tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39542325294082800572024-02-07T00:25:16.585-05:00Kuuchuu SampoAll That Holds My Attention, However BrieflyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger312125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-72540564997066058452011-03-12T11:57:00.002-05:002011-03-12T12:03:22.396-05:00Earthquakes.I haven't updated in a long time due to the demands of juggling two and a half jobs, as well as other things, but now an event that further stretches my attention elsewhere prompts me, ironically, to come back here.<br /><br />If you are going shopping, going out to eat, going for drinks, going to see a movie, or anything of that sort, please take a moment to consider diverting the money you would spend on yourself to a well-established charity of your choice: <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1221">http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1221</a>.<br /><br />If you are not convinced, please take a moment to look at these photographs:<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365546/Japan-earthquake-pictures-Devastation-rescue-workers-fight-fires-search-survivors.html"> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365546/Japan-earthquake-pictures-Devastation-rescue-workers-fight-fires-search-survivors.html</a><br /><br />I have no idea how many people will see this post, or how many people I am actually reaching out to, but every small effort counts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-25884583405262545932011-02-21T12:30:00.002-05:002011-02-21T13:00:58.896-05:006. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonAfter the outdated tome that was <span style="font-style: italic;">Crime and Punishment</span>, I had to reward myself somehow, and I did so with this contemporary mystery-turned-social-commentary (or is it the other way around?). For the most part I enjoyed it, and I've come away with a two lasting consequences.<br /><br />The first is that, once again, religion terrifies me. I read <span style="font-style: italic;">The DaVinci Code</span> and then <span style="font-style: italic;">Angels and Demons</span> several years ago, after it became apparent that not having read them was a conspicuous hole in my modern reading list, and came away extremely psychologically bothered. Logically I know that there are many kind, honest, well-intentioned adherents of organized religion out there, who live their lives in a reasoned fear of consequences from above and adhere to strong moral principles. And yet there is clearly something about religion that spurs the writing of these books, that fascinate the dark side and stir up the monomaniacal. For all of the good that religion is supposed to do and spread, there is an equally secretive and troubled past that drives certain sociopaths and creates this twisted, outdated, out-of-context 'reality.' Various people have told me that the Bible should be read for literary purposes, but I really don't think I will.<br /><br />The second, and far more pleasant, lasting consequence is that I now desperately want to visit Sweden someday, even though outrageously tall people make me physically uncomfortable. Yes, it's cold, and I've had quite enough of cold weather; there is probably a reason Swedish cuisine has never spread internationally, except through the mediocre cafeterias at IKEA; and there are countless other places I should rather go to first, but the truth is that Larsson describes life in Sweden with such a strange, detailed allure that it's hard to resist.<br /><br />One of the simultaneous strengths and weaknesses of this novel is Larsson's attention to detail. For some reason he never missed an opportunity to specifically name the technological aspects of the characters' lives, and rattled off that Mikael Blomkvist used an iBook while Lisbeth Salander used a PowerBook, that searches were conducted in Google, that <span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">Hans-Erik Wennerstrom browsed with Internet Explorer, that characters drove BMWs and Kawasakis and Volvos, that e-mail addresses were hosted on Hotmail and Yahoo, and so forth. I've never been a fan of fiction books being so specific about real-life brand names, and my reaction this time was no exception. I probably would have been able to get over it, though, if Larsson had remained consistent and done some research. The name-dropping, for example, conspicuously ceases in matters of fashion--Salander apparently buys only "designer jewelry," and not, say, jewelry from Paloma Herrera.<br /><br />The characters--are they maddening or not? Half the time I felt like I was almost reading a Nancy Drew Her Interactive game script, but thankfully the resolution of the novel was far more complicated than that. Both Blomkvist and Salander are driven by strong personal convictions of what is right and wrong, and while it is a commendable trait one cannot help but feel that somehow justice has not been served. What frustrated me most was that Salander independently made the decision to destroy all of the necessary evidence before the agreement to cover up the true story was reached. What right did she have to make such a move? Argh.<br /><br />The ending, actually, confused me a little. Larsson gets lost trying to describe a complex and generally illegal plan of Salander's to trip Wennerstrom up, and what ends up happening is a series of choppy sections that describe the transfer of money into mirror accounts and the withdrawal of millions more. I mean, okay, I got the point of it all, but I still felt like I was unclear on how exactly all of the money Salander had withdrawn and then re-deposited had made its circuitous route around the world. Oh well, whatever.<br /><br />I'm probably going to have to take a break before I read <span style="font-style: italic;">The Girl Who Played with Fire</span>, but I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it will explain a few things before taking off at breakneck speed again.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-86023554628567802012011-02-16T23:25:00.002-05:002011-02-18T20:26:01.872-05:005. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor DostoyevskyWhat is it about Russian literature? Endless tangents, pointless introspection, extraneous characters, frustratingly similar names... no wonder this book took me a month. It didn't help that the copy I picked up at the library--the only copy--is considered a dated translation, carried out by a more or less amateur translator who glossed over complicated or poorly understood parts. Fantastic.<br /><br />Both of my parents actually hated <span style="font-style: italic;">Crime and Punishment</span> when they tried to read the Japanese translation, but several of my friends who had read an English translation claim that it is one of their favorite books. I'm inclined to stand somewhere in the middle--I'm glad I read the book, I almost agreed with some of Raskolnikov's theories on crime, and I actually warmed to some of the characters--but it is by far not my favorite book, and not even favored among the Russian novels that I've read.<br /><br />I suppose I can elaborate on this at a later time, but the overwhelming amount of words and detail prevent me from properly sorting out my thoughts...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-81336208126599415222011-02-16T23:23:00.001-05:002011-02-16T23:25:26.878-05:00Facial Hair is Always Bad<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc2DqFXs4rNVhI5-kCjT4fU0mlsWgehXwDDe7jD78VLKZBJfZ8kvIbrSC-bAITIiejZO48ZJN51BaHSX4LTW68ywA88LhsTr_S5YSYP1Yy61yEphL0cE997GJTNEC9gCKXndaAdd_6Pc/s1600/20110216-00000060-jijp-000-view.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc2DqFXs4rNVhI5-kCjT4fU0mlsWgehXwDDe7jD78VLKZBJfZ8kvIbrSC-bAITIiejZO48ZJN51BaHSX4LTW68ywA88LhsTr_S5YSYP1Yy61yEphL0cE997GJTNEC9gCKXndaAdd_6Pc/s400/20110216-00000060-jijp-000-view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574509586433542498" border="0" /></a><a href="http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110216-00000060-jijp-spo.view-000">http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110216-00000060-jijp-spo.view-000</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-9922400567476365152011-02-07T20:05:00.018-05:002011-02-07T22:28:48.856-05:0005.06.2010 食わず嫌い:高橋大輔 vs. 本橋麻里スケートのシーズン最中だということで、高橋大輔選手がゲストとして出た「食わず嫌い」!(グランプリファイナルと全日本選手権、悔しかったですね、、、)<br /><br />今回の対決は五輪テーマでした。試食が始まる前に高橋選手がバンクーバーの銀メダルと世界選手権の金メダルを見せました。<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKhpINYOfJ2OzMqxj-SKZ5BdSiA3YZbi1R6MGsnbQpXjSFt8rKC6jwHMVS3zndCIHuzI7NNMSwmR3Z-sXSNIBcFJHvY8VZDOJHCTOtAZ6BqIf-8SmP8Qq6wi2uWg_n7SSVUTOKXPIqSI/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKhpINYOfJ2OzMqxj-SKZ5BdSiA3YZbi1R6MGsnbQpXjSFt8rKC6jwHMVS3zndCIHuzI7NNMSwmR3Z-sXSNIBcFJHvY8VZDOJHCTOtAZ6BqIf-8SmP8Qq6wi2uWg_n7SSVUTOKXPIqSI/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571134482638517250" border="0" /></a><br />高橋選手の大好物はスパゲッティカルボナーラ、肉じゃが、サバの味噌煮、とピータンでした。一方、バンクーバーカーリング代表本橋麻里選手の大好物はタコのマリネ、ハマチのにぎり、とろろそば、とかぼちゃ団子でした。<br /><br />高橋選手が最初に食べたのは肉じゃがで、おばあさんの味だと言ってました。肉じゃがは定番ですよね〜。高橋選手は基本的薄味が好きだと言ってました。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJxPX_i4d9IVL5dNp1e4__6m-YAxpTpXkJgeTKcVtWsTH3f6nKJWJfmwAnlb0dyRlUstqOU-Ddk0nOix8SS-f7KnoivnJAfc9akthS6GZNCzu6UyiRfns1oGela3vvBKJTeCUM_ZeVmU/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJxPX_i4d9IVL5dNp1e4__6m-YAxpTpXkJgeTKcVtWsTH3f6nKJWJfmwAnlb0dyRlUstqOU-Ddk0nOix8SS-f7KnoivnJAfc9akthS6GZNCzu6UyiRfns1oGela3vvBKJTeCUM_ZeVmU/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571137735762450082" border="0" /></a><br />ちなみに本橋選手が通っていた北海道にある常呂高校からカーリングのオリンピック選手は8人か9人出ているらしいです。田舎で人口が少ないのに、凄いですね!<br /><br />本橋選手が最初に試食したのはタコのマリネでした。出身地が漁師町なので、魚介類を沢山食べて育ったと説明してました。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkA2rFfvir7S2R8PlTeA8cntKCC-7tO3iPw95fnyp94j1F_r7tc5SI_1FOmuYmjH6PqGhdqoKJZdr1BDpH00Huo9AB4RGdu_B-0MNCnADcjSXlZaapOe5wW6vpCJEqY_oyn32vSQyFx4/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkA2rFfvir7S2R8PlTeA8cntKCC-7tO3iPw95fnyp94j1F_r7tc5SI_1FOmuYmjH6PqGhdqoKJZdr1BDpH00Huo9AB4RGdu_B-0MNCnADcjSXlZaapOe5wW6vpCJEqY_oyn32vSQyFx4/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571138503051053346" border="0" /></a><br />実は本橋選手はまだ23歳です。24歳の高橋選手は本橋選手が年上だと思っていて、私もそう思っていました。堂々としている感じですかね?本人はあまりお酒を飲まないと言ってましたが、高橋選手は結構飲めると聞いたと言ってました。wwしかし、基本は試合中は飲まないので、2人の話が合っているかもしれません。^_^ 高橋選手はお酒が好きで、特にハマっているのは冷酒だと語っていました。お酒にカロリーがあるので、飲みたい時はご飯を抑えていると説明してました。お酒よりご飯を我慢出来るとは、、、<br /><br />高橋選手が次に食べたのはカルボナーラでした。意外にクリームが凄く好きらしいです。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA89rjiqthyd7qiN3WQL54ZCjjV_p-anfMfAV5RHNXlhY9Bu1Yxe4cv_x0r4SXvVMQL_fFhRVttHGWCVnSR2pYdlHz4C8YeJtJ1HF0okg1SD0_TfvFXmaUaRaD4qy-cJ4NwJKuRZQW0-o/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA89rjiqthyd7qiN3WQL54ZCjjV_p-anfMfAV5RHNXlhY9Bu1Yxe4cv_x0r4SXvVMQL_fFhRVttHGWCVnSR2pYdlHz4C8YeJtJ1HF0okg1SD0_TfvFXmaUaRaD4qy-cJ4NwJKuRZQW0-o/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571140418722622690" border="0" /></a><br />常に体重管理をしているスケート選手である上、膝の怪我をしたので特に体重を気にしているらしいです。体が良い調子でちゃんと着地するのが重要なので、治療し終わってジャンプして良いと言われた時、怖くて一回転も跳べなかったと言ってました。その状態から五輪で銀メダルとは本当に凄いですね。<br /><br />ここでとんねるずの味が出て来ました。<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7uv-KoLhyIavro_8vhyphenhyphendy2u1bIJPR78AvgdeD6fW1grVwZSTQd-j7T8qjoX1d6AzSHuMhK-LZ40hmbprouObEUCG3lI7b0rNB26mlYsj-R5Z3cfQy58hMkcebfCa2AHiHMhfKDzP_BQ/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7uv-KoLhyIavro_8vhyphenhyphendy2u1bIJPR78AvgdeD6fW1grVwZSTQd-j7T8qjoX1d6AzSHuMhK-LZ40hmbprouObEUCG3lI7b0rNB26mlYsj-R5Z3cfQy58hMkcebfCa2AHiHMhfKDzP_BQ/s200/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571143973609949282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqicH8p2Pm-RUMP-yKQA4fsNxhQ7Sbe1tlG_MQz5DNk5y-JrmB1cIy2tgPwlTlWNk37ljQHEM5sfQvHfvDBIzoCuEue6i6wa50yLRTUSr1DC_KUKG2loicCp959dzCVwGJTGsZV5FdVs/s1600/Untitled%25EF%25BC%2591.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqicH8p2Pm-RUMP-yKQA4fsNxhQ7Sbe1tlG_MQz5DNk5y-JrmB1cIy2tgPwlTlWNk37ljQHEM5sfQvHfvDBIzoCuEue6i6wa50yLRTUSr1DC_KUKG2loicCp959dzCVwGJTGsZV5FdVs/s200/Untitled%25EF%25BC%2591.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571143918148085346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCH97nCFPSOc26UOFwU6Thf8N0jdShwPWtsRA-6UX9T1SbDYXWkpFkY2kOYB6chCUDVPmsPxFJO0AbIJSuA20ugxrF47vvYC52DSoJnHbfc5d5HbOiMfOmbKlwTax0XY9qPg4vANKZEY/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCH97nCFPSOc26UOFwU6Thf8N0jdShwPWtsRA-6UX9T1SbDYXWkpFkY2kOYB6chCUDVPmsPxFJO0AbIJSuA20ugxrF47vvYC52DSoJnHbfc5d5HbOiMfOmbKlwTax0XY9qPg4vANKZEY/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571144210135391426" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">「え?回転じゃないんだ、審査方法、、、あれあれあれ?どれだけ感じ出すか、ポマードが大事見たいになって来たの、今回?」<br />高橋選手は口開けて見てました、、、ww</div><br />本橋選手が二番目に食べたのはかぼちゃ団子でした。これは北海道にある芋団子の別バージョンらしくて、かぼちゃを片栗粉で固めたものです。高橋選手の肉じゃがのように、これは本橋選手のおばあさんの味だと言ってました。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RWne77JCqSscm-TyjlzOtMi8IXQ06v5itX5uSpnkv4_qL3UmmEHdUF34liAh53N4dnQyFmIqNBQfReGIZ2q8Ny_IIE0XYL501dSrUusm2PiY7Xtn2mXnOZI21mMUobzD0hyzBlkh7So/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RWne77JCqSscm-TyjlzOtMi8IXQ06v5itX5uSpnkv4_qL3UmmEHdUF34liAh53N4dnQyFmIqNBQfReGIZ2q8Ny_IIE0XYL501dSrUusm2PiY7Xtn2mXnOZI21mMUobzD0hyzBlkh7So/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571145748858272658" border="0" /></a><br />高橋選手のタイプは「よくしゃべる元気な子」だと言ってました。そして、昔ヤンキーだった感じが好きだと説明してました。何故かヤンキーの人は純粋だと思っているらしいです。「よくしゃべる元気な子」と聞いて、石橋貴明さんが本橋選手を勧めました。wwちなみにスケートリンクでデートは「絶対嫌だ」。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqchoPeKCXDQPVrEk2yqU9f3XoSH1JCMCKB45fkOmA_tKRA66XTqvHng4QbIJNK-C2DgvYMWWCLQ9Q7T-hLVBgiBer-FyIgcFuFO_NQUW94yV4Yd7snzAfV-zvPxf-pB8CdWVDr2EgU1w/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqchoPeKCXDQPVrEk2yqU9f3XoSH1JCMCKB45fkOmA_tKRA66XTqvHng4QbIJNK-C2DgvYMWWCLQ9Q7T-hLVBgiBer-FyIgcFuFO_NQUW94yV4Yd7snzAfV-zvPxf-pB8CdWVDr2EgU1w/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571146564402649826" border="0" /></a><br />しかし、結婚するとしたら本橋選手は「すごい良さそう」だと言ってました。「余ったら是非、、、」と言ったら、本橋選手が笑いながら「絶対余んないですよね」と。<br /><br />3番目に高橋選手が食べたのはサバの味噌煮でした。これもおばあさんの味だと説明してました。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvBgI_z2uYjvft-JPbx7tuxUkcbQNOYqjmM0gplzsR9URqMTsNwF5z_dWk_Y9B_Xr0E4C4iXbt8ssDGw9zeYWv8DiQzK2T9I1l62jXQa9nRFpwaTIowAQMeTtEbySkoXy4yU2LwQUwhU/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvBgI_z2uYjvft-JPbx7tuxUkcbQNOYqjmM0gplzsR9URqMTsNwF5z_dWk_Y9B_Xr0E4C4iXbt8ssDGw9zeYWv8DiQzK2T9I1l62jXQa9nRFpwaTIowAQMeTtEbySkoXy4yU2LwQUwhU/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571148121462804690" border="0" /></a><br />2人共海外で試合をして、日本に帰って来た時に食事の面で一番したいことは居酒屋に行くことだと言ってました。 <br /><br />次は本橋選手の番で、「ちゃんと目標がある人」が好きだと説明してました。しかし、この話はあまり続かず、彼女は直ぐハマチのにぎりを試食しました。<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDKhJtx-zLvdQe0QcKBZlNlAWmojOr8C9oe75MbrDT9HC4UCUDWH7MgWfhxkF_75LQ-jB85HAU69RLXT2wa62TtS_l4xoaZckjCweZHUkEcSo0Ca4cGqoQGNUvK9fjOrtl6-CEcTsW-U/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDKhJtx-zLvdQe0QcKBZlNlAWmojOr8C9oe75MbrDT9HC4UCUDWH7MgWfhxkF_75LQ-jB85HAU69RLXT2wa62TtS_l4xoaZckjCweZHUkEcSo0Ca4cGqoQGNUvK9fjOrtl6-CEcTsW-U/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571148887964930514" border="0" /></a>石橋さん:「色気より食い気」</div><br />高橋選手の最後はピータンでした。ビールがあれば、毎日食べても良いと思う程好きだと言ってました。<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHYNQ1nJdqqEhZUTNXWTkhLOjm9Ia0Ey16LEQPDU8uMEnvi5XhzElBpE1NNatpFx8LalgSgFXAQT2EKCAZ1wenM2fu6gj2ysq2MBPt0E6rVVkKzDfo0bgrHre6QJ1usJCHQgKKetpWeI/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHYNQ1nJdqqEhZUTNXWTkhLOjm9Ia0Ey16LEQPDU8uMEnvi5XhzElBpE1NNatpFx8LalgSgFXAQT2EKCAZ1wenM2fu6gj2ysq2MBPt0E6rVVkKzDfo0bgrHre6QJ1usJCHQgKKetpWeI/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571150488449236818" border="0" /></a>ガリを食べたり、水を飲んだり、食べ方が怪しかったです、、、</div><br />ここでバンクーバーで携帯の無くした話したでました。選手村に1月31日に着いて、2月6日には無くしてしまったらしいです。ゴミ箱の中まで探したのに、最終的に見つからず終わったと言ってました。全体的に物を無くしたり忘れたりすることが多いと語っていました。お財布を無くしたり、スケート靴と衣装を忘れたり(?!)、、、<br /><br />本橋選手の最後は勿論とろろそば。海外経験が多い所為か、本橋選手と高橋選手両方麺を吸えなくなってしまったと言ってました。分かる!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliZF4p6nN2aChuPnlNc-WqM4V9ctRAajfYCg3wG3NmfMYv4vK0FNHcnslo7641jLQZoyY_5-OtY7FxCTaU0zYjsqqm-YSUfk07GnFRYbCp-8pyV44vsdMsnDTB6zfXhkPX87yWhXg7ek/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliZF4p6nN2aChuPnlNc-WqM4V9ctRAajfYCg3wG3NmfMYv4vK0FNHcnslo7641jLQZoyY_5-OtY7FxCTaU0zYjsqqm-YSUfk07GnFRYbCp-8pyV44vsdMsnDTB6zfXhkPX87yWhXg7ek/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571150788255560114" border="0" /></a><br />高橋選手はスタジオで二回転を披露しましたが、意外に体が固いでした。<br /><br />そして等々筆入れの時間になりました。本橋選手はピータン、高橋選手はかぼちゃ団子と書きました。 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m4CC0GPMVgBm5PTPpIe1CNQvUw4paIB_8muSyJdh8ETjMDlt7ST7BId-qvZfMu2CV1H0zQRibBs-tyaa2iKv0gCPGVLJqCTtYLI967amkML4uquNAmm9mxgz4aqdJSSQKPzc_N3fFK8/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m4CC0GPMVgBm5PTPpIe1CNQvUw4paIB_8muSyJdh8ETjMDlt7ST7BId-qvZfMu2CV1H0zQRibBs-tyaa2iKv0gCPGVLJqCTtYLI967amkML4uquNAmm9mxgz4aqdJSSQKPzc_N3fFK8/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571152302350404802" border="0" /></a>ジャイアントババのように「実食」と言う本橋選手。ww</div><br /><br />第一回は両者外しました。石橋さんは相当自信があったみたいで、高橋選手が「大好きです」と言ったら凄い顔をしてました。wwそして、第2回の筆入れはカルボナーラとハマチのにぎりでした。これも外れ!<br /><br />本橋選手は次に肉じゃが、高橋選手はタコのマリネと当ててみました。<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtwJUJWNuDg7ZOQ3huOSM_Nm61JnoEDroWd_RawBviduA1cmr_-5o8xEu-BTqt_t3AU2GxJnLO9g7NoZq-P96QoG-oC81QFKlEtSiUHPul_auOpUeMYEXHIVhYym62RphRxaeti8KHZw/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtwJUJWNuDg7ZOQ3huOSM_Nm61JnoEDroWd_RawBviduA1cmr_-5o8xEu-BTqt_t3AU2GxJnLO9g7NoZq-P96QoG-oC81QFKlEtSiUHPul_auOpUeMYEXHIVhYym62RphRxaeti8KHZw/s200/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571153921820732370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBONMDdMAq4aL6R8d0fjQKugv1IUq5UH1HI-Y7UH1AX2a5KCZKPXMpgW4EMqv5UMdA_3y71XeVS3nGTiglmfOqHz990PT_o4Za5xq7Ih2VTDJsQWrkRRV81czoTVINKCX8erTB22LVWX8/s1600/Untitled%25EF%25BC%2591.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBONMDdMAq4aL6R8d0fjQKugv1IUq5UH1HI-Y7UH1AX2a5KCZKPXMpgW4EMqv5UMdA_3y71XeVS3nGTiglmfOqHz990PT_o4Za5xq7Ih2VTDJsQWrkRRV81czoTVINKCX8erTB22LVWX8/s200/Untitled%25EF%25BC%2591.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571153874667566866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />そして、、、<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlO4MY1v_Nz6FY0BgVwy4mGt2r1KhiU_0ojAhOdBbV4Z1biH2waWLS9LRkBvY6RmVnL8z1j1_d9qoFnVlFGHMMMQeuHPn7xZ1GUiCsGI34-MdiV8d4KV13fBJcxpMskeRk-sxDP2vJEM/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlO4MY1v_Nz6FY0BgVwy4mGt2r1KhiU_0ojAhOdBbV4Z1biH2waWLS9LRkBvY6RmVnL8z1j1_d9qoFnVlFGHMMMQeuHPn7xZ1GUiCsGI34-MdiV8d4KV13fBJcxpMskeRk-sxDP2vJEM/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571154160805236626" border="0" /></a><br />引き分け!高橋選手はじゃが芋が嫌いで、本橋選手はタコを食べると口が痒くなるので苦手です。小さい頃、帆立を食べると私もそうなりました、、、<br /><br />罰ゲームは変顔!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZwiNm1j3CumJIjxoG8xgum1LiD7BqpmYxwsk9Mt4MDgBo1iTwda5locN8sagBCuYAzh1hKcm_MLqp5HJoQf0oF74161JKQMLFNcS2RXn6vAJlX4N9L5EbldYX7_sAbcqUOcymFmLsYk/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZwiNm1j3CumJIjxoG8xgum1LiD7BqpmYxwsk9Mt4MDgBo1iTwda5locN8sagBCuYAzh1hKcm_MLqp5HJoQf0oF74161JKQMLFNcS2RXn6vAJlX4N9L5EbldYX7_sAbcqUOcymFmLsYk/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571155471652914610" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-52943917464410732062011-02-03T23:26:00.003-05:002011-02-04T00:41:35.842-05:00And The Knowledge That You Have EmergedSometimes, we all need a little inspiration. Things will come back, slowly, once I figure out how to deal with being stressed and on the verge of a meltdown every single day... And so, in the meantime, if you have never watched this, you MUST:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nkREt4ZB-ck" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nm28K-Dgfxs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cElk8cQk2VY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-44029848672993844932011-02-02T23:12:00.002-05:002011-02-03T23:18:17.282-05:00Discovered: GraupelThis is the weirdest precipitation I've ever seen. I would have even asked random on the street about it, but apparently I and some very select people were the only one who was working late on a quasi-snow day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_vEgBbptGpDIm5pSkc3Ll6nVenxD_S_Kjs068UDWxFFfamam1QZlb_JaPVjvOxbIMJpZQKGr6Fs00uyGkBl3uhMjR2RIWnQqfEuIUX8MCEv8BaZkgiRsqeHDUnQRFopWZjWeL-Ye2-k/s1600/large_1473-GraupelSnow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_vEgBbptGpDIm5pSkc3Ll6nVenxD_S_Kjs068UDWxFFfamam1QZlb_JaPVjvOxbIMJpZQKGr6Fs00uyGkBl3uhMjR2RIWnQqfEuIUX8MCEv8BaZkgiRsqeHDUnQRFopWZjWeL-Ye2-k/s400/large_1473-GraupelSnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569682727344467282" border="0" /></a><a href="http://blog.oregonlive.com/weather/2008/03/its_hail_its_snow_no_its_both.html">http://blog.oregonlive.com/weather/2008/03/its_hail_its_snow_no_its_both.html</a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-19438103418259067522011-01-30T10:00:00.002-05:002011-01-30T10:10:55.898-05:001. TangledI usually never go see movies in theatres, but various circumstances came together to lead me to see <span style="font-style: italic;">Tangled</span>, which Wikipedia says is the 50th Disney Animated Classic. Is it really? Somehow I thought that there would be more, considering they'd gone as far (low?) as to create movies like <span style="font-style: italic;">Lion King 1 1/2</span>. Come on now.<br /><br />Ever since I discovered the beauty of Studio Ghibli, I've been unable to take Disney seriously, but <span style="font-style: italic;">Tangled</span> was cute, old-school, and generally enjoyable. I was a little wary when the movie began with a voiceover by Flynn Rider talking directly to the audience, but thankfully that was short. I'd forgotten what the real story of Rapunzel was about, so I did spend a small part of my concentration wondering what creative licenses Disney had taken, but the story flowed well and most of the characters were rather endearing. I'm sort of over the whole animal-sidekick(s)-as-comic-relief thing, even though I actually did like Pascal and Maximus, even though the former had no business being named after a mathematician and the latter looked like a cow that acted like a dog.<br /><br />For some reason I'd decided somewhere along the line that Mandy Moore was an overhyped cute face, but she can actually sing. Oops.<br /><br />Lady Gothel is pure evil. Damn, she is <span style="font-style: italic;">good</span>.