Super Tuesday's coming up and my absentee ballot hasn't come in yet.
Then again, it was only two weeks ago that I sent in my app. I dunno. The whole thing seems like it'll be anti-climactic. I mean, I'll probably end up voting when it doesn't matter anymore. By the time I send in my vote, I'll probably be able to check the winner of the California primary on CNN, MSNBC, the NY Times, or any news website. My vote? Undecided but leaning towards Edwards. I'm sorry, but Kerry, yeah I don't think I'd look forward to any hour long State of the Union addresses from an orator like Kerry.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
It's raining! Ha! It's raining!
Why am I so happy that it's raining? Because it's not snowing! Why's that a big deal? I mean, I like snow. It looks pretty. It's kinda cool. And it means that I can go snowboarding which is really cool. But yo, living in a place that snows and going on a weekend trip to a place that snows is way different! Can somebody on the East Coast back me on this one? The snow itself isn't the big deal. Well, unless it dumped like 6 inches the night before and you find yourself shoveling your car out of it's parking lot when you're already 5 minutes late to your first appointment.
The big deal is that if it's snowing, it's at least 32F. And that's not taking the wind chill factor into account. CaliforniaBoy + CaliforniaClothes + 32F + WindChillFactor = UnhappyCaliforniaBoy.
There are two great things about the first rain. First, it means that it's at least above 32F. Often it means that it's at least 38F. Second, it melts a lot of the snow and ice. And that's absolutely awesome!
Hahah! It looks like my attempts at making Date a beach resort by haphazardly spraying aerosol cans into the air, leaving my refrigerator door open, and driving my car everywhere around town for no real reason is starting to take effect! Mid/late February and the first rain! Har har har! If I recall, last year we didn't have the first rain til something like mid/late April. Global warming?
Why am I so happy that it's raining? Because it's not snowing! Why's that a big deal? I mean, I like snow. It looks pretty. It's kinda cool. And it means that I can go snowboarding which is really cool. But yo, living in a place that snows and going on a weekend trip to a place that snows is way different! Can somebody on the East Coast back me on this one? The snow itself isn't the big deal. Well, unless it dumped like 6 inches the night before and you find yourself shoveling your car out of it's parking lot when you're already 5 minutes late to your first appointment.
The big deal is that if it's snowing, it's at least 32F. And that's not taking the wind chill factor into account. CaliforniaBoy + CaliforniaClothes + 32F + WindChillFactor = UnhappyCaliforniaBoy.
There are two great things about the first rain. First, it means that it's at least above 32F. Often it means that it's at least 38F. Second, it melts a lot of the snow and ice. And that's absolutely awesome!
Hahah! It looks like my attempts at making Date a beach resort by haphazardly spraying aerosol cans into the air, leaving my refrigerator door open, and driving my car everywhere around town for no real reason is starting to take effect! Mid/late February and the first rain! Har har har! If I recall, last year we didn't have the first rain til something like mid/late April. Global warming?
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Servant leadership.
One of the many paradoxes of Christianity. And like the other paradoxes it is often misunderstood. After all, how can one be a leader and a servant at the same time in any given situation? So, because of all the confusion, sadly, we've simplified the term "servant leadership" to equal Christian leadership. We say that a Christian leader is a servant, but he does nothing that a servant would do. We say that a Christian leader serves, but often he is the one being served. Because the change of attitude and action is too difficult to comprehend and accomplish, we settle for a mere change of semantics. The result? A lot of Christians clamoring to become "servants." This is my story.
But who likes being treated like a servant? No, I'm not talking about servanthood as being nice to somebody. Or taking care of logistics. Or feeding the hungry. Or anything else we say is servanthood.
One huge thing I've learned in my time here is that servant leadership is a heavy burden to carry. We all desire to be "servants" until we are treated like one. It is then, when we hit a crossroads... a crossroads where we choose to follow Christ and take the narrow road to servanthood, or hold on to our rights and stick up for ourselves... the road well traveled. The road I've chosen all too often and still continue to choose to my regret.
