The update has arrived!

 https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-of-the-night-aria/711318371980984320/dead-or-alive-xtreme-venus-vacation-doaxvv?source=share

Thursday, March 9th. The highest temperature in Tokyo was 21 degrees, and the weather was so mild that people could go out without wearing a jacket during the day.

Today, Thursday, is an exciting day for all DOAXVV players because there is an update every Thursday. I am curious about what the trend coordination gacha for this week's update will be.

This week's trend coordination gacha is posted on this link.

Usually, I spin the gacha without thinking, but this time I looked at the information released by the official to feature in my blog. However, it is quite complicated, and I can't understand it well. Roughly speaking, it seems that the appearance probability of SSR is only a maximum of 3.3%.

However, even though I don't spend any money, I can get an SSR almost every week. Of course, some weeks I don't get any, but I feel a little suspicious about whether this probability is true.

The DOAXVV event fest is based on the difficulty that assumes that one of the pair wears the trend coordination SSR swimsuit, so it becomes difficult to win in the finals as you progress to SS rank and SSS rank.

The SSR trend coordination swimsuit has a high-excitement effect that boosts various Venus parameters, so it is essential to have an SSR to win the event fest. In other words, if you cannot get the trend coordination early, you will lose your fighting spirit before the fight.

With only a 3.3% chance, I think it might be impossible to get an SSR every week as I spin the gacha. The first time, I lost. The second time, I lost.

By the way, the production when the SSR is confirmed is completely different from the normal effect, so you can judge whether it is a miss or not immediately.

And the third time. The confirmation production of the SSR flowed on the screen. Elise is the Venus of the equipment award.

I feel surprised and happy. It's a moment when I feel super lucky, although it's short.

Elise is a Venus I just got two weeks ago, and she is participating in two consecutive event fests, and her current level is 42, so she is an excellent fighting force. By the way, among the many Venuses, I think Elise is the coolest character.

The operator who releases precious SSR every week without spending any money is surprisingly generous. If I succeed in changing jobs and have some financial leeway, I want to pay them back by spending some money.

Well, there is one day left for work this week. I'm already writing this diary with a weekend feel. I usually just go back and forth between my company and home, so I'm thinking of getting off somewhere and wandering around Tokyo.

I want to go to Toho Cinema in Hibiya tomorrow and look at Hibiya Park at night from the rooftop of the building. The rooftop of the building where the cinema is located is free to enter, and there is a lovely cafe. I can't wait until tomorrow...

Cherry blossoms: The season of samurai flowers has arrived

https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-of-the-night-aria/711224086906503168/dead-or-alive-xtreme-venus-vacation-5th?source=share

 The daytime temperature in Tokyo has been above 20°C (68°F) every day, and it is already early March, signaling the arrival of spring. During my daily lunchtime walk, I was surprised to find early-blooming cherry trees. Although they were far from full bloom, it was an exciting moment for me to see the arrival of spring.

In ancient times, Japanese samurai strove to make their short lives bloom as beautifully as flowers. They are said to have discussed bushido under the cherry blossoms as they began to bloom, just as the "cherry blossom front" was moving north. There is also an anecdote that the samurai always planted a cherry tree so that they could see the beautiful blossoms before going into battle.

The care with which the samurai treated cherry trees has been carried over into modern Japan. In the spring, many people go to parks and streets to admire the beautiful blossoms of cherry trees. The event called "Hanami," or cherry blossom viewing, held in conjunction with the blooming of the cherry blossoms, has become one of the most popular spring events in Japan. Through cherry blossoms, people can share beautiful moments and enrich their lives, just as the samurai aimed to do.

There is an aquarium that I always stop at when I go for a walk. Amidst the colorful tropical fish swimming around, my attention is always drawn to a tiny and inconspicuous shrimp called the Yamato numaebi. Today, when I looked in the tank, I couldn't find the little shrimp. I was worried that they might have died or something. However, looking at the tank is still comforting.

