Gridman Universe

Today, I will tell you about it right off the bat.

The movie version of "Gridman Universe" will be released on March 24.

It is still next week, but I am very excited and looking forward to it.

GRIDMAN UNIVERSE" is an original theatrical production that integrates both "SSSS.GRIDMAN," which aired in 2018, and "SSSS.DYNAZENON," which aired in 2021.

For more information, please check the official website.

Prior to the release of "Gridman Universe," "SSSS.GRIDMAN" and "SSSS.DYNAZENON" were screened for a limited two-week run in January and March, respectively.

Some of you may be curious to know that this is a compilation of the TV series, so if you want to see it again, we recommend that you rewatch the TV series. However, it is worth a trip to the theater for a review, as there is an admission bonus.

Now, the original "Gridman Universe" is scheduled to have a stage greeting by the director and main cast on its opening day on March 24.

I applied for the lottery for the pre-sale at Ticket Pia, and today, March 16, was the date of the lottery.

I thought I would win, but I was worried in case I was not selected, but to my surprise, I won!

Yay!　I am really happy about this. The ticket price is more expensive than the normal cost of seeing the show, but I am still happy.

I watched "SSSS.DYNAZENON" in real time when the TV series was on air in 2021. It has become one of my favorite animated works I have seen.

I wrote about my impressions at the time on this blog.
2021年4月放送『SSSS.DYNAZENON』

I feel very nostalgic when I read back the past articles.

The following corrections were made.

The two works share the same worldview and setting, but there are some differences. Both works share a setting in which a transforming giant hero like Ultraman appears and fights monsters. DYNAZENON" also features a combined mecha and an additional setting in which robots and monsters fight.

Both works share a structure in which several mysteries are presented at the beginning of the story, and the mysteries are solved as the story progresses. The quality of the artwork is also very high.

Although I love this work, I never expected it to be made into a movie.

When an anime movie is made for core anime fans, the number of theaters that show it is usually very limited.

To limit it to Tokyo, the usual theaters include Shinjuku Wald and Ikebukuro Cinema Sunshine, but "Gridman Universe" is mainly shown at TOHO Cinemas. When we checked, the movie is not shown at Ikebukuro Sunshine. This is very unusual.

This may be due to the relationship between Tsuburaya Productions, the production company, and Toho Pictures, but that is just my imagination.

On March 24, there will be a screening with a stage welcome at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya, one of my favorite theaters, where I always carry my feet. This is one of my favorite theaters and I always go there. I think it is a first-class movie theater. I am very happy about it.

Having written all this, I still want to see the compilation of "SSSS.DYNAZENON. DYNAZENON" because I am curious about the admission bonus.

The admission bonus is an illustration card with a voice drama drawn by Tetsu Amemiya, with the voice drama "'Even if everyday is boring': Mumei Minami and Reki Yamanaka".

I knew I had to have it. I immediately made a reservation on the theater's website.

Tomorrow, Saturday, I will go to TOHO Cinema Ikebukuro at 8:00 p.m. to see the compilation movie.

I guess that's it for today.

Well, good night.

The Fabelmans and WF-1000XM4

On Thursday, March 16th, it was time for the weekly gacha in DOAXVV. The trend coordinate swimsuit of the day was the SSR 'Voltage Heart.' Luckily, I was able to get 'Voltage Heart' for Fiona and Nanami, my two Venus girls. I'm thrilled about this! This pair had previously obtained an SSR and leveled up during the festival, so there's no doubt they will win in the SSS finals.

Yesterday, on Wednesday the 15th, I went to see a movie at TOHO Cinema in Hibiya after finishing work. I didn't have the energy to write in my diary when I got home, as it was already past 11:30 pm. Today, I feel extremely tired, but I would feel bad if I didn't write in my diary.

So, the first topic of today is my impression of the movie 'the Fablemans'.

This movie is Steven Spielberg's autobiographical work, depicting his childhood to his sophomore year in college. Although I only had this information from the trailer, I was pretty sure it would be a promising work.

I wondered what 'the Fablemans' in the title meant, but it turns out to be the family name of the protagonist, Sam. Since it's an unfamiliar name for Japanese people, I didn't think it was a surname.

This name seems to be a Jewish family name, and in a scene where Sam introduces himself, it leads to a scene where he experiences Jewish discrimination.

I had no energy to write in my diary yesterday on Wednesday, March 15th, as I went to see a movie at TOHO Cinema in Hibiya after work. It was already past 11:30 pm by the time I got home, and today I feel really sleepy. However, I can't help but feel uneasy if I don't write in my diary.

