Lighthouses in the sea change

Heading to the airport in the morning to pick up Patrick, the new Tokushima City ALT. I'm not sure he'll be able to find us amidst the bustle, but hopefully these signs will do the trick.

Fresh squeeze

Above the city

There's a famous answer to the question "Why climb Mt. Fuji?" that the Japanese like to quote, and while I can't recall who first gave it (perhaps Pat Morita?), I think it pretty well expresses my own reasons for partaking. And that is, well, "because it's there." In fact, that very statement could sum up my reasons for coming to Japan as a whole. Anyway, regardless of the how weak this defense is and ignoring any risk to reward scenarios I may have come up with before departing for Tokyo (risk: end up wet and angry, reward: watch the sunrise from a really tall mountain), I'm back now and happy to report that there is both good and bad news regarding climbing the honorable Fuji-san.

The good news is that, on a clear day, the climb really does provide for some beautiful views and good aerobic exercise. There's a general feeling of goodwill on the mountain, and everyone from school children to US military to elderly Japanese seem to enjoy rooting each other on. Aside from an exhausting last several hundred meters or so, scaling Mt. Fuji is an enjoyable process made more fun by hiking with a friend.

The bad news, however, is that hiking Mt. Fuji on a shitty weather day isn't much fun at all. Luckily for us the inclement weather came mostly on day 2, but it left us scrambling down the mountain on what should have been a leisurely hiking morning. Also, we never saw Gollum.

Ultimately, missing the famed Fuji sunrise due to cloud cover stamped a bit of the buzz off what was otherwise a great weekend, but I'm still grateful for the experience. There's another saying the Japanese have that goes (and I'm paraphrasing) "The man who never climbs Fuji is a fool, and the man who climbs Fuji twice is a bigger fool." Am I happy I climbed once? Absolutely. Is it worth doing again? You tell me.

Pictures. Douzo.


scaling the ash above the 6th station


getting up there and a little wobbly


nearing the top of Mt. Doom


at the summit in 4:30:00


to see...umm...


down to shelter for nightfall


John and I ready to call it a night


reward.

Destination: Fuji-san

Name: Mount Fuji
Location: Chūbu region, Japan
Elevation: 12,388 ft.
Type: Stratovolcano
First ascent: 663 AD
Last eruption: 1707


Back on Tuesday with pictures.

Best picture ever

Goes to this gem from sconnie.com:



I know I'm late on this one (I more or less stopped reading the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online when I realized that students building a swing set on the roof of a school somehow qualifies as a newsworthy controversy), but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to jump on the slogan-hating bandwagon.

Where did this "live like you mean it" come from? Who were the geniuses hired to sit in a room and come up with this, and moreover who hired them to do so? Are people in Wisconsin overly proud of their ability to "live like they mean it"? Are other states somehow living with less conviction? Color me cynical, but I prefer the motto offered up by the guys at Sconnie: "Wisconsin: Eat a brat, Have some cheese, Drink a beer."

It may not be glamorous, but it sounds a lot more like the dairy state to me.

Words on the king

Someone recently commented that, since I was back to writing, they hoped that I might post some thoughts about the passing of Michael Jackson. While the subject has probably already been broached far too many times already (and really, why read words when you can listen), I've found myself with a few spare moments and an urge to bite. Here are, in no particular order, ten random thoughts on Michael Jackson:

1. Michael Jackson was like the guy in your high school class who excelled at all sports while you struggled to remain mediocre at your one. He was such a good dancer that it's easy to forget what a tremendous singer he was.

2. You know that part in The Wedding Singer when Adam Sandler rips his friend for wearing his MJ outfit, and then he says "Say hi to your brother Tito"? Fair game, but in real life the friend probably would have gotten laid for wearing that jacket. The thing about Michael Jackson is that nobody can ever claim, "I knew all along he wasn't that great." For quite some time, MJ wasn't just cool, he WAS cool (adj. great; fine; excellent; socially adept).

3. Top 3 Michael Jackson Songs (personal preference, in descending order) - "Black or White," "Billie Jean," "Rock With You"

4. Most shamelessly awesome Michael Jackson music video (obvious answer divison) - "Thriller"

5. Most shamelessly awesome Michael Jackson music video moment - In "Beat It," white guy in diner pulls Asian girlfriend's hair and kisses her, prompting MJ to jump out of bed in a piano key t-shirt and stop the ensuing dance rumble with his awesomeness.

6. Tips for throwing a good dance party:
#1. Locate Off the Wall record. Remove from sleeve. Play.

And some irrefutable truths...

7. Michael Jackson was and to this day still is the greatest entertainer in the history of music.

8. Every time a man steps onto hardwood wearing dress shoes and realizes he can slide back and forth, he feels instantly cooler because of Michael Jackson.

9. No one under the age of 30 would ever have heard of Vincent Price if it weren't for "Thriller."

And finally...

10. Regardless of how you feel about Michael Jackson as a person, his music is an undeniable part of the American DNA. Let him rest, but for the good of everyone, never do the same with his music.

R.I.P.

Last night in Naruto

Long time, no speak. I took the majority of June off from writing to concentrate on more musical endeavors, but after a month of rebuilding callouses and learning songs, it's back to the keyboard. Here's a look at last night's gig opening for Dogsled in Naruto. Happy 4th everyone!

Set List:
Lost?
Falling Slowly (w/ Mina)
Jolene (w/ Shawn and Josh)
Man in the Mirror