Saturday, November 19, 2005
Wine, Woman and Herbs
Alrighty, I'm awake and ready to recap my birthday experience!
Despite having an interesting discussion I skipped out of my last class on Friday twenty minutes early to ensure I would have enough time to walk home, drop off my backpack, pick up my other bag, re-apply deodorants/cologne/etc. and make it to Makino station by 4:45. Everything went pretty much according to plan although as I approached Makino I was stunned by a surprise rain shower. All the weather reports called for clear skies all week so I was kind of pissed. No matter, I was so close to the station the "damage" was minimal.
I had no trouble getting to Kobe by six although I did manage to wait in the wrong place so Mako had to call me on the phone to find me. Talking to Mako on the phone is really hard, as her voice is very soft and I find every language (especially Japanese) harder to understand in audio-only. Somehow, seeing someone speak always makes the message easier to understand. Does anyone else get that feeling?
We had dinner at a purely random location around the station - she asked me what I wanted to eat and I told her I was hungry for unagi don, Eel over rice. Next, we hit a nearby Daimaru department store for some chocolate cake and we grabbed a few croissants for breakfast while we were at it. We took our baked goods over to the fabulous Hotel Okura where Mako had reserved us a lovely room together. I was kind of surprised we weren't staying in the hotel she works in but I guess that might be embarrassing for her.
As usual, the Japanese service blew me away; I couldn't even get in the front door before a staff member offered to carry my bag as well as the small box with the cake inside. Our room was on the nineteenth floor so we had a wonderful view of the city including Port Tower as well as Mako's hotel which is currently lit up with the image of an airplane to commemorate the new Kobe Airport. Why they're celebrating the opening of a new airport three months early is beyond me.
In the room, Mako went out of her way to make the evening special. She brought a bottle of white wine (forgot the brand, but it was from 2001) and various snacks for us to enjoy. When she realized she hadn't brought a corkscrew, she called the front desk and they shot someone upstairs with the apparatus plus a pair of wine glasses and some napkins. Mako also gave me a birthday card (her message was very sweet!) and a present: a new wallet! It's easily the nicest wallet I've ever had and it's got a few distinct Japanese features like a "ticket slot" to hold all those train tickets I handle all the time. I used to just shove them in a pocket but they sometimes get lost among my other papers/keys/items. Not anymore!
We spent a very long time in the hotel as checkout wasn't until noon and we stayed until the last possible minute. But I'm sure you don't want to hear more about that...
On Saturday we ended up walking through the Kitano neighborhood again, just like we did on our first date. This time we were on our way to the Ninobiki Herb Garden. In Japanese they say haabu which I explained to Mako was different from both herb and the name Herb. She was amused. Later, we found great humor in an herb called Yarrow. This is funny because in Japanese it's pronounced yarô which sounds exactly like a Japanese slang term meaning "rascal." I can't explain it very well but it's quite rude and that made it hilarious when I said it. Despite the chill in the air, we had a very nice walk through the park. I also took the only picture of the entire trip (click to see larger version):
Look at all that green! It's hard to believe we're in late November and most of the leaves still have yet to change color. When will I see some red rolling hills, Christmas? Anyway, if you look carefully you can see the Hotel Okura and the Port Tower just over the hill to the right. Mako's hotel is behind them. In the distance, near the horizon, you can see the future site of the Kobe Airport. It's being built in the bay on an artificial island, just like KIX. The cable cars are how we got up here in the first place. They offer a great view going up but it's a little scary with all the rocking back and forth.
It was during our outing that Mako suggested a bold plan for the winter break. Honestly, I never expected her to suggest it, especially considering we've only been dating for a few months now. I'm a strong believer in "don't count your chickens before they hatch" so I'm going to withhold most of the details for now. Let's just say it shouldn't interfere with the trips my family and friends are planning, it's incredibly inexpensive and there's little risk involved so I'd be a fool to pass on the opportunity. I'll tell you more when the details are arranged.
