Good guidance can make even kids good scientists.

My favorite pieces of guitar music.

Played by Masayoshi Takanaka.

A good talk, wonderful project, and amazing music products

I have just found them yesterday as introduced in a TV program 'Super Presentations'  by NHK.

Making ISDCI 2012 logo mark.

It was amazing and wonderful experience to hold the 12th Congress of International Society of Developmental and Comparative Immunology in my city, Fukuoka.
A couple of years ago, I have asked to design a logo mark of this congress to a illustrator, Junjun.
The first and second drafts.

 

Then the third draft, which I loved best.

Based on this Japanese-flavored prototype, Ms. Junjun made a panel of variations:

The logo image originated from a paper craft made of Chiyogami, Japanese decorated paper for origami.

I'm grateful for Junjun's wonderful artworks.

Clear and hazy skies

The same landscape through a window of my office, showing Sangun and Homan mountains near Fukuoka city.
The hazy view may be due to the yellow sands?

Making Fílefìsh Sashimi!

The filefish, a relative of pufferfish, is very delicious as raw (sashimi) or cooked. We bought a few filefish from a local fish market and enjoyed in making their sashimi.

The thread-sail filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer), 3 for 300 yen ($3.5).

The lips and dorsal/pelvic fins are cut off (from a close relative species, Thamnaconus modestus). This single fish costed 250 yen ($3).

Peeling the skin (She said "It's fun!")

Separate the head part from the body, taking care not to damage the liver and testis (They are also important edible parts).

They are ready to be cut into thin slices of sashimi.

 See how thin are the slices! (The gold line of the plate is visible through the slices.)

Ready to eat, with soy sauce and Wasabi (Japanese green radish) or with soy sauce and citrus juice (Ponzu). 

Relaxed

All the clams were relaxed in a bowl filled with artificial sea water made by my wife. They don't know their fate coming next morning (should be cooked in our breakfast soup), but they look happy showing full extension of their feet and syphons.