Breaking Benjamin / Dear Agony

I like rock music.
But I also listen pops, jazz, hiphop, house.
Today I introduce this album to you.

Artist / Breaking Benjamin
Album Title / Dear Agony
wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_benjamin
Official HP http://www.shallowbay.com/

They are American rock band.
They play Alternative Rock, Altanative Metal, Post-grunge music.
Calm but strong emotional voice(basically no screaming) riding on the dark and heavy backing sounds.

It's a Melodic and melancholic music.
Dear agony is their 4th studio album.
I especially like this album among their other albums.
All songs has strong melody and tough riffs.
I have often heard this album these past months.

The tracks I recommend are
"I will not Bow"
"Crawl"
"Give me a sign"
"What Lies Beneath"
"Dear Agony"
"Without you"

All songs are not fast. So you can listen deliberately.
If you like melodick heavy rock, please check this album.

Rocky's speech to his son.

When I'm disheartend,  sometimes I watching this movie.
It's a good speech for all discouraged person.
Never give up, Never give in.
-----------------------------------

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!

http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D_Z5OookwOoY&sa=U&ei=tJcbTsSKHq7ymAWZ8KXXBw&ved=0CBUQtwIwAQ&usg=AFQjCNHqk3oln5LvPZzKnbGrVXw6nFZiaQ

GSP vs. Diaz Superfight set for October.

Here comes the very exciting match up.

GSP(Georges St-Pierre) vs NIck Diaz

They will fight Octorber.

http://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-137-fight-card-updates

This is the fight of Champ vs Champ.

GSP is the UFC welter weight champion.
Diaz is the STRIKEFORCE welter weight champion.

GSP is a very nice all round fighter.
His fight style is always stable and he is a very smart guy at fight.
But Diaz has good boxing skills and good Jiu-jitsu.
I think, It'll be a very good fight.

In Japan, there are lot of MMA funs.
This fight will attract such a fighting sports funs.

I became a non meat eater (on weekday).

Recently, I thought about the influence of non meat eating for athletes.
Sometimes I felt good body condition when I didn't eat meat day before.
And then, I read these articles that translated into Japanese(summary).


Vegetarianism all the rage in MMA
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dm-mmavegetarians021711

A look at vegetarian fighters’ diets
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dm-diets021711


It was very interesting stories for me.
Some famous MMA fighters have non meat eating life.
Jake Shields(former Strikeforce Middle weight Champ)
Nick Diaz(Strikeforce welter weight Champ)
Jon Fitch(UFC welter weight top contender)

And I think, I wanna start to non meat eating in weekday.
But I don't wanna be a hardcore vegetarian.
I'll take meat on off-day and when I feel really hard appetite for meat eating,
I'll take them.

I do Box, running and some physical training.
I should take protein drink and amino acids(especially bcaa, creatine) more.
and fruits too.

If I felt some influences of non meat eating from now on,
I'll report something here.


blog from Tokyo

Never forget.

I want to say thank you again for all the people who supported Japan.


This is the one article from Mainichi Daily News 4/15.
Japan eternally grateful for international support following disaster.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110415p2a00m0na001000c.html

One article from The Mainichi Daily News

I read this article today.
It was an impressive article.


Photographer battles with emotions as he confronts tsunami destruction head-on
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110404p2a00m0na003000c.html



blogfromTokyo.

Astonishing speed of reconstruction.

We having a lot of aftershock in Northeast of Japan after 3.11.

And Nuclear plants circumstance is still bad and not clear.

But there is also a good news.

I was surprised by this article.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369307/Japan-tsunami-earthquake-Road-repaired-SIX-days-destroyed.html


yes.
We have to go forward.

 

blog from Tokyo

Japan earthquake

A very big thanks to all other countries.


Thank you for helping us.
Thank you for praying for us.

Over 20thousand(and more) people still missing.
We have to overcome this huge disasters.



picture of after earthquake and tsunami

http://photo.sankei.jp.msn.com/kodawari/data/2011/03/0312earthquake-heri2/0312earthquake-heri2/

blog from Tokyo

Welcome back My glasses.

Last Friday night, I lost my glasses on the way to the gym.
When I noticed that, I didn't remember where I dropped my glasses.

Then, first, I called the station that I got off.
I asked station staff,
"Did you receive black frame glasses that someone send you some time ago ? "

He said
"I'm sorry, We didn't get your glasses now.
Please call us again tomorrow or your glasses might be found. Possibly. "

"Ok, thank you very much. I'll call you again tomorrow."

.....

 I didn't have any hope at that time.
Then I thought, I have to go to buy new glasses soon.

Next day I called the station again.

So, station staff said
"We have glasses that seem yours. But the glasses were delivered to the terminal station.
And We don't have the positive proof whether it is your thing."

I said
"Ok thank you, I'll go to the terminal station and check that. "

1hour later , I arrived at station. And finally I got back my glasses.

Thank you for someone who picked up my glasses and sent it to the station staff.
I was lucky at that time.

