Notes:
rice cakes お餅;
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Happy New Year!
By the way, did you receive or give any “otoshidama”? In Japan, we have a custom where adults give children money called “otoshidama” on New Year’s day. Unlike today, in the past we believed that everyone got a year older on New Year’s Day as opposed to on one’s own birthday. This was called “kazoe-doshi”. We offered rice cakes to God for our good health for the coming year. Originally “otoshidama” meant sharing rice cakes together rather than giving money. I rather think that it is a good idea because I like rice cakes. But you have to be careful not to eat too many rice cakes because they are a very high-calorie food!
(written by student Miss Ikeda, edited  by Prof. Simon Smith)
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Notes:
occasion:　状況、時、場合;
hurdle:ハードル、障害;
overcome:克服する;
revise:復習する、見直す;
intense：激しい;
pre-exam:テスト前の;
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Do you have a song for different occasions? The reason why I ask such a question is because we are now entering the exam season where many hurdles must be overcome so that we can advance to the next level. As I reflect on last year’s study I remember that I had specific songs for each subject that I revised. When I revised linguistic related subjects, for example, I listened to Yo-Yo Ma, and when I studied math I listened to more intense and vivid songs by singers such as Avril Lavigne. On the very day of one exam, I repeatedly listened to Taylor Swift’s album to motivate myself and to remove some pre-exam anxiety. I recently came across that very song, and it brought back vividly all those same feelings that I went through last year. What songs are you listening to this year?　(Written by medical student T, edited  by Prof. Simon Smith)
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