Hi John E, you might like to check out this place on Pho Nha Chung street near Hoan kim lake. That street is quite touristy, but still fun, and the restaurant is great.

I didn’ have any problems with electricity, but then I always carry one of these, and a triple adapter. http://mylikes.com/johnnobi/1006382/road-warrior-go-con

Greater Co-Prosperity Airlines has announced a new service to Harbin, with one-way tickets starting at 500 sen. It is proving especially popular with young female ‘OL’ office workers, looking for an inexpensive getaway, and the opportunity ‘to meet and colonise new Asiatic peoples’.

日本の哈尓濱〔ハルビン〕流ブームが来た！膨張的なOLで超人気！

内の会社は安全記録には非の打ちどころがない

Whilst initial flights have experienced certain ‘operational difficulties’, the safety apparatus is the finest modern technology can offer.

安全第一！万歳！

B.B King says “You are hot tonight, young man”, to Gary Moore, and this ensues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqAuuIDU2sw

Don’t get much better than this.

BTW, some years ago, in the bowels of Yokohama Arena, I met B.B King (backstage at a U2 gig; thanks forever for that, Lucy). He walked down a long fluorescent-lit corridor, flanked by three ladies of his own build and general demeanour. As he came near me I felt I had to say something. It was just the five of us there, you understand, in that long, antiseptic blue-white space.

I said “Mr King, I really respect your music”.

He said ‘Thankyou young man”.

And off he and his three escorts went.

Ye Gods…

In this vid, I especially like it when BB looks at the keyboard player to see if Gary Moore is going to back down, and it becomes clearly evident that the yout got balls AND ability, and they have a fight on their hands.

Big cred to BB for being a gracious king.

Big cred to Gary Moore for being that good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ryh5hVC1iE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxCa16-nxtM

Happy birthday. We love you, not only on boxing day.

あああ、またそんな作り話がはじまります。これからイギリスの国民が悪夢に悩まされるだね～

And so, the feverish, wildly over-expectant dreaming begins again. Has four years really passed so quickly? And do we really have to go through all that agony again so soon?

フットボール・ラブはどうせ涙に終わるものなのよ。

World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

England vs USA; Algeria; Slovenia.

Japan vs Holland; Denmark; Cameroon.

This, posted on the BBC website, is typical of the reaction that you will find in many a pub and fish-and-chip shop in England today. These people need professional help. And yet…

“England will win the World Cup by finishing top of their group with nine points! We will then beat Serbia, France, Brazil and Spain on our way to World Cup victory! Wayne Rooney will finish with the Golden Boot and the Government will declare a national holiday! Already counting down to South Africa 2010! Come on England!”

Here’s the full draw:

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, Those Cheating Froggies

Group B: Fat Diego’s Barmy Army, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D: The Hun, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia (they must be well-chuffed in Rome)

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal (The Group of Death)

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

England have got an easy draw, though the USA game will bring back memories of the 1950 defeat (which the then England captain, Billy Wright, famously compared to ‘the MCC getting beaten by Germany at cricket’). And if I am not mistaken, didn’t the Yanks do for Spain in the Confederations Cup and only go out in the final to Brazil?

１０年Ｗ杯南アフリカ大会の１次リーグ組み合わせ抽選会が行われ、４大会連続出場の日本は、オランダ、カメルーン、デンマークと同組のＥ組に入った。

Things look a lot tougher for the Blue Samurai (what a daft nickname). The Dutch are no slouches (if England don’t win, I hope they do), and Cameroon are no pushovers at all. Along with Ghana and the Ivory Coast, they are tipped as potential winners. One commentator described them as ‘the Germany of Africa’. Yikes.

日本代表の岡田武史監督はドローが終わると、顔面を紅潮させながら報道陣の前に姿を見せた。口調は冷静だが「どの相手も簡単にはいかない。変な言い方になるけど、まあまあの組、悪くないという感じだ」と感想を口にした。

Japan Manager Okada described it as a ‘so-so’ group, but I reckon he’s just putting a brave face on things. The bookies rate the Dutch above France and Portugal, and the Indomitable Lions can count on plenty of partisan support. Oh, and of course they do have this fellow in their squad:

サミュエル・エトオです。

If you don’t know, it’s Samuel Eto’o of Barcelona FC and Inter Milan fame. He da man. Sorry to say it but I think he’ll take the samurai to the コイン・ランドリー.

