New cat

My parents home welcomed new cat who is just few months old! 

I can't wait to meet her until when I go back to Japan next time. 

I wonder she will attach to me. I'll take good cat foods anyway. 

So cute, isn't it?

Cooking Book

I didn't have a habit cooking before. 

Just only pasta and take away. But I completely tired of 

eating and my new flat has own kitchen. So I decided to 

study cooking myself. I brought a book which was 

presented by my aunt from Japan. 

The book name is "The easiest cooking class in the world". 

I've been trying to cook typical Japanese foods. 

It was so so even though my beginner level. I think there 

are two reasons one is japanese food and the other is with beer!!

Japanese Restaurant

I'll introduce proper Japanese restaurant in London. 

It is exactly authentic taste. This restaurant is 
named Tomoe which is located near Bond Street. 

It reminded me about Japan. Please try it!!

Cheers

We finished long project today.  

After that we cheered with glass of  whiskey and tasty 

scone. Basically I'm not good at drink whiskeybut I felt 

it was good taste.

Cheers!!

Back to UK

Today was good weather and party 

which included my welcome back party. 

I met coworker since for a long time. 

I spent fun time with them and felt back to MPC 

indeed. My second season in UK is just starting. 

I think this period would be turning point in my life. 

So I'll try to enjoy not only work but also my life AMAP.

Good luck my future!!

Diving License

I received PADI diver licence card today. 

I can dive anywhere. So the seas of the world are mine!!

Jealously

I've been trying to catch up them who influenced me. 

But they were already gone far away. I felt so jealously... 

It was amazing great work!!!

Working Visa

Gotcha!!! I got working visa in UK at last.

It was early process more than I expected. 

I'm so happy and feel relieve. I'll be back to London!!!

Fascination

It was first time to visit Okinawa. 

I wondered why so many people are fascinated. 

But I understood right away. Because I was really 

fascinated as well. There were good encounters

during this trip. 

I hope those would be continue until when I visit again.

Holiday

Sky Sea Sun Food and Beer... That's all.

Okinawa

It's already hot Summer in Okinawa!!

Internet Holic

Finally I got mobile Internet access. 

It's difficult to contract with short term in Japan. 

I had so trouble recently days. So I rented pocket 

wifi and got iPad impulsively. Now I'm like a fish 

which got water!! I realised I'm severe Internet holic 

but I can't no longer stop and live without that.

Shinjyuku Gyoen

I stopped off Shinjyuku gyoen by chance. 

This is like a Hyde park in Tokyo. 

There are so many people even though weekday. 

I should have taken my DSLR...

Wedding Party

I went to Nagoya to attend friend's wedding party. 

He always smiles so much but I saw he shed tears 

for the first time. I was impressed. And my ex coworker 

gathered for this party so it was like a reunion party. 

Really fun time!!

Cherry Blossom

Cherry blossoms already bloomed at Ueno Park. 

Beautiful!!

Back to Japan

My life in UK will finish today once. 

In retrospect there were so many memorable 

event during this one year half. It was biggest 

decision to move here in my life. I didn't have 

any job, friend even flat at first time. 

It was like a initialized myself. Everything was 

renewed and rerealized. Exactly great period. 

I really appreciate for all encounters. Fortunately 

I'll be able to come back UK in the near. 

Good bye for a while and see you again!!

Hero

When I was uni, Mayumi Miyawaki was my hero. 

I was influenced by him a lot about not only design

but also his life style. I brought his books from Japan 

and read since for a long time. It reminded me the days 

of uni and what I thought. 

Nowadays I'm far from architecture. But I realise now is 

the time should read again. He still influences me and my hero.

UK Summer

I finished work. But sky looks still bright. 

Summer has come in London at last. 

Good beer season as well!!

Moving

I'll move for preparation to go back to Japan temporary. 

This is 6 times include short stay. When I came here, 

I brought just only one suitcase but my luggage 

increased during for 1 year half. Every single moving 

I was exited what will happen for me from new life 

at new place. I hope it's gonna be fine this time as well!!

Cold Day

Today was so busy. 

But I finally got good crab stew. 

It was so tasty and good combination with 

such a cold today's weather!!

Cart Racing

I tried F1K cart racing. 

It was real race more than I expected and finally 

got 1st position even though second group!! 

I felt I have a talent of speed maniac. It was so fun.

Wedding

It was heart-warming ceremony.

Everyone smiled and really looked happy.
My movie got good reputation and my cameraman
work was also not bad. So everything worked well.
I'm released from pressure!! My mission completed!!

Country Bumpkin

I'm waiting for my flight to Japan. 

I had never been abroad until 28 years old. 

But after that I went to several countries and 

I'm working UK now. I feel I did fairly well 

considering me as country bumpkin before.

