Web album 1/4

This summer we enjoyed holidays in Bintan Resort, Indonesia.

Now, I'm making a web album. I've made only one part of it. To see it, click here.

Nintendo DS

I was so busy that I could not update this blog. I'd like to write an article in English. Though I always feel pressure to write, I haven't written since May 27th! It's a long time. During around 3 months I found myself quite involved with work as I love my job (translation/proofreading/localization) and of course I enjoy my work. There was a lot of work that I had to do. One of them that I enjoyed was the translation (from Japanese to English) of some Nintendo DS software applications. Actually I'm still working on some projects. I'm proud of working on some applications of Nintendo DS that is a very popular game console and enjoyed by all generations in the world. As I joined the localization project of applications of Nintendo DS, I found that some software applications are sold as multilingual applications. The project that I joined used 5 languages; English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. I can read 4 languages except Spanish, so I enjoyed reading the translated dialog's files merged into 5 languages during my breaktime. However, it is not always an enjoyable time. For example, I translated an application of the Magical Land story. It was difficult for me to translate specialized magical words and there are a lot of chracters and dialogs in the software application. I have to think about each character's personality for the translation. Sorry that I cannot tell you the title of the application because I have to keep an industrial secret before the sale.

Desperate Housewives

I like European and Amarican TV dramas, especially Desperate Housewives, an American drama. In America season 4 is now on the air. It is the normal situation that we Japanese cannot watch overseas dramas in real time because of the language barrier. We have to wait to watch it until the original transcript is translated into Japanese. Sometimes that annoys me. Season 3 has just finished in Japan while Americans are watching season 4 in America. Unfortunately we have to wait to watch season 4 for at least 6 months.

Last week my British friend lent me a DVD, including some episodes of season 4 that had been recorded in America. Fabulous! I'm very glad to be able to watch season 4's episodes earlier. As all episodes are only in English, it's useful for me to improve my English skills. I watched one episode the other day. Though all the characters are very familiar to me, I could hear what they said easily. I can enjoy it for a while. I'm very happy.

Why does Desparate Housewives attract me? I think it's because it is not categorized only as home comedy and it includes some genres such as mystery, romance and thriller. As the 5 main women in the drama are older than me, I'm very curious about everything that they do and think in their daily lives. Of course the way of life is very different between Japanese and Americans. I also like to discover the cultual differences while watching Desperate Housewives.

Medaka

My father gave me some Medakas that were a kind of fish three weeks ago. I enjoyed them. What can I call them in English? Though I was looking for the word in a Japanese-English dictionary, there wasn't the exact word that I was looking for. One dictionary says Medaka means "Japanese rice-fish" and another says it's "Oryzias latipes" or "killifish". I wonder if Medaka is a Japanese fish. It's interesting for me to know that it's an original Japanese fish. Certainly, Medaka is a Japanese word in which "Me" means eyes and "daka" means highly positioned, that is, "Me-daka" means fishes that have eyes highly positioned. Funny that I didn't notice before!

I bought an aquarium and moved them to the new house. As I counted them while moving, I figured out how many Medakas I had. That's 30 Medakas! After moving to the aquarium, they swam comfortably in the wider place. Yesterday night, my husband and I found a lot of roe and removed the only roe to the other container to prevent the adult fish from eating them. According to information about Medakas, the roe hatches after about 10 days. We're looking forward to meeting new Medakas.

Although we didn't find that Medakas were very pretty before we had them, we like them very much and we think they are as lovely as dogs and cats. I told my French friend about Medakas and he just said "Japanese like fish very much." I wonder if we Japanese really love fish.

Tango and Chaco

Do you know about Amineko? Amineko is a cat of Amigurumi made and designed by Nekoyama. Amigurumi means small knit and crocheted creatures. You know very well about Mr. Bean's bear that is the same Amigurumi as Amineko. I have been a fan of Amineko since I found it on a website (http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mite/index.html). So I'd like to make my Amineko. Fortunately, we can easily make it by browsing the English instruction page (the English instruction page). But pay attention to the notice "All rights reserved".

I've made two Aminekos, male (Tango) and female (Chaco). How cute they are! I would like to play with them and show them to my friends. That's why I made some web albums and made some stories in the albums. You can also enjoy my Amineko world on the URLs as follows:

Album #1
My first album of Tango.

Album #2
I made this album on the day when I had a back pain. The story is about a back pain.

Album #3
Tango on some day on a chilly evening

Album #4
My mother-in-law also likes Amineko, so I told her the site and she has made two Aminekos.

Album #5
Lonely Tango needs a friend. I made a new Amineko, his girlfriend.

