A New Start

Here is my new private blog.  New Blog

Week9 11/10 Failure on My Trip

Open Topic: Failure on My Trip

This summer, when I went to Shanghai with my friends as sightseeing, we met a couple on the street. They talked to us in Engish and asked us to take their picture. We stood chatting for a while. They said they were college students and came from Qingdao. Then the woman said she had heard a tea festival was held over there, and she invited us to go there with them. It sounded fun for me and I just wanted to talk more, so I willingly accepted her invitation. At that time, I didn't notice that my friend refused to follow them and her behavior was proved to be correct. 

I expected the tea festival would be a just tasting event and we could enjoy tea for nothing. However, they brought us to a small tea shop. A girl who seemed to be a shop clerk led us to so small a room at the back of the shop. I hadn't imagined we would be trapped inside a room, and at last I noticed that the "tea festival" meant completely different thing from what I had guessed. We were so puzzled but the clerk served one cup of tea after another. Actually, we could drink various kinds of Chinese tea and learn the history of Chinise tea. Yet, it was clear that we had to pay a lot for the tea celemony. So I couldn't enjoy it at all and sit still for a moment. All the time, I was trying to plan our escape from here. In the end, the tea festival finished. As I thought, we received a bill for each kind of tea tasting and room charge. The couple seemed to enjoy the tea festival and dissapeared to somewhere, leaving their e-mail address. After they left, my friend said "you're just unbelievable!"

I'm not sure whether they had evil intent or they just wanted to enjoy tea. But all I know is that I couldn't read the situation where my friend felt unconfortable and that I caused trouble to her. I'm sorry, my friend.....Through the experience, the lesson I learned is "DO NOT FOLLOW STRANGERS."  I seem to have completely forgotten the lesson which my mother told me again and again in my childhood.........

Week8 11/10 Nogawa

Free Topic: Nogawa



Anytime I go to school, I ride a bicycle by a river, Nogawa.

Nogawa has various faces on the season.

In spring, there are many beautiful cherry blossoms and field mustard (nanohana). The contrast of pink and yellow by the river is so impressive.
In summer, the river is filled with lush green. In the river fish is swimming, and on the river ducks are swimming.
In autumn, trees aroung the river turn color of their leaves. On a warm day stray cats bask in the sun at the riverside.
In winter, white migtant birds come to take a rest. There is only monotone color of dead leaves and deep silent.
Almost everyday I see Nogawa, but I'm never tired of it.
Nogawa is so long a river which runs across several cities.
So there may be another Nogawa, which has a new face I don't know yet.
To ride my bicycle by Nogawa from its end to end, is my dream.

Week9 11/10 How Was SE?

Fixed Topic: How Was SE? What Did I Learn during This Course?

I cannot believe the class -You: A Course of Personal Writing- was already over. The time up to today has passed quickly. As much as that, I could enjoy writing and loved this course. Of course, it was not always an enjoynable activity. As I mantion in the final class, I faced two difficulties in my writing process.

The one was the difficulty in creating someting completely by myself. The course required three publishing pieces. That's all. There was no fixed topic, theme, or genre. It was totally free writing! I had to start with almost nothing. It was the most difficult thing this time. To tell the truth, I wanted to try to write a novel or short story, but I could not extend my imagination any more.... I was really made to reflect on my lack of creativeness. I really want to know how to develop my crative ability....

The other is the difficulty in expressing someting in natural English. Especially in transration of a Japanese work, I had trouble in finding natural English words which fitted to Japanese expressions exactly. Japanese has many onomatopoeic words, but English has not so many. So even though I had what to communicate in Japanese, I couldn't tell all the meanings or just end up in unnatural expressions, as long as I used English. I really thought that I should have read more English sources as textbooks to learn how to express naturally. It was the most reflective thing in my writing.

This course was very challenging for me, but it gave me a good opportunity to reflect on myself. I have ever thought about what is love, what is my strengths and weeknesses, or someting like that. But there were just abstract ideas becasue I considered such things just in my mind. This time, by transcribing such my thoughts, I could make my abstract idas clearer and concrete ones, and I could notice how well I had thought about it or how superficially I had thought about it. Moreover, I realized I did love to write someting. That must have been a big incentive which enabled me to keep writing so far.

Finally, I would like to thank all my peers and Mark. They gave me some good advice and stimulating ideas. I haven't read all of their pieces and bloggings, so I wanna try to see all of them and learn a lot from others' pieces. I will keep the blog and continue to wtite as long as possible. I will be very glad if you read my blog and leave a comment. THANK YOU ALL!

Week8 11/6 What Do I Want My Obituary to Say?

Fixed Topic: What Do I Want My Obituary to Say?

Chihiro Goto, 100, of Copenhagen, passed away on May 15, because of natural causes.

Chihiro was a typical person who led an unremarkable life.

She was born in Yamagata, on May 15 1990. She failed to enter university, so started to live in Tokyo and went to preparatory school. In 2010, she entered ICU and spent an excited time. After her graduation from ICU in 2014, she was employed and engaged in her job.

Chihiro married and had 3 children. She kept her job while raising her children. She and her husband worked hard for their children and realized peaceful home. But her husband passed away quite young, leaving his great fortune to his family. Chihiro was overwhelmed with grief, but she swore on his grave that she would live a long life for him. 

After her retirement, she went abroad and lived with one of her children and his family. They lived in Shanghai first, and then moved to Turkey, and last they arrived at Copenhagen in Denmark, a mecca for Chihiro. She enjoyed Danish welfare system and aged gracefully. On her 100th birthday, without any pain, Chihiro went to heaven surrounded by all her children and their family. 

With her will, her funeral will be held in Yamagata, her hometown. After the funeral, her ashes will be scattered in Yamagata, Shanghai, Turkey, and Copenhagen.

Week7 11/1 Secrets of Nuts

Open Topic: Secrets of Nuts

Now I'm eating nuts. Cannot stop eating nuts. How tasty they are......!

But I notice I'm eating too much and I begin to wonder whether nuts are good or bad to our health. So I search for their effects on the health. There are many good effects, so I will pick out several things.

•  Making the skin beautiful

Most nuts contain vitamin E, which has antioxidant effect on cells. Almond contains the vitamin more than other nuts. And almond also has rich minerals, so it can help many women who suffer the lack of calcium.

• Helping liver's function

 Do you eat nuts with alcohol? There is a reason. Methionine, one of amino acids which nuts contains, can exclude alcohol and wasteful things from our body and promotes metabolism. So methionine prevents our body from having too much fats or alcohol and protects liver's function.

• Improving memory and preventing dementia

Nuts, especially walnut, have many good effects on brain and mental state. Vitamin B1 helps to decompose sugar and promotes brain's function. Choline, peanuts contains, is closely related to brain's function and dementia. 

 Nuts can keep us healthy. But, of course,  it is not good to eat too much. It is the best to eat them for 200 calories per day. It is equivalent to a handful of nuts. We should have nuts everyday for keeping our health. Then , I can eat them without hesitation. :O

Week7 11/1 What Is My View about Religion?

Fixed Topic: What Is My View about Religion?

I think everything around us can be a "religion". If someone strongly believes in something, it can be a religion. If many people believe in something, it can be a major religion. If few people believe in something, it can be a minor religion. Big religion can survive and spread many believers handing down it, but small one cannot be told widely. In thins way, religion has been selected from past to present, I think. Even any today's greatest religion, such as Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam, was also a small one in its beginning, having only a few believers.  Thus, we don't know what will be a new religion and who will find out a new religion.

Week6 10/21 What Does "Love" Mean to Me?

Fixed Topic: What Does "Love" Mean to Me?

For me, "love" means to sacrifice oneself for someone. For instance, when I care for my friend, I use my own time to think of the friend. This may not be a big sacrifice. But what about my parents? They work hard everyday in order to support me. Just for me, they sacrifice their time, labor, energy, and more! Why can they continue to work so hard? That's because there is their "love" to me.

I think it is difficult to sacrifice myself for someone, because I cannot always get something in return. Even if I make an effort to get compliment from someone, sometimes I cannot be rewarded at all. If I cannot pay back, I will be disappointed. So, to do something for someone is a very risky attempt. Such a hard risk make us hesitate to do something. From my view, when I can sacrifice myself for someone without hesitation, I can have "love" to someone.

