Monday, November 24, 2014

Happiest horror day

Something what I have been planning and wanting to go and do for a long time happened in last trip. Fuji-Q Highland. The Road there was quite a long and part of the road felt like it was middle of nowhere. But like the name already says Fuji, the amusement park is really close to mountain Fuji.

It was past 12 o'clock as we arrived. And, cause of that we were in a bit of hurry. While buying the entrance ticket, there were so called time table in visible of how long lines were. Quickly pondering the things we wanted to try out. 1st thing was must Haunted Hospital.



Just by looking from outside, the building was really well made. It really looked like it had been there for years empty. The reason besides it was must go was the fact that line was ridiculous long.... We had to wait 3 hours to get in!!! It even started to rain pouring down for a most part of the lining time, lucky us knew that rain might happen so, we had umbrellas with us..but think of big  amount of other people having umbrellas with them.... it was hard to keep yourself from getting wet.
As we finally could enter we had soaking wet shoes but for some reason it didn't bother us at all. I was far too anxious to get in the house.
10 different sizes groups were taken in at the same time but if you were alone, you couldn't enter or if your group were bigger than size 6, one of your group members had to be left behind.
There were introduction of rules inside before getting the scary part, and yes they had it even in English...but yeah it was piece of laminated paper.
I'm not going to tell much about the place in case someone is planning to go there, etc.
There were narrow corridors and corners and empty rooms, which were part of covered with curtains. There even were holes in a walls where someone could come and grab your leg... I have never ever laughed like a nutcase and screamed at the same time. It felt like I was going to have a heart attack middle of it. (NOTICE: It is allowed to quit middle of the way if it gets too much for someone)  I wanted to go whole way, even it felt it was going to be too much. It also felt like I was part of horror movie which I knew was fake.
 There were couple other groups we alternate who went first. Group of two younger girls and bigger group of foreigners (6 or 5 persons) and us...in total 3 groups. We ended up finishing the Haunted Hospital together.


Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi


Next was Fujiyama Roller Coaster.  It was already late evening when managed to get in line for this but this time line was much more shorter.  And as the time went on while waiting it started to get foggy. The fog had this burned scent in it, most likely it came from the mountain Fuji. I guess.
Fujiyama had been the world fastest roller coaster back in a day. There were this World Record plate placed on the wall.
As the line got shorter, thought started to ran through my head. 'Was this such a good idea..?' It was really foggy and you couldn't see where you were going.
As we were waiting it get higher and higher...it visibly was not such a good idea, top height was 79M from the ground till it started to drop down with a really fast speed. Never ever have my mouth been dry after screaming... but I was and still am really happy that I went both of these places. Maybe I will go once again there but to different ones. Only time will tell.


Rilakkuma x Tower Records Cafe

From July 10 to August 17, Shibuya Tower Records Cafe were helding Rilakkuma theme.  When I first heard of this, I instantly wanted to go and try it, at least once.
First day when I tried to get in to cafe in the Shibuya's Tower Records building, only 1st floor was open and highest as well. I'm not 100% sure what was the reason why upper floors were closed but just to amuse ourselves we went to highest floor without actually taking notice what was in it...  (^^;) There were the exhibition going on about Alice nine. I don't remember the entrance price for sure but it was something like 500yen. Since I'm not anymore interested of Alice nine, I didn't even wanted to go in.

Another sunny and hot day, it were decided to give another shot for the cafe and as arriving to 1st floor, for my enjoyment people could enter once again to the Rilakkuma Cafe.



It was around midday we went there but had to wait to get in because cafe was full, even it didn't seem so. What I mean that there were quite a few free seats but maybe staff wanted to keep customers privacy  and not get anyone too close or something... Next to the entrance door there was placed HUGE Rilakkuma sitting in a chair. (It looked like fat lazy ass teddy bear.lolol)
Anyway, the wait was around 15mins to 30mins, not too long. As staff member guided us to table, she said that we had only 1 hour time to enjoy and eat.