Some bookmakers in England, drinking of the font of blind faith, now put England above Brazil (and second only to Spain) as contenders to carry off the cup. However, us England old-hands know only too well how it might end up:

Iain, Kev, are you reading this?

Kotaro Iizawa is a famous photographic art critic, and full-time mushroom nerd. He will be giving a talk at Coccon Karasuma on Saturday at 7pm. There will be ‘mushroom music’, and catering by Juri Suzuka’s ‘Cafe Millet’. I shall be there. Why don’t you come too?

皆様

秋のきのこ狩りシーズンですが、いかがお過ごしでしょうか。

いよいよ関西でも「きのこ音楽」のイベントを開催することになりました。

ぜひお誘い合わせの上、お越し下さい。

(By the way, this picture in no way meant to represent Mr Roman Polanski, Film Director. See blog entry above).

飯沢耕太郎のキノコ狩ルチャー in KYOTO

写真評論家だけでなく、きのこ文学研究家としても大忙しの飯沢耕太郎氏。様々なカルチャー史に登場するきのこをピックアップしながら、きのこの不思議と魅力に迫る大人気イベント「飯沢耕太郎のキノコ狩ルチャー」が遂に来京！！

飯沢氏が作詩、京都を拠点に活動するrimacona(リマコナ)が作曲を担当した「新しいきのこ音楽」ライブとの二部構成。さらに今回は京都静原のCAFE MILLETによるきのこ料理のケータリングもあり、充実のきのこ狩りラインナップでお届けします。

日時：2009年11月7日(土)

19:00開場／19:30開演

会場：shin-bi

　　　京都市下京区烏丸通四条下ル水銀屋町620番地 COCON烏丸 3F

出演：飯沢耕太郎（写真評論家／『きのこ文学大全』著者）

rimacona (http://www.rimacona-lab.com/)

ケータリング：CAFE MILLET (http://blog.cafemillet.jp/)

料金：Adv.2000円／Door.2500円

ご予約は(1)イベント名、(2)お名前、(3)人数、(4)電話番号をご記入の上、下記のいずれかの方法でお申し込み下さい。

【メール】rimacona@mac.comもしくはyoyaku@shin-bi.jpまで

【FAX】075-352-0844

【往復はがき】〒600-8411 京都市下京区烏丸通四条下ル水銀屋町620番地 COCON烏丸 3F shin-bi

shin-biカウンターでもお受け致します。

お問い合わせ:rimacona@mac.com

http://www.rimacona-lab.com/

http://www.shin-bi.jp/

She was very clever, and very tough, and she remembered Queen Victoria. She was the first woman to win a scholarship at Salt’s Grammar School. She worked in the jam factory in Windhill, just outside Shipley, West Yorkshire. I always called her Nan.

It’s a trek Y-22 carbon-fibre stealth bomber. Much fun has been had on this machine, not least the first-ever off-road descent of Mount Hiei, and my never-to-be-forgotton cryptomeria face-plant.

Should you so wish, try to unearth this tome and read my story ‘High on Hiei’:

I was somewhat mad back then, but not THIS mad: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ub4_vtt-dave-watson-gap-tour-de-france_music

Having catapulted himself over the Tour De France peleton, Dave Watson wiped out somewhat spectacularly, emerging with a ‘separated shoulder’ and ‘severely bruised groin’. Full story here:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/that-watson-gap-jump-7785

Now time to return to my cycling roots. This my new girl. About to arrive soon. Hope she comes with handlebars and a seat. My days of bruised groins are surely over.

九歳でfall in love しました Back in the day she was the girl of my dreams….

このビデオ是非見て下さい。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6L0Qs1kJIg

http://likaholix.com/johnnobi/1018098/ludmilla-tourischeva

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AA%E3%83%A5%E3%83%89%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BB%E3%83%84%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B7%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%E3%83%AF

‘The Ice Queen’. Aah… what can you do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TuQSnVShdw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Flikaholix.com%2Fjohnnobi%2F1018098%2Fludmilla-tourischeva%3Fautoplay%3D1&feature=player_embedded

Yolki palki.

