It's 2010 and the Story Continues...

How fast time flies. I still remember the pandemonium and panic over the Y2K bugs last 10 years, and within blink of eyes, it's already 2010.

2009 has its own mark in my walk of life. The year I started my life in foreign land, specifically in Japan. The year I was so worn out to study for my graduate school entrance exam but Alhamdulillah passed it. And few other adventures and life experiences that I feel so precious to be listed here.

I remember in previous years I did make new year resolutions and aim to achieve it. I dare say I'd fulfilled the 2009 list with some points not achieved but I really feel good. And this year I just hope that my life would be better than last year, the world will be much better place for us to live in and of course, the happiness of everybody. My master course and research will begin this spring, I really hope I can nail it graduate like everyone else.

New year celebration back in my home country has this close image to concerts and fireworks. Sleepless nights. But surprisingly in Japan, although new year is a big celebration celebrated by Japanese (long holiday and they go back to their hometown, like Christmas for Christians and Eid for Muslims), concerts and fireworks are not common to celebrate New Year. I can't recall what I did back in 2009 for New Year's Eve, probably watch the countdown at home. It has been ages since I went to countdown concerts and watch firework show for new year, the last one maybe while I was still in college.

New Year's Eve: This year I didn't go out either, I was not really motivated to spend the whole night outside since it was freezing. Watched Downtown Gaki ni Tsukai: Waratte wa Ikenai and Kouhaku Uta Gassen with Shogo and Anthony instead (without both of them, my New Year's Eve will be a bit lonely). I watched both show in Youtube before (I think it's pretty famous on Internet), so this is my first time to watch it on tv. Ended up continue watch tv the whole night and sleep at 5:00 am. What a way to celebrate new year.

Jan 1: woke up at 14:00, and went to Nagareyama Ootakanomori to check out the fukubukuro scene but unfortunately all shops were closed (New Year is really like Eid in Malaysia, Tokyo streets were almost empty and shops are mostly closed), so decided to go to karaoke with Shogo and Reginaldo instead. At least the karaoke parlor and kombini was still open. More about Japanese new year, click here.

My first 年賀状/nengajou/New Year's Postcard, a common etiquette in Japan (more about common etiquette in Japan, click here) from Coy. The postcard normally will be received exactly on the first day of new year and commonly replied within seven days.

Jan 2: went to Gotemba Premium Outlet in Gotemba, Shizuoka. The bus ride took about one and a half hour from Tokyo. Despite colder weather in Shizuoka, the crowd was immense, all can't wait to spend their yens. Managed to get myself a new wallet, Nike Snow Trainer 3 and francfranc fukubukuro.

富士山/Fuji-san/Fuji Mountain from far. Gotemba located in the foot of the mountain.

皆さん、
新年明けましておめでとうございます。
昨年は色々とお世話になりました。
ありがとうございます。
今年も宜しくお願いします。
今年も頑張りましょう。

【PV】 コブクロ - 風
アップロード者 kenjikasukabe. - 音楽動画をHD画質でもっと見る！

「。。。この風は
あなたですか？
次の春を吹きますか。。。」
ーコブクロ「風」２００２

小さな恋のうた/Chiisana Koi no Uta by MONGOL800

作詞：Kiyosaku Uezu
作曲：MONGOL800

広い宇宙の数ある一つ
青い地球の広い世界で
小さな恋の思いは届く
小さな島のあなたのもとへ

あなたと出会い　時は流れる
思いを込めた手紙もふえる
いつしか二人互いに響く
時に激しく　時に切なく

響くは遠く　遥か彼方へ
やさしい歌は世界を変える

ほら　あなたにとって大事な人ほど
すぐそばにいるの
ただ　あなたにだけ届いて欲しい
響け恋の歌
ほら～　ほら～　ほら～
響け恋の歌

あなたは気づく　二人は歩く
暗い道でも　日々照らす月
握りしめた手　離すことなく
思いは強く　永遠誓う
永遠の淵　きっと僕は言う
思い変わらず同じ言葉を

それでも足りず　涙に変り喜びになり
言葉にできず　ただ抱きしめる
ただ抱きしめる

ほら　あなたにとって大事な人ほど
すぐそばにいるの
ただ　あなたにだけ届いて欲しい
響け恋の歌
ほら～　ほら～　ほら～
響け恋の歌

夢ならば覚めないで　
夢ならば覚めないで
あなたと過ごした時　永遠の星となる

ほら　あなたにとって大事な人ほど
すぐそばにいるの
ただ　あなたにだけ届いて欲しい
響け恋の歌

ほら　あなたにとって大事な人ほど
すぐそばにいるの
ただ　あなたにだけ届いて欲しい
響け恋の歌
ほら～　ほら～　ほら～
響け恋の歌

English translation:

In this wide universe, there is
A big world in a blue earth
A small memory of love will reach
You who are living in a small island

