March

Oh yes, them postcards continue to come in. The latest one from my former colleague, the lovely and talented Randy Ray -- from his family's homeland of India -- reminds me to point out that partial nudity on the postcards are neither encouraged nor frowned upon, so keep 'em coming.

I've started seriously studying kanji -- the Chinese characters used in Japanese -- using a great resource called Remembering the Kanji Vol 1 by James W Heisig. In just two short weeks, I've remembered the English meanings and mastered (sorta) the writing of over 220 kanji.

I've been a non-smoker for two months now and I've been hearing of many foreigners who have quit smoking while in Japan. It's strange because we pay the equivilent of $10 per pack in Canada, Australia and the UK, and are relegated to smoke outside, while here in Japan cigarettes are dirt cheap, they are available everywhere and you can practically smoke anywhere you want, yet it's here we all decide to quit. I don't get it at all!

It turns out that Araya Solomon, a very cool family friend (who I am convinced knows everyone on the planet), has taken a gig in Tokyo and lives right in the heart of Shibuya. I think Ranie and I will have to go visit him in the big smoke for a night or two of debauchery.