We worked overtime together till 1am and went to have a little night meal and some drinks.

This Okonomiyakiya bar opens until 2am. We are very lucky to have such a late-night restaurant nearby.

Does it still exist?

One of my friends asked me today.

I don’t know, but I think it still exists.

20 years ago, I had an audience with Prince Hironomiya at his palace as a member of Japan Youth Delegation to China.

I remember that time there was a bunch of “Imperial honored cigarette” on the table. I could get one but I didn’t.

Should I have taken one and tasted it?

Mr. Tokai designed this famous SAKE bottle label and the package.

He first concretes the concept and then he realizes it with his design.

That’s the way he is! Good for him!

Who believes if I predicted this poll result more than 10 years ago?

 

China overtook Japan as the most important partner for the United States in Asia for the first time since 1985, reflecting the country’s increasing economic weight, according to the results of a survey covering about 200 U.S. opinion leaders released Tuesday by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

 

The U.S. survey commissioned to Gallup in February and March by the ministry also showed that Japan tied with China for the position of the most important U.S. partner in Asia in a poll of some 1,200 people aged 18 or above among the general public.

 

Among the opinion leaders, 56% said China is the most important partner in Asia for the United States, compared with 36% who named Japan. The poll of the general public put both countries at 44%.

 

The margin of error was 7% for the opinion leaders and 3% for the general public, according to the ministry.

 

As for reasons why the opinion leaders chose China or Japan as the most important U.S. partner in Asia, economic ties and U.S.-bound investment topped the list for both countries, while they cited the size of national land and population for China and the alliance and friendship for Japan as the second most common reason.

 

The Gallup research, conducted almost every year since 1960, demonstrated that U.S. confidence in Japan remains almost unchanged despite a recent bilateral row over the relocation of a U.S. base in Okinawa.

 

Ninety percent of the polled leaders in the U.S. government, academic, business, media, religion and labor sectors as well as 79% of the general public viewed Japan ‘‘as a dependable ally or friend,’’ compared with 91% and 80% in the previous year.

 

On the Japan-U.S. security treaty, which marked its 50th anniversary this year, 90% of the opinion leaders and 86% of the general public said the pact ‘‘should be maintained,’’ showing continued strong support for the security arrangement.

 

On the economic front, 64% of the opinion leaders and 54% of the general public supported the idea of signing a free trade agreement between Japan and the United States, while 49% of the leaders backed the introduction of Japan’s high-speed railway system to their country.

 

The question on the railway system was included in the survey for the first time and posed only to the opinion leaders.

 

Asked whether they support the idea of Japan becoming a permanent U.N. Security Council member, opinion leaders were split with 56% backing it and 41% opposing it.

 

Of those against the idea, 69% said Japan lags behind other countries in providing contributions in personnel in the areas of U.N. peacekeeping operations and multinational forces. This question was posed only to the opinion leaders.

The Hyakumangoku Matsuri is the main annual festival in Kanazawa, Japan. The festival commemorates the entry of Lord Maeda Toshiie into Kanazawa Castle in 1583. The highlight of the festival is the Hyakumangoku Parade, which begins on the second Saturday in June.

The Hyakumangoku Parade reenacts the entrance of Lord Maeda Toshiie and his entourage into Kanazawa. The participants are dressed in 16th-century period costumes and parade around several city blocks.

Lots of young people……

I really hope they will bring Japan back to the status it should be.

菅直人首相は２８日午前（日本時間同日午後）、ベルギー・ブリュッセルでの同行記者団との懇談で、野党が提出を目指す内閣不信任決議案に民主党内からも同調する動きがあることについて「（民主党内は反対で）一致結束した行動をとってもらえるものと信じている」と牽制（けんせい）、帰国後に民主党の小沢一郎元代表ら党代表経験者に面会を求める考えを示した。（産経新聞）

どうなってんの？　誰が党を分裂させたの？

両親との食事会で使わせて頂きました。

こんなに明るくせんでもいいだろう、というくらい明るい照明の店内です。

私は寿司のことはよくわかりませんが、小細工なしの直球勝負の寿司です。

これは母が注文したちらし寿司。

この日は珍しく父から褒められたので大酒を飲んでしまいましたが、ちょっと反省してます。

外国の方がなぜ日本語ブログにしたんだ？と言うので、来月からまたしばらく英語で行かせて頂きます。m(__)m

トヨタ自動車（単体）は前年同月比７８・４％減の５万３８２３台、ホンダは８１・０％減の１万４１６８台、日産自動車は４８・７％減の４万４１９３台だった。

日本の主力産業がこんな惨状とは。。。