Topee for mothers.

I was looking around for some summer casuals today, then from afar I saw this hat. Those that I have now are mostly dark colors. Japanese friends said dark colors throw off the ultra-violet rays. Seems like this is the last piece on the stand.

I tried it on. Deep and circumference is just nice for my head. The design is dainty and most of all, it is light green. My car is also green. It fits very handsomely on my crown.
Told the cashier to cut of the tag from my head.

While walking out of the shopping mall, I saw lots of primary school children, walking home holding flowers. Must be because it is Mother's Day today.
There is this little scene I saw, felt touched with it.
Two children, maybe six and eight years old, looks like siblings. The older girl was holding flowers, gift wrapped while her brother was counting coins.
Seems like they wanted to buy popcorn on top of the flowers and the boy repeatedly count the coins.
I think they they don't have enough coins, but the way the boy kept counting the coins, it's almost like he felt the more he counted, the money might eventually be enough.
The sister kept on saying, the coins are not enough but the boy ignored her and continue counting.

I really would like to know their mother and tell her how much that little boy of hers wanted to give her something for this day but failed to do so. I would like to tell her, how her children appreciate her and wanted her to feel their love for her.
Hopefully this little boy would remember this moment all his life.

Hey, Mother's Day is not just one day in the year. The best gift for her everyday is your kind words. That's all she wants from you.

=======

Living in Wales

This is Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School [say as crow-she-kai-liok]. I know, Wales words admittedly are not easy to imitate. I am feeling homesick of Wales. Alex Watts was a small boy of about 7or 8 when we left our house in Worcester Close at Llanyravon, he showed a picture of his back garden yesterday with huge, rolling hills. Then, I feel so longing for this place again.
This huge school field was just behind our house. My children used to ride bikes and kick around there with other local friends. That building in the foreground is actually a school, a secondary school.
Once I attended a night class in that school. I remember the class was Hand Language for the listening-handicapped.
Initially the early part of the course, I went with a friend Sally Llewellyn, but Sally had to do some evening duties at work. I truly dread those times when I had to go alone. Trust me the night in Wales are really early in autumn and winter.
To tell the truth, I didn't finish the class. I was not brave enough to walk across that field but there is another path as well. Saying that, I had to go through some woods when I walked across that other path. I just feel something would jump out from behind those trees, I would run all the way out of the woods until I reached the first house along the road.
I couldn't take this running, the stress took its toll on my small heart. So I dropped the class. It is so much easier to live when I let go whatever or whoever that becomes a cause of anger, fright or stress in my live [this do not include family members].
It is just not worth it.

Series on a Part of my Life. Living in Wales.
Image: Courtesy of Google.

=======

Tipu

No meat products here. Only seafood. But still the food are not to be eaten.
Most restaurants in Japan show off their culinary specialty like this.
You look from the glass window first. If your mouth waters, you better not rush ini *remember the song said "only fools rush ini".
Second, check the price. Then again, if your mouth is still flooded with salivating liquid and your pocket sounds lots of kacing, kacing, go ahead and spread the noren on the door *noren is the half-way curtain that force your body to bend when you enter the establishment*.
Once inside, even without looking at the menu *sometimes there is no menu*, you just said the dish that comes with the arty food or if you are still illiterate in Japanese you just mention the numbers but if there is no number, you go with the sweet girl to the glass window and like a parrot, knock you head on the hard glass.

OK, I have two more weeks to finish up something. To kill the protagonist or to let him live.
This is the part I enjoy with writing, I feel like smaller god (of course there are no such branding). I can create or kill anybody in my own world.

=========

Mozuku seaweed

Mozuku seaweed and other seaweed like nori, hijiki, konbu are best for maintenance of hair growth, slowing down balding head and lovely set of thick hair for new-born baby *this is what the nutritionists in Japan claim*

The mozuku in the cup is best served chilled with lemon/lime/shikuasa juice. 

