Blog#6: My favorite composers (Takayuki)

I like to listen to classical music. I introduce two composers, Frederic Chopin and Claude Debussy.

Frederic Chopin

(1810-1849)

Chopin is not only a composer but also a pianist, so his major

 works include the piano. He is called the poet of the piano. I introduce one of his works, Ballade 1st G minor Op.23.

Ballade 1st G minor Op.23

 

I like this tune because it is very beautiful and sophisticated, and I like his polonaises, mazurkas, too. These tunes are Polish folk dance. His music are taken root in patriotism for his country, Poland.

By the way, in this video, piano player is Vladimir Ashkenazy. His performance is so good and my favorite.

  

Claude Debussy

(1862-1918)

 

Next, I tell you Claude Debussy. To be honest, I don't know about him very well, but I like three musics, clair de lune, Golliwogg's Cake-Walk, and La fille aux cheveux de lin of Preludes.

 

 La fille aux cheveux de lin

 

I want to tell more composers, for examples, Tchaikovsky. However, I think this two men are my favorite these days. Please listen to their musics.



 







Blog#6:My travel with my best friends!(Natsumi)

I went to the travel with five people who had been my friends since I was a junior high school student from August 23 to 25. The place of this travel was Shimoda, in Shizuoka. We went by train. We got together at Tokyo Station, then went to Atami by JR Tokaido Line, and transferred to JR Ito Line and Izu Express for Shimoda. It took about four times. As the train approached Shimoda, the landscape changed and we could see mountains and sea, then got more and more excited.

The first day, we arrived at Shimoda and went to the hotel. After we soaked in a hot spiring, we ate dinner which there were many fish and shellfish and very delicious. After dinner, we went out to set off fireworks. In our room, we played card games.

The second day, we went"Perry Road" and Ryosennji. in the morning. Shimoda is famous as a stage of the opening of a country to the world. There was a place that Japan concluded a treaty of peace and amity with America. There also was a state of Perry at the bay.

In the afternoon, we went the beach and pool. At the beach, there were a lot of seaweed and crag so I hardly got in the sea. As the wave came to the beach, I was excited. When the saly water got in my mouth, I tasted salty. I cut my calf of left leg by a crag so it hurt and bled. But, I was very fun because I hadn't gone to the sea bathing since I was eight years old. In a pool, we played by a beach ball and two water pistols.

For dinner, we had a barbecue and it was too delicious! At night, we played card game too and watched 24 hours television.

The third day, we went to an aquarium. There were many aquarium which has many kind of marine life, for example, a ray, a turtle. And there were penguins and seals. Of all were interesting, cute. There was the most beautiful spot I felt. It was an exhibition of jellyfish. Here, I could touch a jellyfish. At first, I was terrified but it was very soft and fun. In a dark room, only jelly fish lighted so very beautiful. We watched a show which a diver dived in a big aquarium that had many maline life and fed them.

In the afternoon, we left there and bought souvenirs.

We come back to Tokyo in the evening. We couldn't sit the seats in JR Tokaido Line so we stood for about a half and an hour from Atami to Tokyo.

This travel was my first travel with my friends who had been very good friends since I was junior high student. Also, I was pleased to go to Shimoda and Izu because I went to there with my family in every summer vacation till I was eight years old.

Blog#5: I would like you to visit this city(Kanae)

I live in Toda Saitama now. This city is known for two things. One is Toda rowing course. This place was used as the field of rowing in Tokyo Olympic Games, 1964. Now, is used by various rowing clubs or works teams for practices and meets.
Another is Todabashi Fireworks festival in summer. This event is taken place with the fireworks display in Itabashi Tokyo in same day. So we can see two fireworks across Arakawa river at the same time. That's very beautiful.

Todabashi Fireworks festival 2010.

If you visit this city, I want you to see Toda Civic Folk Museum and Saiko Nature Study Center. In Toda Civic Folk Museum, is exhibited archives, the copper bell, models of houses, etc. And special exhibitions or lectures are held sometimes, so that we can study history of Toda city from ancient to modern times. In addition, this place is near Toda station, and the admission fee is free. So it is easy for us to go to this place.
In Saiko Nature Study Center, is exhibited specimens, pictures, actual objects of creatures living around Arakawa river. Also because of this place is surrounded with rich nature, we can see various real creatures or plants. And if the weather is nice, we can see Mt.Fuji from the rooftop.

And you should do following two things. First, go to Saiko Doman Green Park and enjoy a barbecue, fishing, cycling and various sports. In this park, untouched nature remains well. So we can enjoy those things seeing different scene every season.
Second, go to Saikanoyu and take natural hot spring baths. There are not only twelve baths but also a restaurant and rooms of tatami and massage corners here. Using those, we can relax. Also because of there are free pick-up buses from Todakoen station and Takashimadaira station, we can go to this place easily.

Toda city has many interesting things else I don't know yet and I can't introduce well. So I would like you to visit this city yourself!

Blog#5: My home-town (Takayuki)

I live in Fukushima city during summer vacation. Fukushima is my home-town and I return every vacation. This city is known for the earthquake happened 2years ago and  radioactivity. I will tell you good places and things which radioactivity hid.
First, I introduce you fruits and vegetables. These is good taste and produced well, but never win  No.1, win No.2 or No.3. Especially, fruits are very good at both tasting and producting. There are the way called "Fruits Line" and Fukushima city called "The Kingdom of Fruits". Both Fukushima prefecture and Fukushima city is famous as production of peach. So, I want you to eat many fruits, especially peach.
Next,there are many hot sprigs. "Iizaka Onsen(Iizaka hot spring)" have become famous as one of  "Ousyu San Meitou(3 famous hot springs in Tohoku, Ousyu is old name of Tohoku )". Tsutiyu hot spring and Takayu hot spring are famous, too.
If you want to come Fukushima city, I recommend coming in spring because the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. In Japan, there are many places we see beautiful cherry blossoms, and Fukushima city have some places, too. Maybe you know "Hanamiyama Park",  not only cherry blossoms but also many flowers are beautiful in this park.  I know other places we see good flowers, but thsese spots don't have names or I don't know names.

The cherry blossoms of "Hanamiyama Park"

 

Maybe you are afraid of radioactivity. In fact, we are not affected by radioactivity.  I know Aizu or Iwaki city is famous and attractive in Fukushima prefecture. I think  my home-town is not special and attractive in prefecture and country.  I recommend you come my home-town if you are tired or depressed. Fukushima city's nature, fruits and simplicity may heal you.

Blog5#:My city(Natsumi)

Hi, I'm Natsumi. I'm live in Koshigaya, Saitama prefecture. It takes us about one hour to move to there from the downtown of Tokyo. The Tobu SKYTREE line and JR Musashino line pass.

Koshigaya is the most famous for Koshigaya Lake Town. This is a shopping mall which is said that it is the biggest AEON mall in Japan. It was built five years ago.  Also, an outlet has been built recently. I head that Lake Town has more than 300 thousands customers a day. There is very vast and separeted "mori" and "kaze". The development has advanced and many houses and mansions are rising in its surround. The nearest station is Koshigaya Lake Town, JR Musashino Line.

Nearly, it has been used as a location of TV drama "Saitosan".

Next, Koshigaya is another famous for Sirakobato Suijyo Koen. This is a pool park which Saitama prefecture manages. It has many pools for playing , for example, a flowing pool and a water slider...etc. In summer vacation, there are crowded with many families and children. Nearly, a beach has been made, which is used a lot of sand that is carried from the beach of Australia.