fruit cake

I made fruit cake today.

BBQ in Osaka

My friend invited me and I could join a BBQ in Osaka.I like BBQ!!! I love to eat food outside under the beautiful sky! It was really fine day today.
Many family came to the BBQ place and played the game,ate BBQ and their children also played with ball and ran there.They all looked happy and enjoyed it.I had a good time.
We could see Osaka city from the place.It was beautiful.

bread

I think I like to bake bread. I learned how to bake bread with my friends a long time ago at my friend's house. My friend's mother cooks well and she taught us making bread and sweets once or twice and recently I joined a site ,cookpad . This site is the biggest site in this kinds of food site. Now they've got about 150,000 kinds of food recipes from the members.
Anyway I haven't baked bread for a long time...then finally I baked some today!Yes I also like to eat bread. They look not so good, but taste was yummy!Have some?

Night in Kobe

I like this place in Kobe.

Halloween

On Monday I went to Kobe and wanted to go to a restaurant, Noht Dinning and have dinner Italian food there with my friend but the restaurant was closed and the shop stuff did something else, so I just got a card of the shop and took picture of this.
That was Halloween Box! Some pasta is in the box. I think they are really cute.

Vietnam Food

I met my friend in Kobe and went to a Vietnam food restaurant. A big building was built in Oct and they open some restaurants in the building. It was called "Mint". They also have some movie theateres in it.
The food we ate at Chao Sai Gon were so good!!!

Paris 2006

I had a good time in Paris with my family.I'll tell some about Paris.
I've been there for a week, well..so I stayed at a hotel for 3 nights.

Party at Noht

Some people in a group leaving Japan so we had a party.
We talked a lot about things in English. I like listen to the story about a planet.One of them study about it. I was lucky tonight. I think I could visit some of my friends in future.
It's a small world.

Wine Party

My friends and I had a chance to join Wine Party and had a nice dinner at Nord Wine Ware House in Umeda. They had the party and the guests could try some wine which was made in New Zealand!!!
Hawke's Bay is one of the famous place of wine in the world. A kiwi from "Sileni" explained about the wine. They served 3 white wine, 2 red wine and 1 dessert wine and at the end of the party we did quiz about the taste of the wine
The each wine taste are different and smell was so special.
I like to taste wine.

C'est tres bon

I've been to Paris with my family for a week and ate some cheese there.
I had some kinds of cheese every morning at a restaurant in a hotel. It was yummy! I like to eat baguette with fromage(cheese).
I bought one at the airport.

cheese

I've got a new mobile phone today! and so I just had this photo a few hours ago. I went to a super market and I'll show you my special place. There are some kinds of cheese, and they are yummy! Say "cheese!!!"

ma`ona

I have a good appetite these days. Yes, especially we have a appetite in Autumn, right?and I like to take a walks on autumn evenings. It has become quite autumn, and not summer in Japan. Also we can see the beautiful moon.
Some of my friends like to dance hula, and they took me to a shop in Shinsaibashi in June. The shop sells Hawaiian goods and I knew they were so lovely! and we went to a restaurant called "Pannam" to had some dishes. The dishes were beautiful. They serve good food there and I think the restaurant is really good for a party. Let's have a party!
This is "fruit cake"

Kau kau

I found " Cookpad " on a web site. This is one of the Japanese popular site. They have a lot of food recipes on Cookpad.
We can get our each page for free and put our own food recipes and the photos on the page.
This site is the biggest site in this kinds of food site. Now they've got about 150,000 kinds of food recipes from the members.

I'll tell you why I joined it, because if you try to cook food with someone's recipe and we could put the food photo and thoughts on that recipe page. We can report anytime you want! so the members communicate each other.Some people really enjoy it and also we can write our diary.
The organizer, Mr.Sano, wants Japanese to maintain tradition of Japanese food so he made this site "Cookpad" . We learn lots about Japanese traditional food , someone's original food,and the other variety of food with beautiful photos.
I thought it was really useful and helpful for me. I joined it on 1st of October and I 've just started writing my diary there with food photos.
I like to cook, so I 'll check a recipe and try to cook it!
This is "fruit salad". I ate this at the Airport in Australia.

