English Learners Club(ELC)

We flew from Australia to New Zealand, then took a bus from Auckland airport to Sky city which was near our Airbnb.Google said it was a 10-minute walk on flat ground from the bus stop to the AirBnB.We felt like that was manageable, so we started walking with our heavy suitcases.Google lied!🤥 The city of Auckland is made up of steep hills except around the harbor.As elderly travelers, were  huffing and puffing right away.  Some very kind locals offered to give us a lift, but I smiled and said we were fine.  To be honest, I was completely exhausted though.Auckland is a very beautiful city where urban life and nature mix seamlessly.In particular the yacht harbor is a sight to behold.  Over 2000 yachts are moored there.I was surprised to hear that a building that looks  like a giant Japanese multi story parking garage is entirely for yachts!We stayed in Auckland for 6 days, spending our time relaxing.  We went to some small islands using public buses and ferries.  We strolled around leisurely, stopping for tea whenever we felt like it.Public transportation was cheap and very convenient as you could just tap your credit card to pay.By the way, we celebrated the New Year in Auckland.We heard that fireworks would be displayed at the Sky Tower and we wanted to see them…. But we got tired of the crowds and decided to just go to bed.  We fell asleep with the festival commotion outside as our lullaby.

My husband and I got married 30 years ago, back when Japan’s economy was still strong. For our honeymoon, we chose a Caribbean resort in Jamaica. To be honest, we were torn between seeing the historic sites of Rome in Italy and just kicking back on the beach at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica.My husband had already been to Paris and London when he was a student, and since Jamaica was much farther from Japan, he said, “Let’s go to Jamaica! Don’t worry baby, I’ll take you to Italy soon anyway.” So, we picked Jamaica, and off course, it was an unforgettable honeymoon.Over the next 30 years, we raised two children and cared for my husband’s parents until the end of their lives. Our days were busy, and time just flew by. I would sometimes mention the Italy trip that he promised me, but there were always reason why we couldn’t go… he couldn’t take time off, or it was too expensive for our situation at the time. So when we did travel it was always to somewhere nearby. We never went further than Southeast Asia.This year, when we were talking about our next trip, he asked me, “How about Vietnam?” …but I had waited long enough! “When the hell are you actually going to take me to Italy!? With things like COVID and wars happening unexpectedly, if we keep saying ‘next time,’ we might miss our chance!” I said to him. That finally convinced him.Now, after 30 years of waiting, we’re finally leaving Asia and heading to Europe. Our long-awaited Roman holiday, three decades in the making, has finally begun!

It’s surprising that six years have already passed since I started studying English again. I vividly remember my buried passion for English reemerging when I saw a YouTube video of a bilingual Japanese lady traveling around the world using English fluently and effortlessly.Before I knew it, I was drawn in, and studying English quickly became part of my daily life.In the first three years, I was obsessed with exploring all the new ways of studying that didn’t exist when I was a student, like taking online lessons, watching YouTube videos created by native speakers, and listening to podcasts.There were days when I felt like I was really improving, but there were also days when I completely lost confidence. It was like an emotional roller coaster back then.However, about four years into this journey, something changed. It felt like English was no longer something outside of me that I was trying to grasp. It started to feel like the language had been embedded in me.I suddenly started to actually enjoy reading English books, and began learning more naturally rather than constantly seeking new learning methods. Now I don’t feel overwhelmed when I encounter new words or confusing phrases. I tend to get a thrill that there’s something new I can learn, and there is no shortage of these thrills!Looking back, I feel like everything I’ve done was necessary, even though I felt I was not making any progress at that time.Most importantly, the greatest treasure has been the unexpected gifts along the way, discovering what I love and meeting amazing people.They mean even more to me than the language itself!

Thanks for tuning in to the English Learners Club. You know, learning English isn't just about grammar and pronunciation—it's about the wonderful people we meet along the way! Today, I want to tell you a story about respect, family, and a very special person. All right then, let's dive in. Among the listeners of the 'GoGo Abe Kaiwa' podcast, there are many fascinating women. Today, I’d like to talk about one of them, who is a Japanese English teacher. I first heard about her from one of the podcast hosts. He expressed great respect for her on the show. It all started with a message she sent him on his birthday: 'Happy birthday! Your birthday is also a day that reminds you to thank your mother for giving birth to you.' What a sweet message! I was deeply moved by her words. Later, I heard her being interviewed on another program and I found myself hanging on her every word. After that, I started listening to a podcast she does with her friends, where they speak both English and Japanese. Her voice is charming, and I found her personality so intriguing—she sounds serious and responsible when speaking Japanese, but when she speaks English, she has a beautiful accent, and she comes across as incredibly sociable and cheerful.I truly understood where she got her lovely character when I met her mother. Her mother was modest, refined, and dignified—the epitome of a quintessential Japanese mother. Her posts on social media often show how much she cherishes her family. There are many other sides to her besides being a teacher. For instance, when she dances, she demonstrates grace and a vibrance that is captivating. She’s quite a bit younger than me, but my respect for her grows every time we meet. We both have had ups and downs in life. My message to her is this… “Hey! Let’s make some lemonade from Hiroshima lemons, laugh, and chug it down in beer mugs!🍋🍺” Thank you for listening! Keep learning, keep practicing, and always remember to have fun. See you in the next episode. Bye for now!

Last Christmas, my husband and I were in Sydney.We left the cold Japanese winter for Sydney in midsummer.It was late at night when we left the airport and the temperature was 28 degrees. We were excited about sightseeing the next day.First we headed to Sydney University where Harry Potter likely studied.Our hotel was close to Central Station, so we decided to take the train.Central Station itself is old and beautiful.It is huge and there are 25 platforms.  We had no idea which platform our train was, but a kind lady came and asked us if we were ok.We finally got on the train.Bu~~~~~~t it didn’t stop at the station we wanted to get off at!  It finally stopped several stations later and then we caught a train back again.By the way, from that day until we left, the sun was shining brightly, but there was always a cool breeze that kept the temperature low.  The hotel staff said the weather was strange.Some people wore tank tops, but others wore down jackets.We felt very hot the night before, so we went out with light clothes.My husband felt sick and stayed at the hotel on the third day.As soon as I came back from walking alone with thick clothes,there was a loud siren and an announcement to evacuate.Fortunately there wasn’t actually a fire.This is how the journey started.I’ll tell you more in the next monologue!

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the English Learners Club. I'm Etsuko, and today, I'll talk about a movie called "The Penguin Lessons." I saw "The Penguin Lessons" at a movie theater last week. Before seeing it, I had heard about it and read a short teaser for it, which went as follows: “Inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman named Tom who went to work at a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down!The reasons I picked this movie were: 1) my birthday was coming up, so I wanted to take a day off work and go somewhere on a weekday, 2) it was cold outside, so I wanted to be indoors, and 3) it didn't have excellent reviews, but the penguin looked cute, so I said to my self, “hey, why not!" And decided to watch it.I didn’t set my expectations very high, but I was surprised! It was excellent! The penguin was cute, of course, and the lead actor's performance was fantastic. He brilliantly portrayed an intelligent English teacher who had lost motivation due to an unfortunate incident in his past, but then is faced with unforeseen challenges after being transferred to a non-English speaking country.I liked how the director portrayed the gradual changes in the atmosphere around him using the classroom scenes. For us English learners, the English poetry lessons were fascinating, even though it’s just a movie.Since watching this movie, I've been thinking deeply about many things that came up in it. Needless to say, I will definitely watch it again when I get the chance. This was the best movie of the year for me.Thank you for listening! Keep learning, keep practicing, and always remember to have fun. See you in the next episode. Bye for now!

A few weeks ago, I had an accident. It wasn’t serious, but one of my belongings fell over and hit a parked car. After I heard the thud and realized what had happened, it felt like time had stopped. I just stood there, not knowing what to say or do. Then I snapped back to reality and apologized profusely to the car’s owner, and we exchanged contact information. Even though I was able to remain calm on the outside, I couldn’t calm down right away. My mind was racing as I imagined the consequences. What if it costs 2 or 300,000yen? What if there's hidden damage underneath? I kept replaying the moment it fell over and over, thinking, "Why wasn't I more careful? How could I let this happen?” I tried everything to calm down. I talked to ChatGPT and did some journaling in the hope that this anxiety would go away. About a week later, I finally got the estimate, and it was for 78,000 yen. It was painful, but at the same time, I felt unexpectedly calm and all my anxious thoughts and feelings had completely gone. It made me realize how uncertainty amplifies our fears, and even if it is painful, clarity often comes with peace of mind. When things are unclear, negative thoughts start to swirl, and we imagine the worst case scenario. Anyway, no one was hurt, and now it’s all taken care of. Now, I try to think of it as having shaken off all my bad luck before the year ends. With that mindset, I’m ready to start the new year fresh!

