BOOK REVIEWS #8 (JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE)

This story is about long ago in Greece. There was a boy, Jason who was to have been the king of the island Iolcos. The throne was stolen by his uncle, Pelias.


When Jason had grown into a fine young man, he decided to get back his throne from Pelias and visited him. But Pelias set troublesome conditions as reward of the throne. It was to bring the Golden Fleece which was far away in a place, Colchis. Jason accepted his demand unwillingly.

After that, man named Argus built his ship. And Jason collected the crew. Then, so many people hoped to join his adventure. They were Orpheus (a musician and a beautiful huntress), Hercules (the strongest man in the world), North Wind's twin sons (who has wings on their ankles) and so on. Jason received all the people. Jason named the ship Argo and crews Argonauts.

After a departure, they had many obstacles, for example a battle with so big and hairy king Amycus, removing Harpies and escaping from clashing rocks. But they got through them in cooperation with crews.

At last, they reached Colchis. Jason visited the king of Colchis, Aeetes. And Jason told him the reason why came here. But Aeetes attached a condition that digging up a field with tame two bulls and sow the field with dragon's teeth. Jason and crews didn't know what to do.

At that time, there was a person who tearing her hair out in the palace. It was Medea, Aeetes' daughter. She fell in love with Jason at first sight and heard Aeetes' impossible condition. She racked her brains how to help him. Then, she asked the goddess, Hecate for help. Hecate told her to make a magic potion with herbs from the woods and Medea obeyed the order. She asked Jason to drink completed it. Everything is ready.

The next morning, the battle with two bulls started. Two bulls had huge brass hooves and sharp, scary horns. They also breathed out fiery breath. But it had no effect for him with the magic potion. Jason had no trouble tamed two bulls and discharged his duty.

And then, where he'd sown the teeth, soldiers were growing out of the ground. Jason couldn't compete with so many soldiers, so he threw a big stone into the ground. The stone killed one soldier. Just then, soldiers began to look for the culprit and killed each other. Jason avoided the crisis.

At last, time came to get the Golden Fleece. But Aeetes planned that his army will burn Argo and kill all the crew tonight. Medea overheard that plan, and she let them know about that in a hurry. So Jason instructed his crews to hide in Argo and went out to get the Golden Fleece with Medea soon.

The Golden Fleece was hung from the massive oak tree's branches and guarded by vast and scary snake. So, Medea put the snake to sleep with the magic song. Jason took advantage of a momentary chance and got the Golden Fleece!

After that, Argo departed soon, but Aeetes who heard the news chased after them. After all, Argo was surrounded by his army. Just then Medea proposed one idea. It was to kill her brother, Absyrtus who was in charge of the ships. They practiced that idea and Medea killed her brother with her hands.

The strategy succeed, but Medea was tortured by a feeling that her has done wrong. So, they stopped at the island to ask the gods for forgiveness. Circe who is a beautiful enchantress said "The gods have forgiven you!" They felt easy to heard that and they went back to Iolcos with the Golden Fleece. Finally, Jason became a king of Iolcos and Medea became a Queen.


This story is rewarding to the reader for me! ... I know the summary is too long, but this book has so many good scenes!



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So Many Fascinating Things!!!

Today June 3rd is the day when one of my favorite Japanese rock band, "DOPING PANDA" releases new album! And their one song's vocalist is BEAT CRUSADERS' vocalist, Toru Hidaka!!! When I heard about it, I was so surprised! I really want the album!

And BEAT CRUSADERS will release their live DVD in June 10th. I wrote about this before, so I think you know about this content if you read my post which I wrote about it.

And more, my favorite actor will release his second CD single as a soloist in June 24th. This time, he made three types of CD!!! I was big fun of him, of course I want to buy all of them!



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My Family

I have a younger brother. He is now 15 years old and I'm 21 years old. We have six ages difference. To tell the truth, I have an older brother and a younger sister. But they are not here. They couldn't live only a few times. My mother had my older brother born dead and she miscarried my younger sister. Of course I don't remember about that. But I sometimes dream about my older brother and younger sister since I was told about that from my mother. In my dream, I can't see their faces, but somehow I feel warmed.

Several years ago, I visited their grave for the first time. In Japan, an aborted fetus and a miscarried fetus is called "mizuko". Mizuko is held a memorial service with other babies who lost their lives. And there is "mizuko-zizou" with them. Mizuko-zizou is a guardian deity for the spirits of mizuko. I was surprised to see the place. There were many many confectioneries, toys, tricycles... All of them are present for the babies. Mizuko is gathered together, so we can't find the personal space for each babies such as ordinary graves. But I was glad see them very much. I felt just as I could see my older brother and younger sister. On the point of going home, I told myself that "I'll visit here again."

Young people today don't visit graves of their ancestor or their relatives very much. And I also one of them. But I think that it is very important to express our gratitude to them.



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BOOK REVIEWS #7 (The Incredible Present)

This story's main character is a girl whose name is Lily. Her parents are out to follow in the footsteps of the explorer with their balloon, so she lives with her Granny.

Tomorrow is Lily's birthday. But her parents aren't in their house. She was looking forward to her birthday present from them.

At the birthday, she got four presents including from her parents' present. She opened them in order. The contents are a book (to learn 1001 boring facts), a basket of smelly soap and a box of writing paper. But they couldn't please her. Then, last present was from her parents. It was a small box with a label. The label said that this bag can bring anything you want! She lost no time in requesting some crayons. And there was a box of six crayons! She pleased that, made a list of things what she want. But at that time, she noticed that there was another label with the bag. The label said that the bag could bring only six things.

She thought over and requested three things. They are a bed-making robot, a space buggy and a witch's kit with real spells in it. But every her hopes went something wrong. The result irritated her. To boot, her birthday lunch is not special, spinach. So, she wanted a zapper that turns all your greens into chocolate ice cream, and she zapped spinach with what became real. But against her will, a zapper turned ALL the green things into chocolate ice cream! A lawn, trees, Granny's hat... Everything in sweet brown!

So, she hoped last time to bring her parents. In a moment, they came their home by a balloon and returned into the bag. A bed-making robot, a space buggy and a witch's smelly CAT vanished and so many chocolate ice creams returned into green. And they told her that they stop exploring and being an inventor beside her. She was very glad to hear that. The family started new happy life with all the member of family.

This is not an ordinary fantasy story. This story tells us preciousness of the family. It's real heartwarming story.

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Welcome

We welcomed 24 new students in my volunteer club. Every new students are very kind and polite. I am now a junior. So, this year is last time to spend in our club. At such time, I am very glad to these juniors joined us. I will enjoy our last year in my club!



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