Be expose to English

I took the TOEIC test.

I thought I have to improve my pronunciation and develop my vocabulary after the test. I'll try to use English more, read a lot, listen a lot, speak a lot and write a lot.

Democracy is better than junta

Kenji Nagai, a Japanese video journalist, was killed in Myanmar crackdown on Thursday.

I watched the scene on the Internet. A soldier shot him close range. There was no war, only demonstrations. If the report was right, I think it was a forgivable act. I hope Myanmar will be a country of democracy in the near future.　

Autumn has come

Finally, it gets cooler. There are only three months left this year. I'll do my best to achieve my dreams.

Hiromi Iwasaki's new album

I received new album "PRAHA" Hiromi Iwasaki released. It was a CD and a DVD and contained 12 songs she sang with Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Prague on April in 2007.

Their performances are wonderful. Prague is beautiful. And Hiromi is beautiful, too. I feel comforted. It's nice to buy it.

Barbershop

I went to the barber today. I feel refreshed. Now let's get to work.

Print a photo

I printed photos which my parents took with my digital camera. I think I did rather well.

I want to go driving in somewhere and take a photo. Of course, I will post it on this blog.

New LDP president

The Liberal Democratic Party elected Yasuo Fukuda on Sunday as its president.

I think LDP has a serious shortage of manpower. Anyway, He should seek a general election that would let the voice of the people be head as soon as possible.

Stand in long line

The mall offered a free gift to the first 300 people through the door today. It was a mug with illustrations of Hello Kitty.

My mother seemed to want it. So I stood in line.

There were many people than I expected. I wondered if I would get it.

I got it after all. She will come home from a trip tomorrow. I hope she will glad to receive it.

The yen seems weaker

China has no timetable for full convertibility of the Chinese yuan, People's Bank of China Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan said at a financial conference in Hong Kong on Friday.

I think the People's Bank of China is tough. But the Bank of Japan is not tough. What becomes of the yen?

Anyway, I have to save seed money.

A big Hanshin Tigers fan

My father is a big Hanshin Tigers fan.

When he watch a night game, he is always quite a talker.

The pennant race has come to the final stage. I think his noisy time will continue.

The Japan Times raises a price

I was surprised to know the news. The Japan Times will raise a price. The new monthly subscription fee will be 4,480 yen up from the current 3,900 yen and the price of a single copy will be 180 yen up from 150 yen.

I suppose that increase in oil price and the business slump of the newspaper industry cause it. I wonder what will raise a price next. I need to think more carefully before I spend money.

I suppose I drank too much last night

I always get a drink on holiday from work. I drink some cans of beer because of hot weather. And I sleep until morning.

To tell you the truth, I want to do something at night. I should cut down on my drinking.

If it will be cooler, I will drink wine.

Anti-aging articles

I bought a magazine featured anti-aging stories. I'm interested in articles of exercise and food. I'll try them bit by bit.

Respect-for-the-Aged Day

Today is Respect-for-the-Aged Day.

I presented cinema tickets to my parents this year. They went to the movies yesterday. It was "Tsuri-baka nisshi Part 18" (The diary of the fishing enthusiast Part 18) one of popular comedy movie series in Japan. They seemed to enjoy it. I'm glad about that.

I'll watch English TV dramas more to improve my listening skills

I watched a bilingual program on TV on Wednesday. I could listen to English conversations than before. I'm gradually understanding more. I'm thrilled.

I hope to live a long life happily

The number of Japanese aged 100 years or older is expected to top 30,000 by the end of the month for the first time since record-keeping began in 1963, according to a health ministry survey.

I also think people who live a long life are increasing. And they look younger. People who can live long healthily are happy, I suppose. I think Japan is a good country.

I get tickets of Kaori Mizumori by lots

My mother likes a Japanese singer Kaori Mizumori and wants to see her live in concert. So I applied for its tickets.

Fortunately I got two ones by drawing lots. I think she will be glad to receive them.

When will I give them? I think I will present her with them as a Christmas present.

It was careless of me to forget the day of trash

I forgot to throw out golf clubs and a caddie bag yesterday. I should have put them out in front of my house by eight o'clock. Why did I forget it? As a result, I must throw out them next month.

Japanese politics is OK?

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday he intended to step down.

I heard the news at lunch time. I think he quit at the wrong time.

"It's unbelievable from a common sense viewpoint that the prime minister resigns after making a policy address, and at a time when he was about to face questioning in the Diet," said Hisaoki Kamei, secretary general of Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party). I think so.

He was a poor excuse for Japanese Prim Minister. My opinion was right.

If I don't do it now, I'm not going to get it done

When the sorting job is off, I will make money on the Internet.

I want to make a profitable website with affiliate advertising. But I didn't do anything. First of all, I have to decide goods.

It's now or never.

Abe, are you OK?

According to the report, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated Sunday that he is ready to resign if he fails to get Parliament to extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan, stressing that its extension has become an "international commitment" he needs to fulfill by "all possible" means.

I was surprised to hear the news. I thought he just put on an impressive show. His words and actions look like a little man to me.

Justine Henin won the U.S. Open title

Justine Henin defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-1, 6-3 in the final of the U.S. Open on Saturday.

I think she is great to win a Grand Slam title while beating both Williams sisters. I think she is No. 1 indeed.

I wonder when it'll get cooler

I feel depress because of the hot weather. I've failed behind in my work recently. I must brace up.

Typhoon makes me to work overtime

A powerful typhoon hit east and north Japan on Friday. It has left one person dead, another missing and at least 59 others injured.

Nagoya where I live in has little influence on it. But it affected transportation and packages from Tokyo area didn't reach. It came down to me working overtime. Whew.

What can I do to create a better life for children in India?

I read a feature story "Bombay's innocent victims of destitution" by Agnes Chan on The Japan Times today. It is the story about poor children in India.

There are a lot of people who suffer extreme poverty in the world. I know that. But I don't know their lives exactly. I think I am very happy after I read the story.

I live in a well-to-do country. So I should become rich and share in the wealth. I need the strong will and hard work.

The secret to be a writer

I'm reading '"On Writing" by Stephen King now. He said, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut."

I've learned English by extensive reading. I'm not wrong. I'll read more. Because I want to be a writer and I like reading.

Abe's new farm minister exits after only eight days in post

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's week-old Cabinet suffered a major blow Monday as new farm minister Takehiko Endo stepped down after just eight days in office over a money scandal.

Endo quit in connection with agricultural mutual aid association he headed that improperly received government subsidies. It was pointed out by Board of Audit three years ago.

Why did he become a Cabinet minister? I'm disagreeably surprised at the news.

It is still hot

The lingering summer heat is intense.

I have some plans what I want to do. But I feel like doing nothing. I worry about that.

I can't believe Sharapova lost in the third round

Maria Sharapova was beaten 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, by Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday.

I was really shocked to hear the news. I hope she will get into good physical condition for next match.

A bother thing

I went to the dentist this afternoon. I've been picked my gums because of prevention of periodontal disease. I was taught the way to brush teeth. It's too much of a bother. Maybe I won't be able to brush my teeth that way.