While the cat's away...

I've been busy! A couple of days ago we had a wintry cold front that came through resulting in snow just north of here and a miserly 3 degrees for us in Kamogawa. With the wife away at the mo I decided to whip up a roast and stink up the house with the smell of meeeaaatttt. Actually didn't smell as much as I thought it would. The pork was lovely and tender and seasoned with rosemary from the balcony. I also through in some spuds, carrots and onion. Mmmmm....delicious.Then, as luck would have it, Sunday was warm and sunny so we busted out the BBQ and had an early birthday celebration for Dave's daughter, Mahina Ke Aloha. It was very small with just a couple of us but we ate a truckload! Wild Boar (Inoshishi), Scallops, Chicken Wings, Squid and Hot Dogs!Then today I went back to the hospital in Katsuura and had the Doctor yank out my pins. I wasn't sure what to expect and was anticipating some degree of pain, but actually it was pretty painless although I did feel a bit hot and queasy right after and needed some fresh air.....yeah, yeah...big pussy....I know.Step 1: Pliers and a good firm grip
Step 2; Yank! Camera shutter speed was delayed so I missed the action shot :(
And here they are, the 2 pins that held the bone in place while it healed.

According to the X-ray it all looks good. Just needs a bit of rehabilitation to get the movement back and it'll be as good as new. It was a beautiful day today so I took the scenic route home and snapped this picture looking back across Katsuura Bay at Katsuura township. I can't wait to get wet. My Doc gave me the all clear but be careful spiel and a friend hooked me up with waterproof bandaging until the two puncture holes have healed.

Thanks everyone for you help and patience over these last two months, especially my wife!

See ya buddy

Saw off a buddy from work the other day at Casa, in Kamogawa. Nice food and pretty a cool vibe, worth keeping in mind to take my wife one day.
Anyway, he was always good for a chat and was starting to get right into his surfing so we always discussed wave conditions and new swell predictions.
He's off to university to study design up in Ibaragi (away from the beach).
Best of luck with your studies mate and feel free to drop by anytime you're down this way for a surf.

Beach Time

Yesterday was nice and warm and sunny so I went for a stroll along the beach and wet the toes. It seems like the water is warming up which is good because when my finger is right I'm keen as to get out in the waves and get amongst it.

SEASIDENice right-hander walling up @ B-side

Naoki

Another one slips by unriddenAbove and below: Nako-chan Pro Bodyboarder

Above: How fun does this look? It's about chest high and no-one on it

Below: looking back at my place
KAKOU

Ogura-san, local old boy about to paddle out at KakouAbove and below: TakejiYoshi Ogawa

Unknown on a leftTako-chu coming in after a fun surf.

Shower Time!

5 more sleeps 'til the wires come out (provided the X-ray is all good)!!
I started out taping a shopping bag around my wrist each time but found this gift bag from Jusco with side ties fit perfectly. So much less hassle and it's re-usable!!

Who's Your Mother????

This really grates me when I see this kind of thing. If I ever catch someone doing this I'm gonna whip their ass...even with a bust finger...GRRRrrrrr!!!!!

This has been sitting there for about a fortnight and everyone just walks past it???? I finally went into the store nearby and asked for a plastic bag, picked it up and took it home. I had intended to sort the trash into the correct recycling bins for collection but the condo manager took pity on me (or thought I'd mess it up) and offered to do it....gomen ne.

BUONO!

Good friend and Pro Surfer, Sei Nagai, recently started working at Buono Restaurant at the Familio Tateyama Hotel. Familio, while having both accommodation and a restaurant, also has a variety of sporting facilities such as a Beach Volleyball court, Yoga, Futsal and Tennis courts, as well as offering outdoor activities such as Sea Kayaking and Stand Up Paddle Boarding.

Buono offers Itailian fair and had a killer lunch deal that runs from 12~3pm. It's open right thru until 11pm with afternoon tea, dinner and a bar from 8pm to close.

Lunch is just ¥1480 including tax and you get a kick ass salad to start things off followed by a choice of several pasta dishes or pizza (Aiko got the Cabonara and I ordered Pizza. Both were delicious). Then to wrap things up they throw in a gelato ice cream (tomato flavoured) and choice of either hot or ice coffee. And to top things off, was the fact that they had an opening campaign with a further ¥500 off the price, so we ate for less than $10 each!!!

