VS Hakone

Two Aussie friends visited Japan to see thier grand son. I went to Hakone with them for sight-seeing. I was not sure that they were interested in hot springs and old Japanese cultures. But, I like them. So, I arranged this trip for myself, and hopefully for them.

We stayed in an old hotel, Fukuzumiro (http://www.fukuzumi-ro.com/index.htm). The hotel is 115 years old. In the long history, to write a story, there stayed a lot of famous novelists; Yasunari Kawabata, Jiro Osaragi, Eijiro Yoshikawa and so on. Actually, the hotel is silent. We can listen to only the sound of river near the hotel. The condition is good for thinking about and writing something.

The hot spring of the hotel is not big. But, the quality of the water is good. The hotel doesn't use the water again, so it is very clean. Not using the water again means that they have an origine of hot spring, and they can use the water very much. Non-recycled hot spring water is very heavy. So, after the bath, we become tired. It means that the water is very effective.

After enjoying hot spring, we ate Japanese traditional dishes. We started with Japanese vegetables and Sake. The main dish was Syabu Syabu, a kind of pot food. And, we finished with rice and miso-soup. Unfortunatelly, some foods were bad for two Aussies; for example, raw fish. But, of course, I enjoyed everything.
There is an old bar in the hotel. We went to the bar after the dinner.Many novelists must have used this bar, after finishing writing a story. When I was drinking whisky there, I tried to make a poem.

"Hey an old pond, a flog jumped into you, making the sound of water."

Great poem. Beautiful.

We met other tour groups there. They were a company's salesmen group. We drunk with them and sang Karaoke together. My friends enjoyed very much, because they loves a big party. It must be the best experience for them in this trip. On the next day after Hakone night, we went to Asakusa for shopping. My friends bought a lot of Japanese classical wears; Kimono, Yukata and Jinbei. Now, it is an early summer in Australia. The wears must be good in this season, for them.

VS Bird flu

In my discussion class, we talked about "Bird flu". It is now a big issue in the world. But, not in Japan. To be honest, I was not iterested in this issue. I didn't think it relates to me. However, I realised I have to think about it seriously. Because newsparers say a few people died of the flu in China, and I ate a few chicken foods in China! Actually I had a stomachache in China. But it was caused by my eating spicy foods a lot, I hope.

I can't compare Japan with foreign countries, but I think Japan is a very clean country. We are very sensitive to keep everything clean. So, we can't imagine a deadly illness spreads here.
However, China and Japan is very close. And, Japan imports many thing, including chicken, from China. If the flu spreads in China, it will easily come to Japan. Fortunately, the dead people is a rare case now. Thus, we don't have to afraid of it too much. The people lived in a rural area in China. I think their living condition is not clean enough. Virus likes to live in a dirty area. So, we have to keep our public health clean.
In Shanghai, I watched many people cleaning a street in an early morning. So, I think that a big city like Shanghai is safe. But, safely I add that my thinking is not based on scientific reason, for this issue. Even in a clean area, virus might spread easily.

Japanese government seems to start to think Bird flu is a big problem.
Recently, a new laboratory was built in Tokyo ,for studying a infectious disease.
They needs medical books to study it. And, medical books are very expensive. And, I am a book-salesman. So, I have to go to the laboratory, to help them protect our world from the disease.
I had an appointment with a staff in the laboratory, and met her.
However, because she has an another favorite bookstore, she seemed to have no interest in my proposal.

Sorry, I can't save Japan.

VS Cross Roads

A lot of hair desingners is getting together in my city, hon-atsugi. I don't know the reason, but hair salons are increasing here now, even though the population of this city starts to decrease. Our hair growing speed might become faster than before. It's the only one rational reason.

I went to a hair salon, Cross Roads. (http://www.geocities.jp/crossroads_hm/ )
This shop is on a cross road near the south exit of the station. Only two professional hair designers are working there.
I chose this shop for my hair cut before, because it is very small. Small shop is good to keep private atomosphere. I don't like big "hair cut" factries.

Mr. Ogawa, the shop owner, trained for hair designing in New York. He desinged a lot of model's hair there. New York is one of the biggest cities for competition of hair salons and designers. I heard that each race has a different character of hair. Altough most Japanese hair designers have treated only Japanese hair, he has the technique to treat different types of hair.

