Winner of Kouhaku

Surprise!!

I watched 61st NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, and I had supposed that Akagumi (red troop) must win this time.

But Shirogumi (white troop) had a landslide victory.

Why......?

Toshikoshi-Soba

We'll be in 2011 soon.


Of course I ate Toshikoshi-Soba, but on this New Year's Eve, I ate Soba not only with my family but also with my boss Mr. Ogura.

We talked a lot about our next year, and he gave me a lot of advice.


I've never seen such a wonderful man.



Thank you, Mr. Ogura.


I appreciate him so much.



I'll do my best on the next year 2011!!

Cut Fat

This is my brother's pajama.

So unique design!! (￣▽￣;)

Rise's Birthday

I forgot to upload a blog about Rise's birthday.
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Well, as you know, there are 6 teachers in Eigonoie.

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And on December 14th, we had a birthday party for Rise after the class.

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On Jo's and Rikiya's birthday I gave a joke present to them. (→http://eh-take.blogspot.com/2010/06/jos-birthday.html and http://eh-take.blogspot.com/2010/11/rikiyas-birthday.html)

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But that time my present was here.

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Mimi Pen Xmas ver.

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Everyone expected that I would bring a strange present.

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.....Sorry there's no more idea under my iron rule. ― joke presents shold be consumable ―

Prepare for New Year

Soooooo cooooold, eh?

This morning I set Kadomatsu to both sides of the gate and Okazari to the upper part of the front door.

This is one of the Japanese traditional customs.
The meaning of this is to wish for the family's happiness in the following year and to announce that we're ready for welcoming a good luck.

Anyway, I wonder how the people living in apartment do this custom.

Do they share the Kadomatsu with all the residents?? (^o^;)

Xmas in 2010 ends

Christmas in 2010 has just passed and nothing special happened as usual.


When I was a kid, I always looked forward to waking up on the morning of Christmas Day to see my presents from Santa Claus.

And I was also excited to open the boxes of presents.



Even after I knew that Santa Claus does not exist, I felt I was filled with happiness and plenty of love.


Of course Santa Claus never comes to me, but still now I feel excited with the dreamy mood of Christmas.





This month I introduced some Christmas songs in this blog, and this one is the last I'll show you.

I want all of you to feel happy with these songs.



I wish all the children are happy with their presents and their lovely someone at this Christmas, and......ever after.



Merry Christmas!! (*^∪^*)/

- Last Christmas - (Crazy Frog Mix)

Itsukano Merry Christmas

- いつかのメリークリスマス -

by Eric Martin

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Every December the lights they shine so bright

Once again the celebration begins

Everywhere I go I feel the energy

they ignite these warm feelings within

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Caught up in the rush of all my Christmas shopping

I'm searching for a special gift from me to you

Walking to the station I'm thinking of you

The day is done, now I'm on my way home

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Always forever, just take hold of my hand

and I know that we will walk this path together

Shining so brightly for all the world to see

We can take all our dreams and make them reality

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All that I treasure, all the things you give to to me

All the stars in the heavens up above us

I know that they'll always live deep down inside me

Everything that I feel for you this Merry Christmas

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Walk from the station, I feel my heartbeat race

For I know that very soon I will be home

You greet me at the door, a kiss a short embrace

You're so busy with the preparations

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In the twilight hour as we exchange our presents

You smile and say you love me and my feelings soar

Stare into each other's eyes, it's so clear to me

I've found my home, you know it makes me love you more

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Always forever, just take hold of my hand

and I know that we will walk this path together

Shining so brightly for all the world to see

We can take all our dreams and make them reality

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I still remember the day you made me see

that a life without your love it has no meaning

And now that I know what your love means to me

Through the years I'll be wishing you a Merry Christmas

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On that December night, underneath the moonlight

I promised you that we'd never ever be apart

Swept up in the moment I broke down and cried

The pain of love from the bottom of my heart

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Always forever, just take hold of my hand

and I know that we will walk this path together

Shining so brightly for all the world to see

We can take all our dreams and make them reality

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I still remember the day you made me see

that a life without your love it has no meaning

And now that I know what your love means to me

Through the years I'll be wishing you a Merry Christmas

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And as the years go by, each passing Christmas

