Ichi shows how to walk on Aoyama street...
Friday, July 30, 2010
Nothing special..
Week of going, rushing, running somewhere almost every day...Almost every day we had auditions, none of them finally brought any job but every time it was a lot of fun to meet all guys and our manager ICHI .
On Thursday I went to Zushi beach where burnt so badly .. And yesterday we helped Tanya to move her belongings.
After all we had lunch of curry soup at Waseda station. Restaurant is called "Tokyo Rakkyo Brothers" and it was really tasty and exotic dishes!
That is all...I write like composition of 5-year old on "how I spent my weekdays".. Every day I read one chapter of "Vagabond" - next to my apartment I found small old-fashioned restaurant where they serve katsu-don and katsu-age and other katsu..But the most wonderful is that they have 30 chapters of "Vagabond" - manga by Takehiko Inoue portraying life of Miyamoto Musashi. Every day I go to have lunch of katsu and read one chapter..So, I need month to read all.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Art day
Today I went to Ueno (I so love my station as it costs me 190 yen to Shibuya, 160 to Shinjuku, 190 to Harajuku, 190 to Roppongi, 230 to Ueno....great!! very convenient and cheap).. After totally having burnt my gaijin skin on Zushi sun to the condition of sausage and having spent 2 days just diying from heat and hurt of each part of the body, I finally felt better and decided to go to Marc Chagall exhibition in Ueno. 
I watched it after having attended exhibition of Soviet constructivist pair Rodchenko and Stepanova which was held several months ago in Meguro. It is interesting to compare artists who lived in the same time but was divided by such historical break as 1917 year Revolution. One of the artists accepted new Soviet Russia and believed that Revolution which destroyed old "tsar" country will bring freedom and new wave in art. Others saw only deconstruction in revolution which killed cultural traditions and so important religion traditions of monarchy Russia..First ones as poet Vladimir Mayakovskiy, painters Kazimir Malevich, Rodchenko, Stepanova stayed in "new Russia" after Revolution and became "poets of new country". They founded fantastic art, very powerful and with strong message to use simplicity of forms and material and construct art from simple, primitive things - this was theme of posters, objects, paintings by Rodchenko and Stepanova.
Immigrant culture was different. Like writers Ivan Bunin. Alexander Kuprin, artists like Chagall lived by memories of old, classic Russia with its "pravoslavniy" customs, burgeaus lifestyle...That is why all their works are full of bright, various colours at one side (comparing to basic red-white-black of Soviet art), but at the other side all these works are so full nostalgy, solitude,they are so melancholic and full of memories and thoughts about left but not forgotten Home...
That is why when I went to first exhibition I got strong portion of energy...
Watching Chagall paintings you recognize that in most of them, especially of the late period. there is always "Russia from childhood" - in depictions of his native town Vitebsk with all these small houses and always churches, in all these cows, horses..I thought about people who immigrated that time - who had to make it decision and spent the rest of their live abroad - France, Germany, USA . Some of them became interantionally famous artists, some just died in poverty but they always remembered their home, their cultural roots, their country was always depicted in their novels, paintings with such love ....And how probably it was difficult to live on memories of lost homeland....
As to this exhibition, there was very interesting Part 3 presenting Chagall works on ballet costumes and sets..This unknown his side is demonstrated with a lot of drafts and drawings in color...
Also exhibition presents works of Russian avant-garde artists who started their way with Marc Chagall , as Kazimir Malevich, Natalia Goncharova and Mikhail Larionov - so you can watch Russain avant-garde painting scene of 10-20s.
From all paintings I liked "The fall of Ikarus" (1975) most - Ikarus from Greek myth who tried to reach sun with the help of his artificial wings is falling to Vitebsk town - mixture of humour and some nostalgia - in the last years of his life Chagall thought on the fate of artist.
P.S.
Tomorrow is important day for me...Very important..If everything goes well, I will drink dead! If not I will be just dead.. I should finish reading 2 books and write my impression - all for tomorrow interview..Grabbed white shirt from cleaning, polished shoes, remembered all supposed interview questions from manual books..
I think I haven't forgotten anything...Maybe...
じゃ、.かかってこい！
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Reading
Books I recently read and which were worth reading and helped me much.
