Weekly Topics/Archive
July 2009
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The day before yesterday，the entire nation was excited about the obserbation
of a solar
eclipse because it could be seen for the first time in 46 years in Japan.
From the morning，the TV stations also broadcast live the event from some
places in the
zone where a total solar eclipse could be observed.
Unfortunately, the weather was bad at some places in the zone like Tokara
Islands
in Kagoshima prefecture and so on, and so people who joined the observation
tour to such
places was looking up the sky，while praying for the weather to improve.
I gave up looking at the solar eclipse because it was cloudy here in Yokohama.
But luckily, I could look at a partial solar eclipse clearly between slowly
moving clouds for
about five minutes from around 11:30 a.m.
I could see the eclipse clearly with the naked eye when it was slightly
cloudy.
It was because clouds worked as a kind of filter.
When there were no light clouds, I couldn't see it in the sparkling sunshine.
I tried to take digital photos of it several times, but I couldn't do
that well.
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An image of a partial solar eclipse
from a NHK TV program |
So, I put an image of the eclipse from a NHK TV program in this paragraph
similar to that
in Yokohama which I looked at.
After that，I watched live TV programs about a mystic total solar eclipse
from different places
in the zone.
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A total solar eclipse observed on the Pacific Ocean
(from an image of NHK TV program) |
Anyway, it's marvelous for the sun to be completely obscured by the moon
during a total
eclipse.
According to a special guest commentator，it's because there happens to be the following
two geometric relations between the sun, the moon and the earth.
Radius of the sun is about 400 times longer than that of the moon, and
distance between
the sun and the earth is about 400 times longer than that between the moon
and the earth.
The commentator said we will not able to observe a total eclipse again
for another 26 years.
And so, I guess this might have been my last chance to observe it because
I will be ?? years
old if I would do that next time.
Anyway, it was very good for me.
Hi, everyone, how did it go ?
［Note］ total solar eclipse/an eclipse of the sun ； 皆既日食
be excited with ～； ～で沸き返る、 partial solar eclipse ； 部分日食
observation tour ； 観測ツア－、 with the naked eye ； 肉眼で
in the sparkling sunshine ； 眩しくて、 marvelous ； 不思議な、 obscure ； 覆い隠す、見えなくする
mystic ； 神秘的な、 special guest commentator ； 特別出演の解説者、 geometric ； 幾何学的な
be ～times longer than ---；---と比べて～倍の長さである
might have done ； だったのかもしれない (発話時からみた過去の推量)
how did it go ? ； どうでしたか？，どんな具合だった？(結果を尋ねる)
Japanese Diary / No.164－2009.07.23 / 「皆既日食」
Taking three-day weekend from last Saturday, I went to Nara and Osaka to
have a meeting
on the specifications for layout of my new house and so on.
In Nara, there are sales branch of the housing supplier which my nephew has worked for
and the exhibition portion of some model houses from some housing suppliers.
I had a meeting here with a first class architect and him on the layout of two rooms
we requested.
One of our request was about feature of Japanese room right in front of
front hall.
It was resolved by a little bit of reduction of area of the front hall
that the architect proposed.
Another one was to make a hallway leading to the washroom and the bathroom
from the
spare room on the first floor.
I could say that it would be a room for my wife when she would become disable
in her
older age.
We spent much of our time to resolve this critical issue.
It's such a difficult issue that make a new hallway without reduction
of area of both
washroom and bathroom next to the spare room on the existing floor plan.
We decided to accept the architect's proposal after we debated ourselves
whether it was the
best solution in this case.
It meant the existing horseshoe-shaped stairs going to the second floor is changed for the
L-shaped one.
With this change，we were forced to rearrange the toilet on the second floor.
But we decided to accept it because we knew it doesn't affect the whole
layout of the second
floor.
Anyway, we were so relieved because our greatest pending issues were resolved.
It was after 5:30 p.m. when our meeting was finished, and so I left here
with my wife for my
yongest brother's place which we were scheduled to stay overnight.
His wife cooked some delicious dishes for us.
We enjoyed dinner wiith his family, while drinking some cold beer with
them.
Thank you for your concern.
On the second day，we visited the headquarter of the housing supplier in
Senri-chuou,
Osaka with my nephew by his company car.
On the way, he stopped at houses built for sale of his company and showed
us some house
exterior for our information and reference.
At headquarters, a young female interior coordinator joined the meeting with the first class
architect and him.
Since there were many samples for exterior and interior design with some
model rooms here
in the show room, it was very convenient for us to make a final decision
on them.