I reflect on what life's given me

The gentle snow fall, the look of love in your eyes

Times together, my sweet memories

Christmas Eve

- Christmas Eve (English Ver.) -

by Tatsuro Yamashita

All alone I watch the quiet rain
Wonder if it's gonna snow again
Silent night, Holy night


I was praying you'd be here with me
But Christmas Eve ain't what it used to be
Silent night, Holy night


If you were beside me
Then I could hear angels
And I'd give you rainbows for Christmas


Somewhere far away the sleighbells ring
I remember when we used to sing
Silent night, Holy night


I keep you inside me
Oh the truth is unspoken,
So my heart won't be broken on Christmas


They lit the trees along the avenue
Twinkling silver with a touch of blue
Silent night, Holy night


All along I watch the quiet rain
Wonder if it's gonna snow again
Silent night, Holy night


I was praying you'd be here with me
But Christmas Eve ain't what it used to be
Silent night, Holy night

Eigonoie Speech Contest was over

I was moved to hear my students' speech yesterday.

Some of them were not so well-speeker but all of them seemed to do their best.

Mr. Ogura said he wanted to give 1st place award to all of the students at the end of the conpetition. So did I!!!



Anyway I don't think our play in Harry Potter was good, but that play reminded me that I had played Vernon Dursley and Remus Lupin during my high school days.

I'm looking forward the next competition.

Winter Solstice

December 22nd is 冬至(toji = winter solstice), and we ate pumpkins and put two 柚子(yuzu = a kind of citrus fruit) into a bath.

There's a custom to eat pumpkins and take a yuzu bath on toji in Japan.

It is said in Japan that you won't get a cold if you've done these two things.

Anyway, tomorrow is the day of Eigonoie speech contest.

It's actually not the speech contest, but I wish all of my students succeed and have a good experience.

One Way

I went to Shinjuku last Sunday to attend a drinking party with Studying English in Sheffield Program members.


Only 8 friends were able to come on that day but we enjoyed so much.




To my surprise, one of the girls have already quit her job and she teaches dance now.

In addition, next month one of the boys is going to be transferred to Batam, which is an island of Indonesia and is located 20km off Singapore's south coast.



Each friend goes their own way.


I'm not sure whether their choice is true and they are happy or not, but I think we should have a firm faith wherever we go.

Lumbago

Suddenly my back ached during the class the day before yesterday.

What's worse, today's damp and humid weather annoys me with sudden acute backache.

And I didn't take part in the basketball practice yesterday so that my daily stress couldn't be reduced.

I can't be without my corset...(_´Д｀)ノ~~

Dec. 12th Festival

How many years have passed since I last went to 調神社 (Tsukinomiya Shrine) on December 12th?

Walking along Nakasendo, I indulged in reminiscence about my childhood.

At that time I used to dream that I would enjoy 十二日まち (12nichimachi festival) with my girlfriend someday...

Anyway, I saw Kurumi there.

She is maturer than I expected.

Snow White -白い恋人達-

One of my favorite winter song is this sung by Boyz Ⅱ Men.

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The title is "Snow White -白い恋人達-", which is a cover of the original song "白い恋人達 (Shiroi Koibitotachi)" by Keisuke Kuwata of the Southern All Stars.

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[Lyrics]

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Settling along the scenery, beneath the steady fall
The dusk accompanies a loneliness, descending as snow
Tears can drown the embers in this broken heart of mine
Another portrait in my life watching the seasons passing by

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Crystallizing every breath I take, even the subtle sighs
The wind carries a solemn melody through uncovered trees
At the red brick station the trains can catch their breath
And I've been patient, waiting for someone who won't come back to me

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Tonight the tears will go away, I'll find a way to play this Serenade
How can I break this song away from my emotions
The snow is falling down to kiss and help me reminisce and celebrate
My tears are falling from the sky and turn to White Love

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By the time the bells are swinging in their rhythmic symphony
Imagining a dreamy Winterland is where I will be
Angels all around, floating slowly from the sky
And bring a look of tenderness only the spring can show me how

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So I'll be holding on strong and keep from going on to Loneliness
The glistening angels in the sky are waiting for me
And I will wish upon a star and carry in my heart for Foreverness
These tears eventually will frost and turn to White Love

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Tonight the tears will go away, I'll find a way to play this Serenade
How can I break this song away from my emotions
Give me one chance so I can shine and reminisce the time and celebrate
My tears are falling from the sky and turn to White Love

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White Love
My Love

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I just want to hold you
Can't be without you
I'm calling out your name
In my heart

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※ The original song is here.

