2:32 p.m. News says that Tosho Scirocco, an ex-race horse thouroughbred has joined the Mounted Unit of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

He's been given a new name, Sohshun (literally meaning, brisk horse) in the unit, and is shortly be making a debut in a parade at Ginza.

I still remember him piling up second and third places mainly in middle distance grade races. Didn't know he'd earned over 300 million yen in his career as a race horse, though. Best wishes for his new life.

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Caterpillar

3:17 p.m. As I was walking home from the station last night, I met a Japanese raccoon near my house.

It was about 500 meters from my house when I saw a shadow of a small animal, about the size of a pomeranian, perhaps a little bigger, standing on the road looking my way. At first, I thought it was a dog since I often saw people taking their dogs for a walk after dark, but it didn't have any leash on it, and there was no owner to be seen. As I got closer, I realized from the light falling from the street lamp, that it was a Japanese raccoon. As I was taken by surprise, it let out a short cry at me, then turned around and walked into the gap of a nearby fence of someone's house.

Think I've wrote here before, maybe around the beginning of this year, that Tono had witnessed an unfamiliar creature in our yard. Well, guess it could have been a raccoon, as if I'd seen one near our house, there must be more around. The one I saw yesterday was covered in dark brown coat, though, not black spots on white.

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Caterpillar

11:23 p.m. Beginning of four consecutive holidays and, also the day before the spring Tenno-sho.

I've been pondering about the race all afternoon and evening and have finally decided, that Kizuna is the one closest to winning. Yes, I'm aware that he's the most favored, but the fast track condition would definitely be an advantage. And even when the pace drops down, he's got Yutaka Take on his back. I think the jockey wouldn't let a big win like this slip away that easily.

As for the seconds and thirds, I've picked Asuka Kurichan, Satono Noblesse, Gold Ship, Fenomeno, Last Impact, Win Variation and Admire Rakti. Let's see what happens.

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Caterpillar

10:02 p.m. Been out to WINS, the off-track betting. Even at the last minute, I didn't doubt that there could be a chance for Kizuna to drop below 4th place, so I bought trifecta wheels keying Kizuna on the first palce, Fenomeno and Gold Ship on the second, and all the other horses on the third place and look what happened.

Gold Ship has been left behind at the start yet again, and it was just like watching last year's race. I was expecting the horse (and the rider) to perform as they did in the previous Hanshin Dai-shoten, but what I saw was just the contrary. Gold Ship wouldn't be able to concentrate on the race when he's in the far back and is swung around the outside, he performs best when he's stuck in the field, why can't they learn such a simple thing?

It was even more disappointing to see Kizuna being taken over by Hokko Brave in the last stretch. I thought the horse was blessed with the best he could ask for, the outer barrier, fast track condition, good health condition, but he lost in 4th place which only suggests that he wasn't so tough after all.

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Caterpillar

11:22 p.m. Have been analyzing Spring Tenno-sho all evening, trying to figure out why Kizuna had miserably sunk in 4th place.

It took a lot of time and energy, and I still haven't finished, so I decided to take a detour and freshen up my mind a little bit and here's what I found! 25 Things You Should Never Stop Doing for Yourself As I'm currently being completely left out of the family by JoOusama just because I came home after midnight a week ago, I'm seriously thinking about making these my rules of life.

By the way, the reason why Kizuna couldn't win even though he had the best chance, is because he's very sensitive to both mental and physical fatigue, which seemed to be once refreshed with some time off the race. Unfortunately, the forceful race of Sankei Osaka-hai has brought the horse enough damage so that he couldn't use the usual 2-phase boost. Just for your information.

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Caterpillar

7:07 p.m. Finally finished all the analyzing of Tenno-sho. Humph. Wait till next year, I'm gonna win. My only fear is that I might forget the little things that I didn't put down in my analysis data file.

The last of my four consecutive holiday turned out to be unexpectedly cool. Just after I'd washed, dried and put away my heating carpet and its covering. Well, that's life.

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Caterpillar

3:33 p.m. News says that Kizuna's left foreleg has been found swollen yesterday. The horse was diagnosed with a fracture of the knee bone, which takes as long as 6 months to heal completely, that consequently made the crew to scratch him off from Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

Told you. That's what happens when you ride a horse forcefully in a race. Taking over all other horses in a slow race from the back of the field is too strenuous, both mentally and phisically, that it leaves damage on the horse. And sometimes this damage can be nearly critical.