<br /><br />So there is, of course, a scene in which Flynn Rider ridiculously tells Rapunzel that she is his "new dream," because there is no reason a law-breaking playboy shouldn't fall in love with a sheltered 18-year-old in a span of two days. Even though it's a Disney movie, and therefore they obviously have to get married and live happily ever after, I was seized by a very strong desire to yell out that it was probably all a lie. I don't yell in movie theatres, though, or many public places, and I didn't want to dash the hopes and dreams of all of the 8-year-olds in the audience besides. Sigh.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-1543937831655624962011-01-22T12:59:00.016-05:002011-01-24T22:30:39.951-05:0012.16.2010 きたなシュラン:二宮和也随分お久しぶりです。今回は「もう直ぐクリスマス」スペシャルでしたが、前半のゲストPerfumeがかなり苦手なので後半のみに集中しました。<br /><br />最初に行ったお店はすっぽんと河豚専門店でした。高級食材がこの番組に出る程に汚いレストランで使われているとは、、、石橋貴明さんとニノはちょっと不安げそうでした。ww<br /><br />確かにこのレストランの汚さは凄かったです:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jmUOCbuX9kVmUe5hwfbAT0xjMsgTYU0iZCrFzBXIN7xZUQD5Sa_MSYqrTFrLD_NYijHMC7IseWMr_NyKXAJ__hrjafnpRYtTrydGFa_AHawSY0IVjL39g_I-JFNQU8tv1YH7aoeNjVg/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jmUOCbuX9kVmUe5hwfbAT0xjMsgTYU0iZCrFzBXIN7xZUQD5Sa_MSYqrTFrLD_NYijHMC7IseWMr_NyKXAJ__hrjafnpRYtTrydGFa_AHawSY0IVjL39g_I-JFNQU8tv1YH7aoeNjVg/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565254691985598178" border="0" /></a>普通にこの建物の前を通ったら、レストランだとは思いもせず終わると思います、、、</div><br />外より中の方が奇麗でしたが、とても狭かったです。当然飾りも洒落っ気も全くありませんでした。しかし、ニノと石橋さんがすっぽん鍋を早速頼んだら、生きているすっぽんがまず出て来ました。思わず感心してしまいました。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiFobopA6ZK_B8lUCOTqAYEf35i05ZBKQN8qPQWwnb4FJp_sVKf4_WEQxlrn_dvK0RFU5smA3MhXqoDYaTmdJQnpObZIGf12ke_0mkwuC23BtIUj_At76VnKLW6mpOWVgyX0Benbrb74/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiFobopA6ZK_B8lUCOTqAYEf35i05ZBKQN8qPQWwnb4FJp_sVKf4_WEQxlrn_dvK0RFU5smA3MhXqoDYaTmdJQnpObZIGf12ke_0mkwuC23BtIUj_At76VnKLW6mpOWVgyX0Benbrb74/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565255802389383858" border="0" /></a><br />この超新鮮なすっぽんが贅沢に鍋に入り、その鍋ごと出ました。<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMppWOJR-k8LTLjDTmRZUOfv6X9a2JODyTLGMXJM7UbVEx8j2yIzcvKRnWJX4GOpLBYbvKSP49nLBfZftLfsRF4e06lK61Qzhbz-oHt8QfpN7TTk-C_hLM5VgBBoj8Z5SHwSOHihE2XL0/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMppWOJR-k8LTLjDTmRZUOfv6X9a2JODyTLGMXJM7UbVEx8j2yIzcvKRnWJX4GOpLBYbvKSP49nLBfZftLfsRF4e06lK61Qzhbz-oHt8QfpN7TTk-C_hLM5VgBBoj8Z5SHwSOHihE2XL0/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565257166845412498" border="0" /></a>まさかの値段!</div><br />まずニノが試食して、美味しいと驚いていました。ニノを信じない石橋さんはニノがテレビとアイドルとしてのイメージを考えて美味しいと言っているのではないかと疑ってましたが、実際に本人も試食したら笑って黙るしか無かったです。個人的にはすぽんは不気味な物ですが、それでもこのすっぽんうどんを食べてみたいな〜という気も湧いて来ました。<br /><br />途中に60歳の店長さんの10歳の息子さんが呼ばれて奥から出て来ました。女の子見たいな顔をして、とても可愛かったです。自分の家族のレストランにニノが座っているのが信じられなさそうでした。<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_07H0cYt9UTXdi94X-1ISFpRIk72vBLUGxcspT_MJoVKWJeUQl7F0QWLymC5RmyakWp2srh9MlQ4oVRccS32Sbtc7KMnXUQuGxDZL-uHVynNuQNMe6SiCwyH3_jbCRy9hY_34G8QuTw8/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_07H0cYt9UTXdi94X-1ISFpRIk72vBLUGxcspT_MJoVKWJeUQl7F0QWLymC5RmyakWp2srh9MlQ4oVRccS32Sbtc7KMnXUQuGxDZL-uHVynNuQNMe6SiCwyH3_jbCRy9hY_34G8QuTw8/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565258449677324370" border="0" /></a>可愛い!</div><br />すっぽんの後に出て来たのは河豚の唐揚げでした:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD0ys7DG7DwAIX-dOxwgYLTSGYHmGepI4mBXhrg-W9R0Kgi99NFUGbxtDhTZ2PNPISmoIx3kF_UCXSpBRkbXXVyzQlgqcoqlb5DpWpoDHNxUQ75UWONjfZ2ANfw_fSE1aFeY1EPydESo/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD0ys7DG7DwAIX-dOxwgYLTSGYHmGepI4mBXhrg-W9R0Kgi99NFUGbxtDhTZ2PNPISmoIx3kF_UCXSpBRkbXXVyzQlgqcoqlb5DpWpoDHNxUQ75UWONjfZ2ANfw_fSE1aFeY1EPydESo/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565952391365603810" border="0" /></a><br />この贅沢な唐揚げもとても美味しかったみたいで、ニノが嵐全員でクリスマスに戻って来ると言ってました。ww判定は星3つ!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnqBsxHZ6Kcn_-WCBgitA9u-Jjq8PIAT3fI1z7OHWuV2iDRuT8z8ohQnKr13szndxkTexy41rjuUtZP0vf7UoGFNhPAKcHPj49xq52vbJWOedYhpVhyphenhyphenSo-DbpHEC33v02JJcMuead8fA/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnqBsxHZ6Kcn_-WCBgitA9u-Jjq8PIAT3fI1z7OHWuV2iDRuT8z8ohQnKr13szndxkTexy41rjuUtZP0vf7UoGFNhPAKcHPj49xq52vbJWOedYhpVhyphenhyphenSo-DbpHEC33v02JJcMuead8fA/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565952855165546882" border="0" /></a><br />二軒目は中国人が経営しているチャンポン屋でした。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLZsAU8EMBbMjZopZJOE-TnY0gaoUYLoSO3DasO8NdIgJARayEtvqfT7PicLlWruZVmiEzUMt8K2mM2eSLZbJg3Pa_LVcE8i40A9DuuvGxNwKZlXygE-qM5Nc8rJRzqLHLu3gsmzkZyI/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLZsAU8EMBbMjZopZJOE-TnY0gaoUYLoSO3DasO8NdIgJARayEtvqfT7PicLlWruZVmiEzUMt8K2mM2eSLZbJg3Pa_LVcE8i40A9DuuvGxNwKZlXygE-qM5Nc8rJRzqLHLu3gsmzkZyI/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565954974501647010" border="0" /></a><br />もう20年も日本人の奥さんと結婚しているのに、日本語がちょっとイマイチで、興奮すると何言っているか分からなくなってしまいます。ww<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgby-VYh6q7b_7p4NrjmPRdjf2wxWqIXrqVwtvslf9kBYwhjmLRJdZU9t0SfqWM_3Ne8UjxSUcA5HO2P1msL9R1ljuXPc8lKUNZY2bxsUiNA7g5hkwGCp4yC1dz6klwOanM9GkFf7ooY/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgby-VYh6q7b_7p4NrjmPRdjf2wxWqIXrqVwtvslf9kBYwhjmLRJdZU9t0SfqWM_3Ne8UjxSUcA5HO2P1msL9R1ljuXPc8lKUNZY2bxsUiNA7g5hkwGCp4yC1dz6klwOanM9GkFf7ooY/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565957145246313490" border="0" /></a><br />興奮してなくても、「しゃ・し・しゅ・せ・しょ」が苦手だそうです:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEZdggU4uDurfmKYHJ5A9NrwZn_U4hebJT5uArAARdK7OHgNU2_OywBZTpSL0GHWCJw9hnf_0SR6MiKsa9SlV82WoOKD-S4TQMunYa-jT0Cn7rnMa_aszu1KhunZgNO5OoAuo8w_p03Y/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEZdggU4uDurfmKYHJ5A9NrwZn_U4hebJT5uArAARdK7OHgNU2_OywBZTpSL0GHWCJw9hnf_0SR6MiKsa9SlV82WoOKD-S4TQMunYa-jT0Cn7rnMa_aszu1KhunZgNO5OoAuo8w_p03Y/s200/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565958234281940178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjBWzxRBaxTDe8uooMWAQBZsX17xqY4h7UeIqgBy3csoFLsoVxD8J2yPpWmvjTNLbHjTubG7rVFnpD9waPzXPfRSfPMK_J9vqGd5TMpECxK7LAr6bfnskqwGXdCXjVC7cmO_9BtbModY/s1600/Untitled%25EF%25BC%2591.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjBWzxRBaxTDe8uooMWAQBZsX17xqY4h7UeIqgBy3csoFLsoVxD8J2yPpWmvjTNLbHjTubG7rVFnpD9waPzXPfRSfPMK_J9vqGd5TMpECxK7LAr6bfnskqwGXdCXjVC7cmO_9BtbModY/s200/Untitled%25EF%25BC%2591.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565958077271632546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />喋り方は面白かったかもしれませんが、有名なチャンポンは美味しかったそうです:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4qo0MuVlkvn_xImDdCURpSCoFTsiCVLLYqwn_jaylZiTXUtpli99AAhBLdgExANmTY1WjlhNzq_Zawaqnk5Bab3-KIA7KnPXBdnOM-gXbZTDwROO7M4EuO-vYB_2uySPU4zqOuQWOF4/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4qo0MuVlkvn_xImDdCURpSCoFTsiCVLLYqwn_jaylZiTXUtpli99AAhBLdgExANmTY1WjlhNzq_Zawaqnk5Bab3-KIA7KnPXBdnOM-gXbZTDwROO7M4EuO-vYB_2uySPU4zqOuQWOF4/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565960391688094114" border="0" /></a><br />龍華園も星3つで、こんかいはパーフェクトでした!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP_4eUZOyE0FjmhSoiy7khEZBrofto4VTQKFlgE8sqw-W3scwcZMLFw61ulKMSX1W-h2IPue_1NbUTL-AoMmPCpx-1igV24Z0nfZOHbo2133cHX_EV2TuXqEweGOow3qq7-xpy3Sib68/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP_4eUZOyE0FjmhSoiy7khEZBrofto4VTQKFlgE8sqw-W3scwcZMLFw61ulKMSX1W-h2IPue_1NbUTL-AoMmPCpx-1igV24Z0nfZOHbo2133cHX_EV2TuXqEweGOow3qq7-xpy3Sib68/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565960629407682594" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-48527460452562731832011-01-20T21:43:00.003-05:002011-01-20T23:14:03.918-05:002011 Australian Open: Day 5So. Exhausted. Australian Open Radio is alternately highly entertaining and exceedingly annoying.<br /><ul><li>"First name Trinidad, last name Tobago?"</li><li>Following Tomas Berdych vs. Richard Gasquet is absolutely maddening.<br /></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-60375510369402749812011-01-19T22:31:00.004-05:002011-01-20T23:25:10.093-05:002011 Australian Open: Days 1-4I want to watch the Australian Open! It seems like there are some amazing things going on and I am missing them all!<br /><ul><li>It looks like Rafael Nadal is putting on freaking clinics every time he steps onto the court. His matches might not be the most exciting, but who cares?</li><li>I almost died last night when Kei Nishikori lost the third set 6-0. He seems to have a speech impediment (irrelevant, I know), but he's fun to follow. All aboard the Japanese Singular Mindset Bandwagon!</li><li>Apparently, Todd Woodbridge sent the following text to Rennae Stubbs:<br /><blockquote>"Is Kim Clijsters pregnant? She looks grumpy and her boobs are bigger."<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n4lmJnvthJY" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" width="560"></iframe></blockquote></li><li>Oh, Dinara Safina...</li><li>Jelena Jankovic, your ship has sailed.</li><li>Jamie Murray is married now? Damn, Jankovic's ships are all sailing away.</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-39653064525926967322011-01-17T14:22:00.004-05:002011-01-17T14:36:00.375-05:004. Water for Elephants by Sara GruenTo be quite honest, circuses freak me out. It's not the clowns--for whatever reason, all of the irrational dislikes and fears that I have do not extend to clowns--but more of the creepy gap between the spectacle that goes on in the front and the cruel, dirty conditions that exist in the back. I know logically that circus conditions must be better now than they were when the stereotypes were created, but they still freak me out.<br /><br />I should have considered this a bit before picking up <span style="font-style: italic;">Water for Elephants</span>, but I was completely intrigued by the name and the random bits of praise that I had heard here and there in the past several years. By the time I realized what I had mentally dove into, it was too late--the plot was moving at breakneck speed, and I was completely hooked.<br /><br />I was a little dissatisfied throughout by how the Cornell situation was never completely resolved--I mean, where did Jacob's dorm belongings go, for instance?--and also felt at times that the sheer horror of some of Jacob's experiences verged on fantasy. The fantasy was continued by Jacob and Marlena's seemingly perfect love. I kept waiting for Jacob to reveal that the wife with whom he had had five children, and whom he had lost to cancer, was in fact not Marlena. Somehow, with no true development of their relationship, they fell in love and were meant to be together forever.<br /><br />By the way, why have the main characters of my last two books both been Jacobs?<br /><br />Sometimes it was better if I didn't try to imagine things that carefully, and instead just let some of the more colorful details wash over me. At other times I was a little shocked by how daring Sara Gruen is as a writer, not necessarily in the sense of some groundbreaking plot element, but in her descriptions and diction. I let those parts wash over me too, and quietly wondered if this is what it takes to make it as an author these days.<br /><br />I did love the book though, and not just because it was the first contemporary book I've read so far in this yearlong goal of mine. The setting is unique, the cover is beautiful, and now that I'm not always quite so apprehensive over what will happen to all the characters I care about, I could probably even read and enjoy it again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-65531461847637344432011-01-17T09:57:00.000-05:002011-01-17T09:57:00.112-05:00US Customary Units: Conquered?Here we go:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Volume</span><br /><ul><li>2 pints = 1 quart</li><li>4 quarts = 1 gallon</li><li>16 fl. ounces = 1 pint</li><li>8 fl. ounces = 1 cup</li><li>2 cups = 1 pint</li><li>4 cups = 1 quart</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mass<br /></span><ul><li>16 ounces = 1 pound</li></ul>...I think, anyway. Why is this so difficult?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-28234978101169510802011-01-16T14:04:00.016-05:002011-01-17T01:05:20.780-05:001.15.2011 SPOKEN!:小塚崇彦・無良崇人・佐野隼規この放送はいつものスケート番組が注目するトップ選手の練習場面やプライベートのシーンではなく、友情を中心とした物でとても良かったと思いました。全日本チャンピヨンである小塚崇彦選手がメインになるのが当然だと思うかもしれませんが、彼の人見知りさもあり、圧倒的なスターがない素晴らしい話が伝わるように作られた放送でした。<br /><br />小塚選手が10歳位の時から仲良くしている佐野隼規選手が大学卒業した際スケートから引退し、社会人になると決めていたので、最後のインカレをどうしても優勝したかったそうです。世界選手権優勝を目指している選手に取ってはインカレは時間の無駄と思うかもしれませんが、小塚選手は佐野選手の夢を支えるために参加しました。<br /><blockquote>「隼規が引退だから、やっぱり優勝して引退したいかなと思って、、、」</blockquote>小塚選手の優しさに感心してしまいました。<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDNn29L5qf4CUJJ_iGM7CsJplqqlqNXVe7ip-CqUByxY6EfVj2RQielGnhsXxYJ5xuyinAtoZvBT3-s1d4-gka9527MBKMehPclY1spRRGhztjGcIXMU_QcpieqEzQvcOjlFMrElzdzw/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDNn29L5qf4CUJJ_iGM7CsJplqqlqNXVe7ip-CqUByxY6EfVj2RQielGnhsXxYJ5xuyinAtoZvBT3-s1d4-gka9527MBKMehPclY1spRRGhztjGcIXMU_QcpieqEzQvcOjlFMrElzdzw/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563024089982070562" border="0" /></a>出会った当時の写真。超可愛い!</div><br />この話を聞いて笑いました:<br /><blockquote>佐野選手:野辺山の合宿でジャム塗って怒られたんだよね<br />小塚選手:部屋で、、、ちょっと、絶対昆虫、、、こんだけ田舎だから昆虫いるだろうって話になって、昆虫を探すんだったら取りあえずジャム塗ったら来るんじゃないかって、、、<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc1Phw8uZ8CY_A2vrQaBpfalCyCqhoz6tgCzS7QmVvhwW4nLEHi_G6NXUgrU6ps_TSrFPbgtGoycfJeeEmqAbEvVLey9XpjsK5FLhE9WW6f4DZYi4Yvy0vkkt4cACrIgzLjKfRBGIAwc/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc1Phw8uZ8CY_A2vrQaBpfalCyCqhoz6tgCzS7QmVvhwW4nLEHi_G6NXUgrU6ps_TSrFPbgtGoycfJeeEmqAbEvVLey9XpjsK5FLhE9WW6f4DZYi4Yvy0vkkt4cACrIgzLjKfRBGIAwc/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563025331309749490" border="0" /></a><br />小塚選手:4日間位放置してたんですよ。<br />佐野選手:こびり付いちゃってね、虫一切来ないし、最終日に歯ブラシで掃除して、、、<br />小塚選手:歯ブラシでガーってこすって、、、<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6CGIv_fV6bCB2ScSft5WMeb3ftuMGGjDohxUDYAOO3HkYzvNEkEQeFr07Csy42YFLW2NwBCtgr0meP8XMth_VyzFHFBZ3z-lQorsYlK3Eel5WB9Bp3lWrHDkcPkc98onGn-wFAWK_-A/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6CGIv_fV6bCB2ScSft5WMeb3ftuMGGjDohxUDYAOO3HkYzvNEkEQeFr07Csy42YFLW2NwBCtgr0meP8XMth_VyzFHFBZ3z-lQorsYlK3Eel5WB9Bp3lWrHDkcPkc98onGn-wFAWK_-A/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563026036500072754" border="0" /></a></blockquote><br />いかにも男の子らしくて面白い〜選手として道がどんどん離れて行ってもこの2人の関係が全く変わってないのが何か良かったです。<br /><br />ちなみにインカレはこのように点が付けられています:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBfJcvBAaFs2KU0W1bmHRYL1yQKr_AVn26hKqsZv8xpZWIM3j7mN2XObJ35NQOYnFQWbvvQIXH_AhZ4dNNYBJfswixRcBksoDVa9AdkWHlGdkSFnbIrlw8Sf8PH74Y5c1VOR5WKaeXGo/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBfJcvBAaFs2KU0W1bmHRYL1yQKr_AVn26hKqsZv8xpZWIM3j7mN2XObJ35NQOYnFQWbvvQIXH_AhZ4dNNYBJfswixRcBksoDVa9AdkWHlGdkSFnbIrlw8Sf8PH74Y5c1VOR5WKaeXGo/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563026776545513458" border="0" /></a><br />ショートプログラムでは残念ながら佐野選手がジャンプを全てミスして、16位に終わりました。しかし、全日本選手権で5位だった無良崇人選手が2位、勿論小塚選手が1位で、中京大学が暫定1位に立ちました。<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCQAjT_pTzHgTnw0IsMbZTsOIMCqIfTR2680s2r1P8WxcpJ8eAwH-b1i2tFZgRfCZ0GDRY-lflm5Y5MRRaaBeaIkJvKHCn7V-VZTGQ5dSBv6DGqe3KZuNidM6qciVNgYZmk-6BYZN-VU/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCQAjT_pTzHgTnw0IsMbZTsOIMCqIfTR2680s2r1P8WxcpJ8eAwH-b1i2tFZgRfCZ0GDRY-lflm5Y5MRRaaBeaIkJvKHCn7V-VZTGQ5dSBv6DGqe3KZuNidM6qciVNgYZmk-6BYZN-VU/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563029003139338962" border="0" /></a><br />小塚選手が滑る前にこんな場面もありました:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMHUdFwDagNr_EOwIJHtZtGnLDkcUuJTnOXOaes9uq7PR5syRagwW_3y0UKIxS-tCVvqGO9b5qAsMf4KwCdvZ0c0PNcLKIuOFVcoMv1aRCfq35hIjl9CLig_pcq2iHyeP_ldDBPri9jY/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMHUdFwDagNr_EOwIJHtZtGnLDkcUuJTnOXOaes9uq7PR5syRagwW_3y0UKIxS-tCVvqGO9b5qAsMf4KwCdvZ0c0PNcLKIuOFVcoMv1aRCfq35hIjl9CLig_pcq2iHyeP_ldDBPri9jY/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563027709054141794" border="0" /></a>佐藤コーチが来ていなかったので、背中を叩くのは佐野選手の責任になりました。小塚選手があの仕草をそこまで大切にしていたとは知らなかったです^_^</div><br />1位だったが、小塚選手は得意とするルッツをステップアウトしてしまいました。終わった後、バックステージでww:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUulOJrCUdD5Ef5R6-Eo9Jqqv7js1I1-BiWXsVB0gSrVFm6wciM1qSmSoqg5g9JOreuJ25pXl62e_yL-fEHP8KmeCUQ_fvPI8iAFd7QlWPIvSo7s_C4DV0kOfGN0KNp8B80Fptb6vTrEE/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUulOJrCUdD5Ef5R6-Eo9Jqqv7js1I1-BiWXsVB0gSrVFm6wciM1qSmSoqg5g9JOreuJ25pXl62e_yL-fEHP8KmeCUQ_fvPI8iAFd7QlWPIvSo7s_C4DV0kOfGN0KNp8B80Fptb6vTrEE/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563028757049823602" border="0" /></a><br />小塚選手と無良選手は1位と2位以上にはなれないので、中京大学が優勝するためには佐野選手が順位を上げるしかなかったです。それで見事にフリーのジャンプを決め、フリーでは6位に入りました。観てて何だか彼のために嬉しくなってしまいました。<br /><br />驚いたのは佐野選手の息の白さ!そこまで寒いリンクで皆戦ったな〜と感心しました。<br /><br />小塚選手は4回転のトーループに成功しました。インカレでは滅多に見ない技ですよね〜プレッシャーの中で無良選手も奇麗に滑り、この2人はまた1位と2位に立ちました。それで中京大学の優勝が決定!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GH9v0-0oDyqhEon5s7LsWKAGcTHNE_KZCOywN7zzXoDzGXDem14XJ85pOX54Kv1EqifiPv3JTFkHvkeCT_DuaKF3e4rmL7c0z9DCX5Rjhr4Ukqj-8J-ca_vWZpoM_3PrwSypKaVW7CM/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GH9v0-0oDyqhEon5s7LsWKAGcTHNE_KZCOywN7zzXoDzGXDem14XJ85pOX54Kv1EqifiPv3JTFkHvkeCT_DuaKF3e4rmL7c0z9DCX5Rjhr4Ukqj-8J-ca_vWZpoM_3PrwSypKaVW7CM/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563030750629341426" border="0" /></a><br />終わって総合得点の紙を眺めながらこんな会話もありました:<br /><blockquote>佐野選手:(42点中)俺7点なんだ<br />小塚選手:7点大きい!7点大きい!だって昨日以上上がれないもん、こっちの2人、、、<br />佐野選手:そっか。そうだよね。<br />小塚選手:どんだけ頑張っても。キャプテンにかかってたからマジで!<br />佐野選手:危ない危ない。<br />小塚選手:そのプレッシャーを乗り切っての優勝だから、完璧!<br /></blockquote>小塚選手、優しい!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-26115823519654888522011-01-16T10:37:00.002-05:002011-01-16T10:53:39.287-05:003. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest HemingwayTo be quite honest, I hated <span style="font-style: italic;">A Farewell to Arms.</span> I'm sure a part of it was that I read it in English class senior year with a teacher I both hated and ridiculed, but a bigger part of it is that I simply have no interest in war stories. With that in mind, I wasn't convinced that picking up another book by Ernest Hemingway would be the best idea, but in fact <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sun Also Rises</span> isn't actually about World War I.<br /><br />Instead, it's about a group of fairly young, petty, irresponsible friends--people?--who seem to spend all of their time eating in cafés, getting drunk, and hurting not only each other but everybody around them. There is both a callousness to money and a firmly arrogant belief that it can solve anything, and a conviction that each's own emotions are deeply true while completely disregarding the validity of others'. Is this characterization supposed to indirectly reflect the dehumanizing effect of war? My English teacher would probably argue yes, but I would say no.<br /><br />It never ceased to be incredible to me that Brett, the only major female character in the book, has no qualms about cheating on her fiancé, and apparently with his knowledge. Mike gets angry and jealous, and yet does nothing about it, and it almost seems that they had never sat down together for a serious, sober conversation about anything, let alone their expectations for each other in a monogamous relationship. Meanwhile, Jake, who spends a considerable amount of time explaining that he is a rare, foreign aficionado of bullfighting, promptly turns around and allows Brett to destroy the Spanish purity of the bullfighter Pedro Romero. It was satisfying to see that the hotel owner Montoya stopped being friendly to him in response, but infuriatingly Jake does not seem to care.<br /><br />I half-expected Romero to die in a fight, and when this didn't happen, I also sort of expected Cohn to commit suicide. That also did not happen. Actually, Cohn is never really pulled together at the end of the story, and neither is Mike nor Bill. To some extent I would have appreciated a little more narrative about Jake's war experiences, because it would have helped clarify the history and nature of his relationship with Brett, how Mike and Bill fit into their dysfunctional world, and perhaps even how the ending is supposed to be interpreted and imagined. The only reassuring part is that it seems that even when only Brett and Jake are the ones truly left in the book, they do not get together and instead maintain some semblance of actual friendship.<br /><br />I really need to treat myself to something contemporary now. <span style="font-style: italic;">Water for Elephants</span>, here I come! Provided I actually get to the library, that is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-35989739375487377682011-01-14T19:53:00.018-05:002011-01-16T13:02:04.360-05:0012.12.2010 情熱大陸:Kohei Uchimura<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MnlIry6377w?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MnlIry6377w?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> With these hands he grasped the top of the world. Gymnast Kohei Uchimura. His callused palms are clear evidence.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> I have two pairs of nail clippers, one for cutting my nails and one for cutting off the dead skin from my hands. This is really embarrassing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Commentator:</span> We can see the raging fire (i.e. his power)... He stuck it! Stuck it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> At the World Gymnastics Championships that took place this October (2010) in the Netherlands, Uchimura became the first Japanese gymnast to defend the All-Around title. He is only the third gymnast ever to make this brilliant achievement. The name Kohei Uchimura swept through the gymnastics world. He is the man currently closest to the (All-Around) gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Koji Gushiken (1984 Olympic All-Around Champion):</span> No matter what area you look at--pick up--he has very clean, beautiful gymnastics. They make a picture. He must have eyes all over the place--where he is and how he is positioned, what he should do to stick the landing, all these things.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> What are "beautiful gymnastics"? Uchimura has intently pursued this. For this Uchimura, there is one title now that he desperately wants.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> I know that Japanese Nationals and the World Championships are completely different, but everyone wants us to win Nationals, and we athletes also want the title no matter what, so...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The World Champion, who does not let up at all, was focused on winning with his friends and teammates in his last competition as a student.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Question:</span> Gymnastics is...?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> I guess it's destiny? I feel like it's not too extreme to say that I was born so I could do gymnastics.