Finger of Blame
When it comes down to it, I have always wondered
how I would handle an emergency. Not really talking about a volcanic
eruption sweeping over Kyoto, or a typhoon creating a disaster zone of
the city, but a smaller accident at work or at home. Today I got to see
how I would react and if I would be cool under pressure.
(more)
29 09 05 - 11:37 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Monster of the Deep
Not a great fan of poetry, but remember this one from high school. Pretty cool.
The Kraken - by Lord Alfred Tennyson:
"Below
the thunders of the upper deep;
Far,
far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His
ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The
Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About
his shadowy sides: above him swell
Huge
sponges of millennial growth and height;
And
far away into the sickly light,
From
many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumber’d
and enormous polypi
Winnow
with giant arms the slumbering green.
There
hath he lain for ages and will lie
Battening
upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
Until
the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then
once by man and angels to be seen,
In
roaring he shall rise and on the surface die."
28 09 05 - 14:11 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Kraken
It is a weird thing indeed to come home from a busy day, throw down my
bag, switch on the computer, and learn that Japanese scientists have
managed to capture footage of a creature many doubted existed.
(more)
28 09 05 - 10:27 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
New Perspective
Kyoto Gosho never looked as interesting as this.
Panoramic views of Kyoto. Some work, some don't. Please check out this website...just
click on the dates once you get on there. Not sure what this guy does
for a living, but he seems to be recording everyday life in Japan through his strange camera.
27 09 05 - 12:33 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Military Precision
The harsh gladitorial cry rose up from the baseball ground and shook
the school. A few seconds later and the crowd began to roar out a chant
in unison, clapping and spurting out propaganda at the top of their
voices. 'Red team to win! Those Whites are no good! Down with Blue'. I
sat watching the classes march onto the athletic field, banners carried
before them, each student goose-stepping in formation, arms limp by
their sides, faces turned to the empty podium.
Little by little they
took up their places under the watchful gaze of the teachers. Silence.
Not a murmur or a whisper. The punishment in being so bold as to speak would be total
humiliation in front of the entire school body. The Principal took up
his place, surveyed his ranks, wrinkled up his face and began his
speech. The words, half of which I did not understand, were harsh,
drumming into the students the need to give everything they had for
their team, that no less than their best would do, that here today they
had to prove their worth for the school. School spirit. Team
competition. No light battle.
Sports Day had come again...
(more)
27 09 05 - 08:41 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Please, oh Please...
A wish not wasted. In case you can't make it out, this traditional Japanese form of prayer has been filled in by someone called Ben, and it is his wish "for superheroes to be true." Brilliant, and horrifying, in equal measure.
26 09 05 - 14:08 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Style and No Substance
Cloud, calling his agent to
check if there is a story in the script somewhere.
(more)
26 09 05 - 11:15 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
One Thousand and One Buddhas
Sanjusangen-do is a plain
wooden hall, 13 metres by 64. It has unremarkable, plain white screens
in the place of windows. It's name alludes to 'a hall with 33 spaces between
the columns'. If you were to walk all the way around the outside, you would find
nothing of note and wonder why so many people crowd to visit the hall.
Step inside and you might see why.
(more)
25 09 05 - 07:20 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Warrior Monks
'The only
things in this world that do not bend to my will are the floods of the
river Kamo, the dice in the game of sugoroku, and the Sohei of Hiei'.
Wise words indeed from the Emperor's father, who had born witness to
these warrior priests descending from their mountain retreats,
overthrowing the government and pressing their demands upon the ruling
families by force. In the Sengoku (Warring States) Era, the Sohei
(priests in military uniform) underwent rigorous training in martial
arts, housed in Enryakuji. Having become a powerful force in opposition to the
government, Oda Nobunaga stormed their mountain hideout, and burned down
all the buildings to end their shortlived rebellion.
(more)
24 09 05 - 10:51 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Vernal Equinox
Tomi,
Teru, a sleepy sleepy James, and Misako. As most of the country
celebrates a day off for the turning of the seasons, we harassed our
working friends to come out for a quick bite at the local Italian and a
quicker swig at the comfortable SS Bar. Why SS? Who knows. We've been many times and we're yet to find connections to the Nazis. Congrats to
Tomi on her new job at the Oaks Hotel, good luck to Teru who has yet to
buy anything to sleep on in his new flat, and cheers to Misako, looking
fantastically like the mysterious Mirage in the Incredibles.
