It has been one and a half months since my last update.
I hope all of you guys are doing well.
and today is 14th year anniversary of East Japan Earthquake that happened in March 11th 2011.
I hope souls of victims rest in peace, and are remembered.
Today, I will introduce you to my current favorite song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp6DUeo2YdQ
I learned English mainly through reading newpaper articles (e.g., BBC, CNN) and Time magazine and Newsweek magazine. Therefore, my English is formal in a good sense and bad sense. In other words, there is still much room for improvement in my understanding and skills in casually spoken English. In order to brush up this aspect, my current learning materials in my English practice are conversations like the following video, which is a microphone performance on the ring of pro-wrestling.
P.S. I like entrance music of Mickie James " Obsession ". Also, Alexa Bliss is beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Skr0D08W4
僕は主に英字新聞やTime, Newsweek などの記事を沢山読むことで英語を学んできたので、僕の英語は良くも悪くもフォーマルというか固くなりがちです。
いわゆる「カジュアル」な会話の理解には、まだまだ改善の余地があります。
そんなわけで、現在、英語の練習教材として使用しているのが、上記のリンクのようなプロレスのリング上でのマイクパフォーマンス。
上記のビデオは、WWE 女子プロレス選手、ミッキー・ジェームスとアレクサ・ブリスのやりとりですが、中々勉強になります。
それと、ミッキー・ジェームスの入場曲はノリが良くて好きですし、アレクサ・ブリスは美人ですよね。
The following link is an interview video of female pro-wrestler Giulia who stepped up her fighting stage from Stardom in Japan to WWE NXT in the US in 2024.
As you can see in the interview, Giulia's English is between beginning level and intermediate level. However, what I can see from this interview is Giulia's sincere and polite attitude to further learn and excell, which can be a good encouragement to my language practice as well.
I hope Giulia's further success globally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_i3N8fqoZc&t=309s
上記のリンクは女子プロレスラー・ジュリアさんのインタビュービデオです。
ジュリアさんは日本の女子プロレス団体 スターダムで闘っていましたが、世界に挑戦したいと2024年に米国 WWE NXT のリングに戦いの舞台を移しました。
このインタビューで見ると、ジュリアさんの英語は中級レベルくらいですが、英語もプロレスも、もっともっと上達したいという彼女の真摯な姿勢が伝わってきます。冒頭のところで、Thank you for having me (お招きいただきましてありがとうございます）と言っていますが、英語を学び始めて間もない日本人で、Thank you for having me と、自然に言える人は少ないと思います。それと、ジュリアさんのリスニング能力はかなり高いように思います。
プロレスの試合と練習の合間に定期的に英語のレッスンを続けているとのことなので、今現在は、もっと上達していると思います。ジュリアさんのひたむきな努力は、私にも良い刺激と励みになります。
Although the climate is still cold every day, today I felt that the color of sky is becoming that of early spring little by little.
Stay warm and take care everyone !
My friend in Tokyo enjoyed his first swimming in 2025 at the swimming pool in Tokyo Gymnasium.
I'm glad he started his new year with the healthy activity.
The photo is a scenery of the gymnasium on that day.
東京の友人は今年の初泳ぎに東京体育館に行ってきたそうです。
健康的な活動で新年をスタートするのは、とても良いことですね。
写真は当日の東京体育館の風景
My friend in Tokyo spent his new year holiday at a spa resort twon in Saga-prefecture.
I'm glad he had a good time there.
This weekend is a three consecutive days holiday, and may everyone has relaxed time.
東京の友人が故郷に帰省した際、佐賀の武雄温泉と嬉野温泉に行って来たそうで写真を送ってくださいました。
この3連休も良い休日でありますように !
Currently, my favorite women's pro wrestling athletes are Hikaru Shida, Mina Shirakawa, Mariah May, and Guilia. These ladies are passionate, humble, and sincere in their profession, also they are beautiful and attractive. Especially, Mina, Mariah, and Guilia are from Stardom Pro wrestling Promotion. Stardom maybe a factory/dojo for star making.
