To get to know you better (あなたを・もっと・知りたくて)

Everything except LibriVox (yes, this is where knitting gets discussed. Now includes non-LV Volunteers Wanted projects)
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[The Mystery of Utsuro-bune (うつろ舟伝説)]

"Open an optical channel over gravity waves! (It's a ping‐pong transmission system.)" (negotiating...) (connecting...) "Hello, Utsuro-buneians!" "Hallo, Professor (教授)."


Tanaka Kazuo (田中 嘉津夫), Emeritus Professor (名誉教授) of Optical Information Engineering at Gifu University, likes U.F.O. stories in the Japanese Edo Era very, very much. He published 'The Mystery of Utsuro-bune' in English (in 2019) at last! The U.F.O. drifted to Hitachi (Ibaragi-Ken) is the subject of the book! Don't be confused by me. The book is far from reveries. He pursuits modification processes of Utsuro-bune (U.F.O.) stories juggling and decyphering many orthodox old documents in the book. In short, it's an academic book and he is always with the eye of a scientist. But, in fact, we have many U.F.O. stories in Edo Era and he is very fond of them!

https://www.nippon.com/ja/japan-topics/g00879/
https://blog.goo.ne.jp/blue77341/e/8ecf3c490f74273e64b11dc9b862cf82
https://blog.goo.ne.jp/karasusan_001/e/6037fd9df05361b6378f7a1e28b80ea9
http://karapaia.com/archives/51272919.html
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Mossie (モッシー)]


I was a lonesome kid. My favorite book was a picture book. (I had a few books at that time.) I liked to think that which is my most favorite lake of Fuji Five Lakes. The ranking often changed. But I liked Lake Sai very much. The picture book said that all of the lakes are connected by underwater paths. The article always trembled me. An UMA lives in Lake Motosu. It is Mossie (モッシー). Although Lake Sai is my lake, I can't play on the shores. Because Mossie is a hostile UMA and it comes to my lake to break me!

Chick, my bird, release a bird in your hands. It rises to the sky and it grows flap by flap. If your imagination is not crippled, your bird transfigures; it becomes an enormous monster bird that lives on magic dragons. Have a seat, and take yourself to the bird's eye. You are on the wind above Lake Sai. When your shadow runs on the big glass, I also see Mossie rushes into an egress.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Landsat_image_of_Fuji-go-ko.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_Five_Lakes
https://www.travel.co.jp/guide/article/43048/

http://blog.livedoor.jp/choko_suke_/archives/80508761.html
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&gbv=1&q=%E3%83%A2%E3%83%83%E3%82%B7%E3%83%BC%E5%86%99%E7%9C%9F&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiot9i4yrHrAhWtyYsBHWiMA28Q1QJ6BAgDEAQ
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Kote E (鏝絵, or こてえ)] 

Kote E means Kote Pictures. Kote (鏝) means a Plasterer Trowel. A Kote E is a Japanese fresco painting. A Kote E's father is a painting and its mother is a carving, or vice versa. Because Kote E's are 3D works. (Are you sure? A Kote E is differ from a Western fresco painting in that a Kote E is 3D work.)
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E5%85%A5%E6%B1%9F+%E9%95%B7%E5%85%AB%E3%80%80%E4%BD%9C%E5%93%81&hl=ja&gbv=1&tbm=isch&ei=YaxXX7DZJ4zM-Qa3w5u4Ag&start=0&sa=N


Irie Chouhachi (入江 長八) was the Kote E Master. He was called 'Izu no Chouhachi (伊豆の長八)'. He was active from the late Edo era to the early Meiji era. He was born at Matsuzaki (松崎). If you stay at Matsuzaki-chou Shizuoka-ken, you can see his more than 70 works.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsuzaki,_Shizuoka
https://www.travel.co.jp/guide/article/6381/
https://izumatsuzakinet.com/
https://honto.jp/netstore/pd-book_27230324.html
https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E4%BC%8A%E8%B1%86%E3%81%AE%E9%95%B7%E5%85%AB-%E5%B9%95%E6%9C%AB%E3%83%BB%E6%98%8E%E6%B2%BB%E3%81%AE%E7%A9%BA%E5%89%8D%E7%B5%B6%E5%BE%8C%E3%81%AE%E9%8F%9D%E7%B5%B5%E5%B8%AB-%E6%97%A5%E6%AF%94%E9%87%8E-%E7%A7%80%E7%94%B7/dp/4582544541
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%A5%E6%B1%9F%E9%95%B7%E5%85%AB
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Shinshiro Rally (新城ラリー)]

The race was over.
Aki missed a prize.
He is a famous driver.
Because he has the megaenterprize.

