Dec 8, 2008

Why Don't You Wear Those!?-Speech

Hi! I’m going to talk about workmen’s clothes of New Zealand. There are some working clothes in NZ. I'll talk about you to two of them.



First, swanndris were named after “swan” and “dry”. swanndrisare a woolen work shirt with a hood and long sleeves. There are some different sizes. Popular color is olive, followed by blue-and-black, red-and-black tartans. Please look at the person who is in a leftmost position, he wears a swanndri which is printed tartans.





Next, working men in NZ usually wear black singlets―they are called "tank top" in Japanese. The singlet had a deeply scooped neck with looser armholes, and it had been adopted for a broad range of manual occupation. About hundred years ago, it became that singlets are common clothes for working men and athletes. They mostly liked navy blue and black one, because the dirt was hidden by those two colors! By 1940s or 1950s, black was most loved color. Now a days, singlets were worn by shearers, farmers, hunters, trampers, laborers, railway workers, truck drivers, freezing workers, forestry workers, miners and fishermen. So, a lot of working men like to wear singlets.













Finally, let's compare with Japanese woking clothes. They are farmers. Japanese wear clothes which is suitable to work. On the other hand, New Zealanders wear clothes which is all-round to do something! Those clothes are so wonderful, aren't they?

Nov 27, 2008

Rural Clothes of New Zealand.

Hi! I’ll introduce you to workmen’s clothes of New Zealand. There are some working clothes in NZ. Some are similar to Japanese, the other are differ from Japanese. Let’s look at clothes for working.






First, Swanndris were named after “swan” and “dry”. Swanndris are a woolen work shirt with a hood and long sleeves. There are some different sizes. Popular color is olive, followed by blue-and-black, red-and-black tartans.




Next, working men in NZ usually wear black singlets―they are called "tank top" in Japanese. The singlet had a deeply scooped neck with looser armholes, and it had been adopted for a broad range of manual occupation. About hundred years ago, it became that singlets are common clothes for working men and athletes. They mostly liked navy blue and black one, because the dirt was hidden by those two colors! By 1940s or 1950s, black was most loved color. Now a days, singlets were worn by shearers, farmers, hunters, trampers, laborers, railway workers, truck drivers, freezing workers, forestry workers, miners and fishermen. So, a lot of working men like to wear singlets.

Oct 31, 2008

"Trick or Treat?"


Halloween is held on October 31st. “Hallow” means scared and “een” means event and evening.

So, some foreigners in my university wore Halloween costumes, such as an angel, a devil, Alice in the wonderland and so on. Some Japanese wore costumes too. I was very surprised at it!

Note: On Halloween night of this year, I gave some candies for my friends and seniors who are members of Taekwondo club, and I was given, too. So, I want to try Halloween costume next year’s.

Oct 30, 2008

The wine festival at Beaune.


Beaujolais nouveau is lifted the ban on drinking in the third Thursday of November. On the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the wine festival is held at Beaune. It is called” Les Trois Glorieuses” in French.


In the former of 15th century, so, people in Beaune are very needy, there are a lot of patients and the poor. The secretary of the treasury of Burgundy, Nichola Rolland and his wife’s hearts ached for the fact. So, they built hospital by their money in 1443. However, most of people couldn’t pay money for treat, and the number of people’s death was not reduced.


Then, Nichola Rolland contributed the hospital to his own wine field. He had an idea that he sells wine is made in there, and allots the profit of the wine for the poor to cure free. So, Many people was redeemed for this charity. The wine fields which thehospitals was increased every year, because wine producers in Burgundy who were stired the spirit of charity contributed their wine fields to hospitals,too. As a result, hospitals owned wine fields in all over the Burgundy area.


After that, the annual auction was held since 1853, and some wine is auctioned off in the public place.

Oct 9, 2008

The Last Samurai

Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe are starring in this movie. It is about Samurai’s spirit.


The last of the Tokugawa Shogunate starts to be modern. Japan is divided between the people who believe the mighty of the swords and the people who think that the intaking of the new western guns and armies can make new era.




So, in America, the Civil war is broke out. Captain Nathan Algren takes part in the Civil war as an officer of the Northern military and battles against the Southern military or Native Americans. He suffers from the remorse because of some of his cruel acts to innocent Native Americans. It suggests him to escape from the battle field and drink some alcohol.In such situation, Japanese Minister Ohmura came to hire Algren as a professor of Japanese army. Algren was attracted by a lot of money, and he went to Japan with his friend to lead Japanese armies.



One day, Katsumoto, who was the boss of samurai complained, attacked the railway, but Japanese armies were not trained, nor they couldn’t battle well against samurai. Algren refused to battle because of that. As a result, he was caught by Katsumoto. Algren lived his life in samurai’s village, and he began to feel the Katsumoto’s charm. So did Katsumoto.



