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~ This Was My Bachata in Fukuoka

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Monthly Archives: October 2009

Weekend in Hakata, Day 1

25 Sunday Oct 2009

Posted by scalesoflibra in Rolling 'round Kyuushuu

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Canal City Hakata, Final Fantasy, Hakata, Sephiroth, Yoshitaka Amano

I’m gonna catch up one day, I …no, I won’t swear cuz being honest, I will perpetually be playing catch-up with this blog.  ^^;

Two weekends ago was a 3-day weekend thanks the national holiday 体育の日 (taiiku no hi), Health and Sports Day. Wikipedia tells me it commemorates the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Anyway, a friend told me about a Yoshitaka Amano (the illustrator for all Final Fantasy titles, and the character designer for many of the early FF’s) exhibit in Hakata.  I dug around the internet and found the event sponsor’s site.  Turned out you could get free Amano goods just for RSVPing on their site! Even better still, Amano himself would be there! So off we set to the Fukuoka Koutsuu Building!

Cassie & I in front of the exhibition hall

Cassie & I in front of the exhibition hall

While I hadn’t been the biggest fan of Amano’s style, I must say I got a new appreciation for his works after seeing them in person rather than in game illustrations and such.  I guess it’s because at a small size, the etherealness of his works (which is one of the things I don’t like, the other being his fabric fetish) is exaggerated.  Another thing I liked was that there were pieces that had these grotesque looking fairies.  I’d never seen something like that in Amano’s work, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Some people got to meet Amano and get an autographed drawing.  I don’t know if they were people who bought a print, or if they paid expressly for the opportunity.  For those that did not have the chance to get his signature, there was a “janken taikai,” or “rock-paper-scissors tournament.”  I was wondering how that would go, given that there were maybe 100 people there.  Turned out, everyone played simultaneously against (Amano’s assistant?) Mariko Suzuki! Unfortunately, neither myself nor my friend won, but 7 or so of the people who won in janken got to meet Amano & get his signature.

While trying to get a good photo of Amano-sensei, I snuck a photo of Amano’s orginal Sephiroth illustration, since it luckily was next to the stage. ^o^

Yoshitaka Amano (the man in the center)

Yoshitaka Amano (the man in the center)

Even with too much fabric and bling, Seph is Seph. ^o^

Even with too much fabric and bling, Seph is Seph. If only I had 668,000 yen to spare…^o^

Supposedly, all JETs develop a “Japan hobby.” I decided that mine would be collecting pretty clear files (plastic things closed on two sides that serve as folders; they don’t really have 2-pocket folders here.  I haven’t seen any at least).  There were different clear files with Amano artwork, but one didn’t get to choose.  I got a black & white one, not sure what it’s supposed to be.  But the fact that it’s a promo item makes it cool.  And the fact that I was able to read the event sponsor’s site and know what to do! (Ironically, while my ability to read Japanese has gotten much better, it feels like my ability to speak is going down! I think it’s because the Japanese class I go to is in plain form, and I’m used to speaking in polite form, so now I’m all mixed up! >_<)

Clockwise from Right: Free Vampire Hunter D poster

Clockwise from Right: Free Vampire Hunter D poster all attendees got; clear file; promotional postcard with Vampire Hunter D artwork.

After the exhibit we went to eat お好み焼き (okonomiyaki), which is fried cabbage with mayonnaise and one’s choice of toppings, sometimes called “Japanese pizza.”  Since we were in Hakata, I took the opportunity to go back to Yodobashi Camera to get my 100,000 yen gift certificate for signing up for internet there.  I have until December 31st to decide what I want to use it on.  I’m thinking either iTunes cards or a good pair of speakers for my computer.  Although I’m also contemplating the Final Fantasy XIII PS 3 bundle. ^o^ Even though I barely have time to play quick games like Dissidia. Oh, how Square-Enix has entrenched itself in my soul! It’s as bad as Apple’s hold on me!

Anyway, at Yodobashi Camera’s instrument section, this young dude sat down at an electric piano and played “The Prelude”! Then he started playing other themes from Final Fantasy.  He had the same bag & poster from the Amano exhibit. The Geeks gather! Reunion!

*ahem*

Then, we went to Hakata Station’s info booth to find our way to Canal City Hakata. We picked up clear files with maps of the Hakata area. Very convenient and a great addition to my clear file collection!

