Man - Nagoya state of mind [MUSIC PV}

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All my ATLiens, and Derrrtys from the Lou wanna know whats up with this city called Nagoya I happen to be in... They've heard of Tokyo, and maybe even Osaka... But Nag-Town ain't even on the map... Even with it's 5 million living in Aichi Prefecture, 2.3 million in the city limits... At least my pops knew this is where Toyota is based...
This is where I stay right now. The N. Nag dayo.
...Not exactly as fire as the ATL in some ways, but it's still fly in its own way...

So sit back and relax as Man tells y'all about the city you've never heard of in Japan.
After 2 years and some change here... Well I know all the streets in this video, and take both those subways everyday... You might squint towards the end and see me maybe....maybe not. But it wouldn't surprise me.

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Today's weather: before & after.

Early today it was all kinds of thunder and lightning. Even had tornado watches posted. Rare for Japan.

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Now, the clouds are giving way to a golden sunset. Beauty is around us if you just notice. #

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2010 World Cosplay Summit (PIX)

I coverered the 2010 World Cosplay Summit for RAN magazine and The Japan Times. 

 

This past weekend, the biggest event for lovers of anime and manga hit Nagoya, the 2010 World Cosplay Summit, sponsored by TV Aichi.

The "World Cosplay Summit" was created to promote international exchange through the Japanese youth culture of manga and anime.
The free and dynamic nature of manga was instrumental in the birth of cosplay. Nowadays youth from around the world find this as a common language and a dynamic new form of global interaction. The World Cosplay Summit began in Osu, Nagoya and has grown to include 15 countries from around the world. If you count audience and participants at each preliminary event, the number of people involved is now in the 100s of thousands.

For youth who have discovered Japan through manga and experienced Japanese culture through the medium of the World Cosplay Summit, we endeavor to continue the development of this new form of international exchange.

Expect a full write up in RANmagazine next issue, but we've got pix and vid right here for you, starting with the pix I took at the events.  Check the goods below... 

 Coming next-- VIDEO of the competition!

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Nagoya port fireworks

The 19th annual Nagoya Port Festival and Fireworks happened yesterday, marking the official start to summer in Nagoya. Imagine a 2km stretch of road and park blocked off and having about 100,000 people suddenly show up to eat, drink and be merry.  

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This is what it looked like about 30 minutes before the fireworks started. I really wanted to be down here all afternoon, but where'd the time go?!

And here's some video for ya. 

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Rainbow & Sunset in Chikusa.

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After some summer rain, a pristine scene was set for a Friday evening.

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RANmagazine: RAN Unplugged

We're putting together another charity event at the Hard Rock Cafe!

Our last event, RockThisTown, was very successful and raised some cash for Haiti,  It also gave the chance for Nagoya to see some of the hottest local talent in town!  So we decided to do it one more time...

This one's an Unplugged event; you remember MTV right?  This means only acoustic instruments-- no electric guitars, drum machines, synths, etc.  

Its going down Friday July 16th, from 7pm 'til 10pm.  

We're gonna ask for at least a 500yen donation music charge to be given to charities to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico...  What a devastating ecological disaster.... 

More details to come of course, so please watch this space!!

via ranmagazine.com

Yup, another event at the 'Rock. Try not to drink them outta beer this time, OK?

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J7TV: 名城公園花見2010

A little late I know... Here's video from Hanami in Nagoya 2010. And me clowning around, hamming it up for the camera with my friends. But I'm explaining the true reason for 花見 and why it's one of my favorite activites in Japan... Enjoy.

Oh yeah, I'm shooting in HD now with a Lumix GH1. I love this camera, but I could use a bigger SD card and battery. Anyone else shoot with this cam?

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RAN Magazine Issue Five. Happy Golden Week!

This is Issue Five for May and June 2010.  Happy Golden Week!

Look for the hard copy in the usual spots soon; looks like our printers took an early holiday...  Ahh, well, with this great weather who can blame them...

RAN Magazine Issue5 May/June 2010
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The One20 at Plastic Factory: Harmonium Parlor TONIGHT LIVE!

