School Bands Playing in Ube

I love live music and small intimate venues are great. Last Sunday night myself and Teresa went to The Big Hip club in Ube to see some of her students perform. 2 of the bands were so good that if they had CD's to buy I would have bought one! The band below Deri Habi (short for delirious habit, apparantly), had an energetic mix of rock and a touch of jazz incorporating vocals, keyboard, bass guitar, guitar, drums, trumpet, sax, tambourines, a whistle, and even one of those little keyboards that you hold up and blow into to make sound. (nice description T!!)

This band had a really good stage presence. I think some of the songs were covers but they sounded great.

Teresa told me she cant get her students to study English because they are always talking about their band!

I look forward to seeing more live music in the Big Hip.

Steph's Kath and Kim Party

Myself and Tim went as Kath and Kim.... We went to a lot of effort with the hair, nails and breasts... I think Tim enjoyed himself a bit too much!! ...

Kim... (naicccceeee)

Kath.... (with Cardonay!)

I have issuessss with fake nails!

The night was spent watching Kath and Kim, eating specially imported finest Heinz baked beans, muffins, English bread (イギリスパン) and mash potato. ナイイイイスー！ Of course washed down with Aussie Cardonay.

Thanks Steph, great party... next time my place.

* For those of you that dont know Kath and Kim, it's an Australian comedy that is very funny. I didnt see it when it was shown in the UK, but now I love it!

PS Steph/Tim - when are we going to the legendary tranny bar in Ube?!!

Graduation After Party in Hofu

Great food and drink and good company..

The food and drink just kept coming. There was soup, crab, sashimi, rice and numerous side dishes.

This was some of the best sashimi (raw fish) that I have eaten in Japan.　　

Fugu (poisonous blow fish) is famous from Yamaguchi prefecture and is well known across the world. To prepare it chefs have to have a special licence which apparently takes 10 years to get. Still a handful of people die from fugu poisoning every year!! (If you have seen the Simpsons episode where they go to Japan, Homer eats fugu and nearly dies)

Fugu sashimi (fanned on the plate below) is very expensive!

Direct quote from Hori Sensei "Alcohol burns my brain cells" This guy is great!

There is a great word in Japanese "nomyunication" ノミュニケシオン (not sure on spelling) which means socialising over drinks. It's not an excuse to get drunk though!

This is the I.T. guy who I don't often speak to at school. Turns out he is a bit of a joker and is quite entertaining when he has had a few drinks!!

The top table with the Principal and Vice Principal in the middle.

After the official party the Principal invited me to drinks in my town. We went to a local yakitori restaurant where we had yet more food and drunk more beers and sake. After this I had to do karaoke with some other teachers until the early hours. We all had to be at school the next day and there were one or two hungover faces. Thankfully none of us were teaching!

All in all probably the best night of my time in Japan.