Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Christmas in Japan, Haiku(s), and Trapped in Osaka


There is no snow here.
But, It's raining and colder
Than the summertime.

The lights of Nihon
Shine the same as Stateside lights
When Holiday bells ring.

Fuyu-wa desuka? (Is it winter?)
Yuki-ga futte imasen. (It's not snowing.)
Samui-desu-ne? (Isn't it cold?)

There you go, my attempt at the haiku.

Things here in Nihon(Japan) are well. I feel I am finding my feet and spreading my wings at the same time. I have made it a personal mission to make the best of my times here, to do all I can, and learn as much as I can. Though, rainy days like today give me pause to reflect and plan. I am grateful for the people I have met here, and I hope to continue finding those like minded people. As I was talking to my very good friend Scott yesterday, I mentioned to him how living here has given me a different perspective in human relations, and I have had the great opportunity to observe how similar we all are, no matter race, color, or culture. My friends here remind me of friends back home. I always draw upon personal comparisons when I meet new people, for familiarity to others I know or have met. This has been true for me here in Japan as well. Good souls have no face or race, just open hearts and a generous spirit.

To be able to share music here has given me great joy as well. Since, this is what I do, how I define myself. Whether it's on a stage, in a living room, a classroom, on the street, in my head, or over the internet, music is the blood that keeps me alive. I will have my first solo show, in January at a cool pub called Tin's Hall in Tennoji, Osaka. It's run by a Japanese surfer named "Nori" and has great atmosphere( Hawaiian themed) and very nice people from all over the world.

So I got this gig by playing at an open mic that was being hosted there, go figure, just how I got most my gigs back home. It's nice to know some things can be universal. Tin's Hall has a nice, laid back atmosphere, a great burger(which is hard to find in Japan), and cool people. I actually didn't book the gig that day of the open mic, but unexpectedly ended up at Tin's a few days later when I missed my train home from Osaka and had to catch the first early morning train back home at 5am. Sucks! This was bound to happen sooner or later, since the facts that trains stop running at midnight and I'm a musician don't always dance well together. So, this was my opportunity to venture the streets of Osaka when most everyone sleeps. Here's my Story.




This is my friend Noe. She's a great singer/songwriter I met a few weeks ago through some of my other friends here in Japan. She invited me to a John Lennon Tribute show she was performing at in a little livehouse(music bar/club) called Zecco in Osaka. I met up with her Friday night and hung out in Zecoo, enjoyed the first band that played a variety of reggae and bluesy style: they were pretty cool, and different from the normal Japanese music/band I've encountered. Then another solo guy came up and played, then they invited me up to play, and I did a few tunes. Then Noe jammed out a few Lennon numbers sung in English and Nihongo (Japanese). I kept an eye on my watch, since I felt it getting later, but thought I'd be safe leaving when I did, a bit after 11pm. Unfortunately, I did not estimate my walking time, 'cause once I got on the subway train, I had a sinking feeling that I would miss the last train to Goido. I frantically called Erin, who of course, reprimanded me(rightly so) for losing track of the time and I settled into the idea that I would have to spend my night in Osaka, somewhere. After a slight panic, I gathered my wits and headed to a place where I could chill for awhile and figure out where to go or what to do. That place, convieniently happened to be Tin's Hall, where I had played the open mic a few days prior. I hung out there, talked with Nori(and actually set up my gig for january that night, which was very fortunate) and met a few of his friends and regulars at Tin's, a great bunch of guys and girls. I also had a great hamburger, a real one on a bun (most "american style" burgers in Japan come on a plate of rice with some sorta sauce, almost like salsbury steak) with steak cut fries... it was so good, you don't understand. So, I hung out at Tin's talking with a kid from Germany who's in to Punk Rock, a super cool cat from Mexico , and a Japanese dancer who's into old school pop and lock. I left Tin's at about a quarter to 3am, with guitar on back and compass in hand. I could've stayed around there by the station, and wait for a few hours, but I decided to walk to make the most of the time.
Here's something I saw while I walked. I don't know what it is, but looked so odd and out of place in the greyness of the surrounding buildings. I had decided to walk from Tennoji, north to a station called Tsuruhashi, where I would usually transfer to get home. I figured I had some time to kill, so why not try and walk the distance instead of sittin' around with the sleeping homeless men by the station. I'm glad it wasn't very cold, and it only started raining around 4:30am, which I had to buy an umbrella at a convience store on my trek northward.
One thing that was comforting to know after this adventure, that I was able to walk safely around in the middle of the night through Osaka. Now, I'm not saying this place is a playground, but I didn't feel threatened or fearful while I walked about the sleeping city.
When all was said and done, I walked for about two hours, not sure how many kilometers, and safe and sound. I got home about 6:30am, slept for a few, then had a teaching gig at 9am, and later a playing gig at 7pm. Here I am with our friend Keiko, at a cafe I played at for a charity gig that night.
No rest for the wicked. I suppose this will not be that last time I will wander the streets of Osaka, but at least I know what to expect. Though, I met some great people that night, so maybe next time I won't have to wander around... It's an adventure notheless. Here's one last parting image I captured one day on my phone, while I was walking around our neighborhood.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Filipino Lounge Band, Organically grown veggies, and my first Jazz gig

