VS Bocce Ball

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

VS Massacre in Akihabara

Many succeeding things have occured after seven people were killed in Akihabara, Tokyo, on 8th, by the man, 25, who hated this world, proclaimed to kill people on the internet and made it. He seems to be a kind of icon. After he was arrested, some dullish guys tried to do the same thing. Fourtunately because they were dull to the extent that they don't know it's easy to identify the suspicious man on the internet, they were arrested before they had done it.

After the cruel murder, one of female coworker in my office told me that she was scared to go out from fer house for worrying that a same thing can happen around her.
I can understand her worry, but I can say we are basically safe.

Reason 1: The numer of killed people is not high in Tokyo when considering its huge population.

Reason 2: The killer in Akihabara could kill only seven people even though he prepared for the murder. The reason is clearly beacuse he couldn't use a gun but a knives.

So, I am convinced that the massacre in Akihabara wouldn't change our safety life in Japan.

But, even I seem to worry about my safe a little now.
Today, when I was reading a magazine in a book store, a man shouting something ran toward me. At the moment, I was very scread.
He was just a mentaly handycaped man. So, his shouting was just the failure to contorol the volume of his voice, and he didn't have the intension to run toward me and just had the intension to come close to the magazine shelves.
That's why I really didn't have to be scared with him.
Akihabara might infuluence my mind.

The arrested man will be sentenced to the death penalty.
Recetly, the number of the death penalty is increasing in Japan.
Moreover, the practice of the death penalty is also increasing.
Related to Akihabara, I will write about Death penalty on the next article.
My opinion will be "Don't kill the murderer till he will be sorry for his action."

VS Meguro

One month has passed since I started to work in Meguro, Tokyo.
Compared with other big cities in Tkoyo, like Shibuya, Shinjyuku and so on, Meguro has a local city's atmosphere. I like it.
Now I commute to my office by using four lines. It takes around two hours to go there. The route I use is not the fastest one for me to reach my company. But the route is more comfortable because the numeber of commuter is less than others. That's why everyday I am happy because I can move in the train. On other routes, I have to freeze in a train car.

Two hours commuting is very long. And, It is Tokyo. But I wonder that I don't have any stress to it. Everday is like a trip. For a trip, the moving from a place to another place itself is enjoyment.
This might mean that it is still unusual event like a trip for me to work in Tokyo.
Actually I sometimes feel strange to the working condition or culture in my company's head office, even though I am working in a same company since I stared to work after the school. Each divisions and offices seem to have their own culture.
I am enjoying the challange to adjust to it and change it now.

Meguro's international atmosphere is great especially for foods! I can eat any genres of foods there. Recntly I found a good Spanish restaurant, whose branch is in Kannai, Yokohama. Because I sometimes used the restaurant in Yokohama, I have to enjoy Paella again in Meguro.
NOt only international foods but also many national foods are there. Sometimes I go to Amami island's food restaurant. Eating the local chicken food and drinking the black suger sake reminds me of a good memory of the travel to the island.

There is the office of Hori Production, one of the biggest entertainment companies many singers, comedians, acters and actresses belong to, in Meguro. Sometimes I walk near the office, with the expectation to meet famous people by chance. Unfortunately I haven't have such a chance yet, but someday I can meet and shake hands with somebody. You can easily understand why two hours is not long for me.

VS No Wave

Small wave as usual. Many surfers complained to Enoshima beach today and were looking forward to tomorrow. They are expecting for the good performance by the typhoon far from Japan, on the Pacific Ocean.

To me, the small and weak wave don't deserve the complaint today. Due to my finger accident, I haven't surfed for six months. Long long no wave days. So, today was the day for my coming back to the sea. Because any wave is better than no wave, I could enjoy surfing very much.

My surfing skill certainly stops going forward but not goes back. But my muscle might have become weak for my long-time blank of surfing. I felt the difficulty to surf today. I understood again that it is important to continue.

Many shops opening only during summer season rush to be constructed now on the beach. It is the usual scene of Enoshima, too

VS Happy Monday

I watched a DVD,"Happy Monday", by Miyuki Torii, a genius comedian I think. There could be many more interesting comedians than her, but she is actually diffrent from others. And, there could be many more different persons than her, but she is actually an authentic comedian.
In short, she is unique.

Now she is becoming popular in Japan, so the film maker must have made this DVD rapidly, to sell it the most. So, "Happy Monday"'s quality is, I think, not high.
"Mr. Yoshida, a rice shop man" and "Masako" were already well-known stories, and
"100 questions to Miyuki Torii" was too easy to get her interesting points.
However, even though, we can enjoy her world in the DVD.
Her best parts I like is her vocabulary. Her words-selection in her comedy is very original and vivid, and often even intellectual. I like her story about 60's Japanese Red Army, based on "Little Red Riding Hood". We can watch it in this DVD, but because the story is a little dangerous, the director cut almost all parts of the story! That's why nobody can't understand waht the story is.

Anyway, to enojoy this DVD, you have to understand Japanese well. Even if you are Japanese.

VS Marriage Blue

One of my best friends, named Mr. Mad Dog, is going to be chained tomorrow in Tokyo. I had thought nobody can chain the dog because he loves freedom, but he found out his owner at last. He will get married soon.
For looking at his last figure as a single dog, we drunk together a week ago. Like any other dogs before being chained at dinner time after taking a walk and enjoying their free time, he looked nervous then. It might be what we call Marriage Blue. He taught me the importance of patience. He must be very patient at this moment.
But anyway, he found his best owner. Because I know the owner, I can say the dog will become stronger. The mad dog controlled by a smart owner has no enemy. So, I can say conguratulation from the bottom of my heart.

VS Public Service

I don't konw the detail but a law about the streets in Japan seemed to be changed several months ago. For blind persons, textured paving blocks are now attached on many streets. The yelloew blocks must be helpful for the blind. However, the blocks makes another problem happen.

A textured paving block is not thin.
If you put the block on the street, the street becomes uneven and not-flat.
So, to keep the street flat, we have to dig it and put the block "under" the street.

But Japanese public service is crazy as usual.
After they put the block on the street without digging it, they poured new asphalt on the street in order to make it even.

As the result, new walking streets become higher now than before.
When you cross the street, you can find the diffrence in level, which makes the moving of old people or wheelchairs difficult.

This is the typical work by Japanese public service.

VS Discussion Class

I can easily forget what I discussed about, but now I am going to be able to remember the missing part of my memory. Due to the big effort of a discussion friend in Aeon, Tadahisa, I can review the topic we discussed in this blog site.
It was originally designed by him, to inform the schedule of futsal games (for Aeon's unofficial futsal team). But he added the page for our English class on the site. Even though Aeon doesn't authorize such a site, my condition in English study is powered by IT technology and my friends.

VS Beerfall

My lifelong trip to the best beer is continueing. Many kinds of beer is waiting for my opening of their taps. I cannot betray their expectation. There is beer there. I don't have to add any other explanations except for that to shout my next bottle.

Cataratas in Shibuya is a good beer bar. It is located close to Shibuya station but not at the center of the commercial area. So the atomosphere is relaxing. When I went to the bar, most customers inside were the regulars. It's the good sign as a successful pub.
Cataratas treats mainly Belgian beer and German beer. But on the day, I tried Austrian beer. It's very rare in Japan.

This pub is mamaged by a couple. They went to all over the world for one year, for their honeymoon and for studying the world beer. After coming back to Japan, they opened the pub. It is understandable that many rare beer names are on their menu.

What the Dickens is an authentic british pub in Ebisu. Music lives seems to be held every night. When I went there, a blues band was playing songs. The atomosphere in the pub is international. Most customer were foreigners. I ordered a beer with the name of the special year as a turning point in 20th century, 1968. The taste was bitter but mild, like other classical british beer.

At last, I went to Ushitra in Shimokitazawa. In the bar, we can drink many kinds of Japanese local draft beer.
We tend to think beer has bubble or should have bubble. However this bar doesn't think bubble is good for beer. They serve us beer after eraseing bubble. It's original.

Beer is our life.

