・the plot
It is said that it's difficult for the adult to perceive that they have a psychological disorder. Moreover, people appear to think of such disorders as mental problems. Maybe we should change our mind. It isn't always right. Some disorders come from the shortage of cerebral fuctions. There's a possiblity to stop or improve your symptoms.

It is also said that those who are around the people, such as the family, the mentors, the subordinates, etc. seem to hardly know what to do for the people, what to get along with them. Maybe you can obtain some hints to deal with such difficult but sensitive problems.

・the impression(the first time I've finished reading this book. 2011/12/5)
I definitely hadn't known what exactly orders are like at all. I couldn't even tell the differences between Asperger Syndrome(AS) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD). In addition to it, I didn't know what to get along with
such people. The book at least gave me a hint, which I should be the one who has to find the position, the place at which they can perform effectively.

I think I should read this book back again later.


Memory tickler:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 注意欠陥・多動性障害
Asperger Syndrome 自閉症　アスペルガー症候群
Pervasive Developmental Disorder 広汎性発達障害
Learning Disorder, Learning Disabilities 学習障害

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・the plot
Japanese Imperial Army was slowly caving in to the U.S. army and was forced to fight around the main land of Japan in 1945. Shigeru Mushiya scrambled and was trying to intercept a ton of terrible bombers, Superfortress, B-29 one day. 'See you at Yasukuni Shrine' was the common words for Japanese soldiers at that time, especially the young; it was said that all the soldiers devoting their lives to the soil had to turn into noble souls and would be enshrined as gods. Luckily, he got several B-29s, but he and his parter got seriously injured. He let his 'Gekkou'(a air fighter that Japanese military developed) fly into a thick and dark cloud in order to flee from chasers. They made it in the nick of time. However, extremely different scenery suddenly appeared ahead of both of Shigeru and his parter. They just came to the presence, in 2007. Shigeru became alone because his partner just died right after they appeared in 2007. The staff of self-defense force told Shigeru that Japan lost the war but re-established strongly. While Shigeru became surprised at many kinds of change in Japan, he got disappointed in the mental change of Japanese. 'Japanese no longer have determination and responsibilities.' With the words, Shigeru decided to do something.

・the impression (the first time I've finished reading this book 2011/12/22)
I totally agree with what Shigeru said about issues regarding Yasukuni shrine in the book.

First, I don't know why it is problematic for Japanese politicians to go to Yasukuni and pray for the brave souls. Some people say that it's a serious problem due to a separation of religion and politics. I don't think so. Then, how about politicians going to Ise Shrine? How about inaugurations? I watched Obama standing in front of a priest and taking the oath at the podium. Is it okay because it's just a ceremony?

Second, people often refer to the war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine. As you know, the war criminals are divided at least three groups: class-A, class-B, class-C. By going to Yasukuni and praying, it is said that the prayers praise the criminals, and it means the prayers just accept the criminals and the war positively. Let me ask such people. Didn't you know the criminals became a foreign minister or a prime minister? No one can be blamed for what they did after they were carried out the sentences. That's one of characters Japanese can be proud of.

I think I have a lot of things that I want to write, however, I can hardly write what I am thinking properly in English. Hmm, a long way to become a fluent English speaker.

Yasuo Uchida, the author, created a familiar private detective, Mitsuhiko Asami, and has made him vigorous but a bit kind activities in Yasuo's mistery novels. I also enjoy Yasuo's novels showing a lot of good places in Japan where you can learn histrical knowledge and should visit. I just thought this novel was another mystery in which Mitsuhiko solves mysteries as usual. Although he wasn't in this book, I had a wonderful time with it.


Japanese Imperial Army 日本帝国軍
class A war criminal Ａ級戦犯
International Military Tribunal for the Far East 極東軍事裁判（東京裁判）
sefl-difense force 自衛隊

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・the plot
Three sons inherited what the miller had when he died:the eldest brother obtained the mill, the second did the donkey, and the youngest did the cat. The youngest brother became depressed with the inheritance, but his concern was gone by the words that the cat said. He thought the cat that could talk might be clever enough to do something the cat promised. What did the cat do the next for the youngest son?

