3:29 p.m. My mental state has sunk down to the point of depressed. I haven't been winning a single race again this spring season.

Though depressed as I was, I started thinking about Yasuda Kinen. I've got to fight back.

The End

Caterpillar

3:42 p.m. Kei Nishikori is playing against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals of French Open which is going to be broadcasted on TV tonight (Japan time).

Kei has now become the first Japanese to be in the quartefinals in 82 years, and we're all excited to see how far he could go on his "not good at" clay court tournament. It's going to be an "away" match, but if he wins this match against Tsonga, Kei is going to play against either one of Wawrinka or Federer(!!) which also is sure to be an exciting match. Today's match will be broadcasted on TV Tokyo, channel 7 from 10:00 P.M.

Additionally, I can't miss the match of Nadal vs Djokovic tomorrow night. Whichever wins, it's going to be a step towards new history; Nadal for his 10th victory in French Open, Djokovic for his career Grand Slam. And my sleepless nights continues.

The End

Caterpillar

2:47 p.m. It was a close match.

Kei was sported by both the wind and Tsonga's powerful first service. In such windy condition, what counts is the power, power to beat the wind. In that sense, the condition was a disadvantage to Kei. Tsonga's every stroke must have felt very heavy to Kei. They were effective in the spoken condition, and that drove Kei into the corner. I'm afraid the same formula might not work for Waweinka, Federer or Djokovic, though.

Although Kei lost the match, I was sruprised by how well he pulled himself together after the accidental break. It is a crucial skill for top athletes to be able to analyze their situation and improve their performances on the spot, regardless of which sport he or she plays. Kei has showed that he has such skill. Considering this, I am pretty sure that he would win a Grand Slam some time in the future not so far away. It's a matter of timing and luck.

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Caterpillar

3:30 p.m. Jdokovic has beat clay king Nadal completely. Looks like the wind is chnaging.

It is often difficult to accept new changes especially, for people like myself who grew up being threatened all the time and never had a safe place to stay in. To me, changes almost sound equivalent to something bad.

But changes aren't all bad, and there are usually some good things in it too. It comes with both sides you might say. For example, the change in seasons bring us the difference in weather or temperature which we might not be so welcome of, but it also refreshes the dull views we've gotten too used to in the past couple of months, and repaints them into beautiful new coclors. I shall not fear change, rather accept the fact that it only brings a bit of difference.

The End

Caterpillar

4:29 p.m. Cow is fuming.

Ugh. I hate it when he does that. When he throws the feeling of anger right into my face? I wish people'd stop naming me to take care of their anger. I'm not good at dealing with feelings, not even my own feelings and it gets me terrified just being thrown anger into my face. It also gets me confused. Okay, I've done something wrong. What do they expect me to do, go back in time and erase what I've done? But that's impossible.

In truth, there is nothing I can do except wait for the storm to pass. Someone's anger is that person's own feelings which I can't control. So it is wrong to throw the anger at me and demand me do something about it, moreover, make it subside or make them feel better, even if I was the one who performed the action of causing the anger. I can't control nor manipulate someone else's feelings, whether it's anger, happiness, sadness, or satisfaction. One should be responsible for their own feelings and take care of it themselves.

I hope less people take their angers out on someone else. Surely, it would save the all the hurting for so many broken souls.

The End

Caterpillar

2:24 p.m. So, the call for Yasuda Kinen.

I hate to have to say this but I haven't noarrowed it down yet. These are the horses I've got left so far: Sunrise Major, Danon Shark, Daiwa Maggiore, Meisho Mambo, Mickey Isle, Real Impact, Fiero, Clarent, Satono Gallant, Keiai Elegant and Curren Black Hill.

I know. That's too many. I'm hoping I can narrow them down to about half tonight, but Yasuda Kinen is always difficult because the odds are split.

The End

Caterpillar

9:54 p.m. I've done a good deal of thinking and decided to key Mickey Isle on trifecta and Curren Black Hill on exacta. I didn't buy Morris as I thought he was a strong finisher. And then, Morris goes up front and Mickey Isle drops back to 5th or 6th from the top instead.

Oh, no. It doesn't feel like I'm getting any closer.

