Tim's Birthday weekend & Kobe Festival

Sunday was Kobe Festival, a 40 year old festival that celebrates the city with food, music, and a parade. Farron, Kazuki and I went to check it out, and then walked around Jazz Walk for a bit.

And now comes the first samba group. I had no idea samba was so popular in Japan, but apparently Brazilians are the only nationality legally allowed to immigrate into Japan. Also, Brazil has the largest Japanese popular outside of Japan.

Guy dressed as... a nurse?

Okinawa traditional drumming. It was the coolest!

I want some of these shoes.

Wait, am I in Vegas?

Little kids dressed like this... unnerving.

"Hun, have you seen my smoking house backpack? I'm going to be late for the parade!"

Boy Scouts

Eating kushikatsu (fried stuff on sticks) in Osaka with Meiko and Megumi for Tim's birthday.

American Idol in Japan

Sunday afternoon, I went to Chiyoko and Mitsuna Andoh, former students, for lunch. They are such sweet women! Chiyoko made us lunch, and we watched a highlight video of American Idol. I was never a fan of the show, but that video was pretty good. Then I got to watch clips from Chiyoko's movies/shows/commercials. She's an actress, and she also does voice work. It was amazing! She always plays a mother, and in my favorite commercial, it's an infomercial for a frying pan. To be honest, it is pretty amazing. Mitsuna works part time as an illustrator, and she gave me a beautiful watercolor she had done as I left.

After lunch, I went to Nishinomiya-kitaguchi to Tim's apartment for a wine and stinky cheese party. One of his students had gone to France, and brought back SO MUCH stinky cheese. It was fun, there were 6 other foreigners there, mostly AEON teachers, but a few JETs and freelancers. Tim taught us how to play dominoes (because he's an old man like that), and we had a good time. Then, Tim, Joe and I went to a local hole in the wall to sing karaoke.

Thanks for the awesome earrings, Mom!

Joe and I singing "A Whole New World".

Since it's rainy and cold (and I'm slightly hungover) today, I'm staying inside and trying very hard not to have to go outside. Too bad my laundry is on the balcony.

Punkspring 2010

Saturday after work, I took an overnight bus from Osaka to Tokyo. By myself. Wow. Miho booked the ticket for me, but I had to show up. It wasn't too difficult, but I did call Miho to make sure I was in the right area.

7 hours later, I arrived at Tokyo Station, and met up with Miho and Asami, who took a different bus.

Two things I learned about riding an overnight bus: 2 Benedryl is AMAZING! and wearing earplugs makes me carsick.

Asami and I in front of Unko san in Asakusa. *Unko means poo in Japanese

Too early for traffic.

311!!!

The lineup

The audience watching one of the Japanese punk bands. They were awesome!

Blue stage

Chad Sexton's drum kit. He's the drummer for 311.

Sneaky photo. Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez.

Miho's apartment. This is her room. She has a shared kitchen and bathroom and stuff. It's really nice! It's also a good 15 minute walk from the Asakusa station.

Common living room.

BURGER KING!

Again, taking a photo with the hot models at A&F in Ginza.

Asami wanted to go to Vampire Cafe. Miho's face shows exactly how she and I felt about this.

In hindsight, those look like red blood cells on the floor.

My, what atmosphere there is.

Who is Earl, and why does he get to select some kinds cheese? I want his job.

duh duh duh THRIIIIILER!

And of course.... print club.

Karaoke

Minatogawakoen at 7:00 am.