Saraba...

It's 10:55pm here in Japan, and I'm writing from a 24 hour internet, gaming, lounge, billiard hall, dart place, in which you can rent time by the hour and enjoy all of the above along with plenty of risque magazines and free drinks. Good times eh?

The theme to Howl's Moving Castle is currently drifting through the place from speakers hidden somewhere above me. This will be my last post from Japan (at least for now...) My three years are up and I'm getting shipped back home. I'm not sure what the future will bring after I go back home besides a lot of reverse culture shock to be sure. I may come back here, I may get a job, I may go back to school full time. I have lots of options, I just have to decide which one suits me. I don't know how long it will be until I'll be back, but for now I'll say to Japan, farwell, and thanks for all the fantastic times.

"Ashita wa, ashita no kaze ga huku..."
Tomorrow, another wind will blow...

Capsule Hotel Nagoya

Had a great time at Sumo this past weekend. Went down to Nagoya on Friday and saw Nagoya castle and caught some sumo later in the day, then two of my friends joined me for a fun night out in Nagoya and then for a night at the New Capsule Hotel Nagoya. Check out the pic!

The place was way nicer than I thought it would be the lobby and inside of the place looked like a nice hotel, except past the lobby and the lockers was rows and rows of little capsule rooms lined up slightly disconcertingly like a catacomb/morgue. It was definately worth the cost just to check it out.

Saturday was another big day of sumo fun. This bassho really was the best in the last year I think. It came right down to the wire to decide who would win the tournament, either one of the new European wrestlers Kotooshu, or the reigning Yokozuna Asashoryu. In the end the pressure got to Kotooshu and after his lose on the last day, Asashoru came through with a win on the last and most exciting match of the day to cinche the title for the 13th time.

Sumo!

Less than a week left in Japan now, and I'm starting to get a little stressed out packing everything up, and taking care of last minute details.

Before I leave though, I really want to go see Sumo one more time. I've been really into sumo for about two years now and I've been to the main sumo stadium in Ryogoku, Tokyo about 4-5 times now.

The summer basho, which is going on now is being held in Nagoya. I've not seen the Nagoya stadium before, so it a perfect opportunity for one last trip. While we're in Nagoya, two of my friends and I are going to try out one of the oft talked about capsule hotels of Japan. Should be interesting!

If you want to know more about Sumo, check out this great web page , you can also watch sumo videos online here, at www.banzuke.com.

Snapped this funny picture of a Star Wars ad in Tokyo last weekend.

Still not sure who is teaching who about the dark side...

For more Darth fun check out the I <3th> Darth Adventure Comic

snowboarding etc.

What's that? You're bored, it's summer, and you're lazily browsing the web? Go and check out this snowboarding video to cool off and marvel at the bottomless powder of Niseko, Japan. If you look closely you might see someone you know...

Didn't see any familar faces there? Rectify that by checking out this fine example of how they do web pages down under.

Web page and picture courtesy of The Baron.