2019/01/08 Urashima Taro

Once upon a time, in a village by the sea, there lived a young man named Urashima Taro. One day, Taro was walking along the beach. He saw a group of children hitting a small turtle with sticks. Taro took the turtle from the bad children and put it in the sea. Taro watched the turtle swim away until he could not see it anymore. The young man was happy the turtle was all right.

A few days later, Taro was walking along the beach again. Suddenly, a very big sea turtle came up to him and said, Thank you for saving my son the other day. I'd like to invite you to the Sea God’s castle. It is donw on the bottom of the sea. I can take you there. Please sit on my back.

Taro rode on the back of the turtle. And they went deep down to the Sea God’s castle. At the castle, a beautiful woman came out to meet him. It was Princess Otohime.

In the castle, Taro was given a beautiful dinner with all kinds of wonderful foods. While he ate, colorful fish danced for him.

Princess Otohime showed Taro to a special room. She opened the door. Inside the room, it was spring. There were many cherry trees with beautiful pink blossoms. At the end of the room, there was another door. Behind that door, it was summer. The trees and grass were green. The next room was autumn. The leaves on the trees were as red as fire. The final room was winter. It was snowing. He caught some snowflakes in his hand.

Taro was having a wonderfur time. But he said to Princess Otohime. Thank you for everything. But I think it's time for me to go back home.

Princess Otohime said, I understand. Please take this treasure box home so you will remember us. But remember, you must never, ever open it.

The big sea turtle took Taro back to the baech. But he found his village was different. He looked for his home, but there was a different house standing there. All of the people were strangers, too. Taro was afraid, so he talked to a man. Does the Urashima family live near here?

The man thought for a minute and then said, Well, I've heard there was a family here with that name about 100 years ago.

Taro was shocked. He didn’t know what to do. So he went back to the beach to think. As he was walking, he remembered the treasure box that Princess Otohime had given him. Taro thought, Maybe it could help me.

He forgot she had told him to never, ever open it. When he opened it, white smoke came out of the box.

When the smoke was gone, Taro found his hair had turned gray. He was now an old man with a white beard.

2019/01/07 A&B @ Lake Biwa

Hey, is that Oki-no-Shiraishi?

I think so. Oki-no-Shiraishi is near the center of the lake.

I see. I still can't believe how big this lake is.

I’m Akito. Today, Ben and I are on a boat on Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. This boat does a one-day tour around Lake Biwa’s islands.

Akito, what was the name of the first island we went to?

Okishima.

Oh, right. And this is called Oki-no-Shiraishi. They sound similar, but Okishima is bigger.

It's the biggest island on Lake Biwa. About two hundred eighty people live there. In Japan, it is the only island on a lake that people live on. Oki-no-shiraishi is actually just a group of large rocks.

So can we go on those rocks?

I don't think so.

Too bad. I wanted to juggle on top of the rocks.

Ben and I are a street performance duo called A&B. We are traveling aroud Japan to become better performers.

Hello. Is this your first time visiting Lake Biwa?

Yes.

Well then, let me give you a quiz. How big is Lake Biwa.

Is it about half the size of Shiga Prefecture?

I think it's bigger. It must cover about 70 percent of Shiga.

No. Lake Biwa covers only about 16 percent of Shiga Prefecture.

Really? I thought it was bigger.

Well, it is the biggest lake in Japan. Most of the water used in the Kansai area is taken from Lake Biwa. If people say bad things about Shiga, we say, We're going to stop Lake Biwa’s water.

You can stop the water?

No, no. it's just a joke.

Oh, okay. Anyway, can you tell us about the next island, Chikubujima?

Sure. I think most people from Shiga have been to it. Since a long time ago, people have said the gods live there.

Wow.

We arrived at Chikubujima. After walking around for a while, we stop at a place with a nice view.

Hey, what's that? People are throwing things.

That’s kawarake throwing.

Kawarake? What's that.

Kawarake is a small white plate made of clay. You write your wish on it, and throw it toward that torii gate down there. If it goes through the torii, your wish come true.

Let me try it. My with is to become the best street performer in the world.

Oh, no.

To become the best, you'll have to work much harder.

Oh, don't tell me what to do.

After leaving Chikubujima, we go to Takeshima.

This island I really strange. It looks like a different island from each direction.

Yeah, it's famous for that. And the whole island is a temple.

Really? Actually, this whole lake feels like a temple to me.

Ah, maybe you're right.

