Japan Events

September 30, 2008
Mock Juror

Last week I participated in a mock trial held to demonstrate how lawyers work within a peer jury system. Japan will introduce "lay judges" to judicial system in May 2009.

I was one of five American mock jurors. Most of us were long-term Japan residents and none of us had ever been on a jury before. We all agreed that this felt like discharging our civic duty and took it seriously.

It was hard work! The event, with an audience of about 300 lawyers and law students, lasted 5 hours. There were two witnesses on each side and each was examined and cross examined about various letters, contracts, e-mails and internal business communications. The witnesses/actors and lawyers were prepared, but nothing was scripted. Paying attention to two eminent and persuasive trial lawyers (William Price and John Quinn from Quinn Emmanuel) both going full-on at one another while trying to keep the facts straight and the point of the lawsuit in mind was boggling.

During witness questioning, they highlighted sections of documents and enlarged them so that the rest of the page was obscured. What was the full context around the highlighted text? Sometimes the same document came up again and further detail could be gleaned with quick reading. But wow... There were a dozen key pages and I never managed to read one all the way through.

In addition soaking in details about the case, I was also meta-thinking about the trial system and the changes it will being to Japan's legal process. At the same time, I was noting how the personalities of the two lawyers affected the way I thought about their points. Mr. Price was very strict - he aggressively pushed semantic arguments and made lots of objections. Mr. Quinn was more personable; he engaged the witnesses gently and his questions usually aimed to help the jury understand the more difficult points. They both were able to sway my mind when they spoke.

By the time the closing arguments rolled around, I had completely forgotten what the opening ones were. I had formed an opinion, though, which I verified through my scribbled notes. The judge read us our instructions, a list of "If you think A, then B must be false. If you think C, then you also must believe D, E & F are true." It was very complicated and not written down. I hope that is different in real life.

We deliberated in the open, so that the audience could hear what a jury thinks. There were actually two juries - the Americans and another panel of five Japanese jurors. We deliberated separately and although we reached exactly the same conclusion, our methods were different. The Americans each briefly stated their view, "I'd find for the plaintiff because Y", then we discussed our differences of opinion. "You say X but did you consider Y? Because X seems to be an emotional argument, rather than law." Then we voted. The Japanese jurors each gave longer more detailed (it seemed) opinions, then they voted. No discussions. But that might have been a factor of time limitations.

It was a fascinating experience. But I am very glad this was only a mock trial and not a real one.

Posted by kuri at 10:46 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
September 25, 2008
BYOH Saturday Hoop Up

Come along for some casual hooping pleasure in the park this weekend. Everyone's welcome.

BYOH Saturday Hoop Up
Yoyogi Park (here)
Saturday, September 27
1:00 pm until everyone falls down

Bring your hoop, plus water, snack, bug spray, and accessories as you like. We have a couple of spare hoops, but not as many as Deanne carries, so if you have extras, please bring them to share the hoop fun.

If it rains (and it might) we'll postpone til Sunday.

Posted by kuri at 07:58 AM [view entry with 1 comments)]
August 08, 2008
Ha ハ 八

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Posted by kuri at 11:55 AM [view entry with 1 comments)]
July 29, 2008
Summer Baseball

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Tod settles into the game as the sun sets on Jingu Stadium.

The home team, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, had a cheering section right behind us. They are chanting to encourage Aoki at bat, but in the end, he strikes out.

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They were enthusiastic and hopeful, but in the slowly unfolding contest (here you can see that it's bottom of the 5th and almost 2 hours into the game), their team were behind most of the time. We left at 8:30 for dinner, and just missed a tremendous thunderstorm that halted the game in the 8th inning.

Before the rain started, the Hanshin Tigers' fans had a trick up their sleeve.

Posted by kuri at 04:47 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
January 01, 2008
Happy 2008

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Best wishes for a prosperous and interesting year.

Posted by kuri at 01:24 PM [view entry with 3 comments)]
November 20, 2007
Australia Day Gala Ball 2008

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Imagine the ochre red of desert sand dotted with grey-green gums and lit by a starry sky. The stillness of our outback night is punctuated by the resonance of a didgeridoo and the rhythm of dance.

Add black ties, gorgeous frocks, a delicious meal and drinks, followed by energetic entertainment and a charity auction and you are part of a memorable Australia Day celebration.

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Friday 25 January 2008
7 pm – late
Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Roppongi
black tie

Tickets on sale now. You'll find more details and a booking form at http://www.australiasocietytokyo.com

Interested in sponsoring the event? Please email ball-sponsorship@australiasocietytokyo.com

Posted by kuri at 11:39 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 27, 2007
Alishan Market Day

You may have seen in my Flickr stream a lot of photos of Morsbags and friends who come together to make them.

Well on Saturday, we're going to start giving them away. I have a suitcase stuffed full of about 100 handmade fabric shopping bags and we're heading out to Koma, Saitama to participate in the Alishan Market Day. This is out first big bag giveaway.

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We and 30 other eco/organic/vegetarian friendly groups and shops are forming a "Blue Sky Market" with items from homemade bread, organic vegetables, fair trade goods and lots more.

There will be live music performances, workshops, local nature tours, 15% discounts at Alishan's fabulous Tengu Foods store and excellent veggie food in their cafe. Alishan's Japanese page has details, but here's a summary of the schedule in English for you:

Alishan Market Day
Saturday, September 1
10:30 - 16:30
Alishan Organic Center, Koma, Saitama (directions)

Workshops & Events
10:30 - 11:30 Make your Own Natural Toothpaste (500yen)
11:30 -13:00 Mountain Hike (free)
11:30 - 13:00 River Hike (free)
12:00 - 13:00 Handmade Ideas to Change the World (free)
12:00 - Organic Cotton Fashion Show
13:30 - 14:30 Japanese and International Eco-recipes (300 yen)
15:00 - Organic Cotton Fashion Show
15:00 - 16:00 Food Banking in Japan (free)

For more details or to reserve a space in the workshops or hikes, mail Ai Morikawa

Posted by kuri at 04:58 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 30, 2007
Doyo Ushi no Hi

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The local supermarket is ready for the evening onslaught of eel shoppers

Today is Doyo Ushi no Hi, which is the day the nation feasts on eel to increase stamina and to beat the summer blahs. Today is an unseasonably cool day but we're going to indulge in a bit of eel at dinner anyway as non-vegetarian insurance against the remainder of the summer.

If you want to know more about Doyo Ushi no Hi, my friend Elizabeth has an informative article about preparing and eating eel on her Taste of Culture site.

Posted by kuri at 04:24 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 15, 2007
TokyoBags Session #3

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This afternoon's bagging output and future bag materials

Another TokyoBags session sees 11 completed bags for Morsbags, plus 8 pairs of handles and 10 bag bodies ready to receive them. Thanks to Blair who braved the remains of the typhoon to bring a heap of his gorgeous old shirts (and a coat!) and then manned the iron for two hours. I do rely on the kindness of strangers! Tod took care of music and snacks as usual.

Next time, we may have a special guest from London. Mark your calendar for July 29th and come over to save the world with shopping bags.

Posted by kuri at 07:07 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 01, 2007
24 more bags

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38 morsbags to date (minus the ones we've handed out to friends)

Sachiko and Tracey came over today to make morsbags. Tracey brought along three huge bags of fabric and we churned out 24 finished bags - plus a few in stages of completion that we'll work on next time. It won't be long before we have enough to start handing out to strangers. Thanks, ladies!

We used a wide range of fabrics today - a sari, some pillowcases, & cottons left over from other projects. It seems like we hardly put a dent in Tracey's fabrics, even though Sachiko took a piece home and I claimed one to make a winter skirt for work.

If you want to join in, the next session will be Sunday, July 15th from 2-6 pm. Everyone welcome, no experience required. :-)

Posted by kuri at 09:11 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
June 17, 2007
Eco-bags!

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The first 14 bags!

Greg, Tod & I worked on eco-bags this afternoon and churned out 14 fruity and funky bags that we'll distribute for free in Tokyo later this summer. Thanks to Yasu for giving up his tablecloth!

The morsbags pattern is easy and ideal for doing in a production line. I'm looking forward to make more soon. You want to make some bags? Let me know when you have time and we can do it together. Or do it on your own - that's great, too!

Posted by kuri at 07:40 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
June 13, 2007
Eco Bagging with Morsbags

Recently I've jumped on board the eco-trend of using my own reusable bag when I shop. It seems like everywhere you turn, shops are selling (or giving away) lightweight fabric bags, that are foldable, rollable or otherwise containable. I have two. One in each of my purses, folded up and ready for shopping trips of all kinds. It is more comfortable to carry a fabric bag that can be slung over a shoulder than a plastic bag and ever so much better for the environment.

But I don't see so many people using them, even though they are easily available in shops, so I was excited to find a movement to recycle fabric into shopping bags and hand them out for free to friends and strangers. Here's a blurb from the website:

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Let’s do something positive to reduce the hideous number of plastic bags being used - 1 million are consumed per minute globally - of which hundreds of thousands end up in the oceans.

The idea is to get together with people in your local community, drink wine and make reusable cloth bags (from old duvet covers, curtains from charity shops etc) and hand them out to the unsuspecting public for free on specified dates outside different supermarkets.

Meet new people, do something marvelous for the planet and beat other pods (groups) of baggers with your morsbag tally.

go to www.morsbags.com to be a part of a wonderful thing!

p.s. non-commercial/ non-profitable - just full of beneficial things for everyone, especially whales!

I'd like to start a "pod" of morsbag makers in Tokyo. I've got a sewing machine, an iron, and some fabric, but more people and more fabric would make the creation more fun, easier and more productive, too. Would you like to play? I'm thinking about starting this Sunday. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment.

Posted by kuri at 05:48 PM [view entry with 5 comments)]
June 04, 2007
Design Festa in Video

Dai Cast's Design Festa 25 video is online today. Ian captured a lot of the fun of the event and interviewed several of the artists, including me. Since he edited it so well that I don't seem totally dorky, here's the direct link to the video file: http://www.tiltyhouse.com/dai-cast//Design-Festa-25.mp4

Posted by kuri at 07:53 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
May 24, 2007
Birth-Giving Device

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The birth-giving device is almost ready...

My exhibit for Design Festa is coming together: the birth-giving device is nearly finished; I have 211 "robot babies" ready; and the video is nearly complete. A final frantic push tomorrow and I should be all set.

The show runs this weekend, 11 am - 7 pm at Tokyo Big Site. Ill be at Booth C-202. I hope you'll stop in to say hello! There will be 2600 other booths to visit, too, so plan to enjoy the day (and do some shopping). Design Festa details are all here.

Posted by kuri at 07:13 AM [view entry with 2 comments)]
May 02, 2007
Robot Nation

In a couple of weeks, I'm exhibiting a new artwork at a huge creative arts event. I'm sure it will be lost in the crowd, but I'm enjoying putting it all together.

It's a reaction to Yanagisawa's boneheaded "women are birth-giving machines" speech in January. What if all Japanese women turned into machines and had little robot babies? This is the idea I'm exploring in a short animation and an interactive sculpture.

I was working on the animation today. It's very simple. Maybe embarrassingly simple, but I don't mind. It gets the message across. Here is a 15 second clip (currently silent) from the beginning of the program.


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Watch "Robot Babies" intro

If you want to see the rest of the animation or to play with the sculpture (more on that in a future post) why not plan to come to Design Festa? Not only will I be there, but 2600 extremely talented artists and craftspeople, too! Bring your wallet, there's lots of amazing handmade stuff to buy.

Design Festa vol 25
May 26-27, 2007
Tokyo Big Site

Posted by kuri at 05:34 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
April 12, 2007
Brunch This Sunday

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If you're staggering around Shinjuku as dawn breaks, or just awake at 6 am (or anytime until noon) and looking for an unusual place for Sunday brunch, come over to Araku in Shinjuku's Golden Gai. The local shopkeepers' association is having a flea market and some of the bars are staying open for breakfast.

Ours will be the best brunch on the block, I'm certain. Tracey, Ashley and I will be manning the bar and kitchen. Have a bloody mary and some meat pies, or a mimosa and an omelette, or go all out and cure your hangover with Vegemite on toast.

For a map and more info, visit the Araku website

Posted by kuri at 08:50 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
March 18, 2007
Note Noir


Note Noir (formerly the Swing Niglots)winding up a song. Recorded on my cell phone.

