dinsdag 12 januari 2010

'Nagoya newspaper' - The Conclusion

The newspaper arrived today:



"Enter the Nagoya Guesthouse

It's not a hotel, nor a ryokan (a Japanese style inn). A new cheap hostel/guest house has made it's way into the heard of Nagoya. A room with 2 beds is between 2-3,000 yen, beyond the cheapness the guests become friends and can exchange travel information. Next year is Nagoya's 400 year anniversary. Located between Tokyo and Kansai, Nagoya is often passed over. Will this be enough to encourage more travelers to stop in?

A 5 minute walk from Kanayamasogo Station, Hostel An is a 40 year old wooden building with 6 rooms and 2 floors. The ex-salesman from Yokohama, Ayano Kimishima (34) opened this establishment in October of this year (2009).

"I wanted to create a place as comfortable as a normal Japanese home." She said. In the room with a TV, computer, and manga foreign travelers relax and occasionally make travel-buddies. Eric Ras (30) from Holland said, "I found a kendo dojo when I was walking around, and the sensei let me in!" and proudly showed me his pictures! Over 80% of the customers here are foreigners.

Ms. Kimijima traveled around Southeast Asia 10 years ago and started to dream about opening her own guesthouse. Until last year she worked at the Chubu Airport while looking for a good place for her enterprise. She said, "As foreigners have a different sense of difference than Japanese people, I think Nagoya is a good place because Takayama and Himeiji are an easy day trip away."

There are guest houses like this in other countries and in Okinawa, but there weren't any in Nagoya. This year, the first guest house, Otohaya Besso opened (In the Nakamura ward near Nagoya Station South). It has a bar where than even non-guests can enjoy themselves. Now, they are re-designing it to allow for live performances. They also give local artists a chance to display their works.

"Travelers and locals can sit together and drink sake and go for one of Nagoya's famous huge "morning" breakfasts," said the owner. The ex-metalworker from Hiroshima, Takahiro Tange (38) said his goal was to create a "melting pot".

Nagoya is said to have very few travelers. In the French travel book Michelin, Takayama got the full 3 stars, however Nagyoa only got one star! It says, "There is not much to attract most travelers, but that doesn't mean there are no places to go and enjoy yourself."

Mr. Tange said, "I want travelers to not only go to big concrete museums, but also go to the places that only locals go, and enjoy the local food as well." Nagoya is different from Kyoto, as you can easily find things 'not on the map'". The key to getting more people interested in Nagoya is having the locals help create an atmosphere that captures their interest."

Thank you Levi and Miyuki for translating this!

(original posts: 1 & 2)

zondag 10 januari 2010

Back in NL

We've been back in The Netherlands for a week now.
For me, 'Excellent Adventures' was an understatement. Joost turned out to be one of the best travel companions one can ask for ( as long as he gets his caffeine shot ;p ) Japan has been so cool that I'm considering going for a year. I'm really happy with my job right now so no short term plans, but I'm looking in to getting some English degree or certificate to increase job opportunities.

Anyway, I thought I'd give you guys a few more pics to enjoy:
What would you like to order?:
McKroket eat your heart out:
Osaka supermarket:
Jellyfish (Wallpaper anyone?):
Maneki Kitty:
xmass:
xmass:
Nara Kōen:
Nara Kōen:
BYO Controler:
Nagano:
Not Nagano:
Ride with a view:



Nike flagship store:
Get in line for NYE:
They are in Japan too (en ook hier incl. bontkragen):
NYE = Big Buisness:
Happi Coat:
Last meal:
Last look:
Last Subway:
First signs of home! but still in Japan!?!:

For the stories behind them just ask me or Joost :)

zaterdag 9 januari 2010

Engrish

We weren't exactly on the lookout, but as you might expect we cam across some beauties.:




And this one, no Engrish here bus still pretty bizar:

zaterdag 2 januari 2010

Japanese manholes

Japan's manhole covers often include a symbol specific to an area or town as part of the overall design and vary depending on their purpose. Here are the ones we found on our trip:
(Himeji)

(Himeji)

(Himeji)

(Osaka)

(Nara)

(Nara)

(Kyoto)

(Kanazawa)

(Nagano)

(Matsumoto Castle town)

(Yamanouchi/Snow Monkey park)

(Tokyo)

'Nagoya newspaper' - The Sequel

Email received today:

"Hi,this is Ann from Hostel Ann in Nagoya.
Thank you for staying at my hostel the other night.
The newspaper has been published and is almost sending it to your home.