All his men had a wet face.
A man cries in this situation.
Although it was a tough race,
Aki's run was near perfection.

And night falls.
"I burned completely," Aki laughes and tolls.
In the presence of his trailer, his team rallies in front of his fire.
Men, eat a barbecue and sing in chorus until you tire.
"We must back to each place tomorrow, so I serve you tonight as a punishment."
Aki and men are in a pink apron, with eternity, constellations, the firmament.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-3nxylBXgw

https://www.okuminavi.jp/rarry/

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E6%96%B0%E5%9F%8E%E3%83%A9%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC+%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E5%9B%B3&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx1OqZ0P_rAhXLA4gKHaLoCVMQ_AUICCgB

https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E6%96%B0%E5%9F%8E%E3%83%A9%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC

http://www.shinshiro-rally.jp/

https://www.jrca.gr.jp/eventguide/shinshiro


In Japan, rally is booming now. A regular staff must have three cars! One for golf with your bosses, so that this must be a humble car (Sheep Car). One for your daily use (Wolf Car in Sheep Fur). And one for rally (Wolf of Wolves Car)! Shinshiro Rally is the biggest rally in Japan, maybe.

Shinshiro-shi (新城市) has many TOYOTA related factories. And it has wild nature. It is a woodland. It has forestry roads. TOYOTA's CEO joined in the race and run the whole distance! (Are you sure!? He was born with a minicar in his mouth, wasn't he?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinshiro
https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/rallychallenge/about/
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Atake Maru (安宅丸)] 

Very cool!
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Gozabune_Atake_Maru_%28ship,_1986%29_-_Tokyo,_Japan_-_DSC06261.jpg


This pleasure ship is a copy of the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu's ship.

Tokugawa Iemitsu:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Iemitsu


In French, both the sea and a ship are a feminine noun. But I suppose Ataka Maru (the ship above) is male. Lo! How powerful the mast is! Ataka Maru was Shogun's ship after all. We Japanese have never had a female Shogun. Imagine it, that the mast have a large black sail, the sail have the Shogun's large emblem dyed white. On a deck, there are many buzzing naked sailors with a strange hairstyle, getting a tan under the summer sun, in a pure white loincloth. Yes, they don't use their best manners. But Shogun's pardons are granted! He drinks the salty air and points at lofty Mt. Fuji over the heaving billows. There are the blue sky, white clouds, and the marineblue sea; that is all. Ataka Maru is a manly ship!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XNmQlzJYnk&feature=youtu.be
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E5%AE%89%E5%AE%85%E4%B8%B8&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwvfzk-4HtAhUDc3AKHRRdC48Q_AUIBigB
https://www.gozabune.jp/
https://www.samuraiship.tokyo/



"Ow, I napped on a sofa carelessly... Oh, Chick, you have been here?"
"Had you been with me in the dream?," said she with laughter.
Last edited by CSCO on November 16th, 2020, 12:44 am, edited 5 times in total.
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Tokyo Olympic (東京オリンピック)]

Corona puts off Tokyo Olympic. We are now counting down again! Karate is a new competition. Ex-P.M. Abe send us two medical masks, so called Abenomask (アベノマスク), for each and we all have received his masks. Media laughed at his masks. But, by virture of his masks, we could save our lives. Thanks for his practical wisdom!

And a bad news comes. They say the Tokyo Olympic nobles offered that Tokyo Olympic must be low cost. Why? It's a money river and money tree, isn't it? It's a bad news! We have used time and money for it. Our future is deeply rooted in Tokyo Olympic, isn't it? I wonder how my jobhunting will go. I wonder how Chick's jobhunting will go. (Chick is a Senior now.)

Then, my suggestion:
When an airplane is rolling in, and, when a tourist jam reaches at an immigration counter, it's a good idea that geisha girls (a temporary staff, dressed a kimono) kiss on their cheeks and hand two medical masks to each visitor in a jam. We would call the masks Suganomask (スガノマスク) to honor the P.M. Suga.

