鳥瞰図 = ちょうかんず = bird’s eye view

Over a month ago, I got the chance to go up in a helicopter, something I had never thought I would ever get the opportunity to do.

It was a nice clear summer’s day and we went up above the clouds and got to witness all the greenery below - lots of vegie and rice fields.
Also flew in and got up close and personal with the crater atop Mount Youtei.

Here are some photos that I took last month of sunflowers.

げつげつかすいもくきんきん。　Try saying that real fast. No, it’s not a 早口 but in fact an old military/naval song.
It was used after the War by the Japanese Imperial Naval Forces. Sailors were encouraged to give up their weekends to work.

Basically the translation is litrally ‘a week without Saturdays or Sundays, hence the two Mondays and Fridays- a week without a weekend, that is, nothing but work.
Quite simply, All work, no play.

As another weekend flies by, and the long days at work continue, and another Monday rolls around, this phrase is kinda appropriate.

It’s not so commonly said these days, but it can be used when you are super busy at work, and when you work overtime on weekends etc, or don’t get a break from work. It’s kinda cool just to say for fun anyway. It’s nice to roll it off the tongue.

You can read more about the history of it on Wikipedia HERE.

You can listen to the song on Youtube HERE.

I’ve never been much of a political follower, but today is election day in Japan. So today’s word for the day is 選挙日 せんきょび。

It is a national election which could see a major shake-up to Japan’s government. The BBC are calling it a ‘landmark election’. I don’t know if I would go so far as to say that, but it is quite interesting that the same political party (bar one year) has ruled for the last 50 years or so, pretty much since after WWII. Japan has also had 4 Prime Minister in 4 years. They certainly could do with some stability and consistency. This could be the first time in decades that the LDP won’t be in power. The DJP (Democratic Party of Japan) is expected to come out on top.

Japanese voters are taking to the poll booths today - perhaps a new Prime Minister for Japan by the end of the day. Hatoyama, the party leader of the DJP is 62 years old though (6 years younger than the current PM Taro Aso). They need some young blood in Japanese politics.

The BBC news website has some interesting articles relating to today’s election for further reading