The Oscars

Hello everybody!  The first day of spring is rapidly approaching and so are the beautiful cherry blossoms.  Please go outside and enjoy this wonderful time in Japan.  Today, we are going to talk about a famous awards ceremony that just happened in America last weekend.  

The Academy Awards are one of the biggest nights in movies. In 2026, the 98th Oscars were held in Hollywood to honor films from 2025. The event is run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and winners receive a gold statue called an Oscar. Many people around the world watch to see which movies and actors win.

At the 2026 Oscars, the biggest winner was One Battle After Another. It won Best Picture, the top award of the night. The director, Paul Thomas Anderson, won Best Director. The award for Best Actor went to Michael B. Jordan for his role in Sinners. Best Actress was won by Jessie Buckley for her role in Hamnet. These winners were praised for their strong performances and storytelling.

There were also important nominees from around the world. The Japanese film Kokuho was nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 2026 Oscars. However, it did not win. Even so, being nominated for an Academy Award is a big honor. It shows that the film’s makeup and design were among the best in the world.

Have you seen any of these amazing films from 2025?  If so, let's discuss this topic when you come to Bridge again.  Enjoy the beginning of spring and have a great day. 

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The Dinosaurs

Hello all you English-language learners!  How are you doing?  Well, spring is almost here, so please stay strong and put up with the cold weather for a few more weeks.  By the end of this month, we all can enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms all over Japan.  Until then, you might want to watch a good movie or TV show in the comfort of your own home.  If that sounds good to you, we'd like to recommend a fun, new educational show for you to watch in English . 

A new documentary series called The Dinosaurs has just been released and is very popular on Netflix. The four-episode show has a perfect score on the popular American review website Rotten Tomatoes. Famous actor Morgan Freeman narrates the series, and famous director Steven Spielberg is the executive producer. Spielberg also directed the dinosaur movie Jurassic Park.

The show explains what Earth looked like millions of years ago. About 50 experts helped create the series. Using computer graphics, the team rebuilt the ancient supercontinent called Pangaea. They also created volcanoes, storms, floods, forests, and many dinosaurs. The story begins with the first small dinosaurs that lived long ago.

The series later shows the biggest and most famous dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. In the final part, the show explains how a huge asteroid hit Earth. This event, called the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, caused the dinosaurs to die out. A review by The Guardian praised the show’s realistic science and visuals.

What do you think?  Does this sound interesting to you? If so, please watch the show and share your thoughts with us about The Dinosaurs when you come to BRIDGE again.

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The Legacy of Fela Kuti

Hi everybody!  We hope you are having a great winter.  Spring will be here before you know it, so don't worry too much about the cold weather.  As for today, we would like to discuss the importance of an African musical legend. 

Fela Kuti, a famous musician from Nigeria, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards. He is the first African to get this award. The Recording Academy in the United States gives this award to honor great musicians. Fela Kuti died in 1997, but his music and message are still important today. His daughter, Yeni, said, “Better late than never.” She also said that more African musicians should be recognized. She explained that her father did not care about awards. He loved music and was happy when people and other artists respected his work.

Fela Kuti was born in 1938. He was a singer, musician, and band leader. He created a new style of music called Afrobeat. Afrobeat mixes traditional African rhythms with jazz and funk. His music had a strong and exciting sound. He was famous for his powerful live shows. From the 1960s to the 1980s, he traveled around the world and performed many concerts.

Fela’s music was not only for fun. He used his songs to speak out against corruption and unfair government in Nigeria. He also spoke against colonial influence. Because of this, he was arrested and beaten many times. Even so, he did not stop. Today, many modern Afrobeat artists are inspired by him. His influence on music around the world is still strong.

Have you ever heard Fela Kuti's music?  If not, I highly recommend it.  Not only does it have a good message, but the rhythms are amazing, and you can dance all night to his band's songs.  Enjoy his music and have a great day. 

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