Now I'm writing this blog excited. Today I went to Leah Dizon's first memorial historical great super live in Roppongi. Maybe because my behaiver is good everyday, I could get the very rare ticket which the only limited people can get.
As you know (if you are Japanese.), she is becoming popular in Japan now. She started with a gravier model, and now she is a singer. She released her first songs recently. So, we can sometimes watch her singing on TV.
However, when it comes to me, I've never watched her on TV because I have only a broken television. So, the live was my first time to watch moving and singing Leah Dizon.
The live space was surrounded by a kind of enthusiasm.
It was her first live. Nobody had never watched her live.
I think it is very easy for you to understand the very special situtation. Everybody looked excited.
Especially, the girl sitting next to my seat looked very excited. Before the live, she looked not to wait for Leah's coming in front of us.
Then, at last, her live started with her new song.
My first impression was this.
"Gash. She is moving."
All audiences seemed to look at her moving and singing very carefully. We wouldn't miss anything in front of us in the live.
The girl next to me had repeated "Kawaii, Kawaii" many times. I agree with her. I also repeated it in my mind.
After some songs and her talk, the lot corner started.
Only five audieces could get the chance to take pictures with Leah Dizon on the stage.
Don't be surprised. I got it.
Again. I got it.
My seat number was called, and I was ordered to come to the stage.
If I express the feeling at the moment by one word, it was "guilty". Of courese I was very happy at the moment, but I knew the girl next to me was a super fan, so I couldn't look at the girl at the moment.
But, anyway, I was on the stage, very close to Leah Dizon. I could get a picture with her, and shaked hands with her.
I was required to say a comment on the stage, but I couldn't say anything special. At the moment, I was the sandwitch of Guilty and Happiness. There was no comment fitted to my feeling at the moment.
After the live, my friends told me that I finished to use all fortunes in this year. I think so too. But the fortune deserves one year. So, I'm satisfied with it. Cheers.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
VS Kojima Usui
Kojima Usui. He was a banker in Meiji period. He worked for a bank all through his life.
But he had other unique aspects. He loved climbing and loved literature. So, he published a magazine to focus on nature writing. In addition, he was a great collecter of art works.
Now we can watch his great collection in Yokohama Museum of Art. I went to the museum with my customer recently.
I didn't know him before going to watch the exhibition. As everyone could do so, I realised soon his scale-wide world when watching the collection. He was interested in many genres of art, so his collection is huge.
At first, he collected a lot of Japanese pictures which went abroad. When he worked for foreign branches of his bank, he bought many Japanese pictures there.
Why did he buy them not in Japan but in foreign countries?
Japanese didn't understand the value of Japanese art at first, so many important Japanese art works were bought by foreigners in Meiji period. It meaned that Japanese lost their own estates.
Kojima Usui was the one of the first Japanese to understand the significance of Japanese art, so he tried to collect them in foreign countries. In the exhibition, we can watch many famous Japanese pictures by Hiroshige, Hokusai and others.
Not only Japanese works but also Westeners' were the target of his collection. Millet, Manet, Hugo, Degas, Renoir, Gogh, Picasso and many others are included. We can watch these big names at the same time in the exhibition. I think it's great.
In addition of these great art works, he collected strange things like advertisements. Maybe in the eara when he lived, people didn't see them art. But, now, from our viewpoints, these strange things look a kind of art.
I had the chance to talk with the professinal in the museum.
He told me that Usui's world was very big, so even for the professionals, it was very difficult to study him fully.
I heard that there are about 900 works in Usui's collection.
But we can watch only 200 works in the exhibition, because the museum doesn't have enough space to show all his collection. If you have a chance, I can recommend you to watch the huge collection in the museum.
But he had other unique aspects. He loved climbing and loved literature. So, he published a magazine to focus on nature writing. In addition, he was a great collecter of art works.
Now we can watch his great collection in Yokohama Museum of Art. I went to the museum with my customer recently.
I didn't know him before going to watch the exhibition. As everyone could do so, I realised soon his scale-wide world when watching the collection. He was interested in many genres of art, so his collection is huge.
At first, he collected a lot of Japanese pictures which went abroad. When he worked for foreign branches of his bank, he bought many Japanese pictures there.
Why did he buy them not in Japan but in foreign countries?
Japanese didn't understand the value of Japanese art at first, so many important Japanese art works were bought by foreigners in Meiji period. It meaned that Japanese lost their own estates.
Kojima Usui was the one of the first Japanese to understand the significance of Japanese art, so he tried to collect them in foreign countries. In the exhibition, we can watch many famous Japanese pictures by Hiroshige, Hokusai and others.
Not only Japanese works but also Westeners' were the target of his collection. Millet, Manet, Hugo, Degas, Renoir, Gogh, Picasso and many others are included. We can watch these big names at the same time in the exhibition. I think it's great.
In addition of these great art works, he collected strange things like advertisements. Maybe in the eara when he lived, people didn't see them art. But, now, from our viewpoints, these strange things look a kind of art.
I had the chance to talk with the professinal in the museum.
He told me that Usui's world was very big, so even for the professionals, it was very difficult to study him fully.
I heard that there are about 900 works in Usui's collection.
But we can watch only 200 works in the exhibition, because the museum doesn't have enough space to show all his collection. If you have a chance, I can recommend you to watch the huge collection in the museum.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
VS St.Patrick's day
Now it doesn't deserve to be compared with Christmas day and even with Halloween day, but St.Patrck's day actually and steadily seems to become popular in Japan.
March 17th is the day. Irish people celebrate St.Patrick, who was the first person brought Christianity into Ireland.
I heard that everybody have to drink Irish beer Guiness all through the day on this weekend.
So, I went to Irish pub in Machida last night.
I went to the pub soon after it was open, because I wanted to drink in a happy hour. But, the day was special. All time was a happy hour.
When I went to the pub, there was only one customer drinking beer. But most seats had already been reserved.
And soon the pub became full.
I started with,of course, Guiness. The pub was decorated by green, Irish color, and Celt music sounded there. I don't know why, but a wolf man movie was on the TV screen in the pub. I thought it was fitted to the Irish festival mood.
I could enjoy the day fully, but the only one thing I don't know remains. How does St.Patrick's religious matter relate to the beer drinking? I read the explanation for the day in the pub, but I couldn't get enough information.
In Japan, the new year day has a religious meaning the most. Japanese drink sake in a temple or a shrine. The sake has a religious meaning then. People think it makes us clean.
I don't know Guiness beer has such a meaning, but the relationship of Religion and Alcohol is understandable, and even in the case that they have no relationship, I still continue to drink. Happy St.Patrick's day.
March 17th is the day. Irish people celebrate St.Patrick, who was the first person brought Christianity into Ireland.
I heard that everybody have to drink Irish beer Guiness all through the day on this weekend.
So, I went to Irish pub in Machida last night.
I went to the pub soon after it was open, because I wanted to drink in a happy hour. But, the day was special. All time was a happy hour.
When I went to the pub, there was only one customer drinking beer. But most seats had already been reserved.
And soon the pub became full.
I started with,of course, Guiness. The pub was decorated by green, Irish color, and Celt music sounded there. I don't know why, but a wolf man movie was on the TV screen in the pub. I thought it was fitted to the Irish festival mood.
