Unsubstantiated Claims

2006-08-06T03:44:00.000-07:00

The baseball/soccer stadium blocks from my house. Yes, we're the Beavers, sicko. What of it? And yes, I do find the sculpture terrifing. Pics of the neighborhood and apartment to come, cuz it rocks and all.

2006-08-06T03:15:00.000-07:00

This is taken IN A CAVE. And James is wearing a straw hat. I mean, that's crazy. How many feet were we underground? Ty gets cool points. And D, were you actually ever in Boy Scouts?

2006-08-06T02:57:00.000-07:00

Portland

2006-08-06T02:53:00.000-07:00

...and welcome home to the USA. I've grown up with this awesome mountain in my backyard and never appreciated it... 14,162ft... snap! on Mt. Fuji.

2006-08-06T02:49:00.000-07:00

The Crew, as it was and all

2006-08-06T02:48:00.000-07:00

Lola and Al

2006-08-06T02:47:00.000-07:00

THE BUCKET does awful things to a person....

2006-08-06T02:45:00.000-07:00

Rolling home with the team.

Long Time Coming

2006-08-06T02:36:00.000-07:00

Wow, so, okay, I haven't posted in about two months, my apology. Things have been intense here, in a leisurely way. Weekends are packed with weddings and other pleasant social functions. Unique living situation currently (Allie was mostly right). But things quite good, and I'm glad to be back in the homeland, they have MEXICAN FOOD here! I've had a few adventures, will try to post to keep you crazy kids from all over in the loop, cuz that really is important to me...

2006-06-03T00:49:00.000-07:00

Because you (Price) demanded it, I return to you with further documentation of the curious commodes of Japan. It was the first time I encountered this particular species in the wilds, and approached with caution. The translucent plastic sheets covering the toilet seat is of course to protect your butt from all kinds of cross-infection from the hindquarters of others. Before you attend to your business, you press the button and watch in awe while the uncouth plastic is retracted inside the bowels (heh) of the toilet seat. Or that's how it was supposed to work. Upon activating the device, it made a mechanical groan and shuddered a little while I backed away warily, greatful I just needed to pee.

End of an Era

2006-06-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

I completed my term of employment with my former company on May 31st and am now only days from returning the the United States. The past month has been otherworldly. I pretty much worked my final three weeks with only two days off, and at the end I was completely run down and my body was starting to protest in various ways. This was, of course, in addition to myself trying to do too much socially, as I remain intent in experiencing as much as possible and visiting with everyone before I leave.

Yesterday was Tony's birthday, and a bunch of us went to a professional baseball game to celebrate. It was Tokyo's Yakult Swallows versus ... the Bison? Buffalo? Cannot remember, just recall large furry herbavore from the midwest somewhere that started with a "B." The stadium initially struck me as quite small, which is a feeling I am not accustomed to when it comes to arenas of entertainment here. The crowd was lively and lived up to the expectations I had concerning baseball fans in Japan. Since clapping is so passe, the majority of spectators wielded two hollow plastic tubes covered in the logos of their favorite team. These said sticks were then vigorously slapped together in harmony to chants of encouragement led by the insane cheerleaders. It was loud. And fun. We sat in the bleachers, the cheap seats, but nobody there was sitting this one out - everybody was taking part. The experience contrasted sharply with my (limited) experiences with baseball back home. I am not aware of the capacity of the Swallows' stadium, but it had to be a third of the standard American ballpark - kinda jives with something I read a while back where U.S. teams were reducing arena capacity to create a more intimate and fun experience. Well, it seems to work.

When your team hits a home run, what can be more appropriate than a victory cheer involving umbrellas? From nowhere, hundreds of translucent plastic umbrellas appeared and were furiously brandished in the air. Fans here are just made of different stuff, I wager. I tip my hat, sirs.

More to come soon, lots to do, lots to blog.

Playing House

2006-05-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to snapping some shots of the apartment today, as was promised eons ago. Here it is, fridge to fridge, looking towards mine (left) and Tony's room from Lina's doorway. The living room/kitchen is clearly a multi-use affair, but doesn't prove to be too much of a nuisance. The door on the right leads to the bathroom. There's a glut of bedding about because we currently have guests from back home. Note the economical twig mat wall hangings. While on the subject of walls, I should point out that painted interiors are unheard of in homes. Instead, walls are covered in offwhite textured wallpaper. Easy to replace and clean, but kinda blah in the interior design category.

This breathtaking vista can be had from the balcony, and peers directly through my room, across the communal space, and right out the front passage. Notable things visible: my futon, neatly stacked but not by me (I usually just double it over, our guests are just too neat), Cookie Monster, and again with the twigs, which was something Tony and I agreed to as an overall motif from the beginning, particularly for cost/convenience reasons. While our apartment is officially classified as a 3DK (three bedroom unit with dining and kitchen spaces, not the 3LDK we occupied in Fukiage - "L" stands for large), my room was originally intended as a dining room. The glass door, wood flooring, and absence of a closet betray its true nefarious purpose. The sliding glass doors that open onto the rear balcony are a blessing and a curse, affording a great view but getting lots of sunshine in the morning. I'm lucky to have a standard lightbulb in my room, most of Japan is plagued by florescent lighting - energy efficient, but murder on the eyes.

The photos got me thinking about interior design stuff (or specifically, the lack thereof in my room) and what I can do to the apartment I'll be moving into back in Portland in June. I have not seen the place yet, but have been told by Kim that it has a 1950's thing going on with corner windows, lots of light, and a "vintage bathroom." I have lived with toilet facilities past their prime before in my college days, and must say that aspect strikes the most fear in my heart. Anyway, for the past few hours I've been browsing about the web searching for good ideas, while sorting out and sketching down some stuff I'd prevously thought of or been told about. I remember my father told me about how a door can make a great functional desk, which I haphazardly (stupid to disagree with someone educated in asthetics on such matters) rejected at the time as ... too Dad. In retrospect, I think that the proper door (maybe with a piece of glass on it) stacked upon some nice glass/concrete blocks could really rock as a large desk. Would like to assemble a small, compact space that is useful, comfortable, asthetically pleasing, and accomidating of guests. In the past, there's always been trade-offs; John and I had a kickin' loft-ed dorm room when we were sophomores, wouldn't mind replicating some aspects of that in an apartment. And I was spoiled with the freedom to do anything at my college house ... yet did very little. My apartment downtown after graduation was really nice, but we were pretty limited by time and rules. I'm excited to start putting together ideas now. Guess I am interested in living in more of a home than I have in the last half-decade.

I roll with Domokun

2006-05-09T09:06:00.001-07:00

Our seats were great, and afforded us a perfect view of all the action. We had been advised to limit our attendance to the tail-end of the day's matches, and arrived accordingly as the top-tier ozeki took the stage and performed the first of many, many ceremonies.

A standard match consisted of about ten minutes of preparational ceremonies. First they would take the stage and pay each other a respectful bow, drink some magical water for strength, toss a chalk-like substance about themselves and the ring, and do the famous sumo stomp. Then the two opponents would take their pose, stare each other down intently...

2006-05-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Spent a delightful afternoon staring intently at many square miles of man-flesh festooned in colorful thongs.

Yeah, I went to sumo.

The trip was just a quick train ride into the city and was housed in a dojo-esque looking arena. I found the size of the building impressive - think your typical sports arena, yet it was adorned in traditional Japanese decor. My friend had told me that it would be hard to miss, and here words were true - I spotted the thing before the train even neared the station.

2006-05-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

...and then go stretch for a bit, maybe drink some more, lounging about, etc. Imagine all the runners in a race taking their pose, waiting for the starting gun, and suddenly they all stand, pull out cell phones, and start loitering around. After a few matches, I came to know the procession well, but at first I felt robbed when nothing happened a few times. Apparantly, I was not the only one who was confused, as a few of the sumos performed a false start and actually laid a blow or two to their opponent before composing themself. Remembering that most of these guys live together, I wonder if there were repercussions from such actions. Extra toilet duty perhaps?

