Cynic aside
August 29, 2006
Sometimes I forget how cynical I’ve become over the years and reading some of the posts and pictures I put on my webpage, I can easily see how some people might misinterpret my intentions. In no way am I bashing Japanese culture. Sometimes it’s just funny to see such cultural differences that I feel it is my duty to point them out to the world. Incidentally, no one has accused me of Japan bashing but I just feel it, when I’m reading my own writing.
So cynicism aside I’ve decided to write more about things in Japan which I utterly love and have grown so accustomed to in my four years in Japan. The first thing that comes to mind is the food.
Never have I had such wonderful food so available in my life. If we just look at Japanese food, it will take volumes to describe the numerous dishes, tastes, textures, and aesthetic appeal of the Japanese culinary art. I now expect weekly kaitenzushi trips, monthly okonomiyaki and kushikatsu runs, and now it seems, weekly yakiniku runs too (although this particular cuisine is Korean in nature, it has certainly developed into its own thing in Japan).
One concerned about money has no worries either. I’ve found places to eat ranging from super bargain to ‘better get another mortgage’. Quality, it goes without saying, has a direct relationship with price but I’ve yet visit a cheap place that I stormed out angrily. If visiting restaurants is not your cup of tea, making your favorite cuisines at home is definitely not beyond imagination. So far, I’ve had/made nabe, tempura, tonkatsu, takoyaki, and yakiniku all in the comfort of my apartment. For the cuisines that require special equipment, a visit to your local department store or Doguyasuji is all it takes. (Our butane yakinuku grill cost a measly 4000 yen and it makes superb grilled meats).
A word of caution is needed. The myth that Japanese food is very healthy must be taken with a grain of salt, pun intended. I’ve seen my weight flux all over the place depending on the kind of food and of course, the quantity consumed.
Itadakimasu!
OH NO! Not here!
August 27, 2006
Ono Dental Clinic
Sorry for the tiny picture.
Summer hibernation
August 14, 2006
A certain type of mammal, the North American me goes into hibernation during the summer season in Japan. During the pleasant seasons of Fall, Winter, and Spring, the elusive me builds up energy reserves by eating gargantuous amounts and storing layers upon layers of precious fat. During these three seasons the me is most active, often seen climbing up hills and mountains, rampaging across the different regions of Japan (from Hokkaido to Shikoku). This is when a lot of the mating rituals happen, day or night, rain or sun, wife or alone.
However in the summer the me burrows its way into its den and enters a trance-like state of existence. Summer is a harsh month filled with devilish cicadas, weekly festivals, soaring temperatures, and worst of all humidity that you can swim through. During the summer hibernation, the me literally burns off those fat reserves not because of metabolism, but purely because the weather melts it off. It must replenish water reserves by taking hourly showers and never step away from a water spring.
The North American me is not equipped to deal with the harsh realities of Japanese summers. In its evolutionary stages, it grew accustomed to moderate summers and enjoyed mild breezes while sucking down an icey icey frappumocha doublelatte cream milk coconutty drink of sorts.
Because of the extreme weather patterns found in this region, the me also grows more hostile because it’s threatened by the real possibility of dying in this heat. As such, it grows timid and shy, never leaving its den except to feed and acquire food to bring back to its den. It cannot traverse the wild nor engage in social interactions. It chooses to revel in air conditioning and strip itself of all winter fur and T-shirts and shorts. Only with intense air conditioning can higher level physical activities take place.
Luckily for the me, summers do not last too long. The species hope that by mid-September, the climate will have cooled enough to once again begin its travels and fun-seeking opportunities.
Yodogawa Fireworks
August 07, 2006
This year we had a takoyaki party with a couple of friends and enjoyed really excellent fireworks from the Yodogawa festival. Last year in my old apartment we had a pretty good view from the apartment hall along with the other curious neighbors. This year, in our new apartment, we had a very nice private view from the balcony and living room. We couldn’t ask for a better view. I was just glad that the Hanshin building did not block the way.
I once again reminded myself that taking pictures of fireworks is too damn tough for my camera, especially without a tripod.
Not the best picture. [bigger shot]
So here’s a video instead to show you what you missed by not coming to my party.
You can hear our neighbors and The Lady say “Woo” - [3.9mb download]
What crosswalk?
August 04, 2006
Driving in general in Osaka is a bitch. The city is not very big but it houses 5 million people and at last count 500 billion vehicles. As police have bigger things to deal with, like stopping people from jumping into the Dotombori and evicting homeless people from parks, traffic violations seem to be at the bottom of the list. Here is a fairly typical sight I see in the morning when I go to work. This truck makes regular stops in my neighborhood. And yes, it is parked, with its left wheels on the sidewalk.
