2008年10月19日日曜日

Johannes Vemeer

Let’s start today’s blog of mine! First of all I will write about my favorite magazines.
Recently, I am really into reading magazines from other countries like the U.S and the U.K. Those are called “j-14”, “pop star!” and “TOP OF THE POPS”. “j-14” is one of most popular magazines among teen agers in America. It is written about popular teen idols, popular young singers, gossips of actresses or actors, new movies, new music and embarrassing stories of the readers. I like to know about foreign countries’ popular things. At first, I decided to get those magazines, because I thought those magazine would help me learn English. Of course it is true that those are helping me. But it is rather funny than helpful. If you hear “j-14” you may think that magazine is for the 14 year-old kids. But many teen agers who go to senior high schools are also enjoying that. And then I will introduce “pop star!” It is about pop singers or bands in America. Sometimes there are some feature articles of young celebs, famous singers and popular idols. I especially like those articles. Different from Japanese magazines, there are a lot of funny color pictures, interesting information and so on. Japanese magazines tend to publish and mention about only good sides of the entertainment world. I think it is sometimes boring for us, the readers. So American magazines which like to write what the readers want to know are fresh for me. In addition to that, I can know some slang words. When I communicate with American people, sometimes I cannot understand what their slang mean. I have tried to learn those words through some sites on the internet. But I could not know how to use those very well. American magazines use much slang from point of view of young people. So those are really helpful and interesting for me. By knowing the slang, I can see what people are meaning in American dramas and enjoy those dramas a lot. And then “TOP OF THE POPS”. It is one of the most famous music magazines in the U.K. Until two years ago the TV program of TOP OF THE POPS were broadcasted. But now, there is only magazine. It is written about music all over the world such as new singles or albums, new artists, attractive movies and music scenes in the U.K. Because I was a big fan of “TOP OF THE POPS” (TV program version.), I like to read this magazine. You can get it in HMV. So you should check it out. It is really interesting!
I am thinking to try to read European magazines written in Spanish, French or Italy. I am not sure I can understand those words. But there many popular magazines in Europe and my friend who saw those says that European magazines are colorful and worth reading.
Then I will write about a movie I watched today. The title of the movie is “Girl with a pearl earring”. Do you know an artist named Johannes Vermeer who drew “Girl with a pearl earring”? He and his works are famous all over the world and I also like them. This movie is about him and a girl who is a model of the picture. It is a kind of fiction, but has realistic. In this movie, Vermeer likes a girl named Griet as a model of his works and asks her to help him make paints. She is a servant of him, so she has to accept his request. After a while, the two become fall in love each other. Of course Vermeer’s wife and daughter get angry and say to Griet “Get out of my house!” However, Vermeer and Griet want to complete the picture. Near the completion, he gives her a pearl earring because he thinks the picture is not enough and needs something else. In this scene, he makes a hole in her ear with an awl. She seemed to feel pain. I could not stare at that! At the end, Griet is fired from the house and leaves. When she is about to leave the house, Vermeer gives her that pearl earrings. And they are separated forever. It was sad story, but everything in this movie was beautiful including expressions, clothes and people.

2008年10月12日日曜日

Harajuku!

