Checking My 2009 resolutions

1. Health
Take no day off due to catching a cold.
Concrete plan: I will go to my fitness club 1.5times a week on average. This frequency helped me keep in good condition last year.

result
I went to my fitness club 72 times, so I nearly achieved my goal. Unfortuynatelly I've caught a cold several times in 2009. So I consulted my personal doctor in the summer, and he priscribed me a tremendous amount of Vitamins (about three times of commercially available Vitamin pills). I caught few colds since the remedy.


2. Learn cooking more
Concrete plan: Learn how to cook meals suitable for a sick person.
Last year I increased my ordinary menu from two to five dishes to help my wife who looks after our one-year-old son. My wife appreciated that, but her imperative need is that I can cook meals for her when she is sick.

result
I learned how to cook rice gruel, udon (Japanese noodle which is easy to digest) with miso soup, and tofu miso soup.


3. Study and research for my family's future residence
Concrete plan: Making study sheet for as follows:
(1) Which is better, purchase or rent?
(2) What is the best plan to manage money for a residence for us?
(3) What are the important points for selecting a good residence for us?

result
(1) I made an Excel simulation sheet for comparing purchase vs. rent. If I live to be over 77 years old, purchasing is good moneywise.
(2) I selected a mortgage – the company which I work for supplies a part of its interest.
(3) My wife and I listed the important points for selecting a good residence for us. My list is as follows;
1. Its location is far from heavily trafficked roads: clean air is the most important
2. It takes under 20 minutes from the nearest railway station to Umeda (West Japan's biggest urban area)
3. It takes under 15 minutes from the residence to the nearest railway station by bicycle, without steep path.
4. It takes under 15 minutes from the residence to the nearest library and fitness club by bicycle.
5. 4LDK
6. A warm place in the Sun (In Japan, the house density is so high that it is rare that houses are open to the south side.)
7. My room is larger than 20 square meters.

So we found and purchased my house. It is now under construction. We will move in March.


4. Select one theme and study it for this year
This is Peter Drucker's method. I am learning his self-management method from my company's textbook, so I would like to bring in his good system.
What should I study? I want to know more about a theme which is concerned with politics. Last year, when I read a book (Robert B. Reich "Supercapitalism"), I thought that we should take part in politics more, in particular, the Japanese generation under 40, which includes me, politicians became less interested in their policies for younger citizens, because of the low voting rate of this generation.
I decided to study about tax system, one of the important parts of administration.
Concrete plan: I will make summary sheets of this study and show them to my friends (sorry, in Japanese)

result
I made an Excel sheet that you can use to calculate your taxes paid to Japanese and local governments and your taxes' use.


5. Be able to play a tune on the piano
Concrete plan: I will upload my playing to the web.
My ambitions through my life are improving my English and playing piano better. I got a TOEIC score of 825 last year, which I think it meant my English was a step up (even though I know my English is not advanced enough) . Next, I will turn to the piano, I will continue learning how to play the piano.

result
I entered a piano lesson club and I restarted lessons (the last lesson was in 1995 – 14 years ago). The tune I practice is Ryuichi Sakamoto's "aqua". Listen to this, even though it isn't completed...


6. Keep TOEIC score above 800
I would like to maintain my English ability, even though most of my free time will be taken up by some other studies and learning the piano.

result
My score in 2009 was 820.


7. Speak more slowly than now
Sometimes my Japanese speaking is too fast to understand.
Concrete plan: To begin speaking at a normal speed and for my friends to admit that in December.

result
Maybe I can't achieve this resolution. Anyway, I felt difficulty measuring for a non quantitative resolution like this.

Top tunes on my iPod in November, 2009

1. Paul McCartney / Getting Closer
2. Paul McCartney / Loveliest Thing
3. Elton John / I Want Love
4. Michael Jackson / Smooth Criminal
5. Stevie Wonder / Superstition
6. THE BLUE HEARTS / Jonetsu no Bara
7. Blur / Beetlebum
8. Falcom (Yuzo Kishiro) / Tower of the Shadow of the Death
9. Babaouo / Till the End of the Time
10. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.12 in A-maj. BWV 783
11. THE BOOM / Shimauta
12. Cornelius / Music
13. Eminem / Lose Yourself (Soundtrack Version)
14. L<->R / Chokusen Cycling
15. Led Zeppelin / Whole Lotta Love
16. Mozart, W.A / Sonata For Piano No.11 In A Major (Turkischer Marsch) by Glenn Gould
17. Paul McCartney / Maybe I'm Amazed
18. XTC / Towers Of London
19. Ryuichi Sakamoto / intermezzo

1. and 2. are at the Top, because an amateur band whose members are my friends performed these excellent but not-so-popular songs! After that, I listened to these tunes time and again: while commuting and staying in the room of my flat. In addition, the band's brand new album contains 9. The song sounds quite like Paul McCartney, however, it is not an imitation.

3. is my most favorite of his songs which were released in these ten years. This song was performed at the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. 5.6.13.14 and 15. are my jogging songs this month. I feel that 7.'s charming point is its drowsy guitar riff. 16. is intriguing for Gould's playing style is like mocking Amadeus. 19. is very Brahms.

Top tunes on my iPod in October, 2009

1. Tetsuro Koyama + Ni! / Kanji-te goran 2
2. Perfume / Oneroom Diosco
3. Paul McCartney / You Gave Me The Answer
4. Radiohead / Creep
5. The Bangles / Manic Monday
6. The Beatles / Taxman (2009 Mono Remaster)
7. BOOM BOOM SATELLITES / UPSIDE DOWN
8. Falcom (Yuzo Koshiro) / The Morning Grow
9. Yes / Owner of a Lonely Heart
10. Ryuichi Sakamoto / to stanford (live_2009_3_28)
11. Ryuichi Sakamoto / bolerish (live_2009_3_28)

Writing proper sentences in Japanese, you have to learn nearly 100 phonograms and over 1,000 kanji(ideograms which originated in China)! Japanese elementary pupils in the second grade learn 160 kanji. No.1. is a unique song depending on its lyrics which consist of all the 160 kanji. And more, its melody, composition and performance are all charming for me. I envy the second grade pupils these days.