*Rumput laut mozuku juga nori, hijiki, konbu dan lain-lain jenis rumput laut mengekalkan kesegaran rambut dan perempuan hamil jika mempraktikkan pemakanan ini merimbunkan rambut untuk bayi yang dalam kandungan *para nutritionis di Jepun mendakwa*

 In Malaysia as Mr. Leo Aws claims the people in Kelantan consume it as "sare".
 In Wales (my experience of living there), they take it as laver or laver bread ( bara lawr). The people in Wales are known for their very dark hair. Mr. Bean is born in Wales and most people in Wales look more or less like Mr. Bean.

======

おいしい米

 

Oishii Okome

That what it says on the brown paper. "Oishii Okome" and if you stay in Japan without knowing this simple word you might die of starvation. That writing means Yummy Rice.

The Japanese don't go about writing in two languages. You take it or leave it. This is their country, nobody has any right to tell them to write in any other language except their own Nippon-go.

Right, that is the rice I use. I like the packing, brown paper. True paper, not some indissoluble, non-biodegradable that will take up to 30 years to blend in with the soil. I keep those brown paper, they don't come easy nowadays.

You see the writing on the packing says "Okome". Rice in its original form is called kome or to say politely O-kome. But when you cooked it, it transforms into gohan. This means you don't go around saying "I finished my okome". That is very native and a big insult to the Japanese because they want to laugh in your face but due to the pressure of keeping polite, they have to keep that straight face. This kind of prevention into making a joke out of you is like a big insult to them.

Another thing about rice is that man says it in another way. Like going to the toilet. Men go their way and women go another way. Same with rice. Men says it "ku". But warning to the ladies, however manly you want to be, do not say "ku, ku'! The ladies saying it sound more like pigeons nesting their eggs.

There goes some Japanese language tip.

 ======

逢いたくていま-Misia

MISIA – Missing You Now Lyrics: MISIA Music: Jun Sasaki

Do you remember the day we first met?
I haven’t forgotten a single day that’s passed
I want to feel everything you had your eyes on
I looked up at the sky, are you there now watching over me?

Tell me… I’m missing you now
There’s so much I want to tell you
Oh, I miss you, I miss you I sadly long for your presence
Where are you?
Hold me I’ll always be here
If I knew that we’d never see each other again
I would never have let go of your hand
If I had just cried and told you, “Stay with me”
Would you still be here, smiling beside me?
I’m missing you now
There’s so much I want you to hear
Oh, I miss you, I miss you
Tears flow as time just passes me by
Oh, I miss you, hold me close I’ll always be thinking of you
Even if my destiny won’t change,
I have something to tell you “I want to go back…”
to that day, that time, this one wish is all I need I’m missing you now
There’s so much I want you to know
Oh, I miss you, I miss you
All I could do was wish it was all a dream
This heart of mine is still crying I’ll always be thinking of you

courstesy of http://www.quartet4.net/?p=7611

初めて出会った日のこと　覚えてますか
過ぎ行く日の思い出を　忘れずにいて
あなたが見つめた全てを　感じていたくて
空を見上げた　今はそこで　私を見守っているの?　教えて…
今　逢いたい　あなたに
伝えたいことが　たくさんある
ねえ　逢いたい　逢いたい
気づけば面影　探して　悲しくて
どこにいるの?　抱きしめてよ
私は　ここにいるよ　ずっと
もう二度と逢えないことを　知っていたなら
繋いだ手を　いつまでも　離さずにいた
『ここにいて』と　そう素直に　泣いていたなら
今も　あなたは　変わらぬまま　私の隣りで　笑っているかな
今　逢いたい　あなたに
聞いて欲しいこと　いっぱいある
ねえ　逢いたい　逢いたい
涙があふれて　時は　いたずらに過ぎた
ねえ　逢いたい　抱きしめてよ
あなたを　想っている　ずっと
運命が変えられなくても　伝えたいことがある
『戻りたい…』あの日　あの時に　叶うのなら　何もいらない
今　逢いたい　あなたに
知って欲しいこと　いっぱいある
ねえ　逢いたい　逢いたい
どうしようもなくて　全て夢と願った
この心は　まだ泣いてる
あなたを　想っている　ずっと
 ===========

いとしき日々よ

 O Endearing Days - theme song of JIN season 2

Even if time fades away
Our interwoven bond will never come apart
Oh your voice
The more I go about forgetting it
The more it imprints in me.

