Papers please! Fawlty Towers in Ehime, Shikoku

 An absolutely shocking experience trying to check into a hotel that I'd booked weeks before the long weekend, so I could try to see three beautiful castles in northern Ehime...

An aggressive, rude and downright nasty man greeted me at the front desk of Hotel Ohta in Ozu, demanding to see my passport for a photocopy to be made. No, sorry mate, I live here - and I'm a bit tired, as I've travelled from Fukuoka in a rush to get here on the last train. Response = he brandished a probably well-used laminated copy of some guidance dated 2002 that non-residents need to prove their identity...and told me to get out!

Me not budging, but Mr. Jobsworth in fury-mode stomping about ranting (but flipping a switch to check in apparently Japanese guests without asking for any proof of ID or residence in Japan - how would anyone know!?)...it's pretty hard to get a Japanese credit card which I used for my booking, by the way, even if you have lived here for 20 years...Maybe these other guests live in Singapoer, matey?

Long story short, this unsavoury individual spat the dummy rudely whilst talking to my wife (on my phone, with battery in the red after a day's work & an evening's travel) eventually calling her a 'noisy old crone' and hanging up on her. Unbelievable. So she called the cops (answered in Matsuyama - miles away, on a Sunday night, middle of a long weekend - they won't be up to much!) while I tried to stink out the lobby with my refusal to go anywhere. Incidentally, once that check-in paper signed, regardless of what else happens, the contract to stay has been established - particularly if you've paid in advance. Yes, my booking was on their computer. Stand your ground, travellers - there are NO police rules natioanl or local requiring copies be made of ANY documents.

About an hour later, I can hear him on the phone in his cubicle stage left, giving it the humble 'hai, hai, wakarimashita' routine = somebody just ripped him a new bumhole. My guess was the local koban (police box). Without any hint of apology, just my name (I had one now, I was 'gaijin' earlier) grunted and a room key grudgingly dangled over the counter. No eye contact or hint of humility - let alone customer care!

I had checked out other accommodation options whilst sitting there on the naughty step; nearest was 64km away by car. Figured I could find a bench at the station if needs be. I'd come all this way, probably only chance in a lifetime, and I wanted to see the castle!

The lights were flickering off at the castle by the time I'd yomped there (having dumped belongings in the room); and all the local restaurants were very closed by the time I'd yomped back again. Bento it was.

And the room? Not worth the effort - labelled non-smoking when I booked, but obviously not. It stank. Tiny, and I didn't dare sit on the chair - looked like someone had given birth on it. Absolutely disgusting.

Any thrill I had spotting Ozu Castle, brilliant lit up atop its hill earlier when my train rattled to a halt at the station...very much a distant memory. Fortunately, I needed to get out of there at first light to go photograph a very lovely rebuilt castle. Sadly, not many hotel options in this town, so I'm sure Mr. Angry will not be going out of business...must say, he's lucky to still have any teeth. I was in the mood, shall we say.

Harrison Ford - a biography

 Harrison Ford was born in the United Stated on July 13, 1942.

After working for a local theater compnay, he moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. He made his debut in 1966 and appeared in many films, but he took a break from acting because of dissatisfaction and doubts about his way of becoming an actor.

After that, he studied by himself and became a carpenter. He thought of an opportunity to be  active as an actor while renovating house and making furniture. After that, he was introduced to Fred Roth, whom he met through carpentry, and appeared in the movie "American Graffiti". He was a ppreciated for his positive attitude, such as coming up with various ideas for his his role, and gained the trust of derector George Lucas, and was also noticed by Francis Ford Coppola, who was also the producer of the film, and continued to appear in many films.

Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Star Wars

In 1977, he auditioned for "Star Wars" through the introduction by Fred Roth, and the uneasy state of mind & manly atmosphere at the time of participation were the deciding factors, and he decided to play the role of Han SOlo, and with the explosive hit of the film, he became a world-famous star.

After that, he appeared in many films, such as Working Girl" and "Patriot Game", and he explanded his career as an actor by appearing in a wide range of genres from romantic comedy to suspense. In addition, in 1993, he achieved great box office success in the role of Richard Kimble, the main character in the film "The Fugitive", and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award, establishing himself as a Hollywood money-making star. I

In May 2023, the Honorary Palme D'Or was awarded to him at the 76th Cannes International Film Festival.