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I have no idea what the name of this tune is, but it has my toes tappin' and fingers snappin. Shouts out to Tom Fallon, Menya Hinga and Danny Ostrander. Nice tunes y'all.

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New planetarium to open in Nagoya next year. Awesome!

名古屋・栄のビルの谷間に巨大な球体が出現した。この建物はいったい何だろうか？白川公園にある名古屋市科学館の隣。訪ねて聞いてみると、実は新しい科学館を建設中とのこと。

名古屋市科学館の横井智雄さんは「コレが出来上がると、世界最大のプラネタリウムになります。この球体のど真ん中にあるのがプラネタリウムです」と明かした。巨大な球体はなんとプラネタリウムだったのだ。完成すれば内径３５メートル、高さ２０メートル。

最新技術を導入してリアルな星空が再現される。またドーム全面に動画が上映され、宇宙旅行の疑似体験もできる。現在、ドームにスクリーンを張る作業が行われている。新しくなる科学館は、ほかにも魅力的な展示施設が目白押し。マイナス３０度の低温空間が体験できる極寒ラボ。

そして水の広場。水の循環を表現したり、水の実験ができる。横井さんは「人工で高さ８メートルぐらいの竜巻を起こすことが出来ます」と説明する。現在の科学館のうち天文館・理工館は今年８月で閉館し、展示物の一部は新たな科学館に移して、展示されるという。来年３月、名古屋の新しいランドマークが誕生する。

A giant sphere has appeared in Nagoya's Sakae district. What exactly does is building? It's sitting on top of the Nagoya City Science Museum in Shirakawa park. This is the site of the new Nagoya City Science Museum.

Mr. Yokoi Tomoo, director of planning for the Nagoya City Science Museum states, "This will be among the world's largest planetariums." When completed internal diameter of 35 meters, 20 meters high.

In order to replicate the night sky, they'll use the latest tech. The dome will be fully covered in LCD screens, and the video shown will be HD x 97 billion... OK, not a real term, but I'm sure it's gonna look like you just hopped aboard the Space Shuttle and got off somewhere in space when you see it.The dome is fully screened and videos can also mimic space travel. Currently, work is being done to put a dome screen. That's not all though, other attractions and exhibits will reside in the addition including a lab where one can experience the frigid cold of space --minus 30 degrees Celsius.

Also present is an exhibit that "can cause a tornado of about 8 meters high artificially" Yokoi explains. The old Museum of astronomy is now closed in since last August, and will reopen as part of the new science museum in March 2011, creating a new landmark in Nagoya

via skyscrapercity.com

Well... You know I'm going. It's near Shooter's Bar here in Nagoya, so I get to check the construction out as its been going along fairly often. I can't wait to see the exhibits there-- I'm a big geek, so this sort of thing appeals to me.

BTW, I translated the post from Japanese → English. If it's off, someone tell me!

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Kakuozan spring festival 2010

Kakuozan 覚王山 is the neighborhood I call home in Nagoya. It's also home to a famous Buddhist temple complex called Nittaiji 日泰寺, literally, Japan-Thailand Temple. The temple's name is such due to the fact that the Thai kingdom donated some of Bhudda's ashes here back in 1899. Also Kakuozan means "Mountain dedicated to the king"--and while the area is more hills than mountains, its still a lofty name that is matched by the area.

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 The neighborhood itself is rather eclectic, with all sorts of little shops, restaurants and galleries. The road leading up to the temple, Nittaiji-dori, sports most of these, but its also where the 3 season-changing outdoor fairs take place. The street is blocked off, and the air takes on a mix of traditional Japanese matsuri and Western block party atmosphere. There are plenty of foreigners like me living here, but the native Nihonjin in this part of Nagoya are well-heeled, and are very intent on welcoming the world to their doorsteps. 
I also shot some video of the festival dances, take a look!

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Sakura Drops

Cherry blossoms just keep on blossoming in my neghborhood.

Location:５丁目,Nagoya City,Japan

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Thank you Nagoya! We ROCKed THIS TOWN!!

