debauchery in roppongi
We meet Kevin right at 10pm at Mogamobo. It's still early and the crowd is thin. Ed and Ako, a cutie he knew from Texas, appears. Eventually a group of people Kev knows shows up. Another group of women shows up, dressed in black cocktail dresses and sporting eyemasks, bubble-guns, party poppers, and baloon art. They each have a button declaring them member's of "Jo's Hen Party", making every guy in the bar desparately wish he was "Jo".
Stevie's girl Eriko brought a friend but, arriving on time and seeing Stevie nowhere, went next door to dance to bad 80's tunes. Finally Stevie and Kyle appear, Stevie going "Where's Eriko?"
By now the place is reasonably packed, the hen party is in full bubble-making/party-popping mode, and the music is loud. Just as we spot Lee's plaque on the wall (second over, second down from the upper right corner) my cell rings: Lee calling from New York. We chat, we toast, we refuse to ring the bell in his honor unless he provides us with a credit card number.
Ed knows another place (there's ALWAYS another place in Roppongi) so we hike around the corner and up the street. Before getting incoherent, Steve calls his wife, and then into the basement we go. The music is better, the air-conditioner is more effectice, the dartboard is crap, and the tvs are playing some bad gangster movie starring Sharon Stone with 80's hair. Kyle gets freaky in the corner. Kevin shows us how the sport of the beer-drinking pot-bellied white man is played. Steve is humbled. Stevie is Stevie. Stevie's girlfriend is also, unfortunately, Stevie.
At some point, several hours after the carriage has turned back into a pumpkin, we emerge to street level. Fighting through waves of offers for massage and other services, we put Steve in a cab pointing vaguely back towards the Hotel Okura, say our good-byes, and I stumble back home, glad I live within walking distance of the armpit that is...Roppongi.
Stevie's girl Eriko brought a friend but, arriving on time and seeing Stevie nowhere, went next door to dance to bad 80's tunes. Finally Stevie and Kyle appear, Stevie going "Where's Eriko?"
By now the place is reasonably packed, the hen party is in full bubble-making/party-popping mode, and the music is loud. Just as we spot Lee's plaque on the wall (second over, second down from the upper right corner) my cell rings: Lee calling from New York. We chat, we toast, we refuse to ring the bell in his honor unless he provides us with a credit card number.
Ed knows another place (there's ALWAYS another place in Roppongi) so we hike around the corner and up the street. Before getting incoherent, Steve calls his wife, and then into the basement we go. The music is better, the air-conditioner is more effectice, the dartboard is crap, and the tvs are playing some bad gangster movie starring Sharon Stone with 80's hair. Kyle gets freaky in the corner. Kevin shows us how the sport of the beer-drinking pot-bellied white man is played. Steve is humbled. Stevie is Stevie. Stevie's girlfriend is also, unfortunately, Stevie.
At some point, several hours after the carriage has turned back into a pumpkin, we emerge to street level. Fighting through waves of offers for massage and other services, we put Steve in a cab pointing vaguely back towards the Hotel Okura, say our good-byes, and I stumble back home, glad I live within walking distance of the armpit that is...Roppongi.
blaster
Friggin' Microsoft and their assinine OS. I've gotten over 100 mails with the virus yesterday and am still getting them today. Virus scrubbers on the firewall have killed them all before the mail gets into my inbox, but it's still annoying. Now what's worse is that some infected machines are using my email address as the from/reply-to, so now I'm getting bouncebacks as well.
Here's a tip: USE VIRUS PROTECTION and KEEP IT UP TO DATE!
Do not assume Microsoft or your ISP or anyone else will keep your PC clean. It's your machine, and it's your responsibility. You don't have to write your own anti-virus software or configure your own firewall, but at least use some industry standard software and keep it in proper working order.
It's kind of like your car. You don't have to change the oil yourself, but you do have to remember to have the oil changed regularly. No one comes over to your house every month to check your oil without even bothering your about it, right?
Here's a tip: USE VIRUS PROTECTION and KEEP IT UP TO DATE!
Do not assume Microsoft or your ISP or anyone else will keep your PC clean. It's your machine, and it's your responsibility. You don't have to write your own anti-virus software or configure your own firewall, but at least use some industry standard software and keep it in proper working order.
It's kind of like your car. You don't have to change the oil yourself, but you do have to remember to have the oil changed regularly. No one comes over to your house every month to check your oil without even bothering your about it, right?
angles
Ran through the fundamentals at practice, and after Tanaka-sensei showed up I took the two beginners and continued to drill on the basics. About 7:30 Niina-gosoke showed up and made everyone do the first kata, shin. Seems that recently there's been some mis-information about this first and most important kata. The first cut is a standard 45 degrees rising diagonal. The second cut is a diagonal into the base of the neck and through the body to the waist, above the hipbone. The angle is most definitely not 45 degrees. Also, the position of the hands after the second cut isn't set in stone. Depending on arm length, sword size, etc. the hands could be in front of the left knee, or above it, or beside it. The key is the angle of the cut; into the base of the neck and down through the body, along the line of the collar of the uniform. Also, the upper body should not be leaning too far forward.
The best thing to do is first try the kata standing. Right foot out rising diagonal. Retract the left and ready the sword, then left foot out and diagonal cut. In that position, drop the right knee to the floor and check the upper body position: should not be leaning too far forward, just slightly.
The best thing to do is first try the kata standing. Right foot out rising diagonal. Retract the left and ready the sword, then left foot out and diagonal cut. In that position, drop the right knee to the floor and check the upper body position: should not be leaning too far forward, just slightly.
my brother got a real job!
To quote:
"I’m the new Web/Marketing designer here at Globus and Cosmos for a real live salary and everything."
Does this mean he'll pay me back all that money I loaned him for those high-risk Florida real estate investments?
"I’m the new Web/Marketing designer here at Globus and Cosmos for a real live salary and everything."
Does this mean he'll pay me back all that money I loaned him for those high-risk Florida real estate investments?
mano-a-mano (again)
By 6:30 no one had shown up for practice, so I got in front of the mirror and starting drilling myself of the fundamentals, and then the kata for the national tournament next month.
A little after 7 Kasahara-kun showed up, so I stood him in front of the mirror and schooled him for an hour until he could draw and cut without making all kinds of clashing clicking noises; drawing smoothly so that his blade completely cleared the saya (scabbard) without chewing it up. I think he was finally starting to get it, and the last couple of times he drew and cut it looked pretty good for a beginner, so there is hope, both for him and for my teaching!
However, every now and then my right shoulder would twinge in pain. Not the usual right shoulder pain I feel; it's just under the collar bone, kind of a stabbing pain, that goes as quickly as it comes. First started feeling it when doing forms, but didn't hurt at all during warmup and basics. A strange thing, the human body is.
A little after 7 Kasahara-kun showed up, so I stood him in front of the mirror and schooled him for an hour until he could draw and cut without making all kinds of clashing clicking noises; drawing smoothly so that his blade completely cleared the saya (scabbard) without chewing it up. I think he was finally starting to get it, and the last couple of times he drew and cut it looked pretty good for a beginner, so there is hope, both for him and for my teaching!
However, every now and then my right shoulder would twinge in pain. Not the usual right shoulder pain I feel; it's just under the collar bone, kind of a stabbing pain, that goes as quickly as it comes. First started feeling it when doing forms, but didn't hurt at all during warmup and basics. A strange thing, the human body is.
zero day
Cousin Dave's first full-length feature film Zero Day is opening at Film Forum in NYC (209 West Houston) on Wednesday September 3.
Buy tix online and see it.
Buy tix online and see it.
inconsistency
Tanaka-sensei took the two new guys and Kanai-bashocho was instructing the two others, leaving me in the back to practice on my own. I went through the five kata for the upcoming national tournament and immediately felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder, just like on Wednesday of last week. So I took it easy and the pain went away, but it made me kind of jumpy, so I was in terrible form all night. In such a situation, I usually just slow down to about one-quarter speed and go through everying in slow motion. I try to exaggerate all the movements, paying attention to one thing like foot position, then repeating again and paying attention to something else like hand movement. Repeating 5-10 times for each form, I slowly speed up to about three-quarters normal speed, now focusing on flow more than individual movements. Doing this I tend to find the parts where I'm doing something unnecessary; hand is out too far, head is bobbing, hips aren't aligned correctly, so I attempt to smooth out the bumps and minimize the extraneous. Out of the corner of my eye I was watching Kanai-bashocho teaching and I realized that I will have a very tough time indeed at the national tournament.
health checkup results
The results are in:
All A's across the board, except for the EKG a B because of supposed sinus bradycardia, most likely because I have a standing heartrate of 45. As a child I was diagnosed with some sort of heart condition (mitral valve prolapse I think it was.)
Anyway, weight and BMI are down: 76.7 kilos, 27.1 (not quite 25, but considered by build, I could only get down to 25BMI by cutting off a leg).
Blood pressure is good: 120/80, despite genetic tendencies on mom's side towards high blood pressure. Low standing heart rate is from my dad's side, FYI.
Lack of drinking and smoking and daily sword-swinging seems to be paying off. I must be an life insurer's dream.
All A's across the board, except for the EKG a B because of supposed sinus bradycardia, most likely because I have a standing heartrate of 45. As a child I was diagnosed with some sort of heart condition (mitral valve prolapse I think it was.)
Anyway, weight and BMI are down: 76.7 kilos, 27.1 (not quite 25, but considered by build, I could only get down to 25BMI by cutting off a leg).
Blood pressure is good: 120/80, despite genetic tendencies on mom's side towards high blood pressure. Low standing heart rate is from my dad's side, FYI.
Lack of drinking and smoking and daily sword-swinging seems to be paying off. I must be an life insurer's dream.
the wise words of greg palast
POWER OUTAGE TRACED TO DIM BULB IN WHITE HOUSE --- The Tale of The Brits Who Swiped 800 Jobs From New York, Carted Off $90 Million, Then Tonight, Turned Off Our Lights
And some interesting political use of Flash animation: Grand Theft America.
And some interesting political use of Flash animation: Grand Theft America.
happy fun rightists
This weekend is the anniversary of the end of WWII, a perfect time for the right-wing imperialists to drive big trucks real slow, wave big imperialist Japanese flags, and blare on loudspeakers against the liberalist policies of a weak-willed and unarmed Japan.
The photos aren't great because I took them with my phone, in the rain, but there were at least fifty trucks going down Meiji Dori.
The photos aren't great because I took them with my phone, in the rain, but there were at least fifty trucks going down Meiji Dori.
blackout update
From mom:
I was in the supermarket at 4 pm yesterday, with a cartload of food, when the lights flickered twice and then went black. Only one register was open, so I just left all, got in the car and drove home.
Since it was the very start of the blackout, drivers were courteous and acting like every corner was a 4-way stop. It only took a few extra minutes to get home.
At around 6 Susan (next door) and I decided to find a restaurant open-while Tony and Papa were sneering. We never found one, so between the two freezers were able to barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn on the cob. Was even able to gather enough stuff to make a fairly decent salad and have melon and chips on the side. A feast eaten by candlelight.
Emy and I purchased fans from Sharper Image that run on batteries (to use at Quilt Camp). How nice I had mine. Papa and I went to sleep with the fan blowing and somewhat cooling off the bedroom.
The light came back on sometime during the night.
Emy called this morning to say Manhattan still had no electricity. Parts of Brooklyn and Queens did have electricity. And so the saga goes on!
Needless to say my dinner in NYC has be cancelled, my plans to stay at Emy's this weekend has been cancelled, so I'll make some inari and that wonderful fried chicken with sesame seeds for dinner.
I was in the supermarket at 4 pm yesterday, with a cartload of food, when the lights flickered twice and then went black. Only one register was open, so I just left all, got in the car and drove home.
Since it was the very start of the blackout, drivers were courteous and acting like every corner was a 4-way stop. It only took a few extra minutes to get home.
At around 6 Susan (next door) and I decided to find a restaurant open-while Tony and Papa were sneering. We never found one, so between the two freezers were able to barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn on the cob. Was even able to gather enough stuff to make a fairly decent salad and have melon and chips on the side. A feast eaten by candlelight.
Emy and I purchased fans from Sharper Image that run on batteries (to use at Quilt Camp). How nice I had mine. Papa and I went to sleep with the fan blowing and somewhat cooling off the bedroom.
The light came back on sometime during the night.
Emy called this morning to say Manhattan still had no electricity. Parts of Brooklyn and Queens did have electricity. And so the saga goes on!
Needless to say my dinner in NYC has be cancelled, my plans to stay at Emy's this weekend has been cancelled, so I'll make some inari and that wonderful fried chicken with sesame seeds for dinner.
still raining
I'm so glad that tsuyu, the rainy season, officially ended two weeks ago according the Japanese Weather Bureau. I guess that fact this it's been pissing rain for three days straight is just some kind of weather anomoly? As well as the 5 degree Celsius drop in temperature?
