If you came to my house in Japan

[65rosessamurai]

An interesting<img src="i/expressions/light.gif" border="0"> conversation "brewed"<img src="i/expressions/beer.gif" border="0"> on the chat line with me the other day.

As everyone knows, I live in Japan<img src="i/expressions/camera.gif" border="0">. What other things you may not know, regarding Japan, I'm curious to find out, as a way to educate you (if I can) about what it's like in Japan, and out of personal curiosity.

For starters, there's an old saying in the U.S., "<<i>something something will happen</i>> when the cows come home!" But, in Japan, it's not true! My wife says the cows DO come home in Japan. Well, I guess they would, and if the U.S. cows were fed beer and massaged everyday like the cows in Japan, they'd probably stampeed the barn coming home!
Well, somehow this chat instigated a conversation to where people wanted to come to my place for beer and a massage! And, while visiting, do some shopping and sightseeing! (of course, and why not!?)

So, I thought, this would make an interesting topic of discussion.

Therefore, if you came over to my place, what beer,<img src="i/expressions/beer.gif" border="0"> or other alcoholic beverages<img src="i/expressions/wine.gif" border="0">, would you like me to serve (for those aged 21 or over--Japanese Law--other drinks for those under 21!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0"> ) with your massage, and what places<img src="i/expressions/camera.gif" border="0">/things<img src="i/expressions/present.gif" border="0"> would you like to go/do ? (As if this were a "realistic" thing to happen!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">)


<i>Here we go........!</i>

 

[LoveShines4Austin]

Hmmmmm......

Interesting question.

I would love to have any non-alkie <img src="i/expressions/beer.gif" border="0"> with my massage and then go do some <img src="i/expressions/present.gif" border="0"> shopping (with someone that spoke the language of course). I'd take lots of <img src="i/expressions/camera.gif" border="0">. But mainly, I would just like to sit and chat with you and your wife and get to know you both better.

<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[Mockingbird]

Do you know how to play Shogi? Shougi... sometimes it's spelled differently. Japaneese chess, anyway. I've tried to learn on my own before, but I couldn't quite get it. That would be fun, and if I drank, you could serve Saki! =-) It's supposed to be served at 78 degrees C. right? I remember James Bond saying something like that once, anyway. I think it was in You Only Live Twice, but I'm not sure.

Before I come though, I think I'll take a quick visit back to the Oregon coast and pick some shitake mushrooms so I can sell them and make a lot of money. =-) If I remember right, they're only valuable if the caps are still closed, is that true? There's probably a restriction on bringing those into Japan, anyway.

 

[julie]

My husband would like to know, Fred, "how is the dog" (not as in dog food but as in... well I think you get it)

 

[Lilith]

Let's see...if I were 21 I'd say Smirnoff Twisted Mardarin Orange wine coolers...those are good *shh, don't tell anyone!* But since I'm not legal yet, I'd take a Dr. Pepper, and I'd like to see Kyoto and Tokyo...(and of course do some shopping there, too *lol*)

 

[anonymous]

i will take a heinaken or a fosters please...... oh you don't have one, it's ok, i will settle for a coors....<img src="i/expressions/beer.gif" border="0"> don't worry about shopping, i hate it, how about going on a bike ride, i hear there are really nice hills in japan.... is there an ocean because i would love to surf, oh theres not thats ok, i will pretend.... i have never tried sushi, what do you say we go get some.... sounds good, ok lets roll on out..........<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> oh i have to sit on the floor and eat, that's wierd but ok cool..... it was nice visiting with you guys, got to go back to cali..... peace out!

 

[supermanfan]

I love Sapporo beer... and I know Majang is chinese, but do you guys have a game somewhat like it, if you know what I'm talking about?

 

[65rosessamurai]

Lets, see...out of the 41 viewed, 5 replied, so I'll give a reply to the 5 already posted...

Well, Laurel, you're in luck, because when I do drink beer, I usually try to find non-alcoholic (btwn 0.5 and 0.7% alcohol content), so we can have one together!! Then, you and Yuka can go SHOPPING!! She knows where the good stuff is!!

Mockingbird, I wondered about Shogi, too, but decided it was too complicated, so I decided to stick with regular Chess. I can recommend "Reversi", which is the Japanese name for "Othello", and it takes skill, to win, too! As for Sake, it comes cold and warm, and it's not so much the temperature to help it's flavor, but the region. My wife knows more about it, but Sake from Niigata Prefecture was one of the finer "brews".

Julie, I sent a PM to you...

Lilith, No wine coolers, but I think there's Smirnoff something here...Dr Pepper is available in some import stores, but not a popular drink for Japanese (neither is Root Beer!), but I'll have one with ya! Not sure about Tokyo, but Kyoto is a Must See for everyone!!!

For the Anonymous who, unfortunately didn't at least leave a name, not every sushi shop requires you to sit on the floor! Japan is surrounded by two bodies of water, the Pacific Ocean, and the Japan Sea...there's also Japan's largest lake nearby, I'm sure you could go biking around there (and be back in two or three days!) . This country is almost all mountain, so anywhere you go, you're bound to hit an upgrade!

