Saturday, April 1, 2023

イスタンブールより

コメント欄でも書いておりますように、イスタンブールに滞在中です。

インタコのクラブラウンジが改装中のため、最上階のバーがラウンジの代替になっています。
普通に入ったらイイ値段を取る展望バーですが、入場時に部屋番号を告げれば無料♪

昼に夕に、ボスポラス海峡を眺めつつ、カプチーノをいただいております。

今日、日曜日は、トルコ風呂で友達になったSFベイエリアの元軍人さんと一緒に入場。
景色の良さと、これが無料なのに感心してくれました。宿泊もポイント利用だと教えたら、それも感心してくれましたが、元軍人さんもトルコ沼にハマって、今回は6週間も滞在しているそうです。

元軍人さんは風呂屋でオーナー自らが儂の肩を揉んでいるのを見て「あいつが帳場から出て来て誰かをマッサージするなんて、初めて見た!」って、驚いていました。「彼とは長い付き合いですから」って説明したけど、オーナーが以前勤めていた風呂屋でも、お互いに常連だったみたいで、内情までよく知っていました。

SFO からトルコ風呂に通ってるのって、儂だけじゃないじゃん!って、お互いに感心。(笑)

この展望バーからの夜景もなかなかのものですが… 唯一、ボスポラスブリッジが見え難い。
橋の前に、ドヤ顔で聳え立つのは…リッツカールトン・ホテル。

これ絶対に、わざと建ててやりました。の確信犯ですよね。

お部屋はボスポラス海峡ビューですが、クラブフロアではありません。
でも… アンバサダー特典が凄い、凄すぎる!

この ウェルカムフルーツ+クッキー缶+チョコトリュフ+炭酸水 は、毎日補充。
初日の晩に夕食を摂るのが早すぎて深夜にハラペコになって、林檎とバナナを食べたら…

翌日、部屋に帰ったら… 元通りになってる

そして今朝、バナナを食べてから… 林檎のへたに傷を付けてマークして出かけました。

全部元通りになってる…。

フルーツは新品に、チョコトリュフのセットも新調されてるし、手をつけなかったクッキー缶は二つに増えてる。随分とウェルカムアイテムが豪華な宿だ…と感心していたら、毎日全部補充されるので、怖くなってきました。

ちなみに、最初は2本置いてあったミネラルウォーターは、毎日4〜5本補充されます。
ポットの前の4本は普通の水の補充。最初は2本だけでした…。
下の段に置いてあるのは、就寝時に枕元に置かれる水の補充。

ベッドサイドには、ターンダウンサービス時にこんなセットをしていってくれました。
枕元の水… コップなんか使わないで飲むけど。いくらコップを退けても元に戻る。

もうこれは… わんこ水、わんこバナナ、わんこ林檎に、わんこチョコレート状態。

怖すぎます!

きっとインタコも、儂をフォアグラにして食べるつもりです!

肥らされて潰される前に、こっそりチェックアウトして帰国できるように頑張ります。
もしこのまま音信不通に陥ったら、インタコの食材にされたと思ってください。

【記事公開後追記】
 今見たら、風呂場のキットもメッチャ補充されていました。耳掃除で綿棒を2本使ったら、コットンや裁縫セットまで5〜6種類入ったキットが丸ごと1セット増えています。サービスが行き届いているのを超えて、無駄に捨てられているものが多そうで、そっちが怖くなってきました。

37 comments:

  1. Is the InterContinental Club Lounge currently under renovation? That's unfortunate, but it's commendable that the top-floor bar is being used as a replacement lounge. Actually, maybe it's even better that the top-floor bar is being used as a pricey observation bar for those who just walk in? Even when I had lounge access, I never really used it for anything other than breakfast, but knowing that you're sipping cappuccino while gazing at the Bosphorus Strait in the afternoon or evening, I'll make more use of the lounge in the future.

    Huh? You entered the lounge with the ex-military guy from the SF Bay Area who you befriended in a Turkish bath? Well, I knew about your talent or innate ability to make friends, but it seems like there are many people like you (lol). If that friend comes to Japan with you, the two of you who are both military personnel can stay at the New Sanno Hotel? By the way, that ex-military guy seems to have gotten addicted to the Turkish bath and stayed for six weeks? I can only admire him for that.

    The ex-military guy was surprised to see the owner himself massaging your shoulders in the bathhouse and said, "I've never seen the owner come out of the office to massage someone before!" So, it seems like you're quite popular with the owner. Despite your explanation that "I've known him for a long time," the ex-military guy was also a regular customer at a bathhouse where the owner used to work, so his words carry weight. It's amazing to think that there are people excluding you who travel all the way from San Francisco to Turkey just to take a bath. While we readers are left in disbelief (lol).