2006-05-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Anyway, once the match finally starts, it will last about a quarter of a minute on average. It is certainly the most ferocious sport I have ever seen, the emotion of which is evident with both the wrestlers, the referee, and all in attendance. Yet before and after the action, there is nothing but quiet intensity coming from the sumos. I cannot imagine the thoughts and emotions going through these guy's heads after a trumphant victory or humiliating defeat, but we are left imagining because it it is all internalized. No big smiles, no thrown chairs, no funky chicken. Only one guy played it up for the television cameras really, and all that he did was speed-walk into the arena, which I guess truly is achievement enough. Despite all this, the afternoon was unforgettable and easily topped anything I had previously experienced as a sports spectator.

Sledgehammer

2006-04-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

You do not know how very important something is until you believe you have lost it.

Let us just say that thirty seconds ago this post had a near-suicidal tone to it, but a recent revelation has revealed the prior situation to be merely "Windows File System Error 147."

Moral of the story: back up your digital photos, kids.

I need a drink.

2006-04-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, Mattyboy, be careful whatcha wish for...

Here's Josh, Adam, Adam, and Matt bringin' the noise and/or funk in karaoke a few days back. The following morning my lungs were shot and I've been doing my finest mime impersonation ever since. Bad business move when your position is teaching spoken English. Yet no regrets.

Good night and good luck.

2006-04-26T01:46:00.000-07:00

Was initially dissapointed with the photography prospects at the farm. It's been a blustery spring here, and sadly many of the flowers had taken a beating. Yet outward appearance isn't everything, so I went around sticking my lens inside the plants, which resulted in some cool photos. Check out the natural symmetry at the base.

2006-04-26T01:36:00.000-07:00

Here are photos of yet another of my zany day trips. Last Sunday, I went to Chiba to visit a ... flower farm...? In retrospect, I have no idea what the place was, but it had lots of flowers and was a great rural area within which to relax. Oooh, and there was a windmill too

Holding Back the Years

2006-04-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

Here's the vain "Happy Birthday Me!" post you have all been waiting for on baited breath. I told my friends this morning that I had always imagined that by the age twenty-five I would be sporting a monocle and have a butler... perhaps a monkey butler.

But, alas, back to reality. Which is pretty cool anyway.

I'm 90% sure now that I'll be taking a trip to Thailand in the next three weeks. Looking forward to beaches, colorful drinks with umbrellas, and temporarily curing my pastey-white complexion. Seriously, someone confused me for a Brit last week.

Loving the Ipod. Been catching up on past episodes of The West Wing while on the train. Threw a ton of my photos on it. And having so much music conveniently in my pocket is nice, however it can be a bit daunting at times when the moment of selection arrives. Which leads me to...

Pandora. The software is the frontend of the auspiciously-titled Music Genome Project music database. Pandora is a free browser-based application that only plays music that matches your past preferences while also following the suggestions of other users. It's easy to use and I'm so far satisfied with the tunes it's choosing to stream to my computer. Primarily, though, I'm just fascinated by the concept, I guess Pandora is just the musical equivalent of Wikipedia and similar user-edited services. Curious to see if legal issues and the concept in general mar the overall experience.

Under Pressure

2006-04-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

I've been planning for months a clever entry on how Snoopy kicked Charlie Brown to the curb once he attained his own individual fame, but I'm feeing lazy and just wanted to share the picture. When you walk out of Harajuku Station, gateway to one of the fashion meccas of the world, you are greeted with this. And where's Pig-Pen? Anyway, it's amusing to me.

After a year of making do with alternatives, I finally broke down and got an Ipod this weekend. I don't feel quite as cool as my wallet says I should. Impressions so far: podcasts rock, the battery sucks. And I'm going to miss NPR when I get home.

I also actually followed through with joining MySpace today. I had tried in the past, but as soon as it got complicated, I got irritated and gave up. I think I can only handle one online institution at once, or it's overload. Yet it seems that everyone I've known is on there now, and the service certainly keeps the fires burning better than this blog. I totally realize that this blog has partially been my lame-ass attempt to keep in touch with everyone all over the place while neglecting private emails, no time like the present to improve one's self I hope.

2006-04-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

A cedar/cherry/blossoming tree from last weekend.

More Than This

2006-04-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

Wow. Was browsing Gridskipper for travel ideas on the way home and came across IKEA's marketing strategy to re-enter the Japanese market. They were previously successful here, that is, until the bubble economy created consumers that were too wealthy to bother constructing their own furniture. The company finally exited the market in 1986 following the economy's collapse. Poised to finally make it big again in the Far East, the company has launched the fascinating campaign of placing pre-fabricated 4.5 tatami mat rooms throughout Central Tokyo in an effort to excite the urban decorators among us, heralding their return. My room is a six-mat room and it's pretty blasted small, can't imagine living in a 4.5. But damn if they haven't assembled some incredible-looking floor models. Check 'em out, and steal their ideas like I always do....

IKEA 4.5 Japan Museum

2006-04-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

Added links to the blogs of two of my friends. Just started browsing them tonight myself. Highlights include:

Adam's Crazy Misshapen Shenanigans - "Are you from country?" (cuz I was there!), "Things that make me happy - when my cat kills a snake", and his personal feelings about Akira Miura.

Matt's Memiors of a Geezer - Photos and insightful commentary with a dash of that British charm that makes the ladies swoon. Be sure to note those wacky armbands that are only worn in America by gamblers in old Western movies. Top class!

Five stars all around. I was also reminded by Adam's blog that we were treated to whale a few nights ago. We were prompted to eat it without an explanation by the person who had treated us to the meal, so we did as asked. I figured the worst it could be was domestic animal (but I'm actually mortified of acidentally eating horse, for some strange reason), and I was a few beers down, so figured what the hay. It was lightly fried, and maybe sauteed in something, and overall I found the taste and texture appealing. When the whole whale thing is placed in context (e.g. America decimated the country's domestic food production infrastructure during the war and thus forced the government to heavily advocate "alternative" food sources that had previously been only niche markets, resulting in whale's traditional importance as well as its yummy taste ensuring it's presence in the Japanese pallate), I can see how it all makes sense. Shame it has to come out of those cute-as-hell big fish things.

2006-04-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Abandoned my warm futon on my weekend at the mind-numbing hour of 5 a.m. with the promise of wine and countryside. Located at the foot of the Japanese Alps in mountainous Yamananashi Prefecture, the destination couldn't have been more different than the concrete-and-steel megalopolis that had surrounded me only hours ago. The change was certainly refreshing.

While the nature was great, the primary draw to the region was the wine. While Japan is not known internationally for its grape, my friends and I discovered a thriving industry in the town of Katsunuma. The aptly named Katsunuma Wine Cave featured seventy local wines available for tasting (though they boast an overall selection of over 150 different individual types). Access to the rustic cellar was less than a ten spot, and included an unlimited buffet of bottles. My wine tastes are far from sophisticated, but a few hours in such a place can have anyone waxing on about the subtle hint of walnut shavings in the pinot. After we drank our share (and everyone else's...) we lounged about under the hanami blossoms on a grassy hillside. Was a rather incredible day trip.

2006-04-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Nothing says Japan like a giant Buddha.

2006-04-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Recently went with friend and coworker Adam to check out the sights of Kamakura, a region praised for its religious and tourist attractions. We cruised around to a few different shrines, enjoyed the oceanside, and visited an ancient metal Buddha. This temple is particularly famous for some reason I'm not aware of. What is really cool there is the staggeringly huge ginko tree that is more than 700 years old. Despite appearances, it is alive and supposedly in good health. Incidentally, one of my primary goals during the trip was to see the tree, but I didn't happen to notice it until I had walked all the way down the steps there and turned around. Not sure how you simply "happen across" a behemoth like that, but that's how it went down.

Before I call it a night, I wanted to note that, by popular demand back home, I have further postponed my return to the States until the beginning of June. Rejoice!

