. . .two . . .
Friday, May 05, 2006
Thursday, April 27, 2006
An elevator ride
I was just headed out to the 7 & i-holdings (that's 7-11 to those of you stateside), when I ran into one of my neighbors in the elevator. An elderly gentleman. We had a pleasant chat about the weather, I said goodbye and wandered off towards the convenience store. It struck me then that it ws odd to see a man in his early seventies headed out at one in the morning. But then, I thought of my friend Hide Aniki. He's seventy-six with diabetes and I have ran into him several times at Joker's. He is always in the process of ordering drinks and food for himself, the bartenders and those sitting near him. He's seen me going into the Fuji Grand for work several times now and always calls out to say hello. Truly a friendly man.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Haircut
I had my haircut a few days back now. Went to a monk that lives in Asa on Jim's reccomendation. There was no telling them what I wanted, Hiroki, the monk, just felt my head and started cutting - it turned out nice, but I'm not gonna bother with a picture here and now, it'll just have to turn up in the course of things. It was about time to my boss, my boss's boss and my boss's boss's boss had all told me to get a haircut. Now it's trim the sideburns and buy a new suit, it's never done. Hiroki and his wife Kiyoka are some of the nicest people that I've met so far in the greater Ube area. We chatted about anime and video games, and after the haircut Hiroki showed me his airsoft guns. They also told me there's a kofun in Asa (which for reference is a little nothing town a stone's throw northwest of Ube [half an hour by train]) - and to this kofun they will take me. On their ATV's. But, first they're taking me to Saga prefecture to see a temple, and maybe a ninja village. Saga is between Fukuoka and Nagasaki, and to hear the students tell it, it makes Yamaguchi seem packed full of things to do.
In NOVA news, they cut the office supply budget. Completely. We were kinda wondering why there were no pens and staples seemed in short supply, and now we know. So us teachers and the Japanese staff are now completely responsible for the purchase of pens, staples, whiteout, tape, and, well the list goes on. It's a move I don't understand. Sure, they lost money last quarter but I think a multi-trillion yen corporation can afford eight hundred thousand yen a month for staples (both literal and fugrative staples here - man I'm deep). Perhaps they could cut down on expansion and refocus, you know, and other business things.
In NOVA news, they cut the office supply budget. Completely. We were kinda wondering why there were no pens and staples seemed in short supply, and now we know. So us teachers and the Japanese staff are now completely responsible for the purchase of pens, staples, whiteout, tape, and, well the list goes on. It's a move I don't understand. Sure, they lost money last quarter but I think a multi-trillion yen corporation can afford eight hundred thousand yen a month for staples (both literal and fugrative staples here - man I'm deep). Perhaps they could cut down on expansion and refocus, you know, and other business things.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Iwakuni and Majime and Tokiwa (again)
About two weeks ago I took a trip to Iwakuni with Akemi and Miho to see some cherry blossoms. It was still a little early in the season, so they were only twenty percent open or so, but it was still a lovely trip. We were able to see Kintaikyo, the famous five arched bridge in the evening. And we could walk across it for free, because it was after hours. I understand that, yes it's a historic landmark and very important, but I still don't understand being charged five hundred yen to walk across a bridge. Meandering around the town we saw some more cherry blossoms and a nice view of Iwakuni-jo and thankfully, no Army guys. For dinner we went to a restaurant called Sanzoku, in the middle of the mountain, decked out with fire pits and outside dining, souvenir shopping and taiko drums you could beat on. In the parking lot was a car the was completely not suspicious. A black Bentley with tinted windows with a man in a flashy suit and sunglasses getting something out of the back.On Friday last, I went to Tokiwa for a bike ride around the lake before work. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was a zoo. There's not a terrible amount to say, pictures are below.
Sunday was the NOVA hanami at the Majime River, near city hall about one click from my apartment. A pleasant if uneventful time of light drinking and snacking with coworkers in the park. The Japanese staff came, ate some Moss Burger off to the side and then left. It started to rain and we all went our separate ways after an hour.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Why Daisuke is the coolest bartender in town (sorry Ezra)
"Hello?"
"Hi, this's Daisuke"
"This is Evan"
"What're you doing?"
"I was just about to go to sleep"
"Well, this really cute girl just walked in to the bar, I was telling her about my cool friend Evan, so I think you should come down to the bar tonight."
"Aw, man, Daisuke, I'd love to, but I gotta work early tomorrow."
"That's terrible."
"Yeah, I know man, but watcha gonna do?"
"Yup, well, I'll call you later I guess."
"Right on. Night."
"Night."
Now, of course, this is just an approximation based on memory and translation. But, I got the important part right.
Daisuke has never called me before.
