RADIO DJ CHRIS GLENN

DOCTOR'S SCARF?

2012-01-16T19:42:00.000-08:00

It's freezing cold at night in Nagoya. Not much snow this year, not yet anyway, but cold enough to warrant wearing a hat and scarf.... Sort of 4th Doctor, Tom Baker style...
And when we talk scarf, I mean my 4.5 m long, hand knitted 18th Season Tom Baker Dr. Who styled scarf. Nerd? Me? ....Too right!

MORE HISTORY MAGAZINES

2012-01-16T19:39:00.001-08:00

I can't help myself,...there seems to be a sudden glut of history related magazines coming out recently, and I find myself having to buy them! Takes me ages to find the time to read them, and some of the information I already know, or is in other magazines and books I have,...but just in case, have to buy them...
Sometimes I buy two! One for me, and one for an Oda Nobunaga fanatic friend in America...

FURNITURE DOME

2012-01-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

Visited the furniture and house ware megastore, Furniture Dome over the weekend.... About time I bought some new bedding and a new kitchen table...
This is a great idea, stick one of these badges on, and the staff won't bother you...I didn't, and they still didn't approach me... must be doing alright for themselves then.
This is what I really want, very 60's kitsch with a futuristic taste! Perhaps next trip to Furniture Dome....

YO!

2012-01-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

PPF Radio School student, and Pitch-FM reporter, Shirakawa Yo turned 24 this week! Gave him Chicago's latest Best Album!

EEL!

2012-01-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

Went out for dinner with some business friends to a special seafood restaurant,...which sounds nice,...until you hear of their specialty,...
And that specialty is,... an Anago, a large, grotesque eel like creature, and they serve not only the flesh of this sea monster, but also various innards as well, boiled with vegetables and bean curd in a pot. It's considered a delicacy in Japan,...I'd prefer a pizza.

SAMURAI MAGAZINES

2012-01-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

Latest series of samurai history magazines is now available,...this means I have to spend even more money on these now..... Never mind, more information to absorb!

NOT SO SEXY NOW!

2012-01-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

Jan 10, Rod Stewart turns 67! Not so sexy now!

BUSINESS YEAR STARTS

2012-01-10T20:51:00.001-08:00

First bit of business for the year involves a computer graphics and a video production company for our latest endeavor.... hopefully more details soon!

POST FLIGHT PARTY

2012-01-10T17:23:00.001-08:00

After the helicopter flight, it was back to DJ Masami's house for a home party!

2012 FIRST FLIGHT

2012-01-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

Took my radio program, "Radio Orbit" staff flying after the show on Sunday... Took off from Hachiya Heliport for a couple of local flights...
Conditions were perfect! It was a beautiful day, light winds, great visibility...and a lot of fun!
This was the first time in a helicopter for the staff too, and everyone enjoyed themselves!

DARTH BURGER

2012-01-08T20:00:00.001-08:00

Star wars Episode 1 3D comes out at the end of January, and European fast food chain, Quick have come out with a Darth Vader and a Jedi burger. I'm a huge Star wars fan, but I think I'll pass on this one! How on Earth could you eat one of those things? May the Fork be with you!

BUSINESS MEETING WITH THE BUSINESS GOD

2012-01-08T19:54:00.001-08:00

A late night business meeting? Left the office at 11:30pm, and arrived at Japan's second most important shrine, Atsuta Shrines' Ebisu Shrine just after midnight on the 5th for the annual prayer to the God of Commerce, Ebisu. In the shrine grounds was a huge fire where the charms of the past year are burned, and new business good luck charms are sold. Tell you what, the shrines make sure that return business is good!
Posters within the shrine grounds reminding visitors to get their good luck charms and lucky business talismans at Hatsu Ebisu.

NAGOYA NOODLES!

2012-01-08T19:52:00.001-08:00

For an article for Japan Tourist (see www.japantourist.jp) lunch today was Nagoya's famed Miso Nikomi Udon noodles. Thick, chewy, tasty Udon noodles in Hatcho Miso broth! Perfect on a freezing cold day!

LOCAL SHRINE HATSUMODE!

2012-01-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

Every New Years, the Japanese go to a shrine to make Hatsumode, their New Years observances, this year I went to nearby Fujino Shrine, about a minutes walk from home. During the construction of Nagoya Castle, the shrine grounds became a small town for the many carpenters brought in to work on the various buildings.
The shrine was also important for blessing the huge stones used in the walls surrounding and supporting the castle. Some still remain in the shrines precincts. Here's to a strong and sturdy 2012!

