From L.A. by Yoko Fujimoto

About the Super Bowl

2012-02-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

My first Super Bowl Party was in 1991 at someone’s (I don’t remember who was…) house in Marina Del Rey.

At that time, I had no idea about the “SUPER BOWL”…my friend, Ms. A invited me to the “Super Bowl Party”. I thought, “Something is SUPER, sounds great!”

My answer was, “Of course, I am coming with you!”

And then, my first reaction at the Super Bowl Party was, “Why people are watching TV , and why they aren’t socializing?”

I realized, after some chips & salsa and some fried chicken…What the Super Bowl is.

Since then, I have never learned about the rules of football or the history of the Super Bowl.

********

Today, I watched NBC TV from 3:00pm until 7:15pm. Yes, I watched the Super Bowl XLVI, the Super Bowl Halftime Show and Super Bowl Commercials.

First of all, I was on the side of New England Patriots (the reason: Tom Brady is the cutest in NFL), but my instinct for a winner team was New York Giants (the reason: the head coach of New York Giants seemed very calm, but the head coach of New England Patriots seemed intense, so I thought the New York Giants is going to win!).

I enjoyed the game. It was very nice to watch the most popular game in America, Super Bowl.

Amazing thing was that New England Patriots scored 7 points right before the end of the first half of Super Bowl XLVI (within 29 seconds!).

I really felt that we can change something within some seconds.

********

My highlights of the show of Super Bowl XLVI:

#1 Player of the night was: Tom Brady / sorry, I am not into NFL...I think Tom is very cute :)

#1 Commercial of the night was: Fiat. I laughed and enjoyed.

#1 Enjoy moment of the night was: Madonna’s Halftime Show. I grew up with Madonna, and I am still listening Vogue, Music, Open Your Heart... during my gym time.

********

You know what, I still don’t get it, “Why people are into NFL?”

Basketball or Baseball is easy to watch (the rules are simple, I guess), but Football is difficult to watch, because the rules seem so complicated, and the game is so slow like Soccer…Oops…never mind, I still love America.

Even though I don’t get NFL, I love to watch it and enjoy it anyway :)

I hope you had a nice night with the Super Bowl.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
February 5, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Yoko Fujimoto

An amazing baby shower!

2012-01-21T23:38:00.000-08:00

Between “Jet lag (I got back from Tokyo, Japan 10 days ago)” and “L.A. Fashion Market Week (interviewed fashion designers, showroom owners, and trade show directors etc / talked with friends / dinner with friends / wrote an article for Senken-newspaper)”, I shopped at the BabiesRUS and prepared for my friend, Keasha’s baby shower on the 21st, Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday, 21st, in the morning:

I was almost going to tweet, “Shower rain (we had rain in this morning) + Baby shower = Happy Saturday :)… but, the sunshine showed in the sky.

***

In the afternoon at Galia(Keasha’s mom)’s house:

It was an amazing baby shower. There were a lot of foods!!!

Yes, food is most important key of my happiness!

I said to Ms. C (Keasha’s relative), “Wow…I didn’t expect to have a dinner! The baby shower has usually finger food, cake and tea. OMG…it looks like the Thanksgiving dinner!!!”

Ms. C: Ahhaha! Black baby shower is different from the white people’s baby shower.Black people will have a lot of food at baby showers, parties, gatherings, etc.

Me: I had a big brunch at home… but I am glad that I can eat anytime, anywhere!

Ms. C: You are so funny! and you eat a lot huh! You're a fat lady in a small lady's body!

Me: Oh…what a nice compliment! Thank you! You too, you are funny! Let’s write a funny sitcom script together!!!

Ms. C: Let’s do it!!!

***

Working like an assistant of hostess (Galia):

Galia asked me to do the important job at the party. “Ask people sign the name and their home address for the guest book.”

It was fun that I walked around and talked with people (Keasha and Galia’s friend and relatives).

One of the women (of course, woman, because this party is only for women!) asked me, “Are you an owner of this house?”

Me: I wish! This house is Galia's, the mother of Keasha. I am a friend of Keasha!

I guess, I acted like an owner of the house, huh! I guess, Ms. C was right, “I have a BIG BLACK WOMAN in me…!”

***

Dinner time:

Some games later (I can’t explain about games, because I was too busy with the guest book), we had a dinner!

Oh…Before the dinner, we (37 people) held our hands and Rev. June Gatlin (Keasha’s friend. She was the spiritual advisor for Michael Jackson) gave the speech / prayer. I was next to her (lucky me!) and I felt great energy from her.

The food was amazing! Buffet style food (from the special place which Galia ordered) was like a five star hotel buffet. Salmon, Chicken, Red bean’s rice, Yellow rice (I forgot the name of the rice), Beans, Steam Vegetable, Plantain (Soooooo Gooooood! My favorite!), Macaroni and Cheese, Potato Salad, Fried Bread, Couscous, Pasta Salad, Deviled Eggs (Galia’s deviled eggs are the best!).

I think I forgot something to write in here… Today’s food in my food diary was just “Baby shower’s buffet” (Easy to write! But… it was not good for my diet…because I can't say how much I ate…!).

Oh…I remember, Mama (my mom) always says, “If you eat with happy mood, you are not going to gain weight. Enjoy your food!”.

Yes, Mama, I enjoyed today’s food :)

***

Opening gifts time:

35 guests brought many cute gifts. It was fun to watch that Keasha was opening gifts, and it was nice to hear each guest’s card's message (Keasha's friend, Ms. L was reading each card.)

****

The last part:

Cute cup cakes… yes, food is the most important for life :)

Brown and blue were the theme color for this baby shower. Brown and blue balloons were everywhere and brown & blue cup cakes were in our stomach. It was an amazing party for Keasha and her baby (she will have a baby boy in March).

Keasha’s son (age 6) said, “Mommy, your tummy is like a big fat meatball!”… Keasha is a very skinny beautiful woman and she is fat just in her stomach area at this time. Keasha is so beautiful inside and out. I am so happy to have her as my special friend.

I wish she will have a wonderful time with her new born baby boy.

***

At the door:

I got a bottle of blue chocolates with brown color ribbon. A cute gift!

Happy & Love energy were everywhere. It was a perfect party for a perfect friend.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
January 20, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Yoko Fujimoto

Japan is doing well!

2012-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone!

I had a great vacation in Japan for 40 days until yesterday. Especially, I had a personal driver (my younger brother), two personal chefs (my mom and my younger brother), a house keeper (my mom), an ATM machine (my mom and my younger brother gave me cash, and they spent a lot of money on me), and a tour guide (my younger brother).

As you know, Japan is still in radiation dangers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, but I didn't feel scare of it, and I ate a lot of food from Japan.

When I stepped into the land of Japan, I totally forgot about radiation dangers. My stomach (I love sushi and meat!) beat my brain (to be honest, I was afraid of radiation before I leave for Japan, and I didn’t want to eat sushi or meat from Japan).

I ate sushi (and sashimi / raw fish), rice (Japanese rice is the best!!!), bread (Japanese bread is the best as well), vegetable, meat, fish… seafood pizza, hamburger steak (similar to meatloaf), okonomiyaki (a Japanese pancake containing a variety of ingredients / seafood, meat, vegetable etc), shabu shabu (a Japanese variant of hot pot), nabe (varieties of Japanese steamboat dishes)…everything was sooooooo goooooood!

One apple is $4, one piece of chicken breast leg is $15, and one melon is $40. (Every Japanese super market is like the “Gelson’s” in Japan!) Food is pricy in Japan, but they are so tasty.

Highlights of my vacation #1: We (with my mom and my younger brother) stayed at the Oiso Long Beach Prince Hotel for 5 nights, and we enjoyed ocean view room, onsen (hot springs), seafood (sushi and sashimi / raw fish). My skin is like a silk, because onsen makes smooth skin.

Highlights of my vacation #2: We (with my mom and my younger brother) had a great day in Nikko. Especially, we had a great time at the Rinnoji (Rinnoji is Nikko's most important temple. It was founded by Shodo Shonin, the Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism to Nikko in the 8th century). Main hall (The Sanbutsudo Hall) is currently undergoing major renovation works, which are scheduled to last until March 2021. During this period, the temple hall is covered by a huge scaffolding structure, but it remains open to tourists. We saw the view of renovation works (each floor / 1st -7th floor) and nice view of Nikko from the top of temple (We could see this view at this special period. We saw the view from the top of the temple!).

Highlights of my vacation #3: We ate and laughed so much (at my mom & my younger brother’s house in Tokyo).

You know what? Japan is doing well! I am very glad to see beautiful and wonderful Japan.

At the passport control and immigrant counter at LAX:

The officer: What did you do in Japan?

Me: Vacation for 40 days! I ate so many food and I gained weight (4 pounds!)!

The officer: I think Japanese food is not fattening.

Me: Not for me. I ate too much, so I need to diet as soon as possible!

The officer: Aha ha ha!

You know what? This kind of conversation is not going to happen at the passport control and immigrant counter in Japan.

I am glad to come home in L.A.!

I hope you had a great holiday season as well.

Have a wonderful 2012 :)

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
January 11, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Yoko Fujimoto

EAT EAT EAT

2011-11-16T21:52:00.001-08:00

“You are a fun-loving person and you will find much happiness”…this is a today’s my Chinese fortune cookie’s message.

Yes, I enjoy every fun moment…

At the Chinese restaurant near by the Gelson’s in Silver Lake/Los Feliz.

Me: I am going to shop at the Gelson’s, so I will be back 40 minutes later.

The cashier: What else?

Me: What else…? Oh…I would like to have a sweet and sour pork combination.

The cashier: All right. See you later!

One hour later, I realized that I ordered two people’s dinner (I have ordered a beef chow mein combination and a sweet and sour pork combination)…!

Yes, EAT. EAT.EAT…! I ate one and a half people’s dinner.

I hope, I am going to get more luck from this funny moment. I can't wait to open the other fortune cookie tomorrow.

***

EAT.

I will go to Galia (my friend, Keasha’s mom)’s Thanksgiving dinner party.

Last Thanksgiving dinner…I ate a lot…

First round: Turkey (white & dark meat both) with cranberry sauce and gravy, Turkey Breast Roulade with Apple and Raisin Stuffing, Smoked Ham, Candied Yams, Stuffing, Green Beans and Potato, Beans, Collard Greens, Corn Bread, Macaroni and Cheese, Deviled Eggs, Spiced Cranberry Cider Spice and Apple Cider…

Second round: Candied Yams and Macaroni and Cheese.

Third round: Peach Cobbler and Red Velvet Cupcake.

Forth round: Lemon Cake.

I can’t wait for Thanksgiving dinner!!!

***

EAT.

The day after Thanksgiving (on the 25th), I will go to my friend (Shinako-san & Bob)’s Thanksgiving BBQ party!

Last time on September 4th…I ate a lot…

Shinako-san’s home cooking / Rice-flour cake (flavored with mugwort), Spring rolls, Sushi rolls, Potato salad, Quiche, Fried calamari…and Masami-san (Shinako-san’s friend)’s home made curry & spinach pies and Baklava. Shinako-san’s husband, Bob’s Korean BBQ, Chicken, Shrimps and Corn. And one of a kind sake from Bruce Shinya Takano (production manager) at YAEGAKI Corporation of USA (www.yaegakiusa.com).

I can’t wait for the BBQ party!!!

***

EAT.

I will be in Tokyo, Japan for one month and 10 days for my winter vacation.

EAT, EAT, and EAT with my mom and my brother.

I can’t wait for my vacation in Japan!!!

***

My mother always says that “if you eat with happiness and joy, you never gain weight!”

I agree with her. EAT. EAT. EAT. and enjoy your holiday season!

Happy Holidays to you :)

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
November 16, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Time is money

2011-11-06T17:36:00.000-08:00

Time is money…Yes, I think so.

"Daylight saving time" system is a very smart idea.

One of my favorite activities in winter is, "Roll back my clocks & watches an hour to Standard Time."

Happy moment...I got one hour extra sleep in the morning, I gained one hour, and I saved one hour…!

Lucky us!

By the way, I would like to share the lucky scoop with you.

2012 Feng Shui Lucky Colors (this info is from Feng Shui master, Mr. Sachiaki Kobayashi in Japan) are red, yellow, white, and gold.

Have some lucky colors for your home and fashion, and gain more luck.

Have a wonderful winter time!

P.S. Japanese people don’t have "Daylight saving time" system in Japan, but most of them have enough saving money in the bank (yes, Japanese people are good at savings and they work overtime, so they don’t need to save their time).

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
November 6, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Fashion+Food+Music+Book+Art = A Fun Week

2011-10-23T00:24:00.000-07:00

Many economic words, “The Wall Street Protesters”, “Top 1% of the Richest in America”, “The Proposed Tax Increase for the Wealthy”, “Neoliberalism”, “Market Fundamentalism” later, my words changed into “Dress”, “Tops”, “Jewelry”…YES, this week, I was in the L.A. Fashion Market Week in downtown L.A. and I enjoyed the party at Fred Segal (RON ROBINSON’s store) on the 20th, Thursday night.

******************************

At the L.A. Fashion Market Week (Oct 17th-20th):

I always have fun during the L.A. Fashion Market Week.

As usual, I visited many fashion trade shows, showrooms, fashion show and I interviewed many fashion designers, jewelry designers, owners of brand, owners of trade show, owners of showroom, buyers and PR people of brand for Senken-newspaper (major Japanese fashion trade newspaper, similar to WWD or California Apparel News).

Here are some highlights from the L.A. Fashion Market Week.

*** Fashion story: My scoops are top secrets before my article comes out on Senken-newspaper, but I can share some brands info with you.

* Highlights #1: Butter by Nadia / Miracle Dress!

One size jersey dress is a signature wrap dress. This dress is able to wear 30 ways (styles)! This is the “perfect dress for recession time”. The fashion designer, Ms. Nadia Tarr was at the SELECT show and she told me, “I was a dancer, so I love comfortable and beautiful shape dress.” She is so sweet & smart like her clothing line.

* Highlights #2: Bella Luxx / So comfortable top!

I got one black top from them in August, and I wore the top and went to their booth at the SELECT show. I told them, “OMG, this top is my favorite for this fall! So comfortable and stylish! I am going to wear this one to the Fred Segal party this week!” Then, Shauna(marketing person) said, “Oh, thank you so much for sending me copies of Senken-newspaper. I am so glad that you like the top. Here are some tops for you! ” Yes, I got light grey and dark grey tops of Bella Luxx. I wore light grey top with purple pants at the Fred Segal party (my friend M asked me, “What is the name of the brand? Nice grey!” YES, I did PR!).

