Peachy Keen

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunday Flashbacks: Turkey Day aka that is not a biscuit damnit! day

Thursday was my first Thanksgiving back in the US. For my family, Thanksgiving is just another family gathering for us to pig out, but with a few differences. We dress up a bit and add a turkey and other classic Thanksgiving must-haves. It's also tradition to share at least one thing we are grateful for this year. Mine was pretty simple: I was grateful that I can spend Thanksgiving with my family again and able to eat an *actual* turkey.

Looking at the turkey was like this:

Thanksgiving in Japan pretty much marked the beginning of the holiday blues for me. I loved living in Japan, love it and miss it, but November onward was when the homesickness hit. Maybe its because the winter holidays are celebrated so differently in Japan (or don't exist at all, turkeys rejoice) that it really emphasizes the foreignness. At least Japan has a word for turkey(七面鳥、しちめんちょう、or seven-faced bird. lolz). A plus side was that it gave me plenty of lesson ideas/culture sharing time.

My first year in Okayama I had 2 Thanksgivings. The first was a potluck in Yakage, the next town over from Ibara. Awesome food, awesome people, lovely times. The second one was with closer friends. We decided that we wanted to celebrate on the actual day, despite the fact we all had work the next day and some of us had to travel over an hour to commute to and from the city (*ahem* me). Ordering turkey from The Meat Guy and/or the Flying Pig was pretty pricey, so we had KFC instead. I know. Looking back now I'm wondering what the hell were we thinking, but I think it was along the lines of hey, KFC is as American as you can get and its a kind of play on Japan's odd custom of eating KFC/friend chicken on Christmas. We did make homemade mashed potatoes and dessert though! And despite the near brawl of the Americans and British on what a biscuit REALLY is, fun was had by all. Not so much for me when I woke up 5 in the morning to take the first train back to my town and head straight to work. Never. Again.

KFC, hobnobs. Internationalization at its finest

The second time around we took the holiday more seriously. Sort of. Lots more homemade stuff including an awesome chicken bake (our turkey substitute) and homemade apple cider. Oh, and pazookie, can't forget that. The day can be summed up into 2 words: food and Zelda.

So yes, I was very, *very* happy to celebrate Thanksgiving stateside. But, I am grateful that I was able to celebrate Thanksgiving in Japan with an amazing second family.

ZOMG TURKEY!

HAPPY TURKEY HOLIDAYS TO FRIENDS/FAMILY IN JAPAN/US!!

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Labels: 2012, day in ibara, food, friends, Japan, okayama

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Summer(?) Sonic Osaka 2012

I recently bought tickets for Muse's concert (myfavoritebandofalltimesooooexcited) in Oakland, and it reminded me of one of my concert adventures in Japan. It was definitely a concert event I will never forget. So let me tell you about my Summer Sonic experience.

Besides Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic is one of the biggest summer music festivals in Japan and with a line-up like Rihanna, Gym Class Heroes, and Perfume, I definitely wanted to go before I left Japan. So I did.

A hot, summer concert? Oho, little did we know...

My friends and I went on Saturday and although I was sad to miss out on Green Day and Franz Ferdinand, I ended up seeing artists I like such as Gym Class Heroes and Perfume, and even old school favs like Garbage, The Cardigans, and New Order (all of them, were *amazing* by the way).

So here my friends and I were, sweating and enjoying Perfume's performance, when clouds started creeping over the sky. I didn't think *too* much of it. After all, summer time in Japan is usually caught between nasty humidity and nasty humidity + rain. A little rain couldn't hurt a concert right?

WRONG. First came the thunder. It was so close and very very loud. It was freaking people out, including me. It didn't help that Perfume stopped performing, apologized and said they would be "right back", then left (they *left* us). Then came the downpour. Honestly Japan, of all the days to rain...

Seeking refuge

Despite the torrent, the *second* we saw it stop, the crowd *rushed* back to the stage areas. So in the end I stayed out all night wet and muddy. I didn't exactly feel my finest, but thinking back on it now I'm definitely glad I went even though I lost a good pair of flats. *sigh*

All in all, not bad for my first summer music festival. Don't let Japan's random fickle weather stop you from going to any of Japan's music summer festivals. I definitely recommend going if you can get the chance.

Summer Sonic 2012 website

And I leave you with the foodie pic of the day!

Okay I lied. The Meiji Chocolate building seen from the shinkansen.