Canal City Hakata is basically a mall with rad architecture.  I think there’s a hotel, too.  Every hour there are water displays along its canals.  There was also this robot randomly rolling around the hallways.  But before I propagate the “Japan is full of mechas” idea, some may be surprised to learn that things like each adult having their own laptop and home internet are NOT the norm in Japan, or at least, not here on Kyuushuu. (So what if they had a scale model Gundam in Tokyo?) I don’t know if this is because everyone has the internet on their phones, or if people don’t like computers, or they think it’s too expensive, or what.

Looking down to a stage area

Looking down to a stage area

All your mall are belong to us!

All your mall are belong to us!

There was a Timberland Store in Canal City, and I was much amused to see the red fleeces and coats that are the “civilian” versions (so to speak) of the City Year uniform.  After that, we went back to my apartment.  But not before I put us on a train going in the wrong direction. ^_^;;;;  Luckily, since I know the stop immediately after Hakata going away from my place is Yoshizuka, we didn’t waste too much time.  Still felt like an idiot though. Oy gevalt…

Festa da Bahia + How to Pick Your Placement

16 Friday Oct 2009

Posted by scalesoflibra in First Months

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Capoeira, Picking JET Placement

This is another “Catch-Up” post, but I decided not to put it in the title for the sake of simplicity.

Two weeks ago, I went to an event in Tenjin (downtown Fukuoka City) called “Festa da Bahia.”  It was hosted by the Amigos da Bahia, young adults who do capoeira and study other aspects of Brazilian culture.  It was a lot of fun to watch them do “capoeira angola” and dancing.

Eddy Gordo wins! (jk)

Eddy Gordo wins! (jk)

Midway through, they pulled people out of the audience to have them try to do capoeira.  At the end, they had dancing to Brazilian pop music.  I recognized Ivete Sangalo’s voice, lol.  They already had set moves for the dancing though, and at points it was almost like para para (or, somewhat strange Japanese pop line-dancing).  But it was lots of fun! I had met many of the Amigos da Bahia before, and one remembered that the day of their festival was my birthday, so she gave me a gift! I thought that was so nice and was surprised she remembered.  It was a cookie that said 「おめでとう」(“congratulations”) and a pair of hair clips.  Awwwww!

Before the Festa da Bahia I had gone to the Apple Store (also in Tenjin) to get an iTunes card.  Finally, I can get all those Japan-only tracks I’ve wanted! Now I can bump the Fuurin Kazan theme anytime, anywhere! ^o^

LA la LAA! Lala la’ la laaa, LA!

*ahem*

Anyway…as we were walking, an interesting point came up, that I would now like to give as advice to any potential new JETs: if you must have big city life, you are more likely to get it by requesting large cities off Honshuu.  Most people who apply to JET already know that getting placed in Tokyo proper is extremely unlikely.  So many choose cities around Tokyo, thinking that’ll get them close. Sometimes it works; more often, it doesn’t.  Even doing that, you will most likely get placed in the boondocks on Honshuu, and yes, even Tokyo (the prefecture) has a few rural areas within it.  Some people might say, “But isn’t all of Kyuushuu the boonies?” Depends on how you think of it.  If you think of it as the boonies because it’s far from Tokyo, then yes.  But if you think about the nightlife, events, concert venues, availability of foreign goods, number of foreigners, etc., then Kyuushuu’s big cities are not the boonies at all.  Even though I don’t live in Fukuoka City, I do live and work in decent-sized cities and downtown Fukuoka City is a mere 12 minutes away by limited express train.

Fukuoka Prefecture was my third choice, and a pretty random one at that, but I’m really happy I thought to pick something off Honshuu.  What I did was I visited the Wikipedia pages for Hokkaido, Kyuushuu, and Shikoku, found out what large cities they had, and went from there.  For me, the main consideration was that I wanted to continue living in a large city.  I know some people are infatuated with Tokyo in particular, and I guess for them being a few train rides away rather than an airplane ride away is preferable.

Anyway, I thought it was worth mentioning. ^_^

Random Life Stuff Vol. 23

02 Friday Oct 2009

Posted by scalesoflibra in First Months, Me Being Random

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Japanese TV, Kellogg's, Obama speeches

No, I haven’t actually done 22 other Random Life Stuff entries.  But I figured I would eventually lose count, so it would just be easier to use random numbers in ascending order.  ^o^

I feel the need to clarify what “Random Life Stuff” means, since I tend to use the word “random” a lot.  What I mean by RLS (don’t feel like writing it anymore, lol) is things that don’t directly have to do with working or being a JET, but with living in Japan in general.  Such as watching TV and geeking out.

So on with it!

Yes We Can! – Obama Classic President Obama is pretty popular in Japan.  So popular, that the pop record label Avex has made a CD of his speeches set to rousing classical music.  It was released this past Wednesday.  I’m very tempted to get it, for the silliness of it.  What do you think?  Should I spend 19USD so I can hear Obama talk over “Rhapsody in Blue”?  For the CD’s Amazon (Japanese) page: click here.

Password Protected So far, I only put a password on one post.  It is my name, spelled correctly.  If you don’t know me, well, don’t ask me what my name is! ^o^

TV Update Waaah, Buzzer Beat was in its ending chapters, and I missed the last episode.  But I missed it because I was out having dinner with my downstairs neighbor (a fellow JET) so it’s okay.  Maybe I’ll rent it when it comes out on DVD.

As for Haken no Osukaru, I’ve been thinking for a while that it’s an awful lot like all of the incarnations of Betty (Betty la fea, La fea más bella, Ugly Betty, etc.).  Sure, the title character in Haken no Osukaru isn’t ugly, her quirk is she’s obsessed with the manga The Rose of Versailles.  But otherwise, it’s the same thing: a lowly office worker has more courage and creativity than everyone else and constantly saves the arses of the higher-ups and the whole company.  Much to my delight, after tonight’s episode of Haken no Osukaru, I saw an ad for Ugly Betty!  Season 3 will start airing next week at 11PM, Wednesdays on NHK (analog channel 3 for those on Kyuushuu…and elsewhere in Japan?).  It’s dubbed into Japanese, but since I already saw Season 3 in the States, I think it’ll be particularly good for listening practice.

Renting DVDs One thing I really like about renting DVDs from Tsutaya is that new releases come with bonus DVDs.  Well, maybe places like Blockbuster in the States do that too, but my local video place didn’t.  Volume 1 of Heroes came with a DVD that had a long preview for Burn Notice and interviews with the Japanese dubbers, as well as the very first episode of House (called Dr. House here).  A full episode!  The only bad thing was that it was dubbed over and didn’t have subtitles at all, not even in Japanese.  I can watch simple Japanese dramas without subs and understand a good portion of them, but a sarcastic medical drama?  Though I wonder if the Japanese dub is even remotely close to the sarcasm that is possible with English. Well, it was really funny to hear Cutty say “House-sensei!!!”

無料レンタルDVD = Free Rental DVD = WIN!

無料レンタルDVD = Free Rental DVD = WIN!

Volume 2 came with a DVD that has the first episodes of Fringe, Sarah Conner Chronicles, and Gossip Girl.  Only the Fringe episode is subbed.  I’ve been too busy to watch them, unfortunately.

When I’m not in front of a screen I bet it seems like I’ve come to Japan to watch TV and be online. ^o^  But my time with the tele is less than in the States.  Yet, where does the time go?  Only on Wednesday nights do I go out relatively far, to downtown Fukuoka City (called Tenjin) for a Japanese class.  But that’s only a 13 minute ride away (since I always take the limited express train).  Tuesdays and Thursdays I stay after at school to draw with the Art students, but only until about 6PM (the students are there until 7 or 8! x_X)  Maybe I should monitor my online time more closely, lol!

Since I’m in the future I’m not sure when I should consider it my birthday.  ^o^

GACKT in Spain Waaaah, the 2010 calendar was all shot in Barcelona! Me want it!

Unpolished Rice Bread I’m going to send GACKT some and make sure he eats it. I have yet to find wheat bread.  But I did find genmai (玄米) bread, made with unpolished rice (read: rice that hasn’t had all nutritional value mercilessly beaten out of it).  I also found Kellogg’s Genmai Flakes.  ^o^  Forget cars, cereal shall be the export that saves Michigan industry!

You go, Battle Creek! Export that cereal!

You go, Battle Creek! Export that cereal!

Actually…the box says “Kellogg’s Japan” so this cereal is probably made here.  But still!

If all goes well, the next post will be about the Festa da Bahia with the Amigos da Bahia! Stay tuned!

Notice

As my time on JET has ended and I've said all I wanted to say about it, I will not be adding any new content to this blog. I leave it up for reference. However please keep in mind that the usefulness of this reference may drop as the years go by, because sometimes things change. Anyway, thanks for dropping by! ~September 2014

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