Among the Snow's Bright Glare

As For...

The lack of posts?

Well, that's a story in itself it is. It basically boils down to this, and this alone: I am now in a developed country with the world's most powerful technological R&D sector and yet the developed world's most devolved and decrepit IT industry. I kid you not when I say that the office that handles my class registrations still uses Windows 98 with reckless abandon.

In other words: I no longer have constant access to the internet, and most likely won't until I leave Japan.

I will try my best in any future posts to fill all those in on the things that have happened in this long, long break since posts. Yet, I can not offer any guarantees. I will promise that my return will bring a near-on essay length nature to my posts, but that is most certainly a future item.

Until next.

Notebook Dump #2 (03-17-10)

So I continue the series! I'll have a Japan-related post up for you guys tomorrow.

Oh, and same stipulations as last time, except this are both from the past year.

Seven Words

Seven words I cannot say;

    Fear creeping into every step;

        Neither a curse, nor a lie.

    Neither could be granted any reprieve.

Inaudible, insightful, incredible none:

    A slight gone to a new string,

        Dancing upon the burned wire: the frayed line.

    Syllabic brilliance gone to lush symbolic lust.

The bright scars of insolence, the seething wounds of incompetence,

            Show only upon the walls destroyed

                By man, alone.

                    Man, alone.

Seven words trouble me. Seven words crumble in my mouth

    Dry as sin, light as bliss, bitter as jealousy:

        These Seven Words, I deny.

            These Seven Words I accept.

                The Seven Words I will never forget.

                    Those Seven Words, I will forever loathe.

Vie

Waltz in the eye of the Aurora,

Sleeping trails left to lie;

    That lovely hue of broken dreams,

        Have broken lives and broken signs.

            Taken upon their hands a blood so vile,

                So venomous with a luscious splendor?

Clinging to a vestige of the sane.

No sleep, the Bloodeye shot;

    A lovely hue of silenced splendor,

        Makes the bereaved come forth,

            Marching upon broken glass,

                Blood pooling in succulent abandon.

I take into my hands the Void's regal key.

A slender blade, keen with pleasure;

    Denied this subtle grace,

        Denied a peaceful rest,

            What lies beyond an endless vie for eternity?

                That divinity that shall never come.

Notebook Dump #1 (03-14-10)

So, I'm resorting to one of the lowest forms of blogging, in my mind: dumping the contents of what I call my "notebook" onto you readers for consumption.

In my defense, however, things are a bit different here:

1. These are both poems written ages (years) ago during both my senior year of high school and some of college.
2. I intend to make this a (semi)-regular series on this blog and/or its future successors.
3. I will only give two at a time, to save you time and me formatting frustration.
4. All work posted in this series is NOT available via or posted under any public license. Please contact me directly if you would like to cite or use any portion of my work.
5. Please comment! Even if it's negative, I'd like to hear it. As long as it's constructive, yeah?

That Night

She smelled of withered roses lacquered awareness,

    Of dusty smoke and its livid rise,

    Of a humid night and its oppressive heat.

I looked upon that supple mound, that beleaguered visage,

    The light gone from once-vivid furor,

    That gaze so cold, so piercing in kind.

He felt upon his shoulders the weight of twelve Divine,

    I felt none,

    She felt none.

As that Night it was gone:

    The meager rise, the subtle voice:

        Purity.

Turning

Suppliant preened grace,

    Nebulotic sheerings; storming in forced chaos

Forced into a caustic watch

    ...the wheels a' turn, spokes bleeding

The throbbing mechanical pulse;

    Through rusted veins moves copper-gilded blood, always dripping,

        a wound in the ghost.

The creaking machinations, screaming their tired lie

    Feverishly preaching the will of dominion:

        a truth iridescent with the glow of terror.

One spark ignites the sky, already blackened with the soot of generations,

    I saw and breathed that putrid smoke, veins enthralled in its passing.

    For it was grace, addiction, salvation and truth.

It was the lie never spoken, but always told.

