Good by 2006

Only a few hours are left in 2006.
2006 was one of the years when many things happened to me, and could be turning point in my life. I think I was able to have good re-start in Kyoto this year. A couple of years have passed somehow since I last polished my shoes, though I liked do it by myself. I thanked them and polished them. Cleaning everything around us is custom at the year end in Japan. Hope 2007 will become truly good year for all!

Home Theater

My room is so small and I was afraid that if I put television in my room, it makes my room further smaller. So I introduced projector system to see the satellite program.

Although screen size is not so big (about 1.0 m by 0.7m) due to short distance between the wall and the projector, I can enjoy CNN, BBC, Discovery channel and National Geographic channel on the screen. This system is pretty good, but two additional remote controller were added in my room…

Traditional restaurant in Kyoto

A secretary at my lab, Kobori-san, is a member of traditional family who has lived in Kyoto for long years, and sells traditional Japanese food. So she is very familiar with the local restaurant. Usually Japanese restaurants in Kyoto have social status. The appearances of entrance occasionally make us hesitate to enter, because we can not imagine what expensive food they are serving.

So I may have not used this restaurant with such a traditional entrance.

But the foods were very reasonable and good taste during lunch time. They are serving vegetable dishes. The round one is egg plant with miso sauce.

My bro’s wedding party

I did not imagine that I would have such a day. But it was really nice day. It would be greater if they have had it at Hawaii during I stayed there. I would have managed all of settings including reservation of church, restaurant facing to the beach and rent a limo… Congratulations!　Happy and Forever!

Well, but the bottom line is that I am so happy for the fact that they’ve decided their new room near the Ocean Research Institute, where I’ll have many chances to visit for chemical analyses. It’s located within 2 min walk from the institute. Free accommodation!

This is usually the most exciting scene, when bride and groom give message for their parents and friends at the end of the ceremony. But this time, 4 year old boy felt dizzy and got injured just 10 minutes ago. So the emergency services (people with light blue color shirts and white helmet) came to the room and slowly passed behind them. No moved tears, just laughing… OK no problem. Make a good family filled with a lot of smiles-.

Dinner at Iuri & Ilsa's house

I’ve decided to pass my wind surfing gears to Iuri, he’s just started to learn it. It was my pleasure. He was from Panama 10 years before, and then he knows well about how it’s so tough to live in USA at first. He and Chris always made me laugh in Maui. Ilsa cooked vegetarian lasagna for our dinner.

You know, baby of duck will follow the moving thing which they watched just after being born. They believe that that’s their mother. Likewise, Ilsa had been my eternal boss, because she was a convener of our session at 9th Internal Coral Reef Symposium, which was my first experience to join International meeting. But now it turned out that she is Iuri’s wife, and now I am eating her cooked lasagna. That's funny.

Endless Packing

I asked several companies to estimate shipping periods and fee of my baggage (totally around 300 kg!!!). And finally decided to use a Japanese moving company, Yamato, 'cause they offered me the shortest shipping periods. The period was priority for me. But wind-surfing gears were not allowed due to their large size. I had no time to find other company who can do that, then had no choice. Why? Biwa lake, which is biggest lake in Japan, and located close to my apartment in Kyoto, is Mecca of water sports….

Nice friends in UH

Went to sushi restaurant with Masaya, Marian, Thomas and Dan. Umm, did I use any perspective technique in this photo? Just kidding, Masaya. They were good friends in Hawaii. Unfortunately, I could not ask other many friends for dinner.Marian mentioned that Hawai'i is the sort of place that many people come and go, so one who lives here will always be meeting new friends but also saying many goodbyes. That’s right. Tokyo and New York may also such city where many people come and go. But difference would be that people become more open-minded person in Hawaii, and then we easily become good friends-. Thanks all!

Farewell Party at Dr. Abbott’s House with Botany people.

How many parties did I have at Dr. Abbott’s house during my stay in Hawaii? At first time when I came in Hawaii, I did not know even the word “Potluck party”. But this is one of culture (or events) which I wanna definitely bring back to Japan! Thank you for all in Botany!

Happy Wedding!

One of my best friends had wedding party last weekend in Tokyo. When we shared the room in dorm at University, we used to talk everything until might night. So I was so happy to celebrate him. Cherry blossom, which just start to bloom, also celebrate this happy day. In wedding party, 8 or 10 participants are usually separated to each table, and witty bride and groom arrange the table with single women and men. But this time, I was arranged into the table of their parents and relatives somehow. What? I know that we were good friend and often communicated with your parents and relatives. But, but, but, it’s different matter-. You’re not good friend-.

(Chinzan-so Chapel in Mesiro)

(Cherry blossom)

Name

Because I’ll have business trip to Japan since this Thursday, I went to barber near by. Usually I go there on Saturday, this time I did on weekday. Surprisingly, the barber was woman, but usual man. Then I suddenly pieced out the situation. The real owner can be this woman! Why I’ve not realized this fact for long time! Every time, I was a little bit nervous during hair cut, because he said he was beginner (http://blog.so-net.ne.jp/hawaiian_life_e/2005-07-08). No wonder. The name of the barber is “Jenny’s Barber Shop”. Jenny is women’s name! I did not know that…. He might be part-time barber on weekend. I’ve got to go on week day next time, too!
By the way, English nickname is funny. Rebecca is called “Becky” somehow. Robert is “Bob” or “Bobby”, not “Rob”. Real name of “Dan”, “Jon”, “Chris”, “Matt”, “Nick” and “Mike” is usually Daniel, Jonathan, Christopher, Matthew, Nicholas and Michael, respectively. I had believed that these nicknames were real name, before. Now, I’m suspicious for all of my friends’ names. Are their real names longer ones? Thomas is Thomason or something else? Celia is Celiane or something else? It’s impossible to shorten my name!

Trees with bobbed hair. It seems that they have good barber. I envy you!