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    1. From January, InterContinental İstanbul is projecting a huge renovation. Lobby floor is closed and all the facilities, such as reception, concierge, and the club lounge are temporarily relocated to somewhere else. Under this reconstruction, club lounge is being assigned to the top floor. The original name of the bar is City Light, mixologists are welcoming customers. But right now, the lounge raiders like me are are invading the space at free. Isn’t it a fun?
      The original club lounge has a garden view so the weather allows, it would be nice. But it can’t beat the gorgeous and luxurious view of Bosporus.
      Breakfast place is assigned to the biggest banquet room. Breakfast opens from 6:30 to 11:00 but I always attend early for better pictures. This morning, just minutes ago, chef brought me Simit, ring shaped buns covered with sesame, and honeycomb plus buffalo cream. Those were very good quality so I appreciated him a lot, but simultaneously, I am suspicious they want to make me fatter and growing faster my foie gras. Scary.

      It’s a small world again. A gentleman who’s age around 65 to 70, suddenly talked me “Are you Turkish?” so my answer is no, and I told him I’m from California. He was surprised and told me he’s from SF Bay Area. After all, we exchanged our contact information and had late lunch together, then I invited him to the club lounge. He was so impressed by the view and the settings of City Light as a romantic bar - actually our conversations were not romantic but hating Donald Trump. (lol)

      I forgot to ask about his rank, but since he spent his professional life in Air Force , he must be above rank E-10 or higher after the honorable retirement. So if he visits Tokyo I can ask him to arrange my room. However, he said he is now keen to Mexico and planning to move there, he is not so interested in Japan. Or I can recommend his honeymoon (he said he will marry soon) to Japan. I must be awarded some from Japanese government then.

      Delete
    2. One correction about US military rankings.

      “E” ranks are 1 to 9, then officers are “O” rankings.
      That US Air Force guy is at O-6, he said. It’s just below to generals or admirals.
      This means, he ranked O-4 before honorably retires, then two ranks up after the retirement. Therefore, his rank is similar to Colonel.
      I asked him “so… like Colonel Sanders?”
      “I don’t like that comparison…” he replied. (lol)
      However, Colonel Sanders is the world’s most renowned veteran, I think.

      Delete
  2. Sure, WBC stands for white blood cells and not the baseball event, as you probably know by now. However, I still think that medical terms like white blood cells should take priority over baseball, as even elementary school students learn about them. By the way, I hope your PRP and HIV test results come back negative. (lol)

    It's too bad that the Ritz-Carlton Hotel blocks the view of the Bosphorus Bridge from the rooftop bar. I had a similar experience with the Okura Hotel, my regular lodging in Kyoto, which also had a new Ritz-Carlton built in front of it. Although Kyoto has strict landscape regulations that limit the height of buildings, the Ritz-Carlton still outshines the Okura in terms of prestige, making the former seem like a bump above the latter’s eye.

    Your room has a view of the Bosphorus, but it's not on the club floor, yet you're still enjoying Ambassador benefits. You get a daily replenishment of a welcome fruit basket, cookie tin, chocolate truffles, and carbonated water, and they're always perfectly restocked whenever you leave your room. It almost feels like someone is watching you, doesn't it? Is it similar to the experience you had in ANA First Class in May?

    Come to think of it, I am also an IHG Platinum member (even though it is the automatic Centurion coverage) like you, and I also have Ambassador status (which I paid $200 for), do I have the right to receive such wonderful treatment such as you?

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      I had a nice lunch with ex-Air Force dude and returned my room, then I found another set of apples and a banana, sparkling water, chocolate truffles, a cookie can, plus numbers of water bottles… I am quite confident that InterContinental is expecting a good harvest of Koba Gras for sure.
      Today was the happiest day of Hamamı visit. I was surrounded with numbers of mustached Turkish daddies in the bath. The Air force guy saw me and laughed at me because I looked I were in the heaven. Now I have to take tests of my PRP status. (lol)

      So the Ritz-Carlton is the hotel chains of annoyance. Okura Tokyo is the hotel my T friends had bridal ceremonies. Therefore I was familiar with the banquet rooms and a church. Now they rebuilt a new hotel, and I don’t know anything about there…

      The experiences on ANA first class is somewhat different. The flight attendants are having fun to feed a pig on the seat 1K. At InterContinental, those fruits and snacks are refilled without my sitting so this is much more scary.
      But they are thoughtful as well. I keep receiving 4 bottles of mouthwash everyday. (lol)

      Delete
  3. So, I interpret that I have received permission to post my comment regardless of whether it is on or off topic, as I am unstoppable anyway. Or is it a command to stop? I will assume it is the former and not worry about it... hahaha.

    It seems that pickled vegetables are your natural enemy. You have been teased about it by your senior and others since your days at T Gakuen, so it must be quite difficult for you to eat. Even people other than your senior have teased you, saying "You don't eat pickles, you're just being stubborn". At its worst, you were even called "unpatriotic"... Admittedly, if you just describe pickles as "plants that have rotted due to osmosis", they are nothing special. However, as Japanese people whose staple food is white rice, we should still show respect for pickles. Thanks to being constantly criticized, you may have become a true "unpatriotic" person (literally, not a discriminatory term) in your life. But since you now confidently answer that you don't like pickles because you're "not Japanese", that's fine.

    Still, in the case of combinations such as:

    Pickles in a hamburger
    Rakkyo and Fukujin pickles in curry
    Yellow takuan pickles in katsudon
    you are able to eat the pickled parts, so perhaps it's just a matter of preference? Huh? You leave the dyed rice grains around the shibazuke pickles in convenience store bento? To me, it seems inconsistent.

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    1. I don’t give any permissions but you do whatever you want anyway, that’s why I said “unstoppable.” But any comments from you are always welcome. Please feel free to s any or confess anything you want. I am here to listen.

      Because I didn’t take pickles, people call me “non-Japanese” so did I actually. (lol)
      Most difficult time was at the home of Mr. Tamura. They are so proud of their pickles but I didn’t touch any, Ms. Tamura (the mom) looked upset about me. However I looked so sweet and cute (seriously I was) at that time, she allowed my picky behavior.

      It’s not “inconsistent” but if the fermented (or rotten) smells too strong, then it’s not edible.
      Pickled cucumbers, rakkyos or Takinami radishes don’t smell too bad, but Nara-duke or those superbly rotten or even brewed dead plants are not edible at all! Who the hell wants to eat and ‘enjoy’?? I’m glad this is 21st century and picky behavior is acceptable for advanced civilizations.

      Delete
  4. Huh? Why am I leaving comments in Japanese on your senior's blog, but using English here? It's not because of any ill intention, but simply to maintain my poor English skills, hahaha. Still, I am grateful that you have generously accepted (or perhaps had no choice but to accept) my selfish style of leaving comments. Of course, it's you that are writing the blog, whose English skills are quite excellent. Oh, of course, I have absolutely no ill intention of commenting on your senior's English skills or anything like that.

    I see that you were in the medical class as me up until high school... I also took physics, chemistry, and math for university entrance exams. You chose biology and chemistry. If you had gone on to medical school, I would have said that you had better foresight in terms of elective subjects. Because physics and math are hardly useful in medical education. Maybe statistics is the only field that will be useful in the future. Even so, statistics is an addition to entrance exam math, and it's not a field that anyone really studies seriously.

    Medical schools for some reason are classified under the category of science faculties, rather than humanities faculties, but that's not really the case. I realized that when I moved up from the liberal arts curriculum to the basic medical curriculum. The enormous amount of exam material, and the fact that all of it is essentially memorization, made it a very difficult time for someone like me who had earned points through physics and math in the entrance exams. I was never good at memorization to begin with. I think it was actually easier for students who were good at humanities subjects and memorization.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      Sorry there are some typo. Those are not by me but iPad autocorrected the words…

      Again, your written English is better than mine. I think both of us are under some trouble expressing the Japanese humorous nuances into English… English is a very idiomatic and phrase-centric language hence the translation from Japanese is sometimes difficult. I am a bit being frustrated by finding the best translation sometimes.

      I was superbly bad at math. My scores were always under 25 which is “F” therefore professor didn’t recommend me to try medical schools… but my biology score was always 100% , professor was in trouble which course would be the best for me. Weirdly, law or economy courses at Hosei University can be applied with English, Japanese and biology, I could but that wasn’t my hope to learn… Meiji and Tokyo Agricultural were also examined the same sets but those colleges are not my favor either. When I visited T, I thought this is the place for me. (lol) however, after all, I finished with Tokyo Institute of Photography and learning at that school was a piece of cake for me. Photography was my lifetime hobby, I already had good knowledge and training.
      But… silver halide technology is almost dead. Only the photo-optics or photo retouching know-how are remaining. I was lucky I chose and learned electronic photography in the school.

      Oh, the examination to enter the institute of photography was… English and modern Japanese. But when you passed the test and enter the school, all you have to learn are physics and chemistry. (lol)

      Delete
  5. I see that before you joined a game company, you worked in hologram-related work. I know a little bit about the Applied Physics Society that you were involved with at the time. My late uncle, who lived in Narashino, was a professor at the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University. You know the Narashino campus of that faculty, right? It's right near the Chiba Prefecture Saiseikai Narashino Hospital where you were transported in an emergency. My uncle's specialty was in aluminum. Maybe you and my uncle even crossed paths at a conference or something at the time? Thinking about it this way, maybe our lives have been connected in some way since before?

    I also have a little memory associated with the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University itself. For university entrance exams, I decided to take one university that seemed like an absolute pass before taking the medical school entrance exams. When I told my uncle about it, he said, "If you take the department that I'm a professor in, you'll know the results right away," so I took the exam. I don't mean to belittle private universities' science faculties, but for me, a student aiming for admission to a national university medical school, it was a very easy entrance exam. I'm not bragging, but I was the top scorer not only in that department but also in the entire faculty. My uncle was very proud of that and boasted to other professors. That’s just an old memory…

    You mentioned that you felt like your first impression when talking to students and graduate students at Tokyo Institute of Technology was "aren't they too stupid?" It's natural to become a specialist idiot. Tokyo Institute of Technology is one of the top science and technology universities in Japan, and it will soon merge with Tokyo Medical and Dental University to become a university called Tokyo Science University. It will be a great achievement as a university that combines medicine and engineering. As you said, researchers who graduate from these top universities will end up working in such specialized research facilities introduced in Senior’s blog.

