Genki Haraguchi Transfer

Urawa's striker Genki Haraguchi has officially transferred to Hertha BSC.

The crybaby has turned to a big smile on the top screen of Hertha's homepage now.

After the last match for him last weekend, Genki told supporters that he was sure to be a fantastic footballer in Germany.


Genki was a significant piece for the present Urawa's strategy, but I don't miss him at all.


I'd thought that he would join a foreign football league sooner or later and that foreign experience would be essential for him to become an international striker.




He also told that Urawa Reds is the only place to come back after the foreign experience.


Of course we're all looking forward to seeing his success and waiting for his return in the future.




Thank you so far, Genki!!


And Good luck with Hajime Hosogai!!

2nd Brass Band Concert of Kawaguchi HS

The 2nd annual concert of Kawaguchi High School's Brass Band Concert was held yesterday at Warabi City Hall.

It was much better and more interesting than I had expected.


It's been a long time since I listen to their music last and I know they had less time to prepare, but they showed a wonderful performance in the limelight.


Especially, I like "Shichi-Go-San" and "Omens of Love" as a classical part, and "ARASHI" and "Mirai Yosozu Ⅱ" as a pop-music part.


I have a good memory of those music because I had listened to them again and again as a teacher of Kawaguchi High School.


Music has a power and always be along with good memories.


I'm no longer an adviser of the brass band club, but I felt a great proud of them.

Oktoberfest 2014

I spent the last day of the Golden Week Holidays at Oktoberfest in Odaiba, Tokyo.


It was my very first time to attend such a beer festival.

You know I can't drink, but I could complete one glass of beer!! (^^)



In spite of the chilly weather, a lot of people gathered to enjoy drinking many kinds of beer and foods and singing and dancing all together with the band, which made us feel hot!!



Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit♪

Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit♪

Eins, zwei, drei, g'suufa!

Prost!! ＼(≧▽≦)／

Thx Kawataka!!

It was a farewell ceremony today at my former workplace Kawaguchi High School.


I got really nervous to speak in front of all the students for 10 minutes.


Students looked a little tired, but I hope that they could feel or learn something from my speech.

After the speech, some of my students came to talk to me.


Their smiles were just what they had used to.


Some of them told me that they wanted to take my class again.


What nice students!!





And of course teachers were very nice to me.


I could learn many things from them when I worked in Kawaguchi High School, and I got a lot of advice from many teachers today as well.


Thank you so much!!





I know Kawaguchi High School is so good.


I'll never forget names and faces of my students' and teachers'.


Kawaguchi High School is my second mother high school!! (^o^)

Transfer

It was my very last day to go to my present workplace.


I didn't do well in Brass Band Club, but club members gave me a message card to show their appreciation to me.


Thank you so much!! (^o^)




Spending only half a year in the school, I could make a lot of good memories.


I found myself in a lucky situation that a lot of good, kind and respectable students and teachers were all around me.


I'll never forget the experience.

This is the scene from my favorite place in the school.

I miss Ton-Ryu beside the school.

As you've known, I'll be transferred to another high school in April.


Therefore, I'll be admitted officially a teacher of Saitama Prefecture.


I need to pay much more attention to any kinds of activities because of high-responsible place in society.


Probably this blog and other social network services will not be uploaded so often ever after.


Very sorry for all my readers, but please understand me.


If you really want to improve your English abilities, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me by all possible means.

Empty Stadium

There were no cheers of the Urawa Reds fans and no sighs of Shimizu S-Pulse fans when Genki Haraguchi equalized at the Sunday's drawn game.


It was the very first time for J-League to carry out a football game in an empty stadium last Sunday at Saitama Stadium, which is the 63,700-capacity World Cup venue.

Urawa Reds were forced to host a game behind closed doors as punishment for a discriminatory banner bearing the words "Japanese Only," written in English and hung over an entrance to the stands at a game on March 8th.


