drunk salarymen
On the way to the train station from Honbu Dojo after class, with Urabebe and Mr. Medicine, and we encounter a stumbling drunk group of three salarymen. The worst of the three falls into the flower bushes, taking a bicycle with him. His two friends almost go down with him attempting to stand him back up. Ah, the cute, sweet innocence of public drunj!
karatsu day 2
After another massive breakfast and a lovely bath, we headed out into town. The weather was a bit sketchy, but we checked out the castle and then the various attractions around town, including the massive floats used every year for the festival. Finally we walked down "pottery lane" and checked out the various pottery and historical displays by the local artisans, and bought some cool stuff.
Finally walked back to the train station and checked out the local shops, got some lunch at the local pizza place (!), and got the train to the airport for the flight back to Tokyo.
Finally walked back to the train station and checked out the local shops, got some lunch at the local pizza place (!), and got the train to the airport for the flight back to Tokyo.
iki day 2
After a gut-busting breakfast, we got in the van with the Grandma who runs Hiryama Inn, picked up three of her grandkids, and headed for the glass-bottom boat to take us to an even smaller, unpopulated island.
In the afternoon we got on the big ferry and cruised over to Yobuko, ate some local seafood, and took the bus to Karatsu.
In the afternoon we got on the big ferry and cruised over to Yobuko, ate some local seafood, and took the bus to Karatsu.
Left Sakamotoya and headed to Nagasaki Station to get on the ubercool Special Express Sonic train. Leather seats, wooden snack tables, and slippers; who needs the bullet trains with kinda local luxury?
We arrived at Hakata, grabbed some noodles at the station, took the bus (dude sitting in front of me had on the best t-shirt) to the port, and hopped on the superfast to Iki island.
We checked into Hirayama, lounged about, bathed in the hot springs, ate, lounged some more, and then finished off the evening with a facial and foot massage. It ain't easy, but it's a livin'.
We arrived at Hakata, grabbed some noodles at the station, took the bus (dude sitting in front of me had on the best t-shirt) to the port, and hopped on the superfast to Iki island.
We checked into Hirayama, lounged about, bathed in the hot springs, ate, lounged some more, and then finished off the evening with a facial and foot massage. It ain't easy, but it's a livin'.
nagasaki
Got up way too early for the start of a holiday and got to the understandably crowded Haneda Airport with plenty of time to get on our 8am flight. Landed in sunny and beautiful Kyushu, took the bus into Nagasaki, and checked into Sakamotoya.
The day was still young, so we wandered around Nagasaki, getting lunch in Chinatown and checking out Glover Gardens, Dejima, and all the other cool foreign-devils-in-old-Japan attractions. Rode the cool romen-densha and enjoyed the stunning weather before heading back to the inn and feasting.
A good start to Golden Week with only minor sun-burn on the balding head.
The day was still young, so we wandered around Nagasaki, getting lunch in Chinatown and checking out Glover Gardens, Dejima, and all the other cool foreign-devils-in-old-Japan attractions. Rode the cool romen-densha and enjoyed the stunning weather before heading back to the inn and feasting.
A good start to Golden Week with only minor sun-burn on the balding head.
mitsui museum
Kinda crappy weather, but Hiroko and I walked through Ginza and down to Nihonbashi to check out the Mitsui Memorial Museum. Three hundred years ago the Mitsui family started up a simple shop and that grew into one of the largest enterprises in Japan. The Mitsui family felt one of their duties was to preserve the finest of cultural artifacts for all, and the personal collections of the various Mitsui branches have been brought together under the museum.
The museum itself is small, occupying the top floor of the brilliant bank originally build early in the 20th century. But the collection is stunning; pottery, scrolls, swords...anything and everything, with several national treasures.
After the exhibition we hit DPNYC, swung by the dojo so that I could grab my sword, and headed home.
The museum itself is small, occupying the top floor of the brilliant bank originally build early in the 20th century. But the collection is stunning; pottery, scrolls, swords...anything and everything, with several national treasures.
After the exhibition we hit DPNYC, swung by the dojo so that I could grab my sword, and headed home.
gosoke review
Gosoke has been reviewing all the kata with the various instructors who rarely, if ever, come to honbu to train. I showed up late, as I do every week. He had already gone through the first 10 kata, so I jumped in for the next 10. He went through each kata, highlighting the key points and what to watch for when teaching. Verified a few points, clarified a few more, gave me some more homework to crank on, too.
