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Dream Car Show 2008
2008-09-29 07:23:00
The Dream Car Show 2008 was held at Port Messe Nagoya over the last weekend.Companies involved in the automotive industry such as audio and body kit firms had stands and vehicles on display showcasing their products.A couple of luxury car clubs had their members cars on show.There was even an area where you could see some Self Defence Vehicles on show.I didnt have the courage to confront the friendly soldier near one vehicle and tell him they had incorrectly spelt a word on their display.Vehicul.Rather oddly,there was also a wrestling ring complete with Japanese WWF style wrestlers in one of the exhibition halls.Team Makehen wrestlers,both male and female performed a number of bouts on both days.Apart from the cars,vans,4x4s,motorcycles and racing cars,the other attraction at such shows that seem to pull in a particular section of the crowd are the models who languidly sprawl and pose over the vehicles.There was a dearth of such models on Saturday which made those who were there eve...
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Friday Flash..New Haagen Daz Ice Cream Flavours
2008-09-26 15:42:00
Two more new Haagen Dazs flavours that hit the shelves this week in Nagoya.I spotted them in various supermarkets and convenience stores throughout the city.The first is Cafe Mocha,obviously a coffee flavoured icecream.Its fairly light with dashes of chocolate sauce liberally mixed in to boost the amount of caffeine.The second is English Milk Tea and like the Cafe Mocha tastes exactly as described.A thick milky creamy sweet tasting ice cream.It reminded me of the canned Royal Milk tea available here in virtually every corner vending machine.Both these flavours have a certain novelty value but personally I cant see myself going out of my way to buy them again given the other flavours available.
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Toothless in Nagoya
2008-09-22 12:40:00
There was a loud rendering crunch.I started eating lead.Blood.The apple flavoured stick of KissMint I was masticating had prised off one of my fillings.I spat the dull gray metal onto my desk.Borrowing my co-workers pink Hello Kitty makeup mirror I gingerly inspected the damage.A small cavity.No.More like an abyss or a chasm.Not good.What to do.Saturday.I could trek out to one of the three places in Nagoya that offered dental services over the weekend.Or bide my time and wait two days and find a local dentist.As the pain was bearable due to the numbing effects of alcohol I decided to delay my visit to the dentist a little longer.I mean..not having been to a dentist for five years what harm could another two days do.Luckily a friend gave me the name of an English speaking dentist so with some apprehension I went along this Monday morning.For those familiar with Nagoya,Kimura Dental Clinic is almost opposite the entrance to the FreeBell Building.Freebell seems to house an inordinate n...

Friday Flash..Autumn Tea
2008-09-19 15:06:00
You can always tell which season of the year it is by looking at the products on sale at convenience stores,supermarkets and the like.Gradually over the last few days the local convenience store has been filling its shelves and coolers with autumnal fare and drinks.Typical of the products available are these bottles of tea adorned in the orange reds and browns of fall.
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Sumo...Up in Smoke
2008-09-15 01:47:00
The first day of the Autumn Sumo Tournament began yesterday set against a drug scandal that has been capturing headlines and television coverage over the last month.The drama began following the arrest of a Russian wrestler Wakanoho after police claimed a small amount of marijuana was found in his wallet.After an emergency meeting on August 21 the Japan Sumo Association dismissed him and handed down a lifetime ban.He has the dubious honour of being the first active wrestler to be given his marching orders.Wakanoho,whose real name is Soslan Aleksandrovich Gagloev,has subsequently filed a lawsuit to nullify his dismissal.Following on from his arrest the JSA tested all 69 wrestlers in the top two divisions. Two other Russian wrestlers,Roho and Hakurozan,who are brothers,tested positive for the drug.A second test conducted by an internationally certified lab apparently found the presence of the drug.Both wrestlers have denied using the drug.Like Wakanoho they were dismissed and are also...
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Friday Flash..Additions to KitKat and Haagen Dazs
2008-09-12 02:12:00
Two new items I spied on the shelves this past week.First up is the new KitKat flavour,Muscat of Alexandria.As the illustration on the box indicates these are grape flavoured KitKats.The photo shows a somewhat lighter green KitKat stick as I had put the box into my fridge prior to taking the photo.Straight out of the box,off the shelf,the KitKats are a more vivid green and also more sticky as the outside layer melts in the late summer heat heat.Nonetheless straight off the shelf or out of the fridge these have quite a pleasant taste.Another addition to the Haagen Dazs range is Maple Cookie.The ice cream has a maple flavour which greets you as you open the plastic lid.Mixed through the ice cream are small fragments of cookie dough.Very sweet and cloying.Im not sure I could get through more than one mini cup.Good if you are a sweettooth or need a sugar rush.
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Printed Temptations..
2008-09-08 02:51:00
Printed Temptations is the title of an exhibition currently running at the Nagoya City Art Museum.Odd title.Odd exhibition.The blurb reads.."Published art isnt just limited to standard printing.Printed art can be found in a diverse range of medium-from photographs to postage stamps."So its a pretty loose brief and thats my primary problem with the exhibition.There appeared to be no focus.One expected to see printed material but other medium are also on show.Sure there are prints and photographs.There were even posters of previous exhibitions which seemed no more than an attempt to fill out the show. Nothing spectacular.Nothing even particularly tempting.Lots of nondescript black and white photos.Theres a series of photos taken of winding towers.Nothing a good amateur weekend camera buff couldnt take.There were some swirling black and white prints with lots of bold strokes that wouldnt be out of place in a kindergarten fingerpainting class.I didnt expect to see non printed medium on ...

