Hashimoto Dictatorship

Former Osaka governor Toru Hashimoto pulled off a big victory in the Osaka mayoral election and his top aide Ichiro Matsui also won the gubernatorial election on Nov. 27th, helping their metropolis idea to take a major step forward.

Voter turnout in the mayoral election was the highest in 40 years at 60.92%.


The election generated a great deal of interest not only inside but also outside Osaka.



Hashimoto has proposed to reform Osaka's administrative structure because he said the city hall and the prefectural office overlap in their functions.


That landslide victory shows voters' frustration and their overwhelming support for some radical changes.





I think that result is really hard for civil servants working in Osaka.


And I also think his educational reform plan must be extreme.


But here is the fact that Hashimoto's hostility toward the present civil servants went well to arouse young voters' interest.


How many civil servants will support the possible new Osaka??




More or less, and for better or worse, something will change soon under his autocracy...

Disney Magic in Times Square

Mickey and his friends visited New York City and made quite a splash in Times Square.


Guests from all around the world were able to stand in a certain spot and many of the famous Disney and Disney Pixar characters would magically appear next to them.




This must be a magic that all we can enjoy it without any words!! ＼(^o^)／

Juninichi-Machi

Now you can see a beautiful illumination in the west side of Urawa station.

You might think Urawa has nothing to do with the present recession.


But actually, many of the signs on the window around Eigonoie say "Vacant" or "For Rent".


It's true that Nakasendo street is withering.


To deal with this, local association of commerce and industry has managed to enliven the street with several events.






Eigonoie also ccooperate with them by pasting a poster of the upcoming event "Juninichi-machi".

Juninichi-machi will be held from 11:00 to 22:00 on December 12th.


Let's get together and enjoy the event!! ＼(^o^)／

Aum trials really end?

Judicial proceedings for Aum Shinrikyo figures effectively came to an end Monday as Seiichi Endo became the 13th member of the doomsday cult to have his death sentence finalized by the Supreme Court.


I was only 7 at that time, but I strongly remember that the 1995 sarin gas attack on Tokyo's metro struck terror into my heart.


All of you know the poster at the station or police box, saying that three fugitive cultists has been wanted and not yet arrested.





Religion sometimes makes people mad.


We never forget a series of Aum's madness, and hope never it happens ever after.

FOG BAR

I bought a new hair wax.

Shiseido's FOG BAR

This is my first time to use spray on hair wax.


I gonna scrunch my hair and say "Shu Shu Shu Shu~"!!

Interview Project 2011 ②

We had to postpone the interview project in the Imperial Palace because it rained on November 6th.


Some students got greatly disappointed at that time.




After an interval of two weeks, the interview project took place on this long-awaited beautiful holiday.

There were much more people than ever before!!


Students asked their prepared questions one after another and enjoyed talking with each of them.


I was so surprised that one group talked to over 30 foreigners in one and a half hours.





Almost all the students seemed to be more confident in their English through that interview project.


Experience is the best teacher!! (^o^)

Naniwa

One of my students went to Osaka as a school trip last week, then she got me a souvenir.

I've never been to Osaka.


If I have free time, I'd like to go there and eat a lot.



Anyway, thank you, Kanako!! (^^)

Zac's First Defeat

Japan suffered their first defeat under coach Alberto Zaccheroni as the Asian champions lost 1-0 to North Korea in a World Cup qualifier today.

In Japan's first match in the North Korea capital since June 1989, Pak Nam Chol's 50th-minute header avenged North Korea's September defeat in Tokyo and sparked delirious scenes from the packed crowd at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Stadium.


Zaccheroni made six changes to his starting lineup from last week's victory in Tajikistan, and overhauled team failed to click as the hosts took advantage of the lack of Japanese cohesion.




There's no doubt that midfielders Honda, Endo, and Kagawa play a great important role in the present Zac Japan.


Anyway, I felt relief that no players were injured at that game.




Japan had already advanced to the final qualifiers for Brazil from Group C after beating Tajikistan 4-0 on Friday.

Saitama Pref. Residents' Day

November 14th is the Saitama Prefecture Residents' Day.


There's nothing special on this day for adults, but students going to public schools have no classes.




What about jumping to the following links and learnig Saitama a little?

・Brochure of Saitama Prefecture Residents' Day
・History of Saitama
・Kobaton Club

Vhic

I found something printed on ￥10,000 note.

"Vhic"

What does this mean...??

Glitter trees and border

Royal Pines Hotel has already been in Christmas mood.

Who will be with me on this Christmas Day...?

Wooden Watch

I bought a new watch.

Kitson's wooden watch

There are five colors of this watch, and I chose the brown one.

Something natural like this watch makes me so comfortable. (^o^)

TOMASH

I found Kagome's new beverage on the shelf at the convenience store.

"TOMASH"

It's a fresh idea to turn tomato juice into sparkling one.



Never try if you don't like tomato juice. (^^;)

Nap on the roof

I found something lying on the roof of my next-door house.

Look at it closer...

A cat is lost in slumber.



I wanna be a cat and take a nap all day away from the din and bustle of the city.

Oops, sorry.  Disturb your sleep?

2355

These days, before going to bed, I like to see NHK's five minutes show "2355".

It's like a comedy or an educational program.


We can also enjoy the sister program "0655" in the morning.

※ http://www.nhk.or.jp/e2355/

We never burst out laughing at this program.


But we can feel good and be kind. (*^∪^*)

Nyan-Nyan

We postpone today's interview project because of the possible rain this afternoon.


Then I can take part in today's basketball practice instead.



Having a practice around noon, we love to go to a ramen shop Nyan-Nyan behind Inageya.

Thare are many Nyan-Nyan shops in Saitama city, but each taste is a little bit different.


I think the Nyan-Nyan behind Inageya is the best place.


Please go there and have a try!! (^o^)