The Stretched Twig of Peace - The Life and Opinions of Steven J. Hennessy, Gentleman.

I signed up to facebook today following requests from a few people. It seems pretty cool but already I'm aware of its dangers. I think it's going to be very useful for keeping in touch with a wider array of people and should provide greater traffic to this site. I'm just concerned about how much more of my time it will eat up.

So I will make a public pledge:I vow to be a disciplined facebook user and to not neglect this blog.

Now I hope I can hook up with friends old and new and honour my pledge. Time will tell... 

One of the three modern-day muskateers of popular opera has passed away, namely Luciano Pavarotti. Like everybody else who've been given an obituary of sorts here, the C-word was to blame. That's cancer for those of you with dirty mouths!

 I can't confess to particularly liking opera (I normally loathe it to be honest) but I'll never forget Pavarotti's rendition of "Nessun Dorma" (noone shall sleep) from Puccini's Turandot that was used for the BBC's titles to their coverage of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. It still sends a shiver up my spine and makes me think "What if?" (If you don't know England went out on penalties to eventual winners West Germany in the Semi-Final) as well as conjuring pictures of Gazza (Paul Gascoigne) in tears at his yellow card that would have kept him out of the final. Alas it was a final that was never to be for England.

This was such a memorable World Cup for me with England's highs, lows and heartache, Nessun Dorma and arguably the finest football/music crossover in Englandneworder's "World in Motion".

Anyway, RIP Pavarotti and thanks for the spine shivers.

Gazza/Pavarotti

Here's a live performance of Nessun Dorma from Paris.

Ahh fuck it. Here's the "World In Motion" video too.

This is one of my favourite tracks from the now defunct "Spacemen 3" of the mid 80s to early 90s. They were never well known but respected. They split acrimoniously with the two "leaders" forming separate bands. Jason Spaceman AKA Jason Pierce formed "Spiritualized", who acheived success and Sonic Boom AKA Pete Kember formed "Spectrum", a less commercially successsful outfit, and collaborated with other leftfield musicians such as Kevin Shields of "My Bloody Valentine" fame. This track is the opener from their final album "Recurring". It's essentially, to borrow from a footy cliche, an album of two halves; the first being Sonic Boom's and in my opinion the better.

Spaceman_3-Big_City

Spacemen 3

I finally got off my arse and did it. No I haven't registered at Facebook, that's next. I mean I finally downloaded Skype. What a joy! Really cheap calls to land lines internationally and completely free computer to computer "calls". The quality seems on the money to boot. Last weekend I managed to speak with my folks, my old mate Darren and my colonial cousin and fellow Japanophile/Japanophobe Jeff. I hadn't actually spoken to either Daz or Jeff since 2006 so I was very pleased to catch up.

I hope those of you who are viewing this post in the privacy of your own homes will download Skype and get in touch cos I'd love to speak to you (assuming I don't owe you anything or have wronged you or your kin). Better still, pick up a web cam and we can have video calls!

Has anyone bought a pair of Crocs this year? Aren't they great? Without trying to sound like someone who's being paid by the company, I have to say they are fucking comfy shoes/sandals. I have been wearing mine since early June and haven't looked back. They're so light and spongy and they just mold to your feet. OK so if you're a smoker or toker, you can do yourself an injury if you drop ash/rocks into one of the little holes on the top of the most popular design but they're both bad for you anyway (well maybe not the herb but definitely the baccy).

Because of a combination of their light weight, comfort and ease of cleaning, they've become popular with nurses and surgeons. Indeed there's been a lot of debate concerning safety/health risks surrounding Crocs worn by hospital staff. Here's an article about hospitals from my former home of Sheffield here and a follow up here.

Regardless I think they're great. Oh and the colours...