To everyone that was there: thanks for coming-- I'm still exhausted from Friday, so I'm late in posting some pix of the event.  Also if you have some pictures you want to share, please share them here or just go ahead and email them to editor@ranmagazine.com

Thank you for coming out and supporting Haiti and RAN magazine.  

Here's some pix from our photo editor Achim Runnebaum.

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J7TV: Blogcast for 2.7.2010... yeah, I'm late.

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Been really busy and forgot to post this joint.... whoops! Here I'm talking about bein' cold in my apartment... How to use Google Apps to help publish a magazine... Bitly Pro... Nagoya Haiti Benefit Concert. Check it out!

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Misfit's open mic Mondays

 

Yup, Nagoya's smallest gaijin bar is big on partying every Monday. If you can play an instrument, sing, good at drinking, talking, and eating, or at least 2 of the above, get your tail over there and check the action.

Stevie P cooks something good up to eat (we had a ¥1000 steak dinner last night yo!) and Mike Wade tends bar between their turn on the mic.

I have a blast with these guys, even though I have the musical talent of a three-toed sloth on heroin...

 

 

Click here to download:

IMG_0148.mov (54327 KB)

Click here to download:

IMG_0150.mov (24576 KB)

 

 

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Nagoya, get ya roll on!

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Nags has got to have more baller-mobiles than even Tokyo. I see at least one lamborghini or fearri everyday just rolling the boulevard like it's just a milk run or commute. Take this lineup for instance. They just decided to pop into the local coffee joint for a chat and tea cookies. How can I be down though?!

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J7TV: Out and About in Nagoya Tonight...

So this is me using UStream on my iPhone while my buddy Larry is pushing the E-class Benz (or is it a C?  I can't remember.) through the streets of Nag.  Gotta admit, rolling in a black-on-black Benz through a major city in Japan is kinda cool... Heads turn for real.  Just wish I could have gotten the looks of the ladies last night when we rolled his whip past some cabaret club...  Ever seen 2 cute girls in sexy dresses give YOU a triple take?!  At 30 mph? Neither had I until then.

Sorry for the quality here...  Moving car + buildings blocking signal sometimes= frame droppage apparently...

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Xmas lights in my neighborhood

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it's nighttime so the iPhone is struggling. but you get the point. merry Christmas!

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Yet another Nagoya sign fail?

It should either say Holy day Christmas or Holiday Christmas...right? (actually Christmas Holiday would make more sense)

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2 for 1 sale at Outback

Last night was rare--I got to spend it with TWO lovely young ladies who were very lively and funny. That's Chisa on the right and her friend Mika on the left. Chisa is the DJ friend that I'm always talking about music and how she should spin it since she's starting out. Mika is her best friend from high school. Both are really cute, and really smart.
For me, it's good to just go out and have a regular night tripping out and being goofy with my friends in sombodys establishment. Back home, my friends and I would mob deep--like 8 or more people-- to applebees or outback or the movies... And just be a bunch of comedians. I miss that.
Last night, since these two had never had outback before, I introduced them to cheese fries, nachos, and the outback special. They both had a good time and want to hang out again. Isn't that why I'm here though? To have these experiences?
So why am I making a big deal outta something so innocuous, so mundane, so NORMAL? Because in Nagoya, it isn't normal--for me at least. Last week, I got stood up by a girl who INSISTED we meet for coffee. 2 weeks ago I get invited on a date only to find that it's the girl and 5 of her friends in a karaoke room all night--it was supposed to be us 2 going to the cinema.
But for me, this only happens in Nagoya. Last week I was in Yokohama/Tokyo. Even though It was unplanned, and by coincedence, on of my homegirls met me for coffee on her lunchbreak near akihabara. I met her a few months ago. In Osaka it's
Like that too--one of my friends from there took some training classes here non Nagoya, and took time outta her busy day to have dinner with me. Sounds normal--but getting Nagoya people to follow certain social rules is an uphill battle it seems.
Anybody with similar experiences or ideas? Comment!

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