Here's a quick rundown of the Khaosan Tokyo Annex/Smile Hostel (Asakusa):

Pros:
-Cheaper than Sakura Hostel
-Larger than Khaosan Tokyo Original
-Free wireless internet connection is strong and connecting is easy
-Large common rooms located by the rooms and by reception
-Common room by reception contains a television and couches
-Many computers with internet connection available for use
-Shower was large and clean
-Staff was friendly and helpful and spoke English very well
-Contained two kitchens with refrigerators and various cooking utensils
-White board calendar keeps you up-to-date with events happening in the area
-Plenty of free brochures detailing areas of interest

Cons:
-Fairly removed from places of interest and located in a residential area
-Smaller than Sakura Hostel
-No elevator

Quick rundown of the Asakusa Smile Hostel (Asakusa):

(This rundown is partial as we've only just moved in. I will finish it after we leave.)

Pros:
-Friendly and helpful staff
-Computers with internet located on the first and third floors
-Free wireless connection is strong and easy to connect to
-All guests receive a free drink at the hostel's bar
-Cheaper than Sakura Hostel
-Has an elevator
-Located closer to places of interest than Khaosan Smile but is still in a removed residential district

Cons:
-Rooms still smaller than Sakura Hostel but larger than Khaosan Tokyo Smile
-Showers appear to be partially communal with two shower heads in each stall

Event: Peace and Smile Company 10th Anniversary Concert
Date: January 3, 2009
Venue: Nippon Budokan
Number of fans: 13,000 (all sold out in 1 day!)
Length: Approximately 5 hours. (4:00pm to 9:00pm)

Band order:
SuG
Screw
Kagrra,
Kra
alice nine.
The GazettE
Miyavi

Set list:
SuG
1. Vi-Vi-Vi
- MC -
2. LOVE SCREAM PARTY

Screw
1. Death's door
2. VEGAS

Kagrra,
1. Kotodama
2. Sai
- MC -
3. Shigatsu Tsuitachi (April First)
- MC -
4. Uzu
5. Utakata
6. Urei

kra
SE - Keiyuu piano solo
1. artman
2. Renjou philosophy
3. Mutaku to mutaku to
4. Amaoto wa shopan no suirabe
5. Buriki no hata

alice nine.
SE - Saga synthesizer solo
1. the beautiful name
2. Velvet
- MC -
3. RAINBOWS
4. RED CARPET GOING ON
5. Blue Planet

the GazettE
1. Filth in the beauty
2. LEECH
- MC -
3. COCKROACH
4. DISCHARGE
5. LINDA ~ candy dive pinky heaven ~

Miyavi
SE - Aishiteru kara hajimeyou
1. Kabuki danshi
2. Aho matsuri - ahho matsuri -
3. Shouri no V-Rock!!
4. Saki hokoru hana no you ni - Neo Visualizm -
5. As U r - kimi wa kimi no mama de -

( Official Report Under Here! )

One of the most surprising things for me about Japan was how lax everyone seemed to be about the availability of alcohol and cigarettes to the general public. The legal drinking and smoking age in Japan is 20 but cigarette vending machines are fairly common and it wasn't until July of 2008 that buyers had to present the machine with an ID card in order to obtain a smoke. Before then, just about anyone could throw in some yen and walk away with a pack. And even this new system has its flaws--the machines have no way of telling if the card actually belongs to the user or if it's just some high school kid with his dad's cigarette card.

Alcohol is even easier to obtain than cigarettes. Japan also has vending machines for alcohol although they seem to be a bit more scarce. I've only ever seen a few and most of them were located in clubs or hostels. That being said, they don't even require an ID card. And I have never once been carded while buying alcohol in Japan. In fact, it's possible to go through the automated self-checkout at the store with alcohol without anyone raising a fuss. The checkout machine simply asks you to verify that you are legal, you press yes, and that's it.

So, you may think, how does this affect me as a foreigner? Well, this lax attitude towards drinking and smoking may give you the wrong impression when it comes to illegal drug use in Japan. Contrary to the blind eye that many Japanese may turn to underage drinking or smoking, the Japanese government is strict about drugs. Very strict. When the American Embassy sent some representatives to JCMU to talk to us about life in Japan they warned us soundly against drug use. Consequences range from deportation to an impromptu stay in Japanese prison. And the Japanese concept of the amount of drugs found in possession is different than in America. It only takes a very small amount to count towards not only possession but also "drug dealer" status.

Furthermore, foreigners are subject to more severe scrutiny and punishment than citizens. The representatives also told us a story about a foreign man here who ended up in jail because he went out without carrying his ID. His story was an extreme case that was heightened by some unfortunate circumstances (he was a large and intimidating-looking man, he was alone at night, and he happened to be carrying a pocket knife). Still, the point is that it's best to stay on the good side of the Japanese legal system.