2. was in my heavy rotation after experiencing their live performance. 5. is my jogging music in this month. 6. is the result of listening to Beatles Mono Remasters again and again. My most favorite in their mono album is Revolver. 6. is the first song of the album. 8. was a video game music in the 80s. Despite poor music spec of PCs at that time, this tune featured an interesting gimmick: the bass line gradually changes the drum line. 9. is also an old 80s song and I couldn't understand their tunes. However, I understand its intrinsic value now because of my friend who lent me the album this month.

Top tunes on my iPod in September, 2009

1. The Beatles / Long Tall Sally
2. Beethoven, L.V. / Piano sonata No.30, 1st motive by Glenn Gould
3. CRAZY KEN BAND / Tenya Wanya Desuyo
4. Van Halen / You Really Got Me
5. L<->R / Chokusen Cycling
6. L<->R / Younger Than Yesterday
7. Elvis Costello / No Action
8. namco (Nobuyuki Ohnogi) / MAPPY
9. Oasis / Don't Look Back in Anger
10. The Beach Boys / God Only Knows (Stereo Mix)
11. Berg, A. / Piano sonata No.1 by Glenn Gould
12. L<->R / (I Wanna)Be With You
13. Monkeymind You Cube Band / Metaphor
14. Perfume / love the world
15. Radiohead / Everything In Its Right Place
16. Radiohead / Airbag
17. Ryuichi Sakamoto / opus

When I listened to music this September, the songs were almost all The Beatles' stereo remastered versions, which were released this month. But their play counts were dispersed, so only one Beatles song is in my chart, because they made many fabulous songs. As a result, the top tunes in my chart are my jogging music: 1,3,4,5,7,8,12and 16.

Visiting Lake Biwa(2)

When I woke up at 6:30, the sun was just rising.

After breakfast, I took a nap. I was not going to think about "the ladder" this day, but instead enjoy sight seeing. I had two aims for this sightseeing day. One of them was Chikubu-jima, which is located in the middle of Lake Biwa, and is called "Gods living island".



This is the ship that I boarded for Chikubujima from the hotel.



It took 20mins to get from the hotel to the island. When I saw the island, I felt that the forest was damaged so much. I discovered the reason why after landing the island (There is a guideboard which explains the damage of the trees). It is because of the river birds' (cormorants') excrement. The water quality of Lake Biwa has increased within the past 20 years, so the population of river birds has also increased. It makes damage to the trees worse. Though I know the reason of forest's damage, I still have a question. Why was there little damage in the past, despite the good water quality? If the forest had been damaged much like it is, the big trees seen in the above picture wouldn't exist.



Chikubu-jima island's circumference is only 2km (1.3miles). This island is surrounded by a steep cliff, so there is only one place which ships can reach. The location of the island is the deepest of Lake Biwa. This means that the island is a prominent cliff from the bottom of the lake. How was this cliff made?



This is a fountain, which was dug after an oracle was received by the shrine on a day of the 21st century.



climbing steep stone stairs...



It is Hogenji temple, which was established in the 8th Century. However, this building was reconstructed in 1942. This is a Buddhist temple.



and walking through a corridor...



reached Chikubushima shrine. It isn't a Buddhist temple, but another religion, It is a Shinto's shrine. In Japan, it is common for two different religions to co-exist in one location. This may be difficult to understand for those in monotheistic religious states.



This shrine has a unique praying system. A person writes his / her name and prayer on two little pottery dishes...



and throws them to the outside gate of shrine.

After 50mins had passed, I got in the ship to go back to the hotel. I dined at a all-you-can-eat buffet in the hotel, but I ate moderately. I had a second aim for this day, to eat a unique kind of Sushi, Funa-zushi, at another restaurant.

What is funa-zushi? It is a combination of rice and fermented Lake Biwa fish! Some people say that it smells awful but tastes terrific. Other people say that it isn't a food of human should eat. This town, Makino, has a famous funa-zushi restaurant, so I thought that it was a chance to challenge. The main restaurant course is expensive (lunch: from 8,000yen (80dollars, 60euros, 53 pounds)), therefore I went to a branch of the restaurant. The branch served Funa-zushi chazuke, which is Funa-zushi + green tea + rice for 1,200yen (12dollars, 9euros, 8pounds).



This is Funa-zushi chazuke. To tell the truth, it smells like rotten fish... But it is clearly different from the smell of fish bodies which I saw yesterday. I dared to put the fish up to my mouth... It tastes good because of its unique sour flavor and body, like cheese. I can't eat it everyday, but every once in a while, I can enjoy it. In addition, the combination of funa-zushi and chazuke (green tea + rice) is harmonious. It was a special dish.

A waitress asked me, "Are you OK? Some guests said that they can't eat..." I replied that it was very good, and the waitress breathed a sigh of relief.

Anyway, I admire the man who invented funa-zushi. (detail: http://homepage3.nifty.com/maryy/eng/funa.htm) for its unique preparation and taste.

With my satisfied mind, I got on a train. This time, it took 2 hours, to get back to my everyday life. I was headed down a turned-back road.

Next year, I will take a trip to Makino to check "How do I lean my ladder lean against the right wall?" and to feel the abundant nature. Maybe I will also eat funa-zushi. Though this trip was off the top of my head, I feel I will do it again. It was lucky, I think. In the rest of my life, how many places like Makino can I find? How many times can I visit such places? At the end of this trip, I thought about this.

Visiting Lake Biwa (1)

Stephen R. Covey wrote: "If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster." I think my own life has already started traveling down a turned-back road (I will be 39 years old soon), therefore I want to lean the ladder to lean against the right wall. How can I do so? My busy everyday life makes me think unclearly. Every half year, I think about "the right wall – my life's aims and directions" during a silent night. However, this summer, I thought it would be good idea to take a trip somewhere to think over "the right wall" But where? Then, my childhood memories came back to me; it was Makino, near the northern part of Lake Biwa*. My family and I enjoyed swimming and chasing fish and insects in it's abundant nature. Does that nature still exist?