・the impression(the first time I've finished reading this book. 2011/12/14)
Maybe I'm too old to read such a fairy story in a pure way like a child. Anyone has to risk it all in order to make a fortune, especially the common people wanting to be the rich. That's what I felt from the book. I'm not saying it's a boring book. The cat's smart ideas made me impressed. Did you remember you dramatized your intentions in some way at many kinds of situations, such as during your presentations, or at the moment of your marriage proposal. It is totally what I MUST acquire.

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・the plot
Robert Langdon, a prominent symbologist, was supposed to meet with Jacques Saunière, a curator of the Louvre, after a lecture at a university. Jacques Saunière didn't appear the place at which they were going to see without any contact. Robert Langdon, instead, received a phone call from the concierge to the hotel after he came back. It was from a police office in France, saying Jacques Saunière died.
Jacques Saunière didn't only died but also murdered by someone. Moreover, he lied on the floor of the Louvre, which was the place the murder case occurred, and drew something on his body and the floor around his body. The drawing was clearly familiar to those who were art conscious: Virtuvian Man designed by Da Vinci. Jacques Saunière also did something extremely crucial for Robert Langdon; he left his message right before he died saying 'find Robert Langdon'. With his last message, Bezu Fache, the senior police officer in France, suspected Robert Langdon had something to do with this murder case. Right in the middle of Bezu's terrible investigation starting, a woman just intervened in both of two: Sophie Neveu. She was a member of police cryptographers in France, and surprisingly, she told Robert her secret; she was a granddaughter to Jacques Saunière. Sophie Neveu and Robert Langdon made a narrow escape from Bezu Fache after they obtained what Jacques Saunière wanted to give them. What Jacques wanted to show them was what others were desperate to get. The chaser was Silas: an extremely religious monk of a fundamental Christian sect, Opus Dei. Sophie and Robert had to solve the mystery that Jacques laid, fleeing from the police and the monk. Key words were Da Vinci and the Priory of Sion.

・the impression(the second time I've finished reading this book. 2011/11/27)
I believe, men in particular, anyone likes discussing such conspiracies. The descendants of Jesus Christ! Wait a minute, how could we be able to obtain Jesus Christ's DNA? Anyway, a novel is a novel. I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy reading this book.
I watched the movie of this novel before reading the original. Since then, Tom Hanks has been acting as Robert Langdon in my brain.

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・the plot
Oxford University Press published four levels crossword puzzles: Introductory, Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced. I already have all the four books. I just finished the first one: Introductory.

・the impression(the first time I've finished this book. 2011/09/18)
At first, I felt something strange from the drawing in the book. They were extremely different from these of Japan. Crosswords themselves were so interesting and educational. All the crosswords in this book consist of 500 words. I'm sure you learned all of the words when you were a junior high school student. However, you might find it a bit difficult to come up with the words at the right time while playing the crosswords. I just had my students solve some of the crosswords. They said the same words while they were trying to solve the questions: 'I totally know the words themselves, but I can't imagine them from the hints!"

Making sure whether the words are pluralized or not is one of the most difficult nuances for Japanese English learners. You can grow the taste through this book. It was a nice book.

Okay, I'll start with the second one: Elementary, then.

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・the plot
Do you know how many Buddhism sects in Japan?
Do you know how to pray at Buddhism temples?
What is 'Juzu'?
Tell me how to chant a Buddhist sutra.
There are a lot of Gods in Buddhism. Do you know the difference between 'Nyorai' and 'Bosatsu'?
Why do people call the main temples of sects '...zan(mountain)'?
Jikokuten, Zouchouten, Tamonten, Koumokuten, what is 'ten'? Are they high-ranked Gods?