Posted for Ayumi

Postcard from - Hakata, Kita-kyushu

Naka River yatai

I had a really nice weekend working in Hakata - the people I was working with were great, and the location was only a short walk from downtown.

No hawkers

There were dozens & dozens yatai lining the Naka River, offering all sorts of Japanese fare, from yakitori to ramen & okonomiyaki. There were queues for each and every one, and happy customers bellying up to the counters eagerly. Drinks in full flow and the scene quietly buzzing - but unlike Shinjuku not a pimp in sight & no sign of scampilly clad maids; nor the throaty jostling of Osaka with elbows out. Instead, a really orderly and patient excitement.

I found a seat with my boss for ramen, and got chatting with a Danish traveller - we got told off for talking too much/not eating & drinking fast enough (a yatai faux pas!) so I'll do better next time. The munchies were great, masters super friendly and the beers...just right :)

Fish face

Next evening I had to have sushi - especially squid, which I remember from a road trip around Kyushu twenty years ago as being exceptionally good. No disappointment this time either.

I really enjoyed my evenings out in Hakata - place has a really welcoming vibe. Nobody in a rush, the food is great and you can walk to anywhere you want to get to. If you need to get any further the new subway lines will get you there quickly, if the extensive bus network won't. I can't wait to come back...

Hikaru Utada - a biography

 Utada Hikaru is one of the most famous singers in Japan.

She was born in New York in 1983, and lives in London now. She debuted in 1998 when she was only fifteen years old. She became quickly popular because of her beautiful & unique voice. So her first single "Automatic" sold more than two million copies and her first album "First Love" topped the Japanese album sales chart.

Hikaru Utada

Her songs were were getting more & more famous. Therefore, "Flavor of Life", which was released in 2007, recorded first place of degital songs sales in the world. She also received a prize named 'Artist of the Year' in japan Gold Disc Grand Prize. However, in 2010, she suddenly declared a pause. Nobody knew the reasons. It made many people sad and they though she might not come back. 

Then, in 2016, she suddenly started her activities again. Actually, she married and gave birth to her baby. "Fantome, which was first released when she came back was recorded first place in Billboard Japan. It show how she is loved by many Japanese people. 

Today, Utada Hikaru's songs are used by many daramas, animes, and movies. She and her songs are loved by many people all over the world.

Posted for Akane

Postcard from - Kokura, Fukuoka

I took the opportunity to jump off the shinkansen a stop early (I was heading to Hakata for work) and take a walk around Kokura Castle. It was not hard to find, only 10 minutes from the (very new) station.

I was very surprised to see loads & loads of cyclists around the entrance to the castle - they'd just finished stage one of the Tour de Kyushu, with media interviews and team selfies & groupies everywhere...I didn't recognise anyone! Probably impossible to get a room in town tonight - glad I didn't need to. The approach across the Riverwalk is enticing.

The castle itself is a rebuild, but on the original site of the castle first erected between 1602-8. It's been burnt down a couple of times, and was finally fully restored in 1990. Like most other castle sites, it was a military base in the first half of the 20th century; an important location at the neck of northern kyushu and the channel into the Seto Sea/Sea of Japan, and all points west to Korea. If the weather had been different on August 9th, 1945, Kokura would have been ground zero instead of Nagasaki.

There are historical artifacts & storylines inside the keep - as well as a lift & most disappointingly of all, a fancy cafe occupying the whole top floor. Nice views in all directions, and comfortable to sit & catch your breath with an expensive desinger coffee & pastry.

The gardens don't add up to much, but the shrines on the north side offer shade & loads of vending machines which don't help the vibe, as well as a view of the walls where the moat once was.

All-in-all, an attractive centrepiece, but not much context . 

Kurt Cobain -a biography

 Kurt Donald Cobain was an American musician.

Kurt Donald Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington, on Feb 20, 1967.

His mother was waitress Wendy Elizabeth and his father was car mechanic Donald Leland Cobain.

His uncle, aunt and great-uncle were musicians and Kurt developed an interest in music.

He loved "The Beatles" and drawing   very much so he started singing at two years old.

His parents divorced when he was nine years old.

