365 DAYS IN JAPAN

New Gallery

2007-10-07T19:24:00.001+09:00

Finally it's done. I put my favourite photos of Japan on a new gallery, Don't hesitate to have a look:

http://gallery.anthonychabin.com

Tamagawa, Noborito (Kawasaki-shi)

2007-06-15T20:39:00.000+09:00

We are currently in the rain season but the weather still gives us some great sunny day. The occassion for me to go to Noborito, a small station that I came across when I went to Enoshima and where I wanted to stop. Did it today and took those pictures. No more writing for today.

Sun, Towers and lights

2007-06-14T01:04:00.001+09:00

Few new photos... not really original, there are already a dozen of those kind of photos on my blog and despite the great sun and the warm air (25 degrees) I wasn't so inspired.

On the left, Tokyo town hall and the Tokyo Hyatt hotel on the right where some scenes of the movie "Lost in Translation" were filmed.

New highway.

It wasn't here when I arrived last september.

Poor wretch house behind the huge Hyatt hotel.

Bus stop.

Tokyo Hyatt hotel.

Homeless place.

A homeless playing trumpet in the shade of the governemental tower.

The governemental tower complex, constitued of 2 towers.

Self-portrait #4

New highway exchanger from the Town Hall building observatory.

Cranes.

I should come back in few months and take the same photo.

Shinjuku district lights.

Shinjuku by night.

Osaka and few other pics

2007-06-05T18:58:00.001+09:00

Two weeks ago, Haruka and I went to Osaka for two interviews. We had a quick visit between them.

The Umeda Sky Tower in Osaka.

173 meters high, the building was designed by Hiroshi Hara and finished in 1993.

From underneath.

From the top. The Floating Garden Observatory.

A picture from the top directly inspired by the work of Naoki Honjo. Have a look on her blog, the pictures are amazing: http://blog.so-net.ne.jp/photolog

Fountains near the Umeda Sky tower.

Some towers in Osaka.

A quick cigarette before the light gets green (or blue).

A pigeon enjoying the tranquility of a small park around Ryogoku in the Sumida-Ku.

The Shinkansen. One of the fastest train in the world. Very confortable, always on time, I took it for the first time to go to Osaka. A pleasure.

Sumo in Tokyo, the "guide".

2007-05-25T16:17:00.000+09:00

Last monday I went for the second time watch Sumo but this time, it took place in Tokyo. Every year there are 6 officials tournaments (Basho). Three in Tokyo and the others in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. Only those tournaments can help the wrestlers to upgrade their ranking. The new ranking (called Banzuke in Japanese) is publied after each tournament by the Judges depending on the performance of each figther during the fifteen days of the Basho.
There are mainly 3 groups in the ranking. The maku-uchi (top), the juryo and the makushita (below we have the san-dan me , jo-ni-dan and lastly the jo-no-kuchi). The most followed and interesting is, of course, the maku-uchi which is also divided in 5 ranks:
1. Yokozuna (according to my previous comment... I was totally wrong! It's possible to have several yokozuna in the same time, but he can't lost his rank and then, if he's not good enough, he has to retire.).
2. Ozeki (to hope to be the Yokozuna, a wrestler must first be an ozeki and then win 2 basho in a row, then only he can pretend to be the top wrestler).
3. Sekiwake
4. Komusubi
5. Maegashira
At first sight Sumo doesn't seem that interesting and it's not a really "sexy" sport, but when you get a little bit into it, the rules, the traditions, the fights make it really fascinating.
The following pictures illustrated the main rules of Sumo.

Before each bout the rikishi (wrestlers), is called by the gyoji with a specially trained high-pitched voice. It is the custom for each rikishi to choose a poetic sumo name for himself. Some adopt a ame derived from the name of their sumo master or their place of birh. Most frequently chosen are names ending in -yama (mountain), -gawa (river) or -umi (sea). Rikishi are divided according to where their stable. Nishi (west) or higashi (east).