This makes things difficult for Deep Impact offsprings, as they perform best by speeding up in one long burst without being interrupted. To reduce the impact on their legs, they must either be trained and ridden in a more reasonable position in a race, or take enough time off between races for the horse to refresh.

I have to say, though, that this is all a hand-me-down from the M3 theory. But I think it's got a point and I agree with it.

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Caterpillar

5:02 p.m. Have to go to the dentist as I have an apointment for a check-up.

Fortunately, there's a dentist near my house that's open unitl 10 p.m. on weekdays, so I've been going there for years now. But most dentist don't work that late. Wonder how everybody else is managing their appointments.

I don't owe much to medical facilities however, dentist is an exception. I've seen old people fall sick and gradually weakening, just because they didn't have healthy oral condition. And many Japanese elderlies lose their teeth before they see the age eighty. As I think eating is living, I just can't afford to lose my teeth. Thus, the dental check-up, although I feel it very troublesome.

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Caterpillar

3:07 p.m. Found this little test with a description that said, "what happens at the end will probably blow your mind." I tried it, just to see how my mind would be blown out. This Simple Test Will Blow 98% Of People's Minds. You Other 2%...Well, You're Weird.

I didn't think of a red hammer, rather, I thought of my longnose pliers with black rubber grips which I'd bought at a 100 yen shop, just about a year ago. That puts me in the "other 2%" that defines me as weird, according to this test. So, what?

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Caterpillar

3:10 p.m. Only four days have passed since the end of the so-called Golden Week holiday, and we're having another grade one race tomorrow.

NHK Mile Cup is a 1600 meter (approximately, 1 mile) race for 3-yea-olds. This year, the Mikki Isle crew has made a prompt announcement right after his Arlington Cup victory in early March, that they were going to skip Satsuki-sho and aim for the NHK Mile Cup. Reflecting the crew's confidence, Mikki Isle is the most favored with 2.3 to 1 win odds at the moment.

I haven't checked the forms closely yet, but my target is Rosa Gigantea. I'll probably buy another wheel keying him. Gee, it's beginning to look like a horse race column.

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Caterpillar

9:12 p.m. Can not organize my thoughts just yet. My key horse, Rosa Gigantea has dropped back at the start and, after following the field from the last, swung around the outside in the wide Toyko track course, couldn't quite catch the front runner and lost in 4th position by less than one length.

Exactly a week ago, I'm sure I've written that Gold Ship would perform best when he's stuck in the field. Rosa Gigantea is the same type, and he performs best when he concentrates on the race. To have him concentrate, it is best if he starts from inner pots, run the race in the field among other horses, just like Gold Ship. Even if he had a bad start, I thought he could recover by plunging into the field, but the jockey had ridden him otherwise. It's just a matter of making, I wouldn't ask for a perfect, but an average start, then running the race in the field. It's that simple. I've been saying this over and over and why, oh why, can't they ride the horses that way? If the jockies can't control their horses properly, then what's the use of putting them race horses anyway?

Humph. Very frustrated.

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Caterpillar

3:30 p.m. I'm still furious about yesterday's race, but there was an inspiring video clip made by Coca Cola to encourage recycling, so think I'll put a link to it. Coca-Cola Happiness Arcade -- Recycling bottles, one game at a time!

Shows what creativity can do, doesn't it? I wish JRA jockies would learn a thing or two about creativity.

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Caterpillar

4:18 p.m. Since I've had some time, I've been to my old home in Kew Gardens, New York on Google Map.

Checked around the neighborhood, and somehow felt relieved that the apartment building we lived in was still there. The elementary school I'd been to was also there, with a couple of school buses parked nearby. The cemetary that I could see through the window of my room was there, but the junkyard that had been next to our apartment has turned into a parking space for UPS.

Carvel Ice Cream Store on Queens Boulevard had disappeared and instead there were fast food chains like Dunkin Donuts, Subway, and of course, a McDonald's. It came as a little surprise to me, as there were no McDonald's around at the time I was there, and we had to go to Forest Hills to find one. I remember doing a farewell party there, when we had to come back to Japan. I also spotted a pizza shop on Queens Blvd. and have been wondering if it was the one in which we often bought pizza slices. Mmmm, it makes my mouth water just to recall their pizza with lots of oregano.

Thanks to Street View, I've enjoyed quite a nice, nostalgic trip. I wonder what became of all my friends back then.

