The artistic gymnastics started last week. I first heard about the Japanese gymnasts from my sister, who lives in the U.S. She said in an email, “I don’t know who I saw, Hashimoto or Oka, but he was fantastic!” I found out later that the Japanese men’s team won the gold medal, and Oka Shinnosuke got the gold in the Men’s All-Round. Then I saw Simone Biles do her incredible floor exercise. The American women’s team won the gold medal. Then Biles got the gold in the Women’s All-Round, and her teammate, Sunisa Lee, won the bronze medal. I was happy to see both countries doing so well. (108 words)

I bought my car because I wanted to go camping in it. If I put down the back seat, I can lie down and sleep in a sleeping bag. Last summer, I went into the mountains with my wife, and it was wonderful. The stars were beautiful, and it was so cool that we had to wear a jacket. We came back this year. It was cloudy in the afternoon, and it rained in the evening, but it cleared up by the morning. When I got up at 5:30, it was a wonderful 15 degrees. I went for a walk with my binoculars, my camera, and a field guide. I could hear Japanese warblers (“uguisu”) everywhere. They are hard to see in the trees, but I finally saw one with my binoculars, and I got some great pictures of it, too. I felt very proud of myself.  (147 words)

Marco Polo wrote that Japan was a land of gold about 700 years ago.  The Sado gold mines were a big reason. In fact, Japan was one of the world’s largest est producers of gold at the beginning of the Edo period, and Japanese gold was very pure. It was used to make money, of course, but it was also used in paintings and on lacquerware. Now the Sado gold mines are in the news again. UNESCO registered them as a World Heritage site on July 27. The Japanese government wanted to register these mines for many years, but the South Korean government was against the plan because many Koreans had to work there during World War II. South Korea okayed the plan after Japan promised to include an exhibit showing how hard life was for these workers. (138 words)

One of Japan’s most famous manga characters is Doraemon, and this year, Shogakukan is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the comic books. Who, or what, is Doraemon? He is a robot cat. He came from the future with the great-great grandson of Nobita, Sewashi. Sewashi wants to help Nobita because he is worried about him. Nobita isn’t a bad kid, but he is lazy, and he isn’t very talented. Doraemon always tries to help him, and they have many adventures together. I first saw Doraemon on TV when my children were small. I got into the anime almost as much as they did. I loved Doraemon’s wonderful gadgets, and I really wanted an anywhere door and a small light!   (119 words)

The 2024 Paris Olympics started at a bridge crossing the Seine. Blue, white, and red smoke shot up from the bridge like fireworks, the colors of the French flag. Usually, the Olympic athletes walk into the Olympic stadium carrying the flags of their countries, but this year was different. Each country had its own boat for a 6-kilometer boat ride down the Seine to the Eiffel Tower. The Greek team went first because Greece is where the games started. Although it rained, everyone looked very happy. The athletes stood up in their boats and waved to the crowds along the river. There were singers and dancers using Paris’ old buildings to celebrate its history. Celine Dion was the last performer at the Eiffel Tower, and she sang a great French love song with all her heart. What an opening show it was!   (142 words)