Last weekend, I was on the sea.
As I wrote here before, I tried to surf on the Christmas day.
My wet suit was not thick enough to surf for winter season. But I didn't have it, so I tried surfing, and won against the cold water. But, I had better buy a thicker suit soon next year, or I will catch a cold before catch the wave.
The wave was a little high and strong then. I could enjoy very well. I have realised my surfing skill is getting better even though the tempo is gradual.
Every time I surf, I seem to find something out. Now I can't explain what the "something" is, but it's something deep.
After surfing, I joined a party produced by the surf shop in which I keep my surf board. It was my first and good chance to know very well the people in surfer's community.
The main dish in the party was Crab. The shop staffs bought a lot of crabs (25kg!) in Hokkaido on internet. We cooked and ate them a lot. Boiled crab, Baked crab and pasta with crab. Everything was great. One of the shop staffs worked for Italian restaurant before, so the dishes were very tasty.
It is generally said that Crab mekes us silent, but we spent a good chatting time with these foods.
I am still a green boy surfer. That's why, I always have to behave as a modest amateur on the wave. I don't surf in a good big wave area on the sea, which is for high level surfers. I have to obey and follow veterans.
However, in the party situation, compared with all surfers, I can say I am a real party veteran.
Once I drink, I can easily go into the deep inside of people, and can catch the wave of voltage in the party. Maybe, this skill is sophisticated in my English school, Aeon. I don't know how the school influences my English. But it actually influences my social communication skill better.
So, I could enjoy talking very much with other surfers I saw for the first time there.
Although about 25 people joined the party, we couldn't eat all crabs. The quantity was certainly too much. For a while, I will not eat crabs.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
VS Adoption
In the last English class, we discussed adoption, based on the article for Madonna's adoption of an African boy in TIME.
Her adoption of the boy seems to be controvercial now in America. Some people think the boy is her accessory. They say that her aim would be to sell her name by the adoption. Madonna herself doesn't care for such an opinion, though.
In the class, everybody, including me, support adoption in general. However, we were not sure Madonna will be a good mama for the boy. Perhaps, she won't. She is very busy as a singer, so she couldn't stay in the house to bring up her new son.
But, I think we should support Madonna's case if it true.
We have to accept for the fact that kids can't choose their parents. In addition, also for new or alternative parents, I think it is true. That's why even if the parents can't spend their time with the kids, we shouldn't deny the adoption.
In Japan, adoption is not popular. Especially it is very rare for us to adopt non-Japanese. We have very limited choices to make a parents-children matching.
In the case that a Japanese couple can't have their kids for some physical reasons, adoption must be a good solution for them. But, Japanese doesn't look to prefer to it. We tend to value blood legitimacy. That's why Madonna's case looks very surprising for us.
I think we had better think things more logically.
Blood relation is not as important as we think.
Actually, a child relates to a mother in her body by blood before his/her being born. But the relation is a short period, just ten months. For a father, he can't have any blood relationship with the child. He can only find out a micro DNA level relationship in his son or daughter's blood.
For kids, the life after being born is more important than blood.
For example, if we find that we were thrown away when we were babies, and the persons we think parents found us one day, brought us to their house and had brought us up by now, and if now suddenly other persons came up to us, and told us that they were real parents, what will we think?
We can take a blood test soon. And, we realise the fact that they are auctually my real parents.
However, can we value the "my real parents"?
The answer must be "No". For us, the experience with the persons to bring me up until now must be more important.
I hope Japanese Madonna will emerge in the future even if Madonna couldn't be a good mama.
I think adopion will make Japanese society more flex.
Her adoption of the boy seems to be controvercial now in America. Some people think the boy is her accessory. They say that her aim would be to sell her name by the adoption. Madonna herself doesn't care for such an opinion, though.
In the class, everybody, including me, support adoption in general. However, we were not sure Madonna will be a good mama for the boy. Perhaps, she won't. She is very busy as a singer, so she couldn't stay in the house to bring up her new son.
