We have lost 😅 sight of the season due to the sudden winter Autumn-like leaves are falling. Beautifully sprouting and green leaves appearing It glows mysteriously in the sunlight It's going to get colder and colder, and I'm🥺 withdrawn.

The beautiful minami alps. While travelling to matsumoto we git this beautifully view of minami alps from limited express train.

Stopped by Saizeriya for lunch and got a cod roe and shrimp doria たらこと海老のドリア. Saizeriya is always a great place to stop by for lunch as it's generally quick and cheap. It was a set meal so it came with a soup and salad as well, but I forgot to to photos of those. The soup was a sort of consommé soup and was nothing special, but it tasted good and was all-you-can-drink so that was pretty nice. I ended up getting a few cups of it. The shrimp and cod doria was great and I love the nori on top - plentiful and tastes great. The best part is all of this was only ¥500 so it's really reasonable, as you'd expect of Saizeriya. Just thought I'd share this today, nothing too special

Merry Christmas!!

【Cloudless Evening】

Was in Kanda the other day for an errand and stopped by this place called "Soba Dokoro Kameya" そば処 かめや outside of Kanda Station. It says "立食い" which means "standing noodles," but I didn't actually see any places to stand and eat so maybe it just meant that it was simple and quick like a standing noodle shop. I've never actually experienced what it's like to eat at a standing noodle restaurant and actually stand while eating but I think I prefer sitting anyways. I like to relax when I eat so I suppose that's why, but I should at least try it once, who knows, I might like it. Anyways, the place seems really affordable. I ordered the Ten Tama Soba since it was the most popular dish and it tasted great. The soup was really good and the egg was perfectly cooked. The texture of the noodles was also perfect. It's definitely a place to check out if your in the Kanda area and looking for some noodles. I think they may only be open during the morning and night, but I went around 4pm so maybe they close around that time to prepare for dinner.

【Alley】 Take a short walk in the mountains A bridge was built Behind it is The autumn leaves were beautifully colored.

During this Christmas time Minatomirai area of Yokohama is not only well decorated with lights but also there is a laser show, and a christmas market. The whole area looks heavenly beautiful.

Visited a Chinese restaurant in Akabane called Maraeki 麻辣駅, Malaeki? over the weekend and got some spicy Szechuan noodles 四川風麻辣麺. The photo looked really good and they had tan tan noodles as well but I wanted to try something different. Unfortunately, I was not the biggest fan of the flavor. I think the noodles were great, and the bok choy tasted good as well, but for me the soup wasn't exactly what I was expecting. That being said I don't think it's that the flavor was bad, just that it simply wasn't for me. I enjoy spicy ramen, and the "麻辣" part of the name is "mala," apparently a spicy, numbing sauce made of Sichuanese peppercorn, chili pepper, and other ingredients simmered in oil. I went in not knowing this and paid the price I suppose. The noodles weren't actually that spicy in my opinion, but like I said, the flavor just wasn't for me. I think for anyone who enjoys Chinese food though it's a great place as it's quite affordable and the other dishes we ordered fried rice and xiaolongbao steamed buns, although not pictured here, tasted great.

