TAMENOBU
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Nov.29 2003: Poker Night ... and Eki Neko[NEW] So this weekend was a typically action-packed one involving gambling, cigars, booze, and of course, no women. Luke, Jamie, Steve, Marc, Jacob, Rod and myself were there, and we were all entertained by Luke's drunken explanation of his exciting game that he had to show us... so Marc humored him and got suckered by losing 700 yen without even playing. Jacob had better games to play that were actually fun so the night was not a total loss and fun times were had by all. |
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Nov.14 2003: Post conference winding-down time @Ju-beThe conference is over! Good riddance to all those useless JETs who terrorized my poor little city. A few of us locals + Jamie (well, he pretty much is a local now) went to check out a new little bar called Jube (10-bay). I think Erica had the most fun with her new 'friend', or as Akiko often calls me, the sukebe oyaji. |
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Nov.13 2003: Hirosaki ALT Conference '03Every year there's a boring JET conference that I have to go to - the only fun part is the going out after the conference with the rest of the drunken-frat crew that are the ALTs. All I have to say is Nomihodais are a bitch, right Jamie? |
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Nov. 08 2003: Kuroishi High School English WorkshopA bunch of ALTs went to kill a Saturday and earn a cool 9000 yen to supposedly 'teach' English to these kids that are going to Hawaii for a week. I think it's a setup for Battle Royale '03, we'll see who survives! Too bad no one used my mace though. |
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Nov. 03 2003: Hirosaki Castle - AutumnThe leaves are falling and getting mighty cold here. I went to Hirosaki's famous castle park to get in touch with nature instead of watching zombie movies for an afternoon. Was it worth it? YOU be the judge. |
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Nov. 01 2003: Halloween WeekendLast weekend there was a big Halloween party in Namioka, thrown by one of the local JETs at his house. It was complete with beer funneling, lots of dyke-kissing-action, fights almost breaking out and the eventual neighbours calling the cops on us as I found out later. Sufficed to say I was glad to get Jamie to drive us home back to safe, warm Hirosaki at 4 a.m. |
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Oct. 18 2003: Akiko's House PartyWhat do you know, another JET drinking weekend. Akiko's parents had gone to Guam for the weekend so she invited the locals to her house. Who knew Akiko's family was so stinking rich?! Marry me Akiko! Anyways, we made tacos, played Charades and watched mosaic'd porn on Akiko's big screen. Wholesome fun for the whole family. |
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Oct. 12 2003: Sendai - Day 3: MatsushimaOn our way home to Hirosaki, we stopped into Matsushima town, a little place outside of Sendai that's ranked as the 3rd best scenery in Japan. Well, it wasn't that impressive but it was better than driving around trying to find anything interesting, like we did most of the trip. |
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Oct.11 2003: Sendai - Day 2: Zoo-landerKeiko went home with her aunt, but me and Jamie stayed in Sendai to see what it could offer, and it didn't disappoint on this day! We had a gay-ol' time at the Sendai zoo! Definitely recommended for its price (400yen) and short walking distance between each cage! Those poor animals have to suffer in tiny cells so we don't have sore feet! Thank you Sendai! |
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Oct.10 2003: Sendai - Day 1: The Suicide MachinesKeiko, Jamie and I went down to Sendai last Friday, the closest 'big' city from Aomori, to see a ska-punk band called the Suicide Machines, and to do some big city sight-seeing of the apparent 'castle' that we had a little trouble finding since it's in ruins now. |
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Aomori Winter 2002Some random photos from my winter in Aomori. It mostly involved snow, snow and more snow, but that didn't prevent me from having loads of fun at the local ski areas in Owani, Ajigasawa and Hakkoda. I can't wait for snow to come! Bring it on! |
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Aomori Fall 2002Wow it's been a year already! I feel like these photos were taken ages ago. Going to Nara Yoshitomo's art exhibit, taking a road trip adventure with Luke, Sarah and Mitch around Tsugaru, the Hach Halloween event, and (of course) the great times at Tamenobu were my best memories waaaay back then. |
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Sept.26.2003:Friday Night @ GenyaAfter I finished one round of all-you-can-drink at my school's enkai, I went for round two of all-you-can-drink at an izakaya spot in Hirosaki called 'Genya'. They had mexican food that was good and everyone had a spoonerific time. You'll see what I mean. |
