BEST 2 more days in 2011!!!

 2 more days in 2011!
Please finish unfinished things before 2012 comes!

I went to a concert with my sister yesterday.
The singer's name is Masaharu Fukuyama.
He is also an actor, song writer and entertainer.
My sister is a big fan of him and I started to listen to his songs.

During the concert, we saw a video looking back his 2011.
Of course, the video included the scenes of the East Japan Disasters on 311.
And what he did was also shown.
About 17,000 people at concert hall watched and  nodded, sharing the same feeling and emotions.
As one of them, many memories and emotions came up in my mind.

At the end of the year, there are many TV programs and events, looking back the year 2011.
Some scenes and facts are new.
Now we can hear the true voices of people who suffered.

I guess all the Japanese share the same feeling right now.

Japanese will never forget the year 2011.

My life was changed a lot this year.
At some points, I felt nothing moved on.
But when I looked back, my life was changed dramatically.

However, I didn't expect this change.
I was reluctant and not determined.
I was like drifting.

But when I was watching the sufferers doing their best, and people supporting them.
I thought I could do more!
I decided to be willing to give as much love, talents and whatever I can give as possible next year!

And I'll be more proud of myself as Japanese!

Japaneses are known as modest.
We don't boast of ourselves.
Although we get praise, we tend to refuse it.

For example,
If something bad happens, it is my fault.
If something good happens, it thanks to you.

I believe this is good but I guess we'll change in the future.

I like to boast of being a Japanese.
And I like to tell many people all over the world how wonderful Japan and Japanese are!
I believe Japan will change!

I also like to become a person who can move and touch people's feeling because I was moved and touched by many people who did their best during their hardship.

I don't know what I can do now. I just decided!
That's my next year's resolution

At the end, I like to introduce the song of Masaharu Fukuyama.
The theme of this song is `KIZUNA' meaning `bonds or ties'.
KIZUNA is also the them of this year for all Japanese.

The title is `Kazoku ni narouyo' meaning `let's become a family'.
Although the song is Japanese, please enjoy the music!
Please have the BEST 2 more days in 2011!!!

New Year Greeting Cards

Soon after Christmas was over, we have to be ready for the New Year.
House cleaning, special-meals cooking, New Year decoration....etc.

I finally finished my New Year greeting cards.

The card includes my photo and pottery work.
Since they have a special stamp, all cards arrive on the New Year although they are mailed a week before.
Of course, there is the time limit and if it's too late, they will arrive after the New Year holiday is over.

Now it's very convenient we can make cards by computer.
Before I bought it, I did all hand-writing with some stamps.
I'll write messages and mail them.

These days, people send the New Year messages by mail.
But I still like to write to give special thanks of this year, and happiness and friendship of next year.

The animal of the year 2012 is Dragon!
We have 12 animals, Chinese zodiac.
Dragon is the only legendary animal of 12.
So the year 2012 is not usual.
Something we never expected will happen.
Good or Bad things are all up to your mind and heart.
Please always visualize whatever you really expect to happen!

This painting is done by Seiji Fujishiro.
I visited his show and we were free to take photos of his works.
I love his paintings and generosity.

I seem to work this New Year's eve and New Year.
Friends of my friend came to Japan and I'll guide them.
This is my first time to work at these days.
I had refused to work at New Year's eve and New Year because everything was unusual and I preferred spending with my family and friends.
Oh! I lose no time in doing something unusual!!
I'm excited at new experience!
Since it is the first time for them to visit Japan, I'll do my best to support them and enjoy together!!


For all of my friends,
Thank you very much for your friendship of this year especially during our hardship.
I wish you wonderful New Year holidays with your family and friends.
When I visit a temple or shrine at New Year, I'll pray for your happiness, health and whatever you wish for the year 2012!!
Love,
Chiaki

Merry Christmas!!

For my friends all over the world,

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas filled with love and peace!
Please enjoy the Christmas Parade at Tokyo Disneyland.

Never forget the mind and heart you had in your childhood.

Your childlike heart brings you fresh perspectives and ideas!

I hope I can see you again with fresh discoveries!

Love

Chiaki

10000 People sing Beethoven Symphony No 9 together♪

Today, Dec. 23rd is our Emperor's 78th birthday.
If you are interested in this, please check this Press Conference on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday (2011)
Although Christmas isn't a national holiday,  Emperor's birthday is a national holiday.
Luckily, Christmas is on weekend. Office workers can get 3-days off.

At the end of the year, we watch many special programs on TV.
Most programs this year are related to the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11th March.
I sometimes forget it happened this year.
But it is not the past yet for people living in that area.
At the same time, I really thank the fact I can see the old year out and the new year in with my family at safe home.

Today, I was watching a TV program, `10000 People sing Beethoven Symphony No 9 together.'
I can't find its YouTube yet.
When I find it, I like to introduce it here.

This below video is from last year, 2010.
The conductor is always Yutaka Sado. I like him.
The singer was Ayaka Hirahara. She sang this year too.
She is one of my favorite singers.

At the same setting, 10000 people sang Beethoven Symphony No 9 together.
It was amazing!!!
While I was watching it today, I remember LOTS OF THINGS both good and bad which happened this year.
Especially,  the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11th March is the prime memory.
I guess people in that program felt the same feeling and they sang, sweat and shed tears.
We, Japanese can never forget this year, 2011.
This year's memory will be inscribed in our heart and thought forever.

The singer of the below video is Ayaka Hirahara.
I'll post it here not to forget the day...

the winter solstice and new moon

Today, Dec. 22nd is the winter solstice.
The length of daytime is the shortest and it's getting longer day by day from tomorrow.

The shortest daytime means the longest nighttime, which is the length of darkness is the longest.
Some of you might have to face your ugly and immature parts you hate.
And you are trapped in bad delusion and think the world around you negatively.

It is said that people who are spiritually awakening are affected by natural cycle like moon cycle and planet retrograde.

Therefore, if you feel negative, it might be due to the winter solstice.
Then now it's over and you can feel better.

In addition to that, the last new moon this year is on Dec. 25th.
Soon after the date is changed, it is the full moon at 3:06am,

The darkness is over at the winter solstice and the new beginning starts at the new moon.

Enjoy the new start!

Christmas decorations everywhere

It is Christmas season now! 

Most of us in Japan are not Christians but we all love to enjoy Christmas season.

Christmas decorations everywhere!

Paper cranes are hanging from the tree. These paper cranes were made by guests at this hotel, wishing for the quick recovery from the disasters on 311.

Have a joyful Christmas season!!

Feel more free!

I enjoyed the full-moon lunar eclipse last night.
It was over after 1:00 midnight.
After the separation from the sun, the moon was shining happily.

When there are always things important just besides us, we can't notice how important they are.
But once we are away from them or lose them, we can realize their importance.

I hope we can notice things important before we lose them and are away from them.
But things important and necessary always return to us.
If they don't come back, they haven't belonged to us or they haven't been necessary since the beginning.
We can't possess things which don't exist inside us.
Everything outside reflect things inside us.
If those come back to you again, your happiness must be much deeper than that when you keep them from the beginning.

We lose nothing necessary and important.
Don't need to be afraid!

I was thinking of above things while I was watching the moon shining again last night.

Sun these days are beautiful again after rainy and cloudy days.
I love sun and moon.

Actually I have many things I'm afraid of.
I like to run away from them and keep hiding myself.
But I don't feel free in those situations.
I was born to be free.
So I promise myself I'm not afraid of anything anymore and fly freely.






 

Full-moon lunar eclipse today!

It is full moon today in Japan! Today's full moon is not only full moon but also lunar eclipse!
We are all excited to see this phenomenon. It is said that we can see the eclipse perfectly in Japan for the first time in 11 years!!

Beautiful full moon!

The eclipse started at 9:45 pm Japan time.
The maximum eclipse is at 11:31 pm.
Then it finishes at 1:18 tomorrow.
We all enjoy this Heavenly Show!

This photo was taken around 10:30 pm.

Our planet is between sun and moon. Therefore the light from the sun can't reach to the moon and the moon is eclipsed.
That means we can see the shadow of our planet reflected on the moon. As long as we don't get on the space shuttle, we can't see our planet. But today we can get the idea of our planet even it is only its shadow. I love this idea! Heavenly Romance!!
I'll keep looking at sky until the eclipse finises!