Time has passed since I met you
The letter with my piled up feelings increases
Without us realising, it is already echoing between us
Sometimes we’re full of intensity,
sometimes we’re full of sadness

These feelings echoes distantly
This gentle love song will change the world

Look, the person who is important to you
Is right beside you
I just want you to receive
This echoing love song
Listen, listen, listen to this echoing love song

You’ve realized even when we walked
In the dark, the moonlight will shine on us
I won’t let go of you hand
I swear that these strong feelings will last for eternity

In the depths of forever, I’ll definitely say
These same words without any change of feelings
Even if it’s still not enough, it’ll change into tears
And it’ll change into joy that I can’t put into words
I’ll just hold you, I’ll just hold you

Look, the person who is important to you
Is right beside you
I just want you to receive
This echoing love song
Listen, listen, listen to this echoing love song

If it’s a dream don’t wake up, if it’s a dream don’t wake up
The time I’ve spent with you will become an everlasting star

Look, the person who is important to you
Is right beside you
I just want you to receive
This echoing love song

Look, the person who is important to you
Is right beside you
I just want you to receive
This echoing love song
Listen, listen, listen to this echoing love song

Original live version:


Cover by anonymous Youtube user, slower guitar version:


The Sony Walkman Play You CM (this song is a background song, but sing by Aragaki Yui):


I know it's winter and depressing, but enough with melancholic songs for now. Headbanging in winter not feel that bad though.

That's What We Live For

(picture taken from last.fm)

Cassandra Steen - Darum leben wir (That's What We Live For)

Wenn es dunkel wird, sagst du zu mir // When it gets dark outside, you tell me
Das darf nie zu Ende sein // this can never end
Und wenn es hell wird, sag ich zu dir // and when a new day dawns, I tell you
Geh nicht, lass mich nicht allein // don't go, do not leave me alone
Denn wir sind doch eins // because we're One

Nichts geschieht ein zweites Mal // nothing happens for a second time
Das kann nicht sein // that can't be
Alles ist nur einmal da // everything exists only one time
Auch wenn es nicht so scheint // even when it doesnt seem like it
Und ich sag zu dem Moment: geh nicht vorbei // I say to this momemt: dont pass
Bleib noch // stay
Du bist viel zu schön // you're too beautiful to go (the moment)

Und darum leben wir // and that's what we live for
Wir leben um da zu sein // we live to be there
Leben um wahr zu sein // live to be true
Und darum leben wir // and thats why we live
Und wir nehmen alles mit // we take everything with us
Jeden Schmerz und alles Glück // every pain and every joy
Der Welt // of the world

In jeder Nacht bricht der erste Tag // in every night the first day dawns
Vom Rest unseres Lebens an // for the rest of our lives
Und jeden Morgen springen wir // and every morning we jump straight to the
Direkt auf die Umlaufbahn // orbit

Wenn nicht heute jetzt und hier // if not today here and now
Wann und wo denn dann // when and where, then?
Keiner kann die Zukunft sehen // nobody can see the future
Kennt den großen Plan // nobody knows the full "plan"

Auch du hast es gesehen genau wie ich // you also saw it like I did
Den Schmetterling im Schnee den Tunnel voller Licht // the butterfly in the snow, the tunnel full of light
Du hast so wie ich das Tal durchwandert // you, like me, wandered through the valley
Und es gab keinen Weg zurück // and there was no way back

(lyrics and English translation from allthelyrics.com)
******************

It's been a while since I listen to any German songs. The last one definitely by Xavier Naidoo or Soehne Mannheims. I just encounter Cassandra's songs from YouTube, and I like her voice instantly. And pretty good lyrics too.

I should brush up my German again but definitely I need to finish learning Japanese first, especially this JLPT Level 2 never ending kanji drill and stuff. 一生懸命頑張りましょう！

Link:
Watch the official Youtube video.
More about Cassandra in Wiki and her official website (only in German though).

「青い空に高く 今なら飛べるかな。。。」

picture taken from flickr@hiromy

まぶしい光に　憧れた
その日　殻にヒビが入った
思い切って　のぞいて
初めて見た高い空

嬉しくもなって　手をのばした
同時に怖くもなった
この羽の使い方は
とてもじゃないけど解らない

小さく小さく　風に負けても
信じきってみたい

青い空に高く　今なら飛べるかな
もしこのまま　落下しても
今はそれでもいい

宝を持ったこと　幸でもあり
欲望にのまれたりもする
こんなはずじゃなくて　何度も言った
素直な気持ちだった

小さな世界をやぶって
大きく君を愛したい

青い空に高く　いろんな景色を見て
もしこのまま　落下しても
今はそれでもいい

朱く泣く道しるべ
心は透き通って
いつか大きくうなずく

青い空に高く
今なら飛べるかな
もしこのまま　落下しても
今はそれでもいい
青い空に高く
今なら飛べるよね
もしこのまま　落下しても
今はそれでイイ
-大塚愛 「羽ありたまご」

For those who dream big, and want to make it a reality. Good luck.

