Nevr is Nevr is Nevr

should be the last time although who knows

Never is Never

I fixed it again

You, a big fan of sweeeeeeets

Hey everyone, I went with a student/friend of mine to Yokohama to do Japanese Tea Ceremony, which is a traditional form thats been ever refined since about the 15th century. I knew it had a lot of history and decorum, so it was a bit surprising to see that all the old women (everyone was over 50 for certain except me and my friend Miyu) were laughing and talking a lot during the ceremony, while following the rituals perfectly (or near perfect - it was more of a Tea Ceremony practice). I felt like those '70s "oriental" BBC documentaries where the journalist is willing to get right involved in the traditional practices they are showing the viewer back home, but never get out of their suit and tie. I was really impressed by the women who sat on their folded feet while kneeling (i hope you can imagine this and try it at home), because after about 10 minutes it was wickedly painful. They didnt expect me to sit it out, and even tried to bring me a chair, but I refused with a polite set of nods and "daijoboos" ('i'm fine'). Anyway, it was great to see this rare sight, but a bit strange when Miyu, who I had been joking around on a bus (first time on a Tokyo city bus!) only 15 minutes before was serving me a small sweet dish in a complete prostration (to which I responded), and who is pretty awkward on the street but moved with poise and smoothness in the tea room.

Another video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcDRXqbIP4k

This one is definitely influenced by the final Sopranos episode, and you know what? I'm gonna fix it to make that more obvious! But I probably wont put the final addition on youtube, so enjoy the original in all its flaws.

Aw forget it I uploaded it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERugluIX9-E

seeing the Taj Mahal was the worst experience of my life

So as you can see in these photos I am posing terribly in, that I saw not just Alex "Fandango" Dimita, but also was pleasantly surprised by Gilad "Laddy Lad" Cohen, outside Shibuya station right across from the "Free Hugs" people with questionable motives. Alex told a great story about being in LA: She just wanted to see a celebrity, any celebrity while in LA just for the sake of it. So drunk in arm and arm with her cousin on her last night there, she of course sees George Strombolopolos on the street, a guy anyone my age had to grow up with, who shops at the Black Market, who I asked at a White Stripes show when I was 17 why edge 102 sucked, who is/was dating a friend of mine, who is so familiar Alex just throws up her hands and disappointedly called "George" because she's known him forever. Usually I find it really annoying if people call celebrities by first names like they're chums, but I think it worked in this case. Anyway it was incredible/sustaining to see them both, plus I met their Tokyo friends and I now have people to go with to this rumoured izikaya (a sit down bar where you get your own room and low table and usually pay a set price for all you can drink) that has a penguin walking around? A student told me, and I guess I'll know I;m a good teacher if this place actually exists and I didnt hear hauntingly incorrect.

for people waiting a facebook/email/letter response, I'm working through them.
Okay time for bed. Here is a link to the Japan Indy Media site which gives more of an explanation of the video I made before you see it.

And here is the debut of "Musashi Koganei: As We Live & Breathe" which I've been working on for a long time, and was happy as a clam to have finished tonight.

Silence is Golden

The last few weeks have been hectic, which you might have been able to deduce from the lack of anything here. Its late, and I need to go to bed, but I finally finished and uploaded a video about Tokyo's version of the "Global Day of Action" on January 26th.

Alex Dimita (none other!) who I met on the 3rd day of university while waiting in line is in Tokyo. We're gonna hang out tomorrow, which is also the day of my early morning class at universal music. The morning is crammed to the gills on the train. True to the urban legends, it really does happen, but only at peak (5-10am, 5-8pm, 11-1am) hours. The other day I decided to wait and not get on the train about to pull away so I could be first in line and get a seat for the next one, but a lot of people didnt share my idea. They clown car-ed it with these epic backwards bodychecks, one after another; my intuitive reasoning kept telling me each one would be the last, but there is no last until half a leg and a briefcase is sticking out the doors. Tomorrow Im gonna teach 'toss your salad' 'tromboning' and 'snowballing' with alternative definitions...it may sound crass and maybe even funny, but its just sad - anything to get through another day.

Here's a picture with snow which is a rare sight in these parts.

And here's the video:



I made it for Japan Indy Media but found it easier to put it on YouTube.

---oyasumi