Black Tights Day, Hooray! 黒いタイツの日を万歳！

今日、黒いタイツの日になった！どこへ住んでも嬢にそう変わりはないと思う。秋が一番好きな服の季節だ。

At last, today is Black Tights Day! I'm sure women are the same wherever they live, there is always one day in Autumn when you know that you can start wearing black tights. You can go into Autumn clothes perhaps a couple of weeks earlier, but the first day of wearing black tights really marks the first day of Autumn.

Rice crop art

This is amazing! Some enterprising regions of Japan are creating artwork out of planting different varieties of rice... http://www.pinktentacle.com/2009/07/rice-paddy-art/.

And a JAL advert created the same way another year... and video as they decided they didn't like it after all... http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/07/jal-logo-uprooted-from-rice-paddy-art/.

両親のねこ My parents' cats

I couldn't resist putting a couple of pictures of my parents' two cats on here. They're brothers, and getting on for 2 years old now. Aren't they sweet?!

They get on really well together, but play fight sometimes, just as brothers do!

月見 Moon Viewing

In Japan, it's traditional in the Autumn to enjoy the beauty of the moon on a clear night. Last night, the moon was particularly bright and beautiful. Actually it was best as I came home from work, because it was lower and bigger in the sky, but I didn't take the picture until later! Maybe I'll get another chance in the next couple of nights. in which case I'll update.

In Japan, McDonalds even sell a sell a special seasonal burger called a tsukimi burger (moon viewing burger). The version with cheese is one of my favourite burgers, the burger is made all the more special because you can only buy it for part of September!

Tsukimi is traditionally a time for celebrating the Autumn harvest. I hear that it's traditional to eat dango, which are delicious sweet dumplings made from rice flour, whilst watching the moon. I occasionally buy the 'skewered with sweetened soy sauce version' throughout the year from the supermarket.

RHS Rosemoor, Devon, England

今月の中はお休みからイギリスに戻った。家族と友だちと遊びに行った。楽しかった！南西イギリスに有名公園が有る。両親とRosemoorを見に行った。とてもきれいだった！も少し写真はリンクを見てください。

The middle of this month, I went back to England for a holiday to see family and friends there. I had a lovely time! One day, my parents took me to Rosemoor Garden in Devon, I've always wanted to go to one of the RHS gardens. It was so beautiful! Have a look at the link to see some more photos.

総選挙 General Election

今日は総選挙ね。自民党は政権をすてる筈だ、そして民主党が政権を握る。。。

It's the General Election today in Japan. It's expected that the Liberal Democratic Party will relinquish their hold, and the Democratic Party of Japan will become the ruling party...

It's said that policy-wise, the DPJ will gain power because of frustrations over the economy, and a loss of confidence in the LDP to deal with issues such as the rising national debt and rapidly aging population. But it's also to do far more with the desire for change. The LDP have been in almost unbroken power for 54 years, and a DPJ Prime Minister (probably Yukio Hatoyama) is seen to be able to bring change. We shall see...

豚インフルエンザ Swine flu

最近、日本で豚インフルエンザは新しいインフルエンザと言う。でも西洋でまだ略式で「Swine Flu」豚インフルエンザと言う。

日本で、豚インフルエンザが遅く上がっていった。二週間前11,636新しい病人がなった。でも、また報道によれば先週は日本で、急に15万新病人がなったらしい。先週、また学校を始めた。。。

二月前に英国の施政は最悪の場合の桁を出版した。同様に日本の厚生は流行伝染のピーク時に毎日760,000病人までなれる。

Recently in Japan, people are calling swine flu the new flu. But in Western countries it's still informally known as swine flu.

In Japan, swine flu was slowly rising. Two weeks ago, the number of new cases stood at 11,636. But, also according to the news, this week, the number of new cases rocketed to 150,000 in one week. Last week the schools went back...

In much the same way as the UK government published a worst case scenario figure a couple of months back, the Japanese health ministry have published a figure that up to 760,000 people in Japan could become infected daily at the peak of the epidemic expected in late September, early October.