2006-04-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to Yaki Niku. Its origin is actually Korean, but, like Bae Yong Joon, has won the heart (or stomach) of the Japanese people. Similar in theory to what I might consider barbecue, Yaki Niku involves cooking damn near anything on a gas grill mounted in the middle of your dining table. Western concerns of contamination from uncooked meat are entirely absent from the affair, as the same chopsticks you place in your mouth are used as tools to manipulate the raw squid, beef, chicken, and pork. If you select your restaurants appropriately, as we did last weekend, you can count on unceasing poundages of animal flesh finding its way en masse onto your grill. Did I mention the dessert bar? My colon in particular fears the day when I may return.

2006-04-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

April means two things in Japan: Hanami and hayfever. Suffered the latter for the past few weeks, and finally got to enjoy the former this weekend. There's an absolute ton of different kinds of blooming trees, this park in Shinjuku had more than a dozen different varieties, or so I was told - they all appear rather similar to me. The weather was nice for the most part, but, while appearing tranquil in the photograph, the weekend was plagued by "Wizard of Oz"-esque winds which suggested winter isn't going quietly. The thatch visible on the ground is the closest I have seen to an actual field of grass in my time here. While exploring the grounds, I had to continually supress the urge to roll around on the turf like a dog.

Photograph

2006-03-22T07:33:00.000-08:00

Finally sat down this evening and threw some random pictures on the blog below, been having too much fun/work to do anything but slack off on numerous fronts. Additional photos and commentaries coming soon:

-Gaze in amazement at our awe-inspiring Far East abode!
-Clutch your loved ones in terror and morbid fascination as we explore a Japanese conveinence store!
-Stare with wonder at yet more freakin' strange buildings!

Stay tuned!

2006-03-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

The Prada building in Harajuku is world-famous in architecture circles. I don't claim to know the specifics, but it's something about the external glass honeycomb structure that supports the entire weight of the building or something. The interior is lined with inch-thick white carpet, which, according to local folklore, is replaced monthly.

2006-03-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

Peace sign nonwithstanding, I just don't feel welcome to enter. I don't really think the hazard cone is necessary.

2006-03-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

There's some really amazing modern skyscrapers (and architecture in general) along Tokyo Bay in the new financial district around Shimbashi Station.

2006-03-22T07:03:00.000-08:00

Went to a St. Patrick's Day celebration in Harajuku on posh-y Omotesando Street last weekend. Fun time had by all. The parade was brief yet featured some good live music. Japanese musicians adorned in Scottish kilts in celebration of an Irish holiday. Wrap your head around that one.

2006-03-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

Not sure the origin of this VW knockoff, but it's a fairly common sight around Japan. I can't emphasize how freakishly tiny this lil thing is. From the prosterior of this miniature one can purchase cream-and-fruit filled crepes, which are all the rage at the moment with the young uns.

Shot to the Heart

2006-02-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

...We ended up watching "the game" in Spokane, which is a reeking wound cut into the Earth. I'm not sure if the people who toil there really understand that they live in an entire country full of towns they could move to, or that living there is itself a kind of death.

-via Penny Arcade

Saw it and smiled. Someone, namely Dar-Dar, might someday like to write a witty retort, but, alas, there have never been documented words concerning my hometown. Not even sure if it is featured on maps. So ha.

As for "the game," I really missed going to Sam's parent's place for the seemingly annual Superbowl party, where his parents insisted upon slaving over us slovenly students/graduates year after year. Was a fantastic experience with good company where the game played a mere footnote in the affair. Heard the sporting event was titty-free this year, yet not who actually won, let alone who was playing.

Yah, more posts about Home lately, I'm reaching the point where I'm mentally preparing to return Home and starting to get rather sentimental. And if that means getting some digs on li'l ol' Spokane, so be it.

Things I Miss: Kim, Mom's cooking (and Mom, and the rest of the family), Squirt, the Wabash House and the crazy adventures of Dar-Dar and John-John, Risk, Halo with the guys, the bizarre cooking creations of both Price and Zac, surround sound, take 'n' bake pizza, cars, cats and dogs, microbrews, beachin' it with Colton, caving at night, The Yards apartment with Todd, jungle/Jesus juice, ethnic food that isn't Asian in origin, Frisbee, the availability of peanut butter and other peanut-related merchandise.

I'm excited to return to those people and places, bristling with high expectations, remembering the past while fully aware that things have totally changed. The real kick in the mouth is that I've formed traditions and memories here that will be missed just as much. Friends who have done the whole international thing before never mentioned how the experience is like being torn in half. Maybe I never asked, color me the sensitive type.

Eat It

2006-02-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know, two posts within half an hour. I don't think I've posted twice in a week before. But I was coerced to do so after reading my buddy Drew's blog, and his offhand remark that he lives near a 24 hour Mexican restaurant caught my attention. Roo, blast you and your wanton American freedoms. In Japan, pork and curry passes for taco filling. The only beans to be found are soy. And don't even get me freakin' started on cheese. How you can muck up condensed cheese in a can is beyond me, I'm pretty sure there's nothing in the damn thing that was ever remotely close to a real cow.

Taco Bell. 79 cents to freedom. God Bless the USA.

Send burritos.

P.S. - Anyone else have a blog or anything that I don't know about? Sadly, with my schedule, it's becoming the most effective way to keep up with people. Drop me a line if ya wanna share, I'm working on linking up with everyone on this page. Thanks.

Cuts Like a Knife

2006-02-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

When I was attempting to check my email today, I noticed a temp job offer from none other than a Hewlett Packard contractor located in Vancouver, WA. Following the provided links, I learned Artech Information Systems appears to be the American branch of a company that manages those Indian call centers that I've been forced to talk with lately. Either this is an amazing coincidence, or one of you has a very timely sense of irony. If so, well played. Nearly spit melon soda out my nose upon reading it.

2006-01-31T06:38:00.000-08:00

My current status:

Alive: Yes
Satisfied with my Hewlett Packard Notebook: No
Happy I'll soon recieve a repalcement: Pending
Sitting on oodles of nifty photos and stories to share when things get working again: Yes

The sad truth is I can kinda use my computer online if I tilt my head just so and cross my eyes, akin to one of those magic picture things at the mall. So no real excuse for not posting in forever, besides the fact I'm disgusted to look at this machine, let alone use it. But I must. So dependant, it's depressing. Apologies if I haven't gotten back to you via email or blog in the last long while, hopefully this will finally be settled for good soon.

The photo is looking towards downtown from the island of Odaiba, located in Tokyo Bay. Yah, that's a 1/4 size replica of Lady Liberty, flanked by the impressive Rainbow Bridge in the background. Taken back when the guys visited in December.

Joy to the World

2005-12-25T02:07:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, from Akiko and Adam. Please do not ask me to explain, suffice it to say that I personally hold the mambo accountable for this photo.

This Christmas Day in Japan is most likely the singular time I will ever find myself sleeping into five in the afternoon. As my parents can attest, I am typically an early riser on the aformentioned holiday, but found the need this season to grab a few extra hours (like twelve) after spending the night clubbing. After feeling I have sufficiently enlightened the locals in my own unique form of white-boy-with-no-moves dancing, I returned to my abode around 5am. Maybe not traditional, but quite enjoyable.

When I tell new acquaintances of my employer, the conversation usually follows a standard format:

Me: Nova no sensei des.
Them: Nova. NO-VA. NO VAcation! HAHAHA!
Me: (Heavy sigh, or possibly an eye roll). That's very funny, first time I've heard it too.

It's true, by Japanese standards (which I think count every date ending with a -day as an emperor's birthday, etc.) I get no public holidays. While the whole of the country sleeps in on Green Day (do they get a day off for EVERY color?!), I'm on the train to work. However, Nova does offer a nice lil New Year's vacation, so I'll be spending the next week sleeping and rubbing my lethargy in the faces of others. It's only fair, probably my one opportunity to do so all year.

Anyway, sorry for the lack of updates recently. The planets aligned and sought my blogging downfall by simultaneously causing the inevitable death of my laptop and sending two of my childhood friends to visit me in Japan. I pulled them both away from other important duties (James-work, Scott-the beaches of Australia) to spend some time traveling Japan We took an absolute ton of pictures during their visit, and I'll try to get some up here to share in the next few days.

Dare to be Stupid

2005-11-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

First the bird flu, and now this. Further proof that our feathered foes are evil and out to decimate humankind. Thank God those Dutch weren't playing lawn darts or things could have gotten really grisly.