VS International Futsal Game

I went to watch an international futsal game, Japan vs Ukraine, in Yoyogi yesterday. To brush up my futsal skill, I needed to watch professional players' technique.
You might ask me if there are professinal futsal player in Japan? Yes. Last year, a professional futsal league, F.League, started in Japan. 8 teams are competing in the league.
Because the league is very young, Japanese futsal's professionality looks lower than any other major sports. Even though the game I watched was an international game, only around 5000 people came to watch it. The ticket for the game cost 1000 - 2000 yen. Compared with other professional sports, it was very cheap. For example, a baseball game is about twice, and a soccer game is about twice or three times.
That's why Japanese futsal players must have the difficulty to earn money.
In Yoyogi gymnasium, I thought most of around 5000 audiences play futsal by themselves. They love futsal very much.
But, I thought the league needs the people who watches futsal but don't play it. Most successful professional sports are getting their supporters as pure watchers.
Futsal is compact, easy to understand, and speedy. So it's entertaining. I think this sport can become more popular to one of the major sports in Japan.
To be honest, watching soccer is sometimes boring for me, but I didn't have such a feeling about futsal.

VS Farewell parties

The torch relay had passed throgh Japan peacefully. Just only six people were arrested during the relay. 5000 chinese people seemed to defend the torch's safety delivery. The six would be brave but not have the possibility to win.

Like the torch, I will pass through my office soon to transfer to another division in Tokyo. Recently every night I have farewell parties with my coworkers or my customers. Restless drinking days certainly damages my body. Drinking with many people itself is fun, but tiring because my tension have to be kept high. So, for relaxing, I am drinking alone in a bar. I don't know why my liver gets angry.

I don't care for my body. However I am interested in my mind to some extent. Now it seems to be floating between Old and New, Past and Future, Happy memories and Sad reality. Even though I am a positive thinker surrounded by much hope, the thinking sometimes makes me tired. Being positive requests me to be more powerful even when it is time to give up.

I got a letter from a business partner. Our relatioship was not so close, but he thanks me for some things in the letter. I have forgotten about the some things, but I remembered them soon.
I thought the things were small things (so, I forgot them at all.), but they are big enough for him.

In the continuous farewell drinking, I can't stop thinking about the relationships with many people. I will try to keep in touch with some people. And also, I will try to give up keeping touch with some. Even in the case, I will try to remember good memories, though.

VS Zoo and Tulips

By chance, I could have the chance to go to a zoo in my working time. The zoo is very close to one of my customers, but I have never been to the zoo. I don't know why I haven't have the motivation to go to the zoo for a long time, even though it takes just five minutes from the customer's office, and I come there a few times a week. Maybe because I concentrate on my business too much everytime.

But, anyway, on the day, I went to the zoo to look at giraffes. She is cute.
I checked the map of the zoo at the entrance. I identified the location, which was farest from the entrance. Altough my purpose was to look at only giraffes, I could have the oppotunity to walk around in the zoo and watch many other animals.
Lions, tigers, bears, monkeies, birds. With much excitement, a lot of their photos were taken. She is cute. Many peacocks (Japanese name, Kujyaku) were walking freely on the road in the zoo. I walked along with them.

The space use by a white bear, which was dead, was empty now. And, we can go inside the space. I thought it was cool that we can stand at the viewpoint from animals to watching people.

After the zoo, I could have another chance to go to a flower garden by chance, because the garden was very close to another customer. Thousands of tulips were planted in the garden. The variety of tulips were very much. So, the garden was very colorful. In the place, again, with much excitement, a lot of photos were taken. It is unfortune that I can't post the beautifil photos on this blog. The photos of tulips themselves are beautiful. And more, surrounded by many tulips, people can be very happy. So, the photos of human there are also good. She is cute.

After the spending relxing time, I had to go back to my job. I bought ice coffee and royal milk tea in a cafe, and drove to a next place with drinking.

I don't like tha sales person who don't work, but I know free time is sometimes important for sales person. Free time can refresh their mind. Animals or beautiful flowers, or something more beautiful are great. It was lucky for me to enjoy three great things on the same day. I can work harder next week.

VS Olympic torch

Before going to US, Dalai Lama had a brief stop at Japan and had the meeting with some Japanese politicians. But, our government officials ignored him for worrying about the relationship with China. However, for Chinese government, it seemed to be irritating that even some Japanese met him. China complained to Japan later.

For me, it was irritating that only unimportant politician met him.
Akiko Abe, a former Japanese primeminister's wife, was one of them. We have already forgotten the couple's existence. Nobody can understand the reason why she had to meet him. He should have had the appointment with more important people during his short stay in Narita.

Japanese government says that Chinese government and Tibetian government-in-exile should slove their problems by their dialogue. But, Japanese government itself wouldn't participate in the dialogue. And, of course, Chinese government wouldn't see Tibet the partner to talk with.

In this condition, Olympic torch relay is disturbed by many activists for human rights. Some supports their action. Some sees them too violent.
If I am a torch runner, I want to run safely. But, if the activists rush to me, I will run back to my starting point soon. And, I will wait until they will go home.

How about postponeing the torch relay for a whlie? Until the torch come to the stadium, Olympic games can't start. The later the torch comes, the later Olympic games start. It can be that this year's Olympic will be held next year.

I think that the troublesome torch relay obeys their rigid time schedule too much. To encourage the dialogue among the relatives, it would be a good idea to stop moving the torch.

VS Starting New Fiscal Year

I joined a second stage party of my friend Sayaka and Kouchan's wedding party last night. Their life's new stage started with the party. It was happy for me to watch their happiness. And, everytime I watch other's happiness, I feel I can get some portions of it by them.

Before going to the party, I went to Yasukuni Shrine, to watch cherry blossoms.
There is a big statue of a person who established Japan's army in Meiji period on the center of the shrine. I forgot his name. That's why I tried to check a name plate on the statue. However, I couldn't. In this cherry blossom viewing season, a lot of food shops, liquer shops, and restauranst are built temporarily in the shrine.
Hidden by one of them, nobody can know who he is. And it's ok for the people coming to the shrine. I lost the interest in the name of the statue soon, and enjoyed Yakitori and Beer for a while.

I am going to work in Tokyo from this new fiscal year. I have to say good-bye to Yokohama soon. I am still attached to my working place and great friends in Yokohama, but we couldn't start anythig without finishing something. I had better be looking forward to my new challange.

I will have another cherry blossom viewing party next weekend. But, it must be late for the party on the day, because the life time of cherry blossoms are short, and all flowers on the trees will have gone then.
However, we can enjoy the leaves hidden by flowers. The party will be the good chance for me to recognize the beauty of the trees' hidden side.
I have to prepare Yakitori and Beer at first.

VS COACH

I bought COACH's bag recently. Because my business bag was old with a broken fastener ,and I am going to a new division in my company soon, a new bag is needed in order to refresh my mind.

I was not interested in branded bags before, but I went to a COACH shop because I heard in my English class that COACH's men's bags are very good. I didn't know what they are good for. But, I had a strong interest in COACH then.

When I visited COACH's shop in Yokohama for the first time, there was no customer except for me. However many staffs were working or standing. With an old broken bag, I asked a female staff if I could look at COACH's men's bags. The staff called another staff, then introduced her to me. She seemed to a representative for men's bags in the shop.

At first, she showed me the newest model released recently. On the bag, the name, COACH was printed by red color. It was oviously COACH's men's bag.
I checked a price tag. It was very good (for the staff).
After that, I looked at other bags in the shop. But, to be honest, any bag was okey for me. So, I asked the staff, "When a sales person with COACH's bag comes to your house or office, you wanna buy something from the person?"

I think now that her answer "Yes" was fast but a little weak. But, because I could listen to it enough, I decided to buy the newest model soon.

In addition to the old broken business bag, two more bags of mine was threw away on the day of trash. Now, everytime I go out, I have COACH's men's bag. Yesterday four people asked me, "COACH?"

"COACH?"
"Yes. COACH."
"COACH!"
"YES. COACH."
"Why?"
"...."

I don't know why people ask me why? That's why I can't give any clear answer to it. But all I can say is that people are interseted in COACH more than my business talk.

VS Tale of Genji

Tale of Genji is one of the most famous Japanese novels. It was written just one thousand years ago. So, this year is a memorial year for the story.
Genji is a name of a character in the story. He is a charismatic playboy, and has many relationship with women.
I don't read the story, not because I envy him, but because the story is long. But many people read and study it not only in Japan but also all around the world. Recently, the story's French-translated version was published, and I sold it to my customer. It was a very beautiful book with many colorful pictures.
1000 years ago, we didn't have the technology to print publications. So, of course, all the book at the time were hand-made.
The hand-made original version was copied many times by somebody. Then, many people could read the story.
That's why Tale of Genji has many copied versions. Last week, one of the copied versions in Kamakura era (about 800 years ago) was found out in an old restaurant in Kyoto. From the view point of book-salesman, it must be priceless.
One of my business partners who sells antique books, is trying to sell another version of Genji. But, because the price is too expensive, nobody can buy it!
The way to a playboy seems to be costly.

