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Not one of my favorite holidays - so forgive me if I appear grumpy.
Valentine's Day, for me, has always been fraught with great expectations and even greater disappointment as effort after effort has been met with failure after failure.
And this is coming from a guy who has slept with more beautiful women than should be humanly possible given his looks.
I have always felt that the creation of a day to celebrate romance and/or love puts a lot of pressure on people. I mean, shouldn't love be shown every single day? Is one day a year supposed to make up for all of the times love has been found waning?
God help you all if it does. Still... even though I'm not the world's most romantic guy, I try all the time (not just one day a year). Flowers, chocolates, lottery tickets, books, a story or poem - written just for that special someone.... and yet, here I am bitching about Valentine's Day.
In Japan, February 14 - Valentine's Day - is celebrated by the Japanese. But not the way one would expect. Men do not give out valentines, but rather they are the recipient of them from women.
Women get valentines on March 14, a day the Japanese call White Day. White is for purity.
Anyhow... why don't men give out valentines on Valentine's Day?
I was told by both male and female Japanese folk, that it was a way to make things easier for men. When a man receives a valentine in Japan, he gets to see who it is from - which now makes it easier for him to purchase only the requisite valentines. In this manner, a man need not feel embarrassed at not having got a valentine for a woman who has given him one.
Cool, huh? If you are a man, of course. A man doesn't need to stick his neck out to say to a woman - 'Hey, I like you. Do you like me?'
Nope... here in Japan, the men sit back and let the women make a fool out of themselves by making the first move.
Though there's no guarantee you will receive a valentine, of course. It's a great day... a holiday that reminds you that you are alone when you don't get a valentine.
Women making the first move. Me like this. It may explain why all of the women I have slept with here in Japan have asked me out first - but I doubt it. And it's not like I have actually been 'out' with a lot of these women... mostly just 'in' at my apartment.
Now that you know the ins-and-outs of Japan and Valentine's day, all you men should just sit back and let the good times roll. Valentine's day now need not bust your nuts and your wallet. You can save a few ¥en and just buy White Day presents for the women who gave you a Valentine's Day present.
It just sounds so... cheap.
Ahhh, Japan... where young romance blazes eternally like the fires of Hell.
Anyhow, should you be so inclined, here's a blog I wrote about the subject in 2011: CUPIDSUX.
And for you more adult folk, please visit my old high school friend Mister Manfred Mann for a brief bit of insight on VD (Valentine's Day) at his How To Survive Women blog: YOUCAN'T.
And remember - just click on the photos to make them larger... in this case, the one at the top.
Somewhere with a heart-on just for you, Andrew Joseph Today's blog title is inspired by Canadian iconic rockers April Wine. I've seen them twice in concert.
After the lack of events of the past few days, I have yet another restless night's sleep and awaken early at 6:20AM on that Monday of December 2, 1991. I must be too angry about things - Ashley, that is. Or being taken advantage of. I bloody hate that.
Should I tell her how worried I was when I thought she was missing? I'll just leave out that part about my telephone conversation with Kristine where we flirted with each other ad horneum. I just made that phrase up - in a dead language (Latin) no less!
I was concerned. Concerned enough to ride my bike out late at night to see if she had fallen into a rice paddy. It was bloody cold and, as usual, because I'm a man, I did not take my gloves. I saw that her bicycle wasn't there at her apartment and got even more frantic. Thank goodness Kristine was able to redirect my fears of the missing Ashley towards herself.
I know Kristine didn't like Ashley. Or rather, she did... just not as a match for me. Was that jealousy from my special K towards my piece of Ash? No. That wasn't Kristine. That's why I liked her so much. She was brilliant, spoke her mind intelligently, was charming, witty and drop-dead sexy. Still is, and now in 2012, it is me who is jealous of her husband.
Anyhow... it's Ashley's attitude these past few days, or rather her cavalier treatment of me, which hammers home how many other assistant English teachers (AET) act on the Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Programme.
Quite often, the people on this program (and I will only talk of 1990-1993 when I was there) were freaking boring. I don't care if you are a nerd. Don't be boring. Go and do something with the people in your town. I'm a nerd. Big one. King of the nerds. Made it, ma! Top of the nerd world!
And then there are those who think they are super smart. Good for you. I don't hate your smarts. I applaud them... but dammit, can't you act like a person who enjoys being where they are?
Okay... rant over. But this is why I recently decided to pull myself from all of the JET activities. Friends? No... I am there for them. JETs? No. Sometimes you get it right, but being smart does not make one a great communicator - and that's what Japan needs right now as it struggles to learn that foreigners aren't really that much different from themselves.
