Royal Wedding

Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, have been married at Westminster Abbey in London.



There is no longer need to explain that marriage in words.

Take a look at the following highlights video produced by BBC.

What a wonderful wedding!!

Eco Basketball

I had a basketball practice at Yono Gym today.


Unexpectedly as many as 20 members gathered there.





Looking up at the ceiling in the gym, I could find a little but important effort to save electricity.



It was my first practice after 3.11.

I also saved my energy as well as the lights not to hurt myself by accident.

It was so fun, but.......I've already felt some of my tired muscles aching from today's practice. (^□^;)

Barcelona 2-0 Real Madrid

Two goals by Argentine striker Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Madrid's home Bernabeau.



Have a look at Messi's second goal in the following video.

Nobody can stop him!!

Defenders are meaningless to Messi.



Soooo fantastic!!! (≧▽≦)






I didn't watch that game at that time, but one famous Japanese watched it with the greatest football player in the world.

Japanese left-back defender Yuto Nagatomo stayed at Inter's #10 Wesley Sneijder!!


It is often said that they are so good friend, and this photo was updated on Sneijder's twitter page with his comment "Watching the game with my friend Yuto Nagatomo!!!"




Nagatomo and Sneijder......it's like a dream!!

New Wall

Yesterday the scaffolding was removed and the repair of the outer walls was completed.



Here is our building with new tiles.

White, indeed!!





To tell the truth, I like the former brick-colored wall.

It was just like a house of brick in Britain, and that feeling made me relieved so much.





Well......the present one is so modern, eh?


It looks as if it were not Eigonoie. (^□^;)

Do you come from Japan?

Many of the foreign general-interest magazines and newspapers have been reporting some inaccurate news related to the raveraged nuclear plant in Fukushima.



Above all, this caricature is now controversial.

Snow White, carrying a newspaper with the headline "Japan nuclear radiation", looks skeptically at the apple through a magnifying glass and says to the old woman (or the wicked witch), "Wait a minute! Do you come from Japan?"


Eigonoie subscribes to the International Herald Tribune, and this cartoon was published on the Thursday's edition April 21st.


Soon after, the Japanese Consulate General in New York lodged a protest with New York Times Co., which is the owner of the International Herald Tribune.




I felt so sad to see this.




This cartoon tells people from another country that they had better not to eat or buy Japanese foods.

And it may lead bad effects on our economy.



Of course it's not true.

Consumers don't have to worry about the safety of Japanese food items because they cleared adequate radiation checks both in Japan and the U.S.







Why did they publish this cartoon?


Is that the true colors?


Will they really support us?

Reds home opener

J-League season resumed this weekend following a six-week hiatus due to the 3.11, and today our Urawa Reds had a match against defending champion Nagoya Grampus at Saitama Stadium.


That was my first time to see the game on the seat this season.


Now I'd like to show you the scenes from my seat.

This photo was taken just before the game.

All the supporters were waiting to see the players enter the field.

On my left, where is the backside of a goal, the most passionate supporters called BOYS raised their fist and boosted the morale of the team.





And when the players entered the field, all the supporters raised a flag of white, black, or red, and made a huge tricolore.

The scene during the match was like this.

As you know, Urawa Reds downed Nagoya Grampus 3-0 with goals from Marcio Richardes, Tatsuya Tanaka and Genki Haraguchi.


Fantastic game, wasn't it!!??



Finally after the game, we raised our muffler and sang our winning song "We are Diamonds" as usual.

After the song, surprisingly, the coach Zeljko Petrovic showed up in front of us, made a bow as to express his gratitude.


He looked really happy because that match was his first win in the J-League.




I could get a lot of energy from the game.


Sooooo refreshed!! (≧▽≦)

Remarkable beverage

I'll soon leave for Saitama Stadium to watch football match.


Today's match Urawa Reds v.s. Nagoya Grampus will be kicked off at 14:00, so that I have to bring my lunch there.




My mother bought the lunch at the supermarket (maybe ItoYokado), but I was surprised at the drinks she bought.


Here!!

This is the sports drink, but have a look at the top of the label.

Surprisingly this beverage is produced by a company well-known for its salt product '赤穂の天塩(Ako no Amashio)'.





And also she bought this one.

