How to use Kindle

In this point, there have not been any Japanese books sold by Amazon for Kindle yet. So, we have to create Japanese texts that is available on Kindle. Now, I am developing several ways for it. I introduce two useful ways that cost no money.

The first way is by using the websites, Aozora-bunko（青空文庫） and Aozora-kindoru（青空キンドル）. At Aozora-bunko, you can get Japanese texts that is out of copyright with free. And you can convert a text into a PDF file that is written in vertical direction by using Aozora-kindle. I have downloaded some books into my Kindle. They includes Terada Torahiko's（寺田寅彦） essays and Kikuchi Kan's（菊池寛） novels.

The second is for my business. I often see some documents about my work. They includes laws and rules in particular fields. I can see these documents on my Kindle by sending text files or PDF files to my own kindle's e-mail address.

Kindle is a interesting device, but my hope is to be able to read newly published Japanese books by it.

"Karatsu"

Last Sunday, I visited "Karatsu"（唐津） with my family. The purpose of this trip is to spend relaxed time at a hotel. The city of "Karatsu" locates in the eastern end of Saga prefecture（佐賀県）. It took about 2hours by car to get to the hotel from my home. (But, we used several roads that require fees to reduce the driving time. If not, it would take more than three hours.)

After taking a bath, we had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel.

The next day, Monday, we visited "Yobuko"（呼子） where is famous for its morning market. We bought several foods there and went back to "Karatsu-Jo"(castle)（唐津城）. For our lunch, we ate "Karatsu-burger"（唐津バーガー） in "Niji-no-Matsubara"（虹の松原） where is a man-made forest with a lot of traditional pine tree.

On our way to our home, we stopped at ”Canal City Hakata”（キャナルシティ博多） in the city of Fukuoka because our children wanted to buy some character goods at "Jump-shop" and "Pokemon-center".

I took several photos in this trip, but unfortunately, I could not take a photo on the second day because my camera's battery was out.

Kindle has come!

Recently, I have got the "amazon-kindle Wi-Fi" without considering about how to use it because its price looked very attractive to me.

I have learned how to use the device from several web-site about it after the oder. In my final thought, the kindle is a very good device for non-native English speaker to learn English because we can read many English texts written in English that are downloaded from web-sites by using the device and also it can read a text loudly aloud in English.

For a while, I will try to use it in several usages.

Bike touring

P8220084, originally uploaded by bikenglish.

Last Sunday, I took part in a bike touring that was formed from 9 members. Only one of them was my acquaintance in them. He had suggested me to take part in it and I decided to do it.

Usually, I ride my bike alone along coast line without up-down. So, this riding was very hard for me because it included many slopes in very hot weather. The distance was about 100Km. We started at 8AM and came back at 4PM.(Of course, it includes several rest.)

I managed to keep up with them at the end all time. But, this was good experience that tell me a joy of group riding. And "mini-puffet"（ミニパフェ） ,"Ringo-curry"（りんごカレー） that I ate at a farmer's restaurant were very delicious.

"Hatsu-Bon"

IMG_0539.JPG, originally uploaded by bikenglish.

People in Japan believe that spirits of ancestors return to the living world in a period known as "O-Bon"（お盆）, from August 13 to 15. And people celebrate the first "O-Bon" that comes after their loved people died. It is called "Hatsu-Bon"（初盆）

The period of last Friday to Sunday was "Hatsu-Bon" for us because my father died this January. Around "Butsudan"（仏壇） was decorated with special ornaments in my mother's house.

Several people, mainly relatives, visited my mother's house to pray for the spirit of my father in front of the Butsudan.

Until my father's death, "O-Bon" was a good time for my family to gather, eat and drink. But, now, this has become a little bit lonely time because of the lack of our family member.

seeing Fukuoka with Australian

IMG_0521.JPG, originally uploaded by bikenglish.

Yesterday, I guided an Australian man who sent a message through Japan Cycling Navigator in the city of Fukuoka. He says that he will stay in Japan for about 2 months.

At first, we visited the Kushida Shrine（櫛田神社） in Hakata ward（博多区）. It is a famous shrine because the Hakata Yamagasa（博多山笠） is held around the shrine each year. But, unfortunately, the building is smaller than I expected and dons not has great atmosphere.

Next, we visited the Fukuoka Jyo-shi（福岡城址） and the Oohori-kouen（大濠公園）. The sky was clear, but air was very hot.

After that, we ate Nagahama-ramen（長浜ラーメン） as earlier lunch. Also, unfortunately, it was not so delicious as well as I ate in the past.

And, we went to the highest place in the Fukuoka Tower（福岡タワー） to see the city.

Our last visit was a shop that sells bike goods because he needed some items for his this touring by bike.

He will leave Fukuoka for Beppu（別府） early morning on August 7. Using a map, I gave some advices to him about the route that he will use for his way to Beppu at his accommodation before I said "good-bye" to him.

I really hope his secure and enjoyable touring by bike in Japan.

The day's result

Last Thursday, I went fishing in the sea. This is the day' s result. I made "Nanban-zuke"（南蛮漬け）, one of Japanese traditional dishes, from them.

Ross will take part in the ceremony in Hiroshima

I have written about this problem in the past articles on my blog. And, here. Yesterday, I came across with an article in Ashahi that tells some developments on the issue. I have translated it into English.

The US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley announced Wednesday that John Ross, the ambassador to Japan will take part in the annual peace memorial ceremony August 6 in Hiroshima. He says that the purpose of Ross's participation to it is to express the honor for all victims of the World War Ⅱ. But, in another development on this issue, a high level official in the department said clearly that the USA does not have any idea that it will express apology to Japan about using the mass destruction weapons in WW2 in the ceremony.

"Kaku-uchi"

This time, I intoduce a unique word in Kitakyushu（北九州） area.

"Kaku-uchi"（角打ち） is a special word used in only this area. It means a place to drink without using chairs. So, people can drink saving money.

A big ironworks led by those day's government was built in Yahata（八幡） (now a part in the city of Kitakyushu) in 1901 and the area had developed as an industrialized city. Many people, workers and their family members, gathered in this area.

There used to be a lot of workers until in the area in the 1970's when Japanese major industry had begun to change from "heavy" to "light, or electronics, or car".

Workers needed a place where they could drink after work with less money. Some liquor shops started to serve alcohol to them (I think), people called it "Kaku-uchi". But, no one exactly knows where the word comes from.

Generally, "Kaku-uchi" means a place where people can drink next to a liquor shop. But, recently, there are drink places named "Kaku-uchi" in city's urban area. These photos are some examples.

"Green" road

Recently, my ride course has been partly painted in "green". I don't know that the painting the road in green is really needed , but the color is very nice ."見事な緑色！"