The karate kids

Spent the day with Richard, Archery and Hugh. Every Friday they teach karate to a group of kids (aged 4 - 10). The class is done in English to create a fun environment for the kids to learn the language it (you'll notice in the video the sensei always says "Ready?" and the kids shout back "Okay"). As the resident Zimbabwean in Osaka I went along to meet the kids, answer questions about myself, Africa and animals. Also taught some new words and severely injure myself trying to keep up with them (don't ever try the backwards spider as a warm up...).

All in all a fun day with some cute (but hyperactive) Japanese youngsters. Hope you enjoy the video.

Bartending in Osaka

You know you're new job is going to be interesting when you only start work at 3am on Saturday night and you're onto your third shot of Jager 20 minutes after you clock in. Been enjoying the English teaching gig but got offered a job bartending at a small kareoke bar in downtown Osaka. Now like any full blooded young man I've had those dreams of opening up a bar when I retire and just having a blast.

Having a good time aside, it's pretty long (and weird) hours, lots of not so attractive women hitting on you and countless shots with people who are happy to see you. That said it's a bucket load of fun and being a bartender opens you up to a whole new side of entertainment. The place I work attracts a lot of foreigners and a lot of Japanese people (of all ages) so have had some interesting chats with guys who cut fish (seriously that's how they described their job) and another elder gentleman who successfully managed to lose about $10million somewhere along the way.

Anyway just got home, it's after 7am - time to put myself to bed...

Bon anniversaire Adrien

This is what happens when you take a legendary Frenchman, a Dutch lady, an American, a Zimbabwean and add far too many free shots and Shaka Zulu's (yes I named the drink, and like the man it will f*** you up - Myers Rum, Barcardi, Malibu, OJ and a touch of Grenadine).

This all takes place at a bar called Kama Sutra in Shinsaibashi - the heart of Osaka's buzzing nightlife. The ocassion is Adrien's first birthday in Japan. The result is a lot of people feeling very rough at work the next day. Coincidentally I work at the same bar on Tuesday's and Saturday's.

Be warned, the kareoke is bad and only gets worse as the libations flow...

Editors note - the video was taken ages to upload so I went back to the scene of the crime (and only made it back 4 hours later than planned...)

Sumo - fight club for big guys!

So the sumo circuit made its annual stop in Osaka last month and I managed to get across and check it out. I'll be the first to admit I didn't really know a heck of a lot about the traditions and rules but I found that it's actually quite a captivating sport when you watch it live. Managed to get some video footage of the main session of the day. Yes sumo is an all day affair - we had to get there before 8am to get tickets. The way a tournament works is that every wrestler has to fight on each day of the 15 day competition - but the early part is mainly the more amateur wrestlers (aka less drama).

By chance some of the wrestlers like to frequent the restaurants near my house so ended up sitting next to two of them one evening and it's safe to say they are not small individuals. Anyway enough babbling here's a couple of highlights from the main events. Enjoy!

Hanami 花見 (lit. flower viewing)

To say that cherry blossom viewing is an important event on the Japanese social calendar would be an understatement. Just as autumn in Japan brought about a mosaic of burnt oranges, rustic browns and fiery reds across virtually mountain side - spring has brought about an explosion of vibrant colours. I struggle to think of a conversation in the last three weeks that hasn't involved asking me whether I've seen the cherry blossoms, where I've seen them or what I thought of them.

Not one to disappoint, I ventured off to Kyoto for a day and managed to catch some serious cherry blossom action first hand. Admitedly the video is a bit rough but hey it's the first time I've tried putting one together. A bit of the razzle and dazzle of the season got lost compressing the video for the web but the check out the pictures on facebook pictures for the full effect.

Oh and sorry it's been so long since the last post - have a load of things to put on this sight in the not to distant future so stay tuned...

There are a few things I just need to know

So nobody seems to know why at least one Japanese person will always pull a peace sign when there's a photo being taking - heck I've even started doing it. I've asked countless times and the general response is somewhere along the lines of I don't really know, we just do. It's one of the many inexplicable Japanese actions which come down to a phrase which loosely translates to "that's just the way it is". Alas I can't remember the phrase and everytime I try I invariable end up saying "I don't give a damn", lol.

Another secret I need in on is why Japanese girls/women are always giggling. It's kind of this nervous giggle like "oops we did something we should have", even between good friends. It's everywhere - at work, on trains, in bars - there is truly no escaping it. One of my new visions of hell (if it exists) is a massive hall full of Japanese women, all stoned out of their tree, and someone cracks a joke...

Life advice just keeps on rolling

So I had the same client I mentioned in my previous post and somehow we got on to the topic of marriage. He told me how he was making a film "From meeting to marriage" and so I asked if his girlfriend knew about it. The reply "No, she's not in it...". Needless to say I quite look forward to his lessons - always entertaining