Off to Korea!

So after work today (and it's only a half day), I will once again board the train and ride down to see Shiori. Then on Thursday we will fly to Korea for my 30th Birthday.

"Which Korea ? The good one or the bad one ?"

Of course the good one.

Anyway, I will take some photos and post them when I return.

Happy Birthday Our Kid!

TANJOBI OMEDETO!

Translated as Happy Birthday!

Today is the 29th birthday of my little sister Kelly. I just wanted to wish her a special day, and all the best for her 29th year...nearly 30, Kel...

Have a great day!!!!

Justin xxxxx

Japanese Pop 3 - MR. CHILDREN

Mr.Children is one of the greatest bands in Japan. They made their major debut in 1992 with the release of their first album, "EVERYTHING", but it wasn't until one of their singles was used as a drama theme song that they started getting noticed. They got their big break in 1994 with the release of their fifth single, "innocent world", which made record sales and earned them an award. Their fourth album, "Atomic Heart", which was released in the same year, is still their top selling album to date. Since then, all their singles have been number one hits in the Oricon charts, and they've produced other noteworthy albums.

Their sound is essentially a blend of light pop and classic rock. But due to the band's inclination to experiment with various music styles, their sound is constantly evolving. They have delved into various types of rock as well as jazz, blues, folk, country, and dance. Despite this constant change, however, their music has progressed successfully, proving them to be a versatile band that can last.

(Taken from http://www.geocities.com/everything_misuchiru/)

Official Site - http://www.mrchildren.jp/

Sweat and Thunderstorms

The weather here is nasty.

I was going to leave this post with just that sentence, but I thought it's not very informative, so let me explain.

In the appartment the air conditioner is working overtime, as it pumps cooled air into the living/kitchen area. Keeping it at a cool 17 degrees C, this is an oasis of relief from the soup that permeates the rest of the appartment. In my room, sleeping requires having my head postioned horizontally so the the breeze of my fan can cool me down. Having a shower seems pointless too, as a tiny sliver of moisture clings to both skin and hair causing my shirt to be damp when I arrive at work (I've taken to wearing t-shirts underneath).

But it's not just the awful heat and choking humidity...Oh No! In the last 3 weeks we have been privy to 4 or 5 truly apocalyptic thunderstorms. It's like the Horsemen are banging at my door...

I left my futon out today for airing...bad mistake...now I have only the mattress to sleep on....:-(

Japanese Pop 2 - Koda Kumi

I continue my look at J-Pop stars with the successful Koda Kumi

KODA KUMI

Born on November 13, 1982 in Kyoto, Japan, Koda Kumi is a Japanese solo R&B and pop female singer and also the older sister of J-pop star misono, of the former J-Pop band day after tomorrow. Although Kumi Koda debuted in 2000 with her debut single "Take Back," massive success didn't come until 2003 with the release of her seventh single, titled "real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba," which became a huge hit song mainly because the songs of the single were theme songs of popular PlayStation 2 videogame Final Fantasy X-2 and since then, Kumi's career has taken off.

In 2005, she was one of the best-selling artists because of her compilation of singles album titled "Best ~First Things~," and in 2006, she reached the top of the Oricon singles charts with the first single of the "~12 Single~ Collection," the single titled "you."

Her style is referred to in Japanese as "sexycute".

Thanks to Wikipedia.

http://www.rhythmzone.net/koda/index.html

Japanese Pop 1 - AYUMI HAMASAKI

So, I thought I would present a series of posts on current J-Pop stars. Now I am not really a fan of Japanese music (although there is one song that I have heard recently that is hauntingly beautiful and plays with a trailer to a animated movie), but I thought I would let the readers of this blog make up their own mind.

So, I begin with the Queen of J-Pop, Ayumi Hamasaki.



Ayumi Hamasaki

Born October 2, 1978 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Commonly known just as Ayu, Ayumi Hamasaki is one of the most popular and influential Japanese pop singers and Japanese idols, considered one of the biggest J-pop artists. She is also considered to be the Queen of J-Pop.

Since her debut in 1998 with her first single "poker face", she has sold more than 46 million copies, with the releases of her seven full-length studio albums, one mini-album, two compilation albums, 40 singles, and several non-studio albums, being the fourth top selling Japanese artist in the history of Japan. [1] With the release of BLUE BIRD, Hamasaki's single sales have passed the 20 million mark[2], making her the first solo and female singer to do so.

With the release of her 39th single "Startin' / Born To Be..." in 2006, Hamasaki became the first female singer to have 27 #1 singles (the most #1 singles a Japanese female artist has ever achieved) and 38 singles in the Top 10 of the Japanese Oricon charts. She is also the first Japanese artist to have her first original seven studio albums top the charts.