Thanks Sei!!
Good luck with the new job!!

Hanami

Tateyama, about 35mins drive south of Kamogawa, is host to an old Japanese Castle situated in the grounds of Shiroyama Park. At the base of the hill is a large number of cherry trees which also line the path up to, and surrounding, the Castle itself.
From the top there is a nice view out over Tateyama and Tokyo Bay. This Sunday was particularly busy with people doing their annual 'Hanami' (Blossom watching) and the blossoms didn't disappoint. It is also a rather common tradition to picnic under the trees and drink Japanese sake and beer with friends and work companions. (Still a bit cold if you ask me) I guess it was probably the peak day of the year with regard to the amount and extent of the blossoming so we were fortunate to have the time to go and see for ourselves.

BEEF TONGUE

(The packaging depicting a chef grilling the meat over hot coals)

One of my student's brothers went up to Sendai and bought back some of the local delicacy, Gyuu-tan. My Grandad's mouth woulda been watering in his grave as he used to always request the tongue when we had a beast slaughtered on the farm. Back then I had no appreciation for it, but these days I love it!! Thanks fellas.(Inside the box were 2 packs)

(The finished product grilled with fresh Rosemary from the balcony and Hawaiian salt seasoning with a touch of lemon juice waiting to be devoured...mmmm....delicious!)

TOKYO TOWER, FRIENDS & SAKURA

Had a fantastic time in Tokyo the other day. A flatmate from Dunedin days was holidaying in Japan with her husband and daughter. We hadn't seen each other for 12 years or so we calculated, but it seemed just like yesterday!! Unfortunately, not living in Tokyo, I'm not the best guide for those looking to take in the sights. However, we still managed to see around the Asakusa area and sample some Okonomiyaki in a local restaurant.

While there, we also saw the new TOKYO SKY TOWER currently under construction. As it happened, that day it officially eclipsed the TOKYO TOWER as the tallest building in Tokyo. When completed, it will be 634m high!! Construction is expected to be completed in 2011. (above is what it's expected to look like)

Then we took a cruise down the Sumida River back to the Hinode Pier, which is just by the Rainbow Bridge and a short walk from Hamamatsucho Station on the Yamanote Line which circles inner Tokyo. It was really busy as the river's edge is lined with Cherry trees and Japan is in the grip of 'Sakura Fever', a week in which the Cherry trees blossom.

It is customary for friends and workmates to party in the parks under the trees and even has an official name 'Hanami', often with office juniors sent down with blue plastic sheeting to mark out and hold a space all day until the others finish work and come down with the beers and food. A lot of the local breweries release special beers or packaging just for the occasion.

I feel sorry for them this year as it's super cold. Apparently it even snowed in Kamogawa while I was in Tokyo!!

Finally it was back to their accommodation near Tokyo Tower and a quick dinner together before parting ways.

Thanks Amanda, Rich and Soph. I had an awesome time and hope that you guys get some great memories from the rest of your holiday. Hopefully it won't be 12 years until our paths cross again!!

Eat, Spit, Be Happy!

Some friends came back from spending the winter on the North Shore of Oahu and brought back a funny souvenir, a bag of DAVID ROASTED & SALTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS. They're popular in the States with baseball players as a healthy substitute to chewin' bacco.

David is my father's name so I thought he'd at least see the funny side of this. I will eat, spit and be happy when I open these and will think of family back in NZ.

Mahalo for the souvenir GRACE SURFBOARDS

Earth Hour 2010!

We did our bit for Earth Hour last night and switched off everything but the fridge! It was actually really good just to sit down and chill out with a bottle of wine and some good food, listen to the waves and talk! It's a shame that more people weren't aware of it as most people just went about their Saturday night as normal. It did make us think about how much electricity is wasted not just by large government institutions and the like, but by us too. We'll be taking extra care to 'switch off' whatever is not needed from now.

Baum Kuchen

March signifies, not only the end of the financial tax year, but also the end of the school year here in Japan with students graduating and salary men transferring offices alike. As such, it's a pretty busy time of year for most.