Lately I have been eating expired rolling stock (canned food) for lunch. I stockpile food in case of disasters, but it is difficult to keep track of expiration dates. Therefore, I think it is a good idea to constantly repeat consumption and replenishment to avoid wasting food.

Lately I have been going to bed late, so last night I took sleeping pills. Thanks to them, I fell asleep quickly. However, I overslept for an hour in the morning and again for 11 minutes during my midday nap. I have suffered from insomnia for many years and have been hospitalized for sleep apnea. The results confirmed that CPAP treatment was not necessary. However, the exact cause remains unknown.

Daily events, even trivial ones, provide an opportunity to reflect on one's life. This is the beauty of keeping a diary. Today, too, I made a small discovery, and it was an invaluable day for me.

DOAXVV: Would you like to enjoy the beach with venus?

Soft Engine

https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-of-the-night-aria/711150475929632768/dead-or-alive-xtreme-venus-vacation-doaxvv?source=share

 I want to talk about my favorite game "DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme Venus Vacation" today. It has been over a year since I started playing this game, and my total playtime is 939.1 hours. According to the official website, DOAXVV has been in service for 5 years.

DOA (Dead or Alive), the original title of DOAXVV, was initially released as an arcade fighting game exclusively for arcades. The first DOA was an arcade game that ran on the same SEGA Model2 platform as Virtua Fighter2, and the control system was an arranged version of VF2's 3-button system. The G (Guard) button of VF2 was changed to H (Hold), and the guard was arranged to be done when the lever was operated in the opposite direction, as in traditional 2D fighting games.

In addition, bold 3D effects are used for damage and portrayal through the Danger Zone, as well as for expressing the busts of female characters that appear in the game, making it a groundbreaking and highly advanced game system.

The porting to home 32-bit game consoles at the time was excellent in reproducing the original arcade game, demonstrating Tecmo's high development power sufficiently.

In "DOA," all playable characters are female and are called "Venus." Currently, 30 playable Venus have appeared, and new Venus are planned to be added regularly. The basic gameplay is to organize a pair of Venus and play beach volleyball, and the limited elements that players can intervene in are because an automatic battle system by AI is adopted. When you win at beach volleyball, you can get useful items or raise the Venus's level.

However, the charm of this game is not the beach volleyball itself, but the ability to admire the Venus in swimsuits. Using the photo mode, you can save various attractive images, and by seeing a variety of images uploaded on Twitter, you are driven by the urge to try it yourself. I had no interest in uploading images to SNS, but I want to improve my photography skills to enjoy the game more.

There is one more point I want to touch on about this game. That is, this game is a gacha game that includes a payment element. Even if you don't pay, you can get SSR items, so this game is quite tolerant. However, I want to get Venus's exclusive limited-release items that are sold only on each Venus's birthday. However, the minimum unit for payment in this game is set very high at 10,000 yen. The desired item is not guaranteed to be obtained even if you pay 10,000 yen because a very low drop rate is set for the special prize items.

Therefore, I have never paid for anything in this game. However, I think that even players who do not pay can still enjoy this game sufficiently. However, since there are limits to what non-paying players can do, I feel it's important to not be too greedy and just enjoy the game.

Let's Grow

March 6th. The current time is 23:44.

After thinking about whether to write about growth, which I wrote about at work today, or DOAXVV, which I play all the time, I decided to write about growth.

I'll write about DOAXVV tomorrow.

Yesterday, I went back and read a blog post I wrote eight years ago and noticed that there was not much difference between it and my current writing. 

It is true that I had not written recently, so perhaps I had not grown.

I also looked back at my own growth.

My introverted personality hasn't changed at all since childhood, and my most destructive relationships, which are my greatest weakness, are still the same.

I believe we are born to grow. However, when I look back at my past, I don't feel that I have grown at all.

I want to live my life so that I can feel growth every day, so that I will not regret it in the future.

It is not too late.

March 5

Shanti refreshing in nature with her hair blowing in the wind.

It is cloudy and rainy in Tokyo on Sunday, March 5. I wanted to do laundry, but because the weather is bad, I decided to dry it inside. Today is already March 5th.

Yesterday it was warm enough not to wear a jacket. Moreover, the temperature is expected to reach nearly 20℃ from the second half of this week. It's time to change your clothes for the season.

As the temperature rises, the amount of pollen increases, making it a tough season for people with hay fever. Hay fever is a common allergy symptom that often causes itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. Applying petroleum jelly to the inside of the nose is said to relieve symptoms.

I haven't been able to do "extensive reading" to improve my reading comprehension because I've been spending time on speaking and writing for the past two days. Today I plan to prioritize extensive reading.

When I want to know the weather, I usually watch a special weather forecast channel called "Weather News" on YouTube. To get a wide range of information, I'll listen to the radio today.

The advantage of listening to the radio is that you can hear news and information without looking or reading, which makes it convenient to do other tasks. In addition, radio programs include a variety of topics such as entertainment and music, which makes listening more enjoyable.

Sometimes I want to go to a fancy coffee shop, but it's too expensive for me because a cup of coffee costs 500 yen. So I want to think of ways to enjoy coffee at home instead of going to a coffee shop.

3月5日、日曜日、東京は曇りで雨である。洗濯する予定であったが、天気が悪いため、室内で干すことに決めた。今日はもう3月5日である。

英語がわかるという感覚

私は英語を話せるようになりたい。去年から英語学習を継続しているが、未だに話すことが出来ずに悩んでいる。

どうしたら英語が話せるようになるのだろうか？

毎日、試行錯誤を繰り返しながら、色々と考えたが私が得た結論は次のとおりだ。

「英語がわかるという感覚を養う」

どうこうことか？

英語を読んだり聴いたりしたときに、大きく「わかる」という感覚が得られるかどうかが重要だ。細かな点は気にしなくてもよい。

これはよく言われている「英語脳」を獲得するということと同義だろう。

では、具体的にどのような学習方法で「英語脳」を獲得できるのか。

理屈だけを言えばとても単純なことだ。

それは英語の本を読んだり、ラジオを聴いたりするなど、英語のコンテツに沢山接することである。

ただし利用するコンテンツには少し条件がある。

第一の条件は自分のレベルにあっていること。言うまでもなく、自分の実力を超えるコンテンツは理解できない。理解できないコンテンツで「わかる」感覚を得ることは出来ないのだから意味がない。

自分のレベルに相応しいコンテンツを見つけ出すことがとても重要だ。しかし実はこれが難しいのだ。

注意したいのはよくあるドラマや映画を利用すること。この方法は初心者には向かない。

何故なら映像コンテンツは英語諸学者にとっては難易度が高いものが多い傾向が高いからだ。

第二の条件は興味のあるコンテンツを選ぶこと。
興味がないもので学習するのは苦痛である。あえて「学習」という表現を使っているが、英語を取得したければ興味のあることを英語で学ぶんだほうがよい。何故ならそのほうが没頭できるし継続もしやすいからだ。

例えば、ハリーポッターが大好き人は、母国語でハリーポッターを読んですでに理解できているので、英語でハリーポッターの原書を読んでも、大きく意味は捉えられる。このようなケースでは「わかる」という感覚を、とても得やすいはずである。

以上のことについてChatGPTにも質問をしてみたら、とても納得の行く回答が得られたので情報を共有したい。

ChatGPT: 英語を読んだり聴いたりしたときに「わかる」という感覚を養うためには、以下のような効果的な学習方法があります。

多読（たどく）

多読とは、たくさんの英語の文章を読むことで、英語のリズムや文法、表現を自然に身につける方法です。初めは文法のルールや単語の意味を辞書で調べながら読むことが多いかもしれませんが、繰り返し読むことで徐々に理解が深まり、自然な英語のリズムや表現が身につくようになります。

リスニング

英語を聴くことも、英語の理解力を高める上で重要です。英語のニュースやポッドキャスト、映画やドラマなど、興味のあるコンテンツを聴いて、リズムや発音、単語や表現を覚えることができます。最初は字幕をつけたり、繰り返し聴いたりして、徐々に聞き取りの難易度を上げていくとよいでしょう。

