television - the great Japanese paradox

I want to write something about TV Japanese style...I don't know where to start.....

take last night for example. I had the remote hehehe so, as you do, did a bit of surfing. Quite a surreal experience actually. First of all I looked for anything I could understand. All I came up with was a Fox broadcast of America's Next Top Model. I could understand the language and that's all I could understand. Moving on, a Japanese version of Top Gear..now this is where it gets a bit surreal...One of the hosts is an Italian speaking very fluent Japanese (I think). They are reviewing top of the line Audi, Maserati, but you should see the clothes the Japanese Guys are wearing. I can't explain. You have to see it. If you can imagine an old neck to knee striped swimsuit, with bow tie and odd hat that's fairly close.
Next was a Swiss review of a Japanese author's latest tome...some in English some in Swedish and some in Japanese. Phew. Lets have another look at A N T M. No, not any better..quite sad actually. Is it just me?

The great Japanese paradox.

In general, apart from the news, all shows seem to have an element of silliness about them. A sort of unsophistication which is also typified by the 'cuteness' factor that pervades all Japanese packaging and advertising. This is at odds with the seriousness of the collective Japanese psyche. Long hours at work - not much holiday or leisure time. Or leisure space for that matter. Perhaps Japanese television provides the outlet for people to let go and unwind. Even considering this, the cartoonishness (new word - hope you like it) of the average show I find a bit hard to stick with. Then again, I am the master of boring TV. I rarely do commercial TV at home so perhaps I am too biased. See what you think..I was going to put a link here to funny Japanese commercials but there are just too many to choose from. YouTube them yourself. They are gold. Point is even 'normal' shows seem to have this crazy element. Maybe it's just another another gift America has given Japan apart from Baseball, KFC, Macca's, Subway and America's Next Top Model. Pity, I prefer the more solemn Japan, it's much more interesting.

spot the difference

can you spot the difference between the couple on the left and the same couple on the right?

03 OCT 2011

04 OCT 2011

Answer -  the couple on the right are married.

Black Jute string

Anyone have any idea where to buy black Jute string for tying up plants etc? Been to every ￥100 shop and big garden shop..can buy hundreds of balls of white, green, pink, yellow but no black! Huh?

shopping on a Sunday

Just back from shopping in Yamoto Sunday afternoon. Bad idea.
Kinda like when your trying to leave a big event in your car like a show or international sport match etc.
The din of callers screaching how welcome you are thanks for coming and so on is just as deafening as above events. Ok, ok, bit of poetic license there but with the CROWDS and hustle and bustle you get the idea. Yup - bad idea.

what we could learn - making life easy

Often you see people wearing face masks. It's not because the air is polluted (even Tokyo does not appear different from Sydney on that respect?). At the inkling of a cough or runny nose, people tend to mask up to help stop spreading bugs. Now there's an idea!!!! Nah, wouldn't work in our self-concious undifferentiated society. unless everyone else did it. Or we could wear 'brand name' masks...how about billabong and quicksilver get into the health business?

what we could learn - grieving and rituals

Yesterday we visited an Aunt's grave. Each month family members visit their relatives graves to clean them, replace flowers and burn incense. This tradition no doubt helps people with the grieving process and because of the ritualisation, helps keep families bonded. We could learn from this. I will be visiting my Grandparents grave with Yuki when we return. Something I haven't ever done since their death and through the stuff I've had to work through recognise it's something I need to do. Maybe each year rather than each month though...

restaurant plug -

this place has earned 5 stars from us.

Exceptional service -  even by Japanese standards which are very high.

Fantastic food - who would have thought in the middle of a town abounding with Japanese restaurants you would find such an authentic italian place food-wise. Although the menu's and all signs etc are only in Japanese - I don't think there are many Italian clientelle.

It has only been open 3 months and we certainly hope it will be here for many more. We intend coming back, if not for our second anniversary perhaps our third. We were actually looking for an italian place to celebrate our first year of being together, and nearly gave up and moved onto next town when the Italian flag allerted us to Trattoria Palazzo Adriano's existence in a quiet, roomy place upstairs and off the street.

The two Japanese Woman in the photo's are the owners and although they don't speak english they certainly know how to run a restaurant. We wanted for nothing, yet service was not intrusive. It was a special meal for us - I'm sure they were wondering why there was so tears during such a happy dinner.

If your in Japan, please go there. Tell them Dave san and Yuki san sent you.

other pics..including the happy couple....Trattoria Palazzo Adriano

http://www.palazzoadriano.jp   don't be put of by japenglish translation if you translate page..the food is supurb.