恋する英語

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何に悩んでるの？　What's eating you?

Do you remember when you were at 14-year-old? What's eating you? It's the time every trivial matters eating you. In this book, Soichiro Ishihara, a columnist,gives you crisp answers to solve those juvenile problems with wit. This is the book for "Around-Fourteen." Also this book brings back sweet memories.←I appreciate your vote!

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ページをぱらぱらめくる　　　flip over the pages
A love of books is one of the greatest gifts parents can give a kid. Wondering if this was too difficult for a baby, I bought "The very hungry Catepiller" when Youka was 7-month-old.This has become one of her favorite.She flips over the pages of the book by herself.The illustrations are bright and cheerful, the writing is full of fun. I hope she always has a love of books.
←I appreciate your vote!

人気のブログたち☆

英語ブログならココ

The story is...
A young caterpillar is born and begins to eat his way through the world and through many foods. It becomes a fat caterpillar. It then spins itself a cocoon, where it rests for two weeks. And when it emerges...
While kids are fascinated by the story and magical process of metamorphosis, from egg to butterfly, he/she also learns about numbers, counting, colors and the days of the week.

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高騰する soar

The price of oil is soaring worldwide, a “crisis” that has dominated the past week’s newspaper's front pages. I didn't care that much about those reports before, but now they're a matter of our life. Now anything can move prices. (Gee, one of my favorite cake used to be 1000yen, but now it's 1200yen! This is a trivial matter though...) I hope that the government finally decides to lower gas prices. How do you think about it?
←I appreciate your vote!

人気のブログたち★

英語のブログ☆

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はい、注目してください。　　Let me get your attention up here.

Let me get your attention up here on the board. Have you ever controled your time? You'd say "It's impossible." But...yes, you can! with this clock. Even when you oversleep, you don't have to worry about the time anymore. You can just change the face as the time you wish to be on the blackboard with chalk. Just the thing is ...the time is not for everyone, but only for you though...

←I appreciate your vote!

★I found this clock at Conran shop in Marubiru.17850yen.
人気ブログたち。

英語力アップに

～へのこだわり　　commitment to～

I visited Hiroo Yamagata’s, a translator and writer (and also works for Nomura reserch institute), apartment for a home party. Kyudogakusha is the oldest reinforced concrete apartment building in Japan, which was built in the Taisho era as a dormitory. This renovated corporative housing has both a nostalgic atmosphere and the newest facilities. Hiroo has good taste and commitment not only to his translation and writings but also to his life style.
←I appreciate your vote!

人気のブログたち

英語ブログならコチラ

Ume-ban is a book combining a Japanese dictionary “Shinmeikai kokugo jiten” and a photo book. The photos were taken by Kayo Ume who has received Kimura-Ihei Awards. Ume’s pictures depict (not explain) the emotion of the word. This is one of the great fusions of words and pictures. I’ve never seen this kind of funny, unique and cute book.
←I appreciate your vote!
★The dictionary ”Shin meikai kokugo jiten"explains, for example “koi (love)” is…

【恋　koi】( not really equal to Love, but close emotion to Love, I think.)
①To develop your deep tender love feelings for a certain person (of the other sex)＊. When you can feel the person close to you, you are fulfilled and satisfied and get an emotional uplift as if you can dedicate everything you have to the love. On the other hand, you are threatened with breaking up with the person and always feel unrest and irritation. [Falling in love / Love is blind. / You can’t tell the feeling of love./ Senior’s love.](This is my translation.)

＊"Koi" is a feeling you feel not only to the other sex, I guess…so I just use ( ) to express my question.

人気ブログですよ☆

英語ブログはコチラ

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まさにその日　　The very day

The very day I wrote the travel column about Tibet, Chinese state media carried a report of disturbances in Tibet. I really hopefor the improvement of the situation…Also, well, actually, what I really care about is…I have to rewrite my column!!! I had a call from the editor. He said “nobody cares for the story of a peaceful trip to Tibet under the circumstances”. He's right…there is another disturbance here…
←I appreciate your vote!

人気のブログたち☆

英語ブログで上達！

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言外の意味　　　connotation

These Hina Dolls are collected by old Japanese family. One of the significant dolls is “Tsurusi bina”, hanging many different dolls, such as herbal leaves to avoid insects ( the connotation of bad guys) and so on. People pray their daughter’s happiness decorating these dolls, which will take over all evil matter happen to their daughter. It’s really nice to enjoy Hina dolls in old Japanese house with the smell of Tatami mat.The number of dolls is...tremendous!

←I appreciate your vote!

★Licorice House (Kanzo-yashiki) is located right in front of Enzan-station on Chuo-line.

