Recently I'm interested in...

Recently, I'm interested in movies,  especially going to the cinema.
Today, a big movie will be released worldwide, the title is Avengers Endgame.
Do you know this movie? The first part, called Infinity War was released last year, so
everyone is waiting to know what will happen in the end. It is expected that Endgame will
earn the most money ever in movie history.

So far, there have been 22 Marvel movies in total.  Since the first movie ( Iron Man ) was released in 2008,  Marvel movies have become more and more popular.  The main characters are Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk , Thor , Black Widow and so on.  Many people are worried that their favorite character will die in this movie, so everyone is waiting nervously to find out.

Due to the popularity of Marvel movies, the company has made a lot of money, not only from the movies but also toys and merchandise. It is likely that Marvel's success will continue in the future as old characters die and new ones are introduced.  Have you seen any Marvel movies? Who is you favorite character? Are you going to watch Avengers Endgame in Golden Week?

If you are interested check out the trailer...

Surprising news

Did you see the news recently?

This week there was a fire at Notre Dame in Paris.
Notre Dame is one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, the name means "Our Lady of Paris" It has a long and interesting history.
It is 850 years old and has been repaired many times. Fortunately it survived bombing in World War Two. Around 12 million visitors go there every year, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in France.

Why did the fire happen? Actually, nobody knows. On Monday, while it was being restored, the fire suddenly occurred, and seriously damaged parts of the building.  The French police are investigating now.

I think this is sad news for French people. The building was loved by many people and many old paintings and artwork were destroyed in the fire. The French Prime Minister, Mr Macron said
"We will rebuild Notre Dame even mire beautifully than before" He said it will take about 5 years to
repair completely.  I hope this project can be achieved.


You can read more about this story here https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/16/notre-dame-came-15-to-30-minutes-close-to-complete-destruction

On fire!

The damage from the fire.

Cherry blossom viewing

Spring is here and the cherry blossoms are blooming. In Japan it is a custom to enjoy Hanami
or ( cherry blossom viewing ).  Usually, people take some food or drink to the park and enjoy a
picnic. People of all ages can enjoy this event, from young children to elderly people. It is especially
popular for office workers to hold a party after work, they drink alcohol with their coworkers and
enjoy looking at the blossom lit up at night.

This year I went to Koganei Park near my house, it was my first time to go there. The weather was
sunny and warm and the blossom was in full bloom. My wife made some delicious food and we enjoyed relaxing under the trees.
After taking a nap, we walked around the park and took some photos. ( See below ).

Why is this event so important for Japanese people? I'm not sure, maybe because the cherry blossoms
are a symbol of one year ending and the start of a new one, especially in schools and companies.

 Next year, I'd like to enjoy Hanami again, can you recommend any good cherry blossom spots?

Lunch time !

People playing in the park

Under the blossom

Sakura ( close up )