At practice was not unforgivingly hot and humid! And damn but I was feeling good and doing well if I do say so myself. My grip felt solid and my cuts clean and fast. Still have problems with timing and upper-body positioning, but I actually felt like I've made some progress.
After practice we went for dinner and Ohtsuka-san entertained us with his tails of "home remform": he's going to remodel the second floor of his house into a dojo. He's taken out all the furniture and rented an apartment to store it/live in while the carpenters knock down internal walls, put in wall-to-wall flooring and cover the walls in mirrors. He and the group in Kichijoji want to start regular cutting practices, too, so Niina-gosoke has told me to oversee them, just like I'm doing with the cutting practices in Ichikawa. More cutting!
At practice was not unforgivingly hot and humid! And damn but I was feeling good and doing well if I do say so myself. My grip felt solid and my cuts clean and fast. Still have problems with timing and upper-body positioning, but I actually felt like I've made some progress.
After practice we went for dinner and Ohtsuka-san entertained us with his tails of "home remform": he's going to remodel the second floor of his house into a dojo. He's taken out all the furniture and rented an apartment to store it/live in while the carpenters knock down internal walls, put in wall-to-wall flooring and cover the walls in mirrors. He and the group in Kichijoji want to start regular cutting practices, too, so Niina-gosoke has told me to oversee them, just like I'm doing with the cutting practices in Ichikawa. More cutting!
black|rain
Well, I was all prepared to whine about the horrendous rain and cold, fall-like temps, but since half the eastern seaboard is without power, I'll just remind folks how glad I am that I bought myself a surefire e2e flashlight.
connected at the...shoulder?
For the first time in what seems like a long time, no beginners showed up to practice last night, so I got to train instead of teach for the whole two hours. Tanaka-sensei ran us through all 20 kata, and I was feeling ok, though a bit cludgy. Near the end, though, I felt a pinching/tweaking in my right shoulder, and my right elbow was a bit sore from over-extending, so I decided not to keep practicing for the last hour even though Niina-gosoke himself was watching over practice. No point in doing permanent damage, especially with the tricky state my right shoulder is in.
Then this morning I was trying to email BigTony in LA, but the mails kept bouncing back, so I called him. Turns out he thrashed his shoulder, too (surfing). So maybe we've got a psycho-sympathetic thing going on?
Then this morning I was trying to email BigTony in LA, but the mails kept bouncing back, so I called him. Turns out he thrashed his shoulder, too (surfing). So maybe we've got a psycho-sympathetic thing going on?
one-on-one
Mano-a-mano. Nakatani-kun and I squared off for two hours of intense practice. Actually, it being the middle of summer vacation, he's the only one who showed up to practice. So, I worked him hard, drilling the finer points of upper- and lower-body timing; trying to get the legs and arms to move in unison, drive the power from the hips, keep balanced and stable. We ran through fundamentals for most of the time. First basic cuts, checking angles, grip, and the timing of foot and hand movement. Then we did the basic renzoku waza; the two series of draw, cut, sheath that are aptly named #1 (horizontal cut) and #2 (rising diagonal cut). I stood him in front of the mirror to check angles and point out the timing of stepping versus drawing back the left hand to get the sword tip to clear quickly and cut powerfully.
Teaching in such detail is a great way to work on my own technique, too. I have to show proper examples, and as I'm explaining and demonstrating I'm realizing what I need to work on as well.
And yeah, it wasn't exactly cool and refreshing.
After practice I jammed back to work to jump on the Tuesday night conference call.
Couldn't do it at home because I'm in the process of switching my second phone line from the company to my own name; company no longer sponsors phone lines, so I have to have it in my own name and then submit an expense report every month for it. And since the owner of the line, and therefore the number, is changing, I have to cancel my Yahoo! BB 12 meg DSL account, send the rental modem back, and then sign up again and get a new modem sent out.
Of course, yesterday when I sent the modem back, I forgot to include the power supply...wonder if they'll notice?
Teaching in such detail is a great way to work on my own technique, too. I have to show proper examples, and as I'm explaining and demonstrating I'm realizing what I need to work on as well.
And yeah, it wasn't exactly cool and refreshing.
After practice I jammed back to work to jump on the Tuesday night conference call.
Couldn't do it at home because I'm in the process of switching my second phone line from the company to my own name; company no longer sponsors phone lines, so I have to have it in my own name and then submit an expense report every month for it. And since the owner of the line, and therefore the number, is changing, I have to cancel my Yahoo! BB 12 meg DSL account, send the rental modem back, and then sign up again and get a new modem sent out.
Of course, yesterday when I sent the modem back, I forgot to include the power supply...wonder if they'll notice?
beware of disgruntled tattoo artists
Make sure you know what ink you're getting! Or you could be in trouble.
back to basics
Tanaka-sensei didn't come to practice, so Kanai-bashocho had me run the two beginners through the basics as she took the other two and did forms. Always nice to get back to fundamentals; grip, stance, focus. Good to work with beginners, because it makes me focus on my own technique; have to demonstrate properly, of course, but also as I correct them I notice the same mistakes I make myself. We are all beginners.
strict
Nine people tested for rank promotion. Those testing for 1dan and 2dan passed, but the four testing for 4dan all failed. They all did okay cutting, but the kata part of the testing is really strict, and none of them made it. I don't plan on testing for 5dan for a while; no chance I'd pass any time soon. But no hurry, either.
Gosoke also told me that from now on, 5dan testing will include kumitachi (paired forms.)
Gosoke also told me that from now on, 5dan testing will include kumitachi (paired forms.)
more whining
I really thought I'd stop whining about the heat and humidity during practice, honest. But this was just brutal. Niina-gosoke's practice in the small gym of the elementary school in Nihonbashi is usually hot, but damn the mosquitoes we just open up all the windows and side-doors and at least get some airflow. However the inner courtyard has recently been repaved, so we had to keep all the door closed. Stuffy does not begin to describe it. Besides the fact that typhoon #10 was pummelling southern Japan, and pushing up tons of moisture so that the humid was around %90, it was hot. Hot like stop every 20 minutes hot. Hot like someone almost passed out and had to sit out half of practice hot. Hot like so drenched in sweat it looks like we practiced outside in the middle of the typhoon's pouring rain hot.
Gosoke took pity on us, giving us frequent breaks. Also as a few people are testing on Sunday, we spent most of the time going over the four "Shiho" kata: Mugairyu, Zenkenren, and Zeniren (Suio-ryu's.) Note that we don't do 'real' seitei; we learn just enough to know the moves, and how they differentiate from Mugairyu. Plus we study the forms as they were done back in the 1960's by Shiokawa-gosoke, so I'm sure they're totally different than what everyone does now.
After practice we were all dying to so we went to get some refreshments and talked about how cool it would be to have a permanent dojo. Nothing fancy, just a place we could practice 24/7. Of course, half the college students would drop out of school, bring sleeping bags, and live there!
Gosoke took pity on us, giving us frequent breaks. Also as a few people are testing on Sunday, we spent most of the time going over the four "Shiho" kata: Mugairyu, Zenkenren, and Zeniren (Suio-ryu's.) Note that we don't do 'real' seitei; we learn just enough to know the moves, and how they differentiate from Mugairyu. Plus we study the forms as they were done back in the 1960's by Shiokawa-gosoke, so I'm sure they're totally different than what everyone does now.
After practice we were all dying to so we went to get some refreshments and talked about how cool it would be to have a permanent dojo. Nothing fancy, just a place we could practice 24/7. Of course, half the college students would drop out of school, bring sleeping bags, and live there!
911
Joel in town for the week to do some consulting, and JETAA had a get together, so after chatting with Ollie about some DVD stuff for iai, headed over to 911 in Roppongi to see the gang. Ed was in fine form as usual. Beck showed up a bit later looking good with his Tiffany cufflinks. By 10pm, Nanshii and Z -- well on their way to drunk anyway -- took full advantage of the free champagne lady's night and all were having a good time. The place started to get crowded just as I was getting hungry, so I stepped out about 10:30 to get home and eat the left over pizza.
ping-pong
People get really creative doing skits on the stupendously entertaining Japanese TV Show Kin-chan's Kaso Taisho.
back to the future
Michael Valdez Moses writes about the The nostalgic yet progressive appeal of wizards, hobbits, and Jedi knights on reasononline.
humidity and a tweaked neck
I know I should stop whining about how hot and humid it is. I choose to stand in an un-air-conditioned gym for three hours, swinging a kilogram of steel. It's hot. It's humid. I get sweaty.
Spent the first couple hours working with one of the beginners; she was picking up the basics fairly quickly so I could steal a couple of minutes now and then to do my own thing. My neck was really killing me, though. I tweaked it on Sunday during cutting practice and it's still bugging me, so I'm switching to a big, fluffy pillow. Last hour Tanaka-sensei gave us pointers as we ran through our individual kata for the national tournament. Wow, I suck.
Spent the first couple hours working with one of the beginners; she was picking up the basics fairly quickly so I could steal a couple of minutes now and then to do my own thing. My neck was really killing me, though. I tweaked it on Sunday during cutting practice and it's still bugging me, so I'm switching to a big, fluffy pillow. Last hour Tanaka-sensei gave us pointers as we ran through our individual kata for the national tournament. Wow, I suck.
rain!
I thought the rainy season ended last week! Just as I was about to leave work for practice, the skies turned gray and dumped rain by the bucketful. I had to grab a cab and ended up being late for practice. Nakatani-kun and Chihara-kun were waiting for me when I arrived. We quickly started practice, running through the basics (watching the left-hand grip) and then doing a few kata, being careful of the points Niina-gosoke made over the weekend. Namely: moving the body as one (keeping the upper- and lower-body coordinated), blade angle, and targeting/distance.
After practice I cabbed home in time to get on the conference call with NY and London, and Hiroko made a bowl of Thai noodles for me to slurp while on the call.
After practice I cabbed home in time to get on the conference call with NY and London, and Hiroko made a bowl of Thai noodles for me to slurp while on the call.
aircon?
Shibuya practice and it was surprisingly cool down in the kendo practice room in the basement of Hachiyama Junior High. There was a machine-like hum and the vents in the ceiling seemed to be putting out cool air...
There were only five of us, so Kanai-bashocho took the two beginners and I got Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun. We ran through the basics and halfway through Niina-gosoke showed up to watch practice. Took our time on basics so only did three forms after that; shin, ren, and munazukushi. Kind of stressful teaching with Niina-gosoke watching (not really watching, but you know he is!)
When I was teaching the second kata 'ren', Niina-gosoke suddenly goes "Freeze!", gets up, and pushes over Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun: "Watch that right foot!" Have to make sure that when you turn around to cut down the opponent behind you, turn on the ball of the left foot and kick that right foot over so that you clear the centerline and are balanced on both feet and the right knee. If you leave the right foot where it is, the right leg is bent behind you too much, making you unable to cut deeply and unstable.
There were only five of us, so Kanai-bashocho took the two beginners and I got Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun. We ran through the basics and halfway through Niina-gosoke showed up to watch practice. Took our time on basics so only did three forms after that; shin, ren, and munazukushi. Kind of stressful teaching with Niina-gosoke watching (not really watching, but you know he is!)
When I was teaching the second kata 'ren', Niina-gosoke suddenly goes "Freeze!", gets up, and pushes over Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun: "Watch that right foot!" Have to make sure that when you turn around to cut down the opponent behind you, turn on the ball of the left foot and kick that right foot over so that you clear the centerline and are balanced on both feet and the right knee. If you leave the right foot where it is, the right leg is bent behind you too much, making you unable to cut deeply and unstable.
lost
So first I was trying to go to the instructors' seminar, and got to Toritsudai before I realized that I was the only person around. The receptionist at the gym said "No iai this afternoon. Footsal." So I called Sekido-san and he said "Where are you? Toritsudai? Nihonbashi, dude, Nihonbashi!"
Other side of Tokyo. Oops. So I went to Nihonbashi. I should have actually gone to Kanda station, not Nihonbashi station, and I got totally lost coming out the wrong side of the station, finally showing up half an hour late. Gosoke was running through all the kata; 20 basic and 8 advanced, pointing out all the critical parts to pay attention to when teaching and/or practicing ourselves.
When the seminar was over I got on the Hanzomon subway and jammed down to Sangenjaya, called Hiroko to get direction's to Todd's house, and got totally, completely, stupendously lost. Ended up wandering for an hour and finding my way back to the station. Finally Todd just came out to meet me and it turns out I was so close, but when the building was right in front of me, for some inexplicable reason I turned left and ended up taking a 5 kilometer detour.
