Tug-o-war

Drinking in Japan can be dangerous. You meet strange Japanese people and they invite you to do strange things. The fact that you're drinking means you tend not to question things. This is what I mean when I say it's dangerous to drink in Japan. A while ago, I went to my mexican friend, Cecilia's bar and there were some old guys drinking there. So we all drink and talk shit and they invited me to play tug-o-war for some festival. I polietly decline their offer and that was that.

I got a phone call from Cecilia Friday. Since I was sleeping at 10:30 on a Friday night (I party like it's 1899) I was a bit groggy, but agreed to go meet her at the bar to meet up with the same guys to bullshit some more. Turns out they want me to go to a tournament with them to the prefecture of Aomori. Aomori is #3 on the map, the second most northern place on the map. I live in Saga, number 34 in the southwest corner of Japan.

Basically this is a place that I would never probably get the chance to go otherwise because I proabably wouldn't pay for it. So the first practice, which was I told, I can just look (complete lie!) and not participate in, we had to first drag a few people across the gym. Did I mention I had to wear special shoes? Then we had to hold the pull position for a minute, which is a lot harder than you would imagine considering you have to be like Michael in 'Smooth Criminal.'

Anyway, it took 3 days for my hands to heal and I came back to practice today for some unknown reason. I kind of was thinking I wasn't gonna go, but I get a call from the coach who says he needs a ride because he's been to an enkai (work party) and can't drive because he's been drinking. So I tell him I'm going, and am off for my second grueling practice.

My hands are blistered to hell and will hurt like hell after the alcohol wears off. Oh did I mention I just came back from my welcome party at a ramen shop where I got hazed verbally, but got to talk shit back so it was okay. There was a hilarious incident where I couldn't stop laughing as they were teaching me the best way to wring out a towel, they just said I was weird and I agreed so it was all good. Anyway, I have work tomorrow, so I have to wash all the ramen, tabacco (which I didn't smoke) and beer smell off me. Hope everyone is doing well.