口頭練習

英語を話すことも、英語力を向上させる上で大切です。まずは自分がよく使う表現や質問文などを練習して、英語でコミュニケーションを取ることを意識してみましょう。また、スピーキング練習アプリやオンラインの会話サイトを利用することで、リアルな英語の会話を練習することもできます。

語彙力の向上

英語を読んだり聴いたりする上で、語彙力は非常に重要です。単語帳を活用したり、語彙力アプリを利用することで、英単語やフレーズを覚えることができます。また、英語のニュースや記事を読んで、頻出単語や表現を覚えることも効果的です。

文法の理解

英語の文法を理解することは、英語力を高める上で欠かせません。文法のルールを理解し、英文を分析することで、英語の表現力が向上します。また、文法書やオンラインの英語学習サイトなど

37 years ago Top Gun

According to the forecast, it will be sunny then cloudy on Saturday, March 4.

The maximum temperature in Tokyo will be 17 degrees Celsius.

Although the temperature fluctuates a lot depending on the day, it is gradually getting warmer.

You can also feel the spring-like atmosphere. Cherry blossoms are said to bloom in Tokyo in mid-March.

Spring is also the season for enrollment and employment, and it makes you feel restless.

I prefer winter to spring because I like the feeling of reluctance to get out of a cold room in the morning.

Well, enough about the weather. The topic of today's conversation is Top Gun.

Yesterday I watched the 1986 movie "Top Gun" on Amazon Video.

It is surprising that a sequel is being produced 37 years later, starring the same actor, Tom Cruise.

In the first half of the original story, the protagonist, Maverick, takes bold actions full of confidence, but the second half portrays his struggles after losing his best friend in an accident.

The finale has a great climax with a fighter plane battle between the F-14 and the Mig.

It is a very impressive work, but the process of the protagonist rising from his struggles and reaching the final fighter battle feels inadequate.

On the other hand, the new Maverick has credibility and successfully portrays a fighter battle that is suitable for entertainment.

I think Tom Cruise is one of the greatest actors, and if he became president, he could be the greatest president in U.S. history.

Top Gun: Maverick

March 3rd, Friday.

Today, March 3rd, is "Hinamatsuri" or "Doll Festival" in Japan. Hinamatsuri is one of the traditional events in Japan, and families with girls decorate their houses with "hina dolls" (also known as "Ohina-sama"), which are male and female pair dolls shaped like the emperor and empress.

It is said that the custom of displaying "hina dolls" dates back to the Edo period, although it is believed to have originated from the customs of the Japanese nobility. To confirm my knowledge and memory about the origin of "hina dolls", I asked ChatGPT.

Since there is no clear explanation for the historical origin of decorating with hina dolls at Hinamatsuri, there are several theories. Below are some representative theories.

One theory is that it originated from "Joshi no Sekku" or "Girls' Day," which was celebrated among aristocrats during the Heian period. According to this theory, aristocrats in the Heian period decorated peach trees or flowers and ate peaches on March 3 as a good luck charm to pray for the health and longevity of their children. It is said that this custom spread among the common people and eventually evolved into the display of Hina dolls.

Another theory is related to the development of culture during the Edo period. During this period, the warrior class, including the shogun's family, began to celebrate Hinamatsuri on March 3. At that time, it became fashionable to make Hina dolls, and it is said that the display of Hina dolls also became popular.

A third theory is that the custom of displaying Hina dolls spread among the common people in the middle of the Edo period. In the middle of the Edo period, hina dolls became popular among the common people and established themselves as a representative decoration for Hinamatsuri. According to this theory, the custom of displaying Hina dolls originated among the common people.

In modern Japan, it is common to eat diamond-shaped rice cakes called "hishimochi" or "chirashi sushi" (scattered sushi) and drink sweet rice wine called "amazake" to celebrate Hinamatsuri.

I plan to buy some amazake and celebrate Hinamatsuri today.

