From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Japan

Dear Mr. Joe Jutras,

Hello. Ifm an English teacher at a public high school in Okayama prefecture in Japan. Ifm sorry about this sudden message to you.

My students in one of my classes read an article about your world record pumpkin at http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2007-10-29-voa3.cfm.

Although my studentsf English was not very good, they wrote some messages to you. I hope you will have a chance to see this message and you donft mind read messages from my students.

Anyhow, Omdedeto Gozaimasu (Congratulations!) on your winning.

Sincerely yours,

Chikako Ooishi
Okayama Prefectural Tsuyama Commercial High School
http://www.tusho.okayama-c.ed.jp/


Congratulations! What a nice pumpkin! (Yukiho)
Oh, my! Itfs mind boggling! I was deeply moved! (Akihiro)
Your pumpkin is very big! (Ayaka) (Haruna) (Ruri)
Good job, Mr. Jutras. I want to eat that pumpkin! (Shiori)
Your pumpkin is very huge and very nice! (Koyuki)
Your pumpkin is very bid /(euf)/. How is the taste? (Remi)
Your pumpkin is big! Can you enter it? (Ai)
Excellent! (Ayana)
I was surprised at the size of your pumpkin. (Yusuke)
What was difficult while you were growing a pumpkin? (Yuko)
I want to try to cut it! (Mao)
You are wonderful! I respect you. I want to eat your pumpkin. I expect you to keep going. (Yukari)
Is your pumpkin delicious? (Yuki)
Was/Is the pumpkin eaten by you? I want to eat your pumpkin! (Saki)
Do you like to eat a pumpkin? Do you eat the big pumpkin? (Sayuri)
Hello. Your pumpkin is really big. I want to try to grow a bigger pumpkin than yours. (Kei)

11/5/2007 10:17:36 PM

Santa Rosa California

that was a very nice message to joe i'm pretty sure they wont eat though

11/6/2007 11:22:25 AM

Japan

Thank you for your message, scbbbc.
I will let my studnets read your message and know
that they will not a big pumpkin.

11/6/2007 7:20:11 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

It looks like your students are on the way to learning good english. I'm guessing that pumpkin is a common food in Japan. Here in the U.S., it seems pumpkins are grown mostly for Halloween, and fall displays. Some do eat pumpkins here. Winter squash is more commonly eaten, I think. Pumpkin pie is quite common on Thanksgiving Holiday. Pie pumpkins, and eating pumpkins are typically smaller. About 2-3 Kg(5-6 lbs.). I think in some countries, pumpkin and squash are interchangeable terms. I've never tried eating a giant pumpkin, maybe it would taste good.
It's nice to see you and your students take an interest in our hobby. Best regards, Doug.

11/6/2007 7:44:36 PM

Massachusettts

Chikako -

You are obviously doing a great job, your student's English is excellent! I know Mr. Jutras, he's a great person, when he sees this message I'm sure he'll respond himself. It's quite an honor to receive so much praise from half a world away!

Craig

11/6/2007 7:48:13 PM

Santa Rosa California

a bit closer to you is the japan world record here is pic for your classhttp://www.backyardgardener.com/images/Japanese_Pumpkin_Record.jpg

11/6/2007 8:49:12 PM

no.scituate R I

Thank you all for your congratulatory messages and kind words. This was a very exciting year for me. I never thought my pumpkin would be a new world record! I really enjoy growing giant pumpkins. They grow so fast you can almost watch them grow! I have not eaten any of my pumpkins, but I did see the pumpkin eating contest held in Rhode Island this past summer. There were teams from the U.S. and Japan. The Japanese contestants were Natsuko "Gal" Sone and Nobuyuki "the Giant" Shirota. The U.S. contestants were "Gentleman" Joe Menchetti and Elizabeth "Rubber Gut" Canaby. The contestants had to eat dishes made with pumpkin. It was amazing how much they all could eat! The contest was taped for a show that was to air in Japan. Has anyone seen it? It was a great show. Keep up the good work. Your English is wonderful! You are lucky to have a great teacher!
Best regards, Joe Jutras

11/6/2007 10:04:07 PM

Dallas, Oregon

Joe Jutras Ichi Bon

11/6/2007 11:55:43 PM

Delaware, Ohio

What a great post...This is the best site!! Chikako, we have over 100 students from Japan visiting our local schools this week. My 12 year old is learning some of your language. And enjoying the interaction between the cultures. Best of luck to you and your students. I don't know if I can mail seeds over seas but I can try if your students would like some giant pumpkin seeds to try to grow or just to see what these huge pumpkins come from, email me, [email protected]
Chriss Cawley
Delaware, Ohio USA

11/7/2007 1:04:17 AM

Japan

Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for your kind messages. I got very excited and so touched.

