[Photo by Claude DeBacker]
"Gigs at a little bar June 29, 2004"
I've been playing Jazz every Tuesday nites since May. This place, a piano bar named Shitamoto, is so tiny. It's like a 12X15 room with a baby grand. The owner and the piano player Mr. Shitamoto plays with full of energy, reminds me of McCoy Tyner. The bass player Mr. Hori is cool, but he has health problems sometimes. I hope he'll get much better and we'll all have fun of playing good music. One thing is sure we have quite few fans already and keeps us going.
"Tennis or Ping-Pong game? June 28, 2004"
I've been watching the Wimbledon Tennis on TV last couple of days and this is my first experience in Japan. John McEnroe was on BBC/NHK as a guest commentator. I've liked him more as a commentator than a tennis player. He knows what's he's doing when he's on the air. Even he said he was so appreciate to watch the great player like Federer and had a goose-bump. Ah, maybe he's getting old? I don't know.
Now, check this funny game, transferring sovereignty to Iraqi interim government. Remember the ping-pong game when Nixon visit to China and the Vietnam war ended after the Watergate.
"Bear in Japan June 27, 2004"
NHK evening news said a bear attacked a man near my hometown. This type of news never happened when I used to live here. Because bear was almost extinct at the time in Japan. That's why Japanese mountains are getting back to its nature, you know. Also, there are a lot of wild boar all over mountain side in Japan today and actually there are restaurants around just for the meat to serve.
"Monsoon June 26, 2004"
Yap, we've gotta Monsoon Season, used to love it when I was teens. In my head, there're rain drops on hydrangea flowers under eaves in a morning mist as a clean shot of picture 40 years ago.
Now, I'm just finding out that foods in my country had been changed to worse. The most obvious stuff is fruits and veggies. They're all lost crispiness, no bites at all. Then, most of fruits are too sweet and too soft. Sure it's good for Honey Dew Melon, but the most of others make you feel weird. I think a lot of people in Japan had thought that the best taste of foods is come from a sort of Royal Dinning. Furthermore, they've forgotten those food is for old people, not for young.
"Out of town June 24~25, 2004"
I've just gotta back from out of town and tell you all about later.
"Weather in Japan June 23, 2004"
A couple days ago Typhoon #6 was on the island of Shikoku and Honshu, caused a lot of rain Osaka and Nagoya aria. Yes, we supposed to have a lot of rain this time of the year, because of Monsoon season. However, not much rain yet and we have very hot days this week, over 90 degrees F. To me it's missing something, used to love those rainy days when I was young.
"Something's not happening here. June 22, 2004"
When I was talking to a Chinese restaurant owner in Hiroshima the other day. He was a Japanese man living in Hong Kong for 20 years and we both agreed that foods in Japan had changed to worse taste. For example, apples don't have natural taste, means too sweet and not enough sour taste. I can't pointed out why they changed, but one thing is sure that Japanese food is changing into something I don't know. I'll figure out some more later.
"Typhoon #6 June 21, 2004"
Category 3 Typhoon #6 is on a way to Japan. She's going to hit Shikoku Island in a couple of hours (9:00AM Est.)?After her status changed to tropical storm at night, casualty was only 3 and 3 missing. To me it's much better than used to be for our safety. I think because of lots dam managing flood water, however it means huge trouble for the fish and environment.
"Nothing Special, but.... June 20, 2004"
It was a nice Sunday evening, cooked an American style dinner for my father. Otherwise, nothing special but US Open Golf at Shinnecock was great. One thing is because of watching in Japan for the first time. Another thing is a Japanese golfer Shigeki Maruyama was in the last pair. Yeah, I know it's very hard for him to be the Major champion and wishing him to be the one.
"Mt. Noro June 19, 2004"
A friend of mine took me to a beautiful mountain called Mt. Noro, about 20 miles South East from Hiroshima City. It's a part of the National Park, named Seto-Naikai, means inland sea. This mountain is not only beautiful, but also has the great view over the inland sea from a half mile up and almost a full view of Ehime prefecture in Shikoku stretching about 50 miles radius. Finally, I saw the clean place since I've gotta back in Japan. There are all kinds of troubles for environment and when I was on a beach in one of the National Park's island about a month ago, I had almost throw up on the beach. It was devastated by tons of garbage scattered around the beach. Actually, I needed going back to the States, that's what I thought on that day. Well, thank God, I was glad to see the pretty clean mountain today.
"Hangover June 18,2004"
For the first time in days I had a hangover this morning. Yeah, in DAYS, not in YEARS or even in MONTHS ? Well, I must say since April and it means I had it in MONTHS. Thank God, that's getting much better than used to be. OK, now how I get rid of this shit? First of all, drink lots of water and yes, I did. What's next? Hey, I've gotta very good stuff. It's a pickled plum. This thing is the Japanese medicine of all mother's pick. I must take them ASAP.
"World's first mobile phone June 17, 2004"
Thinking of the World today, it's so funny sometimes.
Yesterday, NTT Docomo, leading phone company in Japan, announced the world first electric wallet mobile phone. It can be used as a debit card. And now I saw the article about the World's first mobile phone virus called "Cabir." Aren't these news makes you wonder how the world turns in one day. Anyhow, I ain't gonna have a mobile phone at any time soon. No, no, never!