Reporting in

I haven't written for a while, mostly because I haven't had time and haven't been anywhere miles away etc. Then I realised that I can still write about other things I get up to (Also, the more revision I should be doing, the less I feel like doing.) To keep me satisfied whilst working, I have been making lots and lots of Matcha green tea Latte, which is probably the best thing ever. (Ume-shuu, Plum liqueur comes second.) You can buy instant powder which you just add to water but it doesn't taste milky or very like matcha, so I then discovered how to make it using milk, matcha and sugar. I will bring lots home so I can make it when I'm back.

On Friday night I went out dancing with some of my friends from back home which was really nice as I haven't seen them for ages and also haven't been out dancing for ages. I came home on a train at 5.01am, but didn't get in until 7.20 am, which is not normal as it is not that far. I had fallen asleep on the train, and ridden to somewhere miles away and back again without knowing it which was annoying but still quite amusing. That day I went to meet another friend from home (Dan-san for those of you who know/ have heard about him) so I could copy his notes as he is at a more intensive university and learning much more than me. I also had my very first Freshness Burger. This is like a deli burger chain which does an amazing Tofu burger which consisted of grilled tofu, tomatoes avocado and pesto which was lovely. I also experienced something called Taiyaki which looks like a fish shaped piece of wafer and has different fillings inside. Normal ones are chocolate or the very vague "red bean paste." I decided to have their new special which was sweet potato and "red bean paste" which was really really yummy and did not taste like healthy vegetables at all (probably because it was filled with sugar like most things despite the widespread "Japanese people don't like sweet things" lie.)

Yesterday was our last trip with Yohei, the nicest Japanese guy we know, because he is going to Germany for a year in 2 weeks. We went on a tour around the area of Tokyo he comes from, which included delights such as temples, rivers and lovehotels. Afterwards we went to his house to eat with his mum which was really nice of them.

My Monkey Trip. Nagano, Lots of Snow and a bit of Fire.

After getting up very early to take trains then a bus to Nagano, luckily we were not disappointed by the snow.It was snowing, which I think is the best way to view the Japanese style, it was so pretty.
The pictures speak for themselves. The guidebooks all seem to say that there is nothing really in Nagano apart from places to stay if you want to go skiing. They forget to mention how beautiful it is in winter.


That evening we went into the countryside to see a fire festival which was possibly the most dangerous thing I have ever seen.
There were loads of people there and SO many Australian tourists who were being so annoying and idiots. I don't have a problem with Australians though, just those ones.
Near the end, the men all fight with firey sticks, some trying to light the big wooden thing on fire, others trying to stop them. People were actually getting hit in the face with fire, but it's all fun (despite having a slightly angry mob feeling.)
Unfortunately we didn't get to see them light the big thing on fire as we had to get our last taxi and train home.

The next day we took a train then a bus then walked for ages through a very very snowy forest into the middle of nowhere until we reached the monkey park I have wanted to visit for ages. It was like a small pocket of tourism in a wilderness of snow.

This was the valley. On the right is onsen for humans. I would have loved to go there as it was so remote but we had free entry to a different one with our train tickets...

The monkeys didn't disappoint.

They were all remarkably human like, especially with their facial expressions. I wish I knew what this one was thinking.


After our return journey, we decided to finish the day in the same monkey style, by going to onsen. I sat outside in the hot water watching the snow and of course ate a little bit when I felt a bit thirsty. It was perfect to have the cold snow on my top half because the water was so hot. All in all, a good trip!

I Love Sumo

You can all stop clicking refresh, the time has finally come. Today I went to see sumo.

The word sumo may conjure up an image of fat men rushing at each other and hitting, grabbing etc, after squatting lots and lifting on leg up to the side then the other. This is actually exactly what sumo is like. I was very pleased. It is probably the most Japanese thing I have seen so far.

We managed to get cheap tickets because we have all just become adults so for one year you can go for 16 pounds instead of 25. The most expensive tickets were ridiculous and then you have the very real danger of a sumo-san falling on you.

First impressions were pretty much exactly the same as what I have seen in films, although they have much easier lighting to work with in films which aids better photographs. We were right up in the cheap seats but that didn't matter as I have a large zoom on my camera.

