Japan: Then & Now

Hi there... Matthew has helped me out yet again, as I am busy working on a blog that is taking me a long time to research and even longer to put together for you.

So... yesterday I took the time to create a blog to show the progress (or as it turns out, lack of progress) of Miss Universe Japan at the 2011 Miss Universe pageant. No photos, except of the winner, Miss Angola, but despite that, Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife had it' best (as of this writing) 24-hour period of blog reader activity.

There were over 4,300 hits! That's about half of my previous best month ever - which just so happened to have been August of 2011. As such, it's September 13, and this blog site has surpassed the previous high by about 1100 hits... with 17 days remaining.

As mentioned in THIS blog, I thought at first it was readers going to the site read up on the pageant... but instead, much to my chagrin, it was readers looking up the past 21 years of Miss Universe Japan. At first I was disappointed that not many people came to read up about the 2011 contest - but then, there are far better sites set up to provide the reader with better coverage on the pageant.

I appreciate the fact that so many of you have come to this blog site to look at the photos of the past 21 years of Miss Universe Japan, or to visit the site showing the National Costumes of the past 10 Japanese representatives!

Thank-you.

As a treat, please check out this BBC News site that shows Japan in Before and After shots - or rather it shows Japan just after the 9.0 Magnitude earthquake on March 11, 2011 and what it looks like as of September 11, 2011. In some places it still looks like a disaster zone, but through it all, you can still see how life in the afflicted areas is beginning to resemble a sense of normalcy. It's inspiring, and I hope you think so to.

Click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14846458

Click on the photo at the bottom. When it appears, view the photo, and then click on the button at the top right of the photo that says Now, and watch the transformation.

Cheers! And thanks again, Matthew!

Andrew Joseph

My Back Pages

(L-R: Iso-san; Hanazaki-san (standing), pear farmer and wife, my mother Lynda Hyacinth Joseph

It's been an exciting past two days, as the people of Japan have really taken a shine to my mom, Lynda, as she visits Ohtawara-shi (City of Ohtawara), Tochigi-ken (Tochigi Prefecture), Japan from Toronto.

I've been here 13 months already, so perhaps I am old news to the people of Japan... but then being invited to participate in - not just watch - the Sakuyama Obon Matsuri (Sakuyama Festival of the Dead)... well, it's nice to feel good again. I've been on a major downer lately as my girlfriend or woman troubles have really taken their toll on me. I'm not clinically depressed or anything, but I wonder if anyone I know is? Hmm. I'd ask, but I'm too much of a coward.

Yesterday, the OBOE (Ohtawara Board of Education) took my mother and myself all around the outskirts of Ohtawara to see sites I've not even seen before. I'm unsure if that was because my mother was with me or if it was because I brought a large bottle of good Canadian whiskey for the OBOE superintendent.... I'm sure it was my mom!

It's Thursday, August 19, 1991, and I go into the office again in the morning. My vacation is up, so even though there is no school for me to teach due to summer vacation, I am still expected to be at work at the OBOE. That's fair, of course.

At the OBOE, I try to sort out the upcoming issue of the Tochigi JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme newsletter, The Tatami Times. I'm the editor-in-chief, which means I have to put the content together. Because a lot of new people have just arrived in Japan (and Tochigi-ken) one month ago, I need to make sure that I present them with interesting and useful materials along with the usual mindless comedic crap. The magazine is a mess... as I have no idea what to include or where to put it. I actually have too much material.

I head home at lunch and then pick up my film (or rather my mom's film) from the Iseya department store. When you receive your film back (remember, this was 1991!), the clerks open up the film envelope and show you a photo so that you can assure them that it is your film.

At Iseya, the place is essentially run by pretty young Japanese girls in their early 20s. They took great delight in opening up my mom's entire set of photos and placed them out for me—and the other young girls they called over—to see. I am always an object of great amusement for them. I wonder why I've never asked any of them out? I guess I need to gain greater Japanese language skills.

They ask me all about the places in the film, and who is taking photos of me. They giggle with delight as I try to explain that it is my mom's film and that I do not have a girlfriend right now.

I head home totally bedazzled by all of the female attention and chat with my mom a bit before heading back to the OBOE at 1PM. Hanazaki-san asks me with a pained look on his face of I am busy.

"No."
"Then let's leave."

So we do, dropping my my apartment to pick up my mom. I love surprises!

Iso-san, the gentleman who usually drives us around in his white van, joins us, but this time we are in Hanazaki-san's white Jaguar... what he calls his Toyota Camry. I'm telling you, I got lucky! My office crowd has a wonderful sense of humour... I've heard of other offices for AETs (assistant English teachers) are often rather dour.

Oh... and juts so you know, I had already given Iso-san (and Hanzaki-san) a present earlier, to thank him for looking after me here in Japan. It's nothing great, but it's from the heart.