Holding your hands tightly
And embracing you
Even though I know that those things are our impermissible fate
That smile, those tears And that earnest memory
I wanted to touch them all
From the bottom of my heart...

O endearing days,
please don't say goodbye
I want to see you, I want to see you one more time I will keep crying out until I reach you
I will not forget, even if this body disappears
Oh the wind that blows to you,
the flowers that bloom for you
Oh the tomorrow that I chased after with you
I want to see you again

Right now, in my heart there remains
The most beautiful setting sun in the world
Oh and that eye,
Rather than uneasiness, it gleams with great hope
By just gazing into your eyes from a close distance I knew everything about happiness
Even if sadness is awaiting on the road ahead
That wish, those words And that single ray of light
I wanted to protect them all
Till forever...

That smile, those tears And that earnest memory I wanted to touch them all
From the bottom of my heart...

O endearing days, please don't say goodbye
I want to see you, I want to see you one more time
I will keep crying out until I reach you
I will not forget, even if this body disappears
Oh the wind that blows to you, the flowers that bloom for you
Oh the tomorrow that I chased after with you
I want to see you again

O endearing days,
Let's dash out now.

 いとしき日々よ 平井堅 たとえ時がうつろうと 縫いあわせた絆は決してほどけない ああ あなたの声は 忘れれば忘れゆくほどに 焼きついてた あなたの手を 強く握ることも あなたを抱きしめることも 許されない運命(さだめ)だと知ってても その笑顔に その涙に そのひたむきな想いに触れたかった 心から… いとしき日々よ サヨナラは言わないで あなたに会いたくて もう一度会いたくて 届くまで叫びつづける 忘れはしない この体が消えても あなたに吹く風よ あなたに咲く花よ あなたと追いかけた明日よ また会いたくて 今も胸に残るよ 世界で一番美しい夕陽が ああ その瞳には 不安より大きな希望が輝いてた ただ近くで見つめあえるだけで 幸せのすべてを知った 道のさきに哀しみが待ってても その願いを その言葉を そのひとすじの光を守りたかった いつまでも… その笑顔に その涙に そのひたむきな想いに触れたかった 心から… いとしき日々よサヨナラは言わないで あなたに会いたくて もう一度会いたくて 届くまで叫びつづける 忘れはしない この体が消えても あなたに吹く風よ あなたに咲く花よ あなたと追いかけた明日よ また会いたくて いとしき日々よ いま歩きだそう
 Itoshiki hibi yo Hirai Ken

Tatoe toki ga utsurou to
Nuiawasera kizuna wa kesshite hodokenai
Aa anata no koe wa Wasurereba wasureyuku hodo ni Yakitsuiteta
Anata no te wo tsuyoku nigiru koto mo Anata wo dakishimeru koto mo Yurusarenai sadame da to shitte te mo
Sono egao ni sono namida ni Sono hitamuki na omoi ni furetakatta
Kokoro kara...
Itoshiki hibi yo sayonara wa iwanaide
Anata ni aitakute mou ichido aitakute
Todoku made sakebitsudukeru
Wasure wa shinai kono karada ga kiete mo
Anata ni fuku kaze yo anata ni saku hana yo Anata to oikaketa asu yo Mata aitakute Ima mo mune ni nokoru yo
Sekai de ichiban utsukushii yuuhi ga
Aa sono hitomi ni wa Fuan yori ookina kibou ga kagayaiteta
Tada chikaku de mitsumeaeru dake de Shiawase no subete wo shitta Michi no saki ni kanashimi ga matte te mo Sono negai wo sono kotoba wo Sono hitosuji no hikari wo mamoritakatta Itsumademo... Sono egao ni sono namida ni Sono hitamuki na omoi ni furetakatta
Kokoro kara...
Itoshiki hibi yo sayonara wa iwanaide
Anata ni aitakute Mou ichido aitakute Todoku made sakebitsudukeru Wasure wa shinai kono karada ga kiete mo
Anata ni fuku kaze yo anata ni saku hana yo Anata to oikaketa asu yo
Mata aitakute
Itoshiki hibi yo
Ima arukidasou