The final drip of punch-drunk black flowed onto the street;

    Wallowing in a steamy death.

The last cranks turned and the last switches flipped, it all falls away.

I look up, horrified at my stupidity.

For I was benign, a useless divine.

Responding (Pt. 1)

So, knowing somewhat the readership of my blog, I can nearly guarantee that this (warning: long and rambling read) article written by Tim Rogers on Kotaku (primarily a gaming oriented commercial blog) went quite unread when it was published last Wednesday.

Yet, it certainly struck such a cord among the Japan-based ex-pat crowd and those Japan-focused bloggers back in the States. I am neither, in truth; however it resonated much the same in me as it did others. For much different reasons, I'd predict. All in all, I'd like to take a little time to respond to some of the points/complaints he raised on my own, so that some of you can perhaps get a little bit of my own opinion, if you'd like it.

First off, I'd like to say that his article is generally well written, if overly long and completely unrelated to gaming (he does make stabs at proving that wrong, futile though they are). It comes from a man with far more experience living and working in this country than I, that's for certain. Yet, it seems from a man with a bit more staunch of hardness in the head, or in plain speak: stubbornness.

I'll try and address it point by point:

1) Modern Anime Sucks: Couldn't agree more here, to be honest. It's all repetitive, moe-branded, uncreative trash. With very few exceptions; as to which I am sadly unfamiliar at the moment. The '90s, however, those were the times.

2) So Many People Smoke: That they do. It's more prevalent in Tokyo than in Hokkaido, to my experience. Yet, due to my incredibly hindered (nearly nonexistent) sense of smell, plus constant nasal problems, I haven't a clue on the ever-prevalent smell or even presence of smokers or cigarettes. I'm sure they contribute to my horrid nasal problems, but I can't particularly tell the difference in my food.

3) Everything in Japan Has Meat in It: It sure as heck does, and I freaking love it. Nothing more to say, I'm just not a vegetarian.

4) The Mandatory Parties: This is really a comment on the business culture of Japan as a whole; so I can understand where he's coming from at the very least. His aversion to drinking seems to be wholly on a personal dislike basis, so I can understand his rejection; but as commented elsewhere, simply ordering Oolong tea or something similar is a clear sign to those around you that you don't particularly like/want to drink. Attendance to these parties may be socially necessary, but drinking? Most certainly not. In a business deal situation, however, it wouldn't hurt you to take a cup of sake or two into your gullet.

5) Some Japanese Office Traditions are Genuinely Terrifying: I have absolutely no experience here, thus I have little to comment on. Yet, I do agree to the genuine "machination" stereotype that Japanese salarymen and other such generic workers in this society fit into. Those people truly terrify me. Not for what they are: a mindless corporate cog, slowly working their predestined path up the corporate ladder (or perhaps just hanging onto their designated rung for dear life); but the fact that they have become such. I see such bright, amazing, and friendly people as my friends around here transformed from that to a shell of themselves all in the name of corporate harmony and social obligation. It is truly and utterly terrifying.

6) Screaming is the Message: I have very little to say on this subject. He does ring true in saying that the general Japanese employee seems to be looking more busy than they actually are; but heck, I think it's an improvement over the average American part-time employee, who, if not actually looking busy is most certainly not doing an actual single thing.

7) The Copycats, The Up-Givers: This is most certainly just as common in America as it is Japan; just perhaps a bit less blatant and gross.

8) Japanese Comedy is Not Funny: I honestly greatly enjoy the manzai routines that are ever-so-prevalent on the endless famous-for-being-famous celebrity-filled variety shows on nearly any station you may flick to; at any time of day. Yet, Japanese-style stand-up comedy fails to impress. Japanese pop and film culture are much the same. With J-Pop: the same studio-created melody, lyrical themes, idol look, and general atmosphere of the songs make them all bleed together so badly, it feels as if I swim through a hemorrhaging of ill talent every time I hear the radio on. With films: the same celebrities appear as they appear on TV, much as their characters... on TV. It's typecasting without the casting. They take people that you already know, and place them in a movie that you may not want to see otherwise. No true talent seems to peak through on any big-budget Japanese film these days, unless featuring an appearance from an actor who is actually renowned... for acting.

9) The Passive Aggression: I saw something much the same during my time in Tokyo. A man was walking behind a woman innocently rolling her bag behind her, walking slowly along with the crushing mass of people all around. Accidentally overstepping and coming into light contact with her bag, the man glares at her. As if such an offense should have never even crossed her mind to so rudely make him walk faster than he need be. A little more time past, and the man kicks her bag with just enough force to knock it off its wheels. I still cannot fathom why exactly he did this, as I found her quite incredibly unoffensive in her bag-rolling.

10) Everything's Expensive: Yes, yes it is. Let me give you an example: .99c apples, $1.20per/banana for a bunch of 5, and $1.10 can drinks (as in .50c drinks from vending machines).

There's more to it all, but as his post is long, I don't particularly want to make mine any longer. Pt 2 will come soon!

A Rant on Tokyo

I originally wanted to title this post "Some Musings on Tokyo", but then realized that I what I wanted to say ended up being far too negative and far away from mere "musings" as to constitute a rant. I will do my very best to stay level-headed throughout this post, but as I am using this particular post as a cathartic medium with which to express discontent and worry that has bothered me since its incidence, I won't give any guarantee.

Some things I won't touch on other than in bullet-points:

• Tokyo was, overall, an average trip and good experience.
• I spent a total of 4 weeks in the city, with no ventures out of it. (From mid-Dec. to mid-Jan.)
• 1 of these weeks was spent in a hotel; the other 3 with friends and connections.
• I went far too early, and stayed far too late (my original plans were to stay until the end of January).
• I am omitting names from this story/rant.
• All mentions of "host mother"/"host family", etc. refer specifically to that held in Tokyo.

My rant begins about three weeks into my stay, when I left a stay with my former host family in Tokyo (who hosted me in the summer of '07 for 6 weeks) of about 2 & 1/2 weeks for 5 days with a friend, and then a move to a hotel.

After a slight altercation over packing with the host mother on my last day with them, which I tossed up to a miss-communication (and still do), I waited two days for cooler heads to prevail on both ends in order to send a thank-you e-mail.

In response, I received what is unquestionably the most rude and hurtful mail I've received from anyone at any time in my life. I was personally insulted, my education and study acumen challenged (specifically, I was said "to not look to be studying in school"), told I was an absolutely horrible person, and that I had no hope for the future.

What really got to me though, was the reason, or rather, the lack of such. No reasons were provided for this incredible exercise in anger, venting, or whatever else you want to call it.

So I sent an e-mail back, asking what in the world provoked this all. Even though I had received a warning in the previous mail that ("I won't read anything you send me") I... luckily(?) received a response back. Citing that the reasons were too numerous to name, she (I only interacted with the host mother, and know only her opinion throughout this; I do not know if the other family members differ or confer) cited two: 1) The way I spent my money. 2) The fact that I slept in.

Let me touch on these two before my true rant begins:

1) She did not see me spend my money; and when I did, I spent it sparingly (even though to my bank it would seem far the opposite). I bought a total of 5 things during my stay in Tokyo, all of which are multiple use items, and totaled up to ~$150 total.

Those five things:

1. A new pair of noise-canceling headphones, after both my regular pair and backup pair broke, and warranties were far past due.
2. A business card case from the Square-Enix store. To store both my massing collection, for future use, and to have a souvenir I could only get from Tokyo.
3. A game for Nintendo DS. As it was used, and only sold in Japan, with no plans for translation or release; I decided it would be my own personal "Japan" souvenir.
4. An issue of manga. Both used, and from 1986, I wasn't going to find this anywhere else (and as I originally gave the very issue to a friend back in the States, I wasn't going to re-nig on a gift I bought). Oh, and it was $2.
5. A hat & pair of shoes (both on sale, both replacing old and broken merchandise, sadly).

Now, why, would you say, she never saw me spend my money? Because they insisted (to my, probably obligatory, knowing what little I do of this culture, objections to the contrary) on me not paying for meals whenever we went out for them; nor did they ever accompany me on my adventures around Tokyo (as I never insisted they do so).

The rest of my money? It went to food, lodging, admission (to both attractions and theme parks). The first two? Not so expensive. The latter? Yeah, that broke me.

2) In any case, the second issue was real; and I apologized profusely for it in my second reply. There was one kicker to all of this though: I was never told it was becoming a problem. Yes, I understand I should have realized this sooner, and should have thought more of my situation. What gets to me though is that it was not told to me. I was never told "hey, would you please not do that?" at any occasion, at any time.

To my personal credit/personal argument (once again, please remember the one-sided rant nature of this post), I never:

• Asked them to do something for me.
• Borrowed anything from them.
• Complained of anything (as there was nothing to complain about).
• Argued.

What I did do:

• Did what was asked of me. (For example: was asked to vacuum the floors; and did so after a struggle with the power switch).
• Cleaned my living area.
• Asked if it was alright to use something (such as the shower, internet, etc.).
• Thanked profusely for anything at all.

On those things I assumed I was being a good house guest; and gave some souvenirs from Tennessee (while chintzy, they were rather emblematic of the state), to an understandably cold reception (hey, cheap souvenirs won't please everyone).

Those were the two reasons that were given to me; far, far, after the fact. I commented in my second reply that if any of that was told to me during my stay, I most certainly would have changed it (just as I do in whatever situation I'm in). Perhaps it is a cultural difference in not saying what you think vs. always doing so, but the one thing I personally could not forgive of that situation was that they never told me.

I suppose I should ask you, readers: is my perception of reality here off? If someone was doing something so offensive to you (in this case, sleeping in), would you not tell them of the issue? Or would you let the issue lie, hoping that they would notice their wrongdoings themselves? Or is this a true cut-and-dried cultural difference?

So, the rest of my rant (mostly regarding the host mother, except where noted otherwise):

• I absolutely despise the general Japanese view that the American army is an "evil" entity. Both my uncles (R.I.P. G.), and my grandfather were in the service; and I respect them greatly for it. I was forced into a conversation with my host family's entire... family (their son, his wife, their children) to where they asked my opinion of the American military. After telling them my family's story, they asked me "but you would never join, right? Don't you think they're bad?" At first, I was stunned. Then stammered out my answers ("I don't want to, but if I have to, I will"/"No, not really") as politely as I could. I cannot in my right mind accept that a country with one of the most advanced militaries in the world could enforce such a nigh-on boneheaded view among their populace. I am referring, of course, to Japan. The only thing that prevents them from fighting for themselves is the pesky American-written Article 9 of the American-written Japanese Constitution; which prevents all military action except for that made in self-defense. To me, for a Japanese person to say that the American military is an inherently "evil" or "bad" entity is forgetting the entirety of their own 1,000+ years of military struggle both within, without, and entirely unrelated to their country. I admit that American military decisions have been lacking in moral judgment; but to call the very existence of it a bad thing? That just reeks to me of ignorance.
• I was asked (once during my original stay in the summer of '07, to which I didn't really understand the question due to my then-poor Japanese ability) what I thought of the drive-out of the Native Americans from now US-held land. Having not lived for 200 years, nor having a family ever involved in such, I have no opinion other than it was unfortunate the way it occurred. To this, I received a grunt, and a reprimanding of "that was a bad thing you Americans did!" What sparked this, you may ask? An examination on Japanese TV of the South African apartheid situation. Yes, they were slightly similar yet massive infringements on human rights. Yet, I, personally, had nothing to do with either. Neither did my family, nor did anyone I know. That doesn't mean it was right, certainly; but it does mean that I can think nothing more of it than I already do. I wanted to take the chance to remind her (the host mother) of Japan's attempted genocide of the Ainu people around the same time of the Trail of Tears, as well as the current situation with Okinawa and the former Ryukyu Kingdoms (and their peoples). I decided, thankfully, against it.
• How dare she. Yes, how dare she comment on my education to the point that "it doesn't look like you're studying". If I truly wasn't studying; if I were one of the infinite number of party-going, pot-smoking, acid-dropping, sons-and-daughters of millionaires, hippie wannabes at my school, where, oh where would my Japanese be? How would I have bought a ticket to Tokyo, made numerous friends, understood countless conversations (and joined in just as many), and even applied for health insurance by myself? How would I have done that? I wouldn't have, is how. Did she listen to me in my discussion about what I'm studying (Economics)? Nah. Did we ever talk about Economics? Nah. Who would want to, anyway? It irks me to no end at all for someone to say that I am not studying when I regularly talk to people considered some of the brightest in their class, to where they've skipped a weeks worth of them, or spent the last night drinking their brain away even though it was a Tuesday. It irks me to no end that the wife of your son told me that he "did not study at all" with a giggle; and yet you accuse me of learning nothing. I challenge you, former host mother, to summon the courage to ask me what exactly I've been studying, and see if you can understand it, in English. Did I mention I study Japanese, and have every intention of mastering it? Because, frankly, Americans aren't the only ones who need to get it together and truly learn two languages, if you get my drift.