Country Road

My friend likes this song. She is 5 years old.
This is Japanese one.Kantorii=Country,Roodo=Road

Romaji Lyics to "Country Road"
Lyrics: Mamiko Suzuki ("polished" a bit by Miyazaki)

Refrain:

Kantorii Roodo, kono michi
Zutto yukeba
Ano machi ni tsuduiteiru
Ki ga suru
Kantorii Roodo

Hitori bocchi, osorezu ni
Ikiyou to yume miteita
Samishisa osikomete
Tsuyoi jibun wo mamotte ikou

Refrain

Arukidukare tatazumo to
Ukande kuru furusatou no machi
Oka wo maku saka no michi
Sonna boku wo shikatte iru

Refrain

Donna kukikesou no toki datte
Kesshite namida ha misenaide
Kokoro nashi ka hochou ga hayaku natte iku
Omoide kesu tame

Kantorii Roodo, kono michi
Furusato e tsuduite mo
Boku wa, ikanai sa
Ikenai Kantorii Roodo

Kantorii Roodo, ashita wa
Itsu mo no boku sa
kaeritai, kaerenai
Sayonara, Kantorii Roodo

moon(September)

We can see the full moon on 8th of September.
http://contents.kids.yahoo.co.jp/hoshizora/moonage/200609.html

reunion

I had reunion in summer.I had a really good time with my friends.
I'm so happy I have some good friends know my childhood.

spilitual convention

There was a meeting about spiritual things in Kyoto.I went there with my friends,and listened to some interesting stories at the meetings for several hours in a day.During the meetings some speakers taught us how you practice your spirit by yourself.
It is a bit difficult to explain about that,but I was moved by the practice way,and we practiced it and learned concentration for half an hour .The training requires concentration.
In Japan we can learn concentration when we are children.Zenshu is sect of Buddhism ,and Zen has rendered a strong influence on every aspect of the lives of the Japanese people,Because according to the Zen teaching enlightenment can be realized only through sitting in meditation and training in calming the self,so I sometimes sit on the floor and calm for a while,and it is kind of spiritual training...I just started to be interested in the split or mind of me.
One of the speaker said the most important thing was learning about yourself ,and love yourself,and be yourself.I felt good at the time.I spent a really good time.

dance party

I saw a ballroom dancing party at a hotel on the 2nd of July. I've watched a movie about the kinds of dance ,but I was in the same room at the night.
One of my friends dances well, and we requested her that my friends and I could see her dance,and finally we got the chance.
The group of the members had a party and we could join the party.When we opened the door,I knew it was like one of the movies scenes.They all women were wearing the pretty dresses and the men led the women.They look very happy.
The end of the party,we could see the show.My friend practices dancing everyday ,so she was so elegant,accuracy,and powerful,and I almost cried when I saw her.I took some photos.

scone

I went to an English meeting on 2nd of July.A speaker talked about Singapore.

Movie

I went to the movies which is called "Poseidon" today.I've seen the trailer of this movie,and I thought it was as the same as the story of the movie "Titanic". so I didn't expect the movie,but my friend and I decided to watch this movie.
I thought two movies were similar, and I saw a comment and copied some of it.
"On New Year's Eve, the luxury ocean liner, Poseidon, capsizes after being swamped by a rogue tidal wave. The survivors are left to fight for survival as they attempt to escape the sinking ship. but They didn't tell so much about the people in Poseidon."
I agree with this comment,and I just saw how they escaped from the ship,at the beginning of the movie they showed us what they were,and they were at the New Years Party.but I was moved this movie.The people tried to escape were old,child,man and woman,and most of them didn't know each other,and they helped each other and cooperated to escape.

Osaka

I will tell you about Osaka city.
This is a guide.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2157.html

Apple pie

I went to Nagaokakyo near Kyoto and joined an English meeting .During the meeting a speaker talked about her life in NY.She's been to NY and she learned English and cooking there.
Today I learned how to cook an apple pie in English.We also tried some apple pie which is hand made.It was yummy!The member talked about food each other in English,and some of the member are new people for me. We could practice English,so I had a really good time.