One of my High School students recently passed his university entrance exams and will be relocating to the greater Tokyo area to further his education. We'll miss him at work as he was often there or thereabouts either studying with us or in the adjacent Juku (cram school).

On his last day he brought in some BAUMKUCHEN, a kind of layered cake, known in many countries throughout Europe. When cut, the cake reveals the characteristic golden rings that give it its German name, Baumkuchen, which literally translates to "tree cake". To get the ring effect, a thin layer of batter is brushed evenly onto a spit and allowed to bake until golden, after which the process is repeated. The most skilled bakers will repeat the process numerous times.(Wikipedia).

In Japan it is one of the most popular types of cakes and this one was particularly delicious!!Thanks Daisuke and good luck with your future studies

House Warming BBQ

(S-kun showing M-kun the ropes)

Good friends recently completed their new house and moved in around X'mas and as is tradition, had a little house warming party. The weather finally cooperated with some warm temps allowing us to bust out their new BBQ. Fortunately their house is tucked in under the ridge of the hill so the strong winds affecting most places didn't hinder us at all. There was horrendous yellow sand choking the skies from Mongolia that brought visibility down to less than 1,000m, at a guess, for most of the morning thru until about 2pm, but the skies cleared as the day wore on which made for a great occasion.
Thanks to the wonderful hosts for the great spread of food and putting up with me when the beer started to take hold...hahaha. We'll have to do it again sometime!

Kafunsho Allergy Sucks!!

Mountain Cedar Pollen

The pollen is very buoyant and may be carried by the air for miles. Among all the junipers, the mountain cedar has received the greatest attention as an allergen source. The toxic nature of the mountain cedar pollen may lie in its chemical nature. The allergic reactions to mountain cedar pollen appear to be attributable to a single, stable, glycoprotein, with high carbohydrate and low protein content. This contrasts with the majority of known allergens in pollen grains, which tend to be a mix of allergenic glycoproteins having much lower carbohydrate content. The high carbohydrate content in combination with high density make the pollen of Mountain Cedar unique in causing allergic rhinitis.

In addition to making a person feel ill due to allergies, this condition can interfere in a variety of ways with carrying out one's day to day responsibilities. Loss of sleep, limitation of activities, diminished productivity, poor concentration, emotional distress, irritability, fatigue, and practical problems such as repeated nose blowing and nose rubbing, all impact negatively on ability to carry out physical, social and work/school responsibilities effectively. Similar to other pollen allergens, mountain cedar pollens contact the lining tissue of a person's eyes, nose, and lungs. Therefore reducing the duration of exposure to these pollens is important.

For more than 3 million Tokyo residents who seasonally suffer from sniffly, sneezy kafunsho (pollen allergy), the sight of Gov. Shintaro Ishihara applying an ax to the trunk of a pollen-producing cedar back in 2006 was enough to bring tears of joy to their already itchy eyes. But it seems that kafunsho sufferers have little to look forward to beyond an unpleasant, annual three-month bout of blowing runny noses and rubbing itchy eyes. The mountains of cedar currently idling so allergenically on their doorstep appear set to remain idling there for a while longer until market prices entice landowners to harvest their investments.

Air conditioning: Two of Tokyo's millions of pollen-allergy sufferers use masks to aid their plight. SATOKO KAWSAKI PHOTO

Kamogawa Power On-Line Mag

Good friend and talented surfer/artist/teacher/you name it, has been working hard behind the scenes to put together this on-line style magazine, KAMOGAWA POWER (Vol 2.), for one and all, with an emphasis on travel and life experiences in Japan, notably Kamogawa. At this stage it's all English, but there are plans in the pipeline to make it bilingual in the future. It features a few pics taken by me and in the future, perhaps an article here or there (got to get my thinking cap on and finger sorted!). This month has stories on Grace Surf's Hokkaido trip, our snowboard trip to Kusatsu and some photos from Hiroshima as well as profiling some local groms with big futures and restaurants that hit the spot. Check it out HERE and feel free to send Dave or I suggestions or ideas for future volumes which I can pass on.

This mirror is another example of his handy work. It was a house warming gift from him and his wife!! Super stoked and it looks great in our entrance way. No more excuses for having bad hair when I rock out the door!

Much Mahalo guys