Tuesday's English Club.

It's Tuesday.
Tuesday is my favorite day of the week besides Wednesday(off day) because we have English class at the cafe.We invite a teacher who has experienced as a English teacher for business men at several companies.There are a beginner class and an intermediate class each in the morning and in the evening.

The evening class is started at 6:50 after the cafe is closed.So I can join them to enjoy having conversation.

The cafe is filled with English.I'm quite happy about that!

The teacher was moved in the town with her husband a couple years ago like us.

The English teacher,ancient letter's lecturer,I've met very important people since I had moved in this town.It seems this town gathered them.

I can't wait until next Tuesday. We are gonna have a Party!

An Exam Fetish.

I took History exam yesterday.
I've been taking this exam for 5 years and keep failing,like as a tour guide exam.
Not only I like studying history but there's a benefit to pass this exam. I wouldn't have to take history exam of a tour-guide wxam every year. Exempted.

I studied hard a night before.And it was fun because I learned many facts which I had never known.Then I noticed that there were many many things I haven't even learned.

It was Saturday night.My husband dine out with his friends. I was eager to join them but I knew I was right not to go out.

In fact,a lot of questions were from Saturday night's study!
Well,other questions were difficult.I doubted those were on the textbook.

The examiner gave me a piece of paper.There're correct answers. He had it from the bigging of the exam!Couldn't I have any chance of peeking that paper because I sat in the front row?
Anyway,I looked the answers.I had many correct answers but there were almost same amount of incorrects.. Am I going to be a loser again?

Even so,I like the feeling of satisfaction after the exam. It feels like I'm free after get through some difficulties.That is why I keep .. or can't stop taking exam.

The Bonsai Class.

These are one of the plan for collecting customers;to have English conversation class,Ancient Letter lecture and Bonsai class at the cafe.

We had a bonsai class last night.It's petit-bonsai.
We met a guy who own a bonsai shop a couple of months ago and we offer him to have bonsai class at the cafe.He agreed.It must be a good opportunity to let people know our cafe and bonsai shop.

We had 6 students. Most students have never visited us.

First,you choose your pot. I picked this ocean blue one.

Then choose any small tree you want.
And then,put some soil and put moss.

It needs to be dwarfed and shaped by method of wiring and pruning in order to create aesthetic shapes.

Making something always make me happy.

sexy,cool,beautiful.

There was a international bicycle race in Japan on Oct. 22nd and 23rd.
We closed the cafe both of weekend day and went to see the race. Fortunatelly,the location is not too far from my house.

The first day was the Criterium.The Criterium is a short distance bike race on the street run off across the town. It was nice to see the busy main street was closed.And silence like a calm sea.
Even the race has started,it was oddly quiet because the athletes never screamed or yelled.They just passed through in front of us in a moment with a wind.

The second day was a kind of climbing up road race. It was so exciting.

In a colorful jersey with sun glasses,they look so beautiful and cool. And sexy.

I attended the after party at the evening. I was surprised that the Japanese athletes were tiny except around thigh. And they were so friendly and sweet.

The Bicycle Diaries.

I know.
I was stupid.
It's been only 7 days since I went hiking and got severe sore muscles.
But I did it. My muscles are sore again.
I took a day-trip by bicycle! The biking is booming in Japan now.
My husband,regular customers..everybody around me started riding a bike.
I didn't care first.But I'm getting envy.
I feel like biking,too. You know,feel like trying something you thought you never be able to do.

But I don't think I can handle those cool, Lance Armstrong type of bike like my husband's.

-His bike-

Then I went with my old bicycle.
It's been long since the last time I rode bicycle then I was struggling fiirst hour. The streets are not for bicycles. Those are very narrow.And the car drivers were not gentle to me.

I found many things while I was cycling which I couldn't see if I drove a car.
Thanks for the slow trip,I could take some photos of my favorite scenes.

I was off to Utsunomiya-city where I went to almost every off-day. It's about 60km distance from my house.
But I couldn't make it. I was picked up with my bicycle by my husband.
It was about 10km to the goal.
damm.. Let's do that again.

My shadow reflect on the clean water river.

History teach us a lot .

