Blogs from Shiga, Japan, Asia

While looking at a map researching places to visit between Tokyo and Kyoto, my eyes honed in on Lake Biwa. Much to my surprise, I learned that one of Japan’s famed cat islands was on that lake. I was wary about such places; I knew that the most famous cat island in Japan was swarming with cats while their human population was in decline, and I suspected that visiting such a place may be somewhat depressing. Nevertheless, I researched further, and found that Okishima Island still has quite a few human residents - about 350, apparently descended from a band of banished samurai - and that the place wasn’t overrun with cats. I knew we had to make a pit stop there. On the afternoon of March 19th, Jeff and I set off from Tokyo station ... read more

Hi there, individuals with too much free time! Today is going to be special since I've had a request from a certain panda to write in swedish because "it adds more character" apparently. Klart som fan att jag ska uppfylla ett sådant attraktivt önskemål. Mitt huvud känns för tillfället ganska överbelastat med hiragana och katakana, två av tre japanska alfabet som också är fonetiska. Seminarierna känns just nu som näskrokar i ultrarapid när man sitter och desperat försöker skriva symbolen för "te" eller "ke" men inte för sitt liv kan komma ihåg hur den ser ut utan fuskpappret. Känner den dömande blicken från den japanska studentskan som hjälper oss under lektionerna och blir alltmer förtvivlad över att jag bara kommer halvvägs genom symbolen. Till slut förbarmar hon sig över mig och visar hur den ska se ... read more

Today I spent a lot of money. On rent and the deposit. It was boring. But at least I got to see a bit of the campus and the parts that I have seen are impressive. There's just something about universities that make me feel at home, kind of like the smell of freshly made coffee. Anywho, thought I'd publish one or two pictures to give some more visual entertainment. There will be more, but I haven't really gotten into the habit of photographing everything yet. The pictures are of the sunset above Kyoto/Otsu, hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. The other picture is of a most amazing place, the Daiso store, meaning the 100 yen store. Oh, right, there's also a picture of a peculiar wall next to a...purveyor of hallucinogenic ... read more

Scarcely had I arrived back from my own snow adventure, when I had to go and collect two bodies from the train station after theirs. I had offered my place up to Mr and Mrs Merritt, parents of one of my closest friends and one of them an ex sensei of my own. Linda and Peter Merritt have to be two of the most fun and happy people you could hang around with. It has been almost 10 years since I left school, so it didn't feel awkward. I can actually call him Peter now (after years of calling him Mr Merritt, and once calling him Paul). It did feel somwhat surreal though, but it always does when people from back home are over here. You constantly think to yourself 'wow...I normally see you in ... read more

Having my trip booked is a nice feeling. I've been content to just go to work, do my thing, go out on the weekend sometimes, and generally enjoy every day life. Now it seems my thoughts turn to home with more frequency. Some of the people i'll see, I haven't seen for eight months. I was lucky enough to have a few visitors from home, like Danilo and my parents, but I haven't seen my brother or my friends for aaaages. Have they changed? Have I changed? It's hard to know if you're the same person you were in the past, without some kind of sounding board - for example other people who know you.They know your faults your dreams and your general eccentricities (though that last part may just be me). Seeing people every day ... read more