First one is novel by Keiya Mizuno "An elephant who could make dreams come true" ("Yume wo kanaeru zou"). Actually, I read it last year - read in curry restaurant every day when I went to lunch at work. It is story full of fun and humour. It is not actually novel as literature , it is rather "how-to-do" book but author wrote"10 rules how to be successful" in the form of fiction novel with story, funny characters..Main character is poor Japanese salariman who just so tired of his everyday salariman life and want to be "big person", want to change everything in his life but doesn't know how..On one day sculpture of Ganesha - Hindu god with elephant head - which he brought from India, transformed into real elephant god (who speaks kansai dialect!) and Ganesha helps him by giving rules for success - one in every day (in one chapter).. "Polish you shoes", "Make donations in convenience store boxes" an many-many others...It was very positive book which just gave me energy to change everything one day.
TV drama, movie and even anime were made on the basis of this novel.
One more I finished yesterday. Ken`ichiro Yadokoro has been working as HR manager for many years and wrote a lot of books on recruitment and job finding. This book is for those who is changing job and are going to have interview. He writes about typical questions and typical mistakes of so-called "job hunters", gives tips and good information on what recruiters check , what they think to be important. Very simple and workable book. Especially for foreigners when they, like me, start to look for job in Japan, they believe they know everything as they graduated from good university in their own countries, studied abroad, speak excellent Japanese.....and so on...It was all about me..
I just thought I am smart enough to do everything by myself without all these tips and advice.
Believe, it is better to listen what people talk to you, especially if you are in country with very specific social traditions, habits and rules. It is very important to get as much useful info as possible before applying and going to interviews. If you make some mistakes and they refused, you will not be able to re-do everything again for the same company.
First one is novel by Keiya Mizuno "An elephant who could make dreams come true" ("Yume wo kanaeru zou"). Actually, I read it last year - read in curry restaurant every day when I went to lunch at work. It is story full of fun and humour. It is not actually novel as literature , it is rather "how-to-do" book but author wrote"10 rules how to be successful" in the form of fiction novel with story, funny characters..Main character is poor Japanese salariman who just so tired of his everyday salariman life and want to be "big person", want to change everything in his life but doesn't know how..On one day sculpture of Ganesha - Hindu god with elephant head - which he brought from India, transformed into real elephant god (who speaks kansai dialect!) and Ganesha helps him by giving rules for success - one in every day (in one chapter).. "Polish you shoes", "Make donations in convenience store boxes" an many-many others...It was very positive book which just gave me energy to change everything one day.
TV drama, movie and even anime were made on the basis of this novel.
One more I finished yesterday. Ken`ichiro Yadokoro has been working as HR manager for many years and wrote a lot of books on recruitment and job finding. This book is for those who is changing job and are going to have interview. He writes about typical questions and typical mistakes of so-called "job hunters", gives tips and good information on what recruiters check , what they think to be important. Very simple and workable book. Especially for foreigners when they, like me, start to look for job in Japan, they believe they know everything as they graduated from good university in their own countries, studied abroad, speak excellent Japanese.....and so on...It was all about me..
I just thought I am smart enough to do everything by myself without all these tips and advice.
Believe, it is better to listen what people talk to you, especially if you are in country with very specific social traditions, habits and rules. It is very important to get as much useful info as possible before applying and going to interviews. If you make some mistakes and they refused, you will not be able to re-do everything again for the same company.
P.S.
Went again to Nakano Broadway - a lot of shops of movie and anime figures.
And these shoes are all for one doll...Sometimes they cost like shoes for real people...
And these shoes are all for one doll...Sometimes they cost like shoes for real people...
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday
8:45~15:00Shooting for catalogue for this Japanese brand "Iroquois" (pronouncing like "Irokoi")
http://www.iroquois.jp/
Funny people, nice clothes and very good team of all who worked on it - photographer, stylist Katsuyuki Honjo, assistants. And my first job after countless auditions...First maniiii
16:00 When we had audition for Milk Boy I found this boots in their Press Room. Boots with so many pins and spikes - I bet Lady Gaga would like to buy them.
