i'm sick (of kimmy)
This whole "working" thing is starting to catch up with me. Had kind of a sore throat all day and feeling like I'm about to catch a cold, so I came home 'early' (before 8) and crashed on the couch. Hiroko made dinner and then we watched another episode of 24 Season 2. Ah, Kimmy...your idiocy knows no bounds! Let's recap, shall we? In this season alone (never mind last season) you've been charged with murder and kidnapping, caused an accident with a police vehicle in which both your boyfriend and the cop were seriously injured, got caught in a cougar trap while being hunted by a cougar, got stuck in a bomb shelter with a recluse in the woods, fired a gun at a guy who stopped to pick you up when you were hitch-hiking, didn't fire your gun at the wacko who almost choked the liquor store owner to death, and are now held hostage in said liquor store, trying to stop the bleeding of the gunshot wound caused by the lunatic who took your gun because you didn't shoot him. And the cops are outside. Kimmy, my dear, will you PLEASE just hurry up and get shot? It's too painful to watch you cry/get kidnapped/held hostage again.
crowded
Had seven people show up for class tonight. That's far too many for such a small dojo, but I hate turning people away when they want to train. So everyone got a mirror and we took our time working on the fundamentals, sharing ideas, and trying things. Was a good practice, but just too crowded. Next time I'll have to crack down and stick to the six people max rule. Even with six it's pretty tight.
fried
Haven't actually used my brain this much in a while. Worked all day on an initial technology strategy business plan, and then went to practice at Honbu. Did some kenjutsu with Kiyokawa but just couldn't focus and was getting clobbered. Taught Sekido-san a bit, and then we rolled cutting targets for the cutting practice on Saturday.
This working all day, training at night thing is gonna fry me.
This working all day, training at night thing is gonna fry me.
first day
My first day in the Deutsche Securities Limited, Tokyo Branch office.
Did some administrative stuff with HR, discovered a mild spelling mistake with my first name that prevented my email from working correctly, but other than that things went well.
I have a lovely office on the 20th floor, facing south-west. Beautiful view of Roppongi Hills, Mori Building, and several other nice high rises. I really do love the sprawling expanse of concrete and steel, especially when the hazy fingers of smog and humidity curl about the buildings like so many humid snakes.
My title (according to my business cards) is "Head of Video - Asia/Japan" for Equity Research. Basically I'm in charge of business strategy, planning, and implementation for video distribution and new technologies in Japan and Asia Pacific. That means using technology to push the business forward by lowering costs, increasing efficiency, and maybe even make some money.
Middle of earnings season so all the analysts are running about madly trying to get reports done this week. The research team here was nothing five years ago, and is now one of the top-ranked teams in the region. Lots of young bulls, several established #1's, and in a general a pretty cool attitude. Things are considerably more...chaotic, shall we say, than at Morgan Stanley. That can be bad, but can also be good, as my mandate is to shake things up.
After work I managed to get to Shibuya in time for practice and helped Kiyokawa teach, went home and had dinner with Hiroko, and watched another episode of 24 Season 2. So the nuclear bomb went off in the middle of the desert. As stupid as Kimmy is, George is (was) cool. Though I was really hoping he would put a bullet in Niina, right in front of Jack, just before dying. Sort of a last gift to Jack. But alas, he went out in a cool enough blaze of glory.
Did some administrative stuff with HR, discovered a mild spelling mistake with my first name that prevented my email from working correctly, but other than that things went well.
I have a lovely office on the 20th floor, facing south-west. Beautiful view of Roppongi Hills, Mori Building, and several other nice high rises. I really do love the sprawling expanse of concrete and steel, especially when the hazy fingers of smog and humidity curl about the buildings like so many humid snakes.
My title (according to my business cards) is "Head of Video - Asia/Japan" for Equity Research. Basically I'm in charge of business strategy, planning, and implementation for video distribution and new technologies in Japan and Asia Pacific. That means using technology to push the business forward by lowering costs, increasing efficiency, and maybe even make some money.
Middle of earnings season so all the analysts are running about madly trying to get reports done this week. The research team here was nothing five years ago, and is now one of the top-ranked teams in the region. Lots of young bulls, several established #1's, and in a general a pretty cool attitude. Things are considerably more...chaotic, shall we say, than at Morgan Stanley. That can be bad, but can also be good, as my mandate is to shake things up.