My husband and I visited Bathala Island for the fourth consecutive time to the Maldives. We've been mesmerized by this cozy, small island, with wonderful staff, picturesque scenery, breathtaking views, and delicious food.I don't remember ever having any troubles there, but this time, there was a problem at the seaplane check-in counter. After weighing our suitcases and carry-on luggage, the staff gave us a paper stating that our luggage is "overweight" instead of a boarding pass. I tried to remember what to say in English in this situation, but while I hesitated, my husband tried to explain to the counter staff, by showing the paper and pointing to it, saying only two words in English: "Mistake" and "No.3". That was my husband's carry-on bag. It said that it was 30 kg. There's no way his carry-on luggage could be that heavy, right? The paper said it was 17 kg over the allowed limit, so we had to pay 97 dollars. Luckily, a manager at the airline helped us redo the check-in process, and we were finally able to get our boarding passes.The staff member who made the mistake mumbled something; I only heard "my apology." … Anyway, good job! my darling husband saved the day!Just when we thought we were in the clear, the flight was delayed. Normally, it takes 30 minutes to reach the island from the airport, but we waited for over 3 hours! They gave us a voucher for a sandwich and a bottle of water, and eventually a representative came to explain that they would be sending guests to their destinations via several other islands, and then deliver our luggage later. They asked us to sign an acknowledgment form to that effect. The weather was sunny and beautiful, so I was really disappointed that my luggage wouldn't arrive until the evening because my swimsuit was in it!Needless to say, it was a bit of a bumpy start, but this trip brought me some wonderful encounters. I met a beautiful, friendly, and kind Italian family: a mother with a lovely smile, a father with a cool voice, and a clever and handsome son, and an energetic, cute, and sweet daughter. We had an amazing time on the "Manta Safari" together. Then one evening, the father and I sang "Fly Me to the Moon," together at the karaoke event, and now it is stuck in my head!

There are three waste incinerators in my city.Two of them are used to heat swimming pools in the attached facility.Kotehasidai pool,which is closer to my house, is a large facility with a lazy river, a water slide, a jacuzzi,and an olympic pool.I went there with my grandson during his summer vacation, so it was extremely crowded.  You have to wear a swimming cap, and swimming rings are not permitted in the olympic pool.However many children were practicing with kick boards.Meanwhile a few elderly people were walking in the lanes.I thought it looked like a good way to exercise, so I decided to go there on September 1st.As I expected, the pool was nearly empty. I was very happy to discover that there is an inexpensive swimming pool that you can walk in all year. It costs only 240 yen for 2 hours. Sometimes I go there with my husband who swims instead of walking.And I was so surprised that Aqua aerobics and water walking classes are held for free at different times everyday except during summer and winter holidays.Those lessons are crowded with elderly people, butaqua aerobics really fun!  It’s under water, so I can keep jumping along to the music.I want to keep going there and make it a part of my weekly routine!

When I returned to the port of my island, I noticed a European woman glancing around, looking a bit lost. I gathered some courage and asked her in English," Do you want me to drive you somewhere?" She answered in Japanese , "Daijoubu desu," meaning " I'm fine." I was about to drive away, but I saw her carrying a huge suitcase, I couldn't help but worry. So I asked again, "You have a big suitcase,and I have plenty of time. It's really no trouble to give you a ride."She smiled and said, "Thank you! Actually, I'm supposed to meet someone at the post office." As we headed that way, I asked the classic question. "Where are you from?""Germany.", She said. I answered, "Wow! I'm learning German. Guten Tag!"When we got to the post office, a Japanese staff member came out and explained, "She'll be staying on this island for three months to help with our art museum."I dropped her off at the apartment where she'd be living, and I went back home. I wanted to talk with her more... but I didn't know when there would be a chance.A few days later, I happened to see her again at the port just by chance. I thought, "Why not give it a try?" So I asked, "I'm really interested in German. Could you talk with me more?" She said, "Of course, that's totally fine!"After that,she visited my house. She spoke a bit of Japanese, and I spoke a little bit of German. Unfortunately, the only phrase that came to mind was: "Die Sonne scheint." which means "The sun is shining." I didn't think I'd ever get the chance to actually use that phrase.Anyway, English ended up being the best way for us to communicate.First, she carefully checked a self-introduction I'd written in German a while ago. Then she asked me, "Why are you studying German?"I told her, "I really want to go to"Wacken Open Air"-the world's biggest heavy metal festival!"The next time we met, I was surprised. She had researched all about Wacken Open Air and even drafted an inquiry email for me to send. She also helped me practice conversations I might need during a trip to Germany-at airports, cafes, and restaurants. To be honest, I've been taking German lessons once a month for a few years, but the grammar is tricky, and I'd been struggling so I hadn't even touched pronunciation.She focused on topics I was interested in, and taught me real, everyday German. Thanks to her, I started to love German again. I'd almost given up on it before.She came to my place once a week for three months. Time flies!Before I knew it she was leaving the next day, so I sent her a message: "I'd love to drive you to the port tomorrow. Please let me know your ferry time. Also, if you have any stuff you want to get rid of, even trash, I can take care of that for you."The next morning , she messaged me: "Thank you so much for your sweet message! I'm taking the 8：14 ferry. It's really kind of you offer a ride, but I don't want to trouble you."" Oh no... I really don't think of it as trouble at all, plus it's raining." I also tried calling her, but she didn't pick up.My husband said, " You'd better just go get her right now!" Just as I was about to drive off, she came walking toward me with leftover detergent and groceries.I just told her, "I'll pick you up at your apartment at 7：45！ No ifs, ands, or buts about it !" She smiled and agreed.When we arrived at the port,we stood together on the pier. Just then the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds." Oh! Die Sonne scheint !" I said. It just slipped out of my mouth. Ah-HA! I finally got the perfect chance to use that phrase!

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the English Learners Club. I'm Etsuko, and today, I'll talk about “a very special week."As I was thinking about what to write for my homework, one of my old friends sent me a message. We decided to catch up at her favorite Italian restaurant. Next, my online teacher, who lives overseas, said she wanted to join our weekly English chat. And finally, a friend who is usually very busy asked me to have dinner at a yakitori restaurant on the same day as the special English chat meeting! What a fantastic week!I was on cloud nine as I talked and drank with my dear friends. The pizza was amazing at the Italian restaurant, and all the yakitori dishes were savory and very satisfying - perfect with cold beer on a summer evening. The two friends I met this week are very dear to my heart, and I can talk to them about anything.Speaking of chatting with friends, the English chat this week was a new kind of challenge for me. We usually chat on Teams, but this time we used Zoom. It was the first time I’ve hosted a Zoom meeting, so I tested it with my fellow English learners twice over the past two weeks. On the day of the special chat, everyone was participating from different places, with one person joining from South Africa! The meeting was only 30 minutes, so I was nervous before it started, but it was a great success! Everyone was so sweet, and I was impressed by how they communicated in English so smoothly.Annnyyyywaaaayyy, Now, I'm up bright and early writing my homework. Recently, I'm a bit of an early bird. I find that even if life gives you sour lemons, getting up early and being active can turn your day into sweet sweet lemonade!  Besides, I like getting my homework done on a sunny morning... Now it feels like I’m on a roll with a whole day ahead of me.I truly feel that these simple, happy moments are what make life so wonderful!Thank you for listening! Keep learning, keep practicing, and always remember to have fun. See you in the next episode. Bye for now!!