After the park we walked back down through the Kitano neighborhood again, stopping for ice cream in the same Baskin Robbins we visited in September. I was rather surprised in there when a quartet of English-speaking pre-teen girls (possibly American) sat down and started gabbing away. I have been so removed from that kind of scene it was very jarring to hear. Sure, I've heard plenty of casual English conversations around campus but the banter of college students and girls this age are two totally different experiences. It was, in a word, a din of obnoxious language, awkward grammar and inappropriate volume. I wish I couldn't understand it which echoes a sentiment someone told me a few weeks ago - they've been in Japan for a number of years and they find real tranquility in the inability to understand everything that goes on around them.
Our dinner plans took us back to the Hawaiian cafe run by her friends. It was a special evening with nomihôdai (飲み放題, "all you can drink") red wine so I got quite tipsy. This time I was sure to order some delicious whale meat which I enjoyed tremendously. Somehow, I got involved in a discussion with the waitress about the careers of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Also, as a gag, I would occasionally make Mako giggle by referring to myself using ore, a rude personal pronoun.
So that's about it! I had a wonderful time with Mako and I'm very happy. This was the best birthday I've had in years and despite the problems I alluded to last night we are still very much in love. If you really want to hear more about the hotel or if you want to try and help me with my problems, please e-mail me. Neither of those topics are appropriate to announce on the blog but I have no qualms discussing them in private. Indeed, the problems will only be solved if I can talk about them with someone!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Despite having an interesting discussion I skipped out of my last class on Friday twenty minutes early to ensure I would have enough time to walk home, drop off my backpack, pick up my other bag, re-apply deodorants/cologne/etc. and make it to Makino station by 4:45. Everything went pretty much according to plan although as I approached Makino I was stunned by a surprise rain shower. All the weather reports called for clear skies all week so I was kind of pissed. No matter, I was so close to the station the "damage" was minimal.
I had no trouble getting to Kobe by six although I did manage to wait in the wrong place so Mako had to call me on the phone to find me. Talking to Mako on the phone is really hard, as her voice is very soft and I find every language (especially Japanese) harder to understand in audio-only. Somehow, seeing someone speak always makes the message easier to understand. Does anyone else get that feeling?
We had dinner at a purely random location around the station - she asked me what I wanted to eat and I told her I was hungry for unagi don, Eel over rice. Next, we hit a nearby Daimaru department store for some chocolate cake and we grabbed a few croissants for breakfast while we were at it. We took our baked goods over to the fabulous Hotel Okura where Mako had reserved us a lovely room together. I was kind of surprised we weren't staying in the hotel she works in but I guess that might be embarrassing for her.
As usual, the Japanese service blew me away; I couldn't even get in the front door before a staff member offered to carry my bag as well as the small box with the cake inside. Our room was on the nineteenth floor so we had a wonderful view of the city including Port Tower as well as Mako's hotel which is currently lit up with the image of an airplane to commemorate the new Kobe Airport. Why they're celebrating the opening of a new airport three months early is beyond me.
In the room, Mako went out of her way to make the evening special. She brought a bottle of white wine (forgot the brand, but it was from 2001) and various snacks for us to enjoy. When she realized she hadn't brought a corkscrew, she called the front desk and they shot someone upstairs with the apparatus plus a pair of wine glasses and some napkins. Mako also gave me a birthday card (her message was very sweet!) and a present: a new wallet! It's easily the nicest wallet I've ever had and it's got a few distinct Japanese features like a "ticket slot" to hold all those train tickets I handle all the time. I used to just shove them in a pocket but they sometimes get lost among my other papers/keys/items. Not anymore!
We spent a very long time in the hotel as checkout wasn't until noon and we stayed until the last possible minute. But I'm sure you don't want to hear more about that...
On Saturday we ended up walking through the Kitano neighborhood again, just like we did on our first date. This time we were on our way to the Ninobiki Herb Garden. In Japanese they say haabu which I explained to Mako was different from both herb and the name Herb. She was amused. Later, we found great humor in an herb called Yarrow. This is funny because in Japanese it's pronounced yarô which sounds exactly like a Japanese slang term meaning "rascal." I can't explain it very well but it's quite rude and that made it hilarious when I said it. Despite the chill in the air, we had a very nice walk through the park. I also took the only picture of the entire trip (click to see larger version):
Look at all that green! It's hard to believe we're in late November and most of the leaves still have yet to change color. When will I see some red rolling hills, Christmas? Anyway, if you look carefully you can see the Hotel Okura and the Port Tower just over the hill to the right. Mako's hotel is behind them. In the distance, near the horizon, you can see the future site of the Kobe Airport. It's being built in the bay on an artificial island, just like KIX. The cable cars are how we got up here in the first place. They offer a great view going up but it's a little scary with all the rocking back and forth.