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Caterpillar

2:37 p.m. I've just learned the news that a spin-off film of Harry Potter is going to be released in the United States on 18th November, 2016.

According to J. K. Rowling, the film is going to be based on "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," an official text book at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and will be a prequel to the Harry Potter series. The story starts from New York, 70 years earlier from Harry's time.

Excited to just hear the news. As you might already know, I've read all the series, including Quiditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them. Wonder if and when the film would be coming to Japan?

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Caterpillar

4:38 p.m I've always thought that cats are cautious creatures and they would rather flight than fight when in times of danger. So I was surprised to see what this super cat has done to save its master's little boy.

A surveillance camera has caught a family cat fend off a dog that attacked a little boy in a driveway in California. Watch Hero Cat Fight Dog to Save Kid.

Cow and I have both been deeply impressed by this cat's heroic rescue.

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Caterpillar

4:09 p.m. I've seen the super cat video at least three times on TV since yesterday. Guess Tara (the cat) must have become world-wide celebrity by now. Golly, it's even in the evening papers!

4:11 p.m. Meantime, in AFC Women's Asian Cup, Nadeshiko Japan has caught up the 2 goals behind with Australia in the later half, and drew the match to 2-2. I was watching until we lost the second goal, but I had to turn off the TV to start preparing Obento for the next day. Later, I channel-hopped to find the results, though couldn't get any information from TV until the next morning. Late last night, I finally got a chance to glimpse the goal scenes in a sports news program. Good job, girls. Miyama and Ohgimi were particularly good, as usual and Kwasumi, earns credit for the legwork. Now let's win the next two games, and win that ticket to the World Cup.

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Caterpillar

1:18 p.m. Nadeshiko has won the match against Vietnam by 4-0. Great! The girls all played well last night, but I especially liked the fourth goal, born from a fine combination of Sawa, Takase, Sugasawa and Kawasumi. That was beautiful! We're one step closer to World Cup though we've got Australia following right behind. We're having the last game of the group stage tomorrow night, against Jordan. Let's go, girls!

I hadn't had a chance to check out the barrier draw of Victoria Mile coming up tomorrow. I've been busy. Okay, not so busy, just less enthusiastic perhaps, compared to Tenno-sho or the classic races, to be honest. So there isn't much I can say about the race now. Well, Meisho Mambo would probably be able to perform better, at least better than her last race, Sankei Osaka-hai. I'm raising my hope for Kurofune Surprise, though it might going to be a tough race for her. Still, Kurofune offsprings perform well on Tokyo tracks.

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Caterpillar

9:17 p.m. I've fallen asleep after watching Victoria Mile. There's been 7 grade one races so far, and I've won none, although my key horse has been in the top three places in 4 races, including today's Victoria Mile. If Rosa Gigantea had been ridden like today's Straight Girl, I'm sure that had been 5 races.

I've keyed Meisho Mambo, and bought a wheel which had Straight Girl in it, but not Virxina. Very frustrating.

About twenty minutes ago, Miyama has cried out in her short pep talk on the pitch to "Let's go to the World Cup!". Yes, let's. That might cheer me up a bit.

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Caterpillar

2:58 p.m. I was going to introduce a video clip of this wonderful musical performance session, but Cow insisted on some photos of this husky-and-malamout mix, so I've given in. As requested, more pics of my husky raised by cats!

The dog's name is Tally, aka Tao Tao (meaning mischievous in Chinese). Because she was raised with cats by her previous owners, she seems to think that she's a cat, too, and behaves very much like a cat. And as many people have been knocked out by her charm, Cow has also been completely blinded by her cuteness.

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Caterpillar

3:31 p.m. Darn, have inadvertently let Cow talk me into checking out the members for the Japanese Oaks. I had a lot of other things to do, but I'd spent nearly an hour on it.

It's hard for me to stop once I start doing something, and I think I can understand a bit of what it must feel like when people with Asperger syndromes are interrupted, while they're doing something they're interested in. I knew I had other things to do, but I just couldn't quit because of the suspicions I felt against Harp Star. I mean, I've learned a lesson from Kizuna, really. So I'm once bitten, twice shy.

Meantime, the team Nadeshiko is going to play against in AFC Women's Asian Cup semi-final, has been announced as China. There isn't going to be any easy win, I'm sure. So our girls might as well brace up, especially without Ohgimi. I'd also like to pay my respect to the Jordan team. They have shown great fighting spirit which is worth admiring. The results might have been devastating for them, but believe me, all the champions before have trod that path.