Today, I will write about where I went today.
I went to Harajuku and Omotesando with my friend. I woke up at 10 o’clock this morning. And then I found my cell phone was calling. It was from my father. On the phone, my father asked me to go to “NIKE shop” in Harajuku. I asked why I had to go.
He answered that he wanted shoes of the newest collection of NIKE in this fall. But I did not know the location of the shop and did not want to go there by only myself. So I asked my friend to come with me. The shop seemed to be open yesterday and there were many young people who wanted to get rare shoes. Because we did not about Harajuku and the shop, we had to walk around Meiji Street for many times and a long time. On the way to the shop, some people who might be students told us how to get there. It was lucky. We went “Cat Street” and finally found “NIKE shop”. We entered the shop and looked around for a few minutes. But we could not find the new shoes. We asked a shop clerk whether I could get the new shoes. He said that the new collection had not arrived at Japan yet and he did not know when those arrive. In NIKE’s HP, there are advertisements of the new collection. So at first I thought I would be able to get those. I was disappointed because though I did not know about Harajuku I took my friend who was tired and managed to go there……
I think if there are not new collections yet they should not advertise about those! I was annoyed very much. Haha! (It is a joke.) But one of shop clerks gave me his visiting card and said that if I send an e-mail to him he tell me when the new shoes come to Japan. So I was convinced and left the shop. After that we entered some shops. In a shop, there were many goods of Halloween. Those goods were funny. Especially What I wanted to try was a mask of vampire!! The mask’s mouth was bloody and had fangs. It was scary but good for Halloween parties. My friend said that she wanted to wear a costume of a witch. Because I have never had Halloween parties I want to hold a big Halloween party someday. It may be interesting.
Next is about strange girls I saw in Harajuku station. When I was waiting for my friend, I found really unbelievable girls. They seemed to be young and come from other county. As you know, in Harajuku, there are many varieties of people. But they were too much! They had pink, orange, yellow, blue, purple and blonde hair. Their clothes were like vinyl and shiny. Colors of their clothes were also pink, orange and purple. They put on black sock in right leg and pink sock in left leg. Different! The most unbelievable things they put on were their shoes. The soles were about 20 centimeters. I felt what is called “culture shock”. But in a sense, it was interesting to wear which nobody seems to wear. And they put on a lot of pierces in their faces. Those pierces were in their noses, cheeks, eyelids, eyebrows and lips. It means they had those things all over their faces!!!! I was scared. I could not help staring at them. Many people were staring them, but they never seemed to care that. I think they have their original cultures. If people like the girls are in my hometown, everybody will be surprised at them. Haha! Anyway, it was…..awful.
By the way, I talked to my grandmother for minutes. According to her, she is gonna have a short trip from tomorrow to the day after tomorrow with her friends. The friends have known with each other for a long time. So they make it rule to have trips every year. When I heard that I thought I wanted to be old soon. Even though they are getting old every year, they have many hobbies. It is great.

2008年10月9日木曜日

News of Korea

Let’s start today’s blog of mine! In these days I have been posting up my blog frequently.  It is because there are many things I want to write about. Haha!
Firstly, I will write about one of my friends. She lives in Akita and is a university student. At the end of last month, she took part in a big event. It was a girl’s fashion show! The fashion show was held in front of a musical hall. She has long arms and long legs and looks like a half of an American and a Japanese. She likes fashion very much and has a great sense of it. At first, her friend and her seniors were going to perform in the show. But when she heard the news, she got interested in that show. So she asked for her friend and seniors and managed to be allowed to take part in that as one of the models. (I think even though she did not ask, she could do that.) The show’s sponsor was the fashion college of Akita. In the show, she could wear clothes whatever she liked to. But before the show, she had to do some rehearsals with other models. The rehearsals were held in the actual venue. The place was outside of the musical hall, so she said that she was embarrassed. Everyone walking around the place did not know about the show, so they must have thought the girls were strange, because the girls were wearing kinky clothes. This was unusual for other people.
Just before the show, she was saying that she was about to spew out because of too much strain! I heard it and laughed over and over again. But at last, the show succeeded and she was praised by many people. I think she was great. She did it.
From her experience, I think to do something standing out in front of public is wonderful. Actually it needs a lot courage and difficult to achieve. Perhaps I cannot do those things easily. I am shy and often hesitate to do something different. But if we do not want to be the same as everyone, we can change ourselves by trying to do unusual things. It will be a good experience to challenge many things we have not done before. I think it is boring to keep staying usual person until I die. So I think I will try to jump into interesting things!
Secondly, I will write about a Korean train. The train is named “Hearain” and is a sleeper train with a restaurant. Ii is for rich people in Korea and like a blue train in Japan. I saw the train in news on TV. Though it is a sleeper train, all beds in the train are doubled and passengers can have great views from the bed rooms.
When I hear the word, “sleeper trains” I think of the cheapest train. But it is because I am Japanese. In our country, we take a sleeper trains mostly when we do not have money enough to take a usual train. But in Korea, the ways of having fun in trains are changing now. If people take this train they can enjoy their trips more even though it will take a long time for them to get the destination. Actually only rich people can take that, but I think it is interesting innovation. I want to take it someday.
By the way, I have a friend lives in Korea. Of course she is Korean. Can you guess why? I will tell you. When I was a high school student, my high school decided to cooperate with a Korean high school as a sister school. In summer vacation we planned to invite some students from the sister school. Then my school was collecting host families from us. Because I was interested in Korea, I asked my family to accept a Korean student for a day. At first my mother refused, because they did not have confidence to communicate with a foreigner. However I managed to convince her. With a Korean student, I went to many famous places in Akita. It was interesting to talk about Japanese and Korean young people. So I think it is good to be host family of foreigners even though they are not good at English. If we have enthusiasm to communicate with them, they try to understand us!