We, Christians throw the terms "serve" and "servant" all too carelessly. It has gotten to a point where the words hold little to no meaning anymore... at least in accordance to its intended meaning. I wonder, would we still clamor if it were termed slave leadership?
Mark 10:35-45
One of the many paradoxes of Christianity. And like the other paradoxes it is often misunderstood. After all, how can one be a leader and a servant at the same time in any given situation? So, because of all the confusion, sadly, we've simplified the term "servant leadership" to equal Christian leadership. We say that a Christian leader is a servant, but he does nothing that a servant would do. We say that a Christian leader serves, but often he is the one being served. Because the change of attitude and action is too difficult to comprehend and accomplish, we settle for a mere change of semantics. The result? A lot of Christians clamoring to become "servants." This is my story.
But who likes being treated like a servant? No, I'm not talking about servanthood as being nice to somebody. Or taking care of logistics. Or feeding the hungry. Or anything else we say is servanthood.
One huge thing I've learned in my time here is that servant leadership is a heavy burden to carry. We all desire to be "servants" until we are treated like one. It is then, when we hit a crossroads... a crossroads where we choose to follow Christ and take the narrow road to servanthood, or hold on to our rights and stick up for ourselves... the road well traveled. The road I've chosen all too often and still continue to choose to my regret.
We, Christians throw the terms "serve" and "servant" all too carelessly. It has gotten to a point where the words hold little to no meaning anymore... at least in accordance to its intended meaning. I wonder, would we still clamor if it were termed slave leadership?
Mark 10:35-45
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Onsen.
Hot springs are everywhere out here, especially in Hokkaido. To answer the most common question regarding these places, yes, people get neked. Nobody wears swimming trunks or speed-os for that matter. You walk into the changing room, take off all your clothes, and take a small towel with you. And yes, the towel really is small.
Onsen are not to be confused with sentos (bath houses). Onsen get their water from natural or mostly natural hot springs whereas their sento counterparts simply use heated tap water, sometimes with minerals added.
Well, there are all sorts of onsen. You've got the salt water baths, the sulfuric baths, the cold water baths, weird mineral baths, and the mother of all onsen, the rotenburo or outdoor onsen. The rotenburo are particularly cool when it's snowing outside. Something about being in a warm bath, and having snowflakes fall on your face... it's something worth experiencing.
Anyway, a while ago, I remember going to an onsen that had a peculiar bath. I couldn't read the sign that described what was special about this particular bath at the time, so I decided to just test it out. I lifted my leg and slowly put it into the bath... and OUCH OUCH OUCH, I pulled my leg out of that mess. It turns out that there was an electric current running through the bath. That's right. An electric current was purposely flowing through the water where people were expected to bathe. Supposedly, it's good if you have arthritis. I don't care. Bathing experiences aren't supposed to feel like a school of piranhas are picking at ya like you're a buffet table.
Hot springs are everywhere out here, especially in Hokkaido. To answer the most common question regarding these places, yes, people get neked. Nobody wears swimming trunks or speed-os for that matter. You walk into the changing room, take off all your clothes, and take a small towel with you. And yes, the towel really is small.
Onsen are not to be confused with sentos (bath houses). Onsen get their water from natural or mostly natural hot springs whereas their sento counterparts simply use heated tap water, sometimes with minerals added.
Well, there are all sorts of onsen. You've got the salt water baths, the sulfuric baths, the cold water baths, weird mineral baths, and the mother of all onsen, the rotenburo or outdoor onsen. The rotenburo are particularly cool when it's snowing outside. Something about being in a warm bath, and having snowflakes fall on your face... it's something worth experiencing.