It was during our outing that Mako suggested a bold plan for the winter break. Honestly, I never expected her to suggest it, especially considering we've only been dating for a few months now. I'm a strong believer in "don't count your chickens before they hatch" so I'm going to withhold most of the details for now. Let's just say it shouldn't interfere with the trips my family and friends are planning, it's incredibly inexpensive and there's little risk involved so I'd be a fool to pass on the opportunity. I'll tell you more when the details are arranged.
After the park we walked back down through the Kitano neighborhood again, stopping for ice cream in the same Baskin Robbins we visited in September. I was rather surprised in there when a quartet of English-speaking pre-teen girls (possibly American) sat down and started gabbing away. I have been so removed from that kind of scene it was very jarring to hear. Sure, I've heard plenty of casual English conversations around campus but the banter of college students and girls this age are two totally different experiences. It was, in a word, a din of obnoxious language, awkward grammar and inappropriate volume. I wish I couldn't understand it which echoes a sentiment someone told me a few weeks ago - they've been in Japan for a number of years and they find real tranquility in the inability to understand everything that goes on around them.
Our dinner plans took us back to the Hawaiian cafe run by her friends. It was a special evening with nomihôdai (飲み放題, "all you can drink") red wine so I got quite tipsy. This time I was sure to order some delicious whale meat which I enjoyed tremendously. Somehow, I got involved in a discussion with the waitress about the careers of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Also, as a gag, I would occasionally make Mako giggle by referring to myself using ore, a rude personal pronoun.
So that's about it! I had a wonderful time with Mako and I'm very happy. This was the best birthday I've had in years and despite the problems I alluded to last night we are still very much in love. If you really want to hear more about the hotel or if you want to try and help me with my problems, please e-mail me. Neither of those topics are appropriate to announce on the blog but I have no qualms discussing them in private. Indeed, the problems will only be solved if I can talk about them with someone!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Quickie
I'm back from my two-day B-day love fest, still as happy as when I left. However, I am considerably more intoxicated!
It's very late and I'm exhausted but I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind birthday wishes, whether it was posted here on my blog or your blog or via email or whatever! Mako and I had a tremendously good time together and I am very happy to be in love again. I must say that things between us are far from perfect which in some strange way makes me feel better about declaring my love for her. This isn't some fantasy run amok, it's a real relationship and there are real problems (solutions to which I could use sooner rather than later). However, despite these issues she and I are both very happy and we're continuing to make some long-term plans. You won't believe what she suggested over lunch today - it sounds fantastic and I can't wait!
I'll post more info tomorrow. Good night!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
It's very late and I'm exhausted but I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind birthday wishes, whether it was posted here on my blog or your blog or via email or whatever! Mako and I had a tremendously good time together and I am very happy to be in love again. I must say that things between us are far from perfect which in some strange way makes me feel better about declaring my love for her. This isn't some fantasy run amok, it's a real relationship and there are real problems (solutions to which I could use sooner rather than later). However, despite these issues she and I are both very happy and we're continuing to make some long-term plans. You won't believe what she suggested over lunch today - it sounds fantastic and I can't wait!
I'll post more info tomorrow. Good night!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Birthday Suit
That's right, it's past midnight so right now, in Japan, it's my birthday! I'm officially dubbing this next year the "Twenty-something Farewell Tour." Hard to believe I'll be thirty next year. I used to have a big hang-up about that; now I'm much too wise to worry about that silly little number. Before you know it I'll be old enough to run for President (in 2012)!
Tonight I got together with Scott and had some dinner. He treated as an early birthday gift to me. That was very kind of him! Sadly, they didn't offer Surf & Turf so I couldn't take full advantage of the situation. No matter, we both had a nice meal and then returned to his place for a couple drinks. We watched a little Black Rain and I threw back a liter of beer. I'm ashamed to say it barely got me buzzed! How is that possible?
