オンライン英会話
通訳案内士コースを受けようと思っていたのだが、あまりの喋れなさに・・・
とりあえず、そこそこのお値段で、2次までに毎日英会話の方がいいかなと弱気になり、DMM英会話始めました。ネイティブは高いのでフツーのコース。
フリートークになると、相変わらず言いたいことがなかなか言えない。めっちゃつまる。しかし、これが現在の実力なのだから仕方がない。
去年の今頃、1次の合格発表出るまでやる気でなくて、出てからも結局ぐだぐだで。
1年あったのに、これかい！・・ですが、受けるだけは受けないと・・・なので、できることをひとつひとつやっていくしか。
「老後」が視野に入ってきたのに、趣味とか聞かれても大してなにもなく、わりと好きだった英語でもしましょうかというのが元々だったので、まぁこれも長い道のりのひとつのイベントと思って、人と比べずにいきましょう。（言い訳）
Asakusa
Asakusa is located in Sumida ward, inTokyo.
Kaminarimon or thunder gate famous for the big red lantern hanging there is the symbol of Asakusa.
For many centuries, Asakusa used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district. During the Edo period, Asakusa was popular for kabuki theaters.
It is said that early in the 7th century, a fisherman caught up a statue of the Goddess of Mercy (Kannon) in his net, and this led to Sensoji’s founding.
Asakursa has long thrived as a temple town with Sensoji and has an old down town atmosphere. Nakamise shopping street is the ideal place to get Japanese souvenirs. It has almost 90 little shops on both sides of the street and leads from Kaminarimon to the temple grounds.
The opening of Tokyo skytree, a twenty minute walk across the Sumida River from Asakusa, has led to an increase of tourists recently.
あと1か月切ったって・・・
この先クリスマスまであれやらこれやら面倒くさいことが山積みらしいのだが、なにせ初めての経験で気が重い。たいしてお金になる仕事ではないが、仕事は仕事。
とりあえず、一番のプレッシャーだったひと仕事が無事終了して虚脱。
あぁ、また勉強しなくちゃ。でも、どうすれば・・・と、こんなぺージがあったんだった！
milk さんという方のサイト： 英検1級からのスタート
通訳案内士2次試験 攻略法！ という記事
英検1級なんて私にはまだまだ先・・・スタート地点がとてつもなく違うので畏れ多いのだけど、要点がまとまってて「そう、そうだった、まだなんとかなるかもしれん」と思わせてくれる。
setsubun
I would like to talk about setsubun.
It's a traditional ceremony held on February 3rd to ward off evil.
Literally, setsu means a season and bun means dividing, so setsubun originally was the day before the 1st day of the season, but today only the eve of risshun, or the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar, is referred to by that name. It's not a national hoiday.
On Setsubun people enjoy mame-maki, a bean-throwing ceremony. they throw roasted soybeans in and around their houses, shouting “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” which means “Out with demons! In with good luck!” This ceremony is performed to bring in good fortune and drive away evil spirits. Sometimes one person acts as the demon and runs around, while the others throw beans at him or her. It is customary for people to eat the same number of beans as their own age.
Mamemaki also take place at major shrines and temples. Well-known personalities, such as sumo wrestlers and actors, are invited as special guests to throw good luck beans for all those present. Men and women born under the Zodiac sign for the year can also participate in the event.
There is another custom which has been popular these days. This is eating specially prepared rolled sushi called ehomaki while facing the year's lucky direction.
Many people buy ready-made ehomaki at supermarkets, suhi-restaurants, or department stores
あせる～気分転換に動画見る
なんかあせる。。あ～どーしよ。
パニックしてもしかたないので、気分転換に植田一三先生の動画を見る。
なんかなごむ。（和食のプレゼン）
Washoku is traditional Japanese cuisine, which referes to individual Japanese food or set of Japanese dishes.
Washoku was designated as UNESCO Intangeble Cultural Heritage in 2013.
Washoku is characterized be the use of various seasonal fresh foods.
Washoku is famous as very healthy food, because it's a low calorie, nutritious and well-balanced diet.
Washoku is mainly divided into informal and formal.
Informal washoku includes sushi, tempura, or deep-fried fish and vegetables, and yakitori, or skewered grilled chicken.
Formal washoku are Kaiseki-ryori, or tea ceremony dishes; another Kaiseki-ryori, or course meals for traditional parties; and Honzen-ryori, or course meals for ceremonial functions; and Shojin-ryori, or vegetarian dishes.
I strongly recommend you try authentic Japanese cuisine during you stay in Japan.
gozan-no-okuribi and obon
Daimonji, or properly, gozan-no-okuribi is one of 4 big events in Kyoto and has some hundreds year history.
It literally means "five mountains sending off fire". This is held on August 16th, the last day of obon in order to send off the spirits of ancestors that has came back home during obon.
5 giant bonfire are lit on mountains surrounding the city at night. They are the chinese characters of 2 dai meaning "large", myoho meaning "excellent law" , and 2 shapes of ship and torii.
As for okuribi, it is still observed today at the entrance or in the garden of some houses, and they usually light fires called mukaebi to welcome the spirits in the late afternoon on the 13th.
Obon is usually from August 13th to 16th and the most important religious holidays.
During obon, many people often go back to their hometown and visit their ancestors' graves and bon dance festivals are also held in communities and towns throughout Japan.
Sumo
Sumo is Japense-style wrestling which has long history and it was practiced as a part of Shinto ritual in ancient time.
Sumo is Japan's national sports and is popular especially among elderly people.
Sometimes sumo mathces were held to build temples and shrines in the past. Professional sumo wrestlers appeared in the Edo period and some of them were hired by feudal lords.
In sumo matches, 2 wrestlers wearing only mawashi, or loinclothe wrestle in the 4.5 meter diameter ring until one of them is pushed out or touches the ground with any part of his body other than soles of his feet.
While there are over 60 official kimarite, only a dozen or so are seen regularly.
There are 6 tournaments lasting 15days every year, 3 in Tokyo, 1 in Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, respectively. You can buy a ticket on the internet.
Tokyo basho is held at Rogoku Kokugikan, It's a 1 minute walk from the JR Sobu Line, Ryogoku Station. On the 1st floor of Ryogoku Kokugikan is a sumo museum.
First famous foreign wrestler is Takamiyama, and first yokozuna, grand champion is Akebono, they both are from Hawaii. In these days, there are many foreign wrestlers and 3 present Yokozuna are all Mongolian.