MOS Burger is a fairly large hamburger chain that can be found throughout Japan. Within Tokyo, the chain is practically ubiquitous and it's likely that you won't be too pressed to find one. Identifiable by its trademark green sign with red letters, MOS Burger serves up a variety of burgers that have been specially altered to suit the Japanese taste. So if you're looking for a place to get a giant juicy beef burger than you're going to have to look elsewhere. But if have an interest in some tasty albeit somewhat exotic fast food then this is the place to go.

Of course the menu offers some fairly standard hamburgers including a regular hamburger (Mos Burger) and a cheese burger. But if you're going to spend the money, why not try something like the "Takosan Baagaa" which is fried and breaded octopus burger or maybe the "Rosukatsu Baagaa" which is roast pork in a sweet sauce. If you're feeling particularly ambitious, try one of the rice burgers. Instead of a bread bun, your burger will be served on a bun made of rice. You can still pick it up and eat it with your hands but it's more likely to fall apart so you'll have to be a little more dexterous. Check out a complete list of burgers at the official English website here.

The sides are fairly similar to what you might see at McDonalds such as fries, onion rings, salads, and apple pies. For a complete list of sides check out the official English Mos Burger side order menu page here.

Drinks come in small (S), medium (M) and large (L). They are the standard sort of drinks such as colas and juices. Well, aside from the Melon Soda which is a brilliant emerald green and tastes a bit like fruity cream soda.

The restaurant allows you to dine in or receive your burger is takeout. They also deliver in certain areas using quaint little moped-like vehicles.

Just be warned that the price for a burger can be a bit expensive. Burgers run around 300 yen or a little more than $3.00 average. I usually pay about 630 yen for a full meal of a burger, side, and drink which runs to a little over $6.30.

Merry Christmas from Asakusa, Tokyo! It's a balmy 47.9 degrees here with clear skies predicted for the whole day. The picture above was taken near Shibuya Crossings yesterday just outside the 109 building.

Sakura Hostel/Hotel (Jinbocho):

Pros:
-Incredibly spacious for a hostel
-Free and reliable wireless internet
-Central location with easy access to places like Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, etc.
-Clean
-Rooms cleaned, beds made, and trash emptied by staff every day
-Showers and toilets were spacious, clean, and convenient
-Had a cafe downstairs with drinks and food
-Basement with washing machine and vending machines

Cons:
-Fairly expensive
-Immediate area around hostel wasn't so exciting

Khaosan Tokyo

Pros:
-Fairly cheap
-Free wireless internet
-Accessible rooftop with chairs and great view
-Surrounding area is very interesting with lots to do
-Friendly and helpful staff with good English
-Common area with television and magazines and couch downstairs

Cons:
-Extremely small (luggage can barely fit in our room)
-Wireless not as reliable
-Only two showers in the facility and they are small
-Only one bathroom on each floor
-Removed a bit further from the main areas of Tokyo

I'll write more on this later.

Japan has a number of superstitions that are not only interesting but also useful to know about as they sometimes coincide with Japanese etiquette.

One of the more well known superstitions revolves around the numbers four and nine. The number four in Japanese can be pronounced both as "yon" or "shi." The word "shi" also means death in Japanese so four is the unlucky number of death. Gifts consisting of four things, for example, are unlucky. So if you want to bring a Japanese friend a gift, keep this in mind.

The number nine in Japanese can be pronounced as "kyuu" or "ku." Ku is the same as the Japanese word for suffering or torture. Again, not a good number.

Moving away from numbers we come to chopsticks. I've been warned of two main things about the use of chopsticks aside from basic etiquette. The first is that you shouldn't stick your chopsticks upright into your food. Rice especially is a no-no given that chopsticks are only ever positioned like that during funerals when an offering of rice is put on the alter. The second is that one shouldn't pass food from chopstick to chopstick. This again has to due with a funeral ritual in which the bones of a cremated body are passed using chopsticks.

The rest of the superstitions I've heard don't really have as much practical application although I suppose in some instances ignorance may lead you to do something that might make a Japanese person uncomfortable or concerned for you. For example, it's thought that if you whistle at night you will call ghosts or snakes to you. Or if you cut your nails at night you will be unable to see your parents when they are dying.

I've also heard that if you sleep with a fan on at night, you will die. This one is particularly strange as it's common practice in the summer in America to sleep with a fan on.

You can find a list of more interesting superstitions here.

So the first big barrier that Michelle and I encountered when we landed in Tokyo at the end of August wasn't a language barrier. It wasn't a cultural barrier. It wasn't even anything to do with small tentacled sea-creatures in our food. It was a toilet.

