Souvenirs

Coming back!

Hello!
The title of this post has a double-meaning.
For long wanted to resume posting about my life in the last months, the connection to Japan, etc. There were so many things and ideas that never took the time to stay in front of the computer for some hours (I already do it for work and then try to avoid it when I am at home or during free time).

However, the urge to come back has a BIG reason and it is because of the unfortunate and devastating earthquake and tsunami suffered by Japan just one week ago. I don't have to explain about what I am talking about but would like to express my gratitude to all the people that either through my family or directly have thought of me the last days (many of them, the last news they had from me is that I was in Japan! -and I am not!-). It is true that 6 weeks ago I was there for work but came back to Europe in February.

As you can imagine, after the shocking news, I got in touch with the closest friends... then during the weekend, I tried to contact everyone I knew was in Japan at that moment (Japanese or not). Also I have some Japanese friends living in Europe and also contacted them.
Everybody that I know there is doing fine, I feel lucky because I have a lot of first-hand impressions, feelings and nice stories given the circumstances. In short, quite busy days, the last ones: work and interaction with Japan basically.

One year ago I was still living in Tokyo and most likely if I had been there now, I would have stayed and supporting them.

Now, supporting a fund-raising activity to help the really affected people.

To finish, the reason of the title of this post is because Japanese society is "coming back". They are already working hard to overcome the hard hit from last Friday (がんばれ!! :-))

Have a nice day, everybody, and will come to you soon!
(a link to the national japanese television -in English- http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/)

Busy until the end

Only 2 days left and my "to do/meet/see" list is still half way.

The last days have been great (and not only due to soccer results ;-)) I attach a link of a Japanese newspaper in English)



Despite the high temperatures and humidity, it is great to be outside all the time. Everyday had lunch or dinner with ex-colleagues from work and now friends. With each one of them I feel great and I thank for their time and attention.

On 7th, Wednesday, we celebrated "Tanabata", the Star Festival in Japan. It is derived from a legend where Orihime (Star Vega) and Hikoboshi (Star Altair) are lovers separated by the Milky Way and are only allowed to meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month. People write their wishes on narrow strips of colored paper (tanzaku) and hang them with other decorations on bamboo branches. It is a fun celebration, especially for kids but us (Katagiri-san, Tsuda-san, Yokoyama-san, Funamori-san and myself wrote our wishes and then moved on to a restaurant, behind Tokyo tower , for a nice dinner).

Saturday.. more social life

I am afraid that 2 weeks is not enough. There is too much too do and many people I want to see.

For instance, met at lunch time in Ikebukuro station with Taira-sensei. We have not seen each other for 3 months but it is like since yesterday and she has proved her memory is excellent! :-)

Later come to Sakura hostel (Ikebukuro) to use the Wireless connection with my laptop but something is going wrong with the keyboard (I read in Internet that might be due to high temperatures and sensitive components of the computer??). It was funny to see the two Dutch boys that I met a few days ago watching the match Netherlands-Slovakia that today they decided to wear the orange T-shirt during the day as well (may be they haven`t even gone to bed because too much party??).

Tonight... really late (3:30am. here) the Spain-Paraguay match.
I received yesterday a note from Oskar who invited me to a "Spanish" reunion to watch the match in an Izakaya in Shibuya. Of course, I feel like joining. I know Oskar from his blog http://ikublog.com/ that I found before coming to Japan and keep reading because I like the way he describes his life in Japan (Oskar, if you don`t like that I mention your name, tell me!) . Besides, Oskar comes from the same region in Spain as I do. Both have exchanged several e-mails but never met in person so... it`s high time we can see each other and not virtually! ;-)
Will report on tonight`s vibrant evening soon!
Take care and enjoy your weekend!

Another special and long day

Today I have met in Waseda 3 of my colleagues from the event I had the chance to attend in Taipei (Taiwan) last year. It was nice to see: Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese and me!. It has been a fast lunch (due to the lessons from some of them) but afterward had ice coffee with Park (Korea) and nice chat about passions, how to live life with the cultural differences that we have or "clich`es" from his country. Really a positive and nice time with this super gentlement with a bright future.

Afterwards, no having able to solve my phone problem, I have gone directly to meet Mizuno-san (Ms). Mizuno-san was a lecturer from one course I followed but what at the beginning was a "friends" meeting it turned out to be more "business meeting". Mizuno-san works for a Patent Attorney`s firm and I have had the pleasure to visit the office and meet the, around 300 employees. Everybody was very warm and appreciated my "nihongo" and their face changed even more when they learnt what company I come from ;-)
Together with Shimomichi-san (Mr) I have been invited to have dinner in a fancy and luxurious French Restaurant in the Marunouchi Building, in front of Tokyo station. The conversation has been very fluid and fun. We have learnt a lot from each other and started a nice relationship.