We first go to the Sakuyama district (in Ohtawara) pear farm I visited last year (photo HERE) and get to load up on free pears and grapes. Okay, I do the loading up, as my mom is leaving for Canada tomorrow. Remember mom - don't tell Canadian customs you visited any farms!

Catacombs with 100's of Buddha statues.

Then we drive out to Yawn, sorry, Yaita-shi (Yaita City) to the Sawa Kannon-ji (fountain spring-goddess temple). It's about 400 years old and is in really great shape. We head down into its catacombs where there are hundreds of Buddha statues! Back topside, my mom and I load up on good luck charms (all of which I lost in my house fire three years ago).

It's raining now. What with Ame Otoko (Rain Man = me) and Ame Oka-san (Rain Mother = my mom), how could it not?

Iso-san then takes my mom over to the kimono school across from the Nozaki-eki (Nozaki train station) that is currently the only JR (Japan Rail) station in Ohtawara. To me, it's actually farther away than the one up at Nishinasuno-machi (Nishinasuno Town) to the northwest of Ohtawara.

My mom tries on a kimono... photos galore via her camera, and just to prove that it's not really a mom-thing, but a camera-thing, it runs out of film. I can see now in 2011 why digital cameras are so awesome.

Kimono school teacher and my mom.

My mom bought a kimono - just not this one... hers was purchased while out west. I'll see if it still fits me and take a photo. Not.

The school has a scale there to weigh bolts of cloth, so I get on and weigh myself, coming in at 77 kilograms (which is just under 170 pounds). All right! I've lost 3 kilograms (~6.5 pounds) since arriving. How the heck did I do that considering all of the booze I've been imbibing?!       

We then head back to the office, as I'm supposed to meet the new English teacher taking over for Nozaki Chu Gakko's (Nozaki Junior High School's) Ishihara Norko-chan (surname first), who was a good friend of mine. She introduces herself as Mrs. Hiyama... so I have no idea what her given name is.

Her English is rusty, but she's really nice and we chat for an hour. Why won't she leave and go back to her school?!

Hanazaki-san then drops us off at my apartment, and by US, I mean myself, my mom and Hiyama-sensei (Hiyama teacher). I guess bevause it was raining, I left my bicycle at the office - and it is now, in fact, pouring like someone should be building an ark and gathering the animals.


I was supposed to have dinner in Nishinasuno tonight with all of the other AETs in our northern section - including Karen, the new girl in Yaita who wants to be my girlfriend. I just want to get laid. I don't want a relationship. Anyhow, since it's my mom's last night here, I stay home and eat a burger and fries dinner.

Naoko and Suzuki Tokunori (the gentleman who allowed me to participate in the Sakuyama Obon Matsuri) come over to make their good-byes to my mom. I think she wishes I would have hooked up with Naoko, as she really took a shine to her.

She shows Naoko some photographs of her trip to western Japan, making sure she sees pictures of a guy she met that she thinks would be perfect for Naoko. Ah... my mom the pimp.

Everyone wants to talk to my mom - including Hiyama-sensei who is still there and joined us for dinner. I have to admit, it was nice to not be--or want to be--the center of attention for once.

Naoko, ever the classy broad, phones for a taxi to come and pick us up tomorrow. Nice.

Somewhere wishing these past three days could have lasted forever,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is originally a Bob Dylan song: This VERSION is sung by Roger McGuinn (The Byrds, whose version of this song I love), Tom Petty (& The Heartbreakers), Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - he's Canadian),  Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds; John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers; Cream; Blind Faith; Derek & The Dominoes - his dad was Canadian), Bob Dylan, George Harrison (The Beatles). Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.
PS: The photo up above is indeed one from my mom's camera - I took it. Hard to believe my mom is Indian with that complexion, eh? Plus, she's 52 in this photo. I refrained from posting a photo of her until this moment, her last fun day in Japan... she died two years later of a disease you only hear about on the television show House. It breaks my friggin' heart to look at her photo, let alone write about her. I know she would have laughed her head off reading every single one of my Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife adventures. She missed me getting married, having a fantastic son, and would have been there for me when I needed her the most. It hurts everyday knowing that and living in the house where she died. Crap. I'm tearing up now.

Jet Airliner

Here is a semi-public service announcement for some friends.

The JETAA (Japan Exchange & Teaching Alumni Association) - Toronto chapter is championing a smoking hot Art & Photo Show.

The theme for this year's event follows the official 2010 kanji character of the year in Japan: 暑 (sho) meaning 'hot'.

Who the hell comes up with a kanji character of the year? Personally, my choice for kanji character of  2011 would be: 馬鹿 (baka - 'ba' and 'ka' mean 'horse' and 'deer', respectively) meaning 'stupid'. I know it's actually two kanji symbols put together to make one word. Horse + Deer = Stupid. How wacky is that?

Anyhow, artitistic blokes and blokettes have until February 20, 2011 to submit a heat-inspired original amateur art or photography. What the heck does that mean? Well... the JETAA says you should think: "hot springs, fireworks, sunsets, fire-breathing dragons... or really anything your hot little heart desires!"