Anyway finally made it to his place and scared Amy a little bit before eating the left over BBQ burger, sausage, and other food scraps. Hiroko was busy showing Narumi and Etsuko what she learns at Fighting Fitness while I blinded Will with my surefire light, and bitched about work with Todd and Bull.
Other side of Tokyo. Oops. So I went to Nihonbashi. I should have actually gone to Kanda station, not Nihonbashi station, and I got totally lost coming out the wrong side of the station, finally showing up half an hour late. Gosoke was running through all the kata; 20 basic and 8 advanced, pointing out all the critical parts to pay attention to when teaching and/or practicing ourselves.
When the seminar was over I got on the Hanzomon subway and jammed down to Sangenjaya, called Hiroko to get direction's to Todd's house, and got totally, completely, stupendously lost. Ended up wandering for an hour and finding my way back to the station. Finally Todd just came out to meet me and it turns out I was so close, but when the building was right in front of me, for some inexplicable reason I turned left and ended up taking a 5 kilometer detour.
Anyway finally made it to his place and scared Amy a little bit before eating the left over BBQ burger, sausage, and other food scraps. Hiroko was busy showing Narumi and Etsuko what she learns at Fighting Fitness while I blinded Will with my surefire light, and bitched about work with Todd and Bull.
tokyu hands
Went to the practice at Akabane this morning for some cutting. There were lots of people, but plenty of space so we had four stands -- two pegged and two balanced. I was on the far right (no peg), and just couldn't get into it. I guess I was stressing a bit because on Thursday Gosoke announced that I was going to cut in front of everyone at the national tournament next month, with Tanaka-sensei and Naganuma-sensei. So on my third or so cut, my brain froze, and so did my finger, and I flung and dropped my sword. Akama-san standing way behind me was pretty surprised, and I felt like an ass. So I stopped for a bit, sat and chilled out. I went over to apologize to Naganuma-sensei and said I was done for the day and he replied "What? If one of your finger doesn't work, use the rest. Don't do that again. Dangerous. Now get back over there and cut. Stop worrying about it." So I gave it another go. Had many failures attempting zagi nukiuchi (yoko-ichi monji; horizontal cut from a seated draw) but I nailed one perfectly. The target was barely balanced, and the bottom half hardly fell after I cut it. Of course no one was watching, but then I noticed Yokoshima-san looking at me and as I picked up the top half of the roll to make sure I actually cut it completely (as opposed to cutting into an existing failed cut) I asked "You buyin' it?" and he smiles his magical smile and goes "I'll give you that one!" So I felt better. Couldn't nail it any more, though I a couple of close cuts (hanging by a last thread.) Gyakugesa (rising diagonal) is no problem; I nail that one about 80-90 percent, and yoko-ichi is 10-20 percent, so put them together and I get 100%!
After practice I went to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya to do some birthday shopping for myself. I bought myself the killer GoodGrips can opener, plus a really slick Surefire flashlight.
Also bought some supplies (A-B epoxy, aluminum tape, rubber tape) to help with my various home improvement projects: fixing the two saya I split, putting the basil on the balcony on a little shelf hanging off the wall, and protecting the floor from the feet of our new chairs.
After practice I went to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya to do some birthday shopping for myself. I bought myself the killer GoodGrips can opener, plus a really slick Surefire flashlight.
Also bought some supplies (A-B epoxy, aluminum tape, rubber tape) to help with my various home improvement projects: fixing the two saya I split, putting the basil on the balcony on a little shelf hanging off the wall, and protecting the floor from the feet of our new chairs.
sushi
2 hours of stunningly humid practice. Only four of us so at least we had room. Gosoke was in a great mood, too. We ran through several different kata, and he actually interspersed some comments in between exclamations of our lack of talent and ability. He was also a mosquito-killing machine. He'd sit on there, thumbing away an email on his cell phone, watching us without looking at us (don't be fooled: he sees EVERYTHING) and fanning himself, when all of a sudden *WHAP* "Heh!" The bugs don't have a chance again him.
After practice Gosoke treated us to sushi for my birthday, and we talked about someday having enough money in the organization to get our own, permanent home dojo. Nothing big or fancy, just a place we could train 24-7. We'd invariably have a couple of live-in student-teachers, and maybe enough money on the side to pay the treasurer Yoshida-sensei for all the time she spends minding our books.
After practice Gosoke treated us to sushi for my birthday, and we talked about someday having enough money in the organization to get our own, permanent home dojo. Nothing big or fancy, just a place we could train 24-7. We'd invariably have a couple of live-in student-teachers, and maybe enough money on the side to pay the treasurer Yoshida-sensei for all the time she spends minding our books.
happy birthday
To me.
Lee told me to call him, so I dialed Charity's cell. Was having a fairly hectic morning at work because of some early morning problems, but as soon as I got Charity on the phone, everyone in the bar at the top of the Gramercy Hotel sang Happy Birthday to me. Gotta love them!
Lee told me to call him, so I dialed Charity's cell. Was having a fairly hectic morning at work because of some early morning problems, but as soon as I got Charity on the phone, everyone in the bar at the top of the Gramercy Hotel sang Happy Birthday to me. Gotta love them!
ghosts and aliens
Had an instructors meeting at which I gave everyone the low-down on the seminars in the US and Canada. After the meeting we all went to the regular underground feeding hole, and somehow got into a discussion about ghosts and aliens. Seems Sekido-san and Naganuma-sensei have all had creepy experiences, but Tanaka-sensei wins. He said when he was a little kid he'd see wierd people all the time. He'd be riding his bike late at night and there'd be an old woman walking on the side of the road. He'd steer clear of her thinking "that's a dangerous place to walk" and then after passing her he'd look back...and there was no one there. He saw goblins and strange people, and every time he'd go "You see that guy?" and his friends would all go "There's no one there, dude!"
He also saw a UFO, which got us started on talking about aliens. I did my best Japanese translation of "Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and we debated the possibilities of alien life, and why they'd bother to visit us. Then Niina-gosoke somehow tied that into iai, talking about the infinite expandability of the universe inside yourself. He said "You can't watch yourself in a mirror to see yourself. That's looking from the inside out. You have to expand your mind (heart/spirit) infinitely, so that you can see yourself from the outside." I guess that's what he means by mushin, the detachment one gets from seeing ones' self from a 3rd person perspective. Also helps put your own relative smallness in the universe in perspective; expand your mind to fill the universe and your 'self' is insignificantly small.
Plus, the friend onions were really good.
He also saw a UFO, which got us started on talking about aliens. I did my best Japanese translation of "Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and we debated the possibilities of alien life, and why they'd bother to visit us. Then Niina-gosoke somehow tied that into iai, talking about the infinite expandability of the universe inside yourself. He said "You can't watch yourself in a mirror to see yourself. That's looking from the inside out. You have to expand your mind (heart/spirit) infinitely, so that you can see yourself from the outside." I guess that's what he means by mushin, the detachment one gets from seeing ones' self from a 3rd person perspective. Also helps put your own relative smallness in the universe in perspective; expand your mind to fill the universe and your 'self' is insignificantly small.
Plus, the friend onions were really good.
mh-unit design shop
There's a cool design store just around the corner from my apartment. Lots of neat things (furniture, kitchenstuff, etc.) and an office for designers. Jorge would love it.
planet japan
Time article about Japanese politeness.
Also some good articles in the sidebar about Japan.
Also some good articles in the sidebar about Japan.
healthy?
Ever since I had my annual health checkup a couple of days ago, I've been wondering about my standing heart rate. It's low, like 45. This would make sense if I was a marathon runner or something, but swinging a sword every day for two hours is, while no simple feat, not quite up there with hardcore cardiovascular training.
Also, it looks like I've managed to not inheret high blood pressure from my mom.
So anyway I guess I'm just naturally mellow? That makes no sense either.
Also, it looks like I've managed to not inheret high blood pressure from my mom.
So anyway I guess I'm just naturally mellow? That makes no sense either.
ofoto is upsetting me
OK, I tried several times to put up links to the various photos I've taken and uploaded to Ofoto. Unfortunately none of them seem to be working. Looks like Ofoto lets me send valid links to specified email addresses, but if I try to cut-and-paste that URL and blog it, it doesn't work. I don't think Ofoto used to work like this...then again maybe all the old links I've posted to Ofoto haven't worked either, and just no one's bothered to tell me about them...stay tuned. In the mean time, if you want to see photos, email me and I'll send you a private link that'll definitely work.
Anyway here they are again:
Iai in Canada
Hoshina-san in LA
Iai in Cali
Cali with the Arriola Clan
Day in Nappa Valley
Hiroko's Day at the Getty Museum
Playing with Momo and Kensuke
Mallardi's Bye-bye BBQ
Anyway here they are again:
Iai in Canada
Hoshina-san in LA
Iai in Cali
Cali with the Arriola Clan
Day in Nappa Valley
Hiroko's Day at the Getty Museum
Playing with Momo and Kensuke
Mallardi's Bye-bye BBQ
wavey
Tanaka-sensei was bit late to class, so I ran everyone through the fundamentals. There were two new guys, one dude it was his first day, so Tanaka-sensei had me stay with them the whole time. We covered the basics nice and slow; proper grip, stance, readying and cutting, sheathing. Then we connected the basics into some simple excercises. New guy was pretty good -- he seemed to grok the concept fairly quickly, but he barely had enough arm strength to hold the sword for more than five minutes. That'll change, though.
From 8:30 Tanaka-sensei let us work on our own, occasionally correcting here and there. My inchuyo needs help; it's too wavey, like it bubbles up when I draw, settles down when I parry, and then waves up again and sideways when I flow into the cut. When he does it there is no wasted movement; sword comes out and right into the parry, then immediately his hips change direction and flow right into the cut. Fast, smooth, effortless. Someday...
From 8:30 Tanaka-sensei let us work on our own, occasionally correcting here and there. My inchuyo needs help; it's too wavey, like it bubbles up when I draw, settles down when I parry, and then waves up again and sideways when I flow into the cut. When he does it there is no wasted movement; sword comes out and right into the parry, then immediately his hips change direction and flow right into the cut. Fast, smooth, effortless. Someday...
think
Only Chihara-kun and Tanaka-kun showed up for practice today -- most students are still dealing with finals before summer break begins. Today was a fine summer day in Japan at the end of rainy season; a gray sky and oppressive humidity. So we practiced with our minds today. We thought alot about how we move the way we move, and why. Fundamentals took up the first hour and fifteen minutes, so we did a couple of kata for the last 45. And when I got home and cleaned my sword, I noticed that my saya is split! Serves me right for buying a cheap saya in the first place, I guess.
on yer own
Today at practice Kanai-san said "Beginners with Tanaka-sensei, upper-ranks with me...ren, go practice on your own; I can't teach you. I'll be calling YOU sensei soon." Damn, I don't think so. She's SO much better than I am; she has much more control of her sword, and she really gets her hips into her cuts, like she's not even trying. So anyway I stuck myself in the corner and practiced inchuyo and migi-no-teki on my own. Near the end of class Tanaka-sensei said "Ren, you're so stiff. You're trying too hard; all strength and tension. Relax. Cut more...sawayakani" Hmm, same thing Sanno-sensei told me, so I really do need to relax and flow more; less brute force, more relaxed flow.
chiba cutting
Went to Shimosanakayama (west Funabashi) to do some cutting with the Chiba crew. Akama-san came out, too as he lives close. He was testing a couple of the swords he's selling. He buys older/thrashed blades, has them repolished, replaces all the fittings himself, and then sells them. Couple of nice blades, too.
Today, as usual, I sucked. Jinrai (rising diagonal cut from seated draw, followed by horizontal cut) was OK, but still can't nail the yoko-ichi monji (horizontal cut from the draw.) Tried about 5 times, had one almost success; hanging by a thread. Other times I either get stuck in the middle or drag out the blade without cutting the whole target. *sigh* Gotta keep cranking.
After cutting went home and sewed snaps onto the sleeves so that I can easily attach my instructor/rank patch. Sewing and ironing are the two things I should never, ever be forced to do. My own personal hell is being forced to iron a dress shirt and sew all the buttons back on. It'd never happen. Laundry I can handle, cooking, washing dishes, vacuuming, dusting, separating the trash, watering the plants...all these and more I can deal with. Just can't iron nor sew. Oh well, nobody's perfect.
Hiroko went up to Azabu-jyuban to meet Haruka so that they could eat kakigori (shaved ice) and then I joined them after getting raped on the Canadian Dollar-Japanese Yen exchange rate at the exchange place in Roppongi Hills(note: Citibank is the only bank in Japan that lets you deposit foreign currency. As long as it's US dollars. You can exchange yen into countless other currencies, but if you are holding a stack of, say, Canadian Dollars, you're screwed.)
We then thoroughly enjoyed My Big Fat Greek Wedding and finished off the evening with a Korean BBQ feast at Sankoen.