MILLENNIUM FALCON 3D BOOK

2012-01-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Kobayashi San is also a Star Wars fan, and recently bought an interesting book. Each page shows a slice of the Millennium Falcon, explaining the engines, weaponry, protective shields, crew and operations quarters, storage facilities etc. It's written as an owners manual, and quite well done,... Now I have to buy one too! Book that is, not Falcon,...

NEW YEARS CARD

2012-01-08T19:19:00.001-08:00

New Years Greeting card for 2012, the Year of the Dragon. In my office, apart from the suits of samurai armor, is a large carved dragon. This is a ranma, a relief set above a sliding door from an Edo Period (1603-1868) temple.

NEW YEARS BROADCAST

2012-01-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

In kimono, On Air, at 77.8 ZIP-FM on New Years Day 2012!

CRABS ON NEW YEARS EVE

2012-01-08T19:09:00.001-08:00

New Years Eve,...it's a Saturday, and as I have to be at the radio station from 5am, Sunday morning, it's a quiet night at home with the crabs! Just went shopping for dinner and decided upon 3,000 Yen ($30) worth of crab! Yum!

YEAR END PARTY TIME

2012-01-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when almost every night is a year end dinner / drinkies session with friends and colleagues,...this time with the G-factory production team and Steve Edwards, a local cameraman...

SHOGUN'S BIRTHDAY

2012-01-08T19:02:00.001-08:00

December 26 is Tokugawa Ieyasu's birthday, and to celebrate, I went to the Shogun's birthplace, Okazaki Castle. It was absolutely freezing, and snowing most of the day!
The Shogun's samurai appeared first and put on a sword display,...their teacher by the way is your's truly,.....

And then the Birthday Boy himself appeared! Happy 469th birthday, Ieyasu!

X-MAS DINNER

2012-01-08T18:58:00.001-08:00

X-mas dinner was at Shikimichi, a French styled restaurant in a refurbished 270 year old traditional Japanese warehouse with some business friends...
Not a very X-massy style of dinner, but there was some red and green involved to give the impression of X-mas...

The staff and management of the Shikimichi...Merry X-mas!

Mito Komon Ends!

2011-12-21T00:10:00.000-08:00

One of Japan's longest running samurai drama series, Mito Komon has come to an end after 42 years of weekly broadcasting. The series is based on the real life character, Mito Mitsukuni, cousin of the Shogun and ruler of the Mito Domain. The old Mito Mitsukuni and two of his bodyguards roam the land incognito, righting wrongs as they go. The final scenes are always the same, a fight breaks out, the bodyguards, and often the old guy himself fight them off, until Mito Komon gives the word....
It's then that one of the bodyguards will then pull out the special crest of the ruling Tokugawa Clan, effectively announcing Mito Komon's true identity, to which the baddies all fall in line and kowtow before him, allowing him to mete out punishments and commend the do-gooders...
As is often the case, there's a scene where one of the lesser characters, a female ninja is caught in the bath.... For the final episode, old cast members were reunited for one final hurrah. It was almost sad to see the series end.

Goodbye Mito Komon,...guess we'll have to enjoy 42 years of repeats from now on,....

Earthquake Helicopter Rescue

2011-12-21T00:08:00.000-08:00

I'll be doing a talk show with the leaders of the Helicopter Collective of Japan (HCJ) in mid-January. I was one of the volunteer pilots to help in the aftermath of the killer quake and tsunami that wiped out large swathes of north eastern Japan in March this year. We'll be addressing the issues we faced, and what can be done to prepare for future emergencies.

Samurai Talk Show

2011-12-21T00:03:00.000-08:00

After completing my radio show, it was off to Atsuta for a talk show on Samurai heros of the local region with my friend Sagusa san. We've been friends since he joined the Japan Armour and Weapons research and Preservation Society about 8 years ago...
Meeting and greeting the members of the audience after the talk show....
After the hour long talk show, we caught up with other members of the society who came to watch our talk
Good job! we both had a bit of fun talking about the things we love most, samurai history, heroes and culture!

Today's fashion??

2011-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Live On Air in the ZIP-FM studios for my weekly Radio Orbit show. After the show, I'm off to a talk show near Atsuta Shrine, and don't have time to change...I'll slip into my samurai armour and swords waiting in my car, when I get there!

Bronco!

