Monday nights sunset.Jul 28, 2009
Japanese Style Construction
Jul 26, 2009
Amature K1 Tournament
When my friend Hikari told me her brother had entered a fight tournament where winner would become a professional K-1 fighter and that she had tickets, I was ecstatic. We arrived early and found that our seats were ringside. Before the tournament most fighters got warmed up and or spared with one another.
Finally the real fighting began. After two fights, it was Hikari's brother's turn. The fight started out great as you can see.
But after taking a hard punch to the face his nose began to bleed and the doctor called a time out. Luckily some ice and a towel stopped bleeding and he was able to win his first flight.
After a number of other fights, it was time for Hikari's brother to fight in the second round of the tournament. His opponent had already taken a number of hits the right side of his face. So when Hikari's brother got a good punch to the left side of his opponents face, the doctor called a medical time out. Since his opponents left eye began to swell, the doctor opted to call off the fight. However rather than giving the win to Hikari's brother, the judges opted to judge the fight from the small bit that had already been fought. Unfortunately for Hikari's brother, the judges ruled that his opponent had won.
All in all watching a live professional fight for the first time was a wild experience. There was a great deal of blood, a neck that was nearly broken, a few choke outs, and lots and lots of bruised faces. It was level of violence that television could never deliver. So it is understandable that some of the more delicate members of the audience preferred not to watch their family and friends being, pummeled, bruised and beaten.
But after taking a hard punch to the face his nose began to bleed and the doctor called a time out. Luckily some ice and a towel stopped bleeding and he was able to win his first flight.
After a number of other fights, it was time for Hikari's brother to fight in the second round of the tournament. His opponent had already taken a number of hits the right side of his face. So when Hikari's brother got a good punch to the left side of his opponents face, the doctor called a medical time out. Since his opponents left eye began to swell, the doctor opted to call off the fight. However rather than giving the win to Hikari's brother, the judges opted to judge the fight from the small bit that had already been fought. Unfortunately for Hikari's brother, the judges ruled that his opponent had won.
All in all watching a live professional fight for the first time was a wild experience. There was a great deal of blood, a neck that was nearly broken, a few choke outs, and lots and lots of bruised faces. It was level of violence that television could never deliver. So it is understandable that some of the more delicate members of the audience preferred not to watch their family and friends being, pummeled, bruised and beaten.
Jul 23, 2009
Tanabata
The city of Hiratsuka (平塚), Japan was the first foreign city I ever lived in.
Returning there this year for the festival you will see in the following pictures, reminded me of how I felt like newborn baby. I needed help with everything. Where’s the bank, where’s the post office, where’s the supermarket, is this thing I just bought at the convenience store edible or fantastically poisonous, and why does this toilet have all these buttons? These were just a few of the thousands of questions I barraged my roommates, coworkers, and anyone else who appeared to understand English with.
Though I have solved most of the mysteries, like what is that man cooking?
If you would like to know more about the Tanabata Festival, as always wikipedia is there to guide you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata
Returning there this year for the festival you will see in the following pictures, reminded me of how I felt like newborn baby. I needed help with everything. Where’s the bank, where’s the post office, where’s the supermarket, is this thing I just bought at the convenience store edible or fantastically poisonous, and why does this toilet have all these buttons? These were just a few of the thousands of questions I barraged my roommates, coworkers, and anyone else who appeared to understand English with.
Being rendered completely illiterate and effectively mute overnight changed the way I interacted with the world. No longer did I read labels at the supermarket. Rather I examined pictures, smelled this and that for familiar odors, and if all else failed shook and squeezed the contents in an attempt to determine what I was about to purchase. Though it was trying at times, each day brought a brand new set of adventures.
After having lived in Hiratsuka for a little over two months, I began to notice unusual decorations showing up here and there.
When I asked my roommates about them, they told me they were for a festival. That festival was Tanabata and though I did not know it at the time, Tanabata festival marked the true start of my transformation from whining American to seasoned world traveler.
Though I have solved most of the mysteries, like what is that man cooking? Living abroad continues be an adventure and still occasionally turns my idea of reality on its head.
Jul 20, 2009
Gold Fishing
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As you read this, an old man in Tokyo is fishing for goldfish. That’s right, the people in the picture above are fishing for goldfish about the size of your hand. No, they are not going to eat the goldfish; here you may fish the fish, but not eat the fish.
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It costs nothing to enter the park; the city foots the bill. And though some may wonder what’s the point, I just want to know where I can buy a 105 Yen fishing pole.
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