府中英会話サークル

lucky to be Invited to the Rugby game (ラグビー無料招待

I was lucky to be invited to the Japan Rugby One game at the Ajinomoto stadium.Japan made it to the top 16 in the Soccer World Cup this year. It was really exciting.And then next is the Rugby World Cup in 2023. It will be held in France.Fuchu City has named itself "Rugby City Fuchu" and is focusing on rugby. I think it's because Fuchu is the home ground of the Toshiba team(of Michael Leitch) and Suntory Sungoliath(of Matsushima).Yesterday I went to see the game of Suntory vs NEC at the Ajinomoto stadium.Sungoliath fans was overjoyed to see their favorite team winning.But I felt I was freezing in the cold of winter with the free Suntory beer.(Take)

Netsuke 根付

Netsuke was used during the Edo period as the toggle that holds the cord of a pouch under a sash. Since the people didn't wear kimonos after the Meiji Restoration, netsuke became redundant. However, netsuke attracted foreign collectors as artwork. But it may be able to be created by 3D printers. Is that artwork or a product? (Emily)

Curb gardening in winter 「冬の道端花壇」

Curb gardening in winter 「冬の道端花壇」私の趣味はGardeningです。寒い朝、襟をたてて出勤される皆さんへ。“Hi, how about a bit of our fragrance and beauty before you head along your way?Vitamin F (flower), is said to have a special chemical effect on the brain that causes you to feel happier“「おでかけ前に、ちょっとお花のビタミF(flower)の補給はいかがですか？ちょっと幸せになりますよ！」(Bosch)

Baked stollen シュトレンを焼く

I baked “stollen.” According to the recipe I used, almond powder is used as a substitute for Mazipan. So, since I only had to mix bread flour and almond powder, it was easy to make dough. I added whole almonds to the dough in order to make the baked bread crunchy. But when I bit into it, I felt the almonds were a little too big. I should have crushed each one into two or three pieces. (Emily)

府中英会話サークル誕生秘話② 最初の外国人先生

　奇しくも、47年前でも英会話サークルの会場は今と同じ中央文化センターで、もっと驚くのは、経済の浮き沈みに関わらず、月会費は3000円で47年経った今も同じ額を維持していることです。　やがて、なんとかnativeの先生が見つけられないかということで、皆で通勤途上で外国人を見つけては英語で声をかけるという大変な活動をはじめました。今のように、ネットも無く、英語学校も十分にない時代で、その内に、Oさんがどこで見つけたか、吃りの英語を話す外国人を見つけてきました。カバレフスキーというおそらくロシア系の外国人で、ひどくどもる、stammering の男性外国人でした。それでも、やっと見つけたnativeらしい外国人で、私たちは嬉しくてたまりません。カバレフスキーは、「私は」というのを、「I’m,I’m,I’m 」と、3回は続けて発音する、珍しく酷いどもりでした。でも、性格は優しく熱心な最初の外国人先生でした。

JR East Souvenir GP 2022 JR東日本おみやげグランプリ 2022

In the JR East Souvenir GP 2022, the assorted cookies produced by SUCREY won. If you cannot decide which souvenir is the best for your relatives when you visit them and give them a souvenir during the New Year’s holidays, you can refer to thelist of souvenirs on the following website:jreast-omiyage.jp (Emily)

府中英会話サークル誕生秘話①

府中英会話サークル誕生は別に秘話でもないですが、自分の記憶がいかにあやふやかと思い知らされます。47年前の1976年に仲間と一緒に立ち上げたのは確かです。最初は府中市の成人学級で夏休みの数週間のプログラムでした。府中市は何か市民の自主活動を支援していたのではないでしょうか。そのプログラム参加者の何人かはいつもクラスが終わると近くのカフェに立ち寄り､皆若かったので、なんか楽しく、このまま解散するのではなく、自分たちでサークルを作って勉強会を継続しようということになり､そのまま英会話のナナ先生にお願いし、会を立ち上げたように思います。続きはまた。(TAKE)

Beatles memorial concert

I enjoyed the Beatles memorial concert today at Nishikokubunji.There’s a talk show and the concert by the Bread & Butter.This folksong duo was very popular 50 years ago. I’m surprised to see them. They are now the senior duo but still have beautiful voices even though they are over 70.It’s 60th anniversary of the Beatles debut.The music producers who knew them talked about the hidden stories of Beatles.It’s interesting.Then there was a concert of the Beatles songs by the duo Bread & Butter.When the Beatles came to the Budokan in Japan, I was a first grader of the junior high school.I remember those days well, because some of my female friends was absent from school and they went to the concert and later their parents were called by the class teacher teacher and got the penalties.It’s a great day for the music scene in Japan.

