When C saw a 980 yen clay charcoal brazier – called a shichirin – at a discount store yesterday, he wanted to buy it. ‘What? We have a barbecue set big enough for a few people!’ I said so and hesitated to buy it. But I finally agreed with C who said he’d take charge of making the charcoal fire and save our gas rate.

Today’s newspaper had an article on how, in Korea, they haven’t had the custom for people to divide up a bill between them, so there is no Korean term for it. But they recently adapted a phrase of foreign origin – ‘Dutch pay’ – and so it’s possible for them to explain what it means.

I noticed after visiting several countries that many people don’t share the Japanese idea that beer must be super chilly when one drinks it. Of course many people like to drink chilly beer as well, and it depended on where I visited or who I met. But I felt many people in Asian and Western countries didn’t care much about chilly beer – and it’s not related to the popularisation of refrigerators.

We don’t know why, but my elder brother, who lives in Saga, sent ‘Men’s Guinness’ and Guinness goods (three glasses and two small bags) to Chris. It wasn’t one of our birthdays, nor we had we done him a good turn. Anyway, we like gifts any time. Especially, this is an Irish dark beer we used to drink and usually can’t buy here!