2011-12-20T23:59:00.001-08:00

In the studio recording the voice over for a TV commercial for Steak House, Bronco Billy! The TV commercials can be seen across central Japan and Tokyo over the X-mas, New Years period!

Meat party

2011-12-20T23:58:00.001-08:00

With friends and clients at our monthly meat eating party, celebrating our last gathering of the year! Here's to a meaty 2012!

Year End Party Time

2011-12-20T23:56:00.000-08:00

Beer flows like the Kiso River at the Year End Parties,...being a non drinker, I order pitchers of cola to keep me going....
Tonight was a huge party for friends, clients and staff of a local production company...Cheers!

Nagakute's Tokugawa Rock

2011-12-20T23:47:00.000-08:00

Out and about for more Japan Tourist articles, this time a quick trip to the old battlefield at Nagakute. First stop was the site where the bulk of the ferocious fighting took place, the battlefield marker above the museum, and the site of the massacre of the samurai general Ikeda and his troops...
After that, a quick trip to Iroganeyame, a national Historic site, and where Tokugawa Ieyasu set up his headquarters, and the rocks he covered in tiger skins to sit on and direct the battle can be seen.

BINGO!!

2011-12-20T23:44:00.000-08:00

On stage at the Marriot Hotel to host a BINGO game for the doctors, nurses and staff of one of Nagoya's biggest hospitals. 800 staff were on hand to enjoy their X-mas, Year End party!

Guns 'n' Samurai

2011-12-20T23:39:00.000-08:00

My friend's teppotai, samurai gunnery group recently celebrated their 20th anniversary with a matchlock gun demonstration on the old Nagashino Battlefield....
Each member in full armour shot off a number of volleys from their antique matchlock guns...
The noise and the smoke was terrific, and the event, about 30 minutes in all was well worth the hour and a half long drive to get there!
With the teppotai gunnery team. Some of the members came to Australia with me in 2006 and again twice in 2010 for demonstrations and events. Congratulations on 20 years!

Producers' role

2011-12-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

Usually I work behind the mic or behind the camera. For a recent automotive parts manufacturer, roles were reversed and I produced the narration and soundtrack....

Working for once!

Oda Nobuhide's grave

2011-12-20T23:34:00.000-08:00

Out and about taking photos and getting details for the Japan Tourist project,...visited Banshoji, a temple in Nagoya City central, where the grave of Oda Nobunaga's father, Nobuhide is located...
Banshoji Temple has a long and interesting history, look it up on the Japan Tourist website, japantourist.jp

Pottery International Marketing and PR talk.

2011-12-20T23:26:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for a talk show on international marketing and publicity for the National Pottery Association In Nagoya recently....
Over 80 representatives from the pottery and ceramics industry stayed awake for a 90 minute presentation on why "Made In Japan" is a good thing, and how originality, quality, pride and marketing with a good story will sell their products.

Samurai ID.

2011-12-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

Bought these Aijirushi at an antiques fair recently. Cost about $200 for the set seen here, but these are about 160 years old, and were owned by retainers of the Ikeda Clan of Kurashiki, modern day Okayama Prefecture. They were probably made just before the Meiji Revolution, circa 1868.
Samurai would wear these on their armour as identification. Samurai armour was rarely made as a uniform, and made to specification and choice of the wearer. For that reason it was hard to tell who was who in battle, therefore aijirushi came into being. One would be set on the left shoulder plates, one hung in front from the waist, one on the back of the helmet, and another on the back of the armour. They're relatively rare these days, and to get so many together and in such good condition is even rarer still!

Shrine Ceiling Art

2011-12-20T23:16:00.001-08:00

A friend of mine, Iwata Sensei is currently painting the ceiling panels for a shrine in Inuyama.
He's done about 100 so far, and has another 200 to go to complete the entire shrines' ceilings. As they're all painted by hand, it takes him about 2 to 3 days to complete a panel....
The themes involve Japanese history and cultural icons, birds, fish, animals and plants. The shrine he's working on is just below Inuyama Castle. Visit any day to see the ceiling, and say G'day to Iwata Sensei too!

KOOZA

2011-12-20T23:12:00.000-08:00

Just outside of the Nagoya Dome complex, Kooza, a special mime, acrobat circus has come to town...

The Kooza Big Top!

The show was absolutely fantastic! Kooza runs till late Jan. in Nagoya,...do yourself a favor, see Kooza!

Rob's art event

2011-12-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

With Robert Moore, a local graphic artist holding his book launch and music art themed exhibition at Nagoya's Nadya Park complex.