Spring and Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

 Today is Tuesday, March 14th.

Tokyo has been enjoying warm weather lately, but today's high is only 15 degrees Celsius, making it feel slightly chilly. We still can't completely put away our winter clothes, but it's already mid-March, and the temperature will continue to rise.

Perhaps the cherry blossoms will bloom in Tokyo tomorrow, on the 15th.

During this season, peach and plum trees also bloom. They both have pink petals, making it difficult to distinguish between them without knowledge.

However, cherry blossoms are by far the most popular in Japan.

Japanese people really love cherry blossoms. I wonder why.

Compared to peaches and plums, cherry blossoms bloom all at once, their blooming is very showy and vigorous, and their peak is very short-lived, with the flowers falling quickly.

There are many famous cherry blossom spots in Tokyo. It's easy to find places with beautiful cherry blossoms even if you don't go to a famous location.

There are probably cherry trees planted all over Japan.

The cherry blossom season is very short, lasting only about a week. However, its blooming is so spectacular that it must leave a strong impression on Japanese people.

There is a waka (Japanese poem) about cherry blossoms that I like.

「YONONAKANI TAETE SAKURANO NAKARISEBA HARUNOKOKOROWA NODOKEKARAMAZI」

"If it weren't for cherry blossoms enduring in this world, then a heart of spring would never be able to exist peacefully."

It's a waka included in the Kokin Wakashu (a Japanese poetry anthology), and it was written by Ariwara no Narihira.

When cherry blossoms bloom, people feel that spring has come, and they can't sit still.

When spring comes, I also feel restless and uneasy. Perhaps it's because of the cherry blossoms.

If cherry blossoms bloom, I want to go see them. My favorite place is around Roppongi Hills and Spanish Hill. The beautiful townscape and the cherry blossoms are integrated, making it very beautiful.

Now, onto the last topic for today.

The aquarium on my lunchtime walking route.

I was worried because I haven't seen any Yamato numa ebi (Japanese freshwater shrimp) recently, but I was able to find one today, moving around without any issues. I took a photo, so I wanted to share it.

A Touching Sports Drama Showcasing Tom Cruise's Acting Skills: 'Jerry Maguire'

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Today is Sunday. When I woke up, the first thing I did was check the weather for today by looking at Weather News.

There is some interesting information about the cherry blossom forecast. It is said that cherry blossoms will bloom when the accumulated daily maximum temperature since February 1st exceeds 600 degrees. However, this information is limited to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo and is based on empirical knowledge. It is said that it does not apply to other regions.

I write a blog every day as a diary. Initially, the purpose was for English composition, but now the purpose has shifted to writing itself.

I am always thinking about what to write, but I cannot write about everything that happens or everything I think about. When I sit down at my computer, I often end up writing about something completely different from what I had planned. Writing something is the same as not writing something else. If I don't write about something, most of it will disappear into the recesses of my memory. I want to try to make a memo of everything I can.

Now, for today's topic.

I reread a book I had read before to reconsider my writing style.

The book I reread was "20-sai no jibun ni ukesasetai bunsho kogi" (Lecture on writing I want to give to my 20-year-old self) by Fumitake Koga.

The theme of the book is to eliminate the frustration of being able to speak but not write, and it explains the technique of converting spoken language into written language. Writing is thinking. Writing is a very good habit that strengthens thinking skills. I hope that people will develop a habit of writing as early as possible. Recently, I have been thinking about what is necessary for a healthy democracy to function. I think that if each citizen learns to write, they can acquire correct thinking and information literacy, and be able to make the right choice of government, which is necessary for a healthy democracy.

Now, about my usual English learning.

Lately, I have been spending almost all my time on English learning and have no time to read Japanese books. However, even if I can speak English, it is still a habit that is indispensable for conveying information to read Japanese books.

I use an app called "ELSA" every day to practice pronunciation, but I am very bad at pronouncing "usually" and "occasions." I always receive an "NG" rating. It is written in Katakana as "ju," but the actual pronunciation seems to be different. Maybe I will get an "OK" rating if I stick my lips out and vocalize from the back of my throat.

And finally, the last topic.

Yesterday, I went for a walk in Hibiya, so today I decided to watch a movie at home. The movie I watched today was "Jerry Maguire," starring Tom Cruise, with Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. co-starring. Although it was a movie from 1997, I didn't feel any sense of datedness, except for the fact that they used feature phones instead of smartphones.

The movie was very immersive, and I was moved to tears during the final scene.

