ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

I recently watched the Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters documentary, and as a longtime fan of his minimalist style, it was fascinating to see how his career evolved. I’ve always admired how, as Alan Moore once described it, Mignola’s art is “German Expressionism meets Jack Kirby”—a perfect blend of shadow, angular forms, and bold dynamism. His use of negative space, blocky lines, and dramatic lighting creates an unmistakable atmosphere of tension and mystery. The documentary really highlighted his journey from working on mainstream comics to creating Hellboy. Seeing behind-the-scenes insights into his creative process and how he’s stayed true to his unique vision was a real treat.

  

This week I went to Hana Maru for my weekly udon fix. They have decently priced udon so I usually find myself eating here often. But this time was the first time I've ever noticed that they serve salad. I love vegetables and I usually try to eat some with every meal. I get my food and sit down, and I start to open the salad dressing packet...but for some reason I accidentally turned my hands too far and ended up spraying myself with the salad dressing. So there I was, eating some tasty udon, all while covered in salad dressing. At least no one saw me.

  

I bought a small water fountain! This thing is so cool! I've always wanted to try one out for some time now. Getting the right water level was an interesting process. The sound of the water is very calming for me. Hearing it around my apartment is nice to hear too. I think I may put a small aquatic plant in there too.  

Every September I anxiously await the season of one of my favorite flowers: the Japanese spider lily! All of a sudden, these vibrant, red lilies spring up around the rice paddies and in pathways along roads and trails everywhere you look. I drove to Toon city to see this field that was full to the brim with Japanese spider lilies- it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen! I'll be sad when the season is over.  

I recently discovered that Ito Machi, a shopping place in Saijo, carries (almost) everything bagels! For anyone that doesn't know, everything bagels have, well, everything - garlic, onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and other things. They're my favorite type of bagel, but they don't really have them in Japan and this was close! It tasted quite good!
  

There is a Spanish restaurant called Ama no Gawa in Takamatsu. It is a small place, with about 15-20 seats. The food there was super delicious and the atmosphere was very friendly. I ordered the set meal that included a variety of Spanish dishes including paella and dessert – it was excellent!

This place was well worth the travel from my home to Takamatsu. It was off the path a bit, but once I got there it was great. I was the first customer when they opened a 6PM, but the restaurant filled up in about 30 minutes, and it was a Monday night!

If you are looking for good, European-style, ethnic food, then give this place a try.
  

I've mentioned some classic American TV shows before, and here is another one for you. There have been many different TV shows about a cartoon dog named Scooby-Doo and his friends. These shows have been being made since 1969! The shows are a little spooky, but they're really not frightening at all. They're very silly!



In the show, there is always something spooky going on. Usually there is some kind of ghost or monster that is causing problems. Scooby-Doo and his friends always end up investigating whatever is going on. They try to solve the mystery of what is really happening. In most of the shows, the ghost or monster is never a real ghost or monster. It's always some person dressed up and trying to scare other people. They do it so that they can get cheap real estate or drive someone else out of business or something. When the bad guy is unmasked, they always say, "And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!"

I never watched this show when I was a kid. But this was my son's favorite show for many years, so I now know a lot about Scooby-Doo!  

The dollar stores in Japan always Halloween things! I spent almost half an hour looking at all of the things in Seria. I wanted to be careful with my money, but it was fun indulge a little. In America, Halloween items can be found at nearly any kind of store. Drugstore, Home goods store, even the pet store! I got my first acrylic stand and one of these cute birds. I'm making some things for our haunted house too. I can't wait for you all to see!  

I had the pleasure of visiting Kanonji's local beach with someone of my friends. It was the second beach I visited since being in Shikoku. It was a wonderful time experiencing the last days of summer and getting a majestic view of the sunset.





  

Hello everyone, Benson here. Did you all have a good first week of October? I’m really enjoying my October in Japan so far. Expanding a bit more on the ambiance of October from last week, I really enjoy early mornings in October. I wake up early in the mornings regardless, but it’s nicer to do so in the fall.

