:54:00.002+09:00

I have the friend who is not my friend actually. His name is Nagaya-kun. Even though I have no reason to meet him, I sometimes meet him. He is one of the colleagues of my friend Akira Ito.
He is an engineer. I think he is working very well. I think he is a reliable person in his company. But, I always try to escape from the chance to drink with him. Because he is strange.
When drinking, he is always checking women. If the women look at him, he thinks they are fallen love with him. Even when the staff in the drinking place look at him to check his glass to offer another drink, he think the staff loves him.
As you can easily understand, we are embarrassed in that case.
Nagaya-kun was a boxer. I think his brain was damaged very much at that time. So, his strange thinking must be acceptable.
Unfortunately I had the chance to drink with him last night. We talked about many topics then, but I think he focused only on the female stuff in the drinking place. Of course no female staff looked at him. They looked at his glass. If it was empty, they would offer another glass to him.

Nagaya-kun was criticized many times by his friend for his behavior, but he wouldn't change his policy. I respect him. Even though no women is interested in him, he is always happy. And thanks to his strong imagination, he can feel loved by all women in the world.
I don't think we have to fix his damaged brain. He can speak. He can move his body. His brain works well. I think he can live in his imaginary world. If you want to know Nagaya-kun more, please contact Akira Ito. You can get the sample of the typical Japanese single male.

VS Bubby's

2011-05-08T22:01:00.003+09:00

Today, I went to Bubby's in Yokohama. It is the restaurant born in America. They opened the first Japanese franchise in Minatomirai, Yokohama.
I had known the existence of the restaurant in Yokohama, but I had never been to it for a long time. But, when I read METROPLIS, the free magazine published in Japan, last month, it informed us of its high quality hamburger. So, I had the strong desire to eat it, when I read the magazine.
By chance, I had the opportunity to go to Yokohama today. I went there to sell books in the annual congress of the Japanese neurological surgeons. Of course, I didn't truly and utterly know what kind of the books they bought. But it was not a problem. My purpose to go to Yokohama was just to go to Bubby's.

After the boring job to sell the books I could't understand, I went to the restaurant and ordered the hamburger and the black beer.
It took about 20 minutes for the burger to come. I thought it was too long, but the taste and quality was very good. Fortunately we Japanese are accustomed to McDonald or other chain burger restaurants. So, it is very difficult to imagine the taste of truly very different kinds of hamburger. This time, I could enjoy Bubby's burger very much. Its thick and medium rare hamburg was fitted to beer. And, because I think a hamburger is the symbol of the fast food, I ate it very fast. The style of eating is also important.

VS Golden Week

2011-04-29T20:38:00.000+09:00

Golden week started. Many Japanese has one week or ten days holiday in this season. One of my friends has half a month holiday. I have only continuous three days holiday, but it's enough for me.
I was surprised when I knew from the newspaper that many Japanese are going to the North-Eastern Japan for voluntary works in this Golden week. From the newspaper, the supply of voluntary workers are more than the demand in the disaster areas now.
At this moment when the people is reconstructing their life lines and fighting against the danger of radioactivity, the things I can do as a book salesman is little. So, I have to wait for the timing for a while. But, as a liquor lover, I can do many things now. Many liquor shops have the fare for cheering the disaster areas. They sell many types of Japanese sake because the area is the great place to brew sake. That's why I will try to drink it much more during my holidays.

After Golden week, my company will start cool biz. It is one month earlier than the last year. The aim is to prepare for the electricity shortage in this summer season. I will not wear tie and jacket from May. It's fantastic.
Now, I think, summer should be hot.
Until now, our summer was strange. We use air conditioners too much. In the too cool office, some people wear cardigans even in the summer. I think this year is the good chance to change our life style. If it's too hot to work, we should go to the sea or the river. I will go to buy a new beach wear this holidays.

VS Unification

2011-03-27T20:15:00.000+09:00

After the quake, I feel a kind of new unification is emerging in my country. People realize we have to help each other to protect themselves. Share the resource. Don't monopolize it. Donate for the victims. Contribute to their recovery.
This movement is very strong. On the every corners of the city, we can watch the donation in Japan. As usual in this season, Aeon students in Atsugi have a cherry blossom party in the student Koji's house. This year, some portions of the participant fee is used for the donation.
One reason of this kind of movement is the weekness of our government.
Unfortunately the government of Democratic Party of Japan is amateur, amateur and amateur. They can't handle this situation. However, fortunately Japanese looks matured. They know how to handle useless bosses. Maybe they are trained this kind of skill in their work place. I am happy to know we Japanese are very calm even in this bad situation.

last weekend, I joined the discussion class in Aeon. The teacher Sudhan gave us a interesting episode about the day of the earthquake. He was in a building in Tokyo, with many Japanese and many foreigners. When and after the quake happened, all Japanese stayed in the building, but most foreigners went out from the building.
The difference of their behavior was due to the difference of the trust to the strength of the building. It was a funny difference.
Now, this difference occurs in the attitude to the nuclear problem, I think. I want to keep the room in my heart to enjoy this difference.