We went out to a live performance of jazz manouche tonight. Note Noir is playing Tokyo again in April. I think we might go.

Posted by kuri at 12:43 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
February 06, 2007
Tod's 2級 results

In December, Tod took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, 2nd level. The test results arrived today - we sat together on the sofa while he carefully peeled back the sheet covering the scores. He passed.

This means that he "has mastered grammar to a relatively high degree, knows around 1,000 kanji and 6,000 words, and has the ability to converse, read, and write about matters of a general nature."

おめでとうございます!Congratulations, Tod! I'm proud of you.

Posted by kuri at 09:04 PM [view entry with 11 comments)]
January 01, 2007
2007 starts out on the right foot

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Wiggly piggly new year wishes from me & Tod.

Posted by kuri at 12:00 AM [view entry with 2 comments)]
June 24, 2006
Elizabeth Andoh

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capable and practiced hands prepare somen

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Elizabeth demonstrates the value of long chopsticks

Today I went to my friend Elizabeth's place to take some pictures of her teaching a class. Her publisher will send they photos to newspapers and magazines. It was a lot of fun and I got a few good shots - these two are from the reject pile, but I like them anyway.

Posted by kuri at 07:08 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
April 24, 2006
Art Exhibit

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Scott de Vacherie in Japan exhibition card

A friend's art exhibit opens tomorrow and I spent my day helping put things together at the gallery in Diakanyama. My knees are bruised from crawling around on the floor for hours and when I left at 10:30 pm, some of the exhibits still needed attention, but I'm sure everything will be prepared for the opening party in the evening.

You can find out more about the exhibition here: Scott de Vacherie in Japan or the Art Front Gallery website.

The exhibit has gotten a fair amount of press, with mentions in the Sankei Shimbun, Brutus, StudioVoice, Nippon Vogue and a few English outlets, so there should be a good turnout.

Posted by kuri at 11:56 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
April 04, 2006
Orientation

It's the beginning of the new school year in Japan.

Walking past the local university today, I saw all of the freshmen out on campus looking dazed, carrying orientation packets, and chatting in small groups. The were busy trying to figure it all out before classes begin and signing themselves up for interesting campus organizations to meet people and fill their newly free hours after years of cram schools and entrance exam pressures.

It looked like they were new hires at a conservative company. They were all wearing suits. Everyone had fresh haircuts or carefully applied cosmetics. They were quite a contrast to the upperclassmen who were wearing jeans and artfully rumpled t-shirts, tossled hairstyles and a lot of attitude.

Some of the frosh had their parents in tow. It was cute. They looked so young-- soft-featured, unsullied, eager. Their parents seemed to be my age, which struck me as odd. Then I realised that I entered university 22 years ago.

Yeah, OK. I walked on past a little faster.

Posted by kuri at 05:52 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
March 08, 2006
Roujin?!?

Today in the mail, I received a set of form letters from the ward office. As if shortly turning 40 weren't bad enough, now my government classes me as old.

Turning Point Physical Examination Details

The Kowishikawa Insurance Service Center would like to inform you that as a roujin (old person), you're entitled to a free physical examination every five years as part of your old age social insurance plan. This includes a general exam with x-ray and bloodwork, hepatitis test, and cancer screening with barium x-ray. The next scheduled date for exams is 4/19. Our records show your qualifying birthday is within the next two months. Please schedule early.

About Hepatits Virus Screening

Bunkyo-ku offers free hepatitis virus screenings every five years for its citizens starting at age 40.

Roujin Dental Exam Information

All of Bunkyo-ku "aged persons" 40 years old and over are invited to a free yearly dental examination.

At least I know where my tax yen are going. I think I'd rather have had that 988,000 yen refund, though.

Posted by kuri at 10:09 PM [view entry with 6 comments)]
February 26, 2006
Flea Market

Today I joined in with Sachiko and Yuka and sold a lot of stuff at the Shinagawa Intercity flea market.

At 8 am I loaded a suitcase, a backpack, four large paper shopping bags, a carpet, and a giant plastic crate into the van. At 5 pm I unloaded a practically empty suitcase. Almost everything sold. When I emptied my pockets and counted my wadded up notes and wonking fistful of coins, I had over 15,000 yen in profit.

It was hard won, too. Man, some of those thrifty flea market folks were relentless bargainers.

Fat Lady: How much is the skirt?
Me: 200 yen.
Fat Lady: 100 yen.
Me. Uh, no. 200 yen.
Fat Lady: How much is the dress?
Me: 200 yen.
Fat Lady: 100 yen.
Me. Uh, no. 200 yen. 400 yen for both. That's cheap!
Fat Lady: Gee, foreigners are strict.

Ojiisan: How much for the tripod?
Me: 500 yen.
Ojiisan: But it's so big. I'm really looking for a shorter one. 300 yen.
Me. Uh, no. If you want a smaller one, go buy a smaller one.
(he came back later and I sold it to him for 400 yen)

Shopper: How much for this book?
Yuka: 100 yen.
Shopper: I'm checking the original price on my keitai. Just a second.
Yuka: *rolls eyes*
Shopper: And this DVD?
Yuka: 500 yen.
Shopper: I'm checking the original price on my keitai. Just a second.
Yuka: *rolls eyes* It was 4,000 yen new.

So we worked to get rid of our treasures, even at very cheap prices. At the end we had a "tada" pile --free for the taking odds & ends--that made a few people very happy. I'm happy now that there's a bit more space in my house. Which is especially good, because Jeremy picked up a case of Coopers Pale Ale at Costco for me.

Posted by kuri at 05:34 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
November 29, 2005
How to Throw a Matsuri

When we go to Australia next month, we'll be throwing a little summer matsuri in the seaside village of Elliston (population about 200). We want to share the fun of a Japanese summer festival, but what are the key elements and where can you get them?

  • Games: fishing, lucky draw, prizes
  • Decorations: lanterns, bunting, happi coats
  • Music: the traditional odori songs
  • Food: Takoyaki, yakisoba, cotton candy, shaved ice, beer

Knowing where to get all this stuff--boxes of cheap plastic toys, lottery tickets, bingo cards, party costumes--makes me feel very settled in Japan. I'm not sure why.

Since our budget is very small, we won't be doing all of the above, but we'll fill in as many of the blanks as possible. It will be fun for us and I hope for the Ellistonians, too. If you happen to be in Elliston on December 20th, I don't think you'll have any trouble finding us.

Posted by kuri at 11:09 AM [view entry with 1 comments)]
November 22, 2005
Let's Drink & Read Ulysses

UlyssesOne of my LibriVox assignments needs some help.

James Joyce's Ulysses is being parcelled out to readers. Unlike most LibriVox readings, which are done in a quiet place and edited to remove any mistakes, this one is going to be better if done at a bar, drinking Guinness, with lots of voices chiming in.

Here's a snippet from Wikipedia about the book:

Ulysses chronicles the passage through Dublin by its main character, Leopold Bloom, during an unremarkable day, June 16, 1904.

Ulysses is [...] celebrated for its groundbreaking stream-of-consciousness technique, highly experimental prosefull of puns, parodies, allusionsas well as for its rich characterizations and broad humor.

It's very funny and I have the best part--breakfast!!!

Who wants to help me read my 20 page chunk? We can either take characters (you be Leopold's voice, I'll read his thoughts, etc. I already have a friend lined up to do the meowing!), or you can have a whole page to yourself.

I'm thinking about a reading in early December on a weekday evening. At a bar (preferably Irish). I'll buy the first round. Everyone is welcome, even if you think you read terribly or are not sure you'd be good.

Sign up in the comments below and let me know what day's best for you.

Posted by kuri at 09:44 AM [view entry with 2 comments)]
November 01, 2005
No Luck

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My only winning horse.

Today was the Melbourne Cup luncheon. I was sure that with the spread of horses I'd managed to collect in the various sweeps, bets and the calcutta that I'd win something--I had 11 different horses in the field of 24. But not a single one of them came in.

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Flemington in felt.

But no matter, there was still the "fashions on the field" contest to come.

Tracey, Ashley and I laboured over the weekend on our hats, constructing a three-part racetrack from felt. I designed and sewed the hats together and the three of us decorated them with little horses, flags, a grandstand, start and finish lines. We even included sponsor logos.

Alas, we were trumped by a wide-brimmed feather-covered hat with marshmallows dangling from it like the corks people used to hang from their hats to keep away flies.

Better luck next year.

Posted by kuri at 11:59 PM [view entry with 7 comments)]
October 31, 2005
Masks and Pumpkins

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Noh performer in mask during Okina, a ritualised Okinawan form of Noh. (photo by Tod, the steady-handed)

Tonight we attended a performance of Noh plays in Shinjuku Gyoen. It was my first Noh experience and although it was a beautiful specta, even the comedic play was way over my head.

Here are two recordings from Okina, the first play. Neither is of the performer pictured above.

play mp3Okina Noh 2'13" MP3 (2 MB)

play mp3Okina Noh (2) 0'56" MP3 (884 KB)

By the intermission, we were chilled to the bone so we left the crowd of 4000 people for the warmth of dinner indoors. A shame, because the only play I knew the plot of was the one after intermission.

After dinner, we stopped to have some Pumpkin Milk. It seemed an appropriate beverage for the day. More importantly, it claims to erase irritableness and I needed it. Not sure if it worked.

Posted by kuri at 10:40 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
September 10, 2005
Shinobazu Boating

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Audrey Hepburn (Tracey) and Jimmy Stewart (Tod) enjoy the drinks.

Some days are performance art, honestly. How else could I leave the house dressed as a water sprite?

The boating party was tiny--Tod, Tracey and me--but lots of fun anyway. Tod rowed us out to the middle of the pond and set us to drift. We popped the cork on a bottle of sprkling wine and noshed on cheese, crackers, fruit and cookies.

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Me and Tracey, a study in contrasts.

The best part of the afternoon was watching people on shore and the other boaters watch us. Some waved, some looked away, a few called out to us. Most just smiled. We really did resemble like the painting on the invitation with our parasols and dress up clothes.

Posted by kuri at 05:28 PM [view entry with 4 comments)]
September 07, 2005
Boating Party

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Boating Party
Saturday, September 10
14:30 - 16:30
Shinobazu pond boathouse, Ueno Park
Cost: boat rental, 600 - 700 yen/hour

Please come to our second dress-up party. Wear your favorite summer frock, hat, gloves & parasol--or don your tux or suit--for an elegant row around the pond at Ueno. If you'd like, bring some light snacks and drinks for a mid-pond picnic. I'm planning a bottle of champagne and some nibbles.

Everyone is welcome; no RSVP necessary, though you may leave a comment if you want to signal your attendance or have a question.

Posted by kuri at 09:56 AM [view entry with 4 comments)]
September 02, 2005
Aichi World Expo 2005

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The main walkway at the Expo

Wow, it was hot. For an environment-and-forest themed Expo, there was an amazing lack of shade. But we sweated it out and thanks to the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan, we had special access to seven of the national pavilions, so we didn't have to wait in line.

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Visitors file into the Holland pavilion theatre

The one I liked best was Holland's. I cried tears of awe as I watched the film they created. It was a magical piece of editing that used four high definition projectors aimed at the floor and four vertical screens arranged in a cube. Water and kanji dripped from the screen to the floor, then swirled into a series of maps showing Holland's spice explorations followed by montages of modern Holland and its people. Metropolisfilm in Utrecht did this video. I want to go work with them.

For lunch we stood in line, but it was worth it to have proper Polish pierogies. Mmmmmmmm.

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The library at the Singapore pavilion

Other highlights: the awesome science in the German pavillion, the library in the Singapore pavillion, and the experiences in Austria--waltzing and sledding.

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The Australia pavilion's beautiful facade

We did not visit the mammoth or encounter the robots and saw only a small fracton of what was on offer. But it was a full day from which we retreated, exhausted and a little cranky, to a satellite venue organized by the local village.

The evening wasn't what we expected at all--just a few visitors and a lot of staff trying to be very kind to us. They seemed lonely and a little bit desperate. As one woman explained, the Expo has only taken money away from the town. Everyone visiting the area is going to the Expo, and not to the village attractons (though I have no idea what those are).

But despite the pathos, we got to try on replica Japanese armour and that was fun. My posse and I are not going to win any wars, I think...