There are three main kinds of toilets that I've encountered while in Japan and they are the squat toilet, the Western-style (洋式) toilet, and the bidet.

The *squat toilet, as you might imagine, requires some flexibility and balance. They are basically urinals on their backs set into the floor that you squat over. Generally they are made of porcelain but I've seen stainless steel ones as well. The use is fairly basic: squat over the toilet and face the end with the partial hood that rises up.

The second type is a toilet typical to the ones used in America and probably the kind that you are used to. They may have a sink at the top of the tank which runs clean water allowing the user to wash their hands with the water that collects in the bowl after the flush for the next user. This is a pretty cool example of how the Japanese conserve on a much higher level than we do in America.

These toilets aren't very common in public facilities and tend to be found within private homes. However, once in a while you may get lucky and find one of these in a public facility hidden among other stalls holding squat toilets. Look for this kanji: 洋式 which is pronounced "youshiki" and means "Western-style."

The final kind of toilet is what Michelle and I were confronted with when we arrived in Japan. Basically, it's a Western-style toilet only with a load of buttons, some of which do things that many Americans would find uncomfortable or even horrifying. For example, there is a water jet option for cleaning or massaging your posterior that can be followed by a blow dryer. If you were to press this button while you were not on the toilet, there is a good chance you might spray water everywhere or even get a jet to the face.

It's enough to make anyone think twice before pressing anything. Fortunately, the flush is usually quite similar to those you find in America. Generally it is a little lever that you pull or push down. These flushes on all the toilets usually give the user two options. They are　大 (big) and 小 (small). The big option is used for fecal matter while the small is used for urine. Basically, it changes the amount of water that is used in each flush and gives you a chance to conserve.

*This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chris 73 and is freely available at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JapaneseSquatToilet.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 2.5 license.

So one of the things that you often hear about Japan is that it's a safe country. And that's true. In comparison to America, Japan has a very low crime rate and I personally have rarely felt threatened even while traveling alone in Japan or traveling at night. I've been to rock concerts where I felt fine leaving my purse on my seat behind me or on the ground beneath my seat.

That being said, just because Japan is relatively safe doesn't mean that you shouldn't keep your wits about you. Japan, like any country, does have its bad apples and its crime rate is rising. Take the shocking stabbings that occurred in broad daylight in Akihabara shortly before I arrived on June 8th 2008 which left 7 people dead and 10 injured. Or the fact that some of the students at JCMU had their bikes stolen even though they were locked.

Japan is also infamous for its "chikan" or the men who sexually harass women--generally on crowded trains. While I've never known anyone who has been a victim of this experience it is certainly a real concern within Japan and one that women traveling alone should be aware of. One doesn't have to be constantly in "high alert" on trains but just be aware that this type of crime does exist in Japan.

Advice that I've gotten from Japanese people is interesting because it is so passive. They suggest just turning and staring at the offender in a way that makes him obvious to other people on the train. These other people may help simply by also staring and criticizing silently. And if you do say anything they are supposed to say, "Please stop" or "Please don't" which is far politer than I would expect. Supposedly, the idea is to shame the offender into ceasing his activities rather than physically stop him although I've heard accounts of people hitting or scratching chikan as well. You are also able to report chikan to station attendants and press charges if he doesn't get away.

Basically, the idea is to not create too much of a fuss. That's typical Japan for you. However, if you would rather react more aggressively then I certainly wouldn't argue.

One other noteworthy piece of information is that the average time it takes for an ambulance or firetruck to reach its destination in Japan is currently about 7 minutes with 26.4 minutes to take the patient to the hospital which according to a recent Japan Today article is the worst on record. I've personally seen firsthand how slow the ambulances in Japan move and it can occasionally be slower than my speed on a bike. Keep this in mind while you're in Japan. In this case it's definitely better to be safe than sorry.

There are 100 yen shops located pretty much everywhere in Japan. Called "Hyaku En Shops" in Japanese, they are basically the Japanese equivalent to the American "dollar store" and have been incredibly helpful. The items sold cost around 105 yen each (100 yen plus tax) which is roughly equivalent to a dollar in America although at the time of writing it is roughly $1.13 due to the weakness of the dollar in the world market right now.

Still, the shops are a great source of cheap necessities ranging from kitchen utensils to makeup to stationary to food. There's a good chance that if you need it, you can probably find it for cheap at a 100 yen shop. I've personally bought bowls, chopsticks, nail polish, CD holders, and various other things from the the shop located next to Beisia in Hikone.

Learn more about 100 yen shops here.

