tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-275050902012-01-15T15:56:16.966ZFrom 2005 to 2008, I lived in Toyama, Japan as an English language teacher. This blog is about my life in Japan, travel, and books I found interesting.Richardnoreply@blogger.comBlogger661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-2302938140385685712008-07-15T15:21:00.006+01:002010-01-31T00:12:36.381Z

As my time in Japan draws to a close with more goodbye parties than bowls of noodles at a sumo eating competition, I reflect back on the wonderful time I’ve had here for the last 3 years.Too many memories to remember them all but I’ve got some photos to help jog things along when I get stuck. I haven’t posted any pics online in a while, as I’m still thinking long term about my digital footprint.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-32365728313369166662008-05-29T23:29:00.003+01:002008-05-29T23:37:49.518+01:00

TED - ideas worth spreading. The reading slowed down this month (but nearly finished Atlas Shrugged), and this is pretty much what I have been doing. It’s a series of short lectures and presentations (10-30minutes) from basically all the people who’s books you've read, or want to read. You’ve got Stephen Levitt - Freakonomics, Malcolm Gladwell - Blink, Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion, as

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-11600940367758690042008-05-29T23:27:00.001+01:002008-05-29T23:29:26.550+01:00

A classic piece of American literature about the experiences of the author living simply for a year. It was published in 1854. Here are 5 quotes. You may notice I have already quoted it in the Vagabonding entry.If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.The mass of

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-73994067995005199282008-05-02T04:10:00.000+01:002008-05-02T04:11:25.090+01:00

The 5 steps to photoreading significantly summarized.Prepare - Your purpose and mental statePreview - Survey, trigger words, reading goalsPhotoread - Photofocus, enter state, say affirmations, breathe.Activate - Incubate, probe, super read, dip and mind mapRapid Read - move rapidly through text without stopping.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-23235632568956311212008-05-02T03:57:00.004+01:002008-05-02T04:08:50.460+01:00

Supplementshttp://www.brainquicken.com/ - Tim Ferriss. Before becoming the best selling author of The 4 Hour Work-Week (and my hero), Tim made $10,000 - $40,000 per month on his cognition supplement from 4-16 hour’s work (checking emails and payments). It took a lot longer in the early days but he learned how to automate and outsource.http://www.yogabodynaturals.com/ Lucas Rockwood. Yoga

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-4726921265536052122008-04-30T00:12:00.001+01:002008-04-30T00:13:37.045+01:00

5 steps to take now for a better life from the author of this book and of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.Educate your conscience. Think deeper, and spend more time reading and studying. Personal leadership. Write your personal mission statement.Double the time you spend on important, none urgent tasks. Study, improving communication, getting feedback, preparation, planning, education,

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-55890350499253678302008-04-30T00:10:00.001+01:002008-07-15T15:33:06.313+01:00

5 of my favourite questions from this thought provoking philosophy book that I received from my big sister.Why are all the things the way they are? Metaphysics/GodCan you sincerely want a more equal society while knowingly being wealthy? Politics/EthicsWhat makes me me, and continue to be me? Metaphysics/SelvesMorally, ought you not kill one person to save the lives of others? Ethics/PoliticsWhy

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-54898315611616749232008-04-30T00:09:00.000+01:002008-04-30T00:10:24.576+01:00

5 quotes for long term traveling from this book, which its self includes many quotes.This book views long-term travel not as an escape but as an adventure and a passion - a way of overcoming your fears and living life to the fullest - Rolf Potts, VagabondingMy greatest skill has been to want little - Hendry David Thoreau, WaldenA good traveler has no plan, and is not intent on arriving - Lao-Tzu,

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-3640045945950748482008-04-29T13:47:00.001+01:002008-04-29T13:50:48.217+01:00

5 tips for meeting women from this interesting and funny book about the lives and subculture of “PUAs” (Pick Up Artists).3 second rule. Don’t wait longer than 3 seconds from making first eye contact or seeing a woman you would like to meet before talking to her.Try not to approach directly/head on. Start conversation casually or over your shoulderGive yourself a deadline. Let them know you’ll

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-47299363107891787232008-04-29T13:30:00.005+01:002008-04-29T13:47:41.520+01:00

5 reasons why learning through teaching is so powerfulWhen you know you are going to teach, you learn better. Change your role from learner to teacher. You will learn 90-95% of what you teach.It motivates you to be socially committed to live it. If you think it’s good enough to learn and teach to others, why aren’t you doing it/living it? To learn something but not to do it, is not to learn