The End

Caterpillar

3:13 p.m. Yasuda Kinen was the last G1 race in the 5 consecutive spring G1 series, and since they ate up all my off time, fatigue has been tolling up on me. To be honest, I'm rather glad and relieved I've got some time before Takaraduka Kinen.

It's good for my schizophrenic mentality to have some time off to refresh my mind. My performance drops whenever I get tired, bored, hungry or sleepy. As you might guess, it's very difficult to control such mentality, as difficult as winning a race with Jungle Pocket, Special Week or Daiwa Major descendants.

So I've tried healing and refreshing myself today, by finding a cheep and effective way to clean my nails :-)

The End

Caterpillar

4:03 p.m. Nadeshiko has won their first game in FIFA Women's World Cup Canada.

Our national team Nadeshiko Japan has held tight to the one goal they earned from a penalty kick in the first half, and won the match against Switzerland by 1-0. It wasn't a flashy game with a goal rush, so perhaps it might have seemed unimpressive as a defending champion team. But this first game was very important and we might as well satisfy ourselves with the victory.

The next match will be against Cameroon, coming up on Saturday, June 13th Japan time. I believe it's going to be a tough game, but we can't lose it to win the first position in Group C. I wish all the best for those hard-working women!

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Caterpillar

4:12 p.m. It has been officially announced on Monday that Kanto area has entered Tsuyu, the rainy season. Well, it was about time. Though today, the weather has been fine with lots of sunshine.

Since we're having an early rainy season break, I've started thinking about Takaraduka Kinen. I know it's still more than 2 weeks away, but as they say, well prepared means no worries. Gold Ship who'd probably the most favored, seems to be on the borderline for now. Considering that he'd been in post number 11 and won the race two years in a row, I guess it would be better for him to draw the same post again theis year.

And because the weather was so fine, I've also started thinking about getting some house plants. How about a pot of sansevieria? Think I've read somewhere that they refresh air. I could drop by Daiso on my way home.

The End

Caterpillar

5:05 p.m. I hate to have to write about such disappointing news, but Epiphaneia has scratched off from Takaraduka Kinen because he has developed desmitis in his left front leg. It has been officially announced that the horse will be sent out to Northern Farm in Hokkaido, to prepare for the autumn races.

There's no doubt now that Gold Ship would be the most favored, and am afraid the win odds is going to drop down to the ground. Oh, please.

The End

Caterpillar

4:45 p.m. While some leave, there are some that come.

Vincennes who has came in second place in Yasuda Kinen has been announced to enter Takaraduka Kinen. The horse was formerly planned to be sent out for refreshing, but the crew decided to enter him in the summer Grand Prix seeing the quick recovery after Yasuda Kinen. Yeah! More competitors means higher odds.

However, the news goes on that the final decision will be made after next week. Can never be sure until the last minute, so must be on the alert. I hope they don't disappoint me.

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Caterpillar

2:28 p.m. Couldn't watch Nadeshiko's game against Cameroon as I had a mornig meeting, so I've checked the live sports text commentary and learned that they've won. A difficult match, well managed. We could have got away with 2-0, though. The repeated counter attacks surely were effective.

Meanwhile Eishin Hikari is appearing in Epsom Cup, a grade 3 race on Sunday. Think he might do well, better than Satono Aradin who is the most favored as of this afternoon.

The End

Caterpillar

1:16 p.m. A quiet Sunday in a while as I've been going out to the off-track betting for five weeks.

In Epsom Cup, Eishin Hikari took the lead from start to finish and beat Satono Aladdin. Although I didn't place my bet, I'd called the race yesterday to be finished by Eishin Hikari, Decypher and Flukey in the top three places, Satono Aladdin sinking beneath fourth place. The result, Eishin Hikari in first place, Satono Aladdin in second, Decypher in third and Flukey in fourth place. Ouch.

Well, at least I had enough sense to watch it, not buy it.

The End

Caterpillar

3:55 p.m. Epsom Cup was an interesting race with Eishin Hikari taking the lead, and the most favored Satono Aladdin stalking him, seeking the chance and timing to jump forward and take him over. The match-up between the two horses on the home stretch was surely a sight to see.

Although it was a lower grade race, this is the kind of race I want to see in the top category. No more playing dead in the back for the last 3 furlong sprint. No more instantaneous force contest. I want to see speed against speed, power against power, real match with no gimmick. That would definitely make G1 races more exciting.