VS Interpreter

From this spring, I will work in Tokyo. I miss Yokohama, but it must be my great challenge to work in the center of Japanese economy. I'm looking forward to my new place. However I don't change my living area. My root seems to be growing deep under the soil of Atsugi. Long hour commuting must be the waste of time. So, I had better use the time for English lesson. Recently I haven't praciced English listening for a long time, because there is no sound-making electorical equipment, like TV or CD-player, in my room. Thus, I feel my English listening level is going down.
It might be better for me to buy a machine like I-Pod.

I found a funny program in YouTube. It show us the difficulty of interpreters' job.
Interpreting is the final goal for all English learning. We can learn a lot from the program.

VS Footsal

Living genius Tadahisa made Aeon's unofficial footsal team's official blog page.
Now it is Japanese version only, but he will soon make English version.
I asked Aeon Hon-Atsugi manager to link the blog on Aeon's official home page today.
She looked confused with my asking, but she can not say NO because my contribution to the school is countless.
This team's originality is that we sometimes play SepakTakraw too. If you like to pick something up by your foot, you deserve our team member. Contact me.

VS Valentine

It is now 14:32 PM on 14th February, when I am writing this article even though it is my working time. Today is Saint Valentine's Day. It might be the most beautiful traditional culture of Japan that any men can have the right to get free chocolates from any women. The chocolates mean the love or friendship from women to men.
I safely add that men can't urge women to give chocolates to them. Men's right is just to get the chocolates from women free, without paying money. In the case that men pay money for the chocolates, we see it a dealing. Men's right is only to make the chocolates free, but not to enforce women to give them. So, men's right is limited to some extent.
However, it is not always illegal to imply my demand to women. On the last 30 days, I sometimes gave chocolates to female workers in my company. At the time when they were tired for busy works, the chocolates given by me must have relaxed them. In addition, at the situation, I always bought varieties of chocolates; strawberry flavour, coffee flavour, vanilla, banana, peanuts, salt(this is great.) and so on. So, when the workes chose the chocolates, they must even feel the excitment of choice.

That's why I think that today is the best chance for them to give back..show their sincerity to me. But, at this moment when I'm writing this, I can't smell any cacao flavour around me. Any positive sign can't be read in my female co-workers' eye, which were certainly shining when getting chocolates from my hand.
Fact 1:One girl in my office came home earlier last night.
Fact 2:It takes a lot of hours that we make hand-made chocolates, especially when it is the first try to make it.
I don't have any comment on the relationship(or, no-relationship) between two facts.
The only I can say now is that I am the man who can wait.
Today has not finished. So, any conclusion must be too early.
I'm the man who can wait.

VS J-SHINE

J-SHINE is the lisence name for which we can teach English in elementary schools in Japan. English is going to be the subject all elemetary students must study in 2011. Some schools will start it earlier from this year. To be correct, some school has already started it since before. The important point is that English will be regarded as an official subject soom. To get the license, I participated in two-days lecture arranged by Aeon last Saturday and Sunday.

The lecture was held in a gorgeous meeting space, BELLE SALLE Kanda. 420 people from all over the eastern Japan joined it. I thouht the lecture don't have to be held in such a gorgeous place like a hotel, but Aeon sometimes has the tendency to make them look rich. The lecture started with the opening speech by the President Miyake, who looks suspicious but happy. Maybe he has no stress.

We listened to many teacher's speeches, and sometimes tried to do the class room activities( Games, Songs, Dances etc.) Like an elementary school student, I slept while I listened to a boring talk, and I waked up when interesting activities started. I could konw what a successful class is.

I am not sure that I will teach English in an elementary school as my job in the future. Because the salary is very low. Although it depends on a school, the case in Yokohama is 2000 yen (= about $19) a day (a day!). So, J-SHINE license is not for living-earning at this moment. We can see it the lisence for a kind of volunteer.
Ya, I don't dislike volunteer, so the teaching English in an elementary school might be good for the contribution to our society.

Everytime I join this kind of lecture, most participants are women. This time, maybe 95% was women. Why don't men have the interest in such things?

VS Broken My Hand

In a party, I seemed to be durnk a little. When I made fun of a girl, I twisted my finger to be damaged. Now, I can't use my right hand. My daily life is uncomfortable recently.

1.Eating

I can't use chopsticks now. It makes me difficult to eat rice in East Asia. Fortunately, in Japanese restaurant, I can have the oppotunity to order a curry and rice coming from South Asia. It can be eaten by using spoon. Due to the easiness to eat, I am eating it everyday. Hot Dog is also my daily food now.

2.Writing

I am a salesman. But, I can't take any memo when talking with my customers. If I forget what we talked about later, I can't do anything. Of course, I can use my left hand fo memo, but what is written is what can't be read. Recently, I am not busy on my job.

3.Using Computer

Even using computer is uncomfortable. Left Hand Mouse Click is sad. I am easily comfused for my operation. And, my typing is very slow. Sometimes I give up using computer, and I use telephone.

4.Washing

I am not convinced that I wash my body enough whentaking shower.
Left Hand Washing is week. I need strong and poweful scrub.

I realised again that the washing machine in a toilet is the greatest invention. XOXO

VS Pubs

The topic in my discussion class yesterday was Japanese myhtology, but we started the class with the asking from my teacher, "Why do you go to a bar alone?"
For some people, it seems to be strange or unusual to go for drinking alone.

After several parties or gatherings in this month, I went to some beer pubs alone, in order to go back to my primary reason for drinking; the journey for meeting my best liquid partner. "I don't hane to be with a solid partner when meeting a liquid partner." might be the clearest answer to my teacher's asking.

I went to European style beer pub BELGO in Shibuya last week. It was my second times to go there. I enjoyed Hoegaarden at the time. It's a world-wide famous Belgian beer. The color is white. The glass is huge. Due to this beer, my total image about beer had to be reconstracted before, so it can be one of the candidates to be my best partner. BELGO has a huge number of belgoan beer bottles. It may be impossibe to drink all types of beer in the pub.
Now the political condition in Belgium is bad, so it seems to be a taugh work to import beer from the country. Most Japanse doesn't care for Belgian society, but you would note that beer lovers in Japan are a little more sensitive to ithe world's political matters.

I went to Covent Garden as usual last week. I could see another candidate, Hefeweisbeer from German. Sometimes I can meet it in the pub. The taste is similar to Hoegaarden. It is really nice beer. Perhaps, it will go back to the hometown for a while from this week. Ebisu beer red version is going to replace it. The Japanese beer is also good.
When it comes to Japanese beer, I have to write down great local beer here. I enjoyed Tokyo Black in Trafalgar in Machida. The name "Tokyo Black" sounds old-fashioned, but the taste is very good. Although Trafalgar is an English pub, I wouldn't drink English beer, because there are some beautiful Japanese local beer there. In front of beautiful Japanese, enjoying with European is a kind of love affair for me. Cheers.

VS Novels

Three weeks has passed from the start of a new year. During this three-weeks, a lot of drinking party emerged in front of me, challanged me, and passed away: New year party in Kyoto, Farewell party in English school, Great Sushi party in Atsugu, Welcome party with a coworker from America, and so on. But, I will skip these party topics at this year's beginning of articles-posting here. I will write about Japanese novels.

This year, I have already read some Japanese novels. Because my annual average for reading novels is two or three, this year's pace is surprisingly fast. One of the reasons for this high pace is because my computer was broken last year, in additon to my television a few years ago. My computer had the role as my CD/DVD player. Thus, my room doesn't have any kinds of visual and musical amusement at all. Only one electrical equipment is my refrigerater, but it can only make boom sounds. So, I can say my room is very silent now, when my neighbor doesn't watch TV and give comments to it. That's why you can say the situation surrounding me is very good to focus on reading books. It is fortune that I am also a book-sales man.

