Neil Duckett

As i relax in Melbourne on what’s going to be a stinking hot 42′C New Years Eve i came across an interesting story on CNN about a growing group, ~4500 members so far, of Japanese men trying to be better husbands.

When i get back to Japan later this week i’ll wrap up what’s been a fantastic, and at times busy, trip back to Australia. Right now it’s time for a swim followed closely by a cold beer then get ready to party on a mates place … photos to come.

Here’s the basics of the article which, if i didn’t live in Japan, i would have thought it was an April Fools Day prank.

Smoke hovered over the dinner and beer disappeared as quickly as it was poured.

At first glance, it looked like a typical Friday night post-work scene played out all over Tokyo’s taverns.

But then your eyes stop on a poster-sized sign propped up next to one of the middle-aged men. It reads:

Three Golden Rules of Love:

• Thank you (say it without hesitation)

• I am sorry (say it without fear)

• I love you (say it without embarrassment)

All the men at the table stood up. Equally spaced out and still wearing their stiff black suits, they chanted in unison, “I can’t win! I won’t win! I don’t want to win!”

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Japanese Tattoo Symbols are popular all across western society and specifically America and Europe. It’s easy to see why these tattoos are becoming more and more common, kanji are understated, yet impactful – both compact and elegant, a kanji tattoo is the perfect way to make an artistic statement that is both modern and meaningful.

Japanese Tattoo Symbols is a terrible term and one only used outside of Japan when referring to having a tattoo featuring Kanji. That in itself makes me wonder why people get a tattoo in a foreign language when you don’t fully understand the origins of the language, but i digress.

Other benefits of Japanese Tattoo Symbols include, you can say a whole lot more in a smaller space and it looks a lot better than having the same words scratched across your body in English. You don’t see Japanese and Chinese getting around with “Love, Strength and Honour” on their arms now do you. Don’t get me wrong, i’m a big lover of tattoos and if it weren’t for the occasional Onsen trip i’d flash a few big ones up.

Japanese Kanji are characters with a Chinese origin. Kanji characters are used for nouns (words like “peace” or “perseverance”). I’d strongly suggest, if you’re thinking about getting a tattoo featuring Japanese Kanji, you get a native Japanese speaker to assist you and make sure you really do get what you asked for.

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While on a much needed holiday back in Australia, finding the time to get on the internet is proving harder than i first thought. In between Xmas at the parents place in Adelaide, days up in the country and at the cricket i’ve had a few relaxing nights, pulling a few beers with Friends back at home in Port Melbourne.

I’m enjoying my last few days in Melbourne now and will be back to Tokyo on the 3rd of January. Until then, enjoy a safe and happy New Year.

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This weeks theme in The Photo Hunt is Light or Hikari (ひかり) in Japanese.

Once again this week i have 2 photos i want to use, both being very different but very familiar to those living in or having visited Japan

The first picture to depict this weeks theme of Light, was taken from West Exit in Shinjuku. The shop in question is Yodobashi Camera, 8 floors of electronic heaven and the place i buy all of my electronic good including my Canon Camera and my Sony Living Room PC.

The second photo is the view from our office as the sun sets over the distant mountain range. To the right of the photo is Mount Fuji, or Fuji-san as it’s known in Japan. Often we’re graced with spectacular sunsets all very different from the last.

Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san) , is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1707, it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures just west of Tokyo, from which it can be seen on a clear day. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshū. Three small cities surround it, they are: Gotemba (East), Fuji-Yoshida (North) and Fujinomiya (Southwest).

Mount Fuji’s exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers.

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Other than today being my 35th Birthday and this afternoon i’m going back to Australia for a little under 2 weeks, today is just another day.

I’ve got no real set plans in Australia, other than to catch up with Friends and a trip to Adelaide to see the family in between. Tommorrow is bound to be a big day and the beers will be flowing at a few old stomping grounds. Saturday is the annual Kris Kringle which is always a highlight and on the 28th i’m going to my first Boxing Day Test at the MCG. New Years eve will be upon me before i know it then it’s time to leave the hot weather and head back to Japan to continue a long and cold winter.

I’ll miss Japan while i’m away and i’ll be excited to get back and continue the journey, continue learning the language and do more things now i’m more independant, a snowboarding trip is one of those.  

One things for sure, if the next 2 weeks are anything like the good times i’ve enjoyed in the past, i’ll be a happy man. Melbourne is a great place for entertainment and i’m blessed with having a great group of Friends back there.

Days at the races were a blast, i’ll be having a punt on the Perth Cup on New Years Day.

A little Nampa Australian style, Spring Carnival there’s more fratenising with the ladies than betting is the theme of the day.

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