Actually,I would like to ask you one thing.
If you are still in Japan around 10th Jan I would like you to appear on TV
which is a TV program about travelers from over seas in Japan.

If it's OK for you please let me know and then I will tell you more details.

Hope to hear from you Soon!!

Regards,

Ann
Hostel Ann
"


damn damn damn, too bad we're heading back tomorrow :D

(original post)

vrijdag 1 januari 2010

Akihabara

Yesterday I, and today Joost and I went to Akihabara.
Akihabara is a major shopping area for electronic, computer, anime, and otaku goods, including new and used items. I really had to contain myself because a lot of shops sold orriginal G1 Transformers, re-releases, master pieces and new toys from Transformers. The re-releases and new Transformers don't really interest me, but the old school and master pieces made me drool all the more. What was worse the prices were quite good.
In the end I think I think it was a good thing there was so much choice, I chose to buy only one ("Listen to yourself Eric, you can't buy it all") master piece in a discount store for about a third of the price you pay in The Netherlands:

"Time makes all things possible. I can wait."
~Starscream

The 47 ronin

Today we went to Sengaku-ji, the gravesite for the famous 47 ronin. The 47 ronin is the unforgettable saga of a band of samurai who defied the Emperor's laws and faced certain destruction to avenge the disgrace and death of their master.

The 47 ronin

The events took place in 1701, right in the middle of the Tokugawa era. Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi ordered a few of his daimyo to attend an envoy from the Imperial family. For this purpose, the master of protocol Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka (1641-1702) was designated to teach the daimyo the complex rules of Imperial etiquette.
One of the daimyo, Asano Takumi no kami Naganori (1667-1701), head of a branch of the powerful Asano family, did not go on well with Kira. As the tension rose between the two men, Kira made every effort to embarass his student in public. The conflict inflamed when Kira insulted Asano in the shogun's palace. Asano drew his sword (act forbidden in the shogun's palace) and struck Kira, though only injuring him. As striking someone while angry was also against the law, Asano committed a double crime. He knew this and readily admitted his misdemeanor, only regretting not to have killed Kira.

Lord Asano was made to commit seppuku, although the decision was unpopular and seen as unjust by many. His retainers had now become ronin and swore to avenge their master's death by killing Kira.

The ronin were not trusted by their enemies, and lived under the watchful eyes of spies for months. They seemed to be adapting to their new circumstances, some more gracefully than others, by taking on the roles of simple tradesmen and teachers. Their leader Oishi, appeared to have lost his path in life, and became a hapless drunk.

In fact, the ronin only appeared to have to accept their fate. They were actually making careful plans for revenge, and counting the minutes until the moment was right to strike.

On 14 December 1702, the 47 went to Kira's mansion in Ryogoku and attacked it. Lots of Kira's men died in the surprise attack, but Kira had the time to commit seppuku before being caught by the ronin. Only one of the ronin died in the attack, then the 46 remaining were also made to commit suicide for their killings.

The 47 ronin (incl. Oishi Kuranosuke), lord Asano and Kira are all buried in Sengaku-ji.

Their acts are the source for Japan's most celebrated story of bravery, cunning, and loyalty. It has been told and retold in plays, in print, in books, in movies and on television ever since the news first swept through feudal Japan.

There was A LOT of smoke there from all the incense burning there, even more than normal due to the fact that many Japanese traditionally use January 1st to visit temples.




"Among flowers, the cherry blossom;
among men, the Samurai
"
~Japanese proverb