ookay. I am in good terms with eating raw fish, but it should at least be dead already. now, fresh squid is a delicatesse in Hakodate where I went last weekend. but part of the fun in the experience for Japanese seems to be that it is so fresh that it is still moving on the table. see, on the fish market there was a big water tank and you could ( Read more... )

I haven't made a real picture post about my journey so far. So here we go...

( a million pictures )

Yesterday and today Hokkaido University holds an annual international food festival. Basically, there is a giant food court with japanese and international people cooking in booths and selling it for very reasonable prices. The variety is incredible. You can buy chocolate from Ghana, have Sri Lankan curry for dinner, French crepes for desert and ( Read more... )

Sumo was more exciting than I thought. The two Mongolian Champions lost their fights on wednesday and the Bulgarian guy (all muscles, no fat) continued this tournament's winning streak undefeated.


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Ok, so I did it. Barely, though, ill-equipped as I was. To start with, I should have applied the sun screen with a butter knife. The only strip of skin visible was between hat and high collar and now I look like a rabid racoon. Man, I have sunburn in my eyes and I feel like I have been maced. They are quite bloodshot and double bagged. I am wearing ( Read more... )

Wish me luck. The weather seems ok and I will hike from 800m to 2300m tomorrow. That should be a breeze. But then on saturday there are another 1400 vertical meters over snow for which I have not the slightes idea how possible this is. I'll let you know on Sunday.

I have arrived in Hiroshima two days ago. Since at the Moment most Japanese have holidays and there is the Hiroshima Flower Festival I was unable to find a hotel room. So my esteemed colleague Prof. Takuda organized a capsule hotel for me, which just so happens to be located in the heart of Hiroshima's red light district. It is called Hotel/Sauna ( Read more... )

Sakkura, the cherry blossom has arrived in Sapporo. This Tuesday all the trees collectively decided to open. apparently two weeks earlier than usual (read global warming) but good for me because I will travel South tomorrow on a one month business trip (read vacation).


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Every evening at six o'clock I can hear shouting. I found out that it comes from the archery club directly behind our department. The archery ground itself is a house with an open side and a thirty or fourty meters shooting range outside. It is a very Japanese activity. While the group shouts occasionally some commands three to six archers go ( Read more... )

Is your bull paying more attention to your neighbor's cow lately? Here is her secret :


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