New Year's Eve by Yuka S

The 2011 will end soon. How was it for you this year?

I returned to my hometown yesterday. On arriving at Niigata city, I met some friends for the year-end party. We enjoyed drinking and eating with talking about lots of things. It was a special nice time.

I’m sure to spend good end of the year. And, I wish you a Happy New Year!

Pensta by Keiko

Today, I'd like to recommend a store "Pensta".

Do you know this store? This is a store where goods of Suica's character are sold. For the moment,  this is only in Tokyo Station, but I think the store will increase in number.

Before, I knew this store on TV and  a TV reporter informed "Penguin Cards". Designs of the cards are all different and very cute! I became interested in it and I thought I wanted it.

When I went to Tokyo Station recently, I found "Pensta" by chance. As soon as I found it, I looked for "Penguin Cards". I was glad when I found it and I bought it without thinking.

I'm going to play this cards with friends in camps. I think most people feel enjoyable!

I recommend that you should go to "Pensta" at least!

Christmas Party by Keiko

On December 17th, my club "Music Club" held a Christmas Party. This is a first event that first year students mainly hold. I decorated the room with some friends, so it became very nice!

I was satisfied with the Christmas Party. Its dish is very good and I was full with events. For example, my seniors and friends performed some music such as Christmas music. It was very nice and I felt as if I had listened to music at a jazz bar. Especially, jazz piano was great!　Also, I could enjoy talking with my friends. When I was talking listening to the music, I felt happy.

I think the day was very nice! I'm looking forward to Christmas Party next year.

A practice match byKei

Last weekend, I had a practice match for "Yuminokai（弓の会）", Kyudo club of Tokyo university.
I started Kyudo after I entered the college.
So, I play a match only twice.
That's why this is a really big chance!!
This practice match was only a team match.
But a person who could hit the target the most times can get a prize.
I was full of energy to win, of course, on both a team and an individual match.
However, as a result, I didn't hit nothing.
I thought I was loser, and was in very low spirits.
Then my older experienced person said to me,
"Don't be depressed!! Kyudo is not sport, but Budo（武道）. There is a big difference between them. Surely, winning is important, but whether you were satisfied with today's you is more important."
He also told me many other words.
Those words moved me and cheered up.
Maybe I can't comprehend at all and explain what that means yet.
But I wish I could understand perfectly some day.


This photo is not this practice match.

The cold and a cold. byKei

 These days it is really cold, isn't it?
Breath I exhale is too white, and my fingers and toes are numb with cold.
There are increasingly  a lot of people who wear a scarf and gloves.
But all of them is not bad things.
In the winter, the air and the sky become very clear!!
So a lot of stars and the moon are really beautiful, and twinkling brightly.

By the way, I have a cold.
That's because I stay outside for a long time.
The other day, do you know a total eclipse of the moon happened?
I was very very looking forward it before!!
So I was watching the moon during the eclipse outside in spite of  the cold.
That's why I catch a cold.
However, I am satisfied.
Since I insist, the moon was wonderful mysterious!!!
A process of the eclipse of the moon is exactly beautiful, I cannot describe.
I want you to see it if you didn't.
You must be move, I'm sure of it!

But, everyone, be careful with the cold and cold!

Judging Is So Difficult by Yuta

Recently, freshmen of my club must become a chief umpire of matches. Still now, we experienced an assistant umpire, however the chief umpire must do a lot of things during a match. One of the most difficult and important thing is judging. Of course, assistant umpire must judge which safe or out. But difference between the chief umpire and the assistant umpire is that the chief umpire should judge wider range than the assistant and the chief umpire have power that overturn judgment of the assistant. In short, chief umpire have final decision-making authority and responsibility that go ahead with maches smoothly. Consequently, we can't make a wrong judgment.

My favorite artist; Chara. by Yuka S

I write about Chara. She is one of my favorite Japanese artists.

Have you watched “the Snakes and Earrings”(「蛇にピアス」)? The theme song(「きえる」）of this movie was performed by her. And then, she has sung many songs for TVCM and so on, so, you may have once heard some songs of hers.