* Highlights #3: Lydia Marcos Designs (LMD) / Positive power jewelry!

One of a kind jewelry by handmade. The owner and designer, Mr. Mark Kahnamouie is a former designer of Chrome Hearts. Wood = Jewelry. I wrote about this brand in August on Senken-newspaper, if you want to know about them, read my old post on August 10th, 2011 in my blog. I talked to sales people at the new trade show, COEUR. I wore a red heart ring (which they gave me in July) during the fashion market week and at the party at Fred Segal. YES, I am a writer and a PR (Volunteer)! ha ha ha : )

*** Food story: When Ed (the owner of the D&A show) is here, he always treats me lunch, but I was busy with fashion show etc and Ed was busy too, so I ate lunch by myself this week.

* Highlights #1: Barg Kabob plate+Yogurt Soda=1 pound gain

On Monday afternoon, I was walking around to find the chinese noodle for lunch, but I couldn’t find it and I found the middle eastern restaurant, Lilit’s Restaurant in front of California Market Center. I love fillet mignon! I ordered Barg Kabob plate (natural fillet mignon marinated in special sauce & skewered, basmati rice, grilled tomato, grilled jalapeno, shirazi salad, humus and pita breads) and Yogurt Soda. Soooooooo gooooooood! I don’t know how many times I said to them (the owners / Lili and her husband), “Oh…so delicious!!! I love your food!!! Oh…so good!!!”

They were smiling and laughing at me, because I was saying “delicious!” over and over! Other customers also were smiling at me too. I felt like I was not eating lunch by myself. The gentleman (who gave me his business card, he was next to my table) was talking to me during I was eating. (By the way, why Iranian man always ask woman, “Are you married?” Is this question common for woman in Iran???) Anyway, I ate everything on the plate and I showed my empty plate to Lili, and she laughed at me so hard. I am sure that she didn’t think that a small Japanese woman can eat that much. I told them that I am going to write about their food in my blog.

Here is their info: Lilit’s Restaurant / 109 East 9th St. Los Angeles, CA 90015 / Phone: 213- 489-5156

* Highlights #2: Every morning during the L.A. Fashion Market Week, I ate breakfast twice (at home at 6:30am and at the trade show, SELECT at 9:00am). Oh…SELECT show has sweet breakfast! On Tuesday morning, I ate two chocolate croissants, an apple danish pastry, a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee (with a lot of sugar and milk).

* Highlights #3: Bang - Bang Chicken and Shrimp + Strawberry Lemonade + Linda's Fudge Cake + Cappuccino = 2 pounds gain

I became friend with Yukiko-san who is a president of BEAGLE HOUSE N.Y. (She sells some popular Japanese hat & scarf brand’s products in U.S.A.). I always see her at the booth at the SELECT show and interview her (chat with her). We went out dinner first time on Tuesday night. We went to the Cheesecake Factory (during the recession, we wanted to eat reasonable dinner) at Americana at Brand. Yukiko-san recommended “Bang - Bang Chicken and Shrimp (A Spicy Thai Dish with the Flavors of Curry, Peanut, Chile and Coconut. Sautéed with Vegetables and Served over Steamed White Rice) ” and we ordered two of them. I didn’t know that they serve Thai curry. Soooooooo gooooooood!!! Amazing food and fun conversation later, we ordered two large cakes and coffees.

*** Funny moment:

I always have some funny moments during the L.A. Fashion Market Week.

This week, I met a woman (her name is Susan) in the parking lot at California Market Center. On Monday, when I parked my car, the huge car suddenly came next to my car, her car was too close to my car…I was like, “No…please don’t park your car too close to my car”. My eyes were at woman's face in the car, and then the woman backed her car and parked her car carefully next to me.

I said to her, “I am so sorry, I was worry about the scratch on my car. My neighbor hit my car in the apartment parking lot in the past, so I always watch other car next to me.”

She was smiling and we chatted a little bit. She told me, “Come to our showroom at Gerry Building”. YES, I went to see her and we had a great time with her & her friends (the owner of the showroom and staff).

******************************

At the Fred Segal (RON ROBINSON’s store) at Melrose:

Music+Book+Art, all in one at the party at Fred Segal at Melrose on Oct 20th.

Mr. Ron Robinson (the president of Fred Segal / Ron Robinson. Inc.) wrote me an email on Oct 11th, “Yoko, I do not know if you received this invitation? This is an amazing book, we are launching it on the West Coast, the cost is $1500. One of the most beautiful books on collectible guitars ever. There will be actual guitars on hand from Eric Clapton (the Blackie, which sold for $1,000,000 at auction.) Please come by and we can share a beer and listen to some music. All my best, Ron”.

This book party was for “The Guitar Collection: The Solid body '54 Edition Limited Edition by EPIC INK.”

It seems like a dream for musicians & guitar collectors, this book comes with companion book Stories, custom-made guitar case, certificate of authenticity, and signed museum-quality print.

Karen (who is a vice president of Fred Segal / RON ROBINSON) told me at the party, “We have $3 million guitar up there, so we have a security guy tonight”. Wow, one security guy was standing near by the wall (three guitars displayed on the wall).

I felt positive power from the wall! YES, I got a great power from this party.

* Highlights #1: Editor of the book!

When I arrived at the party, I asked Karen, “Which person is the editor and where is the author?” As I am a writer, the editor is the boss for us (writer/ author). I really wanted to congratulate to the editor for this book. YES, I met the editor, her name is Ms. Amelia Riedler (of becker & mayer http://beckermayer.com/ ). She is so sweet and we talked for a while. She seems like so humble, I really like her professionalism as an editor.

* Highlights #2: Author and President/Publisher of EPIC INK

One of the authors (there are four authors), Mr. Alan di Perna was so nice to talk with me. He has such a great passion for music and writing. He told me that it took one year and a half to write his part (50 pages out of 250 pages). The President/ Publisher of EPIC INK told me that this book is his idea, it took three years to finished (published) this book. The guitar collection and the musician’s stories are a great idea for music lovers (readers).

EPIC INK ( http://www.epicinkbooks.com/ )

* Highlights #3: Great painter & musician, Mr. JD Shultz was there too!

Mr. JD Shultz ( http://www.jdshultz.com/ ) is a painter and a musician. He showed me some his art work in his cards, so colorful, cute and fun! I felt such a positive & fun energy from him and his art. He explained to me about his innovative use of acrylics, painted on the reverse side of plexiglas, produce images that explode off the surface. He plays rock and soul music, and he gave me a CD “Human Brother - Vision Days On The Life Ride”. It’s so nice music. I can’t stop listen to his CD since Thursday. His music gives me a great & positive power. He is a true artist. He entertains people and makes people happy in the world. I am so glad that I met him and know his paint & music.

*** Special note:

Mr. Ron Robinson has such a wonderful business, fabulous life style and nice friends & customers. He always has stylish products & party at Fred Segal (RON ROBINSON store).

I had a great time at his party again.

Visit Mr. Ron Robinson’s store and see the book at http://www.ronrobinson.com/STYLOBJECTS-s/115.htm

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Life is really beautiful.

I hope you are having a beautiful day too.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
October 23, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Great messages from the richest 1% in America

2011-10-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Do you want to lose weight? If you do, read my today’s blog. You will lose a couple of pounds for sure!

I lost two pounds (now, my weight is 91 lbs. 3 pounds to go back to my original weight 88 lbs. Yeah!) within five days.

*** On last Saturday, the 8th

On last Saturday, the 8th, I got an email from the producer (Mr. N) of the Japanese major TV station, TBS TV (Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc.) regarding the project for the special news program, “Hodotokushu” (similar to 20/20 or 60 Minutes) in Tokyo, Japan.

I had worked on this news program with Mr. N in the past for “Obama vs. Hillary” subject, “BSE (Mad Cow Disease)” subject, etc.

Mr. N wrote me, “This project is in urgent!!! Could you find someone who is a very successful businessman & the richest 1% in America regarding the Wall Street Protesters? And could you interview & shoot someone by the 12th, Wednesday and send us the material on the 12th?”

He knows me, I love “Urgent (Challenge) project” and I always make it.

But…wait a minutes…in my mind…“Now, it’s already Saturday afternoon…and this coming Monday is Columbus Day, which means, nobody is working for a couple of days until Tuesday…Oh no…!”

Me: Sounds like fun project! But, let me find out, I can find someone or not. Then I will tell you I will do it or not. It’s already Saturday here and Monday is holiday, so it's difficult to make contact people within a couple of days to ask & do interview on camera. I will try my best and I will let you know by tomorrow.

Mr. N: Oh…Thank you so much for accepting my project.

(In my mind…Excuse me…I am not saying “Yes”…Mr. N knows me well, I can do it no matter what happens.)

I made a list of 37 people (top 1% richest people in America) in L.A. area out of the top 400 richest people in America, just in case, if I can’t find someone from my contacts.

*** On last Sunday, the 9th

I called and sent emails to my 68 contacts…until Sunday morning. OMG…two successful people from my contacts said “YES” to this TV interview!!!

One person is my former boss, the CEO of Entrepreneur Media Inc., Mr. Peter Shea.

The other one person is the president of Fred Segal (Ron Robinson), Mr. Ron Robinson. I always interview him and write about him & his business in Senken-newspaper (Japanese major fashion trade newspaper).

YES! Anything is possible! I got the two TV interviews and shooting on Tuesday, the 11th.

I made an arrangement for the shooting (I got a cameraman) on the 11th and prepared for the interviews (I made a note of 17 questions for the interview) & shooting (I was thinking of the places where are the nice views in Newport Beach, Venice Beach and Hollywood.)

And I watched “PAN AM” (I can’t miss it, even though I was sleepy.) I love TV drama : )

*** On last Monday, the 10th

I have a good kind of OCD, you know what I am talking about. I am a perfectionist.

We (Mr. N and I) talked about the questions for the interviews and we also talked about the shooting (how many places & things we need to shoot, etc).

I perfectly prepared for the interviews and shooting (in my mind).

And…I watched “The Lying Game” (my favorite TV drama at this time) on time.

If my mother was at my place, she would tell me, “You should go to bed soon!”…Yes Mama, but I wanted to watch TV…

Oh…no…“Multimillionaire”, “Neoliberalism” and “Market fundamentalism”…so hard to pronounce them. I need help…!

Question #6
They seem to consider that a multimillionaire like you is an enemy. Are they your enemy?

Question #7
Some people think that Neoliberalism and Market fundamentalism have produced the gap of wealth and poverty, that’s why those people who cannot get wealth are increasing dissatisfaction, what do you think?

I wanted to make sure that my questions are ok, so, I called my best friend, S. She was so sweet, she helped me well.

Sorry Mama...I slept only three hours.

*** On last Tuesday, the 11th

In Newport Beach:

We (with cameraman) went to Newport Beach around 9:00am and shot gorgeous views of Newport Beach, and then we went to Entrepreneur Media Inc. at 10:30am.

I used to work at Entrepreneur Media Inc. for 6 years and a half (as a staff writer for Entrepreneur magazine Japanese edition. I was the only one Japanese at the company). I have so many fun memories of Entrepreneur Media Inc.

Peter is so sweet. He hasn’t changed at all. He is a very successful businessman and a very smart person. He has such a wonderful life story and he is a true Entrepreneur.

As you know, Entrepreneur magazine is # 1 for entrepreneur magazine category, and # 3 for business magazine category in U.S.A.

We had a great interview and chat. Peter’s motto is “Don’t give up”. Yes, I agree with him!

In Costa Mesa:

We had ramen (Japanese noodle) for lunch. I always create the great energy from good food. Yes, we got a great power lunch.

In Venice Beach:

We went to Ron’s house in Venice Beach.

OMG…I felt like, I was on vacation. Of course, he is the president of Fred Segal, he has such a nice taste for everything! His house is so gorgeous and we had a great TV interview and we shot his house.

Ron’s motto is “Do what you love”. Yes, I agree with him!

After this interview, we went to Fred Segal, Sunset Plaza (West Hollywood) and Beverly Hills for shooting.

10 hours, I worked. It was fun day.

*** On the 15th (at 1:30am in L.A. / 5:30pm in Japan)

I watched this segment, TBS TV “Hodotokushu” on the website, the free Japanese TV “KeyHole TV”.

The show went well.

If you want to know about this show, please read my report below (I translated the part which I did on this show into English from Japanese).

******** Feature story (The Wall Street Protesters):

Interviews with the two 1% richest people in America

*** Interview with Mr. Peter Shea ***

In California, Newport Beach

View: the Newport Beach area.

Narration: Protesters against top 1% richest people. What the rich people think of this movement?

View: The building of Entrepreneur Media Inc., entrance area (includes magazines), Mr. Shea was walking to his office and working at his office.

Narration: Entrepreneur Media Inc. publishes Entrepreneur Magazine and books for entrepreneurs. This company is a leading publishing company in America.

View: Mr. Shea’s face.

Narration: The CEO of this company, Mr. Peter Shea, he is the rich person in the top 1% category in America.

View: Mr. Shea’s face.

Narration: We asked his opinion about the statement of the protesters.

Mr. Shea’s interview: Company strives to make better society. I don’t understand why we as successful businessmen would be the enemy to them? Last 40 years, I developed many companies and created thousands of jobs.

View: Mr. Shea’s face.

Narration: Mr. Shea was born in the poor family and he started working at 12 years old.

View: Town in Los Angeles.

Narration: Mr. Shea has variety of jobs experience, such as a short order cook at the restaurant, a policeman, and a printer salesman. And he got many business opportunities to be successful.

View: American flag.

Narration: Mr. Shea made an American dream came true, so his view to protesters with a critical eye.

Mr. Shea’s interview: I think most of the protesters are just lazy. Basically, the United of States has capitalism, so if we work hard, everybody has an opportunity to be successful.

Mr. Shea’s interview: They don’t wanna work. The protesters spoiled by the government.

View: Obama’s speech.

Narration: Mr. Shea commented on the proposed tax increase for the wealthy by president Obama, “that is totally stupid.”

Mr. Shea’s interview: People like myself, we are paying tax more than 50% of the country. I have to ask the question, how much do you want? If we have to pay all our money for tax, then nobody don’t wanna work and nobody don’t create the jobs.