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Kristen, the giggling samurai

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Tod, the elf-warrior

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Yuka, the graceful soldier

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Jim, the shining samurai

Posted by kuri at 10:56 AM [view entry with 4 comments)]
August 23, 2005
Boating Party

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Boating Party
Saturday, September 10 (rain date: Sept 11)
14:30 - 16:30
Shinobazu pond boathouse, Ueno Park
Cost: boat rental, 600 - 700 yen/hour

Please come to our second dress-up party. Wear your favorite summer frock, hat, gloves & parasol--or don your tux or suit--for an elegant row around the pond at Ueno. If you'd like, bring some light snacks and drinks for a mid-pond picnic.

Everyone is welcome; no RSVP necessary, though you may leave a comment if you want to signal your attendance or have a question.

Posted by kuri at 01:28 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
August 21, 2005
Korean Wedding

Today we went to a Korean wedding. Tod's colleague, Sukki, was getting married formally, after having been married officially for four years. It was unlike any wedding I've ever attended.

The first hour was a Korean ceremony. The mothers entered and lit candles. Then to a fanfare of immense proportions, Sukki and Chang appeared in the spotlight. They wore wore bright traditional costumes--purple and fuchsia with lots of embroidery--and elaborate headdresses. Their resumes were read aloud and they recited some stuff in Korean, then signed a certificate and exchanged gifts. Sukki has a wedding ring now; Chang got a watch. They displayed them proudly for photos and then disappeared a while to change.

In the meantime, we indulged in a feast of Chinese food. We were seated with some of Tod's coworkers who are all fun to be around and the conversation was a mix of Japanese and English. The meal was fabulous and we were drinking some sort of strange carmel colored shochu that tasted like rancid soy sauce. Sounds nasty, but was actually pleasant over ice.

After three or four courses, Sukki and Chang reappeared in less elaborate, but still Korean, outfits. Chang wore an ivory colored suit with a long coat; Sukki wore a pale purple hoop-skirted Korean dress and had flowers woven into her hair. They sat together at the head table while people made speeches to them. During the speeches, friends and family lined up at the table to pour them beer after beer. I don't think they ate anything, so I imagine they were quite tipsy.

And then the dancing began. It was graceful but energetic--arms outstretched and waving with feet stepping side to side just a little. It is the perfect dance for the vivid Korean bell-skirted gowns. The women looked like flowers in a breeze.

I was dragged into the dancing early on by one of the men I thought of as "the crazy uncles" and immediately found myself holding hands with the groom. I danced with Chang twice as I was passed around the circle of dancers. It was only later, after many people commented on my dancing (which is nothing to comment on) that I figured out that I was the only white woman at the wedding. I forget what a curiousity Tod & I are among our circle. Most of our other foreign friends have Japanese partners.

After the dancing, there were speeches by Sukki and Chang to their parents and they presented flowers to their mothers. It was very touching. Chang's father made a very funny speech in Korean and Japanese. Then it was time to go, four hours after we began.

Posted by kuri at 07:30 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
July 27, 2005
Between Sets

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Hibiya Park, 7:05 pm

To celebrate my last day as FCCJ's webmaster, I walked to the park after work to sketch for a while before meeting up with MJ. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the Greater Tokyo Festival in full swing. I sketched for a bit near my favorite pond, then followed my ears to the music. I drew this as I waited for the next set to begin. It's annoyingly cartoonish and flat. I need to develop quicker realism. Anyone have pointers or cheats I can try?

MJ met me at the park, then Tod joined us and we had an alfresco dinner of good Aussie red (Tod brought it with him) and falafels from an Israeli falafel truck. The Japnese couples sitting near us must have thought we were crazy when we began to dance to "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," but we had fun.

Posted by kuri at 10:53 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 23, 2005
Kagurazaka Awa Odori

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Last night Kagurazaka's main street filled with traditional dancers

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Dancers waved their hands gracefully while stepping on tiptoe and chanting in high-pitched voices

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Musicians played gongs, drums, and wooden flutes as live accompaniment

The music was very loud and vibrated through our bones. I recorded some of it to share with you:

play video Awa Odori music 1'00" MP3 (950 KB)

Posted by kuri at 01:37 PM [view entry with 2 comments)]
June 21, 2005
Solstice candles

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Stilton, white sangria, and candles

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Sachiko by candlelight on the verandah.

Posted by kuri at 11:59 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
June 20, 2005
Candle Night

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Tomorrow at 06:46 UTC (15:46 in Tokyo) is the summer solstice, marking another quarter turn of the Earth around the sun and longest daylight period of the year. I'm going to take part in a quiet event called Candle Night.

From 8 to 10 pm, I'll turn off the electric lights and enjoy a house lit by candles. Maybe I'll enjoy a glass of wine on the veranda, or a quiet chat with friends over a candlelit dinner I've cooked from scratch. Maybe we'll make some music. Whatever we do, I imagine a slow and mellow evening to match the lighting.

There are 330 Candle Night events in Japan, including live music around town and GeshiFest in Yoyogi Koen tomorrow evening. Tokyo Tower was unlit on Saturday as part of the project. Will you take part, too, to mark the quarter year?

Posted by kuri at 05:27 PM [view entry with 3 comments)]
May 23, 2005
Jazz in the park

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Laurent in tux and umbrella.

It showered during yesterday evening's concert, but that didn't stop our crowd of 17 sartorially elegant socialisers from enjoying ourselves at the first dress-up event.

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Jim & I danced in the rain. (courtesy of Tracey)

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Yuka and I smile for Jonathan.

Jonathan and Tod took hundreds of photos; a select gallery of 27 images is online.

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Our private classical concert

After the jazz concert at the park, we enjoyed dinner at Kaneko in Komagome. The other group in the restaurant with us were classical musicians. They played for about 15 minutes and finished off our evening on a wonderful note. Tracey captured a few seconds of video on her keitai during this private concert.

Violin solo (150K .mov)
Bolero video (250K .mov)

Posted by kuri at 01:57 PM [view entry with 6 comments)]
May 11, 2005
Jazz in the Park

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Press your tux, dust off your jewels. It's a black tie evening.

Sunday May 22, 2005
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (dinner to follow)
Kyu-Furukawa Garden, Kita-ku (Map & info: English - Japanese

This is a free jazz concert featuring vocalist Miyuki Komatsu held at one of Tokyo's most beautiful parks.

Let's dress up and make it a special event (and a spectacle for the other people attending). Dinner is optional afterwards--I'm thinking of Isou Ryouri Kaneko, a fish restaurant in Komagome. If you'd like to eat with the party, please e-mail me before the 17th so I can reserve sufficient tables.

Why dress up for a concert and dinner? A while back, my friends and I were distressed that we have lovely frocks that we rarely use. Well, that's easily corrected. Jazz in the Park launches series of formal dress events, though the events themselves may not always be formal. Anyone is welcome to attend, just put on your best ballgown, cocktail dress, tuxedo, dinner jacket, or suit.

Coming soon: Dress-up Dim Sum, Ballgowns at the Ball Park, and Fireworks in Frocks.

Posted by kuri at 01:13 PM [view entry with 3 comments)]
March 21, 2005
Hanami, April 2

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Download this flyer to distribute (1.9 MB PDF)

Please join the Foreign Section Trust for a relaxing day of eating and drinking under the cherry blossoms at Aoyama Cemetery. FST members will be on hand to discuss the city's plans for the area and how you can get involved.

Free to all! Bring your favorite food and drink. Meet under the cherry tree at the south end of Aoyama Cemetery's foreign section. Map

FST Hanami Party
Saturday, April 2
11 am - 7 pm
Aoyama Cemetery Foreign Section
(rain dates April 3 & 9)

Posted by kuri at 12:24 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
January 01, 2005
Welcome 2005

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Edo bayashi entertainer. Genjinmeigu shrine, Minato-ku.

Posted by kuri at 07:22 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
December 28, 2004
Fire Safety

Every year around this time, neighborhood volunteers are out on the streets at night, clacking wooden sticks together and calling out to people about fire safety. It's taken us six years to figure out what they are chanting.

The other night, as we were walking home late from work, the patrol was out. It was a group of three younger men and they were doing their job with gusto.

"Are they yelling Ii yo, ii yo ji? Maybe Iroiro ii?" I wondered after listening to them.

"Um....yoyogi?" Tod suggested doubtfully. He listened again. "I think maybe it ends in shin"

"Or jin? I can't tell. Let's ask them," I suggested as we converged on their path. Of course that meant Tod was going to ask; his Japanese is much better than mine.

The patrol volunteers were happy to tell us, carefully and loudly, that they are saying hi no youjin which means "fire caution."

Have a listen for yourself. I made this recording of a different, somewhat less enthusiastic patrol this evening: Hi no youjin (0:18 mp3 429K)

Posted by kuri at 11:00 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
October 04, 2004
CEATEC poster spotted

Once again, I modelled for the CEATEC convention posters. On last year's poster, I wasn't easily identified--you could see my tattoo in one shot and I was a tiny black spec at the bottom of an escalator in another.

Last night, I faced my photographed self in Shinjuku station. On this year's poster I found my smile, my profile and my full body.

It was disconcerting, delightful, and slightly uncomfortable to see myself in such a well-travelled public place--sort of like having my name published on an article. Thankfully, the photos are small; I hope this doesn't count much towards the elusive 15 minutes.

CEATEC begins tomorrow and runs only a few days, so if you want to scope out the poster, you'd better hurry. Walk down the Metro Promenade on B2F in Shinjuku station towards the Marunouchi line. The poster is on a bulletin board not far past the row of shops in the promenade.

Take a pen and draw in a mustache and devil horns. You know you want to...

Posted by kuri at 01:42 PM [view entry with 6 comments)]
October 03, 2004
October Hanabi

Fireworks festivals are not normally held in October but this one in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki prefecture, is an exception. It's a competition and showcase of nearly 100 "grand finales" and new models of colorful explosions.

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Seating was in a muddy rice paddy, freshly harvested.

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As the sun set the food stalls lit up but our group of twelve didn't indulge. We brought a picnic feast of homemade pizza, lamb chops, lasagne, oden, Taiwanese eggs, side dishes galore, cakes and lots of drinks.

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The finales were bright as day.

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The combination of colors and shapes delighted me. I grinned for the entire two hour show.

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Jim, eschewing the usual (as usual), took black and white photos.

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This patchwork of small explosions quilted the sky.

Posted by kuri at 03:32 PM [view entry with 5 comments)]
September 23, 2004
Come make jewelry!

ring-1st.jpgInterested in working with metal and making jewelry? On Thursday mornings from 10 - 12, I attend a jewelry making class at RBR The New Center for Creative Arts in Azabu Juban. It's great fun, but unless I can drum up a few more students to join me, the class will be cancelled.

It's an ongoing class, so you can jump in anywhere. I've learned the basic techniques of soldering, hammering, and filing. Lots of filing. Now I'm working on a lost wax casting. The next project focuses on piercing and sawing. It's like high school woodshop, only prettier.

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I made this ring by hammering and filing silver. Tod wears it every day.
Above left: simple rings made in the first class session

Here's the course description from RBR's website:

JEWELRY MAKING - Instructor: Mami Katsuki

This class will teach, in detail, the whole process of creating a piece of jewelry. Learning the basic skills is a hard and time-consuming process but this class has been carefully paced so that every individual will make progress! Learn how to use sandpaper, electric tools, files, and how to metal fold, weld, pierce, polish and finish up. After mastering the filing, students will learn Wax Carving techniques, using several different types of wax to create rings, pendants or earrings. Transform your sketch into a 3D model. After understanding and mastering the basic process, students will work on their design and bring it to life. In the first three months, most students will be able to complete two pieces of jewelry. The goal - fashion an original creation you can show off with pride!

If you're interested, contact RBR or better yet, talk to the instructor directly. She's great (and bilingual): Mami Katsuki mamikatsuki@hotmail.com 03-3710-8889.

UPDATE: Mami-sensei says the last class will be October 7th unless we enroll 3 or 4 more students. If you're interested, don't delay.

Posted by kuri at 01:11 AM [view entry with 1 comments)]
September 20, 2004
Respect for the Aged

Today is "Respect for the Aged Day," a national holiday in Japan.

But "the aged" is never us despite our half-truth jests about becoming grey and feeble; it's always someone elder. Who do Japan's 23,000 centenarians respect today? Maybe themselves. Today all new centenarians are presented with a silver cup and a certificate.

