2010/09/29

Morning Glow (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) I woke up before the sunrise because I had to go to office in the early morning.

2010/09/28

Fresh Morning It was very fresh in the morning with fine weather after the rain. 雨上がりの朝は、とても清々しい。

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

2010/09/27

Hard work to be continued After I returned to home at evening, I ate dinner with my family. Then I fell asleep before my kids went to bed. I didn't recognize I was tired so much... 仕事から帰って、晩御飯を食べた後、子供達が寝るよりも早く、眠りに落ちてしまった。そんなに疲れているとは気付かなかった。。。

2010/09/26

Surfing 2nd round in Japan I went surfing with Mr. S who is my coworker at Hamada. The wave conditon was slightly better than last week but the power was still weak. In spite of such a condition, there were many surfers. It is difficult for me to enjoy it, but I felt happy what I can go surfing. 同僚Sくんと浜田でサーフィン。波は、先週よりも少しは良いけど、依然としてパワーが無い。このコンディションだけど、サーファーは多く、思いっきりサーフィンを楽しめる状況ではなかった。サーフィンに行けるだけで、満足ではあるんだけど。。。 (Pentax K100D + Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Macro) More than 80 surfers in Senjo beach. We went to skatepark in the afternoon and my kids enjoyed skatebording after a long time. Unfortunately, they skated only for 30 minutes because it began to rain. 午後から、子供達は、スケートパークで久しぶりのスケートを楽しんだ。ただ、30分もしないうちに雨が降り始めたのは残念だった。 (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

2010/09/25

Working Saturday In spite of Saturday, I went to office to work. I felt to lose something... 土曜日なのに、出勤日。何か損した気分。。。 After work, I and my family went to my mother's house to enjoy BBQ. We tasted delicious seafood and beef and so on. 仕事の後、家族と合流して、母宅でBBQ。魚、いか、さざえ、肉、などなど、とても美味しかった。 (Pentax K-m + SMC DA40mm Limited) Moon with scale cloud.

2010/09/24

Friday night but... I have to go to work tomorrow even though it is Saturday. I don't like my company's holiday system. 明日は土曜日、なんだけど仕事。この会社の休日の考え方は、あまり好きじゃない。

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

My kids are doing homework.

2010/09/23

Autumnal Equinox Day Today was Autumnal Equinox Day and it is Japanese holiday, but our company was on. 秋分の日、だけど出勤日。

(Pentax K-m + SMC DA40mm Limited)

Contrast of Remaininng sunset light and blue sky is impressive.

2010/09/22

Rainy Days Rainy day continues since last Sunday. Especially this night, we got heavy rain with thunders. It is too noisy to keep sleeping... 確か、日曜日から雨の日が続いている。特に昨晩は、豪雨と雷でなかなか眠れなかった。。。 (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) My kids are going to school.

2010/09/21

Start from Tuesday Yesterday was Monday and also holiday as Respect for the Aged Day. This week was started from Tuesday but our company will be on this Saturday. I think 1-day weekend is typical Japanese world. 昨日は月曜日だったけど、敬老の日で会社はお休み。火曜日から始まる1週間だけど、土曜日は出社日。1日だけの週末というのは、とても日本的だと思う。

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

One corner of our living room.

2010/09/20

1st Surfing in Japan I went surfing at Hamada and this is first time in Japan for me. Unfortunately, the wave was too small to surf and I could do just take-off, but I was pleased I went surfing after an interval of 3 weeks. 待ちに待った日本での初サーフィン。波は小さく、テイクオフしか出来ず。でも、3週間ぶりにサーフィンできたことだけで嬉しかった。 (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) Small and power-less wave condition made me hard to surf. After surfng, we visited Mimata hot-spring resort. It was very pleasant and we could get refresh so much. サーフィンの後、美又温泉へ。久しぶりの温泉は気持ち良く、とてもリフレッシュできた。 (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) Entrance of Mimata hot-spring resort.

2010/09/19

Update My Blog Concept / Blogコンセプトの更新 As I thought about my blog concept variously, I decided to add Japanese texts for this blog. I really appriciate any advise for my English. いろいろ考えた結果、このblogに日本語も加えることにした。何でも良いので、英語へのコメント/アドバイスを頂ければ、とてもありがたいです。 Anyway, this is third weekend in Japan for us. I really wanted to go surfing and we planed to go to Hamada/Shimane for visiting beach and hot-spring resort tomorrow. I know tomorrow's surf will be not good, but I'm looking forward to starting surfing in Japan. 日本に戻って、3度目の週末。そろそろサーフィンに行きたくてたまらなくなり、明日、島根県浜田市にあるビーチと温泉に行くことにした。明日の波が良くないことは分かっているけど、日本でのサーフィンデビューはとても楽しみ。 (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) My kids are absorbed in catching insects and bugs. They are trying to catch dragonflies. 昆虫採集に夢中の子供達。トンボを捕まえ中。。。

2010/09/18

Great Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) First of all, I had to go home from Kure by the earliest train. I was so tired since I just got 1 hour sleep... (iPhone 4) Today's first train. Anyway, I'm impressed with quality of iPhone camera. In the evening, we had a diner at Terumi as Japanese BBQ restaurant. They served really great foods and this is my first ranked place for Japanese BBQ. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) My younger son is absorbed in playing Yo-yo.

2010/09/17

Nomi-nication (Drinking Party) with Ex-colleagues There was a drinking party with ex-colleagues who worked together in California branch. I really enjoyed it and I was reminded a lot of good memories with them. After party, Suke-san, Naki and I were waiting this day's last train but we got a wrong train. I think we just focued on conversation... Anyway, we gave up to go home this day because there was no train to return correct way. We decided to wait next morning at manga cafe near Kure station. This was my first time to visit manga cafe in Japan...

