things i did on the weekend

1. Got a new boarder. He's from Saudi Arabia, which means our home will, most weeks, be a pork-free zone. He's quite gregarious, which I'm sure is a shock to the system for Hermit Boy, my Japanese boarder. He's definitely an extrovert and very eager to increase his level of English, so he chats a lot, but he's also not used to that much English, so by yesterday evening he was exhausted. I remember that!! At work in Japan most people wanted to speak English to me, but church was three hours of trying to understand Japanese way beyond my level that had me struggling to stay awake and not miss my stop on the train home (and it was only two stations from Ibaraki to Takatsuki).

2. Told Dancer Boy (aka Keyboard Kid) that I was going to rename him Flexi Boy on my blog after he showed me some particularly twisty moves he's picked up learning Contemporary. He's been concerned because he is the only one in his dance class that hasn't been learning dance for at least ten years and isn't doing more than four classes a week, but today his dance teacher told him that he's catching them up, so he was pretty excited. It's pretty exciting for me, too, to watch him get better as a dancer week by week. We watch a lot of dance-related TV shows or movies together (especially 'So You Think You Can Dance?') but suddenly he can watch a move and then two days later he's doing it in my kitchen. Wow.

3. Realised that despite reading numerous related posts, I had somehow missed the fact that Transgender Remembrance Day was happening. I would like to post something on that, but I'll do it tomorrow.

4. Gave the Primary kids left over Halloween candy. They all left with an eyeball, an ear, a severed finger or a nose. :)

hot tomale hero

For anyone who's lived in Japan, here is probably the least surprising news you've read this year just in from Japan Zone:

SMAP member Kimura Takuya (35) has topped one ranking of Japan's most popular men for a remarkable 15th year in a row. The annual ranking is done by women's magazine "anan" and published in a special issue. In addition to being the Most Popular Man, "Kimutaku" was top once again in four other categories: Best Boyfriend (he's married), Sexiest Man, Sharpest Dresser, and Man I'd Most Like to Sleep With. With SMAP about to release a new album and start a concert tour at Tokyo Dome tomorrow, there seems to be no limit to Kimutaku's popularity.

No, no there isn't. This guy has charisma in spades and and sales of any product he endorses go through the roof. I love his TV dramas, too. My friends and I experienced this charisma first hand at a SMAP concert. We all went there thinking the guy was fairly hot, but also quite up himself. We each had an alternative preferred band member. Towards the end of the concert, the band members hopped on a truck that took them around the arena so the more distant fans could get that close-up feeling. Well three foreigners are pretty easy to spot in a crowd of Japanese, so we caught Kimura's eye. He just looked at us for a long, delicious moment and we were lost. We spent the hours after the concert trying to figure out how he did that. I wish I knew, because if you could bottle it, there'd be a fortune to be made.

Now that I've built him up past any reasonable expectations, here's a fun video compiled from four Gatsby ads he did:

oh shingo

Your efforts in drag have come a long way...



But nothing will ever top this:



I couldn't find this with subtitles, but there's a lot you can tell just from watching (eg the conversation they have about how Shingo looks so much bigger than Tsuyoshi and Koichi even though they are sitting equal distances from the camera). The game where they are lined up is one every female guest on the show gets to play, where they "secretly" choose the guy they like the best on the show and then say why. As Shingo Mama (the character) is a woman, "she" gets to play. The funniest thing about this clip for me is the fact that no-one else has ever made Gackt break out of his uber cool glare and smile so many times in one show. And with such a simple device. Fantastic.

a little engrish

This shirt makes perfect sense if you understand the way Japanese pronounce English. I'm sure the rest of you can work it out.

a sight worth seeing

Some people really want to be the centre of attention, and there aren't many better ways to achieve that than having live goldfish, in bowls, for earrings. A weird hat and fake set of boobs also help.
















If this guy's goal was to have a crowd of strangers stare at him like he was a little insane, well, mission accomplished. When I took these photos there were about fifty people looking amused and dumbfounded.

and more harajuku

Some cos(tume) players imitate characters from their favourite anime (animated series or movies), while others portray members of bands they like - most often bands where the visual is considered as important as (and in the case of crap bands, more important than) the audio.

The girl in blue/black below isn't cosplaying (as far as I know). I just liked her look.











This guy was my favourite person on the bridge. He was standing alone for a while and there was something about him that drew me in. I'm struggling to explain it properly, but it was as if he was poised and self-contained, yet reaching out at the same time without speaking or moving. He was kind enough to pose for me. I regret not asking to take another photo later when he smiled at a compliment, because his face became more beautiful, like a room suddenly filled with light.