Two Sword Style

2011-12-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

At the Ito Martial Arts store near Nagoya Dome...

At last, they had a Daisho (Long sword, short sword) set of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu bokuto...wooden practice swords for the Enmei Ryu, or Two Sword style created by Miyamoto Musashi....

...and a bag to carry them in! All for about $150! HAPPY!

Ogaki Castle in the Rain

2011-12-20T23:04:00.000-08:00

Went to Sekigahara to take pics, but it was pouring with rain! Did a U-Turn and headed back to Ogaki Castle, and guess what, by the time I'd found a carpark,...it started raining!

SAMURAI MAGAZINES

2011-06-28T08:12:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

PUBLIC SERVANT

2011-06-28T05:05:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:59:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:38:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:31:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:12:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-28T04:07:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-28T03:56:00.000-07:00

.... 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

2011-06-28T03:32:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

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!

CAROLLA NAGOYA

2011-04-27T23:29:00.000-07:00

Today I visited Toyota Carolla Nagoya's Nishi Osu showrooms....

Toyota Carolla Nagoya are sponsors of my Sunday morning show, in particular a 30 minute special music mix called "Cruising Beats"...
Toyota Carolla Nagoya has 30 showrooms across Nagoya, and visitors can fill in request cards for driving songs to include in the mix... Yep, there's a couple of request forms in there...
So, visit your nearest Toyota Carolla Nagoya Showroom, you don't have to buy a car to make a request,....but the TCN staff would be happier if you did!

Speaking of the staff, they'd love to see you too!.....

KUNOUZAN TREASURES

2011-04-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

A book arrived in the mail the other day from a helicopter pilot friend, who is also a Shinto Shrine priest. He works at the Kunouzan shrine, where the remains of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu are kept. This book is a catalogue of the shrines' treasures...
Swords, clothing, armour,...all the treasures of the Kunouzan are listed up here... I went there on a TV shoot a few years back, must make another trip soon,...maybe by helicopter....

DJ TEPPEI

2011-04-27T23:22:00.001-07:00

Sunday afternoons, following my ZIP-FM program Radio Orbit, comes the Hot 100! Hot 100's Music Navigator, Teppei is also into helicopters, and so for his birthday I gave him a radio control chopper! Methinks we will be going out for drinkies soon, and amongst talking about radio, helicopters will be on the menu too!

AUSTRALIA JAPAN GOODWILL PARTY

2011-04-23T04:28:00.000-07:00

Friday April23,..MCing the Australia Japan Goodwill Party in the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
This is what it looked like before the 600 + guests and attendees arrived...
Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave her speach,...you can just see me standing at my podium beside the Australian flag far left,...and the PM on her podium before the audience...

Australian Rescue unit chief Rob McNeil was there to show what Australia had done to help victims of the mega quake and tsunami,...a very moving presentation...
Aside from the Prime Minister, singer Kylie Minogue was among the special guests,...Didn't get to speak, I was too busy MCing, and she never came up to say hi,..guess she didn't remember me....LOL!

SARAH JANE SMITH

2011-04-23T04:23:00.000-07:00

Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in the early years of Dr. Who passed away at the age of 63 this week from cancer. Sarah Jane appeared with the 3rd and 4th Doctors between 1973 and '76, returning in 2005 with the 10th and just last year with the 11th Doctor. She was the only assistant to have had her own spin off series. News of her death made the top of the Yahoo (U.S.) Trending Now list, testament to her and the series world wide popularity.

It was so sad to hear of her death, a little of my childhood went with her. RIP Elisabeth Sladen.

INABA SAN

2011-04-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

At lunch with former P-Kan TV host, Inaba San, for talks on an upcoming charity event,...details soon!

OKAZAKI SAMURAI

2011-04-23T04:17:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of the Nagoya Samurai team, comes the Okazaki Samurai team.....
I was one of the judges during the recent auditions held in Okazaki to choose the members of this team...
The whole day was spent in auditions and the final 9 were announced late in the day...
The media were on hand to cover the story. These guys now have to learn how to move and act like a samurai,...any guesses to who their teacher will be? I'll also be teaching swordwork to the team...

Taking notes on each potential samurai...

EEL SNACKS

2011-04-23T04:14:00.000-07:00

Eel flavoured snacks are a delicacy from the Hamamatsu region of Central Japan.... One of the guys from my staff at ZIP-FM brought these along to work the other Sunday morning...
Despite the image, they're not too bad...just like a long, hard eel...