City of Cyclist

Sunday is always on lazy mode for me, and I believe for everyone else too. The cloudy, rainy and windy weather here in Kashiwa make the feel even stronger. I love sipping the coffee at home and watching the minutes go by, just like that. Unproductive, you tell me, but somehow I feel good doing that.

I had a busy and full of activity last week where I need to present two papers in my lab's seminar. The first one is about McKinsey&Co.'s Pathway to Low Carbon Economy paper and the second one os International Energy Agency's Carbon Capture and Storage paper. The former paper is all about economic terms and et cetera, so I had a tough time wiki-ing and googling all those terms. Both presentations went well though. Praise to Allah.

My university campus ground supposedly had a BBQ party last week but it was canceled due to crazy wind in Kashiwa. God, I never feel this windy before. It almost made me change the lane in my bicycle ride. Oh yes, I have the bicycle now. Just like I want it, slightly smaller 20-inch type. So cute, just like the rider.

I found the video about Copenhagen City of Cyclist promo and I find it absolutely cool. Bicycle is a normal transportation here in Japan although everyone knows Japan is one big leader in automotive manufacturer. I certainly feel it is good if Malaysia should be the same, everyone cycles to work/school everyday, less traffic congestion and lesser carbon emission, of course.

Copenhagen - City of Cyclists from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

Oh I'm listening to the free tracks of Coldplay from the album of Left Right Left Right. Awesome tracks and it's free! Download now from here. Can't wait to watch them in action if they come here in Tokyo.


May is already halfway and it means my time for preparing for the entrance exam is getting less and less day by day. I really need to focus and getting my nerves back on math.

ps. My June want list grows to Levi's skinny jeans, Muji yoga mat and clothing, francfranc laundry basket, and stuff from ettusais men and Lush handmade cosmetics!

pss. Kansai region (specifically Kobe prefecture) has their first H1N1 influenza case. Don't you dare to hit Kantou, Mr. Influenza. Please.

Murakami Haruki Acceptance Speech for Jurusalem Prize Award in January 2009

I know it is a bit late to post this, but classic pieces do sells sometimes. As I am currently reading Murakami's Kafka on The Shore and starting to list Murakami and his work in my favourite list, I decided to post his acceptance speech during Jurusalem Prize Award last January 2009 in my blog. Realizing I never post this, and wondering why I haven't post this back in January, probably I was a bit busy with Japan immigration (visa etc.) at that moment, so I totally forgotten about this great speech.

日本語オリジナル：

『常に卵の側に』
村上春樹

今、僕はエルサレムにやって来ました。小説家、すなわち嘘の紡ぎ手として。

嘘をつくのは小説家だけではありません。政治家も——失礼、大統領閣下——外交官も嘘をつきます。でも、小説家は他の人たちとは少し違っています。僕たちは嘘をついたことで追及を受けたりしません。賞賛されるのです。しかも、その嘘が大きくて立派であるほど、賞賛も大きくなります。

僕たちの嘘と彼らの嘘との違いは、僕たちの嘘は真実を明るみに運び出すためのものだ、ということです。真実をそっくりそのままの形で把握するのは難しいことです。だから僕たちはそれをフィクションという形に変換するのです。でもまず手始めに、自分たち自身の中のどこに真実が潜んでいるかを明らかにしなければなりません。

今日、僕は真実をお話ししようと思います。僕が嘘をつくことに従事しないのは年に数日だけですが、今日はそのうちの一日なんです。

受賞の申し出を受けたとき、僕はエルサレムへ行かないようにという警告を受けました。僕は自問自答しました。イスラエルに行くのは適切なことだろうか？　当事者の一方を支持することにならないだろうか？　そして、圧倒的な軍事力を解き放つという選択を下した国家の政策を是認することになってしまわないだろうかと。考えた末に、僕は来ることに決めました。たいていの小説家と同じように、僕もまた、人から言われたのと正反対のことをするのが好きなんです。やれやれ、これは小説家としての性みたいなものですね。小説家というのは、自分の目で見て、自分の手で触れたものしか信じることができないんです。だから僕は、自分の目で見ることを選びました。黙っているよりも、ここへ来て話すことを選びました。それは、僕がいつも心に留めていることです。小説を書くとき、いつも心に留めているのです。紙に書いて壁に貼ろうとまで思ったことはありませんが、僕の心の壁には刻まれています。言ってみれば、こういうことですーー

