Random Japan #1

I figure that I have enough random information to write a random Japanese blog. The family has heard some of this but not everyone else has!

Let's begin!!

The storm sewer drains are beautifully made (see above). They are all stamped with a relief of a traditional feudal palace or something with some trees and flowers and other things around. Some of them are even painted. It's very Japanese :)

Everything in Japan is "cute." All of the illustrations are cute; all of the girls want to be cute - not pretty, not hot, not sexy, but cute; cartoons clothing, even the way things like food are advertised or safety instructions are displayed are "cute."

The above picture is the warning sign in the elevators at work to watch your fingers so they don't get caught in the door.

The picture below explains the appropriate gargling etiquette - the Japanese have 2 pedals on most of their water fountains: one for plain water and then one for a somewhat minty gargling solution that they use to help disease prevention (how effective it is, I don't know). After using the fountain, there is another spout that faces downward and washes all of the backwash/spit-out-gargle-fluid down the drain to help keep the fountain clean.

They have Danone "Bio" yogurt here - like Activia and they have a grapefruit flavor! Yum :)

The Japanese are suppressed when it comes to sexuality. It's a very private thing. Morally I suppose you can argue that using sex to sell things or in movies and television shows the way we do in America and the west in general is immoral or that the thoughts that it could cause others to have are immoral. As I don't see an anti-sex revolution in the media happening anytime soon and even if you did take sex completely out of the media, it wouldn't stop people from having thoughts or having sex (not that all sex is immoral anyway)…I'm getting away from the point. The point is that a lot of Japanese are "hentai" or pervs. They are very uptight and polite in public (personal life is private to most of the world), and yet in the train you might see a man staring at an ad in the newspaper that is a picture or drawing of a naked girl (haven't seen it yet as I have no reason to read the Japanese paper, but I've been told it is true). Or maybe you'll see someone flipping through a comic book - except it's a graphic or rather pornographic manga comic….and it's completely acceptable in public. So weird. Because of the men being secret hentai, there is a "ladies only" car on most trains and during the rush hours, that goes into effect to protect women from the unwanted advances or butt pinches and inappropriate grazes of men. Now I haven't personally seen any of this (except I know how goofy and vulgar some of those Japanese boys are from working with them) but people who have lived here longer than I say that they sure have seen it!

I've been to a restaurant that serves horse…which, as a Kentuckian, I won't eat on principle. I've also eaten raw chicken - which may or may not be the reason I landed myself in the hospital…something had to make it begin.

The picture below was taken in the park near the ferry that I take to work. Apparently, this hill with steps is the smallest/shortest "mountain" in Japan. I was told the name of the "mountain" but I don't remember it. On the other hand, on a clear day, you can see for miles and miles. All of Osaka is surrounded by mountains in the distance - it's beautiful!

The next 4 pictures are painted tiles in that same park that I just mentioned above near the ferry. They are inlaid on the walls of the Tsunami protection gates (for lack of a better term) right near the water.

This is how I get to work most mornings - I take the ferry across the water. It takes about 5 minutes to ride my bike from the house to the ferry, 2-3 minutes to cross the little channel, and another 3-5 minutes to get to USJ and park my bike somewhere. Such a fun way to get to work!
On other days that are rainy or for some reason it's not practical for me to ride my bike (meaning I get off work later than the last ferry back), I can take the subway - which USJ pays for - and that takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes depending on how you hit the trains.

Below, you can see USJ and Universal City Walk off in the distance. The front of the ferry is in the bottom right of the picture. The tall buildings are all of the hotels that they have there, and you can just make out the roller coaster underneath that bottom rope.

People use cash here for almost EVERYTHING! It's great because it encourages you to not overspend. If you don't have the money for something, you can't buy it (in a lot of places - especially restaurants and little shops). Take note Americans…this is how we should live!

I'm amazed that a nation so in love with sweet things is so skinny (in general) - and not only are there many sugary things, but they also love fried things and mayonnaise…so unless I eat salads, sushi, and cook my own food, it could conceivably be easy to gain weight here as opposed to losing it.

At the movie theaters, you have assigned seats. It's like going to a concert or play or something!

Why can't I find wheat bread?!