Today I am at Nozaki Chu Gakko (Nozaki Junior High School), a school where the kids are the nicest and the teachers are the same. Hell... I don't even mind having to ride the 10 kilometers or so out to the school - I like it that much.
I chat with Fumiyo, the music teacher. That's the difference in schools. I know her first name - and not her last! She is also quite hot! We chat about life - her life, which is a relief. She says she wants to get married and says she might this month.
I think she meant 'upcoming-year'.
However, Fumiyo is afraid she will lose her civil liberties because he wants her to quit her job and become a housewife. How bloody archaic! (Uh... in 2012, I would gladly quit my job and let my significant other look after me - but, sigh, that will never happen)
The problem here is that Japan is a chauvinistic society. The women are still second-class citizens. It's like that in most countries, to be sure, but it is so bloody overt here it's not even funny.
Because she asks me what she should do, I try to offer some advice where I don't have to make anybody's decision for them. I mean... I like Fumiyo, but there is a guy's code involved too.
I tell her: Fumiyo, you need to figure out what is the most important thing you need to be happy in life.
Not only did I write it, but I had to de-code it! Where's Brad Meltzer?
I didn't say this part, but I figure for Fumiyo it boils down to: Work. Love-life. Family. Combination of all three.
Look at me - despite very badly wanting to spank her ass when she touched my thigh in a casual moment - I think my advice should get me a Boy Scout badge.
Ha. I'm no Boy Scout.
I teach a class of English and then sit around the teacher's office playing with a logic puzzle Mr. Oyamada gave me earlier. He also gave me a nice lacquered bowl. It's nice, but I don't know why he did it.
Oh crap! He couldn't have heard about my problems with Ashley, could he? That is me, in 2012 suddenly coming to that conclusion. Dinner for one, Gaijin-no-sensei?
Anyhow... I finish his logic puzzle in six minutes and then spend the next two hours trying to duplicate it.
I was asked to stick around until 5:30PM until the teachers had to bugger off to meet the parents for interviews, and rode home in the dark with my new bicycle light lighting the way.
Arriving home, I pop open a beer - chug it and then have a second one.
Ashley calls to apologize about her shoddy behavior, not once using her initial excuse of not knowing it was a real dinner date - despite us discussing it the day before.... oh wait a minute... here comes the excuse... she reiterates that she thought it was a casual dinner, and so (rather than opt out or tell me she had other plans) she called up Ian - another AET she had had dinner with two Sunday's ago - just to do something. Those were her exact words "Just to do something". What am I? Chopped liver? What's wrong with chopped liver?
I'll let you readers in on a little secret. I've read ahead in my diary. There's a reason why she didn't want to do 'something' with me. A reason that confuses the (rhymes with 'luck') out of me.
While I admit to a certain amount of jealousy - because, I've met Ian... nice enough guy if you like pressed board wooden furniture you have to build yourself (The furniture is efficient, but hardly stylish or comfortable - hardly the exotic look people look for). Me? I'm warm teak.
(Insert paragraph here again) I'll let you readers in on a little secret. I've read ahead in my diary. There's a reason why she didn't want to do 'something' with me. And yes, Ian is mentioned, if not involved.
All shall be revealed.
Her story moves me to have a couple more beers in rapid succession. Hmm... when did I have those other two? Six? I slur out how much I spent on her to provide her with a piece of home - a U.S. Thanksgiving dinner here in Japan. Cripes! What does she want? We could have enjoyed a great meal and then had the standard drunken family argument that I'm sure she is used to. Hey! I believe she had several cats back home in Augusta named after booze: Brandy was one... and I'll be damned if I can recall the names of any of the other cats after 20 years. Totally true. I'm amazed I ever remembered this part of the story. It wasn't worth writing down... I mean, why would I care about her cats?
I hang-up after acting quite snotty.
Want to know what pathetic is? Here...
I call her back and apologize for being snotty.
I then call again and ask her if she wants to do anything tonight, but no, she's cleaning her apartment.
(Y'know... like yourselves, 2012 Andrew is screaming out loud at 1991 Andrew for being such a whipped schmuck! I disgust me!I almost feel like not writing anymore... ever... damn! Can I blame the copious amounts of alcohol? Plead the 5th Percent of beer?)
I'm pissed off that she doesn't want to do anything tonight.
I know her... she couldn't even give a believable 'I'm washing my hair' excuse. 'Cleaning the apartment'? She doesn't do that. Not once has she helped me clean up after a meal or romp.
Hey... while mentioning Ian, she also let slip that she visited Karen and spent Sunday with her.
Let's call Karen - the woman who wants to sleep with me, but only if I am her boyfriend... but I don't want a commitment, but want to sleep with her. I am committed to that set-up.