Now, the Tokyo Olympic 2021 is settled. Coffee reading says there is a national election in the December and the Government parties win the biggest in history.
So, the Tokyo Olympic 2021 is firmly settled. But, only God knows what happens tomorrow. May God bless Chick's jobhunting.

"Chick, you must do the geisha girl. And I'm in the jam. And our lips echo smack!" ("Get out, old timer!") Ow! A reverie always ruins us...


Chick, you are my neighbor.
You know my cell phone number.
I met you in a beautiful slumber.
Now, I'm in more alone October.


Great! A super katate! 何じゃこりゃ~! (Yes, I'm an old timer.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O9ksgrZ7rU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsQMQwgetY
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Yamabushi (やまぶし, or 山伏)]

"Chick, come to my estate in the U.S.A.. The White House."

We like tall stories. If you are a big talker, you are Horafuki (ほらふき, or 法螺吹き) in Japanese. Hora (ほら, or 法螺) is a music instrument made from Hora Shell. Hora Shell, sound loudly!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k4radxphl0
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E6%B3%95%E8%9E%BA%E8%B2%9D%E3%80%80%E5%B1%B1%E4%BC%8F&hl=ja&gbv=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwirpo7boOnsAhWLPXAKHZ6lAbEQ_AUICCgB

They are Yamabushi. A holy mountain is a god in Japan. A yamabushi wants to become a god by the mountain power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamabushi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shugend%C5%8D

Tengu (てんぐ, or 天狗) is a Japanese monster. Tengu pictures follow:
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&gbv=1&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E5%A4%A9%E7%8B%97
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E5%A4%A9%E7%8B%97
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%83%8F%E5%A4%A9%E7%8B%97


"By the way, Chick, it's midnight. I take you home on my bicycle. Come on! "
"It's a starry night. I'll waste the night with you."
"No. Come on. Oh, the tires would burst!"
"Hush! I'm an adult woman already. (私、もう大人よ。)"
"Not yet, you are a big girl. (いやいや、まだ子供。) Ow! Don't push my back!"
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Amateur Kabuki (素人歌舞伎)]

Japan closed itself to foreign countries for about 300 years in Edo Era. This is Sakoku (さこく, or 鎖国) policy. And we encountered a foreign play in Meiji Era for the first time. We call the foreign plays Shin Geki (しんげき, or 新劇). Shin Geki means A New Play. This Shin Geki expression expresses that our traditional plays are Kabuki (かぶき, or 歌舞伎) implicitly.

In fact, we had only Kabuki as our plays in Edo Era. And Kabuki was close to us then. We saw a kabuki play always. And we ourselves also played a kabuki play for a village festival.

Toyokawa people still have the amateur kabuki. Which is called Akasaka Stage. We also call it Akasaka No Butai (あかさかのぶたい, or 赤坂の舞台). We play it once a year. We ourselves build a temporary kabuki theater. And we ourselves play a kabuki play. And we ourselves enjoy it.


Akasaka Stage:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/e-UkalE67y8?rel=0
https://www.youtube.com/embed/KgfL8oFvVuQ?rel=0
https://www.toyokawa-map.net/English/index.html
https://www.toyokawa-map.net/language.html
http://www.city.toyokawa.lg.jp/smph/english/index.html
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=youtube+%E8%B5%A4%E5%9D%82%E3%81%AE%E8%88%9E%E5%8F%B0&gbv=1&sei=4birX77UFZms0QTy2YjgDQ

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B4%A0%E4%BA%BA%E6%AD%8C%E8%88%9E%E4%BC%8E


"A honey bee costume? For what, Chick?"
"For the campus festival. Tomorrow."
"What? I must go to see it."
"What? You couldn't come."
"I want to see the bee."
"Don't care. It might be a heavy rain tomorrow."
"Don't care. I have an umbrella."
"Never mind. You would be busy these days."
"I am a job seeker now. There is enough time for me. When you shall be on the stage, I call Chick! Chick! Chick! to you. Remember, this is the short form of I! LOVE! YOU!."