5 AM

2011-04-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

Although my new program on ZIP-FM starts at 10am, I have to be at the station at 5am. This is what Nagoya looks like from the ZIP studios at 5am! Why do I have to be there at 5am? Because the staff also do the previous program from 6am, and they want me there to go through the show's running order at 5am. The show is pretty straightforward, nothing difficult or dangerous, or untoward. But they like to have me there at 5am. Can you read the sarcasm?

EARTH DAY JAPAN

2011-04-12T03:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday April 10, in Nagoya's Central Park for Earth Day Japan. With FM Aichi DJ, Takeyama San talking about our Earthquake relief projects. Takeyama San is collecting radios to send to the quake victims, while I talked about the HCJ helicopter group's efforts in supply flights.
Together with MID FM DJ Sano Eri (red) and ZIP-FM's Hirai Yumika, we also talked about the role of radio in times of disaster...
Actress Mizuno Yuko, FM Aichi's Takeyama San, ZIP-FM's Chris, Mid FM's Sano Eri, and Zip DJ Hirai Yumika in front of the Earth Day Japan Earth Ball...

INUYAMA TAPESTRY

2011-04-12T03:31:00.000-07:00

At the Inuyama Jo Taiga Gallery, with my name plaque as a supporter of both the gallery and it's prized work,...
...this huge tapestry that was to have been scrapped along with the stage venue where this was used for many years as the stage curtain. A local businessman saved the tapestry, had it properly cleaned and preserved, and it's now on display in Inuyama.

RELIEF FLIGHT 4

2011-04-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

Very tired, coming home from Tokyo Heliport on the Bullet Train to Nagoya.

RELIEF FLIGHT 3

2011-04-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

With Nishimori San at Sugo, our base just outside of Sendai. Nishimori san and I flew the Australia to Japan Friendship Flight 2005 project together. Nishimori San probably flew the most HCJ missions of all in the quake zone....

The chopper I flew at Sugo, 44HP, a Robinson R44.

Off the coast near Sendai was this small fishing village that had been pretty much wiped out by the tsunami after the quake. The sand colored area was the town. Only a few destroyed buildings remained. Littered amongst the debris was wrecked boats of all sizes.

RELIEF FLIGHT 2

2011-04-07T19:40:00.001-07:00

A Swedish rescue helicopter had been dispatched. The Bell 204 and it's crew had been put inside a Russian Antinov heavy lifter airplane and flown directly to Japan to help in the relief efforts. Naturally, they were able to carry much more stuff than our small R44 choppers... Here, the 204 was loaded with cans of tuna and sweetcorn, bottled water, a few push bikes, medical supplies and more.
With Swedish pilot Carl Hakensson... Carl told me that his Bell 206 was built in Nov. 1966, and was originally flown by American troops in the Vietnam War before being sold in the late 70's to various companies.
In the chopper I flew were some of the radios collected at the various events held around Nagoya including a number of radio DJ friends....
On the wall of the HCJ Helicopter crews' base in Sugo was this poster drawn by 7 year old Ryugen Kun, the writing says, "Good luck HCJ, Good luck Northeast Japan"

RELIEF FLIGHT 1

2011-04-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

RELIEF FLIGHT 1

2011-04-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

Early take off from Shimizu Heliport in Shizuoka for Tokyo Heliport. Clear skies gave us a great view of Mt. Fuji just after liftoff.
Conditions over Tokyo were clear too. All you could see right to the horizon is Tokyo City!!!
During the big quake March 11, Tokyo was rocked quite badly too, so much so that the top spire of Tokyo Tower was bent from the whiplash...
Arrived at Tokyo Heliport early in the morning before operations began, so we refueled and set off for Sendai City, in the North Eastern Tohoku region.

SAMURAI PARADE DONATIONS

2011-04-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

After the very first Radio Orbit show, I went to Inuyama City for their Spring Festival. Part of the festival includes the Samurai parade. I usually take part in full armour, but with the live program before hand, there wasn't time to change. This time, the Inuyama Samurai team decided to use the parade to collect donations to fund the HCJ Helicopter groups Tohoku Earthquake relief flights.
I wore a Jinbaori, samurai surcoat and eboshi headwear, and with Honda san, a descendant of the famed Honda samurai family, lead the Inuyama samurai parade.
All along the route, people were coming forward to donate money to help the HCJ continue to run supply flights direct to victims. Thank you Honda San, thank you Inuyama!