Sparrow Shot for Downing Dominoes

And THAT is why CNN is my most trusted news source. Thank you and goodnight.

I Remember You

2005-11-12T04:18:00.000-08:00

My jaw literally dropped the other day when I came upon this in my local record store in Omiya. Crosstide is a local band from my college town of Portland. They combine pop punk and emo with a more mature, chill vibe that I've always dug. The bassist, Nick, is a cool guy. Had a few classes and run-ins with him back in the day at the University of Portland - we both studied Political Science and lived in the same dormitory. My roomie (back in the good ol' days) John and I went to a few of their concerts, which were greatly enjoyable, and got the locals all riled up but good. A while after graduation, I coincidentally met Nick's mom (while doing my short-lived sales job) at the gourmet chocolate shop she works at in Lake Oswego. She commented on the U.P. binder I was carrying, and after a few minutes we realized we had a mutual connection. All I can recall from my murky memory of our conversation was that she indicated her son and the rest of the band was crisscrossing the country playing gigs. While I own Crosstide's past EP and have their tracks on regular rotation in my mp3 collection, the band hadn't crossed my mind for probably a year. To suddenly come across their new album between Brittany and the latest 50 Cent record was a revelation - an international release from a local band from back home, what a treat. I'm sorry to say I made quite a scene at the time. The surrounding Japanese browsing the CD racks paused and watched curiously as I made happy, unintelligible noises while laying my paws on the jewel case. After I had calmed myself and moved on, I noticed at least one guy went over and checked out the album, just to see what all the fuss was about. Congrats to Forty and the rest, great CD, glad to see you guys are still rockin' our socks. If you're a Portlander and you still haven't caught them live, for shame! According to their website, they've just finished their Cali tour and are currently making their way back to Portland, so it's not too late to see 'em in the flesh.

While I'm on the music kick, also check out Pink Martini, another local indie group. They're getting quite alot of international attention, partially because of their fusion of numerous types of world music. I have a hard time labeling their sound... think lounge/Latin/French/downtempo music. You can take my word for it, or you can just check out their website. Recommended to my by my friend Alicia a while ago, but it wasn't until recently it became one of my essential albums.

A few months ago, I went to a show in a neighborhood of Tokyo called Tamagawa at a venue called Pink Noise. A coworker was nice enough to invite me to see a live presentation by his buddies' band. Ever wonder what Buddhist Monks are doing when they're not praying or executing deadly kung-fu moves on their adversaries? Apparently, they're wailing on the guitar. Between songs, they were quiet, modest, and soft-spoken, but the mood instantly changed as the music began. The tunes were great, and the group exuded a vivacity that had the audience jumping about in a manner that I had previously never imagined possible in Japan. In a culture where individuality is so important, to crowd into a pulsating throng of people in such an intimate setting demonstrated a strong sense of community among the patrons of the club. I chatted briefly with the band afterwards, and they seemed a really friendly bunch. Sadly, I forgot their name, but promise to throw it up here when I find the promotional sticker they gave me.

While we're on the topic of music, what's everyone listening to? Always down for some new music suggestions. Here's what's in my current rotation:

Illinois, by Sufjan Stevens - the latest in the artist's attempt to do a biographical album for each state in America. Covers everything from predatory wasps to serial murders. A great storyteller. Only forty-eight states to go, you're almost there buddy!
Crucify Your Love, by X Japan - satisify your appitite for 80's rock, Japanese style. Tony rocks it downtown in karaoke.
Mesmerize, by Systems of a Down - I wrote these guys off a while back as nothing special, but this album is excellent. In an age where any musician can insert a political quip and become the news du jour, SOAD wrote an album that tackled America's current state of melancholy, with poignant lyrics navigating topics ranging from the situation in Iraq, national politics, and even our infatuation with Hollywood. Tear-jerking and painfully satirical.
Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, by The Eels - Another collection of pop/folk rock that concentrates primarily on storytelling. Too varied to accurately describe here. Probably my favorite stuff right now.
Stereo Type A, by Cibo Matto - When Japanese songwriter/singer/performer Miho Hatori isn't working with the Beastie Boys or Gorillaz, she's assembling odd albums with Cibo Matto that are a fun listen. Songs range from the silly (Know Your Chicken, Scifi Wasabi) and hip hop beats to aromatic aural landscapes that are kinda reminiscent of Enya.

Okay, I'm gonna stop now, getting to the point where I feel like a poor man's Rolling Stone or something. Guess I'm just that interested in exchanging music with everyone, good way to keep in touch or whatnot. That's it for this edition, off to the Mongoose!

2005-10-30T04:48:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to receive a visit from my girlfriend Kim last week. I sat here for like fifteen minutes trying to describe my emotions and put them to words in this blog entry, but I just could not properly express myself. Suffice to say, I was very happy when she arrived and found it difficult to let ago again. And we'll leave it at that.

Kim and I stayed busy for the duration of her visit. We stayed in a hotel in Tokyo upon her arrival. Those few days were primarily spent shopping. We had both been saving for months for this trip, and I must admit, we cut loose. If shopping were a sport, Kim and I were on the level of Olympians. It was customary to never have a free hand, instead encumbered by armfulls of shopping bags. We bought and browsed in all the major shopping spots, perusing mall boutiques as well as icons of the fashion and design world (I've gotta do a whole blog post sometime on the Prada building on Omotesando Street in Harajuku, it is truly amazing). After our time in the city, we returned home to my apartment, which served as little more than a place to sleep as we were rarely home. Most days found us about on a day trip of one nature or another. Or shopping again.

After sticking around Saitama for a few days, we made a trip to Hakone National Park for a few days. We stayed at a top-notch hotel, dined on gourmet Asian cuisine, and enjoyed the onsen (hot springs created by volcanic activity). During the day, Kim and I explored the vast nature reserve, taking in the beautiful scenery. I had gone six months without sighting a single mountain or similar geological landform, and was clearly excited by our hilly surroundings. Kim found it bemusing.

There are so many memories from the trip I would be hard pressed to ever forget. I took Kim to my favorite Japanese fast food chain, a Chinese restaurant specializing in ramen and gyoza. So many meals were taken there during her visit that I am afraid I'm quite tired of the place now. We spent a few hours busting rhymes in the karaoke booth. And then there was more shopping. The usual language barrier I deal with daily with the locals was made more humorous due to the fact that Kim had taken three years of Japanese in high school. She could read more of the writing than I could, and I'm kind of familiar with standard, one-word/phrase negotiations in Japanese, so between the two of us we were a dazzling force to be reckoned with. Kim made a wonderful travel partner during the many hours we spent on the train and trekking on foot through forest and concrete jungle. All in all, we had an amazing time, and my world has dulled a little now that she has returned to the States. Miss ya hun.

Incidentally, Kim's visit coincided almost exactly with the halfway point of my stay in Japan. Time is passing swiftly, and as I watch many of my coworkers return home as their contracts are fulfilled, I'm reminded that I only have a few months left here. Very strange feeling.

Something to look forward to is that two of my good friends have resolved to come visit in early December. I have known James and Scott pretty much all my life, and greatly anticipating their impending visit.

2005-10-30T04:46:00.000-08:00

On the way home, we stopped by Odawara Castle. While the outside is as it was upon its original construction, the interior resembles that of an elementary school constructed in the sixties in the United States. I was really hoping for paper walls and tatami floors.

2005-10-30T04:40:00.000-08:00

A famous shrine that rests upon the edge of Lake Ashi, which we toured by pirate ship. Behind those clouds sits Mt. Fuji in the distance - too bad the weather did not cooperate.

2005-10-30T04:37:00.000-08:00

As you continue into the park, the terrain rises steadily. The trains get smaller, as they have to climb and straddle dramatic mountains and valleys. Eventually, the train is eliminated in favor of the Hakone Ropeway, a series of small cars suspended hundreds of feet in the air by braided steel cable. The views were incredible. This picture shows Owakudani, nicknamed "Hell Valley." The place stinks strongly of sulfer, and the heated mineral water is siphoned out of the ground and pumped to nearby onsen. It is traditional here to dine on eggs that have been hard boiled in sulfur pools that dot the area.