We were very excited for the first match, which didnt begin until much walking in and out of the ring has happened and lots of salt throwing (to purify the ring.) We were so excited in fact, that we missed it. It lasted 3 whole seconds. The rules are very simple- The first player to step out of the ring or touch the ground with anything other than feet loses. The other player receives a huge wad of cash as he walks off the podium.
Here is one of my favourite photos- the Leg thing is one of those "that's so sumo" images of Japan in my mind.
The final match was very exciting and I was very glad I went further forward to photograph it like an idiot tourist.
I also managed to get a video which just gives a small idea of what it's like.

Year of the Rabbit

Happy New Year Minna-san. Omedetou, it is now the year of the Rabbit officially. I decided to celebrate by joining a different university's party (I was invited by 2 people so I definitely didn't gatecrash.)

First of all we went to this temple in order to wait for the countdown. We didn't manage to get any closer because of the mass of people in front of us. This didn't stop more people trying to get in though and we were thoroughly squashed. Eventually the clock hit twelve and we counted down and lots of people let balloons go (tsk tsk environmental hazard and they weren't even colourful.)
They also lit up Tokyo tower with the date to save anyone asking what year it was.
After that we went to an Izakaya for 4 hours of drinking and eating and fun. Then the next day I was up bright and early. I say the next day, but really I mean the next next day. We were meeting to go to a temple and shrine in the good old fashioned tradition for the first few days after the new year. Yohei and me were the only ones not to sleep in/ be late so we bought beer to drink as we wandered our way towards the shrine. I was a little unsure about going into sacred ground with a can of Asahi in my hand but he assured me it was fine, they even sell it at the top. I suppose it is like having mulled wine at a church concert at Christmas.
There were lots of stairs and lots of people at the top. I had to put the beer in my pocket to pray after queueing for a while. No one batted an eyelid. Or they did but I'm so used to being stared at here that I'm oblivious (Apart from when a boy on a bike today literally screeched to a halt in front of me to have a good stare and then carry on his way.)
Despite the new year crowds, it was very pretty and certainly quite Nihon-poi:
In the pond there were lots of koi all waiting to be fed but i didn't have anything to feed them.

After that, we went to a temple which turned out to be the same one from Friday but this time I managed to get right into it. I prayed with a 5 yen coin but noticed someone had put in 10000 yen for one wish. I hope he doesn't get his wishes granted more quickly just for flashing the cash.
We had some soba noodles (with mystery "mountain vegetables" which were very nice) and then went to an imperial garden near Tokyo bay yet still central.
They even had some winter sakura which was very nice. I think this photo is actually Ume (plum) blossom rather than cherry.The next stop on our routemarch was Ginza, one of the most expensive areas in the world if you wish to rent a building for your shop. It was very posh but with the sales some of the shops looked a bit like primark x 10000 yen.

Finally we went to Nihon-bashi/Nihombashi (this is the same bashi from Hitotsubashi- my university. It means bridge.) This was the first bridge in Tokyo (Edo at the time) and was replaced in the 18th century by a very European looking bridge. In the true Japanese style, old architecture is very much respected. A motorway bridge has been built right above it, so low down that the decorative streetlamps poke through to the motorway bridge, which somehow didn't encourage them to build it a foot higher.

Who is copying who's look?

Kamakura- The Story of a Big Buddha, Temples and Karaoke

Yesterday we decided to go to Kamakura, which was the administrative capital during the first Shogunate (Samurai warrior lord guy) whilst the Emperor was being ignored in Kyoto. Because of this history it has plenty of temples and other things to see and is only about 2 hours away from where I live.

We were going with our Japanese friend Yohei who is really nice- he makes me feel good about my Japanese because I can have a conversation with him without him doing the usual Japanese thing of going on about how talented I am in Japanese which is a blatent lie. He is one of the most hilarious people I have ever met. Unfortunately he didn't wake up until we were at Kamakura station, where we were supposed to meet him at 10am. We woke him with our phonecalls to see where he was. This was not a problem though as we decided to go sightseeing on our own and he was still coming so we just met him later.

The most famous thing here is the Daibutsu (big buddha) which is very impressive and you are allowed to go inside it for a mere 20 yen to touch it and get good luck.