After work I managed to get to Shibuya in time for practice and helped Kiyokawa teach, went home and had dinner with Hiroko, and watched another episode of 24 Season 2. So the nuclear bomb went off in the middle of the desert. As stupid as Kimmy is, George is (was) cool. Though I was really hoping he would put a bullet in Niina, right in front of Jack, just before dying. Sort of a last gift to Jack. But alas, he went out in a cool enough blaze of glory.
last honbu
My last full day of practice before heading back into the slog that is an office drone salaryman.
Got up early and started practice at 10am. Trained with the college students until about 1pm, then we got some Italian for lunch and in the afternoon did tanjo and kenjutsu before calling it a day at 4pm.
Hiroko whipped up a hearty meal of meat and rice, which we ate while watching DVD #7 of 24 Season 2. I simply will not bring up how stupid Kimmy is. What is confusing is, they have no found the nuclear bomb...and there's five DVDs left to go! That's 10 hours, so I guess they REALLY take their time defusing the bomb? Or wait lemme guess: Kimmy gets kidnapped? Like, three times?
Got up early and started practice at 10am. Trained with the college students until about 1pm, then we got some Italian for lunch and in the afternoon did tanjo and kenjutsu before calling it a day at 4pm.
Hiroko whipped up a hearty meal of meat and rice, which we ate while watching DVD #7 of 24 Season 2. I simply will not bring up how stupid Kimmy is. What is confusing is, they have no found the nuclear bomb...and there's five DVDs left to go! That's 10 hours, so I guess they REALLY take their time defusing the bomb? Or wait lemme guess: Kimmy gets kidnapped? Like, three times?
shirogane festival
More Tokyu Hands shopping with Hiroko in Shibuya. Is there anything they DON'T sell? Then walked to Aoyama for some toy shopping, and headed home. It rained a bit in the evening, and once it stopped we darted across the street to Shirogane to stock up of festival foods before heading home to eat. Curry, grilled squid, meat-on-a-stick, chicken, scallops and shrimp...all the traditional goodies. Stuffed ourselves silly whilst watching a couple more episodes of Kimmy-Is-An-Idiot, er, I mean 24 Season 2.
cutting videos
Amazing how both Niina-gosoke and my dad are on the same wavelength. Both insist on seeing cutting videos. So this morning I met Kiyokawa and Ohtsuka at Tokiwamatsu Elementary School in Shibuya (we were hoping to be able to use their gym for Monday classes, but looks like only Tuesday is available), then we went to Azabujyuban, met Iwata-chan, had lunch and shaved ice with anko, and came home to cut.
I didn't soak the targets well enough, so we had a tough time cutting, but in the end we got some decent clips. So let's see them! I hear you ask...well Ohtsuka-san provided the camera but brought the wrong cable, so I couldn't download the clips onto my machine for web-posting. Gimme a couple more days.
In the evening Hiroko and I cruised to master's Kushimasu in Ichikawa (our old hangout) as Packy was in town. Been a long time since we've gotten out there. Meat-on-a-stick is still tasty as ever, and Hugh's son Toshiki is a monstrously big and vigorous 4! We played "Big Jump! Little Jump! BIG JUMP!" and "Up! Down! UP!!!" for a couple of hours, until he petted a passing poodle and was quickly perplexed by a precocious itching all over his person. Mom went "Oops. He's allergic to dogs...if only HE knew that!" and bundled him off to home for a shower and some skin cream. We chatted up Packs and the gang for a bit before hitting the route home. Nailed the schedule just right and made it back in almost exactly one hour.
I didn't soak the targets well enough, so we had a tough time cutting, but in the end we got some decent clips. So let's see them! I hear you ask...well Ohtsuka-san provided the camera but brought the wrong cable, so I couldn't download the clips onto my machine for web-posting. Gimme a couple more days.
