Karaoke: More than just singing off-key!

Growing up in a culture where a night out on the town, usually meant, dinner, a movie or dancing, Japan's style of evening fun (KARAOKE) came at a surprise.
Before living in Japan, my stereotype of karaoke basically consisted of wannabe American idols singing in a small room with a ball bouncing on the TV lyrics with cheesy instrumental tracks....boy was I surprised.
It turns out, karaoke in Japan is a lot more fun and interesting than anything i had previously thought. The rooms are decently sized and acoustically insulated so if you are a bit embarassed because your favorite song is "ice ice baby" no one but your friends has to know.

Not only can you sing until 3 or 4 am, when most places close, nearly all karaoke parlors in Japan offer food (pizza/french fries/sandwiches) and drinks (soda/tea/sake) essentially leaving you no excuse to not to sing...
What about the cheesy background music and sound system?
Well, i must say, while the instrumentals are the best background tracks i have ever
heard, they can get a little annoying after a few hours so try not to over do it.
The actual sound system however was quite impressive. It seems the Japanese have a refined appreciation for quality and karaoke was no exception.

The rooms are often installed with BOSE sound (making even my singing sound good) and an intelligent song search engine remote control for displaying the lyrics on TV...i was even able to find some songs in Spanish, quickly making me the Ricky Martin of Japan.

Japanese Karaoke, two thumbs up!

The Japanese NBA...well almost anyways.

Ever wonder what a pro basketball game is like in Japan?

I was curious, so when my friend invited to me to check out Takamatsu's "Five Arrows" b-ball team, I excitedly said "HAI."
The day of the game (February 3rd) happened to be setsubun (節分) a day that marks the start of spring in Japan. On setusbun, it's tradition to eat rolled sushi for good luck, and thanks to the free sushi that was handed out before the game, I did just that.




Culture aside, the game was a lot of fun. Although a lot was the same compared to American basketball games, some things were most definitely different.
For example, I don't think I will ever forget the team's cheer, which is cleverly worded "five arrows, clap clap clap" and steadily repeated for about 2 hours.(no joke)
For the first 2 minutes the cheer was no problem, but after nearly an hour of hearing "five arrows, five arrows, five arrows...." it started to get a little old but at least the Japanese loved it...hehe.


Although the team is Japanese, most of the players aren't, need i say more?







I think the mascot is some sort of bird but I really cant say for
sure...yeah I have no idea. What do you think?

The Japanese Mickey Mouse? That's right, if you did' t you know already know, Tokyo has its own Disneyland theme park complete with 7 movie themes, an electronic light show and the whole cast of Disney characters. Tokyo Disney, pronounced Tōkyō Dizunīrando, opened back in 1983 and has become one of the most visited parks in the world. One nice thing about Tokyo Disneyland is that even I was surrounded by nearly entirely Japanese people and language, i felt like i was at one of the American parks because Disney wanted to keep the park an American attraction. All of the restaurants, gift shops, and gift shop prices, made me feel right at home too.
Yes, Mickey looks exactly the same and there were even long lines for some of the rides making it a truly authentic experience. Even though I am miles from home and years from my childhood, Tokyo Disney made me feel like a kid again right back at home:)

To see more pictures click here.

How do you say Costco in Japanese?

After 15 minutes in a car+2 hours on a bus+20 minutes on a train(express)+20 minutes on another bus, my friend Yuki and I found the answer and the store. Yuki, never having been to Costco before was as excited as I was, this being my first international Costco experience.

After nearly half a day of traveling it was time to get a bite to eat at of course, the Costco snack bar.


To my surprise the menu didn't really change except for Japanese written underneath the English.

Another small change was the fact they offered Ocha(Japanese green tea) along with the fountain drinks.

Yuki couldn't believe her eyes when she first saw the store and said,

"The store is so big and they have everything here, its so cool."

Shopping was definitely worth every minute of travel. I found Ghirardelli chocolate chips and Mexican Tortilla chips, not easy to find at a Japanese grocery store, Italian pasta, Costco coffee, and the only Japanese chocolate bar that met Costco's size standards.

