Moving on...

So this first chapter of the Japanese Adventure will draw to a close on December 1st. I will be sad to leave Saijo and the many happy memories that is has given to me over the last 17 months or so, but my future now lies elsewhere.

I will miss Evan, the school and the students. I will miss going to Jin's for delicious Okonomiyaki. I will miss the familarity of Mannikineko, our favourite Karaoke haunt.

But my future now lies with Shiori. In a different part of Japan. With new opportunities.

Saijo Sake Festival - New link

I have put up the link to the official site for the Saijo Sake Festival. Please look in the links section or click this -->

http://sakematsuri.com/

The site is in Japanese, but click the little English link (a Union Jack I think) in the top right corner for the English site.

Here you can find more information on this years festival, and previous Sake Matsuris.

Nuclear Dawn in the Land of the Rising Sun

News that North Korea has tested an underground Nuclear weapon has bought widespread condemnation from people all over Japan.

The test has isolated the North Koreans even more, and has the potential to seriously change the atmosphere in the Asian area. Although the North Koreans don't have the potential to deliever a Nuclear strike in the form of a warhead, there are fears that a plane could drop a Nuclear bomb.

From www.bbc.co.uk

"The test, which South Korean media said took place in Gilju in Hamgyong province at 1036 (0136 GMT), has still to be confirmed.

But both the US and Japan said they had detected seismic waves. Russia said it was "100% certain" a nuclear test had occurred.

The size of the bomb is uncertain. South Korean reports put it as low as 550 tons of destructive power but Russia said it was between five and 15 kilotons. The Hiroshima bomb of 1945 was 12.5-15 kilotons. "

Full story at - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6033457.stm

The following is the full text of the announcement carried on North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency as reported on the Reuters news agency:

"The field of scientific research in the DPRK (North Korea) successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 (2006) at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great, prosperous, powerful socialist nation.
"It has been confirmed that there was no such danger as radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under a scientific consideration and careful calculation.
"The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100%. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA (Korean People's Army) and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defence capability.
"It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the area around it."

Also check out this link -

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200610090122.html

Sake Matsuri # 2

So yesterday was the first day of the Saijo Sake festival, and once again the streets of Saijo (well the Boulevard and Sake breweries) were buzzing with throngs of people. This being my second Sake festival I had booked the Saturday as a paid holiday, and invited Shiori to come down to enjoy the proceedings.

We decided to go into Hiroshima in the day, as my fellow co-workers were not going to be there until after 6 anyway. Except Jimmy. Who spent 8 hours in the company of sake. Not a good idea. And when we finally met him, here was the living proof the too much alcohol is not a good thing.

However when we got down to the station to go into Hiroshima, the Boulevard was awash with people, mainly Japanese and a variable mix of smells wafting from the numerous food stalls. Resisting the temptation to eat proved difficult, but we decided to eat in Hiroshima, where I took Shiori to Molly Malones for good ole pub food (I had the fish n chips and she had a pie and mash).

When we returned to Saijo, many more Gaijins had now descended on the scene and the only Japanese left were either late, or asleep from too much Sake. We met up with Evan, Kaori, Derrick, Ken and our two new teachers, David and Jessica and had a fair few cups of fine Japanese rice wine.

After we met Matt (who arrived late so couldn't get in) and went to the usual post Sake Festival party at Mondo. Shiori and Kaori chatted, leaving me to talk to Evan, David and anyone else...

I was in bed by 12...Shiori had to catch an early train and I was in a 10am this morning...YAWN!

No Go

Well, it looks like I'll be stuck here in Saijo, after my transfer still seems to be stuck in the proverbial swamp. After a week or so, of chasing Dean (my boss) for an answer of whether I would be able to transfer in November, he finally confirmed to me that I would have to remain here for the time being.

I do love the school. The staff are great, the students (kids and adults) are nice and I have some good friends here, but my heart lies with Shiori, and that is the path I need to follow. It's frustrating because it's not as if I am requesting a transfer to a much sought after area of Japan, but to somewhere similar to where I am now. And we can always do with new teachers.

I try to keep my hopes up and those of Shiori because I know that we are supposed to be together. I just wish the guy or girl who works on transfers in the NOVA offices would pull our his oe her finger and let me move.