Ok I realize its been a ridiculously long time since my last blog but luckily that’s been due largely to me being too busy as opposed to not busy enough. So here goes with what I believe to be my longest blog so far….
The Monday after my last blog, I went to see a student of mine in concert. Hiroto is a 19 year old music university student who I have been teaching for the past 5 or so months. Recently he won a competition between the best pianists in Aichi prefecture, and went on to compete in the national championships in Tokyo last week. (Unfortunately he didn’t win that, but still Aichi Prefecture is pretty damn huge, making that an impressive achievement).
Anyway his old high school was having a choral concert to celebrate the high school students graduations and they needed a pianist so he stepped up. I got to the concert late, as I had to go straight from work, and as usual finished late in the evening. The concert was being held at the Aichi arts centre in Sakae which was actually fricking huge. Because I got there late, there were a lot of instructions on how to enter the hall given to me which I couldn’t make head
s or tail of. I saw another couple of people though and decided to follow them. We went up 4 flights of stairs, and I did start to wonder what I would do if they weren’t going to the same concert. There were about a hundred doors we went past on the way up and pretty much all of them were probably the ones you`re NOT meant to go in.
Anyway eventually we came to a door and could hear the muffled sound of a choir behind it. The couple didn’t go in however, so I decided to wait as well, without looking too much like I was some weirdo that was following their every move. Eventually the song ended and a woman came round the corner informing us that we could now go in. As I walked into the hall I was shocked to see how ridiculously huge it was. I was right at the top and right at the back, which meant that my view was pretty bad. However I was glad the couple were there to unknowingly guide me. Obviously the instructions that the staff were giving to me were for latecomers to go to the top at the back and to not enter until there was a break between songs.
The hall was not only huge but it was packed to the rafters as well (approx 1600 I found out later). Eventually I found a seat and sat down to listen to the rest of the concert. The music was a choir (sometimes all boys, sometimes all girls, sometimes a mix) of high school age accompanied of course by a piano. Whilst I had talked about his piano playing with Hiroto many times before, this was the first time I had actually seen him and was not surprised to see that he was proper immense. I cant say I have many choral pianist gigs to compare this to but I can say that he sounded awesome, and the choir weren’t bad either. All the songs were in Japanese, and a few of them were composed by the teacher/conductor and the students themselves. These were mostly comedic songs, and every line in the song was followed by a roar of laughter from the audience of parents and friends. Obviously I felt a little bit left out by this although I managed to translate one line of a song about scary things. They mentioned something about running into the Yakuza so I felt a little bit pleased with myself and could justifiably laugh.
After a couple of hours of singing and stuff they got to the final tune which was a big mixed number with all the choral group on stage. Toward the end of the song, the teacher stepped forward and said a speech which I didn’t really understand but I gathered was about the kids leaving high school. Then a representative from the girls choir stepped forward and read a speech of her own which again I couldn’t understand although I don’t think the rest of the audience were too sure of what she was saying, she was crying so much. Looking at the rest of the girls choir, I saw they too were all in tears though trying to provide a backing for the speeches. Then a representative from the boys choir stepped up and he too was choking back the tears. Looking round I saw that most of the audience too were crying and I suddenly felt a bit awkward. In any case it was an interesting cultural experience that most don’t get to see, so I was glad I could see it.
After the concert I briefly saw Hiroto and congratulated him on playing well. I then went home to see Ayae who had returned from her trip in Tokyo.
The rest of the week pretty much passed without incidence until Saturday night which was a Korean styler dinn
er party at my friend Rauls school. I don’t usually get much opportunity to eat Korean food being as it relies heavily on meat and spices, neither of which sit well with Ayae, so I was grateful for this opportunity.
When I arrived, the starters were just being handed out, and this consisted of some okonomi style pancakey thing called Chijimi with a lush sesame sauce. This was accompanied by some vegetables which I don’t know the name of.
This was followed by a huge salad of lettuce, tomato, sashimi, onion, shrimp and loads of other stuff as well as a really tasty dressing.