Courtesy of http://yuizaki-libra.livejournal.com/3796.html

 ===========

さくらんぼ

That is the cherry from my sakura tree.
It is not the same as those you find in shops. This is the uncultivated kind. It is smaller and bitter. Not sweet at all, even though the seed from the original fruit is sweet.
It must be something in the ground that is different and do not produce the same result.

But proud to say this is the first lot of sakura fruits or sakuranbo or cherry from my own garden.

=====

借りぐらしのアリエッティ

 As I mentioned in previous entry, this island is going to some weather transformation. The winds doesn't know which way to blow and sometime get confused over the season. I avoid going out at this time.
Sometimes I do get stuck over plotting and story lines. I guess this is a good time to explore. Explore for me is not going into abyss blue lagoon under the sea or struggling over thick iceberg on the Himalaya. No, those are too much suffering.

There are many novels and comic books that are adapted into drama series and anime in Japan. Some of these novels are historical and some educational. Mostly those novel adapted in movies are block-busters and written by famous writers.
I will write down some of the movies and anime as we go along. Such a waste to let people out of Japan to be ignored.

If you see the screen up there, the title is Karigurashi no Arriety or Arriety-The Borrower.
This animation is from Gibli Studio which made Tonari no Totoro. The story is about a community of small people living underground. They survive by borrowing (actually taking) food from houses like lump of sugar or tissue papers. They cleverly hide but live peacefully without betraying their existence in this world.
I was studying the screen. I see every grass and how the winds blow those flowers, nature brought out so real and alive, though just anime or graphic drawing. One can never compare the talent of those graphic artists from Gibli Studio. 

=====

三寒四温

Spring is reluctantly leaving but not before making a great announcement of its departure. The Japanese give an appropriate name for this kind of weather.

三寒四温　or sankanshion that means a cycle of 3 cold days followed by 4 warm ones. So the island is going throught this sankanshion. A few days it will be like 24 c and then it dipped down till 17c.
I'm always caught in between these changes, actually my nose. Sometimes the sneezes get on longer but most times its just a short bout.

Anyway, here I am. Resting under the table heater. Maybe a couple of days would do me some good.

======

Mentaiko

I have to finish up the collection of haiku and tanka by end of February but couldn't catch this date line. So for the past couple of weeks, I was adding up to this collection and editing it every night, way pass my sleep hour.

On top of all this activity, I have to find time to write and writing is a sitting down job. I hardly have time to leave the house other that doing some ferrying. I know my health is not so up to par now and I told myself I need to do some movement out of the house.

So I choose to walk to the supermarket. Since I need to suffer a bit, I walk to the shop farthest down the road about 2 km round trip. All this extra hard activity makes me head for the bed. I took the advise of Japanese peopl: when tired, just sleep it off.

That's what I did today. End up getting so hungry almost at lunch time. So I had this lunch with the breakfast that I missed. It is salted fish egg, mentaiko. Some mentaiko are hot like in spicy hot chilli. Adding this I washed some fresh salad and mixed it up with my own sesame dressing.

