Weather and English improvement
Hello. Today is Sunday, January 21st.
The weather in Osaka today is rainy. Although yesterday felt warm, today's rain makes it feel colder.
So, it's been about three days since my last episode.
But today I'd like to record another English voice diary.
Even though I've only released five episodes so far, I feel like my English skills are coming back as I've dedicated time to speaking English regularly.
Speaking English regularly is definitely a good thing.
It changes my mood and when I compare how I speak and the tone of my voice in English and Japanese.
I noticed the difference. English might have a slightly faster tempo.
I may not be able to upload every day, but I will continue.
As I mentioned in my Japanese voice diary a while ago last Friday,
while traveling from Tokyo to Osaka on the Shinkansen, there was a power outage in Hamamatsu causing the train to stop, so I made it to Shin-Osaka.
I couldn't catch the local train from there, and I had to stay at a hotel near Shin-Osaka on Friday night.
Fortunately, even though the Shinkansen stopped due to the power outage, it was restored in just about an hour and I was able to reach Shin-Osaka. I'm thankful for that.
Now on this Sunday, I'm at the dealership for my car's annual checkup.
Annual Car Checkup
I'm actually in the middle of getting my car inspected right now.
I've been driving this car for about 5 years and it hasn't racked up too many miles yet, so I hope it continues to serve me well.
My car is a BMW MINI crossover model, and this year, it's going through a model change.
MINI cars have always had a rounded design, but with the upcoming model change, it has been announced that they will have a slightly more angular design.
Personally, I like the current rounded design that I'm driving.
When it comes to car design, there are trends and a few years ago, the rounded design was predominant.
Right now, we seem to be at a middle point of transitioning towards a more angular design, so the current design incorporates some angular elements while still maintaining a rounded look.
It's interesting how you can see the trends and vibes of the times reflected in car designs. It's quite fascinating.
Speaking of cars, I'm looking forward to the evolution of autonomous driving features in the future.
Driving a car requires a lot of attention, and after these features become more advanced, it will reduce accidents caused by human errors and make travel safer.
I accept that in at least 10 years, we might see fully autonomous driving on highways.
Urban cities pose more complex challenges, so I think it might take longer for them to fully transition.
Transition to electronic vehicles in Japan
Additionally, I'm curious about the transition to electronic vehicles in Japan.
In Japan, companies like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are major players, but they have different strategies.
Toyota, with its substantial capital, has a comprehensive approach not only focusing on hybrid cars, but also investing in electric cars and high-durability powered vehicles.
On the other hand, Honda and Nissan, with fewer resources, have announced plans to shift their focus more towards electronic cars.
It will be interesting to see how these strategies play out in the next 10 years.
European and American car manufacturers also have different strategies.
But they all seem to agree on reducing environmental impact.
I hope that as we move forward, we can drive cars that are not only environmentally friendly, but also safe and comfortable.
Today I came for my car's annual check-ups, so I talked a bit about cars.
Let's meet again soon.
Everyone have a great day today.