2008年10月8日水曜日

What happened recently

Let’s start today’s blog of mine! I will write about many things.
Recently, one of the most famous actors in Japan, Ken Ogata died.
He was 71 years old. He had played many roles in many films. The most popular movies he was in are “Zatoichi” and “Gegegeno Kitaro”. Maybe you know, I think.
Almost everyone around him says that he was a great actor. His son, Naoto Ogata, is also an actor and says that his father was really heart full and cool. His son is famous for “Pekin Genjin”. To tell the truth, I have not watched movies which Ken Ogata was in so many. But when I saw him taken interviews I thought he had a sense of humor and know what the acting is. He seemed to be kind to other people and strict to himself. That is why he succeeded in his works. Though he died, everyone always remember him and keep respecting, I think.
Next subject is about my family.
As I said in a blog in last term, my little sister belongs to the volley ball club.
She is in the second grade in junior high school now.
But she has never gotten a particular position and taken part in any competitions.
She had never played volley ball before she entered the junior high school. And she was not good at playing sports. So she has been practicing every day hard. But her head coach says that she is not tall and may not be able to move fast very much in the court, because she is like a freshman in her team. Since she heard the wards she has been complaining about that. She seems to know how much practice she needs to get the position. But she is not so movable, she is fighting with herself. Moreover, she also knows she should not be absent from practices if she wants to be recognized by the head coach. Sometimes she says that she wants to quite the club. But I think she will keep making efforts and get her position someday. I hope so.
By the way, I’m crazy about “Myspace”! It is a kind of SNS. SNS is made from three words, Social Network Service. In Myspace, I can have my profile, write my blog, open my favorite pictures to public and make friends with many people from other countries.
Actually I have my “Myspace” and enjoy it very much. Especially I like to post my blog. And I have about 80 friends who not Japan. Some of them leave comments to my blog. I love to see those comments, because they say funny things. I want to make friends with people all over the world. People from other countries tell me about their countries’ popular music, actors, actresses, movies, fashions and so on. There are some favorite bands in England, so I often exchange information about them. Friends in England know well than me. I can always have a fun!! At first, I was afraid of Myspace, because we all do not know about each other in actual life. And I had heard it sometimes could be a site to get illegal encounters. In big countries like U.S.A. ore U.K., some junior high schools, high schools and universities prohibit using Myspace. But if we use it safely we can enjoy many useful functions. I have had many opportunities to communicate with foreigners and learn English. Some people are interested in Japan and ask me to tell about Japanese culture. When I tell them, they get pleased. I think it is one of international and cultural communications. I recommend you to use “Myspace”.
Finally I will introduce one of my favorite bands. The band name is Mcfly. It is from Marty Mcfly in “Back to the Future”. As you know it is an American movie. Because one of the band likes “Back to the Future” they named their band Mcfly. They are all from England and average of them is about 22 years old. They are really young, but really popular in England. When they play music they look so happy. That is why I love them very much. You should check them out!

2008年10月6日月曜日

A lesson.

