Finally got internet

Wow I started this blog post back in December. It's now February, where does the time go?

I finally got internet after six months! It’s been way too long since my last update. Lets see a brief summery. Influenza, Mr.Miyagi arm wrestles, Thailand, lots of Onsen’s after cold kayaking sessions, judo beatings, cycling and random stuff in there that would only happen in a place like Japan. e.g. I saw a guy standing straight up on his chopper motorcycle doing about 50mph down the road, one foot on the handlebars one foot on the tank. Maybe that happens in Ireland too but I’ve never seen it.


Influenza...
I’m not sure about other people that have had N1H1 but I was having cool vivid dreams that would make million dollar movies! Yeah that good! I’m telling yeah. If you haven’t had N1H1 yet you’re missing out. I had a great time when I was asleep!!

Mr. Miyagi...
I met japans kayaking version of Mr Miyagi aka Master. The guy is 61 years old and still kicks ass in a kayak. He is a professional and teaches regular private one on one classes. He owns Chapel kayaking shop and it has writing and signatures on the walls from the likes of Ken Whiting from back in 97’, and then some posters with Rush Struges, Yonton and Jay Kincaid’s names from when they were there a few years ago. Master gave me some very detailed coaching on the river not holding back from telling me how faulty my skills were. It was motivating to hear what he had to say. Everything he said was translated for me by my good friend Nanae. She is a cool kayaker that has prefect English who actually made the whole weekend possible and invited me to go kayaking. It was also nice to see a 61 year old man school me in an arm wrestle with both arms I must add. One of his arms had been busted in a judo accident he showed me, but he still followed through and schooled my “sick” ass!...;) I was sick ok! You can see the red fever face I have in the photo on his blog found here.

http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/mchapel1/imgs/c/f/cfa9e6a3.JPG

Two birds with the one stone...

I decided to go shopping in kobe’s Ikea and get some stuff for my apartment! For a while I thought I was turning into a materialistic fool but I was getting fed up of the old bed sheets, cutting with blunt knives and of using the kitchen table as an ironing board, so I got that sorted out. But on my way to Ikea I decided to get off at a random train stop with Ikea in sight about a mile walk down the road. A lot of japanese folks were going into a building so I followed the crowd to see what was going on and I found this.....

Just another random day in Japan.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Moeterboater#p/a/u/0/BLTNDM1KuZ0

Judo in Japan, a great experience.

The weekend gone by I went to a judo practice on Saturday. My club in Osaka went to another clubs dojo to play a whole range of fighters who were all various levels of black belt.



In my club we do 3 minute flights at a time, but at this club they where doing competition length 5 minute flights. I did about ten fights, with very few breaks. Needless to say I was in bits by the end of the training but I'd learned alot and gained confidence. It was also cool being the only foreigner at the training.




So I started judo on the 4th of September. My teachers in my high school where I work thought I was crazy to join a judo club 22km from where I live. They also said it would be impossible to cycle there for the lesson. But the club is unique in the fact that the Judo sensei is a seventh or eight dan black belt that teaches in both Japanese and English.




Because of this it's a rather international club with a great mixture of judo styles. http://www.daishin-judo.com/index1.htm Next month a judo team from Israel are coming for a month to train with us and the month after that a judo team from Greece are coming to train in the club. I cycle three times a week to and from practice when there isn't some party or important thing that comes up during the week. I used to take the train but have since had my road bike shipped here to save money and increase the fitness. The streets of Osaka are busy and keep me on my toes all the time. But the cycle sure beats the train and I'm not as stiff the next day. Takes about 50-55 minutes each way almost as quick as the train. I think there must be at the least 15 minutes worth of traffic lights.


After the special practice on Saturday we all went to a Christmas party for a few beers. After the intense workout I knew the lads would be on their ears after one or two. You can checkout the pics here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/daishin-judo/sets/72157622879974391/








I was equally as surprised as the seventh dan black belt in the photo above, who I was fighting with (far right in photo), when I got a leg sweep and he dropped to his back. But as a friend said to me afterwards, "even a stopped clock is right twice a day"!!

Keen cup video footage a bit late....

Link....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mmc-37_kR4&feature=autofb

I borrowed a new red Allstar for the event along with borrowed paddles, helmet and BA. I am slowly sorting out my own gear! Thanks Yagi san for the Allstar, and to PSK kayak shop from Amagasaki!

