Neighborhood Katahoko

Well, the camera cable has finally arrived in the mail, so moving photos from my camera to any KG comp is now possible. I apologize for the lateness of this entry, and accept any/all penalties.

The main Kansai Gaidai campus is in Nakamiya, a neighborhood northeast of central Hirakata. Northeast of that is Katahoko, home to the international student housing and a number of small shops, several of which seem to cater to the ryuugakusei (foreign exchange student) population. On the other hand, we were told that the school gets, on average, two complaints per week about how obnoxious and loud we are. So we're a mixed blessing for the residents, I guess.
On to the photos!

WE WANT YOUR BUSINESS

Here's an example of the gaijin-catering. A man named Hiroshi runs a barber shop right up the street. In the window, he's put up a sign that attempts to rein in a few passersby.

I wonder if it's caused the intended effect. Well, it worked on me! For 2300Y, Hiroshi shampooed me up twice, spent half an hour sculpting my hair into a magical work of art, and finished it off by rattling my teeth loose with a combination jackhammer-back massager. For the price, it's worth it. I won't need another haircut until my 28th birthday.
Hiroshi's English-speaking skills are next to nonexistent, but he said he was looking forward to business picking up once "the exchange students' 'travel haircuts' have become long."

A FLORALIZED ECONOMY

One feature you can't ignore in Katahoko is the sheer number of potted plants people have put in front of their houses. If there's half a foot of space between the wall and the street, there's room for another plant! Or, if there isn't enough space, PUT SOME BLOCKS DOWN! Ran out of ground? Put them on top of the wall. The only rule in this neighborhood is that you can never have too many plants. As long as you're only obstructing traffic by a little bit, it's okay.

This house has found that happy medium between sheer volume of flowers and inconvenience to the neighbors. Oh, the joys of living on a corner lot!

First Impressions of Japan

Since I was eleven years old, I've been collecting a veritable encyclopedia of information about Japan. A large part of this was comprised of other peoples' travelogues and anecdotes. A fairly significant portion of this accumulated secondhand knowledge was thrown out the window upon landing at Narita on August 25th. The world as seen in a static photograph or a half-imagined essay is nothing like the experience of being bombarded with sights and sounds and smells that you couldn't escape from if you tried.
Two of the most famous elements of Japanese culture that have hopped the oceans and made it into the west are aesthetic/design and Engrish. Here's a photo of each!

AKIHABARA ELECTRICAL TOWN

My friend Kensuke guided me around Tokyo for the first 5 days I was in Japan. In Akihabara, we happened upon a pedestrian avenue lined with... American restaurants?! Foreign economic influence notwithstanding, the area was splashed with neon light in a way only the Japanese can pull off. Not only were there tubes and spotlights, but rows of lanterns hanging overhead. In Akihabara, the outdoor illumination of ages long past meets the bustle of one of the largest technology centers in the world. Japanese aesthetic and design guides visitors' way into Western-style places of business.
Note: This is not shooped. I lengthened the exposure time.

WHAT YOU SAYING?

It seems that the 2 largest cities in Japan, Tokyo and Osaka, are pretty good about keeping the Engrish on ads and signs to a minimum. However, once you're off the beaten path, it's anyone's game. Unfortunately, the beaten path does not run through Japan's third largest city. A vending machine at the Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo attempts to brag that the coffee contained therein is likely the most caffiene-packed brew on the planet. Rest assured, you will make it through the rest of your trip through the zoo if you overlook the shoddy grammar and "reach out for a cup!"
Some brave manufacturer is exacting revenge on behalf of Webster and Random House.

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