Let's start today's blog of mine!
Today.....well..... I do not have to write about so much. haha!
Oh, let me write about my enthusiasm in this term.
To tell the truth, in last term, I had been unstable mentally. Because I could not think that I was proper for this school and my classmates. I am not so smart and not good at speaking, reading and writing English as everyone in my class. (It is true still now.) So I had no confidence with my ability to handle many things. (It is also true still now.) I was always worrying about something even I did not see. I had been feeling that I can do nothing as everyone.
I got disappointed and fell down. It was a really bad cycle. It may sound exaggerated, but I felt as if I was in the hell. Everyone around me seemed to be much great people than me. Some nights, I couldn't sleep at all even though I was really tired and wanted to sleep. I had tried to tell my parents and my friends about my worries for many times before the summer vacation, but I couldn't do it well. My parents are a kind of strict, so I was scolded for many times for my making complains. They often said that I was a week person and you should make more effort to die. They never gave me kind words. At first, I thought they were so cruel to me when I heard their words. The only kind word was “You should live your life as you like to. You can be only you. Make this sure to your mind.” And now, I really appreciate it. Because there is an important thing I knew from those words. Without their words, I might have got weaker. I have responsibilities to me, but they also have responsibilities to me as my parents. I learned that. Maybe, my parents thought that if they spoiled me then it would not be good for me to grow up. So I want to say thank you to my parents someday. Now that, I think that it is the best for me to be myself anytime. I do not have to the same as other people. I think it means I have to bear responsibilities to everything I do. I am a university student. I am almost an adult. I have to choose my direction and prove my problems by myself. It is to grow up. If your parents say strict things, you should think those good advices for you.
So far today’s subject was too serious. I’m sorry.
Next is about my good event happened today.
I went to a classroom to take a lecture. I was confused if the classroom was right place. There was a girl whom I did not know. So I asked her if she also took the lecture. And she answered that she also took. I was relieved and decided to sit next to her. She was really friendly and told that she belongs to the department of the Japanese literature. We belong to the same faculty. And we made friends with each other soon.
It was the first time for me to have a friend in other department. Then I thought it is good to take part in many things. Because to do that we can get many opportunities to meet various people. If we can meet many people we can learn unknown things. We also can be able to have other point of view. To meet such a lot of people before you become be a member of society is can’t be in the high schools. It is can be in huge communities such as universities. In universities, every student is not the same age and from the same places. It is the good point. To try to get used to new places lets us know about society. To study academic things is good, but I think there are more important things to learn.
If I were not here, I could not know these things. I think I want to have this feeling anytime. This is a lesson.

2008年10月4日土曜日

Recommend!

Let’s start today’s blog of mine!
I am going to write about American movies and dramas I watched in the summer vacation today.
First, I will tell you about a movie. The title is “HAIR SPRAY”. This is a movie, but like a musical. This story is based on Baltimore in America. In Baltimore, some local TV program in the evening. Only handsome and pretty people in Baltimore can sing and dance in the show. The heroine is a little bit fat girl named Tracy. She is dreaming to appear on the show and loving the most popular actor in the show, Link.
One day, an actress has to leave the show and the audition is going to be held to find a new actress. So Tracy asks her mother to let her take part in the audition. But her mother tries to stop her because she is also big lady and if Tracy takes part everyone laughs at her looks. Her mother does not want her daughter to be hurt. But Tracy’s father says that if his daughter wants to realize her dream she should try whatever she wants to. With her father’s and friend’s support, she decides to try to get a roll. At the same time as the show, there is another big show in Baltimore. It is the black people version. In those days, white people and black people are not the same position.
One day the black people are made stop their show. Tracy loves the white people version, but can’t stand the unfairness. So she takes part in the demo of the black people. Because of that she is wanted by the police. So she can’t go to the audition!
And she tries to manage to go there.
There are not only veterans but also many young actors and actress in this movie. For example, there is John Travolta. As you know he is one of greatest actors in America. And there is also Zac Efron. I think there may some people who know about him. He is playing a roll in a famous movie in the U.S, “THE HIGHSCHOOL MUSICAL”. He is popular among young teens all over the world. He plays the most handsome actor in the show, Link. And Amanda Bynes also plays a roll. Amanda is also popular in America. Though she is about 22 years old, she has played good rolls since she was a child. If you want to see her, I recommend you to watch “WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU”. It is a comedy and really funny. I think you will like it.
This movie is sometimes funny and sometimes moving. Especially, the music moves me when I listen to it. Everybody in this movie can sing.
And next, I will tell you about an American drama. The title is “VERONICA MARS”.
The story is about a high school girl who lost her best friend. A girl’s name is Veronica Mars. One day, her best friend, Lilly was killed by someone. And Veronica’s ex boyfriend is her brother, Duncan. Since Lilly was killed, Duncan and Veronica were broke up and the people who have relations with Lilly are going to be caught in many mysterious incident. Then Veronica starts to help her father, a private detective and research about Lilly’s case. She is shocked at many truths she never knows before. Those truths are about her true father, Lilly’s brother, Lilly’s boyfriend and so on.
She usually earns money by accept requests of researching from students in her high school to do herself research. Sometimes she does dangerous things and uses sly ways. Unfortunately, by Lilly’s death wrong rumors about Veronica are spreading all over the high school.
In this drama, worries, complexes and conflicts everybody has in high school life are showed. Some people who are thoughtless are saying bad things about her, but she is never beaten. Because her father and her best friend, Wallace help her.
I am encouraged by this realistic story. I think Veronica’s superb expressions and words are good. I can feel sympathy for her. I can learn if I am having hard time I can live everyday with supports of someone.