RADIO ORBIT

2011-04-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

Sunday April 3, In the ZIP-FM studios, live On Air with new partner Narita Masami for the very first Radio Orbit program.

NAVIGATORS

2011-04-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

Sat. April 2. Most of the ZIP-FM Navigators (DJ's) gathered for drinkies at a local restaurant. This is probably the first time the team have gathered for an non official event. Gone was the rivalry that once marred such a happening. Instead, it was a fun night, peppered with laughter and good conversation. So nice to actually relax for a change!

18TH FLOOR NAGOYA

2011-04-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

Once again, after a 7 year break, I can enjoy the view of Nagoya City from the 18th floor studios of ZIP-FM....
There have been a number of big changes in the 7 years I was away, but the city still feels like home!

INTERNATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM

2011-04-04T02:20:00.000-07:00

This year the Australian New Zealand Chamber of commerce joined forces with the American and Canadian chambers to hold one BIG hanami, or cherry blossom viewing party in Nagoya's Tsurumai Park. Took pics of the people, forgot about the cherry blossom...

NEW PROGRAM TEST

2011-04-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

Back at ZIP-FM, going thru' the new programme formats for Sunday Morning's RADIO ORBIT!
Back in the studio for a run thru' and ready for Sunday April 3's show! Starts at 10am....!

POSTCARDS

2011-04-04T02:11:00.000-07:00

New programme starts on ZIP FM this coming weekend, and to promote the show, I've produced a series of postcards featuring a Nagoya city street with a sign warning CHRIS GLENN NEXT 77.8Mhz with my silhouette on it...
450 cards were produced and all have a small personal message written on them too...I've got a sore hand from writing, and a fuzzy tongue from licking stamps!

GOOGLE TRUCK?

2011-03-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

Saw this vehicle rolling down Nagoya's Airport road (Route 41) fitted with cameras pointing in alsmost every direction,...could this be the famed Google Map / Earth van taking pics? I must look up the area and see if I can see me!

THAI TALK SHOW

2011-03-29T03:43:00.000-07:00

On stage at Nagoya's International Airport, Centerair, for a talk show for Thai Airwarys International. Did a 30 minute talk and big screen slide show promoting tours to Thailand!

Not bad considering I've only been there 4 times!
At the same promotional event, my friend Ai Chan, who is one of the world's top Fruit Carvers (bet you didn't know there were professional fruit carvers, did you?!?) carved this out of a single watermelon. I want to know where she got a watermelon at this time of year,...
And another friend manned the Thai boot, Hattori San,... Wonder if he's related to the famous Hattori Ninja clan,... Must ask him about that!

KABUKI TALK SHOW

2011-03-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

After the Quake relief donation collection, while the PPF staff were collating and re-packaging donated items, I had to do a talk show on the Japanese performing art of Kabuki. Local kabuki specialist and friend Oguri San had set up some kabuki costumes and items from many hundreds of years ago around an old 1800's home, now used as a civic centre of sorts. In one room, in front of a public gallery and cameras we talked for about 45 minutes on Kabuki, Japanese history and culture. The stories behind the costumes was fascinating, with hints as to who the stories were about, determined by the patterns and subjects on the costumes,...

QUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS

2011-03-27T04:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday March 26. Below Nagoya's TV Tower collecting donations and goods to be shipped to the quake and tsunami ravaged north eastern districts. Once again TV and newspapers were on hand to cover the collections. This event is growing. Last week was just me and the PPF team, this week, we're joined by many media people supportive of my work with the helicopter team.
In front of the PPF offices,...and this is just half of what we collected! It took a one-ton truck to get all the donated items to the Hope International Charity's collection point! First time I've ever driven a truck too!
The radio DJ team from various stations gathered to help collect radios to be airlifted to the survivors. This is probably the first time ever that rival station DJ's came together, despite what radio station management thought!
A big media turnout this time, with FM Aichi's Takeyama san and Kuro Chan, Mid FM's Sano Eri, Soon to return to Zip-FM, Chris, and TV Aichi's Kaino Yuka...

QUAKE CHARITY COLLECTION, ICHINOMIYA

2011-03-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

Friday March 25, up early for a 1 hour drive to Ichinomiya just outside of Nagoya for another Earthquake relief donation collection event,....
This time, helping raise funds for the helicopter association was former model and TV personality, Mizuno Yuko (crouching in front of me). Mizuno San saw what I was doing for the victims of the mega-quake and tsunami, and wanted to take part, and so she organised a collection event, similar to what I was doing in Nagoya city central.
Mizuno san enlisted the help of her friends from the Ichinomiya area to help collect funds to keep the helicopters flying, and to gather necessary supplies to take directly to the victims in the North eastern Tohoku region.