Though those sites are only in Japanese now, I'll make an English web album as soon as possible.

I do enjoy being with them!

Michael Caine and Jude Law

Recently, I focused on films featuring Michael Caine and Jude Law.
Now in Japan, their film "Sleuth" is being screened. I haven't seen it. My Japanese friend, who likes Jude Law so much, watched it four weeks ago and she recommended that I see the film. My British friend, who likes Michael Caine so much, also told me that it was worthwhile to watch this film. Although two friends told me how fabulous that film was, I think if I have time on my way home, I would like to watch it in Yokohama.
"Sleuth", featuring Michael Caine, has already been screened in 1972. When I found out this fact for the first time, I was very interested in it because I also know Jude Law appeared in "Alfie (2004)", that was a remake of a 1966 "Alfie".
That’s why I pay attention to films in which two British actors appeared.
My British friend told me that Jude Law respected Michael Caine, so he was willing to appear in a film that was a remake of an old British film featuring Michael Caine. As I heard about that curious story, I collected some information. I would like to watch the following listed films as soon as possible:

Michael Caine:
Educating Rita (1983)
Sleuth (1972)
Alfie (1966)

Jude Law:
Sleuth (2007)
Closer (2004)
Alfie (2004)
Gattaca (1997)

Have you watched them? As I love British films, I'm looking forward to watching them one step at a time!

The Office

The Office is my favourite British comedy starring Ricky Gervais. It’s a popular situation comedy all over the world and it has a lot of versions in every country; American, French, Canadian and German, other than the British version. Though I think The Office British version is the best because it's original, I’m interested in other versions.

After the original British series won two Golden Globes, a U.S. version of The Office was commissioned by NBC. After that I wanted to watch the U.S. version.
Thanks to a friend of mine who has DVD boxes of both series, I could watch the U.S. version. When watching it, I recognized that though it retained the title and premise of the original, the U.S. version of the show had a different cast and crew and took place in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Compared to the British version, all the characters are less unique and normal in the U.S. version. That’s why I missed the British version’s characters while watching the U.S. version.

In return I lent him my DVDs of the British version. We talked about The Office U.K. version and U.S. version with each other after he watched it. He told me that in the British one it's difficult for him to understand the gags and the U.S. version was better comedy. I was disappointed to hear that. I told him that the important point was that the British Office is a story set in “Slough”.

FAWLTY TOWERS

I've watched only two episodes of FAWLTY TOWERS. I love that kind of British comedy! Though the story of FAWLTY TOWERS is gorgeous, I would like to watch all 12 episodes (from season 1 through to season 2) as soon as possible, while I don't want to finish watching all the episodes that make me happy with laughter. Do you understand that? I'll take enduring satisfaction by observing them carefully episode by episode.

When I talked to my British friend about FAWLTY TOWERS, she told me excitedly about John Cleese and what that comedy means for British people. She seemed to also love it like me. She told me that FAWLTY TOWERS's transcript was polished and John Cleese was a very clever and respectable comedian in Britain. While hearing her opinion, I feel her attachment to that situation comedy. She also told me that Manuel, a Spanish servant, had been very popular in FAWLTY TOWERS and British people loved him. I understood what she meant because I thought that the funny episodes were due to the performance of Manuel after watching two episodes. He can't speak English very well and he always misunderstands what the manager says. Thanks to him, it's easy for me to understand British English. There are a lot of linguistic tricks from the beginning to the end of the episode. That's why my British friend said that FAWLTY TOWERS was clever comedy.

From now, I'm going to enjoy other episodes episode by episode every day!

Notes on a Scandal

Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett performed enthusiastically in the film "Notes on a Scandal". I watched this film last weekend. The two actresses were brilliant!The story looks so real that I was very scared after watching it. I like such story.

By the way, Judi Dench got an Oscar nomination for an actress in a leading role for this film last year. At the Oscars the winner was Helen Mirren for "The Queen". That's a pity! Helen Mirren and Judi Dench are both titled Dame.

Though I've watched a lot of hilarious Italian films these days, I think such a British film is a breath of fresh air. Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) is a very selfish older woman who loves her cat and likes to do things for others. She was a dangerous woman. Actually, as people have their own way of thinking, we cannot understand everything about other people's thinking and the story is possible.

I think that a horrible story like that is possible in Japan. If a woman like Barbara Covett approached me, what could I do? I consider what I'm supposed to do. As I'm thinking that, I'm so scared. On the other hand, I will take care of myself not to be like Barbara in the future.

I recommend the film "Notes on a Scandal " to you. You will also feel scared.

Italian Films

Recently, I gave myself up entirely to Italian films. I will introduce my favorite Italian films.