What would you do if you suddenly saw your favorite celebrity in public?The other day, when I was at a flea market at Oi Racecourse,Yamauchi from the famous Japanese comedy duo Kamaitachi appeared out of nowhere!I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was just him and another guy who was holding a camera. I instantly realized they were filming for their YouTube channel, which I always watch.My heart was racing.I wanted to tell him I watch his videos religiously. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to take a photo!But at the same time, I thought, “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t interrupt them because they’re working. If I take a picture, other people might notice and want to do the same. That would be such a bother.”Then another thought came.“Maybe I could secretly take a photo?”But then I thought “No… That would be rude!”I didn’t want to be that kind of fan. I didn’t want to be disrespectful.While I was struggling with all these thoughts… he walked away.Later on, I went to buy coffee, and what do you know! I saw him again. This time sitting at a table, eating lunch and talking with the same guy.I thought, “This might be my last chance. Should I say something?”But again, I hesitated. I didn’t want to interrupt his lunch. I kept thinking, “interrupting someone while they’re eating is rude.”As I kept debating this with myself, suddenly a woman sitting across from him just casually asked him,“Oh, Yamauchi-saaaan! Can I take a photo with you later?”She said it with a big smile, like it was the most natural thing in the world.And Yamauchi replied, “Okay~” like it was no big deal.I was like, that’s not fair! I want a photo too!But I didn’t ask, instead I just convinced myself that I’m a very respectful fan…When I got home and reflected on everything I felt like I care way too much about not bothering others, maybe even more than I thought.So now, I’m thinking I should come up with a plan for next time I bump into a celebrity that I admire.I definitely want to talk to them. But again, I really don’t want to bother them.So what can I do?Should I always carry a letter with me to give to them? But that sounds… kind of creepy.What would you do in that situation?----------------------------------------------✨Join our club! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected]*Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Hello everyone! Welcome to the ELC. We are studying English, and although we have a long way to go, we are continuing to have fun and enjoy studying! Including working on this podcast. I'm Etsuko, and today I'd like to talk about my favorite colors.My favorite color is green. When you hear the word green, what comes to mind? Traffic lights? Plants? Maybe turtles? I do indeed love turtles, but the first thing that comes to mind is the color of the shallows in Tahiti. The sea is turquoise, a bluish-green you might say. As the ocean gets deeper, the color gradually shifts to a dark blue. The gradation of colors created by nature can be magical don’t you think?Another thing that is green and I enjoy in my daily life are house plants. I have five in my living room, and since I moved them near the window they look so lush and vibrant with the sunlight dancing on their leaves, making the whole room feel alive in a quiet, gentle way.Finally, an interesting question came up in a recent English lesson: "What color would describe you?"I answered “dark green” because I've heard that green is a color that has a peaceful and calming effect, and that's the kind of person I want to be. At the same time, I know I'm not young, so I added “dark”. I was quite proud of my answer… Don’t you think that sounds cool?Anyway, I don't know how many more beautiful shades of green I will discover in my life, but right now, when I imagine someone listening to my voice, there is a glowing rainbow shining in my soul!Thank you for Listening! Keep learning, keep practicing, and always remember to have fun. See you in the next episode. Bye for now!—————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected]*FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

We visited Bathala during the dry season for the first time, and the island was surrounded by crystal-clear water. It was breathtaking! We spent most of our days snorkeling with sea turtles, sharks, spotted eagle rays, and colorful fish. The resort staff were dedicated to protecting the marine life, which we were happy about.My husband and I love snorkeling and staying on small Maldivian islands. We enjoyed relaxing with friendly European guests in the island's only restaurant and bar. It felt like we had found a little slice of heaven!Even though it was the dry season, there was some rain. At first, I was disappointed, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The rain gave us the opportunity to connect with other guests, and they were wonderful!One rainy afternoon, we met a gentleman from London at the bar. His British accent was music to my ears – just like in the podcasts I listen to! It was a great chance to practice my English, so I struck up a conversation with him whenever I had the chance.The trip was full of heartwarming moments with all kinds of interesting people:After singing karaoke, an Italian couple complimented me using a translated message on their phone. They found the Japanese style of singing karaoke fascinating!We also met a couple who showed us photos from their trip to Japan. It was touching to see how much they loved our country.Then there was an Austrian couple who taught us to play "Rummikub," a board game similar to mahjong, but more challenging. We exchanged some snacks as a thank you – Japanese treats for Viennese chocolates! That's a good deal for us if you ask me!The resort manager made my day when he downloaded our podcast and listened to my previous Bathala episode. It was such a kind gesture! I've visited the Maldives 18 times, and I think he's the best manager I've ever met. If you love the ocean, I highly recommend Sandies Bathala Maldives. It's a true paradise for snorkeling and relaxation.----------------------------------------------✨Join our club! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected]*Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

One day I answered my phone and the first thing I heard was the sound of a siren. Needless to say, I was quite upset and worried. Just as I feared, my mother said frantically, "Your dad collapsed! We are heading to the hospital in an ambulance!", so I rushed to the hospital as well.The doctor who treated him explained that he had suffered a heart attack, and they had to revive him with electric shocks. They were successful, but he still had an irregular heartbeat, and needs a temporary pacemaker put in immediately.About 30 minutes after meeting with the doctor, I was able to see my father in the ICU. Although he was hooked up to several tubes, he was able to speak quite well. I was relieved and filled with gratitude to the cardiologist.Moreover, I'll never forget what he said when he recommended implanting an ICD, which stands for "Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator"When I met with the doctor again he kindly told me, "As a doctor, this may not be the right thing to do, but I am thinking of him as if he were my own father. On one hand, he needs an ICD, but on the other hand, he may be too weak to undergo the surgery. I know it is difficult but you must decide together as a family to proceed with the ICD or not."Our whole family was deeply moved by his compassion, and it instilled confidence in the doctor, so we trusted him to go ahead with the pacemaker surgery.Soon after the surgery, he made a dramatic recovery, and was able to come back home.I heard about when he fell down in detail from my mother.He suddenly keeled over at church, and the minister quickly called an ambulance and did chest compressions until paramedics arrived.Actually, he was first taken to a nearby hospital, but the initial doctor decided that he needed to be seen by a cardiologist. He accompanied my father in the ambulance and encouraged him on the way to the cardiology hospital. Thanks to that, he was able to receive the appropriate treatment and was saved.If even one thing had gone differently, my father might not be as well as he is today. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who was involved in helping him.By the way, at his check-up on December 5th, the doctor confirmed that his surgical wound had healed well and there was nothing more to worry about.Therefore my sister and I were able to fully enjoy a heavy metal concert by Judas Priest on the 6th without any worries.I truly appreciate everything and everyone! My dad is one tough son of a gun!---------------------------------------------Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. Keep Rocking and Stay Metal!👉[email protected]*FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Around the end of the year, there are a lot of videos and podcasts that rank the shows and movies that were released in that calendar year. I am not a big fan of anime movies, but my favorite TV producer recommended "Look Back," so I watched it on Prime Video.This story was originally a “one-shot” manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, a popular manga artist known for "Chainsaw Man” that was made into an animated film. The film is directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama who is well-known as an animation director and animator and tells the story of two young girls who are single-mindedly dedicated to creating manga.The lives of these two girls are portrayed vividly, and in this short 58-minute film, you really get a feel for their friendship, and their hopes and dreams, as well as a completely intolerable incident they face.The title "Look Back" has many meanings when you think about it after watching the whole movie. It symbolizes how one girl is always kind of following the other, and how they are seated while drawing manga, so focused on their creations but aware of each other. Also, there’s a jacket with a signature on the back which is meaningful in the story, and finally, the story itself goes back to another storyline. I'm sorry if you don't understand what I mean but I think you'll understand after you see the movie.I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I won't go into too much detail, but I can say that this movie is amazing in every way. The voice actors effortlessly bring each character to life, fully expressing the cuteness, beauty, and sadness of these likable characters. I was so moved that I cried my eyes out! Seriously, my eyes were swollen the next day!Anyway, needless to say, I highly recommend this movie! Check it out if you get the chance!----------------------------------------------✨Join our club! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected]*Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Lately, I've been reading a book titled "The Five People You Meet in Heaven." The story begins at the end with the protagonist's death. This intriguing opening made me eager to learn more about the protagonist and kept me turning the pages. As I read, it reminded me of a viral story from a few years ago called 100日後に死ぬワニ, which translates to "a crocodile that dies in 100 days." It first appeared on X, where the creator posted one episode each day. Though it just portrayed the ordinary life of the main character, people were deeply drawn to it. I believe this was because everyone knew the crocodile would die at the end. It's fascinating how an ordinary life can suddenly feel special when we're made aware of it’s demise. I always try to apply this mindset to my daily life, though it isn't easy and doesn’t come naturally. It's not practical to routinely think, "Today could be my last day", but at the very least, I try to keep it in the back of my mind. One decision I made after COVID—and one that I'm rather proud of—is visiting my mom in Fukui at least once a year. I made this commitment after deeply considering life's limits. Even though she was in her 80s, I had fallen into the habit of thinking that I could see her anytime, and in turn, had not been visiting her as much as I should. When I calculated how many times I could realistically visit her, reality really sunk in. It was a huge wake-up call that I need to make more of an effort to spend time with her. I may not be able to live every day as if it’s my last, but I can strive to make each day count. I want to focus on what makes life meaningful, and sometimes it’s just a kind word, a meaningful action, or simply being truly present. ---------------------------------------------- ✨Join our club! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected] *Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I took a 3-day trip to Hokkaido in September.I’ve been there many times, but it was my first time going to the Touyako area. Also, it has been a while since I had travelled because of the covid-19 pandemic. I was so excited for the trip, but I was so busy that I had little time to make a precise plan. So, I used AI to make a travel plan. The plan that AI made was a little bit off in some ways, so I had to change it here and there. Luckily a parking area the AI had chosen was near a bird sanctuary, so I could see beautiful swans and take photos with them. I really enjoyed all the natural beauty. I moved to Noboribetsu and I planned to try horseback riding. Unfortunately, I got lost on the way to the farm because the roads were overgrown with grass and weeds, so it's hard to see the small side streets, so I missed the turn. Then when I tried to turn on the grass, my car got stuck in a big hole that was hidden under the grass. I was all alone in the middle of nowhere, so I had to call the police. It took the entire morning. The only good thing was that nobody was hurt and I made it back safely.The policeman kindly took me to a railway station in his police car. That might be a greater experience than horseback riding!Anyway, I'm back home now! Unfortunately while I was traveling my cats broke the monitoring camera which I had bought for this trip. I still love them though! ----------------------------------------------✨Join our club! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected]*Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

