One of our students is a mechanic & used car-dealer. We were talking about cars & I mentioned to him that I liked retro cars like the Nissan Pao, which I featured on my blog recently. So the next week he kindly brought to school a Nissan Figaro which he is working on at the moment. Cool!
The Figaro was built in 1992 by a Nissan special projects group called Pike Factory, which also made the Pao. Like the Pao, the Figaro has a stylish retro dashboard; the design of the dials reminds me of old fob (pocket) watches.
He`ll be selling it soon, so if you`re interested, let me know!
Ah... I wish I could buy it.
![Konomiya Hadaka...]()
One of Japan`s most interesting festivals is Konomiya Shrine`s `Hadaka Matsuri` - Naked Festival. This year it will be held on Tuesday, 15th of February.
Do you know it? How well? Let`s find out with this quiz!
1. Although it`s called `Naked Festival`, participants wear:
a) loin cloths (fundoshi)
b) traditional Japanese split-toed footwear (tabi)
c) headbands (hachimaki)
d) all of the above
2. Sake is a big part of the festival. Participants (san`yosha? kanyuusha?) drink it:
a) before the festival
b) during the festival
c) after the festival
d) all of the above
3. Participants arrive at the shrine after walking a few hours from:
a) nearby suburbs
b) suburbs far away
c) they don`t remember
d) any of the above
4. Participants carry:
a) long bundles of bamboo (naoizasa)
b) cartons of sake
c) other participants who can`t walk anymore
d) any of the above
5. To keep warm, participants:
a) scream "Waaah! Sabuiiiii!!"
b) try to keep moving
c) drink sake
d) all of the above
6. If a participant gives you a piece of coloured cloth, you should:
a) wash it
b) wash your hands
c) keep it for good luck
d) all of the above
7. At the climax of the festival, everyone rushes towards:
a) the `Shin-otoko` (a special man chosen by the shrine)
b) the toilets
c) home
d) all of the above
If you`re free on Tuesday, why not take a look? Konomiya Shrine is right beside Meitetsu Konomiya Station.
By the way, d) is the answer to all the questions!
I love traditional Japanese black, cast-iron teapots.
I have a couple (which I bought at Osu Kanon markets) at home in Australia.
This is a picture (20 x 30 cm woodblock print) I did of them.
Congratulations to Japanese footballer Yuto Nagatomo on his move to F.C. Internazionale, one of Italy`s biggest & most famous football clubs.
Although he`s small even by Japanese standards, he`s very quick, skillful & hard-working, and I think he`ll do well if he gets enough first-team game time.
Whoa! What`s an imported high-performance speed-machine like this doing in a place like Ichinomiya?
And no, Parren, I`m not talking about you (Parren is my workmate at Ichinomiya Teragoya).
This is a Lamborghini Gallardo (2006?)
To tell the truth, I haven`t really been into this kind of car since I was about 16 years old, but I was still impressed when I noticed this one at a car-dealer called Gulliver, on Route 22, on my way to work.
I`m sad that Australia didn`t win the final of the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar, but I`m glad to hear that the 2015 Asian Cup will be held in Australia. Great!
Of course it`s convenient for Australians like me, but I also think it`s much more convenient for Japanese, Korean & other Asian countries` fans who want to attend the games. I also think most people would rather visit Australia than somewhere like Qatar, right?
See you in Australia in 2015!
Near my house there is a shop called Nodaya which makes & sells Ichigo Daifuku. This is basically a strawberry & some sweet bean paste inside mochi (rice cake). I`m not usually a big fan of Japanese sweets, but I like Ichigo Daifuku. I think everbody does!
I went there with Owen last weekend to buy some.
They don`t have a website, but you can see a map here:
http://naviaichi.com/0120-137280/
Aaargh!!!
Japan beat Australia 1-0 in the final of the Asian Cup. I`m so disappointed...
I thought Australia was stronger, and looked in control for most of the game, but they missed or wasted all their goal-scoring chances. Also, the marking disappeared for Japan`s goal. Where was our defense???
Anyway, congratulations to Japan and the goalscorer, Lee.
Hang on - isn`t `Lee` a Korean name...?
Hehe
Actually, I came across this car in Gifu, not Ichinomiya.
It`s a 1989 Nissan Pao. Not many were made, & now they`re kind of collectors items.
I don`t usually take photos of the inside of strangers` cars, but I was so impressed by the retro dashboard design of this car, I couldn`t resist.
I love it!
26 January is Australia Day. It celebrates the arrival in Sydney of several ships full of English criminals (they used to be sent to America, but the Americans learnt how to make their own).
From The Morning Post, London, 1 November 1786:
“This thief colony might hereafter become a great empire, whose nobles will probably, like the nobles of Rome, boast of their blood.“
Not a great empire yet maybe, but we are in the finals of the Asian Cup - it`s a start!
Happy Australia Day!
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田仲なお美 
内倉憲一 
KUMA 
mokomoko 
PSPINC JP 
birdy 
エメラルド 
bokushi 
yukio