November Report from Japan 1
Introduction
This November I had wonderful chance to visit Japan. I could meet many wonderful people by lucky coincidences.
Nothing that much happened in Japan . I was sad to hear the death of Minako Honda, famous artist and singer in Japan. She looked so beautiful in TV. Everyone grieved for loss of such a wonderful artist and person.
A sumo wrestler Kotooushuu from Bulgaria became a new Ozeki champion. People say in Japan he is quite handsome, and I must say I agree, his smile has special charm.
Headlines about falsified earthquake tests colored the news, and also the forever issue about Yasukuni shrine and Koizumi. Later November, there was two stabbing of young girls. Very sad and unfortunate events. Gladly it is hard to posses a firearm in Japan. Even katana needs a permission. Unlike in United States. Even though it's not so rare that things like these happen in Japan, always when such news come the entire nation reacts somehow. Japan is a country of collective mind and more importantly, collective heart perhaps.
I could see Hanako Yamada in TV! It seemed there was some kind of arranged meeting with some guy. They went on date to Kasai park and man gave her (sexy!) jewelry made of sea shells. Hanako's voice is so beautiful and cute, and her appearance is so interesting. If you ask me, I think she is quite pretty too!
This season is interesting what comes to movies. Takeshi Kitano's movie "TAKESHI's" was very interesting experience. It tells about man called Kitano who starts to hallucinate about becoming a movie idol.
Movie called Memoirs of Geisha, based on Arthur Golden's novel is largely promoted in Japanese theaters. It will be interesting to see. The actress is actually Chinese, Ziyi Zhang. Ken Watanabe looks so handsome as usual. In Japanese, its' called "Sayuri". See Sayuri in IMDB.
This December is interesting month because it's month of return of a famous Gyudon in Japanese fast food restaurant called Yoshinoya.
Ay074 Helsinki - Tokyo
This time, I boarded Finnair flight Ay074 which took me directly to Narita Airport. The flight took only about 9 hours from here in Finland. As I expected, food was pretty OK in the flight. It was curry chicken and some Japanese cold soba noodles. I'm always little taken a back that the Finnish flight attendants or stuerts cannot really speak proper Japanese, at least they don't use it, even a little. I think it wouldn't take so long time for them to study it. Wouldn't it create extra benefit for the company?
The entertainment wasn't that good. They showed some Disney animation. Then some American sitcoms. Nothing that fascinating. Movie was bad. (On the returning flight, they showed Burt Reynolds movie, and Japanese drama, both something too boring to watch. I don't know where they dig that stuff up!) Gladly I could get some little sleep.
Arrival
I arrived to Narita 2nd of November, early morning. It was much warmer than I expected. In Ueno the temperature was about 22C. I caught a Keisei Skyliner to Ueno where I had meeting at 11.00 a clock with T-chan. Keisei ticket costs about 1800 yen, 800 yen more than the cheapest version of Keisei line. Believe me, you should pay it. Otherwise there is no guarantee that you will never get a seat, plus you can relax.
In Ueno the temperature was about 20 degrees, so hot that I gladly removed my suit jacket. T-chan took me to conveyor belt sushi bar nearby the Ueno station, and it was really delicious. After that, we had coffee at the Starbucks coffee shop. T-chan is independent violin teacher in Tokyo.