There's something magical about the early mornings in October. The world seems to wake up slower, with a soft light that hints at the cooler days ahead. As the sun rises, the golden hues of autumn leaves reflect a warm glow. It’s the perfect moment for a quiet cup of coffee or tea, listening to the rustle of the wind through the trees. For me, these quiet moments are precious—a time to reflect and appreciate the subtle beauty of the season. In the busyness of life, the calm of an early October morning can serve as a gentle reminder to slow down and breathe. I typically like to journal or practice some introspection in the early mornings and the specific ambiance of fall mornings add a lot to the experience. Let me know if any of you have a morning routine, especially for the fall season! Take care everyone.


  

Every now and then I get cravings for certain foods. This week I was really wanting to make hamburgers and fries, but I didn't think I would be able to find French fries at the store. Luckily I found some, which was pretty random, but I'm super happy to know where to get these. One craving down, many more to come!

  

It's still pretty cool walk into a convenience store and see cute surprises like this. I'm wondering if this is a character from anywhere. whenever I see new themed snacks on the shelves, I also like to send pictures to my family. They always get a kick out of any cute snacks. I wonder what cool themed snacks there will be in December!  

A few weeks ago on the full moon, my friends and I took the opportunity to have a small tsukimi party! Apparently tsukimi is not celebrated as often these days, but we enjoyed a peaceful night under the full moon eating cute moon themed snacks. Have you celebrated tsukimi before?


  

Hello Everyone! It's Sensei Bear


We are finally in autumn, and a particular flower called spider lily has blossomed. I had the opportunity to visit a field filled with these gorgeous flowers. I've never seen them before only in movies and now I can see them. Look at them for yourself and tell me they are not gorgeous. Well, there it is another blog just for you! If you have the opportunity go visit these amazing flowers.










  

I recently took a trip to Okinawa and while I was there I had the pleasure of eating some actual American food from an American restaurant because a friend of mine was working on an army base and they had Popeyes, an American fried chicken restaurant. It was seriously so good that I dream about it every night!
  

I recently went to a small shop in Okayama that specialized in fruit-themed desserts. They had peach, apple, grapes, figs, oranges, etc. The store specialty was parfait desserts.

The store was very popular. I arrived 15 minutes before they opened, and there was a big line. Once they opened, I had to wait about 10-15 minutes to get into the store. Still, the desserts there were excellent and worth the wait! The place is called Kannon Yama, and is about a 5-minute walk from Okayama Station. Please stop by if you want to try a wonderful dessert.
  

Pretty much the whole month of October is considered to be Halloween season in the US. Owls are often used in Halloween decorations.

A long time ago, I found this adorable owl cake in a magazine! You make it out of a lot of cupcakes so that it's easy to serve. Doesn't it look like fun to make?



I still haven't made the cake yet though. Have you ever made a fancy-looking cake like this?  

Last Sunday, I invited my friends to join me. Together, we said goodbye to summer! We all brought snacks and walked to the beach. We talked for hours and watched the sunset. It was beautiful! Pink and orange. I couldn't find sparklers for sale anymore. I had some we could use! With the last one lit, we decreed that it was now Autumn!   

During one of my classes, my students and I had the great pleasure of seeing the full moon and what a sight it was! We turned off the lights and took some pictures of the beautiful moon. The kids really enjoyed it. They were really excited to see how majestic the moon was and how it illuminated high in the sky.



  

Hello everyone, Benson here. How was everyone’s September? I hope it was a good month. Well, it’s October now! And with October here, we are deeper into the fall or autumn season. One of the things I’ve always liked about autumn is taking a walk in the crisper, cooler weather.

As the autumn season settles in, there's something comforting about the crisp, cool air of October. The days are shorter, and mornings often come with a light mist hovering over the ground. It's the perfect time to dig out those dusty, cozy sweaters and scarves that have been stored away during the summer months. I’m sure a lot of you probably love the feeling of wrapping up in a warm, oversized sweater while sipping on a hot beverage watching the golden leaves gently fall. There's an undeniable coziness that October brings, making it one of the best months for outdoor walks and fireside evenings. The shifting colors in nature seem to whisper that change is in the air, but it’s a peaceful transition, not a hurried one. What do you love most about October's ambiance? Hope everyone’s October starts off well, take care and see you next time.