Our cafe had a lecture on "ancient letters" last night.
The lecturer and his daughter visited the cafe a couple of months ago. He introduced himself as a scholar of ancient Chinese characters.

I love history. Then "ancient" sounds very attractive to me.
Since I had heard he had some lecture class,I dreamed to have the class someday right here at our cafe.
And the dream come true.

The letter of the picture means "learn."
The top part is the symbol of feather and the bottom part is white sunlight.
The ancient letter of "learn" originated in "the birds." The baby bird learn how to fly from its parents birds.
The baby bird practice flying over and over.
And you see white soft feather(down) of the baby bird.Or baby have pure white heart.
This is how the letter became "learn."

We had 17 classmates. The class begun 7pm then we enjoy the lecture full of two hours.
The class already be scheduled for next two months.

hike in the fog.

I went hiking with friends last Wednesday to check the color of trees.
The hiking sounds fun but it was not really.. because of weather. We knew the weather wasn't fine but we had no choice because Wednesday was the only chance to us.

I was a very beginner when it comes to the mountain climbing.
We were like taking a mist shower all the time but I forgot to bring any towel.
The temperature was getting low but I brought a pair of just regular qute knits globes which got completely wet due to the mist.
I put too much clothes because I thought it was cold but I was wrong. I sweat a lot less than 10 min from the start climbimg. And it made my condition unwell. etc,etc.

I have sore muscles in my right thigh pretty much now. I didn't exercise these days.You can tell that I didn't prepare enough.
So,I'm just a looser...

But there was something I liked about hiking.
We had a small comfort lunch with cup of coffee which was great specialy after we walked in the chilly rainy weather! One of us said that that is why we can't stop hinking because of this.And we all indeed.

It was foggy like this.

Oh Noh!

Noh is a classical stage art performed exclusively by men.
The orchestra consists a flute and three types of drums.
It has been performed since the 14th century. Most characters are masked and costumes are extremely beautiful.

There was a Noh performance in town tonight.
It was the first experience to me and I was glad that I attended there because I found it everything was so beautiful. The way of the performers move,smell of early winter evening,the sky at sunset,...

Noh hasn't been changed its style since it was started to perform. So we have same vision with people live in the 14th century.

His name is Takano-yama.

His name is Pavel Bojar but he is given another name,Taka-no-yama.
He is the first Sumo wrestler from Czech Republic.

His weight was only 88kg when he started his career as Sumo wrestler. Now he weighs 101kg.

The six Grand Sumo tournaments are held each year. One of the tournaments is over on Sunday.Each tournament begins on Sunday and runs 15days.

Taka-no-yama won only 5 in 15. But he is getting popular. Though he is smaller than other wrestler but he does his best. We love those kind of people.

ps. He is getting married. none of my business though.

The Gift of the Magi

This is a story of the day I moved.



Our cafe started the coffee tickets service. The costomer pay for 10 tickets but 1 sheet has 11 tickets.
We keep their tickets on the wall.When costomers want to pay by tickets,they tear up 1 ticket by themself.

One of the costomer who got tickets sent message on his facebook this morning. He said his mother and her friends,who visit him, from western Japan might visit us today. He wants to use his tickets for her coffee.

We were looking foward to seeing woman who is mother of our friend.
Then she came in the afternoon. Drank coffee.

When she was leaving,she said she wanted to get the tickets.
We told her "your son already pay for the coffee by tickets."
She said,"I know,but I want to get those tickets for my son."

I rememered the story of O.Henry. The husband sold his watch to get comb for his wife,and the wife sold her hair to get chain for husband's watch.
I know that is not exactly the same but there is full of consideration toward each other.

Eventhough he still have 5 tickets but he already get next sheet today.

An annual event??

It's mostly sunny today. The leaves start to change their color.

My husband took me to Karaoke on my B-day.
We haven't been there long.I haven't even sung lately.I dreamed to be a singer when I was little though.

It seemed we forgot how to vocal in the first 30min (include spending some time to comprehend about brand new those machines.)

But then,it was like match race. It was about how many song can be requested while the other one was singing. We sung 80S,90S,etc. for three hours.

I tried La Isla Bonita,Madonna but that was just disaster...

That was so much fun!! Let's do that again, I said to my husband but he said it's gonna be happened only my birthday.

the bookcover project.

