Do It: Talk 2

K: You have a great CD
collection
M: Thank you. Would
you like to listen to
some African music?
K: Sure. It sounds
interesting.
M: OK. Would you like
something to drink?
K: Yes, please. I'd like
some tea.
M: Fine.
And some cake?
K. No, thank you. Just
tea, please.
M: OK.

This was today's lesson. I had to read it at least 10 times. Am I imagining it, or does it sound like a really snotty conversation, with the "fine" and "it sounds interesting"?

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto!

Upon coming to Japan, one thing in particular excited me-- the prospect of seeing robots. Starting with a joke at work, I have grown to secretly love the idea of robots, and in fact, adopted the Japanese mindset concerning them-- the Japanese mindset being of love and acceptance for our robotic friends.

A friend of mine has a theory that if one day the world was taken over by robots, Japan would be spared, because they "get" robots. Hollywood rarely makes a movie about a good friendly robot, rather it's all about evil robots short-circuiting and taking over the world, or robots becoming human and then good. Japan on the other hand welcomes robots gladly. From helping take care of the elderly, to Doraemon (the friendly cartoon robot cat who helps people), to the simple love affair with vending machines (yep, I've seen vending machine underwear), Japan is not afraid of some automated help.

I've been documenting my experiences with robots, (with pure glee, let me assure you) and here is a sampling.


Asimo! The walking, "talking" dancing, running, bowing, handshaking robot. As seen at the Emerging Science Museum in Tokyo.

Robot cell phone! Actually functions as a cell phone, with customizable greetings and retractable arms and legs. I don't think it walks, but it has a special home to rest on so it can be alert and keep you company on lonely nights. Photographed in Shibuya, Tokyo, and I believe now available for purchase.


And lastly, the beer-bot. For the perfect pour every time. Photographed in Kobe, seen everywhere.

Lv. 1 My Master

Fresh Fish!

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On Tuesday morning of Golden week, 5 of us headed to the Tsukiji fish market-- the biggest fish market in the world. To catch some of the action, we wanted to be there early enough to see the tuna auction (in the worlds of the hostel night manager, "it's kind of a big deal"). So we got up early and stumbled onto the subway to go see some fish.

We managed to just miss the tuna auction, but still got to see them be carted around and sawed open. The market is open to tourists, but the actual auction not, and apparently soon they will be limiting all access to certain hours for tourists. It makes a lot of sense-- the place is a bit of organized chaos with carts zooming around, being loaded with fish and pulled by people, in a maze of stalls. The general feeling from the people working there was that they weren't hugely impressed with our presense, but they would tolerate it.

After enjoying nearly being run over, seeing a man gut a fish and another man saw at a fish, Maeve and I went out for some nice sashimi breakfast with miso soup and clams on the side. Then we went back to the hostel and back to bed.

Maid in Tokyo

On my first day in Tokyo I went to a maid cafe. Jeff and I went to "nerd town" aka "electric town" aka Akihibara and wandered about for a while. It was raining and a bit miserable out, so we decided to try and find a legendary maid cafe. After looking around for a bit, we found one on the 5th floor of a store called Don Kihote (or Quixote in English I suppose) which is a superstore of confusion- you can buy used Louis Vouttion, hilarious underwear, a feather boa and a sweat-suit among other things, including "maid costumes". We made it to the "maid" floor, which was full of the costumes, usually priced around $80. They aren't the "sexy maid" Halloween type maid- most of them have high necks and puffy skirts (which can go down to mid-calf) , although the Lolita Goth maid section was a little more risque. After waiting in line for about an hour (I've learned that Japanese people wait for great things--- so if there is a line it usually means it's going to be good) Jeff and I were given an English set of "directions" that referred to us (the patrons) as "your majesty" and "lords and ladies."

The directions told us that there was a 700Yen as a seating fee, you are expected to order something to eat or drink, you may not touch the maids, you may not take pictures, (the maid you see is courtesy of google) and your stay would be limited to an hour. Also, your maid would "pour love" into your food. On the wall was a big mural with "Welcome, my master" written in different languages. Great things indeed.

Once inside we were seated, and ordered a drink and perused the menu. We found out that we would also be getting a membership card, to keep track of our visits. The more visits we had the more impressive our title would be. From "Lvl 1 My Master" (1 visit) to "Legendary Master" (over 200 visits) Beside us were 2 guys, maybe in their early 20s, and one had a new "master" card, he had over 50 visits (quick math lesson: 50 visits x 700Yen/visit x 1drink at 600Yen/visit = 65,000Yen or about $650). This guy had received a special gift, a card signed by all the maids, but the whole time he was there he couldn't even look his maid in the eye. (Friends of ours went another time, and there was a Japanese guy who waited in line with them for over 3 hours, went in for an hour and then went right back in line).

Our drinks came and love was indeed poured into them, in the form of an odd song-type-thing involving making a heart shape with our hands. Jeff and I decided to make out visit complete with a photo and learned that the new kawaii (cute) pose is to look like a cat (but I think it just looks like you're boxing...).

Subway ride to Akihibara: 230Yen
Seating fee: 700Yen
2 drinks: 1600Yen
1 photo: 500Yen
being referred to as "your majesty": priceless

Today

-As I was biking to elementary school, four little girls who were walking started running beside me saying "good morninggoodmorninggoodmorning"
-First period was canceled to have an assembly to welcome the new ichi-nenseis (first years). All of the classes cheered hello etc to them, and then the 6th graders (the oldest) gave their designated ichi-nensei a crown and then piggy-backed them out of the gym
-Upon coming back from teaching "What sports to do you play?" to the 4-2 class, I and saw a herd of ichi-nenseis, pared with a ni-nensei (2nd year) in the staffroom, doing a scavenger hunt of sorts
-I will leave for Tokyo (by shinkansen instead of night-bus this time) and spend four days in the city during golden week which isn't really a week this year so much as a slightly extended long weekend
-The sun is occasionally peeking through the clouds and a warm breeze is blowing

(The photos are unrelated)