An American film "The Post" was released on March 30 this year here in Japan.
It was released last year in the U.S. like "The Greatest Showman," right?
They say "The Post" is based on a true story. Well, I've seen and read both the Washington Post and the New York Times because the former's articles can be checked on the Japan News while the latter can be on the Japan Times. I mean both online and in real newspapers. I'm not sure it's a right English word to explain that, but the Japan News forms a business tie-up with the Washington Post whereas the Japan Times with the New York Times.
The Japanese title of "The Post" is; "ペンタゴン・ペーパーズ 最高機密文書." ペンタゴン・ペーパーズ stands for "The Pentagon Papers" in Japanese katakana characters while 最高機密文書 (Saikou Kimitsu Bunsho) means top secret documents.
Well, Japanese language doesn't have articles including "the," so that's why "ペンタゴン・ ペーパーズ" is precisely "Pentagon Papers" in Japanese, not "The Pentagon Papers". Same is true of "グレイテスト・ショーマン." It's "Greatest Showman" in Japanese but not "The Greatest Showman". If the English word "The" was translated into Japanese, it's "ザ" in katakana character and the title would be "ザ・グレイテスト・ショーマン." Hope It makes sense.
"The Greatest Showman" was released in Japan on February 16 here. I mentioned the film many times like in this, which has its trailers with Japanese translations, this, which was updated on Feb. 16 after I saw it, this, with pancakes to celebrate the release, and this in which Hugh Jackman in a video say thank you in Japanese, too. All of them show some kind of official video of the movie, like their interviews and music videos. To be honest, I'm listening to the soundtrack of "The Greatest Showman" writing this.
I love it.
The movie has been playing in Japan and audiences in some movie theaters can even sing along.
When I first saw "グレイテスト・ショーマン" in the theater last month, I saw the trailer of "ペンタゴン・ペーパーズ 最高機密文書" and came to know the film would be released the following month. Well, I thought the Japanese title was the same as the original one, but I came to find the original title is "The Post." It happens sometimes, you know, when films from other countries are released in Japan.
You know, I like Hugh Jackman the best, but Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson and Meryl Streep are also my favorite actors. Oh, just in case, I intentionally call them actors, not actors and actresses, in terms of gender equality. On the other hand, I don't watch Japanese films that much, actually.
To tell the truth, I sometimes don't think young men deserve Scarlett Johansson, haha. I think she should get married with a man who is much older than her and they never break up. I wonder why she's dating with guys her age ... I'm just joking. If she's happy, I'm happy. But I did think she prefered older men like I do.
With my favorite drink "Yogurt & Acai" at Tully's Coffee in Japan.
Well, my honey is as old as Hugh Jackman, and he's Mr. Right. Oh, I know my favorite male actors have wives and that Meryl Streep is married. I like a word "my better half," but usually a man uses the word when he calls or mentions his wife, right? Anyway, I love my hon forever and ever. I swear.
Go back to the original topic.
I saw "ペンタゴン・ペーパーズ," or "The Post" last week in a theater. It was so good. It made me think about a lot of things, such as history and politics, the current government in Japan as well as one in the United States (you know what I mean), politicians and journalists, newspaper companies and newspapaers, women's social status, female managers and executives, courts and justices, and so on.
It's like we're living in the similar era and times though it's not an event happening in present-day America or Japan either. The government is trying to hide something, newspapers are under pressure, and people don't know what's true or not though they have to ...
I got its movie brochure. I was very impressed by the ruling by the supreme court written in the brochure and some parts of the ruling are appearing in the movie, too.
As I wrote in another blog post last month, I do often think politics sometimes is more powerful than courts. Not all but many judges especially working at the Supreme Court seem to rule in favor of the government and politicians in Japan. If some brave justices rule against the government, the Supreme Court would overturn the ruling, you know. So, this kind of thing can never happen in Japan while it could in the U.S.
Of course I read news articles last year that the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Trump administation's travel ban on refugee;
Supreme Court: Trump admin can keep travel ban on most refugees.
Supreme Court dismisses one of two travel ban cases. (both are CNN's)
But I've also read the Supreme Court rules on Trump's travel ban this year; "Supreme Court to review Trump's Travel Ban." from Bloomberg. I wonder what it'll be like.
Well, If I start to write about the current politics in Japan, it's too long and complicated, so I won't. If you check news on Japanese politics sometimes, you know the Diet has been confused. We're not sure the current prime minister can stay in his position or not.
Meryl Streep is great. Her eyes are always bright and shining. I wanna grow old gracefully like her.
