PostSalaryman's Journal

Phishing!?

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:20:25 +0900

Phishing attempt?

I received the following email:

“The e‑Tax office informs you that you must complete the procedures to receive your tax refund for the 2026 tax return. The refund amount is ¥100,000. Click this URL.”

It looked tempting, but I deleted it right away.

Since 2026 is still ongoing, I haven’t filed my tax return yet. There is no way I could receive a refund for a tax return that hasn’t even been submitted.

Colours of Time

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 22:55:20 +0900

Movie Report Colours of Time (France, 2026)

Four people, representing all the heirs of an old house in Normandy, investigate a mysterious oil painting and several photographs found in the house, depicting their ancestor, Adele, the original landowner.

A shamanic drug transports them to old Paris at the moment when the Impressionists were emerging. Through this imaginary journey and a scientific analysis of the portrait, they uncover the story of a woman and an epoch‑making artist.

The heirs eventually learn that they are descendants of the famous Monet.

The scenes of the countryside and the museums were so beautiful that I felt as if I were actually in France.

This is a film for art lovers.

Fukushima Trip

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 20:53:46 +0900

Amid the Rainy Days

Although I took a four‑day round trip to Fukushima for my late summer break, the weather was unstable throughout the entire period. I even had to drive up a foggy hillside in the Urabandai area.
Amid the rainy days, there were still a few moments when the rain stopped, and I managed to take short hikes around Lake Hibarako and the surrounding colorful marshlands. I also bought the well‑known local Yamajio salt.
At the very least, dining at Hotelli Aalto was terrific.

How to Enjoy Art

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:49:08 +0900

Exhibition Report How to Enjoy Art from Geidai’s Perspective

This exhibition shows visitors how to appreciate art through a series of sessions modeled after those at Geidai Art College.

Through the displays, we learned about the history of the Japanisation of European art and the importance of copying masterpieces in order to understand a virtuoso’s creative secrets.

There was also an impressive old printing press once used by Gogh to make his etchings. The works created by the new generation of artists were fresh and appealing.

Air Conditioner(4)

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:05:08 +0900

Payment

Since the air conditioner is running smoothly after the repair, I paid the 32,000‑yen fee.

It seems quite reasonable for a new IC board and the technician’s work. I hope this repair will give the unit at least another five years of life.

Memorial Service

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:06:27 +0900

Buddhist Memorial Service

My wife and I hosted the Buddhist memorial service for her mother.

The temperature was moderate for August. A lotus blossom on the pond in the temple was beautiful.

We live under the protection of our loved ones.

Bob Dylan

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:12:31 +0900

Book Report Dylan's Speech! (Hatakeyama Yuji, 2019)

Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. English teacher and rock fan Hatakeyama Yuji explains Dylan’s speech at the 2016 Nobel Banquet in detail for English learners.

Readers can learn about Dylan’s cultural background, including references to Shakespeare’s plays, as well as improve their understanding of his English speech.

I also wonder whether Dylan could have said something about Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza.

Kusama Yayoi

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 23:57:25 +0900

Obit: Kusama Yayoi, the Queen of Dots

Avant-garde painter and sculptor Kusama Yayoi has died at 97.

Her art developed in New York during the psychedelic movement and the Vietnam War era, and her works express love and peace through vibrant, colorful dots.

I remember the exhibition I once saw at the National Art Center, and it was truly fantastic.

Kusama Yayoi, the queen of dots, RIP.

Black Castle

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:26:25 +0900

Movie Report Kokurojo / Kanbee the Prisoner and Detective in the Black Castle (Japan, 2026)

This film is an armchair‑detective story set during Japan’s Sengoku civil war period.

Kanbee, a diplomat captured by the rival Black Castle, is forced to help its lord solve a series of mysterious murders occurring within the fortress. Although confined to a jail cell, Kanbee’s extraordinary intellect unravels each case, identifies the killers, and exposes the mastermind behind them.

It’s a highly tipa—“time’s worth”—samurai detective film.

Ice Cream

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:02:11 +0900

Ice Cream and a Dad Joke

I had colourful ice cream at a stand in Takashimaya. It tasted silky and gorgeous.

Whenever I eat ice cream, I remember a classic dad joke.

Q: Do you know the best treat for ghosts?

A: I scream! (ice cream).

Kūkai

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 20:42:23 +0900

Exhibition Report Kūkai and the Treasures of Shingon Buddhism

Although the exhibition’s theme—arts and crafts from the Shingon sect of Buddhism—is not particularly colorful, there was a long line to enter the Tokyo National Museum. The line looked almost like a train of people heading toward the gate of the beyond. After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, I was finally able to enjoy the exhibition.

A famous calligraphy by the great master Kūkai, religious paintings of the Shingon sect, and magnificent statues of Buddha and his guardian deities were on display. I was especially impressed by two guardian figures by Kaikei, one of the greatest sculptors in Japanese history.

The world of Shingon Buddhism made me forget the extreme heat outside for a while.

Lotus

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:44:19 +0900

The Last Flowers

The lotus blossoms on Shinobazu Pond are slowly fading.

People appreciate the last flowers of the season.

Change is in the air.

Dental Clinic

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:18:25 +0900

A Routine Check at a Dental Clinic

A dentist removed the plaque from my teeth and polished them as usual. As a precaution, the doctor took an X‑ray of my tooth.

Earthquake

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 02:30:57 +0900

Earthquake Hit Kashiwa

I suddenly felt my room shaking for tens of seconds. Although my mobile phone alarmed repeatedly, there was no damage to my condo.

According to TV news, the epicenter was south of Ibaraki Prefecture, close to Kashiwa City in Chiba Prefecture. The seismic intensity in Kashiwa was Shindo 4. No seismic damage has been reported in the area so far.

The End of Oak Street

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:45:49 +0900

Movie Report The End of Oak Street (U.S.A., 2026)

This is a roller‑coaster movie powered by dinosaurs.

A typical suburban town is suddenly torn away from the real world and dropped into the Jurassic era by a time‑quake. Lawns and gardens turn into jungles, and dinosaurs begin attacking the residents.

A family races through the transformed town in search of the singularity point that will return them to their own world. Although their father is eaten by a dinosaur predator, the family eventually escapes the dino land and returns to their peaceful everyday life.

Seeing this entertaining film in a cooler theater was a great way to escape the hot summer day.