Diary

February 29, 2004 - Sunday

Today I went to the practice of a football team I have been in contact with. They had a four hour practice today. It looked quite hard, but OK. Now my knee only have to be OK and I will start practicing again. It will be fun.

In the evening I was so excited about the football practice I got out for a run to test my knee. During the run, after the warm up, the knee felt good. After the run I used ice to cool down the knee to prevent it from being sore tomorrow. I just have to wait and see how it feels the next couple of days now.

February 28, 2004 - Saturday

Saturday again. It's time for massage again. one to one and a half hours of pleasure and pain. What else can you ask for? Maybe some sand, water, and wind to go along with it?!

After the massage I went to one of the many department stores in Ginza. I found a nice bottle and glasses for sake that I bought. The designer was a woman from Hokkaido and I bought a set of one bottle and two glasses. I really wanted one bottle and four glasses but they only came in a set. Too bad.

20 minutes after I bought the sake set I came back there and found that the designer was visiting. So I asked here if I could get two separate glasses from Hokkaido or something. She arranged for me to buy two separate glasses directly at the spot and she would ship new glasses to the store. Happy was I. So it turned out that I now have a bottle and four glasses. And happy am I.

Then I was on my way to a Thai restaurant in Ginza 5. To have a dinner with Chie, Kumi, Yon, and a girl that really likes Westlife - I totally forgot her name now, すみません. She likes Westlife so much that she is planning a trip to England during the Golden Week - in April/May - and will manage to squeeze in five (5) Westlife shows in different locations in England, Les Miserable, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, When Harry met Sally, and a fifth musical/theater in London as well. But I don't remember her name. Oh, by the way, the dinner was delicious as always.

February 27, 2004 - Friday

First thing in the morning was to go to the Komaba Lodge. I met with Mario there because he had asked me if I wanted a table and two carpets form him now that he was to leave for Italy. I did not want to say no - even if I don't need them someone after me might want them - so I went there.

He offered me some Italian coffee when I arrived. I said I don't drink coffee, but he insisted just because I was Italian. So I gave in. And drank it while talking about research in Japan. He wanted to come back after he finished his PhD so I gave him some information about the JSPS-program that I am on.

Then it was office as usual. I have started to make a small program to test some initial ideas. Very small and very simple. And outside the office the spring continues.

February 26, 2004 - Thursday

Spring time is coming to Tokyo. The air is getting a little bit warmer and some trees are already in blossom. And I like it.

After work most of the members of the lab gathered at the Dan restaurant not far from campus. It was a farewell party for one of the researchers at the lab, Mario. He is going back to Italy after five months here in Tokyo. Too bad. He is a nice guy. The dinner was a mixture of different Japanese dishes. Very yummy most of them.

I just had trouble with one of them, the grilled Japanese reddish with sour plum paste. It is the sour plum paste that I had problem with. Still I could not stop eating it. I wonder why? It is sour and salty and really nothing that you expect something coming from a plum to taste.

Around 10:30 or so we all hit the road. Most of us were going our separate ways home. Some thought of going to Karaoke bar. Which brings up another thing I have some difficulties liking. Karaoke. Karaoke, however, is something I don't want to try. That is so totally not me. Hence, I don't do it. Instead I went home to the sweet and warm bed. And fell asleep.

February 25, 2004 - Wednesday

In the morning I worked at home. I had a meeting at the Embassy of Sweden at 11 am and it was pointless to go to the office before that. So I worked at home and then took the subway to the Kamiyacho station and walked the 500 meters or so to the embassy.

The meeting was kind of an interview for a newsletter they have. The newsletter is promoted by the ITPS (Institutet för Tillväxtpolitiska Studier) and is a collection of articles about Japan as a sustainable society. They got comments from readers that they wanted to read about already existing collaboration between Sweden and Japan. That is where I come in.

They wanted my view on research in Japan. Differences between Sweden and Japan in terms of research as well as industry. And they also wanted to know what kind of research I was doing and why I had come to Japan. So I lied and told them I was forced here by my supervisor in Sweden to spy on the Japanese wonder. Of course I am kidding. I told them the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Then they took me for a lunch not far from the embassy. Japanese food. I had minced tuna on a bed of rice and seaweed. Yummy. Oh, and they paid. So thank you all tax payer in Sweden for a delicious lunch - どもありがとございます

February 24, 2004 - Tuesday

Not much happened today. Except that I planned to go to the gym but forgot all the writs bands that I need. The wrist bands are some kind of a pass for entering and being in the gym. The pink one is for the machines and the grey one is for free weights. But you need both for the free weights. Toady I had non of them with me. So I guess I have to go tomorrow instead.