*** Interview with Mr. Ron Robinson ***

In Los Angeles, at the Venice Beach

View: Venice Beach.

Narration: Here is Venice Beach in Los Angeles. This place is famous for many movies.

Mr. Robinson: Hello, Welcome!

View: Introducing his gorgeous house.

Narration: Mr. Ron Robinson is a president of Fred Segal which is well known as a stylish boutique for celebrities. He is also a successful businessman started from the bottom.

View: Jacuzzi in the patio.

Mr. Robinson: Please come out outside. This is our Jacuzzi deck. So it’s a nice place to hang out, get a little sunshine.

View: Fred Segal at Melrose.

Narration: He owns six boutiques in Los Angeles and he sells fragrance and goods in the world.

View: Mr. Robinson’s face.

Narration: Mr. Robinson is also in the top 1% category in America, but he said, we should listen to the protester’s voice.

Mr. Robinson’s interview: Protesters have a voice, “Let’s make some adjustments. When the adjustments correct, I can pay my tuition bill, I can go back to work, I can afford to own my home and I can feed my kids”, that’s what protesters are saying.

View: Mr. Robinson is showing the magazine which he featured in.

Narration: He is to be positive about the proposed tax increase for the wealthy.

Mr. Robinson’s interview: United States citizens paid for two wars (Iraq war and Afghanistan war) and for the banks to bail out. Now, it’s my turn. If I can do something about this country and I can make change, I should help my country.

********

I hope you enjoyed my blog and lost some weight!

Have a wonderful week!!!

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
October 16, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

“The Last Message” from my English text book…

2011-10-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

The other day, when I read my old English text book (New Horizon English Course for 3rd grade junior high school / for 15 year-old), I nearly fell off my chair.

The last chapter (Lesson 12) surprised me so much.

The reason #1: I don’t remember this chapter. Did I study about this chapter??? Is this my text book (or my brother’s)???

The reason #2: I am wondering this science fiction short story is good for children?

The reason #3: The story of atomic energy is too much for Japan now… but it’s good for everyone in this world for our future…

*******

The title of this story is “The Last Message”. (Sounds like “THE 2012 STORY”???)

The story starts, “It happened at the end of the 20th century. People on the earth were able to talk with people on another planet by radio. The name of that planet was Friend, and it was just like the earth.”

The girl from Friend sent the message to the boy on the earth, “We know that the earth is a beautiful planet. We can watch your television programs. Though they look like our old movies, they’re very interesting. They tell us a lot about your life.”

She talked about how people live on her planet. She said to the boy on the earth, “Our cars, trains, and planes are all driven by atomic energy.”

Ok…from here, it’s scary…

A few years later, the girl sent a message to the boy on the earth again.

She said, “We’ve been in great trouble since I sent you my first message.”

OMG…her story… They’ve built so many atomic power stations that the air and water are full of radioactivity. Sometimes they’ve had bad accidents. Almost everyone has become ill on her planet, Friend…

Her last message was, “Right now someone on television is talking about another accident at the power station near my city. Listen! Can you hear that big noise? Hold on, please. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Oh…No…She never came back…

A few years ago, she said, “We’ve been at peace for more than two hundred years.”

But a few years later she said, “This great energy (atomic energy) has changed our life a lot. But there was something we forgot. Though it was easy for us to think of peaceful uses of atomic energy, we didn’t know that we’d be at war with nature.”

*******

What do you think of this SF?

I hope this SF is not for us (for the earth)…we need to think carefully for our health and happiness…I am wishing happiness for everyone.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
October 1, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Trouble is in the air…

2011-09-15T02:51:00.000-07:00

The other day, I had a great time in Santa Monica with Mr. & Mrs. I from Japan. I felt “ Love is in the air ”. Mr. & Mrs. I are a very nice marriage couple. They are my favorite people from Japan.

Mr. & Mrs. I said, “ We love Santa Monica! The sky is so blue and air is so fresh. Santa Monica makes us so happy. We are so happy that we are able to stay in Santa Monica for a few weeks every year. ”

I said to them, “ Oh…I am so happy to see you both. I am so happy to see an amazing happy couple! Mr. & Mrs. I make me happy!!! ”

*******

After “ Love is in the air ” moment, my air had changed into “ Trouble is in the air ” in my apartment.

Oh…again…my comedy story had got started.

I’ve got in trouble with my laptop computer’s wireless network…I’ve worked on my computer (trying to fix this trouble by myself) for 5 hours until 4:00am yesterday. Then, I gave up…I went to bed around 5:00am.

Trouble was in the air…

*******

Next morning (yesterday), I woke up around 10:00am and I called AT&T and asked for help. I usually eat a lot (well) and I never skip breakfast, but I didn’t eat breakfast (because, I really wanted to fix my problem right away!).

The first technical support agent of AT&T (I usually talk with a couple of agents, you know what I mean!) was in Philippine. I had a bad feeling at the beginning (as I am a writer / journalist, I can tell from people’s voice & how they talk, what’s going to happen next)…YES, this agent couldn’t help me (couldn’t fix my wireless network problem). I knew it…

He said to me, “ I think your computer has some problems, you should take your computer to the shop and fix it. ”

I said to him, “ I don’t think so. I am not expert of computer, but I think this problem is simple, I just can feel it. I hate to say this…but…could you transfer me to the U.S. agent or the high level technical agent? ”

At that time, I already wasted three hours (no breakfast & no lunch…and I had a headache)…I needed a second opinion from the other agent.

*******

The other agent in U.S. (I asked where is his location, but I forgot…my brain wasn’t working well without food energy) also wasn’t good. He sounded he doesn’t enjoy his work (I could tell from his voice).

He said to me, “ It seems like, your computer has a hard drive problem. You need to replace the wireless card in your computer. ”

I said to him, “ NO WAY! Really??? I have a feeling that this trouble is not complicated…Oh…I have other old laptop computer as my second computer, could you check the wireless network on this by remote control? Then we can tell, my computer's problem or wireless network's problem, right? ”

He said to me, “Oh…ok…”

I said to him, “ You know what, if you don’t want to help me, you can transfer me to the other agent. I really need to use computer for my work today, so I don’t want to waste of your time and I also don’t want to waste of my time. ”

He said to me, “ Oh…no…I can help you. ”

Nooooooo, he couldn’t help me…my instinct was right…

I wasted my another two hours.

*******

I almost gave up and wanted to go to the computer store…I called my friend T and asked her opinion, she told me that I need to buy a computer…

Mean while, I went to the apartment manager’s office and I’ve got a free Wi-Fi’s password (we have free Wi-Fi at the pool side and my room is in front of the pool side, so I can use this free Wi-Fi as my temporary wireless network).

Really, I almost gave up on this trouble. But, I thought ” Never give up! Anything is possible!!! ”

*******

YES, I called one more time at AT&T.

The automatic voice said to me, “ Today, you have already called us… ”, the voice sounded like AT&T gave up on me…NO WAY! I dialed 0000000000000000000 (When I don’t want to talk to the automatic voice on the phone, I usually press number 0 for many times, in this way, I can speak to the agent right away. It works well!), then I finally found the right person at AT&T!

The right person…her name is Crystal in Little Rock, Arkansas. Oh…at the beginning, I thought she will fix my wireless network problem! I knew it!

Crystal sounded so calm, friendly, professional, kind, sweet and positive. I could see her smile face through the phone. “ This is not a major problem! ”, she said to me.

It was funny that my home phone (cordless phone)’s battery was dead…(Of course, I was on the phone with two agents all morning & all afternoon), so I had to use my old fashioned phone (my emergency phone / not cordless phone) in my bedroom (I have only two phone jacks in my apartment).

The other phone jack (which for my AT&T wireless router / modem and my laptop computer with DSL cable for trouble shooting) is in my kitchen.

Can you imagine? I was in my bedroom for five to ten minutes and ran to the kitchen and stayed for one minute, then the bedroom again and the kitchen again…over and over… (I didn’t want to use my cell phone…wanted to save minutes and money…ha ha ha…!)

It was like a comedy.

When Crystal was working on my computer by remote control, I was in my bedroom and sat on the bed with phone (talk to Crystal)…When she wanted me to take a look at the computer screen or wanted to explain something to me, I’ve run to the kitchen. I lost two pounds. No food, and I was running in my apartment (between the kitchen and the bedroom).

YES, one hour later…Crystal fixed my computer’s wireless network trouble! What an amazing job!!!

She even told me what was the cause of this problem, and she told me what I can do if I have a same problem again. How nice of her!

I said to her, “ You are the best AT&T agent! You are so kind and professional. You have great knowledge and nice heart! I am so glad that I called you! May I speak to your boss? I would like to tell her how great you are! ”

*******

Wow, her boss, Janeth is a wonderful person as well!!! She told me that she is very happy to work at AT&T. She loves what she does.

She said to me, “ I always put myself in customer’s shoes. When customer is happy, I am happy. ”

I can see her, beautiful inside and out through the phone. I really felt positive energy from her over the phone. She sounded kind, sweet, funny, a cool independent career woman…

We talked for a while. She told me some positive & happy episodes (sorry folks, these are private…) and made me so happy!

I got a message from her, “ Never give up! Anything is possible! ” Yes, I think so!!!

She gave me her direct office phone number and her email address. She told me that if I have any problems again, I can call her or write her (sorry folks, I can’t share this info with you).

What a day. Trouble was in the air…but…end of the day… Love is in the air…!

If we enjoy “ Troubles ”, “ Love ” is on the way…I really think so.

Blue sky and fresh air bring Love and Happiness. (Also, trouble brings Love.)

I hope you are enjoying your day, today and tomorrow…Life is beautiful.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
September 15, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Eat and Read in fall

2011-09-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

In Japan, Japanese people usually say and do in fall, “dokusho no aki” (autumn is the best season for reading) and “shokuyoku no aki” (autumn is a season for good appetites), because the fall (autumn) nights are long in Japan, so Japanese people have many hours to Eat and Read in fall.

Eat and Read…yes, my favorite activities at home (for me, all seasons).

By the way, my friend, K (who is an American, a very intelligent editor & writer) wrote me a perfect message before my reading. Please see below.

******** My Friend, K wrote me a kind reply to my email regarding my question about English grammar

I read your blog with the question about English grammar. It's a very good question! First, English language is well known for having inconsistencies in its rules for spelling and grammar. This is mostly because the current English language has evolved from several different languages, including German, French, and Latin. The inconsistency of spelling and grammar rules in English is something that frustrates both native speakers and English learners alike.

With regard to your question about why native English speakers will say "I got a cold" but not "I got cancer," the reason has more to do with something called "idiom" than it does with correct grammar. All languages have "idioms," which are ways of speaking that cannot be explained by grammar rules but are well known within the culture using the language. (For example, even if I learned correct Japanese grammar, I would not understand certain cultural elements of the language -- like certain phrases or figures of speech -- unless I lived in Japan for a long time.)

So within English idiom, I believe that people say "I got a cold" because you can get a cold from someone else or from touching germs. It is like saying "I caught a cold." If you look up the word "get," you will see "catch" listed as one of the meanings (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get - See definition "2b"). But you cannot get or catch cancer from someone else like a cold. So people usually say "I have cancer" because it didn't come from anywhere else -- it's something that developed within the body itself. I hope that makes sense.

Anyway, this is not an official answer but just my opinion as someone who works with English language!

********

What book are you reading now?

I prefer to eat than reading, by the way :)

And, I prefer to use “autumn” than “fall” (I know, American people use more “fall” and English people use more “autumn”)...because I don’t want to fall! ha ha ha…

Oh…but, I like to “fall” in love… :) Autumn is a great season for “fall in love” (in my mind).

Enjoy your autumn (fall) !

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
September 8, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

My last summer day

2011-09-05T03:10:00.001-07:00

After a couple of studies of “present perfect”, I finally got an answer from my friend’s friend.

My question was: Why “I got cancer” is incorrect English? I would like to know the reason. (If you want to know the details about this question, please read my blog on August 30, 2011).

Next Dr. Phil, George gave me an answer to my question.

George: Cancer is not like a cold, cancer is unable to get in an instant, so we can’t say that “I got cancer” like “I got a cold.”

Me: I knew it! A cold is easy to know when we got it, but cancer is not easy to know when we got it. I am so glad that I don’t have to think of this question anymore.

********

Yesterday, I had a fabulous day at the BBQ party at my friends (Shinako-san & Bob) ’s house.

I’ve finished my summer day perfectly! My “present perfect” was on the 4th, Sunday. My last summer day was perfect!!!

Shinako-san & Bob have a beautiful house in Ladera Ranch. Shinako-san is a great cook and they have wonderful friends. I had a wonderful time with them.

Highlights 1: Shinako-san’s home cooking / Rice-flour cake (flavored with mugwort), Spring rolls, Sushi rolls, Potato salad, Quiche, Fried calamari…and Masami-san (Shinako-san’s friend)’s home made curry & spinach pies and Baklava. I was in heaven to eat a lot of these delicious foods.

Highlights 2: Shinako-san’s husband, Bob was taking care of Korean BBQ, Chicken, Shrimps and Corn. They were also sooooooo good!!!

Highlights 3: One of a kind sake from Bruce Shinya Takano (production manager) at YAEGAKI Corporation of USA (www.yaegakiusa.com). He made the special sake for us, the sake had not pasteurized yet, and it was so fresh, mellow and sweet. The best sake I've ever tasted!

Result from these three highlights is I gain 4 pounds.

Highlights 4: Girls talk with Shinako-san, Jessica, Masami-san, Akiko-san and Emi-san. Talk, talk and talk. It was fun.

Highlights 5: Talk and laugh so much with guys, Bob, George, Michael, Hiroki-san, Hiroki-san (there are two same name guys), Bruce. Especially, George was a comedian. His daily life is so funny! I laughed so hard and I enjoyed with his many funny episodes. He should write a book for sure.

Highlight 6: George answered to my grammar question. (See above)

Result from these three highlights is I gain happiness.

From 12:45pm to 10:45pm, I had opened my mouth (eat, talk and laugh) for 10 hours and I really had a great last summer day.

I hope you had a great last summer day too. Have a nice fall :)

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
September 5, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Lost in English... (Yoko and the Apartment part 2)

2011-08-30T23:41:00.001-07:00

I am a perfectionist, but my English is not perfect yet.

Especially, the “present perfect” (Japanese grammar don’t have “present perfect”) is trouble for me sometimes.

