The Big Anniversary Post

It's my one year anniversary of being in Japan!

November 2005

Our first night here (Yachiyodai, Chiba) was miserable, mainly because we were jetlagged and the staff at the place we wanted to eat at were unhelpful. I soon realised that my sense of happiness here was strongly tied to how well I could communicate and make myself understood. Something I have to get over, really.

In my first week here, I preordered the DVD of PAPA TO KISS IN THE DARK and got an event ticket to see Midorikawa Hikaru-san, Chiba Susumu-san, Terashima Takuma-san, 'SHUN' and 'it's'. No wonder I felt better...

I went to my first izakaya (Warawara) with my coworkers.

I climbed Mount Takao with hinoai and her friends. The leaves were a beautiful red and purple! We went to an izakaya afterwards and I tried shiokara for the first (and last!) time.

December 2005

I discovered Yakitate!!Japan bread is available in convenience stores.

I saw a Hard Gay-related program for the first time.

We went to a Christmas party in Narita and ate turkey!

My photo appeared in the Japan Times in the opinion section.

I went to the Jump Festa and saw Morita Masakazu-san, the NaB's, Irino Miyu-san, Okiayu Ryoutarou-san and a Tenimyu promo featuring Shirota-san, Yanagi-san and Katou-san.

I went to Comiket.

We spent New Year's Eve doing karaoke and then went to the Meiji-Jingu shrine. Walking through the park, my way lit by lanterns and then eating Japanese food until the birds awoke and dawn came... it was a truly amazing experience.

January 2006

I won original KARAS artwork after filling in an Animage enquete.

Hinata performed outside my workplace.

We saw Bleach Myu.

It snowed.

I played New Year Karuta.

I celebrated Chinese New Year with friends and ate kurogoma.

February 2006

I went to the doctor for the first time and also bought a computer.

I went to an ikebana class.

I got a slight promotion at work.

The comm I mod (raburesu) got fandom-wanked.

March 2006

I gave a three minute speech in Japanese at the International Association.

I discovered that Inage is full of friendly.

I bought Final Fantasy XII.

We went to the Tokyo International Anime Fair.

My first Tenimyu.

We celebrated our wedding anniversary.

I went to see Bambino.

April 2006

I watched cherry blossoms at night.

kuroe got a job in Tokyo.

May 2006

Kitagawa Daisuke-san performed outside my workplace.

I saw The NaB's.

I went to the Sony Music Anime Fes 06 with dilettantka.

I went to the Naruto musical.

I went to Rock'n Jam Musical II.

I went to lunch at T-sensei's house.

I went to Mori no Ishimatsu Gaiden II, which starred Seki Toshihiko-san.

I hugged Morikubo Shoutarou-san at the Nerima Daikon Brothers event!!

June 2006

I started learning the shamisen.

I went to Nekobukuro and Kamakura.

I visited the Kabukiza with N-sensei.

July 2006

I went to Yokohama.

I went to my first matsuri and several firework festivals in Kanamachi and Funbashi.

I found an ill kitten in the street with half his face missing and decided to take him home. I named him 'Train' after the Black Cat character.

We started to move apartment, into a place that actually allows cats.

August 2006

Pez came to Japan and stayed with us! We went to a fireworks festival in Ichikawa, for yakiniku, to karaoke... Oh yes, and Tenimyu.

I went to Bleach Myu.

I finally moved into the new apartment, near Ikebukuro.

September 2006

I saw Tsuda Kenjirou-san in Dopondo. I was kind of disappointed.

I saw dancing Noh robots in Shibuya with N-sensei.

I did karaoke with basicblack.

October 2006

I cooked Russian food and made Japanese sweets at the International Society.

I went to see WWE.

I went to two really nice izakaya called Daikon-ya and another in Jinsei Yokochou in Ikebukuro.

We found a really nice British pub in Ikebukuro.

November 2006

We competed in a pub quiz at the King George and didn't come last!

We went to Nikkou.

I renewed my visa for one more year.