October 2010 - In Japan Edition(last updated on 2010/11/23)

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10/1 Woke up at 5:30am, the outside is cloudy and the rain might come back in the afternoon. I was adjusting the location of antenna for my radio and I think I found a better spot. Left home around 7:15am, was able to catch a train leaving at 7:25am which was already at the platform. Switched to another train and arrived at Osaki. I was in the office by 8:00am and was the first one. Stayed until noon and stepped out to go eat noodles at nearby restaurant. Come back to the office and stayed until 7:30pm. Spent evening with my coworkers drinking beers from nearby brewery styled restaurant. Left for home around 10:30pm, come home, went to bed around midnight.
10/2 Woke up at 5:30am, did two loads of laundry, since I cannot find any place to dry them, I took a JR train for a couple of stations away for the nearby Laundromat. I had to walk ten minutes to the store. Coming home once, then dropped off my suits at cleaner and also did some grocery shopping before coming home for the morning. Relaxed for a while until 2:00pm then headed out to buy a couple of suits. Took a train to next station, and spent almost $1,500 for the clothing. After that I went to Yokohama for a walk. I get to see Nissan Leaf electric vehicle, and a couple more classic cars made by Nissan. I was walking around left there around 6:00pm and came back right before 7:00pm, the outside was getting dark. Had dinner, stayed up until 10:30pm.
Minato Mirai 21 (Click here for more pictures)
10/3 Woke up at 5:30am, many earthquakes at Nigata area, starting from 6:20am then another one at 6:50am while I was watching TV. Had breakfast, then called my dad, another earthquake at 9:30am again. Stepped out around 11:30am to pick up my suits I ordered yesterday. Came home, cooked rice and had lunch. Relaxed for the afternoon. Stepped out around 10:30pm to catch a train. Rain drops began falling but not that hard. Met with a friend who has not seen for more than 7 years. Good to know he is doing okay but I know he is not so happy from working long hours, in intense environment. Took the last trains back home. As I exit from the station a red dragonfly descending to me and landed on my shirt. I could not take it home since I don't want to flying in my room so I left it on a pole at a Japanese shrine. Went to bed around 1:00am.
Train on Nambu line arriving at Musashi Nakahara
   
10/4 Must have rained over night. Woke up at 5:30am, I wanted to stay in bed but got up. The rain was not so bad at all. I have to carry big bag with the gear today. Left home after 7:15am saw that the same red dragonfly I left at the shrine still on top of the pole. Arrived to the station. I get on a train leaving at 7:30am and changed a train at Kawasaki, after arriving at Tsurumi, I took a public bus to work. I arrived right before 8:30am, stayed until 6:00pm and came back home around 7:30pm. Relaxed at home and went to bed early today.
10/5 Woke up at 5:30am today. The outside is not that bright anymore, I guess. I walked out from the room around 7:15am, and caught a train to work. Went out to visit a customer. I very much took a tour of Tokyo. Stayed until 3:00pm and come back to the office around 4:30pm. Joined the meeting until 5:30pm. I stayed there until 7:00pm. The bus on the way back to station arrived to the bus stop while I was waiting for the signal to change. However, it stopped at the signal so the driver let me in the bus. I come home around 8:00pm, called my friend from former work. When I got home, I found out my friend from school just found me in Facebook. I went to bed early again.
10/6 Woke up at 5:30am, I took an earlier train to go work. The train and bus was less crowded so I was less stressed, also. I love getting up early and going to work early. Spent whole day at office, organizing items. Stayed until 6:30pm and went to Kirin brewery nearby office and also went to a bar in the evening. Came home around 10:00pm and went to bed soon.
10/7 Woke up at 5:30am, today is another fresh day. Took a train early to get to work, and arrived at work but no one was there yet... I spent morning at office but I get a chance to go out for customer visit. Came back to the office around 5:00pm and left there at 7:00pm. I came back at 8:00pm. Cooked dinner and relaxed at home. Went to bed around 11:00pm.
10/8 Woke up at 5:30am, left home early to get on a earlier train and bus to avoid congestions during commuting. Unlike yesterday the office was already open. Spent morning working on my projects, then headed out to Hamamatsu-cho in Tokyo to have a meeting with our affiliate firm. Everybody in the room rather thinking of getting drank then concentrating on the topics... Well, you know, it's a Friday anyway... Left the building at 5:00pm and here comes the first one. We were there until 6:30pm then get on a train to move to another location. Many others joined so we wrapped up the party around 11:00pm. I took a train back to home and went to bed around midnight. I need to get ready for the weekend...
10/9 Woke up at 5:30am just as I heard of sound of rain. The outside was cloudy and that was it. I did two loads of laundry then headed outside to go buy my breakfast. I took washed cloths to the same Laundromat as the last time, spent 30 minutes there and came back to the apartment at 11:00am, took a shower then left home around noon. Get on a train to Kawasaki then at Shinagawa. I switched the train to Nozomi 343, leaving at 12:27pm and arriving at Nagoya at 2:03pm Because this is a holiday weekend, the cars are packed and I had a little difficulty with finding a free seat. The train arrived on time, under the rain. I worried that I could be late if the train decided to slow down as a precaution. I had to wait for a bus for 20 minutes. I arrived home by 4:00pm. Had tea with my dad and relaxed. The rain seems to be falling really hard and not stopping. Stepped out in the evening to meet with my brother's family. Came home around 8:30pm and went to bed around 10:00pm.
10/10 Woke up at 5:30am again, it's sunny and happy to see some smoothing textured clouds passing by. Spent morning doing small projects at home until noon. Had udon noodles with my dad then I headed out in breezy outside to visit my grandma to have a tea, on the way, I saw a yagura mikoshi. They are having a matsuri festival. Chat with my grandma a bit, left there at 3:45pm and stopped by at Sakae, and then moved to my brother's house to pick up a book, had to play with my niece for a while. It was getting late so I called my dad to make a plan to meet up at a restaurant he wanted to go. Had sushi for the dinner. Came home, went to bed around 11:00pm.
Sky in autumn is always worth to see
   