2005-10-30T04:27:00.000-08:00

Looking down on the town of Gora from the ropeway.

2005-10-30T04:26:00.000-08:00

A flower garden in the town of Gora. All of Hakone is riddled with numerous museums, gardens, and galleries.

2005-10-30T04:23:00.000-08:00

A fountain that sat outisde a series of shrines

2005-10-30T04:21:00.000-08:00

The view up the valley from our hotel in Hakone Yumato. The small town acts as a gateway to the complex transportation grid that criss-crosses the park.

Just Another Day

2005-10-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

The omnipresent summer heat of a few weeks ago is nothing but a sweaty memory as Saitama has plunged into autumn. The new weather profile is this - one minute, mild and calm. The next, frickin' cold gale force winds. All the same, I find it a change for the better. The fall colors here are supposed to be spectacular, and I'm eager to dust off my camera and get out for some quality photography. I've promised myself that I won't live my time here through a camera lens (or a LCD screen, in this case), but nature is calling.

Last week, I was in Tower Records in Shinjuku (one of the more popular neighborhoods in Tokyo), waiting in line to purchase the new Palahniuk non-fiction book when I noticed a big difference between Saitama (the more rural-ish area where I work and live) and Tokyo. I was positioned about two feet behind the person in front of me at the cashier. As i stood there, another person walked directly in front of me and proceeded to cut in line. I was rather shocked, and took a quick glance at myself to make sure I wasn't invisible or something. I harrumphed, and shuffled impatiently, but this salaryman in front of me seemed impervious to my actions. I resigned to my fate and waited it out. But since then, I've conducted some experiements in the field, and discovered that unless you're practically nuzzling up against the stranger in front of you, you won't be percieved to actually be a member of the line. Just an example of the absence of personal space in Tokyo. I've seemingly offended many a person upon first introductions by saying "So, where ya from? Tokyo...? Saitama...?" Upon merely mentioning the rural suburbia-y prefecture to the north, people have done everything from snort, laugh, or just put forth a hurt expression - my reward for entertaining the mere idea that they would reside in such a place. Where they live is worn as a badge of honor by most Tokyoites (?), and rightly so. It's a hell of a place to live - a concrete sardine can with millions of occupants. Yet when I come home at the end of the day, I can spread my arms, outstretched wide, and not hit a single stranger in the face. I have a nice view from my balcony - greenery instead of a towering apartment complex or neon billboard. Not to be misunderstood, I should say I'd love the opportunity to live in Tokyo, just feeling that my current residence has its benefits.

Word association time - when I say Japanese innovation, what do you think of? Cars? Consumer electronics? Hello Kitty (who actually resides in London, not Japan, long story)? Howabout beer? While I'm not too fond of the beer here, which I find merely servicable, I have to tip my hat to the innovative strides taken to ensure a cheaper buzz. Years ago, for one reason or other, the government placed a hefty tax on labels that used wheat as the primary brewing ingredient. In order to keep their products as affordable as possible, major brands introduced beers made not of wheat, but of soy, the base element of tofu, soy sauce, etc. At first, I couldn't really tell the difference, but now I find the chemical taste of the soy beer kinda raunchy. Rumor is that the government is considering expanding the beer tax to soy-based products as well, so here's to the hope that the next experiment will taste better.

In thirteen days, my girlfriend Kim is making the trek from the States to come visit, and time can't go fast enough. We have a few lil vacations planned. First, a weekend in Tokyo for some shopping and other highlights of urban life in Japan. A few days later, we're off to Hakone National Park, which offers a multitude of onsen (volcanic hot springs, like that water in Lithia Park, yummy), museums, and generally beautiful natural scenery. I'm excited beyond belief, and, in usual Japanese fashion, I'm sure it will be an otherworldly, intense week-and-a-half. I'll keep you on the know.

2005-09-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

A big X and O to my main man Colton and his beautiful bride Alicia - congratulations to the both of you. Who's getting the kiss, well you two can decide amongst yourselves. Miss you both, happy honeymoon, best wishes!

Bizzare Love Triangle

2005-09-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

Two friends and I made the fifty minute trek last weekend to attend the Tokyo Game Show 2005, one of the world's largest video game conventions. We three brave souls attempted to fully and accurately document the event. What followed was a tumultuous series of sights that varied between decadent and awe-inspiring as well as seedy, disturbing, and... "dodgy." It was well worth it, however - how many people have the opportunity to dine on KFC next to Chung Li (who loves yakisoba, by the way)? Enjoy.

2005-09-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

The entrance was purdy, but was the first of many situations throughout the day where the lighting was insufficient for good photography. We arrived to find most of Japan already in attendance. It seemed crowded, even by local standards.

2005-09-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

The best trade shows follow the time-honored formula of glitz, girls, and then the actual goods. TGS did so with spades. Most of the promotional girls wore a big smile and little else. It was rather surreal, and I found myself debating whether I should tip them for the promotional goodies they handed me. I felt more comfortable about the whole arrangement when I learned that they make somewhere around a thousand bucks an hour during these events. Looking at this picture closely just now, (for formatting issues, I assure you) I noticed the sign forbidding photography. That's quite amusing, because at the gate they were doing nothing to stop professional and amateur photobugs touting impressive cameras that were impossible to conceal. I was stopped a few times for attempting to capture some game footage or celebrity, but it hardly hindered my photo experience.

2005-09-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

This duo was my favorite of the promotional people in costume - they really got into their parts and took some kickin' poses. I certainly need to mention how seriously these people took their jobs, for it was consistent everywhere on the floor. Whether you were wearing a thong passing out bags or swinging a sword dressed ornately as a samurai, these people gave it their all amidst the omnipresent chuckles and ogling.

2005-09-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

While Nintendo forfeited their home-court advantage and made no public appearance at TGS, Microsoft played for keeps and put the Xbox 360 in the hands of hungry fans, and did so in style. They set up this great loungeish place which was a welcome escape from the elbow to elbow environment of the rest of the showroom floor. It was complete with themed mood lighting, plants, and comfortable furniture. I waited nearly half an hour for a few minutes alone with the new system, and found it similar to the original, but amazingly, superior enough to warrant the ridiculous asking price. While I'm admittedly in a heated affair with my Sony PSP (tv, music, games, all in one yay), the Xbox 360 will be the lady I go home to at the end of the day.

2005-09-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

In all fairness, however, the PSP may have been the star of the show. Sony had set up hot spots around their booths where anyone with the system could wirelessly download demos and other promotional material. From seemingly nowhere appeared dozens of the shiny black and white handhelds. Fans who had previously never met huddled around these hubs and reveled together in the brilliance of wireless competition. Watching an instant community coalesce around me from nothing was rather impressive.

2005-09-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

While the innards of the convention center houd the main events, some might argue that the real action was going on outside. Cosplay, or dressing up in costume as game or animation characters, is currently popular in Japan (in some circles, not mine - it's against NOVA dress code), and both fans and practitioners of the genre gathered in the causeway between the ginormous buildings. The costumes ranged from the mundane and dated (a Metal Slime from Dragon Warrior on the NES) to, well whatever was going on here. I tried writing some witty captions for these photos, but clearly none are needed. There were dozens of scantily clad women nestled against the wall in front of a patient line of thirty to fifty year old male photographers hefting cameras which appeared to weigh more than myself. The girls were policed by pimp-like men who barked at casual onlookers like ourselves and had eyes only for those with enormous camera lenses. While it might have been some kind of model scouting affair, I can't emphasize enough how dirty the whole thing seemed. I clumsily attempted to verbally express my feelings when Martyn nodded and summarized our surroundings with simply "dodgy." Quite so.

2005-09-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

Sparklers + ISO400 = fun

Back In the Highlife Again

2005-09-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that I am back online after nearly two months of having no access to the outside world beyond the limited number of newspapers I would get my hands on. Yes, the earthquake count has been numerous, and we had a wicked typhoon (hurricane if you're in the West), but nothing severe in my neck o' the woods. In other Japanese current events, it appears Koizumi has succeeded in his daring referendum election, and will privatize the post office as he promised. It will be curious to see how it will conclude - I've seen the current success of railway privatazation in Japan, but remember the situation of airlines in the USA... who is to say how this whole thing will end up.

