Fukushima Akebekos at the Nagano All Japan ALT Football Tournament

So this weekend was the weekend of the All Japan ALT Football Tournament in Nagano. Unfortunately they called it "Soccer" but I still knew what they were on about. My prefecture sent down a girls and a boys team, both under the name of Fukushima Akebekos. Fukushima is the name of my prefecture, and Akebekos means Red Bulls. According to prefectual legend, there was a period where food was very sparse in the area and farming was very tough. Apparently when many of the other cows and bulls died, there was one Red Bull that survived and helped bring prosperity back to the region. So the Red Bull or Akabeko has become the symbol of the prefecture, and represents health and prosperity. It is also a traditional gift to give someone who has a baby, to wish good luck and a happy and full life! So it seemed like a very appropriate name to christen our team with!

What our team lacked in quality we certainly made up for in quantity and enthusiasm of participants. About 50 ALTs went down in total and the coach ride down turned out to be the start of the enjoyment! After work on Friday I set off for my nearest city Aizuwakamtsu (About 2 hours from my apartment) Wakamatsu was the last and closest pick up point that I could board the team coach. It was a long ride down to Nagano, about 4 hours, and many of the other JETs had already been on the coach for an hour or 2, but being the resourceful JETs that we are we made the most of it. It was quite a rowdy ride, we had all stocked up with a bit of alcohol to pass the time, although this also had the consequence of people needing regular toilet breaks which made the journey even longer. Still it was a good way for a bit of team bonding as we had only managed to get one practice in before the event and less than half of us were able to make that.

So we turned up to the Ryokan (Japanese Style Hotel) at about 2 in the morning. We all checked in and went to our rooms for some much needed rest. In these more traditional Japanese hotels the rooms are usually pretty big and empty, with tatami mats on the floor. You generally share with quite a few people and just sleep on futons that you prepare yourself. The next morning we got up about 8ish, had breakfast in a big communal dinning area, where there were many other teams. I bumped into a few people that I had met at my pre-departure orientation in Edinburgh. And there was definitely a bit of inter-prefecture rivalry going on!

We headed out to some of the best pitches I've ever played on. Perfectly flat and grass like carpets and they were also set in the picturesque mountains with some amazing views all around. We started the tournament reasonably well. I started the first game in my usual midfield general role. Although the standard wasn't the highest, as very few of the teams had been able to arrange much training, there were a few signs that our team could play quite well together given a bit of time! Unfortunately though, with the number of people that we had bought down, we found it difficult to get everyone a decent amount of playing time. This meant there were a lot of changes (It was rolling substitutes) and it was tough for the team to really gel with the lack of consistency. Still we drew our first game 0-0 with supposedly one of the better teams. It went down to penalties and after a bit of nail biting we emerged victorious 4-3, thanks to some level headed penalties and some spectacular saves by our giant keeper (About 6ft 6) and Fujet President Morty. Unfortunately I had come off shortly before the end of the game so wasn't able to take a penalty, but probably best given the outcome! We won the next game 2 - 0 in a physical encounter, and we were looking to go from strength to strength. However the in the 3rd game of the day we came up against a strong team (one of the few that actually played together regularly) We let an early sloppy goal in from a corner, that really should have been cleared. But the team didn't get down and we drew level thanks to a 30 yard rocket from our very own Micro-Aussie Anu. Unfortunately despite some desperate defending from the team and a heroic last ditch tackle from my good self, the pressure eventually paid dividends for our opponents and they scored the winner with just a few minutes left. We later found out that this team made it to the final, so it was not really a bad effort from us! Despite this bit of disappointment at the end, we finished the day with 1 draw (win on penalties) 1 win and 1 loss. This meant we progressed to the next stage of the tournament, which was to be the next day.

Me making an athletic sprint for the ball

The Team Spirit of The Akebekos

Some of the Female Akebekos

Before the next day of the tournament, there was some serious partying to be done. All the teams got together in the hotel, and there were a couple of DJ's spinning till the early hours. The Fukushima Akebekos started the night with some good ol' drinking games, and it was pretty messy from then on in! Needless to say I was pretty bladdered by the end of the night but good fun was had by all!