VS Rakugo

2011-01-23T16:48:00.000+09:00

I have been to Rakugo for the first time in my life. Rakugo is one of the classical Japanese art, so I have watched it on TV. But I did't have the chance to go to listen to it. Maybe the reason is because the image of Rakugo is old men's hobby. Actually the story in Rakugo is almost about the old Japanese.

But, recently I met some publishers, and I knew they like to listen to Rakugo. And they invited me to go to Rakugo together. I was not sure I could enjoy it, but I decided to go with them because any new experience must be good.

The place we went to was a good place for Rakugo beginner. It was a Hokkaido food restaurant in Shinbashi, Tokyo. It is a small restaurant, but has a small stage. We can listen to Rakugo there, with eating delicious Hokkaidou foods and drinking Sake.

Because the story of Rakugo is mostly about the old Japan, it is sometimes difficult to understand the story's details without knowing old words, culture and social backgrounds of Japan. Of course, the store teller (Rakugoka) helps us know it, but too much explanation lose the tempo of the story. That's why we have to cover many parts by ourselves with our imagination.

I enjoyed and laughed very mush then. However, I forgot everything about the story now. Perhaps, before the Rakugo, I drunk too much. So, I will go to Rakugo again at the end of this month. Drinking time will be after Rakugo.

VS Sepak Takraw Revenge

2010-12-05T21:16:00.002+09:00

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

2010-12-05T00:53:00.002+09:00

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

2010-11-14T16:12:00.003+09:00

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

2010-11-03T19:49:00.002+09:00

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

2010-10-17T10:55:00.002+09:00

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

2010-10-09T22:42:00.002+09:00

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

2010-09-25T01:11:00.004+09:00

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

2010-09-20T19:50:00.002+09:00

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

2010-09-18T17:43:00.002+09:00

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

2010-09-12T20:14:00.002+09:00

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

2010-09-04T08:18:00.002+09:00

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

2010-08-18T13:58:00.002+09:00

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

2010-07-19T11:55:00.002+09:00

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

2010-06-21T14:02:00.002+09:00

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

2010-05-23T13:30:00.002+09:00

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

2010-05-15T15:28:00.002+09:00

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

2010-05-05T12:54:00.002+09:00

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

2010-04-29T15:05:00.002+09:00

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

2010-04-18T18:24:00.004+09:00

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

2010-04-03T14:44:00.002+09:00

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

2010-03-14T13:40:00.002+09:00

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

2010-02-21T15:52:00.005+09:00

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

2010-02-07T14:43:00.002+09:00

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

2010-01-31T13:07:00.002+09:00

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

2010-01-10T12:04:00.003+09:00

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.

VS NOUKAI

2009-12-30T13:58:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Christmas

2009-12-26T17:36:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Sepak Takraw Games

2009-12-20T14:20:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Hida Beef

2009-12-06T11:27:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Gifu Trip

2009-11-29T13:54:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Windy Enoshima

2009-11-17T20:41:00.001+09:00

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.

VS Sauce Fried Noodles

2009-11-14T17:15:00.004+09:00

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.

VS Performance

2009-11-08T14:34:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Journal Business

2009-11-03T13:42:00.004+09:00

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.

VS Bouts in Zama

2009-10-25T13:55:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Octoberfest 2009

2009-10-18T10:35:00.002+09:00

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.

VS THE GRIFFIN

2009-10-12T17:02:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Beer Brewing

2009-10-10T13:40:00.002+09:00

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!

VS Alumni Association

2009-10-03T14:22:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Soy Sauce

2009-09-21T12:20:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Something

2009-09-16T14:34:00.003+09:00

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.

VS Transition

2009-08-22T17:33:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Short Vacation

2009-08-16T20:09:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Festival

2009-08-09T17:11:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Social Enterprise

2009-07-25T16:36:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Surprise Birthday Party

2009-07-20T12:09:00.003+09:00

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.

VS Docomo

2009-07-12T14:52:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Twitter

2009-06-26T16:49:00.003+09:00

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.

VS Troubling Friend

2009-05-30T15:23:00.002+09:00

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?

VS Coming Birthday

2009-05-23T18:23:00.002+09:00

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...

VS Swine Flu

2009-04-26T15:36:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Beer Discussion

2009-04-11T16:38:00.003+09:00

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.

VS Contemporary Art

2009-04-04T17:11:00.002+09:00

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.

VS The Asiatic Society

2009-03-28T13:26:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Playing Sepak Takraw

2009-03-22T16:07:00.002+09:00

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.

VS New School

2009-03-15T12:09:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Mobile Culture

2009-03-01T14:27:00.002+09:00

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...

VS Surfing Extra Cold

2009-02-21T16:28:00.002+09:00

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.