The ring, called the Dohyo. The outer ring is formed with 20 straw rice bags and measures 4.55 meters in diameter. One bag is set slightly back from the ring at the north, south, east and west sides, a remnant of the days of outdoor matches when it was often necessary to drain off rain water.

After the bouts of "beginners" wrestlers" the upper division rikishi are presented in two ceremonies; one for the easterners combatants and one for the westerners combatants.

There is a special ceremony for the yokozuna. Here Asashoryu from Mongolia, the current yokozuna.

Then each combatant goes through a series of symbolic movements. Here they are raising their arms showing their palms in a sign of respect and fair-play by not possessing any arms.

Their flexibility is quite impressive. Here they strongly stamp the ring with each foot to supposedly squash the bad spirits.

From ancient times, salt has been believed to possess purifying powers. Both wrestlers toss salt in the air as they prepare for their bout, purifying the ring as a sacred place. The salt-throwing is, however, the privilege only of maku-uchi, juryo and maku-shita wrestlers.

Finally, to cleanse his mind and body, the rikishi rinses his mouth with water and wipes his body with a towel. Then the fight can start. Those ritual movements take usually four minutes (juryo rikishi have only three minutes and the lowest ranks must begin at once).

Asashoryu, the yokozuna, wisely waiting for his bout.

The fight. A bout is won by forcing the opponent out of the inner circle or throwing him in the dohyo. To lose the match it's not necessary to fall in the circle or to be pushed completely out. The rikishi who touches the ground with any part of his body, his knee or even the tip of his finger or his topknot, loses the match. Striking with fists, hair pulling, eye gouging, choking and kicking in the stomach or chest are prohibited.

Big hug! As there no weight limits as in boxing or western wrestling it's possible for a rikishi to find himself pitted against an opponent twice his own weight.

In the olds days, before a ring was even used, there were supposedly 48 winning techniques. In 1955 the sumo association released its first official list of 68 techniques, with that increased to 70 in 1960 and 82 in 2001.

Big slap in the face.

Lower ranks figthing during the morning. The public usually come around 3 p.m.

Using one of the 82 techniques to push his opponent out of the circle.

There are few foreigners doing sumo. From Mongolia (Asashoryu the yokozuna, Hakuho who is ozeki (soon yokozuna I think)...), Georgia (we can see the russian Roho waiting for his turn on the photo...), Bulgaria (Kotooshu who is ozeki...), Russia (Kokkai...), Estonia (Baruto...), Brazil and maybe some more counties.

Close to a defeat...

Rikishi jumping to be sure to touch the ground after his opponant and win the match.

A tournament last 15 days, so 15 matches for each wrestlers (only 7 fights for the lower ranks). The rikishi can pretend to increase his grade if his total of victories is positive (more than 8 wins).

The right fighter lost as he touches the ground with his hands.

About to push the button.

It's usual to see rikishi walking around during a basho.
That's it! Source text: Ryogoku Kokugikan hand book 2006, published by Nihon Sumo Kyokai.

Futsal and Yoyogi Park.

2007-05-25T15:49:00.001+09:00

Last weekend my friends and me made a futsal team to took part of a tournament in Osaki organized by Tetsuma... we were pretty bad, I should say really bad! Anyway we had fun and hopefully we can play next month.

Thomas in action waiting for the ball, while Stefen takes the wing.

The second team on the bench while I'm not that glad to have lost the first match 5-0.... no comment.

After a goal. Ben, his Korean friend, Serge, Thomas and Hiro.

The day after in Yoyogi Koen (park).

Time to relax.

Children playing with small pieces of wood.

There are hundred talented (and not talented as well) musicians singing, playing all around the park.

Typically Kawaiiiiiii (even if he's a bit big to be in the concept kawai in Japan). Kawai means cute, can't stand this word anymore ;)

One the way back home. Several dozen of manga on the road.

The school where I used to study Japanese.

Cherry Blossoms in Yoyogi Park.

