Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Okubo 1-1-43. I'm a 2 minute walk from the cavernous Toei-Oedo line, maybe 15 minutes to Shinjuku station, and about 10 to Shinokubo station. Maybe a 10 minute walk to one of the wildest areas in Tokyo, Kabukicho, and I also live within those same limits from 3 of my favorite venues.
Schools started, and man is it different. Not in a bad way, but in a "this is Tokyo and there is money in Tokyo, and where there are responsible people with money, there are really nice schools" kind of way. My Junior High School has a population of about 300 students, and my elementary is maybe over 400. The JHS was built in the late 80's and has sculptures and gardens and rooms that approximate what little kids think of when they think of NASA. The teachers all seem pretty alright, the students can actually speak the language, and the lunch lady is a super babe. The elementary school is older, but still nice with a pretty decent playground. That's right, I play with kids at recess now. Dodgeball seems to be their game of choice, but I may end up trying to get them into kickball or, even better, wall/buttball.
I'm also now getting into voice acting, and come the 29th I'll have submitted my first/test article as a music reporter to a culture magazine, for a Noise A-Go-Gos/Die You Bastard!/Terror Squad show at Shinokubo Earthdom. Whether or not I'll make the cut is yet to be determined, but I'm hopeful that they'll keep me on. Finally, I'm also working on getting a band together with my friend Ian. Basically we need a drummer, but even without we've been arranging some things and talking about the general direction we want to go in. Sounds like he found some french drummer this weekend, so I'm not really concerned that thisll take a while. I havent even put fliers up yet. Christ, I've only been here for a little over a week and all this shit is happening.
SO… Once you've stopped being scared of radiation, potential high-magnitude aftershocks, and possible impending second-wave tsunamis, save some money and come visit me in fucking Tokyo!
Showing posts with label Matt K.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt K.. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Developments
So, I've been transferred out of the disaster area that is still Miyako down to Tokyo. I've been assigned to 2 Junior High Schools in TakadanoBaba and Mejiro, both of which are on the main Yamanote train line. They are also both directly north of the bangin'est district of Tokyo, Shinjuku, where a number of my friends live and a lot of really great clubs and venues are, and is also where I am currently looking for an apartment.
Tokyo's expensive, you all know, but lemme relate what I'm looking at, and what I was paying in Miyako. My apartment in Miyako cost me 30k yen every month, which is the equivalent of about $330. Every month, if I paid that, I not only could live in my 3 room + bath apartment, but got a bike, a storage closet, and a free awesome meal every thursday out of it.
The apartments that are within my budget range that I am considering are hovering around 77k yen. That's probably around $900. However, on top of that, there's this very annoying real estate phenomenon in Japan referred to as Shikin and Reikin. Shikin is basically a deposit, and it amounts, in many cases, to double the monthly rent. Reikin is totally Japanese as it basically translates to present money, as in a present to the landlords for letting you live there. This also typically amounts to double rent. So there's rent, theres 1 double rent, and another double rent. this 5X rent needs to be paid before you are allowed to move in. Of course, it varies, and thankfully due to the crisis, many apartments are only asking for 1 months extra rent for Reikin and Shikin, amounting to only a requisite 3X rent in order to move in. So, to sum up, for me to move in to any one of the places I'm looking at (haven't decided yet), I need to drop about 231K Yen, or somewhere in the vicinity of $2600. BAM.
I am also looking for apartments in another area, Musashikoyama, southeast of Meguro, which itself is a southeastern stop on the Yamanote line, where the prices are about the same. Its much farther from my schools, which means I'll be paying more to take trains there instead of feasibly walking or biking if I choose Shinjuku, but friends of my friends in Miyako live here and when youre in with people like I'm in with my friends in Miyako, that basically means you've got an older brother type figure watching your back. Or, in my case, 2. And while if I lived in Shinjuku I'd still totally see these guys a lot, but if I lived this close to them it'd come to approximate the family-like situation I had going on up in Miyako a lot quicker than if I was in Shinjuku.
MOOOOOOONNNNNNNEEEEEEYYYYY
Tokyo's expensive, you all know, but lemme relate what I'm looking at, and what I was paying in Miyako. My apartment in Miyako cost me 30k yen every month, which is the equivalent of about $330. Every month, if I paid that, I not only could live in my 3 room + bath apartment, but got a bike, a storage closet, and a free awesome meal every thursday out of it.