I could enjoy the day fully, but the only one thing I don't know remains. How does St.Patrick's religious matter relate to the beer drinking? I read the explanation for the day in the pub, but I couldn't get enough information.
In Japan, the new year day has a religious meaning the most. Japanese drink sake in a temple or a shrine. The sake has a religious meaning then. People think it makes us clean.
I don't know Guiness beer has such a meaning, but the relationship of Religion and Alcohol is understandable, and even in the case that they have no relationship, I still continue to drink. Happy St.Patrick's day.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
VS Sketch of Conversation
I listened to a very small part of a conversation between two ladies in a train by chance.
"You know? Even though she is a one-year-grade worker, she weared a cardigan today."
"Really?"
I didn't know the context of the conversation.
So, I couldn't understand what it exactly meant.
But, fortunately or unfortunately, I could supplement the lack parts, guess the exact meanig, and think the conversation was understandable or "natural". Because I am Japanese.
If you can understand the conversation easily, you are Japanese or japanised.
"You know? Even though she is a one-year-grade worker, she weared a cardigan today."
"Really?"
I didn't know the context of the conversation.
So, I couldn't understand what it exactly meant.
But, fortunately or unfortunately, I could supplement the lack parts, guess the exact meanig, and think the conversation was understandable or "natural". Because I am Japanese.
If you can understand the conversation easily, you are Japanese or japanised.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
VS Okinawa bar
I found a new bar in Atsugi today. The bar name is Froggs. It is an Okinawa-style bar.
I've been to Okinawa a few times. It is a very relaxing place. For me, Okinawa is like a hometown, even though I don't have my relatives there. I can be peaceful there very much.
In the bar, we could drink Orion draft beer.
Orion beer is a popular Okinawa beer, but its draft beer is rare. So, when I drunk it in the bar, I was very surprised.
I ate some Okinawa original food there.
Tofu-yo was one of them.
Tofu-yo sounds like Tofu, but is diffrent.
It is like a cheese and has a strong smell. The taste is salty.
When we eat it, we can use a toothpick.
We don't pick it up with the toothpick. We just dig it a little with the head of the toothpick, and lick it.
As you can easily imagine, it takes a long time to eat Tofu-yo.
We can eat Gurukun, the fish popular and cheap in Okinawa, in the bar. The taste is not special. Honestly speaking, the quality of fish food in Okinawa is low. We can eat better fish foods in other areas in Japan.
However, because Gurukun is related to the memory of my Okinawa trip, it was very happy for me to find the fish in the bar. I've never seen the restaurants to use it around here.
KuuSuu should be drunk. So, I drunk it there.
KuuSuu means an old Sake in Okinawa language.
I don't know how to express the taste. "It is round on my tangue." I hope this explanation works well.
The bar has some types of KuuSuu.
New restaurants and bars are increasing recently in Atsugi.
I thought this city was dying before, but now it is getting alive again.
I've been to Okinawa a few times. It is a very relaxing place. For me, Okinawa is like a hometown, even though I don't have my relatives there. I can be peaceful there very much.
In the bar, we could drink Orion draft beer.
Orion beer is a popular Okinawa beer, but its draft beer is rare. So, when I drunk it in the bar, I was very surprised.
I ate some Okinawa original food there.
Tofu-yo was one of them.
Tofu-yo sounds like Tofu, but is diffrent.
It is like a cheese and has a strong smell. The taste is salty.
When we eat it, we can use a toothpick.
We don't pick it up with the toothpick. We just dig it a little with the head of the toothpick, and lick it.
As you can easily imagine, it takes a long time to eat Tofu-yo.
We can eat Gurukun, the fish popular and cheap in Okinawa, in the bar. The taste is not special. Honestly speaking, the quality of fish food in Okinawa is low. We can eat better fish foods in other areas in Japan.
However, because Gurukun is related to the memory of my Okinawa trip, it was very happy for me to find the fish in the bar. I've never seen the restaurants to use it around here.
KuuSuu should be drunk. So, I drunk it there.
KuuSuu means an old Sake in Okinawa language.
I don't know how to express the taste. "It is round on my tangue." I hope this explanation works well.
The bar has some types of KuuSuu.
New restaurants and bars are increasing recently in Atsugi.
I thought this city was dying before, but now it is getting alive again.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
VS Foreign Settlement
It was strange that I took part in an academic workshop by chance last week. It was the gathering of scholars to study foreign settlements in Asia.
There were a lot of foreign settlements in Asia including Japan. Three big settlements in Japan were Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki.
But, the workshop's interest was not for the study foreign settlements in Japan but for the study of Japanese settlement in Asia, especially in China.
Some particepants are studying it from the view point of China-Japan relationship. Some are interested in it as the case-study of the company management in foreign countries. And, some focus on the culture in the settlements.
Each person had their own interest in the workshop.
When it comes to me, my interset was, needless to say, book-sales. This study is very young. Many books and documents will be published in the future. That's why I joined the workshop, even though I didn't have any knowledge for it. I thought I could get the hint for my business there.
For the people who study foreign settlements in China, Shanghai is a special city. It was the city which had foreign settlements most then. Therefore, Shanghai became very international. And, now a huge amount of documents for the settlements are preserved in Shanghai. So, it is the city easy to study.
In the workshop, it was said that Shanghai is focusd on too much for the easy-study condition, but other cities in China should be studied more. But, because I even didn't know that there were Japanese settlements in Shanghai, I thought the gap between professinals and ordinary people was big
. I think, most Japanese don't know at all where Japanese settlements were in China, except for Manchuria, the country made by Japanese government before the war and located in the northen China. Or, there is the possibility that even Manchuria is forgotten.
A chinese scholar joined the workshop, and he introduced us to some recent studies for foreign settlements in China. He spoke Chinese. He looked like a humorous man, and actually said a joke sometimes. Some participants laughed very much. I could understand it later by translation, but it was bad for me to lose the timing to laugh.
He told us for the universities in China.
From March 5th this year (Tomorrow), the university students in China are going to be oblidged to study official-history written by Chinese government. He studies history and he has his own opinion for history, which is diffrent from the official-history. But, he is oblidged to teach it to his students. He talked about it to us with smile. I couldn't judge at the time whether I should also simle, or not.
The study of history is sometimes difficult. I can be political. It can be emotional. Even in the scholar's workshop, some looked biased for me. But history could be like that.
There were a lot of foreign settlements in Asia including Japan. Three big settlements in Japan were Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki.
But, the workshop's interest was not for the study foreign settlements in Japan but for the study of Japanese settlement in Asia, especially in China.
Some particepants are studying it from the view point of China-Japan relationship. Some are interested in it as the case-study of the company management in foreign countries. And, some focus on the culture in the settlements.
Each person had their own interest in the workshop.
When it comes to me, my interset was, needless to say, book-sales. This study is very young. Many books and documents will be published in the future. That's why I joined the workshop, even though I didn't have any knowledge for it. I thought I could get the hint for my business there.