I just took this photo right now at 11:10 pm.
The moon seemed to be red.
I'm very excited!!

Please enjoy this full-moon lunar eclipse all over the world!

 

pastel therapy workshop

Last weekend, I had a pastel therapy workshop. 3 people attended. One cancelled due to her family problem.
I usually have a pastel workshop at my friend's house or my pottery studio.
I like to find another places to have more classes for not only pastel but also different type of workshops next year.

All of them attended my workshop several times.
So we finished the first picture for 30 minutes after my guided meditation.
While they were meditating, I guided them to have the image of picture and colors.

We painted a Christmas tree for the 2nd picture. They had a little hard time but their Christmas tree was very beautiful!

After we finished painting, we enjoyed tea and cake. My friend made cheesecake for us, which was very delicious!!

My workshop still continued. I used this guidance board behind the cheesecake and oracle cards and answered their questions. Then after we cleared our vision, I did guided meditation to make their dream come true.

Many of my workshop participants say my workshops bring them change and transformation.
That's why they like to come back!
I never intend to do so but if they say so maybe it's because I myself keep changing and never stop.
And I guess I am no more a typical Japanese after I met a variety of people from many countries.
My way of thinking is very new to them and they think they can do whatever they like to do beyond their limitation. Maybe I just stimulate their limit only a little bit. They are also ready to change!
I don't like people who always wait for somebody coming up to change their life, depend on others and expect others to change them
Freedom and Independence are very important for me!

I'll have one more pastel therapy workshop this year and take a break.
I'll think what I like to do next year in the meantime.

Savor Everything!!

I was busy until last week for myself and have been busy for my family. Then I finally found time for painting!

Savor Everything!!

I know `savor' is for food.

But like savoring a variety of flavors like sweet, bitter, spicy and sour,

we savor all kinds of emotions, experiences and relationships.

I love spicy, sweet and sour, all kinds of flavors

Therefore, we savor everything which happens in front of us and emotions which are caused by those happenings.

When you have a bitter experience, please allow yourlsef to be soaked in the bitterness.
When you are sad, please allow yourself to be soaked in the sadness.
When you are angry, unless you trouble others, please allow yourself to take the anger out.

I'm sure something will be born from deep sadness, furious anger and uncontrollable bitterness.

But if these emotions are not genuine, only fake can be born.
And that fake bubbles disappear on their way up.

When you reach the bottom of bottom,
genuine bubbles, genuine desires, genuine yourself and genuine pass can be born.

Those genuine bubbles are led by light.
Bubbles of sadness and anger are transformed into bubbles of joy, happiness and light.

Even when you are soaked alone in the sadness at the bottom of the deep ocean,
the light reaches you.
You just don't notice the fact because your sadness is so deep.
However, LIGHT REACHES YOU!

When you are good, you can be somebody's light and guide the person.
When you are not good, somebody can be your light and guide you.

We are not alone.

We are each other's light.

We shine on each other's light brightly.

We walk the pass of light together.

I'm here to make your light burn brighter

like you make mine burn brighter.

in love and light,

Chiaki

...I was thinking of those things while I was painting this picutre...

I'm back!

Since I spent busy days and my Internet was disconnected due to my stupidity of losing access code when I changed providers, I couldn't update my blog. But I'm very fine and enjoy my life!

We have only a few days in November and one more month in 2011. These days I feel time passes really fast and many things happen one after another.

If you wish something miracle and magical happen, one month is enough to attract them. Before the year 2012 comes, I hope all of you can complete aspirations you made in the beginning of this year.

I wish your life be filled with true love and happiness!

Have a memorable month and few more days this year!!

Enjoy 11-11-11♪

Japan finished the day, 2011 11 11 a few hours ago. I enjoyed the day feeling surrounded by lots of positive energy. In addition to this, it was a full moon on this day. It was supposed to be a special full moon. However, it was raining all day in Japan. I couldn't see the full moon. But we know rain and water were good for purification. I enjoyed being purified by rain, actually the sound of rain. I stayed home and enjoyed painting pictures of Christmas tree for my next pastel workshop.

