In nomine patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


"Oh, Prince Charming! Let me be your Snow White!"

Who remembers watching Oshin? About two years ago, I saw a re-run of the NHK TV series. Of course, even in this day and age, you still get the Singapore-English-dubbed version of this 1983 drama (the first broadcast in Singapore was the Singapore-Chinese-dubbed version). Aside from the dubbing, which was awful, the story was so good! I mean, stuff of this magnitude should be revived, man. Tear-jerker wa ichi-ban da yo! And so...

I was checking the net for any DVD versions when I came across a website with the following comment:

"The first foreign country to broadcast "Oshin" was Singapore, at the suggestion of former Singaporean President Wee Kim-wee, who was serving as ambassador to Japan at the time and watched "Oshin" every morning. When Mr. Wee left Japan, he proposed that the then President of NHK arrange for broadcast of the series in his country. "Oshin" made her international debut in September of 1984." - NHK International (Click here to read more...)

Who would've thought?

Another thing to add to my wishlist: the Japanese language version of NHK's Oshin DVD! But it comes in 7 volumes and each volume is USD 150+... sigh.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Shiai. Courtesy of Koji Payne.

Agent Orange Part II. is out! Check out the b-sides!

I just watched Nobuhiro Obayashi's Sada for the second time. I think it has to be one the of the best recently-made Japanese films I have ever seen (sorry, Japanese horror is not my thing). Everyone should watch it! It's a life story about Sada Abe, a famous prostitute who strangled and dismembered her lover's you-know-what. This version of the story is inspired by Nagisa Oshima's In The Realm Of The Senses, which I heard was the really controversial one.

Back in those days, when Sada Abe was arrested for the murder charge, newspapers and editorials printed her side of the story. This story was about her life and her motivations as a prostitute. While in the eyes of the Law she was guilty, public opinion gave her sympathy. The strength of such public opinion cannot be exaggerated - the judge gave her a six-year sentence, which was lessened to five.

Films I caught in the last several weeks: Sada, The Last Samurai (okay only), and Lost In Translation (quite good).

Lost In Translation is also quite good and ranks up there with The Quiet American in terms of character value. I have to take back what I say about good films not being made today as much as it had been in the past. The good films are still here, only that people's taste for films tended towards gratifying a urge to witness too much scenary: ie. explosions, beautiful cast, gore, sex, etc...

But, wah lau, I just saw the Innocence trailer. Must catch that one, man... Click on the button below to go to the official website. Japanese only, though.



That theme song was great! "Follow me..."

Anyway, got to catch up on some stuff. See you all later.

"If you've got anything to say, say it with a smile. A deadly smile."

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


This is what I've been reduced to.

I lost my shoes. My favorite pair of shoes. They were my walking shoes since September 2001. That's more than two and a half years of walking, and those two and a half years were filled with more walking than I've ever had. Nobody will ever understand the relationship I have developed with my shoes over that time period.

My shoes are from Timberland, brown with a suede feel on its surface. The laces are of the paracord kind. It's dusty now, but it's tough and it has gone through all kinds of weather conditions except for snow. Yes, even sea water, desert sand, drain water, mud, grass, gravel... you name it.

I got it for USD 25.00 somewhere in Massachusetts. It was cheaper than that stupid New Balance PT shoes we had during NS.

Ah... my lovely shoes...

It happened like this: I was rushing to kendo training today... I rushed into the men's change room, took off my shoes and the rest of my clothes and slipped into my uniform. Then I took all my gear - except for my shoes - up to the dojo... and so I accidentally left my shoes in the changeroom. By the time I realised what I had done, it was after training. I quickly went downstairs and checked the men's changeroom... it was gone! I asked around, but no one knew where it went. Some of the seniors said they saw it where I left it and that's it. The reception of the building didn't have it. I looked all over. Nothing of my own shoes. My socks were in it too.

So there...

I walked and took the tram home with barefeet... literally. I'm suprised my feet were tough enough to resist any bruises at all. No blisters too, since kendo had been particularly taxing today.

Haiyah... my shoes!!!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen


Reach.

Last few weeks: Kendo Camp - awesome! Been training in do and tare since then. Japan Festival - okay only. Bought a hakamashita kimono, took heaps of photos. Sonic Edge Melbourne meeting: following up and hoping for meetings. Had a real nice supper at King's Cafe - some kind of baked rice dish with seafood and a ton of cheese. Lots of school work in between everything. The day before was Ascension Day. Visiting ACCF tomorrow at 10am. Next Sunday, I'll be watching iaido grading.

Life is quite fun.

I will be going back this holidays, but only for about three weeks. My aunt Norma flew home yesterday. My cousin Chong Yang has been here since March but hasn't contacted me. I don't even know which La Trobe campus he's on.

I guess some people prefer to remain quiet. But then, we're family, so he should give a least one ring. I wanted to buy him dinner for his birthday in March too. That's too bad then.

I am little disorganised at the moment. Too many things to do. Plus, there's that film I haven't finished editing. And that TV screenplay I've only filled three pages with. Die lah. So many things to do... Okay, okay, okay. Must calm down. Ha ha.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Ah, that's better. Though it doesn't change the situation. I'm going to pray now.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Ben- & Yacov-sensei.

Woohoo! Kendo Training Camp tonight until Sunday afternoon! Gonna be fun in Ballarat. My arms are so going to die on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, I've posted a new story on the b-sides. It is a dream-inspired fiction series. It's about me being some sort of 'secret agent' in an anonymous privatised espionage organisation. It sure did take me to places... haha.

So click here to go to Agent Orange Part I.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Arrows.

Some people always say I'm too serious. I think seriously and sometimes, my thinking becomes so serious to the point that I'm intimidated by the prospects of tasks at hand. Okay, so maybe I am serious. But when I lighten up, or try to crack a joke, I always ended up being scolded for not being serious, not being mature.

I'm beginning to think people only want to see me behave according to their whims. I am not a robot. Sorry, but no, I am certainly not a robot. My expressions will only depend on my emotions, not yours, nor yours, nor yours. I'm sorry that these people do not consider me to have good social skills. Well, that's too bad. I can't help it. It's my manner, and, on top of that, I've once had a lonely life.

But I guess I can understand why some people will never like me. It's probably because my face often hides my thoughts. Of course, I find this quite a drawback. Because people find that they have to be 'careful' with me. Some are scared and never ever talk to me. Some just think it's tragic to have a face like that (haha).

Ah well, I really can't help it. But if you're my friend, you would understand me. and I do have quite a few friends now, so it's not impossible.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam