Author: Christopher

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Episode 42 – Worst Podcast Ever!

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I’m in a funk, there are no two ways around it. Well, actually just been really busy and have been enjoying the relaxing with the little free time I have. I do manage to bang out a few topics. Hope it works. Here we go.

Show Notes:

  • Japanese school boys
  • Thanks for the 作文 feedback
  • Better Japanese support in OS X Leopard
  • Shimizu Mega-city Pyramid
  • Meta Talk
    • Ronald Donald MacDonald
    • Coffee episode update
    • Should I start a Mogulus Channel?
    • Almost bought an iPod touch

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作文 Hell

Hello everybody, today is your weather report from 作文 (sakubun) hell. Its October, but its still hot hot hot. I really haven’t had time to podcast lately, but I won’t make any excuses. I’ll just have to wait until I get some time to lay down some meaningful tracks.

In the meantime, I figured I’d share a little bit of my essay that I’m writing for my class. Since I compose on the computer and then transcribe to practice writing, I find this approach has the added benefit of allowing me to share it quickly with those who might be interested. Just a quick comparison with my last 作文 post and I can see that enough though I’ve come quite far, I still have so far to go.

So here it is with warts and all. I will be correcting it later this week. Mangled Japanese, 1, 2, 3 …. イコウ！!

Continue reading “作文 Hell”

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Fall is Coming

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This picture was taken during the matsuri Alex and I participated in earlier this year. Much like how this little one feels, that’s how I feel today. The weather is finally starting to cool down and although the work is picking up, the spirits are not getting down.

I went up to Asakusa today to head on over to Starbucks for some studying, had an excellent conversation with the folks who try to get money out of tourists for donating to earthquake victims, and am now enjoying getting my life a little organized here at home. The windows are open and there is a nice cool breeze. Do I need any other reason to post to the blog.

Apparently not. Enjoy the pic!

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Episode 41 – Drink Review

Alex and I do a quick drink review, I reflect on my life for a hot second, and I attempt to talk about Japanese schoolboys but don’t quite get to it. Banging out the podcasts in less than an hour now, get this episode while its fresh!

Show Notes

  • Genki Intro
  • Audio Clip from Monday night
    • New School Schedule and feeling mellow on a Monday evening
    • Nice to see Tokyo skyline at night again
  • Since Monday
    • Stressing out
    • What does one want to do with their life?
    • “Reading” David Whyte’s – The Heart Aroused
  • Celebrating a difficult week complete with a Shirokirin Beer
  • Drink Review
    • 2 SA’s – Calpis Fizz Light Style
    • 1/2 SA – Nikka, Natural Mizuwari
    • Trying to do math while drinking whiskey
    • NEWSFLASH: Convenience stores in Japan are the first place new drinks are released!
    • Check out Way of the Grape
  • Next topic will have to wait

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Episode 40 – Sumo Zombies

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Scott Lockman’s latest episode beat me to the punch on the sumo update, but his update on sumo was much more informative than mine so go check it out. If you want audio from sumo, you can get that in this next episode. Recorded right after I was able to get my cord fixed last week, I touch upon sumo and a few other topics. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

  • More about my power cord
  • AppleCare rules!
  • Homelessness in Japan
    • The guy under the bridge
    • The guy who asked me for “hungry”
    • The guys who live in Internet cafe’s
  • Only in Japan – strangest vending machine to date
  • Sumo Wrestling
    • Audio clip
  • Zombie cleaning crew
    • Audio clip

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C’mon Lets Mikuru Legend

This goes out to everyone starting the Japanese language program here at Waseda this week. Come on let’s dance, special generation!

[gv data=”s66EnE83rYg”][/gv]

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Japanese Journalist Killed in Burma

I’m sure most of you who are tuned in to Japanese issues heard about the Japanese journalist killed in Myanmar last week. For those who want more information, you can head on over to Japanprobe.com, a good source of information for things Japanese both cultural and political.

Be warned, there is footage of the actual shooting as well as the sad aftermath two minutes later as Nagai-san lay helpless in the streets of Rangoon.

My thoughts certainly go out to those in Burma fighting for freedom and I hope that those who have lost their lives find comfort in the days too come.

Link to story

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Episode 39 – Fire Hazard

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On my way to Akiba (Akihabara), I speak on a few topics after discovering a huge fire hazard in my apartment. Find out more by listening below.

Show Notes:

  • Walking to Akihabara
  • Crazy thing with my power adapter
  • A little gear-talk
  • School starts on October 1st for me – skipping a level, suicide?
  • Politics
    • Too much politics research
    • Waiting for Scott’s “What’s Up America”
    • Being away from home and how it affects your views
  • Darth Vader
    • Looking like him
    • Dream I had about him when I was a kid
  • Tattoos in Japan
  • More insights on work
    • Emergency rescue kit bag
    • Sleepy time
    • Power using MS Excel
  • My rant about “Lifehacking”
  • The podcaster biorhythm
  • Follow-up story

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Second Life – Japan

As if actually being in Japan weren’t enough, today I ventured into Second Life today to see what I could find that was Japan related and perhaps find a venue for some more in-depth language practice. This was also to do some research for an upcoming video episode that I wanted to do. More on that later…

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I first found this sign on “Help Island”. Pretty encouraging to see the use of Japanese even in the introduction section. This area is like a sandbox and full of just random things.

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But I was able to find Japan city pretty easily. I only explored one area since the area I wanted to go to was not available at the time. Notice the grid map over my left shoulder which shows all of the land areas for Japan City. This is my “I am the master of Japanese Text” pose.

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In Japan city, I quickly met some people. The person all the way on the right then proceeded to give me some items that I was able to keep – including a maid-cafe thing that follows you around. When you double-click on it, it brings you to a maid-cafe. I could have sworn I saw this guy at Tokyo Game Show. Something fishy here.

Snapshot_004.jpegAhh, but certainly like real life. It all goes downhill real quick. This Mr. Slick turned into Ms. Lush and proceeded to drink large beers and stumble around wildly. Though it sounds immature, all interactions were in Japanese so it did have at least some education aspect for me.

Overall, I think Second Life has some potential for learning another language. Japanese support within the program is great and definitely has some advantage to your helping your reading skills. Also, since the last time I have checked out Second Life, there is also voicechat, which makes conversing with people in their language that much easier.

I want to explore some more as I get some free time, but at least for now I’ve gotten myself situated and can find some other areas to practice Japanese in. Now, if I can only find that maid cafe in Akiba… (^_-)/