Do you know if the last 2 numbers of your birth year add to your age, the result for everyone is the same this year, 2011, which is 111.

For example, the birth year is 1990 and your age this year is 21.
the last 2 numbers, 90 ＋ your age 21=111!

Try this, everyone!

All of us live in the special year.
We chose to be born and live at this special moment.
And we can meet each other at this special moment.
This is already a miracle!
Please enjoy this moment!!

For people who experience this date, 111111, please enjoy this!
Focus on the positive energy not on negative one.

Your thought create reality.
The speed which thought turns into reality becomes faster these days.
Not only positive but also negative ideas become reality.
Release negative ideas like fear, anxiety and doubts whenever they come up in your mind.
Just surround yourself with positive energy like happiness, peace and love.

The power of full moon help you to release unnecessary ideas, customs and behavior.
Please enjoy moon-bathing when the weather is clear at night!

pastel classes with my sister

One week has passed really fast! I suddenly became very busy but I enjoy this life!

Last weekend , I had pastel classes with my little sister at pottery studio I attend. 4 people joined in the morning class. 2 of them were my friends and other 2 were my sister's.

This is my sister ↓ We are very different in personalities and hobbies. Only this pastel painting is common to us. After I became a pastel instructor this May, my sister became a pre-instructor this August. She decided to be a instructor next year.

I asked her to be my assistant this time. It was a great opportunity for my sister as a result. The two friends next to her promoted the fun of pastel-painting and collected their friends. My sister is having 2 classes this and next month at their house.

My sister's pace for everything especially deciding things related to her own life is very slow and I always push her forward. But these days, her pace becomes much faster!!! Her life changed drastically!!! I'm very glad ♪

These were what they painted in the morning class.

Original theme in the morning was `rabbits' moon-bathing' but the famous moon-bathing season was over in Japan. We couldn't attract many students so we made another sample of `sun-bathing' version.

All of them were very unique and original!

After one hour break(actually only 30 minutes for us), the afternoon class started. The theme was `autumn leaves'. There were 3 participants. 2 of them tried before and it was their 2nd time.

I often have pastel workshop at my friend's house. My friend decided no men can join in any classes held at her house because she likes to  make women feel comfortable and relaxing.

One man, a husband of my friend wanted to learn pastel-painting so much. He bought the pastel set but didn't know how to paint. He finally could attend the class at pottery studio. The owner has no restrictions. I taught several techniques so he was very happy whenever he could express his inner world. His dream is making a book. Good luck!

These were what they created!

We used the real leaves to make the pattern.  So they looked real and beautiful!!!

Participants in the afternoon. They looked very contented with their paints and I looked very happy with cream puffs! My sister on the right side looked tired. She said it was a new experience! She used to be a kindergarten teacher. She knows how to take care of kids and once she was taken to a children's pastel class by our teacher to assist. But teaching several adults at 2 classes a day were very NEW to her!!! I always give her challenges (*^^)v

All the participants in both morning and afternoon classes had a very good time and they said they liked to try again!!  We are very glad to hear that!!!

See you soon!!

Miracle November has started!

November has started!

The beautiful season filled with lots of miracle has started.

Today' s sky was beautiful again!

I love to watch sky.

The expression of sky is changed a lot.

All the moments are miracle!

 

 

 

I feel and believe many miracle are happening this month!

Just trust it!

It really happens like today's sky was miraculously gorgeous.

Since we share the same sky,

Miracle also happen to YOU!

Just enjoy it ♪

Love,

Chiaki

Happy Halloween!!

I finished the pastel class with my sister successfully today. Our students created their original picture. I'll introduce the photos of today (maybe) tomorrow.

Please enjoy the last day of October!

Happy Halloween!!

Beautiful Sunset

This was the sunset of yesterday.

When I went grocery-shopping yesterday,

the red of the sunset was so beautiful

that I tried to find the place where it started from.

I found the breathtaking beautiful sunset.

And Mt. Fuji could be seen clearly and magnificently.

I regretted not having a camera with me.