So far I don't know anyone who has had it, but I feel it's only a matter of time... I shall continue my obsessive hand-washing after every lesson and every time I'm near a sink and disinfecting my hands so many times a day!

A vaccination isn't expected to be available until after the epidemic peaks in the first wavel...


https://hasseidoko.mhlw.go.jp/Hasseidoko/Levelmap/flu/index.html
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/150000-patients-estimated-to-have-contracted-flu-this-week
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200908290090.html
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200908280041.html

久しぶりにブログに書く Writing on the blog for the first time in ages!

久しぶりね？！　今日、ブログの日のつもりだ！また掃除と勉強をしなければならない。。。

It's been a long time, eh?! I do intend to write on the blogs today. I must also do some cleaning and study...

Junrenka by Shounannokaze, again! また、湘南乃風の純恋歌

Well, I've been working again today...


Some considerable time ago, I posted the kanji and furigana lyrics to Junrenka, and said that there was a translation to follow. Well, inspired today, and with some help from a Japanese website, here is my attempt...



English Translation (thanks to jpopasia.com for the initial translation, to which I have made some changes - for the better I hope!)

When I close my eyes, there you are, shining the most brightly amongst one hundred billion stars
For the first time I mean it from the heart; ring out into the night sky, love song

My best girlfriend, you made delicious pasta
I’m fell in love at first sight with a family-oriented type of girl
Poor people are not successful, that’s a load of rubbish; I look at them, and they’re laughing and having fun
I’m soothed by their tender smiles, deeply in love

I was happy, happy, and skipping, quite unlike me
“I want to say I love you” I was transfixed by you who were staring at the hazy moon
For the first time, I thought “this is a woman that I want to protect”
Making a serious face, I held you tight

When I close my eyes, there you are, shining the most brightly amongst one hundred billion stars
For the first time I mean it from the heart; ring out into the night sky, love song

Because of that we’ll always be together, you and I
Recently it’s been said that it’s bad for us to see each other
But one way or another, I’m going to watch tenderly over you, my gentle lover
Don’t call me “Naa”, it’s such a odd nickname; everyone probably thinks we’re a couple of idiots
But whenever I feel down
You heal me, with your gentle voice

We’re definitely well suited to each other, we understand each other, even though we clash
When we can’t compromise, and we shout and are unfeeling
I get away from the house to go play pachinko, I kill time and calm down
Then with some complimentary cosmetics in hand, I go home to apologize

When I close my eyes, even though the star that I love was shining so bright
Right now the clouds are blocking it out, and I don’t understand why

I’m going, I’m going to see you…
I’m going…
I’m going to see you…

The hazy moon shines down on rows of cherry blossom trees
I drop in on the place that we met, on my way home
The scenery isn’t what has changed, it’s us
I’d anticipated I could see everything, even though it’s something that can’t be seen with the eyes…

I want to be close with you, you want something fresh
Even though you do it all for me, I do it all for myself
As the the spring night breeze blows on me, I’m struck by memories
The wounds have multiplied, I grasp the precious things I’ve been reminded of

I’m going to see you, let’s walk hand in hand
I definitely won’t let go, even when our hands go weak from old age
We’ll fight as many times as we have grey hairs, and our happiness will be as great as our wrinkles
Let’s live and feel together

Love song, I can’t live alone anymore
I’d like to have you at my side all the time
Love song, I’m won't make you sad anymore
Looking up to the sky, that’s what I swore
Love song, I proclaim my love with this awkward song
All stupid men sing about love
Listen to it with me, at my side
Love song, over and over again

Love song…let’s talk about everything
Love song…let’s make a promise

When I close my eyes, there you are, shining the most brightly amongst one hundred billion stars
For the first time I mean it from my heart; ring out into the night sky, love song

When I close my eyes, I want you to be shining the most brightly amongst the one hundred billion stars
I won’t forget again, the night that I held you tight
Reach out, love song

※目(め)を閉(と)じれば　億千(おくせん)の星(ほし)　一番(いちばん)光（ひか)るお前(まえ)がいる

初(はじ)めて一途(いちず)になれたよ　夜空(よぞら)へ響(ひび)け愛(あい)のうた

大親友(だいしんゆう)の彼女(かのじょ)の連(つ)れ　おいしいパスタ作(つく)ったお前(まえ)

