Top 5 To Do List

[Akichi_Ren]

sooky, if I get picked, we should do some doll-related stuff together in Japan sometime! =D
Also, sumi-e? Awesome! I want to learn that too! And I also like fishing... ^_^b

[sooky]

sooky, if I get picked, we should do some doll-related stuff together in Japan sometime! =D
Also, sumi-e? Awesome! I want to learn that too! And I also like fishing... ^_^b

*Hi5's you*
Doll related = sounds good to me!
I hope I can find a teacher/course locally to learn sumi-e!
As for fishing, I just bought this contraption - a pocket size fold away fishing rod that looks like a pen so I can whip it out whenever, where-ever! http://www.tinydeal.com/pocket-aluminium-fishing-rod-pole-in-pen-size-case-reel-bobble-hook-line-tackle-tools-for-travel-assorted-color-hhf-20553-p-16993.html?zenid=n32l94pf5ave9i04sfkeb2r8n7

[rebeljonny]

1. Learn the language
2. Meet some awesome people
3. See as much of Japan as is humanly possible
4. Continue to pester the gf now that I've ended up following her across the world! (by sheer accident I might add!)
5. Have the time of my life

Those are in no particular order

[Kirari]

sooky, if I get picked, we should do some doll-related stuff together in Japan sometime! =D
Also, sumi-e? Awesome! I want to learn that too! And I also like fishing... ^_^b

*Hi5's you*
Doll related = sounds good to me!
I hope I can find a teacher/course locally to learn sumi-e!
As for fishing, I plan to buy this contraption: http://www.tinydeal.com/pocket-aluminium-fishing-rod-pole-in-pen-size-case-reel-bobble-hook-line-tackle-tools-for-travel-assorted-color-hhf-20553-p-16993.html?zenid=n32l94pf5ave9i04sfkeb2r8n7

- A pocket size fold away fishing rod that looks like a pen, I can whip it out whenever, where-ever!

I've never seen a fishing rod like that~ I want to learn to fish just so I can use it, haha. No, I really do want to learn how to fish. Somehow I've lived in fishing towns all my life but never learned! But seriously, I want to buy that pole.

I'm interested in sumi-e too! I did shoudo in college for a couple of semesters, but I would love to try making actual pictures (though I have no artistic skill whatsoever). And I find the BJDs fascinating. Wah, there's so much to do!

I mentioned this in the music thread, I think, but I'm also going to go to see the Takarazuka Revue. Next year is their 100-year anniversary! If you're not familiar, Takarazuka is a theater troupe that does huge musical productions - and all of the parts are played by women. You can find tons of their performances on YouTube. The performers have a huge fan following, too! I must, must, MUST see Rose of Versailles there.

[sooky]

I've never seen a fishing rod like that~ I want to learn to fish just so I can use it, haha. No, I really do want to learn how to fish. Somehow I've lived in fishing towns all my life but never learned! But seriously, I want to buy that pole.

I'm interested in sumi-e too! I did shoudo in college for a couple of semesters, but I would love to try making actual pictures (though I have no artistic skill whatsoever). And I find the BJDs fascinating. Wah, there's so much to do!

I mentioned this in the music thread, I think, but I'm also going to go to see the Takarazuka Revue. Next year is their 100-year anniversary! If you're not familiar, Takarazuka is a theater troupe that does huge musical productions - and all of the parts are played by women. You can find tons of their performances on YouTube. The performers have a huge fan following, too! I must, must, MUST see Rose of Versailles there.

OH MY GOODNESS! I completely forgot about the Takarazuka, I think they are amazing! And the women playing male leads are just beautiful! The rose of Versailles is one of my favorite animated series...it's so touching...so cruel UNGHHH!
You should consider buying one! There's free shipping on that fishing pole! Hahaha then we can get together after watching a show and fish away!

[Akichi_Ren]

Hehe awesome mini fishing rod! Now I want one too. =D

We had a course of the Japanese "scene arts" at my school and ever since I've wanted to see Takarazuka, Jōruri/Bunraku (puppet theatre) and Kabuki live. Well, not just those three. More like... everything I can possibly get the chance to see. But at least the puppet theatre because that totally reduces me to the "Duuuude whoaaaaa awesome!" -level due to its utterly unfathomable impressiveness.

Oh and yeah, the women playing male leads are beautiful but I'd also like to see the onnagata dancing.
Bandō Tamasaburō... Saotome Taichi... Gosh, now I've gone all fangirly again. T_T

[sooky]

@Akichii_Ren
@Kirari

Looks like we may have a small party to catch a show in the future.

As for onnagata's...oh yes, please. Kabuki for me!

[Kirari]

@Akichii_Ren
@Kirari

Looks like we may have a small party to catch a show in the future.

As for onnagata's...oh yes, please. Kabuki for me!

Yes to all of this! Okay. We three (from completely opposite parts of the world, it seems!) have a date.

[jojionmymind]

Ooh, this is hard! So many things! But in no particular order..