VS The first wind

2009-02-14T14:33:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Pauwel Kwak

2009-02-01T13:32:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Unversity Goods

2009-01-24T16:47:00.003+09:00

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.

VS Gaza

2009-01-10T17:13:00.002+09:00

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.

VS Year End

2008-12-23T13:50:00.002+09:00

It's the peak of year end parties now in Japan. Shibuya on last weekend was filled with more people. I had a year end party with my coworkers in a crowded restaurant. 20 people shared a table for 15. The unmovable condition could make our relationship tight. It was a good party.
This month, I have many year end parties. Although I don't arrange the parties, many people ask me to have a drink to celebrate the end of this year.
Why do we celebrate it so much?
To be correct, we don't celebrate. We try to forget it.
Year end party is "Bounenkai" in Japanese. The meaning is the gathering for forgetting the year.

I got a Christmas card recently. It says "Merry Christmas, and a happy new year." For the west, The end of this year and the beginning of that new year are seamless. But, for Japanese, it is important to decide the end, to forget the past.
After the Christmas day, we try to clean up everything about Christmas, and prepare for the coming new year. Christmas tree in a town has gone to somewhere. We might look to try to forget the existence of the Christmas.

For Christmas party, this year's party in Aeon was held in the school. It was a nice idea. In this season, all restaurant are crowded and noizy. If we don't refuse to clean up the room after the party, the school is the good place to have a party.
Aeon staff prepared for foods, and we brougt the drinks by ourselves.
I think we had better bring something we can share, for example the bottle of wine, in this kind of party. But, many brought the drinks for themselves. It was okey, but we had better a little know what the party is for.

Back to year end parties, I don't have anything I have to forget. Maybe because this year was the good one for me. Or, everyday's day end parties make me forget everything? I hope it's not true.

VS Microfilm

2008-12-14T16:03:00.002+09:00

Most people might have no oppotunity to use microfilms. But, for book-salesmen, they are one of the comodities to sell. A huge numer of books, journals and manuscripts are made microfilms, by publishers or libraries.
To read microfilms, we need a special machine, Microfilm reader. Most people don't have such a machine. That's why we don't have the chance to read microfilms.

Recently, I sold two microflms to my customers.
One is the big collection of Japanese newspapers published from 1945 to 1949. During this periods, GHQ had collected all publications in Japan. And, University of Maryland preserved them in their library.
Now, the newspapers are made microfilms by American company, and we can buy it.
But! The price is very high.
Instead of the microfilms, we can buy a house in Tokyo!
Because an university really really wants them, I sold them. Tokyo lost one house.

Another customer will buy the microfilms of many manuscripts in Arabic countries. This microfilms are not as expensive as the collection of Japanese newspapers. But, the price is as same as the house in Atsugi.
I think the value of the Arabic microfilms is higher. Because, there are no libraries or institutes with them in Japan.
Because my company opened a new shop in Dubai, it might be becoming popular to study Arabic culture in Japan.
Anyway, Atsugi lost one house.

VS Surfer Tetsu

2008-12-13T14:39:00.002+09:00

The surfer sergeant Tetsu, around 45, was a professional surfing trainer based on Enoshima beach. Recently he quited his job, and went to Italy to know modern Italian cuisine. He will start Italian restaurant business next year.

When I surfed for the first time, I learned it from him. I joined a surfing school, and got his lesson. The keeping my balance on a board was very difficult for me then, but it is an easy job now. Long time has passed since then.

I heard that he was a chef before. He will come back to his old job. I thought the restaurant business is very very taugh now because of economical recession. But fortunately he seems to have a good sponsor. I hope of his success.

During summer time, many people come to Enoshima beach, but in other seasons, the beach is calm. His new restaurant might bring more people there.

VS Noge

2008-11-29T15:24:00.000+09:00

I went to Pacifico Yokohama to watch a exhibition for librarians this week. Not only librarians but also book-salesmen were interested in the exhibition.
After that, I visited Noge area for drinking.

Noge is an old-fashioned area in Yokohama. It was the great night sopt before, but now many popular places emerges in Yokohama. Noge has became unpopular. In addition, the area's image became bad due to the existence of many prostitues around there.
But recently, some people in Yokohama is trying to change the area's image. They invites young film makers there to make the area cultural.

At the night, I went to an old drinking place (60 year old) with my coworkers. I drunk hot sake with the fin of globefish, Hirezake in Japanese. Thanks to either the alchool or the poison, I was drunk very much. After the place, we moved to a pub where only one grandmother is working. We ordered Whisky, but she refused it and made Shochu for us. We were a little hungry, so ordered spagetti, but she rufused again. She didn't want to cook then, so she brought a meal for her dinner to us. We thought we were in our house.

Noge is the area you have to visit.