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Labels: 2012, concerts, friends, Japan, music, Osaka

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Welcome...to Jur--Mt. Takatsuma Park

I never considered myself a hiking kind of girl. Sure, when I was a kid my family went camping over the summer, but I never did anything more than that especially when I got older ~~and discovered the internet.~~ Then, I climbed Mt. Fuji and I thought it was *awesome*. I guess it also helped that Japan is just a beautiful country and would inspire anyone to go for walks and take in the scenery. So, I was happy when I was invited to go with some of the Ibara English conversation students and hike a small mountain in Yakage, the next big town over.

It really was a fun hike and the weather was beautiful for it. There was a clearing where we busted out the bento lunches (man did they pack a lot of food! I think us foreigners just packed onigiri/sandwiches from the conbini!). During the hike we looked down on a camping area and thought we even spotted a farm (well we heard the cows).

Not at the top, but whatever

Ah, I loooove 紅葉 (kouyou)

We all went our separate ways in Ibara, though some of the students came to my apartment and dropped off some Japanese sweet potatoes (さつまいも) and konnyaku (こんにゃく, a jelly made from devil's tongue) that they had at home. Man, the perks of living in the inaka!

Yummy shot of the day:

Mmm...bento

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Labels: 2011, day in ibara, friends, okayama

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Blast from the Past: The Melody of Hamamatsu

I know. It's been a while. So much of a while, in fact that now this post is about what I did *last* October.

2 of my friends were placed in Hamamatsu (浜松) in Shizuoka prefecture. Most know the prefecture for some random volcano, mountain thing called Fuji, but for any classical music buff Hamamatsu happens to be known for music: Yamaha is stamped everywhere (its headquarters is based there) and there are music motifs *everywhere*, including a statue to one of the great composers (a personal fav or mine), Frederic Chopin.

Even their manhole covers! *Manhole covers!*

Such an emo

As much as I love being an Okayama JET, I have to say the music lover in me was so jealous that my friends were placed here! I remember there would be music everywhere we went whether its from some hopeful band jamming outside, or even the little classic jingles they play on the bus. I was also surprised there was a pretty big Brazilian community.

To kill some time we also went to the Museum of Musical Instruments where, well, they showcase musical instruments from around the world.

My friends loved being placed there. I'm glad I had a chance to see why.

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Labels: 2011, friends, Japan, music, Shizuoka

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Nasu no Yoichi

I'm leaving this country in about a month and *now* I decide to write a bit about the town I've lived in for the past two years. Go figure.

If you walk around Ibara, you'll notice a certain theme. Street signs, sewer lids, even the shape of Ibara station itself projects images of something related to archery, a man about to let the arrow fly, or fans. Very curious. During my first year in Ibara I was taken to an old kyudo dojo and there was a display of a battle scene which I then learned was the history of my little town.

The time: Genpei Wars. Who? Nasu no Yoichi, a BAMF from the Minamoto clan with a bow. There's a legend that while on his horse in the waves he struck the center of a fan that was placed on the mast of a boat at sea. Pretty awesome, no? And for showing said awesomeness, one of Nasu no Yoichi's victory spoils was land that will later on be the Ibara I know today. Nasuno's grave is in Nogami-cho, a town that was joined to Ibara and his family members' graves are throughout the Ibara region. Although when my teacher looked it up (on wikipedia) she said there's also a grave marker/site in Kyoto.

Ibara's own Hawkeye

Just a little blurb really, but I think it's awesome that my little town has such an awesome history behind it.

Side note: This info was taken mostly from word of mouth and Wikipedia so if anything is wrong I blame my lack of Japanese skills. ┗(-_-?)┓

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Labels: 2012, day in ibara, Japan

Friday, June 29, 2012

Fireworks! Streamers! Transformers!

...I'm actually talking about a concert.

Back in the day I used to watch a little anime called Bleach (actually my mind is still reeling that a shonen series, let alone Bleach actually *ended*. Ending?) and one of the catchy opening tunes was from a group called UVERworld. I thought the song was so-so at the time, but then I found a...link...to one of their albums and decided to give them a shot. I needed more Japanese music in my iTunes so I figured, what the heck. The rest as they say, is history. I've been buying their albums ever since. I love their rock/pop/hip-hop blend and their instrumental songs just keep getting better and better. This is a band that I would want to see live if given the chance. So of course, now that I live in Japan when I was notified by Lawson's l-tike service of upcoming UVERworld concerts I immediately signed up.

