HIROKOCHANNEL

Changes

2011-01-27T13:08:00.000+09:00

I'm currently reconstructing my website/blogs and therefore the blog looks abit random and not organized well. I'll probably close this blog once everything is set up on my website.

Until then, thanks for reading...some are from my old blog, just putting them up here for now. ;)

The things that last

2011-01-24T23:08:00.002+09:00

This was originally written on June 28, 2008

Since I moved back to Japan last summer, some things inside me changed drastically while some remained the same. Tokyo is really a strange place, not necessarily like how it's described in "Lost in Translation" movie, but maybe a little bit....

You get on a subway at 8, which is like the worst time of the day to catch a train. While Japanese people are very sensitive to their personal space, nobody seems to care about the "personal space" on the train. Your boobs smashed against someone else's arm, back, people don't even act uncomfortable.
Ok, you get off the train, everybody tries to beat everyone else on the stairs/escalators. People have no expression on their face, which still is a big mystery to me to this day. Here many people look like robots; no smile, no thank you, no joke, no laugh. Of course not everyone, but many.

At least more than 3 or maybe lot more trains stop because someone jumps in front of the train and commit suicide. Things you hear is not a word of sympathy. Rather, you hear "Oh again?" "Oh please, I'm gonna be late" "Wish they'd die somewhere else" not many people verbalize but for sure people care a lot more about them getting to the office on time than the fact someone was suffering so much enough to jump in front of the train, and the deceased person's family owes 20 million yen (200 thousand dollars) for clean ups.

I had been struggling with some things and purposely stopped going to church. I went maybe once a month or every other month. I chose being alone and struggle alone. I chose the suffering over love. I denied comfort, warmth, love, restoration, deliverance, and sometimes the truth God offered. It has been the most painful days of my life. I was cutting my hair without even realizing. I just wanted to disappear before committing any more sins against God. God, on the other hand, never took my life away even when I pleaded with all my heart. He always told me Jesus took all my sins, and today I must live according to His purpose.

Some time passed. I began to think, or realize should I say, that the main reason so many Japanese people commit suicide every year, which number has been increasing every year, is lack of community. There is no community people can rest, share, be true to one another, love, and to be loved. I recall the short time I was in Hawaii. The people I was with were just incredible. I can't even describe how sincere and genuine they were. The true family, the true community surrounded me and loved me, and they were so close to each other. There was no need of worrying being judged. There was no need of worrying being betrayed.

Christian or not Christian, God has intended human to live among communities. Nobody can take this pain by herself. This world is too harsh and complicated to live alone. Boyfriend/ girlfriend isn't enough, acquaintance and co-workers aren't enough. Everyone needs "family" that loves him/her unconditionally, and feeling the need for the community isn't a sign of weakness. It's 100% human to desire for the community. It doesn't have to have a name "Community Group" or "Life Group" or whatever (I don't have anything against them at all), but here in this nation, we do, need to realize and rebuild the community we have abandoned.

Repost>same but not quite

2011-01-24T23:05:00.002+09:00

i've seen, people raising hands, wishing for the best of others.
i've seen, people shedding tears, hurting for the people they've never met.
i've seen, the hands reached out, to help the ones in need, without asking anything in return.
i've seen, the tears falling, for the pain of seeking the truth was getting too much.
i've seen, people that are just as sincere, just as humble, just as broken, just as loving, just as honest, just as warm-hearted, just as truthful, just as Christ-like, who are not Christians.

What is it that's different. The difference is nothing and at the same time everything.
Those people, those things i've seen were all real, too real that they crushed my heart, broken the faith into pieces. The cornerstone's there. He never moves. He is the only truth and that's why, it is getting too much to bear........

when nothing is left, to help me go on, God, is quietly there to see me cry, hear me asking questions, proving He is God, and the day will come, when there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more confusion, no more hurt, no more doubt, no more suffering, no more death.

when i couldn't see Him, couldn't feel Him, couldn't understand Him, and couldn't do anything to honor Him, once again, He took me to the cross where He gave His everything, and told me even I myself can't take this away from my heart. It is deeply engraved with the blood.

And that night, nothing was certain, nothing was clear, nothing was solved, nothing was comforting, nothing was existed, except the cross He died for the whole world.

生きるために精一杯、今日一日を生き抜くことで精一杯。

幸せが何かなんて考える暇さえない。そんな人こそ本当に幸せなんだろう。守るもの、守る人、与えられた命を腐るまで使い切ろう、政治批判もしない、裸足でボールを追いかけ、喜びに、出会いに、別れに、涙する熱い心を持ち、一生信念を持ち続ける、愛し続ける、諦めない、そんな人が、本当に美しい人だろう。
地位やお金、体裁や世間の目、批判や賞賛、くそくらえ。最期に残るのはこのハートだけじゃないか。

【Japan Culture Trip】45 Christmas in Japan 2010

2010-12-26T02:21:00.000+09:00

Japanese people celebrate Christmas in a sort of unique way.... :)

【Japan Ride】Shinkansen - 東海道新幹線（有楽町から）

2010-12-10T08:28:00.002+09:00

I had never been really interested in trains or airplanes like many guys do. But a friend of mine suggested I shoot a video of train, so one day I gave it a shot.

