Eating, Meeting, Mighty, Money

October 25–26, 2026 Taurus Full Moon — Are Your Values Around Love and Money Changing?

2026-10-18T18:59:04.420-07:00

The Full Moon in Taurus arrives on October 25 in Los Angeles and October 26 in many other parts of the world. 🌕

Taurus represents money, possessions, financial security, good food, and a comfortable lifestyle.

Love, money, and a peaceful life. Who doesn't want them all?

But this Full Moon comes with an interesting cosmic twist.

It's one of those "Would you like the good news or the bad news first?" situations!

✨ The Good News: A Minor Grand Trine

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto form a harmonious configuration known as a Minor Grand Trine.

This aspect suggests opportunities for positive transformation, fresh ideas, and unexpected possibilities.

Sometimes, embracing change rather than holding on to familiar patterns can lead us toward greater security and abundance.

⚡ The Challenging News: Two Overlapping T-Squares

Meanwhile, the Moon in Taurus, Sun in Scorpio, Venus in Libra, and Pluto in Aquarius create two overlapping T-square patterns.

These tense configurations highlight themes of love, money, emotional attachments, security, and power dynamics in relationships.

Retrograde Venus at 29 degrees Libra adds another interesting layer, encouraging us to reconsider our values around relationships, self-worth, and financial priorities.

Are we holding on to something because it truly makes us happy, or simply because we're afraid of losing it?

Interestingly, Pluto — the planet creating tension in the T-squares — is also part of the harmonious Minor Grand Trine.

Perhaps the very changes that challenge our sense of security could also open the door to new opportunities.

Letting go of attachments doesn't necessarily mean giving up abundance.

Sometimes, it simply means making room for a different kind of richness.

🌕 Curious about the planetary alignments and their deeper meanings?

Read the full Taurus Full Moon astrology forecast here!

Muscles never betray you! Motivational t ~shirt from zazzle store Muscles Never Betray You T-Shirt

Menopause, Body Fat, and Fitness Over 50: Muscles Never Betray You!

2026-10-17T19:17:04.916-07:00

I recently received an OMRON body composition scale that measures body fat percentage, visceral fat, skeletal muscle percentage, and even body age.

Naturally, I had to try it out.

My old bathroom scale displayed my weight in pounds, which never really meant much to me. Even after living in the U.S. for years, kilograms still make more sense.

But when I switched to kilograms...

OMG! When did I get this big?!

Apparently, I've been growing without even noticing. And at my age, I'm pretty sure I'm done growing!

My body fat percentage was a little higher than I'd like, although my visceral fat level wasn't too bad.

But here's the good news.

My body age was TWO YEARS younger than my actual age!

Of course, it's just an estimate calculated by the scale, but hey, I'll take it!

My Very Relaxed Fitness Routine

About three months ago, I joined a gym.

I try to go twice a week, walking on the treadmill for about 30 minutes, followed by a few strength-training machines.

I mainly focus on my back, chest, inner thighs, and glutes.

And yes, I usually choose the lightest weights available.

Some machines are still surprisingly challenging!

There's a saying in Japan:

"Muscles never betray you."

Well, I'm hoping that's true. I guess I'll have to find out for myself!

Sometimes I swim a lap or two in the pool before relaxing in the jacuzzi.

To be perfectly honest, the jacuzzi might be my favorite part.

Staying Strong Through Menopause

As women get older, especially during and after menopause, hormonal changes can affect muscle mass, bone density, and body fat distribution.

These days, I'm realizing that maintaining muscle strength may be more important than simply watching the number on the scale.

I also try to do some yoga-inspired stretching at home.

Some nights I do it. Other nights... not so much.

I'm not trying to become a fitness fanatic overnight. I just want to stay healthy, active, and independent as I get older.

After all, they say muscles never betray you.

But first, I suppose I have to make sure I don't betray my muscles! 😂

For the full story of my body composition surprises and fitness journey, visit my blog:

👉 Body Fat, Menopause, and My New Smart Scale: A Fitness Journey in My 50s

Libra New Moon October 2026: Finding Balance While Facing Reality

2026-10-05T13:55:16.357-07:00

The Libra New Moon arrives on October 10 in Los Angeles and October 11 in Japan.

Libra is associated with relationships, fairness, balance, partnership, and diplomacy. This makes the New Moon a good time to reflect on how we connect with others and where more balance may be needed.

However, this New Moon is not simply about peace and harmony.

Saturn brings a strong reality check, while Jupiter offers some support and room for growth. At the same time, tense aspects involving Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Pluto may bring hidden frustrations to the surface.

On a personal level, this could mean reviewing relationships, boundaries, communication, and agreements. Some situations may need to be restructured rather than ignored.

On a broader level, themes around diplomacy, negotiations, power struggles, finance, and information may also become more noticeable.

This New Moon feels less like “everything is resolved” and more like finding a realistic way forward while tension is still present.

For the full astrology forecast, including personal and global influences, lucky actions, and more details about the planetary aspects, read the full article here:

Read the full article on Peacewings:

https://peacewings.com/libra-new-moon-october-2026/

Rising Prices, Food Costs, and One Simple Way to Save

2026-10-03T19:21:35.831-07:00

Around Los Angeles, overall prices are about 29% higher than in 2020, while groceries are up roughly 32%.

So if grocery shopping feels noticeably more expensive, you’re not imagining it.

Rent, insurance, and gas are hard to control. Food is one of the few major household expenses where we still have some room to adjust.

And right now, even a basic sandwich and drink can easily cost around $20.

Cooking at home may not be glamorous, but it gives you more control over both cost and ingredients.

I grew up in Japan in a household where home cooking was normal, but once I started cooking every day myself, I realized how much work it actually takes.

Planning, chopping, cooking, cleaning.

Still, after years of practice, it becomes a useful skill. Now I can look at a few ingredients in the refrigerator and usually turn them into a meal.

And today, if you’re stuck, you can simply ask:

“What can I make with these ingredients?”

One thing that still surprises me about American recipes is the portion size.

Serves 6. Serves 8. Sometimes 12.

Who is eating all this?

I often cut recipes in half, into quarters, or even eighths.

Because making too much, getting tired of leftovers, and throwing food away is not really saving money.

For me, one of the most effective ways to cut food costs is simple:

Buy what you’ll actually use, cook what you’ll actually eat, and waste as little as possible.

Some people say, “Don’t worry about saving money—just make more.”

Sure, earning more is great.

But earning more and avoiding unnecessary spending are not opposites.

Saving money doesn’t have to mean deprivation.

Sometimes it simply means not paying more than you need to.

Cooking at home, using leftovers, and making the most of what you already have may be simple habits—but in an inflationary economy, they can make a real difference.