I also discovered another buddha, this time made of gold and was in a temple a short walk away. I think I much prefer temples to churches but my favourite has to be a good old shinto shrine. I didn't go to any shrines here but never mind.
As you can see there is a no photographs sign at the bottom. Being foreign I am unfortunately unable to understand signs with or without a picture of a camera (along with the Japanese tourists who definitely could read the writing and see the fairly obvious picture.)
My doubts about being in Japan seem to wash away when I see nice things like this as I could not be doing this back home.
We took a little rest after climbing a hill to see another temple where winter daffodils and cherry trees bloom.
I thought this looked particularly Nihon-poi (japanesque:)
After that hard work we thought we deserved some oishii aisukuriimu and had sweet potato and matcha half and half. Berry Derishasu.
There were lots of pretty lanterns guiding our way back to the station which was nice.
On the train home we suddenly decided to stop off in Yokohama on the way to have fun and maybe do Karaoke. It was so dead despite being Japan's second biggest city- I was very dissappointed. It is incredibly huge but just empty and lacking in atmosphere (and people walking around.) I took this photo just so I could say it wasn't a wasted journey:
Then we began our quest for Karaoke. Not possible in Yokohama, the only one we could find signs for in the fun district kept leading us to the following carpark which was not so fun until we eventually found it. It cost 2500 Yen for one hour which is Incredibly expensive so we decided to escape Yokohama never to return and go to Shinjuku in Tokyo where we knew that Karaoke is everywhere and the atmosphere is brilliant.
Before karaoke we were quite hungry so we went to a good indian restaurant which was really nice (I have been craving Indian food so much, I might start going here regularly.)

It was a very very very long day, but really nice- a nice way to end the year.

Merry Christmas Mr. Fuji

Christmas day began with pancakes eaten in the traditional manner (with chopsticks of course, we don't have enough knives and forks for the people in the flat let alone our visitors.)

Actually I got up 2 hours before this to revise and so I ate my special breakfast of honey nut cornflakes. Thank you all for my Christmas gifts and cards and thoughts, everything is very much appreciated, especially being so far away the little things really do help.
After that we went to do Karaoke for 3 hours so we could sing Christmas songs to our hearts content. I did take some videos but I don't think people would be happy if they found their way onto the world wide web via my blog so I will just upload a photo instead.

That was really fun and the we all ate together - we made Nabe (Nah-beh) which is like a big pot which you put loads of stuff in together and it's sociable food. This procedeed a party where I met the following character who described himself as "The Christmas king" although his nickname was "Haemoglobin" apparently.Last night some of my friends came round for a food party which involved everyone bringing some different food. I made two dishes from my new Japanese Veggie Cookbook (courtesy of Father Christmas) and We had many other delights. I forgot to photograph my own but here is Okonomiyaki (like a cabbage pancake with brown sauce and mayonaise on top) and Chijimin which is Korean Okonomiyaki. Actually you can see the remains of mine on the right of the photo- it was seared Japanese pumpkin in a sweet and salty sauce, although it looks rather bad.I fell out of love with Japan really quickly the other day which has probably taught me a few things- a. that I take things in Europe for granted (i.e. individuality) and b. I need to start thinking what I can do after my degree. Also that I am at least gaining experience being in Japan.

Having said all that, this is one of the prettiest sunsets I have seen for a long time with Fuji-san in the distance. Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Emperor

Today is the Emperor's birthday, which means I get the day off to spend however I choose (revising- yesss!) I also decided to go and check out a super cheap supermarket (shorterned in Japanese to Super.) When I got there I found that most Japanese people also choose to celebrate his birthday by doing their shopping. It was very busy but the Christmas music really got me in the mood (not.) They played Winter Wonderland but they always choose the least christmassy orchestrations. This one sounded like country and western music played at 2x the speed.

Then I came home and rebelled by eating a matcha treat instead of revising.
Yummy.

I also decided to buy special things for a nice Christmas breakfast as I find this is essential for having a nice day. For that I bought some cereal and real milk which will certainly be special!
I also found some other English treats: (no doubt something else for the Germans to moan about, I wish they would shut up about how amazing they are and how rubbish other countries are.)
Then I thought I need something to munch on whilst trying to study so I went for black sesame seed crackers.
And of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without a toblerone. This one was imported from Thailand, I bet you all thought it was a European chocolate didn't you.
Whilst I was in the supermarket I did consider buying some illegal drugs:
But then I realised it was actually cheese...

Then I was quite shocked at the spaghetti. (I couldn't decide if it was supposed to be "Oh my, Spaghetti!" or "Oh! My spaghetti!")

Well, that is the end of this mostly food based post (I'm really settling into a food obsessed Japanese lifestyle.)