Shooting a clip of moving object is much more challenging and needs some strategy when you do. Next time I'll try this rare Yellow Shinkansen which is also known as "Dr.Yellow". :)

【Japan Culture Trip】43 Gingko Street Part 2　神宮外苑イチョウ並木パート 2

2010-12-02T17:54:00.000+09:00

He was a little creepy but at least he wiped his hands! ;)

【Japan Culture Trip】42 Gingko Street Part 1　銀杏並木パート１

2010-11-22T00:51:00.000+09:00

Fall Colors

2010-11-21T20:01:00.002+09:00

Yoshi and I walked all around Tokyo shooting videos today.

The first destination is Gaien-Mae : Gingko Festival (^_^)

Playing with leaves. (^u^)

The next is Omotesando.

We went to Omotesando Hills to see Swalvski's Christmas Tree.

And on to Ginza : Famous MIKIMOTO Christmas Tree.

Peeking Angel. (-^^-)

It was a fun & productive day!!

Akibatteru アキバってる - Taipei Comic Fair, Game localization and Tokyo Anime...

2010-11-13T12:36:00.000+09:00

Shoplifting by Elderly People in Japan

2010-10-14T22:22:00.001+09:00

Japanese Living Longer Lonelier

Japanese living longer, lonelier by MARK MACKINNON

Not long after reading this article, there was another Japanese article that talked about Japanese elderly people that I'm sure is related to this topic.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20101014-OYT1T00415.htm

According to Yomiuri Online, the number of shop lifter whose age is 65yr+ reached twenty thousand and eighty two between January-September 2010, according to National Police Agency.

The number of elderly shoplifter has increased by hundred forty one since last year, and has been increasing every year for the past nineteen years.

If the elderly criminals whose age are 50+ confessed their loneliness and the loss of meaning in life, the police introduce them to the community gatherings and try to avoid their subsequent offense, and discuss different solutions with the small retailers who often find these criminals at their shops.

This issue if often featured in evening news and documentaries, and many people are aware of the situation. Just as the issues about the elderly homeless people, many are aware but feel almost helpless in the situation.

Shoplifting once used to be done by kids who wanted attention from their parents or friends, now being done by elderly for the same reason.

【島唄】代々木公園ブラジルフェス　Brazilian Fest at Yoyogi Park

2010-09-13T09:51:00.001+09:00

やっぱナマ島唄は鳥肌ものでした〜！！

I used to be a girl.

2010-09-02T00:39:00.000+09:00

Found this pic.in the album. This must be from my 5th birthday!

Haha, I used to be a little girl too!!

Now I'm all grown up and mature....

well, as you can see :D

This is from my 27th birthday. lol

Tokyo Bay Fireworks (And a little confession) :)

2010-08-15T16:21:00.000+09:00

The Annual Tokyo Bay Fireworks kicked off at 7pm last night. My boyfriend and I tried to decide where to watch it, and that took us about 30 minutes. :p

Finally we ended up on the rooftop of my friend's house. By the time we got there it was 8:10pm. The fireworks was supposed to end at 8:20.

So what you are seeing on the video is the grand finale-the only part we got to watch!

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!! :D

What happened afterwards?

2010-07-22T23:30:00.002+09:00

Funny story behind this video.....

It was only after finished eating that I realized something went wrong!

Usually when I use cooking sake, I make sure they are heated and dried off.

But as for this time, as you might have noticed already, I put the sake in the sauce and never heated!

So.....

yeah.....

I was sort of...... drunk after lunch! lol

If you have a low tolerance for alcohol like me, don't put sake in the sauce! ;)

New icon

2010-07-21T01:09:00.000+09:00

A friend on twitter made a new icon for my channel!

He's going to make some more! ^^

Best Korean Website

2010-07-15T01:41:00.001+09:00

Today, I'd like to introduce this great website my friend Hyunwoo runs.

He himself speaks several different languages, and he is also a good friend of mine!

Hyunwoo Sun

Actually, he runs several Korean websites and he is a very popular blogger/vlogger in Korea!

