Last Day of May 2010

From tomorrow, my handover period from my senior assistant starts.
To not be regretted for the free time I had, I had enjoyed the past one week as much as I can.
I watched my favorite TV programs, went to classic concerts, a musical, and Karaoke.
And today, the last day, I spent time at home with my mother.
We watched one of my favorite variety show and after that, watched photos of my friend's wedding ceremony.

Well, now I'm going to go to bed. Be ready for tomorrow!

Gospel CD in Japan

In Japan, Christianity is a minor religion.
I mean, even if Japanese people know about Christianity, they take it as a "foreign" religion.
Therefore, I seldom find goods related to Christianity in Japanese shops.

Yet, I found one today.

It was when I was doing window-shopping at a CD and DVD shop.
On the "healing music" corner, there is one Gospel CD titled "Golden Praise -In His Time-" among other healing CDs.
I couldn't believe that I found "Gospel" CD at Japanese general store and so I tried listening tracks of the CD, and yes, IT IS Gospel CD indeed!
Also, it had a catch copy that says "a healing CD especially recommended for a medical healing."

I was really happy.
Such minor genre of music, Gospel, is now ready to be taken by general people who don't know the message of Gospel.
Since the tracks are all sang in English, many listeners might not understand the lyrics.
Yet the message of the songs may stay in their hearts and they may realize the meanings.

I LOVE music. I KNOW Gospel in Christianity is the one we need.
So, I hope the CD could appeal to as many senses as possible in Japan.

Wicked

Today, I went to see a musical titled "Wicked" in Osaka.

It's an another story of the famous musical "the Wizard of Oz."
In another word, it's "the Wizard of Oz" talked from a different point of view.

Anyway, I checked the summary of "the Wizard of Oz" on Internet to prepare for enjoying the musical "Wicked."
(I wish I could save a time for reading the novel of "the Wizard of Oz...)

I didn't have so high expectation, but the result is more than I supposed.
(Actually, I was almost crying at the finale...!!)
It has really reasonable and happy ending.
Also, I satisfied to know background reasons of "the Wizard of Oz"'s story.

I especially recommend this musical to whom in trouble to make good relationships!

Feeling Tired...

I have been so sleepy throughout the day.
Because of the feeling, I could not concentrate on my job, had a little bit headache and was not hungry.

Tonight, my favorite idol group, ARASHI, sang in a TV show, but I gave up watching it on time although I had been longing to watch it.

I need good sleep. Good Night...

Karaoke

My favorite thing is singing. And the essential place to manage my stress is "Karaoke."

"Karaoke" is a place to sing songs where microphones, TV monitor that the lyrics is showed, and music box are prepared.
There are not only Japanese song, but also English, Korean and Chinese songs in the music boxes.
We can choose songs we like and the instrumental version (of the song) begins, and we can just put our singing voice on the music.

Today, I went there with my junior of the company I belong to.
We spent one and half hour together, and it was very exciting although it was the very first time to go out with her in private

Note: the picture above is the Karaoke room I used today!

First Classic Concert Played by Professionals

Today I went to a classic concert with my mother.
Music of the concert is played by a famous band which is called "Vienna Symphony orchestra."
Yet our target is to see one young Japanese violinist's performance.

His name is Ryu Goto. Even though he is Japanese, he lives in U.S. and attends to Harvard University.
I knew him through an article on a newspaper, and was interested in him who told that I want to make my concert enjoyable even if it could be breaking classic traditions since my audience chose to come by paying the fee.
I'm a beginner as a classic listener, but I might be able to enjoy his concert... I thought.

It was pretty expensive, but now I felt it was valuable decision.
I don't have enough time to describe how I feel about the performance, but I just want to say that it was good experience.

Free-Time Before Facing My New Task

These days, I have finished my work at officially scheduled time.
This means that I have much time to use for my private.
However, such condition will be ended since I will take a new task next month.
The task would be pretty complicated one, and I may not be used to it so easily.

Hence, I decided to enjoy this last week as much as I can!