Soon, the sun goes down. The view is amazing. It's too bad we can't stya at Lake Biwa longer.

年末年始について

年末年始のエンジョイシンプルイングリッシュは再放送のようですので、来週はお休みいたします。

来年もよろしくお願いいたします。

2018/12/28 The restaurant with many orders

The two gentlemen were shaking with fear. They were in a restaurant that would not serve them food. It was them that would be served as food.

We are going to be made into western-style food. Run.

The two men tried to get out using the previous door. But it wouldn’t open. Just then, they saw another door on the other side of the room. There were two big keyholes and words that said, Thank you for all your hard work. Now please come in. Two blue eyes looked at the men through the big keyholes.

Oh, no.

The two started to cry. Then, they heard voices behind the door.

Oh, no. They know. And they haven’t put salt on themselves.

It's our boss’s fault. He made the mistake to write, we are very sorry for all the orders. That was stupid.

I don't care if they know now. He is not going to let us eat them anyway. Not even their bones.

But if they don't come in, the boss will say it is our mistake.

Okay, let's talk to them. Hello, guests. Hurry and come in. We have washed the plates for you. The vegetables are ready. We just need to mix you with the vegetables to make a salad.

If you don't want to become a salad, we can fry you. come, quickly.

The two men’s faces became full of wrinkles just like a crushed ball of paper. They cried silently.

No, no. don't cry. The cream will come off. What? Yes, sir. They will be ready soon.

Did you hear that? Our boss is waiting for you. His napkin is ready, and he has a knife in his hand. Now, come.

Oh, no.

I don't want to die.

The men cried and cried. Then, suddenly.

Their two big white dogs broke down the door and ran into the room. The blue eyeballs disappeard. The dogs ran back and forth in the hallway. But after one big bark, they jumped at the door with the big keyholes. The door broke, and the dog ran into the darkness.

Then, the room disappeared like smoke. The two were left shaking without their clothes. They looked around and saw their clothes, shoes and everything they took off hanging on tree branches. Then, strong winds blew, grass moved, leaves rustled and the trees made strange sounds. Soon their dogs came back. The two men heard a voice.

Masters. Masters.

We're here.

Come. Quickly.

The two men called out to the guide they lost in the forest. They were saved. The two men ate sweet dumplings their guide brought them. Then, they bought mountain birds at the hotel and went home. But even when they got home and took a hot bath, their faces were still full of wrinkles. And those never disappeared.

2018/12/27 Chile

Nice to meet you. you can't stop looking at me, can you? Oh, I know. Everyone is interested in my long, thin shape. Well, sit down and let me tell you about myself.

I am the Republic of Chile. My capital is Santiago, and my population is about 18 million. My neighbors are Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The Pacific Ocean is on my west. As you noticed, I am very long and thin. Can anyone guess how long I am? The answer is 4329 kilometers. I am about twice as big as Japan.

You'll love the beautiful scenery of the Andes Mountains. That’s the world’s longest mountain range, you know. The wet air from the tropical forests of the Amazon can't go over the Andes, and the sea is cold, so not much water goes into the air. Because of these two factors, there are no clouds. You can't have rain without clouds. That is why you can find the driest place on the Earth, the Atacama Desert, right here.

The Atacama Desert is a little smaller than Hokkaido, and it rains less than ten millimeters per year. Yes, that’s right. Ten millimeters a year, not a day. It is said that there's even a place which hasn’t had rain for more than 40 years. Can you imagine?

But even in such a place, you will find an oasis. An oasis is a place in a desert with green plants. In the Atacama Desert, the plants get water from the longest river here, the Loa River. And the water of the Loa River comes from the melted snow of the Andes Mountains. It's all connected, you see.

Recently, the river’s water level is getting lower. One reason is the large amout of water used at copper mines. I am the world’s biggest producer of copper.

Copper is important for my country’s economy, but water is important, too. without water from the river, people cannot live. So there are places that have turned into ghost towns. Other towns are in trouble, too. One old man said, We have to keep taking care of the land. If we stop, the land will become completely dry. Thank you sir for taking care of my land.

Lastly, I want to tell you about my night sky. You will be able to see the star pattern of the Southern Cross very clearly in the Atacama Desert. Some places in the desert are in a very high place over 2000 meters above sea level and very dry. That is why you can see the stars so clearly.

If you want to see the bluest blue sky and a night sky full of twinkling stars, come visit me one day. I know you will fall in love with me. Bye.