人気ランキングです☆

英語ブログの人気もの

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無駄遣いする　extravagant

One of my favorite directors, Sofia Coppola’s newest film “Marie Antoinette” depicts the queen in a very pop and cute taste. I like how Coppola depicts Marie’s naïve girl aspects and the clothes and knick-knacks, which got academy awards. I was a bit disappointed at the last part of the film making me feel that it is “unfinished”.

←I appreciate your vote!

★I like the facial expression that Marie shows lying and licking the cream of the cake with her finger while looking at the camera as if she is saying “So what?” It well depicts, historically, her well known extravagant aspect and also her simple and innocent aspect.

人気ブログはコチラ☆

英語のブログランキングです！

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半信半疑　uncertain

A friend of mine gave me a handcrafted Goat’s Milk Soap, made from olive and other oils and 100％ fresh goat’s milk. It contains many nutrients including essential proteins, amino acids and vitamin A. I was uncertain about the effect, however, wow, it made my skin surface smooth! Above all, ” goat’s milk” sounds “delicious” and appealing to me.
←I appreciate your vote!

★You can find the soap at生活提案 from Australia

こんな人気ブログはいかがでしょ？

英語上達のお手伝い

飲み会　after-hours party

I received a new type of physical examination book! Soichiro Ishihara, a columnist, released “Otona no Kaitai Shinsho”. He writes about this and that! of human body in a funny way. This book will be a good conversation material for the after-hours party, mixer and…even at your home.
←I appreciate your vote!

★”Otona no Kaitai Shinsho”(written by Soishiro Ishihara, illustrated by Yuji Hayashi Kawadeshobo-shinsha, 2008,)

あ、こんな人気ブログも！

ほっ、と、こんなブログたちも

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霜柱　needle ice

Strolling along the river bank, I stepped on the needle ice. I haven’t seen it for a long time. Needle ice is a phenomenon that occurs when the temperature of the soil is above 0°C and the surface temperature of the soil is below 0°C. The underground moisture is brought to the surface. I love the crispy sound it makes when I step on it.

←I appreciate your vote!
★Alternate names for needle ice are "frost column", "kammeis,"　 "pipkrake"　and so on….
人気のブログたち

今日も１日ハッピーでありますように☆

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欲張り　a big bite

What's your new year's resolution? I will wake up earlier than last year.(The last year's resolution was wake up early, then...) I don't take a big bite this year.Wishing you a wonderful New Year!　　Cheers!
　　
←I appreciate your vote!

★This is the year of the mouse in the Chinese zodiac.
今年の人気ブログ

今年もいいことありますように☆

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絶品の　exquisite

Dear Santa,

I have been very good this year.
This is a small gift for you from my family, including eight-month-old baby, Youka.
Take a break and enjoy this exquisite dessert. I wish 2008 will be as good as this year.
Merry Christmas!

←I appreciate your vote!

人気ブログならこちら☆

英語ブログランキング

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気持ちを落ち着ける calm the mind

I couldn’t meet the deadline for the book! Gee, I was exhausted. A friend of mine recommended me to try Oxygen capsule. Oxygen calms the mind and stabilizes the nervous system and is responsible for the health and maintenance of every cell in the human body (including skin cells). The effect is……I’m not really sure, but it might make a difference, I hope.
←I appreciate your vote!
★David Beckham, Yuki Saito and other athletes use the same kind of machine.

人気ブログ　が楽しめます

おかげさまで、上位にいます

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人気着メロ　　ringtone hit

The king of Spain yelled at the Venezuelan president, in a heated end to a summit in Chile.　The King’s voice has become a ring tone hit across Spain. According to BBC news, an estimated 500,000 people have downloaded the insult so far, featuring the words "Why don't you shut up?
←I appreciate your vote!
★Why did he shout? Because the Venezuelan president had insulted Spain's former prime minister, Chavez repeatedly tried to interrupt, but his microphone was　already off.　This is very childish and it’s like a child's fight, isn’t it?

You can find the movie at the following site.http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=6MgnmzxwfIg

人気のブログたち

おかげさまで、人気ランキング上位にいます。

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drip with sarcasm 皮肉を言う

A friend of mine, Soichiro Ishihara, a columnist, published a book “Sanjyu Onna toiu Yamai.” today! The English title, which I translated, is “What’s wrong with me? I’m female and thirtyish.” He writes about thritysomethings female life style. His writings are full of surprises, and his sarcasm and wit drip from every page. Please take a look at it!

←I appreciate your vote!
★”Sanjyu Onna toiu Yamai”(What’s wrong with me? I’m female and thirtyish."is my translation of what he means.)(Kodansha) is released today!

