I had been a little lazy for writing blog for a while but during the end of this month, I wrote something everyday.
I was writing something everyday when I started my blog.
"Be always as naive as you were when a novice".

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There are a lot of "convenient" stores called "Convenience store" in Japan(stores like of US).

For example, this is a buckwheat noodle sold at convenience stores in Japan.


Of course, the noodles are already boiled and everything for eating the noodles is already set-chopsticks, soup, horseradish, onion, cut sloaks etc.-, furthermore, you don't even need scissors to open each item.

The history of convenience stores is not very long but they are very close to our everyday life and became indispensable.
The total annual proceeds are around 200,000,000 to 300,000,000Yen in Japan.

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I got a reply from my Austrian friend(now living in Nicaragua) that he has put a link back to my website

We have been friends for more than 7years and he collects volleyball on stamps.
I received a catalogue he published which lists all the volleyball stamps of the world and this was REALLY a great job!

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By the way, it's raining very hard here in Tokyo.
I don't like rainy days but moreover, I heard a sound of siren. Maybe an ambulance car is scudding away with siren wailing.
Startled.

I am too lazy to go out in raining day and the postman will come to collect postage if I want to send a parcel.

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Changed my photo of to GIF animation.



Sade, dis moi.

I spent a lot for stamps today.
At first, 2 EMS mails to send exhibits for River City 2006 Philatelic Exhibition.



As I have put $10,000 guarantees for each EMS, I had to pay 3,600Yen total postage.

I also sent membership fee of International Society for Japanese Philately, $10.00 for next year(I have $10.00 credit)





and a membership fee for Jacques C. Schiff auction.



I bought $100.00 at the bank last week but now, only $5 are left in my wallet.

2,836Yen fee finally arrived to Aoyama stamp dealer.



I bought album leaves and some philatelic items in 2 May. It took so long to arrive.

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A reply from Mr.T.Y. who is very fluent in Russian.
I had asked about the overprinted stamps of Ukraine which I could not find in catalogues.


He told I that these stamps are not local issues but overprints during the Hyper-Inflation.
The face values are in which is similar to (Rouble).
Ukrainian and Russians are very close but because of the racial consciousness of Ukrainians,
they daringly changed the names of everyday word.
For example, the word means "Soviet" but Ukrainians called it .
"USSR" is not but in Ukrainian.

I decided to add these 3 stamps to "EURASIA",

Another glad thing.
I have shown my collection for River City 2006 to the chief editor of All Japan Philately and he told I that this exhibit is very good and he wants to introduce it on the next magazine(August).



I have took photocopies of all 15 leaves before sending it to Australia and have to write an article within this June.
He told I that I don't have to hide the addresses of the commercial covers.


Not like this


but like this.

I hope if I can win more than Emerald(I won Emerald last year).

It's not same in all countries but more than 90points is equivalent to Large-Gold, more than 85 points of Gold, more than 70points to Large-Silver, more than 65points to Silver, more than 60points of Silver-Bronze, more than 55points to Bronze and more than 50points to Diploma.

He also told I that there are some masterly and difficult to imitate. I think he is saying about page 5 of "EURASIA".



O, I have to write an article for All Japan Philately within June.
I'm getting busy again(^(~_~;

2 exhibits for River City 2006 completed.
The deadline is 30 June.

The main exhibit this time, "EURASIA".



By the bye, "ATM stamps' world".

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I received 2 applications of interviews, one about tobaccoes,



and one about my collection of "Skull" on stamps.



Well, I do not mind getting busy but very happy that people are interested in my collections.

I had a mind to write about it someday-I never dreamed to but I did receive a mail from Hiroki Mafuyu, in person direct!



It was really astonishment.
Hiroki Mafuyu is a godlike artist for I and who can imagine "God" will give I a mail?
The first work of Hiroki Mafuyu I read was CALLING, 20years ago when I was a high school student.
This gave I a great shock. I was on a point to groping for my own catroon and illustrations and CALLING gave I so many inspirations.
I sometimes imitated Hiroki Mafuyu's techniques.

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Databaset of All about tobaccoes updated.
I added pipe tobaccoes.

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I recived a mail from Metropolis magazine that they are going to publish a special article on tobacco and smoking and asked I to introduce my article on the 26 May number.