I can't make up for the time I haven't been making entries, but I can give you a blast of photos all at once of some of the more memorable moments I had in Tokyo, Gifu, Nagoya and Nara. With only three months remaining, I'll redouble my efforts (or maybe that should be requadruple, or whatever the term would be for 100x) to try and convey the wonders of Japan. Though it all seems incredibly normal now...

The majority of the pictures are courtesy of Brian. And sorry about my terrible formatting!

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Current Mood: amused

I noticed that I hadn't updated Live Journal for a rather long time today, and it turns it it's been eight weeks (eight!), so since I decided to actually go to the computer room rather than return to the dorm where all sorts of chaotic amusement ensues, there's time to write an entry.

First of all, I bought a new Japanese laptop yesterday! But as of yet, there are a few problems. One being that it's impossible to change the primary language without upgrading Windows, and the other that the graphics driver keep crashing constantly, possibly because it's on Windows Vista. And thirdly, it's Windows Vista XD;;

Back to Japan-ness. The studying has felt rather endless and at the same time futile, especially for the Art subject. Next term, my subjects will be far more Japanese oriented. During this time however, I made friends with Naohiro, a Japanese guy who likes anime etc. and has a rather interesting personality. Not only that, but my Touhou obsession is fueled even more by the allure of Akihabara it seems.

As for any kind of actual events with Japanese people, I've mostly missed out on them or forgot I should go to them. The one exception to that was Kenichi's (I'll forever misspell that as Keiichi) birthday party, in which I actually drunk to the extent that I was able to be rather hyper. I feel I should create an ultimate grammar guide before I try to go out and talk to Japanese people properly, because as my reading skill improves, my speaking skill drops.

It's not all bad news! My kanji skills are rising to incredible levels, and I've even been studying a few that Japanese people don't even know, and surprising them is so much fun...also, hanging out with Naohiro, Yasuda and Tomo a lot helps with my conversational skill, so I'm not completely at a loss. It's just that conversational skill only goes so far until you want to get onto an in depth topic. Not that I could speak about stocks and shares in English anyway, let alone Japanese! @.@

My expenditure (is that right in this context?) thus far hasn't been too extravagant, except that I've bought a new DS Lite, an electronic dictionary and a new laptop in the space of two months. However the laptop was incredibly cheap as I bought it for 80,000 yen (less than 400 pounds) and the specs are rather high, especially when you compare it to my old one, which was around the same price.

I don´t currently have photos to show you since I´m at university, but since my new laptop actually HAS Japanese support now, I can connect the phone up to it and rejoice!

I've become dangerously used to Japan already, and the colourful, narrow streets seem almost everyday now. It's also winter and it rarely snows in Tokyo, which means it's not so easy to appreciate the scenery unless you have a thick jacket, gloves and scarf. Meaning I have to go further afield! But fortunately, the holidays are fast approaching, not to mention a whole two months of bliss in between terms! When that time comes, the photos will be a plenty. I think I've been exploiting the fact that I'm in Advanced Japanese 2 and have a scholarship, but really the level of the class is determined by the students and not the teacher. As a result, it's really high level considering most are half Japanese (and 80% girls), so my listening skill is bound to be improving. Yet there's a saturation point where you can only hear so much, or read so much before the next sentence blasts the previous one out of your mind. I was wondering if anyone have any techniques to conquer this? I'm pretty sure I have to change my method of thinking.

Anyway I've said enough, and I'm sure people want pictures rather than rambling, so I'll see what I can do tonight. They'll be lower resolution, but strangely better quality than the pictures I took on the camera. And I'm sure I could grab a few from Facebook. Which reminds me, I should probably check that too...basically what I have to do is don't stay up till 5am, try to actually wake up in the morning and don't do studying until the very last minute.

結局、基本的な問題なのは、原動力じゃない（なければ正直に迷ってしまうからね）いつもぎりぎり授業に間に合う癖を打ち破るために、寝る時間を変えたり、もっと趣味を得たりしたらいいんじゃない。といっても、どれがいいかな？まあ、積極的なことなら、何でもいいと思う。日本だからな！

じゃ、また来週～～～

Tags: akihabara, japan, laptop, naohiro, windows vista
Current Mood: accomplished

It feels like there's really not enough time to do everything I'd like to in a week! I went to the Igo club last week on Monday, and it's really rather brilliant. The club building had 5 floors in total, from 3rd floor descending to 2nd floor basement, and each room is narrow, cosy and claustrophobic. The go room had a TV and a cupboard, packed full of go books.

I was able to play a game with I believe the guy who runs the go club, who's a 2 dan. I explained that I used to a 9 kyuu but that was long ago, so we played a game, in which I was given the maximum handicap. I managed to win somehow, which seems to say one of two things: my given rank was wrong, or Japan's ranking system is very different. Or I got lucky!

Advanced Japanese 2 class feels very much like a follow up to what we learnt in SOAS, so it feels really quite relaxing and familiar. Or it would, if the students weren't all either fluent, half Japanese or from a country who can read all the kanji! So the presure's on me. And if the other guy who was in the same situation as me really has left for maybe Advanced 1 (since I didn't see him yesterday) then I'm also the only guy left in the class. It's rather amusing.

Seminar in Japanese Theater is a really enjoyable class. The teacher is humourous, and one of the books that's necessary to read for the course is actually written by her! So yeah, that's rather cool.

In contrast, Introduction to Asian Art was possibly the most boring (and simple) thing I've ever had to listen to. The teacher used a microphone, and didn't speak loud enough, so the whole class was virtually pointless (for the time being). Though he did have a cold, but he talked slowly, and somewhat monotone, and made long pauses in the middle of his sentences. All of these contributed to me falling asleep. Moreso the fact that the class is at 3pm on Friday XD;

I finally managed to meet Majid before he left the next day for Hokkaido, so we had a fun time (Majid and Teej) talking about randomness and playing the Silent Hill game in the arcade.

More later, especially about the Fireworks Festival last Saturday.

Current Mood: awake

Worst day ever. Due to my own stupidity and unprepared-ness, I ended up being two hours late for meeting Louise and Pete, and since I could only email from my phone to a normal email address, the chances of us actually meeting were close to none. Not least because I forgot what exit I was supposed to meet at. And I go and underestimate the time it took to reach the required station.

I said I'd be there at 12:30, and set off at 11:40. But it was already 12:20 by the time I reached Shinjuku, and then I went past the place I needed to be at for the Ginza Line. Stupid underground. I reached the place I was supposed to be, Mitsukoshimae, at around 2pm, but it was already too late. And it seems like I messed up everyone's plans.

I guess sorry doesnt cut it.

Current Mood: guilty

Yikes, it's been a while. Ahahaha...I've been busy. And by busy I mean hanging out with the exchange students of Koganei, exploring different locations in Tokyo and generally eating copious amounts of awesome food, including garlic ice cream (which was not at all awesome, but a wonderful concept nevertheless), French-style bread with actual meals inside (par exemple, a bread with egg and bacon inside it, and tea bread with orange marmalade filling) and sampling the delights of the vending machines, from apple tea to milk tea, to green tea, to the fizzy drink with 70 lemons worth of vitamin C in one bottle.

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Current Location: Koganei
Current Mood: bouncy

13th September

Thursday was rather busy, considering I went with Kimura-san at 9am to register as a foreign student at the city hall, and open an account at the post office. Then I thought about where I might go to buy Crisis Core, since the release date was today. I made my way to Seven Eleven (they’re small shops everywhere which sell food, manga, toiletries, and assorted things – rather convenient. I inquired about the poster of Crisis Core in the shop and asked if they sold it here. They didn’t, but the game shop nearby would, so I was given my first directions in Japan! Obviously, I got a bit lost, but I followed the general direction I was told, and miraculously found it. Instant buy, and back home I went, buying a net for washing at Nagasakiya on the way back (my clothes will stretch no more!). If that wasn’t enough, the first exchange student arrived, who is from Edinburgh! He’s 37 and called Frank, so when he arrived I had to help do some interpreting for him cause Miura-san doesn’t speak English. Which was fun...

