Toki (Ibis): booger?!

toki's dumpling: Toki Manju

Niigata Chips

Nagaoka Hanabi Arare (Fried rice snack)

Niigata has an island named Sadogashima. It is very famous as an Island of Ibis. Japanese last ibis used to be here. Still now we can see many kinds of souvenires related to Ibis.

Hanabi: So big.

Niigagta City

Niigata University

I went to Niigata to see my friends.
My stay was only for 4days but we had losta fun!
I took as many as 300 pictures (:

I went to Nagaoka Fireworks show which is said the biggest fireworks display in Japan. I was so moved that I might cry!

Can you guess where we are now?
Alright, perhaps you could use a few hints.
This place was originally inhabited by mainly the native Ainu population.　
Then in 1883 the modern city was founded by the Banseisha, a group of colonial settlers from Shizuoka.
The popular local food here is Buta-donburi, delicious barbecue pork on rice.

Buta-donburi

Having majored in Criminology at University I have always been interested in the field of corrections. So of course I was filled enormous excitement during my visit to the Abashiri prison Museum a couple of days ago. The Japanese approach to rehabilitation included a lot of hard labor and reflection. Walking around the grounds and seeing all the exhibits of this open air museum, it was clear that prisoners who served time here had plenty of opportunity for both.

Abahiri Prison museum: The main gate

Believe or not, I had never been to the capital of my country before this summer.
I live in the easten capital-東京, but I had never been to the northern capital-北京...
I thought it was a big shame, so this summer, I took a little trip to Beijing, a city which was busy preparing for the 29th Olympic Games.

i go to beijing

Hi friends,

はじめまして、YAOです.
First of all, thank you KEN for inviting me to this awesome CAFE. Can I have a cup of latte please?

Secondly, I would like to do a brief self-introduction to all new friends.

I am YAO, from a city called Hangzhou in China. (Ken knows it is really beautiful place)

Currently, I am working with an international accounting firm as a risk-management consultant. (yes, i know this job sounds confusing...Actually, I have tried many times to explain to my mum what i am doing for live, but she could never understand that...)

In the beginning of last month my friend Saki were sitting around and just having a small chat about what our friends from kindergarten are doing now.

Hi! I am now in Romania. I came Romania as a exchange student from Shizuoka University. I have interest in multicultual education so that i thought I should go abroad.

Why I choose Romania?

because I wanted to go to a country which I do not know at all .Plus, I have avery good friend in Romania.That caught me the attention to go to Romania.

Why I named my user name "Romanian Apartment"?

Watch a movie called "Spanish Apartment".I will stay in dormitaly for foreigners from Octber. I hope to meet good people and have fun alot.

How is Romania?

Hi, everyone. Welcome to "Miz the SPORTS Whiz"

First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Miz. I'm a sports newspaper reporter at shizuoka branch for a part-time job. I cover various kinds of sports like baseball, soccer, volleyball, martial arts and so on.
I write articles and take pictures, too. I don't have any speciality, so I'm a reserve reporter.My dream is to cover Major League baseball(MLB) in the future.

I had practiced karate for 13 years, baseball for 6 years, swimming for 6 years, and boxing for 2 years.

二湖　 Shiretoko's second　of five lakes: 森に包まれて。

We went today to Shiretoko five lakes and the Kamui wakka waterfalls.
Three of the lakes were closed due to recent bear sightings.
The ones that were open provided a feast for the eyes with striders, small fishes, a variety of insects, and the occasional deer.
Just being around these lakes inspired in me a whole new sense of reflection about how vital water is to all living things.