Blog#8: My neighborhood(Yuka)

Hi, I'm Yuka. Today, I introduced about my neighborhood. Now I live in Nisjitokyo city in Tokyo metropolis. When I go to the university, I get on a train. It is Seibu-Yagisawa station on the Seibu-Shinjyuku line. My neighborhood is located between this Seibu-Yagisawa station and Tanashi station on the Seibu-Shinjyuku line. I usually use Seibu-Yagisawa station.

It takes 15 minutes on foot from my house to Yagisawa station. There is a vegetable store in front of the Yagisawa station north exit. Fresh vegetables and fruit are always sold there.

And when I just walk toward my house, there is a ramen shop. I like ramen of this ramen shop very much. My recommendation is soy source ramen. There are many old shops in my neighborhood. Therefore I can calm down, when I walk my neighborhood.

Blog#8: My neighbourhood(Miyuki)

 Hi, I'm Miyuki. I live in Wako city in Saitama prefecture and my neighbourhood is located by Wakoshi station on Fukutoshin line, Yurakutyo line and Tobu Tojo line. It takes about 10 minutes to get this station on foot. When I go to university, I use Fukutoshin line.
 I think it is good point that rail service is convenient. Please look at this picture of electrical scoreboard of Wako station. Fukutoshin line's terminal point is Shibuya, but connect Tokyu Toyoko line at this stasion. So we can easily go to Yokohama and China town.

 



 

 However, convenient route is also but point. This picture is the passage in  front of Wako station and its suburbs. There are only houses and bars. Because of convenience, Wako have become a bedroom town and the culture of this city seems to be lost.



Blog#9: Obukuro (Kyoka)

Hi, this is Kyoka. I live in Obukuro. It is part Koshigaya city in Saitama. The station near my house is Obukuro station on Tobu skytree line. It takes 5 minutes from my house to Obukuro station on my foot. It is convenient that there is the station near my house. Obukuro station was renewed this week, although it was very old.

Obukuro station

Although the station became beautiful, stores are not in the surroundings of the station. There are supermarket but there aren't shopping mall. It is very inconvenient.

The surroundings of my house are very quiet. I can hear the sound of insect in the night of autumn. It is confortable town for sleeping.

Here is the view from my house. It is a quiet residential section.

Obukuro is inconvenient for shopping but it is easy to live.

Blog #8: Higashirinkan, my neighbourhood (Kumi)

Hi, this is Kumi. I live in Higashirinkan. It is a part of Sagamihara City. The station near my house is Higashirinkan station on Odakyu line. It takes 10 minutes from my house to the station on my foot. Higashirinkan have small shopping street. But it's a residential area, so there isn't a big shopping mall. However Higashirinkan is very good place to live in. Today, I'd like to introduce the good points of Higashirinkan.

First, this area has a lot of hospitals.  Look this google map around Higashirinkan station.

These red points are all hospitals! When I feel bad, I can arrive at a hospital quickly. Moreover one of these "Toshibarinkan Hospital" is the large hospital we can be hospitalized. And Higashirinkan have many school, too. The number of hospitals and schools is one of the most important things to live there, I think.

Second, my area have the row of beautiful cherry blossoms.

This photo is taken in March. These cherry blossom trees are very old, so they are very huge and magnificent! They are growing in Toshibarinkan Hospital. My family go to view the cherry blossoms every year. I'm happy every spring!

Third, Higashirinkan is quiet, but next station "Sagami-ono" is flourish.

It takes 15 minutes from Higashirinkan to Sagami-ono by bicycle. I don't like that big area is too near from home, I like this distance. In Sagami-ono, there is a good station building "station SQUARE", a big shopping mall "Bono Sagami-ono", and a department store "Isetan". Many Higashirinkan people go to shopping in holidays or work in part-time job in Sagami-ono. I work in part-time job there, too. And Sagami-ono have a good concert hall "Green Hall" and a large library.

Higashirinkan is quiet, but not inconvenient area. I love Higashirinkan.

Blog#7: Sleep Meister(Kyoka)

Hi, I'm Kyoka. I have an iphone4S and I introduce "Sleep Meister". This application is alarm, but it is not ordinary alarm. "Sleep Meister" records a sleep cycle. Alarm is sounded with memorizing a sleep cycle when sleeping lightly. 

It is a right icon.

 



Sleeping hours are inputted and various sleep data is recorded. Alarm sounds when you wake up easily before setting time. Therefore, you can wake up comfortably in the morning.



You can see sleeping balance because record becomes a graph. If you are poor at waking up in the morning, you should use this application. This application is very convenient.

