Rainy Season Blues

It finally felt the rainy season had arrived last week.There were continual heavy showers between bouts of high humidity.The remains of Typhoon Six,now downgraded to a tropical depression,pelted down adding to the seasonal rainfall for the month.
One can never have too many umbrellas at this time of year.

Book Review..The Pound

The Pound. David Sinclair.Arrow Books.2001.286 pages.























David Sinclair's book traces the history of the British currency from the dim days of Anglo-Saxon England to the advent of the Euro and the global economy.
As with language,several rulers over the centuries used it to unify the nation.Many also used the currency as a way to raise finance,revenue,taxes and capital.Queen Elizabeth,for example,issued coins six times as a defence against the inflation,wars and rebellions she faced.
As well as being a readable description of the rise and decline of the currency the author also explains economic terms and principles in easy to understand laypersons terms.My eyes didnt glaze over as Gresham's Law or the Gold Standard were explained.

I did note that the author is somewhat dismissive of the Euro .."it is likely to prove an expensive irrelevance"pg 280 and further down the same page "In its way the European single currency is nothing more than an extension of the existing national currencies".
On the final page writing about the future of the pound(pg286)"It would probably be foolish to replace it with the euro,even in the unlikely event that the single currency did manage to survive all the pitfalls awaiting it".
The author can probably be forgiven these comments bearing in mind they are now some eight years or so old.The world has changed markedly.It would be interesting to see what Sinclair thinks now of the euro and whether he has changed his mind about adopting it or not.
While his comments about the recent history of the pound and euro are somewhat redundant,I would still recommend this book as the earlier sections on the origins and growth of the pound remain relevant.

New Cake Selections

Two more new cake selections from my local bakery/patisserie.















The first features a buttery,flaky pastry that crumbles nicely as one bites into the surrounding creamy filling.It reminded me of a slice of mille feuille,a traditional French dessert.























The second photo shows what I believe is a small fresh fruit dessert consisting of slices of white peach.At least thats what I took the label to have read.
The slices of peach encase a smooth filling and the whole thing sits on a thick brown caramel shortbread biscuit.

Friday Flash..Concrete Mount Fuji

Ive only recently noticed how frequently these concrete Mount Fuji structures appear in small local parks.The slopes are quite steep and difficult to climb.Some have rocks embedded into them and dont appear to be that child friendly should you lose your grip and fall.
Often painted in garish hues they add a splash of colour to what is often a desolate grassless area frequented by crows and homeless people.

Book Review..The Story of French

The Story of French. Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow.
St Martin's Griffin.2006.450 pages and appendices.























This book is divided into four parts.It attempts to trace the origin,spread,adaptation and changes of the French language.And pretty much succeeds in doing that.
I found the chapters on the spread of the language to Africa and North America very interesting.There are also some thought provoking remarks on the rise of cultural diplomacy and soft power in later chapters dealing with the language adapting to post 1945 conditions.
"Of course like religion and ideology,language can contribute to(or detract from) a country's influence in traditional spheres such as diplomacy.Japan is the world's second economic power,yet its language (like its religion) has little influence,making Japan's overall influence in the world weaker."pgs 285,286.

The book contains a lot of facts and figures and information I'd never given much thought to or even heard of.Case in point is an organisation known as the Francophonie ,described in Chapter 16 as "often compared to the British Commonwealth"pg 339.Its a group of 53 nations organised on the basis that they share the French language.
Another example can be found on pg35 where the authors note the bad characters in Harry Potter had "names that are clearly inspired by Old French or that have a French etymology: Malfoy(bad faith),Voldemort(flight of death),Lestrange(stranger)".

All in all,if you are even vaguely interested in languages or if you ever wondered why people in Belgium,Senegal and Quebec speak French or pondered how languages evolve this book provides some answers.




















The contents of a snack pack I found in the bargain bin of my local convenience store.While the majority of the snacks are rice based and crunchy,others contain seaweed or a fishy component and are quite hot and spicy.They go well with beer or other liquid refreshments at this time of year.

Friday Flash..A Few More Tram and Subway Museum Photos

Just a few more shots from the Nagoya Tram and Subway Museum I recently visited.The first shows a bogie and wheels.























The second picture shows the model train layout as described in my last post.Prominent buildings in Nagoya are featured such as the JR Central Towers and the TV Tower amongst others.
The final photo shows a small model of one of the vehicles that is on display in the Museum.