・the impression(the first time I've read this book. 2011/08/27)
I like visiting Shinto Shrines and Buddhism temples. I like the atmospheres that shrines and temples have, especially those of forests. Unfortunately, however, I don't know what Buddhism or Shinto are all about so much. This magazine should be an introductory tool for me.

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・the plot
What if zombies appear right in front of you? Do you know how to fight with them? Do you know how to escape from them? Do you know how to survive? You can learn zombie's customs or habits from this book.

・the impression(the first time I've read this book. 2011/08/19)
The movie, 'The Return of The Living Dead'(Japanese title was 'Battalion'), was the first zombie movie which turned me on. I just wondered how come I like zombie movies. The thing is that plots are so simple and typical that it must be difficult and tough for movie directors and scriptwriters to make movies interesting and attractive. That's one of reasons that I like zombie movies.

Firstly, the dead wake up suddenly because of unknown reasons. Secondly, they start eating human being. Thirdly, people who are bitten turn into zombies. Fourth, the infections spread over the area in the movies. Fifth, specific people try to fight with zombies or escape from them. Finally, a few people, especially beautiful women, survive.

Some zombies can run so fast. Some zombies can speak. Some zombies try to rape a woman. You can see movie directors and scriptwriters struggling to make the movies great. Also, you can find it difficult to show their originarity.

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・the plot
Mr.Busy did things ten times as fast as you did. His neighbor, Mr.Slow, was a very unbusy person. One day, Mr.Busy asked Mr.Slow for a picnic. What happened to him?

・the impression(the first time I've read this book. 2010/07/26)
My friend just gave it to me as a souvenir from England. I'm sure she was drawn to the title of the book. I often say 'I'm busy.' She must have remembered what I often say and bought it.
It was interesting. The plot just reminded me of a Japanese RAKUGO story, 'tyoutan', in which a quick and impatient man becomes irritated with a slow and lazy man.
I came to know 46 'Mr.'s have their own stories. Hmm, I want to obtain all of them. At first, how does Mr.Lazy sound? Actually, I think Mr.Lazy suit me. lol

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・the plot
Juan "Johnnie" Rico, a high school student, decided to join the military so that he was going to be with his girlfriend, Carmen. However, his dream was sadly dashed at once. The M.I., Mobile Infantry, was the division that he was assigned. After the extremely tough boot camp, he was sent to the theater, Klendathu, which was one of the most furious war zone. Bugs, the enemy of human beings, won the fight in Klendathu; the win made human beings carry out the final mission, the attack by the Mobile Infantry from the sky. Rico and his mates equipped a powered suit and commenced attack.

・the impression(the first time I've read this book, 2010/07/15)
I at first read this book translated to Japanese after I watched the series of the movies. Then, I read the original novel. Honestly, it was a bit boring, except the first half and the final chapter. Maybe it is because I just expected furious combats from the stories of the movies. I don't think the movies are good, though. You can have a chance to think of what is a war or what is violence while reading. These topic made it abstract and philosophical.

Rico, the main character, was described that he knew Tagalog, which means he was Philippino(He and his family lived in Buenos Aires before he enrolled the military). He mentioned a name, Magsaysay, the 7th President of the Philippines. I just googled Magsaysay and knew Ramon Magsaysay Award is named after him.

As I wrote, this book was a bit difficult to understand, but someday I will read it again.

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・the plot
Professional assassins, saboteurs, terrorists, secret agents, you can call ninjas in various ways. Together with samurais, ninjas have been influencing on modern action movies. And their skillful epionage abilities are believed even now worth learning. You can learn a variety of equipment, tools, and weapons of ninjas through this book. You can also enjoy many anecdotal topics about ninjas.

・the impression(the second time I've read this book, 2010/07/25)
Maybe the word 'ninja' might remind you of a Japanese actor, Sho Kosugi. Thanks to him, the word 'ninja' broke in the world and spread.
As author said, many topics about ninja including doubtful and unrealistic ones are contained in this book. I thought Japanese athltes who inherit ninja's great abilities would dominate in every sport if all stories were true.

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