Blog#7: A cool thing I can do on my cellphone (Yuka)

Hi, I'm Yuka. I have an iPhone4s and I often use Japanese dictionary application. This application name is Daijirin(大辞林). I introduce this application today. Because, I am using this application when I want to know about new words and things and so on. If you use this application, you can look up anything.

 I often use this application!

For example, we are well into autumn recently. When I want to know autumn words of Japanese, I use this application. This application equipped with index of every season. So I tap autumn index, then I look at many different autumn words. Another thing, we can look up autumn flowers and stars. I am enjoy very much! 

This application equipped with index of every season.

When I am looking up some flowers, I want to know the flower's form. Then I use this application, I look up the flower and look at the flower's picture. This function is useful when I want to search for the flower.

Daijirin（大辞林） has flower's pictures.

Of course, Daijirin(大辞林） doesn't have flower's pictures only. This application has all kinds of pictures. We can look at a variety of pictures. For example, about Japanese culture and history, all kinds of animals...and so on. 

If you have a iPhone, I recommend that you get a this dictionary application Daijirin（大辞林）. You can enjoy to look up everything.

Blog#7: A cool thing I can do on my cellphone(Miyuki)

 Hi, I'm Miyuki. I have Xperia Z, Android phone and I introduce "Google Sky Map". This is in the white folder and the left icon.

 This application can watch stars in the whole sky and every seasons and every time (even in the daytime!). Since I join in the earth-science club, it is very useful on astronomical observation. For example, this is the Plough, the Great Bear:

 And this is the Little Bear and the polestar:

 

 

 Depending on establishment, we can confirm names of fixed stars, planets and so on. Whether you are familiar with astronomy or not, please try it.

Blog #7: The guide of shelter (Kumi)

Hi, this is Kumi. I have iPhone 4S, and today I introduce the application in my iPhone, "The guide of shelter (避難所ガイド)". I installed this because of my father's recommendation.

This application give us  the information we have to need when the catastrophe (such as major earthquake) happens. The users can know where they should escape and what it happens and how their families are doing.

For example, when the large earthquake happens, this application uses GPS and search the shelter near from us. It show us not only where shelter is but also how high the shelter is. Maybe this information is more useful at the town near the sea than at the city. The high of shelter is important for escaping from TSUNAMI. We can see these information at anytime, so we should know where the shelter is before the large earthquake happens, I think.

 After evacuation, if you want the official information, it shows you official twitter's account. When the disaster, everyone want to catch the  information, so official homepage is more difficult to access than twitter. In this case, twitter is very useful.

And it introduce us how to contact to our family. Many people already know this, but there is a few people who  don't know this. This information is useful for such people.

 Fortunately, I've never been a situation this is necessary. However Japan is the country a lot of earthquakes happen. We should ready for catastrophes such as big earthquake. I recommend you this application "The guide of shelter".

Blog#5: Saitama(Kohei)

Hi, I'm Kohei. I'd like to talk about my city, Saitama. I live in Saitama in Saitama. さいたま is cyty name and 埼玉 is prefecture name. Both of them are "Saitama". Now, I will introduce Saitama city.

Saitama is famous for Saitama Super Arena. A lot of events are held in this building. For example, basketball games, music festivals, variety shows and so on. Also, coming-of-age-ceremony is held in Saitama Super Arena. Actually, I will go to this ceremony next year. Saitama Super Arena holds events frequently so you can go to there and can enjoy event.

Next, I want you to visit The Railway Museum near Omiya station. You can see many kinds of trains what were actually running in Japan in the past. I'm not familiar with the train but I was excited to see old trains, steam locomotives and the Shinkansen. If you are interested in trains, of course who are not, too, I strongly recommend The Railway Museum. You can enter for free and also can buy various goods.

Near The Railway Museum, there is Hikawa shrine (氷川神社）. There are some Hikawa shrine in Kanto region but this one is the head shrine of the sect. So its area is larger. It is good for taking a walk, I think.

Saitama will give you a warm welcome!

blog#6: Returning to My Hometown

 Hi. I'm Miyuki. I went to Sakata city in Yamagata for three days because I and my father returned to hometown. Although I was born and raised in Saitama, I love Sakata city. So I call this city not "my father's hometown" but "my hometown".
 In the first day, I went to a harbor. There is an esplanade. Defense ship of Japan Coast Guard and fish boats were at anchor.

