So it's been about a month since I've been here and I thought it was probably about time to update the world on my life etc...

I got to Nippon on the 29th June and spent a couple of weeks in Tokyo. It doesn't really get much better than Tokyo, there really is pretty much anything 24hours a day (except for a way to get home) which isn't so bad, just means you have to stay out drinking until first train.

It was a good couple of weeks, seeing old friends and generally just catching up with a lot of people from back in the day. 

Went to Yokohama to see Doping Panda, pretty good stuff, had a premium seat up stairs which was a little odd, sitting by myself watching a band miles away but was still quite a laugh, and then going out with a few of them after until the early hours is always a bonus.

I'd also started studying Kanji, which to be honest, I was pretty surprised about but as I had enough free time during the day, it worked out quite well. I'm getting pretty good, I know about 50 of 2000.... alright so I've got a long way to go, but at least I've started, considering the last 4 years I haven't opened a kanji book once.

On the 14th I started my travels with the wonderful JR pass, I can go anywhere without paying a dime which made travelling all around Japan pretty much the easiest thing since learning Kanji...

I started by going to Nagoya, I've never really been a fan of Nagoya, its the only place in Japan where I feel uncomfortable, but I had friends there now so was going to be alright. I only managed to see a couple for a few hours, took some pirukura and had a few drinks. Ended up in The Hub (the british pub) chatting to some australian bikers, and met up with Yuta, who I had only ever met once before in England, but literally is the topest of top blokes. Had a good old time but was then off to Osaka randomly on the 15th.

 Spent a couple of days with Al and Shoko which is always a pleasantry and started learning my Kansai ben 関西弁 which I think I'm getting pretty good at, not that I'm ever going to use it in Tokyo (mainly because Towa just beats me when I do)

Went to Hirakata where the kansai gaidai exchange students live, and went out drinking with old friends of al and shoko, was a good laugh and stayed out till 7am, then somehow managed to jump on the train to Kita Kyusyu to meet up with Yuki, which never fails to dissappoint.

We hung out at a matsuri (festival) and I got to meet Mr Kita Kyusyu, he won the university's best looking cool guy award or something...

Went with Yuki's volleyball circle to Kagoshima, which was amazing, stayed in a bungalow in the middle of the woords, Daiichi brought 9kg of meat and Yuki's dad brought a keg, so could not really complain. Although somehow it felt like one of those america teen horror movies...

Kagoshima was cool, went to a couple of onsen and yes got neked in front of a bunch of guys I know, and in one had an outside bit which seperated the girls bath by a small wall, slightly embarrassing but I'll get over it. Also went to Sakurajima (volcano in kagoshima) it was a little bit cloudy so couldn't see the top but still got rained on by ash, which was a little disconcerting. Went back to Kita Kyusyu for one more day, to play some volleyball which is top jokes, scaring little girls by being a foot taller than them is always amusing... 

Next day after not sleeping again, got on a train back to tokyo for a couple of days. Doping Panda were doing a end of tour show and I wasn't planning on missing it, opened for by Frontier Backyard and joined on stage by Beat Crusaders. Then at the after show party a bunch of other bands all turning up, I hardly spoke to anyone in fear of wetting myself, just stood at the side of the room clutching onto a beer, I finally got a bit drunk and loosened up a little, Beat Crusaders vocalist told me I should write lyrics for Japanese bands and was offered a job at a Japanese record label in France, not sure that's really where I want to go. Stayed out again until stupid o'clock and then jumped on a train to Osaka (again) but this time joined by Doping Panda, because they felt like eating breakfast in Hamamatsu... ah to be rich....

Got to Osaka to be met by Hiro, in his Nissan Sports car, which was so low to the ground when you drove past girls you could see up their skirts (I think this is why he bought the car) Went out to a bunch of places, had planned on going jet skiing but it was raining stupidly every day so there wasn't much point. One night went to matsuri again, and his parents had booked a room on the 10th story of the imperial palace hotel, ate giant oysters and wagyu beef and surprisingly really nice wine. Fireworks let off, literally exploded outside the window so didn't end up with a creak in my neck. hurrah! Literally amazing though, never eaten such an array of taste food.

Met up with Al and Shoko again on the monday, and we went out to a hip hop club, was actually a top jokes night although there was literally no one there... However the next day felt just about right to stay in bed... all day!

Went to Kyoto for the day, to the louvre (yes there is a louvre in kyoto too) it wasn't very good really, 1000￥ to walk around for about 5 minutes and look at crappy art from 400 years ago, it all just looks the same and I refuse to believe its talent to paint an apple.... the 10th story beer garden was a lot more like art being able to see the whole of kyoto and all the hidden temples in the mountains.

I then cam back to Tokyo yesterday and am now in the process of finding a job, not spending anymore money and planning my climb of mt Fuji. 

Although the most exciting thing at the moment is the start of the Europa league tonight, 2am FK Vektra vs The mighty Fulham - Bobby Z gonna get a hat trick and prove all them doubters wrong.

I guess that's it for now. I'll try and write more often when things actually happen etc

Much Love

ジョシュ　女趣　josh