Anyway, a while ago, I remember going to an onsen that had a peculiar bath. I couldn't read the sign that described what was special about this particular bath at the time, so I decided to just test it out. I lifted my leg and slowly put it into the bath... and OUCH OUCH OUCH, I pulled my leg out of that mess. It turns out that there was an electric current running through the bath. That's right. An electric current was purposely flowing through the water where people were expected to bathe. Supposedly, it's good if you have arthritis. I don't care. Bathing experiences aren't supposed to feel like a school of piranhas are picking at ya like you're a buffet table.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
I can use some prayer.
Right now, I'm a tired basketcase. Not a good combination. Why tired? Because LaVera, the person who's finishing out the time here in Date, got here at the beginning of this week. What does that mean?
First, just the logistics of getting a foreigner registered in a Japanese city. Green card, health insurance (because it's universal in Japan), car insurance, name stamp, cell phone, bank account, etc.. Of course, if I was in Tokyo, the people at the city hall, stores, and post office would be able to speak some English. But I'm not, so I have to brush up on some Japanese that never gets used.
Second, I've been noticing that when people want to talk to her, they look to me... to translate what they're saying. At least have the courtesy to look in her direction when addressing her! Yo, mad props out to the translators of the world. It is tiring work.
Things should lighten up in a couple of weeks as she picks up a few responsiblities.
Why a basketcase? Because when she arrived, I realized that my time here is coming to end very soon (a little over a month to be more exact). It's such a mixed bag. On one hand, I'm real excited about coming back home for all the obvious reasons. But on the other hand, I've been here for a semi-extended amount of time. It feels like graduating from college all over again in the sense that it's what I've known for the last few years, and it feels sorta comfortable in that way. And then, there's just all the other garbage that just doesn't help. Yuck.
Taken from the passage read during the chapel time (Bible reading after an English class) for one of the classes today... John 4:13-14 is fitting.
Right now, I'm a tired basketcase. Not a good combination. Why tired? Because LaVera, the person who's finishing out the time here in Date, got here at the beginning of this week. What does that mean?
First, just the logistics of getting a foreigner registered in a Japanese city. Green card, health insurance (because it's universal in Japan), car insurance, name stamp, cell phone, bank account, etc.. Of course, if I was in Tokyo, the people at the city hall, stores, and post office would be able to speak some English. But I'm not, so I have to brush up on some Japanese that never gets used.
Second, I've been noticing that when people want to talk to her, they look to me... to translate what they're saying. At least have the courtesy to look in her direction when addressing her! Yo, mad props out to the translators of the world. It is tiring work.
Things should lighten up in a couple of weeks as she picks up a few responsiblities.
Why a basketcase? Because when she arrived, I realized that my time here is coming to end very soon (a little over a month to be more exact). It's such a mixed bag. On one hand, I'm real excited about coming back home for all the obvious reasons. But on the other hand, I've been here for a semi-extended amount of time. It feels like graduating from college all over again in the sense that it's what I've known for the last few years, and it feels sorta comfortable in that way. And then, there's just all the other garbage that just doesn't help. Yuck.
Taken from the passage read during the chapel time (Bible reading after an English class) for one of the classes today... John 4:13-14 is fitting.
Sunday, February 15, 2004
Economics of flying?!
I went to the local travel agency to check up on prices for my return trip home to the States. I sat down at the chair, explained that I wanted to fly from Tokyo Narita to LAX... and so, the lady working there punches a few buttons on her computer, prints out a few pages, and shows me the prices... for a round trip flight. 59,000 yen (about $550).
I'm thinking to myself, "Woo hoo. $550 for round trip? That means one way'll cost something like $300." I wanted to get solid numbers so I tell her, "I'm looking for a one way ticket. How much will that cost?" She punches a few more buttons, prints out a few pages, and shows me the print out. 180,000 yen (about $1600).
What the? So lemme get this straight. I pay 3 times the money for half the trip? I tried to explain my confusion to the woman who was helping me, but maybe I'm the only one on the face of this Earth who doesn't understand because she just said, "That's the way it is" and with a straight face!
