Thursday, November 25, 2010

英会話の学習方法について

How can I improve my English? Part 1:英会話の学習方法について

by Kevin Burns

英会話の学習方法について by Kevin Burns, owner of Kevin`s 英会話スクール日本に居ながらにして英語が話せるようになるのはなかなか難しいことです。だけど、できないというわけではありません。英語を習うに当っては「ローマは一日にしてならず」という諺があてはまるのを忘れないでください。 Kevin & Friends 英語が流暢に話せるようになるには時間がかかります。英会話を習うのはちょうどクラシックピアノを習うようなもので、自転車の乗り方を覚えたり水泳を習ったりするのとは訳が違います。例えば水泳を習う場合はその成果が短期間に分かります

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Samurai Chess Filmed at Odawara Castle

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Kintaro and the Gaijin Advantage

Kintaro and the Gaijin Advantage

By Kevin R. Burns


I live 90 minutes south of Tokyo in a small town called Minami Ashigara. I often say, "Hello" to Kintaro. He speaks English, and he's good at sumo with bears. I heard he won yesterday. There are few foreigners here. The only time I see a "gaijin" is when I look in the mirror. I am happy because Kintaro never calls me a "gaijin." He calls me Kevin, which is great because I am just a person like you. I may look different, but I am really not that different. I have a heart; I love my children; I work hard and I like to play, too. Are we so different? I don't think so. Kintaro isn't afraid of me, and you needn't be, either.

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On Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle

by Rory McGarity

"Akoboyakawa Clan first constructed a castle about 800 years ago. Later the castle came into the possession of the Omori Clan. In 1495 the great warrior Shinkuro Ise (later renamed Soun Hojo) came from Izu Province and removed the Omori Clan from Odawara using trickery and armed force. He then built a stronger castle at the present site and his influence gradually expanded over the Kanto provinces. From then the Hojo family was prosperous for five generations, as the lords of Odawara Castle.
The castle was gradually expanded in proportion to the clan's power, and Ujino Hojo, the 5th lord, constructed a donjon at the same site in 1580. By that time, Odawara had become the political, cultural and industrial center of the eastern region of Japan and compared favorably with the then capital of Japan, Kyoto.
In 1870, the donjon was completely destroyed. Recently, the donjon has been completely rebuilt and Odawara Castle is second in splendor only to the Imperial Palace and Osaka Castle. Portraits of the castle's feudal lords are displayed on the second floor and ancient armor, arms, and ancient maps are displayed on the third floor."

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Friday, November 05, 2010

How can I improve my English? Part 1:英会話の学習方法について


How can I improve my English? Part 1:英会話の学習方法について
by Kevin Burns
英会話の学習方法について by Kevin Burns, owner of Kevin`s 英会話スクール日本に居ながらにして英語が話せるようになるのはなかなか難しいことです。だけど、できないというわけではありません。英語を習うに当っては「ローマは一日にしてならず」という諺があてはまるのを忘れないでください。 Kevin & Friends 英語が流暢に話せるようになるには時間がかかります。英会話を習うのはちょうどクラシックピアノを習うようなもので、自転車の乗り方を覚えたり水泳を習ったりするのとは訳が違います。例えば水泳を習う場合はその成果が短期間に分かります。 Read More

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Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Hilton Odawara Resort and Spa voted Japan's leading resort in 2010

Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa voted Japan's leading resort in 2010

Monday 25th October, 04:38 AM JST

ODAWARA —

The Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa has come away with the highest accolade possible from The World Travel Awards (WTA), winning the title of “Japan’s Leading Resort the 2010 World Travel Awards.” Having achieved similar success for four consecutive year from 2005 to 2008, this is the fifth time for the resort property to secure a major award.

The resort is located just 60 minutes from Tokyo and opened in 2004. It is nestled in the foothills of Hakone and overlooks the waters of Sagami Bay.

The World Travel Awards (WTA) is the travel industries’ most prestigious and comprehensive
awards program. Established in 1993, it acknowledges, rewards, and celebrates excellence in all sectors of the global travel industry across over 190 countries. Winners are determined through an online voting campaign which attracts around 167,000 travel professionals worldwide, including more than 110,000 travel agents.

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Monday, November 01, 2010

Japanese Cherry Trees



(Pictured, the Oranges of Minamiashigara, near Odawara, by Kevan Hudson)



Japanese Cherry Trees



Japanese Cherry Trees

By Tanya Truong




There are many different varieties of Japanese cherry trees and this article will list some of the most common to the area. There are at least 12 different varieties of cherry that will be listed starting with the Somei Yoshino.

This is the most numerous of cherry trees in Japan, and comes with slightly pink or almost white 5 petal flowers. The Yamazuka is a wild, native cherry that grows in mountainous areas with slightly pink 5 petal flowers. The Shidarezakura is the weeping cherry and has five petal blossoms which can be either white or pink. The Ichiyo has 20 light pink petals. The Ukon has 10-20 petals per blossom and these are yellow in color. Kanzan blossoms hold as many as 30 pink petals.

The Fugenzo has about 30 petals per blossom and start out as a white to slight pink that turns into a darker pink. The Shogetsu has white blossoms of 20 petals. And the Kikuzakura has 100 petals per blossom. This is one of the late bloomers as far as cherry blossoms go. Now the times of the year to see these in Japan are as follows: Yoshino - Late March early April. Yamazakura is late March and early April as well. Skidarezakura - Late March - early April. Ichiyo - Mid April, Ukon - mid April. Kanzan blooms from mid to late April. Fugenzo also blooms from mid to late April. Shogetsu blooms from mid to late April and Kikuzakura blooms from late April to early May.

There are also other varieties of cherry blossom trees in Japan. These include Yaezakura, Shidarezakura and Yamazakura. The Yaezakura have large flowers with pink petals, The Shidarezakura has pink flowers. There are also fall varieties such as Autumnalis, which is considered to be a cross between Higan and Mamezakura. Here are some prime places in Japan for viewing the Sakura. In Tokyo, Odawara Castle, Omiya Koen Park, Mobara Koen Park, Kamine Koen Park and Takasaki Kannon-yama Koen are the places to be. In Kyoto, the best places to visit are Nara Park, Hikone-jo Castle, Himejijo Castle, and Akashi Koen.

In Osaka, The Japan Mint Osaka Head Office, Osako Nishinomaru Garden, Banpaku Koen, Kema Sakuanomiya Park and Kishiwada-jo Castle are your best options. In Kyushu and Okinawa the best places are Motobu Yaedake, Kumamoto Castle, Nishi Koen, Ogi Koen and Mochio Koen. In Tohoku region, Hirosaki Koen, Kitakami Tenshochi, Kajo Koen, Sendai Castle and Tsuruga Castle. In Hokkaido, you have Goryokaku Koen, Matsumae Koen Park, Nijukken Douro, Nenohi Park and Maruyama Park. In Chugoku region, you have Tsuyama Kakuzan Koen, Matsue Jozan Koen, Tokiwa Koen, Utsubuki Koen and Senkouji Koen. These are all places that you can visit and see the Japanese Cherry Trees in full bloom.

Tanya is an avid lover of nature. Her interest span many fields but her true passion lies in growing fantastic plants. Find out how you can master the art of growing cherries by visiting how to care for cherry trees [http://cherrytrees.neurofarts.com].




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tanya_Truong


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