It was so cute looking around the cafe.
I bought peach ice tea and these two lovely things. Don't remember exact prices but paid in total around 2500yen Quite expensive but it was worth of it. Both of those were delicious!


Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi



Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi



Sunday, November 9, 2014

Changes in weather.

Around end of July till mid August there were typhoon warning going around but it wasn't in area where I was. Luckily. It was typhoon Halong.
It wasn't first time for me to experience typhoon. Areas where I was had only lots of rain coming down and wind since it was further away from the area where it would hit.
Worst wheather what I got from typhoon Halong was when I traveled to Hamamatsu one day. They had promised pouring rain but in the end it didn't rain almost at all but it sure was windy. In the evening around 10PM I left Hamamatsu and it sitll didn't rain much but after getting back to Tokyo I saw next morning photo which was taken from a car. Rain was pouring big time down somewhere between Hamamatsu and Tokyo. I'm happy I could survive in one piece from that. It could have been  a lot worse.

In Finland we don't have typhoons or earthquakes. So, all those were new to me back in a day when I first time came to Japan. We just have 4 different seasons... and I hate the longest one.

First time experiencing typhoon was back in a July 2011. At the time it was much closer to Tokyo and could feel the wind blowing from right and left and forward and also from behind. It was really hard at times to keep umbrella straight.
Bad weather in that trip started when road was taking me and friends to Osaka. It did rain almost constantly as we stayed in Osaka for a week.
Also, in July I experienced first earthquake. It was the very last night before we would leave Tokyo behind and go back to Finland.  I woke up as the house was shaking, the first thing I thought were 'Who is shaking the bed???' and 'Why are walls moving??' it took me awhile because of my slumber to realize it was earthquake. We laughed about it in the morning

In March 2011 there were big tsunami as most of you know (Tohoku earthquake) which made me nervous and anxious if it even was possible to go to Japan in summer but I did get to go and so I did later in 2011.

I went back to Japan December and stayed till next year. Nothing too interesting happened but as I was leaving Harajuku, I was surprised that other side of the station's platforms were closed...Yes, the side which I should had been going. I had to made my way to other train and go longer way back to hotel where I was staying with friends. I don't remember how many magnitudes there were but it wasn't small. What is surprising in this, is that I never felt it and, because of that I was surprised to see what happened in Harajuku's train station.

November-December 2012 I was staying month in Kunitachi. Yeah, it was further away from Tokyo, Japanese person would say it is country side. (took 30min to Shinjuku and to Tokyo 45min by train) Don't remember exact date but it was around 5AM to 5:30AM as I felt eartquake which wasn't small. It woke me up and since it was quite big and seemed to last long time...well, at least for me who isn't used to such a things.  One of my thoughts were something along like 'Is it tsunami all over again?!'
After it ended, I fell quite quick asleep again but woke about 30-40 minutes later as earth shook again. This ended up getting me even more nervous but since it was far smaller, I hoped it would end up being after shocks of the Tohoku earthquake which the news were talking about that those would happen for a long time till after the Tohoku earthquake.
Later as friend and I woke up, we looked in the news and saw that there had been 1 meter high tsunami in somewhere above Tokyo but more closer to Sendai prefecture.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Back in Tokyo

After leaving Nagoya and arriving to Tokyo (29 July), first thing we did was head to hotel where we were staying. It was much better than Nagoya's own but to our surprise the room we stayed in was quite small. We even thought that maybe we should change the place to somewhere else but first we gave a try for this place. In the end we stayed there whole time. And, yes I know Japanese houses are usually smaller than western style houses/rooms. Room was in top floor and of course there were no elevator...I hate to drag luggages in narrow stairs!

Even the numerous times I have been in Japan, this was first time I saw rockabillys. It was interesting to say at least. I was surprised by the fact that there was one younger kid among them. He wasn't left in shadows of older rockabillys.
As well went to imperial palace in Tokyo for the first time. It was pretty but burning hot day wasn't such a nice when walking in area covered with small rocks and one line of asphalt without trees to give any kind of shadow.


Ladataan
Tokyo; Imperial palace #imperialpalace #tokyo #japan #palace #travel


Soon was about to be second live of the GazettE 31 July at Tsutaya O-EAST and third the GazettE live was tour final 4 August at Studio Coast.
Both lives were great and won't regret going in them.
Only thing I wonder a bit is the fact that in March tour final there were video cameras and once again in this tour final there were cameras too. Will they release something after last and third HERESY only tour will end? or will it those videos be for their own personal use...?

Tsutaya O-EAST. Photo taken by the GazettE staff.

Studio Coast. Photo taken by the GazettE staff.

In the tour final live there were on display the GazettE's newest collaboration with Walkman products. 

Couple days before the HERESY tour was coming to end there was announcement but this time it only included vocalist, Ruki from the band. He was releasing brand named [VITAL MATERIAL] and there were going to be exhibition for the stuff on 9 and 10 of August. 
Exhibition got my attention soon as I saw it because it had been too long since I've done anything like this and being a the GazettE fan I wanted to go. 
The area where exhibition was held was small but they let in only small number of people stay in the area. As soon as some left, new people were let in...and so on. Because of that it easy to explore what kind of stuff there was. There were all the cosmetic stuff on show, all the bottles and such. Front of those bottles were smaller glass bottles which held inside cotton ball with the scent of the products. Going around and smelling out every cotton ball there was, I only came to one conclusion which was that I would love to buy all of those, even they were quite expensive. 
[Official site:] http://vitalmaterial.com/ 
More photos of the show in my instagram account.



Ladataan
#vitalmaterial #ruki #thegazette #japan #tokyo

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Nagoya road trip

It hadn't been long time since last trip to Japan and once again I set foot on the plane which took me to Japan, but this time didn't flew to Tokyo. Instead flew to Nagoya where was planned to stay few nights.
Friend and I arrived to Nagoya on 26th of July, and we took a risk by choosing not so good hostel to stay at. It turned out to be pretty nice with few minuses. Air condition didn't work properly but we had two fans also which made it rather ok.
On the day we set foot in Japan was really hot day, really humid and hot, close to 38C or maybe even slightly above it. Too hot even for Japanese people. Such a nice way to start vacation, right? (laughs) Had to took shower at least couple times on that day.

Still remember how feet were burning through the shoes while waiting traffic lights to turn green. And got my only sunburn on the way to hostel. It is and still is slightly seen as a tanned skin close to my shoulder.

Next day was pretty much roaming around the city and seeing Nagoya better. Surely been in Nagoya before but this time we actually stayed there longer than a daytime. We were already outside of the hostel at 8AM. Still to this day I can't understand how we did it because second day is always hardest to get up and get going. Jet lag but this time there was none.
Even when we had left outside early, we came back to hostel around 6 to 8PM
Originally second day plans were different but we talked about it and agreed it was better if we changed them and not go to Osaka or Kyoto yet.

Third day was something I was waiting for, it was once again time for the GazettE live but this time they would play songs from albums Stacked Rubbish and DIM. Goods selling was actually held inside of the live arena which was great decision in that weather. Also, it was good that other days weren't as hot as first one was. Usually weather would reach 33C on days and on nights 26/27C


Actually taken in Tokyo but same photo nonetheless. 

Caught Kai's drumstick. I'm happy~!

Photo taken by the GazettE staff.

The GazettE - HERESY LIMITED STANDING LIVE TOUR14- PULSE WRIGGLING TO DIM SCENE ZEPP NAGOYA 28-07 unofficial set list

01 Hakuri ( 剥離 )
02 The invisible wall
03 Leech
04 Cockroach 
05 Mob 136 Bars
06 Before I decay
07 Ganges ni akai bara ( ガンジスに紅い薔薇 )
08 Shiroki yuutsu( 白き憂鬱 )
09 Nakigahara ( 泣ヶ原 )
10 Dim scene
11 13 Stairs[-]1
12 A Moth Under the Skin
13 In The Middle Of Chaos
14 Headache man
15 OGRE
16 Linda ~Candydive Pinky Heaven~
17 Kantou dogeza kumiai ( 関東土下座組合 )

ENCORE
E01 Ride with the rockers
E02 Ruder
E03 Discharge

Day after the the GazettE live we traveled to Tokyo where we would stay till we would leave Japan behind. For some odd reason it seems almost every time next morning after the GazettE live I've to travel somewhere, either it's inside in Japan or to airport.



