A Blank TV screen. Not sure what he is looking at.
G-san rolls out his tongue
Dessin, took me 6 hours
A next dessin theme, a flower in a base
Currently preparing for a next job starts from February, my role will be a language support 英日 and 日英 for some app development project. Most likely it’s related to B to B digital transformation (DX) service, I’m searching news and reading as much as possible.
These days having a sore throat and a stuffy nose due to PM 2.5.
And soon hay fever wave would come.
Seems cats are having an allergy too, when I open the window for him in the morning, he’ll make a sneeze. 🤧
As omicron strain infection surging worldwide and here in Japan, I thought it might be canceled.
Fortunately no restriction issued so we went out as planned.
Before we wake up this morning, there was an alert message of Tsunami on mobile phones at midnight that woke us up. It was tsunami warning, related to Tonga‘s volcanic eruption on the 15th.
After check the news on TV, we tried to go back to sleep again, then another alert message received it continued for a few hours constantly.
It counted 600 messages that’s what we found out in the morning.
Caused by operation mistakes.
Seemed everyone tried to do the same, turning off the sound.
Alert makes sound even if in manner mode as it’s for emergency, so I needs another untick in a setting. While we were sleepy we somehow managed the how-to.
I found many how-to videos quickly uploaded at midnight to meet the demand. YouTube is super helpful.
Now omicron and economic activities.
Enjoy Sumo and golf matches, appreciate opera are part of economic activities.
If fans stop going to site, for example Sumo association soon faces difficulty surviving as a business organization like in 2020 and 2021. I wander how could they survive the past two years.
A Rare photo of trophy
Sumo was fun! Yokozuna Terunofuji won and he is 7 wins and 1 lose as of today. Yet 7 days remaining.
Work from home has widely been introduced since 2020.
I saw more people jogging than people heading to the station back then.
Today, it feels like 50% or more people are back to the regular work style. Trains are moderately crowded.
With the current situation, in Feb or could be at an earlier timing Tokyo and Kanagawa (where I live) both will be under restrictions by pre-emergency measures.
The number of infected people is increasing. A daily infection stats says 21,880 on the 14th Jan, it was 1,149 on the 4th Jan.
Usually metropolitan area like Yokohama and Tokyo we don’t have much snow but this year is a bit colder.
Rare snowing at this time of year.
I’m at home and looking out the snow.
⛄️
Trains, major routes and highways will be affected. This morning I saw a man who just got a shovel, I thought it is not necessary though he was right. It’ll accumulate and we’ll need shoveling snow later.
Today I chatted with several advisors of Apple support as I can’t login to iCloud on MacBook with my Apple ID. It’s something I have been ignoring for a while. Until some years ago, AppStore account and Apple ID were not necessary the same, and somewhat I have had two IDs. I was using iPhones and iPad and MacBook, then got an issue.
Sometime last year I logged out and initialized old iPhone and iPad, now only one active iPhone and MacBook, yet my Apple ID doesn’t work.
So far I tried several solutions as instructed, and now updating/upgrading MacBook.
snow keeps falling and I need to go shopping.
Wow, the update finally allowed me to login…now the backup became available.
May the new year bless you with health and happiness.
This year end is the same, we are recommended to avoid a place crowded with people.
We went to a shrine ⛩ yesterday for a new year prayer it supposed to be after a new year has come. Anyway it’s one of changes in traditional things and actually helpful as we don’t have to wait in line in the cold midnight like used to.
Shrines have adjusted their way, they are open and willing to provide a lucky charm and an amulet. They accept us returning old ones to them.
We think things we buy from a shrine have god reside in, we don’t throw away a lucky charm or such instead we ask a shrine to take care of it.
Due to Covid many things have become flexible in recent years in Japan.
Little by little things change and we adjust to it consciously or unconsciously.
In 2022, I will be exploring places in Japan. See, hear, smell, touch and eat experiencing new things as much as possible.
When think about which restrictions are hardest, for me it’s voyages.
Real experience is something can’t be generated artificially.
✈️
Let’s be optimistic and greet the new year. 🎍謹賀新年🎍
It’s 29th December today, and most of companies finished business of 2021 yesterday. My brother is still working though.
A new year business will start from 5th or 6th January.
Because of omicron strain a situation might be different after a few days. So far we haven’t heard any restriction on events during holidays.
Me and my partner are going to go out for the phantom of the opera on the 1st of January 2022. It’s our third time or fourth? Can’t wait!