Defense ship

In the socond day, I went to the waterfall,called "waterfall of bamboo blind(玉簾の滝)". This has legend that Japanese ancient Buddhist priest,Kukai（空海） discovered and named it. This is illuminated in summer.

waterfall of bamboo blind



 I go to Sakata almost every year, I've never lost interest in this city. I want to go there in next year,too!



blog#5: Wako(Miyuki)

 Hi, I'm Miyuki. I'll talk about my city Wako.
 Wako city is in Saitama and there are two institutions worthy of mention, the post of Japan Ground Self-Difense Force(JGSDF) and RIKEN(理化学研究所):the research institute of physics and chemistry.
 First, this post is at the city limits of Wako and next city Asaka, so it's named the Asaka post(朝霞駐屯地). The Asaka post contains pulletin facility:りっくんランド. In the facility, we can experience JGSDF's works. For example, simulation of helicopter's flight.

the Asaka post

 Secound, RIKEN is at south area of Wako and research field of physics and chemistry. Especially, this institute is known for discovery of new element(Uut:113).

RIKEN's building

Blog#6: Art Aquarium (Kyoka)

Hi, I'm Kyoka. Today, I talk about Art Aquarium. I visited the art aquarium on August 16 with my friend. It was held in Nihonbashi. The goldfish was exhibited in the art aquarium. A special tank and lighting are given there.

Although I don't so like a goldfish, I was fully able to enjoy. Since my friend likes the goldfish, she made it very pleasant. Although it tended to be considered in gorgeous exhibition, some were simple .

Although it was hot on that day, it was able to be cooled by seeing a goldfish. Since it is the peculiar world, I think that you are surprised, but if you get interested, please investigate!

Blog#6: My trip to a hot spring (Yuka)

Hi, I'm Yuka. Today, I talk about my trip to a hot spring this summer vacation. Although Kita Hot Spring is flourished from long time ago, there is only one hot spring lodge.This is Kita Hot Spring Hotel. Now it is flourished as a place for hot spring therapy. This hot spring hotel is a location site of the movie, Therumae Romae（テルマエ・ロマエ） which was a big hit recently. This movie is certainly concerned about hot spring, but I haven't seen yet. If I have a chance, I would like to see it.

Kita Hot Spring Hotel is a location site of the movie.

I need to walk to Kita Hot Spring. I walked about 10 minutes mountain path and reached Kita Hot Spring Hotel. A big hot spring pool in front of the hotel is impressive.

A big hot spring pool

The hotel has traditional atmosphere and I feel a nostalgic good old memory. There came foreigners. 

The interior of Kita Hot Spring Hotel

One of my favorite point of this hot spring hotel is that there two cats! They are at the front of desk and make customers relaxed.

Pretty two cats of this hotel

Secondly, certainly hot springs! The hot springs in refreshing and plain but plenty of hot springs and I forgot my fatigue completely. Especially, most popular hot spring is called "tengu no yu" where a big and red tengu-mask is decorated.

"tengu no yu"

As there remains a tradithional hot spring hotel style, I can be very relaxed. This is the one of the most wonderful hot spring hotel. At night, I can see beautiful stars. I want to go there every year, I think. Why don't you go there if you have a chance?

Blog#6: My cultural day

Hi, this is Kumi. Today, I talk about my wonderful day, August 14th. On that day, I went to Harry Potter exhibition with my friend. I'm Harry Potter's fan, so I was eager to visit this exhibition since it opened.

Harry Potter exhibition was very very crowded, and I had to wait for 1 hour. I think "How many Harry Potter's fan is in Japan!! " We could see clothes which the actors and the actresses put on, and stage properties(小道具). We could experience throwing Quaffle like movies, too. We're prohibited take a photo there, so I don't have there photos. I had to wait for a long time,  but Harry Potter exhibition is worth waiting for fan.

      ↑↑ The news when Harry Potter exhibition opened

 And we can eat traditional english food and drink alcohol in the cafe "The magicians' cafe&pub(魔法使いのカフェ＆パブ)".

We ate fish&chips and shepherd's pie. Shepherd's pie is a meat pie with a crust of mashed potato. It's called "Cottage pie", too. They were very delicios!! I like them.

 

Next, my friend and I went to Kabuki-za. We watched Kabuki!

The programs I watched were "Kori-Kori Banashi(狐狸狐狸ばなし)" and "Bou-Shibari(棒しばり)". Kori means fox and raccoon dog(タヌキ). Kori-Kori Banashi is the story of a couple's cheating each other. It is funny story. And in Kori-Kori Banashi, the actors used modern Japanese. So its story was easy to understand for me. Bou-shibari is the story about alcoholic drink. This story is funny, too. My seat was far from the stage, but I had a pleasant time.

 

I had a very cultural day. I'm satisfied about this day.

Blog#5: Kyoto(Yuka)

Hi, I'm Yuka. I'd like to talk about my city Kyoto. This city is in Kyoto.
First, Kyoto is famous for many temple. For example, Kinkaku-temple（金閣寺）, Kiyomizu-temple（清水寺）, Daikaku-temple（大覚寺）, Sanzenin（三千院）, Nanzen-temple（南禅寺）...and so on. These temples create an atmosphere of calm. There are the quite precincts of a temple. When I go to there, I can relax.