*Lake Biwa: It's the largest lake in Japan; its size is the same as the island of Singapore, the circumference is about 241km (150 miles). It's the third oldest lake in the world (following Lake Baikal and the Caspian Sea), therefore it is a precious environment for many endemic species.

The day to take a trip will come soon.

The commuter train took me to Makino. It took 2 hours.



From such a familiar-looking urban view...




to this rural view. It feels like leaving the everyday world and entering another world.

It took more than one hour before I arrived at Makino station. Only three people got off the train. Heading to the hotel I reserved, I began to walk.



There was clear water, crowded water grass, and many fish, which are never seen in urban areas, in the stream. Also a black butterfly was flying near the stream. I was glad to see that the nature I had seen thirty years ago is alive.



After several minutes, I reached the hotel.



My room was located in front of a beach. For a time, I lied down on the bed and rested.

I drank water and took a small bag, then began to walk along the Lake Biwa beach, remembering childhood memories and thinking about how to lean the ladder to lean against the right wall



At the beach in front of the hotel... I thought, something smells, like rotten fish. What happened? I moved my viewpoint from the beach road to the water's edge. There were many fish bodies in a long line.

I was scared spitless. Was this the nature I saw a little while ago? Awful. But I also saw many fish swimming in the lake. Why?

I asked a man who cut down beach grass, "Why were so many fish dead?" He replied, "They are ayu (sweetfish). In this season, all ayu produce eggs and die. Ayu's life span is only one year."

That means the fish bodies are a seasonal event. I breathed a sigh of relief, but was still surprised. When I was about to think about how to live for rest of my life, I encountered the end of many lives.

Changing my mind, I walked with my iPhone shuffling my music library, wishing my iPhone select calm tunes.




(This island is Chikubu-jima, where "Gods live")

The first song which my iPhone selected was The Beach Boys / God Only Knows. I got a jolt from this good selection by co-incidence. After that, my iPhone continued to select such calm and deep songs: Oasis / Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Kirsty MacColl / Perfect Day, Paul McCartney / Somedays. Wonder of wonders, no noisy tune was played.

Ten minutes passed, I went by a group of high school students playing in canoes. I bet they never think back on the roads of their lives.



It took about one hour to reach these blocks. They were constructed in 1703 by an official who could stand no longer this area's water damages. He left a thing which is still alive through 300 years. It reminded me of Akira Kurosawa's film "Ikiru" ( "To Live")



A turned-back road. No sooner than I begun to go back to the hotel, my iPhone played Guns'n Roses. I thought it was my iPhone's magic end and selected J.S. Bach / French Suite by myself.

Those high school students, whom I saw outward were about to go back to school. They never realized, however, that they surely approached the turning point of their lives. At that time, I had passed my turning point and was walking down a road already traveled.

After arriving at the hotel, I took a nap, bath and had good dinner. With my satisfied mind, I relaxed and thought about "Do I make my ladder lean against the right wall?" "How do I find the right wall?" As a result, my mind is filled with thanks to my family, friends, co-workers, and customers.

I went to bed, although I didn't wanted to sleep, because I was full of thankful memories.

Using My iPhone for three months

Using my iPhone 3GS for three months, this gadget has changed my everyday life. What has it changed?

I have become able to read most of the information on the Internet during commuting, which includes e-mail, Twitter(including writing for it), blogs (by RSS Reader) , social bookmarks and SNS. Because I follow not so many blogs and Twitter users, I can read their full content within my 50 minute train commute (going and coming total).

This change also effects how I use my free time in my house – Reducing my PC time increases my family time. Truly, my iPhone has changed my everyday life.

What is the bad effect of my iPhone? It is difficult to find, but I manage to... It is decreasing my time to read books. However, I can find a good result in that. Prevuously, I continued to read a book outdoors even if it was is not very interesting, but now, if I find a book I take outdoors not so interesting, I switch it to iPhone contents. So I have become to be able to spend my time reading only interesting books.


My home screen now: (Maybe it will change in the near future. It is one of attractive points of iPhone – the evolving gadget.)



The first line: Picture viewer (flower icon) is very often-used. It contains pictures of the past 12 years, so I appreciate them and show them to friends.
The second line: Dictionaries. Consulting dictionaries is my custom. Therefore I thank my iPhone. Anytime, anywhere I can seek my needed information.
The third line: The others. SkyBook is a viewer for Japanese public domain novels on the Internet. After checking Internet contents, if I don't have any interesting books, I read classical novels by SkyBook.
The forth line and the Dock (the fifth line): Viewers for Internet contents and iPod.. I think that Echofon (formerly Twitterfon) is the best free application of many Twitter clients for easy-to-understand interface and stabilization.


peripheral goods:


Using my iPhone 3GS for three months, this gadget has changed my everyday life. What has it changed?
PDAIR leather case: This good has a belt-clip. It is useful for me especially in summer; I wear only shirts, not jackets for business in summer. Shirts have breast pockets but they leave the possibility of dropping my iPhone. This case is safe for carrying the iPhone and it is easy to pick up.

Anti-glare film: I never mind some scratches on the iPhone body, but I do on the screen. In addition, I don't like glare and fingerprints on the screen. This film guards my iPhone from those problems.


Noise-cancelling earphone: audio-technica ATH-ANC3 BK I selected this earphone for two reasons. The first; it features a small canal, so it is able to store and carry easily. The second: users reviews of Amazon Japan and so on. This earphone works effectively when I'm on a train. It decreases outside noise, so I don't have to turn up the iPhone volume. I know iPhone's original earphone is useful (equipped with remote controller. This noise cancelling earphone doesn't.). However, I think the health of my ears is more important than an easy-to-control iPhone.