People say, “I got a cold” but, people don’t say, “I got cancer”. Right? Why??? Why??? Why???

People say, “I’ve got a cold” and “I’ve got cancer”. Also, people say, “I have a cold” and “I have cancer”.

So, “I got a cold” is correct grammar, and “I got cancer” is incorrect grammar??? Why??? Why people can’t say, “I got cancer”???

Because…people can feel the moment of “I got a cold”, but people can’t feel the moment of “I got cancer”...this is the reason for the incorrect grammar of “I got cancer”?

********

English grammar & words confuse me sometimes.

Today, I made confuse my apartment manager.

When I found that my rent is wrong amount on the web (my apartment web page), I went to the leasing office (down stairs) to talk to my apartment manager.

The manager wasn’t there, so I talked to the assistant manager (she is new, so I explained to her that the manager need to adjust my rent before the apartment company charge me with wrong amount of my rent).

After I came home, I wrote an email to the manager.

*** At 2:40pm (From Yoko to the manager):

Hi V***,

Would you correct my rent?

-$160

Thank you.

Have a good one.

Best,
Yoko

***

Nobody called me back…and I found out that I made a mistake on my email.

The discount amount is $180, not $160.

Shoot…

I called the office, but nobody picked up the phone, so I wrote another email to the manager.

***

At 3:20pm (From Yoko to the manager):

Hi V*** again,

I made a mistake, C*** (the apartment manager’s supervisor at the main office) told me that $180 will take off from my rent.

So it will be $****,***.

Thank you.

Yoko

***

At 3:28pm:

(My computer was so slow at the time. I didn't take 8 minutes to write an email to the assistant manager, but it seems like it. ha ha ha!)

Hi N***,

It was nice meeting you and welcome to **** (apartment place’s name).

Thank you for taking care of my trouble right away. You are a great new staff!

By the way, sorry to bother you again.

I made a mistake, C*** (from the main office) told me that $180 will take off from my rent.

So, it will be $****.***.

This is for the bad leaking trouble in my bathroom in June.

Thank you.

Have a great one.

Yoko

***

Around 3:30pm:

It’s like a comedy sitcom…(AGAIN)

The manager called me.

The manager: Hi Yoko! I adjusted your rent. Please go on the web and take a look at it.

Yoko: Oh…it wasn’t $160 off, $180 off. I’ve sent you a second email.

The manager: I know. $180, I adjusted.

Yoko: Oh, you did? Thank you!!!

***

Oh…I found out that the manager wrote me a reply at 3:20pm (see below).

I didn’t notice her email at the time, because I was busy writing the other email to the assistant manager (I thought that the manager was out of the office this afternoon.)

The manager’s email at 3:20pm (From the manager to Yoko):

Yoko,

Thank you for your email, I will adjust your rent accordingly. Please feel free to view your account on-line with the adjustment.

Thank you

***

Oh…she is so nice!

I wrote an email to her again.

***

At 3:36pm:

Hi V***,

Thank you very much for your call.

I made sure that my rent is corrected on the web.

Thank you very much for your business.

Have a great one.

Best,
Yoko

***

By the way, this adjustment supposed to happen in last month, but the manager forgot about it.

In America, I think that I have to ask many times until the problem fix.

Yes, I got a correct rent. Yeah!

Oh…no…the manager called me again around 5:00pm…

***

Around 5:00pm:

The manager: Yoko, did you see your rent amount on the web?

Yoko: Yeah…I’ve sent an email after I saw the web…why???

The manager: Oh, ok…I was not sure that your email was before or after…

Yoko: What do you mean? Before or After???? Oh…I am so sorry, I probably made a mistake on my email. I sometimes make mistakes with present tense and past tense.

The manager: Oh…I don’t think so, but I just want to make sure.

Yoko: I guess, I wrote “I made sure that my rent is corrected on the web”…instead of saying, “I confirmed my rent was corrected on the web”. I must study English…ha ha ha! Anyway, thank you for calling!!!

The manager: No problem.

Yoko: Have a great evening!

***

Did you get what I went through??? or Did I confuse you???

Tonight, I am going back to the English grammar book to study the “present perfect”.

P.S. I wonder when I get perfect English language ???

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
August 30, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Wood=Jewelry ‘Lydia Marcos Designs (LMD)’

2011-08-10T21:12:00.001-07:00

The other day, my special friend M wrote me a sweet message, “i just looove being around you”. Sometimes my friends tell me, “You have such a positive power! I am happy when I am around you.” I really appreciate that I have wonderful friends who make me happy and I am glad that I can make my friends happy as well.

And I really appreciate my flowers and jewelries. The secret of my positive power is from fresh flowers and beautiful jewelries. I am producing my positive & happy power from flowers and jewelries everyday.

Flower: I always have flowers at home (in every room). Flowers make me so happy and protect me like a lucky charm. They bring me such a positive power.

Jewelry: Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Orange Sapphire, Chalcedony, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Garnet, Rose quartz…they make me so happy and bring me such a positive power like flowers. Especially, every night before I go to bed, I pick three jewelries of the night (my lucky number is 3) and display them on the bedside table. In this way, I could feel positive & happy energy during my sleep.

***

The marathon of 94 episodes, TV series “Sex and the City” and two movies, “Sex and the City” & “Sex and the City 2” later, I got an email from Jets Ito. He wanted me to take a look at his new client’s jewelry brand, ‘Lydia Marcos Designs (LMD)’.

It was a perfect timing! I needed a positive power story idea for Senken-Shimbun (major Japanese fashion trade newspaper).

One morning in July, I visited the factory of ‘Lydia Marcos Designs (LMD)’ and interviewed with Mark Kahnamouie (who is a designer & owner of LMD) and Jets Ito (who is a sales director for Asian market of LMD) for Senken-Shimbun.

Wow, LMD has such a positive power! There are so many charming jewelries. Wood is like Jewelry! I got a red heart ring (red color wood & silver).

Yes, now I am sleeping with this pretty ring every night. This ring is making my new positive power. Thanks to Mark and Jets.

If you want to know about LMD, please read below. My article came out on today in Japan, August 11, 2011 in Senken-Shimbun and I translated it into English from Japanese (my original article).

The translation is rough. If you have good English, please edit (read) it yourself :)

***

Senken-Shimbun
On August 11, 2011 (in Japan)

L.A. Lady’s accessory brand
Lydia Marcos Designs (LMD)

One of a kind jewelry by handmade
Sales doing well

By Yoko Fujimoto, writer in Los Angeles

Lydia Marcos Designs (LMD) features wood with silver accessories in Los Angeles (L.A.) has been increased orders from popular boutiques.

This brand debuted in March 2010. The owner and designer, Mr. Mark Kahnamouie is a former designer of Chrome Hearts. Many brands (includes Chrome Hearts) have been changed to machinery manufacturing from the handmade manufacturing, but he still does handmade manufacturing.

One of the reasons of success is that he knows about what stylish customers want, because he used to work at Ron Harman and Maxfield as a sales manager and a production manager and he has many experiences in the fashion industry.

“I am always coming up with many design ideas. I am very happy as a designer to see my customers are wearing my products. I don’t care about the sales numbers. I am just focusing on what I love to do. I think this is very important. I believe that customers feel my passion”, Mr. Kahnamouie emphasized.

LMD is using burled maple, diamond wood, ebony, diamond, sapphire, ruby, onyx, sterling silver, brass, copper and platina from all over the world. And they are using the factory which Chrome Hearts used to deal with. The wood is strong and good quality , and traditionally used for furniture, guns and knives. There is wood of about 50 colors by special production. “Every product is different, because wood has different condition. Customers can enjoy as one of a kind jewelry.”

The concept is famine essence with inspiration from ancient Mayan and Egyptian cultures. Retail price range of heart, four-leaf clover, cross, skull, butterfly, roses motif rings, necklaces and bracelets is from $60 to $5,000. Mr. Kahnamouie’s is good at decoration diamonds on the curves and the pars oblique of sliver.

At this time, LMD is available at Church, Traffic, Lisa Kline, Madison, 25 stores. Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, etc are wearing.

The Sales director for Asia, Mr. Jets Ito said, “We are going to establish our brand in Japan at first, then we are going to sell products in Korea and Hong Kong.” LMD is available at BEAMS in Japan in September.

There are good and bad depends on the items in U.S. fashion business, but the accessory business is doing well in average. Recently U.S. have a plan to revitalize the economy and U.S. is trying to sell and purchase of products made in U.S., so LMD which made in L.A. is expecting to have a great business.

(Translated by Yoko Fujimoto)

***

I found out that “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker has bought couple of LMD heart pendants from Madison. Yes, she has a great taste! Stylish young women and older women (Sarah Jessica Parker and me, ha ha ha!) love LMD.

By the way, I would like to share more important information with you. If you want to know more about LMD, please visit at http://lydiamarcosjewelry.com/. And if you are Japanese buyer or Asian buyer, please contact with Jets Ito (he speaks and writes Japanese). His email address is jets@lydiamarcosjewelry.com.

Did I bring a positive power for you today? I hope I did :)

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
August 10, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

At the Kingpins Show

2011-07-26T23:19:00.001-07:00

FASHIONABLY LATE is not for me. I am always PROFESSIONALLY FORWARD or on time for everything/everywhere.

This morning, I got at the Kingpins Show at 9:25am, instead of 10:00am. I wanted to relax before my work (interview people for my article for Senken-Shimbun / major Japanese fashion trade newspaper), so I left my home half an hour early and sat & waited & prepared for meeting/interviewing people at the entrance at the show.

Within 7 hours, I talked with 27 people (includes chat with five people during my one hour lunch time) and I got hand muscle ache (because of writing notes all day)& hip muscle ache (because of standing all day). I had a great day as usual. Being a writer is my lifework. I love what I do everyday.

By the way, the Kingpins Show is boutique global denim and jeans supply chain show. (I can’t write details about this show in my today’s blog, because I am going to write an article about this show in Senken-Shimbun this week.)

But, I can share what I saw, what I smelled, what I ate and what I liked.

***

What I saw: Buddha was everywhere, on the drink bar, dessert bar…It was so nice to see spiritual faces everywhere. And white flowers (I forgot to find out the name of the flowers) were on every dining table and plants were everywhere at this show. Spiritual & beautiful things make peace for us.

***

What I smelled: There were scented candles in the bathroom. It was so relaxing in the bathroom. Nice smell gives us happiness.

***

What I ate: Oh…this show has a special dining & bar room (like a luxury hotel). They served variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner (for after party) for no charge.

I ate big breakfast at home, so I didn’t eat breakfast at this show and I have a special diet rule (I usually eat a lot, but I eat until 7:00pm), so I didn’t stay until the dinner time, but I had lunch and dessert at this show.

Salad, Peking duck, Spring roll with shrimp, Pork dumpling, Vegetable dumpling, Steamed stuffed bun with pork, Steamed stuffed bun with vegetable, Fried rice noodles and lemonade…(I think I ate more…but I can’t remember…)

During I was eating my lunch, two girls and one guy (father of one of girls) came to my table and talked with me for a while, then they left (they ate everything on their plate).

I was still eating my lunch after two girls left, then one Italian guy came to my table and talked with me for a while, then he left (he ate everything on his plate).

After the guy left, I was still eating my lunch, then one Chinese guy came to my table and talked with me for a while, and I got more Salad and Peking duck, I was still eating and talking with this guy, then he left (he ate everything on his plate).

When I finished my lunch, my eyes met Buddha’s… (Buddha was on the dessert bar), of course, I went to the dessert bar and I ate two of mini cup cakes (chocolate one and white cream one). Oh…I was in heaven with Buddha in my mind :)

Two hours later (after my lunch and worked for a while), I went to the coffee bar and I ordered a cappuccino. It was nice treat for myself between my lunch and my work.

Did I mention I have a special diet rule? My rule is…when I want to eat something, I eat something what I really want and no worries about anything, just enjoy my food. I write everything what I eat in my food diary and I eat anything until 7:00pm, that’s it. Simple is the best for everything.

***

What I liked: Positive atmosphere at this show. I felt like, I was staying at someone’s home or hotel room. There was a DJ in the dining & bar room, so we were able to relax anytime. So comfortable, peaceful, and enjoyable.

This show has special powers for many ways (for business, life style, fashion, entertainment, etc.)

If you want to know about this show or Andrew Olah (the owner of this show), take a look at www.kingpinsshow.com

***

Anyway, I just wanted to share my wonderful day with you.

I hope you had a wonderful day as well.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
July 26, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Yoko and the Apartment

2011-07-10T20:30:00.001-07:00

Too much sex these days…I mean, I have been watching my DVDs (season 1-3 are video tapes and all the rest are DVDs) of TV series “Sex and the City”. I am doing marathon for 94 episodes and I feel like there are four best friends at my home (in front of my couch) everyday.

My past life, my current life and, maybe my future are all in “Sex and the City”.

“Oh…I’ve been there”, “Yeah, me too!”, “Yes, I’ve done that too…”, “Oh…I agree with you!!!”…cry, laugh, laugh, cry, and laugh…I have been enjoying myself at home with many cute & fun episodes…then, on last Thursday…the nightmare (actually, it happened in the morning at 6:50am) came to my life AGAIN (if you want to know about my other nightmares, read my old posts on June 24, 2011, Jan 23, 2011, Dec 26, 2010, etc)…!

My neighbor (who lives above me, Mr. #3**, please read the ending of my last post)’s shower water came to my bathroom’s floor. Hello Mr. #3***. F*** you again :) Do I have to hear from Mr. #3**, “You wish” like Samantha Jones (who lives in “Sex and the City”)?

By the way, I have a good ear and a good eye. Two maintenance guys of my apartment, a maintenance manager of my apartment, an another location’s maintenance manager of my apartment company and two major companies’ people (construction company and plumbing company) couldn’t find the cause of the leak until I suggested something for the water test. I can’t believe that they were almost closing my ceiling (they made a large hole above my bathtub) without complete fix the leak…but, I said big “NO” to them. I said to them, “Small amount of water leak, but this leak issue has been many time happened in the past and I am tired of it. Please fix completely perfect. (Did I mention, I am a perfectionist?)”

Most of the people think small amount of leak is not big deal…but, NOT for me. A small problem (any kind of problem) is a bad key for a big problem…really!

And…this leak issue in my bathroom is going on and off within 5 years…maintenance guys opened my walls & ceiling and closed them more than 5 times.