In this podcast, Abe’s students present monologues that they have prepared and practiced for his lessons. I’ve always dreamed of being able to communicate fluently in English, but it’s hard to improve and stay motivated due to my age, and lack of opportunities to use it. Then I came across a podcast called “GoGo Abe Kaiwa” Abe’s English is very easy to understand and Yoshi speaks in Japanese, so I can always understand what they are talking about, and most importantly, their conversations are very interesting. Therefore I found myself getting drawn into it more and more. Then I had a good idea. I thought that if I became Abe’s student, I will have a chance to use English, and maybe one day I‘ll be able to communicate in English fluently. After that I also joined Abe’s workshop and some of their events. The first workshop I joined, I came alone and was very nervous. However, starting with MinMin who started ELC and is always editing and uploading for us, and Etsuko and YumiMETAL who are so sweet and always encourage me, and Hituji and Alissa whom I finally met face to face at last year’s event, everyone is so warm and welcoming. I’m really grateful that I’m retired and was able to become friends with such wonderful people. I hope everyone who listens to ELC decides to come and join us! That means YOU! Lastly I just want to give a special thanks to Abe. I’m always slacking off and not improving much, but thank you for always teaching me patiently. P.S. Etsuko talks about “Gogo Abe Kaiwa” in episode 71. Please listen to it!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- ✨Join our club! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected] *Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

This is our 100th episode! What a milestone! Congratulations to everyone that has contributed to this podcast! I hope you are all enjoying your English journey, and I'm so happy that you chose to be a part of this project. Also, special thanks to Free Bird English for proofreading our writing and adding some spice and expressions. Let's continue to make learning English a journey that is fun and enjoyable!----------------------------------------------------------------🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected]*Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I went to a concert headlined by CARCASS in Japan. It had been 10 years since I last attended their solo concert. Their performance was so tight and impressive that it was hard to believe they had aged 10 years! I watched this amazing show from the best spot. First, I was at the very edge behind the amplifier, so it was hard to see the stage. I said hello to a group of three women next to me. They told me some interesting stories about the history of the band. They had been devoted and passionate fans of the band for 30 years. Then one of them said to me, "I'm going to see their show in Tokyo tomorrow again, so you should come sit here in this prime spot!" Surprisingly, she gave me the place right in front of Bill, who is my favorite guitarist, so I was able to watch his graceful and vibrant performance up close. More luck followed... After the show, another metal friend of mine called me and said excitedly, "You must come here right now! I happned to spot the band members on the way to my hotel!!" By the time I arrived there Bill had already gone. Fortunately, he came back 15 minutes later with lots of drinks. He must have been to the convenience store. Anyway, I asked him for an autograph. He seemed happy to sign the CD of his brand-new album. Actually, I just started practicing playing his most famous song "Heartwork" on the guitar two months ago. So I really wanted to get some advice about it. Bill wrote the song and has been playing it as well. I mustered up the courage and said to him, "Bill, recently, I'm practicing playing Heartwork on the guitar... Would you tell me the tips of it... I mean what is the most important thing for playing that song?" Much to my delight, he taught me three tips and showed me the finger movements for the song in the air. At the end of the talk he said, "Oh, anyway, listen carefully to the original version with headphones. Yeah, give it a try!" I was thrilled that he was so courteous in expaining it to me, even though I am just one of their many fans. Thanks to everyone's kindness, this was the best concert trip ever !--------------------------------------------- Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. Keep Rocking and Stay Metal! 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

My least favorite day of the year is my medical checkup. About two months before that day comes, I tend to think about unpleasant things and feel uncomfortable. However, I know that it’s beneficial to stay healthy and recognize health problems early, so I reluctantly continue to do it every year. For my check up this year. I had to get to the clinic by 7:50 AM without eating or drinking anything except water. It took me 40 minutes to get there, as I had to switch trains. Upon checking in, I was told that I would have to make an appointment for a colonoscopy at a different hospital on a different day, and that the earliest I could have it would be 5 months from now. “Oh no!” I thought. If the anxiety over this most nerve-wracking test continues for the next 5 months, I might get sick! Anyway, after that the check-up began. I followed the directions and I made my way through each of the nightmarish rooms. First, the doctor listens to my heart with a stethoscope (this doesn't hurt, so it's OK), then they check my blood pressure, bone density, collect a urine sample, do a chest X-ray... , I especially hate having my blood drawn and the gynecological examination because those are quite painful! After each test, I have to return to a chair in the waiting area, and everyone has to wear these silly pajamas while we go through these tests. They are soooo lame. The worst of all is the stomach camera. I was in a terrible mood this morning when I first came to the building this clinic is in, but it was much nicer than any clinic I had been to for a health check before, and there was a big Christmas tree in front of the elevator, so my mood lightened up and I thought, "I'm lucky!" But when it’s time for that damn stomach camera, all those thoughts go out the window. The doctor who did the gastroscopy was awful! He was the worst one I’ve ever had!! It hurt, I was coughing and crying, and I didn't want to look, but they kept telling me to relax and look into the distance. The doctor was a stupid jerk that kept saying it's because I'm not “looking into the distance” that it hurts! What an asshole. The reason that I closed my eyes was that I really wanted to pass out! Anyway, the doctor said that my stomach looked fine. I thought if I kept having these tests every year, my stomach would get sick from all the anxiety. I had a few more tests, but I was feeling so dizzy after that I don't remember much. All the results will arrive by mail in about a month. I was told that I shouldn't drink alcohol the next day, but I celebrated by myself with a glass of red wine, hoping that everything is over… —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

