Enjoy Eating in Japan

Two weeks ago, I talked casually about vegetarian restaurants with my teacher. Then she told me to read and comment her blog. What a coincidence! She had talked about the same thing with the other student hours ago and written her blog before talking with me!

So I try to blog my opinion.

I usually exclude any products from my diet that are derived from animals, eggs, milk and dairy products –even oil and fat products. I have decided to start this eating habit for improving my healthy body, and I’ve been enjoying cooking myself and eating restaurants in this style. Happily, I have gotten more healthy soul, body and skin.

Recently, I realize there are more vegetarian restaurants, cafes and retail stores in Tokyo than there was a few years ago. Furthermore, these tastes have gotten very good. Nowadays, macrobiotics and organic cooking are often featured in magazines and TV programs.

Unfortunately, chain stores with emphasis on manuals and inexpensive restaurants can not respond to our needs, but better quality Japanese style bars and Italian restaurants try to respond our requests. Thankfully, we can pick out what we can eat in Japanese style bars, e.g., Tofu, Yuba (Soy milk skin), Fresh vegetables and steaming newly harvested rice!

Well, I recommend you the following restaurants and shops.

All I can tell you is, let’s enjoy Japanese culture and enjoy eating and cooking as a Vegetarian like a Non-Vegetarian in Japan.

-“MOMINOKI HOUSE” [Harajuku]
http://www2.odn.ne.jp/mominoki_house/index_eigo.htm
-“Brown Rice Café”[Omote-sando]
-“Pure Café” [Omote-sando] http://pure-cafe.com/index.html
-“Deva Deva Café” [Kichijoji] http://devadevacafe.com/
- “Café eight” [Ikejiri-Ohasi] http://www.cafe8.jp/index.html
-“Vegan Healing Café” [Shibuya] http://www.vegancafe.jp/
- Patisserie “Simple modern macrobiotic” [Jiyugaoka]
→ We can eat macrobiotic afternoon tea set!!!
http://simplemodernmacrobiotic.com/
-“Macrobiotic marché” [Ebisu]
-“Asante Sana Café” [Ebisu]
http://www.p-alt.co.jp/asante/archives/cafe/english-index.html
- Vegetable café and bakery “eat more greens” [Azabu-juban]
http://www.eatmoregreens.jp/english/index.html
- Macrobiotic restaurant “KUSHI GARDEN” [Takebashi] ← There is all-you-can-eat buffet !
http://www.kushi-garden.com/
- Indian restaurant “Nataraj”
http://www.nataraj.co.jp/en/EnglishTop.html
- Japanese restaurant “Uri” [Shibuya] ← Taste wonderful!
http://www.shibuya-uri.com/
- Japanese Style Bar “Koma” [Ginza] ← Their antique interior is beautiful !
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g040702/
- Tofu dishes “Sora-no-Niwa”[Shibuya]
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g775401/
- Retail Stores
"GAIA" http://www.gaia-ochanomizu.co.jp/shop/default.aspx
"F & F" http://www.n-rs.co.jp/brand/ff.html
"Natural House" http://www.naturalhouse.co.jp/

"Rokkasho"

Recently,I was very shocked to watch the documentary movie "Rokkashomura Rapsody."There is a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho village in Aomori prefecture.It is currently in a testing stage before begining full-scale operation.In a nuclear fuel plant,plutonium is removed from spent nuclear fuel.I heard that a year's worth of radiation is released into the environment in a day!The radiation accumulates in the vegetables,animals and sea food.Then it enters our bodies..How awful!
On the other hand,the plant provides jobs in this community where there is little other work.
But environmental problems like these affect everyone not only those living in the local area.
Information from both the supporters and opponents of this plant can be obtained on the internet.Personally,I prefer safer forms of energy.
I want a lot more people to know about this problem as it hasn't been reported very much by the mass media.

最近、わたしは”六ケ所村ラプソディー”というドキュメンタリー映画を観て、とてもショックを受けた。
青森県の六ケ所村というところに、核燃料再処理工場があり、現在本格始動に向けて試運転している。再処理工場では、使用済の核燃料（原発から出たゴミ）からプルトニウムを取り出しているそうだ。そしてその際、一日で原発の1年分の放射能が空や海に放出されるというのだ。
放射能は野菜や海産物や動物の体内に取りこまれ、私たちの体に入ってくる。恐ろしいことである。
一方で、工場ができたことで、あまり他に仕事のないこの地域に仕事をもたらすことになっているようだ。しかしこれはこの地域だけでなく、すべての人に影響する問題だ。
もしあなたがもっと知りたいと思えば、再処理工場の推進派、反対派両方の情報をインターネットから得ることができるだろう。個人的には、安心できるエネルギーを選びたい。まずは、マスコミにあまり取り上げられないこの問題をなるべくたくさんの人たちに知ってほしい。

Long time no see!

I was a student more than 3 years ago.
I would like to say thank you for everyone in Global Communications.
I think my skill of English conversation is greatly progressing.
I also want to take lessons again at Global in the near future. Thank you.

BAREFOOT

There is hadashi's Co.
hadashi is cousultant of trade.
that owner heard a rumor that canadian freind have drunk BAREFOOT.
hadashi's meaning is BAREFOOT.
I inquired some liquor shops.
I had been looking for for a long time.
SO I and paul talked with about it.
paul guessed ｃalifornia・・
and advised to gather information by internet.
I detected it, It was no more than a minute.

Thanks paul!!

Red Sox won as you said , Paul !

The world series of baseball game was over, and Red sox won the world series victory as you said before.
Now many people in Boston will be in excitement.
I understood many fans in a baseball stadium enjoyed the world series very much although it was very cold. Many audiences in a baseball stadium had worn the clothes for cold weather.
Matsuzaka had warmed up his hand in every time of his pitching.
I thought this time of a year would be very hard and also very happy for the baseball players.
I thought it was a good luck for Matsuzaka to get a win as the pitcher in the world series. And Okamura worked very good job of a relief pitcher. But Okamura was given two homers in last two games.
the two homers might be a dangerous signal for his pitching to next year. I think that Matsuzaka and Okamura would be hard in next year.
Of course I hope they will play an active part of the Red Socks team in next year more than this year.

Common sense is a sense of values with a “use-by date”.

Recently I read a column written by Mr. Masao Kimura who is now playing an active role as a freelance producer after retiring from the Yoshimoto Kogyo company as a general manager.
The story is as follows.
1. Common sense is a sense of values with a “use-by date”.
Common sense is a sense of values with a “use-by date”.
And common sense is the way of thinking that was dominant until yesterday.
So it is nothing but a sense of values with a time limit for use and a use-by date.
We cannot solve today’s problems using yesterday’s common sense.
We must make and use new formulas to solve new problems.
He says that there are period limitations and use-by dates concerning
the abilities of men, organizations, and systems.

2. There is value in using “use-by dates”
Are there people in your company who say the following things?
“I can’t formally consider this.” “There is no precedent.”
　“This is not my company’s usual practice.”
These types of people in your company will probably be soon past their “use-by date”.
3. Three points to extend your “use-by date”.
(1)　Never state your opinions using the past tense.
For example, “I did it like this before”, “when I was younger, I did it like this”.
These previous examples are bad. It is important to use the present continuous.
(2)Never state your opinion using the third person singular.
　　You should state that what you are saying is your opinion. Do not say “This person says this…”,
or “Many people believe this…”.
(3)You should rid yourself of others’ standards.
For example, if your wife spoke about your position like this:
“why didn’t you get promoted to the position of department chief like our　next door neighbor did?”
These kinds of comparisons are wrong and will make you unhappy. When you think of comparing
yourself with someone else you should instead compare yourself with how you were in the past
and think about how you would like to be in the future.
　　　When you have a strong will to expand your achievements,
you will be extending the “use-by dates” of your values.
４. Middle aged people should keep the “5Ls” in mind.
Mr Kimura advises middle aged people, those over 50 or 60 years old, “Enjoy your middle age
with the image of the 5 Ls.” The 5 Ls are as follows:
1. Love 2. Laugh 3. Liberal 4. Link 5. Live
At the end of his story, he told us that the golden time of one’s life is after the age of 60 and we can extend our “use-by date” by our efforts.

Ｔhere may be good news in September

I think we will probably feel more comfortable with the weather in
September.
August of this year was especially hot in Japan.
Not only in Japan but also in many other countries of the world we watched a lot of news about natural disasters influenced by global warming as well as disasters and big accidents caused by humans.
By the way, we felt cool on September 1st when the maximum temperature
for the day was 28 degrees. I thought that something good would happen
to us in September. It was only that one day that we felt cool and
comfortable in September. The hot weather returned soon to the Kanto
region and the big typhoon No. 9 attacked us. Typhoon No. 9 did great
damage to a wide area from the center to the north of Japan.
We’re still in the first week of September. I’m concerned another natural
disaster may strike us in September.

When we think of disasters we must not forget about man-made disasters.
In particular this month I will watch the statements of Mr. Masuzoe, the
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. He said that anyone who
defrauds the pension system should be arrested and sent to jail.
I quite agree with Mr. Masuzoe. I heartily support the new Minister of
Health, Labor and Welfare.
Recently I heard a lot of bad news like the vested rights of government
officials, pension fraud, the lack of morals of a policeman, etc.
So I’m expecting good news about the punishment of pension frauds in September. When we get the good news, we will feel cool and comfortable . I wish to hear the news about the punishment of pension frauds as soon as possible.

{cf.}　 natural disasters and large accidents in August

1.　Minneapolis Bridge Collapse （Aug. 6）
2. Earthquake in Peru（Aug. 15）
3. a flood in North Korea（Ａｕｇ.16）
4. an explosion of a China aircraft in Okinawa （Ａｕｇ.20）
5. Ｈｕｒｒｉｃａｎｅ　Ｄｅａｎ（Ａｕｇ.20）
6. a forest fire in Greece (Aug.24)　

The Hallstatter lake

I took this shot from a sightseeing ship on Hallstatter Lake which is about two
hours by bus from Salzburg. Hallstatter Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in
Europe and is loved by many summer visitors from around the world.
There are many beautiful spots around the lake. The tour conductor explained that
the scenery from the ship would be better than what we could see from the bus.
We walked to the lake side and boarded the sightseeing ship. It was only a five minute
cruise, but the scenery from the ship was truly the best. The day’s weather was perfectly
fine and took a happy but short rest enjoying the breeze. After lunch we had 40 minutes
of free time so I went to a souvenir shop to buy some salt which is produced in this
district. By the way, the bus from the tour from Frankfurt to Wien had 14,000
kilometers of mileage. We traveled on the sightseeing bus for about five or six hours
daily for four days.
I think sightseeing on the Romantic Road might be hard and tiring for those older than
middle age. Before traveling to our last destination, Wien, we took a good rest beside
this beautiful lake to recuperate a little from our fatigue.

About Asashoryu Problem

The sumo wrestling is the traditional sport in Japan.
And the sumo wrestling society has been feudalistic and established by decorum.
But these days, the people who try to be the sumo wrestler are not only Japanese but many foreigners. Every thing is now moving and changing in a global situation.
So, the Sumo wrestling association should consider this problem with having more flexibility. It would be abnormal situation in our Japanese society now. The broad casting company would be better not to talk and not to write so many about this news and they should take some summer holidays concerning this news.
I want to each editorial conference of big broadcasting companies to keep their companies value by using good sense.
I wish that the time would surely solve this problem on the end of this summer.
I think a happy conclusion would be the comeback of Asasyoryu who have a heart, technque, strong power, as the great Yokozuna.

My thinking ： Asasyoryu! Don’t cut the limb you are standing on.
It's easy to solve your problem.It is a only ceremony to see a happy end.
1. at first, Asasyoryu and Oyakata have to apology their mistakes to Japan sumo Association.
2.next, Asasyoryu should promise to do efforts to establish himself as the great Yokozuna.
3.the sumo wrestling association have to consider with flexibility.

Saltzburg

Saltzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria with a population of 145,000.
This city is famous for being Mozart’s birthplace. It is known as “The Music City”.
The day’s weather was perfect. After breakfast I took a morning walk of about one hour with my wife. This photo was taken from a spot near the Saltzach river which was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel.
We visited the house of Mozart’s birth and saw his childhood room and his memorial exhibit. The rooms that we were allowed to see were three rooms on the fourth
floor of a five story apartment. He lived in this apartment until he was seven years old.The color of the apartment was yellowish, but the tour conductor told me
that it is called the “Maria Theresa” color. The apartment was located in the center of the city. Salzburg has many churches, as well as the famous concert hall in which Mozart’s 200th anniversary concert will be held at the end of this year. There were seven children in Mozart’s family, but only two, Mozart and his sister, survived to adulthood. In that age many people in Europe died prematurely from pestilence.