2007-05-25T15:35:00.001+09:00

About one month ago it was the time for the cherry blossoms all around Japan. So I had to put some pics on the blog and here they are. It's a really important period for the Japanese and the first blossoming is scanned and wait every day as the beginning of spring. Then it's an overflowing of picnic all around tokyo's park and bento, beers and sake are shared in the joy.

Yoyogi-Park.

Sakura's flower.

Hundred Sakura trees.

Self-portrait #3.

Strolling around Roppongi tower and Azabu-Juban

2007-05-15T20:45:00.000+09:00

That day was a special one. A friend of mine is setting up her own company. She designs Kimono and wanted me to take pictures of her friend wearing her creation. It's the first step to her goal. A book, a pamphlet and website may come later, I'm pretty glad to be involved in her project. At the end of the day we went to a Chinese restaurant in Roppongi Hills. Here's the pictures I took on the way.

Tokyo tower, 333 meters.

An old man drawing in Zojo-Ji temple.

The following pics are over-exposed. Did in purpose.

Building block dominated by the Mori tower.

Roppongi Hills complex.

For your future.

Children playing video games in the street.

Concrete Jungle.

Babel tube. I came across the square where the movie "Babel" was filmed.

The foutain of Babel surrounded by fences.

Tokyo tower.

Matched with the road.

Zojo-Ji temple and Tokyo Tower. The Zoji-Ji is a buddhist temple which shelter 6 out of 15 tombs of the Tokugawa Family (Shogunat of the Edo Era).

Self-portrait #2

Great afternoon in Komazawa Koen

2007-04-30T22:12:00.000+09:00

Haruka and me went to Komazawa Park located in Setagaya-Ku, one of the poshest Ku of Tokyo. It takes about 35 minutes by bicyle from Yoyogi-Uehara.

The proud master of huge massive dog, nevertheless very obeying but...

he doesn't seem to share the interest of the child.

Some talented BMX rider.

Fathers are resting while children are playing around.

A small tower made of concrete which remind me (from farer) a swimming pool in Geneva.

Haruka.

Self portrait.

Japanese youth enjoying football.

The pic is a little bit blur, that's a shame.

Highway hidding the blue sky.

Verticals and horizontals.

On the way back, we meet an old lady arguing her lazy dog and she noticed I was taking a photo, she advices us to go to this tower as the view was beautiful. The Carrot Tower. Funny name.

View from the 26th floor.

A woman gazing at the Mount Fuji.

From here, some night time photos on our way back.

Fast and furious.

Down to Yoyogi-Uehara station.

20 new photographies.

2007-04-22T14:24:00.000+09:00

A sunny afternoon and warm evening around Shinjuku Gyoen and Meiji-Jingumae.

Easy effect on photoshop... anyway I quite like it.

Meiji-Jingumae crossroad by night.

Shiny Odakyu line.

Meiji-Jingumae traffic jam.

Tower near Shinjuku Gyoen.

I missed my set up on this pic... I wanted the blur on the wall and the clearness and the motorbike.

Japanese Youth playing base-ball in a park.

Here some pics of Tokyo staduim where the 1964 olympic games took place. Hope next time I can get inside to take more photos.

Okinawa

2007-04-12T16:30:00.000+09:00

Okinawa, in the Ryukyu, the southern Japanese islands. I stayed there for week and enjoyed to discovered this place but a bit disappointed by the poor weather.

First day. As the weather wasn't that great, I went to Shuri Castle with Koba (guest house mate). Nice place but the visit doesn't worth 800 yen!! Especially if you can not read Japanese as almost all the explanation are in Japanese.

The throne of the old Okinawa King.

Tourist tour.

A walk in Naha, the capital of Okinawa. Located in the south, Naha is actually quite extended as the southern part is quite flat and the surrounding cities make a kind of a ugly conurbation with the capital.

The easiest way to move in Naha, the monorail.

The moonlight guest house. Very cheap and well located place with a very relax atmosphere.

Around the guest house.