I would like to improve my English listening skill more and more.
There are still a lot of English words/sounds/and pronunciations that I can't comprehend, especially when sound of words and pronunciation are linked.
Listening skill and speaking skill are in a relationship of belly and back.
I need to immerse myself in English environment as much as possible.
My 2025 started with the new year's courtesy visit to Shizuoka Sengen Shrine.
I wished my health in the new year.
The shrine premise was very busy and lively with a lot of people.
May your 2025 be filled with a lot of excitement and fortune.
新年あけましておめでとうございます。
元日の午前中に静岡浅間神社に初詣に行ってきました。
境内は、とても賑やかで、お賽銭箱の前は参拝者の列ができていました。
皆様のご健康と御多幸を願っております。
It is the final day in 2024. The ACSM Health & Fitness Journal November/December 2024 issue arrived today, which made me happy and relieved.
Thank you for checking my weblog this year too.
I would like to expect your continued support in the future as well.
Have a good new year's eve, everyone !
My friend in Tokyo kindly sent me scenery of Christmas season in Tokyo.
The rest of 2024 is only five days.
Happy Holiday Season, everyone !
東京の友人が年末の東京の風景を送ってくださいました。
2024年も残すところ、あと5日ですが、皆さんが良い年末を過ごされますように !
Currently, the main focus of my English practice is to get my ears used to quickly spoken casual English conversations. And the link below is an example of learning materials I'm using for listening comprehension practice.
As long as you live in Japan, the amount of English you are exposed to is limited, but I would like to improve my English language skills as much as possible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ze8ldTE8Tg
Currently, what I am looking foward to is a pro-wrestling match between AEW women's champion Mariah May and challenger Mina Shirakawa. The both ladies are beautiful, sexy, and very talented entertainers. Mina's passion and pro-wrestling sense are great, Mariah is extremely beautiful like a Barbie doll. Originally, these two ladies were tag team partners when Mariah was in Stardom Wrestling Promotion in Japan. I can't wait to see the storyline of the bout of friendship and good rivalry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCQJF6wdgSM
今現在、楽しみにしているのが米国のプロレス団体 AEW の女子プロレスの試合。キレイでセクシーでキャラクターも面白い選手が沢山います。2024年の12月中旬に行われるマライア・メイ vs 白川未奈の試合が特に楽しみ。
白川未奈さんは青山学院大・英文科卒の女子プロレスラーで得意の英語を活かして、今はアメリカのリングでも活躍しています。マライア・メイさんは、バービー人形かと思うほどの美人で、以前は日本の女子プロレス団体 スターダムに在籍していました。未奈さんとマライアさんはスターダム時代はタッグパートナーだったのですが、AEWのリングでは上記のビデオにある通り、仲間割れをして、お互い闘うことになった、という筋書きです。
今後のストーリーがどう展開していくのか？楽しみです。
志田 光選手にも期待しています。
As long as you live and work in Japan, the amount of English you are exposed to is limited. Therefore, one of important keys for improving your English is how well you increase opportunities to use English in your every day life.
In this contect, the word " use " does not necesarily mean speaking. Writing, listening, and reading are also included in this expresseion " use ". The point is to increase amount of English you are immersed.
Currently, one of my priorities in English practice is to get used to quickly spoken casual conversation.
The video below is one of learning materials I'm listening to, which is an interview video of a female pro-wrestler.
Because she speaks English quickly, also has southern accent.
Although total amount of time I immersed in English still lacks, I'd like to get my ears familiarize with that kind of conversations.
Today, I did two continuing education classes of Wellcoaches, which are necessary for recertifying one's credential in every three years. Also, watching and listening to those continuing education classes can be a good practice for my English listening comprehension. As I wrote previously, in order to further improve my English speaking & writing skills, brushing up my listening skill is essentially important. Although I live in Japan, I need to immerse myself in English spoken environment as much as possible.
