d'CATCH Project

My final university mission, d'CATCH will be started from tomorrow evening d'CATCHis the abbreviation of deCentralized Asian Transnational CHallenges. It's a project to try every challenge to be a cultural bridge between Asian media and citizen over the border. In short, it's a cross cultural video exchange program. There are 4 participating countries this year which are China, Thailand, the Philippines and Japan. This year's theme is LINK and each country students made short documentaries about Family, Human, Co-Tech, Festival and Legend.

I remember the last d'CATCH in Thailand and I hard to believe a year has passed just like a flash My work is all of what I had been doing through the year and I think it's good. Now I'm getting so exited and nervous at the same time.;)) Anyway I'm so happy that I can see so many students from oversea I'm gonna enjoy the week

WELCOME TO JAPAN

YOKOSO

Sho Sakurai

Yesterday, my friend got a woman's magazine, anan which featured Sho SAKURAI from J-pop group, Arashi. He is almost naked in the magazine! OMG!!! It was a bit intense for young girls^^; I'm not his fan or anything but he's so sexy I took some of the pictures:D

Miko

At the beginning of this month, I worked for a shrine as a Miko(巫女). Miko is a shrine maiden and you can see temporary Miko working for ceremonies and selling amulets in this season. They are usually high school or university students like me. Last year, one of my friends asked me to work together at a shrine. Miko is kind of popular job among young girls. After seeing the old year out, many of people come to shrines or temple. This is called Hatsumoude(初詣), the first shrine/temple visit. So most of shrines take in girls to operate smoothly during the New Year holiday. I was a bit curious about working as a Miko. You know, the costume is attractive for some reason

The work was fun. I wore a red Hakama, long skirt and a white Haori, kimono jacket and fixed my hair with white ribbon. To be exact, the Hakama is vermilion which is thought a color to ward off evil spirits. I sort of felt like I got a something spiritual power:)) I sold amulets and helped Shinto priest with prayer all day long. I knelt for so long and bruised on my knee but I'm sure it was really a precious experience in my life

2010

Happy New Year to all of my readers!!

Hope you all had a happy and nice celebration.

2009 has gone by incredibly fast for me. Just like a flash!

This year, I wanna try anything with a sense of renewal.

And now is the time to set some resolutions.

I resolve to:

- read at least one book a month.

- think before speak.

- eat in moderation.

- keep regular hours.

Yea, I'll be healthy woman.

So I'm off to bed now.

XOXO

Asami