05/21/2005: "Watching Sunday morning anime.."

It's amazing how much you can get out of television through context and inference. Despite the fact that I'm watching anime on television right now and my brain's telling me that I have a fair idea of what's going on in the show, I actually have little to no clue. I suppose I get vaguely what's going on, but as for plot elements, characters, personalities, etc.. not really. Though my brain still supplies the rest, and I certainly do think I know what's going on.

Bleh.. I find the stupidest things fascinating.

Anyway, I'm fairly up to date on my e-mails now (just got two more this morning that I'll reply to later). I'll also be setting my journal to JST (Japan standard time, +16 hrs from MST and PST) after I post this so my journal is now a bit more accurate about what times I'm doing things.

Been up to alot of things, I guess. There was a big festival through the streets yesterday.. very crowded, very traditional as well. I hear it continues today, but it hasn't been as noisy or loud, so.. maybe not? It seems the things I enjoy the most tend to me all the things that aren't really typically tourist-y. I don't really want to go to the fish market, and I don't really want to go through all the normal places. What I want to do most, and what I enjoy most, is to see and experience life here. To see the things that the people who live here do. I don't want to be just another tourist.. I'd rather see what normal life is like in some other place, a place that happens to fascinate me. Yesterday, we went out across the river to Sumida and wandered around for awhile. When we finally crossed back over into Asakusa, we came out upon a sports competition for a local elementary/junior high school. It was actually really interesting to watch.. and it's interesting how many smaller cultural things are involved in stuff like that than you'd think about. From the flags they wave to the songs that are played during the competition, even in the games they competed in, it's all pretty interesting. I had alot of fun watching those.

Alas, I should probably get going. Will be letting my travel companion finally get back to their e-mails while I go out and get something to eat and maybe watch more morning television (yes, I'm in Tokyo and sitting around watching anime that I can't understand instead of doing something exciting. I've already done exciting things every other day.. I'll be fun this afternoon).

Back on the homefront.. hmm.. things are stirring. Kinda stressed about these things. I'd really appreciate it if people would actually tell me things. Or, more ideally, if things would just not change so horribly. Bleh... Just great.

Anyway, I'll write later.. maybe tonight, or at least again tomorrow.


Jason