It is still cold here, in New Zealand; but we now see all sorts of sign of spring. I took the above photo last week. You can see beautiful blossoms like this on many streets in Hamilton now. Spring is just around the corner! ニュージーランドはまだ寒[さむ]いです。でも、あちこちで(= here and there)春[はる](= spring)の兆[きざ]し(= sign)が見られます。先週、上の写真[しゃしん](= photo)を撮[と]りました。今、ハミルトンのあちこちでこの美[うつ]しい花を見ることができます。春遠[とお]からじ(= not afar)、ですね！

It is just one month to go until the 2019 Rugby World Cup! It will be held in Japan this year!! The above photo shows the 2019 RWC official mascot – Ren-G. If you want to know more about them, please have a look at this site: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/video/306723 ラグビーワールドカップまであと一か月!　今年は、日本で開[ひら]かれます(= to be held)。上の写真[しゃしん](= photo)は、大会[たいかい](= event)マスコット、レンジ―です。レンジ―についてもっと知りたい人は、是非[ぜひ]このページを見てください：https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/video/306723

It’s 9 August today. An atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki 74 years ago today. Let’s pray for peace and happiness of everybody on the earth…. 今日は8月9日です。74年前の今日、長崎[ながさき]に原爆[げんばく](= atomic bomb)が落[お]とされました(= dropped)。世界[せかい]中[じゅう](= all over the world)のみんなの平和[へいわ](= peace)と幸[しあわ]せ(= happiness)を祈[いの]ります(= to pray)。

An atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima 74 years ago today. I hope people take a minute or two on this day to think about peace and happiness. 74年前の今日、広島[ひろしま]に原爆[げんばく](= atomic bomb)が落[お]とされました(= dropped)。今日という日が、平和[へいわ](= peace)や幸[しあわ]せ(= happiness)についてちょっと考える機会[きかい](= opportunity)になればいいなと思います。

I just happened to find that our rugby legends, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, had a great time in Tokyo Disneyland! They appear in its official promotion site (it’s here)!! オール・ブラックスで活躍[かつやく]したダン・カーターさんとリッチー・マコウさんが東京ディズニーランドで遊[あそ]んでいますよ！　東京ディズニーランドの公式[こうしき]サイト(= official site)で見ることができます。ここです(@_@)!

I bought persimmons the other day. Can you read the sticker on the fruit (you can see a bigger photo below)? 先日[せんじつ](= the other day)、柿[かき](= persimmon)を買いました。柿についているシール、何かわかりますか(下にもっと大きな写真があります)。 You might not know that there are a few varieties of persimmons. One of the most consumed kinds is called 富有, which is read fuyuu (long vowel). I presume […]

It is July; time indeed flies. Cold days continue in New Zealand but I saw the above flowers this morning, that makes me feel that spring is slowly but surely approaching. This shrub is called chaenomeles. Some websites say this is also called Chinese quince, Japanese quince etc. (it is apparently native to western China). […]

People in New Zealand now celebrates Matariki – this is the Māori New Year. The date of Matariki is determined by the location of the Pleiades star cluster in the sky and it is normally around this time of year. Yes, it is normally closed to the June Solstice and during winter  in New Zealand […]