We had a meeting on some specifications about the exterior wall and the roof of a house like
its material, colour and design, and then part of interior decorations
like them of flooring,
windows, doors and shutters.
Since we were able to weigh options with many design samples，receiving useful suggestion
from her, it was very convenient for us to specify them.
We wrapped up the meeting around 5 p.m.
We have to specify more and more interior decorations.
We said our goodbyes after setting a date for the next meeting.
The next day，I was going to enjoy golf competition in Kamakura.
It was sprinkling in Osaka.
I took the Shinkansen train while I felt anxious about the next day's weather
condition.
［Note］ a first class architect ； 一級建築士、 front hall ； 玄関ホ－ル
feature ； 造作、 hall way； 廊下、 I ( We ) could say that ～ ； 言ってみれば～みたいなものである
spare room ； 予備室、 debate oneself whether ～； ～であるか思案する
change A for B ； AとBを取り替える、 horseshoe-shaped ； U字形の、 L-shaped； L字形の
rearrange ； ～の位置を変える、 Thank you for your concern. ；お心遣いいただきありがとう
be forced to do ～ ； ～せざるを得なくなる、 first class architect ； 一級建築士
company car ； 営業車、 stop at ～ ； ～に立ち寄る、 houses built for sale ； 分譲住宅
house exterior ； 住宅の外観、 for one's information and reference ； (人) の参考のために
exterior ； 外装、 interior decoration ； 室内装飾、 weigh options ； 選択肢を比較検討する
specify ； ～の仕様を定める、 wrap up ； (会議・仕事など)切り上げる
feel anxious about ～ ； ～を気にする、～を心配する
Japanese Diary / No.162－2009.07.21 / 「新築家屋の間取り等の打合せ」
Last Wednesday, I had a complete medical checkup for the first time in
six years.
It took just a month to have the checkup after I made an appointment for
it.
Throughout my entire working life，I used to be forced to have it in a
company's hospital.
After retirement from work, I got lazy about the chekup and have never
done that.
One of the resons for this might have been because I didn't have any particular
subjective
symptom of desease.
As the company's hospital was too far from my home, I decided to have
the checkup
in the nearest hospital which was desinated by Specific insurance Society
for the retired.
It was Kanagawa Health Service Association located at Nihon Odori St. in
Yokohama.
As you may know well，Japan is enjoying the highest level of longevity
in the world.
With increase in an aging population due to low birthrate and longevity,
arguments and
informations about health after aging become more common in the world.
In such an environment, my wife also pays more attention to her health
than other
people.
It seems obvious from her taking various kinds of supplements.
My real motivation for the chekup this time was not because I had some
subjective
symptom, but because my wife urged me to have it.
The reason she did that might be because I've been not only heavy smoker
but also heavy
drinker.
Finally，she started bothering me，telling me, ”You should have enough time
for the checkup
because you play around all the time without working.”
Six years have passed since I kept on saying, ”I'll have the checkup. I'll
have the checkup.”
She might have got irritated.
She threatened me，telling me, ”Hi, I never take care of you even if you'll
become disabled
if you don't have a complete medical checkup.”
I got to the hospital with samples of faces and urine before 9 a.m.
When I get to the reception desk, it was very crowded with many people
in pajamas without
reference of age or sex who were waiting their turn to have a medical checkup
in the hospital.
I saw at a glance that this hospital has been entrusted with a complete
medical checkup
for some company's employees.
Some goverment-controlled foundations have been nests of officials dispatched
from the
governmental agency.
Although the existence of such unaccountable foundations is becoming a political and social
problem in these days，foundation like Health Service Association is of
great significance
in existence.
The test items in the checkup were quite the same as I had six years ago.
The taste of barium sulfate I took before radiographic exams was also exactly
the same as
before.
After all the medical test，a doctor interviewed me about medical history
and lifestyle habit,
while looking at my interview sheet.
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A booklet tittled guide book for
people trying to quit smoking
which a doctor gave me |
I had to fill out interview sheet and check yes or no to some
question in advance.
As I checked "No" to the question，"Do you intend to quit
smoking from here on ? ”, I was asked a question about the
reason as expected.
I answered him frankly that I've been addicted to nicotine.
And then he gave me a booklet titled guide book for people
trying to quit smoking.
It was a guide book about how to quiit smoking by TTS method.
What will I do now ???
I finished the checkup smoothly after 11 a.m. due to an efficient and
skillful checkup system
of this hospital.
Anyway, I really look forward to the result，but am feeling some anxiety
about it.
I've paid for expensive health insurance every month.
And so I honestly felt that I had better have a free complete medical checkup
once a year.