For the people who study foreign settlements in China, Shanghai is a special city. It was the city which had foreign settlements most then. Therefore, Shanghai became very international. And, now a huge amount of documents for the settlements are preserved in Shanghai. So, it is the city easy to study.
In the workshop, it was said that Shanghai is focusd on too much for the easy-study condition, but other cities in China should be studied more. But, because I even didn't know that there were Japanese settlements in Shanghai, I thought the gap between professinals and ordinary people was big
. I think, most Japanese don't know at all where Japanese settlements were in China, except for Manchuria, the country made by Japanese government before the war and located in the northen China. Or, there is the possibility that even Manchuria is forgotten.
A chinese scholar joined the workshop, and he introduced us to some recent studies for foreign settlements in China. He spoke Chinese. He looked like a humorous man, and actually said a joke sometimes. Some participants laughed very much. I could understand it later by translation, but it was bad for me to lose the timing to laugh.
He told us for the universities in China.
From March 5th this year (Tomorrow), the university students in China are going to be oblidged to study official-history written by Chinese government. He studies history and he has his own opinion for history, which is diffrent from the official-history. But, he is oblidged to teach it to his students. He talked about it to us with smile. I couldn't judge at the time whether I should also simle, or not.
The study of history is sometimes difficult. I can be political. It can be emotional. Even in the scholar's workshop, some looked biased for me. But history could be like that.
Friday, March 02, 2007
VS Historical Animation
My company has the division to make visual contents. It made recently a DVD collection for the histroy of animation films in the world. I watched it.
The works are very old, made in 1920's or 30's. For example, Walt Disney's very early works are in the collection. They were the ones before Micky Mouse. Young Disney's works were very different from the ones we know as Disney animation. The most famous one was Alice series, in which a young real girl "Alice" acted with animation characters. Real film and animation were combined.
The works of Max and Dave Fleischer II were also impressive. A character they made are a very famous one. Betty Boop is it. Japanese calls it Betty-chan.
Watching some old mono-tone Betty series, I thought they were certainly unique. Even though the animation was for kids and the stories' themes were adventure, friendship or thriller for instance, the existence of Betty reminds us of sexuality. So, I guess that Betty was very exciting for the kids in early 20 centuries.
Very very early animations in 1910's were also interesting and exciting. The oldest clay animation by Willis O'Brien "Swat the fly" was very short (about 3 minutes) but the impact was strong. It enlarged the possibility of expression in animation. And, he made many films of prehistorical story, especially about dinosaurs. Their moving in his films was very realistic. Therefore, his skill of animation-making created one of the most famous monster character, King Kong later.
I sometimes drew pictures on the rims of a textbook in my school days, and made animations. The works would be historical in the future.
The works are very old, made in 1920's or 30's. For example, Walt Disney's very early works are in the collection. They were the ones before Micky Mouse. Young Disney's works were very different from the ones we know as Disney animation. The most famous one was Alice series, in which a young real girl "Alice" acted with animation characters. Real film and animation were combined.
The works of Max and Dave Fleischer II were also impressive. A character they made are a very famous one. Betty Boop is it. Japanese calls it Betty-chan.
Watching some old mono-tone Betty series, I thought they were certainly unique. Even though the animation was for kids and the stories' themes were adventure, friendship or thriller for instance, the existence of Betty reminds us of sexuality. So, I guess that Betty was very exciting for the kids in early 20 centuries.
Very very early animations in 1910's were also interesting and exciting. The oldest clay animation by Willis O'Brien "Swat the fly" was very short (about 3 minutes) but the impact was strong. It enlarged the possibility of expression in animation. And, he made many films of prehistorical story, especially about dinosaurs. Their moving in his films was very realistic. Therefore, his skill of animation-making created one of the most famous monster character, King Kong later.
I sometimes drew pictures on the rims of a textbook in my school days, and made animations. The works would be historical in the future.
Monday, February 26, 2007
VS View of Enoshima
Last weekend, the view of Enoshima was beautiful.
Even though it was very cold in Japan then, I went to surf there.
Fine day. The sky was blue. Enoshima island was existing peacefully as usual, in front of horizon. We could also look at Mt. Fuji existing far away from the beach.
Far away. But, it's huge. I always misunderstand I can go there soon from there. Of course, impossible. The mountain is covered by snow now. Surfing on the sea with watching a snow mountain. It's funny.
There is an aquarium in Enoshima. It has dolphin shows everyday. I can listen to the music and announcement of the shows on the sea.
For some surf lovers, the loud sound might be noisy. Actually it erases the sound of the wave. It might be destroying the peaceful atomosphere of beach. But, for me, it's ok. For me, it's Enoshima beach.
This beach is always messy. In summer season, a lot of shops are built on the beach. Some are open almost for 24 hours. The access to the beach is very easy, so many people come there. The beach looks like a rush hour train. We can't count the number of people on the beach like the number of sand.
Not only in summer but also winter, many people come there. Some are for dating. Some for fishing. Some for just looking at sea. And, a small portion of some for surfing.
I think Enoshima souldn't be a silent beach. The unique atomosphere colors the beach.
Sometimes, fish jump up from the surface of sea into the air. When I saw it first, I thought they were playing. But, it's not true.
I knew they are fighting each other to keep their territory in the sea. And, the loser jump up into the air to escape.
Last weekend, I watched a lot of jumping fish on the sea. The battle in the sea seemed to be escalated.
I had stayed on the sea for three hours on the day. It was longer than usual. The longer I stayed on the day, the longer I wanted to stay. It might sound masohistic. But, the truth was that the water temparature was warmer than the cold air. That's why I couldn't get away from the sea. Now I realised, I should go to hot spring in this season.
Even though it was very cold in Japan then, I went to surf there.
Fine day. The sky was blue. Enoshima island was existing peacefully as usual, in front of horizon. We could also look at Mt. Fuji existing far away from the beach.
Far away. But, it's huge. I always misunderstand I can go there soon from there. Of course, impossible. The mountain is covered by snow now. Surfing on the sea with watching a snow mountain. It's funny.
There is an aquarium in Enoshima. It has dolphin shows everyday. I can listen to the music and announcement of the shows on the sea.
For some surf lovers, the loud sound might be noisy. Actually it erases the sound of the wave. It might be destroying the peaceful atomosphere of beach. But, for me, it's ok. For me, it's Enoshima beach.
This beach is always messy. In summer season, a lot of shops are built on the beach. Some are open almost for 24 hours. The access to the beach is very easy, so many people come there. The beach looks like a rush hour train. We can't count the number of people on the beach like the number of sand.
Not only in summer but also winter, many people come there. Some are for dating. Some for fishing. Some for just looking at sea. And, a small portion of some for surfing.
I think Enoshima souldn't be a silent beach. The unique atomosphere colors the beach.
Sometimes, fish jump up from the surface of sea into the air. When I saw it first, I thought they were playing. But, it's not true.
I knew they are fighting each other to keep their territory in the sea. And, the loser jump up into the air to escape.
Last weekend, I watched a lot of jumping fish on the sea. The battle in the sea seemed to be escalated.
I had stayed on the sea for three hours on the day. It was longer than usual. The longer I stayed on the day, the longer I wanted to stay. It might sound masohistic. But, the truth was that the water temparature was warmer than the cold air. That's why I couldn't get away from the sea. Now I realised, I should go to hot spring in this season.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
VS Terrorist?