The apartments that are within my budget range that I am considering are hovering around 77k yen. That's probably around $900. However, on top of that, there's this very annoying real estate phenomenon in Japan referred to as Shikin and Reikin. Shikin is basically a deposit, and it amounts, in many cases, to double the monthly rent. Reikin is totally Japanese as it basically translates to present money, as in a present to the landlords for letting you live there. This also typically amounts to double rent. So there's rent, theres 1 double rent, and another double rent. this 5X rent needs to be paid before you are allowed to move in. Of course, it varies, and thankfully due to the crisis, many apartments are only asking for 1 months extra rent for Reikin and Shikin, amounting to only a requisite 3X rent in order to move in. So, to sum up, for me to move in to any one of the places I'm looking at (haven't decided yet), I need to drop about 231K Yen, or somewhere in the vicinity of $2600. BAM.
I am also looking for apartments in another area, Musashikoyama, southeast of Meguro, which itself is a southeastern stop on the Yamanote line, where the prices are about the same. Its much farther from my schools, which means I'll be paying more to take trains there instead of feasibly walking or biking if I choose Shinjuku, but friends of my friends in Miyako live here and when youre in with people like I'm in with my friends in Miyako, that basically means you've got an older brother type figure watching your back. Or, in my case, 2. And while if I lived in Shinjuku I'd still totally see these guys a lot, but if I lived this close to them it'd come to approximate the family-like situation I had going on up in Miyako a lot quicker than if I was in Shinjuku.
MOOOOOOONNNNNNNEEEEEEYYYYY
Saturday, March 26, 2011
ICAN'TDIEEEEEEE
Here's the full text from an interview I submitted to a Pittsburgh newspaper about, you know, surviving a 9.0 earthquake and a 4 or 5 meter tsunami that totally wrrrrrRRRECKED my apartment, as I'm sure you've seen.
My landlords, Hisashi and Kazuko Kando, and I retreated to a Buddhist
temple on a hill above my apartment at the wharfs opening.
From there, we watched the tsunami, pitch-black and towering, smash
into and over the walls that were built to protect us from just such
an occasion. After the worst of it, after maybe 45 minutes of being
continually impressed by the seemingly endless tidal destruction, I
went into the remains of my neighborhood to survey the extent of the
damage.
Cars were stacked on top of each other, alarms sounding shrilly;
buildings were precariously leaning on one another for support, or in
its absence falling down to become indistinguishable from
thedebris. Uglier than the physical state of my neighborhood,though,
was the sight of a manimmersed in the remaining filth, struggling as
hard to stay afloat as he was trying to find his mother who was
apparently in the house when the tsunami collapsed it. For a time all
we could do was watch from above, imploring him to get to higher
ground, as the steep path down to him was yet blocked. Despite our
pleas for him to get to a safer place, he was stuck where he was, and
only answered us with desperate calls to his mother
Finally, the tide receeded enough for 2 to make there way to a rooftop
near the struggling man and were able to extend a pole to him and drag
him to land. While this was being performed, Hisashi and I brought
blankets for the man lying soaked on the ground, shoeless and crying
in the snow flurries at dusk.
After wrapping him in a truly ridiculous amount of blankets, we
devised our strategy to get him up out of the flood zone to where we
were safe. Because we had descended via a very steep path made into a
makeshift staircase, we had no choice but to use the blankets as a
sling and try to carry him up as slowly and carefully as possible.
This worked, but it wasnt very pretty, but the guy got out ok so Im
notcomplaining. We brought him into a house with a gas heater, gave
him some hot tea, and wiped nour hands of that. In the face of all the
other problems that neefd addressed, this didnt feel like much more
than one small item checked of a very long list.
CONCERNING MY APT.
My apartmentwas located in an area of Miyako called Koganji, which was
at the end of the main drag stretching from the train station downtown
to the fisheries of the wharf that is Oodori Road. It was owned and
also lived in by the Kandos, a really great married couple in their
60s with whom I had dinner every Thursday. Thursday also happened to
bethe day AM. Football games were broadcast, what we tuned in for
anxiously everyweek, but thats neither here nor there.
Koganji was a nice area with parks, and I was literally a 30 second
walkfrom the shore... so yeah make no mistake that the tsunami hit me
hard. While not as bad as the neighboringvillage of Taro, which has
been completely levelled, Koganji itself is massively devestated.
Which is why I am so completely surprised that all Ive lost is my road
bike and luggage. Because I lived onthe second floor and also because
my building was completely surrounded by others that absorbed a lot of
the impact, I was able to break into my apartment a few days later
and recover valuables. Dumb? Sure, but at least Im a well-dressed
homeless person.
Well, not exactly homeless. A good friend of mine Seiji Shimoyama
isputting me and a few otherfriends up at his place. Everyday we wake
up and do what we can to help, and everynight ten or so of us sit down
to a meal, toast each other to a job maybe not well done but good
enough, and spend the night in each others company joking, comforting,
and supporting each other as if nothing has changed. Its not bad.
CONCERNING RADIATION
Miyako is in Iwate prefecture, 2 prefectures above Fukushima
prefecturewhere the power plant is, so this is not really something Im
thinking about.
WHY I WANT TO HELP
Why wouldnt I? I could relocate to Morioka, or I could go as far as
going back stateside, but the fact of the matter is I wont, not for
the time being. Ive lived here since November '09, and in that time
Ive developed many relations andattachments, and since the moment I
learned I had these options to leave, all I can think is, what kind of
person would I be if in fair weather Id readily participate in the
give and take of friendship, but in the midst of the storm just pack
up and leave? I also find myself thinking, dont Pittsburghers fiercely
protect their friends and family? Arent Americans supposed to help
those in great need? If i really think about it on a meta level,
everything Ive ever been taught by friends and family, all the culture
and values of my hometown that I grew upwith, and the calling that all
citizens of the nation I was born in... taking all of these things
into account, I dontthink I ever had much of a choice in the matter
but to stay and do my part tohelp this town recover; because, more
than anything, its what people, not just Pittsburghers or Americans,
but what people are supposed to do.
ON REBUILDING
Thats not really a topic of conversation at the moment. Sure, shop
owners are hinting atwhat theyll do down the road, but the cleanup
itself will take months if not more, and until thats complete we dont
really know what is going to happen.
COMM. DIFFICULTIES
At the moment, Im relying solely on cell phones to communicate with
others. And, since my phone company is the AT&T, I have to rely on
friends with phones on a different network, because I still dont have
service. You have no idea how long it took for me to write this on
this alphamumeric keypad.
My landlords, Hisashi and Kazuko Kando, and I retreated to a Buddhist
temple on a hill above my apartment at the wharfs opening.
From there, we watched the tsunami, pitch-black and towering, smash
into and over the walls that were built to protect us from just such
an occasion. After the worst of it, after maybe 45 minutes of being
continually impressed by the seemingly endless tidal destruction, I
went into the remains of my neighborhood to survey the extent of the
damage.
Cars were stacked on top of each other, alarms sounding shrilly;
buildings were precariously leaning on one another for support, or in
its absence falling down to become indistinguishable from
thedebris. Uglier than the physical state of my neighborhood,though,
was the sight of a manimmersed in the remaining filth, struggling as
hard to stay afloat as he was trying to find his mother who was
apparently in the house when the tsunami collapsed it. For a time all
we could do was watch from above, imploring him to get to higher
ground, as the steep path down to him was yet blocked. Despite our
pleas for him to get to a safer place, he was stuck where he was, and
only answered us with desperate calls to his mother
Finally, the tide receeded enough for 2 to make there way to a rooftop
near the struggling man and were able to extend a pole to him and drag
him to land. While this was being performed, Hisashi and I brought
blankets for the man lying soaked on the ground, shoeless and crying
in the snow flurries at dusk.
After wrapping him in a truly ridiculous amount of blankets, we
devised our strategy to get him up out of the flood zone to where we
were safe. Because we had descended via a very steep path made into a
makeshift staircase, we had no choice but to use the blankets as a
sling and try to carry him up as slowly and carefully as possible.
This worked, but it wasnt very pretty, but the guy got out ok so Im
notcomplaining. We brought him into a house with a gas heater, gave
him some hot tea, and wiped nour hands of that. In the face of all the
other problems that neefd addressed, this didnt feel like much more
than one small item checked of a very long list.
CONCERNING MY APT.
My apartmentwas located in an area of Miyako called Koganji, which was
at the end of the main drag stretching from the train station downtown
to the fisheries of the wharf that is Oodori Road. It was owned and
also lived in by the Kandos, a really great married couple in their
60s with whom I had dinner every Thursday. Thursday also happened to
bethe day AM. Football games were broadcast, what we tuned in for
anxiously everyweek, but thats neither here nor there.
Koganji was a nice area with parks, and I was literally a 30 second
walkfrom the shore... so yeah make no mistake that the tsunami hit me
hard. While not as bad as the neighboringvillage of Taro, which has
been completely levelled, Koganji itself is massively devestated.
Which is why I am so completely surprised that all Ive lost is my road
bike and luggage. Because I lived onthe second floor and also because
my building was completely surrounded by others that absorbed a lot of
the impact, I was able to break into my apartment a few days later
and recover valuables. Dumb? Sure, but at least Im a well-dressed
homeless person.
Well, not exactly homeless. A good friend of mine Seiji Shimoyama
isputting me and a few otherfriends up at his place. Everyday we wake
up and do what we can to help, and everynight ten or so of us sit down
to a meal, toast each other to a job maybe not well done but good
enough, and spend the night in each others company joking, comforting,
and supporting each other as if nothing has changed. Its not bad.