Some of us Fujets enjoying the party!

Me and Emily gining it the Peace Fingers

Brent, Me Meredith and Emily all looking a little worse for wear!

We had to get up at 8 again the next morning, I had only gone to sleep a few hours before with a belly full of alcohol, so I missed breakfast and was not exactly feeling too pretty. We headed out for our second round game, quite confident that we would get the better of a team that only just had the numbers for a full team.

We decided to make sure everyone got a fair amount of playing time so we started with everyone who had played the least up until that point. It was the first game I hadn't started but to be honest I was not in the greatest shape to be much use anyway. It turned out we were a little over confident and despite bringing on some of our stronger players in the second half we lost in a scrappy game 1-0 and went crashing out of the competition! I could put it down to me not playing in the final game but I had spent the whole time sleeping on the sidelines so I'm not sure I would've really been any help! It was definitely a disappointment not have got a bit further but in the end it was perhaps a blessing in disguise as it meant we were able to leave a bit earlier and get home at a reasonable time.

We had a free curry outside in the beautiful scenery before setting off about 2:00pm. There was a bit of a problem with the coach on the way back and I didn't end up getting home till nearly 10:00pm. It had been a very long and tiring weekend, but it was great fun. I'm definitely going to go on the next football tournament and hopefully we can have a little more success on the pitch, but just as much fun off it!

Asahi Chu Welcome Enkai and the International Party

This week I had a welcome enkai with the teachers from Asahi Junior High School. It was great fun, the food was great and the drinks kept flowing. At these enkais you usually sit on the floor at your own, little, individual table in a big tatami mat room. Your table usually has lots of small dishes on it, often at least one hot dish with a paraffin heater underneath. There is usually more than enough food on the table, but as soon as the Kampai (Cheers) is said and people start eating and drinking, more dishes are always brought in. It is also customary not to poor your own drinks, but at the same time not to let anybody’s drinks around you get anywhere near empty. I often seem to almost take this as a competition to see if I can finish my drink before someone can fill it up, so I often drink quite a bit, but it’s always nomihodai (all you can drink) at enkais so there is no need to worry about the cost. Anyway the party was very enjoyable and after it had finished some of the teachers and I went to the Karaoke for a 2nd enkai, which is also very common. We sang and drank till about midnight which was great fun, but made it difficult to get up for work the next morning!

Me and Asahi Chu Kocho Sensei

My Enkai Meal!

Some teachers enjoying the enkai

Me and Honda-Sensei

Me and the ladies from Asahi Chu at the KaraokeMe teaching the teachers the YMCA at KaraokeMe and Muroi-Sensei singing a duet of Wonderwall

Asahi Chu-gakko's comedy duo - obviously finding themselves very funny!!

Me, Tomotake-sensei and Muroi-sensei enjoying karaoke!

This weekend I didn’t have too much planned and actually spent my first Friday night in my apartment, which made for a relaxing change. I had a nice long lie in on Saturday morning too, and was just beginning to get a little bored in my apartment in the afternoon when Mike (A 2nd Year JET in Tajima) called and invited me to a party at some of his Japanese friends’ house. I went along with Mike, Meredith and Rich, and we arrived at a huge old traditional Japanese house where a couple of DJs were spinning. It the most international party I’ve ever been to, with people from Britain, France, Austria, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada, South Africa and of course Japan! I also met a girl called Joanne who was the JET in Tadami about 4 years ago, so it was very interesting chatting to her and hearing about her experiences. There was plenty of booze going round and some great traditional Japanese food as well as a BBQ. We all stayed up eating, drinking, chatting and dancing till the early hours before going to bed round the indoor open log fire! It was a great party and such a unique mix of people! Unfortunately though I left my camera in the car and didn’t take many photos!

The Big, Very Old Japanese House!

Mike Packing up his futon, where we slept round the fire pit!

