Bob Dylan ― 2026/08/28 18:12
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 ― 2026/08/27 23:57
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 ― 2026/08/27 19:26
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.
Kūkai ― 2026/08/25 20:42
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.
Earthquake ― 2026/08/23 02:30
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 ― 2026/08/21 20:45
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 dinosaur predators 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 man‑eating dinosaur, 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.
Haircut ― 2026/08/20 20:45
Barbershop and Downpour
I had a haircut at a nearby barbershop.
Because the shop is located in one of the lower‑lying areas of Kashiwa, the barber was worried about the soaking downpour last Thursday.
Fortunately, the shop didn’t suffer any water damage.
So, he trimmed my hair with peace of mind.
Nobi ― 2026/08/16 19:15
Movie Report Nobi / Fires on the Plain (Japan, 2014)
This film is a remake of the controversial 1959 anti-war piece based on the war novel "Nobi" by Ōoka Shōhei.
Japanese stragglers in WWII wander through the Philippine jungle without weapons, food, or any tactics. The enemy easily attacks and kills them. In these extreme conditions, the stragglers are pushed beyond the threshold of humanity.
The madness of war depicted in the film is horrifying yet truly striking. After the screening, director Shinya Tsukamoto appeared on stage and expressed his strong desire for peace.
Air conditioner(3) ― 2026/08/14 20:29
The Man from Daikin
The air conditioner in the living room didn’t fix itself. After two weeks of unstable operation, I called the manufacturer and asked them to send a service engineer.
The technician from Daikin eventually estimated that the aging of the circuit board in the outdoor unit was the most likely cause of the malfunction. He replaced the board, and it seems to be working well so far. I’ll monitor the effect of the repair for the next ten days.
According to the engineer’s advice, the air conditioner is also due for an internal fan cleaning in the indoor unit. I may need to consider scheduling that later.
Anyway, I can enjoy a cool ale under the freshly repaired air conditioner tonight—cheers!
Heavy Rain ― 2026/08/13 22:46
Record-breaking Downpour Hits Kashiwa
A thick rain belt swept across Chiba Prefecture today. Cities in Chiba, including Kashiwa, experienced record-breaking heavy rainfall. Some roads were temporarily flooded, and train services were partially delayed or suspended.
I stayed home all day.
最近のコメント