In the evening Hiroko and I cruised to master's Kushimasu in Ichikawa (our old hangout) as Packy was in town. Been a long time since we've gotten out there. Meat-on-a-stick is still tasty as ever, and Hugh's son Toshiki is a monstrously big and vigorous 4! We played "Big Jump! Little Jump! BIG JUMP!" and "Up! Down! UP!!!" for a couple of hours, until he petted a passing poodle and was quickly perplexed by a precocious itching all over his person. Mom went "Oops. He's allergic to dogs...if only HE knew that!" and bundled him off to home for a shower and some skin cream. We chatted up Packs and the gang for a bit before hitting the route home. Nailed the schedule just right and made it back in almost exactly one hour.
tessen & jutte
Gosoke is teaching me all 23 kata for tessen and jutte. Gone through about half of them, plus the 12 uchidaryu tanjo and 24 isshinryu kusarigama. In the evening we had a meeting about the national tournament; getting busy but should be lotsa fun. Decided that the Saturday before the tournament we (me and all the folks coming from the U.S.) will go to Yoshida (Toyota's awesome restaurant) for a traditional million course Japanese meal.
basics
Otherwise known as kihon. No matter how much I practice, it's never enough. Cracking skulls in kenjutsu, and trying to jam 24 kata of tessen and jutte into my head in three days!
ouch
Monday morning. First practice of the day. Still sleepy. Minor slip in concentration. How not to do kenjutsu:
happy birthday to me
I am 32 today. Which is good because I still act like I'm 15, so at this rate when I'm 50 I'll act like I'm 25 or so. Works for me.
Got my haircut and then Hiroko and I went to Chai for the 90 minute Thai massage special. After having our bones turned into butter, we had too much Chinese food and walked home in the cool breeze to watch a couple more episodes of 24 Season 2. Kimi is still a complete moron. Her boyfriend Bruce "Miguel" Lee comes in a close second.
Got my haircut and then Hiroko and I went to Chai for the 90 minute Thai massage special. After having our bones turned into butter, we had too much Chinese food and walked home in the cool breeze to watch a couple more episodes of 24 Season 2. Kimi is still a complete moron. Her boyfriend Bruce "Miguel" Lee comes in a close second.
shibuya
Hiroko and I battled the heat to do some shopping in Shibuya. Hit the standard places: Loft, Muji, Tokyu Hands, Uniqlo. Bought a 1000 yen t-shirt made out of the same stuff that protects the space shuttle from cosmic radiation...or at least it feels like a soccer shirt and stays fairly dry even in sweaty summer.
Masa came over for watermelon and dinner, and we zoned out watching tv with the ceiling fan cranked.
Masa came over for watermelon and dinner, and we zoned out watching tv with the ceiling fan cranked.
anko power
Met Kiyokawa and Iwata-chan in Azabu-jyuban, had some shaved ice, and we all came back to my house to cut.
Unlike last week, Kiyokawa and I were in fine form; nailed just about every cut smooth as silk. Verdict: it's all about the anko. In the summer, anko and green tea flavoring on shaved ice, in the winter, anko-stuffed tai-yaki. Whatever the form, anko is the power that makes the sword cut!
In the evening we had class in Nihonbashi, and Tanaka-sensei showed up to basically grovel. Seems that without the Akabane students, there's no way they can even make enough money from monthly dues to run their own dojo. Niina-gosoke, out of the goodness of his own heart, decided to 'loan' Akabane to them for as long as necessary. Now ordinarily, if one of your top students goes to open his own dojo without your consultation or consent, you ask for him to kill himself and, if that's not possible, you send someone to see to it. However Niina-gosoke is considerably more forgiving, and knowing that Tanaka-sensei is not the brightest of bulbs, is doing everything he can to help out.
Unlike last week, Kiyokawa and I were in fine form; nailed just about every cut smooth as silk. Verdict: it's all about the anko. In the summer, anko and green tea flavoring on shaved ice, in the winter, anko-stuffed tai-yaki. Whatever the form, anko is the power that makes the sword cut!
In the evening we had class in Nihonbashi, and Tanaka-sensei showed up to basically grovel. Seems that without the Akabane students, there's no way they can even make enough money from monthly dues to run their own dojo. Niina-gosoke, out of the goodness of his own heart, decided to 'loan' Akabane to them for as long as necessary. Now ordinarily, if one of your top students goes to open his own dojo without your consultation or consent, you ask for him to kill himself and, if that's not possible, you send someone to see to it. However Niina-gosoke is considerably more forgiving, and knowing that Tanaka-sensei is not the brightest of bulbs, is doing everything he can to help out.
last iidabashi
Actually didn't teach at Iidabashi even though it was the last class, because we had an emergency meeting at Honbu to decide what to do about Tanaka-sensei and Miura-san leaving. Since they gave us no notice, we've got holes in Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday classes. Not very cool of them to give us no notice, but it could have been worse. Again, if only he talked to us first he could at least have kept Akabane on Saturday morning.