Sanzenin（三千院）

Second, if you come in Kyoto, you should see Gion festival（祇園祭） in July. It lasts one month. But, especially you should go this festival in July 16. Because, this festival is at its peak on that day. It called Yoiyama（宵山）. And, it's highlight is Yamabokojyunko（山鉾巡行）. Yamaboko（山鉾）is festival float. People dance, play the flute, and beat the drum on the Yamaboko（山鉾）. Yamaboko（山鉾） is very beautiful festival float. It called moving museum.

Yamaboko（山鉾）

Gion festival（祇園祭）is very famous and old festival. This festival was done about one thousand forty three yeas ago. If you want to go to Kyoto, you have to  go  there in July. 

Blog#5 Koshigaya (Kyoka)

Hi, I'm Kyoka. I'd like to talk about my city Koshigaya. This city is in Saitama. 

 

First, Koshigaya is famous for there being the greatest shopping mall in Japan. It is Koshigaya aeon lake town. Since it is very large there, it is tired only from walking and shopping. And there are a lake and a residential street, so photography of a drama is also carried out. The drama of the name of Ms. Saitou 2(斉藤さん2) is photoed now. Please go there to do some shopping.


Aeon lake town





Second, a festival called south Koshigaya Awa Dance will be held in August. It is one of the Kanto 3 major Awa Dance. It is held to a very big festival by 23, 24, and 25 in August this year. It will be this if it is called the festival of Koshigaya.

You can see large-scale and full-scale Awa Dance in the metropolitan area. If it comes to Koshigaya on that day, you should see. Since it is held in whole south Koshigaya, if it gets down from a station, the festival has started immediately.

Since Koshigaya is the 6th hottest city (maximum temperature is 40.4℃) in Japan, please take care.

Blog#5 Sagamihara(Kumi)

Hi, this is Kumi. Today, I'd like to talk about my city "Sagamihara (相模原)". Sagamihara is in Kanagawa.

Sagamihara is famous for the laboratory of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). This laboratory have "Hayabusa(ハヤブサ)". "Hayabusa" is an unmanned spacecraft to bring a sample of material from a small near-Earth asteroid(小惑星) named "Itokawa (イトカワ)". When this spacecraft return to the earth, it became very big news in Japan!  Now, the scientists in the laboratory study the material which Hayabusa brought.

"Hayabusa"

 



And I introduce 2 Sagamihara's interesting events, "Sagami-no-Oodako (相模の大凧, the big kites in Sagami)" and "Higasirinkan Summer Wa!-nival (東林間 サマーわぁ！ニバル)". Sagami-no-Oodako is the traditional event which started from about 1830. This event is held in May every year. This year, it was held in May 4th and 5th. The very big kites are flown there. I think we can't see such a big kite's flying in other place.



↑Oodako's fly!

                                     ↑movie

And "Higasirinkan Summer Wa!-nival" is Awa-odori(阿波踊り)'s festival. Awa-odori is the traditional dancing in Tokushima, but we can see this dancing in Kanagawa. It's very interesting and exciting, so I go to this festival every year.

↑dancing ladies

                              ↑movie

 

Sagamihara is bedroom town, so it doesn't have a lot of tourist spots. However this city is calm and peaceful. I love Sagamihara. I live here as long as possible.



blog#4: John Christopher Depp II(Miyuki)

 Hi, this is Miyuki. I will talk about John Christopher Depp II. He is called "Johnny Depp" in Japan, so I want to call him "Johnny Depp" or ""Johnny in this article. Johnny is one of the most famous acter in Hollywood and known for various roles and suitable fashion.　Today, I will adopt three his fashion in movies. 

 First, this is a scene in "The Tourist"(2010). In this movie, he acted the general man touring in Italy seemingly. So he wear white well-tailored suit and his hair is arranged in modern medium style.

 

 Angelina Jolie(left side) and Johnny(right side)

 

 

 Second, this is a scene in "Pirates of the Caribbian"(2003). In this movie, he acted wild pirate in age of discovery. So he wear plain shirt and jacket and his hair is arranged in long braid style with beads accessory. In addition, he put leather captain's hat and tie his moustache with beads.

 



Jonny(left side) and Orlando Bloom(right side)

 

  Third, this is a scene in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"(2005). In this movie, he acted a funny president. So he wear red long frock coat and his hair is arranged in bpbbed style.  In addition, he put silk hat with red ribbon and shave his moustache. It's rare case!

 



no moustache!

 

 

 These three roles seem to be total strangers, but they are acted same parson. Because of his acting skill and fashion, he looks like another characters.