18:00 Bought new keyholder figure in Nakano - yankee this time. In Nakano Broadway I found so many shops for lovers of Manga, Cosplay, Anime, Figure. Especially figure stores are something! I can spend there several hours just watching all them - it is so healing - you feel like you have run away from reality..19:00 Received mail that on Saturday I should take SPI test for your common knowledge (new-graduates should pass it if they enter big companies).Plus, I should buy 2 books written by president of my company and write my opinion on it...So I have what to do on weekends..
Yes, "naitei" which I have already got, I refused it as felt that that was different...But next week I have interviews for 2 others companies...So TO BE CONTINUED!
One my favourite songs, which always gives positive energy.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Teacher who sang songs
She came to our university class one day just after graduating from university in Japan. She just returned to Russia and became teacher of Japanese language. She spoke Russian with slight accent and pronounced Russian words as they were written on "katakana".. Her black hair and something in her eyes plus this accent ...she was something like person from other world..really
Only when she left university, I got to know that she writes songs and writes really good songs..I found her album which was sold in only few copies and all these songs she sang were just magical...
I was born in forest, I mean in small town surrounded by mountains, and only at 16 moved to bigger port city. So I never liked this salty sea, these sea birds which were flying everywhere, these people knowing all sorts of fish and talking about their relatives who do either sailor or fisherman.
But in 5 years I started to love sea and her songs are so full of sea, it salty water..They became my favourite songs..When I get tired of all this AKB48, countless idols, hip-hop singers and lady gagas which can be listened everywhere in Tokyo, I listen to these two songs and feel as I am home ...
Only when she left university, I got to know that she writes songs and writes really good songs..I found her album which was sold in only few copies and all these songs she sang were just magical...
I was born in forest, I mean in small town surrounded by mountains, and only at 16 moved to bigger port city. So I never liked this salty sea, these sea birds which were flying everywhere, these people knowing all sorts of fish and talking about their relatives who do either sailor or fisherman.
But in 5 years I started to love sea and her songs are so full of sea, it salty water..They became my favourite songs..When I get tired of all this AKB48, countless idols, hip-hop singers and lady gagas which can be listened everywhere in Tokyo, I listen to these two songs and feel as I am home ...
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wonderful day
Today again I did my everyday tasks - finding job, reading "Shonen JUMP" or "20th Century Boys" when resting from searching..then search again..then read and so on...So eventually everything around me got messy with all these books, pamphlets and so on as usual..There were no results after Job Fair I went in the beginning of July, so I got mad and decided to get this "naitei" (informal job offer in Japan) whatever. I spent last week in searching, applying, going to interview, company seminars...
At 4 I rushed to "again one more and again without any results" model audition at Shin-Ogikubo (almost forgot about it). Manager Ichi talked about his phone which he dropped yesterday when did "unko" in toilet. We counted Korean and Chinese people on our way to audition and, you know, it seems their population is more than Japanese people in Shin-Ogikubo!!It was my first time in this station... Rather messy surroundings. though But so many Korean food restaurants, shops... and I decided to come there again some day.
Audition for bridal tuxedos finished in 5 min. Nothing interesting ... Bunch of ikemens, bunch of some people who judge and chose from ikemens 2-3 right candidates...Ikemens waiting, standing in fron of Tuxedo company people, showing their look-books, managers doing their work, introducing each ikemen and all their titles and achievements. "He works in NY and LA basically, a lot of shootings, you know..." "He is said to look very attractive in tuxedos and bridal suits. Look at these photos..Isn't he "naisu", is he?"..."He is considered to be very photogenic face.."
When I returned home, it was 6 pm already..."Kyaku-hiki" - people who stands at Shinjuku station exits to attract people for girls bars and salons were already on their usual places.
Evening sun is so beautiful these days..Shinjuku skyscrapers view from my balcony which is impressive enough at daytime, was especially fantastic today in this pink lightning of sky...I felt something should happen..something good like this sky.
I was not surprised when got call 10 minutes later..
It was from company I visited on Friday....
HR manager said that I had got naitei and can start on Wednesday!!
.........................
