Author: admin

Started reading the 2015 Man Booker prize winner, A Brief History of Seven Killings .

Many reviews warn it is difficult to read and follow the different character, but so far I find myself fascinated with the book and flow.
Maybe even more than that, I realize I know nothing about Jamaican recent history, as depicted in the first part of the book.

Will definitely try to read more about it once I finish this book.

Fascinating

 

Watched Martin Scorcese’s film, which I am still thinking about.

I probably need to read the book to get a better understanding of the period and message.

Is it a movie about Japanese prosecution of Christians, a movie about Faith, God and it’s place in our life?
Is it a movie about pragmatism against fundamentalism and extremism ?

As a Jew who suffered from the hands of the Christian faith in a similar manner, I prefer to ignore the simple story.
500 years ago (or so), my family lived in Spain and had the options of converting to Christianity, flee Spain or die.
Some Jewish families decided to stay, converted while keeping the Jewish religion in hiding (Anusim).
They were also prosecuted and targeted by the inquisition, and even now there are some communities in Spain/Portugal who have traditions similar to Jewish religion.

I am afraid I have too many questions, not answers:
1) If Christianity was allowed in Japan, how would Japan be today. Wasn’t it better off keeping the Japanese culture than adopting another.
2) Were the Christian converts true believers or merged another religion into the Japanese beliefs
3) What is the place in religion in our life ; is it more important than life? – Well, for that I have an answer. Life is more important, choosing life is stronger than any belief.
4) Did the Jesuit priests continue to believe in Christianity or did they realize it is yet another religion

While taking the Oimachi line, I was always wondering what is in the hill between FutakoTamagawa and Kaminoge.
Was it a temple, residence?

Found out at last. It is Gotoh Museum and Garden.

Previously the private residence of Tokyu Group president, it is now a museum (and garden) which features Japanese and Far Eastern art.

A very nice place to walk under the trees, feel the nature inside the city. I guess that Fuji mountain can be seen if weather permits, but Crimson house and tall buildings in Futako Tamagawa are quite dominant in the scenery.

In the photo, a red gate and 文人像

As I was having lunch in Musashi-Kosugi, overheard a conversation between two men at the next table about my company, our reseller and competition. Could not hear the details, but could definitely hear my company’s name.

What to do? Pretend I do not hear? Say hello?

As I finished lunch and headed to pay, I went to their table, said (In Japanese):

“Heard my company’s name in your conversation. My name is Avi and here is my business card”.

Handed my business card and left.

Was surprised to see this ad in the train today.

It is for the book Sapiens, a Brief History of Human Kind by Yual Noah Harari

The ad details the writer’s Biography, including Hebrew University and Oxford with many recommendations both overseas (Bill Gates and Barack Obama) as well as local (Ikegami Akira, Horiemon) and more.

 

My most viewed photo on Flickr (by far) is a Hebrew Tattoo behind the ear of a Japanese girl.

Spent some time trying to analyze what brings people to this photo, but Flickr Statistics are limited and cannot dig for all search results and sources.

Just a reminder that the photo was taken several years ago in Iidabashi station. Noticed the Tattoo while I was waiting for my training and used my (then) broken Japanese to ask permission to take a photo.

I obviously received it.

Also asked her if she knows the meaning of the world and she happily nodded but did not talk further. Maybe she was afraid it was wrong.

מופלא

 

 

T2 Trainspotting was released in the UK, but I am still not sure when it is going to be released in Japan.

Expect it to take at least 5-6 months, so I’d better plan a business trip to Australia.

 

My Google analytics presented the following results :

“Vitaly rules Google” and “Congratulations to Trump”.

It seems like Russian crawlers (SEO?) are becoming more creative.

 

Boarding the train far away from home in Iidabashi.

A tall fashionable woman watching me, once, twice. It is not out of the ordinary, she definitely does not look familiar, so I ignore.

Black coat, black dress, with a beautiful black Bree Bag.
She is changing trains in Nagatacho, me too. Still not out of the ordinary.

And as you could guess, turns out she lives around my station.
Yet, while she was watching me in Iidabashi, she did an extra effort to ignore me in my station.

At least I am quite sure I will remember her next time. Beautiful Black Bree Bag . Well, as long as she will be using it.