February 23, 2004 - Monday

Back at the office again. Hmmmm, why does it not feel as good as being on a beach in Hawaii? Perhaps if I change my screen on the laptop to one with more radiation I could still get a sun tan. And I still got some sand from the beaches in my backpack. Then I just need a glass of water and a fan. And I can almost get the same feeling as in Hawaii. Sand. Water. Wind. Sun tan. GREAT!

February 22, 2004 - Sunday

Arrived back in Tokyo in the evening. Tired after a long flight and no sleep. Took a limousine bus from the airport to the ANA Hotel in Roppongi area, and then a taxi back home. Then I dropped dead in the bed after a dinner of ramen (noodle soup).

February 21, 2004 - Saturday

The very last hours in Hawaii... So sad. I spent this precious hours in Waikiki beach eating breakfast before going to the airport. First returning the car and then checking in. Before checking in I got an offer to stay another day. The flight was over booked and they offered people willing to stay another night hotel room, free meals, and 400 USD.

I was so, so close to take the offer. But I had to go back to work on Monday. Staying another day meant I would not get back to work until Tuesday. Besides, it was already noon when they told me. If I knew already in the morning or the evening before I would have stayed... As long as they wanted me to. Happily.

February 20, 2004 - Friday

Last day in Hawaii for this time. Big tears fill my eyes. It has been a wonderful week here in Hawaii (Oahu). I really have to come back soon again.

This last day I went to the Ko Olina again. It was such a nice and calm area with nice beaces without the crowd in Waikiki. OK, it is a 40 minutes drive out of Waikiki, or so. But it is really worth it. So, this last day, I tried to enjoy the sun as much as I could at Ko Olina.

When it was time to leave I took a shower in one of the public showers at the beach. Changed cloths in the parking space. And then went on a trip to pick up things from different shops and department stores. Things that Chie had ordered, or transferred from other stores. Even from the mainland - mainland USA, that is.

In the middle of the pick-up mission we stoped for a dinner at a Korean restaurant. Tofu soup. Kalbi. Bulgogi. And, of course, rice. Then the pick-up mission continued.

Unfortunately I cannot say I have to go to bed tonight because there is a beach out there waiting for me tomorrow. It makes me sad I cannot say that. There is a plane out there tomorrow to take me back to Tokyo. However, I am sure it will not wait for me as the beaches do, but leave if I don't get to the airport in time. Therefore I bid you a good night.

February 19, 2004 - Thursday

Mmmmmmmm, another day of sunshine, palm trees, and waves. What else can you ask for? Today I went to the Ko Olina area. It is a newly built area just outside Honolulu with some hotels, the famous Ko Olina Golf Club, and four lagoons. The lagoons was my goal for the day.

They were great. Green grass, white sand, and blue-green water. I spent the day here in the sand, enjoying the sun and a good book. I really could get used to this every day. Why do we have to work at all?

After a while it got really hot in the sun - and my white-boy skin are pretty sensitive to the strong sun here - so I moved to the shadow of a palm tree the last two hours or so. Perfect temperature. I think Ko Olina will get a visit from a particular Swede tomorrow too.

February 18, 2004 - Wednesday

This morning I woke up early without a phone call. It was Whale Watching day. The pick up was at 8:15 am. Then it was a nearly 2 hours drive to the west coast of Oahu.

There I got on board a small boat with about 25 other people. Then we took off from the harbor to our first stop. Snorkeling.

The snorkeling site was nice, though not spectacular. It was quite deep so most of the fishes were at the bottom. However, the fishes was not so much of interest as soon as I spotted a sea turtle. Then me and all other that saw it followed it. For how many minutes I don't know.

Then somebody said it was time to go back to the boat so I did what I was told like a good boy. But when I entered the boat people were still in the water snorkeling.

After a while we were off to spot some whales in another location. After about a 40 mintes roller-coster ride in the boat - quite big waves - we arrived at a location where they had seen whales earlier that day. And so did we. It was a mother and her calv. So even though they are called hump-back whales, this whale did not make a hump on her back. Until we turned around and left, that is. We almost missed it.

On our way back to the harbor again we saw more whales. They were on their way to the mother and her calv. one of them did a big hump on his back just after we spotted them. Great! It really was great to see them. First time for me.

Unfortunately we could only go as close as 1000 ft. Some law. But I guess that is good for the whales. However, if the whales choose to come closer once we stopped it was OK. Maybe they came a little bit closer but not much.