After practice I went by Miri's for a nice burger. Everytime I've gone by the past few weeks she's got a private party going on, so finally tonight I was able to get in. Damn but that girl can grill a fine burger.
After practice I went by Miri's for a nice burger. Everytime I've gone by the past few weeks she's got a private party going on, so finally tonight I was able to get in. Damn but that girl can grill a fine burger.
I am not a literary man. That is to say, I am literate. And often I am quite literal.
I do read quite a bit, and in two languages. Not just the required readings of labor and life; I read for pleasure. My definition of enjoyable reading is twofold.
The first kind involves the joy of gaining knowledge through reading. Into this group I lump: anything technical including books on programming languages, circuit-building, and assorted geekness, words about words i.e. Safire's On Language column, cookbooks and other DIY, and anything historical, the more Japanese arcane the better.
My second kind of enjoyable reading is that which I simply enjoy for the process and experience of reading. It started with Where The Wild Things Are, progressed up through A Wrinkle In Time, rampaged through The Chronicles Of Narnia, the entire fictional works of Haruki Murakami (in both Japanese and English), and is now settled comfortably around Altered Carbon and Hardcore Zen.
As I said, I am not literary. I have known only two writers in my life, both roommates in college and both incredibly more intelligent than I. Daboo wrote a story about a child and a balloon that reminds me of the joy of seeing the world from the perspective of a five-year old. The Schwa wrote a story whose title was the sum total of the story itself, the rest of the text contained in one massive footnote. It struck me as sublimely ingenious, if a little inaccessible.
These men are literary. They read, they write. They read some more.
Notice that I have not listed any of the contemporary fiction rags; magazines whose design seems constructed with the simple purpose of announcing from your coffee table "You did not, and could never, read me. But my existence makes you exemplary of the culturally needy generation-Y to which you belong."
These magazines are generally an odd form factor (huge, or tiny), type-set and laid out by someone who studied something avant garde at RISD and whose idea of stylish I generally pronounce as 'illegible.' The lack of actual content, of words worth reading, is more than made up for by the complete lack of kearning, the jumble of typefaces that slash across artistic photographs, and the adherence to a theme that changes issue per issue, from "Love" to "War" to "My Roommate Plays Backgammon."
I have met several of these so-called designers, artists, "writers". Their paltry ramblings and headache-inducing creations fill my burnable trash recepticle.
Through that magical intersection of luck and timing, my wife introduced me to the guy who for a time edited the magazine produced by her company. He was cool; insightful, a writer. He contributed to Kuhaku, he wrote a book about the cultural phenomenon of Manga. And he knows Murakami Haruki personally.
Oh yeah, and he had this new fiction periodical to show me: A Public Space.
Immediately I was suspect.
Size: oddly small. (check)
Cover: arsty photo called Matress Flip. (check)
But then I opened it. And then I started reading. And then I read some more. Short stories. A smattering of poetry. And It Was Good.
For the last time: I am not literary. But I dabble in the occasional word (natch; this blog) and I enjoy a clever turn-o'-phrase and I certainly don't mind stories short enough to consume during my short subway commute.
And I got me a subscription to A Public Space.
I do read quite a bit, and in two languages. Not just the required readings of labor and life; I read for pleasure. My definition of enjoyable reading is twofold.
The first kind involves the joy of gaining knowledge through reading. Into this group I lump: anything technical including books on programming languages, circuit-building, and assorted geekness, words about words i.e. Safire's On Language column, cookbooks and other DIY, and anything historical, the more Japanese arcane the better.
My second kind of enjoyable reading is that which I simply enjoy for the process and experience of reading. It started with Where The Wild Things Are, progressed up through A Wrinkle In Time, rampaged through The Chronicles Of Narnia, the entire fictional works of Haruki Murakami (in both Japanese and English), and is now settled comfortably around Altered Carbon and Hardcore Zen.
As I said, I am not literary. I have known only two writers in my life, both roommates in college and both incredibly more intelligent than I. Daboo wrote a story about a child and a balloon that reminds me of the joy of seeing the world from the perspective of a five-year old. The Schwa wrote a story whose title was the sum total of the story itself, the rest of the text contained in one massive footnote. It struck me as sublimely ingenious, if a little inaccessible.
These men are literary. They read, they write. They read some more.
Notice that I have not listed any of the contemporary fiction rags; magazines whose design seems constructed with the simple purpose of announcing from your coffee table "You did not, and could never, read me. But my existence makes you exemplary of the culturally needy generation-Y to which you belong."
