Early spring trip

original spa building
Originally uploaded by shoko.

It has been almost over a month since I last updated myself. Not because my workload was to hard to write, but I was busy enjoying series of holidays. In the middle of April, when yearly budget planning settled down at last, I decided to visit my friend in Shikoku island. This was my first landing to that area, and after exhausting week, it was fascinating trip set me free from stress.
My friend, she has been living there for a year on business, took me eat famous noodle "Sanuki-Udon", and places of interest. We went to a few spa, one is located in deep ravine, you can see and hear natural river flow next to you, feeling water splash on your face. The other one is famous as the oldest spa in Japan, Dogo spa. Though nowadays it become a tourist attraction, the place is originally local bathhouse that heals people's tirdness. There has some hall for tourist which reminds the place was loved by the old-day sophisticated, at the same time, there are many local people who seems daily enjoying bath time at the spa.
Beside spas, we went to a shrine named "Kompira-san", famous place that you need more than a thousand staires to get to the main building. (It's also known as the place first Kabuki performance was held.) It was high time to see great cherry blossom lines and feel warm and flesh spring breeze. As derives from its name, ("Kom-" means gold in chinese charactor.) I got a golden charm for healty and happy life.

Spring Blossom

Spring Blossom
Originally uploaded by shoko.

That was beautiful serene day when I took a walk in my birthday. A main street in Kunitachi, where my home university campus is located, is an great avenue of cherry. I went to stroll around to free my body and mind from busy cramming days. The blossoms were not at their best, actually it was too early to enjoy full bloom, but warm sunshine and spring wind tempted people out. Though spring festival were planed to the next weekend, there were already lots of families and friends going for a stroll. I remember, it wasn't so popular to enjoy natural flowers in the States, and find it interesting that Japanese love to celebrate a new season coming and that they are very sensitive to sattle change of nature. I'm not saying Japanese are more artistic than the other world, but such that the climate and life of living things are related from so long ago. Maybe that's great virtue of culture.

Opera is like...

I like classical music. I also like performance as ballet, play, and of course opera. First time I was interested in was my high school days, when a maniac music teacher always showed us opera DVD in his class. Before, as usual, I thought opera is sort of stuffed-shirt, incomplehensible art for the riches. But watching number of them, I realized many of those stories are really cheap! Mostly about murder caused by jealousy, adultery, or tale of lecherous load, etc.. actually a little difference from soap opera!(laughter) Since then, I got familiar with opera, taking history class of opera.
Though it's still quite expencive, I had chance to see real stage of "Othello" yesterday. It was one of program of "Tokyo Opera no mori" which Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa produces, for much more people can get in touch with opera, and get to know better. The stage itself was great except Mr. Ozawa was absent due to illness, actors (singers) were superb, modern direction using lights and dark effectively was provoking and impressive, music was nothing to say, overall performance was quite magnificent. But still, I couldn't help feeling funny at Otello, the naive, simple-minded general.

groovy night

groovy night
Originally uploaded by shoko.

My job is mainly office work, I walk inside a building around at most. So, how can you imagine I was so excited to have duty-trip to Ito, where my company has training center. It was training session that I gotta take part in, which aimed at remotivate first-year employee after experiencing gaps between images of this company and the "reality". Reviewing what I did in last week for looking back strength and weekness of myself was of course quite meaningful, but futhermore, it was good for me to have joyous reunion. The night was really fun with talking and drinking, you know, the next day was horrible....
Anyhow, I saw 78th Academy awards , recorded one today, and that reminded me the passion once I had for the industry of films. Someday, yeah, I'll get into another world of business....

Best wishes for the happiness!!

