With Thanks to Rie - Motoyawata photo's

Robot De Niro

One of the coolest things about Japan, and to be fair, there are many, is their all embracing view of robots. At Osaka University, the latest step forward has been unveiled; the robot actor.

Hataruku Watashi (I, Worker) is set in the near future and tell the story of a young couple who own a robot who loses the will to work. He then engages the couple and claims his existence is demeaning.

The robot has been programmed to speak lines and move about the stage in the 20 minute production.

The machine which stands at 1 metre tall was made by Mitsubushi and the programming for it's performance took over two months to complete.

Japan invents....The Man-Bra

Errr...Can I bring my own ?

As mentioned on my previous Japanese blog, the intricacies of English, especially pronunciation and spelling sometimes get lost on the Japanese and their Asian cousins...

Engrish.com has hundreds of examples of these...there is a link in the Interesting Things part of this blog...enjoy!

A little bit of Tokyo...and a dancing Stormtrooper.

So here is a little of bit of Tokyo...and a bloke in a Stormtrooper outfit dancing...

Actually it's Danny Choo, an ex worker for JAL (Japanese Airlines) who now runs an excellent, if otaku fuelled blog...

What would Darth say ?

Paperwork

With the acceptance of my AEON contract comes the joys of paperwork and running around like a headless chicken.

To be fair to AEON, and this is 100 times better than my NOVA experience, they have kept in regular contact with me and have been more than willing to answer any questions I might have.

The last week or so, I have been organising the neccessary paperwork, getting photographs taken and reading the documents and useful bumpf that they sent me.

The hardest part was trying to track down a courier service, as AEON want the paperwork to be delivered by a trackable system. I finally hunted down DHL, only for my jaw to hit the floor when they wanted upwards of £50 to deliver my documents to New York!

But when I think of Rie, teaching and Japan I believe its all worth it...

Japan-tastic

In the words of Hiro Nakamura (pictured above) "YATTA!!!!"....

I got offered a job with AEON last week after an intense week and a bit wait. The interviewer from London, Motoko rang me personally to offer me the job and the even better news is that I am going to be posted in Ichikawa city, Chiba.

I might hear you ask, Ichi what ?

Ichikawa is about 20-30 minutes from the centre of Tokyo...AND more importantly for me, it is Rie's hometown....

How lucky am I !!?!?!?!?! That or, as I believe someone is watching over me from above, and my sacrifices over the last year and a half are starting to look worth it.

I depart on April 4th 2009 and will attempt to write more posts on my new position...

The Long Hard Slog, Empty sights, Hopes and Fears - PART THREE - PEPPY KIDS

Tuesday came around. I left my luggage at the hotel and made my way to my Peppy Kids interview. Or as I called it Interview #2.

On first impressions, Peppy Kids seemed a bit maverick. The chap, interviewing me was a cross between Albert Steptoe, Frankie Howerd and Ian McKellen. I was the only person to be interviewed, because the company interviews throughout the year, but compared to AEON felt like NOVA all over again.

However, I remained professional and decided to give Al/Frankie/Ian and Peppy Kids a shot. I was kind of glad I did.

I was informed that they are the largest Kids teaching chain in Japan, and they seemed to have their head screwed on when it came to teaching them. I found the interview, more like an informal chat compared to the intense scrutiny of AEON and was surprised when I was offered a position in March.

Maybe I need to rethink who I am going to Japan with ?

The Long Hard Slog, Empty sights, Hopes and Fears - PART TWO - Killing Time

After my AEON interview I had until Tuesday afternoon and my Peppy Kids interview before I had to worry again. This might sound fine, but it left me feeling strangley empty and lacking any direction.

I had put so much into the AEON interview, that I felt slightly underwhelmed by the prospect of having free time in the capital. Plus myself and Rie had spent time here only a month or so earlier, so I felt lonely, an emotion that is heightened in a city like London.

So I ate sushi, drank beer and spoke about football with random strangers in a Chelsea pub, went to the Natural History Museum, had a chat with some old lady selling poppies, found out Harry Redknapp had taken over Spurs, got 24 out of 28 in a pub quiz and went to see Burn After Reading at the cinema.

But I felt strangely disconnected from all of it. Maybe staying in London all that time wasn't worth it.