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夜に向かって雪が降り積もると
悲しみがそっと胸にこみ上げる
涙で心の灯を消して
通り過ぎてゆく季節を見ていた

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外はため息さえ凍りついて
冬枯れの街路樹に風が泣く
あの赤レンガの停車場で
二度と帰らない誰かを待ってる, Woo

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今宵 涙こらえて奏でる愛のSerenade
今も忘れない恋の歌
雪よもう一度だけこのときめきをCelebrate
ひとり泣き濡れた夜にWhite Love

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聖なる鐘の音が響く頃に
最果ての街並みを夢に見る
天使が空から降りて来て
春が来る前に微笑をくれた, Woo

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心折れないように負けないようにLoneliness
白い恋人が待っている
だから夢と希望を胸に抱いてForeverness
辛い毎日がやがてWhite Love

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今宵 涙こらえて奏でる愛のSerenade
今も忘れない恋の歌
せめてもう一度だけこの出発をCelebrate
ひとり泣き濡れた冬にWhite Love

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Ah, ah, 永遠のWhite Love
My Love

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ただ逢いたくて もうせつなくて
恋しくて…涙

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Haisai

My mother went to Okinawa and she's just come back home.

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Most of tourists tend to buy Okinawan foods (such as Chinsukou cookies, Beniimo Tart, and so on) as a souvenir.

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But my mother has been to Okinawa many times and she get bored with buying typical souvenirs from Okinawa.

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This time she bought them and gave them to me.

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① "Aosa" seaweed soup

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② Cards with Okinawan Dialects

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Every card has a different Okinawan word.

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For example, do you know the meaning of "あがっ"?

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Some of my friends are Okinawan and they use this word when they bump into another player in basketball practice.

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The answer is here.

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It means "Ohch!!"......yeah it's interesting.

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And the Jokers are Okinawan Habu (a poisonous snake which lives in Okinawa) and Mongoose.

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Why is Magoose drawn?

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Mangoose didn't live in Okinawa originally, it brought from India in 1910 to exterminate Okinawan Habu.

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Okinawa the strange place...(^O^;)

With New Strap

I bought a new strap here.

This J-League season has already finished and a lot of players are about to transfer to other team.



Our Urawa Reds is also in a big reform;

○Robson Ponte will leave soon.

○Marcio Richardes and Mitsuru Nagata will join our team from Albirex Niigata.

○Zeljko Petrovic will be a team manager during the 2011 season.

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I'm not sure this reform is whether correct or not, but I always support Urawa Reds.

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche

What a gorgeous cake this is!!


The name of this cake is "Antoinette"


Not only its beautiful posture but its size (perhaps it's twice as large as the other cakes) reminds us of the autority which Marie Antoinette had.



※ We bought this at Patisserie Acacier.

J-League Division1 34th Section

Urawa Reds 0-4 Vissel Kobe



The crushing defeat of today's match depressed us greatly.

And I really feel sorry for Robson Ponte.

Today's match could not adorn the end of his long career as a Urawa Reds player.




On the other hand, Vissel Kobe turned the tables.

Just after the whitsle, players and supporters were loudly exultant over their defeat and to find that the closest rival FC Tokyo crashed 2-0 to Kyoto Sanga.


It was so dramatic that Vissel Kobe avoided relegation to send FC Tokyo into the 2nd division.




J-League 2010 has just finished.

But we can also enjoy the Emperor's cup.

For the time being I'm waiting for the next quarter final Urawa Reds v.s. Gamba Osaka held on Christmas day.


Show us a dreaful football and give Robby the supreme memory.

FIFA choose Qatar to host 2022 World Cup

Breaking news!!

Election has done and the winner of the 2022 Football World Cup host country is....

QATAR!!!

Christmas Carol

♪ Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat.

When I was 10, it was my first year to study English, that Christmas song was sung in KISO EIGO 1 from the radio.

I'm not a pious Christian, but I like the mood of christmas that everything seems to be sparkle.

Welcome December!!