As such, calling up the Yaita-situated Karen, I pump her (she wishes) for information. Yup... Ashley spent the weekend at Ian's place. Did they sleep together? No.
I didn't even have to ask... Karen volunteered that. Despite any friendship Ashley and Karen share with each other, I'm of the opinion that Karen would dump that bitch if I would completely dump that bitch and be Karen's boyfriend.
Karen would not help Ashley and myself stay together if it gave her a better chance - and it would. By telling me Ashley and Ian did not sleep together - that won't put a coffin nail in my friends-with-benefits relationship with Ashley.
Anyhow... I still am not sure about anything I have heard today. Trust no one, I believe.
I ride my bicycle out to my adult night school class (Mrs. Suzuki is sick, so no after class get-together). Good thing Ashley was busy doing her 'annual cleaning' - otherwise I might have forgotten about this class!
Masao-san gives me a present - something called a cigarette octopus (I have no idea what that is, because I never wrote a better description than that in my diary- instead, please look at the disturbing photo below).
Should this turn me on? Would I be sick if it did?
Mrs. Ohno give me a telephone card (photo below) with our picture on it. She had previously dressed me up as a doctor to her real occupation as a nurse.
Author & Nurse Ohno telephone card
Despite the nice presents, I do not have that great a class. Must be the six or seven beers. I'm a tad tipsy, but Matthew who is teaching the advanced class next door, if he notices, doesn't say anything.
After class, I ride to Books Time and rent a few more videos. I go home, drink a beer - did I eat dinner? - call Karen again, call my dad to discuss politics, economics and my stay in Japan.
He and I talk for 45 minutes. The man is my hero.
I watch another James Bond movie and go lie down atop my bed.
Can't sleep, though. I'm still angry. At myself.
Somewhere needing a cure for what ails me, Andrew Joseph PS: Where is my mistress Junko when I need her? Damn boyfriend of hers! The photo at the very top is from the classic movie White Heat with James Cagney, where my paraphrased 'top of the world' quote comes from. Today's blog title is by Bryan Adams:
It's November 24, 1991 - a Sunday - a day of rest for those of the Christian-faith and, I suppose, atheists, Buddhists... hell... I'm sure there are more.... probably most people.... hmmm. Whatever! I didn't get to sleep at all last night thanks to Junko's snoring. Okay, it was more the slapping of skin and the grunting and squealing of pleasure at the top of her lungs even with me clamping a hand over her mouth to stop the neighbors from calling the police to investigate the gaijin murdering some poor young thing with his sadistic knife. Okay... we were just having noisy, sloppy, wet and warm sex. I'm covered in it. So is Junko. We're just lying there at around 8:30AM when something goes off in Junko (not me) and she snaps upright and says she has to leave soon because Ashley will be coming over. How the hell does she know that? Does Junko have my phone bugged? Does she have Ashley bugged? What sort of evil genius am I banging three or four times an evening? Hopefully one who can barely walk. Nope... she can not only walk, but she can jump, as she leaps from the bed and grabs her clothes from the carpet at the front door and gets dressed there. I get up and follow her and then stand there marveling at how sexy she looks getting dressed. Guys... you have probably never really paid attention to what a woman does when she's getting undressed as you are just lying there thinking: "Hurry the heck up!", but ... I encourage you to watch a woman get dressed sometime - even one in a rush - watch the jumping, the rhythmic gyrations, the shimmying, the bouncing... it's truly poetry in motion. Junko is a poet laureate and I have enjoyed reading between the lines. Dressed, she leans in to kiss me good-bye. As her lips are about to touch mine, she slowly drops down to her knees while looking up into my eyes. We don't have time for that, but she does a good job nonetheless. It's 8:55AM when she stands up, reverts to a shy Japanese woman, bows, reverts to a clumsy Japanese porn star, bangs her head on my weenis, reverts to a shy Japanese woman, says sorry, stands up and covers her face with her hand and says "Good-bye An-dō-ryu-sensei." That's me... the peaceful-leader-dragon-teacher. The door closes, and I can hear her softly make her way down the spiral white painted concrete stairs beside my apartment. I'm standing there naked and sighing inwardly when I hear foot steps tromping along the hallway to my front door. Crap! It's Ashley! My ex-girlfriend with whom I am allowed to sleep with when she deems it necessary for herself - we're supposed to go shopping for antiques in Nikko today. I am so tired... maybe I can make an excuse to not go... and if I can stay here by myself, I am sure Junko will use her spidey-sense and come flying back so that we can continue our marathon of degeneration. Marathon is a Greek town. I'm not tired enough to not do a marathon. I run back into my bedroom as I hear Ashley insert her key into my lock. I slap on yesterday's underwear and walk out yawning to greet her. As I lean in to give her a kiss, she pulls away suddenly. "What's that smell all