金曜日WS:A Glimpse of Friday's Transcript

金曜日は日本語も多いクラスなんだけれど、少しずつ英語で話す時間が増えてきて嬉しい！　

Friday's class has a lot of Japanese, but I'm happy that the amount of time we spend speaking in English is gradually increasing!

＊文字起こしはYoodliとOpen AIの両方に手伝ってもらって作成してます。＊

**5:07 - Facilitator:**

First question goes to Participant 1. Okie dokie. What is your favorite pumpkin dish?

**5:37 - Participant 1:**

Uh, I like boiled pumpkin. I just boil it in water.

**5:50 - Facilitator:**

No seasoning? Very simple. Good.

**5:59 - Participant 1:**

Yeah, it's naturally sweet. I also eat pumpkin seeds.

**6:26 - Facilitator:**

Pumpkin seeds are really healthy, but even when you boil them, they aren’t usually soft enough to eat.

**6:37 - Participant 1:**

Actually, they are soft when I boil them!

**6:42 - Facilitator:**

Oh, okay. Got it.

**6:46 - Participant 1**

Yesterday, I bought pumpkin at the supermarket called 'S.'

**7:07 - Facilitator:**

<laughs> I see, premade simmered pumpkin!

**7:17 - Participant 1:**

I actually had pumpkin for breakfast this morning.

**7:27 - Facilitator:**

Nice. I love pumpkins.

**7:30 - Participant 1:**

Me too!

---

**8:28 - Facilitator**

Next, if you could spend a day with 大谷翔平 (Shohei Ohtani), his wife, and デコピン (Decoy, his pet), what would you do together?

**10:11 - Participant 2:**

I think I’d take pictures with them. Of course, I’d be in the photos! And I’d ask for his autograph.

**11:52 - Facilitator**

If it were me, I’d go to Tokyo Disneyland with them. That way, I wouldn’t have to think too much about what to say, and I’d be less nervous. Plus, it’s fun, and I wouldn’t have to entertain them. I’d probably get a pet sitter for Decoy, though, since he might not be able to enter the park.

**12:03 - Facilitator:**

What color shoelaces would you put on green sneakers?

**14:20 - Participant:**

I’d choose red shoelaces. But to be honest, I don’t wear green sneakers. I always wear sneakers, though, and especially next week for my trip to Machu Picchu. They need to be waterproof, and have a good grip so I don’t slip.

---

**18:14 - Facilitator:**

How do you carry your credit and point cards?

**19:11 - Participant 2:**

I don’t carry many. I just have one purse that holds everything.

**19:57 - Facilitator**

I feel like my credit cards are from the Showa era! I have so many cards. Nowadays, you can store them digitally on your smartphone and collect points that way.

---

**21:11 - Facilitator:**

Do you organize your smartphone apps in any particular way? Like, in folders by category?

**21:37 - Kei:**

I don’t organize them at all. I just leave them as they are when I download them. I have a lot of Korean apps, too.

---

**23:27 - Facilitator:**

Do you enjoy taking photos?

**23:36 - Participant 2:**

Yes, I do. I use my smartphone and a small digital camera, not a single-lens reflex camera. But I don’t carry my camera with me all the time.

**24:55 - Participant 2**

The other day, we went to Narita-san Shinshoji Temple, and I took a lot of photos. Actually, my husband took lots of pictures of me, too. I kept telling him to stop because it was embarrassing!

**25:12 - Facilitator:**

Oh, that’s nice. You’re ready for new profile pictures! By the way, when you were in Narita, did you go to the airport and speak with any foreigners?

**26:15 - Facilitator 2:**

At Narita Airport, there were lots of foreigners, but they were all busy shopping for souvenirs before their flights. I didn’t talk to anyone, just said “sorry” when I accidentally bumped into someone.

---

**26:18 - Facilitator:**

I see. Next question: Are you good at zoning out or doing nothing?

**28:10 - Participant 1:**

Not really. I’m envious of people who can do that. I prefer staying active and doing something. Although, it would probably be better for my mental health to relax more. But it’s hard for me.

---

**29:49 - Facilitator:**

Have you made a phone call recently?

**30:04 - Participant 2:**

Yes, I always make phone calls because my husband doesn’t like to text or email. We always talk on the phone.

---

**32:03 - Facilitator:**

Is there someone you frequently run into by chance?

I always bump into Mr. Mario whenever I go to Y Mart. It’s hilarious.

**33:41 - Participant 1:**

I actually saw him the other day. He walked past my office. Once, I ended up walking behind him, and he disappeared near a gas station, so I figured his house must be around there. He had a bag full of recycling, so I think he’s very eco-friendly.

---

**39:04 - Facilitator:**

Did you know that October 11th is the anniversary of the establishment of Ueno’s Ameyoko Street? Do you like Ameyoko?

**39:39 - Participant 2:**

Of course! I’ve been there a few times, but I didn’t buy anything, just walked around. At the end of the year, it gets really busy with vendors shouting to attract customers, doing things like 掴み取り (grabbing as much as you can for a set price).

**40:48 - Facilitator:**

Yeah, you can grab as much as you can fit into a bag for just 1,000 yen!

---

**41:55 - Facilitator:**

I haven’t been to Ameyoko in a while. When I remarried 13 years ago, it looked a bit different. It got a little more fashionable under the railway tracks, though the main street is still the same. There were some trendy shops under the train tracks, but I don’t know what it’s like now.

---

**42:49 - Facilitator:**

October 11th is also the birthday of Yomiuri Giants pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano and singer Megumi Asaoka. Can you talk about either of them?

**43:44 - Participant 1:**

My son used to be on a baseball team, and my husband is a Giants fan, so we watched games on TV. I know Sugano, but I’m more familiar with players from Hara-san’s era. I’m not really a baseball fan myself, though.

**44:35 - Facilitator:**

I’m a bit of a bandwagon fan. My husband likes Darvish.

P2, if you were given a piece of land the size of Tokyo Dome (about 36,000 tsubo), what would you build?

**46:51 - Participant 2:**

I love dogs, so I’d build a dog park. Maybe add a café, restaurant, or beauty parlor that allows dogs, too. That would be fun!

---

**50:21 - Facilitator:**

How about an amusement park for dogs? That would be so fun! Did you know Disneyland is 10 times the size of Tokyo Dome?

Next question: Have you ever seen the Doctor Yellow train?

JR Tokai and Mizkan are collaborating to run a "Doctor Yellow Ponzu Train" on November 10th.

**52:01 - Participan1:**

No, I haven’t seen it, and I didn’t know about the Ponzu Train event. My grandson used to play with his Doctor Yellow model train, though.

---

**52:40 - Facilitator:**

Me neither. I’d love to see the Doctor Yellow train in person!

Next question: Do you like persimmons?

**55:54 - Participant 2:**

No, I don’t. They’re too sweet for me.

**56:23 - Facilitator:**

How about dried persimmons?

**56:31 - Participant 2:**

No way, they’re even sweeter! I can’t eat them.

---

**57:25 - Facilitator:**

Have you eaten chestnuts yet this year?

**57:37 - Participant 1:**

No, not yet. But I love chestnuts, especially chestnut rice.

---

**58:36 - Facilitator:**

What’s something you wish you had in your neighborhood?

**59:13 - Participant 2:**

A café like Starbucks.

**59:23 - Facilitator:**

Yes, exactly.

**59:26 - Participant 2:**

I’d love to hang out at a coffee shop, watch YouTube in English, and practice my English skills.

**59:44 - Facilitator:**

Oh, that sounds interesting.

Okay, see you all next week!