The date for the checkup was around my birthday until six years ago.
But I decided July 8th，a day after the day of Tanabata, as the day for
my checkup from now.
［Note］ complete medical checkup ； 人間ドック
throughout one's entire working life； 現役の間はずっと
be forced to do ～ ； 強制的に～させられる、 subjective symptom ； 自覚症状
Specific insurance Society for the retired ；特定健康保険組合
Kanagawa Health Service Association ；(財)神奈川県予防医学協会
longevity ； 長寿、寿命、 aging population ； 老齢人口
become more common ；ますます増えている、 take a supplement ； サプリメントを摂る
urge someone to do ～；～するよう強く迫る、 play around all the time ； 遊んでばかりいる
kept on saying ； 言い続ける、 become disabled ； 体が不自由になる、 faces ； 便
urine ； 尿、 reception desk ； 病院の受付、 without reference of age or sex； 老若男女を問わず
wait ones yurn to do ～ ； ～の順番を待つ、 see at a glance that ～ ； 一目で～だと分かる
be entrusted with ～ ； ～を受託する、 foundation ； 財団法人
governmental agency ； 行政機関、 unaccountable ； 不可解な、奇妙な
officials dispatched from ～；～から天下りした役人
be of great significance in ； 大きな意義がある、 barium sulfate ； 硫酸バリウム
radiographic exams ； レントゲン(X線)写真検査、 medical history ； 病歴
lifestyle habit ； 生活習慣、interview sheet ； 問診票、 be addicted to ～ ； ～の中毒にかかっている
booklet ； 小冊子、 feel some anxiety ；一抹の不安を感じる
Japanese Diary / No.160－2009.07.11 / 「」6年振りの人間ドック」
This Sunday, I enjoyed sailing for the first time in about a month.
I took the 8：20 limited express，"Odoriko" at Yokohama to Atami
as usual.
I arrived at Atami 25 minutes earlier than time appointed for meeting and so enjoyed a free
open-air footbath set up for tourists in front of the station.
According to the guide plate，this footbath use the hot－spring water from
an intermittent
spring shooting into the air.
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| The footbath making use of the hotspring water from an intermittent spring
nearby |
I got picked up with our captain by two of our members to go to the marina
in Ito.
On the way to the marina, we bought some cans of beer at the supermaket
and some baits
at the fishing goods store.
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| The Aioi Ⅳfloating on the sea in the morning (Photo by tamma-san.) |
We left the marina around 10：30 a.m.
It was cloudy as the weather forecast said.
The sea was calm but foggy and so we couldn't see Hatsusima island clearly.
After having a sail off the coast of Ito for a while，we enjoyed a drinking
party on the deck,
snacking on some tasty appetizers which Mr.Katayama, a chef in this boat，prepared
for us.
After that, we anchored in the sea near the coast and got a break for
lunch.
We had squid ink spaghetti for lunch which our shef cooked on the deck.
I've never eaten such suppaghetti but it was very good.
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| We had a break for lunch, anchoring near the coast of Kawana (Photo by
tamma-san) |
I also enjoyed fishing during this break time.
I fished only a small alfonsino，a kind of sea bream.
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| What a big fish this is! (Photo by tamma-san) |
While all of this was going on，it started to sprinkle.
Almost crews couldn't help but feel that they have to be back to the marina.
But Mr.Bruce made a request to the sky for its stopping rainning soon.
To our great surprise, it stopped raining after a while.
Oh My God !
So, we could have a sail for another hour or so.
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| The Aioi Ⅳ running off the coast of Kawana (Photo by tamma-san) |
Anyway, though in such a rainy season, we enjoyed nice sailing without
much of rain.
［Note］ for the first time in ～months ；～ケ月振りに、 time appointed for meeting； 集合時間
footbath ；足湯、 an intermittent spring ； 間欠泉、 bait ； 釣り餌
fishing goods store ； 釣り具屋、 have a sail ； 帆走する
snack on appetizers ； 前菜をつまむ、 get a break for lunch ； 昼食のため休憩する
squid ； イカ(魚)、 squid ink spaghetti ； イカ墨スパゲティ、 alfonsino ； 金目鯛
sea bream ； タイ（鯛）、 while all of this was going on ； そうこうしているうちに
it sprinkle ； 雨がぱらつく、 can't help but do ～ ； ～せずにはいられない
make a request to someone for ～ ； (人)に～をお願いする、 much of O ； たいした～
Picture Picture / Yacht Sailing / 「宴会ヨット・セ－リング」
Japanese Diary / No.159－2009.07.09 / 「宴会ヨットセ－リング」
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