Algren refused to become a captain of Japanese army. So, he tried to return to United States. However, he was attacked by assassins. In such time, he heard that Katsumoto was attacked and injured. Algren, villagers and Katsumoto’s son―Nobutada decided to save Katsumoto from government. Regrettably, Nobutada was killed when he tried to save his father. So, the Katsumoto’s party made return to their village. These acts was the decision of the battle the army of the government and the samurai.




So, Algren decided to fight against army of government as a member of samurai. All samurai fought against strong army bravely. However, they all died in this battle except Algren. Samurai’s death was not waste. The soldiers of government filled the eyes with tears, when Katsumoto died. They honored to his death. It was the time that soldiers took back their samurai spirits. After final battle, survived Algren met and restored the sword to the Mikado. It was the message from Katsumoto that Japan was changed to be modern in the actual. So, it is the end of Samurai's fighting.



I think Samurai are so cool and thier spirits are so beautiful, because they keep their own faiths, live and die with the faiths. It's so important, isn't it? However, we can't do that. So, there are some cruel scenes in this movie, but it is not only cruel but maybe it says something important for us all.

Sep 18, 2008

Enjoyable vacation.

How was your summer vacation? I was enjoyed my summer vacation.


I took part in club activity of Taekwondo on Wednesday and Friday. I sweat a lot though the air conditioner was working! So it was too hot and practice was harder than the usual. So the advancement exam was near at hand…!!!


I wrote,”Poomsae’s competitions are held” before. Did you remember that? In this summer, I took part in Poomsae’s competitions with my friend. I’m under extreme tension because it was first time to take part in the competition of Taekwondo! We participated in the Poomsae’s part. I competed with other two men and I got second prize! I wanted a first prize, but I did do my best.




I went to part-time job four times a week except Wednesday and Friday. My part-time job is working at Japanese bar; Izakaya. I work as a waiter and make some drinks. I usually worked for 6 or 7hourson weekdays, 7 or 8hours on Saturday and Sunday. Can you believe that? It was so hard work, wasn’t it? However, the board―dinner that supplied by the working place is so delicious and hearty, so I’m satisfied with it.


I returned back to my home town for about 1 week. I went to Okage Yokotyo with the family. There were many visitors both Japanese and foreigners. We ate Akahukugoori. I was looking forward to eat it, so I ate it very fast. My little brother surprised at that. The day before I back to my loading, I ate out with my family members and took some pictures.



I went to Osu shopping arcade with my friend three times. There were many shops which sold many goods at a popular price in Osu street. First, we went to there to buy summer clothes on the end of July. We could buy goods at low in price so every shop has a sale of summer clothes. Second, we went for festival. The sounds of Japanese drums moved my heart. The last visit was to buy autumn clothes. I bought two shirts, a skirt and a necklace, but I want to buy clothes more. I’m planning to go Osu shopping arcade soon.

Jul 3, 2008

My favorite sport.


Are you interested in any exercise? Of course, I am. Exercising is very good for health, but some people don't like to exercise. That's too bad!


Do you know about Taekwondo? If you don’t know it, I want you to know Taekwondo―please be careful to watch this web site because this site is written by English or Korean. Taekwondo is the national sports of Korea. It looks like Japanese karate, but you use mostly your legs in Taekwondo―you sometimes use hand for punch. Taekwondo has two types of fighting―Poomsae and Kyorugi. Kyorugi is fighting by using legs; it can release your stress and be strong. Poomsae is like kata of Japanese karate. It is not fighting with person, but Poomsae’s competitions are held.


It is said that Taekwondo is good for women's health as a fitness sport, because you use many muscles of your body and you can lose your weight by using muscles. I'm a member of the Taekwondo club in university. It not only exercises your body, but also releases stress. If you want to refresh, you should do Taekwondo! Let’s try to do Taekwondo.



Note:This site―the site of this university's Taekwondo club is really good. This site has some interesting pictures. You should access to the site!

Jun 12, 2008

Laughter

Today, I'll introduce you to laughter.


Laughter makes us healthy and clear, for example:
1. Reduce stress
2. Lower blood pressure
3. Elevate mood
4. Boost immune system
5. Improve brain functioning
6. Protect the heart
7. Connect you to others
8. Foster instant relaxation
9. Make you feel good


Recently, laughter helps people who are suffering from disease-a clown doctor.In this web page explain about the clown doctor. The clown doctors are active in the hospital all over the world. ''I know what is a clown doctor's job, but Who are you?'' Did you know about clown doctor? Let's meet the clown doctors!


There are many clown doctors in Japan. They want children who got cancer to recover energy and endure pain of treatment.



I like this comedian;Cho-Shin-Juku, because their comedy has really nice tempo and story! We can often see them in TV. If you don’t know them, I’d like you to watch these movie clips and enjoy!
1.We want to be runners.
2.Sendings-off
3.Transfer students

This is a short animation ''Gag manga biyori'' and I’d introduce one of it whose title is ''the wooden architecture of Shotokutaishi''.


Could you enjoy these movie clips? I'm grad if you enjoyed and laughed.