Cape Kyan. The second day I went to the extreme south of Okinawa until Cape Kyan by bike. A stroll of about 40 kilometers under a warm sun... my arms still remember.

The coastal rocks. As sharp as the sharpest swiss knife. Ready to cut you at the first bad step.

Refresh yourself wherever you are.

The time stopped as this clock. The days must seem so long in this place...

Okinawa, the paradise!

Highway under construction.

One of the rare distraction I came across during my bike trip.

One of the Naha army base. 20 pourcent of Okinawa is occupied by US army base. Just too much!

The third day, I went to Manzamo by bus. One the west coast, Manzamo is a gorgeous place to have a walk.

A bright concorde in the Okinawan night.

Ayers Rock is actually in Okinawa!

The forth day I went to Kudaka. A tiny Island with a part of paradise. Unfortunately the weather wasn't so good. Located on the east coast, we can access there form Azama port. It takes 30 minutes.

My only bathe of the week :(

A proof of my presence in Kudaka.

Players wanted.

Out of order.

Live in the guest house. As very often around some delicious Japanese dishes and Okinawan beers, the Orion.

Last evening at the Kotobuki. Joji, the nurse, Biwa, Kaji, Yuko, Koba and Sayaka.

And eventually... back to Tokyo. The sun before the rain.

Miyajima

2007-04-12T15:32:00.000+09:00

The day after visiting Hiroshima, I went to Miyajima. Small Island considered as one of the most beautiful site of Japan with Ama no Hashidate and Matsushima. It's a gorgeous place where you must manage to go when it's the low tide to be able to walk around this huge red gate, the Otorii. A thing to do as well, is to climb Mount Misen. I guess to view must be great from the top... unfortuntely I counldn't go there.

The famous Otorii at High tide. Build in 1875, it's one of the biggest in Japan.

One of the best spot to take a photo of your husband.

View from the "beach"

Millions lifes around the Otorii.

Miyajima Island from the boat which take you there in about 15 minutes.

Itsukushima-Jinja.

Inside a shrine.

View from a small hill.

Like in Nara, deers are everywhere... always in quest of food.

Itsukushima-Jinja at low tide.

Hiroshima

2007-04-11T15:52:00.000+09:00

Dramatically famous, I went to Hiroshima espacially to visit the memorial, I spent an afternoon in the city.

The A-Bomb Dome, still standing in the heart of the city to remind the tragedy. A building against the atomic energy.

6th August 1945, 8:15 am.

The Memorial Park.

The Memorial Museum.

An easy and nice way to move.

A man going to the right.

A woman going to the left.

Hiroshima by night. View from the youth hostel.

Nara

2007-04-11T15:12:00.000+09:00

A sunny afternoon in Nara.

The impressive 5 storeys pagoda.

Todaiji Temple. Considered as the biggest wooden construction in the world. Actually it's very impressive. Inside, there is a huge buddha wisely sit.

Temple window

Sumo in Osaka!

2007-04-11T14:42:00.000+09:00

The second day of my trip, I went to Osaka to watch Sumo. I really enjoyed it. To know about sumo have a look on this website (french): www.sumofr.net

Asashoryu, the 68th Yokozuna.

Back to the anonymity after a quick defeat.
Rikishi (wrestlers) greeting the judges. At the fisrt hours of the day almost nobody assist the fights. The bosses will come later.

The falls from the dohyo (sumo's ring) are sometimes spectaculars.

Young rikishi.

The Makushita.

The Osaka prefectural gymnasium.

The last fight of the day with Asashoryu who will finally lost the tournament 3 days later against Hakuo. The next tournament in Tokyo will be surely intense as if Hakuo win it, he can pretend of the Yokozuna title which can be hold by only one wrestler.

Fushimi Inari

2007-04-11T14:32:00.000+09:00

Fushimi Inari is one of the most amazing place I've ever seen in Japan. It's a walk through the forest and hills of about 4 kilometers with thousand Torii over our head. Very photogenic place as a relaxing and peacful walk in the same time. I was lucky that it wasn't invaded by thousand tourists.

