SAMURAI MAGAZINES

Recent purchases, 2 history related magazines, one about civil war period samurai, and another about Japanese castles,...all I need now is some time to enjoy reading them!

MAGAZINWE

PUBLIC SERVANT

At the Nagoya City Offices with Nishiura san of the Earthquake Relief Centre. I'll be one of the celebrity faces for the up coming charity events for children who have suffered through the quake in North East Japan. 40 children will be flown to Nagoya as guests of the city for a week of R&R away from the destruction around them. I'll be taking a group to look at the radio station. Big question is, why can't all public servants look like this?

CHARITY CHERRIES

Bought some cherries at the charity event the other night. For me cherries bring back memories of X-mas, as that's when they come out in Australia, and the only time Mum would buy them. Another memory is of making an emergency landing in the jungle of New Guinea during the Friendship Flight 2005 project, a helicopter flight between Australia and Japan,... the next day a rescue helicopter brought cherries along with water and tuna sandwiches for us!

YuM!

EARTHQUAKE CHARITY EVENT PT.1

In rehearsals for a charity event to aid victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan's North eastern regions. The event featured DJ's and TV announcers, most of whom originally came from the quake affected areas.
Prior to the show beginning all the announcers and DJs sold quake affected area produce in the lobby area...
I was main MC for the event, organised by former work partner P-KAN TV announcer Inaba San.
All announcers told folk stories or enacted skits from their native regions to entertain the 400 strong crowd.......

EARTHQUAKE CHARITY EVENT PT.2

Apart from being MC of the event, I also "performed" John Lennon's Imagine...I didn't sing, but accompanied by piano, slowly read the lyrics.....
During intermission all the announcers and talent sold quake affected area wares in the lobby area... and at the end as patrons exited, collected donations for the quake victims...
Musical guests for the evening were Japanese duo Honey L Days,... great guys and great music too!

U-STREAM TEBASAKI PT. 1

At the WTC,...Word Training Centre for Nagoya's famed Sekai No Yama Chan, Tebasaki, Nagoya Fried spicy Chicken Wing restaurant.
Tonight in conjunction with travel magazine Tokai Walker and Sekai No Yamachan, we ran a special live U-STREAM program. Camera crew were ready, sound and lighting OK,...
The show started with the panel consisting of me as host MC, and representatives from the magazine and restaurant chain, as well as members of the Japan Fried Chicken Association (true!!)
Competitions included an all you can eat in 3 minute International Tebasaki eating Championship, featuring American, British, French, Korean and Australian competitors...

U-STREAM TEBASAKI PT. 2

With Sekai No Yamachan President, Yamamoto San and the company logo character, Yama Chan.
2 French girls became the display girl models during the shoot...

...and special version Tebasaki, 3 new flavors were unveiled

Cast crew and hangers on at the end of the 2-hour long shoot. It was a lot of fun, and we hope to do more shoots like this in the future...

JAPAN GUIDE VIDEO

At a friends studio for the filming of an interview for internet based Japan Guide, or JG for short. The guide seeks to explain Japan to a foreign audience.
Being interviewed in English by Kato San. He did alright, I was the one who kept forgetting my English. He asked me why I came to Japan, what made me want to come and stay, what I liked about Japan,...
With the Power Studio team after the interview, doing a 2 sword style pose, a-la the swordsman and my hero Miyamoto Musashi...
Afterwards, we talked about future interviews, and then it went deeper, into Samurai culture like, how many Japanese don't know how to bow in the most respectful way of the Samurai...
Look Mum, I'm on TV!... Look for the links on my FaceBook site to see the results of the interview.

TEBASAKI DINNER

Dinner tonight is at Nagoya's famed Sekai No Yamachan restaurant, home of Nagoya's famous delicacy, Tebasaki, spicy fried chicken wings!

It's finger Lickin' Chicken Nagoya style! I could eat plates of these!

NAGOYA'S HISTORICAL KURA, PT. 1

Nestled in between Nagoya Station and the city centre itself is the area known as Shikimichi. It is one of the last remaining historical districts in the city, which was pretty much decimated by the fire bombings of WW2.
Shikimichi is now famous for it's remaining Kura, or old style warehouses, many of which have not only survived, but are at last being preserved.
One such kura is this one, dating back over 270 years and now being preserved as a restaurant and gallery space.
A small garden adds to the historical atmosphere of the former rice and dry goods storage facility, and gives one a taste of the good things to come once inside.

NAGOYA'S HISTORICAL KURA, PT. 2

.... The food is French at this particular restaurant. Admittedly, I've never been too keen on French cuisine, however this was an interesting mix of Japanese styled French...
Lots of veggies, interesting meats, some good flavours and all in the confines of a 270 year old traditional warehouse.
With the staff and management of the restaurant on the first floor........
Another section has been kept as it was, and is currently being used as a gallery and display venue. Checking out the main support pillar, making sure it's strong enough,...and yep, passes!

MALKA OPENING

At the opening of new bar / restaurant MALKA just behind Nadia Park in Yabacho, Nagoya City Central, with information company GAIN's Murata San, an old friend from years back.
About 500 media people, creators, models, celebrities were invited to the opening, including some friends from Tokai TV,...
Also top designer Kamiya san and Samurai project's Ando san! Malka is in the building where the former Blanca cafe once operated, looking out onto the park below Nadia Park. Too many people there all vying for the buffet, so no chance to to taste the foods, but it looks good! At least the Coca Cola is ice cold!

INUYAMA DANCE JUDGE

At Inuyama as one of the judges for the Yosa Koi Dance Event... Inuyama has been steadily building a reputation as an event filled city to add to it's already illustrious historical image.

About 400 people took part on the afternoon long finals, with a few thousand watching and cheering their favorite teams on...
The dances, the costumes and the effects were all original pieces created by the dance teams themselves. There was a high level of professionalism and creativity from all 7 finalist teams.
On stage announcing the winning teams and presenting trophies to each teams captains. It was difficult to choose a winning team, but the eventual first place holdres used not just the stage, but the front of the stage and the central aisle too. Their dance was energetic, and the simply made special effects were brilliant!