Hawaiian

I've been to a event for 3 days in Osaka.It was called "Aloha Summer Festival in Osaka 2006".I knew about this event a few months ago from my friend and I've been waiting for the event for a long time.I asked the planers whether I could help them or not.They said ok!I was so happy,and I decided to help and to join the event at that time.
Finally, it was hold last weekend.The middle of days,it was rainy,but there were many people and the groups of dancers dance in the rain.I was amazed,because lots of people really like hula and they were watching the dance.
I knew how much dancers practice hula dance everyday,and all of the dancers smiles while they dance.I always feel good and relax.More than that, musicians played the ukuleles and guitars.I could listen to the Hawaiian musics ,songs all day.
There were some shops and sold the Hawaiian goods,they looked so cute!and I bought one of them...and you could eat Hawaiian food there.
I was in the information for 3 days and met many people there.Thanks for giving me such a good chance in the event.Thanks Kaulana and Mauloa family and my friends!!!I really enjoyed it.

Hawaiian goods

There were some Hawaiian goods and CDs in a event.

Hawaiian event

An Hawaiian event is going to be held at sky building in Osaka.
You can see Hula dancing and there are some nice Hawaiian shops.
Here is the schedule.
Please check it out!
http://www.mauloa-hawaiianclub.com/ALOHA/newpage3.html

Feng Shui

I sometimes read the book " Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston.
When I felt that I had too many things to think in my brain,and I said so to my friend,and my friend recommended me to read this book.It is a kind of Feng Shui book and it says there are important points in a room and if you clean the points ,luck comes,because if you clean up the place and keep there free,then a new thing comes there,and I think I believe it.It helped me a lot.

moon (June)

We can see the full moon on 12th of June.
http://contents.kids.yahoo.co.jp/hoshizora/moonage/200606.html

sun

I have my face and arms itching.you know this season the sun light is too strong for me because of the ultraviolet rays...when I walk on the street only for 10 mins,I have some trouble of my skin.I hate the sun!!!mmmnn...I like the sun ,but no thanks sun burn.

Hiking to Mino

One of my friend lives in Mino-city.The city has a good hiking course from the Mino station to the mountain.
We met at the station at 9am on Sunday morning,Actually we had to meet earlier if you got pure air and minus ion.
They say minus ion is good for health.Anyway we walked to the mountain,and talked to each others.
We could feel really flesh green during our walking,and my friend showed us some good points for praying to the gods.
They have some temples on the mountain.
The main of the hiking is watching the Mino falls.It was beautiful.We are in early summer,and it was hot day,
but around the fall,it was quite cool,and the water was clear.
I'm lucky that I have some friends who walk with me like this...thanks.

baseball game

Hanshin Tigers!!!I went to the game on 30th of May.
Do you like baseball games??I like watching the game.When I was a high school student,
my friend played baseball and I went to the game at Hanshin ground and watched it,
and I live in Kansai area,and the people live there like Hanshin Tigers!!!!!
When we go to the game at Hanshin ground ,the fun support players by rule.
One of them,we use balloons.Every fun make balloons and fly to the air at the same time!
That is beautiful for watching.Mr.Kanemoto hit a home run is my favorite player,
the game was great.Tigers won the game.

Tango

It was a show...,yes I got thetickets from my friends and I went to the show on Friday afternoon.
I hadn't have any info about Tango,but it was really amazing dance...so sexy and so moody.
How I could explain that..they move slowly and quickly...and the music was so good.
They played in the band on the stage too.

present

I met my some friends.My friends and I went to a same junior school and high school,and also we were in a chorous club.
The members of the each grades were so many, because we practiced for a conpetition and school festival,but we all liked sing a song together and the club,so we had to sing a same song a lot of times,and practiced very hard.
and then we are still friends and it was the first time we had met in a long time.
one of my frineds got married and we bought a present for her today.We chose the tree for her.

Japanese Tea

Now we can drink good taste Japanese tea in this season.

golf

I've been studied English at golf center in Kobe since 2001.My classmates and I study it at the cafe.
My classmates are a man works there and a girl ,Nana,has many experiences in her traveling overseas.
My classmates sometimes changed in last 5 years,and they also liked to study English and talked their interesting stories to me.My English teacher always teach not only English but his interesting things.(world histories,sience,news,movies.etc.)They were many kinds of things,that's why I 'm still member of students with him.
BTW I never tried to practice golf there and my classmate started it last month,then I finally joined the golf school and tried it this evening with Nana after we studied English.I hit 350 balls this time.It was fun.At the beginning I felt that my wrist was hearted...but I got used to it,and the teacher gave me some advise.
I'm really lucky ,because I had 2 lessons at the same place and same day!yay!

Hawaiian event

Hawaiian Girls

Wedding party

moon

On May 13th ,you can see the full moon.
http://contents.kids.yahoo.co.jp/hoshizora/moonage/200605.html

Music

I like John Coltrane music.
Thelonius Monk Quartet with John Coltrane

http://entimg.msn.com/i/asx/audio_streams/
TheloniousMonkWithJohnColtrane_AtCarnegieHall.asx

Kakiemon

My family and I visited Kakiemon's House.
He is one of the famous artists in Japan.

Arita

Imari

Touki-ichi

My family and I went to Kyushu and visited "Touki-ichi" .it is the market of pottery.My family like pottery.
We have a famous pottery at Arita in Kyushu,south of Japan,and they have a pottery festival "Touki-ichi" in Golden week( we have some national holidays in the week,and so we called the week,"golden week" in Japan.it is almost a week ,end of April -to the bigginig of May.Even Japanese can get holidays.)Anyway so many people visit there every year.We can buy pottery quite cheaper during the festival,and can see many kinds of plates.I like to see plates ,because the design,and almost ot the plates were hand made and handwriting.The skill is amazing!
http://www.arita-toukiichi.or.jp/open.html

my ukulele

Finally,I bought my ukulele today.The end of last month my friend and I went to a ukulele lesson,and I had a really good time with the other students and the teacher.At the biggining of the class,he gave us a lei which were made of real flowers!!!and the flowers smelled good.While we practiced the ukulele,we smelled the lei and felt Hawaii,and I like the sounds of ukulele.I just learned some code but when I could make the sound of code,I felt good and enjoyed it like a child!It is fun to learn something new,isn't it?I think I can practice it at home.It is much easier than playing the guitar...^^;

Cuban event

I'll tell you about a salsa event in Osaka in May.
It is called "Fiesta Cubana 2006"
April 28th Fri-May 28th sun
At Umeda sky building 40F ,please pay for entering the building, 700 yen.
It is a Cuban enent.You can see some pictuers at the place and they have a live or a salsa show there.(it depends on a day)
You can join a salsa lesson after they have a show.It is fun.The teacher speaks Japanese very well,and makes you happy!
more info,
http://www.skybldg.co.jp
the show schedule
April
28th,19:30-
30th,17:00-,19:00-
May
5th 19:30-
7th 16:00-,18:00
12th 19:30-
14th 19:30-
21th 16:00-,18:00
27th 17:00-,19:00-
28th 16:00-,18:00-

dance

My salsa teacher and his group members had a show at sky building in Osaka.I'm just beginner,but I like salsa,because 2 years ago I went to the salsa show and saw their show and my friend also danced in the group,and they danced and taught the audiences how to dance salsa,and I thought I liked the music and the an atmosphereso was good at that time.They were so cheerful when they danced salsa.
I go to the show every year.This year some of my friends came to the show and after we watched the salsa show we could practice it together.It was fun!!!It looks really difficult but the teacher always made us happy!!!Let's dance salsa!!!BTW We went to the dinner at a Hawaiian^^ restaurant,Mauloa near the sky building.

ukulele

I went to a Ukulele lesson on Thursday !!!!!!I played the Ukulele!!!!!!Kyoko told me that we could go to Ukulele lesson,and she knew I was interested in Ukulele.Anyway, this was my first lesson.The teacher is Japanese,but he 's been to Hawaii so many times.He chose the Hawaiian song to play the Ukulele for the lesson.The name was "Ke anu 'o Waimea ".I haven't hared that song,but I like this song.We had been practice it for 2 hours....but I couldn't play the song...but I knew some code.The sound was so nice and lovely.

debut

One of my friends, Kaorin,has started dancing hula,and she danced on a stage with her group members.
I usually listen to about Hawaii from her,so I 'm interested in Hawaii.
So I went to Suita-city on Saturday.Before we went to the place,we had lunch in Umeda.She talked how difficult to put false eyelashes on her eyes.We talked each other as the same as usual.
She danced one song,so I just took a few photos for her,and had no time to take by digital camera!I missed it!!!but she danced well!!!!
The event was for spreading the infomation about" medulla bank".The patients need medulla.We could help someone.We learned how we can help them.

bike

I like to ride a bike.I bought my bike last year.
I hadn't ridden a bike for long time ,and I had a good opportunity to ride a bike last year,so I really wanted to buy a new bike at home!Then I finally bought one at the end of last year.It is white and a mountain bike.When I got it ,it was rainy day and I rode it for almost 2 hours from the shop,but I was really happy at that time!

fegn shui

Do you believe "fegn shui"?It has a long history,so I believe it.Some Japanese think about "fegn shui" when you build your house.I'was not so interested in it ,so I haven't thought how we put our furniture or windows...I've just started think about this.I only heard Yellow is good for money or Red is good for some wishes..but I'm not sure.