I am exhausted after a day in the sun bumbing up and down in a small boat. So I will go to bed. After all... There is a wonderful day in Hawaii tomorrow too.

February 17, 2004 - Tuesday

This is becoming a bad habit now. Second day in the row that i woke up be a telephone call. Why, oh why? It was about the whale watching again. Something tells me these guys, and girls, wake up early. Anyway, this morning it was decided that I will take the 10:30 tour tomorrow. To watch whales, and snorkle with dolphines and green sea turtles.

After the call I fell back in a dreamless sleep. To wake up later. In the afternoon I went to the Ward Center to try to find a pair of jeans again. Finally, at the LocalMotion I found a pair. I also found out that the mission in Real World Hawaii was to work at the LocalMotion in Waikiki. The exact store that I visited. So much knowledge is just out there to be collected. Amazing.

I also went to the Ala Moana beach again. This time it was sunset time. A quite beautiful and colorful sunset. Where can it be better enjoyed than on the beach?

February 16, 2004 - Monday

The phone rang at 6 am this morning. It was from the mainland and they wanted to check if it was OK to change a whale watching trip that I had booked yesterday, because the one I booked was full. They would send a fax with a confirmation later.

After the wake up call it was somewhat difficult to go back to sleep. I did sleep a little bit more. Then it was time to go to teh most beautiful beach in USA, Lanikai beach. Lanikai beach is located on the otehr side of the island. So of I went over the green and beautiful mountains. A short ride of about 40 minutes. And was Lanikai beach beautiful? Yes it was. The most beautiful in USA? i don't know because i have not seen them all... Yet. I will check out another tomorrow though.

Since Lanikai beach is on the eastern side of the island it was better to go to the west side during the afternoon. So that was what I did. I took the Kalanianole highway along the coast to Sandy beach. Here I stayed in the sun until it was time to go back to Waikiki.

February 15, 2004 - Sunday

Today I went down to Waikiki Beach for a Sunday Brunch. This is some kind of an event they have every now and then. Food stands. Hawaiian music. And so many tourists. Including me.

After the brunch it was time to do some serious sun bathing... Again. Today it was Ala Moana Beach. A short drive by car from Waikiki. It was great... Again.

When sun bathing got boring I went to the near by Ala Moana Department store. Shopping. Shopping. Shopping. Well, I wanted to find some jeans and pants, since I have a hard time finding the right size in Japan. Well, here I still have a hard time to find the right size, but the reason is totally opposite. Here people are too big and in Japan they are too small. So, the shopping ended with no shopping at all.

Finding nothing to shop made me misserable so instead of cooking at home I went to the Big City Diners, just outside Waikiki. Again I had some problem with the size. I cannot understand how Americans can eat so much. Ooooh, wait... Thinking about their size I do understand. I ended up with a doggy-bag. It will be a nice breakfast tomorrow.

February 14, 2004 - Saturday

Another lovely day at Oahu Island. Went to a small beach called Eternity Beach in the morning. Slept in the sun. Read a book. Well, not a whole book, but part of one that I was already reading. Still am, as a matter of fact. Quite boring stuff to hear, huh?

Anyway, the sky was blue with a few clouds in the afternoon. The water was, I guess, around 23 degrees... Or more. Quite windy. And sandy. Sand in hair. sand in ears. Sand everywhere. Sand. Sand. Sand. But who cares. It is great here.

In the afternoon I went to the Sandy Beach. The Mekka of bodyboarding. Quite big waves. And the lifeguard was screaming all the time to be careful with children in the water. Highest rate of broken necks because the waves break on so shallow water.

After the beach it was time to try to get rid of all the sand that had found its way into every opening of me. A long shower and then it was of to watch a college basketball game. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. They won an exciting game by two points. Even though it was exciting because it was so close I really like sport with some contact better. Like football.

Anyway, it is time to go to bed. There is a beach out there just waiting for me tomorrow and I don't want it to be waiting too long.

February 13, 2004 - Friday

Sorry folks, but today is the last day in a while that I will update my diary. I a few hours - hmmm, quite many hours - I will go to Hawaii for a vacation. I'll be back on the 22nd of February. Hopefully. With new stories to tell. A tan. And sand between my toes. until then... So long. Hej då. さよなら (Sayonara).

It is still Friday the 13th and I am in Hawaii. Spent the first day at the Waikiki Beach. Great it was.