So two weeks ago I had my first gig with my friends the Kazuki and Chiake Kataoka-san(husband and wife jazz musicians). It was a great time, though throughout the evening the randomness of the situation was a constant that made the experience that much more memorable.

For the most part, the gig was for a small audience, for a private party. We later found out that the people were bussiness partners of Chiaki-san's father, who was present and in great form throughout the evening. So, it was me, Chiaki, her husband Kazuki, Chiaki's father, and my Japanese teacher, Miwako(who was the link who introduced me to the Kataoka-sans). They picked me up and we drove to the place, which was great to see a different perspective of the area from the window of a car, since most of my mode of transportation is either train, bike, or by foot.

The party was at a sorta boatclub in a harbor in the Sakai region of Osaka. Here's a view out to the water at night. When we arrived the hosts were preparing the food to be grilled for dinner. It was my first experience seeing and eating Japanese BBQ, and it was oishiikatta(delicious)! We were introduced to the hosts and the other guests, and Miwako-san was able to see me exercise the my Japanese language skills that she has been teaching me. I still have much to learn, but I was able to introduce myself in Japanese. The hosts, we found out through conversations, were promoting their organically grown vegatables, and they promote health consciousness through fresh food and stuff. Very cool to meet organic Japanese farmers. It was n extremely relaxed afternoon, but we(our group) still wondered how random this meeting seemed, and when and where we were to perform. We were informed that there will be another group coming to perform as well, a Filipino group of musicians. Hence, the pink jackets you see above.

It was totally random again. We played our set and it was great to perform. They have the inside of the boathouse decked out like a karaoke lounge, and there was a buch of sound equiptment and instruments. We chilled for a bit as the other group set up, and they totally were a Filipino Lounge, pink jackets as all. Totally random. They jammed standards and oldies. I totally felt like I was in that scene in swingers where they were chillin' in the lounge with the Jan and Dean duet... remember that scene? Or back in Chicago at the latenight haunt down the way from the GreenMill, with the houseband of old guys behind the bar. It was great.

They played their first set, rocked out, then took a break. We all played a game called jan-ken, which we know as rock, paper, scissors back home. One note, jan-ken is huge in Japanese culture, for some reason. Kids playit. Adults playit. People use jan-ken as a tie breaker in certain situations. Well, that's how I won my beautiful lettuce plant that is now sitting in my window sill; 'cause of course all the prizes were organically grown veggies... ramdom.
Also, another guest performed some Japanese ballads. This woman I was told had recently recorded her first album at the age of 60-something, quite impressive.

I talked to the band outside and they were totally cool. They have been living in Japan for quite sometime now, and they told me they each have their separate gigs, but get together like this now and again and wing it... much like I've always done back home. They were excited to learn that I was Filipino too, and as they got ready to play their second set, they invited me to jam with them. Of course I couldn't pass up a chance to play music, especially with a Filipino Lounge band, in a karaoke boathouse, on a pier in Osaka Japan, after having won a lettuce plant in a game of rock, paper, scissors... it does sound funny when you say it all together like that, eh?

