Highways Not for Free and Service Areas!

Hello, everyone! How are you? Today, it was rainy all day! 

So, today, I went to Mie prefectural Hall and Tsu City Hall. Tsu City is the capital of Mie, by the way. Why I went to those places? You could guess the reason.

Anyway, today's topic is "Japanese highway." As you may know, I used the Meishin Highway yesterday to go to Ryuo Outlet Park. Today, I used the 2nd Meishin Highway and the Ise Car Road. I entered the 2nd Meishin from Seta Higashi and got out of Tsu. The following video is a part of the way to Tsu and Tsu city sceneries.

Yeah, I really love driving or riding on a highway (although it was rainy today). This is because I can drive faster! haha Of course, I drive safely. ;) 

However, why do all Japanese highways cost us money??? I understand that people who work for highways must take care of the roads... but... hmmm I wish if we could use highways for free anyway! 

By the way, Japanese people, of course, know about サービス・エリア(Service Area), right? But, just in case, for foreigners who don't know what it is, Service Area is like a gas station with many food and souvenir shops. Japanese people use these shops rather than refilling gas. This is because each Service Area has its own speciality. 

For example, today, on my way to home, I visited Ano Service Area. I had Ise Curry Udon noodle there! 

安濃(Ano) Service Area

Ise Curry Udon Noodle

Gochisousama deshita! :) It was tasty! 

Also, you can buy other things in each area! Such as: 

Ise Shrimp Food

Ise Green Tea Sweets

Moreover, I visited Tuchiyama Service Area after Ano one! haha 

Food shops! 

土山Service Area in Shiga

I looked at some souvenirs! 

These are made in Shigaraki

You can take picture of you becoming tanuki or ninja! 

Yeah, I am sure that we can enjoy all service areas in Japan! I want to visit all service areas in Japan someday! 

That is all for today's post! Thank you!

P.S. I got a letter about the award from Kansai Gaidai University! 

Yeey! xD

Small Japan

Hi, everyone... how are you today? It was Sunday... I hate Sundays, and tomorrow is  Monday. I also hate Mondays... 

Okay, as usual, I went for a jog in this morning. I have started to think that I should run more. This is because after I run, I don't feel as tired as before. Maybe, I gained  muscles. 

After that, I decided to go to Mitsui Outlet Park Ryuo in Shiga to see if there were good shoes. I visited some footwear shops like Nike, Hawking  etc.  However, I could not find shoes that fit my feet... If I pay more money, I can buy shoes that fit my feet. Yet, I didn't have enough money today. 

Anyway, that is why the title of today's post is "Small Japan." I mean that I am bigger than normal Japanese men are. So, I understand how difficult to find something that fit me. But, there should be market that bigger Japanese people will like. I know that there are some shops that sell big sized things like Shimamura I told you last time. But other shops cost us more money. I hate it. I miss America! 

By the way, in order to get to the mall, I used the Meishin Highway. I often go there on normal roads. And then, it takes more than one hour! However, today, on the highway, it took less than 30 minutes! But there is a toll: 350 yen... :( 

The parking lots in Ryuo Outlet Park

Eventually, I didn't buy anything... haha I just looked around there. So, it was a unsuccessful shopping today. 

After I came home, I took a small nap. And I had dinner: Udon noodle with vegetable, shrimp, and chicken in a hot pot! It was tasty! 

Well, today was not a good Sunday. I hope that tomorrow and the days after tomorrow will be better! See ya~! 

Fashion Center Shimamura!

Hello, everyone! How are you? I hope that you are well! :)

Okay, today was kind of a shopping day! But it started afternoon. So, first, I will tell you what I did in this morning!

Do you think that I went for a jog in this morning? Actually, no, I did not. This is because I had to go errands with my mother. She just needed my help, I did not have a choice that I refused her asking. What I did is that I drove to a bento shop to pick about 30~40 bento boxes. (By the way, bento is a packed lunch in a small box.) Fortunately, I got one of the bentoes. :) It was good! However, there was lots of rice... not good for me who is on diet...lol I ate all, though. haha

This is called Sake/Shake Ben, which means grilled salmon bento!

After I had the lunch, I went shopping to buy some pieces of clothes! However, as you know, I am big... (that is why I am diet, though...haha). And so, it is hard to buy clothes that fit me.... I miss cloth shops because all clothes fit me! haha I wish I lived in America and lived there!

