Weekly Topics/Archive
May 2009
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From Sunday to yesterday，I took an overnight trip to Kumamoto for a class
reunion.
This time，one of the old classmates living in Fukuoka of Kyusyu, Wada-san
organized it
at the hot-spring resort hotel on the foot of outer rim of a crater of
active volcano, Mt.Aso.
It was because all the past class reunions were held in Kansai or Kanto
region.
I used the special discounted fare service called "Sora−wari"
for seniors aged 65 or over by
ANA.
And so I could get by with a round−trip airfare of just 18 thousands yen
between Haneda and
Kumamoto Airport.
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| I took 13:20 p.m. ANA flight 645 for Kumamoto |
Eleven classmates were at the class reunion.
Two mates were accompanied by their wives.
We got picked up at the airport by a courtesy bus to go to the hotel.
After arriving at the hotel, we relaxed with outdoor hot spring bath.
From around 6:30 p.m., we had a dinner party，while talking about we've
been getting along and
so on.
After that, we had after−party at the lounge as usual.
We enjoyed informal conversation each other, while drinking some alcohol.
On the following day, we were divided into two groups for tennis and golf
and enjoyed them.
I enjoyed golf in its group.
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| Golf course of Aso Resort Grandvrio Hotel Golf Club |
Before playing golf, we took a commemorative photo with guys of tennis group
on the ＃1 tee-ground of out course against the background of beautiful
mountain range.
For some reason，I was in top condition through the round.
I could clear less gross score than 90 for the first time this year.
Off course，I had the best score.
But I couldn't win any prize because it was friendly golf without any prizes.
After golf, we took a hot spring bath at the golf club.
And then we said our good-byes to mates taking different routes from me
to go back home.
Some of us came to Kumamoto airport by courtesy bus and then had a late lunch there,
while drinking a glass of beer or a bottle of sake.
Luckily, I was able to take an earlier flight to Haneda than previously
planned.
Anyway, I could have a pleasant class reunion.
Wada-san, thank you for your great support.
[Note] on the foot of 〜 ； 〜の山麓の、 outer rim of a crater ； 外輪山
special discounted fare service ； 特別割引運賃サ−ビス、 Sora−wari ； 空割
get by with 〜 ； 〜で間に合う、 round−trip airfare ； 往復航空運賃
be accompanied by 〜 ； 〜を同伴する、 get picked up ； (車で)迎えに来てもらう
courtesy bus ； (ホテルなどの)送迎バス、 after−party ； 二次会
enjoy informal conversation ； 砕けた会話を楽しむ、be divided into two groups； 二つの組に分かれる
commemorative photo ； 記念写真、 against the background of 〜 ； 〜を背景にして
mountain range ； 山並み、 for some reason ； どういうわけか、 be in top condition
； 絶好調である
 Diary / No.149−2009.05.26 / 「九州開催版クラス会の同窓会」
Picture / Trip / 「九州開催版クラス同窓会」
I got some free tickets for the exhibition "The National Treasure
ASYURA and Masterpieces from
Kohfukuji" held in the Tokyo National Museum from my brother living
in Nara the other day.
The ASYURA is one of the image of Buddha called "The Devas of the
Eight Classes".
He has worked for Kohfukuji again since last year after he retired from
work.
As I could have time to look at the Asyura，I visited the museum at the
Ueno park on May 14th.
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The poster of the exhibition，The National Treasure ASYURA
and Masterpieces from Kohfukuji |
As you may know well，the swine flu has been spreading very rapidly all
over the world from
Mexico and some patients were found in Japan recently.
Just to be safe, I went out wearing a white mask.
The exhibition has been held to commemorate the 1，300th anniversary in 2，010 of Kohfukuji's
foundation in Nara.
The museum says a large variety of excellent treasures have been exhibited
in accordance with
the project for reconstruction of Central Golden Hall.
So I heard the exhibition have won great popularity and its hall was full
of visitors every day.
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| A long line of visitors in front of the entrance |
It's been more than a month since the exhibition started on March 31st.
Then I guessed the congestion in the hall might be relieved.
But I was very surprised to see visitors had to wait about 70 minutes to
enter the hall.
Actually, there was a long line of them waiting in front of the entrance.
Since it was disgusting for me to turn back and visit here again the other
day, I reluctantly decided
to wait in line.
I could enter the hall at last around 4 p.m. after about an hour.
There were two exhibition rooms on the second floor and each of them was
very crowded with
visitors.
After I got the brochure about the exhibition at the entrance, I first
looked at the exhibits at the first
room.
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| The standing ASYURA |
The themes of the exhibition in
the first room were "kohfukuji's
foundation and the Buddhist cultural
artifact of Central Golden Hall."
And in the second room，they were
"the reconstruction of Central Golden
Hall and "Recreative Central Golden
Hall by virtual-reality image."
As might be expected，the standing
ASYURA was fantastic.
It has a kind of unique religious mood.
That's because it has three neat and
clean faces which their looks differ
from each other and raise six great
characteristic arms like the legs of
giant spider crab in the air.
The ASYURA has also such looks
as seems to cool down sadness
in its fresh and girlish features.
But somehow, it has a kind of friendly
mood and compelling attraction.
