Shogatsu, my favorite holiday

Do you know Shogatsu? Shogatsu is the term of New Year's holidays. It is a event to celebrate that last year is finished with safely and new year is started. At the moment, it means the term from January 1st to 31st.
In Shogatsu, there is a custom that we send New Year's cards to those who have helped us and acquaintance. When we meet people for the first time of new year, we greet "akemasite omedetou gozaimasu"(it means a happy new year to you all). In addition, most Japanese visit Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple to tell gratitude for last year and wish safe and peace of New Year to the gods and Buddha. That custom is called "Hatsumoude". In that, people drink Of course, I do that every year with my family.

people preying

About food of Shogatsu, We have habit of eating zoni that is a soup with rice cake and osechi that is congratulation cooking to eat during shogatsu.  Every food of osechi has a  happy meaning.
Besides, we children are looking forward to getting money  given as a gift at a New Year.  But I'm a little pity because I will be 20 next year and maybe I can not get money in shogatsu in a few years.:(

Ozoni! It looks delicious!!

osechi! It also lokks delicious!!!

My University Life

The first semester, from spring to summer, I played basketball as a member of basketball team. Then, I practiced as hard as I could. That time was a fulfilling life for me. I went to the gym fourth a week, and practiced more than two hours. In addition to club, I did a part-time job as clerk who sells midyear present of Ochugen. Ochugen is a midyear gift given to relatives, superiors or acquaintances as a token of gratitude for help received. I did part-time job in another day of practicing basketball. So everyday was fulfilling, also hard then x(

And this semester, I quit basketball club, and now do volunteer more often than before. Recently, I went to Tohoku to do volunteer. I felt I could have good experience.
Now I am keen on volunteering, doing part time job, and studying English. I can spend fulfilling days. I want more time :) These days, I don't take exercise so much. So I wanna do some exercise to refresh!

I live in dormitory, so I often chat with my roommate, sometimes that extend late at night...
But it is good time for me. I enjoy talking, playing the games, cooking with them.

this is part of volunteer companies for Tohoku. Backside of  most left is me:)

 







Tsunami(The big wave hurted this building) damage in Tohoku.

My club activity of basketball

I love sports. But in my life, I play basketball for the long time.
When I was 3 grade in summer night, I decided to join basketball club. That night, my mother called local basketball team to visit. At first, there is nobody whom I know because I commute the other school that is located far from the local school. But time passed, I made friends with them. Starting to play basketball, I did not play it as well as others. That is reasonable. But, practicing it many times made me progress!  On holidays, I went to friend's house to practice with them and play a basketball game.

As I became junior high school student, practice got harder and harder. That is far different from that of elementary school. Besides, my height is not so as tall as rival. I had been mortified for three years:( But I thought that years made me more patient. I wanna believe!

By the way I love NBA. I often played "NBA LIVE" by PS2. And I like Lakers and Kobe Bryant very much (^^)/ Do you know where his name "Kobe" come from? It was from Kobe prefecture. When his parents came to Kobe, and they eat Kobe meat. It was so delicious for them. That is why his name became Kobe!

In high school, I didn't join any clubs. That was a little regret...
Now in college, I played basketball again. When I'm playing basketball, I feel nice!
From now on I want to play basketball and other sports for cheerfully.
To tell the truth, I wanna play soccer! I love soccer too:)

About my hometown Shiga

Japanese map and the red zone is my home town Shiga :)

My home town is Hikone city in Shiga prefecture. Do you know Shiga? Shiga is located on the center of  Honshu(Japan is composed of four mass. Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu. Of course, there are many tiny islands too). Shiga is next to Kyoto prefecture. And Shiga is not faced sea, is surrounded by four prefectures.

This is Biwako!

If Japanese are asked about Shiga, I think most of them would answer the lake named Biwako. Biwako is the biggest lake and in Japan and has long history in the world. It  has one sixth area of  all Shiga . A lot of people enjoy canoeing, water-skiing, camping, and so on. Surprisingly, Biwako is the source of drinking water for more than 13 million. Biwako has played an important role from old time.
For my experience, I had gone around Biwako with my classmates when i was six grade student. It is a good old memories.
My home town Hikone has castle. It was constructed 400 and a few years ago. It has long history too! And part of it is desighnated for a national treasure! In spring, cherry trees make Hikone castle more and more beautiful.
There is a cute mascot of Hikone. It is a white cat named "Hikonyan".
She is popular among the people. She has a lot of fans all around Japan. maybe :)


This is a donjon with cherry blossoms, and Hikonyan