A green tea produced by a sweet and snack specialty store 'おかしのまちおか(Okashi no Machioka)'.


It's no longer a sweet or a snack...(^o^;)

Frustration

These days I can see many TV shows reporting angers or complaints against the Japanese government and TEPCO's response to the nuclear accident.


All they must be a fact, but I don't like those news.





The one I watched this morning said that Prime Minister Naoto Kan had visited evacuation shelters and had talked with people evacuated from areas near the troubled nuclear plant on the day before.

When he was about to leave the evacuation center after spending about 10 minutes there, some evacuees angrily shouted out, "Leaving already?"

Then they criticized him and his government with some strong words in an angry tone.





I turned off the TV at the moment.

I didn't want to see both PM's face and refugees' ones any more...





Actually I can't really understand the evacuees' feelings because I've never experienced such a hard life.

Absolutely the PM neither.



The refugees, on the other hand, might realize that they would not be understood completely.




In other words, it was a gap between him and evacuees that produced the scene of the TV show.




Of course it's so important to put an eye on the situation, try to understand the evacuees' feeling, and keep on doing any support for them.

That criticism had to be inevitable.







Anyway, can you guess why I dislike that kind of TV show?




......Because that kind of TV show includes exaggerated information and it makes us think that Japanese government and TEPCO have been doing only a few things (or nothing) to improve the situation.




Most of evacuees says to the PM or the representative of TEPCO, "Do your best on recovering nuclear plant."



I think this is a rude words for workers trying to recover the troubled plant.


Can you imagine that they cut corners?






What we have to think now is the ways to relieve their frustrations.


And more and more TV shows should focus on that point, I think.

Fukkin Doooon!!

This CM I found today is so unique.

"Billy's Boot Camp Wii De Enjoy Diet"



Of course, you know, that is the parody of well-known school bag CM "Tenshi-no-Hane (Wings of Angel)".

What makes me laugh the most is the phrase "Fukkin (abdominal muscle) Doooon!", which is the parody of "Sesuji (back) Piiiin!".

.........Isn't it a plagiarism?? (^□^;)

Egypt Again

Last year my friend Shogo and I took part in the Egypt tour.
→http://eh-take.blogspot.com/2010/03/egypt-tour.html

There were 14 participants including us, a kind tour conductor Ms.Nakamura, and a unique guide Hossam.


Of course we didn't know each other at that time, but as the time passed, talked a lot and shared many interesting events, our bonds of friendship got stronger and stronger.


At the end of the eight days tour, all we exchanged the phone address and promised to meet again someday.






Last night our promise came true!!




Not all the members but all the 9 younger ones could gather and had a small party at Okinawan restaurant 'LA TIDA' in Ebisu.

The memebers were like this.
(sorry that the photo was took last year in Egypt, because I forgot to bring my camera yesterday......)

The girls are all from Keio Univ. and the boys are all doctors.


We talked a lot about our recent days, memories in Egypt, and so on.

All we'd been surprised at the riot against the government and worried our guide Hossam.



Especially the boys' talk was so interesting.

Their medical circles are quite different from our business world!!

I learned that "Zenma" meant "Zenshin-masui (=general anesthesia)" and "Pange" meant "Ippangeka (=general surgery)".




One boy also said that the medical circles was too small to encounter a good girlfriend.


It could be said that the educational circles I belong to is the same as medical ones, indeed.





I think both hospitals and schools must be a small world...






Anyway here is my friend Shogo.

He was late for that party yesterday.


I remembered the names of all the members, but he couldn't......so I told him secretly just before the party. (^o^;)





All we had a good time there.

I have to say 'thank you' to Yamaharu and Midori (and Yuri?) for organizing that party.


I can't wait for the next time!! (≧▽≦)/

ZAK

I found an interesting drink "ZAK".

Of course it's not the beverage for Japan's national football coach Zac.


The name "ZAK" comes from its only ingredient 'zakuro'.


This pomegranate 100% juice is originally produced in the U.S.


In the U.S., the same product is sold as the name "POM" from 'pomegranate'.
→http://www.pomwonderful.com/





It is said that the ancient people used pomegranates as a kind of medicine, so that the taste may be not so good for present-day Japanese.


I like pomegranates.