CONCERNING RADIATION
Miyako is in Iwate prefecture, 2 prefectures above Fukushima
prefecturewhere the power plant is, so this is not really something Im
thinking about.
WHY I WANT TO HELP
Why wouldnt I? I could relocate to Morioka, or I could go as far as
going back stateside, but the fact of the matter is I wont, not for
the time being. Ive lived here since November '09, and in that time
Ive developed many relations andattachments, and since the moment I
learned I had these options to leave, all I can think is, what kind of
person would I be if in fair weather Id readily participate in the
give and take of friendship, but in the midst of the storm just pack
up and leave? I also find myself thinking, dont Pittsburghers fiercely
protect their friends and family? Arent Americans supposed to help
those in great need? If i really think about it on a meta level,
everything Ive ever been taught by friends and family, all the culture
and values of my hometown that I grew upwith, and the calling that all
citizens of the nation I was born in... taking all of these things
into account, I dontthink I ever had much of a choice in the matter
but to stay and do my part tohelp this town recover; because, more
than anything, its what people, not just Pittsburghers or Americans,
but what people are supposed to do.
ON REBUILDING
Thats not really a topic of conversation at the moment. Sure, shop
owners are hinting atwhat theyll do down the road, but the cleanup
itself will take months if not more, and until thats complete we dont
really know what is going to happen.
COMM. DIFFICULTIES
At the moment, Im relying solely on cell phones to communicate with
others. And, since my phone company is the AT&T, I have to rely on
friends with phones on a different network, because I still dont have
service. You have no idea how long it took for me to write this on
this alphamumeric keypad.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Oh Yeah
I also recently joined another music blog, the first one since Lucid's demise. I sort of doubt there's too much on there that many of you will like, but if you feel like exploring (predominantly) Doom, Black, or Death metal a bit,
http://doomblackblogspot.blogspot.com
is a good place to start looking.
http://doomblackblogspot.blogspot.com
is a good place to start looking.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Bloody Ears & Beer
If you guys are at all interested in my attempts to live vicariously through the readership (currently standing at ~0) of my new blog by convincing them to go to concerts/venues of Japan I can't attend with nearly the frequency I would like to, then head on over toooooo...
www.bloodyearsnbeer.blogspot.com
www.bloodyearsnbeer.blogspot.com
Monday, January 17, 2011
I'm Nervous
I got called back to the final interview for being a teacher on the Peace Boat. Considering they only ever employ between 8 and 18 instructors per cruise, I figure I'm one of only so many. Anyway, the interview is this weekend in Tokyo, which I just came back from last week, and while its not particularly harrowing - a 10 minute demonstration lesson with 6 students, and a 15 minute interview with 3 or 4 interviewers - this is a super big deal for me. I almost hate getting call-backs cause then if I don't make it in its a million-times bigger of a let down.
Its been a while since I've been excited about any opportunity at all, much less one to circumnavigate the globe on a fucking cruise ship stopping at 30 some ports over the course of 3 months.
Its been a while since I've been excited about any opportunity at all, much less one to circumnavigate the globe on a fucking cruise ship stopping at 30 some ports over the course of 3 months.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hatebeak
This is a shitty grind band with a parrot thats the vocalist.
"I'm gonna make birdseed outta your face, with my foot... ain't no doubt in my mind, partner."
http://www.myspace.com/beak666
Monday, November 22, 2010
Go to Holland with Me
You may have noted this is also posted on facebook. This year's Roadburn Festival (the mecca of underground music festivals) is being curated by the almighty Sunn. Tickets go on sale in 4 days. Last year they sold out in like 12 minutes. Provided I can a.) land a ticket and b.) find someone to go with, total costs for me (coming from Japan) are:
Tickets - 175 euros, or ~$240
Camp ground - 72.50 euros, or ~$100
My plane ticket - ~95000 yen, or ~$1,138
What a great way to catch up with The One Stuck In The Land Of The Sun!
Everything in the range of heavy psychedelia/krautrock/drone/black metal/experimental jazz/avant-garde/doom metal will be present and blowing your ears off. The whole thing lasts from April 14 to april 18 '11.
website: http://www.roadburn.com/
Go! Go! Go!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
And If You Don't Like That...
...here's Sir Richard Bishop, of the Sun City Girls, playing some uber-rad neo-classical acoustic guitar.
http://www.mediafire.com/?gg127g6j45l33vz
http://www.mediafire.com/?gg127g6j45l33vz
Kvlt
Kvlt (adj.) - A purposeful misspelling of the word "cult" by fans of the metal sub-genre known as "black metal." Meant to evoke images of the occult, or divine, though outside of contemporary religious means. Note that only "true black metal" is subject to such a term....
