TV, a portal to a whole other dimension

I try to do one new thing everyday. Sometimes it's something simple, like trying a new kind of tea, or playing with a new word. But, today I went for something big. I turned on my television. I never watch TV. I'm overwhelmed.

1. There was some MEGA-Jpop girl group on called AKB48. There were like 20 girls on stage, all singing and dancing, though not all together. I'm sitting there wondering how many teenie-boppers you can stuff into one girl group??? I looked it up, there are are actually 48 members in this group. The huge posse is broken up into three teams, A, K, and B. This is a totally amazing concept to me. I've never in my life seen such a thing.

I guess no one would really notice if they replace a few now and then. If one is sick, it kinda doesn't matter. I can't seem to look away, I don't understand.

2. Sumo is on TV too. Once again, I can't seem to stop watching. These dudes are huge, and wearing very little. I'm reminded of when I'd watch football with my dad and he'd compare the players to the size of different large appliances in the house. There's a lot of adjusting, preparation, salt tossing and a significant amount of stretching, a repetitive crouching of sorts. Actually, they can achieve quite deep 2nd position grand pliés for big boys. Then, finally, they go at it. They struggle, things wiggle and wobble, they pull at their opponent's mawashi (the thick thong belt outfit) like they are trying to force them into submission by administering the most wicked wedgies ever. One of them gets pushed out of the ring or thrown to the ground, and it's over. Somehow their hair hasn't moved one bit.

They seem to show the audience a lot. Everyone is fanning themselves, some people don't look like they're paying attention, a couple even look a bit bored. No one is wearing shoes, they're all sitting on little mats. Looks like a chill time.

3. I think "So des ne" may be the most frequently used phrase in the Japanese language.

4. What's up with all the cross dressers?

Chiba Power

It's like black power, but different.

the 13th hour

I'm always looking for more time in my day, wishing I had just a little more time. Well, I found it. The 13th hour everyone has been looking for, it's in Nishi-Funabashi.

lotte almond

I get such a kick out of this commercial.

good stuff

"To you who know true values The nonchallant sense is excellent"

out with the trash

The trash sorting system continues to confuse me. Thus far I've figured out that there is burnable, non-burnable, and recycling. I have to buy special bags for my trash. Blue for burnable, black for non-burnables. There are different days for all of it. PET bottles go in a box that's put out on the street the night before collection day--which is Saturday morning, so if I go out I have to put the recycling out when I get back half asleep or a little tipsy. Milk cartons should be cut, flattened and tied with a pretty bow so all trash is aesthetically pleasing as well as organized.
Train stations, stores, and fast food spots also have these things separated. Sometimes there's one to dump ice and all extra liquids from your beverage, which is a good idea so that the bottom of the trash bag isn't filled with soda. Occasionally the bins aren't marked with things that make sense to me, so I have to be all cunning and investigate, peek to see what's already in the trash or wait to see what other people toss in there.

I thought this one wouldn't be notable, but...

I feel so loved. Thank you Gia, Janine, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Ian, and Ian, and Eleni; I love hearing you. Thanks for calling. Thank you Mom for making me a cake, even though I won't get to eat it. Thank you Kazumi, Nazomi, Satoko, and Yukiko; your gifts mean more to me than you could possibly know. Thank you to Jackie, Eric, Devalina, Phil, Jutta, Ms. Tiff, Ms. Niskey, Sarah, Regina, Oliver, Alicia, Ann, Jess, Paul, Minqu and Angelique; your virtual hugs, kisses, and best wishes make me smile and feel so lucky to have cool people all over the place. I love you dearly.

AND huge どうもありがとうございます to Taka; I don't even have the right words to show my gratitude. You give me goosebumps. I'm glowing. I will cherish this one.

...and thank you to the lady at the Uniqlo in Tsudanuma that speaks English really well. Without you I would have never been able to find the most comfortably fitting bra I've ever had in my life.