Japanese New Year

Japanese New Year is very busy. People clean their house or go to shopping to prepare the special foods that are called Osechi on Omisoka that is the day of New Year’s Eve. After finishing preparing, most of the people eat Toshikosisoba. It is a type of thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour and origin is said that people hope to live long and thin. The 108 bells that are called Joyanokane and it rings out the old year and rings in the New Year. 108 is the number of worldly desires. People confess the crime that made during one year and renounce worldly desires by hearing the bell.


In the morning on January 1st, people receive Nengajyou that are written compliments of New Year, and usually eat Ozoni that rice cake and greens put in soup. Family usually gathers to their hometown and they eat Osechi for lunch or dinner together. Most of the people go to shrine to pray for safety, happiness or something between January 1st and January 3rd, and buy a good luck talisman, Omamori that is a protection from illness, accidents and disasters.
Click here and see the blog about Japanese New Year

8 Questions

1. Do you often see blogs?

Yes ④　No ①

2. How many times did you write in your blog?

8 times ③　7times ②

3. Do you enjoy making your blog?

Yes ②　No ③

4. What is the appeal point of your blog?

Design ③　Pictures ①　Content ①

5. What is your favorite topic?

Movies ④　Festivals ①

6. Which would you like better colorful blog or simple?

Colorful ③　Simple ②

7. What is your favorite blog in my class?

SMILY ③　Life with you ①　Babygirl ①

8. What is your favorite blog in other class?

DoooooooN ①　Mickey&Minnie ①　Pink Panther ①　JOY:-p ①　Oops!!! I'm hungry... ①

The Three Best Blog of Other Class

The first is aya★aya. This blog has a lot of imformation, pictures and links. "The weather in New Zealand" is so nice. It it easy to understand because it was written as each season.

The second is DooooooN!!! This blog has a lot of cute pictures and it is written with easy words. I am interested in "Winter Festival ofLights".

The third is VEGA...★ This blog's design and color is very good. I researched "Oktoberfest" too, but she has better information.

The Three Best Blog

How are you guys? Today, let me introduce to you the three best blog.

The First is ★SMILEY★. This blog is colorful design and has a lot of links so it is easy to read and helps me to understand. This is the blog that I can enjoy while I'm readng.

The Second is HARURURURU~★. This blog has a lot of detail information and links.

The Third is Colorful★Days. I fascinate with her topic and nice pictures. Especally I was able to enjoy reading topics of Movies and Hot spring.

Famous Foods in New Zealand

New Zealand foods are not known to the public very much as compared with Japanese foods. Let me introduce to you New Zealand foods.
Firstly this is Pavlova. Pavlova is a meringue dessert named after the Russian ballet dancer, Ánna Pávlova. It is crispy on the outside and light fluffy inside and it is decorated with topping of whipped cream and fresh fruit of sweet flavours, such as strawberries, kiwifruit or something. This is a home cooking and frequently eaten during celebratory or holiday meals such as Christmas dinner. As souvenir, there is Pavlova magic that can make pavlova easily. Recipe is as follows, Firstly beat egg whites and make meringue. Secondly spread it on oven plate. Thirdly bake for one hour. Fourthly put whipped cream on it. Finally put fruits on it. Topping is up to you.

Secondly this is Manuka honey. Manuka honey is from bees who feed on the flowers of the Manuka bush, also known as the "Tea Tree" to produce a honey that has anti-bacterial properties. Maori also used it as medicine. There are liquid type and cream type. This is also very popular as souvenir.

Please eat or buy them when you go to New Zealand.

Festivals

I'm going to talk about Oktoberfest and Asama festival. Firstly let me introduce to you Oktoberfest. It is held in the west of Munich in Germany during late September and running to early October. It is huge site, has about 7000 seats in the tent and has several thousand seats outside the tent. More than 6 million people visit and the place is filled beyond capacity from morning to night during the term. It is difficult to get seats. There are people who stand and dance on the chairs, play as brass bands on the stage or have jugs of draft beer and sing cheerful folk music of Bayern. When people shout 「Prost !! (It means Cheers)」 people who see it first time must be surprised.

Let me tell you about Asama festival in Matumoto city I was born. It is Torch festival at the famous hot spring with a history of 1300 years, "Asama Hot Spring". It is held on Oct.3 and people hold up small and large taimatsu (pine torches) parade to thank productive of grain. Don't forget to bring a mask.

Great Movies

I wacthed a lot of movies and DVDs during summer vacation. For example, The Dark Knight, Wanted, Finding Neverland, CloverField, Reign Over Me, and stuff like that. I'd like to tell you about two of the movies that I recommend: "The Dark Knight" and "Reign Over Me".

Let me tell you about "The Dark Knight" first. This story is based on original of American comics "Batman" by Bob Kane and"The Dark Knight" is sequel to "Batman Begins". Heath Ledger's performance of enemy is marvelous. He was necessary for the screen world but he died of taking too many prescription drugs after he had completed filming The Dark Knight. Director has dedicated the film in part to Ledger's memory. Click on this link Official Site.

Let me tell you about "Reign over me" next. This story is about a man who lost his wife and child on 9/11 in New York and his old friend who feels inert and empty. Two old friends who fell out of touch understand each other gradually. Music is an important component of this film. The title of the film comes from the song "Love, Reign o'er Me" by The Who. Click on this link Official Site.

Please watch these movies on DVD if you have a free time.