The End

Caterpillar

4:25 p.m. It's the first watermelon this season.

One of our neighbors have broughtr us some cut watermelon. There is a custom in Japan to send gifts to people to show feeling of appreciation twice a year, during early summer and at year-ends. The gift season is starting again and it seems our neighbor has been sent two big ripe watermelons. She brought some of them to share with us.

Mmm... The watermelon was juicy and sweet. Cow and I have both fully enjoyed the privilage of having one of the season's first watermelons. Many thanks to my kind and thoughtful neighbor!

The End

Caterpillar

4:45 p.m. There has been several events going on in the past 24 hours, including the FIFA Mens' World Cup qualification match against Singapore, Womens' match against Ecuador.

Both matches lead to unsatisfactory results, I must say, having no creative ideas to break through the defence of our opponents. I'll just have to look forward to our national teams' future improvement.

Speaking of future hopes, Spielberg who won the autumn Tenno-sho last year is running in Prince of Wales's Stakes held at Royal Ascot. Looks like he is the 3rd favored of the 9 competitors headed by Free Eagle, but there is a chance for him to win. The race will be run 1:20 a.m. Japan Time.

The End

Caterpillar

4:48 p.m. Too bad for Spielberg who sank in 6th place. People might think, perhaps the horse wasn't good at clockwise courses?

True, Spielberg hasn't won on cockwise courses, though personally, I think it was the bumping he got from Cannock Chase on the last stretch which got the horse distracted. Spielberg tends to give up the race easily, when he's interrupted while gaining speed. He needs to gain speed smoothly to perform well. That's why I thought he might have a chance to win, because this race was run with less runners compared to Japanese G1 races where there are usually 15 to 17 other rivals to beat, depending on the courses. And that's probably why Kitamura, his main jockey usually leads the horse to the outside apart from other horses, at the last stretch.

Apparently, Ryan Moore wanted to get Cannock Chase on the outside but couldn't, because Soumillon had put a lid on him. As a result, Spielberg gave up the race without showing his last boost. The result might have been different, if Soumillon rode the horse in the position of The Corsican.

The End

Caterpillar

4:14 p.m. Since we had very little rain this spring, I was beginning to get worried about water shortage in the summer. As of today, Yagisawa water dam which is the main supply for providing water to Tokyo, has only 57 % in its impoundment rate, according to the MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) web page.

Although it's been drizzling on and off all day today, the problem is that we're not having enough rainfall in the area where the dam is located. Meanwhile, Kyushu area is hit by heavy rain causing disasters in some places.

If we could somehow move that large volume of surplus water from Kyushu to Kanto, there would be no worries in water shortage in the hottest of summer. I just wonder if there are any researchers or engineers trying to come up with a practical way to do this?

The End

Caterpillar

2:19 p.m. I've finally bought Aka Pakkun!

Aka Pakkun is a bath water cleaner designed as a head of a Kappa, and it cleans the used water in your bath tub by sticking all the grimy stuff floating on the surface of the water, like an oil fence boom that cleans up oil spills in the ocean.

I've been saving up coins to buy one and I've finally got it. Reports on its effet will come later!

The End

Caterpillar

6:48 p.m. Have overslept.

It was way past noon when I got up. I must have been tired.

Well, I should sleep when I'm tired so that I can regain my energy to live in this stress-filled world. Sleep is one of the things I believe has a healing effect, both on my body and soul. Though I always stay up late, it doesn't mean I don't want to sleep. It's rather the opposite. I love to sleep. It's just that the radio sound from the next room is too bothering for me to get into sleep, that's all.

The End

Caterpillar

3:25 p.m. Last time I used Aka Pakkun, I was eager to try it, but wasn't quite sure how to use it, and I'd thrown it into the bathtub only about half an hour before I got in. The only thing I discovered was that Aka Pakkun needed some time to show its effect.

Today, however, I've thrown it into the bathtub before I left my house, to give it plenty of time to clear the water. Wonder how well it works?

The End

Caterpillar

2:30 p.m. Aka Pakkun proved great!

As I've reported earlier, I'd thrown in the Kappa head when I left my house, and left it floating around in the bathtub for well, more than 12 hours, I think, before I got into the bath. And all I could think of was "Wow!" The water was as fresh and clean as if it had just been out of the tap to fill the tub!