Cow is interrupting me with talks of horse race again. Grrrr...

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Caterpillar

4:11 p.m. Okay. So here's the video clip I was going to show you a couple of days ago. It's a video of a guy playing guitar and singing on the sidewalk, but after a short while a passerby who seems to be a stranger jumps in to start a jam session, and then a bit later, another guy joins the amazing collaboration. Amazing jam session - Three random guys sing together

Beautiful! That's what music can do, make people happy. In fact, I couldn't stop myself from moving to the beat while watching this video. I always wonder, can't we stop wars and conflicts somehow by using the power of music? Though must leave the task to the creative teams out there, when it comes to coming up with specific ideas.

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Caterpillar

12:52 p.m. The Summer Sumo Tournament is getting interesting. Hakuho, who was leading the tournament has lost yesterday, drawing him to a tie with Kiseno-sato, with one loss each. And they are going to have a match this afternoon against each other. If he wins, Kiseno-sato will get a chance to win the tournament, though he still has a tough road ahead of him, with matches against Yokozunas such as Haruma-fuji and Kakuryu.

The barrier draws of the Japanese Oaks would also be announced this afternoon. News sources are reporting Harpstar's condition as impressive, but I haven't been able to wash away the memory of Kizuna yet. Besides, not every horse can be Buena Vista. Same thing goes for Sang Real. Even if she's Buena's younger sister, and has remarkable potential, that doesn't automatically mean that she can win the Oaks.

3:52 p.m. The barriers have been announced. Sang Real is in post number 8, Harpstar is in 10.

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Caterpillar

2:21 p.m. Nadeshiko has won the semi-final against China, in AFC Women's Asian Cup. Unfortunately though, I couldn't watch the game in real time and to make it worse, I forgot to record it.

While the girls were fighting a close game, I have been at the library, trying to locate a book I needed at work. The searching system at the library shows you a map as to which shelf I should go to, so I followed its instructions. And it turns out, there's no shelf at the place where the computer had pointed me to...

After half an hour of intensive searching, I gave up and went to the counter to ask for help. And the librarian says, that she'll have to get the book from the store room downstairs, so can you please come back in ten minutes? Stupid computer should have shown a message to go straight to the librarian instead of indicating a shelf that doesn't exixst.

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Caterpillar

4:32 p.m. So, the Japanese Oaks. Hmm...difficult. Harpstar might sweep them all, but then, I can't complain if she didn't.

In the past ten years, the only female horse that has won all three races of Tulip-sho, Ohka-sho and Oaks is Buena Vista, meaning that she was remarkably tough. If Harpstar is as tough as Buena, she will probably win tomorrow. Though if she really is, then why was she beaten by Red Reveur in Juvenile Fillies?

On the other hand, can't come up with any horse that can beat Harpstar tomorrow. I hate to admit it, but perhaps Harpstar should be keyed on my wheel. As for others, I'm thinking of Meine Auram, Sang Real, Nuovo Record and Blanc Neige, for the moment. And if something happened and Harpstar should lose, my guess is that the winner would either be Meine Aurum or Nuovo Record.

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Caterpillar

Finally. I've finally won an exacta in the Japanese Oaks.

Although I've said that Harpstar should be keyed on my wheel yesterday, I just couldn't shake off the feeling that she might lose, so I keyed Nuovo Record instead and put Dilga, Harpstar, Nishino Akatsuki and Blanc Neige on my trio wheel. Pacific Gal and Sang Real both had considerable weight loss, so I cut them out at the last minute. Also, I cut out Meine Aurum too, as I came to think over the weekend, that she might not live up to my expectations. Then I bought an additional exacta of Nuovo Record and Harpstar, just to be on the safe side, because if Harpstar should lose, Nuovo Record would be the only horse to beat her.

After 7 races, I've finally got one eye opened. Let's hope I'll get my other eye opened this week, with the Japanese D'erby.

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Caterpillar

2:58 p.m. After I'd come back from the off-track betting in a slightly better mood, I've watched the final match of AFC Women's Asian Cup.

It was a close game against Australia, the defending champion team, but Nadeshiko fought very well. They kept on running, being quick to put the pressures on Australia. I think Nadeshiko controlled the first half really well. They also earned themselves a treasure goal in the first half.