Monday, I went to Karaoke box by myself, sang, sang, and sang by myself for an hour.
Today, I watched a very beautiful and moving TV drama that I was longing to watch.
Tomorrow, I will take half day off to go to a classic concert with my mother.
Thursday, I will go to Karaoke, this time, with one of my junior.
Friday, I can watch a TV program that my favorite artist, ARASHI, is planed to sing a new song they recently released.
Saturday, I will go to see a popular musical named "Wicked" with my friend.

Yeah~~~~!!!!

Various Type of Study Kit

Japan is a country which is full of study kit for English learners.
The opportunity or situation to use English skill in Japan is still rare.
However, we are able to polish our language skill through various type of study kit in Japan.
We have books, CDs, DVDs, TV programs, and schools to learn English.

Indeed, I have many books and CDs for English study.
Even though, many of them are not completed yet but just have been my collection.
I'm always failing in keeping studying with one teaching material. X-(

Today, I found an piece of information about a weekly newspaper written in English.
It is printed in full-color, has vocabulary list, summary of article, or full-translation in need.
It has quizzes and study guide for English learners too.
It is looks so attractive and interesting... I might be able to keep reading this news paper...

Should we start taking this news paper even though it costs 970 yen per month?

ARASHI

I'd like to talk about my favorite artist today.
(To know them visually, watch this movie clip; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehPLhg7npiQ)

"ARASHI" is one of top idol groups that is produced by Johnny's, a major talent agency in Japan.
The group is composed of five member, Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto.
They deputed in 1999 and their popularity had been not so high until these two or three years.
Yet they had 10th anniversary last year, and they were to be called as "the group that is most difficult to get a consert ticket" at that time.

And I am one of lucky people who could join their 10th anniversary consert.

I had liked them, but since I joined their consert, I became to LOVE them.

My favorite part of them is their good team work or the sense of togetherness.
They care each other. Even though I don't know their 10 years of history, I could feel it.
Each member has different personality and they could have a battle, but they have never had an actual fight.
They were not naturally good friends, but they discussed to be a better group together.
They are bonded in one dream - to be the best idol group in the world.

I want to be like them who work hard, keep an attitude of thankfulness, and enjoy what they do.

Thinking about them is one of my stimulus.

Hamburg

One of my favorite food is hamberg.
Today, my younger sister took my mother and me to a hamberg restaurant by a car.
There were various type of hambergs and stakes.
Since I LOVE hambergs, I had been longing to go to the restaurant.
However, the taste is not better than the one my mother makes.
It might be because of the type of restaurant (=family restaurant).

Yet, I could have plenty, and I was satisfied!

Ready to go to bed...

Today I had a dinner only with my mother.
We ate Okonomi-Yaki (Japanese pancake?), watched TV drama, and spent a lot of time for talking together.

It is the end of a business week.
I'm really tired... ready to go to bed.

Good Night!

My Favorite TDS: "Mermaid Lagoon"

Notice>> This Picture is from a web site named "LaughingPlace.Com."

As I said in yesterday's post, I LOVE Tokyo Disney Sea.

In Japan, there is a big theme park called "Tokyo Disney Resort (=TDR)."
TDR is actually made up of two theme park which are "Tokyo Disney Land (=TDL)" and "Tokyo Disney Sea (=TDS)."
And, I prefer TDS over TDL. The biggest reason is the scenery. Very beautiful.

Especially, I LOVE "Mermaid Lagoon" in TDS.
To tell you the truth, I have never watched "the Little Mermaid."
Yet I love the songs used in the movie, such as "Part of Your World" or "Under the Sea."
Besides, the atmosphere of "Mermaid Lagoon" is my favorite.
I can be relaxed as if I am under the sea for real. Enjoying a cool and slow time.
(You may be able to understand what I say by watching the movie clip here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gsJcLcFfxQ&feature=related)

If you've never visited TDS but got interested in the park, contact with me via a comment space below.
Someday, I'll go around TDS with you! ;-)

My Favorite Mugs

I don't have many mugs, but I have just TWO mugs I cherish very much.

First one is a present from one of my friend.
I love the color (light blue) and the printed design (the picture of a coffee cup).
I use this all day at my office. I feel relaxed when I drink with this mug.

Second one is what I bought at Tokyo Disney Sea this spring.
I LOVE Tokyo Disney Sea and the design of this mug cup!! Really cute!!!
This mug brings my dreamlike memory at Tokyo Disney Resort and makes me happy :-)

Going around shops to check various type of mugs is one of my hobby, I think!