Nagoya Tram and Subway Museum

I visited the Nagoya Tram and Subway Museum earlier in the week.Its near Akaike subway station on the Tsuramai Line.Theres a wall map at the station.The museum is basically a block behind the station.Turn right as you leave Exit 2.Walk straight down the hill.At the end of the street turn right and head towards the traffic lights and Route 153.At the intersection cross the road and turn right.You should be heading up the hill on Route 153.Theres a big sign indicating the museum over the traffic lanes.























There are four old tram and subway cars on display in the Museum.In the middle of the display hall there are a number of computer and interactive displays which proved popular with the noisy throngs of kids present.
Another drawcard was the large model railway based loosely on Nagoya.There were model buildings of JR Central Towers and Nagoya TV Tower around which model shinkansen trains circled endlessly.
With their noses and fingers pressed firmly against the display glass an employee was constantly wiping the surfaces clean.
The photo above shows the interior of one car.It had a shiny wooden floor and seemed quite spacious.

















I quite liked the yellow paintwork on this car.It certainly is distinctive and must have stood out.















Outside the Museum are two huge drill bits that were used in the excavation of the subway tunnels.Below is a closer look at the business end of the drills.
While the kids seemed to enjoy themselves its not really a place to linger unless you are a trainspotter type.There were no English language signs or labels.Nor did it seem there were any pamphlets in English or other languages on hand.
On the plus side entry to the Museum is free.
Check their website for more details..www.kotsu.city.nagoya.jp/

Tropical Cake

I thought this would be a cherry flavoured slice of sponge cake judging from the colour.How wrong I was.Its not in fact sponge cake at all.More of a jelly or custard.Hidden inside is the best part of a whole mango.Very sweet and juicy.Slices of mango decorate the top along with slivers of chocolate and a solitary strawberry.

Friday Flash..Haagen Dazs Sorbets

I saw these new additions to the Haagen Dazs ice cream range in a local convenience store during the week.
According to my battered Oxford Dictionary "sorbet" is defined as "a water ice".
The Wild Apple Sorbet certainly meets that definition being crisp,light and watery.My spoon easily cut through the thin texture.Upon pulling back the plastic cover,one is greeted with a fragrant apple smell which lingered even after the contents had been eaten.Its hard to describe the wild apple taste.A little tart and a little sweet at the same time.Not all bitter like a Granny Smith apple nor wholly sweet.Worth a second look for its refreshing light taste.
The contents of the Alphonso Mango Sorbet is thicker than that of the Wild Apple Sorbet and didnt yield as easily to my spoon.More like ice cream than a sorbet.I found the vivid orange yellowy colour also detracted from my enjoyment.As for the flavour it was certainly mango.It goes without saying whether you like the sorbet depends on how well you like mangos.
Personally I dont think Id bother again.

Irises in Tsuramai Park

Away from the noise and bustle of Tsuramai Station and behind the band rotunda one can find some iris beds.Somewhat sunken,sheltered and shaded by surrounding trees the flowers are at their best at the moment.

















While the majority of blooms are various shades of white,blue and purple,one of the smaller beds contains some yellow flowers.I have no idea who the woman on the bench is in the photo but she did pose obligingly.
















Despite the fact it was fairly early in the morning,round 9am,the flowers seemed to be a magnet for defecating dogs,careening cyclists,who sped through the area apparently oblivious to those on foot and old men carting their cameras,tripods and photo equipment.
I was somewhat amused to see one elderly gentleman using what appeared to be a light meter before positioning his tripod and camera.I dont know if theres a photographic equivalent to penis envy but I was impressed by some of the equipment that was being used.Large and small zoom lenses and bulky bags filled with old film rolls. It put my small Sony Cybershot literally in the shade.If anything it pushed me further towards buying a better camera.

A Few More Local House Photos.

A couple of other homes that caught my eye while I wandered around last week.You have to remember that they arent in the middle of nowhere in rural Japan.Both are a five minute walk from a newly built Meitetsu rail station in a built up area.























This is the side view of a rambling wooden house.Again you can see the exposed earthen interior walls.I like the fact that despite its unkempt condition there is still a satellite dish and air conditioner unit which appears to be working.

