Lowest Turnout in Gubernatorial History

Kiyoshi Ueda is certain to be reelected today, defeating two other candidates.


A 63-year-old incumbent governor is on course to secure a third four-year term.

Contrary to his joy, it was serious that little voter interest led to the 24.89% turnout (down 2.78 points from the previous one), which is the lowest in gubernatorial races' history in Japan.




He is not attractive at all, though, I hope our prefecture Saitama will be more attractive.

Basketball Report

My high school's baskeball club annually holds a alumni meeting.
(related to my former article → Love Basketball(2009/11))

When I took part in it last November, I was asked to write a report about that day.



And now you can read that report if you visit my high school alumni association homepage (→杉朋会-Sanpoukai).




That was my first time to write a report, and perhaps it was also the last. (^o^;)

Usami's first 90 min. in Bayern

Bayern Munich's young midfielder Takashi Usami played 90 minutes against Barcelona in the final of the Audi Cup on Wednesday.

Usami was arguably the best Bayern player on the pitch.



I'm looking forward to seeing the combination between Usami and other star Bayern player such as Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Namacha Sparkling

I bought a brandnew beverage here.

The idea to make green tea sparkled is so new, and the taste as well.



To be honest, it's bad... (-_-;)

China Train Crash

As you know, there was a terrible accident happened in China.

The train collision on a high-speed rail line in eastern China last Saturday that killed 39 people and injured 210 others has raised fresh doubts about the safety of one of the largest, most expensive public works projects ever undertaken.


The government's only explanation has been that a lightning strike disabled equipment, allowing a train carrying about 550 passengers to strike the rear of another train with more than 1,000 riders on a viaduct near the city of Wenzhou.

Eight cars derailed, with four hurtling off a bridge.




Why did the safty mechanisms fail to warn or slow the second train?

If the lightning did that, everything else would stop, too.

And the signal system should keep trains at a safe distance.



Why was NOT the government more forthcoming about the cause of the crash?


Why were parts of the wreckage buried at the site so soon?



Why was a toddler found alive in the wreck even after railway authorities had said there were no further signs of life?



A lightning?

I think all they have done was a concealment of the truth relating the cause of crash.

New NIKE CM

Have you seen a new NIKE comercial message?

Surprisingly Urawa Reds' young striker Genki Haraguchi appears at the beginning of it!!

Of course I felt happy to see this, but I also wondered why NIKE had chosen him...(^o^;)

Fully Digitized TV in Japan

Japan ended its 58-year-old era of analog television transmission over the weekend as cathode-ray tube TVs are no longer able to display programs without an additional special tuner, following the migration to digital broadcast.

Happily there was no big trouble on that day, and we stepped on the new era.



But it must not be fogotten that many blind people will be inconvenienced by the switch to terrestrial digital TV broadcasts because they use FM radios that can recieve analog TV broadcasts to listen to televison news, culture programs and dramas.

Harry Potter Final

Today I saw "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part2".

I was soooooo moved!!


Especially I like the scene that professor Mcgonagall have a duel with Snape to defend Harry.

Before watching this movie, of course, I've already read all the Harry Potter's books and seen films as well.

Then I think it was easy to understand the plot and every scene made me impressed so much.




You had better go and see it!! (≧▽≦)

Electro Swing Ghibli

I bought a new CD "Electro Swing Ghibli".

As you know, I'm a great fan of Ghibli.



Ghibli's music always cheers me up!! ＼(^o^)／

Nadeshiko became Champion

Japan became the first Asian nation to win the FIFA Women's World Cup, beating teh United States 3-1 in a penalty shootout.

Japan's Homare Sawa scored her fifth goal in extra time to claim the Golden Shoe Award as the tournament's top scorer.

She also won the Golden Ball honor as the competition's MVP.




Nadeshiko Japan collected just five yellows and one red card at the final, so they were also adjudged the fairest team at the tornament.




As they did in every game before, Nadeshiko Japan displayed a banner reading "To our Friends Around the World - Thank You for Your Support".

Thank you, Nadeshiko Japan!!


You are our hope!! ＼(≧▽≦)／

Festival in my district

Festivals for kids were held in my district.

Kids shouted "Wasshoi", and that voice made me cheerful.

Shingaku Fair

彩の国進学フェア(Sainokuni Shingaku Fair) have been held at Saitama Super Arena on July 16th and 17th.


Almost all high schools in Saitama make their booth and explain their school to a lot of students and parents.


→2011彩の国進学フェア



This fair is always so crowded that people have to wait for a long time under the sun to enter the hall.


You had better go there afternoon and bring a hat, a towel, and some drink if you're thinking of going there.





Anyway, my father is also there today because he is a high school teacher.


No holiday for him......(-_-;)

After school

"What do you do after school?"

This is a simple question that Ms. Araki asked all the elementary school students in Eigonoie this week.





What would you answer if you were an elementary school student and were asked the same question?




Me?

Of course I will say, "I play soccer." or "I play video games." or just "I play."



But almost all Eigonoie's elementary school students answered, "I study."






"I play" is a lost generation......(´д｀;)

Lovely signboard

A signboard is standing in front of the amusement arcade near Eigonoie.

What a kind arcade this is!!



All we need is love wherever we go!!

Time to eat bunny

2011 is a rabbit year in Japan.


Mr. Ogura bought two golden rabbits during New Year holidays and put them next to a kangaroo doll.

But it's not just an ornament.


Look closer...

Yeah, this bunny is made of milk chocolate!!

And this week we opened it and cut it apart into small pieces to eat them easily.


I was so happy that elementary school students ate the chocolate and smiled.





Anyway, breaking up this bunny was grotesque and cruel...

Sorry, bunny......(≧д≦)

Nadeshiko Japan 3-1 Sweden

Nadeshiko Japan reached the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 final for the first time in their history after producing a wonderfully stylish and ruthlessly dominant performance to defeat Sweden 3-1 in Frankfurt.

Japan have developed a reputation for its tactical discipline and slick short-passing combinations, which have come to be their trademark.



Japan will meet USA in Sunday's World Cup final.



I want to see goals by Kozue Ando, who was a member of Urawa Reds Ladies.

Go Japan Go!! ＼(*^o^*)／

Doraemon Final?

When it comes to Doraemon, many people like to talk about its final episode.

Of course it never exists so far.

But there is a rumor that some patterns of its final exist somewhere.




For example, the following imitation is so elaborate.

Its pictures are so similar to the real one that elementary school teachers asked Fujiko Production to use it as a teaching material.

Fujiko Production accused its author of copyright piracy, so this comic has been banned still now.




But I like this final best. (^□^;)




※ If you want to read it in English, go to the following sites.
→YouTube: The Final Doraemon (English)
→http://lorian-e.blogspot.com/
→http://www.hobbyfanatics.com/

Doraemon case

Doraemon digital camera case has just been delivered.

It seems so dangerous in rainy days.



Just a bit of rainwater may cause this Doraemon to be out of order, right? (^o^;)

New Ties

Now many stores are in summer sale.


I bought three new ties, and each of them was less than ￥1,000.

Especially the design of the left two is so cute.

You know the design of the light gray one, but the navy blue one's design is Ultraman's most popular foe named Baltan Seijin (Alien Baltan).




I'm looking forward to wearing them after this summer!!

Loxonin

I played basketball last Sunday after about one month absence.




Unfortunately on that day, the other side of the gym was used by a badminton circle, that means all the windows were closed.

When I entered the gym, I felt dizzy a little.

Also I had a hunch that I might feel sick in that sauna gym.





As I expected, a bad headache gave me hell.


I had to stay in bed all day yesterday... (my precious holiday spoiled...)





But now I'm so fine after a lot of sleep and a painkiller.




Thank you, Loxonin!! ＼(^o^)／

Urawa Festival Posters

Urawa festival will be held next Sunday.



Now Eigonoie's front window is like this.

We Eigonoie also support Urawa festivals!! ＼(^o^)／

COJICOJI's Tanabata story

My favorite comic COJICOJI also has a chapter about Tanabata.

I like this ending.


COJICOJI's wish "みんなげんき (everyone's fine)" is more important than anything else.

Tanabata

Tanabata is one of Japanese traditions.

On this day, people write their wishes on tanzaku papers and hang them on bamboo branches.

Tanabata originated more than 2,000 years ago with an old Chinese tale.




Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi living in space.

After they got together, they were playing all the time and forget about their jobs.

The king was angry at them and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way).

The king allowed them to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calender.






Tanabata is known for a romantic story like that, and it's also known as a star festival.



Today the weather is unfavorable, but let's wish upon a star!!

New Sandals

I bought a new sandals.

I don't like to wear socks in muggy summer because my feet get so hot and sweaty.



Please take me to a nice place, sandals!!

Fantastic Lantern Night

So beautiful and dreamful night was in the sky of Poznan, Poland.


As part of celebrations to mark the official arrival of summer, crowds gathered near the Earta River on June 21st and released thousands of paper lanterns into the air, resulting in a magical effect.

This must be a "fantasy".