Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and stuff

Hey... I was thinking about some big ole post detailing the adventure from City to City, but then I realized that it'd be better to post the pictures I took instead.

So for now (until I get like 5-7 hours of free time) check out "red's web album" (my photo site) for pics of the adventure Tink and I are on.

Thanks~

~J out

My first visit to Tokyo was something out of a Sci Fi film. I wasn’t expecting much other then a big city, what I got was something else.

Coming from Sapporo Japan (5^th largest city in Japan) I thought I knew “big cities.” Standing on the cold platform of Sapporo Station I wondered how much different this new metropolis they call “Tokyo” will be to my Sapporo. Riding the train out of the station made me feel a sense of loss as I went past familiar places and stations. I was leaving a home, bound for adventure in places I’ve never been before.

The train trip itself was nothing special. In brief: “farm…. Farm…. Trees…. Farm….. car…. Farm…. Tunnel…. More farms” Yeah… that’s the same Japan we all know. It’s a lot of farmland and housing. The Tunnel was cool though…. Well ok for about 2 minutes. This tunnel I speak of was the tunnel that connects Hokkaido to Honshu. It’s an underground tunnel that goes on and on. The cool thing about it is that it was created and that it’s there.

The whole trip lasted about ten hours with three neck breaking transfers (i.e. 4 min to get from one train to the other) and one really bad fish bento. The best part of the trip, however, was the last transfer…

Riding the Shikansen (bullet Train).

They don’t call this thing the bullet train for nothing. With its long nose and aerodynamically shaped hull, this puppy shot me down the east side of Japan at 201 kph (124.90 mph). Riding in a bullet train is like riding is like riding in an airplane. The stewards go up and down with snacks (you can buy) and the seats recline easily. What’s different is that, on a bullet train, there’s twice as much leg room, you’ll never have to turn off your cell phone or electronic device, you can call anyone from the on board phone (if you don’t have a cell phone), and on some trains there’s a vending machine. Yes… Japan has come along nicely. In fact, both tink and I think AmTrack could take a lesson from Japan!

Anyway the bullet train pulled into “Tokyo” “Tokyo des.” The excitement built up for me as I stepped off the train and onto Tokyo Station’s platform. My first visit to Tokyo was something out of a Sci Fi film. I wasn’t expecting much other then a big city, what I got was something else. I had to get from Tokyo Station to Gotanda station. Using the Yamanote loop line I got on and rode one of the most futuristic trains I’ve seen yet. On the outside these were just the same commuter trains you get in Sapporo, on the inside, however, there was two televisions. One broadcasted t.v. commercials and the other gave you a map of the Yamanote line and the precise time at which you would arrive at your station… AMAZING!

The city was big and full of lights and sounds that big cities have. The sectors of the city showed different sides of Tokyo’s attitude. “You could get lost very easily if you weren’t careful” I thought. There’s a side of Tokyo for everyone too ya know. There’s a historical side, an Otaku (anime) side, Electronics side, an American side, Euro side, etc etc. anyone can fit in here and get a job if they needed too.

Tink and I were to meet at the KFC outside Gotanda. Those that have been to our hotel before told me it was pretty easy to find… No joking either! There it was. It wasn’t a long wait till Tink arrived. We trudged along till we found the Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) and checked into our little room with tatami mats and a little bathroom and a little (separate) toilet.

The next day we toured the Ueno Park and walked around. Late that night we met up with our friend Alan who took us out for some dinner. We really appreciated that too! We look forward to our next time in Tokyo coming up soon (in a couple of days). Anyway that was a little taste of my adventure.

~J out

Merry Christmas from Japan!

Right now it’s 11:30pm and I can feel Santa making his rounds… even here in Japan. Before he comes however I’d like to say a few things to you all…

First Thank you for reading my blog for the last three and a half months or so… It really means a lot to me and for logging in and reading I feel that’s the best present of them all. Christmas in Japan is similar to America, in that it has all the hustle and bustle of shopping and good tidings, but I feel that it’s also different. I’m lucky to see Christmas from another point of view. It’s special in so many ways.

Christina and I are sharing a Merry Christmas here in Osaka, and so from the both of us

We would like to wish you all a...

Very Merry Christmas!!!