But I kept the beautiful scene in my heart so that I could paint it later. 

Clouds reflected the sunset and shone pink and red.

The upper air was still blue and the shadow of clouds had different colors.

What a beautiful world it was!!

I wish I could depict this beautiful world more accurately.

But considering I didn't have any tools to express my world,

I couldn't be happier.

My world was drastically changed after I learned pastel-painting.

At the same time, I realized words delivered only a little.

I promised myself to feel and receive by my heart

and to express this love-filled world by a variety of ways.

This world is filled with much love.

I feel that love very deep in my heart.

I trust and express that love.

Thank you for letting me notice it.

Love,

Chiaki

pastel therapy workshop

I finished the pastel workshop last weekend successfully.

I hold 2 types of pastel workshops. One type is just to paint pictures by pastel. The other type is not only painting but also counseling and giving messages to participants, which I call pastel therapy workshop. This therapy workshop is always full soon after I recruit participants in my Japanese blog.

It was the pastel therapy workshop last weekend. There were 4 participants. One of them who is my best friend always lends me her house for this workshop and joins the class.


 

 

 

I always teach the basic skill at first by painting `Circle'.  These above art works are the participants' .

All of them are unique and original! I believe all the paintings represent the painters' personality.

The second painting was `autumn leaves'. I brought real maple and ginkgo leaves to make patterns.

Then by using the patterns, they colored the leaves.

All leaves and all colors are beautiful and gorgeous!!

In my workshop, at first I always like to tell participants everything you create and yourself are perfect and beautiful as they are. 

Then when they paint the 2nd picture, I try to show them their new possibility which they don't notice yet but I can see by adding some essence in their picture.

I know it's very difficult to change their personality soon. But it's easier to notice their pattern through their pictures and to change it if they like to do so by changing how to paint.

In the beginning, I was hesitant to do so. But a few repeated to come back to my workshop and changed their real life dramatically. They encouraged me to do so.

They are my beloved students! Besides painting, I do guided meditation and give them messages by using oracle cards. That is my pastel therapy workshop! 

I'll have another workshop this weekend at the pottery studio I attend. This is just a painting class but hosted with my little sister who is also a pastel instructor.

I like to recruit more participants for this!

pastel workshop

It is my 6th pastel workshop tomorrow. I'll teach how to paint autumn leaves. I love all colors of autumn leaves, red, yellow and still green.

Since I couldn't expect tours due to the disasters, I learned pastel-painting and became an instructor.
This skill helps me a lot now. I'll have 2 more workshops this year.

I painted 2 pictures of the 2nd photo today. The first picture which isn't here was very dark and I realized I was very tired.

Then I painted again after I remembered the happy feeling. Then I could paint the much better ones now. I'm content. I'm ready for tomorrow's workshop!!

Please enjoy all the moments of the changing colors of autumn leaves!!!

It has already started!!!





Smile again!

Kobe seaport

I finished the tour in Kobe on the 14th. It was a fabulous tour and members were awesome!!
Thanks to them, I could remember many of important things, which I almost forgot.
I like to report the tour in detail but another busy days (not tours) are going to start tomorrow.
So please wait until I find time!




Dear my Australian friends,

I hope you had a safe and comfortable flight back to home!
It was a great pleasure to have met you and shared wonderful moments together with you.
Thanks to you, I remembered how to smile!


at Golden Pavilion

I smiled but now I realized I can smile more from my heart.
And I remembered how much I love this job!



with Maiko-san at Kyoto station



Thank you very much for celebrating my birthday although my birthday was 5 months ago (^_-)-☆



with Australians at American restaurant, TonyRoma's in Kyoto

I'll post more photos after Hiro sends me.

See you soon!
Keep in touch!!

Love,
Chiaki



I'm ready for the tour!

I feel and smell autumn wind. I'm very happy to travel in this season with my tour group.

I'll go to Narita Airport tomorrow and stay at hotel near there because guests will arrive very early in the next morning around 6:00. They are Australians visiting their plants in Japan and doing some sightseeing. Australians are very popular among tour guides because they are very peaceful and kind. Of course, people I still keep in touch with are very nice too and create and change my images of their countries.

