Back in Japan!

Well I had the fine pleasure of going home for a few days and eating lots of beef---but now I'm back in Japan!

I know I have been neglecting this blog for my gleefully hedonistic lifestyle studies, but I will start carrying my camera around more and making more pictures and videos.

For those of you wondering if I'm already in gear again here in Japan, I offer you this one photograph today:

This is me at the 阪急 （はんきゅう） Hankyu Department Store in 西宮　（にしのみや）　Nishinomiya Gardens Mall.

Goin home!

Man I haven't posted anything new in almost a month!

I blame 2 large problems for this:

1.  I don't carry my camera around because it's not small enough to fit in my pocket without looking like I have a gun, or something big and pointy in my pocket.

2.  I haven't done much these past 30 days but take tests and drink.

But I'm going home to visit my family for the Christmas break!  I bought some cool things for you guys!  Even though Japan is a lot less about samurai and swords, and a lot more about sex and alcohol, I managed to find things both appropriate and useful  :D


and to finish this boring post, letting you know I'll be back in the states for 2 weeks, is a pic of some sweet graffiti I came across in 心斎橋 Shinsaibashi in 大阪 Osaka, as well as a funny Engrish sign and a very mysteriously awesome company all from the same area:

Bonus points if you can name the Star Wars character who looks very similar to the character in that graffiti!

Soil and Pimp Sessions

Some friends and I made our way out to Osaka again last week to see Soil and Pimp Sessions live!

Soil and Pimp Sessions is an awesome jazz band that is very original and lively!  I wasn't allowed to take pics or video, but here are some others from the web:

I'll have another Hennessey, and a martini for the lady.

Human Collisions and Weird Subway Man!

So while waiting at Kobe Station today for my friends Buddy and Face to arrive, I noticed that the information screen was displaying that one of the 新幹線 （しんかんせん） shinkansen or "Bullet Train" had been delayed.  The cause is rather well stated.  That's actually the 5th time I have seen this in 2 months...and I'm sure I missed a few:

Poor soul.


Well on a different note, while riding the 海岸線 （かいがんせん） kaigansen "ocean bay line" subway line, I sat down right across from this man, and didn't even notice him until a few moments later.  Buddy and Face were to my left and right:

Sweet dreams...
(yes his zipper was open, I can assure you)

Kyoto Imperial Palace

I went to the Kyoto Imperial Palace last weekend!  I took some pictures and video...but there isn't much content as the Palace is mostly closed off.  You basically just get to see the outer walls, but it's still pretty cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPpteWQ2G5o



Some pics:

Crazy Moth, Monkeys, Jazz and Engrish?

Check out this moth!  Chad, Malia, Buddy, Risa, Face, and I went to Nishinomiya Gardens (a HUGE mall that is very spacious and resembles those in the US) and when we sat outside, I noticed this moth.

I also took some videos about our day, they are below.

In the 阪急 （はんきゅう）hankyuu department store, there was a live Jazz band playing.  Now that's high class!  And if that wasn't enough, there was a live monkey show too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckfiey6rEk8



and a special surprise for you--This was a sign in a store in 梅田 Umeda in 大阪 Osaka:

Halloween!

So I'm still alive!  It was midterm time...and still is so I haven't had many interesting things to talk about.

However!

Halloween should be interesting.  Apparently--in full costume--tons of people just walk around the local inner-city / place-to-be and get drunk.  I will be sure to film and take pictures!

See you then!  (and sorry for the lack of posts recently)


**EDIT**

Here are some sneak peaks of Halloween!