23 09 05 - 16:09 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Yoshitsune and the Tengu
Rhod, scratching his head at the famous Kurama Tengu, that once trekked through the mountains on his wooden geta.
Very much like a red faced, Japanese Pinnochio. We followed the Eizan
railway to the ancient forest of Kurama, feared since ancient times as
the haunting ground of evil spirits, robbers and the heroic historical
figure of Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
(more)
23 09 05 - 10:18 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Kumo no Yama
Cycling along the banks
of the Kamo towards its source in the mountains, we struggled up the
twisting roads, gears clinking continually as the paths climbed up only
to flow back down into the forested hills. As the river cut itself into
deeper and deeper valleys, the forest engulfed the mountain sides and
we pushed harder and harder through the shallow incline of the road
through tiny villages, clinging to the thin strip of flat land.
Stopping to rest, and watch the vernacular train trundle up it's old
rusty track, Rhod pointed to an immense web spun out across the dead
tree trunks lining the road.
(more)
23 09 05 - 10:13 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
The Problem with Japanese Baths
Now you can see
exactly the problem we have with Japanese baths. Would be fine if we
chopped off our legs and head. Often, it feels like I am trying to cook myself in
some kind of cauldron. Of course, these baths traditionally serve the whole
family, who shower before jumping in. Baths can remain full of water
for days, heated by a small device that pumps out the water, reheats
it, then pours it back. But as the hotel in Hiroshima showed me, sometimes it's
just nice to stretch out.
23 09 05 - 09:40 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Anarchy
I love that phrase from
Friends, the one that goes: 'Don't you
get the feeling sometimes that you've hit rock bottom, but then you
realise that there is rock bottom, ten tons of crap, then you'. I think
I am wading through those crappy layers at work. There is always a nice
scale to everything in life: when work is bad, home and money are
working out, when work is good, you end up skint and you'd rather not
be at home. Since returning to work after the summer vacation, I feel
that the scales have not simply overbalanced, but that I have broken
them and my work is spiralling down into hell. A combination of free
time, boredom, fresh air and family life has driven most students to
rebel against everything put in front of them. Classes that were noisy
are uncontrollable and students that were indifferent are vocally
angry. What happened?
(more)
21 09 05 - 11:20 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Big Spoon
Hugging a big spoon and relaxing by the sea.
20 09 05 - 11:06 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
8.15
Every now and then I get so stir-crazy, so easily, needing to get far away from
run-of-the-mill things. My most rose-tinted view of
Japan came from hiking sweatily up sun bleached paths to the tip of
Miyajima island. Whether it was because I had never been so high up, or
been able to see so far out to sea, or that I was
taken at unawares of just how beautiful Hiroshima bay was I am not
entirely sure. But I wanted to share some of my happiest memories with
Rhod. Living beyond our means for a couple of days, we soaked up the
salty air, glitzy bars and swank restaurants in one of Hiroshima's more
exclusive, though not necessarily more expensive hotels, clinging to the
edge of a rocky peninsular overlooking the bay.
(more)
20 09 05 - 10:56 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
I Don't Care For Gob
As the new season for American TV begins in earnest, I want to make a
plea. First of all, 20th Century Fox, I have your number and will nuke
your headquarters if you so much as touch anything that shows half an
ounce of initiative, daring or ingenuity in a TV show. For a company
willing to take risks, you sure like to fire down your top hitters
early on. Not sure why you do it, though I suppose it's got to be for profit, because
most of these shows end up critically acclaimed.
Ever since Erik leant me 'Arrested Development', I have had to step back and take my hat off to
the show. At first I wasn't sure that I would like it, but half way
through the first episode you realise that this is about as far from a
traditional sitcom as you could imagine. The characters are so flawed and appalling (but not in a deliberate, awkward, Seinfeld manner)
that their shocking lack of political correctness is funny rather than
offensive. Never could you meet a family so out of touch with the real
world, so gleefully malicious, so unbelievable, and so lovable at the same time.
As it struggles into its third series, it continues to show
more inventiveness, less pretence, and much better acting than Lost, Alias or the majority of
returning shows this season. And with an unbeatable ensemble cast to boot. If
you haven't yet...give it a go. You might like it.