So there ends my complaints.

And, truly, I believe the host family to be good people. I honestly think they are.

What I found through all of this, though:

• I cannot, in the end, get along with all people; no matter how hard I try. (Yes, I am realizing a fact that most realize when they are in diapers when I am 21; so be it).
• Ignorance (or at least my perception of such) still exists in the world, to a very large degree.
• People despise change (I will freely admit to suffering of this from time to time).
• The Law of Equal Exchanges does not apply at all in a social context. In this regard, the effort you put into maintaining and nurturing a friendship (as seen in some of my Tokyo-based friends) does not give you an equal return and effect; and at times, lesser effort gives you a greater effect.
• Through all this, I will only seek to become a better person, and better at what I do.
• I do not need to prove what I am to those who will not accept or try to understand; merely that I am, and always will be more than they can be. (In other words: I will not attempt to match ignorance with ignorance, only a facsimile of caring.)
• I worry far too much.
• The one time I get a rude letter has affected me more than 15 years of my life alone.

And this has been my rant.

Tokyo pictures and video to come later, after I'm done calming down from this.

A Trip to Otaru & The Best Ramen Yet Eaten in Japan

To be honest, the trip post will be short:

It was cold, it was beautiful, and the souvenirs I bought were both delicious and expensive. I also later found those same souvenirs in Sapporo Station for a lower price. So much for buying local goods at the place they're made!

The ramen back at Sapporo Station, however, was possibly the best grouping of nearly liquefied pork, fattening broth, and noodles I've yet eaten. Ramen Nate, a blog predominately on ramen stores based in Tokyo, has a far more well written account than I; but I guarantee that any positive word that he has written on the subject of Nantsuttei is the complete and utter truth.

The pork juicy, the noodles an absolute joy to bite down (sorry folks, I can't do the "J-Slurp"), the egg absolutely perfectly cooked; and the broth an absolute delight to chow down with rice after the fact. Honest-to-goodness ramen heaven, that which I only though I could find in Tokyo with Nate's guide and writings, but was most certainly wrong. I will most certainly go again before the year is out; however, I must find something equivalent to this ramen-gasm in some other place in Sapporo.

And when I do, things will be written.

Oh, and fever in Japan = not pleasant. American asprin = awesome, however.

Just A Quick Reminder

That:

1) On Valentine's Day in Japan women give men chocolate.

2) White Day is the opposite holiday, where men give women chocolate.

3) I do not know why on the first, the second is due to that lovely commercialization of love in general.

4) I will not do a more full-featured blog post on this, as there are already far, far too many of them on the web as-is.

IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY! (In Japan).

For any/all female readers: May your crush/loved one/husband make your day a very special one.

For any/all male readers: Good luck.

Oh, and for all those curious, the girlfriend and I decided on an American style Valentine's Day. Sure I gotta pay, and don't get any chocolate, but she gets to experience the true Valentine's Day, for once!

Or at least that's what I keep telling myself...

The Return

The day started normally, and ended quite the same. It was what happened in the middle that got everything into a realm of pure awesome. Heading out around two in the afternoon or so, a group of friends and I made our way (back, for most of us) to the Snow Festival in Odori.

Knowing the sites that awaited us, for the most part, we kind of meandered around, waiting for some stragglers to show up. Doing so, however, led us to be approached by a rather odd woman questioning us as to whether or not we knew of a strange cooking apparatus. Called a “taijin pot” (たいじん鍋/taijin nabe)  in Japanese, I have only recently found out that this was actually a “tagine” (or “tajine”); originally a Moroccan item that has found its way over the continents to Japan.

Now, why was this strange woman approaching random foreigners on the pathway about whether they knew about a completely odd cooking apparatus or not? To get them on TV, of course!

That’s right, folks, for a total of ~30seconds-1minute, I appeared on Japanese television! Well, local broadcast Japanese television… but, hey! It was quite well made locally broadcasted Japanese television. I thank the Hokkaido Broadcasting Company (known locally as “HBC”) and Hana Telebi for letting me grace the screens of housewives everywhere. For those at home, the former is the channel; the latter the news program.

Oh, and to answer the unspoken question: did I know of the tajine? I did, surprisingly; but only from the odd remembrance of visiting a cooking store ever-so-long-ago. There were two others who knew of it as well, too bad they didn’t know much Japanese at all, as they got more airtime in the end!

I kid in my jealousy, I kid not in the fact they did.

In any case, enjoy the pictures!

Oh, and one more thing.

I ate the limited time-only Texas Burger from McDonalds that day. Before you die from gasping from air at me eating anything fast food, let me re-assure you that this was most certainly a rare and Japan-only chance that I just couldn’t pass up after weeks of continuously missing it due to McDonalds, selling out, of burgers.

I was also pretty dang hungry, but hey.

All in all, it was quite tasty. The BBQ sauce was, of course, a weak imitation of the real thing; and the bacon absolutely horribly cooked (I don’t like it super crunchy, but I need at least a bit for goodness sake!); but if it wasn’t the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten from a fast food joint in a very long time, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Tomorrow comes the story of Otaru and some utterly, absolutely fantastic ramen.

Sapporo Snow Festival (Day 1)

Or: The Day My Hair Turned to Ice.

Author’s Note: If you feel the need to look at all of the photographs I took (and trust me, they are many), you can hopefully view them in the new gallery section on the right side of the blog. Please let me know of any problems that you may encounter. If this works out, we can all expect some great pictures from now on!

My day started a bit late at 11am. I woke up to the sound of absolutely nothing after a tumultuous time trying to get to sleep after a few days of birthday celebrations and general fun. A problem this wouldn’t be, on a normal weekend, if I hadn’t made plans to leave a friend – who, quite luckily, lives on the same floor of the dorm I’m currently stationed in – at that very hour. All too late I found out that the alarms that I thought were set so impeccably had been set two days in advance, at the correct time, no less.

In any case, after a quick breakfast and change of clothes, we headed out to Odori Park to see what had become of the giant blocks of ether-white snow that had been shipped nigh on endlessly into the park over the last few weeks.

So we arrived a little bit south of Odori station, thinking ourselves quite prepped and ready for the cold ahead of us. Equipped with an incredible down jacket (w/ hood), gloves, and my trusty camera; the friend and I set out for “parts-previously-known-but-now-covered-in-two-feet-of-snow”. Known elsewhere as: Odori Park in the winter.

I quickly found out that this was a cold that I was rather ill prepared for, me and all of my two layers of concrete thin down. I found out later, head stuck in a luscious warm drink, that it was my first experience with truly bone chilling cold. While I did adapt over the course of the day, when one notices ice in their hair, it begins to become a little worrying.