I saw two kinds of people that day: one kind that look like they are playing dress-up, and the other kind who look like they dressed to express outwardly some part of themselves they don't usually reveal. This guy had the air of someone who was expressing through clothes and makeup something that another person might express through poetry or art. I'm not sure all of this isn't evident in the photos, but it's how I remember him.

fashion in japan

Here's a bit of a selection of the clothes I saw everywhere on young people in Osaka and Tokyo. The shirt with the butterfly below is style of shirt I saw a lot. Apart from butterflies I've also seen guns, guitars and skulls. Click any of the pictures for a closer look.











The picture I wanted but didn't get was of a particular outfit a lot of women were wearing, consisting of very short shorts (or plaid knickerbockers) worn with dark winter tights and ankle boots. I was a little disturbed by the 80s flashback it gave me. I've been searching the web for a good image to no avail, though the shorts below are the most common type I saw, over thick black tights. I've realised from searching around that Japan is not the only place women are wearing shorts over tights lately. I haven't seen it in Australia, but then it is the middle of summer here, so wearing tights for any reason would be crazy.

harajuku

I'm going to add a few more posts of photos and videos from the Japan trip.

The bridge at Harakuku wasn't as crowded as I'd imagined it would be. At times I think I could have counted more tourists with cameras than subjects for shooting. (Actually at times watching the photo-taking dynamic was as interesting as looking at the fashion and cosplay.) This is a cross-section of the people on the bridge. Blogger limits the number of pics in a post to five, so I'll add a few more in the next post.

It's a shame the girl on the left below was not in the mood for posing that day. She looked perfect, like a delicate porcelain doll.

pure sound osaka

This video is for Roofshadow and Industrial Athena. Remember what a jumbled obstacle course Pure Sound in America-mura used to be? Have a look at it now!

How did they achieve this miracle, you ask? They moved all the indies music downstairs into the music store, which is now at least half indies.

a heroic battle against...um, peace and harmony

Cup noodle freedom!

An advert in a Tokyo station (might have been Shinjuku, not sure. Not that it really matters).




I haven't quite worked out if they are fighting for the freedom to have cup noodles, or if cup noodles are the fuel they need to fight the good fight.





A few days later, their mission had begun and they were gone. Let's pray they can save us. Raise your fist in the air and let your voice ring out!

CUP NOODLE FREEDOM!

the skirt that saved japan

Not a snap from my holiday, but an advert for a skirt that transforms into a vending machine costume to fool stalkers and other miscreants who might be following a Japanese woman home.

I'd love to see a video of the transformation from skirt to this. It would have to be a quick change to fool some follower who's only a block behind you. The pictures (below) don't make it look easy. I want to see how they get from the second stage to the third.

Of course the only reason this could work is because in urban Japan a row of vending machines like this one can be found every few blocks. Apparently it takes the same amount of electricity to run one in summer as the electricity use of an average Japanese household. Yes, in the home of the Kyoto Accord. Scary.

But I digress. If you would like the protection of the transforming skirt (or just think it would make a good Halloween costume) it won't be cheap. This Aya Tsukioka designer skirt sells for around $800.

jr info guy

I wonder how long Super Nanny is going to leave him on the naughty chair...















Seriously, the only person who should work on top of a box is a street poet or comedian trying to get some attention in the middle of the park. The weirdest thing about this Japan Rail Info Guy was that I only ever saw one of him. Numerous JR Info Guys and Gals all through the Tokyo station, but he's the only model that came with a free display stand. Makes me grateful for my desk job.

walking heads

I went walking my first night in Osaka. The Doutonbori Hotel, where I stayed my first two nights, is unremarkable inside but easy to spot when you're walking down its street. I felt again like Gulliver in Lilliput the moment I saw the bathroom - the bath was deeper than mine at home, but around half the length.



Just down the road from the hotel was another piece of exterior design I liked, this time on a restaurant. Click to see the see the larger version of the photos.

do not pass up the rail pass

Day 1 in Japan, my luggage trolley and I made the short walk from Kansai International Airport (KIX) to the Japan Rail (JR) office where I picked up the glittering jewel in the crown of my japan trip preparation: the JR Rail Pass. If you ever go to Japan and are moving around from place to place, get the rail pass. Don't dither about it; just fork out the money and enjoy. I paid AUD645 for a 21-day pass and I had used the equivalent in (fast, comfortable, reserved seating) train travel before my trip was at its halfway point.

Rail pass tips: You cannot buy a JR Rail Pass in Japan, so think about it before you leave. And don't lose it, because you can't replace it in Japan either! Also, it is NOT worth paying the extra to get the 'green' pass. The small number of additional services it gives you over the 'ordinary' pass are minimal and unnecessary.

three weeks in japan

And so it begins: a series of posts on the holiday I just took. I was going to say that I wish I'd had the time to blog this along the way while I was in Japan, but then I realised that would mean I was spending my holiday talking about my holiday, and that's just silly.

three days and counting

...till I leave for 18 days in Japan.

