Round 1

I'm off for the weekend as tomorrow night marks the inaugural performance of (lights please) Momotaro and the Revenge of Akaoni. Here's a look at me catching up with Momo and gang in Okayama.

Rod Allen chases Japanese man

Just in time for the the onset of spring baseball, here's a clip of Ron Allen forgetting he's no longer in America.

Free press

Nice little write-up in the Tokushima Shimbun about the musical. I don't know about you, but there's something awfully familiar looking about the lanky fella on the right side of the picture. Now if only I could read that pesky Japanese...

Interesting

Hmm... Looks like gen-y may be finally getting a say in all this after all.

The Frames

The best song win for "Falling Slowly" at the Oscars the other night has inspired me to officially pimp one of my favorite bands, The Frames - great melodies, lush choruses, and the kind of intimacy you could only expect from a band formed on the busking corners of Dublin. One of the top 3 live bands I've ever seen, hands down. Check out their stuff on itunes, or if you live in the Mlwaukee area, head out to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performing as The Swell Season at the Riverside on May 8 or at the Overture Center in Madison on June 16.

They're break-dance fighting!

When looking for the best value accommodation, always choose the hotel in closest proximity to a dance battle contest.


Odori Park, 2.10.08

Catching up

Finally got around to gathering up some pictures from the Yuki Matsuri in Sapporo. Great trip - have a look.


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Toyota Big Air Competition


freezin**

* photo by C. Blasman
** photo by J. Featherston

Snubs for snobs

After seeing Into the Wild tonight, I'd like someone to explain to me why the film wasn't nominated for best picture at this Sunday's Oscars. Furthermore, why was Emile Hirsch overlooked in the best performance by a lead actor category when Tom Hanks was nominated in 2000 for his bizarre and arguably less physically-demanding (but ultimately comparable) turn in Cast Away? Snub snub snub snub snub.

Into the Wild > Juno

Bringing it all together

Three more days until dress rehearsals. This is what organized chaos looks like.

Even more zany Japanese television

I remember when failing to complete a tongue twister only meant you had to sit back in your desk.

Graduation messages

Been helping the junior high third years with their final messages before next month`s graduation, and some of the responses have been fantastic. These two definitely were not misinterpreted during translation:

Boy 1 - "I will go the way of the goat. I will be an all-powerful being."

Girl 1 - "I will get with eight boys. When I am 20, I will choose one to marry."

Wisely, I wished these two the best of luck and sent them on their way.

Why I love Japan - Entry 5

Only a country as awesomely twisted as Japan could dream up Hadaka Matsuri, aka the Naked Man Festival. Tomorrow night (somehow conveniently worked out to be the coldest night of the year) I will join thousands of brazen and foolish men in stripping down to a loincloth and running through the streets and fountains of Okayama. No pictures to follow this one, but here's what The Walrus has to say about the festivities:

"Chalk it up to cultural differences, but in Japan, throwing on a loincloth with a bunch of the guys, getting drunk on sake, and trying to touch a naked man makes you more pure. For centuries, men in Inazawa City have spent this day pursuing the Shin-Otoko, or Naked Man, who absorbs the bad luck and evil deeds of those who touch him. The person chosen as Shin-Otoko must shave his entire body, then walk through the town to the Kounomiya Shrine followed by thousands of drunken men desperate to grab, slap, or squeeze any bit of flesh they can. For the Naked Man, bruising, fainting, and moments of acute self-consciousness are not uncommon."

If that's not a great idea, I don't know what is.

Song of the day

Rufus Wainwright - Foolish Love

Taking in Valentine's Day with a movie, a bottle of red wine, and Rufus on the box. I think I can thank my mother's lack of cynicism over the years for my lack of distaste regarding today's holiday. Here's an idea: say "Happy Valentine's Day" to one person you don't know today. Doesn't matter who it is - bank clerk, a co-worker from the next department over, the girl in the drive-through window - just try it. You never know, it might make their day. And yours.

Kiaora

I dropped in YRG Cafe last week to check out my boy Hayden's exhibition and he fully did not disappoint. I grabbed these snaps of some of my favorite pieces off his website, but the entire collection is equally as cool. Check it out.


sweet home shikoku


alien registration


west meets east

Needless to say there are some seriously talented people here. If you get the chance, check out the rest of Hayden's stuff on his (much cooler than mine) blog at http://barnieinjapan.blogspot.com/.

More zany Japanese television

From the people who brought you crack, here's a video of attractive women being forcibly attacked by a komodo dragon.

Away for the weekend

Taking off in the morning for three days of beer, ice sculptures, and snowboarding at the Yuki Matsuri in Sapporo and Niseko. Can't wait to get back on a board and spend some quality time on my ass come Monday. Recap and pictures to come.

Niseko, JP
Wednesday 6th February 2008, 8:02AM
Weather conditions: Cloudy, with occasional clear patch.
New snowfall: 15cm (Official) 20cm (Observed)
Snow depth: 275cm (top); 170cm (base)

Yes we can

Does it still count as voting if you don't get one of those "I Voted" stickers?

I'll be around

Well, it may not be a surprise to many people, but I've decided to stay in Japan for a second year. I turned in my forms on Friday and am now officially a Tokushima resident until at least August 2009. What many people don't know, however, is why I made the decision to stay. Hopefully this will set the record straight.

In September of this year, I will welcome my first child into this world. The mother is a 19-year-old girl named 嘘つき, a student at Shikoku University. Basically, we met at the Outback Steakhouse in Osaka, I bought her a Binion's, complimented her on her tote bag, and the next thing you know - baby time. Anyway, I thought the whole thing would be funny and full of gay jokes, like in that movie Knocked Up, but it's actually not that cool. Apparently the things take nine months to form or something, so I figure I should be here at least until he's born just to say what's up. Gotta be the responsible parent.

Of course, we don't know that it's going to be a boy, but I like to think I've got that kind of touch, so to speak. We've already decided on names too. If it's a boy, he'll be Kikko, and if a girl, Yuki. That way I figure we can always just shorten her name to "Yu" whenever we need something. I've started to think about child support as well, so if you want to send me donations, or even like, Domino's coupons, you can mail them to the address below. Either way, 嘘つき and I would appreciate your support as we navigate through this moderately difficult time.

See you on the streets,
Jeff

#4C Matsumoto Bldg.
1-27 Kuramoto-cho
Tokushima-shi 770-0042
JAPAN