The next morning we got up pretty early, packed away our bedding and a big group of us headed out to climb a nearby mountain. It was pretty small and only took about 45 minutes to climb to the top, so not sure if it can really be called a mountain, but it was a very pleasant climb and the views at the top of Tajima were really nice. The mountain also has a big shrine at the top, and is regarded as a holy mountain. This means you are not meant to damage any plants on it and you are supposed to wash your hands before climbing, to purify your soul. I really enjoyed the climb and it certainly inspired me to try and climb some of the bigger mountains around here in the future.

Mike Cleansing his soul before climbing the mountain

Mike, Rich and some German Guy at the Gaurd to the Shrine

The guard to the shrine - scary!

Me at the top of the mountain, looking over Tajima

Tadami-Machi Welcome Enkai

(They even spelt my name right - thats better than most people in England!)

Today after school I had my Town Welcome Enkai (Drinking Party). I had been to a couple of enkais with my schools before this, and most of the teachers had been casually dressed. When I was told I had been told I had another welcome enkai, I assumed it would be the same and I changed into some jeans and a rugby shirt. Luckily just before I got on the coach, one of my teachers told me that it was probably best to change into some smarter clothes. I was so glad I did because I would have looked a right fool as everybody else was wearing suits. I didn't really realise that this was my official town welcome party, and the Mayor of Tadami, and the head teachers from all the schools as well as a lot of other important people in the town would be there.

Most enkais have quite formalised procedures, with opening speeches, Kampai (Start Drinking Speech), and closing speeches, but during the meal and the drinking it is very relaxed and very good fun. The food is always excellent, and it is traditional to make sure that nobody's drink is ever empty. This enkai was followed tradition, although the speeches were maybe a little more formal than usual. I was also asked to give a speech as the guest of honour. Luckily I knew that I would have to give a short speech at all my welcome enkais, and although I hadn't brought anything with me I was beginning to remember mine off by heart. It was very short but it was in Japanese and I think everyone appreciated my effort even if my Japanese was far from perfect. After the first, more formal, enkai some of the teachers and my supervisor (Ken-san) took my to another bar/resturant for a more relaxed 2nd enkai, like an after party I guess. We stayed at this bar till quite late and food kept being served! By the end of the night I was feeling quite merry and very stuffed. It was very enjoyable but I think i'm going to get fat here with all these enkais, the great food, and so much beer and sake!

Anyway here are some photos from the night:

Me, with the Mayor of Tadami and some other members of the town council.

Me and the Mayor - I don't know why I look so geeky in all these photos though!

Me and some friends at the 2nd Enkai

Aizuwakamatsu Samurai Festival

This weekend was the weekend of one of the biggest festivals in the local area. Japan has a hell of a lot festivals for a lot of different occasions, you could probably go to one every weekend somewhere in the prefecture if you wanted to, but this one was especially cool.

The Samurai festival was in Aizuwakamatsu, which is the nearest city to my town. It is not a very big city (Only about 100,000 people) but it has a long history and used to be one of the most important cities in samurai times. The festival celebrates the history of all the samurai tribes and all the battles that have been fought in and around the city. Hundred's of people dressed up in traditional samurai outfits, many on horseback, and paraded through the streets towards the castle. The procession culminated at the castle where all the tribes gathered, there were some staged battle scenes, lots of teiko drumming and some speeches from important local people, though I didn't understand those!

Loads of JETs came from all over the prefecture, and when the festival was tailing off, we all went for a Nomihodai (all you can drink) meal, got pretty merry and headed for...................... Yep you guessed it Karaoke! Yay!! Was a great weekend though!

Below are some photos from the day:

This is a picture of a friend of mine, Padriac from Ireland. He's a JET in Aizuwakamatsu and was asked to be in the parade to play the part of a German arms dealer who sold guns to the Japanese near the end of the feudal war! He's seen here with his concubine

Another friend of mine, Becca (also a Wakamatsu JET) was in the parade dressed like this. Unfortunately though I didn't catch her in a photo as it was difficult to recognise her!
This is Aizuwakamatsu Castle. Like most of the castles in Japan it is not original and but was rebuilt about 50 years ago. It still looks pretty cool though.
The tribes gathering at the castle.

A meal at the Izikiya

This really doesn't need much explaining!

First weeks in Japan

Hope everyone is well. I know you've all been waiting for the latest installment from the land of the rising sun so here it is!! Where shall I start? I guess at the beginning........


