Tired

Back in the U.S. of America. I'm tired. To the one or two people who read this thing: I'll put some final pictures up soon. Not being on vacation sucks.

MC Happiness

The Daniel Baldwin of Japan.

Sukiyaki

My script was unfortunately not chosen to be directed as a senior project at CSUN. However, as this song says, "Let's walk with our head held high, so that no tears can stream down."



上を向いてあるこう！

Kobe

Himeji has a nice "shoutengai" or small shopping area. Within walking distance of most stations in Japan are all the stores and shops you could ever want to visit, from upscale boutiques to nerdy game/figurine stores, and places to eat. Everyone can ride their bikes where they need to go. Where bikes won't go, there is the train.


Awhile back, Sachi and I decided to see what a bigger city is like. We took a scenic ride and arrived soon at Kobe Station.



This was the view in Kobe that day.


I regretted I was not a millionaire for a moment when I saw all the choices. Everyone was very stylish. Then I regretted that I was 6'3" for a moment. We went shopping and everything was so cool, but none of it fit me. I bought a hat. But no matter how much money or how hard I could try, I could never be as cool as this guy.


I took some pictures with the employees who were there; very handsome and terribly kind.



"The customer is God," they say in Japan. I am amazed at the service. It is so kind that it makes me uncomfortable. If you holding something, an employee will take it for you. When I did not have a container for my change, he handed me a small envelope. If my sunglasses did not have a case, he would hand me a small cloth in which to wrap them. When I went play the UFO Catchers, the employee would give me extra tries, tips, and even move the toys so that it would be easier to win. Never in America. Do it your damn self. We could all learn something from the Japanese.

And, hey...

It's the...

Toshi's Day Off

Toshi had a day off from work. Here is what we did in pictures.

Awaji Shima

Sachi's mom had a day off today, so she said she wanted to take a little drive. We drove to Awaji Island to visit her In-Laws and give them a New Year's gift. Narrow roads, quiet houses, and tiny shops were all sandwiched between boundless ocean and massive mountains.


We stopped at a rest stop and took a ride on a ferris wheel. I couldn't help thinking of San Francisco as I watched the birds swirl around above us and the bridge below us. Sachi's mom was too scared to go, so she waited on the ground.





After the relaxing ride, we drove to meet Sachi's Mom's In-Laws. They lived in a tiny house with a big garden. Grandpa was out tending to the garden and Grandma was inside. She was shorter than Sachi. When she saw me, she mistook me for Sachi's brother and commented on how tall I had gotten. Sachi told me that Grandpa was still mad at the Americans cause they dropped a bomb near where he lived.

Sorry.

A quick visit and we went to see the Sister-In-Law. She owns a small sushi bar that stays open until 2 or 3 in the morning. They were just opening as we arrived.




There was a tank, and inside these guys were crawling around.



This is an Abalone. In Japanese that's "awabi."


Pretty gross, but pretty awesome. She said that they were delicious. I was thinking that it must be a pain to prepare.


We were invited inside and the chef prepared us sushi. The store we went to is usually expensive, because they live so close to the ocean, and can get the freshest fish.




What all my Japanese friends in America said is true. The taste is immeasurably different. The tuna was sweet and melted in your mouth. You could taste the sea. The stuff they sell at American supermarkets is trash.

Sachi also told me that they manufacture imitation "ikura." Those are the red fish eggs eaten on sushi for cheap restaurants like Sushi-Ro or Kappa Zushi, where one can get a plate of sushi for just a dollar.

You just can't beat the real deal.

Music

This is the music I am really enjoying in Japan. Luckily, Sachi's brothers aren't so much into pop music. I am getting a much needed dose of za rockun rorr!

Toe - Goodbye

Fantastic drummer!

Japan Kuru'u Special - Kamikaze Road

Toshi is friends with the bassist.

Oshiri Pen-Penz - The Time has Come

Oshiri means "ass."

The Bacillus Brains


Dr. Downer


Love Love (from Himeji!)

The lead singer and the bassist are married.

Deep Slauter

I did not mispell.



Hiromi Uehara - Brain Training

Incredible! Her facial expressions are my favorite part.

Nice View


Radwimps - Oshakashama

I like this song, but their other stuff is too poppy for me. This is borderline too melodic for me.

Romanes - It's My Turn

Japanese all-female Ramones cover band. I'm crushin' hardddd.



Salryu - Kaifuku Suru Kizu (Wounds That Heal)


So, if you want to play Japan, I have connections. Toshi knows a lot of the people in many of these bands. He knows the venues. I told him if he or any bands he knows wants to tour America, we'll set 'em up.

Ginnan Boyz

The Onsen

Embarrassing photo.

At my behest, Sachi`s mom called up all the relatives and planned a weekend stay at the Onsen. It was about a 45 minute drive. We picked up Grandma and headed there around 7:00 PM.


In the room, everyone took off their shoes and slipped into the provided slippers. I had to go without; I looked retarded trying to cram my size 13 feet into what were maybe a size 9, max.


We did the hokey pokey and walked downstairs to eat dinner. On our way I discovered 2 dead bugs; one on the light and one on the floor--fairly close to each other. Double suicide?

Dinner was beautiful. I had the steamed eel. Sachi's mom and aunt had beer with me. Real women.


Before the main course came, we destroyed this gorgeously displayed sashimi.


When we got back, the room had been set for sleeping. No floor peeked out from underneath the soft, airy comforters begging for our attention. Not yet.


After donning the appropriate attire, the men left for the baths. We got to the locker room and quickly got the way God made us. Much toilet humor was exchanged. Turns out dick-jokes are a universal language. Since I am actually much more comfortable without the man-made tethers of clothes groping at my delicate skin, I had no problem getting used to the onsen. I only wished God had given me a pouch like marsupials to keep my towel and razor.


Hot water poured and bubbled. A sauna room, a dry-heat room, two jacuzzi's, an indoor bath, and an outdoor one were waiting, and only one patron was relaxing inside. I have never been so relaxed in my life.

I was amazed, as I always am, at the convenience of, and consideration that goes into Japanese products and services. We were provided with everything we needed to clean and groom ourselves, including a disposable toothbrush. I was looking for where the toothpaste was kept when a tiny plastic tube of just the right amount slid out of the package I was holding. Incredible--toothpaste.

My body felt like jelly. All I wanted to do was sleep.


We got to the room, finished a bottle of sake, and fell asleep.

However, before I did fall asleep, I almost died laughing. All was still, the cold wind stopped beating at our window, and Grandma ripped one, then moaned. She slapped her lips together and fell back asleep. That was the night Toshi and I got to know each other a little better.


In the morning, Yoshiki, Toshiyuki, and I played two rounds of putter golf.


My worst hole was a deca-quintuple bogey. It was a par 4. You do the math.


Yoshiki kicked both of our asses, but Toshi had a knack for miraculous shots.





After that we went to Sachi's Uncle's house to eat Nabe.


We stopped by a candy store and bought some fake dookie and toy airplanes.









The airplanes broke and the fun was over.




We can thank Dirty Hermaphro-Japanozz Christ for these blessings and good times we had.