 Last night I ordered The Tales from Genji from Amazon. jp. Its not a new book but books from Amazon are still clean even though the status is second-hand. The best bargain I ever had. It is only about US$1 and the handling charge is about US$2.

US$3! I can't believe my big fortune.

=======

RU, Ru, ru.

Have you heard any song without lyric?
Yet again have you heard song without lyric being sang with evergreen vitality without losing its initial novelty?
This song did.
No lyric since its arrival in 1960 but is still demanded.
Somewhere along the line, somebody did suggest lyric to go with it but the emptiness of the song without word is much more mysterious somehow.
So the song remains just ru, ru, ru.

=========

100% 勇気

Translation @ Leyla Shuri

gakkari shite mesomeso shite doushi tanda
dissapointed and sobbing, what has happened?

taiyou mitai ni warau, kimi wa doko dai
Where is the face that laugh like the sun

yaritai koto yatta mon gachi seishun nara
We are young, we do what we want and have it done

tsurai toki wa itsu datte sobani irukara
In difficult time, we'll be by your side

yume wa dekaku nakerya tsumara naidaro
if dreams are not big, they are boring

mune wo tataite bouken shiyou
Lets gather courage and be adventurous

sosa hyaku percent yuuki mou ganbaru shika naisa
That's right, 100% courage, somehow we have to try

kono sekai juu no genki daki shime nagara
We hold the strength of this world

sosa hyaku percent yuuki mou yaru kiru shika naisa
That's right, 100% courage, somehow we have to do it

boku tachiga motteru kagayaki eien ni wasure naidene
don't forget the shine in ourselves always

butsu kattari kizu tsui tari sureba iisa
It's fine if we get knocked or hurt

Hatto (heart) ga moete iru nara koukai shinai
there won'g be regrets when the heart is alive

jitto shitecha hajimaranai kono tokimeki
When we keep still, the time won't move

kimito wo mitsu kete ikeru kaze ga suki dayo
I loved the winds that we chased together

kinou tobena katta sora ga aru nara
If there is a sky that we can't fly yesterday

ima aru chance tsu kande miyou
Let's take the chance now

sosa hyaku percent yuuki saa tobi komu shika naisa
That's right, 100% courage, wh have to jump

mada namida dake de owaru toki ja naidaro
This is not the time to end in tears

sosa hyaku percent yuuki mou furimuicha ikenai
That's right, 100% courage, we must not turn back

boku tachi wa boku tachi rashiku dokoma demo kakete yuku nosa
We are what we are, we can run to anywhere we want

dakedo sabishisugiru yoru ga kita tte
When loneliness comes at night

atarashii asa kanarazu kurusa
a new morning will surely comes

sosa hyaku percent yuuki mou ganbaru shika naisa
That's right, 100% courage, somehow we have to try

kono sekai juu no genki daki shime nagara
We hold the strength of this world

sosa hyaku percent yuuki mou yaru kiru shika naisa
That's right, 100 courage, somehow we have to do

boku tachiga motteru kagayaki eien ni wasure naidene
don't forget the shine in ourselves always.

==========

Pucuk paku Buah berangan

 

warabi & kuri rice

Warabi are young shoots of the fern variety. Whereas kuri are chestnuts. So I mixed these young shoots with the chestnut plus a hint of chicken stock and what do I get.
Warabi and kuri rice.
Sorry guys, I promise to do better next time. I am not the kind to measure every little thing into spoons and cups. I just throw in everything and get done with it.
So this recipe is the throw-and-done type.

========

初さくら-Sakura pertama

 

My own sakura

I can't remember whether the cherry was the dark, American variety or the strong, orange Japanese kind but I clearly remember carelessly throwing the cherry seed into the front porch after I finished with the fruit.
That was ten years ago. We just let the thin branch grow. Every year, beginning of spring on this island, the branch spread out its leaves. Just leaves. I was thinking this cherry tree is not healthy at all. After all, cherry trees are supposed to blossom from the beginning of the season. Anyway, we just ignored the tree. But last week, things started to change.

