大阪って楽しいヤロ？！ My Trip to Osaka [PART 1]

Since Toshi's family will be reading this entry, I've also written everything in Japanese.

トシ君の家族の為全部（下手な）日本語でも書いてあります。

I was really nervous about meeting Toshi's family, and to meet as many as 11  family members in one go was pretty overwhelming! But Toshi's family was very welcoming and friendly, so I had nothing to worry about!

もちろん緊張していたけどみんなが優しくて、フレンドリーだからすぐ安心した。

Speaking Japanese for four days non-stop was a real test of my hard work and study, and I'd like to think I did well enough!

	ずっと日本語でしゃべることもまあまあ出来たと思います。

Day One

After making introductions, Toshi took me to see Osaka Castle, which we climbed, and we saw the tiger design which Toshi's great-grandfather had created.

紹介終わったら、トシと一緒に大阪城を上って、曾おじいさんが作ったトラの絵も見えました。

 The tiger (though it's mostly hidden) (left)

I had been craving sushi, so Toshi's parents treated me to sushi at a restaurant named 'stubborn' in Japanese, which is appropriate as the men in the family are stubborn; not that I'm saying I'm not ^^ I got to try some new kinds of fish.

「がんこ」というレストランでおいしい寿司を食べました。

がんこな家族。。？？

Day Two

As you know, I love animals, so I convinced Toshi to take me to Deer Park in the city of Nara. He warned that the deer could be vicious and try to steal food, but they were so placid and gentle and CUTE!!!

動物が好きだからトシ君が奈良に連れていってくれた。鹿さんたちはとてもかわいいだった！！！

 

<- Japan, August 2011            

India, February 2011 ->

なんか二月のインド旅行思い出した！

東大寺、Todaiji Temple, with a history of about 1300 years, and a World Heritage Site, is home to Japan's largest Buddha statue, 大仏、at 15m.

 

Toshi getting rid of the deer poo!!

鹿のウンチがついちゃった!!

Back at the Yoshida's, Toshi's mother had prepared an amazing meal!!!! Raw fish, grilled chicken, homemade fried foods called tempura and a selction of pickles.

夕ご飯：特においしかった物は作りと天ぷら！！　こんなに家での食事初めてでした！本当にすばらしいな食事！　ありがとうお母さん！

 

Everyone living in the household minus Toshi's brother and wife, and plus an Aunt.

 At the request of Toshi's mother, here is the (rather embarassing!) video of me competing in an 'air piano' contest against Toshi's drunk dad ^_^ I think I won!エーアピアノのビデオ　XD
To be continued..続く。。

G..

It's been a long while, in fact it's been 8 months (blimey!) but everyone's favourite editorial is back! And we're rolling onto... G!

G is for..  

Government

The Prime Ministers of Japan have it tough. They scarcely make it to a year before plummeting public confidence and support ensures they are kicked out of office. Now the current Prime Minister,  Naoto Kan, despite announcing his resignation in June within his first year of office, has broken the trend by insisting he won't step down until the 'Nuclear Crisis is Over'. But that will be months!!!

 Kan: A headache for Japan?

Why is Naoto Kan so unpopular anyway?

Certainly Japan's debt, which is the only country in the world to have reached a debt at over 200% of its GDP (compare with the UK at just over 76%), is hardly his fault.

He has tried to improve relations with South Korea, though at the same time worsened relations with China (the fishing boat incident last September).

He relocated some of the controvertial US military troops to a Northen part of Okinawa.

He tried to weaken the out-of-control Yen vs the Dollar, though the effect proved only temporary.

On the other hand, he has made a couple of blunders, hinting at doubling sales tax, and my students insist he's useless or "junk" because he's not "assertive" and "bends to foreign pressure easily", though this behaviour is very typically Japanese.

So until a youthful, confident and assertive under-50 year old is appointed, who can come along and magic away the debt without touching taxes, I think I'll be stuck with hearing about my students whine about the Prime minister for the next several years.

G is for..  
Gaming
I'm a Gamer, and I've been playing video games since I received my Gameboy when I was 7. 
Games are huge in Japan, particularly the DS and PSP as they're portable. Smart Phones have also introduced a lot of serious gaming on cell phones too. At least half the people on trains nowadays have their faces glued to some portable device or another.

Trading Pokemon on the train with Yoko

But aside from the shocking marriage of a Japanese man to a character from the DS game Love Plus, the Japanese are pretty tame when it comes to obsessing over games...

Let's take a look at the rest of Asia!

• In March 2010, the death of a 3 month old baby in South  Korea was attributed to the parents' addiction to internet cafes where they were playing a game raising a virtual child. Link here
• In January 2011, so-called young Game Addicts could be sent to a Boot Camp in South Korea to overcome their addiction and get some fresh air. Link here
• Last month a 21 year old died in Incheon, South Korea from excessively playing for 3 years. Link here
• Last month a 20 year old young man in the UK (not Asia, I know) died from excessive XBox playing. Link here

Grandma, don't play on your Wii too much!!!!!

G is for 
Go-ko
The Go-ko （富士五湖） are also known as the Fuji Five Lakes, and as it happens, a couple of weeks back I took a trip there with my long-term internet friend, Stargate and University friend, Mel.

It's hard to rendezvous in a big city when the other person doesn't have a mobile phone, but we managed!!!

 

 

  Mt Fuji's eruptions formed this Lava Cave

 Lake Nishiko

 Thomas the Tank Engine bus OMG!!!