At first, I recommend "The Best of Youth" to you. It plays for about six hours! Though that's too long, it is worth a lot of time. In spite of its long running time, I thought it was a pleasure to watch the film from the bottom of my heart.

The story is about an Italian family during the 1960s through to 2003. It's comprised of two parts. Part I is a little slow-paced while Part II is fast-paced. After watching the film, I feel as if I have understood some part of modern Italian history. Their positive approach to their life left the most profound impression on me.

Secondly, I introduce "I'm Not Scared" to you. I have never seen such a film. As the plot development brought endless surprises to me, I enjoyed watching it by the end, full of nervous excitement. The story is unique. I like this kind of story.

Finally, I want to let you know about "The Legend of 1900". It's a very beautiful story, but I regret that it's just fiction. I consider it possible to be such a man in the early 1900s. My favourite scene is a conversation between two men; the leading character in "1900" and his colleague "Max" at the end of the story. I think there is some Italian humour in it. I can understand that and so it became the striking scene for me.

Ricky Gervais

Do you know him? I like him! In Japan, he's not as popular as in Europe. What's a sad fact!

Ricky Gervais is an English comedian (I think he's a genius for comedy). The Office and the series Extras... I love his work! My first time watching him was a few years ago. I've watched him in a TV series; "The Office". That shocked me because of its humour. I've never experienced such laughter since I was born. He attracts me and I have become a big fan since then. The Office is my most favorite situation comedy (Its humour is a little bit different from "Monty Python's Flying Circus").

Thanks to Japanese subtitles, I can understand its humour. However that's not enough. It means, though that I can certainly enjoy it with Japanese subtitles, but I want to understand it more and more directly in British English. That's why I think it has a lot of double entendres that I haven't found yet in the episodes. It's impossible for translators to express these double meanings in subtitles, limited to the number of characters per line. For understanding all this humour including The Office, I have to learn British English and British culture. It's interspersed with a great number of unconscious gags.

The reason why I love The Office is that its story is not only funny but also moving. It's complicated to explain... As you are the one that has already watched it, you understand what I want to say). I want to visit Wernham Hogg paper merchants in Slough to take a shufti at David Brent!!

Learn British English while laughing

I bought 2 DVD boxes; "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and "Fawlty Towers" on "Amazon.co.jp". I'm looking forward to those 2 DVDs arriving in mid-March when "Fawlty Towers" will be sold.

I like British comedy. It is indeed sarcastic and that makes me amused. When I borrowed a DVD of "Monty Python’s Flying Circus" from a friend of mine for the first time, the unexpected sketches came as a great shock! How funny they were! As soon as I had finished watching vol. 1, I borrowed vol. 2 from my friend.

Though I would like to watch more and more of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" DVDs, no one had any more DVDs (vol. 3 through to vol. 7). That was what led me into becoming a big Monty Python fan.

Until a few weeks ago, Monty Python's Flying Circus DVD box was unavailable in Japan because it was sold out and out of stock. The only way to get it was to buy it from auction sites at a high price. Now the situation has changed. Monty Python’s Flying Circus DVD box is being sold again and it is a Japanese-dubbed version! I had been waiting for this!! So I bought it. When I can watch all the volumes of Monty Python's Flying Circus, I feel so happy and excited.

Could I understand a lot of double meanings [double entendre]? Could I learn British English while laughing? I'll try it!

British English vs American English

I was very busy yesterday, because I took on an assignment which had to be finished quickly. I could have finished and delivered it at the specified time. Though the assignment was just to translate English to Japanese, there was a problem. My client gave me a document file (UK version) to translate while providing a reference file (US version). Wow! As there are some differences between British and American English, I thought I was assigned a formidable task. I queried the client about that problem, so he replied, "Though British vocabulary is difficult to translate to Japanese, you need to translate referring not to British but to American English." The problem was solved and I finished the translation from American English to Japanese. Afer sending it, I looked at the two files and it was beneficial for me to verify British and American English.

American and British English are the two varieties of English most widely used. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct," however there are certainly preferences. I have listed some of the differences below:
1. Vocabulary and spelling
2. Use of prepositions and past participles

As I like British English, I am studying British English. I'd like to improve writing and reading skills. I think that reading books from Britain carefully to understand their style of writing is very beneficial. Additionally, I can visit websites or watch movies that use British English. This is one of the best ways of improving one's language skills.

2 Italian Films

As I wrote about French film yesterday, I will write about Italian films today.

Though I am studying Italian and I like Italian culture that is different from Japanese, French and British culture, I am interested in Italian films. To learn a language is to understand its culture.

