When I had casually mentioned to my OBOE (Ohtawara Board of Education) office that I was heading down to Tokyo on the weekend, there were yells of “bakayaro” and “bikurishita” from my Nihonjin (Japanese) handlers.
Since I had heard those two terms bantered about quite often whenever people discuss me, I decided to look them up—kind of trying to be proactive… though I’m still unsure what that means. I’ll look it up later. Anyhow, my Japanese-English dictionary says “bakayaro” means ‘stupid idiot’ and “bikurishita” means (loosely) ‘oh my gawd’.
Kanemaru san, with the aid of his Japanese-English dictionary slowly pointed out word after word to me in an effort to ask me a question.
If I haven’t said it before, I’ll say it again and again—I love that man and his effort.
He asked: “A-sha-ri go with An-do-ryu?”
I shook my head that Ashley wasn’t accompanying me: “Dame” (dah-may – means ‘no way’).
More screams of “bakayaro” and pounding of chests and desks ensued.
I then quietly added: “Mashu-sensei is going with me.”
I must have stunned them, because they all settled down, smiled and went back to work. One or two (okay, it was Kanemaru-san and Hanazaki-san) came over and gently patted me on my shoulder. I’m pretty sure they learned that gesture from me, because MY Japanese have always been pretty good at keeping their space.
Anyhow, I guess Matthew was an acceptable alternative to Ashley. I’m sure Matthew is reading this and grimacing.
So, early on the Saturday morning, Matthew came to my apartment, woke me up, waited while I got ready, and rode our bicycles 20 minutes northwest to Nishinasuno eki (train station). Here’s a modern view of the station. PHOTO.
The overhead concrete structure looks like it is a Shinkansen (bullet train) track.
Following Matthew’s lead I correctly purchased a ticket north to Kuroiso eki to catch the bullet train south to Tokyo. Yes, we traveled north in order to go south, as Kuroiso is the closest stop to pick up the Tohoku bullet train.
The bullet train turns a 2 hours plus regular train ride into a 40 minute one, with speeds reaching about 235 kilometers per hour (146 mph). By the way, if you look at the photo linked into the word Kuroiso above, you’ll notice the regular JR (Japan Rail) passenger train in the bottom right – resplendent in its green and orange livery. We catch the bullet train in the above right corner.
The Japanese rail system is all right in my blog. While you purchase a ticket depending on how far you are traveling, the best feature about it is that it’s never late. Okay, there was a typhoon that once delayed the trains by 20 minutes – it made the news. Anyhow, we got to our Shinkansen with enough time to buy a box lunch (bento) and a coke before getting aboard the train.
Holy smokes! Luxurious is a barely adequate word to describe the seating arrangements. Big comfy chairs, lots of room—like 1st Class in an airplane—at least what I assume it would be if I should ever be afforded the luxury when I fly.
Regardless… after a one-minute stop in the Tochigi capital of Utsunomiya, we arrive in Tokyo’s Ueno station. So… why are Matthew and Andrew heading to Tokyo? Why to go to Akihabara, of course.
Akihabara is the so-called ‘electric city’ district in Tokyo. I can no longer recall why my girlfriend Ashley didn’t come down with us—either she was angry at me and we’d broken up that week, she was sleepy and wanted to stay home or she had no interest in listening to two nerds yammer on about whatever it is nerds tend yammer on about. In the case of Matthew and myself, we yammer on about pretty much everything. And with no Ashley about, we more than likely yammered on about women.
Vaguely recalling how hideously lost I had become while walking with Kristine on my first evening in Tokyo a couple months past, I deferred to Matthew and his keen sense of adventure. By the way… here in 2009, I recently found Kristine again! But more about her royal wittiness later. Just know that I have photos. Who is Kristine? Read this blog. BLOG.
Matthew marched us down to the Japanese subway system—there are a lot of subway systems in Tokyo, and that deserves its own blog. Suffice to say we arrived in Akihabara.
I thought Toronto was huge. It’s not when compared to Tokyo. And Akihabara—it was lit up in neon so bright it threatened to outshine the sun. And the crush of people! Wow!
It beats me how Matthew knew where he was going, but he marched us into a stereo shop—no, not the other hundred plus ones that lines the street—but one he seemed to know. Click HERE for a picture of what Akihabara looks like.
Here’s what the interior of one looks like: PHOTO.
Pointing to a nice stereo system, Matthew said this one would be perfect for my place.
How the heck did he know that that was what I wanted? Matthew seemed to always know what I was thinking before I even thought it. Yes, I did want a stereo player – one with a CD Player. It also came with a dual cassette tape deck, but some of the younger readers are confused by that term so I’ll leave it alone.
It was a steal at only thirty bills: ￥30,000.
Just look at that number. Scary isn’t it? To get a US$ equivalent (and now Cdn$), simply subtract two of the zeroes from the right. $300.
I bought the overly large monstrosity and then had to cart the heavy boxed stereo around with me over the next six hours in Tokyo—through the thick crowds in the busiest city on the planet. I wonder if Matthew knew what I was thinking at this time.
Whatever… I didn’t have to buy it then… or maybe I did. After numerous other stops into other shops, I only found three places that were selling the exact same stereo system for less. Now, what am I thinking, Matthew?
After a quick lunch at a noodle shop, we headed over to a CD shop where I purchase some music. Along with Pink Floyd’s The Wall, I pick up a pair of mini CDs. See the photo below the title above showing Buck Tick and The Beatles (Let It Be/You Know My Name Look Up The Number). These minis are singles… what we used to call record singles with two songs on them…but again, some of the younger readers are getting confused.
Did you know these little suckers cost ￥937 for The Beatles and ￥930 for Buck Tick? (Just move two numbers from the right and insert a decimal).
And here’s the reason for the blog: In pretty much every single ‘modern’ Japanese song, the artists include English words. Words that are inserted for no other reason than to have English in them because English is considered cool.
Here’s an example from the Japanese punk group, Buck Tick and their song ‘Under The Moon Light’:
“Dreaminess-Japanese word-Japanese word-Japanese word-Stillness-Japanese word-Japanese word-my heart. My lover-Japanese word-Japanese word-Japanese word-Japanese word-Cry out.
(refrain – and my favourite part)
Woo good bye my love.
Woo good bye your love.
It goes on with more Japanese words with various other English words tossed in for effect and lots more woo-ing. By the way, clicking on the photo makes them larger.
While I’m sure the majority of the Japanese listeners have no clue to what they are listening (or this English-speaking listener), I would imagine that even the most die-hard anti-establishment Japanese punk would still look up the English words in their English-Japanese dictionary while nodding their heads in appreciation at Buck Tick’s clever English wordplay. I wonder what ‘woo” translates into for them? In the case of the song, it’s really just a doo-wop sound effect… but if they are to look it up (the words are printed in the CD jacket!) ‘woo’ in the dictionary means ‘courting’. Now the song makes even less sense.
I know it looks like I’m mocking Japanese music—and I am, but really, anything that gets them to learn a few English words is okay in my book.
Somewhere going on like a broken record—in stereo!
Andrew Joseph
PS – Matthew and I made it home without incident and my OBOE office was very thankful and presented Matthew’s boss, Mr. Suzuki, with numerous omiyage (souvenir food presents—mostly the ones I had brought back for them) and a hearty slap on the back. I taught them that.
PPS: Today's title is by Humble Pie.