But, I think we should support Madonna's case if it true.
We have to accept for the fact that kids can't choose their parents. In addition, also for new or alternative parents, I think it is true. That's why even if the parents can't spend their time with the kids, we shouldn't deny the adoption.
In Japan, adoption is not popular. Especially it is very rare for us to adopt non-Japanese. We have very limited choices to make a parents-children matching.
In the case that a Japanese couple can't have their kids for some physical reasons, adoption must be a good solution for them. But, Japanese doesn't look to prefer to it. We tend to value blood legitimacy. That's why Madonna's case looks very surprising for us.
I think we had better think things more logically.
Blood relation is not as important as we think.
Actually, a child relates to a mother in her body by blood before his/her being born. But the relation is a short period, just ten months. For a father, he can't have any blood relationship with the child. He can only find out a micro DNA level relationship in his son or daughter's blood.
For kids, the life after being born is more important than blood.
For example, if we find that we were thrown away when we were babies, and the persons we think parents found us one day, brought us to their house and had brought us up by now, and if now suddenly other persons came up to us, and told us that they were real parents, what will we think?
We can take a blood test soon. And, we realise the fact that they are auctually my real parents.
However, can we value the "my real parents"?
The answer must be "No". For us, the experience with the persons to bring me up until now must be more important.
I hope Japanese Madonna will emerge in the future even if Madonna couldn't be a good mama.
I think adopion will make Japanese society more flex.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
VS Announcement
I remember a funny announcement in an airplane on my recent Nagasaki trip.
"Attention. Attention please. Thank you for using this plane for your trip. We are going to support your comfortable trip, and promise safety flight.
In this plane, two flight attendants who like to chat will help you.
Ms. Nakatani, standing on the front side in this plane, is from Nagasaki prefecture. Plesase talk to her in Nagasaki local language, if you are the local. She was a manager of a foot ball team when she was an unversity student. So, she is familier with treating sweaty guys. Please take it easy to talk with her even if you have sweaty smell.
Ms. Kumamoto, standing on the center, will also help you. Recently she broke up with her boy friend dating for a long time. That's why, now she worry about this X'mas plan. Who will she spand the time with? Please talk to her. Thank you."
I laughed very much.
"Attention. Attention please. Thank you for using this plane for your trip. We are going to support your comfortable trip, and promise safety flight.
In this plane, two flight attendants who like to chat will help you.
Ms. Nakatani, standing on the front side in this plane, is from Nagasaki prefecture. Plesase talk to her in Nagasaki local language, if you are the local. She was a manager of a foot ball team when she was an unversity student. So, she is familier with treating sweaty guys. Please take it easy to talk with her even if you have sweaty smell.
Ms. Kumamoto, standing on the center, will also help you. Recently she broke up with her boy friend dating for a long time. That's why, now she worry about this X'mas plan. Who will she spand the time with? Please talk to her. Thank you."
I laughed very much.
Friday, December 15, 2006
VS Artist
I had the chance to drink with a film directer recently. Invited from my customer, I watched a movie, and after that, I could talk about the movie with the directer in a drinking place.
The movie was a bibliography for a Japanese artist, Isson Tanaka. He was a genious drawer after the world war II, but now he has been forgotten for a long time in Japan. Because, he didn't sell his pictures to others at all, except for only one.
If an artist wouldn't sell his works, nobody can know his existence in this modern capitalism society. That's why the existence of Isson Tanaka was forgotten in Japan. The film directer knew the artist by chance, and made the film.
Isson Tanaka was known as a talented artist when he was a student in an art school. However, he couldn't get along well with the authorities in the artists' society. He was honest to his own sense of beauty. So, he could criticise his teacher's work.
That's why, many people hated him, alas, in any competitions, he couldn't get a prize.
But, Isson was not interested in comercial success, so he threw away the connection with the community of artists, and went to Amami islamd, which was the farest western place before Okinawa came back to Japan.