Thursday, July 24, 2014

Back in Japan; March 2014 part 3

I have pretty much only talked about lives in March entries but now is coming something else.


We walked by this very random statue of Goku from Dragon Ball and Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece. Very amusing statue to tell the truth. There are far better photos in the internet of this. I personally don't have better ones because we were walking other side of the road in late eve. 

FOODS: 
Here are some of the foods we ate. Of course not all and not that interested of taking food photos. 

Don't remember the name of those brown balls but it was good. Really good. Next to it is JPN style vanilla ice cream or was it milk ice cream, either way it does taste different from the vanilla/milk ice cream I'm use to having in home country. Still good though. And top the dessert with chocolate sauce.


New love, sea grapes. It's sad I can't get them in Finland...at least haven't found or heard of such a place.


Hot sakura chocolate latte.  
Hägen-Daz sakura ice cream which was way too sweet.



Yet another sakura ice cream but this one was good. 

Limited time drink at Japanese McDonald's. Sakura Cherry Float.
 You could choose whether you take ice cream on the top or not. Without it was bit cheaper but since I was on holiday and drank it once, I took the ice cream. Yet, again it was good. 


As friend was in other city for a day, I met with another one in Shibuya, Tokyo. We roamed around talking a LOT since we don't really meet that often but it's always fun. Definitely should spend more time together.
I also  got asked to go birthday party in one club (which name I don't remember) where one PV(Music video) had been filmed. Sure, there are most likely other music videos from the same club. I would have liked to go but there was something what didn't let me go to that party. No, it wasn't anything to do with my personal feelings cause if I could have went, I would have. 
Even, I couldn't go I had lovely time and bit later went to hotel to wait friend come back from Osaka.


Even cherry blossom season is really popular in Japan, it's really like any other seasonal holidays. Such as Christmas and Easter. You literally could buy fake sakura branches, decoration shaped like sakura, sakura drinks and food and so on. I'll admit I would love to go again and see cherry trees blooming, even though it does feel bit commercial.

 Plum tree blooming days before sakura did. 






 Friend and I were walking around in Asakusa and watching sakura trees blooming while taking photos of them at times. We hadn't gotten far as suddenly noticed video camera shoved to our faces. The camera was one of those big ones you see used in professional broadcasting's. The guy said sorry for doing it without really asking from us, if it was even okay with us. We just smiled and shrugged it off.  So, once again it seems I ended up to be most likely in one of Japanese tv programs. Yay....
After that we went to Sensoji temple, place we have spent time in every trip. Calming place, even when there is lots of people.
Soon we moved to check how Ueno's park sakura had gotten along and sure it was blooming but there were lots of people and some of them sitting around under the sakura trees. You had to be extra careful while walking in there because someone could suddenly stop and start taking photos of sakura trees. Yes,  you could count me to be one of those people. As we walked in there, there were again video cameras. It seemed this time like some news broadcasting. Ended up walking quickly past by those.
We were planning to go last day to see sakura again but it was raining down almost whole day, so we canceled idea and spend it around the hotel and then we were off to see second last show from the GazettE's tour in Studio Coast. I tell you this, it was really fun to walk with luggages next day to airport as every muscle hurt and sleep was minimum; around 3 hours or so.



Saturday, July 19, 2014

Back in Japan; March 2014 part 2

There were few other lives where friend and I also went. the GazettE lives I went to Zepp Tokyo, Club Citta and both days in Studio Coast. Sadly couldn't go to final live of the tour because we had bought plane tickets far earlier before tour schedule was released. Either way had fun in every live I attended. Thank you bands and people.


