January 20, 2003
I think being able to navigate through the streets of Tokyo on foot takes the talent of a Wayne Gretzky and the patience of Job. Went through a lot of quick sideshifts, pivots and spins today. It helps that I have a slight "Crazy Legs Syndrome" thanks to a trick right knee and right ankle. Believe me, that ability to get through the coming masses helps out a lot, especially when one is going upstream.
Just a place to deposit my thoughts on life here in the Kanto and about anything else that sticks to my walls.
Monday, January 20, 2003
Saturday, January 18, 2003
January 18, 2003
Well, went out with some former students from Nippon Oil tonight. We first had dinner at the Farm Grill, one of my hangouts in Tokyo. The notable thing about is that it's one of the few places in the Ginza that piles on the food for a pretty low price. Tons of chicken, beef and dessert. I also discovered that my tolerance for alcohol is a bit better that I'd thought. Downed a couple of glasses of the golden brew there and down a half-pint of Guiness at the next stop at the local Irish pub. The only thing to suffer was my eyes...pretty red and itchy. I kinda feel like the Cruiser's character from Minority Report after he had that eye surgery.
Had a bit of a laugh midweek as I taught one of my classes at school. The English conversation video we were using starred a fellow who would later become famous in stuff like Red Dragon, Fight Club and American History X. Yep, you got it: Ed Norton, circa 1995, played a young backpacker from Minnesota visiting the Big Apple. Of course, his lines were a bit more terse and devoid of subtext so that the students could understand. Gave the kids a kick, although I gave them a further jolt when I revealed that Norton used to be a teacher in Osaka a decade ago. I myself was amazed when he did an interview with the entertainment reporter of a news show here in Japanese.
Well, went out with some former students from Nippon Oil tonight. We first had dinner at the Farm Grill, one of my hangouts in Tokyo. The notable thing about is that it's one of the few places in the Ginza that piles on the food for a pretty low price. Tons of chicken, beef and dessert. I also discovered that my tolerance for alcohol is a bit better that I'd thought. Downed a couple of glasses of the golden brew there and down a half-pint of Guiness at the next stop at the local Irish pub. The only thing to suffer was my eyes...pretty red and itchy. I kinda feel like the Cruiser's character from Minority Report after he had that eye surgery.
Had a bit of a laugh midweek as I taught one of my classes at school. The English conversation video we were using starred a fellow who would later become famous in stuff like Red Dragon, Fight Club and American History X. Yep, you got it: Ed Norton, circa 1995, played a young backpacker from Minnesota visiting the Big Apple. Of course, his lines were a bit more terse and devoid of subtext so that the students could understand. Gave the kids a kick, although I gave them a further jolt when I revealed that Norton used to be a teacher in Osaka a decade ago. I myself was amazed when he did an interview with the entertainment reporter of a news show here in Japanese.
Sunday, January 12, 2003
January 13, 2003
It's just so ironic having no central heating in the world's second-largest (for now) economy. I was back for 3 weeks in Toronto where the temps dropped to a few degrees below zero Celsius...and that's pretty darn warm for Xmas....and I was still sweating in bed. Over here in Tokyo, we're several latitudinal degrees below Toronto and almost always above the freezing point in the winter, and yet I feel like an icicle even during the day.
Central heating will never catch on in the homes here because the gas and portable gas heater people have got too much of a hold even in the world's largest city. Mind you, true to Japanese integrity, my SHARP heater has lasted me a good 8 years without failing me. All I have to do is just vacuum a wafer-thin square of foam filter and she's back online.
It's just so ironic having no central heating in the world's second-largest (for now) economy. I was back for 3 weeks in Toronto where the temps dropped to a few degrees below zero Celsius...and that's pretty darn warm for Xmas....and I was still sweating in bed. Over here in Tokyo, we're several latitudinal degrees below Toronto and almost always above the freezing point in the winter, and yet I feel like an icicle even during the day.
Central heating will never catch on in the homes here because the gas and portable gas heater people have got too much of a hold even in the world's largest city. Mind you, true to Japanese integrity, my SHARP heater has lasted me a good 8 years without failing me. All I have to do is just vacuum a wafer-thin square of foam filter and she's back online.
Friday, January 10, 2003
January 11, 2003
Well, back in my 2K apartment in Ichikawa, Chiba after another vacation back home in Canada. Certainly warmer here than in Toronto but with the lack of central heating in Japan, things balance out. I'm just lucky to have come back into a long weekend. We've got Adulthood Day on the 13th. For those who are not in the know about Japanese national holidays, Adulthood Day is a celebration for all those teens who will be celebrating their 20th year on Earth.
For most of these kids...sorry, adults....they'll be getting all gussied up: women in kimonos and fur collars while the guys don suits. Then they may all head over to the local town or city hall and listen to the mayor exhort the privileges and responsibilites of the new age, which includes exercising the right to vote...usually for him/her. Of course, being the 21st century, there will be a few incidents of some of the new breed exercising their right to drink and heckle the mayor. They usually make the news on the holiday, which is a slow news day.
Then, the kids head out together either with family or on their own to party it up at a bar. Some of them will discover their new rights to have hangovers, then, as well. Of course, some of them may have already found this out several years prematurely.
Well, back in my 2K apartment in Ichikawa, Chiba after another vacation back home in Canada. Certainly warmer here than in Toronto but with the lack of central heating in Japan, things balance out. I'm just lucky to have come back into a long weekend. We've got Adulthood Day on the 13th. For those who are not in the know about Japanese national holidays, Adulthood Day is a celebration for all those teens who will be celebrating their 20th year on Earth.
For most of these kids...sorry, adults....they'll be getting all gussied up: women in kimonos and fur collars while the guys don suits. Then they may all head over to the local town or city hall and listen to the mayor exhort the privileges and responsibilites of the new age, which includes exercising the right to vote...usually for him/her. Of course, being the 21st century, there will be a few incidents of some of the new breed exercising their right to drink and heckle the mayor. They usually make the news on the holiday, which is a slow news day.
Then, the kids head out together either with family or on their own to party it up at a bar. Some of them will discover their new rights to have hangovers, then, as well. Of course, some of them may have already found this out several years prematurely.