The rest of the store, layout included, was pretty much the same as every Costco I have been to in America. For a few minutes I even felt like I was somehow in America, yet as soon I heard someone say Co-su-to-ko I knew I was indeed still in Japan.

High School Entrance Tests?

Unlike American high schoolers, teenagers in Japan may have a good amount of choice for deciding their high school if their test scores are good enough.

High schools in Japan are almost like colleges in America because the students take tests to determine which schools will be offered them.

Since student selection is determined by scores and not open enrollment, high schools often compete for the best students. On the left is the cover of a pamphlet I designed for Kita High School which lists what the school offers both academic and non-academic programs.

The school I teach at is quite diverse and is known for its academics, sports and clubs.


To see more photos of me and my adventures in Japan please click here.
しゃしんはここです

Halloween: Japan Style

Like many western ideas and customs that Japan borrows, Halloween is no exception. While you won't see children parading up and down the street here ringing door bells and getting free candy, decorations, work gatherings, and parties will abound. On a breezy day just hours away from Takamatsu's Halloween party, I sat in my apartment pondering how to make a costume that was not only original and inexpensive, but also one that could be understood by the Japanese mind.

Two shots of espresso and too many bad ideas later, I had a solution that could work virtually anywhere in the world and costs no more than a few bucks.

MR. TAKAMATSU would be the costume that would solve all of my Halloween worries.

Since beauty pageants and talent shows exist in nearly every culture, I knew it would be understood here in Japan too. After a quick trip to the nearest dollar store, I had what I needed to become Takamatsu's first beauty pageant winner...well for Halloween anyways.

To personalize the costume for Takamatsu, I tied some rope to a pasta strainer to give the effect of "udon" the most famous food in the region. Also, every beauty pageant contestant has to have an entry number and mine was none other the Takamatsu's area code, 087.

A Taste of Mexico

After nearly two months of Japanese food I hadn't begun to miss Mexican food until my family reminded of their dinner plans a few days ago.
That being said, after the video chat with my family I was left the mental image of a carne asada burrito and big glass of horchata. Even though I am thousands of miles from the real thing, I was determined to make a Mexican dinner here in Japan. After a few days of searching the markets, grocery stores, and gourmet food marts of Takamatsu, I had gathered the essentials. Flour for the tortillas, chili-powder for the rice and chicken, and of course salsa, which to my surprise is sold at most grocery stores for around $3.

The only thing which I'm afraid I had to do without are pinto beans. Pinto beans are sold here, but for a bag the size of one burrito it costs more than $3, a little out of my budget but good to know if I am ever desperate.

With pinto beans off the menu I decided to go with chicken rice burritos. I made the rice just like Mom always showed me and even though the rice was another type, to my surprise it came out just like it does at home.

For the tortillas I was able to find lard from the grocery stores and mixed that with the flour and baking powder. I then rolled them by hand like I've seen my Nana do many many times before and cooked them on the stove like an authentic Mexican.

For the rest of the meal I pan-fried the chicken with lemon, chili-powder, a few other spices creating a nice chipotle flavor.

Since food tastes best when enjoyed with friends, I invited one of my Japanese friends over for dinner that night and showed her how we do dinner in Mexico. It was a feast!

Next on the menu is horchata!

--to see more pictures of robert in japan click here--

Japan: Credit cards or Coins?

I must admit, before moving to Japan I imagined an electronic metropolis full of Wi-Fi hotspots and cool gadgets/gizmos. Even though some of what I imagined is true, much of this eastern nation is still catching up to the 21st century.

While Tokyo is full of neon lights, talking vending machines and dancing robots, other areas of Japan don’t offer high speed internet access or cell phone coverage. Much of the country is still a cash-based culture where debit and credit cards are supplemented by paper money and an array of coins ranging in value from one cent to five dollars. It took me a while to realize that with a coin the size of quarter, I could get coffee and a newspaper at Starbucks, but after a few iced-lattes I got the hang of it.