『硬くて高い壁と、そこにぶつかって行く一個の卵があったとしたら、たとえ壁がどんなに正しくても、卵がどんなに間違っていたとしても、僕は卵の側に立つ』

僕らはみんな、一人ひとりが一個の卵なのです。壊れやすい殻に入った、唯一無二の魂なのです。僕らはみんな、高い壁に立ち向かっています。壁とはつまりシステムのことです。しばしば一人歩きを始めて、私たちを殺したり、冷たく、効率的に、システマティックに他人を殺すように、私たちに仕向けたりするシステムのことです。
僕にとって、小説を書く目的はひとつだけです。それは、個人が持つ独自の尊厳を引き出すことです。独自性を満たし、システムにからめ取られないようにすることです。だから——僕は、生命の物語を、愛の物語を、人を笑わせ、泣かせる物語を書くのです。見た限りでは、私たちには希望が無いように思えます。壁はあまりに高く、あまりに強い。もし私たちに勝利への何らかの希望があるとすれば、それは私たちの完全なる独自性を信じることと、魂を結び合う温もり※から来るものでなければならないでしょう。 私たちひとりひとりには、形ある、生きた魂があります。システムにはそんなものはありません。システムに私たちをコントロールさせてはいけないのです。システムが私たちを作るのではありません。私たちがシステムを作ったのです。

イスラエルの皆さん、僕の本を読んでくださったことに感謝します。僕たちが意義のある何かを共有できていれば嬉しいです。あなたたちこそ、僕がここへ来た最大の理由です。

English version:

Always on the side of the egg

By Haruki Murakami

So I have come to Jerusalem today as a novelist, which is to say as a professional spinner of lies.

Of course, novelists are not the only ones who tell lies. Politicians do it, too, (sorry, Mr. President) as we all know. Diplomats and military men tell their own kinds of lies on occasion, as do used car salesmen, butchers and builders. The lies of novelists differ from others, however, in that no one criticizes the novelist as immoral for telling them. Indeed, the bigger and better his lies and the more ingeniously he creates them, the more he is likely to be praised by the public and the critics. Why should that be?


My answer would be this: Namely, that by telling skillful lies - which is to say, by making up fictions that appear to be true - the novelist can bring a truth out to a new location and shine a new light on it. In most cases, it is virtually impossible to grasp a truth in its original form and depict it accurately. This is why we try to grab its tail by luring the truth from its hiding place, transferring it to a fictional location, and replacing it with a fictional form. In order to accomplish this, however, we first have to clarify where the truth lies within us. This is an important qualification for making up good lies.

Today, however, I have no intention of lying. I will try to be as honest as I can. There are a few days in the year when I do not engage in telling lies, and today happens to be one of them.

So let me tell you the truth. A fair number of people advised me not to come here to accept the Jerusalem Prize. Some even warned me they would instigate a boycott of my books if I came.

The reason for this, of course, was the fierce battle that was raging in Gaza. The UN reported that more than a thousand people had lost their lives in the blockaded Gaza City, many of them unarmed citizens - children and old people.

Any number of times after receiving notice of the award, I asked myself whether traveling to Israel at a time like this and accepting a literary prize was the proper thing to do, whether this would create the impression that I supported one side in the conflict, that I endorsed the policies of a nation that chose to unleash its overwhelming military power. This is an impression, of course, that I would not wish to give. I do not approve of any war, and I do not support any nation. Neither, of course, do I wish to see my books subjected to a boycott.

Finally, however, after careful consideration, I made up my mind to come here. One reason for my decision was that all too many people advised me not to do it. Perhaps, like many other novelists, I tend to do the exact opposite of what I am told. If people are telling me - and especially if they are warning me - "don’t go there," "don’t do that," I tend to want to "go there" and "do that." It’s in my nature, you might say, as a novelist. Novelists are a special breed. They cannot genuinely trust anything they have not seen with their own eyes or touched with their own hands.

And that is why I am here. I chose to come here rather than stay away. I chose to see for myself rather than not to see. I chose to speak to you rather than to say nothing.

This is not to say that I am here to deliver a political message. To make judgments about right and wrong is one of the novelist’s most important duties, of course.

It is left to each writer, however, to decide upon the form in which he or she will convey those judgments to others. I myself prefer to transform them into stories - stories that tend toward the surreal. Which is why I do not intend to stand before you today delivering a direct political message.

Please do, however, allow me to deliver one very personal message. It is something that I always keep in mind while I am writing fiction. I have never gone so far as to write it on a piece of paper and paste it to the wall: Rather, it is carved into the wall of my mind, and it goes something like this:

"Between a high, solid wall and an egg that breaks against it, I will always stand on the side of the egg."

Yes, no matter how right the wall may be and how wrong the egg, I will stand with the egg. Someone else will have to decide what is right and what is wrong; perhaps time or history will decide. If there were a novelist who, for whatever reason, wrote works standing with the wall, of what value would such works be?