I'm so excited! I have a glorious JR railpass which takes me pretty much anywhere I want to go by bullet train (so smooth, so quiet, so much more comfy than a plane while being nearly as fast). I've contacted people all over the place to catch up with. There are about three people I haven't found yet (the email addresses I had for them were mobile phone addresses, which have changed over the last four years) but I have people on the case in Japan, and will hopefully still get to see them while I'm there.

I'm going to just three live shows while I'm there - one is Carole King/Mary J Blige/Fergie, one is an indies band I like a lot (KING), and one is a band I've never seen before (that link's for you Roofshadow, in case you're curious what the boys are up to lately) but which features the guitarist and the drummer from my second favourite indies band ever, Plastic, which unfortunately broke up in July. They're just playing support (that is, they aren't new members, just fill-ins). I'll just be glad to see them play, especially 'my' drummer boy, Tsuki. The one other band I was hoping to see isn't playing while I'm there...sad.

I also plan to go to at least one place I've never been before and do at least one thing I've never done before. I just haven't quite figured out what those will be just yet. Suggestions welcome. (Ai, where did you see those fun monkeys??)

just got my 'friends of japan' newsletter for september

...and the phrase of the month is:

Yo. Ore no na wa Inigo Montoya. Kisama wa chichi wo koroshita. Shinu kakugo shiro.

Meaning:

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

I'll be sure and work that one into my next dinner party. Even if it is in boys' Japanese and will make me seem not the gentle flower that I am. *^_^*

for all you unique flowers out there

Yesterday I was thinking that I rarely post here on Japanese stuff that I'm into. I think it's because there are only a few friends of mine from 'the Japan era' of my life that read this blog. I've been thinking about resurrecting my old blog, which I posted on while I lived in Japan, to use for things like reviews of Japanese dramas and the like. But maybe I'll cross post some things here anyway. People can always skip the stuff that doesn't interest them.

And for today's post:

I know that SMAP are a fairly crappy group musicwise (I often like their comedy or acting) but I randomly came across SMAP singing "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake No Hana" again this morning on Youtube and it had me singing like a karaoke queen while I got ready for work.



Lyrics in romaji and translation: http://www.kiwi-musume.com/lyrics/smap/sekainihitotsudakenohana.html

The basic theme of the song is that we are sometimes so busy comparing ourselves to others and trying to be 'number 1' that we completely miss how special it is just to be a unique human being.

And can I just ask, who is this dude doing a Chinese remake of the song??? He seems to have quite a following. Maybe I'll have to ask Noddy (current Chinese boarder).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2r7PF-jgyI

some things are so hard to let go of

There are about five indies rock bands I used to follow when I lived in Japan. When I went back on holiday I always tried to see their shows, but it's been over three years since I've seen any of them live. One band, Sclatch, broke up a while back. Of the other four, two are far more precious to me than the others: KING & Plastic. Over the last year I have listened to their music less, because it makes me feel sad how much time has passed since I've been there. You have to understand, I supported these bands. I wished fervently for their success. I translated their lyrics. They mean as much to me as my Japanese friends, as much as the few students I still keep in touch with, as much as the city I lived in. Their music is wonderful, but it also has a lot of meaning for me beyond the words and tunes. I still know the crowd moves (a little Japanese phenomenon) that go with each song.





















Last year I made a plan to go to Japan this July. Somewhere around March I knew it wasn't going to happen. Then, a few days ago, I found out about a sale that would allow me to fly return to Japan for AUD$750. But I had to book for later in the year, because I needed time to save for accommodation and spending money. The dates can't be changed.

And today I confirmed that Plastic are breaking up on July 15.

So now half of me is so happy to be going to Japan again, and the other half is grieving for the missed opportunity to see Plastic on stage one more time. :( The worst thing is that no matter what they go on to do, all that wonderful music gets left behind. I thought it was sad when Hibiki left and they went from five members to four. But this is way beyond.

I realise that there are only about four people who read this blog who are really going to get what this means to me. For everyone else I'm going to come back tomorrow and tell you about the trip to Melbourne, which is a much happier story.

mr genki

New boarder arrived last night and he's adorable. For the non-Japanophiles reading, genki means energetic, in a loose 'how are you?' 'I'm good. I'm genki. Let's go!' kind of way.

Mr genki is 20, plays bass guitar in an indies band in Nagoya and is here for three weeks to study English. He has a very sweet enthusiam about him and has already asked a hundred questions.

He even brought me the coolest omiage (technical souvenirs, but actually more in the line of a 'thanks for having me stay' present). I wanted to show you, but I can't find the cable that connects my camera (well technically my mum's camera, mine died) to the computer. I might post the photo later. There was a calendar, a keitai (mobile) strap, a pretty pink hanky and his mother sent me two little dolls for hinamatsuri, which is the first week of March. But I have to put them away before March 4 ends, or tradition has it that I won't get married before the next hinamatsuri. And we can't have that.