Japanorama

If you haven't already seen it yet, I recommend that you track down the BBC 3 documentary series, Japanorama. Presented by Johnathon Ross, who obviously has a keen soft spot for Japan, it is a quirky look at the culture.

This is clip from the season 2 episode "Kakkoi" (which is Japanese for cool).

Teaching in Japan

As some of you may know, I used to work for NOVA in Japan for just over two years. I enjoyed my time in Japan (well most of it) and had no problems working for NOVA. Luckily for me, I had already left Japan when the company began to feel the financial implications of the fine imposed by the Japanese courts. Some of my friends however were not so lucky, and had to either find other jobs or return home.

Teaching in Japan, is one of the easiest ways to get overseas. In many cases this means applying to one of the many Eikawa (large chain schools like NOVA, GEOS, AEON) as they will sponser a VISA for you.

I have included some links to these schools and others if you are interested in teaching in Japan.

ANOTHER new Japanese Prime Minister!

After the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda at the beginning of September, one would think that the job has become something of a poisoned chalice.

When I arrived in Japan in 2005, the Prime Minister was the flamboyant Junichiro Koizumi. He resigned in 2006 and was replaced by the younger and eager Shinzo Abe. However Abe was not a popular choice within the party, despite his father having been a powerful politician, and soon he found himself in a deadlocked situation.

He was replaced last year with the older Fukuda, but his leadership seem non-descript and anaemic at times. With the DJP (Democratic Party) holding the upper houses, Japanese politics seemed at a stalemate.

The man pictured is the new leader of the LDP; the tough talking, manga loving conservative Taro Aso. Aso is, and was during my previous time in Japan, one of the most charasmatic and recognisible faces in Japanese politics. He recieved 351 out of the 527 votes from fellow MPs and Party members, and it is now widely believed that he will call a general election to reinforce his leadership.

However, Tokiko Terada, a pensioner from Tokyo, states " I can't stand it! We can't choose the Prime Minister again".

The LDP has run Japan, almost without a break, since Mrs Terada was about the same age as her granddaughter Yuki is now. Yuki's mother Michiko Terada was born in 1956, the year after the LDP first took power.

But with the DJP rising in power, maybe there will be change or will the election of Taro Aso keep the LDP in governement ?

Happy/Sadness

For those of you who know me well, you will be aware of the "trouble" I seem to have with women. Firstly I used to fret over being single. Finding despair and self esteem issues in the void of my single life.Secondly I would always attract women in pairs. It would force me to make a decision. One I didn't make well. Which leads me onto point three. I used to make terrible choices on the type of woman/girl who was "right" for me. I seemed to take an option that was ruled by my heart or head and not the two.

After Shiori, a nightmare of a relationship in which I was sucked dry emotionally and mentally, I emerged stronger, yet more harsh. An element of coldness had entered my heart. Relationships were unworthy of my time, my emotion. They were a a serious of misadventures where ups would counter-attacked by lows, and would always end in disappointment.I channelled all my energy into my family. Helping my Dad and co heal from the loss of my Mum. And bizarrely this aided me. Over time my hurt and frustration dropped away.

But this wasn't all down to me. Via emails and MSN conversations, a young Japanese woman, Rie Iwadate was fixing me without me knowing. She was restoring my faith in people. In life. In love. That people are fundamentaly decent. Our relationship grew over distance. Through written words. It was shorn of the shackles of physicality. Even though I did find her attractive.

Then one day it dawned on me. Like an epiphany of light in a dark room. The reason I felt no desire towards other women was because I had all my desire channelled in one direction. Rie's direction. Here was a relationship that had been built over a long distance, yet I felt closer to her than anyone in my life, and definately more so than any of my previous girlfriends.

Did she feel it too ?

She told me she wanted to come to England and visit me. But the caution in me, the scepticsm that has always lived in my heart was fresh now. Gone was the blissfully naive Justin of my first real relationship with Claire. The clinginess that had subverted me before had also vanished.

Yet when she arrived in England on August 29th the connection between us was solid. As soon as I saw her small delicate frame walk through those doors at Heathrow, I felt something in me click. She was real. This moment was real. We had a drink as we waited for the bus back to Bristol. It was euphouric. I had been as important in her life as she had in mine. In the bus station, we chatted and laughed, I could feel her body language as something positive. That she felt the same way as I did. She felt that 1 in a million connection.

And so she is now my girlfriend. No time was wasted whilst she was here. It was perfect. As if the grace of someone above was rewarding me for the sacrifices I had made to get here. We travelled to Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and London. We cooked for each other. Drank beer together. Laughed together. In many ways from the 29th of August until the 9th September we were lost in each other. I have never felt anything like it. Like all my previous relationships have been whispers, dress-rehearsals for this one.

When she left on September 9th, the sadness was unbearably. It was a sadness we shared, which made it even more special and bittersweet. Tears were shed. Promises were made. Promises we both wish to honour. When you find something as special as Rie, you don't throw it away. We miss each other, and will until I return to Japan, and I can hold her in my arms again.....

(This orginally appeared in the Notes section of my Facebook page 11/09/08)

I'm turning Japanese...again....

So here goes. My attempts to get back to Japan, and the blogging of those adventures.

I promised that this blog would be back and so it is.

I hope to record my highs and lows, observations and adventures.

But first of all, I have to try and get back to Japan. One of my friends once described leaving Japan like the Malcolm McDowell character in Star Trek Generations. In that movie, Mcdowell plays an alien scientist who is attempting to get back to the Nexus, a kind of spacial Shangri-La. All he can think about is getting back there. The experience he has had there consumes him.

Of course, my time in Japan had a profound effect on me. Not that I am going to destroy planets and Sun's to return there. For one, it's probably too expensive, especially when I am attempting to save.

Seriously though, I felt that I had left something behind in Japan. And I did literally. 90% of my posessions. But I am talking here more about a part of myself. I know that if I do manage to get back then it will be different, but the same.

Usually I believe in the addage that you should never go back. But I left Japan, not under my own need to leave. My Mum had passed away and my family needed me. Now I have to make the opportunity for myself to go back to where I want to be.

Of course, Rie is another huge factor. But she deserves a post on her own, and I don't want to do her a misjustice in one post.

I have applied to AEON, GABA, EEC, and more schools than I can remember. I have an interview with AEON on the 25th October; an interview with Peppy Kids on the 28th and EEC have interview dates in November.

So please enjoy the ride.

And cross your fingers for me!