 I’m not a big movie person, but I have a few favorites I can watch over and over again. One of them is “Legally Blonde,” known as “Cutie Blonde” in Japan.Recently, I found “Legally Blonde” on Amazon Prime and decided to watch it again for old time’s sake.The story is about Elle Woods, a bubbly, fashion-forward sorority girl who transitions to law school after being dumped by her boyfriend. At first glance, it might seem like a typical comedy, but if you look deeper, it’s also a story about empowerment, resilience, and breaking stereotypes… And above all, Elle is so lovable!Since then I’ve watched it two more times this week alone! Now that I’m so into the movie, I’ve started picking out phrases that are new to me. I always heard that watching movies can help with learning English, but I never thought it was my thing. Now I finally understand why people recommend it.It’s about immersing yourself in the movie’s world and learning from the context. When you learn phrases from a movie, it’s easy to grasp the nuance. I practice these phrases by imitating how the characters say them, imagining myself in their shoes. This way, the phrases really sink in, and I have a vivid picture in my mind that is connected to them.I wish I had started this earlier! However, it only works when I truly love the movie because I believe I need to watch it repeatedly to actually learn from it. So if I’m not passionate about the movie, I’m sure I would lose interest.Watching “Legally Blonde” has been more than just a trip down memory lane. It’s reminded me of the joy a good story can bring and shown me a new, effective way to improve my English. The film’s messages of empowerment and perseverance resonate with me, and the lovable characters make learning enjoyable.I’ll keep watching it until I get tired of it!——————————————————————🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected]*FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Monday, July 15th 2024 After a night in a hotel near the international airport, and then a seaplane and boat the next day, I finally made back to this small, cozy, and amazing island.  This trip might be the last time though, it's too far! The restaurant served mainly Mexican food tonight, and I was looking for something spicy with beans, but I was too tired and ended up eating something else.  During the evening information session, about 20 guests were listening to the explanation in Italian, and only the two of us were listening to it in English. Later on, the staff gave us a lecture in English and Italian while showing a video of the ocean at the bar. We couldn't understand anything, so we both ended up dozing off! Tuesday, July 16th  We immediately swam with sea turtles and sharks!  It was marvelous!!  I found a sea turtle and told my husband it was a big one, but he disagreed and said it was small...  “What a party pooper!  Let’s be positive!”  I thought to myself.  Every night from 9:30 pm various events are held at this resort.  Today there was a live show and a quiz. They play the first part of a song, and you have to guess what song it is.  There is a TV program in Japan that does a similar kind of thing, and I knew some of the songs because they were from famous movies or shows, but there were a lot of competitive guests, and they all shouted the right answer before the host pointed to them.  It sounds like this would be annoying but everyone was friendly and in a good mood so it was actually quite hilarious. Wednesday, July 17th  Early morning is the best time for snorkeling!  We woke up early, ate breakfast, relaxed for a little while, and then headed straight to the ocean!  Oh, how happy I am!  I was able to find a spotted eagle ray which is my favorite marine animal!! We were feeling a bit tired from being out in the sun all day, so instead of going to the bar after dinner, we went back to our room to relax for the evening. Thursday, July 18th After dinner, there was supposed to be a dance show performed by the staff on the beach, but it started raining, so they changed it to a karaoke night at the bar.  Nobody likes rain when they are on vacation, but because it is the rainy season the island isn't very busy, which is nice.  It’s always better to look on the bright side! Friday, July 19th  I had a lot of fun singing karaoke last night.  The Italian guests seemed to always be out talking on the beach and at the pool, and playing music in front of the cottages, and to be honest, I thought they were a little bit noisy.  Buuuuuut because they were so outgoing and high-energy the atmosphere when I sang karaoke was fantastic.  Since this morning, they were all greeting me with a big smile and saying "ciao", which made me really happy. Among them, there was a beautiful couple with lovely smiles.  Today there was a Maldives-themed event, and the dress code was Red (Rosso), and when I said to the wife of this couple, "That's a nice red scarf”, her husband said, "Thank you, and I came here with a sunburnt RED FACE on for today!”.  This joke made us laugh, and my husband and I became fast friends with this couple. Saturday, July 20 I completely forgot my earlier thoughts about this being too far and my last visit. I've fallen so in love with this island that I even asked the manager, "Which season do you think is better for us next year, dry or rainy?"  Two staff members even remembered us from before. How sweet!   Sunday, July 21 I learned the phrase "tutto bene" from my new Italian friends, which means "いー感じ" in Japanese, "All right" in English, and "Rangaru" in Maldivian Dhivehi. The disco night where we danced on the sand carpet tonight was absolutely "tutto bene." —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Last month, I rode the Hokuriku Shinkansen for the first time. I was visiting my mom in Fukui, and for the first time, I could take the Hokuriku Shinkansen directly there. The Hokuriku Shinkansen has been operating since 2015, but initially, it only connected Tokyo and Kanazawa, leaving my hometown, Fukui, out of reach. However, this March, the line was extended to include Fukui, making my journey much more convenient.   When I was in elementary school, I remember my dad telling me that someday, a Shinkansen would come to Fukui. I waited and waited, and after 30 years, it's finally here. Accessing the Shinkansen from my hometown in Fukui was quite a hassle, requiring several transfers, which caused the journey to take almost five hours in total. Now, I can travel directly from Tokyo Station to Fukui, which not only reduces the number of transfers, but also shortens the travel time to a little over four hours. Having fewer transfers makes the journey much less stressful.  Once I arrived in Fukui, I was greeted by many dinosaur statues because Fukui is famous for dinosaurs. The city has one of the world's top dinosaur museums, which I'm very proud of. I enjoyed seeing the large dinosaur fossils displayed at Fukui Station, and the moving Tyrannosaurus monument was really cool. I also noticed many new and fancy cafes and shops near the station, an area that used to be quite desolate. It was heartening to see my hometown rejuvenating and filled with positive energy.  I'm looking forward to visiting Fukui more often now that it's so much easier to get there. Additionally, there are discounted tickets available until next spring, making it even more appealing to travelers. Although I'm not sure if I'll be able to visit Fukui within the year, I'm certain I'll go back next May, as that is my annual tradition. My first experience on the Hokuriku Shinkansen was wonderful, and I was happy to see my mom, brother, friends, nephews, and niece.  —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

You know the typical style of Asian cuisine. There is rice, side dishes and soup. Needless to say, rice should always be in the center position. Side dishes and soups provide extra nutrition and a variety of flavors. However, I watched an interesting video on YouTube about diet and health. They said the most important thing is the order in which the dishes are eaten. Their recommendation was to eat fruits or vegetables first, followed by proteins such as eggs, tofu, etc, and rice should be eaten last. Apparently, that prevents your blood sugar levels from spiking. I don’t have a blood sugar problem yet, but it does run in my family. Anyway, I have been a little more conscious about blood sugar recently. I noted that the video’s recommendation was exactly the same, as what my daughter does. She always eats the side dishes first, and then she eats rice by itself at the end. What an unappetizing way to eat! We have been arguing about this matter for many years, and now I find out the weird way she eats is actually healthier!No wonder she is so skinny. I apologized to her begrudgingly, and now I try to eat apples or salad or eggs before rice. I’m still struggling with it though. I tend to automatically put rice in my mouth first! When my daughter saw me doing this she said, “Mom, it looks like you have a long way to go to catch up with me!”...And you know what? She's right. I don't know if I could ever get used to eating rice by itself af the end of the meal. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I’ve seen a lot of castles in my time, but Himeji castle takes the cake! It was built in 1609, and even after more than 400 years, it’s beauty is incomparable. I had been looking forward to visiting Himeji castle, so I booked a guide. Having a guide made the experience totally different. He taught me how the castle was built, how it was defended from enemies, how day to day life was for the inhabitants, how strong the castle’s construction is, and the list goes on and on. The wisdom and way of thinking of the people of that time overwhelmed me. During the second world war, the area around the castle was bombed. I thought the reason why the large castle on the hill, nicknamed “Shirasagi”( The White Heron Castle), survived was because the American military knew of it’s historical value. BuuuUUUuuut that wasn’t the reason at all! The castle was covered with black nets! A bomb still fell on the castle tower, but luckily it didn’t explode. The staff risked their lives and carried the bomb out of the castle. Himeji castle standing tall in the middle of burnt ruins must have given people strength and courage. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I went to Primal Fear's show in Osaka. They are a German metal band. As I came in I saw a notice posted on the wall at the entrance to the venue. It said: "Today's show won't be perfect. If you agree to that, please proceed to the venue floor." A spokesperson for the band appeared on the stage when we, the audience, were waiting for the band. She announced, "They can not provide you the show you expected today. Actually, their drummer fell ill yesterday and is in the hospital. Fortunately, we could find a stand-in for this show. They were rehearsing with the substitute Japanese drummer until just now. However, the show will only be half as long as usual today." Then one crazy metal head in the audience called out, "That's fine! Just give us the METAL!!!!" and no one in the audience seemed to have any bones about it. That's the thing about metal heads! We just wanna ROCK!! She continued, saying, "Instead, we'll hold a meet and greet event for everyone after the show!" We were delighted by the band and the crew's respect for their fans. The band and the audience were united and got fired up together. I pictured what happened to the Japanese drummer that morning... He woke up and was having a cup of coffee while relaxing as usual. Then suddenly, his phone rang. "We need you to come here right now. Primal Fear needs you to play the drums at thier show!" "What what what whaaaat? THE Primal Fear? ...today??" Even though he had just a few hours to rehearse their songs, he ripped hard when it was showtime! When the performance of the last song ended, the band members and audience all gave him a round of applause in admiration. He became a hero in that moment, although he was unknown to anyone here until only an hour ago. I deeply realized that you never know when opportunity will come, so consistant practice and preparation are crucial. Afterwards, I got a chance and an amazing offer as well. But I'll talk about that another time... --------------------------------------------- Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. Keep Rocking and Stay Metal! 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Today, I’m going to talk about a new part of my morning routine where I go outside right after waking up. Initially, I aimed to get back into running after suffering from sciatica last year due to a sedentary lifestyle. However, I found it quite challenging. The most difficult part was getting my butt out of bed and going outside in the cold weather with just my running gear on. My husband suggested that we invest in an stationary bike, which was a perfect interim solution, allowing me to exercise without having to brave the cold. Yet, something was missing… I believe profoundly in the mental and physical benefits of spending time outdoors, so this didn’t really surprise me. After much deliberation, I found a simple yet effective solution: lower the bar to just going outside. Now, regardless of the weather, I step out for a walk. The shift from running to merely being outside has significantly relieved the pressure, making the habit easier to maintain. Integrating photography into my routine added a layer of enjoyment. Taking photos has long been a hobby of mine, yet I rarely had the opportunity to dedicate time to it. By combining it with my new morning walk, it has become something that I feel excited about and makes me pop out of bed in the morning with a spring in my step. Since the weather has gotten warmer, I've begun wearing my running gear during my morning outings. This makes it more likely that I'll spontaneously decide to run, and this month alone I've ran over 50 kilometers in total and I've noticed improvements in productivity and mental clarity throughout the day. This has in turn enhanced my enjoyment of learning English and other daily activities. This simple change to my morning routine has transformed my daily life, and I'm incredibly proud of the progress I’ve made. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Spring break was from the end of March until the beginning of this week, which means I had to make my kids lunch boxes everyday when they were out of school. When you make a lunch box there are various things that you have to consider. There is a lot of pressure on mothers to make a lunch box that their child can be proud of when eating with their friends. If your child’s lunch box looks boring, they might be disappointed or embarrassed. Therefore, things like color balance are actually just as important as nutrition in a strange way. In my early days as a mother, I struggled with making a lunchbox for my daughter. However one of my friends gave me some good advice. She suggested that I put three different colors of food in the lunchbox. For example, red for tomatoes or carrots, green for broccoli or cucumbers, and yellow for Japanese style eggs. She called it “三色列車走らせる”which means “running a three-color train.” Anyway, It worked! I started making lunchboxes using this rule, and when my daughter opened it, a big smile came across her face because she noticed the three-color train! Ever since then, I have been keeping this rule in mind and making sure I have the appropriate ingredients in my refrigerator. If you have to make lunchboxes for kids in the future, following this simple rule should make life easier for you, and brighten up your kids' lunch time! —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

