Essay 2-5: Secret of Kumamoto

I guess you know Reigando(霊巌洞) of Mt. Kimpo. It is a cave where Musashi Miyamoto wrote the Gorin no sho(五輪書) about 340 years ago, and is still remaining there. I have to tell a secret of Kumamoto to you, so I am going to talk about secret of Reigando. And it is based on 2 general information and 1 secret.

First of all, I should tell about Musashi Miyamoto briefly. He was a Japanese swordsman in the Edo Period famed for his duels and distinctive style. And Musashi became legend through his excellent swordsmanship in numerous battles, even from a very young age. He is the founder of the Hyoho Niten-Ichiryu style of swordsmanship and the author of Gorin no sho(五輪書: The Book of Five Rings), which is on strategy, tactics, and philosophy.

Second, about Reigando and Gorin no sho. Around the Reigando, there's a huge statue of Musashi. Actually, Raigando is in a temple, Unganzen-ji(雲巌禅寺), and to go to Reigando, you have to pay 200yen. After paying, you can see the things of Musashi such as wooden sword, picture, and so on. Then you can find many small statues of Buddha named Gohyaku rakan(五百羅漢) on huge rock. Finally, you can go to Reigando in the temple. About Gorin no sho, it's divided for 5 chapters; The Ground chapter(地の巻), The Water chapter(水の巻), The Fire chapter(火の巻), The Wind chapter(風の巻), and The Void chapter(空の巻). It's really hard to explain about each of them, so please check wikipedia. Here are the links to The Book of Five Rings(Eng.) and 五輪書(Jap.).

Finally, it's time to talk the secret of Reigando! Near the cave, Reigando, there is a really small park named Iwatonosato Park. People living in Kumamoto city know that there's no place to see the ocean from anyplace of the city, but it definitely exists. When I went there with a friend, we were really impressed because we could see the ocean, which was the Sea of Ariake with really beautiful sunset view. Can you imagine that? It's beyond description!

As a conclusion, I recommend to go there by bicycle or scooter. If you want to use a car, that's fine, and you can do that. But if you go there by bike or motorbike, you will be able to be impressed much more because it is really hard to go there. I really recommend you to go there once, even you use car. There's a sweet spot to see sunset and to know about the information of related to Musashi.

[414 words]

Urgh!! Brainstorm!! for next essay - Secret of Kumamoto

I chose Reigando for next essay's topic.

• cave
• Musashi Miyamoto
• samurai
• Gorin no sho
• Niten Ichi Ryu
• Nice scenery
• about 340 years ago
• Mt. Kimpo
• things of Musashi
• 200/100 yen
• by scooter with a friend
• Gohyaku Rakan

[37 words]

Free Writing: Reigando

Reigando is a cave, which is the place where Musashi Miyamoto wrote 五輪書(Gorin no sho: The Book of Five Rings) about 340 years ago and located on Mt. Kimpo. Musashi was a samurai and he was a professional of Hyoho niten ichi ryu(兵法二天一流), which is mainly known for the two-sword, katana(刀) and wakizashi(脇差), kenjutsu techniques.

[55 words]

My favorite songs of Incubus

I often listen to Incubus, which is Alternative Rock band and one of my favorite bands. It was 7 years ago that I met this band, and I was a junior of junior high school. My elder brother suddenly introduced me this band and I became a fan of it cuz all of their songs were amazing for me.

1: Talk Shows On Mute (from their 5th album "A Crow Left Of The Murder")
This song is really nice song. I like this interesting melody and lyrics, and some exchange students like this song too. The lyrics are loosely base on George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" and Philip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". I guess I put the video of this song before, I'm not sure you can see the video on this blog though... :P

2: Anna Molly (from their 6th album, "Light Grenades")
I like the guitar sound of this song, which drives me crazy. And this song is really interesting The title, 'Anna Molly' is a figurative name meaning girl who does not exist. If you listen to the lyrics, you can figure out the meaning.

3: Dig (from "Light Grenades")
This is a story of love. According to the music video of this song, a dancer discovers the importance of a relationship through the art of dance. I like the melody of the song.