[English/Japanese] Yesterday, the kanji character representing Japan for this year was announced. This event takes place every year. Incidentally, this year’s kanji was "gold." Why do you think this kanji was chosen? The reason is that the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo this year. Japan won more gold medals than ever before, which led to the selection of this kanji. So what else was popular this year? Let’s explore Japanese culture through this year’s trends. Maritozzo Maritozzo is a pastry that originated in Rome, Italy. It consists of a round bread roll filled generously with cream and is eaten as breakfast in Italy. This year, maritozzo became a major trend in Japan. Many cafes and convenience stores stocked maritozzo, and long lines formed as people queued to buy it. It is not unusual in Japan for sweets from other countries to become popular this way; for example, last year it was tapioca from Taiwan, and before that, macarons from France. Japan is an island nation with a strong curiosity about other cultures, and that curiosity may show up in the foods we enjoy. Movie Box Office Revenue In this year’s global box office rankings, live-action films from China and the United States occupy the top five spots. Is the situation the same in Japan? Japan’s box office rankings look completely different. From first to fifth place, all the top films are live-action adaptations of anime or manga. Last year, the anime film Demon Slayer rewrote the all-time box office record. Although many theatergoers are teenagers, age differences among audiences are not that large. In other words, people of all ages watch anime films. That shows how deeply anime and manga are woven into Japanese culture. The Real Two-Way / Showtime The terms "real two-way" and "showtime" were nominated as buzzwords this year. These two expressions refer to Shohei Ohtani, who plays in Major League Baseball in the United States. Words related to baseball players are often chosen as buzzwords in this way. When foreigners think of sports in Japan, many imagine sumo. However, few know that baseball is actually the most widely followed sport in Japan. When I tell this to international students, they often reply, "I thought soccer was more popular than sumo," or "I don’t know much about baseball." Do you feel the same? In this article, I introduced some of the things that were popular in Japan this year. I will continue with more in the next issue. By the way, our school holds an event where students introduce trends from their own countries. It’s a great opportunity to learn about different countries’ trends and to deepen cross-cultural understanding. Please tell us what’s popular in your country. Yesterday, the kanji character representing Japan for this year was announced. This event takes place every year. Incidentally, this year’s kanji was "kin" (gold). Why do you think this kanji was chosen? The reason is that the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo this year. Japan won the most gold medals in its history, which led to the selection of this kanji. So what else was popular this year? Let’s explore Japanese culture through this year’s trends. Maritozzo Maritozzo is a pastry that originated in Rome, Italy. It consists of a round bread roll filled generously with cream and is eaten as breakfast in Italy. This year, maritozzo became a major trend in Japan. Many cafes and convenience stores stocked maritozzo, and long lines formed as people queued to buy it. It is not uncommon in Japan for sweets from other countries to become popular in this way; for example, last year it was tapioca from Taiwan, and before that, macarons from France. Japan is an island nation with a strong curiosity about other countries’ cultures, and that curiosity may show up in the foods we enjoy. Movie Box Office Revenue Looking at this year’s global box office rankings, live-action films from China and the United States occupy the top five spots. Is Japan the same? Japan’s box office rankings are completely different from the global list. From first to fifth place, all the top films are live-action adaptations of anime or manga. Last year, the anime Demon Slayer replaced the previous record holder to become number one in the all-time box office rankings. While many moviegoers are teenagers, age differences among audiences are not so large. That means people of all ages watch anime films. That indicates how thoroughly anime and manga have become part of Japanese culture. Real Nitoryu / Showtime The buzzwords nominated this year included "Real Nitoryu" and "Showtime." These two words refer to Shohei Ohtani, who excels in Major League Baseball in the United States. It is common for expressions related to baseball players to be chosen as buzzwords. Many foreigners imagine sumo when they think of sports in Japan. However, few know that baseball is actually the most popular sport in Japan. When I tell this to international students, they answer, "I thought soccer would be more popular than sumo," or "I don’t really know what baseball is." Do you share the same opinion? This time I introduced some things that were popular in Japan this year. I will continue to introduce more next time. By the way, our school holds an event where people present popular things from their own countries. It provides a valuable opportunity to learn about trends from various countries and to foster intercultural understanding. Please tell us what’s popular in your country.

【Autumn leaves seen from a distance】 If you look closely, The autumn leaves that were a little faded From a distance It was very beautiful.

Recent black-and-white photos

This beautiful christmas tree is situated inside the "Mark IS" shopping Mall in Minatomirai area of Kanagawa prefecture.

"The Snowy Scenery of Togakushi that Overwhelms" The huge cedar trees of Togakushi Shrine Okusha in Nagano Prefecture are always overwhelming. When I came early in the morning, it was as cold as -8 °, but the moment I saw this cedar avenue, I forgot the cold and stopped to look at it.

【Kiyomizu-dera Temple】 Lit up.

A very beautiful christmas tree in the minato mirai area of Kanagawa Prefecture.

Went to Ootoya for lunch today and got a nice Alaska pollack set meal with vegetables pickled in black vinegar すけそう鱈と野菜の黒酢あん定食. Cost 920 yen and it tasted great. I really like Ootoya because it's a nice place if you're looking to eat some traditional Japanese food and I'm surprised it's actually not more popular. The food is always great and you even get to choose the types of rice you want and how much. It's pretty reasonable cost-wise considering what you get as well. The ordering system is really convenient as well. With the electronic ordering tablets it's easy to add something to your order and they have English as well so if you're not confident with your Japanese you don't need to worry about it

【Arashiyama Yusai-tei】 Let's !️ go to Kyoto≡┏ ^o^┛

The very beautiful christmas market in Yokohama. So many people gathered here to enjoy the christmas lights in the sea side area and also to enjoy different kind of food. The photo was taken from Yokohama red brick warehouse christmas market.

I photographed Mt. Nakadake from Tengugajo Castle in the Kuju mountain range in Oita Prefecture. The view from the top of the mountain is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and various expressions are shown by sunlight and clouds.

This ropeway leads to the top of mount Zao. A beautiful destination for winter lover.

Magestic view of mount Fuji. The snow caped mount fuji with early blooming pink cherry blossom. It also tells you the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. The photo was taken in month of February in Matsudayama herb garden in Kanagawa prefecture

A nice Christmas tree I found near Akabane Station. I'm pretty excited for the holidays. I like the romantic format of Christmas in Japan much more than I do the spending time with family version in America. There's something about the cold weather that makes it feel romantic spending time together with the person special to you. Another great thing about this time of year is all of the buffets! I love going to the buffets and trying all the different food. It's a much different style than the U.S. too which is fun. I can't say I don't miss eating a nice Christmas ham or turkey with some stuffing basically the same as thanksgiving lol, but what's awesome about the buffets is they always have some sort of prime rib or king crab, one really special item that everyone lines up for lol. One thing I miss is the holiday portion of Christmas back in America, but the New Years holiday in Japan more than makes up for it. Also the illuminations in Japan are always awesome. Places like Ginza, Tokyo Station, etc. always have incredibly beautiful showings. Didn't get to go to any last year, but this year I'm hoping to be able to visit at least one!