My Italian tutor recommended four films for me. I have watched two of them; "Io Non Ho Paura" (1997, English title is "I'm Not Scared" http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0326977/) and "La Vita è Bella" (2003, English title is "Life Is Beautiful" http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0118799/) with Japanese subtitles. I liked both because they are the films that I have never seen.

"Io non ho paura" is mystery: While playing outside one day, nine year old Michele discovers Filippo who is chained to the ground at the bottom of a hole. They become friends. Michele makes an effort to help him escape from his bad situation. At the end of the film I was profoundly moved by the Italian approach to the film.

"La vita è bella" is a comedy: A Jewish man protects his son in a Nazi death camp with the help of his humor. This film is famous because it won 3 Oscars. The story is funny but sad. I think it is a very unique film.

After watching two Italian films, I found that Italian films differ from the films that I have seen before. That’s why they attract me.

As I want to watch Italian films without subtitles, I should learn Italian more and more.

My favourite French Film

I have watched a French film, “Jeux d'enfants” (2003, English title is “Love Me If You Dare”). That was very funny and a hilarious story. I enjoyed it very much. The director is Yann Samuell (I didn’t know him). Guillaume Canet stars in the film and the heroine is played by Marion Cotillard. Marion Cotillard is nominated for best actress at the Oscars for her role as Édith Piaf in “La Môme” (2007, English tile is “La vie en rose”). I like Marion Cotillard, so I was interested in other films in which she has acted.

I think “Jeux d'enfants” looks like “Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain” (2001, English title is "Amelie"). As adults, best friends Julien and Sophie continue the odd game they started as children. It was French humor (I love it!) everywhere in the movie. The construction of the story is very good, because I was not able to foresee the story line right to the end. It's a gorgeous film! I recommend it for you all!!

By the way the Oscar 2008 ceremony will be held in Hollywood on February 24th. In Japan we can watch it on TV in March. I’m waiting for that day! The ceremony is my chance to hear a lot of speeches from world famous actors/actresses and look at their fashion styles. In the future, I'd like to go to the ceremony. If I were a world famous actress, I could walk on the red carpet wearing a beautiful dress!

Life with Glass Beads

I've applied for Laura McCabe's workshop. I like her works very much, because her designs are simple but unique, and cool. I'm looking forward to seeing her and I want to hear from her about beading and designing... Laura McCabe's web site is http://www.justletmebead.com/. I've bought her original necklace bead kit from the site. I haven't made it yet, so I should complete it by the workshop. I want to wear the necklace on that day when I see her. In her workshop, I'll make a cherry blossom bracelet.

By the way I always use Murano glass beads to make jewelry and recently I've made a necklace with Bohemians. Although the necklace is made by just stringing beads, it looks gorgeous because of using Bohemian glass beads.

Now, I've made a necklace with Japanese glass beads (called "TOMBODAMA"). Each glass bead has its own characteristics. That's why I like making jewelry with glass beads.

I will show you two necklaces with Japanese (pink) and Bohemian (blue) beads as below.

St. Valentine's Day in Japan

Yesterday was St. Valentine's Day. I think Japanese St. Valentine's Day is unique in the world.

In Japan, a lot of women rush to stores buying chocolates on that day. The other day, I read an article and found out that the Valentine's season makes up 25% of the annual consumption in the chocolate market. Wow! Therefore we can see various chocolates everywhere downtown. I enjoy seeing a wide variety of chocolates and shops decorated for St. Valentine's day.

However, as I watch some foreign dramas, there is always a gift exchange between men and women, such as husband and wife, parent and child, boyfriend and girlfriend for thanking each other (I think so) on St Valentine's Day. I'm more and more interested in what people do on St. Valentine's Day in each country...

As in Japan, St Valentine's Day is an opportunity for women to confess their love or to acquit a social obligation to their bosses, colleagues and so on.

There is a complete difference between the Japanese and Western approach. I'd rather enjoy a Western St. Valentine's Day in Japan.

Watch and Charm with Murano Glass Beads

I've made a watch and a charm with Murano glass beads, fire-polished round beads and charlottes (seed beads). I like making bead jewelry with Murano glass beads! These are designed by Rie Sato, a highly respected designer. I am always very happy when I make some jewelry with beads. The Bead Art Show Yokohama 2008 will be held from April 16th through to 22nd (http://www.bead-art-show.com/yokohama08/index_e.html). On these days foreign artists provide us with workshops. I'm planning to join one of them. I'm glad to see a lot of artists will be there.

My First Posting

I have created this English blog! I write what I think and feel from my daily life.

Today I was homebound, because I was very busy doing my own taxes. I have to file my final income tax return by the end of February. As I am lazy, it has been like this every February.