There are many dimensions of Japanese culture that I have failed to touch on, and one aspect that certainly needs my attention is that of the otaku, or geek. Japan is a haven for the techno-enabled, and I while I have certainly dabbled in the field myself (yes, I know my place), the world of the true nerd is elitest and strangely respected here. The most popular celebrity is currently this geeky guy from Korea who is lusted after by every housewife over forty. Numerous daily soap operas involve romances between attractive women and insecure male actors wearing glasses. While the dork is condemned, he is simultaneously reverred - a curious dicotomy. There are so many interesting social groups in Japan, I just thought I should start mentioning a few of 'em and their apparant effect upon society. Next stop - the Orange Girls.

Anywho, here in Japan, we are truly in the trenches when it comes to video game marketing - both Nintendo and Sony (hell, even Microsoft) spend absurd amounts of money on advertising and creative campaigns. The photo depicts Nintendo marketing in action - strap a female with numerous shiny electronic gizmos and throw her into a throng of pedestrians in bustling Harajuku, Tokyo. And I'll be damned if it doesn't work well. We took the bait. More to come, will be attending Tokyo Game Show 2005 on the 18th. Prepare for the bizzare.

2005-09-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Nobody knows how to rock out to 1950's-esque tunes quite like these dancers in Harajuku. Some argue that they may have passed their prime a number of years ago, but from the crowd they gather, I'm willing to say they still got it going on - a real sight to behold in motion. Someone must keep the hair grease industry afloat.

Monster Mash

2005-08-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

There is a chain of familyr estaurants in Japan called Lock Up. Upon entering the establishment, you are promptly handcuffed and led to your cell for the evening by waitresses clad in latex miniskirts(I'm assuming this is where they uncuff you - chopsticks can be challenging enough). At this point, you settle to enjoy your meal - only to be rudely interrupted when people in monster suits "escape" frn their cells and proceed to run amok in the restaurant. The waitresses, in true Japanese fashion, attempt to preserve your dining experience by chasing the monsters with their batons. I haven't been fortunate enough to visit this establishment yet, and needless to say, I have a few questions. Firstly, what kind of fine cuisine can I expect? When I imagine a meal interspersed with monster attacks, I immediately think TexMex. Also, what type of monsters are we dealing with here? I'm thinking that Tom Savini-esque antics might be inappropriate for the dinner table. Giant Pokemon maybe?

The decidedly deadly tag team of Yahoo and NTT (think ATT's diabolicly evil Japanese cousin) continue to deny us our basic rights - we are tenativly scheuled to be connected to the internet (or the "sanity umbilical cord" as I like to call it) on the 9th, making it more than a month since I last got my fix.

The dogs in Japan don't "bark."

Public Service Announcement

2005-08-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Ignorant JR Rail Passengers:

If I, a total novice to Japanese, can tell that you are talking shit about me for no reason on the train, maybe you should consider using another form of communication. I UNDERSTAND you.

Best Wishes,

Ryan

2005-08-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

A fascinating wall near the Asahi TV station. It displays giant digital numbers in a seemingly random fashion - beautiful piece of art that contrasts nicely with the polished marble benches in the foreground.

2005-08-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

Visited the Roppongi Hills Mall yesterday, which was an amazing piece of architecture, am planning to return and get some night shots I'll be sure to post. I took this panoramic shot looking out towards Tokyo Tower and managed to capture some great weather.

The Sun Always Shines on TV

2005-08-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

I've considered chronicling the exciting worlds of both Japanese sports cars and television commercials, but it's important to know your place, and these websites are both too hilarious/awesome for me to not mention.

Take a peek at high-stakes Tokyo street racing

Sit back and enjoy Japanese commercials

Shake It Up

2005-08-16T04:13:00.000-07:00

Hooray for mobile blogging. If we don't have 3G networks when I return to the states, I'm gonna suffer. We've been having suastantial quakes on a weekly basis, culminating in a rather severe one on the northern island, but all is ok here, just shook things up and delayed trains on my day off.

2005-08-03T03:05:00.000-07:00

HANABI! I gots to say, I do love my fireworks. And the Ageo Hanabi festival did not dissapoint. After traversing innumerable kilometers on our journey from the station, we manged to catch half the show, despite arriving late. It was an amazing event, though I was properly accused of spending most of the time looking at the LCD of my camera instead of watching the show through my own two(ish) eyes.

The excitement continued after the show, where my friends and I sat and watched this fat Yakuza harrass the local vendors for a cut of their earnings in exchange for.... hell, who knows. He strutted around, spit alot, and pulled at the pockets and shirts of the female vendors to ensure they weren't hiding any money. It was a fun yet disturbing evening.

My posts are going to be erratic for the next few weeks as we won't have an internet connection at the new place for a while. I am currently posting over a pirated wifi signal, and am considering buliding a cantenna to boost the signal (take THAT, FCC!). I'll get some pictures of Minami-Urawa and the new apartment ready for my next post. Until then...

Cruel Summer

2005-07-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

My hometown of Yreka, California can be quite hot in the summer, but it is a dry heat. The heat in Portland tended to be a bit moist during the warmest months of the season. While I would best describe the summertime temperatures themselves here in Saitama as mild in comparison, the omnipresent humidity is nearly unbearable. As I leave the relative safety of my apartment each day, I do so with the knowledge that I will be drenched either by a) my own sweat by the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, or b) the unexpected torrential downpour. If it really is raining, not misting, as we are usually accustomed to in the Pacific Northwest, an umbrella becomes a charming yet useless accessory, as effective against the assailing rain as an imposter Louis Vuitton handbag, the second most popular dongle to have on your arm in Japan.

2005-07-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

Observed my town's summer festival the other night. Minami-Urawa was out in force. The quasi-harmonic drumming, dancing, and chanting was pretty impressive, especially when you're carring a temple weighing approximately as much as a mid-sice car.

2005-07-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Its summer festival time! In the town where I work, they celebrate the season by carrying around these heavy-as-hell temples. Atop the antique shrines ride a half-dozen drummers, who beat away at their instruments like its the last chance they're gonna get. Certainly a treat for the eyes, not as much for the ears. As reparation for their labor, the poor souls underneath the temple are given beer every five-hundred feet as a means to convince them to continue. The celebration is the largest in the Saitama prefecture, and quite a big deal, if I understood correctly. This was day one, I will keep you up to date as the festivities continue. Fireworks season is approaching...

2005-07-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Holy crap, I am stil alive. Sorry about the absence, things have been crazy lately. I have moved apartments - I now reside on the back porch of Toyko, and as you can see, it looks good. Note the greenery and the absence of a Harley Davidson. Not visible is that I pay half the price of my former residence. Woohoo.

Head Over Heels

2005-06-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

My new hero is Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex) who slammed the door on digital flagging on next-generation HDTV programming. My props to you. Source Yet has the fact that their proponent in the Senate has abandoned them at all discouraged the MPAA? Hell no. Expect this to be far from the end of it. From the MPAA to the American public: All your media is belong to us.

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us

2005-05-30T22:54:00.000-07:00

This will be my first post for a while that will not include photos, so for those of you interested in the eye-candy (possibly the singular motivation for some of you miscreants - "Ooh look at all the pretty colors!"), I actually have worthwhile, IMO, things to say for once. But before we get to that, I have to plug a few notable websites. First up is fellow American Annalyn's blog, which is a great source for witty musings about our host country (my mother recently informed me that it far superior to my own attempt at internet publishing - thanks Mom!). A recent addition to the links section is my British friend Martyn's webpage. Before ascending to the rank of Nova teacher, he worked at CERN, of Demons & Angels fame. If you ever fancy competely annihilating the Vatican with an anti-matter bomb, let me know; apparantly I've got someone on the inside. Check out his webpage to add a little English charm to your droll daily routine. Now that we've covered our bases...

