I just stumbled upon a thought provoking view of Japan. I'm curious to hear the thoughts of any Japanese people who read my blog.
Although I haven't seen the plaque in the photo, I expect it is still on display. I think most Japanese people don't think so hard about "Why", they think more about "How". ... so from my perspective, there are still many things they didn't learn from WW2. Of course, there are many many Japanese people who will feel bad if they see the plaque in the photo, because it goes against their personal philosophy. But most of those Japanese (the free thinkers) wouldn't actually take action to remove the plaque.. only a crazy guy would do that! (Whereas, in the US, the fight to have it removed would be in the news. ..and an even more liberal example: in Europe, the people who removed it would be heroes.) The majority of Japanese people would read it and say "Oh, yeah, whatever, I guess so.."
(At least, that's my opinion.)
27 April 2007
22 April 2007
New apartment: Quaint!
Finally! A chance to update the blog. Things have been whirlwindishly busy the past few weeks--to be expected with moving an starting a new job, and all, but... not what I enjoy.
So yes: I moved! I have a 1K again (translation: 1 bedroom + 1 "kitchen", and to prove it 1 door in between), but this time I have two or three new Tokyo features!!
Shot looking through the bedroom
My "shoes off" area + storage, GENKAN 玄関
(My old apartment also had a GENKAN--not a new feature.)
My "not quite a kitchen"
(My old apartment also had 1 burner, but it had an ounce more counter top space. Not a new feature.)
So what's new? First up, a "Unit Bath"!
Shower while on the toilet, if you like!
My previous apartment had a seperate room for the toilet. Actually.. the toilet room took a lot of space, but I realize now it provided one important feature: dry toilet paper. Hopefully I won't ruin too many rolls due to stray showering.. Getting a shower curtain would help... (add that to the list)
And what else? The astute observer already asked--why's there a ladder? ==> Loft!
Shot looking back towards the kitchen
Floor 2: computers, underwear, and empty suitcases
Note the rail on the upper right--that's where the ladder hangs when not in use. (It's also how you trap people from being able to get down.) Eww... bad idea.
Taking a peak from the top of the ladder
The loft is empty now, but it'll be my little computer room soon. A bed would fit up here, but the girl who showed the apartment thought in summer it would get pretty darn warm up there (the angled roof is facing south). Also, I wouldn't want to navigate the ladder if I was extremely tired, or otherwise impaired, just to crawl into bed. .. also, I'm really groggy in the morning.
The ceiling light, and a window for light that tilts open
I'm on the 2F in a neighborhood of 2F, so the roof & skylight get a lot of sun. Nice!
There's also a balcony/veranda, where my AC, gas on demand water heater, and ... WASHING MACHINE now reside. Not much space for anything else. I'm planning a laundry post soon, so stay tuned.
... so what else is new here? Quaintness!
Old folks playing morning croquet
Bakery and (mostly) pedestrian shopping* street on the 5 min walk to the station
*enlightened shopping. (There's a video game store, and a CD shop.)
Old Japanese house view from balcony
Note the sign where I can chain up my bicycle. I should add, there's a convenient 7-11 about 100 meters away (T: a meter is about a yard), and, luckily, it's not directly visible. (No glare from the sign at night) ... (which on second thought probably wouldn't matter since there's huge glare from a light illuminating the next building's exterior stair-case.)
So, that was the 1 hour blog post tour of the apartment. Any questions?
So yes: I moved! I have a 1K again (translation: 1 bedroom + 1 "kitchen", and to prove it 1 door in between), but this time I have two or three new Tokyo features!!
Shot looking through the bedroom
My "shoes off" area + storage, GENKAN 玄関
(My old apartment also had a GENKAN--not a new feature.)
My "not quite a kitchen"
(My old apartment also had 1 burner, but it had an ounce more counter top space. Not a new feature.)
So what's new? First up, a "Unit Bath"!
Shower while on the toilet, if you like!
My previous apartment had a seperate room for the toilet. Actually.. the toilet room took a lot of space, but I realize now it provided one important feature: dry toilet paper. Hopefully I won't ruin too many rolls due to stray showering.. Getting a shower curtain would help... (add that to the list)
And what else? The astute observer already asked--why's there a ladder? ==> Loft!