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    1. Yes… that university is two doors down from Saiseikai Narashino hospital where my father was killed. In between, there is another university which is Toho, but their medical school is located in Kamata (they complain they are in Omari but that particular place is an “enclave” like Kaliningrad.). At the entrance of Nihon University., there is a banner telling they are the winner of Tori-ningen contest. When I was in a taxi and saw that sign, I mumbled “bird human!? In English, bird brain means a stupid…” and then the taxi driver started laughing hard, troubled driving. I didn’t blame anything about your uncle at all. Being a professor at Nihon University. is great.
      Holographic science is a weird study too. There are so many technical terms such as coherency, interference fringes or moirés, for example. Plus, the knowledge of photographic chemistry is required for developing (generating) holograms. Chemistry part wasn’t difficult for me, but holographic physics are. Also, I was required to check my retinas once a year because the lasers we used were over 10 joules which is very powerful, even Ohm was studying that powerful laser to kill people… (I am not involved, btw.)

      Tokyo Science University? That sounds a school with T-score (Hensa-chi) around 35! (lol)
      There is a rule of school names.
      1. Older the better. Keio > Meiji > Taino > Showa > Heisei university. (Is there Reiwa yet?)
      2. Wider the worse. Tokyo > Kanto >= Nihon > Asia (sorry to your uncle)
      Those jokes were from Keisetsu-Jidai magazine, you may remember. ;)

      Delete
  6. It seems that you also aspired to be a "research physician" during high school. Like you, I also thought that a job involving other people's lives would be impossible for me both in terms of personality and physical endurance, but once I became a doctor, perhaps it was just a matter of getting used to it, and I adapted to daily medical practice. When I see someone like you who excels in photographic techniques, has abundant computer knowledge, and is also skilled in glass crafts, I can't help but be impressed, and it's true that "one should go to specialists for the best results" applies.

    As for whether you are an ant or a grasshopper, I really don't know. I also have no idea about the process you went through to finally get a job at a game company. However, if it was really a workplace that suited you well, then it was a good choice. You refer to the game industry as not contributing to the development of humanity, but in my opinion, "there are no unnecessary occupations in the world, and if they are unnecessary, they have already disappeared," so you must be truly happy.

    By the way, whether you are boarding Air France or staying at InterContinental, you seem to be enjoying a full feast. Even if they were not intended, your fatty liver may be worsening as a result? I just briefly touched on the content of the article (lol).

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,
      After posting this reply, I am going back to my room and start packing my bags. I’m returning home tomorrow and TK flight has been already checked in. It’ll be 13 hours in the airborne.

      Thank you for the kind understanding of my past, but the easiest word about me is; I’m fickle. Also, simultaneously, I have a very short temper. Those made me this life so weird but I, myself, is having fun being a “glasshopper”. ←not a typo this time(lol)

      I will disclose the story of entering Sega when we met in person next time. It is a hilarious story but somewhat nasty naughty as well…

      I have a concern about my foire de koba. So if possible, please check my foire by supersonic sensor (a.k.a. echo) and tell me it’s edible or not yet.

      Delete
  7. It seems that you are still enjoying happy days in Istanbul. You went to the hot springs, being surrounded by many Turkish men with beards. I cannot evaluate how happy it was for you, but a retired Air Force person who is used to Turkish baths saw you and said you looked like you were in heaven, so it must have been true. I am increasingly worried about your PRP and HIV test results (lol). Anyway, is it time for you to leave soon? I pray for your safe return.

    Oh, I see. You did not formally give me permission to comment, you just metaphorically called me an unstoppable person. But when you say things like "I am here to listen," I feel humble. It's as if you're a pastor, or even more, a god? If that's the case, my comments are like confessions. From now on, I'll try to vomit out as much of my guilty conscience in my mind as possible. Will this policy of mine be a new nuisance to you? (lol)

    Because you didn't eat pickles, people called you "non-Japanese," and you even thought so yourself, and you really became non-Japanese... You must have been an American in your past life (I don't think you were a grasshopper, hahaha).

    Wow, you didn't eat the pickles that the longstanding Ryotei in Tsukiji was so proud of. Hmm, I can understand why the proprietress was dissatisfied with you. But still, since the proprietress allowed your picky behavior, you must have been loved by her.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      I had good and memorable times in Istanbul again. I met guys from California as well.
      Please don’t worry for the transmittable things. I do 2-1-1 prevention and will have a test next week.

      No, no… a pastor doesn’t listen confessions but fathers do. And the God just punishes. (lol)
      I think I am a good listener since I was volunteering at therapists’ office when I was in Tokyo.
      But please don’t vomit or puke. Those words are too straightforward and we usually don’t use them except medical symptoms (lol). We usually use “throw up” and if I use “vomit” or “puke”, my better-half-san upsets.

      I was always beloved by my friends’ mothers because I was so charming, looked like Tamasaburo, they said. Some moms were calling me “Tama-chan” but I didn’t like it because I was called like a cat… actually I am now. (LOL)

      Delete
  8. Oh, I don't own an iPad, so I'm not quite sure, but it seems that typos are caused by the iPad's autocorrect feature. If that's the case, it's a meddlesome and troublesome function.

    As we communicate in English, I also realize how difficult it is to express Japanese humor nuances in English. Therefore, sometimes I forcibly embed Japanese words into the sentence. In my previous comment, I even wrote "proprietress" to convey the meaning, but "女将" would be more easily understood. If you say that translating from Japanese to English is difficult, then it is even more so for me.