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Where does the road that the 21-year-old World Champion seeks lead?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Nippon Sport Science University)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The World Champion rides his bicycle to school from his dorm every day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> 'Morning.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Are you not a morning person?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> I don't really get sleepy, so...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Oh really?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Yes. If I sleep, my body doesn't move well, so...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> I see.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Yeah. This is my standard outfit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> You're wearing work gloves?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Yes, because it's cold.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gymnasts:</span> Good morning! 'Morning!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Nippon Sport Science University Gymnastics Club. It is a renowned gymnastics program that has produced numerous medalists. Practices are held daily for an hour midday, and four hours in the afternoon. Uchimura is a senior and the captain who pulls together the 65 members of the men's division.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gymnasts:</span> Let's work together.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> (Only 13 more training sessions until) Japanese Nationals, which start on December 3. For Uchimura, it is the last meet he will compete with his friends.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gymnasts:</span> Together! Let's go!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> In the team competition in gymnastics, three athletes from each team compete on six events such as floor, the high bar, and still rings, and the total scores from those performances are used. Last year, Nippon Sport Science University allowed the "working adult team" to win, and finished in second place. And so especially, the World Champion was very focused on the last meet he would spend with his friends.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Koji Yamamuro (senior):</span> He's very shy, but I think he's gotten a lot better.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fumihiro Hosokawa (senior):</span> There are parts of him that I don't get, but I do think that he's a great athlete who hides it when he gets down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Masataka Aoyama (sophomore):</span> You get the feeling that he competes against himself. He doesn't get nervous, and performs with confidence.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> On this day he went to a ramen place with the underclassmen with whom he lives in the gymnastics division dorms.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Masataka Aoyama:</span> To be honest, we're definitely better than Kohei at still rings--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Shut up.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takumi Sato (junior):</span> Sorry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> First, these noodles--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiter:</span> Noodles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> --and gyoza, five of them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiter:</span> Okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Fried chicken--fried chicken, three of them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> They ordered noodles, gyoza, and fried chicken.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Are you a picky eater?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Oh yeah, definitely. Things I don't like...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takumi Sato/Masataka Aoyama:</span> Tomatoes...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Tomatoes. Green peas. Yeah, vegetables.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Which actors, comedians, etc. do you like?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saki_Aibu">Saki Aibu</a>. Saki Aibu.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Usually when you go out to eat, do you split the bill?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takumi Sato and Masataka Aoyama shake their heads and gesture towards Kohei Uchimura)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Oh he treats?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takumi Sato/Masataka Aoyama:</span> The burden of being a veteran.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Hey you, you ate the fried chicken without asking, didn't you?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Masataka Aoyama:</span> Thanks!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> What are you doing, eating it?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> There is only a little bit of time left that he can spend with his underclassmen. Only ten more days until Nationals. During practice, one could often see him like this. His hands calmly move through the air without rushing, as if he is waving a baton.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> That--I'm imagining the skills I will perform.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Images?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Yes. In my mind I can see how they should be best performed, so I guess I am continuously seeking those in practice? Yeah.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0LressX93JY?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0LressX93JY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> (Born on January 3, 1989) By the time he realized it gymnastics was already a part of his life. His parents, who were both gymnasts, opened a gym at their house when Uchimura was three years old. Nagasaki Prefecture, Isahaya City. Even today, his parents continue to run their club.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuko Uchimura (mother):</span> Go! Go! Very good!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> From here the second Uchimura may emerge.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> Excuse us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kazuhisa Uchimura (father)/Shuko Uchimura:</span> Welcome, come on in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuko Uchimura:</span> There are a lot of pictures. Come in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Pictures of their World-Champion son decorate every corner of the living room.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuko Uchimura:</span> Well, when he focuses... even if something, a bomb, exploded right next to him, he probably wouldn't notice--he was a child with that kind of ability of concentrate. One sunny day he was sleeping underneath the high bar. I was so shocked, I thought he had fallen! Yes. I guess he'd gotten tired after playing on it for so long. When I looked he was sleeping underneath the high bar.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> His toy was the high bar. The first time he competed in a meet was when he was six years old. The result: last place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuko Uchimura:</span> He was crying at his first meet. Yeah....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Shuko showed us a notebook.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuko Uchimura:</span> So it's this... it's a notebook that child wrote in as he imagined skills.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Uchimura's notebook from when he was in elementary school. Inside, countless gymnastics skills were crammed in. His gymnastics life that began with last place. Wanting to get even a little bit better, he continued to draw imagined skills whenever he had a chance. And that is linked to his beautiful gymnastics today. Of this beauty, Athens Gold Medalist says...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hiroyuki Tomita (2004 Olympics Team Gold Medalist):</span> Rather than flexibility, I think he brings out beauty in the way he precisely and quickly moves his body. On the high bar, in general--the height of his releases, the opening up of his body... those are his strong points. It's rare that a gymnast can do a Kovacs so high. In his landings, the moment before his feet touch the ground, his midair positioning is very good. Well, I think he is the best gymnast in the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> His superior midair sense and landings. Their origins lie in the trampoline he has loved since he was a boy. Even now, he first imagines new skills on the trampoline. Uchimura was attempting a new skill on vault. It is a new skill that no one has successfully done before. If he succeeds at it at the World Championships, it would be named the "Uchimura." This skill requires three twists in the air. At the moment, the hardest vault recorded is two and a half twists. Upon landing, the body faces away from the vault. If this becomes a triple twist, it is an additional half twist--in other words, the body will face the vault. The key to success is twisting quickly. However, because he focuses so much on this, he cannot get into position to land.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Was it too fast? I ended up trying to get around.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coach:</span> I don't think that it's that you can't get the twists in, but.... something, something's a little off. A little more.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Even Uchimura, with the best landing technique in the world, struggles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Vault is the one event where even I feel like I don't do enough, so if I could change that I think that I could get stronger... yeah. Whenever I'm training skills I can't do at all, it's like, 'When the hell am I going to be able to do this?'<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> There was only a week left before Nationals.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trainer:</span> You shoulder?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Yeah. But it doesn't hurt that much.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trainer:</span> How about now?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> It hurts. The same place as before.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> In fact Uchimura was dealing with the uncertainty of having pain in his shoulder. He has bitter memories related to injury. The All-Around at his first Olympics as a 19-year-old, in 2008 in Beijing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Commentator:</span> He can make it... He's starting with this move... And now, swiveling around the pommel horse. It's here--AH! As expected!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> A fall on the pommel horse.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Commentator:</span> His uncertainty struck! And again! A second time...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> With the second fall, he finished with the silver.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> At the time, my wrist--my left wrist--was pretty painful, and even in everyday life is was extremely painful. I was thinking that I would definitely fall on the pommel horse, and I performed, and to me it was like, 'Good thing it was only twice.'<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> How to deal with injuries and pain--this is also the destiny of gymnasts.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yoshiaki Hanakeda (coach):</span> The parts of the body that aren't usually used--you bring your body into these positions and a lot of weight is placed on those parts, right? So as expected, those parts get damaged--even if you think about it normally, they get damaged.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The still rings place over six times his body weight on both shoulders. In his current state, it is impossible for him to perform his routine through the end.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teammate:</span> Does your shoulder hurt?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> It hurts a lot.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teammate:</span> Does it hurt more than it did at Worlds?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> It hasn't really changed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> He tries (the still rings) using a harness that relieves some of the pressure on his shoulders, but... There was one friend who watched over Uchimura through all of this. His classmate Yamamuro was called Uchimura's rival from the time they were in high school.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dlgFx7SwGPU?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dlgFx7SwGPU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br />However, he is also a close friend who supports the shy captain.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Koji Yamamuro:</span> Kohei, I think the pain got a lot worse probably this year, and so in the beginning he wouldn't want to train because it hurt, but as a team we really need him.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> His teammates' thoughts come across painfully clear. What should he do as a captain so that his team wins? Uchimura was thinking. Four days before Nationals. At Nippon Sport Science University there is a traditional ritual that occurs before meets.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Nippon Sport Science University~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gymnasts:</span> Fight!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> This was the last time he would lead the yell to raise his team's competitive spirits. On the way to Yamaguchi, where the competition would be held.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> I took it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> This was the last trip he would take with his team.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crew:</span> As captain, or as an individual competitor, what are your goals?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> To have fun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Masataka Aoyama:</span> To have fun, and also to perform beautifully...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> That's true, beautifully.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Yamaguchi Prefecture Sports Culture Center)<br />(December 2, Official Practice)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The competition was three days. Both a team competition and individual apparatus competitions would take place. The day before the meet, Uchimura was undecided about whether he would enter the still rings event. Because of the pain in his left shoulder, he had not yet been able to do a full run-through of his routine. That night...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teammate:</span> You're going to enter the rings, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Yeah I'll enter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teammate:</span> Is it okay, your shoulder?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Yeah, it's okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teammate:</span> Amazing, as expected.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> Probably.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teammate:</span> Well, I hope you have fun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> I think I can do it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> And so the day of the team competition. Uchimura's battle begins.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(December 4, All-Japan Gymnastics Nationals, Team Competition)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> December 4, All-Japan Gymnastics Nationals, Team Competition. From high schoolers to working adults, the twelve elite teams that had won their respective competitions participated. The arena was packed with people who wanted to catch even a glimpse of the World Champion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gymnasts:</span> Thank you. Let's go!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Uchimura's last team competition as a student began. His first event was one of his specialties: floor. He pulled off numerous difficult skills and set up his team. Buoyed by Uchimura's momentum, his teammates also performed cleanly.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Defending Champions KONAMI Team)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Last year's winners, the KONAMI Team, which is filled with members of the National team, also performed cleanly and put pressure on Nippon Sport Science University. Even now the uncertainty over his shoulder remains. Next, the rings. If he enters, he cannot make excuses. As captain, as World Champion, this was his moment to prove himself. The time of his routine: 67 seconds. Of all of the competitors (in the event), his was the second-highest score. In the stands were his parents. And the event that everyone anticipated was the final performance of the team competition: Uchimura's forte, the high bar. The most beautiful landing in the world was also stuck on that day. The winners: Nippon Sport Science University. It was not the title, but this moment with his teammates that he wanted.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kohei Uchimura:</span> I want to become an athlete who can perform without mistakes, and beautifully, no matter the timing, no matter what the circumstances. What I'm aiming for--what I want to express--is far, far above what I'm doing now, so I think there is a lot more to be done in those areas. Thanks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The individual events the next day. The number that indicates Uchimura's vault is 0. It is a new skill that no one has successfully competed. On the last day, he somehow managed to contain the challenging landing. Higher, and beautifully. The landing that he struggled for is phase two of his dreams. Kohei Uchimura--on the road he has started to run along, a huge sky awaits.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-23734576459064421352011-01-11T19:28:00.002-05:002011-01-11T19:43:35.530-05:002. Thousand Cranes by Yasunari KawabataI will get back to the usual stuff soon enough (it's been a month?!), but battery issues and the like call for another step in one of my New Year's resolutions instead...<br /><br />Since the book I got from the library was actually a two-novel volume, I immediately started <span style="font-style: italic;">Thousand Cranes</span> after finishing <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country</span>. I'm not sure if that was a good idea or not; on one hand, I was already in the mentality to read through the simplicity of Kawabata's writing, but on the other, I sort of took the time away from myself to actually sit back and consider the depth of the first story. But at any rate, they have both been read, so there's not much point in thinking about this now.<br /><br />Based on the descriptions, I was actually looking forward more to <span style="font-style: italic;">Thousand Cranes</span> than <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country</span>, but having read both I think I might actually prefer <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country</span>. The novels share the same type of frustrating male protagonist, who sabotages his chances at love through indecision and pointless mental wanderings. I could in a way relate to Shimamura in <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country</span>, since in addition to feeling restless he was also conflicted about having left his family back in Tokyo and about marring the "cleanness" that defined Komako, but Kikuji in <span style="font-style: italic;">Thousand Cranes</span> almost seems to have no moral or societal compass.<br /><br />Sleeping with his deceased father's former mistress? <span style="font-style: italic;">What?</span> Come on now. I can sort of understand his hesitation to marry the Inamura girl, since (even in miai) appearances aren't everything, and Chikako the go-between is as exasperatingly meddlesome as characters get, but allowing Mrs. Ota to seduce him because he reminds her of his father is simply creepy. Kikuji gives no thought to how the Inamura girl must feel or look--being led on that a successful match would happen, and then being ignored--and instead half-pursues the Ota girl despite her evident discomfort and all the history between their families.<br /><br />Of course, the story ends with another inconclusive ending from Kawabata. It seems that in all likelihood the Ota girl also commits suicide, but the possibility that she and Kikuji end up together is also left somewhat open. And if she does commit suicide, then what happens to Kikuji? Is he as useless as ever, lounging around and occasionally going into the office? What happens to Chikako? <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country</span>'s ending was inconclusive too, but I found this one far more maddening.<br /><br />In any case, that's it for Yasunari Kawabata, unless I feel compelled to read another, which I probably won't--not anytime soon, anyway.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-72998641609989692002011-01-09T20:35:00.003-05:002011-01-09T20:53:44.080-05:001. Snow Country by Yasunari KawabataSo weird to write "Yasunari Kawabata," instead of "Kawabata Yasunari" like I'm always used to saying and hearing. Anyway, in an effort to not fail my resolutions in the first week of the new year, I pushed myself to register for a card at the local library and get a start on the books I'd always been vaguely interested in reading. None of the books I'd actually been looking for were there, but as I perused the shelves in search of something I might have forgotten about, I came across <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country and Thousand Cranes</span>, which I guess is sort of a good deal. Haha.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure that the chances of my reading a Nobel Prize-worthy novel in Japanese are fairly low, so I decided to go for the next best thing. I wonder if Edward Seidensticker was as creepy as modern Japanophiles. I kind of feel bad saying that about a deceased, renowned scholar, though.