VS Business Blog

2008-11-22T14:43:00.003+09:00

Do you know the term, Business Blog?
It is the blog used for the communication in a company, which is becoming popular now. Blog itself has already been popular yet in our society. And now, people start to use it for their business.
I know the benefit of blog very well. It make me keep in touch with friends living far away easily. And, writing something in public makes my thinking clear. So, when I knew the existence of business blog system, soon I agreed with introducing it into my company. I thought it must be useful for our working, and interesting because we can know each other more.
However, I realised soon it is not welcome for everybody. Some dislike such a system. My boss is one of them.

Blog is the communication tool in public. Any communication becomes public even though the issue is private. Some bosses hate it, because they want to enclose what they say just in their division. Of course, comfidential things must be enclosed in the division. Private things is too. But, the things about everyday's job should be open to everybody, I think. Who makes the decision? How do I treat the matter? What is the result? They must be checked by others. However, some like to hide what they do. Such people don't like the system for open-communication.
When one of my bosses tried to stop the use of business blog, I wrote a long report for its benefit, to boss's boss. In addition, I advertised the blog to my coworkers everywhere in my company, in order to get my supporters. I don't like this kind of "political" action, but unfortunately I am good at it. My action workd very well.

However, it isn't the only one problem. The bigger problem exists.
There are many people who are not interested in others.
They don't care for other's job, other's remarks and others themselves.
They don't check blog. Of course, they don't wirte anything.
Even if the blig is useful for their job, they aren't interested in it.
I can't enforce them to use the blog. It's their working style. But, I can't understand what is interesting for them in their job if they can't be interested in the people working together.
I like to know what other sales-person is doing in Okinawa. I like to read what the person in a technical division is writing.

Although there are many resisters against open-communication, I am optimistic. I think a business blog system will change Japanese companies' culture. The book store based on the philosophy of freedom of expression have to change the company's culture at first.

VS Street Performance

2008-11-08T14:11:00.002+09:00

Next Atsugi News.

CHANGE is the key word of Atusgi, as known well all over the world.
We need something new. We need fresh perspective.
We have to change.
We wouldn't stop changing.
When we stop changing, it means we come to death.
Living people is always changing.
And, living city is also changing.
Atsugi city is not dead. This city is an undead city.

The 1st international street performance festival in Atsugi is held now. 44 street performamce groups is coming to Atsugi now, and they show us thier great works. Magic, acrobat, pantomime, comedy and so on.
I had thoght they were amaturer's works, but I knew their level is very high. I enjoyed watching them very much.

This event will be able to a new every-year's event in Atsugi.
Actually, street performance is fitted to Atsugi, I think.
Atsugi has many narrow roads, and the corners on the street. Small show is just fitted to such places.
Imagine the street performance on the big street in Tokyo. Nobody stop in front of the show, because they don't care for it.
Atsugi is the best place for street performers.

This event will last untill tomorrow.

VS Shiro Koro

2008-11-03T13:44:00.002+09:00

I have to report for my town Atsugi's great work. In B-1 grandprix, which is the competition for B-calss food all over the Japan, held recently in Fukuoka prefecture, Atsugi's Shiro Koro won No.1.
Shiro Koro is a brand name of pork innards( Horumon in Japanese). I can eat it soon in Yakiniku restaurant in Atsugi.
I don't know the definition of B-class food, yet it's a great thing for Atsugi to be popular. My friend emailed me soon after the grandprix to say that he will eat Siro Koro at his next visit of Atsugi. The gathering of all pork lovers will make Atsugi's economy better.

VS LOUIS VUITTON

2008-11-02T14:09:00.003+09:00

LOUIS VUITTON City Guide Tokyo was published yesterday. Since 1998, LV has published many countries' guide books. And, at last, Tokyo's version was published for the first time. It reminds me of the first appearence of Michelin Guide Tokyo last year. It must be ture that LV Tokyo is one of the big news in Japanese publishing world this yaar. I don't know why, but my company Kinokuniya is the only one book store to sell the book in Japan.

When I drunk in Soiree, a samll bar with just ten seats, in Shinjyuku, Tokyo, last week, a TV director had negotiated the staff to interview the owner of the bar. From him, I knew that the bar is on the guide book. Nobody, including me and even the staff, thought the bar deserves LV's introduction. So, we were surprised.
The staff refused the TV man's offer, because she didn't know LV is publishing a guide book. But, thanks to the exsitence of a professional book salesman in the bar then, she called the bar owner to come there soon. (The day was his day-off.)
After his coming, the interview started, and TV crews took shooting the bar inside. Of course, I was inside too. Because I was a customer.
The bar owner doesn't know why the bar was choosen by LV. So, he was a little confused. In addition, the guide book writes the bar owner is a woman! From the viewpoint of French, he might look female.

It was unfortune that I couldn't check whether I was on TV or not, because I don't have a television.
Moreover, unfortunately my company is not on the guide book even though other book stores are introduced as nice shops to visit! I don't know why LV choose Kinokuniya as the distributor. LV's selection is certainly unique.
I add that the description in the book is also unique and interesting. We can understand the history of Tokyo well.