So ya'll'er bitches... Andrew, maybe Peter (?), and (according to Andrew) a non-follower of this blog who goes by the code-name of "Ally" understand that this hyper-fast, ultra-abrasive, mega-lo-fi, totally misanthropic, incredibly philosophically-informed, and typically outstandingly anti-christianity genre of music is a super-viable candidate in the "music that makes me say, 'what the fuck?' when I listen to it" category. I'm willing to bet none of you will like this, but that's the exact reason why I'm posting this - it'll blow yr mind. So check out what picking single notes really, really quickly while accompanied by very fast, off-beat-based drums will do for you...
This is the one-man (typical) black metal band from Brazil called... SOVEREIGN
http://www.mediafire.com/?dgmrnwozizr
So ya'll'er bitches... Andrew, maybe Peter (?), and (according to Andrew) a non-follower of this blog who goes by the code-name of "Ally" understand that this hyper-fast, ultra-abrasive, mega-lo-fi, totally misanthropic, incredibly philosophically-informed, and typically outstandingly anti-christianity genre of music is a super-viable candidate in the "music that makes me say, 'what the fuck?' when I listen to it" category. I'm willing to bet none of you will like this, but that's the exact reason why I'm posting this - it'll blow yr mind. So check out what picking single notes really, really quickly while accompanied by very fast, off-beat-based drums will do for you...
This is the one-man (typical) black metal band from Brazil called... SOVEREIGN
http://www.mediafire.com/?dgmrnwozizr
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
This is Important
You guys, the Plenaliens or whatever are gonna eat us and the Pope is gonna be all like "SHIT YEAH" while partying down with the Nazi SS while some giant space EMP from the Draconians rapes the Earth's electronic systems all the way down to the core. AND ITS BECAUSE OF OBAMA. Thank god there are brave intergalactic informants such as this.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Weird
So my High School was/is pretty well respected, and most people who went/go there tend to go to college, lead normal-ish, middle-class lives. Then there's this story I saw in the local Pittsburgh paper today, mentioning one of my classmates (admittedly a very experimental drug user, though I always thought he was a really intelligent guy past the facade) who is now part of an FBI investigation because, after having been arrested on 8 charges of felony drug counts as well as aggravated assault, he had the living shit beat out of him by jail guards. Ended up with a broken nose, bruised eyes, perforated eardrums, ''...and possibly other head injuries.'' Fucked up picture included in the article.
Truthfully, I'm not exactly sure why I'm posting this... I guess its just kind of weird seeing someone who I kind of respected as, albeit incredibly fringe, intelligent in a wholly different kind of way reduced to this pathetic image of a mentally-broken serious drug abuser (8 felony counts of possession implies so much) who's been physically broken by none other than the Man. I can't help but wonder, 'where, if anywhere at all, do his freedoms lie?' He can't trust himself, and he can't trust the Man - both have reduced him to barely anything at all. What options does this guy have, who once struck me as a very outsider creative force? Shit, guy was one of the main influences on me deciding to start drawing...
Truthfully, I'm not exactly sure why I'm posting this... I guess its just kind of weird seeing someone who I kind of respected as, albeit incredibly fringe, intelligent in a wholly different kind of way reduced to this pathetic image of a mentally-broken serious drug abuser (8 felony counts of possession implies so much) who's been physically broken by none other than the Man. I can't help but wonder, 'where, if anywhere at all, do his freedoms lie?' He can't trust himself, and he can't trust the Man - both have reduced him to barely anything at all. What options does this guy have, who once struck me as a very outsider creative force? Shit, guy was one of the main influences on me deciding to start drawing...
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Peter Inspired Me
Here I am again, with multiple posts in a row... But hey, Lucid got shut down by The Man and I'm in a super music-funk now that I don't have a music blog to call home so I'm throwing some shit your way, just like ol' boy Peter. Band's name is Natural Snow Buildings. They are from France. They are not Metal, nor Rock, nor whatever the hell else you might expect from me. Except wait, they're an experimental drone group... so I guess that does kind of sound like something I would recommend. Anyway, don't let that relatively vague precursor of a classification deter you - this band is pretty. Not in a glam, or David Bowie, or Blondie, or... well fuck you guys its not like that. These 2 dudes do some pretty impressive stuff, on a very lo-fi, drone-y level. "Slayer of the King of Hell" is the best rival I've ever heard to what AMT has to offer in the way of non-freak-out drone-y, Indian-inspired psychedelia. Its great. Its lo-fi as shit. Its experimental. Its groovy. Its a really long album. If anything, I implore you to download this, start it about 20 minutes before you hit the sack, and then revel in the beautiful, hazy, wavy, psychedelic radicalitude of this album as you drift into that wonderful selfless void.