4: Drive (from their 3rd album, 'Make Yourself')
This is the best song of them for me, and it is the one of the songs of the album which I met them then. Also the music video is one of the coolest music video I have ever seen. The song is what is widely described as mellow. And it is very relaxing and positive ambiance.

5: Stellar (from 'Make Yourself')
I like the melody line of the song, which is really beautiful, I guess. It makes me like...

Click the each title, and you can go to YouTube and can watch each video!

[324 words]

My job

Now it's 5th period, and I'm working as an assistant in a class at building 14. Actually, I'm not allowed to do something for fun, but the class is really boring and easy to work. I have almost nothing to do in the class.

My job, as I said above, is assistant in classes which students use computer. I began this job when I became sophomore. Everyone can get this job if you apply for this on December. When I found this job last year, I applied for this job immediately. I tried to make my friends to work with me, but no one accepted because they weren't interested in the job. So I felt like I'm sure there's no friends in workplace, and the job must be boring. However, when a meeting which is for people who applied for the job was held, I found a few friend, I felt really happy because I don't have to be negative any more.

Now, the form to apply for this job is announced in the e-campus center's homepage. Whoever wants to work here can apply for this job, and it's really easy to get it. (Here is the link.) The Eibei students are needed because some classes use not only PC but also English at the same time like writing class. So shall we work??

[222 words]

Northern Europe

I've been interested in Northern Europe since I've became friends with a girl living in Finland. And where I really want to go in Northern Europe is Finland influence of her. Of course I want to go to other countries in Northern Europe; Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. According to people who have been there before, all countries of them are really beautiful. I think so too, I have never been there though. But I can imagine with pictures, stories of people, and talk with the girl. I'm planning to go there during the life in America as a trip once. I don't know when, but I'm thinking, winter break or spring break is going to be fine, but for me, winter break is better than spring break because I probably can see aurora there, it's really really really cold though... I have to ask 2 exchange students from TX to figure out about when is winter and spring break. After that, planning is going to easier!

[168 words]

BR 2-01: Stories of Magic Ponies

I read 'Stories of Magic Ponies' this time for book review. The reason why I chose the book this time is that the title of the book was catchy. Actually, this book is for girls but I don't care about that because this is one of the books everyone can read.

This book has 3 contents, and each content, of course, is different and interesting. I want to talk about Chapter 1 this time, which is 'The Beauty Contest.'

Star who is one of magic ponies won the beauty contest 2 years in row. She had a confidence to win the contest next time, although every pony wanted to to win. Coco was among those who wanted to win, so she worked hardest of all and stayed up all night to make a wonderful cloak of silver. On the day of the contest, her cloak made ruined by Star but she didn't know who did that and didn't have time to make new one. She was so sad and slept till the sun set under a rose bush. Suddenly, she had a nice idea. At the contest, Star was sure she'd win, but Coco came there with thick with rose petals. Butterflies danced over her back and a garland of flowers hung from her neck. Who was the winner? Star? or Coco?? Result will be appeared when you read this book...

The story was interesting, and I could see a face of females, I mean hidden face to get a prize and not let someone else win. But it's not only female, but it's also male, I know. To win something, people sometimes use bad way, right? However, if people could won by that way, we are definitely not happy. So I thought we always should be fair on everything!

[297 words]

Best Mrs. Doubtfire review

I nominate this essay for best review of Mrs. Doughtfire.


Link: Essay 2-03: What's your justice? (Auther: a*roxie)


I didn't leave a comment on auther's blog actually, but her review was really nice, which was separeted and was easy to read and understand. And she wrote some things I didn't realize when I was watching the movie. Those are the reason why I nominate the essay.

[64 words]

Boot Camp!!

I just decided to do a boot camp sometimes from now on. Have you heard the words, 'Boot Camp'?? Well, someone has heard 'Billy's Boot Camp' before, which is a diet program made by a real soldier of Armed Forces of the United States. But I don't mean about that this time. Oh, I don't explain about 'Boot camp' yet. It is a training program for freshman entered to Armed Forces of the United States. Of course, I guess you can imagine how hard and tough it is. Yeah, I don't do that. Okay, the boot camp I said first means to post blog with 1000 words. My friend is doing like that because he doesn't have much time to post regularly. And a teacher named that posting as 'Boot Camp'. I know it's crazy, but he has already done 4 or 5 times!! Can you believe that? ...He did it.