Kinkaku-Ji

2007-03-28T19:29:00.000+09:00

Probably the most famous temple of Japan. Itself it's beautiful but there is only one small narrow path full of tourist and the walk is pretty short. But I had to see it!

Around Kiyomizu-Dera

2007-03-28T19:19:00.000+09:00

Kiyomizu Dera. Built in 798, (and rebuilt in 1633) it's one of the most visited temple of Kyoto. Looks a little bit sad without the leafs but the view on Kyoto is superb.

Kyoto Tower

2007-03-28T19:09:00.001+09:00

131 meters high, Kyoto tower is not that impressive but it's always good to take some altitude to admire a panoramic view. Especially this day.

Astroboy.

Tower's reflection.

Kyoto and its surrounding hills.

Ryoan-Ji

2007-03-28T18:41:00.000+09:00

Ryoan-Ji, a place where the time seems to stop. A garden of gravel perfectly raked where a stone always remains invisible wherever you are.

Old Japanese man writing on his notebook.

Small Trip

2007-03-28T18:38:00.001+09:00

Few days ago, I came back from a small trip on the west side of Japan. I went to Kyoto then from there I visited Nara and went to Osaka to see sumo. I finish my trip with 2 days in Hiroshima and Miyajima. To start, here some pictures of Kyoto. Further photos will come soon!

Lost Doraemon and he doesn't seem happy about that.

Incense. Bring the smoke where the pain is.

A child feeding the wandering pigeon.

Geisha in Kiyomizu-Dera

The biggest Torii I've ever seen.

After Tokyo, another scene of a horrible crime? no, just actors and actress waiting for the orders of the realisator.

Kyoto station.

One of the Imperial Palace gate.

Fushimi-Inari station.

A father and his son crossing Kamogawa.

Kamogawa.

One of the main street of Kyoto.

The smallest Torii I've ever seen.

White day in Enoshima

2007-03-15T19:16:00.000+09:00

Haruka and me went to Enoshima yesterday. It's a small city near the see where there is a tiny island. A perfect place to have a walk. It takes about 70 minutes to get there by train from Shinjuku station with the Odakyu line.

View from the tower which stand in the middle of the "island".

Japan is the country of the wild cat.. they are everywhere! And this one looks a bit bored to play the model for the tourist.

A useless balcony with a great view.

It's a fake hind Neko-Chan!

I prefer them flying over our heads rather than their nozzle in my sandwich...

Starring at Fuji-San

1st March pictures

2007-03-02T20:29:00.000+09:00

Those are my last pictures took the 1st march around Odaiba, Ginza and Odaiba.

Omotesando by night.

Grey Tokyo.

Fuji TV building in Odaiba.

A quick trip to New York.

Haruka and me went to "Cat's Livin'". A place where many cats live and where you can cuddle them.

The Boss, Osero. He fought another cat.

Daily Life

2007-03-02T20:15:00.000+09:00

Just some pictures took when I walked around.

A lost baby sock in the street.

I was setting up my camera and took this picture to try it. Now I especially like this pic.

Cat's fight near the house.

Anormal queue in a huge electronic store in Akihabara.

Thomas stupid dare: eat 10 cheeseburgers. He did it 20 minutes later.

Horrible murder near the guesthouse. I woman killed her violent husband. Then she cut the body in 2 parts. Put one part in Shinjuku and the other one in Shibuya at about 5 minutes from our house. Yanis and I came across the journalists.

The Moai in Shibuya.

Futsal with friends.

Shinjuku

2007-03-02T20:00:00.000+09:00

It's a kind of habit... building and street pictures, enjoy.

This guy met Jesus when he was 21. Shinjuku's portuguese proselyte.

Shinjuku business area.

Great picture from Yanis. It could be a CD cover of a rock band.

A monk blessed by the light of the almighty god!