One day,one of a young girl costomers asked me to make the bookcover for her favorite book. Her request was using pink fabric. I haven't used pink fabric for those cover before but that was a fun challenge.



I use the race as a bookmark.

And,that's reversible.

 These are the color of covers I usually make.

A Stormy Wednesday.

It's Wednesday. The cafe is closed.
But it was not good weather for shopping due to typhoon. Too bad..

We decided to visit some stores and restaurants where we have never been around the town.
We visited a gallery located just a couple of minutes from my house,ate buckwheat noodles at famos restaurant,went to my favorite popular hot springs. etc.

Then,we took a candle making class at the candle store. It took about half an hour to be done.
The clear wax is poured into the glass then colored wax is put on the above. I put a small heart object bottom of the glass before clear wax is poured.It was very fun!

Great Experience,Great Gratitude.

It's already been almost 3 weeks since the event,the tour-guide exam.
That was tough but I really, really did try my best,I swear!

I want to thank my husband who let me take the exam eventhough it was end of August Sunday which the cafe supposed to be very busy.I couldn't do it without his cooperation.

That was a great day.Not only I could take the exam but I knew some great things.
Never be too late to start things.
You always be surrounded by people who support you then don't forget to thank them.

a treasure.

My husband have told me that one of his friend had found his childhood toy at his parents house.

I thought that must be his treasure. Then I remember I have one,too.

A book. -Grimm's Fairy Tales-

I got this book for my birthday gift when I was five. Collectiong my memory,my 5-year-younger brother was born and I was living the old house which we left by the time I was six,yep, I was five years old.

When my parents asked my request,I said I wanted a book. I might pretend I was a girl who like reading. Or tried to make my parents happy because their daughter chose a book instead of a toy?

Anyway,that was the starting point of finding pleasure for reading.

Today,I picked this book up from the box. Eventhough it is not pleasant looking,it is treasure for me. How much was it ?Then looked price. That was 360 yen (almost 4 bucks.) Wow..

I wonder how much is it if I sell this now.  You know..it is priceless.for sure.

My favorite one,The Elves and the Shoemaker.

The day when meaning of Nadeshiko is changed.

I cry. When I see the picture even now that 24 hours passed from that event.

They really made it.

Sawa,32,the captain of the team, kept saying "We would not give up until the game was over" and she has never.

Before penalty shootout,they were smiling. They tried to be relaxed? or too overwhelmed? I'm not sure but it seemed they were savoring that precious moment.

Since yesterday,for me, the meaning of Nadeshiko has been changed.
It means "woman who is strong-willed though tiny and modest."
and..
"make her dream realized."

team Nadeshiko.

Someone call them Samurai sisters. But they are called "Nadeshiko Japan."

So,they are Japan's women soccer team.
When the representative team was called,this nickname was given. It came from Japanese term "Yamato Nadeshiko",personification of an idealized Japanese women.
Yamato is an ancient name for Japan and Nadeshiko is a Japanese name of dianthus.
It is a word for describing modest and neatness woman. It is kind of old word though.

The team has been great on this World Cup. It is like we are dreaming but it is true. It might be controversial but they watch the disaster video of 311(March 11) before the game then made sure that they fought for the people in Japan who suffer and struggle from those sircumstances.

Now,they are going to face the Queens on Sunday (Monday 3am on Japanese time.)

Don't even..

It was the dashboard showed the temperature of outside.

The rainy season was already over which was earlier than usual.Summer has come.

I was a good off-day morning. I went for walking to my favorite park.Then I watched MLB All Star game. (you know,your night is my morning.)

I thought I would run around or do some exercise. But that was a stupid idea because it was too hot out there. Since rainy season was over,it was really hot everyday and many people got sick from heat.

So,don't even think about it.

make a wish

It is July 7th, Tanabata or the star festival day in Japan today.
According to a legend,two lovers, who are separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet 7th day of July.

There's a custom that people write their wishes on small pieces of paper and hanging them on bamboo.

Did I make a wish? I did.

Welcome to the humid world.

In the middle of the rainy season,it is 92F and 30% humidity today.
It is like you are vegetable in the food steamer.