Although "My Name Is Red"(Japanese version) by Pamhk, Orhan is one of these books and my recommendation, maybe this book is not easy to enjoy. Because, it treats the world of Islamic art, but most Japanese are not familier with it.
If you can read Japanese and had indulged yourself in Game Center in your yourthful days, "Enkenden"(The story of En vs Ken) might be good. This novel was written by a worker in my company, and he got The 19th Japanese Fantasy Novel Prize, and 5 million yen. Its story is about a fighting game in a fantasy world, eaay to read.
When it comes to Prize, Akutagawa Prize (maybe the most important prize for novels in Japan) was gotten by a female singer. I have never read her novels yet, but I have to read them because she looks good.

In addition to professional's novels, I read some works written by women's university students by chance. They might not be great works, but any kind of other's writings can influence me good. I hope I can create new literal expression here this year.

VS Final Day

Facing the final day of this year, the first thing I have to do is to go back to my hometown, Kyoto. But, unfortunately, because I drunk wine a little last night, I haven't even gotten a train yet. I told my father that I would come to his house around lunch time. But, my lunch would be around dinner time.
On 31th December, most people look back to this year and remember many things. To me, I don't have to remember anything. I just read old articles in this blog. It's very easy. But, Past is Past. My thinking has already been walking toward the future.
Next year would be the big changing year for me. I have worked for almost twelve years in the publishing world. 12 years is long. This much experience can give me a lot of chances. And, actually, I have already gotten some new missions from my company. I can't write the detail because it's confidential. But, you can know that making new things is exciting.
My Aeon life will be ten years old in 2008. It is also long.(too long?) Because Haruka will leave Aeon, an era will finish. I don't know how the school's atomosphere will change, but change might be always needed in our life. My English must change, too.
My sufing life will be two yaers old. "When surfing, we can see the God." I started to surf after hearing of it. But, I have never met the God yet. Maybe it's not because I am not a religious man, but because my training for surfing is less. My sufing skill have to be better the next year.
For love, the life has not been born. So, I have nothing to comment here now.

I hope you and I have a great happy exciting beautiful sexy peaceful dramatic funny new year!

VS Pakistan

After happy Christmas, Japanese shift thier attention to the coming new year. We have winter vacation around then. Some will go for a trip. Some will spend relaxing time in their hometown. Basically we can have very peaceful time now.
In the famous tournament for Japanese comedians(M-1 grand prix), Sandwich Man won.
You don't have to know who Sandwich man is. You should only know that it is Japanese concern in this season who the most interesing comedian is.
That's why, the worst news, Bhutto's death in Pakistan was shocking for me.
Someone kill someone, in order to reach their poitical purpose. I thought such a crazy thinking has almost gone in the world. Because it can't be a good method to get political success. But the thinking is still alive.
We know they are crazy. And, they also know they themselves are crazy.
It can be the right to be crazy? I don't know.
Now, I think, it is clear that Pakistan is not the country we can trust well, for coorparating together with many world-wide problems.
Next year, soon, it will become a big political issue in tha Japanese Diet which Japanese self-defense should support Pakistan's navy fighting for Iraq war again, or not. Because I don't think Pakistan can afford to think about Iraq, I don't think Japanese self-defense have to support them.
For the group who killed Bhutto, my opinion is welcome, because their purpose is to destroy the order made by America and its friends. However, for eternal order, the power to make self-order is needed. Pakistani have to try to get the power for themselves now. SO, we must encourage their concern to focus on the issue for themselves.

VS Very Merry Christmas

The conversation in Japanese needs enough time and experience to understand it well enough.
If "I will think about it." is the answer to "How about a dinner with me on X'mas day?", 80% of what it means seems to be "No." in Japanese.

Only 20% is left now.
Although I am not sure whether this percentage is high or low, compared with the possibility that I can get Christmas present from Santa Claus, it is 100% certain that Japanese language is difficult to study like a woman's heart.

VS Business School

Some students studying in American business school came to my company recently, in order to reseach Japanese company. I and my coworkers had the meeting with them. It was our first experience to help students to study the business in Japan, but we enjoyed it very much.

Their theme was to study how international companies mamange their business in Japan. Some foreign companies can make a success in Japan. Some can not. What is the key point for success? What is the diffrence between Japan and other countries?
The theme is too big to answer smoothly, of course. So, the students asked us for a lot of things for our daily working.

Unfortunately I don't have the experience to work in foreign companies, so I can not compare Japanese company with other countries', but I think Japan is special.
Because Japanese market is big and matured, it has their own rules, diffrent from the world. That's why many foreign companies are comfused when they try their business in Japan.
One of my company's business partners introduced the students to us, so they came to my company. The business partner is an american company, but only Japanese staffs are hired in their Tokyo office. For their success, it seems to be the easiest way that Japanese sells something to Japanese.

Before the meeting, we thougt we should give them a souvenir. We prepared a coffee cup with my company's logo.
At the beginning of the meeting, after the introducing each other, the student told us that they had a souvenir for us. It was a coffee cup.
As you know, the exchanging same items is one of the worst happenings in a party.
Please understand how unhappy our feeling was when getting their kind gift.

Anyhow, I hope they can successfuly finish their study after coming back to America.

VS Beach Clean

I took part in Beach Clean on Enoshima beach, by chance. Even though two years has passed since I started to surf on the beach, I had never joined such an event. Because I didn't know how to join it.
One of surf shop staffs invited me to participate in it, when I went to surf on the day. That's why I tried to keep the beach clean for the first time.

Beach Clean is a relaxing event. An organizer of the event gives us trush bags. Then, we start to walk on the beach. Some walk with chatting. Some walk with dogs. If you find artificial things on the beach, you can get them and put them into the bag. That's all. After a while, you can feel it is fun to collect the trash.
"More trash! More trash!" was the feeling of me on the day.
But, fortunately or unfortunately, the beach was clean on the day. Comepared with summer season, not so msny people come to the beach. So, it can be clean to some exrent.
Thus, I think I couldn't contribute to cleaning the beach enough well on the day, but my dirty mind might be cleaned due to joining the nice event.

VS Hair Treatment

Hair is Life. From my childhood, I have heard of this maxim. So, I listen to and obey the idea of a hair professinals straight away. Yesterday I went to Cross Roads for my hair cutting and coloring. Recently I changed my hair color into a little bright. Artificial coloring can damage my hair, so I need more the care by proffesionals.

I leraned about Shampoo a lot from the shop owner, Mr.Beard.
I am not able to explain the detail, but I recommend you to check the shampoo you are using now. Read the shampoo's components' list.
On the top of the list, there must be "Water". It means that water is included into the shampoo the most. The list is the order of the rate of components.

If your shampoo has "Sodiumu Lauryl Sulfate(SLS)" or "Cocamidopropyl Betaine" on the list(Especially they are No.2-5 on the list.), Congratulation! Your hair can keep its health forever. Even if you can't find the strange names on the surface of your favorite shampoo bottle, it is no problem. But, go to a drug store soon, buy better one and throw away the old useless cleanser. It desreves car-washing.

By the way, Michelin Guide Tokyo 2008(both Japanese version and English version) was sold out as soon as it was released! Are there so many people who can go to the expensive restaurants in Japan? I also ordered the book though...

VS Document Archiving(2)

Although Document Archiving is important, Japanese hadn't known the importance for a long time. So, a lot of important Japanese documents are now found out in foreign countries, even though tey were originally made in Japan. One of my jobs is to import such documents, and sell them to my customers. It might be good for my business, but I sometimes feel strange.

I went to listen to the presentation for Prange Collection in the Library Fair. It's a collection of a huge number of Japanese books, magazines and newspapers published soon after WW2. At that time, GHQ governed Japan, and collected all documents published in Japan in order to censor them. After their governance finished, the documents were sent to America and preserved in University of Maryland.
Of course, Japanese theirselves also preserved them, but they have only 5% of the collection now. 95% of them are now in America. Preservation is important.

However, it is not enough only to preserve them. Because the collection is too huge, nobady know what really exists in it. That's why it is very difficult to use the collection. From my experience, I know it is easy to preserve vagetables in my refrigerator, but it is difficult to remember what is in it. Thus, damaged vagetable is sometimes found out to throw it away.
In the presentation, I could know Waseda University is making a digital databese for the collection. It's a very taugh and significant work.

By the way, my computer was broken a few weeks ago, and I knew it was impossible to fix it. Now I am thinking, that I don't have my computer, seve everything on internet sites like Google and use them in Internet Cafe. Is it the good way to archive my documents?????

