Celebrating Pocky Day; Tour report of the East Garden of the Imperial Palace on November 11, 2023

Thank you for choosing our tour at the East Garden of the Imperial Palace on November 11, 2023. We welcomed 17 guests from US, UK, Slovenia, South Korea, India, and Vietnam. I hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had.

November was hot this year, but it’s finally cooling down, feeling more like the typical fall weather we’re used to. Every year on November 11th (11.11), we celebrate Pocky Day, as the number “1” resembles the Pocky stick, a chocolate-covered biscuit stick. It was established by the Japanese confectionery manufacturer, Glico, for promotion. https://www.glico.com/global/

The 30 nominees for the 2023 Trending Buzzword Awards in Japan have been revealed. The winner will be announced in December. I’m hoping for an award for the catchphrase “I’m wearing pants!” from one very successful Japanese comedian, Tonikaku-Akarui Yasumura, who is known as “Tony” who appeared on a British audition program. The phrase “Don’t worry, I’m wearing” made the top 10 in the 2015 Trending Buzzword Awards in Japan, and now it’s nominated in English again. If you are interested, enjoy his performance on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79pZyZc6Xuc

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(Posted by Yutaka)