10.04.2006 - My birthday, USP

Well, I didn't even remember this until I went and looked at the date on these photos but all of them were taken on the 4th of October, my birthday. That day was the first day that we went to the University of Shiga Prefecture, a new school that had only been around for 14 years or so. The ultra-modern artistic architecture makes it really distinctive, but I can't help thinking that it's such a pointy campus (not to mention confusing) when I go there.

I'll make this simple with a simple gallery of photos to browse through. We went on a tour, you see, and I was eager to try out my new camera...





We went in a big group with my professor, whom I didn't take a picture of... But here's a couple pictures of the people in my class.



And, well, that's about it! Sorry not a lot to say, but on the topic of my birthday...
Don and Angie bought me a cake and sang happy birthday. There weren't any candles, but that was okay. I had a good time. :)

10.02.2006 - The new camera!

October second, I got my brand new camera. But first I had a pic from the store.


Well, for a couple days in a row I had been trying to get the new camera, encountering trouble with using my credit card. I made a skype call back to america to tell them that I was in Japan and wished to use my card there, then returned to the camera shop on the second day. After some talking with the employee there and a short call from him to the credit card company, the camera was purchased, and here's my first photo!


Well, that's the inside of the camera shop. Later I found out that it's bad manners to take pictures in stores, but so long as I don't see a sign or somebody doesn't ask me to stop I guess I'll keep snapping.

On the way home I was surprised to come across these flowers that I hadn't seen the day before. They just popped up that day, so I took a picture.


And there was a cemetery right there.


And once I got back home I had don take a picture of me.


And I took a picture of don.


And another of some stuff on the table.


Next I planned where I might go to get some usage out of my new camera.

Friday Project - The Koto

Hello again.

This friday's project (10/27/2006) We were guests to a Koto instructor. I did not get very much information about her, but I do have plenty of nice pictures to show, along with some clips. Let's start with a clip to listen to while you browse the pictures.



The Koto is a Japanese Harp. It consists of a long rounded block of hard wood, nylon strings tightly attached end-to-end, and a series of plastic bridges that hold the strings taut and assist in tuning.

The strings are individually tuned for the particular song you are playing. I'm sure there's a lot more information on Wikipedia So I'm just going to talk about what I saw and show off the pictures that I took. Plus the sounds are cool, of course.

Just a moment while I fire up Photoshop. I've been 'developing' my photos digitally. cropping and tuning up the colors and contrast. The results are great, I think. :)



This is the instrument.



And here's a closeup of the strings.



And a few more detail shots of the Koto and instructor's playing. The standing things are 'pillars' and the finger things are for playing. She occasionally presses down with her left hand to change the pitch of the note. It was interesting to watch.

After a short bit of instruction, it was time for the students to put on the little finger-picks and try their hand at 'Mushi no Koe' or "An Insect's Voice." Now, I didn't record any of their playing, I was too busy taking pictures. :)


The students were faced with strings and picks, and a sheet of japanese music, but most of them did pretty well, I would think.


Everybody taking turns at studying.

Finally, we were presented with a much more involved demonstration of Koto to round up the morning session. Apparently these Koto are owned by JCMU and Shiga Prefecture, so some of the students were interested in continuing to practice.



Enjoy!

Oh! Osaka!

Yay, Osaka!

It was too bad that the first time I went I had no camera, so this time I made sure it was charged, full of batteries, and empty. I set the picture quality up so that I would be able to take plenty of shots and off I went...

First, a few random shots in the train station:

This is where we got off in Osaka, underground.



And a random statue with a big open area in the underground mall called the 'Namba walk.' The mall itself was pretty cool.


(switched to Flickr to continue)
And here's a monument in the mall itself.

Out to the surface and we find...

Dotonbori (after a short walk) and a mechanical crab! Next time I see it I'll try and video the movement.

Dotonbori is a famous shopping street in Osaka. There is the home of such landmarks as...

The glico man! A giant neon sign.

And most famous of all is Kuidaore Taro.


He's even got Kuidaore themed food.

Here's another shot of the river beside Dotonbori.


After leaving dotonbori we headed for Nipponbashi, otherwise known as Den-Den town. The Den comes from 'Denki' or electricity. Den-Den town is full of video game and electronics stores.
So starting off from Dotonbori we headed south along the road past Namba station, past the Shin Kabuki-za...


And the Nankai building (which I hear has a theater inside)


And here comes tower records as we round the corner...


And we turn down a side street to see...

The beginning of the several miles of game stores.

Things really pick up once you get to the Nipponbashi proper.


And you can find stuff like old video games...

Or plastic figures and models...


Or even giant figures!

Smile, snake!


At the southernmost end of Nipponbashi is Tsutenkaku, another monument of Osaka.

We walked right up underneath it!

And ate Takoyaki, a fried ball of dough with a little octopus leg inside.

It didn't taste that good though. Well, I didn't like the texture.

Since night had fallen we walked back to that intersection and I took a photo of Tsutenkaku at night... except they didn't light it up! bummer.


And that was our trip to Osaka!