2018/10/11 Ethiopia

Tena jistilign! How is everyone doing? I am the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia! People think that I’m an interesting country. In one place, you can cook an egg without a stove. Just put the frying pan on the ground. Cool, isn't it? Also I am the oldest independent country on the African continent. My contry’s capital is Addis Ababa. It means New Flower. I am three times as big as Japan. Japan is surrounded by the sea, right? I am surrounded by six other countries. Also people discovered Lucy and Ardi here. You know them, don't you? they are said to be the ancestors of all humans. There are also around 80 different groups of people with their unique languages and religions. Each state in my ountry can decide the language it uses. Oh, there are 13 months in a year here. Don't you think I’m interesting?

You can also find some amazing buildings. There is a religion here called the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. So there are many church buildings rock churches in Lalibela. Each one is carved from one big rock. I'll tell you a secret. The eleven rock churches are all connected underground. You don't believe me? Come and see for yourself.

If you want to go to one of the hottest places on earth, you can go to a place Afar. There are many colorful swamps and rocks in Afar.

And if you want to see red hot magma up close, you can visit Erta Ale Volcano. Remember the egg? You can cook the egg here if you want. What? You want to know why it's so hot?

Well, a long, long, time ago, this area was under the sea. But the seawater disappeared because of the heat of magma flowing under the ground there. So the old bottom of the sea can now be seen. Magma still flows under that ground, so the area is like a big stove. That’s why it's so hot.

Maybe it's interesting for you, but for me, it's a serious problem. The people here don't have enough water. I read somewhere that people in Japan use 300 liters of water a day. But people in Ethiopia only use around ten liters. There is a rule from long ago that people follow, Weak people drink water first.

Let me know when you come. I'll have a nice cup of coffee ready for you. coffee first came from Ethiopia. That’s another interesting fact for you, too bye.

2018/10/10 My daughter's dream

Hey. There is a comic book on the table. Could you put it away?

Dad. That’s not a comic book. It's a book.

A book?

It's Frankenstein.

Frankenstein? You mean that famous story?

Yeah, when I grow up, I’m going to be a writer.

A writer?

I was surprised to hear this. My daughter is ten years old. I didn’t know she read famous books. I thought she only read comic books.

Did you know that a 19-year-old woman wrote Frankenstein?

Is that true?

Yes. her name was Mary Shelley. She was from England.

I didn’t know she was so young when she wrote such an amazing novel.

Her mother and father were both famous writers. Her mother died when she was a baby, and her father married another woman. Mary didn’t like her new mother, so she went to visit her real mother’s grave every day.

That’s so sad.

Then, Mary fell in love with a man. Her father didn’t like the man. So Mary and her boyfriend secretry got married and moved away.

They secretly got married?

Yes. But they didn’t have enough money, so they came back. Mary’s father was really angry.

Around that time, Mary wrote Frankenstein.

I see. So you want to be a writer just like Mary?

Yes. Don't you want me to become a writer?

Sure, you can become a writer, but you are not like Mary at all. Your mother and I aren’t writers. We're both healthy, and you don't have a boyfriend yet. Wait, do you?

What?

If you secretly get married one day, I will be very angry with you. but then, you will be like Mary, and…

Dad, are you okay? Don't worry. I’m only ten years old, so I won't get married for a long time. I don't like anyone now anyway.

Oh, okay.

I just think mary is really cool.

Cool?

Uh-huh.

You were surprised that a 19-year-old wrote this book, right?

Uh-huh.

I want to be a person who can surprise people, two.

I’m sure you will be a great writer. Go surprise the world.

Thanks, Dad.

So what did you think about the book?

It was a sad story, because no one liked poor Frankenstein.

Did you really read the book?

Well… I haven’t finished it yet.

Anyone who reads the book knows that Frankenstein is the name of the scientist who created the monster.

Really? Then, what's the name of that large monster?

That monster doesn't have a name.

I didn’t know that.

So how much have you read?

I’m still on the first page.

Now that’s sounds like my daughter. If her dream comes true, I will be happy. But for now, I'd like her to enjoy every moment of her childhood.

2018/10/09 The inch-high boy

Once upon a time, there was a very, very small baby. He was only as big as a thumb. His parents named him Issun-boshi anb took good care of him. When Issun-boshi became older, he was still small in size, but his heart was great.

One day, Issun-boshi said to his parents, I would like to go to the city and find a good job. The parents were surprised, but because it was important to their son, they agreed. His mother gave him a wooden soup bowl for a boat and a chopstick for a paddle. His father gave him a needle for a sword.

They wished him good luck and watched him start going down the river in his boat.

A few days later, Issun-boshi reached the city. He found the biggest house in the city. He stood in front of the main gate and shouted, Hello! in a strong voice. A worker from the house came out, but he couldn’t find anybody. I’m here. said Issun-boshi. The worker looked down and was surprised to see an inch-high boy.

Issun-boshi said he wanted to work there. The worker at the house said, What can you do? You are smaller than a mouse.

The master came by and thought Issun-boshi was funny. so he agreed to let him work there.

You can work for my daughter.

A month later, the daughter of the house went to pray at a temple. Issun-boshi went with her.

