Japanniversary

Akira was released not long after my arrival

This week marked 37 years since I arrived for a six-week trip in Japan way back in 1988.


Tokyo Dome opened to acclaim and has since become the de facto measurement of areas in Japanese reporting

I’ve never really thought much about the anniversary of arriving in Japan, but recently started work in an office that provides a spot where I sat and waited for a friend to meet me upon my arrival way back on that winter day, and I guess it evokes many memories.

Boøwy called it quits

I never imagined I’d be blessed with life in this country for so long, and have lived a journey beyond my wildest dreams.

Emperor Hirohito would fall ill, terminally as it would turn out early the following year

My gratitude to the friend who brought me here, the people I have interacted with and the country itself is boundless.

Seiko Matsuda was at the peak of her popularity and a huge swathe of the Japanese female population had a Seikoc–chan cut hairstyle that copied the idol singer

Poor Japan was poised to take over the world when I got here….but has slowly spiralled downward ever since. That’s a story for another day.

Cop A Gander At These Rippers Too...

  • Tinned Food

    Tinned food is the Strine for food, or tucker, in a can. Like most forms of English that derive from British English, Strine prefers using tin over can, but both words are understood to mean the same thing. Tinned food は、ストラインで“缶入りの食べ物”、つまり“タッカー（食べ物）”を指す言い方です。イギリス英語の影響を受けた多くの英語と同じく、ストラインでは can より tin を好んで使いますが、どちらの語も同じ意味として理解されています。

  • Why Do Aussies Say “Dead Set?”

    What Does “Dead Set” Mean in Aussie English? Aussieが「Dead Set」と言うのはどういう意味？ Imagine you’re telling an Aussie friend about your weekend. “I saw a wild koala sitting in my backyard.” Your mate raises an eyebrow. “Dead set?” They’re not talking about life and death. They’re asking, “Really?” “Are you serious?” “You’re not joking, are you?” But that’s only one meaning. Like many Strine expressions, “dead set” changes its meaning depending on how it’s used. Aussie英語には、短いのに意味がたくさんある表現があります。その代表格が、”dead set” です。 会話の中では、「本当に？」という質問にもなれば、「絶対に」という強調にもなります。さらに、「本気で言ってる。」「間違いない。」という意味で使われることもあります。Aussieなら毎日のように耳にする、とても便利なStrineです。 Expression Dead set Pronunciation /ˌded ˈset/ Meaning ① 本当に？　本気で？マジか？ 相手の話に驚いたときの聞き返しです。 ② 絶対に。間違いなく。 自分の意見を強く伝えたいときに使います。 ③ 本気で。正直に。 「冗談じゃないよ。」という気持ちを表します。 Example “I caught a two-metre shark from the beach.” “Dead set?” 「浜辺で2メートルのサメを釣ったんだ。」 「本当に？」 また、 I’m dead set against…

  • Costly Bloody Crash!

    Kangaeroo’s accident this week continued to have reverberations. Although both Kangaeroo and the bloke he collided with rode away apparently unharmed from their predawn collision, costs have since mounted. The crash gave greater urgency to updating the chain and gear sprocket on La Cangura, which had been showing signs of wear for a while, and there was also a sneaking suspicion that the gear wire could probably do with replacing. That proved to be precisely the case with a visit to the Y’s Road bike store later in the day. The good news was the sprocket and cassette are still in good shape, so I got to get away just…

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    シドニーの有名なビーチが真っ赤になり、、、

    　シドニー市の有名な観光名所一つボンダイビーチを含めて同市内いくつかの海辺が27日紅藻類の分散により真っ赤となり、位置的に立ち入り禁止とされたことが地元News.com.auが報道した。 　紅藻類が見たのは同日午前中の報告がはじめて、安全策として市内各自治体が海辺を閉鎖し、有害がどうかを緊急にテストが行なったようだ。 　「ちょっと魚くさくて、ある人にとって発疹を起せるらしい」とボンダイ・ビーチライフセーバーブルース・ホップキンズ氏がいう。 　同氏によるとボンダイ・ビーチの水が赤くなることははじめてではないが、極めて稀なこと。 　ボンダイ・ビーチは、恐らくオーストラリアの最も有名なビーチだ。 Bondi and Clovelly beaches close as red algae moves in

  • The First Class First Nations Film Festival

    For a measly 1,000 yen I got to get a totally unexpected and delightfully amazing full day’s entertainment, a couple of souvenirs and an all-round wonderful time at the 2024 First Nations Film Festival held by the Australian Embassy in Tokyo at EUROSPACE. I’ve always been sympathetic to the cause of Indigenous Australians as I’ve understood it, but in recent years I’ve developed a bit of empathy fatigue, or even borderline antipathy, as the blame for society’s shortcomings are increasingly laid at the feet of all white men. So when Mrs. Kangaeroo expressed an interest in going to the festival after seeing an ad on Facebook, I wasn’t overly keen,…