I mean the way I see it, it's like if you go to McDonalds. And you feel like an 8 pack of Chicken McNuggets with that weird sauce that they call barbeque. They cost $4.50. But if you buy the 8 pack Chicken McNugget meal that comes with medium french fries and a Coke, it'll cost $1.50. Would McDonalds ever do something like this? In the great words of MacCaullay Culkin, "I don't think so."
I went to the local travel agency to check up on prices for my return trip home to the States. I sat down at the chair, explained that I wanted to fly from Tokyo Narita to LAX... and so, the lady working there punches a few buttons on her computer, prints out a few pages, and shows me the prices... for a round trip flight. 59,000 yen (about $550).
I'm thinking to myself, "Woo hoo. $550 for round trip? That means one way'll cost something like $300." I wanted to get solid numbers so I tell her, "I'm looking for a one way ticket. How much will that cost?" She punches a few more buttons, prints out a few pages, and shows me the print out. 180,000 yen (about $1600).
What the? So lemme get this straight. I pay 3 times the money for half the trip? I tried to explain my confusion to the woman who was helping me, but maybe I'm the only one on the face of this Earth who doesn't understand because she just said, "That's the way it is" and with a straight face!
I mean the way I see it, it's like if you go to McDonalds. And you feel like an 8 pack of Chicken McNuggets with that weird sauce that they call barbeque. They cost $4.50. But if you buy the 8 pack Chicken McNugget meal that comes with medium french fries and a Coke, it'll cost $1.50. Would McDonalds ever do something like this? In the great words of MacCaullay Culkin, "I don't think so."
Friday, February 13, 2004
"Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words."
I remember hearing this quote all the time in college. I dunno. It was just one of those things that just sounded right or something. I didn't know if it had any real worth. I'd hear it, and just do one of those nods that said, "Yeah, I think I agree with that," without really knowing why.
I think half of my partiality for the saying was due to my unfounded dislike for using words in preaching the Gospel. "Hey, some famous dude said that I don't have to... or shouldn't use words." And just like that, I convinced myself I could still, and was actually living out the Great Commission and continue to live the way I did.
After coming to Japan, I discovered the meaning of that quote. For the first time, I couldn't use words. I didn't have an adequate handle of the Japanese language. Sure, before coming to Japan, I could say everyday household words like "Shut up," "What are we eating today?" and "Stop being annoying." You know, the basics. But using words to communicate the message of the Gospel of the Bible wasn't an option. I had to do what so many preachers challenge their congregants to do... "Live the Gospel." It's not until you are put in a situation where you cannot speak words that you realize how incredibly tough it is to communicate the Gospel merely by your actions.
Talk is definitely cheap. "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words," is not an excuse by any means. It is a challenge.
I remember hearing this quote all the time in college. I dunno. It was just one of those things that just sounded right or something. I didn't know if it had any real worth. I'd hear it, and just do one of those nods that said, "Yeah, I think I agree with that," without really knowing why.
I think half of my partiality for the saying was due to my unfounded dislike for using words in preaching the Gospel. "Hey, some famous dude said that I don't have to... or shouldn't use words." And just like that, I convinced myself I could still, and was actually living out the Great Commission and continue to live the way I did.
After coming to Japan, I discovered the meaning of that quote. For the first time, I couldn't use words. I didn't have an adequate handle of the Japanese language. Sure, before coming to Japan, I could say everyday household words like "Shut up," "What are we eating today?" and "Stop being annoying." You know, the basics. But using words to communicate the message of the Gospel of the Bible wasn't an option. I had to do what so many preachers challenge their congregants to do... "Live the Gospel." It's not until you are put in a situation where you cannot speak words that you realize how incredibly tough it is to communicate the Gospel merely by your actions.
Talk is definitely cheap. "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words," is not an excuse by any means. It is a challenge.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Absentee ballots.