VS Document Archiving(1)

I went to Library Fair last week. This event is the biggest one for Japanese librarians and their friends, like book-sales men. It is held once a year, in Yokohama. In the event, we can know many new things and trends in the library world; for example, new trends for copyrights, new databases to help library services, how to protect libraries from crimes, and so on. For most people, such things are far from their life, but the people related to library business are intersted in them. So, I joined the event.

My interest in the fair was Document-archiving.
How to keep books forever is an old, big and basic theme in library. Even in my house, it is sometimes a big problem. I want to throw away some books to make my room space large, but if the books were rare and difficult to buy it again, I have to think how to save the books.
My solution is to use the books as a pillow, but librarians are more advanced. Digital-archiving is their solution.

I joined the forum about JSTOR, one of the biggest organization to archive many important academic literatures. Their mission is to archive and digitalize academic journals. They started their project with some social science journals. Now they covers all genres of journals.
I am not interested in the journals because I can't undersatnd what is written in the academic journals, but I have only the interest in the technology to keep and protect useful documents forever. So, I was impressed by the forum very much.

Everytime I join this kind of forum, I feel the gap between Japan and America is big in the field of information management. As an information consumer, Japanese is excellent. We can use easily high-spec mobiles and get much useful information in our daily life. But, social management of information is still old-fashioned. When we go to agovernment office, many types of paper information are required.
Even when we use digital technology, we are sometimes required to use paper-like information. For example in a company, "please report about it by Word-document-file, not by a paper." I can't understand why simple email is bad?

I could understand the importance of document archiving not only in JSTOR's forum, but also in the forum about Japanese old magazines and newspapers. I will write it in the next articles.

* This article is written for showing you my professionalism. You can remenber it. Or, at least, I can remember it.

VS Shadow

Shadow is difficult. Last night I and Haruka tried to shadow a couple. To be precise, they haven't been a couple. We arranged Yakiniku dinner to make a man and a woman a couple last night. So, they were a future-couple.
After the dinner, we asked them to go to a bar for one more drink, but she told us that she would go home. That's why, we said Good-bye to her and him, then we left the place.
After five seconds, our shadow started.
She would really go home? He would really and disappointedly let her go home?
Making other passangers a barrier, we hided our existence and chased them.

They walked slowly to a station, then had arrived at the center exist of the station. And they had a conversation for a while there. I and Haruka looked at them carefully from the place where they couldn't look at us. The moment, I thougt this night hadn't finished yet.
At the next moment, history moved.
They started to walk to the city. It was clear that they had gotten another aim different from going home. We also started to walk silently, and shadowed them.

They chose a narrow unpopular street as their walking route. It made us difficult to chase them, because we couldn't hide us among many unknown people. If they had checked their back side just once, perhaps we couldn't succesfuly shadow them. But, fortunately, they were very busy to think about theirselves. They couldn't realise they were shadowed.

I thought they would go to a bar or Karaoke. But, they walked to Denny's, a family restaurant. If they were high school students, I wouldn't complain of thier choice. But they are adult. So, I couldn't understand their intension. In addition, they stopped again in front of Denny's. And, after a few minutes' conversation, thet began to turn back to the station! What were you doing?

"The back I want to kick" is a million seller novel's title in Japan a few years ago. I remenbered the title when walking to the station "togeter with them".
Soon after the finish of the incomplete night, we sent a complaint e-mail to her. She is now scared to us.

I heard that they will meet again next weekend. I hope they can find us then.

VS Halloween Night

My costume idea has already been out of stock. I couldn't escape from being blue before the party was coming. But, everytime the solution emerged on the day and I was helped. Also at the last night's Aeon Halloween Party, I could luckily get a good costume idea just two hours before the party started. I joined the party, costumed in the wear of the person providing a school lunch.

The party space was BASIL. Recently Aeon's party is always here. Maybe the restaurant size is good for the party size. The restaurnt owner lived in Australia before, so Aussie food is sometimes on the menu. It's nice.
In the party, students weared good costumes; Rice ball, Lupin, Chinese lady, Mushroom, Boxer, Pirate and so on. On the way to the restaurant, all passangers on the street looked at the funny group. Naturally our walking speed became fast.

As you know very well, our party schedule was as usual. After crazy drinking at 1st stage, Karaoke was waiting at 2nd stage. After crazy singing, some people still left and went to Sushi restaurant. It was 3rd stage as usual. Midnight Sushi was so cool. Once you experienced the taste, you wouldn't escape from it. But, we couldn't stay in the place allnight. We had to wait for the first train warking untill around 6 o'clock. In summer time, we can use Hatopoppo park, but now it is a little cold. So, we went to Jonathan, a family restaurant. With feeling sleepy, I waited for the 1st train, drinking beer.

Altough I have joined Halloween Party many times, I don't know the meaning of the party. I am worried that our style of spending of Halloween night could be utterly wrong?

VS Old Mac

He is just seven years old. He had never been sick in his life. He was very well untill the day. But...
My Macintosh was broken suddenly.

On the day, I had listened to music by my Mac.
In my house, there is no TV, no CD player and no Video player. So, Mac is the only one electorical equipment for fun in my house.
The Mac had played J-POP music very well as usual. I enjoyed it with reading a book.

A strange thing happened after a few songs play. Suddenly, I couldn't listen to the music.
I stopped reading a book, and checked a moniter.
I thought he stopped playing, but he had been still playing. But, I couldn't listen to the music. I clicked a volume controller. Then, I could listen to the music again.
I didn't understand why such a starange phenomena had happened, but I was satisfied that the trouble was fixed up. So, I started to read the book again.

However, the trouble was not fixed up in fact.
My Mac stopped working suddenly, and shut down by himself!
I couldn't understand what happened, so I tried to boot it up again, but he didn't make it.
I kocked at him a several times, but nothing happened.
I had no idea what I should do then. So, I decided to go to bed. I hoped that everything would go well on the next morning.

The next morning, everything was unchanged unfortunately.
My Mac was completely dead.
I called Mac office a few days later, and asked the staff for the possibility to make him alive again. The answer was miserable. Because my Mac is very old, they can't fix it now.
He is just seven years old, though....

Now, I can't check my e-mail and use Internet. No sound and no movie in my house. My house is very silent. I sometimes push some keys on my Mac, but he doesn't give me any reaction.

VS Octoberfest

What is Octoberfest? Although I didn't know anything about it but the name of a festival, I decided to go to watch it with Lance. I write my impresson of the festival at first. It was very interesting. I enjoyed it very much.

The event has been held in Akarenga-souko (Red Brick Warehouse) in Minatomirai area in Yokohama. It is German festival, and this year's one is 5th. We can enjoy great German beer, foods and music there.
I was very surprised that a lot of people was joining the event. When I and Lance arrived at the event area, all seats were occupied others. The air there had been filled with drunker's high. So, we had to drink beer as soon as we could after buying the ticket for the event.

If you have not drunk German beer yet, and want to try it, I can recommend you to drink Franziskaner (In Japanese, Furanchesukaana). It is a fruity white beer and very popular. Of course I enjoyed it at the night. Easy to drink. Fitted to any kind of food. I drunk it with a sausage and a salty bread.

A personally impressive thing in the event was that I could find out the wine for which I had serached for a long time. Pieroth blue is the name. A several years ago, a woman intimate to me told me that she met a German wine by chance in a local restaurant and the taste was great but she couldn't find it at any other bars and restaurants. Because she didn't memoraise the wine name exactly (She remenbered only that the name started with "Pi" and the bottle color was blue.), I couldn't find the wine then. That's why I was very happy when I met the wine in the event place. The intimacy of us had already gone, though.

The climax of the event was German music and Beer cheering. Lsitening to the powerful music by German band, someone danced, someone sang and everyone drunk beer, shouting "Cheers!". Almost over 500 people felt our unity there. I understood again that the power of beer can make our world peace. German is wise. Japanese also should give the people in the world the beer they made, not the oil they bought.

VS Myanmer

The demonstration in Myanmer seems to be shrinking now. The monks leading the movement are not on the road. The army government is too strong. Nobody can't damage it. This country will not be a democratic one forever. Unfortunately they have a lot of natural resources, and the best climate for farming. They wouldn't collapse naturally.

Even though Japanese journalist was killed by the shot of the army, Japanese government has not made a strong protest to Myanmer yet. Newspaper says Japanese government is afraid of losing the connection with the country with rich natural resources.