VS Strong Yen

2008-10-26T13:50:00.002+09:00

While I enjoy some drinking oppotunities, like Hallowen party, and am relaxed this month, I am spending busy days because my business is at one of the peaks in a business year.
I have to contract my customers for import many things from foreign countries.
Just importing is an easy job. But, always, the job is set with price negotiation. As my friends know well, I am a taugh negotiater, but talking about price is certainly annoying even for me.
In my situation, recent strong yen is the main factor of controversy. A month ago, $1 was around 107 yen. But now it's about 95 yen. And last week, it was 90 yen for a short period. In this monetary situation, pricing of imported commodities is very very difficult.
Because I am not trader, but just a book salesman, I am a completely amateur for international money. In addition, and to be worse, my customer is an amateur too. So, our negotiation can't reach the reasonable goal at all. It is a stressful situation.
But I am lucky because I have many drinking oppotunities this month as I wrote above. They softens my tension very well.

For Natto lover Mike, I want to export Natto to the States, but it must be a bad timing now. The cheap food in Japan becomes a very expensive one for celebrity in US. Constructing Natto factory there may be a good solution at this moment.

VS Bug Eating

2008-10-13T13:43:00.002+09:00

The topic of the discussion class in Aeon last week was Bug Eating. An article in Japan Times introdued a recent pulished Japanese book about bug cuisine. Based on the article, we discussed about the theme.

This author says that Bug is nutritionally balanced and easy to feed. So, Bug eating can solves the global food shortage. In addition, he says Bug itself is very tasty. Fro him, the taste of Cicadas(Semi, in Japanese) is similar to shrimps.
In the book, he shows us many kinds of his original bug cuisine.

Actually, in some areas and coutries in the world (mainly Asia and Africa), Bug is eaten by the people. Even in Japan, Bug is eaten in some local foods. I also have eaten it in my childhood. The taste? Honestly, for young boy, it was shit! I haven't tried it after that.

However, I can respect the auther's investigation. To make our food life rich, somebody have to explore the world nobody have stood on. For example, Natto is one of the grotesque food in Japan, but now it is popular to the extent taht we can buy it in any super market. Due to an old Japanese challange, we can enjoy it now.
That's why the auther's trial mught be able to deserve Novel Food Prize.

But, to be honest, I am skeptical to the safety of Bug Eating. Even dogs and cats wouldn't eat bugs. If bug is tasty and good for our health, why don't they eat it? Maybe, there is a natural reason there. This author thinks we have't eaten Bugs for our prejudice. But, because dogs and cats are free from prejudice, we had better think of Bug Eating more carefully.

VS Presidential Election

2008-10-13T13:33:00.002+09:00

American is funny. While their Presidential Election itseif looks an entertainment, they make related new entertainments too. This site Lance taught me is one of the good examples.

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=46832&altf=Bljp&altl=Lpcbzbtij

VS Octoberfest 2008

2008-10-11T14:00:00.002+09:00

The most popular German beer festival, Octoberfest, started in Yokohama last week! As a beer lover, I can't miss the event. I went to Yokohama last weekend.
I reported about this event in this blog last year. It was my first time to join Octoberfest. It was a fantastic experience.
This year, I went there again, to know the character of German beer and festival more.

Following German trend, I started with white beer. The bitter of hop is weak, and you can feel fruity and a little milky. After enjoying it, German pilsner and black continued. Needless to say, they all have a great taste. I enjoyed them very much.

Not only beer but also German music is enjoyment in the event. A German local music group comes to Yokohama for the event. Their music pushes us to more beer! The song for cheers is the climax of this event. Exerybody sang this song;

Ein Prosit der Gemutelichkeit

Eine Prosit Eine Prosit Der Gemutelichkeit.

Eine Prosit Eine Prosit Der Gemutelichkeit.

Eine! Zwei! Drei! G'suffa! Prost!

( Cheers for comfortment.

Cheers Cheers the comfortment.

Cheers Cheers the comfortment.

One! Two! Three! Drink! Cheers!)

Many people stand on the chairs and say "Prost!". And, of course, drink! We can feel a strong unity at the moment.
I was told by a doctor not to drink too much in my health check. But, when facing a beer event, nobody can be allowed to escape from it. I have to say "Prost!" tomorrow again...

VS Proposal

2008-10-05T14:20:00.002+09:00

My friend, Hideto, is thinking that he makes a proposal to his girl friend. He met her in July, and soon seemed to think the girl must be his future wife.
He asked me where he should make a proposal?
Where?
It was an unexpected question for me because I had thought anywhere is ok. So, when listenning to him at first, I couldn't give him any good answer.
And now, I think the question was not valid to ask me, because I am single.

Anywho, next day, I asked the question to some female coworkers; Where do you want to have a proposal?
I had better change the way to live. "Anywhere" was not women's answer. They have some ideal images for their getting a proposal.
They said that it should be on the beach or in the room. And they add that it have to be after five PM.
The word of proposal might have to be delivered on time by Fedex.

