niigata noise may-july
DESCRIPTION
The third issue of the Niigata Noise: a magazine for ALTs by ALTs in Niigata prefecture, JapanTRANSCRIPT
NIIGATA
NOISE
May – July 2012
NIIGATA NOISE April – July Issue Aaron Xavier Wilson Executive Editor Louise Hollywood Chief Copy Editor Layout & Design Luke Hamilton Photographer Layout & Design Shaun Smith Columnist Jon Robinson Columnist Steven Gore Columnist Jackie Spears Columnist Laura Coakley Columnist
Dear readers,
Summer is finally upon us! In this issue of Niigata Noise, we bring you the freshest of the fresh, keeping you styling, and on top of this summer’s best music. If you haven’t yet decided where you would like to spend your summer vacation, we have a great line up of travel reviews of Japan and beyond, just in time for the nenkyuu season. So sit back, relax and enjoy, as you pack your bags for wherever your destination this summer. If you are new to the Niigata JET family, allow me to welcome you on behalf of the Noise team. Our aim is give you, the JET community, information and advice on how to get the most out of your experience in our corner of Japan. I hope your time in Niigata is as enjoyable and enriching as it has been for the rest of us. If you are returning home this month, our sincerest thanks to all of you; without your continued support and readership none of this could be possible. As always, please send any comments, or inquiries to [email protected]. Stay Cool! Addy Wilson Executive Editor
Contents
Greetings from AJET
Sayonara Japan Highlights from the Tokamachi Leaving Party Travel
In Search of Paradise
ALT Spotlight Itoigawa’s Emerald Isle Representative – Gary Furlong
Arts Exploring the Japanese Music Scene Fashion Feature: Summer is Here
Japan’s Cuisine Use Your Noodle – Kuramaya’s Restaurant
Down the Rabbit Hole -‐ Alice in Wonderland Restaurant
Rohan Beer Bar
Tech Corner Social Networking and the ALT
Greetings from AJET Hi, Niigata JETs! I want to thank everyone for their participation in Niigata AJET’s inaugural year. For all those who are leaving JET this year, I hope you’ve had an unforgettable, enriching, and (most importantly) fun time while on JET! And for those of you who are staying, I hope your next year is even better. With that, looking forward to the coming JET year, I’d like to introduce our new officers for next year, who will be taking over at the end of July: President: Megan Kelly Vice-‐President: James Johnston Publications Coordinator: Jaclyn Spears Charity Coordinator: James Kenyon Sado Representative: Stephanie Edwards Niigata City Representative: Shaun Smith Joetsu Representative: Matthew Headland Musical Directors: Gary Furlong and Megan Kelly Also, a new Niigata JET named Carley Watson has expressed interest in serving as Chuetsu Representative once she arrives. The new officers are all very enthusiastic about their positions, and there is no doubt in my mind that through their hard work and guidance Niigata AJET will continue to expand and provide everyone in the prefecture even more opportunities. If you’d like to get more involved with Niigata AJET, please send an email to [email protected]. We are still looking for representatives for the Yukiguni area (Tokamachi/Ojiya/Uonuma/Minamiuonuma) and the Kaetsu area (Murakami/Tainai/Shibata/Aga/Gosen). If you are interested in participating in or helping out with the Niigata Charity Musical, please send an email to: [email protected]. They are looking for actors, singers and dancers, as well as people for crew, set design and construction, and costumes. Thanks again for an amazing JET year! Best of luck to everyone next year! Katrina
さようなら 日本
Sayonara Japan
Saying goodbye – Tokamachi style! (Photographs courtesy of Miho Saito and Cameron Chien)
When we first landed on Boracay I didn’t quite know what to make of it. Drained and exhausted from the three plane journeys, a dodgy night in Manila, a near-‐fatal bus crash off the side of a bridge and a boat ride later, the welcome party of stray dogs, tattered billboards and dilapidated buildings weren’t exactly what I had in mind when I pictured paradise. I didn’t want to judge too quickly, but these concerns only mounted as our pick-‐up made its way through the narrow beaten tracks already jammed with rickety tuk-‐tuks and mopeds. The incessant clamour of horns, exhaust fumes clogging my lungs and the native people’s stares – it had the chaotic feel of Koh Phangan but less gaijin. Great. Stay calm, I kept on telling myself. Slightly irked by the place I’d travelled so many miles to (and forked out quite a bit of dosh), we were dropped off on the roadside with traffic whooshing past us and led down a dark and dirty alley to our pre-‐booked hostel, Frendz. Tucked between station one, the first of three stations on White Beach, Boracay’s primary attraction, it’s a perfect base if you want to be in the heart of the nightlife. However, in order to reach the white sand, unfortunately you first have to brave another unlit alley in the opposite direction for about three minutes. Fine
when you’re with a group of people, but not so much when you’re on your own, and female.