Two words that I didn't learn before I came, but use everyday almost more than any other words - onegaishimasu (oh-neh-guy-she-mawss) which among many uses means "please" and otsukare sama desu (oh-tsu-ka-rey sah-mah dess) which people say to each other at the end of their work day basically saying to each other "thank you for your work today." Another work thing that people say when they greet each other is "ohayou gozaimasu" which is literally good morning, but at work it doesn't matter what time of day it is…you say good morning!

As my friend, Charity, put it, the Japanese come out of the womb break-dancing. They love it and so many of them do it! Even doing our show and watching the little kids do the dance that we teach them each show, it seems like dance in general and movement is much more a part of the Japanese culture as a whole than the American culture.


A sticker on a trashcan at USJ said this:

" This expresses our life-vision
LET'S
supreme can"

But what does it mean?!
Also, lots of clothing articles and such have random English words on them that don't make any sense.

Oh and the other day, some Aussies came up to me and asked me if I could tell them where their hotel was! I guess since I had a cell phone and no baggage they assumed I was from here and knew my way around. I am not too familiar with my Osaka directions and mental map yet, but I think I at least pointed then in the right direction!

That's all I have for now! I'm sure I'll have more from being here a whole year :)

Our Tempozan Ferris wheel at night...apparently predicting a cloudy day.

It Begins...(take 2)

So, probably a week and a half ago (maybe even 2 weeks ago) I started a blog post called "It begins." I didn't get very far with it and before I could get back to it and finish my thoughts, I totally decided to be sick and spend 3.5 days in a hospital. So, for the life of me, I can't remember what it was supposed to be about other than the fact that as I'm settling in (which I feel fairly settled - even though my room is still [and probably will be for a while] not quite my own space) things are really starting to feel familiar and I have a decent basic life routine in place now that I can work and function around. Also, now that I am in the show and starting to perform for crowds, people (mostly giggly girls I might add) are coming out of the woodwork on facebook and "friending" me. I don't know how to take it - I don't think I've experienced it nearly as much as some people have and I am sure I will experience it more once things start picking up at the park with the warmer weather that is sure to be on the horizon - but it is definitely weird to have "fans" and people to act the way that they do when they see you perform.

By the way, Dad, when we introduce ourselves to the audience during the show, I tell them that I'm David (Day-bi-do). We were told we could come up with names to use, and I was trying to think of a good American name that I liked. My choices were Luke and David and the director liked David. My daily tribute to you ;)

But, I guess that's really all I remembered from that post as far as "it" beginning. I suppose I just wanted to say that I really feel like things are falling into place and I'm getting into a groove that I can work with. I feel completely adjusted to the time (especially after my regimented sleeping and meal time in the hospital) and I've started developing my group of friends. I think I've found some good ones!

The cool thing about working here - and in a park so big with so many people - is that the friends thing is going to fluctuate to some degree all year long. There are so many people here and so many experiences to be had, you can't possibly get to know everyone on the same level, but there is plenty of time to develop those friendships. I've never been the kind who just makes a handful of friends and sticks to them and doesn't give others a chance, but then I've also not been the type who really abandons those close friends once I get them, either. I'm just looking forward to the year ahead and the opportunity to enjoy it with/get to know many wonderful people.

On to the next blog - random things!

Unexpected trip Part 3

Part 3

It's Thursday morning - the day I'm maybe, hopefully going to be discharged from the hospital. Things on my prayer list - #1 I hope my platelets are normal. #2 I pray this never happens again while I'm here - ever would be nice as well…but for now, I'll just say until I get back to America. #3 I hope that Yuki works it out so I don't have to pay anything when I leave…that would be pretty much all of the rest of my per diem that I would be parting with until I was reimbursed…and who knows how long that would be!

Since being in the hospital, I've been falling asleep around 9:30-10:30 and waking up between 6:30 and 7. It's nice to see the sun coming up! Oh and I learned that Japan does not do daylight savings - so while our summer evenings may only end around 7:45 instead of 8:45 like in the states, at least for a time I'm only 13 hrs different from the east coast!

One other thing about this hospital experience…well maybe two. First, Charity is the best…along with the others that have accompanied her every few nights, she has come every day and I'm SO thankful for that. I know how much I hate being in hospitals - especially when I'm healthy, so to her and Digger, Max, Mickey, Jared, and Maachan - I'm so grateful for your company! It has meant the world to me.

