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Weekly Topics/Archive
April 2008
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From last Saturday，I took a three-day two-night trip to Karuizawa with
my wife.
First day，we took the 14:04 supper express "Asama" bounded from
Tokyo to
Nagano.
As the train approached Karuizawa station，we were able to see beautiful
Mt.Asama
where around the summit was covered with snow through the train window.
It was very convenient for us to go from Tokyo to Karuizawa because it
took only an
hour and a few minutes by the Nagano Shinkansen.
Mr.Tada who was an owner of the yacht and always taught me many things about
sailing when I enjoyed sailing in his yacht came to the station and picked
up us.
We were invited to his cottage in Karuizawa with another yachting partner，M．M-san,
at the invitation of him．
It nestled among the grove of some larches within five minute's drive
from the station.
It was a brand-new white cottage built one year ago.
His wife welcomed us warmly.
As I've heard from him before，information technologies were well introduced
in each
room．
We were really comfortable for relaxing because its space was kept in constant
temperature using energy-saving thermal protection system.
Also，Smart Artificial Intelligence System ( Smart-AI ) and AI-Net system
which his
company hold were abundantly introduced in this cottage.
Each room didn't have any switches.
The lighting and locking controlls for rooms can be operated with one touch
of a button
on the touch pannels or PDAs.
As the informations about each appliance get linked with AI-NET and connected
to
computer，anyone can operate them anytime，anywhere and remotely via computer.
And also crime prevention is perfect because his cottage is equipped with
the security
camera.
As the proverb says，seeing is believing.
Even my wife who was ignorant about IT said to me these systems could greatly offer
a good business opportunity to housing industry from now on.
Public spa，
Tonbo−no−yu. |
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After we relaxed and rejuveenated our tired mascles at
an outdoor bath of public spa, "Tonbo-no-yu", in Hoshino-onsen
near his cottage，we came to Japanese restaurant, "Sujue",
on the old Karuizawa street and joined M.M-san for dinner
there.
We relished Japanese dishes made from seasonable produce，while we enjoyed
a glass of locally brewed rice wine.
It was really a blissful moment.
As Karuizawa was located on a plateau about 1,000 meters above sea level,
the temperature dropped down to around five degrees Celsius after evening
in this
season.
So，I truly felt coldly.
Second day，everyone went out to buy some fresh-baked breads for breakfast in early
morning，while taking their dog for a walk.
Karuizawa street in early morning |
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The bakery was on the Karuizawa street.
It'said that John Winston Lennon， who was an English rock
musician and one of the members of "The Beatles"，used to
buy at this bakery when he had stayed at a hotel in Karuizawa.
Karuizawa street in early morning was empty and very quiet as might be
expected.
After breakfast，we went sightseeing in the neighborhood of Karuizawa like
Shiraito-no-taki，Oni-oshi-dashi-en and a church made of stones，while driving
by his car.
I and my wife got him to send to a resort hotel，XIV Karuizawa on the way to his
cottage.
It was one of her company's resort fasility as its corporate membership.
Shiraito-no-taki |
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K.T-san，thank you very much.
We relaxed ourselves at an outdoor bath here again，while we
enjoyed the rich green of Karuizawa with the fresh breeze on
our skin.
And then，with a glass of local brewed rice wine, we relished
the fresh taste of the season again.
Anyway，my wife seemed to be very much pleased that she could quite enjoyed
hot
spring.
I thought it would be a good memory of trip to Karuizawa that we had a
pleasant time
at his cottage．
［Note］ supper express bound from Tokyo to Nagano ； 東京発長野行きの特急
cottage ； 別荘， yachting partner ： ヨット仲間、 at the invitation of 〜 ； 〜の招きで
come to 〜 and pick someone up ： 〜へ誰かを迎えに来る
nestle among 〜 ； (家・村などが) 〜 の中にたたずむ，立っている、 ｌａｒｃｈ ： カラ松
grove ： 林，小さな森、木立、 within five minute's drive ； 車で5分以内のところにある
brand-new ： 真新しい、新品の， energy-saving ： 省エネの
thermal protection system ： 断熱システム、 AI ；人工知能
abundantly ： ふんだんに，豊富に，with one touch of button ： ワンタッチで
get(be) linked with 〜 ： 〜と繋がっている、remotely ； 遠隔から、遠くから
crime prevention ： 防犯、 Seeing is believing. ； 百聞は一見にしかず
be ignorant about 〜 ： 〜に無知な、 housing industry ： 住宅業界
rejuvenate ； に元気を回復させる， relish ： 賞味する
locally brewed rice wine(sake) ： 地酒、 blissful ： 至福の、この上なく幸福な
〜 1,000 meters above sea level ； 海抜1,000 m の〜、 fresh-baked ： 焼きたての
empty ： 人通りのない、 as might be expected ： さすがに
corporate membership ： 法人会員
Japanese Diary No.57−2008.04.15 / 「軽井沢旅行」
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| Cherry trees in full blossom around the golf course |
Last Thursday，I enjoyed friendly
golf with my old classmates who
lived in Metropolitan area.
We played golf on the course
where one of them living in Chiba
arranged near his place for us.
It was a course on a relatively
gradual hill having 27 holes.
It was sunny day，so we sweated
slightly with temperature of about 20 degrees.
But it was an ideal day for golf.
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom around the course.
So, we felt as if we came here to watch the cherry blossoms.
We could play comfortably because we started playing as the last group
in the morning.
As we chose a reasonable type of golf plan in this golf club，we played
with an old
type of golf cart we've never done recently.
I used to play golf in this familiar style on the course at the river terrace in my youth
I begun golf，so I remembered the good old days.
And we also thought it was the best for our health to play golf using
a cart without
caddie.
But one of my partners felt a great deal of muscle pain in his leg after
playing due to
the lack of daily exercise.
As for my score，I don't want to talk about it because it was too bad.
In spite of practicing golf at the driving range for two days the week
before the last
week, I couldn't play on the course as good as at the driving range.
Recently，my score became worse and worse every time I played.
Something must be wrong with me.
Not only my tee-shots but also iron-shots and putters were unusual.
I really had a change of heart like I would be happy if I could enjoy
golf.
Basically, I think my swing is quite different from the correct one.
Anyway, I'm going to try to modify how to swing as correctly as possible
till coming
competition in Izu with my old classmates.
I believe if I could keep the basic swing by doing it，the good score would follow.
[Note] gradual ; (勾配が)なだらかな, ゆるやかな、 sweat slightly ； 少し汗ばむ
familiar ； お馴染みの、 river terrace ； 河川敷、 in spite of 〜 ； 〜であるにもかかわらず
Something must be wrong with 〜 ； 〜はどこかおかしい
have a change of heart ； 心境の変化を来す
Japanese Diary No.56−2008.04.04 / 「同窓懇親ゴルフ」
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