Nadeshiko was met with a number of critical scenes in the latter half, but hung on until the whistle blew. It may be quite surprising after winning the Women's World Cup, but this was their first win in the Asian Cup.

Not to mention I was crossing my fingers during the last 5 minutes or so, and I was not only impressed but hugely encouraged, when Kawasumi ran up a long distance for a counter attack in the last couple of minutes. It must had been tough for her too, and yet her performance at that time, gave so much courage and hope. Not many players can do such things, I believe.

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Caterpillar

3:57 p.m. I've seen a shocking TV report about African elsphants being killed for their tusks, and that Japan and China have been indirectly funding terrorist groups by buying ivory. The title of the program was "Close Up Gendai," and it's a long-run programs on NHK.

I thought that ivory trades had been long banned by the Washington Convention, and there were no ivory distributed to the market. However, this was not so. Quite the contrary, we are buying ivory in tons, mostly for Inkan (signets).

I've never heard a more stupider thing in my life. Yes, Inkans still play an important part in identifying ourselves on documents, also giving certain credentials to them here in Japan. But does it have to be made of ivory? Bull's horns, water buffalo horns, birch, titanium, what difference does it make anyway, as long as you can use it properly as a stamp? I can never buy anything made of ivory after I'd seen those miserably decaying elephant heads without trunks nor tusks, because they need to cut off the trunks first to get the tusks. By the way, my signet is not ivory, but it's beautiful and produces perfectly clear prints.

And if they have to be made of ivory for some uncertain reason I can't understand, then I'd definitely suggest the use of our high-tec gadgets, 3D printers.

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Caterpillar

2:43 p.m. It's D'erby week. And another race horse model has appeared inside Shibuya station.

Last year, JRA had displayed a model of Vodka, the 74th Japanese D'erby winner and also the 3rd female horse to become a D'erby horse. This year, it seems to be Deep Impact.

I managed to get a shot of him while passing by Shibuya station. An old woman staring at the model was mumbling, "Why, it looks quite small for a D'erby winner. The real horse must be much larger, I suppose." Well lady, Deep Impact WAS small. He only weighed 450 kg at most, and usually won somewhere in between 430 and 440.

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Caterpillar

2:13 p.m. The barrier draw is going to be announced later in the afternoon. I'll have a look-see as I have some time today. Yeah!

In the meantime, I'll check out the news. Mr. Bean helps man injured in car crash. Blimey.

2:50 p.m. The barrier draw has been announced. Satsuki-sho winner and currently the most favored Isla Bonita in post number 13, the female horse challenging from Ohka-sho, Red Reveur is in 16! Oh, no. That is not good. Outer posts are disadvantaged at the Tokyo tracks, unless the horses race in the front.

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Caterpillar

3:33 p.m. May is not yet over and the temperature is hitting 29 Celsius. Well, the good thing is that it's sunny, though. Pity that in a matter of days, we're bound for that dreadful, sticky rainy season. Daunting, really.

The forecast is predicting mostly sunny skies in Tokyo over the weekend, with an occasional chance of rainshower in the afternoon. That means I have to carry around my umbrella. Grrrr....

Might have to pull out my Goza (straw sheet) if it's going to be this hot. And, must replace the rollers for my sliding screen door. I've finally found a roller that might barely fit the screw holes of the frame. But I can't open the window until I put that roller on and snap in the sliding screen on the rail, from fear of severe mosquito attacks.

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Caterpillar

3:21 p.m. Oh dear, it's even hotter than yesterday. They say the temperature in Tokyo has gone over 30 degrees today.

Winful Bloom has scratched off from the Japanese D'erby due to lameness in his left foreleg. So the race will be run with 17 horses, and the pace might slow down because Winful Bloom is a front runner. If the race is run at a slow pace, it would be an advantage to closers starting from inner posts while it would give the horses in outer post numbers less chances to come within 3rd place, unless they go up front.

Which means that a slow race would give more advantage to horses like One and Only or Suzuka Devious rather than Tohsen Stardum or World Impact, unless Tohesen or World goes up front. As for the most favored Isla Bonita, I think he could manage the distance. I'm just not sure if he's going to win. God only knows how Red Reveur would perform, but it's not going to be an easy race.

Round 'em all up, I'm thinking of keying either One and Only or Isla Bonita, One and Only slightly probable as he's drawn an inner post. Others such as Sounds of Earth, To the World, Suzuka Devious, Red Reveur and Tohsen Stardum, I might put on the wheel.

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Caterpillar