goodbye japan

21st of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

Well, its time to leave Japan once again. This will be the 5th time I’ve left this wonderfully strange place, which never ceases to facinate me.
I’ve accomplished prettymuch everything I set out to do, except for purchasing a few gadgets and books that I needed. I got my love back, who is coming back to England in the new year.

I wish I could have stayed in Japan forever.

And I suppose my unwillingness to go was felt in my flight… some of the most scary moments in my life. Ever flown at the back of a 747? Its shit. Add to that the most turbulent weather possible. And a plane full of screaming passengers.

The only thing that made it all worthwhile was the short flight from Amsterdam to London in the evening. We had to circle above london whilst waiting for landing permission… breathtakingly beautiful.

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Domo Kun

19th of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

Went to the NHK building with sayuki, bought a whole tonne of domo kun goodies.

Learnt that the Japanese are only just getting digital TV broadcasts… we’ve had them for 5 years in the uk. Well that’s one up on them for once then! :) Hell even I own a Sony freeview box at home.

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foriegner tax

16th of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

Never really noticing it in the past, as I’ve usually been alone or with japanese, but yesterday and today took the piss.

First off, in the station I went to pick up a newspaper. How much, I asked. 500 yen was the reply. Thats about two pound fifty in uk money, an astronomical amout from some crummy rag. Needless to say I left the stand, feeling like a stupid tourist.

Secondly while I was out with my motly crew from the hotel (a chineese australian, a large aussie girl, a tall black man and myself, a pale tall white man) we got something that I’ve only ever read about, we got refused from a bar! They made excuses about time and how they were closing etc, when they sign said they were open till 2am. Bastards.

More tourist tax the next day, so much so that it almost took the piss! Even the taxi driver grumbled and groaned when we all got in. Now my japanese is not perfect, but this guy was livid that we were wanting to go the wrong way to which he was driving, and he might have to drive all around to get us in the right direction! He was too busy watching a fight outside between two bussiness men to notice that we had all piled in :)

I shudder to think how badly they take the piss with american tourists, who are notouriously brash here.

Unfortunatly if you are not out with a japanese, you’ll never know for sure if you’re being ripped off or not.

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enoshima and zelda

14th of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

Suddenly I noticed that the temples and shrines in Enoshima have the same mark as used in Zelda, the TRIFORCE. Makes me realise even more, Miyamoto is a ripoff artist :) Or, just very well inspired.

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the love hotel experiment

13th of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

Something interesting about Japan is the sex industry.
On my travels in outer Tokyo, I happened upon the red light district of a small station city. It amazed me that prostitution is apparent and not really curbed, as I was walking through the little streets trying to get a good deal on a hotel* I saw red light booths and tarts walking about, dildo vending machines and packs of sex hungry men.

Eventually I chose a hotel to stay in and I must say the procedure was interesting. First we had to choose a room from a lit bilboard, press a button on a free room picture, out pops a card to which must be handed over to the counter. The counter was mirrored so you couldn’t see in! We handed in the card and paid the cash, and in reply got a mechanical response arigato gosaimasu from some hidden computerised speaker.

The room was luxurious, big bed, karaoke, bath tub etc. However as this was an experiment for both of us we found everything disgusting to the touch… clean the remote control with tissues. Don’t sit on the chairs or put anything you want to keep clean on there!

* - as we were both trying to stay somewhere, a love hotel worked out much cheaper than staying together at a bussiness hotel, which most of were closed anyway.

Nice, but only usefull when stuck in the middle of nowhere at 2am.

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rain

10th of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

man its tipping down!

I’m spending far too much time on the internet and watching japanese TV (which is a load of crap by the way), planning to visit AKIHABARA today to get a new battery for my laptop. Currently, if I remove the power cable this thing dies. Also, theres many wonderfull gadgets to have a look at, I have my eye on a miniture USB christmas tree.

I’d say that probably, my trip to japan has been a success! I’m so relaxed. And that was my intention, to relax, enjoy life (or watch it happily go by), excersise and eat well.

Soon, I hope to start filling my photo sections of this website… too many snaps, not enough time.

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I’m in Tokyo once again

8th of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

After a rather disturbing flight, I have managed to get my feet back to where they belong… Tokyo!

Yesterday I spent most of my time contemplating my fucked up life, what the hell I’m doing back in this place and why. Actually I still have no answers! Its nice to think that one day I’ll end up here for good again, however the questions for why are not at hand. I’m happy here, I can speak a reasonable amount of japanese, I like japanese food and I have no problems getting around. I still feel the raceism and superficial-ness (spelling hawken, tsk tsk) of the Japanese, but also the love and general well being of life here.

My hotel is in the middle of nowhere, run by some chinese dudes who seem to not speak anything but chinese! Its a run down area, full of old men wandering the streets… or trying to cycle you off the pavement.

There are some interesting areas, as with anywhere. I’d rather be in central tokyo. But for close to œ200 for 14 days, this hotel is magic.

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Guitar Vader

25th of Nov, 2003ce* in: diary

Went to see Guitar Vader at the Prince Albert pub.
Very entertining indeed.
Guitar Vader are a Japanese band that had a few bits of music in the game Jet Set Radio on the dreamcast (and later on the x-box as Jet Set Radio Future)

http://www.plugs.jp

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all hallows eve

30th of Oct, 2003ce* in: diary

Had a party to go to, was very entertaining if a little short. Then we hit the town in force, cramming our bodies into pubs. I wore some small horns made for me by my sister. Lots of freaks out, including someone from work dressed as hanibal… very disturbing.

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Mario Kart Double Dash

29th of Oct, 2003ce* in: diary

A long drive later and we are in East London for Nintendoes launch party for the the new gamecube game: Mario Kart: Double Dash
All the usual faces there, makes me wonder if its just the same bunch of press, developers and freeloaders at all the same gigs. (Luckily I fall into the developers category, I think.)

Met a few wierdoes, a guy who had similar eye lids to me (its a very rare and slight condition), and a guy who works for my old boss at Kleber many many years ago, Dorian. However both too dry to have a fun conversation, hey thats London for you, everyones up thier own arses 50% of the time. Glad I live in a nice down-to-earth place like Brighton.

Got a free copy of the game, 15 days before official launch! (got a mug too, both will probably go on ebay when I get a chance)

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