Friday Flash..Irish Iron Merchandise 2008
2008-09-05 01:27:00
Some of the new merchandise available from Irish Iron ,the official supporters club of Scunthorpe United Football Club based in Ireland.Proceeds from sales of their merchandise and membership fees go to the club as players kit sponsorship.Check out the website for more details of their range of merchandise at www.irishiron.blogspot.com.Above is a shot of the new Irish Iron supporters scarf complete with green shamrock. An Irish Iron polo shirt.There are currently three Republic of Ireland players at Scunthorpe and one player from Northern Ireland hence the Irish connection with the club.An Irish Iron baseball cap in an attractive,fetching green complete with wide brim to protect the wearer from the elements.
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Houjicha KitKats
2008-09-01 00:49:00
Another addition to the KitKat confectionery range.The actual spelling of the main ingredient seems to vary.Ive seen it spelt as "houji","hoji" and "hoj" but Im sticking with "houji" having consulted several Japanese friends.Whatever the proper spelling,houji is a kind of green tea.It differs from other green teas because it is roasted over charcoal.This apparently not only changes the leaf colour from green to brown but also produces a less astringent,milder light to reddish brown tea.In fact the taste is so mild that I thought it was pretty average when I sampled one of the mini bars straight from the pack.It was difficult to distinguish it from other chocolate products.It was only after I put the pack into my refrigerator and ate one later that I could detect the houji taste coming through.A mild,nutty slightly caramel like flavour.Nothing world shattering,though I do recommend that they taste better chilled than straight out of the packet.

Nippon Domanaka Festival
2008-09-01 00:35:00
Billed as Japans largest dance festival with over 200 teams and some 23,000 dancers the Nippon Domannaka Festival was held over last weekend.With Saturdays torrential rain I saw many dancers who looked like drowned rats in their soaking wet costumes.Fortunately the weather cleared on Sunday.It was impossible to go anywhere in central Nagoya without seeing a group of colourful performers going to and from one of the many venues dotted around the city.Many groups also had their own unique transport and support vehicles including this unusually decorated vehicle that not only caught my eye but also that of many other passers-by.

Two More Delicious Treats
2008-09-01 00:05:00
Two more treats from the local bakery/patisserie.The first is a a thick sponge with a creamy lemon flavoured interior.It had quite a sharp zesty,refreshing taste despite its somewhat bland appearance.Topped with a couple of raspberries and a sliver of white chocolate. The second photo shows a circular blueberry sponge topped with a sweet glaze and two blueberries.On cutting into the interior of the thick brown sponge one is greeted with a bluish,purple interior of blueberies.The small round sponge sits atop a chewy caramel biscuit
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Friday Flash..Some more Mejij-Mura Photos
2008-08-29 01:47:00
Four final shots from MejiMura.There are a variety of buildings and architectural styles on view.The first shot shows the side of a huge sake brewery.The building is on a hill overlooking some of the other buildings.The entrance to one of the larger,grander wooden houses located in the grounds.The small kabuki theatre on the grounds.The final shot is an interior one of a prison cell complete with a smiling inmate.The cell is just slightly smaller than my apartment and better furnished.There are a number of prison buildings and structures within Meiji Mura.
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Meiji-mura Museum
2008-08-25 02:57:00
Wishing to escape the confines of my apartment and the heat I travelled to Meji-Mura Museum for the day.Meji-Mura is an open-air museum that contains over 60 buildings from the Meji Era 1868-1912.Various buildings from all over Japan have been brought there and are on display.One can walk into a school,a jail and a traditional bath house for instance or eat at one of the restaurants that operate out of the historical premises.Meji-Mura is located near Inuyama which is about a 45 to 60 minute train ride from Nagoya depending on which train you use.From Inuyama Station you need to catch a shuttle bus which takes you to Meji-Mura.A little expensive and time consuming to get there(the shuttle bus takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic) but worth it.There are ample signs in English at Inuyama Station that direct you to the Museums shuttle bus stop. The small building above comes from Tokyo and was the residence of Ogoto Mori and Soseki Natsume.Various displays inside each buildin...