Today, as usual, I sucked. Jinrai (rising diagonal cut from seated draw, followed by horizontal cut) was OK, but still can't nail the yoko-ichi monji (horizontal cut from the draw.) Tried about 5 times, had one almost success; hanging by a thread. Other times I either get stuck in the middle or drag out the blade without cutting the whole target. *sigh* Gotta keep cranking.
After cutting went home and sewed snaps onto the sleeves so that I can easily attach my instructor/rank patch. Sewing and ironing are the two things I should never, ever be forced to do. My own personal hell is being forced to iron a dress shirt and sew all the buttons back on. It'd never happen. Laundry I can handle, cooking, washing dishes, vacuuming, dusting, separating the trash, watering the plants...all these and more I can deal with. Just can't iron nor sew. Oh well, nobody's perfect.
Hiroko went up to Azabu-jyuban to meet Haruka so that they could eat kakigori (shaved ice) and then I joined them after getting raped on the Canadian Dollar-Japanese Yen exchange rate at the exchange place in Roppongi Hills(note: Citibank is the only bank in Japan that lets you deposit foreign currency. As long as it's US dollars. You can exchange yen into countless other currencies, but if you are holding a stack of, say, Canadian Dollars, you're screwed.)
We then thoroughly enjoyed My Big Fat Greek Wedding and finished off the evening with a Korean BBQ feast at Sankoen.
Bye-bye Mallardi
Good 'ole Texan Mike Mallardi is finally leaving Japan behind. Going back to Austin to get himself one of them fancy MBA's. Had a BBQ on the roof of Akasake Tameike Tower to celebrate.
The gang was in full splendor, as usual. And yes, I did indeed take the single most unflattering photo of dear Nancy. This one beats even the photo of Tony I took at the Calvert's going away party.
The gang was in full splendor, as usual. And yes, I did indeed take the single most unflattering photo of dear Nancy. This one beats even the photo of Tony I took at the Calvert's going away party.
furniture
OK, this whole custom furniture thing is pretty cool. Hiroko had some old chairs at work that we had reupholstered and fixed up. We also got a side table for next to the couch, custom made to our specifications. Check 'em out.
still jet-laggin'
I went to Gosoke's practice but was moving like a sloth. Gosoke even said that I looked really tired, and that's the worst he's ever seen me practice. Chaulk it up to jet-lag. FYI, Niina-gosoke's jet-lag cure: when you get home, do NOT go to sleep yet. First go into a really, REALLY hot sauna and sweat like mad. Then take a nice hot bath, then go to sleep.
I got soaked by the rain on my way home, and didn't make it to Mallardi's taco party. But Hiroko had fun.
I got soaked by the rain on my way home, and didn't make it to Mallardi's taco party. But Hiroko had fun.
thank god it's friday (er, thursday)
Went to TGIF's in Shibuya after work to celebrate Spike's new marital status. Seems it was just a few years ago he was a bright-eyed college grad in a new suit, with a mouth full of respect for me and his other elders. Now he's a hardened Wall Street techie, full of knowledge and beer.
By 10:30pm my jet-lag was coming on strong, so Hiroko and I split a cab with Tomo and cruised home.
By 10:30pm my jet-lag was coming on strong, so Hiroko and I split a cab with Tomo and cruised home.
the girls
Sarah (my sister-in-law) and her foster daughters were supposed to go bond at an Outward Bound outdoor trip, but it got cancelled at the last minute, so they went to visit my parents in Connecticut instead.
home sweet home
6 am taxi from Guelph to Buffalo, NY. Quick jump to Chicago. 12 hours to Tokyo. Watched Chicago, The Core, How to Lose a Man in Ten Days. Landed in Tokyo, got the swords through customs with typical bureaucratic hassle. Airport Limousine bus to Shibuya. Traffic. Cab home. Sleep...
canada seminar day 2
over 15 people showed up for the AM seminar, including a bunch of guys from Kai-sensei's Seibukan dojo in Toronto and all the Chicago folks. We ran through the first ten kata again like we did yesterday and spent the last 15 minutes playing in pairs with distance and tekizuke, keeping the kissaki pointed at the opponent and keeping the pressure on to find an opening.
Went to Griphs for lunch as nothing else was open on a Sunday, in the summer, in Guelph. Note to self: bring lots of food next time, and/or have a car.
Hoshina-san and I are beat after being on the road, teaching, and eating so much. Getting picked up at six am for the two hour drive to Buffalo Airport, to fly to Chicago, to fly back to Japan. Can't wait to go home tomorrow!
Went to Griphs for lunch as nothing else was open on a Sunday, in the summer, in Guelph. Note to self: bring lots of food next time, and/or have a car.
Hoshina-san and I are beat after being on the road, teaching, and eating so much. Getting picked up at six am for the two hour drive to Buffalo Airport, to fly to Chicago, to fly back to Japan. Can't wait to go home tomorrow!
canada seminar day 1
Everyone gathered in the dance studio (room 210) for practice and we got through 10 minutes of warm-up before Kim Taylor came up to say we were all gathering in the west gym for an opening ceremony of sorts. So we all headed down there, had some words from various folks and Fran the spriteliest naginata (halberd) wielding old woman ran us through some warm-ups.
The we headed back upstairs and started the seminar. Good turn-out; about 12 people including Simon and several others from Chicago. We started by going through the basic cuts, then kihon 1 & 2, the basic draw-cut-sheath moves, before getting into the kata.
In the AM session we got through the first 10 kata; go-yo and go-o, and had 15 minutes at the end to practice in pairs getting the feel for keeping your kissaki pointed at your opponent, keeping the pressure on him, and chasing him down.
Broke for lunch at noon and got some food at the University Centre before heading back for the PM session at 1:30.
Basically the same group again, so we did the next 10 kata goka and hashirigakari, and then for the last hour paired up and ran through various kata again with wooden swords, trying to get a feel for where the cuts are going and how the opponent moves.
The demo started soon thereafter, so we headed down to the main gym and saw some demos of Musojikiden-Eishinryu, kyudo (archery), naginata, and other sword arts. The Eto-sensei and Eto-sensei each did a traditional dance to music, one with a sword and fan, the other with just a fan. Hoshina-san demo'd five Mugairyu Iaihyodo kata and I did one cut as all we had were dry beach mats.
The demo ended with Ohmi-sensei in his kendo gear getting his but kicked by Fran in her naginata gear.
After the demo Hoshina-san, Rob Rivers, and I headed out for dinner. Guelph being a one-bar town, we headed out to the University Centre (closed), Griphs (says open but was closed), and finally walked about half and hour all the way down to the Stone Road Mall to get a late dinner at Casey's. We had the bartender call a cab so that we could get back to the east dorms by 1 am. When we came back, Ohmi-sensei, the Eto-sensei's, and everyone else was still drinking in the suite next door.
The we headed back upstairs and started the seminar. Good turn-out; about 12 people including Simon and several others from Chicago. We started by going through the basic cuts, then kihon 1 & 2, the basic draw-cut-sheath moves, before getting into the kata.
In the AM session we got through the first 10 kata; go-yo and go-o, and had 15 minutes at the end to practice in pairs getting the feel for keeping your kissaki pointed at your opponent, keeping the pressure on him, and chasing him down.
Broke for lunch at noon and got some food at the University Centre before heading back for the PM session at 1:30.
Basically the same group again, so we did the next 10 kata goka and hashirigakari, and then for the last hour paired up and ran through various kata again with wooden swords, trying to get a feel for where the cuts are going and how the opponent moves.
The demo started soon thereafter, so we headed down to the main gym and saw some demos of Musojikiden-Eishinryu, kyudo (archery), naginata, and other sword arts. The Eto-sensei and Eto-sensei each did a traditional dance to music, one with a sword and fan, the other with just a fan. Hoshina-san demo'd five Mugairyu Iaihyodo kata and I did one cut as all we had were dry beach mats.
The demo ended with Ohmi-sensei in his kendo gear getting his but kicked by Fran in her naginata gear.
After the demo Hoshina-san, Rob Rivers, and I headed out for dinner. Guelph being a one-bar town, we headed out to the University Centre (closed), Griphs (says open but was closed), and finally walked about half and hour all the way down to the Stone Road Mall to get a late dinner at Casey's. We had the bartender call a cab so that we could get back to the east dorms by 1 am. When we came back, Ohmi-sensei, the Eto-sensei's, and everyone else was still drinking in the suite next door.
free friday
Didn't practice today. Had dinner with Rob Rivers from Virginia and we talked about karate and iai and whatnot. Of course, we had dinner at Griphs, the sports bar above the ice hockey rink on campus. Guelph is a one-bar kinda place.
Hoshina-san spent the day with her sister and her kids.
Hoshina-san spent the day with her sister and her kids.
tanjo and jo
Guelph is a beautiful campus! Hoshina-san and I walked all the way to the Stone Road mall, finally finding an ATM at a gas station that would give us Candian money. We also called her sister and arranged for her and her three kids to come up in the evening and spend the night.
After getting money and food, we used the library computers to look up the schedule for the weekend and realized there were already classes being held. So we changed and met Kim Taylor and folks and joined in the tanjo and jo classes. Hoshina-san has been doing jo for a while so she had a clue as to what was going on, but I was lost, especially since were were being taught the seitei (standardized) forms of the ZNKR by Eto-sensei. It was interesting to try something new, but quite different from the Shindo Muso-ryu we do under NPO Hougyoku-kai.
By the time class was over it was almost nine, so Hoshina-san went to the University Centre to meet her sister and the kids and I took a shower. We all then headed out for a late dinner at the Griffon Pub overlooking the ice hockey rink. The three kids ran amok as we ate burgers, chicken fingers, and fries. Heading back to the dorm Hoshina-san and I did some laundry as her sister put the kids to bed.
After getting money and food, we used the library computers to look up the schedule for the weekend and realized there were already classes being held. So we changed and met Kim Taylor and folks and joined in the tanjo and jo classes. Hoshina-san has been doing jo for a while so she had a clue as to what was going on, but I was lost, especially since were were being taught the seitei (standardized) forms of the ZNKR by Eto-sensei. It was interesting to try something new, but quite different from the Shindo Muso-ryu we do under NPO Hougyoku-kai.
By the time class was over it was almost nine, so Hoshina-san went to the University Centre to meet her sister and the kids and I took a shower. We all then headed out for a late dinner at the Griffon Pub overlooking the ice hockey rink. The three kids ran amok as we ate burgers, chicken fingers, and fries. Heading back to the dorm Hoshina-san and I did some laundry as her sister put the kids to bed.
canada
We got up early and had breakfast at 6 am before heading to LAX. Hiroko's flight was later in the day, so we said good-bye as Hoshina-san and I got on the shuttle.
Thank the lord for Silver Premiere membership -- got checked in really quickly, no problem getting the swords through security as all they did was swab (for traces of bombs/chemical weapons I assume) before locking my case back up and sending it through. Also got sped through security to the gate thanks to Premiere status, and of course boarded early, too. Hoshina-san was pleased at my ability to get us through to our seats on the plane as quickly as possible, though flying coach is still just painful and I'm not looking forward to the flight back.
We changed planes in Chicago, a big impressive airport (the United terminal alone is bigger than all of Narita airport), and we were in Buffalo before we knew it.
Buffalo Taxi was waiting for us and we got our gear and headed out to Guelph...er I mean Toronto. The driver had never been to Guelph so we missed the highway 6 turnoff at Hamilton, and ended up going all the way to Toronto before getting onto the 401 west and getting to Guelph.
Finally got checked in about 10:30, and everything was great except that we didn't have any Canadian money. Solved the immediate problem by ordering a large pepperoni from Pizza Pizza and paying with a credit card before heading to bed.
Thank the lord for Silver Premiere membership -- got checked in really quickly, no problem getting the swords through security as all they did was swab (for traces of bombs/chemical weapons I assume) before locking my case back up and sending it through. Also got sped through security to the gate thanks to Premiere status, and of course boarded early, too. Hoshina-san was pleased at my ability to get us through to our seats on the plane as quickly as possible, though flying coach is still just painful and I'm not looking forward to the flight back.
We changed planes in Chicago, a big impressive airport (the United terminal alone is bigger than all of Narita airport), and we were in Buffalo before we knew it.
Buffalo Taxi was waiting for us and we got our gear and headed out to Guelph...er I mean Toronto. The driver had never been to Guelph so we missed the highway 6 turnoff at Hamilton, and ended up going all the way to Toronto before getting onto the 401 west and getting to Guelph.
Finally got checked in about 10:30, and everything was great except that we didn't have any Canadian money. Solved the immediate problem by ordering a large pepperoni from Pizza Pizza and paying with a credit card before heading to bed.
santa monica
On Ilene's suggestion, we went down to Loehmann's near the Beverly Center after a quick Starbucks breakfast, in search of name-brand bargains. Hiroko got a cute red leather Kenneth Cole bag and Hoshina-san refrained from spending all her money on bargains.
