Thanks to Japanese television I just learned that Japanese women look approximately the same while giving birth and during sex.

Anyway, the point of this television show was to “interview” the women right after birth and rank their first words to their child based on frequency. Basically, what got said the most. Out of 78 women, the top five were:

5位 おつかれさま (otsukaresama)
I say this after working with someone on something. It’s hard to get an exact translation, but basically it’s equivalent to the phrases we’d say when we want to say thanks for the hard work.

4位 がんばったね (ganbatta ne)
This is one I always get asked to translate to English. There’s no real “good” translation, ’cause it highly depends on the situation. But it’s basically used when you root for someone.

3位 こんにちは (kon’nichi wa)
“Hello!”
Cute.

2位 やっと会えたね (yatto aeta ne)
I thought this one was the most touching. Basically, it means “Finally, we can meet.”

1位 ありがとう (arigatou)
Yep. Thank you.

Maybe this country is making me a more sensitive person.

Didn’t see any titties during the whole show though. Boo.

 

I found a dead little spider on my floor today. I named him Boris. I’m not happy that it was there at all, but at least can assume that my natural awesomeness is what resulted in his ruin. I hear spiders are allergic to that.

Anyway, I need posters.

Or little toys, doo-dads something to get my apartment more feeling like a home than it is right now. It feels like I kinda just only sleep here, really. When I’m here I still feel like it’s not really my place. Not that it ever really will be 100% my place, but feel like I should do what I can. A big ol’ Ghostbusters poster was a good start, but dang all if posters aren’t costly as all whatnot in this country. I saw a badass Reservoir Dogs poster, but it was nearly Â¥2000! All them yennies for some ink on paper. Very, very nice looking ink on paper. But still!

I’m lucky in that my apartment is relatively retaining the sun’s sweet, sweet heat. I know it’s not the deep dark depths of winter yet. I know that apparently I “don’t know cold”. (To which I say go live a good five years in Rochester. I knows me my cold!) But my apartment is sure a lot warmer than the schools I go to. And I don’t sleep at the schools. Or, I work my hardest not to, at least. The still surprisingly delicious school lunches quite fill my belly and prepare me for a little siesta that I just can’t take. What a shame. All the kids come running up “Eric-sensei, play dodgeball with us!” It’s like “Gosh darnit, kids, Eric-sensei is about to pass out. Why don’t you go enjoy your youthful vigor while you still have it!”

I think I might get a night-stand for my apartment. I don’t know where I’d place it, but there’s something significantly adult and mature in my mind about having a night-stand. Maybe keep a bottle of brandy on top and pretend I’m sophisticated. Until then, the empty bottles of Jack and Jäger will have to do.

 

Japanese TV sure is something. They just showed an old man getting his “I shit myself” diaper put on in this commercial.

But the reason I started writing this would be the bit of the drama I just watched. Family is eating breakfast around a table, and as this old guy is talking a huge chunk of food just flings out of his mouth. I laughed for a solid three minutes.

 

Dragon Quest Swords CoverJust finished the Japanese version of Dragon Quest Swords tonight and overall I’m pleased. What is a shame, though, is that DQ Swords won’t get a US release until next year. I think by that time it has a greater chance of getting lost in the shuffle. It’s an early Wii game, and in ways that shows. It’s not the most complex game by any standards, and it’s not all that long. But it offers enough to be a thoroughly enjoyable product. And I’d be hard pressed to call it a cash in. This game is Dragon Quest through and through. While it would have been really easy for this game to be incredibly gimmicky, I can’t really label it as such. The developers had a simple, yet solid goal when making this game and that shines through the whole experience.
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Just cleaning up the old photo directory on the cellphone.

Truer Lies have never been spoken.You’re not a meaning!Socks, socks, socks!

 

The Halloween costume!

Halloween costume

 

While I’m sitting at my desk at the end of the day, just studying kanji until 4:15 rolls around, one of the first grade teachers comes running up to me. “You know the game you taught the kids today in class? They were playing it during recess today.”

Holy shit. That’s awesome.

It’s a really simple game. Someone starts counting at one and you can say either one or two numbers. Then the person to their right continues. Whoever is forced to say ten sits down. Last person standing wins. Really simple but once the kids start to realize the strategy of saying either one or two numbers, they get really excited. When I read the game’s description online it was suggested for fourth graders and up. Figuring why not challenge the first graders a bit, I presented the game to them. The teachers seemed a tad skeptical at first, but once the kids got going it was great.

I’m changing lives. How about that.

 

Earthquake today in Nara around 10:10 in the AM.

Truth be told, I thought it was some kids on the second floor moving desks around. When a bunch of teachers ran up to me and said and earthquake had occurred I was more dumbfounded than anything. A little concerned about my unsteady rack of $1000+ in video game equipment (which is fine). But otherwise no problems.

Definitely a little odd as it is the first earthquake I have encountered in my lifetime.

 


To Eric-sensei, from the 4th graders at Nishi-Yoshino Elementary School.
Card Outside

 

Stereotypes abound in every culture about every other culture. Their effects can range from an extremely unpleasant experience or just a moment of pure awkwardness. Some people do their best to ignore them and judge people individually, others embrace them only to become shocked when their predisposition is not realized and others still wonder why in the world six year olds are making a grab for their groin.
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© 2012 The Book of Revenant Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha