Year-crossing soba?

Hi all,

I have seen 「年越しそば」 translated in some books and internet sites as "year-crossing soba." This literal translation (直訳), like many, is a bit strange (ちょっと変). I think that "soba/buckwheat noodles eaten on New Year's Eve" is a much better way to express (表現する) this Japanese tradition (伝統).

Of course, many people here in Kagawa prefer to eat udon on New Year's Eve. Please adjust (適応する) your translations accordingly (適切に).

Bon appétit,

Alan

P.S. なんでいきなりフランス語やねん！

Happy Holidays!

Hello everybody,

Jack, Kylo Ren, and I would like to wish you all the best during this holiday (and Star Wars) season. May the force be with you (フォースとともにあらんことを).

Happy holidays,

アラン・ことを

Happy Halloween, 2017!

Hi trick-or-treaters,

When I was in elementary school (小学校), my best friend and I went trick-or-treating with my dad. Every year, we dressed up in costumes (仮装して), visited the houses in our neighborhood (近所), and asked for "treats," especially (特に) chocolate.  One time, we trick-or-treated for about four hours and had enough goodies to enjoy until the end of the year (年末まで)!

Happy Halloween!

Alan

Bond and Moore

Hi 007 fans,

There was some sad news last Tuesday, May 23rd: Sir Roger Moore, who played James Bond (ジェームズ・ボンドを演じた) in seven films, passed away (亡くなった) at the age of 89.

I have been a 007 fan since childhood (子どもの頃から), and although Sean Connery has always been my favorite actor in the role, I love Roger Moore's humorous portrayal of the character. In fact, the first Bond movie that I saw in the theater was "The Spy Who Loved Me" (「私を愛したスパイ」) in 1977. I loved it as a child and still consider it to be Sir Roger's best.

Although he played James Bond for fifteen years onscreen, Roger Moore thought his role as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador the most important of his life. His friend, Audrey Hepburn, introduced him to the United Nations (国連) programme and he was appointed to the position in 1991. Of his experience he said "I've been an exceedingly (非常に) lucky actor, and the luck of it all was that I was able to come and work for UNICEF. "

For both his charity work and acting, Roger Moore was knighted (ナイト爵を授けられた) by Queen Elizabeth in 2003.

Goodbye, Mr. Bond.

Your fan,

Alan Woolfe

P.S. To read a wonderful story about Sir Roger and his great sense of humor, click HERE.

Cherry Picking

Hi everyone,

During Golden Week, my family and I invited (誘った) the kids in our neighborhood (近所) to pick cherries in our garden. It seems that cherry picking (サクランボ狩り) has become an annual event (毎年の行事) at our house. As I am always the tallest member of the group, I always pick the most cherries. Unfortunately (残念ながら), I also always eat the least! Anyway (とにかく), the cherries that I did have were delicious and a good time was had by all.

See you at E-Style,

Alan 

Vernal Equinox Day

Hi everybody,

Today is Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日). Vernal is an adjective (形容詞) for spring (春). The word equinox comes from Latin (ラテン語): "equi" means "equal" and "nox" means "night." With daytime and nighttime being equal today, we can look forward to (楽しみにする) longer (and warmer) days . . . until the summer solstice (夏至) on June 21st. The hours of daylight will then start to get shorter and even out again with those of darkness in September, when Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日) arrives to bring us back into balance.

See you at E-Style,

Alan

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi everyone,

I took my son (息子を連れて行った) to Sanuki Children's World (さぬきこどもの国) today and suddenly saw the sky as a heart among the clouds. Luckily, I was able to take two photos before the scene vanished (消える前に). It reminded me (思い出させてくれた) how one never knows what each new day will bring and how quickly it can all change.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alan

On New Year's Day

Happy New Year!

Although I did not see the first sunrise of the year (初日の出) on January 1st, I did enjoy many traditional (伝統的な) New Year's dishes called O-sechi-ryori later that morning. While I miss the New Year's Eve parties that I used to attend in the States, I do not miss the hangovers (二日酔い) that often followed them. The Japanese New Year's style of eating and sleeping (食っちゃ寝) is more fun in the end. Besides, the rice cake and vegetable soup (お雑煮) is great, especially when it's made Sanuki Style - with white miso and rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste (餡餅)!

See you at E-Style,

Alan

P.S. Unfortunately, I was too busy eating my Sanuki-Style O-zoni to take a photo. Maybe next year.