Lost In Translation

Hayari

There's an Yebisu Beer campaign, "Yebisu Beer X Ebisu Food," going where various local restaurants are pairing food with Yebisu beer for ¥1000. I was inspired by a local friend who was posting about places on FB. I started at Hayari, number one in the book of 20 restaurants, a place near Shirogadane that specializes in sausages from all over the world. This set included a spicy green Mexican sausage. Tasty, I'd definitely go back to try some of the other varieties-however, there is a table charge around ¥500.

In Flight Films (Tokyo)

One of my colleagues recommended watching Andrew Rossi's film on the college education crisis facing America today in Ivory Tower (2014). It is something I have been long aware of, but this brought home some different aspects of higher education that I was unaware of: the selling of luxury dorms, mismanagement by college boards of directors, government cutbacks spurred by Reaganomics, soaring costs, etc. I was also introduced to alternative experiences that exist today and traditionally black college among other digressions that took place. I'm not sure this will change anything, but it does give a good portrait of what young people face today when they graduate from high school, it has gotten much worse since I graduated. I feel fortunate that I was able to pay off my loans in a timely manner and to have gotten such a good education so cheaply by going to community colleges and state schools.

I was intrigued by Michale Cuesta's film Kill The Messenger (2014) about the true story of Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) who exposes the CIA's role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. The result is a smear campaign against the journalist, which causes him to defend himself and his family against these low blow tactics from the CIA. Like most biopics, it makes me want to read the book from which it was based on or to see a documentary on the subject rather than a dramatization. It resembles the Fitzgerald quote: "Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy."

Muhamad Ali is a fascinating persona who lived an interesting life and any documentary on him will entertaining and Clare Lewins' film I Am Ali (2014) is no exception. However, I don't think it is as captivating as Leon Gast's masterful 1996 documentary on the Ali- George Foreman fight in Africa known as "The Rumble in the Jungle", When We Were Kings.

Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song Of Vengeance

Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song Of Vengeance (1974) directed by Toshiya Fujita starring Meiko Kaji as Shurayukihime. It is the continuation of a story filmed previously by the duo. Again, the historical context is in the foreground as Japan is fresh off it's victorious war with Russia-children sings sons of victory and Japan is determined to prosper-at least among the government and elites. Yuki is still at large and on the run when she is captured but the leader of the secret police wants her to help root out a troublesome anarchist, Ransui Tokunaga (Juzo Itami), with a compromising document that could bring down the government. She  infiltrates the household as a maid but is swayed into Ransui's confidence and plot to help him overthrow the government. When Ransui is captured she is forced to go to his brother Shunsuke (Yoshio Harada), a doctor in a slum in Tokyo. He is less of a political activist and more of an opportunist since he sees this as an opportunity for blackmail. The film begins and ends with extended fight scenes punctuated with regular spurts of blood gushing forth from sword inflicted wounds. I continue to see homage to Zatoichi in some of the action scenes and the underestimation her enemies perceive in Yuki as a woman, rather than a dangerous swordsman. There is some impressive cinematography and good use of locations in this film, but perhaps not as impressive as the previous film, however, entertaining in its own right.

Bishkek THT English Seminar 2015

Opening ceremony at Bishkek Humanities University with Roger, Dean Mashrapov, and Brent.

The break room.

The Hotel's dog.

Cherie and Brent in the courtyard of The Family Guesthouse.

The Pur Pur Cafe next door to the Family Guesthouse.

 

The Metro Pub.

Lunch at Bishkek Humanities University in the cafeteria.

Plov with beef.

Students in my workshop discussing a question.

Mimino Georgian restaurant.

A Kyrgyz folk music group was performing for a large tour group from France, so it was a bonus for us.

Final dinner after the THT 2015 Bishkek English Seminar at the Richmond Hotel, Alastair, Roger, and the Dean.

A national dish, the name escapes me at the moment. Trust me when I say there were more interesting photos to be taken at this hotel...missed opportunities...sigh.