Wedding Cake
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Two of my college seminar have just got married. Since we all know both bride and groom, all of the members are invited to the after party held at bar-restaurant near Ochanomizu. In reflection of the couples' sociability (they are both quite active and outgoing), there were about 80 people including their friends and colleagues. It was the first time to join a wedding party, so I'd been busy in recent weekends in to look for neat dress to ware. Fortunately, I wasn't left out of glittering group of girls. (laughter) Afterwards, our group of univ. seminar moved to other place, and enjoyed drinking and talking about how each of us had been getting along since graduation. It's really interesting to hear of different industry, and various business field where my friends are working, that helps me keep openminded. At the same time, I had a full realization of the ages that I'm already old enough to get merried. Well, unfortunately, I have still nothing to inform. Sorry for let you down off. We'll see. Yeah, I hope so...

Coldness and Idleness

snow in city
Originally uploaded by shoko.

It's incredibly COLD this winter. The news of unexpected heavy snowfall get over all around Japan again and again, then finally come to my city, where warm emissions usually keep coldness off the area. As it gets freezy, it comes to me not to go a single step of home even in weekends,,, well, there's another reason, too. Recent my work is quite hard and I'm too exhausted to even open my powerbook!! (nor to go out!) Sorry that's why I haven't updated me so long. For any reason, drown in laziness sometimes takes an aim of daily life away from the mind. Probably doing something relaxes people rather than just resting at home all day long. I gotta find some activity which cultivates mental charms or something before becoming a cow.

Seattle!?

Seattle!?
Originally uploaded by shoko.

I planed to visit my friend at Seattle taking a few-day-off, but unfortunately, at the last moment, I missed the flight. Who could imagine how I was disappointed,,,, then, what am I doing in this weekend? I went to the nearest Home Depot to check out our power products (lawn mower, power cultivator, generator, and so on) on exhibit. It was already fully decorated in X'mas style which excites my heavy heart a little. Anyway, I'm disgusted with what a workaholic girl I became - even the work made me late for flight, still I go to research local market - who is the last person I wanted to be. On the one hand, it seems natural to try to get to know the business I'm in, especially when I just started working, while there's constant fear that I may become a boring person who put working above anything else. The balance is the most difficult for me now.

* to you in seattle*
Sorry about the unrealized visit ;( As for your situation, I think no one in my friend was so confident about his or her choice of the future, so be relax. At least in Japan, there is nothing legally wrong with declination of job offer even after you write "letter of acceptance". It is not so late to rethink your vocation after returning paperwork to the company. Don't narrow your scope, consider as much as available option. Good luck!

MARS

MARS
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Whether you believe or not, I took Mars blinking over the sky. As you know, Mars is one of the nearest planet among the solar system, but in the fall of 2005, it approaches closest to the Earth. In Japan, it is seen in the middle of the sphere in late night, late night when I usually come home after working. (Because of recent increasing interest for information security, all photo I can take in daily life is limited only on my way to work.)
Mysterious neighborhood which has clouds and the seas. As a little astro-geek, I gotta check out the latest studies about the planet.

Lamborghini, I envy you...

Lamborghini
Originally uploaded by shoko.

As a line of duty, (hehe) I had a chance to visit the Tokyo Motor Show. This is one of the three worldwide motor show (Frankfurt, Detroit), and the state-of-the-art technologies come togather from all over the world.
This was second time I've ever been to the show, I realized that there is only few general guests come to see internatinal car ostentations, and the others are auto business people OR "geeks" taking photos of booth bunnies with formidable camera set. Well, I really wonder what they do with those photos of smiling uniformed girls. Enjoy looking at photos alone? Sell salacious shots at internet auction? That's really beyond my understandings. Well, however,,, I took one photo of those. Let me explain, hey, the attendants at Volkswagen booth are ravishingly beautiful. (this is not personal views, people going with me all agree with that!!)
Back to cars, Toyota's future-oriented mobility car for single use moved amazingly, it pointedly proposed future lifestyles with the car. As for our booth, well, cars were OK. They are one of the most neo-futuristic cars throughout the hall. Technology might be OK, or say, extremely. But sadly enough, we can't afford to get wider booth (in fact, wealthy enough, just don't try to make big promotion) , and more than that, I think we are lack in sensitivity for more attractive way of performance. On the other side, in Lamborghini booth, people crowds around only two cars displayed, no show, no decorations, nothing else but cars, despite they can't come even closer because of fence around the booth. Probably, the attractiveness of cars are not necessarily in its status, and nowadays great safety & ecology technologies are flourishing in Japan, still, it seems Japanese auto makers are still well behind European traditional car companies in sophistication to be felt behind the brand wherever from it is.

