danieru in tokyo: Cashola

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Cashola

A Southern Frenchman (there seem to be many in Citi) told me a story today about Tokyo back in the day when it meant money. The late eighties.

This guy goes to a bar with a bunch of other Japanese. they order a $5000 bottle of Cognac. After a small glass each, they pay and leave, with most of the bottle remaining. The Frenchman, disgusted by the waste of his countries excellent brew, suggests they take it with them. The response came sharply: "We dont do that in japan".

I've heard many rumours of $10,000 nights out, and I always thought they were exaggerated. Nice to hear it first hand.

I learnt 10 characters in Hiragana today. I am utterly certain that I will not remember them tomorrow. A I U E O.

Nobody sits next to me on the train. People would rather stand, or squeeze into a smaller space, than position themselves next to me. I have noticed this over a period of time, rather than a few isolated incidents. This seems to be the case, despite a change in odour. Since I've stopped drinking so much alcohol, I notice that I smell significantly less. Significantly. Perhaps it is still too overpowering. Luckily, I do not have that schoolboy paranoia about Why the other kids dont sit next to me. It's cos your weird-looking, stupid.

I'm reminiscing. I just had a fleeting memory of the time when I first moved to Edinburgh, and was driving in Paul's car, listening to Pump Panel.

- posted by Daniel @ Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Comments:

Hey Danny,
Been trying to work out if I'm jealous of you or not, and still not quite sure. Been stalking your sister's blog, think her trip interests me more.
So, am I a big-fat-scaredy-cat, or just content with life without adventure?
Discuss.

# posted by

Al : 5:55 PM

Sir -

I implore you to consider the two possibilities as composites of composites:

-Content with Life Without Adventure

-- you are implying that your life has no adventure
--- is this really the case, and why?
--- do you enjoy adventure, with examples of adventure?

-- is karena's life more adventurous than mine right now?
--- so far, i dont think either of us has done much in the way of adventure
--- she doesn't seem to discuss her feelings so much on the blog (clearly, i'm more girly). how does this read, to the end user - disturbing, or just monumentally self indulgent and gay? i want to record the feelings, because the photos only show one side of the story.

-- what would you hope to do if you came out here?

-- perhaps NZ interests you more than Nippon? as a geek, surely it would be Nippon. i can't remember you hillwalking, ever.

-Plump Frightened Furball

-- have you ever wanted to leave Sconny Botland?
--- what has made you want to do that?
--- and what has stopped you?

-- does either my trip of karena's sound scary?
--- which is more scary?
--- why?

Right, i've gotten VCS to work, it is after 7pm on friday, and despite the office still being full, i want to escape to the world of karaoke and sake.

anyways, i'm sure you'll be jealous soon. i have A Plan. ;-)

# posted by

Daniel : 7:04 PM

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