Trouble

OMG!! My laptop couldn't start suddenly last night. 

I pretended to think nothing happened. But reality 

has never changed this morning... 

My brother's wedding movie almost finished. 

But I didn't backup for a while. What's a bad timing:-( 

Come back!!

Wedding Movie

I'm making wedding profile movie for my brother.

I shot and interviewed them. It was so sweat story. 
They looks so happy and great couple. I'm really 
glad from my heart. 

But little bit too dazzling for me now...
Please share me their happiness!!!

Camera Man

I'll become bridal cameraman. 

So I bought speed light. It looks like a professional, 

isn't it? I had a rehearsal to show my wedding movie 

at hall. It was nice more than I thought. I'm feeling 

relieve and calm even though it was hard days to 

fix many troubles. I hope everything would be fine.

Snowshoes

When I wake up, it was snow everywhere. 

I have to go to work today. So I'll put on my snowshoes. 

This shoes are memorable item about Netherlands travel 

2010. It's your turn!!

Snow

It's start to snow!! @soho

Long Que

I'm waiting to buy ticket for DA VINCI exhibition 

at National Gallery. But the queue looks already 

over 1000 people. And I heard a day ticket limit 

is only 500. 

It is so popular more than I expected...

Health

I had so bad cold since for a long time. 

I was sleeping in my bed all day today. 

I took medicines and tried Fiona's special 

hot whiskey recipe. Thanks for them, 

I'm getting well!! 

I realise health is the most important.

Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday.

I got special birthday cake from my coworker!!!
So surprised event and I was really really happy.  
My coworker are always so friendly and kindly.
I appreciate for them from my heart.

FYI
this cake has a special caption "Thundercunt".
According to dictionary, so stupid meaning...
But everyone and I laughed so much because I
used by chance. For me it was special meaning.

It was exactly memorable birthday.

Home Town

I finally arrived at London after 12 hours flight. 

My hometown is Japan but at the same time I 

feel London is already my second hometown. 

I'll do my best 2012!!

Japan

I finally went back to Japan.

It is just only since for 1 year and half. But it reminded me a lot.
When I arrived at Narita airport and saw a sign "おかえりなさい",
I felt relieve and nearly cried.

My home is comfortable and Japanese foods since for a long 
time are really delicious. I'll also have a plan to meet my 
Japanese friends. I'm really looking forward to it.

And I was concerned about my cat already forgot me because 
I’ve missed her for a long time. But when I went home and met
her, she started playing with me same as before after blank look.
I felt relieve indeed. My cat remembered me!

I’ll stay for 2 weeks. So I’ll try to enjoy as much as possible!!

Beer time

I think most essential thing for life in here is beer.

Everyone really like to drink alcohol in pub after work.
There are tons of pubs everywhere in here. Compared
with Japan, they drink only alcohol without any foods.
I want to drink beer with foods. But according to them,
it’s a culture.

My company provides beer from 17:30 every Friday.
We call beer time. We can work with beer. what a nice!
I heard this situation is not only my company but also 

other creative company in soho. It’ a culture too.

I think most difficult situation to use English is to talk 

drunken people. But at the same time I’m drunken too. 

And nobody don’t mind my poor English. Therefore, 

nice situation to practice English.

Thanks for beer, my weight is getting fat...
But I hope my English skill would be better. Cheers!

English Tea

Before come here, I preferred to drink coffee instead of tea.

But nowadays I already changed crazy English tea lover.
Our company provides some kinds of drinks for employee.
They seem to drink tea a lot even though there are tons of Coke.

They normally drink tea with milk and sugar. It looks standard style.
We sometime drink tea as a straight in Japan. But I’ve never seen.
I also drink about 4-5 cups in a day. I’m already influenced by them.

And tea bag is so cheap. I can get 50 tea packs box with 90p(100Yen)
at supermarket. Of course there are so expensive bland which are used
by royal family. But even cheap tea bag, it's enough and tasty for me.
English tea is close to our daily life.

When I drink tea in the afternoon, I realize that here is Britain!

Documentary Film

This story is short while ago.
As I wrote before, I was filmed for my friend’s documentary
film last year. Finally I received DVD from her!!

Title was HALF. And featured two Japanese persons include me.
The person who live not only one country but also other country
can know the difference of each side. I taught HALF meaning
is like this. It was good documentary film more than I expected.

Of course it was really really quite shameful for me. I felt I never
used to watch me into film by myself. This film recorded my start
of London. When I think of it, it was variable film and experience.

But I can say that I’m not suitable for actor. Absolutely!!

13ヶ月

旅行から戻ってきてからは忙しい日々が続いています。
最近は一週間があっという間に過ぎていきます。

ふと気がつけば、ロンドンに来てから既に一年経っていました。
あらためて去年からのブログを読み返してみると、本当に色々な事
があったとしみじみ実感します。住む家も決まってなかった安ホテル
からのスタートを思えば環境が様変わりした一年でした。

去年の今頃は本当に何も決まってなくて、何もわからなくて落ち込む
ことばかりでした。今でも時々ホームシックになったり、やっぱり日本に

帰りたくなることはありますが、今はロンドンに来ることができて良かった
と心から思います。また、これといった反対もせず送り出してくれた家族に
本当に感謝しています。そして今に至るまでのさまざまな人との繋がりを
これからも大切にしようと思います。自分がそうしてもらったように自分も
他の誰かに還元していかなくちゃと思っています。

来年以降はどうなるか色々厳しい話も聞いているので正直わかません。
でも、もし来年で帰ることになったとしても悔いのないようにそれまでを
精一杯楽しんで過ごせたらと思います。

　

Vacation

I had paid holiday about 10 days since I started to work.

The purpose was to invite my mother and to go to vacation.
My current visa and contract will expire next April. I don’t know until
when I can continue to stay here. So I thought it’s good chance.
Finally my mother and her friend came and went together.

It’s too enough to stay only at London for 10 days, I recommended
to go to Italy. I went before and it was so beautiful even winter season.
I’ve been thinking to visit again. Even for me it was long awaited event. 
I planed all schedule to research hotel, place, book flight like tour guide.
It was little bit heavy but really fun and enjoyed to spend time with them.
Italy in summer was exactly amazing. Of course London too.

If I didn’t decided to come here, may be we wouldn’t have a chance to
visit there. I hope change of my life would be good influence for my
important persons. I think so.

Ａs an aside, I took big Japanese rice cracker box which was brought
by my mother as a souvenir to my coworker. They really loved so much.
It disappeared within 15 minutes!

Catsick

I don’t know this word is exist or not.

But one of my homesick is definitely catsick. I’m a crazy cat lover
instead of dog. I’ve been missing my cat about one year. I ‘m really
worry about my cat already forgot me. When I talk to my family,
I try to say something to her but her reaction was nothing..

It seems there are more dog lovers in London. I have no chance
to contact any cats and of course there are no cat cafe in here.
I heard one cat sometime comes to our backyard. I never seen.
So I’ll try to contact with special cat food. It’s no cheating, isn’t it?

For your information, our cat’s name is Yume. Because she
always sleeps anywhere anytime. That’s why we named her.

Homesick

I’m normally enjoying to live in comfort here every day.

But I sometime get homesick especially when I catch
a cold or not get well my work. And it comes periodically.

To tell the truth, I’ve been getting homesick recently days.
I really miss Japanese family and friends. Living here is so
fun but at the same time I feel so lonely. Contacting different
culture is really exciting experience but at times It's stressful.
I want to show my weakness. I know that time will tell...

Good solution for homesick is to charge Japanese essences.
Watching Japanese movie, eating Japanese food etc. There 
are some good Japanese restaurant in soho. I went kurukuru

sushi restaurant. I’m basically optimist, this sick will disappear.

I’ll go back to Japan end of year. I’m really looking forward to go.

English Name

My name is Yousuke.

Yousuke is popular name in Japan. But it seems little bit a 
difficult to pronounce for foreigner. I always teach them correct 
pronunciation. I was sometime thinking about my English name. 
Because some of my friends who didn't born at English-speaking 
countries have English name as a nickname.

I went to curry night few days ago. This event is hold every couple
of months with coworkers. It's good chance to meet other people.
In the event, surprised thing happened. One guy suddenly stood up
and said. “We present English name to Yousuke! it’s Charles!!”
It was so suddenly. Finally I got English name!! what a royal name!
I think probably half kidding. But It seemed I was greeted by them 
at MPC. I was really really happy.

I’m already called Charles from some people even client.
I’m wondering until when will my English name continue to use.

パリ

先週末にパリに行ってきました。

パリへは電車で2時間なので、とても気軽に行くことができます。
今回の目的はドイツで働いているKさんとの再会です。自分も働き
始めて早5ヶ月経ち、落ち着いてきたのでドイツとイギリスの中間の
パリで再会しようということになりました。

この時期のパリはすでに真夏のような気候で、天気にも恵まれて
エッフェル塔登ったりエスカルゴ食べたりと、のんびりとした時間を
過ごしました。以前のブログでも書いたようにKさんとは2008年の
ロサンゼルスでのシーグラフで行動を共にしたわけですが、それを
経て今回に至ることを考えると本当に感慨深い気持ちでいっぱい 

でした。とてもすばらしい再会となりました。

そういえばロンドンに戻ってきた時に不思議と帰ってきたなぁという 

安心感みたいなものを感じて、知らないうちにロンドンにも愛着が
沸いてきたんだなーとしみじみ思いました。