I think my friends reading my blog are very happy to hear my tour. Many emailed and encouraged me during the hard time. One of my friends in Germany said she would offer the place to live and the job in Germany soon after the earthquakes. Although I didn't go, I was very touched at her offer. Thank you veru much!

Although we were together only for a few days or a few weeks in Japan, all of you really worry about me and check my blog. If I didn't update, some emailed and checked how I was for a few months after the disaster. Now they don't. I guess they know I'm busy and doing productive things.

Thank you very much for supporting me. you are my best friends and family.

I'll report the tour after I'm back.

I wish all of my friends in the world true happiness.

Love,
Chiaki
 

RIP Steve Jobs

Dear Steve Jobs,
Thank you very much for your great inventions.
Finally, you can have a peaceful rest.

This speech is so impressing that we can learn his life was very dramatic.

Finally!!

Finally, I got a tour!!! It is a-week tour in Tokyo, Kyoto and Kobe. I'm very excited!

When September started, I called a travel agent, the biggest one in Japan I mainly worked for. I expected that tourists may have come back in autumn to see beautiful leaves. I am always super busy and on the road during this season.
I asked the travel agent about the situation of this autumn and next spring. The answer was not well. Maybe a part of me knew the answer. Due to not only the nuclear problem but also the very strong yen, the tourist industries have a hard time. Things which disappointed and depressed me more were workers I often worked with quit or were transferred to another divisions. And now only ONE and NEW person assign all the tours, which there used to be several assigners depending on languages. I really realized the current situation of today! So disappointing and shocking!!

Then I started to think of changing jobs seriously, like working at company and so on. But I hate to be ordered by a boss and to do the same things everyday like getting on the same train and doing the same routine works. I actually did it and could do it but hated it. It's my personality...

Then I decided to have more pastel or another type of workshops. My pastel workshop gets a good reputation. I had 5 workshops so far and they were always full. I'll have a few more pastel workshops this year and maybe another type of workshop. If it succeeds, I'll tell you. I'll have a big event next month and I'm also planning about special things next year.

When I gave up tours and started planning other things, the tour came to me!

This world is full of Miracle!

I don't know if there are more tours. But it's alright! I realized again everything happens in perfect timing.

Things we have to do is to request what we want and what we want to do. Then just trust the universe. We can order things but better not order process. The universe decide the process and give us what we requested when we are ready to receive them.

The tour will start next week. Thank my guests for coming to Japan! Let's have a wonderful time together! All the moments will be shining!!

a pottery show

After the Autumnal Equinox Day on the 23rd was over, it's getting cooler and I can feel autumn has started.

The pottery school I attend had a show from Sep. 6th to 10th. I made posters for this show.

You can see one of my posters on the right side of the entrance. It was just before opening and many students came to help displaying potteries.

This is Maneki-Neko(=beckoning cat, good luck cat), beckoning money and customers. It was located at the entrance. All parts including its eyes and golden charm are made from clay. This was done by one of students.

All the students made 2 types of potteries based on themes. The first theme was potteries for drinking, like mug cups, sake cups, soup cups and so on. These shelves were for those cups.

I made a cup for special green tea called Maccha. 

This cup can be used not only for tea but also for food and sometimes accessories.

  

The second theme was free! Students mad whatever they liked to make.

This was amazing! Nadeshiko Japan, Japan's women soccer team! Very small works were done by a gentle man in his late 50's. A variety of students, men and women, young and old attend my pottery class.

This whole set was made by a young woman. She made a bell and an offertory box. Beautiful!

This is my another work. My theme for this is "the World of Love and Harmony".

I love mermaids, dolphins and moon.

I got some idea from this below shadow picture done by Seiji Fujishiro.
I love all kinds of art but especially I realize I love painting so much. I try to paint on not only paper but also pottery.

Finally, this is my another poster at the other entrance.





The pottery show was over successfully. I enjoyed making potteries and posters for the show.

It is said that autumn is best for food, art and exercise. I enjoy everything!!

In addition to that, I love to see autumn leaves. I'll teach how to paint autumn leaves for my pastel workshop next month!

Enjoy beautiful and lovely autumn season!