This may be my last entry for a while as I will be heading to Tokyo soon and will have limited internet access at best. I will continue to write entries while in Tokyo and save them to my computer. I will post them once I can access the internet.

Upcoming topics:
-Mandarake
-7/11 and post office ATMs
-Drinking and drugs in Japan
-Mosburger
-Trains
-Basic Etiquette (Eating, house and table manners, greetings, names)
-Gift-giving
-Superstitions
-Toilets
-Convenience store and 自動販売機 (vending machines)
-Biking in Japan

One of the large Japanese drums (dadaiko) used to accompany bugaku dances.

Earlier this week our Japanese Minorities class visited an amazing museum called the National Museum of Ethnology or "Minpaku" as the Japanese call it. Located in Suita, Osaka it is accessible through the railways and monorails. You can find more information about how to get there at the official website's access page here.

The Museum is open every day but Wednesday and on national holidays. It also is closed from December 28 until January 4. It's hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Adults must pay 420 yen (about $4.20) to get in but high school and college students can enter at a cool low fee of just 250 yen. (about $2.50).

This museum is one of the largest I've ever seen and boasts about 250,000 artifacts from all around the world. As quoted from the English brochure I received, "One of the main focuses of the Museum has been to provide the general public with accurate and updated information about various societies around the world, in order to facilitate understanding of peoples with different cultural backgrounds living together in the modern world."

It's possible to spend the entire day wandering around this museum gaping at its beautiful collection of artifacts or just admiring its impressive architecture which itself is an exhibit all on its own. The exhibit explanations were in Japanese but our class as well as some of the other visitors I saw were given the option of using a portable audio device with headphones and English audio explanations for certain exhibits. And by portable audio device I mean they gave us all white PlayStation Portables with an interactive menu that allowed us to select what exhibit we wanted to know more about. By selecting our option, we were presented with a short video and audio explanation on our PSP. I won't lie. It was pretty awesome.

The staff appeared to speak English as well as Japanese. Andrew and I were sitting near the beginning of the African exhibit just resting when one of the staff came up to us and informed us in English that the African exhibit was closed. We both responded with a Japanese "hai" simultaneously without thinking and she laughed and said, "Nihongo de!" Or "[You spoke] in Japanese!"

The museum also offers study area where visitors can study cultures worldwide through the use of books, CDs, and computers in multiple languages. There's also a large room with individual booths and televisions where visitors can take the time to sit and browse through about 500 different short video programs on societies and cultures around the world.

Not only is this a great place to visit for fun, it also would probably be indispensable for someone studying different cultures while abroad in Japan. As such, I highly recommend going. Learn more at the official website here.

AS we all know, the earth's crust is broken up into several plates which we call tectonic plates. These plates are constantly moving over or under each other creating seismic activity such as earthquakes. Japan is located over and in fact has been formed by the interaction of three of these tectonic plates--the Philippine Sea Plate, the Pacific Plate, and the Eurasian Plate. Because of this, Japan is one of the most seismically active places in the world.

Personally, I have yet to experience anything more violent than a single tremor. Granted, it shook the entire school enough to jolt me back into semi-consciousness during a boring section of my class period but it wasn't anything serious. Still, earthquakes are a very real part of Japanese life and so you should be prepared.

JCMU gave us basic earthquake safety training, the gist of which was to get yourself under something sturdy like a table or bed. I have also heard from my geology professor at Grand Valley that a doorway is the least likely part of a building's structure to collapse so head for one of those if you don't have any other options.

A few minutes after the earthquake has passed, check for fire and make sure the gas is turned off. Be sure to leave the building if it seems that it is likely to collapse. Once you have ensured your own safety, you are responsible for others near you like your roommates or neighbors. Unless your own safety is at risk, check on them to make sure that they are all right.

The emergency number in Japan is, funnily enough, 119. Dial this number to call for a fire engine or ambulance. A fire engine is called a "shobosha" pronounced "shō-bō-shaa" and an ambulance is called a "kyukyusha" pronounced "kyoo-kyoo-shaa." To say, "Please send fire engines and an ambulance," say, "Shobosha to kyukyusha wo onegaishimasu." ("Shō-bō-shaa tō kyoo-kyoo-shaa ō ō-ne-gaaee-shee-maas" according to this dictionary pronunciation key.)

The American Embassy in Japan has tons of more useful earthquake information should you want to find out more. Click here to be directed to the earthquake section on its official website.

In Japanese, leaving your house or apartment on an outing is 出かける (dekakeru). In Japan, I've had plenty of opportunities to go and be out and about in Japan and I've found that there are a few items that I find useful to have on hand before I leave. Here is a short list of what I usually take with me if I'm leaving to go do something:

1. Passport and alien registration card
It is always best to keep your documents close by. I've never had to use any of these materials but I've heard horror stories from people who have needed them and not had them on hand. In any case, you don't want to put yourself into a situation where you can't produce your documents for Japanese officials. You'll also need this information if you're planning to do something like purchase a cellphone.