After a buzz and a healthy dose of Michael Douglas we went out for a brand new experience (at least for me): a trip to a Japanese public bath! I had put this off for a while, citing a number of cowardly reasons, but when Scott suggested it this week I decided it was time to grow up a little and get over my anxieties. The truth is the awkwardness was surprisingly brief. Once you realize you're surrounded by naked people, you come to accept that no one gives a crap that you're naked too. In fact, pretty much all of the "awkwardness" from that point was just my adjustment to Japanese bathing customs, like washing yourself off before you get in. I knew about it, but when you're faced with the curious little stool and showerhead it takes a few moments to understand its operation.
After you wash off you have the option of entering several different tubs. The first one I had to try was the 電気風呂 or "electric bath." Yes, it's literally a bathtub with a mild current running through it! I stuck my foot in and I felt a gentle tingle. Thinking it was kind of nice, I stuck about half of my leg in. WOW! That fucking hurt!! I quickly pulled out and I got a little understanding smile from this old man in a regular tub nearby. I shook my head as if to say "No way I try that again" and moved on.
Ultimately, I spent most of my time in the 露天風呂, "open air bath." There were walls and such to prevent any unauthorized observation by outsiders but otherwise we were outside in a heated bath. The water was green and kind of "fizzy" which made me wonder if it was treated with any special additives or something. There was Japanese signs everywhere but obviously I couldn't make much sense of that.
Anyway, it was kind of fun and kind of not. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable for any of the reasons I thought it would be, but I wouldn't say I found the experience all that relaxing or enjoyable either. Sure, it was fun to hang out with Scott (it always is) but to be honest sitting in a slightly-too-hot tub of water just isn't that appealing. At least I can say I shook off my apprehensions and just got in the damn water, I guess.
Anyway, as I said, I'm quite busy today and tomorrow so I probably won't update before Sunday. I'll be off with Mako celebrating my birth! Have a drink with me in mind, I'll certainly be thinking of all of you back home! Feit...out (for a little while)!!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Tonight I got together with Scott and had some dinner. He treated as an early birthday gift to me. That was very kind of him! Sadly, they didn't offer Surf & Turf so I couldn't take full advantage of the situation. No matter, we both had a nice meal and then returned to his place for a couple drinks. We watched a little Black Rain and I threw back a liter of beer. I'm ashamed to say it barely got me buzzed! How is that possible?
After a buzz and a healthy dose of Michael Douglas we went out for a brand new experience (at least for me): a trip to a Japanese public bath! I had put this off for a while, citing a number of cowardly reasons, but when Scott suggested it this week I decided it was time to grow up a little and get over my anxieties. The truth is the awkwardness was surprisingly brief. Once you realize you're surrounded by naked people, you come to accept that no one gives a crap that you're naked too. In fact, pretty much all of the "awkwardness" from that point was just my adjustment to Japanese bathing customs, like washing yourself off before you get in. I knew about it, but when you're faced with the curious little stool and showerhead it takes a few moments to understand its operation.
After you wash off you have the option of entering several different tubs. The first one I had to try was the 電気風呂 or "electric bath." Yes, it's literally a bathtub with a mild current running through it! I stuck my foot in and I felt a gentle tingle. Thinking it was kind of nice, I stuck about half of my leg in. WOW! That fucking hurt!! I quickly pulled out and I got a little understanding smile from this old man in a regular tub nearby. I shook my head as if to say "No way I try that again" and moved on.
Ultimately, I spent most of my time in the 露天風呂, "open air bath." There were walls and such to prevent any unauthorized observation by outsiders but otherwise we were outside in a heated bath. The water was green and kind of "fizzy" which made me wonder if it was treated with any special additives or something. There was Japanese signs everywhere but obviously I couldn't make much sense of that.
Anyway, it was kind of fun and kind of not. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable for any of the reasons I thought it would be, but I wouldn't say I found the experience all that relaxing or enjoyable either. Sure, it was fun to hang out with Scott (it always is) but to be honest sitting in a slightly-too-hot tub of water just isn't that appealing. At least I can say I shook off my apprehensions and just got in the damn water, I guess.
Anyway, as I said, I'm quite busy today and tomorrow so I probably won't update before Sunday. I'll be off with Mako celebrating my birth! Have a drink with me in mind, I'll certainly be thinking of all of you back home! Feit...out (for a little while)!!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Meme Time
My mom and dad both took my advice from yesterday's post and called me this afternoon, so I feel like my birthday is somehow even closer than it actually is (which is tomorrow).