There was a crowd of visitors around the ASYURA and those who were fascinated with it were
very slow to leave there.
I looked at the exhibit taking about one and a half hours，standing all
the time.
Anyway, I enjoyed the beauty of some excellent images of Buddha representing
the Tenpyo
Period, thinking of the ancient period over 1,300 years ago.
［Note］The Devas of the Eight Classes ； 八部衆、 Deva ； (ヒンズｩ-教，仏教の)神
masterpiece ； 代表作、 swine flu ； 豚インフルエンザ、 patient ； 患者
just to be safe/just in case ； 念のために、 reconstruction ； 再建
win great popularity ； 大好評を博する、 congestion ； 混雑、 here is a long line of 〜 ； 〜の列が続く
disgusting ； しゃくな、不愉快な、 wait in line ； 列に並んで待つ、 brochure ； パンフレット
Buddhism cultural artifact ； 鎮壇具、 Central Golden Hall ； 中金堂、 giant spider
crab ； 高脚ガニ
cool down one's sadness ； 悲しみを沈める、 girlish ； 少女のような、 feature ； 顔立ち、容貌
compelling ； 人の心をつかんで離さない、 somehow ； どういうわけか
be fascinated with 〜 ； 〜に魅了される，〜にうっとりする、 think of 〜 ； 〜に思いをはせる
Diary / No.147−2009.05.15 / 「国宝 阿修羅展の見学」
Picture / Pilgrimage to old temples. / 「国宝 阿修羅展」
I've been so busy for these three weeks that I hardly had time for updating Weekly Topics on
my Home Page.
So, I summarize some topics for the past three weeks on this article at
one time.
From Apr23rd to 25th, I went on a two night trip to Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture.
I was at the class reunion at the hot−spring resort hotel, the Kobe F&F
Park near the Spas
of Arima.
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| The hot-spring resort hotel in the Kobe F & F Park |
We relaxed with delicious cuisine，enjoyed hot spring and the friendly golf
competition on
the following day.
After the golf，we went to the Japanese−style restaurant in Takarazuka
city by car and had
another party combined with an awarding party with classmates who weren't
at the class reunion.
Fortunately or not, I won the booby prize.
On that night, I stayed at the place of one of the mates living in Takarazuka
with another mates.
Third day, I went to Otsu in Shiga Prefecture and visited some pieces
of real estate with
my sisters-in-law which might live there in the near future.
I'm thinking of moving to a new house somewhere in the Kansai region or
Yokohama.
Now we have to walk up the nineteen font steps to get to the door.
It's because my house might be inconvenient to live if we would get older
and older.
They arranged for me to look over some subdivision lots for sale.
I came back home marking some pieces of lot in country town，Kusatsu out
as the candidate site.
From Apr28th, I went on a overnight trip to Kusatsu again taking my wife
totake a look at their
lots.
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| The subdivision lots for sale in Kusatsu，Shiga Prefecture |
At first, I intended to decide our new land within that day.
But we couldn't do that because my wife was pazzled about which lot to
choose.
And so, we came to stay at the hotel one more night.
On the following day, we looked over them again from morning.
At the end of the day, we decided to buy a lot within the flat subdivision.
On that day, I stayed at my brother's place in Nara and relaxed with his
family.
On May1st, on the way home from Nara, I visited Byodoin temple in my hometown
of Uji, Kyoto
Prefecture.
As you may know well，it's a designated World Heritage Site.
It's been 3 years since I visited there.
I enjoyed the fantastic view of the national treasure, Phoenix Hall, while
walking across the
courtyard.
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| The Phoenix Hall of Byoudoin Temple.(National treasure.) |
Last Wednesday，I enjoyed friendly golf competition in Chiba with golfing
guys in my
neighborhood.
Luxury, I won third place and got 7 thousands yen as the prize.
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| The golf course in Chiba in the rain |
Like this，I've been very busy and got a little bit tired.
For details, please click and visit the following Diary and Picture.
Diary / No.143−2009.04.27 / 「シニア空割」を利用して「関西いこい会ゴルフコンペ」へ
Diary / No.144−2009.05.08 / 「土地物件の品定め(1)」
Diary / No.145−2009.05.08 / 「土地物件の品定め(2)」
Diary / No.146−2009.05.09 / 「京都・宇治 世界遺産 平等院拝観」
Picture / Golf / 「関西いこい会ゴルフコンペ」
Picture / Golf / 「第44回やんちゃ会ゴルフコンペ」
Picture / Pilgrimage to old temples / 「京都・宇治 世界遺産 平等院」
[Note] update ： 更新する、 The Spas of Arima ； 有馬温泉、 fortunately or not； 幸か不幸か
booby prize ； ブ−ビ−賞、 look over 〜 ； (土地・家などを買う前に)〜を下検分する
subdivision lots for sale ； 分譲地､ mark 〜 out as --- ； 〜に--として目星をつける
candidate site； 候補地、 walk up the front steps ； 階段を上がる
intend to do something ；(何かを)する予定である、 within that day ； その日のうちに
be pazzled about〜 ； 〜の選択に迷う、〜で迷う、 come to 〜 ； 〜する羽目になる
Phoenix Hall ； 鳳凰堂、 golfing guys ； ゴルフ仲間
 TOPベ−ジへ戻る
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