Speaking of the Friday 13th... It is supposed to be day where you are unlucky, if you are superstiscious that is. Well, I am not and today it paid of. First I was upgraded from economy class to business class for the 7-8 hours flight from Narita to honolulu. Here in Honolulu I was upgraded on my car from economy to a more sporty one.

Aloha!

February 11, 2004 - Wednesday

Today is a national holiday in Japan. No alarm. No office. No worries. Today. Just a long sleep in. A nice breakfast. A visit to Komaba Lodge. And then off to Roppongi Hills for a movie.

This time I went the Mystic River. A movie that so many have written so much good about. And... I have no idea why? To me the story had big gaps. Deep black holes that the director - Clint Eastwood - tried to jump over without falling in. But he did. And the cast included Tim Robbins and Sean Penn. Two really good actors. However, this time I think they really under-performed, or however you can explain that they did not meet my expectations of what they can do as actors.

A true disappointment. So I went home instead and watched some Simpsons. That is high quality production. And good performance.

February 10, 2004 - Tuesday

What did I do today? Yeah, right... I went to the office again. After all, it was a weekday. After work I went to the Yoshinoya restaurant. This is the fast food restaurant for the Japanese work class. You can find a lunch or a dinner for less than 350 JPY (less than 30 SEK). However, this day was the last day to get a beef here. So it was crowded by Japanese that wanted to get a cheap beef lunch and dinner.

I just followed the stream of Japanese people to the Yoshinoya and got a dinner. Oooh, why was this the last day for beef. Well, they are running out of stock and there is a banning of importing American beef because of the mad cow disease. Hence the flow of people to Yoshiniya.

Just before the dinner at Yoshinoya I paid a visit to the library in Naka-Meguro. They even had English books there so I might visit again. More amazing though was the extensive collection of Manga books. I thought this was something one would not find in a library. But I guess that all things that make people read more are good things.

And one more thing happened today... Or rather will happen tomorrow. I got a ticket for the Mystic River movie. So I got the ticket today, but will watch it tomorrow. Anyway, it is now time to bid you a good night. Good night!

February 9, 2004 - Monday

What happened today? Hmmm... Not so much. However, I can tell you about a near death experience I forgot to tell you about last Saturday. I was driving in Tokyo for the first time. Not a big deal perhaps. But they drive - or perhaps it is us in the west, except England then - on the wrong side. And there are quite a few cars here. In Tokyo Metropolitan there are about 30.000.000 (30 million) people. Many of them have a car.

I felt like a running back, or more like a punt returner. Everybody was running at you trying to hit you as hard as possible. Or maybe I was just on the wrong side?

Tomorrow I plan to watch the Mystic River. Probably at the Roppongi hills movie theater. It is newly built and quite nice. Lord of the Rings Return of the King has not started showing yet. But when it starts I want to watch it at Roppongi Hills. In the premier salon. Even though it is a bit on the expensive side. 3000 JPY. But I am guessing that Lord of the Rings on a big screen in nice and comfortable seats is worth it.

February 8, 2004 - Sunday

Today I went to Mina-sensei for my first class in tea-ceremony. Mina-sensei yoroshiko oneagai shimasu - Mina-teacher, please teach me.

The first class was about being a guest at a tea-ceremony. How you, as a guest, should enter the room, admire the picture and flower arrangement - that is always there - inspecting the tea pot (furo - ふろ), walk to your seat, say and behave as tea master offer you the sweets, say and behave as the actual tea-ceremony begins, how to drink the tea, and - finally - how to, stiff legged departing the room in a respectful manner. Quite a complicated procedure with a lot to remember.

I think I managed quite well. Well enough to not make a totally fool out of myself if ever I had to attend a formal tea-ceremony. Just half a fool. And that is quite some achievement for me.

Just to give you some idea about the procedure... When you enter the room you have to sit on your knees before entering. Place sensu (folding fan) before you. You open the door with your left hand to about 70%. Then you use your right hand to open it the remaining 30%, or so. Bow placing your hands in front of you, behind the sensu. Then on your knees, using your knuckles, you slide over the threshold. Whoha... Now you are actually in the room. If you are not the first one to enter then you have to greet the ones already there by placing sensu in front of you and bow.

And that was just entering the room. Then it is the rest. With similar if not more detailed procedures. Of how to grab chop sticks for picking the sweets, how to wipe the shop sticks, how to grab the tea pot, turn it before drinking and so on. But it was fun. Very fun.

February 7, 2004 - Saturday

Massage day. Woke up had breakfast and went to the massage in Ginza. It was great, as usual. Kind of feel like a new human being after massage. And tired.