The number of centenarians in Japan will total a record 23,038 by the end of this month, surpassing last year's previous high by more than 2,000, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said Tuesday.

The centenarian population has posted a 150-fold rise since the government began compiling the statistics in 1963, when the number of centenarians stood at only 153, the ministry said. Women continue to make up the vast majority of the cohort, accounting for 84.7%. (Kyodo News)

Where there more babies than usual in 1904? Maybe so; Japan was winning the Russo-Japanese War. Or did these 2000+ new centenarians lead especially charmed lives? Regardless, I guess the government had to prepare a lot of gifts this year.

Posted by kuri at 02:01 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 29, 2004
Developing film

The Japan Photographers Mailing List folks organized an afternoon workshop on developing black and white film. It may have been one of the best documented workshops ever, as everyone was snapping away as James Luckett, consumptive.org, our fearless guide spoke. He made the process crystal clear and unintimidating.

The process goes like this:

  1. Beer
  2. Load the film into the reel (in the dark, of course)
  3. Pre-soak: clear water and a little agitation
  4. Developer: check the chart on your film or developer for timing. Agitate 10 seconds every minute--or whatever you think is good. Use a timer so you don't lose track of when to stop developing.
  5. Stop bath or water wash: to remove the developer.
  6. Fixer: for twice the "clear time" --the length of time it takes for a snippet of film to come clear in the fixer. Don't forget to agitate.
  7. Wash, wash, wash
  8. Wash with "photo flo" and hang to dry.
  9. Beer

I think film developing is much like cooking. You can carefully follow a recipe or you can wing it a bit. Either way you end up with a palatable finished product. Whether or not you can reproduce it depends on how many variables you introduced.

Do you know how the little numbers appear on the edge of the negatives? I assumed they were done somehow during processing but they're actually on the film as a latent image from the factory. You can use them to tell if you correctly developed your film. They should be black. Grey indicates underdevelopment. If they're black and fuzzy, you developed too much.

I put some of our photos from the workshop in our gallery, if you want to take a peek.

Posted by kuri at 03:33 PM [view entry with 2 comments)]
July 30, 2004
Marshmallow Spike summer

MJ of Marshmallow SpikeMarshmallow Spike played in Yotsuya last night--their first show inside the Yamanote. Tod took lots of photos.

They get better and better every time I see them. MJ even smiled last night while she played and her MC patter had the audience cracking up. Sweaty men on trains, indeed...

And they know who the fans are: Yoshi dedicated "Stolen Umbrella" (download the MP3) to me last night with a quick "for Kristen" before playing the first chords, and he gave me his backstage pass after the show. (Am I almost famous now?) MJ's pass went to Tracey, who also got her CD signed. We're such groupies.

The next show is in Yokohama on August 11th. See you there?

Posted by kuri at 10:51 AM [view entry with 4 comments)]
July 05, 2004
Tanabata

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Yesterday we reprised last year's Tanabata matsuri festivities with MJ & Yoshi. I brought my DV camera; Tod carried his new D-70 digital camera. Dressed in men's indigo jinbei (traditional loose jackets with shorts), we captured the festival thoroughly and probably turned a few heads--henna gaijin (weird foreigners) wearing Japanese clothes.

I hoped to make a short film about Altair and Vega, the stars of the matsuri, but Tod declined to be my leading man. Still, I shot a lot of footage and you'll see a brief documentary, "Scenes from Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata," on Wednesday the 7th, the actual date of Tanabata.

Posted by kuri at 07:13 AM [view entry with 3 comments)]
June 13, 2004
Fish-piki

(September 2000)

I won them. Five little goldfish, kingyo in Japanese.

Our local end-of-summer festival blocked off the shopping street. Makeshift stalls in the street grilled corn on the cob, yakitori and takoyaki. Lines of children in yukata waited for their turn to get a cone of shaved ice. All along the street, games of skill awaited those who would try to toss a ring, shoot a cork-gun or catch a fish.

A little girl squatted at the side of a large, shallow tank of water filled with goldfish. She dipped a paper-covered frame into the water and scooped up a fish. It flopped off the frame and back into the water. She tried again.

This time her catch landed on the sidewalk. I squeaked, but she just reached over with little fingers and dropped the fish into her bowl of water. And she dipped again for another fishthis time she aimed carefully for one of the lovely orange and white ones. Fish number two was swimming in her bowl a few seconds later. Again and again she captured fish and deposited them into the bowl at her side.

I had stood there watching for so long and with such interest that I almost didnt notice when an older man approached holding out a frame for me.

Douzo, he said, waving the frame at me as though I ought to take it from him.

Ikura desu ka? I asked, reaching for my wallet.

Sebisu he answered. Service, for free.

I thanked him profusely and kneeled down to the fish basin. I studied the little girls technique. Pick a fish, slide the frame gently into the water and under the fish. Lift. Didnt look so hard. After all, the little girl had more than a dozen before she finished.

I managed six. I decided that Id rather have five, so I put the largest one back into the tank and handed the man my catch. Still unsure whether I should be paying for these fish, I asked again Ikura? but was waved away. Little did I know how much Id be paying for these fish in the end.

I was smiling when I approached Tod with my catch in hand. Look, Tod, I got fish!

We have no place to keep them, he pointed out.

Well, I know, but yesterday I saw some big ceramic bowls, like giant planters, on Hongo Dori. We could go get one of those because I want to make a water garden with these fish and some water lilies.

Tod looked a little bit startled at this rather elaborate plan, but agreed to walk up Hongo Dori to the antique shop where Id seen a dozen ornamental urns stacked up outside.

But when we arrived, the store was closed and the giant bowls were neatly covered with a tarp tied over them.

We settled on stopping for supplies, distilled water and fish food, at the BanBan Bazaar down the street. The shopkeeper grinned when she rang up our purchase and realised I was holding a baggie full of fish.

Cute, she crooned. Are they from the festival? she asked as the baggie mysteriously sprung a leak. Together we tucked the fish and their water into a second bag to stem the rush of water. Tod & I hurried home to install the fish into a bucket.

Tod named three of them. Pinky, Dinky, & Calico. I named the other two Fish-piki. Hiki is the counter for small animalsone fish is ippiki, two fish are nihiki, three fish are sambiki and so on. I decided that all of my fish taken as a group were fish-piki and the two without names were also fish-piki. It was easier that way.

We were aware of the brief mortality of festival fish and I worried about the fish-piki having sufficient oxygen, food and a happy environment. They made it through the night and lived all day Sunday. By Monday morning, they were still all alive, but their water was becoming cloudy. It was time to think about a more appropriate container and a filtering system.

So Tod did some research on the Internet and came up with RTWs Goldfish Information Page (http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/4468/). RTW is a real aficionado; he has a basement full of goldfish. He gave some good advice about feeding, tank cleaning and even how much space a healthy goldfish needs.

For two fish a twenty gallon tank will be big enough for several years. You can start with a ten gallon tank, but you may need a bigger tank within a year! he writes.

A quick calculation showed that we would need a 50 gallon tank for the fish-piki. The big ceramic bowls I had seen dont come quite that big. Time to rethink.

A few cruel options discarded, we had a decision. Wed go on safari to Sudo Park and release the fish-piki into the wild.

After dusk, I gathered up the pink bucket containing the well-fed fish and handed it to Tod, who carried it through the back streets from our house to the park.

We reached the park, a generous block of trees, pathways and the pond. Looking around to make certain we werent seen I climbed over the railing of the bridge down to the edge of the pond. Tod handed me the bucket and I tipped the fish in.

The water was a little chillier than their bucket and they slowed down for a few minutes, but when they adjusted to their new environment, they swum around energetically.

We said goodbye walked back home.

A few days later, we returned in the daylight to see if we could find them. The pond teems with fish of all sizes. Tiny fish the size of baby carrots swam in schools in the shade of rocks and trees. Large, venerably aged goldfish (dinner for six?) cruised the pond or rested near where the turtles sunned themselves.

We looked and looked. It seemed like the fish-piki might have had a chance with so many fish sharing the pond. We saw one goldfish that looked like Pinky or maybe Dinky. But we saw no sign of Calico or the two unnamed fish-piki. I was sad, but Tod was hopeful that they were there, swimming around unseen.

As we climbed the hill out of the park, we turned around to look back at the pond. A boy with a bucket was climbing over the railing where I had released the fish-piki. He had a bucket in his hands. He dipped it into the water, scooping up an unseen treasure. Maybe it was Calico.

I hope the fish-piki are enjoying their new home.

Posted by kuri at 06:08 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
May 17, 2004
Hanging

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"Synchronicity" at FUJIMAMAS
New works by the RBR artists
May 17 - June 16, 2004

I've just returned from hanging my prints at Fujimamas. There are dozens of pieces by 20 different artists. They represent quite a range of styles, media, and talent.

This morning restaurant was abuzz with people sharing hammers, explaining how to slide the hooks up and down, and waiting for Lauren, the curator, to decide what went where. I think Lauren had a challenge on her hands--so many sizes and styles--not quite enough walls.

My prints are hanging upstairs. Two are paired in a curving corner in the private party space and one is in the hall near the toilet.

In amongst the hammering and questions were lots of over-blown ohs and ahs. The effusive praise these artists give one another sometimes seems fake. "Oooooooooo, these are BEAUTUIFUL!!" "I really LOVE your WORK!!" "Look how CUTE with all these colors!!"

I offered up a few "I like this one a lot" and "Your painting looks great in this space" but I couldn't bring myself to coo or exclaim. Should you happen to go to Fujimamas this month and catch a glimpse of my engravings, no praise required.

Posted by kuri at 11:47 AM [view entry with 2 comments)]
May 05, 2004
Shobu bath

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Golden Week winds down today with Children's Day, the last in a string of spring holidays.

In our household we have no reason to fly carp streamers (it's traditional to hang out one for each boy in the family) but thanks to my friend Elizabeth Andoh's timely Taste of Culture newsletter, I did partake of another holiday ritual, shobu yu.

Shobu are the leaves and stems of Japanese iris. Shobu is also a homonym for victory and for warlike spirit, making a shobu bath just the thing on a day that celebrates boy children. A shobu bath is supposed to ward off illness, too. I soaked a nice long time, and expect the benefits to last until next year.

I made the bath even more relaxing by dotting the room with the lovely (waterproof!) electric candles that Jim & Yuka gave Tod for his birthday yesterday. Their reflections in the water with the floating reeds made me think I was sitting in a crystal clear pond. I tried standing the reeds upright and ducking my head under the water to pretend I was a fish, but there's not enough room to maneuver in the tub.

Posted by kuri at 09:48 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
April 21, 2004
Live from Musashi-Sakai

ms4-16.jpgFor those of you who missed last Friday's Marshmallow Spike gig (that would be everyone except me and J-ster), here's a first glimpse at MJ, Yoshi and their new drummer, Kei-san doing Stolen Umbrella, an original with lyrics by MJ, music by Yoshi.

The camerawork is crap, I know. I had forgotten I promised to film and wasn't prepared for anything other than basically static handheld. Next time, I'm taking a steadicam and doing it right.


play videoStolen Umbrella. Small, mono version. 3'25" (2.6 MB MP4)

play videoStolen Umbrella. Large, stereo version. 3'25" (22 MB MP4)

Posted by kuri at 11:27 AM [view entry with 2 comments)]
April 13, 2004
Fujimamas exhibit

etching.jpgThis drypoint etching and two others of mine will be part of an RBR group exhibit at Fujimamas between May 17 and June 16.

If you find yourself in tony Omotesando, and let's face it, what Tokyoite isn't there at least once in a while?, make a date for a delicious lunch or dinner and mediocre art (I only mean my work, of course; I'm sure the other exhibitors will be brilliant).

There is an opening party scheduled for Sunday, May 23rd from 3 - 6 pm. Please come say hello--I'll be the redhead in the corner, smiling fiercely and avoiding eye contact.

Posted by kuri at 06:53 PM [view entry with 3 comments)]
March 02, 2004
Black Box Taxes

Japanese taxes are due on March 15th, so this afternoon I got friendly with my pile of receipts and bank details. My head is now full of numbers and doubts, but my Heisei 15 tax forms are completed. Every filing I've submitted has been returned for corrections. I'm sure this year will be no different.

The Japanese tax system is a black box but I assume it follows the same basic pattern as the US. If you add up your earnings, subtract out any deductions, then multiply by your tax percentage, you'll know how much tax you owe. But the details are a little hazy, so I don't really try to understand. I simply follow along with the translated English instructions and do the math.

