Writing 02

Seas and Mountains

Yuma　Nishimoto

Seas and mountains are two famous places where many people often go to enjoy their summer vacations. Japan is encircled by the sea and has many beautiful mountains.

Both seas and mountains are popular leisure spots. Seas are popular among young people or the families which have little children. They enjoy surfing, swimming. There are so many things to enjoy not only in the sea but also on the beach. For example, playing beach volleyball, tanning, making a castle of the sand. Mountains are loved by old people. They go there to get edible wild plants and mushrooms, and walk for keeping their health.

Both places have abundant nature. In seas, there are many fish, shell fish, seaweeds and many other sea animals. In mountains, there are many trees, insects, and animals. Both of them are very important for people to live.

However, both places are dangerous for us, too. Many accidents often happen there. For example, some are drowned, strung by jellyfish, or injured by sharks in the sea. Others are lost, meet with bears, or eat toadstools in the mountain. When we enjoy ourselves there, we have to pay attention to these dangers.

Finally, when we go to these two places, we usually wear special clothes. In seas, we wear swimsuits to swim. Nowadays, there are so many kinds of swimsuits. They are colorful and have various shapes. In mountains, we wear hats, shirts with long sleeves and long bottoms to protect our skin by insects or sharp weeds.

Both places have different characteristics. If you visit there, both will make you so happy and excited. You should go to the place where you will be able to enjoy more. Which place do you want to go now? If you are fascinated by both places, I think it will be good for you to visit both two places in this summer!

Writing 01

Japanese Famous, Charming and Brilliant Singer


Ayumi Hamasaki is one of the most famous Japanese singers. She was born in Fukuoka in 1978. She loves dogs and has five Chihuahuas, a Dachshund and a Yorkshire terrier. Not only her singing voice but also her appearance and personality attract many people.

During her early teens, she belonged to the model agency in Fukuoka and was active as “Kurumi Hamasaki”. In 1993, she was scouted in Tokyo and came out as an actress. In 1994, she changed her stage name to “Ayumi Hamasaki” and appeared in TV dramas and movies until the end of 1996. The following year, she decided to be a singer and went over to New York for voice training.

In April, 1998, she came out as a singer. This was the start of “Ayumi Hamasaki” as a singer. On January 1st, 1999, her first album got the first place in charts for the first time, and in April, a single CD got the first place in charts for the first time, too. In addition, she appeared in an annual music show, broadcasted on NHK in every New Year’s Eve for the first time in that year and continues appearing in it every year . Because of her distinguished singing ability, she won many bright prizes and got splendid records. For instance, she won the record grand prix of Japan in 2001-2003, all Japan cable broadcasting grand prix in 2000-2003, and so on. In 2006, she became the first woman and solo singer who sells the single CDs exceeded 20,000,000 pieces. In addition, she writes words of all her songs by herself and sometimes composes some of them.

Unfortunately, she found she had a problem with her left ear in 2000 and completely lost her hearing ability of left ear last year. However, she said that she would continue singing for her fans and herself until she loses her hearing ability of right ear because she really likes singing.

Not only her songs but also her unique fashion and action give us big influence. She was called “the leader of the school girls” and she became the social phenomenon to produce the various fashions as a fashion leader. She won the best dresser award in 2000, the best jeanist award in 2000, 2001, 2003-2005, and the nail queen award in 2001-2003. Not only her looking but also her way of thinking about everything is respected by many people and it influences their ways of thinking.

This year, 2008, is the 10th anniversary since her debut as a singer. Fighting against her left ear’s problem, she will continue being active in many fields as a singer, fashion leader and so on, and attract us from now on.

Newspaper Article Discussion 02

“Chinese couple asks govt for compensation over son's death”
The Yomiuri Shimbun Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008


Written Summary:
According to this article, a Chinese student, Shi Xiaoning, 26, was attacked by a man at a restaurant in Osaka's Minami entertainment district in March and died later at his home. The man was sentenced to six years in prison for injury resulting in death, but he has appealed his sentence to a higher court. His parents are seeking compensation from the central government that is only available to residents of Japan or Japanese nationals. They still owe 1.8 million yen for Shi's education. Although their supporters have consulted the Osaka prefectural police over the possibility of the parents receiving the benefit, they were told it would be impossible. The benefit, which varies from about 3.2 million yen to 29.64 million yen, is calculated based on the income of the victim and the financial situation of the bereaved family.

Opinion Statement:
I think the benefit should be paid for Shi’s family. The sorrow of losing a son is no different for Chinese or Japanese.

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about studying at a university in other countries?
2. Do you have any countries where you want or don’t want to study as a university student?
3. If you were the bereaved family, what would you do?

New Words:
･compensation: 賠償金
･district: 地域,街
･resident: 居住者,在住者
･consult: 意見を求める
･bereaved: 先立たれた

MY 24h

08:30 Wake up (still sleepy...)
08:50 Breakfast (only toast and coffee)
09:10 Wash my face and brush my teeth
09:30 Makeup (I can't go outside without doing my face...) and set my hairstyle (I had my hair cut and changed my haircolor last Friday!! Some of my friends noticed today, so I felt happy♪)
10:00 Change my clothes
10:30 Go to school (by bicycle---!!!)

10:55 Arrive at school
11:00- Study hard!(?)
12:30 Lunch (only strawberry-flavored flakes)
13:10- Study hard!! (??)
16:20 Leave school

16:45 Come back home (tired...)
16:55 Go to work (ばいばいせこー)

17:00- Teach English

21:00 Come back home (exhausted...)
21:10 Dinner (Nabe again)
21:30- Watch TV (at a kotatsu)

23:00 Take a bath♪
24:00 Dry my hair and wash my teeth
25:00 My sister talked in her sleep.. (I couldn't understand what she said.)

27:00 (maybe) Go to bed...zzz

Labor Thanksgiving Day

We had no classes!!! YEAH↑↑↑

At noon, I went to Okonomiyaki Honpo at Yabe (next to Fuchinobe) with my bf to eat Okonomiyaki and Monja.
It was first visit for us.
There were many kinds of Okonomiyaki, so we couldn't decide what to eat.
After all, we ate Mentaiko and cheese Okonomi, and Rice cake and cheese Monja.
They both were sooooooooooooo good!!
I wanna go there again.

In the evening, I ate Nabe (a hot pot cooked at the table) made by my mom.
It was also good.

I ate too much today...
I have to go on a diet!!


See u tomorrow. ★

Yesterday

I tried to do my blogging, but I was so busy and tired that I couldn't do...
I don't care if Mr. Richardson has already finished my blog check!!:-(

Yesterday, my friend and I went to Mita festival at Keio University.
Did anyone go there?
There were sooooooooooo many people!!

We ate a lot of things, talked with many people and met our friends.
We were looking for cool "Keio Boys" all the time, but unfortunately......

Anyway, I had a good time there.

Happy Sunday

Today, I went shopping.
Shopping is one of my hobbies. I love shopping!!
I found many lovely clothes, shoes and accesorries and bought some of them at my favorite shop in Machida.
I felt soooooooooo happy!!

After that, my boyfriend and our common friend came to my house and talked a lot.
It was fun.
At night, we went to Starbucks coffee.
I drank the Java-chip flappechino, one of my favorite flavors.
It was really good!!

It was a happy day for me.
I love Sunday!!

GOOD NIGHT.★