Blog#6: A Ghost Story

Yuki Morita
   Hello! What do you imagine about Japanese summer? In my case, I imagine a ghost story. Do you like it? In fact, it's very very very hard for me!!! I can't watch horror film or TV alone. However, I like to listen to ghost stories.

   Do you know the man? He is Yakumo Koizumi (Patrick Lafcadio Hearn). He was a British who studied about Japan in Meiji period. When he was 40 years old, he came to Japan and taught English in Matsue, Shimane. He loved Japanese traditional culture. Especially, he was fascinated by Japanese ghost stories.
   In Shimane, which is loved by Yakumo,  there are the cult of Japanese gods. The god of Izumo-taisha Shrine is Okuninushi-no-mikoto, who created the world. Yakumo was a foreigner, so he was able to feel the Japanese traditional cult more deeply, I think.
   Then, he wrote a book titled "kwaidan (a ghost story)". In the book, he introduced many ghosts or oral tradition, for example, a snow fairy (Yuki-onna) and a monster with a long neck (Rokuro-kubi). Even if the stories are horror, the way of his expressing is very warm because he loved Japanese culture.
   This summer, I will visit Matsue and join the ghost tour! I want to feel Japanese warm horror Yakumo loved.

Blog#7: I'm existing in my dream now...

Yuto Yamazaki
   We are university students. We have a lot of dream and torment. So, I want to introduce this book named "Tokyo Friends" which was written by Rin Eto.
   The movie which was consisted of this book was broadcasted in Japan in 2006. A leading actress is Ai Otsuka who is a Japanese famous singer and my favorite singer. "Tokyo Friends" gave me the courage to live on. It is very important book for me, so I include "tf" in my E-mail adress. I like this words which the leading actress said in this book and movie many times.
   "Do you still remember the first dream you had? I haven't come to the point to say proudly, this is my dream. I'm not sure if this is where I can find happiness... But still, I want to remember this moment forever."
   In this summer vacation, let's make many happy memories! Please click here and listen to "to me" which Survival Company which is the special band in the movie sing!

Blog#6: Summer Color

Yuto Yamazaki
   Hello!! How are you? Are you wilting in this heat? I'm very healthy! Summer is my favorite season! In Japan, high school students play baseball at Koshien in this season. It is very exciting! I have a lot of manga about the theme.
   This time, I want to introduce "H2". This book is written by Mitsuru Adachi who writes "Touch". He is one of the famous cartoonists. I can't explain about the story because it is very long, so read it, please! You can read it at coffee shops with a manga library and used-book stores.

Blog#6: Disabled Sports

Ryota Yamada

 Some days ago,I joined disabled baseball team as a helper,because I wanted to experience various things through baseball.
 At first ,I doubted whether they could play baseball truly. Because the members of the team are composed of people who don't have one hand, people lost the use of one leg and so on.
 But, starting the baseball game, instinctively, I was moved.Because the game was a evenly balanced game and the enemy team was composed of people with healthy body.
 In fact our team lost the game,but I realized that we must not look down on handicapped person and label them the weak..They are enjoying their life with strong hearts.

I want everyone to learn about handicapped person more.

I thought I underwent good experience.

Blog #6: I like musicals

Manami Hiramoto

Have you ever seen musicals? Do you like them? I like musicals very much. I often go to see a musical with my friends. For example “Les Miserables” “Cats” “Lion King” “Dream after Dream” and so on. They are marvelous musical! Their songs and dances are very powerful. They were exciting stages.

Recently, I saw “Beauty and the Beast” by SIKI theater company with my family. This is based on Disney’s movie which has same title. It was gorgeous stage: chorus was cheerful, dance was happily and actors dressed elaborately. I felt really that the dishes, the candle and the clock are moving now!

 

By the way, the musical I like best is “Wicked”. Its chorus and dance are nice of course, but I love this scenario. This is a side story of “The Wizard of OZ”. It moved me deeply. I recommend you seeing a live musical at least once! I am sure you will enjoy it.

Blog #5: My summer vacation!

Manami Hiramoto

   Hello. Recently it has been very very hot! So be careful of heatstroke when you stay outside for a long time. Well, the picture is a summer greeting card I received.

   By the way, our summer vacation will be coming, you know. Did you decide what to do in your summer vacation? For example, to do something outdoor sports, to take a trip and to meet your old friends and so on. They are so nice!
   Talking about me, I’m going to try to begin new stuff. I mean I will start a part time job during summer vacation. I am expected work as a guide at “the Castle of Kids” whose Japanese name is "こどもの城”. When I was a child, I went there with my family. I enjoyed playing in it. 

   It is a compound institution: it is mainly a playground for children under 18 years of age and it has two theaters, several meeting rooms for adults. There is the castle in front of Aoyama Gakuin University and beside United Nations University in Omotesando. Many people visit the castle especially on holiday. Sometimes it has 3000 visitors! And there are not only Japanese families but also families from abroad. Some families from abroad can speak Japanese, others only understand English. That’s why I must practice to talk to them in English naturally.

   Please tell me what you plan to do during the vacation. Have a nice summer vacation!

Summer vacation blog homework

Besides making Blogs #6, #7, and #8, please do the following:

Read and comment on Blogs 1-5 by Group H by Friday July 22 at 17:00

Read and comment on Blogs 6-8 by Group H by Friday September 23 at 17:00

Don't forget to make Blogs 6, 7, and 8!

See you at our class on September 5 in Chuo 402