At 4 I rushed to "again one more and again without any results" model audition at Shin-Ogikubo (almost forgot about it). Manager Ichi talked about his phone which he dropped yesterday when did "unko" in toilet. We counted Korean and Chinese people on our way to audition and, you know, it seems their population is more than Japanese people in Shin-Ogikubo!!It was my first time in this station... Rather messy surroundings. though But so many Korean food restaurants, shops... and I decided to come there again some day.
Audition for bridal tuxedos finished in 5 min. Nothing interesting ... Bunch of ikemens, bunch of some people who judge and chose from ikemens 2-3 right candidates...Ikemens waiting, standing in fron of Tuxedo company people, showing their look-books, managers doing their work, introducing each ikemen and all their titles and achievements. "He works in NY and LA basically, a lot of shootings, you know..." "He is said to look very attractive in tuxedos and bridal suits. Look at these photos..Isn't he "naisu", is he?"..."He is considered to be very photogenic face.."
When I returned home, it was 6 pm already..."Kyaku-hiki" - people who stands at Shinjuku station exits to attract people for girls bars and salons were already on their usual places.
Evening sun is so beautiful these days..Shinjuku skyscrapers view from my balcony which is impressive enough at daytime, was especially fantastic today in this pink lightning of sky...I felt something should happen..something good like this sky.
I was not surprised when got call 10 minutes later..
It was from company I visited on Friday....
HR manager said that I had got naitei and can start on Wednesday!!
.........................
Friday, July 9, 2010
Job hunting
yeah...job hunting....
lots of books on tenshoku, coffee and sandwiches.thats my every days life. Today I went to interview again.
But, you know, it is kind of thrilling feeling. You have aim to get this "naitei" whatever and when you feel that everything goes well, you feel so happy..So, lets see
When I get "naitei" i will be the happiest person.
Also, do modelling job..mmm....actually go to auditions every day and dont do any job as all auditions are daaame, but it is better then spending all day at home.
a,yes....Also bought Chapter 1 of "20th Century Boys"manga in Book-Off. I wanted to read this comics long-long ago and now have so plenty of time to read. It is really exciting and unpredictable story
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Ni-to
So strange feeling when you wake up in the morning and no need to go to work...Maybe today I finally realised it as previous days was busy with Job Fair...
On weekends I just walked around Tokyo.I visited St.Nikolai Church in Ochanomizu, but there were no people there so I could not to talk to smb., just paid 300 yen for candle, prayed and walked in church yard...On Friday I had three auditions which was funny, but once again I realized how poor my English, when talked to other people. and could not understand a lot Met two cute Russian models there who came to Tokyo 2 months ago and who were so beautiful, but spoke so dirty Russian, which I heard maybe only from my previous customers...
And on Sunday there were Russian speech contest in Kyodou. When you see Japanese students who speak on serious themes, such as ecology, politics, international affairs and who talk how they love Russia and Russian culture - you feel such sympathy. It was really worth watching and I remembered myself when we have Japanese speech contest in Vladivostok - how it was a nervous, but unforgettable event...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The day I resigned
So yes...On June, 30 I resigned from my company and now have just plenty of time for sleeping, watching TV drama on net and so on. But in these 3 months I should find job whatever - it is my main purpose..So yesterday went to TOKYO Forum - Job Fair event where did my best attending booths, seminars, interviews. Results will be later, so waiting now and also checking other possibilities.
And as I am free every day now, I called my manager from Model Agency informing him on this unpleasant matter but he seemed not to feel so at all and told that now he can offer me some auditions and possible job offers, so today I will go to take part in 3 of them.
And also I passed TOEIC test with 955 scores!!It is incredible. Actually I am poor in English as you can see, but wonderful books "Get 990 in TOEIC" which I bought in Shinjuku really works - I have been reading them for a month - and you see result! It is the best moment from recent news
And as I am free every day now, I called my manager from Model Agency informing him on this unpleasant matter but he seemed not to feel so at all and told that now he can offer me some auditions and possible job offers, so today I will go to take part in 3 of them.
And also I passed TOEIC test with 955 scores!!It is incredible. Actually I am poor in English as you can see, but wonderful books "Get 990 in TOEIC" which I bought in Shinjuku really works - I have been reading them for a month - and you see result! It is the best moment from recent news
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