Visitors
Dansen stopped by last Wednesday night, which, in all honesty, was awesome. He's just returned to Japan after a year in Korea and three months in Hong Kong. The plan was to fly to Pusan and take the ferry into Fukuoka. But, there were some difficulties with his arrival; originally he was scheduled to come on Monday, however trouble making a timely connection from HK to Pusan and sold out ferries because of the equinoctial travel season led to his delayed arrival. Moreover, there were some minor difficulties in catching the correct train from Hakata to Ube. Minor difficulties which resulted in his, exceedingly brief, stay in Hiroshima. But, hell, I haven't seen the dude in two years, so delays are really quite inconsequential.Wednesday, after I got back from work, we went out. First to the izakaya pictured at right, Doma, for tasty foods and drinks, but unfortunately they were out of chicken hearts, so we had to do with knuckles - a poor substitute. After, we went to Healing Box Bigi where where Daisuke, the bartender, was more than happy to help us out in our quest for potables. While there an interesting succession of people entered an exited the bar. First was a young couple, soon after they left a salaryman and a much younger woman entered and upon their exit a biker, leather and all, arrived in the bar. Needless to say, the topics of conversation covered that night were broad, but stuck to your standard "Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll" formula. We left Bigi and adjourned to Maybe Tomorrow but, at that point Dansen had begun to, as the French say, "pound in nails with his head." To be more direct: he fell asleep at the bar. Feeling that it was in his best interests to rest, we went home.
The next morning Dansen woke well before I did and rose me in time to get ready for us to meet his old friend from his Tokyo Nova days. So, at the crack of noon, we marched down to Higashi-Shinkawa (my local train stop) to meet Tanya. While they met in Tokyo some years ago, she's now in Onomichi as a JET. Together we hoped on the first train to Shin-Yamaguchi (the major local hub) and then sprang into mulling around aimlessly whilst deciding what to do with ourselves for the afternoon. We knew there was sightseeing to be had but our thought process had not extended much beyond that. But, the choices were quickly pared down to Tsuwano and Akiyoshido. This was a decision easily made as the train for Tsuwano came in two hours and the bus for Akiyoshido left in fifteen minutes.
Akiyoshido is a large cave. Very large. In fact I believe it may be the largest cave in Asia, however I will be willing to accept any and all correction on this point. But Akiyoshidai is a small , tourist town, depending on the cave, Akiyoshido, and the expansive boulder studded plateaus in the surrounding area. After some enjoyment in wandering the cave and enjoying the beautiful scenery we decided three things. One, we were hungry, two it was starting to rain, and three, we were a little lost. Eventually though we found the bus station just in time to catch a bus to Yamaguchi city and enjoy some quite stunning Indian food at Shiva, a noted restaurant in the area. After an immensely satisfying meal of naan and curry we struck home. Had a late night snack at Hai Kaladori, a friendly if mediocre izakaya where we attempted to meet a friend. Minor difficulties, not worth elaborating upon, ensued.
I saw them off to Beppu the next day, and am looking forward to Dansen's dropping back in on his way back up to Tokyo. If he is able to he should arrive within the next fifteen hours. Even if he cannot, it was good to see Dansen and meet Tanya. Having him around, a reminder of America if you will, made Japan seem much more foriegn than the familiar country it is fast becoming. A strange experience.
Friday, March 10, 2006
From Tsunoshima to Kitakyushu
About a week ago I took a trip with my friends Akemi and Miho out towards Tsunoshima, a little island on the Northwest corner of Yamaguchi, just past Kottoi. However, this time we were driving, so it only took an hour or so and we were also able to stop at some kofun. At Doigahama, of course, but also at a nice little roadside kofun too. The museum at Doigahama was nice, with some good examples of Kofun-period culture and some neat artifacts, especially pottery, but it was quite small, and fairly skull heavy. I'm not quite sure that skull shape has changed enough between modern times and the Edo-period to warrant comparison displays of skulls, but I suppose it doesn't hurt. From Doigahama, it was off to Tsunoshima, where there was a lighthouse, a parking lot and a squid drying machine. It was quite a nice turn of the century lighthouse, and after a climb to the top, the view was quite spectacular. From Tsunoshima, we meandered down to Kitakysuhu where we gazed at the turn of the century buildings there in Mojiko town and were pestered by jinrikusha (or, in English: riksha) drivers looking for a fare. It seems like there's not too much to say as it was a 
siteseeing expedition, so I'll let the pictures below speak for themselves.There is one last thing though, upon our return home, I was treated to what I believe was a "challenge" meal, in other words: "Let's see what we can get the white guy to eat." Having passed the eel liver earlier that day, I was served blowfish (easy), crab brains (good texture, but horrible flavor), sazae - whole sea-snail in the shell, raw and boiled (tasty, but chewy) as well as some hirezake which is sake served with a dried blowfish tail in it (quite tasty).
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