On a train 電車で

On a train, a boy bashfully said "guess who my favorite football player is? “An old woman who sat in front of him and next to me said "Messi? “The boy replied to her, saying "No, Cristiano Ronaldo." I guessed he is her grandson and she is his grandmother. Probably, they would meet for a time and go somewhere. I guessed the grandmother learned lots of things related to football in order to talk with her grandson. Both of them looked like they were enjoying things. Their conversation made me feel happy. (Emily)

Year End Party

We held an official year end party for the first time in 3 years.We exchanged our own interests and desires.Everybody has their own dreamseven if we became old.I think it's the power of our lives. It's really fun. We enjoyed until late at nigh. Have a happy new year!(Take)

リブログ記事”Unaju 鰻重”

Christmas berry 万両

I found Manryo with red berries under the mail post built in my garden. Manryo is called in English. I don‘t remember planting the shrub. Probably, a bird or so brought the seeds of the plant. It is said that Manryo takes at least 4 to 5 years to bear berries. So, the seed may have been brought several years ago. (Emily)

Unaju 鰻重

One of my favorite dishes is the Unaju that is the marinated eel over a box of rice. I sometimes go to the Unagi eel restaurant close to my home on payday.The Unagi has not so high calorie and I feel good after eating it. I feel it’s the source of power. When I guide the foreign guests in Tokyo, they always ask me to take them to the Sushi restaurant, but I think the Unaju is tastier than Sushi.　It reminds me that when I attended the Buddhist ceremony at Mishima, The mood was dark and melancholic , but just after we went to the Unagi restaurant and ate the Unaju , most of the attendants became cheerful. I felt the the Unagi has the power to change us happier.(Take)

Makura-no-soshi 枕草子

I am reading the Makura-no-soshi translated into modern Japanese. It is a collection of essays written by Sei-shonagon. I only read a few essays from the collection when I was a high school student. But I decided to read through the entire collection. Although she authored the essays more than 1,000 years, I could sympathize with her way of thinking and understand her feelings, as if she were a contemporary blogger. (Emily)

Lyonnaise cuisine リヨン料理

I enjoyed Lyon cuisine at a restaurant near my office. Lyon in France is famous for its delicious food as well as silk fabrics. I ordered fish. The combination of grilled fish with crispy skin and fresh olive oil was a perfect match. The mashed potatoes were served as an accompaniment to the dish. It was creamy and tasty. I won’t be able to make such mashed potatoes. However, only one waiter was serving all the customers and he looked so busy. After eating, I rushed back to my office. Next time, I want to enjoy dinner in the evening because I don’t have to worry about time. (Emily)銀座フレンチ＆ワイン居酒屋 Bouchon d’Or（ブション・ドール）リヨンの居酒屋銀座フレンチ＆ワイン居酒屋 Bouchon d’Or（ブション・ドール）リヨンの居酒屋bouchondor.jp

Mourning cards 喪中はがき

If any family member passed away, as a Japanese custom, the other family members usually don't celebrate the coming New Year. While in mourning, they don't send New Year's greeting cards, make a New Year's visit to a shrine, or prepare New Year's dishes. Instead, they send mourning cards within the year to let others know that they won't celebrate the New Year because a family member died. I have already gotten a few mourning postcards from my friends and relatives. I wrote in reply to my friends' mourning cards. Recently I haven't written in pen. In addition, although a formal message must be written vertically, I seldom do. So, it was difficult to write characters vertically and neatly. Also, I had to check the strokes of a few Chinese characters on the Internet while writing. (Emily)

Ekinaka エキナカ

Ekinaka is named so because it is the shopping center located inside the station yard. Now many JR and metro subway stations have these facilities. So does JR Nishi-Kokubunji. At the station, there is a standing Sushi bar called Uogashi Nihon-ichi. At the sushi bar, a pair of Sushi pieces pressed by hand are served soon after you make an order. So, the rice ball of the sushi remains warm. That's why you can enjoy the delicious sushi. Also, the fish ingredients are fresh. I recommend you go to this sushi bar if you have a chance. If you are outside of the station, you can enter the Ekinaka by paying the entrance fee of 150 yen. (Emily)

Face mask inner support frame

For the first time, I used a face mask inner support frame. It was easier to breathe than wearing a mask without the frame. But since it slightly pushed my cheeks, it was a little hard to open my mouth when speaking. I will use the frame only when I don't have to speak so much. For example, when I am on a train. (Emily)

Perfect simmered fish おいしい煮魚 <゜)))彡

I had lunch at the Japanese restaurant I wanted to visit. The fish simmered with soy sauce and sweet cooking rice wine was so delicious. Generally, it is difficult to finish this kind of delectable dish. If the fish was simmered too long, it would lose its shape. If it was not to simmered enough, the soy sauce and other ingredients wouldn't fully penetrate it. But the cooked fish at the restaurant was perfect. (Emily)赤井(銀座/魚介・海鮮料理) - Rettyこちらは『赤井(銀座/魚介・海鮮料理)』のお店ページです。実名でのオススメが11件集まっています。Rettyで食が好きなグルメな人たちからお店を探そう！retty.me

Sliding doors on the platforms

I use the JR Chuo line for commuting. In the past, train accidents causing injury or death often occurred on this line. But since JR has been building sliding doors on their platforms, the number of these accidents has decreased significantly. Those who use this line including me are hoping that the doors will be installed at all the platforms as soon as possible. (Emily)