人気ブログたち

注目ブログとして紹介されました！
ランキング上位キープ！ありがとうございます

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ーに変装する　　disguise in-

Halloween, is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. The main event for children of modern Halloween in the United State is trick-or-treating, in which children disguise themselves in costumes and go door-to-door in their neighborhoods yelling "trick or treat!" to receive candies.


←I appreciate your vote!
★The carved pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols. This is originally an Irish tradition.

人気ブログはココ

女性向け!人気ブログ

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相性がいい　have good chemistry

“The pursuit of happyness” is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, who secured an internship with a stock brokerage firm while he was homeless and finally became a billionaire. The film stars Will Smith as Gardner and Smith's real-life son Jaden Smith as Gardner's son Christopher. They have especially good chemistry between the real father and son. Above all, Jaden is soooo cute!
←I appreciate your vote!
★The misspelling of "happyness" refers to a theme in the movie where Gardner is upset that a mural decorating his son's daycare is spelled incorrectly.

人気blogたち

女性向け人気ブログ

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シュワシュワ音　fizzy sound

I found a bottle of Ramune in the closet. Oh well, I remember that the cell phone company gave it to me when I changed my old cell to a new one. I totally forgot about the Ramune for more than two months. I feel like summer forgot to take it’s belongings with it.

←I appreciate your vote!
★I just enjoyed the fizzy sound after the click which the crystal ball makes.

人気のblogたち

女性向けの人気ブログたち・　ビューティファンはこちら

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空中浮遊　 Levitation

I had a cup of tea on the 52nd floor. Wow, I can see Tokyo city spread out far below. I felt like I was levitating over it. I wondered why I like the higher place, because I don’t see the details of the city such as the building board of a quick-loan outlet, traffic jams and so on, I guess.
←I appreciate your vote!
★Tokyo has gotten crowded and more crowded these days. I found a school ground close to Roppongi hills. It seems very tiny. I feel sorry for kids who are brought up in a crowded area.

いろんな人気blogたち

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-の帰り道に　on the way back fromー

The guy in the recent Louis Vuiton’s advertisement is Mikhail Gorbachev＊, the last leader of the USSR. This picture, in which Gorbachev has a LV’s bag beside him was not taken for the advertisement, but taken in front of the Berlin wall on the way back from a conference. The poster says: “Why do people travel? To know the world? Or To change the world?”

＊Mikhail Gorbachev ：The last leader of the Soviet Union, serving from 1985 until its collapse in 1991.
←I appreciate your vote!
★It’s very ironic that the leader of a socialist country had a bag which was one of the icons of democracy. This wasn’t just a pose, he really had one. The poster is really cool because of its reality anyways.

人気blogランキングはコチラ

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行ったり来たり　　back and forth

At first sight, I thought this might be a cleaning robot. Actually this is a music player rolling around your room. After setting your i-pod in the center and turning on the switch, this machine starts rolling back and forth playing music and flashing lights. It’s a really cool gadget!
←I appreciate your vote!
★If you like uncommon gadgets, you’ll love it!
It was displayed at Idea-Sevens-Sense. http://www.idea7thsense.com/

人気blogランキングへ

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ひいおじいちゃん・おばあちゃん great-grandpa/great-grandma

We took Youka to great-grandpa and great-grandma’s home. They were so happy to see Youka.　Youka also enjoyed the stay. Just the thing is…ｔheir house was built in the end of Edo period and they even had old Japanese warehouses, Kura. It’s a very nice and old house, however, the atmosphere was a bit scary for me as if the house were haunted by ghost…excuse me!　This is one of good memories of this summer.

←I appreciate your vote!

人気blogランキングへ

　さて、暑い日本から抜け出して、避暑のため、あるいはカラリと暑いビーチを求めて海外に出かける人も多い時期になりました。せっかくだから英語でコミュニケーションを！とＤＳや、しゃべる電子辞書を持って奮闘している人もいることでしょう。今回は、ちょっと番外編。英語でコミュニケーションをとるときのコツについてです。詳しくは＜日本語・解説はこちら＞↓で。

人気blogランキングへ
←I appreciate your vote!

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お酒に強い　 have much tolerance for alcohol

I don’t have much tolerance for alcohol and don’t drink that much. But it’s a different story if you have tolerance and if you like it. I enjoy drinking just a small amount. Now I stopped drinking for Youka. Oh well, it’s a shame to miss the best season for enjoying beer!
←I appreciate your vote!
★Well chilled beer with three tenth head is the best way of enjoying beer.
Kirin introduced many different ways of enjoying beer!
Kirin beer collegehttp://www.kirin.co.jp/daigaku/index.html

人気blogランキングへ

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ーから抜きん出る　　rise aboveー

A dysfunctional family take a road trip to enter their little girl in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Excellent cast, especially the little girl Olive and her grandpa, make this film rise above most films of this nature. I loved the comedy, the acting, the wild story line and the goofy antics.
←I appreciate your vote!
★The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Original Screenplay for Michael Arndt and Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin.