After the dinner, almost 23:00! (meaning that in Europe -and South Africa- was 16:00 and time for the Brazil-Netherlands match). Did not have time to go home for my orange T-shirt and went directly to the pub with a great atmosphere. Although most people were japanese (some wearing orange T-shirts, others with yellow and green ), there were also some "gaikokujin" (foreigners). Visually it is quite easy to identify "gaikokujins" but what at the beginning you may think that in Japan everybody but foreigners shall be Japanese... no, no, no! ...there is a big portion of Korean, Chinese (or mixed) fellows that for us could look similar.

This week has been incredible, under really different circumstances, either Japanese approached me or a I approached and started nice conversations. Yesterday was also nice, two boys and two girls shared my table and started communicating (both in English and Japanese). After the match they left for Karaoke but I stayed with some other... let`s put it this way... interesting one(s)...;-) until really the morning (arrived home at 7:30 a.m.). I can say more than ever... whatever happened in Japan... stays in Japan! ;-)

On the football (soccer) side... Netherlands defeated Brazil and that is a reason for being proud of. Congratulations Dutch Friends!!! Hup, hup, Holland!
I have simpathy as well for the team from Ghana. They did an excellent job.
Somehow thanks to the world cup there is a lot of theme for conversation with the people in the streets. Spain is not an invisible country and thanks to Villa-Torres-Fabregas, Xavi... or the rest of the team, now from this side of the world, people know more and better where it is placed geographycally. Great promotion!! (national government and tourist offices/agencies.... take note).

July... starting the sales

Wow... today I really slept long! :-))
I am at Valentina´s place, who is kindly hosting me during this days while she is preparing for an advance Japanese language exam.

The thing is that as I had some jet-lag and the previous nights I had hardly slept due (thanks) to the soccer championship, I really needed to catch up for next exciting days ;-) (starting from today, spotted another place near my new address to watch the matches without worrying about the last train at midnight).

Today I went to say hello to the volunteer teachers from the "Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza" where used to go to practice Japanese once a week. I have met by coincidence with the friend of my Korean friend (Kim, of course!). This friend of Kim comes from Uzbekistan and in one year has learnt more Japanese that I could ever dream in my life. I admire him so much! :-) He will enter Japanese University in September.
I have also seen Ryoji-san, who did not expect me and was gladly surprised. After their lesson, we went to a nice taiwanese restaurant.

Many people on the streets today (but that is quite normal in this city -and one of the sides that I love ;-)) After a while, realized that it was the beginning of the "sales" period and can be really good. The choice is so big that it is not fun anymore to go shopping. Then I have problems with the sizes... so no paradise for me. I concentrate on the social life!

Yesterday I went on a "ladies-night" out with 3 Japanese girls, Valentina and Julie (who, by the way, is a French illustrator and happens to know the author of the books from my post 2 days ago! -small world!-. Lots of nice chatting and getting to know a new "layer" of Japanese mentality. Specially I was impressed by Risako-san. It was the first time I met her but is certainly a person to keep in touch with.

I don´t have Internet access at Valentina´s place so the updates will not be as often as you may expect ;-)

Kind regards!

Some pictures from the first day

I went to Uniqlo to check the Japanese fashion. I imagined that, as it is Festival times and in summer, some Yukatas would be sold. Unfortunately, last year, with all the "settling" the season finished and I did not have my Yukata (except for the one that my "host mother" in Hitachi gave me. Indeed they were some nice ones and I got one and here you can have a look at some of the prints from this year.
Also in Uniqlo, on the men´s floor, I was surprised to see some t-shirts that show publicity. This above is one example. I wonder... has KLM pay for such a publicity or is free promotion?
It is not my style to pay for something and make publicity while wearing a garment, that´s may be why I did not buy it! ;-) (besides, my flight to Japan was with KLM and did not have small TV where I could chose the movies I wanted to watch... and I am used to this kind of planes for long flights!)

Shinjuku as well. I always passed by this shop but never dared to take a picture (always people around). This time, I could kindly ask in Japanese if they did not mind to move a bit for the picture.. so here you have the image of a huge "Hello Kitty", the most famous kitten in the world.
Shinjuku, nishiguchi (West Exit): Next to the station, in a area full of restaurants. Plenty of T-shirts from the team that have participated in the World Cup in South Africa. I discuss with the vendor about the Blue Samurai, the kanji from the T-shirt, soccer in general...
Yesterday in Shibuya, I also visited the official shop from a famous sport wear company. There, huge prices for the "official"T-shirts. I want to get one for me but if waited for a few days may be would get them with discount?? I will go today again! ;-)

In this shop, there was a very cheerful atmosphere and the music helped. I asked about the song and was referred to it as the group "Exile" (I know a few Jpop groups but not this one). I loved the song and will keep it in my ears for long remembering the "hope" and good times that the Blue Samurai have given to Japanese... and not so Japanese :-)

Here the link to the video