Everytime I get on a plane, I become very nervous. I always guess the possibility of the accident of the plane. How much is the probability of falling down of the airplane? How much is the percentage of my survival possibility in that case? I can't escape from calculating the risk of death before the flight everytime. Besides that, lately, to be worse, I have to think about the case of terrorist's attack of airplane.
That's why I had to be more nervous in this trip.
On my last day in Australia, after I ate dinner in the Sydney airport and drunk beer to be relaxed, I got on an airplane to come back to Japan.
In the airplane, two old male fight attendants and an old female one were working for us. Because I knew the working of old flight attendants didn't mean that the plane was old, I could rely on its safety flight. Even though I could lose the interest in the flight attendants a little, I was totally satisfied with the well-maintained airplane before its flying.
Sitting on my aisle seat, I waited for the flight without anything to do. I checked the movie schedule on the flight and the menu for night food, to kill time. But, suddenly, a young woman asked me to stand up for a few seconds in order to sit on her window seat next to me. I stood up gently soon, and she could sit down there softly. My interset moved naturally from the airplane-inside information to the outside view from the window. I wanted to memorise the beautiful scene of Australia then, even though it was completely dark outside. I could expect for the happening of drama in the flight.
Then, something happened soon.
A flight attendant suddenly started to check a Japanese passanger before flight. His board ticket and passport were checked very carefully, and he seemed to be asked for something. He looked surprised because he couldn't why he was checked.
Everybody near him were looking at him very well, including me. He looked an ordinary man. But, of course, his looking could hide his wrong political or religious thinking. It was clear that he didn't have any weapon at the moment, so if admitted, I could attack and submit him soon at that time, because now he concentlated on the flight attendant but me, so it was very easy for me to punch him from the back-side of him.
However he was seen clean.
Soon after that, another flight attendant came close to the guy next to him, and asked the guy to remove his bag under his seat to a shelf. He obeyed the attendant's suggestion soon, and put his bag up on the self.
I couldn't understand what exactly happened and was the problem then. Anyway, I started to be more nervous after that. I lost the room to glance at and check the window.
The terrorists were still sitting near us. I was not admitted to attack them. It was very natural that my feeling was very uncomfortable.
Soon after the plane taking off, I ordered a flight attendant a bottle of wine. The wine was not special, but I could be enough drunk by it, so I could be relaxed under the dangerous situation. But, of course, I didn't stop checking the suspicious Japanese men during the flight. If I was ordered, soon I could put my heel on their head from the dangerous angle of the buck-side. They would be calebrated by bloody-shower, and become in comma if I did so.
However they seemed to understand their situation. They continued to behave as normal persons till the plane reached Tokyo. That's why I lost the chance to show my diamond-heel-stamp-technique.
I drunk two small bottles of wine in the airplane. So, I could sleep very well. When I got up, I had already been in Japan. The terorrists looked to have a sleep very well, too. The woman next to me also looked to have a good sleep by the help of beer.
Finally my travel finished peacefully. The plane reached Japan, and I went home by bus. Three days travel to Australia was certainly short, but it took more days to go back to my daily routine life in Japan. I might be still dreaming.
That's why I had to be more nervous in this trip.
On my last day in Australia, after I ate dinner in the Sydney airport and drunk beer to be relaxed, I got on an airplane to come back to Japan.
In the airplane, two old male fight attendants and an old female one were working for us. Because I knew the working of old flight attendants didn't mean that the plane was old, I could rely on its safety flight. Even though I could lose the interest in the flight attendants a little, I was totally satisfied with the well-maintained airplane before its flying.
Sitting on my aisle seat, I waited for the flight without anything to do. I checked the movie schedule on the flight and the menu for night food, to kill time. But, suddenly, a young woman asked me to stand up for a few seconds in order to sit on her window seat next to me. I stood up gently soon, and she could sit down there softly. My interset moved naturally from the airplane-inside information to the outside view from the window. I wanted to memorise the beautiful scene of Australia then, even though it was completely dark outside. I could expect for the happening of drama in the flight.
Then, something happened soon.
A flight attendant suddenly started to check a Japanese passanger before flight. His board ticket and passport were checked very carefully, and he seemed to be asked for something. He looked surprised because he couldn't why he was checked.
Everybody near him were looking at him very well, including me. He looked an ordinary man. But, of course, his looking could hide his wrong political or religious thinking. It was clear that he didn't have any weapon at the moment, so if admitted, I could attack and submit him soon at that time, because now he concentlated on the flight attendant but me, so it was very easy for me to punch him from the back-side of him.
However he was seen clean.
Soon after that, another flight attendant came close to the guy next to him, and asked the guy to remove his bag under his seat to a shelf. He obeyed the attendant's suggestion soon, and put his bag up on the self.
I couldn't understand what exactly happened and was the problem then. Anyway, I started to be more nervous after that. I lost the room to glance at and check the window.
The terrorists were still sitting near us. I was not admitted to attack them. It was very natural that my feeling was very uncomfortable.
Soon after the plane taking off, I ordered a flight attendant a bottle of wine. The wine was not special, but I could be enough drunk by it, so I could be relaxed under the dangerous situation. But, of course, I didn't stop checking the suspicious Japanese men during the flight. If I was ordered, soon I could put my heel on their head from the dangerous angle of the buck-side. They would be calebrated by bloody-shower, and become in comma if I did so.
However they seemed to understand their situation. They continued to behave as normal persons till the plane reached Tokyo. That's why I lost the chance to show my diamond-heel-stamp-technique.
I drunk two small bottles of wine in the airplane. So, I could sleep very well. When I got up, I had already been in Japan. The terorrists looked to have a sleep very well, too. The woman next to me also looked to have a good sleep by the help of beer.
Finally my travel finished peacefully. The plane reached Japan, and I went home by bus. Three days travel to Australia was certainly short, but it took more days to go back to my daily routine life in Japan. I might be still dreaming.
Friday, February 16, 2007
VS Cricket
One of the purpose of this trip to Sydney was to watch an international cricket game; Australia vs England.
The game was the first cricket game I watched in my life.
Cricket is one of the sport Japanese are not familier with. I didn't know the rule, the palyer's name and the interesting point of the sport, before the game. I had no idea about it at all.
I tried to know the rule at least, before going to Austlaria. But it was impossible. I went to a bookstore in Japan (it's my company.) to buy a book about Cricket, but there were no Japanese book about it. I even searched for Cricket book in the database of book market, but there were no books I could get. Japanese don't have the chance to know about the sport. It's a shame.
I would have been a strange watcher in the cricket studium.
Australia vs England. The game was the important and high-quality game. I heard that the importance of the game was as same as the one of the world cup of soccer. The level of both countries was very high.
However, I didn't know the rule of the game. Imagine that the person who don't know the soccer rule comes to the game, Brazil vs Italy. The person must be strange.
So, in the studium, I was such a person.
The game started at 1:15 pm.
But I arrived at the studium at 11:00 am. That's why, I waited for the start of the game, with beer and humberger. I was so excited when waiting.
