Monday, January 28, 2013

Early Birthday Party

A birthday party was held yesterday to celebrate both my boss Mr. Ogura and Ms. Araki who were born in Japnuary.


My birthday is in February, but a birthday party for me also was celebrated on the same day because of a busy recruiting season making mine one month earlier.


Professor Tarui, who is supposed to work with us from April, also joined the party.


 
 





I could get the following birthday presents this year.





A book titled "What On Earth Happened?" and a letter with heartwarming messages from Mr. Ogura.




A portable watch case from Ms. Araki




Prof. Tarui had just been to Kyoto and brought me some sweets (chocolate and cookie).




I'm not sure about Frank Ocean, but this is Rikiya's choice for my birthday.

 
 
 
 
Thank you, my colleagues!! (^o^)

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Eigonoie's Circular

Most of you who livs in Urawa and subscribe to a newspaper have noticed that we're looking for new students Year 5, 6, 7 and 10.





We need not only English beginners but also experienced ones.


The most important thing is whether the student is interested in learning and acquiring authentic English.


We're sure to provide all the students with high quality education.


Any students will be welcomed, but doing homework every time is the least requirement, of course.


We're all looking forward to seeing new students. (^o^)/

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

After Student's Suicide in Osaka

A second-year student at Sakuranomiya High School in the city of Osaka recently committed suicide, leaving behind a letter saying that he had been physically punished by a male teacher supervising his basketball club.




The student had reportedly suffered repeated physical punishment at the hands of the teacher, including being slapped in the face.


Although the teacher was acting in the name of sports discipline, violent corporal punishment is a form of abuse, and it must not be permitted.






After the suicide incident, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto suggested suspending entrance exams for a physical education course and a sports & health science course.


The Osaka Municipal Board of Education has accepted the proposal and decided to increase the number of general course students.





Some of Sakuranomiya high school students gathered the municipal office yesterday to reverse the decision, but I can't understand their insistence.


It's a problem just for test takers and their parents.


If the students are proud of the sports courses and take such violence for granted, I strongly agree with Hashimoto's idea, which based on the reform of Sakuranomiya High School's existent system.


And this series of events have questioned the true meaning of club activities in school life.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Urawa Reds is ready for 2013

Five new Urawa Reds players appeared in 2013 uniforms.



From left, Toyofumi Sakano, Daisuke Nasu, Ryota Moriwaki, Kunimitsu Sekiguchi, and Shinzo Koroki.



We've almost been ready for the coming hard season 2013.





And the following photos are Urawa Reds 2013 uniforms.


Home Kit



Away Kit 



3rd Kit 



ACL Home Kit 



ACL Away Kit 





The design is so simple, but they are much much better than I expected.




I'd like to buy ACL Home Kit if its behind looks cool.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Good Luck Ad

Many students have devoted all their energy to the examination grind to enter the school of their choice.


To bring good luck to students, many products include an interesting pun to capture public attention and to boost sales.


Let's take a look at the following ad by a hypermarket chain Ito Yokado.





A Japanese word "katsu" has two meanings; one is a noun meaning a pork cutlet (カツ) and the other is a verb meaning to win (勝つ).


There is a superstitious belief that eating a pork cutlet might help students win not only in the examination ordeal but also in any other competition.


In some areas in Japan, "ブイブイ (Bui Bui)" is used to represent the sound a pig makes.


That pig's sound is heard similarly to the initial of victory.





Natto is a sticky traditional Japanese food made from soybeans, which is said to do us a lot of good for our brain.


Sticky is "ネバネバ (neba neba)" in Japanese.


Eating sticky foods means "Never (neba) give up" or "ネバる (nebaru = Stick at it)."





Fish also has a great effect on the working of our brain.


Mackerel ("Saba" in Japanese) is a perfect fish for students because eating mackerel may bring them a high survival (saba-ival) probability in the ordeal of the entrance exam.





The other side of the ad has a lot of puns to wish for students' good luck.




But I think some of them are inappropriate to the occasion...




Ginger is called "Shoga" in Japanese, and its sound is related to the Japanese word "勝 (sho = winning)."


There are thousands of ginger products in Japan because of its popularity, but I wonder why Ito Yokado has chosen zha cai (pickled mustard plant).


It must be unpopular for students.





No relation between the product and a prayer for passing exams...


It is against the rules to ignore using puns as a superstitious item.

Messi Again



Lionel Messi became the first four-time winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or after shattering the world record with 91 goals last year for Barcelona and Argentina.


The 25-year-old won for four consecutive seasons.




Messi received 41.60% of the points in votes by national team coaches, captains and selected media.


Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo got 23.68% and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta followed with 10.91%.




Congratulations!!

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Happy Wedding

I was invited to my friend's wedding party today.


The bride had done me a great help when we worked together at Eikoh, so her happiness is my pleasure.


May their love last forever always.


Congratulations to the perfect couple!! \(≧▽≦)/




I feel sorry that I can't show you the photos of today's wedding party for a certain reason.


Soon later I'll upload them onto the facebook.




My desire for marriage's getting much stronger than before.








Anyway we had a quiz game during the party.


My 11th prize is the following.




I've never seen such a huge candy!!


Actually the weight is about 500g.



Anybody, please let me know how to eat this...?

Saturday, January 05, 2013

Aho-Soup

I found an interesting menu at lunch today.




Aho-Soup!!


A Japanese word "Aho" means "stupid."


I wondered how stupid I would be after having that soup... (^o^;)







※ This is not "Aho-Soup" but "Ajo-Soup" or "Sopa de Ajo" in Spanish. It's a kind of garlic soup.

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

A Happy New Year 2013

A Happy New Year!! \(^o^)/


This is the Year of the Snake in Chinese astrology.


I sent the following new year card to some of my friends.




You know these pictures that a boa constrictor eats an elephant are from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "Le Petit Prince."


There is an old expression saying "You can't eat an elephant in one bite."


Elephant means a big project that you're facing now and seems to be quite difficult to achieve.


If you want to succeed it, you need not to eat it at once but bite it little by little.


Taking a small step will lead you to a real success.




Believe yourself and keep on doing!! 

 
When you have a hard time, I'll listen to you at any time.


Of course, I won't either eat you or bite you. lol




I wish all of your daily steps will be fruitful in this year.