Friday Flash..More Photos from the Midland Square Building
2008-08-22 00:43:00
A final few shots from atop the Midland Square Building .Looking down over Nagoya you can see a variety of buildings.You can peek down into one of the more popular rooftop beer gardens that operate in summer.Towards the middle of this photo you can see a school building complete with rooftop swimming pool and gravel school playing yards.On the extreme left a new building swathed in green netting is being built.Looking over Nagoya towards Sakae.You can see the International Centre Building on the bottom left handside of the shot.In this last shot,towards the right,one can make out Nagoya Castle and its green grounds that contrast with the surrounding built-up inner cityscape.
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Midland Square Building Nagoya
2008-08-18 01:58:00
Currently the tallest building in Central Japan,the Midland Square building was completed in autumn 2006.The building stands at 247m and has 47 floors.There is a three floor observation deck,the Sky Promenade,which costs 700 yen for adults to enter.As you can see from the photo theres a sloping walking platform and the viewing gallery is open to the sky and elements.As well as containing Toyota`s sales staff and thirty odd other company offices the building has a plethora of designer stores,cafes and restaurants and a seven screen multiplex cinema. Built across from the Nagoya Station Central Towers,the Midland Square Building provides great panoramic views of the cityscape.One of its nearest neighbours is the Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers.It opened in April 2008 after construction began in 2005.The spiral skyscraper is 36 floors and 170m tall.It houses restaurants,shops and three vocational schools.On the other side of the Midland Square building is the Lucent Tower,a curved sweeping g...

Friday Flash..Summer Food
2008-08-15 12:29:00
A few samples of Dean and Deluca ice cream from the Midland Square store in Nagoya.From left to right Fromage Blanc with Raspberry,Belgian Couverture Chocolate,Kyoto Green Tea and Madagascar Vanilla.The Fromage Blanc contains cheese,raspberry,raspberry sauce,fresh cream,condensed skim milk,sugar and egg yolk.Its quite a thick mixture.The cheese is more akin to cream cheese rather than Edam or mozzarella in terms of texture and provides the substance or filler for the raspberry ingredients and flavour including the little annoying bits that get lodged between your teeth.Worth sampling but Im not sure if Id bother again.The Beligan Couverture Chocolate comes in a dark brown tub which mirrors the contentsThis ice cream like the Fromage Blanc is quite thick but also very rich.Its not overly sweet nor bitter.It looks like real chocolate.Feels like real chocolate when you spoon it and when you first taste it.Its not overly sweet or bitter According to the label the ingredients include the...
More About: Food , Flash , Summer , Friday

Moshobi
2008-08-11 02:04:00
"Moshobi" roughly translated is Japanese for days of extreme summer heat.When the mercury climbs past 35 degrees celsius.Over the last fortnight in Nagoya there have been many moshobi days.Unlike the fish at Shirotori Garden its difficult to find a cool refuge from the heat and humidity.Even inside one cant escape the heat and humidity.The thin veneer strips on the top of the classroom dividers have lifted due to the heat in the cramped and poorly air conditioned space my employer euphemistically calls a language school.Such a heated environment is hardly conducive for studying.Not only does the heat reduce my levels of patience and hours of sleep it also decreases my appetite and my desire to cook for myself.Cold noddles,soba and bentos are the order of the day at present.