本家尾張屋　京蕎麦処

創業540余年をほこる、京都でも有数の歴史をもつ蕎麦と和菓子の老舗。この店では、本店と同様の味を求めて専用施設を設置し、京の地下水を使った「だしと麺」に挑戦しています。

●座席数60席●ラストオーダー：午後9時●営業時間：午前11時～午後10時　高島屋京都支店７F

天せいろそば

いもせいろそば

Oariya have been serving soba in Kyoto for roughly the last 540 years. pretty good it is too. Sash and I ate at the Takashimaya department store branch, 7F, the other day. Above is the Tenseiro Soba; below the Imoseiro.

By the way, the 7th floor of Takashimaya has some neat decor, including a massive rock (how did they get that in there?) and a ‘flying garden)’.

でかい石もありました！

又は飛ぶ庭

On a rare visit to Kyoto.

今朝私のiPodには根性があった！シャッフル再生モードではこの曲が出たぞ～！

This is what the iPod ‘Shuffle Songs’ mode came up with. Cool!

Shores of California by the Dresden Dolls

Check out the video here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x44xdp_the-dresden-dolls-shores-of-califor_music

W.A.Y.U.H by the Rapture

Check out the video here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2eh74_the-rapture-wayuh_music

Sheela Na Gig by PJ Harvey

Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nojeYbBpbeU&hl=ja

Detroit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drNWjF7N3Rs&feature=related

I still haven’t quite got over it. And it was 32 years ago.

デトロイトにて。まだ忘れられません。今から３２年前。

NB: (watch the youtube video and all will become clear). I was 16 at the time.

注意せよ：是非このビデオを見て下さい。それで「デトロイト」の魅力が分かり易いになるでしょうか？ あの時代では私は16才のにきび面の若造でした

Yesterday we drove up to Kutsuki-mura to visit my friend Fumio’s mum. She is 84 and incredibly cute. That is her in the foreground, with the lovely silver hair. 昨日私達は朽木村までバーキン７でドライブしました。友達ふみおくんのお母さん会いに行きました。八十四歳のおばあちゃんはすごくかわいいです。ふみおとえらいちがう！

In his mum’s field for the spinach harvest.　お母さんの田んぼでほうれん草大豊作

Fumio and Mum. Fortunately he’s a bit blurry.　ふみおとお母さん。ふみおはちょっとピンぼけの方がいいでしょうか？

See what I mean? あああ… 証明されるべきこと、証明終わり

Mind you, come to think of it I am no oil painting myself. まあ、考えてみると、私もパリッとした紳士ではないね…

要注意人物 Stay clear of this man at all costs.

四条大宮周辺の「京一らーめん」です。私みたい常連客もいっぱいかな～？

ああ、やばい！Fortunately most of the other regular customers are relatively civilized. This is Kyoichi Ramen at Shijo-Omiya. Some like it, some don’t. I have been going for years.

Have you ever Googled your own name? I just did, and a page about tattoos, in Spanish, came up! (http://sakuro.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/%E5%85%A5%E3%82%8C%E5%A2%A8-insercion-de-tinta-irezumi/).

Actually, I took the photo. It is Horiyoshi 3rd, master tattooist, working on a Yakuza gentleman at his studio in Yokohama. This is the art of ‘tebori’, tattooing by hand rather than by machine.

I also found out that one of my photographs is on sale at Allposters.com. A naked man in a bath in Nagano, no less. I wonder if he’s aware that his unclothed self is on sale around the world?

And this:

肉じゃが

Yer common spud (jaga-imo) is much appreciated in Japan, not least in Hokkaido where the splendidly titled danshaku (“the Baron”) is preferred. It is originally arrived at the other end of the archipelago in Kyushu, in the early 17th century, when the Dutch brought it to Nagasaki. Sometimes called the bareisho (“horse-bell potato”), it is used in sunomono, aemono, nimono, oden and furai (deep fried; at McDonald’s termed furenchi-furai). A favorite with foreigners is niku-jaga – stewed beef and potatoes with onion and carrot, in shoyu with mirin and dashi. Not only is this izakaya staple tasty, it is easy to order – just ask for a rubber-lipped Rolling Stones vocalist. Works every time.