over you and all over the apartment?" "What smell?" I ask honestly. I may have a large nose, but it's not known to be able to perceive much of anything. Regardless... it has its uses. "Did you have some woman over?" Crap! Need an excuse now, brain!! Hurry! "Ummmmm..." That's the best you have?! Crap! Doomed! Dooooooooomed!!!! "So who was it? Some Japanese woman you picked up at the 4C?" I nod quietly with my eyes darting from side to side looking for some sort of defensive weapon. "Anyone I know?" "No," I whimper as it is obvious no weapon is nearby. "Good. As long as it's not another AET (assistant English teacher) or someone who knows me." Wha - ? Is she kidding me? I'm pretty sure everyone I've boinked is either another AET or someone who knows her or both. Hooray for me. It's the problem with being a semi-famous gaijin in a small town. Big fish in a small town any day, baby. "Everybody knows you, Ash." "No," she corrects. "Everybody knows you, and thus people know of me." She goes up on her toes to kiss me. Okay... I'm up too... just not on my toes. I think all of that sex in the air is contagious. An hour later, a very dehydrated Andrew who is badly in need of a shower to wash off the sex scent of two women is happily riding with Ashley, first to the bank and then to the train station in Nishinasuno-machi. It's weird (or not)... but the scent I have all over me seems to keep all of the guys away from us on the train... but is instantly recognizable by every single woman on the planet for some reason. It also made myself incredibly popular as some sort of sex god, and also made Ashley popular as the woman who made the sex god happy. Poor Junko lives on in anonymity. For the first time ever, people begin talking to Ashley on the train while completely ignoring the contented me. If this were a movie, it would fade to black with a locomotive entering a tunnel. It's only 10:30AM. The day continues...
Somewhere I stink, Andrew Joseph Re: the image above... do you think 'polish the car' is an euphemism? You never know with writers! It's a panel taken from Marvel Comics' Teen-Age Romance #86 (March 1962 issue), written by Stan The Man Lee and what looks like art by Gene Colan and Vince Colletta. Today's blog title is by the J. Geils Band:
Get ready soccer fans! Japan is hosting the men's 2011 FIFA Club World Cup soccer tourney December 8-18, 2011 to be held at two venues: International Stadium in Yokohama (capacity 72,327) and Tokyo Stadium (capacity 45,000).
This is the eighth edition of the tournament.... but this one already has some international turmoil attached to it, after Brazil's Santos FC club created an advertising promotion for it that is RACIST.
For more information, I'll direct you to a Wikipedia page that is a tad confusing... HERE. I've tried to decode it a bit for you here.
Japan, the host nation, will play the New Zealand entry Auckland City FC (winners of 2010-11 OFC Champions League). The winner of J-League Division IKashiwa Reysol (The Kashima Sun Kings) will represent Japan at the tournament, having won their league on December 3, 2011 over the Urawa Reds in their first year since being promoted to the top league in the country. The match between these two teams will be a play-off to get into the quarter-finals, and will be played on December 8, 2011 in Tokyo.
Brazil's Santos will play on December 14, 2011 in the semi-finals against the winner of the Monterrey quarter-final.
Spain's FC Barcelona will play in the semi-finals against the winner of the Sadd/Espérance quarterfinal on December 15, 2011.
December 14, 2011 will also see the losers of the quarterfinal matches play each other to determine the 5th place winner.
December 18, 2011 will see two matches... the losers of the semi-finals battling for 3rd place, and the winners of the semi-finals battling for 1st place.
Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife will keep you apprised of the results... but personally, I hope Japan gets to play Santos FC and kicks their ass.
And remember people... it's not whether you win or lose... but HOW you play the game that should matter to yourselves. We all are not naive enough, however, to believe the some prestige and money would also be a big help to your respective team's finances.
Here's another blog of mine re: results from past tournaments, and the history of the event: HERE.
Here's a funny video link to my friend Peter Able's blog, Living and Teaching in Japan. In the video below it shows a drunk older Japanese man dancing drunk with a young Japanese-American woman in their own mosh pit.
Peter has his own opinion on things here, but let me just offer a couple more here. The guy knows he is on camera and is playing to it, or he's just stupid drunk and knows he is on camera... all at the expense of the woman.
But... truthfully, dancing to that kind of music, it's always been about dancing within yourself and not with a partner.
Check out Peter's blog from time to time... he's pretty good!
It has recently come to light that a professional sumo wrestling has ben officially warned by the large-bodied Japan Sumo Association (JSA) for allegedly beating on three of his charges with a golf club.
Sumo coach Kasugano visited the JSA on Wednesday after it was revealed he hit three of his wrestlers for ignoring his instructions to wear kimono when going out.