Sometime I found and picked up , bag, wallet, mobile phone, iphone
and commutation ticket that were dropped by someone.
And I sent that station staff or policeman.

Because, such a proverb is in Japan.
情けは人のためならず　（nasakeha hitono tame narazu)
This means,
One good turn deserves another.   or   A kindness is never lost.

This time was my turn to receive.
I'll  return this help to someone next time.

blog from Tokyo

Coke's original recipe ??

Coke is one of the most famous drink in Japan.

and Coke is a carbonated drink that sells most in Japan.


I like Coke. I have 1 or 2 500ml bottles Coke in a week.
In summer, driking Coke after work out is super.


Coke is called "COLA" by Japanese people.
You can buy Coke everywhere in Japan.


Few days ago, I found a website that tells original receipe of Coke.
As far as I know, Coke's receipe is not opened.
Please check this URL.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/427/original-recipe/recipe


(Coka Cola co. said this recipe is not true.
but I think it's a interesting.)


When I was a kid, I always heard that adult people's said
" Don't drink a Coke, because Coke will melt your bones."
I never believed. Don't threaten the kids !


Not only Coke bad for health.
If you drink too much water, you will die by water intoxication.


This is a proverb in Japan.
過ぎたるは及ばざるがごとし。（sugitaru wa oyobazaru ga gotoshi)
It means , More than enough is too much.


So, Let's drink a Coke.


blog from Tokyo

Had a quick drink at Shibuya.

I went to Shibuya last Saturday.
Then, I got a pint of very nice Japanese ale beer.
"Yona Yona(よなよな) ale beer"　
"Yona Yona" means every night, night after night in Japanese.
Fruity, smooth and mellow taste.
I recommend this beer for you.

I drunked at English pub THE ALDGATE.
http://www.the-aldgate.com/

I enjoyed a beer and 6 nations Rugby game.

This pub is very nice and non smoking English pub.

Then, I felt tired and hungry because I had a 2hours workout before came to Shibuya.

So I went out that bar and entered ramen restaurant.

This ramen restaurant name is "Tenka Ippin(天下一品、てんかいっぴん）"

It means "There is nothing like this in the whole world."

Famous ramen restaurant franchise.

This ramen restaurant serves very thick and creamy soup ramen.

Strong and little strange good taste for me.

I ordered  ramen/ rice / poak saute with Korean kimchi.

These strong tastes made me satisfied.

Eat ramen after drinking is one of typical Japanese enjoying style.

We called this combination " shime no ramen. 締めのラーメン "

It means ,  finished by ramen !

No Rain in Tokyo.

This 30days , Tokyo had no rain.Tokyo's air is very dry now.
We can see the dry advisory(warning) on TV everyday.

We have to watch out for fire.
Everyday, terrible fire is breaking out somewhere in Tokyo.

Big fire always takes everything from us.
House, money, furniture, memorial photos, and even our lives.

There are a lot of overcrowded wooden residential areas in Tokyo.
There is always a possibility of the conflagration mishap.

We should take care mutually and enough about a fire.

A Happy New Year 2011

New Year's Days (especially 1/1～1/3）　are called Syougatsu(正月）
by Japanese people.

Syougatsu are most special days for Japanese people　in a year.
It's like Christmas for European & American people.

- This web site is introducing about Japanese New Year's Day -
http://japanese.about.com/od/japanesecultur1/a/123099.htm

I went to my Scots friend's house in Saitama Prefecture on
new years eve ~ new year's day.

There were a few Scots, Korean, Swiss, and Japanese people.
We enjoyed talking and drinking.

How was your New Year's Day ?

Let me wish you and yours a happy and healthy New Year.

Starbucks coffee in Tokyo.

Starbucks coffee is very famous coffee shop chain in many countries.

Everyone knows.

So, Tokyo(Japan) has a lot of Starbucks.
Japanese people called Starbucks "Sutaba(スタバ）".
You can find Sutaba any places in Tokyo.
Station, shopping mall, street corner, and more.

Japanese Starbucks has these sizes,
short (236 ml), tall (354 ml)、
grande(473 ml),and venti(591 ml) .
Prices are about 250〜600yen(3〜7.5$）

I like to go to Sutaba after weight training finished.
I often order short size cafe_mocha or starbucks latte.
Especially, in winter, It's a good rest time for me.

I think,It's a very good thing that there are many Starbucks in Japan.
Because, Starbucks's taste is accustomed taste for foreigners
and travelers who came to Japan.
And that taste will relieve them even in Japan.

When you came to Tokyo,
Let's go to Sutaba with me.

Have you ever eaten raw liver sashimi ?

Japan has a culture of raw fish eating.
Sushi, sashimi is a famous food.

Sometimes, Japanese people also eat raw meat.
Mainly, beaf, chicken and horse meat.
We don't eat raw pork.
(a few Japanese Yakitori, Yakiton restaurant serves raw pork. But only guts.)