Read the full post here:
https://peacewings.com/food-budget-saving-tips/

A Nostalgic Karaoke Night

2026-07-03T17:26:19.818-07:00

The other day, I went to karaoke with two friends who were born in the 1970s (including me) and one friend who was born in the 1980s.

Some people outside Japan may not know this, but Japanese-style karaoke is quite different from what you often see in the U.S.

In Japan, you rent a small private room where only you and your friends sing together while enjoying drinks and snacks. It's less about performing in front of strangers and more about relaxing, laughing, and having fun together.

In the U.S., on the other hand, karaoke is often held at bars, where people take turns singing in front of everyone. I always get a little nervous singing in public, so I definitely prefer the Japanese style!

The karaoke place we visited didn't have many recent songs, so our playlist naturally became a trip down memory lane, filled with hits from the 1980s, 1990s, and the early 2000s.

Song after song, we kept saying, "Oh, I remember this one!"

One thing that made me smile was the generation gap. Our friend who was born in the 1980s never experienced the peak years of Japan's two biggest pop divas, Seiko Matsuda and Akina Nakamori. It's funny how just a ten-year age difference can completely change which artists define your youth.

We also sang a few Western songs. One of my friends sang "To Be With You" by Mr. Big, which everyone seemed to enjoy.

I didn't sing any English songs this time, but if I had, my choices probably would have been:

"Time After Time" – Cyndi Lauper
"Take On Me" – a-ha
"Space Oddity" – David Bowie

Those are songs I've loved for a long time.

These days, I've noticed that even when I watch the Super Bowl halftime show, there are more and more performers I don't recognize.

I guess that's just another reminder that every generation has its own soundtrack.

And that's perfectly okay.

Practicing English with AI and Real People

2026-06-25T21:39:31.561-07:00

The city I live in has many Japanese people, as well as other Asian communities, Indian families, and of course, many Americans. People from different backgrounds seem to keep a comfortable distance from one another and live fairly peacefully together.

There are also many Japanese people in my neighborhood, and thankfully, many of my mom friends are Japanese as well. In some ways, I could almost get by without using much English at all.

But somehow, almost 30 years have passed since I came to the United States.

When I first came here, I had this strong determination: “I’m going to master English.”

But as life went on, I got busy with work, raising kids, and just surviving everyday life. Studying English gradually became something I kept putting off.

Recently, though, even if it may be a little late, I started feeling that I really should put more effort into improving my English again.

One thing that has helped a lot is how much AI has evolved. These days, we can actually practice conversation with AI, which is something I truly appreciate.

One app I used before was an AI English conversation app called Loora. I liked that I could record my own voice and check my pronunciation. About two years ago, I used it almost every day for about six months.

At that time, though, the conversations with Loora started to feel a little repetitive. The flow of the conversations became predictable, so eventually I switched to ChatGPT.

With ChatGPT, the topics are much broader, and it can adjust to my level and interests. It feels more flexible and more natural as a conversation practice partner.

The only thing is that my voice is not automatically recorded, so if I want to check my pronunciation objectively, I still need to record myself using a video or voice memo once in a while.

Listening to my own English is not always easy.

Sometimes I think, “Wait, is that really how I sound?”

It can be a little shocking.

But maybe noticing those things is part of the learning process.

I also try to get used to the speed of real English by watching Seinfeld on Netflix with English subtitles. I read the subtitles while listening and see if I can keep up with the pace of the conversation.

I feel like older TV shows tend to have slightly slower conversations compared to many newer shows. These days, people seem to speak so fast in dramas, YouTube videos, podcasts, and everyday content.

I wonder if the way people speak changes with the times too.

Still, talking with a patient, polite AI is very different from talking with a real American person who may be blunt, sarcastic, impatient, or simply moving at a natural speed.

The atmosphere is completely different.

So is my level of nervousness.

AI waits for me when I get stuck. It does not get annoyed when my English sounds strange. It gently corrects me.

But in real conversation, there are facial expressions, timing, pauses, jokes, sarcasm, and the whole mood of the moment.

To step into that kind of conversation, I think we need more than just English skills. We also need a certain kind of courage.

On the other hand, I have also experienced conversations where English was far from perfect, but the heart was there.

When I talk with other first-generation Asian immigrants, sometimes our English may be imperfect on both sides, but somehow we understand each other.

The grammar may not be perfect.

The pronunciation may not be perfect.

But the feeling comes through.

Those moments remind me that communication is not only about language ability.

I tend to be shy around people.

But I have friends who are not necessarily fluent in English, yet they get along with all kinds of people because they naturally have good communication skills.

When I see that, I realize that English ability is important, of course, but maybe friendliness, courage, and the willingness to connect with others are even more important.

And maybe those things come from experience.

Not only in English, but in life in general.

Maybe we do not have to wait until we are perfect before stepping outside.

Maybe we can go out into the world while we are still imperfect.

We can make mistakes, feel embarrassed, and slowly get used to it.

Even after almost 30 years in America, I am still learning English.

But now we have AI as a practice partner, and in many ways, learning has become much easier than before.

The next step may be to gather just a little more courage and practice with real people too.

Maybe learning English is not only about studying a language.

Maybe it is also about practicing life itself.

Trying Composting Again: Will It Work This Time?

2026-06-21T21:00:34.577-07:00

Quite a while ago, I wrote an article about trying a cardboard box composting method.

To be honest, after that, I didn’t take care of it as much as I probably should have. So I can’t exactly say it was a success.

There were some failures. There were also lots of tiny fruit flies. At one point, I thought, “Okay, this looks simple, but I guess composting does require some attention after all.”

Still, I couldn’t quite give up on the idea.

Then I started seeing Instagram posts about bucket composting and other easy home composting methods. I thought, “Maybe this version might be a little easier,” and since then, I have been trying composting again here and there in a very casual way.

This Time, I’m Using a Plastic Container

This time, I bought a plastic container from Home Depot.

When I previously tried bucket composting, I used a large laundry mesh bag that fit nicely inside the container. It happened to fit this new container too, so I placed the mesh bag around the whole inside of it and put the lid on top.

The mesh bag is mainly to help keep bugs out.

I don’t want the container to be completely sealed because compost needs some air. So by using the mesh bag under the lid, I’m hoping it will still have some airflow while also keeping insects away.

For now, I’m mostly adding vegetable scraps.

I’m trying to be careful with fruit scraps because, from my past experience, they seem to attract fruit flies more easily. I also add coffee grounds and eggshells little by little.

Each time I add kitchen scraps, I cover them with soil.

For the soil, I used some leftover potting soil and old soil from plants that had died.

I’m sure this is a very casual and self-taught method compared to people who really know what they are doing.