<br /><br />Anyway, <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country</span> was surprisingly easy to get through, although the simplicity of the language and vocabulary actually forces the reader to slow down and consider each word. There's imagery and emotional introspection everywhere, and by extension I felt like I had to stop and consider my own emotions and my own experiences, even if I've never been a wealthy fat man in search of a mistress. The Nobel Prize committee referenced this subdued but keen emotion inherent in Kawabata's works:<br /><blockquote>The Nobel Prize in Literature 1968 was awarded to Yasunari Kawabata <i>"for his narrative mastery, which with great sensibility expresses the essence of the Japanese mind"</i>.</blockquote>I kind of find that hilarious. "Japanese" sounds so foreign and exotic here--imagine the committee giving the Prize to someone for "being French" or "imparting a sense of being Nigerian."<br /><br />I can't decide whether <span style="font-style: italic;">Snow Country</span> moves slowly or quickly--there isn't much action, but the character development progresses quite rapidly, and several years' worth of events are contained in 175 widely-spaced pages. There's something vaguely irritating about Shimamura, who does not work because he inherited money and instead abandons his wife and children in pursuit of a geisha named Komako. The thing is, though, he seems emotionally immature and incapable of actually acting upon his pursuit, and instead she is left always wanting more from him and living in fear that he will leave for what will be the last time. Shimamura's inability to truly connect with Komako is in some ways refreshing, because somehow that makes his transgressions and abandonment of responsibilities less abhorrent, but at the same time it is frustrating to read. I felt for Komako, maybe because a dead-end relationship is something I relate to very closely.<br /><br />At the same time, Komako has very clear flaws as well, which prevents anybody from seeing her as purely a victim or a tragic heroine. Her work is less than ideal and honorable, and she is flighty, hysterical, and possibly an alcoholic. Just as I was pulled into feeling for her situation, I would be reminded that entertaining men and forging superficial relationships lie at the center of her profession.<br /><br />The ending is vague and somewhat dissatisfying, but it goes well with the overall feeling of the story. Things are unclear and muddled, in stark contrast to the Milky Way and the clarity of Komako's skin. I wanted to shout at Shimamura to do something, anything, for the fire and for Yoko, but predictably he does not. Instead, Komako runs crazily to Yoko's fallen body, and it is this action vs. inaction that emphasizes the true gulf between the two main characters.<br /><br />I think, all in all, I really did enjoy this novel. Kawabata's prose can take getting used to, but after a while the genius of his simplicity comes through and justifies the first--of only two--Nobel Prize ever awarded to Japanese author.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-19844235587145343642011-01-06T23:35:00.003-05:002011-01-06T23:37:57.550-05:00Congratulations on Adulthood<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPdqJKGHRIWNd1y03_k3XLA_xnmXQHJ6RjLKVW_4Z8g8BadlLtNokPbb5W27MObVsCpxkXtQ6ynTSnZUq21mUTJbTSZ0i99oTZuVEpNFxxsK45wMtG2DA84V3x-qBVFyuhSCH1WOSwIs/s1600/20110106-00000010-maiph-000-view.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPdqJKGHRIWNd1y03_k3XLA_xnmXQHJ6RjLKVW_4Z8g8BadlLtNokPbb5W27MObVsCpxkXtQ6ynTSnZUq21mUTJbTSZ0i99oTZuVEpNFxxsK45wMtG2DA84V3x-qBVFyuhSCH1WOSwIs/s400/20110106-00000010-maiph-000-view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559298460718001490" border="0" /></a><a href="http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110106-00000010-maiph-spo.view-000">http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110106-00000010-maiph-spo.view-000</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-11132454556004982011-01-06T19:51:00.005-05:002011-01-08T02:34:49.332-05:0001.02.2011 スポーツ王は俺だ!:フィギュア軍団と卓球対決 aka Ping-Pong with Figure Skaters!Usually I don't bother with translating shows unless it's specifically been asked, but there seems to be a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding and racially-driven anger brewing over this particular episode. It would probably be a better idea to catch up with the usual things I watch, but in the interest of doing my small part to keep the figure skating world somewhat civil...<br /><br />Please do not repost without permission.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zzX3dkaCFd0Hl8JZy7NP0ZWmO9OBlLcxZFipKDFQmSdItFHqBr02J_KGbnRLyWTuKhaYzHdW9RurNdGYPrycECK5SzqSHV9ETXZejP6cBKEYmrqReLr28MLzqVlcvIL8bhym_le4dJA/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zzX3dkaCFd0Hl8JZy7NP0ZWmO9OBlLcxZFipKDFQmSdItFHqBr02J_KGbnRLyWTuKhaYzHdW9RurNdGYPrycECK5SzqSHV9ETXZejP6cBKEYmrqReLr28MLzqVlcvIL8bhym_le4dJA/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557758307646616642" border="0" /></a><br /><iframe src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xgehcf?foreground=%23F7FFFD&background=%23171D1B&highlight=%23FFC300&additionalInfos=0&iframe=0" frameborder="0" height="270" width="480"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator: </span>Ping-pong match! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%28owarai%29">Tunnels</a> vs. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuzo_Matsuoka">Shuzo Matsuoka</a> with the "Figure Skating Army"!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> This is the traditional Tunnels' "I Am the King of Sports!: Ping-Pong Match"! They are already getting all worked up! So, you two are called the "Kings of Ping-Pong of the Entertainment World," and again this year you will face some fateful competitors.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> So this is not the one where we start out with a word-chain game, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> No, it's not. That is not the plan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> That's right. I know because we do this every year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Actually, you two have never won one of these ping-pong matches.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Yes, in fact that is true. Even though you are called the "Kings of Ping Pong of the Entertainment World"...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>That's because partway through, the staff (for the show) will introduce weird rules...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Oh like giving (their opponents) weird pans! It's because they make it all New Years' special-like!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>If they let us do things normally, we will definitely win.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> I see. You're confident of this?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Well then, let's go ahead and welcome today's opponents!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Battle cry...?)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_qfF-fqn_-H4V6u_tAE5RQAHvs-lae_YZMREnzjM2nxSYLIYq_o_Js3x1gmzLZDsftiw8q3d4XmcTDlMM7MrP7WjIu_7FAx9KMykygl4CAjcZhhzWFiTwAlPjCosJ8zwQmGxvsU8jhA/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_qfF-fqn_-H4V6u_tAE5RQAHvs-lae_YZMREnzjM2nxSYLIYq_o_Js3x1gmzLZDsftiw8q3d4XmcTDlMM7MrP7WjIu_7FAx9KMykygl4CAjcZhhzWFiTwAlPjCosJ8zwQmGxvsU8jhA/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557822878268099650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Through the white smoke has entered the Tunnels' fateful opponent, Shuzo Matsuoka, with the "Figure Skating Army"! Vancouver Olympics Silver Medalist, Mao Asada, and Daisuke Takahashi! Miki Ando, Nobunari Oda, Takahiko Kozuka, all striking poses! With Shuzo Matsuoka in front they have entered (the studio)! What a lineup! Wow, this--<span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi starts whacking Shuzo Matsuoka on the knee)</span>--and he's off, he's off! Right away he's off! He went in to aim at Shuzo Matsuoka's old knee injury!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka: </span>I just had treatment yesterday!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> So this means you know all about his injuries. He will really be a fateful opponent.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka: </span>This time... this is my favorite sport. "Figure Skating Army," thank you!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>So cool!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Thank you very much! How extravagant (to have such guests)!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> A silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics, she who launched a revival at the year-end Nationals: Mao Asada. Japan's first male Olympic medalist, World Champion: Daisuke Takahashi. She who won Nationals for the first time in six years: Miki Ando. 2010 Grand Prix Final Silver Medalist: Nobunari Oda. First-time National Champion: Takahiko Kozuka! They who represent Japan, a splendid figure skating team, come together to create a miracle (to beat Tunnels)!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> We've competed against each other before, but all--<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />(Takaaki Ishibashi whacks Shuzo Matsuoka on the knee)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The second time today! The sound of the whack rang through (the studio).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Even though I'm retired I don't want to get surgery... I've never lost (to them).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> That's right.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> But, you know, is this okay? I mean, everyone's still a child! They're like, students on a class trip! I mean, I saw them get off this weird bus!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbr3hiRJ5ySTdyxcOiP1ithhqkHRYbTu-XZasTZdgHZHqAjnVkyeAodr8Xahos00cNSRr4eMsgDqfrTGuHY3EwdW_DDrAMaFOYGaclM8B5TWhWL1Yg91zkCdeZmkYH8ID07aZg4_YhYw/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbr3hiRJ5ySTdyxcOiP1ithhqkHRYbTu-XZasTZdgHZHqAjnVkyeAodr8Xahos00cNSRr4eMsgDqfrTGuHY3EwdW_DDrAMaFOYGaclM8B5TWhWL1Yg91zkCdeZmkYH8ID07aZg4_YhYw/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557825717789200050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka: </span>Not at all! I mean, (Mao) turned 20...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oh, Mao-chan turned 20, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer): </span>Congratulations (Happy Birthday)!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Congratulations!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Thank you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> So with regards to ping-pong--how good are you?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> So-so.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer): </span> So-so?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>I mean everyone's still like a child!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Wait, wait, speaking of children, Oda-kun--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Right, right! Congratulations!<br /><br /><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Congratulations!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oda-kun, you became a father?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda: </span>Yes (on October 1, 2010).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> A boy or a girl?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> A boy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oh, right, how you debated whether to name him <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga">Nobunaga</a>?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> No, no, I didn't worry about this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Wow, so you're a father. Your shoelace is broken.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> So this is a psych-out! The psych-outs have started!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Miki-san, please say something to them. <span style="font-style: italic;">(Miki Ando just laughs)</span> So everyone, how is your ping-pong?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> There isn't a ping-pong table at the training center?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Oh, there's one in Russia!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Yes, I played in Russia.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(everyone starts repeating "Russia")</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka: </span>Russia. Yes, they're international.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Right, right, right. But they're kids!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> No, they're top athletes!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Still, things will change when it comes to ping-pong. They will show a side of themselves they don't show on the ice.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Shuzo, why are you sweating? In just this opening (of the episode)!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> After this, the matchup will turn into the biggest see-saw game ever!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX4uEiT4gkfToWxipFJjBB6AUE6pKCg1xuizg8KfS8gHlHB2o4jHM7YmQtfMixdKIkuPM5zTgRsWsPo-Nz7Bj1QT2waPlhd3G5-qXEX2oMjYrMy4nnoOc3wVsxSYOZ0z4y-hkWOiLVOU/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX4uEiT4gkfToWxipFJjBB6AUE6pKCg1xuizg8KfS8gHlHB2o4jHM7YmQtfMixdKIkuPM5zTgRsWsPo-Nz7Bj1QT2waPlhd3G5-qXEX2oMjYrMy4nnoOc3wVsxSYOZ0z4y-hkWOiLVOU/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557830972585005538" border="0" /></a><br />The rules are for a single 21-point game doubles match. The figure skating team can change their playing members at any time, at Shuzo Matsuoka's discretion. Either member of both teams can hit the serve or rally.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> So, Shuzo-san, with which pair will you start?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> To start--feel the World!--Mao! Daisuke! Let's go!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Here we go--the medalists! They've come in as a pair! The Vancouver Olympics Silver and Bronze Medalists! Those two have stepped forward!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Best regards.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Okay, to start with, he made those things (the name-paddles) himself, that man!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-alZ4yC8eWR5yo6ZAs7nZxRT6oPcXmCmQ-G9d65hNlTkIIhZTnYjjGQ4Kq_u81XaFjNlrYeiw2JW5ljJpFKPpXyOnsOA4kMwbixMm5MPMhXeWOEVwJDTO0KkH_bLp6V7xJKwKJTdayTk/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-alZ4yC8eWR5yo6ZAs7nZxRT6oPcXmCmQ-G9d65hNlTkIIhZTnYjjGQ4Kq_u81XaFjNlrYeiw2JW5ljJpFKPpXyOnsOA4kMwbixMm5MPMhXeWOEVwJDTO0KkH_bLp6V7xJKwKJTdayTk/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557832204311865762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Opponents, opponents--you can't pay attention to your opponents.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando: </span>Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Okay, the Tunnels will take the serve.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Okay, so the match will begin.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> I'm going to be nervous.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> And so it begins at last, this ping-pong match!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> I'm nervous!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Are you okay, Mao? That ring, is it okay (to play with)?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I'm okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> You're okay?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Pay attention, pay attention.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Oh, right!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Pay attention, pay attention.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What is that, a present from your dad?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Pay attention, pay attention.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I received it from a fan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What? So you wear things you get from fans!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> The serve will come, Mao!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's come! A surprise attack--they return it! This is--OUT! The figure skating team has taken the first point! Ishibashi's surprise attack was a failure.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Don't forget your signature poses!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Signature poses--<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's come! Aaah! This is dirty! Now this is dirty!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> The serve just now--the one just now, is it fair?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> It's okay, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Referee Watanabe has given a point to the Tunnels! Ishibashi wins the point!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> That's bad!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Okay?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada: </span>Not fair!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> So this is the real world, you see?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> That's right.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> There's stuff like this all the time during matches!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels are sneaky!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Either one of you can hit the serve, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Either, either one is okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Mao, Mao--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I'm nervous.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You're nervous, right? Please, think of those two as true enemies. I mean, niceness now is not allowed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Okay, no niceness allowed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> In figure skating, you don't compete (directly) with others, but this is a (direct) battle. Adopt a bad personality.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Okay, Asada's serve.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> You changed coaches, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada: </span>Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> The same coach as Kozuka-kun--?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Okay, let's go let's go let's go.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(to Takaaki Ishibashi) </span>Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You can't listen to him here--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> --said for you to train.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> The power not to listen--<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Mao Asada serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> A surprise attack from Asada! Takahashi returns it, Ishibashi also returns it! Oh! It's in! One point to the figure skating team! A surprise attack, as you saw, to Ishibashi! The figure skating team has come out with more skill than anticipated!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2YT-qXjVWOuMu6yK_QrSueeMvvtnfwuOBseI0Itq8b-4HgoZfTVweRc_Rmn5q8juTFeELsZ6q8ELCrdKuiQggwX6XXsXeO4rJzFvi0AyaR-MVYZupuYII_WvwGZ1DzPBmhHZdkvjzwg/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2YT-qXjVWOuMu6yK_QrSueeMvvtnfwuOBseI0Itq8b-4HgoZfTVweRc_Rmn5q8juTFeELsZ6q8ELCrdKuiQggwX6XXsXeO4rJzFvi0AyaR-MVYZupuYII_WvwGZ1DzPBmhHZdkvjzwg/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557847092134710514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Noritake Kinashi sends the ball to Mao Asada)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Aaah!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi: </span>No, no, no! No!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> No, this is wrong! This is wrong!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Serve, serve, serve!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span>Kinashi simply gently sent the ball to the figure skating team so they could serve. She's been unnerved by the Tunnels' immature surprise attacks!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I was so surprised!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> She's become suspicious.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Together, now--<span style="font-style: italic;">so cute!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I was so surprised... whew... I'm tired.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, the difference is a mere one-point difference! The match has just begun!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> It might be better if I hit the serve.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Okay, just hit it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Because it's easy. <span style="font-style: italic;">(to the Tunnels) </span>Please imitate me!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> "Please!" She said it politely, so!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>Triple jump.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Triple jump. Triple Axel!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Mao Asada serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's come! In the midst of this the game has begun--out! Takahashi skillfully aimed towards Ishibashi's corner! Ishibashi can't react! Asada-Takahashi! This pair is displaying more skill than expected!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> This is bad, this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Great, great!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice play!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Okay, I've started to wake up a little.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Mao, Mao! The serve will come, okay?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Mao-chan, you don't have a boyfriend?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> And again, he tries a psych-out--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> But they said that you should fall in love!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi: </span>Love is important, isn't it?