Every Wednesday evening In my office, automated voice alert goes off "Today is no overtime work day.  All workers are encouraged to leave office at regular business hour."

 

I have never seen anyone left office immediately after that.  If they could leave after the regular hour, they would have done so with or without it.  The problem in this country is...over time is a rather regular thing for many white coller workers.  If they want to make alert, should do so everyday... 

 

I gave this book to my little one, who misses to read in English.  I hope he will be a good book lover.

 

My office is located just nearby old Edo castle...now Imperial Palace.  There is pond surrounding the castle, and across the pond is a park with lots of trees.  Far across the park is an office district.  I like the nightview of those buildings.

 

Tokyo office workers cannot usully expect fine view from the office, because small and middle size buildings are concentrated.  So this is a precious experience in my life as a Tokyo office worker. (i am not exaggerating!)  Because I really love the view from my office, I roll up the blind as much as I can.      

I will not complain about a typical Japanese office doesn't have individual spaces for workers.  I am a kind of manager class at my current office.  However, my desk is literally just next to my colleagues'.  Four desks are face-to-face and side-by-side.  It is often called "island".

 

So there is a mystery.  Each desk of the island has a telephone with a direct line.  Nonetheless, if your colleague's phoe is ringing when s/he is not at the desk, you have to pick up the phone.  Actually I didn't know this Japanese rule at first.  This is a mystery:  I am not a secretary..I don't mean I wanna be lazy, but in fact I have no way to be aware of collegues' schedule.  Therefore even though I pick up the phone I cannot answer when the collegue will be back or something.  That is the reason I think picking up others' phones is meaningless...i guess only me. haha.

Now I noticed Japanese office phones don't have voicemail.  They should have it.   

 

   

They bloomed earlier than the average year.  They make me feel blessed I was born in Japan. 

Friday, the end of March, the end of the fiscal year, and the cherries are in full bloom.

Banks, traffic....every place was so busy today.

 

We went down to a flower shop to buy some for our colleagues left behind.  The shop obviously looked busy.  The shop clerk told me today is the busiest day of the year.  (Many people move at the end of the fiscal year.)  So we reserved 5 bunch of flowers 6 hours ahead.

 

There was a small farewell party for us.  I always understood my position was definitely just one year so that leaving the workplace would be not so tough.  But in fact, sharing the same time creates some sorts of affection to the place and people.  So leaving was kind of hard just a bit.

 

We walked through the famous park with cherry trees along the castle pond..."chidorigafuchi".  It was impressive.     

For the American media, Ichiro doesn't talk much.  He rarely get emortional in either positive or negative sense.  It appears he has enough fluency in English and sociability, however he just prefers solitary and remains to keep low profile.

 

During this WBC seires, we could see another character of him.  He advocated pride of "Hinomaru". (Japanese national flag, obviously stands for "pride of the national team.)   He released agressive comments, which upset Korean people.  He expressed frustration, and delighted like a baseball kid.  I believe Ichiro dared to be a big mouth to lead the team spiritually.  This is the way how we take "responsibility".