Well, I just noticed that it is really hard to write something with 1000 words. Can I finish that?? I don't think so, but I'll try to do that because I just decided to do boot camp!! Firstly, I'll talk about Friday (14th of Nov.). After finishing class on the day, I went to downtown in order to buy new contact lenses. I usually buy them at Eye-City, and buy 2 weeks lenses. I bought them as usual, and I went to Tower Records in PARCO of Shimotori. I found a new band there, 'Hollywood Undead'. And I heard their songs a little bit, which were cool, but I didn't buy any CDs there because I didn't have much money to do that. But I perhaps will buy some good CDs there in the future. Also I found a new band for me, which is 'Gym Class Heroes' and is (I think) famous in Japan. Their music style is hip-hop, which I don't listen to music genre usually, but I like their songs. Uh! I didn't talk about the style of Hollywood Undead yet... I'm a kinda forgetful person... So, HU (Hollywood Undead)'s music style is rock, and their songs sound like 'Linkin Park'. Sounds great huh??

After looking around Tower Records, I went to the dorm because I was supposed to meet an exchange student from Korea, and I was supposed to buy her dinner then, When I arrived there, she was cooking dinner at the kitchen because she completely forgot the promise. But I'm a calm person, so I didn't get angry and I forgave her. Then I went to HottoMotto to get dinner with 2 exchange students and 1 senpai. Usually, on Friday, there are many people in the dorm to have fun, but at that day, there were quite few people there and almost nothing fun!! So we were just chilling till 10:00pm, then I and the senpai left the dorm. Then I took her home because it's dangerous to go home on her own at night. She lives in near the Honmyoji, a temple in Kamikumamoto, with her family, and it took about 25 minutes to take her home by bike. Besides, it was cold outside, I guess it was around 5 C maybe... But riding bike is kind of exercise, so we became warm. Near the Honmyoji, I met her father, and it was soooo awkward! because, although, we are nothing about romance, just friends, I met her father and I was taking her home!! WT*!! He must thought we are dating at that time... but we aren't dating at all. Fortunately, according to her, he was drunk and he doesn't remember that. When I heard that 2 days later, I was really relived. I guess it was around 23:00pm that we said good bye.

After taking her home, of course I went home. And it took about 1 hour to go home from near the her house. However, it doesn't matter because I can go anywhere by bicycle with my iPod. During the journey to my home, I was listening to music, which were my favorites. I enjoyed going home by myself with my iPod a lot. During the trip to home, I was thirsty so I stopped at a convenience store in order to get something to drink. I bought a bottle of water with lemon flavor. Actually I didn't have money to buy it, BUT I had a quo card which worth 2,000 yen. I could buy that, and I allied my thirst. When I arrived at home, it was 0:10am, I felt really tired. But I had a thing to do, I don't remember that though. However, I went to bed immediately because I had a make-up class next day...

Those are the things on Friday. How many words did I write till here?? Let's see... 796 words!! 200 more words I need to write... I don't wanna do any more this time... so let's call it a day!! I'm sure I'm going to try this boot camp, but I don't know when.

[830 words]

Essay 2-4: My Community Life

Speaking of community, what community do you belong to now? There are many communities in the world. Even though I don't belong to any communities now, I can talk about my past community, which is Basketball club in high school. Actually it is the last choice that I can talk about this time and is the last community that I was in. This is the reason why I chose this community. So I will talk about 3 main points; about the club, things I learned, and friends.

First of all, let me talk about the club. I began to play basketball when I was a junior high school student, and I belonged to a basketball club. But on this essay, basketball club means not junior high's one, but high school one. I belonged to basketball club when I was in high school. The team was small, I mean not many people (about 15-20 people), and was not so strong. We had practice everyday, and the coach's policy was 'Quality is more important than quantity.', so every practice was really hard. Of course, when the coach got angry, we had extra practice menu. Even though we had hard training everyday, our best prize was the top 16 in our prefecture.

