Shoujin meal is Japanese traditional Buddhism food, only made of vegetables. Some may think the Shoujin meal is a kind of vegan meal, but there is a significant difference. When discussing the difference between vegan and Shoujin meals, first, we have to understand that cooking and eating Shoujin meals are fundamental parts of Buddhism ascetic training. They turn out to be Shoujin meals when Buddhist monks take them in the manners of Buddhism. So it all depends on us whether it is a Shoujin meal or not. To make it the Buddhism training, there are five basic and simplified manners for beginners when we eat Shoujin meals. 1) Sit by stretching your back straight up in front of Ozen, a small table-like tray. 2) Use chopsticks and dishes with both hands. 3) Put the chopsticks down properly on the Ozen when masticating food. 4) Don't talk. Be fastidiously careful not to make any sound when you raise the chopsticks and plates up and down. 5) Clean dishes and bowls with either tea or water and pickles and drink them up. Before eating Shojin meals, we have to chant a Buddhism remark called Gokan-no-ge, which consists of five following statements. 1) This is the meal that comes to me through many people's efforts and work. 2) Think if we are worth having the meals. 3) See if we have any mind of anger or a strong desire for something. 4) Remind that food is the best medicine to prevent illness and weakening. 5) Take meals as if you were Budda, who had reached enlightenment.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic has almost ended, it's time for my wife and me to plan overseas trips. For over three years, we had felt like we were sentenced to three-year house arrest and spent dull days watching videos online, ordering meals at Uber Eats, and keeping ourselves from drinking and chatting with friends in person. Now the time has come, so we must go on a trip and mingle with people, particularly in other countries, to experience something interesting and exciting. I have a lot of destinations on my bucket list, ranging from Spain and Istanbul to resort islands in southeast Asia. Or the African safari tour also sounds thrilling to us. My first choice to resume our travel is a small island in the Philippines, Cebu, one of the famous resort islands among people who love the sea. It may be crowded, but it's an ideal place as a kick-off for our travel experience. Cebu is convenient because there is a direct flight about four hours from Tokyo, and many Filipinos can speak good English. It will be stress-free, or at least less stressful, for us to enjoy peaceful holidays, relax away from work, mingle with local people, and immerse ourselves in local cultures and traditions. According to Hotels.com, January to April is the most pleasant season to get suntanned and enjoy all of Cebu's outdoor leisure activities. I don't want to stay active in marine sports there, but I desire sunshine on the beach. Now I have to start planning and arranging all my job tasks to make my itinerary meet a visiting schedule to Cebu during a new year holiday in 2024.

I have been suffering from tinnitus in my left ear since last February. It does not hurt, but its high-pitched sound has annoyed me. The medicine my doctor prescribed seems to have no significant effect, so I fear I would be developing deaf. Some medical experts on the web say that irregular nerve signals in my brain can cause it, so I took the MRI examination, but fortunately, it did not show any severe problems in my brain. Then my doctor told me it could be caused by stress from work. I know it's pretty difficult for us to avoid stressful days. Thinking about the stress-free and happy moments in my life so far, I realized that the only remedy that works for me might be quality time with my wife. Immersing myself in a warm bath, enjoying casual chats, and watching dramas and comedy shows on TV sitting on the sofa together might be essential and integral in my daily life.

So many videos on YouTube introducing Japanese culture, traditions, and foods are available these days. One of my favorites is a video featuring an Australian couple, Phoebe and Ben, who tried grilled Eel ( Unagki-no-Kabayaki in Japanese) while visiting Japan. At first, Phoebe was scared when their guide told her she would eat an eel dinner because eels looked so weird and grotesque to her that she could not imagine taking them into her mouth. Ben also said, "Eel? Those moving like snakes in the pond near our house? No Australian wants to eat it at all." Thanks to their challenging spirits to experience our dietary culture, they accepted the offer and dared come to the restaurant specializing in eel meals. The restaurant's calm and traditional Japanese atmosphere made her look relieved, and the guide encouraged the couple to try the grilled eel flavored with sweet-soy-sauce base gravy, which was topped with steamed rice. And then that is my favorite moment in the video. It showed their surprised, wide-opened eyes, proving that Unagi-no-Kabayaki tasted delicious and entertained the foreign visitors. I was happy to see Ben rated the meal at nine points out of ten, and Phoebe did it at full marks. It is not so cheap, costing 20 to 30 dollars per dinner, which comes with tasty soup, pickles, and small Japanese sweets, but it is worth trying, I guarantee. If you get interested in their challenge, please visit the YouTube video below. https://youtu.be/RrQb2GP0rgg

I am sure that practicing language is quite similar to practicing sports such as baseball, badminton, or tennis because I need to practice it every day if I want to be good at it. Baseball players, like Ichiro, do swing practice at home or at a gym every day. Tennis players, like Naomi Osaka, hit a ball every day, or children who love football keep their ball just underfoot. So, I believe it is one of the best ways to read aloud an English news article or a short story at least five times a day. Also, it is much more effective to discuss what I read with italki teachers to practice expressing my opinions in English.

Cherry blossom viewing in 2020 The first week of April is the best time for cherry blossom viewing in the Tokyo area, and all the Japanese usually enjoy it so much. But unfortunately, the joyful occasion has changed this year because of the pandemic of coronavirus. Tokyo metropolitan office asks the citizens to stay at home to avoid catching the infection. The authority also orders many public parks and gardens that are famous for beautiful cherry blossoms to close. We understand that we should discipline ourselves to keep a certain distance from each other, which helps avoid the virus from spreading or be passed to others. We know it is our social responsibility, but our daily life is getting a bit stressful. Since the stay-at-home request is not mandatory in Japan, we are technically allowed to go out. So, I went for a 10-minute walk this morning to refresh myself. Then I found that cherry trees near my house were still blooming, and the combination of blue sky and pink blossoms lessens my emotional tension. I won't go out for unnecessary errands and chores. But I think that a short walk to feel a spring breeze will help us more energized as well as encourage us well to stay at home to fight against coronavirus.

Money after the retirement age It’s the second day of the coldest weather of the year. According to a weather forecast, it will also be cold tomorrow and may snow in the Tokyo area because of the cold nap sitting on northeast Japan. 今年一番の寒さの2日目。天気予報によると、寒気団が明日まで日本上空に居座るため、明日も寒く、もしかしたら雪も降るかもしれないらしい。 On such a freezing afternoon, I stayed at home and spent hours reading books. A book I started reading today, Money after Retirement Age, has made me think a lot about the rest of my senior life. I guess that I will be considering more about how to cope with harsh realities. こんな日は家でゆっくりと過ごし、読書を楽しんだ。今日から読み始めた「定年後のお金」には多くのことを考えさせられている。読み終わる頃にはこの厳しい現実にどう対応していくかをもっと深く考えているだろうな。