Tokyo Int'l Film Festival

Tokyo Int'l Film Festival
Originally uploaded by shoko.

At Roppongi, where the center of cosmopolitanism in Tokyo, the 18th international film festival were held for one week from October 22. I went to the openeing ceremony and screening not just for paparazzi photos of famous movie stars (of course I looked forward to that), but to welcome Carol, my former boss at Washington DC Independent Film Festival who came to Japan for the festival. I was working for her festival while studying movie business. Since she likes Japanese foods, cultures and many, she has hired Japanese intern every year, and successive interns could make get together again this time.
We enjoyed great reunion eating and drinking traditional Japanese foods, and went to sightseeing around Tokyo. They are curious about everything so that sometimes we can hardly answer their questions. Thanks to that, I reaffirm my recognition of the need for understanding our own history and culture, and over the long run, that leads us to have global consciousness. The weekend reminded me mind of a world citizen.

Chinese Square

Chinese Square
Originally uploaded by shoko.

October is rare month that has three-day holiday in my company calendar. The first night of the holiday, I went to Chinese Square in Yokohama with friends to eat nice Chinese! So long, I haven't visited the place and found lots of exciting streets, barkers taking passengers, chinese snack stands crawling with people. We were looking for a famous restaurant, and found it, but entered another one since that was a bit out of our price range. Well, foods are tasty enough to be satisfied.

Anyhow, it's really amazing that everywhere in the world you can find chinese square somewhere in city map. In those area, people preserve their traditions as foods or goods, and keep lifestyles. I can't stop thinking the inimitable power and vitality to keep identity.

Shilver Mint?

POST
Originally uploaded by shoko.

I don't know why the place called as title, I went to Ginza, mecca of the most luxurious shopping streets in Tokyo, to get a feel for classiness. Ordinally, Japanese mailbox is painted red, but here the cutting edge of sophistication, even mailbox seems to act rich (aside from whether blue means gorgeousness or not).
Jesting apart, the entity which runs postal survice is now facing the first greatest cataclysm of the millenium. As US or several other country, postal services are run by governmental entity since it involves highly public aspects, but in these days it's getting to be pointed out that the inefficient operation especially in finances. "Finances??" you might say. Interesting point is, our postal service agency deals with its original life insurances and even provides us favorable rate saving account. Long ago, when private bankings were not reliable as those in these days, many people did deposit their fortune and bought postal-life-insurance. Problems arose mainly from this banking function of the service, i.e., their almost only way of fund management is investing public projects, most of which is now gasping for shringking number of public works, and that results in massive deficit. People's opinion move to privatization of the postal agency and allowance of free entry to the business. In near future, we might see more colorful mailboxes in streets.
(c.f. post on this photo is colored not because of the privatization things, probably its better fit to city's setting)

Life of Music

Life of Music
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Finally my life has changed!! Though I've long been used to take advantage of iTunes music store, I got my love iPod just recently. Surprisingly many of my friend had already have iPod or mini, I amazed its universal impact to our generation. Influences has not only affected to both electronics & music industries, well-known car makers gang up to set iPod-adoptable player available as its factory option, and every single luxury brand shops covers iPod accessories like leather cases or straps. Unfortunately, I have nothing to do with any of these related products, at least my music life became drastically enriched. Also, I'm enjoying podcasts like CNN news, which is good listening Einglish training...

Ball Game!

DOME
Originally uploaded by shoko.