What is the meaning of this metaphor? In some cases, it is all too simple and clear. Bombers and tanks and rockets and white phosphorus shells are that high, solid wall. The eggs are the unarmed civilians who are crushed and burned and shot by them. This is one meaning of the metaphor.

This is not all, though. It carries a deeper meaning. Think of it this way. Each of us is, more or less, an egg. Each of us is a unique, irreplaceable soul enclosed in a fragile shell. This is true of me, and it is true of each of you. And each of us, to a greater or lesser degree, is confronting a high, solid wall. The wall has a name: It is The System. The System is supposed to protect us, but sometimes it takes on a life of its own, and then it begins to kill us and cause us to kill others - coldly, efficiently, systematically.

I have only one reason to write novels, and that is to bring the dignity of the individual soul to the surface and shine a light upon it. The purpose of a story is to sound an alarm, to keep a light trained on The System in order to prevent it from tangling our souls in its web and demeaning them. I fully believe it is the novelist’s job to keep trying to clarify the uniqueness of each individual soul by writing stories - stories of life and death, stories of love, stories that make people cry and quake with fear and shake with laughter. This is why we go on, day after day, concocting fictions with utter seriousness.

My father died last year at the age of 90. He was a retired teacher and a part-time Buddhist priest. When he was in graduate school, he was drafted into the army and sent to fight in China. As a child born after the war, I used to see him every morning before breakfast offering up long, deeply-felt prayers at the Buddhist altar in our house. One time I asked him why he did this, and he told me he was praying for the people who had died in the war.

He was praying for all the people who died, he said, both ally and enemy alike. Staring at his back as he knelt at the altar, I seemed to feel the shadow of death hovering around him.

My father died, and with him he took his memories, memories that I can never know. But the presence of death that lurked about him remains in my own memory. It is one of the few things I carry on from him, and one of the most important.

I have only one thing I hope to convey to you today. We are all human beings, individuals transcending nationality and race and religion, fragile eggs faced with a solid wall called The System. To all appearances, we have no hope of winning. The wall is too high, too strong - and too cold. If we have any hope of victory at all, it will have to come from our believing in the utter uniqueness and irreplaceability of our own and others’ souls and from the warmth we gain by joining souls together.

Take a moment to think about this. Each of us possesses a tangible, living soul. The System has no such thing. We must not allow The System to exploit us. We must not allow The System to take on a life of its own. The System did not make us: We made The System.

That is all I have to say to you.

I am grateful to have been awarded the Jerusalem Prize. I am grateful that my books are being read by people in many parts of the world. And I am glad to have had the opportunity to speak to you here today.

How I adore him.

Self note:
1. I have two presentations need to be done starting end of this month in my lab's seminar. First, about my degree graduation thesis. Considering the thesis itself was presented three years ago, presenting it now need proper preparation and definitely I need to read my thesis back. Sigh. Not an interesting thing to do after all. Secondly is about a paper by McKinsey & Co. Climate Desk regarding Pathways to a Low-Carbon Economy: Version 2 of the Global Greenhouse Gas (Abatement Cost Curve) where I am required to present about the topics of Chemical, Transport and Buildings.

2. Still slowly reading Kafka on The Shore. Watching Swing Girls directed by Shinobu Yaguchi because of my mood to learn how to play the sax. And on my heavy rotation is Aqua Timez's Kira-Kira ~original ver.~ (from Kirin's TV commercial) and Arashi's Season (from au TV commercial where Sakurai Sho innit). Yes, I am a commercial freak.

Have a nice weekend, people.

Next Level by Ayumi Hamasaki

No, this is not the post about her new album. But more about the song with the same title by her, in that album. Many people just can't understand my weird taste of music, I almost can listen to every genre (from kroncong, dangdut, jazz, hip hop, rock and Mozart's pieces). I admit Ayumi's voice not the best on her class, but she has this unique sound and beautiful tunes and lyrics that make me love her even more.
My favourite song from Ayumi is none other than Naturally (from the album I Am...). The lyric drives me, and so with the rhythm. And since Naturally, all her songs start to bore me a bit, due to some experiment she did to her following album after I Am. And then comes Next Level, her new album, and I starting to like the melody and lyric of the song with the same title as her new album. It just suit my situation right now and my flowery purpose to come to this land.

