Pictures from Japanese Puppetry

These pictures were taken from my trip to Shikoku in the south of Japan.
We had a exhibition of Japanese puppetry there.
Each puppet is controlled by three people. One controls the head and right arm
(in Japanese Omozukai), one controls the left arm (hidarizukai), and one controls
the legs (ashizukai).

In this first picture I am on the right controlling the head of the old Mother.

This is a close up of me controling the mothers head.

This is me afterwards being interviewed on stage.

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Typhoon aftermarth

Came through yesterdays Typhoon relatively unscathed (We live in an apartment). It came through
during the night and by the time I had gone to work it had already past.
The good thing that came out of it is that my fly-screens are now all clean but
now the widows are filthy.

昨日颱風が過ぎたで家は大丈夫でした（マンションです）。朝過ぎて仕事に行ったもう過ぎたから
通勤も大丈夫だった。一つのいいことは網戸は全部きれいになったでも窓が
汚くなっちゃった。

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Akiba Festival

These were taken at the Akiba Festival in Chiryu, which I had taken part in.

Carrying the fireworks box. We jump around the city to show our strength.

Close up of me carrying the box into Chiryu Shrine.

Later that night we had a fireworks display. I am near the left in the photo.

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Snow Leopard

Just upgraded to the new snow leopard took me two
days and everything is back to the way it was (did a clean
install wiped the disk)
Not so much as a hiccup.
Except for some minor third party plugins for Safari,
everything is working as smooth as ice.

 Mac OS X 10.6.0 is a recommend for everyone with
a Mac. Intel Mac that is.

 Have a good one

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Japan and Safety

Japan is a rather safe and honest country from my point of view.
Yesterday we went to a theme park and left my iPhone in the car
and left the car unlocked for about three hours. When I realised
that the I left it in the car I went to get it and it was where I left it.

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My Muscles are complaining

I had played tennis on Friday and then today I have played Basketball
so my thigh muscles are really really complaining to me to stop
exercising. But I think I will keep working out tomorrow.

 Also this Friday will be the beginning of 安城(Anjo)City's
七夕祭(Tanabata Festival) The Chinese Valentine's Day.
And on Saturday my local district's Bon Odori (Japanese
Halloween without the Costumes but a lot of dancing.)

 If your in Chiryu or Anjo, please com along and enjoy the fun.

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The Working wounded

I have recently found that my body is getting older. IT is prone to injury and healing is taking a lot longer that it used to.

At the moment my injuries are ligament damage to the left thumb and pulled left hamstring muscle.

I used to be able work these injuries out but now they are getting me down.

Well chat to you more next time till then stay cool and keep living!!!

卒業式

Last Saturday was my daughters graduation from Kindergarten. As of 6th April she will be a full-fledge primary school student.

娘は卒業しました、保育園から。４月6日小学生に成ります。

The Year of the Cow

Hi all been a while.

Have been busy with my own company. I am also running out of money fast.

But I am confident that things are getting brighter and soon.

So to you all positive the recession is not as bad for all of us,
especially for smaller companies who are more versatile to
meet the challenge of the economic downturn.

When you are down, the only way is UP!!!

Cheers everyone

Happy New Year

The year of 2008 is a turning point in our little corner of the Universe it will be the success or failure of humanity.

Chiryu Summer Festival

It has been a couple of weeks since the festival.  Here's a shot of me from  that festival.

I am wearing a traditional Japanese style clothing called yukata (pronounced similar to u-carter).  It's different to a Kimonos it is for summer only and is a lot thinner than a Kimono.

Also my new work is about to begin in earnest so hope things will go well for my new venture.

Take care now

Chiryu Summer Festival

Today is another hot and sultry day here in Chiryu Japan.

The temperature outside is like 36C (97F)

But it should be great for tonight's festival we'll be having in the city.  It's called the Yoitoko Matsuri (Good place festival) celebrating summer and a good, safe city to live in.

There will be Japanese Traditional dances on the streets of Chiryu, many different groups from around the city will compete for the best in dancing, uniform, and just good looks.  I will be leading one of these groups tonight.  My first time after five years of living here in Chiryu.

Should be fun I'll see if I can get some photos taken.

Podcast Industry

Those interested in the podcast industry and other online media, and would like to help or find out more about the industry or about the Association of Podcasters and Online Media Producers please take some time and do the survey linked below.  The survey will give you a lot to think about in terms of what you would like to see in an association that will represent those in the industry.  Those who are just starting or are just amateur producers will probably get a lot out of this as well.

Take the Survey

Update:  Check out what others had to say about the new association and check their blogs and podcasts

Click here

I feel awful!

I have had a bad day yesterday.  All my muscles in the neck are in pain and I just can't move freely.

Hating my job.

This has been a hectic 3 month period and I am beginning to hate my job.  I will be changing jobs once my contract is up.

Just Started a new job and boy do I see a lot of problems in the company.  They are not organised well and the communications lines are not very good.  I think they hired me to sort those things out for them so I'll be working my butt of for the next twelve months.  Keep you guys posted on what is happening.

Happy 2007.  May it be the most prosperous for all.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Hi all thanks for tuning in again.

This week and last week my wife has been staying at her parents
home as is the tradition after giving birth here in Japan.

She gave birth to a boucing baby boy all of 6 pounds.

Carrying the baby in my hands is a wounder beyond all of the known galaxy.

During this time, I have been uder a bit of stress as I have had to do most of
house work in my apartment, the work isn't the stressful part. The stressful
part was trying to find where my wife kept everything. I knew generally where
things were but there were a lot of things I had to find. I was I knew where
things were the stress levels began to drop.

For you husbands out there make sure you know where your wife keeps things
in the kitchen that where you have to do the work around the house you won't
need to stress out about it.

Clear skies and wide smiles
See you in the New Year!!

Hello all. First time at blogging, so it might be a bit boring.
I have finished a long day teaching at school and just feeling
out of it. Then I get home and see two lovely faces and the
tiredness seems to flow away and my vigour returns.

The faces are of my wife and daughter. They are a major
part of my stress relief package.

Each day I will try to write more ways about stress relieving.
If you have any comments or have ideas please share them.

=)
Clear Skies and smiles