DIGITAL CAMERA

I bought the digital camera on the New Year's day because the electric machine shop sells cheap on the day. I want to buy the new digital camera because I will go to Kyoto next weekend to join to Seijin-Syakai. I will wear Kimono that time, it is very unusual chance. I bought "LUMIX" that has touch panel and a lot of mode to take a picture. The movie is taken by that is full hi-definition. I can see the movie on the TV. I want to take a lot of picture by this.

SMAP SHOP

I went to SMAP SHOP yesterday. SMAP SHOP is limited shop to sale goods of SMAP who is idol belong to Johnny's office. This shop is customary every year. It's very popular and always be crowded. If we want to go there, we should get early and line long time. But we want to buy their goods. The costume that they wore at their concert and TV show are displayed there. We can take pictures. Their sign are displayed and we can take pictures too. It's very precious chance for us. I enjoyed shopping.

OSECHI

Osechi-ryori are traditional Japanese New Year foods. The tradition started in the Heian Period. Osechi are usually recognizable by their special boxs called Ju-bako. These dishes are broiled, dried and give strong a flavor to keep for a long time. My family make Osechi every year but people buy that recently. The most difficult food is Kuri-kinton because we should mash and filter sweet potatos to make this. It is very heavy work but Kuri-kinton is necessary food in New Year.

OTOSHIDAMA

"Otoshidama" is one of the customs of New Year in Japan. Orginally, "Otoshidama" is a thing that is exchanged presents in celebration of New Year. Now, "Otoshidama" is money that is given for children and this behavior is called "Otoshidama". It is given for a person of lesser rank from a person who outranks him or her. It is difference with a year-end gift. It is usually in a gift envelope. "Otoshidama" is delight and an important source of income for children.

THE NEW YEAR'S DECORATIONS

I introduce "Kagamimochi" this time. It usually consists of two round mochi (rise cakes), the smaller placed atop the larger, and a "Daidai" (a Japanese bitter orange) with an attached leaf on top. It is called "Kagamimochi" because it has similar shape with old mirror. It's placed on a tokonoma and suitable time is December 28 because "8" is good number in Japan. We will do "Kagami-biraki" that is a Japanese traditional ceremony in January 11. We break mochi with our hands or a wooden hammer without knife because knife is suggestive of hara-kiri. The opened mochi is become "Siruko" and "Zouni".

THE NEW YEAR'S DECORATIONS

Happy New Year!

The New Year's decorations is distinctive in Japan. I want to introduce them.

At first, I introduce "Kadomatsu". That are placed in pairs in front of homes supposedly to welcome ancestral spirits or god of harvest. "Kadomatsu" are placed after Christmas until January 7 or 15. The central portion of the "Kadomatsu" is formed three large banboos. It similar to Japanese flower arrangement. The banboos set at different hights and represent heaven, humanity and earth with heaven being the highest and earth being the lowest. But some "Kadomatsu" set the humanity and earth banboos at the same hight. "Kadomatsu" is traditional New Year's decorations but we can't see much now.

VIE DE FRANCE

I work in "VIE DE FRANCE" that is bakery chain. The concept is "momentary French style in everyday". The shop was imaged to cafe of France. I work in the shop that is the station at a block of office buildings. Because of that, my shop is congested in morning and lunch-time. I usually work there in morning and often lunch-time. It likes a battlefield! This job is hard but I enjoy my job. A number 1 hot item is "Angel soft". There is cream cheese in soft bread with apple. It's fresh-baked is very soft and hot. It is very delicious. I didn't eat bread of my shop but recently I eat bread of my shop. I can have attachment for breads more.

Android au

This autumn, a new smart phone will be offer for sale by au that is a company of cellphone. The smart phone is named "Android au". "Android" is name of OS for smart phone produced by Google. A lot of company of cellphone adopt it because it's method is open and free. Former smart phone can't use Oneseg that is Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting for cellphone and communication by infrared rays and so on. But "Android au" can use them. It is a smart phone like a cellphone. Smart phone can indicate a web site for PC that can't indicate by cellphone. You can use a lot of web site more conveniently.

What did you eat yesterday?

I will introduce "What did you eat yesterday?" that is comic was written by Fumi Yoshinaga. She wrote a comic on the theme of cooking. A main character of this, likes to cook. He is a homosexual and live with his partner. His job is a lawyer and his pertner's job is a cosmetician. This comic write about everyday life of them especially their meal. Their meal is made by a main character who is obsessive about a dish and ingredients. The recipe is detailed and tasty-looking.

HARUMI KURIHARA

Harumi Kurihara is a student of cooking of Japan. She is one of those I respect. Her son is a student of cooking too. Her daughter writing as "A concierge of housing". The recipe book is written by her became a million seller. I have some her books and I like to read them. I like sweets that is produced by her. She is a student of cooking who is top level of Japan.

CHANGE UR WORLD

KAT-TUN, group of pop stars release their new single today. The title is "CHANGE UR WORLD". This track is a theme song of "Going! Sports & News". Kazuya Kamenashi, a member of KAT-TUN, takes part in this program. This track is the thirteenth single of them. They include a message that they are pioneer of the music world. This track is unique and isn't overwhelmed by the vogue.

Volleyball World Championship

Japan team got a bronze medal of v0lleyball world championship 2010 in November 14. Japan get a medal after thirty two years. They forward to the final game, but they lose to Brazil. They did battle with USA over the bronze medal. USA got a silver medal at Olympic of Pekin 2008. The match was carried over full sets and Japan won after being behind. The final point, Saori Kimura's attack became a blocked ball that goes aut of bounds. Former Japan team was called "witch of the Orient". They won Olympics and world championship many times. Japan team carry out their revival.

Yukiko Ebata

She is new player of a Japanese representative. She was 20 years old when she was choiced to Japan team. She reached her 21th birthday when September 7, Japan team did battle with Turkey. She was energetic in this match. She got a 24 points in the game by stirring backattack, skillful spike. She showed her grouwth by herself. Today's match, versus South Korea, she had very good condition. She is a promising newcomer.

MEGUMI KURIHARA

Megumi Kurihara is pro volleyball player of Japan. She was called "Princess Megu" when she was choiced in a Japanese representative of Olympic 2004. She is called "Absolute ace of Japan" now. Her position is Wing Spiker that is a main point of an attack in volleyball. Her attack has a big power, especially back attack. The scene that she jumps from back and hit the ball is very dynamic. Her performance is stabilized and I can see with a sense of relief. She had a lot of wound and she was afflicted with them, but she got over them and take a lively part in Japan team.

Volleyball World Championship

"FIVB Volleyball World Championship" is being held at Tokyo and Nagoya. I like volleyball very much. I was attached to girls volleyball club when I was a junior high school student. My motive to belong it is "FIVB Volleyball World Championship". I want to introduce Yoshie Takeshita who is a player of Japan. She is called "World's smallest and strongest setter" in the world. She was the captain of the Japanese volleyball team during the 2006 World Championship and took the most valuable player aword. Her nickname is "Ten", but won't say the reason. Her play doesn't allow them to feel it she is small as a pro volleyball player. She is wonderful volleyball player.

SEIJIN-SYAKAI

I will became twenty yearts of age next year. My club, Japanese archery, takes part in "SEIJIN-SYAKAI" every year. "SEIJIN-SYAKAI" is an event of a grown-up parsons. They draw a bow with long-sleeved kimono at Sanjusangen-do in Kyoto. This event is very showy and make a good souvenir. I became a clerk to decide on Kimono everyone. I have to coordinate their Kimono with a staff member of a rental firm of Kimono. This work is little plain and very troublesome but important work. I think that I will be busy in the future.

SHIMO-KITAZAWA

I went to SHIMO-KITAZAWA today. Because I wanted to take the air. I lived in HIGASHI-KITAZAWA when I was an elementary school student. HIGASHI-KITAZAWA is next station of SHIMO-KITAZAWA. I often went to SHIMO-KITAZAWA with my family. I walked to HIGASHI-KITAZAWA from SHIMO-KITAZAWA today. This route was the usual way home. It was so nostalgic for me. This walk become a good refreshment to me.

OTSUICHI

Otsuichi is pen name of Adachi Hirotaka. He is an author, mostly of horror short stories. There are two patterns in his literary style, cruelty and heartbreaking. He got the JUMP Novel Grand Prix by Shueisya when he was seventeen and he debut at the same time. "Summer and Fireworks and My dead body" is his first work. His two literary style is called "White Otsuichi" and "Black Otsuichi" among his fans. "Goth" is the most important work of "Black Otsuichi" and "Calling you" is the most important work of "White Otsuichi". "Black Otsuichi"'s work is very cruel and ghastly but "White Otsuichi"'s work is very delicate and heartbreaking. I think he is versatile because he can distinguish black and white in writing.

AKB48

AKB48 is a pop star group that is produced by Yasushi Akimoto. They have a private theater in Akihabara. I don't like them and "Otaku" but I should dance their music. Because I'm going to training camp of autumn tomorrow. A seniors will retire from our club at autumn camp. We should perform for them according to custom. I and six friends decided to dance AKB48. It is little difficult but I want to dance with love and thanks.

Recuerdos de la Alhambra

I belong to the handbell team. The team conducts the Christmas concert in December. We'll perform with a guitarist who is a friend of one teammate. A piece of music is "Recuerdos de la Alhambra". This music is a classical guiter piece composed in 1896 by Spanish composer and guiterist Francisco Tarrega. Alhambra is a palace that exists in Granada in southern Spain. Alhambra is a representative tourist resort of Spain but it is palace of Islam. "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" is beautiful music brimming with exoticism.