"Rain Dance II 7/31/04"The last night's joyful rain was lasted only 10 minutes. It was nothing but a drop in the bucket. In Japanese expression, it's too little water dropped on a heated stone. However, Typhoon #10 came around the west of Japan and passed over the city of Hiroshima. I think my rain dance was worked pretty well, but now it's getting way too much, over 8 inches in one day.
"Rain Dance 7/30/04"
Finally, Heaven caved in with a thunder storm. It had been a drought for more than 3 weeks here and I think the God enjoyed my rain dance a few days ago.
"Someone knows somethin' 7/29/04"
A month ago, I wrote foods in Japan had changed to something worse than the way used to be. Now, I know some Japanese realized what's happening to the foods here. It's good to know and I'll try to do something for getting back to the right channels. This is very important for our future.
"A Chick 7/28/04"
A news from NHK said about "A Chick" who tried to bring narcotics to Japan had sentenced in Hong Kong court. How dear to say "A Chick" !
NHK supposed to be the BBC in Japan. In the US and other European countries, they never call a criminal woman "A Chick." It shows you how the society in Japan is. Segregation's never disappeared here for long time.
"Segregation of disabled people 7/27/04"
A bulletin board of a gourmet restaurants survey site had read "Looking for good places to eat for disabled people." It means Disabled People have been ejected from most of the restaurants in Japan. There's been the segregation of disabled people for long long time here. I need to study some more about it and I'll write them later.
"Runaway 7/25~26/04"
I've never been in the situation that people run away from their country. I met two young Mongolians through the translating gig and they were from Mongolian Handball Association. One of them, a coach for low teens, took off into a big city streets and disappeared yesterday morning. I couldn't have realized what happened to him until around 4:00 PM. Some one told me that one day payroll at a restaurant in Japan is equal to one month payroll in Mongol. Yeah, it's as same situation as the Mexicans sneaks into California. The thing bothers me the most is I could not help him at all, nothing.........
"7/23~24/04"
My days are about the same as the previous day. Tiring days continue......
"No Time 7/22/04"
I've been busy with the translating gig and no time to write until tomorrow.
"Interpreter 7/21/04"
I've gotta gig as an interpreter for Asian Women's Handball championship. I took care of one of the referee from Iran. He's a medical doctor and speaks very good English. He mentioned how he divorced and now he has five girlfriends. Yeah, certainly he looks wealthy and I could have the image of Harem from the story. But the realty of money situation between his country and here in Japan is so much different. When we went to shopping, he'd never seen $5.00 key holders. He said they cost only 50 cents in Iran.
"Too hot! 7/20/04"
The temperature in the street would be over 120 degrees F. I like hot weather, but this is too much. Everyone has to watch a heatstroke.
I don't feel anything to write ......
"A New Holiday 7/18~19/04
Today the 19th is a holiday named Marine Day. It is something new to me, but it's nice to have on Monday and the start of summer vacation.
When you walk down the streets in Japan, the big difference from the USA is a facial expression. Mainly, it comes from traditional Japanese value of not showing all your emotions. So, most people look very cool, but to me it's kind of down, you know. Their impression is pretty dark and awkward. I think a good example is wearing the low rise jeans. This hot fashion is made for showing tight tummy, but they are trying to hide their berry with the low rise. Why ?
"Well, gotta hangover? 7/17/04"
Yeaaaaaaah, I had the hangover again. I tried remember how many drinks..... Actually I could count 7 glasses, not many. But mixed so badly, started beer from Okinawa, then "Shochu" rough distilled spirits also from Okinawa. After the restaurant, we were in a nice looking bar. However, I don't remember the name of the place, but I think only one Margarita I had. Then I had to go to Shitamoto, my gigging place and I had a glass of red. Anyway, too many drinks were mixed pretty well. After this counting, I went back to sleep..........
"New Friends 7/16/04"
Today seven guys who became friends through the same website called Hiroshima E Class Gourmet, got together meeting that we call "Off Party", means "Shut Off your computer and get out to a tasting Party." The place "Uchina" was a gourmet restaurant serving OKINAWA Food and to me it was my first experience of the cooking. After the full meal I was really impressed with seaweed and veggies preparation and pig foot soup. They're all pretty simple cooking and taste great!
"Somethin' fishy ? I was right about it. 7/15/04"
Yesterday, I didn't mention what are the top 10 best foods for women, because I didn't read all the way through. Here are the some of them, soybeans, water, broccoli, kale, lentils and red meats. And then, they said " Something fishy here." Yes, I was right about the Juice of Tube Steak. The Best Foods for women is a salmon, high in protein, low in cholesterol and contains quite a few B vitamins, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium, in addition to the value of omega-3 essential fats.
