More photos!

Here are some more photos. Haven't had any time to write due to a generally busy schedule.



Went back to Lake Shikotsu a couple weekends ago, this time to go to a gully that looked pretty cool, by the photos. It was very anti-climactic, as you aren't actually allowed into the gully due to fear of falling rocks. So I just have this picture of some ferns in the woods leading up to the gully.



I love this shop, on the shores of Lake Shikotsu. It's so old school Japanese.





This past weekend we went to Otaru and Sapporo. Otaru has a nice art deco style train station. Hard to see in this photo.



My giant hand! At the railroad museum in Otaru.



And the same shot of Chiemi.



"The hand that scolds the wheel." If that's not a saying, it should be. I have no idea what it would mean. But that's ok.



The old train that shuttles patrons to the museum around (all of 300 or so meters. But still.)



Inside one of the trains.



Sapporo fountain at night.



Sapporo's TV tower, with above fountain in the foreground.

And that's all for now!

Here's me playing the Tsugaru shamisen with my teacher (The older man with the blue kimono) and another (advanced) student.

My school's TV adverts

I saw these for the first time today.

They are the TV spots that we run (apparently).

The first one is for the Hokkaido High Technology College.





They are saying things like, "knowledge" "skill" "ability" - and then the last guy says "Stretch/Grow. Hokkaido High Technology College."

The second one (which is much cuter) is the one for the Hokkaido Eco Communication College.



The bird/dog is saying "Eco! Eco!" Then the voice over people ask, "Dog?" "Bird?" "What?" "It's call is "Eco" so isn't it an Eco?" "Elephant?" "Sheep?" "Huh!?" "They're Ecos!" And the song lyrics are "Animal vocational school, Hokkaido Eco!"

So, that's the PR my school is doing on the picture box.

Another, unrelated comment about work. Not only do I work at a school that is the home of an emu, mara, several big pigs and the like, but it is also the home to the fastest woman EVER in Japan. Seriously.  We have a track and field club. And by club, I mean, international, Olympic qualifying athlete track and field club. And the Japanese record holder in the women's 100m run is a member (and graduate of the school). We also have an world class hurdler and a world class Paralympian, who I happened to talk to on the telephone last week, helping set up some accommodations in Miami for an international Paralympic event.

Where I live

Just a few photos of the area immediately around my apartment.



The building on the right, kind of a pale green, that's our building. The trees across the street are in Nakajima Park. It's not all trees. Just the part across from our place. There's a running path, jungle gym, tennis courts, an athletic ground.



The green belt running along the Isari River, along with a train and Mt. Eniwa in the background.



The Isari River, a mere 100 meters or so from our place.



Perhaps the strangest cigarette ad I've ever seen.