Mie Prefecture

Photo credits : Daisuke san & Shimpei san

It's Sunday the 15th of November. I got up at 5.50am after only two and half hours sleep and set out on yet another kayaking mission. Shimpei san picked me up at 6am and off we went to Mie Prefecture to run Katsura River.

Driving east at sun up. The start of another great day.

The get in point...

We joined forces with Macho san, Chic san (Titti) and the man who found this river about two years ago Daisuke san.

It was the best river I have been on to date in Japan for the quality of whitewater and the beauty of this river. The photos really don't do this river justice.

Some nice strong current at the put-in made for a good warm up.

I couldn't get over the amount of cascading tributary waterfalls, cool wildlife and bamboo all over the place. Little did I know later in the evening I'd actually be eating baby bamboo in a restaurant.

One of the many tributaries feeding into the river...

Everything is different over here. Even the ducks were cooler looking than the River Liffey ducks I'm used to seeing back home at Sluice! I'm still getting used to this country, it's customs and for the whole day I was just in awe and buzzing all day. Lots of new experiences.

The crew scouting the next rapid

One of two rapids we walked after much contemplation as unfortunately we were all in playboats. But there were waves and holes to surf all over the place so you win some you lose some!

The rapid we walked :(

More scouting

So after scouting the rapid on both sides we started walking around it. Chic san dropped his kayak in the water right above the sieved out side of the rapid. I was surprised it made it through in one piece, well almost. After about 20 minutes of fishing I got his kayak out of this little annoying spot.

Working on my kayak fishing skills.

So before each kayak trip the Japanese usually go to a shop to get a river lunch. They always pick what is a famous dish in the region or what is in season. It's a real lunch break, almost like a picnic. Good times.

Shimpei and I hitting some wasabi rice cakes wrapped in lovely and moist seaweed...

Back to business after lunch with wasabi power...

Chic san surfing one of the many wave/holes on the river...

My borrowed Wavesport EZ kayak is in there somewhere too.

The flat sections in between rapids were very beautiful...

Surfing one of the last waves not wanting to leave the river!

So after a days kayaking in Japan, like most kayakers, we hit up a lovely Onsen to warm up. Then on to get some local food in a restaurant. A full set dinner for 850 yen! About 6 or 7 euro. Happy days..

My first time eating a sour fish in Japanese style...bones and all...new experiences, kinda weird though!

I'll end the post with this shot of Chic san. I think he's very happy his boat is still in one piece. And yes they are UFO's in the background. It's Japan, don't ask!

Chic san in the zone

Link to the actual put-in location if you'd like to check this river out....

http://www.mapfan.com/m.cgi?MAP=E136.25.2.6N34.21.44.9&ZM=9

Halloween Weekend

The Keen Cup

It's Saturday 31st of October. The day starts at 6:30am. I woke up late and ran out the door without breakfast. I got the train to Amagasaki city which is about 15 minutes from my train station. I met up with Macho again and we drove up the coast to Toyama prefecture. It took about 5 or 6 hours to get there. The sun was splitting the rocks and I was loving the fact it was like summer on the 31st of October.

Gas station stops just aren't the same in Japan....

The venue for the kayak competition was on Idagawa or Ida River. I was told it's Japans best artificial whitewater course. For a whitewater course the rapid was the most powerful artificial hole I've experienced. By the end of the weekend I had tendonitis, a sore back and brused hips. I think I'm getting old.

Entry move

The first day was just practice. It was my first time back in a strong hole in over a year and lots of paddlers lined the banks to see what the gaijin kayaker could do! No pressure or anything! With no one in the eddies I was out of breath in no time. After a while a few paddlers joined me on the water and we boated all day until the water was shut off at the dam above.

Chilling after the event

Toyama is famous for its sushi and so Macho treated me to some top quality sushi along with all the other paddlers. I thought I had eaten sushi before but when this stuff went in my mouth it soon became clear that I hadn't really had proper sushi.

I also love Japan for its endless supply of natural hot springs. It is a ritual amongst kayakers to go to an onsen / hot spring after kayaking to warm up. So in true style we all went to warm up after sushi. It is amazing especially outdoor springs with a strong breeze to cool you down in between dips.

Half the paddlers got hotel rooms and half of us camped out in a parking lot. As you can see it's five star camping for sure....lovin it!

Having a few beers huddled between a few cars to protect us from the strong wind I figured out why Yagi was so pissed at me earlier that day. I forgot my helmet and walked up to Yagi to ask him for his one. He was on the bank as was I, looking at a big long fiberglass wildwater kayak coming steaming down the narrow whitewater course. You could see it a mile away. I stopped talking and we both focused on the kayak. The wildwater kayak hit a wave wrong, sending it crashing into the rocks on the bank. The crunch was awesome! The front of the boat was jammed between two rocks and the flow pushed the back downstream. The front of the kayak broke to about 90 degrees and then whipped back into place. I immediately broke into a fit of laughter and turned to Yagi saying "did you just see that, oh my God that was so funny, they just wrecked that kayak" and he gave me a very stern look that I read as, you shouldn't laugh at something so serious. The kayak is worth about $1000 at least just so you know. It got me thinking hard. So I tried to explain myself to him. I said to him, I'm irish and we laugh at peoples misfortune. Like when there is nothing you can do about something bad then all you can do is laugh. I don't think he understood me but he wasn't happy either way. I put it down to cultural differences and decided not to let it get to me too much. So later that night huddled in the campsite I told the rest of the kayakers what happened. They all feel around the place laughing saying it wasn't a cultural difference, it was Yagi's wildwater kayak!! It all became clear and we all laughed some more....i hope he's not reading this :)

Sorry this is turning into a massive story. So the next day the competition started at about 10.30am. The competition was run very smoothly and on time. I came 1st in the prelims, 2nd in the semis and 3rd in the finals. Yagi came first, and a slalom kayaker who competed in Beijing came 2nd. You can checkout more photos and scores on Yagi's blog....

http://jfka.blog59.fc2.com/blog-entry-222.html

Thanks to Yagi for letting me use his new all star kayak and to 小森信太郎 for taking photos.

Eye of the tiger

The Spirit Cup

You can't touch this....

So this past weekend I was invited along to what has become an annual full on fancy dress kayaking event. It has Dave Carrol written all over it! Anything goes!!

All the kids started crying when he came out...

Group Shot

The competition took place on the beautiful Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture, famous for it's crystal clear water. It is called the Spirit Cup as the owner of Spirit Rafting 'Yoshi' organises this event every year. He was very kind to invite me to the event. I paddled with him during the 2006 North American freestyle kayaking world cup events.

Just a normal kayaking event in Japan. Some of the kids in the crowd were terrified...lol

It whole thing was so funny. I didn't know what was going on. It was all in Japanese and Yoshi would call out the next person up. I was judging and couldn't see who was next. The music would change all of a sudden to something funny and the next person up would jump out from behind a rock wearing a crazy outfit doing a dance. Macho in the red and white outfit was in the crowd one second n normal clothes and in two seconds was a superhero. I don't know how he did it. It reminded me of those funny japanese tv shows with obstacle courses and random funny stuff thrown in there for a good laugh.

Again with the Japanese barrior I had to ask someone what the piece of paper I got was all about. Turned out I came second.

Enjoy the videos below....

Overall event...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCNj5X9rUGc&feature=channel

Charcoal Beers anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rKeABY-rBg&feature=channel

More...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOcUBIJTg1o&feature=channel

Another wild japanese cultural experience

Photos by Ashley Melendez & Liz Salinas

Hi folks,
This past weekend I went to Ehime Prefecture to meet up with my two brothers and take part in two different Japanese festivals. Saijo Matsuri and Niihama Matsuri. The experience of taking part in thses two festivals was rare for even Japanese to experience. We were very lucky to survive and we all had an unforgetable weekend!
Len and I met up in Kobe at the bus station on Thursday evening to take a bus to Ehime. It was like LA greyhound bus station all over again execpt less dangerous :-) (for those of you that know that story) We got to Ehime at about 10pm and stayed in a 150 year old traditional japanese home where the shrine was kept in the barn next ot he house. Derry has the hook ups in Ehime! We woke up to a sureal atmosphere and our first sight of the shine all lit up with candles. For Len and I it was a new experience and it felt like some army movie where the soldiers are preparing for battle. Kinda scary! We had to push the shrine to the festival starting point in the dark. But on our way there again like a movie when crossing a train track the gates started alarming and going down like a nightmare...lol That woke everyone up pretty quickly!