The ground was large and the turf was meintained beautiful.
I thought it's was very comfortable to play the game in such a good field.
At 1:15 pm, the game started with singing both countries' songs. As I imagined before, Cricket was a very strange sport for me. Historically, it seems to be the origine of baseball, but now they are utterly diffrent sports.
I saw cricket the combination of handball, hockey, golf and baseball. ( This must be the incorrect and misleading explanation of the sport. But, I thought so at the time.)
During the game, I sometimes went outside to eat, drink or have a break, because the game was very long! The game started at 1:30, and finished about 10:00. ( Actually, the end of the game was not normal. The game finished for the day's bad weather. So, it could be longer.)
It was very natural that we must sometimes take a rest during watching the game.
The game was often stopped due to the rainy weather. So, I didn't stay in the studium until the end of the game, to escape from traffic jam.
The rain was bad for the game, but would be good for Australia. Because the people in Australia suffer from the lack of water now.
It is often said that cricket is a gentlemen's sport. But, I knew it was not true in the game. Many supporters said to the going-out players "Fuck off! Go home baby!"
I heared that even the players wouldn't behave as gentlemen on the ground. Bad phrases like "You are dixx-hexx!" seemed to fly there. The ground looked very nice, but it was ertainly a battle field.
The players and the supporters were very energetic. For me, it was interesting to watch them, without enough knowledge of the sport.
I bought a cricket ball for official games, and brought it to Japan. It was a good souvenier for myself. Now, my mission is to make this sport more popular in Japan. I think it is fitted to Japanese people.
The game was the first cricket game I watched in my life.
Cricket is one of the sport Japanese are not familier with. I didn't know the rule, the palyer's name and the interesting point of the sport, before the game. I had no idea about it at all.
I tried to know the rule at least, before going to Austlaria. But it was impossible. I went to a bookstore in Japan (it's my company.) to buy a book about Cricket, but there were no Japanese book about it. I even searched for Cricket book in the database of book market, but there were no books I could get. Japanese don't have the chance to know about the sport. It's a shame.
I would have been a strange watcher in the cricket studium.
Australia vs England. The game was the important and high-quality game. I heard that the importance of the game was as same as the one of the world cup of soccer. The level of both countries was very high.
However, I didn't know the rule of the game. Imagine that the person who don't know the soccer rule comes to the game, Brazil vs Italy. The person must be strange.
So, in the studium, I was such a person.
The game started at 1:15 pm.
But I arrived at the studium at 11:00 am. That's why, I waited for the start of the game, with beer and humberger. I was so excited when waiting.
The ground was large and the turf was meintained beautiful.
I thought it's was very comfortable to play the game in such a good field.
At 1:15 pm, the game started with singing both countries' songs. As I imagined before, Cricket was a very strange sport for me. Historically, it seems to be the origine of baseball, but now they are utterly diffrent sports.
I saw cricket the combination of handball, hockey, golf and baseball. ( This must be the incorrect and misleading explanation of the sport. But, I thought so at the time.)
During the game, I sometimes went outside to eat, drink or have a break, because the game was very long! The game started at 1:30, and finished about 10:00. ( Actually, the end of the game was not normal. The game finished for the day's bad weather. So, it could be longer.)
It was very natural that we must sometimes take a rest during watching the game.
The game was often stopped due to the rainy weather. So, I didn't stay in the studium until the end of the game, to escape from traffic jam.
The rain was bad for the game, but would be good for Australia. Because the people in Australia suffer from the lack of water now.
It is often said that cricket is a gentlemen's sport. But, I knew it was not true in the game. Many supporters said to the going-out players "Fuck off! Go home baby!"
I heared that even the players wouldn't behave as gentlemen on the ground. Bad phrases like "You are dixx-hexx!" seemed to fly there. The ground looked very nice, but it was ertainly a battle field.
The players and the supporters were very energetic. For me, it was interesting to watch them, without enough knowledge of the sport.
I bought a cricket ball for official games, and brought it to Japan. It was a good souvenier for myself. Now, my mission is to make this sport more popular in Japan. I think it is fitted to Japanese people.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
VS Harbord Beach
No, no, Mike. My dreaming was reality. Surely, indeed, at last, I stood on the soil of Australia again. It was the summer I dreamed of.
I had stayed in Sydney for just three days. This time, my trip was very short, but it was still ok for me to escape from winter for a while. I enjoyed the trip very much.
Ont the first day when I arrived at Sydney airport, I and Peter went to Harbord Beach soon. The reason was, of course, because we had to surf there. As I wrote it before in this blog, the beach is a memorial place, because the first surfer in Australia did surf on the beach. As an representative amature surfer from Japan, I had to respect the beach, so I tried surfing there.
It was cloudy on the day, but the sunshine was still strong. The waves were big and powerful.
It was Saturday's daytime. Many people were there. But, compared with Enoshima beach in Japan, Harbord Beach was not crowded at all. People were enojoying swimming, surfing or banana boating.
When I watch the waves at first, I thought it was easy to catch it. Because basically weak waves are more difficuly to catch, and I am familier with it on Eoshima beach.
But I thought wrong. Actually it was very taugh to surf there.
For me, the pattern of size-up of waves was irregular and random. Besides that, everywhere on the sea was waving. There were no flat space and time. That's why it was difficult to keep my balance. The waves wouldn't give me the enough waiting-time, and, without enough prepareation, I had to try the waves. If I had more skill and experience against such a condition, I could control myself well. However, I didn't have them. Even for Ausiee, the beach seemed to be uneasy for surfing. So, it was understandable for me to have the difficulty of surfing there.
Although my performance was not good at the time, I could say that I enjoyed my first surfing oversea very well.
I used Peter's surfboard, which was made by Manly Long Board Co. It was a local company in Manly.
The surfboard was cool. It was 9.2 feet long. The body was thin but strong, because it was made of a hard but light materials. Its float was strong, thus it makes us stand up on it easily.
At my best ride on the day, at the moment, I felt I was flying, not surfing. The strong wave was combined with the strong floating power of the surfboard, to make the feeling.
It is the most excellent moment when we surf.
It was lucky for me to get it at this time.
I will write about my first game of cricket I watched in my life on the next post.
I had stayed in Sydney for just three days. This time, my trip was very short, but it was still ok for me to escape from winter for a while. I enjoyed the trip very much.
Ont the first day when I arrived at Sydney airport, I and Peter went to Harbord Beach soon. The reason was, of course, because we had to surf there. As I wrote it before in this blog, the beach is a memorial place, because the first surfer in Australia did surf on the beach. As an representative amature surfer from Japan, I had to respect the beach, so I tried surfing there.
It was cloudy on the day, but the sunshine was still strong. The waves were big and powerful.
It was Saturday's daytime. Many people were there. But, compared with Enoshima beach in Japan, Harbord Beach was not crowded at all. People were enojoying swimming, surfing or banana boating.
When I watch the waves at first, I thought it was easy to catch it. Because basically weak waves are more difficuly to catch, and I am familier with it on Eoshima beach.
But I thought wrong. Actually it was very taugh to surf there.