We also decided to continue battling the karate morons to get the Akihabara gym on Wednesdays. Since it's first come, first dibs on reserving, we used to go early in the morning to line up. Been using the same place for over a decade. But last month some karate morons are lining up since the night before and grabbing the gym for two nights a week. So we decided to escalate; we'll use a professional narabiya to line up for 12 hours, starting at 7pm the night before, to ensure that we're first in line. If the karate morons don't get the hint and line up even earlier...well we might have to have a good old-fashioned smack down.
We also decided to continue battling the karate morons to get the Akihabara gym on Wednesdays. Since it's first come, first dibs on reserving, we used to go early in the morning to line up. Been using the same place for over a decade. But last month some karate morons are lining up since the night before and grabbing the gym for two nights a week. So we decided to escalate; we'll use a professional narabiya to line up for 12 hours, starting at 7pm the night before, to ensure that we're first in line. If the karate morons don't get the hint and line up even earlier...well we might have to have a good old-fashioned smack down.
tanaka-sensei
Seems Tanaka-sensei has finally decided to open his own dojo. He and Miura-san will be teaching various Ryukyu (Okinawa) martial arts as well as iaido. The problem is he sent in his official notice of leaving and then asked if he could still teach at Akabane, and of course have all the students there. Naturally, we said no. He's a great martial artist, but kind of thick in the skull. If he asked BEFORE he decided to leave, we would have set him up as a shibu; the students and practice area are his, and he gets all the money, he just gives us a small membership fee every year per student. Oh well. Good luck Tanaka-sensei!
back from NY
Ojima-chan is back from New York. She went to the Big Apple, with a kimono, to see kabuki. Still can't figure out why she'd go all the way to NY and not see a Broadway Musical, but I guess she just needed any excuse to go.
She and Presley and Miyasawa and Matsushita-san all showed up for class tonight. Kiyokawa and Otsuka-san where on the other side of the dojo, but Gosoke called them and told them to go to Suidobashi for whatever reason, so after they left everyone had a mirror and plenty of space. We drilled on the basics the whole time, working on basic body movements. Feels funny to teach something I understand in theory but can't really do myself, but oh well.
My right arm is pretty sore from getting cracked by Kiyokawa during kumitachi practice, and my thumb is turning a nice rainbow of colors from when it got smacked yesterday, too.
She and Presley and Miyasawa and Matsushita-san all showed up for class tonight. Kiyokawa and Otsuka-san where on the other side of the dojo, but Gosoke called them and told them to go to Suidobashi for whatever reason, so after they left everyone had a mirror and plenty of space. We drilled on the basics the whole time, working on basic body movements. Feels funny to teach something I understand in theory but can't really do myself, but oh well.
My right arm is pretty sore from getting cracked by Kiyokawa during kumitachi practice, and my thumb is turning a nice rainbow of colors from when it got smacked yesterday, too.
rain...?
It rained! OK for only about 5 minutes, but still it helped a bit.
Spent the day in the dojo with Kiyokawa. Got kind of burnt in the afternoon and ended up getting my thumb crunched. Went home before going to Shibuya and helping teach, then came home and stuffed myself with pasta. Ahhh, but I love carbs!
Spent the day in the dojo with Kiyokawa. Got kind of burnt in the afternoon and ended up getting my thumb crunched. Went home before going to Shibuya and helping teach, then came home and stuffed myself with pasta. Ahhh, but I love carbs!
steamboy
Day 2 of Movie Weekend: Hiroko and I saw Steamboy. Pretty cool story about the use of steam-driven technology in the late 1800's (new super-cool high-pressure technology), with themes touching on corporate greed, innocent youth, purity of science, forgiveness, etc. Great animation and well-paced script, though at times it tended (typical of most Japanese anime) towards the long-winded soliloquy to explain motive.
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