Thanks to a little nudge from Christina, I applied for an absentee ballot for the California Democratic primaries. Because I don't have satellite tv here in Japan, I've resorted to MSNBC's streaming video news clips to help me make a decision. I think they do a decent job. But honestly, I don't know if it'll make much of a difference by the time Super Tuesday rolls around. Candidates are dropping like flies. Although, I do believe Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton are still running. Hmm...
Can someone explain to me the appeal of John Kerry? I just don't understand it. Why do people like this guy? I don't know, he just sorta reminds me of the second coming of Al Gore. Nothing to be excited about. Just some dude who's riding this whole "Anybody but Bush" thing to the end. Al Sharpton, however.... hahaha.
Thanks to a little nudge from Christina, I applied for an absentee ballot for the California Democratic primaries. Because I don't have satellite tv here in Japan, I've resorted to MSNBC's streaming video news clips to help me make a decision. I think they do a decent job. But honestly, I don't know if it'll make much of a difference by the time Super Tuesday rolls around. Candidates are dropping like flies. Although, I do believe Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton are still running. Hmm...
Can someone explain to me the appeal of John Kerry? I just don't understand it. Why do people like this guy? I don't know, he just sorta reminds me of the second coming of Al Gore. Nothing to be excited about. Just some dude who's riding this whole "Anybody but Bush" thing to the end. Al Sharpton, however.... hahaha.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Surprise!
In describing what it's like to live in Japan, I think a British guy (Ian) who lives here in Date, said it best, "Because Japan is so developed, it kind of lulls you into believing that it's like home. And then, suddenly, you realize that it's not."
I think my "toilet paper in the train station" story is ample evidence of such a statement. I mean, if I were in a developing country, I'd expect there not to be any toilet paper in the train station (that is if they have a train station). And I'd take the necessary precautions... a roll in my backpack for instance. But this is Japan, the second largest economy in the world, one of the most developed, and so like Ian said, I semi-believed that it's just like home, and then, bam, no toilet paper, and I'm stuck in a public bathroom, not knowing what to do next.
Well, just yesterday I had a similar experience. No, not with train station toilets. Or anything to do with the poopies. Late last night, I was driving home... only my gas tank was close to empty. And I had a long way to go. "Hideyo, just go to the closest gas station," you might say. But ahh no, this is Japan, land of the gas stations that close at 8 or 9PM. That's right, if you're on the road, late at night, and realize that the little arrow is below the "E" on the gas tank meter, tough konnyaku.
I'm driving and driving, checking all the gas stations I pass by, hoping that one is open at 10:30PM. One by one they go by, and they're just pitch black. Then, I saw a lit gas station sign. "My savior!" I thought, but then as I was about to pull in, I saw that it was fenced off. Apparently, that gas station's been out of business for quite some time. Why they still have the sign lit, I have no idea. Maybe to mess with stupid foreigners who didn't fill up their car while the sun was still up.
But I got lucky. There was one gas station on the way home. It was a self station (most gas stations are full in Japan). Filled up, and left without a worry. It's just these little surprises... the things I very much take for granted back home, that help me remember that I am where I am.
In describing what it's like to live in Japan, I think a British guy (Ian) who lives here in Date, said it best, "Because Japan is so developed, it kind of lulls you into believing that it's like home. And then, suddenly, you realize that it's not."
I think my "toilet paper in the train station" story is ample evidence of such a statement. I mean, if I were in a developing country, I'd expect there not to be any toilet paper in the train station (that is if they have a train station). And I'd take the necessary precautions... a roll in my backpack for instance. But this is Japan, the second largest economy in the world, one of the most developed, and so like Ian said, I semi-believed that it's just like home, and then, bam, no toilet paper, and I'm stuck in a public bathroom, not knowing what to do next.
