| 8/1 |
Day Trip in Sendai
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| 8/2 |
Woke up at 5:30am. Had breakfast and get ready
for the day. I am still dragging the fatigue from yesterday. Get picked up
and reported to work. We went to for another long drive. It's cloudy and
driving through mountain area with a lot of tunnels.
Had lunch in Akita city then headed back to Sendai. Came back to the hotel
at 6:30pm,
Had dinner at nearby restaurant.
Very much whole day is cloudy or rainy. It will be like that again for
another day.
 Tenshin-don |
| 8/3 |
Woke up at 5:30am, a bit sleepy since I was up
until almost midnight yesterday. I felt something weird while I was typing
up a daily report and found out it was a mild earthquake. Went to work and
stayed until 4:00pm then come home. I went out for a walk, to locate a mail
drop off. Had a soup noodle for dinner. Came back to the room and relaxed
for the evening. I had to go bed early to get ready for tomorrow's long
trip.
 Ramen
noodle |
| 8/4 |
Woke up at 4:00am, left the hotel at 5:00am to
head to Aomori. We arrived by 10:00am and stayed there until 1:00pm. Then we
started to head back to Sendai. Stopped at several service area and arrived
around 6:00pm. Rain fell occasionally but nothing serious. Went to a noodle
shop next to the hotel and discussed the taste and balance. Went to bed
around 10:00pm.
 Spicy
tomato noodle |
| 8/5 |
Woke up at 5:30am, I felt fresh with pillow on
and found out that I did not turn off the A/C over night. Oops, I could
catch cold. Had breakfast and checked out from the hotel. I will be checking
in to another hotel in the evening.
Spent whole day at the office and outside it getting warmer. Arriving at
hotel at 6:00pm, checked in and get ready to go watch fireworks at downtown.
I checked the timetable and caught a bus leaving the stop at 6:41pm and arrived at Sendai station at 7:13pm.
Had dinner at Lotteria, then start walking toward the site.
Stayed until 8:30pm and walked back to the station before 9:00pm.
The bus came late but left at 9:10pm, arrived to the hotel at 9:40pm.
Went to bed at 11:00pm.
Fireworks in Sendai |
| 8/6 |
Woke up at 5:30am, stretched my body and went
downstairs to eat breakfast. Took shower and get ready to go work by 8:00am.
Left office at noon, headed to Morioka, Iwate to see a local office there.
Came back to hotel at 6:00pm,
Went to eat the last dinner in Sendai, which is, of course a gyutan! In the
evening, I watched a movie called Summer Wars on TV until 11:00pm, went to bed after
that.
 Another
guytan, for the dinner |
| 8/7 |
[Coming back to Hyogo, joining a family
appreciation party at Okubo]
Woke up at 5:15am, had breakfast at 6:30am. I need to head home today so I
started to pack.
Left the hotel at 7:00am to walk to a bus stop nearby. The bus came at 7:11am and arrived to Sendai station
around 7:35am. I entered the station building and checked the timetable to find out that there
will be 20 minutes before the next train leaves so I walked around to buy
stuffs. I bought gifts to my family, relatives then I bought a ticket to Sendai
Airport. I had a ICOCA card but a sign said that I cannot
use it for airport bound. Went down to the platform at 7:50am, I get on the
train and waited for a while. Many people came in, some are with bags. We
left on time at 8:03am. The ride to the airport is about 30
minutes, and the train stopped at a couple of places and finally arrived. I
checked myself in, and my bags, then proceeded to the gate. There is an
observation deck but they charge me for a 100 Yen...
Arrived at the gate at 8:45am, sitting in a chair relaxing, then I start to
hear the opening ceremony of national high school baseball tournament on TV nearby. I realized
that today is the first day, and a very special day for those students
marching in to the field of Koshien stadium for this once a year event,
Perhaps, once in lifetime event.
The boarding to the plane started at 10:00am, and departed on time. The
plane took off to west, then turn to south over the ocean. On the way back to Osaka, I
could see Mt. Fuji, and Hamanako lake, Shima peninsula, and Kofuns in Nara, then the
place started to head to Itami airport. as the plane near the airport, I
could see Osaka castle right before landed. The plane arrived to the gate at
11:25am, and I walked to the baggage claims to pick up my bag. Checked the
time then walked toward a ticketing counter to buy a ticket to Sannomiya for
1,020 Yen, I had to wait for 15 minutes then getting on a bus at 11:55am.
The bus supposed to take only 40 minutes but took about 1 hour. I have not
had my lunch yet so I was getting hungry as the bus slowly moving on
highway. I walked in to the platform and caught a train leaving at 1:07pm
and arrived at Nishi-Akashi at 1:30pm.
