Question:What kind of snacks or sweets did you enjoy as a child in the Showa era?

Response:

I had many favorite snacks and sweets when I was a kid. One that really stands out is Marble Chocolate—that brings back memories!
Besides sweets, I also loved furikake, especially Noritama. Speaking of Noritama, it reminds me of a famous TV show called "8-Man" (エイトマン). He was a popular hero for kids back then, and we all dreamed of becoming like 8-Man.

Question: How did you communicate with your friends and family in the Showa era, before smartphones and the Internet?

Response:

Hmm, it’s a little hard to remember because the Showa era feels so far away now. I’ve almost forgotten how we communicated back then!Every household had a black or colorful telephone. So when we made plans to meet someone, we’d call each other to decide the time and place.

If someone didn’t show up on time, we just had to wait... sometimes for an hour or two! If I couldn’t wait any longer, I’d go home after about 15 minutes. The next day, I’d say, “Sorry I didn’t wait for you,” or sometimes they’d apologize to me.

Speaker 2: Didn’t you use the 掲示板 at the station?

Speaker 1: I didn’t know about that back then. Now I do—it was like a blackboard, right? But I never wrote anything on it. Now I remember what the Showa era was like... very nostalgic.

Speaker 2: Nostalgic, very nostalgic!What was tough in the days of black rotary phones was calling someone—you always had to get past their father first! I got so nervous.

Speaker 3:Right.

Speaker 2: I was always in a cold sweat—so funny to think about now!

Speaker 3:In a way, it was like an obstacle course!

Speaker2:Asking someone out on a date—that was the first big challenge, right?

Speaker 3:Yeah, many times I was asked, “Who are you?”

Question: We’ve talked a lot about TV programs already, but how about you? Let me ask you the last question—did you have a favorite TV show or anime during the Showa era?

Response: The first anime that comes to mind is 怪物くん and 仮面ライダー—I had the most fun watching those in elementary school!Also, ひみつのアッコちゃん, アタックNo.1, 魔法使いサリー, and リボンの騎士.

Question: Did your family ever fight over who would use the TV or bathtub first?

Response:

When I think back to my childhood, I don’t really remember any fights in my family over that. As the head of the household, father always went first., then my mother, and after them, us kids. When I was younger, I think my parents probably took us to the bath first.

Generally speaking, in most families back then, the father had the first turn. It was just the norm in that era—the father held the top position at home. That’s how it was.

Question: What’s the most outdated commercial or TV show you can still remember clearly?
Response:

When it comes to memorable TV commercials, I immediately think of a miso advertisement. You know which one I’m talking about?

Yeah, it’s the Marukome Miso commercial. It was really famous back in the Showa era.

Besides the content itself, what stood out the most was the "hero" of the commercial—a little boy with a shaved head, or as we say in Japanese, bouzu atama (skinhead). That image was so striking and really made the commercial effective in promoting Marukome Miso.

It left such an impact—everyone remembered the name because of that ad. And to top it off, the jingle was super catchy.

Question: Did you ever try to copy a Showa-era fashion trend that now makes you cringe?
Response:

Actually, yes—I once got a perm! I was over 25 at the time and just wanted a change.

I thought changing my hairstyle would lift my mood, so I went to the barbershop and got a perm.

But when I looked at myself in the mirror afterward, I was shocked—it didn’t look anything like I had imagined.

A few days later, I went back to the barber and had it all cut off to get rid of the perm.

「白鳥とコウモリ・上　（再読）」1日で読んでしまった。

切ないけれど小説として面白かった。

気になるのは、真犯人の今後。

「１回目に読んだ時の印象が薄かったのはなぜなんだろう？」と、ずっと考えている。

終わり方かなぁ。真相についての件が映画かドラマを観ているようで、悪くないんだけど、

それまでの「それで？それで？」という感情が高速から法定速度になった気がする。

今回は、法定速度になっても一気に読んだので間が気にならなかったけれど、前回は、そこで間を空けちゃったのかもしれない。覚えてないけど。

清洲橋行ってみたい気持ちに変わりわない。そして、物語の中の人達だけど、あの人たちが幸せになりますように・・・と願ってる。

Just finished the second volume.

It was bittersweet, but such a well-crafted story.

What really sticks with me now is: what will happen to the real culprit?