But even my indifferent attitude was pierced when I reached this calculation:

Total earnings from employment / 4 * 2.8 - 180,000 = employment income (please fill in line 6)

Huh?? Why? I guess it doesn't matter. I have to say, I'm glad I have a calculator.

Posted by kuri at 07:19 PM [view entry with 4 comments)]
February 11, 2004
Holiday

Today is Kenkoku Kinnenbi, known in English as National Foundation Day. It's the historical (possibly legendary) date that the first Emperor of Japan, Jinmu, ascended to the throne a really, really long time ago--660 BC.

Before WWII, today was called Kigensetsu. But it was removed from the calendar, along with all the Buddhist holidays, and wasn't reinstated 1966.

Not much pomp or circumstance marks this day--there's a parade of mikoshi at some of the key temples. Like most holidays in Japan, people will use today to catch up on sleep, go shopping, or enjoy a meal at a restaurant. Maybe girls will stock up on chocolates for the boys on Valentine's Day.

I will spend my day trying to get Tod away from the computer and outdoors for some fresh air activities. Or maybe some shopping or eating out.

Posted by kuri at 02:36 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
November 29, 2003
Christmas Campaigns

Japan is not immune to holiday shopping madness. In fact, it might be worse, as Christmas isn't for kids, but for couples.

Christmas Eve is a big date night and you are a certain loser if you don't have a date that involves presenting an expensive gift, eating roast chicken and going to a love hotel. Choose your own order but all of the above are required for a successful holiday.

So the shops go wild with luxury gifts. And to attract the right demographic, they sure do come up with some wacky campaign names. Here are some I've seen around Tokyo this week:

Hearty Xmas (at Metro M shopping mall)
Lovely Xmas (at Junior Station 109)
Happy Merry Xmas 2003 in LaQua (at LaQua, of course)

and my favorite...

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Xmas Hero at 109, a boutique mall for trendy Shibuya youth.

Posted by kuri at 10:16 AM [view entry with 3 comments)]
November 16, 2003
From Booth C-429

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Here I am, sitting at the iBook, editing a video of the days events.

My booth is sandwiched between customised motorcycles and an art school project that both get a lot more attention than mine. I guess that might be because I'm sitting at a computer and although I do look up and smile from time to time, a woman at a computer is not all that compelling.

But when I put on the videocrown, passersby stopped to figure out where the video was coming from. Sometimes I told them, taking off the crown and showing them the camera. Sometimes I got them to guess. Lots of laughter and smiles and a few interesting conversations.

UltraBob burned 10 DVD-R of the video for me and brought them in the afternoon. Zoupi helped me sell them.

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This morning, I happily filled in the other eye of my daruma--"finish video" is now an accomplished goal!

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Posted by kuri at 08:22 AM [view entry with 3 comments)]
November 15, 2003
Design Festa: Booth C-429

Just a quick note as I get ready to run off to Design Festa. I'll be at Booth C-429 today and tomorrow (11 am -7 pm). Please stop by and say hello.

I'll bring back some photos tonight...

Posted by kuri at 07:56 AM [view entry with 1 comments)]
November 10, 2003
Design Festa vol 18

I'm excited to be setting up my own booth at Design Festa vol 18 this weekend. Not only will I premiere Hello Tokyo and show some other videos, but I'll also unveil the videocrown, a multimedia artwork for people to interact with. And I will edit a new video based on footage I capture with the crown while I'm there.

I'll be reporting this week on how things are coming along as I countdown to Saturday. Completing the video, building my costume, preparing the laptop for editing, constructing signage--there's a lot left to do!

18ticket_2.jpg
If you're planning to come to see Hello Tokyo, or just to revel in the creative overload of 2000 booths of artists, designers, and performers, you can to save 200 yen if you buy tickets in advance. Only 800 yen for a one-day pass via Ticket PIA (P-code 804-202) or LawsonTicket(L-code 33337). Entrance is free for children aged 12 and under.

For more details, including directions for getting to Big Site (Ariake near Odaiba), check the Design Festa vol 18 website.

Posted by kuri at 01:13 PM [view entry with 4 comments)]
September 27, 2003
Mob mule and toilet girl

Last night was the flash mob; 9 people played rock paper scissors in the middle of Tokyo station. With only nine, it wasn't much of a mob but it was all over in 2 minutes, so it definitely qualified on the "flash" part.

I had a small role in the game. At 19:32, I dropped off the instructions at Cow #20. There didn't seem to be too many people there, just three guys hanging around on one corner of the space near the Maru Biru. So I sort of held up the papers a little bit and without breaking stride, walked over to the cow, sat the clipped together slips on the ground near a hoof, and walked away. MJ and I were the only non-Japanese there; I bet it must have confused everyone to see a foreigner with the secret instructions.

MJ got some pictures of the mob; I had my camera but was having too much fun playing to take it out and document.

Competing with the mob fun for most memorable moment of the evening, were two funny toilet incidents after. At an izakaya in Yaesu, MJ fell in love with the toilet paper. "It has stuff written all over it; steal me a roll," she requested. I didn't manage a roll, but I did spirit away these two sheets:

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Boss, the location of your part has changed, hasn't it?

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As long as it's for a purpose, we'll walk for anything (SIGN: a good man)

Definitely odd toilet paper.

My other toilet experience was in a different izakaya (it was a busy night) under the tracks at Yurakucho station. The ladies room is tucked into a tiny space with a low slanted ceiling--less than five feet off the ground at the highest point. I was so distracted by bumping my head that I forgot to lock the door. The woman who opened it moments after I sat down was not more shocked than I was. How do you gracefully exit that situation? I did my best with hastukashii---atama wo ki otsukete! (embarrassing--watch your head!) as I ducked out.

Posted by kuri at 06:02 PM [view entry with 2 comments)]
September 12, 2003
Tokyo Flash Mob

Looks like Tokyo's finally going to have a flash mob. This appeared in my Inbox last night:

flashmail.gif

There have been gatherings of strangers doing weird things in public in Tokyo and around Japan, like the Matrix events in June, and a group of people posing like comics covers. These are called "off" (presumably for off-line), but as far as I've been able to tell, there hasn't been anything called a flash mob here.

The idea of a flash mob, in case this Summer 2003 fad passed you by, is that someone sets a date, time and location for participants to gather (the "mob" bit) and do something silly for a very brief time, then disperse (the "flash" bit).

There's a bit of mystery, too, as the exact instructions aren't given out until minutes before the mob starts. People meet at published staging areas and get the final details there.

It's sort of performance art by strangers. Sounds like fun. Will I see you there? Details are forthcoming, the English website is http://www.geocities.com/alien_coruscater/mob.html

Posted by kuri at 07:51 PM [view entry with 3 comments)]
September 10, 2003
Cow or coward?

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The Cow Parade has reached Tokyo. To be specific, it's come to Marunouchi. There's a lot of bovine weirdness along the corridor between my office and Tod's.

One of Tod's colleagues is convinced that these cows are going to explode tomorrow. They are all hollow fiberglass statues and would make mighty good places to hide bombs.

Should I worry? I have to be at the office tomorrow...

Something else to fear: a scientist (crack or crank, I'm not sure) is predicting that there will be a magnitude 7 earthquake in Tokyo within the next week. Maybe it's a good time to get around to checking the earthquake supplies, even though I should have done that on 9/1, Disaster Preparedness Day.

Posted by kuri at 11:07 PM [view entry with 8 comments)]
August 17, 2003
Tokyo's 400th birthday

edo400logo.gifEdo, the city that became Tokyo, was founded in 1603, so Tokyo is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year.

This afternoon, Tod & I visited the fabulous Edo-Tokyo Museum to learn a little bit more about the history of our city. It's been quite an interesting ride for the Edoko (children of Edo).

Tokugawa Ieyasu founded Edo after being sent here in 1590 from Kyoto, the capital of Japan, where he was a powerful nuisance. He built up his power base in Edo and took over. His descendants held on to power until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

But it wasn't easy. I learned dozens of facts and stories today, but I think I'll focus on two choice tidbits about the Edo era economy.

The Shogun's 5,000 retainers were paid three times a year--in rice. Near the granary in Kuramae where the payments were made, there were rice exchangers who traded rice for cash. When the price of rice dropped, the retainers couldn't afford to to keep up their households, and would promise their next season's payment to the exchangers. Needless to say, the economy wasn't very stable. Currency was devalued several times in the hopes of making things better.

The Tokyo economy ran on the gold standard; in Kyoto silver was the main currency. Currency exchanges in both cities traded silver for gold and vice versa. In a closed economy this worked fine. But when Commodore Perry's "Black Ships" appeared from the US and forced Japan to open its doors to free trade, the Westerners realised that gold in Japan was very cheap, snatched it up, and left Japan considerably richer.

Not long after that, the Meiji Restoration began and that was the end of the Shogunate and its economic woes.

Happy Birthday Tokyo!

To see what else is planned as 400 Years From Edo to Tokyo festivities see the official Event Calendar (Japanese). I'm particularly interested in "Tokyo Lifestyles," September 13 - November 16, at the Edo Tokyo Museum. I'll definitely be going; if you'd like to come along, let's plan a date.

Posted by kuri at 10:22 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 03, 2003
Hanabi taikai

edogawahanabi.jpgSummer fireworks festivals are a tradition dating back hundreds of years. Originally for the powerful elite, there were public fireworks along the banks of Sumidagawa in 1733.

These days summer fireworks are an excuse for everyone to get dressed up in their yukata and spend some time outdoors. Over the last 50 years, the weeks spanning mid-July and mid-August have become an increasingly loud and colorful time of year.

Last night, we picnicked on the embankment of Edogawa and watched competing fireworks companies shoot off 14,000 fireworks in 75 minutes. It was splendid. This video doesn't really capture the jaw-dropping majesty of the event, but it gives a taste of three moments during the spectacle.

play video Edogawa Hanabi 0'50" (2.8MB Quicktime)

Posted by kuri at 11:24 AM [view entry with 1 comments)]
July 07, 2003
Tanabata

Today is Tanabata, a day honoring the legend of the stars Vega and Altair in the Milky Way. Really it's just a great excuse for a festival.

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A sea of people came to Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture to wander the streets and look at the decorations.

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But it's not all decorations. There are games, too. Catching bright rubber balls from a swiftly moving stream is very popular with little kids.

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Older kids (including me) like the fish game. And MJ is the proud owner of two tiny turtles that she won by scooping them from the water with a monaka, like a cup-shaped ice cream cone that droops when it gets wet.

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Mmmm, festival food. This is okonomiyaki a cross between pancake and omelet. My favorite is the choco-banana but I was too busy eating them to get any photos.

Posted by kuri at 11:02 AM [view entry with 5 comments)]
June 26, 2003
CEATEC poster girl

ceatec.jpg
CEATEC is an electronics show that will be held in October. Last week UltraBob, who is working on the CEATEC website, asked the JapanBloggers mailing list for two volunteers to model in a photo shoot for the CEATEC poster.

I caught him on chat and gave him a hard time about asking the Bloggers to model. We're really just a bunch of normal people, not the Beautiful People. Apparently I was the first female to mention it at all and he talked me into doing it. Hmmmm. I'm a little old to be a model, but sure. Experience points.

So this morning, I headed out to Ariake for the shoot. I caught a glimpse of the mock up--a lot of product shots collaged together. Some of the photos had people in them.

But if there is any shot with my face in it, I will be surprised. Maybe the art director agreed with my self assessment of 'aged model.' I believe I have a hand, shoulder, and unkempt hair in one shot, a blurry torso in another, maybe a hand playing with the car navi in another. Seth, the other model and also a Japan Blogger, was more prominently featured--he faces the camera and is even talking on a cell phone in one shot.

Since the focus was on the gear and not on us, the photographer's assistant carefully dusted and polished every bit of equipment that was photographed, but Seth and I didn't even get a glance. No instructions to comb our hair or adjust collars. It was a little bit strange, to be honest. When I photograph people, even when they aren't the primary subject, I do fuss with them a little bit...

Mostly Seth and I waited around and talked about tattoos, writing and the lack of good bagels in Tokyo. It was interesting to be on the other side of the camera, but as I am reminded every time I venture there, I really do prefer being behind the scenes.