Bought lunch at nearby bakery and finally settled. Rested until 3:00pm then
took a train to Okubo, I joined the family appreciation day until 7:00pm and
walked home around 8:00pm. Unlike a while ago, the outside is much darker
now. Went to bed around 10:00pm.
Osaka castle
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| 8/8 |
Woke up at 5:15am, the first thing I did was to
take out all the washed cloths and do another load then took them out for drying. I set the drier and
walked to a bakery to grab my breakfast. Finished drying by 8:00am, talked
with my dad for a while. I was busy whole day, I guess. I prepared expense
report for the past three weeks, went to buy lunch and dinner for two days.
Went to bed around 11:00pm. I have to go work tomorrow before the obon
break... |
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| 8/9 |
Woke up at 5:30am, stretched my body and get
ready for the day. Today is a training day. The lecture was from a former
rugby player, who once was in team Japan. His story was pretty good, and also
watched a video about a high school with bad students later winning the
national championship.
Left office around 7:30pm, took a train and headed to a bar with my
coworkers. Stayed until 11:00pm and headed home. Went to bed soon. |
| 8/10 |
[My obon break in Nagoya until 8/15]
Woke up at 5:00am, opened a window and saw the
outside is cloudy. I did a load of laundry while taking shower and took them
to a local Laundromat for drying. Came home around 8:00am and packed for the
trip home. I got ready and
left the apartment at 9:25am. Walked to the station nearby to catch a Shinkansen. I
went up to the platform at 9:45am. The Hikari 468 departing Nishi-Akashi at
10:12am
arrived to the station on time. The train was not so crowded. The train
headed to Nagoya, stopped at Shin-Kobe, then Shin-Osaka, and Kyoto before
arriving to Nagoya. The weather is changing after passing Kyoto, it's
more cloudy and rain started. By the time arriving to Nagoya, the rain
momentary stopped but I guessed that I only passed the storm. It will be
back raining again. Getting
off from the train to catch a bus, but I stopped by at a bookstore to buy a book nicknamed
"Moshi Dora" (English translation: If a high school manager reads Peter
Drucker's Management) Get on a bus to head home at 12:10pm, coming home at
12:50pm. My dad forgot that I was coming so the door was locked. The
rain started around 1:00pm so I postponed the visit of my grandma. The rain
is finally over so I went to my grandma's place at 2:30pm. She was taking a
nap so I did not get to talk to her. I returned home by 3:00pm. Had
afternoon tea with my dad, I brought snacks from Aomori. Worked on yard
until 6:00pm then went out eat dinner at nearby restaurant, spent two hours there drinking
with my dad. Came home, went to bed around 10:00pm after finished reading
the book I bought today.
 Hikari
468  |
| 8/11 |
Woke up at 5:30am, had breakfast with my dad,
washed dishes and get ready for the day. I have to leave home early today...
Becoming sunny but might get some rain again today. Left home around 9:30am
to catch a bus (the bus came late by 5 minutes). I went to Nagoya and took a train to Narumi. Met with
grandma and also my aunt and uncle to have lunch together. I left there at 1:40pm and headed back
home. I was able to catch a train leaving at ? and the bus leaving at
2:20pm? Spent afternoon cleaning the roof of the house to get ready to paint.
Working under the sun in this time of year is not easy but breezy condition helped me a lot. I went to a
nearby DIY store to buy the paint, I bought a 14L paint case and was pretty heavy
but I took home by hands. Had
dinner and called my brother to check his schedule for tomorrow. We might
have to share a ride on a taxi due to approaching typhoon. After the dinner,
I washed the dishes and worked on the blog. Went to bed around 10:00pm. |
| 8/12 |
Woke up at 5:30am, I hear sounds of rain hitting
the roof. Typhoon 4 is around Noto peninsula, and JR is reporting of not
putting Shinkansen on service from the morning since some locations are
getting a lot of rain. Spent morning reading a book called "Sekiran un no
kanata ni (beyond cumulus clouds)" It was documentary of whole high school
students of Aichi 1st Middble school (today's Asahigaoka High School)
volunteering to war at near the end of 2nd world war. After that I was washing the
roof to ready for the repaint. We have not done anything for at least 4
years and the coating looks bad. Had udon noodle for lunch then left home
around 2:00pm to go to a temple. We met up with my brother and joined a
ceremony at the temple. It was supposed to be welcoming our ancestors'
spirits for the Obon period. Walked back home but soon rain started. I was
the only one with an umbrella, but I had to give it up to my dad and
brother, it's kind of a custom... Walking back home under rain, dried myself
with a towel. We chat until 5:00pm when the dinner arrived. My sister-in-law
arrived. We had dinner together and they stayed until 8:20pm. Went to bed
around 9:30pm but I had to wake my dad, who fell sleep on the floor... I
don't want to see him catching cold.
