Friday, March 25, 2005
Elections
Local elections are on, so every day from morning to night various vans and cars of different politicians and their supporters drive slowly through all the backstreets with megaphones blaring. They loudly (but politely) encourage people to vote for them, and thank the local residents (I'm not sure what for... maybe for putting up with the noise?) A few middle-aged women sometimes come outside to wave to them, and the politicians and supporters wearing their bright pink team tracksuits wave back.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Toro Ruins
Izakaya!
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Haircut
I had my hair cut today, which was an interesting experience. I used some inventive Japanese to describe what I wanted. "Here, small hair. Here, big hair. A Little more please. Shaving back is good." Plus a lot of hand gesticulation. I couldn't be too picky so I got a standard haircut. After that came a relaxing head and shoulders massage. I wish Australian barbers did that!
Edit: here's a photo just in case you're wondering what the results were...
Edit: here's a photo just in case you're wondering what the results were...
White Day
In Japan, St. Valentine's Day is only for women to give gifts to men. Originally this idea was pushed by a big Tokyo department store as the day women can confess their love to a man with a gift of chocolate, giving women a chance to voice their desires. To balance this out, White Day (14th of March) was invented for men to give gifts back. It was popularised by a confectionery maker, which launched a campaign in 1965 urging men to repay valentine gifts with soft, fluffy marshmallows. The name White Day comes from the color of the marchmallows, and at first it was called Marshmallow Day. Anyway, if you ignore all the commercialisation, it's a good excuse to do something nice and eat some chocolate!
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Kawazu Sakura Festival
Something to think about
Thursday, March 03, 2005
The Witness
Yesterday I was having a shower when the doorbell rang, so I quickly dried off and wrapped a towel around me before answering the door. I couldn't see anyone through the spyhole, but when I opened the door a shocked and incredibly embarrassed middle-aged Japanese lady was standing there! She apologised profusely for interrupting me, and quickly left. I found out later that she was actually a Jehova's Witness friend of my girlfriend's mother! I didn't didn't think about it at the time, but Japan is quite conservative compared to Australia, especially when it comes to privacy. I reckon that I must seem like some kind of Bohemian nudist to them!