人気blogランキングへ

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-どこか魅力的な雰囲気 　-have a somewhat charming atmosphere

A matryoshka doll is a set of dolls of decreasing sizes placed one inside another, as you know. Matroyoshkas are often designed to follow a particular theme, ranging from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders.. They are very popular dolls at sundry goods shops now. There are many cute ones.

←I appreciate your vote!
★Matryoshka have a somewhat charming atmosphere. I also have one of Soviet leaders . They are not cute at all, but it is something funny.

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花言葉　　language of flowers

According to Wikipedia, The Ajisai is“ a Japanese flower of the Hydrangea family. Many Japanese enthusiasts observe its color-changing during the "Tsuyu" rainy season from June to July.” I didn’t know till now that the Japanese kind is called Ajisai, distinguished from the western one.

←I appreciate your vote!
★Ajisai is most beautiful when it has raindrops on its petals and leaves.
In the language of flowers, Hydrangea signifies strong love, family ties, and volatile emotions.

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くせ毛・まとまらない髪　　unruly hair

This is the worst season of the year for people who have unruly hair! Humidity makes my unruly hair more curly and puffy. I use many hair care items, such as essential oil and moist control shampoo;, however, these are not working well. I wish Japanese summers had drier and more pleasant weather so that hair styling would be easier.
←I appreciate your vote!
★ I use “Aroma Esthe Hair Emulsion” of!La CASTA , which controls your hair moisture with Essential oil. I strongly recommend this for anyone who has unruly hair

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ちらと見る　give a glance

There is an old man, who always talks to You-ka whenever we pass by in front of his shop. But he was talking to a young girl and he didn’t even give a glance to You-ka today. Well, he seemed to prefer an adolescent girl to a baby. You-ka is a bit too young.
←I appreciate your vote!
★Elderly people tend to talk to You-ka.People that age will remember when they were bringing up their baby, I guess.

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肩を並べる　be on par

There are two shops close to my place. One is Café Mozart. The other is a select shop Bukowski. Mozart is a famous composer, as you know, who was even painted in a picture with Marie Antoinette. Bukowski is an author, who wrote very decadent stories in 20th century. They are totally different types of artists, but here, they are on par.
←I appreciate your vote!
★Two artists are so different, though, everything goes together in Japan!

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逆ギレ　misplaced anger

I spilt a glass of cocoa when I was about to take a picture of it.
I felt sorry about that, however, the clerk said “Oh no, there are some books in the desk drawer” as if he was blaming me. I felt sorry at first, but the way he said it annoyed me. This is misplaced anger! Also I’m sorry about it!
←I appreciate your vote!
★I don't have the picture of the cocoa, because...I spilt it ;-P
I should be more careful when I have a tall glass in front of me!

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旬　 in season

As I received broad beans in a vegetable delivery, I grilled them on the wire grate. It’s very nice to cook food that is in season, therefore making the most of the original taste. I’d like to have these with cold beer! (though I’ve stopped drinking for now…)
←I appreciate your vote!
★My favorite way to eat broad beans is with a pinch of salt.

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絶好のチャンス　heaven-sent opportunity

As assistant to impossibly demanding editor-in-chief Miranda (Streep), Andy (Hathaway) has landed a job that "a million girls would die for." Unfortunately, her heaven-sent opportunity as Miranda's personal whipping girl just might be very tough and the death of her！　
←I appreciate your vote!
★Based on the hilarious best-selling novel, this funny movie starring Academy Award winner Meryl Streep is entertaining in every way. I also had the same kind of experience.

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初物　　first fruits

Now is the season of first fruits. This is the first corn of the season for me.
It’s very nice to have a sweet corn kernel, pop in your mouth, with salt while it’s still hot.
And…eating it with a big bite is the best way to enjoy it!

←I appreciate your vote!
★I hate insects wiggling in vegetables and fruits, however, if it has insects, it means they are very healthy without using that much pesticide.Corns comes into its season in summer.

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肩身が狭い　feel inferior

I found a cool No smoking sign at a shop. No smoking areas are increasing in number in Japan these days.
Even the Shinkansen has removed the smoking car.
Smokers might feel inferior. It’s a great opportunity to quit smoking isn’t it?
←I appreciate your vote!
★I don’t smoke, however, there are many cigarettes that seem very yummy, such as a peach flavored one.