We rocked out some oldies and standards, then they told me to take the reigns and I introduced them to my renditions Johnny Cash, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke, and the band followed suite quite easily. It was totally fun, and people were dancing and singing for the rest of the evening.

We packed up, said our good-byes to our new friends, and made our way back to Nara, still a bit dazed and confused by the random events of the night. My only regret was that Erin couldn't make it to enjoy and meet everyone. Next time.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Creole in Kobe, Savanah in Osaka, and I'll be on Japanese TV!!!


Today I went to Kobe to see my friends' jazz group perform at the Creole Acoustic Live Music club, and then on my way back, stopped in Osaka for an open mic at the Savanah. I thought it was quite amusing that my day in Japan had this Southern U.S. underlying theme. I swear I didn't consciously plan it so.

Kobe looked a lot like the Bay Area in California,: hilly streets, little shops, worldly cuisine options, houses on hills, etc. It was a gorgeous day to be walking in a new city.




Mr. and Mrs. Kataoka are married and are part-time jazz musicians around Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. He's a drummer /percussionist and she plays the flute. I will be performing with them at the end of the month in Osaka. I met them through my wonderful Japanese teacher Miwako, and we hit it off in our initial rehearsal. They invited me to their performance in Kobe to meet their music sensei(teacher), Mr. Shibata. He was very cool, an excellent musician. They played a variety of pieces, but mostly bossa nova. I would have never thought that I would be mingling in a Japanese jazz community when I first arrived here, but that's how the cards are falling.

I'm so glad to finally get some things rollin with music, now that I'm a bit more settled.

The room was great at the Creole Acoustic Live Music club. When I saw a big Keith Jarrette poster hanging on the wall, and his 1996 DVD playing, I knew it was a serious venue. They had a nice grand piano there too.


So after the show at Creole, I hopped on the train back East bound for Osaka. Having lived in the 'burbs my whole life, I never had to rely on public transportation. In fact, I've probably used other cities public transit systems more then I've ever used CTA, South Shore, Metra. or EL. So, it's been a very new experience for me to rely on public transit here in Japan, and it's been an adventure to learn: what lines to take, stops, transfers, tickets(kippu), people watching, etc. It's been fun, but I do have the luxury of time to play with. There's a site, hyperdia.com, we always use, where you can put in your starting and ending points and time of departure, and it calculates the different routes, price, time, transfers, and arrival time. Indespensibly helpful, let me tell you. If you visit Japan, use this site.

I arrived at Osaka, and hopped on the subway to Shinsaibashi in Osaka, where Savanah is located. I got there early to sign-up, ate some Jambalaya(pretty good), met this supercool Japanese guy who actually lives in the States, but is back for a visit to Japan, and patienly waited till the music started. The place got more crowded at the clock turned. I played a short set, though with some technical glitches in my equipment, and I think people dug it. The MC announced everyone, and when I got up there I didn't know what he was asking me, I just wanted to play music. I felt like what racing horses look like when their in their stalls, waiting for the doors to open and then start running. I was a quite anxious to play, so it was a bit sloppy. Nonetheless, you soldier on. I went back up with my friend Elaine to accompany her with guitar. It was a very musical day.

Also, at Savanah, there was a two man video crew filming for a television show to promote the website that sponsored the open mic. I guess it's sorta like Japanese MTV, at least that's what was said. Anyways, I volunteered to give a short interview, along with a bunch of other volunteers, so I'll be on Japanese tv sometime actin' totally goofy, speaking horribly broken Japaninglish. Can I patent that word? I would have never thought that I would be on Japanese tv when I first arrived here. If I see the clip, I'm gonna laugh my ass off, because I was acting totally genki. "Genki" is the word used to describe the happy, cheery, sweetly sick demeanor you might see in anime characters, just about every tv personality, and a majority of retail sales clerks. So, genki was I to fit into the Japanese tv that I watch to emphatically to get my ears accoustomed to the language. I'm sure I probably will look and sound like I'm drunk.