For me, the pattern of size-up of waves was irregular and random. Besides that, everywhere on the sea was waving. There were no flat space and time. That's why it was difficult to keep my balance. The waves wouldn't give me the enough waiting-time, and, without enough prepareation, I had to try the waves. If I had more skill and experience against such a condition, I could control myself well. However, I didn't have them. Even for Ausiee, the beach seemed to be uneasy for surfing. So, it was understandable for me to have the difficulty of surfing there.
Although my performance was not good at the time, I could say that I enjoyed my first surfing oversea very well.
I used Peter's surfboard, which was made by Manly Long Board Co. It was a local company in Manly.
The surfboard was cool. It was 9.2 feet long. The body was thin but strong, because it was made of a hard but light materials. Its float was strong, thus it makes us stand up on it easily.
At my best ride on the day, at the moment, I felt I was flying, not surfing. The strong wave was combined with the strong floating power of the surfboard, to make the feeling.
It is the most excellent moment when we surf.
It was lucky for me to get it at this time.
I will write about my first game of cricket I watched in my life on the next post.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
VS Summer Dreaming
Strong Sunshine, Birds Singing, The sound of the waves crashing on the shore, Brown Skin, Beautiful Bodies, BBQ, Beer and Wine.
Am I dreaming............
Am I dreaming............
Sunday, February 04, 2007
VS Madam Butterfly
I will wirte again the things related to the exhibition of antique books on the last post in this blog.
Last weekend, I could have the chance to listen to a lecture in the exhibition. The lecture was for a famous opera and novel, "Madam Butterfly".
I am a book-sales man, so, of course, I knew the title. But, all I knew before the lecture was the title only. I hadn't read it, and even the author.
But, anyway, I had to go to the lecture. It was produced by my important cliant. I was inhibited to escape from it.
"Madam Butterfly" is the story of a Japanese woman in Meiji period after 1867. Japan changed the foreign policy then, and opened herself to other countries.
The story starts with the love romance between a Japanese lady and an American navy. They see each other in Japan and fall in love soon. And the Japanese lady becomes a pregnant. But, the navy have to go back to America. He promises to see her again in three years.
The lady waits for him, and lives by herself for three years. But, when he comes to Japan again, she realises that he got married with another American woman.
She becomes shocked, and commits suicide.
This story seems to be easy but modified many times by authors.("Autohrs" means six people have the relationship with the novel and opera.)
In a version of the story, she fails to commit suicide. I another version, she gets a lot of money from the man.
I heared from a professer of the lecture that the story "Madam Butterfly" influenced on the making of the images of Japan in Western countries very much.
Most interesting thing I know in the lecture is that five in the six authors hadn't come to Japan, even though the stage of the story was in Japan. It means they could know Japan very well by varietes of media at that time.
In this exhibition, the oldest and the most important books are a Hollander author, Montanus' ones. His book "Gedenkwaerdige gesantschappen der Ooost-Indische Maestschppy in 't Vereenigde Nederland, aen de Kaisaren van Japan" was published in 1669. It is the oldest book in the exhibition ,very rare and very important for Japan study. But, Montanus hadn't come to Japan. The fact is very interesting.
Everytime I see old books, I can get new information. Tomorrow, I will go to the exhibition again. I am looking forward to my new finding.
Last weekend, I could have the chance to listen to a lecture in the exhibition. The lecture was for a famous opera and novel, "Madam Butterfly".
I am a book-sales man, so, of course, I knew the title. But, all I knew before the lecture was the title only. I hadn't read it, and even the author.
But, anyway, I had to go to the lecture. It was produced by my important cliant. I was inhibited to escape from it.
"Madam Butterfly" is the story of a Japanese woman in Meiji period after 1867. Japan changed the foreign policy then, and opened herself to other countries.
The story starts with the love romance between a Japanese lady and an American navy. They see each other in Japan and fall in love soon. And the Japanese lady becomes a pregnant. But, the navy have to go back to America. He promises to see her again in three years.
The lady waits for him, and lives by herself for three years. But, when he comes to Japan again, she realises that he got married with another American woman.
She becomes shocked, and commits suicide.
This story seems to be easy but modified many times by authors.("Autohrs" means six people have the relationship with the novel and opera.)
In a version of the story, she fails to commit suicide. I another version, she gets a lot of money from the man.
I heared from a professer of the lecture that the story "Madam Butterfly" influenced on the making of the images of Japan in Western countries very much.
Most interesting thing I know in the lecture is that five in the six authors hadn't come to Japan, even though the stage of the story was in Japan. It means they could know Japan very well by varietes of media at that time.
In this exhibition, the oldest and the most important books are a Hollander author, Montanus' ones. His book "Gedenkwaerdige gesantschappen der Ooost-Indische Maestschppy in 't Vereenigde Nederland, aen de Kaisaren van Japan" was published in 1669. It is the oldest book in the exhibition ,very rare and very important for Japan study. But, Montanus hadn't come to Japan. The fact is very interesting.
Everytime I see old books, I can get new information. Tomorrow, I will go to the exhibition again. I am looking forward to my new finding.
Friday, February 02, 2007
VS Antique Books
This week, I sometimes go to Shinjyuku.
My company has a big book-store there, and there is a small garally in it. I go there.
Because, an university library (it's my cliant.) exhibits many antique books they owns in my company's garally. So, I have to check it.
The library has a great collection of antique books. Especially, the books for Japanology are great. Japanology means the study for Japan.
From the ancient days, many foreigners came to Japan, and studied and researched it. Especially for western people, Japan was a country very diffrent from their countries, so they wrote a lot of books for Japan.
From the view of book-sales, such books are very rare and valuable, and needless to say, very interesting.
In the exhibition, we can "watch" such books. ( All books are in show-cases. So, we can read just two pages, if the books are open.)
The oldest book in the exhibition was written in 17 centuries. There are some illustrations in the book. Old Japanese people and their culture are illustrated there, but they are very surprising. They doesn't look Japanese at all.
The illustrations look Chinese to some extent, Indian to some extent, or Islamic to some extent.
For old western people, the image of Japan and Japanese was the mixture of some Asian countries.
Watching this kind of books is enough interesting.
My company has a big book-store there, and there is a small garally in it. I go there.
Because, an university library (it's my cliant.) exhibits many antique books they owns in my company's garally. So, I have to check it.
The library has a great collection of antique books. Especially, the books for Japanology are great. Japanology means the study for Japan.
From the ancient days, many foreigners came to Japan, and studied and researched it. Especially for western people, Japan was a country very diffrent from their countries, so they wrote a lot of books for Japan.
From the view of book-sales, such books are very rare and valuable, and needless to say, very interesting.
In the exhibition, we can "watch" such books. ( All books are in show-cases. So, we can read just two pages, if the books are open.)
The oldest book in the exhibition was written in 17 centuries. There are some illustrations in the book. Old Japanese people and their culture are illustrated there, but they are very surprising. They doesn't look Japanese at all.
The illustrations look Chinese to some extent, Indian to some extent, or Islamic to some extent.
For old western people, the image of Japan and Japanese was the mixture of some Asian countries.
Watching this kind of books is enough interesting.
Monday, January 29, 2007
VS Frozen Surfing
I bought a new wet suit for winter surfing in Japan. It can protect me against cold air and water. I can enjoy srufing in winter season too.