I cooked Zoni(雑煮) this morning, it’s a traditional Japanese dish for the end/beginning of the year (年末年始). And another traditional meal Osechi(御節) will be delivered tomorrow. All set.
Osechi arrived!
For four of us.
And one more dish I cook is Namasu(なます) pickled shredded radish and carrot. As a salad? We tend to be face a lack of vegetables during holidays it’s better have one or two vegetable dishes in the fridge.
Pickles are good for a change
This month my partner changed his job after three years career in the current company, and I finished my contract.
My partner is going to go to his new office in January, and I am looking/waiting for a new job to reach me. A fresh start for both of us.
This winter is colder than usual, might see some snow during the next few days.
It’s third year with COVID and we are kind of used to the recent lifestyle. so we won’t go out much, eat out much, meet with friends or relatives, just being at home with family members. Quiet and tranquil break with books on our hands.
In spring hope the situation will be calm down and I am able to go out for a new job, meeting new people.
And we went the driving range, enjoyed golfing for an hour. we’ll be going tomorrow as well. I’m happy that we found a hobby we can enjoy together.
Hope the world will recover from COVID crisis and stabilize in 2022, and we will be able to remove our masks and fully enjoy December 24th in 2022 and onward.
These photos I took during the last few days.
I see the sky during daytime to rest my eyes.
A Clear blue sky
A drawing subject in December
Chobi staring at me riding on an indoor bike
2022 is around the corner. And I wish you who happened to read this blog a merry Christmas, thank you for reading.
I wear a mask because I am not 100% sure that I’m not infected with omicron.
I got vaccinated two times, moderna.
It caused really terrible side-reactions such as high fever for two days, shivering, dizziness, no appetite for a few days.
And my partner told me a story which he heard from his coworker in India. Once actually infected with Covid those symptoms continue two weeks, and may die at last if something go wrong.
I’m fully vaccinated and I always wear a mask in public place.
Compared to the side reactions I have experienced, wearing a mask is nothing.
A mask, easy, inexpensive and effective to protect myself my family and people I happen to encounter.
Omicron is being said 70% higher infection rate than any of previous Covid variants. What if another Covid variant that is also strong enough to breakthrough immunity and leads to sever symptoms.
It’s too late start wearing a mask after the first case detected, as most likely it’s already around me and I might have been infected.
So that I’m still wearing a mask, even I wear a mask to dump my garbage in the morning, or receive a delivery package or mail. Meeting and talking people means possible chance to give/receive Covid.
I used to work with many Chinese coworkers, some were kind and warm some were aggressive and tough. It’s been a long while.
Recently I read a book titled “Strangers in their own land” written by Arlie Russell Hochschild.
Some people might have heard of it. I thought it was worth reading. Difficult and it requires reread many times.
And next a book, 貝と羊の中国人 written by Japanese scholar recommended by Amazon.
Probably it came from my search activities on Google.
Unfortunately this book “貝と羊の中国人” is only available in Japanese. I would recommend this to everyone who might be interested in Chinese cultural history to date.
The other book I mentioned earlier “Strangers in their own land” was originally written in English and translated into Japanese so I bought Japanese one.
貝と羊の中国人 Book introduction (Deepl translation)
“A strange country where money-making and communism do not contradict each other. A groundbreaking book on China by an up-and-coming scholar.”
“Wealth, money, betting, buying: ……. Righteousness, beauty, goodness, nourishment: ……. The Chinese characters for “shellfish” and “sheep” offer a glimpse into the depths of the Chinese people. The shell culture of the Shang people, who were polytheistic and favored tangible goods. The sheep culture of the Zhou people was monotheistic and emphasised intangible principles. The ancestral form of the Chinese people’s ability to distinguish between “true” and “false” lies in the Shang and Zhou revolutions of 3,000 years ago. In a fresh and daring look at Chinese characters, language, exiles, populations, heroes, territories and national names, this book explores the essence of China and the Chinese people.”
Not sure what will be a response from people, I just happened to know some Chinese engineers, project managers, and general managers in person, and.
Our next door is from Taiwan.
I thought it is worth reading when I found (was found by book) the book. It’s a thin light weight book though it contains enough historical important point in easy to read form.
From this weekend I’ll start reading “The tyranny of merit” written by Michael Sandel.
YouTube advised me to watch his talk about the title the other day, and I immediately put the book into my Amazon cart.
While writing I realized that I am most likely controlled by GAFA.
Boiled apple 