We checked out of Doheny Plaza and checked into the LAX Hilton right by the airport, and spent the afternoon lounging by the pool and in the jacuzzi.
Jeremy came out again for dinner and we cruised around Santa Monica, checking out Ollie's mom's house, the house Ollie used to live in, and Santa Monica airport (Jeremy's man Nori no longer works at the sushi restaurant The Hump so we changed dinner plans on the fly.) We ended up down by the Santa Monica pier and got some awesome seafood at Ocean's Seaside before heading back to the hotel.
We checked out of Doheny Plaza and checked into the LAX Hilton right by the airport, and spent the afternoon lounging by the pool and in the jacuzzi.
Jeremy came out again for dinner and we cruised around Santa Monica, checking out Ollie's mom's house, the house Ollie used to live in, and Santa Monica airport (Jeremy's man Nori no longer works at the sushi restaurant The Hump so we changed dinner plans on the fly.) We ended up down by the Santa Monica pier and got some awesome seafood at Ocean's Seaside before heading back to the hotel.
more shopping
Hoshina-san wanted to do some shopping, so we headed down Doheny and grabbed some breakfast. I had a breakfast burrito and the women each had a huge plate of Belgian Waffles which they did a nice job of inhaling.
Then we walked all the way down Santa Monica Blvd. to Rodeo Drive, stopping off for manicures/pedicures along the way.
On Rodeo Drive we checked out Cartier, Tiffany's, Armani, and lots of other ridiculously expensive things before hitting Louis Vitton. Hoshina-san exhibited amazing self control and only bought herself a belt, a purse, and a wallet.
We then walked back through Hollywood, marvelling at the big houses and manicured lawns.
Back at Doheny Plaza, Jeremy picked us up and we cruised in 2Mecha through the hills as he showed us his Alma Mater Beverly Hills High School (which features its own oil pump), the various houses he used to live in, the Playboy Mansion and other huge estates of note. We went to Mel's for some good old fashioned diner eats, and my turkey meatloaf was divine. In what has become a tradition, Hoshina-san chomped down on a steak sandwhich before sharing an icecream shake with Jeremy for dessert.
Back at Doheny Plaza we visited jeremy's mom Ilene and her husband Derek. We gave them the other bottle of Suimoken sake which they loved, we played with their dog Mochi, and we looked at photos of their latest movie shoot; gladiators and beautiful women. I showed them my swords and we ate cookies and finally, after Ilene started showing us pictures of Jeremy and the family, we headed back to bed downstairs.
Then we walked all the way down Santa Monica Blvd. to Rodeo Drive, stopping off for manicures/pedicures along the way.
On Rodeo Drive we checked out Cartier, Tiffany's, Armani, and lots of other ridiculously expensive things before hitting Louis Vitton. Hoshina-san exhibited amazing self control and only bought herself a belt, a purse, and a wallet.
We then walked back through Hollywood, marvelling at the big houses and manicured lawns.
Back at Doheny Plaza, Jeremy picked us up and we cruised in 2Mecha through the hills as he showed us his Alma Mater Beverly Hills High School (which features its own oil pump), the various houses he used to live in, the Playboy Mansion and other huge estates of note. We went to Mel's for some good old fashioned diner eats, and my turkey meatloaf was divine. In what has become a tradition, Hoshina-san chomped down on a steak sandwhich before sharing an icecream shake with Jeremy for dessert.
Back at Doheny Plaza we visited jeremy's mom Ilene and her husband Derek. We gave them the other bottle of Suimoken sake which they loved, we played with their dog Mochi, and we looked at photos of their latest movie shoot; gladiators and beautiful women. I showed them my swords and we ate cookies and finally, after Ilene started showing us pictures of Jeremy and the family, we headed back to bed downstairs.
seminar day 2
A bit of a late start in the morning as some of the more hung-over straggled in, buy by 9:30 we were back in fine form. We ran through the first ten kata just to refresh, then got into the next five seated kata, goka. Tony and everyone did there best to fly high on the last form hazumi, and then it was time for lunch.
This time we took a burrito break and had sandwhiches. Hoshina-sensei's BLT was the size of her thigh, but she managed to chomp most of it down.
In the afternoon we did the last five kata, hashirigakari and the grabbed the wooden swords again for some final paired practice, doing the five kumitachi.
By 4:30 everyone was tired but smiling, the seminar a success.
We went to Islands for giant burgers, and again Hoshina-san polished off a huge Tuna-salad burger before we hit the highway and drove back up to Tony's. We packed up the rest of our stuff and translated some Japanese texts for Tony, including the two Nakagawa Mugairyu books he copied from my copies and some entries in the Daijten of martial arts about KashimaShinto-ryu. Then we got back on the road and headed into LA, getting back to Doheny Plaza about midnight. After a minor crisis involving a backed up toilet and a search for a plunger, we hit the sack for some much needed sleep.
This time we took a burrito break and had sandwhiches. Hoshina-sensei's BLT was the size of her thigh, but she managed to chomp most of it down.
In the afternoon we did the last five kata, hashirigakari and the grabbed the wooden swords again for some final paired practice, doing the five kumitachi.
By 4:30 everyone was tired but smiling, the seminar a success.
We went to Islands for giant burgers, and again Hoshina-san polished off a huge Tuna-salad burger before we hit the highway and drove back up to Tony's. We packed up the rest of our stuff and translated some Japanese texts for Tony, including the two Nakagawa Mugairyu books he copied from my copies and some entries in the Daijten of martial arts about KashimaShinto-ryu. Then we got back on the road and headed into LA, getting back to Doheny Plaza about midnight. After a minor crisis involving a backed up toilet and a search for a plunger, we hit the sack for some much needed sleep.
seminar day 1
Stopped off for some donuts for breakfast, then hit the dojo.
Had a good group of 12 in the morning and we dove right in, starting the seminar by running through the basics then going right into the first 5 seated kata set, goyo. Everyone picked it up quick and after a carnitas burrito lunch we got into the first 5 standing kata set, go-o. Tony went to pick up Hoshina-san at the airport and got to the dojo in time to catch to last couple of hours of practice. We finished off the day by pairing up with wooden swords and running through the ten kata again, checking distance and strike positions. Everyone seemed to enjoy bonking each other in new and excitingly painful ways, and by 5 pm we were all tired and ready for food.
We changed and headed out for some Italian seafood, where the plates of pasta were as big as my chest. Tony opened the bottle of Suimoken sake and we finished it off in only a couple of rounds. James Williams sat next to Hoshina-san and freaked her out a bit when he was talking about Systema by whipping out his giant tactical folding knife and pressing it into his arm ("slice = cut, pressure alone won't cut").
After James and Hoshina-san each finished off a bowl of vanilla icecream, Hoshina-san and I were beat, so we headed back to the motel and the rest of them keep cranking at the bar until the wee hours.
Had a good group of 12 in the morning and we dove right in, starting the seminar by running through the basics then going right into the first 5 seated kata set, goyo. Everyone picked it up quick and after a carnitas burrito lunch we got into the first 5 standing kata set, go-o. Tony went to pick up Hoshina-san at the airport and got to the dojo in time to catch to last couple of hours of practice. We finished off the day by pairing up with wooden swords and running through the ten kata again, checking distance and strike positions. Everyone seemed to enjoy bonking each other in new and excitingly painful ways, and by 5 pm we were all tired and ready for food.
We changed and headed out for some Italian seafood, where the plates of pasta were as big as my chest. Tony opened the bottle of Suimoken sake and we finished it off in only a couple of rounds. James Williams sat next to Hoshina-san and freaked her out a bit when he was talking about Systema by whipping out his giant tactical folding knife and pressing it into his arm ("slice = cut, pressure alone won't cut").
After James and Hoshina-san each finished off a bowl of vanilla icecream, Hoshina-san and I were beat, so we headed back to the motel and the rest of them keep cranking at the bar until the wee hours.
chop chop
Slept like a bear in winter and woke up to a beautiful California day, Tony standing in the doorway with bagels and OJ.
Te gang came over and we started cutting in Tony's backyard. Tony and all practiced their Toyama-ryu cuts, and I did some decent (and many failed) cuts from a seated draw. (Un)fortunately it's all on tape. Ted also came over and, besides being thoroughly entertaining, shimmed and tighthened up my cutting blade.
the Sacramento brothers-plus-wife were in fine form, thanks to a healthy dose of post-airplane-seizure Motrin, and Jimmy Crow from Texas avoided backyard garden hole-digging duty by doing his best Cowboy Samurai impression. We even had a lunchbreak GQ cutting visit by none other than the long-haired fashion man himself.
The afternoon was spent getting ready for the drive down to San Diego; we grabbed more Mexican for lunch (I am now a carnitas burrito addict), I shipped my snowboard back to Toyko, we bought beverages and packed up the necessary stuff. To avoid traffic we opted for a late leave, so we watched the cutting video from the morning, made fun of each other, then watched The Seige of Firebase Gloria, starring none other than Lee Ermey, who's oratory ability is second-to-none: (To a troop of US marines surrounded by enemy Viet-Cong) "There is no doubt in my mind that we are in a deep-shit situation here, people."
After the movie we hit the road and got down to Motel in just over an hour.
Tony and I headed over to the Dojo of the Four Winds to finalize some details, and then we hit Denny's for a late dinner before crashing.
Te gang came over and we started cutting in Tony's backyard. Tony and all practiced their Toyama-ryu cuts, and I did some decent (and many failed) cuts from a seated draw. (Un)fortunately it's all on tape. Ted also came over and, besides being thoroughly entertaining, shimmed and tighthened up my cutting blade.
the Sacramento brothers-plus-wife were in fine form, thanks to a healthy dose of post-airplane-seizure Motrin, and Jimmy Crow from Texas avoided backyard garden hole-digging duty by doing his best Cowboy Samurai impression. We even had a lunchbreak GQ cutting visit by none other than the long-haired fashion man himself.
The afternoon was spent getting ready for the drive down to San Diego; we grabbed more Mexican for lunch (I am now a carnitas burrito addict), I shipped my snowboard back to Toyko, we bought beverages and packed up the necessary stuff. To avoid traffic we opted for a late leave, so we watched the cutting video from the morning, made fun of each other, then watched The Seige of Firebase Gloria, starring none other than Lee Ermey, who's oratory ability is second-to-none: (To a troop of US marines surrounded by enemy Viet-Cong) "There is no doubt in my mind that we are in a deep-shit situation here, people."
After the movie we hit the road and got down to Motel in just over an hour.
Tony and I headed over to the Dojo of the Four Winds to finalize some details, and then we hit Denny's for a late dinner before crashing.
behind the orange curtain
Jorge drove me down to Orange County and dropped me off at BigTony's place. He lives about a mile from the beach. Tony hooked me up big time with some really slick Volcom snow gear, including a board! We got in his truck and ran some errands, grabbing a Happy Burrito for lunch.
In the evening we headed over to Don Angier's dojo and worked out a bit, then all his guys showed up and they had a Toyama-ryu practice. I finished them off with about 30 minutes of Mugairyu as a warm-up for the weekend seminar.
Then we all headed out to TGIF's for dinner and waiter-abuse as Don, despite his best attempts, failed to receive a slice of onion for his burger as requested.
Ted Arnold joined for dinner and I was introduced to the full voracity of everyone's good-natured joke-flinging.
In the evening we headed over to Don Angier's dojo and worked out a bit, then all his guys showed up and they had a Toyama-ryu practice. I finished them off with about 30 minutes of Mugairyu as a warm-up for the weekend seminar.
Then we all headed out to TGIF's for dinner and waiter-abuse as Don, despite his best attempts, failed to receive a slice of onion for his burger as requested.
Ted Arnold joined for dinner and I was introduced to the full voracity of everyone's good-natured joke-flinging.
to la!
First a quick stop at Daly City for an In-and-Out Burger, finished off with a Krispy Kreme donut, then we were on our way speeding down the 5 in our shiny Budget rental van. The girls all slept some, with Hiroko unconscious for most of the drive down. We got into Hollywood in the evening and checked into the guest rooms at Jeremy's mom's apartment building, the Doheny Plaza just off of Sunset. Jeremy came by in his 2Mecha Audi and we grabbed some dinner up the street.
nappa valley
59 degrees F in San Francisco, and the temperature started rising as we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and into the valley. 80 degrees in the east bay, 92 when we finally got in to Nappa. By now my shoulders were nicely reddened from the open sunroof and clear blue skies, but a little sunburn can't stop us.
First we stopped at Bouchon for a French lunch, the took some photos outside of French Laundry. Same chef runs both places, but French Laundry takes reservations a year in advance and you still might not get in, so settled for just taking photos. Then we headed deeper into wine country and checked out the cool architecture of Clos Pegase, took a tour of the caves and tasted some dessert wine at Beringer Vineyards, and saw the cooking theatre and corkscrew collection at the Culinary Institute of America.
