My blog here is six years old today. I started it on 2008 March 26th.
My blog has had 1,772,134 visitors so far. That averages to 820 visitors a day.
Thank you to everyone who visits and reads what I write! Especially if you leave a comment! Visitors’ comments are what makes blogging enjoyable…so please continue to leave comments often.
Today is the nineteenth anniversary of the 1995 March 20th sarin gas attack on three lines of the Tokyo subway system.
I remember that day well.
Prior to that cowardly attack, I had never heard of “sarin gas”. But it’s a nerve agent that is deadly and is easily airborne.
This attack was carried out by the bizarre followers of the equally bizarre Asahara Shoko in the weird “Aum Shinrikyo” cult.
I had known about this cult before the March 1995 attacks. I had seen some of their brainwashed followers in a public park doing some kind of yoga-like stretches and chanting. So I knew they were strange…but until 1995 March 20th, I didn’t know they were dangerous, as well.
It was reported after the attacks that the “reason” these people put containers of nerve gas on trains that killed thirteen people and injured thousands was because they were brainwashed by the cult’s leader, Asahara, that he was the second-coming of Christ and this attack was needed to hasten “Judgement Day”. Or something ridiculous like that.
After this attack, the train and subway lines in Japan were on “high alert”, public trash bins were removed from all stations (a number have since been replaced with a new “transparent” design), there were “Wanted” posters all over Japan for the people responsible, and the “Aum Shinrikyo” cult was designated as a terrorist organization and forced to close down.
Unfortunately though, the members of the cult who weren’t arrested simply changed the name of their group to “Aleph” and still meet under that name.
At the start of each season in Japan, the major domestic (Japanese) beer brewers offer special beers related to the season.
I just bought Suntory’s new 発泡酒 (malt liquor beer) for this spring, called 「春咲く薫り」(“Spring Blossom Fragrance”).
春咲く薫り(はるさくかおり)
I like it. Tastes good!
It’s not cold in Tokyo today…the temperature is very comfortable. And it’s forecast to stay this warm all week at least.
It’s nice weather today but it’s forecast to rain tomorrow and Friday.
If you have outdoor plans on a day that it’s forecast to rain, what do you do in your country?
In Japan, people (especially children) hang a Teru-Teru-Bozu up.
Do you know what a “Teru-teru-bozu” is?
Teru-Teru-Bozu is a Japanese charm that is supposed to keep rain away.
When Japanese kids have an outdoor event, such as a school “Sports Day” or a field trip, and it’s forecast to rain on that day (and cause the event to be cancelled), they will make a Teru-Teru-Bozu out of cloth or, more commonly, tissue paper and hang it up.
There’s also a song for the Teru-Teru-Bozu that is along the lines of the English song “Rain, Rain, Go Away”.
Actually, I’ve written about Teru-Teru-Bozu once before, five years ago. (Click here to read it.)
Today is 2014 March 14th. It’s already been three years since the huge earthquake and tsunami tragedy that hit Sendai.
I wrote a post on that day (Click here to read it) about four hours after it happened. That earthquake did damage down here in Tokyo…but nothing like what the Tohoku area suffered.
I also wrote a post about a month after the earthquake (Click here to read it) about some of the things the earthquake survivors treasure.
Today, for the tragedy’s third anniversary, the Japan Times newspaper is showing some of the hardest hit areas and the survivors three years after (Click here to see it).
A mother and her daughter attend a candle-lighting event held Sunday to commemorate the third anniversary of the March 11 tsunami and earthquake in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, one of the worst-hit areas. | (photo from: KYODO | caption: Japan Times)
Do you know who Rachel Bolan is?
He is the bass player of the excellent heavy-metal band Skid Row.
Skid Row. Rachel Bolan is on far-right.
Skid Row are scheduled to play a show in Tokyo on 2014 April 14th to promote their latest album “United World Rebellion: Chapter One“!
This will be Skid Row‘s first visit to Japan since 1995. Nineteen years ago!
Today, Rachel Bolan was kind enough to answer some questions from me for an interview!
My questions are in red. Rachel Bolan‘s answers are in black.
