CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter October,
October , 201
20 1 8Japanese diets, traditionally consistingof a high percentage of seafood, havestarted including more meat and dairy
produce in recent times, and thus
becoming more ‘westernised’. A major
problem with this is that meat, especially
red meat, and the trans-fats used in junkfood, are very difficult for our bodies toproperly digest. The build-up of toxins,
chemicals, ‘bad fats’ and undigested meatin the body can result in many healthissues, such as heart disease, stroke,cancers and obesity. It is possible, though,to mitigate (reduce) their impact.
Fasting is one option. This is the processof limiting your diet to a certain drink orfood – or abstaining from (stopping) eating– for a set time, to give your body thechance to cleanse itself. Some people use a
juice fast, blending several raw foods, orElla
just one type of fruit or vegetable. Apples,
pineapples, berries, or tomatoes may be
the easiest to stomach (swallow), butJanisbroccoli,spinach, cabbage, carrots, celery
and wheatgrass are also very beneficial. At
least 50% green is a good ‘rule of thumb.’
The juices sold in stores, laden with(processed) refined sugars, arequite unhealthy - especiallyduring a fast - so it’s betterto buy a juicing extractor
and make your own freshjuices.

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
Here’s a list of celebrities who have fasted:
https://www.foxnews.com/health/10-celebs-whowent-on-extreme-diets-for-movie-roles

Another option is tocompletely abstain fromin-taking
everything
except water (and oxygen!)for your chosen time period, though some
prefer to have a light tea – green or black.
A common strategy is to build up thelengths of your fasts gradually, starting byonly eating breakfast and an early brunch,then eating nothing until breaking thenightly fast, by eating breakfast the nextday- as practiced by monks the world over.
In fact some Buddhist monks and otherreligious devotees can abstain from eating
for several months at a time but somepeople build up their fasting time to evenmore incredible lengths: In 1973 a 27 yearold was observed fasting for 382 days,
starting at 207kg, and ending up at 82kg!
Reducing body fat
is one advantage offasting, along withincreasingenergyand cleansing thedigestive system anddetoxifying the body
– which clears the skin and eyes, gives
glossier hair, stronger immunity against
diseases, less fatigue and greater mental
clarity etc. There are, though, some side
effects to not eating, particularly for firsttime fasters. Hunger pangs are only
fleeting and will quickly go, but headaches
are common as the toxins leave the body,and occasional dizziness may occur if you
exert yourself too hard, or fast too long, tooquickly. However, the benefits far outweighany slight discomforts, and if you do a fast
every month, and maintain a clean diet in
between, you won’t suffer much at all, butrather enjoy the cleansing experience!

Article by MarkJoshua Says: If you’ve ever trained seriously for a sport or practiced a musical instrument
for hours on end, you’ll have developed a unique relationship with your own body. To
command yourself to keep going past the pain, the fatigue, you, in a sense, have to leave yourbody and objectify your experience in order to command yourself to make an even greater
effort to keep going. The supposed purpose may be to win a race, give a concert, but the silent
benefits you gain are the changes you are creating in your general attitude. From a beginner’s
perspective, this is not so very different when you start learning a second language.
Junko Says: Have you heard about “Superfoods?” Although there is no official definition,
it is generally accepted that they are nutritional and healthy. Japanese powered green-tea(Matcha) is one of these superfoods and is becoming popular in foreign countries. Here areseven of its health benefits, all based on scientific studies: 1. High in antioxidants; 2. Protects
the liver; 3. Boots brain function; 4. Helps prevent cancer; 5. Protects the heart; 6. Helps lose
weight; 7. very easy to prepare. Take approximately 3 teaspoons full a day. Give it a try!
Mark Says: I’ve been amazed this month by the passion and dedication
shown by the participants carrying the ‘portable shrines’ in the local festivals.
Knowing Japanese people to be pacifist, calm and often conservative, I wasvery surprised to learn that carriers of the shrines could actually come toblows and end up physically fighting people carrying ‘rival’ shrines! How
religion can stir emotions and evoke fierce rivalry!
Darrin Says: At the end of last month, my mother and her husband cameto visit us here in Matsuyama. While we often video chat through Skype,it was good to see them in the flesh. This was their third visit toMatsuyama, so it was a little difficult to think of new places to takethem, but we managed to enjoy some quality time together and of course
they were so happy to see their granddaughter.
Mandcy dit: Saviezーvous qu'en France, il n'y a pas Halloween. En effet, c'est

une manifestation commerciale et seulement aiment se costumer pour allers'amuser avec leurs amis. Et oui. En France. C'est la Toussaint. Nous allons
sur la pierre tombale de nos grands-parents et nous leurs offrons des fleurs.
C'est beaucoup moins amusant.
1ACROSS
1 made up of
5 poisonous substances
8 lasting for a short time
10 choosing not to do something
11 useful or helpful
14 combining into one
15 resisting disease
DOWN
1 free from confusion, easy to understand2 followers
3 removing poisons from
4 convert food for use by the body
6 shinier and smoother7 watched closely
9 slowly, step by step
12 loss of strength and energy
13 to clean(print version here)

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www.CrosswordWeaver.com

1213

S(A)3’s Koki’s hobby is horse racing.
Here is what he has to say about it.....
Have you ever seen a horse race? One of my favorite
That’s me!
hobbies is horse racing. I enjoy watching the races on TV every weekend
and sometimes I
go to a racetrack. As you know, horse racing is associated with gambling and the impression, I guess, is generally
not so good. If you think so, I’d like you to visit a horse racing track and see horses running at high speed. You
don’t have to bet (but betting adds spice to the experience). I hope it will change your mind about horse racing.
There are a lot of horse racing tracks in Japan operated by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and municipalgovernments. I recommend you visit a JRA track. The Japanese Government established and finances the JRA. Itis supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, therefore JRA’s tracks are very well kept andclean. The facilities at these tracks include not only the racetrack, but a large building for spectators, a park forchildren, cafeterias and goods shops. A big monitor in the middle of the racetrack conveys the race situation,results, odds and other information we may want. Thanks to these amenities, we can enjoy staying there andwatching the races in comfort. In addition, the entrance fee is so reasonable, only 100 or 200 yen (depending onvenue)!
The real pleasure of visiting a racetrack is that we can see horses close up. I think the shape of a thoroughbred
horse, its long legs, sturdy body and cute profile is the most beautiful among all animals, especially when it runs
at high speed on green grass. The image is so splendid. And, as the horses run in front of us, we can hear theirpowerful gallop; something we can’t experience in daily life. When horses are neck-to-neck right up to the line,
many spectators cheer really loudly. I was surprised the first time I saw this, but I also felt a sense of unity withthe other people there at that time.
If you have never experienced horse racing, it is better you go with people who have had some experience.
They will teach you the racing system and how to look at the horses and the races. You can meet beautiful horses!
Why don’t you visit a horse racing track? (But, you have to be over 20 if you want to bet.)

I N G R E S SCEUP E D E S T R I A N S
L E T H A LEXMARA U T O N O M O U SIMFCCBNBIUEA D V E N TAADSRITSGSBOAE
T
L E G I S L A T I V E
M U D D L E DETOTS
ADI
N U M E R O U SLRNSDYMGID E N T I N GGLast Month’s Puzzle SolutionACROSS
1 the act of entering
4 people who travel by foot DOWN
2 consequences of some action
6 deadly
3 reached a final or climatic
8 free of external control
stage
11 the arrival of something,
5 made worse(usually expected)
13 relating to the making laws 7 severely or angrily criticized
9 clearly evident
14 confused
15 a large indefinite number 10 moving restlessly (especiallya child)
16 suppressing or depressing
12 causing apprehension or fear
something

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