We came back into the city and for dinner went to Elisabeth and Daniel. We opted for the five course dinner instead of the ten course because we didn't want to be there all night. My wheat 'risotto' with mushrooms was the winner of the evening, and I won't even bother trying to explain how good it tasted because unless you eat it you just won't know.
This morning we're getting a van and driving down to LA for more fun and sun.
First we stopped at Bouchon for a French lunch, the took some photos outside of French Laundry. Same chef runs both places, but French Laundry takes reservations a year in advance and you still might not get in, so settled for just taking photos. Then we headed deeper into wine country and checked out the cool architecture of Clos Pegase, took a tour of the caves and tasted some dessert wine at Beringer Vineyards, and saw the cooking theatre and corkscrew collection at the Culinary Institute of America.
We came back into the city and for dinner went to Elisabeth and Daniel. We opted for the five course dinner instead of the ten course because we didn't want to be there all night. My wheat 'risotto' with mushrooms was the winner of the evening, and I won't even bother trying to explain how good it tasted because unless you eat it you just won't know.
This morning we're getting a van and driving down to LA for more fun and sun.
oakland
Dinner was amazing, of course. And Kei-chan was Kei-chan. A bit goofy, but lots of fun. We ate at the late sitting, started about 9:15 and we were the last table in the place. Finally left about 11-something and drove around Oakland forever trying to find Kei-chan's hotel. It was down near past Jack London Square, but out closer to the airport so we had to drive past the waterfront industrial park and sort of got lost. Finally made it back home about 12:30 and Corrine was still working, finishing up some photo work for freelance job.
shopping
Still jet-lagging, but that just means Emi's early-morning antics didn't wake us up. Had a bagel from Rainbow (the hippie market) for breakfast and then went into the city to do some shopping. Hit Tiffany's but couldn't find the pendant Hiroko wants -- thought it was new but it turns out it's old and probably discontinued. Got a pair of linen slacks at the huge Banana Republic, and got Hiroko and slick blue dress for dinner tonight at the birthplace of California Cuisine, Chez Pannise.
sleepy...
Great big salads and great big Americans at The Cheesecake Factory. Eco shoes at Nordstroms. Emi likes french fries. San Francisco is cold when it's sunny. Whole Foods sells the freshest everything.
sfo
United flight #852 NRT to SFO. Upper deck seats. Hiroko watched Chicago, then slept. I watched Daredevil. Note to self: Ben Affleck should not wear full-body leather.
Arrived on time, got through immigration no problem (note to self: immigration agents speak Japanese better than I do), and then got to baggage claim:
"United Airlines would like to remind you that we do not operate the baggage carousels, they are operated by the city of San Francisco. Flight #852 baggage will arrive on carousel #5. Carousel #5 is currently broken, but please don't complain to United Airlines."
And then 20 minutes later: "Baggage from flight #852 is actually arriving on carousel #2."
Finally got our stuff, including my sword case, and then we got in line for customs. There were two whole customs agents, so each line was only 400 people long. Finally got through, found Jorge in the lobby, and sped the Audi to casa de Arriola.
Arrived on time, got through immigration no problem (note to self: immigration agents speak Japanese better than I do), and then got to baggage claim:
"United Airlines would like to remind you that we do not operate the baggage carousels, they are operated by the city of San Francisco. Flight #852 baggage will arrive on carousel #5. Carousel #5 is currently broken, but please don't complain to United Airlines."
And then 20 minutes later: "Baggage from flight #852 is actually arriving on carousel #2."
Finally got our stuff, including my sword case, and then we got in line for customs. There were two whole customs agents, so each line was only 400 people long. Finally got through, found Jorge in the lobby, and sped the Audi to casa de Arriola.
broken links
The astute reader will notice various broken links. Some of these are beyond my control. For whatever reason, Lee's evildrinkingpartners.com and Nate's mamachari.com don't seem to be working. Some of these are control within my control. Ren's Big Adventure is yet to be migrated over from the old twics file system to renfield.net.
These things will be fixed, in time. Or not.
Tomorrow Hiroko and I leave for California. We'll spend some time in SF with Jorge, Corr, and my God-daughter Emi, then all of us will rent a van and chug down to LA. I will immediately pop over to Big Tony's to do sword stuff in San Diego.
Then Hiroko goes home and I go on to Guelph, Ontario (Canada) to do even more sword stuff.
We will take many pictures, and have many adventures. And if you're lucky, you might even find out about 'em.
These things will be fixed, in time. Or not.
Tomorrow Hiroko and I leave for California. We'll spend some time in SF with Jorge, Corr, and my God-daughter Emi, then all of us will rent a van and chug down to LA. I will immediately pop over to Big Tony's to do sword stuff in San Diego.
Then Hiroko goes home and I go on to Guelph, Ontario (Canada) to do even more sword stuff.
We will take many pictures, and have many adventures. And if you're lucky, you might even find out about 'em.
quality by bystedt
Bystedt's family business, founded by the grandparentals, now run by his uncle, makes leather gloves. Get your own stuff!
I have a dream...
So we're flying in low orbit around a very Earth-like planet. We enter the atmosphere and are cruising above the barren terrain, getting closer and closer. As we fly over an impressive butte, the landscape changes to a typical suburb, then a small city. Just as we we're making a landing approach, we notice a helicopter parked on the crest of a cliff. Could be trouble. We land in a field on the outskirts of town and set off to explore. Very Earth-like. Humanoids abound. English is spoken. Suddenly we realize the uniformed are coming, and we scramble into the underground garage. We find a car that looks very much like a Mini and pile in. I'm driving. As we approach the exit toll booth, I realize I'm not sure what the strange square markings mean. From the lines on the ground it looks like I should be in the left lane, so I ease over, find the parking ticket behind the sun visor, and out we go.
We're now walking briskly through the back streets, working our way back to our ship, and I realize my baseball cap is sticking out like an alien visitor (which I am.) We stop at one of the many street vendor tent/booths and buy cheap winter coats. My companions go for yellow, but I opt for a mid-thigh length red number with matching backpack. I dump my spaceship uniform jacket, backpack, and baseball cap, being sure to empty the many pockets and transfer all the useful items to my new jacket; multihead screwdriver, white LED flashlight, etc. I pay with the local currency equivalent of 2000 yen (cheap!) and hurry around the corner to catch up with my fellow aliens. We finally make it to the field, board our ship, and accelerate to atmospheric escape velocity as the armed and helicopters circle the field below. Close call. As we enter and then leave orbit, sling-shotting away from the planet, warning lights on the ship's control panel begin beeping, beeping, beeping...I wake up and turn off my beeping alarm clock.
We're now walking briskly through the back streets, working our way back to our ship, and I realize my baseball cap is sticking out like an alien visitor (which I am.) We stop at one of the many street vendor tent/booths and buy cheap winter coats. My companions go for yellow, but I opt for a mid-thigh length red number with matching backpack. I dump my spaceship uniform jacket, backpack, and baseball cap, being sure to empty the many pockets and transfer all the useful items to my new jacket; multihead screwdriver, white LED flashlight, etc. I pay with the local currency equivalent of 2000 yen (cheap!) and hurry around the corner to catch up with my fellow aliens. We finally make it to the field, board our ship, and accelerate to atmospheric escape velocity as the armed and helicopters circle the field below. Close call. As we enter and then leave orbit, sling-shotting away from the planet, warning lights on the ship's control panel begin beeping, beeping, beeping...I wake up and turn off my beeping alarm clock.
"you all suck. remember that."
Didn't get any time to practice, as I lead basics and when Tanaka-sensei showed up I spent the whole practice teaching two newbies.
At 8:30 regular class ended and thankfully Niina-gosoke began his Hour of Power. We did the first form shin for over half an hour, with Gosoke correcting our angle, timing, and hip movement. Then we tried inchuyo, trying to get the parry-and-cut action right, which prompted the quote of the title. Gosoke used The Dowel (a thin dowel of wood the length of a sword -- lighter than a wooden sword so easy to carry all the time) to demonstrate that if we all tried to parry a real sword cutting down at our head, we'd all be dead, mostly from our own blade getting deflected into our own head. Then he used The Dowel again to show how, even if we managed to parry the attack, our counter-attack wasn't actually hitting the attacker's left abdomen, leaving us open to further pummeling.
After practice I collected Hoshina-san's sword and sai, went to the office to get the Pelican sword case, and dragged all that gear home on the subway, in preparation for the seminars in California and Canada next week.
At 8:30 regular class ended and thankfully Niina-gosoke began his Hour of Power. We did the first form shin for over half an hour, with Gosoke correcting our angle, timing, and hip movement. Then we tried inchuyo, trying to get the parry-and-cut action right, which prompted the quote of the title. Gosoke used The Dowel (a thin dowel of wood the length of a sword -- lighter than a wooden sword so easy to carry all the time) to demonstrate that if we all tried to parry a real sword cutting down at our head, we'd all be dead, mostly from our own blade getting deflected into our own head. Then he used The Dowel again to show how, even if we managed to parry the attack, our counter-attack wasn't actually hitting the attacker's left abdomen, leaving us open to further pummeling.
After practice I collected Hoshina-san's sword and sai, went to the office to get the Pelican sword case, and dragged all that gear home on the subway, in preparation for the seminars in California and Canada next week.
kenkakubanrai
NPO Hougyoku-kai's 6th Annual Festival and Competition, Kenkakubanrai. I was on the planning committee so I've spent the past couple of weeks working with everyone to pull this off. It was tons of fun, but as I was in the highest division, I got the thrashing I deserved. I won my first match and lost the second to Akama-san, who advanced up from the division below mine. He ended up sweeping both divisions and winning the top award. It was an excellent reminder for me that I still have much to learn and even more to practice. I had plenty of excuses; I've been spending more teaching, I was on the planning committee, I've been getting ready for the US and Canada seminars...but the truth is I just haven't practiced enough and I wasn't good enough to win.
I did, however, get Niina-gosoke's consolation prize:
After the festivities we all went to a place by the station to eat and drink and have fun, and I heard many great stories from Shiokawa-gosoke about when he was young, and Okazaki-sensei's tales of karate. When it was time to go home, I was feeling lame but glad I'd got some perspective, and ready to start fresh tomorrow. I guess I was too busy thinking about redoubling my efforts at practice, because I turned right against a Left Turn Only sign, just in front of a police box. As I was waiting for the light to change, a cop ran out, invited me over, and gave me a 5000 yen ticket.
A fitting end to a fine day, I reckon.
I did, however, get Niina-gosoke's consolation prize:
After the festivities we all went to a place by the station to eat and drink and have fun, and I heard many great stories from Shiokawa-gosoke about when he was young, and Okazaki-sensei's tales of karate. When it was time to go home, I was feeling lame but glad I'd got some perspective, and ready to start fresh tomorrow. I guess I was too busy thinking about redoubling my efforts at practice, because I turned right against a Left Turn Only sign, just in front of a police box. As I was waiting for the light to change, a cop ran out, invited me over, and gave me a 5000 yen ticket.
A fitting end to a fine day, I reckon.
Calverts to London
After two years and many adventures in Japan, Jeff and (pregnant) Ericka are off to London.
We had the traditional Last Supper in Fonda de la Madrugada in Harajuku, the best Mexican (as in Mexico, not as in LA) food this side of New York. A good time was had by all, but at least now we have someplace to stay when we go to London!
We had the traditional Last Supper in Fonda de la Madrugada in Harajuku, the best Mexican (as in Mexico, not as in LA) food this side of New York. A good time was had by all, but at least now we have someplace to stay when we go to London!
meat and a haircut, 10 yen
More like 13,850 yen, but never mind the details.
The Mightier Steed galloped me to Omotesando for a visit to Nozawa at UR, where the clippers worked magic and the massage was painfully pleasant.
Then I hopped across the street to Barbacoa for Robin's going-away party. After 14 ("and a half!") years at Morgan Stanley, the grass was greener in the Swiss Alps.
The salad bar was lovely as always, and the meat...oh, the glorious meat!
Robin started The Game, whose rules are unclear but it generally involves the loser drinking, the winner drinking, anyone's who's watching drinking, everyone sitting at the nearest table drinking...Basically a fair bit of drinking. The waiter told us the next table over was complaining about the noise we were making. Ha! We hadn't even started the speeches yet!
Robin got a stylish fishing vest, pockets bulging with Marlboro Lights, and a Morgan Stanley globe paperweight which MUST be prominently displayed in his new office at UBS. By the time our two hours of all-you-can-eat-and-drink were up, many beer bottles were empty, Robin was a teary-eyed mess, and the crowd proceeded to further debauchery as is always the case with these things.