There you go! I remember the date you first blossomed: 20 Jan. 2012. How beautiful the numbers. 20-1-2011.

The first sakura blossom from our garden. Congratulations my dear sakura. You just stay there quietly to mature. Now, you are a lady. Virginly, blissfully pink.

=========

昴（すばる）

(requested by Puan CT).

Me o tojite nani mo miezu
Tidak melihat apa pun bila mata ditutup
Close your eyes you see nothing
kanashikute me o akereba
Dalam kesedihan bukalah mata
Let your eyes open during sadness
Kouya ni mukau michi yori
mengikut jalan ke....
On the road towards wilderness
hoka ni mieru mono wa nashi
perkara lain semuanya tidak terlihat
there is nothing else to see

Aha kudake chiru sadame no hoshitachi o
ah, bintang-bintang kehidupan yang jatuh
Aha, the falling stars of Life
Semete hisoyaka ni kono mi o terase yo
Dalam diam, ia bersinar dalam dada ini
Quietly will shine in this heart of mine

Ware wa yuku
Saya akan pergi
I'm going
aojiroki hoho no mama de
bersama wajah yang pucat ini
with a face so pale
Ware wa yuku
Saya akan pergi
I'm going
saraba subaru yo
Selamat tinggal Subaru
Goodbye, my Subaru

Ikiru sureba mune no naka
Yang hidup dalam dada ini
Living with this heart
kogarashi wa naki tsuzukeru
kedengaran ribut yang berlarutan
hearing the continuing storm
Saredo waga mune wa atsuku
walaupun dada ini semakin 
But my heart is always chasing
yume o oi tsuzukeru nari
kuterus mengejar impian
warm dreams
Aha sanzameku na mo naki hoshitachi yo
aha, .....bintang-bintang tanpa nama
Aha cruelly killing all the stars without names
Semete azayaka ni sono mi o oware yo
sinarnya hilang bersama kalbuku
with its brightness, my heart is gone

Ware wa yuku
Kami akan pergi
I'm going
kokoro no meizuru mama ni
dengan hati yang berat ini
with a closed heart
Kami pun akan pergi
Ware mo yuku
I'm going
saraba subaru yo
Selamat tinggal Subaru
Goodbye, my Subaru.

Aha, itsu no hi ka
aha, bila-bila nanti
Aha, there will be a day
dareka ga kono michi o
ada yang sampai ke sini
someone will be on this road
Aha, itsu no hi ka Aha,
aha, bila-bila nanti, aha
there will be a day
dareka ga kono michi o
ada yang sampai ke sini
someone will be on this road

Ware wa yuku
Kami pergi
I'm going
aojiroki hoho no mama de
bersama wajah pucat ini
with a face so pale
Ware wa yuku
Kami akan pergi
I'm going
saraba subaru yo
Selamat tinggal Subaru
Goodbye, my Subaru
Ware wa yuku
Kami akan pergi
I'm going
saraba subaru yo
Selamat tinggal Subaru.
Goodbye, my Subaru.