For those who don't know much about going to concerts in Japan, it's pretty damn hard. Most, if not all concert tickets (popular music; never tried classical/enka/etc) have to be won by lottery. You sign up then a few days later you get a yay or nay. So the more popular your band is, the harder the chances. That being said, I've heard that joining the band/artist's fanclub gets you better chances or even the chance to buy it earlier, but so far that hasn't worked for me (I'm looking at you Johnnys!!!!) Well, being let down so many times, I signed up anyway and of course I didn't win. My friend, however did. <--This was the part where I fist pumped and nearly screamed in fangirl joy.

Before I talk about the concert, a little background of my previous concert experiences in Japan. Japanese audiences are really...calm. My first experience was a VAMPS concert and since they're a visual kei/rock group, I figured I'd see head banging and dare I say, maybe a mosh pit in the standing area? What I got was this odd...hand flicking. And the creepy thing was the crowd knew when to change hand gestures! I felt like I was missing something! How did they *know?* My next concert, a Rip Slyme one was a bit better, but not much. The hand thing was still there, but since it was hip-hop there was a *bit* more moving around in the audience. I guess it didn't help that the venue was a theater with seating only. It looked like people were having fun. I think. Then there was Lady Gaga. Oh man. It was fun, but it was a mix of a concert and cosplay event, which didn't surprise me and was pretty damn awesome regardless. Cosplayers are so amazing here. Anyway, what I'm trying to get at is, I was kind of wondering what the atmosphere of an UVERworld concert would be like. The majority of their songs are upbeat rock songs you can dance to. There was still a lot of hand flicking/waving, but there was also jumping, dancing (with the space allowed anyway). UVERworld live is *awesome*. Takuya is sweet, always thanking the audience for being there and listening to their music, and Shintaro the drummer is ~~my new husband-to-be~~ amazing and cute when he talks to the crowd. Best part of the concert hands down is seeing Takuya appearing on stage on the drums and playing alongside Shintaro. Then as if he couldn't get more epic, the next tune he goes over to the piano and starts playing. Seeing a versatile musician...is pretty hot.

What I like best about having a concert in Osaka hall is the food stalls surrounding the building. All the standard matsuri fare was there, from okonomiyaki to castella. I've never seen a matsuri set up in any of the other venues I went to. I wonder if it's just an Osaka thing?

I am so glad I was able to see UVERworld live. Can definitely check that off my list of things I want to do in Japan.

One of the many goodies I bought at the concert. Also one of the English phrases that make *sense*. I still love you UVERworld!

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Labels: 2012, concerts, friends, music, Osaka

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Blast from the Past: New Years Part 2 - Yufuin and Beppuuuuu

Due to laziness and busy-ness, a fellow Peach lady and I didn't go to Korea as planned, so instead we did the next best thing after New Years: onsen in onsen towns Beppu and Yufuin!! The theme of the trip: ゆっくり, or just taking it slow.

Day 1

The day was spent at Takegawara Onsen for our first sand bath, seeing the lame Beppu Tower, and finding a ramen truck.

Takegawara Onsen

In a sand bath, you are buried in natural hot sand for about 15-20 minutes. I liked it, but it would've been much better if there was a good view rather than a wall. I forgot where we stayed for the duration of our trip, but the place was a mix between a dormitory and a ryokan. Even though we were essentially in the red light district of Beppu, the place was nice enough and its' onsen were nice too. You can even reserve one of the private ones which was really sweet.

Day 2

The second day was exploring Yufuin and meeting really nice people. One lady recommended us Nurukawa Onsen which we found by chance and was amazing, and a nice man selling wood craft made us free cat charms.

fufufu-ing over hana yori dango

Day 3: Last Day

You can't really go to Beppu without seeing the hells (themed hot springs). There are several, but we ended up going to Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) and Shiraike Jigoku (White pond Hell). Umi was pretty neat since the water is a cool electric blue (if you can see past the steam) and it had a neat foot bath where you can kick around huge, deformed grapefruit around. Shiraike was freakin' lame.

Boiled eggs from hell, anyone?

After we went to Beppu Kaihin Sunayu (Beppu Seaside Sand Bath) for some sand bathing next to the beach. Way better than Takegawara since it was outside and you can just stare at the ocean.

To the left you can see the sand bathers' heads...like plants

Beppu/Yufuin is a must-go for any onsen fan! After the bright lights and rush of Tokyo and Yokohama onsen hopping in Kyushu was a nice change of pace.

Tasty pic of the trip: