2009/01/08 (Thu) Happy New Year!! The New Year has arrived! Happy New Year! I haven't been able to update message in a long time. To tell you what I was doing during the latter half of last year was performing in a play. We performed the play in October. We started preparing in the summer, and we rehearsed for 2 long months, and it turned out quite well. It had been a while since I had done a play. Though it was a difficult role for me, I felt I was able to get a lot out of it and there were many things that I could learn. And I also I feel this experience will benefit me both now and in the future. And just after that, I was offered a role in a play for February of this year. This is my first job this year. In order to make this a good year, I'll do my best to start it off right. I am sorry I haven't been able to respond to each of the messages you kindly sent me. I have read all of your letters. And I always feel very happy reading them. I was very grateful to receive many of your Happy Birthday greetings. Thank you so much. This year too, I want to move forward with all my might. I hope this year 2009 will be a wonderful year for all of you. Juri Manase