On our first night we checked out the local cuisine and popped into the clubs dotting the White Beach strip. If you ever go to Boracay you’ll quickly gather info on the hot spots from other intrepid travellers, but maybe I’ve been to too many clubs in my twenty-‐three years because if I’m being honest, they weren’t THAT amazing. Juice, the first club we visited, was small with really loud music (never a good combo). Summer Place was freaking hot (like I was sweating out of places I didn’t know I could). Epic was OK, but you had to PAY to get in (come on now!). The music was fun but the drinks were quite expensive, and it kind of made
In Search of Paradise
By Louise Hollywood
me feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Every night was the same music, the same people (until a fresh horde came in); even the weather seemed programmed on the first few nights, as thunderstorms rolled in almost to the minute, washing off the sweat and grime we had accumulated, almost ferociously, on the dance floor. The staff at Lonely Planet is right, the 80s, when the only noise came from the fruit shakers is well and truly over. Boracay is now a place of non-‐sobriety and international mobs, a cash cow for the locals who swarm the beach day and night selling sunglasses, watches, jewelry and boat trips. Restaurants and shops continually sprouting up
every year with no intention of quitting any time soon, and as a result, it has all become a little bit hectic, overpriced and confused. I was born too late. Paradise has come and gone. But then there`s the beach. And this, my friends, is the reason you go to Boracay. I have never in my life seen anything so perfectly beautiful and its maintenance to remain so, considering the droves, is truly inspiring. When you look out at the
view, it’s hard not to sigh and just think, wow, this is it – this is bloody it!
I have grown up surrounded by stunning beaches, living on the southwest coast of Ireland. My sister and I, rain or shine, would head out to our favourite spot, Shore Acre in Kerry, racing against the approaching and inevitable Irish clouds. I love everything about the beach, so much so, that I specifically requested a coastal locale on my JET application form. (To be sure, JET, I did say the OTHER coast but, eh, it all worked out!) Got to hand it to my Kerry beaches, but I have never swum in water like Boracay’s. It was like swimming in a still warm bath, crystal blue and clear reflected from the cloudless daytime sky, with all the cool little fish swimming in your flow and nibbling on your dead skin. But my favourite was at night. It was like stepping into an aquarium of black
velvet, still warm from the day’s heat but more refreshing, occasionally finding scattered cooler spots as you swam further out. Dead weight. Floating. Then you look up and see the entire freaking galaxy twinkling brightly above you with shooting stars and the big round moon dripping like a block of milky cheese into the horizon. It sank right down and I watched it just disappear, when almost simultaneously, on the opposite end of the island, the sun would come back from the other side of the world and all of a sudden it was daytime again. Unreal. That sun gets so hot in the day, reaching 35C, with little to no wind on most days, making it occasionally unbearable – at least for my Irish blood. Personally, my favourite time of day was between four and six when the sun had lost its ferocity and was steadily making its way west, turning the sky into a wonderfully splattered oil painting of reds and purples, oranges and yellows. The cool thing about it was the moon’s there, too, getting brighter and brighter as the sun burns into the seams, going, going and then finally, gone.
Staying up to see it all was not only visually breathtaking but I also got to see how the locals, like the earth spinning on its axis, didn’t stop from morning till night to keep White Beach pristine. As soon as the clubs closed at 5am, any evidence of last night’s decadence was swiftly cleaned, picked up and divided for recycling, until the sun rose and the doors could be opened to repeat the whole process again so that the oblivious tourists could enjoy another beautiful day on Boracay. Despite modernity’s wicked ways, the clubs bashing out the same tired tunes, the drunken people pissing in the ocean, Boracay succeeds in remaining The Philippines’ number one destination because of all these reasons: the sun, the moon, the stars, the sea, and the people who work day and night for it. And just like that I got it.
ALT SPOTL IGHT by Shaun Smith
Don’t let the changing guises fool you. Super Mario, Aladdin’s Genie, and the bearded white guy in the judogi are all the same person. His name is Gary Furlong, and he kindly agreed to chat with us for this installment of Spotlight. Since first gracing Itoigawa nearly three years ago, Gary has made a name for himself as an active – and curiously attired – member of the JET and local Japanese community. Today, he shares with us his enthusiasm for these various activities, while touching on the general awesomeness of the Niigata Charity Musical, the efficacy of judo and stress-‐relief, and the time he schooled an entire class of elementary kids in dodge ball. There’s a moral to the last bit.
Why JET? I chose JET for a number of reasons. I studied Japanese in college and thought it would be the best way to improve. That is the noble reason for picking JET. The other is that there were no jobs in Ireland. Before finishing college, I studied in Tokyo for a year, so I already knew I liked living in Japan. Plus, it’s always nice to try something new.
Greatest Discovery There are many: judo, the Niigata Charity Musical, the coin laundry across the road from me; the fact that the gym is so far away if I run there and back, I don’t actually have to go in, but can still say I have been to the gym that day.
Favorite Place in Niigata? During spring and just as summer is ending, Itoigawa is a lovely place. There is still so much of it I haven’t seen, but what I have seen I love. You may not be able to get a rolling pin in the city, but there are so many great places to see. Being quite small, there are loads of izakayas where you can quickly get to know the locals, and most people have been very friendly to us as a group. In summer, my favourite place is at the beach or indoors with my air conditioning at 16 degrees. In winter, Myoko is great. I had my best skiing experience when I went there; I forgot my mask and got burned purple, but it was still a great day!
Favorite Japanese Food? There are so many to choose from! I don’t know if it’s my favourite or not, but I love Japanese curry. Gyoza is also high on the list of Japanese deliciousness. So, I’d say my favourite food is a katsu curry set with rice, miso soup and a side of gyoza.
What do you want to do/see in Japan the most? I love me some Judo, so I would like to see and train at the Kodokan in Tokyo. Also high on the list is the Yuki Matsuri in Sapporo, Earth Celebration and Fuji Rock.
Most Epic Fail I think my biggest fail has to be an experience I had at an elementary school. I go to elementary school nearly every day, and after eating lunch I go to the gym and play with the students. On this day, the sport of choice was dodge ball. I like dodge ball so I quickly joined in. It was a pretty normal game: we threw the ball, we laughed and all was well. That is until we decided to have ‘a students’ versus Gary free-for-all. During this game I decided to break out some of my best moves. I faked one way and moved in the opposite direction; I ducked; I bent my body into all sorts of shapes in order to dodge that ball. Eventually it was me against two students. In my head I thought “Ok Gary, this is it, time to break out the super dodge”. So when the ball was thrown, I leaped into the air with both my legs spread in a sort of splits jump. I was very pleased with myself for about one tenth of a second. No sooner had I jumped than I heard a small pop noise and felt a cold rush of air caress my bottom area. I landed and heard a chorus of laughter explode from the students as they all tried to get a quick look at my, now very much exposed, grey underwear. I taught two classes after that, with a pink towel tucked into my trousers and hanging down to cover my bum like a kind of half skirt. I did dodge the ball though!!
After JET? Is there a scarier question for the people on JET? Right now I have no idea. I have always wanted to do something in acting and singing, but that can be a bit of a struggle. On my return I think I will give that a go, and if that fails, I may have to try and get a “real” job.
Sakanaction (new wave, alternative) サカナックション www.sakanaction.jp
By Jackie Spears
Interested in Japanese music but don't know where to start? Here's a small sample of some popular Japanese acts that are about as different from AKB48 as you can get.
An Introduction to Japanese Music for y’know… adults…
Sakanaction have been rising steadily in popularity since their 2007 debut, but really broke through in 2010 with their third album, “kikUUiki” (“Mixing Airspace”). What separates them from a lot of their contemporaries is their unique sound, which ranges from epic techno-‐rock operas to standard alternative rock to ambient techno. Lead singer, Yamaguchi Ichiro, is known as a bit of an eccentric and is the creative force behind the band. He handles all of the song writing for the band and it's obvious that he's hugely talented. If you ever get a chance to see them live, take it, they're phenomenal.
Recommended tracks:
ñ 「僕と花」 (boku to hana) “The flower and I”
ñ 「エンドレス」 (endoresu) “Endless”
ñ 「バハの旋律を夜に聴いたせいです。」(baha no senristu wo yoru ni kiita sei desu.) “Because I listened to Bach's melodies at night.”
plenty (alternative, rock) www.plenty-‐web.net
There's not much information out there about plenty. Hailing from Ibaraki prefecture, plenty wouldn't sound too out-‐of-‐place on any North American alternative radio (you know, if they weren't singing in Japanese). Their songs have a strong emotionality to them and do sometimes veer into “emo” territory. But what is really interesting about this group is lead singer Enuma's androgynous vocals; it's hard to explain but really interesting to listen to. It adds an interesting layer to the tracks. Check out their most recent album, February's eponymous “plenty.” Samples of of all the songs are available on their website.
Recommended tracks:
ñ 「あいという」(ai to iu) “It's called love”
ñ 「はじまりの吟」(hajimari no gin) “A beginning song”
Recommended tracks:
ñ 「バランス」 (baransu) “Balance”
ñ 「ピンホール」 (pinhooru) “Pin hole”
ñ 「ロープ」 (roopu) “Rope”
Honorable Mentions Kenshi Yonezu -‐ 米津玄師 reissuerecords.net / electro, alternative Track: 「ビビ」“Vivi” Chara charaweb.net / acoustic, experimental, j-‐pop Tracks: “Rachel” /「オルタナ・ガールフレンド」 “Alterna Girlfriend” Meg megweb.jp / technopop, dance Tracks: “Prism Boy” / “Trap” Suneohair -‐スネオヘアー (*from Nagaoka, Niigata) suneohair.net / acoustic, rock, folk Tracks: 「赤いコート」(akai co-‐to) “Red Coat” / 「アイボリー」(aibori-‐) “Ivory”
Ogre You Asshole (indie rock, new wave) www.ogreyouasshole.com If you can get past the strange name, Ogre You Asshole is worth a listen. Inspired by American indie bands like Modest Mouse (whose guitarist gave them their name) and Television, their songs feature bouncy guitars and detached vocals. You can check out their music videos on YouTube.
Summer is Here! Taking on the Niigata Heat in Style by Laura Coakley
E ver noticed that Japanese school children look a little like miniature sailors? Well, this seaworthy style seems to be seeping into the fashion consciousness of older kids now too. It’s only time before it spreads across the rest of the world, so perhaps it’s time you joined in. That’s right, the Navy wants you! Dig out your deck shoes (which work perfectly as indoor shoes) and if you want more sailor accessories just look in the shops—they are here in abundance. Whatever your flair, summer is here, and styles are changing accordingly.
In age old fashion, we’ll go ladies first. So for starters, let’s celebrate the fact that Niigata’s heating up, so you don’t have to risk catching the flu to follow the latest trends. It was thighs out in winter, but with the onset of summer people seem to be tucking those legs safely away from the sun under pastel-‐coloured pleated items, floor-‐length skirts and dresses a must. Girls still need to embrace the frills underneath with the cutesy little cotton socks you wore to school when you were seven. The vital key to really ‘work’ that outfit (and save from looking like a school girl) is to add one element of something, well, boy-‐ish. Whether it’s a printed t-‐shirt or a baggy jumper, throw it on casually over the top to transform yourself into a frilly
fashionista on the right side of adulthood. If you’re searching for the cherry to put on top of your already beautifully iced cake, a bow makes a great addition. Finally, and this is one I absolutely love because it makes you feel like a princess, or red riding hood, or a superhero (select your style accordingly), to keep you warm on a chilly summer’s evening or out of the sun, add a cape. I’m not joking—they are here, and they are awesome.
F or the gentlemen amongst us, I feel like we should all take a moment to appreciate Japanese men’s suits. The
key element, perhaps more important than style or colour, is their perfectly tailored fit. So guys, whilst in Japan, make the most of this opportunity and get yourself a well-‐cut suit. Do it for me, do it for yourself, do it for all of the people in Japan who can admire you in it. On a more casual and less dramatic note, I have a weird suggestion: trousers that are gathered in at the bottom. I’ll be honest, at first I didn’t know what was going on or
particularly like the weird elastic cuffs around the ankles, but the more I see it the more it’s winning me over. Staying on the trouser theme, it’s only right to mention the recurring trend that emerges with the slightest spot of sunshine, which is rolling up those trouser legs. It’s the perfect way to embrace summer; you can’t go wrong. Finally, your necessary accessory is a hat. The age-‐old trilby style will work perfectly to literally top off your outfit.
L astly for girls and guys alike, who want to escape unnecessary 'pigeon' holes, pay attention to the art of peacocking. In testimony to the evolutionary development of peacocks, embrace the science by adding a bit of flair to your outfit and set yourself apart from the flock. Whether it's colour, glitz or dazzle, make sure you have something to kick up the wow factor from good to unforgettable. Coincidentally, there are roughly 400 pigeons to every peacock. ` _______________
Niigata Cuisine Use your noodle: Eat at Kurumaya’s! by Johnathan Robinson
A lright Guys, welcome to another edition of Niigata Cuisine! This time round, our featured spot is Kurumaya Ramen. For those of you who know this restaurant, you’re probably aware that it’s a chain store, almost like the McDonald’s of ramen. Personally, I feel that Kurumaya’s status as a chain is more of a formality than anything, and each of its locations are definitely unique and tasty enough for you to give it a try. Kurumaya’s approach is different from the plethora of small shops that specialize in only one particular type of stock or noodle.
Instead, they offer several different types of ramen, and several types ofstock. Your standard miso, soy sauce, and salt flavors are all there, but they also serve curry-‐based stocks, and more. Once you pick your stock flavor, you can work on choosing what particular kind of ramen you’d like-‐ and trust me there are plenty of options (over twenty miso based dishes alone!). For example, you could opt for the miso onion ramen, which features a spicy miso soup with flavored onions; the classic miso chashu ramen, which is a basic miso flavored soup with huge cuts of chashu pork; or you could try something called the stamina ramen, which is its own little category of ramen featuring a large chunk of butter, a raw egg and seaweed. Other common toppings include bamboo shoots, kimchi, corn, bean sprouts, and more. For those brave souls out there, I recommend you give the natto ramen a shot, because yes, it does exist. (I can’t guarantee the safety of your stomach if you go for it, though!)If you find a ramen you like, but it’s missing something in your opinion, you can consult the menu of extra toppings and get pretty much anything available in other dishes included in your own.
After the various options of ingredients and flavors, you can even ask them to make the flavor of the soup stock stronger or weaker, depending on your preference. (Usu-‐me and koi-‐mei mean light-‐flavored and strong-‐flavored, respectively.) You can also pick the size of your noodles: thin or fat (hoso-‐men and futo-‐men), and you can ask them for extra chashu and such for a slight fee. But if you’re lucky, you’ll get a friendly cook who’ll throw in extra chashu slices for free; generally at the shop I frequent, when I order a three-‐slice chashu ramen, it comes to me as a ten-‐slice, so get to know your cooks, it’s a definite bonus! Moving beyond the ramen, Kurumaya has two more dishes that shine: one for its tastiness, and the other for its quirkiness. Kurumaya offers a free bowl of sesame seed topped rice with every order, and it`s pretty good, if simple. You generally wouldn’t include a bowl of rice in a meal of ramen, but hey, free carbs for all the runners out there! The second item of note is the gyoza; Kurumaya makes incredible gyoza for a chain restaurant. The flavor varies from cook to cook, but it’s always crispy in the right way, juicy in the best way, and flavorful. Also, at a mere 250 yen for five, it’s the perfect complement to your order of ramen!
Kurumaya’s ramen is very flavorful and packed with umami, but in my opinion, it`s never overpowering. They have created a very successful brand because the quality can easily rival your favorite local ramen spot. The prices are also quite reasonable, starting around 500 to 600 yen, and increasing depending upon the size, extra ingredients, and soup stocks you choose. You can easily get a delicious meal to fill you up for hours, for less than 1000 yen. The biggest catch to all this ramen-‐y goodness is its gut-‐busting quality. A few menu options come in at about six to seven hundred calories, but the majority of the menu will go up to a staggering nine hundred, and possibly well beyond! But just for today, why not forget about that small caveat, and indulge with some tasty ramen? You won’t regret it! http://www.kurumayaramen.co.jp/miso.htm
Down the Rabbit hole in Ginza Tokyo’s Alice in Wonderland Restaurant
So, that’s exactly what we did. I was excited. What’s not to like about visiting a restaurant themed in the wonderful (let’s face it, Lewis was well on psychedelics) world of Alice when she decided to take the pill down the rabbit’s hole? But there was no rabbit hole. Nor pills. In fact, as far as I could see, the only thing that remotely resembled anything ‘wonderlandish’ was the gigantic teacup squashed into the corner of the already cramped room. OK, I’m probably being a bit unfair.
There was also a huge desk lamp squashed in the opposite corner, giving off an annoyingly dim light so that you could barely make out the playing cards on the ceilings and on some, only some, of the tables. When you walk out of the lift, however, it is rather exciting. I’ll admit that much. The hostess is dressed in a top hat (so kawaii!) and as you walk through the hallway into the main dining area, blown up pages of Lewis’s very own scriptures adorn the walls. In one corner there is even a clock. Placed on a chair. Which kind of takes away from its charm. But it is quite cool and hidden behind the hanging literature are private dining rooms for your own special, and very private, tea party.
However, we didn’t book one of those rooms, but even if we had I still don’t think this review would be any better. Because soon after you sit down and take in your surroundings, the initial excitement of ‘oh, look at the clock!’ starts to diminish,
Friend`s email subject line: Tokyo tiiiiiimes!!!111 Her number one thing to do: Eat at the Alice in Wonderland restaurant.
by Louise Hollywood
eventually vanishing altogether. Why? Because you eventually have to order the food and eat it. It was food that, when you eat it, you think of the chef and begin to feel sorry for him. (Let’s, for arguments sake, presume the chef was a man.) I think, maybe he’s angry at the world; he missed the career seminar in school that day; he’s on parole.
To be fair, his salads were OK. He got that down. But the pasta dishes were comical. My friend ordered crab pasta and a crab is what she got. A whole one. On her plate. Resting on a bed of mushy pasta drenched in tomato sauce -‐-‐ and not the nice, chunky tomato sauce, but the horrible tinned-‐soup tomato sauce. Poor girl nearly freaked out when she saw the huge crab shell (for there was hardly any meat) on her plate. But she ganbatte’d
through it and ate it all only to realise the orange liquid was indeed milk-‐based, and being allergic to milk, well, let’s just say, she was surely missed when dessert came. (Three slithers of sponge cake costing 1,500yen/€14.) Ah but sure look, aren’t you paying for the experience of it all? Bah! I’d rather spend my money in one of the many fine eateries dotted along Ginza. Better food. Better service. No giant teacup, guaranteed, but in fairness, why would you want that anyway? Alice in Wonderland restaurant: it was grand. And by grand I’m taking the Irish meaning: as in, all right, not too good, not too bad, but down the middle. Grand. But don’t take my word for it. Giant teacups and over-‐priced cake might be just up your alley. If so, douzo:
Taiyo Building 5th floor, 8-‐8-‐5 Ginza Chuo Ku Tokyo T 104-‐0061 Tel: +81 (03) 3574 6980 (I would recommend making a reservation.) Hours: Mon-‐Thurs 17:00-‐01:00, Friday, Saturday and Holiday eve 17:00-‐05:00, and public holiday 17:00-‐23:00
Beer Enthusiasts Rejoice! Let Rohan water thy hop-starved palates. I’ll come right out and say it: Rohan is the best beer bar in the prefecture. And what an appropriate name: Rohan. Nothing goes together like beer and Lord of the Rings. Just the idea brings a smile to my face and arouses the happy urge to sink a battle-axe into the soft skulls of all my favorite enemies. So with that imagery in mind, and before we talk more about the wonders of this humble establishment, let’s get this out of the way: Rider's of Rohan! Now is the hour! For tonight we ride together to the ruin and to the world's end! Alas … stop me there. For the sake of full disclosure, it turns out there’s no relation to Lord of the Rings. Rohan was not inspired by middle earth's grassland realm nor the equestrian knights; it was named after a manga comic and its effeminate pink-clad hero (which is decidedly less cool). Nevertheless, Rohan is the kind of place you'd expect to find middle-earthlings; where fists of frothy ale slam hard on oak tables; where bearded men
guffaw heartily and deliver welt-raising backslaps. This is how I at least fancy it; for this is the brand of excitement Rohan fosters in lovers of good beer. Rohan, my friends, offers plenty.
The Place Stepping into Rohan, you’re greeted by Hiro, the tenchou, who took over the business in mid-2011, bringing with him youthful energy and an impressive new beer roster. Inside, it’s open and airy, with big windows for walls and the ambiance is authentic, making for a good environment to drink
By Shaun Smith
at ease, get up, move around and talk to unsuspecting-though-most-often-willing neighbors. There are many seating options from the long wooden tables for bigger parties to the more intimate couch nooks, and of course the bar. Take a seat and the staff will begin serving all sorts of unasked-for goodies, from beer samplers to homemade jerky, and other tasty morsels from the kitchen. To be sure, there’s great food too, but that’s outside the scope of this article. We’re here to talk about beer. The Import Beer Oh boy, oh boy, inside those tall double-door refrigerators is some of the finest beer on the planet. I’m talking real beer; beer of craft, bold ingredients, richness, depth and nuance. Beer made with sincerity and love of the making. Beer that challenges your taste buds and makes you think. Beer, I say! How is something so prized available here in Japan's remote west, you ask? We have the Nagoya Trading Company to thank for this, but it doesn't matter so much how it got here as the fact it's here. Thank you, globalized commodity markets. Now let’s get specific. You’ll find some of America’s premier west coast breweries, including
Stone, Rogue, and Lagunitas. Try Stone’s Green Tea IPA; a three-way collaboration with Japan’s Ishii and Baird breweries, where proceeds go to the Tohoku rehabilitation effort. Also, keep an eye out for anything Moylan’s. With real beer you’ll notice the higher price tags, but let me just say it’s worth it. I won’t go into how the beers average 9% ABV, come in big beautiful poetry-inscribed bottles, or how the flavors will blow your mind.
I’ll also spare you my rant on how six jyokki’s of bubble-water will put you back 3000 yen and make you piss all night. Quantity or quality, you’ll leave with just as big a dent in your wallet, but only real beer will leave you satisfied and, dare I
say, enriched. Fine European breweries make appearances too, including Denmark’s Mikkeller and Scotland’s BrewDog. Try BrewDog’s Tokyo if you’re feeling ambitious—it’s a dark, almost syrupy libation with hints of dates and coffee, and at 18.2% ABV, it will certainly make for a fun night. For beer novices, I recommend Mikkeller’s fruity and refreshing Single Hop Apollo IPA. Order it for your girlfriend or your buddy who professes in the complex interplay of Heineken’s bubbles and water. For something not so overpowering and with a subtly sweet finish, consider Apollo, a gateway beer.
The Domestic Beer Asahi, Suntory, Kirin and, you too, Sapporo, come here and sit down—this is an intervention. For too long you’ve been
drowning this country in flat flavors and a sheer lack of inspiration. The Japanese people have nurtured you and watched you grow, but enabling they shall no more. It’s time for a reinvention. A few Niigata microbreweries have heard this call and taken the reigns on ushering in a new era of Japanese beer. Microbreweries like Swan Lake and Echigo have turned out some seriously respectable brews, and Rohan gives them a deserved spotlight. Swan Lake, in particular, has been doing interesting things with yeast and barley, as with the Koshihikari Lager, which is brewed with, you guessed it, Niigata’s beloved koshihikari rice. I also recommend Swan Lake’s seasonal B-IPA and the Imperial Stout, the latter of which taps up late winter.
Good craft is by no means limited to Niigata. Standouts from other prefectures include Shizuoka’s Baird Brewery, Osaka’s Minoh, and Sapporo’s North Island. Arguably Japan’s best IPA, I encourage anyone who’s curious about beer to try the North Island India Pale Ale. With an excellent hop profile and a strong malt backbone, this is one of the most fully-conceived beers in Japan. Rohan holds periodic parties and events too. In January, Rohan got festive with Stone Winter Storm, tapping up six of Stone's finest to ring in the New Year. More recently, a group of Japanese hop-heads got together for a beer tasting night, complete with an appearance by Swan Lake’s brew master. From experience, I can tell you these
are a great way to break bread with locals and try new drinks. For problem-drinkers, think of it as cultural exchange. If you’re interested in more information, check out the Niigata Beer Style Facebook group. I understand some people aren't "beer people” or "don't really like beer.” To me, that’s like saying you don’t care for music. But perhaps the problem is you've never had the real thing, in which case this is a great opportunity to discover the true pleasure of beer. For beer lovers, Rohan is a savior. A therapist. A reason to stay another year. When the dark clouds of Mordor descend and you feel the Uruk-hai closing in, let Rohan bolster your spirits so you can march on in confidence.
Location: Five minute walk from Niigata Station’s Bandai Exit, next to Benten Park. Hours: 17:00 - 1:00 Weekdays 17:00 - 2:00 Weekends Phone: 0250-244-9000
Tech Corner
Social Networking and the ALT The social network is another one of humanity’s latest great achievements. It provides us an infrastructure to connect our lives with friends and family. Its popularity has increased on a global scale, contributing to cross-‐cultural communication, business opportunity, and even revolutionary social change. It has given humanity the ability to create and share more data than ever before with the simplicity of pressing the ‘Like’ button. Unfortunately, this data has also proved to be one of the most pervasive enemies to privacy we have ever faced. The online identity born from all of this data that we either create or associate ourselves with is like a window through which the entire world can view aspects of each individual user’s personal life. Businesses use it to screen employees, hackers use it to steal identities, and the government gets to use it for whatever they want. Managing one’s online identity has become a critical practice for the Facebook generation and especially the ALT.
While there are many resources available that cover this topic in greater
detail, the most common practices for managing one’s online identity are reducing the number of social media accounts you have to the ones you use, creating alternate identities to manage the excess, becoming familiar with the privacy settings available to you, and using caution in deciding what information to share. Of course, this is easier said than done. The sheer number of websites that require unique login information, the time it takes to understand and familiarize oneself with using safety settings properly until they change, and the fact that everyone has a different opinion of what is considered safe to share, makes this a daunting task to say the least. It is important, however, to engage in at least one of these on a regular basis, not only for one’s own sake but also for others’.
As JETs, this issue is of particular importance. Civil servants in Japan are
judged against a stricter moral code than other positions, and many of us have at least one opportunity to meet people from all levels of society – from our students and teachers to superintendents and mayors. Sharing what memories we may have with friends and family is important and valuable, but the connected nature of the social network requires that we not only that we manage our own identities individually but also that of the others we affect. The biggest lesson to be had in this for ALTs is in the posting of photographs of students and/or their names assignments without express permission. In the near future, emerging technologies like Google’s Project Glass and other augmented reality applications will only prove to bring that data-‐framed window into our personal lives even closer. Making online identity management a regular practice just keeps the blinds drawn.
By Steven Gore