First Steps

Even little acorns grow into big oak trees. The danger is in looking at the oak tree looming above you, and thinking, "I can't be that".

At the risk of being trite (and cliched), I have to say, you gotta start somewhere.

Last weekend, a friend climbed Mt. Fuji. Not unusual - except he swore he would never do it; and, standing in the shadow of the volcano, it is easy to become discouraged. But he climbed it.

Another friend also climbed to the top last weekend, but that is no great feat for her. Her accomplishment is that she started her own blog and even registered a domain name - until that point, she had no clue how to navigate her way around html/ blogs/ websites. Her blog now has two posts, and I highly recommend a visit, as she is an experienced photographer. You can find her at www.alyssaconway.blogspot.com. I will post her professional photography website url as soon as it is up and running!

And, one more small achievment - I submitted my application (and paid the 5, 500 yen) for Level 2 of the Nihongo Noryoku Shiken (Japanese Level Proficiency Test) to be held on December 4th.

Like I said, we all gotta start somewhere.

Useful Links in Japan

I mentioned several months ago that the internet has greatly enhanced our lives as ex-pats here in Japan - we have greater access to things, such as imported foods and information.

I'm listing a few useful links here, which people in Japan or visitors to Japan might find useful:

Books

Amazon Japan (with a pretty good English version)

Infinity Books - an online used English book store in Japan (English)

Food

The Flying Pig - this company allows you to shop online at Costco (via The Flying Pig - English)

Ambika Japan - great Indian food, online, in Japan (English)

Allied Thai - great Thai food, online, in Japan (Japanese only)

Yamaya - order wine online (Japanese only)

Village Cellars - order wine via their catalog (Bilingual)

Travel

Japan National Tourist Organization - a lot of information for visitors to Japan (English)

Japan Inn Group - a wide variety of affordable Japanese inns throughout Japan (English)

News

Japan Today - has reader comments (English)

NHK - very up-to-date (English)

Monkeys in Nagano

Brian and I drove up to Nagano on the weekend to camp in the mountains and then ride downhill (DH) at Fujimi. We come to this area often, and so had already scoped out some prime camping places, one of which is tucked into a beautiful valley and completely unpeopled. We set up camp about mid-morning on Saturday, and then hiked up an old dirt road, which is closed to cars. The road winds up this valley:




The road was most likely built to service the construction of this dam back in 1979:



Once we got to the top of the dam, we had a full view of the valley and the river - which is why we got to see a troop of monkeys who came out of the woods to "play":



This was one of the few times we've seen wildlife while we had the camera handy!

Awa Odori photos and video

Brian and I are simply enjoying the summer - hot and humid with lots of cold beer, great festivals and mountain biking! I have also been making an effort to learn more about my camera and picture-taking in general.

At the Awa Odori last weekend, we used the movie mode on my Panasonic Lumix DMZ to take some video clips of the dancing. I had a lot of fun playing with the video clips and turning them into a short video, which you can see here.

There are also more photos of the festival that I finally put into a web album, and that can be found here.

Important note to my Firefox friends: I have not yet found suitable software for making slideshows that will be accessible via a non-IE browser, but I will spend more time looking around and I will change the format!

Piney Lives!

A few months ago, Brian decided to plant a pineapple top, hoping it would grow into a healthy plant. It was a great idea, but we had left the pineapple top sitting on our counter for about a week before we got around to planting it, and it had a lot of brown, dying "leaves". It didn't look like it would survive, but we planted it anyway. Over the past month or so Piney had gotten drier- looking and, well, rather dead-looking. Brian even had to acknowledge the fact that Piney was gone, and he offered to let me have Piney's pot for another plant.

Well - the strong typhoon winds today prompted me to bring Piney inside (more so that the pot wouldn't tip and spill earth over my balcony than out of any concern for poor, defeated Piney).

However, imagine my surprise when I saw a new pineapple plant growing, bright green and healthy!

Sometimes, there are second chances!

Piney Junior

SPAM

No - not the corned beef thing.

I've noticed a rash of spam in the comments section of this and other blogs in the last three days or so.

In an effort to hamper further spam and keep the spammers from basically hijacking our blog, I have added one more step to posting comments - word verification. This will require anyone who wants to leave a comment to type in the word that appears at the bottom right of the screen.

It should be easy, and we hope it will not deter any genuine comment-posters while not allowing any spam to get through.

It's Not the Heat..

...it's the humidity.

That was a frequent statement of my mother's when she was visiting me in Japan last year. And she would be right, of course - the 34 degree heat wouldn't be quite so ...hot if it weren't for the 90% humidity that goes along with it.

I have become acclimatized to the weather, and also to the sunrise and sunset - the sun rises very early in Japan; though the days have begun getting shorter again, the sky is still light by 4:45 a.m., which means getting out before the heat has time to take hold on the day is easy. I went for a ride yesterday morning and a run this morning- meeting joggers, dogwalkers and other morning people along the way.

Seeing other people out so early in the morning indicates that this is the way that they, too, overcome the limitations of the heat. Our environments offer balance - here, in summer the sun rises early and compensates for the humidity; in winter, the days are very short but the weather is mild and affords some of the clearest air with great visibility. In Montreal, the summer is short but the days are long - the sun doesn't set until nearly 9 p.m. In winter...well, ok. I am at a loss there. There is no compensation for the Canadian winter...

A Matter of Perception

One of the things I like about life here in rural Japan is the quiet awareness that the people tend to demonstrate- everything is deserving of attention, and attention is duly given.

A new finding suggests that people of Asian cultures have a perception of things different to peoples of western cultures.

Say it ain't so?

Japan Level Proficiency Test

Every year students of Japanese can write the official Japanese Language Proficiency Test, either in Japan or overseas. Naturally, I will be writing the test here, in Japan. Likely even in Shizuoka prefecture this year.

Being held on December 4th, 2005, the test is available in four levels with level 4 (yon qyu) being the easiest. I can attest - level 4 is pretty easy, especially if you've lived in Japan or are a dedicated student (hint: I am not a dedicated student).

Three years ago in December, I wrote the level 3 (san qyu) test and passed. It was just a little more difficult than level 4, and I will admit that, though I studied somewhat, I was not very focused. I had, at that point, however, been living in Japan for five years.

This year - my year seven - I am going to attempt level 2, which is three times more difficult than level 3. I picked up the application form at the bookstore after work tonight and am prepared to spend Sunday, December 4th, locked in a room writing a test for six hours.

Will I pass? Not likely. Not at all likely. After my years of laziness I doubt whether I could even pass level 3 again.

So why write the test? Good question. For the most part, I study the language because I enjoy the language; more than that even - I savour how the kanji holds meaning, and long to read the magic that famous Japanese authors have conjured using the subtle innuendos of the image of a word that conveys so much more...I love the language, and I don't need a written test, which is much like a math test - memory-based and devoid of insight. But I want to write the test for the fun of it, and I know that I will learn something in the process.

So - the countdown has begun: 2 months and 12 days...

Maybe I had better open a book:-)

Awa Odori in Susono

Summer in Japan is synonymous with outdoor festivals, where people gather to watch dances or other events, eat snacks such as tako-yaki from the food stands, and drink a beer with friends.

On Saturday, our own little town had its summer festival - the Awa Odori. This is a dance that is native to Tokushima prefecture but was brought to Susono years ago (more information on the Awa Odori can be found here).

Brian and I went to the festival and spent several hours walking around, drinking beer and watching the dancers.

A dancer in Susono, before the sun set.


More Awa-odori performers - between dances.


A tako-yaki (grilled octopus) stand - these and other snacks are an integral part of any summer festival.


Another food stand - this one is selling yaki-tori (grilled chicken kebabs) and other treats.


Notice the pachinko parlor in the background.


This picture shows just how crowded our very small city can actually be.

Goodbye old friend..

With Tracy's new bike (see below) the parking problem in the apartment was becoming bothersome. This was alleviated somewhat by the sale last night of my Cannondale. The Cannondale was a Caad4 frame (very light, stiff, expensive) with full XTR group components. I bought it in 2000 through an on-line classified ad at mtbr.com, from a professor in Indiana who owned it for about a year.

During my time with the bike, I converted it to disk brakes, then swapped out the Headshock for a 100mm travel fork, and ultimately stripped it down into a singlespeed. I thoroughly enjoyed the bike in every configuration, but it couldn't make the jump to the next level (and thus achieve perfect enlightenment): it isn't convertible to a 29'er.

A friend had recently announced his interest in Cannondale hardtails at a dinner party, and being a taller guy, the match was made. Shimizu-san's interest though is in light, stiff, racing hardtails, so I converted the bike into this form for sale:





(Notice how the color changes from green to purple? It also can shimmer gold with the right light... It's DuPont's Chromaleen Purplusion.. Or Purpleen Chromalusion?)

Shimizu-san took delivery last night, and promises to ride everyday. Gambatte!

Baby, You Rock my World

I love Japan with a passion so fierce it sometimes seems to cause entire buildings to sway; but today we had an earthquake that caused entire cities to sway and buildings to crumble - despite this, I still love my adopted country intensely.

In the latest quake (just before noon today, while I was caught up in a business meeting) 52 people were injured as reported so far on NHK online (in English!).

The epicenter of the quake was off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo and even further from where we live (see the map below). Despite the distance and the fact that the epicenter was off-shore, we felt our office building sway from side to side, rather gently, but still disconcertingly. While the building waved, I said to my British colleague, very calmly, "I am not worried - I watch the Japanese staff and just do what they do". Looking over my shoulder, he said, "Well, they are hiding under the desks". He wasn't joking.

It was also interesting to see a Canadian blogger post about the earthquake almost immediately after its occurance; she kindly included a link to this seismic map - very interesting.

Well - just another day in Paradise!

More Photos and a Video

We have updated the Japan Rider homepage again - you can find some more photo albums and also another little video that we've made.

Broken Turner

On another note:

Our friend, who's been riding a Turner downhill bike for a couple of seasons now, had to forcefully retire the bike last week when yet another problem occurred...

Recovering from Reader's Block

I think I have finally recovered from six months (or more) of reader's block. For non-readers out there, "Reader's Block" may not sound like a serious condition, but in fact it can be an excruciating ordeal. Even having recovered, we who have suffered continue to live in fear of a recurrence of Reader's Block.

Here's what I did:

• If the book wasn't interesting, I put it down and later gave it away. I have long ago gotten over the guilt of starting a book and not finishing it - life is far to short to spend time plodding through some book, even if all critics love it.
• I read magazines instead - short articles were better suited to my shortened attention span.
• I branched out and tried reading things in different genres, including some frivolous novels by Terry Pratchett!
• I gave up reading altogether for a brief period of time.
• I did crossword puzzles.
• I rode my bike.
• I read online help sources, such as this article found in the archives of Bookslut.
• Sometimes, you just have to find the magic book: I broke reader's block completely when I became engrossed in and enchanted by the 1995 Pulitzer Prize winning The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields.

And now I am back in my usual reading frenzy. Life is good.

Japan in Black and White

We're back from some downhilling in Nagano prefecture. It was a lot of fun and we decamped before the hard rains hit (mostly).

We spent one night camping in Yamanashi - just next to Nagano - with our friends Chris and Wendy. We also spent some time playing with my camera's black and white settings. Here are a few pics:

Yamanashi mountains in the morning mist


Brian in the morning


Chris and Wendy over morning coffee


Wendy's Santa Cruz Chameleon SS in monochrome


Advertisement for Asahi Beer?


Brian and Tracy's downhill bikes, ready for more!

Camping and biking around Shimada

Brian and I headed out straigt after work on Friday to pick up my new Rig at the bike shop in Shimada, and then spend a weekend riding and camping.

Here's me - still in work clothes -and Naruoka-san (the bike shop manager/owner) at Naruoka cycles in Shimada, as I pick up my bike.


My new rig at the start of it's first ride - we rode down along the Ooi-gawa river to the Pacific ocean. We did 40km round trip for a test ride and stopped to tweak the bike along the way (you may also notice that I've already changed the stem).


Horai Bashi (bridge) crossing the Ooi-gawa in Shimada - supposed to be the longest wooden bridge in the world and recognized by Guinness. Here's more info about it.


We camped in Naka-Kawane, about 20km up-river from Shimada. The map below shows where we camped for a few nights (follow the black arrow to the red dot). Also - notice where north is!


Brian and his Rig at trailhead where we hiked (not biked) to a waterfall.


And now we are off again - we have restocked and packed up our camping gear, along with our downhill bikes, and are heading to Fujimi today.

On the Road Again

A few updates:

Last night:

• Brian sold his Cannondale (CAAD4, F1000)
• We had pizza, beer and wine with our friend, neighbor and riding buddy

This morning:

• We packed up the Pajero (a Mitsubishi SUV) with all gear necessary for riding and camping

Tonight:

• Straight after work we will be on the road to Naruoka Cycle in Shimada city, where I will pick up my new Gary Fisher Rig.

After that, we begin our vacation and the world, as they say, is our oyster.

Japan Rider Homepage

Though we haven't made any movies recently, we have put up some photo slideshows at the Japan Rider homepage. Just click on the Photo Albums button on the right, then scroll down to select the album you'd like to view.

You may also notice that we have once again changed the Japan Rider page design - let us know if you like the new photo format and the new page layout - we rather like it, but would welcome any input.

By the way - the slideshows were made very easily with XP Powertools - way cool.

Time again

I have given up trying to control Time or even trying to keep up with it. Just turn around, and another day/week/month/year has gone.

Brian and I have just re-established our routine after our July vacation - and we are about to be thrown out of whack again as yet another summer holiday is upon us. August brings with it the nation-wide week-long holiday called Obon.

We do not have any real plans, but hope to get away to do some riding and camping and picture-taking.

Oh, yeah. And I certainly plan to ride my new Rig, which I will be collecting from my LBS tomorrow night.

2nd Run

You may have heard me mention my good friend, Denis, who has undergone a metamorphosis through running; I also have several friends here in Japan who are runners rather than bikers.

While in Tennessee, having been bike (and exercise) free for a while, I bought a pair of running shoes (at least, the label on the box says "Running Shoes") and went for my first run ever. The terrain was paved but steeply hilly. I jogged/walked/speedwalked/walked for about half an hour, and felt great. The next day, my legs were killing me!

This morning, about two weeks after my last jog, I went for a half-hour run with a friend here in Susono - more slow running than walking this time. The terrain was also paved, but much less steep - it was a great run, and provided a change of pace from my usual morning ride.

I believe that we all need variety and change in order to keep what we love in perspective. That holds true, I would say, for many things in our lives, including our relationships. Time away from your partner or children or best friend, doing something that belongs to you as an individual and not "you" as a couple/group, will allow you to appreciate your relationships that much more.

Running will not kill my love of riding, but will, if anything, heighten it simply because now I have something that I don't love as much as riding. There can be no white without black.