Mikazuki 三日月

I really like this song by Ayaka, so, I decided to post it here on my blog. The lyrics traslated in English is provided below together with the video with the lyrics in Japanese written in Romaji. So guys enjoy!!!

English translation

We were always together
The two of us walked down a straight road
Separating into two,
we walked off in our separate ways

I hold to this chest that overflowed in loneliness
Even now, I look up at a sky that seems about to cry
I thought of you…

*Even in the nights without you
like that, no more cry
I won’t cry anymore
Because I’m trying my best
Because I’ll become strong
You must be watching too
This crescent moon that seems like it’ll disappear
Because we’re connecting
Because I love you

The days when I warmed my completely chilled hands by myself
I so, so yearned for your warmth

No matter how much I was told “I love you” on the phone
I couldn’t ever rely on you
I wiped my tears…

Even in the nights without you
like that, no more cry
I won’t cry anymore
Because I’m trying my best
Because I’ll become strong

Next time, when will we be able to meet, I wonder?
While embracing the batteries up until then
I said the one word that you love

*repeat*

I stretched out my hand toward the crescent mooon
Let these feelings reach you

Our 1 day trip to Kanazawa

Me and my friends decided to make a tour in Kanazawa 金沢, a city located on the West part of Japan along the Sea of Japan. Since we we're on the East side of Japan, I doubted that we cannot make a day tour and still manage to come back home. One of my friend got a "Seishun Juhachi Kippu" (Youthful 18 ticket) which allows you to ride unlimited JR trains. Travelling across Japan, it is practical to use Juhachi Kippu however, it can be tiring because you need to transfer trains before you can get to your destination and it really takes time. I forgot what trains and destination we took all I can remember is that it took us 3 transfer before we got to Kanazawa and we travelled for almost 6 hours. In Kanazawa we decided to eat first in a nearest shopping mall near the Kanazawa Station. After that we took a loop bus which will take us to the famous park in Kanazawa, the Kenrokuen Park. Actually, we planned to visit Kanazawa to see the snow, because they say that the view from the park is really breathtaking but sad to say, the weather wasn't friendly at that time. It was a bit rainy, so after we had our lunch, we searched for 100 yen shop (百円ショープ) to buy an umbrella. Unfortunately, we couldn't find one so, we just stick to buy a 300 yen umbrella. We started to roam around the park and took as many pictures as we can. After the park we decided to go back to the station since we were trying to make a ride back home. At the station I bought some shrimps which they say famous in Kanazawa. We never had time to eat dinner so we just bought some foods in the convenience store. Tired but I really enjoyed this trip, though the weather was not good I appreciate Kanazawa, it was like an adventure for me.

Kenroku-en (兼六園, Six Attribute Garden)
Is a strolling-style landscape garden with the characteristics of a typical landscape garden of the Edo period. Originally the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle. it was located on the slope facing the castle. In 1676, the 5th lord Maeda Tsunamori moved the construction administrative institution on the slope to the castle, and built a resthouse called "Renchiochin" at the site and started to landscape a garden called "Renchitei" in the surrounding area.
However, the rest house and garden burned down in 1759. The 11th lord Harunaga restored the garden with the creation of Midoritaki (Emerald) Waterfall. and the construction of Yugaotei in 1774. In 1822, the 12th lord Narinaga constructed the gorgeous Takezawa villa on Chitosedai plain to te southeastof the castle, even though seven retainers' houses and the clan school were located there. He developed the gardeb by creating winding streams with water from Tatsumi Water System, and building stone bridges over them.
In the year of the completion of Takezawa Villa, Lord Narinaga asked Shirakawa Rakuo to name the garden. He named it after a garden combining the six attributes of a perfect landscape garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, watercourses and panoramas. The name derives from a gardening book written by Li Gefei, a famous Chinese poet. Lord Narinaga died two years after the completion of Takezawa Villa. On the site where the villa was subsequently destroyed, the 13th lord Nariyasu expanded Kasumigaike Pond and added some winding streams that harmonized with Renchitei Garden. The basic structure of the present spacious strolling- style landscape garden was thus completed.
On May 7, 1874, when the domain system had been abolished, Kenrokuen Garden was opened to the public. The Garden was designated as a National Site of Scenic Beauty on March 8, 1922 and as a National Site of Special Scenic Beauty on March 20, 1985.