Multi-crocs

Finally, I posted an age back about the number 1 video game of all time. That came from a special edition of "Edge" magazine and my mum was kind enough (as ever) to send me a copy. Having read through it cover to cover, I then proceded to pick up some of the older PS2 titles that I previously overlooked due to my focus on Nintendo. Here in Japan classic games are dirt cheap - around the price of a pint and some nuts - so in the last month or so I bought "Metal Gear Solid 2:Substance" (cool game but how long are the cut scenes?), "Ico" (beautiful game that is the antithesis of Metal Gear in its approach of less is more that you act as protector to Yorda rather than lone hero really adds to the experience) and "Katamari Damashi" (a very Japanese game involving a little guy pushing a little sticky ball around that picks up items and grows ever larger until animals. people, vehicles and even entire tower blocks are assimilated. That there is a bizarre plot about the king of the cosmos destroying the stars after a bender just adds to the fun). All of these games have helped keep me sane during the sticky Summer months and are recommended if they passed you buy the first time. Here's the opening sequence for "Katamari Damashi" or "Katamari Damacy" as the game incorrectly romanises it (incidentally the name means "clump spirit" and the kanji are incredibly similar making the title a kind-of Japanese alliteration).

This week I've been mostly watching comedy! (to rip off Jesse from "The Fast Show")

I've been a right royal Jack Sparrow in obtaining some of the new comedy hitting British screens of late.

First up I watched the first episode of the second series of "Saxondale" with Steve Coogan. I'm a big fan of Coogan the performer in general particularly as Alan Partridge or in any Michael Winterbottom films ("24 Hour Party People" and "A Cock and Bull Story") and while "Saxondale" ultimately doesn't measure up it's still great fun. The only thing I didn't like was that Tommy seems to have got younger since the previous series which is a tad odd but whatever...

Next I've been watching the new episode of "The IT Crowd".I love this program, Graham Linehan, it's writer, can really construct a classic sitcom scenario complete with events that lead to agreat pay off gag. The scenes with Roy and Moss as a wheelchair-bound homosexual and a barman respectively were great.

I also caught up with "Man to Man with Dean Learner" a fake chatshow that serves as a spinoff from "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace" a fantastic spoof bad sci-fi/horror show from the 80s shown with contemporary reminices from the titular author, director, dreamweaver plus actor GM, his costars and publisher/producer Dean Learner.

OK so fake chatshows have been done a few times but it's the characters that make or break this kind of show. In the case of "Man to Man" Dean (Richard Ayoade- Moss from The IT Crowd) is great as a seedy publisher of quality men's magazines seemingly with a lot of skeletons in his clost. Mathew Holness plays all of Dean's guests including Garth, Steve Pising (pronounced Pissing)-a Nigel Mansel pisstake, a very dark folk singer/songwriter and a Uri Gellar type character. Entertaining stuff.

It's funny but whenever I meet a fellow Brit when out for a drink, the conversation almost always turns to comedy shows we've enjoyed. If Gordon Brown wants to create a new holiday to celebrate "Britishness", he'd do well to dedicate a day to the excellent comedy our sceptred isle produces, because for me this is the essence of Britain... that and binge drinking.

Anyway here's a fantastic mock 80s pop number from "Dark Place". Enjoy!

It was my good friend Simon's birthday this week (if you know him and you forgot, shame on you!) and although I didn't get to speak with him we did exchange a couple of emails. He and his lovely lady wife (do I sound a bit like a patronising gameshow host? I hope not) are expecting their first child next month (so if you did forget his birthday, get back into his good books by readying a new baby card).

This got me thinking about the stereotypical pregnancy cravings, you know, pickled onions and strawberry yoghurt, chocolate and cheese etc. I started reflecting upon my own situation (I'm not pregnant regardless of whether I look it you cheeky bastards!). Being in a Foreign country gives one access to lots of delicious foreign food and generally a better standard of restaurants than in the UK(at least in Japan). The downside is that it can be hard to find veggie-friendly menus or traditional veggie dishes are spoiled by the addition of meat or fish products (Pesto with chicken stock anyone?). Despite the variety of offerings available you can find yourself pining for foods you paid little heed to in your native country. You don't miss something til it's gone I guess.

Living in Tokyo there is no shortage of Import food shops. Obviously their products come at a premium though. It's relatively easy to find ingredients for Italian, Spanish, Indian, Middle Eastern and Asian foods and some N American favourites (candy, potato chips and snacks, cookies etc.) as well as some familiar chocolate brands. However, because of the demographic of the Foreign community in Japan and a poor view of our cuisine in general a lot of British specialities are unavailable.