2. Handkerchief or small washcloth
Many public restrooms in Japan don't offer paper towel or hand driers. Therefore, it's useful to keep something small to dry your hands with. Furthermore, in the summer as you swelter in the humidity and heat you may want something to blot your face with. I remember looking like a sweaty mess in Tokyo and jealously watching women on the train sitting across from me blot their faces with small handkerchiefs.

3. Tissues
In the same vein as the above paragraph, some public restrooms don't have toilet paper either. Keep a small packet of tissues with you to avoid embarrassment. Note that in many busy public places there are often people handing out free tissue packets with advertisements on them. Keep an eye out for them. It shouldn't be too hard to stock up if you're going to be in a big place like Tokyo or Osaka.

4. Hand sanitizer
I've found that carrying a small bottle of this saves me a lot of rummaging in my purse with wet hands. Instead of dealing with handkerchiefs and the occasional lack of soap in a bathroom, I just squeeze some of this on my hands and I'm good to go.

5. Emergency money
It's common sense but keep some extra yen tucked away somewhere on the off chance that you may need it. Off the top of my head I imagine you could use it for a taxi ride if you become lost or find yourself out later than midnight which is around when the trains stop running in Hikone.

6. Comfortable slip-on shoes
You're going to do a lot more walking in Japan than you are probably used to so be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. If you plan to go shopping, especially for clothing, it would be prudent to bring a pair of shoes that you can easily slip on or off. Generally, you are supposed to take off your shoes before you enter a dressing room in Japan and tying and untying your shoes can become a big hassle very quickly. I use shoes without backs and they have served me well aside from occasionally allowing rain into my shoes.

And if you're going to be in a big city and you are fashion conscious, I suggest you pick out the most stylish slip-on shoes you can find. I've found that both men and women in the urban areas of Japan are very fashionable--almost to the point that it makes me uncomfortable wearing my normal clothing. For girls, some cute low pumps would probably suffice in the winter whereas open-toed sandals and heels seem to reign in the summer.

7. Umbrella
An umbrella is always useful, just as in America. However, if you're visiting Japan in June and July then you're going to be treated to the country's rainy season. In fact, even though I visited in late August, it still rained every day while I was in Tokyo. Granted, it didn't rain all day but there was still a high likelihood that we would hit some wet weather at least once every day. And if you forget your umbrella, you can buy some cheap clear plastic umbrellas at nearly every convenience store for around 500 yen or $5.00.

However, I suggest buying a small collapsible piece that you can tuck away in a purse or backpack. You'll probably want your hands free to take pictures or buy any number of highly expensive Japanese items.

8. The address and phone number for your hotel/school in Japanese
Just in case, it is always best to carry around this information in case you get lost or just need a ride home. You may also be able to carry it around in English as many people in Japan do understand rudimentary English but to be on the safe side perhaps it is best to have it in both English and Japanese.

Of course all of the other common-sense items apply such as your camera, credit card, and any other items you normally take with you in America.

So over the past few months Michelle and I have done a lot of grocery shopping and I've had the chance to get a good look at the selection. The first thing I want to talk about is the availability of certain foods. As far as I can tell, you should be able to find almost anything you want in one of the larger supermarkets which are organized in a similar way to most supermarkets back home. Whenever I walk into our local supermarket, Beiseia, it's almost like walking into a Meijer back home. There are fresh vegetables and fruits in the front and household supplies in the back. There are even import food aisles where you can pick up everything from tacos to Chinese sauces.

We've found it quite easy to make typical food that we might find back home like grilled ham and cheese sandwiches or French toast.

Granted, some things are more expensive than they are in America. Generally the expensive things are foods not traditionally Japanese. Meat is a classic example, especially beef. As are diary products. Other things that tend to be expensive are packaged snack foods like cookies and chips which come in smaller bags than the typical American is used to. However, Japanese staples like fish, vegetables, soy, noodles, and rice can be extremely cheap. A vegetable stir-fry with green peppers, onions, bean sprouts, broccoli, and a packet of sauce is a good cheap way to make a meal. Your local supermarket may have a discount cart for vegetables which is where we've often found things from bean sprouts to cabbage to gobo (burdock root.) And of course, anything you can mix with rice is cheap and easy. Fried rice with vegetables is also an option as are about any kind of noodles. Try making yakisoba with cabbage and worchester sauce. And if you're not too picky, you can pick up cheap packets of instant curry which when combined with a good portion of rice make a filling meal.