I need to improve my listening comprehension skill in English more and more. As you know, speaking skill and listening skill are closely related each other. Reading skill and writing skill are also related to listening and speaking skills. In other words, in any languages, skills in reading, listening, writing, and speaking are interrelated each other. In my case, I learned English mainly through reading a lot of newspaper articles aloud. Therefore, my reading skill is higher than my listening comprehension. Seeing from the other side, there is much room for improvement in my listening comprehension, especially when it comes to quickly spoken casual English. In order to brush up my speaking skill further as well, an important key would be improving my listening comprehension.
Do you know a female pro-wrestler whose names is Hikaru Shida ? (aka Holy Shida)
Although she was born and grew up in Japan, her English is surprisingly good. Compared to her Youtube videos filmed 4-5 years ago, her recent interview video shows that her English language skills are obviously improving.
Currently, she has exclusive contract with AEW wrestling promotion in the US, which means the improvement of her English is a proof of her determination to assimilate herself into American society.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOojTO_9NhA
志田 光（シダ ヒカル）さんという女性プロレスラーがいます。
数年前まで日本のリングで活動していましたが、現在、アメリカのAEWというレスリング団体と専属契約をしています。アメリカのプロレスのリングで闘うにあたり、日本での仕事は全て清算して、米国に移住したそうです。日本にいた頃から英語の勉強にかなり力を入れていたようで、志田さんの4～5年前のYoutubeビデオを見ても、日本人としては例外的なほど英語が上手でしたが、最近のインタビュービデオを見ると、英語がさらに上手になっているのがわかります。AEWでトップレスラーとして闘うことの責任感とプライドやプレッシャー、米国社会に溶け込もうとする決意が志田さんの英語力に表れていると思います。
When I was watching Youtube videos yesterday, I came across a very well sung cover version of " Phantom of the Opera ".
Although her detailed profile is not written, name of this lady seems to be Eleanor and probably she is a wanna be professional singer, I guess.
It has become one of my favorite versions of Phantom of the Opera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDruHZ0Swks
昨日、Youtubeを見ていたら、「オペラ座の怪人」を歌っている非常に魅力的なladyを見つけました。プロの歌手ではなくて、おそらく、歌手志望の学生さんかと思われます。詳しいプロフィールが書かれていないので、よくわかりませんが、エレノアさんという名前のようです。キレイな女性で表情も豊かですし、クラシック音楽の特別な訓練は受けていないとのことですが、「オペラ座の怪人」の高音部のところ、すごく上手です。
Today, I happened to find a talented singer on Youtube.
Her name is Julia Wu, an Australian born singer based in Taiwan.
Alan Walker's Faded featuring Julia Wu is captivating !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdZQtydgxvA
Youtubeを見ていたら、才能ある歌手を見つけました。
ジュリア・ウーをいう名前で、オーストリア生まれですが台湾を拠点に活動しているようです。
アラン・ウォーカーの " Faded " を歌っていますが、非常に良い出来だと思います。
This footage is from X Factor in 2011, but it is still one of my favorite cover songs.
Stacy Francis's Purple Rain has an amazing power, which makes me recall what I was forgetting.
In the process of anguage learning journey, I experienced mysterious and strange phenomena like transient/temporary amnesia several times. When I encounter these strange situation, Stacy Francis's powerful and emotional song can be a salvation. Thanks to listening to her song, I regained my memories and language which I was temporarily forgetting.
Although it's a slow process, I'm regaining myself day by day.
Patience and perseverance are necessary.
vocabulary practice
influencer, resonate with, showcase, skillset, audition, captivating, tenacity, tenacious, ginormous, enormous, physicality, musicality. lyrical, show group, permanent, vase, wallet, fine line, positivity, group dynamics, synergy, trust and rapport, enthusiastic, gifted child, cohesive, camaraderie, iconic, chapter, horizen,
My friend in Tokyo went to see the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival yesterday. According to the friend, totally 208 movies participated in this event.