Let's talk about ~~sex~~ DRM, baby
Let's talk about you and me

Ah, the other contentious three-letter word (or acronym, I guess). So the long arm of the MPAA/RIAA (henceforth referred to as the United States Government) has finally extended from our McDonald's lovin' native land to harass those randy Sweedes. Recent Hollywood blockbusters from the region include "Swedish Gas Pump Girls"(1980) and "My Swedish Meatball"(1969). On the aural side, they have contributed nothing less than ABBA, Ace of Base, and The Cardigans - certainly far more respectable than their motion picture exploits. Swedish media exports don't stop there, however. A March bust of the nation's largest ISP resulted in removing 23 terabytes (roughly amounting to every motion picture or compact disc ever digitized) of pirated material from the wildly popular digital distribution system, BitTorrent. The MPAA website declared immediate victory after having removed a "substantial" amount of Europe's illegally shared files. One enraged Swede commented:

"As you may or may not be aware, Sweden is not a state in the United States of America. Sweden is a country in northern Europe. Unless you figured it out by now, U.S. law does not apply here. For your information, no Swedish law is being violated." Source

Clearly a valid point. As someone with a passing interest in the vaguearies of International Law, I am curious to see how this plays out, specificaly in the relation between DRM on a global scale and the rabid patent and copyright infringement practiced in China. Hmm, wonder when the MPAA/RIAA will be kicking in the doors of those Hong Kong DVD rings? Rather feel they're taking advantage of the Volvo-adoring, porn-addicted good-naturedness of the Swedish people.

Recent bi-partisan rumblings on the subject of DRM have resulted in industry-wide adoption of computer and High Definition A/V hardware that may or may not work with other electronics - imagine not being to interlink any of your home theater gear just because they each use different means to prevent you from recording that new episode of "Gilmore Girls" to which some media tycon own the cable distribution rights. Setting the time on your VCR will be soon be the least of your worries, if all goes as planned. The really sad thing is the electronics industry doesn't care what happens as long as their parent company is getting paid for all the content you're downloading/recording. All those media supermergers that we allowed in the last decade or so are going to really bite us in the ass.

My opinion? Lets flashback. We all saw how the VHS and casette tape fiascos played out - the recording and motion picture industries weathered these "dire threats" and are more powerful and wealthy today than they ever imagined possible. It isn't the conclusion of this latest bout of the copyright controversey that I am interested in, but the journey along the way. There are opportunities here for the MPAA/RIAA/U.S. Gov't to really attain some maturity in assessing future problems by deciding when to take advantage of the stuation (iTunes and its ilk were the too little, too late solution, not to mention Sony's lame-ass attempt at standardizing a new, DRM-encrypted proprietary format with ATRAC3) or to know when you're beat and let it go.

Let me know what you all think, I'm curious to know. Especially my parents. Anywho, on a lighter note...

Unknown to myself my webpage has been searchable on Google since its inception. Point eight-three seconds after entering keywords "Ryan" and "Fukiage" my blog pops up as the first link. The fame has quickly gone to my head, and you might be suffering the above drivel as an attempt to spruce the place up a bit. Or maybe not. If I've learned anything from writing this blog, it is that I like parentheses. A lot. All I know is that between my English-major girlfriend and James the politico/engineer I've got all the editing I'll ever need. A sincere thanks. I'll get some more pretty pictures and spelling mistakes your way soon.

2005-05-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

After visiting the Shinto site, we ventured to downtown Tokyo to visit the Imperial Palace. Performing in a manner similar to the White House, the palace is the residence of the Royal Family and a symbol of Japanese tradition. The moat surrounding the Imperial Palace was protected by the largest swans I have ever seen in my life. I didn't know whether to attempt to ride one or flee for my own protection.

2005-05-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

I really don't want to be around when this guy comes back for his sandals. Godzilla's flip-flops possibly?

2005-05-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

A picture of one of many stone statues that guarded the temples. A beautiful sculpture painstakingly formed by hand that predates the existance of many Western civilications. And yet when I look at it I can only think of those creepy dog-monsters from Ghostbusters.

2005-05-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

I was quite in awe of this immaculate four-story pagoda - until I read the sign and saw it was constructed in 1973. Further research revealed it a replica of a structure lost in World War II. While the gigantic pagoda was lost, much of the rest of the temple survived the carpet-bombings that were common in Japanese cities during the last Great War.

2005-05-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I traveled to visit the famous Shinto shrines in Asakusa, a neighborhood of Tokyo. The site consisted of a number of gates that led to the main shrine. It was a busy day, as I chose to visit on some Shinto holy day or something, and the place was packed with Japanese as well as the usual tourists. The giant paper lanterns, like the one shown hanging inside the gateway, were quite amazing - I would love to see them all lit at night.

2005-05-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

We're going to segway from toilets to another aspect of the waste cycle - sewers! As illustrated above, the sewers in the older parts of japan are nothing more than pits covered by concrete slabs. A steel grate fortunately allows the noxious odors festering above to venture northward to your nostrils. While not particularly oderific, the stench will no doubt increase exponentially in direct relation to the outside temperature. While not usually a point of contention, these sewer coverings happen to accompany me during the entirety of my walk to the train station; a great opportunity to get a whiff of what the neighbor had for dinner two nights ago. Segway... what a great word.

Born in the U.S.A.

2005-05-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

So it was confirmed today that Tony and I will be recieveing another roommate next week. His name is Thomas and he is from the United States. My first reaction was "Oh crap, not from America." The realization of my instantaneous thought was immediate - am I a Yankee hater already?! Is it possible to fear your fellow citizen in a matter of weeks overseas? After having to explain day in and day out that I do not fit the stereotype with which the Japanese (and other foreigners) often regard Americans, I have instinctivly switched from a defensive to an offensive posture. But I soon digressed, with the assistance of a coworker from South Carolina. As I talked to my Carolinian friend on the train tonight, I commented about how I had reservations about living and working with someone from the States. His response was, "Shit, we thought the same thing when we heard you were coming." The thought was humbling, and has set me in my place. Thomas, welcome to Fukiage.

2005-05-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

The rabble-rabble-rabble of the townsfolk has sadly led me to the end of my extensive coverage of the plight of the Japanese toilet (sorry Price). HOWEVER, I refuse to leave my fan(s) hanging, and thus sought out the holy grail of comodes. This beauty has it all: infrared auto-flush, pressure dials, seperate spray settings for men and women, and a few other functions I could only guess at. To illustrate the overall amazingness of this object, let me point out that there are warnings and operation instructions on the bottom of the toilet seat. Hook a footrest on it and honestly you could move it out into the living room. Currently accepting requests for other odd photographs. A legitimate blog entry is coming soon for those of you who aren't into fancy ceramic bedpans.

2005-05-06T04:38:00.000-07:00

...and I wondered why my throat hurt the next day. Karaoke has been the death of me. Singing the crap out of classics like Heart of Gold and Oops (I Did It Again!) equates to alot of wear and tear on your voice, something which I find necessary to enlighten my students daily in the art of sloppy English. The situation is not aided, however, by the omnipresence of tobacco smoke: it seems if the person next to you doesn't have a ciggy in their mouth, the individual two seats down will be picking up the slack. Smoking was irritating enough in Oregon where it was allowed in bars, but Japan is altogether worse. Joe Camel and his ilk may have gotten the Japanese (and its gaijin guests) hooked on the stuff, but he's now dead and they're still puffing away on his grave.

2005-05-06T04:29:00.000-07:00

The sunset view from the 8th story of a Tokyo apartment. Some friends of friends were kind enough to invite us over for a BBQ and we were able to check out the spectacular view. Sadly, picture phones can't do the scene justice.

2005-05-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Thank god I encountered this toilet only having to go number one. If you are knowledgeable in the use of similar appliances, please let me know. I'm not sure if it's visible or not, but the flush handle has two options, "small" and "big" flushes. Use appropriately.

Back in Black

2005-04-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

The first new Family Guy episode (entitled North by North Quahog) in three years is now available on Bittorrent... or so I heard...

Best birthday gift ever...