On the other hand, the two men I asked where you made a proposal to your wife, have already forgotton the place at all. "Somewhere" was their answer. Of course, it is a bad answer for their wives.
I hope Hideto can find where he can't forget the location.

VS Origine of Beer

2008-09-27T18:19:00.002+09:00

Although there are many types of beer (for example, black beer, white beer, ale beer, trapist beer, and so on), 80% of consumed beer in the world is shared by pilsner type, which is the most popular in Japan too. Four major Japanese beer companies (Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory) provide us with much pilsner.

Pilsner Urquell is the historical origine of all pilsner, made in Czech and Slovak. I enjoyed it recently in a beer pub. I tried to drink it because I should not only drink beer and also study the history of beer. "Study" might be extreme, but it is good for hte topic of conversation in a pub.
Beer is progressing. So, I had thought that drinking classical beer didn't have any more meaning of experience. Modern beer must be better for our tongue.

However, the quality of Pilsner Urquell is over its historical position. The taste was quite simple but very high. It doesn't add anything with beer. It was my impression when drinking it for the first time. Compared with it, Japanese beer might be sweeter.

I read an article about Pilsner Urquell later. For Urquell's brewers, it seems to be a taugh work to keep the beer's taste same as the origine. "Change" is the word people likes because it sounds challanging. But, for Urquell's brewers, "Unchange" is challanging. I was impressed by their great job.

VS Librarian's Job

2008-09-21T13:25:00.002+09:00

Recently I am selling a huge number of medical books to a school. The school's major is Oriental medcinen, so the books they are collecting are interesting. Not only new books but also the rare books like antique medical books in China, are holded by them.
My job is to find good books fitted to their major, and to sell them. After selling them, my interest usually goes to another business. I wouldn't be interseted in the sold book's future. Who reads it? How is it used? Whether is it useful or not? Such questions are over book-salesman's job.
However, recently my job is becoming close to the library, especially University's library, thus I have to think about the above once ignored questions. Because librarty's mission is to help students or teachers use books easily.

I have never studied Library science yet. So, the lack of the knowledge about it was my weakness. Especially, Cataloging is the most important and difficult knowledge. I heard from an old librarian that a librarian('s life) starts with cataloging, and finishes at cataloging.
Cataloging is the job and knowledge to organize the huge number of books in a library. The old man's remark was very impressive for me.

Last week, I had the chance to study librarian's job by chance. When drinking with some librarians, I asked them to teach me their job. They said, "OK. Come to our library. We will teach the whole process of our job."
It is rare that a book-salesman is interested in their job. That's why they might have been interested in me. Kindly, they made soon the two-day's study course for me.

The two-say's study was very helpful for me. I can't write down the detail here because it's too specific, but one of the impressive things was that Cataloging is related to the library's history.
I will give you an example. As you know, all books are categorised in a library. This book is in Japanese literaure. That book is in Philosophy. That one is in Biology. However, it is difficult to categorise the book with the title, "Postmodernity". When watching the title, librarians at first try to investigate how the book is categorised in other libraries. But, the most inportant thing is how the same kinds of books are categorised before in the library. Because, for students and teachers, it is useful that same kinds of books are on the same shelf. So, Librarians have to know their library's history.
It was a good experience for me to know the depth of their job.

VS Bocce Ball

2008-09-20T10:52:00.003+09:00

Bocce Ball is a outdoor game with which most of Japanese are unfamilier. I played it with Scott, Peter and others last weekend. In a park on a sunny day, it is good for our relaxing. We can enjoy the game even with drinking beer.

Bocce Ball uses a small white ball like a golf ball, and some pairs of colorful balls bigger than the white ball.
This game is like golf or carling. At first, one player throw the white ball in the field. It should be thrown far, to make the game exciting.

The thrown white ball becomes our target. Players throw their colorful balls to the target, the white ball.
The player who can throw the colorful ball to the point closest to the white ball, can get a score. Each player have two same color ball, and if the two balls are closer to the white ball than any other player's balls, then you can get two scores!

If your cotrol of the balls could be excellent, and your ball could be on the white ball, Congratullation! In that case, you can get additional two scores.

Next round starts with the white ball again. Somebody(usually, loser in the last round) throws the white ball to the direction he likes. Toward the new target, we start to throw our ball again.

When the playing field is a large park, the game is like a travel. We will move from the end of the park to the another end. Needless to say, it is better that Beer and Food wil follow the white ball with us.

VS Sumo Wrestler

2008-09-13T14:29:00.002+09:00

Two Russian Sumo wrestler, Rohou, 28, and HakuRozan, 26, were discharged recently for their taking marihuana. And, another Russian, Wakanohou, 20, was also fired from Sumo wrestling for owning marihuana.
Rohou and Hakurohou is denying their taking marihuana, and not trusting the anti-doping test they took. But, they are refusing to take the test again.
Wakanohou's case is diffrent from other two. He was fired just for having an illegal thing. He can't agree with the Sumo association's decision, so now he is sueing them.

