karrallak

Observation: Porn in Public

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 05:59:37 GMT

Magazines and newspapers come once again to my mind as last night on the train, not one, but two guys were reading pornographic pages of newspapers... Cannot read so could have been non-related news stories I guess, but the completely naked women spread across the pages were there for all to see...

No shame some people!?

Observation: Rice Fields

Thu, 12 May 2005 03:12:36 GMT

A slight warm feeling came over me as I was driving to the station this morning. Despite what life throws at you, somethings remain constant.
Last year, I watched a crop of rice grow as I ran through fields every other day or so... This year I am too busy to get out as much, but it is still amazing to see the flooded fields like mirrors reflecting the blue sky... And to see the tops of the plants poking through in neat lines.
I hope I will find more time to run through the fields of growing rice. It helps clear the mind.

Rant: Sniffing

Wed, 11 May 2005 15:50:38 GMT

Rant/Comment: Sniffing. I mean just get a fecking handkerchief… Oh no, you can't… Blowing your nose is considered rude… Now sniffing so deep you snort the gunk back into your throat and swallow it isn't of course and is great in a recycling environment… The thing that *really* disturbs is the frequency of the sniffing… I just cannot do it… If you have a cold or hay fever and your nose is running and no hankie available then fine. The occaisional sniff to draw fluids back, I understand that, but this is a rattling, back of the nose/throat thing that just defies belief. Is it this bad in London on the trains there, that no matter where you stand/sit on a train (rant for another day) you can hear some chap (or chapess which is, I have to sexistly say even more hideous) deep sniffing like a trooper?

Observation: Seasons

Wed, 11 May 2005 15:49:29 GMT

Observation: Seasons and how blindly the Japanese follow them. Today was cold. Not overly so, but just enough to make it worth wearing a coat. You know, like you step outside and think, ooh, a bit chilly I will put a coat on. But no. Not here. It is spring. Coat wearing season is over so I am surrounded by non-coat wearing people who are complaining it is a little cold today, but who look at me like I am a social leper because I am actually wearing a coat? I had 2 people actually say to me today, what are you doing in a coat… To which my answer was, well it's chilly. The response I got back was, yes, isn't it...

First step...

Wed, 11 May 2005 15:48:14 GMT

Well, my first journal entry. Maybe of many, but more than likely not. You know how these things go. By way of introduction, I am a Brit, living in Japan, married to a Japanese girl and actually managing to carve out a decent life for myself, but cultural chameleon I am not so I though it may be amusing/offensive (depending on your slant on things - no pun intended) to give some observations on this truly amazing culture and society.