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Love is important.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> It's January 2nd!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Love is important, isn't it?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> We want her to fall in love!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Both teams have gotten into it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Who does Mao-chan like, of those in the entertainment world?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> ...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> ...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Well, she's thinking!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> She will not say!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's a tactic, it's a tactic!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Because it's our side's tactic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Shuzo Matsuoka could not stand it and cut the conversation short.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Okay, this ends at 11 so let's do things quickly!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Okay!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's come! It's out! The figure skating team has a press conference scheduled at 11 (currently 10:20). The score is 3 to 2!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Is everything okay? Is everything okay? I wonder what kind of girl Takahashi-kun likes?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Good luck, go!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Go on, tell us what type (of girl) you like.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You don't have to go along with them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> They're not really getting into this!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Maybe because it's the morning.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> I wonder where Daisuke's hair was permed--<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Noritake Kinashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Whoa--out! One point to the figure skating team! They were not tricked by the Tunnels' tactics! So, to continue, it is now the "Figure Skating Army's" serve.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> We'll return it, we'll return it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Mao Asada's serve!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Mao, you're <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB39oZq8ZVE">Omron</a>?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> You should bewilder them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Hello.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Hello.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's served! They return it--Kinashi also returns it, Asada--this is out!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure Skating Team:</span> Nice try, nice try, nice try.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> It's okay, it's okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now it's becoming a good match!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda, Takahiko Kozuka:</span> It's okay, it's okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Your smile, don't forget your smile!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, it's Asada's serve.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Mao-chan, this is it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Is your sister doing well?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6FNBZmRb0EthUTdgef-vJan21VN6cUj4mJ15U41GEAzCmkwUOZ6pIT9tP2eUfWS7ibYeSI11lF-UR_OveWXH1ds2ldfgsu5XDhgtykYVgmkCU-vQZlI1bKXfzUspuCvbRE3wtsdl1CE/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6FNBZmRb0EthUTdgef-vJan21VN6cUj4mJ15U41GEAzCmkwUOZ6pIT9tP2eUfWS7ibYeSI11lF-UR_OveWXH1ds2ldfgsu5XDhgtykYVgmkCU-vQZlI1bKXfzUspuCvbRE3wtsdl1CE/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557860239267955858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, will Mao-chan's serve...?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> She's there, she's over there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Your sister came?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> She's back there. Over there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Your sister--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Where is your sister?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> She's sitting in the back over there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Sitting?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Mao Asada serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Whoa, now it's Asada's surprise attack! Takahashi also returns--and a misfire from Kinashi! Now this is a bad miss for the Tunnels!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> From the start of this match, unbelievable strange play from the "Kings of Ping-Pong of the Entertainment World." Kinashi hit the ball not with his racquet, but with his thumb!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V53UTPmv1eb7FV_QgCnaLvt8q51gOxSnqNttyq0Ll4UqP7HVxVAH5eQP0Eb56HAzCmVMEPBZYb_6JhPcY8USE05qx2dRu00_gByEVX6Sc_MtZNEo_XmwcxKIBO1xMU7YcxaryJob-0g/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V53UTPmv1eb7FV_QgCnaLvt8q51gOxSnqNttyq0Ll4UqP7HVxVAH5eQP0Eb56HAzCmVMEPBZYb_6JhPcY8USE05qx2dRu00_gByEVX6Sc_MtZNEo_XmwcxKIBO1xMU7YcxaryJob-0g/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557862349493003954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> This is a bit of a surprise--what is this, nervousness?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Hah, I wonder if maybe the ball hitting my thumb came from nervousness!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Wow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The figure skating team has a two-point lead! Can the Tunnels recover from Kinashi's mistake? Ishibashi's serve! Ishibashi, an unbelievable mistake on serve! Instead of recovering from Kinashi's mistake, he widened the point gap.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> I'm becoming more awake!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Will the Tunnels continue to be left behind like this?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> It's because you don't focus.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Focus!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Focus!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I wonder who's next.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Bring it, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukyo_University">Chukyo University Chukyo (Campus)</a>!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> A fire has been lit in his Teikyo soul!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Teikyo soul!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="270" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xgehcf?width=&theme=none&foreground=%23F7FFFD&highlight=%23FFC300&background=%23171D1B&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xgehcf?width=&theme=none&foreground=%23F7FFFD&highlight=%23FFC300&background=%23171D1B&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="270" width="480"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Ishibashi's serve! It's returned--what a return!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Yay!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> What a great return from Asada! Ishibashi's Teikyo soul has incomplete combustion!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Your signature pose, your signature pose!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> That just now, really a nice shot. That just now--please, your signature pose!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcQEokhjyCEwsCYpHsH3HOEyOXVzIESKYJ77vuXAXN5g38khv1gm4wYnR0kYdoZ6EecKwgpsKxaX6M4aslrhsz6dkGvZCR9Ub0xchvplHdlidaDNExYfDB1TSDsZyo_6EXNLziOTjtEw/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcQEokhjyCEwsCYpHsH3HOEyOXVzIESKYJ77vuXAXN5g38khv1gm4wYnR0kYdoZ6EecKwgpsKxaX6M4aslrhsz6dkGvZCR9Ub0xchvplHdlidaDNExYfDB1TSDsZyo_6EXNLziOTjtEw/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557870579614334066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Mao Asada's signature pose!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Yay!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> That shot, really amazing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> I'm jealous, it's a good mood on that side.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> And the Tunnels entered a hard fight against the medalist pair, with mistake after mistake. Bit by bit, the point difference grows wider...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The score is 9 to 3!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You know, we have such a lead, I feel a little bad for the other side. So why don't we change players?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Because we're too strong.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It appears that there will be a change of players. Now, who--?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I've started to get used to things a little.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Miki-san, please! Nobunari-san!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Well--they have come out with the Ando-Oda pair!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chie Honma (Announcer):</span> The two of you--how was it?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> I was nervous.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> I was nervous. In the beginning, I couldn't get used to things at all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oda-kun, you're a southpaw?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> I'm left-handed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Really?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Ishibashi--is this another psych-out tactic?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Have you already held him?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> What?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Have you already held him, I mean it's already been two months, have you held him?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Oh--yes. Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Is he cute?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Yes, he's cute.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Even here, he's gone ahead with a psych-out tactic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Good luck, good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Do you think about making him a figure skater?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Oda must not get caught up (in these tactics) now. He cannot get pulled into this!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Umm... if he himself wants to, yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(to Shinji Yoshino) </span>It's because Oda-kun is nice...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> If he himself says he wants to, I see.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Oda cannot let himself get pulled into this! Their makeshift tactics will use anything!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Indeed...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The serve has come! The Tunnels have put on the pressure! They have put on the pressure!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Oda-kun, you'd better focus.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> This is the way the Tunnels, who have survived the rough waves of the entertainment world, do things!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> I mean, Shuzo--<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's in! He returned it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> It's in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Ando also returns it--smash! Great smash from Ishibashi! With pure power, Ishibashi forced the ball through!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The ball that Ishibashi hit so intensely skimmed the net and pierced through the opponents' side. Truly an attack for a comeback!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8pzgO-AzFUoD5QlHGlEIeG2WWeOpC95K399WAoKtNHu9jX5gG2C1Ayf0hbJ2f977jc0Dttc3txoZi0a3vBbd8sV727C3gRTDmyqaeTRNxhh45WFVbwZH4lydPnS13PXRNfAHZcdPoXA/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8pzgO-AzFUoD5QlHGlEIeG2WWeOpC95K399WAoKtNHu9jX5gG2C1Ayf0hbJ2f977jc0Dttc3txoZi0a3vBbd8sV727C3gRTDmyqaeTRNxhh45WFVbwZH4lydPnS13PXRNfAHZcdPoXA/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558080546768236146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Yu-Na Kim!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Aah! Ishibashi--now, now, here!--has unleashed that Yu-Na Kim's pose!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You're slowly getting annoyed, aren't you?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Yu-Na Kim!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> And again! Again, the Yu-Na Kim pose! Will this ignite the figure skating team's competitive fire?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Don't hold back.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, Oda's serve--<span style="font-style: italic;">(Nobunari Oda serves)</span>--it's sent to Oda, Oda sends it back! The score is 9 to 6!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Okay, okay, okay, it's okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The close contest continues! The Tunnels are slowly making a comeback!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Who was it, who was it--the other ladies representative at Vancouver?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Do you mean Akko-chan?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Ak--what, what?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Do you mean Akiko Suzuki-chan?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Right near the middle of Akiko Suzuki-san's free skate--<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRdfOsj-n7UBzKkIbAzdlaF-vwO8QmK-WlTIHWHo2HXWesCf8EDRMkqxlk8JYpture9Kk2nbZjvfthn8UGXLWI7Otd5tknCGnmBAk4JPQ5uA8ic1Hj5ZeA-uK6zemNayedX0cGUvyvvk/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRdfOsj-n7UBzKkIbAzdlaF-vwO8QmK-WlTIHWHo2HXWesCf8EDRMkqxlk8JYpture9Kk2nbZjvfthn8UGXLWI7Otd5tknCGnmBAk4JPQ5uA8ic1Hj5ZeA-uK6zemNayedX0cGUvyvvk/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558189317447909282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda, Miki Ando:</span> What? No, there isn't, there isn't!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Shuzo Matsuoka starts singing)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> From a musical, a musical--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> There isn't, there isn't!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Shuzo Matsuoka keeps singing)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Okay, mambo!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> There isn't, there isn't!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> There was, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> There was something, wasn't there?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yes, there was something.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> There was something, right? What was it?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What was it, from that musical...?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yes, there was something...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">West Side Story</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">West Side Story</span>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMTGl9aumoRQArVeOZIYhpLYQXG60biMz5jFeqDYF_BIjUZ0NeVuSvbH9gC6kQngGjIlcR5s-IYBNE-fLmxP00xATYW6CcFKriexFtSvGw62T-XNv8TWL7AsJedqs8_93Re9r0ix5xmM/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMTGl9aumoRQArVeOZIYhpLYQXG60biMz5jFeqDYF_BIjUZ0NeVuSvbH9gC6kQngGjIlcR5s-IYBNE-fLmxP00xATYW6CcFKriexFtSvGw62T-XNv8TWL7AsJedqs8_93Re9r0ix5xmM/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558190383043550338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> It wasn't like that!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Enough with the theatre!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Okay, the score is 9 to 6--the figure skating team leads by three points! Now, Oda's serve--it's in--Ando also returns it--net, and it's in! The Tunnels are slowly making a comeback! And here, Shuzo Matsuoka--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Next is... Daisuke! Taka-chan!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Shuzo Matsuoka can't help but change players! Here, two males--the Takahashi and Kozuka pair--have come forward!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada, Nobunari Oda:</span> Good luck! Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Taka-chan!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Kozuka-kun, you're called Taka-chan, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Kozuka-kun, are you good at ping-pong?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Taka is good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> "Taka" is good?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando, Nobunari Oda:</span> Good luck! Taka-chan! Taka-chan!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Taka-chan! Okay--<span style="font-style: italic;">(Shuzo Matsuoka starts dancing)</span>--Ta-ka! Ta-ka! Ta-ka!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Okay, a full-out attack has been launched! They return it! Takahashi goes--aah! Into the net!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Okay, okay, okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels have finally brought things to a one-point difference!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Okay, Taka Taka Taka Taka Taka!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Good luck!<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> "Good luck, Taka-chan!" sounds like a cheer for me! We've been told to let you guys go by 11 no matter what, so we're going to attack and finish you off!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now it's Kinashi's serve! No matter what they want to tie the score!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Let's go.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Two balls came! What is this, what is this?! What was that?! Wait a minute--! Aah!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Two points! Two points! Two points!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> What was that just now?!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Give us two points for that! Give us two points! Two points! Two points!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> Using two balls at once--a drastic move that totally disregards the rules. And the ruling on Kinashi's gamble in order overtake the other team in one move is...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> We just got two points now, two points!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> There were in fact two balls just now! A foul, a foul! A yellow card! The pair's attack is not approved! Oh, Ishibashi--with a gesture like Coach Brown's--protests the referee's decision!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1aw6-AnMqWR4Mh_lgL_hyphenhyphene-I0VCKTRWMjtKcOIbA8p_wN5fbbzxrMlquap9GgBOBAg9egVwE3pSjOv_u2Lg6DdJLW8On0UFTCAAq7p82P2efl0aCNGb72EJidMCmGJlRmp-tMA6B4NQ/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1aw6-AnMqWR4Mh_lgL_hyphenhyphene-I0VCKTRWMjtKcOIbA8p_wN5fbbzxrMlquap9GgBOBAg9egVwE3pSjOv_u2Lg6DdJLW8On0UFTCAAq7p82P2efl0aCNGb72EJidMCmGJlRmp-tMA6B4NQ/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558213238452142546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> You're not going to give us two points just now?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> It won't come loose.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> However this is a yellow card and does not count.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> I aimed for two points and made them, you know...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> It's always "away," this place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Taka-chan, good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, Kinashi, changing and renewing his mindset, serves!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Good!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's turning into a rally--smash! Kinashi's smash wins the point! The spirit and stubbornness of the "Kings of Ping-Pong of the Entertainment World" can be clearly seen! Kinashi, after an unbelievable yellow card, caught up to tie the score with a disguised smash!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> So he hit a smash.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels have at last tied!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What was it, the <span style="font-style: italic;">maejyuji</span>?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Is it okay?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> The <span style="font-style: italic;">maejyuji</span>, that's painful...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> It's not <span style="font-style: italic;">maejyuji</span>, it's <span style="font-style: italic;">zenjyuji</span>!<br /><br />(Note: <span style="font-style: italic;">Zenjyuji</span> is the Japanese term for the ACL. The character for "zen" can also be read as "mae," and Ishibashi was purposely misreading it to be funny.)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Daisuke Takahashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> With Takahashi's injury as the subject matter, they attempt to psych out (the opponents)... It gets caught on the net, but is in. Good pickup, Kozuka! Whoa-ah! A comeback, a comeback!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice try, nice try.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels finally achieve a comeback!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> So close, so close!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> So close!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The Tunnels, fired up by their comeback, accumulate points bit by bit and pull away from the "Figure Skating Army." Is this the ability of the "Kings of Ping-Pong of the Entertainment World"?