NO MORE SANJI!

2011-03-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

TV Aichi is updating is programming, and so today was my final regular appearance. At the end of the show, I received flowers from host Arai, who's also leaving, and main host, Tsuboi Norio.
Regular director Yamaguchi Yuko is also moving on to a different show... Oh well, All good things must come to an end....

NAGOYA TALENT

2011-03-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

TV Aichi's Kaino Yuka, my partner for Sanji No Tsubo turned up at the charity event...
As did radio personality Kawamoto Eko. Good to see so many friendly faces come along to help a good cause!

TCN CM

2011-03-22T03:01:00.000-07:00

After loading helicopters for the mercy flights into the quake stricken North Eastern districts, it was a quick dash back to Nagoya to record some radio commercials for Toyota Carolla Nagoya.... covered in dust and not having slept for almost 24 hours, must have looked a sight!

QUAKE CHARITY COLLECTION

2011-03-22T02:57:00.000-07:00

Below Nagoya's TV Tower with pilot, Hashimoto San (in yellow) and the PPF Radio DJ School students, collecting donations and supplies to be airlifted by chopper to Sendai. A Nagoya TV news crew was there filming us too.

EMERGENCY SUPPLY RUN

2011-03-22T02:49:00.000-07:00

With Hashimoto San and The Meat Guy, Jason Morgan at Minokamo Heliport after delivering the first load of emergency supplies bound for the quake damaged Tohoku region.
The first load was the items donated at Sunday morning's event, a few hundred kilos worth, and 3 foldable bikes...
Load 2 picked up from the Hope International charity run at the Hilton filled the truck completely!
Thanks to the Meat Guy, Jason, for his time and his truck and all the all the bad jokes there and back!

HELICOPTER QUAKE RELIEF 2

2011-03-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

Tues. March 22, 11 days after the mega-quake, up at the crack of dawn and out to the Minikamo Heliport to load the helicopters with medicines and emergency supplies for direct aid flights.

Above, Friendship Flight 2005 partner Nishimori San and one of his staff, with the other 2 choppers behind. A 4th chopper joined them mid flight from Gunma.
The choppers were packed full of supplies I collected over the weekend at TV Tower and Hope International collected at the Hilton...
The Robinson R44 choppers are small, but it's surprising how much you can fit in one if you try!
A Nagoya TV crew was on hand to film us loading the helicopters and interview us too.

QUAKE HELICOPTER RELIEF

2011-03-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

The Japan Helicopter Owners and Pilots Assoc. have been making relief flights into the quake zones. Above, Hashimoto San, with whom I fly regularly, and Nishimori San, who flew with me on the Australia-Japan Friendship Flight 2005. I've been coordinating things from Nagoya, and will be doing a drive for supplies and donations tomorrow. The private owners and pilots have donated machines and pilots. We still need money to cover fuel costs to get medicines and emergency supplies direct to the hardest hit, and accessible only by air regions. Contact me for more details!

TUNNEL VISION AGAIN!

2011-03-15T00:13:00.000-07:00

Trying some roast beef while on location for TV Aichi's Sanji No Tsubo programme...
Not long after, we went down this long, dark, cramped and humid, tube-filled tunnel some 10 meters below the city streets...
The tunnel runs from where I'm standing to directly underneath the building with the yellow sign behind me, and then to other major buildings in the vicinity! Find out what it's for and why on Tuesday afternoon from 3 on TV Aichi!

THE REAL DEATH STAR

2011-03-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

The new Nagoya Science Center and world's biggest Planetarium opens this month,...it looks just like the Death Star from Star Wars....
To further illustrate the point, I quickly drew up a small Death Star / Darth Vader illustration for the TV show Sanji No Tsubo on TV Aichi...
You can see the science Center, the Planetarium, and the illustration this coming Tuesday from 3pm on TV Aichi,...and why I almost died in the Death Star wearing these clothes!

HONNOJI REVISITED

2011-03-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hotel Honnoji! The Honnoji was the temple the great warlord Oda Nobunaga was staying at when one of his generals turned traitor and killed him in 1582,...so I guess, expect friends to attack and burn you alive when you stay here?
Behind the hotel is the Honnoji Temple itself. The original site is now an old folks home, while this Honnoji was rebuilt about a kilometer away after the assassination of Nobunaga. As it was, I was 30 seconds late,...as I neared the temple, the priests were shutting the big wooden gate... If I hadn't taken that hotel shot....D'Oh...