***********

目を閉じて何も見えず
Tutup mata itu segalanya padam
哀しくて目を開ければ
ketika bersedih, celikkan mata
荒れ野に向かう道より
perjalanan menuju ke belantara
他に見るものはなし
tiada apa dalam pandangan
砕け散る 宿命の星たちよ
nasib bintang-bintang yang jatuh bertaburan
せめて密やかに この身を照らせよ
dalam kesenyapan, hati ini disinarkan
我は行く　蒼白き頬のままで
aku pergi dalam wajah lesu ini
我は行く　さらば昴よ
aku pergi selamat tinggal Subaru
呼吸をすれば胸の中
dalam kehidupan ini
木枯らしは吠き続ける
ribut dingin berterusan
されど我が胸は熱く
pun begitu kalbu ini terus mencari cahaya
夢を追い続けるなり
tetap mencari impian hangat
さんざめく名も無き星たちよ
gugurkan segala bintang yang tidak bernama
せめて鮮やかに
dengan sinarnya
その身を終われよ
hilanglah hati ini
我も行く　心の命ずるままに
aku pergi membawa hati resah
我も行く　さらば昴よ
aku pergi selamat tinggal Subaru
いつの日か 誰かがこの道を
satu hari nanti jalan ini terbuka
いつの日か 誰かがこの道を
satu hari nanti jalan ini terbuka
我は行く　蒼白き頬のままで
aku pergi dengan wajah lesu ini
我は行く　さらば昴よ
aku pergi selamat tinggal Subaru
我は行く　さらば昴よ
aku pergi selamat tinggal Subaru

Music/Lyric by Shinji Tanimura

Translator (English & Malay) by @Leyla Shuri

=================

徳永英明 / 時の流れに身をまかせ

This is my [: @Leyla Shuri] translation of the song "徳永英明 / 時の流れに身をまかせ".

Please give credit to translator when copy and pasting.

Moshimo anata to aezuni itara
If you go to him
Watashi wa nani o shiteta deshouka
What would I have to do?
Heibon dakedo dareka o aishi
I'm just a normal guy but want to love somebody
Futsuu no kurashi shitetta deshouka
hoping to have a normal life

Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase
I let time flows
Anata no ironi somerare
I want to be in your color
Ichido no jinsei soresae
At one time we were together
Suteru kotomo kamawanai
Its alright if you want to throw me out
Dakara onegai soba ni oitene
So please, let me be by your side
Ima wa anatashika aisenai
At this moment, you are the only one I love.

Moshimo anata ni kirawaretanara
If ever you give up on us
Ashita to iu hi
When tomorrow comes
Nakushiteshimau wa
I will die
Yakusoku nanka iranai keredo
I don't need your promise
Omoide dake jya ikite yukenai
Just memory will not make me live

Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase
Let time flows by
Anata no mune ni yori soi
I want to be hug by you
Kirei ni nareta soredakede
Just let it be beautiful
Inochi sae mo iranai wa
even life is not important
Dakara onegai soba ni oitene
So please, let me be by your side
Ima wa anata shika mienai no
Now only you in my mind

Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase
Let time flows by
Anata no iro ni somerare
I want to be in your color
Ichido no jinsei soresae
at one time we were together
Suteru koto mo kamawanai
its alright if you want to throw me out
Dakara onegai soba ni oite ne
So please let me be by your side
Ima wa anata shika aisenai
You are my only love now.

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津軽海峡・冬景色-Ishikawa Sayuri

The Red and White Song Contest for 2011 saw many songs related to those places affected by the Earthquake/Tsunami of the north region of Japan that happened on 11 March 2011. Those songs are heart-wrenching calling for love ones or family members or wishing to go home (to a place that is non-existent now).
Most of these songs are written ages before the tragedy happened. If not for the mention of places in the north, these songs would have been just another song.

Take this song. It mentions the Tsugaru Straits in the north that was badly damaged during the strong quake and the deadly tsunami.

I took some time to translate this song. Thinking it might be an item for the next karaoke session.
*Please be kind to mention [Translation by LEYLA SHURI] if ever you think of copy pasting my translation*

 
 Tsugaru Kaikyou • Fuyu Geshiki [津軽海峡・冬景色] : Ishikawa Sayuri

Ueno hatsu no yakouressha orita toki kara
Getting off from Ueno last train
Aomori eki wa yuki no naka
In the snow of Aomori station
Kita e kaeru hito no mure wa dare mo mukuchi de
Groups of people going back to the north are all silent
Uminari dake wo kiiteiru
Hearing only the rumble of the sea
Watashi mo hitori renrakusen ni nori
Alone taking the connecting line
Kogoesou na kamome mitsume naiteimashita
The cries of frozen sea-gulls that gaze blankly