家庭的(かていてき)な女(おんな)がタイプの俺(おれ)　一目惚(ひとめぼ)れ

大貧民(だいひんみん）負（ま）けてマジ(まじ)切(ぎ)れ　それ見(み)て笑(わら)って楽(たの)しいねって

優(やさ)しい笑顔(えがお)にまた癒(いや)されて　ベタ惚(ぼ)れ

嬉(うれ)しくて嬉(うれ)しくて　柄(がら)にもなくスキップして

「好(す)きって言(い)いてぇ」　おぼろげな月(つき)を見(み)つめる君(きみ)に釘付(くぎづ)け

守(まも)りたい女(おんな)って思(おも)った　初(はじ)めて

まじめな顔(かお)して　ギュッと抱(だ)きしめた

※ Repeat

あれからずっと一緒(いっしょ)だよな　お前(まえ)と俺(おれ)

最近(さいきん)付（き）合(あ)い悪(わる)いと言(い)われるけど

なんだかんだ温(あたた)かく見守(みまも)ってくれてる　優(やさ)しい連(つ)れ

「なぁ」変(へん)なあだ名(な)で呼(よ)ぶなよ　皆(みんな)バカップルだと思(おも)うだろ

でもいつも落(お)ち込(こ)んだ時(とき)

助(たす)けてくれる　お前(まえ)の優(やさ)しい声(こえ)

きっとお似合(にあ)いな二人(ふたり)　共（とも）に解(わか)り合(あ)って　重(かさ)なり合(あ)っても

折(お)り合(あ)いがつかない時(とき)は　自分(じぶん)がってに怒鳴(どな)りまくって

パチンコ屋逃(やに)げ込(こ)み　時間(じかん)つぶし　て気持(きも)ち落(お)ち着(つ)かせて

景品(けいひん)の化粧品持(けしょうひんも)って　謝(あやま)りに行(い)こう

目(め)を閉(と)じれば　大好(だいす)きな星(ほし)　あんなに輝(かがや)いてたのに

今(いま)では雲(くも)がかすめたまま　それが何故(なぜ)かも分からぬまま

会(あ)いに行(よ)くよ…

桜並木照(さくらなみきて)らすおぼろ月(づき)　出逢(であ)った(ふたり)二人(ふたり)の場所(ばしょ)に帰(かえ)りに一人寄(ひとりよ)り道(みち) 変(か)わらぬ景色(けしき)　変(か)わったのは俺(おれ)ら二人(ふたり)　すべて見えてたつもり

目(め)に見(み)えないものなのに．．．

馴(な)れ合(あ)いを求(もと)める俺(おれ)　新鮮(しんせん)さを求(もと)めるお前(まえ)

お前(まえ)は俺(おれ)のために　なのに俺(おれ)はのため

春(はる)の夜風(よかぜ)に打(う)たれ　思(おも)い出(で)に殴(なぐ)られ 傷重(きずかさ)ねて　気付(きづ)かされた大事(だいじ)なもの握(にぎ)りしめ

今(いま)すぐ会(あ)いに行(yu)くよ　手(て)を繫(つな)いで歩(ある)こう

絶対離(ぜったいはな)さない　その手(て)ヨボヨボになっても

白髪(しらが)の数喧嘩(かずけんか)して　しわの分(ぶん)だけの幸(しあわ)せ

二人(ふたり)で感(かん)じて生(い)きて行(い)こうぜ

LOVE SONG　もう一人(ひとり)じゃ生(い)きてけねえよ

側(がわ)に居(い)て当(あ)たり前(まえ)と思(おも)ってたんだ

LOVE SONG　もう悲(かな)しませたりしねえよ

空(そら)に向(む)け俺(おれ)は誓(ちか)ったんだ

LOVE SONG　ヘタクソ(へたくそ)な歌(うた)で愛(あい)を　バカな男(おとこ)が愛(あい)を歌(うた)おう

一生隣(いっしょうとなり)でいいててくれよ

LOVE SONG　何度(なんど)でも何度(なんど)でも

LOVE SONG…　何(なん)でも(ば)話(はな)そう

LOVE SONG…　約束(やくそく)しよう

※ Repeat

目(め)を閉(と)じれば　億千(おくせん)の星(ほし)　一番光(いちばんひか)るおまえが欲(ほ)しいと

ギュッと抱(だ)きしめた夜(よる)はもう二度(にど)と忘(わす)れない　届(とど)け愛(あい)のうた

But the rainy season has finished...?