These magazines are generally an odd form factor (huge, or tiny), type-set and laid out by someone who studied something avant garde at RISD and whose idea of stylish I generally pronounce as 'illegible.' The lack of actual content, of words worth reading, is more than made up for by the complete lack of kearning, the jumble of typefaces that slash across artistic photographs, and the adherence to a theme that changes issue per issue, from "Love" to "War" to "My Roommate Plays Backgammon."
I have met several of these so-called designers, artists, "writers". Their paltry ramblings and headache-inducing creations fill my burnable trash recepticle.
Through that magical intersection of luck and timing, my wife introduced me to the guy who for a time edited the magazine produced by her company. He was cool; insightful, a writer. He contributed to Kuhaku, he wrote a book about the cultural phenomenon of Manga. And he knows Murakami Haruki personally.
Oh yeah, and he had this new fiction periodical to show me: A Public Space.
Immediately I was suspect.
Size: oddly small. (check)
Cover: arsty photo called Matress Flip. (check)
But then I opened it. And then I started reading. And then I read some more. Short stories. A smattering of poetry. And It Was Good.
For the last time: I am not literary. But I dabble in the occasional word (natch; this blog) and I enjoy a clever turn-o'-phrase and I certainly don't mind stories short enough to consume during my short subway commute.
And I got me a subscription to A Public Space.
bbq
Much cooking and eating of meat was done at the traditional Kuroda Feast. Didn't even bother with gyoza, as the new Weber grill was in fine form all evening long, providing a never-ending stream of beef, pork, and chicken. Little Maya and Daisuke ate so much BBQ they passed out on the couch!
In the early afternoon, we assembled a posse and made short work of several targets in the yard. Random passers-by were much amused and confused by the white boys swinging swords, but the neighbors must be used to my antics by now.
As folks started pouring in, we fired up the grill and put out the chili (black and white), guac, salsa, veggies, grandma's hand-bottled umeshu (plum wine) and child-proofed the loft by spreading out the futon and lettin' 'em go nuts. Millie, Amy, Conan, Kairi, and Daisuke had an amusing time as the parentals inhaled food at an alarming rate. Ah, the gluttony!
move as one
Today in class we did a couple of reasonably interesting things. First, with basics we did variations on basic cuts to get the feel of cutting from the hips. From a regular right-foot forward stance, bring the sword up, and then keeping the feet in place open the left knee, open the hips, and drop while extending the arms. Right hip moves forward, left hip back, and the key is to not use arm strength, but just let the hips turn, extend the arms, and drop in place, so the resulting cut is more of a pull cut, ending in a nice sideways (hanmi) stance.
From there, step the left foot forward, raise the arms and sword again, and then stepping forward with the right foot cut straight out. This time, as the left foot steps forward, the left hip and shoulder square up so that the bellybutton faces directly forward. As the right foot steps, the right and left hips move in, forward, and the again the arms merely extend, the power coming from the hips driving forward, not turning sideways.
Repeating these two cuts really gives a good feel for mawaru (turning) versus ireru (entering or putting in/forward.)
Then we did a couple of kata. On suigetsu, we focused on the height of the blade at different times, and driving the thrust with the hips not the upper body. For Inchuyo, it's all about the movement of the hips and right arm. The right arm never stops moving, clear the saya, deflect as the body moves right, then continue sweeping around the head as the hips reverse and enter forward left. Keeping the motion slow but smooth is much better than two fast but separate left-right movements with a clear break between them.
From there, step the left foot forward, raise the arms and sword again, and then stepping forward with the right foot cut straight out. This time, as the left foot steps forward, the left hip and shoulder square up so that the bellybutton faces directly forward. As the right foot steps, the right and left hips move in, forward, and the again the arms merely extend, the power coming from the hips driving forward, not turning sideways.
Repeating these two cuts really gives a good feel for mawaru (turning) versus ireru (entering or putting in/forward.)
Then we did a couple of kata. On suigetsu, we focused on the height of the blade at different times, and driving the thrust with the hips not the upper body. For Inchuyo, it's all about the movement of the hips and right arm. The right arm never stops moving, clear the saya, deflect as the body moves right, then continue sweeping around the head as the hips reverse and enter forward left. Keeping the motion slow but smooth is much better than two fast but separate left-right movements with a clear break between them.
tsuba
Gosoke gave me this amazing tsuba.
Not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do with it though. I know it's quite valuable, too nice to actually use, but I certainly can't sell it!
happy birthday mona!