What are iPhone's attractive points? Usefulness? Cool user-interface? Yes, I think so. In addition, in my opinion, the most favorable point of iPhone is possibility to customize one's iPhone like I have above. Also for other most hobbies, customizing has been intriguing and exciting. For example, cars, cooking, and PC. In particular, iPhone is the gadget you carry anytime, anywhere, therefore you can get a bigger reward from customizing iPhone than the others. Moreover, abundant applications and peripheral gears accelerate your customizing mind. iPhone is the gadget which teases us in a joyful way.

Top tunes on my iPod in August, 2009

1. Paul McCartney / Summertime
2. Vanessa Paradis / As Tears Go By
3. Keisuke Kuwata / MERRY X'MAS IN SUMMER
4. Ryuichi Sakamoto / Lost Theme
5. Ryuichi Sakamoto / Yamasaki 2002
6. The Beach Boys / Kokomo (from "Cocktail" Soundtrack)
7. Ryuichi Sakamoto / to stanford
8. Ryuichi Sakamoto / Bring them home
9. Southern All Stars / Taiyo wa tsuminayatu
10. JUDY AND MARY / DAYDREAM
11. L<->R / NOW THAT SUMMER IS HERE
12. Ryuichi Sakamoto / ice
13. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.14（Takahiro Sonoda）
14. Flipper's Guitar / Wild Summer
15. Ryuichi Sakamoto / aqua
16. Bach, C.P.E. / Wurttem Sonata No.1-3（Glenn Gould）
17. The Beach Boys / Sloop John B (Stereo Mix)
18. Flipper's Guitar / Southbound Excurtion
19. The Script / Before The Worst
20. The Script / Talk You Down
21. Ryuichi Sakamoto / glacier


Most of these tunes except Ryuichi Sakamoto are the results of my playlist I made for this summer.

I listened to No.1 again and again, because this cover version reflects this laziness of summer well. Many people may recommend Janis Joplin's cover version of "Summertime" and I admit it is good, however, I feel Janis' fire-like version surpasses "laziness" – I can't remeber that this song's original is a lullaby when I listen to Janis' version – So I didn't select Janis'.

Napping is my favorite. In particular, in summer. Summer napping which gets rid of my tiredness with sweat is a pleasure of life, I think. However, I had always felt loneliness after waking up after napping before I married. It is a feeling of deep isolation like being alone in the world, though the sun was high and shining and neighboring kids were laughing outside. No.2 reminds me of those feelings of isolation nowadays. I usually never feel such isolation since being married. I am reminded of this not by the original version, but by Vanessa's version. Her singing recalls the loneliness of summer afternoons. So this song is a summer song for me.

The Beach Boys made many summer songs, but No.17 is included in an album which is one of their "most unlike summer" albums, "Pet Sounds". I don't understand why I selected this tune for my summer playlist. Maybe because the song's promotion film described that the members played in the pool.

I'll be fond of making a new summer playlist for next summer.

Top tunes on my iPod in July, 2009

1. Perfume / Oneroom Disco ("oneroom" is a Japanese English word – it means bed-sitting room for young single person.)
2. Perfume / I still love U
3. Perfume / Dream Fighter
4. Perfume / The best thing
5. Yuzo Kayama / Tabibitoyo (To a traveller)
6. Perfume / Kiss and Music
7. Perfume / Negai (Wish)
8. Bach, J.S./ Inventions No.1 in C-maj. BWV 772
9. Bach, J.S./ Inventions No.10 in G-maj. BWV 781
10. Cornelius/ Beep It
11. The Monkeymind You Cube Band/ Dying Message
12. Perfume / NIGHT FLIGHT
13. Perfume / Zero Gravity
14. Perfume / Speed of Sound
15. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.8 in F-maj. BWV 779
16. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.13 in a-min. BWV 784
17. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.14 in B♭-maj. BWV 785
18. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.15 in b-min. BWV 786
19. Bach, J.S. / Sinfonias No.3 in D-maj. BWV 789
20. Bach, J.S. / Well-tempered Clavier Book1 No. 6
21. The Monkeymind You Cube Band / To Classical Future
22. The Monkeymind You Cube Band / I Will Hold You Soon

Perfume is a Japanese techno-pop idle group. I am a 38-year-old man, I am not attracted to them by their looks, but by their music. All of their music is composed / produced by Yasutaka Nakata. He created young, keen and easy-to-understand melodie with complex sounding arrangements. No.1, 2 and 3 are the best tracks for me in the new album.

Yuzo Kayama is a famous actor in Japan; he appeared in Akira Kurosawa films. On the other hand, he was also a talented singer-songwriter especially in the 60s. For his short autobiography appeared daily in July's newspaper the I read, I downloaded his songs from the iTunes Store. My favorite is No.5

Many of Bach's Inventions made me feel cool because of their decent melodies and clear piano sounds.

The Monkeymind You Cube Band is amateur, but I take to their album. It is the third amateur band album in which I've found attractive points in the album.

Top tunes on my iPod in June, 2009

1. Janacek, L / Sinfonietta I (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra）
2. Paul McCartney / Don't Get Around Much Anymore
3. BOOM BOOM SATELLITES / UPSIDE DOWN
4. Bach, J.S. / Sinfonias No.1 in C-maj. BWV 787
5. Bach, J.S. / The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I No.3
6. Cornelius / Fit Song
7. Flipper's Guitar / Southbound Excursion
8. Misato Watanabe / Have you seen the Rainbow?
9. Bach, J.S. / The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I No.14
10. Mr.Children / [es] -Theme of es-
11. Ryuichi Sakamoto / aqua
12. The Bangles / Manic Monday
13. The Beach Boys / Here Today (Stereo Mix)
14. The Beatles / If I Fell
15. The Beatles / Mother Nature's Son
16. The Dukes Of Stratosphear / Brainiac's Daughter
17. Guns N' Roses / You Could Be Mine
18. Lenny Kravitz / Again
19. The Manhattan Transfer / Four Brothers
20. Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney / The Girl Is Mine
21. namco (Junko Ozawa) / DIG DUG II
22. Southern All Stars / Full of Love and Passion from me to you


No.1 and 5 are the result of reading Haruki Murakami's "1Q84". No.1 appeared in this novel several times, from the first scene. The Well-Tempered Clavier works is the main character's favorite. He said that it is heavenly music for mathematicians.