Meme Time! I stole this from Megan's site and made a few tiny modifications to better suit it to mine. I hope you'll play along and keep it rolling on your website (if applicable).
FACTS;
1. name:
2. age:
3. where on earth do you live:
4. what makes you happy:
5. what have you been listening to lately:
6. do you enjoy reading my blog:
7. if so, why:
8. interesting fact about you:
9. are you in love at the moment:
10. favourite destination:
11. favourite quote:
12. Whats your screename:
13. will you post this in your blog:
RECOMMEND;
1. a movie:
2. a book:
3. a band, song or album:
PLUS;
post a link to a picture of yourself (purely optional, I know some of my readers are very shy)
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Meme Time! I stole this from Megan's site and made a few tiny modifications to better suit it to mine. I hope you'll play along and keep it rolling on your website (if applicable).
FACTS;
1. name:
2. age:
3. where on earth do you live:
4. what makes you happy:
5. what have you been listening to lately:
6. do you enjoy reading my blog:
7. if so, why:
8. interesting fact about you:
9. are you in love at the moment:
10. favourite destination:
11. favourite quote:
12. Whats your screename:
13. will you post this in your blog:
RECOMMEND;
1. a movie:
2. a book:
3. a band, song or album:
PLUS;
post a link to a picture of yourself (purely optional, I know some of my readers are very shy)
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Getting Closer!
I hate Wednesdays. Four classes takes a lot out of me. Four classes plus a movie afterwards is positively exhausting. This weekend can't come soon enough!
The good news of the day comes from New York where the Yankees wisely resigned Hideki Matsui. The deal went to the absolute last possible moment and I was worried something was going to fall through because one side was being greedy or ignorant. Thankfully that didn't happen and Matsui is still on the team!
As for me, my good news is that tomorrow is a very light day and then I've got an evening activity planned with Scott. No hints, but it's definitely a "first-in-a-lifetime" experience. Whether or not it becomes a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience remains to be seen. Don't worry, it's not dangerous, I'm just not sure yet how I'm going to feel about it. With my birthday less than 48 hours away I guess I'm a little eager to try new things!
Speaking of my birthday, if anyone was thinking about calling me (a great and inexpensive present) you should probably call tonight (Wednesday) after 11PM. That will translate to Thursday after 1PM here. I know, that's too soon on either end but Friday and Saturday are already quite booked. Besides a full day of classes I'll be rushing off to Kobe to meet Mako for dinner. After that, er...*ahem*...anyway, we'll be busy through Saturday as we're spending the day together. So there won't be time for phone calls, sorry! I know that's being selfish but this plan has been in the works for several weeks now.
I'll try to work in some time to recap Thursday but there's a good chance I won't have time to post anything substantial before Saturday. Whatever happens, stay tuned! I have a feeling there will a story or two you don't want to miss!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
The good news of the day comes from New York where the Yankees wisely resigned Hideki Matsui. The deal went to the absolute last possible moment and I was worried something was going to fall through because one side was being greedy or ignorant. Thankfully that didn't happen and Matsui is still on the team!
As for me, my good news is that tomorrow is a very light day and then I've got an evening activity planned with Scott. No hints, but it's definitely a "first-in-a-lifetime" experience. Whether or not it becomes a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience remains to be seen. Don't worry, it's not dangerous, I'm just not sure yet how I'm going to feel about it. With my birthday less than 48 hours away I guess I'm a little eager to try new things!
Speaking of my birthday, if anyone was thinking about calling me (a great and inexpensive present) you should probably call tonight (Wednesday) after 11PM. That will translate to Thursday after 1PM here. I know, that's too soon on either end but Friday and Saturday are already quite booked. Besides a full day of classes I'll be rushing off to Kobe to meet Mako for dinner. After that, er...*ahem*...anyway, we'll be busy through Saturday as we're spending the day together. So there won't be time for phone calls, sorry! I know that's being selfish but this plan has been in the works for several weeks now.
