July 3, 2004
Well, this will be a really simple journal, until I figure out what to do with it. Really there have been so many small experiences what have made me think "I oughta be writing this down," that probably the best format is a simple structureless journal.

I'm lying on my futon at 2:58 am, thinking I oughta get a bit of sleep before I have to get up for work tomorrow. On the way back from a date with Noriko tonight I stopped to see a young woman musician who had set up a little keyboard and microphone outside the Tsudanuma train station. Her voice was pleasant and the piano-keyboard sparse and pleasing, so I stayed a while. After her first song, she fumbled with the wiring a bit, apologizing for the delay. In the meantime a probably-drunk old guy stood up and started singing by himself. The song was kind of interesting. I could glean from it that it was about growing up without knowing war -- maybe a song for those born after world war 2. A couple people in the crowd recognize the song and either sang or clapped along with it. By the time he was done, he was curled and crouched, hiding his face as if overwhelmed with emotion. Two or three of the audience clapped, including me. The woman performer waited for him to finish, and then tried another song. Meanwile the old guy who broke into song, was talking with a young guy nearby him about sending email by phone. This sudden change of topics made me chuckle.

I ended up buying a CD for 500 yen (a bit less than 5 bucks) and am listening to it now. Simple and sweet -- the quickest analogy that comes to mind, is to watermelon.

I've been invited to teach 3 hours of classes in August for some kind of English circle in the nearby town of Narashino. For three hours I'll be pulling in 15000 yen - ridiculously good wages. If it goes well, it might turn into a regular (gig? somehow that word seems disrespectful. Job? oportunity?) starting November. At three times a month, that would equal 45000 yen -- about $400? wow.

Things continue to grow between me and Noriko. Tonight we had a date, that started out kinda clumsy. After the usual "what do you want to do?" "Idunno, what do you want to do?" I picked a restaurant called "mugi to budou" -- grain and grape (an intentional reference to "of grape and grain?" idunno.) While we were there it was just kinda awkward. I was thinking thoughts like "well, this is it, Noriko's bored with me. My attempts to start conversation or amuse her seemed to be irritating her." Perhaps she was thinking the same thing, idunno. Anyway we left the restaurant, and suddenly my mood changed -- the air was that perfect summer air -- somewhere between warm and cool, and the moon appeared to be full. For about an hour Noriko and I just walked around aimlessly, and it was back to our usual happy fun dates. Small exchanges of affection, comfortable playful conversation, a sense of delight in her presence, all sense of irritation gone.

For now I've gotta get some sleep. By the way, I wonder how well Japanese transmits via my web page? if not I'll work the bugs out later. Here's the name of the song that old guy was singing: in English, something like "Children who don't know war" 戦争を知らない子供たち