Talking to the Kyodo News agency, Kasugano said: "I hit (wrestlers) with an iron. I honestly think I went too far and I regret it." An iron golf club with a broken grip was found at Kasugano’s training facility.
The wrestlers were reportedly beaten in the abdomen and the back on Friday, October 14, 2011.
The 49-year-old Kasugano is a former wrestler who reached the third-highest sumo rank of Sekiwake, competing under the name Tochinowaka (Ed. Note: I've seen him wrestle!)
Local police are also investigating the matter to see if criminal charges are warranted.
Kasuganao's actions, while embarrassing to Japan's national sport in light of the recent spate of illegal betting, match-fixing, and the unfortunate death of a young wrestler who died after being bashed by fellow sumo-san, should not really come as a surprise to keen observers of sumo and of Japan's sports industry as a whole.
As an assistant English teacher on the JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme living in Tochigi-ken (Tochigi Prefecture) between 1990-1993, I saw many instances of coaches and teachers giving players and students a whack. While no golf clubs were observed by myself in the commission of these acts, other instruments were - from a hand, to a fly swatter, to thrown pencil cases.
And... it didn't surprise or offend me. I guess it was because I was so well-informed about Japan's love of honor, that any misstep would be corrected by a higher-up. You know... when in Rome, etcetera.
There is no word on whether or not the three sumo wrestlers beaten with a club were hurt or required any medical assistance - I hope not.
Sumo is a brutal sport. I once heard that wrestlers used to push-slap their palms against a wooden post to toughen up the hand so that when they slapped an opponent in the face (a perfectly legal tactic), it would be like being hit by a cement brick.
I'm not defending the sumo coach's actions - it does seem excessive - but (in Canada) I've been choked out by a judo-sensei for mouthing off to another judo-ka and I've seen physical education teachers whack students on the bottom of their feet (with a stick) for not doing push-ups properly. Heck, I used to get whacked hard on the back of my fingers (knuckles) with a wooden ruler by the nuns who used to run my school (I can barely hold a pencil nowadays - mostly because I prefer a pen or type on a keyboard).
Does that make it right? No. But... and this is a big but (no pun intended), at least these three sumo wrestlers took a stand against their coach for his abusive behavior... so maybe Japan is changing.
And... if you want to know more about the beating death of a young sumo wrestler, well... on June 26, 2007, 17-year-old Saitoh Takashi (surname first) was a junior sumo wrestler beaten to death with a beer bottle and baseball bat by three other wrestlers at the urging of his trainer. At the Tokitsukaze stable, trainer Yamamoto Junichi ordered other wrestlers to beat Saitoh for his so-called "vague attitude" toward his training and the sport. Trainer and wrestlers were all charged with manslaughter, with Yamamoto getting six years in prison.
Okay... about a month back I presented you with a list of some of Japan's more bizarre world records (see HERE) ... but this one just might top them all.
It involves a Buddhist monk using his noggin to move up stairs - no hands or feet touching a surface. It's awesome.
Oh... just as an aside... I watched the video, and each time his head the stair, a little "ding" went off... I thought it was head to stairs - instead it was the TV show adding the sound effect to change the counter in the bottom right of the video.
I think it's so cool that a Buddhist monk can take so much time out of his busy schedule to 1) show the world this skill, and; 2) to admit that he even thought that this would be a great skill to learn.
Shouldn't he be praying or something?
Does anyone else feel that it's odd that stair climbing via the head has its own world record? How many other monks are doing this? Is it a temple versus temple thing?Maybe they could show monks battling it out playing table tennis, while standing on their heads and using their ears as paddles.
Okay... I jest... but still, this is an awesome video and show off some fantastic dexterity +5, like he's a living incarnation of an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons character.
Somewhere I have a headache, Andrew Joseph PS: How the hell did I mis-spell Climbed with Climed? I do know how to spell but I don't know how to type. True story. Let me tell you all about it... oh wait... I just did.
Uchimura Kohei (surname first) won the all-around title at the 2011 World Gymnastics Championships held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Japan on Friday, October 14, 2011.
What's even more amazing is that this is his third world gymnastic championship title in as many years, becoming the first man in history to do it!
Uchimura's closest competitor was Philipp Boyy of Germany, and even he was three points behind--it was also his largest margin of victory at the championships as he won four of the six events.
Uchimura finished with 93.631 points; Boy was second for the second year running with Japan's Yamamuro Koji Yamamuro, Uchimura’s training partner, winning the bronze medal.
Uchimura has become a celebrity in Japan, and like other athletes, he said he hoped his performance could invigorate the people of Japan who are still in shock from the 9.0 Magnitude earthquake and tsunami (and subsequent nuclear radiation concerns) that hit the northeast coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. Uchimura and other gymnasts wore a patch on his uniform to support the relief effort.
Uchimura hasn’t been beaten since the Beijing Olympics, where he won the silver medal.
At the moment, I think nobody can beat Kohei Uchimura,” notes Boyy. "He’s a very special gymnast. It looks beautiful and he makes no mistakes. He’s really kind of a machine. It’s amazing.”
Uchimura Data
Born: January 3, 1989 (22-years-old), Nagasaki, Japan Club: KONAMI Head Coach: Kato Hiroyuki Assistant Coaches: Gushiken Koji, Hatakeda Yoghiaki Olympics: Silver - 2x; World Championships: 3 - 2009, 2010, 2011 He began gymnastics at the age of 3 at his parent's sports club.
Files by Andrew Joseph - and wish my brother Ben on his birthday today!
Japan has finally won its first game at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup to make its record 1W - 4L.
They prevailed in a pitcher’s duel against Chinese Taipei on Friday afternoon at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City.
Team Nippon took the lead with a two-run third and never looked back. The game saw just eight hits overall, as both defenses dominated for most parts of the contest.
Japan’s starting pitcher Mitsuhashi Naobumi (surname first) pitched a complete game. Chun Hsiu Chen hit a solo homerun for Chinese Taipei, which remains winless after five games in the tournament.
Okay... I don't know what is more bizarre... the fact that Canada is currently 4-0 at the 39th Baseball World Cup being held in Panama City, Panama right now, or the fact that Japan is 0-4.
Canada results: Oct. 2: Canada 9 vs Puerto Rico 1; Oct. 3: Canada 3 vs Japan 1; Oct. 4: Canada 12 vs Greece 2; Oct. 6: Canada 4 vs Chinese Taipei 0
Japan results: Oct. 3: Japan 1 vs Canada 3; Oct. 4: Japan 2 vs Netherlands 5; Oct. 5: Japan 3 vs USA 7; Oct. 6: Japan 2 vs Panama 6
Oct. 7 games: Japan vs Chinese Taipei Puerto Rico vs Greece Germany vs Venezuela Dominican Republic vs Australia Canada vs Panama USA vs Netherlands Italy vs Cuba South Korea vs Nicaragua
There are three more games left for each team.
Standings: Group 1
Canada 4 - 0 1.000
Netherlands 4 - 0 1.000
Panama 4 - 0 1.000
USA 3 - 1 .750
Puerto Rico 1 - 3 .250
Chinese Taipei 0 - 4 .000
Japan 0 - 4 .000
Greece 0 - 4 .000
Standings: Group 2
Cuba 4 - 0 1.000
Venezuela 3 - 1 .750
Italy 3 - 1 .750
Dom. Republic 2 - 2 .500
South Korea 2 - 2 .500
Nicaragua 1 - 3 .250
Australia 1 - 3 .250
Germany 0 - 4 .000
Between Oct 11 - 14, 2001, the second round will begin with the top 4 teams from each pool going through. Oct. 11: 1st in Group 2 vs 4th in Group 1 2nd in Group 1 vs 3rd in Group 2 2nd in Group 2 vs 3rd in Group 1 1st in Group 1 vs 4th in Group 2
Oct. 12: 2nd in Group 2 vs 4th in Group 1 2nd in Group 1 vs 4th in Group 2 1st in Group 2 vs 3rd Group 1 1st in Group 1 vs 3rd in Group 2
Oct. 13: 3rd in Group 2 vs 3rd in Group 1 1st in Group 1 vs 2nd in Group 2 4th in Group 1 vs 4th in Group 2 1st in Group 2 vs 2nd in Group 1
Oct. 14: 3rd in Group 2 vs 4th in Group 1 2nd in Group1 vs 2nd in Group 2 3rd in Group 1 vs 4th in Group 2 1st in Group 1 vs 1st in Group 2
Final Round: Oct. 15: 7th vs 8th 5th vs 6th 3rd vs 4th 1st vs 2nd Files by Andrew Joseph
As a writer from Canada - who loves Canada - writing about his former adoptive country, Japan - and who loves Japan - writing about the two countries in the same article should be more fun and less troubling.
But... just like a story I wrote last week about how Canada came back to rob Japan of its first World Cup of Rugby win in 20 years, I get to writ now about Canada beating a much favoured Japanese team in baseball.
In fact, Canada defeated the defending World Baseball Classic champs at the 39th (baseball) World Cup being held in Panama City, Panama.
The win puts Canada's record at 2-0, good for first place in Pool A standings.
"It was a great effort today," said Canadian manger, Ernie Whitt. "Japan always has good pitching and defence, and that's exactly what we saw today."