Went to the Stedt's for Mona-chan's first birthday. She got loads of stuff, but her favorite was the baby mirror. Of course, being a girl, I couldn't get near her without her crying, so I hid behind the stuffed animals to distract her enough so that she wouldn't cry.
yardwork
The Parentals Kuroda drove down to some much needed yard work at Azabu Third. Dad brought his tools, we walked down to D2 to buy a ladder, and the trimming began. When we finished, I didn't realize just how big the front yard is!
ebt!
Got together with some of the old EBT/Morgan Stanley gang. The JustZed has finally transferred out from NY, and Norichan is moving TO NY and The Stedt, Spike, and Toddychan continue to brag about their daughters.
I didn't even show up until after 9pm as I now have to work for my money, but the old gang is still in full effect, and by the time we left folks was right and properly drunj.
shibuya back street river
Nice weather so I popped over to Shibuya to see Yamazaki-sensei and pick up some order-made tsuba. He lives in the back streets of Awashima, where time stopped 50 years ago.
Kids were fishing for crawdaddies in the river as parents hung out sipping beer and enjoying the blossoms. Bits of Tokyo like this make the city so cool. And then five minutes on the bus and I was in the throngs of Hachiko, packed with Sunday shoppers, high school kids, hawkers and gawkers and general typical Shibuya mayhem.
shizan again
Had cutting practice for the first time months.
Got up reasonably early, got to the dojo by 9:30.
AM session we had three, so we took our time and everyone got about six targets. All beginners, and they did well.
After they all cut, I took requests and demonstrated a few kata. Did sha and sa and managed to cut just fine. Amazing how a good sword makes me look like I know what I'm doing.
Folks started showing up for the afternoon session, Presley and his visiting-from-America Tall Dad came by as I was busy cutting down some bamboo for a mekugi. Five folks for the PM session, including the father-daughter unit of the K family. Dad was doing ok but his 14 year-old daughter was thumping! By the end of the session she was nailing the cuts and had gained some confidence. Greatest thing is, because she doesn't have alot of physical strength, she just lines up the blade and swings true; nice and clean, no mess no fuss. If only everyone could cut so effortlessly!
Got up reasonably early, got to the dojo by 9:30.
AM session we had three, so we took our time and everyone got about six targets. All beginners, and they did well.
After they all cut, I took requests and demonstrated a few kata. Did sha and sa and managed to cut just fine. Amazing how a good sword makes me look like I know what I'm doing.
Folks started showing up for the afternoon session, Presley and his visiting-from-America Tall Dad came by as I was busy cutting down some bamboo for a mekugi. Five folks for the PM session, including the father-daughter unit of the K family. Dad was doing ok but his 14 year-old daughter was thumping! By the end of the session she was nailing the cuts and had gained some confidence. Greatest thing is, because she doesn't have alot of physical strength, she just lines up the blade and swings true; nice and clean, no mess no fuss. If only everyone could cut so effortlessly!
sick hiroko
I have successfully done what all husbands are destined to do: I have completely recovered from my cold and transmitted it entirely to my lovely wife.
Hiroko has a sore throat and rumbling cough and has lost her voice. She took off work yesterday and still feels and sounds terrible today.
Such a loving husband am I, I even share my cold with her.
"In sickness and in health" indeed.
Hiroko has a sore throat and rumbling cough and has lost her voice. She took off work yesterday and still feels and sounds terrible today.
Such a loving husband am I, I even share my cold with her.
"In sickness and in health" indeed.
akiba in la machina
The Eng came by in his brand new 430 Spider, so P jumped in for some hi-quality photo ops.
Then we tested the limits of Sunday Tokyo driving by hauling seriously quicktime to Akiba for some much needed geek shopping.
The Eng was immediately in his element as we browsed from hi to low; otaku heaven full of anime figures, high-end home stereo equipment, giant-screen plasma TVs, DVDs, and a coffee break in "Fairie Garden", a maid cafe on the roof of a building housing a role playing bookstore and a PC repair shop.
Finished the day with a tour of the massive Yodobashi Camera and sped through the rain home, the 'rari's small trunk full of goodies.
hanami
Flowers and Nancy and booze in Shinjuku Gyoen on a perfect Saturday afternoon.
A couple more photos.
healed...mostly
Finally getting over this cold. Still have a wee bit of a cough, but in general I don't feel like ass, which is an improvement.
Went to class for the first time in forever. Gosoke was in fine spirits and I took things slow. Worked through the basics, and then ran through all the kata a couple of times. Using my cutter for iai, and damn that's a beefy, heavy blade. Then again I'm totally out of practice, and besides that I suck, so it all balances out.