Today just before I went to a lesson, I checked this message board and realized that we received several messages. Can you imagine how I was happy and excited about your messages including from Mr. Jutras? Happy faces of my students came to my mind. I went to a classroom much earlier than usual, since I just could not wait. As soon as the lesson started, I let them know that there was a wonderful news. They asked me, "Have we got a message from Mr. Jutras?" They found the answer from my smiling face. They were really, really excited. I gave a handout on which the messages were printed. They worked really hard to read them.

Anyway, Mr. Jutras, thank you so much for your message. When my students found your name on the handout I gave to them, they shouted!!!
Doug, thank you for the information. My studnets leanred new things about a pumpkin.
scbbbc, that is interesting. We will visit the site you showed to us. Thank you.
Ms. Chriss Cawley, they have not read your message yet. I cannot wait for the next lesson. I am pretty sure that your kind offer is another exciting news for them.
Basketcase, Yes, definitely Mr. Jutras is NO.1!!

Thank you again for all of you.
Well, my students are now trying to write a new message to you. I will post them here when they turn it in. I would be happy if you did not mind reading them.

Thank you. Have a nice day.

Sincerely yours,

Chikako Ooishi
Tsuyama Commercial High School

11/7/2007 7:38:03 AM

Japan

I also posted two pictures of my students.

11/7/2007 7:52:51 AM

Rhode Island

the japanese culture is a fasinating one to be sure.
when the eating competition was held here at the wallace house this past summer i made some very good new friends.
if countries could communicate as we do there would be less violence in the world.
you kids should start growing some giant pumpkins. you would have a really great time of it. even as a school project.
thank you
pap wallace

11/7/2007 6:03:16 PM

Ohio

Joe,Pap, did you ever get a copy of that eating contest that was held at your residence in RI that was showed in Japan? Id like to see it.

Brooks

11/8/2007 11:17:33 AM

Japan

Hello, Mr. Wallace and everyone. I do agree with you. As you mentioned, I think having communication and trying to get to know each other is very important. We will not hurt anyone whom we think is precious.

Anyway, here is more messages from my students. They tried to write more in English after they got messages from all of you. Thank you.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely yours,

Chikako Ooishi (Tsuyama Commercial H.S.)

P.S. Please forgive us for mistakes of the English language. I hope you do not mind them.

11/9/2007 11:23:16 PM

Japan

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Thank you for reading our messages. Natsuko "Gal" Sone and Nobuyuki "the Giant" Shirota are very famous in Japan.
I expect you to raise a bigger pumpkin in the future. (Yukiho)

Thank you for replying to us. I want your big pumpkin. I hope you will make a new world record again. (Ayaka)

Thank you for your messages. Your messages made us happy. (Koyuki)

Thank you for your answers. I was really happy. Please keep trying to grow a bigger pumpkin. Keep going to it! (Mami)

How did you get to know Natsuko "Gal" Sone and Nobuyuki "the Giant" Shirota? (Sayuri)

Thank you for your messages. I want to grow a big pumpkin. I hope you will make another world record. (Yuki)

Thank you for your nice messages. I did not watch the show on TV. But, I want to see it. (Yukari)

Thank you for your messages. I became happy. I think you are great people. I would like to see the pumpkin someday. (Yuko)

Thank you for your messages. I am glad. Please make new world record again!

Thank you for reading our messages. (Yusuke)

Oh! Mr. Joe Jutras! (Kei)

Thank you for your messages. I am very surprised. Please let us know pumpkin taste when you make a pie from it. I did not watch the TV show. I wanted to watch it. I think that my teacher is very nice and cute!(Misaki)

I appreciate your kindness to reply to us. Mr. Jutras, all the credit goes to you. (Hiroaki)

Hello, Mr. Jutras. Gal Sone is amazing! Anyway, I want to see you. (Yasumasa)

Thank you. I did not watch the TV show. Well, where is your pumpkin now? (Ai)

Thank you for your messages. I want to try to eat a part of your pumpkin. I like a pumpkin very much. (Remi)

11/9/2007 11:23:27 PM