The Common Test for University Admissions was held all over Japan on the weekend. I admire the test takers. When I worked at a university, I used to proctor the tests. I handed out and collected tests, and I spent many hours in the same classroom watching the test takers. The days were long and hard for me, but it was like a two-day marathon for many students. I watched them at their desks from morning until evening each day. Yesterday, I was reminded of the Common Test as I walked past the front gate of a university near my house. I saw a long line of students coming from the subway, and guards were standing outside the front gate. If you took the test, I hope that you got a good score and can go to the university of your choice. (142 words) You can send me comments or your own story

Ten years ago, I wrote about one of the oldest sweet shops in Japan. Ubagamochiya opened in Kusatsu on the south side of Lake Biwa more than 400 years ago. You can see the old store in Hiroshige’s “Kusatsu,” one of “The 53 Stations of the Tokaido.” They say that the “uba,” the wet-nurse for the grandson of one poor samurai family, started selling sweets so that she could raise the boy. Because of that, the sweet was named “ubagamochi.” Yesterday, I went to Kusatsu, and I found the main store. They are still making sweets the same way that they did 400 years ago! I bought a box of six and had one last night. These sweets are very small, but if you like soft rice cake covered with smooth sweet bean paste, you will like “ubagamochi”! (138 words) You can send me your comments or stories at jaremaga@gmail.com

The traffic was bad as I was driving home from work the other day. The cars and trucks were moving slowly on Highway 23. I was behind a tank truck on a bridge when the light at the end of the bridge turned red. The traffic stopped, and I looked up at the truck. It was like a mirror. I could see my car and the late afternoon sky reflected on the back of the chrome tank. I took out my smartphone while we were stopped and quickly took a photo. It was beautiful! I am always impressed by Japanese trucks. The drivers take very good care of them.   (109 words) You can send me your comments or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

When I started making YouTube videos in April, there were many things that I didn’t know. I was so busy learning how to make them that I didn’t notice the comments that people were leaving me. I didn’t notice the comments on my Instagram and Facebook pages either. During the New Year’s holidays, I looked at my YouTube channel more carefully, and I found a lot of comments. Then I looked at my Facebook page and found more comments there, too. I read the comments, and I tried to answer all of them. If you left a comment, please go back and read my reply. This year I will try to respond to everyone’s comments as soon as you send them to me! (123 words) You can send me comments or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com