Friday Flash..Rainy Season Flowers

Tsuyu or the month long summer rainy season begun earlier in the week according to weather officals.Hydrangeas and irises in particular seem to thrive at this time of year and make the most of the abundant moisture available.






















The two photos above were taken at Tsuramai Park near where I live in Nagoya.There are a number of sunken iris beds in Tsuramai Park planted with a variety of irises.Leading up to the irises beds,paths are flanked with hydrangea bushes flush with blooming heads in stark contrast to the gloomy grey skies overhead.

Photos of a local Neighbourhood.

Ive been working the last couple of weeks at a new school.About fifteen minutes from the main business area of Nagoya.Its serves as a dormitory suburb for the masses of black suited workers who daily invade and retreat from the city.
Its pretty indistinguishable from and typical of other sprawling housing areas.
The housing is a mix of older small detached houses and newly built multi-storied apartment buildings.Theres a mixture of old style lean to constructions and modern designed units sitting cheek by jowl.All random and unplannned.Huge towerblocks casting their five o'clock shadows on their frail,smaller neighbours.














The older house above still seems to be lived in.Im not sure that its habitable given the holes in the walls and the general state of disrepair.It appears to be built in a traditional manner.Wooden and hardened earth or clay.Many of the older houses have heavy ceramic tiles on their roofs.


















There are many narrow lanes and walkways through the area.I imagine given the lack of street lighting that it would be quite easy to get lost at night in the maze of paths.

















This is another shot showing the poor access and close proximity of houses to one another.It would be easy for a fire to spread quickly and even engulf buildings opposite.At the same time getting vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines to such areas would be difficult.


















The final photo shows a building again seemingly still occupied but in a state of considerable decay.The exterior surface of white plaster has gone exposing the hardened earth or clay layer beneath.As a result this layer has been weathered and damaged.There is no glass in the window cavity.Instead a wooden shutter provides some barrier to the elements.
The house has been built of materials that you can see in many similar older constructions namely corrugated iron,timber,clay and plaster.
The roof again has traditional heavy ceramic tiles.In the case of this building the tiles have been wired together possibly to prevent them falling off in the event of an earthquake or typhoon.

Friday Flash...Brazilian BonBons

It never ceases to amaze me the variety of imported foods one can find here.Case in point these Brazilian sweets in the photo above.
During the week I read somewhere that Japan was the world's largest food importer and is reliant on five countries including the U.S,China and Australia for more than 70% of its farm imports.
I also found interesting that on one hand Japans "food mileage"(ie the amount of food transported times the transport distance) is about 5 times that of Britain and 3 times that of South Korea and of the U.S.
On the other hand according to a government white paper 19 million tons of food is thrown away each year as waste in Japan.Food for thought..

Dean and Deluca Strawberry Ice Cream

There seems no rhythm or reason which stores stock Dean and Deluca ice cream.One would expect to see it in urban central city areas rather than random rural shops.
Anyways,the discovery of a new point of sale and flavour just add to the experience.
This latest discovery is California Strawberry.While not as disappointing as last weeks pistachio I again felt it was missing something.
It looks promising enough after you lift the plastic cover.You are presented with a pinkish mottled rosy surface.I was hoping that there would be some silvers of strawberry included.Unfortunately like last week its more of a pureed mixture.
While there is evidence of a strawberry flavour within,its quite subtle.
I cant really rate this highly.It didnt have me wishing there was more or entice me to buy another one.

Access all areas

An article in The Japan Times May 17th caught my eye.Headlined "English schools target middle-aged,elderly" it outlines various language schools attempts to attract middle aged and elderly students.
It appears that the traditional support base of young 20-30 year old company employees has become saturated and some schools are introducing courses for older students.
Provision has been made in some organisations to provide textbooks with bigger print and times more convenient for the more mature students to attend classes.


















All well and good.I just hope these schools have thought about the physical constraints and limits both age and Japanese building design impose on people.School premises should be easily accessible.Not just for aged but also for young children.
I can understand that a ground floor,street level space costs more to rent than say ninth floor premises.
That stated,a steep set of stairs like those above or a small slow elevator must act as a deterrent to prospective customers.