While the daughter was praying, two giant demons came down from the mountain behind the temple. They tried to take the daughter away. Issun-boshi jumped onto the nose of one of the demons and attacked its eyes with his needle sword.

Oh. Ouch.

The demon put its hands over its eyes and run away. Then, the other demon picked up Issun-boshi and ate him. Issun-boshi was inside the demon. He attacked the inside of the demon’s stomach with his sword.

Oh. Ouch.

Good. The demon opened its mouth.

Issun-boshi jumped out of it's mouth and held the sword in front of the demon’s eye.

If you don't go back, I’m going to use this sword on your eye.

The demon run back up the mountain as fast as it could.

The demon left so quickly that it forgot something. It was a magic hammer. The daughter picked up the hammer and made a wish with it.

Grow bigger, Issun-boshi. Grow taller, Issun-boshi.

At the time, Issun-boshi was only about an inch tall, but then he grew taller and taller…Issun-boshi magically became a tall, strong young man.

Later, Issun-boshi married the daughter and invited his parents to the city. They all lived happily ever after.

2018/10/08 A&B @ Yokohama Chinatown

Wow! So many people came to see us. Yokohama is great.

Akito, come on. Help me pack. You know what? Maybe we should change our performance a little. We always do the same things.

Isn't that better than doing something new and making mistakes?

If we keep doing the same things, we’ll never get better.

Oh, come on, Ben. Don't be so serious. The audience liked our performance.

I’m Ben. Akito is my street performance partner. We are in Japan right now, so we can learn some new performance skills. Akito is a great guy, but we both needto become better performers.

Didn’t I tell you? The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse if full of people, even on a weekday. Maybe we should performe here for about a month

No. Let's leave tomorrow. But we just got here yesterday.

Well, it's better to perform in lots of different places.

But we were in Narita for a week.

We were just starting out in Japan.

Anyway, let's get something to eat. I want to go to Chinatown.

Okay.

Is that a gate? It's really colorful. What does it say on it?

It says, Choyomon.

Choyomon?

It means, Gate of the morning sun.

That’s sound nice.

There are ten gates in Yokohama Chinatown.

Choyomon is the largest one.

Something smells great. Is that smoke over there?

No. That’s steam. They're selling steamed meat buns and sweet azuki buns.

I want to try them. Do you think we can get a table?

We can eat while we walk. That’s what people do here.

Ah, I see.

Let's walk toward Kanteibyo.

Kanteibyo? What's that?

It's a shrine made for the Chinese god of business.

Look at that building.

Yokohama Chinatown was originally called Nanking town. Many Chinese traders moved here after Japan became open to foreigners in 1859. Then, in the 1950s, Yokohama city took a hint from San Francisco and made Chinatown into a place for tourist.

It is said that many Kakyo people gave money to help this big project.

Kakyo?

Kakyo is the word for Chinese people who have moved to different contries to start a new life.

I see.

Chinatown has more than five hundred restaurants and shops. During the Chinese new year, people cerebrate by lighting firecrackers and playing drums.

That sounds like fun. We should come back for the Chinese new year.

Yeah, but didn’t you just say we should peform in different places?

Yes, but the Chinese new year is many months away. It’ll be the same place, but by that time we’ll have a new program, right?

Yeah, sure…

I don't think Akito wants to change the way we perform. How can I get him to try something new?

2018/10/05 Run,Melos! E1

Meros was very angry. He had come back to town for the first time in two years. Everything had changed. He asked an old man what happened.

It's the king. He kills people. He believes that all people have dangerous thoughts.

So he killed his son-in-low and then his own son. He even killed his wife.

Has he lost his mind?

No. He just can't believe in anyone anymore. So he gave an order for every rich man to send one of their family members to the castle. If they don’t send anyone, he will kill them. Even today, six men were killed on the cross.

I can't believe this.

Melos went to stop the king. But at the castle, he was caught by soldiers. They found a knife Melos had with him, and so they took him to the king.

Why do you have this knife?

I was going to save this town from a bad king.

The king laughed. It was a sad laugh.

You don’t know me.

No, I don’t. But I heard you kill people because you don’t trust them. You can't be a good king if you don’t trust your people.

My people? My people made me this way. They have taught me that I can't believe in anyone. I want peace too, you know.

It was Melos to laugh.

Peace? All you care about is being a king.

Be quiet. When I put you on a cross, you will cry and say that you are sorry. You will say anything to save your life.

I am ready to die. But I ask you to let me live for three more days. I have a young sister who  is getting married. She is my only family. I promise to return after her wedding.  

Do you think I am a fool? If a bird escapes, it doesn’t come back.

If I don’t return before the sun sets on the third day, you can kill my best friend. His name is Selinuntius, and he believes in me.

The king smiled a dangerous smile. He thought that it was a perfect chance to show everyone that people can't be believed in.

Okay. You have three days. By the way, if you come back after sunset, I will not kill you.

After sunset? Then, my friend will die.

Exactly. If you want to live, you should be late.

Melos’s friend, Selinuntius, was brought to the castle. Melos explained everything, and the two friends hugged each other. Under the night sky full of stars, Melos started to run.