Sunday 29 March 2009

Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 13

マリア様がみてる 4thシーズン 第13話 「あなたを探しに」
Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 13 "Anata o Sagashi ni" (In Search of You)

Synopsis:
Just before the Card Hunt ended, Toko came in the Rose Mansion. She said, "I apologize to you for my lack of courtesy. I would like to be your sister." When Yumi stood up, the red card appeared on the chair. The next week, Toko told Yumi she wanted to be told Yumi's answer after the date. The next Sunday, Toko and Yumi went out together. Toko didn't tell Yumi where they would go. On the date, Toko told Yumi her story little by little. They arrived at the hospital. Toko told Yumi that her parents had been dead in a car accident when she was little, that the Matsudairas had taken care of her, and that she had mistakenly thought she had been unnecessary for the Matsudaira family. On the train, Yumi decided to be sisters with Toko in front of Sachiko next day.


This last episode is mainly about Toko and Yumi.
Marimite anime comes to a stop, but the story continues.
I hope to watch the next season someday.
Otsukaresama deshita, everyone of the cast and staff.

Friday 27 March 2009

Lupin versus Conan

The new TV anime "Lupin the Third versus Detective Conan" will be aired today.

Perhaps this project was planned because the same production company creates both anime and the same network TV stations broadcast them.

Both series are based on manga, and both of them were inspired by classic novels.
Detective Conan is from Sherlock Holmes: Lupin the Third is from Arsene Lupin.
(I can't understand why Conan was called Case Closed in the United States.)

Tuesday 24 March 2009

Japan wins World Baseball Classic

Yes!

Japan won World Baseball Classic again!!
I was watching on TV.
My heart was beating so fast when South Korea caught up in the second half of the 9th inning.
At the end, Nippon scored 2 runs in the 10th inning and defended.

It was one of the best baseball games I've ever watched.
Otsukaresama, South Korea and Japan.

* "Otsukaresama" is a Japanese word that expresses thanks to someone.

Sunday 22 March 2009

Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 12

マリア様がみてる 4thシーズン 第12話 「クリスクロス」
Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 12 "Kurisukurosu" (Crisscross)

Synopsis:
Toko told nothing to Noriko. She decided to take part in the Valentine event after the talk with Sachiko. Toko remembered Noriko's and Sachiko's words and she noticed Yumi loves her. She dashed for Yumi, where the red Valentine card was.


The next episode will be the last.
13 episodes, 3 months, are so short.

Saturday 21 March 2009

Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 11

マリア様がみてる 4thシーズン 第11話 「ハートの鍵穴」
Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 11 "Hato no Kagiana" (Keyhole of the Heart)

Synopsis:
Toko's mother was lying on the bed. Her father came home and he told her "You have given a lot to us." On the next day, Toko went to the drama club to get a drop-out form. The president proposed her to be her sister. Suguru Kashiwagi suggested her to drive in front of the school gate. On the car, he noticed she went to the cottage because she worried Yumi: Toko must have been said abuse by other girls before. Suguru got angry about it and he was about to drive the car recklessly. On the next day, Toko hesitated to get an application form of the Valentine event. She got another form from Noriko. Toko and Yumi walked together with chatting. Toko got angry. Yumi told Toko not to move until she counts a hundred. Toko asked Sachiko if she told Yumi her family circumstances. Toko noticed she was mistaken about Yumi's proposal to be sisters. Noriko appeared in front of Toko. She thanked the Virgin Mary.


I always think Noriko is nice.
One of the important elements in Marimite is love.
Not only love between lovers, but also one among friends and one among family.
Yoko Mizuno, and later also Yumi, said "Friends are likely to be to play a role to suffer for someone."

Monday 16 March 2009

Twitter

I watched the feature news about Twitter on NHK BS1.

Microblogs like Twitter and Timelog are good.
But we have to be careful about our privacy.
Everyone can see logs on Twitter.

Saturday 14 March 2009

White Day

Today, 14 March, is White Day.
It is the day men give women sweets like cookies and marshmallows in return for Valentine presents.

White Day is also a custom confectionery companies started like Valentine's Day.
I don't know why it's called "white".

As I wrote before, many people (including couples, of course) exchanged chocolate on Valentine's Day.
So many of them will also give sweets each other today.

Thursday 12 March 2009

Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 10

マリア様がみてる 4thシーズン 第10話 「キーホルダー」
Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 10 "Key Holder" (The Key Ring, The Keychain)


Synopsis:
The Yamayuri decided to have a special Valentine event. Yumi told Noriko she likes Toko so much.

Saturday 7 March 2009

MyMiniCity

I found MyMiniCity, which we can build virtual cities on the Internet.
It's similar to SecondLife in a sense.

It's so simple to start:
Choose a country and decide your city's name.

The cities become bigger and larger when they are accessed.
It seems the development of the cities is not always good:
For example, too much population, crimes and environmental problems like deforestation.
It's so realistic!

My city is here: Naotie

watching sports

World Baseball Classic game of Japan versus South Korea is on air now. But I'm watching a football game on TV: England's Premier League game of Manchester United versus New Castle.

Oh, I want to watch football games in Europe, especially in England.

By the way, FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa next year. I'm looking forward to watching it.





Ummm, I want to start lacross someday... .

stressful days in the modern society

To live is hard. It's a challenge.



Industrial Revolution to World War II: "Human Beings and the Philosopher's Stone"

After the War to Subprime Loan: "Social Wars: Episode 2 Attack of Stress"

Present to Future: "The Lords of the Society: The Return of the Class Society"

Tuesday 3 March 2009

Hinamatsuri

Today, 3 March, is Hinamatsuri (ひな祭り). It's also called Momo no Sekku (桃の節句, literally the Season of Peaches).

Parents hope their girls to grow healthily and to be happy.

In the past, we had Girls' Day on 3 March and Boys' Day on 5 May. After the Pacific War, 5 May became Children's Day: Girls' Day remained as a custom, though.

In families which have girls, they usually display a set of ornamental dolls called Hina-Ningyo (雛人形). The dolls show Emperor, Empress and ministers in the Imperial Palace in Heian Period.



A lot of people know a popular Hinamatsuri song:

Japanese:
明かりをつけましょ ぼんぼりに
お花をあげましょ 桃の花
五人囃子の笛太鼓
今日は楽しい雛祭り


romaji:
akari wo tsukemasho bonbori ni
ohana wo agemasho momo no hana
gonin bayashi no fue daiko
kyo wa tanoshii hinamatsuri


English:
Let's light small lamps with a paper shade
Let's display flowers of peaches
The five players' performance of Japanese flutes and drums
It is a happy Hinamatsuri today


The above is the first verse of the song.

Sunday 1 March 2009

Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 09

マリア様がみてる 4thシーズン 第09話 「仮面のアクトレス」
Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season episode 09 "Kamen no Akutoresu" (The Masked Actress)

Synopsis:
The Yamayuri Council election took place. Not only Yumi, Yoshino and Shimako but also Toko run for it. Toko gradually got isolated from other classmates. The three were elected. Yumi noticed Toko's purpose had been to lose the race.



Both Shimako and Yoshino were right despite Yoshino said she was selfish herself.
No one can always do "right" things. Me neither.

I think Toko holds a lot in herself and don't tell her feelings so much.
So it's sometimes difficult for other people to understand her.
Ha ha ... she's like me ... .