Lady Snowblood

Quentin Tarantino has publicly cited Toshiya Fujita's Lady Snowblood (1973) as an influence on his Kill Bill movies. This is very obvious from several factors: both are revenge films, have flashback scenes, have chapter headings, depict harsh training sequences, use stylized violence (sword wounds result in blood spraying out of the wounds), fight scenes in snow, as well as using Meiko Kaji's theme song "Shua no Hana" on both soundtracks. The O-Ren Ishii character (played by Lucy Liu) is based on the protagonist Yuki Kashima (Meiko Kaji) from this and the sequel. Fujita’s film is divided into chapters like: “Vengeance Binds Love and Hate” and “Crying Bamboo Dolls of the Netherworld.” There is a homage to Zatoichi franchise as well in the film, since Yuki often kills with a blade concealed in her umbrella, rather than a cane, and both are underestimated: Zatoichi for his bindness and Yuki, because of her gender. It’s a revenge tale essentially, but Fujita and screenwriter Norio Osada give it a historical context that adds to the narrative. The Meiji government crackdowns and social upheaval have led to a growing criminal class, and Yuki is the tragic result of a broken system that spawned villains that swindled peasants killed Yuki's family and raped her mother who stayed alive to fulfill vengeance for these misdeeds, although she would not live to see her offspring achieve her dreams of vengeance. It maybe reminiscent of the exploitation films of the 70s that gained currency everywhere in the world, not just Japan, however, this film has more artistry than most with the excellent location filming, period details, and impressive cinematography.

Bishkek 2015

This time I'm staying at Rich Hotel in Bishkek.

It even has a pool.

Breakfast included.

Laghman noodles for lunch.

Brent and Roger, the Kyrgyzstan THT Seminar leaders.

A selection of Kyrgyz beers.

Bishkek Humanities University, the venue for the 2015 Kyrgyzstan THT Seminar.

Day trip to Burana Tower.

Cherie, myself, and Alastair on top of the tower.

Lunch was at a private home nearby.

Another massive spread for lunch.

Chakchak, a local dessert dish.

Fast food chains are slow to arrive in Bishkek.

Bishkek at night.

Porco Rosso

I've heard from Japanese friends in the past that their favorite Ghibili movie was Porco Rosso (1992), which was unfamiliar to me. Recently my interest has been piqued by a local Ebisu restaurant that named itself after this film. It was a "typical Hayato Miyazaki" film in some senses in that his films often feature young girls as protagonists, include elements of fantasy, and flying machines. It is a charming film, that I read Miyazaki intended for adults-essentially the only one of his films-according to the director. I loved the Adriatic location and the time period-post WWI. I suppose I can count this among my favorite Miyazaki films, I'm not so much of an animation enthusiast, but I know a well-made film when I see it, animation or not.

Osh THT Seminar

Osh Pedagogical Institute of Humanities-site of the 2nd Annual Teachers Helping Teachers Osh Seminar.

Cherie presenting.

Mastaba soup.

Outside a restaurant before dinner.

Chuchuk, horse sausage made from intestines, tastes like roast beef.

Dinner with the Dean, Director, and Mars, our fixer.

Bishbarmak-"Five fingers" is a traditional Kyrgyz dish made of boiled and shredded horse meat with thin noodles.

Bazaar in Osh.

A gift of Kyrgyz vodka from Mars before leaving.

Show Me A Hero

David Simon's newest miniseries for HBO, Show Me A Hero, is another great look at the failure of institutions in Yonkers , NY. This time it is the failure of a community and it  is based on a real life story written as a nonfiction book of the same title by NY Times reporter Lisa Belkin in 1999. However, it is also the story of the personal tragedy of Nick Wasicsko (Oscar Isaac in another commanding performance where he disappears in the role). It's a fascinating story of people holding onto core beliefs in the face of reason and good faith, the middle class community of Yonkers who oppose low income housing mixed into their community despite a court order-it a largely about race and class in America-something that is very timely now with wake of police killings of innocent black people which has given rise to the "Black Lives Matter" campaign that has been garnering so much attention of late. This miniseries relies on the strength of the writing by Simon an writing partner William F. Zorzi (a The Wire veteran) as well as the great ensemble cast. Some of this great cast includes: Jim Belushi, Alfred Molina, Winona Ryder, Bob Balaban, and Clark Peters among several other worthy great character actors. The soundtrack oozes middle Americana with an overload of Bruce Springsteen. I'm glad to hear that Simon has several other projects in line for production for HBO as well.

Kyrgyzstan: Osh

My guesthouse Biy Ordo in Osh.

Near the guesthouse.

First night's dinner at a local restaurant.

Our local handler and guide Mars, myself, Cherie, and Roger: the Osh delegation for the Osh English Seminar.

Kurdak with venetian meat: beef, cucumbers, peppers, eggs, and fries.

Sulayman Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the only one in Kyrgyzstan.

The portal to Mecca is through the door in this museum.