On the island, he lived in an old, thrown house, and had worked as a painter in a factory for three years. After the three years, he quited the job, and started to draw pictures.
For the cost of living in the island was low, he could concentrate on his artist's work for two years.
After the two years, he restarted to work, and after next three years, his artist's work restarted. His life was like that.
Altough he was a strange man, the people in the island loved him. But, nobody watched his works. Because, he didn't show his works to others.
His aim was to have the exhibition of his works in Tokyo someday. It might have been his revenge against the authorities in artist's community. So, until the day, he would not like to show them to anyone.
For Isson, No.1 artist was Picasso. And, No.2 was himself.
I couldn't judge whether it's true or not, but the film directer told me that his works were certainly great.
However, in the end, he couldn't have his exhibition in his life. Because he was poor. It's too costly for him to have an exhibition in Tokyo.
Isson was supported by many people in the island, especially by a family managing a small souvenier shop. The shop had sold cheap plates.
One day, some tourists came to the shop, to find something interesting in the island. But they were not interseted in the plates.
When they went out from the shop, they broke a plate by their carelessness. They asked Isson (He was there by chance.) how much it was.
He told them very expensive price.
The tourists were surprised, and became angry soon.
But, Isson was more angry with them. For him, any art work is "only one". He couldn't excuse their fault.
This episode impressed the shop owner, who had thought his works were not special. He respected Isson's thought of art, and asked him to buy his work. Isson told him that the work cost a million yen. The price was very high for the shop owner. However, by using his saving, by selling his house and by borrowing money, he bought one of Isson's works.
The work bacame the only one exception to be sold in a lot of Isson's unsold works.
Isson died unknown in Amai island.
I think "only one" is his discipline of art. He valued the first meeting of art works, so didn't show his works to others. For us, his thinking might be too strict, but it could be an important idea in this eara that we can't be surprised at anything when watching it, because everything looks unspecial.
The movie was a bibliography for a Japanese artist, Isson Tanaka. He was a genious drawer after the world war II, but now he has been forgotten for a long time in Japan. Because, he didn't sell his pictures to others at all, except for only one.
If an artist wouldn't sell his works, nobody can know his existence in this modern capitalism society. That's why the existence of Isson Tanaka was forgotten in Japan. The film directer knew the artist by chance, and made the film.
Isson Tanaka was known as a talented artist when he was a student in an art school. However, he couldn't get along well with the authorities in the artists' society. He was honest to his own sense of beauty. So, he could criticise his teacher's work.
That's why, many people hated him, alas, in any competitions, he couldn't get a prize.
But, Isson was not interested in comercial success, so he threw away the connection with the community of artists, and went to Amami islamd, which was the farest western place before Okinawa came back to Japan.
On the island, he lived in an old, thrown house, and had worked as a painter in a factory for three years. After the three years, he quited the job, and started to draw pictures.
For the cost of living in the island was low, he could concentrate on his artist's work for two years.
After the two years, he restarted to work, and after next three years, his artist's work restarted. His life was like that.
Altough he was a strange man, the people in the island loved him. But, nobody watched his works. Because, he didn't show his works to others.
His aim was to have the exhibition of his works in Tokyo someday. It might have been his revenge against the authorities in artist's community. So, until the day, he would not like to show them to anyone.
For Isson, No.1 artist was Picasso. And, No.2 was himself.
I couldn't judge whether it's true or not, but the film directer told me that his works were certainly great.
However, in the end, he couldn't have his exhibition in his life. Because he was poor. It's too costly for him to have an exhibition in Tokyo.
Isson was supported by many people in the island, especially by a family managing a small souvenier shop. The shop had sold cheap plates.
One day, some tourists came to the shop, to find something interesting in the island. But they were not interseted in the plates.
When they went out from the shop, they broke a plate by their carelessness. They asked Isson (He was there by chance.) how much it was.