Well, just yesterday I had a similar experience. No, not with train station toilets. Or anything to do with the poopies. Late last night, I was driving home... only my gas tank was close to empty. And I had a long way to go. "Hideyo, just go to the closest gas station," you might say. But ahh no, this is Japan, land of the gas stations that close at 8 or 9PM. That's right, if you're on the road, late at night, and realize that the little arrow is below the "E" on the gas tank meter, tough konnyaku.
I'm driving and driving, checking all the gas stations I pass by, hoping that one is open at 10:30PM. One by one they go by, and they're just pitch black. Then, I saw a lit gas station sign. "My savior!" I thought, but then as I was about to pull in, I saw that it was fenced off. Apparently, that gas station's been out of business for quite some time. Why they still have the sign lit, I have no idea. Maybe to mess with stupid foreigners who didn't fill up their car while the sun was still up.
But I got lucky. There was one gas station on the way home. It was a self station (most gas stations are full in Japan). Filled up, and left without a worry. It's just these little surprises... the things I very much take for granted back home, that help me remember that I am where I am.
Friday, February 06, 2004
Crime in Japan.
Over the last few months, fraud in Japan has increased. Upon further investigation, it was found that a large part of this was due to a new technique. Young people targeted elderly people, and called them at their homes. The phone conversations would typically go like this:
Young criminal: Hey grandma/grandpa.
Grampa victim: Who's this?
YC: It's me. It's me.
GV: Who?
YC: It's me. I need money. Can you send some over?
GV: Who is this?
YC: It's me. Don't you recognize me? Send me money!
GV: Oh oh ok.
YC: So, send money to this bank account number okay?
GV: Ok ok. Take care.
And just like that, without saying their names, they get their money. To explain this phenomenon, news reporters suggest that the elderly victims eventually give in without knowing who it is on the other line, because they feel ashamed about not recognizing someone they feel they should recognize.
Over the last few months, fraud in Japan has increased. Upon further investigation, it was found that a large part of this was due to a new technique. Young people targeted elderly people, and called them at their homes. The phone conversations would typically go like this:
Young criminal: Hey grandma/grandpa.
Grampa victim: Who's this?
YC: It's me. It's me.
GV: Who?
YC: It's me. I need money. Can you send some over?
GV: Who is this?
YC: It's me. Don't you recognize me? Send me money!
GV: Oh oh ok.
YC: So, send money to this bank account number okay?
GV: Ok ok. Take care.
And just like that, without saying their names, they get their money. To explain this phenomenon, news reporters suggest that the elderly victims eventually give in without knowing who it is on the other line, because they feel ashamed about not recognizing someone they feel they should recognize.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Japanese "self defense forces" (a fancy schmancy word for high powered highly funded army).
Thought this article about the SDF was hilarious. Well, at least they're trying... sorta. Here's to the few, the proud, the moustached SDF.
Thought this article about the SDF was hilarious. Well, at least they're trying... sorta. Here's to the few, the proud, the moustached SDF.
Gotta love Jeff Tang.
I sent him the link to the video linked on Seri's xanga in her February 3rd post. He loved the video tons. Basically, it's two Berkeley guys doing a little music video. So on AIM we started talking about it.
HKKai: this was done in a dorm room (i recognized the bed frame)
Heeday1719: yah
Heeday1719: it says ehrman
HKKai: oh right..haha..i thought it was one of their names
Heeday1719: haha
Heeday1719: who's the last asian person you know named ehrman
HKKai: Jeff Jr.
HKKai: he'll be the first
HKKai: oh wait... he can't be named jr. then
Heeday1719: hahaha
Heeday1719: oh that's hilarious
HKKai: yeah... that was dumb
HKKai: i'm just being a funny berkeleyan
Heeday1719: i hafta post that
HKKai: yeah, see, i'm just as funny as william hung and the cereal and milk boys
Heeday1719: yes you are
I sent him the link to the video linked on Seri's xanga in her February 3rd post. He loved the video tons. Basically, it's two Berkeley guys doing a little music video. So on AIM we started talking about it.