One benefit of a cash-based society that I’ve grown to love, is the convenience of coin-accepting vending machines. The lighted machines’ glow beckons anyone nearby. The 24-hour convenience makes getting anything from iced-coffee, beer, or Gatorade a breeze. Most items cost around a dollar and are always cool and refreshing. In addition to drinks, you can also buy calling cards, cigarattes, and food.

Even the bread is expensive!

Hey everyone out there in the western world, I am keeping busy here in Japan and mostly trying to figure out ways to save money. All the rumors you've heard about Japan costing more are most definintely true. In fact the only thing that i've seen cost less here than the states are the set-lunch menus available at most restaurants. On average lunch will run about $5.00-$7.00 a fairly modest price compared to what a bag of groceries would cost you. I paid $2.25 for a half a loaf of regular bread, $2.50 for a bar of butter, and a $1.50 for a can of tomato sauce at the super market.
Depending on where you eat and how hungry you are, it can often be less expensive to eat out than cook at home. Even if you find inexpensive ingredients, the cost of utilities, not to mention the summer heat will make you reconsider making that pasta you've been craving all day long.

Takamatsu Here I am:

I am now in the town where I will be teaching and its very nice here. The population of Takamatsu is around 0.6 million and it basically has everything except Costco and Mexican food. Sitting next to the Seto Inland Sea there is plenty of fishing and boating along with a wide varity of Udon noodles, which were first made here on the island.

My appartment is about a 15 minute train ride outside of downtown and is actually quite spacious by Japanese standards. I have a 3 room flat with a kitchen, living room, and bedroom that sleeps 5. I sleep on a futon in a room which is covered with Tatami(straw) mats. Inside the appartment I have a washing machine, which is entirely in Japanese, and outside a clothes rack for drying the laundry.

Around the neighborhood, there are lots of stores and luckily I live just minutes away from "Coop", the grocery store and the Japanese version of Walgreens. If you want to see more pictures just click here and all of my Japan photos will load up.
-Robert

Tucson to Tokyo:
Yesterday I arrived in Tokyo and have never been so excited about arriving in a particular city in my life. The huge neon signs, jumbo TVs, and endless rows of vending machines make it clear that this is an entirely foreign place. The 12 hour Japan Airline flight felt flew by as the numerous TV/music channels kept me entertained. One channel that I found particulary interesting was the 'bird's eye view' plane cam. Two color cameras, one under and the other on top, made the flight a much more interesting experience as you can see the clouds, lighting, and runways on take off and landing.

While the entertainment was nice, the food and service was better. On Japan Airlines, they actually give you REAL silverware with chopsticks, that has been pre-warmed for your dining pleasure. In addition to the meals the flight attendants bring an array of cookies, snacks, and drinks, all with a smile:)

As far as the city goes, it's looks just like the movies and music videos that show it. There is a lot of shopping to do here but be prepared to cash in your retirement before you do. I could go on and on about the city life and culture but I want to explain a little why I am in Tokyo.

Part of the JET program includes a 3 day orientation in Tokyo that prepares me for teaching and while giving me an idea of what I can expect to encounter here in Japan. Out of the 1,600 participants this year, 1,000 are from the US and the remaining come from various countries that range from Canada to Russia. So far my first few days of eastern culture have been as educational as they have been enjoyable.

Como esta or Kumusta?
The languages of the Philippines are one of the many characteristics that make this country so unique. Students here are all taught English in school as well as their region's language and what results is a truly original blended language. Unlike other countries where English is only a part of the classroom, Filipinos implement English in their lives daily. Similar to Spanglish, where traces of English surface usually through nouns and occasional verbs, Taglish, as its known here also borrows nouns and verbs but sometimes takes a whole sentence of English, putting it between a Tagalog paragraph.

Spanish speakers will be able to read many of the signs in Tagalog as the Spanish conquest left not only several churches here but a strong grounding of their language. In fact, in some areas of the Philippines, more than 50% of the language is based on Spanish. Sometimes the pronunciation changes a little along with the spelling as the Filipino alphabet has only 20 letters but in general, they understand some spoken Spanish.

