Lost In Translation

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

I had heard good things about Alexandra Dean's documentary Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017). it was informative on several levels. I was not very knowledgeable about her legacy as a movie star and was also unaware of her career as an inventor. There were several other interesting aspects to her life such as her early career in Austria where she appeared nude in a film early in her career and her personal life where she married at least four times. In her later life she was addicted to plastic surgery not unlike Michael Jackson in his later years. However, it bears noting that the concepts she discovered revolutionized telecommunications. However, recognition took place long after her contributions were used by the US government.

La Ceremonie

La Ceremonie (1995) is Claude Chabrol slow burning thriller about a trouble woman (Isabella Huppert) who comes to work as a maid for a wealthy family. Her friendship with another troubled woman (Sandrine Boinnare) who works at the local post office stirs up resentment against the family for which she works. The climax doesn't happen until near the end of the film where karma restore order to the universe.

Hana's Daitokoro

Meat miso somen lunch set (¥750) from Hana's Daitokoro in Minami Asagaya, just right for summer.

Aomori, Aomori

It didn't seem like there was much to see or do in Aomori, Aomori, so I decided to stay in Hirosaki instead. I suppose I could have stayed here instead of Mutsu, but the weather was so bad it hardly mattered. The Aomori Bay Bridge next to the station.

 

Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse was closed for re-modelling, unfortunate, but makes sense since this is after the Nebuta Matsuri. However, not much to do in Aomori city proper. I guess a half day would be enough.

In the basement of Aomori AUGUA Building, sake shop with local nihonshu.

Inside Ringo Bako, a restaurant in the AUGUA building with Neputa decorations.

My sake selection for lunch-I suppose I could have spent more time on choosing, but saw the kanji (Chinese character) for dry and choose this-very smooth and easy to drink.

There was a free Tsugaru jamisen during lunch.

So many choices-but went with grilled salmon with rice and miso soup.

Aomori Prefecture Museum Of Art

Yoshitoro Nara's famous Aomori Ken, free of charge, but about 5 km from Aomori station. I had some time to kill before my flight, and if I had timed it better I could have seen the museum exhibitions.

Eight Hours Of Terror

Seijun Suzuki went on to become a cult director, but even early on he was putting his own stamp on his genre B movies like Eight Hours Of Terror (1957). A train to Tokyo is delayed, so several passengers take a bus to Hashimoto (from Osaka to Mie?) to meet the train. However, they learn that two armed bank robbers are on the loose in the mountains they need to cross. Inevitably they cross paths with the robbers and the true personalities of the passengers emerge. First a detective is transporting a former medical doctor who has killed his wife and her husband in a fit of passion, agrees to minister the health of a baby who almost died when its mother tried to drown them in the river during a stop. The board director and salesman who were all bluster fold like chairs once the robbers arrive. An unlikely hero emerges as the prostitute lures one of the men into the woods and tricks him into stepping into a bear trap. She is ridiculed by the others for sleeping with African American soldiers-showing a passive sense of racism. Suzuki also smuggles in an anti-capitalist theme. He depicts the board director and salesman as anti-communistic in their rejection of the communist folk song and selfish interest as capitalists that they put forth over the good of the other bus passengers. Suzuki also manages to employ a number of cinematic effects throughout the film as well as interesting framing and angles. This is minor Suzuki, but remarkable for the skillfulness of his treatment of a typical thriller.

Hirosaki, Aomori

In the station Neputa art, I just missed the Neputa Festival by one day-oh well, some day I'll experience it in person.

Old Aomori Bank

Former Hirosaki Library

Another olds renovated Starbuck's near the castle park.

Fujita Memorial Garden

Sannomaru Ōtemon Gate

Hirosakijo Botanical Gardens

Ninomaru Tatsumi Yagura

Hirosaki castle

Mount Iwaki in the background.

Kitanokuruwa North Gate

Former Ishida residence

More samurai homes

Neputa Mura

After today's sightseeing I dropped by Be Easy Brewing's taproom before dinner.

