Fujimae Tidal Flat is a special place for migratory birds. Every spring, many birds stop by at Fujimae on their way north. They eat small fish, crabs, and shellfish. In the autumn, the birds come back to Fujimae. They rest and eat before going further south. In winter, ducks and other birds come to Fujimae and stay until spring. There were many tidal flats in and near Nagoya before the 1960s, but people filled them in to make land. Fujimae was the only tidal flat in Nagoya, so it was more important than ever for migratory birds. Nagoya planned to fill in Fujimae Tidal Flat too, but many people were against the plan. In 1999, the city decided to save Fujimae Tidal Flat.  (123 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

Nagashima Shigeo was probably the most famous baseball player in Japanese history, at least until Ohtani Shohei. At the beginning of his career, he made the news with a walk-off home run in front of the Emperor, and everyone in Japan went crazy. He was exciting to watch, and he loved his fans. When Oh Sadaharu joined the Giants, they became an unbeatable pair. Oh hit third and Nagashima hit fourth, and because of their powerful hitting, they were called the ON Cannon. They helped the Giants win the Japan Series nine times in a row from 1965 to 1973. Nagashima was Mr. Baseball! After he retired, he became the manager of the Giants twice. He passed away at the age of 89, but we should remember him as the great player that helped to make baseball Japan’s number one sport.   (141 words) You can send me a comment or your own story

I do volunteer work with an environmental group at Fujimae Tidal Flat. Every year, we have a two-day camp for kids at the Fujimae Higata Activity Center. This year, we had it on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1. We were in the middle of dinner on Saturday night when someone said “Fireworks!” We started to hear fireworks exploding. Most of the children left their food behind and went up to the levee. We looked west and there they were! It was the Meiko Water Art Fireworks 2025. These fireworks were especially beautiful! I heard a boy say, “It’s the beginning of summer!” I felt the same way, but then I thought, “Isn’t it too early for fireworks? It’s still May!”   (122 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

I have some new pets. Actually, they belong to the Fujimae Higata Activity Center, but this summer the center will be closed for three months for repairs. There are about 40 different kinds of fish and other creatures in the fish tanks. We can’t keep them at the center, so people have volunteered to take care of them. I am taking care of mudskippers. These are very interesting fish. They can use their front fins like legs to move or jump. They need water, but they don’t like to swim, so they spend most of the time out of the water. I am learning the differences between the three mudskippers that I have in my tank. I hope to give them names soon.   (123 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

Let me introduce a book I love. I recommend “I Can Explain.” It is called “Riyu ga arimasu” in Japanese. This is one of the most famous books in Japan. It has been translated into many languages, including English. It was written by Shinsuke Yoshitake. The mother of the main character often points out his bad habits, and he explains why he does them. The reasons are very funny, and you will be amazed by his rich imagination. I really love this book and often read it in my free time. I think many Japanese people have read it and love it, too. Other books by Shinsuke Yoshitake are also interesting, so please give them a try!  (117 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

(1) The girl in the book called “Anne of Green Gables” has red hair. In Japanese, this book is called “Anne with Red Hair.”(2) Eggplants get their name because some are white and round like eggs. These days, people usually eat a different kind of eggplant, but some people still grow white eggplants.(3) Children in English-speaking countries use yellow when they draw the sun.(4) The French flag is blue, white, and red, and the Italian flag is green, white, and red.(5) American dollars are green. They are called “greenbacks” because of their color.(6) We eat grapes when they are green. Bananas, oranges, and strawberries are not ripe when they are green.   (116 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com