Simultaneously Stagnant & Static

So for my last post this semester I'm actually at a loss, as to what to write about. The theme is changing impressions of Japan and I guess I'm finding it hard to write about because my opinions are exactly that, 'constantly changing'. Its hard for me to pin down a thought without thinking about a different situation where I could easily come to the oppisite conclusion. Some aspects of the culture seem very traditional and unchanged such as the formal way dinner is sometimes presented at a Japanese household. Some nights I've had are just like being in any other multi-cultural cosmopolitan city, albeit with a distinctly Japanese flavour.
My original thoughts about Japan was that it had such an interesting experimental music and art scene that it would be easy to meet japanese people who have similar interests to myself, in wierd and wonderful culture. I have discovered however that the majority of people I meet are only interested in the latest pop song, or talent/idol that the media is pushing at the time. Perhaps this has something to do with the Gaidai bubble but I get the impression that it is like this all over Japan. What this seems to do however is create extremely niche sub-cultures where the people who love it, really, really love it, and the people who make it are phenomenally talented. Japan for me is also the land of the spectacle, where thousands of people will commute to see different coloured leaves, or some gates with lights on them. (I mean yeah they're pretty, but which other country in the world makes an effort to brave the massive crowds, just to go and stand under some lights with your mates?!?) For me these types of events seem to be more about connecting with people rather than the event itself. With some aspects of Japanese culture being so rigid, such as social interaction, these events may act as the social-lube required on a date with someone that you dont know very well. Or maybe it is true that Japanese people appreciate the aesthetic beauty more and so gain a greater fullfilment from visiting them.

I still have another semester here (if all goes according to plan :) and I'm sure that it too will be full of surprises and changing opinions. I still have more layers of the onion to peel back, and I dont think I will ever get to the middle... but I really love onions!!

Politics

Tribal Witchdoctory in Neo-Osaka

The event was called Drumandara at Namba Bears Livespace, and I went there expecting to see ten bands. I was shocked and excited when I opened the door to 10 drum kits and knew I was in for a special night. Everyone in the small crowd of about 20 people gave a small applause as the drummers began to take their places before quickly falling silent.

Members included: Aono Tadahiko/WATCHMEN(ex. Melt Banana), Yosuke Okamoto (neco sleep/rythm dada), 10 sand island NANI (Bogulta), Pikachuu (Afrirampo) just to name a few.

The owner of the club and band member of the Boredoms, Yamamoto Seiichi was set to be the shamanistic ringleader as he waved his totemic styrofoam pole to control the tempo and changes of the drumming orgy. However he spent most of the time sitting right in the middle of this cacaphony of crash symbols, and after about half an hour, the natural unrehearsed rythms started to take on a life of their own with no need for direction. They had succeeded in evoking the almighty spirits of the Drumandara!!~

It was such an amazing experience listening to the tempo's slowly build and grow and morph like some kind of entity struggling to existence before reaching a plateu where it was free to explore itself. The drummers were instinctivley answering each others calls in a primitive orgiastic language of rythm, which at some points, began to take on an ethereal quality akin to the half heard/half imagined cries and chants which I've heard occur during zimbabwean mbira(thumb piano) or traditional african djembe drum sessions.

(Damn you small inadequate bladder... why did you make me miss out on precious seconds of aural extacy!?!!)

My new Aussie mate from Melbourne whom I met at the show and who had also come the previous night, informed me after the concert that the first night was more comedic, with drummers experimenting with playing on different surfaces such as an ashtray which was then thrown into the middle of the circle. He said that night was good, but this night was awesome. He even got to keep the shaman stick although I'm not sure if he had to reserve an extra seat on the plane for it...