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.