Made it!

In Japan many high schools hold their school festivals in September. The students and teachers prepare for the annual event very much in advance.

This year my current school is celebrating its centennial, so the festival itself was supposed to be a special one. The staff (I was one of them luckily) decided to make something huge and memorable for this occasion.

Here is what came out.

It is a 9x7m, made of 2x2cm origami paper. Each students and teachers, about 750 of us, worked on A3 paper and glued the tiny origami paper on the designated square.

The design was kept secret until the festival day. Only 4 students and 5 teachers knew it. As being one of the lucky ones to be involved in this project, I was very excited about this year's festival.

When we put it up, we heard the applaud from the students and teachers.

I'll never forget this moment.

Seeing is Believing.(4)

Meeting local people there made my trip much more memorable.

Seeing is Believing.(3)

Flew to Leh, Altitude of 3500m, almost the same as top of Mt.Fuji.

Dry, the sun is veru close.

Tibetan people are here.

The present Tibet in China is changing.

You can see the real Tibet here in this northern area of India.

Seeing is Believing(2)

Homestay from the very first night.

The taxi driver Mr.Kumar invited us to his house.

The homemade Indian Dinner!!!

Seeing is Believing(1)

First trip to India from August 2nd to 16th.

Taj Mahal was extraordinary.

The people in tha past had more power than us.

Lights in the evening

Riding my bike in the evening in the dark on my way home from work or town, there are guiding lights near my house these days.

However tired or cranky I have been feeling till that spots, my face becomes soft, and my cheeks go up :)

It's so easy to make me smile.

Fireflies are gorgeous.

Hooked with the Internet

The Internet at my place is down. It was irritating when it started having problem...It's been over 3 weeks, and I got used to not having the access all the time.
Now I am at my uncle's and opened my hotmail inbox...hmmm, too many mails (most are commercial ones)
Anyhow, the Internet will be back in a week. I guess my parents are happy about it. we are not the 'web-surfing' type, but it's nice to have one when emergency, or anything to check comes up.


I just post some pics I took with my mobile phone. The first one is part of the Sanja-Festival in Asakusa, Tokyo. I was in Tokyo to attend my friend's wedding. The ceremony was beautiful, and I got to see some old friends from college. Some are now DADS, and some are just grown-up both age and size;)
While in Tokyo, I was lucky to meet new friend, Mariko. It was such a nice circle of friends starting from my American Mom. Thank you, Mom.
The picture above is at the subway station in Tokyo, telling us to do make-up at home. Yes, here in Japan, many girls and ladies do their make-up on the train, the crowded train in the morning. They get on the train with the bare face, and get off with comeplete different face. It's amazing in a way...The person like me who doesn't do any make-up is just amazed...
This is Jan from the Netherlands. He stayed at our place for 2 nights. He gave us laugh, good drinking company with my dad, and much knowledge about his country and Europe. It was such great days:)
This is the Cheese Fondue in Takamatsu last week. Three of us got together at 6:30pm, had dinner, chatted and when we saw the time it was 11:30pm...on Thursday. I got home past midnight. No wonder I could just lie on the floor on Friday. Great night:)
Girls can keep talking all nights any time.

Beautiful Days

It's been fantastic past week, and the weather forecast says it's going to last another week:)

Today is April 29th. My brother's b-day. It's always a holiday since it's the former emperor's b-day, and now it's called the Day of Showa(Showa is the name for the period when the former emperor was in his place.) I was born in Showa 52. One of my brothers was born on today in Showa 54, and the youngest was born in Showa 58. Showas period lasted till 63.

Anyhow, I rode on my bike, then cycled to the beach where my family used to go in my childhood. It took about 1 hour. Good excercise. Good for my unstoppable weight...

On my way to and from the beach, I came across some shops and nice buildings which I don't recognize from driving. I love cycling.

I only wish bikes are allowed on trains...here in Japan...

Naked guys make people excited

I got the midnight ferry from Takamatsu to Kobe, and took the very first train to Osaka, walked 4km central Osaka from the north to the south to Namba. It was a beautiful day!

I got to my destination around 7:30. The people were already there in line. The gate is supposed to open around 8:00. I didn't reserve the ticket. I was there for the cheapest ticket. The number of the cheapest tickets available each day during the 15-day period is 200. There were about 30 people before me, so I made it!!!
For the first time in my life, I went to see this... This is the match of Yokozuna, the highest ranked wrestler, called Asashouryu.

The Japanese national sport is SUMO. As a Japanese I thought I had to watch it at least once.

The door for the main place opens around 8:30. The very first match starts 9:00. You are allowed to leave the place and re-enter just once.

I got in around 10:00 after having coffee and breakfast.
There were few people. And very young wrestlers were in the matches.

The young ones get ready in the side of the gym. They seem very nervous.

At the second entry, there were so many people with their cameras and were excited. That was the time when the top wrestlers get to the place and enter. I took this picture without knowing who he was...I still don't know...

After the match.

I sat on a bench, but if you buy the seat called 'MASU-SEKI', you sit at the place like this and they serve you a cup of tea, so it seems.The top wrestlers got on the 'Dohyo' before their match. You get really excited just watching them!
It says 'The place is full. Thank you for coming'.

We all have go through this

With great grandpa&greatgrandma

A night out

Yakitori...Grilled Chicken, many veges grilled. YumYum
A glass of beer and lots of wine made my Friday night.

It was a once-in-4-year night out. We will not be able to have the night next year or the year after....We are going to have the night out in the year when the next Olympics is held...London?

When I woke up this morning, I was at a loss where I was...very bad.

I just love being with my friends whom I really respect. They inspire me. Their existence itself helps me go forward.

I needed the night.

My Precious Family

I am lucky to be where I am.

I cannot remember when we my family got our picture taken alone...

SO here are the recent pictures of my parents and their offsprings.

Trying not to buy more stuff

Since I turned 30, I have been trying to make some space around myself. I am really bad about letting things go... So I decided not to get more new stuff...

How I have been doing??? Well, you know, I am really bad about this.

Yes, I bought new clothes on sale yesterday.

Yes, I bought some 'Roman Holiday' DVD since it cost only 380 yen!

No, I haven't gonr through my closet yet...

Yes, I bought another backpack last week. I had had it in mind but couldn't buy since it costs a lot bought brandnew.

And this time, I found a nice used one costing 1/3 of the original price. (trying to make an excuse).

How is everyone doing with making some space around you?

a newborn baby's vist to a Shinto shrine

My nephew was born on December 22, 2007. Very first grandkid for my parents and in-laws.

Our precious baby is Daichi. It means 'the earth', large field in the world. We hope he is going to have a great life for him and for the world around you.

Here in Japan, when a baby is born, and after a few months, the baby goes(is taken, in reality) to Shinto shirine. There, he/she gets prayed by the Shinto priest for his/her prosperous life and for the family.

So, Daichi went there yesterday. He kept cool during the ceremony, smart kid!

Looking at him all the time is far from boring. I know his mom has hard time most of the time they are alone, but his existence makes all the people around him smile:)

Was I like that when I was a baby??? Were you???

Half Marathon

1 hour 46minutes and 59 seconds

I'm feeling really good now, only my legs are feeling tired...

I did it!

Tomorrow

It's Saturday noon where I am.
It means it will be Sunday, February 3rd....
It means I will be running in my very first half marathon at this time tomorrow.

Wish no rain.

Just hoping to cross the finish line.