Kiyomizu dera and its 3-story pagoda

Kiyomizu dera and its 3-story pagoda - 1
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This cool shrine and pagoda is practically in my backyard here in Shimane-ken. Some friends and I stopped by and checked it out on our way out to Tottori-ken to see the new Star Wars movie. Yes, I cross borders to see movies at a decent theatre and pay about $18 for the privilege. (A movie ticket here costs 1800 yen)

That's Trevor, Chris, Emily and Signe climbing the steps to the Pagoda. I joined them after snapping this pic.

Nishinoshima Sports Festival

Nishinoshima Sports Festival - 17
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

3 countries are represented by the people in this picture - Roger (left) is from Australia, Vivek (center) in from Canada and I'm a damn American. Actually, 4 countries if you count the ridiculous Scottish cap that Nigel put on my head.

But in Japan we're all just "gaijin" - the colloquial term for non-Japanese people, but mostly applied to Westerners.

This was at the BBQ party out on Nishinoshima in the Oki islands off the coast of Shimane. Internationalization - grass roots style.

Go nen sei classes at Taisha Sho

Go nen sei classes at Taisha Sho - 1
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

I teach awesome kids!

Trivia - Thursday, June 30th

Which actor's first major role was playing Annie Hall's odd brother in the 1977 Woody Allen movie of the same name?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
B. Hacienda

Trivia - Wednesday, June 29th

Which dance club was widely considered to be the epicenter of the Manchester music scene in the 1980s?

A. Whiskey Bar
B. Hacienda
C. The Roxy
D. Hammersmith Odeon

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
D. A large loaf of bread

There is a great film from 2002 called 24 Hour Party People that documents the whole Manchester music scene that spawned seminal bands like Joy Division and Happy Mondays. Watching the film would also supply you with the answer to the above question. The film is a good rental.

Trivia - Tuesday, June 28th

In the 2002 film About a Boy, Nicholas accidentally kills a duck with:

A. A heavy book
B. His bike
C. A rock
D. A large loaf of bread

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
A. Jazz standards

Go nen sei classes at Taisha Sho

Go nen sei classes at Taisha Sho - 3
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This was a fun day teaching the two 5th grade classes at Taisha Elementary and then eating lunch with them. The girl I tutor, Karin, is in this picture - she's in the 2nd row - fourth in from the left - and she's wearing suspenders and a skirt. Many of the kids are wearing their gym clothes instead of the normal school uniform.

I've uploaded tons of new pics from the past month - so just click on this pic and you'll be taken to my online photo album at Flickr. I'll hopefully get around to blogging them with descriptions this week.

Trivia - Monday, June 27th

Bjork's "Gling-Glo," recorded in 1993, features her singing:

A. Jazz standards
B. R&B
C. Electronica
D. Classical Music

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
C. Milk

People often ask me what my favorite film of all time is... While it's hard to pick just one, I often reply that of the movies made before I was born in 1969, my all-time favorite is Singin' in the Rain. I've seen it, beginning to end, literally dozens upon dozens of times, and I enjoy it each and every time. A true classic.

Trivia - Sat & Sun, June 25th & 26th

In the 1952 film Singin' in the Rain, what was added to the rain to make the water stand out better on screen during the famous Gene Kelly title number?

A. Paste
B. Confetti
C. Milk
D. Coffee

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
Catherine Zeta-Jones

Trivia - Friday, June 24th

Which Best Supporting Actress winner performed at the 2003 Oscars despite the fact that she was about to give birth?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
B. Tori Amos

Trivia - Thursday, June 23rd

Which pop chanteuse made a cameo appearance singing at a party in the 2003 film Mona Lisa Smile?

A. Sarah McLachlan
B. Tori Amos
C. Madonna
D. Bette Midler

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Mike Post

Trivia - Wednesday, June 22nd

Which prolific composer is responsible for an impressive number of TV theme songs - everything from The Greatest American Hero to Law & Order to NewsRadio?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Nothing - she simply had nothing better to do that day.

Trivia - Tuesday, June 21st

In the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, what did Ally Sheedy's character do to get her assigned to Saturday detention?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
C. "Hazy Shade of Winter"

Trivia - Monday, June 20th

Which Simon and Garfunkel song was covered by the Bangles for the 1987 movie Less than Zero?

A. "Bookends"
B. "Cecilia"
C. "Hazy Shade of Winter"
D. "America"

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
Ned and Stacey

Trivia - Sat & Sun, June 18th & 19th

Will and Grace star Debra Messing also costarred in what similarly named mid-'90s sitcom?

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
Angels in America

Trivia - Friday, June 17th

Which critically lauded early-'90s Broadway play by Tony Kushner was adapted into an HBO miniseries starring Al Pacino and Meryl Streep?

Chorus Club

Chorus Club
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

I had the day off from Kendo practice today, so I spent that time after school today wandering around and visiting some of the other clubs at Taisha Junior High.

This is the girls choir - I'm pretty sure we don't have a boys choir, and I'm not sure if a boy could join choir if he wanted to sing or not.

The first row in this picture contains some of my favorite 9th graders - all really friendly and a few, like Haruka in the center, are very good at English.
Today they asked me to help them with the pronunciation of the English words to a song they are learning. It was a very bizarre song about dandelions, written by a Japanese man and translated into English, which is the version they're singing.

Other clubs at my school that girls can join include: gymnastics, track and field, soft tennis, volleyball, art, science, brass band and the only coed sport - Kendo.

Art Club

Art Club
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

In addition to the sports clubs that are shown below, there are non-sports clubs: Art, science, chorus, brass band, and caligraphy.

This is a work in progress by one member of the art club, with other art projects in the background. Since comics ("manga") are EVERYWHERE in Japan, many of the kids seem to have an innate ability to draw, and I'm always amazed at the little sketches I get or the quality of the work if I ask the kids to sketch anything as part of an assignment.

Asuka and Ruriko

Asuka and Reina
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Two of my favorite 9th graders - Ruriko & Asuka. Asuka, on the right, was one of the students I coached last year, when she was an 8th grader, for a speech recitation contest. Her English is pretty good, especially compared to most of her classmates. So when I came around practice today to take some photos, she asked me in English, "Please join us." I thought I might get to hit a ball around a bit, but instead I did line sprints and criss-cross running - not my idea of a good time. :)

The amazing thing about almost all the clubs is that they all practice almost everyday unsupervised. No coach in sight. And they actually do practice - they don't just goof off like American kids would.

Soft Tennis Club

Soft Tennis Club
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is the girls team during practice. I like this photo cuz you can really see how scenic it is in my town with the mountains in the background. It was a really nice day - clear and warm with a nice breeze.

The girls practice separate from the boys, and I don't think they have mixed doubles at the JH level.