Nintendo DS in Japan gets digital TV tuner

You can learn more at Nintendo’s Japanese DS site.  The tuner will be available on Nov. 20th in Japan.

 

Japan’s massive dolphin slaughter

Most Japanese are against war, most Japanese do not known that their fisherman are allowed to brutally kill thousands of dolphins every year starting in October (this year the government allowed the killings to start in September, one month earlier to help fatten the wallets of the murderers). I read about this every year in the Japan Times English newspaper, it never shows up in the true Japanese papers or on the evening news. Every Japanese person I have discussed this with knew nothing about the mass dolphin murders. Below is video from some brave souls that are standing up to bring forth the truth about Japan’s mass dolphin killing. What makes it even worse is the way that these mammals are brutally killed by being stabbed and smashed to death after being corralled like cattle in to shallow water surrounded by nets. There are ways to help and get involved.

Visit Save Japan Dolphins for more information.

http://www.savejapandolphins.org/

Here is a video documenting the killings in 2006

 

Yokohama – Hot Rod and Custom Bike show

The 16th annual Mooneyes Hot Rod and Custom Bike show is almost here.  The date is Sunday, Decmeber 2,  2007.  If you are in the Kanto region of Japan and love cars and bikes than this is the place to be.  Chica, the Japanese custom bike builder who become famous on Discovery’s Biker Build Off show in the U.S., will be showcasing his raw and completely hand worked bikes along with all his friends from the States.  Links to the show information and video are found below. Come spend the day in Yokohama!

16th Annual YOKOHAMA HOT ROD Custom Show 2007

After selling my soul (entire motorcycle life) to the devil to move to Japan, this is the closest I can get to reliving my extreme passion for riding on two wheels.

 

Takahiro – amazing Japanese dancer

We don’t get to see a lot of TV because our little one is always watching DVD’s. Well tonight we saw a weird show that highlighted a male Japanese piano player (amazing), a male that dressed up like a geisha and danced (a little g-a-y…I accept Japan’s culture, but he was a major a pretty boy and totally looked and acted like a woman well beyond any other male performer we have seen before), and then there was Takahiro. He is a crazy dancer, some of his moves are wack, and he self taught himself and moved to New York to make a career. Here is a video of Takahiro dancing (unfortunately this YouTube upload doesn’t keep up with Takahiro’s moves…the frame rate is choppy.  In the real world Takahiro flows and his unique moves look like magic in real time).

 

Japanese Tradition – Sushi すし

A video to teach you everything you need to know about a Sushi resturant （すしや）in Japan.  You will even pick up some great Japanese phrases for everyday use.

 

More gangster shootings in Japan

Japanese Yakuza (gangsters) are becoming more and more fearless when it comes to shooting people in broad daylight.  On Sunday, it was reported that 3 shots were fired in a busy market in Tokyo’s Taito Ward killing 42 year-old Shinichi Nakanishi, a former member of the Yamaguchi-gumi.  No one has been arrested for the murder as of Monday.

Read more about it on the Japan Times website.

 

Kenji Nagai’s final footage in Myanmar

Tonight on TV they showed a lot of Kenji Nagai’s final footage that he filmed before he was murdered.  He walked around and asked alot of questions to the locals on his final day.  He was one smart journalist, as it was stated that he changed his tapes several times to ensure that news wasn’t stuck in his camera.  Nagai-san knew it was a dangerous place.  If I find any links of the footage then they will be added here.  If you are an American citizen then please write to your government officials for support democracy in Myanmar without killing the innocent.

 

Burma / Myanmar : Nagai-san (Japanese journalist) funeral in Japan

If you have been following the Myanmar (Burma) struggle than you might know that a strong and brave journalist by the name Kenji Nagai was gunned down last week during the height of the protest. Today his funeral ceremony was held in Tokyo. Tonight on the news they showed a lot of his last video shots during the day that he died. Kenji Nagai was an amazing man. I wish I could do pick up where he left off without fear or sadness from my family. That is what keeps me from doing more – my family. I feel lost…I want to do something, but I don’t want my family to be sad. I hope that Nagai-san’s actions will finally open Japan’s newspapers towards telling Japan the truth. Ever since I moved to Japan I found their articles biased and that the real big news was absent from the national news. Today my Japanese wife finally agreed that the Japanese news hides a lot of information from the public. I hope that others feel the same. Nagai-san rest is peace and thank you for bringing the Myanmar struggle to the fore front of the Japanese media. Hopefully the Japanese government will pick up where you left off.

I don’t like to swear in my blog posts…but…FUCK YOU-MYANMAR GOVERMENT! You will fail in your quest to kill your peoples’ dreams. FREEDOM will prevail!

 

JPLT – Japanese Language Proficiency Test – Level 4

I have been dabbling with studying Japanese for the past 4 years with no major changes.

Today I am setting my first goal in years. Starting today I am aiming to pass the JPLT Level 4 test in December 2008. That gives me over 1 year. No excuses if I don’t pass. I have to start somewhere with a definite date of completion because I only work well under pressure.

FYI…Level 4 is the lowest/easiest test. Level 1 is for the masters.

 

40th Tokyo Motor Show : Oct. 27 – Nov. 11, 2007

Main website with all the info.