When I was a kid, I used to sneak some ripe fruits of pomegranate tree standing in someone's garden.


How naughty I was...(^o^;)

Many Thanks, Jo

Yesterday was the last for our Canadian part-time teacher Josephine Ho to teach English in her class.


Then we held a small party for her at French restaurant "Bon Tigger" last night.

It had a homely feel, and all the dishes were terrific.



As well as her birthday last June, each of us gave her a present to show our gratitude.


My present was here.

Cute designed portable cutlery set called "MY CUTLERY", which can be three different cutleries  by replacing the head parts.



I hope Jo would like it.




I didn't want to say 'goodbye', so I gave her a hug instead just before passing through the ticket gate of Urawa station.



Many thanks, Jo!!

I wish you all the best!! (*^o^*)

Last Sakura Pic.

The following sakura pictures are the last of all I took this year.





These two below were taken in front of the building of Saitama Prefectural Office.

The evening sun also produced this great view.

I could see many sakura trees when I entered the main gate of the prefectural office.

The latter one is called "Ohshima zakura", whose leaves are mainly used for Sakura-mochi.

Its blossoms are rather white than pink.





I told you before that there was a wonderful weeping cherry in Gyokuzouin.

There are also good sakura trees in front of it.

These sakura stand in Chuo Park, which is just in front of Gyokuzouin.


When I was very little, kindergarten teachers used to take me there.


These sakura always remind me of my good old days.





The language of sakura is "pure and beautiful".


My heart was also washed by the beautiful sakura.


Do not be discouraged by the disaster.


Ganbaro!! (^o^)/

Level 7

Japanese officials announced on Tuesday morning that they raised the event level at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant from 5 to the maximum level of 7, the highest on the international scale for nuclear incidents and the same level assigned to the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl.


The decision to raise the threat leve was made after radiation of a total up to 630,000 terabequerels had been estimated at the stricken plant.


The level 7 signifies a "major accident" with widespread health and environment effects.




But it's considerably different from Chernobyl.


Fukushima has released only about 10% of the total radiation released 25 years ago at Chernobyl.




What we fear the most is not only the nuclear crisis but also the economical collapse after the announcement of highest nuclear alert, I think.

"GANBARO"

In various places in Japan, sirens wailed and people bowed their heads and wept along the devastated northeastern coast at 2:46 p.m. today as they marked a month since the historic earthquake and tsunami that killed up to 25,000 people and triggered a nuclear crisis.


Contrary to our daily efforts for recovering from 3.11, the ensuing earthquakes are trying to break not only the buildings but also our hope.


There're a few foods and drinks on the shelves of supermarkets still now.


Also, self-restriction society seems to prevent us from any joy in our lives.






How could we get over this dismal days...?






I'm not sure the way, but at least, we should never feel depressed about our situation.


We never forget the victims forced to live in emergent shelters with less foods and drinks.


Have a look up at the sky. The answer is there.

"GANBARO NIPPON"

SUNTORY also gives the similar massage to us by using Kyu Sakamoto's "Uewo Muite Arukou" and "Miagetegoran Yoruno Hoshiwo" sang by various celebrities.

→http://www.suntory.co.jp/enjoy/movie/l_s/corp.html?fromid=movt_corp

It's so hard to express my feeling, but I know we never throw away our hope.

Now look up at the sky and swear together "Ganbaro"!!

Horrible One Month

A sturong earthquake estimated magniude 7.1 hit the northeastern Japan, also swaying buildings in  Saitama and leading to a tsunami alert.


I don't hear any damages on Fukushima nuclear plant and workers so far.






Today marks one month since a magnitude 9.1 quake and tsunami devastated Japan...


What's happening under our feet...?

Urawa Reds Training Match

Today is the vote day for electing a member of Saitama City Council.

Of course I went voting to Saitama City Hall this evening.





But before that, I was in Saitama Stadium to watch the football training match.

That match was just a practice game under the climate of saving electricity; I mean, there were no lights, no music, no announcement, and no TV screen.


Without any electricity, however, our faces and minds were bright.

Three Urawa Reds' foreign players struke 3 goals over Montedio Yamagata on that match.


The following photo was taken just after the first goal by Marcio Richardes.



Anyway, I really like this Urawa Reds training uniform.