Chick bursted into a loud cry for joy, like a child.
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Fish Hunting (魚を狩る)]

Mutugorou (むつごろう, or ムツゴロウ, or 鯥五郎) is a mudskipper in Japan. A mutugorou lives only in the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea. A mutugorou has a bad looking. So, it tastes very good. Eat it. A broiled mutugorou develops your physical endurance very much.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudskipper
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E3%83%A0%E3%83%84%E3%82%B4%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A6%E3%81%AE%E8%92%B2%E7%84%BC%E3%81%8D&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKwuOxvZHtAhXQa94KHQPqD9wQ_AUICCgB
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariake_Sea
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatsushiro_Sea

I want to spotlight on Mutukake (ムツかけ) in Kashima-shi (鹿島市), Saga-ken (佐賀県, or Saga Prefecture).

Mutukake is very unique fishing style. I suppose Mutukake is not fishing but hunting. Mutukake fisherman uses a very long fishing rod, that length is 5 meters or more, and a bundle of 6 hooks. The fisherman throws the bundle to hook a mutugorou.
https://www.7midori.org/katsudo/kouhou/kaze/miserarete/02/index.html

To see is to believe:
https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/michi/cgi/detail.cgi?dasID=D0004990475_00000
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E3%83%A0%E3%83%84%E3%82%B4%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A6%E3%81%AE%E9%87%A3%E3%82%8A&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXlu-IyZHtAhXN62EKHclYBYsQ_AUICSgC

http://michinoekikashima.jp/main/32.html
https://www.city.saga-kashima.lg.jp/kanko/
https://www.asobo-saga.jp/search/



"Why do you believe I'm a fatherless child?"
"You said, Chick."
"I have a father."
"A liar."
"Why do you believe I'm a fatherless child?"
"You said, Chick."
"I have a father."
Tears rolled down.

Chick's mama remarried. I saw Chick's new papa once. He seemed funny and gentle. (The mama is much taller than the papa. The papa's face looked like a mutugorou's.) The papa, the mama, and Chick toured Saga-ken as a honeymoon and family trip. The couple was hand in hand and took gloomy Chick around from place to place.

At the first midnight, upset Chick called for me.
"Whatever's the matter, Chick?"
"Great Heavens!! I--- I--- I hear--- mama's cries--- from--- from her room--- 'I'm going to die! About to die!'"
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Sake Nouveau (新酒, or しんしゅ)]

Chick said, "What day is today?"
"Beaujolais Nouveau goes on Sale today?"
(Chick kicked on me lightly.)

I confused that Beaujolais Nouveau Day is not movable. I believed November 21 (Chick's birthday) is the release day. Even if Beaujolais could forget grapes, I can never forget Chick...


By the way, any alcoholic beverage is Sake (さけ, or 酒) in Japanese. But if a Japanese says Sake, the Sake means Seisyu (せいしゅ, or 清酒) in many cases. Seisyu is also called Nihonsyu (にほんしゅ, or 日本酒).

Nihonsyu has many brands. My favorite is Ozeki (おおぜき, or 大関).
https://www.ozeki.co.jp/english/

I liked the following Manga when I was a young man. The main characters' family names are Nihonsyu brand names. (But except one.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%ABkan_Club
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E6%9C%89%E9%96%91%E5%80%B6%E6%A5%BD%E9%83%A8+%E4%B8%80%E6%9D%A1%E3%82%86%E3%81%8B%E3%82%8A+%E6%BC%AB%E7%94%BB&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2r9vb1qXtAhVbZt4KHZuSA44Q_AUICCgB

This is Sugidama:
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%89%E7%8E%89
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E6%9D%89%E7%8E%89&hl=ja&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLWT9c3NDLIKS8xSwEAhY9s9Q8AAAA&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjp2rjr_p_tAhUE62EKHSxfDzEQ_AUICSgC
A nihonsyu maker shows off a sugidama from its own Sake Nouveau Day as a sign.

Anyways, Chick, many happy returns of the day!



"It was 7 or 8 years ago. Chick, I was a midnight staff of a convinience store then. I worked alone from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. Just before 5:00, Yabu would come on her tired bicycle. Yabu was a big girl.

It was a hard times. Prices were rising. So, GDP was rising and stock prices were rising. Abenomics left I and Yabu behind.

Yabu was gloomy always. When I said anything to her, she laughed with a helpless look. I guessed she disliked me."