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> It's irritating, isn't it? Take this irritation--ladies, please.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, a player change here! Mao Asada and Miki Ando! The entrance of an extremely illustrious pair!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> So you've come...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Mao-chan, of all of the things you've received, what is your favorite?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Let's go!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You can do it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> From Mao-chan... it'll come--<span style="font-style: italic;">(Mao Asada serves)</span>--it came.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's in!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice hit!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Nice serve!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice serve!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Incredible serve!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> There was even a slide on that, a slide.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Asada's skill is beyond expectations.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(to Mao Asada and Shuzo Matsuoka) </span>Wait, me?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> She is making some incredible serves!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Wait, so did you already graduate from college?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> One more credit left.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> One more year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, this pause--aah it's happened! Yu-Na Kim! Yu-Na Kim has come! Yu-Na Kim has suddenly jumped out!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Enough with that, enough!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> If you could do like, Miki-chan...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Cleopatra?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Mikitty's wearing a really nice watch, look... Isn't she wearing a really nice watch?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NuTisBr0Ejm6KXTl6-TpQQOvOKAw_z1L_uDooDcuqH7HC-ehT0nZ_kI7TWY0-aQRfmA0NqslKYQKJACOWkvzCM6MJycxQLeAFeb_MwvSsh4LwSN-OLwQ57rg15Fx621tbe0fAWY51fk/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NuTisBr0Ejm6KXTl6-TpQQOvOKAw_z1L_uDooDcuqH7HC-ehT0nZ_kI7TWY0-aQRfmA0NqslKYQKJACOWkvzCM6MJycxQLeAFeb_MwvSsh4LwSN-OLwQ57rg15Fx621tbe0fAWY51fk/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558365124005330178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> That might be--<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's come! It's returned, Asada also returns it--aah! It hits the net, for the Tunnels! Point for the Tunnels.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice try, nice try, nice try.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The score is 14 to 17!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> All right, let's go...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(to audience)</span> Isn't this a good team?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> I got it from my mother.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Your mother.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Your mother?!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> For my 20th birthday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Right, because they're already 20.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Wow, wow--it's all shiny.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Miki, please don't take your eyes away.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> By the way, Miki, we ran into each other once a long time ago in the parking lot of a furniture store, didn't we?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What, where?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Five or six years ago--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Yes, we did!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Right, right, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Why? What furniture did you buy?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Uh, I don't know.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> I don't know.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You bought it yourself and don't know...?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> You were there, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> That's right, I suddenly remembered.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> I feel like my butt is sticking out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Your butt? Your butt? Butt?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> It's not sticking out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> It just goes like this...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Don't worry, don't worry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>Do you have a senior-junior (hierarchical) relationship?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> So Miki is the senior?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> In skating Mao is the senior.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oh, it's like that?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> If you met up in school, would you (bow to and) greet her?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Well since we've been skating together from when we were little...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> We skated together at the same club from when we were little, and Skater Asada joined the club before I did, and...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oh, so in that kind of relationship, do you greet her formally?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> That's nice, senior-junior. Takaaki is also two years older than me, actually. (<span style="font-size:85%;">Note: They were actually in the same grade in high school, and are only 4 or 5 months apart.)</span> What was it, you were left back twice?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Takaaki has come!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> That's dirty!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Whoa!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Careful, that was close!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It has turned into a long rally! Ando is also in good form, Ando is good! Ando is good! Ando is also good! It has become a long rally! OUT! Point to the Asada-Ando pair! The figure skating team is hanging onto the (match against the) Tunnels!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXOuZdf4aC4pw4z3_R9t4r9cBn2oTD3tD9NJtL0HGyT2nSkWzoSJSIH7g8xL6Lo_1nJeyz89G9JLMHOFE_L8P9RkPXTnxzh1f94Qz2YFh35Fbx-vUo8qbCNyXiO5JhqKUHzB69hgTReI/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXOuZdf4aC4pw4z3_R9t4r9cBn2oTD3tD9NJtL0HGyT2nSkWzoSJSIH7g8xL6Lo_1nJeyz89G9JLMHOFE_L8P9RkPXTnxzh1f94Qz2YFh35Fbx-vUo8qbCNyXiO5JhqKUHzB69hgTReI/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558407283683351922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> They're old, so I think it's better (for us) if we rally.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> There's nothing we can do, they're too cute.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> The other side will get nervous, so if you don't make a mistake, they will.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada: </span>Okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> So, the Tunnels have wiped away their sweat, and...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Vancouver~!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdLUYngQdkBYUPqSf46HpI84J9jXCF27ay-VnUUOrTzNHQY5oHuNxwe71yy01sEKPnsF-H400K0aPHHl28DePNcgd1wTNsyulHlfY-63xKoT2VTfsB8yvXeEtl2BJW9fmGnMCSlIhUdA/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdLUYngQdkBYUPqSf46HpI84J9jXCF27ay-VnUUOrTzNHQY5oHuNxwe71yy01sEKPnsF-H400K0aPHHl28DePNcgd1wTNsyulHlfY-63xKoT2VTfsB8yvXeEtl2BJW9fmGnMCSlIhUdA/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558410622187081378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> This time, he is trying to provoke a response by imitating the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJj8xF0fKm4">Vancouver Olympics commercial</a>!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Mao-chan, bring it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Ma-o! Ma-o!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Mao Asada serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's in! Ando also returns it--aah! And oh no, here--again, Yu-Na Kim!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> It's annoying, it's not funny, is it. It's okay if you're annoyed.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels widen their lead.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka: </span>Let's definitely win this point.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando, Mao Asada: </span>Okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Definitely win this point. Give it your all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, they pick it up--out! Point to the figure skating team!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Come on, let's go.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, the Asada-Ando pair is making a comeback, a comeback.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="270" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xgehrz?width=480&theme=none&foreground=%23F7FFFD&highlight=%23FFC300&background=%23171D1B&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xgehrz?width=480&theme=none&foreground=%23F7FFFD&highlight=%23FFC300&background=%23171D1B&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="270" width="480"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Come on, let's go.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yoshie Takeuchi (Announcer):</span> Tunnels, fight!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> New Takeuchi (entered TV Asahi in 2008).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Ah, New Takeuchi.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Old Takeuchi (Emi Takeuchi, entered TV Asahi in 1999) is on her honeymoon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Now, in this season?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Yeah.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Wow, I see--that's nice. Heave-ho!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Noritake Kinashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Ah--into the net. Into the net, so one point to the figure skating team!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando, Mao Asada:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The figure skating team is making a comeback! We still don't know (the outcome). Wow, wow! An incredible return! Ando has made an incredible return!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> This is bad, this is bad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's tied, it's tied! They have come back to tie!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Miki Ando serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, this is also a rally--this is out!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice, nice, smile, smile.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels take the lead again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Let's do this with a smile.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels will at last turn 50 this year.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Mao Asada serves)<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Stamina presents a challenge (to them)!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Be quiet, be quiet!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, can they keep up?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Be quiet, be quiet!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> They made it! It cannot be returned!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunnels:</span> Be quiet!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Your commentary is annoying!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> They have arrived at match point.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> But wow, amazing how they're playing so hard even at 50...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> We're very sensitive about this, so don't talk about it too much!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, the Tunnels, match point--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Aw, after one more point we won't be able see Mao-chan and everyone anymore.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Match point!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> I'm so sad, this is over in one more point!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels, will this become their first win?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Do you all want to have lunch at the Grand Hyatt?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Please take a picture with us later. I'll have my Yu-Na Kim pose all set.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> In that case they might say they don't want to!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> You're (figure skaters) annoyed now, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Mao-chan, have you ever been told that you look like a <a href="http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=907&bih=516&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=%E3%81%B2%E3%81%AA%E4%BA%BA%E5%BD%A2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">hina doll</a>?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> No, I haven't.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>No?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> A cute hina doll.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Hina doll-face.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The ball is returned! Ando also returns it. The rally continues! Nice! Ando's return misses! The Tunnels win! The Tunnels have amazingly defeated the "Figure Skating Army"!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVwhXxfzwisec2_I8VDsS-qCK0oMt6rVwY7FX2vmZ3FRSP3FEVCxZOuo8ippjNzWN9XoVxOvI5WBUulErJciuwq-8bybX0iNdpddcLOg_aqe_fDCezu-Inz4xxovWes5beub8LKlFpjg/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVwhXxfzwisec2_I8VDsS-qCK0oMt6rVwY7FX2vmZ3FRSP3FEVCxZOuo8ippjNzWN9XoVxOvI5WBUulErJciuwq-8bybX0iNdpddcLOg_aqe_fDCezu-Inz4xxovWes5beub8LKlFpjg/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559247340801337346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Wait, Matsuoka here--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> We would like you to let us play against you one more time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Double Axel, triple toe loop...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> They will express their desire to play one more time:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-u_0cvrqigIHGp2EG_0filaf7KQx9UjSGQgZf-RpZom-J3uBF0Bwmfxa8ZlquteWNDAbvp6LmMN1wL5LHccx3zdlBsxgabhtWXORMdLXxjmPqJfOXReN5NK2p-8W2EaRhT_jlhmbEnN8/s1600/Untitled1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-u_0cvrqigIHGp2EG_0filaf7KQx9UjSGQgZf-RpZom-J3uBF0Bwmfxa8ZlquteWNDAbvp6LmMN1wL5LHccx3zdlBsxgabhtWXORMdLXxjmPqJfOXReN5NK2p-8W2EaRhT_jlhmbEnN8/s200/Untitled1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559248775606506322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnfzwCKLcPdk89IfGCnlUFvGB2qSw6mVlbY4IbE6qdIw7VeHTFiV01JmhwpmSzeAEQEf-H12hNMEQNv_Ybm7dtN_QhqZPvIqAOjmLyYpXYlQhAYYR6EJNqOwOvDqV8k293PVRHwVKA3U/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnfzwCKLcPdk89IfGCnlUFvGB2qSw6mVlbY4IbE6qdIw7VeHTFiV01JmhwpmSzeAEQEf-H12hNMEQNv_Ybm7dtN_QhqZPvIqAOjmLyYpXYlQhAYYR6EJNqOwOvDqV8k293PVRHwVKA3U/s200/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559248724444721298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> How's this! A consolation match!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Is it really okay?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> We have to go to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_Convenience_Club">Tsutaya</a>, so...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Please, let us play one more time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Ishibashi:</span> Well, okay--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> And one more time, please!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbiFfhJ81Cisn-f772gfFgDd80xZuHEI3G1yt3W0vUxhPGYNpZwGAWnjodvP4TGFKYlkGcauXmzPDFPS37N1Q-DOCaixb5urtGt8XAFUVribeAHrjHPCX5ckVvGQ97NrFPVyVpfbCwy8/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbiFfhJ81Cisn-f772gfFgDd80xZuHEI3G1yt3W0vUxhPGYNpZwGAWnjodvP4TGFKYlkGcauXmzPDFPS37N1Q-DOCaixb5urtGt8XAFUVribeAHrjHPCX5ckVvGQ97NrFPVyVpfbCwy8/s200/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559250233912425218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-2oitISEcYTe-QTdiJ_oydQRMlZ4hY5nr_V4_N2T4AyO7ZFcP90QEoqcscpwozuuTAi5MQpeZfY96Inm8Gs1FcHBcwUNvhGDKjmgLlZ8Z1eVxM0zo22KtZ9hofZg9_q3s61tiY-hH8U/s1600/Untitled1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-2oitISEcYTe-QTdiJ_oydQRMlZ4hY5nr_V4_N2T4AyO7ZFcP90QEoqcscpwozuuTAi5MQpeZfY96Inm8Gs1FcHBcwUNvhGDKjmgLlZ8Z1eVxM0zo22KtZ9hofZg9_q3s61tiY-hH8U/s200/Untitled1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559250184331845858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> They've come, they've come, they've come! The figure skating team has come forward in a procession!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Okay, because you're super funny, okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Okay!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> A consolation match has been agreed upon!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> The side who wins this, wins overall.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> I see.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> The match between the Tunnels and the figure skaters--here!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Whoa! What's this, what's this?!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Shuzo, what are you doing, preparing something!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-nFiZOXBEoJPn2En29Grmj0qIyMt6Sf5Sy1rQY5GsdqMSFTTJMoEgBGa-YwhJhalp3jQQ676cZ-k-ZhquzELkwAK_qyOWHs2mgUZFFQ4gQI04bzkP_zXHjP5TvEJthlH6I9glq0BZqA/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-nFiZOXBEoJPn2En29Grmj0qIyMt6Sf5Sy1rQY5GsdqMSFTTJMoEgBGa-YwhJhalp3jQQ676cZ-k-ZhquzELkwAK_qyOWHs2mgUZFFQ4gQI04bzkP_zXHjP5TvEJthlH6I9glq0BZqA/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559254028568421106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Something--whoa! What is this--an enormous ping-pong table has been wheeled out!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> TV Asahi has brought out yet another weird table...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Yes, it's true...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What is this table!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, what are they planning to do with this enormous ping-pong table?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZM5v8YsMafV-jm53GhMOqqh7_GTuifyfNGApHOUQZ-Bd0DGqvrwPJGJbp6YFvV1xaMVsPuaG7Vraab1383p5bn_eTyO7GDNtw_KPT7yUxgRK1boMoMHMHIHmu04TLvdVNLtZdxiEDOM/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZM5v8YsMafV-jm53GhMOqqh7_GTuifyfNGApHOUQZ-Bd0DGqvrwPJGJbp6YFvV1xaMVsPuaG7Vraab1383p5bn_eTyO7GDNtw_KPT7yUxgRK1boMoMHMHIHmu04TLvdVNLtZdxiEDOM/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559255388597778066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The second round uses an enormous ping-pong table that is twice the size of a normal one. First to 11 points, and all five on the figure skating team can play at once and hit whenever they want. Now, what kind of match will this become?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, a special, irregular 5 vs. 2 match that uses an enormous ping-pong table! First to 11, the Tunnels to serve! Now, let's go!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> It's no good, we have to aim for Kozuka-kun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Please start things well!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> It's good if you aim for the middle. There's no need to aim for difficult spots.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> It's coming, Mikitty!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Miki, good luck--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> --good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Okay, this enormous ping-pong table--how will it go? The rally continues!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Daisuke, go--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> He goes for it! Out, out!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice try, nice try.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> He really went for it, Daisuke Takahashi!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> You know...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> This is fun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Ishibashi's serve! <span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span> It's come! They (figure skaters) return it. The increased surface area allows the players to hit with more confidence.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> (to Mao) Don't worry about it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice try, nice try.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels have a two-point lead!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> On this New Year's, we adults apologize for playing against these children (in this manner). However, TV Asahi told us to do this, so it can't be helped.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Okay, you know what, if they're like this--let's win, seriously. I'm going to go bother the other side.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> This is the enormous ping-pong table that Matsuoka brought in, but the figure skating team has been unable to get a good sense of the table.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> We're going to win anyway!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> (to Shuzo Matsuoka) Please don't get in our way!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Miki Ando serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Excuse me--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It worked, it worked! Shuzo Matsuoka's distracting actions worked! The point difference is one point, 2 to 1!