Saitama Tournament

Uraton has started playing again. This time it's only prefectural and not all Japan, but the kids have trouble with this one. They haven't won since 1999.

I noticed something at the start of this game. All the players bow to both sides of the field before kickoff and after the game.

This was the first time I've seen the Urawa cheering section upstaged. The soccer boys on each side had a lot of energy, but the 6 or so Urawa cheerleaders couldn't come close to the army of Honichi cheerleaders with their flashy pom-poms, overly elaborate dancing, and chanting. At least the kids won the game. Urawa Higashi 2 - Honichi 0.

My collection is complete

I got my the 3rd and last costume on my 3rd victory in the moonlight strike game. My average crept back over 100. I miss my old 120+ days, but the ABS wrist-supporter-thing lets me get through 5 games without serious wrist strain.

Strangely, the university kids the next lane over wore the costume too. Usually only foreigners do stupid stuff like this.

Bowling Victories

Yesterday was a bowling day with Kaori and Mark (pictured left). I've never been too consistent in my scores, often following my best days out with ridiculously poor performances. But I am quite lucky with the Moonlight Strike Game.

沼南際 - Shonansai

My other school's festival, Shonansai, was an interesting experience. These kids aren't the best at studying, or being polite, or... Anyway, they pulled off a great festival, made special vegetarian versions of things at their food stalls just for me, and I bought a copy of Totto-chan for 50 yen.



As for the pictures:
1 - One of my favourite students. He tries to talk to me in English all the time. That's unusual in Japan.

2 - A group of my 3rd year students doing what they do best.

3 - Some of my favourite students, and some of the last hold-outs from the 顔黒 (ganguro) fashion movement.

4 - 2nd year students. The girl on the left lived in America for a short time, so she's one of the few who can actually understand English above basic textbook level.

Drawing

I haven't done much drawing lately, but this was sometime in August. I might do another soon.

It's a picture of my Pinky St. toy by the way. She was wearing a raincoat so I thought I might as well put her in the rain.

Judo and Soccer Update

The Urawa East team tied their 3rd game and had to play a tie-breaker...which they lost. So, their season is over...until 3 weeks from now when they start another tournament.

I've started going to 柔道 (judo) club at Urawa. This was my first time doing randori. I basically was beaten up by 15 year olds. Girls of course, because the boys would have seriously injured me.