Michelle and I have a small collection of recipes which I may post at a later date.

Also important is the fact that many perishable items go on sale a little bit before the store closes for the night. The time varies from store to store but 7:15 at the Hikone Beiseia is when the bentos and sushi go on sale at half price. Various other things such as the fried foods and bean and meat buns also go on sale. The meat that expires soon goes on sale around 5:00. Just stick it in the freezer when you get back home and you should be set. Make note of the time your local supermarket starts marking down prices and go slightly early. People tend to arrive and grab what they want before they start marking down because it's possible to have an employee mark down food that you already have in your hands. Just grab what you want and wait until the employees come out then line up with everyone else.

Give the employee your food and he or she will place a new barcode sticker on it with a discount price.

Taga Taisha is a shrine located in Taga-cho in Shiga prefecture. It's a bit of a walk (20 minutes or so) from Taga Station or the JR Omi Tetsudo Line. One can also take a bus from JR Minami Hikone Station. It is well known as the shrine which houses Izanagi and Izanami who are the parents of one of the most important gods in Japanese mythology--Amaterasu Omikami. Amaterasu is the sun goddess and supposedly the Japanese Imperial Family descends directly from her.

The shrine itself is supposed to have originated in 620 AD due to its mention in the Kojiki which is the oldest surviving book in Japan. It houses a garden that was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in thanks for the recovery of his wife from illness.

When you first enter you'll notice a large and very steep stone bridge. In fact, it looks like it should be decorative rather than functional but visitors are allowed to cross it. You'll have to climb up the side using a ladder built of logs chained together but it's a fun little challenge and a good picture opportunity. I unfortunately didn't get any clear pictures of it but the ever handy Wikipedia has a picture for me which by Wikipedia's rules is public domain.

Once inside the large structure at the far back is the main shrine. To your left facing the main shrine are the shrine offices next to which is an area to buy souvenirs such as good luck charms. To your right is the Kaguraden which our guide told us is used as a Noh stage and also for other traditional and religious activities.

The shrine offices house the entrance to the inner sanctum of the shrine which visitors rarely get to see. However, as study abroad students on a cultural field trip we were allowed in back. The area is a small but beautiful series of wooden hallways open to the air which look out on a garden in the back. There are also a few tatami rooms set up to hold traditional tea ceremonies. The doors in the inner sanctum are traditional sliding doors made of paper and the walls of the tatami rooms are decorated with mural-like images.

I have a short video of the inner sanctum here starring Katie Rothwell and David Wang's back at one point.

When you leave the shrine you may want to visit some of the small shops surrounding it. They sell a variety of souvenirs--most of them edible--and are good fun to browse through.

Here are a few more pictures:

Entering the shrine

The courtyard with the stone bridge

Ikebana or flower arrangements on display in the shrine

I'm not actually sure what these colored paper strings are

Last Saturday I attended Stigmatic with three other friends--Michelle, Katheryn, and David. Stigmatic is a regular Gothic event held on the 3rd Saturday of odd months in Nagoya in Japan at P.O.D. which is on the fourth floor of one of the buildings near the large Panasonic building. You can find a map and directions in English here. The basic idea is to dress up and dance and drink all night beginning at 9:00PM and running on into 6:00AM. There was also a small goods table where you could buy Gothic clothing, accessories, and CDs.

If you make a reservation online via their website it only costs 2000 yen which is roughly equivalent to $20. This also includes one drink. The first 25 people to arrive also get a free CD. The one I received was a an 18-track compilation of songs remixed by Doom Spider and VenoMoth.

The resident DJs are Doom Spider, VenoMoth, riz-K, and Gore Scorpio. According to the flier I got, they play dark electro, hard style EBM, technoiz, dark trance, female vocal electro, opera trance, dark ambient, disco punk, electro punk, electro clach, idustrial, and future pop. I don't really know what most of that means. When I was there it just sounded like gothic industrial techno with some opera to me. You can hear some of DJ VenoMoth's music at her myspace here and DJ Doom Spider's music at his myspace here. For more information in general, the event has a website where you can find out more. Check it out by clicking here.

The fashion at the event varied pretty drastically. I wore a Gothic Lolita dress--the same from Halloween--but I also saw some Sweet Lolita and even some guys just dressed in dark pants and long sleeved shirts. On the other hand, many people will go all out. My friend Katheryn wore a skirt that couldn't have been less than $200. So if you're fashion conscious I'd suggest taking a look at pictures from past Stigmatic events which you can look at here on their official website. But honestly, you probably can't go wrong with one of the big gothic/punk brand names like those listed at Sumire's lovely guide to Gothic and Lolita shopping. And if that's outside of your budget, there didn't seem to be a strict dress code so stylish black jeans and a black top will probably get you in.

