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Monthly Archives: June 2004

Ultraman Attack

Makiko, Waka, and Sayuki prepare to whoop some ass.

Categories: Ubuyama | Comments Off on Ultraman Attack

Violent Crime in Japan

Is there a higher rate of violent crime and crime in general in the United States than there is in Japan? Yes, I think that’s a safe thing to say. Japan is the model most often used by advocates of the prohibition of firearms. There is no private ownership of handguns, and among 120 million … Continue reading »

Categories: Education | 6 Comments

Cynops pyrrhogaster

This is a Japanese Firebellied Newt that one of my students caught in the Tamarai River that runs next to my Chugakko. Yesterday, my JTE decided to have class outside, and to “wing it”. As would be expected when kids are taken outdoors and there is no lesson plan, the kids didn’t learn any English, … Continue reading »

Categories: Creatures | 1 Comment

Thanks, I think…

Today, I walked in to the lunch room and heard the nursery school teachers mumbling my name. They collectively looked up, all of them wearing the same conspiratorial grin and called me a “Casablanca dandy”. Now what the hell does one make of that?

Categories: Ubuyama | 1 Comment

Game over man! Game over!

The only insects that I hate are those which suck my blood or are unreasonably agressive toward me. I will not hesitate to kill a mosquito or to crush a flea between my fingernails, but house centipedes test me on these self-imposed limits. Their grotesque body and movements fascinate me, but also give me a … Continue reading »

Categories: Creatures | 2 Comments

Sannensei Text Bubbles

Today the chugakko third graders were given a picture of two OLs(office ladies) sitting together on a bench, eating lunch together and having a conversation. They were given 20 minutes to write dialogue and I was proud of what they were able to accomplish. Here are a couple of samples from class (No corrections have … Continue reading »

Categories: Education | 2 Comments