Smoking

I took this photo at a JR station on my way to job.

Now, Japan is becoming a country where people who love to smoke don't want to live. In public space, smokers have to use special places for smoking. I am not a smoker, so I welcome this trend.

The World No Tobacco day, May 31, is coming soon. It is just my 4?th birthday.

an athletic meet

Last Sunday, an athletic meet of my son's school was held. I observed it with my wife and doughter. It was fine day.

But, I felt a little bit something strange from my experience.

When I went to junior high school, most of students refused thier parents to see their athletic meet because of their rebel in adolescence. But now, most parents naturally attend their teenage children's athlete meets.

It is said that people in Japan act like what younger people do than the past（幼児化傾向）. I felt this trend from these parents act in this athletic meets.

"Hotto-Motto" starts.

"Hokka-Hokka tei"（ほっかほっか亭） is a representative company that serves "bento"（弁当） that is a kind of Japanese take-out-type fast food. The company has done its business by using franchise system.

But, the largest group in its franchise named Plenus declared its Independence, last year. Today is the first day for the new company named "Hotto Motto".

Whether this new company succeeds or not, this is my interest.

"Nanjya-Monjya"

Nanjya-Monjya

Now, "Nanjya-Monjya" trees in "Oka-no-Minato Jinjya"（岡湊神社） shrine in Ashiya-machi（芦屋町） are in full bloom.

The name, "Nanjya-Monjya" is very unique, I think. Certainly, its flower are very unique and beautiful.

bad result, and good experience

I wanted to run faster than I did last year at "Tour de Kunisaki"（ツールド国東）, but I could not do it. As my excuse, I felt dizzy when I took a short time rest 30 minutes later from start. "Short time" became "long time". And, at the point of about 30km, I felt something wrong in my left leg. So, I rested several times, as its result, it took longer to reach the goal than last year's record.

I was a little bit shocked with this result. Because my friend who took part in this event for the first time run faster than me at about 1 hour short time. I have to re-consider my way of bike training to take part in the next year's event.

From that day's evening to next day's morning, we stayed at a B&B style accommodation in rural area in Ooita prefecture run by a couple. This was a good experience to us.

We heard listen to the host family's stories while eating dinner with several alchohole and dirnking alcohol. He was a retired business man who once worked hard in city area. He started this local life about 6 years ago when he ended his business man life. Now, he acts as an ecologist in several areas.

She also looked to enjoy this local life. She was born in Tokyo and spent almost her life in city area untill they came there. I was impressed with her ability to adjust herself to local community. It depends on her good and bright character, I think.

Next day's morning, he explained to us about some ecological devices that the building has. They has equipped it with "the OM solar system" that uses solar power to warm the building and water. And the building has a good stove (below photo) that burns firewoods. He said that they can keep temperature in the building about 23degrees Celsius in winter. He also explained their outdoor's devices to us . He grows some vegetables and "shiitake"（椎茸）(a kind of mushroom) in organic way, and experiments whether a compost using a cardboard box is useful or not.

Their life in local area gave us a chance to re-consider our now life and future's life.