Posted by kuri at 12:42 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
April 04, 2003
Ham fighters

nippon-us.jpgThe Nippon Ham Fighters lost tonight. But it wasn't due to a lack of cheering by us.

Baseball teams in Japan are not known by their hometown, as in the US, but by their sponsor. Nippon Ham owns the Fighters. But Nippon Ham Fighters? It's so tempting to call them the "Ham Fighters."

Tonight, maybe 'ham fisted' would have been a better moniker. They dropped the game 5-1 to the Daiei Hawks.

nippon-ebisu.jpgBut let's be totally honest. Baseball in Japan is not about the game. It's about the Beer Girls. These hard-working hotties run up and down the aisles in satin shorts selling beer, whiskey and confections.

Here, Tod's happily paying 800 yen for another cup of Ebisu draft beer. The beer girls are cute.

I enjoy drinking too much beer and shouting at the players. It's a lot of fun. I'm sure the people around me, all the salarymen in their suits and ties (direct from the office), are disturbed by my loud gaijin catcalls. But I'm having fun.

They're having fun, too. They make notes in little notebooks, go off to the smoking area frequently, and order lots of beer from the beer girls. The beer girls smile no matter what. It's amazing.

nipponham.jpgAfter the Ham Fighters' pathetic showing, we decided they must be the Chicago Cubs of the Japan league (or whatever the Japanese baseball consortium calls itself) and we had to have shirts. Here, John and I are modelling our new baseball jerseys. We've almost managed to get close enough for the shirts to spell out "Nippon Ham" across us.

I've never owned a sports jersey before, though I wore my friend Mike's hockey jerseys from time to time "back in the day." I'm not sure how to accessorise a baseball jersey...

Posted by kuri at 11:10 PM [view entry with 1 comments)]
March 31, 2003
Hanami reservations

sakura2000.jpgThe cherry trees exploded into full bloom over the weekend. The city is absolutely gorgeous with pale pink flowers overhead. We went for a walk this evening under the trees near Myogadani. There were revelers picnicking with various levels of preparations. One family had obviously just been to the convenience store--their tarp was chock full of Pocky and potato chips. Another party of business suited salarymen had brought along folding tables and a barbecue grill. One of them was sauteeing onions in a pan.

Tomorrow. we're going out to party under the trees in Inokashira Park. We'll be taking along our "konro" gas burner and cooking up a stew, or maybe we'll take yakitori. I guess it will depend on what looks good at the grocery store tomorrow morning. The menu's not set yet, but I'm sure it will include plenty of beer and sake.

Right now, Kris is baking me a birthday cake for the party. John and Tod said they'd do it, but they are outside playing with the laser pointer instead. They got frustrated over measuring butter. Tod whipped out a calculator...a bigger production than necessary, I think.

sakura-reserve1.jpgAnyway, back to the hanamiPeople pack in for their hanami parties, and it's a tradition for the junior members of a company to stake out a good spot and sit all day, wiating for their colleagues to show up after work. But along this street, there was another way to reserve--taping a message on the sidewalk.

Here, you can see that Isuzu (probably a company, but maybe a family) is holding this spot for Saturday the 5th. They've marked it out in letters a meter high--there's no missing it. And in case you do, they've left additional details marked in permanent ink on the border of the tape. Isuzu - 4/5- 12:00 ~ We know they are planning to start at noon and they have no plan to finish. I'm sure by the time 9 pm rolls around, they'll be falling over drunk and singing silly songs.

sakura-reserve2.jpgAnd here, in a close up, the Itou Company is reserving the same space for Wednesday night.

The entire 10 block length of prime space under the trees has already been divided up with similar duct taped boundaries and multiple signs bearing dates, times and company names. Regular people who hope to party under the trees are going to have to arrive early in the morning!

This system would definitely not work in the US. There would be ripped signs, carefully moved duct tape and fisticuffs. I wonder if there will be any confrontations here? I doubt it. Personally, I found the week-in-advance reservation of a space rather irritating. How dare they not follow the "first-come, first-served" rule? But maybe that's just me.

I hope we find space at the park tomorrow. I'd be very disappointed if the entire place was neatly divided into sections that had all been claimed.

Posted by kuri at 10:57 PM [view entry with 2 comments)]
March 24, 2003
Happy birthday, Tokyo

400 years ago today, Edo (now known as Tokyo) was founded by the wily shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa was planning to build his own seat of power away from Kyoto. He succeeded beyond his wildest expectations. The balance of power shifted to this new "eastern capital" and it grew (and burned down) faster than expected.

There's a good overview of the city's ancient history at Metropolis this week.

Happy birthday, Tokyo!

Posted by kuri at 06:27 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
March 14, 2003
White day

When you see signs in the US for "White Day" it usually means that sheets and towels are on sale.

In Japan, White Day is a different sort of marketing dementia. Today, men all over the country will be giving chocolates and cookies to their secretaries, female coworkers, girlfriends and maybe even their wives. It's payback for Valentine's Day when they received chocolates they didn't want from women who felt obliged to give them. Feel the love? I sure do.

For weeks--pretty much since February 15th--conbini, depato and other stores around town have displayed White Day presents: boxes of sweets and stuffed toys gift wrapped in every hue of paper except red or pink (After all, we must differentiate this holiday from Valentine's Day somehow). Dark green and navy blue seem to be popular this year and teddy bears bearing chocolate are a hot seller.

I'd rather have sheets.

Posted by kuri at 09:38 AM [view entry with 3 comments)]
February 27, 2003
Taxes

Expatriate Americans really get bent over when it comes to taxes. We pay income tax twice--once to Japan and once to America. There are only two nations in the entire world that make their citizens abroad pay tax: the US and Libya.

Japanese taxes are due on March 17th. I've got my forms and the instructions in English and have been trying to figure out exactly how to fill in the forms. I've completed the one that tallies my small business earnings and expense. That was easy.

But looking at the main form, I can't figure out where to put this total. There are two sections where this might go: Amount of Earnings and Amount of Income. But it's not clear which number I should use where. Check out this explanation:

How to Complete Form B
Write each amount entered in the 'statement of earnings and expenses' or 'financial statement for blue return' in the following blocks of the first page of the return here: amount of earnings, etc. 'business (sales or agriculture)' [blocks a and i], 'amount of income (business (sales etc. 1 or agriculture 2)' [blocks 1, 2].

Government instructions are the same the world over...confusing! I will try to figure this out this afternoon so that I can then get started on my American taxes. Argh!

Posted by kuri at 01:04 PM [view entry with 7 comments)]
February 03, 2003
Setsubun

I'm missing the first day of spring in Japan.

Today is Setsubun. All around the country, people are throwing dried soy beans to scare away demons and bring good luck for the beginning of the lunar year. (It's not actually done on the lunar new year anymore but close enough, I suppose.)

When I return to Japan, the plum trees that herald spring will be in full bloom. I'm looking forward to seeing them and feeling the mild weather. I'm getting a little bit tired of Pennsylvania winter...

Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!

Posted by kuri at 09:48 PM [view entry with 2 comments)]
January 03, 2003
Bolshoi Circus

bolshoicircus.jpgAt noon today, seeing the cold, snowy weather outside, I figured we might want to put off our plan to hike around Koto-ku to see the seven lucky gods. I shouted down the hall to Tod "Let's go to the circus! If we hurry, we can make the 13:00 show..."

And so we did. It's really convenient living so close to Tokyo Dome. We arrived just as they were finishing up taking souvenir pictures with the elephant.

The Bolshoi Circus, is the Japan-travelling branch of the Russian National Circusand will be in town through the middle of February. They have all the classic acts--a trained bear riding a motorcycle, dancers, magic, acrobats, trapeze artists, tightrope walking, clowns, elephants spinning hoops, a woman juggling birds, bicycle acrobatics, and horse stunt riding.

Tod had never been to a circus; I haven't been since I was a kid. It was really, really fun. And much warmer than walking around Koto-ku. :-)

Posted by kuri at 04:52 PM [view entry with 3 comments)]
January 01, 2003
#108

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We're just back from our local shrine (Daikokuten) where we rattled the bell and had some tasty tonjiru, and Denzuin temple, where we stood in line and rang out Sin #108--the last one of the pantheon of human sins and sorrows.

Tod declared #108 as "being mad at you" but I interpreted in a broader sense of "peevish." Because, really, I know what "being mad at you" is all about. ;-)

Afterwards we enjoyed sake and notariety as "local foreigners" before heading home to unleash a light stick on the lawn. (Tie a lightstick to a string, activate it, cut a hole in it, swing it around, enjoy the new constellations.)

Now, there seems to be a coffee in my hand and a movie waiting in the other room. Wow!

Happy New Year.

Posted by kuri at 01:35 AM [view entry with 3 comments)]
December 16, 2002
Millenario

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Preparations are afoot for many of Tokyo's year end activities. These workers are putting together the Millenario, a light display for Christmas and the new year.

The Millenario is a series of illuminated latticework arches across one of the streets in Marunouchi. It runs for several blocks and is a big attraction, with thousands of visitors every night. It started in 1999/2000 and has been popular ever since. This year they asked a famous designer to do the latticework. I can't tell, though. It looks a lot like last year's. I guess there's only so much you can do with lattice, or maybe my design sense isn't subtle enough.

It's beautiful from a distance. The perspective looking down the street is amazing; it looks like a tunnel of fairy lights. Walking through it is a bit of a let-down. It doesn't *do* anything. Arch after arch, all the same. No changes as you go further. No movement, except for the other people around you. It's not a close up sort of thing.

millenario2.jpg

But watching the workers put up the sections of arch was fun. They had a small crane and a lot of very tall ladders. There were many more people on the ground standing around holding clipboards than there were guys actually doing the work. A few of the clipboard people were directing cars when the crane and ladders got in the way. Otherwise, I really couldn't tell you what they were doing. Smoking. Looking up. Comparing notes?

Marunouchi is a surprisingly nice part of town now. When we first arrived, it was just a lot of big, older office buildings on squarely laid out streets. Everything looked the same to me and I sometimes got lost trying to find the office I worked in! Now the area has been redeveloped. It's full of big newer office buildings, but they've claimed one street for shopping boutiques and restaurants. The Maru Building anchors it all. But that's a blog for another day.

Posted by kuri at 10:42 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
December 14, 2002
Bonen-, Niji- & Sanji- Kais

Last night's DigitalEve Japan bonenkai was great fun. We enjoyed a yummy Italian buffet at Trunk in Omotesando and it was fun to catch up with some of hte members I haven't seen in a while.

After the party, a handful of us decided on a short nijikai (second party) and walked up to Harajuku to have a drink at the Pink Cow, an eclectic house turned into a bar. We met some interesting people (a guy who programs for Sega and a voice recognition geek) there and the owner, Tracey, offered to let DE-J use the space for meetings.

When we left at midnight, MJ invited me over for a pajama party. We stayed up 'til 6 am chatting about everything from pets to parents at our own private sanjikai (third party). We fell asleep before Yoshi came home at 8:30, but I got up, said good moring and left around 9.

I'm not so much of a party person, but this was a fun evening. I'm exhausted now, though!

Posted by kuri at 03:15 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
December 06, 2002
Year-end social season

Tonight was the first of this season's bonenkai (forget-the-year parties) that mark the end of the year. This was the UBS party, a grand affair in the ballroom of the Westin hotel in Ebisu.

The theme was Las Vegas Night and in addition to a huge buffet spread, a magic show and a very good live jazz band, there was a casino with the proceeds going to charity. I won about 200 dollars in chips playing roulette, then handed them to the woman next to me to play with--gambling doesn't hold my interest.

UBS' charities (UNICEF Japan & the Children's Cancer Society) will be receiving a nice donation. A signed Manchester United jersey was auctioned for 350,000 yen (about $3,000) and one of the evening's prize winners auctioned his "trip to two to Las Vegas" prize for 150,000 yen.

Most people opted to keep their raffle prizes which ranged from a bottle of champage to a DVD player to two round-trip tickets to London. At one of the UBS parties a few year back, when the economy was surging, one lucky winner got an entire year's paid vacation.

I suspect that this was the most elaborate of the year-end parties we'll attend this year. Next Friday is the DigitalEve party which will be fun, but on a much smaller scale.

Posted by kuri at 11:59 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
December 05, 2002
Swan Lake

When I was a girl, I had an illustrated book of ballet stories. It was one of those oversized books that was challenging to read in bed because it was heavy and awkward and hard to keep open, but I did it--numerous times. I remember the beautiful paintings that illustrated each of the classics: Coppelia, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty.