Successful entries will be displayed at a smouldering hot evening of art, music and good times. Attendees can vote for their favourite piece and winners will be announced at the end of the evening. (Feel free to bring all of your friends and campaign for their vote!)
Send your submissions, including your name and contact information, to jetaa.events@gmail.com. For a look at last year's winners visit this link. Also, see the Rules and Regulations below.

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011
Time: 7:30 til Midnight
Place: Gladstone Art Bar, 1214 Queen St. West, Toronto, just down the block from the Gladstone's main entrance (map)
Refreshments: Cash bar and food at The Gladstone, down the hall
Entry Fee: $5 for JETAA members / $7 for non-members
RSVP: jetaa.events@gmail.com

Rules and Regulations: 
    •    For photos, please send the original/largest file size your camera is capable of taking to ensure the best quality print;
    •    If you want to submit a painting, sculpture, printed photograph, etc., then we can make arrangements for that as well. Just drop us a line with the details of your piece and requirements for display;
    •    Limit of 2 entries per person;
    •    Deadline for submissions is February 20, 2011;
    •    JETAA Toronto reserves the right to display names and images on our website, newsletter, and other official JETAA media and publications;
    •    You must be the sole owner of the copyright of any work submitted.

And that, as they say, is that. Good luck to all participants. I'm suddenly developing hot flashes and may or may not enter myself. Uh, my photographs, that is. If I entered myself, well, that would be #1) quite painful not to mention anatomically impossible for me; and B) horse+deer.
 
Somewhere hot,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is brought to us by The Steve Miller Band: JET
PS: The photo above is hot. It's the Blood Hell at Beppu (one of the magnificent seven Hells of Japan - another was my girlfriend's kitchen).

Ghostbusters Theme Song

Telephone cards.
Terehon ka-do (Tay-ray-hon Kah-doe) is how the Japanese pronounce it.
I must admit that before heading over to Japan back in 1990, I had never seen a telephone card before. Now, that may be because I had no one to call, or that I always kept change in my wallet.
But here in the Land of the Rising Sun, the humble telephone card is a major industry.
Whenever I did any sightseeing in Japan, I would usually have my camera in hand to snap off a roll of pictures. Remember that this is before digital cameras! Just in case my camera screwed up or in case I ran out of film, I would also purchase postcards.
Okay, that last excuse is bull-crap. There is a stereotype of the Japanese tourist with the camera - that's a reality... because well, what else do tourists do.... and it just so happens that the Japanese do a lot of touring. Anyhow, Japan had vending machines darn near everywhere.
Out of film?  Oh look, there's a vending machine selling every type of film made by Fuji Films... as well as disposable cameras with and without flash offering shots of 12, 18, 24 and 36. But I'll write more about vending machines in Japan in another blog shortly.
Back to the long-winded story. In case I couldn't find postcards, I could usually get my hands on a telephone card depicting the local sights, the sounds and smells. Okay, maybe just the sights.
Sure you could purchase a 100 Yen telephone card that simply acted as a telephone card... or you could collect them... which is what the telephone card industry did to really have its sales take off.
Japanese telephone cards depict beautiful photography, wonderful line art, and often the latest in printing technologies.
I'd like you to take a look at my telephone card collection - MOSHI MOSHI. (If you will recall, saying the words moshi moshi is how the Japanese say hello when on the telephone. Saying the word moshi once apparently means insect - so perhaps it means "sorry to bug you". Just kidding, of course).
Are you back? Okay, I'll wait....
Okay, some pretty wild stuff, huh? Sure there are wonderful cards showing off places I've visited. But there are also cards showing off movies, television shows, record albums, personal photographs made into cards, and other promotional items.
And then there are the lenticular telephone cards - the ones with motion; and the 3D ones, and my personal favourite: the one made of lacquered wood. Here, I'll show you that one AGAIN.
It consists of strips of very thin wood placed in an artistic pattern and then lacquered to set it in place. It's supposed to be a functional card, too.
The cards themselves, while good for 50 or 100 Yen's worth of phone calls, typically cost more than that - especially when one is purchasing a more artistic graphic... which is why it has become another item for fad collectors like myself to have to have.
Oh well, at least they are getting some use now.
Oh, and should you wonder how to use a pay phone in Japan, check out this ITEM.
So... what's the point of all of this? Nothing really. I just wanted to show you another aspect of Japan that few non-Japanese would ever think about. And now you know.

Somewhere looking for change,
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is by Ray Parker Jr. - you may see a video of it here: BUSTIN'MAKESMEFEELGOOD. Man, I used to love that song, but what a lousy video!
PS: In three years of living in Japan, I never used a telephone card. Who the heck was I gonna call? A Ghost in the Machine?
PPS: Y'know... scanning the cards, loading it to the web-site, and writing captions took me six hours... it only took 30 minutes to write the blog! It shows? Who ya gonna call?