Saturday, June 28, 2003
Live from Fukuoka. After hours of condensing my stuff to halfway fit in my luggage (and not quite succeeding as someone still had to help me take it to Tokyo Station) then a six hour Shinkansen ride which went by amazingly quick, I arrived at Miho's place. Miho is someone who I met 5 years ago in Granada, Spain in a bathroom, as she just reminded me. She spoke no Spanish and was there with her dad who was there for a conference so I helped translate and we enjoyed the Alhambra together. So today was basically relaxing as we ate dinner and she showed me funky music videos and such. Now she is 23 and living with her parents in a 15th floor condominium while studying to be a history teacher. She is doing student teaching and taking Korean and German on the side. Her youngest sister is in prep school in New Zealand while her middle sister is taking classes in an effort to get into medical school--apparently completely dependent on passing entrance exams here and she hasn't scored high enough yet. Her dad is a professor who works with AI and robotics and helped organized the Robocup in Fukuoka a few years ago. Her mom traveled to 66 countries when she was 24! She is a great cook too--kept on putting food in front of me.
Yesterday was last day of program so Fab took the class out for the day. Nice lunch, Burning Ape Gallery, Nezu Museum/Gardens, karaoke, then another fancy meal at Zest. Marred somewhat by having to run to Harajuku then Shibuya and waiting for a while to exchange my JR pass--didn't think of it before even though I've had it all this time. But pleasant way to spend the last day. Many people around in guesthouse that evening so got a chance to say goodbye.
Finished watching "Samurai Fiction". Fun movie, though as with all parodies, I'd probably get more out of it if I knew more about original genre. Highlight--fight scenes set to techno music and with sweeping camera angles.
Random notes--Jap-Am guy helped me out with luggage even though pulled all-nighter getting his hair plucked out strand by strand by two of his friends. He wants to shave his head, but by using tweezers, not a razor.
Guy on train plugging away on internet since he had to work. Had a wireless connection of his own I guess, the way I originally thought it should be.
Kabuki was interesting though not quite understandable. Confusing with people yelling from audience, though remembered from Dave Barry that they were yelling actor's name. Samurai guy kept on getting attacked and he responded by cutting off people's faces or limbs with the actors flipping a red mask or taking off a fake hand to show what had been done, which got laughs.
Yesterday was last day of program so Fab took the class out for the day. Nice lunch, Burning Ape Gallery, Nezu Museum/Gardens, karaoke, then another fancy meal at Zest. Marred somewhat by having to run to Harajuku then Shibuya and waiting for a while to exchange my JR pass--didn't think of it before even though I've had it all this time. But pleasant way to spend the last day. Many people around in guesthouse that evening so got a chance to say goodbye.
Finished watching "Samurai Fiction". Fun movie, though as with all parodies, I'd probably get more out of it if I knew more about original genre. Highlight--fight scenes set to techno music and with sweeping camera angles.
Random notes--Jap-Am guy helped me out with luggage even though pulled all-nighter getting his hair plucked out strand by strand by two of his friends. He wants to shave his head, but by using tweezers, not a razor.
Guy on train plugging away on internet since he had to work. Had a wireless connection of his own I guess, the way I originally thought it should be.
Kabuki was interesting though not quite understandable. Confusing with people yelling from audience, though remembered from Dave Barry that they were yelling actor's name. Samurai guy kept on getting attacked and he responded by cutting off people's faces or limbs with the actors flipping a red mask or taking off a fake hand to show what had been done, which got laughs.
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