Kurt, his father, step mother and her two children lived together.

He bought his first guitar at a pawnbroker when he was four-teen years old.

Kurt formed "Nirvana" in 1987, with Krist Novoselic and Aalon Brookhard.

Their music genre is called "Grunge".

Nirvana released "Nevermind" in 1991.

Their master piece "Smells Like Teen Spirit" got the MTV video music award in 1991.

 

Kurt got married to musician Courtney Love in 1992.

But he was sick with heroin addiction and depression and he died in Seattle, Washington on April 5, 1994.

He was found dead at his home the cause of death was suicide by gunshot.

He was only twenty-seven.

I'm a big fan, so I want to visit the Pop Music Museum in Seattle some day!

J.K. Rowling - a biography

J.K. Rowling's journey to success was filled with hardship & resilience.

Born in England in 1965, she loved writing stories from a young age. After university, she worked various jobs but never felt fully satisfied. She dreamed of becoming an author, yet life presented challenges. Her mother passed away, her marriage failed, and she returned to England as a single mother, struggling financially & emotionally. Despite these challenges, Rowling started working on a story about a young wizard named Harry Potter.

Sitting in cafes, she carefully wrote while her baby daughter slept beside her. Rejection after rejection came from publishers, but Rowling didn't give up. Finally, in 1997, a small publisher took a chance on her manuscript. The first Harry Potter became an instant success, transforming Rowling's life.

The Harry Potter series went on to become one of the best-selling book series in history, leading to films, merchandise, and a dedicated fan base worldwide. Rowling;'s story is a powerful example of perseverance, proving that even in the hardest times, holding onto your dreams can lead to amazing outcomes.

Posted for Miki

Postcard from...Tsuruga, Fukui

Northern Japanese Alps, from Toyoshina station

I took a detour recently to knock off a couple of bucket list train trips.

Firstly, I wanted to ride the recently extended Hokuriku Shinkansen all the way around the north coast to its new terminus at Tsuruga...and ideally explore that corner of Fukui and the northern coast of Kyoto. Unfortunately, that part of the coastline will have to wait for another visit, I think by car, given the relative inaccessibility of the area & the less the less than easy to get to places I'd really like to explore, around Wakasa Bay, without having to rush to make connections.

The earliest Shinano from Matsumoto was a beautiful autumnal sunrise ride, the Northern Alps beyond Azumino to the left (west) before the Chikuma valley appeared after the tunnels either side of  sleepy  Omi/Hijiri-kogen. And what an appearance - spreading out to the north with Nagano city sprawled in the middle. A fairly unique train journey given the climb the line makes to cross from Shinshu to Chikuma (the two geographical & historical halves of modern Nagano prefecture).

If you want some anorak information about Shinano click here and for the route, here

JR East E7

From Nagano you won't get much of a view, as the line carves through a number of tunnels at light speed - this train really does get a shift on. Super smooth, and before you know it you're cutting the corner of Niigata prefecture and decelerating into Toyama with the Sea of Japan on your right already. Eyes left (south) for a stunning mountainscape. This part of the line, openned in 2015 is extremely swift!

Our shinkansen slows down after Kanazawa, dropping south through Ichikawa & Fukui prefectures with fewer and fewer passengers. This stretch of line only openned in March this year (2024); Tsuraga obviously not the final intended stop. I am sure, once the final leg is finished to Osaka (in another 20 years' time?) the route will open up the region - and not soon enough - the Noto peninsula desperately needs better transport access & investment to recover from the hammer blows of earthquake & typhoon damage this year.

Kagayaki: Tokyo–Tsuruga, limited-stop service, since 14 March 2015
Hakutaka: Tokyo–Tsuruga, mostly all-stations service, since 14 March 2015
Tsurugi: Toyama–Tsuruga, mostly all-stations shuttle service, since 14 March 2015
Asama: Tokyo–Nagano, mostly all-stations service, corresponding to existing Nagano Shinkansen service introduced in 1997

Follow the yellow (or blue!) brick road

And what of Tsuruga? No time to explore the town but just enough to find a nest of Thunderbirds, the aged limited express that used to service the line up to Kanazawa from Osaka/Kyoto, hugging the shore of Lake Biwa. The views of the lake are limited, unfortunately, especially if you are not sitting by the window & cannot keep the curtain up. My fellow foreign travellers glued to games on their phones/and ignoring the historic sites across the water. Really, really frustrating ignorance (and your enormous suitcases are even more annoying).