After that I bought an envelop for monthly payment because tomorrow I will go to my first tea-ceremony class. And I have to pay the fee. As I have been told, the right way to do it is by an envelop with your name written on it. Or, as I did, with your stamp on it - inkan. So I went in to a shop and asked for gessha no fukuro (げっしゃのふくろ). Paid and was on my way to a book store (本みっせ). Found some English books.

At home I had a delicious dinner of Chinese dishes. Superbly cooked. It was almost a shame accompanying the bites with Coke. But I hardly ever drink while I am eating, only afterwards. So, I guess, in a way it was OK.

February 6, 2004 - Friday

Friday again. Finally. Not much happened today though. Had a project meeting in the afternoon. Some progress was made. Fortunately.

February 5, 2004 - Thursday

At lunch time today I went to the book shop at the campus. Mainly they have tons of books in Japanese. however, I found some books in English as well. Even crime fiction in English.

I bough a dictionary - Kanji Learner's Dictionary - that is helpful when trying to understand a kanji character that you have never seen. Kind of interesting way to look up kanji characters by pattern and number of strokes. Anyway, I have thought of making a dictionary here at nippon-ni.net so this would be the way to implement it. In addition to searching by English words, hiragana, romji, and radicals. But it will take a while longer before anything will be up and running. The only thing that is done so far is thinking about the dictionary.

On my way to the book shop I saw a funny looking house so I took a detour to check it out. And indeed, it was a funny looking house. Sometimes the architecture in Japan just amazes you.

February 4, 2004 - Wednesday

Did anything special happen today? No, not really. Except that I started to think about extending the information at the web-page. I really want to write about sumo, samurai, and strange Japanese things - strange from the perspective of a foreigner. The question is... When? Time seams to fly.

One of these strange things that I have seen is on the subway and the preferable seat for most Japanese. In the subway, people are seated side by side along each side of a cart. The seat next to a door has only a seat on one side, quite obviously. This is the preferable seat for most Japanese. Why? I have no idea. But I almost got run over a couple of times entering a cart because someone thought I was too slow and wanted to reach a preferable seat before anyone else. I have also seen - almost every day - people moving from their seat to a preferable seat as it gets empty.

So I have decided - just so I don't stick out in the crowd - to do the same. Maybe not rush in to a cart, but at least take a preferable seat whenever it is ready. It is like a competition... The one with most preferable seats when they die win... Or something.

February 3, 2004 - Tuesday

The day after Super Bowl. It felt... Empty!!! For seven months now I have to watch taped games only. Nothing new. Too sad it is.

In the afternoon we had a research meeting at the lab again. We usually have that every second week or so. This time it was my turn to present my results. This time we had four presentations in English and only a few in Japanese. So it was quite interesting. This time I could really follow the presentations. At least most of them. Presentation about clothoid curves in Japanese is something that I cannot follow.

They start out by: Ano... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. And I am asleep at once. Only to wake up a short moment later. Look around and find that I am not the only one sleeping. Even the professor am. Phew, I was lucky this time.

Oh, another thing that I forgot to tell a couple of days ago. I payed my ticket to Hawaii. Sure did. So, Hawaii here I come. Next week. For you who get jealous about that you can always write to me and complain at the following address: i_dont_care@hawaii.com.

February 2, 2004 - Monday

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII in Houston. And what a game. Between Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots. Pontus from the office came over and we watched it together. A really exciting game. One of the best I have seen the whole season.

First half was a total superior defense from both teams. Neither team came anywhere with their offense. Carolina made only one first down. And they never came into New England territory. The two drives New England managed to get into field goal position they either missed the goal or it was blocked. At half time it was only 10-16 to New England.

Finally it ended with a New England victory by 29-32. And several Super Bowl records broken - if anything the Americans are good at statistics. Longest drive to score touch down. Longest play from scrimmage. Any record. It was broken this Super Bowl. I think the only miss to the drama was that it did not go into over time. A Super Bowl have never gone into over time so that would just have made it.

Phew, and then we set of to the office. Kind of difficult after all the excitement. But a man's got to do what a man's got to do. Or whatever they say.

February 1, 2004 - Sunday

Hair cut day. I had my hair cut for the first time since I came to Japan. It was quite an adventure in itself. The hairdresser was a colorful Japanese - he wore purple shirt with a lot of colorful jewelry - that spoke little or nor English. But he cut my hair. After his assistant washed my hair. Then cut it again after another wash. Anyway, now my hair is shorter... And I cannot have my picture taken for a month or two. No, actually, it looks as good as it can.