Went to class for the first time in forever. Gosoke was in fine spirits and I took things slow. Worked through the basics, and then ran through all the kata a couple of times. Using my cutter for iai, and damn that's a beefy, heavy blade. Then again I'm totally out of practice, and besides that I suck, so it all balances out.
nancy
Being sick all weekend, I missed Nancy's farewell party, but Hiroko managed to get some quality shots.
cell phone geek
I really, REALLY wanted the new Sony Ericsson phone. Since it was a holiday (first day of spring) I went down to the cell phone shop less than an hour after they opened. Sold out. So I walked across the street to the big Bic Camera electronics store on the corner. Sold out. So I went to the other Bic Camera on the other side of Shibuya Station. They had a line outside and were handing out claim tickets. No more tickets, no more phones. I got in line, got my ticket, and waited. Me and all the other uberdorks who simply HAD to have the new phone on day one.
Took about an hour to get the new phone, but then since it's just a resell shop I had to give up my current phone and they said it would take about two hours to transfer over my number to the new handset (doing this at the DoCoMo shop is instant.)
So I went back home, grabbed some lunch with Hiroko, and then we took a wee walk about since the weather was so nice. Hit the GAP and Hiroko got a belt and some pants, I picked up my phone, Hiroko got a sweet antique obi for cheap, and then we wandered the back streets of Aoyama for a bit before cruising back down to Nishi Azabu and bussing home.
Watched a couple episodes of 24 and I was happy to see Kimmy was, though not dead, no longer on the show. Chloe is still a spirited beotch, too. Love that girl! And Jack got to shoot a terrorist in the leg for no reason other than there was only five minutes left in the episode and Jack hadn't shot anybody yet. Quality television.
Took about an hour to get the new phone, but then since it's just a resell shop I had to give up my current phone and they said it would take about two hours to transfer over my number to the new handset (doing this at the DoCoMo shop is instant.)
So I went back home, grabbed some lunch with Hiroko, and then we took a wee walk about since the weather was so nice. Hit the GAP and Hiroko got a belt and some pants, I picked up my phone, Hiroko got a sweet antique obi for cheap, and then we wandered the back streets of Aoyama for a bit before cruising back down to Nishi Azabu and bussing home.
Watched a couple episodes of 24 and I was happy to see Kimmy was, though not dead, no longer on the show. Chloe is still a spirited beotch, too. Love that girl! And Jack got to shoot a terrorist in the leg for no reason other than there was only five minutes left in the episode and Jack hadn't shot anybody yet. Quality television.
shijuku (49)
The seventh period of seven days after death is when the spirit finally achieves total enlightenment and ascends permanently to heaven. Thus, the celebration of shijuku (literally "49") is supposed to be a happy time; the time to truly say good-bye to the dead and a reminder of the joy that is with the living.
grandpa's watch
Just this morning I was whining to Hiroko that I needed decent, normal watch, capable of both telling the time and not making me look like a moron when dressed up for work.
After we went to the local temple, grandma gave me a bunch of granpa's stuff, including a couple of awesome haori and grandpa's antique silver King Seiko 45-7001 Hi-Beat watch. Extreme coolness.
baachan & ebi fry
We rallied the troops and went to a local family restaurant, were we proceeded to pigout on all kind of scrumptous foods including fried eel backbone crunchy chips, spicy raw squid parts, crab pasta, ramen and grandma's breaded, deep-fried giant shrimp.
elbow
Wednesday evenings at fighting Inoue-sensei runs us through glove and target combos. I am happy to say that not only do I lack coordination, I am totally incapable of throwing a decent punch. Lots of power, zero accuracy, and 30 seconds into a 3-minute round I am gasping for breath. I am now seriously awed by boxers who can go round after round, throwing and receiving brain-brusing and rib-cracking punches.
My left hand is strongest, and because of this I tend to throw punches with arm strength, instead of pushing through with the hips (hips, eh? Amazing how all arts; karate, iai, etc. are based on the same principles.) Problem is I also have terrible form, so after an hour of combos my elbow and wrist and in pain. Also, because I can't square up my fist correctly and pull my hooks and uppercuts in instead of pushing them out, I end up landing on the pinky knuckle instead of the index and middle finger knuckles. So I've got sore elbow and wrists, and red-bruised pinky knuckles. Oh yeah, and since the punches come from the hips, with my abdomen and stomach muscles are killing me, too.