I keep wondering — why didn’t it leave a strong impression on me the first time I read it?

Maybe it’s the ending.

The reveal felt almost like watching a movie or a drama — not in a bad way, but the emotional pace, which had been like “And then? And then?” suddenly slowed down, like shifting from highway speed to the legal limit.

This time, even at that slower pace, I kept reading all the way through.

But maybe last time, that’s where I paused... I honestly don’t remember.

One thing hasn’t changed: I still want to visit Kiyosubashi Bridge someday.

And even though they’re just characters in a story, I truly hope those people find happiness — wherever they are.

「白鳥とコウモリ・上」を再び読んだ。

なんでだろう、以前読んだ時は、あまり印象に残らなかったのだけど、五代刑事が出ていたんだと知って再読。

一度読んで知っているのに、以前読んだ時より面白い！

読み返すと、いい話だなぁ〜と思えるって経験初めてなので、とても満足感あり

さぁ、下巻も楽しむぞ！

I reread *The Swan and the Bat（=The White Bird and the Bat )– Volume One*.

Strangely, it didn’t leave much of an impression on me the first time I read it.

But when I realized Detective Godai was in it, I decided to revisit the story.

Even though I already knew what happens, I found it more engaging than before!

It’s the first time I’ve ever felt this way — that rereading a book made me think, “Wow, this is actually a really good story.”

Such a satisfying experience.

Alright, time to dive into Volume Two!

Question:
Could you please share your Expo story? 

Response:

I’ll try to keep it short. So, we left home at 7:00 in the morning, and we arrived at the Expo site around 11:00, since our entry time was reserved for 11:00.

But it was really crowded—there was a very long line. It took us about 30 minutes just to get in, even though we had a reservation.

At the gate, the reception team was checking everyone's smartphones for QR codes. Some people passed through easily, but others had trouble, so that slowed things down.

Then, like at the airport, the staff also checked our bags, which added more time.

After we finally got inside, there were even more long lines—this time at the souvenir shops and map distribution areas. Everyone wanted a map! (To be continued)

Question:
What would you say to comfort a friend who says, ‘I left my brand new umbrella on the train and now I can’t find it’?

Response:

Hmm… Well, first of all, you're not alone. I've lost things many times too—it's really nothing unusual. It happens to everyone.

Think of it this way: maybe this is your chance to find an even better umbrella! Who knows? You might come across one that you like even more than the one you lost.

But still, I can see you're feeling really down, so how about having your favorite sweet?

Eating something you love always lifts the mood. At least, that’s what I believe.

That’s all!

Question:

What would you say to a coworker who says, ‘I accidentally sent a message to the wrong person on LINE’

Response:

Well, I’ve never had that experience myself, but this actually happened to one of my coworkers.

If it were me, I’d say, “Don’t worry! It happens.”

You’ve already sent it, so now it’s time to focus on what to do next.

First, take a breath—you don’t need to feel nervous or upset. Just stay calm and deal with it.

Then, I’d suggest sending a follow-up message to the person who received it by mistake. Explain honestly that you sent it to the wrong person. After that, send the correct message to the right person.That’s all you can do—just be honest and clear. I’d tell my coworker exactly that.

Question:The Osaka Expo story 2

I bought this map—it was 200 yen.

At first, the staff at the Expo said visitors didn’t need a map because everything could be seen on a smartphone.

But the points on the digital map were so small that it was really hard to read.

So, the Expo organizers ended up creating and selling paper maps. They were easy to read and made it much easier to navigate the site.

Many people wanted one! We waited in line for about an hour to get this map.

On the first day, we didn’t plan to buy it, but by the second day, we realized it was really useful. So, I lined up and finally got one.

Interestingly, in the afternoon, there were no lines at all—but in the morning, everyone was trying to get one!

And… oh, looks like I’m out of time. I’ll talk about the Canada Pavilion in the next round!

Question:What was your dream job when you were a child?

Response:

When I was in elementary school, my dream was to become a professional baseball player.

I really liked baseball—and actually, I still do.

But later on, I realized that I didn’t have the skills to pursue it seriously, so I changed my dream.

When I graduated from elementary school, we had to write a graduation essay for our memory book, and at that time, I wrote that I wanted to become a politician.