After Japan went scoreless in the top of the first, Canada opened the scoring when Skyler Stromsmoe led-off with a walk and proceeded to steal second base. With two out, Van Ostrand doubled to the gap in left-centre which brought Stromsmoe home.
In the fourth, Canada again struck with two outs when Tim Smith singled on a hard shot back to the pitcher and Shawn Bowman doubled to put runners on second and third base. Armstrong came to the plate and hit a double to right field, putting the Canadians up by three.
"Our veteran guys were huge for us today," Whitt said. "They know what it means to represent their country and they came through for us today."
Hill was outstanding from the get-go for Canada as he held Japan to only one hit through four innings and ended up giving his team five scoreless innings of work. After five, Hill gave up three hits and a walk, striking out three and facing 18 batters.
"Shawn did a great job for us," Whitt said. "It was probably one more inning that we expected his first time out, so hopefully he feels good tomorrow and will be ready to go in another four days."
Japan scored their only run in the sixth inning when a ball bounced off Stromsmoe's glove into centre field, allowing a runner on third to score. Jay Johnson had started the inning for Canada and walked the leadoff batter before two consecutive groundballs advanced the runner to third.
Johnson walked the next batter and was relieved by Chris Kissock, who got the next batter to groundout before coming back out for the seventh where he kept Japan off the scoreboard.
Jimmy Henderson came into pitch the final out of the eighth inning and earned the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Pool 1
Pos
GP W L AVG
1
Canada 2 2 0 1.000
2
Netherlands 2 2 0 1.000
3
Panama 2 2 0 1.000
4
Puerto Rico 2 1 1 .500
5
Chinese Taipei 2 0 2 .000
6
Greece 2 0 2 .000
7
U.S.A. 1 0 1 .000
8
Japan 1 0 1 .000
Pool 2
Pos
1
Cuba 2 2 0 1.000
2
Venezuela 2 2 0 1.000
3
Nicaragua 2 1 1 .500
4
Italy 2 1 1 .500
5
Dominican Rep. 2 1 1 .500
6
South Korea 2 1 1 .500
7
Australia 2 0 2 .000
8
Germany 2 0 2 .000
Canada plays Greece October 4 with Mark Hardy of Campbell River, B.C., getting the start, while Japan takes on the Netherlands.
Okay... perhaps that headline is a tad unfair.... but, according to a Japan Times article, Japan's Supreme Court has decided to dismiss the appeals of two companies regarding the suicide of a young worker.
Judgement for the plaintiff says the Nikon Corporation (yes, that camera company) and a temp agency located in Nagoya must pay compensatory damages for the 1999 death of Uendan Yuji (surname first), a 23-year-old man who killed himself due to work-induced depression.
Both companies will pay ¥70-million (~ US/Cdn $954,000) to Uendan's mother. Uendan killed himself while working at a Nikon plant in Saitama-ken (Saitama Prefecture), placed there by the temp agency.
Two years ago in 2009, the Tokyo High Court ruled that Uendan committed suicide due to depression caused by overwork and that both the temp agency and the company where he worked failed to exercise due care. Uendan was providing product inspection and working long and irregular hours in a windowless room with no space to relax.
Editors Note: I believe that Uendon had other mental health issues. Globally, how many people work every day in an environment similar to Uendon's but do not kill themselves? Thousands? Millions? How many people hate waking up in the morning because they dread going into work? How many people worry that they may not have a job tomorrow? We don't kill ourselves.
I once worked a job with 11 gorgeous women. Not bad, right? Well... six of them were bitches from Hell who hated the fact that their female boss had actually hired a man (me) to invade their work environment.The room was 15 feet x 15 feet, and housed all 12 of us somehow. Windows - sure... just nowhere near me. What was incredible interesting, however was how all of the women altered their menstruation cycle to the alpha woman... so when it was that time of the month, I was completely screwed. I hated waking up and going to work. I hated being there. And, I hated leaving work knowing I had to come back. The pay sucked too, as did the work I was asked to perform. It was a stressful job and I hated darn near every single second of it while I was there... and yet, I did not even entertain the notion of killing myself. I may have entertained the notion of offing a few of the co-workers, but the important thing is that I in no way acted upon these dark thoughts. But Uendon did. Can't handle the job? Simply quit or change jobs. That's what I did over six years ago (to my current position as a magazine writer)! Uendon was a temporary employee hired through a temp agency! Quit. Get a new temp agency to help you find a job. No... this guy already had issues percolating in his brain.
I think the courts screwed up here. Is a company supposed to ensure you are mentally competent? I thought perhaps only to the degree that one can do their job. But this ruling, and the one from 2009, implies that companies really need to take better care of their employees... how? Would windows have saved Uendon from suicide? Not working off hours? He was a temporary employee. He had the choice to work those hours or not - to seek out another job where the work wasn't going to kill him.