2005-04-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

Toilet Watch 2005 continues with this elegant electric little number. Note the power cord attached to the seat of the potty, which, upon request, will not only warm your bum, but also squirt your rump with a cleansing spray of water. Now anyone who knows me well is aware of my passion for pushing buttons: of course I couldn't resist pressing this one. Right after I took this picture, I depressed the firing mechanism and promptly was squirted evenly across the face and chest. Refreshing!

2005-04-18T05:27:00.000-07:00

From left to right: My branch manager, Masahiko, Julie, Tony, Claire, and Matsuki.

2005-04-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

A phone pic taken last nite of the teachers and Japanese staff of my Kumagaya branch. They took Tony, myself, and another new member of the team out to an izukaya (all-you-can-eat-and-drink restaurant).

2005-04-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

Fear the Usagi, the pink, pants-free Nova mascot. Dear lord, what kind of comapny do I work for? The Usagi frequents Nova ad campaigns and commercials, and is known to act like a stuck-up smartass - an excellent role model for Japan's youth. Or, is that simply how we Westerners are percieved: loud, pink, and with a yellow N on our chest? Think and discuss.

Stand and Deliver

2005-04-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

I am currently enjoying my first day off since starting my on-the-job training. Tomorrow I will start at my branch in Kumagaya. I've heard some great things about the teachers and staff at my branch, and am excited meet my peers and get teaching.

The standard day of a Nova employee consists of eight forty-minute classroom periods divided by fifteen minute intervals and a lunch break. During intervals, the teacher must assess the students he just finished with, file the documents correctly, locate the files of his next pupils, and choose a lesson plan from the book according to the average skill level of the students. With so much to do in a short period of time, intervals can be quite frantic, and are certainly the most challenging aspect of the job for newbies.

Teaching is, appropriately, the best part of the job. The students vary dramatically from class to class, and I often find myself leaving a room of quiet teenagers to teach two elderly businessmen and a peppy university student. The challenge is in the variety, as I must assess how best to teach the lesson to each group in a very few moments. I often feel that I learn as much as they do during class time, as everyone is very friendly and eager to give me advice or whatnot.

Dining and cooking has been suprisingly affordable. While eating out at first seems expensive, I have to force myself to remember that, not only are tips not accepted, but are considered an insult. The absence of having to bribe your server with the possibility of spare change is a welcome respite, and dramatically reduces food costs. The local supermarket, a cross between Fred Meyer and Zupan's, is full of good meat and produce at affordable prices. While beef and cheese are considered luxury items, local consumables such as tuna steaks cut the size of your head are common and cheap. I, however, have no idea how to prepare fish, and would appreciate any suggestions. I have even expanded my pallate to places I dared not venture in the States - the corner conveinence store. Instead of leathery hot dogs, the Japanese 7-11 stocks freshly prepared sushi, soba noodle bowls, spaghetti, and other meals, often for under three bucks. Additionally, there are many organic vegetable stands in the neighborhood, a great source for stir-frying.

Since my arrival in Japan, i have been plagued by what I thought was a head cold but now know to be hayfever. While I have had light allergies in the springtime back home, nothing I have experienced before is like this. A student told me yesterday that the pollen count here in Japan is at its highest in more than a decade. One might think that such a dilemma would be easily remedied by a glass of water and a couple Sudafed. Unfortunately, it is ILLEGAL here in Japan, as is Nyquil. Teenagers can buy bottles of sake that weigh as much as they do, but I can't take a little red pill that clears my sinuses. Sigh.

Off to the store to purchase toilet paper. Some things never change no matter where you are.

2005-04-14T23:04:00.000-07:00

A photo of my room. I opted for the hardwood cuz I'm lazy and didn't want to deal with the difficult-to-upkeep-yet-comfortable tatami mats. The traditional Japanese futon (left) is essentially thick blankets that are covered in giant pillowcases. Since there is no box spring to allow air and moisture to move between you and the ground when you sleep, the futon has to be frequently moved and aired out to avoid growing a fungal garden under your blankets. And a note on balconies: the Japanese use the patio or balcony solely for drying clothes and nothing else. I was dissapointed to learn that a balcony BBQ was frowned upon and considerd a public disturbance. Party poopers.

2005-04-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of our living room. It is much larger than I expected it to be, and is really more room than we need, since everyone is always gone at their respective branches for work. The third bedroom is visible behind the sliding glass doors (which a prior resident was nice enough to cover in glue and butcher paper) to the right. Most of the furnishings included with the apartment had seen better days, and are supposed to be replaced any day now. Since I had to leave all my plants with Shack, I have purchased a new bunch of living organisms to torture with my black thumb.

2005-04-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

Nearly every village and town in Japan has a Hanami Festival to celebrate the trees that blossom in the Spring. The one held in Ueno is the largest in the nation. Millions of people steadily poured through the park while we were there. Other families set up a mat and participated in socializing, drinking, and merriment.

2005-04-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

Tony and I enjoying 2 liter bottles of a domestic brew at the Hanami Festival in Ueno, a neighborhood of Tokyo.

2005-04-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Toilet Specimen #1 - Note the sink atop the toilet bowl for rinsing your hands afterwards. Taken at the Japanese equivilant of McDonalds.

I Will Survive

2005-04-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

As this was hands down my longest journey by airplane, I was uncertain as to the effects of jetlag. I would have previously defined it as a tirdness that takes its toll for a day or so, and is easily remedied by some old-fashioned shuteye. Instead it is more a fatigue that you can constantly feel in your body. I can function perfectly fine, but am continually aware of my condition, where my entire body feels like one giant sore muscle. Entirely overcomeable, yet a nusciance nonetheless. The mere fact that Tony is awake before noon for no reason denotes as-of-yet unrecognizable symptoms will continue to reveal themselves.

Tokyo is amazing. There is something very awe-inspiring about waiting on a street corner for permission to cross along with many hundreds of other people surrounding you. As the light turns green, they shoot forward as if with blinders on while I continue haltingly, attempting to absorb all the sights and sounds around me. And let me assure you, there is a multitude to experience. Every street and back alley possesses all the flash and pizazz of Times Square, be it in a compact yet stunning package.

Our town of residence is a much different story. Forty-five minutes north by train from the downtown bustle of Tokyo's Shinjuku neighborhood is Fukiage, a town of approximately 30,000. Our seven-story apartment complex is, from what we've seen so far, the tallest structure to be found. Fifteen minutes from the train station, it rests in a residential neighborhood populated by a 24hr mini-mart, ramen shops, and an arcade. More exploration will be conducted today.

The town that I will be working in is a mere seven minutes north of our apartment by train. Kumagaya has a population of 150,000 and is a pleasant compromise between Shinjuku and Fukiage. With plenty of shops, eateries, bars, and entertainment outlets, it will most likely be where we spend a majority of our recreational time, with Tokyo visits on our blocked days off.

I have found the Japanese to be more than accomidating in my interactions so far. Their patience with my awful use of the language is quite admirable, as I must be a chore to understand. The same curtsey is extended to traveling - I suspect that they allow me space as you never know what us crazy Westerners are going to do next. We certainly recieve a fair number of odd looks (especially in the smaller towns), but I have always found it to be friendly curiousity instead of some other maligned intent. Everyone has been more than willing to point us in the right direction of the destination we were seeking, through a mixture of gesticulating and broken languages.

Nova has been dubbed the McDonald's of language schools in the circles I have been fortunate to travel so far. It is a giant bureaucratic being that requires a form to submit yet another form. Thus, it should have been no suprise that our apartment was overlooked on the cleaning schedule. Already arriving a day late to our apartment after staying in a Tokyo hotel because our domicile was deemed "not ready" we have found the premesis still in need of lots of soap and elbow grease. A representative made the evening trip from Tokyo last night to assess the situation, and told us that nearly everything here will be replaced - in a week or so. That is about the time we will be expecting our third roommate, to arrive from an as-of-yet undisclosed point of origin.

That brings you up to date on my experiences so far. Hopefully now that I am caught up, I can proceed with more numerous posts of smaller size. And expect lots more pics in the future.

2005-04-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

We found it comforting to find a little slice of Americana right across the street from our apartment in Fukiage.