15 09 05 - 12:14 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
The Medusa Touch
When I was very young I remember having frequent nightmares that sent
me hurtling downstairs to the safety of my mum and dad, and the TV. As
they wiped the tears away, I would always get a chance to glimpse late
night viewing and the movies they watched. One sticks out in my
mind...a comatose patient with frightening telekinetic powers was lain
up in bed, cut to an immense cathedral collapsing under the onslaught
of the man's mind (or was it all coincidence?). I vaguely remember it
was Richard Burton, possibly
called The Medusa Touch, but the rest of the film is a blur. It was way
cool, though there was some apocalytic message in there
somewhere.
(more)
14 09 05 - 10:15 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
A Micro Perspective
The Jewel of the Geek World! A quote from Rhod.
13 09 05 - 13:55 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Kamikaze Bats
The logistics of America landing on Japanese soil to struggle through
the final stages of World War II were mindboggling. As Japan became
more desperate and destitute, it followed through policies that were as
hopeless as they were self destructive. While not actually terrorising them, Kamikaze pilots troubled the
American fleets, occassionally striking home and for times crippling the Allied offensive.
Meanwhile, in the flats of the Arizonan desert a wooden city had been
constructed to test America's latest weapon. Scientists had been
working around the clock to come up with a weapon that could be dropped
close to the Japanese archipelago, but that would remain undetected to
radar. They had hit upon the poor Mexican bat. Each bat was made to
wear a small waistcoat containing napalm, a detonator carefully
concealed within. The idea was to drop the bats close to settlements a
few moments before dawn. As the sun rose, the bats would scramble to
find cover in the nearest shelter. Japanese houses were perfect as the
bats could conceal themselves under the overhanging roofs and in the
eaves. A little while after the sun had risen, the bats would self ignite, burning vast tracts of land to
the ground. Japanese houses were made of wood and a conflagration would
be devastating, as proven in Tokyo.
Poor poor bats. Sacrificed for a war they had no idea was being waged.
Thankfully American ingenuity insured that most bats awaiting their own
Kamikaze journeys were rescued, government officials slapping their
heads collectively. Releasing the bats just before dawn beside the make
pretend city, the scientists were horrified when the group did a U-turn
and made straight back to base, their homing instinct kicking in.
Amusing, but not a precedent. In World War I the Russians had come up
with a similar idea, strapping explosives to dogs and sending them
against enemy tanks. Although well trained, when put to the test, the
dogs skittered forward before charging back to their owners.
There is a lesson in this somewhere, although my idea of cannon-ball
canaries is still very much on. Dumb animals or dumb humans?
13 09 05 - 11:55 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
ba, ba, ba baba baba baaaaa (ba baba, baba, ba bababaaa)
Oh Kawaii! Looks like a Russian Cossack dancer.
12 09 05 - 11:53 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Lost
No other image expresses more how I feel about Japan.
11 09 05 - 07:03 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Supping Contemplation
Goodbye Mart and Rach, see you soon. Great seeing
you, great knowing that the distance is not so far.
10 09 05 - 04:56 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
The Intruder
I had one of those days in which I feel like I am stuck in a POW camp,
on a tiny Pacific island, starring in a WWII movie. Alien voices drift
in through an open window, harsh and severe, like soldiers driven to
the brink of madness by low rations and tropical diseases. A Japanese
guard strolls back and forth, nervous, dagger clutched in his sweaty
hand. I look at the door and can see the slumped form of dead and
injured bodies. Outside comes the sound of muffled shouts and trouble.
The oppressive heat has all but knocked the rebellion out of me,
thoughts of escape far from my addled brain and sweating body.
Overactive imagination. Not quite. The dead bodies, are teachers acting
out a part. The Japanese guard in front of me is actually holding a
ruler instead of a knife, and the school is locked down for another
intruder drill. After the death of teacher in January, and an
increasing number of violent attacks in Elementary Schools, teachers
are being prepped to deal with an intruder.
(more)
09 09 05 - 09:39 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
A History of Violence
On Saturday, Rhod and I escaped the claustrophobic, smokey darkness of
ING and stumbled out on to Kiyamachi. A picturesque stream bubbles
beneath the drooping branches of cherry trees, the ancient site of
timber yards that hugged the Kamo where their trade would float from
the mountains to the chopping shops. Nowadays, seedy bars and strip
clubs line the stream, the roads either side bustling with crowds
dining, drinking, or looking for something a little more racy. I call
it Whore Alley and the less than lovely ladies hover about the road,
approaching clients and chatting up the hundreds of bouncers and pimps
that line the doorways to the neon buildings. Not a nice place, but
frustratingly containing some of the best restaurants and bars in
Kyoto. There is no real sense of menace, more of an overly tired bustle
that lasts most of the night. I have never seen a fight or been close
to one, although on the weekend we missed the tail end of one.
