Pointe Shoes

These are my new point shoes.

I am happy to have "FREED" which is the points' make in London. I bought them in Paris. I was so happy to buy them because my dance teacher recommended me.

I tried them and they are stable, indeed.
I couldn't turn a lot before, but I could turn with a left foot, too!
During the summer, there are not so many classes of the ballet. But if I have chance, i would like to practice dancing with them!!!

Mountain "Le Môle"

I went to the mountaine called "Le Môle" in Frace.
It is close to Geneva, and we can see it from Lake Leman.


Here, this is the view from the top of the mountain.

Can you see the white mountains??
It is "Alpes" including Mt. Blanc.

Actually, sometimes people misunderstand that Mole is Mt. Blanc because during the winter, it is white and it looks sharp and beautiful. However, Mt. Blanc and Mole is quite different!!

in fact, it is steep around the top.
This is the view from a shoulder of the Mole.

As I twisted my left ankle last Wednesday, it was a little scary for me to go down. Fortunately, I had a nice pair of shoes. So, I could safely go down.

It was sunny hot day. After the climbing, we went to the ICECREAM shop in Carouge.
Mmmmmmmmm, yam...

I was tired because of the heat and sunshine. But it was such a fine day for hiking.

Bain des paquis

These photos from "Bain des Paquis" in Geneva, Switzerland.
I went there to listen to the concert in the morning around 6 o'clock.  In Bain des Paquis, they have morning concerts from Friday to Sunday during the summer. The drink stand offers us a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate in FREE!
Actually, I arrived there 15min late. I missed the second bus which I supposed to take because the first bus is late. And so I was a bit stressed to arrive there.
"Oh, maybe I can not get into the concert", I thought before arriving.
NOOOOO! It was so relaxing concert and many people were arriving and leaving. I could get free coffee and enjoyed the concert.
Some people came to swim around. In fact, this is the place to swim during the summer. I thought the water is still cold but it is not so so cold. Maybe, I can try to swim next time.
After the concert, I had a picnic breakfast with my friends. One of my friends brought a tomato, some chees, a bottle of fruit juice, etc.... I brought some bread. Our picnic was impressive!
It is hard to wake up at 5o'clock in the morning. But it's worth trying! I was like meditating when I was listening to the music. And the picnic breakfast is wonderful!!
Bonne appetit!
Photos: 1. Rising sun from Mt. Saleve, 2. Relaxing concert
INFO: http://www.bains-des-paquis.ch/pages/agenda.php

Paris with my Friends

This weekend, I went to Paris.
I met my friend and tried some touristic points that I've never succeeded.
Why I say "succeed" or not??
...because I once tried to climb up to Tour d'Effel and Arc de triomph but both are so crowded and I gave up the idea.
This time, I tried Tour d'Effel at first. But it was again so crowded. As it was hot and I wanted to go shopping, I gave up.
Next morning, I tried Arc de triomph. The que was not so long, and I finally succeeded to climb. It was beautiful day and the scenary from the top was great!!
Another purpose of going to Paris was to buy some staffs for Ballet. In Geneva, it is hard to get nice wear for dance class. Therefore, I went to the shop for dance wear and bought leotard, tights and toe shoes. Especcially, I wanted to buy toe shoes. When I started to practice with toe shoes, I bought "repetto" in Geneva.
I didn't know that they have more choice or not. But after several lessons, I started to realize that it is not so bad but I feel uncomfortable with this shoes. It is really important to find nice one for ballet. If not, I will have a pain. When I was 6 or 7 years old, I started to practice with toe shoes and I had a pain. My foot is difficult because it is flat foot. So I was anxious about my foot.
This time, I bought two types of toe shoes; one is "bloch"(Australian maker) and one is "FREED" (English maker). Bloch is recommended by the dancer of Opera National de Paris and FREED is recommended by my dance teacher who has also flat foot.
I feel bloch and FREED is really different but both seems good. For myself, FREED's shoes are more comfortable, but they are so hard. Maybe I will make them softer before I dance with them.
Anyway, I am looking forward to dance with these shoes!!
PHOTO: Arc de Triomph.

Jogging

I started jogging last month.
In fact, I'd run sometimes, but not regulary.
As my friend suggest me to run Geneva Marathon last month, I started running regulary.
I didn't attend Geneva Marathon because I was afraid to be exhausted and couldn't have worked next day.
Now, I am focusing on Davos marathon (not full but 10.5km for the starting) and Lausanne marathon in october (demi marathon).

I didn't like to run before, but now I am enjoying to discover some nice spots around my house. Actually, I live a bit coountry side in Geneva. So I can find farms, wine yards, and nice restaurants called "Auberge".
It is nice to see wheat fields shining gold with the sunrise.
During the winter, it was completely white. Now it is green. And soon it will be gold!

I am sorry that the picture is winter version.
Next time, I will bring my camera and take the photo of this season.

Haru, Spring, Printemps @ Geneve

Here it's spring!

I am happy and I went out for shopping.

When I walked around the lake, I found the group of people folding cranes with the paper called "ORIGAMI" in Japanese.
I asked them what they are doing. They said they are folding cranes for asking WHO and IAEA to have the agreement to disclose the information.
I just want to cry "Let's stop using the atomic energy!"
However, it is not easy. And this action with crane can be small. But I would like to do something.


I will consider what we should do now. If I can agree with them, maybe I will go to the demonstration in front of the Place Neuve or UN. I am not sure.

I just want to let you know that there are some people thinking about the nuclear power in Japan and in the world.
Here, there are photos of them making cranes beside the lake.



Link to their homepage(1000grues)

Working for a cafe

Hello! I haven't written for a long time. I accepted by a professor in Geneva University in Switzerland, and will go to Geneva this summer. I don't know when I can go to Geneva actually because staying permit is under examination now. I quit my previous job related to disaster prevention in the end of April, but I need money for dairy life. Therefore I work for a cafe in Yokohama, now.
This cafe's name is "Lina's sandwich cafe". Original cafe was born in Paris. In Japan, there are two cafe. One is in Tokyo, and another is in Yokohama. You can eat delicious sandwich and dessert in this cafe.
I really enjoy working here. My colleagues are so friendly and gentle. Moreover, I can eat sandwich at a staff price. Staff price is about one-third of regular price. Sometimes, I can eat some dessert because it's almost passed over.
Last friday, I made an Italian dessert named "Tira mi sù"there. My colleague who is good at cooking taught me how to make it. Once I tried to make it, but unfortunately I couldn't whip fresh cream well. I wanted to know a knack for it. My teacher was good and I understood the reason of my failure. I hadn't cooled fresh cream and egg yolk. And so, the fresh cream hadn't become stiff.
Yesterday, I tried again. I cooled fresh cream and egg carefully and it became stiff! After all, I successfully make Tira mi sù. This time, I used Japanese green tea in stead of coffee and cocoa. Japanese flavored Tira mi sù is so new and exotic taste.
I dolce, per favore.

Hokkaido Kazan Summit

I went to Hokkaido from the end of July to the beginning of August as my business trip. The job was to hold "Volcanic Disaster Reduction Summit in Iburi, Hokkaido". We held several symposiums and summer school to teach about disaster prevention and volcanology fot citizens around Mt. Usu and Mt. Tarumae. Both mountain is volcanoes. Mt. Usu erupted in 2000, and Mt. Tarumae erupted in 1981.

I visited Mt. Usu for 8 years ago. At that time, I was junior at Chiba University. I wanted to learn about the volcanic observaiton and so I asked Prof. Okada to teach me about the job in observatory. I stayed for 10 days and studied about volcanology and observaitons. I was really impressed that Prof. Okada thought about disaster prevation profoundly. This experience made me decide to become volcanologist.

When I arrived at a hotel in Usu, I was surprised because the hotel was near Usu Volcano Observatory. Actually, the observatory moved to the other site but the observatory I had visited 8 years ago were there. I felt nostalgy. Wow! So many memories came out. Prof. Okada stayed the same hotel and I told him that I wanted to visit the observatory. How was the observatory? Was the building stiil there? Prof. Okada said the building was still there and we could visit the observatory. Prof. Okada, his son and I visited the observatory next morning. The building was still there but the door was locked. Prof. Okada had a key and we could enter the building. There was no desk and machine but there were Prof. Okada's books and papers. These things reminded me of my motivation for my volcanic research.

I went to the crator of 2000 eruption of Mt. Usu. The buidings around the crator was damaged by the ejecta. The volcanic bomb broke the roof of the buiding and hot mud flow struck the rooms. The ground was deformed by the power of magma. Magma pushed the ground and the surface rose a couple of meters. How strong the powere of magma was! The scenery was totally different from that of 8 years ago. I regret that I hadn't come to Usu in 2000. I should have watched the eruption. I should have hear more vigrous sound at the crator. I could do something for people around there in 2000. Why I had done nothing?

During my trip in Hokkaido, I talked with Professors, official workers and people who live near the volcanoes. I think I should do something for the next eruption. The experience was precious. I won't forget this travel.

PHOTO: Mt. SHOWASHINZAN which is included in the group of Mt. USU and the field of Sunflower.

Best Cure for Cynicism

I found an interesting articles in TIME.
The Best of Asia
Here you can read many articles about Asia. One of the articles explains the Japanese amazing system.
When you lose something in the train or in the station in Tokyo, you can find it in at the office of the terminal station. Once I left my pass case in the train, I went to the office of the nearest station right after I noticed. I explained the characteristics of my pass case and what were included inside the pass case. The station staff called to the terminal station and asked me to go to the terminal station. Fortunately, the terminal station was not so far from the station I got off the train. And so, of course I went to the station. I could receive my pass case at the office of the terminal station in perfect condition. Neither my ATM card nor driver’s license had lost. The other day, my colleague had lost his cellar phone in Yokohama, but he found it in Shimbashi three days later. Everybody was surprised that he found his cellar phone three days later and asked him why he could found it. He said that the lost belongings are sent to the lost and found center at Shimbashi station and he called to the center.
If you lose something in Japan, you don’t need to be disappointed. You should ask someone how to find your belonging. Maybe you can find it though if it’s not in perfect condition. I think there’s no other country has such a good system like in Japan. Japanese are kind, gentle or sophisticated? I don’t know the reason why we can find our lost belongings in Japan. However, this is Japan!
Best Cure for Cynicism in TIME