The club itself is pretty tiny inside. There's a small drink bar, some bathrooms, some seats and tables, and a small dance floor with a raised part in back for the DJ. The dance floor is equipped with lights and lasers as well as a projector. They played old black and white horror movies on the projector while we danced. I saw Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera all the way through twice while I was there.

Contrary to what you might believe, most of the people at the event were friendly and polite. In fact, I would even venture to say that I prefer the crowd there over most of the concerts in America I've been to. American high school fangirls are much more frightening around their favorite bands than these people dressed up head-to-toe in Gothic garb were. We had a few people strike up conversation with us in limited English and Japanese and DJ VenoMoth waved to us and said "Bye-bye" in English when we left the club. For the most part I felt totally at ease and totally accepted even though I didn't speak much Japanese. I feel like Michelle and Katheryn who were more noticeably not Japanese also were very well accepted by the crowd there. And in fact, there were quite a few foreigners there including this huge pierced white man from Detroit. He looked a bit intimidating but Michelle talked to him and said he seemed like a nice guy.

This kind of acceptance is probably just due to the nature of the crowd that tends to attend Stigmatic. They see all a manner of eccentric people there so probably it's pretty hard to stick out. For example, there was a woman there with a huge electric green wig with spiders and things hanging out of it. She was really nice, actually.

I took off my $30 shoes to dance and left them in a random corner multiple times and they were never disturbed. David left his makeup bag in a corner as well and didn't have a problem the entire night. I wouldn't condone this kind of behavior--keep your valuables close no matter where you are and they did have a bag table where you could store your extra baggage or coat but the place was pretty safe, I think. Basically, it wasn't seedy.

And if you're worried about dancing then I have good news for you: you don't really have to know how to dance. Most of the people spent the entire night doing the same side to side dance step and moving their hands and arms in random ways. Everyone had their own unique style and no one seemed to care what you did as long as you were polite about it. Basically, there wasn't much grinding or bumping between people. Friends and couples danced together, sure, but I've seen lewder dance moves at the school prom and for the most part you had your own personal space. The dancing seemed more of a personal experience than a social one. It was all about the music and the atmosphere--not about dancing your way closer to that cute girl/guy in the corner. Although doubtless that does happen especially at larger events but I don't get the sense that you really have to be too worried about that kind of thing.

Overall I really enjoyed my experience and would have no hesitations about going back again. Of course, those who don't have a penchant for loud music, small smokey spaces, and/or a pretty eccentric crowd including some cross-dressers might think otherwise.

Stigmatic is a relatively small event. There are of course larger events such as Vampire Garden, Tokyo Dark Castle, and a few others. I'll try to compile a list as soon as possible as well as mention some important figures in the underground Gothic scene such as DJ Taiki, DJ Sisen, and others.

So I've mentioned sorting garbage in Japan in passing before but today I think I'll go a little more in depth. Because in Japan, the sorting of garbage is serious business. In fact, when we first arrived we were given a short session on how to sort our trash and which of the many bins in the back of the school to put it in. Even now I occasionally hesitate when I go to toss a wrapper or a paper plate.

We've been told many times that it is important that we get the trash sorted correctly. Otherwise the school will get told off and even worse--it will make JCMU look bad. There is a sort of unspoken belief in Japan that foreigners can't sort their garbage properly and I wouldn't be surprised if it's true in some respects. It can get a bit complicated and mistakes are easy to make if you haven't grown up sorting your garbage so meticulously.

I'm going to cover some of the basics but different parts of Japan sort trash differently and the specialized garbage bags they use differ as well. Hikone has its own specially marked bags. Not to mention certain kinds of garbage are picked up on certain days which differ from city to city. It is probably best to pick up the official handbook for your municipality. However, hopefully this will give you a basic idea of what to expect.

The basic three main classifications are burnable garbage, nonburnable, and large items. Burnables include things like paper, organic products like food, and cloth. Certain burnable things like cardboard boxes and small sticks must be flattened and tied up before you throw them away. There is a special plastic trash bag you can buy that is marked as burnable trash by brown writing and pictures of various burnable things. The burnable trash is fairly easy to handle but then we get to the nonburnable garbage. Nonburnable garbage can be split into multiple categories but the main ones we've been told about are ceramics and other trash, dry cell batteries, cans and metal, glass, plastics, and plastic bottles.

Yes, the plastic bottles are sorted separately from the rest of the plastics. Any bottles marked with the PET logo (which looks like this) all together. Any plastic bottle/wrap/thing with the PURA logo go into the special trash bag marked "Plastic Only." Fortunately in both English and Japanese. These have orange-colored writing. Interestingly, most PET bottles have PURA labels and caps. So you have to take off the label and cap to throw away separately before you dispose of the bottle itself.

Lastly, we have the large trash such as bicycles, appliances, and furniture. These require you to call ahead and obtain a ticket. The center will then come to pick up your large garbage.

Of course there are other more specific cases such as items that are toxic or hazardous. But this is the basic structure of the sorting system.

One of the things about Japan that you would not think to prepare for is the fact that there is no daylight savings time here. In fact, I'm pretty sure that before America even began daylight savings time this year it felt as thought it was becoming dark rather early. Perhaps around 6 in the evening or so and now around 5 you can expect to be using your bike's headlight if your daily errands take a bit longer than normal.

Michelle and I have found that we have to plan our days around the early dark--especially if we don't fancy riding back home in the dark and cold. Or even if we fancy riding home at all. The free public bike parking garage closes here around 8:30 when Al Plaza closes. This can be very inconvinient if you're intending to have a late night with some friends somewhere. Of course you have overnight parking as well but that costs 170 yen and in the interest of saving money you may want to find alternative parking for your bike.

It can mean getting up a bit earlier than normal on weekends in order to ensure that we have enough daylight to use. In America I was never a fan of falling back an hour and then dragging myself out of bed an hour earlier than I am used to but now I can see the practicality of it. The early darkness can have a curious effect by making it seem later than it really is. I feel like one of those pet birds that is tricked into going to sleep when someone puts a blanket over my cage. I find that I grow tired far before my bed time just because I can no longer see the light. Come dinner time I'm already thinking about crawling into bed.

Adding to this is the fact that many shops close around nightfall or soon after. I never realized how convenient it is that Meijer is open 24/7 until I came to Japan and the supermarket closed around us one night as we left it around 8:30. Although if you want the good deals then late is when you should shop. The supermarket here (Beisia) begins marking down their bentos around 7:15pm and the meat actually begins to be marked down around 4:30 in the afternoon. You can also expect to see marked down onigiri and steamed buns in many grocery stores later at night.

Of course the restaurants, bars, and karaoke places ensure that there's something to do during the evenings but I'm an American used to midnight drive-through fast-food and 24-hour supermarkets. There's no "Wendys" here so if you want a midnight snack you have to go to a 24-hour convenience store.

For those who are interested in some of the underground fashion scenes in Japan such as visual kei and gothic lolita, Harajuku is a well known place to shop and goggle at various cosplayers who dress up as their favorite fashion, music, an anime idols. Those interested will want to check out Takeshita-dori which is easily accessible from the JR Harajuku Station.

Those who wanted to explore another side of Harajuku fashion can try Urahara which can literal translate as "back/wrong gate." That is, it's the backstreets of Harajuku accessible along Cat-Road starting at the Kyu Shibuya-gawa promenade. I have heard from a friend that area's fashion differs from normal Harajuku fashion. I suspect that rather than the lace and frills of the Gothic Lolita fashion scene you may find something grittier--something that is more vibrantly individualistic youth fashion rather than youth trying to imitate the fashion of their favorite rock stars.

However, if Tokyo is out of the way for you, there are various other places you may shop as well. Shinsaibashi in Osaka has plenty of clothing stores including PureSound, Brand X, Alice Auaa, KERA, Bodyline, Black Peace Now, and plenty others. Or you could head over to Nagoya where you can find stores like Sex Pot Revenge, Alice and the Pirates, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, and many others.

I will soon be making an extensive list of shops or brands that sell punk/goth/gothic lolita clothing and where to find them or at least how to buy from their online stores. This list will hopefully include:

Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Miho Matsuda, KERA, Mary Magdalene, Shotgun Wedding, Suppurate System, Algonquins, Black Peace Now, Sexy Dynamite London, Na+H, Alice Auaa, Jane Marple, Moi-meme Moitie, Vivienne Westwood, Closet Child, MILK, and more.

It's so strange that they don't have daylight saving time in Japan. It gets pitch dark here around five. Anyway, here are three pictures from the Halloween Party that I snagged from some friends.

Group picture of all of the JCMU students that attended.

Myself and a little friend pre-party.

"Obama" takes time out of his busy schedule to meet with my little friend.

Thanks to Megan Robinson and her super high-tech camera for these wonderful pictures.

And while I'm at it, I have a few things I'm intending to write about. They're going to be larger entries that need more research so they're on the back-burner for now. But here are a few things I'm expecting to be writing about soon:

-Trains and the subway: How to ride them and navigate the stations
-The gothic/punk/gothic lolita/visual kei fashion scene and where to shop
-The underground gothic scene in Japan