So when Tod got us tickets to see the Shanghai Ballet performing Swan Lake, I was delighted. But I should have suggested that Tod read the story ahead of time.

During the intermission I asked if he understood what was going on and he wove a fantastical tale of a king who couldn't dance and a madman with a crossbow chasing after a bunch of ballerinas in white skirts. Extremely entertaining, but not quite right...he didn't even realise that the dancers in white were the swans.

He also believes that Tchaikovsky wrote the theme music for the Death Star in Star Wars.

I think we need to incorporate more cultural events into our schedule.

Posted by kuri at 11:49 PM [view entry with 5 comments)]
November 09, 2002
Holiday horrors

mj-godzilla.jpgWhy does MJ look so horrified? Is it the giant glowing Godzilla towering over her in Shinjuku?

Or is it because it's only early November and stores around Tokyo are already putting up lavish, illuminated decorations for a holiday that isn't even recognised here?

Oh, wait. That's what horrifies me. MJ's probably just scared of Godzilla.

I hate commercial holidays. They aren't fun to participate in whether they are Western or Japanese. Bah, humbug.

Japan's economic bubble may have broken a decade ago, but holiday frenzy seems to have expanded as shops try to get people to spend their money. More holiday decorations put up earlier, more hype in the press, more promotional campaigns around Western holidays. Christmas Eve is date night when women hope for expensive showpiece jewelry from their partners. For Valentine's Day, women give chocolates; on March 14th, White Day, men distribute gifts to women. Mother's Day is all about pink carnations.

Japan has its own gift-giving traditions that are not linked to holidays. At the end of the year, you send gifts to people who did you a good turn--clients, friends, relatives. They may respond in kind with a gift of equal value. This is echoed with summer gifts, as well. For weddings, guests give money in specific denominations and the couple buys gifts for all their guests. For funerals, mourners receive a gift--often bath towels--in regard for their donations to the deceased's family.

Japan's official national holidays are so low key most people don't seem remember why we have the day off. Monday was Culture Day. There are no Culture Day decorations or presents. Later this month we celebrate Labor Thanksgiving Day. No big meals, no Labor Thanksgiving Day carols (that I know about, anyway), no rush to buy gifts.

I like making my own traditions as I please, so these holidays suit me just fine.

Posted by kuri at 11:04 AM [view entry with 1 comments)]
November 03, 2002
Culture Day

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I'm not sure what people are supposed to do on Culture Day. Go to museums, maybe.

We went to a seaside park, had a chilly picnic lunch and wandered around the embankment enjoying the breeze and the sunset. After dark, we abandoned our plan to ride the ferris wheel (an hour is entirely too long to wait for an amusement ride) and went to the arcade instead.

busgame.jpgTod tried his hand (but not both) at driving a city bus. He managed to pick up a few passengers before his time ran out but he wouldn't cut it as a Toei Bus driver. I tried the game, but kept crashing and driving in the wrong lane. Just like real life...

I did much better when I played a "walk the dog" simulation. I walked on a treadmill and held a leash while watching the antics of a video dog. The dog loved it when I ran with him. So did the people who were watching me. I was tired by the time we got to the "pet store."

So our culture day celebrated pop culture. As Tod jokes, let's get some petri dishes...

Posted by kuri at 11:42 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 24, 2002
Kitano Jinja festival


For two weeks, a tinsel draped signboard at the end of our street has reminded us about the Kitano Jinja matsuri around the corner from us. Saturday 8/24, 5-9 pm. Rain or Shine. The main selling point was "Dad, we'll have beer at good prices!"

By 8 pm, the lanterns leading up the stone stairs to the shrine cast a soft red light on the scene. Things were winding down and some of the food stalls were closed but the beer stand was going strong with a very long line. Kids were catching cicadas with a net and squealing as loudly as the bugs; teenagers were shoving one another in play fights. Moms, seated on wooden benches under pergolas of bamboo and bare bulbs watched the kids and nibbled on yakisoba. Every available seat was taken and there wasn't much room to stand so we made a quick circuit, skipped the beer and walked back home.

We saw fireworks peeking above the skyline to the west--one of the nearby towns is having their hanabitaikai tonight. I stood on the veranda and watched the sky glow pink and green as booms echoed against the mountains and sprinkles of lights popped over the sillhouette of buildings.

Posted by kuri at 08:43 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 15, 2002
Obon approaches


Obon holidays are upon us and the city is emptying out. Everyone's going back to their hometowns, vacationing overseas, or at least not going to work. Businesses and restaurants are closed. Yesterday's trains were virtually empty; I got a seat on 3 out of 4 I rode.

I should try to find a festival with some bon odori. I love those Japanese folk dances. Circling a small, square stage decorated with paper lanterns & red and white striped fabric, dancers in yukata shuffle along in a big circle, waving their arms, twirling fans, clapping and spinning. The music is a steady beat of taiko drums with shamisen and flute picking out a melody. Sometimes there is a dish-shaped bell ringing a counterpoint.

I remember my first bon odori 6 years ago. I stumbled upon it accidentally and stood there watching and grinning until an old man handed me a fan and dragged me into the circle. I was quite a spectacle but not because of my dancing skill--I was the only foreigner there.

Posted by kuri at 07:15 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 14, 2002
Hanabi


Last night, Tod & I (and the UBS staff outing) had arena seats for the Jingu Hanabi Taikai. In addition to two spectacular 25 minute firework displays, there were concerts featuring famous musicians we don't know but the 30-something crowd went wild, so I guess we should have. Then again, the crowd were also excited about the sing-along version of YMCA, so maybe it's best that we don't know who these musicians are.

Usually my fireworks viewing is on someone's balcony or among the crush of people gathered, so having a seat and the perfect view was a nice treat. It was interesting, too, to realise that each flight of explosives was sponsored and to see the commercials placed between each group. The sponsor was announced while a video clip or animation flashed on the big screen of the baseball stadium where we sat and a laser show picked out the sponsor's logo. Then the next set of fireworks started.

Everyone in the crowd was surprised when the stage lights went on andTakefuji Yen Shop dancers appeared live on stage. Yen Shop, a loan company, is known for its ads featuring leotard-clad jazz dancers. I've no idea what jazz dance has to do with loans, but the girls on stage were great dancers and fun to watch. And the Takefuji fireworks were pretty good, too.

Posted by kuri at 12:52 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 26, 2002
Stamp rally


To brighten up the summer school holidays, Metron's Stamp Rally 2002 is underway through 8/18. In 44 subway stations around Tokyo, you'll find a rubber stamp chained to a small table, an ink pad secured to the table and a pile of paper slips for stamping.

The game is to collect all the stamps in a special-purpose rally book. 2002 is the Corocoro Comic All-Star series featuring famous Japanese cartoon characters like Doraemon and the Pocket Monsters. In Hibiya station, I found this stamp--Kongo-kun, a former TBS anime character who now features in a Konami game called Muscle Ranking. I've never heard of him, but I suppose he's an all-star to the elementary schoolkids this stamp rally is meant to entertain.

Posted by kuri at 09:48 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 22, 2002
Houzuki festival


Who knew buying a plant could be such a festive event? We walked down to the Bunkyo-ku Asagao and Houzuki Festival at Konyaku-Enma shrine to get a Chinese lantern plant (houzuki) and were greeted by a dozen festival staff. They were so friendly and quite surprised when Tod conversed in Japanese.

Houzuki are old-fashioned summer flowers and every year there are stalls set up at shrines around the city to sell them and asagao which we know as morning glories. I remember houzuki growing in a neighbor's garden when I was a kid. So they are natsukashii even for me.

In addition to the plant, we received a furin. These delicate glass windchimes are painted on the inside with summery patterns; ours has purple flowers and a blue stripe. The tinkle of glass in the summer breeze is ice in a cold drink.

Flower and furin weren't all we took away. Two nice men took our photo as a souvenir and the staff at the register gave us a pen and a handkerchief printed with the festival flowers. It was quite a shower of presents. Maybe because it was the end of the day and they were getting ready to pack everything up or because we were the only customers. Maybe because even in this huge city our foreign faces are a novelty.

Posted by kuri at 08:19 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 21, 2002
Matsuri dressup



8:45 pm. Two girls heading off for an ice cream from the Family Mart after the asagao festival at Denzuin.

Posted by kuri at 10:11 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 14, 2002
The flow of holidays


After four years, I am converted to the flow of Japanese holidays and seasons. In my imagination, summer is indigo and white, with kingyo, morning glories, glass chimes, cool somen noodles, and mosquito coils in pig-shaped pottery jars. (Check out Hide Itoh's excellent collection of summer icons at pixture.com)

There are two holiday traditions in July. Tanabata is my favorite because it celebrates stars, love, and wishes and features fancy decorations. Obon is a festival for the dead. It's celebrated twice, in mid-July (traditional) and in mid-August (modern), so that people in Tokyo can go visit their hometowns and fete their ancestors as well as feasting the generations that grew up in the metropolis.

There is an actual national holiday coming up, Marine Day on the 20th, but nobody really seems to celebrate it. That's one of the things I love about Japan, nobody waits for the national holidays to celebrate.

Posted by kuri at 10:20 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
July 03, 2002
Julianne live


Julianne is a musician I know through DigitalEve. Last night she played at the Artist's Cafe, a bar/restaurant on the 43rd floor of Tokyo Dome Hotel.

Although I've heard her music recorded, I've never heard her live, so Tod & I met at the hotel after work and listened to a set. Julianne's music mixes ambient and ethnic influences with jazz. She plays piano and sings. Tod loved it--he even heard bits of things he's been experimenting with when he plays.

Julianne plays at the Artist's Cafe again on 7/16. If you'd like to join us, drop a note.

Posted by kuri at 08:49 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
June 30, 2002
Countdown


Shortly after Tod & I arrived in Japan, we saw a big billboard with a digital display counting down the number of days remaining until the 2002 World Cup. It was a lot of days in the future, why should anyone care?

In Shibuya this week, I noted a sign counting down the days to the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture. It's 1000 days from now. So what? When it rolls around, will we head out to Aichi to see it? Will we be caught up in the excitement of a big, international event in our backyard?

I'm not sure. But I've got to go prepare snacks now. The World Cup final kicks off in a little while.

Posted by kuri at 04:47 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
June 22, 2002
World Cup view


This was my view of last night's exciting US-Germany game. Although the US lost, they played well. One shot on goal really might have been a goal, but it was ruled not. Even in the instant replays, it was hard to tell if it went in or not. Half the US team got yellow-carded for fouls. The Germans were tough and they won the match, but I think the US played better.

Tod called me from Korea to say he'd arrived safely and was watching the England-Brazil game at an Irish pub called "O'Kim's" before the evening's match but I didn't see him on TV later that night. I watched all the crowd shots carefully, but the cameramen seemed to like the scantily clad women and fans with full-face paint. I guess Tod's pedestrian American flag just wasn't worthy. I hope he had a good time.

Posted by kuri at 09:54 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
June 19, 2002
World Cup quarterfinals


Well, the World Cup is quickly drawing to a conclusion. After a flurry of qualification games, the "round of sixteen is over and we're down to eight games remaining. I'm surprised at how much I've been paying attention. It's sort of fun, even if I don't understand the esoteric rules of big-league soccer.

The quarterfinals begin on Friday. Japan is out after losing yesterday 0-1 to Turkey. Although they lost, Japan should be proud that they made it so far; they've never been out of the qualifying rounds before. Yeah, Japan!

Korea won over Italy in double overtime 2-1 last night. It was an upset and the Italians looked so disappointed. But the Korean team was jubilant. How well will they stand up against Spain in the quarterfinals? I guess we'll have to wait until Saturday to see.

Posted by kuri at 08:57 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
June 17, 2002
50 man parade



50 men parading a mikoshi through Ginza.

Posted by kuri at 10:04 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
May 30, 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup


The 2002 FIFA World Cup starts tomorrow. The papers are full of articles about hooligans and what's being done to avoid trouble. Extra police are on alert, of course.

To support that, pachinko parlor owners have agreed not to install any new machines during the World Cup because the law states that police must be on hand for such installations, so this frees up a few patrolmen for Cup duties. How quirky!

