Thanks to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, so much information about Japan appears everywhere now. I found an article on the New Zealand Herald about Shukubo. Shukubo or 宿坊 is accommodation provided in a Buddhist temple. ラグビーワールドカップのおかげで、日本のついての情報[じょうほう](= information)がとてもたくさん出ています。最近[さいきん](= recently)、ニュージーランド・ヘラルド紙[し]に宿坊[しゅくぼう]についての記事[きじ](= article)がありました。宿坊は、お寺の中の宿泊[しゅくはく]施設[しせつ](= accommodation facility)です。 The article is an interesting read; perhaps it would make you start considering […]

As you know, All Blacks had a match last week in Oita, Japan. This city is famous for Onsen, hot spring and many Onsen reports now surfaces on the media here.　先週、オールブラックスが大分[おおいた]で試合[しあい]をしました。大分は温泉[おんせん]で有名[ゆうめい]です。こちらのメディアにも温泉のレポートがいろいろ出ています。 I noticed one of them, an article on the New Zealand Herald last week (here). I am pleased to find that the journalist checked […]

It is spring here, in New Zealand. We can see beautiful Kowhai blossoms everywhere now. ニュージーランドはまさに春!　コーファイの花もきれいに咲いています。 Now, the 2019 Rugby World Cup has kicked off in Japan. All sorts of Japan-related information can be seen here, in New Zealand. I believe the New Zealand-related information is everywhere in Japan too! Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand PM, […]

The 2019 Rugby World Cup has finally started! Did you watch any games last week? I am so glad to see the Brave Blossoms as well as All Blacks won! ラグビーワールドカップが始まりました！　先週いろいろ試合[しあい](= match)がありましたが、見ましたか?　日本チームもオールブラックスも勝[か]って(= to win)よかったです。 In New Zealand, people watch rugby games (not just the world cup; I am talking in general) either at the stadium, […]

Finally! It will kick off today; the 2019 Rugby World Cup will begin today! As you might guess, the world cup is always a big deal here, in New Zealand and we have seen all sorts of Japan-related things here. The above photo shows chocolates recently released. Can you ready some Japanese sentences printed on […]

Tomorrow! It’s tomorrow, don’t you remember? – we are talking about the 2019 Rugby World Cup, of course! It will kick off in Japan TOMORROW!! (the photo above suddenly has appeared in a shopping mall recently; they are New Zealand rugby players, if you are asking!) 明日ですよ、明日!　え、何のことかって?－もちろん、ラグビーワールドカップです。明日から、日本でラグビーワールドカップがはじまりますよっ！ (上の写真は、先週、まちのショッピングセンターで撮りました。この人たちはニュージーランドのラグビー選手なんです！)

桜が咲き始めました。はい、ニュージーランドは春です！ We now have cherry blossoms. Yes, it is indeed spring here!

I took this photo this morning in Hamilton; it is plum blossoms. Spring is just around the corner, indeed. 今朝[けさ](= this morning)、この写真[しゃしん]を撮[と]りました。プラムの花です。春[はる]ももうすぐそこですね！