"So do I."

"Early in one summer morning, a young customer girl cried, 'Yabu!! Why are you here? Why did you quit the school silently?' Yabu said, 'For family reasons--- My father was---.' The cutomer girl said a few words and went out.

When I was packing magazines, big girls rushed into the store. Three, four, or more big girls were around a cash register. (I inhaled their perfume...) They were in wrath. 'Yabu! Why didn't you consult us!?' 'Yabu! Why did you leave alone without a word!?' 'Yabu!' 'Yabu!' 'Yabu!' Someone cried on her. Someone smiled on her. Someone pushed on her. Yabu laughed with a helpless look as usual. But it was very comfortable for me. So, I said to myself, 'Thanks for the perfume! May God shine on members of the National Diet!' But my prayer couldn't reach the heaven. It went over Tokyo, went over the Pacific Ocean, fell into California, and turned into grapes."
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Cormorant Fishing (Ukai, or うかい, or 鵜飼い)]

Hey, CIA, you can present Rikuo (りくおう, or 陸王) to me. Then, I'm your agent. Yes, I say it's the Red Hare today. It's the thirty silver coins to me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikuo_Motorcycle
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&ei=i6y8X5S_BMTnwQPBkJawCA&q=%E9%99%B8%E7%8E%8B%E3%80%80%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%83%90%E3%82%A4&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjUsLT-yprtAhXEc3AKHUGIBYYQ7Al6BAgKEAI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hare



Ukai is Japanese fishing using a bird. The hook is the bird.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormorant_fishing

Nagara River ukai (ながらがわうかい, or 長良川鵜飼い):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xhYFA6rvS8

Kiso River ukai (きそがわうかい, or 木曽川鵜飼い):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDeMCwCMsdg



If you visit Inuyama-shi (いぬやまし, or 犬山市), Aichi-ken, you can see Kiso River ukai. Inuyama-shi has Inuyama Castle, a national treasure. You can hire a rickshaw (jinrikisha, or じんりきしゃ, or 人力車) there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuyama_Castle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuyama,_Aichi

Inuyama-shi has more amusement places: Little World, Monky Park, Meiji-mura, and so on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_World_Museum_of_Man
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%91%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF
https://inuyama.gr.jp.e.jm.hp.transer.com/


I visited Meiji-mura twice. I want to go there again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji-mura

Click each tab:
https://www.meijimura.com/guide/map/index.html

Meiji style dresses for a souvenir picture (Rental fee 800 yen for 5 minutes):
https://www.meijimura.com/enjoy/experience/clothing/

You can buy the tickets to ride:
https://www.meijimura.com/enjoy/experience/vehicle/



"Chick, this is my Rikuo. Let's go to Inuyama-shi!"
"I won't disappoint you. Do you have a spare helmet and a small fry-pan?"
"A small fry-pan?"
"For self-defence. Run so quick until our hair whistles in the wind!"
"Our hair? Why, what's the matter, Chick?"
"Nothing. A full moon night makes a woman feel romantic feelings always."
"A full moon night!?"
(A rooster woke me up.)
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Christmas in Japan (日本のクリスマス)]

When I was a kid, we Japanese people would eat a roast turkey leg at Christmas Eve. (At that time, a butter cream cake was usual. A fresh cream cake was for the rich.) Today we eat a roast chicken leg at Christmas Eve. I suppose a chicken leg from Thailand has a larger profit margin for a Japanese trading company than a turkey leg. Today we are chicken eaters at Christmas Eve.

They say only 1% of Japanese are Christians. So, we don't have the Christmas Holiday. In Japan, Christmas is only a business chance at all.

So, Japanese Christmas songs are far from Christianity. Japanese Christmas songs are love songs. By the way, Merry Christmas to all!