He told them very expensive price.
The tourists were surprised, and became angry soon.
But, Isson was more angry with them. For him, any art work is "only one". He couldn't excuse their fault.
This episode impressed the shop owner, who had thought his works were not special. He respected Isson's thought of art, and asked him to buy his work. Isson told him that the work cost a million yen. The price was very high for the shop owner. However, by using his saving, by selling his house and by borrowing money, he bought one of Isson's works.
The work bacame the only one exception to be sold in a lot of Isson's unsold works.
Isson died unknown in Amai island.
I think "only one" is his discipline of art. He valued the first meeting of art works, so didn't show his works to others. For us, his thinking might be too strict, but it could be an important idea in this eara that we can't be surprised at anything when watching it, because everything looks unspecial.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
VS Nagasaki China town
I stayed in a hotel near Nagasaki China town.
In Japan, there are three China town. One is in Yokohama. It is the biggest one. Another is in Kobe. And, the last is in Nagasaki.
Nagasaki China town is small. It has just two streets. (They are crossed.) We can walk around the town within ten minutes. After the ten minutes, we would lose the things we can do.
Why did I stay near the small town? What could I do there?
My aim was the only one thing. It was to eat an unique noodle food there. The food name is Chanpon.
Chanpon. The meaning is "Mix at random."
When we drink wine, beer, wokka and any other alchool at a single night, we call it Chanpon in Japan. The noodle food is like that.
A lot of sea foods, meats and vegetables are used in the dish. So, the looking is very gorgeous, and the taste is complex and heavy.
I went to Kouzanrou, the chinese restaurant famous for Chanpon, with my friends. Before going to the restaurant, we had a research in Nagasaki. We asked some people, taxi drivers and hotel staffs, where we should go to eat Chanpon.
Some people recommend us to go to Kouzanrou.
Autually, the recommendation was good. We enjoyed great Chanpon there.
To be honest, I didn't like Chanpon before because the taste was not organized or sophisticated for me. But this time, I changed my opinion to Chanpon. It's a great food.
Walking around Nagasaki city, I found another unique food.
The name is "Turkish Rice".
Turkish Rice?
It is the dish of a humberg, a spaghetti and a curry rice on a same plate. It's Chanpon of the dishes Japanese kids love.
I don't know why the dish name is Turkish Rice. But, anyway, I understood the eating desire of Nagasaki people is tremendously strong.
In Japan, there are three China town. One is in Yokohama. It is the biggest one. Another is in Kobe. And, the last is in Nagasaki.
Nagasaki China town is small. It has just two streets. (They are crossed.) We can walk around the town within ten minutes. After the ten minutes, we would lose the things we can do.
Why did I stay near the small town? What could I do there?
My aim was the only one thing. It was to eat an unique noodle food there. The food name is Chanpon.
Chanpon. The meaning is "Mix at random."
When we drink wine, beer, wokka and any other alchool at a single night, we call it Chanpon in Japan. The noodle food is like that.
A lot of sea foods, meats and vegetables are used in the dish. So, the looking is very gorgeous, and the taste is complex and heavy.
I went to Kouzanrou, the chinese restaurant famous for Chanpon, with my friends. Before going to the restaurant, we had a research in Nagasaki. We asked some people, taxi drivers and hotel staffs, where we should go to eat Chanpon.
Some people recommend us to go to Kouzanrou.
Autually, the recommendation was good. We enjoyed great Chanpon there.
To be honest, I didn't like Chanpon before because the taste was not organized or sophisticated for me. But this time, I changed my opinion to Chanpon. It's a great food.
Walking around Nagasaki city, I found another unique food.
The name is "Turkish Rice".
Turkish Rice?
It is the dish of a humberg, a spaghetti and a curry rice on a same plate. It's Chanpon of the dishes Japanese kids love.
