Projects

Honestly, I have never made a video before and, that being said, I didn't know really what to expect...

I was impressed with everyone's projects, especially those people who made movies, and after watching everything I couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

My back has been hurting me off and on for a few weeks and last weekend I finally went to the hospital because it hurt so bad. They took some x-rays and the doctor said I have a herniated disk that is leaking fluid and pressing against a nerve (I know it sounds kinda disgusting!) I guess that is why my back was hurting. So anyway last weekend I was in a lot of pain and ended up spending not as much time as I would have liked on editing my video.

Another thing I noticed after watching my movie on the big projection, is that it probably would have been smarter not to have been drinking while I interviewed people in the bars.

A Tale of Two Breakfast Cereals

"Lucky Charms" is the fateful story of a leprechaun condemned to run for eternity, hiding his charms from the demonic children from Hell. He has moments of peace but this never lasts for long, and the satanic children are never far behind.

I think I finally understand how Lucky the Leprechaun feels when he always proclaims, "Aye they're after me Lucky Charms!" In this regard, I feel Lucky Charms are a paradox to our own existence, and in the end we're no different than that little green leprechaun, desperately trying to protect his "Charms."

"Tricks" on the other hand is the tragic tale of a rabbit in search of something he'll never attain - He can't stop looking for he has nothing else to live for, so he spends each day in wander, slowly starving to death, condemned to always have his bowl of fruity tricks snatched away by the children of Satan.

So in the end, perhaps, we're little different than a white rabbit in search of something that can never be found, or a green leprechaun who runs from fear. Everybody is in search of something to fill that bowl of emptiness in their lives

What is a sadder fate? To be condemned to eternally hide something that can never be hidden, or to be in search of something that can never be found? Both stories share a recurring theme of demonic children, damnation, loss and breakfast cereal. These are things everyone can relate to.

So let me ask: are you a leprechaun or a rabbit?

Are there too many people in Tokyo?

I have mused this question many a time whilst my personal space is being violated during my morning commute, by a barrage of salary men, who have no life behind their sullen eyes, so void of hope.

Japanese salary men are very much like the "Demeantors" in Harry Potter, that when one is in their presence they feel their own warmth and happiness slowly but surely being drained from their very beings.

There is a uniformity about Japan and that uniformity comes to a terrifying culmination during the Tokyo morning rush hour - its both fascinating and frightening at the same time, and leaves one with a feeling of utter insignificance...

Movies

I noticed the other day that the "Borne Ultimatum" (not sure I spelled that right) finally was released in Japan. I remember that I saw this movie when I was back in the States in August. Great movie, really good action...

But anyway, I'm getting a little tired of having to wait six months to year (after the US release date) to finally see a movie in Japan. I remember I was in the States in March and I bought "Babel" on DVD and then when I came back to Japan the movie had just come to theaters.

The other thing that bothers me is that Japan will only release the "Blockbuster" movies. I remember reading somewhere that Japan purposely limits the number of foreign films released at any one time, in order to protect the domestic movies.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it would be nice if we could see a wider selection of foreign movies in theaters and not have to wait for months on end for them to be released.

But thats just wishful thinking and will probably never happen.