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-9264477248706395732008-04-26T08:45:00.002+01:002008-04-26T08:49:21.498+01:00

How much money does it take to be happy? Everyone wants to be happy, right? People have different views on the matter. A lot of wealthy people talk about realising your potential, setting big goals, finding your passion, believing you can do more and then doing it. Examples of this type of person would be Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and the motivational speakers.Next there seems to be the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-82185399325025437742008-03-24T00:54:00.005Z2008-03-29T07:33:39.996Z

Hello and welcome to another episode of Richard’s book blog! This month we will be covering the books from February and March, along with the benefits and drawbacks of audio books.Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant BusinessmanGreat book about the Patagonia outdoor clothing company and the work it does for the environment. Talks about the founder finding his passion in his work

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-51201187977362537822008-02-08T05:20:00.001Z2008-02-12T04:48:28.341Z

Thoughts are things. We are always moving towards our current dominant thought, whether we know it or not. Is your dominant thought something you really want? Let’s make sure.When you’re snowboarding, what do you think about? Staying relaxed or about falling over? If you always say to yourself, “Don’t fall over and hurt yourself” all your subconscious hears is “fall over and hurt yourself”. It

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-32733162028140007172008-02-08T05:11:00.000Z2008-02-08T05:16:34.686Z

The way you talk to yourself, or think to yourself is a determining factor in your overall success and happiness. The quality of questions you ask of yourself is one of the most important steps in taking control of your full potential. Are you asking the right questions? If you say “why can I never come up with good ideas for my team teaching class?” your brain will search for and always find

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-82737998178993481022008-01-16T11:42:00.000Z2008-01-16T11:46:41.477Z

Welcome 2008, and hello to my loyal readers (mum) and bored colleges around Toyama. I’m back in Japan feeling refreshed and relaxed after my 2 week holiday in Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. The holiday with Jose, Jake, Joy and Andrea was great, I’ve posted pictures on flickr and facebook and I’ll be darned if I have to post them here too. The best thing about the trip was the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-79235748684699743702007-12-09T14:21:00.001Z2011-04-12T21:45:16.082+01:00

Since I enjoyed reading last year's November post again, I thought I'd check out last year's December posts too. They were pretty good! I used to fill my blog entries with interesting facts about Japanese culture and relevant quotes from the news. I was a bit like a journalist! I think they were much better back then, so instead of writing any more now, I think you should click on the link

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-51574286551403534582007-12-09T14:08:00.000Z2007-12-09T14:21:22.052Z

Hello, how are you?I'm Super Happy Optimistic Joyful and Prodigious.Or in Japanese it's something like sugoi kampeki subarashi sekiokuteki genki! Just a little rhyme I learned from a teaching seminar 2 weeks ago. We had a language professor come from Tokyo and he gave a very entertaining speech on learning and enjoying the process. He even picked on me a couple of times to help him out on

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-49421198002611269012007-11-25T11:40:00.001Z2007-11-25T11:42:21.494Z

Friday was a holiday here in Japan (Labour Thanksgiving Day), and since it was the day after the American Thanksgiving Day, a great big "pot luck" party was enjoyed at Andrea's house.Of course it was a fantastic success. Roast turkey perhaps being the best thing, and the huge cockroach appearing probably being the worst (for the hostess at least)! In one of my chat's with new ALT James, he

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-12372384041336951932007-11-25T04:35:00.000Z2007-11-25T04:37:24.930Z

Does anyone know how I can put this widget on the left hand side of my page?

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-28881371446066607502007-11-06T14:05:00.000Z2007-11-06T14:11:50.318Z

This Christmas I'll be travelling again. This time to Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia. While Singapore is fully developed and Malaysia not far behind, Cambodia has had a difficult past and listening to my friends experiences who have already been, I wanted to do something before I set off. With this in mind I have started the fund raising of $10,000 with my travel buddies, Jake, Andrea and

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-60426930980568049622007-10-23T13:10:00.000+01:002007-10-23T13:20:37.086+01:00

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Have you read this book? I'm going through it again now for the third time. It's quite a powerful book. I'm stuck on Habit 2 "start with the end in mind", it's difficult to plan your entire life out, but I'm giving it a go. This is turning into Rich's book review site isn't it. I also forgot to mention Victor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning' as one