China is the most important country for Myanmer. That's why they can affect the army government's behavier to some extent. But, China's comment is this. "Both sides should be calm to solve problems." Ha ha.

Without any pressure from foreign countries, Myanmer government is going to be alive forever. If I am an activist for democracy in Myanmer, I will go out of the country soon. Because I don't think we have a good condition to change the country now. The country doesn't deserve our effort and life.

VS Castello di Brolio

Some days have passed since Japan's prime minister Abe quit his job suddenly. Now he is in a hospital. His previous job seemed to be too heavy for him. I can't understand why he quit his job more earlier. The timing for quiting was bad and late, as many say. If his decision was faster, he could come back to the politician's world soon. However, I think now his lifetime as a politician finished.

Now, people's interest is Post-Abe. LDP have to choose their new leader as soon as possible. Mr.Fukuda seems to be No.1 candidate, for his matured character. It might be only the reaction to young Abe. I doubt his leadership, but he must be the only one choice for LDP .

Last weekend, I went to Ristorante Real, an Italian wine restaurant in Yokohama, with someone, without thinking about Japan's politics at all. The restaurant was the place to which I wanted to go someday. My desire was achived at last.
It is located near the east exit of Yokohama station. Many original restaurants are around there. Some call the area Ura-Yokohama. I like the area.

My target in the Italian restaurant on the day was red wine made in Toscana. I needed an deep energetic impact on my heart by Rosso the day. I heard from my best wine adviser that Toscana's Rosso is great and gorgeous. So, I selected it.
However, the restaurant has many varieties of wine. Even in Toscana wine, there are over 30 or 40 types of wine. That's why I asked for the restaurant owner's advice, and I ordered Castello di Brolio(2001). The taste was strong enough, but it was easy to drink. I enjoyed it with some baked seafoods and a roasted duck. I think the restaurant's food is perfect for wine.

My wine life started with Australian wine last summer. And, now I am walking on the road of Italian wine, even though I am nearly on the start line. I heard that the concept of the new world wine like Australian's and that of European traditional wine like Italian's are diffrent. I can't explain it correctly, but my image to Austraian wine is "Nature", on the other hand, Itarian wine is "Culture". So, if you want to talk about cultural topics with some with drinking wine, Italian wine might be better. Of course, on the day, I talked about cultural topics like Science Fiction, in the restaurant. Next time, I have to talk about Opera or something in order to get back my lost scores.

VS Teaching

Japanese workers have many trainings after they start to work. On the Job Training (OJT) is the basic style for their training. Senior workers become trainers or teachers, and new workers learn a lot from them.
This summer, suddenly, I was asked to be a teacher for new workers by my company. I have to prepare for their training in the next month, so I am very busy now. Even though today is Sunday, I worked whole the day to prepare for it.
Fortunately I had gotten a lot of teaching technique in Kid's English Teaching Class. I think the basic technique to teach children English can be used even in Adult's Working Class. That's why this prepareation for the training is a very interesting work for me. It's a good chance for me to judge my teaching man's potentiality.
I think teaching is a very creative work. When I prepare for the training, I need to create something for it. How to explain what I know is sometimes very difficult. I have to create the explanation for it.
Unfortunately, creativity cannot happen in my office. It can happen only in a relaxing mood. So, recently, I am working even in my home! Of course, with alcohol. I know I can be the most creative, in my house and with drinking something cool. However I have a problem. The more I become creative, the more I become sleepy, for the alcohol. The balance between creativity and alcohol is difficult.
This week, I will join the new wirker's training as a teacher.
I hope the students are nice to understand well what I say and even what I don't say.

VS Oriental Magic

I don't know the reason why, but I have a strong neckache from last weekend. When I get up in the morning, I can't stand up smoothly due to the neckache. And, my neck-movability is very bad now. So, it's a very taugh work even to drive a car.
I thought this situation is very dangerous, and went to a hospital. X-ray check told me that I don't have any bone problem. This problem seems to come from my muscle around my neck. It became too hard for some reasons, so the strong pain occured.
Now I am getting some medcines, so the situation is getting better. I will be okey in a few days.

It just happened I went to an Acupuncture school for business yesterday. This school is planning to make a new school library, so I have helped them.
The school staffs are professional. They realised my neck problem soon, and they asked me to go to their doctor's room, almost without talking about our business matter.
They asked me to take my shirt off, and I was enforced to take an acupanture treat. It was my first time to experience such a treat, so I was very nervous then to be honest.
I told the doctor that it was my first time, so she stuck some needles into my neck very softly.
She asked me, "It's getting better?"
I thought that if I said "NO" I would get more needles. So, I told her "Good!".

I heard from the school staff that they call acupanture Oriental Magic, not Oriental Medicine. It is the reason why, too many wonders are left in it to call it medcine. So, even for them, it's a kind of magic.
After the treat, my neck-movability became better certainly. Human body is interesting.

VS Feast

Atsugi is now in a very feastive mood. Its annual feastival, Ayu Matsuri, started with the pre-night live by Creazy ken Band yesterday. Tonight we will have a big firework show near Sagami river. Last year, I missed it for the travel to Australia, so I can't miss it this year. I will watch the show in my friend's house, eating food and drinking wine. It's nice. Some brave watchers have already been near the river from around noon, to keep a good space to watch the firework, even though it's over 30 degrees today. They are taugh.
All night drinking is the manner hear after the firework show. All bars and pubs will be full tonight. Atsugi is the city for a feast. Endless drinking and "fooding" deserves this city.

VS Voting Day

Today is the voting day in Japan. I've not decided to vote for who even now. But, I've already decided to vote against the ruling parties. I don't have any reason to keep my country unchanged.
Not only I but also many Japanese think so too. From the newspaper's analysis, it seems to be clear that the ruling parties will lose. And, the point at this moment is how many seats in Diet they will lose. If the lost seats are too many, Prime minister Abe can't keep his position. I think he shouldn't keep it. Maybe, the position is too heavy for him. When he started to work as Prime minister, he was seen a strong young leader. But, now, he looks like an immatured man. And, in addition, his thinking smells an old man's one, at least for me. He wouldn't be fresh at all.
It might be better for him to be our country's leader again someday after experiencing many things. Ont the day he will be older physically, but many experiences will make him fresher mentally. I am looking forward to the result of this election.

VS Egyptian Child Book

In Tokyo International Book Fair, I could know many interesting books from foreign countries. Egyptian books were one of them. I couldn't totally understand what is written for my no-understanding of the language, but I could enjoy the covers and the illustlations enough well.

As other foreign pulisher's booths did so, Egyptian booth displayed a lot of child books. Because, like me, most Japanese can't understand their language, so the books with many illustlations are easier for us to understand. In addition, the market of "child" books are growing in Japan, even though the market of books itself are shrinking now. It is nice that Japanese can afford their children's education.

From the view point of the worker in Japanese publishing world, Egyptian child book have to be changed more for Japanese customers. A huge numbers of child books are published everyday in Japan. The competition is hard. The story, the illustlation and the material of the books are very sophisticated. In Japanese public library, it takes the longest time for librarians to sellect child books.
If Egyptian publishers want to make a success in Japan, they had better know this super-hard competitive situation.

In a picture book, the main character is a soldier. He battles, beats his enemy, and helps people. The story looked simple.
Like a police officer and a nurse, it might be natural for Egyptian to read the story of a soldier in a child book. However, my impression was embarrassment when I found the book. I am not sure whether this feeling is only Japanese one or not, but most Japanese, I think, think it is bad to describe a soldier or an army beautiful, in the books for kids. So, in my life, I have never watched Japanese child book to describe a soldier.
I don't know this thinking will be alive in the future in Japan, but at this point, such a book is impossible to sell in Japanese market. If I have a chance, I will give this advice to them.

VS Iranian

Last weekend, I went to Tokyo International Book Fair in Odaiba. It is one of the biggest events for publishing companies and book lovers in Japan. It is a wonder that I've never been to the fair even though I am working for book-sales. So, I had been looking forward to joining it.
A huge numbers of publishers had their own booths to display their publications. Watching many new books itself seemed to be exciting for heavy readers. All booths were very crowded. People could buy the books on cheap prices. They could get special discounts in the fair. They looked happy.

Most booths were Japanese publishers' ones. But, new players in publishing business also joined this event. Google was the representative of them. Their booth was bigger than other old media companies, and they showed us some new ways for publishing. By chance on the day, I read an article in a newspaper that Google entered into an alliance with Keio University to digitize a large numbers of books. We don't know if they are our friend or enemy, but their project can not be ignored by all players in the publishing world.

