Monthly Archive for June, 2006

Land of a Million Faces

Published on June 29, 2006 in Photography. 0 Comments

Feel-My-Exhaustion
Originally uploaded by Danz in Tokyo.

I’m not sure why I find Japan to be such a fascinating country. Perhaps it could be the endless number of faces that tell an endless number of stories. For example, take this homeless man, who was seeking shelter on a train to avoid the heat. Danz in Tokyo really caught the essence of his exhaustion. I recently came across Danz’s photo collection on flickr and it reminded me once again why I yearn to remain here. I could live here a millennium and still not be satisfied. Danz, please keep on capturing those stories.

Someday I hope that my photos will capture the same power of emotions that his do. Until then, I’ll leave you to check out his striking collection.

A Bed for a Bug

Published on June 26, 2006 in Photography. 0 Comments

Bed of pink
Originally uploaded by jasohill.

One of the things I love the most about Japan is the sheer number of flowers you can find just about anywhere. The Japanese as a people have some mad horticultural skills. Well, the other day I had my camera with me and I stumbled across a sea of pink bushes. These things were simply awesome. Imagine a burning bush. Well, not so much a burning bush per say, but this thing was flaming. I just had to get a picture.

Look what I found when I got a little closer. A little bug that made this bush its bed. I sure hope I didn’t bother it when I brushed up against it.

The Shamisen and the Sanshin

Published on June 26, 2006 in Art, Culture and Music. 0 Comments

Here is some crazy Japanese trivia for you. The Shamisen is a three stringed instrument that is used widely all over Japan. The name Shamisen(三味線） literally means, “Three taste string.” Which is quite poetic if you ask me. Though I assume the strings don’t taste that all that great. If someone can prove me wrong, please email me.

What you might not know about the Shamisen is that it is derived from an earlier instrument called the Sanshin(三線）　The Sanshin was used in Okinawa when it was not part of Japan. It was so popular that it made it’s way to the main Island and eventually became the Shamisen.

The funny thing about all this is that I’m not really a fan of Shamisen music. To me it sounds like a guitar that has lost it’s will to live. However, I do like to listen to the Yoshida Brothers(吉田兄弟） You see, Shamisen is usually used in conjunction with folky, traditional music. The Yoshida brothers are able to rock out their Shamisen. Someday, I hope someone will compose a Shamisen based progressive rock opera. One can dream, can’t he?

In the picture can see singer Kuwae Tomoko rocking out to the Shamisen. Many thanks to Nemo’s great uncle for the picture.

Jason’s Open Source Music Project

Published on June 24, 2006 in Music. 0 Comments

You see, I started composing a tune this morning and I got as far as the music. I composed the guitar, used a nice drum loop and had to manually add bass using a keyboard, since I don’t have a bass of my own. The only things I am missing from this tune are some solid lyrics and a chorus that I will compose when I get said lyrics. I turn to you , great Internet, for help. Let’s team up and collaborate on an open source song. With the goal of making it sound awesome. I have put it under a CC license, but if you are willing to help me finish it, we’ll share all the credit. Here is what I have so far:

Every Word

I love to compose and sing. I am a very poor lyricist, however. Thanks in advance for any help you may wish to provide.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

UPDATE: A lovely lady named Rose has written me a set of lyrics. Now all I need is a chorus piece to add into the tunes somewhere.

–>

Utada is a Tetris Machine

Published on June 23, 2006 in Gaming. 0 Comments


It looks like that tetris maniac and pop singer, Utada Hikaru, is back. But this time she is kicking ass and taking names. Do you have what it takes to best her at Tetris DS? I warn you now, she is not what she seems. When she dawns her nerd glasses and focuses on the screen, she becomes an unbridled sphere of destruction. A quick search on youtube will net you a game of her playing like an untapped volcano. She will eat you alive at this game. She looks cute in those glasses, however. Za Warudo!

Oh, and if you are crazy enough to face such a foe, then you’ll have to pick up a copy of Tetris DS during the promotion and send in the Club Nintendo voucher. Only 30 lucky suckers, er challengers will get the chance. You also have a chance to chose a concert with her rather than a battle. Take the concert. You’ll thank me for it later. The offer is only valid in Japan of course.

