Heavy and Hopeless vs. Light and Cheerful ― 2022/03/10
This week I have watched two Japanese film that I had recorded.
One is KUROSAWA Akira's Ran (乱）.
By the way, doesn't it look cool to spell only surname in capital letters (↑）?
(Image retrieved from https://eiga.com/movie/31604/photo/)
Made in 1985 when we were at the height of the economic boom, everything in this film is just opulent, lavish and seemingly absolutely no limit on the budget (believe me, we did have such a period).
(Image retrieved from https://eiga.com/movie/31604/)
And with such opulence, the film harshly depicts revenges, greed, stupidity and tragedies as the result. I felt as if I had swallowed tons of stones after watching it.
Then, trying to shake off the oppressive feeling, I watched this film.
(Image retrieved from https://www.shochiku.co.jp/cinema/lineup/ayakano/)
It is so lovely and cute. I think I haven't seen a young actress without circle contact lenses playing a main role for a quite long time.
This Year's Lineup ― 2022/03/11
Having compared several samples, I decided to place one-year subscription to these three publishers' public relations magazines.
1. UP (pronounced as "You pee" , picture center) by Tokyo University Press
Costs 2000 yen (tax and postage fee included). The contents are little too academic for me, but works well as a substitute for sleeping pills and to read in public places to demonstrate breadth of reading. I rarely go to anywhere crowded these days and I don't think many people would note what an obachan read.
2. Tosho (could be translated as "books", picture right) by Iwanami Shoten
Costs 1000 yen (tax and postage fee included). Still a bit too academic for me, but more accessible than 1. I like a short article on animals of the month that appear in the Kojien dictionary. Every material is written in beautiful Japanese, which gives me a sense of soothing. I don't know why though. And
3. Chikuma (left) by Chikuma Shobo
Costs 1000 yen (tax and postage fee included). Probably the closest to my reality. Although I sometimes feel slightly uncomfotable with the certain tendency of this magazine, materials are rich in variety and most entertaining in these three.
Today's Cat ― 2022/03/12
A spring cat.
Coffee in Garden ― 2022/03/12
Small piece of cheesecake and coffee, 612 yen (refills are 50% off)
Maybe I have found a perfect spot to have a cup of coffee open-air (which is the point for me now!).
There is a small coffee stand on the top of artificial hill behind a training center owned by a local bank.
Although located in a private property, the park itself is open to the public and so is the café (but it might be thoughtful to avoid visiting there during lunch or breakfast time to give a room for the bank employee. I don't know if they actually use this place, though).
Run by Royal, a local well-established restaurant chain, the cafe serves decent coffee and confectionaries; not very special or SNS-friendly, but good enough and convincing. Plus, the price seems to be slightly lower than other cafe chains, maybe lower than Doutor.
Small but Well Enough ― 2022/03/15
(Image retrieved from google street view)
About 40 minutes by bike away from my place, I have found a small store dealing with a good range of vegetables, fruits and meat with a good enough quality at quite reasonable prices. You can finish shopping for the day's dinner within 10 minutes here. And it perfectly ventilated as it does not have door at the entrance. Great for Corona-time shopping.
Although you may have to drop in at nearby convenience store or grocery store for seasonings, rice or fish, I think this store is worth visiting first in your shopping trip.
My Workout Chronicle (under COVID-19 pandemic) ― 2022/03/17
For the past two+ years, I have tried some exercise programs offered on YouTube and other channels for free in place of daily walking in order to stay sane and fit. And I think they worked to the extent in which my weight hasn't reached three-digit kilograms or I didn't got covered with mold or I haven't committed a random attack in a peaceful shopping mall. Not bad, not bad. The followings is the chronicle of exercise programs I have committed so far.
First, "Ultra Radio Taiso(gymnastics),"
on NHK. Performed by who I call "Dr. Muscle", the program was broadcasted at an early stage of the pandemic.
Then, I went for Balleton for a while,
which made me feel like a prima ballerina- however awkwardly my body moved, it didn't matter as long as I didn't see myself in the mirror.
Meanwhile, I revisited the good old Taebo and sensed Billy has gone through some ups and downs. I am glad he is still making fitness videos. Lets celebrate!
At the end of 2021, I briefly followed a short TV series called "Yoru no TV Taiso (Evening gymnastics on TV" on NHK,
but my passion toward it did not last long after the end of the broadcast. The program ended with only three episodes.
And now, I am in love with Zumba. My favorite instructor on YouTube is in Balcerona.
The problem of doing exercise at home is that I have to make every move with making my feet sliding instead of stomping due to the fact I am living in a flat. So my Zumba might look like somewhere between awkward dancing and awkward Noh play.
Karaage! ― 2022/03/19
Driven by a sudden urge that I must eat what I want to eat while I am still alive, I have cooked fried chicken for the first time in quite a long time, probably a couple of years.
This time I tried a new method of deep flying and it worked well.
For the next time, here I write the points:
For the next time, here I write the points:
a. Rub the seasoning (two and half tablespoons of dark soy sauce and sake for two big fillets of chicken thigh) into the meat until all the liquid is soaked up;
b. Use the generous amount of Katakuri-ko. This time I used a third of a pack;
c. Use deep and small pan, the thicker the better;
d. Use up the entire contents of the small bottle of oil (this time 400 ml). This is the toughest part in the entire process, ethically and economically;
e. Use the temperature control function of the stove to keep the oil at the ideal temperature (170 Celsius) .
I guess with this method I would hardly be end up with soggy karaage and oil-covered stove and kitchen floor.
Today's Cats ― 2022/03/20
A local napping association's new member welcome party.
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