When I listened to No.6, I felt the commonality between the album "Sensuous" which No.6 is included in and Radiohead's album "Kid A". Both of them are new, unique and keen, nevertheless, composed wonderful comfortable sounds.

Though I haven't surveyed all of Mr.Children's (Japanese temporary long-populated pop group) songs, If I can choose their best one, I think No.10 is the best.

I think that the bass line of No.13 proves the theory "Music doesn't depends on formula". They were out of "theoritical tone" but so cool beyond description.

No.19 is one of a compilation which my music-buff friend selected for Jazz novice (me). Their perfect chorus works made me feel that is something special.

No.20 - RIP and I wish you and Paul have already restored good relationship.

apple iPhone 3GS

Today, Apple's iPhone 3GS was released in Japan. I have gotten it. After touching this cool gadget for a few hours, I remembered a phrase "Invention is often the mother of necessity" in Jared Diamond's fascinating book "Guns, Germs and Steel"

"Invention is often the mother of necessity"? Is vice versa real, isn't it? I thought so. However, Diamond wrote about a good example for the phrase. It is the Thomas Edison's phonograph. When he built his first phonograph, he made ten of aims of it. His aim was to "preserve the last words of dying people", etc. but not the "reproduction of music". When other entrepreneurs created jukeboxes, Edison objected to this arrangement of his "serious" invention. He didn't invent the phonograph for his necessity of wanting to listen to J.S. Bach's English Suite.

Is there relationship between the above example and the iPhone? The reason why is: As I used my iPhone for the first time, I was convinced that this tool wasn't created by the necessity for recovering conventional cell phone's shortage. This gadget makes a user realize "A daily life will become less interesting without iPhone" by using it. Invention is often the mother of necessity, I also think.

Actually, I didn't think that I would buy it last month. I already have a cell phone and I was satisfied with it. In addition, I work for a telecommunication company and iPhone's carrier in Japan is the rival of my company. To have iPhone was out of the question for me.

Why did I change my mind? On 9th of June, Apple introduced iPhone 3GS, not iPod touch 64GB. I was longing for the iPod touch 64GB because my iPod was an old version (released five years ago, b/w screen and only 20GB storage which isn't enough for me), therefore I was disappointed at the news.

However, after knowing that iPhone 3GS series have a 32GB model, my disappointment gradually changed. At first, I thought that 32GB wasn't enough for my music, pictures and movies (50GB). So I had wanted iPod touch 64GB, not already-released 32GB. But did I need to carry all of my music, pictures and movies? Actually, is 32GB model enough for my selected library? As a trial, I made my selected library from 7000 tunes, 9000 pictures, 100 movies. The size of it is under 30GB.

Next, I begun to survey the communication charge system of iPhone in Japan. Judging from a conclusion, iPhone's communication charge isn't new burden for me. I can purchase iPhone 32GB cheaper than iPod touch 32GB. The difference can make up the added cell phone charge. So "my old cell phone charge + iPod touch price" is nearly equal to "my old cell phone charge + iPhone price + iPhone communication charge for two years". The communication function and available area of iPod touch is limited, but iPhone isn't. Same price, Higher function.

The last reason that I want iPhone is the attractive applications and functions. They make get my life, in paticular in a commuter train, better. Not only reading blogs by Google RSS reader, but also reading downloaded public domain novels with beautiful font for free (my cell phone isn't available for them.) Enjoying my family's and friends' pictures and my son's movies (my cell phone is available for them but not smoothly and smaller screen size than iPhone).

Today is Friday. However, I'm looking forward to Monday. I want to know how my commuting life is changed by iPhone?

Top tunes on my iPod in May, 2009

1. Elvis Costello / Radio, Radio
2. Elvis Costello / You Bowed Down
3. Elvis Costello / Pony St.
4. Wendy James / Puppet Girl
5. Wendy James / This Is A Test
6. Elvis Costello / No Action
7. Elvis Costello / The Other Side Of Summer
8. Stevie Wonder / Superstition
9. Paul McCartney / All Shook Up
10. Rufus Wainwright / California
11. Flipper's Guitar / The Chime will Ring
12. Radiohead / Airbag
13. The Script / We Cry
14. Yellow Magic Orchestra / PERSPECTIVE
15. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.14 in B♭-maj. BWV 785（Takahiro Sonoda）
16. Bach, J.S. / Sinfonias No.14 in B♭-maj. BWV 800（Takahiro Sonoda）
17. Billy Joel / The Longest Time
18. Paul McCartney / Don't Get Around Much Anymore
19. Prince & The N.P.G. / Sexy M.F.

Last month, I realized that I love Pete Thomas's drumming, so I made a playlist of him on my iPod. Consequently, the Top seven tunes and No.10 are tunes he played his drums. My most favorite of the playlist is No.6.

No.7 is the special song that I am attached to among Elvis Costello's works. I have been fond of it since it was released in 1991. Apparently, I have a tendency to love the songs that were inspired by The Beach Boys. For instance, The Beatles / Back in the USSR, Dukes of Stratosphere / Pale and Precious, L<>R / Now That Summer is Here, etc. Costello's song is one of them.

Whenever I hear the word "groove", I remember No.8. There are many tunes that cannot remain the great feeling when they are interpreted to musical scores, this tune is the typical case, I think. This tune's drums, bass, guitar and brass section have awesome "groove" and nobody can't write it down to a musical score.

No.13 is the one which my English teacher (English lady) told me. No.15 is miraculous music: there is merely only one short phrase and it is repeated, that's all. But I feel not boredom but ethereal melody. J.S. Bach's talents made many works like this tune.