I'll try to work in some time to recap Thursday but there's a good chance I won't have time to post anything substantial before Saturday. Whatever happens, stay tuned! I have a feeling there will a story or two you don't want to miss!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Hungry For Knowledge (and Peanuts)
I'm a little concerned about my appetite lately. You see, despite eating three squares a day I find myself growing increasingly hungry between meals. Now, while I'd like to focus on preparing more of my own meals (as opposed to eating out) I'm worried that the more food I keep around the more likely I'll be to eat whenever the urge hits me. Maybe I need to exercise more? I haven't had much time for that lately.
I know it's badly out of focus but the above image is that of a monstrous spider that lives along the walkway into the campus. I never see it move and it doesn't hang that close to the sidewalk but I was very nervous trying to photograph it this morning. It just looks so damn mean and colorful!
This morning we had to fill out an evaluation sheet for our Speaking-class Japanese professor. I was stunned by a few of the questions on there, particularly the ones about me. The whole point of the evaluation process is to get my opinion of the professor and his class, right? So why ask me questions like "Did I come to class prepared everyday?" or "What kind of effort did I bring to this class?" If I admit that I'm a bad student, does that have an impact on my comments? I don't get it. In any case, I gave the guy high marks because he's good at what he does.
There was kind of a funny moment in my afternoon (English-language) class. The professor was showing some anti-Japanese political cartoons and he suddenly turned to me and asked me who the artist was. His only reason to ask me was because he thought of me as the kind of person who might know. It seems he considers me a "guardian of obscure knowledge." Everyone got a laugh out of it. I was kind of surprised, not because he would say that but because he managed to pick up on that just from my occasional comments in class! I stammered a bit but I did in fact know the answer: Pat Oliphant. He later apologized via e-mail for fear that he had somehow embarrassed or offended me. I told him not to worry because trivia is something that I do. After all, that's why many of my friends call me Dr. Professor!
With only two classes I don't have much else to say. I'll leave you with an adorable photo I took walking home: two children and their pet. They actually look more nervous than cute...maybe it was something I said?
俺が怖いのか？
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I know it's badly out of focus but the above image is that of a monstrous spider that lives along the walkway into the campus. I never see it move and it doesn't hang that close to the sidewalk but I was very nervous trying to photograph it this morning. It just looks so damn mean and colorful!
This morning we had to fill out an evaluation sheet for our Speaking-class Japanese professor. I was stunned by a few of the questions on there, particularly the ones about me. The whole point of the evaluation process is to get my opinion of the professor and his class, right? So why ask me questions like "Did I come to class prepared everyday?" or "What kind of effort did I bring to this class?" If I admit that I'm a bad student, does that have an impact on my comments? I don't get it. In any case, I gave the guy high marks because he's good at what he does.
There was kind of a funny moment in my afternoon (English-language) class. The professor was showing some anti-Japanese political cartoons and he suddenly turned to me and asked me who the artist was. His only reason to ask me was because he thought of me as the kind of person who might know. It seems he considers me a "guardian of obscure knowledge." Everyone got a laugh out of it. I was kind of surprised, not because he would say that but because he managed to pick up on that just from my occasional comments in class! I stammered a bit but I did in fact know the answer: Pat Oliphant. He later apologized via e-mail for fear that he had somehow embarrassed or offended me. I told him not to worry because trivia is something that I do. After all, that's why many of my friends call me Dr. Professor!
With only two classes I don't have much else to say. I'll leave you with an adorable photo I took walking home: two children and their pet. They actually look more nervous than cute...maybe it was something I said?
俺が怖いのか？
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Monday, November 14, 2005
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...
no, I won't finish that lyric! The big C is slowly encroaching its way into Japan and I can't stand it. Already I'm seeing store displays devoted to it and tidbits on the news about people who have spent way too much money on gigantic lighting displays. Meanwhile, the temperature is still in the 60s everyday and I can't stop being chewed on by the bugs in this country. November used to be my favorite month, goddamnit!
OK, the news isn't all bad. This morning was the first time I can remember seeing my breath here in Japan and it's about fucking time. Of course that drove all the natives and other warm-weather types into a panic; wool hats and scarves were a common sight today while I'm still wearing a short-sleeve shirt (admittedly under The Duster). I've heard it's already snowing in Hokkaido so I can only hope that as the months pass that kind of cold weather will eventually find its way down here. Maybe I should try and move there after I graduate - a summer with 70 degree temperatures would be wonderful for me. It would be like living in Alaska without the total isolation factor as it's only a few hours flight to any major city in Japan.
Alright, that's enough crazy talk. Instead, let's enjoy two random videos I shot today: a view of some open space and a sample of my walk home from school.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
OK, the news isn't all bad. This morning was the first time I can remember seeing my breath here in Japan and it's about fucking time. Of course that drove all the natives and other warm-weather types into a panic; wool hats and scarves were a common sight today while I'm still wearing a short-sleeve shirt (admittedly under The Duster). I've heard it's already snowing in Hokkaido so I can only hope that as the months pass that kind of cold weather will eventually find its way down here. Maybe I should try and move there after I graduate - a summer with 70 degree temperatures would be wonderful for me. It would be like living in Alaska without the total isolation factor as it's only a few hours flight to any major city in Japan.
Alright, that's enough crazy talk. Instead, let's enjoy two random videos I shot today: a view of some open space and a sample of my walk home from school.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Million Dollar Crybabies
I'm in between classes right now, reading the New York Times when I came across an interesting article:
How to Sell a Movie (or Fail) in Four Hours
It's a pretty curt (some might say "pessimistic") look at the movie business these days, something I will always be fascinated by because I love movies. While I can't offer much comment on his figures, I must chastise author Adam Leipzig for propulgating the "camcorder pirate" story as a major source of lost revenue for the "poor" studio executives. The major studios and the MPAA love to hold up this anonymous villain as the anathema to their multi-billion dollar enterprise and while he does exist, his impact is minimal.
I can't deny that movie piracy exists for I have personally viewed dozens of pirated copies of motion pictures over the years (no, I don't keep any copies so don't ask for one). Most of them were downloaded from the Internet and of these I would say less than 1% of them were surreptiously filmed by a camcorder in a theater. No, most of them were obviously real copies of the film taken by a dishonest link in the gigantic movie-distribution network. At least a quarter of them had Chinese subtitles, clearly indicating an international operation.
What about the obviously videotaped copies circulating the world? They're out there and easy to find. So why doesn't anyone do anything about it? Just go down to Chinatown and you'll see people selling illegal copies of movies and CDs right on the street. There's illegal copies of other stuff being sold in the stores too, it's just a little less obvious. There's a goddamn police precinct on Elizabeth Street so it's not like the cops have to look very hard or walk very far.
Why doesn't anyone do anything? I think it's because no one really cares about entertainment piracy. It's an excuse to increase prices and increase "security" but in the end the studios know it can't be stopped. From a business standpoint, selling tickets to customers in gigantic theaters is quickly becoming a waste of time. All they want to do is sell a product, not an experience. They want consumers to hand over $19.99 and they want to give you a small piece of plastic made for three or four bucks in Mexico. I hope it never comes down to that because I simply love going to the movies. Don't get me wrong, I love DVDs too (it's the collector in me) but the idea that the theatrical phase might someday be omitted makes me sad.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
How to Sell a Movie (or Fail) in Four Hours
It's a pretty curt (some might say "pessimistic") look at the movie business these days, something I will always be fascinated by because I love movies. While I can't offer much comment on his figures, I must chastise author Adam Leipzig for propulgating the "camcorder pirate" story as a major source of lost revenue for the "poor" studio executives. The major studios and the MPAA love to hold up this anonymous villain as the anathema to their multi-billion dollar enterprise and while he does exist, his impact is minimal.
I can't deny that movie piracy exists for I have personally viewed dozens of pirated copies of motion pictures over the years (no, I don't keep any copies so don't ask for one). Most of them were downloaded from the Internet and of these I would say less than 1% of them were surreptiously filmed by a camcorder in a theater. No, most of them were obviously real copies of the film taken by a dishonest link in the gigantic movie-distribution network. At least a quarter of them had Chinese subtitles, clearly indicating an international operation.
What about the obviously videotaped copies circulating the world? They're out there and easy to find. So why doesn't anyone do anything about it? Just go down to Chinatown and you'll see people selling illegal copies of movies and CDs right on the street. There's illegal copies of other stuff being sold in the stores too, it's just a little less obvious. There's a goddamn police precinct on Elizabeth Street so it's not like the cops have to look very hard or walk very far.