Opening Hours (year-round):
7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Mar. 1-Oct. 15)
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Oct. 16-end of Feb.)
Admission Fee:
Adult 300 yen, Child 100 yen (6-17 years old)

Arashi 嵐

After watching the series Hana Yori Dango on the net, I became familiar with the boy band Arashi 嵐. All Hana Yori Dango's theme song was sung by Arashi. The first song was entitled "Wish" from HYD 1, "Love so Sweet" from HYD 2 and "One Love" theme song of Hana Yori Dango Final The Movie. Out of the 3 songs I like Love so Sweet the most, in fact I have downloaded this song to make it as my phone's ringtone. I provided a bit info about this Japanese boy band, check it out.


Biography

嵐 means storm in Japanese, consist of five members under the management of Johnny and Associates. The group made their debut on September 15, 1999 in Honolulu Hawaii. Arashi covers a wide range of music, including R&B, hip hop and various forms of pop music. Aside from being a popular idol group in Japan, the group is widely known across Asia and to J-pop fans all over the world.
Members:
Masaki Aiba, Sho Sakurai, Satoshi Ohno, Kazunari Ninomiya and Jun Matsumoto

To date, Arashi has released ten albums (which includes eight studio albums and two compilation albums) and twenty-two singles. The group's latest single is "Beautiful Days", which is the theme song for the Japanese television drama, Ryusei no Kizuna. This is Arashi's 13th straight number one release and their 21st number one overall.

Studio albums
2001: Arashi No.1 Ichigou - Arashi wa Arashi o Yobu!
2002: Here We Go!
2003: How's It Going?
2004: Iza, Now!
2005: One
2006: Arashic
2007: Time
2008: Dream "A" live

Compilation albums
2002: Arashi Single Collection 1999-2001
2004: Arashi 5x5: The Best Selection of 2002-2004

Arashi's "Love So Sweet" music video, enjoy!!!

Japan Baseball: Giants VS. Lions

I am not a fan of baseball leagues. In the Philippines baseball is not a popular sport, I preferred basketball instead and watched NBA most often, my brothers always tune in to cable TV just to watch the NBA series. Our habit everynight is watching TV while eating dinner. My aunt's husband likes watching sports such as soccer, boxing, K1 (kickboxing) and baseball games. Recently, he always watched baseball because of the Championship series and at that point I got interested in baseball. I only knew 1 team in Japanese Baseball League and it's Chunichi Dragons. Honestly, I have knew this team because of Dragons Day SALE in the department stores with matching Dragons theme song playing over and over again. Out of curiosity, I asked my aunt about it and she explained that the Dragons is the Aichi prefecture's team in the baseball league, everytime they enter the championship series, all department stores and supermarket in Aichiken give special discounts. This season Chunichi Dragons made it to the championship series, but their battle for the championship easily ends. Yomiura Giants from Tokyo beated them. My uncle was a fan of Yomiuri Giants and as for me, though I am not an avid fan my bet is off course Chunichi Dragons. The battle continues for Yomiuri Giants as they face The Saitama Seibu Lion for the final leg of the series. Still my whole family here, were Giants, I go for Lions, why? Most players were handsome....

Seibu Lions defeat Yomiuri Giants in Game 7 to win Japan Series
TOKYO (AP) -- The Seibu Lions won their first Japan Series title since 2004 on Sunday by defeating the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 7. Former major leaguer Hiram Bocachica hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning and former New York Yankees pitcher Alex Graman recorded the final six outs for the save as the Lions won their 13th Japan Series title.