The second thing is that they don't have you hooked up to any devices here to monitor vitals unless it is necessary, so the only way they know if you are still breathing at night when you are sleeping is to come in and check on you. More than once over the course of my stay in this hospital, I have woken up to the sound of my door sliding open and a nurse's patter of steps, and then a flashlight trained on my face to make sure that I'm breathing and or sleeping peacefully(?). It's strange.

Yet again in all of this, I haven't had the opportunity to contact my family. I tried international calls on my cell (apparently I don't have that capability), I tried hooking up to a wireless device from my room (no luck). Needless to say, another reason I'm hoping to get out of here is just to contact them. I know my sister contacted Charity on Facebook (way to stalk sis! you're the best) and she gave her a rundown - so at least my family knows where I am and that I'm alive and well. I just can't wait to see them and talk to them face to face. I'm also curious to see what my inbox looks like after 4 days. So anyway - here's hopin!! Results in a bit.

AND….good news! I get to go home. My platelet count is 157,000! Definitely in the normal range - and hopefully with a bit more rest, I can be in the mid-high area of normal! I'm waiting now for Yuki to come here (around noon) and help me blow this joint. I have to come back next Wednesday morning to get some tests done and get the results of my stool culture. In the meantime, I am to keep taking my antibiotic until the CRP (whatever that is on my analysis chart) gets below 0.3. - on Monday it was 8.42 and Tuesday was 4.48. I don't know what it is today because I don't think they got that far, but hopefully it's low and I won't have to take the antibiotics for too long. YAY!! All better :) Now I can get back to normal life.

Unexpected trip Part 2

Part 2

At this point I stopped writing in my journal on Tuesday - and I'm picking up on Wednesday (after having transcribed Tuesday's journal entry to my computer). I have to say that I am chomping at the bit to get back into the regular swing of things. I miss people…people that speak my language! And what has made this whole thing difficult is that all this time, my family doesn't know because I don't have internet access at the hospital and I have no way of contacting and telling them that I'm ok. They knew I was sick, so I'm sure they are wondering where I am and what's happening. I had a bit of an emotional time the day I checked in to say the least.

At the moment it's super warm here in the room and all this moisture is condensing on the window. I had my first normal poo this morning, and I'm feeling stronger than I have in days! I haven't had my blood checked today yet, but I am praying for good results! I am bored in this hospital room - even with my nice view. Thankfully, though, I have some fantastic friends who have come and visited me. The first night, Digger, Charity, Jared, and Mickey all came to say hey! They were a sight for sore eyes because not only had I not seen anyone all day (Monday) besides Yuki, but I hadn't seen or really talked to anyone since Friday afternoon of last week! Charity and Digger brought me some snacks and digger went downstairs and bought be a toothbrush and toothpaste, underwear, and some shampoo and a towel (they don't provide any of that at the hospital…). They stayed past visiting hours and got kicked out and I went to sleep. Tuesday, Digger and Charity both came by (Digger actually just lives around the corner from the hospital) and Charity, the lovely, brought me a bag from my room with my computer, DVDs and a few fresh changes of clothes. YIPEE!! I don't have to smell or completely sod the same clothes for 3 or 4 days!

I've woken up by 7 both mornings…but then I've also gone to sleep around 10 or so each night. Here are some hospital observations for you.

You pay to watch TV or refrigerate things.
The food is better, typically, than American hospitals… or maybe because it's so different I just imagine that. I've been happy with it though
The pillows feel like they are stuffed with uncooked lima beans or something
There is no handsoap or facial tissues to be found - I step outside my room and use the sanitizing hand gel each time I use the restroom (which, thankfully, is becoming less frequent).
The female nurses get all giggly around me-especially when I walk outside my room past their station
There is a convenient store in the downstairs that I have visited twice already.
Japan in general has a very "do it yourself" attitude. When I was in the states and admitted into the hospital with low platelets, they insisted I ride in a wheelchair to my room even though I felt fine - but Monday when I felt like collapsing, I had to walk upstairs to my room.
I miss work
I find myself daydreaming mostly about my family, springtime with them and my friends, and Greece/Italy (go figure!)

I suppose that's it for now, I'll probably write a part 3 when I find out more about my situation or am released!

Unexpected trip Part 1

I'm presenting this in installments because that is how I wrote them - AND it would just be an entirely too long blog!