It is here I should openly thank my Mother, my brother and friends for the parcels of goodies they've sent me during my time out here. It is always greatly appreciated. Indeed my Mum recently posted a large box of Autumnal goodies by surface mail to keep me going til my Christmas visit.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you my personal cravings so here they are.

Branston Pickle/Sweet Pickle/Chutneys - It 's possible (but more difficult than you'd expect) to find British cheese but something to go with it...

Mushy Peas - Specifically chips and peas with a pickled egg. Recently came across something called Zunda from Miyagi Prefecture which is mashed green soy beans though.

Cadbury's Double Deckers - A lot of Australian-made Cadbury chocolate is available here but sadly no DDs or Creme eggs for that matter.

Veggie-friendly Pies or Pasties - Forgive me. I lived in the North. I have an urge to gobble up a Linda McCartney pie even in Summer and as for eating one of those Broccoli, Cheese and Sweetcorn pasties from that shop next to Sommerfield across from the Millenium Garden in Sheffield - Yes, please!

Anyway all this talk is making me hungry. Time to eat!

Phew! It's been hot and humid here in Japan this week. Everyday has been sunny with temperatures in the mid 30s in Tokyo and the Mercury hit 40degreesC in places yesterday. It goes without saying that it's been nice and humid too...

Last weekend was Obon in Japan. It's a time when Japanese people remember their ancestors, traditionally returning to their home towns for the duration. Many companies give their workers time off to allow this. Indeed at my company all the (Japanese) Managers are given a week off. Given their workloads and the pressure they work under it's the least they deserve.

August is also the month for Summer holidays with many Japanese flying to resort islands like Hawaii, Guam or Saipan, North America, Europe, other parts of Asia. Often these holidays take the form of a well organised, chaperoned package tour that ticks all the more popular tourist boxes for a particular destination in a short time. Indeed these tours are often less than a week. Now doubt if you've ever been somewhere like London or New York you've witnessed a tour in progress - a coach rolls up near a famous landmark packed with middle-aged Japanese sporting the latest in digital recording equipment. They follow a shrill uniformed guide waving a flag as the tour party snap and record what they can, pick up souvenirs and finally disappear as suddenly as they arrived. Of course this is terrible generalisation but it's not TOO far from the reality.

Late July and August are also holidays for schoolkids but the Japanese style of Summer school holiday is quite different from how I remember those long Summers back in the day. I was making smalltalk with a Highschool student of mine the otherday. Like all Junior High or 1st year Highschool students in Japan, he's a member of a sports club. These clubs are extra-curricular activities taking place after school, on weekends or even before school (I've seen kids going to school as early as 5AM. I of course was going home after a loong night).

But here's the thing: membership of a club is compulsory as is attendance. Now there are a lot of good things about this such as ensuring kids exercise, take part in social activities, develop teamwork (v important in Japanese culture) etc. Indeed all over the world kids are involved in afterschool sports. What surprised me was the frequency of the practices: 4times a week and at weekends. Given that highschoolers have to work incredibly hard to go on to a well respected University, usually receiving extra tuition at a cram school, this seems a tad excessive. Surely during the holidays everything winds down and students can sleep in, relax, chip away at any schoolwork they need to complete? Wrong. Just because school's out doesn't mean the club activities stop. Indeed practices are longer and inter-school tournaments are arranged. Clubs may have training camps out in the country to prepare for these tournaments.

 In the case of my student he travelled to a nearby rural prefecture where he spent 4 or 5days playing his chosen sport for 12hours a day from 4AM. 12hours a day! 4AM! What kind of fucking Summer holiday is that? Of course I'm viewing this from my cultural perspective that Summer holidays should be completely devoid of school except for the week before when new school clothes and supplies (always Geometry kits and fancy pencil cases) needed to be bought. Indeed in most of the world the start of the Summer hols follows the end of the school year and so we naturally draw a line and our thoughts focus on fun, games, holidays and how many times we can wank off in a day (Just me?). However in Japan the school year runs from April to February with March being a holiday. Maybe the perception is different when it comes to Summer holidays or maybe the Japanese have an issue with unstructured freetime. I suspect that both may be true.

