Dec.15 - half of December of this year is already passing.

  In the morning, I went by bus with Ayako to the funeral hall to attend late Mr.Kwamura's funeral service. I am glad Ayako was getting better. Last night, as the temperature was high for this season, but  this morning, it lowered below zero. So, the water on the surface of the roads were frozen and became very slipperly.
  In the afternoon, I went out for mu usual walk, and dropped in a supermarket to buy bread and sausage for breakfast, and returned home at about 3:00.
  In the evening, I attended the monthly meeting of  our neighborhood association.  

Ayako has had a cold for these days.

  Ayako has had a cold for some days. So today, the wake service for late Mr.Kawamura took place in the funeral hall close to the Tomakomai railway station, but she didn't attend it. I went alone there by the chartered bus with many other neighbors. It took about an hour to finish the wake service, and when I came back home at around 7:30, it was raining.
  After coming home, I watched the semi-final succer game of Toyota Cup between Kashiwa Reysol and Santos, Brazil. The result was the Brazilian team's victory by 3-1. The Brazilian succer was strong, as was to be expected.

Mr.Yoshio Kawamura (95) passed away this morning.

   When I stood at the usual crossing as a crossing guard, I heard from Mrs.Saito that Mr.Yoshio Kawamura, Mrs.Mizutani's father, passed away. The Mizutanis are nextdoor neighbors living just across the road in front of our house.  Late Mr.Kawamura was was 95 years old. About ten years ago, I often saw him carrying the garbage to the garbage station. But he had been in a care home for some years. His wake service will be held tomorrow evening from 6:00, and his memorial service will be from 10:00 a.m. the day after tomorrow.

Takashi & Sachiyo called us on Skype.

   In Sapporo and other places, it seemed to have snowed much, but here in Tomakomai, the weather was fine, though it was a little windy and cold in the morning. I walked eastward to the Tomakomai river, because the wind was not blowing against me. I saw three or four salmon in the river today.
  In the afternoon, Takashi and Sachiyo called us on Skype. Sachiyo was given an award titled "Mt.Fuji Award", for her big contribution to the company this year. We were glad to hear that.   

Kashiwa Reysol won the game against C.F.Monterrey,Mexico.

  It is Sunday today, but it doesn't matter what day it is these days, since I am a retired man, and a pensioner. In the morning, I walked as usual, eastward to the Tomakomai river. The number of swans swimming in the river is increasing. I saw a salmon swimming in the river. There was a dead salmon, too, in the bottom. This year it is often reported that the quantity of catches of salmon has decreased all across the country. It was for the first time that I saw salmon in Tomakomai river.
  In the evening, I enjoyed watching soccer matches of Toyota Cup. Kashiwa Reysol, the champions of the Japan Professional Succer League defeated C.F.Monterrey from Mexico in a penalty shootout after a tie match of 1-1. Kashiwa won against an New Zealand team, and they are going to play against a Brazilian team on Wednesday.

Mao Asada's mother passed away at her age of 48.

  It was a fine day, and I took a little longer walk in the morning than usual. I walked as far as Kawazoe, and walked along the river and around the Kawazoe Gymnasium. It took an hour and a half to get back home.
  In the evening, Ayako and I went out to eat sushi in a kaitenzushi nearby. We came back home around seven o'clock.
  Mao Asada's mother died of HC or hepatic cirrhosis. Mao Asada was in Canada to take part in the World Figure Skating Grand Championships Competition, when she heard her mother was in critical condition. On hearing the news, she gave up the competition, and returned in a hurry back to Japan. She was not in time for her mother's last hours.

Darvish will go to the US major league, he announced.

   The ace pitcher of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters announced that he wanted to play in the US Major League by making use of the posting system next season. He will receive a big welcome by many major league baseball teams, as well as American baseball fans, of course, because they know he is one of the best pitchers in the world. But, here in Hokkaido,we feel it a great pity to lose one of the best pitchers. Anyway, I hope he will show his beautiful performance there and  demonstrate his ability as the best pitcher in the world.