High humidity is not good for health because sweat doesn't evaporate which makes your body difficult to regulate body temperature. I always feel tired or heavy under this condition.

But,there's a quite good deal. Moisturizing! Everytime I wash my hands,I feel my skin is covered with cream.

Well,what do you think?

in the early morning.

I was woken up by the earthquake 4am in the morning then dozed off until 6am.

I hit upon an idea.Why not doing something different,something I wanted to do.

I dreamed to sip coffee while watching this scenery and reading paper since I moved here like when I was in Utah.I love the nature of Utah.

This picture was taken by the early bird man around 4am.

Speaking of Utah,I have a special book in the shelf.



It's "Betwen A Rock And A Hard Place" by Aron Ralston.
I bought it when I was in MI.I struggle with English as always but finished it anyway.
When I returned to Japan I had to sell some of my books because of space of small house. This book was one of those.
But I found this book again at the used book store a couple of months later! I was sure that was certainly my book because there was the date started and finished to read which I noted on the last page.
I bought it back without hasitant. I don't know how many people had this book but it was found by me at last. What a wonderful chance of meeting.

challenge again.

A rare buttefly came to the garden.

No matter what they say,I decided to take a tour guid exam this year,too. I have failed twice before. And I didn't even try it last year.

I've been thinking whether or not I take the exam this year eventhough I have no time to study because I have to work at cafe or eventhough I never have confidence to get passed?

That is just my excuse. Because it must be troublesome to make an effort for me,I make an excuse that there is no time to study. We always have to fight with something (time,economy, etc.) anyway. It's not going to be over. I have to make time.

If I don't take this chance now, I would keep saying words of the regret which make my husband very tired.

There's Ichiro's word. -You will never be able to be accomplished,if you don't believe yourself succeed.

reward.

When I went up and down the stairs in my house this morning,I noticed I should clean the floor of stairs. It's embarrassing to confess,the floor was quite dusty because we use stairs with shoes.

I thought it was not good for feng shui. Then started wiping the floor.

It felt very good after I was done.

Then I got reward. There's popular zoo in local area. The general manager stopped by for coffee this morning. He said he would take Alpaka later today. I thought he was joking but he made it.

Alpaka was right here at my cafe!

She is two years old whose name Luca. She is great. She create an atmosphere of peace. Everybody loves her. It was almost like we all were in therapy. We can be very calm and kind when we touch her.

-Eating grass-


It was like dream. I was happy.
Then I remembered that feng shui thing. The alpaka was here because I cleaned the floor. Good things make good things.

summer has come?

not yet,of course. It's rainy season in Japan.

But I feel summer when I start to use this soap every year.

I Love This Smell!

hiking & live concert

I went hiking to the Heisei Forest on Wednesday. "Heisei" is the name of this era. It's in Nasu highlands approximately 180km of north of Tokyo. A rich forest about 560 ha area was managed as part of the Imperial Family's villa site and it is opened to the public. Because the nature of this area is almost untouched long time,many animals and plants inhabit including rare species here.

I took a half-day tour with nature guide.The picture below is the view from the arbor called "Seishin-tei,pure soul arbor" the place the Showa Emperor liked. I was surprised that the arbor was so simple building though I had imagined the arbor must be luxurious.

That was the event of the morning.

Then went to the town in the afternoon.


I went to the live concert of Miki Imai who is a female singer with fine clear voice.It's her 25th anniversary as a singer this year.Because I liked not only her voice but melody and lyrics,I listen to her music over and over again when I was younger.She married to the guitarist who play Kill Bill vol.1's song.It is amazing that she is 49 years old.

On The Air!

We got phone call from local radio station a couple days ago. They said they wanted us to be part of the morning program.There is about 7minutes live program for introduction of the shops in local area. The reporter visit different restraunts,cafes,shops etc. everyday to introduce those shops to the listeners.

I surprised the reporter came here alone with microphone and other stuff and he did everything by himself. He had conversation with DJ who was in the studio.

I watched them from behind during live program. They were almost like comedians. By the way,there was no audience in front of them. They were taking to the window. I was worried my husband might fail but he made it(almost.) Good job!

The bush warblers are singing now. It was just comfortable afternoon.

We are off tomorrow then go hike!