HKKai: this was done in a dorm room (i recognized the bed frame)
Heeday1719: yah
Heeday1719: it says ehrman
HKKai: oh right..haha..i thought it was one of their names
Heeday1719: haha
Heeday1719: who's the last asian person you know named ehrman
HKKai: Jeff Jr.
HKKai: he'll be the first
HKKai: oh wait... he can't be named jr. then
Heeday1719: hahaha
Heeday1719: oh that's hilarious
HKKai: yeah... that was dumb
HKKai: i'm just being a funny berkeleyan
Heeday1719: i hafta post that
HKKai: yeah, see, i'm just as funny as william hung and the cereal and milk boys
Heeday1719: yes you are
The Shinjo phenomenon.
Tsuyoshi Shinjo (aka "The tallest freakin' Japanese dude on the face of the earth," "Automatic out," and my personal favorite "Oh no, why'd you put him in the lineup today Dusty?"), a Japanese baseball player, after playing in the majors for a few years, came back to Japan... to play for the NIPPON HAM FIGHTERS! Tally that as an additional reason to get a Nippon Ham Fighters baseball cap.
The news here has been covering the spring training camps for all 12 Japanese pro baseball teams recently. And of course, when there's the report for the Nippon Ham Fighters' camp, all you see is Shinjo. Nobody else. Absolutely no coverage for any other Nippon Ham player. Just Shinjo. Well Shinjo, and all his screaming fans. Reports indicate that the fan attendance for Nippon Ham's spring training camp is already 4 times what it was last year (that is pre-Shinjo).
I find this all amazing because when Shinjo was playing in the States (minus his rookie year in the majors), the Japanese media and most Japanese baseball fans were ragging on him... hard. Come back to Japan, though, and suddenly he's more popular than smap. What changed? I have no idea. It's the strangest phenomenon.
Oh by the way, Shinjo a few weeks back was on the Japanese version of the gameshow "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" (which comes complete with a Japanese version of Regis). He won it all... of course, the Japanese version gives 10,000,000 yen which is about $100,000 not (a la Dr. Evil) ONE MILLION DOLLARS! The thing is that he's not that smart. How'd he win? With a pencil. His pencil had the letters A, B, C, and D marked on its sides. If he didn't know the answer, he'd roll his pencil, and whatever letter showed up, he'd use that as his answer. Go figure. The pencil was right every time. For any high school juniors and seniors out there, rumor has it that the Nippon Ham Fighters team will be selling identical "Shinjo pencils" as souvenirs and memorabilia.
Tsuyoshi Shinjo (aka "The tallest freakin' Japanese dude on the face of the earth," "Automatic out," and my personal favorite "Oh no, why'd you put him in the lineup today Dusty?"), a Japanese baseball player, after playing in the majors for a few years, came back to Japan... to play for the NIPPON HAM FIGHTERS! Tally that as an additional reason to get a Nippon Ham Fighters baseball cap.
The news here has been covering the spring training camps for all 12 Japanese pro baseball teams recently. And of course, when there's the report for the Nippon Ham Fighters' camp, all you see is Shinjo. Nobody else. Absolutely no coverage for any other Nippon Ham player. Just Shinjo. Well Shinjo, and all his screaming fans. Reports indicate that the fan attendance for Nippon Ham's spring training camp is already 4 times what it was last year (that is pre-Shinjo).
I find this all amazing because when Shinjo was playing in the States (minus his rookie year in the majors), the Japanese media and most Japanese baseball fans were ragging on him... hard. Come back to Japan, though, and suddenly he's more popular than smap. What changed? I have no idea. It's the strangest phenomenon.