They did a bad thing. So, they heve to be punished. So, they lost their job. I understand that very well, but I can't stop worrying about their future. Without Sumo, they can live?
Newspaper says that some of them might go to other world of marial arts. But, I think it's impossible. Sumo is a very special (and strange) sport. So, no wresler could make a success in other martial art. "If you are put out of this field, you lose." This very unique rule makes a big fat man strong. Sumo wrestler is strong in Sumo rule. So, they shouldn't go out of Sumo rule.
That's why I worry about their life after losing Sumo.

I don't deserve to say anything about marihuana, but they did a bad thing to the extent that they have to lose their life work? Even after some punishments, it's not ok for them to come back to Sumo?
If they had sold marihuana to others, it's very bad because they expanded it into our society. But, taking marihuana for themselves itself is their business. (Of course, it is illegal though.) Because they dodn't do bad things to others, I think they can get the chance to come back to their life after getting punishments. This thinking is too indulgent?

I hope to know the opinion that the people who know the Russioan Sumo wrestlers personally have. The wrestlers are good men or bad men? If they have a good relationship with friends in Japan, some must support them to bring them back to Sumo. The key point is whether they have a real friend or supporter in Japan or not.

VS Roman food

2008-09-07T15:43:00.003+09:00

I went to a Roman restaurant in Takadanobaba, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo. The restaurant name is Taverna. In Japanese the name sounds 'Don't eat.' In Italy, it just means a restaurant.
Italian food is popular in Japan, but Roman food is very special. Altohugh I had no idea for it, I chose the restaurant for a drinking party with my colleague.
I worried about the price of the dishies a little, but they were not cheap but reasonable.
We ordered a casual course menu because we don't know Roman food at all. Starting with appetizers on a large plate, risotto, spaghetti, fish food, beef food. The amonut of each dish was big, so some female coworkers gave up eating some.
For me, the difference of Roman food and typical Italian food was not clear. But, those foods were very good. They were fitted very much to red and white wine. Thus, we drunk many bottles of wine on the day. I have to add that I was shocked when looking at the check. Delicious is Dangerous.

The restaurant owner is very talkative. Even if you go for a dinner there alone, you wouldn't get tired. The restaurant's head office is in Roma. If you can go to Tokyo or Roma, please enjoy thier dishes.

VS Retaliation

2008-09-06T15:59:00.002+09:00

"Retaliation" was the topic in my English discussion class today. Eye-for-an-eye Revenge is good or bad? In Budhist country, it's bad. In Hindu country, it's very good. If you get hit by a man, do you hit back the man? If you say "Of course, yes. I hit back the man.", you wouldn't be Japanese. When Japanese gets hit by others, the most start to think about the possibility that they did something bad to the person.
It doesn't mean Japanese wouldn't hit back others. My point is that most Japanese tend to lose the chance or timing to retaliate others. Therefore, I might say Japanese has peaceful character.

The example which my English teacher Sudhan gave us in our class was interesting.
In Nepal, if you drive a motobike on the road and hit a woman, many passangers watching the accident will come close to you soon, and punch you! The woman must be damaged and couldn't retaliate you, so many others make it for her. You can't have the chance to excuse, because many people rush to come to you after the accident happens. The only you can do is just to avoid from a fatal damage form the punch.
In Japan, such a thing wouldn't happen. We might be too cool. We will help the woman, but not punish you by myself. Your-eye-for-his-eye thinking is radical and funny.

VS Thunder and Rain

2008-08-30T15:28:00.002+09:00

The weather in this summer is strange. Sometimes it rains heavily like a squall. Many accidents by flood have happened in Japan. Rain always starts suddenly, so I bought many umbrellas this month. And, thunder. It looks clear and strong, and continues long. As watching it, first, I felt it is beautiful like fireworks, and then I became scared with it. It is difficult to describe my feeling, but I thought the thunder of this summer is the diffrent type I have never met before. Japan's climate is changing now.

For a surfer, Nature must be a friend. But, the only thunder can't be a friend. It attacks the man on the board without any consideration. That's why I had to cancel to go for surfing many times. I'm okey because I can surf in autumn. But, the business of the seaside houses must be bad, and they can't recover in autumn. I'm afraid of their business. They could earn money to live until next summer?

VS Watching Olympic

2008-08-16T18:32:00.003+09:00

I had stayed in Kyoto, my hometown, for five days as my summer holidays. I had no special plan there, so I watched Olympic games on TV very much. TV is rare in my life because I don't have TV in my house. That's why I could enjoy watching Olympic very much.
To be honest, I was not interested in the Olympic in China before it started. I had more interest in the political issues in China. However, many athletes' great performance captured my heart. I watched swimming, soccer, ping pong, jyudo, soft ball, baseball, badminton, valley ball, horse riding, and so on.
I used almost all time in Kyoto to watch the games on TV.