In a brief ceremony before the game, team captain Yuki Abe delivered a speech in front of teammates to pledge to stamp out racism, be it discrimination against race, skin color, gender, language or religion or backgrounds, and will not tolerate any discriminatory or insulting language or behavior.

I feel very sad to see such a quiet game.


This is the lesson that we must not make the same mistake.


What is the most important is our sense of love for football and Urawa Reds.


Now we all the supporters and players must remind that sense take proper actions.





Let's get together on April 6th to fill the stadium with red!! ＼(^o^)／

Red Card to Any Discrimination

Urawa Reds have been ordered to play their next home game in an empty Saitama Stadium in an unprecedented punishment after fans hoisted a "Japanese Only" banner.


Following today's sanction, the club also has banned their supporters from displaying signs and banners of any kind in all competitions for the foreseeable future.


As one of Urawa Reds fans, I'm so embarrassed by the incident.


There is no room for argument.


The biggest problem is the mood of the present team.


The club welcomed shallow players while they broke off with many consistent players, the number of fans who likes such people increased recently, and that mood finally generated these crazy supporters.


Not only the fans concerned but also the club itself has a responsibility in that point.


Although J-League made a decision, this is not a true solution to prevent supporter's troubles.


Supporters of Urawa Reds has a history of dark side many times in the past.


It is necessary to change not from outside but inside the club and supporters.




Somebody may plan to go to the stadium on March 23 to cheer for the team.


I think it's not a good idea.


We should refrain from hot supporting for a while.


I dream someday we Urawa Reds fans will gather in the stadium hand in hand with any kinds of people.


Only the genuine united team can be a champion, and I believe Urawa Reds will be one in the future.

3 Years On From 3.11

Three years have passed since Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, devastating tsunami and nuclear crisis. 

Most of Japanese people offered a silent prayer for the victims and the missing at 2:46 p.m., when the magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred, forcing the evacuation in the ensuing chaotic days. 

How do you feel about these three years? 

Quick or slow? 

Time flies for me. 

I remember clearly what happened on that day. 

People living in the disaster-struck communities have still been struggling to come to terms with the loss of so many lives and properties, and many remain in temporary residences. 

Also, many people have been grappling with the radioactive contamination at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. 

Reconstructions are absolutely slow, aren't they? 

What we can do is so limited, but it is really important to stop and think about what happened on March 11th in 2011, see how the reconstruction is going on, and share the idea that there should never be the same kind of disaster ever after. 

It's time to remind "KIZUNA" again. 

At the end, I'd like to share "Just Can't Get Enough" by the Black Eyed Peas. 

I can't listen to this song without remembering not only the catastrophe we experienced but also the ensuing a lot of support from all around the world. 

The music video was filmed just a week before 3.11. 

Don't miss the messages at the beginning and end of the video. 

Urawa Reds Home Opener 2014

Urawa Reds' home opener was held yesterday, but that poor game made all fans feel so chilly. 

I raised my voice in fight song from the northern seat. 

In spite of Urawa Reds' endeavor that they shot 17 times, Yohei Toyoda, who is Japan's striker, headed in the 9th minute giving Sagan Tosu 1-0 win. 

The cause of failure is quite the same as they had in the last season: Players didn't move at all when they received passing from the teammate, and opponents could easily intercepted the passing because they blocked Urawa players all together in two or three lines. 

Although it was a droopy defeat, I'm excited to feel that new season has come. 

Also, in the other side of the pitch, a controversial banner was put on an entrance gate. 

"JAPANESE ONLY" -- maybe it was a kind of tongue-in-cheek, but it could be construed as racist. 

I'm sure football has no borders and we should kick out any discrimination. 

I feel both angry against the banner and very embarrassed as one of the Urawa Reds fans. 

What a disappointed Saturday night... 

J-League 2014 has begun

J-League 2014 has begun, and Urawa Reds has had a great start with 1-0 win against Gamba Osaka yesterday at the rainy Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium.

