The following topic isn’t related in any way to Japan, other than the fact that it is something I listen to during my walks and runs, and that I just happen to live in Japan. I guess you could say that since I got the link for this from Alan, who is another JET, that there might actually be a Japan connection, but I digress. The other day Alan suggested that I listen to a podcast called, “Point of Inquiry.” Now, the only way I am going to be able to accurately describe this broadcast is by showing you a section of their mission statement.
“The purpose of Point of Inquiry is to contribute to the public understanding and appreciation of science and reason, and their applications to human conduct, and to promote skepticism of the paranormal and supernatural claims, which often benefit from no scrutiny in our overly-credulous culture.”
This but a part of their mission statement. I recommend you read the entire thing here. Basically, what they attempt to do each week is to defend critical thinking and the scientific method by bringing in accredited people and having them discuss hot cultural topics. These topics can involve the paranormal, religion, or anything that might stimulate a feverish debacle. Somehow Alan knew that this was the one show that I would really enjoy. This week they had R. Joseph Hoffman on to discuss the ruckus behind The DaVinci Code. Get to the bottom of what all the kafufle is about. Don’t take my word for it. Get over there and subscribe to this podcast. It warms my heart to know that there are organizations out there protecting my right to critical thinking and open minded discourse.
I made a number of sacrifices when I came to Japan. I knew there would be things that I wouldn’t be able to do and people that I wouldn’t see anymore. One thing, however, that I didn’t see coming would be a return to the Stanley Cup Finals by my favorite hockey team, The Edmonton Oilers. That might have been one sacrifice too much.
Those that know me know that I am a devoted Oilers fan and have been since 1994. I missed the years they were winning their Championships, but have stuck with them through their “rebuilding” years. I was there in 1997, screaming like a lunatic when Todd Marchant put the puck in during game 7 and eliminated the Dallas stars. I was there when they were almost sold to an American investor and shipped off to god knows where. I was the when they kept getting tossed from the playoffs by Dallas. I was there when they got their third jersey and I was there during the lockout, wondering if the Oilers would ever be able to remain in Edmonton.
And now that they are going to the Stanley Cup, where I am? I am about 14 000km away from home and feeling a strong longing to be back cheering them on. I can’t tell you why I like hockey so much. I can’t explain why I will listen to as many Oilers games as I can on Internet radio. Maybe it’s just something in my blood. Regardless, this has been a bittersweet time for me. There is really only one thing I can do at the moment, and that is to cheer on my hockey team with all my energy. I won’t be on Whyte Ave or on Jasper Ave, nor I won’t be at Rexall place. I will be here in northern Japan, screaming my lungs out every time Rod Phillips screams at the top of his lungs, “He scores.” I am an Oilers fan for life, and no matter where I live on this vast planet, I will always cheer the men in blue. GO OILERS GO! I know you’re going to win this one.
My teaching adventures in Japan often take me to a little town south of Senmaya called Fujisawa. Now, about 15 years ago, Fujisawa embraced the art of Haniwa. What is Haniwa, you ask?
Haniwa was a form of Japanese funerary that appeared during the kofun period in ancient Japan. It involves pottery of small earthenware figures of horses, dogs spirits or pretty much anything you can think of. And let me tell you, some of these sculptures can be pretty freaky. If you are interested in Japanese history, you might wish to check out this Wikipedia article on Haniwa. Now, obviously people in Fujisawa don’t use Haniwa to mark the solemn occasion of a death, but haniwa does serve the purpose of livening up the town. You can find this stuff everywhere. Be sure to check out my flickr set for more examples of haniwa around Fujisawa.
Every year Fujisawa holds a contest for it’s citizens to determine the best haniwa of the year. The winner receives a thousand dollar cash prize. According to one of the English teachers at Fujisawa Junior high, a student won the contest a couple of years ago. I think I just might be up for pottery in the next couple of months.
A follow up to a story I did a while back on the signage I had been seeing around Senmaya. I had a couple of nice Japanese ladies comes to my door today and offer me salvation in the name of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Now I politey declined their lovely offer and invited them in for coffer, but I just had to ask them if those signs belonged to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They told me there is no relation between those signs and Jehovah’s Witnesses in general. Well how about them apples? That means that I still need to find out who they belong to. The search continues.