Her songs make me happy so that her voice is very sweet. I think her voice and way to sing is pretty characteristic. Also, her songs make me so sad because her words are sometimes bitter. However, above all, I like all her words. She is open about her mind and does it freely. I’d also like to express my mind like her.

I’m going to her concert late this month. I’ve dreamed of watching her live performance, so I really look forward to it!!

Winter Vacation by Yuta

Winter vacation is coming soon. Do you have any plans that are something pleasant? I'm making plans of this winter vacation now, however there aren't special ones. All of my plans are related on club activity. For example, practice, match, cleaning of our clubroom, and so on. Particularly, I don't hate my living conditions. But, I have a feeling that I want to enjoy vacation like common university students. In fact, there will be free time during the vacation. Although, I think that I have to study of final exam. As a result, I can't take a lot of time for my private.

My Spring Vacation by Keiko

I'll talk to you about my plan in the spring vacation. After my mother returned to house today, she said to me," We are going to go to Hawaii in the spring vacation with grandparents!" She told me that we might go to Hawaii before, but it came true. So, I was glad but surprised. The hotel we are going to stay at commands a nice view. We can see beautiful sea from there!

Four years ago,  I went there and did many things.  For examples, going shopping, swimming in the sea, climbing the Diamond Head and so on. I want to do these things next time, but I'd like to challenge new things. In Hawaii, there are a lot of Japanese tourists, so I have almost no opportunity that I speak English.

This is because I'm little sad, but I'm looking forward to going there!

A small party by Kei

 The other day, I had a party with my club's friends.
This party was held on "Gyukaku(牛角）" ,"Yakiniku（焼肉）"restaurant.
We were chatting , about club activities, our campus, daily life and so on, and eating dishes.
We had a happiness time...

But, in the fact, we were fighting for ourselves!!
There was a battlefield!
In a chat, I concentrated my consciousness on grilled meats in my mind.
All the time I  tried to get them sooner than anyone.
However, a person who thought that was not only me.
My friends too!!
We were keeping a talk on the surface.
But, under the face, we were thinking about only how the meats grilled!
So we continued to eat until the time had come like that.
In Japan, the word like this exists.
"夏草や兵共が夢の跡"
After the meal, nobody stood there...

That's a joke at all.
I had great time then.
But ,if everyone go to the Yakiniku restaurant, take care!

My part-time job by Yuka S

Do you have a part-time job? I recently began to work part-time at a coffee house. I work early in the morning, because I wanted to make the most of my blank time before going to school. After about two weeks passed, I've become accustomed to working there. I think it was because my boss and co-workers have always backed me up. They wrote some lists of my duties so that I could master lots of things to do. In order to meet their support, I want to adjust myself to it more.

Incidentally, do you know difference between the blend-coffee and American coffee? These two coffees differ in the tastes. The blend-coffee is somewhat acid, but, in contrast, American coffee is tasty and easy more to drink. I learned that from my boss. Please try comparing the two tastes.

December（師走） by.Kei

 Do you know December is called ”師走(shiwasu)” in Japan?

 I think many of people in Japan know this.That means people are very very busy in December as if teachers rushed.”師” means teachers and ”走” means running in the Japanese language.So, I think, in the past, people saw teachers were running, and they thought they were really busy.
  In fact, I am also too busy and have many plans in December.For example, I will go trip and skiing in the mountains, have club activities and part time jobs, play practice games of Kyudo, and go back my hometown...etc
 Especially, so very very big event is Christmas party. I'm looking forward to it.Around Christmas I have some parties, club's and private parties.I don't know what we do in this party yet.I'm sure that must be so exiting and absolutely fantastic!!And so we must have really really wonderful time!!
That's why I can be hard on club activities and part time jobs in this month.

Everyone! Have a nice Christmas!!!

Disney Land by Keiko

On last Sunday, My music club held a concert. I felt nervous, but the concert was very good! After the concert, my flute part members took a prikura. I felt enjoyable then.

Then my senior said, "In this winter, Let's go to Disney Land!" I haven't been there recently, so I'm looking forward to it! This photo was taken in last winter. The lights in witer are very beatiful.! I especially like Disney Land in winter.