Ms. Sekiguchi, the shop staff, can not only design hairs but also arrange how to wear the traditional Japanese cloth. As we know, Japanese old wear, especially for women, is very complex. It needs a skill to wear it beautifully. She cuts my hair everytime.

For foreigners in Japan, it would be difficult to find a good hair salon. First difficulty is a language. Second difficulty is a designer's skill.
So is Japanese.
It was very difficult for me to choose a hair salon, when I came to a new city. After many trial, I reached this shop.

By the way, there was a good ramen restaurant near Cross Roads. (To be precise, there "is", but the shop owner changed, so the taste also changed. Thus, for me, there "was".) The ramen was the best miso-taste ramen I have ever eaten. I heard that the previous shop owner will start a new restaurant. I can't miss it.

VS Red Dragon

I went to Shanghai last week. This was the third time trip to Shanghai in this year. Last two trips was in February and March. They were before a big anti-Japan movement in China. This third time trip was just after President Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni shrine. Many things has happened between last trip and this.

In last two trip, I couldn't talk with Chinese people for my lack of knowledge about Chinese language. But, this time, I studied Chinese language before going there. I thought I have to prepare for a debate with Chinese people for a controversial topic. I am now going to an English discussion class every week. So, I am proud of beating others by language. I thought I can win when I have a debate with Chinese. However, my Chinese is terrible. I can say "Hello", "Good bye", "Thank you" and "You are welcome" in Chinese. That's all! There is a big gap between my ambition and ability.

I experienced many new things in this trip.
When we arrived at Shanghai, we went to a middle-easten bar soon. And, we enjoyed a water-pipe there. It was an amazing equipment. Although I was not good at smoking because I don't smoke in Japan, I could taste the unique flavour.
There were many Turkish in the bar. I have never been to Turky, but I know Turky is where I will die in the future. So, I felt I was in a heaven at that time. There were a lot of angels there.

We went to DJ SASHA's show in a night club. I don't know about DJ play well, but it was a good experience. I thought DJ play is a kind of communication between DJ and the audience. His control of the audience and dancers was good. In fact, I was also controled. I was made danced even though I don't dance in Japan.
He will come to Japan in this month. I have to check his magical play again.

I went to my favorite spicy Chinese restaurant again. Last time, I got a VIP card of the restaurant. As a VIP, I went there.
Most dishes are very hot in the restaurant. My stomach was damaged very much before. So, I selected the menu carefully this time. But, I couldn't escape from stomachache again after the dinner.
I met a female staff I know again. Every time I came there, she surved me, by chance. I got the VIP card from her.
I tried to communicate with her in my terrible Chinese.
" Ni hao ma?"
Her reply was "Ni hao."
I am not sure that the reply "Ni hao" is correct to "Ni hao ma?". But, I want to think I can make a conversation in Chinese.

I went to check three bookstores in Shanghai. Because I will challange a publishing business in China and other Asian countries, in the future.
To be honest, the bookstore in Shangahi is tiny, and not interesting. It is very strange. Because China is one of the biggest publishing countries. On language level, English books are published most in a year. Chinese books are No.2 in the world. But, English books is American book plus England book. So, on country level, I think China is the biggest publishing country. I can't understand why these bookstores are small.

I bought some Chinese tea as a souvenier. After coming back to Japan, I went to a Hawaiian bar, and drunk Shochu with Jasmine tea. It was very delicious. Chinese tea is interesting. Some tea is Art. Now, I am writing this article with drinking pu er tea. It is strongly cleaning my inner body.

Many things to write! But, I finish this article at this point.
Now, this blog site can be read in China. However, it is impossible to write a comment there. It's strange. But, anyway, we can expect to communicate with the people in China freely soon.

VS Halloween

I had two Halloween parties last weekend. The first was Aeon's. Many students joined it and enjoyed drinking beer and singing in Karaoke. The second was Holo holo's. We enjoyed Hawaiian beer and foods very much. When I look around, I find that many bars and restaurants have Halloween party. Now, Halloween is becoming popular in Japan.
But, it is still difficult for me to find a good costume. Maybe, also for most Japanese people, it's difficult. Because, we feel ashamed to wear a strange costume a little! So, we have a dilemma between enjoying more and being ashamed. I know, we have to throw something away, to get something. Halloween is a kind of test for me.

From now, I'm going to China.
Time to fly.