Still alive

I took some photos of the Christmas illuminations at Nagoya station, they're very nice, if usually a little crowded...

http://photozou.jp/photo/list/154073/681560

So...what else have I been up to? Hmmm...

Bought a new phone, finally...it's very swish...interested parties can check it out here. No, I didn't get an iPhone, I have my reasons, mostly financial...

Been going to some gigs...fascinated though I'm sure you all are by my gigging activities...most recent was last Friday when I went to the rather tiny KD Japon to see some young fellows with very interesting haircuts named Gegegege Quartet (they're a trio). I felt kinda bad, they were fantastic and energetic but there were about 15 ppl in the audience (due largely to the size of the venue)...one can only applaud so loudly. That's them in the photo...love the Wu Tang shirts! Also on the bill were two performance artists and a group of studenty types who had a naivete vaguely reminiscent of Maher Shalal Hash Baz (at least in my head they did).

Also went to see ex-Boredoms guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto and, in late Sept., a very enjoyable collaboration between Nagoya's own Acid Mothers Temple and Osaka noise legends Hijokaidan...a gig that was flimed and has since been released on DVD...will get my hands on it to check if I am at all visible! (I was down the front, hehe). I actually filmed the entire gig myself from the mosh pit (such as it was) on my little digital camera, only to accidentally delete the main chunk of video in a frantic attempt to make space on the memory card for post-show photos. Curse you cruel fate!

Sorry for the gig reports but I felt compelled to write something, and writing about music is much more enjoyable than laying my daily life bare for the Internet to peruse! So you can just go away.

Back in the UK 19th Dec - 2nd Jan!

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Hello (again)

Just a quick note to let the world know that I'm not dead! Hooray!

Life over the last few months has been simultaneously completely different yet also completely familiar. New and scary problems that I have no experience of coping with, and the occasional new personal contact, contrasted with the same-old-same-old workaday world (I still live and work in Japan by the way, just in case you've lost the plot by now). Life's rich tapestry, yadayada.

Well, gotta Keep on Truckin' (© 1968). Went to a Halloween party at Yamasa (that's the Japanese school I used to go to) last Friday, had lots of fun, drank too much (the Yamasa bar sells Guinness! And at a fairly reasonable price (for Japan anyway)), saw people I hadn't seen in donkey's years, etc. Many interesting costumes on display, and how many chances do you get to see the lovely Yamaguchi-sensei in a bright red clown wig? (no pictures, sorry, try some other Yamasa student blog). I keep meaning to go there often since I have an almost familial connection with the place. But it's sooo far and I'm sooo lazy :(

It's been work visa renewal time and for the umpteenth time I'm amazed at the efficiency of Japanese administration and public service in general. It came through in a coupla weeks which I'm sure puts most dirty foreigners to shame. Plus Nagoya Immigration has moved to a brand new building (which, sadly, is twice as far away from where I live as the last location) which is all shiny and nice and has a Lawson (convenience store) on the 2nd floor! Yes, inside the building itself! Thrice huzzah for beauraucracy!

Unfortunately the process necessiated a trip to the Tenpaku-ward (the part of Nagoya I live in) town hall thingy one morning before work to get a form stating how much tax I've paid, which was slightly more dingy. And no convenience store. Can't win em all huh.

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Hello

Anyone still read this? Must be a record for non-posting...

Several major things/problems going on in my life right now...lots of stresses to bear, adjustments to make, changes to undergo...but I know that whatever happens I will come through them, and come through them a stronger and more complete person :)

But right now I've gotta sleeeep...

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Watermelon Flavoured Kit-Kat

Verdict: Surprisingly good

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Oh the humidity!

July is here and the air is full of moisture and horrible biting insects. Other than that, not much of note happening really. Mindbendingly slow week at work, but went to a welcoming party on Friday.

Went walking round Osu Kannon (a lively shopping district-type part of Nagoya) with a friend yesterday. We found a tattoo parlor named, I kid you not, "Boobies". The mind boggles. Despite the name, they showed no evidence of any kind of specialization in mammarian tattooing. Why not visit their website? (beware, crappy flash intro)

The government has evidently started a campaign to promote rice as a breakfast food, as a bowl of rice in the morning is said to improve energy levels and concentration throughout the day. I can't decide if their campaign is cute and funny, or just scary. Either way there's more wackiness to be had on the Ministry of Agriculture's website (and you can view the TV spots here).

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