The Mightier Steed galloped me to Omotesando for a visit to Nozawa at UR, where the clippers worked magic and the massage was painfully pleasant.
Then I hopped across the street to Barbacoa for Robin's going-away party. After 14 ("and a half!") years at Morgan Stanley, the grass was greener in the Swiss Alps.
The salad bar was lovely as always, and the meat...oh, the glorious meat!
Robin started The Game, whose rules are unclear but it generally involves the loser drinking, the winner drinking, anyone's who's watching drinking, everyone sitting at the nearest table drinking...Basically a fair bit of drinking. The waiter told us the next table over was complaining about the noise we were making. Ha! We hadn't even started the speeches yet!
Robin got a stylish fishing vest, pockets bulging with Marlboro Lights, and a Morgan Stanley globe paperweight which MUST be prominently displayed in his new office at UBS. By the time our two hours of all-you-can-eat-and-drink were up, many beer bottles were empty, Robin was a teary-eyed mess, and the crowd proceeded to further debauchery as is always the case with these things.
craaaack!
So some guy came back practice last week to check it out. He came early, about 6:15, and I explained to him that we start basics at about 6:30 and then when Hoshina-san shows up we start practice at 7:00. He watched until about 6:50 and then said he had to go, but was interested in starting next week. I was surprised, as he hadn't really seen much, and asked if he could fill out the membership application. He said he didn't have time but he'd be back next week. I didn't expect him to come back, but there he was. So he filled out the application, paid his registration and first month's dues, and starting doing basics with us. He'd been doing Zenkenren so he had the equipment and some basics, though his cuts lacked the 'cutting-ness' of Mugairyu.
By 7pm Tanaka-sensei and Niina-gosoke had showed up, and we started doing kata. Hoshina-san starts to teach this guy one-on-one, but he says he wants to practice the Zenkenren kata because there's a tournament coming up. Hoshina-san explains that, while we do sometimes do the Zenkenren kata, this is Mugairyu Iaihyodo. He insists. She speaks to Niina-gosoke, who, justifiably, explodes: "He wants to do Zenkenren? I don't care either way. But this is Mugairyu. We practice Mugairyu here. We don't go to Zenkenren practices and tell them we want to practice Mugairyu kata! You ask me, Zenkenren isn't koryu budo, it's nice movements, but we do koryu budo here. We cut with intent, this is Mugairyu!"
Suffice to say he packed up his stuff, we refunded his money, and he was out the door. Kind of surreal.
After that we ran everyone through a couple of pretend tournaments, with judges seated at the front, timing the whole thing to give people an idea of what the tournament on Sunday will be like. Lots of nervousness and people forgetting the basics like how to bow and hold the sword!
From 8:30 Niina-gosoke started the Hour of Pain and pummeled us once again. About 8:45, as I was performing a particularly talent-less draw, there was a stupendous "craaaack!" as I split my saya (scabbard.) It was an old saya, the original that came with the sword, and I had patched it up several times. I knew it'd crack one day, so I wrapped the top with duct tape, and glad I did, because that prevented it from splitting in two entirely. Gosoke immediately laughed and then asked "Did you cut your hand?" "No sir, just my pride." and he laughed again. I've got a couple more saya so no big deal, everyone cracks them eventually, but it really does illustrate how lame I am and how hard it is to do clean draws every time.
By 7pm Tanaka-sensei and Niina-gosoke had showed up, and we started doing kata. Hoshina-san starts to teach this guy one-on-one, but he says he wants to practice the Zenkenren kata because there's a tournament coming up. Hoshina-san explains that, while we do sometimes do the Zenkenren kata, this is Mugairyu Iaihyodo. He insists. She speaks to Niina-gosoke, who, justifiably, explodes: "He wants to do Zenkenren? I don't care either way. But this is Mugairyu. We practice Mugairyu here. We don't go to Zenkenren practices and tell them we want to practice Mugairyu kata! You ask me, Zenkenren isn't koryu budo, it's nice movements, but we do koryu budo here. We cut with intent, this is Mugairyu!"
Suffice to say he packed up his stuff, we refunded his money, and he was out the door. Kind of surreal.
After that we ran everyone through a couple of pretend tournaments, with judges seated at the front, timing the whole thing to give people an idea of what the tournament on Sunday will be like. Lots of nervousness and people forgetting the basics like how to bow and hold the sword!
From 8:30 Niina-gosoke started the Hour of Pain and pummeled us once again. About 8:45, as I was performing a particularly talent-less draw, there was a stupendous "craaaack!" as I split my saya (scabbard.) It was an old saya, the original that came with the sword, and I had patched it up several times. I knew it'd crack one day, so I wrapped the top with duct tape, and glad I did, because that prevented it from splitting in two entirely. Gosoke immediately laughed and then asked "Did you cut your hand?" "No sir, just my pride." and he laughed again. I've got a couple more saya so no big deal, everyone cracks them eventually, but it really does illustrate how lame I am and how hard it is to do clean draws every time.
respect
After practice Misawa-kun took a photo of me with his phone
Yes, I really do command respect from the younger students.
Yes, I really do command respect from the younger students.
mom down! mom down!
Had a bit of a scare: She Who Simultaneously Smokes, Drinks Ice Coffee, Talks On The Phone, Does The Crossword Puzzle, Watches Television, and Plays Electronic Bridge Whilst Making Quilt Patterns had some chest pains, drove herself to the hospital, and spent a couple of days under the watchful eye of the medical profession. Hereditary heart problems (I got 'em too!) and a bourgeoisie New England lifestyle do not a good couple make. Supposedly she quit smoking (that or they just don't letcha smoke in the hospital, they can be strict that way.)
Now she's down in Alabama. In the hospital with heart problems. In Alabama. Dunno which is worse...just kidding Gene!
I've never been south of the Mason-Dixon line. I drove cross-country once with Patch in his foreign car, he wearing an "I want my RU-486" t-shirt and me with my blue braided dreads. A couple of times in the Midwest I thought for sure we'd be lynch-mobbed. One gas-station attendant wearing grease-covered overalls ala Dukes Of Hazzard took one look at our car and mumbled "Damn fine waste of metal and rubber..." to which Patch mumbled, looking at such fine proof that man did in fact evolve from chimps, "Damn fine waste of skin and bone..."
Now she's down in Alabama. In the hospital with heart problems. In Alabama. Dunno which is worse...just kidding Gene!
I've never been south of the Mason-Dixon line. I drove cross-country once with Patch in his foreign car, he wearing an "I want my RU-486" t-shirt and me with my blue braided dreads. A couple of times in the Midwest I thought for sure we'd be lynch-mobbed. One gas-station attendant wearing grease-covered overalls ala Dukes Of Hazzard took one look at our car and mumbled "Damn fine waste of metal and rubber..." to which Patch mumbled, looking at such fine proof that man did in fact evolve from chimps, "Damn fine waste of skin and bone..."
bbq @ tony's
Went over to Tony's for a BBQ. Met Hiroko in Shibuya and single-handedly revived the Japanese economy by being good consumers and inhaling various products from Muji, Loft, etc.
We grabbed some salad fixin's and got the #55 bus to Tony's.
As is tradition, Tony kept his guests (and himself) plied with wine while Hiroko and I took over his kitchen. Tony has 9 cutting boards, but his knives are as dull as spoons. Tony has a brand new oven that had never been used because when I opened it I found the shrink-wrapped instruction booklet and a note from the repairman who installed it, dated July 2002. Tony has 2 bottles and one bag of salt, but hardly any sugar. Tony has stupendously good French coffee, but only one coffee filter.
As she tends to do, Hiroko worked her magic. Scrounging olive oil, balsamico vinegar, and sugar, she turned bacon, pine nuts, and Nancy's garlic chips into a stupendous dressing for a spinach and bell pepper salad that had the crowd in fits. With the BBQ belching out smoke as well as steaks and chicken, I took Tony's pasta, grated some gouda cheese and turned it into a feeble attempt at baked ziti, and the feast was on.
We rounded out the evening by watching Charlie's Angels on TV. Besides Kevin failing in his attempt to leap the couch in a single bound (Tony was quick with the salt and the red wine on the carpet did no damage), it was a lovely evening.
We grabbed some salad fixin's and got the #55 bus to Tony's.
As is tradition, Tony kept his guests (and himself) plied with wine while Hiroko and I took over his kitchen. Tony has 9 cutting boards, but his knives are as dull as spoons. Tony has a brand new oven that had never been used because when I opened it I found the shrink-wrapped instruction booklet and a note from the repairman who installed it, dated July 2002. Tony has 2 bottles and one bag of salt, but hardly any sugar. Tony has stupendously good French coffee, but only one coffee filter.
As she tends to do, Hiroko worked her magic. Scrounging olive oil, balsamico vinegar, and sugar, she turned bacon, pine nuts, and Nancy's garlic chips into a stupendous dressing for a spinach and bell pepper salad that had the crowd in fits. With the BBQ belching out smoke as well as steaks and chicken, I took Tony's pasta, grated some gouda cheese and turned it into a feeble attempt at baked ziti, and the feast was on.
We rounded out the evening by watching Charlie's Angels on TV. Besides Kevin failing in his attempt to leap the couch in a single bound (Tony was quick with the salt and the red wine on the carpet did no damage), it was a lovely evening.
visions of grander than I really am
Dream #1: I was castigating The Israeli and Palestinian leaders, at length, for their failure to reach a viable peace agreement.
Dream #2: spiders that looked like mushrooms crawling up the back of my legs. I woke up with a start to find Hiroko getting out of bed, brushing back the mosquito net that rubbing teasingly along my calves.
Dream #2: spiders that looked like mushrooms crawling up the back of my legs. I woke up with a start to find Hiroko getting out of bed, brushing back the mosquito net that rubbing teasingly along my calves.
reality of lameness
Only two weeks to go before the Tokyo tournament, and I am in trouble. Last year I was in the unranked division, and by some strange twist of fate, luck, and promotion, this year I am in the 4dan/5dan division, the most advanced division. In general, I am pretty hosed, as everyone else in the division, including all my instructors, outrank and outclass me.
Tanaka-sensei ran us through all 20 forms and then left us to our own devices. It was humid and we were all sweating away nicely. Orita-san kept up a regular stream of complaints every time she could catch me, but I didn't give her much of a chance as I ran through my five forms over and over again, every time comparing my own movements to the movements inside my head and realizing just how much more I have to learn. Tanaka-sensei was helping Kanai-san with the last form, shiho. It's nasty: surrounded by enemies you attack in four directions. The cuts are tough, connecting them without leaving yourself open is even harder, and cutting convincingly, with plenty of hip and reach, is nigh impossible. I can't do that form more than a few times before my right arm feels like it will fall off. I focused more on the two seated forms, inchuyo and yochuin, as well as musogaeshi; I keep losing my balance over-extending on the turn to cut behind after the initial forward strike.
We kept practicing well past 9:00, and finally I had to stop because I was completely dehydrated and my right arm would move any more. No sense in killing myself, I've still got two weeks.
Tanaka-sensei ran us through all 20 forms and then left us to our own devices. It was humid and we were all sweating away nicely. Orita-san kept up a regular stream of complaints every time she could catch me, but I didn't give her much of a chance as I ran through my five forms over and over again, every time comparing my own movements to the movements inside my head and realizing just how much more I have to learn. Tanaka-sensei was helping Kanai-san with the last form, shiho. It's nasty: surrounded by enemies you attack in four directions. The cuts are tough, connecting them without leaving yourself open is even harder, and cutting convincingly, with plenty of hip and reach, is nigh impossible. I can't do that form more than a few times before my right arm feels like it will fall off. I focused more on the two seated forms, inchuyo and yochuin, as well as musogaeshi; I keep losing my balance over-extending on the turn to cut behind after the initial forward strike.
We kept practicing well past 9:00, and finally I had to stop because I was completely dehydrated and my right arm would move any more. No sense in killing myself, I've still got two weeks.
woo woo!
From Joel:
This is hysterical.
Step 1) Watch this
(pay particularly close attention to the demonstration)
Step 2) Then mix it up
This is hysterical.
Step 1) Watch this
(pay particularly close attention to the demonstration)
Step 2) Then mix it up
tokyo the most expensive city in the world
Just in case there were any doubts, Tokyo is indeed the most expensive city in the world.
Hundreds of Americans, largely in finance and banking, are moving back to the United States this summer from Tokyo, often ordered home by stateside managers who don't think Japan's stagnant economy is worth the high cost of maintaining workers there.
For those expatriates still in Tokyo, neither deflation nor that softening housing market has helped much so far. Prices there are still 26 percent higher than in New York.
Hundreds of Americans, largely in finance and banking, are moving back to the United States this summer from Tokyo, often ordered home by stateside managers who don't think Japan's stagnant economy is worth the high cost of maintaining workers there.