A group of men were being carefully coralled down a side alley. Like a
car crash, spectators had gathered on the sideline to watch. There is
something horrifyingly magnetic about spilt blood or the possibility of
some. A man had started a brawl and disappeared in the time it took the
police to arrive. Rather than breaking things up, they pushed the men
down a side street, while they continued to pull and push at one
another.
08 09 05 - 10:35 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Childish Things
Morning assembly today expanded on the dangers of mechanical, plastic
farmyard animals. Now it occurs to me that in a world constantly in
fear of the next terrorist attack, that their time could be a little
better spent. How relevant is it really to fear falling cartoon
animals. Consider that three children a week are wheeled into the
nurses room with cuts and bruises from peacock attacks. Four
permenantely pissed off birds stalk the playground at their leisure,
picking off students left right and centre, the grouchiest school
mascots on Earth. If you get too near, the things actually growl,
shivering their fancy tails at you in an attempt to whip you.
As I walked to class, three students high-fived me, slapping me
whilst
singsonging 'Gibbon jive!'. Once you get past the murder of English,
there is a certain charm to the phrases elementary school kids come
up with, mimicking TV shows and music, but somehow managing to dissect
an entire
language. I used to correct them, but somehow it seems much more fun
that they come up with their own unique gestures and phrases. My
favourites include 'Good joy'
(good job), 'Oh my Goat!', and 'Hard Gay' (students sadly shake their
head dramatically, trying to convey that it has been a particularly
tough
day). It is a little disconcerting when they come up and ask, 'You hard
gay, me hard gay'.
Childish, but I snigger everytime, sending them off to their home-room
teachers, who sit opened mouth trying to work out if the students are
being exceptionally rude. The students beam and grin and I wonder if
they are completely innocent of all they say.
07 09 05 - 09:18 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Psycho Farm and the Plastic Pig
A student was almost killed by a plastic pig today. It fell right out of the sky. Must be a Tuesday!
If I am sitting at my desk at the hour or half hour, I can make out the
faint sounds of plinky plunky music drifting through the school.
Everytime I hear it I grate my teeth, wanting to hunt down the clock
maker and torture him by locking him in a room with his invention for
the rest of eternity. Today I was late and so finally saw what was
responsible for the tortuous noise.
The entrance of the school, for some reason, is shaped to look like a
Swiss Cottage, with flowery window boxes, sloping roof and a huge clock
above a balcony. As the clock struck eleven I stood mesmerised as the
doors to the balcony swung open revealing prancing farmyard animals
dancing to the inane song. So horrified was I by this sickly sweet
Disneyesque display that I watched it to the end. As did a group of
first years, hypnotised rather than enjoying the 1980s tack.
(more)
06 09 05 - 09:24 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Fat Cat
I always get the impression that through the year my weight fluctuates
a huge amount, strangely chubbiest in Summer and more aerodynamic in
Winter. Think it has something to do with the langous August heat
knocking all thoughts of exercise out of my head, while Winter jogging
satisfies me in an aggressive sort of way. Jogging in fact is the best
thing for battering out any left over anger and frustration in the day,
and I used to love it before my work shifted and I had to commute a
lot. Looking at Sal, the Russian cat, mean and fat and glaring a bit
like he belongs in the Mafiosa, this Fall and Winter will be all about
shaping up. Kyoto living has become a little too convenient, a little
too easy to slip out to dinner, to eat badly and run out for food 24
hours a day. The suburbs of Kobe were very much removed from round the
clock shopping and I damn Kyoto for being too bloody accessible. Sal, and the other obese feline featured in
this video,
will be my motivation for the Autumn, to knock off a few pounds. Both
cats weigh half as much as I do - at around 45lbs. Yet, when you've seen the video, you'll agree that they can still manage a good sprint!
Maybe, the cats are just buff.
05 09 05 - 11:33 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Rach and Martin Return
Dinner with Rachel and a camera shy Martin at Koganko.
04 09 05 - 14:04 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
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