At this time, I told my apartment manager and maintenance manager of my apartment, “Please call and hire the expert this time and please fix this leak completely! No glue or silicon stuff…no temporary fix stuff, I want you guys to fix this leak by professional people!”

I got two regular maintenance guys of my apartment, a maintenance manager of my apartment, an another maintenance manager of other location of my apartment company, a project manager of construction company, four workers of plumbing company…total of 9 guys couldn’t find the cause, because when they tested the water at #3**’s shower and bathtub, there are no water leak to my ceiling and wall…but I have a leak problem from #3*** for sure!

Use my brain and instinct…I realized that Mr. #3** might upset with me for my complaint about his noise to him & apartment manager, so who knows…he did something “nuts things” (like me, read my last post) to against me…so I suggested to worker guys, “Could you try to pull the faucet with strong force and shake or something rough things to it. And put some water around the faucet.”

OMG…I was right! Mr. #3** is nuts than me!!! When worker guys did my way to test his faucet and run the water, the water leaked to my floor…See…I have a good ear, a good eye and a good instinct.

Please don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my apartment. And I am a very POSITIVE person (not on the paper, in person). I have a nice room (in front of pool side, on the corner of the building, and I have a nice hill side view as well), there is a fitness center, there is a nice view with a lot of flowers, trees and palm trees (I shouldn’t say too much about my great view, because this is not good for my rent negotiation with my apartment manager…manager keeps saying that “Yoko, you have a nice view. Your room is expensive than the other rooms”), apartment is in a nice area (in Los Feliz), etc.

When I was searching for apartment, I used the location map (or marketing strategy) of Trader Joe’s. Because Trader Joe’s has cute & stylish customers and most of their store locations are in nice areas, so I thought great idea to follow the location map of Trader Joe’s and find the nice apartment. And, Trader Joe’s in Los Feliz / Silver Lake located face to Gelson’s. Perfect!

(By the way, Trader Joe’s is not my store anymore…I have a great reason, but I shouldn’t write it in here…if you want to know about my reason, please write me, I can give you a story for free.)

In general…apartments are great on the paper (or photos), but not good in some condition or situation…sounds like meeting men, huh? (Or meeting women?)

Oops…I think, I am writing a bad energy story…again…I will go back to watch “Sex and the City” and when I am in a good mood next time, I will write a fun post :)

Or…should I write columns about my apartment’s story, it will be a “Yoko and the Apartment”.

Anyway, for you, enjoy your new week :) I am sure that yours will be fabulous than mine.

P.S. Please wish me luck with my trouble with Mr. #3**. By the way, I am talking to my bed room’s ceiling and my bathroom’s ceiling, “Thank you Mr. #3**. You are my nice neighbor. Thank you for being my neighbor. Thank you. Thank you. God bless you.” (Sounds like “The Secret”…right? I am trying anything for my fabulous life.)

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
July 10, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Are you nuts? (Yes, I am)

2011-06-24T01:03:00.000-07:00

When I bought a car 10 years ago, I didn’t deal with a regular car salesman. I made a deal with a fleet manager, because I didn’t want to purchase a car which some customers touched or tried. And a fleet manager has a power, so I made a great discount deal without a nasty negotiation.

The fleet manager told me, “we just got 20 cars this morning, you can inspect and choose your car from here!” Yes, I got a perfect one at the time, and my car still looks like a brand-new car :)

(By the way, in Japan, they don’t sell a brand-new car which customers touched or tried.)

Anyway, I always check or inspect the product before and after shopping (check twice).

***

Low standard:

At the Ta****, I bought a DVD of “The September Issue” (I usually don’t purchase CD,DVD or book at the Ta****, but it was $10, so I just got it). It was mistake!!! There was a small hole on the package of the DVD. NO WAY!!!

So, I went back to the Ta**** and I returned the DVD (mine was the only one good condition on the shelf…so, can’t be helped).

At the time, the store manager asked me, “Do you really care for this small thing?”

Me: Of course!!! This is not a perfect product, I don’t want it. Why? If you were in my shoes, are you going to keep this DVD?

Store manager: Yeah, I don’t care about it.

Me: Wow, really???

Three words were on the store manager’s face. “Are you nuts?” In my mind, “Yes, I am nuts and I feel great!”

You know what? When I look back about Ta****, I think that Ta**** has a high standard and knows customer (or me), because they never said, “we can’t exchange it.” (they just don’t get my thing, but they will exchange product for customer anyway. Great store! From now on, I am going to shop more at this store.)

***

Medium standard:

The other day, I bought a Lady Gaga’s new CD “Born This Way” (two CDs in it) at the Ba**** & No***. And when I came home and looked at the CD (I always take a look at the product, double check), I found the small scratch on the CD (first one was fine, but second one had a scratch on the outside of the CD)…NO WAY!!!

I couldn’t enjoy the music, because of this scratch…! (bad Feng Shui!)

Of course, next day, I went back to the B***** & N**** and asked the cashier, “Can I exchange this? This CD has a scratch.”

The cashier: No, we can’t.

Me: What do you mean? Look at here, there is a scratch on the CD.

The cashier: Scratch has to be on the inside of the CD. This scratch is on the outside of the CD, so we can’t exchange.

Me: Excuse me? I am a customer, I need the 100% perfect product and I have a right to have it.

The cashier: Our company’s policy, I am sorry.

Me: No!!! You touch my CD now and this CD has a scratch and I don’t want it! You know what, I could go to Target to buy this CD, but I like B***** & N**** and your store has a great energy and clean, and Lady Gaga had a bankruptcy, so I just want to help Lady Gaga to buy with a regular price, that’s why I came to this store. I was wrong. I am so surprised that you guys don’t exchange the damage CD! Can I speak to a store manager?

The cashier: Ok…only one time, I can exchange it for you, but you can’t come back 20 times.

Me: Thank you!!! You know what, if I see something wrong again, I will come back though.

The cashier: This kind of problem is not our responsible. You have to talk to a manufacture.

Me: What’s??? Wow, Really??? Why??? I can’t believe what you say. Oh…please don’t take personally. I am a super perfectionist, so…not you, me…!

The cashier: Ahahaha!

(Her face said…“Are you nuts?”)

Me: Do you have a customer like me sometimes?

The cashier: Not really, but once in a while we have a customer like you.

Me: Ahaha! Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

(I found two small plastic stains on the inside of second CD again…but these stains are on the edge…so they won’t exchange it for sure and I don’t want them to touch my CD, so I just try to forget these stains or try not to see them and just enjoy Lady Gaga! …right?)

***

High standard:

My perfect store is Gelson’s!!! They have a great energy, wonderful atmosphere, great products and clean! I don’t have any problems with them. Never.

At the entrance, I always clean my hands and handle of the shopping cart with wipes (they always have wipes at the store front). One day, when I realized that I dropped one of wipes on the floor (I usually have a couple of wipes on the handle of the shopping cart), so I turned around and try to pick it up…wow! The store staff has already picked it up from the floor. I was so impressed by their business.

One more impress thing was, when I was going to put the Nigori-sake (my favorite!) back to the shelf, the empty space was not there anymore, I mean, after I took the Nigori-sake from the shelf, store staff displayed the shelf perfectly right away! I was really impressed by it, so I didn’t put it back, I bought two Nigori-sake at that day.

Gelson’s knows business and me :) Perfect store and perfect me…! (in my mind)

********

One more “Are you nuts?” story this week. If you are not tired, please read one more story below (I have sent an email to my apartment manager on Monday).

***

Hi V****** (apartment manager’s name),

I hope you are having a great day.

Thank you very much for your business.

I really appreciate that you are always a good listener and you are a great manager.

Again, Friday and Saturday, #3** (with his girlfriend)’s noise was so bad.

Friday, they woke me up at 2:45am, then I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I had to watch movie until 6:00am.

And they woke me up at 4:45am this morning (Saturday) and I couldn’t go back to sleep again.

Not only the weekends, weekdays are also noisy.

I just let you know that I wrote a note to #3** (please see below) and please talk to #3** again and tell him that respect his neighbor or consider his neighbor.

Anyway, thank you again for your support.

Have a good one.

Best,
Yoko

***

June 19, 2011 at 6:00am
CC: Ms. V****** **** at ********

Dear #3**,

This is Yoko at #2**.

Could you imagine someone keeps wake you up in the midnight or too early in the morning and you can’t go back to sleep & have to stay up all night because of this issue? As you know, I am suffering with your noise. Especially, your chair in the living room is making noise for every 5-10 minutes, bothers me. And your bed is making noise constantly, bothers me.

Please answer below questions to Ms. V****** ****.

1: Could you fix your noisy chair (in your living room)?

2: Do you have ADHD or alcoholism? (if you do, I understand.) Why are you walking & moving constantly? (your footsteps and your chair are so loud)

3: Could you fix your bed? (why does it make noise so loud?)

4: When you guys (with your girlfriend) have sex, could you consider your neighbor (who can’t sleep with this noise)? Especially, when you wake me up around 2:00am or 4:45am or so many times at once…I can’t go back to sleep!!! (I had to watch movie around 3:00am on this Friday, because of you guys noise).

I tried ear plugs or listening CD during you guys are having sex (or coming home late at night and make noise), but it doesn’t work & no solution by myself… (I don’t want to bother #1** with my CD noise).

Anyway, please talk to Ms. V****** ****, when you have time.

Thanks,

Yoko
#2**

********

Who is nuts? Here I am!

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
June 24, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

L.A. Fashion market week + Sushi = Happy work week

2011-06-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Walk, Talk and Laugh:

This week, during the L.A. fashion market week in downtown L.A., as usual I walked, talked and laughed a lot. I went to many trade shows (Select, Transit, Focus, D&A and Star Trade Show), fashion shows and showrooms.

I talked with Joanne (who is a vice president of California Market Center), Audrey (who is a PR person at the California Market Center), Yukiko-san (who is a president of Beagle House), Barbara (who is a co-owner of trade show, D&A ), Neely (who is my great friend and a fashion director), Toshi-san & Hitoshi-san (of premium hats company, River up), Liza (who is an owner of the showroom, Liza Stewart at California Market Center), Tony-san (who is my great friend and a president of Jameric Japan Inc. / Tony-san made True Religion big trend in Japan and he has many projects at this time), Karen (who is a vice president of Ron Robinson at Fred Segal) and many more (my articles are not on the paper, Senken-newspaper yet, so I can’t write details, especially about the designers and brands).

I always have fun at the L.A. Fashion market week!

Highlight in the morning on Tuesday…I had a nice morning coffee with Yukiko-san from N.Y. We talked a lot about Japan disaster. It was so nice to share our feelings as Japanese.

Highlight in the afternoon on Tuesday…Neely and I always laugh together!!! We are telling to each other, “You are so funny!!!” She was in the booth at the D&A for her business, “Blondes Make Better T-Shirts” (sorry, again, I can’t write detail, because my articles are not publishing yet on Senken-newspaper). This brand has many funny jokes on T-shirts and Neely read each jokes for me. OMG…my makeup melted!!! I laughed so hard.

I can share with you three jokes on T-shirts, “Save the fjords give a blonde a place to hang out”, “Save the blondes too many animals are dyeing out” and “in case a loss, please return to Lise 718 E 18st #3, New York, NY 1003” (this note with keychain attached to a house key). Ha ha ha!!! The keychain joke is so funny!!!

For me, I sometimes forget a key at my door, I mean when I get home I hang my house key outside at my front door and don’t notice for a couple of hours (my mother always warn me, “Be careful!!!”). I should tell the designer or Neely, “Why don’t you guys make a Japanese Make Better T-shirts also”.

***

Three miracles:

I had three miracles during this week.

#1- I am almost done with my perfume bottle and in my mind, “Oh…I need to buy a new perfume”, and I went to the Star Trade Show at the L.A. Face Mart (Korean fast fashion mart), and went to LA VIEN BEAUTE, INC (at L.A. Face Mart), then Eun Young Choi (who is a president of LA VIEN BEAUTE) gave me two of Source D'Amour Fragrance Sticks (from France). I have a good nose = Yes, I got nice scents :)

#2- During I was driving, I broke my nail with a steering wheel, I don’t know why happens (I am Japanese, yes, we are not good at driving)?

I always have many kits in my car (emergency kits, beauty kits, etc), but I didn’t have a nail clipper with me…in my mind…“Should I buy a nail clipper or a nail file? I hope California Market Center has a store for that ”…then I was talking with Sophie of Sophie Monet at the Select Show, Audrey came up to me and said, “Yoko, you should come back around 1:00pm, we have a free manicure service 1 to 4!”, I said to her, “Oh, Audrey, thank you so much for telling me that. Look at my nail, I broke it in my car right now, great timing!!!”. I got a nail done (gold! Remember, gold is a Feng Shui lucky color for this year).

The manicurist (I can’t write her name in this blog, confidential) is usually working for celebrities. She told me, her clients are J.Lo , Heidi Klum, etc. I got lucky!!! I have a good intuition (before look for a nail clipper, I went to work) = Yes, I got nice gold nails :)

#3- I am always craving sushi when I am in downtown L.A. In my mind, “Oh…I want to eat sushi…” then, Tony-san called me and said, “Yoko-san, do you want to have a dinner with me at Sushi Gen?”…“Yes, yes, yes!!!” Tony-san is always treating me sushi at Sushi Gen. I always have a good appetite = Yes, I ate a lot of sushi :)

L.A. Fashion market week + Sushi = Happy work week :)

I hope you are having a great week too.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
June 16, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Angela Lindvall on Numero TOKYO July/August 2011 issue

2011-06-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

On April 17th, I was at the house of Angela Lindvall who is a super model & actress in Los Angeles. That day, I was still in shock about the disaster in Japan (Japan earthquake and tsunami), but I had a great time with her and shooting crew (from France and N.Y.) of Numero TOKYO.

I really felt that Angela is a beautiful (inside and out) and a down to earth person. She asked me, “How is your family in Japan (regarding the disaster in Japan)?” She is so nice and sweet to ask me about it. Her children are so cute!!! I was so happy on the way back in my car, to remind of their sweet & cute smile faces (see magazine, Numero TOKYO).

So peaceful! Her house (7 acre) has 60 fruits trees (orange, lemon, plum, cherry, guava, avocado, pineapple, almond, fig, apple, etc), a farm (there are 10 kinds of organic vegetables) and many flowers. There were bird’s sounds and the fresh smell of spring. I felt so peace and positive energy at her house.