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-85633759837793962712007-10-16T08:04:00.000+01:002007-10-23T13:10:05.514+01:00

It's been a short while since I lasted posted to this blog and you could be forgiven for thinking I'd given up on it altogether. I some respects, you'd be right. It was a lot easier to write about the new and exciting things being experienced every couple of weeks when I was doing things I thought were new and exciting every couple of weeks.Two things have happened, I've lost some perspective of

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-63373969406452667602007-07-30T13:19:00.000+01:002007-10-17T04:20:06.388+01:00

You may remember about this time last year, I gave a summary of my first year in Japan just before I returned home, so people knew what I had been up to. It had nice little month by month pictures and a little description of what had happened, and the interesting things that I did, saw, or had held in my hand.Well since I'll be back in the Isle of Man and London, I thought it was time for another

Richardnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-66926174145637164092007-06-09T01:15:00.000+01:002007-06-09T01:17:51.376+01:00

Posts have been quite serious lately, so I thought I'd put up a rude video that made me laugh.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-9461365984797464252007-06-05T13:00:00.000+01:002007-06-05T13:16:29.394+01:00

It happened almost by accident. I didn't plan it. I don't know what happened. I just stopped doing it. I used to do it once or twice every week. I thought, it's not so bad, some of my friends do it much more than me. They're still doing it and having fun. In fact nearly everyone does it, but for several reasons, I seem to have stopped drinking.Well, it's certainly lead to a healthy body and

Richardnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-27730528241934663962007-05-09T13:24:00.000+01:002007-05-09T14:14:35.526+01:00

Hi there!I have just returned from my Golden Week travels around Japan, and although it was rather expensive, it was really nice to get out and about and see some new parts of Japan. I went to three cities with similar population sizes to Toyama Ken (where I live) but completely different vibes. I hate to say 'better' vibes, but if you like a lively feel, lots of young people, international

Richardnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-30481146131779963922007-04-15T08:17:00.000+01:002007-04-15T12:51:50.881+01:00

It was quite a lot easier to change the web address of this blog than I thought it would be! Now I just have to make sure all my millions of readers can find it. OK, maybe there aren't millions of readers now, but this blog is going to make up the majority of the "Japan" section in my autobiography in 1o years time. Consider yourself ahead of the pack, and welcome to the future.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-33030437967465151782007-03-28T05:52:00.000+01:002007-03-28T06:13:18.319+01:00

This Sunday, at 9.42am, I awoke, with Jake and Warren who happened to be staying over at my apartment, to the somewhat violent shaking of my house.Earthquake.Less than 80km away, in a prefecture next to Toyama, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake had occur ed. My house shook, picture frames fell over and the walls rocked. It was quite exciting really.Nearer the epicentre nearly 200 were reported injured

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-7942802849292806022007-03-22T13:28:00.000Z2007-03-22T13:38:21.826Z

It's been a fun couple of weeks. Last weekend I had sushi so fresh, the chef was scooping it out of a tank and carving it up in front of me. Then last Tuesday a graduating student (graduation day was March 1st) came to school with his new motor bike and practically forced me to drive it round the car park. My first motor bike driving experience, and it was easier than I thought. On Wednesday

Richardnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-79497361980306617992007-02-23T00:43:00.000Z2007-02-23T01:32:52.626Z

Last weekend I saw the future, and it was my dick in a box.The industrial age is over and the information age is upon us. Every 500 hundred years mankind goes through these changes. In 1492 Columbus discovered the Americas and marked the start the Industrial Age. In 1989 the Berlin wall came down and marked the start the Information Age. In 2007 we sat around at a house party, watching a friends

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-14599289517742961732007-02-14T02:43:00.001Z2009-07-31T16:21:05.090+01:00

Probably it's better to write more than write less in a blog. At least it gives you a record of how bored you were on any given day. And who knows, my subconscious mind should kick in at any point and I'll start writing about what I really want to be writing about.The decision to stay in Japan another year was not an easy one (see! Thank you, subconscious). It's going to be nice living a comfy,

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-40279546638746259742007-02-13T12:24:00.000Z2007-02-14T02:28:05.591Z

The empire is slowly taking shape, with the first in-profit sale of Japanese chocolate on eBay. I tell you, I'm going places. And not just chocolate related places.I'm now convinced I'm going to be a success. I think I should be wording that in the present tense (i.e. I am a success), to manifest it properly, but I don't know a lot about subconscious auto-suggestion, yet.Podcasts I am currently

