運悪くヒューストン市では完全の金環食を見ることができませんでしたが、ちょっと前に部分日食中の落日を楽しみました。フジテレビの動画ニューズによると、日本の晴れるところでも（例えば、名古屋）三時間ぐらい前で完全の金環食または部分日食が見えたそうです。私は皆既食をカナダとメキシコで（全部に二回）見ました。それに比べると、今回の部分日食中の落日が別に大したことではありませんでしたが、どうしてもちょっとワクワクしました。
--- Steven W. Johnston (SKYPE = StevenWJohnston)
My family went climbing yesterday. To be honest, I'm not good at it, but my family had insisted and expected me to do so previously at least one time as a family's plan this year. Therefore, it was carried out. I and my family went to Mt. Yahiko, where they have a fabled shrine of the same name, in my Niigata Prefecture in Japan.
Mount Yahiko is 634 meters tall, which is the same hight as Tokyo Sky Tree, which will make its grand opening within days in Tokyo, the capital.
To tell the truth, it was hard for me to walk on the mountain track, because some passes were muddy with streams of water. However, when I came to a latter station, the scenery was wonderful, spread with rice paddies on the Echigo plain field beneath. Niigata prefecture is one of major rice producers in the country. It's likely the season they have finished rice planting. So, each field appears filled with water.
At last, I could reach the top. There were many people who already ate lunch brought by themselves. Because I didn't take a lunch box, I wish I had done.
Back to the foot, my family rode a cable car. I as well as my son gave up making it back by myself. I was so exhausted. The one way ticket was 700 yen per adult for the ten-minute trip.
That said, I had fun because I feel I accomplished something, partly because I had thought I was not a capable person physically. Now, I am happy for changing one of my thoughts that I had had.
An athletic festival took place at my son's school yesterday. Fortunately, we were blessed with a fine weather. School kids enjoyed their games. And their parents and other families came to see their kids.
They had two teams colored either red or white. They compete for higher scores, running faster and doing their best. There are various kinds of games, such as a footrace, a cheering competition, a relay, a folk dance and so on.
There are armies of red and white. They are lined up.
My son and other second graders participated in what's called "Tamaire (玉入れ)," literally means putting balls in a basket. They play by group of white or red. Students throw up balls at an overhead basket. The balls are stuffed with straw (?) or some soft materials, so it wouldn't hurt even if balls drop onto your head. The basket is about three meter tall, bound to a pole. That's how they cannot place balls easily. The more balls they get balls in the top basket, the better. They'll win.
In my neighborhood, it's kind of athletic festival season. I've heard that they had it at other schools, too. The month of May is one of best season in a year in light of outdoor events, after cold weather ends until a hot weather comes.
私はカナダ人です。
私は日本語がすこし知る。
(I have doubts that I said the right thing...but whatever! You don't learn without making mistakes! :D)
英語の読み書きがもっとスムーズにいったらいいなぁって思って登録してみたけど
I made this account with expectation that I can read and write english more smoother.
説明書きが英語ですでに挫折気味。
But I have been already frustrated because FAQ is written in english.
これ、書いたら誰か採点してくれるのかな？
Is this entry checked by someone?
むしろ、誰か変な日本語にビシバシと突っ込みを入れてみたいけど
Rather, I whant write severe comment someone's japanese entry,
ツッコミも英語で入れなきゃいけないのだろうか
must I write the comment in english?
壁は高い
A wall is high.
We are looking forward to something in Japan next Monday, which is a rare phenomenon astronomically. An annular solar eclipse will happen in the morning of May 18th across regions along the Pacific seaside. Or in other areas, it's still possible to see a partial eclipse of the sun.
Called "Kinkan Nisshoku (金環日食)" in Japan, the sun hidden by the moon this time is such a rare event since 1987. Because the distance from the Earth to the moon is so far, the moon cannot hide the sun wholly. Therefore, the eclipse will look like a gold ring covered by the moon. That's why we say Kinkan (金環), as each of Kanji means gold and a ring, with no corona or flame around. By contrast, a "partial solar eclipse" happens more frequently. The moon lies relatively near the the Earth. The moon hides the sun completely, and the eclipse looks like a blazing fire hidden by the black circle. We call it "Kaiki Nisshoku (皆既日食)." Here is a collection of images for partial solar eclipse. http://bit.ly/JlrYR0.
Unfortunately, my living town cannot see the annular solar eclipse because I live on the Sea of Japan, the opposite side to the Pacific. Yet, due to a media frenzy on television and in radio, I am also looking forward to going outside next Monday morning. Luckily, this time, it's a day-off from school for my son in place of Saturday, when an athletic meet is held. Therefore, we are ready with black glasses, and I hope a sunny day.
This is information published by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan about the annular solar eclipse. Please refer to the English version if you're interested.
http://naojcamp.mtk.nao.ac.jp/phenomena/20120521/index-en.html