It is my opinion that societies all over the world do not do enough for people with mental health issues. Canada does a good job, but it could be better. While those who seek it out can get the government-sponsored medicines they need and the psycho health care... but that's only when they realize and accept that there is a problem. I know many people who suffer with depression, social anxiety disorders, manic-depression, schizophrenia and more. Some are able to work and function 'normally' thanks to medication. Others get life-time financial aid when they can't work.
Does Japan have proper mental health agencies for people? They certainly have provided some aid for kids who lost a parent or parents after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami disasters (story HERE). There's also the comfort doll for the elderly: HERE.
I'd love to hear from Mike (in Tokyo) Rogers about this topic... or from any of you dear readers about what mental health coverage your country provides... or covers up.
Cheers
Andrew (It's 3AM??!!) Joseph
PS: And no... I do not have any mental health issues... in case you though I did, which would explain so much.
I thought I'd do a little update on what readers find interesting here at Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife.
First, it seems to be the blog as a whole. Back on September of 2010, there were a t total of 610 hits. For September 2011, we (I) have had over 20,000 visitors. Now I'm sure that number is a bit of an aberration considering there were just under 10,000 hits the month previous, as it seems that a lot of readers were interested in getting as much data as possible on the Miss Universe pageant held on September 12, 2011.
This blog had 11 different article up on Miss Universe, specific to Japan, including stunning and poignant biographies for Miss Universe Japan 1959, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005. There was also an entry on National costumes for the event, one report on the actual 2011 contest, one providing an overview of the past 21 Miss Universe Japan entries, and an in-depth analysis of the contest and Japan's interpretation of beauty.
Here's a list of this blog's Top 8 most popular blog articles:
1) Miss Universe: my compilation look at the past 21 contestants from Japan.
2) Japan's Women's Soccer: surprisingly, it wasn't the entry about the up-to-the-minute report I did on the Women's World Cup of Soccer finals match between Japan and the USA, but rather the write-up on how Japan got to the finals.
3) Japan To Host 2011 FIFA Club World Cup: lots of data describing which teams are involved, where the matches will be played, and neat stuff like that. I will do an update shortly with more data. This weekend, in fact.
4) 2007 Miss Universe Japan: my biography on Mori Riyo (surname first), the Japanese representative who won the 2007 Miss Universe title. She's gorgeous, and there a few nice photos of her.
5) Japan's Women's World Cup Roster: it is what it is. But, just so you know, it was a real bugger to find this information at the time it was published.
6) Miss Universe Japan National Costumes: it's a 10-year look back at the most recent national costumes worn by Miss Japan at the Miss Universe competitions, including the 2006 representative who won the prestigious nationalistic best national costume award.
7) USA Beats Japanese Women in Softball Final: again, it was very difficult to find information on this important match between the USA and Japan (about a week following the Women's World Cup soccer final). The Women's World Cup of Softball tourney was on television, but only on ESPN-3, -2 and -1. On ESPN 3, a specialty channel, what did maybe only 60 people watch the event? I'm sure this blog had better numbers than ESPN-3.
And... bringing up the rear (and what a rear!!!!):
8) Japanese Schoolgirl Prostitutes: its a great story on underage prostitution in Japan. It seems epidemic in Japan, but that would be an ignorant assumption. There are a lot of men looking to take advantage of young flesh in every single country of the world.
On the plus side, this blog continues to allow me to reconnect with lost friends, like Jim Paliouras and Michael Hutchison - both of Australia; Kristine S. in the USA; Matthew Hall of the USA, whom I have always been in contact with since we both left Japan.
I am still looking to reconnect with James Jimmy Jive Dalton of Stoney Creek, Alberta and Colin McKay of Calgary, Alberta - both of Canada. If anyone can help connect us, it would be appreciated.
What more do you all want? Heck... I even found time to write about my personal life in Japan - remember, look for the rock and roll titles for those embarrassing tales of sex, slugs and sushi roll.
Canada 2 2 0 1.000
Netherlands 2 2 0 1.000
Panama 2 2 0 1.000
Puerto Rico 2 1 1 .500
Chinese Taipei 2 0 2 .000
Greece 2 0 2 .000
U.S.A. 1 0 1 .000
Japan 1 0 1 .000
Cuba 2 2 0 1.000
Venezuela 2 2 0 1.000
Nicaragua 2 1 1 .500
Italy 2 1 1 .500
Dominican Rep. 2 1 1 .500
South Korea 2 1 1 .500
Australia 2 0 2 .000
Germany 2 0 2 .000
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