For those expatriates still in Tokyo, neither deflation nor that softening housing market has helped much so far. Prices there are still 26 percent higher than in New York.
from dave barry by way of Hammer
I guess sometimes you don't really think about your domain name...until it's too late:
http://www.powergenitalia.com/
http://www.whorepresents.com/
The first one I can forgive as English isn't most Italians' first language.
But the second one? No one in that whole organization said "Hmm, why do so many pimps and johns keep emailing us?"
http://www.powergenitalia.com/
http://www.whorepresents.com/
The first one I can forgive as English isn't most Italians' first language.
But the second one? No one in that whole organization said "Hmm, why do so many pimps and johns keep emailing us?"
momoyo and kensuke
Went to Shimura-sanchome on the Mita line, ostensibly to see Satchan's newborn son Kensuke, but really I was just there to play with Momoyo, who's now 6 years old, in first grade, and missing her two front teeth (making ramen slurping really easy.)
Hiroko and I met everyone at the station and immediately went to Toys 'R Us to get stuff for Kensuke, then hit the Royal Host for lunch. Momo, having the appetite of an old man instead of a six year-old, opted for ramen.
After lunch we went over to see Kensuke and parents, and as all the females reminisced and gossiped (they're all from the same town that Hiroko grew up in) Momo and I draw in her coloring book and poked Kensuke until he gurgled and made other entertaining noises.
Hiroko and I met everyone at the station and immediately went to Toys 'R Us to get stuff for Kensuke, then hit the Royal Host for lunch. Momo, having the appetite of an old man instead of a six year-old, opted for ramen.
After lunch we went over to see Kensuke and parents, and as all the females reminisced and gossiped (they're all from the same town that Hiroko grew up in) Momo and I draw in her coloring book and poked Kensuke until he gurgled and made other entertaining noises.
judge not lest ye be judg'd
Had a judge's training seminar this evening for the upcoming 6th Annual Kenkakubanrai. I will most definitely screw up the flag-lifting and point counting and victor announcing, most definitely.
After run through a couple of practices including how to receive and return the flags, how to roll them up, how to raise them, count them, and other fine points of judging, we cruised to one of the cheap eats places near Shinbashi Station. The sashimi was thawed, everything was fried in the same oil, the plates, chairs, and tables were small, the prices ridiculously low, and in general a good time was had by all. Kanai-bashocho and Tanaka-sensei are gearing up for their wedding, which I will unfortunately miss because it's the day I leave for San Francisco.
After a couple of beers and a carafe of wine, Sanno-sensei told me, after hearing that I was only 30 years old, that I severely lack in shinayakasa; suppleness, flexibility; elasticity. He says I'm too young to be stomping and thumping around like an old man, and I should work on being more like the green bamboo that bends at impossible angles but never breaks and always snaps back into place. He has a point. I've spent a bit too much time trying to be strong and fast, specifically trying to give tatami rolls what for, and if I get into the habit of being rigid and cold, I'll never shake it. So my homework from now on is more bend, less thump.
After run through a couple of practices including how to receive and return the flags, how to roll them up, how to raise them, count them, and other fine points of judging, we cruised to one of the cheap eats places near Shinbashi Station. The sashimi was thawed, everything was fried in the same oil, the plates, chairs, and tables were small, the prices ridiculously low, and in general a good time was had by all. Kanai-bashocho and Tanaka-sensei are gearing up for their wedding, which I will unfortunately miss because it's the day I leave for San Francisco.
After a couple of beers and a carafe of wine, Sanno-sensei told me, after hearing that I was only 30 years old, that I severely lack in shinayakasa; suppleness, flexibility; elasticity. He says I'm too young to be stomping and thumping around like an old man, and I should work on being more like the green bamboo that bends at impossible angles but never breaks and always snaps back into place. He has a point. I've spent a bit too much time trying to be strong and fast, specifically trying to give tatami rolls what for, and if I get into the habit of being rigid and cold, I'll never shake it. So my homework from now on is more bend, less thump.
sai and jo
Jesse asked me on the Sword Forum International boards if we could do some sai when I go out to California in July for an iai seminar. At first I said no because I don't know any sai and am not qualified to teach. But at practice tonight I was talking to Hoshina-san and Yoshida-sensei, and since Hoshina-san is 2dan in sai they decided I had to learn the tachi (sword) half of some sai forms so that we could at least demo. And while we're at it I might as well learn some tachi for a couple of jo forms as well.
So for three hours I got pummelled by various folks trying to teach me the sai kata geki, hangetsu, and sankyo, as well as some jo work I absolutely can't remember. After having various bits of wood and metal slammed into my head, solar plexus, wrists, arms, and chin, I have a new respect for these weapons.
Now if I can just remember the moves well enough to not make a complete fool of myself...
So for three hours I got pummelled by various folks trying to teach me the sai kata geki, hangetsu, and sankyo, as well as some jo work I absolutely can't remember. After having various bits of wood and metal slammed into my head, solar plexus, wrists, arms, and chin, I have a new respect for these weapons.
Now if I can just remember the moves well enough to not make a complete fool of myself...
bruce lee kicks butt
From stevie: http://www.card1004.com/card/bsjj/53.swf No idea what the Korean writing says, but this is cool.
dream
I think the combination of seeing Matrix: Reloaded and watching the news coverage of the middle east has effected my sleep.
Had a dream: I was in the run-down lobby of a dingy bank, or maybe it was a hospital. It was full of depressed, dirty, hopeless people sitting on grimy old waiting benches. Babies cried. Old people stared off into nothing. I stood near the back, looking over the scene, detached. Suddenly a young man runs in, pulls out a revolver, and starts shooting. Panic ensues; people dive for cover and run. The images unfold in bullet-time slow motion. I run towards him as he hurries to reload. Spent shells fall, hand in his pocket, I get closer. One bullet chambered, two, three...I close in. Four bullets, five, and I am near the wall he stands against. I reach out towards the umbrella rack, my fingers close around the long handle of a sledge hammer. I spin, lifting the heavy head of the hammer, adding my right hand to the grip, accelerating in dust-flinging slow motion. He snaps closed the loaded revolver and wheels the barrel towards me. The sledge catches him square in the chest, knocking him into the wall. Freeze. Rewind.
Suddenly a young man runs in, pulls out a revolver, and starts shooting. Panic ensues; people dive for cover and run. The images unfold in bullet-time slow motion. I run towards him as he hurries to reload...this time I grab an umbrella from the rack, noticing how much lighter is is than the sledge hammer. I deftly jab the umbrella two, three, four times into his throat, chest, arm. Freeze. Rewind. I grab the umbrella, spin it around and hook his gun-holding hand with the curved umbrella handle. He struggles to free his hand, ensnaring him even deeper into my umbrella-joint lock. Freeze. Rewind. He swings his arm towards me, and just as the barrel is in line with my head, I slide forward and under, my tactical folder knife catching him in the wrist, elbow, armpit. Freeze. Rewind. I drive the serrated bowie deep into his forearm, slicing it open elbow to palm. Freeze. Rewind. From across the room I dive, John Woo, emptying my 9mm clip into the wall and him as he lunges for the counter. His shots turning the stuffing of the fake leather benches into clouds of dust. Freeze. Rewind. I spin as he fires his last shot wildly in my direction, no aim, panicking. He reloads as I lunge straight at him, hurdling over the benches. First row. One bullet chambered. Second row, two bullets chambered. As he slaps the revolver into place and raises his eyes and gun to face my I'm already drawing my sword, halfway over the last bench, right leg extended. I draw and cut as my right foot comes down, catching his right arm clean on the rising cut. His hand, still holding the gun, drops harmlessly and clatters on the floor at our feet. My blade continues arcing across his face, he turns and falls.
I wake up. No more TV or movies for a while, methinks.
Had a dream: I was in the run-down lobby of a dingy bank, or maybe it was a hospital. It was full of depressed, dirty, hopeless people sitting on grimy old waiting benches. Babies cried. Old people stared off into nothing. I stood near the back, looking over the scene, detached. Suddenly a young man runs in, pulls out a revolver, and starts shooting. Panic ensues; people dive for cover and run. The images unfold in bullet-time slow motion. I run towards him as he hurries to reload. Spent shells fall, hand in his pocket, I get closer. One bullet chambered, two, three...I close in. Four bullets, five, and I am near the wall he stands against. I reach out towards the umbrella rack, my fingers close around the long handle of a sledge hammer. I spin, lifting the heavy head of the hammer, adding my right hand to the grip, accelerating in dust-flinging slow motion. He snaps closed the loaded revolver and wheels the barrel towards me. The sledge catches him square in the chest, knocking him into the wall. Freeze. Rewind.
Suddenly a young man runs in, pulls out a revolver, and starts shooting. Panic ensues; people dive for cover and run. The images unfold in bullet-time slow motion. I run towards him as he hurries to reload...this time I grab an umbrella from the rack, noticing how much lighter is is than the sledge hammer. I deftly jab the umbrella two, three, four times into his throat, chest, arm. Freeze. Rewind. I grab the umbrella, spin it around and hook his gun-holding hand with the curved umbrella handle. He struggles to free his hand, ensnaring him even deeper into my umbrella-joint lock. Freeze. Rewind. He swings his arm towards me, and just as the barrel is in line with my head, I slide forward and under, my tactical folder knife catching him in the wrist, elbow, armpit. Freeze. Rewind. I drive the serrated bowie deep into his forearm, slicing it open elbow to palm. Freeze. Rewind. From across the room I dive, John Woo, emptying my 9mm clip into the wall and him as he lunges for the counter. His shots turning the stuffing of the fake leather benches into clouds of dust. Freeze. Rewind. I spin as he fires his last shot wildly in my direction, no aim, panicking. He reloads as I lunge straight at him, hurdling over the benches. First row. One bullet chambered. Second row, two bullets chambered. As he slaps the revolver into place and raises his eyes and gun to face my I'm already drawing my sword, halfway over the last bench, right leg extended. I draw and cut as my right foot comes down, catching his right arm clean on the rising cut. His hand, still holding the gun, drops harmlessly and clatters on the floor at our feet. My blade continues arcing across his face, he turns and falls.
I wake up. No more TV or movies for a while, methinks.
lethalo
Here I am wasting my time, dedicating my life to studying a 300+ year-old traditional Japanese martial art, when in fact for only $49.95 I can learn lethalo, "Truly the world's deadliest and most effective self-defense system ever devised." In four short courses I will master unbeatable fighting techniques! What the hell am I waiting for?!
japanese cops
I admit, like everyone else in Japan (especially foreigners), I belittle the Japanese police. They seem under-prepared, ill-qualified to carry firearms, and are generally useful only for giving directions and watching helplessly as right-wing trucks drive slowly in circles blasting nationalist theme songs at ear-splitting levels.
But now I take it all back. I got a call from Officer Kobayashi in Arakawa-ku. Arakawa-ku is as far north and east as you can get from my south-western Tokyo location and still have a Tokyo area code. Seems he found the Mighty Steed. Not only did he find it, but he put it in a police van and drove all the way across Tokyo to give it back to me. So now, the Mighty Steed sits next to the Mightier Steed. It's missing the left mirror and the grandma handcovers, as well as the front basket and the helmet, but it stills purrs and rattles like it used to.
Two small helmets where found with the bike, ticketed for being parked illegally. A plate check showed that the bike was reported stolen. Obviously some teenagers were enjoying the freedom that the Mighty Steed provides. But how the hell it got all the way across Tokyo is beyond even Officer Kobayashi's comprehension.
Good timing though, Masa's bike (the one I got from Moto that I used to ride before the Mighty Steed) is nearing the end of usefulness. So I'll stop by the Ward Office tomorrow morning, transfer the Mighty Steed to Masa, and consider it all in a day's police work.
Now if they could just get the right-wing trucks to shut up.
But now I take it all back. I got a call from Officer Kobayashi in Arakawa-ku. Arakawa-ku is as far north and east as you can get from my south-western Tokyo location and still have a Tokyo area code. Seems he found the Mighty Steed. Not only did he find it, but he put it in a police van and drove all the way across Tokyo to give it back to me. So now, the Mighty Steed sits next to the Mightier Steed. It's missing the left mirror and the grandma handcovers, as well as the front basket and the helmet, but it stills purrs and rattles like it used to.
Two small helmets where found with the bike, ticketed for being parked illegally. A plate check showed that the bike was reported stolen. Obviously some teenagers were enjoying the freedom that the Mighty Steed provides. But how the hell it got all the way across Tokyo is beyond even Officer Kobayashi's comprehension.
Good timing though, Masa's bike (the one I got from Moto that I used to ride before the Mighty Steed) is nearing the end of usefulness. So I'll stop by the Ward Office tomorrow morning, transfer the Mighty Steed to Masa, and consider it all in a day's police work.
Now if they could just get the right-wing trucks to shut up.
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