SAMURAI SEMINAR 1

2011-03-14T23:39:00.001-07:00

High on the eastern mountainsides overlooking the ancient capitol of Kyoto stands the Shohouji Temple. Not famous by Kyoto standards, this many hundreds of years old temple was to be the site for a Samurai Seminar for a foreign tour group.
Before we began, preparations included lugging my 20kg armour up the 140 stairs to the top, and the armour stand, and my swords, and... everything else... The temple has electricity, but no flowing water, that still comes from a deep well behind the main prayer hall...
Looking west over Kyoto City while waiting for the participants... As you can see, it was still misty in the western regions, and freezing cold that morning.
The 15 Australian participants turned up, and so we got them into the mood and into some samurai wear, kimono and hakama.... (continues)

SAMURAI SEMINAR 2

2011-03-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

With the Australian "samurai" ready, the talks began. Part 1 consisted of an explantion about samurai armour...

Later, an informal chat about Japanese swords...

The guys then got the chance to go outside (in the bitterly cold Kyoto morning) and try their hand at swordsmanship... (looks like a scene from the Last Samurai, doesn't it!?)

The Japanese samurai team provided a short demonstration...

...and then to wrap things up, we all did the kachidoki samurai war cry together. It was great to see the Australians so interested in Japanese culture and history. Looking forward to presenting more of these simple and fun seminars.

HARMAN-Y

2011-03-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

At the Nagoya Hilton MCing a special event for sound system engineers, Harman Automotive and Mark Levinson who hosted the Lexus personnel. A Lexus type sound system was set up around the event hall to give the Lexus people a chance to really hear the sound system they will be (hopefully) fitting into their cars.
Apart from listening to music and sounds, Harman local director, Bruce and I did a talk presentation showing the history of the Mark Levinson brand, the $10,000 speakers behind us and the Eagles too, who debuted in 1972, and whom the Harman team took the Lexus team to see in Nagoya Dome prior to this show.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...

2011-03-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a very busy month and right at the end of Feb came my 43rd birthday！PPF Radio DJ School member Shirakawa Yo gave me some Japanese Samurai battle prints, and a Paul Simon biography! Thanks Yo!

BOOK OF 5 RINGS

2011-03-01T23:11:00.000-08:00

SCREEN SHOT...Just been watching a TV special on my hero, the master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, the book on warfare and tactics he wrote, and that books' modern day meanings,...It's been interesting to watch, but shocking how so few Japanese know about the Go Rin no Sho (Book Of 5 Rings)

ART DVD

2011-03-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

Out now! A DVD made to promote the visual and performing arts of Nagoya to the world! Hosted by,...Ta Daaaaa~ yours truly! ....Available in Japanese, English, Spanish and Chinese!

KOUGAKUJI TEMPLE

2011-03-01T22:57:00.000-08:00

On the gateposts of the Kougakuji Temple in Nagashima are the golden crests of the Tokugawa clan, the family that rose to prominence and became Shogun in 1603.
The ancient temple was made famous in 1649 when it was chosen to hold the remains of the first Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu's mother.
The temple also houses a 96cm tall wooden statue of the buddha, now listed as a cultural asset.
Despite it's obvious importance to the Tokugawa family, the temple remains slightly run down, remote and mostly unknown.

NAGASHIMA UPRISING SITE

2011-03-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

Southeast of modern day Nagoya City, nearby the Nagashima Castle site stands the Ganshoji Temple. The temple was moved to this spot after the devastating typhoons of the 1959, when the entire region was flooded meters deep. The temple once stood a kilometer away on the banks of the Nagara river, and was one of the primary fortified temples involved in the three large battles that took place first in 1569 and again a year later. The warrior monks of the Ikko-ikki sect had seized Nagashima Castle and the entire Nagashima island had been made into a series of forts.
The warlord Oda Nobunaga had attempted on 2 occasions to quell the growing powers of the warrior clergy and the civil uprisings resulting in civil disobedience. His brother had been killed in the first attempt, and so an angered Nobunaga made a third and final attack in 1574....
Nowdays, the temple serves as one of the very few reminders of the incident in which over 20,000 priests, men, women and children were burned alive when Nobunaga laid siege to the fortifications, encased the complex in a wooden barrier, and then set it all alight. No-one escaped alive.