Cop A Gander At These Rippers Too...

  • Avian Flew

    I got to make a flying visit to the “Bird” exhibition held at the National Museum of Nature and Science. The exhibition traced birds’ roles in ecosystems, dating from their evolution from dinosaurs through to the important roles they play today. There were over 600 bird specimins exhibited, divided into displays based on themes largely decided by avian type. The exibition boasted of providing a new look at birds through a genetic analysis. These were some of the aspects of the exhibition that were good to like. Other areas were not so great. Despite being a weekday and the entrance fee being a fairly pricey 2,100 yen per adult, the…

  • Abe First Japanese PM To Visit Japanese-Bombed Darwin

    In 1942, Japanese forces launched the only attacks on the Australian mainland, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first premier to visit Darwin, the most heavily damaged city bombed by the Japanese. Apart from Darwin, Japanese forces also attacked Sydney, Broome, Katherine, Wyndham, Exmouth, Port Headland and Townsville in the early stages of World War II. Abe’s grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, was arrested for war crimes, but released without conviction. Kishi was instrumental in re-establishing a strong postwar trade relationship between Australia and Japan. Shinzo Abe arrives in Darwin for first visit by Japanese leader

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    Hugh Jackmanがシドニーで東京の一角を再現（誤字がおまけ！）

    Oh, no! What a Hugh-ge spelling mistake! 　豪出身ハリウッド俳優ヒュー・ジャックマンが主演となり、真田広之や岡本多緒共演の2013年公開予定映画「ウルヴァリン: SAMURAI」をシドニーで撮影し、同市の一角を10月16日までに映画の舞台である東京に変身した。 　行ったことがなければ、再現したところを人目で見れば日本の都市のどこかと思われるかもしれないが、よ～く見るとビルの２階窓の看板に貼っている字がオーストラリア独特な「She’ll be right, mate（なんとかなる、さ）」気持ちを込めているようだ、、、間違っている！ 　「ヨガ」のはずであるの「ヨ」の向けが逆になっている。 　しょうがないね、、、 Tokyo in Parramatta Video: Parramatta transformed into Tokyo

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    Japan and the ANZACs

    Japan is one of the many forgotten contributors to ANZAC Day, a day that has assumed legendary status in Australia and New Zealand. ANZAC Day commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. Thousands of young men would be cut down in their prime during the vain campaign that ended in an embarassing defeat at the hands of the Ottomon Empire forces, but Gallipoli has since become a hallowed reminder of people’s willingness to commit their lives for their country. The ANZACs, diggers from the Australia New Zealand Army Corps, are now almost deified in an Australia where nationalism has come into vogue…

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    Pigging Out On Pie Face And ‘Ello Elton

    It was a bit of a landmark month as Aussie meet pies went on sale in central Tokyo as Pie Face opened a store in Shibuya, while down the road in Yokohama I got an unexpected chance to see Elton John live. The pies were tasty, but a bit pricey, yet my workmates humored me with a visit there to dine together as the restaurant is within short walking distance of our office. Elton, meanwhile, wasn’t someone I was overly keen on seeing, but I was pleased to get the chance. He was basically going through the motions, though, and didn’t really put on a dazzling display. Having received a…

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    Waltzing Matildas In The Land Of The Rising Sun

    Waltzing Matilda is probably Australia’s most famous song and it’s certainly a tune that remains powerfully iconic of Down Under, but has not had the impact in Japan of other Aussie tunes, like say, Click Go the Shears. That’s not to say that Matilda hasn’t made it’s mark. However, like many things Japan, it’s legacy lies not quite in the way you’d expect. My understanding is that Waltzing Matilda is probably best known in Japan for being the jingle used to open Japanese language shortwave radio broadcasts on Radio Australia, which ended in 1990, so there’s a fair chance that my guess is well out of date. Three-piece rock band…