But my goal is simple: if I can return even a small amount of kitchen waste back to the soil, that would be nice.

I’d Also Like to Improve the Apartment Garden

Our apartment has a small shared garden space.

The soil there seems pretty tired and poor, and the area doesn’t get the best sunlight.

A little while ago, I planted cherry tomatoes there.

Since the sunlight wasn’t great, I didn’t expect too much. But surprisingly, I was able to harvest a few tomatoes here and there.

Even if they were just small tomatoes, it still felt nice to pick something I had grown myself.

Eventually, though, the plant died.

Maybe tomatoes really do need more sun than that spot can offer.

So this time, I decided to give up on tomatoes in that garden area for now and planted sage, rosemary, thyme, and oregano instead.

To be honest, I don’t use these herbs in large amounts.

When I do use them, it is usually just a little bit.

But when I buy fresh herbs at the grocery store, they are surprisingly expensive. And many times, I end up not using all of them before they go bad.

So if I can grow a little bit in the garden and pick just what I need, that would be very convenient.

Also, having herbs in the garden just feels a little stylish.

I don’t know yet whether they will grow well, but I hope they will settle in and survive.

But My Real Dream Is Still Cherry Tomatoes

That said, my real dream is still cherry tomatoes.

I’ve heard that tomatoes have been getting more expensive lately, so if I could grow even a few at home, I would be pretty happy.

The patio gets more sunlight than the shared garden area, so I have tried growing tomatoes there several times before.

But for some reason, they always ended up getting mysterious little white bugs.

Once those white bugs showed up, the leaves became weaker, and the whole plant started looking like it might not make it.

Because of that, I had temporarily given up on growing cherry tomatoes.

But if this compost starts turning into decent soil, I may try again.

Maybe if I mix in some of my own compost instead of relying only on store-bought soil, the tomatoes might grow a little stronger this time.

Of course, the bugs might come back again.

But even if that happens, I guess I can keep learning little by little.

I Also Tried an Indoor Hydroponic Kit

Speaking of growing things, a friend once sold me an indoor hydroponic growing kit at a very affordable price.

It was the kind with an automatic light, and it looked pretty high-tech.

At first, I thought, “Maybe I can grow herbs indoors with this.”

But in our small home, it was hard to find a good place for it.

The light was also quite bright. It felt too bright early in the morning, and it stayed on until pretty late at night. It had a much stronger presence in the room than I expected.

Also, the things I actually wanted to grow didn’t grow that well.

Instead, Thai basil, which I didn’t really know how to use, grew the most energetically.

If I had been the kind of person who could easily make good use of Thai basil in cooking, that would have been great. But for me, it was a little too much of a challenge.

So that hydroponic kit is now sleeping in the closet.

Even If It Doesn’t Go Perfectly, I’ll Try Again

Composting, gardening, growing herbs, and trying to grow vegetables at home all sound simple, but in reality, they don’t always go the way I imagine.

Bugs show up.

Plants die.

The things I want to grow don’t always grow.

But there is still something enjoyable about touching soil, watching plants, and seeing kitchen scraps slowly turn back into something earthy.

Even if I fail, I can adjust the method a little and try again.

So I’m continuing this composting attempt in a very relaxed way.

Will I finally be able to make good soil this time?

And will that soil help my cherry tomatoes grow someday?

I’m trying not to expect too much, but I am quietly looking forward to seeing what happens.

Making Homemade Miso: My 7-Year Tradition

2026-06-19T14:17:55.911-07:00

Today, I made miso.

I've actually been making homemade miso for about seven or eight years now. A friend from my neighborhood taught me how to make it, and I've been doing it ever since.

One of the things I love about miso is how simple the ingredients are:

Soybeans (dry) 250 g
Rice koji 250 g
Natural sea salt 125 g

That's it.

The process is surprisingly simple too. The most time-consuming part is cooking the soybeans until they become very soft.

How I Make Miso

1. Soak the Soybeans

First, I soak the soybeans in plenty of water.

I usually leave them for at least eight hours. Every time I do this, I'm amazed by how much the beans expand after absorbing water.

2. Cook Until Soft

Next, I cook the soybeans until they are soft enough to mash easily.

I use a pressure cooker, so after it reaches pressure, I reduce the heat and cook them for about 25 minutes.

3. Mix the Rice Koji and Salt

While the beans are cooking, I mix the rice koji and salt together in a separate bowl.

4. Mash and Combine

After draining the soybeans, I mash them while they're still warm.

A food processor makes this step much easier.

Then I gradually mix the mashed soybeans with the koji and salt mixture until everything is evenly combined.

5. Prepare the Container

I sanitize the storage container with alcohol beforehand.

I also sprinkle a thin layer of salt on the bottom of the container.

6. Pack the Miso

I shape the mixture into balls and press them firmly into the container, making sure to remove as much air as possible.

Once the container is filled, I smooth the surface, sprinkle a little more salt on top, and cover it tightly with plastic wrap.

Finally, I place a small weight on top.

7. Let Nature Do the Rest

I store the container in a cool, dark place with good airflow.

After about six months, the fermentation process creates that familiar rich miso aroma and flavor.

Some people stir the miso halfway through the fermentation process to help it ferment more evenly.

Occasionally, a little mold may appear on the surface. As long as it doesn't look or smell unusual, removing the affected area is usually enough.

Why I Love Homemade Miso

Thanks to this annual tradition, I use homemade miso for most of my cooking.

Sometimes I think about making a larger batch, but my pressure cooker isn't very big, so this amount works well for me.

And honestly, it tastes wonderful.

After all, there are no unnecessary additives—just simple ingredients and time.

Living Alongside Microorganisms

Recently, the idea of fermentation has become increasingly popular in Japan.

Traditional foods such as miso, soy sauce, and pickled vegetables all rely on the invisible work of microorganisms.

I've read many times that gut health affects brain health, and that a healthy gut can even influence our mood.

Inside our digestive systems live beneficial bacteria, harmful bacteria, and neutral bacteria, all existing in a delicate balance.

While making miso today, I found myself thinking about how much we depend on these tiny unseen organisms.

Perhaps it's a bit of a grand idea, but I wonder if healthier guts could lead to calmer minds, and calmer minds could lead to kinder interactions with one another.

Maybe, in a very small way, even a jar of homemade miso contributes to a more peaceful world.

At least, that's what I was thinking while preparing this year's batch.

Gemini New Moon, Venus and Jupiter, and Disclosure Day

2026-06-15T22:45:31.517-07:00

Just yesterday, we had the Gemini New Moon. A little before that, Venus and Jupiter appeared close together in the sky in a conjunction.

I think I actually saw them. There were two bright stars, or planets, shining near each other, and I thought, “Maybe that’s them?”

In astrology, both Venus and Jupiter are considered lucky planets.
Venus represents love, beauty, and abundance.
Jupiter represents expansion, growth, and good fortune.

When those two come close together, it feels like nothing but a good sign.

Or… wait. Is the lucky period already over?
Because honestly, I’m not sure anything especially lucky has happened to me lately.

Still, the sky this year feels unusually busy. Neptune has moved into Aries, and Saturn is also involved around the beginning of Aries. In astrology, this is considered a major shift. It may not be just about personal luck, but more about the atmosphere of the times changing.

2026 has already felt noisy and intense in many ways, and one of the topics people keep talking about lately is aliens, UAP, and disclosure.

Yesterday, I watched the movie Disclosure Day.

It was exactly the kind of movie that made me think, “If something like this were ever officially revealed, maybe there really would be this much drama.”

Government secrets, hidden information, strange things in the sky, and the moment when something that has been kept from the public suddenly comes out into the open.

Of course, it is a movie, so everything is dramatic. But somehow, it felt strangely connected to the mood of the world right now.

The planetary movements, the news, and the theme of the movie all seem to point in the same direction: things that were hidden are starting to be seen.

The Gemini New Moon is about information, words, curiosity, and new conversations. Add the bright energy of Venus and Jupiter, and then a movie like Disclosure Day, and the timing feels interesting, even if it is just a coincidence.

Maybe luck does not always arrive as a sudden miracle.
Maybe learning something, noticing something, or seeing the world from a different angle can also be a kind of good fortune.

To Me, Peace Means Ordinary Days Continuing as Usual

2026-06-08T21:04:37.805-07:00

These days, with tensions continuing in parts of the Middle East, the word “peace” can feel very big.

As of June 8, 2026, unstable news is still coming from the region, including conflict between Israel and Iran, the situation in Lebanon, and ongoing concerns in Gaza. Even when we hear words like “ceasefire,” there is still a sense that things could change at any moment. Even from far away, the news can make the heart feel unsettled.

World peace.
A world without war.
A society without violence or conflict.

Of course, all of that matters deeply.

But I also think there is a more personal meaning of peace.

Waking up in the morning.
Drinking coffee.
Going to work.
Eating dinner.
Taking a bath.
Going to sleep.

Even if nothing special happens, being able to think, “Today was mostly okay,” is also a kind of peace.

Having your family and loved ones safe.
Being able to go to the usual grocery store.
Sleeping at night without fear.
Making ordinary plans for tomorrow.

These simple, everyday things may actually be a very big form of peace.

I cannot change everything happening in the world by myself. But I can still value the small peace around me.

Saying something kind to someone.
Choosing not to argue when I do not need to.
Living today a little more gently.

To me, those things are also part of peace.

On Peacewings.com, I wrote about the question, “What does peace mean to you?”
I hope you will read it when you want to pause and think about it for a moment.

https://peacewings.com/define-peace/

Can I rent Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Amazon?

2026-06-04T21:18:22.359-07:00

Recently, my daughter asked me, “Can I rent Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Amazon?” So we ended up watching it together.

It’s a 2004 movie starring Jim Carrey (famous for comedy films like The Mask) and Kate Winslet (well known for Titanic). I couldn’t believe it was made 22 years ago. I’m not sure if I had heard the title back then, but I vaguely remember seeing the movie poster.

On Valentine’s Day, Joel (Jim Carrey) suddenly feels compelled to take an impulsive trip to a cold seaside town. There, he meets Clementine, an eccentric woman who strangely keeps talking to him. They end up taking the train back together and promise to see each other again…

The movie explores an intriguing idea:
What if there were a technology that could erase specific memories?

It’s one of those films that leaves you wondering at the end:
“So… what do you think will happen to these two?”

The timeline jumps back and forth, which may have felt unusual at the time. Nowadays, though, we’re more used to movies and TV dramas that are a little difficult to follow and require you to piece things together.

Good memories, painful memories, memories we wish we could erase, and memories we want to frame forever — the longer we live, the more of them we collect.

Every little experience becomes proof that we existed, shaping who we are.

Who gave birth to us, who we talked to, what we saw, what we heard…

Day after day, life often feels repetitive.

Yet every day is slightly different. Things happen. We remember some moments and slowly forget others.

And somehow, that’s what life is, isn’t it?

What Are Chakras? A Simple Introduction to an Ancient Energy System

2026-05-26T20:25:00.398-07:00

If you have ever taken a yoga class, watched a meditation video, or read anything about spiritual wellness, you have probably heard the word “chakra.”

Chakras are often described as energy centers in the body, connected with emotions, balance, awareness, and personal growth. Whether you see them as spiritual symbols, cultural concepts, or a way to reflect on your own inner state, they are an interesting topic to explore.

I wrote a simple introduction to chakras on Peacewings.com.

Read the full article here:
https://peacewings.com/chakra-meanings/

What Is the Third Eye? A Gentle Look at Intuition, Sleep, and the Pineal Gland

2026-05-25T19:06:51.716-07:00

The “third eye” is one of those terms that sounds mysterious at first.

It is often connected to intuition, inner wisdom, meditation, and spiritual awareness.

But what I find interesting is that the third eye is also often discussed alongside the pineal gland, sleep rhythms, and melatonin. It sits somewhere between spirituality and the body, between ancient symbolism and modern curiosity.

I wrote a longer article on Peacewings.com about the third eye, the pineal gland, and why this idea continues to fascinate people.

Read the full article here:
https://peacewings.com/third-eye-opening_pineal-gland-ajna/

Open you third eye mug

Trip Back to Japan (Summer 2022)

2026-04-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

Trip Back to Japan (Summer 2022)

It’s been about four years now, but this is a story from my trip back to Japan in July 2022, right after COVID restrictions were lifted.

Arrival in Tokyo & First Visit to DisneySea

After arriving at Narita, we stayed at a hotel near Urawa (just a regular hotel, not one of the Disney-themed ones).

From there, we headed to Tokyo DisneySea for the first time.

It was a blazing hot summer day in Japan.
Unfortunately, my kids had already lost interest in Disney, and the heat didn’t help either.

We ended up staying only from 10 AM to 3 PM before heading back to the hotel.
Honestly… not sure if we got our money’s worth.

Culture Shock at an Izakaya

For dinner, we took the hotel shuttle to the nearest station and went to an izakaya.

What surprised me most was that all orders were done on a tablet.
It felt like a bit of a culture shock.

Staying at a Minpaku (Apartment-Style Rental)

After that, we stayed for about a week at what you’d call a “minpaku” — basically an apartment-style rental with a kitchen.