But, the wet suit is not an air conditioner. Its proteciton is unfortunately not perfect. In the sea, I can find my body temparature is going down soon. Winter surfing is a very taugh work.
However, even in winter, there are a lot of surfer on Enoshima beach. They get up in the early weekend morning, go to the beach and wait for good waves on the cold sea. If I don't surf, I can say they are crazy. Now, it's the time for skiing. They should go to mountains, not the sea.
I am not sure that it is related to my surfing, but I don't catch a cold in this winter. My body may become strong by surfing. Certainly, it is a good excersice to swim on the sea.
Not only in summer season but also in winter season, female surfers are more than male surfers on the sea. I don't know why? When I went to a surf shop near the beach, I watched a few girls rent surfboards. It was certain that they started to learn surfing recently, because they don't have their own surfboards. Do you want to learn surfing in winter? At least, I don't.
Next month, I will go to Australia. It's in summer there. I can escape from winter for a while. I think I will surf there. My target beach is Harbord beach. The beach is the memorial place, becuase it was used for surfing for the first time in Australia. Now, Gold Coast is more popular for surfing, but I think the memorial beach deserves my first surfing overseas.
But, the wet suit is not an air conditioner. Its proteciton is unfortunately not perfect. In the sea, I can find my body temparature is going down soon. Winter surfing is a very taugh work.
However, even in winter, there are a lot of surfer on Enoshima beach. They get up in the early weekend morning, go to the beach and wait for good waves on the cold sea. If I don't surf, I can say they are crazy. Now, it's the time for skiing. They should go to mountains, not the sea.
I am not sure that it is related to my surfing, but I don't catch a cold in this winter. My body may become strong by surfing. Certainly, it is a good excersice to swim on the sea.
Not only in summer season but also in winter season, female surfers are more than male surfers on the sea. I don't know why? When I went to a surf shop near the beach, I watched a few girls rent surfboards. It was certain that they started to learn surfing recently, because they don't have their own surfboards. Do you want to learn surfing in winter? At least, I don't.
Next month, I will go to Australia. It's in summer there. I can escape from winter for a while. I think I will surf there. My target beach is Harbord beach. The beach is the memorial place, becuase it was used for surfing for the first time in Australia. Now, Gold Coast is more popular for surfing, but I think the memorial beach deserves my first surfing overseas.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
VS Overseas Migration
Japanese Overseas Migration Museum is an unique museum. It is in Minato Mirai area in Yokohama and managed by JICA, Japan International Cooperation Agency.
I have visited the museum for business before, but not watched their exhibition yet.
That's why I went to watch it recently. I could study the history of Japanese immigrants very well.
Japanese started to go overseas for working or studying at the end of Edo period, the middle of 19 centuries. Before then, Japan was almost closed to foreign countries, and most Japanese were inhibited to go abroad by Edo government.
After they were permitted to go overseas, first, they went to Hawaii for working.
Some went there to get much money. Some tried to study more progressive knowledge in America. At that time, Hawaii was a dream land for Japanese.
Japanese government didn't seem to encourage the people to go overseas at first, because they thought Japanese people were treated like a slave by American, but soon later it tried to help people go there. They realised the experience in the developed country was useful.
Japanese made their own community in Hawaii, and some of them went to other cities in North America soon.
As we can easily guess, the rapid increasing of Japanese immigrants caused strong reaction in America at that time.
They saw Jap a dangerous-being.
In an early last century, Anti Japanese Immigrant Law was adopted in United States. Therefore, Japanese stopped going there.
But soon, they changed their dream land. The new dream land was the south American countries.
Japanese government assisted people to go there very much, and the people made a new communities there.
Of course, the reaction to Japanese immigrant had happened there too, but it was weaker than the one in U.S.
That's why Japanese communities in South America are bigger than in North America.
Most Japanese don't know or forget the existence of Japanese immigrants living overseas. We lost the relationship with them. Why?
One of my customer (He is investigating the history of Japanese immigrant) explained me that Japanese family structure is the reason.
He says that the category of "family" is very small for Japanese. So, we seem to lose social relationship with our relatives easily.
Actually, my grand father's brother or sister is a special person for me. I wouldn't lend money to them.
To study the forgotten phase of Japanese history, I can recomend you to go to the museum, which is located near Sakuragi-cho station.
After I visited it, I found a Hawaiian bar near there.
To share the dream with the ancient Japanese, I drunk an Hawaiian beer "Tsunami" there. Mmm, delicious.
I have visited the museum for business before, but not watched their exhibition yet.
That's why I went to watch it recently. I could study the history of Japanese immigrants very well.
Japanese started to go overseas for working or studying at the end of Edo period, the middle of 19 centuries. Before then, Japan was almost closed to foreign countries, and most Japanese were inhibited to go abroad by Edo government.
After they were permitted to go overseas, first, they went to Hawaii for working.
Some went there to get much money. Some tried to study more progressive knowledge in America. At that time, Hawaii was a dream land for Japanese.
Japanese government didn't seem to encourage the people to go overseas at first, because they thought Japanese people were treated like a slave by American, but soon later it tried to help people go there. They realised the experience in the developed country was useful.
Japanese made their own community in Hawaii, and some of them went to other cities in North America soon.
As we can easily guess, the rapid increasing of Japanese immigrants caused strong reaction in America at that time.
They saw Jap a dangerous-being.
In an early last century, Anti Japanese Immigrant Law was adopted in United States. Therefore, Japanese stopped going there.
But soon, they changed their dream land. The new dream land was the south American countries.
Japanese government assisted people to go there very much, and the people made a new communities there.
Of course, the reaction to Japanese immigrant had happened there too, but it was weaker than the one in U.S.
That's why Japanese communities in South America are bigger than in North America.
Most Japanese don't know or forget the existence of Japanese immigrants living overseas. We lost the relationship with them. Why?
One of my customer (He is investigating the history of Japanese immigrant) explained me that Japanese family structure is the reason.
He says that the category of "family" is very small for Japanese. So, we seem to lose social relationship with our relatives easily.
Actually, my grand father's brother or sister is a special person for me. I wouldn't lend money to them.
To study the forgotten phase of Japanese history, I can recomend you to go to the museum, which is located near Sakuragi-cho station.
After I visited it, I found a Hawaiian bar near there.
To share the dream with the ancient Japanese, I drunk an Hawaiian beer "Tsunami" there. Mmm, delicious.
Monday, January 22, 2007
VS Prince Hotel
Last weekend, I had a party with my colleague in Prince Hotel in Yokohama city. The party was for my company's new vice president. It was a kind of celebration.
I didn't know why, but I happened to be an arranger for the party. My mission was to make the party looking gorgeous, within a strictly limited small budget.
I choose a bar restaurant in Price Hotel, Top of Yokohama which is located at 42 stories in the hotel. The bar restaurant is namely on the top of the hotel. The view from it was very beautiful. I thought the view was better for dateing than for a company party. Anyway, my colleague were very excited there.
My mission again. I had to arrange the party with a very tiny money. So, I ordered the lowest rank of food menu, and the middle rank of unlimited drink plan. My tactics was to make people drunk soon by the great view and alchool, before they would realise that the food quantity was small.
