Japan

Well, I have been a bit quiet in the postings this week as I have been in Tokyo! Weather has been terrible - heavy rain but still lots to do.
Akihabara & Harajuku are always fun!
I'll post a few photos when I get back..

I so envy you.
Found any good loot yet?

If you lived in the states I would have you pick up a happy hacking keyboard for me. Have fun while you're over there.

i was there this april, have fun! i hope to get sometime soon. how's is the humidity this summer?

terrible - such heavy rain and thunder, some bad flooding...

I will be regular visitor there from now on...

Hopefully it clears up for you - seems like you've had a run of bad luck concerning weather recently

Out of curiosity, did you notice any used electronics shops in your excursions? I seem to remember Japan passed a weird law recently regarding reselling old gear - curious as to what came out of that.

In Akihabara I did see some shops in side streets selling 2nd hand PCs and pulls like graphic cards, fans, RAM etc. I didn't take much notice as it wasn't SGI...

I will fly out to Tokyo again this weekend for a few days...work
Still - good weather for warm Saki..

What is it you do again that lets you go to to the Tokyo regin every so often?

I working in marketing for a large test & measurement company - but I am really an engineer who has to make some powerpoint slides now and then...
I spend a lot more time in San Jose.....

back in Japan - Shinjuku. Went down to Harajuku this morning (only two stops on the train) but very very wet so not a great deal to see...Seems to be clearing up now...

While you're in the immediate vicinity of the 山の手, could you please do me a favor and confirm which of these tunes you hear while on that line?

http://www.kalisiak.com/japan/movies/JR_01.mp3
http://www.kalisiak.com/japan/movies/JR_02.mp3
http://www.kalisiak.com/japan/movies/JR_03.mp3
http://www.kalisiak.com/japan/movies/JR_04.mp3
http://www.kalisiak.com/japan/movies/JR_05.mp3
http://www.kalisiak.com/japan/movies/JR_06.mp3

My wife and I can't really recall the details at this point...

Thanks!
Chris

All the 6 tunes are used on the Yamanote Line.

JR_05 is used at Yurakucho station.

I need to check my CD for others...

I did hear some strange noise this morning but at 7:45 the Yamanote line was incredibly packed!!!
My Japanese colleague tells me that each station has a special tune....they all sound like a weird aracde game to me!!

ps. who has played Pachingo? They just love those silver balls!!!

Darn... the few sites that have been hosting these bells have been taken down due to copyright issue...

The CD I have only got 5 tracks from Yamanote (Shinjuku / Takadanobaba / Ikebukuro / Meguro / Shibuya).
I shall check it while playing Densha de Go Final next time...

Shyouko, thanks for the confirmation. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could figure out which of those tunes is what station. The stations on the yamanote that have meaning for my wife and I are ueno, shinagawa, meguro, shibuya, harajuku, and ikebukuro... If any of those tunes match up with any of those stations, then that's cool. Right now, JR_02 is my ringtone, and JR_01 is my wife's, because we seem to recall those tunes sounding familiar.

Maxsleg, heh, actually, I have two pachinko balls sitting here on my keyboard. Wow, the noise in those parlors! Even the noise of the one vintage 70's pachinko machine I have at home can be a bit much, let alone over a hundred of them with loud music playing in the background...

Chris

Two of them ? Metal, shiny, about an inch or a little more in diameter ?

Are you sure those are pachinko balls, Keeper ?

What, only an inch? Amateurs...

I have played pachinko myself but only at a garage sale. You just reminded me that next spring I have to see if he is selling it again and buy it (as well as a bucket with three dozen or so balls) off him for the $50 he is asking. It's addictively fun.

It was the noise that really struck me - like a cross between a roller-disco and industrial printing press...