Quoted from P.61, “World Food – JAPAN”, John Ashburne and Yoshi Abe, Lonely Planet, Australia, 2002.

おなじみのジャガイモも、日本でよく食されている。特に北海道では、男爵イモという優雅な名前を持つ品種が好まれている。ジャガイモはもともと、１６００年代初頭に、日本列島の反対側にある九州・長崎にオランダ商人が持ち込んだものだ。ジャガイモは馬鈴薯とも呼ばれ、酢の物、和え物、煮物、おでん、ふらい等に使われる（「ふらい」というのは「よく揚げたもの」という意味で、例えばマクドナルドでは「ふれんち・ふらい」というふうに使われる）。外国人に人気があるのは肉じゃがだ。これは牛肉とジャガイモを、玉葱や人参といっしょに醤油と味醂、ダシで煮込んだものだ。居酒屋の定番メニューである肉じゃがは、美味しい上にオーダーしやすい。ぶ厚い唇をしたローリングストーンズのボーカリストを注文すればいい。必ず通じる。

（訳：ピンキィ君の夫）

上のガイドブックをうろ覚えした外人さんが、日本の居酒屋で『う～ん、確か唇が特徴的なロックボーカリストだったよなぁ、あのポテト料理の名前。唇、唇～っと．．．Ｏｈ！！　スミマッセ～ン、すてぃーぶん・たいらー、ヲ、ヒトツ、クラッサ～イ』と注文したのを、若い店員さんが『は？　スティーなんとかタイラー？　スティーなんとかタイラー．．．　あっ！　スチームド・タイラだ！　板長！　タイラ貝の蒸し物できますか！？』と叫んで、その過程を最初から見ていた板長さん（団塊の世代でロック好き）が『そりゃストーンズじゃなくてエアロスミスのボーカルだ。まったくどいつもこいつも．．．』と嘆いたりする、なんてことがあると楽しいんですが。

ちなみに、これを書いている今現在、Googleで『肉じゃが　ミック・ジャガー』を検索すると、なんと約１６００件もヒットします。一方、『nikujaga “mick jagger”』で英文ページだけ検索すると、１件しかヒットしません。でも、『nikujaga』だけで英文ページを検索すると１０００件近くヒットするので、肉じゃが自体が海外で全く無名だというわけでもなさそうですが、ミック・ジャガーに引っ掛けるなんていう発想は、ガイジンさんには非常に少ないようです。

う～ん、この著者さん（著者さんは二人クレジットされていて、そのうちのお一人は日本人のようですが、その日本人のかたは巻末の用語集だけを担当なさったと書いてあるので、本文は全部ガイジンさんのほうが執筆してらっしゃいます）、日本に馴染みすぎちゃって、おやじギャグも日本ナイズされちゃったようです。

それから、このガイドブックにこう書いてあるからって、『うィ～ッ、これがアメリカ風の注文のしかたなんだよ～、おねぇちゃんっ！！　ミック・ジャガーひとつぅ！！　なんてな！　なんてな！』と注文しても無視されるだけですからね、そこのお・じ・さ・ま。

まぁ、飲み会のおやじギャグとして元上司がよく使っていたのが、新人歓迎会などで血液型を聞かれると（今やタブー？）『おれ？　おれはねぇ、おれはねぇ、新潟！！』ってやつでした。まぁ、新人は喜ぶんですが、勤続十ウン年にもなると『血液型聞くなよ、聞くんじゃないぞ。課長言いたくてウズウズしてんぞ。リアクションめんどくさいんだよ。もう、これ聞くの何回目だよ～』と心の中で突っ込んでいたもんです。

By the way, the folk who translated my stuff into Japanese didn’t ask permission. They just went ahead and did it. Which is fine by me. I like their Steamed Tyler joke. Not sure how Lonely Planet felt about it though.

id:kiyohero

id:yuko888