I've been here in Osaka for 5 weeks now - and never would I have thought something like this would have happened (especially so early in the contract). Just after 4 weeks, I became ill with something - some type of intestinal bug. This disease has brought me to my knees. Not only did it dehydrate me and give me awful stomach cramps and diarrhea, but it caused my ITP to flare. On Monday, I came to the clinic to get my blood tested. I was told that my platelets were next to nil. Now, I knew that I couldn't have zero platelets, but a count as low as he gave me is no good, so I was recommended to a hematologist at Kitano Hospital which is further North of where I live, near Umeda station. It's supposed to be one of the nicer hospitals in Osaka. For that, I am thankful!!

The hematologist there saw me, but before that, I had to go through a whole process of paperwork as you do at hospitals. Let me tell you what! Japan (at least Kitano Hospital) does have good medical equipment and although slow at times, their system is very organized. What is funny to me, as an American, is that there aren't nurse practitioners who do your measurements and vitals before you see the doctor - it is machines and self.

You stick your arm in a machine (much like American blood pressure machines) to get your blood pressure and heart rate and then it prints it out on a little sheet of paper. Next, you go over to a stand with a rod on it and 2 footprints. You stand on it and have someone push a button. This is a weight/height measuring device. The stand acts as a scale and on the rod is a smaller plastic rod that is light-weight and attached horizontally. When the button is pushed, it drops down and smacks you on the head then promptly returns - quite humorous (especially for one who doesn't expect it!) This machine prints out the height and weight.

I also gave a good deal of blood to be tested, which was difficult considering I hadn't eaten much all day…for the past 3 days of illness. I felt weak - and fragile. I saw the doctor and with the help of Yuki, hashed things out.

Let me pause for a moment and mention the USJ Talent Resources Team and Yuki and Tomo in particular. They have been fantastic in helping me through my illness!! And as the focus switched on Monday from bowels to ITP, Yuki was there every step of the journey. You could say I owe my life - or at least current state of well-being - to her. Without her help, my day would have been much more frustrating!! I might have just given up altogether.

So, the doctor didn't tell me anything I didn't know about my condition :) but he did tell me my platelet count was 13,000!! That is lower than it has been recorded in nearly 7 years when I was first diagnosed with ITP!

He said I could go home and rest or stay at the hospital and be treated. I was anxious to get better and not risk hemorrhaging and the FANTASTIC thing about this job is that if you are going to get sick, you can go to the doctor and get treated and everything is covered. I may have to pay out of pocket, but I am reimbursed 100% - not even a co-pay or deductible!

It took about 2 hrs to get checked in (gah!). Luckily, I had brought my backpack with me since I had somehow convinced myself in the morning that I was going to work and plow through it all despite my rocky condition. I read a good chunk of (and have since finished) Three Cups of Tea (GO READ THAT BOOK!!! AMAZING). All the while Yuki took care of everything. By the time I got into the hospital room that is shared with nice but greasy-haired older Nihonjin, it was probably 4:30 or 5. One plus side to the room (other than it being 2 people and not 4 people) is that I get the window view! It's a view of North/North-east Osaka. I can just see part of the Umeda Sky Building and then on a clear day (Monday and Wednesday…not Tuesday), you can see the distant mountains to the north!! And in light of recent events in Northern Japan and upon examining the buildings here, I've realized why so many of Japan's buildings are ugly and concrete-y…earthquakes! They are built to hold up to earthquakes.

Hooray for Public Transportation!!

Melissa - First, I should clarify that I'm not technically "Prince Charming," but merely Cinderella's prince. Unlike the Disney version, who is dark headed and all, this prince is blonde. So I suppose you could say that I'm merely the generic version of a Disney classic. As for the geisha thing, let me do some more research. I've already heard interesting things about some modern day counterparts to geisha and I know that there are geisha in nearby towns - I wanna give you the scoop (and do it properly)!

Mom - your question can be easily tied into the next blog that I was writing, so I'll answer it first!

Japan is so clean - and not to mention safe. Public transportation (trains and planes) and bikes are just as popular methods of travel as driving a car. The trains are so clean. I obviously haven't experienced them in hot weather, but in cold weather they are warm - they even heat the seats! They are punctual most of the time. The Japanese philosophy about being on time - they always try to be punctual because they feel that if there is a set time for something, to be late is to be rude and disrespectful of everyone else's time. If you can imagine, I enjoy this philosophy :) This goes for work, dinner plans, trains, and well…everything really.