Pork: It's what's for the Filipino dinner
Food culture is one of the top reasons why I travel. Each country presents its own style of food and flavor and its often full of surprise. For starters, let me just say the most important phrase I've learned so far is "busog ako" meaning I'm full. Like Italians, the Filipinos like to make sure their guests are well fed, even if that means putting more food on your plate when you're not looking.
That said, the food (pagkain) of the Philippines has been very unique. Here, rice is a staple and is served with every meal almost as much as pork it seems. Yes, there is plenty of fish (isda) here in the Philippines, but by far, it seems like the consensus favorite it pork. From pork skin, chips, stew, roast, and barbecue, it often feels like there are more ways to cook a pig in the Philippines than there are islands here. Growing up with primarily cow meat and chicken, I've never grown too fond of the pig, but here, its a way of life. Lumpia, although not served too often is essentially the Filipino taquito. Its a rolled shell with vegetable or meat inside, similar to an egg roll but much more tasty. So far, lumpia makes my list of best tasting here in the Philippines. Chicken Adobo, a moist chicken dish in a sauce over rice, comes to a close second.
Up to now, all the food I've tried has been made here in Davao city on Mindanao island. Tomorrow i fly to Manila, the capital city in hopes of sampling a different type and style of Filipino food.















Drinking Tuba, a sweet coconut wine.

the Philippine Mall: Davao City, Philippines.
The malls here in the Philippines aren't much different than those in the states but there are a few differences that definitely caught my eye. When you first enter the mall it feels a little like going through security at the airport with the guards, metal detectors, and bag searches. Ever since terrorists' threats and violence of the eighties and early nineties, the Filipino government has continued to keep their country safe, even if that means posting guards with machine guns at the front door of a shopping mall. Once you are in the mall it looks pretty much normal.
The coffee however is once difference that I wont forget. It seems no matter where I go and no matter how much I spend, its nearly impossible to find decent coffee. Most of the coffee they use is instant and only sometimes do they actually use real milk (instead of powder). For now my hopes and dreams of finding decent coffee here in Davao will just have to wait.
The movie theaters of the Philippines are by far one of my highlights. Although, there isn't much film selection and the ceiling looks likes its still under construction, it was by far an enjoyable experience. For 55 Filipino pesos, about 1 American dollar, I was able to watch Superman. For the same movie but 65 pesos, I could have watched it from the 'deluxe' view, which are the seats higher up towards the back of the theater. I'm not really sure why Filipinos would pay more to sit farther back from the screen but, that's just the way it is.

Mabuhay from the Philippines
After a few delays at the airport, I finally made it the country of over 7,100 islands. The 16 hour flight was direct but we had to make an hour stop in Guam for fuel. The strangest aspect of the whole flight was the fact that I didn't see the sun for what felt like an entire day. However, the in-flight service was very nice and they fed me traditional Philippine meals, snacks and drinks.
The Philippines has been very interesting and I'm still getting used to 90% or more humidity. After waiting at the Airport in Lima for my 4-hour delayed flight, I had a connecting flight down south to the city of Davao. Here there isn't much tourism but the friendly people and fresh fish make up for it. Next to Davao is an island called Samal that boast nice beaches and beautiful scenery, something I will check out later this week.
Lately I have been dodging mosquitoes and trying to find a decent piece of chocolate, which has proven much harder than I originally thought. Here in the Philippines, there is a lot that reminds of Mexico, whether it be the crazy traffic, street vendors, or sari-sari stores which are basically a scaled down Circle-K.

There's so much more to tell, but I'm out of computer time so until next time....ciao.

Hey everyone, this will be my online journal of my journeys in Takamatsu Japan.

My flight to Tokyo leaves July 29th out of LAX and I will be travelling in the Philippines for 3 weeks before.

I will be back in Tucson July 25th for a couple of days to say final goodbyes and finish packing for my year abroad.