The interview with Angela was for a cover girl special interview / fashion pages, so I had many questions and she answered all my questions during her fashion shoot. She is the best!

Numero TOKYO July/August issue came out the other day, and I translated my article into English from Japanese in here.

I would like to share the interview pages of Angela Lindvall with you. I am sure that you will feel peace like me. Please read below (Just let you know, this translation is rough one).

******** Numero TOKYO July/August 2011 issue

this month’s face
Angela Lindvall

Angela Lindvall in U.S.A. scouted the model when she was 14 years old, and she keeps working as a top model since then. She is expanding her career as an actress and she is also a mother of two boys. Today, she gave us the secret how to manage career and parenting.

Photo : Matthias Vriends-McGrath
Interview & Text : Yoko Fujimoto

Model & Actress, Angela Lindvall, she lives in the ravine of L.A. suburbs, Topanga Canyon with green overflows. The photo shoot was in her house and huge land which has fruits trees and organic vegetable farm with her two children for the cover page and the interview & fashion pages. She is doing well and lives peacefully in the nature and manages well with work and parenting.

――Is it hard to be successful at both work and parenting of two boys (Dakota, 9 year-old and Sebastian, 6 year-old)? How do you manage your time?

During the collection and advertising seasons in the fall and in the spring, it’s get little bit busy and feels overwhelming, but I also feel very lucky, because I have an extended period time to be with my kids and I get to be here every day taking them to school, putting them to bed. I have such a supportive community, my partner and their father who lives near by here, they are always with him when I have to go to work, so works out. I have a babysitter two days a week, so I feel very lucky that I have a nice environment, it’s very important to have a balance.

――What are your tips for managing time?

I do meditate to straighten the spirit and do schedule. And I try to create routine and rituals. Routine and rituals, I think make big difference, not only for myself, for my children. So keep the same flow and routine, you feel like you have that look forward to. I also think the quality of time you spend time together you really give attention, even busy week, I gave that one on one time we are sitting together, not watching the TV, not on the computer, not playing the games, really connecting as a family. We tell a lot of stories and we read a lot of stories. Really make special time for family.

――What is the hardest thing for parenting?

I think that there is demand of your time. It doesn’t matter you are tired or you are sick, you still have to get up and make breakfast. I need tremendous of patience.

――After you became mother of two children, do you have any worries?

Definitely, I thought maybe I wasn’t have a career anymore because I took one year off for each time and I am in completely financial responsible. First son was able to travel with me everywhere, but when I had two, it was hard to bring them both at work. I try not to worry. I feel like worry is opposite creation, so I try to focus on things I grateful for.

――Is there any changes in your body and your spiritual aspect before and after it gives birth?

Whole my body changed. I was so skinny, but I gained 40 pounds. It was bad that I just mentally, “you are not going to have a job unless you get fit”. But I think, it was good that I have woman’s body, more curve. I don’t want to be skinnier. I am healthier than before and I have strengthened mentally. Something the strength to comes, you realized the things that you worried about before don’t really matter anymore. I have changed.

―― Have you changed your thought about beauty after became mother?

Not really. I really think that beauty is the way is feeling. If we feel good, then we look good. Loving yourself is so important.

――What is your good habit for your beauty.

For good balance of sprit and body, I do meditate and prayer, eating healthy food and do exercise. I sometimes do cleansing diet (detox).

My motto is “love what you do, do what you love”. “Love your life to live, live your life you love” is the key of beauty.

――How do you get information and learn about parenting? Do you have any opportunities to have communication with other mothers or friends who have children?

My mother is a big influence on natural birth. She had five kids. I learned the challenge from her. When things are difficult, I always call her. I am closer to my father and my father also gave me advice for my parenting. He is very funny and fun. He taught me simplicity, driving and picking flowers up, we don’t spend any money, silly together. Dancing with kids got from my father. He taught me patience and to have an open communication with my children.

It’s very important to have a communication with other mothers, because you feel sometimes alone and many worries. I have amazing neighbors here, we have a nice community here, sharing the story about being in the mother, being in the relationship, being in the family, we can relate to each other and learn a lot.

I think, ancient times, women are together and raising children together, now you feel very alone individual, it’s important to becoming together, our children play together, for him to go to friend’s house and learn their way their family is, their rules and their routine. And friends here, and do that same.

―― What was the best advice from the community of other mothers?

One of the greatest lessons that our neighbors are talking us about, “don’t worries things until they happen”. There is no reason to worry until the real is the problem.

―― When do you feel “responsibility as mother”?

All the time. Always.

―― Do you have time for yourself? Do you make time for yourself?

I always have an awareness of the mother, but I also need “my private time”. I go on a date with my partner once a week, and get the time to take a bath, I like to get a massage or going to the sauna and sweat, do mediation, or do taekwondo to get energy.

―― When do you feel “happiness as mother”?

When I and boys are together, playing together, sleep together in the same bed and read stories, I love that. Recently, I read all series the Wizard of Oz to them.

―― What is the most important thing for the education for your children?

I think that really knowing loving life and following their bless, having gratitude. I think that carry them through everything. If I teach them to following their bless, they will be successful.

As a mother raising boys, I don’t believe like, “oh boys don’t cry”, “oh someone punches you, punch him back”, “they can’t touch pink”. I teach them more compassionate, because I want them to be good man, gentleman, I want them to feel ok to be sensitive. If they want to paint pink toe nails or carry around the little stuffed animals or play with little dolls, I allow them to do it.

―― Do you have a special thing for the education?

I have a mentor friend, she taught me a lot about Rudolf Steiner and Waldorf School. I became involved with Rudolf Steiner and that the school my children go to. This philosophy is based on whole experiment of the child, not just academic. They are learning how to think, how to learn, how to act with others, how deicide emotional around, I just learned so much from that. So I love that I am sending them to the School, they are being in the nature and care about as individual, not just another number to memorize like academics.

So I learned a lot from that parenting, to have them participate the kitchen and help prepare the meals and sweep the floors, help them just develop.

We try to enjoy season, make a nature table by the kitchen, every season changes, we just started in the spring, add more and more, yellow flowers and brings eggs, brings the things that convert the spring, in the winter turn more to acorn, represent the winter season. So season is big thing for us. Kind of acknowledge how effected us people, celebrating the harvest, it been grateful for everything create in our lives.

―― When do you feel “my children are growing up”?

It’s funny. Sometimes almost feel in one week. Dakota is huge change, almost like a teenager. “Ah mom” he gives me a little attitude. Sebastian is the opposite, he was much tough with me, like “no”, but he is more independent, he doesn’t give me as much trouble. He cares about me. He is such a mom’s boy. He says,”Mommy, you know what, I love you so much” six times a day.

―― Who is more like you?

Dakota is intellectual, he wants to talk about things, Dakota is very much like me, mini me. His expressions, his body language and the things he is interested in. Sebastian is cuddle, hug and kiss. He is being the nature and kind of sensitive. They are almost yin and yang.

―― Do you want to have more children?

I think I am going to have a little girl one day, but do it later in life. Maybe I am going to adopt one, so I have two girls to raise together.

―― Where are your children’s favorite places?

The Bodhi Tree Bookstore has many spiritual books, so we love it. We go to Inn of the Seventh Ray Restaurant to have good organic food, and Dakota and I love sushi, so when we want sushi, we go to Go Sushi. Our favorite place is Santa Monica Pier.

Dakota is learning Japanese and he asked me to go to Japan for his birthday. Maybe next year, we would like to visit Japan in spring time.

―― Have you been to Japan?

No. I really want to go to Japan.

What a shame everything is happening there. My heart really goes down to Japan.

I think that sometimes tragedy been the hardest things to us, very difficult and hard to stay feeling good because so many bad things are happing, but I think, big help to wake up every morning focus on whatever beauty you can , even it hard to find. So focus on beauty and gratitude of things what you have. I differently send the prayers to Japan.

――I heard about your Japan relief project, what are your future plans for your business and activities?

We are planning to produce and sell organic charity t-shirt to raise funds for Japan (www.ecostiletto.com). I am going to write a blog. At this time, I am working on the movie “Small Apartments” as an actress.

******** Translated (rough) by Yoko Fujimoto

I hope you enjoy Angela’s wonderful life story.

P.S. This translation is rough translation by me which means, there is no editor…If you read Japanese, please purchase the magazine and read my real article in Japanese. My Japanese is much better than my English…ha ha ha…!

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
June 5, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

2011 is…

2011-05-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

I believe in miracles.

So, I didn’t believe that May 21, 2011 was the end of the world (Apocalypse 2011) and I also don’t believe that the world will end on December 22, 2012/or 2015 (2012 Story).

I believe only good things and I believe that we will have many miracles for a long time.

Today, I have received a nice email from my friend, Amy. She wrote me three miracles news, so I would like to share this lucky news with you.

Lucky News 1: This year (2011), July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. This is called Money Bags. We will have the money luck. Yeah!

Lucky News 2: This year (2011), we are going to experience four unusual dates. 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11. #1 is always good, right?

Lucky News 3: Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born – now add the age you will be this year (2011). The results will be 111 for everyone in whole world. What a miracle thing!

Yes, 2011, this is the year of the Money!!! Sounds great, right?

By the way, when I watch the time on a digital clock, I always see 1:11, 11:11, 2:22, 22:22, 3:33, 4:44, 5:55, 0:00, 10:10, 12:12, 13:13, 14:14, 15:15, 16:16, 17:17, 18:18, 19:19, 20:20, 21:21, 23:23 and 12:34 (since a long time ago).

If you know what does these numbers mean like 1:11, 11:11, 2:22, 22:22, 3:33, 4:44, 5:55, 0:00, 10:10, 12:12, 13:13, 14:14, 15:15, 16:16, 17:17, 18:18, 19:19, 20:20, 21:21, 23:23 and 12:34 on a clock, please let me know. I would like to hear more miracles.

I hope you are having a miracle & wonderful day.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
May 22, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

On Mother’s Day

2011-05-02T15:15:00.001-07:00

******** Mother

Mother’s Day is coming soon…

I am thinking of people who recently lost a mother or children, especially I am thinking of people who recently lost their loved ones in the disaster areas (earthquake and tsunami areas in Japan / tornado areas in U.S.A.).

And I am thinking of people who don’t have a mother for long time or never met a mother.

Even though, Osama bin Laden (who was killed yesterday) was a bad guy (we don’t know for sure that he was a bad person), I am thinking of his mother…

I wish happiness for those people.

******** Life

Everyone knows that life is precious, but many people kill each other in this world. Why?

Last night, when I was watching CNN (reporting the death of Osama bin Laden) and I saw many people were cheering and celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, I was so sad to see those people on TV.

How could people celebrate Osama bin Laden’s death? He has family and some people are crying for his death.

No matter what, we shouldn’t celebrate someone’s death.

I think that the justice is not coming from the murder and the victory is not coming from the murder. The murder is not the “justice solution”. Murder is murder. War is war. Terror is terror.

On 9-11-2001, I was shocked to see that many people were celebrating, and on 5-1-2011(yesterday), I was also shocked to see that many people were celebrating. These people are the same. There is no “justice” for murder or war or terror.

I hope those people realize that we are the same human being and we are coming from the Mother Nature & mothers.

We must love each other, and appreciate & respect for our mothers.

I wish happiness for everyone.

Happy Mother’s Day to you.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
May 2, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

At the Easter dinner party

2011-04-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

*** Time goes by fast.

It’s Easter already.

Last year, I was at my special friend, Keasha’ mom (Galia)’s house for Easter dinner party, and a magnitude 7.2 BAJA earthquake hit us in the afternoon.

Today, I was at Keasha & John’s house for Easter dinner party. I very appreciate that Keasha always includes me in her family events. I feel very honor to be in her family events.

Especially, around this kind of time (during the hard time for Japan disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crises), I am very glad to be with them.

Since March 11th, I have not been going out (except for work/magazine shooting & interviews) and I have been trying to stay at home (actually, my friend, Emi-san visited me for tea the other day), because I would like to respect people in Japan and mourning them who passed away in Japan disaster.

In Japan, our custom (Japanese custom) have a memorial service (Buddhist service) held on the forty-ninth day after a person's death, because the forty-nine days after death is a period when the soul wanders between this world and the next (or heaven).

I (or we, most of Japanese people) don’t have a religion, but our custom and events held with Buddhism (but, we celebrate Christmas like Christian as well / and I had roll cakes for Passover this year), so I wanted to be quiet, silent, calm, still and peaceful at my home by myself for a while.

Keasha is so nice that she understands me well.

Keasha, John (Keasha’s husband), Keasha’s mom (Galia) and John’s mom (Berthann),etc …everyone concern my family and people in Japan. They are so sweet and nice family.

When we (16 of us) were ready to eat, we stood in a circle hand in hand and pray (speech by Keasha’s mom’s partner, Ernie). It was so wonderful to connect to each other before dinner. So spiritual and warm.

Food was amazing as usual! Two pounds of food I ate within a couple of hours.

Roast turkey, Stuffing ,Salmon, Ham, Fried plantains, Bean’s rice, Vegetable Gratin, Collard Greens, Macaroni & cheese, Potato salad, Fruit salad, Bread, Deviled eggs, Cheery pie, Apple pie, Apple cider, Grape cider…

I always enjoy seeing the egg hunt. Johnathan (Keasha and John’s son) and Ethan (Keasha’s cousin’s　son) are so cute, running around and looking for eggs. It was very peaceful and I felt so peace in my heart.

*** Life is so short.

I took many pictures of them today, because only one moment for each of our life.

Since March 11th, I really think that life is so short and I really appreciate my family and friends.

Family, Friends, Food and Love. Yes, life is so beautiful.

I hope you had a nice Sunday. Happy Easter to everyone :)

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
April 24, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Thank you for your support for Japan disaster

2011-03-31T18:50:00.000-07:00

I really realized that “a friend in need is a friend indeed” and I see and feel the “human nature” from people around me and people in the world.

During this kind of time, we always see each other “what kind of the person?”

********

I would like to say…

Thank you very much for people who really care and support for Japan disaster (Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami).

At this time (by March 23, 2011 18:00pm in Japan), Japan got sympathy messages and expressions of solidarity from 228 countries (includes regions and international organizations) and supports from all over the world.

As I am Japanese, I can’t thank you enough for people in the world. Thank you very much for your sweet support and sweet words.

I really appreciate that Japan has received the rescue workers, search dogs, nuclear power experts, food, medical supplies, blankets, and other supplies.

Especially, I really appreciate for the big help from U.S.A. and the special support for the nuclear disaster from France.

********

As I am Japanese, I would like to say thank you to each country which sent rescue team to Japan.

I saw some reports on the website of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, but some information is not available in English, so I translated some information from Japanese to English below and thank you to you all :)

To U.S.A.: Thank you very much for brought 144 people (includes dogs) and more than 20,000 people with "Ronald Reagan", 20 of ships and 160 of aircrafts.

Thank you for U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

To France: Thank you very much for brought 134 people (includes 11 people from Monaco).

To England: Thank you very much for brought 77 people (includes 8 press people) and 2 dogs.

To Germany: Thank you very much for brought 41 people and 3 dogs.

To Switzerland: Thank you very much for brought 27 people and 9 dogs.

To Mexico: Thank you very much for brought 12 people and 6 dogs.

To Australia: Thank you very much for brought 75 people and 2 dogs.

Australia's C17 aircraft has been providing transportation assistance in Japan, and urgently transported a special pump needed for cooling Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant from Australia.

To New Zealand: Thank you very much for brought 52 people.

To Russia: Thank you very much for brought 155 people.

To Turkey: Thank you very much for brought 32 people.

To South Africa: Thank you very much for brought 45 people.

To Korea: Thank you very much for brought 107 people and 2 dogs.

To China: Thank you very much for brought 15 people.

To Taiwan: Thank you very much for brought 28 people.

To India: Thank you very much for brought 46 people.

To Indonesia: Thank you very much for brought 11 people and 4 medical staff.

To Singapore: Thank you very much for brought 5 people and 5 dogs.

To Mongolia: Thank you very much for brought 12 people.

To Israel: Thank you very much for brought 53 medical support people.

And and and…I appreciate that France, U.S.A., Italia, IAEA, UNOCHA, WFP sent nuclear power experts for nuclear disaster.

********

Also Japan has received a lot of goods from many countries. I also translated some information from Japanese to English below and thank you to you all :)

To U.S.A.: Thank you very much U.S.A.

Relief goods (sleeping bags, makeshift beds, kerosene heater, kerosene, etc.), and 10,000 radioactive-proof suits from USAID (United States Agency for International Development)

Relief goods (100,000 liters of water, approx. 80 tons of food, and approx. 40 tons of clothing, blankets, etc.) and transportation of approx.350 tons of relief goods including the one aforementioned, 2 fire trucks, 5 pumps, 99 protective suits against nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, and approx. 9 tons of boron from the U.S.forces in Japan. Radiation dosimeter (31,000)

To Canada: Thank you very much Canada.

Blankets (approx. 25,000)

To France: Thank you very much France.

Blankets (14,870), masks (992,000), protective suits & masks & radiation measurement equipment set (approx. 20,000 sets), 10 pumps, 5 power generators, 5 compressors, 3 environmental survey vehicles, 5 tons of medical supplies, 12 tons of sterilization alcohol and 10 tons of food supplies, and water (0.5L / 100,800 bottles)

To Russia: Thank you very much Russia.

Blankets (17,200) and water (3.6 tons)

To Mexico: Thank you very much Mexico.

Preserved food (approx. 8.4 tons), kits of sanitary items (approx. 3.4 tons), and water (approx. 6.8 tons)

To UK: Thank you very much England.

Water (about 100 tons)

To Korea: Thank you very much Korea.

Blankets (6,000), water (100 tons), retort fried rice (30,000 packs), chocolate pies (12,000 packages), instant noodles (129,024 packages), rain boots (4,000 pairs), rubber gloves (12,000), tea (14,000 bottles), and water bottles (14, 0000)

To China: Thank you very much China.

Blankets (approx. 25,000), tents for 12 people (500), tents for 6 people (400), brief bag type emergency lights (200), disposable rubber gloves (3250, 000), water bottles (60,000), heaters (900), and masks (54 boxes)

To Taiwan: Thank you very much Taiwan.

Electricity generators (590), blankets (725 boxes), sleeping bags (1,589 boxes), sleeping mats (236boxes), clothing (including warm clothing, etc./ 3,421 boxes), food (16.5 tons), kerosene heaters (900), masks ( 54 boxes), and pocket body warmers (150 boxes)

To Mongolia: Thank you very much Mongolia.

Blankets (approx. 2,500) and warm clothing such as sweaters & socks (approx. 800 items)

To India: Thank you very much India.

Blankets (26,740), cookies (approx. 10 tons), and water (approx. 13,000 750ml bottles / about 10 tons)

To Thailand: Thank you very much Thailand.

Blankets (approx. 20,000), survival kits (500), sleeping bags (1,000 kits), canned food (approx. 28,000), instant noodle (28,000 packs), flashlights (approx. 200), and water (1.5L / approx. 9,000 bottles)

To Ukraine: Thank you very much Ukraine.

Blankets (2,000)

To Indonesia: Thank you very much Indonesia.

Blankets (approx. 10,000)

To Singapore: Thank you very much Singapore.

Blankets (4,350), mattresses (200), polyurethane tanks (20L/ 3,000), emergency provisions (4,400 servings), and water (0.5L/ 10,000 bottles)

To Kyrgyz: Thank you very much Kyrgyz.

Water (approx. 2.5 tons of mineral water)

To Uzbekistan: Thank you very much Uzbekistan.

Tents (200), blankets (2,000), and insulating boots (2,000pairs)

To Iran: Thank you very much Iran.

Canned food (50,000)

To EU: Thank you very much EU.

Blankets (25,000), mattresses (2,000), and sleeping bags (300)

To Venezuela: Thank you very much Venezuela.

Blankets (5 tons), canned food (1,190 boxes), and water (approx. 2.8 tons)

To Malaysia: Thank you very much Malaysia.

Food packs (2,000)

To The Philippines: Thank you very much The Filippines.

Food packs (1,500), instant noodles (12,000), bath towels (1,000), mats (1,000), and dust masks (5,000)

To Pakistan: Thank you very much Pakistan.

Shelf-life milk packs (9 tons), high energy cookies (13.5 tons), and water (1.5L/ 500 bottles)

To Nepal: Thank you very much Nepal.

Blankets (5,000)

To Israel: Thank you very much Israel.

Portable toilets (150), gloves (8,920 pairs), acrylic fleece blankets (6,000), and coats (10,000)

To UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund): Thank you very much UNICEF.

Water (approx. 40,000 bottles), children's underwear (200,000 pairs), toys, stuffed animals, educational kits, recreation kits, and picture books

To ITU (International Telecommunication Union) : Thank you very much ITU.

Lending out of satellite mobile communication terminals etc. (152)

To WFP(United Nations World Food Program): Thank you very much WFP

High energy cookies (50 tons, 500,000 cookies), transportation of relief supplies (blankets, food etc.) from each country within Japan, movable warehouse (10), and prefab (10)

To UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees): Thank you very much UNHCR.

Solar lamps (1,794 sets)

********

Thank you very much for the relief money from many countries. Thank you!!!

Thank you African Diplomatic Corps.

Thank you Czech Republic.

Thank you Republic of Rwanda.

Thank you Georgia.

Thank you Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Thank you Republic of Iceland.

Thank you Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

Thank you Republic of Serbia.

Thank you The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

Thank you Kingdom of Tonga.

Thank you Independent State of Samoa.

Thank you Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Thank you Kingdom of Cambodia.

Thank you Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Thank you Republic of Slovenia.

Thank you United Republic of Tanzania.

Thank you Mongolia.

Thank you Republic of Latvia.

Thank you Republic of Estonia.

Thank you Republic of Botswana.

Thank you Republic of Namibia.

Thank you Ireland.

Thank you Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you Slovak Republic.

Thank you The Republic of the Sudan.

Thank you Gabonese Republic.

Thank you Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Thank you Federative Republic of Brazil.

Thank you Australia.

Thank you New Zealand.

Thank you Republic of Croatia.

Thank you Kingdom of Bhutan.

Thank you People's Republic of China.

Thank you Taiwan.

Thank you Republic of Paraguay.

********

And and and and and…Thank you for The American Red Cross, many celebrities, etc… Thank you so so so much everyone.

Thank you Thailand, Thai government said it will lend two gas-turbine generators (built by Japanese company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.) with a combined capacity of 244 megawatts to Tokyo Electric Power Co. for use over the next three to five years. Thank you!!!

Even though, like Afghanistan…they don’t have good condition of electricity, they gave relief money for Japan. Thank you…!

Many many small countries during this recession time…they gave relief money for Japan. I really appreciate it.

It doesn’t matter how much of money…we, Japanese people are appreciate your kind heart and sweet heart. Thank you.

********

Pakistan people in Japan (from Gunma and Tochigi in Japan) are so sweet! Some of Pakistan people went to the place where hit Tsunami and brought relief goods (about 12,000,000 yen) and cooked curry rice for 2,000 Japanese people.

What a nice people!!! Thank you!!!

When I saw this news on NHK TV (Thank you TV Japan/ they provided Japanese people who live in U.S.A. for free service until today since March 11,2011), I was so happy to see that!!!

The curry rice looked so good and Japanese people looked very happy at the moment.

********

Life is beautiful.

I believe that Japan will recover from this disaster soon.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
March 31, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto
Posted by Yoko Fujimoto

To my people, Japanese people 　　　米国より東日本大震災（東北地方太平洋沖地震）被災者および日本の皆様へメッセージ　／　海外セレブからのお見舞い＆応援メッセージ　－Pray for Japan（日本に祈りを捧げます）－

2011-03-18T23:40:00.001-07:00

Sorry folks, Today, I am going to write a message in Japanese, in my native language to Japanese people. If you read Japanese, please do.

I am going to write my thoughts for Japan &Japanese people and sending prayers to Japan & people in Japan.

Love,
Yoko

P.S. I am going to write in English next time. xoxo Y

********　My Japanese blog :

From LA by 藤本庸子　　　　　
（http://fromla.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2011/03/pray-for-japan-.html）

東日本大震災（東北地方太平洋沖地震）被災者および日本の皆様へ

このたびの東日本大震災（東北地方太平洋沖地震）により被災されたすべての方々に心からお見舞い申し上げます。そして、犠牲になられた方々とご遺族の皆様に、深くお悔やみを申し上げます。

日本にいらっしゃる皆様、どうかご無事で、早く、安心出来る暮らし、笑顔が戻ってきますように、心からお祈り申し上げます。

＊＊＊　米国でも多くの人が心を痛めており、皆様のご無事を願っています

東北・関東地方で起った大震災に心を痛めながら、私は、「米国在住のライターの私に、日本の皆様のために出来ることをしたい」と、こちらで流れるテレビニュースの画面を見つめながら、ずっと考えていました。

そうしていましたら、本日（ロサンゼルス：３月１８日／日本：３月１９日）、仕事でお付き合いのある茨城県在住の女性（実際にお会いしたことはありません）から、「テレビでも、世界各国からの応援メッセージをもっと放送して欲しい」とメールをいただきました。

早速、私が報道の仕事で関わっている日本のテレビ局、ラジオ局の幹部、報道記者の方々へ、この女性のメッセージを届け、放送に関してのお願いメールを送信致しました。

＊＊＊　米国在住の私に出来ることを考えてみました

このブログは２００８年１０月に閉じていますが、２年以上経った今でも、この古いブログを覘いて下さる方がいらっしゃいます。「ロサンゼルス」、「パパラッチ」、「LAセレブ」などという言葉を検索して、このブログにたどり着く方が目立ちます。

そこで、私は思いつきました。海外セレブのメッセージを皆様へまとめてお伝えしましょう！　と。

東日本大震災被災者および日本の皆様が、少しでも気分が明るく、元気になれるメッセージを、このブログからお届け出来たらと。この願いをこめて、今、私はこのブログを書いています。

「海外セレブからのお見舞い＆応援メッセージ」とタイトルに入れました。多くの方が、「海外セレブのメッセージ」と検索して、このページにたどり着き、海外セレブの皆様への思いに触れていただければ、少しでも皆様が温かい幸せな気持ちになっていただければ、と願っております。

直接、被災されてない方も、余震、原発事故による被害の心配があります。どうか、皆様、お気をつけてお過ごし下さい。

＊＊＊　海外セレブからのお見舞い＆応援メッセージを集めて翻訳致しました

レディ・ガガ（Lady Gaga）／歌手
「私たちは日本のために祈っています。」「私は“日本の為に祈りを”というブレスレットをデザインしました。津波お見舞いのために買って下さい。」
Lady Gaga: We pray for Japan. I designed a Japan Prayer bracelet. Buy It/Donate here and ALL proceeds will go to Tsunami Relief Efforts. Go Monsters.

マライア・キャリー（Mariah Carey）／歌手
「私のすべての愛と祈りを日本の皆さんへお送りします。この悲劇の状況から復興しようとしていらっしゃる皆さんのことを想っています。神のご加護を。アイシテマス」
Mariah Carey: All my love & prayers go out to everyone in Japan. Our thoughts are with you as you recover from this tragic situation. God Bless, Aishitemasu

パリス・ヒルトン（Paris Hilton）／タレント
「ニュースの映像を見て心を痛めています。日本の皆さんがとても心配です。私の想いは日本と共にあります。皆さんに神のご加護を。」
Paris Hilton: The images on the news are breaking my heart. I am so worried for everyone in Japan. My thoughts are with you Japan. God bless you all.

ニッキー・ヒルトン（Nicky Hilton）／パリス・ヒルトンの妹、ファッションモデル、ファッションデザイナー
「日本と日本の皆さんへ　たくさんの愛を、想いを、そして祈りを。」
Nicky Hilton: Much love, thoughts & prayers to the country and people of Japan.

ニコール・リッチー（Nicole Richie）／タレント
「日本のために祈りましょう」
Nicole Richie: PRAY FOR JAPAN

エヴァ・ロンゴリア（Eva Longoria）／女優。米国TVドラマ「デスパレートな妻たち」に出演。
「私の祈りを日本へ！」
Eva Longoria: My prayers are with you Japan!

ケイティ・ペリー（Katy Perry）／歌手
「私の祈りを日本で被災した方々にお送りします．．．」
Katy Perry: My prayers go out to anyone that is being effected by the disaster in Japan…

ブリトニー・スピアーズ（Britney Spears）／歌手
「ひどい悲劇。日本のことを想うと胸が張り裂けそうです。」
Britney Spears : So tragic. My heart is breaking for Japan.

ジャスティン・ビーバー（Justin Bieber）／歌手
「日本は世界で好きな国のひとつです．．．信じられないくらい素晴らしい文化と人々がいるから。僕の祈りを日本の皆さんへ。僕たち皆で日本を助けましょう。」
Justin Bieber: Japan is one of my favorite places on earth…it's an incredible culture with amazing people. My prayers go out to them. We all need to help."

レオナルド・ディカプリオ（Leonardo DiCaprio）／俳優
「僕は日本の人々のことを想っています。この悲劇の震災から立ち直れますことを願っています。」
Leonardo DiCaprio: My thoughts are with the people of Japan. Hoping for the best as they recover from this tragic event.

ジェニファー・ロペス（JLo /Jennifer Lopez）／歌手・女優
「愛を送ります！さあ皆、少し時間を作って日本にいらっしゃるすべての人々のために祈りましょう。神様が日本の皆さんに希望、勇気、お力を与えてくださいますように。」
JLo /Jennifer Lopez: Sending LOVE! Lets all please take a minute and say a prayer for all the people in Japan. For God to give them hope, courage, and strength.

レニー・クラヴィッツ（Lenny Kravitz）／歌手
「酷い状況に置かれている日本の皆さんにお見舞いを申し上げます。特に愛する人を失った方々に。敬具、レニー。」
Lenny Kravitz: My heart goes out to Japan in this intense situation. Especially those who lost love ones. Respectfully, Lenny.

リアーナ（Rihanna）／歌手
「皆、日本の皆さんのために祈り続けましょう！　日本の皆さん、私たちは皆、心を痛めています．．．」
Rihanna: Let's continue to keep the people of Japan in our prayers! We are all heartbroken for u…

チャーリー・シーン（Charlie Sheen）／俳優
「信じられない震災。悪魔の布告。苦痛と惨状の日本を、我々は深く愛さなければならない。極東の友人たちに幸あれ！C」
Charlie Sheen: Curveball; Warlock edict; pain & devastation in Japan demands us all to dig deep & LOVE THEM VIOLENTLY Gogspeed my cadres of the Far East! C"

テイラー・スウィフト（Taylor Swift）／歌手
「辛い思いをしていらっしゃる日本の人々に私の想いと祈りと愛を送ります．．．」
Taylor Swift: I'm sending my thoughts and prayers and love to those in Japan who are hurting..

ブラック・アイド・ピーズ（The Black Eyed Peas）／ヒップホップ・ミクスチャーグループ
「日本の皆さんにお見舞いを申し上げます。僕たちは皆さんのことを想っています。たくさんの愛を込めて。」
The Black Eyed Peas: Our thoughts & prayers go out to everyone in Japan. We are thinking of you. Lots of love.

P・ディディ（P. Diddy）／ラッパー
「まいったな、日本で起きた地震のことを聞いたか？？？？？？！！！！！！皆で日本のために祈ろう！！！　神のご加護を日本に！」「日本の皆さんと被災した全ての人々に神のご加護を。皆さんのことを想って、祈っています！！」
P. Diddy: Oh man yall see this earthquake in japan??????!!!!!! Let us pray!!!! God bless Japan!　GOD BLESS everyone in Japan and anyone affected by this disaster- you are in every thought and prayer!!　

マンディ・ムーア（Mandy Moore）／歌手・女優
「壊滅的な地震と避けられなかった津波が起ってしまった日本を想い、祈りを捧げています．．．」
Mandy Moore: keeping japan in my thoughts and prayers after the devastating quake and requisite tsunamis....

ジョン・スタモス（John Stamos）／俳優。TVドラマ「フルハウス」に出演。
「日本のために祈っています。」
John Stamos: praying for japan.

リア・ミシェル（Lea Michele）／女優。TVドラマ「グリー」に出演。
「日本で大きな地震と津波が発生したと聞いて、とてもショックを受けています。日本の皆さんへ、私の想いと祈りが届きますように。」
Lea Michele: So devastating to hear about the huge earthquake & tsunami Japan. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone there.

スラッシュ（Slash）／ミュージシャン
「日本で地震、津波、余震の被害に遭っている皆さんを想い、祈っています。最悪の事態が終わることを願っています。」
Slash: "My thoughts & prayers go out to the people in Japan dealing w/the earthquake. Tsunamis & aftershocks. I hope the worst is over."

ミラ・ジョヴォヴィッチ（Milla Jovovich）／女優・モデル
「日本は私の人生の大きな一部だと思っています。この大災害に心を痛めています。私たちは祈って、たくさんの愛を日本へ送りましょう。」
Milla Jovovich: i feel like japan is such a huge part of my life and this is just a heartbreaking catastrophe for me. we need to pray and send so much love.

リンジー・ローハン（Lindsay Lohan）／女優
「ママが私と妹を起こしてくれたら、こんなことになっているなんて！　今、恐怖を感じている皆さんに祈りを送ります。」
Lindsay Lohan: My mommy just woke my sister and i up to this! god bless those that are in fear.”

プッシーキャット・ドールズのニコール・シャージンガー（Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger）／歌手
「地震と津波の影響を受けた人たちを想っています。それから、日本のために祈り続けましょう。神のご加護を。」
Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger: My heart goes out to all those affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. Pls keep Japan in ur prayers. God bless and be with them.

アダム・ランバート（Adam Lambert）／歌手
「日本に向けて、僕の想いとエネルギーを送ります。」
Adam Lambert: My thoughts and energy are towards japan.

ランス・アームストロング（Lance Armstrong）／自転車プロロードレース選手
「日本のニュースを見ています。私たちは酷い災害の被災者の方々を想っています。」
Lance Armstrong: Following the news from Japan. Our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by this terrible disaster.

ライアン・シークレスト（Ryan Seacrest）／リアリティ番組「アメリカン・アイドル」の司会者・DJ
「日本で発生した現実とは思えない地震のニュースをテレビでずっと見ています。被災者の皆さんへ祈りを捧げます。信じられない。」
Ryan Seacrest: Glued to TV watching this unreal earthquake footage out of Japan. Sending prayers to everyone affected. Unbelievable.

ヘイリー・ウィリアムズ（パラモア）（Hayley Williams）／ロックバンド
「今、一生懸命日本のために祈っています。ハワイのためにも。」
Hayley Williams: Praying so hard for Japan right now. And also for Hawaii.

セレーナ・ゴメス（Selena Gomez）／女優・歌手
「ああ、日本の皆さんへ、何て言ったらいいのか分かりません。ちょうど最近日本を訪れたばかりで、日本の皆さん、すべてがとても素晴らしかったんです。愛と祈りとサポートをお送りします。」
Selena Gomez: Wow, I don't even know what to say, Japan. I was just there and you were all so wonderful to me. I am sending all my love, prayers and support.

キム・カーダシアン（Kim Kardashian）／タレント
「日本の大地震と津波について聞いたばかりです。私の祈りを日本の皆さんへ捧げます。」
Kim Kardashian: Just heard about the huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan. My prayers are with everyone in Japan."

＊＊＊

あなたの好きなセレブがこのメッセージの中にいらっしゃいましたか？

皆さん、どうかお身体に気をつけてお過ごし下さい。

母国の日本を、ここ、ロサンゼルスより恋しく想っています。
近いうちに東京へ里帰り出来ることを願いながら、今日のブログを終わりにします。

お元気で！！！

☀藤本庸子　２０１１年３月１８日　ロサンゼルスにて

追記：（２０１１年３月２０日）

日本人の皆様へ　再び、こんにちは。

３月１５日付けブログ（英語版http://yokofujimoto.blogspot.com ）で紹介致しました、平和について伝えている物語も翻訳致しました。１分あれば読めます。ぜひ、下記に目を通して下さいますと幸いです。

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Peace
平和

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace.

かつて、最も平和な絵を描く画家へ褒美を与えた王様がいたそうです。

Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

大勢の画家たちが挑戦しました。王様は大勢の画家たちが描いた全ての絵を見ましたが、王様が気に入った絵は２つしかありませんでした。王様はこの２つの絵から最高の絵を選ぶことになりました。

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

ひとつの絵は、静かな湖の絵でした。この湖には、周りに高くそびえる山々の平和な風景が完璧に映っていました。湖の上には青空とふわふわの白い雲。この絵を見た全ての者は、完璧な平和の絵だと思いました。

The second picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

２つめの絵も、山々が描かれていました。けれど、草木がなく、でこぼこした岩だらけでした。山の上には、稲妻が走り、雨が降り、荒れ狂う空がありました。山の端の下の方に、滝が泡だって落ちていました。この絵は少しも平和に見えませんでした。

But when the King looked further, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the plant a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest… a picture of perfect peace.

しかし、王様がじっくりこの絵を眺めてみましたところ、滝の後ろに、岩のひびの中から小さな茂みが生えているのを見ました。その茂みの中で、母鳥が巣を作っていました。激流の荒れ狂った水の真ん中で、母鳥は巣の上に座っていました．．．完璧な平和の絵です。

Which picture won the prize? The King chose the second picture.

褒美はどちらの絵がもらえたのでしょうか？　王様は２つめの絵を選びました。

Why? “Because,” explained the King, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your spirit. That is the real meaning of peace.”

なぜでしょうか？　“その理由”を王様は、「雑音もなく、苦難もなく、重労働がないところにいることが必ずしも平和という意味ではありません。このような苦難の中にあっても、あなたの心が落ち着いていることが平和の意味となるのです。これが平和の本当の意味なのです」と説明しました。

作者不明
The School of Practical Philosophy提供
翻訳：藤本庸子

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

皆様の安全と健康をお祈りしております。　それではお元気で。

藤本庸子
２０１１年３月２０日　ロサンゼルスにて

【警告】当ブログ内に掲載されているすべての文章の無断転載、転用を禁止します。すべての文章は日本の著作権法及び国際条約によって保護を受けています。 Copyright 2011 Yoko Fujimoto. All rights reserved. Never reproduce or replicate without written permission.

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
March 18, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

Don’t cry…smile please

2011-03-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

At my home in L.A. / I was on the phone with my mother in Tokyo, Japan:

Me: Mama, how are you? Are you guys ok?

My mother: We are fine. Don’t worry!

Me: I heard that radiation reached around 20 times normal levels in Tokyo…please come to my home in L.A.

My mother: Thank you, but as I told you yesterday, I can’t be selfish. Japanese government and people are working hard and many people have been patient, I can’t leave these people behind.

Me: Waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…

My mother: Please don’t cry. We are ok.

Me: I am sorry, I am crying, but I can’t help it…Waaaaaaaa…

My mother: You are going to the fashion market week this morning, right? Drive safely and have a great day.

Me: Waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…If we can’t see each other…what should I do??? Waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…

My mother: Yo-chan(My nickname), I am not in North Korea, don’t worry. We can see each other again soon!

Me: Waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…wah…waaaaaaaa…

My mother: Don’t cry, please smile…I love your smile…You always have a nice smile.

Me: I am sorry. I am the one who I have to cheer you up…

This conversation was in this morning when I was leaving my home for work.

********

At the L.A. Fashion Market Week:

Many people asked me, “How are you? How is your family in Japan? Are they ok?”

Mr. Ed Mandelbaum (the co-owner of D&A / the fashion trade show): Yoko, you look beautiful today!

Me: Oh…you are so kind…but, come on…! Look at my eyes…My eyes are all puffy.

Ed: Really, you are beautiful. Oh…you know what, I can send you a nice story from the the School of Practical Philosophy by email. Yoko, when you go home, please read it and please don’t think too much.

He sent me a nice story by email tonight. It’s a nice story, I would like to share it with you.

********

Peace

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace.

Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The second picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the King looked further, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the plant a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest… a picture of perfect peace.

Which picture won the prize? The King chose the second picture.

Why? “Because,” explained the King, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your spirit. That is the real meaning of peace.”

Author Unknown
By The School of Practical Philosophy

********

Peace is in the air, we can feel peace anytime,anywhere…right?

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
March 15, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto

My heart goes out to Japan, my country / 9.0-magnitude Japan earthquake & Tsunami

2011-03-12T17:54:00.000-08:00

9.0-magnitude Japan earthquake & Tsunami (Tōhoku Chihō Taiheiyō-oki Jishin / literally “Tōhoku region Pacific Ocean offshore earthquake”) occurred on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time.

All I can do is praying for my country, Japan…please, please, please be careful and be safe everyone…My heart goes out to Japan and people in Japan.

********

On the 10th in Los Angeles around 11:00pm,when I was going to take a bath, my best friend, Suzie called me and told me about this news…

I turned on the CNN TV and saw the tragedy footages…smoke pouring from buildings and Tsunami (ocean water) rushing across fields, so many cars, ships, houses and buildings were swept away, an oil tank was burning…

“The quake was the fourth-largest in the world since 1900 and nearly 8,000 times stronger than the one which devastated Christchurch, New Zealand, last month”, said scientists.

********

For 15 hours, I couldn’t reach my mother and brother in Tokyo, Japan.

Thank god, I finally talked to my mother at 1:30pm on the 11th (L.A. time) / 6:30am on the 12th (Japan time).

Me: Oh…are you guys ok??? I am so glad that you are there!!!

My mother: Thank you. We are ok. I had never felt such a powerful earthquake.

Me: Worse than the Kantodaishinsai?

My mother: Ahahaha! Yoko, I wasn’t born during the time.

That’s right…Yes, I know...the Kantodaishinsai (The 1923 Great Kanto earthquake) was a huge earthquake in Tokyo area in September 1st, 1923 and casualty estimates range from about 100,000 to 142,000 deaths. The magnitude was 7.9.

Me: Oh…ahahaha!!! Anyway, I am so glad that you guys are ok. The phone line was busy since last night, so I was so worry about you guys!

My mother and I talked for two hours on the phone.

My mother doesn’t know how our relatives in Fukushima and Tochigi (near Tsunami Area) are doing…I hope they are ok…

********

I have sent many emails to people who I know in Japan and talked with some of them, but I have not heard from many people…

Also I am concern about the nuclear emergency in Fukushima…

Again, please, please, please be careful and be safe everyone in Japan…My heart goes out to Japan and people in Japan.

P.S. I really appreciate the friendship of my great friends, Suzie, Keasha, Marie, Maria, Amy, Kimberly, Erika, Anette, Neely, Maria and Danielle. Thank you for calling & emailing!

By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles
March 12, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Yoko Fujimoto