Pretty sure Aka Pakkun is going to be my best buy this year.

The End

Caterpillar

2:58 p.m. Have bought another Aka Pakkun for Cow, too.

Though it took me some time, my walk and save plan has worked pretty well :-D You can burn some extra calories and save money to buy something you want at the same time! Just make sure to care for your muscles after you've walked, so you don't get any inflamations developing, like me.

The End

Caterpillar

5:45 p.m. Am very tired from helping someone I know set up his Android smartphone and tablet for tethering.

But can hang on thanks to Nadeshiko winning the game against the Netherlands yesterday, to make it to the top 8 in women's World Cup. Yay! Seems they've managed the game well.

Besides, I've got Takaraduka Kinen to call. The barrier has been announced already. More coming up tomorrow!

The End

Caterpillar

3:52 p.m. Gold Ship has drawn barrier 15 which might affect his performance. Though what matters is whether or not the horse can concentrate on the race, not the barrier number itself. If the lap gets fast it's likely he'd stay focused, but you never can tell until they start.

Meanwhile, I've found a horse that would probably become the key to winning this race. I'll need to finish up some more analyzing to develop my uncertainty into confidence.

The End

Caterpillar

12:45 p.m. So. My key horse for Takaraduka Kinen. My key horse would be Nouvo Record.

I'm not sure if she's going to win, but I'll key her on my trifecta. Will also buy Gold Ship, as I can't tell if he will be focused or not. For others, I'm thinking of buying Tosen Stardum, One And Only, Toho Jackal on my wheel. Might buys are Shonan Pandra, Denim And Ruby, Dia de la Madre and Lachesis.

Oh, and my congrats to the Family Park in Toyama for succeeding in hatching the Japanese grouse! It will surely contribute to the support of the endangered species.

The End

Caterpillar

10:40 p.m. Takaraduka Kinen ended with my key horse Nuovo Record sinking in 5th place, and so did my spring season.

It was an eventful race in a way, with the most favored Gold Ship standing inside the barrier affected by Toho Jackal who lost his temper first, and starting way behind all the other horses, but the race itself was that of a lower level, not G1.

If I'd realized it was a G2 race, perhaps I might have bought Lovely Day, as Lovely Day was the one who prevented me from winning the Nakayama Kinpai. My 2015 spring season started with Lovely Day winning, and ended with Lovely Day winning again. And the reason why Takaraduka Kinen has become such an uninteresting race is, well, I'll write about it tomorrow.

The End

Caterpillar

3:33 p.m. Since around 2000, JRA has taken a turn in its course to make the turf tracks more harder under the slogan of "Speed Racing." As a result, the winning time became shorter and track records have been renewed almost every year. However, it also increased the number of injuries.

3-year-olds are made to run on the hard turf before and during their classic season, which I believe, leaves a huge damage on their still growing, incomplete bodies. Not many of these 3-year-olds don't make it to the Takaraduka Kinen run at the end of the spring season. For example, Duramente who won the Satsuki-sho and Japanese D'erby has developed an injury to put his later schedule back to the drawing board, while while Real Steel who came in second, also is busy curing his injuries. Even if they survive without injuries, it is nearly impossible for them to enter Takaraduka, considering their autumn schedule.

And then, there's the problem of their growth. When racing horses develop serious injuries while they are still young, it puts a question mark on their growth. No wonder here, because they will lose the chances to learn and grow while treating their injuries. Consequently, they will either not be able to return by the next year's Takaraduka or if they did, not fully prepared to win the race. Take Isla Bonita or Toho Jackal, for example. That's why Takaraduka Kinen has become such an uninteresting race over the years. Think it should be degraded back to G2 as it first was.

The End

Caterpillar

4:56 p.m. On the subway, I saw two men sitting across from me handing a tablet back and forth.

As I watched them closely, I realized that they were writing and exchanging messages using the tablet. They must have had a drawing App or something mounted on the device. One of the men was also using gestures to assist their message exchanging, and I finally understood that both men were deaf.

I wondered if they might have depended on sign languages if not for the tablet. But it was a moment of joy to witness how our high-tec devices are playing a role in communication. After all, that's what developments are for, to help make our life more happy.

The End

Caterpillar