Week6 10/20 The Success Story of Starbucks

Open Topic: The Success Story of Starbucks

I wrote a paper on the management style of Starbucks as a mid report of business class. When I gathered information of business style of Starbucks, I found there were amazing keys to their success. So I wanna tell the secrets even though briefly.

Starbucks was opened as a small coffee roasting and selling shop in Seattle in 1971. At that time, coffee was just poor-quality and dull beverage. But there, Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer, brought a thought that it would be better to establish a new fancy and romantic coffee house in European style, serving premium coffee. This idea revolutionized the coffee and cafe industry. Today, 40 years later, Starbucks has grown into one of the first-class corporations and has more than 17,000 shops in over 50 countries. 

Not only such innovative idea, but also its unique business concept is one of their recipes for success; "creating Starbucks Experience." Starbucks Experience is an experience that customers can get only at Starbucks. Specifically, customers can enjoy best coffee, best hospitality, and best environment when they visit Starbucks. All partners (all working staff are called "partners".) are given the mission to cherish the relationship with customers created through Starbucks Experience. So, partners treat a customer not as one of majority but as one precious individual. For instance, some partners remember the names of not only customers but also their children, and others saved a customer's life encouraging him. It seems that there are only a few companies which give highly place to the connection between customers and employees.

I did not know about that because I seldom go to Starbucks. But now I wanna go there and get Starbucks Experience.

Week5 10/16 What Is My Happiness?

Fixed Topic: What Is My Happiness?

I'm happy when I'm talking with my friends.

I'm happy when I get an e-mail from my family.

I'm happy when I go out with my partner.

I'm happy when I get acquainted with someone. 

But I'm not happy when I feel loneliness.

My happiness is to be involved with someone. I'm too shy and I cannot establish easily new relationship with someone. For this reason,  I feel so happy if I can make new human relationship, and I always think I have to cherish this relation and every moment to spend with people. Feeling I'm involved with somebody makes me happy.

But I do not know what is TRUE happiness for me. I think I have to continue to search for the answer in my life. I'm sure I can tell what my true happiness is when I finish my life.

Week5 10/13 What I Thought These Days

Open Topic: What I Thought These Days

When I went to grocery store in Tokyo, I saw a father and his child walking at the parking lot. The child was following his father, but the father looked aside and was absorbed in his cell phone. That day, the store was so crowded that there were many cars going in and out. I was so frustrated because the father completely looked away from his child even though there was a danger of a car hitting his child! It would be better if he held the hand of his child, but he just looked at his phone. I watched the child pass safely.......

Since I came to Tokyo, I faced such situations many times. I do not know what parents think who look aside from their children. Parents have the responsibility to watch their children. When I become a mother, I am sure of protecting my child at any cost...

Week4 10/9 What Is Necessary for Me

Open Topic: What Is Necessary for Me

I cannot live without music. That is to say, "no music, no life." 

Everyday I listen to music. Everyday I sing a song.  

I love listening to music while riding bicycle (even though a police officer sometimes tells me to stop.....) 

I love going to karaoke by myself (even though some of my friends say I am lonely.....)  

Whenever I am feeling good, music is always close to me.

Whenever I am feeling bad, music is always close to me. 

Music makes me happy. I wanna thank the first person to find music. 

But, strangely, 

music also makes me sad. I wanna blame the first person to find music.

Week4 10/4 What Are My Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?

Fixed Topic: What Are My Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?

My greatest weaknesses are…..

•  Lacking of Self Confidence (I mentioned it in my previous blog.)

•  Comparing Myself with Others

I tend to think I don't have greater ability to do anything compared with other people. Everyone, except for me, has some better abilities than others, but I don't have. I am just an ordinary person. I am always in average. I can never defeat anyone. This is my fundamental thought. (Tooooo negative! ) So, my thought starts with comparing with others. lol

•  Not Thinking Deeply

I seldom consider something. Despite reflecting on something, I always rely on instinct to make a decision. Sometimes it brings about good results, but mostly, it ends up in devastating consequences…. And because I’m not used to thinking deeply, I tend to make irresponsible comments as soon as I come up with it…. 

•  Hesitating to do something new

It takes too much time for me to take a new step, because I have no courage to do so. For me, it is so difficult to start a new part-time job, join new club activity, and speak to a new person….