All booths were interesting, but my purpose was to watch the booths of foreign companies. I could enjoy watching many books from other countries there.
It was surprising for me that Iranian companies' booths were the most there. I had no idea of Iranian books, so everything in thier booths were new for me. Unfortunately most Japanese including me can't read their words.
That's why the main books displayed there were art books or visual books. Pictures can be understood by anyone. The quality of each books were high, so I could enjoy watching them.

I had the chance to talk with the staff in Iranian booth. He is an Iranian student studying in Japanese university. I wanted to know the publishing world in Iran more, so I gave him some questions.

I: How many publishers are there in Iran?
He: Mmm, many. It's countless.
I: Ok. How many bookstores are there in Iran?
He: Mmm, many. It's also countless.

In Japan, there are 5000 publishers and 20000 bookstores.
I wanted to compare Japan with Iran, in order to understand the situation of publishing in Iran. But, I couldn't know anything due to his unclear answer. Maybe, he was not familier with it. So, I gave him another question.

I: The bookstore in Iran is so same as in Japan?
He: Mmm, a little diffrent. Like Akihabara for electorical equipments in Japan, we have a big town for books.

His answer made me surprised.
Certainly I know there are big towns for books in the world, like Frankfurt in German, or Kanda-Jinboucho in Tokyo. But, the book town in Iran was utterly out of my image. Why?
I thought publishing business can flourish only under the freedom of speech. That's why I couldn't imagine that Iranian have a big publishing economy in their country. Their religious thinking looks very strict, so I had thought that they couldn't express their free thinking. My image of Iranian publicing was very poor.

However, from the Iranian student's words, I knew they have a very rich publishing society. I felt the respect for the country soon. Some people see the country very dangerous. But, now I can say they are very intellectual. So, I think we can understand each other by communication, even if their government is making atomic bombs.

Unfortunately Iranian doesn't have the route to sell their books in Japan. Their great history and nature deserve to be shown here. I would get my new mission in my job.

VS Punk Rock

Punk Rock is one of the farest things from my life, but I went to listen to it tonight. A punk rock party was held at Club 24 West, in Yokohama. The place was very small, and it doesn't have the stage for bands. But, we can listen to their play very close to them. So, I could enjoy to feel tonight's bands' energy very much.

My and my friends' purpose to go there was to watch the performance of our friend's band, Herts The Turks. This time was the last one that we can watch, because they will leave Japan soon after the live. So, we couldn't lose the last chance to listen to their play.

Before their play, some Japanese bands played. They were very powerful, and the listeners were also powerful. They ran, jumped, kicked and tackled each others on the floor. I didn't think they were dancing then, but it might be a genre of dancing.
Anyway, their energetic performance made the floor warmed up very much. So, the play of Herts The Turks was very hot from the beginning. Everybody enjoyed it very much. This time was the second time that I listened to their play. Compared with the last time, I thoguht their performance became better. The combination of Turkish female vocal and British male vocal became more beautiful.
I heard that they will go to England after leaving Japan. Their combination is going to become better and better.

After the live, my ears were strange for a while. The too noisy place seemed to damage my listening capability. However, the damage was also comfortable for me. This feeling might be the charms of Punk Rock.

VS Translation

From the beginning of this year, I have tried to read a science book "Warped Passages" in English. But I don't finish reading it, and I almost give up reading it. It's too difficult for me. The theme of the book is the extra-dimension of space which is the newest theory in applied physics. I could understand the theory roughly in the book, but it's hard to read the descriptions for physics in English, for my lack of the knowledge and vocabulary of physics, which is the subject I hated in my high-school days.

However, it was very happy that this book was translated into Japanese at last. Because I heard that it might be impossible to translate the book into Japanese, I became excited when I knew the Japanese version. Of course, I ordered it soon. Now I'm waiting for the book coming.

Japanese is lucky. We have a very strong translation culture. Thet's why we can get new information soon, and understand even difficult knowledge easily. This translation culture can become obstraction of our English study, though. Anyway, once I will read it in Japanese, and next I will try it in English again.

From 5th in this month, the 14th Tokyo International Book Fair is going to be held. For book-sales business, it is one of some big events. The Book Fair gives Japanese and foreign publishing companies good business chances. The deal of the right to translate good books is the main topic. The coming last volume of HARRY POTTER must be the most expensive right.

VS Optimism and Pessimism

Last day's discussion class was interesting. We discussed about the future of newspaper in this internet eara. The theme itself was exciting, but, before the discussion, we talked about Optimism and Pessimism. "Are you optimist? Or pessimist?" was the question. It was the warming-up talk for the class.
Some students said "I am an optimist." Some were pessimists. I was on an optimist side.
Basically I think my future life is rosy. I think I am convinced of my opinion, idea and future vision any time. So, I must be an optimist, basically. But I am not sure whether it's good or bad. My teacher Sudhan's opinion was interesting. He had been an optimist for a long time, but he is now thinking that an pessimist can be better for his/her life. Because a pessimist can become happier than an optimist if something small but good happens. An optimist tends to have a big expectation, so he/she couldn't be satisfied with such a small happiness. I can understand his opinion well.

After the class, I thought I have to modify my thinking a little, even though I told that I am an optimist. Because, for love, I can easily move from an optimist side to a pessimist side. And, actually at this moment, I am moving at random between both sides.
Afetr meeting an ideal woman three months ago, my mental conditon has been unstable. Now I can't concentrate on anything honestly. My performance of working is very low, and my English study has been stopped. Sometimes I have even physical ache around my heart( I am afraid that I can die soon.), so my performance of surfing is also bad! I can say I'm facing an mental and phisical crisis now. Very tiny things between us influence on me. Even though I was an optimist yesterday, I suddenly become a pessimist today. At the moment that I am a pessimist, I tend to drink alcohol very much. On the other hand, when I am an optimist, I can't stop drinking because it's my real happy hour. So, recently the quantity of daily drinking is becoming bigger and bigger. My liver must be damaged very much.
To make my mental and physical condition peaceful, I am thinking that I hurry to get any judgements. I should ask the woman at least in a month if we can have a special relationship or not. But, the only thing I don't know is the timing. Should I ask her it in my optimist mood or pessimist mood? And, the only thing I am sure of is that I will use alcohol power for myself.
(Mmmm, this article would be too private.)

VS Manifests

Now many Japanese politicians are busy to preare for the coming election for the House of Councilors in July. We can find easily the politicians making a speech on the street recently. My friend reported me that he saw an ex-prime minister eating ramen in an local city ramen restaurant. I think he comes to the city to make a speech for the election.

I am often checking the manifests of each political parties on a newpaper or the parties' home page. It is interesting for me to read their future vision of our society. As you can easily understand, thier vision is made beautiful. We wouldn't trust it at all, though. But, anyway, thier vision must influence on our society more or less. So, we should know them fully.

When recently reading the biggest two parties in Japan, LDP and DP, I thought, to be honest, our future vision is very poor. Certainly they are talking about many issues Japanese are interested in. For example, the pension problem is a big issue. Now Japanese pension system have to be designed totally again, due to the bad management by the government. Some people have the risk to lose their pension in the future.
Event though I know the pension problem is important for our life, I am not interested in it so much.

The problem of the people kidnapped by North Korea seems to be a big issue in Japan. To solve this issue is treated as the important issue for our future especially in LDP's manifesto. But, I can't have, unfortunately, the same sympathy with the issue.

What am I unsatisfied with?
For me, their manifestos look very domestic. They are looking only at the issues the voter are interseted in. It is okey to get their vote, but I think Japanese future vision at this moment should be more international.
As I wrote it in this blog before, Japan should have their own immigrant policy. Even though Japanse government is thinking that Free Trade Agreement is an important economic policy, they don't think the physical moving of foreigners is the key of the success of the policy.
It is very surprising for me that there is not the word "foreinger" in their manifests. The existence of foreign people seems to be out of our future.

Now the number of foreirners coming to Japan for sightseeing is growing. Last year the number was the biggest. The percentage of international marriage in Japan is also growing. Now 5% of all marriages in Japan is the combination of Japanese and foreigner. So, I can't understand why Japanese big political parties don't have general policy for foreigners.
At the end of July, can I vote for anyone? I am not sure now.