Smoking guy.

Around Harajuku and Meiji-Jingu

2007-03-02T14:26:00.000+09:00

An afternoon walking around Harajuku and Yoyogi Koen.

Like is almost everyday...

You got the look, dude!

This is very common to see young people singing and playing music in the street....

but sometimes it's fake, like this guy and his friends playing with an unplugged guitar but a real hi-fi.

Tokyo Rockabilly band. Rather funny than great dancers!

That's tunning!!!

Yanis was really enthousiastic to try this food until this fat guy coughed on the food...

Yanis, Jay and Ludo in Japan

2007-03-02T14:22:00.000+09:00

Yanis, Jérome and Ludo came to Japan few weeks. Have good memories all together!

On the cable car to Fuji-San sightseeing area.

Jérome's story made everbody sleepy...

No as good as Ichiro but not bad!

Yanis finally found a friend.

Fuji-San Trip

2007-03-02T14:20:00.000+09:00

A short trip near the Fuji-San with Yanis, Jérome and Ludo. The weather was great but we got there a bit late...

Tokyo Highway

2007-03-02T14:18:00.000+09:00

Some pictures of the impressive highways in Tokyo.

Ikebukuro

2007-03-02T14:17:00.000+09:00

Yanis, Thomas and me went to Ikebukuro by bike. It's a kind of little Shinjuku, we went to the top of Sunshine 60 Tower where we could appreciate a beautiful view.

Sunshine 60, 240 meters.

Alex in Japan

2006-11-09T21:33:00.000+09:00

Many new pictures!... hope to add some text soon!

Nice pictures

2006-11-09T20:49:00.000+09:00

Kamakura

2006-11-08T20:20:00.000+09:00

Ueno Zoo

2006-11-08T20:06:00.000+09:00

Along Sumida Gawa to Hama Rikyu Garden

2006-11-08T19:59:00.000+09:00

Halloween!!!

2006-11-08T19:57:00.000+09:00

Our costum for halloween!!... Made a great effect in the tube...

Asakusa

2006-11-08T19:53:00.000+09:00

A morning in Asakusa with my sister!

Check the wood box, take off a rod, find the good drawer, open it then it will tell you your good fortune or not.

Tribute to croaks

2006-11-08T19:50:00.000+09:00

The title is telling everything...

Relooking my room

2006-11-08T19:45:00.000+09:00

Few pictures of my room which used to be depressing, so I tried to make it looks better with some flyers and fabrics

Party time

2006-11-08T19:38:00.000+09:00

Some pictures of our many weekend party... first at home then we often go to a tiny club in Shibuya called "Ruby Room".

Ben with his korean friend So Yeon in Ruby Room.

Yoshie

Thomas enjoying...

Andre, the Russian housemate.

Craig, Australian guy.

Ben and Serge.

A great idea

2006-11-08T19:32:00.000+09:00

The effect of the great Thomas idea who took the fire extinguisher from the stairs and brought it in my bedroom... then something wrong happened...

Kankoku no restaurant

2006-11-08T19:28:00.000+09:00

Here some pictures of our evening in Shin-Okubo. Ben (first picture) bring us to Korean restaurant where we ate great food and drink sho-ju, kind of soft alcohol (20 %) but a bit traitor...

Heavy rain, school and badminton

2006-10-09T20:53:00.000+09:00

Hi to everyone who are sometimes watching my blog. I'm eventually busy those days as I start my school last week (on thuesday). I'm quite disappointed with my schedule as the lessons are in the afternoon and I didn't except that. I wished it was in the morning like this I could profit my afternoons. Anyway, maybe it will change in three months for the next session.Except that, everything is fine at school. Learning basic Japanese, with Korean, Thai and Tawainese people.
Heavy rain is about the great idea of Thomas to go to Hiroo at French embassy to be registred... by bike; and this day was just awful , so we ride our bike through Tokyo (from Yoyogi-Uehara to Hiroo) under an heavy rain and we just get totally soaked...
Badminton is in the title of the post because I played badminton in Yoyogi park with my house mates few weeks ago. That's it.