10/11 Woke up at 5:30am, cooler than yesterday. Did a load of laundry, and had breakfast with my dad. Cleaned kitchen, rooms and put up blankets under the sun. I had to do a bit more stuffs until 1:00pm. In the afternoon, I went to Sakae. Caught a bus at 6:28pm, I thought I will be waiting for another 10 minutes but it seems to be that the previous bus was late. Well, I can come home early so it is not a bad deal. Arrived at Nagoya station at 7:20pm then walked to a platform of Shinkansen, bound for Tokyo after buying some gifts. I hoped to get on the train coming next but the platform was packed with people, and no empty seat available. I gave up one leaving at 7:20pm, and the next one which leaves at 7:23pm was also full, took only some part of people in the line to get on so I gave up again. I finally get on the third one, which was a Nozomi 123, leaving at 7:30pm. Of course there is no room for sitting so I was standing between car number 1 and 2, arrived on time at 8:56pm. So when I come home, it was past 10:00pm...
10/12 Woke up at 5:30am, woke up with the sound of rain. I was a bit behind of schedule for going to work but I was the second person at the office. Stayed until 7:30pm. I bought my dinner at a grocery store and come home. Evening was relaxing but I guess I am tired.
In the morning...
10/13 Woke up at 5:30am, headed to work around 7:15am. Spent whole day gathering data for presentation. I only went out to eat noodles for lunch. I left work around 7:00pm, and met up with a friend used to work at the same company in the U.S. We had dinner together. He got married, has a house now, my, my... I guess he's enjoying his life back in Japan. Came home around 9:00pm, spent evening reading books and relaxing. Went to bed around 11:00pm. Today was mostly cloudy and warm from the morning. Rescuing of miners in Chile has begun.
10/14 I guess I was too tired, I woke up at 5:50am. The outside is getting brighter. Went to work but the train I picked was later than usual so it was packed.  Left office early to pick up my laundry but I only realized that today they are closed. I returned home, relaxed until 11:00pm and went to bed.
10/15 Woke up at 5:30am, today is a Friday but I have to go home early so no plan on partying. After finishing work, I come home straight.
10/16 Woke up at 5:30am, did two loads of laundry and took them to dryer. Came home, get changed and left to meet up with my friends. Went to a German school where an Oktoberfest is being held. Left there around 1:00pm and headed to work. Did a presentation in the afternoon and stayed until 5:30pm  Had party until 9:00pm and took trains to come back. Called my friend and set up a plan for lunch.
Motsunabe
10/17 Woke up at 5:30am, started to do another two loads of laundry for the second day, I again went to the Laundromat. After taking a shower, I walked out from home and took a train to Shin-Okubo. Had lunch with my friend from school at a Thai restaurant. It's been almost 6 years since we have met last time. After a nice chat and meal, I then took a train back to Shibuya, walked to the NHK hall for a performance. On the way, I saw all the people in Shibuya. Many buildings have some lighting which is not like anywhere else in Japan. This time they played Aida. Finished around 6:30pm and walked back to Shibuya, took a train to Osaki for dinner at Burger King in Japan, for the first time (I did not know there is one in Japan!). Back to home, went to bed after midnight.
NHK concert hall getting ready for a performance
   
