Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

New Digital Camera

     I bought a new digital camera. The one that I use now was rolled out in 2003 and still takes good pictures, but the indicator lamps don't work to show when it is on, or being charged. I can continue to use it, but I got new one because when I went up the JR Tower in Sapporo last November, several school kids came to me and asked me to take their picture. It was my pleasure to do so, but the direction that they want me to take it at was not good. I explained that their faces would disappear in the dark due to the sun. They looked like they couldn't understand me, so I took the picture as a trial to show how it would become if it was taken against the sun.
     However, the picture I took was nice and fine. I was so surprised and felt embarassed. I wasn't aware of how the function of the camera had become remarkably advanced. I decided to renew my camera at that time.
     I've been examining several cameras from various manufacturers but all of the cameras have the same original functions so it was not easy to choose one. After considering it for a while, I selected one from Fujifilm because my present camera is a product of this company and I thought it would be easier to use one from the same company.

http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2008/11/jr-tower.html

（Vocabulary)
against the sun  逆光で

Net Book (Mobile PC)

     Some types of portable PCs are becoming popular in Japan since last summer. A Taiwanese company seems to have sparked the boom. The characteristics are cheaper and limited functional. Roughly speaking, it costs a fourth of a regular notebook PC and has a fourth of the functions of regular one. When I heard about this kind of portable PC, I was skeptical about it. No matter how cheap it is, it seemed pointless not to have high performance. However, to the contrary of my opinion, the media has reported that the sales of this kind of portable PC are increasing. This news hasn't gotton out of my mind for a long time and I checked out several websites and could hear opinions directly from people who had already started using it. Finally, I ended up getting it and am showing you below.
     I've already used it for a month now. I really think it's nice and useful. It has enough power for netsurfing and exchanging e-mails. I installed a Japanese dictionary and Longman English-English and English-Japanese dictionary. The weight of the pc is only 1 kg. The size of the keys is just fit to my fingers. It connects to the internet via wireless network. It is also called the net book. It's a good naming , I suppose. It's small enough, light enough and has enough power for me. I am planning to visit South Korea in March. I'm sure I'll bring it and access to the internet.

（Vocabulary)
spark   火付け役となる
not get out of one's mind    気になって仕方がない

New Habit

     I got a new habit these days. It is shoe polishing. I've never polished my shoes in my life. I have never had an expensive pair of shoes that deserved to be polished. This might be one of the reasons.
     Anyway, I watched a scene that a shoeshine boy was polishing the customer's shoes and I didn't know why, but I thought I try it in a snap. I shopped for items in the picture online. It was the first time and I checked out how to use them on the internet and tried to polish my shoes. The result was. . . . My shoes got brilliant after polishing. I took to polishing shoes.

(Vocabulary)
take to sth  (定期的に)～をするようになる、が習慣になる
shoeshine boy  靴磨きの少年

Driving School

     I've reported about this driving school before, when my daughters were learning to drive here. Now I'm learning here how to handle a big motorcycle. I've no idea about how to get the motorcycle riding license in other countries and I hope some of you readers send me e-mails or comments about it. http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2008/12/the-first-lesso.html
     Motorcycle instruction is divided into two courses. One is to ride by the book on the road. I am strictly required to follow the traffic laws one hundred percent. The other is to control the motorcycle in any situation.
     One picture shows the straight narrow course, 15 meters length, 30 cm width and 5 cm height. I have to complete the course without running off, falling down or allowing the engine to stall. If the conditions are only these, it is very easy, but actually one more condition lies before me. I have to ride through in more than 10 seconds. That is to say, I have to ride at an extremely low speed on a 250 kilogram motorcycle. It's no picnic.
     The next picture is the slalom course. Pylons are arranged every 4.5 meters in the 27 meters of the straight course. It's fun to go through this course lightly, but there's severe assignments as you can imagine. I have to finish it within 7 seconds and never touch any pylon. If I touch one of those pylons in the end-of-course exam, the exam will be over and I will have to take an extra class.
     The next is the wave-like course, which is assumed to be a rough road. I have to pass it in more than 7 seconds. It means that I am required to ride as slow as I can. I have to keep the balance standing up on the step.
     There are some narrow courses around here. We call them for example like this, S-course, Crank-course from the shape of the courses.
     The license I'm trying to get is the highest level of riding license and if I get it, I can ride any motorcycle I like. I'll never say die.