"eDiets.com 7/13~14/04"
I've just learned top 10 best foods for women at the website called eDiets.com. It's also said Eating for Life plan. Hey, I know something good one for that ! It's the Juice of Tube Steak, no meat, men ! Yeah, men NO MEAT and it's the most fresh protein right off the Tube. For them, I think it's not only the BEST Food, but also you have the BEST Exercise at the same time.
"Maria the Champ! 7/12/04"
The Wimbledon Champ Maria Sharapova's name was on the internet 149,124 times in the last month except Far East countries like Japan, China and Korea due to the difference of languages. In Japan, it was on 14,710 times. Say the average frequency per day will be just about 6 thousand times. It is incredible even in the worldwide media. The interesting headlines for Ms. Sharapova are "Maria Pic Sharapova, Maria Nude Sharapova, Maria Photo Sharapova, Maria Sharapova Wallpaper, Maria Naked Sharapova, Maria Sharapova Upskirt and Maria Sexy Sharapova." You Know what I mean? The words like Pic and Photo are pretty understandable but Upskirt and Nude are something to tell you about what is going on Today. Oh, no, no, it's been for more than thirty thousand of years.
"Since Friday... 7/9~11/04"
I met a nice guy named Rei (Sounded as RAY), who sings and plays guitar pretty good. His father has been on the House of Councilors candidate as an independent and the election was only two days to go. I told a couple of friends about him and his father, but I didn't go to the election. The main reason was that the campaign was only 17 days. How do I get to know all the candidates for the short period and also, I had been absent to any election for 33 years.
Yesterday, I went to a nice soul food restaurant, the Japanese Soul Food called "Oden." This place was so reasonable and I had a nice Sake from Shimane prefecture. Oden is made of fish broth with a lot of veggies and fish cakes. A friend of mine Claude called it "Japanese style Bouillabaisse" and she said adding a french mustard could make it better. Since then, I've keeping her advise and my Oden is actually better than most of them.
"Baes-Borl 7/8/04"
Pro-Baseball League in Japan has been in trouble and two teams are trying to merge soon. Well, of course it's their money trouble. To me it might be good for them because it's about time to reconstruct them. I think they need a lot of young players in their farm team to support the top. In order to do so, they should learn about farm teams in the US right now. I remember a farm team in Buffalo, NY was doing pretty well by having lots promotion in their ballpark and they made a good profit in the late 90s.
"Tanabata 7/7/04"
July 7 is we Japanese call "TANABATA", came from an ancient Chinese love story. However, I ain't gonna write nothing for that story. I was juiced up playing on the drums last night, but the weather still bothers me as hell. I wish I could have "TANABOTA" soon. Tanabota means when you open your mouth, a sweet rice cake falls into your mouth from the Heaven automatically.
"Struggling with energy 7/6/04"
Losing a whole lot of energy in the past few days, because of the weather. I sure hope I can recharge it by playing the drums tonight. I'll be teaching an English conversation this Friday, but nothing prepare for it yet.
"Nada 7/5/04"
I couldn't wake up until noon, because of watching Euro Cup soccer around 5 in the morning. Felt so tired and slept again. After that nothing to write .......
"Sticky as Hell! 7/4/04"
A Happy Birthday to the US of A.
I had to wake up 5:30 in the morning for a wedding gig way outta east from Hiroshima. The gig was only two half an hour playing time. We've gotta back in town 6:30 in the evening. The worst thing was the weather. You'd have felt like you were in a steam bath with your clothing on all day long. It was the hell of the Monsoon.
"Maria Sharapova!!! 7/3/04"
I don't need to mention her anymore. A new tennis champ was born and it's really good for tennis. The Williams sisters also need her for getting up on the next level.
"An Italian Joint 7/2/04"
My old friend, Ken-chan took me to an Italian lunch near by Family Court in Hiroshima. The place is called Aiuto. We had pretty good pasta and it came with antipasto, soup, dessert, and soft drink. I think this place is one of the top Italian in Hiroshima, but not pricey at all. It was about $14.00 per person, that's it!
"A weird dream 7/1/04"
I was out of town again and went to the same place, a friend of mine's gallery surrounded by small mountains near Hiroshima. I could not sleep well because the weather was so sticky and hot. I woke up around 3:00AM and couldn't sleep for about a couple of hours. I had a few glasses of wine. This wine made me something weird and I had a weird dream.
I was in my New York apartment. There was a lady who said she was a friend of my room-mate. She was holding a pan doing some cooking in my kitchen and saying something to me but I couldn't figure out what she's saying. Suddenly the scene changed. I had to go out to see a video producer, someone sent me a message to see this person who was famous. Walking down streets of Manhattan was great and felt so good. At the entrance of the producer's building, asked an African American guard to see Mr. Tommy Agee. He said "No, he's not living in this building, but I know him well. So, I'll give you his phone number." I said to myself what's going on, I don't need the phone number, he should give me his address. So, I checked the memo and saw the name was Amy Cage. "No, no the name is wrong. Ah..." then, I woke up.
©2004 Tadashi Yasunaga All rights reserved