At the very least, it won't hurt your ears.
Slayer of the King of Hell
http://www.mediafire.com/file/zyugyufzcz0/Slayer%20of%20the%20King%20of%20Hell.zip
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
DEEDLYDEEDLYDEEDLY EXCELLLLLLLENT!!!
Fuck yes.
http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/09/23/alex-winter-confirms-new-bill-ted-sequel-in-development/
http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/09/23/alex-winter-confirms-new-bill-ted-sequel-in-development/
Monday, September 27, 2010
This Blog is Boring
The hell guys... lucidmedia got shut down so now I spend my time staring at the forever unchanging face of Boogaloo...
Life's been steadily picking up over here. I climbed a mountain recently, Mt. Hayachine, and I swear to god it was like being on Gutz. Ladder-climbing, chain-swinging, cliff-face-scaling, all with the added bonus of certain death if you fell. I went with my school's mountain climbing club (that's tozanbu, for those of you who are curious). Camped out the night before, had the students cook us dinner, "party" with the other 2 teachers there after lights out... great experience over-all. Next month we're hitting Mt. Goyo and Mt. Iwate.
My band, Kraken Strike (believe it or not, I was not the one who picked that name), has our first concert next month. Its an alright deal, what I've got going, though we've still yet to integrate each of our specific tastes in music into one cohesive whole. Covering the Ramones' "Rock 'n' Roll Radio" and then doing at least 2 of my original songs and one of my bassist's. Obviously we're opening. By that time we might have more under out belts, but at the moment that's our (nameless) set list.
Oh, check this out: I'm taking lessons from a Noh theater director. There's a possibility I might perform in a play in Morioka sometime during November, though I seriously doubt that. Difficult shit, and learning it to a sufficient measure by that time is more or less unthinkable, though its a thought I like to entertain.
I sent in my application for the 73rd Peace Boat voyage last week, though (and per the usual), I'm not at all confident in my chances. For those of you who aren't familiar, Peace Boat is a circumnavigating humanity aid cruise ship docked in Yokohama just outside of Tokyo that makes apprx. 3 trips around the globe a year stopping at different ports for varying spans of time to assist with humanitarian aid projects, as well as to open the world's eyes to different cultures. Normally, it costs (if I'm not mistaken) around 14k to ride. However, if you've got 18 months or more of ALT/ESL work under your belt by the time of departure, you have the chance to be taken on board as an English teacher and have all dues and fees waived. So its awesome, and by the time that 73rd comes around I'll have what, 19 months or so working like this? Hard to believe. Anyway, its doubly good if I actually am lucky enough to be selected because I can opt to not resign with this position when my contract expires in March, have a month of to dick around, set sail in April, and get back right around the time a lot of the contracts come in for another, better company located in Osaka with whom I've already spoken with about employment. That'd be a hell of a year, to say the least.
Alright, I need to go duct-tape more bags together - its getting cold and Japan doesn't know the first thing about insulation.
Life's been steadily picking up over here. I climbed a mountain recently, Mt. Hayachine, and I swear to god it was like being on Gutz. Ladder-climbing, chain-swinging, cliff-face-scaling, all with the added bonus of certain death if you fell. I went with my school's mountain climbing club (that's tozanbu, for those of you who are curious). Camped out the night before, had the students cook us dinner, "party" with the other 2 teachers there after lights out... great experience over-all. Next month we're hitting Mt. Goyo and Mt. Iwate.
My band, Kraken Strike (believe it or not, I was not the one who picked that name), has our first concert next month. Its an alright deal, what I've got going, though we've still yet to integrate each of our specific tastes in music into one cohesive whole. Covering the Ramones' "Rock 'n' Roll Radio" and then doing at least 2 of my original songs and one of my bassist's. Obviously we're opening. By that time we might have more under out belts, but at the moment that's our (nameless) set list.
Oh, check this out: I'm taking lessons from a Noh theater director. There's a possibility I might perform in a play in Morioka sometime during November, though I seriously doubt that. Difficult shit, and learning it to a sufficient measure by that time is more or less unthinkable, though its a thought I like to entertain.
I sent in my application for the 73rd Peace Boat voyage last week, though (and per the usual), I'm not at all confident in my chances. For those of you who aren't familiar, Peace Boat is a circumnavigating humanity aid cruise ship docked in Yokohama just outside of Tokyo that makes apprx. 3 trips around the globe a year stopping at different ports for varying spans of time to assist with humanitarian aid projects, as well as to open the world's eyes to different cultures. Normally, it costs (if I'm not mistaken) around 14k to ride. However, if you've got 18 months or more of ALT/ESL work under your belt by the time of departure, you have the chance to be taken on board as an English teacher and have all dues and fees waived. So its awesome, and by the time that 73rd comes around I'll have what, 19 months or so working like this? Hard to believe. Anyway, its doubly good if I actually am lucky enough to be selected because I can opt to not resign with this position when my contract expires in March, have a month of to dick around, set sail in April, and get back right around the time a lot of the contracts come in for another, better company located in Osaka with whom I've already spoken with about employment. That'd be a hell of a year, to say the least.
Alright, I need to go duct-tape more bags together - its getting cold and Japan doesn't know the first thing about insulation.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Summer Vacation
I ate raw whale and I ate raw cow liver.
I hitchhiked to Fuji Rock.
I got lost while hitchhiking to Fuji Rock with my friend, and ended up in a infintesimally small coastal village where we ate just-caught (by the owner) fish and Abalone, and then discovered a hidden Shinto Shrine on a small and very tall island.
I barely slept for 5 days while going to/attending Fuji Rock.
My friend and I bought a ticket only for the last day of Fuji Rock and we ended up getting free 3-day backstage passes from the Roxy Music guys. Because of this...
I got a bunch of free beer, didn't have to wait in bathroom lines, got to meet a bunch of bands, got to watch a bunch of bands from the sidelines of the stage, etc.
I slept beside a river.
I bathed in a river while people watched.
I slept on a tennis court and then in a tree house because the tennis court was too cold because all I had was a towel.
I kissed a girl I had been dancing with outside in a mudpit for a number of hours while the sun was rising over steep mountains and sun beams were exploding through a heavy fog, while there were gigantic plumes of flames shooting up behind us in front of the stage while the DJ was playing.
I met Thom Yorke.
I saw fucking John Fogerty play like every CCR song.
I turned 24 while the Scissor Sisters were playing.
I went on a sweet picnic date at the Jodogahama Nat'l Park.
I went on another date with another girl and then was like, whoa, I can't do this - you're wayyyyyy too nice.
I went to Tokyo, and met with a bunch of friends, ate ramen, drank beer, head-banged, and whatever else.
I saw my friend's new kid, Haru, kind of sort of stand up for the first time.
I got sick and stayed in my hotel for a day.
I found out I can apply for a position on Peace Boat for free after my contract expires.
I met with my Dad's friend's lawyer in Tokyo for some very inspirational words.
I found out my computer is busted with the same problems again, but Apple's fixing it, sending it, and giving me a bunch of new programs for free.
I got tired of travelling, and I'm in Morioka waiting for this tropical storm to end so that I can walk to training tomorrow, get that boring shit over with and head back home and get back to a simple life.
I had a pretty fucking awesome last 2.5 weeks. How've you guys been?
I hitchhiked to Fuji Rock.
I got lost while hitchhiking to Fuji Rock with my friend, and ended up in a infintesimally small coastal village where we ate just-caught (by the owner) fish and Abalone, and then discovered a hidden Shinto Shrine on a small and very tall island.
I barely slept for 5 days while going to/attending Fuji Rock.
My friend and I bought a ticket only for the last day of Fuji Rock and we ended up getting free 3-day backstage passes from the Roxy Music guys. Because of this...
I got a bunch of free beer, didn't have to wait in bathroom lines, got to meet a bunch of bands, got to watch a bunch of bands from the sidelines of the stage, etc.
I slept beside a river.
I bathed in a river while people watched.
I slept on a tennis court and then in a tree house because the tennis court was too cold because all I had was a towel.
I kissed a girl I had been dancing with outside in a mudpit for a number of hours while the sun was rising over steep mountains and sun beams were exploding through a heavy fog, while there were gigantic plumes of flames shooting up behind us in front of the stage while the DJ was playing.
I met Thom Yorke.
I saw fucking John Fogerty play like every CCR song.
I turned 24 while the Scissor Sisters were playing.
I went on a sweet picnic date at the Jodogahama Nat'l Park.
I went on another date with another girl and then was like, whoa, I can't do this - you're wayyyyyy too nice.
I went to Tokyo, and met with a bunch of friends, ate ramen, drank beer, head-banged, and whatever else.
I saw my friend's new kid, Haru, kind of sort of stand up for the first time.
I got sick and stayed in my hotel for a day.
I found out I can apply for a position on Peace Boat for free after my contract expires.
I met with my Dad's friend's lawyer in Tokyo for some very inspirational words.
I found out my computer is busted with the same problems again, but Apple's fixing it, sending it, and giving me a bunch of new programs for free.
I got tired of travelling, and I'm in Morioka waiting for this tropical storm to end so that I can walk to training tomorrow, get that boring shit over with and head back home and get back to a simple life.