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-21057395493280850132007-02-07T03:07:00.000Z2007-02-14T02:43:47.464Z

I just ate octopus, squid, salmon, tuna, egg, mashed tuna and eel for lunch. By choice. I went to the super market and bought it. I love it.ARRRHGHGH!!!1Sometimes I fucking hate blogs. I have spent about about an hour on this stupid Japanese computer trying to rotate that bloody picture of my Sushi. I was in such a good mood but what a waste of time! I really should put more effort into learning

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-39141297125037671702007-01-22T12:33:00.000Z2007-01-22T12:36:41.499Z

Australia was great.Staying in Japan another year.Sorry, writer's block.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-78646240339191417202006-12-20T02:11:00.000Z2006-12-20T02:39:22.362Z

This will probably be the last entry for a month or so, because I'm off to Australia tomorrow. How exciting! I'll be visiting Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney and seeing some long lost cousins who reside in that part of the world, and are bound to show me a good time.There has still been no decision on the re-contracting front, and I think I'll wait until my birthday until I commit. There's an old

Richardnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-22116668298820133692006-12-05T06:47:00.000Z2006-12-05T13:52:40.949Z

These last two weeks have seen my second Thanksgiving in Japan, my second school teachers naked onsen party, my second round of Mid-year seminars, and my second attempt to buy everyone Christmas presents I can afford to send home.So that's the repetitious life of the second year ALT in Japan. This weekend will be my Second JET Christmas party, then my second Christmas away from home, then my

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1488751780736770292006-11-21T13:21:00.000Z2006-11-21T14:10:54.590Z

Another two weeks have passed and another two weekends with that. Last weekend was a boys weekend in Tokyo. Jake, Max and I, and our respective Tokyo friends had a blast in cool clubs and cheap bars. The weekend was such a whirlwind tour I didn't even take a single picture. So just imagine drunk, sweaty and grinning on a dance floor instead. On Sunday we heard there was to be an international

Richardnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1162820664233590342006-11-06T12:55:00.000Z2007-01-23T00:38:24.895Z

I haven't had much time for a blog entry recently, but I decided a bad entry was better than no entry at all, so here we are. No jokes, no anecdotes, just info. To fill you in on the fun stuff first, the Halloween JET party was a blast. Best party ever. I think the main reason I loved it was because everyone loved my costume. I didn't know being a sumo was so much fun! And there I was thinking it

Richardnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1161611754738731522006-10-23T14:09:00.000+01:002006-10-24T13:50:07.680+01:00

As usual for a Friday night, I was surrounded by beautiful ladies.I attended my first Toyama University party and was pleasantly surprised to find many of the Japanese students could speak English. Of course, like any good foreigner in Japan, I spent most of the night speaking to other foreigners anyway.It was a great night, and being so far away from my mountain side home, a kind caring

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1161608950236509982006-10-23T13:45:00.000+01:002006-10-24T12:30:26.460+01:00

On a sunny morning not two weeks ago, several hundred people decided to meet up and run in circles around two buildings, for several hours. I was one of these people. The event was the Toyama Team Marathon, and as part of a 6-man strong team, I ran.I say 6-man strong team, but we were neither all men nor particularly strong, and were in fact not only beaten by the other two competing JET teams,

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1160660456414669722006-10-12T13:10:00.000+01:002006-10-18T13:36:56.096+01:00

After realising what a failure I was last month, I have had to look else where for inspiration. Oh Lord, if the Hoff can get to number 3 in the UK singles charts with that cheesy Jump In My Car song I posted below, then surely I can achieve something too.And low, the Lord did cometh to me and gaveth me the strength to beat all the other non-Japanese people in the Namirikawa 10km run that I did

Richardnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1159797213524056312006-10-02T13:45:00.000+01:002006-10-02T14:53:41.550+01:00

It's like someone turned off the lights on Japan. As of yesterday, it's cool, dark and raining. Happy October. At least I can console myself with the fact that I did so well on my September goals.Exercise at least 3 times a week? No, but I did injure myself trying to make up for missed sessions.Sell something on ebay? No, but I did buy some rubbish to sell and it's sitting in my

Richardnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1159193087718344772006-09-25T12:04:00.000+01:002006-09-25T15:10:07.316+01:00

