keiko.amano's Blog

• A Man Who Stayed Home

  October 12, 2009

  • He was an insect painter.  His works are very detail and warm.  This is the story about Kumada Chikabo who recently passed away at 98.  From the documentary program I watched, I learned that all his life, he never slept outside his home in Yokohama.  His home and town was his kingdom.  About four times a month, he took train to go places.  ...
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• A Miniature Dash Hound Puppy

  October 12, 2009

  •   While I was in the U.S., a friend of mine and her daughter bought a puppy.  I wished it wasn't a miniature dash hound because it seemed everywhere in Japan.   As I walked through my town, I was concerned about over-breeding pets and consumers' behaviors.  When I was small, spitz was the most popular dog here.  Spitz is a mid-size dog, has white fluffy hair, and barks in a high pitch ...
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• Three Scenes

  October 9, 2009

  •   The first scene.  The other day, I rode on a bus heading toward Yokohama Bay to renew my ten-year-term passport.  I dreaded to take a photo of myself, but I couldn't avoid it this time.  A passport photo costs 1800 yen next to the passport office.  I thought photo booths at stations usually cost 700 yen or so.  So, I went outside the building and went into a photo shop right next to it.  ...
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• Jealousy is Alphabet Scones

  October 8, 2009

  • To make scones, I have to add buttermilk to sifted flour.  Like jealousy, it sticks to my fingers.  But if I want to cut scones in alphabet shapes, I will probably suffer more than cutting in a traditional shape.  I tried a gourd and a fan shapes before, but they didn't turn out right.  So alphabet shapes are probably much more difficult to cut.  That's this story. E-ko is one of my ...
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• The First Female Captain

  September 17, 2009

  • Her name is Mrs. Chaotse Lee.  I call her Akiko-san, but she is Taiwanese.  She is my neighbor and very good friend.  She is my model.  I'm her fan.  There's nobody like her.  I've known her for about ten years, and I often praise her for being very healthy and active.  She walks fast.  But two weeks ago, she stopped walking.  The southland wildfire had heated our hot air hotter, and the ...
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