My left hand is strongest, and because of this I tend to throw punches with arm strength, instead of pushing through with the hips (hips, eh? Amazing how all arts; karate, iai, etc. are based on the same principles.) Problem is I also have terrible form, so after an hour of combos my elbow and wrist and in pain. Also, because I can't square up my fist correctly and pull my hooks and uppercuts in instead of pushing them out, I end up landing on the pinky knuckle instead of the index and middle finger knuckles. So I've got sore elbow and wrists, and red-bruised pinky knuckles. Oh yeah, and since the punches come from the hips, with my abdomen and stomach muscles are killing me, too.
masa eating roll cake
After teaching the kumitachi seminar, I followed my orders and purchased: 1 battery-powered cellphone charger, 3 whipped cream cheese roll cakes (strawberry, plain, and choco), and a large cafe latte and went to see Masa in the hospital.
Her fever isn't completely gone but her appetite is unfailing. She inhaled her dinner and finished off half of the strawberry roll cake. She'll probably be in the hospital another couple of days and then she'll stay with us until next weekend.
tonsilitus masa
Went with mom and P to visit Mako in the hospital. She had a really bad fever and swollen, infected tonsils so she's spending a few days getting an IV drip and relaxing. Her fever is almost gone and she feels much better, but her throat is still soar and she's pretty weak. We brought her a bunch of food and magazines and stuff, and I think she's enjoying a relaxing break in a clean, nice hospital. This is also the perfect chance to get her to stop smoking, so I confiscated her smokes and told her if she stayed clean for a month I'd feed her and buy her all kinds of stuff. I don't mind using bribes when it's for her own good!
drunj
Anyone who knows me knows that I don't drink. Actually, that's not entirely true. I save up a year's worth of drinking and then spend it all in one bingeful night. This is a tradition that started many years ago when the thrill-of-victory-agony-of-defeat of Bonus Day warranted a non-typical stress relief activity. And thus, my night of boozin' was born.
The good things about being a once-a-year lightweight are twofold:
1) I have no tolerance and am therefore a cheap date. After beer one, I was feeling fine.
2) It is literally a once-a-year occassion, and so everyone makes an effort to join so as not to miss it.
(before)
We started the evening at Dubliner's in the basement. Fish & chips and a Kirin draft. I remembered why I don't do this regularly: beer tastes like crap! After I finished a pint I didn't mind the taste so much, I just tried not to trip on my own feet walking out.
Next we headed to the Absolute Icebar. By now everyon's heard about this place. It's a giant -20°C freezer and everything, including the glasses, are made out of ice shipped in from Sweden. Did I mention it was cold? Even with the bar-provided jacket and gloves, it was cold. No, I mean COLD. After drinking two Absolut Vodka blends and biting a chunk out of my ice glass, we moved down the street.
(during)
Figure Complex is a randomly cool bar/club that looks like Ghost In The Shell, or a really clean, Japanese Blade Runner. The staff are all very into it as well, and after a few more beverages, Miho, Maki, Yoshimi and the rest were having a fine time...or at least I was.
(after)
By now I was well into Gettin' My Drink On, and it was time to move to Mogambo's. It was a celebration of 40Below vodka, so that meant I simply had to ring the bell (the first time I was there when Lee rang the bell, I have no recollection of that entire evening), buying everyone in the bar a shot. It sounded like a good idea at the time...
I then managed to avoid getting assaulted by Russian hostesses (see previous adventures) though I was certain that a Ukrainian lass was fondling my shaved head, only to find out it was in fact Richard. At some point I managed to outlast Simon (who had snuck back to work to get his housekeys, a better alternative to sleeping in the entrance lobby of his apartment) and did at least as much damage to Richard (who is English, and therefore a professional) as I did to myself, though I "took wee naps" (don't call it passing out) at the table, responding to the occasional "Be Strong!" with my fists at my temples, index fingers pointed horn'dly skywards, croaking a feeble "strong. like. bull."
The good things about being a once-a-year lightweight are twofold:
1) I have no tolerance and am therefore a cheap date. After beer one, I was feeling fine.
2) It is literally a once-a-year occassion, and so everyone makes an effort to join so as not to miss it.