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post, but don't think it's because I've been busy. I haven’t. It’s because going into the second year of JET hasn't been like into the first. You've changed. Most people won't notice, but deep down you're not as stimulated or as tolerant of Japan and it's proud beautiful people. You probably won't even notice.Anyway as I saying, every little slitty

Richardnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1157634326002557522006-09-07T13:41:00.000+01:002006-09-07T14:10:28.300+01:00

Pete, Crags and JJ, this one's for you.I dedicate this entry to my hard working friends at home. Were it not for them, I would still be driving round Japan illegally, like I had been doing since my international driving license ran out on July 25th.When an international license runs out, the done thing is to take your country's license in and they give you a nice Japanese one. Folks from the US

Richardnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1157099841202323422006-09-01T09:15:00.000+01:002006-09-01T12:48:05.513+01:00

As a new year starts in Japan, so does a new Rich. A better Rich. A more goal orientated Rich. So, on the advice from wise old Dad and entrepreneur in-the-making Brother , I have decided to set more goals. Lets see what we can come up with for September, shall we?Exercise at least 3 times every week (healthy).Sell something on eBay to kick start my entrepreneurial system (weathly).Read at

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1156168828620757222006-08-21T13:26:00.000+01:002006-08-27T11:58:05.526+01:00

Last week I returned home for the first time in a year. As soon as touched down in London I noticed two things. Fat English people and girls with big tits. I guess you can't have one with out the other, can you. Take a look around you now, how many fat people can you see? Here, now, in the school staff room, I can see 1 slightly overweight man from about 20 people. Anyway, it just

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1154333208140841402006-07-31T08:58:00.000+01:002006-08-21T13:26:44.820+01:00

That's a large dragon fly that is.Me on the cover of a news publicationThat's a hell of a whale tailLook closely and you can see the poo smiling and waving at you.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1154332159268247262006-07-31T08:20:00.000+01:002006-08-02T01:29:36.400+01:00

2,600 The number of new JETs that arrived in Japan this week.44 The number of countries that JETs come from.0 The number of hours any JET will work this month.With that, I bring you a collection of what the Japanese like to think is English, but is actually called Engrish. I just remembered I had these on my camera phone.Your favourite section in the video shop.The small print reads :Turn round

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1153871029152254272006-07-26T00:42:00.000+01:002006-07-26T00:46:20.030+01:00

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1153748037280655122006-07-24T14:12:00.000+01:002006-07-24T14:35:54.563+01:00

This weekend was the leavers goodbye fairway bon voyage happy travelling hope-I-see-you-again-soon -but-probably-never-will goodbye farewell goodbye party at Bananas in Uozu. Much like any other leavers goodbye farewell party I suppose, except this one had Togas. Finally Mark and I manage to wear something different.Much to everyone’s amusement, I looked like an extra in a gay roman porno. It

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1153654199953207352006-07-23T12:29:00.000+01:002006-07-23T15:43:56.156+01:00

There's nothing more annoying than reading about some one's life changing happiness found on JET. This was made obvious to me by a resent publication, something called "The Jet Journal: 20 years of the JET program".This large 145 page document was sent out to all current JETs, and was a collection of thoughts about how useful and internationalising JET is. What a waste of paper. I had the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1152241283368407972006-07-07T03:10:00.000+01:002006-07-14T15:43:41.386+01:00

It's coming home.It's coming home.It's comingRichard's coming home!That's right. I'll be back for a holiday from the 6th August to the 17th.Since I haven't seen you in over a year, here's a summary of my life in Japan on JET. Should help put things in perspective.August: Arrive in Toyama, Japan. Where's that? That's what we all thought. It doesn't matter anyway. Why? Because the only Japanese

Richardnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1151933253632255732006-07-03T14:05:00.000+01:002006-07-10T14:52:28.173+01:00

Two weeks ago there was a beach party. The first of the year. Imagine the scene. 23 degrees, gentle breeze, sun high in the sky, drinks and food a plenty. The beach wasn't perfect but we managed some frisbee, and even some swimming. It was lovely, until the sun went down. That's when we discovered that everyone from the UK has been brainwashed.Light at arms length. Stand well back once

Richardnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1151246008365437742006-06-25T15:14:00.000+01:002006-07-07T01:05:15.943+01:00

This week - an Asian sub genre action film you've never heard of called... Mission Impossible: III. Actually not going to go into too much detail about Tom's latest adventure, but it's fair to say it was wicked mission impossible film, exciting, explosive and better than Poseidon. For an action film 4.5 out of 5.Now as far as actual Asian movies go, I saw the final part of Korean director's