A Trio of Quick Book Reviews
2008-08-10 23:40:00
Despite the summer heat and humidity giving me cause for impatience and a lack of concentration Ive recently read some thought provoking and diverting stuff.In no particular order then firstly..Rubicon. Tom Holland.2003.Abacus.389 pagesHaving had my interest piqued in the Roman Empire by the HBO series Rome I was given this book to read.Hollands work brings to life the final years of the Roman Republic.The book is packed full of interesting facts and figures as the author has used a variety of primary Greek and Roman sources as well as more modern works and authors in his research.I didnt realise the full extent or reach of the Roman Empire or its effect.."In the East great cities were ransacked for treasure-but in the West it was the earth.The result was mining on a scale not to be witnessed again until the Industrial Revolution"pg42. or later on pg 43"Measurements of lead in the ice of Greenlands glaciers which show a staggering increase in concentration during this period,bear wi...
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Friday Flash..Traditional Confectionery
2008-08-08 02:23:00
Jelly like sweets in the shape of watermelon slices.Small wafer like biscuits shaped like fans.The toothpick serves as the handle.The wafers are stuck together with a small molasses like filling.A summer stalwart.Basically its just a pile of shaved ice over which you pour your favourite flavour or topping.Very refreshing,particularly when its half melted and slushy.The offering in the photo above is adorned with a strawberry topping.
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Tajimi City Fireworks Festival 2008
2008-08-04 10:23:00
As with many places around Japan in August,Tajimi City holds a summer festival complete with dancing competitions,food stalls,parades and fireworks.The area has recently made the headlines for having very hot summer temperatures.Yesterdaywas no exception.Even though I didnt get out to Tajimi until 4pm it was still noticeably hotter than Nagoya although its only 45 minutes distant by train.Obviously being surrounded by low hills explains the higher temperatures.There were the usual food stalls one expects to see at such events though I dont think there were as many as last year.Nor for that matter do I think the crowds that massed on both banks of the Toki River were as large as I recall.Which meant that it was easier and more comfortable to pick a spot to view the firework displays.The fireworks began as usual on the stroke of 7:30pm.And continued for the next hour to the accompaniment of very loud J-Pop music and a distorted shrill female voice.There was a noticeable light wind whi...
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Friday Flash..Endoji Shopping Arcade
2008-08-01 02:21:00
Being the middle of summer it seems theres a festival or matsuri being held literally on every street corner.I ventured out to the Endoji Shopping Arcade earlier this week to see what was happening at the annual Tanabata Festival.The Endoji Shotengai is a traditional shopping arcade within spitting distance of Nagoya Station and many modern buildings in Meieki.Its a quiet backwater.A step back from the modern hurly burly glass,metal and bright lights of more upmarket shopping areas.Grimy,down at heel. For a few days each year the arcade is decorated with traditional tanabata decorations and huge paper mache figures,models and characters.Large figures of cartoon characters such as Tom and Jerry and Winnie the Pooh vie for the attention of onlookers.A variety of animals such as whales and koalas had also been constructed and hung above the passing shoppers.Most of the shops in the arcade which straddles a large main road, appear to be family owned.Theres the usual collection of restau...
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Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament RoundUp 2008
2008-07-28 14:17:00
The Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament ended yesterday.Hakuho had wrapped up the Emperors Cup on day 13 so the only real interest was whether he could end with a 15 win 0 loss record.Which he did by beating Kotooshu in the last bout of the final day.Kotooshu who won the last basho and had earlier hopes of promotion to the rank of yokozuna ended up with a 9-6 record.Baruto finished 10-5 and ozeki Kaio with a 9-6 win loss record.An eel and rice bento available in many shops at this time of year.Eel is seen as giving people stamina and energy in the hot,humid days of summer.Today with the temperature again in the mid 30s Nagoya had thunder and lightning throughout the day.Intermittent showers meant that carrying an umbrella was necessary.
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Mad as a Box of Frogs...
2008-07-28 13:33:00
Sometimes you have to shake your head.Some ideas are best unsaid.Case in point,the idea that on the last day of the month students will be given wine to drink in classes.Apparently the CEO,Mr Inayoshi is taking the credit for this.Once again the leadership of GCom is betraying its origins.Theres a world of difference between running a so-called language school organisation and a chain of restaurants.The motivations and expectations of language learners and diners are not the same.For one thing the investment in time and money made by students is hugely more significant.Apart from the simple fact that there wont be enough space on a table to balance glasses in a five student lesson I have a number of problems with the concept.My first and major objection is that it doesnt seem professional.I never thought learning and the consumption of alcohol made for good bedfellows.A language school doesnt seem the appropriate environment to be drinking.Sour grapes on my part.Possibly.But theres ...
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Friday Flash..Watermelon KitKats
2008-07-25 02:13:00
Another addition to the KitKat range I spied in a local supermarket.Again its a limited edition i.e only available for a short time.The packet comes with the suggestion that you put the mini bars in the freezer.Not a bad idea considering the last week the temperature has hovered in the low to mid 30 degree celsius range.As to the contents,the bars do indeed taste of watermelon.As well,they are a little salty as indicated on the packet.Not sure if I would buy them regularly if they were available year round but they do make for an unusual summer treat.
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Marine Day Monday July 21 2008
2008-07-21 11:14:00
It was Marine Day today.A public holiday that celebrates Im not sure what.Maybe it marks the start of the national water accident and drowning season.More likely its a sign that the summer festival season is upon us again.The annual fire works display at Nagoya Port is on later in the evening but Im too lethargic to catch the crowded subway down there to see it.Trying to avoid the heat of the day I did however venture down to Tsuramai Park and took refuge under the shade of the trees near the lotus pond.It is deceptively quiet.In fact its teeming with activity.Large blue dragonflies dive bombed me as I sat contemplating the newly sprouted lotus blossoms.Below the lotus flowers,small fish in large schools twist and turn between the roots.Meanwhile,knee deep in muddy water,frogs bask and brood in the afternoon heat.The Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament rolls on into its second week.Kotooshu's chances of rising to the rank of yokozuna have been extinguished after two early losses.NHK spor...
More About: Monday , July , 2008