Well just over 3 weeks ago now I boarded the plane with Jessebelle (My guitar for anyone who doesn't know) and 7 other JETs (Japanese Exchange Teachers) from England. I spent 2 nights in Tokyo which was very cool. There was about 120 JETs in total in Tokyo at the group C orientation, mainly from America Australia and New Zealand. There were lots of lectures during the day about the job and settling into Japan etc and plenty of customary drinking in the night. The first night was quite funny all the English Jets went out for a meal. None of us could speak Japanese, so we had to just point at the menu and hope for the best. I was starving but I ended up with a dish with some food (I don't know what) about the size of ping pong ball. So I left very hungry but with a greater determination to learn Japanese and also to fill up on beer!! The second night we had a big welcome ceromony with lots of great Japanese food and drinks and then went out with some Irish guys, one of whom had lived in Tokyo before so he led us all to some good bars!

Here are some pictures from my Tokyo Orientation:

The English JETs First meal in Japan! DOH!

Me and my Room-mates for the 2 nights, Ed and George!

Me and Ed in a Japanese Bar

Me at Shibuya Crossing, it must be one of if not the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world!










Me, George, Ed, The Irish Guys and some Japanese people we met in a bar.


The view from the hotel.













Off to Tadami........
The next day I was taken to my new home in Tadami. It took about 4 hours from Tokyo and on the way I met some of the other JETs living in my area. There are 6 JETs including me within an hour or so drive. 3 English guys Me, Matt and Richard, 2 American guys called Matt and Mike and an American girl called Meredith.

Since then it has been very hetic. The first week I met almost everyone in my town I think. There were loads of welcome ceromonys and partys and stuff. I've already been in the local paper a couple of times and they have asked me to write in it every month! I met all the teachers at the 3 schools I will be working at. Each shool has less than 100 kids so they're pretty small.

At the weekend loads of JETs met up in the nearest city, Aizu Wakamatsu, for an all you can eat and drink party. It was great, there were about 30 JETs from all over the area and we certainly made the most of the all you can drink. We finished up by murdering some songs at the Karioke Bar and then we all crashed at a couple of the JETs flats. The next morning I had the worst hang over I’ve had in Ages and was feeling very rough in the morning but I 'manned up' and went to festival in the afternoon in the next town to mine called Nango. The festival was to celebrate harvest I think. It was extremely strange and there were lots of very drunk Japanese men and fireworks and drumming and dancing and food stalls. Anyway it was great fun!

That week there were similar festivals held all over the place. I was asked to play Teiko (Japanese Drums) in the festival in my town. It was very cool but pretty tiring. They play and sing the same song for about 3 hours and everyone dances round the people playing the drums. Its very strange!!!


The next week was my first week teaching, It was a little daunting but I think i got on quite well with the kids and they seemed to enjoy my lessons. Last weekend I went to Sendai for a big jazz festival with about 10 other JETs. That was awesome, there were loads and loads of little stages with people playing Jazz music all over the place.

Today I had my first experience teaching in the Elementary School. I only do this about twice a month but it was great fun. The kids seemed to like using me as a human climbing frame!! Reminded me very much of Kindergarten Cop but obviously i'm a bit more tonk than Arnie!
Anyway not sure what i'm up to this weekend but I’m sure something will be going on! In a few weeks i'm going to Nagano for a big football tournament so that should be good.
Right better go, speak to you soon

Here are a few photos from my first few weeks in Tadami:

Me and the Other Minamiaizu Jets. (Left to Right Mike, Matt F, Meredith, Matt H, Me, Rich)

Me at my first Enkai with some of the Teachers from Asahi JHS

Me at the top of Tadami Dam near my apartment

The view of Tadami Ski Slope from my apartment balcony

My Apartment living room

My Kitchen

JETs enjoying Karaoke

Minami Aizu JETs minus Rich

THE Drunkest Man at Nango Festival

The Drunk Man looking very pleased with Becca

Me and some Japanese girls

The Nango Autumn Festival

Me and the "Band" at the Tadami Autumn Festival