The first festival started at 3am on Friday and went all day. Our shrine cost half a million dollars but one of the axels got wrecked doing a high speed 180 and we were out of the festival at 6am thank god!!

I thought I was going to die. They run down the street pushing these 2.5 tonne shrines at 3am and they are all taking hits of sake every chance they can get.

You can imagine that with lots of drinking and carrying of very heavy shrines people often get injuried and some die. One shine fell over and a men lost some fingers. We asked if anyone ever falls out off the top of the shrine to which our Japanese friend said, "yeah sometimes but they don't die". We asked how hurt they get and he said, "about two months hurt, in hospital. So it's ok."

One of our guys had a part of the shrine fall on his toe! It was bleeding and I think he broke it but in true ninja style he said, give me more sake I'll be fine! The atmosphere was crazy!

I love this photo, broken shrine axel. A crane had to be used to lift the shrine up to work on it...

Friday...They don't look too happy....translation here ="ah bollox!"



Saturday....Shrines being carried over head and bashed together, watch your fingers boys.....



Little girl all dressed for the occasion...

View of the grounds from the stadium seating...

Len and I carrying...

Some people live for these festivals and this guy is one of them...

Expensive stitching...

We kinda stood out being that be have round eyes. We ended up in the papers and on the tv after Saturdays festival. Here's the Japanese version if you like... the translated version is below.....
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/ehime/news/20091017-OYT8T01147.htm

Enjoy,
Moe

The translated story...................................

<6'5> "I feel like a ninja" A Taiko festival, in which Niihama city unleashed about fifty gorgeous and very large Taikodais, took place on the 17th of October. Events such as a carrying in unison contest took place in most districts in the city under a clear blue autumn sky throughout the day. The city was overflowing with tens of thousands of spectators. Three Irish brothers who are working as English teachers in various places in Japan also took part in carrying at the festival. "Joining forces with the locals to raise the shrine simultaneously is the best feeling", they answered in delirium about the festival. The festival is divided into five districts in the city. Nineteen taikodais mustered in Yamane Sports Ground in the Suminoshindenchou area of Niihama. After the crowd erupted to Prefectural Governor Kato's greeting that the people of Niihama should provide a 'carrier allowance', parodying the Democratic Party's promise of 'child allowance', the Taikodais carried out a ferocious sounding of the drums in front of the main stage. The Taikodais gathered in each district. As about one hundred and fifty carriers raised the approximately three tonne Taikodai above their heads toward the sky in sync to the sound of the drum, around fifty thousand spectators responded with great cheers and applause. Three Irishmen wearing blue happi coats were carrying with the west Hagyu neighbourhood's Taikodai. Derry Kelleher (28), who works as an English teacher in the Niihama area, first took part in the festival three years ago under the recommendation of a member of the Japanese teaching staff. Fascinated with how the area becomes one in a lively atmosphere, this time he called his two younger brothers, who are working as English teachers in Hyogo and Okinawa prefectures, to join the festival. Although it is tough to shoulder the pole of the Taikodai matching the height of those around him, 6'5 Derry carried it with the cooperation of his brothers. "In Ireland, most people watch festivals, like the St. Patrick's Day, so I was surprised at how festivals in Japan unite the city by each neighbourhood taking part. I was able to make new friends and I also really understood how the festival brings the community together as one" he said happily. Leonard (21), who wore tabi shoes for the first time said "I feel just like a ninja. It makes me want to study profoundly about Japanese festivals." "It's really powerful how we lifted up something so heavy", said Maurice (24) with a look of inspiration. The three lads had satisfaction written all over their faces leaving the grounds as they were allowed to ride on the roof of the Taikodai all the way back to their neighbourhood. Taikodai - a very large float used to carry taiko drums at festivals. They are carried on four long poles, weighing close to three tonnes. Tabi - Japanese shoes worn by tradesmen. They have a split toe to allow for more grip on scaffolding.

Smiling on top of the Taikodai, from left, Leonard, Derry and Maurice at the Niihama festival in Yamane Sports Ground.

My first blog ever!

Hi folks,

I'm a blog virgin!! I have finally decided to take my balls out of my purse and make one. I want to document my travels and experiences so I don't forget them. It's also nice to share them with you guys, my friends so I don't have to e-mail you guys all the time and fill you in on the updates now that I'm living in Japan. Stay tuned.........