Haruki Murakami "1Q84"

Spoiler Warning: I didn't reveal the essence / the ending of this story on this entry, but write about some parts of this story. If you want to read Murakami's latest work without any advance knowledge, I recommend you to leave this entry.

For non-natives of Japanese: In Japanese, the pronunciation of "9" is the same of "Q". Why "1Q84?" not "1984"? After you read this book, you'll find the meaning.










[Introduction]
In 1984, Tokyo. Aomame (female), nearly thirty years old, is an instructor at a luxury sports club. She also has another job requiring "expertise and training". Having done the job, she gets out of a taxi on a heavily-congested Metropolitan Expressway, and begins to walk towards the emergency stairway to the ground.
Tengo (male), nearly thirty years old, is a math teacher of a prep school and sometimes submits his novels into contests for new novelists. An editor he knows approaches him to rewrite a prodigious novel "Air pupa" which was wrote by a female senior high school student.


[My impression]
Like other Haruki Murakami's full-length novels, this work made me to want to discuss it with other people who have read this novel. As usual, he never explains to readers the meaning of the curious and heart-swaying story. It is open to interpretation, depending on us. Yes, I understand that many people think that his works don't need interpretation but impression. In both case, I want to ask and tell readers "What do you think about the events / the sentences of "1Q84"?"

Compared to other Murakami's works, this book mentioned many groups that has clear real models (for instance, Jehovah's Witnesses(Wikipedia) and The Yamagishi Association (a agriculture commune) ) and concrete place-names appeared. That adds to the realism and shows up unreal aspects of this story. However, his new style of camera-eye describing which was apparent in "After Dark" isn't found. I think that this work doesn't show Murakami's new frontier - for example, new describing style or new composition of a story, etc. This work is the successor of "Kafka on the Shore" due to the same styles of using two main characters.

Needless to say, for me, this novel is incredible excellent for being a unpredictably page-turner story, simple and wonderful appropriate metaphors, and sentences which has good rhythm and are easy to read. Such Murakami's work's brilliant characteristics have not diminished yet over time. Through fifteen hours of reading, I never felt boredom but felt seamless stimulation. I feel it is difficult to find such novels.

Nonetheless, I am not satisfied with one point. I anticipated his answer to events in this novel: violence to females and kids (not only physically but also mental). Ordinary, a story has a beginning and an ending. However, I feel that this work has a beginning but doesn't have the ending of the events. (This is my feeling, maybe other people have other feelings.) Due to this point and other points (I refrain to explain them in detail now), I think this novel have not completed. There is possibility to release the sequel in future, I anticipate.

Above all, I want to discuss this Murakami's latest work – How do you think / feel about the events / the sentences? When is the English version released?

Top tunes on my iPod in April, 2009

1. Ryuichi Sakamoto / behind the mask (live_2009_3_28)
2. Ryuichi Sakamoto / to stanford
3. Paul McCartney / Don't Get Around Much Anymore
4. Ryuichi Sakamoto / ice
5. Yellow Magic Orchestra / Behind The Mask
6. Ryuichi Sakamoto / disko
7. Ryuichi Sakamoto / glacier
8. The Beatles / Here, There And Everywhere
9. The Beatles / For No One
10. Ryuichi Sakamoto / +33 (live_2009_3_28)
11. Elvis Costello / No Action
12. The Beatles / Taxman
13. The Beatles / Eleanor Rigby
14. The Beatles / She Said She Said
15. The Beatles / And Your Bird Can Sing
16. The Beatles / I Want To Tell You

1. is the live version that I listened to admiringly for its unique arrange which is different to the original that I loved from the start. This tune was released on iTunes Store the day after the concert, I think the world is getting better. 5. is the original of 1., it was pulled up in this ranking because I found its attraction again by 1.

3. became to one of my heavy rotations since my friend played it on his iPod at a Japanese hotel of Izu. Paul McCartney's talent made the tune transformed from Duke Ellintong's jazz standard to a cheerful rock'n roll number.

8. to 16. (except 10. and 11.) are obviously the consequences of reading "Here, There and Everywhere" by Geoff Emerick. Revolver is a great album, I admit it time and again.

I always listen to the drum line of 11. mainly even its melody also good. The drummer, Pete Thomas, may be my most favorite drummer because of his drumming like singing.

A classical ryokan(Japanese style hotel) in Izu

After a 4-hour train journey, I visited a classical ryokan (Japanese style hotel) with my friends. This ryokan, Ochiairou-Murakami is not appropriate for me, ordinary people. This was constructed by skillful carpenters who were ordered to by a millionaire. He asked them to make a ryokan as you like, no matter how much it costs. So the construction and art of this ryokan is extraordinary fine, of course the accommodation fee is so expensive. However, one of my friends knows the ryokan owner so we were able to stay there for a reduced cost. Therefore we could stay there in other world.



constructed in 1933 to 1937.




Entrance. Japanese younger people sometimes feel classical Japanese design is tired and old-fashioned, not beautiful. However, I feel this design as modern, simple and beautiful.




The room we stayed. This suite room contains other one small room and one classical western style room with a table and chairs. May I stay in such a luxurious suite?




Small lighting window made with wood and paper. This design is also modern, simple and beautiful. All of the rooms window designs are different.




Library room. One of my traveling dreams was to stay at a hotel which has a library room since I had read Haruki Murakami's short novel whose story was set in a library room of a hotel. My little dream has come true.


Hot spring bathes are also marvelous. There are outside natural bath and a private bath which you can reserve. Both bathes are popular Japanese style Roten-buro, which is located outside of the building (Of course there are shade screens surrounding the bathes, but sometimes in men's bath there aren't any so as to enjoy the good scenery).




Dinner was perfect for its taste, amount and looks. This is an hors d'oeuvre.




Serving eleven dishes, I was satisfied with all of those. The best one was this raw fish on the bamboo dish. I think the chef choose the best fish at the marketplace.