Dreadful, but Interesting...

I intended to talk about one of my favorite things today.
But, I don't feel to think such stuff because of a novel I read today.

The book's title is "Kokuhaku" which means "confession" in English.
This is a mystery story to find the truth of a mysterious murder.

I usually don't like unhappy story especially something related to murder.
Even though, this story has two interesting points.

Firstly, through the all six chapters are written in a way of each character's monologue.
Every one of those chapters talks about same thing, but each explanation is something different from others.
It is because everyone explains on behalf of themselves.
Each person tries to protect themselves.
It is pretty scary from a spectator's point of view, but I know it is the nature of a human..
Human-beings are not basically good and every one of us could be a criminal.

Secondly, the situations the characters live in, their ways of thinking, and the atomosphere... so many factors of this story are very topical.
There are many examples and words to explain about current social problems in Japan.

Because of these two reasons above, I could not stop reading this book, "Kokuhaku."
It is really dreadful, but interesting indeed.

My Basic Schedule for a Business Day

I get up at 6:30 a.m. Usually, my mother helps me to wake up! X-(
I go down the stairs and turn on the TV in our dining room.
During the such time, entertainment news and weather reports are shown on the TV.
I eat my breakfast (which is usually yesterday's leftovers), change my clothes, and put on makeup.

I leave home around 7:30, get on a bus to my nearest station, and run onto a train around 7:40 a.m.
I spend about 40 minutes in a train, and usually fall in asleep on a comfortable seat... ;->

I work at my office from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Actually, it's just an official scheduled time, and I usually stay until 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

After I get back home, I spend my free time to watch TV program, read novels, and browse the internet.

At the end, I take a bath and go to bed at midnight.

Well, "Good Night!"

Night before a New week Starts

Tomorrow is Monday, the first day of a new business week.

Every Sunday, the day before Monday, I feel a little bit gloomy.
I'm pretty satisfied with my current job, but I still love private time more.

Today, I talked with my friend at a chapel.
He is a quarter Japanese who has American looks and Japanese heart.
He just started his job this month, is already prepared his career to be a member of international project of his company.

Oh, his situation is similar to mine (even though there is a huge gap between our language -English- skill).

On such a gloomy day, this information cheered me up.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Tonight, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was shown on TV, and I watched it.
It was not my first time to watch the movie because a professor of my university showed it for his students (include me) as an example of what he was teaching.
Yet I could watch only a part of the movie, and I was longing to watch it until the end of the story.

The story was pretty simple.
Charlie, a heartwarming boy of a poor family, got one of five "Golden Ticket" which enable to go into the mysterious chocolate factory owned by Willy Wonka.
There were four other kids who were permitted to go inside of the factory, but they could not follow Willy Wonka for various reasons, and Charlie was the only one left.
Willy Wonka appointed Charlie to be the heir of the factory as the special prize of the "Golden Ticket."
Charlie declined the offer since Willy Wonka inhibited him from take his family with him.
However, afterwards, Charlie help Willy Wonka realized the value of a "family" and Willy welcomed Charlie's whole family to live and work at his wonderful chocolate factory.

This time, I could not understand each single phrases because the movie was shown without subtitle.
Even though, I could understand the storyline, and I was glad to know it.

I may watch this movie again, and following each phrases will be the purpose of the time.

Bath & Body Works

"Bath & Body Works" is my favorite bland of bath and toiletry products.

The first time I knew the name was when one of my supervisor returned from the U.S.
He bought a hand soap of the bland as a gift for us.

I fell in love with the fragrance of the soap.
I had not been especially interested in "fragrance" until then.
However, it changed my taste, and now I loved to check various fragrant goods.

Sadly, there is no shop of "Bath & Body Works" in Japan.
Now we can buy products of the bland on the internet, but I want to go and look around the shops.

Someday...

Take a first step.

My supervisor appointed me to be an official member of an international trading team.
I must be an useful assistant at the time of communicating in English.

Here is my first step.
Write, write and write in English everyday.
Think and learn in English, and be ready for sudden needs of business communication in English.

Enjoy!