Starting members are almost the same as last year except the goalkeeper.

Tomoaki Makino struck in the 43rd minute, which gave Urawa Reds the very first goal of this season.


He soon thanked the captain Yuki Abe, who made a good shot to assist Makino's goal.

Genki Haraguchi showed a barnstorming performance with the special number 9, which made me feel a little strange.


I hope he'll grow up quickly to be called Mr. Reds.




And the new goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa also played well.


I'm sure the combination between the goalkeeper and defenders is getting better and better.

I can't wait the next weekend to see Urawa Reds home opener!! ＼(^o^)／

26th Birthday

February 25th was my 26th birthday. 

I'm very happy that many of my students said or wrote to me "Happy birthday!!" at school. 

Two of my students, especially, gave me a present "Takeaki-no-Sato," which is revised on the letter of the package of "Takenoko-no-Sato." 

I love such a joke. (^^) 

My colleagues also gave me presents: a stamp with my name and a basketball-shaped cushion. 

I felt a little bit shameful, furthermore, that a birthday cake was prepared to me and I had to blow out the candles in a center of attention at a restaurant. 

Some of my acquaintances gave me a birthday messages on Facebook or LINE. 

I felt that I was loved by many people. 

I'm sure to do my best to improve myself that can be expected and to make everyone happy in return. 

Many thanks to all of my friends, colleagues, students, and above all, my family!! (^o^)

Fuji Xerox Super Cup 2014

19-year-old duo Gakuto Notsuda and Takuma Asano scored either side of half-time as Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Yokohama F. Marinos 2-0 yesterday to claim the Fuji Xerox Super Cup for a second year running.

Fuji Xerox Super Cup is a sign of the new season opener and is played between the J. League Champions and the Emperor's Cup Winners of the previous season.


My heart has started beating for the upcoming J. League season.


My red blood wants a great enthusiasm for Urawa Reds!!


I'm sure we'll win the J. League opener on March 1st.





Anyway, on the other side of Fuji Xerox Super Cup, the result of J. League Mascot General Election was announced.


The 1st place was given to Vivi-kun from V. Varen Nagasaki.

Our mascot Redia was called the last one.

We'll revenge on other teams on the football pitch!!

Valentine's Day in 2014

It was a white Valentine's Day in Saitama region in Japan.


Here's the photo in front of my house.

I don't wanna go out anywhere... (^o^;)





St. Valentine's Day is observed on 14th February, a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty in many countries.


Watch this video if you don't know the history of Valentine's Day.

Unlike western countries, gifts such as greeting cards, candies, flowers, or dinner dates are not so common in Japan.


Instead, Japan has its unique custom that only women give chocolates to men, especially office ladies give them to their co-workers as a small token of everyday appreciation.


Many women obliged to give what we call "Giri-Choco" to all male co-workers.


To the contrary, chocolate given to a loved one is called "Honmei-Choco," for the number of which men compete with others.


Recently, friends, especially girls, exchange their homemade chocolate, which is called "Tomo-Choco."


Surprisingly, Japanese chocolate companies make half their annual sales during this time of the year.





Anyway, I got many sweets from more than 20 students this year.


I'm so happy to feel that I'm recognized as being a good teacher to them.


Thanks a lot!!

I'll be a diabetic...!? (^o^;)

2014

Happy New Year!! ＼(≧▽≦)／ 

And I want to say thank you to all the people around me. 

May every day of the New Year be filled with laughter and success for you. 

I had a lot of changes last year; quitting my job at the English school, spending all my time at the library for studying, starting a new job at a high school, and passing Teaching Staff Examination of Saitama Prefecture. 

Everything that happened last year was new to me.  

I'd like to enjoy the present workplace in these three months, and try hard to work like a horse in the new high school from April. 

Tomorrow is the first day of work in 2014 for me.


Good luck to you!! ...and me. (^o^)