Friday Flash..Sicilian Pistachio Ice Cream

Another Dean and Deluca offering.Unfortunately its not one of their better efforts.
On peeling back the plastic cover one is presented with the beige,bland contents.It looks similar to window putty or grout.
The label states that the ingredients include pistachio paste.I was expecting some pieces of pistachio nuts embedded in the ice cream but to no avail.
It didnt taste nutty.It didnt taste of anything.It reminded me of tofu.
I wouldnt recommend sampling it considering there are better alternatives in this range.

Pretty in Pink

Crazy week work-wise.The branch school I worked at over the last few weeks closed Thursday.As part of a company realignment those branches located in supermarket malls will be relocated.The new schools will be smaller often having just one instructor and open for fewer days each week.Thursday was very busy with myself and the other instructor working at near full capacity each lesson while the staff toiled away packing and getting ready for the big move.
On Friday I started at my new school.Its virtually in the completely opposite direction to the one I was working at the day before.On the plus side it is some 10 minutes closer to home though some 30 yen more expensive each fare.There were no lessons scheduled that day.I welcomed the break after the busy week and I used the time to set up and organise texts and files in preparation for the next day.














The new school features larger cubicles better able to accomodate five student classes.It also has these flashy pink panels or room dividers as opposed to the older windowed rooms.
A lamp is suspended above each table.Unfortunately it appears to be similar to those in restaurants used to keep food warm.After one day working under it Ive got scorch marks on my scalp.Im contemplating removing the bulbs.













The only real quibble Ive got is the punctuation of some of the idioms that feature on the room dividers.I did a double take when I saw the room divider in the photo above.
Surely not good for company credibility!

The Great War for Civilisation...Book Review

The Great War for Civilisation Robert Fisk.2005.Harper Perennial.1286 pages.
Biblography.Notes.Index.

This hefty paperback covers the author's 30 or so years covering Middle East affairs.He writes of places such as Afghanistan,Algeria,Iraq,Iran,Israel and Syria and figures such as King Hussein,Arafat,Blair,Bush and Bin Laden among others.
It is also part autobiographical as he writes of his upbringing and his parents.
While noting firstly,that I lack the necessary historical background,first hand knowledge and experience to authoritatively question his views and secondly,this blog is hardly the place to debate weighty matters of state,some things are worth mentioning.
Fisk has strong views on the role of journalists and their freedom to report and criticise as they see fit."Our job is to record,to point the finger when we can,to challenge those centres of power..."pg1280.He doesnt seem a big fan of embedded journalism and decries the practice of "hotel journalism"pg 1239.

He's also critical of the way that language can be manipulated and how a word like "terrorism" can be misused."Terrorism" is a word that has become a plague on our vocabulary,the excuse and reason and moral permit for state-sponsored violence-our violence..."pg464.He writes of skewed semantics where some incidents are reported as "tragedies" and others as "massacres".
Theres also an interesting chapter on what Fisk calls the First Holocaust( Chapter 10,page 388) and the usage of the word Holocaust.Does one use a capital 'H' only for the Jewish Holocaust?



















I found his accounts of the civilian casualties,particularly those of children harrowing.Equally horrific were his graphic descriptions of various forms of torture.It seems there is no end to the creativity and methods used to inflict pain upon one's enemies.
In the final paragraph of the book he sums up his thoughts thus.."In the end we have to accept that our tragedy lies always in our past,that we have to live with our ancestors' folly and suffer for it,just as they in turn,suffered,and as we,through our vanity and arrogance ensure the pain and suffering of our own children"pg 1286.

All in all I found this an interesting albeit difficult read.If you are interested in one insiders views about the politics and background to the Middle East situation today then this book provides a very good basis to begin.Theres a select bibliography that also provides sources for further study.

Friday Flash..Some Local Photos

Been a busy week.One of the schools Ive been working at closed this week.As part of the company restructuring plan schools currently in supermarket chains will be relocated to other premises.Cheaper and smaller.While it appears there are more schools and chances to have lessons it is problematic as most will only have one instructor and arent open seven days a week.It seems pretty pointless to give students the ability to book their teachers over the internet if theres only one or two available.
Im starting at a new location today which will be my new home school.Have to wait and see how it pans out.













Just a quick note that Ive added a "Frequent Feature" section on the page.Just click on the relevant button.The labels are fairly general,for example,the Japanese food section contains a mixture of past bento,cake and confectionery shots.
Finally I must give credit for the two photos in todays section to my mate Peter.Cheers.