    It seems that you were not good at math. Indeed, math is a major component of the science entrance exam, so it's understandable why your teacher didn't recommend you to apply to medical school. However, if your biology score was always 100%, it seems like a waste. Unlike engineering, biology is definitely included in the science subject choices for medical school.

    It seems that you can apply for law or economics courses at Hosei University with English, Japanese, and biology. This reminded me of something. I was born into a family of doctors, but I became interested in economics in junior high school. The trigger was the Nixon shock during the time of President Nixon. Until then, the exchange rate was fixed at 1 dollar = 360 yen, but suddenly it changed to a floating exchange rate system. Even our elementary school textbooks had the exchange rate of 1 dollar = 360 yen, so I felt a sense of radical change. To put it another way, the feeling that "economics is not fixed, but changes like a living thing" sprouted in my mind.

    When I entered high school, there was no classification into science or humanities classes yet, so I wrote Tokyo University Faculty of Letters II Group as my desired school. However, since I ended up in the science class, I had to choose two social studies subjects if I would like to take the entrance exam of the national university humanities course, so I had to give up and my aspiration for economics disappeared. I mentioned in a previous comment that I applied to the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University, but before applying to medical school, I also applied to Waseda University School of Political Science and Economics. This was because the aspiration for Tokyo University Faculty of Letters II Group still lingered in my subconscious, and I had the feeling that I wanted to try to apply for a top private university's economics department as a substitute. In general, the entrance exam subjects for private universities' humanities faculties are usually Japanese, English, and social studies, which was not favorable for applicants like me who aimed for a science faculty. However, economics is closely related to math even more than medicine, so Waseda University School of Political Science and Economics allowed applicants to take the exam with three subjects; Japanese, English, and social studies or math I. Of course, I was weak in Japanese, but I expected to make up for it with English and math I, and actually passed the exam. Mathematics in private university humanities faculties usually has relatively easy questions, but as expected from the top private university, Waseda, they had rather challenging questions. However, as an applicant aiming for a national university science faculty, I was able to handle them properly and it became a source of points for me. I almost ended up enrolling in Waseda, but I later passed the entrance exam for Kobe University School of Medicine, so I declined my acceptance. This is also a memory from the past.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      It’s not just by iPads but my bad typing behaviors, I think. Usually I reply comments with using MSWord for autocorrect and grammar related mistakes, especially the mistakes between L and R.

      Honestly speaking, I never heard the word “proprietress” until you used it hereby… or even average Americans can’t understand that word, I think. We simply say “madam” or “owner” and those works well in the context, due to my experiences.
      But again, generally speaking, if I use English I lose my “wit” or nuance based on Japanese…

      Precisely speaking about mathematics, I am really bad at arithmetic but I am superb at logics or algorithm. Therefore, when I was at T-Gakuen, the professor of math called me and asked “Why you got 100% score for algorithm or linear programming though you got almost F for the differential and integral?” Then, professor recommended me to take computer science class and if the exam results overcame the math scores, I will earn the better one. Instead the “unit” won’t be counted. Such flexibility is another beauty of T, I think. As a result, I received B at math although the true math scores are always almost-F. (lol)
      The best part was; this math score refracted to Photo Institute classes so I was excused to take math class. (English class was excused but the professor of English gave me AA)

      Wow… the phrase “floating rate” is very authentic English and professional. We usually use “flexible rate” and I totally forgot it.

      Sensei, you are well talented to everything but I really respect you are being medical doctor. MD’s are required to keep learning the most recent research and developments, refreshing the techniques and knowledge again and again… as I told you I am fickle, I can’t do such “stay in the one field with deeper, fresher info.” You are great.
      Because my father graduated Waseda and my cousins went Keio, I was strongly enter either one but… there is no good match for me to enter. There were no biology or biochem based schools at that time. But I anyway won’t pass the tests or I will drop because I am so fickle. :P

      Delete
  9. It seems like T University was the perfect place for you, as you mentioned when you visited it. And after graduating from T University, Tokyo Institute of Photography was also a great environment for you. I remember you telling me about accompanying a photo shoot for a high-end magazine like Fujin-gaho. I don't read Fujin-gaho very often, but I'm always captivated by the beautiful still images that appear in my wife's subscription to Kãtei-gaho. I am amazed that photography is not only your lifelong hobby, but also that you have gained excellent knowledge and training, as well as expertise in optics, photo retouching, and electronic photography.

    By the way, the entrance exam for photography school requires English and modern Japanese. I had thought that science subjects were necessary, but as you mentioned, once you passed the exam and entered the school, all you had to learn were physics and chemistry. Well, I suppose what we learn in university doesn't necessarily directly apply to our future career, no matter what profession we pursue.

    I'm not sure if the Toho University Medical School is located in Kamata, but I had a feeling it was near Haneda Airport. Whenever I wait for my flight at the airport, promotional images for the school often play on the TV near the counters. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like if I had enrolled in that school and become a doctor in this big city. But I feel like I'm better suited for Western Japan, especially Kansai (lol). And you also agree with my opinion (LOL).