(adverts on the subway)

Our park is very clean as well - spotless even. You know why? Because there is a very hard working team of people who always are cleaning it. The other day I was walking through one of the more officey type buildings and in one of the stairwells, there were a few people attacking the stairs with toothbrushes - scrubbing every little nook and cranny! I was impressed!

Taxis are expensive here. They are nice cars, they get you where you need to go without having to wait on a train or anything, but they are cho (much) expensive! I don't take them if I don't have to. However, if you go out about about in the city and are out kind of late, it's almost impossible to not take one home. The last subway is around 11:15 or so. If you don't catch that, then you either walk or cab it. My favorite function is that the driver can open up the back door with a push of a button so that you don't have to do it. And another sign of how safe it is in the town is that people can sit up in the front seat if they choose - and there is no divider between that seat and the driver. Coming from America, it feels so much more personal to be in a cab like that than one that's so divided. A strange feeling, initially.

So I suppose this is where your question comes in, mom. I feel very safe in Japan. According to Wikipedia (I know it's not the most reliable source). Their crime rates are considerably low - some of the lowest in the world for first world countries. Now, that's not to say that stuff can't happen. As for our group of entertainers, there are those who go out and have a good time and are respectful of the country that is playing host to them and all of their customs. Then there are others who maybe aren't quite as respectful - the laws and culture are different than America, but they still behave like they are in America - or they maybe think the laws are stupid so they break them anyway (these are all suppositions and hypothetical situations btw - I personally haven't seen law breaking - I've only experienced attitudes of "that's silly so I'm not going to follow it" with regards to rules and regulations laid down in the house or at work. The mentality is more what I'm getting at. Of course the reasons behind the mentality I won't know for sure, but that's how it comes across in those few people who act that way). Those people who choose to behave that way would be the ones who could get into trouble. But, on the whole, I feel like the bunch that we have here is a great one!

As for crime and trouble on the whole, you can rest assured that if something was stolen from you or some wrongdoing was had, it would be somewhat of an anomaly. Japan is so safe that there aren't laws against public intoxication - and what time do bars close down so that people can get home at a safe hour? Some of them not until 8 or 9 am. Now of course one could argue that a whole night of partying is not that safe. :) I, for one, would not recommend it (and almost surely won't try it) merely for the repercussions one would face the next day...and possibly the next. But, when told about the nightlife in Japan and why - unlike so many other countries - there isn't a last call and some bars don't even open until 3am, the only real reasons anyone could give me was that it was safe enough here to do that. This is definitely a country of contradictions and surprises though. I always pictured it as a place where people worked extremely hard and they were very reserved and formal and polite and to a fairly great extent, that is true. Most all of the Japanese that I met are all of those things - maybe not VERY reserved, but somewhat reserved (compared to foreigners).

Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling a bit now. The point of all of this last bit was to say that if you are a good citizen you shouldn't have any trouble. I have even heard stories of people leaving wallets and purses in restaurants or even dropping a passport on the street and either getting it back the next time they went to the establishment or someone picked it up on the street and turned it into the police who made sure that the person got it back. Just the other day, my Cinderella and I were coming home on the train after Magical Starlight Parade rehearsal and she accidentally left a glove on the train. As we walked away, we heard someone raise their voice and as we turned around, a man came up to us and gave Mary back her glove that she had dropped in the seat. The brief ordeal was still long enough that the man could have conceivably missed the train by getting off of it to give Mary her glove, but he did anyway! (and thankfully he didn't miss it).

Alrighty, I'm off to work. More to come soon! In a while, I think I'll have enough material to do a random facts/fun thoughts of Japan blog.

Love you all! Talk to you soon.