Question:The Expo Story 3

Speaker1: It’s the 大屋根リング—The Grand Roof Ring.

It’s about 20 meters high.

Right near the ring is the Canada Pavilion. Yes, this is the Canadian Pavilion.

The staff there were very kind. When we arrived, they were quicker than usual and handed out tablets to all the guests.

Inside the pavilion, it was very dark. You could see lots of images of icebergs and snowy mountains from around the world.

Do you know Pokémon Go?

Speaker 3:Oh yes, I do!

Speaker 1:It was kind of like Pokémon Go!

When you stood in a certain spot, you could see a special scene on the tablet—like snowy landscapes or a train crossing a railway bridge.

It was a very interesting pavilion.

Speaker 2:I should go!

Speaker 1: That’s all for this round.

Question: The Expo Story 4 <Restaurant>

It is a it's a 540 yen per maybe per forty for fifty minutes.

It's not crowded.

But many people were eating the standing table. Ah, not It's it's free.

It's free. Yeah.

If you sit at the table, it's charged. My my wife had pain on her foot, so we sat at the table .

We paid 1,100 yen for 550 yen per one.

And we ate ramen, and it's 1,020 hundred yen.

We became very tired, but I would like to go again.

because I went to two days, but we couldn't visit more over 80 % pavilions.

I visited only like 20%.

I recommend you to visit.

<<AI Sample Answers with ”PREP” Method>>

🌸【1】「たくさん歩いた先で見つけた、意外な場所」 PREP形式

Point（結論）Walking around my neighborhood can lead to unexpected discoveries.

Reason（理由）Even in familiar places, there’s always something new to notice when you're on foot.

Example（例）Just the other day, I went for a long walk and came across a pear tree in full bloom. The white blossoms looked so much like cherry blossoms that I almost mistook them! I’d never seen pear flowers before. A little further down the street, I saw a dogwood tree—Hanamizuki—also in full bloom. In fact, there’s even a red one right in front of my house. It reminded me how beautiful spring can be, even just steps away from home.

Point（結論・再主張）That walk reminded me: sometimes the most surprising places are the ones closest to us.

🍛【2】「どんなカレーが好き？」 PREP形式

Point（結論）I prefer soupy, coconut milk-based curry over thick and rich ones.

Reason（理由）It feels lighter and has a more complex, fragrant flavor that I enjoy.

Example（例）Whenever I go to MUJI or the supermarket, I look for Jawa Curry by House Foods—it’s my go-to. But at home, I take it further. I always add coconut milk to the paste, creating a Thai- or Korean-style curry that's more like a spicy soup than a heavy stew. That tropical, slightly sweet flavor is exactly what I crave when I want comfort food.

Point（結論・再主張）So while I enjoy Japanese curry, I always come back to the soupy, coconut-rich kind—it’s simply more satisfying for me.

👯‍♀️【3】「双子に会ったことある？」 PREP形式

Point（結論）Yes, I’ve met twins—and their differences surprised me.

Reason（理由）Even though they looked similar, their personalities couldn’t have been more different.

Example（例）I met my friend’s twin daughters at a wedding. One was quiet and reflective, while the other was talkative and full of energy. It was like watching two sides of a coin! I found it fascinating, and we ended up having some great conversations. It really opened my eyes to how unique each individual can be, even when they share the same birthday—and DNA.

Point（結論・再主張）So yes, I’ve met twins—and it reminded me never to judge someone just by appearances.

オリジナル　↓

**Question:**

"What's an interesting or surprising place you ended up at by walking quite a lot?"

**Response:**

I walk through my neighborhood quite often, and today I noticed lovely pear blossoms off my front yard. The flowers reminded me of white cherry blossoms. I have not seen those flowers before. This tree is standing very close to my home. I also saw a Hanamizuki, or dogwood tree, which is particularly lovely at this moment.

There's a red Hanamizuki in front of my house. There are different varieties, but both sides are beautiful.

**Question:**

"What type of curry do you prefer—thin and soupy, or thick and rich?"

**Response:**

Oh, indeed. Every time I am in the supermarket or in MUJI, I make sure to check out Jawa Curry by House Foods.

If I can find it, I buy it for sure. Almost always, though, I prefer curry with coconut milk in the style of Asian curries. Thai curry, Korean curry, or curries with coconut milk in general—I prefer the thin, soup-like variety.

