Land a job

My long holiday finally ended this month. What I mean is that I got a job. It was very hard to find a job. I applied for a lot of jobs and it took very long time before I could get one.

I'd like to express my gratitude to my family and friends because they supported me a lot. I left my previous work to go to school. In other word, I did the things only I wanted to do. Nevertheless, they helped me. I really thank them.

Anamoribashi

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Anamoribashi, Tokyo

Anamoribashi is the name of a bridge that it is located near the Haneda airport. So, the bridge was designed to look like an airplane taking off.

The blue component illuminates when it is dark.

TOEIC

source: http://www.toeic.or.jp/

I took the TOEIC which is the Test Of English for International Communication last month and I received my result. I achieved my year's target score at last.

My score has decreased the last three times I took the exam. So I am especially glad to meet my goal for this year and I decided to set next target score. I will try to keep studying English.

Kiva

source: Kiva.org

The man in the picture is from the Philippines and I have provided a loan to him through Kiva. The organization said that he is a farmer and he will be using the money to finance the cultivation of his farm.

Meridiana, Giulio Paolini

Meridiana, Giulio Paolini

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

This artwork named Meridiana is a floor pattern composed of square designs. There are many people in this place and they are spending time in a relaxing way.

This space usually uses the cafeteria and it seems that the space there can be rented.

Astronomical clock, Giulio Paolini

Astronomical clock, Giulio Paolini

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

The clock tells about the movement of the time, sun, moon and the starts in Tokyo. The clock was designed as basic model of a world-famous Prague Astronomical Clock.

Mechanical parts were produced by SEIKO, Japanese clock company.

Unghia e marmo, Giuseppe Penone

Unghia e marmo, Giuseppe Penone

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

This artwork is made by Giuseppe Penone. I have never heard him before. So I researched about him on the web and found out that he's a very famous artist. His exhibition also took place at Toyota Municipal Museum of Art in summer 2009.

Unfortunately, the translucent part of his artwork was broken.

PASSI, Luciano Fabro

PASSI, Luciano Fabro

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

Pleiades, Hidetoshi Nagasawa

Pleiades, Hidetoshi Nagasawa (長沢英俊)

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

This artwork was designed by Hidetoshi Nagasawa who is famous for his creative works in Milan, Italy. I guessed that these stones are star cluster just as the title.

The artwork is located at a corner in West Shinjuku skyscrapers.

Kiva

source: Kiva.org

I grant a loan for Ainnie from Manila, Philippines. A lot of items can be seen suspending from the ceiling caught my attention in her "sari-sari" store.

I am hoping for her success.

arrowroot cake sundae

Kawasaki Daishi is famous for its arrowroot cakes. Although I like arrowroot cakes as it is, I found another other attractive sweets that is using arrowroot cakes as it's main ingredient. That is arrowroot cake sundae. Instead of melted chocolate, I enjoyed my arrowroot cake sundae on top of sweet beans paste.
I recommend the sundae to eat if you have a chance to go to Kawasaki Daishi.

慧, Tsuneo Yamashita

  慧, Tsuneo Yamashita (山下恒雄)

 Chiyoda, tokyo

This artwork is placed near the Mitui Sumitomo Insurance Building in Chiyoda ward. When I went to take a Thai language exam, it just happened that there was this artwork in the exam site's way. I searched about this artwork but I got almost nothing about it.

Cupnoodles museum

source: CUPNOODLES MUSEUM 

Last month I posted about a big kettle of cupnoodles. It seems that the big kettle is the event for the opening of the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM in Yokohama.

The museum has a factory that makes your original cupnoodles where in you can select 4 soups and 12 ingredients. Moreover you can your own cup. It will just takes about 20 minutes to have everything done.

By the way, when you see the logo of the museum what comes to your mind? What came into my mind was UNIQLO which is a Japanese apparel company. I later found out that the museum and UNIQLO was both planned by Kashiwas Sato, a brand strategist.

Anyway, I want to go and make my original cup noodle!!!

praying mantis

I found a praying mantis a few days ago. I remembered that when I was child, I often see and catch praying mantis.

They appear in Autumn in Japan. So now it's their active season. I closely saw it after so long. It has a scary look on its face and it seems ready for battle.

By the way, I use to write my blogs lots of time. I think it's good chance to notice the change of seasons and minor affairs.  If I am not writing my blog, I wouldn't care about these things.

My shopping experience at Costco

As you know, Costco is a membership warehouse club. I went to there for the first time. My first impression of costco was big anyway. I mean, they have big store, big shopping cart and  big or bulk products.

I tried to buy some items. When I was shopping at the store, I was careful about eatable amounts. And then I came home and looked these items. I noticed to buy too much.

By the way, Costco food court was reasonable. I took a hot-dog and drink (including refills).

Cup Noodles

source: NISSIN FOOD PRODICTS

Gundam, a popular Japanese manga character was the star in a TV commercial for the Cup Noodle. The robot holds a big kettle in his hand.

I saw the kettle in Yokohama city. It was a campaign for the Cup Noodle and people were able to try sample of the cup noodle. I'd like to try it but I didn't have enough time then.

Anyway, the kettle was very big.

Kiva

source: kiva.org

I grant three loans today. I am hoping for their success. The borrowers came from Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, and Ecuador. Do you know where are these located? If you don't know, please check it out at google map.

Flood in Thailand

source: msnbc.com

Flooding in Thailand has spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok.

I read some articles and saw photos about the flooding in Thailand. Factories and temples were inundated by flood water in Ayutthaya. I've been to a temple in Ayutthaya a few times and the temple is flooded now.
Moreover, there are a lot of Japanese companies in Ayutthaya and most of these have stopped their operation since last week. Because these factories have not resumed their operations they also can not estimate the damage caused by the flooding.

Anyway, safety is priority #1. I hope that people in Thailand are safe.

Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji

I had a trip to Kawasaki City and I made a little side trip to Kawasaki Daishi, a famous shrine for Kobo Daishi (弘法大師) aka Kukai(空海). A lot of people visit the shrine during New Year.

Red Buoyant II, Mary Ann E. Mears

Red Buoyant II, Mary Ann E. Mears

Kawasaki, Japan

This artwork designed by Mary Ann Mears was gifted to Kawasaki, Kanagawa by Baltimore, Maryland for their friendship in 1979.
An artwork named Red Buoyant is also placed on Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland.

You can see more of her artworks on the following site.
http://www.maryannmears.com/