Otto's blog

Non-rolling Corolla

1月

23日

I haven`t blogged for a while*. Sorry.

Anyway, while** I was taking a walk, I saw this 1972 (?) Toyota Corolla. It`s in pretty bad shape. While*** I`m sure the owner dreams of fixing it, I don`t think his dreams will come true, do you?

My friend in Australia used to have a 1982 Corolla. I think I prefer the shape of the 1972 model.

English Language Point

* しばらく暫

** ながら乍

*** のに、けど

#車

I found this 1957 insulator (碍子) while hiking in Sekigahara. The maker is Kyoritsu Electric Company (共立電機). In Japanese it`s called a 玉碍子, which translates as 'ball insulator`. And what do we call it in English? In English we call it an egg insulator.

Language Point:
これは(英語で)なんというのですか？ What do you call this (in English)? / What`s this called (in English)?

1968(?) Porsche 912

9月

6日

Near Ibi Station in Gifu I noticed a business with a lot of Porsches parked outside. Most of them were recent models, but a couple were older. For some reason the bonnet and boot of this one are open.

FYI (= For Your Information), the name of the company is Ibi Lab.

English Language Point:

ボンネット = bonnet (UK, Aus), hood (U.S.)

荷室 = boot (U.K., Aus), trunk (U.S.)

#車

God`s Samurai

7月

23日

I just finished reading this book about Mitsuo Fuchida, lead pilot in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour. After the war he became a Christian and travelled the world telling his story, and encouraging people to accept Christ. It`s a fascinating (= very interesting) and inspiring story.

English Language Point

日本語発音: イエスキリスト

英語発音: ジーザスクライスト

注意:　外国人の誰かはビックリとか時に「ジーザス！」か「クライスト！」か「ジーザスクライスト！」と言う　けど　実際は駄目です。良くないです。

#本

Tahoutou Pagoda, Inazawa

7月

21日

While walking in Inazawa, I passed a temple complex. The main temple is called Mantokuji, but the pagoda is called Tahoutou. It was built during the Muromachi period (1336 - 1573). Pretty old! I did a sketch of it in my goshuin 御朱印 book. While I was sketching, an old couple walked past and greeted me, but I didn`t see anyone else. It`s a very peaceful & scenic place.

English Language Point:

- While __ing... OK

- While + 主語 + was/were + __ing... OK

- During __ing... WRONG

- During + 主語 + was/were + __ing... WRONG

- During + 名詞... OK

#アウトドア #アート #旅行

Marvellous Marble

7月

20日

While taking a walk in Inazawa, I found this cool old marble. According to a Youtuber, this kind of marble is about 70 years old.

English Language Point;
According to __= __に依ると

Lada Niva 1600

7月

9日

Russian cars are rare in Japan, so I was pretty surprised to see this one in Ibigawa.

I have a joke for you:

Question: Why do Lada workers make mistakes?

Answer: Because they`re rushin`. (rushin` = rushing = 急行. ‘rushin’ と ‘Russian’は似ている)

English Language Point:

日本語：ロシア

英語：ラシア

#車

Arichanna gaschkevitchii (ヒョウモンエダシャク)

7月

8日

I saw this pretty* moth while I was hiking in a forest in Ibigawa. Although the internet says it`s pretty** common, it was the first time I`d seen one. It`s pretty** colourful for a moth, isn`t it?

English Language Point:

* pretty (+ 名詞) = きれい, かわいい

** pretty (+ 形容詞) = かなり, けっこう

#動物 #虫

Old Oldsmobile

6月

12日

I came across these cars in Ichinomiya:

1966 Oldsmobile Delta 88

1971 Chevrolet C10 Pickup.

Nowadays a lot of American pickups are huge. Maybe that`s why some Americans refer to a pickup as a 'truck'. But in Australia, a truck is a トラック. And in Australia, we call a pickup, for example a Toyota Hilux, a 'ute' (short for 'utility vehicle').

Tokoname Toilet

6月

10日

Tokoname is a city in Aichi, near Chubu Airport. It`s famous for ceramics. However, I couldn`t find any information online about a company called Tokoname. Sorry.

Also, sorry for posting about squat toilets twice in a row. lol

English Language Point:

- row = 列

- in a row = 続けて, 陸続

- lol = Laugh Out Loud = (笑)