This time, Jyudo looked like a different sport for me. Or, it might have became a diffrent type of sport. It is now like a wrestling.
When I can throw a person beautifully in Jyudo, I can get IPPON and win. I thought the throwing-beautifully is the most important factor in Jyudo. But, from my viewpoint, there were not many beautiful arts in this Olympic. Getting socres to win looked to have more priority for most athletes than winning beautiful. Jyudo style seems to be changing.

Even though most of Japanese are enjoying watching Olympic games now, the former prime minister Jyunichiro Koizumi had played bowlling with his friends. He told us on TV that bowlling should be played in Olympic. He is still a strange man.

VS Russia

2008-08-12T13:58:00.003+09:00

Georgia is saying "Give up!". Other countries watching the battle are also saying "It's over. Don't fight more." But Russia can't stop fighting. They looks to be crazy for drining Vodka too much.
Although I don't deserve to be a commentator to the internetional relationship among the former Soviet Union's countries, I can say this activity of Russia is breaking the important rule (of War); When looking at a white flag, we have to stop attacking.
Or, Russia prefer a red flag again?

At this moment, Russia doesn't have the right to show their country's flag in this Olympic games. I don't know why IOC exclude Russian team from this Olympic. I think it's the best message to stop Russian government's action. Some might say Sports are diffrent from Politics, and I think it should be so, but it's not real. Politics effect on Sports, and Sports can effect on Politics.

Don't give a gold medal to the countries at war. How about this new rule in the Olympic?

VS Summer Holiday

2008-08-06T15:20:00.002+09:00

Today is my summer holiday. I can't take long holidays this summer due to some works, so my holiday is random.
I went to Shonan beach to surf this early morning. Although the surfing time was short (because, in August, we can surf only before 8 AM and after 5 PM on the sea, to avoid the accident with many swimmers) and today's wave was very small for surfing, I could enjoy very much. Because staying on the sea is fun on the hot day.

After surfing, I went to a umi-no-ie (a temporary beach house) and had a breakfast, with beer. The breakfast on the beach was good.

After that, I went to a CD shop in Machida to check a new song of Southern All Stars. It was a noce song as I had expected.

Now I am reading a book in a internet cafe. Tonight I will go to Aeon for a discussion class.

No big plan, just some relaxing events. It's good for my refreshing.

VS R.U. Festival

2008-08-02T15:10:00.003+09:00

The most important and biggest event in my town Atsugi, Ayu Festival, is held now. No people living in Atsugi city can't miss this festival. Tonight we can watch a firework show as the festival's peak. Not only Atsugi regidents but also the people form other areas come to watch it. Now (16:04 pm), Atsugi city is becoming crowded more and more. There will be a lot of people here until midnight.

A famous veteran female singer, Ayumi Nakamura, came to this festival last night to sing her songs at the opening event of Ayu festival. Because her name is similar to the festival's name, she might be called to join this festival. Anyway it's good for a famous singer to come to this local event.

I will go to Koji's house tonight and drink with my Aeon friends and and others. It's the easiest and usual way in the recent previous years to enjoy the firework show. Because it's very comfortable to stay in Koji's house even though it's not my house, I always drink a lot there. So, I will be drunk again tonight.

After Ayu festival, the firework show on Enoshima beach(5th) and Beer Party in my company(7th) are waiting for me the next week. Summer exists for festivals.

VS Life Penalty

2008-07-20T09:23:00.002+09:00

Now death penalties have been put into practice once two months in Japan. The minister of Justice, Kunio Hatoyama, don't postpone the process of the penalty. 77% of Japanese supports him, maybe because they think death penalty works well to stop murder. Recently when the people who don't think so wrote that Mr. Hatoyama is "the god of death" in a newspaper, a lot of readers criticized the newspaper even though the expression was like a black joke.

A few month ago, Death penalty was a topic in my English discussion class. It was a very controversial topic, so we argued very much. My opinion was clear. I don't think death penalty works to decrease the murder. That's why I don't support death penalty.
In fact, when thinking about the massacre in Akihabara, the penalty is meaningless. Because the murderer has no motivation to live. He hated his life and this world, and killed many people. The lack of life imprisonment certainly gets rid of our choice.

However, I can understand the feeling of the people whose relatives are killed suddenly by the guy they don't know. The death penelty suppoter says it is important to support the feeling of the victims. I think so too.
That's why I don't always deny death penalty. If I were a victim, I want to teach the murderers what to be killed is. They will know soon it is very unconfortable.

"The reason why we aren't allowed to kill others is because we don't know how to atone for it." I read this nice phrase recently by chance in a comic book.
The murderer in Akihabara will be sentenced to death. He deserves to die. But, he must not die till he understands the meaning of the phrase above. It's my opinion at this moment.