Yamashita Taturo (山下 達郎, CSCO's senpai; I'm very proud of him):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7da1QQh3etg
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0022c2/l001da9.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F1YmK1T2NE
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0022c2/l0081d4.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatsuro_Yamashita
{bonus (non-christmas song, but my favorite; in short, a very very great song):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qivXQnb1qJk
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0022c2/l0000d0.html
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%98%E3%83%AD%E3%83%B3_%28%E5%B1%B1%E4%B8%8B%E9%81%94%E9%83%8E%E3%81%AE%E6%9B%B2%29
}


Matsutoya Yumi (松任谷 由実):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSrje0jehnw
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a000c13/l002468.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWq580l2Q84
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a000c13/l005eae.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yumi_Matsutoya
{bonus (non-christmas song, but my favorite):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0uGjmIS31Y
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a000c13/l006c9e.html
}


Matsuda Seiko (松田 聖子):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5vsEmts3LY
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0004ad/l005927.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO-Dcb6Hyw8 (covered by Seiko)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiko_Matsuda




"Merry Christmas, Chick! Why did you cut off your hair? Your ponytail is gone. My present is a comb and a ribbon!"
"Merry Christmas! A wonderful present! Don't mind. My hair grows awfully fast. I wear the ribbon around my waist today... And my present is a chain for your gold pocket watch."
"I'm sorry, Chick. I don't have the watch today. So, I wear the chain around my neck. Because I am your dog."
(I barked at her. She laughed at me. She unchained me. She untied herself. And we were face to face.)
She said, "What I really want is..."
"What you really want is?"
"...A girl child."
(Then, a rooster crowed angrily.)
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[New Year's Eve (おおみそか, or 大晦日)]

"Chick, I drew one billion yen in a lottery! I'll never work again! I'll have funs with you everyday! I'll give you whatever you want!"
"Congratulations! Give me a gold ring! Raise your glass first! This is yours! "
"I can't drink such a lot!!"



In Edo era, only a temple and a shrine are allowed to sell a lottery ticket to collect money for repair costs.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%8C%E7%B1%A4
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E5%AF%8C%E3%81%8F%E3%81%98&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDyfTJ1e7tAhVX-WEKHd58BU4Q_AUIBigB


When I was a kid, the first prize in a lottery was ten hundreds yen. Today the winners can get one billion yen in New Year's Eve Jambo Lottery.
https://www.takarakuji-official.jp/news/recent/?newsId=201201
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9C%E5%AE%9D%E3%81%8F%E3%81%98



"Where are my winning tickets, Chick?"
"What are you saying? You are in a dream still? Why are you playing? Work hard! I know everything! You are a walking debt in your clothes! I'm ashamed of you!"



NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen (NHK紅白歌合戦) is a special T.V. prpgram still. Kobayashi Sachiko (小林 幸子) is not a witch but a famous singer. We had been astonished at her stage costumes for Kouhaku. Aimyon (あいみょん), a young and gifted singer-songwriter, desires to sing on the show is very favorable. (Most of all singer-songwriter's have stood at a respectful distance from Kouhaku.) She performs on the stage tomorrow for the second time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dhaku_Uta_Gassen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachiko_Kobayashi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Y5A-JZvig
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimyon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOAwvRmVIyo


We Japanese eat buckwheat noodles, hoping for wealth and long life, on New Year's Eve. This is Toshikoshi soba (としこしそば, or 年越し蕎麦).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshikoshi_soba



(Then, three years had passed.)
"Chick, this gold ring is for you. What a thread this is... Forgive me..."
"Forgive you? You have gone to work almost every day for the ring. You have left your home with stars above your head. I know everything. I'm glad. You had to pay your debt. So, my words had been very hard to awaken you. You don't have any debt today, do you? Please hit me and forgive me."
"Forgive you? If I hit you, my hand crookles!"
"Raise your glass. This is yours. "
"I can't drink such a lot!!"
"......I have decided someting."
"What have you decided, Chick?"
"I'll give you whatever you want tonight."
"Whatever I want?"
(There was a long silence...)
"Chick, stop it."
"Why!?"
"Then the rooster crows again."


May God bless your new year!
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Year of the Ox (うしどし, or 丑年)]


The year 2021 is a Year of the Ox in Japan. I was born in a Year of the Horse (うまどし, or 午年). The 12 animals are assigned to the signs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox_%28zodiac%29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthly_Branches


I was born in 1966. The year is a Hinoe Uma (ひのえうま, or 丙午) year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinoe_uma
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenly_Stems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal_cycle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwangap
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E9%82%84%E6%9A%A6+%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93%E3%81%93&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiU1JLe_pvuAhXGxYsBHaIaAUYQ_AUIBygC
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E9%82%84%E6%9A%A6+%E8%A8%98%E5%BF%B5%E5%86%99%E7%9C%9F