Oh come on, what shoes am I going to wear today eh?! Maybe it'll have stopped in a couple of hours when I have to go out? Otherwise I'm going to be wading through a small stream to get to the station...

Whilst we get rain all year in Japan, we do have a distinct rainy season during June and up to mid-July. The rainy season was announced to be finished a couple of weeks ago, so this is just too much rain!

Update: fortunately it stopped at half past seven and the water all drained away quickly! It's now 8am and the sun's even trying to come out. Given it's due to be 27C (a bit cooler today!), it should be dry soon if it doesn't rain again.

Google Earth

It occurs to me that I really haven't been making the most of Google Earth! Of course, this is the ideal way of spotting potential countryside walks! Together with Navitime GPS, I've just planned some more walks... And all within about an hour's train ride heading away from Tokyo!

Countryside in Sanuki, Joban Line

Well, I rate that as a very successful morning! As far as hiking guidebooks in English are concerned, they tend to focus on the west or north of Tokyo. As I live in the north-west of Chiba, this means a good 2.5 hour train journey to get to suggested walks.

This morning, I had intended to go again to Mount Takao, so was on a train at 6:10... Of course, it was packed with people going to work, so I decided to go in the opposite direction, and see where that got me. If there aren't any suggested walks for this area, then I'll have to find my own!

I decided to use the Joban line towards Katsuta in Ibaraki and use the journey to make a note of nice bits of countryside close to stations. (It looks like the riverside walking at Tennodai and Fujishiro stations might be nice, and also the countryside near Sanuki (this post) and Takahama station.) I thought about going to Hitachi Seaside Park and getting a bus from Ishioka station, but changed my mind by the time I reached that station! Fortunately, you can travel on a train and just double back if you fall asleep or change your mind, and it doesn't cost you any extra, so I got the train back for 30 minutes to Sanuki station, where I had been the most impressed by the countryside. Incidentally, there are quite a few towns called Sanuki in Japan - this one is in Ryuugasaki City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

Walking along the road next to the tracks, on the right-hand side, heading to Ushiku for about 10 minutes leads you a small track over a bridge. From there, you can just follow whatever little road or dirt track, through allotments and rice fields, that you choose.

Next time, I will try not to play with my phone so much on the train journey, so that my phone battery has rather more charge for my GPS... Lucky really I had my charger and that kept me going until I got to a station at 1pm - there weren't many people around. Even if there were, directing me to a station down dirt tracks 45 minutes walk away wouldn't have been easy! I might get a paper map of the area now too.









And a short video clip of a rice field - I love the movement and the sound, as the wind blows!



So that was Sanuki, which can be done in under an hour by train. The name also appealed because it was just one syllable different to the Japanese racoon dog, the tanuki...

Tesco Express

Went to the Tesco Express in Chiba Chuo today. Not a lot of interest perhaps, but I did manage to get some own brand baked beans about half the price of Heinz. Baked beans are a luxury imported item here!

今日、初めて、千葉中央でテスコエクスプレスに行った。多分、余りおもしろくないがベークトビーンズを買われた。日本にベークトビーンズは高級の輸入食料だ！

Holiday in Nikko 日光の休み

Yesterday, I got back from Nikko after a very enjoyable 3 day break. The countryside around Nikko is so beautiful, and there's lots of wildlife too, I saw many birds and butterflies, snakes, squirrels and monkeys. I'm looking forward to my next trip there!

