Rural Japan Life (RJL) - Vlog #4 - Taisha Goen Matsuri

[darkenedwolfpack]

ahah i love the music in this :)

[myargonauts]

@darkenedwolfpack cool - thanks for watching

[TiramisuHappy]

This is exactly the reason I'd LOVE to go back home to Japan to stay. Getting extremely tired of this big city in-your-face aggressive bullshit attitude I have to deal with day in and day out. It's been three friggin' decades!! Can I go home NOW???

Nice vid, as always.

[duerre17]

I wish there was a HQ version of this. I felt like I was walking around without my glasses on. LOL. I'm not complaining though. It was SO awesome to see this video. Thanks SO much for posting!

[myargonauts]

yeah - my little digital camera does pretty good with my static vlogs, but once I start moving around, the quality goes down. Glad you enjoyed it anyways. :)

[nuffzed202]

this was cool to see, I've always been fasinated with japanese culture.

[TheFrenchGuy]

If it is not suggesting too much, you could add legends/subtitles on your videos when Japanese people speak, by using that YouTube feature "Annotations". I'm sorry if this sounds arrogant. Thank you for the time to read this.

[ahmed213]

Oh, Forgot to ask but what is the name of the opening song? I'd like to know the name of that one as well

[myargonauts]

the short snipet over the opening text is "Kiseki" by Greeeen and the first full song is "Laugh Away" by Yui.

[ahmed213]

hmm, First time I've watched a real matsuri and it seams to be fun. Thanks for sharing your experiences ^.^ I hope someday I also can afford to go to Japan but stupid school has its expences :( I somewhat envy you :)

Also, thanks for the song, I like'd it alot :D

[myargonauts]

cool - glad you liked the vid!

[williszero]

Sweet. Summer festival. always fun.

I know your students talk to you. But do any of the parents ever talk to you?

I like the last song you picked. who sings it?

[myargonauts]

the song is Automatic by Utada Hikaru.

Sometimes I chat with parents when I go to cheer for sports, but usually I am too shy to use my Japanese with adults.

[ryokosdesire]

Izumo looks very similar to Matsue only more rural. I think my ryuugakusei class is scheduled to visit the Izumo Taisha sometime but I'm not sure when. BTW. So far I have not been able to find regular Pepsi here, only Pepsi Zero.

[myargonauts]

lately I've been seeing regular Pepsi in 12oz (350ml) cans in many vending machines, but the packaging style is kinda retro and it says "limited edition" on the cans.

[ryokosdesire]

Hmm... Then I must continue my search!

[oeara]

Looks like fun! :) Is this how packed it usually is?

[myargonauts]

well in past years it's been more spread out down main street, but it's always well attended

[nanodances]

Your videos make me seriously miss living in Japan. Especially matsuri...

[stringtofate]

Great video, really a first hand view of the festival from a JET's view. Thanks as always!

[WhiteMatrix2006]

Good video Jason. Sorry haven't been commenting much, been busy, but I still watch all your videos. =)

-Billy-

[myargonauts]

No worries Billy. Glad you're still checking out my vids. Thanks as always for watching.

[atomicboyx]

YUI!

festivals there always look like fun, and the food looks good too!... Miami;s "festivals" are kinda lame. also over priced, and end up dangerous with lots of fight between all the MACHO men...

cant wait to go to the japanese festivals!

[yokaijosh]

are you ever going to make a video about why you're leaving Japan? (or can you direct me to one you already made?)

[myargonauts]

Well, my job with JET will be finished in July of 2009. I will have stayed the maximum 5 years. I may go home; I may get another job here. Still undecided.

[yokaijosh]

ah, i see. so you can't be a JET any longer than 5 years. that makes sense now. have you been doing any job hunting in Japan?

[TheWhitey]

Does that depend on what end of the pond you are from? - Yeah, I'm British and my English teacher (who did JET) either said the maximum stay in JET was 3 years or it was a maximum stay of 3 years.

[myargonauts]

The old rule was a maximum of 3 years as an ALT, but they changed that rule about one year ago. I have a British friend who is currently in her 4th year as a result of the rule change.

[pimponeon]

Do you need a bachelors degree to get into JET as an ALT? I wondering because its something I really want to do.

[SchoolhouseTechno]

...did this get marked as spam?

[patio87]

You knew those kids you were talking to right?

[myargonauts]

haha - yes. :)

Every kid under the age of 18 in Taisha has been my student at one time.

[patio87]

Oh wow. How many kids is that?

[myargonauts]

lots. :)

Currently, if you only count my schools in Taisha (one Jr High and 5 elem schools) then I teach a total of about 1250 kids. You add to that the number that have graduated, but were once my students, and I know a lot of people under the age of 18.

[RIOTofCARNAGE]

man what happend to tokyo or osaka or nagoya or is that to far

[myargonauts]

what happened to Osaka and Tokyo? I think they're still there, unless Godzilla has gotten to them recently. :P

And yeah - I'm pretty far from all those cities. I live in the "Idaho of Japan." :D

[SchoolhouseTechno]

HEY, Idaho is right next to Washington...the pacific northwest is a pretty happenin' place...where we still use words like happening...