(iPhone 4)

Manga cafe that we stayed until next morning.

2010/09/16

Day after moving day My wife is trying to find best arrangement of furniture and interior stuffs. I know this is a never ending work...

(Pentax K100D + Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Macro)

2010/09/15

Our Japan Life Re-started Truly After unpacking our luggages, I felt we finally started Japan life. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) Older sun is doing his homeworks.

2010/09/14

Moving Day Our 1st moving luggages were arrived and I took a vacation for it.

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

A bunch of card boxes.

2010/09/13

New Monday Arrived Commuting by packed train is so stressful and boring for me. It is quite bad for my mentality but I know I will be used to it soon... (Pentax K100D + Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Macro) My younger son is going to school.

2010/09/12

Shopping Day We went to shopping center. I could see what is going on in Japan through the public and I felt I'm far from Japanese trends. I want to find current my stance at first... We got kids bikes with very cheap price but it is enough for them now.

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

My kids are enjoying bike riding.

2010/09/11

iPhone Came My iPhone life started today. I knew it is very attractive and convenient gadget but I recognize it is true or more. I'm impressed by it and I think this is exactly state-of the-art technoligy.

(Pentax K100D + Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Macro)

Sunset at my house. I really miss California's beautiful sunset sight.

2010/09/10

Familier Environment I felt I'm certainly Japanese since I can be used to Japan easily and quickly... We should make a lots of opportunity that our kids touch English.

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

Rusty tricycle by which my kids had played before.

2010/09/09

Starting Day Today was first day to go school for my kids. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) They have uniform. Anyway, they didn't look so nervous and I hoped their self introduction go well. I was happy to hear they already got friends. Today was also my first woking day. It is real world for me and I felt my california life was imagination world... After work, my team members invited me to welcome party at yakitori-bar. I really enjoyed great foods and appriciated their gentle mind.

2010/09/08

Second Application Day I left my house at 6:45am and went to the Driving Lisence Center by commuting train and bus. I finally got my new lisence at 1:30pm and I returned my house at 3pm. I was disappointed I spent over 9 hours to just renew my driving license... As last round for visiting our favorite restautant, we went pork cutlet restaurant, Ikkyu, for dinner. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) I really like Ikkyu with high quality pork cutlet.

2010/09/07

House Cleaning Day In the morning, we finished to stay hotel and moved to my house. We cleaned our house up to live. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) We got a heavy rain from afternoon. We got a new refrigerator at evening and finally started Hiroshima life. For dinner, we went to our favorite okonomiyaki place. I felt I returned to Hiroshima! (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) Sakai is a good Hiroshima-style okomomi-yaki restaurant. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) We still have jet lag and my kids fall in sleep after 8pm. They can't beat their drowsiness.

2010/09/06

Application Day In the morning, we went a city government office for some transfer applicatins. Then we got car insurance. From afternoon, we went driving license center (<- kind of DMV) to get renewal my license. However, the window person said I can't get my new license today since I need to have 2-hour class and the class will end at 5pm when this office is closed. I couldn't believe it but there is no way to get my license today. I decided to come here again tomorrow, but I was really really disapponted this situation. What a kindless system! (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) Driving license center with dark cloud. After shopping of some essentials, we went Ramen Kagetsu, one of our favorite ramen restaurants, for dinner. We were very satisfied with it. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

Ramen Kagetsu serves a good thick tasty ramen.

2010/09/05

Meet with Grandmother Today was also shopping day. We got a new refrigerator at Yamada Denki. Then older son selected his birthday cakes and go to grandmother's house. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) We found a sign of "Fierce Dog Attention" at the front gate, but we know the truth. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) Fierce Dog? No no, she is little bit cowardly and very cute! We enjoyed fresh seafood at Oka-han, Japanese restaurant. My kids got a few of sparkler as kids meal deal. (Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) My kids enjoyed a typical Japanese summer night with some sparklers.

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

Today's final event was one-day-late older son's birthday cake. He pulled out 11 candle fires with one shot. Congratulations!

2010/09/04

Happy Birthday Today is 11th anniversary of our older son's birth. His requests were a game soft for Nintendo DS and Sushi dinner. After dinner, he and younger son slept due to jet lag. His birthday cake should be for tommorow. Dear my son, Your new school life will start soon and it is completely different from your thought based on your passed experience at California. However, it is good challenge for you and I think you can overcome it and get more confidence for yourself. Happy Birthday! Tou-chan (Dad in Japanese) Shopping Day We need many stuffs to start new Japanese life. At first, I and my wife got prepaid cell phone and my first impression was "how easy to communicate by Japanese". I really think I have to keep in mind to use English as much as possible. Otherwise, my English will become weak soon... Anyway, Japanese food is quit good. I feel I'm Japanese. I will miss real hamburger, mexican food and so on soon, but now I'm fully satisfied with it.

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

Our new car, Biante, from Kazu.

2010/09/03

Prologue After 4 years California life, I returned to Japan. I want to communicate with ex-coworkers and let thme know my Japanese life by this blog. And also I would like to keep and improve my English skill. I really appreciate your free comment, also English correction, better phrase suggestion and so on. We Re-entered Japan I and my wife and my sons arrived in Japan and our first voice was "How sultry! (hot with high humidity)" that was I forecasted.

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC) My kids in Narita Airport. Little bit looks tired...

(Pentax K-7 + Sigma 10-20mm EX DC)

Mt. Fuji without snow.