Familiar limited express rolling stock (JR-West 683-4000); comfy enough but looks & feels 'tired'...good enough for my needs and the relatively short trundle to Osaka - the non-shinkansen line from Kyoto taking a little more time, but divested of the tourons a chance to enjoy the suburban corridor. No rush!

Kissing Thuderbirds, Tsuruga station

I'm glad I made the effort to sweep around the "Hokuriku Arch" - an area begging to be discovered more slowly. There is a rail pass for this region that would be good value & allow travellers to stop over & linger for a whole week. Inner trainspotter satisfied!

Postcard from...Berlin, Germany

Berlin sights & cold beer

 Dear Jim sensei,

We stayed in Berlin for three days. We walked around the city to see some historical buildings. 15K+ steps per day!

It was hot and sunny, which was perfect weather to have cold beers :)

Reiko & Tomoko

Postcard from...The British Museum, London.

The British Museum

 Hi Jim sensei,

We had a chance to visit The British Museum. It was so interesting to see objects from the ancient period. We were lucky to have sunshine earlier today! (Beautiful picture isn't it?) The temperature is much lower than that in Berlin. It was like late autumn.

Tomoko & Reiko

An itinerary a trip

 Day 1: Arrival in Edinburgh

Arrive in Edinburgh: Transfer to the hotel, and then leave my baggage there.

Edinburgh Castle: Explore this historical place. I’ll rent an audio guide because it is available in Japanese. Visit to Edinburgh castle from Royal Palace and Honours of Scotland to Mons Meg and the Scottish National War Memorial. 

I’m sure that the place will make me exciting, so I need a rest to go around the castle. Take afternoon tea break. (I’ll make a reservation for tearoom in the castle.)

After enjoying Edinburgh Castle, I’m going to the Royal Mile to see historic street, visiting shops and landmarks. 

At dinner time, I’ll eat Scottish cuisine at a local restaurant. I’ll enjoy beer and scotch during meal.

Day 2: still in Edinburgh

I’ll tour for Holyrood Palace where the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.

Also, I’ll visit at the National Museum of Scotland. I’ll look at Scotland’s history and culture from exhibits.

At Dinner time, I’ll try a cozy pub or restaurant in the Old Town.

Optional: Attend a traditional Scottish Ceilidh dance.

Day 3: still in Edinburgh

I’ll go to ST GILE’s cathedral. I’ll try to join guided walking tours which is are free. (I hope to understand what guide saying)

Day 4: Loch Ness

I’ll visit the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. 

I will enjoy a boat tour on the loch to search for the famous monster. 

Fairy Pools: Hike to these beautiful natural pools.

Day 7: Return to Edinburgh

Morning: I’ll eat breakfast at the hotel.

The Edinburgh Dungeon: Scarry!! I don’t know whether I enjoy there.

Final Shopping and Sightseeing: Shopping souvenirs. 

Departure: Go to the airport for my flight to home.

Nobel Peace Prize winner - Barack Obama

The Nobel Peace Prize winner I'd like to introduce is Barack Obama. He was once the president of the United States of America. Also, he was different from previous presidents in that he was the first Afircan-American, person of color, and Hawaiian-born president.

Although he was once out-ranked by former First Lady Hillary Clinton in terms of name recognition, his skillful speeches and charisma attracted people, and he gained supporters as he continued to campaign.

While his policies are criticized for lacking specificity and being largely abstract & idealistic, his speeches have been described as the reincarnation of John F. Kennedy for their persuasiveness. In his speeches, he employs a technique of layering short phrases with frequent use of "we" and "you". In particular, two phrases "Change" and ""Yes, we can" were frequently used as catchphrases during the election campaign.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. All media reports cited Obama's diplomacy as a victory for the prize, due to his vision of promoting international cooperation toward nuclear abolition, which he announced in Prague in April 2009, and his call for reconciliation and dialogue with the Islamic world, which he made in Cairo in June.