1. Could you give us a self-introduction, please?
Rachel Bolan, co-founder, bass player and song writer for Skid Row.
2. The new Skid Row release “United World Rebellion: Chapter One” is quite good. Will there be a “Chapter Two” ?
Thank you. There will be 3 chapters in all. As a matter of fact, we just finished up recording “United World Rebellion – Chapter Two”. We are very excited about it!
3. What music / albums do you listen to most often these days?
Lately I have been listening to an artist named Gin Wigmore. She’s great!
I also listen to the music that I grew up with. KISS, The Ramones, Aerosmith, Queen, etc.
4. Do you like Japanese food? Have you ever tried Tokyo’s original dish “Monja-yaki“?
I love food in general, but Japanese is one of my favorites. Japanese meals always seem so well balanced.
I haven’t had Monja-yaki, but would like to try it. I think every culture has a dish similar to it. My Uncle used to make something like it. It didn’t have dough in it however. Just egg as a binder.
I’m getting hungry. Haha.
5. Skid Row is scheduled to play a show at the O-East club in the Shibuya area of Tokyo, Japan. Could you give us a preview of what fans can expect at that show, set-list-wise and otherwise?
We usually try to play something from every album. That gets more difficult as time goes on because our catalog keeps growing and I can’t see us playing a 4 hour show. Haha.
We will play all the songs that you would expect us to play. Some new songs as well as some deep tracks. Lots of energy on stage because we love what we do! We may be getting older, but we haven’t slowed down a bit.
チラシ (Flyer) for Skid Row’s upcoming show in Tokyo.
6. The last time Skid Row toured Japan was in 1995, wasn’t it? Why did it take so long for you to finally return?
That’s right. Almost 20 years since our last visit. I have no idea why it’s taken so long. We’ve always had such an amazing time.
I wish we were playing more than one show on this trip. We’ll make sure it doesn’t take another 20 years until we play there again.
7. How many times have you been to Tokyo? Are there any sites that you’re particularly looking forward to revisiting? Or some places in Tokyo that you haven’t seen yet that you would like to visit?
I believe I’ve been to Tokyo 6 times.
I hope to get back to Kiddieland if its still there!! (It is. It’s actually not too far of a walk from the venue you’ll be playing at!)
Also, Akihabara. I like to check out all the gadgets.
I have never been to Tsukiji fish market. I’d really like to see it.
8. How do the fans in Japan compare to those in other countries?
It’s funny. I’ve been asked that question by many journalists from many different countries. The answer is always the same. Skid Row fans are awesome in every country we go and very similar except for the language they speak. We have the most dedicated fans in the world. That’s why we called the trilogy ” United World Rebellion “.
9. Do you receive a lot of fan-mail from Japan?
We do get quite a bit of email from Japan via Facebook and such.
10. Do you have a message for the fans in Japan?
I just want everyone to know how excited we are to return to your incredible country. And how much we appreciate your unconditional support over the past 25 years.
There’s not a night I step on stage that I don’t think how great a life that has been afforded to me because of fans like you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart!
Thanks again to Rachel Bolan for taking time to answer my questions. These are great answers! Very interesting interview! I look forward to your show next month!
Thanks also to Skid Row‘s webmaster, Noel Saabye to getting me in contact with Mr. Bolan.
Here are some relevant Skid Row links that everyone should check out:
SkidRow.com
SkidRow’s Official Facebook Page
Hayashi Promotions Skid Row Japan Tour Info
The three-year anniversary of the tragic 2011 March 11th earthquake and tsunami is in six days.
One couple who lost their daughter on that day recently received a letter she had written to them in 2004.
Today is 「ひな祭り」 (Hina-matsuri (“Princess (Doll) Festival“)) in Japan.
It’s sometimes still called “Girls’ Day” because families with daughters set-up special elaborate doll displays of Japanese royalty and eat a special sushi dinner.
The city of Katsuura in Chiba Prefecture is known for their huge Hina-matsuri display.
This year’s display could be seen there until today (2014 March 3rd).
Even if you can make it to that area to see their big doll display, Katsuura is still a very beautiful place to visit.
Tokyo Five 
Recent Comments