Meandering towards the TV Tower that marks the Park’s most northern point, we stopped every so often to marvel at a new amazing work of snow or ice art; some towering so high that one could apparently see the Park’s entirety from their most center point. Recreations of famous buildings, sights, and characters about; it was to me most reminiscent of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Except with snow, and no parades… and not even close to Thanksgiving. Outside of those things though, exact same thing, I swear.

Of course, our journey wasn’t complete without some requisite festival food. I tended toward the cheaper side; yet was still drawn to an Iranian/Persian-based booth in a little “international”-style quadrant that served a very tasty English muffin-like bread/pastry filled with chicken and a very light sauce. In Japanese it’s called シャーピン,or “shaapin”, to which I could not find a translation. Perhaps it’s not at all from the country in it said it was, but it was sure tasty. Later I wolfed down a chocolate banana and some hot wine; both terrifically warm dishes on that most freezing of days.

Joined by another friend after a little bit of time; we eventually decided to head on to the Susukino area in order to see a supposedly impressive array of ice sculptures. Impressive they were indeed, and while I won’t comment on any individual piece, the corporate sponsored ones were (perhaps rightfully?) the most grand and elegant in scope and presentation. While a bit shorter and less grand than the cramped and crowded Odori Park area, it was still quite an impressive exhibition; emphasized even more by the nighttime glitz of a lit Susukino during our walk.

We finished the day with a visit to a recent favorite of mine: a hamburger steak restaurant in the Odori/Susukino-intersecting arcade “Tanuki Kouji”. Cheap, utterly delicious, and all the rice you can eat made the place an instant hit with me on a recent date (I’m lame, I know). So if you’re ever in the area, we’re going, whether you like it or not.

There should be more Snow Festival-related adventures to be had in the coming week, and I guarantee that you shall know about them all!

Review: Chocolat Brewery

To be honest, I had no idea that “bitter” was a flavor of chocolate beer. The first couple sips tasted like any other Sapporo-made brew: light, easy-to-drink, with a slight tang and sourness that comes with most lower class brews here in Japan. Perhaps it was the menthol addled “Deep Moist” balm I had covering lips ravaged by the constant dry cold, or maybe the lingering taste of pasta from a lovely meal cooked by an equally lovely girl. Those first few sips, however, gave nothing of effect to the name.

Oh wait; did I mention that this is Chocolate Beer? Apologies to all those with a severe aversion to me drinking anything with a fermentation level above… not, but this was an opportunity just too odd, too Japanese to pass up for me.

Dubbed “Chocolat Brewery” the beer is a collaboration between Sapporo Breweries, Ltd. & Sapporo (the city)-based Royce’ Confect Co. (their abbreviations, not mine). While I’m normally a big fan of Sapporo’s other brew offerings – especially the premium Yebisu brand – I look upon most any odd combination drink, like the recent Adzuki-flavored Pepsi, with an increasingly large amount of skepticism and pondering of worth. It’s not that I’m not willing to try, merely, whether I’ll be curled up and spitting out what I thought to be a delicious beverage for a good five minutes afterward.

What is this odd flavor that seems to be perking up between my hops and barley, though? An odd sweet taste, scented of far away forgone lands, occupied and extorted by colonial powers and multinational corporations. Is it? Could it be?

Yes, yes it is! It’s the cacao bean! A brilliant sweetness, added to this bitter brew, it’s almost as i…. it’s gone. That luscious brilliance, for a moment steeped in genius and a designer’s wish, gone after so little manufactured lust.

In other words: 2% of chocolate/barley combination-amazingness, 98% incredibly normal, dry, and incredibly underwhelming beer.

You haven’t lost a customer, Sapporo, but you’ve gained a weary one.

P.S. For all those keeping track at home, this is both my first post in a very long while, plus my first one with pictures. I'll be working out the issues as I go along, and I'll be picking up the blogging pace as well, since everything has finally settled down/allowed me time to do so. So, please bear with any problems! The Tokyo summary post to come soon.

Also, click on the image above for a full-size one, if you'd like it.