Also, he visited Hiroshima last week for business trip. And he enjoyed oyster dish (the second photo). It looks yummy.
東京の友人が昨日、東京国際映画祭を観に行ってきたそうです。
今年は208本の映画が参加しているとのことです。
また、出張で訪れた広島で牡蠣料理を味わってきたそうです。
美味しそうですね。
The American College of Sports Medicine announced fitness trend for 2025.
This trend is based on surveys among fitness professionals and exercise science researchers worldwide about what would become hot topics in the health & fitness industry in 2025.
What came in the first place was " Wearable technology "
The first runners up was mobile exercise apps.
Also, health & wellness coaching was ranked in No.10.
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-healthfitness/fulltext/2024/11000/2025_acsm_worldwide_fitness_trends__future.6.aspx
米国スポーツ医学会 (ACSM) は、2025年にフィットネス業界で何が話題になるか？を予測した「2025フィットネス・トレンド」を発表しました。第1位にランクされたのは、Wearable technology, 第2位はmobile exercise apps,
また、ヘルス＆ウェルネスコーチングが第10位にランクインしています。
P.S.
I visited Kumano Shrine today, which in one of my favorite local shrines, for refreshment and regaining myself.
My thought process starts to work again little by little after one month hiatus period in English language practice.
I'm watching videos of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders today too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhnGtYd7-r0
Also, I did two sets of barbell squats with an easy weight, which makes me feel good and gives me confidence after the long hiatus.
Hello everyone, it has been a while.
I was off of English language practice for nearly one month because of a reason.
Today, I restarted my English practice through a continuing education of Wellcoaches, and after that I'm watching/listening to this video - Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders making videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDl-8We8iTg
大変ご無沙汰しています。
ある事情により、ここ1ヶ月近く、英語の練習から離れておりました。
本日、Wellcoaches の継続教育プログラムを通して、久しぶりに英語の勉強を再開し、今、ダラスカウボーイズ・チアリーダーズのメイキングビデオを Youtube で観ています。
早いものでもう11月ですね。皆さんがお元気でありますように。
In processions of traditional Japanese festivals, we carry portable shrines called " Mikoshi ".
Mikoshi is a symbol of respect, health, and fortune.
My friend in Tokyo went to see summer festivals and Mikoshi yesterday, and sent me these photos.
お祭りで担ぐ「神輿」は英語で portable shrine (移動式の神社）
と表現します。
東京の友人が、昨日、祭りの神輿を見て来たそうで
写真を送って下さいました。
In order to be a professional translator/tour guide, you need to understand English of all walks of life, from children to the elderly, which means that I need to improve my listening comprehension skills more and more.
My friend in Tokyo went to see Awa Dance in Koenji Tokyo. According to him, this event reminds him of the end of summer.
I'm glad that the friend had a nice summer. Climate will also change into autumn weather in a three week or so.
東京の友人が高円寺の阿波踊りに行ってきたとのことで写真を送ってくれました。友人によると、このイベントは夏の終わりを感じさせる行事とのことで、気候も徐々に秋らしくなっていくのでしょうね。友人が有意義な夏を過ごし、嬉しく思います。
In Japan, about 126 million people live in the small archipelago, therefore how well we utilize the limited land space efficiently is an important matter. An example is multistoried parking lot like the one in the photo. When you visit Japanese cities, you will see that kind of multistoried parking lot everywhere.
小さな列島に1憶2600万人の人口が住む日本では、限られた土地をいかに有効に使うか？というのがとても大切な問題です。写真のような立体駐車場は街のいたるところにありますが、広大な面積の国に住む人たちには非常に珍しいようです。こういったものも訪日観光客の興味の対象になり得るよ、と東京の友人が教えてくれました。
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