For the first time in my life, I watched a real ball game at domed stadium. It was quarter finals of industrial league, which our company's team won the second place of it last year. The supporters covered half of the seats, and there was filled with blooming excitement. The game started with the score locked at nil-nil, but top of the 4th inning, a huge home run triggered a series of hits, that gave them huge point spread. Victory head us up to high, and delighted us so much. I hope they'll get first title for this year!!

beach and sunshine

beach and sunshine
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Even almost one year passed since I've left, I still miss Californian bright sunshine and dry weather. Compare to it, day by day, Tokyo's muggy humid air bear down on us that makes me reluctant to get outside. I miss blue empty sky once I hated at most which let me feel endless loneliness, I miss red-dried ground once I eagered to run away from inhospitable desert. Well, this is the moment I realize a fact that any moment of life is invaluable, though people (of course including me) tend to look over the preciousness.

Summer Vacation

Miyajima
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Despite I've had no plan to spend summer vacation, I was longing to avoid to throw treasurable day off away just keeping in house. Luckily, car companies have relatively longer vacation - even though only a ten days long a year - compare to other industry in Japan, so I made off-the-cuff trip plan to Hiroshima with friends.
Hiroshima, the city struck by A-bomb, has not only its memorials and museums, but is famous of foods (okonomiyaki, maple leaf cake, oyster), trams, and one of the most scenic spots in Japan "Miyajima" where shrine is built in the ocean. Though the buildings was under reconstruction (some structure collapsed due to typhoon last year) as usual, the neat beauty of appearance and structure was beyond description. We went a little further to Yamaguchi, westernmost of Japanese main land, to see famous bridge called Brocade Sash Bridge over the Brocade River. At night, we took boat and enjoy watching cormorant fishing, ancient method of sweetfish fishing.
Hot, hot, hot, humid. A little further go down to south, the hotter it become. I love Japanese scenery, but sometimes I miss dry sunshine in California. Hope to have flesh summer around southern ocean next summer.

the End of Training

party night!
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Over 4 months newly-personnel training finally came to the end yesterday. Factory training was pretty hard on body, while retail training need to be mentally tough. However demanding that was, it's so prescious experience in terms of we probably will never have chance to work as direct workers who are the core of adding value. Above all, the greatest fruits of this training was getting to be able to know various people, not only colleagues but many other senior workers working at forefront. These meetings influences my perspective, and offers me broadened view of life.

In tranquillo forest

Great Togakushi view
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Company group training gives me great chance to meet genial friends to hang out with. Although members of the group are soon going to be allocated different divisions, I went to Nagano with them to spend a weekend at a cottage of one of the members. Even in the middle of July, climate on the mountains are still a bit cold, but really comfortable to strolling outside. We went to famous Soba (Japanese noodle) place to taste it, took a walk to visit time-honored shrine at the top of mountain, did BBQ and played with fireworks by midnight. Great fun!! I'm so happy to be colleague with them.

SUE

dinosaur
Originally uploaded by shoko.

So long time I've long stayed away from scientific stuff which I've loved so much. There is no specific reason yet, just missed some chances to get in touch with. Last weekend, trying to get back my life more lively, I went to see dinosaur exhibition at National Science Museum, Ueno Japan. There displayed the most discovered bones of Tyrannosaurs Rex named "SUE" derived from its discoverer, which originally stored at Field Museum, Chicago, US. Misfortunate thing is, my camera is under capacity to capture its huge full body, only be able to take next bone of some Chinese-saurs (sorry, I forgot the name of tribe) well, it's fantastic enough to see, isn't it!? It says now studies of dinosaur's evolution come to see the birds are identekini related with dinosaur historically. Also what made me surprised (kinda disappointed..) is now that the evidence proves that no "Jurassic Park" depicted as world fascinating movie was existed in real. Considering its weight and joint position, T-Rex must not be able to walk more than 8km/h, not to mention to run chacing its prey. Well, as a huge fan of Hollywood movie, I prefer imaginary Rex to dull giant.

I haven't taken photos...

Laboring. Changed workplace, still as a trainee, to car manufacturing factory. You know, it's truly robust training. Awesome. For security reason, I'm not allowed to take picture of working, nor bring camera equipped phone. Making cars itself is interesting flow, unit by unit, people set many different parts, moving alongside the line, within amazingly little takt time. Yap, every single joint in my body is aching. I assure I'm gonna be more masculine by the end of July...