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      When I entered the campus of T, I was immediately enchanted by the huge greenhouse… it reminded me Izu Cacti Park where my parents took me frequently when I was a kid. I was allowed to enter the greenhouse and found so many orchids are taking care of. Those were not blooming at that time but I was amazed by the moss (soil alternative in the orchid pots) or even the groundcovers (plants where covers the grounds) inside.

      Katei-Gaho is the biggest rival to Fujin-Gaho and always the Katei-Gaho is the winner. Amongst the publishers, if we say “Gaho” it’s usually points Katei-Gaho. However, I had great experiences at Fujin-Gaho studio. I could meet several celebrities. One of them, movie director Mr. N. Oshima, he said to me “What are you doing here?? You’d better doing more intelligent job rather, kid!” And this was one of the motivations I started thinking other jobs. At that time, the chief editor of Fujin-Gaho told me to try the test at their company. Instead, I had applied Shogakkan but I failed on the last test – applied thousands and passed within the last three candidates, then failed. My father really upset the result and called HR department of Shogakkan… and he was told his son (me) doesn’t have good temper. (LOL)
      Then… when I passed the test of Sega, chosen from thousands, my father didn’t allow me to go there because I am so fickle, he said. After 3-4 hours of unproductive phone conversations, my father called me back and said “You did as great choice. I am totally support you.” …wait a moment!? the reaction turns 180 degrees all the sudden! I thought the aunt, who is always the brain or preacher to my father, gave him her opinion about Sega. So I called my aunt and she blessed my decision to join Sega because she lived Kamata, where is the next town to Haneda, so she knew that game company very well. (lol)
      I’ll let you know the side story why I chose Sega to try the test… it’s funny too but can’t disclose at here.

      For us as Chiban (lol), Toho University is a school for girls because the original medical school was for girls only. Therefore, we recognize Toho as a school for RIkejo.
      One of the funny I saw at Toho was; from Saiseikai Hospital, their rooftop has a huge paint reads “薬学部.” That is only readable from helicopter or the people inside of Saiseikai buildings. Then I thought that is the sign “Hire Us!!” from the college of pharmacy at Toho. (LOL)

      Delete
  10. According to your information, Nihon University won the Tori-ningen contest, which is quite fitting for them. It's what makes Nihon University unique, being the largest university in Japan, which means it has a diverse range of people, in a good way of course. If my uncle were still alive, I would have loved to tell him about the connection to "bird brain" that you mentioned. He was a person who appreciated humor, so he would have been delighted and said, "That's so like Nihon University and it's great!"

    If I recall correctly, the current president of Nihon University is a famous female author. Every January, the renowned Circulatory Hospital in Okayama invites notable people to give lectures to us doctors who refer patients to the hospital, but two years ago and last year, she had to cancel her lecture due to the pandemic. I was hoping she could come this year, but as I mentioned, she became the president of Japan's largest university and is too busy to come to Okayama.

    I had another uncle who passed away a few years ago from pulmonary fibrosis. He studied aerospace engineering at university and joined Nissan, but until his retirement, he never worked on cars, instead, he spent his time flying various types of rockets in Tanegashima.

    Looking back, it seems like our family was full of people with a scientific background, but in reality, no one was really that intellectual. My father also judged Senryu for the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and published a book of his own Senryu. I, on the other hand, lack literary skills as well as engineering skills related to aluminum or rocket, and I just do my daily medical practice, which is quite lonely.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      You mean Tori-ningen fits to the students of Nihon University because they have bird brains? (lol)

      Talking about the T-score, Tokyo Institute of Photography (now Tokyo Institute of Polytechnics) scored “n/a”, not applicable because of the schools of fine arts can’t compare to other schools… The exception is Tokyo University of the Arts (東京藝術大学) because this school is outstandingly difficult to enter, they say.

      Ms. Mariko H. is a great author of Japanese literature but her taste is not for me personally… I am surprised Okayama people appreciate he and invite. Agnes Chan was a great choice but what kind of messages are you guys expecting from her? Hope it works well.

      Your family is very well talented as well as yourself for sure. Sensei, you are not just spending your time for medical issues but writing foreign language on here, don’t you? You are not lonely. Here’s a help. …this sounds like a prevention message to suicidal actions. (LOL)

      Delete
  11. Holographic science seems to be a field that is unfamiliar to me, even though it may be familiar to your senior-san. It requires knowledge not only of photographic chemistry but also of physics. Additionally, you had to use a laser that required annual retina checks. I had imagined that you might use lasers to kill people in the world of video games, but I'm surprised to learn that you used them for photography.

    The rules you taught me about school names, "the older the establishment the name represents, the better" and "the wider the area the name represents, the worse," are these jokes from "Keisetsu-Jidai" magazine? I hardly ever read that magazine, and I haven't used many of Obunsha's teaching materials. Anyway, if we follow these principles, "Manyo University" seems even better, and "Space University" would be the worst (lol).

    I think I'll stop here for today. Hmm, am I becoming more stoppable person?
    Anyway, please return safely to San Mateo.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      Holography is the ultimate ANALOG imaging technology. The holograms I made were ended with halide silver, which is very unstable by strong lights, humid or changing over time because halide silver goes radical.