I always use House Jawa Curry Paste at home when I prepare curry and mix in coconut milk to suit my taste.

**Question:**

"Have you ever known a pair of twins?"

**Response:**

I have. I have a close friend with twin daughters.

I encountered them at a wedding. They had totally different personalities—one is an introvert while the other is an extrovert. I am surprised! I always had a good conversation with her twin daughters.

Feel free to drop by if you're interested in 'Vivid Conversations'! 

💬 カジュアルに話そっ！☕

📅 日時：4月26日　📍場所：オンライン

興味あったらきてね😊🫶

(Japanese follows English)

**Finished reading *Kyoji*

A Police Novel Anthology: *Kyoji***

I probably never would’ve picked this one up if it hadn’t popped up in the “Recommended” section at BookOff for just 110 yen.

I remembered the editor, Shinta Nishigami, had written a commentary on a Keigo Higashino novel I read before—and that commentary really stuck with me. So I figured, if Nishigami curated this anthology, it’s gotta be good. And I was right—it was a total hit!

This is a collection of police novels handpicked by Nishigami, and honestly, every single story was a solid read.

**Most moving story:** *Okibi* by Bin Konno

Absolutely loved it. It kind of reminded me of Kyoichiro Kaga in a way.

**Most entertaining:** *Kaerimichi wa Tookatta* by Hiroyuki Kurokawa

Once again, I got charmed by that Osaka dialect—light and super fun.

And then there’s Go Osaka’s *A Life Full of Worries*, a police story that surprisingly draws you in with its unique characters and friendships, rather than just the usual crime-solving.

While I’m still tempted to dive into the Higashino books I haven’t read yet, this *Kyoji* anthology opened my eyes to some other great authors too. I think I’ll go with a reading rhythm like: Higashino → Konno → Higashino → Kurokawa → Higashino → Osaka. Sounds like a plan!

「矜持」読了。警察小説傑作選『矜持』。

ブックオフで110円のおススメに出てこなかったら、たぶん一生読まなかった本だと思う。でもこれが、思いがけず大当たりだった！

きっかけは、以前読んだ東野圭吾さんの解説本に、この『矜持』の編者・西上心太さんが文章を寄せていたこと。その解説がすごく良くて、「この人のセレクトするアンソロジーなら間違いない」と思い、即カートにイン。

そして読んでみたら、ほんとに全部面白かった。西上さんおススメの警察小説集、どれもクオリティ高し。

グッときた一作：今野敏『熾火』めちゃくちゃ良い話。ちょっと加賀恭一郎っぽさも感じたかも。

楽しめた一作：黒川博行『帰り道は遠かった』今回も大阪弁にやられた。軽妙でテンポよくて、読んでて楽しかった。

印象的だった一作：逢坂剛『悩み多き人生』警察小説だけど、人間味あふれるキャラと友人同士のつながりに引き込まれた。

東野圭吾さんの未読作品も気になるけど、『矜持』に登場した作家さんたちの本もどんどん読んでみたい。東野→今野→東野→黒川→東野→逢坂…みたいな感じで、しばらくはこのループで読書してみようかな。

Can you guess what they mean? Get ready to discuss & create stories!

Question:"I like to catch some Z's"

Response:

I like to catch some Z's.

Yeah, get some sleep—because I usually stay up late watching videos.

Question: "To give someone the cold shoulder"

Response:

When I’m really tired and my mother keeps talking to me or asking me things, I end up giving her the cold shoulder.Yeah, I give her the cold shoulder.

I feel bad about it, but I can't always be nice to her.

Question:When pigs fly

Response:

I asked my boss for a raise. He said, “Sure—when pigs fly!”

Question:"Barking up the wrong tree."

Response:

When my daughter asked me, “Mom, can you give me 2,000,000 yen to travel abroad?” I said, “No way—you’re barking up the wrong tree!"

Question:"To hit the sack"

Response:

You know, I just wanna hit the sack as soon as possible.It’s Saturday, so I have the day off.It’s a really refreshing day for me—so yeah, time to hit the sack!

Question:

Response:To throw someone under the bus

I can't believe she threw me under the bus like that just to look good in front of her crush!