10/18 Woke up at 5:30am, but my throat is a bit sore. I maybe catching cold. A little behind of schedule but made it on a train at 7:25am. Arrived at office on time. After attending a meeting, Went out for customer visit from 10:00am until 5:00pm. I had lunch and dinner with coworkers nearby a construction site where we were visiting. Today is a warm day but they got us hot teas and very hot noodles. Had dinner together at a restaurant nearby Came home around 9:00pm and went to bed around 11:00pm.
10/19 Woke up at 5:30am, the second day of the final week of training in Tokyo. Took a train leaving Musashi-Nakahara at 8:43am? and changed the train at Musashi-Kosugi to Shin-Koiwa. The train was packed so badly, I am glad my PC has a metallic casing. I saw a pregnant woman in the same car, looking struggle, felt sorry but nothing I can do, because the entire car has no room to move, feeling omni-directional pressure... However, the train become almost empty after passing Tokyo. Spent whole day driving around, get a chance to see Tokyo Sky Tree under construction. When I come back here next time, it will be completed. Had lunch at Nakano, finished with my day around 5:00pm at head office then came home. I stopped at a courier service to buy utility boxes for the moving, and bought dinner at Matsuya, and breakfast at Lawson. Picked up my laundry and spent evening relaxing. Packed a few items into cardboard boxes. Went to bed around 10:30pm. Sometimes I need to go bed early.
Tokyo Sky Tree under construction
10/20 Woke up at 5:30am, took a train to work. I went out for customer visits around 9:00am and came back to the office around 4:00pm. Today was cloudy whole day and even some rain. Had another ramen noodle for the lunch. In the evening, there was a samma party at back of the office starting at 6:00pm, the cost was 2,000 Yen and I had three of them. Came home and went to bed around 11:00pm.
10/21 Woke up at 4:45am, the outside is slightly bright. I had to get up this early because I have a meeting at the factory. I got ready for the day and left home around 5:20am, walked under misty rain to the station, get on a train leaving Musashi-Nakahara at 5:33am and change to another line going to Kikuna. I then changed the train back to JR line waited for the train bound for Shin-Yoyokaha to come. I finally arrived at the station, walked up and Shin-Yakohama platform for bullet train, getting on Nozomi 1, departing at 6:18am and arrive at Shin-Osaka at 8:29am. The whole route was cloudy so nothing impressive to see outside. Switched to Hikari 495 departing at 8:35am from here and arrived to Nishi-Akashi at 9:00am. I then changed train again to a local one to go to Okubo. I walked down street to go to the factory, it's been almost a month since I was there last time. So I kinda missed it. Met with some people I know and gave them some snacks from Yokohama. The meeting had about 50 people, and it was a long one. It finally ended around 4:30pm, and I walked out from the building to head home. I could join dinner party (unlimited beer!) but I want more rest. I get on a local train at 4:52pm and changed to Hikari 482 leaving at 5:15pm at Nishi-Akashi. It arrived to Shin-Osaka, then I changed the train to Nozomi 250, leaving at 5:47pm and arrived to Tokyo at 8:23pm. I took a walk in Tokyo area, took a picture of Tokyo Tower then returned home.

Tokyo Tower
10/22 [Nissan started their production of electric car, Leaf]
Woke up at 5:30am, walked to the station to catch a train leaving at 7:09am, and went to Toda station to meet up with my coworker at 8:30am. We spend whole day driving around and visited customers. The weather was not so good, but no rain. Had lunch with a customer, but no new sale. Finished with training around 4:00pm and my coworker dropped me off at Shin-Akitsu station and I rode Musashino line train to Fuchu-Hommachi. I changed to Nambu line train and come back to Musashi-Nakahara station from west side. It took a bit longer than I expected but it was around 5:00pm. Had a fried pork fillet and walked back home. I typed up some emails, stayed up until 11:00pm. I am glad that I finished the training in Tokyo before I am totally worn out.
Japanese Mountain Dew
10/23 [Moving Day - Part 1]
Woke up at 5:30am, the sky seems to be clearing up. Felt chilly about 13C. I did a couple of last set of laundry and walked out around at 8:00am to get them dried at a few stations away. Came back to Musashi-Nakahara station at 10:00am and took a taxi to my apartment first, picking up boxes and took them to a local Kuroneko (Yamato Transport) office to have them shipped. It was around $40 to Nishi-Akashi. Walking back to the apartment under a typical, beautiful fall sky and the temperature is at comfortable level. I then cleaned up the room and packed all the items into two bags, had a glance before lock up  the room and dropped the key in a mail box. Walking back to the station again, but this is the last time I take this path. Took a Nambu line train to Kawasaki, then switched to Keihin-Tohoku line to go to Tokyo. I arrived there at noon, and first tried to find a coin locker I could use but because today is a weekend day, all the lockers are occupied. So, I had to carry two big heavy bags around while taking pictures of trains. After I am done with it, I bought a ticket bound for Akashi. I could use a bullet train to Shin-Osaka first then change to a local train. I walked up to a platform and got on Nozomi 38 departing Tokyo at 1:30pm, arriving at Shin-Osaka at 4:06pm. Walked to another platform to change to a local train to Akashi, I arrived there around 5:00pm and tried to received the key. At apartment office, the staff and I realized that the moving day is set as 10/24, which is tomorrow. I cannot move in today so now I have to find a place to stay. Moved to Nishi-Akashi, and stayed at hotel where I used last time, and they had a room for 5,000Yen, so I took the deal. I relaxed for a while then walked to a hair but place, had dinner at noodle shop around 8:00pm. Relaxed for the evening and went to bed around midnight.
Nozomi 38 at Tokyo station.
10/24 [Moving Day - Part 2]
Woke up at 5:30am, I stretched my body, called dad and chat with him a bit. Had breakfast at hotel then walked out under cloudy sky. Today is supposed to be rainy in the afternoon so I like to finish the moving before noon. Caught a train to head to Akashi to pick up the key at apartment office. Filled out papers and got the key, came back to the hotel via train and carried bags to my new home. After arriving to the room, I felt relieved. It's always to be good in a place where you know you don't have to move for a while. Unpacked my items, called a courier company to arrange a delivery, then I walked out to grab my lunch. I bought bread at a bakery around noon. I left home after meal to go shopping at Sannomiya. First place I went was Kobe, I checked out Mosaic to buy postcards, then moved to Sannomiya for memory cards for my PC. Came back to Nishi-Akashi around 3:00pm, walked to a grocery store to buy water, rice and other items for the living. Coming home under slight rain, relaxed at home. The weather turned more true rain around 5:00pm. Received futon around 6:00pm. Had dinner and worked on paperwork. Went to bed around 11:00pm.
Breakfast at the hotel
   