動き出す次のステージへ向けて
僕たちは歩き続ける

どこまでも続くこの一本道を
僕たちは光り続ける

ここからもう一度
始まってくスタートを
どんなふうにきっていけるのかな

空を見上げたらふわり笑顔がこぼれたよ
恐くないよ大丈夫だよって聞こえた
空を見上げたら不意に涙がこぼれたよ
過去に残した傷跡さえ今は愛しい

響いてる未来を告げる合図が
僕たちは瞳合わせる

高鳴るこの鼓動
何を選び、描いて
どんな地図が出来上がるのかな

風を感じたらぎゅっと強く手を握ろう　
多くの言葉なんてもう必要ないから
風を感じたらぐっと強く歩き出そう　
同じ速度で同じ景色眺めて行こう

空を見上げたらふわり笑顔がこぼれたよ
恐くないよ大丈夫だよって聞こえた
空を見上げたら不意に涙がこぼれたよ
過去に残した傷跡さえ今は愛しい

風を感じたらぎゅっと強く手を握ろう　
多くの言葉なんてもう必要ないから
風を感じたらぐっと強く歩き出そう　
同じ速度で同じ景色眺めて行こう

We start to move for the next stage
We keep on walking
On this endless, straight road
We keep on shining

I wonder how I'll be able to
Make a start again
From this point

* I looked up at the sky and smiled softly
I heard, "Don't be afraid, it's all right"
I looked up at the sky and tears rolled from my eyes suddenly
Even the scar left in my past is dear to me now

I hear the signal sound for the future
Our eyes meet each other

My heart is throbbed with excitement
I wonder what I'll choose and draw
And what kind of map will be made up

** When we feel the wind, let's clench our hands tightly
Because we don't need many words any more
When we feel the wind, let's make a strong step
Let's go with the same speed, looking at the same scenery

* (repeat)
** (repeat)

Updates

No, I am not busy. Maybe not yet. But to post something about what's on my mind is somehow kind of complicated. There are so many things in my mind right now that not easily composed in one complete essay. So, for the time being, let list it down to few points:

1. I love shinkansen (the bullet train). Contrary to popular belief and my own otherworldly mind, it is not really feel fast inside the train. Yes, you can still see the view from the window and read the letters from sign board and so on. But I believe the train runs fast from outside view.

2. I love Land Rover bicycle and I want it for my ride. Forget about Freelander folks. They are too pricey for my current financial flow right now, and I am going environmental. Not talking about saving another whales, but living eco-friendly life and stop releasing another CO2. Yeah, and I didn't even bother to switch off the light during Earth Hour campaign because I was totally forgotten that campaign. Sigh.

3. I have Konosuke Matsushita: His Life and Management Philosophy book to review (and to write report to Panasonic as well) and Kafka on the Shore by Murakami Haruki to read now. Finally. I have been hesitating to read Murakami's for almost 2 years because there's too much to read in my reading list and I just don't bother to read in train sometimes (back in my working life back then).

4. I listen to Ayumi Hamasaki new album, Next Level and Koda Kumi's Out Works and Collaboration recently. They're good.

5. I just downloaded Okuribito, the Japanese film who won the Oscar. Some of the cinemas here is still rolling it but I don't want to watch it alone and I don't want to spend another 1500 yen for it. And please somebody upload Talentime as soon as possible because I am desperately want to watch it too.

6. Another so called sustainability stuff. I love it when the bus driver here turned off the engines when they stopped in traffic light. That's super awesome. Malaysian (and the rest of the world too) should follow this good move.

I am extremely exhausted. Off to bed people. Have hanami date tomorrow.

Sorry, Sorry by Super Junior

I don't really dig Korean mainstream music, because they're too hip hop and I don't really feel I can assimilate myself much into their music and cultures. But they're some exception, especially when it comes to some R&B ballads and groovy tunes of G.O.D, Shinhwa and Fly To The Sky. In fact, I only listen to Japanese version of Dong Bang Shin Ki (they're known as Tohoshinki in Japan) rather than their original Korean version.

And then comes this group, called Super Junior. Initially I had this kind of perception, ahh they're just the same good-looking guys for commercial material. But they proved me wrong after few hearings, as I can sing along to their tunes after a while. They pretty much have similar concept with Morning Musume, they have quite a number of members (13 so far), they just appointed a Chinese member, and most of their song requires a lot of dance moves.

They just released their third album, Sorry, Sorry, and I am kinda liked it. Especially their creative looking album cover. Watch their comeback performance in Inkigayo (hmm, sort of a weekly live show in Korea).

This gives me strong basis to produce my thought that Koreans and Indians are the best choreographers in the world. Shallow, isn't it?

YouTube Symphony Orchestra

I am one of the follower for Google Blog as I love all the creativity inside Google and it is undeniable that I use almost everything they've got to offer. From Gmail, Youtube and Blogger.

Recently, YouTube had called for professional and amateur musicians to participate in YouTube Symphony Orchestra audition. The interested candidate can submit their video to the orchestra channel in YouTube (they don't even need to come anywhere, because the audition is online!), and the selected musician has been revealed last March 2. They will travel to New York on April and participate in YouTube Symphony Orchestra summit in Carnegie Hall under direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. Michael Tilson Thomas is the music director of San Fransisco Symphony and few times Grammy winner.

I checked the selected oboist for YouTube Symphony and two persons have been selected, an Israelis and Japanese guy.

