Riddle Me This

28 Days

Hi riddle lovers,

Recently (最近), I have been asking my students riddles (なぞなぞ) in class. Trying to answer these puzzling questions (不可欠な問題) is an excellent way (素晴らしい方法) to exercise the brain (脳を働かせる・鍛える). Naturally (当然), trying to solve (解く) riddles in a foreign language (外国語) is an even bigger challenge!

So, as today is the last day of February, and since it is not a leap year (閏年ではない), riddle me this (このなぞなぞに答えて): 

How many months of the year have 28 days? 

Check below for the answer!

Good luck,

The Riddler

28 Days       28 Days       28 Days       28 Days       28 Days       28 Days   

P.S. The answer is "12" or "All of them" because every month has at least (少なくとも) 28 days!

P.P.S. If the question had been "How many months of the year have only 28 days?" then the answer would have been "1 (February)."

Special 8-Lesson Term

Hi students of English,

A special 8-lesson term will begin at E-Style this coming Monday, January 30th. Feel free to contact us (お気軽にご連絡ください) if you are interested in studying English conversation over the next few months. The five levels offered at our school are as follows:

• Kids (キッズ [小１〜６])
• Beginner (入門)
• Elementary (初級)
• Intermediate (中級)
• Advanced (上級)

For a detailed explanation of the classes (授業の詳細な説明), please check out the KIDS and LESSONS/FEES pages on our website.

Jack and I hope to see you at E-Style.

Sincerely,

Alan

Opening the Mirror

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone,

How was your New Year's break? Mine was great! Although I didn't do anything special (I just stayed in Kagawa), I did enjoy spending a relaxing two weeks with my family. I also enjoyed eating delicious traditional New Year's dishes (おせち料理), including Sanuki-style rice-cake soup (お雑煮) with white miso and sweet-bean-paste (餡) mochi!

I had a similar dish (似た一皿の料理) this evening called zenzai. This Western-Japan version of the traditional Japanese dessert called shiruko is made with a mixture of sweet bean paste (餡子), crushed (潰した) azuki beans, and rice cakes.

The rice cakes in the dish are kagami mochi, the Japanese New Year decoration traditionally displayed (飾れている) until broken (割れた) in a ceremony held on January 11th called kagami biraki, which literally (文字通り) means "opening the mirror." The broken pieces of the rice cakes are then cooked and added to the sweet porridge for a yummy winter treat.

Just warming up,

Alan

All the best!

Dear students,

Please don't forget (忘れないでください) that E-Style will be closed for the next two weeks. Lessons will resume (再び始まる) on Monday, January 9th, 2023.

Thank you for studying English by reading this blog and/or coming to classes at E-Style. Jack and I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year and look forward to seeing (and teaching) you in 2023.

All the best,

Alan

Three Square Meals

Hi professional and amateur nutritionists (栄養士),

Have you ever heard the expression "have three square meals a day"(三度三度の食事をきちんと食べる)? If so, then you may have wondered why square (正方形) is used in reference to (に関して) breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The noun (名詞) "square" refers to either the shape (形) or to an open public area (usually in the center of a city or town) where people gather (広場). 

However, the adjective form (形容詞刑) can mean honest (正直な), straightforward (率直な), equal (等しい・平等な), and fair (公平な). To win a match "fair and square" (正々堂々と) means to win honestly, without cheating (ずるをせずに).

As for meals, the adjective "square" means "full, solid, and substantial (十分な、がっつりした、栄養がある)." This is why this particular shape is used when referring to a hearty meal (ボリュームや栄養がある食事).

Getting full,

Alan

P.S. A common myth (神話) is that "square meal" came from the British Royal Navy because their meals used to be served on square wooden plates. This is an example of folk etymology (通俗語源). In reality, the term originated in the United States in the 1800s and had nothing to do with ships at sea.

🎵Trick or Treat (Smell my Feet)🎵

Hi Trick or Treaters,

When I was in elementary school (小学校時代), my friends and I went trick or treating every Halloween. And every year, throughout the neighborhood (近所全体に), we sang the same song as we knocked on people's doors. It went like this:

🎵Trick or treat (お菓子くれんかったらイタズラするで)

　  Smell my feet (私の足臭ってみ)

      Give me something good to eat (美味しいものくれ)

      If you don't, I don't care (せんかったら、別にええわ)

      I'll pull down your underwear! (お前のパンツ下ろすけん)🎵

Happy Halloween,

The Woolfeman 

The Star(r) Festival

Hello fellow Star(r) gazers,

Today is the seventh day of the seventh month, which marks the start of Tanabata, the Star Festival (星祭). Originally taken from Chinese mythology (神話), it is called the Qixi Festival and celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunisolar calendar (太陰太陽暦) (August 4th this year) in China. It was introduced in Japan by the Empress Koken in 755.

According to legend (伝説によると), Weaving Princess Orihime (Vega) and Cowherd Hikoboshi (Altair) are lovers who started to neglect their respective work duties (それぞれの職務を怠る) after being wed. This angered Orihime's father, the Emperor of Heaven Tentei, who then placed the two on opposite sides of the Milky Way (天の川) as punishment, permitting them to meet only once a year on the condition (条件) that they worked diligently (熱心に) the other 364 days.

Although some areas of Japan celebrate the Star Festival in August, festivities start in most of the country on July 7th. 

By the way (ところで), there is another reason to celebrate the seventh day of the seventh month every year. For today is Ringo Starr's birthday! So, for star-crossed lovers (薄幸な恋人たち) and Fab Four fans alike, July 7th is indeed (実に) a date to remember. 

Happy 82nd Birthday, Ringo!

Peace and love,

Alan