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oda-kun, Oda-kun--your shoelace.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> It's fine.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Miki Ando serves)<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's in! Oh, into the net! Tied, at 2 to 2!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure Skating Team:</span> Yay~!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Nice play, nice play.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now it's become a good match!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Noritake Kinashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Kinashi sent a surprise curve, but this also took Ishibashi by surprise!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Narrator:</span> The large ping-pong table wreaked havoc not only with the Tunnels but also the figure skating team, and both sides struggled in this close match. The outcome of this match became completely unpredictable...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Now, the score is 6 to 8 (in favor of the figure skating team)!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Mikitty, can you speak Russian now?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> A little bit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> How do you say "hello"? How do you say "hello," in Russian?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> <span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">"Zdras'tye</span>."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Huh?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> <span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">Zdras'tye.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Gra'sheh? Gra'sheh?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> <span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">Zdras'tye!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Gra'sheh.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> It's okay, enough of this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> She will not get into this discussion!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takahiko Kozuka serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobunari Oda:</span> Oh haha, it's in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's in again!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takahiko Kozuka:</span> Oh sorry--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Wow! Good for Kinashi, getting the return in! Ishibashi, Ishibashi--his smash came!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takahiko Kozuka:</span> So close! Sorry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Hina-face.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Ishibashi's provocations continue!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> That's terrible. Terrible. <span style="font-size:85%;">(Note: "Hina" is not actually an insult.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Mikitty, your coach, as expected he's--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Are you not going to do <a href="http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=tnO&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=907&bih=543&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=%E3%83%A2%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A2%E3%82%B8%E5%90%9B&aq=1r&aqi=g1g-r1&aql=&oq=%E3%82%82%E3%81%98%E3%82%82%E3%81%98&gs_rfai=">MojiMoji-Kun</a> anymore?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> What?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> MojiMoji-Kun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Will you do MojiMoji-Kun next time?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Psych-outs are returned with psych-outs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Will you do <a href="http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,26429,27846,28156&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=%E8%84%B3%E3%82%AB%E3%83%99&cp=1&qe=M6vZ&qesig=M0zVuQeWUvq9BkAkt-Z05g&pkc=AFgZ2tlG0nkVcHAcRksO1EjdFPioKGcDBAOkrGi0cWV2L47e0TeQYgAAZQL7ZVPWzUj65eOLXk7xe7UIMrzuOPn38aFjeOfgrA&client=firefox-a&hs=MqO&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=907&bih=543">Nou-Kabe</a>? Nou-Kabe.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> You will?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada:</span> Maybe I want to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> You want to do it?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miki Ando:</span> I used to watch MojiMoji-Kun all the time when I was little.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Oh really? 'My name is Moji-kun!'<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> 'Moji-san!'<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure Skating Team:</span> Wow! Amazing!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Will the five of you do our year-end special episode?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's in!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Heave-ho!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Okay, this time Oda is making sure to get the ball in. Again, Oda...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Get it in the middle, the middle.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's become a long rally. Ando returns it also!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> In the middle, in the middle--hit it hard!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's now tied! The Tunnels have tied!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka: </span>Okay, really, I'm sorry but so far I've never lost to them once, so...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's true!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Three points, three points.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Shuzo, do something, Shuzo! You can play too, Shuzo!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Wow! And here, Shuzo Matsuoka has entered!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Come on, come on! You tennis ruin!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> We are definitely not going to lose. Don't worry about it if you miss.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mao Asada, Takahiko Kozuka:</span> Okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> That person, a long time ago, he hurt his knee at the (1995) US Open and cried.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S7E_V3qD3dnA7FwPVmbWSb8rj166Q07mCC1gvV3FHXIkTT17ofHzvLFDUsIuiE-TPzf6z2g3OdB42smWWPh_hGwFJ1ur9D0B9XQHkM9ajvwlEudlkmNQJZ6tgIWh_pI8vbW_I7pFbRo/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S7E_V3qD3dnA7FwPVmbWSb8rj166Q07mCC1gvV3FHXIkTT17ofHzvLFDUsIuiE-TPzf6z2g3OdB42smWWPh_hGwFJ1ur9D0B9XQHkM9ajvwlEudlkmNQJZ6tgIWh_pI8vbW_I7pFbRo/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559291554701497522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Hurry, come on!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi: </span>"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Takaaki Ishibashi serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's in--<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Wait--!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Was Matsuoka psyched out?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> My knee hurts, my knee hurts!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Was Matsuoka psyched out?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> My knee hurts!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Was the 1995 US Open too much?<span style="font-style: italic;"> (Shuzo Matsuoka serves)</span> Whoa, he got him back! This time, he got him back! It's tied! <span style="font-style: italic;">(Shuzo Matsuoka pretends to serve)</span> Matsuoka feints!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Be quiet!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Shuzo Matsuoka serves)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> He picks it up! It's out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> I'm going to hit to to Mao-chan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's the Tunnels' match point!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Hah!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> They have finally arrived at match point! The figure skating team is backed against a wall!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Miki, good luck.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> It's come! Smash! Into the net!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shuzo Matsuoka:</span> Nice try, nice try!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> The Tunnels win!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyjJ1NXr8yrrm_jhDbczYdDTL8VXr_Ck3uFMGrYQMDV8bzMxmAbzo-zoaUfWcAxvnaC3pht4dkWo2qO9zLJzso5UW4hF8KTeL4_R8RWXyeBJXkkczPq9nqp6HrASWXN5dQZ_U30G_J2E/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyjJ1NXr8yrrm_jhDbczYdDTL8VXr_Ck3uFMGrYQMDV8bzMxmAbzo-zoaUfWcAxvnaC3pht4dkWo2qO9zLJzso5UW4hF8KTeL4_R8RWXyeBJXkkczPq9nqp6HrASWXN5dQZ_U30G_J2E/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559293916244659842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> Just in time, just in time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> We won at ping-pong for the first time!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> For the first time, the Tunnels have won!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Takaaki Ishibashi:</span> As expected, this (Yu-Na Kim pose) really worked on everyone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Next year, what will we battle?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure Skating Team:</span> Figure skating...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> Okay, that's fine. Do you want to see a bit of Takaaki Ishibashi's backwards skating skills? (to Takaaki Ishibashi) First, please go back, starting at the corner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJCk6YibXaYhC-IuvS3dwLPSRT8G6PNReC-yRMx2u-db8-PUsprkcwLwNW2ikXqPPyjyTLL6GFOtPxfnXHSKNgcRGzozbSac7GnrCf3V9XgaPbZnJ3zAuGasFvE3uk3j0Ep60EijjPvc/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJCk6YibXaYhC-IuvS3dwLPSRT8G6PNReC-yRMx2u-db8-PUsprkcwLwNW2ikXqPPyjyTLL6GFOtPxfnXHSKNgcRGzozbSac7GnrCf3V9XgaPbZnJ3zAuGasFvE3uk3j0Ep60EijjPvc/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559295803717643426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinji Yoshino (Announcer):</span> Oh this is speed skating.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> He's started, how is it? Go backwards from there... he's going backwards!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daisuke Takahashi:</span> Great!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noritake Kinashi:</span> He's been doing this in the club room since we were seniors at Teikyo High School.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-55512951264817975952011-01-01T17:13:00.004-05:002011-01-02T00:55:55.432-05:00Three Hours of Hosting Bliss?Happy New Year, everyone! In the whirlwind of getting everything together in lab, traveling, trying to process the latest of unbelievable developments, the significance of New Year's Eve and New Year's seems to have gotten a little lost. But of course, I did watch 「紅白歌合戦」--how could I not? With Arashi hosting for the first time, it promised to be three hours of amazingness. It wasn't really, though. As a general rule everyone was bad, forgettable, or both, with a few exceptions here and there. I apologize in advance for the utter miscellany that is this post.<br /><br />Daisuke Takahashi was a special guest! I'm not sure why they couldn't have had Mao Asada too (or instead), considering she one-upped him by taking silver at the Olympics, but I guess interrupting her training right now would the worst idea ever. I also didn't know Daisuke is as short as he is.<br /><br />Things got off to a weird start when Ayumi Hamasaki sang some melody-less song in a wedding dress with the LONGEST VEIL EVER. By LONGEST VEIL EVER I mean longer than Maria's train in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sound of Music</span>. Absurd.<br /><br />Arashi's hosting skills were pretty decent. 相葉くん talked a lot more in a leader way than I expected, and 翔くん talked just as much as I expected. 松潤 had questionable hair, ニノ acted like a girl, and リーダー didn't talk unless absolutely necessary. It was amazing.<br /><br />AKB48 will forever annoy me, but whatever. The same applies to Perfume, but my mother was blinded to their annoyingness by the attractively stylized set behind them. The background <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> really pretty, but no matter--their existence bothers me endlessly.<br /><br />Years ago, my sister and I used to watch several anime shows back-to-back while staying at our grandmother's house in Japan, and I really liked the ending theme song to 「忍たま乱太郎」. I forgot about this until last night, when I suddenly heard the song again--performed by NYC. I was pretty simultaneously sure that a) 「100%勇気」was definitely the theme song b) NYC was either two years old or not born yet when the show began c) 「100%勇気」could not possibly be the theme song. It finally occurred to me now to just look it up, and lo and behold it was a cover! Vindicated. And because everyone needs a bit of pure feel-goodness:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xg6ompXXeW8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xg6ompXXeW8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /></div><br />Speaking of Johnny's... TOKIO is incredibly old. And two songs a medley do not make. Although I was really excited that Arashi performed my two favorites of their singles from 2010--Troublemaker and Monster--smashing their truncated versions together did not quite make the special "2010 Medley" that the lineup promised. Their performance, though, did remind me of one of the loveliest lyrics I know:<br /><blockquote>僕の記憶が全て消えても|生まれ変わったら|また君を探す</blockquote>Love.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure I love Kiyoshi Hikawa. Not actually, but as an entertainer he's just simply brilliant. A "rumba," followed by a "baiyon"? Thank you, comic relief. (Side note: I love that when you type in "Hikawa Kiyoshi" into Google, the suggestion is "Hikawa Kiyoshi gay." Of course.) The very fact that I saw at least three outfits on him in one night is fabulous.<br /><br />SMAP was dressed in surprisingly muted colors, and 中居正広 was as awful as ever. Like, really terrible. I think when someone gets to that point, all you can do is marvel.<br /><br />May the first week of the new decade bring many catch-up posts! Haha.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-81573920702993651942011-01-01T14:29:00.002-05:002011-01-04T01:17:58.487-05:00Japanese Nationals 2010: Interview with Nobuo Sato<a href="http://report.nirenoki.net/satou_1226.htm">http://report.nirenoki.net/satou_1226.htm</a><br />Coach Nobuo Sato, December 26, 2010<br />After the Ladies' Free Skate<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Asada, On Kozuka</span><br /><div class="Section1" style="">Q. Asada "overcame a great mountain" to achieve this result--what do you think of it?<br />A. I think it's a mental issue. I think that she was insecure about what she had been doing, but here, she gained the ability to skate with confidence.<br /><br />Q. What was the reason she was able to change her insecurity into confidence?<br />A. I think it's that she's becoming able to do each jump the way she wants/imagines them.<br /><br />Q. Is the quality of her jumps increasing?<br />A. Really, it's been recent, all of a sudden. While I was at the Grand Prix Final, it seems that something changed a little, and when I came back and started working again from the basics, everything just clicked.<br /><br />Q. Is it more about carefully building upon her training bit by bit, rather than some kind of impetus?<br />A. Yes. Bit by bit things started changing, and recently her jumps became successful eight, nine times out of ten, and I think her confidence started to grow.<br /><br />Q. Maybe it's because her increased success rate in practice has created confidence, but I think that her facial expression has become brighter?<br />A. Yes, that's true. In fact, she herself says this clearly.<br /><br />Q. Is it her strength, that she became able (to do her jumps) at the most important competition?<br />A. Yes that's exactly right. From my perspective, I was thinking that it would be ideal if we had another month or so. For everything to suddenly come together now--I see it as a sign of her mental and emotional strength.<br /><br />Q. Watching her before the start of the free skate at this competition, did you feel calm?<br />A. No, not at all. I'm the one who's astonished, but really, I just watched her and thought, '(Her) willpower and inner strength is not of an ordinary person.'<br /><br />Q. After her program, you were looking up at the ceiling rinkside--at that moment, what were you feeling?<br />A. I was the one who was surprised, and I thought, 'Just as expected (of her)--what an incredible person.'<br /><br />Q. What was the one area that you pointed to as essential, the one part you were concerned with most?<br />A. I apologize that this is going to turn into an extremely pragmatic explanation, but of course I had raised the issue of not making mistakes on her jumps as a first priority, and today, there was one small mistake in a 'boring' section, but I think that maybe something like that is just too bad/can't be helped, so today I'm satisfied.<br /><br />Q. So you mean that in the middle of this improving and then not and then improving again, today was about positives?<br />A. Yes. I think that today ended with a good result for her.<br /><br />Q. So the fact that she could put out a good performance today, will it help build her confidence even in practices from now?<br />A. That's true, yes. I think that will happen, without a doubt.<br /><br />Q. Her stubbornly attempting the triple Axel in the short program--were you against it until the very end?<br />A. (laughs) Based on many past examples and what I've experienced, I still think it's in fact a bad tactic. But if she is going to work up her nerve (to attempt it), then what does the thinking of an old person matter. So I expected this one thing from her brimming energy, and with courage the decision was made.<br /><br />Q. So in that sense, you mean that your and Asada's opinions were in agreement?<br />A. Yes.<br /><br />Q. Have you ever wondered whether she would say, "I want to attempt two triple Axels"?<br />A. Well that, in a word--yes.<br /><br />Q. So it's been half a year since starting the process of correcting her jumps in June--<br />A. It was September.<br />Note: The interviewer asked this question because it was announced that Asada started reworking her jumps in June. For Sato, Asada began this process in September, when she became his student.<br /><br />Q. Taking June as when she began making a conscious effort to rework her jumps, she said that because she's spent this half year building upon her training things have been improving. Was this time very important?<br />A. I think much more time is necessary. And so, to put it frankly, that she could perform so well today is a huge surprise to me.<br /><br />Q. Even more?<br />A. And so, from here I'm thinking that we want to work to raise her overall level a little. I don't know if things will break again, and I think that in some ways it's a gamble. But there's nothing we can do than endure and overcome it.<br /><br />Q. This "reworking" was said to still involve fumbling around, but how far have things come now?<br />A. Things may very much still be at the level of appearances.<br /><br />Q. How far has the "reworking" process as you ideally imagine it come?<br />A. I think we're still at the entrance.<br /><br />Q. What does that mean?<br />A. If she skates with power, she'll generate more speed. And that will affect many things that are essential to jumps. And so, if we approach this with courage, how far can we go? I think it will take one year, two years. In the end, we can only take things one step at a time. But I still want to try.<br /><br />Q. Are you very happy that this obstacle (i.e. Nationals, skating a clean program) has been overcome?<br />A. I am happy, and I am surprised.<br /><br />Q. Can you compare her finished form to someone?<br />A. It's not that we hold someone as our goal, but rather that we're seeking what I want her to be like, based on my sense of things. However, I want to change things bit by bit, while taking care that things don't become a matter of simply what I want. Still, that bit by bit is scary.<br /><br />Q. Based on today, is there sort of a specific goal for next time?<br />A. No, I think that the way she skates will be the same. I think that even if she becomes a little stronger and has more speed, it'll be a matter of a few percentage points.<br /><br />Q. This reworking of her jumps, will you get into it again after the season is over? Or will you immediately continue the process after this?<br />A. I want to start things again right after this.<br /><br />Q. Is continuing to compete an important thing?<br />A. Indeed, I think it is an important thing. Even if things are successful in practice, I think it's important to train while checking on how things are going by testing them in these situations and atmospheres.<br /><br />Q. In important competitions from now on, what will be the key to bringing out her strength like today's?<br />A. I think it's only practice.<br /><br />Q. Is this the confidence that is fostered through training?<br />A. I'll start slowly incorporating things that I refrained from saying before. This will require courage on my part.<br /><br />Q. Yesterday, Kozuka said that practicing with Asada is a huge reason for his rapid progress--how are things from a coach's point of view? What is the synergistic effect?<br />A. There is a lot. For Kozuka, it's, "She is still practicing, and that much--I have to as well," and for Asada, it's "How can I achieve (his) speed?" There are things like this between them, both ways, so there is a lot of synergistic benefit.<br /><br />Q. This is about Kozuka--do you think that he's changed a lot since last year?