Those following pics were take around the guesthouse during a sunny saturday.

Friends, baseball and party

2006-10-02T18:55:00.000+09:00

Here there are some pictures of our last party in the guest house. Finally I'm on the pics to prove that I'm Japan.
The weather those last days wasn't really good. I didn't do many things. Actually I'm waiting for the school to start, next thursday. I must know my Katakana soon!! By the way, I went to the Tokyo Game Show last week with my housemate Thomas. I have to admit that I've been a bit disappointed. It looked quite "cheap" and it's not that big. I took some pictures of the event but I put them in the bin... Baka anthony... To sum up I would say that's there are guys everywhere playing for hours on their PSP, and a lot of beautiful girls smiling all day long to the photographers...
What else... mmmh, I cut my hair and opened a bank account, interesting!

To prove my presence in Japan. Enjoying the party in the house last Saturday. This evening I met Naoto (friend met 8 years ago in Cheltenham), he cames with some friends but unfortunately no pics with him : ( Anyway gonna met him again soon.

Ben, the Korean housemate, me, Anthony, Julien and Ben's friends all from South Korea.

Thomas, Julien and Ben's friends

Ben and Thomas

Partying in the living room.

Last Thursday I meet Tetsuma and Hiro. Friends met in Brighton a year ago. It was really cool. After playing baseball and bowling (while I did my worst score ever, 57..., but my certainly my best as well, 141!), we went to an Izakaya have a good dinner then we had drinks in a pub to finally play pool).

Hiro and Me in the Izakaya.

The first time that I tried those basball machine. I start very badly to finally finish with some good balls.

Shinjuku and housemates.

2006-09-19T18:07:00.000+09:00

Few pictures of Shinjuku took from my ride this afternoon.
I also wanted to let you know about my housemates. We are currently 7 in the house. There is the french crew (Alice, Thomas and I)... There is the Canadian girl from Poland. English teacher, some posh Japanese guy come to the house to make some plumber noise in her room... weird... The Korean guy. He's like a ghost in this house. Saw him twice since I'm here. And finally there is the big fat australian guy... who can just not stop talking... history, sport, Japan, bbc, football, wrestling, condoms, Korea, Seol he has an opinion about everything. He's the eldest of the house. He may be like 40, 45 years old... Anyway good to improve my English and he can be interesting... fortunately!

Around Yoyogi-Uehara

2006-09-19T14:22:00.000+09:00

As promise, here there are some pics around the area I live.
This last week, I haven't done much thing. I went out in Roppongi with Julien and his friends in the Feria Club, a famous club where the models are used to go. Had fun, but I didn't feel like in Japan as there was much foreigners. I also went to the Karaoke with some people I meet in a bar in Shibuya. Four Japaneses and two stupid drunk scottish guy. Anyway, that was pretty fun. Last saturday we celebrate Anthony's birthday, and went to the Air club near Daikan Yama. Sunday, I met Yoshie and her colleague Satako. After being lost in the Shinjuku station, we had a quick drink in the "Travel Café", then they rent a car and wanted to take me to see the sea in Chiba but we finally didn't go there as the weather was really rainy. Instead of it they wanted to go Disneyland! But the rain dissuaded us again. We eventually had a long ride in Odaiba and had dinner in Ebisu in a Monsoon. Very nice afternoon.
So, let have a look on the pictures that I take today. I could ride around Yoyogi-Uehara with the bike I bought yesterday!
The guest house.

My bike, bought for 6900 yen!! very cheap and 3 speeds.

A postman.

A tiny park not far from the house.

What you are allowed or not allowed to do.

A typically japanese street.

A quiet restaurant.

This guy is probably famous in whole area with this "scooter".

A colored drugs store.

The contrast between the pretty new and the very old...

I wonder how this house is still standing...

The abandonned motorbicyle. In really poor condition.