The story depicts the journey of Jerry Maguire, a talented sports agent (Tom Cruise), who becomes disillusioned with his job, gets fired, and then starts his own company with the help of a struggling football player and an accountant named Dorothy. The movie portrays many themes, such as the business side of sports and a romantic relationship with a single mother, with a comedic touch, but it is ultimately a serious, humanistic drama.

The movie is 2 hours and 18 minutes long. I felt a little bored in the middle, but overall, it was an immersive and satisfying work.

Since watching "Maverick" at the movie theater, this was my third Tom Cruise movie on video. The other two were "Knight and Day" (co-starring Cameron Diaz) and "Jack Reacher" (co-starring Rosamund Pike). I am surprised that all the Tom Cruise movies I have seen so far are good, without any failures. He is truly a fantastic actor.

Tokyo Mid Town Hibiya

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On Saturday, March 11th, I went for a walk to Tokyo Midtown in Hibiya. This facility is one of the largest commercial complexes in Tokyo, including the TOHO Cinema, and has a luxurious interior design, with even the toilets being more luxurious than my room. All the shops located inside the complex have a sense of luxury, and the visitors also have a sophisticated and refined style.

From the rooftop of the facility, you can see the view of Hibiya Park. It is one of my favorite areas, and this was my third visit. The previous two times I went on weekdays, and there were not many people, but on Saturdays, many people came to enjoy their day off.

Near Tokyo Midtown is Hibiya Chanter, which has probably been around for over 30 years. I visited it many times when it first opened, but I hardly remember which shops were located there. So, I decided to take a look at Hibiya Chanter after many decades. Compared to Tokyo Midtown, it has a more relaxed atmosphere, and the visitors are relatively older. Compared to Shinjuku and Shibuya, it has a very comfortable adult atmosphere.

I first learned that the stage of the popular anime "SPY×FAMILY" was being performed in Hibiya Chanter by seeing a poster with the logo inside the store. The posters are made for each actor and are displayed throughout the store. Many people stop in front of the posters to take pictures, and I did the same. In addition, the handprints of big stars such as Toshiro Mifune and Hibari Misora, who appeared in Toho movies, were on display as reliefs, which was very interesting.

Hibiya is located on the commuting route, so you can easily visit it without spending transportation costs if you use a commuting pass. Moreover, you can walk to Ginza and the Imperial Palace from Hibiya, and there are many tourist spots. Furthermore, if you get off at Otemachi, just one station away, you can access Tokyo Station, right in the center of Tokyo. It's a shame not to go out on holidays since you already have a commuting pass.

Until now, I have spent many holidays at home, but I have come to feel that I want to explore Tokyo more actively. As I live in a globally renowned city like Tokyo, it is a waste to stay at home. It takes only about 30 minutes one way from my home to Hibiya. Also, there is a very splendid movie theater, so I will probably use it more often in the future.

Tokyo is such a huge city, isn't it?

3.11 East Japan Earthquake

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Today is Saturday, so it's a day off. I would like to start my day by writing a blog. Writing is the easiest creative activity, and I think it's a very important skill for expressing yourself. I hope that writing a blog will improve my writing skills.

Today, March 11, is the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. This year is the 12th anniversary. In the early morning of this day, earthquakes struck Hokkaido and Kanto one after the other. The "Weather News" program on YouTube reported the news. The program usually features a beautiful weather forecaster who speaks to viewers in a soft and friendly tone, but during the news flash, tension is high and she immediately urges viewers to ensure their safety. 

The contrast between the usual weather program and the tension during the news flash is palpable. Fortunately, there was no damage caused by the earthquake. Although the Japanese are accustomed to earthquakes, as Japan is an earthquake-prone country, extra caution is needed on this special day. Even earthquakes that would normally go unnoticed may have served as a reminder to raise disaster preparedness awareness among the Japanese people.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there were 1500 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or greater worldwide between 2010 and 2020. Of these, 31 occurred in Japan, which would indicate that Japan has experienced relatively few large earthquakes when looking only at the number of occurrences.

However, when considering the frequency of large earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater, Japan can be considered to have a relatively average amount of seismic activity on a global scale. This information is provided by ChatGPT.

Recently there have also been major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and Japan is known to be prone to disasters such as typhoons, giving the impression that Japan experiences a lot of disasters. The saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" was born from the experience of Japanese people living in a disaster-prone country, and I think it is a very useful phrase.

Since today is Saturday, I am in a relaxed mood. I am an indoor person, so even on weekends, my main activities outside the house are shopping and walking. Occasionally I go to the movies. Today, however, I plan to take the train and go to Hibiya, where there is a movie theater.

I don't go to the movies, but the Hibiya movie theater is also a very impressive commercial facility. Especially the view from the roof is wonderful. I usually read English books on the train. There's nothing else to do on the train, so I can concentrate better than when I read at home.