      Due to the rules of school names, Marunouchi University or Precambrian University must be the most difficult schools in Japan! (lol)
      On Keisetsu-Jidai, the most impressed joke by the readers which I still remember is:
      “Does anybody have the first part of ‘Beneath the Wheel’ by Hermann Hesse? I only read the last part but can’t find the previous. Please help.”

      Thanks for the words. I’m home now without twisting my feet.

      Delete
  12. I just said "that's all for today," but here I am adding more again. I guess I'm still unstoppable?

    I have a message from Doi-sensei: "I tried the 25-degree version of the 500-year-gura that Koba-san kindly sent me the other day, and it was so delicious that it can't be compared to my usual Akakirishima. I still haven't opened the Kame-bottles you gave me earlier because they are too precious, but I'm keeping them for a special occasion. I can't wait to open them."

    So, indirectly, it's proven that I haven't monopolized them all (lol).
    Please let us give our thanks to you.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      You are not just unstoppable but almost malignant, I guess… (LOL)

      I am glad to hear Doi-sensei likes that bottle.

      However, this is not an evidence you certainly shared those with Dr. Doi because the evidence offered by suspect can’t be a reasonable evidence, which I leaned by serving jury duties. (lol)

      Delete
  13. もう『もぐら叩き』どころじゃなくて… こういうの医学用語で『劇症』って言うんですねそうですね?
    名古屋のかっちゃん先生は頑張っていらっしゃるけど、儂ゃもうダメになりそう…。(汗)

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    1. タスケテ タスケテ… 再来週は確定申告なのに

      Delete
    2. 結局イスタンブールのインタコでは、毎日わんこバナナやわんこ林檎が続きました。
      わんこチョコトリュフのその後はm4箱みんなお土産に持って帰ってきました~♪
      来週月曜が定期健康診断ですが、今年の結果は相当酷いと思われます…。

      Delete
  14. When you said to me "You are not just unstoppable but almost malignant," I was momentarily taken aback, but then I thought about it calmly and realized you were right. While it's common for benign tumors to simply increase in size, the sudden appearance of lesions in distant places (i.e. commenting abruptly on other articles) is precisely indicative of metastasis, making it a malignant tumor.

    It's true that Doi-sensei really liked the 500-nen-gura bottle, but his regular drink is undoubtedly the 1.8L paper-packaged Akakirishima, so it's clear that the 500-nen-gura bottle wins out in comparison (lol).

    What's that? The fact that I declared Doi-sensei and I shared the 500-nen-gura bottles that you gave me is not evidence? You're right, as the suspect, my offered evidence might be fabricated. Let's wait until May to submit reasonable evidence to the jury (or is stalling for time only making me more suspicious?)(lol).

    What's that? I've gone beyond a malignant tumor and am now in a "critical" state? The disease that comes to mind immediately with a prefix of "critical" is "fluminant hepatitis." I have experience taking care of a few patients with that condition, but unfortunately, most of them had poor outcomes. It seems like you went on a binge of eating in Istanbul's InterContinental, so your fatty liver is likely worsening at least. The transition rate from fatty liver to fluminant hepatitis is not high, so there is no need to worry. However, the development of liver cancer is a concern...Good luck with filing your tax return♪

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      I am so sorry if you are uncomfortable about those inaccurate figures… if I can say one more, now it’s “chronic.” Therefore, now it’s chronic, malignant and incurable. You may throw a spoon.

      The “paper-packaged” Shochu supposed to be similar to a ‘boxed wine’ for cooking… correct? Then… are those materials – papers or waxes – don’t transfer to the flavor when you drink? I am simply curious because even cooking wines, typically white ones – gentle Pino Blanc or even much sourly Chardonnay, receive very subtle hint of waxy boxy nuance if I drink it. (no. I’m not a kitchen drinker, doctor) Shochu has much stronger amount of alcohol, 24–40%, which is much stronger to wines around 12–15%. Then I expected the wax possibly exude by such high amount of ethanol… just guessing.
      Similar phenomenon happens to scotch Whiskey when they use the 2nd-hand sherry casks, right? So I thought waxy box can give those flavor or nuance to the distilled sake, which is Shochu. It’s a quite interesting issue listening as a scientist why it’s still drinkable… it sounds like Russian people enjoy drinking methanol and loosing their site… amen. But at least Japanese boxed Shochu for consumers doesn’t contain methanol or ethylene glycol… scary.

      I think Doi-sensei is somehow somewhat overreacting for “distilled alcohol from sweet potatoes”. That’s because of such porcelain jars.
      So, for comparing the differences by the package materials, I just arranged sending you guys two glass bottles EACH (lol). Those are from same distiller of Gohyakunen, but the label looks somewhat Dutch Delft inspired fancy labels… for me, those look uttely funny so please try them without any extra luxurious feeling. The products’ name is The ENVELHECIDA (エンヴェレシーダ) and in 25% and 40% again. Please check the difference of the package and let me know. I trust you even if you complains you are taste blind. Those series Shochu was distilled and kept 3 years in oak casks… like wines.
      The amount is tiny so you can finish within a bight for sure. (lol)

      Hope these bottled alcohols significantly work for this chronic, malignant and incurable situations… Amen to me.