While seeing the movie, I thought, "I see. Well, Trump doesn't like the Washington Post and Amazon either and now I understand why. The Washington Post was aquired by Amazon," or something like that. I totally forgot then that Washington Post was acquired by the founder of Amazon but not by Amazon itself. The founder himself owns the Washington Post though President Trump sometimes call it "Amazon Washington Post." He doesn't know it, either? No way. President Trump should grow up.
This book taught me that. It's called "News Digest" and this is the volume 45. The Japan Times has been publishing it for many years. I got that in 2013 and I still have it. I checked it last night after a long time. You know, Amazon was born in Seattle, Washington, and so was Tully's Coffee.
I googled last night to know why the Washington Post was aquired. I was interested in because "The Post" made me realize that the Washington Post had been a family-owned and family-run company and the family seemed to have been wanting to keep a family-owned business at least in the film. But I checked some news articles and that makes sense. Though it was also a tough choice for them, they're as brave as Katharine, I think.
Oh, I forgot the Washington Post is a local newspaper, not a national newspaper, until I saw the film and read its broche. Well, the Washington Post is also famous among Japanese people who read both Japanese and English.
You know what? I've found some news article on Trump, the Washington Post and Amazon.:
The Washington Post stories that preceded Trump's tweets about Amazon. from the Washington Post
That's why I like the Washington Post, haha. So funny.
To Trump, It's the 'Amazon Washignton Post'. To its editor, That's Baloney. from the New York Times.
Trump continues attacks on Amazon, Washington Post. from CNN.
Also, I read other aricles regarding Amazon. com Inc. and Amazon Japan when I checked the English-language newspapers published in Japan and has been popular here. I'll add later. Also, I'll correct my spelling and grammar mistakes later.
JN = the Japan News JP = the Japan Times
U.S. companies found ways to avoid taxes before tax bill. from the Japan News. from JN
Amazon ends higher despite Trump’s shipping-rate threat. from JN
Trump escalates attack on Amazon over tax, shipping. from JN
Trump escalates attack on Amazon, focusing tax and shipping but offering no evidence. from JT
Amazon Japan hikes shipping rates amid rising logistic costs. from JT
Speaking of Amazon, I used Amazon to get swimsuits of Rebecca Taylor, one of my favorite brands. Amazon is famous here in Japan, too, and a lot of people buy many kinds of things on Amazon in their daily lives. It seems my hon's book sold very well on Amazon when it was published two years ago. Well, many bookstores are suffering because many people buy books online or get electronic books instead of paper ones. I really like browsing in bookstores, so I seldom get books online including Amazon. Still, I think Amazon makes our life more convenient.
My honey knows how I look when I'm dressed in these swimsuits. I tried them on after I received them and took pictures in front of a mirror in my room and then sent them to my hon. I don't add the photos here, though. I'm all Kouta's, you know. He might show the photos to his friends, haha, but I don't mind. I'm all his after all. Besides, they're not underwears. They're swimwears.
I guess some of them must think I'm too fat while some might think I'm as glamorous and sexy as Scarlett Johansson and Ranma ♀ are, haha. I'm just kidding. Oh, Ranma ♀ is a main character of my favorite Japanese manga, Ranma 1/2. Anyway, I have to lose weight .... I know, I know, haha. You know what? I had a great style when I was 20 years old or so but gained weight later around 23 years old, I guess. I should try to be like that and keep in good shape even if I get older. It makes me feel confident. Plus, I can try many clothes if I keep in good shape.
Well, though it's not a perfect season for swimming in the sea, I got swimwears because I'm thinking about traveling Hawaii this year or next year.
I got those three swimsuits at a very reasonable price. I wanna swim with dolphins. I've always wanted to do that. 
Also, I'd like to visit Pearl Harbor and U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.
I'll definitely come by Eggs 'n Things and get lots of exclusive goods there ... some for myself and others as souvenirs for my hon. Since it's located in Hawaii, they've even sold a yellow rain poncho with their logo on it. Their flagship shop has a retail shop and is selling lots of items that are not available at Eggs 'n Things locations in Japan. They have an online shop, too. Check it out.
Their blog article "New Foldable Bag," which written in English, says "Soon, from July 1st, they will make it illegal for us to give or even sell paper or plastic disposable bags." Yep, Hawaii has been banning plastic bags and it's said the ban becomes tougher.
By the way, I got this wallet many years ago at some shop in Shibuya, I guess. Shibuya is one of the cities in Tokyo, Japan, and it's always crowded with people. Shibuya is famous for the statue of Hachi Ko located near Shibuya station.