Friday Flash..More from the Nagoya Sumo Tournament
2008-07-17 19:35:00
A couple of shots from the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament I attended earlier in the week.Below is a photo of yokozuna Asashoryu performing the traditional dohyo-iri or "entering the ring" ceremony.Accompanied by two lower ranked wrestlers and a judge,the yokozuna goes through an elaborate ceremony.After clapping his hands to get the attention of the gods he extends his hands to his sides and turns his palms upward to show he isnt hiding any weapons.He next rises one leg in the air then the other.Finally he stomps each leg down onto the the surface of the ring or dohyo symbolically driving evil away.After he has finished and his attendants have left the other yokozuna Hakuho repeated the ceremony.The second shot shows some of the merchandise and souvenirs available from the stalls outside the gym.Various towels,cloths and handkerchiefs were available.A multitude of Hello Kitty goods was also on sale.Pens,cookies and cloths bearing Hello Kitty figures in sumo garb were displayed in each...
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Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament July 2008
2008-07-14 06:32:00
I dragged myself up early and along to the second day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament .There was a line of people already waiting when I arrived at the ticket office.After standing in an orderly fashion for 10 minutes in the rapidly rising heat I purchased my ticket.And escaped into the air conditioned chasm of the Nagoya Prefectural Gym.In time to see the first bout of the day at 8:35pm.There were two shock results from the opening day.First Kotooshu,the ozeki from Bulgaria,who won the last tournament and is looking for another Emperors Cup to gain promotion to yokozuna,lost.Not surprisng really considering that his opponent was Aminishiki.His record against him now stands at 0-6 including one loss by default.The other surprise was Asashoryu's loss to Toyonoshima.Asa's record against him was 5-0 until yesterdays bout when Toyonoshima narrowly avoided touching the dirt before Asashoryu.The photo above shows a bowl of chanko nabe.Its a key dish in the diet of a sumo wrestler.It ...
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Friday Flash..Triple Berry KitKats
2008-07-10 19:19:00
A recent addition to the KitKat range are these triple berry kitkats.They come presented in a shiny box that glitters with small stars as you move it.As for the contents they are pink and striped.The KitKats combine the berry flavours of strawberries,cranberries and blueberries.Needless to say they have a very berry taste.
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Sumo Practice
2008-07-07 11:52:00
The Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament is due to start this Sunday July 13th.Last week sumo wrestlers descended upon Nagoya and have been practicing in various beya or stables dotted round Nagoya in preparation for the 15 day competition.I tagged along with a friend early this morning to see the wrestlers at ozeki Chiyotakai's stable go through their paces.Members of the public can watch the workout provided they remain quiet and they dont use their flash when taking photos.There was one amusing incident when a man arrived with a small pit bull terrier.The animals asthmatic wheezing reverberated around the courtyard much to the other onlookers amusement.Of course it was only a matter of time before the owner and dog were told politely to depart.The photo above shows umbrella bearing onlookers gathered outside the building that houses the practice sumo ring where the wrestlers practice.The stable occupies quite a large area of land and there are a number of buildings and structures on th...
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Friday Flash...Another Concrete Mt Fuji
2008-07-03 23:26:00
Another example of a concrete Mount Fuji in a local park.This one doesnt look that safe or maintained compared to the other example I posted last week.The paint on this one has faded and in places bare concrete can be seen.The surface is very smooth and provides little grip or traction when attempting to climb it.If you look closely you can see several large cracks and fissures that run down the sides and near the top of the structure.As with the earlier example,one side has stones embedded in it.Due to the rain and wet weather,climbing up this side of the structure presents a tricky proposition unless you are sure footed.
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