From Japan

I'm Back!

Yeah Finally I found a hotel with free internet! Ohhhh the stories I have for you all. The pictures... the tales... the everything!

But first I should tell you that Tink and Me met up in Tokyo and all is well with us now. We're safe here in Osaka, Japan. However... we're a little hungry from the train trip over.. After we get a little to eat and check out just where the heck we are I'll post all I can about the trip from Sapporo to Tokyo, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Himeji Castle.

So I'm back to Blogging however it is now "RedinOsaka." So check back in a little bit y'all!

~J out

Japan Rail Pass

Friends and folks here is the Japan Rail Pass... As the brochure bosts:

"Your Sight-seeing Passport to Japan"

Indeed it is... This little feller will let you ride any Japan Rail service from Trains to Buses to Ferries even. It's usefulness surpasses anything I've ever bought (including the New York Metro Pass). How to use the pass is pretty easy, but mine doesn't start until Saturday.

In the same breath that I say it's useful, I'll say it's also expensive. At $488 USD it's nothing to scoff at... However, the trip from Sapporo to Tokyo alone will undoubtably make this little piece of paper worth all the hastle (because prices for Japanese citizens are outragous!).

This pass is the last of the three, one can buy. The 21-day pass is good from the 16th of Dec-5th of Jan (i.e. my trip) and so this is really what really makes my trip somewhat doable.

Speaking of the trip... it wouldn't be me if I didn't let you on the bulk of my travel plans...

From Sapporo I make my way to Tokyo where i'll meet Christina (my girlfriend). Two days later we'll depart and make our way to Kyoto where we'll see hundreds of temples (it seems) and castles including Himeji which is on our "side-trip" tour.

After Kyoto the plan is...

(from Kyoto) day trip to Nara
(from Kyoto) day trip to Himeji
Osaka
Nagoya (where I flew in 3 months ago) with a side trip to:
-Ise
and back to Tokyo with a side trip to:
-Kamakura
-Nikko

then fly home on the 4th of January. It sounds busy and expensive (I know). The hotels for the trip will roughly be about $1500 usd. However... I'm going places I've wanted to go my whole life so if it's between money and an experence of a lifetime, then I'm choosing the later. Of course with the help and contribution made by my parents, this opportunity would never of been possiable... so A big thanks to them!! If for some reason I never get to comeback then I'll never regret what i'm about to embark on in just 3 days.

stay tuned for my grand summery of everything post. I'm going to try to say everything I need to say then, but it won't be the last post! I assure you that.

Thanks for reading!

~J out

The Speech

For Japanese class we had to write a speech. The difficulty was based on our level of Japanese and so for class 3 Japanese we had to write like 700 characters using the grammar we learned in class. So I'll go ahead and post my speech. This speech is about the Japanese vending machine. I basically compare it to the American vending machine. If you can read Japanese　（日本語のできるの人なら） then どうぞう：

ウィラー・ジョシュアのスピーチ：

はじめまして、わたしはジョシュア·ウィラーです。自動販売機について話します。日本の自動販売機はかっこいいと思います。

日 本へ来る前、自動販売機はつ まらない物だと思っていましたが、日本へ来てから、自動販売機はかっこいいと思うようになりました。どうして、日本の自動販売機は、アメリカの自動販売機より かっこいいんでしょうか。それは、たぶん、日本の自動販売機とアメリカの自動販売機が本当にちがうからでしょう。アメリカの自動販売機はコーラーとジャン クフードと（時々）おいしくない料理があるだけです。でも、日本の自動販売機には色々なものがあります。例えば、タバコやたまごやライスやうどんやアイス やビデオ(DVD)、CDソフトやしたぎやトイレットペーパーもあります。

いつから、じどうはんばいきは普及したのでしょうか。エソールトメントドットコム（essortment.com）の話によると東京の１９６４年のオリンピックに多くの人が来ました。でも、多くの人が来た時、かかりがほとんどいなかったので、飲み物と食べ物をうるために、自動販売機が普及するようになりました。

札 幌市の自動販売機はとてもかっこいいし、使いやすいですが、時々変です。でも、一番変で、かっこいい自動販売機は東京にあります。東京にはいろいろな自動 販売機があります。それに、ぜんぶとても便利です。アメリカの自動販売機にはコークスとジャンクフードがあるだけなので、日本に来た時、私は本当にびっく りしました。

アメリカへ帰る時、日本の自動販売機を一つ持って帰りたいです。でも、たぶんこれは無理でしょう。なぜ、日本の自動販売機はアメリカの自動販売機より、かっこいいのでしょうか。もしかしたらアメリカの自動販売機もこれからもっとかっこよくなるかもしれません。

I'll try to translate it later for you English folks...

~J out

EDIT:
Fixed some mistakes but I give it tomorrow... Wish me luck!

Japanese Culture (文化) Part 3: Language and the language gap

Again from the same book as before, the author remarks on "borrowed words." First I'll give you what he wrote and comment later...

"Borrowed words" (外来語・gairai-go)

The Japanese Language has incorporated so many English words that many people find it hard to talk without using English. Today's young Japanese, who grew up using more that any other generation, will likely have a hard time telling foreign words form Japanese words. But many still have a problem with correct English pronunciation...

Comment:
I find this one to be the biggest joke here... Often, if you ask a Japanese person, "can you speak english?" "英語はできますか" the common responce will be a resounding "no" "ぜんぜんできません！" but perhaps later on as the two of you chat, you'll notice the common use of English words to describe either new gadgets or places. It's weird! Like someone today (an American) asked me how to say "good-bye" in Japanese? To be honest it's..."Jaa Ne Bye-bye" or just bye bye. I tried telling this to a Japanese person that if they willed it they too could speak English.

However, while the words are the same the spelling is in Katakana (or one of the two phonetic alphabets) thus forming what is called "Katakana-go" or "katakana Language." This only applies to speaking however... Japanese people can read English amazingly well and understand a lot.

I'd also like to tell you that often the English words that are borrowed are American English words, meaning that the word "Color" is spelled "C-O-L-O-R" and not "Colour" as it would be in say... England.

~J out "bye! bye!"

Japanese Culture (文化) Part 2: "Real intention"

A book that was given to me by an unassuming Japanese person revealed deep in the back some interestesting lessons about Japanese culture that I'd like to share with you...

From Japan (english ed) by Toshiya Enomoto

"Hon'ne," or real intent, is the opposite of "tatema'e" (or Diplomatic Language). Japanese often cover up their "hon'ne" when they are still in early stages of a new relationship. They usually think it's best policy to humor the other person along to better build the relationship. The think it is much more "polite" because their "hon'ne" could make the other person unhappy. A Japanese salesman may tell you he is a "Ham Fighters" fan himself when he finds out you have a season ticket for the "Hams." But his "hon'ne" may be that he is a hardcore Tigers fan from Osaka and doesn't give a #&$! about "those miserable Hams." When a new Japanese acquaintance tells you something nice about what you do (i.e. say you're good at Japanese), take it with a large grain of salt. I always do when I test-market my phrasebook to Japanese readers. They will say "What a nice phrasebook by such a nice author!" but start to laugh at the typos the moment my back is turned!

I showed this to my host mom and her responce was, "Yeah that's about right for a lot of Japanese folks" however she was quick to say that the generation is changing and that sometimes Hon'ne leaks out and people are starting to be... well.. more American.

~J out

Sayoonara parties and Kompai's!

Starting last night was first of my Sayoonara parties or Good-by parties. I have one more tonight with the kendo club and another on the 14th with my host-family and friends. Next week is my last week in Sapporo, Japan. All the final tests and speeches and whatnot are wrapping up and soon we'll all be back in our home towns or off exploring Japan.

So Kompai (cheers) Y'all for reading the blog... Maybe I'll even do a Kompai post later on. Expect the grand summation post of my whole trip, plus a new Japanese culture post...

But for now I'm writting my evaluations of the classes I attended. So far I've just finished my Japanese class eval (5 pages) and plan to start work on the other 2.

By the way it snowed here. It's predicted to continue tonight. It's at a foot or so now and tough to walk though, but I still love it. I'd like to stay longer just to play in it some more, but alas I can't so I'll play in it when I have time.

~J

Two words

Kanji Test....