14th September
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The one qualm I’m going to have about exchange students being here is that it really will make it harder to speak Japanese, especially since a few of them have little of no experience. Sophia University offers different levels of ability in their Faculty of Liberal Arts, which is why we have the placement test on Wednesday. Therefore, complete beginners who might be studying a different degree as their main field of study are allowed to take the simplest Japanese course from scratch without having to take the test. Of course, I have nothing against all the students since they’re all quite friendly (and rather funny) but I have to find a balance between talking English and Japanese soon.

(Unrelated: Louise, if you still can’t read my comments, or email that I sent you, I’ll try this time by putting this notice in my entry. Check the previous comments that I responded with!)

Current Location: Koganei
Current Mood: worried

My poor feet! (T_T)

If the cuts into my heels from walking without socks wasn’t enough, now I have a kind of blister on one of my toes – this would never have happened in London XD;

Nah, I jest though. It’s painful, but not a reason to go back to London. I don’t have any photos today, but there was a lot of exploring Shibuya – and I mean a lot – and I mean going round in circles a lot – and I mean trying to find one simple dessert shop for Jumbo Chou Cream(sp?) pastry things! (Sorry, I forgot my camera this time round!)( Read more... )

Current Location: Koganei
Current Mood: tired

11th September

Searching for clothes in Shinjuku with TJ...in the end, I didn't even buy any clothes. But we did go to McDonalds in Japan for the first time! The unique fast food we cannot obtain, such as the Teriyaki Burger and crushed ice dessert with green tea flavouring and azuki bean paste on top, is rather good. Though I think the strawberry might have been better. I still have some of the crushed ice left cause I didn't manage to finish it before reaching the station, so now it's turned into a cool green tea drink, which is also pretty nice!( Read more... )

Tomorrow I've decided to go to the Nihon Kiin (The Japanese Go Institute) to see if I can find any go parlours near me, or even if it's possible to play go there myself. It's all quite exciting. Go is an ancient board game originating from China, and I intend to do my independent study project on the history of go, and what makes it such a popular and lifelong game.

TJ said she may tag along, but that all depends on whether a certain person texts her, doesn't it? 祈りをささげよう… Also, Luke from our year should be in his dorm by now, so if we can drag him out it would be wonderful. Well, time for dinner!

Current Location: Koganei
Current Mood: good

Well, today I discovered you don't look for arcades in Japan, the arcades find YOU. I went to Shinjuku on my own today just to explore a bit, and I think I won't get lost next time I'm there, at least not if I go out the East Exit or to Kabuki-cho.( Read more... )

Back at the dorm, I met...great I can't remember his name but I think I know his room number now so I have to investigate and translate...but yes I met the guy from the first day who can speak English, and was asking him how Naoki-san was at the moment Naoki-san himself came in! Which was amusing. I finally snapped some pictures of actual people this time round. I don't know what Naoki's (in green) serious pose is all about though, he's really funny XD


These two guys are really awesome and friendly!

After watching Matsuda Shota (woot!) mess up his lines on a bloopers program on TV, the mistakes for the new Japanese film Hero came out, which features Kimutaku if I'm not mistaken. I recalled TJ saying she wen to go see it so I managed to set a date to get people to come with me and see it on Saturday!

So now, with the release date of FF7 Crisis Core, the arrival date of the exchange students, and the viewing of the film Hero fast approaching, the build of excitement is starting to rise. Tanoshimi da na!

Current Location: Koganei Dorm
Current Mood: accomplished

8-9th September

In 5 days now, the rest of the exchange students will be arriving. Basically there's not much that's happened over the past two days.( Read more... )

That's all for now. Just this delicious photo of melon bread. And the drink on the left is non-alcoholic cider and condensed milk, which is...rather different. It kind of works too.

Current Location: Koganei
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: (something by Spitz)