After dinner, we talked about our favorite music with iPod+spealers till 3:00 am.




Breakfast was also such a lot!! We had enough.




A ryokan staff opened our room window for receiving April's confort breeze. Pleasant breeze and neat Japanese garden made us calm and happy.

My friend and me participated in a tour of this ryokan building at 10:00.




Partition slide between rooms and corridors. As usual, those designs are all different.
A tour guide explained to us that carpenters of this building used precious materials. For instance, a wood board was made of a log which had been treated for becoming a perfectly flat board for thirty years.




I was impressed with this design because of the designer's playful spirit – normal designers would have never thought of such a design for a classic Japanese lighting window. It was based on a legend of a female spider in the area.




Going out of this ryokan, we went to Jyoren Falls by a rent-a-car. The falls fed us a cool and comfortable atmosphere.




For lunch, we had Japanese noodle soba with wild boars soup. I'm a big fan of soba so I visited many soba restaurants, this was one of the best dishes.

We separated at 15:00. The stay was full of delicious dishes, relaxing bath and delightful conversations.

Ochiairou-Murakami seems to be the best hotel that I have stayed at. I have traveled to fourteen nations in the world and received good accommodation at almost every location, for aspect of building's beauty, cleanness, design, dinner and bath. Of course rack rate is also No.1... Anyway, I would like to stay this in ryokan again, after I grow up more and become the man who is appropriate for this ryokan (be more gentleman).

Honesty is such a lonely word, but...

With my wife, son and friends, I enjoyed Tokyo Disney Resort. It was a wonderful holiday, but it isn't the main topic of this entry. An accident happened when we got on the Shinkansen (superexpress) from Tokyo station and took a trip for three hours to my home. A few minutes before the Shinkansen was due to leave, I bought lunch boxes. As soon as I got them, I put my wallet and pass holder into my jacket's pocket and ran up the escalator to platform 21. I could ride in the reserved Shinkansen. When I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, I found that I had dropped my wallet and pass holder.

I thought I was stupid because not only were there many important things (ex. My ID card) in them but also was much money. I was the organizer for this Tokyo Disney Resort trip among my friends, so I had received much money entrance passes and friend's dinner fee, because I paid it for everything on my credit card. My wallet had 70,000yen ($700 / 530Euro / 475pounds) in it.

I rang the lost property section of Tokyo station again and again, but I heard only the busy tone. So I explained my situation to an express conductor and asked him to call Tokyo station. Several minutes later, he came back and said, "Set your heart at ease, your property was found in the same condition as when you dropped them."

Three days later, my wallet and pass holder was sent to my home in the same condition as when I dropped them. Not only money of 70,000yen but also my ID card, credit cards, and so on. Billy Joel sings "Honesty is such a lonely word." However it surely existed at the platform 21, of Tokyo station on 17:50 5th April in 2009.

Top tunes on my iPod in March, 2009

1. Ryuichi Sakamoto / to stanford
2. Ryuichi Sakamoto / ice
3. Ryuichi Sakamoto / hwit
4. Ryuichi Sakamoto / still life
5. Ryuichi Sakamoto / glacier
6. Ryuichi Sakamoto / in the red
7. Ryuichi Sakamoto / hibari
8. Ryuichi Sakamoto / tama
9. Ryuichi Sakamoto / nostalgia
10. Ryuichi Sakamoto / firewater
11. The Beatles / When I'm Sixty-four
12. The Beatles / Lovely Rita
13. The Beatles / Octopus's Garden
14. J.S. Bach / Inventions No.8（Takahiro Sonoda）
15. The Bangles / Be With You
16. The Beach Boys / Vegetables

The top 10 are all works from Ryuichi Sakamoto's new album "out of noise". I listend to only 1., 3., and7. as music and enjoyed others as sound (others are composed of north poll area environment sound. For example, waterdrops of melting glaciers.) 11.-13. are the results of reading "Here, There and Everywhere" 14. is one of the tunes that never bores me even if I listen to it again and again, it is less than one minute long. 15. is my third favorite song by them after "manic Monday" and "Etrenal Flame".

Geoff Emerick "Here, There and Everywhere"

The Japanese version of this book is "The Last truth of the Beatles Sound", it is a good selection, I think. This is an excellent documentary, biography, and growing-up story of a young sound engineer. The original title "Here, There and Everywhere" is also good for its contents, whose author is one of the few people who can talk about the Beatles' history because he worked with them.

In short, I would like to say that this is one of the best books about the Beatles history. In particular, I strongly believe that people who have listened to their music enthusiastically will enjoy this book. A friend of mine who loves the Beatles said, "I think that this is the book that gives answers to the questions of the world's beatlemaniacs" I agree with this.

For me, the biggest question was about the sound of "Abbey Road". Each of the Beatles' albums were recorded with a unique sound, this was because of changes in musicianship and recording technology. I feel "Rubber Soul" and "Abbey Road" have totally different sounds. I'm disappointed the former, the author Geoff didn't participated in this album, so the question still remains, but for the later, Geoff wrote the answer clearly. I was so impressed (he seems not to like the sound of "Abbey Road", I love it). about their sound and songs were answered by this book.

The value of this book is high because for the documentary of the Beatles' sound making aspect, in addition to this, the aspect about the describing of the people including four beatles is also distinguishing. The important factor for biographies are love and objectivity, are apparent in this book throughly. For instance, about George Harrison, the author didn't hesitate to write about George's poor techniques and ignorable atmosphere in the early days of the band. But on the other hand, he also didn't hesitate to give applause for George's great works in the later days of the band. And about George Martin, the producer of the Beatles, Geoff wrote the truth - there are many great work by Geoff but people have always thought they were George Martin's - without selfish pride. On the other hand, he wrote clearly about George Martin's prominent works, but he also wrote about how the Beatles sometimes alienated Martin in the later days of the band. This book has good balance of "love" and "objectivity" as above examples.