VS Rain

At last rainny season has started in Japan. The ministry of weather mis-forcast the beginning as usual, though. They thought it would come earlier.

For a book-sales man( maybe for everyone), this season is very annoying. Rain is a big enemy for books. So, I don't want to go out from my office. I tend to stay in my office now. It's more confortable. My business performance might be bad now.
But also for my cliants, this season seems to be bad. They are losing any motivation to work. Today, I met a professer for business. He is old. He doesn't want to do anything this tiring season. When I visited him, he gave me a cup of coffee soon without talking about business. At the moment, only he wanted to do was just to be relaxed with someone. It was the same thing I wanted to do then. we talked about something which is totally not important for a long time, and I said good-bye to him, and I went home. I can say business is impossible now.
How about taking a holiday in a rainny day, like farmers. They wouldn't work in a rainny day and a windy day. I think they are very rational.
I want to propose this new working rule for our society.

VS Yokohama Stadium

The game arrangement of professional baseball changed a little in Japan last year. Japan has two diffrent leagues, and the games were basically produced in a same league. The team A belonging to the league X didn't fight against the team B belonging to the league Y. But, from last year, A vs B has been possible in the early summer season. We can watch more varieties of games now.

So, I went to Yokohama Stadium yesterday, to watch the game, Softbank howks vs Yokohama baysters. To be honest, I am not the fan of both teams, but I could enjoy the game very much. I sat on the seat of Softbank side. Unfortunately the day was not for Softbank. The picher of Yokohama was good the day, so Softbank couldn't get scores at all.
Even though our side couldn't have the chance to win the game, the fans had been excited through the game.
Japanese baseball fans are funny. Some of them don't watch the game. They are very busy for singing songs for each players, and dancing on their seats. Compared with Major league, the fan's watching style is very diffrent. I had thought Major league style was good for a long time, but yesterday I thought Japanese style is also okey. For loseing team's fans, the existence of another excitement is very good.

The location of Yokohama stadium is good. There is China town near it. The old-modern bars around Kannai station closest to the stadium are nice. In additon, the open-air stadium is very comfortable. Now, most stadiums in Japan are Dome-type. They are actually convenient even in a rainy day, but we can't watch the sky and feel breeze. I could find again the goodness of the old style stadium yesterday.

VS Human Death

Although I had many happy things recently in my daily life, I write down an unhappy thing here. Because it was the most impressive thing for me last week.

A man I know a little committed suicide in his company midnight. Before his death, he emailed his colleagues to apologize to them, because his sudden death would make them shocked.
One of his colleagues reported soon the email to his boss. The boss went to the company soon midnight with the man's family, to search for him.
The man was found by the boss in a warehouse at 3:30 am. He hanged himself in the cold place.
Soon after that, the police came to the place, and checked the hanged body for a while. To check it carefully, anyone couldn't move it. So, the body had to be hanged for a while even after it was found out.
While the police was checking it, the dead man's family stayed in a room far from the warehouse. Because it must be very shocking for the family to watch the man hanged. But, the boss who found the body was beside the police to check it together.

I heard that the dead man had a mental illness. It might be the reason why he commited suicide, but nobody know the real reason of his death. Some said that his bad working position killed him, and his suicide in his working place meaned his protest.(Actually his working position was bad. He had nothing to do in his company.) Some said the only one place left for him was his company, so he chose it as his death place.(He seemed to have no friend.) The rumors or interpretions changed, depending on the talkers.

I had the chance to talk with the boss for my business a few days after the incident. I thought he had heavy shock in his mind, before meeting him. But, he told me that he was not shocked even though the incident was a very sad thing.
He said to me, "A person will die someday. So, we have to think about human's death anytime. It must be sad for a person to commit suicide, but it is his/her choice. Before the suicide, he/she must think about it seriously. So, the only thing we can do is to respect and accept his/her decision. Don't you think so?"

When facing a human death, we tend to ask why? But the boss didn't care for it. He thinks the asking is meaningless. For me, his thinking was very impressive.
Afetr talking about his death for a while, we started to talk about our business soon.
Some might think the boss's thinking is cold. But I didn't. He told me that, when he found the body, he wouldn't scared with it. Watching the dead man's face, he thought the man looked relieved from something.
His impression might be too beautiful, without thinking about the dead man's mental crisis. But it's not my point to agree and disagree with him. The most impressive thing for me was that he always prepares for human death including his own death. Because I think I wouldn't die, his viewpoint of death and live was unique for me.

VS Science Fiction

At the end of this August, the world-wide biggest Science Fiction convention, Worldcon, is going to be held in Yokohama.
This convention has a long history in SF fan's community. The first one was held in New York in 1939. This year's one is 65th.
In the history, all conventions had been held in USA or Europe. This summer's one in Yokohama is the first time in Japan, and in Asia. Some Japanese SF lovers had invited the convention to Japan for a long time, and the dream will become true. That's why, it will be a very memorial one. Japanese SF fans must be excited in this summer.

My company is planning to have a booth in the convention, cooporating with some publishers. Maybe, we will try to introduce many Japanese SF works (for example, novels, mangas, movies and so on.) to foreigners coming to join the convention. I am looking forward to it.
Japanese SF is not famous in the world because of the language barrier, but I think the quality is not low. So, I think it is a meaningful job to join the convention, and to display great works of Japanese SF for the people who don't know them.

From my junior high school days to my high school days, I loved to read SF novels very much.
SF is a wide category. Some think Fantasy like Harry Potter series is SF. Some think Space Opera like Star Wars is SF. For me, Hard SF was real SF. It was like a science book. The detail of the description in such a book is very realistic, but not real in fact. Star Treck series on TV might be a good example to explain my preference. The logic or discription of space travel in the work was of course a lie, but looked realistic. Great SF has a great lie, and we know it must be a lie, but we can believe it might be true. Or, we are willing to be cheated. What the truth is isn't a problem. The problem is what we can think is the truth. I learned the important philosophy of our life from SF.

Many novelists, movie producers and artists will join the convention. So, it is cultural and academic to some extent. But, I am guessing the convention will be like Halloween party. SF fans must like to wear very maniac costumes. I think thier mentality is similar to manga or animation freaks. So, many people will come to the convention in strange wears. I have to find a cool costume for the party.
The costume of Super Justice in "Dai Nipponjin" might be a good idea. (What's Super Justice? To know it, please watch the starange movie. It's unfortune it has no English subtitle, though...)

VS Dai Nipponjin

Caution! The writing below is related to a new movie now on screen. If you will go to watch it, please read this blog after that. I don't want to give you any bias for the movie.

* * * * * * *

I went to watch the new movie, Dai Nipponjin (Big Japanese), directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japanese famous comedian. This work is his first movie. I was looking forward to it.
This movie didn't give us the advertisement. So, we couldn't get any information about it until it comes to the screen. Thus, our expectation became big.

It's difficult to say the genre of this work, but it is a kind of Hero movie. The image of Hero in this movie is very diffrent from our typical image, though.
This movie is filled with the Hitoshi Matsumoto's worship or respect for Hero character. It might be close to Taratino's maniac perspective. But, the expression style is utterly diffrent. Hitoshi Matsumoto's backborn is not movie but TV comedy. He prefers very cheap expressin very much.
So, watching this movie in a theater, everybody must think they are in front of television in their house.

The best part of this movie is conversation. The nuance of the conversation is great. To understand it, we have to master Japanese language. Fortunately I've already mastered it, so I could enjoy the conversation in this movie very mush. Some parts are very abstract and summarized too much. Even Japanese can't explain the exact meaning, but can laugh at it. Language is very interesting.

Like all jokes in the world, we have to have cultural resources to understand many laughing points in this movie. A lot of old Japanese comedy jokes are inserted into this movie. Many jokes look to have a special meanings in this movie, but they don't have it at all. But, we naturally think they mean something special. The tactics of Hitoshi Matsumoto is very magical.

But, to be honest, I think this movie is incomplete. Its basic idea is very good and interesting. But, the story is not organized well enough. I think this movie can be shorter. If it is more compact, it could be a greater work. When I finished watching it, the reaction of other audiences were disapointment. The lady next to me said "I'm sleepy."
I was not sleepy, but I could understand her feeling.

However, this movie is certainly very challanging. It has a great impact on the method of expression in movies. I think the blood of Japanese comedy was mixed with the world movie, in this work. So, I am looking forward to watching a second work by Hitoshi Matsumoto soon.