Rakuten Ballpark IPA.

I found a cheap and cheerful izakaya-my favorite kind-at Tsugaru Izakaya Wai Wai.

Some local delicacies-keno jiru (minced meat and vegetable soup), mizuitame (stir fry vegetables-served cold), and hotate to ika menchi (scallops and squid minced and deep fried). I also tried some local nihonshu (sake).

In the Hirosaki station, the region is known for apples. maybe there's still time to try an apple pie. Next stop, Amori, Amori to catch my flight back to Tokyo.

The Man From Nowhere

Jeong-beon Lee's The Man From Nowhere (2010) is a pretty slick thriller. It cuts both ways, the writing is pretty simplistic, predictable and stereotypical. Hollywood-in the worst ways. A man with tragic past becomes friends with an innocent girl who is neglected. He battles eviler than evil bad guys who deal drugs and harvest organs from innocent children. It is almost redeemed by slick action sequences-almost.

Oma-Mutsu-Osorezan, Aomori

A statue of Oma, Aomori's prized tuna.

A matsuri (festival) as seen from the bus to Mustsu, Aomori.

The rugged coast as seen from the bus.

A Neputa float at the Mutsu bus terminal.

There's a scenic bus drive from Mutsu to Mount Osore. It is said to be over 1000 years old and is considered one of the three sacred sites in Japan (the other two are Mount Koya in Wakayama and Mount Hie in Kyoto-neither of which I have been to yet). The bus driver stopped at this spot on the way to let passengers take photos.

In the parking lot at Osorezan.

Fumaroles expel volcanic gas in the area and give off a distinct sulfur-like smell.

Visitors can buy pinwheels to honor unborn children.

A statue in front of Lake Usori.

Some local nihonshu and izakaya fare near the hotel in Mutsu.

Analog and old skool.

Hakodate, Hokkaido: Part Two

The view from Gyorokaku Tower.

In Gyorokaku Park.

A specially brewed Pilsner from Sapporro at the Hakodate Beer Hall.

View from the fourth floor lounge of the Hachimanzaka Hotel.

The storied night view from Mt. Hakodate.

Tempura shrimp rice bowl with fish and vegetable soup and sides of pickles and vegetables.

The ferry I sailed on to get to Aomori on Honshu island.

I had planned to get up early to have a big breakfast at the Morning Market in Hakodate, but set my alarm for 6:50 and woke up at 8:30. I had to take a taxi instead of the bus, but still had time for a quick breakfast at the ferry terminal before the 9:30 departure. Raw egg and rice with a couple of small side dishes and miso soup.

Last view of Hokkaido. I really enjoyed Hakodate, it's a charming little city with lots of history. I easily could have spent another day or two and would like to come back for a visit someday.

33 1/3: The Modern Lovers

Sean L. Maloney's 33 1/3: The Modern Lovers (2017) was entertaining and informative on several levels. The chapters are arranged in the order of an internet listing (fansite JoJoChords. com) that was influential to the author. Both "Roadrunner" and "Pablo Picaso" are punk rock classics, but it is a very strong album overall. Each song section begins with a discussion of said song. After that the author alternately talks about the background of Jonathan Richman, his band, the musical context of the band in relation to alternative acts such as the influential Velvet Underground as well as the social, economic, and political context of Boston at the time. These issues would include censorship, urban gentrification, the war against hippies, among other issues-giving a the reader a keen sense of time and place in Beantown. It also looks at The Modern Lover's city musical contemporaries such as Aerosmith and the J. Geils Band. It's amazing to learn that this influential album was never meant to be released-the band broke up and Richman moved on stylistically before the record was even released. The author follows up the legendary of the band and the times by showing how members Jerry Harrison would go on to commercial and artistic success with Talking Heads, while drummer David Robinson would also see equal returns for his stint with another Boston New Wave band The Cars.