Oh, they are very hard to understand. But a scholar of Japanese literature needs to know them.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A3%AC%E7%94%B3%E3%81%AE%E4%B9%B1
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%88%8A%E8%BE%B0%E6%88%A6%E4%BA%89


The Kinpai (きんぱい, or 金杯) is The Imperial Gold Cup Horse Race In Japan. Saturdays and Sundays have a horse race in Japan. But the Kinpai runs on January 5, any day of week. (I was born on January 5 because my father has been a horse race fan. But my figure is not a stallion but a camel. (A hunchback.))
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakayama_Kimpai
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Kimpai



"Chick, what's this pack?"
"Your birthday present. It's too late. I'm sorry."
"I'm glad!"
(I opened the pack. There was a red Hwangap costume this time also.)
"Chick, 5 years earlier!!!"
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
CSCO
Posts: 393
Joined: April 6th, 2010, 10:48 am
Location: Toyokawa, Japan

Post by CSCO »

[Ramen (ラーメン)]

"Get out at once!" I cried out.
Chick ran out of our room with tears.
She left knitting needles, a ball of yarn, and only a little something...
It was only yesterday.



A Japanese traditional noodle is Udon and Soba. But Ramen is necessary for us now.
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3&hl=ja&gbv=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxhqbj3cHuAhVY7WEKHVJGDFMQ_AUICSgC
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E5%B0%8F%E6%B1%A0%E3%81%95%E3%82%93&hl=ja&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi969f5qcvuAhWpw4sBHSprARkQ_AUIBigB
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E6%B1%A0%E3%81%95%E3%82%93


At the last periods of the Pacific War, the military budget of the Imperial Japan reached more than 99% of its GNP. MADE IN JAPAN by Morita Akio (盛田 昭夫) says Sony's magnetic recording technology came from the Imperial Naval Institute of Technology, maybe. Rumors say Ando Momofuku (安藤 百福) succeeded to the Imperial Army's ration research results. I'm not disgracing them. It was a very hard times expecting all risks. I respect their wildness and toughness.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akio_Morita
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Ibuka
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B5%B7%E8%BB%8D%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E6%89%80


Ando Momofuku (安藤 百福) was born in Japanese Taiwan. He regot Japanese nationality in 1966 (CSCO's birthyear). Momofuku died on January 5 (CSCO's birthday). Rumors say Momofuku succeeded to the Imperial Army's ration research results, promising that he supports Taiwanese in Japan. (Really!? That is too cool!?) Anyway, he died at the age of 96 as an Asian hero. (Yes, he was our hero!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momofuku_Ando
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manpuku
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_noodle
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E8%A2%8B%E9%BA%BA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissin_Chikin_Ramen
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E8%A2%8B%E9%BA%BA%E3%80%80%E3%83%81%E3%82%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E3%83%81%E3%82%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%80%80%E3%81%B2%E3%82%88%E3%81%93%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_Noodles
https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E3%82%AB%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%83%8C%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%83%AB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWQCO7EJG5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCtBw_1zjVQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqKZ73PAdoo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re8l4a48R70

https://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&tbm=isch&oq=&aqs=&q=%E3%82%AB%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3





I waited Chick for a minute. Chick didn't come back. I waited Chick for one more minute. Chick didn't come back still. I waited... No, I couldn't wait any more.

Chick was standing out of the door and it was snowing heavily. Chick was looking on large snowflakes.

"What a great expectation! This is what made me weep... Well, do you remember it?"
"Even if you could forget it, I will never forget it."

(We went skiing together the last year. But, unfortunately, it turned to a blizzard in the evening. There was a large crowd around the gondola lift station. We sat side by side and our gondola was bounced off the station. The snow was not falling petals to celebrate us. It seemed marine snow. It seemed that uncountable dead planktons were falling to the bottom of an ocean trench. Her glove was in mine. She was trembling. I was thinking of the mystery of the recapitulation of life.)

"Chick, are you sure? Keep yourself warm!! I will cook Cup Noodles. Please wait for three minutes. It is very short time, isn't it?"
!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!
No way. He stole away a pretty thing, you know.
That's your heart.
!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!.!!!!!!!!!..!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!.!!!!!!
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