Angus! Angus! Angus! : AC\DC Revisited

Japanese '88' reminded me of rabunctious guitarist Angus Young, one of the fiercest ax-men to roam a stage. Japanese '88' was fused with energy and ran around in crazy circles, inciting the audience to a frenzy. He played massive, meaty riffs while he raised a tightly clenched fist high in the air, that when aimed toward the heavens, symbolized an outrage at the ills of society, and a seeming defiance to our all-too-conformist world--YES! Sadly, this momentous rebeliousness was curbed when singer 'Bon Scott' handed his balls over to an 80 year old cop, who made 'em turn it down (top).

Ahh, so much to learn...

Come by after school and gape at Nick-sensei's more consevative students while they wait for their parents.

They're great kids, yet wonderfully moody.

Despite the towering sculpture over his brow, he can "really shake 'em down..."

At fifteen, this 'leader of the pack' can 'ooby-dooby' it in true '50's attitude.

Future lady-killer to be sure.

Jackets are a sure sign that your sons or daughters
are caught up in gangs.

Parents, talk to your children.
Please.

Meet Underpants Man, a misunderstood superhero with a fondness for cotton and an tendancy for mischief. A hero who just cant find a niche in the world (top). Wanting nothing better than acceptance and a little shameful publicity, U.M. masterminds an infiltration into the inner sanctum of the Shibuya rockabilly club's dance revue (middle). U.M. sees his chance, and with a with a flurrying leap of green and white attempts to gain an ally with some 'brief' dance moves. His reward: a savage and swift reprimand by the leatherd rebels (bottom). U.M. made his first arch-enemy that day.

Others soon to follow' I,m sure.

Shibuyafest '06


















Look out, Prince of Darkness the Japanese are breathing down hot on your hoofed heels....In Shibuya bands, Brown Sugar, Loovee, IncLine and others rage a plenty, for along the entire stretch of park you can mosh to numerous Japanese bands performing for free! These are top notch musicians, each playing a diverse section of rock, J-pop, and jazz. Reminds me of Sunset Blvd, when I could see a band play, but only with a sketchy promise of attaining valet, waiting in line, knowing the right bouncer and forking out a hefty cover charge. I miss Sunset.


It's a lot of fun, you see.

Shibuya

Hachiko the dog sits admirably among gaudy jumbotrons waiting, waiting and waiting. Story goes, in 1920 a professor, the dog's owner, lived near Shibuya station. Without fail his Akita waited for him to arrive back from work every day. One day the professor died, but Hachiko loyaly remained at the station for 11 years until it, poor beast, died, too.

Good news!!
We unearthed the professor--
quite well preserved, courtesy of Asahi.

"Japanese NIght Moves"

Temple watchman Goshu
comes and goes whenever
he pleases.

He's tenured.

The Odessa, a sanctuary where gaijin teachers from all over can grieve over the mangled English they hear on a daily basis. Afforded with a sound-proof studio for karoke, sloshed gaijin can select any song, ignore the original lyrics, and impovise an original song bemoaning their worst, "box o'rocks" students/classes. A favorite is The Beatles' "Let it Be." Its bastard offspring is lovingly sung as "16-c," signifying an adult class that harbours Japan's notorious offenders of broken English. . .

No formal charges have been filed.

Nagano: The "Subway Oratorio in C-major."

The Baskerville dog has made an indelible mark all over Asian temples-- luckily no foot prints, Mr. Holmes.

Sal-zah and Bakalava Alive in Japan!

But first, a trek to Iran...
Friday night was spent at a Persian restaurant, cross-legged eating lamb kabobs and hummis. Some former teachers invited me out on the town, showing us that Japan was not all sushi and goyza. And then cam ethe hookah...Understandably, Japanese culture has not yet mastered the experience of proper sucking technique, or rather "inhaling" the hookah pipe. This only served to make the mood more enjoyable when the owner of the restaurant, had to relight the embers and give the Japanese girls a crash course in hookah protocal.

Then a stop in L.A. . .
After filling our now bloated bellies with kabobs and bubble gum smoke, we hopped in the 'mystery van' and headed to Club Luv, a live venue for local bands, d.js and potent screwdrivers, much like my Los Angeles. One of the headliners was a Japanese rap artist, whose vocal styllings were formidable and ball cap askew.

Culminating with a red eye to South America. . .
On to the sal-zah bar we went with its inviting neon crucifx atop its roof--a pious beacon amid the Takasaki jungle. Inside, however, piety flew out the proverbial window. As I entered I was greeted to an abundace of Brazilians doing sexy sal-zah amid smoke and strobe lights. Fact: there are more Brazilians living in Japan than Americans. Japan and Brazil are sister countries and each have a fair amount of workers living in each country. The real kicker was that the Brazilians were getting their latin freak on to a Japanese trio who were singing in true Puerto Rican style.

We touched down in Japan 'round dawn.
Here, Sick in Eden much jet lagged.

I recently went to Maebashi, a neighboring town of Takasaki, and was greeted by empty streets--w.t.f?

Where were the hot, slender Japanese women? Where were the men in business suits dripping wet from the humdity? Where were the hot, slender Japanese women?! The streets were a veritable ghost town, which led me to believe I was in time for an upcoming yakuza shoot out. After I realized that this was maybe te way of life here, I calmed down, chugged an American Coffee and took to to the streets. I was in search of anything amusing, serious or breathing. Speaking of the living, I did meet a steadfast catapiller intent on climbing this tree. I think she's beautiful. We exchanged numbers, I went back to Takasaki.



A fellow teacher/friend Scott works in Maebashi. Scott, buddy, I hope your entire town is not like this. Beer's on me, then lets tackle Maebashi, I know a great vending machine by the train station...

Check out the rascal in front of the Six Jizo. He sits atop an incense lantern and is a fervent bad ass, that we know. As to 'bad beau's' comments about the beast's desire for a 'keilbasa of love' or its wish deliver a mighty 'blast' we can only surmise . . .

I've always thought that coffee got a bad rap: In America, its synonomous with pajamas, morning breath, rushing out the door late for work, and as a rush hour elixir. Perhaps the Japanese are under a more carnal impression of America's strained relationship with coffee. All in all though, coffee never looked sexier than on the hood of that '58 Chevy, right Joe?



Pshaw! Starbucks.
"Good morning, American Coffee!!"

The Six Jizo.

The Six Jizo save human souls from pain and suffering. They are guardians of the six worlds humans transmigrate through until enlightenment.

Here's a breakdown of the worlds:

I. Heaven
II. Human Beings
III. Carnage
IV. Beasts
V. Eternally Famished Devils
VI. Hell

I'm somewhere in World II--Human Beings.
Freakin' horror show soon to follow, eh?.

By the by, If I don't run into you at "Carnage," lets be sure and get together at "Eternally Famished Devils."

It can be said the Japanese eat very little veggies. Not anymore. While on an excavation, researchers unearthed a singular discovery in the Nagano mountains. For a limited engagement, or until the ice melts, you can see this historic find at Nagano train depot of the once thought extinct 'big six' legumes.

Let's wait to see if their edible.

FYI: I found out that people without Blogger accounts can't comment on Sick in Eden's blog.

Problem fixed.

Now, non-'Bloggers' can comment or ask questions.

Thanx, Nancy.

This benevolent matriarch, perched atop a mountain looks down over my city, Takasaki. At night she's lit up among many lit laterns. Spectacular image that must be seen in person. I have yet to discover who she is but I think she is more thrilling than what my shutter could capture, all sarcasam aside.