I also attended to my very first live of the KPOP band. MBLAQ.  It wasn't exactly live but they did sang few songs and you could go and get their autographs if you wanted but you had to buy one of their Japanese release what was sold at the event. We didn't buy any of those releases, so no autographs for us but we were fine with the idea because we just wanted to see and hear them live. It also happened to be celebrate for Mir's birthday, the whole tour. We went to Namba Hatch day and Zepp Tokyo day part of it. There were two shows in one day. 14 and 18 if I remember right.
At the events they did read fan letters people had wrote to them and talked about it shortly and then they started to talk about random stuff. I don't remember much about those events anymore but we got good laughs and saw Mir do hands stand and them squeezing each other. (laughs) Whole events were just so much fun! But what's certain is that I would like to attend their live someday.
There is small amount of Korean artists/boy bands/bands I actually want to see. If you guys know any good Korean performer(s), feel free to introduce them to me.







Just quick mention for Shibuya AX. It's sad to see great live place be gone. Certainly going to miss it. Attended; 
- D tour final 29 December 2011
- Penicillin Hakuei's birthday 16 December 2012
- Plastic tree 18 March 2014

First time ever I went to Sendai. It was interesting place for sure but didn't feel like a place I would want to go back soon. Maybe it was because it was colder than in Tokyo of that time of the year  or maybe the fact it reminded me too much of cold Finland we had left behind. Either way, I might one day go back to there because it's easy to go back to Tokyo from there in late night. 
Visited Disney store in Sendai which ended up being much different from Tokyo's own but definitely not in bad way. Cute store! Other than that there wasn't really any other store we ended up visiting.



I would love to go Miyajima all over again. Even it is really small place and island near Hiroshima. It still is one of my favorite place to visit out of all places I've been. 
One of those deers came to us and first tried to eat friend's bag and right after that mine. 











Thursday, July 10, 2014

Back in Japan; March 2014

It's been forever since wrote anything in here. Last trip to Japan has already been done since March and trip to Helsinki to see girugamesh and meet friends which was last month. After that it has been mostly only work and work and so little free time.
Either way, here is something from the trip to Japan in March 2014.

Flew on 8th of March. Luckily this time our flight was in time and there was no problems with the plane. Because there is always some sort of bad luck in every trip. Bad luck always changing from the small things to big things. Like many of you readers know, last time (in November) it was with the plane.

First full day in Tokyo was mostly spend around the hotel where we stayed at. It was in Asakusa. Pretty ok hotel to be exact. There was nothing special about first day, never really had been (laughs) Once we went to live on very first day and most likely won't do it again. Damn you jet lag.

There were two meanings with this trip; one of them being seeing sakura and other being able to attend the birthday live of the GazettE.
the GazettE live was held in Zepp Tokyo, place I have never ever been before but liked it. One thing I was quite nervous of was the fact live being all standing, even tough, I have only had pleasant experiences with Japanese crowd in all standing lives. Most of the times foreigners being the jerks of the lives.

We brought small gift for the band as it was their birthday, we included moomin card where was written every persons name I knew who enjoyed band's music, even a little from my country, since it was fully of things from Finland. Sorry for not telling your name was in the card but you are welcome! (laughs)




Friend and I got great places from group A, there were all together 3 groups A, B and C.  As soon as we got inside we went to choose our places which in the end were great choice. Our place was around 10th row, I guess but it constantly changed during the live.
I've never seen such a craziness in the GazettE lives. almost everybody colliding with each other and accidentally hitting each other while headbanging.  As the live went on crowd got even crazier, people jumping top of each other and crowd surfing to front and then doing it all over again as they got behind the crowd again. I even lost my friend during the live few times and few times we accidentally found each other again (laughs)
The best idea how people acted might be if you check really old the GazettE lives and add even more craziness in it. The whole crowd was respectful towards the band and towards other fans. Let me add this fact in here too, I have never seen as many people to faint as I saw in these the GazettE FC lives, even though there were no pressure in most places.