1. http://hyunwoosun.com/

2. http://blog.naver.com/ever4one

These two are his personal blogs in both English and Korean. He is a very talented break dancer, photographer, and a bloger! You can also listen to his blog : 여기를 클릭하세요

3. http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/

If you are interested in learning Korean or improving your Korean, TalkToMeInKorean.com is just the place for you. You will see what I mean when you get there. Go check it out now. All the regular lessons and PDF files are completely free of charge and you can purchase interesting learning material in the store section of the site if you want to. - from Hyunwoo's introduction.

4. http://www.gongbugage.com/

Gongbugage.com is an online content store website where (mainly) Korean people can purchase foreign language learning material. Why should you know about this website? If you speak any language that is NOT Korean as your mother tongue and if you'd like to make some learning material of your own mother tongue for the Korean custumers (and of course get paid for your work just like authors get paid for their books), please contact me anytime using the contact form in the side bar of the website. - from Hyunwoo's introduction.

Here's the YouTube Video from my trip to Korea! I had a chance to visit with him!

My video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp9XYIFMmUQ

Hyunwoo's channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ever4one

Shoes, not candies!

2010-07-13T02:01:00.002+09:00

I once introduced these shoes in one of my videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSs-j-QngqE

These are made by Melissa - melissa por herchcovitch; Alex Andre

Looks like Lego, huh?

Another interesting thing about these shoes is ---

They smell like candies!!

Melissa produces shoes that smell like candies, or gum....

And what's better, they are very affordable!! :)

If you are interested, here's the link:

http://www.melissaplasticdreams.com/

Long lost blog posts! lol

2010-07-12T01:30:00.002+09:00

I happened to re-encounter with my old blog page!! So I changed some stuff on the front page and here I am! :)

First off here are some pix from Tokyo! This is from where my boyfriend and his parents and I went the other night! Vegetable Nabe restaurant!

Can't name all the vegetables that were in the Nabe.... :p

Vege Appetizer

Vege Sashimi

Now we are talking.... :) Super yummy!

First desert: Dip that mochi-noodle thing in the watermelon jam.

Second desert: Green tea with lil macaroon.

Overall it was a fantastic meal! All vegetables! :D

Here's the link for the restaurant, if you are interested!

http://www.eat-walk.com/roppongi/index.php

hydrogen sulfide

2008-04-25T14:51:00.002+09:00

The crazy new ''boom'' in Japan.

Since the beginning of April, EVERY day, I mean, EVERYDAY somebody has been committing suicide with hydrogen sulfide.

Apparently you can make hudrogen sulfide at home by mixing some liquid detergents that cause poisonous gas.

This method not only kills the person actually committing the suicide in a few second, but also whoever is around the gas at the time. Out of 50 cases there have been surrounding victims in 18 different places. In most cases the the suicide(r) are under the age 40, who have regular access to internet. People can research how to die without pain on the internet these days, totally scary.

It is said that Japanese counseling/psychology is a century behind one from the States. Unlike Christianity Japanese religions don't teach cutting off one's own life is a taboo.

Where is this nation heading to?

The Spring has past....almost

2008-04-15T17:10:00.003+09:00

Normally, Japanese people talk about weather when they have nothing else to talk about. But today, even my friend Ben would want to talk about the weather. He has quickly learned the Japanese phrase ''Tenki ga ii ne.''-It's such a good weather today. And today, indeed, is the day he can use the phrase without thinking, ''ugh, again?''

It rained a lot past few weeks here in Tokyo, and even with beautiful cherry blossoms, it has been still chilly outside. Today you see not only some big foreigners but some Japanese wearing T-shirts.

Japanese New Years

2008-01-04T10:04:00.000+09:00

In Japan, if you are a working adult, you give money to your kids or younger relatives.

You better be glad you are not Japanese :p

I have three cousins. Two of them have three kids, one has two. So i have 8 kids to give money to. You cannot give the same amount to 15year old kid and 3 year old.

So you give ￥5000(about USD45) to the olderst one, and ￥4000 to his brother, ￥3000 to his sister, and so on......

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

but for the kids, this is THE day for them, they count money the collected and think of what they can buy with it :)

You can tell which kids are smarter than others by observing how them spend money. Some will save it all and some will spend it on silly toys. Some parents tell the kids that they will take care of their money and put it in their bank account so that the kids won't waste money.

Anyhow, this New Years, I returned home to give away money! but at least the kids were happy :D

time

2007-11-21T13:41:00.000+09:00

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Time for a change.
I was never a person who could give up things easily, or should I say there has been this burning desire inside that I could never ignore or deny.

My life ends when I stop dreaming.

dilemma.

it's been a long long time since.....

2007-10-27T20:49:00.001+09:00

That's right,

I don't even remember the last I wrote on here.

It feels weird and sort of embarrassing to read what you wrote in the past.

I deleted all and saved them on word for my own memory :p

Bought a Classical music CD today. My all time favorite is Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity by Gustav Holst, since jr. high for more than 10 years...i still adore this piece.