After this they served up some “Jaganiku” which literally translates as “Potatoes and Meat”, and was a soupy type thing consisting of some vegetables and stuff as well as the obviously necessary ingredients of Potatoes and Meat.
We then had this other thing called Chap Chae which was like stir fried noodles and vegetables with beef and some kind of egg thing as well. There was also a side dish of Kimchi which is a spicy cabbage dish that is very famous in Korea.
After this there was some soup thing with soba noodles which was again really lush. This was then followed by Chiffon cake with strawberries and cream. Despite the sheer quantity of food, I was still hungry after all this because the sheer quantity of guests meant that the dishes went well fast.
Once people started to leave, me and some of the crew went to Sakae to go to the Hub, although we first stopped off at a combini to get a bread based snack. After several drinks in the Hub I had to go to catch the last train home. The rest of the guys were going to stay out, but this months incessant partying has left me extremely short of cash so I had to go home early.
The next morning Ayae
was going to meet her friend in Nagoya so I tagged along to hang out in Sakae. Whilst Ayae was having lunch with her friend I went into Yaba-cho (an area of Sakae), to see the teenage punk bands that play there every week. The music this week was actually really good, although I felt a bit out of place being not only the only gaijin, but the only person over the age of 18 as well. Still I got to nod my head and after a couple of hours Ayae called and asked if I wanted to go see the Sakura in Meijo park.
For those that don’t know, Sakura is a very important time in Japanese culture. It is when the cherry blossom trees come out, and there are loads in Japan. It`s only really in full bloom for about a week as well which means everybody usually tries to see it the same weekend. In addition to this it is also the time when school and business years end, so it also marks various graduation ceremonies (such as the one I saw Hiroto play at), or a promotion or a relocation.
Anyway the place people usually go “Hanami” (flower viewing) is a park which features lots of cherry blossom trees. In Nagoya this means either Higashiyama Koen, Tsurumai Koen or Meijo Koen. I had already been invited to 2 hanami parties the following weekend, one at Tsurumai park and one at Meijo park, but for fear that the Sakura might not be there the next weekend, I decided to go to Meijo Koen anyway.
Unfortunately it had started to rain and there was nothing but dark clouds in
the sky, so the impact was rather reduced. I had been told time and again about how beautiful a time of year this was but to be honest I was rather disappointed. There was loads of pretty trees, but the rain coupled with the clouds and the fact that I was a bit hungover from the previous night meant that I was tired, bumped out and just wanted to go home.
After we dropped off Ayaes friend at Nagoya station we went to the food department and had a Sakura flavoured mont bran which is a kind of cakey thing popular here. This was well tasty and although I don’t eat flowers much these days, I have to say Sakura has a well nice flavor. We also had a Sakura flavoured Mochi (rice cake) which was also delicious.
The next day the sun came out in force so me and Ayae went for a walk to our nearby shrine situated beautifully on the mountain (technically we would call it a hill, but mountain shrine sounds better in Japanese I guess). This was absolutely beautiful and really showed how gorgeous the Sakura coul
d be. The flowers together with the shrine setting were well nice, and it was awesome that all this was on our doorstep.
On Wednesday I went snowboarding in Gifu with Yusuke again, as it was the last week the slopes were open so he wanted to get one more trip in. We stayed at the same “Shining” hotel as last time as they had a cheap deal on. The snow this time was not so lush though, and a lot of the slope was just ice, or slushy snow (although to be fair it is April so I guess it should be expected).
We decided to try some different routes down the slope, and tried the snow park. There we saw loads of people doing jumps and getting big airs, so we sat and watched for a while. After a few minutes of seeing kids and amateurs trying I decided to give it a go. I got in line for the smallest kicker, and waited patiently as everyone took their chance to pull some crazy ass trick.
