Gary J. Wolff's Blog Archives
October-December, 2012
This page shows archived posts for Gary J. Wolff's blog from
October-December,
2012.
Enjoy...
Cheers,
Gary
Dec. 25,
2012 - Merry
Xmas, everyone!!
I'm thrilled that NORAD Santa Cams caught Santa as he passed thru
Japan, as well as in my home state of Texas. Yee Hah!! Here's Santa as
he passed thru Texas:
(If player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)
Dec. 17,
2012 - Christmas Sale
on my new mountain climbing eBook, "The View from the Top of Japan"!!
NOW ON SALE at SMASHWORDS
FOR ONLY $3.99
UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY !!
(To give as a Xmas present, click on "Give as a gift."
Enter coupon code MB69C at checkout.)
eBooks from Smashwords, the world's largest distributor of indie
eBooks, are available in 9 different formats, including the html &
pdf formats for reading on your PC or for home printing. Or they can be
downloaded to e-reading devices such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch,
Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, and most
other e-reading apps.
This eBook will make a GRRRRRREAT stocking stuffer....besides, it even
costs less than a bottle of cheap perfume!
Dec.
11, 2012 - Caretta Shiodome 2012 Xmas 3D Illumination Show
The 10th anniversary of the absolutely stunning Caretta Shiodome Xmas
illumination light & music show is now in full swing, with shows
every 20 min. from 5-10:30 every night till Xmas night (till 11 pm the
21st thru 25th). This year's magical LED show features 3D projection
mapping of Xmas scenes onto the adjacent buildings in the Caretta
Shiodome plaza. Just a few minutes walk from Shimbashi Station. My
advice: go very early or very late, as it does get VERY crowded after
most folks get off work. The best part: it's all FREE!!
(If player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)
Dec. 9,
2012 - "The Sounds of
Tokyo" Redux
In Dec. ’94, which was shortly after I first moved to Japan, as a Xmas
present for family & friends back stateside, I thought it’d be cool
to record some of the usual sounds one might hear living in the world’s
largest city. The other day I dug out the 18-y.o. cassette, dusted it
off, and then digitized it w/ a few pics. Regrettably, the sound
quality of the 3rd-generation audio leaves a lot to be desired. But
nonetheless, hopefully for those who’ve never been to the Big Mikan,
it’ll provide a quick glimpse into the fascinating local culture, as
well as give those who’ve already had the pleasure of living here
before a good
chuckle or 2. Happy holidays!!
0:00 Sumo wrestling match
4:14 Rajio Taiso Daiichi (morning stretch
song)
7:32 Pachinko parlor
8:20 Yaki-imo (sweet potato) man
10:22 Train platform announcement
12:28 Torianse (pedestrian crossing song)
13:11 Fish market hawkers
15:10 Pub Elvis karaoke bar
22:56 Yuyake (5 o'clock dinner) chime
24:19 Shinkansen (bullet train)
25:04 Japanese country band
28:12 Riding on a city bus
29:49 Gary's explanation of sound tracks
Nov. 28,
2012 - Show 'N' Tell
Day
University
students in Japan share interesting tidbits about their home
countries...
0:00 China #1
5:22 China #2
11:41 Estonia
22:42 Germany
34:10 Indonesia
40:23 Japan
43:49 Mexico
53:29 Thailand
Nov.
26, 2012 - Nighttime light-up of fall colors at Rikugien
Garden, Tokyo,
Japan
View all pics at a glance in separate window here.
Nov. 25,
2012 - Pub Elvis OB会 Karaoke Reunion Party, 11月24日（土）19:00～23:00 貸切,
Tokyo, Japan
Shortly
after I first moved to Tokyo nearly 22 yrs. ago, it was my good fortune
to stumble upon a tiny little karaoke shop directly across the street
from Takadanobaba Station. Now this was not just any karaoke bar....it
was the famous PUB ELVIS. Pub Elvis was not only a karaoke bar with a
remarkable 3000 English songs (quite unusual to have SO many in those
days), but because its owner, Aki Sasaki, is a BIG Elvis Presley fan,
Pub Elvis was like a museum, with Elvis memorabilia visible
everywhere....photos, posters, license plates, videos, an Elvis
Confederate flag, you name it.
Well, naturally the place attracted other Elvis fans & even Elvis
impersonators, and live bands often played there. Pub Elvis was even
once featured in an ABC news report by veteran newscaster Forrest
Sawyer and Tokyo TV personality Dave Spector, on the occasion of one of
the frequent Elvis impersonation contests held there. If that weren't
enough, even my mom & dad had a chance to sample Pub Elvis mania
during their '95 visit to Tokyo. And one of my all-time favorite
keepsakes from Pub Elvis is the audio cassette of my 40th birthday
party held there, which became a Xmas present to my family and friends
that year.
Well, sadly the shop closed down sometime in the late 90's after Aki
decided to move to Germany & study classical guitar under a German
guitar master. But on Sat. night, Nov. 24, 2012, a karaoke reunion
party was held where many of the former customers, fans, performers,
& shop staff attended. Many of participants are pro singers, and
some of
them Elvis impersonators; so needless to say, with all the free-flowing
booze, it was a pretty electric karaoke atmosphere, with most everyone
really letting their hair down.
And I was absolutely thrilled to see there my all-time favorite Elvis
impersonator, Aaron-san (Aaron was Elvis' middle name), in such top
form. After all these years, he hasn't skipped a beat, and the only
thing missing Sat. night was his signature white rhinestone jumpsuit
and a few more gaudy rings.