The first day I spent looking around the temple area of Nikko, and had a delicious yuba (tofu skin) and soba (buckwheat noodle) soup lunch. The 2nd day I spent walking in the countryside, had a few short conversations with Japanese walkers, and one couple very kindly gave me some grilled chicken to have with my lunch! Although the temperature reached 32-33C that day, it didn't feel too bad in the shade of the forests. And I bought a bottle of frozen green tea from the convenience store which lasted cold all day in my shoulder coolbag, as well as keeping my salad and rice ball chilled!

Photos and commentary in English are in the two links to the right (Nikko and Tobu World Square).

昨日日光から帰った、3日間の楽しかった休みです。日光の自然がすごく美しい。次の泊まりを楽しみしている。写真と注釈が右のリンクに有る。日光と東武ワールドスクウェアの写真がある。

Wander around Nippori 日暮里の散歩

Went for a long-intended bit of a wander around Nippori today. It's a nice old area of Tokyo with lots of old houses and temples, along with a Swiss chalet serving lunchtime sandwiches... Which is where I took the picture of the butterfly! More photos to the right link.

今日、日暮里に散歩に行った。この町は古い東京です。沢山の古い家とお寺が有って、スイスシャレーまでもがある。。。スイスシャレーにサンドを買える。その場所喋喋の写真を撮った。もう少し写真が右のリンクにある。

A couple of musings

Firstly, after my long mountain walk yesterday, and hundreds and hundreds of steps, I can no longer walk without pain! Particularly going down stairs. And I won't be sleeping in my loft tonight, it was hard enough getting down the ladder this morning, and I've seized up even more now!

Then, just now I went to the supermarket to get a few things. It's been a pretty good day today weather-wise, but when I left the supermarket the heavens had already opened. Well, it is the rainy season, after all! And, given I didn't have far to go, it was actually rather a nice reminder that I live in a sub-tropical country! And speaking of the rain, I was reminded of something that I noticed when first coming here on holiday... People cycle with umbrellas here - not something I've seen anywhere else. One of my students asked me the other week what British cyclists did when it rained, if we didn't carry umbrellas... We just get wet of course!

Ikea Meatballs

After visiting Koishikawa Korakuen, I went to Ikea for delicious meatballs for lunch. As you can see they are exactly the same as Ikea meatballs everywhere. But I bet you don't get ice cold green tea to drink with yours in England!

I also bought these poppy giant wall stickers for my flat, which I'm rather pleased with...

Koishikawa Korakuen 小石川後楽園

Today I went to Koishikawa Korakuen, which is a garden near Iidabashi in Tokyo. Beautiful! More photos to the link at the right.

鋸山 Nokogiri Mountain

Well, a long time ago when I first started this blog and went to Ushiku Daibutsu, I cam across Mountaincat's post on Nokogiryama. Ever since then, I've been meaning to go to Nokogiri, and finally did so today!

Wanted to get there before the coachloads, so got up at 5am and got a train around 5:45 which, after a few changes, got me to Hamakanaya Station just before 8:30. The ropeway is just a 10 minute walk away from the station.

It was well worth the early start, and despite the rainy season having started here last week, the weather luckily stayed dry! Even though it felt very early, I really appreciated the beuatiful scenery as I got about 1 hour or so from Nokogiri. I saw ducks paddling in the corner of a rice field, and even two llamas in a field surprisingly!

The tourist leaflet that I got says that the great Buddha statue was well known all over Japan. It does say 'was well known'... Certainly very few people I've spoken knew about it before the documentary on NHK the other week... It was a really beautiful area, and very green, really nice!

More photos to the right link.

ILOHAS twistable pet bottle

Coca Cola has recently launched a new brand of water ILOHAS in a lightweight PET bottle. The idea is that once you've finished drinking the bottle can be twisted into a much much smaller size (about 40% less than other PET bottles apparently). This makes it more environmentally friendly - see short video clip:



However, there's a problem... I used to buy my water bottles and then refill and reuse them a few times. These lightweight bottles can't really be refilled, because they squash too easily. Until the novelty wears off, these are so much fun to twist that I'm going to get through way more than an extra 40%...!