When I became a junior, I became a vice captain of the team. Unfortunately, the captain of the team who has a good personality was not so trusted somehow, so I had to do most of things instead of him, which made me strong. For example, I had to discipline people well, to help people when somebody has a problem, and to do almost everything like that. But I learned many things though the experience of it. Besides, I learned many things from the practice, which are importance of responsibility for sure, of not giving up, how to behave as a leader, and so on. Anyways, if I didn't be the vice captain of the club, I'm not the person at the present.

All of team mates are friends for sure, and I keep in touch with them. They are important friends for me because they shared all joys and sorrows with me. In addition, I definitely couldn't work well as a vice captain without them. They often cheered up me when I was in a trouble, and they understood my feeling all the time. Therefore, I always believed myself and team mates, and enjoyed practice and games. By the way, I'm often said crazy and funny. I admit it, but it was them that people made me funny and crazy because they are also funny and crazy.

As a conclusion, belonged to the basketball club was such a nice experience for me. Actually, I hated almost every parctice menu, but I didn't give up because my friends were there. If basketball were a individual sport, I give up easily. Basketball is a team sport, that's why I didn't give up practice and games. Now I don't belong to any clubs and don't play basketball (actually I can play it if I want whenever and wherever), but I got precious thing instead of it, which is frinedship. Those are the true reason why I chose this community as a stuff in order to write this essay. I hope you have a good community life!

[549 words]

Outline for Next essay: Community Life

Introduction

• Introduction about my community
• Reason why I chose this community

Body

• About the club
• Things I learned
• Friends

Conclusion

[39 words]

Free-writing: Basketball Club

When I was in high school and junior high school, I belonged to a basketball club. I was in the roster as a 6th-man in junior high school, and I was in roster as a vice captain and starter in high school. Almost everyday I practiced basketball, and every practice menu was really hard. But they were really good for me too because I could improve my physical and mental. Sometimes I wanted to quit the club but I didn't do that because every time I noticed I love basketball. I don't belong to any basketball club, I sometimes play basketball with my team mates when I go back hometown. I still love basketball, and now I check NBA everyday. Basketball is part of my life. If I didn't meet it when I was in junior high school, I don't love it now. I know basketball is really tough and hard sport, but it's really exciting sport ever!

[158 words]

Urgh!! Brainstorm!! for next essay - Community LIfe

My past community, basketball club

• sport
• high school
• junior high school
• NBA
• America
• favorite
• border less
• my experience
• friends
• practice
• vice captain
• slam dunk
• voice
• physical
• mental
  

[27 words]

NBA!! NBA!!

Finally NBA (National Basketball Association) 2008-2009 season has opened on October 28th!! And almost everyday at least 1 or 2 games a day and times more than 10 games a day are held. Basketball is kinda winter sport I guess because the beginning of the season is the end of October and the season is continued till June.

Now 30 teams belong to NBA and they are divided to conferences, Eastern and Western conference. In each conferences, there are 3 divisions. In the Eastern Conference, there are Atlantic, Central, and Southeast divisions. And in the Western Conference, there are Southwest, Northwest, and Pacific divisions. And there are 5 teams each in each division. They play 82 games in total, and 8 high-ranking teams in each conference go to Playoff. It is a tournament, and every game is going to be crazy! I mean more exciting because each team aims at the champion. On Playoff Final, the top teams of each conference play to be the champion. It's really exciting more than Playoff! When the Final is over, the season is over.

I often go to the official site of NBA to check the result of each game, what's new, and so on. And I watch videos of games. I can find what happened on a day easily, and it's good to improve my listening to skill. Here's the official site of NBA, so check it out!!

http://www.nba.com/ (English)
http://www.nba.com/japan/ (Japanese)

[234 words]

About a girl.

Finally, I found a music video of 'The Academy Is... '. The song name is 'About A Girl', which is from their new album 'Fast Times At Barrington High'. This song's melody is really nice huh? And the voice of the vocal is really nice, too. So, this song is one of my favorite their song, and this band is one of my favorite bands! I feel kind of same thing as the lyrics, 'Can't breathe when I'm around her', when I'm with hot girl. I guess every man is so. Anyway, I like this song and band, and I hope you like it too!!