In fielder Hiroshi Hirao drove in the winning run with a single up the middle in the eighth inning at Tokyo Dome.
Seibu pitcher Takayuki Kishi, who was named series MVP, won Game 6 to set up the decisive Game 7.

It was a disappointing end to the season for the Giants, who built a 3-2 series lead before heading back to their home stadium for the final two games.The Giants signed former major leaguers Alex Ramirez and pitcher Seth Greisinger from the Yakult Swallows before the 2008 season. They also signed hard-throwing reliever Marc Kroon from the Yokohama BayStars in the offseason.

Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara was named manager of Japan's team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic before the start of the Japan Series but couldn't guide his team to their first championship since 2002.
(Mainichi Japan) November 10, 2008

Okazaki Castle

A friend of mine decided to give me a visit here in my place. My friend lives in Nagoya (名古屋)and compare to my place it is more rural with not so many places to go and hang out. Since my place is far from Nagoya, I told my friend to take Meitetsu (名鉄) Exp. limited via Toyohashi (豊橋), stopping at a limited stations and I will just meet him in Higashi Okazaki (東岡崎). Before we start our day trip in Okazaki, we ate first in Mc Donalds. Then from Higashi Okazaki (東岡崎) we walked all the way to Okazaki Park (岡崎公園 "Okazaki Koen"). We went to Okazaki Castle (岡崎城 "Okazaki Jyou"). The 2nd, 3rd, 4th floors of the castle tower have been converted into a museums. We decided to take a rest on top of the castle so, we can also enjoy the beautiful scenic view on top. After the castle we continued walking and decided to go to a game center near my place. From the park it took us 30 minutes to the game center. We spend our time playing video games and billiards. At the end of the day after walking for a long distance and doing activities, it's a good thing we never even felt tired.

OKAZAKI PARK (岡崎公園)

This park, spreading over 80,000 square meters around the Okazaki Castle, is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms. There is a Mikawa Samurai and Ieyasu Museum, which displays historical documents. There is a flower clock, a teahouse, a noh theatre, and a replica of Ieyasu dancing the noh dance (which is actually a clock.)

●561 Kosei-cho, Okazaki　TEL:0564-24-2204　a 10-minute walk from Meitetsu Higashi Okazaki Station.

Okazaki Castle (岡崎城)
THE HISTORY OF THE CASTLE

Tradition has it that the 1st Okazaki Castle was constructed at the present site in Sugo, Okazaki around 1455 by the Saigo family...In the 1st half on the 16th century, the Saigo family yielded possession of Okazaki Castle to Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, the 17th lord of the Matsudaira family (and the grandfather of Iyeyasu)..that had risen into power in northern Mikawa. The prevailing belief based on recent research work, however, is that the 1st half of the 15th century, and that Matsudaira Kiyoyasu moved it over to the present site in 1531..Incidentally, the original castle was most probably a fort of the main citadel today, on a small plot of land. In 1590, Tanaka Yoshimasa, then lord of the castle, enlarged the precincts surrounded with moats and Lord Honda Yasunori built a complex castle tower well worthy of the name. For 3 centuries, Okazaki Castle, honored as the birthplace of the deified Iyeyasu and cradle of the Tokugawa Shogunate, was guarded successively by the hereditary vassal daimyos. At the same time Okazaki was valued as a strategic point along the Tokaido Highway. In the Meiji Restoration Period, the feudal clans were abolished and in 1873-1874 , Okazaki castle was demolished, leaving only its moat and stone wall. In 1959, the triple-roofed , 5 story donjon, together with the annex and wellhouse , were reconstructed according to the original model.

OPEN 9am to 5pm
CLOSE Dec. 29-Jan. 1
FEE:
Okazaki castle -- adult 200 yen. / child 100 yen
Mikawa museum-- adult 350 yen / child 200 yen
Museum and Castle (combined) -- adult 500 yen / child 270 yen
Address: 561 Kousei-cho Okazaki, Aichi prefecture.