1. Climb Mt. Fuji in time to see the sunrise from the top!
2. Visit Hokkaido. Winter would be awesome, I wanna play in the snow!
3. Pass the N2 and then aim for the N1!
4. Finish the Chichibu (Saitama) pilgrimage route and get those last 10 stamps in my nokyocho! (and do the Saikoku route too)
5. Visit the Squirrel Village リス村 at Mt. Kinka in Gifu. I mean, seriously it's a park full of squirrels that you can hold and feed! (even though I kind of hate squirrels...I guess it's the rediculous factor of it all, haha)

I would highly suggest you all:
1. Visit Mt. Koya & stay at a Buddhist temple
2. Try natto! I thought I'd hate it but find it delicious

[sooky]

1. Go to a Matsuri (of any kind---I missed it when I was in Japan in 2010)
2. Go to a Maid Cafe or any themed cafe
3. Sing karaoke at a karaoke place (Didnt have the guts to do it in 2010)
4. try a capsule hotel at least once.
5. Go to Bookoff/Hardoff/ 100 yen shop/ Odaiba / Ame yoko

Oh, I'd love to go to a Maid Cafe ...actually more of a Butler Cafe (usually it's girls crossplaying), I've been to Japan a few times, each trip involved being retrained on what I could do. I think all capsule hotels are male only... We are going to miss out! And yes, second hand stuff is awesome! *checks your profile* - We are into very similar hobbies

[nyc_to_japan]

I think all capsule hotels are male only... We are going to miss out!

Actuallllly, I was reading someone's blog recently who is a woman teaching English in Japan, and she went to a capsule hotel in Tokyo that I think is geared toward women foreigners. So, you can totally go! You just have to find the hotel...unfortunately, I can't remember where her blog was...but I do know, that at 5'11", I'm not sure I'll fit into the capsule properly, LOL.

[Kirari]

1. Go to a Matsuri (of any kind---I missed it when I was in Japan in 2010)
2. Go to a Maid Cafe or any themed cafe
3. Sing karaoke at a karaoke place (Didnt have the guts to do it in 2010)
4. try a capsule hotel at least once.
5. Go to Bookoff/Hardoff/ 100 yen shop/ Odaiba / Ame yoko

Oh, I'd love to go to a Maid Cafe ...actually more of a Butler Cafe (usually it's girls crossplaying), I've been to Japan a few times, each trip involved being retrained on what I could do. I think all capsule hotels are male only... We are going to miss out! And yes, second hand stuff is awesome! *checks your profile* - We are into very similar hobbies

Ooh! Let me make a suggestion, which I read about in a blog: Love-all cafe, a self-described "Spectacles and Suits" themed cafe: http://www.love-all.co.jp/ According to the site's FAQ, "スタッフは全員男性です。男装の女性はおりません。" (The staff is all male. There are no women disguised as men.) Not that I wouldn't be up for those cafes, too, haha.

[sooky]

Ooh! Let me make a suggestion, which I read about in a blog: Love-all cafe, a self-described "Spectacles and Suits" themed cafe: http://www.love-all.co.jp/ According to the site's FAQ, "スタッフは全員男性です。男装の女性はおりません。" (The staff is all male. There are no women disguised as men.) Not that I wouldn't be up for those cafes, too, haha.

Oh my, I was clicking through the Staff tab but there's no photos *was wondering if the men look like sleazy Hosts-club men. So much to do!
edit: http://hizakurige.net/category/review/cafe-reviews/
I stumbled across this website - the Hibaritei review made me laugh hard.

I think all capsule hotels are male only... We are going to miss out!

Actuallllly, I was reading someone's blog recently who is a woman teaching English in Japan, and she went to a capsule hotel in Tokyo that I think is geared toward women foreigners. So, you can totally go! You just have to find the hotel...unfortunately, I can't remember where her blog was...but I do know, that at 5'11", I'm not sure I'll fit into the capsule properly, LOL.

Oh, I'll have to look into this! I'm 5 ft haha asian size, but I'm a plump so I'm not sure it would be the best fit for me either! Experimentation and laughing will be involved.

[Andiemus]

第一 onsen in the snow, totes stolen, but it's an awesome idea.
第二 catch an awesome local show, or maybe Asian Kung Fu Generation-discovered via pandora and I like them a lot.
第三 visit the ghibli museum cause, dude, Hayao Miyazaki is the greatest.
第四 learn to cook something awesome for the folks back home, because cooking is fun and food and music are the universal language.
第五 finish with my language learning. I want to be fluent for professional reasons and hope to already be close by the time I leave, since I'm planning on studying for a year in Kyoto before I'm done with my B.A.

Awwwwww yyyeeeaaaahhhh. d(^_^o)

[Kirari]

第一 onsen in the snow, totes stolen, but it's an awesome idea.
第二 catch an awesome local show, or maybe Asian Kung Fu Generation-discovered via pandora and I like them a lot.
第三 visit the ghibli museum cause, dude, Hayao Miyazaki is the greatest.
第四 learn to cook something awesome for the folks back home, because cooking is fun and food and music are the universal language.
第五 finish with my language learning. I want to be fluent for professional reasons and hope to already be close by the time I leave, since I'm planning on studying for a year in Kyoto before I'm done with my B.A.

Awwwwww yyyeeeaaaahhhh. d(^_^o)

When I saw your kanji there, I immediately thought of the audio CD that came with the Genki textbook/workbook. Suddenly the voice counting the exercises filled my head, lol.

Onsen in the snow is on my list, for sure! And fluency, of course, but... baby steps.

I definitely want to see local bands, too. There's one in particular I'll see no matter where I get placed, because the lead singer is my senpai/friend from university. They're called AwKward Age, a pop punk band based in Sendai (though they're trying to get gigs in Osaka & Tokyo someday soon). Take a look - maybe I'll get a group of JETs going! http://www.redbullliveontheroad.jp/bands/awkwardage