March & good beginnings

Well, as promised, I am going to be updating my blog a bit more frequently now that I have finished the rehearsal process. The past 2 weeks or so have been filled with rehearsals - mostly in the afternoons and evenings for both Sesame Street (SES) and Magical Starlight Parade (MSP). Did I mention I was Prince Charming? :)

Rehearsals aside, any spare time that I've had has been spent, cooking, shopping for things, eating, and or course socializing. Beginnings of contracts are always a bit on the busy side, because not only are people in the midst of rehearsing, but they are forging relationships with all of the people they will be working with for the duration of the contract. I admit, although I have found a good group of people that I tend to gravitate toward, I am still being a social butterfly at the moment. There are so many people here and I find almost everyday that I'm running into someone new! Most of the Gaijin are here now. There may be a couple more coming here in the next week or so, but rehearsals have pretty much commenced (or in some cases, including mine, completed) by now. About the only cast left from last year that is still performing and will be until the end of March is the Monsters cast.

The coffee shop that I stopped at for a few minutes on Tuesday

A typical street in town at night (this one near Shinsaibashi)

So our unadvertised or "soft" opening was on Sunday of this week and our official "grand opening" was on Monday. That day was with press and all. Then lucky me, I got my days off right after that! So Tuesday and Wednesday are my days off and then I work the other 5 days of the week. Monday I had my final dress rehearsal for MSP and so that was later in the evening when I got home. I met some friends at the local USJ hangout - Urizun Bar - and had a couple of drinks there then went home and slept in!! Tuesday was a romp around town with friends, exploring more of the Shinsaibashi area. I actually headed out on my own, got off at the station before Shinsai and walked the rest of the way down, taking my time to stop at shops on the way and look at stuff, or to pop in to a coffee shop or tea shop and survey/taste the goods there. I stopped at this one coffee shop on the way and ordered a latte and a little sandwich. I just looked at the menu and picked something that I thought looked good. After eating it, I'm pretty sure I had ordered a spam sandwich that was grilled and seasoned - and I admit, it was tasty! I'm not sure if I've ever had spam - if I did, it was a long time ago and the reason I haven't had it since is because of the stigma/lore surrounding it, but alas, if that was indeed what I had (I'm 90% sure), it was good! I made my way to a Mexican restaurant to meet people for a late lunch and then after that we roamed a bit more and bar crawled a bit to end up at a place called Cinquecento (informally known as Martini Bar) where this guy that my friend Charity is kind of seeing works. We spent a bit of time there and then called it a night - we parted ways and then Charity and I stopped at a nearby grocery store to grab a couple of things before the train ride home. After getting home, one of our Nihonjin co-workers Maachan called us and told us he was at Kaigandori House in one of our friend's apartment. So we went up there for a bit and I ended up playing video games until fairly late - I felt like I was hanging out with Carson Kerr :)

Restaurant in Shinsaibashi area (I liked the facade and the sign)

Today was another explore day. The weather was a bit nicer than yesterday and I rode my bike along with my friend, Angelo, into town and we grabbed coffee mid-morning and sort of explored the area. He had a haircut at 1, so he did that and I just kinda hung around. We drove all around a neighborhood called "Minamihodie" and through Shinsaibashi again (can you tell this is a popular destination?) and then we decided over a late lunch at a waterfront cafe that we were going to go to the movies and see The King's Speech with Colin Firth. Movie theaters in Osaka - very nice. A ticket is expensive (around $20 USD) and the English movies that they have range from being brand new (if it's supposed to be super popular/ a blockbuster) to being about a year old or so. Popcorn and drinks are a little cheaper, but the expensive ticket cancels it out. Anywho, I loved the film! We rode our bikes home at dusk and then I came up to do some much needed laundry and I cooked a delicious and healthy dinner - omelette with greens and garlic, topped with salmon and a stir fry of tomatoes and bell peppers!

Building near my house

That dome in the background is part of the covered market near my house with the best grocery store that is somewhat convenient to us

My latte today - sun and moon! Angelo's was Snoopy

Cool apartment building in Minamihodie

Closer shot of the apartment building

Tomorrow is a big day back at work. I have a park publicity photo shoot for the Sesame show and then I do 4 shows and then I have the opening of the Magical Starlight parade. That will be my longest day for a good while. Alrighty, it's time for bed! More to come soon - I've got topics brewing such as Japanese fashion, boys vs. girls, and public transportation. I'm sure they will develop more as time goes on, but does anyone have a preference, or other suggestions about things you would want to know about Japan?

What are your stereotypes about Japan? I'd love to explore that! Leave some comments!


P.S. Bruno Mars is all over the airwaves here. Nearly overtime I go to a store or bar or something, I hear him being played. That's not an exaggeration.

Tata!