I succeeded.
Hungry people can be drunk easily. My colleague were incapable of finding my trick. And, the party finished successfully before they started to complain. Some people went to Ramen shop soon after the party, but I think they couldn't understand why they wanted to eat Ramen soon.
Drunk people eat Ramen in Japan whether they are hungry or not. But I know they were hungry at the time.
I note that a beautiful view is free. Maybe, party arrangement is good for my future job.
I didn't know why, but I happened to be an arranger for the party. My mission was to make the party looking gorgeous, within a strictly limited small budget.
I choose a bar restaurant in Price Hotel, Top of Yokohama which is located at 42 stories in the hotel. The bar restaurant is namely on the top of the hotel. The view from it was very beautiful. I thought the view was better for dateing than for a company party. Anyway, my colleague were very excited there.
My mission again. I had to arrange the party with a very tiny money. So, I ordered the lowest rank of food menu, and the middle rank of unlimited drink plan. My tactics was to make people drunk soon by the great view and alchool, before they would realise that the food quantity was small.
I succeeded.
Hungry people can be drunk easily. My colleague were incapable of finding my trick. And, the party finished successfully before they started to complain. Some people went to Ramen shop soon after the party, but I think they couldn't understand why they wanted to eat Ramen soon.
Drunk people eat Ramen in Japan whether they are hungry or not. But I know they were hungry at the time.
I note that a beautiful view is free. Maybe, party arrangement is good for my future job.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
VS Iwo Jima
Today I watched the movie "Letters from Iwo Jima" directed by Clint Eastwood. This movie is based on the battle between Japan and America on Iwo Jima island in World War II.
The island was located far from Japan, but important for both countries. Because, if American army got it, they could make a base from which they can attack cities in Japan easily. That's why Japanese army must have defended the island.
But it was an impossible mission. Before the battle on the island happened, Japanese navy to protect it got a deadly damage at other battles. So, the army on the island was isolated, and they could only wait for their enemy coming.
The result of the battle was easily predicted by anyone. The military power of America was huge. On the other hand, the one of Japan was very small.
But Japanese army didn't give up. To be more correct, they were not allowed to give up. They have to fight to death.
In this movie, the letters between soliders and their family are sometimes referenced. In the crazy battle field, only the letters remind soliders of their daily normal life. But, once the battle starts, they become crazy again.
From the middle of the movie, I had the feeling of going out of a theater. One reason was because it was sad to watch a lot of crazy and miserable Japanese soliders. Another reason was because I was very hungry. This movie is long, 2 hours and 40 minutes, but I forgot to eat lunch before watching it.
I forgot that it's important to control our physical condition when watching movies.
Unfortunately this movie doesn't have English subtitles. I don't know why? I think not only Japanese but also foreigners living in Japan have the interest in the movie.
I add that a young acter Ninomiya is nice.
The island was located far from Japan, but important for both countries. Because, if American army got it, they could make a base from which they can attack cities in Japan easily. That's why Japanese army must have defended the island.
But it was an impossible mission. Before the battle on the island happened, Japanese navy to protect it got a deadly damage at other battles. So, the army on the island was isolated, and they could only wait for their enemy coming.
The result of the battle was easily predicted by anyone. The military power of America was huge. On the other hand, the one of Japan was very small.
But Japanese army didn't give up. To be more correct, they were not allowed to give up. They have to fight to death.
In this movie, the letters between soliders and their family are sometimes referenced. In the crazy battle field, only the letters remind soliders of their daily normal life. But, once the battle starts, they become crazy again.
From the middle of the movie, I had the feeling of going out of a theater. One reason was because it was sad to watch a lot of crazy and miserable Japanese soliders. Another reason was because I was very hungry. This movie is long, 2 hours and 40 minutes, but I forgot to eat lunch before watching it.
I forgot that it's important to control our physical condition when watching movies.
Unfortunately this movie doesn't have English subtitles. I don't know why? I think not only Japanese but also foreigners living in Japan have the interest in the movie.
I add that a young acter Ninomiya is nice.
Monday, January 08, 2007
VS New Year
My first week of ths new year has passed very quickly. I had a lot of events just in a week; the spending all night in Shibuya on the last day of the last year, the finding out a great "standing" sushi restaurant there, the meeting many relatives in Kyoto (Last time I met them were over ten years ago.), the nice-seeing again old friends, the having many new year parties, the traveling for Hakone and so on.
I can't write everything in this blog. So, I'll write only a few things impressive for me.
On December 31th afternoon, I went to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, with Lance, Patrick, Akira, Koji and some new foreign friends.
As you know, it is common for Japanese to visit shrines on a new year day. Many people donate money and pray there. Of course, this event has a relogious meaning, but for most people, it's not serious. For most people, the main purpose is to spend a time there with friends. We can eat foods and drink sake there. In short, they come to shrines mostly for fun.
However, we can understand the religious regulation is still left. We usually think that we should visit there, after the new year starts. Maybe because we think it is meaningless to pray for the next year. As you know, Japanese values strict time-schedule in their life. And, it is the same in religious events. We think our hope have to be renewaled at the beginning of the year.
That's why, I had a strange feeling when I went to the shrine on 31th. If we obey Japanese religious culture, my visit at that time was meaningless.
Indeed, not so many Japanese were not there on the day. But, I thought many foreigners were there. I met a mexican family there, and they ask me about the meaning of fortune items which were sold in the shrine. I didn't know these items actually work, but I could explain the meaning, so I did. This item protect your health. That is for keeping your family peaceful.
"What's that pink one?" "It is for getting boyfriends." The mother and daughter in the mexican family looked happy to know it, but the father seemed to be comfused.
This year started with many funny events for me.
I hope I can enjoy my comical life more and more in this year.
I can't write everything in this blog. So, I'll write only a few things impressive for me.
On December 31th afternoon, I went to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, with Lance, Patrick, Akira, Koji and some new foreign friends.
As you know, it is common for Japanese to visit shrines on a new year day. Many people donate money and pray there. Of course, this event has a relogious meaning, but for most people, it's not serious. For most people, the main purpose is to spend a time there with friends. We can eat foods and drink sake there. In short, they come to shrines mostly for fun.
However, we can understand the religious regulation is still left. We usually think that we should visit there, after the new year starts. Maybe because we think it is meaningless to pray for the next year. As you know, Japanese values strict time-schedule in their life. And, it is the same in religious events. We think our hope have to be renewaled at the beginning of the year.
That's why, I had a strange feeling when I went to the shrine on 31th. If we obey Japanese religious culture, my visit at that time was meaningless.
Indeed, not so many Japanese were not there on the day. But, I thought many foreigners were there. I met a mexican family there, and they ask me about the meaning of fortune items which were sold in the shrine. I didn't know these items actually work, but I could explain the meaning, so I did. This item protect your health. That is for keeping your family peaceful.
"What's that pink one?" "It is for getting boyfriends." The mother and daughter in the mexican family looked happy to know it, but the father seemed to be comfused.
This year started with many funny events for me.
I hope I can enjoy my comical life more and more in this year.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
VS Crab Party
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.
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.
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