I had a pretty fucking awesome last 2.5 weeks. How've you guys been?
Friday, June 25, 2010
Why The Fuck Am I Posting So Much; or, The Fuck You Guys Doing?!?
Yeah, so I had 3 gin rickys while watching the Brazil/Portugal game, and I'm drinking a chu-hi and eating peanuts while listening to the only good Mastodon album Leviathan... so here's yet another post. Its a short one, and blog-related: there's this real killer art/film blog called Opium Fields that I think you guys should check out. The art that the dude posts is usually pretty... meta. Most likely NSFW, but not in a pornographic way - if there's any nudity involved its either in the artful or Satanic manner, and nothing else. And he's got a serious penchant for out-there art flicks, Criterion included. Overall I think its a really great find in the blogosphere (my FUCK I hate that word) and if any of you guys are interested, I say check it out.
For ease of viewing's sake, here's the link: www.opium-fields.blogspot.com
I also might be starting an online store for Japanese clothing and Japanese Metal. I'll keep you posted.
For ease of viewing's sake, here's the link: www.opium-fields.blogspot.com
I also might be starting an online store for Japanese clothing and Japanese Metal. I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
My Least Favorite Bug
So, I used to think it was cool that Japan apparently doesn't have any indigenous poisonous spiders... cause I fucking hate spiders. And, you know, when they aren't poisonous, they're still kind of gross, but ultimately I can just throw up a little bit upon seeing one and be on my way after that.
Now, I have a hypothesis on why there are no poisonous spiders in Japan... poisonous anything much at all, if I'm not mistaken: its because Izanagi (probably, the shitty bastard) decided to take all the poison that bugs generally have and terror that bugs generally instill and stick it allllll in the most ultimate, horrifying bug ever.. THE JAPANESE GIANT HORNET.
This shit is like the Dodge Viper of "GETITTHEFUCKAWAYFROMME!!!" buggy mother fuckers. Here are some highlights:
+ Its stinger is a quarter of an inch long, and noticeably drips venom.
+ One component of its venom is a pheromone that attracts more of the bug bastards.
+ They have no natural enemies/predators, because they can kill fucking anything.
+ It can fly up to 25 mph, and likes to chase you.
There's a lot more over at wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
書き過ぎてまた御邪魔しますが～
So one of my friends who I met when I worked at the Japanese camp is bumming around Japan for a few months. He recently suggested we hit up Fuji Rock Festival (being held in Niigata, I believe) on the 30th and 31st of July, and the 1st of August. Those keen devotees of Matt will notice the relative proximity to the Day of My Birth (August 2nd) and will probably think 'oh, neat.' But, I say, THERE IS MORE!
First, here are the lineup highlights:
Muse, Them Crooked Vultures, Massive Attack, Roxy fuckin' Music, John FUCKIN' Fogerty, Scissor Sisters, !!!, Belle & Sebastian, LCD Soundsystem, Third Eye FFUUCCKIN' Blind, Flogging Molly, Broken Social Scene, Lite, Air, and FUCK Magma FUCKKKKK.
Second, there is the suggested mini-adventure of hitching our way there (who knew Japan is purportedly the safest place to hitchhike in the world?!) We would also be camping, in tents, with bonfires and, assumedly, Ronald McDonald popping up here and there in the most creepy, and occasionaly most intimate, of ways.
The down side is that it costs approximately $400 to attend all 3 days, not counting food or anything but the price of admission. I'm pretty sure I'm OK with that... besides, Third Eye Blind?
http://www.smash-uk.com/frf10/
First, here are the lineup highlights:
Muse, Them Crooked Vultures, Massive Attack, Roxy fuckin' Music, John FUCKIN' Fogerty, Scissor Sisters, !!!, Belle & Sebastian, LCD Soundsystem, Third Eye FFUUCCKIN' Blind, Flogging Molly, Broken Social Scene, Lite, Air, and FUCK Magma FUCKKKKK.
Second, there is the suggested mini-adventure of hitching our way there (who knew Japan is purportedly the safest place to hitchhike in the world?!) We would also be camping, in tents, with bonfires and, assumedly, Ronald McDonald popping up here and there in the most creepy, and occasionaly most intimate, of ways.
The down side is that it costs approximately $400 to attend all 3 days, not counting food or anything but the price of admission. I'm pretty sure I'm OK with that... besides, Third Eye Blind?
http://www.smash-uk.com/frf10/
Comics
For all y'all comic readers, thought I'd let you know there's a new poster over at Lucid who's posting some pretty decent series.
Also, anyone ever read Hellblazer? Its fucking awesome.
Also, anyone ever read Hellblazer? Its fucking awesome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)