[English/Japanese] Can we see Japan from the contents of Japanese people's bags? The contents of Japanese people's bags. Continuing on from the previous article, I would like to introduce some of the things you can see in Japanese people's bags, such as their lifestyle and culture. 1 Cosmetics and hair elastics Compared to other countries, Japanese women are said to reapply their makeup more often. Have you ever felt that many women fix their makeup when they go to the bathroom? Also, women with long hair may have hair elastics in their bags. This is because when eating noodles such as ramen, it is against etiquette not to tie your hair up. Let's all be careful when eating noodles. 2 Sweets Many people carry snacks in their bags for when they get hungry. I think this is common in many countries. However, in Osaka and other parts of Kansai, there is a unique culture regarding sweets especially candies. According to a TV program, 10% of people in Tokyo have candies in their bags, while more than 80% of people in Osaka have candies in their bags. There are many episodes of strangers from Osaka especially older women talking to you and giving you candies. There are many reasons for this, but Osaka is a city of commerce and communication is very important. For this reason, handing out candies is said to be one of the ways of communication. 3 Fans（sensu） Fans are a popular souvenir. Many people carry them in their bags during the summer. In the past few years, handy fans have become popular, and I have seen many people wearing them around their necks. However, handy fans are large in size and require batteries. In comparison, fans（sensu） are very compact and easy to store in a bag, so they are still very popular. Fans come in a variety of patterns and can be purchased at 100 yen stores. Please try using them not only as souvenirs, but also in your daily life. Extra: Stuffed animals Japanese people are said to be overworked. The daily commute is packed with trains, and the stress is just too much. I've heard that more and more people are putting cute stuffed animals in their bags to relax for a while. It is said that if you gently touch the stuffed animal in your bag when you are sitting on the train, you will feel less stressed. In Japan, a lot of stuffed animals with characters such as Kitty and Pokemon are sold. You should definitely try to find your favorite stuffed animal. Have you had a chance to learn about the life of Japanese people? By the way, our school has a dormitory on the floor above the school, so you don't have to stress about commuting in the morning and can concentrate on your studies. We also offer online school explanations, so please feel free to contact us. Can you see the Japan from the contents of Japan's bag? ② Continuing from the previous article, I would like to introduce the life and culture of Japan that can be seen from the contents of the bags of Japan people. 1 Cosmetics and hair elastics Compared to other countries Japan it is said that women have to fix their makeup more often. Have you ever felt that many women fix their makeup when they go to the bathroom? Also, women with long hair may have a hair elastic in their bag. That's because when eating noodles such as ramen, it is a violation of manners if you do not tie your hair. Let's all be careful when eating noodles. 2 Sweets Many people put sweets in their bags when they are hungry. I think this is common to all countries. However, in Kansai, such as Osaka, there is a unique culture regarding this confectionery especially candy. According to one TV program, 10% of people in Tokyo carry candy in their bags, while more than 80% of people in Osaka carry candy. It is common to hear episodes where people in Osaka especially elderly women who do not know talk to them and give them candy. There are many reasons for this, but Osaka is a city of commerce and values communication. Therefore, it is said that handing out candy is one of the ways of communication. 3 Fan A fan that is also popular as a souvenir. Many people keep it in their bags in the summer. Handy fans have been all the rage in the last few years, and I've seen a lot of people hanging them around their necks. However, in the case of a handy fan, the size is also large and requires batteries. In comparison, fans are very compact and easy to put in a bag, so they are still very popular. Fans come in a variety of patterns and can be purchased at 100 yen shops. Please try using it not only as a souvenir, but also on a regular basis. Extra Stuffed Animal Japan people who are said to be overworked. The daily commute is stressful with crowded trains. I have heard that the number of people who put cute stuffed animals in their bags has increased recently, wanting to heal even a little time in such days. When you can sit on the train, you can gently touch the stuffed animal in your bag to relieve stress. Japan, many of the characters such as Kitty and Pokémon are sold. Please try to find your favorite stuffed animal. Japan have you been able to get to know people's lives? By the way, our school has a dormitory on the upper floor of the school, so you can concentrate on your studies without stress on your morning commute. We also offer online school explanations, so please feel free to contact us.

Fuji from Lake Yamanaka If you wait for the sunset at this place on 2/11, you can meet Diamond Fuji

Fuji from Lake Yamanaka If you get off the express bus, this scenery

I found a Saitama fair in Ueno station and they were selling my favorite sweets 十万石まんじゅう!! I highly recommend this to anyone going to Saitama 😊

The beautiful cityscape along with the great view of Mount Fuji from the cruise in Yokohama red brick cafe cruise

Enjoying the blue hours and christmas market in Yokohama red brick warehouse. The photo was taken from Osanbashi International Cruise Terminal.

【Toji Temple Light Up】 It was a very beautiful light-up. Out of time I couldn't take a slow picture It's a shame.