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Sept.25.2003:Onoe High School Sports Day '03My school did a 'sports day', kind of like a track and field day that you'd have in elementary school, which is kinda wierd. A lot of kids were out of shape and often passed out and had to go lay down in the first-aid tent and get covered in blankets to get well. As you can see in the photos it was a kind of rainy day so it only lasted until the morning. |
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Keiko's AlbumOur friend Keiko sent in some scanned photos from recent happenings such as a karaoke night for Mika's birthday, Tamenobu nights, and at Misawa. Check it! |
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Sept.2003:Apple Park BBQHey, Autumn Equinox holiday + nice weather = Let's BBQ! While "The Girls" had their spa day, the local hirosaki boys + a few of our J-girls went out for some fun in the sun at a local park called 'Ringo koen' and had a little trouble starting the BBQ itself, while some of Andy's shougakusei showed up and mocked us. But a memorable day nonetheless. Where's Waldo (or Wally to some)? He's here! |
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Sept.2003:Revenge of Iwaki pt. 2Screw you mountain! I have finally defeated you! Do you know? Awesome power! Well, with the help of Erica's walking stick, a few more motivated participants and Luke's toxic gin breath, I was able to finally make it up this damn mountain and live to tell about it. I recommend no one else go up this damn mountain unless you're really into masochistic behaviour or you really are fit. At least I'm done all my exercise for the next couple of years. |
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Sept.2003: Kuroishi BBQIn honour of the 'Respect for the Aged' national holiday, we went to a really nice lake park, east of Kuroishi city and had a lil' BBQ. The weather was perfect, despite it being a little windy. Later we all enjoyed an outdoor foot bath at the park's court-area and fun was had by all. No doubt this'll be the last BBQ we have for a while, it's already starting to get pretty cool around here! |
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Sept.2003: Gavin's Birthday @ TamenobuAfter having a huge tabe-hodai yakiniku dinner at Yakiniku Momo's, (most of) the group then went to our local watering hole to see Gavin get kissed by the old drunken lady that just last week Marc was chatting with for hours. Man, this old obachan likey the G.I.'s. Good times. |
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JET Parties: Shimoda 80's, Hirosaki and NohejiA mix of a few photos from different parties from last year and this year. There'll be a lot more added to this section i'm sure. |
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Sept.2003: Misawa Air ShowA bunch of the Hirosaki-area folk made a trek over to the Misawa U.S. Air Base for some free air show fun (but moreso to get our fill of taco-bell, cinnabon and doritos). We spent the night before at Jamie's in Noheji, which is a really nice place except for the fact that the inside smells of disgusting fungus/mildew/mould. |
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Sept.2003: Thom's JET Party in HirosakiMy next door neighbour, Thom threw a not-so-small party for the Tsugaru-area JETs and local Japanese friends, and it was a kick-ass time for all.... except for Thom's other neighbours who called 5-0 on us! But it was all good in the 'gaijin ghetto' once we arrived at Neptune, a local karaoke bar. |
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Aug.2003: @ The Hirosaki Park HotelMy brother Paul works in the Park Hotel in Hirosaki and was nice enought to arrange a big dinner/nomihodai (all-you-can-drink) for us. There was about a dozen of us there and after the nice food and drink, we moved on for some more drink at our favourite drinkin' establishment, Tamenobu. |
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Aug.2003: Climbing Mr. Iwaki"What a beautiful day to climb Iwaki-san", I thought before trekking out with a few JET friends up the 1776 meter mountain. It took us 2 1/2 hours just to get up to half way, before we eventually gave up because the daylight was going to disappear and we were all dead tired! Screw you, mountain!!! |
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Aug.2003: Goshogawara Hanabi FestivalThis was the first hanabi (fireworks) show that i've seen in Japan, and I can tell you flat out that they kick serious ass. The Goshogawara one was the best fireworks show I've ever seen - and they were really close to the crowd! I felt like fireballs were coming at me, and there were even burning pieces of the fireworks shells falling on the audience. By the end we were all covered in sulfur-smelling ashes. Awesome. |
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Aug.2003: Nebuta and Neputa FestivalsI attended this year's Aomori Nebuta Festival and Hirosaki Neputa Festival in the beginning of August. This was my first time seeing the festivals and it was well worth it. The floats were amazing and the drumming, flute playing and dancing really livened up Hirosaki like i've never seen before. |
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Gakkou e Ikkou: Let's go to School!This is Onoe General Senior High School, the BEST high school in Onoe town! There's photos of my school, students and teachers during bunkasai (school festival), ceremonies and enkais (teacher parties). |