Anyway, I was wondering where to go shopping. I thought that "Fashion Center Shimamura" would be good! This is because I heard that they sell cheap clothes. However, I was not sure if there were what I can wear because I had never been there! By the way, for me, the cheap is the most important! So, please don't think it is funny for me to go to Shimamura! lol

As soon as I arrive at the shop, I headed to men's fashion place. LUCKILY, I found large-sized clothes corner! haha I guess, I was there for about one hour and half to see what shirts would fit me... I eventually bought four shirts and soxes! Each of them were surprisingly cheap!!!!! each was for about ¥1,000~1,500 or $10~15!

After that, I honestly went to another Shimamura! haha It is located very near! However, I got a traffic jam... If there was not a jam, I could have arrived there for 15 minutes. But it took about more than 30 minutes... it was okay. I expected that there would be a jam. That often happend on the road. The following video shows you the road. I took the video the other day when I rode my motorcycle. The road is my favorite, though.

I finally arrived at another Shimamura. It is smaller than the one I was first. But some pieces of shirts were cheaper! Damn, I should have bought them here... haha It was alright. I bought one wine red color jacket ( I don't know if I can call this jacket).

I really like something red! That is why my motorbike is red! haha Anyway, I like this jacket! :) haha 

Okay, after I finished shopping at another Shimamura, I went home! 

... Are you asking me if I went for a jog today because I did not in this morning? 

I DID WENT FOR A JOG after I came home! It was at around 5:30 PM, though... It was getting dark. To be honest, I was scared when it got really dark! haha I didn't have any light... And it was cold! The temperature was 0 C or 32 F!!!! 

On finishing jogging, I made salada and mapo tofu! 

Lettuce, cucumber, fake crab and boiled egg! 

Mapo tofu

These dish are not for diet, you think? No, I believe healthy! haha I didn't eat all of the mapo tofu. I was so full after I ate salada actually because I also had miso soup, too. 

Yeah, that is all for today's blog! It was not a bad day! :) See ya~!

The First Happy Thing in 2013!?

What is up, everyone! How are you? 

Okay, today, this morning, when I woke up and saw outside, it was snowing!!!! That is why it was very cold while I was sleeping. Actually,  snow flakes were kind of melting while they were falling. So, it was a mix of rain and snow. Due to that weather, I could not go for a jog in this morning. However, afternoon, it was just cloudy, so I could run eventually! Yey! 

Also, I planned that I would go to another city's board of education today. But I didn't. This is because I need to drive on a highway, but I thought that it would be dangerous to drive on a highway while snowing. In fact, when I checked the website of the highway, there was a warning about snow and speed regulation. 

By the way, should  I be happy or upset(nervous)? You can see why I ask this question.

Happy?

or

Upset(Nervous)

Happy? St. Valentine's Day!

Hello, guys! Happy St. Valentine's Day in Japan and America! How did you spend today? As you may know, the Japanese St. Valentine's Day is very different from the American one. I prefer the American one! A man should give a women romance and love! haha Never mind! LOL

What I did today is that I first went for a jog as usual. I have been wondering about one thing: since last week, there have been pink high heels by roadside... What are the heels? I am kind of scared... Did anyone leave it by roadside? It is strage. 

After I had udon noodle as lunch, I rode my motorcycle. Actually I went around my school, Kansai Gaidai University. Well... I don't like the road around Nakamiya Campus. There are a lot of traffic: many cars, many scooters, and many pedestrians. :( It is very stressful to ride there. haha

The video above is my riding around Hirakata!

By the way, when I came home, in the post box, there were several envelops. One of them was from Kansai Gaidai. That was my transcript! Yes! I can graduate and get teacher's license officially! I just need to wait until 9th, March to receive my certification. Also I heard that students who have gotten more than average 90% of their grades of all classes will call each of their names on our graduation ceremony. Is that for real??? I think that my grades are more than 90% on average, so I hope my name will be called on that day! 

Also, I got 100% on the class of English and American Literature History! Yeeey! (But I don't know why I made it?)

Still Security There?

Hi, everybody! How is it going? Is it cold? Yes, it is here! How about in your place? (I am getting to wonder with what words I should start on this blog. haha)

Today! Of course, I went for a jog! It was a little bit snowing, but it was okay. I wore a few layers, so while I was running, I was rather sweaty.