• Being Short-Tempered

I cannot wait for someone for a long time. (My limit is waiting for about 10 minutes or so...) As soon as I notice someone getting in my way, I lose my temper a little bit….Be slow to anger, quick to be friend XO

As I have no self confidence, it is difficult to come upon with my strengths….hmm

My greatest strengths are…

•  Being Earnest (Sometimes)

I can devote myself to a challenge earnestly. The other day my friends said I was so earnest to do anything. But I don’t think so. I always think I mustn’t be a perfectionist, so I actually have intention to scamp my work, but….?

•  Longing for Something Different from Others

I don’t like the same things as others have. Even if there are good ideas, I try to come up with another idea. I think it is a kind of creativity. But it seems to be contradictory to my weakness I mentioned above….?  

•  Not Taking Too Seriously

It is a reverse side of my weakness, not thinking deeply. I seldom worry over anything, so I can think I have less stress than others. Such optimistic may be good now, but it may bring me danger in the future, I think…. (At that point, I’m not optimistic.)

• Having Strong Tie

I have just a few friends compared with others, but the relationship between the friends and me is so strong. I can open my heart to all the friends and they can, too. With my friends of kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, high school, preparatory school, ICU, and so on, I keep in touch now.

I cannot come up with my strengths any more!! I have to find them in my ICU life from now..... 

Week3 9/30 Do I Like to Write? Why? or Why Not?

Fixed Topic: Do I Like to Write? Why? or Why Not?

(This is a week1 fixed topic but I did just short writing. I'll rewrite.)

Yes, I like to write. Because in writing, I can exspress myself after deep consideration. I can express almost everything I want to say. In speaking, I cannot tell everything I think in my mind. I'm always unsatisfied after talking because I feel I cannot communicate enough. However, I can communicate my ideas in writing. For instance I often use e-mail to talk about a serious matter.  It is said that written words cannot tell one's real thought. But because we can be objective through letters, it is better for me to write thoughtful words than to say what I don't think. of.

Week3 9/30 Those Who I Respect

Open Topic: Those Who I Respect

I wanna write about a hairdresser I respect.

He always cuts my hair and tells me a lot of things.

One day, while cutting, he told me that he always did not use train timetables. I think many people usually use them not to be late. Of course I also check a train schedule to know what time I can get to my destination. So I asked why. He replied, "I do not have to use them." "Do you memorize timetables completely?" I asked again. He laughed and said, "No way! I don't know at all what time trains come. I always leave home so early that I can arrive in time, whatever train I get on. Everyone tells me I can stay in bed longer if I arrange my time to suit a train schedule. But I cannot understand the idea. I wanna come into work early in order to prepare myself for work rather than sleep longer.　At a glance　he seems to be just a person of few words, but it was only then that I noticed he had great responsibility and passion for his work. He is such an accomplished man !!

Week3 9/26 What Is the Most Precious Thing in My Life?

Fixed Topic:　What Is the Most Precious Thing in My Life?

One-year "blank" in 2009 is the most precious thing in my life.

In the final year of high school, I failed to enter university I really wanted to go. So I decided to go to preparatory school in Tokyo.I could choose to live by myself, but I decided to live in a women dormitory. This decision was correct, I think now.

In dormitory, there were many university students and preparatory school students. We had our own room but we had to share a dining hall, laundry room, and study room.  First I was so worried about whether I could concentrate in my learning and get along with other girls. However, not only I but also the others had the same worries, so we shared the feelings and supported one another. We studied hard and took break together. While I was in dormitory, I didn't feel loneliness at all. I enjoyed the environment.

This was also the thoughtful time for me. I learned not only academic things but also something about our view of life. I thought of how useless cramming for university exam was, how careers or education affected people's life, how hard living in Tokyo was compared to in rural areas, and so on. I had many opportunities to consider Japanese politics, economy and future, and discussed the destination of Japan with my friends. Now I'm sure I couldn't get interests in such topics if I didn't came to Tokyo and went to preparatory school.

I made precious friends and learned precious things during the one year. At that time, I was not a high school student or college student. It was blank. But It was so precious experience for me and now it has strong influence on my life. I cannot forget the "blank" period.