(Vocabulary)
pylon  交通規制用のコーン(円錐形の標識)
lightly  軽快に

http://www.shikoku.ne.jp/josei/

(KW: 城西自動車学校　大型２輪　大型二輪)

A Happy New Year

     Japan was hit by a cold wave at the end of the year 2008. I was supposed to have consecutive days-off and ski around New Year's Day, but I couldn't enjoy anything personally due to stuff about my second daughter and household chores. It was rare these days that we had enough snow for skiing at the turn of the year around my hometown. I'm going to write about something that happened at the year's end in the following several entries.
     My second daughter is living in Nagoya City, one of the biggest cities in Japan and home to the Toyota Motor Corporation. She seemed to have installed "kotatsu" in early winter. "Kotatsu" is a small table with an electric heater underneath and is covered by a quilt. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotatsu) It made her room comfortable, but on the other hand, she felt like her room was too small and it made her think that she didn't need her desk. She asked me how to send the desk back to my house and I checked out some agents and found that the cost of package and transport of the desk wasn't cheap. My wife and I ended up deciding to pick her and her desk up in Nagoya City by car. At the same time, we called our eldest daughter, who is living in Tokyo, to go to Nagoya City and we picked her up too.

(Vocabulary)
be hit by a cold wave  寒波に見舞われる
fireplace with a coverlet
small table with an electric heater underneath and covered by a quilt　こたつ
end of the year / turn of the year / year's end / year-end  年末
bale package / bale packaging / package / packaging / packing / stowage  梱包

Tuning of Piano

     I can play Shakuhachi, a Japanese traditional bamboo flute. I have a license for it. I'm a kind of instructor of it. Whereas I'm not good at other musical instruments. I tried a guitar and a piano before junior high school, but ended up giving them up. I have not been interested in the piano that lies in my living room ever since it came to my house.
     A maintenance man visited and did the tuning of it the other day. During his checking, I could see the inside of the piano for the first time. At first I felt it beautiful and realized how it works. Wonderful!

(Vocabulary)
tuning   調弦

An E-mail from An Old Friend

     My old friend, five years younger than me, sent me an e-mail with a picture that I will show you at the end of this entry. He seemed to have bought this motorcycle and enjoys riding every weekend around Mt. Fuji, which is the highest mountain in Japan.
     We had been working at the same hospital in Osaka twenty some years ago. It is him who has a camera in this picture: http://canada1995.web.fc2.com/tateyama/87tateyama-1/original/File0002.jpg  He and I were both single and free to go everywhere we wanted. Tons of scenes of my younger days were coming up in my mind. He has two kids now and I have three. I wish we could see each other with our whole families.

 

Drivers Club Rookie (DCR)

     DCR is a circle of like-minded people who are interested in automobiles. I have belonged to this club for about 20 years. The year-end party of DCR was held on the 22nd and I'm writing about this party this time.
     We chatted about lots of things that had happened this year and the main topic was Rally Japan 2008 that six of us had joined last month. Several goods from the rally were on the table, which was going to be prizes for some quiz. A few sponsors also offered prizes to the party and our party was gorgeous. Pictures are of a bicycle from Lamborghini, a radio control car which I won, a mask for a party which was the lowest prize and the scene of the selection meeting.

iRobot, Cleaning Robot, Roomba 530

     I'm reporting on how the cleaning robot worked in a couple of weeks in my house. To make a long story short, it was great! My room has been kept clean all the time. I admire the designer of this robot.
     How many times or how frequently do you clean your room up? Once a week? As for me, once or twice a DAY! I've only to push the start button. Before taking a bath, if I punched the start button, when I get back the cleaning would be finished completely. It was amazing. I'm thinking of purchasing a second one.
     By the way, my house is protected with a Secom Security System. The security of every door and window that are wide enough for someone to go through is strengthened. Even if someone successfully managed to get into the house, infrared light would absolutely catch the hot moving bodies. At the same time, the alarm will be sent to the security center and the officers on patrol. So, ordinary thieves never try to break into the house with this system. However, it indicates that Roomba can't move under surveillance. It has a motor to discharge heat, which is easily detected by the monitor and makes officers gather at my house. The problem is this; Roomba can't work while the security system is on.
     Anyway, this cleaning robot is going to be perfect and one of necessities in my house. See also, http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2008/11/automatic-clean.html

(Vocabulary)
Secom Co., Ltd.  セコム
infra-red radiation / infra-red ray / infrared light  赤外線
be under surveillance   監視されて