By the way, before I went for a jog, I called the Board of Education in my city to ask if I could visit them to turn in an application form of teacher. Mr. F told me that I could, so I made an appointment at 2:30 PM.

After I had vegetable soup I made as lunch, I took a small rest. (The vegetable soup was so so, but a little bit salty. :(  )

After that, I wore my suit and left for the city hall by car. I could go there by train, but, as you know, I like driving. So I chose by car.

... However, that happened to me again! That is, I lost my way to the city hall. Whenever I go there and get close, I lose my way! I hate that area near the hall. It is very complicated!

Fortunately, I arrived there safely, and I headed to the office of the board of education.

As soon as I entered a parking area, I found out that there were a lot of cars (you can see how many cars there were), so I was wondering if there was a place that I could park. Luckily, one car left, so I could park my car very soon.

By the way, some cars in Japan have a yellow plate that means 軽自動車(Kei Jidousha), literally "small car." That kind of car has less than 660cc engine.

Aokiji/Kuzan appears!?

Hello, everyone! How are you? I am fine! Thank you!

So what did I do today? Last night, I could not sleep well again... When I closed my eyes, I thought about many things that made me not fall asleep. Although I didn't sleep well, I went for a jog as usual. Surprisingly, I could run better than I expected.

After that, I took a look at the websites of several cities' board of education. And I thought that I needed to call them about teaching jobs. By the way, I had been thinking if a teacher is a good job for me. But no matter what others say, I believe that  it is for me. I like children and want to help them to develop themselves "physically" "mentally" "academically", etc. And so, I printed out some application forms of the cities that I haven't submitted yet.  And I got some pictures of me wearing my suit. And then, I filled out the forms. I don't know what will be happening to me, but I will do my best for myself, students I will see, and "...."

By the way, are you wondering why the title is "Aokiji/Kuzan appears!?" and what "Aokiji" is. Maybe some of you who like One Piece know what it is, actually who he is.

Just in case for those who don't know about him, here is the description about him.


Kuzan (クザン Kuzan), better known by his former alias Aokiji (青雉 Aokiji), is a former Marine admiral and the first one to be revealed. He was nominated by Sengoku for the position of fleet admiral. However, after losing the position to Sakazuki, he resigned from the Marines. Along with the other Marines he is one of the main antagonists of the Marineford Arc.

Kuzan is an incredibly tall man and is roughly the same size of the other two admirals Sakazuki and Borsalino, the last one clearly taller than Brook. In contrast to Borsalino and Sakazuki, Kuzan is younger than his colleagues.

His standard outfit consists of a white button-up vest over a long-sleeved navy blue shirt and matching white trousers and shoes. He also wears a yellow tie divided geometrically by black lines and a sleep mask on his forehead. During his preparations for the war against Whitebeard, Kuzan has a white Marine coat draped over him like a cape, as did the other admirals. He also is seen wearing a green and purple sleep mask at all times two years ago from the present timeline.

After the timeskip he wears attire similar to the outfit he wore during the bombardment of Ohara. This consists of a blue bandana and a dark blue trench-coat along with black pants and a white deep v neck shirt. He also now wears black cowboy boots and travels with a knapsack carrying his belongings along with his old pair of green round sunglasses. He, like his rival Sakazuki, has also grown facial hair, namely, a thin mustache and a beard.

After his duel on Punk Hazard, Kuzan has a scar that covers his right shoulder, goes up his neck and down to his hip. His entire right hand is also scarred almost up to his elbow. He has also lost his left leg to just above his knee and uses his Devil Fruit ability to create an artificial prosthetic limb made of ice.
(Retrieved from http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Kuzan) 

Aokiji after quitting the Marine Admiral)

Left: Borsalino, Middle: Sakazuki, Right: Kuzan

Now that you know who Aokiji is, I hope! 

And so what about him? He appears finally in the episode of this week's Shonen Jump! I think that he had not appeared since the War between White Beard Pirate and The Marine Army. (He appears in the movie, "One Piece Film Z" but that is special.) See the following picture!  When Smoker is in dager by Donquixote Doflamingo, Aokiji appears, saying:

"あらら・・・ちょっとごめんな兄ちゃん。そこどいてくれるか。友達なんだよ。" If I translate what he says, it may mean that: "Well... Sorry, young man. Can you get out of my way? He is my friend."