2008年10月2日木曜日

First Blog On this Term and About My Summer!

At first of the fall term, I will write about my summer vacation.
You know, it was the first long vacation since I had entered this university.
It was basically great! I spent with my family, dog and friends.
I could do almost all the things I thought I wanted to do before this summer vacation. In this summer, my hometown, Akita had really hot days for a long time. Maybe more than Tokyo or Osaka. (Akita is famous for as one of snow countries and of course, has a lot of snow in winter and in the beginning of spring.) So I went to the beach with my father and my little brother to swim and have sunburn. There I had a shaved ice with syrup on the top. I mean that it is a "Kakigori." :-) Because I hadn't had it in Tokyo, I got happy like I had never had it before.
My little brother is a little bit strange boy and likes to be thrown into the sea
by somebody. At first, someone was my father. But he seemed to be tired of my father and asked me to throw him into the sea instead of my father.
I accept his request reluctantly. When I was about to throw him, he got scared and hooked his arms around my neck! And then both of us fall down to the sea. Even in the sea, he was still hooking my neck with his arms and a leg. I tried to go up to the sea, but I couldn't do it. I also couldn't breathe. Because of him, I thought I was about to die........
Now that it is one of the craziest memories in summer.
Next, I will write about my favorite place I went in this summer.
It is an aquarium in Akita. It is only aquarium in me hometown and placed in a penisular which is called "Oga". Do you know there?
Some people of you may know, there is famous for "Namahage". "Namahage" is like a gnome in Akita and shows up in the New Year's Day.
After this traditional place, the aquarium name is "Gao". If you pronounce it, you can understand it can be reversible.
The reason why I wanted to go Gao was to see sturgeons. Sturgeons' roes are what are called caviar. Their looks are really grotesque, but I like them because they always remind me of ancient living things. When I see them, I can make myself get into mysterious world.
However.....to tell the truth, I couldn't see them. With the renovation of the aquarium, they seemed to be sent to other aquarium. So I was so disappointed.
But there are many interesting fishes, mammals and stuffed specimens.
Especially, I was moved when I saw the group of the manta rays.
Water tank which the mantas are in is shaping dome and many things are swimming above our heads. There were a big manta and a small manta. They might be parent and child. They were swimming overlapped. I can't explain the situation well, but it was interesting. And there was a polar bear and his name is "Gota". He seemed to be a little bored, but really cute.
I also saw the sea lions show. When the keeper in the aquarium ordered something, he followed it and took poses properly. Sometimes he said something. The most scary things were fished called Napoleon. They have a big and emerald greened body and thick lips. Maybe their length is about two meters long. It was also like ancient fishes.
Then I will write about the time with my friends.
Most of my friends still live in Akita. So I hadn't met them for a long time.
We went to the station bill and had some shopping. We would often had talks in star bucks coffee when we were high school students. So we went there to talk about our campus life. My friend said that she was worried about what she wanted to become in the future. I thought everyone had such a worry.
Every day in summer vacation, I was happy with people I love!