juicy

Given the lush weather Tokyo decided to grant us today - an 23 odd degrees and splendid sun - I conducted a wee trip to Jiyugaoka with Stella to explore the area which has, up until today, only just been noted as an annoying stop on the train going to/back from uni.

Turns out it's not too bad!

It has an array of small streets with small shops of all kinds, and we ventured into some of them, finding the most interesting, most Japanese things! How does pocket soap in sakura shape hit you? A little plastic container with thin sheets of soap - perfect to keep in your purse and use as appropriately when the public facilities let you down. Or a textile container for your chewing gum packet? How about a textile pocket pouch for your toast?

Any problem you may or may not have (or not be aware of having) - Japan has the solution, rest assure.

We also stumbled across a wonderful little place called Robeks Juice. Smoothies, fresh fruit juices, vitamin shots, and on and on. Now, these places are on every street corner in the UK and Sweden but rather rare over here. So we splashed all out and I enjoyed an absolutely lovely-yubbely raspberry smoothie. Bloody delicious.

Anyway, that's my rock star Saturday. Tomorrow I shall be heading to Hokkaido with my gangsters so blogging will take a bit of a break until next weekend. Fear not, the wait will be worth its weight in gold - plenty of photos of northern semi-Russian lands will come. That's a promise. No crossing of fingers.

Ta!

Jo x

living in japan...

...more often than not feels like being in the midst of a game of The Sims. Do you remember this gem of a computer game which allowed all little urchins to play god for a short while? Personally, I always made my male characters gay, and simultaneously made the girls fall in love with these gay men, only to ultimately have their hearts crushed. What can I say? I have issues.

Anyhuu, when the old creepy man in the gym, or the woman at the post office, or any other local citizen ventures off on a jibbedijabbedi-rant the above is what I hear. Sometimes it makes sense, but most often it sounds more or less like the fan translation in the video.

So for a moment - welcome to my world. Enjoy.

Jo x

shake that thing

What an interesting day. I finally managed to convince (drag) someone to go to classes with me at the fancy-schmancy gym as I've been far too much of a chicken the past 5 months to go on my own. Boy, am I glad I waited? At least this way, we could look stupid together. And look stupid we did (I'm sure Corey would agree).

Ever tried Aerobics? Well, I have. Once before. When I was 14. Wasn't a fan then, and certainly isn't one now. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The first 30 minutes were fine. It was a Dance class (beginners' level, but ssshh!) and although the elderly ladies did the gangsta' style moves a hell of a lot smoother than either of us, we did OK I must say.

We felt good; we felt confident. So filled with this hype we ventured to Aerobics. My, oh, my. You know when you join a group of people who have been together fore-e-e-ver and you feel like a complete intruder? Yeah, that. Take that feeling times roughly ten thousand! This collection of sweatbanded, matching-tracksuit-pieces-wearing, and exceedingly experienced exercisers collectively stared us down as we walked in to the room. (I tried to blend in with my basketball outfit and long blonde braided pigtail but I think I can safely say I failed - miserably.)

I don't know if the instructor tried to discourage us but after the warm-up Corey and I looked at each other, both with that subtle shred of fear mixed with pain in our eyes. Up until then it had been bad enough, and we knew what was coming. Speed increase, step combination difficulty increase, and hand movements which I don't think is physically possible for a human brain to comprehend - let alone DO while moving the feet in a particular way simultaneously.

What did we learn from this little adventure then? Absolutely nothing, it seems. Tomorrow we're headed to a trial run of Zumba (if you live under a rock and have never heard of it - youtube, and enjoy our imminent torture)! In other words, another opportunity to look incredibly and unexcusably stupid!

Bring it on.

Jo x

where are we headed? - !

A-a-a-and we have a winner! Tony Hart for 4 points guessed the correct answer: Hokkaido! As your valued price you will receive the honour and a shout-out for your website. Peeps! Tony is a wedding photographer (and an excellent one at that) so if you're getting married in the UK, look no further: http://www.tony-hart.com/ Well done, Tony!

Indeed, indeed! In 2 weeks, during Golden Week (national holiday week), myself and my two gangsters (who you might know from the Kansai adventure over Christmas) are heading north and then a bit more north to Hokkaido and Sapporo. Planning is in full progress but it will involve nature and special Hokkaido ice cream among else.

Prepare for plenty of photos and crazed times!

Jo x

ps. To Anonymous (you coward!) - second place isn't shabby. Maldives - so close, and yet so so SO far off...

where are we headed? - IV

4 points: Given its geographical proximity to the massive European-Asian nation, it's hardly surprising - though noteworthy - that if you stand at the very most northern tip of this Japanese regional island, you may catch a glance of Russian mainland.

It has coastline to no less than three oceans and holds only 5% of Japan's total population.

Where are we headed?

where are we headed? - ladypretentious style

Tony: Kuril Islands is quite wrong I'm afraid but you're not far off. 


Good guess!


Jo x

gagalicious!

Guess what, guess what? Ok, it's perhaps not so difficult given the image above. Indeed, yours truly is going to the Event with capital E! The Born This Way Ball touches down in Stockholm and Ericsson Globe as the last of August fades away and I'll be there with my favourite sister, putting my paws up like never before.

The Monster Ball 2010 was beyond incredible and no superlatives can describe it, so expectations are high to say the least. Can't bloody wait!

Jo x

where are we headed?- ladypretentious style III

6 points: Known for its red foxes, this region boasts a rich history in modern times. It belongs to Japan now, but could just as well have been part of Russian territory after a sneaky attempt in connection to the cease fire of World War II. Luckily for Japan, the US was there to save the day and stop the Russian advances.

Where are we headed in 2 weeks?

fail of the day: tea-tastic!

It has happened again: I have failed. Or should I say possibly failed, for I don't know yet for sure. Let me explain.

In my lovely gym, fancy as it is, they sometimes have tastings of products they're selling. They sell all types of things - clothes, protein products, and other health-related stuff. Today was tea-time. As the utter teaoholic I am I could simply not resist trying the 'Healthy Detoc' (oh, Japan) tea on offer. The nice lady gave me a cup and started chatting me up, and she turned out to speak rather good English. Where are you from? Are you a student? - you get the picture.

Now, said tea was 2,600 yen for a packet. That's roughly £23, or 250 SEK. In other words, absolutely f*ing ridiculous. As the Japanese are so polite and indirect and so on, I wanted to turn the nice lady down in a similarly non-rude way. So I gave her the classic "I don't have money now - are you here all week?" speech.

Little did I know that the sly woman would not be so easily swayed. She offered to leave a packet in the reception with my name on it so I could pay next time I came - "are you coming tomorrow?"

To save myself I smiled and said I'd think about it - then rather literally ran away from the woman, whose exterior was smiling and beaming and thankful - but I swear I could hear the faint echo of an evil laugh worthy of any cartoon villain ever.

So it remains to be seen whether I've bought this 'super healthy' tea for a smaller fortune or not. I'm seriously thinking about skipping the gym session tomorrow simply because of this little incident. Of course, if she has left the packet in the reception there's no escaping it! Unless - unless! - I quit the gym altogether and re-register under a fake name. There's an idea...

Jo x

where are we headed? - ladypretentious style II

8 points: Just like Kyoto has green tea-flavoured Kit Kat, Pocky and other sweets, so has the milk from this region given taste to the world famous chocolate. KitKat White, a product limited to this area, can be enjoyed either in the city area, or in one of the numerous ski resorts.

Any guesses in comments, please.

where are we headed? - ladypretentious style

10 points: Although not quite on the geographical level of the Scandinavian aurora borealis, this place offers great natural scenery all around in a country which is otherwise known for its bustling cities.

courses

So it's here - the moment you've all been waiting for...

COURSE REVELATION!

Ha-ha, I'm so witty at times. Anyway, regardless of the activity of the well-known interest beaver in this area, here is the (preliminary) list for courses taken by yours truly in the next 3 months:

• Japanese Aural Comprehension
• Japanese Conversation Class
• Geisha (about - dumdumduuum - Geisha culture)
• Introduction to Japanese Art History
• Japanese Literature in the Kamakura period (1185-1333)
• Journalism is Japan (very much a practical course - hear, hear!)
• Independent Study - The Golden Age: Revisited

The last one is my own little personal project. It hasn't been officially accepted and confirmed yet so I'm going to leave it at that for now. Next week I should know more.

This little schedule above gives me roughly 8-10 hours' class per week. It's a hard life.

Jo x

ps. Can't believe that in 3 months' time I'll be back on European soil! Time flies.

o-hanami

Hanami is Japanese and means "flower-viewing". Each year when the cherry blossom is at its peak, what seems to be every single person in Japan walks out to the nearest park (or, in all honesty, the nearest sakura tree), spreads out a blanket/similar, and brings out copious amounts of food, drinks - and friends. And then you sit under the tree like a bunch of Asian Ferdinands and hang out.

Consequently...when in Rome and all that...so did we.

Last night I went with three friends to Yoyogi park in Tokyo to do hanami. It's a strange tradition but there is something particular about sitting under a ceiling of white blossom, almost like a snowy sky closer to Earth than usual.

Shikishima no

Yamato-gokoro wo

Hito towaba

Asahi ni niou

Yamazakura-bara.

Asked

What the true Japanese spirit is like,

I would answer,

It is the mountain cherry blossoms

Smelling in the rising sun.

by Motoori Noringa (1730-1801)

Jo x

confidential?

Can't exactly remember whether I promised not to put this one up here or not...if I did - sorry, lovely family. But don't blame me, blame my memory. And memory skills are surely genetic - ergo, it's really all your fault. Pure logic right there, served on that famous silver platter. You're welcome.

Don't even know what you're on about - it's splendidly splendid in every possible way!

Jo x

happy easter!

Parents know me all too well. Today I opened the secret Easter bag I was given and the above met my hungry eyes: nuts, chocolate, sweets, the wondrous chocolate hare (simply the best invention since the wheel), and painkillers. All you need for a good lonely night in.

Prepareth to gain the traditional Easter weight! Welcome, welcome, come on in, make yerself comfortable, Sir. May I take your coat? You'll keep it on? Yes, yes, nice and warm and fluffy. Much obliged, Sir.

Jo x

sakura

Tokyo has spoken - spring is here, and the sakura is blossoming. Let's pray that this sign of natural renewal in botanical terms will also be a symbol of the metaphysical reincarnation of those things which we lost to Winter's cold whirling winds.

Stunning.

Jo x

bitch is back

Family has ventured back home to a snowy Scandinavia, and so abandoned me all alone in a cherry-blossoming Japan. The past two weeks have been paradoxically intensely stressful and intensely wonderful. With little sleep - late nights to have dinner and ensuing drinks with them - and early morning to sneak-partake in touristy breakfast, I am absolutely beat. Add to that a wee bit of pressure to handle all map-reading, guiding, and Japanese speaking.

Nevertheless - I've seen so much more of Tokyo than I had before! We did not leave one single corner unexplored and I now know Shibuya, Omotesando, Harajuku, and Asakusa well enough to conduct guided tours blindfolded and walking backwards (if you're interested, message away - I give special price, only for you [read in Greek accent]).

Now we're back in uni business and currently we are browsing classes, trying to decide what courses to take this term. So far it looks like one about Geisha (with an actual geisha!), one Japanese aural comprehension class (I'm not the top newbie in this one - someone had never studied Japanese before - yay!) and perhaps, just maybe, a personal secret seriously interesting and useful project. No jinxing for that one, and I'll know in a few weeks if it works out. As usual - watch this space.

All of the above means that yours truly is back - and she's chilling in her brand new kimono! Today I ate sushi wearing it and felt proper Japanese. Like my dear family would have said: hai, hai! (no, it doesn't make sense; bah, I miss you).

'Til next time - ta!

Jo x