When I get up in the morning, sometimes I remember two or three dreams I had. All of them are completely different, and pretty detailed. Do you have similar experiences? Recently, this happened again. Let me tell you about it… I dreamed that my best friend in Tokyo got in a car accident. I told her about it in the morning because I was worried about her. But I also told her, “It’s just a bad dream Don’t worry too much because my dreams are always weird, and they never come true.” I also told her about some of my other dreams to put her at ease. First I told her about a dream where I was on the way to work when I saw a kangaroo jumping through a rice field. It seemed to have been injured in a car accident, and she had a baby in her pouch… But the baby was obviously too big for the pouch, so I thought “Come on! Get out of her pouch! You should jump on your own! Your mother is having a hard time! Take care of her for a change!” I think this dream was influenced by an amazingly funny Australian, Ben, from the “TeacherTalk” podcast. Then I told her about another dream where I went to play trombone with my brass band friends, but I hadn’t practiced for a long time because my left hand is sore, so holding the trombone properly is painful - which is true. In the dream, I tried hard to play with them, but of course I failed. Do you know how hard it is to hide your mistakes playing a trombone? I think the trombone is the hardest brass instrument to hide mistakes, or not being in sync with your bandmates, because it’s so obvious just from watching the sliding movements. I was in big trouble, and tired in my dream. ふ～・・・ Afterwards, she texted me “OK, thanks. I’ll be careful as always. Safety first!” —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I like playing a pretending game. In Japanese, I think it’s called “ごっこ遊び”. I’m getting more and more forgetful. Therefore, recently I created a new game to benefit from my forgetfulness. The game is very easy, doesn’t cost any money, and you can play it anywhere you want. In the morning, I tell myself “Oh! I have something fun and interesting to do at work today!” That helps me start my work day in a good mood, which is how this game cheers me up. I eventually forget that I was playing this game, so I never feel down when I have just a normal day. In the afternoon, I start another game. I tell myself “Oh! I have exciting plan after work today!”, and kind of convince myself to believe it. That puts me in an upbeat and an excited mood for most of the rest of the day, but eventually I forget about that too, so it never brings me down after I finish work. I’ve found this game to be quite effective to improve my mood on a day to day basis. Do you want to try? Do you think this is crazy? Or perhaps you agree that it is a really creative and genius idea! —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

JR Higashi Nihon, a railroad company, held an interesting campaign recently. They sold one day “free pass” tickets to ride any JR train in east Japan, including bullet trains! It costs only ten thousand yen and can only be used on weekdays. This is amazing! I am the kind of person who never misses something like this. I got the ticket for myself and I went to Morioka city last Wednesday for the first time in my life! To be honest, I wanted to go to Aomori, but Aomori is too far for a day trip. Morioka is just the right distance. Besides, I have been curious about Morioka Reimen for a long time. I left home at 8 am, and got to Morioka station around noon. Morioka is a smaller city than I imagined. The first thing on my list was Morioka Reimen of course. There were several famous Reimen shops. I was surprised that the shops were very crowded thanks to the event. Anyway, I was able to eat at the oldest reimen shop. When the shop staff put the Reimen on my table I was overwhelmed with joy. Life is so interesting! Even a month ago, I never imagined suddenly coming to Morioka and eating Morioka Reimen. How was the Reimen? I would say,,, it's quite different from Korean Reimen. Even if it didn't taste good to me, it's a good thing that I learned what Morioka Reimen is. There’s one more thing I should mention, my favorite author Miyazawa Kenji spent his youth in Morioka. I enjoyed some places and exhibits about him. I was able to visit all the places that I had planned. I bought some souvenirs and got on the bullet train to go back home. By the time I got home it was 8pm. It was a 12-hour trip in total, and I walked 17000 steps! It was a wonderful day trip! —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

On the 7th of February, my friend and I had a plan to meet, so we were texting about what to do the day before. The only thing on our agenda at that time was a morning visit to a popular temple in Tokyo. The afternoon was free, and I was content with the idea of simply catching up. However, at around 8 or 9 PM, she called me with an incredible proposal: "Do you want to go to Taylor Swift's concert tomorrow?" I was taken aback, because I didn’t even know that Taylor Swift was in Japan or that her tour was happening. "Yes, of course," I replied, though I wondered about the availability of tickets. She explained that she had been dying to get tickets since last summer but she couldn’t. Then she found a sudden opening on social media. Despite my apprehension about the cost, her enthusiasm convinced me it was a chance not to be missed. Rushing to a convenience store, she secured our tickets, and just like that, we were set to see Taylor Swift live. The concert was nothing short of spectacular. It was a three-hour journey through her prolific career, combining music, dance, and stunning visuals into a mesmerizing show. Despite being a casual fan, I was captivated by her performance and the stories her songs told. This concert was not just an entertaining spectacle, it was a glimpse into Taylor's artistic evolution. Ever since, I've had the concert's setlist on repeat, reliving the experience and delving deeper into her world. Taylor Swift's poetic lyrics have inspired me to explore the meaning behind her songs, enriching my appreciation for her artistry. I'm thankful to my friend for this unforgettable experience, and to Taylor Swift for a show that has left a lasting impact on me, and now has a special place in my heart. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I highly recommend listening to podcasts for English learners because you can get used to the rhythm of English. There are so many English programs, so you can find whatever you like."Free Bird English: Teacher Talk" is my current favorite. In that program, native English teachers who have lived in Japan for a long time talk about various things. Since they have experience teaching many Japanese English learners, they know what learners need. I like “The Bridge” story series which were some of their earlier uploaded episodes, and I even transcribed them while listening.　 The story is about an imaginary character trying to cross a bridge. On one side of the bridge everything is good, and on the other side everything is evil. The concept was cute, like a fairy tale, but there were also tons of colorful jokes so you could tell they were having fun. Their laughter is infectious to the listeners. Of course, I listen to other, more serious shows, but I feel like they're not as memorable. In other words, if you listen to podcasts to study English, I'd say choose ones that make you feel happy. Not only will you feel terrific, but you will also naturally get used to English intonation, and learn about cultural differences. I think being able to speak English is incredibly hard for Japanese people. So above all, we need to find fun ways to study so that we can avoid getting bored and quitting! —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

What do you think is the most important thing when traveling? For me it’s the weather. My husband and I went to Miyazaki prefecture last month. The place we wanted to go to most was Takachiho Gorge, which is close to the prefectural border between Kumamoto and Oita. Second was Toi Cape which is the southernmost tip of Miyazaki prefecture, so we couldn’t do it in one day. Takachiho Gorge was a truly beautiful gorge just as I had seen in the photos. Toi Cape was supposed to be a beautiful cape with a lighthouse that people can go up into. There are only 16 lighthouses that people can enter in Japan. There are also wild horses called Misakiuma. However it was raining and windy that day, so we couldn’t really enjoy the beautiful scenery, and we just gave up on even going to Japan’s largest suspension bridge... How beautiful it would have been if the weather was nice... Last year we also visited Kumamoto, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima. Compared to those areas, Miyazaki prefecture is rural. I don’t mean that in a bad way though. Actually I am surprised that Kumamoto, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima are more urban than my hometown Chiba. It takes only about 15 minutes by train from Miyazaki airport to Miyazaki station which is in the center of Miyazaki city. We took the train from the airport to the hotel, but there were only 2 cars, and to our surprise, at the next station from the airport only the doors of the first car open. We found out that it was because the platform was short. There were many visitors bound for Takachiho Gorge aboard but there were very few foreign and domestic tourists carrying luggage in Miyazaki city. Anyway the meat and fish were very delicious and it’s a place we want to visit again. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