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ーから自由になる　free from-

The protagonist, Justin, throws himself and everyone around him into chaos when he attempts to break free from his addiction to his thumb…"Thumbsucker" is a poignant tale for anyone who has ever felt that they "just didn't quite fit in".

Mike Milles, the director, belongs to the generation of Sofia Coppola. The film is very sensitive and the music is very tender, however, the drama is more dry than emotional. This is also a good aspect of this film.

←I appreciate your vote!

★"Thumbsucker" is a quirky but well-made film, which received some awards. If you are a huge fan of independent films, you should definitely see it.
http://www.sonypictures.jp/homevideo/thumbsucker/index.html

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実用的 utilitarian

A ceiling fan has the appearance of being just decoration,, but actually it’s very utilitarian to make your room cool. When the fan goes round and round, the room air is diffused.
Even a slow movement is efficient to stir up the air.
←I appreciate your vote!
★When I had to sleep in a very hot room, the ceiling fan stirred the air in the room and made me sleep well.

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柔軟な発想　flexible mind-set

The written words “coffee” and “tea” on the saucers are not readable as it is.
They are written totally opposite to the usual way; however, the words become readable when reflected on the cup. It’s great calligraphy, isn’t it?
←I appreciate your vote!
★I wonder how the industrial designer created these? You have to calculate not only how it will be reflected but also the curving of the cup and so on…. Somebody with a flexible mind-set might create this!

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カフェのはしご　　café hop

I used to do my assignments at a café (now I hardly can though…), I even did café hop a lot! My mom took care of Youka so I could go out to finish my writings at a café, but only for two hours. I can concentrate very well at a café.
←I appreciate your vote!
★My longest stay at a café was for 7 hours! That was when I had to finish reading the galley for a book at Starbucks Akasaka.

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カチャカチャ　　click-clack / clatter

I found a typewriter at a cafe. I used to use a typewriter when I printed on papers, such as an application form for school. The keys were very heavy so I couldn’t type as speedy as I now do on the computer. Also the click sounds were analogical, but I love those sounds.
←I appreciate your vote!
★A typewriter is very convenient when you have to type on a certain blank.

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put me in a sentimental vein 　　　 感傷的な気分になる

Now there are many tours related to Tokyo Tower, such as a stay at a hotel with the tower view, in tribute to the best selling book. I stayed at Tokyo Prince when I had to catch the flight early in the morning for my biz trip. I asked to the hotel “I ‘d like a room with Tokyo Tower view.” The room was almost at the foot of Tokyo Ｔower and I even looked up at it! It was kind of a nice stay.

←I appreciate your vote!
★I love watching Tokyo Tower at night. The orangish light putｓ me in a sentimental vein.

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昔の恋人　　old　flame

Don Johnston (Murray) receives an anonymous pink letter informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him！ The situation causes Don to examine his relationships with women and he embarks on a cross-country search for his old flames…It might be a very scary story for men and a funny story for observers. You can enjoy Bill Murray’s soulful eyes.
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★Part road movie, part detective story, part meditation of a human heart, Broken Flowers is even more minimalist than most Jim Jarmusch movies.

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馴染みの・行き着けの　one’s frequent/ one’s back yard

When I was walking on Kotto St., after a long time, I found the restaurant I used to frequent when I worked as a student part time translator in the area. The wall was painted, however, the appearance and the atmosphere hadn’t changed. It makes me happy as if I met my old friend after ages.
←I appreciate your vote!
★Smoky is a sausage restaurant on Kotto-dori in Aoyama. Many restaurants in the area had gone so I was very happy when I found the restaurant was still there.

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できちゃった婚　shotgun wedding

There are so many shotgun weddings these days. Some analysts say that 40 % of 20’s marriages in Japan are shotgun weddings now! There is nothing bad about this kind of marriage, however, it is true that the couple who marries in their early 20’s (and teenage) because of having a baby, tend to divorce… Well, it’s very nice to have your baby at a young age, but you would be better to have a baby when you are well prepared, I guess.
←I appreciate your vote!
★Many show-business celebrities tend to marry in this style. This is the mainstream of marriage for young people!?

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make me feel like-　 -の気分になる。

The poster, showing two tiny bunny boys, is really cute, isn’t it? 　
This is an advertisement of London. It makes me feel like flying to London.
Well…the advertisement is really successful. Good job! 　for the creator.
←I appreciate your vote!
★There is an adult version of these bunnies, however the impact is not as strong as the kids’ one.

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花びら　petals

Flowers are very colorful in this season. After the ch