There was a fair line behind me by the time I reached the front of the queue. I had noticed that the last two people in front of me had looked behind them just before they took off, so I did the same. There was a guy in a yellow jump suit near the top of the slope who held his hand up when I looked round and I didn’t know if this meant “Stop theres someone lying prone on the other side of the jump” or “Hurry up and go!” so I just went.
I had also noticed people didn’t really carve, and hit the kicker head on to get enough speed so I tried that. Unfortunately Im not really very good at controlling the snowboard head on, and took a tumble before I even got to the jump. I looked behind me to see a massive queue waiting for me to get out the way, but because I was at a point on the slope just before the jump, I couldn’t get enough speed up to get out the way.
I unclipped one foot and skated out of the way til I was onto the slopey bit again, then tried to clip my foot back in. Unfortunately it wouldn’t go despite my best efforts as loads of snow had built up from the fall, so I had to fall over, clean it out, and clip it back in all while the other pro snowboarders watched and waited.
Once I got to the bottom Yusuke (who had not only jumped but also landed, the bastard), asked if I wanted to do it again, and determined to not be put off, said alright then. This time I carved slightly to give myself more control, but this also slowed me down. In fact it slowed me down to the point where I got to the edge of the kicker, then stopped and went back down it in reverse. Not wanting a repeat of last time I unclipped one foot and skated to the edge of the jump area and then threw myself down the hill, hoping to get out of the way faster than last time.
The next day I decided I wasn’t going to be defeated by this minute kicker, and that I was going to at least get to the end of the jump if it was the last thing I did. Luckily on my first attempt that day I managed to take off, although my landing was a total mess. Another couple of attempts later and I actually managed to land a tiny air, which properly made my day although I couldn’t repeat it no matter how many more times I tried. I even tried the big kicker later on although I couldn’t get enough speed to clear it. My next try I did though, although a landing was obviously out of the question.
We left the slopes around 4 and got properly lost on the drive home. What should have been an hour and a half drive took 3 hours due largely to the Japanese highway system which makes it very difficult to get back on the high(motor)way if you get off at the wrong exit (they need some roundabouts!).
Eventually we got back to my Nisshin apartment and because there was very little food in the house we went to our nearby sushi restaurant which was awesome, although well expensive (and I wonder where my money went this month!).
On Friday I had my first official day at Anjo school. I`ve recently had my working hours increased to 4 days a week, and have taken over my friend Robs shift on Friday at Anjo. I had actually filled in this day for Rob before so I knew most of the students although there was one new addition.
Keisuke, a 2 year old who can barely speak Japanese, let alone English was to be my first student for this day. I`ve never taught a kid this young so was a bit lost as to how to plan for him. I had the notes from Rob, as well as previous teachers to hand, but they didn’t give much clues, suggesting 30 minutes of pretty much just games. Anyway when the lesson came about I went through my plan focusing mainly on fun games involving the alphabet and numbers. His mum was in the lesson at the same time so she helped him, although most of the things I had planned he couldn’t really understand which meant I had to do a lot of improvising. I noticed there was a lot of songs mentioned in the notes, so I ended up turning into a kids TV presenter and singing “If your happy and you know it” acapella. I then found some coloured balls, and managed to spin a game out of that, but there was still 15 minutes left. With nowhere else to turn, I returned to singing, belting out The ABC song, as well as “Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes”. It was kind of fun, but also a bit embarrassing knowing that my colleagues and friends were just meters away hearing me.
After realizing I couldn’t think of enough songs to fill out the last 10 minutes (well I could, but I don’t know how the mum would feel with me rapping out “Fuck Tha Police” to her pride and joy), I looked around the room for inspiration. I saw some animal puppets, so I got them out, put them on my hands and elicited the names of the animals putting on a funny voice for each animal. As I was doing this I was simultaneously looking at myself and thinking “What on earth are you doing?”, and so my act was broken up by me trying not to burst into hysterics. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity it was finally over, and I could get out of there. Hmm Ill have to think of some appropriate songs for next week…..