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1151244854309969482006-06-25T15:03:00.000+01:002006-06-25T15:14:48.026+01:00

My apartment's a mess tonight. Why is my apartment's bamboo floorling crunchy to walk on tonight? It's because it's less important and easier to write this blog complaining about it than to actually clean it. Make structured procrastination work for you, today!PS yes I do take my shoes off before coming into the flat, and I do have to change to indoor shoes when I get to school and yes, at one

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1150899767241627182006-06-21T14:17:00.000+01:002006-06-25T14:06:52.166+01:00

You may have seen the video below and be wondering a bit about a Japanese sports day. Or maybe you don't give a damn. I don't care what you think, I'm going to tell you about it anyway. You remember sports day at school? 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, long jump, high jump, maybe even javalin and discus. Forget all that. Individal games are out, it's all about the group.What team games,

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1150895838436389792006-06-21T13:21:00.000+01:002006-06-25T13:56:44.723+01:00

Obviously I was up to no good this weekend. Use your imagination. Here's a picture to summarise. Notice Mark and I are wearing exactly the same clothes as we were in the Tokyo photo below. Must be our favourite outfits!Actually I wasn't even drunk this weekend and was home in bed by 2am. Another win for healthy Rich!

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1150779329139805162006-06-20T05:17:00.000+01:002006-06-20T05:56:59.626+01:00

I was thinking, what should a foreigner living in Japan hope to achieve in two years? Obviously Japanese speaking ability is something one should come away with. How about reading?Did you know there are 3 Alphabets in Japanese? More accurately the Japanese language is written with a combination of three different types of glyphs: Chinese characters (called kanji), and two syllabic scripts,

Richardnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1150776962735531772006-06-20T05:10:00.000+01:002006-06-20T05:17:10.046+01:00

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1150438918064465282006-06-16T07:21:00.000+01:002006-06-16T07:21:58.073+01:00

The fact that you are reading this means that you know I'm in Japan. World economic superpower, home to 127 million people, GDP of nearly $4 trillion, home to some of the most technologically advanced automotive companies in the world, and what do I have to say about this? It's all rubbish.I'm going to look into buying a car with a 600cc engine. That's 32cc larger than a pint of milk. It would be

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1150379781655261002006-06-15T14:53:00.000+01:002006-06-20T06:55:22.636+01:00

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1150080898324305242006-06-12T03:14:00.000+01:002006-06-12T14:28:32.416+01:00

An idea that just came to me from writing an email was perhaps I could give you an insight into the east Asian film market with a bi-weekly (does that me twice a week or once every two weeks?) critique on the latest subversive underground Asian gore fests and so on.Lets start with Poseidon. $150 million Hollywood "blockbuster". And let me be clear, I only went to see this because a) M I:3 isn't

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1149868542265632722006-06-09T16:24:00.000+01:002006-06-12T05:46:36.496+01:00

Well I've been fairly slack on keeping this thing up to date. I put that down to the fact that no one is reading it. Anyway I have been newly inspired to keep in touch after recent events in Tokyo.The three days of at beginning of this week was a Recontracting Conference in Tokyo for Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme. Basically all the people

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1147673325175331782006-05-15T07:01:00.000+01:002006-05-15T07:08:45.176+01:00

This weekend was the big disco do. Shaved some comedy facial hair for the event. The chap on my right, Geoff, used marker pen for much the same effect. Except he's not sitting in his staff room right now with a slightly strange moutache. Not to worry. Nobody said anything.. Sometimes I think I could walk into the staff room with an alligator on my head and nobody would say anything about it.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1147235992904041322006-05-10T05:36:00.000+01:002006-05-15T07:01:51.166+01:00

Hey!The warm weather has arrived and we're in that magical period when we don't need to use heaters or air con. It's great, but rumours say it won't last, and that June is the start of the rainy season :(

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27505090.post-1146713243533604552006-05-04T04:12:00.002+01:002011-04-12T21:43:11.291+01:00

I just got back from a trip to Osaka and Nara. Osaka for shopping and Nara for culture. Mind you the fashion culture of Osaka was amazing, more crazy than Tokyo I'd say. Also randomly saw the Emperor's second son in Nara. His wife is pregnant, and if it's a boy, he'll be the next Emperor (i think)!

Richardnoreply@blogger.com1