Oh by the way, Shinjo a few weeks back was on the Japanese version of the gameshow "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" (which comes complete with a Japanese version of Regis). He won it all... of course, the Japanese version gives 10,000,000 yen which is about $100,000 not (a la Dr. Evil) ONE MILLION DOLLARS! The thing is that he's not that smart. How'd he win? With a pencil. His pencil had the letters A, B, C, and D marked on its sides. If he didn't know the answer, he'd roll his pencil, and whatever letter showed up, he'd use that as his answer. Go figure. The pencil was right every time. For any high school juniors and seniors out there, rumor has it that the Nippon Ham Fighters team will be selling identical "Shinjo pencils" as souvenirs and memorabilia.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Food adventures.
Different areas of Japan have what is called "meibutsu" or specialties... usually in the area of food. Example... Sendai, a fairly large city in northeastern Honshu (the main island) has cow tongue as one of its meibutsu. Cow tongue was kinda interesting. It just looked like a darker cut of beef... a bit tougher too.
Another example of meibutsu is bee larva from Nagano prefecture, an area just north of Tokyo. Yeah, the taste of honey pretty much drowned out all other flavors, so it wasn't bad.
Then there are just flat out weird things out there. Example, pan fried locusts. Yum. Haha. In Yamagata, northeastern Honshu, the people eat pan fried locusts (inago). I remember a lady coming to church with a black plastic bag hoisted over her shoulder like Santa Claus. The bag was full of locusts. An image I will not forget easily. How were they? Ehh, they're not bad. They're cooked in soy sauce and sugar so it tastes like... surprise surprise, soy sauce and sugar. The locust itself doesn't taste like much. Just gives that appealing crunchy texture, and antennae and legs that get stuck in between your teeth. Felt like John the Baptist eating the stuff.
Sea snails (tsubu). They aren't much to look at... especially after taking em out of their shells. But they tasted surprisingly good.
Well, just recently, I got to add another item on the list. I was eating a Japanese hot pot (nabe) and I saw this white thing that looked like brain. It was all coiled up like one. I decided that it was better to ask what it is after eating it, so I braved it and took some. Didn't taste like anything. After dinner was done, I asked what the white stuff that looked like brain was. After a few minutes of explanation, and a lot of laughs, I figured out that they were in fact, fish testicles. Funny. I never knew that fish had testicles. Well, now I do. And I can say I ate em too.
Different areas of Japan have what is called "meibutsu" or specialties... usually in the area of food. Example... Sendai, a fairly large city in northeastern Honshu (the main island) has cow tongue as one of its meibutsu. Cow tongue was kinda interesting. It just looked like a darker cut of beef... a bit tougher too.
Another example of meibutsu is bee larva from Nagano prefecture, an area just north of Tokyo. Yeah, the taste of honey pretty much drowned out all other flavors, so it wasn't bad.
Then there are just flat out weird things out there. Example, pan fried locusts. Yum. Haha. In Yamagata, northeastern Honshu, the people eat pan fried locusts (inago). I remember a lady coming to church with a black plastic bag hoisted over her shoulder like Santa Claus. The bag was full of locusts. An image I will not forget easily. How were they? Ehh, they're not bad. They're cooked in soy sauce and sugar so it tastes like... surprise surprise, soy sauce and sugar. The locust itself doesn't taste like much. Just gives that appealing crunchy texture, and antennae and legs that get stuck in between your teeth. Felt like John the Baptist eating the stuff.
Sea snails (tsubu). They aren't much to look at... especially after taking em out of their shells. But they tasted surprisingly good.
Well, just recently, I got to add another item on the list. I was eating a Japanese hot pot (nabe) and I saw this white thing that looked like brain. It was all coiled up like one. I decided that it was better to ask what it is after eating it, so I braved it and took some. Didn't taste like anything. After dinner was done, I asked what the white stuff that looked like brain was. After a few minutes of explanation, and a lot of laughs, I figured out that they were in fact, fish testicles. Funny. I never knew that fish had testicles. Well, now I do. And I can say I ate em too.
Sunday, February 01, 2004
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