This was a wonderfully productive day, not only for seeing and experiencing more of Japan, and not only for hearing and sharing great music and meeting new people, but more importantly for feeling the potential energy for a fruitful life during our stay here in Japan. We are blessed to be given this opportunity to live here, and I plan to make the most of this blessing by accomplishing my goals as a musical artist, traveling, learning the language and more about Japanese culture, and sharing all these experiences with Erin so when we're old and grey we can look back in our story, and recall our chapter(s) in Japan together.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

A Forum for my observations



So, it took me long enough to finally create this to air my thoughts. Been busy taking Japan all in, sometimes I forget to breathe. It's been a bit over a month since I arrived in Japan, and I feel quite comfortable living here. Other than my inability to communicate in the native tounge, and not having a job to keep me occupied, I can say so far that this experience has been a wonderful change of pace and environment. There's so much to learn, so much I plan to do, and I often get frustrated because things aren't happening as quickly as I would have them. Which is not my usual character. I guess it's time to exercise my patience once again.

Since I've been here, I've seen and discovered a half a dozen Shinto shrines and Buddist Temples, seen even more rice fields, learned how to use the train system(mostly in Japanese Kanji I can't read), visited Osaka about four times, finally had sushi, oishii(delicious!), eaten okanomiyaki(the regional dish of Nara), ride my bike daily, got hooked on Sumo wrestling on TV, cook just about every evening, help judge a Highschool English Speech contest, made friends with a local farmer whom I buy my produce from(though, we can't speak to each other), met some Westerners I've played music with, saw a band, Sharks and Seals, in Osaka, had some of the best Italian food in Nara, learned how to change a bike tire, made friends with my airplane neighbor Jeff, got hooked on my new keitai(cell phone), help teach Erin's classes for two weeks, and learned a little bit of Japanese.

Japanese people put mayonaise on alot of stuff, though the mayonaise here tastes different, more tangy. I've been in the habit of adding mayonaise to my cooking now.

Rice costs more here than in the States, which I think is weird, since there are so many rice fields everywhere. I wonder if there is a hidden store for locals that sells rice dirt cheap.

Most fish at the supermarket still have their heads on, which isn't too weird for me because I grew up eating fish that way. Ocotopus and squid is common food too in the fish section. They also sell tiny, dried fish in bags, like the dilis I used to eat as a kid in our champorado(Filipino chocolate oatmeal) for breakfast.

Most Japanese kids learn 6 years of Enlgish in primary school and junior high.

Soy sauce in Japanese is syoyu, pronounced like "show you". I guess in this area we live in, Kansai, there are more frequently used varies of soy sauce. I wikipedia-ed soy sauce, and Japanese cuisine uses 5 or so different varieties of the originally Chinese condiment.

My keitai(cell phone) can read barcodes, has GPS, is an MP3 player, and supposedly I can purchase things using my phone by just waiving it over a sensor in certain stores, vending machines, and other places.

Tommy Lee Jones advertises a cold coffee drink here called Boss.


Japanese TV is as wild and weird as you might imagine it to be.

My shoe size is 27 1/2.

Little primary school kids wear yellow hats as part of their uniforms. Every student, in primary school to HS, were uniforms. Our friend Keiko told us some private schools even hire designers to make their uniforms. Japanese people are so stylish.

People are pretty serious about their hairstyles here.

Syrup is expensive here. Especially maple.

Fruit is expensive here. I saw a catalope for almost $40. Average is around $8-10.


Japan is not as advanced in computer technology as the US or Europe. I think they spend their technology on more gadgets and personal items, like cell phones that can locate you with GPS and pay for a can of Kit-Kats and the vending machine. , or dancing robots that can sing to you and answer your questions. Creepy.

There's not central heating or air conditioning in almost all the buildings here.

Cards(like greeting cards) with yellow and white on them are for funerals or wakes. Oops!



Japanese people do not use dryers. I guess our shower has a heating vent function where you dry your clothes in the winter. Other than that, it's hanging out the window.

Grilled eel is damn good! Oishii!

There are a lot of pastry and bread stores, also regularly located at the train stops.

A loaf of sliced bread at the supermarket comes in 4, 5 or 6 slices. It makes the best french toast.