I don't know why the dish name is Turkish Rice. But, anyway, I understood the eating desire of Nagasaki people is tremendously strong.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
VS Two Cultures
Kyusyu seems to become my hometown-like area in Japan. Last weekend, I went there again to celebrate my friend Kousei's wedding. On the day before his wedding party, I had a drink with my friends, Unchained Dogs Four, in Fukuoka. And, the next day, I went to Nagasaki, the city for the wedding party, with a dull headache.
I heard from an old song that Nagasaki is rainy everyday, but it was fine on the wedding day. I think I had visited Nagasaki in my childhood. But now I don't have any memory of the visit, so when I reached there this time, it was the same as the first visit.
Nagasaki has the sea. The view of the sea is very beautiful.
On the other hand, the view "from" sea is nice too.
The land of Nagasaki is almost a mountain. On the mountain, a lot of houses and buildings are built. So, at night time, the night view from the sea-side to the mountain-side is very beautiful.
The wedding party was a kind of mixture of two cultures.
The groom is from Aomori prefecture. It is located in the north-east of Japan. It's cold in winter. By the effect of the climate character, the people is silent and patient. The groom is not actually silent, though.
The bride is from Nagasaki prefecture in Kyusyu, which is located in the south-west. It's a warm area. The people is basically aggressive. In addition, Nagasaki has a historical character. It was only one place where Japanese people can contact with foreigners during Edo period, 150-400 years ago. So, the life style of Nagasaki people is multi-cultural.
The groom and bride came into the party room with the music of Tsugaru-Shamisen, which is an old musical equipment in the north-west. The music was uncommen in a wedding party, but it was fitted to them at the time.
Wedding party always starts with a short( sometimes unfortunately long) speech by a guest, and a call of "Cheers!" by another guest.
However, this time, we started with "soup drinking".
It is Nagasaki culture to celebrate people.
Although Japan is small, I have a lot of cultures I don't know. I could enjoy new things in the party.
Once the party started, all I should do is to drink, drink, drink, sometimes pour beer for others, drink again, drink, drink and drink.
The quantity of my drink is proportional to the extent of the happiness I shared with the groom and bride.
That's why, I was heavily drunk at the night. I can't remember when I went back to my hotel?
I heard from an old song that Nagasaki is rainy everyday, but it was fine on the wedding day. I think I had visited Nagasaki in my childhood. But now I don't have any memory of the visit, so when I reached there this time, it was the same as the first visit.
Nagasaki has the sea. The view of the sea is very beautiful.
On the other hand, the view "from" sea is nice too.
The land of Nagasaki is almost a mountain. On the mountain, a lot of houses and buildings are built. So, at night time, the night view from the sea-side to the mountain-side is very beautiful.
The wedding party was a kind of mixture of two cultures.
The groom is from Aomori prefecture. It is located in the north-east of Japan. It's cold in winter. By the effect of the climate character, the people is silent and patient. The groom is not actually silent, though.
The bride is from Nagasaki prefecture in Kyusyu, which is located in the south-west. It's a warm area. The people is basically aggressive. In addition, Nagasaki has a historical character. It was only one place where Japanese people can contact with foreigners during Edo period, 150-400 years ago. So, the life style of Nagasaki people is multi-cultural.
The groom and bride came into the party room with the music of Tsugaru-Shamisen, which is an old musical equipment in the north-west. The music was uncommen in a wedding party, but it was fitted to them at the time.
Wedding party always starts with a short( sometimes unfortunately long) speech by a guest, and a call of "Cheers!" by another guest.
However, this time, we started with "soup drinking".
It is Nagasaki culture to celebrate people.
Although Japan is small, I have a lot of cultures I don't know. I could enjoy new things in the party.
Once the party started, all I should do is to drink, drink, drink, sometimes pour beer for others, drink again, drink, drink and drink.
The quantity of my drink is proportional to the extent of the happiness I shared with the groom and bride.
That's why, I was heavily drunk at the night. I can't remember when I went back to my hotel?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)