Week2 9/21 My Childhood Friends

Onen Topic: My Childhood Friends

I have two childhood friends, Saki and Tsuda. (Because Tsuda and I have the same name, we call her by her family name.) We met for the first time when we were in kindergarten. We were always together. I remember we were scolded by kindergarten teacher because we refused just to use shoes locker away from one another. We entered the same elementary school. Even though we were in different class, we always played together after school. However, in junior high, we came to be with other friends and had little time to talk. But we continued to keep a diary in turn (in Japanese "Koukan Note") which we had started to write in sixth grade. This diary is in my room now, but I cannot open it because it says something trivial and embarrassing for instance the name of a senior student we longed....

In our high school days and now we are going separate ways completely. Saki is in Yamagata, our hometown, Tsuda lives in Niigata, and I'm in Tokyo here. This spring we for the first time made a trip to Kyoto and Nara as a "school trip" (because my high school doesn't go to a school trip and I couldn't go anywhere while I was in preparatory school....). I was so glad because my friends said "this travel is for you." It is one of my greatest memories this year.

Tsuda, Saki, boating men, and I

We can meet only once a year and we seldom get in touch with one another. But once we get together, we talk constantly all day long. Whenever the birthday of my childhood friends has come, I always think about how long we have known one another. This year is the 18th years since we became friends. We are sure we will continue to be best friends, even though we get old.... :)

Week2 9/20 How Would I Answer the Question?

Fixed Topic: How Would I Answer the Question? (Q: Who Am I?)


To be honest, I cannot answer the question because there are many kinds of "me". For instance, I can talk a lot with my friends but cannot talk with unfamiliar people. Even in front of my friends, I behave  like a quiet or talkative person.  I think I always act each character according to people around me. I have many faces when I'm in front of my family, friends, boyfriend, teachers, neighbours, strangers... and of course when I am alone. I don't know who is true "me", but all faces are "me".

I think not only I but also everyone may play various character. From my view, anyone has multiple personalities.

The best way to answer the question is to ask others who I am. The others' answer will be correct at least, I think.

Week2 9/20 Who am I ?

Fixed topic: Who am I ?

Here is my belief self-introduction I presented on Monday.

10x10 presentation

View more presentations from chihiro5

I wanna add a little about my personality.
In my presentation, I said I was so shy.
But I think it difficult to explain my personality completely with the one word.
Of course I'm shy, but I think the best description of my personality is a lack of self-confidence.
I tend to think "I have no remarkable ability compared with others."
It may be true, but now I think I just make an excuse for failing to make efforts using the assumption.
The other day, one of my friend said "you have enough ability to do what you want to do."
At that time I didn't think so, but I couldn't forget what she said.
Her phrase gave me the opportunity to reconsider myself.
All I need is believe in my ability even if only slightly, I think now.

Week1 9/18 My Favorite Book

Open topic: My Favorite Book

I don't like reading very much, so I've read few books so far.....

But today I want to introduce one of my few favorite books,  Ao no Honoh [Pale Flame].

This is a Japanese novel written by Yusuke Kishi.

This story is a perfect-crime attempt made by an ordinary high school boy. 

The boy's father-in-law endangers his family's peaceful life.

He takes every measure to protect his mother and younger sister against his father-in-low.

Finally, he makes a decision to "delete" the root of all evil with nobody noticing.

I like Ao no Honoh because it’s an inverted story.

Inverted story means a story written from the viewpoint of a criminal, not a detective.

In an inverted story, there are many psychological descriptions in order to clear the criminal’s motive.

So it is easy to feel empathy or dyspathy, and I can finish reading without getting bored.

I strongly recommend the novel and other inverted novels J

Week1 9/15 Why Did I Decide to Take This Class?

Fixed Topic: Why Did I Decide to Take This Class?

There are some reasons why I took this class.
First, I thought I could know about myself more through this class. So far, I haven't had much time to think about myself (because I'm not interested in myself....??) I think if I take this course I can have opportunity to consider myself and find new myself.
The second reason is I like writing in English. I'm not good at expressing myself orally, but in letters, it may be easier for me to express myself, I think.. I wanna be a good writer in English.
Of course, one of the reasons is that I love Mark....:p

I want to enjoy writing in this fall !! :O