Today’s friendly meeting has led me to take on a new attitude when dealing with undesirable religious evangelicals. From this point on instead of telling them that I am the anti-christ, as I used to do in the past, I will now drown them in politness while at the same time, refusing their offer to save my wretched soul. I am hoping they go back to their secret Jehovah headquarters and tell their fellow minions about me. I am hoping that while I am still doomed to eternal damnation, that I am seen as a polite young heathen. That way, if they should end up in hell as well, they’ll be be sure to seek out Jason Hill. Spending the rest of a hellish eternity with a well-mannered young man is surely not so bad now, is it?
Living in Japan for three years has been quite the experience. There have been many wonderful and busy times, but there have also been times when I have had little or nothing to do. During these periods, I have try to get back into some of the things I love the most, and composing music just happens to be one of them. So it is with great happiness that I announce to you all my first single, “Gone Away.”
I warn you in advance that it’s in rough shape and could use some post-production work. It was composed in Garageband 2 using my guitar, me and me again. Yes, I used my voice is two different vocal tracks. I plan to produce more music like this and distributing it here. Anyways, here is the song. Enjoy.
Gone Away
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.
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I forgot to mention this. If you have any comments about the song, feel free to leave them in the comments section. Thanks.
There are only twenty some odd days left until one of the most watched sporting events in the world begins. Now unless you’ve been hanging out with the penquins in Antarctica for the past 65 years, you know I’m talking about the World Cup of Soccer.
I bet you’re wondering why the hell I’m talking about the World Cup on a blog that focuses in all things coming out of Iwate, Japan. Didn’t they have their world cup already? Isn’t it in Germany now. Well, it seems we have a homegrown hero here in Iwate and I wanted to wish him the best. Midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara was born in Ofunato（大船等）and has been selected to represent Japan in Germany. This will be his second appearance in the World Cup, although his first in 2002 was only as a subsitute in one game. When he isn’t generating national pride he’s playing for the Kashima Antlers. So here’s wishing you luck and hoping that you get more field time. You can bet that I’ll be cheering on Japan as they attempt to equal or beat their 2002 effort. You can beat that I will be trying to equal or beat the amount of beer that I consumed in 2002. You can all wish me luck!
My 30th birthday is coming up on the 26th of this month and I decided that I deserved a little present to celebrate. Therefore I bought myself a Canon Kiss N digital SLR(350D) camera to satify my lust for photography. My goal is to eventaully become a pro photographer, so I thought I’d start practicing with the real deal.
The 350D is not a pro level camera, but it has its charms. My goal is to take Japan roughly from behind with the most massive telephoto I can get my hands on. The picture on the right my first exposure with it. Enjoy a cupful of spring.
This week was golden week and I took the time to do some traveling. One of the places I went to was the Okago Christian Martyrdom site just south of Fujisawa town.
I usually teach in the Fujisawa area, but I had never been to this place before. The site itself is on top of a steep hill and requires you to ascend many steps. There is a direct path and a side path that allows you to re-live the horror of Jesus’s march to the cross while you ascend. Once at the top, you there is a small shrine to the memory of those who were slaughtered for their religious beliefs. They used to offered the Christians a choice. They could step on a picture of their lord and escape a gruesome fate, or refrain from defacing god(literally) with their feet and have their throats slit.
There were also a number of incredible spring flowers growing alongside the memorial. If you are in the Fujisawa area and would like to visit this memorial, just head south of Fujisawa and follow the directions. If you would like more detailed instructions, feel free to email me and I’ll fill you in.
I’ve been a very patient man and my patience is finally starting to pay off. Spring is now in full swing, and the cherry blossoms have come out. I went out for some night blossom viewing with Alan and Kathleen, followed by a pint at the local Korean restaurant. They were also kind enough to model for me. So I took some interesting long exposure portraits of them. It looks like the hellish winter of 2006 is retreating at last. That can only mean good times lie ahead.
In other news, my good friend Ian has come to spend a few days with me. We are having a grand ol’ time nerding out and geeking it up. What could be better than that? That is right. Absolutely nothing!
