My Crush

Here's some pics of Naoto Kosuge -My #9 (and future b/f) on the Albirex BB Team!
Oh yeah - Back off Ladies!!!

Y'all ready???

Sports Day is right around the corner and school (for me) starts tomorrow. Are y'all ready? B/c I'm not! Where did this Summer break go? Always too quick! Anyways, I am at my new place Katahigashi JHS with only 194 students which is a HUGE change from my last schools with close to 800 students. But here - The students seem cool, the school itself is okay, and the teachers are nice - can't ask for more than that! :)


My new Teacher's room.

Yeah!!!

What is Sports Day?

Every autumn, school kids all over Japan, from kindergarten through high school, take part in Sports Day. On this day, athletic meets are held to give kids a chance to test their skills and compete with each other in a variety of events. It is also a great chance for the whole family to enjoy fun time together. This is particularly true of elementary school meets, where large numbers of families often come out to cheer on the kids.
There are two basic kinds of events - individual and group. A running race is an example of an individual event. Group events, where students are divided into teams, include tug-of-war, ball-tossing games, and mock cavalry battles. Kids usually compete against those of the same grade, but there are also relay races between teams made up of kids from all grades.
Some schools also include non-competitive events like folk or traditional Japanese dancing. At the high-school and sometimes JHS level, students do more than just compete in sports events; cheering contests are often held in which each class makes up its own cheers, adding even more energy to this exciting day.

I want to be the HYPHEN

I want to be the hyphen in KAT-TUN too! :)
This CM cracks me up!

西川まつり

The Nishikawa-tans were in full Matsuri (Festival) mode yesterday as well as tonight. Surprise Surprise - I found out I live like TWO BLOCKS away from "Main Street" Nishikawa, so I got full view of what all my town Matsuri had to offer! Yesterday was the Odori (dancing) event, so people of all ages lined up in the streets to dance the night away. It was quite cute since all the kids decked out in their club outfits (wearing baseball or karate uniforms) and the local businesses sponsered strangely unique floats.
Tonight was some Taiko drumming and fireworks.
My favorite part is they got this odd (probably local boys) hard rock band (seriously...we're talking on par to Limp Biscuit or something with all the screaming and guitar sounds going on) playing as the fireworks are going off. So, I couldn't help but laugh as they blare/scream away on thier mics/guitars as the elderly/children sit quietly on thier patios and sidewalk curbs to watch the hanabi - classic!

I LOVE THIS LIL' TOWN!!!





Why there was a giant Mickey...your guess is as good as mine!?!

Noh-theatre & Shakespeare "Othello"

The fourth production in the popular Noh Theater Shakespeare series produced by the Ryutopia Theater Department was one of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies, Othello (Directed by Yoshihiro Kurita). The company’s third production, The Winter’s Tale, was well received at an international Shakespeare festival held in Romania in April of 2006, earning remarks such as “most memorable performance.”

Ryutopia Noh Theater Shakespeare Series Othello
http://www.ryutopia.or.jp/shakespeare/english.html

Author: William Shakespeare

Translator: Kazuko Matsuoka

Director: Yoshihiro Kurita

[Niigata]Date: Aug. 22-26

Place: Niigata Ryutopia Noh Theater

[Tokyo]Date: Aug. 28-31

Place: Umewaka No Theater

This last Tuesday, Natasha, Ros, and I attended the opening Noh play for Ryutopia's William Shakespeare- Othello. We had no idea what to expect, but we did know one of the English college Students we spoke too earlier in the year on English Day was in the performance.

The play was AMAZING!

Even though it is long, around 3 hours I would RECOMMEND IT!!! Here in Niigata it cost 5,000 yen and starts at 7 pm. If you can still see it - DO. Even though you more than likely won't understand the actors, you should know the story and the acting was superb - so that alone makes it more than enjoyable! I had a great time and actually wouldn't mind seeing it again!!!

Niigata's Ryutopia Noh Theater

The Cast

What is Noh?
Noh is the oldest existing form of theater...
http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/noh.shtml

Earth Celebration - Sado Island

Earth Celebration

The rich natural splendor of Sado Island sets the stage for the 19th annual Earth Celebration, an international arts festival that seeks an alternative global culture through musical and cultural collaborations with artists from around the world.

http://www.kodo.or.jp/ec/en/index.html


Natasha and her twin doll (ta-tas and all)!
The taraibune, or tub boat, is one of the most unusual inshore fishing craft to be found in Japan. On Sado's Ogi Peninsula, the taraibune remains a viable boat in the rich fishing grounds that exist close inshore. The taraibune are well suited for working the rocky shoreline.
Pam test paddling her Tub boat!











阿波踊り - Awa Odori Sometimes referred to as 'The Dance of Fools'...so figuring we'd fit in quite well...we danced for an hour.

Experiencing "The Panic"

W hat is "The Panic"?
It's that knee-knocking fear some Japanese people get in the presence of a foreigner. Estimates from the 2005 Census show that there are at about 2.5 million of us gaijin running around the place, so chances are your average Japanese person has run into at least a couple in their lifetime.

http://www.theforeigner-japan.com/archives/200604/panic.htm

Only in Japan...

Sanrio the company behind Hello Kitty have taken the craze to another level and created a Hello Kitty figure with a Paris Hilton look.

The soft doll depicts Paris as a white cat and has her trademark blonde hair. The doll is dressed in a pink coat, and even comes complete with a tiny Chihuahua dog, a necessity for any socialite. A whole range of accessories are available for the Hello Kitty doll as well, including handbags, a black ‘hoodie’ and a bow for her hair.

This is just too funny!!!

Thanks for the heads-up Beth!