In a positive spirit, one town council printed up a pamphlet for shopkeepers with tips and phrases to help them greet visitors (including "England are a great team" spelled out in katakana.) I've noticed more signs and directions for visitors--little "Welcome to Tokyo!" stickers on the train doors, and a multi-lingual poster explaining the guide symbols in the subway system.

There's a special "hooligans" list that Immigration authorities are using to check all incoming visitors. Two British men on the list were turned back from Turkey earlier this week; yesterday another one, arriving from London with 175 game tickets was deported. A few men from Mexico were arrested for attempting to steal someone's wallet.

The general press is full of stuff like this--but not too much info on the upcoming matches, the rivalry between teams, or why this is at all important in the world of sport. And not a word of what's going on in Korea, where the tournament is being co-hosted. Maybe I'm just not reading enough of the Sports section.

Posted by kuri at 09:48 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
May 20, 2002
Children's procession



As we prepared to leave the house yesterday morning, we heard drumming echoing around the neighborhood. "Hey, let's go find that!" I said. I'm always interested in local festivals.

As it turns out, the drumming came to us. We left the building, we saw a parade of children and parents pulling a little shrine at the end of our street. They were just turning the corner and heading towards us.

Realising my camera was still upstairs, I dropped my bags, grabbed my keys and dashed. I sprinted up the stairs, ran into the office without taking off my shoes (I'll have to clean the carpets extra well today!), and made it back downstairs just in time to snap a couple of pictures. The kids looked like they were having a good time, especially the girls beating the drum. The fathers who were doing the bulk of the pushing and pulling looked a little tired--it was warm yesterday and they'd just come up a hill!

Posted by kuri at 08:41 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
March 28, 2002
Robodex 2002


Yesterday, I headed out to Yokohama for the press preview of Robodex 2002, a robot convention that I'm reporting on. I wandered around snapping photos and taking in what was there. On Saturday I'll go back for some interviews and more photos.

The highlight of the preview was the Robot Parade on the MegaStage. All of the press corps photographers crammed in to get video and stills of the popular robots. I managed to wedge myself right in the front between TBS (a TokyoTV station) and Kyodo (a Japanese news wire). My tiny digital camera looked pretty silly compared to the professional equipment surrounding me, but I truly did not care. I got a few good shots, so I'm happy.

The Robodex staff are dressed in white; they look like nurses. In more than one case, they needed to assist their mechanical charges. One robot shed parts as he moved down the catwalk and had to be pushed back home. Another of the robots wouldn't wake up when called. Oops. They aren't as reliable as they need to be, yet, but they'll get there eventually.

Posted by kuri at 08:33 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
March 21, 2002
Happy Spring!



Happy Spring! It's official. Today's the vernal equinox and we have a national holiday to celebrate.

Tonight, we'll feast on our traditional Spring dish--grilled mushroom sandwiches with handmade herbed mayonnaise. I hope Tod remembers to buy a new grill today...

Posted by kuri at 07:14 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
March 28, 2001
Japanese holidays


Japanese lawmakers are angling for more long weekends.

This year saw the change of two holidays (Coming of Age Day in January and Health-Sports Day in October) from fixed dates to floating Mondays to create long weekends. This is great for overworked salarymen and a boost for the economy as many people turn these three-day weekends into travel excursions.

In 2002, a new bill in the Diet proposes, two more holidays will change to Mondays to create long weekends in July (Marine Day is currently on July 20) and September (Respect for the Aged Day is now September 15).

In total, Japan chalks up 16 national holidays, two more than the US. America has 14 federal holidays but some of them, like Flag Day and Inauguration Day, are still work days for most people. There are only ten "day off" national holidays in the US.

Posted by kuri at 04:34 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
October 21, 2000
Japan Webgrrls 4th Anniversary

Today, one day only. Japan Webgrrls 4th Anniversary event, e-Lifestyles

This is the volunteer project that's eaten up all my spare time this fall. In fact, it's eaten all my sleep, too, at least last night. We'll have a video premiere, "e-Lifestyles" demonstrations, speakers and a keynote presentation. Plus refreshments, and really great door prizes.

Registrations are accepted at the door. We open at 2:30 and run through 8 pm tonight. Even if you're not interested in computing, it might be worth the 3,000 yen entry fee to see me trying to hide my jet-lag/video production lack of sleep with makeup and coffee.

Posted by kuri at 07:35 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
October 01, 2000
Today is census day.

Today is census day.

For Japan's first census (1920), bells and sirens sounded at midnight on the appointed day. Where ever you where then, that's what you were to put on your census form. Apparently a lot of nighclubs and brothels closed early that day!

Today, we only have to mark our home address as of midnight.

There was a lot of marketing to promote the original census. Epigrams set to shamisen music were used to promote the new census.

  • "Although I do not speak out of jealousy, I wonder where you were at midnight."
  • "I let you start for home not because I turned sour on you, but because the census was on my mind."
  • "You are quite self-willed and I am so self-centered, but the national census is just self-evident."

Ah, those earnest, playful Taisho-era Japanese ad men. Their campaign worked. 56 million people were counted that year. 75 years later the population of Japan stood at 126 million.

The current census is expected to show the trend of an aging population. And more foreigners than ever...

Posted by kuri at 06:26 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
September 16, 2000
Mikoshi

Mikoshi are portable shrines set on poles.

Once or twice a year, Shinto shrines bring out their mikoshi and parade them through the streets. Dozens of men carry the heavy wooden beams that support the small, ornately decorated shrines. The bearers wear short coats and white shorts. They bind their heads with towels or scarves and don white, split-toed socks. As they carry their mikoshi, they shout and jostle for position. It's very lively.

Some mikoshi are accompanied by a large, festive cart with a taiko drum. Others have a more sedate procession of traditionally garbed priests waving stalks of bamboo as a blessing over the onlookers. Posted by kuri at 07:15 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]

September 03, 2000
Taiko drumming

During dinner, we heard the sound of taiko drums. That meant that they were dancing the traditional festival odori dances at the Hakusangaoka matsuri festival. I grabbed my video camera and we headed down the street to record the event.

Odori are danced in a circle around a raised stage and drummers. The motions are fluid--arms up to one side, sway to the other side, out in font, clap twice; step back, forward, forward, turn--and pretty easy to follow even when you don't know them as long as you keep your eye on someone who knows the dance.

I know one dance and parts of some of the others. When they played the music for "my" dance, I was busy filming some little kids in yukata. A few songs later, several rather effeminate men tried to persuade me to dance, but the video camera was my albatross. I could imagine it flying across the crowd and landing in a crumpled heap.

So I didn't dance, but I was consoled later on when the taiko sensei invited me to play with his sticks. He showed me how to hold them to strike an imaginary drum and how to twirl them. Tod was encouraged to play the brass gong during one of the songs, though he didn't keep the rhythm quite the same as the original song...

Posted by kuri at 08:04 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
September 02, 2000
Disaster Prevention Day

The first of September is Disaster Prevention Day. In a country where volcanoes erupt and a major earthquake is decades overdue, perhaps preventing disaster is impossible. But preparing for it is not.

The well-prepared household has 8 liters of water on hand for each member of the family, dried food enough for three days, a first aid kit, flashlights, emergency blankets and other assorted supplies. They are boxed together and stored near an exit, with smaller kits of water and rations kept near each bed.

On Disaster Prevention Day, officials and citizens band together to enact a mock disaster. Everyone gets to practice with fire extinguishers, banadaging wounds, carrying litters of injured patients. This year 5.5 million people around Japan participated in these events.

So if a disaster occurs, since we can't prevent one, we can at least be prepared.

Posted by kuri at 10:00 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 20, 2000
Summer fireworks

Summer fireworks festivals in Japan are spectacular. Last night, we watched Tamagawa challenge its rival, Kawasaki City, to a duel on the inky black battlefield of the sky.

Nine of us lined up on Elizabeth Andoh's narrow balcony to watch and keep score. Tamagawa's show was to our right; Kawasaki was across town to our left. We watched like spectators at a fiery tennis match. For an hour, both fired off rocket after rocket with hardly a break; the variety of patterns was astonishing.

"Oooh, look at that--it's a smiley face!" Tammy exclaimed.

"I thought it was a sombrero..." her husband admitted. "There's another one. OK, it's a smiley face."

"Over there, look! That's sakura," Atsunori pointed to Kawasaki's riot of tight, brilliant white and pale pink bursts.

After a half an hour, we were all ready for the big finale. Kawasaki let loose an amazing volley of bright colored spheres, overlapping to form an exotic mountainscape. Surely that was the end for them. Then another rocket burst high in the sky on their side and the show continued. Not yet...

Tamagawa tricked us the same way. What would have been taken as the grand ending in any American fireworks display was simply a crescendo for Tamagawa.

Sixty minutes after the first beautiful explosion, the finales really arrived. Too amazing to describe, they lit the entire river valley. We turned and filed back into the house and just as I was slipping off my slippers, Kawasaki let out a final battle cry.

Who won? We did.

Posted by kuri at 07:11 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
August 14, 2000
Press holidays

Press holidays in Tokyo mean no newspapers.

I begrudgingly admire the Japanese newspaper union. They negotiated an interesting contract. On the second Sunday of every other month, everyone in the newspaper industry takes a holiday. That means there are no newspapers whatsoever on the second Monday of every other month.

For me, it simply means that I read something else at lunchtime and that I get my news online. But what about the thousands of newspaper vendors who hawk papers and snacks at train stations? I hope they do a brisk business in gum and breath mints today.

Another population that feels a serious impact from the lack of newspapers is the TV show hosts. Most mornings they spend hours dissecting the headlines. They even clip articles and tape them to posterboard, highlighting key passages. The cameramen gleefully zoom in to extreme close-ups to let the audience read along as the host talks and the (invariably) young, beautiful, female assistant chimes in with "So desu ne..." for effect.

It's a shame the TV-hosts-and mint-seller's union hasn't negotiated as well as the newspaper union. The second Monday of every other month should be a holiday for them.

Posted by kuri at 06:19 AM [view entry with 0 comments)]
December 31, 1998
Bonenkai

The end of the year comes and everything slows down and speeds up at the same time.

All the expats are heading home for the holidays and two of the project teams have completed their assignments and disbanded, so it's very quiet in the office now.

We've had two year-end parties, called bonenkai. One was a party for IT and the team of people who effected the move to the new building. We got together on a cruise ship and sailed around Tokyo Bay while we ate drank and chitchatted with coworkers. A few of us were lucky enough to be on the upper deck in the bracing wind when Tokyo Disneyland set off its nightly fireworks.

Our second bonenkai was for the entire 900 person Tokyo office. It was a fancy party with good food, a dance contest, some silly games and lots of beautiful dresses and tuxedoes. I wore my best office dress. Rather sad, but there just isn't alot of option in my wardrobe.

Our friend, Roman, rented a kimono. A most impressive costume, but he was uncomfortable in the tightly bound layers and within an hour or two, he'd changed into western clothes.

Christmas is not an official holiday here--we get the Emperor's birthday on 23 December and New Year's Day. Which is fine by me. I'll also take the 21st as a holiday to celebrate the first day of Winter (and my parents' anniversary!).

Christmas here is a commercial concept even if it isn't an official holiday.

It's promotion city--stores are decorated with pine trees and lighted Santas. The Christmas tradition seems to be not to give presents (that comes at the new year) but to have a cake.

And there is a standard Christmas cake--nothing like our Christmas fruit cake or even like normal Japanese cake which looks and tastes a lot like sweetened bread. The Christmas cake is a western-style, two layer cake. It's either vanilla or chocolate with white icing, topped with fresh strawberries (ichigo) and a chocolate decoration that says Merry Christmas. You can get them everwhere--from fancy bakeries to convenience stores.

Even though there's no Santa in Japan and I didn't wish for anything special, I got some great gifts. Tod bought me a cache of American convenience foods--an Old El Paso taco kit, a jar of Classico pasta sauce, Jelly Bellies. I hadn't realised that I missed them, but I had and it's really nice to have them again.

Because we're missing "home foods" as one of our Indian coworkers refers to them, our holiday feasts this year have been a bit strange. Christmas dinner was a pizza which I ordered in Japanese. On New Year's Eve we demolished the tacos.

In return for the food and a funky blue hat, Tod recieved some stylish headphones and a stuffed elephant, Zou, who is our substitute cat. Zou has a great personality!

Posted by kuri at 10:47 PM [view entry with 0 comments)]
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