karaokeing

Last night we went for karaoke. Now, Japanese karaoke is not like tacky Western karaoke, mind. There is no stage, no anonymous crowd watching and it is not carried out in the late hours in a nightclub. This is way classier. Karaoke here is more of a social event, where you go with friends, get your own private room and eat and/or drink and have fun.

 They had a surprisingly large number of Western songs - even Maroon 5's new album that came out a few weeks ago! Plenty of ABBA (guess what I chose...) and pretty much everything you could think of. Of course also lots of Japanese songs which were good, even though I have no fricking idea about what the lyrics were about. Every song had a video accompanying it, but not the real music video, no - an especially made one with Japanese actors. Possibly the cheesiest videos I've seen. How about the girl who spends the evening fantasising about her romantic anniversary the next day with her boyfriend, then wakes up forgets and has to run to the place where they are supposed to meet. When she reached the train station she has forgotten her wallet at home so she has to run back. And all the while this poor guy stands waiting, occasionally glancing at his wristwatch. Why doesn't she just call him, you say? It is Japan after all - plenty of technology. Well, alas, alas as he calls her to ask where she is, she pulls up her phone from her purse and drops it in the very (un)conveniently placed river. Oops! But not to worry - she made it in the end and they lived happily ever after.

Mita Campus

Mita Campus

 Our Keio co-op. Here you'll find food (sort of convenience store) and stationary and on the top floor text books. But the best part is, as I discovered today, all the Keio logo merchandise. Hoodies, tracksuit bottoms, t-shirts, diaries, pens - everything! Man, I'm going to spend so much money there. Such a sucker for anything with a sense of community. Definitely getting a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms. Apparently Keio is one of the top universities in Japan and over here the name of your university is very important, even more important than your course, so I might as well flaunt it while I can.

Mm, what do we get...?

Rice, veggies & pumpkin

Took a little tour of Hiyoshi Campus as well. That big building left is the basketball hall (and volleyball and badminton, but who cares..?). Sadly today there was no training as the hall had been set up for some kind of ceremony. People are graduating from here at the moment so we saw loads of girls in kimonos and pretty pretty make-up.

Below: watched an American Football training + Athletics training on our Hiyoshi arena. Keio has loads of sports - archery, equestrian, football, rugby and on and on. In October there is a huge baseball game between Keio and rivals Waseda. A bit like UCL and Royal Holloway except this game is broadcast on TV, as are all college baseball games! Can't wait for that one!

The stadium

 Now on again to Hiragana. I've learn 30 so far. There are apparently about 100. Hrm.

Jo x