April, the Season of New Beginnings

April represents new beginnings in Japan. Entrance ceremonies for schools and companies are held all across the country. It is a new season not only for fresh students and employees, but also for existing ones with class reshuffles and major personal relocations. 


This is part of the reason why many people in Japan start something new in April. There are 2 things I want to start from this spring.

1) English Study

April has always been the starting month for English study. Why? Japan’s broadcasting corporation “NHK” publishes famed and proud textbooks of their English radio and television programs aimed at different levels, all of which starting in April. Those programs are really popular nationwide. If you drop by at any bookstore in Japan, you can find them easily. Traditionally, I buy more than 2 textbooks for different levels, hoping to complete all of them but only to find completing just one textbook is a hard act to follow. The mystery about why the same mistake pattern continues for more than three decades remains unsolved. Still, I have already done my yearly ritual and get ready for a fresh new start.

2) Writing My Blog

I wrote my first blog more than a decade ago. I remember I really enjoyed writing at that time. Somehow after I got busier, I stopped writing it. Until recently, I never even thought about it. Feeling anew thanks to this spring spirit, I feel like starting my blog once again. I am going to write about my feelings and opinions about everything happening around myself, such as current news topics and my English study on this blog. 

It takes some courage to officially declare my commitments on social media. I hope to continue the above 2 things through the year.