Shot looking back towards the kitchen
Floor 2: computers, underwear, and empty suitcases
Note the rail on the upper right--that's where the ladder hangs when not in use. (It's also how you trap people from being able to get down.) Eww... bad idea.
Taking a peak from the top of the ladder
The loft is empty now, but it'll be my little computer room soon. A bed would fit up here, but the girl who showed the apartment thought in summer it would get pretty darn warm up there (the angled roof is facing south). Also, I wouldn't want to navigate the ladder if I was extremely tired, or otherwise impaired, just to crawl into bed. .. also, I'm really groggy in the morning.
The ceiling light, and a window for light that tilts open
I'm on the 2F in a neighborhood of 2F, so the roof & skylight get a lot of sun. Nice!
There's also a balcony/veranda, where my AC, gas on demand water heater, and ... WASHING MACHINE now reside. Not much space for anything else. I'm planning a laundry post soon, so stay tuned.
... so what else is new here? Quaintness!
Old folks playing morning croquet
Bakery and (mostly) pedestrian shopping* street on the 5 min walk to the station
*enlightened shopping. (There's a video game store, and a CD shop.)
Old Japanese house view from balcony
Note the sign where I can chain up my bicycle. I should add, there's a convenient 7-11 about 100 meters away (T: a meter is about a yard), and, luckily, it's not directly visible. (No glare from the sign at night) ... (which on second thought probably wouldn't matter since there's huge glare from a light illuminating the next building's exterior stair-case.)
So, that was the 1 hour blog post tour of the apartment. Any questions?
02 April 2007
New office
When they said "Ethernet configuration by hand" they weren't kidding.
New office--and I'm not talking about software. Windows: yes, I'm lucky to again have a window, but it's hard to see anything from behind the pipe ducting. The architects who designed this interesting building took the middle of the 3 words "Institute (of) Industrial Science" to heart..
01 April 2007
Oh O-HANAMI
Yes, I am back in Japan. Just in time for a unseasonably early OHANAMI, or cherry blossom viewing.
This is OHANAMI
The cherry trees blossom only for about 1-2 weeks, so the public parks get crowded on the 1 or 2 weekends of the season. One responsible person for each party arrives early, claiming a good spot by putting down their plastic tarp (usually blue). Then they wait a couple hours for everyone to arrive.
In many ways, one can make analogy to the state of one's brains after a 12 hour flight, and corresponding 12 hour time change. After traveling to the magical land, laden with your blue plastic baggage, you must suddenly plop everything down, claiming your space. Eventually, after enough time to recuperate, you awaken to find yourself surrounded by friends and beer, with flower petals in your hair polite enough to cover your dandruff.
What I'm trying to say is "Sorry for not posting in a long time. I'm almost over my jet lag. I've been busy (I got my visa & an apartment). Now resuming our regular broadcast."
Priority to Party
Yesterday's OHANAMI was pretty serious. I was in Yoyogi-koen, which is renown for attracting artistic-minded Japanese folks, even when it's not cherry blossom season. Despite it being much colder/cloudy than optimal, the place was packed, and there were even live DJ's spinning tunes. Impressive.
This is OHANAMI The cherry trees blossom only for about 1-2 weeks, so the public parks get crowded on the 1 or 2 weekends of the season. One responsible person for each party arrives early, claiming a good spot by putting down their plastic tarp (usually blue). Then they wait a couple hours for everyone to arrive.
In many ways, one can make analogy to the state of one's brains after a 12 hour flight, and corresponding 12 hour time change. After traveling to the magical land, laden with your blue plastic baggage, you must suddenly plop everything down, claiming your space. Eventually, after enough time to recuperate, you awaken to find yourself surrounded by friends and beer, with flower petals in your hair polite enough to cover your dandruff.
What I'm trying to say is "Sorry for not posting in a long time. I'm almost over my jet lag. I've been busy (I got my visa & an apartment). Now resuming our regular broadcast."
Priority to Party Yesterday's OHANAMI was pretty serious. I was in Yoyogi-koen, which is renown for attracting artistic-minded Japanese folks, even when it's not cherry blossom season. Despite it being much colder/cloudy than optimal, the place was packed, and there were even live DJ's spinning tunes. Impressive.
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