[105 words]

Busy days

I'm busy these days because of such a bad homework, 3 nomikai, and school festival. I have to finish writing a report by tomorrow, which is already completed though. And I have another homework, which is not for any classes, but for students who will go to overseas as exchange students. I'm among those who go to overseas, and all I have to do is I have to make an outline by Tuesday. But I do nothing for it yet now and I'm still thinking of it because I don't have any ideas to make that. Any ideas?? :S

On Halloween day, October 31st, I went to Halloween party which is held at the dorm. I drunk alcohol there, and after the party, I stayed a friends house but we stayed up late, although we were tired and kinda drunk. On December 3rd, I went to a birthday party for a Korean student. I ate and ate, and I drunk alcohol too. The party was continued till 11:30pm, then I went to a friends house and I stayed there again. Last Friday, I had the house, and we had Nabe-party. Of course I drunk alcohol again, and I stayed there as always. I'm a such a badass.

Finally, I went to the school festival called Takumasai as a customer because I don't belong to any clubs. On the 1st day of the festival, I didn't come. I was doing a homework hard. On the 2nd day of the festival, which is the next day of Halloween, I came to the festival by myself and I bought 3 friends lunch. I bought 2 kinds of 지짐이 (Jijimi), 2 kinds of 불고기 (Bulgogi), and 4 types of fried whale. It costed 1600yen in total, but as I said, they were on me! I'm such a nice man! No just kidding... And I bought an agepan-ice which is icecream in fried bread. It was really good! It became one of my favorite foods!! ...Yeah, those're why I'm busy these days. But it's not so busy I guess. I can do anything!!

[346 words]

MR 2-1: Mrs. Doubtfire ~Smile and love are perfect~

I watched 'Mrs. Doubtfire' for the first time, which is classified as comedy movie. This movie is not only interesting and funny, but this movie is also touching. I found that humor makes people laugh and love makes people happy, which I was taught by Daniel of this movie once more. In this time, I'm going to write about smile and love. First of all, let me talk about a main character, Daniel, and the story briefly.

Daniel is a voice actor who has a wife working as an interior designer and 3 children. However, he doesn't work hard, and he always wants to play with his children. His wife got angry, and then they divorced. But after divorced, he still wanted to play with his children, so he decided to be a housekeeper to meet his children. It's because the wife needed a housekeeper and he has a wonderful voice skill, though finally his wife found who is Mrs. Doughtfire is...

Because he is a voice actor, he is really good at changing his voice. Besides, he has a He worked hard at ex-his house as a housekeeper. Sometimes he is strict to the children, but he is their father who loves them a lot so he tried to make them smile somehow. I know it's really tough to do that, and I know it's also really hard to do that. But he made an effort to make them smile, even if it's housework, which he is inexperienced. Consequently, the wife and children look happy and were made smile.

If they didn't divorce like that, I mean if he didn't love children a lot, he didn't become that housekeeper. Before divorcing, he treated children with a lot of love, he didn't do any housework though. There are many different kinds of family styles in the world. This family is one of them, and my family is too. All I can say is that most of parents love their children, even if they get divorced. We have been growing up for 20 years with parents' lots of love. Parents are great, and we do have to respect and love them because time is limited and there is no guarantee that you can treat them as your parents did. Therefore, we have to be appreciated everyday and to repay our favor to them. I thought about that once more.

As a conclusion, I just want to say that we have to keep smiling because it's "fortune favors cheerful homes." Smile has a power to invite fortune and to make us happy. And one more thing I just want to say that we should love other people because love has a power to make people happy as well. Here is my one of favorite quotations, "As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." Let go of our negative outlook on life, and always maintain positive attitude! If we do so, we can make people smile.

[498 words]

Outline for Mrs. Doubtfire

Introduction

• how I felt
  
• things I thought

Body

• Daniel. His voice
  
• smile
• parents' love

Conclusion

• conclusion

[38 words]

Urgh! Brainstorm!! for Mrs. Doubtfire

love
humor
divorce
performance
disguise
relationship
smile
emotion
conflict
familial ties
parental love
different style of families
house maid
confidence

[19 words]