Ayumi has also won the golden prize on the Japan Record Taishou (the most important award in Japanese music) three times in a row, in 2001, 2002 and 2003. She would have also won it in 2004, but she rejected the award saying she didn't want her song INSPIRE to win an award, also Ayumi no longer accepts awards.


(Taken from Wikipedia)

http://ayumi.primenova.com/

Love

Yes, for those of you who haven`t yet cottoned on I AM IN LOVE...

I know some of you might be reaching for your sick buckets and some of you will be happy for me, but that feeling called L.O.V.E (as Jarvis Cocker once sang) has managed to smother me with it`s warm fluffy hands.

I haven`t felt this way about someone since Claire, and by Joe (whoever he is) it feels good!

Shiori is a wonderful girl who brings out the good in me, and I feel I can only become a better person whilst I am in her company...

I have already requested a transfer to be closer to her, and miss her when she is not around.

Okay, enough is enough I know...so I will leave on a happy note!!!

Japan and Russia in Fishy water

According to reports over here, Russia has killed a Japanese fisherman and detained three others in the waters around the hotly disputed areas of the Northern Territories (Japan) or the Kurils (Russia).

The Japanese press claim that the Russian boat opened fire first, whilst the Russian News agency Itar-Tass refutes that claim and states that the Japanese boat refused to stop and made dangerous manouevres.

According to the BBC, disputes in this area are common although the last time anyone was killed was 50 years ago.

Festival

So went to visit Shiori again last week and again on Sunday. Sunday was a festival that included a spectacular fireworks display, delicious food and throngs of woman (including my beautiful Shiori) in Yutaka's (a Kimono like dress).

The temperature here is NASTY...leaving me wanting to not leave the air conditioned oasis of car, house or office... Sunday night was no exception with the temperature around 28 degrees and high humidity...

As for the food...A whole Squid on a stick...no problem and surprisingly delicious!

The Craziness of Japanese TV

Now, I have been here for 14 months, but never really paid much attention to the television. Of course, I have perused various shows and witnessed that Japan may only have about 16 celebrities to share amongst all it's wild and wacky shows...

Last night, however I really got into a cooking show (one of millions) where two chefs went head to head. However the panel was made up of celebrities who looked and acted like they hadn't been fed for a week.

LOOK AT THIS PICKLED GINGER! (Chef)

OHHHHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! (from MALE celebrity in the panel)

This show was interesting because it was Kansai style Okonomiyaki v Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki...Hiroshima style won 9-0...

Afterwards, myself, Matt and new Flatmate Jimmy, watched this hilarious Japanese drama...I'm not sure what it was about, but it seemed like some surreal dream after drinking too much Sake...

EXAMPLE

Our Heroine, Akiko is working in a Peach grove (or whatever its called where you grow peaches), she is clumsy and in a great show of overacting tips up her wheelbarrow. Enter the two stooges, who proceed to shout at each other.

Akiko then gets a phone call from a Man; lets call him Mr. TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL (AND WAY TOO OLD)...all very mysterious....Charlies Angel???

Next Akiko is at dinner, where some bug eyed loon of a woman proceeds to rant about something....

Then she is at a meeting with TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL, who has a jumper effeminatley placed over his shoulders (and it doesn't move. Once.)...In the background, people walk around in bee costumes....

After this, I began to get a headache, as it felt like I was on some kind of acid...Maybe the writers of this show were....

Anyway, here are some links


http://www.wwitv.com/portal.htm?http://www.wwitv.com/television/index.html?http://www.wwitv.com/television/106.htm


http://www.japan-zone.com/modern/tv_star.shtml


http://www.nhk.or.jp/english/

The Big Sleep and The Expected Letdown

Saturday saw me oversleep.

It's the first time I've overslept here and could probably count all the times in my life on one hand. However I woke up at 9:50 and was expected to start work at 10! Cue much hilarity as I scurried around like a squirrel thats lost his nuts, and made it to work as the clock hit 10:02!

Oops.

On a sour note, I was expecting my beautiful and wonderful girlfriend, Shiori to visit me this weekend. All this needed was to me to swap a day with Suzette. However being the selfish, concieted American b@@@h that she is, she refused...

This is the first time in our small school that someone has ever refused a swap; well in my time anyhoo. It left me pissed off, but hardly surprised knowing what a self centred human being that Californian is.

But I haven't given up hope and have been ringing around to other schools. PLEASE cross your fingers for me....!!!

(And wish for small ferrets to eat Suzette's shoes, or her hair to fall out...)