Hey there folks, this is a mini-update. Since some of you reading this are Japanese, I will explain. An ‘update’ is any new information that I ‘post’ (add) to my website.

Now that THAT’S out of the way, here we go!

Things are going well for me out here, enjoying myself (still) and … yea! Oh yea, thanks to the guys at FG!

Homelessness was largely unknown in Japan until the economic bubble burst in the early 1990s and unemployment began to rise. Osaka, Japan’s second city, was hit hard by the downturn in the construction industry.

The city has Japan’s largest homeless population of 7,700 officially, or more than 10,000 unofficially. However it is still rare to see people sleeping on the street.

“I was evicted from my apartment yesterday. I was knocked off my bicycle, and unable to work so I couldn’t pay my rent for six months,” said Mr Yasumoto (right).

“I came to the park because when I was a child I played in its pool.

“Last night it was really cold and I asked to come around the fire, and they insisted that I stay. I didn’t know about the association before yesterday.”

“We all pay 1000 yen ($9) each a month for rice and cooking gas,” said Mr Sato (right, serving rice).

The association organises a free meal the first and third Sunday of every month that anyone can attend.

“When it started about 40 people came, but now we get more than 80,” Mr Sato said.

“We started growing vegetables about a year a go,” said Mr Sato.

Someone gave the association some land and every Sunday morning the men cycle for one hour to tend it.

“The land had been used for growing pomegranates and it took us months to clear the roots by hand.”

The first crops have just been harvested. “We will sell the vegetables in the park. I think we’ll make about 10000 yen ($90),” said Mr Sato.

“I used to work in catering,” said 62-year-old Mr Tabata. “I was laid off, but I cook for everyone in the tent village now. I earn money by collecting aluminium cans and selling them for recycling.”

He also does his bit on the association’s vegetable patch. “I haven’t grown vegetables since I was a child,” he said.

“I started living here six years ago. I entered a local government shelter, but for less than a year,” said Mr Yamamoto, 53.

When he left the shelter in February 2002 he still had no work and his tent was gone, but the association had been formed for six months.

“I asked for help and advice. I cannot work because of an injury and the association looks after me,” he said.

“This firewood was thrown out by a furniture factory,” said 54-year-old Mr Ohara (centre), enjoying the heat.

“Staying warm is a big problem,” said Mr Sato. “I could go in to a shelter, but I don’t want to. If I go my tent will be cleared away.

“In the shelter I am supposed to find a job and leave after three months, but there are almost no jobs for old men.”
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With that I’d like to leave you with a quote. Don’t read too deeply into it, it’s not from me, it doesn’t reflect me.

“At last I understand, we hurt others by our very existence. That’s just the way we live. We need to learn to forgive. Need to realize that existence is to be shared. We’re not just here to exist; but to find the strength to co-exist. It may start from something small, it may even seem impossible. But we must start somewhere.

Hope… ….our legacy.”
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re-edit (Nov 27) – I hope no-one back home minds that I donated some cash (equal to $120) to some of these folks. At least they try to get things working, unlike the homeless in most of America.

Stand up. Exit. Go straight, then a 45 degree angle to your left. Go up. Go through. Exit. Take a 45 degree to your right. Go up. Go straight. Turn left. Turn right. Go straight. Keeeeeeeeeep goooooooooooiiiiinnnnnnngggggggg. Cross over. Take a left. Take a right. Take another right. Go left. Go inside. Take a left. Go straight. Take a left.

And that my friends are step-by-step instructions from the Tama Plaza station to my room.

So what did I do this weekend some of you ask. I did not do very much to be quite honest. On Saturday I went into Shibuya rather late and met up with a friend for drinks, then went home. Sunday I sat around in my room untill rather late, all due to the lack of enthusiasm for doing anything other than vegging out. I’m starting to feel like a typical Japanese 22 year old.

I did end up going shopping for a little bit in the evening. Picked up some groceries, rented a DVD and CD (you can rent CD’s here, rip’em and then return them – I love Japan!). “Ooh look at that, the DVD that I’ve wanted to see in such a long time just happens to be in! I think I’ll pick it up!” What movie is this you ask? It is a movie that was suggested to me by Mike Taylor, a good buddy of mine back home. Sadly I never had the chance to find it for him so he went out and just downloaded a copy (I probably should have done the same, but oh well). So I pick that up as well as a couple CD’s (T.M. Revolution for anyone who’s interested) and went along my way.

I sit down, have dinner, clean up a little bit. Have you ever discovered that while in the process of cleaning your room, it usually becomes even messier in the process? Yea, I’ve always had that problem. So now I have stuff strewn across the room, on my bed, on the mattress that I don’t use as a bed, across my computer, on my make-shift shelving unit and all over hells-half acre. But in the end, I cleaned up (… at least the entry-way to my room).

FINALLY I get the chance to sit down and watch my movie. It starts off a little slow and hard to understand since I’m using subtitles… but picks up very quicly. Flash’s of light, double-bodies and what’s with all the extended Franch SPAS 12′s that everyone’s packing? Wow. Then it REALLY begins about 40 minutes in (thank god it’s nearly 2.5 hours long). I’m honestly not sure just HOW to explain this movie, it’s that good. This movie is beyond good… it’s…. すごい!!!!

This is the story, directly from the Official Casshern Home Page…

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An alternate world with an alternate history.

The entire planet was divided between two opposing alliances.
After fifty years of bitter warfare, the Greater Eastern Federation triumphs over the forces of Europa and gains dominion over the Eurasian continent.

However, this is an empty victory. Years of chemical, biological and nuclear war have poisoned the land and left an exhausted population at the mercy of every pestilence and newly-mutated disease.

It seems that there’s little hope for humanity’s future. Debate rages over the chances of finding some way to stave off the seemingly-inevitable decline of civilization.

One man comes forward with a possible solution. Dr. Azuma is a geneticist who proposes a “neo-cell” treatment that can rejuvenate the body and regenerate humankind. He’s driven in his studies by a desire to save his beloved wife, Midori, from the ravages of pollution-related disease.

He appeals for funding to the government but the politicians in the Health Ministry turn him down, fearing that the new technology will threaten their entrenched powers.

However, a sinister faction in the powerful military makes a secret offer to provide the support he needs to further his research.

When an incident occurs in the lab that sends the Professor’s “neo-cell” cloning experiment haywire, a race of mutant human beings (Shinzo Ningen) is unleashed upon the world.

<<(this guy)<<

Instead of being the savior of mankind, the Professor's miraculous technology looks set to threaten its very existence...

So that's where this pissed-off looking guy comes in.

Holy Crap.

So there ya go, that’s my entry for the day. Enjoy it or not, that’s what you’re getting!

Casshern…. is….

Holy cow… it’s just so…

Wow.

Stop what you are doing. Go out and rent it. Go out and download it. I don’t care HOW you get it, just get it. It’s DARNED good!

I’ll update a little more later on.

Go rent, see or download the movie Casshern.

Wow.

Will post more later.