Question: What is one lesser-known place in Japan that you think everyone should                        visit, and what makes it special?

Response:When I think of hidden gems, especially in Chiba, Kasamori-Kannon comes to mind.It’s a fantastic spot—it’s actually a famous temple, and it reminds me a bit of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.From the temple, you can enjoy a wide view of the surrounding area. As you can see in the photo, during cherry blossom season, the scenery is especially beautiful.When you climb to the top, the view is amazing.I’ve been there two or three times, and even though it’s not very well-known, I highly recommend visiting.

Question: Do you think people often match their names?

Like, someone named Taro just feels like a "Taro," and Hanako has that "Hanako" vibe?In Japanese, we say “Na wa Tai o arawasu"—"a name reflects the person.

"Do you think that's true? Does Taro seem like a Taro? 

Does Hanako seem like a Hanako?

Response: One of my acquaintances name is Taro—but he’s actually really cool, tall, and super stylish.He was so good-looking, my heart skipped a beat when I met him.Totally different from the typical image of someone named Taro!So, I don’t think names always reflect the person.

Question: Has anyone ever said they saw your doppelgänger?

Response: Yes, actually!One time, my coworkers went on a recreational trip, but I didn’t go because I was sick.After they returned, one of them told me, “We saw someone who looked exactly like you at the inn!”I had never met that person, but apparently they met “another Akira.”I couldn’t believe it.Now, I really want to meet the man who looks like me.

Question: What is one lesser-known place in Japan that you think everyone should                        visit, and what makes it special?

Response:When I think of hidden gems, especially in Chiba, Kasamori-Kannon comes to mind.It’s a fantastic spot—it’s actually a famous temple, and it reminds me a bit of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.From the temple, you can enjoy a wide view of the surrounding area. As you can see in the photo, during cherry blossom season, the scenery is especially beautiful.When you climb to the top, the view is amazing.I’ve been there two or three times, and even though it’s not very well-known, I highly recommend visiting.

Question: Do you think people often match their names?Like, someone named Taro                     just feels like a "Taro," and Hanako has that "Hanako" vibe?In Japanese,                       we say “Na wa Tai o arawasu"—"a name reflects the person."Do you think                      that's true? Does Taro seem like a Taro? Does Hanako seem like a Hanako?

Response: One of my acquaintances name is Taro—but he’s actually really cool, tall, and super stylish.He was so good-looking, my heart skipped a beat when I met him.Totally different from the typical image of someone named Taro!So, I don’t think names always reflect the person.

Question: Has anyone ever said they saw your doppelgänger?

Response: Yes, actually!One time, my coworkers went on a recreational trip, but I didn’t go because I was sick.After they returned, one of them told me, “We saw someone who looked exactly like you at the inn!”I had never met that person, but apparently they met “another Akira.”I couldn’t believe it.Now, I really want to meet the man who looks like me.

Question: What is one lesser-known place in Japan that you think everyone should                        visit, and what makes it special?

Response:When I think of hidden gems, especially in Chiba, Kasamori-Kannon comes to mind.It’s a fantastic spot—it’s actually a famous temple, and it reminds me a bit of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.From the temple, you can enjoy a wide view of the surrounding area. As you can see in the photo, during cherry blossom season, the scenery is especially beautiful.When you climb to the top, the view is amazing.I’ve been there two or three times, and even though it’s not very well-known, I highly recommend visiting.

Question: Do you think people often match their names?Like, someone named Taro                     just feels like a "Taro," and Hanako has that "Hanako" vibe?In Japanese,                       we say “Na wa Tai o arawasu"—"a name reflects the person."Do you think                      that's true? Does Taro seem like a Taro? Does Hanako seem like a Hanako?

Response: One of my acquaintances name is Taro—but he’s actually really cool, tall, and super stylish.He was so good-looking, my heart skipped a beat when I met him.Totally different from the typical image of someone named Taro!So, I don’t think names always reflect the person.

Question: Has anyone ever said they saw your doppelgänger?

Response: Yes, actually!One time, my coworkers went on a recreational trip, but I didn’t go because I was sick.After they returned, one of them told me, “We saw someone who looked exactly like you at the inn!”I had never met that person, but apparently they met “another Akira.”I couldn’t believe it.Now, I really want to meet the man who looks like me.