You can view the special channel for YouTube Symphony Orchestra here and watch one of the finalist video below! He's playing the romantic Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98. Bravo!



On a more personal note, I'd submitted my application for visa this morning and the person in charge said I can collect it back the day after tomorrow. I just realized how small Japan Embassy building in Malaysia compared to other embassy in Malaysia (like United States).

And I am downloading the compilation album of the late Aaliyah. How can I miss some of her tracks despite the known fact that I grew up listening to her songs?

Have a great week, peeps.

Akira Toriyama draws Ayumi Hamasaki

【リリース情報】2月25日（水）NEW SINGLE「Rule/Sparkle」発売決定!!
初回限定仕様が、鳥山明氏による書き下ろしピクチャー・レーベルに決定！

2009年第1弾リリースは、超大型タイアップ付きの両A面シングル！！
3月13日より世界に先駆けて日本で先行公開される映画「DRAGONBALL Evolution」全世界テーマソングの「Rule」と、
Honda ZEST SPARK CMソングとしてオンエアされて話題の「Sparkle」！
DVDには、「Rule」のMusic ClipとMaking Clipを収録！

映画『DRAGONBALL Evolution』（3月13日公開）の全世界テーマソングを担当することが決まったことで、
原作者である鳥山明氏に描き下ろしをオファーし、実現！
世界的な人気を誇り、超多忙な鳥山氏が自身の作品以外に画を提供されることは極めて稀で、
アーティストの似顔絵を商品化するのはもちろん初めてのことです。

3形態の初回盤の盤面に、鳥山氏の画が印刷されたピクチャー・レーベル仕様になります。

There you go. Manga artist Akira Toriyama has agreed to draw Ayumi Hamasaki as the character Goku from Toriyama's famous Dragon Ball manga for her new single cover, Rule/Sparkle (the single is also used for the soundtrack of the Dragon Ball movie). This is the second time Ayu uses cartoon or manga in her single image. The first one is from the single 'Connected' (the song from her I Am... album)

You can download the Honda Zest Spark CM here to listen to Sparkle (the song has been featured in the commercial). (the link belongs to Divine Ayu website)

I also had tried searching for Connected music video in YouTube but I cannot find a single one, maybe because of copyright thing. But it is available from other video source here. I love Connected music video (they call it PV-Promotional Video in Japan) because I think the anime element in that PV is so cool! I hope Sparkle PV by Mr. Toriyama is cool as well :)

Oh, Happy 10th Anniversary to Ayumi Hamasaki music career!

On University Application

I surfed The University of Tokyo's website yesterday and found that the international application for Sustainability Science program for October 2009 admission has been opened. Found out that I am eligible to apply, I was quite confuse and email my sensei (professor) to solve my conundrums. As usual, he quickly reply (which is a very good thing, thank you for kindness, sensei!).

My problem is whether I should apply for the international admission for October 2009 since I am eligible for it and most importantly, no exam required (just merely from selection by paper). My sensei mentioned in his reply that it is quite difficult to answer my question now, since it still early to make any judgement. He said, I can certainly apply for both research student (kenkyusei) to arrive in Japan before April next year (requirement from my sponsor, Panasonic to attend the scholar ceremony in its headquarter in Osaka in April), and if my international admission application turned out successful, I can start the Masters course by October. The only problem is if the application is not successful, I cannot apply for the next intake, which is in April 2010. And certaily life will be upside down if that happen.

Definitely I am in the state of confusion today. Should I apply or should I not?

Crazy by Ne-Yo and Love Song by Khalil Fong is in my heavy rotation. Gosh, God knows its been ages since I listen to Chinese song. And Ne-Yo is fab as usual. That chap is genius, man.

--------
Update-19.08.2008

The Sustainability Program coordinator has replied my email. Seems like I am not eligible to apply for October 2009 admission since I am not Monbusho (Japanese Government) nor Asian Development Bank (ABD) scholar. What a confusing notice on their website. They should make it clear that applicants not sponsored by those two bodies should not apply.

It is almost clear that I still need to take the exam next year and sit for TOEFL. Hmmm.
--------

Kaerimichi/帰り道(On The Way Home) by Crystal Kay

***
yuuyake ga machi wo somete
hitori aruku kaerimichi
natsukashii kaze ga fuki
kimi no koto omoidashiteru

aitakute aenai mama de
toki dake ga sugite iku no

* kirakira hikaru futatsuboshi yo
yurayura tooku michibiite yuku
kimi mo onaji sora wo miage
watashi no koto wo omou deshou ka...

yuruyaka na kono michi wa
kimi no moto e yuku no kana
itsudatte kimi no tonari ni
itai to tada inotteta

aitakute aenai mama de
yume dake ga kiete iku no

kirakira hikaru futatsuboshi yo
harahara namida koborete yuku
futari sugoshita hibi wo motome
kimi mo ano hi wo negau deshou ka...

unmei wa watashi to kimi wo meguriawasete kureta
sore na no ni watashi to kimi wa musubarenai no...

