It's Monday, July 29, 1991.
My friend John from Toronto arrived yesterday afternoon in Japan to visit and see the sights. My friend from Binghamton, NY and fellow JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme assistant English teacher Matthew (who also lives in my town) has joined us for a walkabout tour of Tokyo... which is perfect as I have no freaking clue where anything is or how to get there.
Despite having been here in Japan for a year--just like Matthew--I have little to no major understanding of the Japanese language. actually, that's not true. I can understand Japanese like a 10-year-old, but my own speaking ability is akin to a four-year-old. As such, I rely on the kindness of strangers and a lot of help from my friends.
Matthew and I are down in Tokyo to greet the new JET arrivals who arrived in this country yesterday for their first official meet and greet later today. I have been warned to be on my best behaviour, and not try to hit on too many women. This came from one of the Japanese liaisons for the JET Programme.
How the hell do people know what I do? And besides... I don't actually start the hitting... but I sure as hell know how to move the runner over another base or two. That's a baseball analogy.
We get up early and travel to Asakusa to see the famous temple there--that's the photo above. Then we go to Akihabara--also known as Electric City--to se about getting a digital camera for John. Truth is, while Japan has lots of cutting edge technology available, it's hardly available at a cheap price.
We then head over to the Tokyo Dome where the Tokyo Giants play baseball. there I purchase a box of the inaugural set of Japanese baseball cards. I love baseball. John was the commissioner of the Cloverdale Men's Softball League back in Toronto... where I was a 3rd baseman on one of the teams just before I left to come here. I could hit a ton and for very high average (over .750), but my defense sucked. While I could knock down or catch anything hit near me, it was my inability to make a proper throw to first base that was my downfall.
We have a pretty good time... but soon we have to head back to the Keo Plaza Hotel across the street from our crappy little hotel so that Matthew and I can get ready for the meet and greet with the newbies.
We're going to sneak John in. He just has to pretend he's one of the new guys on the Programme. As such... I told him to pretend he was Van Granger, the new AET for Kuroiso-shi. (City of Kuroiso)
At the event, I met a few people - mostly renewers like myself... but there was one unfortunate incident. A very attractive woman came up to me and started talking. Now, to be fair, I was already into my third or fourth beer on very little food.
She asked me how I was doing.
I said "fine" hesitantly.
She noticed my hesitance and then said: "You don't remember me, do you?"
I answered truthfully: No."
She said, "Too bad." and walked away.
That was weird. She didn't let me off the hook even when I was honest with her... though, to her credit, she was honest with me, too.
Oh... and John came face to face with the real Van Granger and both had a big laugh.
I also realized why John had a difficult time meeting women--though to be fair, he also had a few drinks in him at the time. He was standing in front of a table with his back to a woman. She said 'excuse me' to him, as she wanted to flick her cigarette ash down onto the ashtray that John was blocking.
John says: "Why? What's you're problem?"
Aaarrrggh! Matthew and I both walked away pretending not to know him.
Somewhere the truth sucks,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by The Doors: STRANGE. I have used this title before, but it is apt here as well.
Today's blog title is by The Doors: STRANGE. I have used this title before, but it is apt here as well.
PS: This night isn't over--not by a long-shot. But... I think you have enough for one day... I know I did. More tomorrow.
PPS: The image above is an ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock print created by famed artist Hiroshige. It shows Kinryuzan-ji (Kinryuzan temple) in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It was created in 1856 and depicts the temple recreated one year after a great earthquake had damaged the temple. It was restored and captured in this breathtaking winter scene.