I like sashimi very much and I also like meat sashimi.
Occasionally, I want to eat raw liver sashimi.

Last month I and my friends went to Japanese yakiton restaurant Kagahiro,
Soka city, Saitama prefecture.

Kagahiro is famous yakiton restaurant(Izakaya/居酒屋)
in people who live in the vicinity.
So, Kagahiro is always clouded.
The friend of mine who lives in the vicinity reserved that restaurant for us.
We ate a lot of yakiton and Tsukune(chicken ball)
with Tare(thick flavored sauce of soy sauce based).

And we drunk a lot of beer and shocyu(Japanese liquor).

So, that day's main menu was raw liver sashimi.
Japanese people call it lebasashi (レバ刺し）.
And we also ordered raw heart sashimi (hatsu sashi/ ハツ刺し）.
We ate lebasashi with soy sauce or sesame oil and salt.

Taste was so good.
Meat was very fresh and other dishes was also very nice.

Then I felt, I got a big stamina.

Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba has many Izakaya.
When you go to Izakaya,
you'll find menu of raw liver sashimi/レバ刺し sometime.

If you can, please try it.
But I think, you can't understand why Japanese people eat raw lever sashimi
when you eat lebasashi first time.

I like raw liver sashimi.
But I know this is very strange food to foreigners.

MMA(mixed martial arts) event at Kabukicho, Shinjuku

Kabukicho is a famous amusement area of Shinjuku.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabukich%C5%8D,_Tokyo

There are a lot of bars, Izakaya(Japanese style pub restaurant),
and movie theaters and concert places.
Many people are there day and night.

Fighting sports event is sometimes held at Kabukicho.
(MMA,Pro-wrestling,Boxing,KickBoxing)
Last month, I went to an event hall at Kabukicho to support my friend who is a
professional Mixed Matial Arts fighter from UK.
We train together every weekend.

This MMA event had  very tough rules.
Every fighters can use punch, kick, throw, elbow, knee, headbutt, and stomping to opponents face.
My friend Stew had fight at main event heavy weight division fight.
He knocked out his opponent with right knee kick and pound from back mount position.
He came back from serious knee injury.
It was very great day for us.
Fighters support work is very hard.
But it always gives me a very great experiences.


------------------------------

By the way, Kabukicho is a drinking and playing spot.
Next time , I'd like to go to Kabukicho with my ease mind.
haha, just a kidding.

Kabukicho is 3~5 minutes from Shinjuku station.
There are beers, foods, and  man and women.
If you have a chance please enjoy this area.

Asics running shoes

Do you running ?

I run 3～5 times in a week.
Then, distance is about 2～5 miles.

I always use Asics running shoes.
My Asics shoes is GT2110.
http://www.amazon.com/Mens-ASICS-GT-2110-Running-Shoe/dp/B000CMHIB0


I like Asics brand's shoes since I was
junior high school student.

I have used shoes of some sports brands.
New balance, Nike, addidas, Mizuno.
Each brand has good points , but asics shoes are best for my foot.
sole cushion, wide sole, toughness ... very nice.

Asics is a famous sports brand in Japan.
Especially sports shoes products.
I have heard not a few foreign people
who likes runnning uses asics sports shoes.

Asics shoes worth trying.
I recommend it to runnner who has wide foot.

Japanese Fireworks "Hanabi"

Hanabi means fireworks. [hana=flower, bi(hi)=fire]
Hanabi is very famous and popular event of Japanese people.


Especially summer season,
big and small hanabi festival held on many places in Japan.


Every year ,the last Saturday in July, Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai
(Sumida river fireworks festival) is held.


Sumida_river is one of the mainly river in north east area of Tokyo.
The river runs between big cities.
The point that this fireworks festival is harmony of big fireworks and big cities.


This hanabi festival started about 280 years ago.
Recently, 20,000~22,000 wonderful fireworks are launched.
About one million people visit seeing & enjoy.


when you come to Japan, if the schedule matched, please go to watch hanabi.
It will become a good opportunity that you feel Japanese culture.


You can see the hanabi events information at this site.

http://japan-fireworks.com/eindex.html

Rainy season has passed.

Rainy season has passed already.
Japan is summer now.

This 3~4days , over 30℃.
It's a violent sunshine.

But Japanese summer is a good season for drinking beer.
Do you like drinking beer ?
I like it.

In this season, Japanese people likes cold lager beer.

I will write about Japanese beer other time.
 
 

Japanese rainy season.

Japane is a rainy season(east asian rainy season) now.

(except Hokkaido)

Japanese people called rainy season "tsu yu (梅雨)"　

The rainy season starts in the first ten days of June,
and continues until the end of July.
(almost 40 days or more)

It will rain(or cloudy weather) 4days or more in one week.
It is very sultry. Uncomfortable season.

If you will come to Japan in this season, don't forget umbrella.

But rain falling at this season is very important to the growth of grain.
Japan is a country of rice.

Only beautiful hydrangea(ajisai) improves our feelings.