However, if we see only Obama's diplomatic ideals as the driving force behind his Nobel Prize, we are only seeing half the truth. There is another half which is not clear from the surface. That is the change in the US's security strategy that took place in the 2000s. behind this Nobel Prize lies the foundation of the cold, realistic US's security strategy, which is the globalisation of the use of advanced conventional warheads and the promototion of nuclear non-proliferation. 

Furthermore, Obama's visit to Hiroshima. the first by a sitting US president, was an historic opportunity of great inportance to commemorate the war dead and to revive international momentum toward a world free of nuclear weapons. At the same time, it symbolized the strength of the US - Japan alliance, an "Alliance of Hope", that has been built up over the 70+ years since the end of World War Two.

Posted for Eleanor

A Nobel Laureate I admire - Mother Teresa

I would like to introduce about Mother Teresa.

Her real name was Agnes, and she was born in Skopje, in the Republic of North Macedonia.

When she was eighteen years old, she wanted to go to Bengal, India. That year, she was named Teresa as a nun, and she taught about monasticism to poor people.

Teresa decided to work in the slums of Calcutta, and she went out the monastery when she was 38. After a while, she collected the poor children who can’t go to school, and she opened air -classes at the slum in Kolkata.

In 1950, she moved to her nationary to India, and built monastery, school, hospital and so on. Many people thought wonderful that Teresa’s action. Finally, In 1979, she won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Posted for Youna

Japanese WWII battleship "Shinano"

What do you imagine when you are asked name of battle ships you know at WWII? I think many people answer Yamato. However, the largest battleship was Shinano at that time it was built.

Shinano, which had displacing nearly 72,000 tons at full load, was built as sister battleships of Yamato. Since a main aircraft carrier of United States Pacific Fleet at that time was 24,000 tons, you can see how Shinano was huge. It had overwhelming military power and thick/sturdy armor for defensive, that was gathered well-technologies of Japan. Although it was not perfect, the construction was initially completed on November 19, 1944. In order to avoid damage from air attack, it was decided to move the battleship from the port of Kanagawa to Hiroshima. However, U.S. Navy found Shinano and they torpedoed it too easily on November 29, 1944. It was just ten days from completion of construction.

Japan’s military power was already exhausted. In addition, at a time when there was no longer dependent on a huge battleship, Shinano sank in the sea without showing good performance. Therefore, the large battleship was not remembered by people.

Wildlife in Japan

 Japanese Serow

They eat plant leaves, tree barks, and fruits etc. They can be seen in mountains in early spring and late autumn. They are protected as a special natural animal by Japan and are also the prefectural animal of Nagano. Climate change causes animals in mountain that they are unable to secure enough food, and recently deer sometimes enter in area where Japanese Serow lived to find foods. It is likely to drop the population in the future again.

Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata)

They can be found in not only countryside but also urban area because they operate in groups and not afraid of people. They are active during the day, and eat tree buds, fruits, and vegetables as well as small animals. At night, they sleep in safe places such as trees.

Japanese squirrels

They are active in the mornings and evenings, and can move swiftly even in the trees. Their summer fur is reddish brown, while their winter fur is gray-brown. They eat acorns, insects, and small bird eggs. They store nuts etc underground before winter starts, and dig them to eat during winter because they are non-hibernating.

Cuculus canorus

We can hear their chirp “Ka-kko” in Summer in Japan. Their body is approx. 35 cm and have head, back and upper feathers in gray, and belly in white.

It is famous for a summer bird in Japan and can be found everywhere in Japan. You can easily find them in central and northern Honshu. In Europe, it is famous for a bird that heralds spring. They spend winter in Africa and Southern Asia. By eating mainly caterpillars that other birds won't eat, they have an advantage to secure foods more than other birds.

Bush Warbler (Horornis diphone)

Bird called “Uguisu” is famous for a bird that heralds spring. We can hear their chirp “Ho-hokekyo” everywhere in Japan but have less opportunity. Even if we hear their chirp, it is difficult to find the bird because they keep watch for natural enemy. In the summer, they mainly eat small insects, larvae, and spiders, and in the winter, they eat seeds and nuts.