It had a lot of charm and character, which we loved.
However:

It was a bit far from the station
No elevator, and we were on the 3rd floor

Carrying our luggage up was quite a workout.

Trip to Ise & JR Pass Experience

During this trip, we also reunited with relatives and then traveled to Ise.

Since it was before the price increase, we decided to try the JR Pass for the first time.
But honestly, I’m not sure we fully made it worth the cost.

In that area, Kintetsu Railway is actually much more convenient.

Traditional House Stay & Reunion

In Ise, we stayed at a traditional house rental, which was absolutely wonderful.

It was my first time back in Ise since my middle school field trip.
We also met up with a family friend from the U.S. who happened to be visiting Japan at the same time.

We met at Ise Grand Shrine (Inner Shrine) — it felt like such a meaningful reunion.

Discovering Ise Grand Shrine

I didn’t know this before, but Ise Grand Shrine isn’t just the Outer and Inner Shrines —
it actually consists of many shrines altogether.

We rented bicycles and explored the area, which was a great experience.

Later, we found out that the proper order is to visit the Outer Shrine first, then the Inner Shrine…
Oops.

Back to Tokyo — Staying in Shinjuku

We returned to Tokyo and stayed near Shinjuku this time.

Hotels near Kabukicho were affordable, but since I was traveling with my kids (not super young, but still), we chose a minpaku in Nishi-Shinjuku instead.

The good things about staying there:

Small kitchen
Washing machine

The downside?
Drying clothes was surprisingly difficult — there just wasn’t enough space.

Taxi Trouble on the Last Day

At the time, there were taxi apps for tourists, but they weren’t very reliable.

On our last day, the taxi we booked to Shinjuku Station was suddenly canceled.
We couldn’t find a street taxi either, which was pretty stressful.

Eventually, we managed to catch one, but it was definitely a nerve-wracking moment.

A Different Side of Shinjuku

In Shinjuku, I noticed things I hadn’t seen before:

Girls standing around holding signboards
Repeated announcements warning about scam bars

Compared to how I remembered it, Shinjuku felt a bit darker, more intense.

I was honestly surprised to see people openly holding those kinds of signs —
I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is this really allowed?”

Convenience… and Inconvenience

One last thing I noticed was how convenient — yet sometimes inconvenient — services in Japan can be.

Many apps and services require a Japanese phone number
Some are difficult to use for overseas visitors

It wasn’t always easy.

I wonder how much has changed since then.

I learned the greatness of automatic translation! Watch out for Cheap Inn

2019-08-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

At brother's house after the trip to Izu, I faced reality firmly,

I will write about it again if I have the opportunity. The wound has not healed yet...

I'm going with my kids this time. they don't have anything to do and are just so addicted to smartphones and iPads.

If you don't take them somewhere, my son won't let go of his smartphone. The only time when he's not messing with the phone is when he is with his friends.

I made an excuse to visit my fathers grave with my other brother’s family.

I decided to book somewhere to stay for two night and contact with the friend who went to Izu trip with us, she also came back to Japan from the U.S. with kids.

I found a place says just 7000 yen per night. I booked for two nights.

The place is at Shin-Okubo, near Shinjuku. It is the same area I stayed at the end of May the last time I came to Japan. The place I stayed was expensive at this time, I liked the area because it's very convenient. The price was great, it's like the half of anywhere else!

My guess and judging from the picture was a tiny bachelor apartment with a bed and some sofa bed, and I was right.

After the reservation was confirmed, I received a PDF explaining how to open the key. By the way, reservation cannot be canceled.

On the first day, after completing the errands, around 8 o'clock in the evening, we were so exhausted and headed for the inn.

About 10 minutes walking from Shin-Okubo station. It ’s far from where I stayed.

We have arrived.

To a little dirty apartment.

My kids' reaction was like, "Are we staying in here?"

Yeah, I know, the price was great...

Let's go inside...

Well, sure it's clean or seems like somebody vacuumed this place.

Oh, there's a washing machine that's nice. I opened the lid and there is water inside. Is it broken?

Towels are fiber towels. I don't like it very much... I thought they are for a car wash.

I found a bug killer thing on the shelf. A little disgusting premonition...

The bathroom is small and there is no curtain between the shower and the toilet.

Well, what is this?

I thought but I dared not to say anything, then my son goes,

“What's this?”

I also opened a heavy mouth.

"I know."

It's too late to check reviews, (can't believe I didn't)

It says "There were bugs"

what?? what kind??

I found another review but it's in Indonesian.

In Google, I typed translate Indonesian to English,

It came out. If you paste a review there. and it says...

"There are many small cockroaches"

NOOOOO!!

"Let's stay at somewhere else," says my kids.

"Well, we can't cancel anymore and it will cost more money... besides, there're no bugs right now. It should be fine!"

I'll sleep in bed with my daughter, and spread out the sofa bed for my son. I wonder where's the sheets. I found a tiny closet, they used an empty straw plastic bag for the closet knob... how crappy is that.

There are several sheets in the closet. I wonder if they are cleaned...

Oh, I found some hair on the sheet. I used a different one that was black. You can't see the dirtiness.

Since it was late at night, we bought some rice balls and snacks at a convenience store. There isn't any table. I felt a bit miserable. . .

I'm sorry, kids for being a cheap ass. Wipe off the food residue to prevent bugs to come.

I emailed the host asking if we can cancel the second night. The next morning the answer was no, I knew it.

I drained water in the washing machine by running it again but the water came back. I didn't know that and I already throw some clothes in and now it's all wet. What should I do about this??

I saw from the window there is a coin laundry just across the street. That's nice.

The next day, there was a new review in French on the reservation site, so I understood the meaning when I translated it again with Google. "Insects appeared, the room was clean."

Well, I didn't see any bugs last night.

More than that, I was impressed by how easy it is to understand various languages.

It ’s amazing, Google! You reign over the world! Building a tower of Babel.

I'm actually using the function to write this, not entirely but it helps me a lot. That's why it might be a bit strange for the native speakers but hey, I hope you can understand what I mean.

Thank you for reading this!

Get rid of the bugs!

Microfiber bath towel. Some likes these I guess.

Wonders of the World T-Shirt
by peacewing

Izu Grand Pal Park and Conveyor Belt Sushi

2019-08-20T23:50:00.001-07:00

The last day / third day of Izu.

I woke up in the morning, took a morning bath without children with my friends (because kids were sleeping), ate breakfast buffet, and went to a place called Izu Grand Pal Park.

The admission fee was once again reduced with a coupon, but I had to buy a separate voucher, so it seems a little expensive. .

The weather on this day will be cloudy and it will rain. .

The 13-year-old boys team ziplines while it is still not raining.

In this park, there was a place where you could play without using a ticket, so I finally went there, but it started to rain. . .

Even if it is noon at a nearby roadside station, it is closed on Saturdays. Is it because it was raining? ? After having bite in a crepe shop that was open, We decided to go to Revolving Sushi.

I bought dried fish as a souvenir at Michi-no-Eki (roadside station). Just after this, I saw the news that dried fish were affected by the lack of sunshine due to the continuing rain. There was a footbath here too. Capybara is in the center.

If you drive a little, a sushi restaurant. This revolving sushi seems to be a popular shop and it is full even though it is a halfway time in the evening. Not everything is 100 yen per a dish, so if you choose carefully, the bill didn't get too much.

The sushi restaurant was so crowded that we ate in two groups. After having eaten, two pairs who return to Tokyo and me and the other pair will return to Shizuoka. We'll miss them after the trip. .

I got on a friend's car in the direction of Shizuoka. Thank you.

By the way, I will arrive at the house where my mother, brother and sister-in-law are.

There are various things from here, but that is another story. .

Japanese
by peacewing

Atami castle and retro bowling at Ito

2019-08-19T21:12:00.001-07:00

A total of 8 children and adults arrived at the Ito Station.

After arriving at Atami Station, we will do the footbath in front of the station like we three did yesterday. At this time, I bought a towel for 100 yen.

Then take a bus to Atami Castle. We wanted to get on the ropeway so We got to the bottom of the ropeway station. On the way, From the bus, I saw a famous a statue of Kanichi and Omiya. (A guy kicking a woman. Will you be criticized internationally?　Don't be stiff.

There is a hidden treasure house (a museum for adults) just below Atami Castle, and there are three sensitive 13-year-old boys, they were so excited.

A view from the ropeway. It is a superb view. Atami is similar to Monaco.
Slopes, buildings and the sea.

Ride through the ropeway and graze the hidden treasure house (there is a funny statue at the entrance)

To Atami Castle. The admission fee was a little cheaper using the coupon.

Take the elevator to the top, take a picture, and then go down.

By the way, this Atami castle was built in 1959, so it's not a real historical building like an old military commander XX made. But the exhibition was an introduction to Japanese samurai culture.

Japanese trick art is wonderful.

At the gift shop, they gave out little presents for those who can blow shells.

There is a game arcade in the basement and you can play as much as you want! You don't have to pay a plus fee, so you will end up playing kids here for a long time.

Another mother and two children are joining us to meet in Ito, so it's time for us to leave Atami Castle.

When we go down on the ropeway, We saw an actress and camera crew.

Take the bus back to Atami Station and get in time for the train. Since there are only about 3 trains in an hour, if you miss one, there is a lot of waiting time.

From Ito this time, we went to the hotel by bus and joined my friend. It became more lively.

The pool, hot springs and other family restaurants at night. If you have a large group and many children, it's just easy to eat at the family restaurant.

We separate to the two groups :13-year-old boys who wants to bowl and two moms and who wants to drink in the inn room with children who is too little to enjoy bowling.

This place uses handwritten score. I did not know how to calculate, but another mom knew.

It ’s a very low level battle.

Sons have little experience, but there is a margin of growth.

I've always been bad at bowling. .

In this way, the night of Ito's second day was over.

First day at Tokyo

Going to Atami

Ito and seven goddess

Retro bowling shirt. How about for a present?

Love
by peacewing

Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Ito, Izu Peninsula Shizuoka

2019-08-19T00:11:00.000-07:00

I arrived at Ito by train from Atami in about 20 minutes.

Japan at the beginning of July this year was unusually chilly, and it rained or stopped that day. The friends who went to Mt. Omuro haven't been able to get to the inn yet, so the three of us were going by taxi.

When I asked to ask something at the tourist information center in front of Ito station, the guy told me the highlight of Ito.

An old inn called Tokaikan does not do business as a hotel right now, but you can visit it, or the shopping street has a hot spring of Shichifukujin (Seven Gods of Good Fortune) and a stamp rally.

Get a taxi with various maps and coupons.

This time we stayed at Tokyu Harvest Club Ito. (very different/luxurious to the one we stayed last night!)

We waited for about 30 minutes in the lobby and joined my friend.

Two sets of mother and two children and one set of mother and son.

It got noisy at once.

After check-in, go to the pool and hot springs.

At night, the restaurant in the hotel was expensive so we ate at nearby Jonathan.

The next morning, after a buffet breakfast, everyone went to Atami Castle by train.

Everyone walks to Ito Station. Walk along nice scenery riverside while it rains. I wanted to go to Tokaikan when I had time but we couldn't have time.

Check Shichifukujin when going through the shopping street. There were 6 gods, but where was the other god?. I did n’t take a photo of everything.

Ebisu, the god of prosperity and wealth in business

Juroujin (寿老人) is the god of the elderly and longevity

Hotei (布袋) is the god of fortune, the guardian of the children, patron of diviners and barmen, and also the god of popularity.

Daikokuten (大黒天) is the god of commerce and prosperity.

Seven god teacup

Japanese bath salt. Instant hot springs at your home

Business Card
by peacewing

Going to Atami (Famous hot spring place)

2019-08-18T16:06:00.001-07:00

Staying at Akasaka, Tokyo

Leave Akasaka around 9:30 in the morning and head for Atami.

Looking at the timetable in Jordan,　https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/ it is 4390 yen per person for the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Atami, and it takes 37 minutes for the Shinkansen from Tokyo. 2nd option is "Izu no Odoriko" (Izu Dancer) train takes 1 hour 21 minutes and costs 4000 yen per person. 3rd option is Tokaido, the local train takes 1 hour 53 minutes and 1940 yen.

Other friend families go by car. Since only 5 people can ride in the car, it is already over capacity, so we talked about going by train.

I decided to get to Atami around noon, so I didn't hurry and my son had to pay an adult fee this year so I decided to save and go on the Tokaido.

I thought that it would be possible to sit down during the daytime on weekdays, but it seems that there are many people thinking about the same thing. By the way, there is a reserved seat on this Tokaido, and it was 780 yen per person if you buy a seat in advance. I regret that I should have done this. Well, it ’s a reflection on the next time.

The Tokaido Line didn't start from Tokyo Station and was quite crowded. I told the children that they would sit properly when they had a seat, and then they were vacant little by little, and at around Chigasaki we could sit in a box seat. I didn't feel like opening the snacks and rice balls that I wanted to eat on the train.

My daughter slept on the train because of the jet lag. I couldn't sleep. my son kept watching a smartphone.

We will go to Omuroyama with the team and the line heading by car, but it seems that it takes time to go to the lift platform by train and bus because I don't know the area very well, so we decided to meet up with them in Ito until then, we three would kill some time in Atami.

Atami is famous as a luxury hot spring town. I've been there once or twice. There were a lot of slopes so didn't want to go far from the station. So we have about 3 hours before going to Ito.

1) Footbath in front of Atami Station

Before that, there was a sign in the building in front of the station to leave some heavy luggage but it wasn't open that day. A person in the same building says there's a coin locker so you can leave it.

The footbath was busy in front of the station. A small towel for towels was sold for 100 yen, but I wanted to use the one I brought.

The footbath in front of the station seems is called Ieyasu no Yu. Named after the famous Shogun who build Edo Era.

Daughter willing to enter, but son does not. Teens are difficult to handle.

Locomotive in front of the shopping street. After the footbath, we will have lunch somewhere in the shopping street near the station.

My son likes ramen and he's a picky eater, but he just ate ramen yesterday so I suggested Sashimi lunch but he can only eat tuna.. Moreover, the price is high because it is a sightseeing spot. After all, to a Chinese restaurant that was a little reasonable. I asked for fried rice and fried chicken and a daily special for me. A cafeteria that is loved by the locals.

After that, walk around the shopping street and eat hot spring manju (100 yen)

Take a photo with a Konjiki yasha's sign. . (Face erased) I know this scene but I didn't know the story about this, but I read the outline on the web earlier. Well, that's how it happened. .

I'm heading to Ito soon after the 100 yen store.

Sightseeing gets tired. I want to go with shoes that are easy to walk.

Seven gods of good fortune at Ito

Spiritual
by peacewing

Stay at Tokyo, Akasaka.

2019-08-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

I went back to Japan this summer with two children.

The next day we arrived, We were going to Ito (Shizuoka) with my family and friends, so I stayed in the city for a night booked in the reservation site.

It's not a hotel, it's like a private residence (with private bathroom with shower), it's not a fancy place or anything, but it's in a convenient location and the reviews are good, so I decided here. My two children were quite big (13 and 8), so I didn't want to sleep on a tight bed, so it was attractive to have a single bed for each person. This room has two bunk beds and the area is nice.

I've lived in Tokyo for many years, but I am not familiar with Akasaka or the inside of the Yamanote Line. I arrived at Akasaka around 5:00 in the evening and was full of people after work.

The impression of Akasaka is modern buildings and old shopping street merged.

Since two suitcases were sent to my brothers' house, I will arrive at the inn with a small suitcase packed with four days of changing clothes and each of us carried backpack one by one.

The subway stairs are painful. Later, there I found out was an up escalator, but I didn't know where it was. It's hard to live on foot for us who are used to car life in the U.S.

When we checked in, there were no people at the front, later we finally took a breath in the room. Well, when I wanted to open a suitcase, I couldn't open a small key! Whether the inside is rusted or not, it's unexpectedly strong and won't break. What should I do. .

When I talked to the owner at the inn, he said, “Oh, I ’ll take a look.” We were hungry and decided to eat it at a nearby ramen shop. Buy a meal ticket and sit at the counter. Japanese diners are cheap and delicious, but I'm worried about the our luggage. .

After the meal was over, I went back to the inn and When I asked the owner, he visited a friend luggage store and broke the key!

I was saved. .

The inn itself had a hard futon, but if you stayed elsewhere, I had to broken the suitcase (made of cloth). Thank you Inn owner! !

By the way, there was a convenience store nearby and I bought a snack, so we ate it and fell asleep at 9:00 due to the tiredness of the trip, but we woke up at 2 o'clock in the morning. .

We tried to hang around the morning city when the sky was a little bright at around 5 o'clock. Crows and people are walking around at times like this.

Yoshinoya. We ate breakfast here. 1700 yen for 3 people. Cheap and delicious.

band men sitting across us talking about last night gig, youth dream.. (overhearing of course)

Then visit Hiei Shrine. I've seen it on TV. It was nice to have an escalator. At this point it is 7am. There were some people who worshiped. I have been asking for work luck and love luck.

A sports car company next to it?

There was a TV station TBS, so I wandered around, but I didn't know whether a regular customer could enter, so I dismissed.

We will return to the hotel and go to Atami to meet my friends and their family.

Get a quality suitcase for your comfortable travel!

greeting in Japanese! ... With meanings..

2019-07-07T11:56:00.004-07:00

Greetings in Japanese、Aisatsu, in Japanese.

おはようこんにちは　こんばんはありがとう　さようなら　すみません

ohayou おはよう is "good morning". we usually don't use Kanji for this word but if you use it, it says お早う　the Kanji in the middle means "early" or "fast" It makes sense since it's early in the morning.

Ko n ni chi ha こんにちは is "hello" but we say this for the afternoon. 今日は　the first two Kanji characters says　Today, は pronounces　"wa" even though it spells "ha". In Japanese, this は pronounces "wa" works as "is" or "are" in English.　postpositional particle I looked upon a dictionary..

so, "Konnichiwa" really means "today is"

Same as "Konbanwa" night greetingsこんばんは　今晩は means "tonight is"

Arigatou ありがとう is Thank you, in Kanji, it 有難う the first kanji means "there" second one is "difficult" so Arigatou means "difficult to be there" so this expresses appreciations for things are there.

My yoga teacher says the opposite of Arigatou is taking it for granted "Atarimae" あたりまえ

it's deep, isn't it?

Next one is, Sayounara (when you spell in English there's no "u" in the middle, but there are "u" to spell in Japanese) さようなら if you write in Kanji, "左様なら" it may be translated to "Ok then,"

Sumimasen, すみません　済みません　means excuse me but,
This world comes from "I'm not done" or "I'm not satisfied with myself for what I have done." wow, heavy! nobody put that feeling to this word anymore but originally, it means like that.

I hope you memorized these words today.

Please subscribe and check out other videos too!

Let's write words in Japanese

2019-07-01T00:46:00.003-07:00

Hello everybody, こんにちは。

I've made how to type and write Hiragana on the computer before, based on Hiragana chart.

Lets talk about Katakana for a little bit today.

all the sounds are the same as hiragana.

Katakana look boxy and has edgy shapes compares to Hiragana.

Japanese Alphabet (Katakana) Poster
by falkdesigns

By the way, This chart is sold at zazzle.com Please visit the the link at the bottom for more info.

Katakana is used to express foreign words like,

McDonald = マクドナルド　
Ski = スキー　
America = アメリカ
cake = ケーキ
party = パーティー

all sounds are flat in Japanese.

uses the long line to express long sounds　or extend sounds

you may not recognize the words when it pronounced in Japanese but you'll surprised to know a lot of English words are used in Japanese.

how to write / type Katakana is basically the same as how to write Hiragana.

Let's practice writing / typing words.

First, change the setting to Japanese typing mode,

to type Japanese, you need to know how it pronounced the word in Japanese.

type in = McDonald = makudonarudo = マクドナルド
hamburger = hanba-ga- = ハンバーガー
hotdog = hottodoggu = ホットドッグ

small つ is used when you skip the sound. to write small つ、type the consonant twice. you can also make the words smaller if you type in x before the word

only works for vowels and small tsu っ　

Pease LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT on our videos! We really appreciate it. Thanks!

Writing / Typing Japanese: Dotted letters and so on

2019-06-23T23:25:00.002-07:00

I'll tell you how to type beyond usual Hiragana chart.

Japanese Hiragana and Katakana, if you add two dots after those letters for example

かきくけこ
Ka Ki Ku Ke Ko

add " at the right above those letters, they becomes

がぎぐげご

it pronounces

Ga Gi Gu Ge Go

Same for さしすせそ becomes

ざじずぜぞ

Za Zi Zu Ze Zo

だぢづでど

Da Di Du De Do

ばびぶべぼ

Ba Bi Bu Be Bo

Then, if you put small circle at the right side above, they becomes

ぱぴぷぺぽ

Pa Pi Pu Pe Po

Next, if you put little や、ゆ、よ after certain letters, you will pronounce for example,

きゃ　＝　kya
きゅ　＝　kyu
きょ　＝　kyo

Like when you type　kyouto (Kyoto) きょうと　＝京都 in Kanji

you will see よ is little smaller.

Sha Shu Sho
しゃしゅしょ

Tya Tyu Tyo
ちゃちゅちょ

Nya Nyu Nyo
にゃにゅにょ

Hya Hyu Hyo
ひゃひゅひょ

Mya Myu Myo
みゃみゅみょ

Rya Ryu Ryo
りゃりゅりょ

Gya Gyu Gyo
ぎゃきゅぎょ

Ja Ju Jo
じゃじゅじょ

Bya Byu Byo
びゃびゅびょ

Pya Pyu Pyo
ぴゃぴゅぴょ

Japanese Alphabet (Hiragana) Poster
by falkdesigns

Writing / Type in Japanese on your computer

2019-06-17T20:02:00.002-07:00

Hi,

I'll show you how to type (write) Japanese on your computer.

Japanese Alphabet (Hiragana) Poster
by falkdesigns

There are ways to type in using the alphabet.

before you start, you need to set up input enabled in Japanese, If you are using a mac, go to System Preferences from the Apple menu, click on the blue flag icon labeled Language & Region. Click on the button marked with a plus sign in the lower left to add a new language, then select Japanese from the menu and click the Add button. You also need to add the setting for the keyboard. go to the keyboard, input source, add Japanese. I think it's similar for Windows users, please google "how to type Japanese on windows" and find out.

Lately, Japanese people use this type of keyboard on the smartphone. You tap the letter until you get the one you want on the row of, for example, if you want to input "う" you press "あ" three-time sinceうlocates at the third letter of a row of あ.

There are three kinds of letters in Japanese.

One is Hiragana,　ひらがな

then, Katakana　カタカナ

the last one is Kanji,　漢字　 Chinese characters have meaning in each one.

Let's start from Hiragana.

By the way, I made this Hiragana and Katakana chart sold at zazzle.com please visit the page, you can see the image and study or you can order a poster online!

Japanese Alphabet (Katakana) Poster
by falkdesigns

change the setting to Hiragana. on the top right side, change the icon to hiragana usually says "あ" in Japanese. there is a shortcut on mac control and space, for windows, alt, and shift.

The first row is vowels, a i u e o

あいうえお

you'll notice the underline shows up, if you press the space key, it will give you the option to change to kanji, you need to press enter to make "あ" to confirm the letter.

when you add consonant, K it becomes Ka ki ku ke ko

かきくけこ

next line is S, Sa si su se so

さしすせそ

T Ta ti tu te to (it pronounces chi and tsu)

たちつてと

N Na ni nu ne no

なにぬねの

H Ha hi hu he ho

はひふへほ

M Ma mi mu me mo

Y Ya Yu Yo

やゆよ

only have 3 on this row since the pronunciation is the same as vowel "i" and "e"

R Ra ri ru re ro

らりるれろ

I think it's rather pronounced L There are no pronunciation represents L and R differences in Japanese. It's still hard for me to say in English. There's a simple reason why Japanese people can't pronounce R and L correctly. They don't exist in Japanese.

wa wo only two letters on this row.

わ　を

n is the last word. Type twice then hit enter.

ん

Japan trip - Shizuoka and Tokyo

2019-06-11T08:20:00.003-07:00

I went to Japan to see my family in May.

I left Japan 20 years ago.

The price of the food is really affordable if you choose. For breakfast, I had rice, miso soup, salmon, and pickles set for only 500 yen or so, I bought a ticket at the machine and gave it to the lady who works by herself cooking, serving, clean up, doing everything! There were at least 8 customers including me. She was working hard. at 8:00 AM it was the peak time serving for guys before going to work. After everybody left, I told her, "You were doing all by yourself, what a hard worker you are!"

I didn't take a picture of the food. Too bad.

On the other hand, expensive food like this one a cake for 780 yen 810 yen with tax exists. It was good though.

Potato cake (heavy and filled me up)

I stayed at Shizuoka where Mt. Fuji is, and also my family. In Tokyo, I stayed at Shin Okubo (near Shinjuku). This area is a Korean town in Tokyo. I booked at booking.com the rate was 8500 yen a night. I met up with my brother to visit my dad and grandma at the graveyard. After that, I went to Yurakucho to see my friend.

When I got off the station, I thought I was in Harajuku. There were tons of teenagers who love K-pop (Korean pop idol group) like BTS and Twice.

I took Shinkansen to go to Shizuoka. It takes only one hour. The day I got to Japan was raining hard. I couldn't see anything but on the way back to Tokyo, I could see Mt. Fuji very clear.

Mt. Fuji from Shinkansen.

The view of Shizuoka

Shizuoka Oden: Shizuoka's soul food.

The statue from Kita san Yaji san: Travelers who walked all over Japan in the Edo era. (Fiction)

Some Shrine near Shizuoka Station.

Japanese Korean Town in Tokyo Shinokubo

Shin Okubo is filled with young people but is hard to see in this picture.

Omoide (memory) yokocho at Shinjuku. I love a little street like this.

Boba at Shin Okubo.

I had Takoyaki (Octopus ball) final snack before leaving Japan at Narita.

Reserve your flight and hotel! Booking.com

Gift for Dad

Gift for Dad
by peacewing