（ＫＷ：ルンバ５３０　お掃除ロボット）

The First Lesson for a Big Motorcycle

     I had two riding hands-on lessons today. As I wrote before, I had decided to lift the restriction on my riding license and went through the procedure to enter a driving school two weeks ago. Today was the first day of the practical exercise.
     At first, I was given a 750cc motorcycle, a Honda CB750 and told to follow the instructor dragging it. Fortunately I could tow it for about 5 minutes and reached a small space. The instructor made the motorcycle lie down gently and ordered me to raise it from both sides. As you can imagine, 750cc motorcycles are heavy and this exercise is a basic item and if I couldn't do it I would be expelled from the school. I was nervous, but I completed this task.
     The second task was to stop within 8 meters from a speed of 30km/h. I managed to accomplish this task. The last task was a straight narrow course (width 30cm, length 15m, height 5cm). I was required to go through in more than 10 seconds. It was difficult and I have to try again next time.
     The weather was nice and it was the first time I'd ridden a big motorcycle. I had a great time today. The silver motorcycle in the center of the picture is the motorcycle that I rode today.

Driving School

     As I wrote many times, I love motorcycles and have visited lots of places with my motorcycle. Naturally I have a riding license for motorcycles. I'm going to write about this license today. Riding licenses are separated into seven categories in Japan by displacement and transmission as follows:

1. displacement is 50 cc and below
2. displacement is 125 cc and below (automatic or manual transmission)
3. displacement is 400 cc and below (automatic or manual transmission)
4. displacement is 401 cc and over (automatic or manual transmission)

     As for my license, I am not allowed to ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity of 401 cc and over. My scooter is 250 cc and is enough in daily life and for long tours, but I have dreamed of motorcycles over 1000 cc since my college days. I know such big motorcycles are of no use in ordinary life. However, I have thought of lifting the restriction for about 30 years. I tried to do it many times and hesitated at the same time.
I'm afraid I might have remorse later and made up my mind to enlist for the driving school today.

(Vocabulary)
and below / less or equal / not over　　以下
displacement   排気量

Automatic Cleaner

     I had fits of obligation for cleaning my room after seeing dust bunny on the floor of my room. I brought the electronic vacuum cleaner up from the stock room downstairs and started cleaning. Just when I started, my youngest daughter A shouted, "Noisy! Stop the cleaning! You should use the cleaner in the daytime!" My room and my youngest daughter's room are next to each other. I thought she had a point. It was a bother for me to bring the cleaner up from downstairs every time I use it. My wife wouldn't mind having two cleaners at one time. I decided to buy a new one.
     I looked for the best one for my house on the internet. There were many kinds of electronic cleaners. I felt so much effort from the designers behind them. Anyway, they had a variety of functions. I wondered if there were automatic cleaners that could work automatically like a kind of a maid. Whatever excellent cleaners they were, I have to squeeze some time to use them or make them work. I wish but never hoped that there would be automatic maid-like cleaners. However, quite to my surprise, there was a cleaning robot which might save my time. I ordered this one immediately.
     The price of this cleaner was higher than the vacuum cleaner. I found that this was made by a U.S. company. The cleaner itself might be produced in China, but if the company was in the U.S. it might be smart to buy it in the U.S. because of the strong yen. I was afraid that the procedure might be complex, but I placed an order to the U.S. at about 23 hours on Nov. 20th in Japanese Standard Time and I got an e-mail from the company in Los Angeles the next morning saying "We received your order at 17:19 on the same day, Nov. 20th 2008". Next, I got another e-mail saying "The package had taken off from Los Angeles at 3:23 on 21st. The next e-mail said, "The package arrived at Narita International Airport at 7:55 on 22nd and is awaiting customs clearance procedure". The latest e-mail said "Entry was permitted". The robot looks like coming to my house bit by bit. I'll report it here after a few days of trial. At any rate, the world is getting smaller. I really felt so.

http://store.irobot.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2804958&cp=2804605.3334619.2501652&sr=1

(Vocabulary)
have fits of rage   発作的に激しく怒る
dust bunny / ball of dust / cotton dust   綿ぼこり
squeeze  時間を捻出する
customs clearance procedure  通関手続き
at any rate   それにしても

Walking at Night 1

     After the spa, we took a walk around our hotel. It was very cold outside and we put on the official uniform of Rally Japan 2008. With the effect of the spa, we didn't feel cold and it was comfortable for walking. We came across the signboard of "Jigokudani" which means hell valley and took this picture. This place spews out boiling water 24 hours a day and had no plants and animals. It was just like hell and named so. After a while we found a robust garbage box with a lock. It sounded like bears couldn't open it. Food scraps would be a delicious food for bears.