The design of the wallet is really to my taste ... cats, stars and moon.
This star & moon wallet came in 2 sizes, several colors and designs. I got this one, though I actually wanted the other colors' too. I didn't afford to collect them all.
I guess that was the first time I got an item of Rebecca Taylor. Rebecca Taylor has been my favorite brand since then.
But, I came to know Rebecca Taylor shut down all their shops located in Japan and withdrew from Japan. I got that wallet in fall or winter in 2013, and it's said Rebecca Taylor shut down their apparel stores in 2013. I still can't believe it. Rebecca Taylor once had many stores in Japan too and their items were so popular and sold at many places here. Now Rebecca Taylor isn't doing business in Japan anymore, we have to get their items online or when going to New York City. The logo of Rebecca Taylor shows two cats and its color is pink, you know, and I do like Rebecca Taylor's cat designs. They are not only cute but sophisticated. While writing this blog post, I find Rebecca Taylor has released New York Cats wallets before. Gee, I wish I knew. eariler. The sky blue one is so beautiful though it's not available on Amazon, either.
Since I got Rebecca Taylor's floral swimsuits on Amazon, especially their rose patterns reminded me that I liked brands like L'est Rose and Liz Lisa when I was younger. Both have rose designs like Rebecca Taylor's. I think L'est Rose and Liz Lisa were born in Japan, so they're not overseas brands while Rebecca Taylor is produced by a female designer who was born in New Zealand and whose name is Rebecca Taylor, you know. It's said Rebecca Taylor came to New York after she studied at a school of design in NZ, and later she opened her store in NY.
Now that I'm over 30 years old, I'd say Liz Lisa may be too young for me even though their rose pattern is still pretty and they still have lots of shops in Japan. It seems the brand opened stores in other Asian countries, too.
On the other hand, I think L'est Rose still looks good on women in their 30s or looks even better. L'est Rose's floral designs including rose ones are refined and beautiful. Unfortunately, I came to find that L'est Rose shut down all its stores last year. I didn't know that. I didn't know either that L'est Rose had been acquired by Samantha Thavasa in 2013. I'm not sure if it's true, but some say L'est Rose lost many fans and had to shut down in the end because Samantha Thavasa bought out L'est Rose and their L'est Rose is not what L'est Rose used to be while others say L'est Rose shouldn't have been bought by Samantha Thavasa in the first place. I checked their online shop, but items of L'est Rose are not sold anymore.
I used Samantha Thavasa's wallets like these when I was in my early 20s or so. Both are worn out, huh? Also, I have their blue bag which came in many sizes. I got it in 2013. I thought it was in 2012, but later I remembered it was 2013, so the same year it bought out L'est Rose, I think. Though some of their designs are too flashy or too young for me, I really like some of their simple but stylish designs. Still, I'm still wondering why L'est Rose had to disappear. The brand was bought out as its all shares had been aquired, according some online articles.
I usually use Eggs 'n Things large tote bag when I go out, so I rarely use other bags, actually. And you know what? I've been using a violet wallet with the crest of chrysanthemum since I got it in the Imperial Palace in 2016, haha, and there's a reason. My hon knows that. That wallet reminds me I might have died then and I thank god. But I've been thinking of getting a new wallet, and I thought it'd be Rebecca Taylor's. I'm so sad Rebecca Taylor already retreated from Japan.
Well, I don't think many people know, but Tully's Coffee in Japan is a subsidiary company of Ito En, a company famous for their green tea "Oi Ocha", or "お～いお茶" in Japanese.
Tully's Coffee was once launched a hostile takeover and Ito En was a white knight. Though I mentioned it in this and this, it's a longer story. If you read Japanese, just check out the books written by the founder of Tully's Coffee in Japan. He should translate them into English so more people can read. Oh, his books are arranged on my bookshelve here in this blog.
Rilakkuma bottle covers again. This time, there're three designs. I prefer the previous ones, though. A new green item of Ito En's "Oi Ocha" series has these giveaways and they're available at many convenience stores right now.
Tully's Coffee once had another brand, Koots Green Tea, which was created by him and was offering green tea beverages and Japanese foods like Onigiri, but it shut down many of its stores after it was became a subsidiary company and the last store shut down in 2016. Even though Koots disappeared, Tully's Coffee still has a lot of locations in Japan and has been popular here, and we appreciate Ito En as well as Oginon, who has been supporting my hon since they met at Tully's Coffee, as I mentioned in the previous blog post. I hope Eggs 'n Things and Tully's Coffee will last longer than we expect and even after we all pass away.