A footbridge over the railway.

On this footbridge. The black and white give a kind sad atomosphere of the place.

With the color.

The atmosphere of the street. Almost every 2 minutes a train is passing.

Got to be quick before the train enter into the station.

Not in Paris.

The last slope before reaching the guesthouse.

Our neighbour's cat. In a kind of golden jail...

Few days before, a guy came to knock on our door to prevent us that is was going to be noisy for few hours just near the guesthouse. Here they are, working hard under 29 degrees...

View from the house. Far away the Shinjuku buildings.

First pictures!

2006-09-13T14:51:00.000+09:00

Eventually, my first post didn't remain as the first for so long. I found a LAN cable in the living room and could connect to the net.
After the 33 degrees of sunday, it's raining since monday and the temperatures really goes down. The sky is white and low and MTV Japan is as bad as MTV Europe... anyway this morning I could watch United game on J-Sky, that's cool.
Yesterday I met some house mates. All are very discreet and seem to work very hard and don't talk so much. Except those 2 french, Thomas and Alice. We already plan to have some parties and try to change to poor atmosphere of this house. We'll see..!
Here, there are some pics of my living place. Not so much from the city yet as the weather isn't good and I can't recharge my camera. I'll go to Shinjuku at "Bic Camera" shop to find an adaptator.

Guess... my room!

Some messages let by the house mates... "Please, help keep this place clean and free from cockroaches" Of course! Don't let the cockroaches beeing are new house mates!!! Haven't seen anyone yet. That better for them if they want to stay alive. I'll kill them, no pity for the cockroaches!!

mmmh, that's right!

My clothes.

My clothes again.

The ustensils I'll try to use to "cook" my dinners.

One of the three fridges we have. I bought some bananas and eat some swiss chocolate which I was supposed to offer to a friend... I just couldn't resist! Anyway, one pack left.

Julian during a fashion show! It was the first time that I went to see one. After 50 minutes of waiting we could enjoy those fantastic 3 minutes and 21 seconds of the procession. Anyway, that was fun, especially after, we went to the "Freeze bar" and could drink for free... I had some whisky. Afterward, I wanted to go to a club but we finally decided to take a cab and get back home nearly 2 a.m.

Back to the guest house, with the living room.

From the other side.

Mister Big Fat Pink Phone... I think I will certainly talk to the big white phone rather this one...

Mister Dirty Oven.

The inside of my room. Quite long but not wide at all... Enough to sleep, I also can get a spare futon if I want to invite someone to sleep.

From the other side

The view from my window when I turn my head on the left.

The view from my window when I open it... I can almost touch the neighbour wall.

A view from the kitchen by night. We can guess one of the tower of Shinjuku behind the house.

Like everywhere in Japan. You must take off your shoes. It helps to keep the floor clean!

The shower, which is okay.

A gorgeous view of the the sink.

Let's admire the sinks again.

The stairs where you'd better not fall down if you don't want to kill yourself quickly. I think I'll sleep on the living room sofa when I'll be drunk...

Hey! My phone! I wanted one with big camera, mp3 player, video and this one has... nothing of this... even not a camera!... (what seems to be funny for my Japanese friends...) anyway I'll look for a better one when I get my alien card, but first let keep this one few month. My number is >

+81 90 8461 4909

Finally... my first post!

2006-09-12T12:50:00.000+09:00

Hi everyone,
I think this post will remain as the last one for pretty much time... as I can not get internet connection in my room yet. It means that I can not add any pictures and without pics, this blog is nothing as it is not really my cup of tea to write thousand and thousand words...
I did not do so much things those first day. Strolled in Tokyo, met some friends, asked my alien registration card (have to wait 3 weeks now...), ate some rice. I also get a cell phone but I do not remember my number and as my battery is empty I can not communicate it yet. Next time surely!
I have been invited to try surfing in Chiba next weekend, that is rather cool! Hope to try golf as well!
So I hope to add further news and especially pictures pretty soon.