Yeah got a big ole kanji test tomorrow. Tonight I'm study'n like hell. Got some big ones too... If your computer can show kanji here's a few I gotta remember:

離婚 - divorce
熱 - hot things
暖かい - warm things
意味 - meaning
指定席 - reserved seat
会議室 - conference room
試験 - exam
残念 - regrettable
結果 - result
結婚 - marrage
親切；寝屋 - kindness; bedroom (the hiragana spelling is the same しんせつ "shinsetsu")
選手 - player, athlete
農業 - agriculture

Just to name a few.

So wish me luck... I'll need it

~J out

EDIT: (for firefox users)
If you can't read the kanji try going to "View"--> "Character Encoding"--> "UTF-8" (works for me)

Again under assignment from Dad, I revisited Hokkaido University after a hard snow. It was cold and treacherous, but well worth it.

Hitting both places I’ve been, as well as, places I haven’t I tried to make it new and refreshing. Anyway here’s my account of the adventure…

I started at Oasa (where all adventures start) and rode the train in Sapporo. I was in the back of the train and had a good shot at the train cockpit so I took a few pics of it. I’ll admit that I’m a nerd when it comes to stuff like trains and gadgets. Before coming here to Japan, I used to play this game called “Densha de Go” or “Lets go by train” which was a Train Simulation Game. After playing that game for a while I got into trains so, seeing a real train work just like the game was amusing!

Sorry… So at Sapporo Station I made my way outside towards Hokkudai (Short for Hokkaido University). I entered into the gates and before me was the same park I had taken shots of 2 months earlier. Everything was white and the leaves and sticks that fallen on to the snow were very visible. So when I arrived to Hokkudai, it looked like a peppered white blanket had been put down over everything.

Honestly the whole place looked a lot different then when I went earlier in the year. I went to park, Clark bust, and the rock formation. Then I went hiking around looking for new stuff to take pictures of. It was only in my exploration that I found a secret nuclear bunker where Japan is hiding their WMDs for the next attempt to TAKE OVER THE WORLD! Or maybe it was just the Chemistry building. You decide.

Last stop was the famous street where the trees go on an on. The last time I was here was in November and it didn’t look half as good as it did this time. The street you see was solid black ice. So if you took a running start you could probably slide for 5ft.

I headed home, but not after first going to hibachi camera (i.e. electronics shop) to check out all the new games and stuff. There they had a playable PS3 so I got a chance to play Ridge Racers which is REALLY fun! (Haven’t played the Wii yet, but when I do get it I’m planning on getting the U.S. release)

Anyway that was my trip… the pics say more then my words. Check ‘em out on the web album.

~J out

Snow be a falling

Snow started last night and didn't end until this morning. So it's up about 1/2 ft or 2/3 of a foot of snow.

here's a pic of last night:



















Here's a pic of this morning:



















Yeah... so... it snowed. This morning I awoke the sound of plow trucks shoveling snow and ice off the streets. The streets are full of black ice and snow pack. This of course isn't totally rare for these parts. I guess getting a foot or two of snow is more or less expected for December. I love it! I've never seen so much snow in a single day... this is GREAT!

If only everyone could share the same amount of enthusiasm as me!

~J out

The first day of December

The first day of December... Wow! Where has the time gone? This is hardly a "reflection post" but It's a shocker to think I have about 2 weeks left in good ole Sapporo.

The trip is planned and the dates and places are set. Here's a quick brief of our itenerary:

Start: December 16th End: January 4th.
Two people: Christina and I
Cities we're visiting:

Kyoto: 6 days
Nara
Himeji
Osaka: 3 days
Nagoya: 2 days
Ise:
Kamakura:
Tokyo: 7 days
________________
Total: 19~20 days (with two days reserved for transit)

Pretty impressive of me to plan all this: The hotels are being arranged, and JR tickets are being bought. Seems like this trip will happen after all.

For me, I'm sad to leave Sapporo and the friends I've made here, but on the other hand, I'm excited to get out and see the rest of Japan.

I feel that this will make a grand end to a great adventure.

On the Blog:
I don't know if i'll be able to blog on the trip. I'll have the laptop and a wifi connector so I'll try as hard as I can.

The future of the blog is also something I'm thinking about... I'm not quite sure what I'll do with it. However that's for another time and another place.

~J out