(before)
We started the evening at Dubliner's in the basement. Fish & chips and a Kirin draft. I remembered why I don't do this regularly: beer tastes like crap! After I finished a pint I didn't mind the taste so much, I just tried not to trip on my own feet walking out.Next we headed to the Absolute Icebar. By now everyon's heard about this place. It's a giant -20°C freezer and everything, including the glasses, are made out of ice shipped in from Sweden. Did I mention it was cold? Even with the bar-provided jacket and gloves, it was cold. No, I mean COLD. After drinking two Absolut Vodka blends and biting a chunk out of my ice glass, we moved down the street.(during)
Figure Complex is a randomly cool bar/club that looks like Ghost In The Shell, or a really clean, Japanese Blade Runner. The staff are all very into it as well, and after a few more beverages, Miho, Maki, Yoshimi and the rest were having a fine time...or at least I was.(after)
By now I was well into Gettin' My Drink On, and it was time to move to Mogambo's. It was a celebration of 40Below vodka, so that meant I simply had to ring the bell (the first time I was there when Lee rang the bell, I have no recollection of that entire evening), buying everyone in the bar a shot. It sounded like a good idea at the time...I then managed to avoid getting assaulted by Russian hostesses (see previous adventures) though I was certain that a Ukrainian lass was fondling my shaved head, only to find out it was in fact Richard. At some point I managed to outlast Simon (who had snuck back to work to get his housekeys, a better alternative to sleeping in the entrance lobby of his apartment) and did at least as much damage to Richard (who is English, and therefore a professional) as I did to myself, though I "took wee naps" (don't call it passing out) at the table, responding to the occasional "Be Strong!" with my fists at my temples, index fingers pointed horn'dly skywards, croaking a feeble "strong. like. bull."
Today we got a bit esoteric. Tried working on the subtle difference between changing maai (distance) and getting the hips into the cut.
Usually we practice some basic patterns: step left start drawing, step right and cut, step left and ready the sword, step right and cut again. Problem is there is no distinction between the movement -- closing in on a retreating opponent -- and the final enter-and-cut, which both closes and powers the cut.
So we mixed it up and tried stepping only once, stepping three times, stepping back and cutting, etc. Trying to get people to think about distance and about powering the cut with the hips. Should not matter which direction you move, what matters is the distance to where you're cutting, or more specifically the distance between where you are, where he is, and where you will be and where he will be when you connect the cut.
This tied nicely into the kata gyokko, my absolute least favorite kata simply because I really, really cannot do it worth any beans whatsoever. It's the perfect way to concentrate on moving (back, out of the way) without losing the hips which must immediately return and drive the cut forward.
And btw it looks like Elvis rocked his 2dan in aikido. Nice job; back to work!
Usually we practice some basic patterns: step left start drawing, step right and cut, step left and ready the sword, step right and cut again. Problem is there is no distinction between the movement -- closing in on a retreating opponent -- and the final enter-and-cut, which both closes and powers the cut.
So we mixed it up and tried stepping only once, stepping three times, stepping back and cutting, etc. Trying to get people to think about distance and about powering the cut with the hips. Should not matter which direction you move, what matters is the distance to where you're cutting, or more specifically the distance between where you are, where he is, and where you will be and where he will be when you connect the cut.
This tied nicely into the kata gyokko, my absolute least favorite kata simply because I really, really cannot do it worth any beans whatsoever. It's the perfect way to concentrate on moving (back, out of the way) without losing the hips which must immediately return and drive the cut forward.
And btw it looks like Elvis rocked his 2dan in aikido. Nice job; back to work!
yakiniku
We headed out to the Fighting Fitness Gym for a seminar on Nanba Movement; concentrating on the bones, joints, hips, and inner muscles when moving, as opposed to just the outer muscles. Lots of fun doing cool stretching and movement exercises.
After that we were pretty hungry so we headed out to Sankoen for a yakiniku meating cooking feast.
fuji
Woke up early but couldn't motivate out of the futon for a pre-brekkie bath, so I just slobbed around until breakfast. Huge "viking" all-you-can-eat buffet at which much stuffing-of-self was done, and then a lovely bathing. Headed back to the gym and finished with a couple of hours teaching the advanced group. We did all kinds of questionably useful exercises trying to understand how all the muscles and parts work to move as efficiently and powerfully as possible, and tried to to it into the basics and a few kata. Don't know how useful it all is, but the general idea is to think about how you move; what parts do what.
At noon I headed back to the station, jumped on a local, upgraded to a reserved seat on the shinkansen, and made it back to Tokyo by 3:30. Hiroko came back from shopping at Shinjuku wearing the kimono she bought yesterday and with some cool pottery by a potter whose stuff we've bought before.
seminar day 1
Got on the shinkansen at 9:06 am and rode down to Shizuoka with Gosoke and a few others. Switched to the local at Mishima and rode another 30 minutes to Shuzenji, then grabbed some lunch and hopped on the bus up the winding mountain roads to LaForet. This place is HUGE. Golf course, multiple buildings, pool, hot springs, tennis courts...it spreads out across the mountains with commanding views of wilderness, fresh water, and clean air.