Ptarmigan (Lagopusu Muta)

Lagopusu means “Long-haired rabbit’s foot”. They live most of year in alpine belt and are the strongest bird in cold atmosphere. Their feathers turn whole white in winter to be a part of snow mountain. In spring, the upper part of male feathers is blackish brown and the one of female is mottled with light and dark brown. In autumn, their upper part of feathers turns gray-brown. Their inside feathers are white in all seasons.

Important scientific discoveries - DNA: The Blueprint of Life

Deoxyribonucleic Acid ("DNA") is the main unit of genes. However, until the 1950s, proteins were thought to work as genes. Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase revealed that DNA was in fact genetic material, using E.coli. 

DNA is made up of phosphate, sugar and a base - of which there are four types...A:Adenine, G:Guonine, T:Thymine and C:Cytosine. A group of three bases, called Codon, specify one amino acid. Then, amino acids create proteins, which compose tissues, and tissues compose organs. That is why DNA is called the "Blueprint of Life".

Today, genetics are contributing to our life in areas of health care, viology, agriculture and so on. In the past, when DAN was unknown/undiscovered, people mated plants from good harvests or with strong resistance against rough climates and diseases, in order to make future harvests stable. These days, scientists are able to produce genetically modified food, like they did in the past, but not how they did in the past.

Today's scientists use restriction enzymese like CSISPR-Cos9 to recombine genes directly. Using this method, we can produce desirable plants quickly and accurately. This technology is very useful for our society against global warming, rapidly increasing population and food shortages.

On the other hand, research on the positive or negative effects of genetically modified food on the human body is still ongoing. Some countires even ban such food; in Japan, products with genetically modified ingredients must be clearly labelled.

The discovery of DNA changed our notion of life, and made new technological pathways which are still not fully understood.. People need to understand DNA correctly, and make use of genetics safely and ethically.

Posted for Yuto, after listening to a BBC Patented podcast (about submarines!)...clearly, a medical student in the making!

Believing in the power of sport - Nelson Mandela

The Nobel Peace Prize winner I most admire is Nelson Mandela. He was born in 1918 in South Africa. Even after the apartheid system ended, discrimination and conflict remained. He thought that supporting the rugby team, the Springboks, would bring the country together. In 1995, the Rugby World Cup was held in South Africa. In the final match against New Zealand, the Springboks won the championship with everyone in the stadium, black and white, cheering for the Springboks. This victory meant a lot to the people and was a moment when the nation felt united. This is one of the many achievements of Nelson Mandela.

Posted for Moeka

Postcard from...Arundel, England

I enjoy here!!

See you soon!!

Hinata

Help for chick

When I was a junior high school, I found a chick at my feet at bicycle parking in school. Although I looked around, it seemed there was no parent bard. I worried about the chick if it can’t go back to a nest itself as it was too young. I shouldn’t have helped a wild animal, but I brought it back my home for help as I couldn’t overlook it.

Next day, I contacted a zoo to know how to take care it. The zoo took it under care although there was no experience for them to take care a type of bird. They did best effort to help it. However, I received a call from zoo after few days and they informed me of its death. I was so sad to hear that and also regretted what I did. The zoo said that they found what kind of food and how they should have given the type of chick the food after its death. Also, they advised me not to touch wild animals as far as possible.

A name of the bird spices is greenfinch which has yellow wings to a part of body. They are called hiwa in Japanese and they usually live closed to us. Therefore, I occasionally see them and still bring back the memory.

Comparing Scotland and Japan

It is so far from Japan to Scotland as it takes about 22 hours by direct flight. However, we can find similar cultures with them. We have an image of tartan-checked kilt for Scotland. There are infinitive patterns by different number/width of lines and color combinations. The combinations are decided for each family. It is like family crest in Japan. In addition, I’m amazed that only royal family could use purple color on tartan. In Japan’s traditional rank system, purple was royal color.

Moreover, you can enjoy seafood at both countries as they are surrounded ocean. One of the Scottish famous dishes is cullen skink, which is seafood soup. Usually, it made from haddock, potato, onion, and milk. It sounds nice, and I guess Japanese likes the taste.

On the other hand, I feel there are differences between the two countries. In the past, Scotland battled with England. Although they are members of United Kingdom nowadays, the countries are separated for each. In Japan, although people fought to expand their territories as well for hundreds of years ago, Japan became one country.

It seems there are big differences between the two countries, there are surprisingly similar points.