As the band came to the stage and played first songs, their nervousness was easily seen but as they did their first mistakes and crowd taking it easy on them by not really caring about it and instead of having great time in the live broke 5 men on the stage to smiles.

It had been long time dream for me to attend one of their fan club only lives as those lives get lots of praising. And to top it of it was their birthday live. Live wasn't disappointing at all! This far the best live I have attended.



LIVE TOUR 2014 NAMELESS LIBERTY DISORDER HEAVEN 10/03 (FC live)


01 Nausea & Shudder
02 The $ocial Riot Machine$
03 SHADOW VI II I
04 Zakuro gata no yuutsu ( ザクロ型の憂鬱 )
05 7月8日
06 Bath Room
07 TAION ( 体温 )
08 D.L.N
09 SILLY GOD DISCO
10 生暖かい雨とざらついた情熱
11 Carry?
12 Anti pop
13 Maggots
14 DISCHARGE

ENCORE

E01 Ride with the Rockers
E02 GO TO HELL 
E03 Cassis
E04 COCKROACH
E05 AKAI ONE PIECE
E06 LINDA〜candydive pinky heaven〜
E07 KANTOU DOGEZA KUMIAI ( 関東土下座組合 )

For more about the live



Friday, January 24, 2014

Looking back: Experiences #5

I really like shopping in Japan, especially clothes. There is so much different style of clothes where you can choose your own. It's sad that people assume Japanese people to be really thin (size 0) when it isn't true.  I admit the fact; Japan is one of the thinnest countries but there are fat people just like in any other country. 
There are lots of clothing labeled as 'one size' which is often smallest size. XS, S and at times M in Finnish sizes.  Also, in Japan you can't really try clothes on without asking from sellers if it's ok first.  It does suck tell the truth because there are times you aren't sure if something fits for you. 


Here are some what I have bought over the years.

Two loose boleros.


Well, this has funnier story behind it. It was just meant to keep me warm in Japan because we didn't had working air-condition in every room in winter time.  Still use it at some rare times when I take garbage out or just want to warm up.


One of these was gift from friend and there is missing fully black top. It's great detail when top shows partly under top shirt.

Also bought plain grey shirt and this. I found it fitting as the person I'm and what I love. Well, screamo isn't my type of music...
"Live your dream, don't dream your life. Act according to your belief.  I fighting in order to live freely."


These two are my loves. Both thicker, other is knit garment. For long time I avoided striped clothing because it wasn't fitting for me but I found this one fitting which opened whole new side of clothing for me.

About this, I'm planning to sell it away. I had plans where I was going to use it but never actually have... but got great under shirt with it which I love to use. 


Loose bat sleeved shirt. It's amazing hot summer days or when I feel lazy enough to figure out something more proper to wear. 

Yet another two knits. Left one does have loose neckline which means I can easily place it over shoulder or both or keep as regular way.


This was one my random things I bought.  I don't remember exact price but it was cheap enough to buy as a  impulse buy. 


Other side of the shirt says "Seek after the truth, try again, true and life, ready or not." Gotta love engrish at times (laughs)

As you may notice these two came from same shop. Don't use them that much but still like them. 


Newest jacket I bought. It was around 8000~9000yen. I love this because there is many ways you can wear it; with or without fur or/and belt. It reaches half thigh. 


Cardigan which also does have removable fur. 



And last but not least shoes. I haven't bought much shoes yet from Japan because females in Japan have smaller feet. But yeah, if you know how to look and where you will find pair of fitting shoes.
Oh, right, forgot totally, there were one pair of beige uggs I bought couple years back but threw them away in 2012 in Japan.


I don't have any certain part of the city where I buy clothes but yeah, whenever I manage to find something nice to wear. Above clothing I have bought from Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Nakano. There might be one from Ikebukuro.
For some reason most of clothing here are darker colours but yeah I do wear other colours as well. (such a random notice...) Lately my obsession is white and black together.