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| 8/13 |
Woke up at 5:30am, my dad already has gone
outside. Had breakfast then listened to the weather forecast. I think it is
not going to rain until the night so I decided to paint the roof so I set up
for the day. I bought two bottles of sports drinks for the outside work. I
was on the roof painting the east hald until noon then had lunch together
with my dad. My brother stopped by so
see what's up... Went outside again, but this time the roof is much hotter
than in the morning so I was sweating very hard but managed to finish by
2:00pm. I was drinking a lot of water after that. Spent rest of the
afternoon reading book. The sky gets cloudy and I am hoping for some rain
but did not come until 5:00pm. I could see the new paint on the roof is
repelling water, which is nice to see. Hahaha. |
| 8/14 |
Woke up at 5:30am, my dad was already working on
something. Had breakfast, then I worked on a couple of small projects, one
is to replace towel hanger and another is to patch up a hole where used to
be a water faucet. Had lunch, headed to a local cemetery to pay a visit to
our tomb. Many people are coming today since it is a obon period. Even the
flowers are expensive. 3,000 Yen a set. I took a bus to Hoshigaoka station,
then picked up cheaper flowers then walked to the grave. Walking back to the
bus station as I look up the sky. I went to a nearby department store to
check out books. I found a couple of them I wanted to read then stopped by
at electric appliance store before coming home. We needed to replace a fan.
Come home, relaxed until evening and I went to visit my brother's home with
my dad for dinner. |
| 8/15 |
The last day of the break, I woke up at 5:30am
as usual. Today is cloudy all day long. Swapped the towel hanger with new
one, checked on the gate light, which was getting old so I need to find the
replacement. I worked on the new one and spent other errands until 3:30pm
then pack to head back to Nishi-Akashi. Left home around 4:00pm to take a
bus, and arrived at Nagoya by 5:00pm. When I looked up, some clouds
Hikari 477 left Nagoya at 5:11pm and arrived at Nishi-Akashi at 6:28pm.
I walked back to my apartment after grabbing my dinner and breakfast for
tomorrow at the station.
Checked emails, then did two loads of laundry, and later took them to a Laundromat for drying and came
home around 10:00pm.
Stormy clouds to the north of Nagoya |
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| 8/16 |
Woke up at 5:30am, still tired from the trip
back home over the last week. I took a train leaving at 7:36am and took a
bus to a training facility. I called my dad but here was not there. I am
taking a class this week here and stayed until 5:20pm then took a bus back
to the station. Called my dad again to check on him. After arriving
Nishi-Akashi, I walked to a bakery to buy breakfast and also to a superstore
to grab grocery store. Came home around
7:00pm, had dinner. Went to bed around 11:00pm. |
| 8/17 |
Woke up at 5:30am again. Today is supposed to be
another hot day. the temperature is going up very quick. Left home to catch
train leaving at 7:36am. Caught a bus to training center. The class lasted
until 5:20pm so we only had 20 minutes to get changed to catch a bus. I was
at a station at 6:00pm but saw a train is being late about 15 minutes, due
to some trouble on fleet train. My coworker who is heading to Kyoto was on
the same train. I hope he gets there on time. Stopped by at MaxValu to buy
rice and drinks before coming home. Cooked rice and had dinner. Worked on my
blog before going to bed. Tomorrow is another hot day... |
| 8/18 |
Woke up at 5:30am, stretched my body and left to
work. Spent another day at training center. Come home around 7:00pm. I was
listening to radio until midnight with half sleep. I think hot summer is
taking a toll on me. |
| 8/19 |
Woke up at 5:30am, get ready for another "hot"
day. Walked to train station and went to training center. I spent whole day
there. At a time, the power was down so I had to work on an assignment
without an A/C while the outside temperature exceeding 39C deg. Left there
at 5:40pm and come back to Nishi-Akashi around 6:20pm. The sky looked pretty
in the evening. Did two loads of laundry and went to chiropractics around
8:00pm. I took my cloths to a laundry, they were open until 10:30pm, but
they cut the A/C at 10:00pm so I had to stay there for another 10 minutes in
hot room... Come home, went to bed around midnight. |
| 8/20 |
Woke up at 5:30am, already hot from the morning.
today is the last day of training. Left home on time to catch a train I
always use, and had another whole day of the class. The last part was tests
which we switch each other to identify the cause of intentionally made
malfunctions. I went back to the train station but with other coworkers,
start drinking with them to cerebrate the finishing up of a week long class.