On my way home, I thought of other things that Japan has to offer...Hot water springs, Disneyland in Tokyo (For those who are off to see Tokyo!), Universal Studios, Japan is in Osaka, an hour or so by train from where I live, Sumo Wrestling (You don't have to wrestle them, just watch!), Nara Prefecture (Talk about the Boonies!), Castles (Osaka, Himeji, Nagoya, etc.), and, of course, Kyoto (Kyoto alone would take nearly a week to see!)

(took me too long to write)
For Supermanfan, Majang is a chinese game, but popular in Japan (they have clubs for it!) . And for a company trip, we went to Sapporo, and even toured their brewery!! Free Samples, too!!

 

[kybert]

id have a nice fruity cocktail thanks. what would i do in japan hmm... well, seeing as i am an akita inu nut id be looking at and buying everything to do with them. that would include seeing hachiko's statue. id go crazy buying asian cosmetics and sunscreens. asian cosmetics have the most ridiculous markups in australia so its dirt cheap to buy them from asian countries. they also have excellent sunscreen [eh, dont ask. when you are as pale as me you gotta know these things]. i dont know if id fit into their clothes considering im 6', size 12 and have a size 10 foot! id buy as many ridiculous vending machine products as possible. id eat lots of food and do the usual touristy things [disneyland a must].

but of course, 10000 bucks would have to magically drop into my lap for all of that to happen <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[JazzysMom]

My biggest things would be to try the amazing assortment of traditional foods of Japan. I have recently started expanding my interest of new tfoods. I also have heard lots of things from my Mother about Socky (sp?) ,and although I am not a big drinker, this appeals to me highly for some reason. I guess most of my visit would be to learn more about the culture and traditions as well as the beauty of the country. Disney etc I can find here is the US so I want something more related to Japan. Most of all I think I would enjoy getting to know you & your wife and what its like for a CFer to live abroad. When's the private jet coming to us, Fred? OH I am sorry.......that wasnt part of the deal was it?! LOL You never know!

 

[Mockingbird]

I saw your post on the car thread; How are the gas prices in Japan? Here in the US it is 2 to 3 dollars a gallon, depening on what part of the country you are. Lets see, to convert... 241 to 361 yen / gallon.... 64 to 95 yen/liter. I think that's right. Anyway, someone in England told me their gas was like 6 dollars a gallon, which is twice as much as the US, and I was just wondering how Japan compared. =-)

 

[miesl]

I'd want to go to some of the gardens - Jeremy and I are getting married in a Japanese Garden, and I'd love to see some of the "real deal"

-Michelle

 

[65rosessamurai]

I knew Mockingbird wouldn't let me down with a reply of some sort, seems to have a bit of interest in the far east.

Fuel is not cheap over here, neither is the yen, anymore. I get High Octane for my engine, but pay a pretty "penny" for it, about 140 yen per litre is the going rate, now. And, it costs me about 5,000 yen ($50) to get it filled. Fortunately, I drive it mostly on the weekends, so it last about a month between fillups. (Now, if only I could get out of third gear more often)

Well, Melissa, Elvis is going to loan me his jet, and he'll probably swing by on his way to picking up some peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
Anyone who wants to see "real Japan", would enjoy a trip out to Nara Prefecture, where the onlything around are mountains and flowing rivers (and lots of rocks!). Depending on what portion of the "culture" you want to learn would depend on where we're going...if you want "extra polite with sugar on top", Kyoto is the place to go. If you want the basic "Augh, another foreigner is here", that would be Tokyo! If you want the place where they don't care whether you are a foreigner who speaks Japanese or not, but they'll ask you for directions, anyway, come to Osaka! (If you want to freeze your bootie off, Hokkaido's about in it's sub-zero temps by now!)

Well, Michelle, depending on whether it's a rock garden, or one with "bonzai" trees, a lot are in Kyoto. When's the wedding?

 

[miesl]

We're getting married in August.

I'd love to go to as many gardens as I could! I'm an outdoorsy kind of person.

 

[65rosessamurai]

August!!?? At least it's not over here!! August is one of the most hottest and humidest of all months!! I can make a salty puddle of sweat just standing in one spot!!

Any other time of the year to see gardens is good!

 

[miesl]

August isn't exactly a picnic here (although, it's not THAT hideously warm and the humidity varies)... but it's about the best month for not having rain.

 

[65rosessamurai]

Oh, yea, I forgot, August here is near the end of the rainy season.

What area do you live in, again? I remember when living in Detroit, the August days were hot, but on occasion a little humid. June was always one of the better seasons in Detroit. "April showers bring May flowers, and mayflowers bring June brides!"

I'm supposed to test for my 5th Dan in Iaido this August, so it seems we both have something to look forward to in August!! Hopefully, my wife will be there with our camera and we can take some photos!

 

[miesl]

I'm in Minnesota - Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

June is usually the rainiest of the summer. May has very questionable weather for outdoors. July is usually the hottest. We're planning a September vacation... So August worked out best for us.

Yay pictures!