TOEIC

I decided to take the TOEIC exam next month.I have to study English for TOEIC.
I've already had a lots of books for it...and took the exam several times.I wish I could get over 700points!!!

hot spring

My family and I went to Arima hot spring with our relatives the end of last month.We rarely meet them together.

landmine

I went to Tennouji today.I joined an English meeting.I've been there since 2004.One speacker talk to the members once a month,and after we lesten the stories,we can ask questions to the speaker.It is difficult to lesten to their stories in English but it is good for me.
Today A woman who come from Portland Oregon in USA spoke about herself,her hometown and her interests.
This spring vacation she traveled to Southeast Asia and learned about the landmine problem in Cambodia.She said Cambodia was one of the worst landmine affected countries in the world due to almost 30 years of conflict,and Cambodia has twice as many landmines as children(7 million landmines).
http://fadig1969.blogspot.com/

moon

Today On April 14th ,we can see full moon.
http://contents.kids.yahoo.co.jp/hoshizora/moonage/200604.html

Wine

I went to a Wine Party on 3rd of April in Kobe.Actually my friend and I had a small Birthday party by ourselves there.My friend birthday also is in April,and we were invited the wine party.One of my friend works there,and she has a Wine Party once a year.I met her at the end of the year party a few years ago.I've been learning English in Kobe.We have the party every year,and we can see some friends who study with same teacher in different classes.It was fun.I can see many people there.Last year we went to a Chinese restarant.yummy!BTW,she served some kinds of glass of wine each of us.We tasted them and talked about the taste.It was very first time for me and had a good exparience and relax time.Thanks Tomiko!

letters

I went to a exhibition yesterday. One of my friends uses a computer and drew a picture with a soft .
Some people like to exchange their letters or cards each other.It is not e-mail.They also think about the season. You write a simple word and drew a picture with water paint on the same card, we called "Etegami".And recently you can use a soft for drawing it.
My friend is really good at painting by the painting software. It was amazing the skill. I like her ideas and her using color. Her paintings are all lovely.

Hanami

I went to Shukugawa on Sunday.It was fine day and a little bit cold,and we had Hanami Party on the Shukugawa river side.Some of my friends bought our lunch at Hanshin department store,becuase we usually don't buy any Obento,Lunch-box, there,and we thought they looked delicious and Hanami party was good time to try some.Autually they are not so cheap lunch box,but we could shear the food and ate many kinds of Japanese food in the box.I like to eat out side.They are yummy!and we realized that the people walked on the bank were so many.We had to keep the place we ate on at 10am.We could sit down on the seat near cherry trees.They were lovely.The timing was the best for flowers,and then we went to Hawaiian cafe near there.

Cards

I saw my Friends at Hawaiian restaurant Mauloa on Tuesday.It was a small meeting,because one of us wants to know about hula there,and Kyoko chan's Birthday!Happy Birthday Kyoko again!It was a good time!We laughed and laughed about our funny stories,and ate yummy Hawaiian food there.What was I interested in?It was cards! Kaori brought it and showed us,and let us used the cards.Each cards tell us some advice for our life,and give you a hint and courage,and I was surprised that the cards said to us!Are you interested in the cards?

BBQ

My friends and I had Hanami Party last Sunday.We went to a park in Osaka.One of my friend took me and K-chan to the park,and the other friends already prepared some food for BBQ.Thank you!We have Hanami Party under the cherry trees in spring in Japan.We eat,drink,chat and watch cherry blossoms.We have Hanami Party with friends or with coworkers.When you have Hanami party,one of you go and secure the place to have it before a party starts.We need the best position to see cherry blossoms!It is beautiful,and they have a limit,so we can only do it during the bloom of flowers.oh,this time was too early!and there is no flower^^,but I enjoyed the BBQ!