We got settled in our rooms and headed down to the gym to train for a few hours. I got the beginners, so we drilled on the basics, with lots of time for thought. I think I worked everyone pretty hard, but afterwards they said they had a good time, so I think it was ok.
Before dinner we hit the bath and then feasted! Huge boats of sashimi and giant boiling pots of meat and veggies and all kinds of other fixings. After dinner we retired to the room next door for the typical late-night-seems-important-at-the-time babble (after another quick bath of course) and being totally fried, time to retire early.
ireru, mawaru
Ireru means "to enter", whereas mawaru means "to turn/spin around".
We say koshi-o ireru: "to put your hips in" or "cut from the hips." What most people tend to do is just turn their hips instead of put them "in". I usually describe it as snapping the whip: cock your arms above your head, step out with the rigth foot, then spring the upper body forward and finally, like the crack of a whip, swing your arms and the sword. The blade itself is probably moving nice and fast, but the timing is all off. Once you've stepped your foot forward you are in the kill-zone: you can reach your enemy, and so he can reach you. If you stand there with your arms above your head as you crack that whip, by the time you bring your sword anywhere near him, you've already got his sword buried in your throat.
When you step into the kill zone, the sword must move in as well so that just as you step in your sword is just about into his head. To do this, the hips drive the shoulders, the upper and lower body moves as one. No whip-cracking, no twisting and unwinding; everything has to move as one, centered from the hips. It might initially feel as powerful as a nice big spin and unwind, what with all the centrifugal force, but your sword will go where it needs to go and get there in time. And more importantly, once the hips stop moving, so does the sword, so that you can finish the cut with the sword pointing at the enemy, not off someplace else. Very important in the obvious case that your first cut doesn't finish things.
I've mentioned before that in Japanese hayai means both fast as in speed, and fast as in time. Most people focus on the speed of their own movement in a vacuum, but speed is useless without proper distance and timing to the other guy who is also trying to kill you with his sword.
The fastest, strongest cut in the world is no good if it's a tenth of second after you've taken 20 centimeters of sharp steel into your skull.
We say koshi-o ireru: "to put your hips in" or "cut from the hips." What most people tend to do is just turn their hips instead of put them "in". I usually describe it as snapping the whip: cock your arms above your head, step out with the rigth foot, then spring the upper body forward and finally, like the crack of a whip, swing your arms and the sword. The blade itself is probably moving nice and fast, but the timing is all off. Once you've stepped your foot forward you are in the kill-zone: you can reach your enemy, and so he can reach you. If you stand there with your arms above your head as you crack that whip, by the time you bring your sword anywhere near him, you've already got his sword buried in your throat.
When you step into the kill zone, the sword must move in as well so that just as you step in your sword is just about into his head. To do this, the hips drive the shoulders, the upper and lower body moves as one. No whip-cracking, no twisting and unwinding; everything has to move as one, centered from the hips. It might initially feel as powerful as a nice big spin and unwind, what with all the centrifugal force, but your sword will go where it needs to go and get there in time. And more importantly, once the hips stop moving, so does the sword, so that you can finish the cut with the sword pointing at the enemy, not off someplace else. Very important in the obvious case that your first cut doesn't finish things.
I've mentioned before that in Japanese hayai means both fast as in speed, and fast as in time. Most people focus on the speed of their own movement in a vacuum, but speed is useless without proper distance and timing to the other guy who is also trying to kill you with his sword.
The fastest, strongest cut in the world is no good if it's a tenth of second after you've taken 20 centimeters of sharp steel into your skull.
omotesando hills
Original intention was to check out a kimono store that I saw in a magazine, but since I forgot the map at home, we ended up wandering up the street past the madly crowded, newly opened Omtesando Hills, checking out the cool antiques at Oriental Bazaar, and then heading up into Aoyama to find the Sybilla store so that Hiroko could buy a new wallet.
desert @ kyushu festival
Hiroko and I got all kimono'd up and had a Saturday of food and fun. First we went to Isetan Department Store in Shinjuku to check out the Kyushu Food Festival. We started with the traditional Sasebo Burger and then finished up with various munchings and tastings of all the local delicacies. Ended up buying bags full of stuff for later consumption before heading off to Harajuku.
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