It's just like AC Milan's uniform.

After the match, many players stood at the front gate and collected donation for the victims of 3.11 earthquake and tsunami.

Almost one month have passed since the worst earthquake.

I think it important to keep on doing activities for collecting donation.

Dog & Cows

Around Besshonuma park, I found some houses with an interesting ornament in front of the entrance.


Have a look at this.

A big wooden dog guards this house just in front of its door!!






And I took one more unique photo.

A cow and its calf were there!!



Actually I've known this cows.

When I was a child, there was Muraoka Milk Factory in that place.

And those two cows were the simbol of the factory.


Following these pictures were took several years ago.

This factory was pulled down, and some new apartments were built on the site instead of that.

I've thought that those cows had also been removed and away from there.



So my heart bounded with joy when I found the cows.




We can't stop the ongoing civilization, but I wish some good old things will be left as they are.

Around Besshonuma Park

I strolled in Besshonuma park last Thursday.


And I took some great view of sakura there.




First, I noiced that there were some beautiful sakura there and that many people enjoyed hanami under the trees in Besshonuma park like this.

In front of Besshonuma-Kaikan there was a big sakura tree, which I like the best in the park.

Going to the south end of the park, we can find the pedestrian bridge.

And we can enjoy the great sakura view from there.

It's also good to look down sakura blossoms.

Then, I moved to one of the best sakura spots in Urawa.

From Besshonuma to Musashi-Urawa station, there is a lot of sakura trees alnog the pavement.

Annually the sakura festival is held along this street in this season, but there was a few stalls in the aftermath of the recent jishuku(self-restriction).

I like these two shots because these scenes made my mind so calm and mild; about 60-year-old couple was taking a walk hand in hand and kids were playing under the trees.





Between the Besshonuma park to Nakacho post office, I found two beautiful hidden sakura.

Perhaps the first sakura is differnt from the latter one.

When I was an elementary school student, one of my friend lived around there.

So I used to play with him under the sakura tree after school.





Anyway it was a so nice weather that I took more and more pictures in various places.

I'll show some of them on another article of my blog later.

Huge earthquake again

The biggest earthquake since March 11th occured!!


Magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Japan tonight, and authorities issued a tsunami warning for the northeastern coast.


There was already ravaged by the 3.11 monster tsunami.


And Fukushima, where workers are still trying to contain the damage at a stricken nuclear plant, is also in danger of this quake and tsunami.




When could we regain our lives in peace...?

2 Sakura Songs by Ikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari, whose song "Arigatou" recorded a mega-hit as a theme of NHK drama, released two sakura songs in the past; their 1st single "Sakura" and 8th single "Hanawa Sakura Kimiwa Utsukushi".

"Sakura" (2006)

"Hanawa Sakura Kimiwa Utsukushi" (2008)



I think the vocalist Kiyoe Yoshioka's voice is so beautiful and it matches the beauty of sakura.

"Sakura" by Naotaro Moriyama

The following video isn't the official music video, but you can enjoy the beautiful song "Sakura" by Naotaro Moriyama and a school chorus.


When I first listened to this song in 2003, I felt glad that I had been born in Japan.




Naotaro Moriyama is a son of one famous singer Ryoko Moriyama, who is well-known for her song "Satoukibi-Batake (Sugar cane field)".




He seemed to sing under pressure from others, but listening to his "Sakura" below, you realize that he has his own unusual talent for music.

"Sakura" solo version is the most famous, but this chorus version is also fine.

2 Sakura Songs by Fun-Mon

I told you that I liked FUNKY MONKEY BABYS.
(→http://eh-take.blogspot.com/2011/01/fun-mon.html)



I had never listened to their songs until I heard this first sakura song titled "Lovin' Life" released in 2007.

But this music video fascinated me then.

In addition to this song, they released another song "Sakura" two years later.

Yoshimi Tokui from a popular comedy duo Tutorial starred  in their music video.

Not only the song but also its music video must be a significant essence, I think.

Hidden Sakura

This shidare-zakura is behind the Kenmin Hoken Center (Saitama Prefectural Health Center).



It's also good to look up the cherry blossoms.

And I took the pictures of closer ones.

So beautiful!!

It was a brilliant day for taking sakura pictures.