I hope this is not the case in Japan, but here is something to bear in mind should you ever find yourself using a changing room in department or boutique in US. It is perfectly legal for the store to spy on you while you are trying on clot…

For the first time in perhaps 15 years, I ran as much as 6.42 km. Why so accurate? Because we ran 3 rounds of the 2.14 km jogging course in Komazawa park. It took 40 minutes and pain in the calf. I overtook about 10 runners and was overtak…

When I woke up this morning, it was 7:30. It's been months since I have slept this long without being disturbed by shoulder pain. Healing might have been a slow process but it is coming for sure with a firm step. Illness is alright as long…

Japanese movies are really good recently. I saw "おくりびと" yesterday and found it exceptionally good. It starts with a comical touch but soon you find yourself in the depth of life and death. A cellist loses his job when his orchestra go…

Afghanistan supplies virtually all of the world's illegal opium. For Afghans themselves, however, feelings about poppy are conflicted: It's harmful to their country and to their people, but it is also a livelihood for many where instabilit…

"Why do women in Japan put up an umbrella on sunny days?" An American IT guy, 26, a surfer, who came to Japan 2 months ago asked me. I answered "To prevent suntan of course." I answered rather surprised at the unexpected question. "Then th…

"Floor lady wanted (フロアーレディ募集中)" On a flier it was written. I wondered what kind of job it was. It seems like a 店員 or shop clerk. This term sounds strange in two ways. One is "floor" and the other "lady". Why "floor"? This mean…

While my son queued up to buy the lion bus tickets for us all, I quickly ran good 500 m to a ticket vending machine. That was for a ticket to take a picture with a lion cub. It was also so popular that the ticket would be sold out soon, a …

All of a sudden I wanted to form friendships with wild animals and went to a Safari-park yesterday, partly in the hope of entertaining my mother for the belated "Respect-Elderly-Day". Got up at five and left home at six. My mom and daughte…

Two days ago an Australian friend of mine sent me an e-mail inviting me to join a group "Save the Dolphins from Japan". I visited the group's web site. There were three short video clips http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGyK9CcNde8 that showe…

As I grow older, I find myself distancing from noisy TV programs such as comedy shows. I used to like them... Essence of laughter lies in unexpectedness. We laugh when something happens or someone says something that betrays our expectatio…

"Perth is in the middle of nowhere." He said. "Nobody wants to visit the isolated city for tourism." He is from Australia. I told him a newly leaned piece of information from a NHK program. "I heard the city is prosperous because of natura…

Yesterday, I could not write because my new computer came and I literally got hooked on it. I always buy non-brand PCs. Selecting a CPU, hard disk, DVD / CD reader / writer, mother board, and graphic card etc... is really fun. I buy OS, wi…

An ex-student of mine dropped in on me yesterday to return an English juvenile book I lent him a couple of years ago. He said he read it at last. He studied in the States for one year in college and still continue his effort to learn Engli…

According to my observation "maintaining status quo" is the most predominant guiding principle of this world. If a society is peaceful now, anything that disturbs the peace is to be blamed, whatever means it was achieved by. Status quo see…

I went to visit the grave (墓参り) today with my family. We usually visit our ancestor's grave, where my father also rests, twice a year on spring and autumnal equinox. We weed out, sweep, and trim trees and then put some flowers in front …

Since last night I've suffered from a headache. Wish it'll go away in the morning. Do not feel like thinking what to write. New PC was supposed to come today to replace my broken one. But no email has come yet to let me know it was shipped…

Last night while I was running 3km in 20 minutes^^, I did not perspire at all. Getting cooler these days, especially in the morning and evening, leaving me less excuses for not running... When I resumed my jogging practice, I expected that…

You would think that I look down on Fukuda-san because of what I wrote yesterday. On the contrary, I respect him. He has done what I cannot do. Being a prime minister must be one of the toughest things. Even if it is out of his ambition or…

Asked “People often say that you are talking as if it were happening to other people, what do you think? “ the prime minister answered a bit frettingly “I can see myself objectively. I am different from you.” Many people say many things ab…

I am not a type of person who can keep several balls in the air. When I start thinking about the research project, I naturally neglect other things such as writing this blog. But once I succeed in being absorbed in writing, it gets momentu…

The research project that I have been leading is decided to be extended until next February. The contract was signed yesterday. I will have to work at least until then... A guy in our Swiss office who has been playing a significant role in…

Talking about the movie "Five Easy Pieces", I remember one scene. It happens in a roadside restaurant. Jack orders wheat toast, which is not on the menu. But this adamant middle-aged waitress insists they do not have toast because it is no…

When I heard Prelude #4 played in the movie through youtube yesterday, it was not as good as when I had heard in the movie for the first time. I thought his bad performance was responsible, but it was only a tiny part of the reason. I like…

When I was talking about Fukuda's resignation over a cup of cafe-late at a coffee shop with a friend of mine yesterday, a piece of music came flowing. It sounded familiar. What was it? It took me some time to recognize. Prelude #4 by Chopi…

Abe quit. Fukuda quit. What's become of this country? Another something is wrong. His reason for resignation was funny. He said he thought a new leader would be better able to handle the political deadlock caused by the opposition ruled Up…

I registered my application for Tokyo Marathon at last together with my wife yesterday on the Internet. In the registration form, there was a question box asking our fastest marathon time. Since we have never run a full marathon, I wrote m…