This is a sequel to Episode #80,"On Cloud Nine" .I'd like to give a special thanks to Minakov for contributing to this episode. -------------------------------------------------------------- On Cloud Nine (Part 2) When I stood in front of them, my mind went blank and my heart was pounding. I decided to call them each by name and say the same eazy line to all the band members. First, there was the original guitarist. I said "Bill, thank you for coming back to Japan. It's been 8 years!" Thankfully, he extended his right arm to me and I shook his hand! I was on Cloud Nine all over again!! When I said the same sentence to the vocalist Jeff, he answered, "We'll be back to Japan very soon!" To be honest, I kind of doubted his words a bit. I thought it might have just been lip service for us fans, but surprisingly, he later said on social media, "JAPAN! It's happening! We are finally heading back for a head line tour next year in April! don't miss out!" Wow he is a man of his word!! I would rather not tell you about my blunder but... I looked up the new guitarist's name in advance, so I confidently called him by name at the event. "Tom! Tom!" But he just stared at the tip of his pen and completely ignored me. I was very embarrassed and disappointed. After I got back home, I found a review for the show. According to the article, CARCASS performd with a new tour guitarist named James Blackford... Oh nooooo!! It wasn't "Tom"! The guitarist had changed again from Tom to James! Now it made sense that he ignored me. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing Bill, Jeff, and JAMES at their head line show! ...Oh I almost forgot the drummer! His name is Daniel, and he rips HARD! CARCASS is my favorite band in the whole world! ----------------------------------------------------- Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoyed this story. Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please contact us using the email address in the description box. We'll be back soon with another new story. Until then, keep rocking and stay Metal! 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

It had been a while since my friend and I went to a concert, so we decided to see Billy Joel at Tokyo Dome. As I had imagined, the audience was older, and the ticket prices were quite high. I bought seats recommended by a friend who often goes to concerts, and they were great. The concert, which started with his hit song, “My Life,” was a dream-like experience for me. Since the audience was Japanese, he limited his on-stage banter between songs, and he spoke slowly and used simple English, so I was able to understand everything, including the jokes! I was so excited that I forgot which song, but all the lights in the venue went out for a moment, and then when he sang the lyrics "turn on the light," the whole venue was suddenly illuminated. I was deeply moved by the joy of understanding English, which I would not have been able to do in the past. The most moving part was at the end of the show when he prepared his harmonica. Everyone in the audience knew that he was going to sing Piano Man next, and there was a wave of cheers. Billy seemed to get emotional when he tried to speak and needed to take a moment before carrying on with the performance. I doubt there was a single person in the arena who wasn’t touched by this. The only disappointment was that my favorite song, “Just the Way You Are”, was not performed. I heard rumors that he wrote this song for his ex-wife, and prefers not to sing it live anymore. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed Billy's amazing and powerful voice and his band’s flawless performance. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

When people ask me, 'Which do you prefer, summer or winter?' I always answer 'summer.' I have a higher tolerance to heat than the average person, and I prefer being warm. I've always been a summer girl, and there are many events I look forward to, like rock music festivals, get-togethers with friends, and traveling. Summer always brings opportunities to enjoy these kinds of things. However, if you were to ask me what my absolute favorite type of weather is, I'd say it's a sunny WINTER day. It's like having a bit of light in the darkness, and makes me excited for spring and summer. This anticipation might be the thing I like most, and it got me thinking about life in general. I've been studying English for years, aiming to speak fluently, ideally like a native speaker. But I've also been enjoying the journey, despite the struggles. I’ve come to savor the process of working towards a goal. Strangely, I think I might feel a bit lost or depressed if I suddenly achieved native-like fluency. Similarly, finding an ideal home has been a major goal of mine. I've always been fascinated by interior design, and I collect photos and fantasize about my dream home. I even have an album on my phone for these images. Currently, we live in an apartment, which we bought with the intention of selling in the future. Our plan was to sell it after ten years, but now, as the ninth year approaches, I find myself not wanting to leave. This makes me wonder, do I really want to live in my ideal home, or do I enjoy dreaming about it more? Maybe life is not just about reaching the end goal. Perhaps appreciating the journey and enjoying the little moments along the way is what life is all about. This realization has inspired me to embrace each moment and be content throughout the ongoing journey of life. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Finally, my favorite band CARCASS came back to Japan! They performed at a Heavy Metal festival that featured 12 bands in March. I wanted to get as close to the stage as possible, So I went into the floor area long before they played. I inched forward during the opening acts taking advantage of the mosh pit chaos. Fortunately, I was able to get to the very front! I was on cloud nine ! CARCASS was playing right before my eyes! I could almost reach out and touch them! I wanted this precious moment to never end. Obviously, their show came to an end though. However, I had another thing planned that I was really looking forward to. After their show, I went to their meet and greet event . A crew member explained the rules of the session to us. He was like "You know, we are still concerned about the coronavirus, so please don't try to shake hands with the musicians, and after you get their autographs, you have to move to the side immediately." Almost no one said a single word to them and scooched over quickly after getting an autograph... That is so NOT metal. It had been 8 years since last their show, and I thought, to hell with the rules! I've been waiting for this day, so I'm going to say thanks to them... But when I stood in front of them, my mind went blank and my heart was pounding. ----------------------------------------- Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy this story. I'd like to give a special thanks to Minakov for contributing to this episode. I'll be back soon with Part 2 of the story. Until then, keep rocking and stay Metal! ・[email protected] ・FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Since I quit going to the gym I've been feeling like I need to get some exercise. I used to commute to work on foot, but working from home has become more common, so I started taking walks around my neighborhood every morning instead. There is a canal nearby that is very beautiful, especially when the cherry blossom trees are blooming. In summer, walking along the canal and seeing the sunlight dance on the surface of the water makes me feel re-energized. However, I think now is my favorite season. Walking on the colored leaves calms me and makes me feel relaxed. Some people walk their dogs or gather to do radio stretching programs for the elderly. I listen to podcasts and walk briskly for about an hour. The problem is, there is something that makes me doubt my ability to continue this healthy habit… And that's the fact that I am super lazy! I'd rather be snuggled under my kotatsu like a cat than walk outside on a cold winter morning!! If it were possible, I would like to hibernate for the whole winter and just wake up in the spring! Do you think I'll be able to stick with my new healthy habit? We'll see. we'll see... —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Today, I want to talk about Chat GPT. Recently, I upgraded to Chat GPT-4, which is a subscription-based service, and let me tell you, it's exceptional. I started using it by talking into an app called NOTTA, which transcribes my voice. I then copy this transcription and paste it into ChatGPT. I asked them to proofread it for me, and boom! Just like that, it produced a perfect translation. They recently added voice chat! This is another game-changer! Every morning, I open the Chat GPT app, tap the earphone mark, and say "Good morning”, then I ask it to throw me some questions. The questions range from my daily schedule to productivity. I keep chatting with it while I’m making breakfast as if I’m talking to a real person. You would be surprised by how natural it sounds. This helps me practice my English speaking skills because if I pause to think, they start speaking which adds an aspect of realism. Plus, I can look back on all the conversations I had with Chat GPT so that I can review and practice again when necessary. Now, let's talk about the price. It costs me around ¥3000 per month. When you think about it, that's like having an exclusive, native English teacher available 24/7. I used to subscribe to a different proofreading service that cost me ¥4500 per month with a limited number of words, and I had to wait 4 to 6 hours for a response. With ChatGPT, it's instantaneous and way cheaper. That being said, Chat GPT also helped me appreciate the beauty of human communication even more. Obviously, it doesn’t have its own opinions or emotions. Not being able to hear opinions or feel empathy can be very unsatisfying when having a conversation. In the end, it made it clear that I want to improve my English skills for the sake of better communication. In order to achieve that, I’ll try to figure out how to get the most bang for my buck from it! —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I attended Arthur Binard's lecture organized by the Buddhist group in Hiroshima. He is an American poet and translator, and has been living in Japan for 35 years. His lecture was on Japanese language from an American perspective, and he delivered it in Japanese to 270 temple members. As an English learner, I also found his talk very interesting. First of all, he explained his name. "My first name 'Arthur', is reminiscent of a bear or king and contains two Rs and a TH, so it sounds kind of a strong. It's emphatically pronounced 'Arturo' in Italy as well. So I felt it sounded quite powerful. However, I was shocked when I heard the name in Japanese for the first time." A Japanese teacher said to him, ''Your name is 'アーサー' in Japanese." He said, "I thought that was completely different from, 'Arthur'. It just sounds like a sigh 'ア 〜サ～'. Anyway, what I propose to English learners: Don’t rely solely on books. Exposure to languages of various contries broadens your perspective on many things." Although it was just the beginning of his lecture, I was hanging on his every word. I'm sure that this Arthur is the KING of speakers (lecturers). —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1 Until then, Keep Rocking and Stay Metal!