On the Saturday it was the first of my 2 Hanami (Sakura viewing) parties. This one was at Tsurumai park, and was set up by my Saturday ladies class, and my manager Yoko. Some other ACC staff were going to come including a new American teacher who has taken over from Erica, another American teacher who left last week. After meeting with Ayae, I headed to Tsurumai Koen, and when we got there we saw the beautiful Sakura together with absolutely loads of drunk people larking about on tarpauling. Hanami parties are basically an excuse for friends to get together and get drunk in the park, and Tsurumai Koen was packed. It was an interesting contrast of loads of drunk people and the gorgeous Sakura.
Because we went after work, it was the early evening before we started. As the sun set, the Chochin lanterns around the trees lit up, and the Sakura looked even more awesome. Yoko and the other female students had taken the liberty of buying lots of food, and there was lots of fried chicken, salad, sausages, potatoes, sushi, Yakisoba, Nimono, inarizushi as well as numerous alcoholic beverages. I had brought a bottle of cheap horrible wine, but Yumiko, one of my students, had bought beer and shochu as well as Umeshu which is a plum liquer
. This was well tech, and the bottle actually had whole plums inside.
Another of my students, Yukiko had brought some warm water which apparently went well with Umeshu, and she was definitely right. The combination made an excellent drink, especially when it got late and a bit cold.
After eating and drinking for a while, Thomas, (the teacher who you might or might not remember from one of my first blogs. You know, the gay Canadian?), was coaxed into showing us “Nihonbuyo”, a style of Japanese dance performed with fans that he had been learning for the past few years. I have to say, I was a bit skeptical but when he started moving it was well good. He was doing all these flips and shit with the fans and was proper impressive. Because there was loads of people gathered in the same spot as us, they all started watching and chee
ring which was really cool.
A few minutes later and we opened another bottle of wine, although it wasn’t that simple. Earlier on Yoko had asked me to help her open this wine, but she only had an old school pull as hard as you can and jimmy it a bit corkscrew. I had tried on and off for the better part of an hour to open it, but it was really jammed in there tight. After finally admitting defeat I asked a nearby group of “Hanamiers” (as I like to call them), if they had a better corkscrew. When they said they didn’t I asked if they`d have a go at the wine.
One by one they tried and failed, and in the end there was a huge group gathered round this bottle trying to open it. E
ventually this stocky guy (Im not just saying that because I couldn’t open it!) together with his friend managed to get the damn cork out which was met with a huge cheer from the watching crowd. As a reward Yumiko gave him 2 cans of beer.
As the late night approached me and Ayae had to head back to get the last bus, because the next day we had another party to go to.
This one was organized by my Izakaya party organizing friend Kawai-San, which meant there would be a huge gaijin contingent present. In addition to Kawai San, Japanese Bob had also organized a party at the same place at the same time which was kind of good although it meant I would have to be travelling between parties back and forth.
Meijo Koen was packed with other groups of people having hanami parties of their own. As far as the eye could see there was Tarpauling, food and people. Most were pretty basic affairs of picnics, but some had gone all out with barbequeus and crates and crates of beer. I even saw someone have a pizza delivered to them from Dominoes.
Anyway me and Ayae met my friend Callie who was in the Bob party. Bobs friends
were all couples married with children, and the kids were all there. They had loads of lush food with fried chicken, hamburgers, salad, pasta, noodles as well as the usual bento kind of things.
Kawai-sans party was just next to them and was about twice the size, with loads of older gaijin men and younger Japanese girls, and a slight whiff of sleaze about it. Actually that’s not really true, there was loads of really safe people at Kawai Sans, but the contrast between the 2 parties amplified the atmosphere.
At Bobs, I chatted bad but polite Japanese to really nice people and played with their cute kids, whilst at Kawai Sans I got drunk and chatted bad English about nothing. All the while both parties were about 5 metres away from each other. Both parties were fun, but very, very different.
After finishing a bottle of wine and eating a ridiculous amount (I ate food from both parties despite only contributing to one), me and Ayae went for a walk around the park to see the rest of the Sakura. Today was not only a celebration of the Hanami, but also mine and Ayaes 2 year anniversary.