Why doesn't anyone do anything? I think it's because no one really cares about entertainment piracy. It's an excuse to increase prices and increase "security" but in the end the studios know it can't be stopped. From a business standpoint, selling tickets to customers in gigantic theaters is quickly becoming a waste of time. All they want to do is sell a product, not an experience. They want consumers to hand over $19.99 and they want to give you a small piece of plastic made for three or four bucks in Mexico. I hope it never comes down to that because I simply love going to the movies. Don't get me wrong, I love DVDs too (it's the collector in me) but the idea that the theatrical phase might someday be omitted makes me sad.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
More Mako (by request)
It's going to be a low-key day, nothing but homework, some Internet exploration and Sumo on television. So let's go with Samster's idea and talk more about Mako!
First of all, if you haven't already you should go back and read about our first date as well as how we met and maybe even this collection of photos. Beyond that, I'll try to offer some more background on her without getting too specific. After all, this is my diary, not hers.
Mako was born and raised in Hyogo and is still living with her parents in her childhood home. I forgot her exact age (which she initially told me) and she refuses to tell me again, only laughing whenever I bring it up. I know she's a tad older than me so I guess that's 30-something. She has two siblings who have both moved out, including a sister with a new baby. Mako has a picture of her niece on her phone, she's adorable of course.
Mako is not a full-time student (or a ninja, Samster), she works in a hotel in Kobe. I even took a picture of it, it's a pretty big one by the bay. Other than that she sometimes helps some friends of hers in their cafe (which we ate in recently) and occasionally she works as a proctor for one of the big English proficiency exams. None of her jobs require much usage of English so she also takes some evening classes to study it further. I'm not sure how to best describe her English ability but I'm sure it's higher than my Japanese. Our conversations tend to drift between English and Japanese and I honestly try to use as much as Japanese as possible. Usually she'll say something to me in Japanese and then try it in English if I express any uncertainty.
Some interesting notes about our relationship: I am her first non-Japanese boyfriend and while her parents know she is dating someone she hasn't told them yet about my ethnicity. I hope that doesn't become a problem when they find out! In the meantime they think I'm pretty nice because I gave her some chocolates on Thursday and they ended up eating most of them. I happily tell Mako that everyone I know has seen her picture and always tells me how pretty she looks. However, she maintains a high level of modesty and she denies this assertion.
If you're curious, she has been to New York once a few years ago. She had a good time but since it was a business trip she didn't have too much time to get around to see all the sights. I hope to someday remedy that situation!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
First of all, if you haven't already you should go back and read about our first date as well as how we met and maybe even this collection of photos. Beyond that, I'll try to offer some more background on her without getting too specific. After all, this is my diary, not hers.
Mako was born and raised in Hyogo and is still living with her parents in her childhood home. I forgot her exact age (which she initially told me) and she refuses to tell me again, only laughing whenever I bring it up. I know she's a tad older than me so I guess that's 30-something. She has two siblings who have both moved out, including a sister with a new baby. Mako has a picture of her niece on her phone, she's adorable of course.
Mako is not a full-time student (or a ninja, Samster), she works in a hotel in Kobe. I even took a picture of it, it's a pretty big one by the bay. Other than that she sometimes helps some friends of hers in their cafe (which we ate in recently) and occasionally she works as a proctor for one of the big English proficiency exams. None of her jobs require much usage of English so she also takes some evening classes to study it further. I'm not sure how to best describe her English ability but I'm sure it's higher than my Japanese. Our conversations tend to drift between English and Japanese and I honestly try to use as much as Japanese as possible. Usually she'll say something to me in Japanese and then try it in English if I express any uncertainty.
Some interesting notes about our relationship: I am her first non-Japanese boyfriend and while her parents know she is dating someone she hasn't told them yet about my ethnicity. I hope that doesn't become a problem when they find out! In the meantime they think I'm pretty nice because I gave her some chocolates on Thursday and they ended up eating most of them. I happily tell Mako that everyone I know has seen her picture and always tells me how pretty she looks. However, she maintains a high level of modesty and she denies this assertion.
If you're curious, she has been to New York once a few years ago. She had a good time but since it was a business trip she didn't have too much time to get around to see all the sights. I hope to someday remedy that situation!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
unpaid advertising...I'm no sell out!