The other day I was on a train, and there were three foreign girls sitting next to me chatting in English. I wasn’t eavesdropping, but as an English learner, I couldn’t help but pay attention to them. And then the moment came… the train stopped suddenly. Train stops are common in Japan, and it’s usually due to a very minor problem. No one was confused except for the three girls. Unfortunately, the announcements were only in Japanese, and when the train lost power, they seemed worried and wanted to know what had happened. Obviously they stood out on the train. They were using an app to find out what the announcements were saying, but that didn’t seem to work at all. I wanted to explain the situation to them and tell them not to worry, but while I was hesitating, the train started moving again. However, it soon stopped again and lost power again. I told myself. “if I don’t use English now, when should I use it?” I kind of whispered to them, “Sorry, did you get the announcement? “ All three girls turned to me at once, and they looked like they really needed help, so I briefly explained that it was just a small problem, and the train will be running again in no time. The girls said “Oh, thanks, perfect!”, and they looked relieved. I pretended that I was used to speaking English with foreigners, but actually my heart was pounding and I was very happy. I don’t think my English was grammatically perfect but it didn’t matter. I felt the eyes of the others on me… And I have to be honest with you, I felt pretty damn cool! —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Although I've always wanted to visit Hokkaido, I used to always end up choosing Okinawa over it, but this time, I finally made it to Hokkaido! The first stop was Asahiyama Zoo, a place I'd been curious about for a long time. This zoo is known for pioneering "behavioral exhibits" where the viewing distance to the animal is very close. It's a rather compact zoo with a historical atmosphere compared to popular zoos on the main island like Higasiyama-zoo, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in educational value. For example, they made the giraffe area lower than where you stand so you are at the giraffe’s eye level, and during “feeding time” they make them come even closer to us. The staff explained some of the giraffe’s characteristics while we were up close and personal with the animals which made it far more memorable. After the zoo, I hit the road and drove across the expansive landscapes of Hokkaido to see the stunning Blue Pond. The drive itself was an experience that offered breathtaking views of the countryside. And let's not forget the food! Hokkaido is a foodie’s paradise, and I couldn't resist indulging in some local seafood and soup curry. Absolutely delicious! What I also love about traveling is observing the local architecture. In Hokkaido, I noticed that most houses have chimneys and double-pane windows. It just screams "snow country," and noticing those small details makes the trip more enriching for me. I'm already eager to go back. Niseko is definitely on my bucket list, and will probably be the destination for the next visit. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

There is one thing that I always thought about doing, but for some reason I dragged my feet and never went through with it. I want to switch my cell phone service provider and get a cheaper plan, because my stomach drops every time my monthly bill arrives. When the discount service providers started coming out, I was excited to get a better plan, but I still haven’t made the switch. If I do, I’ll lose my email address. I always thought that would be a huge inconvenience because I’ve used it for years and have registered for many things with it. Also it’s simply just a pain in the neck. However, apparently I can actually use the same address as long as I pay a fee. Also the new service provider company has a service where they will come to my house to help me when I make the switch. So I did it! I got the ball rolling! I contacted the new company, and all the procedures seem quite simple and easier than I thought. However, I had to call the operation center of the previous company to cancel my current contract. The operator asked me a lot of questions and tried to convince me not to switch. I saw that coming, so I passed all the tricky questions. Finally, I successfully switched my phone company and the costs will be reduced by 20%! I can’t forget the operator saying at the end of the phone call. “Thank you for using our company’s service for the past 16 years and 9 months.” I can’t believe that I have been paying so much money for almost 17years! I should have done this earlier! —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

My husband and I enjoyed our summer vacation in the Maldives last month. We chose Bathala, an island in the Ari Atoll of the Maldives, which my husband had wanted to visit for many years. With a drop-off nearby and a carpet of white sand covering the entire island, you can go anywhere barefoot all day long. I had a lot of experiences talking with people from different cultures. That was actually the goal for my English adventure. First of all, at the hotel where we stayed before the flight to Bathala, I talked with four Indian staff about the Indian movie "RRR." One of them pointed out that India is a huge country full of mostly peaceful people, and assured me that Indian people aren't aggressive as portrayed in that movie. I was very happy to have such an interesting conversation. Next, the first staff member we met on Bathala was a young lady from Switzerland. We chatted on the boat when she picked us up from the seaplane. A few days later, she praised my English which really encouraged me. We stayed in a bungalow on the island for 7 nights and in the bungalow next to us there was a femail couple from Southern France. One of them was interested in my 15 trips to the Maldives, and the other was confident, intellectual, and cool. I should mention that this island is very popular among Italians so most tourists are from Italy. The island is under contract with an Italian event company which provides three staff members to the island. Among them was a very talented young man that seemed to have a passion for entertaining tourists. Thanks to his support, I was able to mingle with the other guests and enjoy the events even though I couldn't speak Italian. The highlight of my English adventure was getting to know a family from Germany. There was a friendly lady that always smiled and said hi. I told her she had a beautiful smile. She was with her husband and their granddaughter. I taught their granddaughter how to make an origami crane. Then she gave me small shells in fish-shaped origami that she made the next day. She also gave me a beautiful picture that she drew herself, and signed the back of it, how lovely! It was a heartwarming experience. Long story short, This trip was absolutely magical!! I had prepared some stuff to help me mingle with the other guests like some snacks and origami sets. They were very helpful, but I found that the most important thing was to greet people with a BIG SMILE on my face. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Recently, my husband and I traveled to Kagoshima and Hakodate. Kyushu has seven prefectures, but I imagined Sapporo to be the center of Hokkaido and Fukuoka city to be the center of Kyushu. I thought Kagoshima and Hakodate were kind of similar, but they turned out to be completely different. Kagoshima city was bigger, while Hakodate was smaller than I expected. I now know that the population of Kagoshima city is more than double that of Hakodate. We were surprised to find that there were no people on the main street near Hakodate station at 8 pm. Moreover, in Kagoshima city, we couldn't use credit cards at any of the restaurants we ate at, including a Michinoeki like drive-inn restaurant. On the other hand, we could use them pretty much anywhere in Hakodate, even at a small ramen shop. Also, we couldn't use Suica in Kagoshima city, but we could use it in Hakodate. Anyway, both cities have great views, and we really enjoyed our time there. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I found a wonderful podcast called GoGo エイブ会話. It’s made by two guys who are friends. One is Canadian, and the other guy is Japanese. Both are speaking in their mother tongues which makes it easier to understand for Japanese English learners. Their concept is amazing, and the topics are not only useful, but also really fun. The thing I like most about their program is when the Canadian introduces “strange news” from around the world every other Monday. He always uses easy words to introduce a variety of news. It can be funny, ridiculous, and interesting. I read an article that says when humans are trying to understand a second language, our brains focus on it, and are less functional than they should be. Ever since I heard that, it surprises me that they’ve been able to have all these fun adventures without hurting anyone for seven years. I started Twitter and Facebook because I wanted to join their community. I don't know how many times their cheerful voices helped me when I was feeling down or couldn't sleep. I really appreciate what they do, and wish them happiness. GoGoエイブ会話https://55english.jp —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

In Japan we pray for a safe delivery on the day of the dog in the fifth month of pregnancy. What what whaaaaaat???? The day of dog? There are many shrines, but each shrine enshrines a different God. For example an Inari shrine like the famous Husimi Inari enshrines a fox. We write Inari in Kanji as 稲荷. So Inari Shrines are built to pray for a good harvest, and foxes prey on grain eating mice. Suitengu 水天宮 is a shrine that pays homage to water, which is flushed from the body during childbirth for a smooth delivery. Suitengu is famous for safe childbirth and enshrines a dog. therefore dogs are a symbol for an easy delivery. Japan has 12 zodiac signs, as you know, and we also use them for days. Nowadays they are rarely used except to pray for safe childbirth and so on. So I don’t know the details, but there are 60 combinations with other things. Don’t ask me what they are though. Anyway… May 16th was the day of the dog and my daughter is 5months pregnant now so we went Suitengu to pray for a safe birth. On top of that, that day was a “Taian” 大安 day known as rokuyo. The Japanese calendar is so complicated!!! For this reason it was extremely crowded. —————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. 👉[email protected] *FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1