* repeat

hoshitachi ni kakomarete
hitori aruku kaerimichi
***

Kuala Lumpur is still raining. Sun ray did come and see us for a short while yesterday's evening, not long before rain poured down and melt the heart away with emotions.

I'd downloaded Crystal Kay's new album, Color Change! and as usual, it is good as what I am expected. I always thought Kuri's (Crystal nickname in Japan) R&B-ish voice would suit my mood very well, immediately after get my chance to hear the tracks. I won't comment more about the whole album, at least not yet before I blog about this one. One of my favourite track in the album, Kaerimichi/帰り道(On The Way Home) is haunting me badly since my journey back home from work yesterday. Well maybe, the song fit the condition at that time :p

It is quite rare for Kuri to sing any sort of Asian/Japanese influence tunes in her track in previous album, so I might say that Kaerimichi is one good try. And it is one good track too. Seems this one will be my on my heavy rotation this week (forgive me SPEED, I just excited about their reunion yesterday, but sorry, I got new song to hooked to :p)

On a more personal note, I'm going for Hatha Yoga class this evening. And gosh, I really in desperate need to organize my financial matter as soon as possible (car insurance deadline, Bangkok trip saving bla bla..). I'm on the verge to finish my current book (The Last Oil Shock: The Survival Guide to Imminent Extinction of Petroleum Man by David Strahan), which is quite surprising that I could finish reading it, since I'm always not a big fan of serious and non-fictional stuff. I wish to read more Haruki Murakami piece after this, so might blog about that one too.

Till then, have a good rainy Tuesday!

I Always Want They Get Back Together.

Kuala Lumpur was all gloomy the whole weekend and rain seems can't stop pouring down. As the emotion got carried away, I found myself in good, comfy sleep and the restless week has been greatly paid for.

My mind starts wondering when my iPod starts playing some random old tracks which yours truly almost forgotten way back. If my mind can't even tracking back the singer and the title, my emotion always able to draw and reminiscing the memories associated with the track. And that is why I always thought that is the magic behind music, it gives soul to your life.

And this time, the iPod plays Eternal Place by hiro, out of sudden, out of my lazy, rainy, gloomy Sunday morning.

And I remember very well, how I adore the four girls. They all grown-ups now, with more mature appearance. The girls are one girl J-pop vocal group, SPEED. That's where my interest in J-Pop started (not from Doraemon and anime like everyone else), when I was introduced by these girls by my Japanese teacher back at my boarding school days, Miss Akiko. I know it sounds uncool for guy to like girl bands, but I can't resist the fact that Spice Girls and All Saints was really a phenomenon back then in the West, and so did Japan.

My first encounter of SPEED was the track named White Love, when the music video was aired by Miss Akiko in Japanese audio room back in the year of 1999. I was so instantly hooked up and look for their album when I was in my outing in KL. And there I was, being the great fan. Until suddenly they decided to disband sometime in 2000 and it shocked everyone including me. When they said that they're going solo, I was easily come to conclusion that only Hiroko (now known as simply hiro) or Takako can make it, since only both of them steal the limelight. And seems I was correct.

Hiroko now works solo, appears as a lead role in one movie called Backdancers, and managed to have two solo albums, and somehow have a jazz band named Coco d'Or. She dated Hitoshi Matsumoto (well-known as Matchan, one of the two combination of popular comedian of Downtown), which is 21 years older than her at that time. Eriko, managed to come up with few albums and her solo career goes well until she announces that she was pregnant and going to marry his boyfriend, Shogo, vocalist of 175R. She then gave birth to Raimu Kinoshita in October 2004. Takako, appears in some commercial break, films and dorama, and still kicking until now. Hitoe, unlike the rest, start her art career in New York and live there since the break-ups. She is also getting her certification as yoga teacher.

They had their short reunion few times since they disbanded, but all of 'em never lasts. I was reading Mr. Swifty's blog this morning until I found out they reuniting seriously this time, after 5 years of hesitations and going solo. Some of the blogs I read does give some comment on whether they will make it big this time, since they are getting older (the Japanese entertainment industry really pays big deal with age and maturity, where older celebrity will be seen less popular except if you're in classic/enka genre and a comedian) and the music landscape has truly changed this time (they started mainly in R&B and pop genre, but no idea whether they'll stick with that concept now). But I do hope they remain as the old SPEED I know before.

Tell me how to live without your love
Hoshi wa itsuka moetsukitemo
Anata e no ai kawaranai kara
Shinjite ite eien no basho

Eternal Place by hiro playing endlessly in my mind. Some things are better left unchanged. And so does SPEED.