<br />A. I don't think so. Except, the parts that I would wonder, 'Will things soon start falling apart from here?' have stopped crumbling--I think this aspect is the biggest change. As a result I think that this has channeled into his self-confidence. Because he's a little scatterbrained he can get carried away--so in this sense, I think you can ask, 'Maybe he's really changed?' Still, I don't think there has been a large change fundamentally.<br /><br />Q. How was doing things a little differently, such as going to Canada by himself to train?<br />A. Up until now, he's coasted on things that people around him have created for him, but he ignored that, and instead of riding in a taxi with his parents, he rode on a bus by himself, and I think that he must have had a lot of fun experiences, but of course he struggled by himself as well. He worked hard and was encouraged and supported by many people, and I think he learned a lot. I think that in some ways this was been more of a plus than actually learning things in practice.<span style=";font-family:";" ><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-18750601111027938852011-01-01T12:00:00.004-05:002011-01-01T23:37:05.806-05:00A Year's Accountability<ol><li>Learn United States customary units.</li><li>Learn about the technicalities behind my camera functions.</li><li>Make a perfectly fluffy sponge cake.</li><li>Apply to medical school.</li><li>Learn NYC geography.<br /></li><li>Have one of my recipes achieve 話題入り status.</li><li>Read 50 books, of which three must be <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lord of the Rings</span> trilogy.</li><li>Learn Japanese geography.</li><li>Fall in love with someone who doesn't make me hate myself.</li><li>Watch 12 movies.</li><li>Travel to 5 completely new places.</li><li>Get drunk, if only just once.<br /></li></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-79281013442599950562010-12-31T21:13:00.006-05:002011-01-17T12:46:34.694-05:00The End of an EraI usually try to not be so self-indulgent here, but all things considered...<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?</span><br />I got my own apartment and started living on my own! Getting a real job, paying bills, etc.--all the things that go with living on my own--were new to me as well. There were little things, too, but that is the main thing that sticks with me.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?</span><br />I don't think I made any resolutions, because I can't remember any... but I definitely did make a set of twelve for 2011. I did, however, reach a few goals, including my 100th つくれぽ on December 29.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Did anyone close to you give birth?</span><br />No--my friends and I are definitely not at that life stage.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Did anyone close to you die?</span><br />Very thankfully, no.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What countries did you visit?</span><br />None, but I did go to the West Coast for the first time. Also, parts of Japan came to me.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?</span><br />Love, or, more specifically, love that doesn't make me question myself.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?</span><br />March 31, 2010, for destroying so much of what had been constants in my life, and May 27, 2010, for forcing me out into the real world, diploma in hand.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What was your biggest achievement of the year?</span><br />In a most typical and concrete sense, graduating from college and starting my first real job. On a more personal level, spring semester of my senior year is something I look back on and sometimes can't believe. I took four classes, worked in lab, planned the 40th anniversary of a benefit exhibition (and then some), made new friends, and survived the overnight collapse of a five-year de facto relationship.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What was your biggest failure?</span><br />I don't know--not forcing my Godot situation, I guess. At the time I thought I was doing what I needed to do to protect myself from a dead-end situation--and I was--but I also failed to act on my emotions and to actually force a serious consideration of what was going on.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you suffer illness or injury?</span><br />Thankfully, no.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What was the best thing you bought?</span><br />I'm not sure... maybe my graduation dress from Ann Taylor? I don't buy many things, and that dress was lovely and expensive.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVs8Bnbx5X_Zpdices1fuf__znBqOK6PKnsiuwQwbPk0pxhrRsOl_SLx8j63log1aaMaL_bXJHc_XlcOcn1Pc6AhZg1etaTjpveTn8zI9F6hpsDaWhuWgdui8uFPOEGOYn7GT-FCA0VA/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVs8Bnbx5X_Zpdices1fuf__znBqOK6PKnsiuwQwbPk0pxhrRsOl_SLx8j63log1aaMaL_bXJHc_XlcOcn1Pc6AhZg1etaTjpveTn8zI9F6hpsDaWhuWgdui8uFPOEGOYn7GT-FCA0VA/s200/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556327375275255122" border="0" /></a><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Whose behavior merited celebration?</span><br />I think everyone who donated their time, services, and talent--especially at the eleventh hour--to the benefit exhibition reminded me of how good people can be, even when some of those closest to me were showing just the opposite. That will remain with me for a long time and remind me to similarly act with generosity and compassion.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?</span><br />My Godot's, and Jisha's, probably in that order.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Where did most of your money go?</span><br />Rent, I would say. I don't really spend money in general.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What did you get really, really, really excited about?</span><br />That's hard to say... the Kids' Skate? Haha. Actually, most (if not all) of April 15-17, 2010. Spending time with のんちゃん, getting a job... I'm not sure. I don't get "really, really, really excited" about many things.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">What song will always remind you of 2010?</span><br />Ugh, who knows? I listened to so many key songs depending on the funk I happened to find myself in. <span style="font-style: italic;">Hallelujah</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm Not That Girl</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">One Day I'll Fly Away</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Troublemaker</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Monster</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">M</span> all received disproportionate representation, but I'm not sure that listening to any of these songs a while from now will trigger 2010.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Compared to this time last year:</span><br />a. <span style="font-style: italic;">Happier or sadder?</span> I think maybe both. I spent a lot of time being upset about the way things in my life would ultimately end up, but was also happy because I was reassured that my emotions weren't completely unfounded. Now that that reassurance is gone, I am distinctly less confident in myself and what I believe, but logically I know that in the long run this is the point at which I become happier. Freedom can be addicting, and I am pretty happy with my life right now.<br />b. <span style="font-style: italic;">Older or wiser?</span> Again, I am probably both. The transition to 22 from 21 was fairly minor, so I am probably wiser than I am older, but I still feel the need to accomplish things and have these experiences during this period that everyone seems to call the best in our lives. I am wiser to how things find a way of working out in the end, but moreover I am wiser to how deceptive some people can be.<br />c. <span style="font-style: italic;">Thinner or fatter?</span> Ugh, I was on my way to becoming thinner, but then the holidays happened. I think I am tending towards thinner, though.<br />d. <span style="font-style: italic;">Richer or poorer?</span> Well, I have my own income now, but I'm spending most of it on rent...<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you wish you'd done more of?</span><br />Do random things with my friends.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What do you wish you'd done less of?</span><br />Waiting for my Godot.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">How will you be spending New Years Eve?</span><br />I will hopefully see some of my friends, but I will primarily be basking in the two-and-a-half-hour glow that is 嵐 hosting 紅白歌合戦.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you fall in love in 2010? </span><br />No. I was already in love, but I also slowly forced myself to fall out of it.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> How many one-night stands?</span><br />Hah, right.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">What was your favorite TV program?</span><br />Probably ひみつの嵐ちゃん, although I discovered I love 食わず嫌い and きたなシュラン/きたなトラン from とんねるずのみなさんのおかげでした.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?</span><br />Yes.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What was the best book you read?</span><br />Sadly enough, I don't think I read anything that wasn't assigned. This past year has been a whirlwind, and I haven't worked on my To Read list since the summer of 2009.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What was your greatest musical discovery?</span><br />Priscilla Ahn, probably, whom I found through thesixtyone.com. Other than that, I rediscovered, among other music, <span style="font-style: italic;">Hallelujah </span>and the soundtrack from <span style="font-style: italic;">Moulin Rouge</span>.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What did you want and get? </span><br />Freedom, a job, an honors diploma...<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What did you want and not get? </span><br />I can't even begin to list... Well, closure, for one. Closure, an explanation, a satisfying ending. I wanted a real relationship with real love. I didn't get the fellowship that I wanted that I thought would let me run away from everything, but in hindsight I love the alternative that I have now. Of course, I wanted various things when I went shopping, but I refrained from pretty much all of it, but that's not really something I'll remember.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What was your favorite film(s) of this year?</span><br />I don't really watch movies all that much... I watched <span style="font-style: italic;">Ponyo</span> and thought it was cute, but I wouldn't call it my favorite. <span style="font-style: italic;">Julie & Julia</span> was fun, but again, not a long-lasting classic.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?</span><br />For the past seven years my birthday has either fallen on AP Exams or finals. This year I spent most of my 22nd birthday writing a paper on carnivorous in the dining hall. Exciting, I know. I did go out for drinks though with a bunch of friends--nothing that long or amazing, but lovely nonetheless.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?</span><br />I don't know--a confrontation with my Godot? I probably wasn't ready for one, though. Finding a non-Godot replacement would have been an amazing SCREW YOU. Maybe knowing with complete certainty that medical school is in my future would have helped.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?</span><br />I hope it was elegant and classy, even as I stayed casual. Several people have mentioned this to me over the past couple of years, and I found that incredibly flattering. I went for a lot of classic pieces, as usual, but also made a conscious effort to go for more immediate trends and less practical items.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What kept you sane?</span><br />Gchat and Google Docs. More seriously (not that my appreciation for Google isn't completely serious), my schoolwork and my labwork gave me goals that helped me temporarily block out a lot of what was going on around and inside me. Knowing that I could always go back to my sister was kind of comforting too.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?</span><br />What? I don't think any of them.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What political issue stirred you the most?</span><br />Let's see... I felt motivated enough to write a post on the validity of hate crimes as its own category, so I guess that counts. I am also still staunchly against affirmative action. I followed the DREAM Act near the end, and would have been much more "stirred" had it passed. Sometimes I don't understand liberals. At all.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Who did (do) you miss?</span><br />I miss my relatives in Japan and basically everything about the country, and I really miss my Godot.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Who was the best new person/people you met? </span><br />This is a difficult question with a multilayered answer... I appreciate so many of the people I met through the benefit exhibition this year because they reminded me that I can be loved and cared for. I look back and remember their incredible generosity towards patients they have never met and will never meet, and recall their kindness towards me in a time when work was the main thing that kept me going. They were the ones who first enabled me to construct a monologue in my head, for whenever the need might arise, that didn't end in anything self-destructive.<br /><blockquote>"There are people backstage, right now," I would say, outside the rink, "who have known me for less than two days or have only seen me for a total of nine days in the past three years. But they care about me and they want me to be happy and they want me to be less stressed, and they came up with all of this compassion in such little time. So if after five years, you can't find it within yourself to care about me, even the slightest bit, then that is your shortcoming and not mine."<br /><br />Of course, I never did have the chance to say this.<br /></blockquote>I also really value the friends I have made since starting my "real life." Many of them I had already known before, but my social network has widened and various relationships have become stronger.<br /><br />This is odd and ironic, but lastly one of the best people I met this year is my boss. Really. He is kind and patient, and that is all I need.<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:</span><br />"The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned." -JK Rowling<br /><br /></li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:</span><br />"But love is not a victory march / It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah"<br /></li></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3954232529408280057.post-37774566931693942622010-12-28T22:07:00.004-05:002010-12-29T23:10:29.984-05:00Japanese Nationals 2010: The Restoration of a Champion, Part IIThings are so much easier to watch when you know the outcome...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uWfrld6wvVc?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uWfrld6wvVc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object></div><br />I know that there are various, well-informed figure skating observers who would disagree, but I actually don't really like Akiko Suzuki's skating. It's true, she has good musicality--great, I would even say, for an Asian--but there is a vague sloppiness to her jumps that is off-putting. Her complete lack of a personality doesn't help either. I can forgive the odd pairing that is this white dress with the <span style="font-style: italic;">Fiddler on the Roof</span> soundtrack, since it's absurd that she would try to actually portray anything from it anyway, and the style of the music actually suits her perfectly.<br /><br />However, Akiko's clean jumps still seemed low to me, and there was a wild, rushed quality to them. She didn't quite warm up to the audience and sell her program until the step sequence at the end, which I do have to commend her for attacking. In any case, she is the latest sacrificial skater for Japan, and this time she made it easier for everyone by botching several key jumps.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j8j1wmIMwAs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j8j1wmIMwAs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object></div><br />In stark contrast to this study in tragedy is Kanako Murakami, who is the latest possessor of a bandwagon. I'm all for youth and smiles, but her technique worries me a lot. Her triple toe + triple toe combination is solid, but her Lutz will become a major problem soon. She is super fast, though--look at how the advertisements around the rink are blurred on camera! I loved her triple flip + double Axel sequence, and other than the generics, I really like her music choice. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Mask of Zorro</span> plays to her speed and youthful energy while using a mature sound to help her grow as a performer. Mao Asada's debut senior free skate was done to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Nutcracker</span> in a pink and white puffy dress. It was cute and worked well for her, but Kanako's equivalent program here feels more mature.<br /><br />Kanako's expression at the end says it all--she's young, she's new, and she's here to take it all. Love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LoMcQDCzQA8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LoMcQDCzQA8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br />It is kind of fitting that Kanako's idol, mentor, friend, and sister figure Mao would be next. Now, I know that some of Mao's costuming choices have been pretty suspect (I think the last dress I really liked was from 2007, aside from her exhibition dresses...), and that people have continued to hate her current season's styles, but I actually love this periwinkle. It's elegant, sparkly, modest, and mature. It has a softness that matches the music, and it just works.<br /><br />What stands out for me in this program is Mao's artistry. Earlier in the season, when her jumps completely abandoned her, it was difficult to make heads or tails of her skating in general, but now that they are mostly back but still not her strong point, the strength of the rest of her skating becomes evident. Her lines, the way she carries her arms, her knees... lovely. Speaking of jumps, though, I'm not convinced of the wisdom of planning a triple Axel in the second half of her program.<br /><br />Although the triple Lutz received an edge call, it looked better than it initially did. It will probably never be as fixed as Tatiana Tarasova claimed, but we all can dream, I suppose. And, oh dear god--her spirals were gorgeous. And she actually smiled.<br /><br />Nationals are such a magical stage for Mao. Look at the mess on the ice! Those little girls are working overtime to deal with the love of an entire country. It's actually kind of hilarious to watch. Welcome back!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jcfwlo5xaMI?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jcfwlo5xaMI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object></div><br />I wouldn't call Risa Shoji's position particularly envious. Not only does she have to skate right after Mao, the coloring of her dress is similar but lesser. The direct comparison allowed me to realize--or rather to remember--that she is actually quite young.<br /><br />Risa has incredible speed, and it's unfortunate that the pressure seemed to get to her in her early jumps. She also seemed a little more withdrawn than in the short program, which is not altogether surprising but also not necessarily typical of a junior fresh up the ranks. When she was fifteen, Mao used to seem completely blind to where she was placed after the short, and just skate with incredible reckless abandon. That's gone now, and this is where she's ended up.<br /><br />Actually, Risa might benefit from choosing more dramatic music until she can define her own artistry and style--the quiet quality sometimes seemed to allow her skating to become lost. It'll all come together, though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oCZF1xv769Q?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oCZF1xv769Q?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br />I almost skipped Fumie Suguri, but then I realized that earlier in the season Rafael sent me a picture of her with a weird head sash, and I knew I just had to watch. Sadly, the sash has been ditched, but the rest of her costume has not.<br /><br />Fumie has surprising speed in her skating, and her straight-line footwork sequence had good energy to it, but to me there's nothing that really stands out in her performances. It pains me to think about all the money she spends on her career now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F2ulEsRWGAk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F2ulEsRWGAk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object></div><br />I am appalled by the margin with which Miki Ando won. I'm not particularly appalled that she won--I don't have a very strong opinion on this either way--but there is no reason for a 10-point difference. Come on. The fact that Miki beat Mao even in the PCS is really troubling.<br /><br />After a string of really hideous costumes, Miki looks fairly decent in this dress. There is a jarring quality to many of her jumps--I'm not sure what it is--but at least they were done cleanly. What bothers me most, though, is that Miki could essentially be skating to any music and you wouldn't really know the difference. There are moments in this program when she tries to be soft and to emote a graceful elegance, and I appreciate that, but as a whole Miki is simply just heavy to watch.<br /><br />Miki's reaction at the end of her program was what left the greatest impression on me. Far too often in recent years, she's failed to live up to her hype, and has always looked disappointed at the end of her performances while blaming her shoulder or her back or her leg or whatever it is that is currently bothering her. This time, though, there was none of that. She was satisfied, plain and simple, and while I would have been able to warm more to her had she celebrated in giddiness instead of this aggressive glare, it's still refreshing and reassuring to see her actually pleased with herself for once.<br /><br />The commentators need to calm down, though. Her skating wasn't so great that you'd want to watch it forever.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0