Golden Week

These holidays start from the end of April and finish around May 5. Dubbed Golden Week in 1951 by the managing director of Daiei Films because that week brought more movie-goers than any other time of the year. This year my GW was spent camping in Niijima. Niijima is a small island about a 9-hour ferry ride from Tokyo and although its far distance (163kms), it's still considered part of Tokyo. Aki and I joined the Tokyo Gaijin (a fun outdoor adventure group). In this group there where 68 participants from 14 different countries. My friends back home in CA all know that I'm no "boy scout", so fortunately Aki was able to set our tent up and despite the fierce winds it blew down just once. We really enjoyed the beautiful white-sand beach and even got in an afternoon of body-boarding. There was also a very nice and free outdoor onsen (hot spring). In addition to all the nature and healthy bike-riding, probably the best part was meeting very nice and interesting people (both Japanese and gaijin).

Spring in Japan

School graduations and farewell parties are over. April is the time to celebrate new beginnings. At CEH, we are happy to start our second year. In Japan, "Hanami" or cherry blossom viewing is one highlight of April. This tradition started sometime in the 7th century. Cherry blossoms are such a part of the Japanese mind/culture now. Although we have cherry blossoms in my native country (USA), people don't get so excited about them. Is it because we can't appreciate the beauty of nature as much as the Japanese do? Maybe we need to adopt the custom of "hanami party" where families, friends, colleagues both young and old sit under the cherry blossoms and drink, eat, sing and drink some more into the night. I have enjoyed this custom here but wonder if it would ever pick up back home. Some Japanese will even follow the cherry blossoms all over Japan in quest of the perfect blossom. My favorite place in Odawara for cherry blossoms is the Odawara Castle. This year the peak was around April 1st. I went one week later after returning from California. It was still nice even then. Next spring, let's have our own "hanami party" at the castle!

March Madness

Can you guess what the title means? In the states right now, all the universities with good basketball programs are gearing up for the "Big Dance". The "Big Dance" is the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball tournament and you must be invited to attend. Living here in Japan, I miss this. And I miss my Sacramento Kings of the NBA. Baseball and soccer are the KINGS of sports here in Japan. Last summer when FIBA held the World Basketball Championships here in Japan, even high school baseball got more television coverage. But popularity in basketball has been growing. There are now 2 professional leagues and 20% more Japanese are playing basketball than a decade ago. By playing and watching, I have personally seen that basketball in Japan is improving. So watch out J-League (soccer)! Basketball is stepping on the heels of soccer as the world's game and I hope to see the day when people here in Japan will cheer as strongly for their National basketball teams as they do for their other sporting teams.

Japanese ritual

I just finished vacuuming my house. There were roasted soy beans scattered all across the floors in each room. No, our house isn't normally so messy. Today (or yesterday) is called "Setsubun" (seasonal division). It is celebrated one day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. It is not a National Holiday. It's more like Halloween in the United States. From around the 13th century it became a custom to drive away evil spirits with the strong smell of burning sardines. Fortunately for me, nowadays, soy beans are thrown around one's house while shouting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (Devil's out! Happiness in!"). After this, you pick up and eat the number of beans according to how old you are. I cheated a little. I just picked them and ate them out of the bag, which by the way was given to me by my nice student Kenji. And actually they tasted quite good, all 41 of them! :) 
Have a look at Setsubun festival at Matsubara Shrine in Odawara:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD--bSwsZ90

Happy New Year!

Happy new year everyone! It's 2007 and I hope you're all going to have a healthy and happy year. Yesterday was my 40 something birthday. Aki and I went swimming at the Odawara Hilton Spa. Then we ate soba at Kotobukian; eating soba on NYE is supposed to give you a long life. At midnight we went to the Ninomiya Shrine next to the Odawara Castle. We had to wait in the cold (6 C/ 42 F) for about 20 minutes to reach the shrine. We paid our respects and made our wishes for the new year. Today, we woke up early to run in the Odawara Castle Marathon. But for those of you who don't know, Japanese use the word "marathon" for any running race. In our case, it was only 4.2 K (which is less than 3 miles). Nonetheless, my knees are still hurting me! She's fine though. :)

My new year's resolution is to get into shape! What's yours? Let's keep studying English hard this year. Remember, English is a lifelong study so never give up.

C.E.H. Charity Christmas Party

Thank you CEH students for 2006

We started CEH on April 5, 2006 and have been enjoying every minute of it. We want to say thank you to all of you who have joined our school and made it such a good year.

Our Christmas Charity Party on December 9 was attended by 40 people including former LIOJ teachers Soke, Brian and Dauane along with a couple of my friends, Roger and Todd. We are very happy to announce that through your generous donations we raised 44,500 yen which will be donated to Shaplaneer ( http://www.shaplaneer.org/ ) and a charity for Nepalese children.

May you all have a HAPPY HOILIDAY SEASON!
love, Conrad