Asakusa Diary - The Staff Blog

We have four seasons here in Japan and now, autumn has come.
It's a very good season for everything such as sports, reading books and eating:)
(Not so hot, not so cold and harvest season.)

Especially, eggplants are really good taste in Autumn and we have one proverb.
"Don't give eggplants to your daughter-in-law in Autumn".
What do you think this meaning?

We have two construes.
One is that it's too good for your hateful daughter-in-low to give such a delicious eggplant.
...How mean she is!!

The second one is that it's not good for your dear daughter-in-law
because eggplants make cool her body.
...It makes sence:)

Anyway, I eat them♪

Our prime minister has changed again.
From Mr Yasuo Fukuda(the right) to Mr Taro Aso(the left).

After Mr Koizumi, it changed every year.
I hope(?) he would continue more than a year...
How do you think?

They look so excited!!

They played 4 matches in a day!
But...they lost all the games though some of them got goals:P

We think that it's a good chance to communicate with the other staffs
at our sister hotels and companies:)
They enjoyed a lot, anyway♪

I hope they will win the next time☆

I went to Koea for annual national holiday called "ChuSuk".
It is similar to "Obon" in Japan, but has different origin and quite similar to "Thanksgiving" in western culture.

It has the same idea of "Thank for the nature and ancestor" and has more complicated rules, manners and meanings in doing the traditional ritual called "Chare".
But it is simply; Familly gether around in first son's house and do "Chare" and talk about the family and the life and so on with big meal.
And after doing this, we visit other relatives' house and talk about our lives.

We do this at least twice in a year or more
On first day of the year by Lunar Calendar called "Sulnal" and "Chusuk"and anestor's passed-away day(but it depends on the family)

It is one of the most important holiday in Korea.

I really enjoy it and have fun with our families and relatives.

Jack.

When I was working at the reception yesterday morning, I suddenly felt dizzy.
At first, it was just because I haven't slept well but I found it was an earthquake.
Fortunately, it was not so big and no damage at all.
The intensity was around 3 and it's not so rare here.
If your family or friends are in Tokyo, please don't worry;)

Do you prepare something for disasters?
I know I need to do so but I do not yet...
I have to provide some foods and water, clothes and shoes for it.

Do you remember him?
You can see his face on my blog posted on the 11th of June, 2007.↓↓
http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/blog/2007/06/
I think he has just started studying as an exchange student
at a university in California, USA.
Are you checking our weblog, Shinji??

Did you bring your cute trunks we gave you?
http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/blog/2008/04/

I hope you are having great time there:)
You should send us e-mail sometimes.

Have fun!!

Tomo had been to Mexico about two weeks.
Naoto and Jack had just came back from Korea.
Yuta went to Beijing to see Paralympics.

They seemed enjoy their holidays and I think you want to know how fun it was.
I'll let them write about it here, so please wait for a while;)

Tsuyoshi is going to have a football game on this weekend.
I hope their (Sakura F.C.) victory!!

Hi, Nicholas!
How are you?　I hope you are still checking our weblog.

We had received some gifts from you♪
Because I was not here on that day, Naoto almost took my wine:(....

But don't worry!
I got one and already drunk ;P

Also, thank you for some photos!
We are looking forward to seeing you the next time:)

What's more Asakusa than Sensouji temple.
It was erected originally in 1649 but was burned down by air raid on Tokyo.
It took 7years and 5 months to rebuild it.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary, they will make their special items in public
such as Kannon statue and wooden plaques.
Also, Denpo-in garden will be open for the people during this event.
As normally, we can't go inside the garden, it will be a good chance to everyone!

It seems next month will be a special month in Asakusa.
You gotta come to Tokyo!

As you may know, Beijing has Paralympics right now.
It's not easy to watch the games on TV
but I heard that one Japanese got a Gold medal for wheelchair tennis★

That's him↑↑

Shingo Kunieda has been already ranked 1 and in 2007, he accomplished the grand-slam.
I can't imagine how hard he had practiced but am just happy for him;)

I found something huge box behind Sensoji temple this morning.
Normally, there is nothing and just an empty space.
The poster says, "Heisei Nakamura-za" and I noticeｄ that we can see Kabuki play right here!!
Heisei Nakamura-za(平成中村座） is very very popular Kabuiki actors group and
they play all over the world such as New York.

It will start from the 2nd of Oct. to the 25th of Nov.
If you are coming to Tokyo, I really recommend you to watch their play!
I was so touched when I viewed it.
Even though you don't unerstand Japanese at all, you can still enjoy its atmosphere;)

It was my turn to take summer vacation and I just came back to work today.
I went to Otaru and Sapporo which are in Hokkaido.
As it's located in the North of Japan, I thought it was already cold but still hot there.

On the first night, I took a walk along the canal.

I couldn't take pictures well but they were illuminated so beautifully☆
Just walking there made me happy:)

On the second night, I've been to Sapporo.
I visited the standard places such as the clock tower, local market and TV tower.
The place I like the most was here↓↓

This is the Former Hokkaido Government Building.
It looks very cute:)
There are some galleries and information center inside.

On the third day, I walked around Otaru town.
Otaru is famous for glass-working and there are many glass ateliers.

Also, I took natural hot spring every night♪
I want to go there again if I have a chance;D
Is anyone who had been to Hokkaido?

Why don't you go to see our national sport, Sumo?

September Grand Sumo Tournament is starting in a week (14th to 28th of Sep).

What do you know about Sumo?
It's not just a fat people's wrestling:P
They are training so hard at each stables with their master and the other trainees
to be Yokozuna(champion).

Actually, two Yokozuna's right now are from Mongol.
Many sumo players from the other countries are ranked high.
You may found your countryman there:)

Click the picture above for mor information★

Tsuyoshi just joined Sakura Football team and got new uniform today!
His team mates are Sakura group staff and tennants of Sakura House.
It sounds fun!

Our big sister hotel, Sakura Hotel Jimbocho marked its 15th anniversarythis year!

Before I started working here in Asakusa, I was training there for a month.
It was my first time to communicate with foreigners as a business,
I remember that I felt nervous at first.
Gradually, I could enjoy working thanks to great staff and nice guests there:)

It is 13 years older than ours and they have many things we want to emulate.

We have flickr on our website.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sakura_hostel_asakusa/
From the last month, I started to upload our guests' photos there;)
I always put them on the wall on the ground floor but unfortunately,
it's difficult to send them to all of you...:(

I'm waiting for your comment not only to this weblog but to the flickr.
You got busy:P

**If you find yourself and would like us to delete it, please kindly let us know.

Hi, everyone!
It's time to announce the top 10 countries most visited from in August 2008!!

Where's AUS gone?
European countries are extending their power but Korea is staying at number 7☆
Jack is happy now:)
We haven't expected that Italy was going to be ranked at 4th.

I have no idea about September...what do you think?