Yesterday I watched "Top Gun: Maverick" at a movie theater in Ikebukuro. This movie is a blockbuster starring Tom Cruise, and the previous movie was released 37 years ago in 1986. This movie was released on May 27 last year and is still being shown as of March 3, 2023, making it a super long-running movie.

I usually only watch animated movies, but I also watch live-action movies when they are big productions.

My impression of the movie I saw can be summed up in one word: overwhelming and amazing. The story, the direction, the aerial action and the visuals were all fantastic. I was completely immersed in the world of the movie. It was a dynamic movie that reminded me of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible series he starred in. It was a very exciting movie that I can still enjoy even after watching it.

Actually, I haven't seen the previous installment. It's just too old. However, I intend to watch it now.

The latest installment in the Mission: Impossible series is scheduled to be released in 2023. I would like to see it in the theater.

March 2

Thursday, March 2.The second day of a 5-day consecutive holiday. I think a diary is something to be written at the end of the day. The purpose is to reflect and record the events of the day. In my case, however, I often write in the morning. This is because the purpose of my journal writing is to learn English, so I emphasize what I want to write about or how I'm feeling at the time. Also, I'm usually too tired to write at night.

Writing is very enjoyable. I often spend the whole day thinking, "What am I going to write today? But sometimes when I actually try to write, I can't think of anything. The readers of this blog are only me. But if I'm going to write, I want it to be something meaningful.

Yesterday in Tokyo, it was warm enough that I didn't need a jacket. It was really nice weather. I regret not doing laundry. Today also seems to be a warm day. However, there is a possibility of sudden rain.

I plan to watch a movie in Ikebukuro today starting at 17:55. Yesterday was a discount day for movies. Today is the discount day for app members of the theater I belong to. I'm going to see "Top Gun: Maverick" today. I'm sure I'll be able to watch the movie in a relaxed atmosphere.

I don't watch TV, but I often watch videos on the Internet. I have a favorite video on YouTube that I always watch.

ASMR is an abbreviation for something, but I can't remember what it is in Japanese because it's hard.

I often get a tingling sensation. It is so pleasurable that it produces a feeling of rapture and ecstasy.

A good substance must be released in my brain. I can relax and maybe my concentration increases. Of all the ASMR videos out there, this is the best for me.

That's all for this morning.

Three Wishes

The first of every month is Movie Day. I requested a day off on March 1st because I was aiming for that day. If I'm going to watch a movie anyway, I want to relax while watching it during the day.

I looked for different movies, but I didn't find any that I particularly wanted to see. However, a biographical movie by Spielberg will be released on March 3.

After considering various options, I decided to watch "The Arabian Nights: The Wishes of the Three Genies”.

My favorite movie theater is TOHO Cinemas Hibiya. As far as I know, it's the best movie theater in Japan. Everything is great there anyway.

The movie starts at 11:50 on Wednesday, a weekday. I thought there would be enough seats, but it was almost full. Is this movie a hit?

The genie in the movie can grant three wishes. The reason three is the number of wishes is because it is a sacred number. I see. But the protagonist doesn't try to get three wishes, and that's the story.

What I felt here was what I would wish for. Do I want money, health, or world peace? If such happiness came to me, I thought I would seriously organize and understand my wishes beforehand.

After watching the movie, I wanted to have coffee in a nice cafe. There are many nice cafes, but I am reluctant to go alone. Besides, it costs money, and if I eat sweets, I might gain weight... In the end, I gave up on the cafe and went home with a feeling of regret.

I want to be the kind of person who can enjoy a graceful time in a nice cafe without feeling shy, especially since I am in Tokyo. Should I make this one of my three wishes?

It's March from today.

It's March from today. 

Time really flies, doesn't it? 

What do you call the phenomenon where time seems to go faster as you age? 

I have a 5-day consecutive holiday from today. 

March 5th is my father's anniversary of passing, so I usually go back to my hometown in Hokkaido every year. 

However, my mother is currently hospitalized, so I plan to spend my time relaxing at home instead of going back this year.

I have plans to go to the cinema today and tomorrow, but I don't have any special plans for the other days.

I intend to study English carefully at home and not waste this valuable time.