Game Over

Published on June 21, 2006 in Senmaya and Sports. 0 Comments

I think this comic sums up what happened the other night. It’s hard to explain to my coworkers that the reason I’m bummed out is because of the result of a hockey game. It doesn’t show when I teach my classes, but I can’t hide it at my desk. It will pass in time, I hope.

In other news, I have only six weeks remaining on the JET program. I am preparing my immigration paperwork and I am getting ready for my move. I will fill you all in on what it takes to transfer from one job to another in Japan. Stay tuned!

End Game

Published on June 19, 2006 in Sports. 0 Comments

Grrrrrrrrrrr
Originally uploaded by jasohill.

Tomorrow is game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup finals. I didn’t think the Oilers would ever take it this far. They have surpassed my wildest expectations. All that is left now is one game.

One cup, one dream, one goal, one game.

I will once again avoid the live broadcast so that I can see it after work. I may be late in joining in on the festivities, but I’ll be there eventually. I’ll see you all on the other side. GO OILER GO! Best wishes from Iwate, Japan.

What’s Hot in Japan – June Edition-

Published on June 14, 2006 in Culture and National. 0 Comments

I’m starting a new feature here at JLoJ. Every month I’m going to highlight some of the trends that I see coming out of the media in Japan. The content of this piece does not necessarily reflect the opinions of JAPAN. So please take it in stride.

Top five hot trends

1. Nintendo.
2. Pissing off China.
3. Nationalist Sentiment.
4. Work 100+ hours a week for little or no pay.
5. Corgies.

Trends that are dead to Japan

1. Japan’s Soccer Team
2. Foreigners
3. The X-Box
4. English
5. Having babies

Human Rights a Dangerous Thing?

Published on June 12, 2006 in Culture and National. 0 Comments

First of all, I would like to call your attention to this series of translated comics:

Protecting Human Rights is Dangerous

I can only pray that this is an isolated incident. I hope for all of our sakes that the author of these comics is the only one who has this demented line of thought. I have never seen a more blatant display of alarmist ignorance. I’m not even going to give a rebuttal because frankly, it’s not worth my time, and Coal, the man who did the translation pretty much said it the way I would have.

Every country has people like this, but this goes a bit too far. I really hope this opens the eyes of those who think Japan is a wonderland of anime an technology. Sadly, Japan seems to have just as many crazy people as any country. I want to thank Coal and Boing Boing for bringing my attention to these eye opening comics.

UPDATE: I have come to the conclusion that this must be some sort of elaborate hoax. No single human being could possibly be this ignorant. The author of the comic not only launches his flaming poo at foreigners, but at women as well. It’s almost as if he went down a list human rights victims in order to creates as many enemies as possible.

Herd me in, Check me out

Published on June 5, 2006 in Culture and Senmaya. 0 Comments

In addition to the stress of spoiling the game results for myself, I also had a medical check up this morning. In Japan, most workers have a company physical and dental check done at least once a year. This is in contrast to the cultures of the west where most of that is left to you(Unless you are a sports professional or a cop.) This check up is usually done at your place of work. They bring out a couple of medical party wagons to handle the various tests.

So at 8:30am I show up at the site of my former work place and am promptly processed, akin to a chicken on its way to becoming a nugget. First they check me in and I hand them the sheet that proves that I am goverment employee. The guy at the desk looks me up and down, then holds my documentation sideways. After some humming and hawing I am given a urine cup and promptly told to evacuate some urine. This was easier said than done as I has just peed myself silly waiting for this to begin. After I convince my pee to make itself known once more, I am then moved to the blood pressure, blood test, and eye test sections. There they take three wonderful vials of my precious blood.

Oh, but the fun doesn’t stop there. After a doctor gives me the feel up of a lifetime, I am told to head over to the “party van”, where I am given a lung X-ray, hearing test and an electrocardiogram. Yes, they are very thorough with their check ups. After the “wham bam thank you ma’am”, treatment, I am left on my own feeling violated and cold. I shake myself off and head to school and try to show the kids that everything is okay. I think of disneyland.

If you are coming to Japan, prepare for the dreaded medical party van.