Posted in Japan, Ramblings on May 11th, 2008
I was out at Shibuya Crossing the other day and as usual i had my camera with me.
Just as well on this occasion, it was hard to miss the group of guys forming on the station side of the crossing, faces painted brown, with gold headwear on ready to do something interesting, so it seemed anyway.
They started with a march.
And then the arms got going too.
Arms overhead and doing lots of work now.
Then back to the marching.
The group was getting very excited and i could sense something big brewing.
Then the lights changed and they ran across the road, that was the last i saw them.
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Posted in Japan, Ramblings on May 8th, 2008
Anyone that slept through last nights earthquake can sleep through anything. I on the other hand suffer insomnia at the best of times so a Magnitude 6.7 earthquake was enough to get me up and keep me up for the rest of the night.
Update: Check out the one from July 24th here.
Here’s the breakdown of last nights activity from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
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Posted in Ramblings, Technology, Television on May 6th, 2008
The other night i was watching Discovery, or what i’m now referring to as the “repeat channel”, and i saw the epside from How Do They Do IT on the Worlds Largest HDTV ….. and unbeknown to me, i’ve actually watched it … on 4 seperate occasions infact.
The Worlds Largest HDTV is located at none other than the Tokyo Racetrack. Now me being a mad keen punter i’ve been out to the track the last 2 years for the Japan Dirt Cup and then the Japan Cup, held in November each year, so i’ve seen it without knowing.
The screen employs Mitsubishi’s Aurora Vision LED technology and measures 11.2 meters (37 feet) x 66.4 meters (218 feet), giving it a surface area of 744 square meters (8,000+ square feet), or the equivalent of 3 tennis courts.
Mitsubishi manufactured the screen for the Japan Racing Association (JRA) at its Nagasaki factory in the town of Togitsu, Nagasaki prefecture. The screen was divided into 35 pieces for delivery to the Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo.
Here’s a few pictures i guess i inadvertently took of the Worlds Largest Television.
The first was taken at the Tokyo Dirt Cup on the Saturday in November 2006.
And the 2 below were taken last year at the Tokyo Cup on the Sunday.
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Posted in Japan on May 4th, 2008
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Posted in Food on May 4th, 2008
Today i got out to Harajuku and although the original purpose was to visit as part of the JR Yamanote Line tour i ended up cutting it short for a few reasons, weather and a hangover being the main 2 though.
I was hoping to get out there on a clear blue skies day, instead it was overcast and started to rain. There were far too many people for me to handle and not enough on the bridge.
Instead of wandering around, i followed the recommendation of a few people from my local bar last night, the scene of the crime, and headed to Jangara Ramen a famous Ramen shop so i’m told. With no real idea of where it was it took me 20 minutes to find it, when i did and i sat down to my Ramen i was well pleased i did.
I’ll be back to try something a little hotter next time but for today i went the Miso Ramen, with Chashew, Egg and extra onion.
Anyone looking for Jangara Ramen - if you head for the bridge turn left instead of going to right to Meiji Jingu and start walking down the hill you’ll see it on the left hand side.
There’s an upstairs restaurant as well as a down stairs one in the Harajuku area. I got there a little before 12 and when i left the line up had started.
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