You can also read this book as the story of Geoff Emerick's growth: just after his high school graduation. He was hired by EMI, he met the Beatles, especially after the "Revolver" album, he developed as a professional sound engineer with the Beatles' music development. This point also impressed me. He responded to the Beatles demand as a professional, sometimes produce results that surpassing the Beatles' expectation under heavy pressure. Reading this book, I asked myself how I do my business with eagerness and innovation like Geoff. It is nonsense comparing genius Geoff to me, anyway, this book encouraged me by Geoff's attitude.

I've read many books about the Beatles, this book is the most intriguing and full of good things, I think. I feel that maybe no other book about the Beatles could surpass this book never be written.

At the end, I felt the following point again: the Beatles' magic. As many fans know, the Beatles didn't have unity as a band when they recorded "White Album" and their teamwork was at a peak when "Sgt. Pepper" was recorded collapsed. Of course this book described that situation without allowance. However, for me, "White Album" is one of the masterpieces of the Beatles. Why? After reading this book, the big riddle still remains.

Top tunes on my iPod in Feb. 2009

1. XTC / Dear God
2. Koichi Sugiyama / Dragon Warriors I Finale
3. namco (Junko Ozawa) / THE TOWER OF DRUAGA
4. My Little Lover / DESTINY
5. Radiohead / Airbag
6. J.S. Bach/ Inventions No.6 (Takahiro Sonoda)
7. J.S. Bach / Inventions No.11 (Takahiro Sonoda)
8. The Beatles / Oh! Darling
9. The Beatles / Lady Madonna
10. Elvis Costello / Radio, Radio
11. The Flipper's Guitar / Goodbye Our Pastel's Badges
12. Guns N' Roses / You Could Be Mine
13. Paul McCartney / Mull Of Kintyre
14. Paul McCartney / You Gave Me The Answer

1. is famous for its lyrics, in my opinion, Richard Dawkins would not hesitate to give applause to the song, the song has also the power of music that can appeal the band's message to listeners even without its lyrics. I like 2., in particular, the second melody. 4. is one of my most favorite songs of the band. 8.'s episode is famous among Beatlemaniacs that John Lennon wanted to sing the song. I seem to be able to understand his desire and I also want to listen to John's "Oh! Darling", however, even John Lennon, could not surpass Paul McCartney's outstanding vocal. 14. is one of my favorite pieces of Paul's old fashioned piano based tunes and I am never bored. When listening the intro piano, I dive into the song's world simultaneously.

Top tunes on my iPod in Jan. 2009

1. Schubert, F / Moments Musicaux Op.94 （Jenő Jandó）
2. Brahms, J. / Intermezzo Op 118 No 2（Kristian Banatzianou）
3. The Beach Boys / Cool, Cool Water
4. Bach, J.S. / Goldberg Variations The 20th Variation (Glenn Gould)
5. The Beach Boys / Add Some Music To Your Day
6. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.13 (Takahiro Sonoda)
7. Brahms, J / 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 - 1. Andante Moderato (Glenn Gould)
8. Brahms, J / 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 - 2. Andante Non Troppo (Glenn Gould)
9. SEGA / Main Theme of Enduro Racer
10. GO!GO!7188 / Manastu no Dancehall (A Dancehall in midsummer)
11. Backbeat Band / Please Mr. Postman
12. The Beach Boys / Take A Load Off Your Feet
13. The Beatles / No Reply
14. The Beatles / This Boy
15. GO!GO!7188 / San nin no boggie men (The Three Boggie Men)
16. Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra / Xanadu
17. Perfume / Ceramic Girl
18. Prince / I Wish U Heaven

1. reminds me of my childhood Sunday mornings – because every Sunday my father listened to the radio program whose theme tune was this song. As for 2,7, and 8, Ryuichi Sakamoto's recommend these tunes played by Glenn Gould, I believe these are romantic pieces. Haruki Murakami described The Beach Boys' excellent albums "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" in his music essay, it also made me want to listened to these album. I'm very impressionable. I think that 11. is the best track by The Backbeat band – the band for the movie "Backbeat", which is about the early life of the Beatles. The song radiated the young Beatles' wild rock attitude. 16. was my friend whilst jogging. The promotion video of the song featuring a roller skate musical movie evoked me to run delightfully.

My 2009 resolutions

1. Health
Take no day off due to catching a cold.
Concrete plan: I will go to my fitness club 1.5times in a week on average. The frequency helped me keep in good condition last year.

2. Learn cooking more
Concrete plan: Learn how to cook meals suitable for a sick person.
Last year I increased my ordinary menu from two to five to help my wife who looks after our one-year-old son. My wife appreciated that, but her imperative needs is that I can cook meals for her when she is sick.

3. Study and research for my family's future residence
Concrete plan: Making study sheet for as follows:
(1) Which is better purchase or rent?
(2) What is the best plan to manage money for residence for us?
(3) What are the important points for selecting good residence for us?

4. Select one theme and study it for this year.
This is Peter Drucker's method. I am learning his self-management method from my company's textbook, so I would like to bring in his good system.
What should I study? I want to know a theme which is concerned with politics. Last year, when I read a book (Robert B. Reich "Supercapitalism"), I thought that we should take part in politics more. In particular, the Japanese under 40 generation, including me, politicians became less interested in their policies for younger citizens, because of the voting rate of this generation.
I think to study about tax system, one of the important parts of administration.
Concrete plan: I will make summary sheets of this study and show them to my friends (sorry, in Japanese)

5. Become to be able to play a tune on piano
Concrete plan: I upload my play to web.
My ambitions through my life are making my English and playing piano better. I got TOEIC score of 825 last year, I think that it meant my English step was up (even I know my English is not enough) . Next, I take turn of piano. I will continue learning how to play the piano.

6. Keep TOEIC score above 800
I would like to keep my English ability, even though most of my free time will be taken for some other studies and learning the piano.

7. Speak more slowly than now.
Sometimes my Japanese speaking is too fast to understand.
Concrete plan: To become to speak at a normal speed and for my friends to admit that in December.