Come home around 9:00pm, went to bed around 10:00pm... |
| 8/21 |
Day trip to Mt. Koya
.JPG) |
| 8/22 |
[HMV in Tokyo is closing, due to change in trend
of buying music media and songs]
Woke up at 5:30pm, too tired to do anything in the morning so I stayed in
the bed until 10:30am. At least I started to do laundry after breakfast so I
was able to take them to Laundromat for drying. I keep hearing noise from
the other side of wall, looks like my neighbor is moving out. I went to
MaxValu to grab my lunch and dinner, then I headed to Sannomiya to look for
a wristwatch, mine has a broken band so I needed a new one since I cannot
get the parts easily in Japan. Took a train leaving Nishi-Akashi at 1:48pm,
bought one made by Seiko, and walked around the street mall until 3:00pm. I
was back to Nishi-Akashi around 3:30pm. Went to a bakery to buy breakfast
meals for the next couple of days, then to a convenience store to buy
prepaid phone card since I almost used up the points on my cell phone. Took
things easy for the rest of the afternoon, I was hoping to get some rain.
Updated my blog, also worked my company assignments. Went to bed around
11:00pm.
 It's a
solar powered so I don't need battery replacement. A high-tech stuff for not
so cheap 13,000Yen... |
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| 8/23 |
Woke up at 5:30am, left home at 7:30am. Started
on a new project. I stayed until 7:00pm and walked back home. The outside
was clear, and round moon looked nice while I was walking right by rice
field, hearing sounds of crickets. Went to bed around 10:30pm. |
| 8/24 |
Woke up at 5:30am, left home at 7:30am. Today is
not that hot as yesterday so I was sweating less. For today, the work made
some progresses so I was glad. I was able to get out from the office before
7:00pm. Stopped by at a grocery store for sides for dinner. Came home before
8:00pm and had dinner. Went to bed around 10:30pm.
 Rice
fields, now all grown up. |
| 8/25 |
Woke up at 5:30am. Left home on time at 7:30am,
a little less hot compare to yesterday. The work is getting on the track,
almost. stayed until 6:30pm, walked back home, then headed nearby station to
buy breads for the next couple of days. I dropped them off then went out
again to get the cloths dried. While I was waiting, a car backed up to the
vending machine next to the building. It dislodged the machine from the
anchor... Returned home, cooked dinner and worked on my
project. Went to bed around 10:30pm. |
| 8/26 |
Woke up at 5:30am, called AAA to renew
membership, I paid $81 for the next year. Walked out from the apartment,
today is sunny and breezy. It was comfortable as long as I am under shade.
Worked until 6:30pm then walked back home. I stopped by at a grocery store.
Spent evening relaxing and updating my blog. Went to bed around 11:00pm.
Already getting dark around 6:30pm... |
| 8/27 |
Woke up at 5:30am, another sunny day and today
is very warm... I walked to work but sweat a lot, I was getting dehydrated
as I arrived. Spent whole day at the office, except for a tour at factory
around noon. I left work around 6:15pm and went to chiropractics. Went out
again to get my cloths dried in the evening and stayed up until 11:00pm
today. Going bed now. |
| 8/28 |
Woke up at 5:30am as usual. News was covering
Osaka gets a record for having the longest summer day (daily high of 35+ C),
but also a tropical depression is approaching. Went to outside, it is sunny
but very quiet. I think cicadas are gone now. Took a train to Akashi around
10:30am to drop off a mail to the U.S. but the purpose of the trip was not
only that, I stopped by at a dry cleaner to pick up my suits, bought my
breakfasts, lunch before coming home. Daily high of 35C. Spent afternoon at home, cleaning my
room, reorganizing my blogs. |
| 8/29 |
[Auctioning for the cow in Miyazaki resumed
after successfully containing foot and mouth disease]
Woke up at 5:30am, another warm morning, went out around 10:30am to
catch a train to Tarumi, had lunch with a friend from former company. I then
move to Sannomiya to buy a backpack, and summer cloths which is very much
out of season so I bought them with 50% off. Came home around 2:30pm, then
stepped out to buy dinner dishes for today. Since today is quite hot with
temperature hitting 35.3C, I
could not resist on buying an ice cream... Spent rest of the afternoon at
home. Went to bed around 10:00pm.
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| 8/30 |
[A tropical storm gained typhoon status, named
Typhoon 6]
Woke up at 5:30am. Some clouds in the air. Walked to work under sunny
weather. The first rain for a while came in around 10:30am but soon stopped.
Sunny weather after that. I went out from the office in the afternoon once,
but I was working on my projects for the rest of the time. Left office
around 7:00pm, the outside was pretty dark. Took my cloth to laundry after
dinner and stayed up until 11:00pm. |
| 8/31 |
[A tropical storm gained typhoon status, named
Typhoon 7]
The last day of August. I woke up right before 5:30am, pretty warm from the
morning... I walked to work while looking up the clouds. I stayed until
6:30pm. Walking back home in the evening and I think it's a bit cooler. I
stepped out after coming home to go buy groceries at bakery and supermarket.
Come home, ate dinner, and went to bed around 10:30pm.
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