Meryy Christmas!

Well, sorry guys...it's been a long time since I last wrote my blog...

Thank you for sending messages to me anyway.

Last three month, I was very busy and stressed out mainly by working on a computer. Whenever I work on a computer for a long time, I get a bad headache... (It might be something to do with my getting the lasik eye surgery. )

So, my doctor recommended me not to look at a computer screen as much as possible.

Now, I finally finished writing two scripts and am back to this blog!!

(^^) I will try to update this blog more often.

Well, it's Christmas eve! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Me?? I am busy writing new year cards...(^^;)

Below is the sign inside of the showcase at a noodle restaurant. It says "Table SHEETS upstairs"....

Yokohama

Last week, I had a job in Yokohama for 4 days. So, I stayed at a hotel close to the site.

This is the night view from my room. It's pretty, isn't it?

This area is known as a romantic place. I saw many young couples enjoying the night view on the weekend...while I was working...

New family

In Japan, there is a saying "Atusa samusa mo higan made" means after "higan", the summer heat or the winter cold ends and start the next season.

It is so true!! It got much cooler after September 23rd,the autumnal equinox.

During "higan" or "other shore", memorial services take place at temples and people make visits to graves to comfort the sprits of their ancestors.

I went to my hometown and visited my ancestors' grave since I couldn't do that during Obon season.

It was nice to get together with my family and see our big cat still being big...(^^;)

And one of my elder brothers now have a puppy!!

He is soooo cute!!!!

His name is Win, a three month old Welsh Corgi. I love dogs!! I wish I could keep one at my apartment in Tokyo...

Birthday

As Takashi mentioned, my birthday used to be always "Respect for the Aged Day" until 5 years ago but because of the Happy Monday system, it hadn't been a holiday for a while.

Although this year, since the 15th was Monday, I could enjoy a day off on my birthday.

So, I went to see a movie called "Okuribito" which won the top jury prize at the Montreal World Film Festival. It was very good. I don't know how many times my tears rolled down my cheeks...

The film is about an out-of-work cellist who returns to his hometown, Yamagata prefecture, and becomes an undertaker...to be precise, a profession who cleans, dresses, and puts make up on remains. It was interesting enough to learn about that job and rituals. All of the actors are great except Ryoko Hirosue...she seems too young as a wife of the main charactor.

Anyway, if you get a chance, please watch the film!!

Sorry...

I was being lazy and so as my computer! It was on strike for a while...
Now it's back ! Thanks god!

Here are some pictures from the play. I'm glad it received quite nice remarks. Now that it's over, I feel a bit lonely ...as a common saying "The lull after the festival"

Anyway, last night, some of the cast from the play went to a Okonomiyaki restaurant, owned by a family of one of our members. The food there was excellent! We enjoyed it so much.

And after we finished eating, they surprised me with a birthday cake! Yes, my birthday is tomorrow the 15th! It was great birthday eve eve for me!

Play

Wow! It's been a while... I was tied up with the play rehearsals and writing a script for another play. Sorry!

So, the Olympics is over! Did you enjoy it? I couldn't watch most of the games on live but I enjoyed watching the highlight scenes every night. It's great to see the athletes from all over the world get together for this special event.

But I felt so sorry for a Japanese marathon runner Mizuki Noguchi, a gold medalist of the Athens Olympics, who had to give up on joining the event at the last minute due to the injury... I can't imagine how hard her decision was for her... She had practiced for 4 years just for this 2 week event. Well, maybe she can try for the London Olympics!! I hope so!

Anyway, yesterday was the opening night of our play. The audience seemed to enjoy it so I am pretty much relieved now.

The drama takes place at an old hotel of 1970s.

I will take pictures of the stage and me today and put them up tomorrow!
GANBARIMASU!

Matsuri!

It is summer festival season!

A lot of places in Japan have Matsuri this time of the year, close to Obon.

Asagaya where my theater company have rehearsals has Tanabata matsuri this week. You may think tanabata is in July but some regions have the festival based on the Japanese lunisolar calendar, which is about a month behind the current calendar.

Inside of the shopping arcade, colorful decorations and lantern are hung. There are also some unique figures, like the one in the picture.

]It is Ponyo, a popular charactor of the new Hayao Miyazaki's animation film.

The street was so crowded that I could hardly walk! But it was fun looking at stands and decorations!