 Ah , Tsugaru kaikyou fuyu geshiki
Ah, winter scene of Tsugaru Straits

 Goran are ga tappimisaki kita no hazure to
Look at the north winds at the edge of the cape
Mishiranu hito ga yubi wo sasu
People watching pointing fingers
Iki de kumoru mado no garasu (glass) fuite mita kedo
Clearing my breathe from the window glass
Haruka ni kasumi mieru dake
Only seeing mist from the distant

Sayonara anata watashi wa kaerimasu
Goodbye darling, l’m returning

Kaze no oto ga mune wo yusuru, nake to bakari ni
The sound of winds filling my chest, only makes me feel like crying

Ah , Tsugaru kaikyou fuyu geshiki
Ah, winter scene of Tsugaru Straits (repeat) 

上野発の夜行列車 おりた時から
青森駅は 雪の中
北へ帰る人の群れは 誰も無口で
海鳴りだけを きいている
私もひとり 連絡船に乗り
こごえそうな鴎見つめ 泣いていました

ああ 津軽海峡冬景色 
ごらんあれが竜飛岬 北のはずれと
見知らぬ人が 指をさす
息でくもる窓のガラス ふいてみたけど
はるかにかすみ 見えるだけ

さよならあなた 私は帰ります
風の音が胸をゆする 泣けとばかりに
ああ 津軽海峡冬景色

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Into 2012

Toshi-koshi soba

This is toshi-koshi soba or as I said in the last entry, joining-the-year-noodle. We ate this for dinner to celebrate the end of the day in Gregorian year 2011.

O-zoni

This is our first breakfast. It is chicken clear soup with lots of vegetable and slabs of mochi rice. It is very filling as one mochi rice is equivalent to a bowl of rice.

To start the new year, let me introduce myself again. I stay on the southern most island of Japan, Okinawa island. My family moved to this island in 1996. Now both of us (hubby and I) are taking care of my hubby's father, fragile but otherwise healthy. This year on record he is 99, but he claimed 101 according to the Chinese calender and some people said he is 100.
Whatever, we still take care of him.
I have three children, two of which are staying in Singapore with their husbands. One is still studying in the same campus as his older sisters.

I love to read and love to write but my time is taken with household duties and chores that I find so unproductive. I do get stress over this at times. I also have a husband who talks to me everytime he passes by my table and this I have to bear with even during my writing time.

That's about it.

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O-misoka (Eve of 2011)

Today is O-misoka or New Year's Eve. These couple of days are the busiest for Japanese because they celebrate the calender New Year as their national new year as well. I went to the greengrocer yestersday, and was caught up with the occasion. Cars were lining up to enter the parking zone, I told hubby, "this is just like Singapore but in Singapore it happens everyday, not just on New Year festivity."
Like every other new year's eve, my family will be taking noodle for dinner while watching NHK Red and White Song contest. I'm looking forward for some new faces this year. The Girl Generation from Korea is invited this year. I like their dance step and the lacy, white hot pants is so faminine, so decorous. Then there is a hard, metal rock girl but strange thing she will sing a slow song, the theme song for the running morning drama-Carnation.
I heard Lady Gaga is invited as well. She will not make a personal appearance. I hope she won't be too skimpy in this video preformance.
Most families in Japan will be preparing toshi-koshi soba. Soba, a kind of noodle from bukewheat, is a normal everyday soba but eating this soba at the end of the year is very symbolic. Like bridging the old year into the new year.
Evey year, one of my sisters-in-law would do the flower but this year, she went for a trip and I have to do the flower. I should say my arrangement is not so bad at all.

May 2012 be better than 2011. May there be no child abuse. May Peace prevail on earth. May all of us, especially you (who have been so patient reading my life on this small screen) be healthy and happy (not necessary rich) to see another fruitful year ahead.

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