Updates!

Well, I haven't written anything since last January's entry....

One reason is that I had been busy with my income tax return procedure,

but then, the great earthquake occurred in the Tohoku pacific area.

I just didn't feel like writing my blog.

But I shouldn't leave this like this, so I just summarize what I had been

up to until now.

February 19th and 20th

I went to Tokyo (Higashifushimi, to be exact) to watch ice hockey games

(yes, again!). This time, the games were between Hokkaido teams and

Honshu teams.

February 26th and 27th (and 28th)

I went to Tomakomai to watch the semi-finals Oji against Halla.

Oji lost both games.

Before coming back home, I had time to watch the practice on 28th.

It was interesting.

March 9th

I watched the movie "King's Speech".

The movie was about the king, who was the father of the current Queen

Elizabeth II who had the speech problem.

I was moved by this movie.

March 11th

When the earthquake occurred, I was driving a car to the bookstore, so

I didn't notice the shaking.

When I came home, I watched TV and couldn't believe what I saw on TV.

March 28th

I went to the circuit to watch the students' practice session.

April 12th

First day of the school for this year.

I was nervous to meet new students.

I think the first class went quite smoothly.

April 14th

I went to see the movie "High school debut"

Usually I don't watch this kind of movie, but my favorite actor was

in the movie, so I used my free ticket to watch this.

I enjoyed it very much.

April 27th

I went to see the movie "GANTZ: Perfect Answer".

This is a sequal to the one shown in January.

Nino and Matsu-Ken were very good!

May 9th

Second class of the year.

This time, I had a chance to attend the lecture by Mr. Hamashima of

Bridgestone.

I enjoyed it very much.

May 14th and 15th

I went to the circuit to watch Suzuka 2 & 4 race, which was postponed

from April due to the earthquake.

This event consists of 4 categories: 2 for JSB 1000, 4 for Formula Nippon,

F3 and FCJ.

Shinichi Ito was coming back to participate in JSB1000, so I wanted to

see him! He was third in the race.

For FN, it had been a while since I saw Andre, so I was happy to see him

and gave him his favorite chocolate! On top of that, he won the race, so

I was so excited!

For F3, Tomoki won the N class of the season opener on Saturday, and

I was happy to see his debut win!

For FCJ, 4 of my former students participated in the races, and Kazuki

won the Round 4 on Sunday!

In total, I could see three wins and one podium finish, so I was really happy

I went there.

Well, I didn't think I did so much, but it looks I have had a lot of events so

far.

I should write one by one from now on.....

Japan vs Korea ! (NOT soccer, though)

Last weekend, I went to see the ice hockey games (again!) in Hogashifushimi, Tokyo.

This time the matches were between Japanese teams, Tohoku Free Blades and

Nikko Ice Bucks, and the Korean teams, Anyan Halla and High 1.

Before going the the arena, I went to Aoyama to buy Malasada.

I got on a train, then heard the annoucement.

" There was an accident at Shinjuku station, and the trains were temporarily stopped

due to the care of the injured and the police investigation."

I had a lot of time to kill on the train before going to the shop in Aoyama, so I waited

on the train for about 1 hour.

Still I had some more time to kill before the opening time of the shop, so I went to

Aoyama Gakuin University to stroll around and then to the farmers market held at

the United Nations University.

I found the stand that sold the strawberries grown in the prefecture I live, so I bought

some for the souvenir.

Then finally it was the time for the shop to open, so I went there and bought

3 kinds of Malasada, Hawaiian doughnut-like sweets.

Then I went to Higashifushimi and watched 2 games on Saturday and 2 games on

Sunday.

The games were all exciting!

I enjoyed cheering for the teams with my friends.

First goals !

I went to see the games between Oji Eagles and China Dragon of the Asia League

in Tomakomai last weekend.

Oji won 11-0 on Saturday, and 13-2 on Sunday.

Two players, #27 and #88 had not scored goals yet, but both players scored their

first goals in the league in the Sunday game!

I'd been waiting for these goals.

#88 scored the first goal of this game, and was selected as the Game Best Player.

My friend and I went to dinner at the cafe that we usually go after the game, and

we went to the bar that I always go when I am in Tomakomai.

We enjoyed talking and drinking there.

After the Sunday game, there was a autograph session, and I got all the players'

autographs.

Then we went to dinner at the cafe again, and after dinner I went to see my

friend off at the station.

I was going to another bar, but I was a little tired, so I went to my usual bar again.

I met some interesting people there, and I enjoyed talking with them.

There was an official practice session on Monday, so I went to see the practice

before going home.

Before leaving, I went to see a friend of mine. I enjoyed talking with him, too.

The plane was on time, I could go on board the boat from the airport with no

problem.

It was a really nice trip for me.