(Vocabulary)
robust  頑丈な
food scraps / raw garbage  生ゴミ

(KW: 地獄谷　登別温泉)

While Waiting

     These are the staff members of the Time Control Station, regrouping. We were waiting for the first car. It was soooo cold! My outfit was just like winter climbing gear. The guy on the left who was wearing a blue singlet was the chief of this station and the green raincoat on the right was me. I was shivering with cold in the tent.
     These pictures were taken by an official who was assigned to take pictures of rally officials. His job was to take pictures of our activities because we were prohibited to shoot private snapshots during duty hours. He went the rounds and took pictures of ourselves. I asked him to take pictures of me with some drivers or cars here. The pictures in the following entries came courtesy of him. Thanks Mr. Okazaki! They were great pictures for me.

(Vocabulary)
cruise through（パトカーなどが巡回する）
go [do, make] the rounds（一定のコース・持ち場などを巡回する）
go round / go the round   巡回する
come courtesy of   ～の好意によるものだ

Snapshots

A signboard written in English and Japanese. It made me remember again that this was an international event. 

This jacket cost 18,000 yen. I was wondering if I should buy it or not since yesterday. Is it so me?

A WRC media crew was taking a video of the street performers. She was pretty and I wanted to speak to her, but I was too shy to do so.

It was Saturday afternoon. The number of people was increasing.

(Vocabulary)
sideshow artist // street entertainer // street performer   大道芸人

Lunch

     I took some snapshots on the way to our eating house. See the first one. I didn't know the nationality of this Suzuki scooter. Does anyone know?
     All drivers were taking a rest, but service crews were working hard. All these cars were supposed to get together at my time control station about 6 hours later, if they didn't crash.

JR Tower

     We went up the JR tower building in the picture. It was in order to see all over the city from the highest observatory in Sapporo City. The landscape was great. Additionally, I found a unique lavatory that I'll show you below. Do you have any ideas about it. I couldn't use it due to my acrophobia, but I wondered what kind of feeling a man would get there?

(KW: ＪＲタワー 札幌)

A Short Break

     We got generators. That was it. I had a short break. I walked around the Dome and went to the eating house.

     The booth of Subaru：. Lots of tiny goods were being offered to guests. I got small flags for free and bought two eco-friendly shopping bags (Eco-bags).

     The booth of Mitsubishi: Mitsubishi was displaying the car for the Dakar rally raid (Pris Dakar Rally).

     Lawson, one of the biggest convenience store chains in Japan, were selling hot meals.

     The audience in front of the Citroen Team. They were waiting for the No.1 driver, Christian Loeb.

     Citroen's service staff members were working on their cars. They might be the most excellent mechanics in the world. I wished I could understand French.

     The media crew who was collecting news material from the galleries in front of the Ford Team.

     Munchi's Ford World Rally Team.

     It is our Subaru Team.

     I was stuck at this point.

(Vocabulary)
Eco-friendly shopping bags (Eco-bags)  エコバッグ
be abbreviated to / be called ~ for short　  略称を～という
collect news data / collect news materials / get a story　取材する

Small Parts of Clock Tower

     An Australian middle aged man brought a small box to us. It looked dirty, caked with mud and made rattling noises. To be honest, I didn't want to touch it. I'll show you below. It was a box of small parts of the clock tower.

(Vocabulary)
be caked with/in sth  ～がこびりついている
rattling noise  ガチャガチャという音

 

Cleaning Kit and Mocha

     Long subscribers of my blog know that Mocha is the name of my dog. I don't know why, but whenever I clean my helmet up using a special cleaning kit, Mocha stays at my feet. When I don't use the cleaning agent, he doesn't come. Therefore, I speculated that Mocha likes the smell of the agent or alternative for chlorofluorocarbon. I sometimes wonder how he thinks, moves, and makes decisions.
     Anyway, Mocha is a wonderful pet for me. He seems to be able to deal with my stress.

(Vocabulary)
CFC's substitute / Hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC〕/ alternative for chlorofluorocarbon   代替フロンガス

(KW: ヘルメット　シールド　クリーニング)