A couple of hours later, we were in a ski shop in Osaka where Kayo was trying on various boots. The shop assistant was very knowledgeable and helpful, explaining how long the board should be, what shape she’d need for downhill as opposed to freestyle, and the benefits of ‘step-in’ bindings. Typical of the Japanese… Continue reading Snow
Author: mag
Drinking Mice
Date
“What are you doing up here?” she asked when she finally came out, obviously just as angry as I was. “Why did you keep ringing the bell?” “You said to come in. Why didn’t you open the door?” “Because you shouldn’t be here! How will it look if I have a man in my house?”… Continue reading Date
Supermarket
The flight, with all its stopovers had taken me 48 hours and my bowels were complaining loudly. A couple I’d met on the last leg of the flight had recommended a hostal in the centre of town and I was relieved not to have to make a choice. The taxi took me directly there and… Continue reading Supermarket
Toilets
The urinals were along the wall perpendicular to the corridor, with the door beside them in the corner directly opposite the door to the classroom next to mine. Standing there, I could see the girls in the class and if they didn’t look while they were in their room, they couldn’t help but see me… Continue reading Toilets
Earthquake
Fear gripped me before I realised what was happening – or perhaps because I didn’t realise what was happening. The building jumped from side to side. My chair banging against the desk. My jug spilled water into a small puddle that crept towards my laptop. People around me screamed and dived under desks. I knew… Continue reading Earthquake
Police
There were a few on their balconies looking down at the scene, but none inclined to get close. “Well, at least we should call the police.” “They’re on their way. Any of these people can give them the message more quickly, and more accurately, than I can. I don’t even know what number to call.”… Continue reading Police
Fuji-san
The Japanese revere their highest mountain, which spears out of the surrounding flatlands near the coastline west of Tokyo. For most of the year, it hides in cloud, but when this creature deigns to appear, the sight is spectacular. Its conical form changes costume with the seasons, but as we approached in summer, lucky enough… Continue reading Fuji-san
Karoushi
Good morning everyone. I’m writing this at 5am, but I’ll leave the ‘why’ until later, and start at the beginning. I was going to continue the ‘day in the life of’ by writing about my trip home, but there’re other things to tell. There’s a well-known disease (do they call it that? – well, it’s… Continue reading Karoushi
Night of Sevens
After the show it was time for some games to demonstrate how good we were as couples. For each game a number was drawn out of a box and the respective couple was brought out on stage to undergo rigorous questioning about each other, or to perform some embarrassing physical act, the peak being actually… Continue reading Night of Sevens