The sun was out in full force this time with not a cloud in the sky, and the Sakura were in fuller bloom. This coupled with the beautiful view of Nagoya castle in the background, and the fountains in the foreground made the site of the lake at Meijo Koen really gorgeous. All the dissapointment from last sunday had dissappeared and I could finally truly appreciate the Sakura in all their glory.
After walking around for a while, me and Ayae said our goodbyes to Bob and his crew and set off to Sakae. There was an all you can eat sweets restaurant called Sweets Paradise there that had seemed like a good anniversary spot before but not so much now. I had consumed an insane amount of food and alcohol and couldn’t eat another bite.
Still, what the hey I thought.
There was loads of varieties of spaghetti and pasta on offer as well, but the sweets were really the main attraction. There was loads of cakes I don’t know the name of as well as familiars like shortcake, cheesecake and Apple pie. I have to say the emphasis was on quantity more than quality, as the cakes were way too sweet and overall a bit so-so. Then again I had eaten a ridiculous amount so maybe I wasn’t the best judge of a satisfying desert at the time. Anyway we both left, slightly regretting having gone there.
Determined not to be downhearted, we continued our celebration at the “Jazz Inn Lovely”, which was a live Jazz club in Sakae. The last Jazz club I went to was The Bottom Line in Imaike, which was a huge place featuring a 17 piece orchestra, and a variety of female vocalists, many of which couldn’t actually sing.
This Jazz club however was completely different. The band were a 3 piece, featuring drums, bass, and sax and were doing well more skibidyboobop Jazz. In fact at one point the drummer was actually scatting which I`ve never seen done live. In any case, the place was a bit pricey but oozed class. The venue was small and intimate and there was only about 5 other people there, one of whom had a little dog on his lap. In all the clubs Ive ever been to that’s the first time Ive ever seen a dog in one.
Anyway the music was really awesome, and we stayed as late as we could before we had to get the last bus home.
So that’s basically been the last few weeks. Thanks for reading and sorry if its been a bit long winded but Ive been busy yo. Ill try to get in another blog soon but then again, who knows what will crop up.
Sweet dreams everybody.
Jack
rently was really funny. I had no idea what he was on about but everyone else was laughing.
though Im not sure Dimbar ever actually knew that I was offended. It seems fighting talk does not translate literally in Japanese, although I suspect this is for the best, as he was a pretty hefty guy!
you can understand Japanese).
the sun had risen I decided it was best I got some kip and went into the lodge with my sleeping bag. Inside was about 10 sleeping bodies occupying every space on every mattress that was on the floor. With no resort, I put my sleeping bag on the hardwood floor and was asleep within a minute. 
nd so I had the house to myself, and the peace and quiet I deserved.
as starving so promptly ordered a load of Teppansaki (fried chicken), and some Caesar salad. In addition to that I ordered a load of Chu Hai which is like a shochu based alcopop. For the first hour or so of the party I stayed in the corner with a Canadian called Justin, who also hadn’t eaten before coming, and just stuffed my face with food. When some Sashimi arrived and no one else was touching it I dove in and took the plate back to our corner. After stealing and ordering (but mainly stealing) other peoples food, I socialized, and it was really great talking to so many awesome people. I had some pretty good conversations with Pon, as his Japanese, like Bobs is well easy to understand.
as there to fill in. He started his performance by saying “Gomennasai. Boku wa chotto okashi”. Which basically means “Forgive me, I`m a little strange”. Having witnessed a Pon performance before I did not need to be told this, although it was well funny to hear him say that. Pon did his usual act of high pitched screaming coupled with “When I say MC, you say Pon” call and response bits, and the party was loving it.
was time to stop the drinking and eating and get the heck out of there as the last train was leaving. Somehow I had lost track of time, and all of a sudden I had 2 minutes to get to the subway station. Luckily it was right next to the Izakaya, and through sprinting my ass off, managed to make it.