I believe that you will agree, he looks, sings, and performs just like
the real Elvis. Perhaps his best song Sat. night was "You Don't Have to
Say You Love Me" at the 47:31 mark.
Pub Elvis will forever & ever occupy a prominent spot in my heart
& soul. In the Land of the Rising Sun, the King's legend lives
on....
0:00 Little Sister (Kenji - Elvis impersonator)
2:19 In The Ghetto (Aaron)
5:02 I'm Not In Love
9:23 Chinatown (Ryo - Eikichi Yazawa
impersonator)
13:02 Twist & Shout
15:02 Aki arrives
16:49 Stand By Me (Usui-san)
17:45 Saving All My Love For You (Hiroshi/Yuko duet)
21:25 J.Boy
27:11 Unchained Melody (Kenji/Hiroshi duet)
29:36 Brown Sugar (duet)
33:24 Suspicious Minds (Aaron)
37:50 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
(Kenji/Hiroshi duet)
39:14 Ryo - Eikichi Yazawa impersonator
42:02 Short speech & kampai by Aki
42:43 Devil In Disguise (Usui-san)
44:56 One Night (Kenji - Elvis impersonator)
47:31 You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (Aaron)
50:14 Return to Sender (Kenji - Elvis impersonator)
52:33 Can't Help Falling In Love (Kenji/Hiroshi
duet)
55:22 Can't Help Falling In Love (Yuko)
58:00 The Wonder Of You (Aaron/Hiroshi)
1:00:23 Ryo - Eikichi Yazawa impersonator
1:02:47 Rokudenashi
1:05:34 Japanese song
1:09:25 Blue Christmas
1:11:32 I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Usui-san)
1:15:26 女の道 - Onna no Michi, famous Enka song (Hiroshi)
1:17:18 Rock This Town (Tamura-san)
1:19:41 Can't Help Falling In Love (Aaron)
If you have anyone on your Christmas shopping list who's a book reader,
you may wish to consider my new mountain climbing book for that someone
special, which I'm pleased to announce, in addition to an eBook, is now
available as a paperback from Amazon. The 126-page book includes over
70 color images, mostly of Japan's spectacular high country. So by all
means, please do shop till you drop... https://amzn.to/3WCtHIG
Nov. 1,
2012 - Sunset from I-Link Town Ichikawa
Today was Day 1 of a 6-day celebration of the 50th anniversary of
Ichikawa, Chiba's Sister City relationship with Gardena City,
California, USA. As part of the celebration, a photo exhibition is
being held in the 45th floor Observation Lobby of I-Link Town
Ichikawa's West Tower, 1 min. from JR Ichikawa Station. The 3-min.
sunset starts at the 10:34 mark. I was hoping to catch Diamond
Fuji,
but I was a few days too early.
Oct.
31, 2012 - Climbers of Nagano's mountains may be taxed
"The move comes as limited public funds amid a recent mountain-climbing
boom--especially among young female climbers called "mountain girls,"
the middle aged and elderly--has squeezed the finances of the local
government, particularly in regard to expenses related to mountain
conservation and alpine safety."
Source: Daily Yomiuri
Karasawa Col
(Photo credit: Yomiuri
Online)
Oct.
31, 2012 - FM Setagaya 83.4 MHz radio interviews
The following interviews were conducted in Dec. 2009 by Kanae, a junior
at Showa Women's University in Tokyo, as part of her class project to
produce a weekly 15-min. radio show interviewing foreigners living in
Tokyo. The radio show was called "What's Up Setagaya?" and
broadcast on FM Setagaya 83.4 MHz.
Oct. 13,
2012 - New eBook now
an Apple iTunes iBook
I worry I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but for my friends
who own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and have previously inquired
about my new book, I just wanted to let you know it's now available as
an iBook in the Apple iTunes bookstore. Ok, I'm gonna shut up now...
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/view-from-top-japan-my-2-decade/id567295568?mt=11
(click on blue "View in iTunes" button)
Oct. 10,
2012 - Gary P. Nunn, Fri. Sept. 7, 2012 at Blanco's, Houston's #1 live
country & western music spot
Now
this is the REAL Texas. If you've never seen real live good ol' country
& western 2-step dancin', here's your big chance. Gary P. Nunn, an
icon in the Texas country music industry, is one of my favorite
musicians, but not just because of his first name.
My favorite song this night was "Luckenbach, Texas," starting around
the 36:30 mark. If you get time, check out Gary's official website,
where you can see the latest news, his tour schedule, photographs,
links, and purchase merchandise from his store, including his new
album, "One Way or Another." At this 3-hr. concert, he sold 60 of his
new albums at $20 a pop. Wow...
Oct. 7,
2012 - My 9 Fabulous Days in the Great State of Texas - Sept. 8-16,
2012
I finally got a ROUND TUIT. The
highlight, accounting for over half the
video, is my friend's 263-acre (106-hectare) ranch in the beautiful
Texas hill country. I hope you enjoy seeing my part of the world...
0:00 Sunrise from the plane
0:10 Surprising Mom
2:08 Lunch at Christie's
w/ college buddies
2:31 Russ Pitman Park
7:09 Road trip to Kerrville
8:39 JW's ranch (AWESOME!!)
11:28 Restocking the deer feeder
12:47 Bushwhacking it back to nature
14:40 The lake, springs, and feeding the BIG fish
20:53 Wild squirrel
21:53 Interesting rock formation
22:44 Wild turkeys
22:55 UT Austin campus
23:12 Guitar player
25:30 Jester dorm (w/ UT basketball player)
26:44 Tokyo Narita flight cancellation
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