I have time to read books at home on vacation, but surprisingly, my concentration doesn't last long. Since I have a commuter pass, I'm thinking of going out and studying at the same time. It's also a good way to refresh my mood and spend my vacation.

If possible, I'd like to buy some delicious sweets and enjoy a cafe-like atmosphere at home.

The effective English learning methods.

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The temperature in Tokyo today was 21 degrees Celsius, and although it's chilly in the morning and evening, the weather has become spring-like during the day. There are pink flowers blooming near my office that look like cherry blossoms, but upon closer inspection, they seem to be different. Judging from the texture of the tree, they are probably plum trees. This morning's Weather News explained how to tell the difference between cherry blossoms, plum blossoms and peach blossoms. They bloom at the same time with pink petals, so they look similar, but apparently they can be distinguished by the shape of the petals.

Reference article

I feel that there has been a change in me since I started journaling. I have become more aware of my own actions and have begun to pay attention to what is happening around me. Also, my insight has increased and different ideas come to my mind. I feel more positive and proactive than before.

So I asked ChatGPT about the purpose of journaling.

The purpose of journaling varies from person to person, but in general, the reasons are as follows

Organize thoughts: Writing a journal allows you to organize your thoughts and feelings. By writing, you can objectively look at your inner self and understand your way of thinking and behaving.

Memorization: By recording daily events and memories, you can recall them more vividly. Also, by reading them later, you can review your growth and what you have learned from past mistakes.

Enhance creativity: Journaling can enhance your creativity and self-expression. By putting your thoughts into words, you can improve your sensitivity and expressiveness.

Stress relief: If you have daily stress, journaling can help you relieve it. By expressing your feelings and thoughts, you can reduce the burden on your mind.

As mentioned above, there are many benefits to journaling.

If there are so many good things, I think it would be great if we could teach diary writing in compulsory education.

Now let's get into the main topic of today: my English learning has been stagnant lately. To give myself a boost, I pretended to be a third-party and gave myself a lecture on English learning.

The importance of expressing emotions when speaking English

It is said that it is important to express emotions when speaking English. Today, I would like to share with you something I realized during my speaking practice. First, imagine a fictitious person and imagine yourself talking to him or her in English. By practicing this method, you can naturally focus on your pronunciation and make an effort to speak clearly. In addition, the good thing about this method is that you can feel the feeling of being there. By feeling this feeling, it can be more deeply engraved in your memory. I think this method is a very practical way of learning.

The Need to Practice Speaking and Listening, Not Just Grammar

Understanding grammar is very important for learning a second language, but simply reading grammar books or doing exercises will not make you able to speak English. Therefore, it is important to include speaking and listening practice along with grammar study. However, understanding grammar is the very foundation, and it is extremely helpful to memorize phrases and create English sentences, which makes it easier to understand the structure of English. It is important to continue learning English grammar every day, even if it is just a little bit within your reach.

The Importance of Quality and Continuous Learning in English Language Learning

In English language learning, it is an important fact that the quality of studying is more important than the length of studying time, which applies to all kinds of learning. I believe that studying without concentration is a waste of time. Therefore, it is important to focus on effective English learning and to keep on learning. Although the time it takes to become proficient in English may vary, if you continue to make the effort, there will certainly come a time when you will be able to speak English.

The importance of self-learning before relying on paid services

There are many expensive English learning services available on the Internet. While they may be very attractive to people who want to speak English, it is not necessary to use these paid materials until you have acquired the minimum necessary English skills. First, you need to develop the minimum necessary English skills through your own efforts. If you know how to learn, you can use useful self-study applications and content, whether paid or free. In addition, there are many excellent books that explain how to study, so choose the method that works best for you.

If there's something you don't understand, you can search for it on the Internet, and there are also AIs like ChatGPT that can answer your questions at any time. You won't be frowned upon for asking the same thing over and over again. You can ask questions until you understand without hesitation. Therefore, I don't think it's necessary to spend money on many paid English conversation services that have been offered so far.

The importance of professional one-on-one lessons

However, not all services are unnecessary. If you decide to use a service, you should choose professional private lessons. A representative service is online English conversation. The usefulness of private lessons is common to all hobbies, such as learning to play a musical instrument or driving a car.

In this article, I have delved into a specific topic with thorough explanations. I hope you have all gained valuable new insights. In addition, I have addressed pertinent challenges and provided effective solutions to help you make informed decisions. Finally, I hope you have found this article to be a helpful resource. Rest assured, I am committed to providing more informative content in the future.