As for me, this is my blog after all so allow me to further spew my ill-informed opinions, I'd hate to have to go to school in the Summer holidays. I used to have nightmares about that kind of stuff when I was a kid - being sent to school on a Saturday or in August all the while protesting "I can't go to school. It's Saturday! Call The Hague! Call Childline! Nooo!". In Japan my nightmares are made flesh but luckily I'm a bit old for school now.

 On reflection my schooldays may not have been the best years of my life (19-26 were pretty top from what I remember...) but I wouldn't change my experiences, I'm glad I was at school in the UK and had plenty of unstructured freetime to do as I pleased - reading the bulk of "The Two Towers" on the toilet and possibly setting myself up for severe piles in later life, swingball competions, watching many a shit 80s action/teen movie to death (Beverly Hills Cop everyday for a week? Huh huh huh! Get the fuck out of here!), marathon video game sessions such as plowing through the whole of "Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons" in one day, creating vile "Soda Stream" cocktails, bike rides in the country, days on The Cannock Chase, catching frogs, going camping in Wales (The Horror). Add the illicit fags and booze and herb-enhanced Street Fighter 2 allnighters (Ha-Do-Ken!) of later Summer hols and you have heaven.

Would I have rather practiced sports? What do you think and besides I DID play swingball (almost an Olympic event in the 80s). Now like Homer Simpson I miss every Summer through work but when they're as hot and humid as this year's, it's not so bad. I just wish I could find a bottle of Pimm's...

Thought I'd add another My Bloody Valentine rarity for your pleasure. I have a tradition of listening to this during plane landings (naughty, naughty -one should turn off ALL electronic equipment during landing lest the plane flip over, burst into flames and crash into the sea!). So far, so good...

My Bloody Valentine - Map Ref 41N 93W

My Bloody Valentine

While browsing Youtube today, I came across this documentary. Very interesting I thought. What do you think?

This week has seen not one but two deaths of individuals that have influenced many musically. I speak of Lee Hazlewood and Anthony "Tony" Wilson. While neither are international household names both carried a weight of respect (and loathing in the case of Tony) within musical circles and in certain sections of the public arena.

Lee Hazlewood is probably best known for his duets with Nancy Sinatra: Some Velvet Morning, Jackson, Summer Wine (a ubiquitous choice in karaoke joints in Japan)etc. He actually wrote and produced the majority of Nancy's hits the first being "These Boots Were Made For Walking" and IMHO a major factor in her success.

 He also wrote and recorded material without Ms Sinatra having previously worked with Duane Eddy and later helping to create a sound known as "Cowboy Psychedelia". He is often cited as an influence by musicians and has been covered by artists such as Nick Cave, Primal Scream and Megadeth(?). He was a baritone singer, his voice lending a distinctive richness to his music.

Lee died of renal cancer on August 7th. In tribute I present the video for "Some Velvet Morning"-one of the finest and arguably strangest pop duets recorded.

Anthony Wilson was a Cambridge University graduate who went on to work in regional news for Granada TV in Manchester in the 70s. He was the host of a music and culture show ("So it Goes") and after attending an early Sex Pistols gig had them appear on the show, possibly their first TV appearance. He brought new music to the North-Western youth and was an early champion of punk.

 He went on to co-launch and manage an independent record label: Factory Records in 1978. While he wasn't a musician Wilson was a passionate music fan and as manager of Factory was responsible for providing an outlet for such talents as Joy Division which would later become New Order, The Durutti Column and Happy Mondays. Factory also went on to open a nightclub: the Hacienda. It was to become the focal point of the "Madchester" scene of the late 80s/early 90s.

At the same time as his musical career Tony remained a broadcaster. Presenting a variety of shows ranging from politics to late-night discussion shows (After Dark anyone?)

For a fun look at a semi-fictional account of the rise and fall of Factory Records see the film "24 Hour Party People".

Tony Wilson died of a heart attack following treatment for cancer on August 11th.

Anthony H. Wilson 20/2/1950-10/8/2007

Both Lee and Tony made the world a more fun place to be. Sayonara gents.