"TOU NO HETSURI"

I went to see "TOU NO HETSURI" in Fukushima prefecture, Japan.
"TOU" means tower.
"HETSURI" means a dangerous cliff.
The sediment layer(cliff) was seen along the green river. This layer was piled up at the bottom of the ancient lake. The lake was formed as a "caldera". "Caldera" is a volcanic crater whose diamter is over 5km. Why this layer became like a tower or a cliff? This is because the water sculptured the layer.
Local people believed that the every tower was a buddist(or a god of buddism). Yeah, it was mysterious and beautiful.

I watched snow covered mountains near "TOU NO HETSURI". The two-headed mountain is named Mt. "FUTAMATA".

The scenery of many mountains are "NASU" mountains. Mt. Nasu is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan.

Actually, I didn't climb any mountain this time. I would like to climb some of the mountains I saw, this summer.

Jerry

I went to my friend's house yesterday. (my senior of our lab in graduate school) His son's name is Jerry. Jerry is not his real name. However my friend calls him"Jerry". Jerry is one year old .We played with balls and on a slide in a park near his house. This was the moment when Jerry was walking up to the top of the slide.

After the park, we went to my friend's house. Jerry may have been sleepy, however he was excited and didn't sleep when we arrived at his house. We played with balloons. When he could catch it, we clapped our hands to praise him. He also clapped his hands and the balloon fell. It was like a comedy. He was so cute!

I laughed a lot yesterday. I felt comforted by Jerry's innocent smile.

Seagal Diner

"KAMOME SHOKUDO" is the title of a movie which is now showing at the theater in Japan. KAMOME SHOKUDO means Seagal Diner. The story is that a woman named Sachie opens her diner in Finland. Two more Japanese women join her and the diner came to be popular. No special thing happens but the movie is heartwarming. Therefore the movie is popular among Japanese women now.
I watched the movie yesterday. When I read the original novel before I watched a movie, I thought that maybe the movie would be less interesting. However, this time I wasn't bored despite I had read the story. The movie is also interesting.
First, the actresses were unique and some jokes were funny. Maybe such jokes can be undestood by foreign people too, because the jokes are acted with mime. Another point is we can feel the relaxing atmosphere of the Finnish culture from the scenery and the act of the Finnish actors and actresses. The most good example is the Finnish forest. The forest is beautiful and mysterious as if a fairy came out. It seems to have a power to heal the human's heart. The last but not least, the foods are good spices of this movie! If you watch it, you will be eager to try some Japanes foods. Some Japanese foods which were introduced in the movie were the foods we usually eat in our home.
The movie is just showing only in Japan. I hope it will be translated to English and everybody can watch it. Oh, I remember that there is the movie's homepage written in English!
http://www.kamome-movie.com/english.html
Enjoy the pages until you can watch the English version of "KAMOME SHOKUDO".

Here's Japanese Cherry Blossoms

Japanese like cherry blossoms. There are many cherry trees in Japan; in the park, in the university campus and in the garden. I took the photo of the cherry tree in Yokohama park. I don't know why Japanese like cherry blossoms so much but they are really beautiful. We feel the spring is in a heyday when the cherry blossoms bloom.

Bad Day?

I was dissapointed on Saturday because I received the bad news. However I had plan to go hiking with my friend. He is my friend since we are in graduate school. He wanted to sample some rocks for his research.
We went to Mt Ishiwari by the Yamanaka lake near Mt. Fuji. We could see the beautiful view of Mt Fuji at the Top of Mt Ishiwari. Mt Fuji was covered with snow.
Later, we went northward to get another rock smple. On the way to the sampling point we dropped in the winery. My friend said that the wine of this winery is the best in Japan. Once he drank the white wine, it was soooooooooooooooooooooo good, he said. I bought a bottle of wine. I haven't tried yet. I am looking forward to drinking it.
My friend looks uncouth a little but actually he is kind and gentle. He said some words to encourage me. Also, I breathed fresh air, saw the beautiful scenery and could become optimistic. I will never give up my dream!

Here is the information of the delicious wine;
http://www.kizan.co.jp/eng/index_e.html

Black OTABE

In Japanese there are a lot of sweets made by ANKO. ANKO is the sweet bean paste. OTABE is the sweets in which the ANKO is included. ANKO was wrapped with the thin rice-cake and was dredged in the cinnamon powder. OTABE is always brown because the cinnamon powder is brown. However I saw the black OTABE today at Tokyo station. Some staffs handed out the black OTABE. I got one and ate it in my house. Then I understood why this OTABE is black. The black sesame was ground and mixed into the rice-cake. It was savory and delicious. If you like sesame, try it!
OTABE's homepage is here: http://www.otabe.co.jp/ (Japanese only)