10/25 Woke up at 5:30am, the outside looked dark still, but it is not raining. Stretched my body then walked to station to catch a train. Arrived at work, and stayed until 7:00pm. The rain was falling most of the time, and did not stop even when I walked out. Took a train back, bought breakfast for tomorrow and some other groceries. I had less items to buy this time since I stored my stuffs at company's locker. Came home, had dinner, caught up on my blog. Hope to go bed early today.
10/26 Woke up at 5:30am, walked to work under sunny sky, but a bit cold for wearing short sleeves, less than 10C in the morning. The rice fields are already harvested while I was gone. Stayed until 6:30pm and went to a restaurant for dinner with team members. Walked out around 8:30pm and came home at 9:30pm. Worked on my projects until 11:00pm and went to bed.
Rice have been harvested.
10/27 Woke up at 5:30am, the temperature is less than 10C in the morning. I need long sleeve now. Walked to work and stayed until 6:30pm. I dropped off my bags once come back and then went to a bakery for tomorrow's breakfast and also grabbed some dinner items. Had dinner, relaxed and then went to bed. The weather forecast says tomorrow supposed to be rainy in the afternoon so maybe I can walk to work in the morning...
10/28 Woke up at 4:30am for some reason. The outside is around 10C and raining. I took a train to work today since the rain did not stop. At work, it was another day heavy on processing data on the PC. Stayed until 7:00pm and walked back home since it was not raining anymore. It was dark and the sky is covered with clouds so I could not see any stars. Just like yesterday, I walked to a grocery store to buy some snacks, getting ready for the typhoon this weekend, I guess the hiking will be cancelled. Going to bed around 11:00pm.
10/29 Woke up at 5:30am but stayed in bed for a while. I guess I am lazy a bit today. I walked out from the apartment, the sky look beautiful. Went to work on foot, and worked until 5:30pm. I walked out from the office, just as the sun is setting. headed to a chiropractics place and get my back taken care of. Walked to a station to buy tomorrow's breakfast, lunch and dinner before the typhoon come tomorrow. Going to bed around 11:00pm.
Fall sky, looking good but lasted only for the morning.
10/30 [Typhoon 14 passed by Japan's main island]
Woke up at 5:30am, again I stayed in bed until 6:00am. The outside is raining but I don't know where the typhoon is at right now. Turned on the TV, finding out that it took eastward path so there is no threat to western Japan now. Did two loads of laundry, and took them to a nearby Laundromat to get them dried, nice that such a facility is located nearby the apartment. Came back home, called my dad, and a friend before having lunch, went outside after the rain is over  First I went to a dry cleaner to drop off my suits (4,000yen to clean them all!), then took a train to Akashi. I walked to a post office to mail out cards and an envelope, then bought stamps. Stopped by at Akashi cultural museum, to look at some paintings and pallets. I walk back to Akashi station and started heading back home around 3:00pm. Relaxed in the evening, typed up parts of blogs I did not fill out. Going to bed around 10:30pm.
10/31 Last day of the month. Woke up at 5:30am but stayed in bed until 6:30am today. It was cloudy but a bit bright. I had an idea of going for a hiking but news was reporting of rain in the afternoon. I did not feel like to do anything. Had dinner, and went to bed around 10:30pm.

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