      Delete
  15. According to the school name rule you told me, should we change the name of our clinic to "Saidaiji-Naka 1-chome Clinic"?
    Actually, Doi-sensei seriously proposed a similar idea the other day. "Our clinic specializes in digestive diseases, so mainly おなか-related illnesses. And since the clinic is located at Saidaiji-なか 1-chome, how about naming it 'おなか Clinic'?" However, I haven't made up my mind yet about changing the name of the clinic in that way... What about your opinion?

    Anyway, the name of such a small clinic (even though you come all the way from California to have an endoscopy at the clinic) is probably not important, so let's just be grateful that you made it home safely and that your sprained foot wasn't worse. Let's say "南無阿弥陀仏 and 南無大師遍昭金剛."

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      The Saidaiji おなか Clinic… this sounds like a medical clinic for pediatric services and people misrecognizes for sure… How about 西大寺会陰クリニック so that the diseased or injured customers will be coming over after the event, I think. But the revenue will be only perked in February… So it may require arbitrated naming. How about 西大寺おなか会陽クリニック? Then your clinic can gather lots of clients who are in trouble around ‘pompon,’ or injured by struggling to get the sacred dildos. If you don’t like those ideas, let me think better ones by May, but I don’t think you expects anything better… (lol)

      Delete
  16. Perhaps the "Birdman Contest" is a competition where participants dressed in bird costumes or wearing some kind of device that helps them fly like birds compete to see how far they can fly, and there was a bulletin praising the Nihon University students for winning or achieving a similar result. So I don't think they have bird brains. However, if my now deceased uncle had heard this story, I am sure he would have laughed and said "That's typical of our students" (lol).

    Regarding the T-score for entrance exams, as you pointed out, it doesn't make sense to compare art universities with other universities, including the Tokyo Institute of Photography that you attended. The exception is probably Tokyo University of the Arts, which is known to be exceptionally difficult to enter, even for students who pass the entrance exam for the most prestigious science program at Tokyo University, which has the highest T-score in Japan.

    I also acknowledge that Mariko H. is a great author of Japanese literature, but personally, as a woman, I have to say that Agnes Chan is more wonderful. Agnes was my only solace during my year of studying for the university entrance exam, and at the time, she was someone I could never hope to meet. But after almost 30 years, I was able to invite her to Okayama for a lecture by my own choice. What a stroke of luck! So it was like a dream come true for me when I went to Okayama Airport to pick her up, drove her to the venue, and even took a commemorative photo with her. I didn't expect any specific message from her. I just hoped she could safely come to Okayama (as there was heavy snowfall in Tokyo that day and there was a good chance that flights would be canceled) and return to Tokyo safely after the lecture.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      No, sensei, please don’t disrespect the challengers of Tori-ningen contest. They are not costume players of Ikaros, but seriously designing man-powered air planes. Those came out on NHK Osaka’s morning story 舞い上がれ! But the members of ‘Naniwa Birdmans’ were not bird brains. Hope the students of Nihon University either… (lol)

      In regards to the celebrities - For the photographers’ world, the father of my best college colleague in T-Gakuen was Mr. Sato, who is a famous photographer and a chairman of Nikkor Club. When I was in the photo school, Mr. Hosoe, the professor of “Photography as a Fine Art” class, is a close friend to Mr. Sato so he invited him as a guest speaker for his class sessions… Then, I was in deep, deep trouble. Mr. Sato found me within the classroom, started calling me obaKoba sensei, and disclosed how I assist Mr. Sato’s photographing by technical side. Since then, Mr. Hosoe became quite strict for my test score (I believe so) hence I ended up 優, not receiving 秀, from Mr, Hosoe’s class. *sigh*
      But the good side was; I could buy Nikon F4P, which is a special model and only sold from Nikon directly to selected professional photographers, by Sato-san’s support.

      Delete
  17. To me, even as an amateur, it seems that "Katei-Gaho" has more wealthy readers than "Fujin-Gaho." This is because my wife finishes reading "Katei-Gaho" and places it in the waiting room of our clinic. From observing the patients who pick up the magazine, I get the impression that relatively wealthy women read it (although as you know, our patients in general are not wealthy). Nevertheless, there is no doubt that "Fujin-Gaho" is a fine magazine as well, with many famous people featured. I imagine that skilled photographers like yourself are involved in its planning and editing.

    It is truly a great achievement that you made it to the final three out of thousands of applicants for Shogakukan, thanks to the recommendation of the editor-in-chief of "Fujin-Gaho." If I were in your position, I would surely fail even an exam where only three out of thousands are eliminated (lol).

    Oh, come to think of it, in the past, like the current Tokyo Women's Medical University, Toho University School of Medicine may have only allowed female students to apply. When I entered university, the proportion of female students was less than 10%, so in that sense, it may have been easier for male students to be accepted. Now, female students make up 30-40% of the entire students, making it relatively more difficult for male students.
    In addition, advancement in the current medical program is quite rigorous, with an exam in the fourth year that is almost like a national exam for advancement to the fifth year. Only those who pass this exam are given the title of "student doctor" and allowed to participate in clinical training at a hospital. If such an exam had existed when I was a medical student... I definitely wouldn't have become a doctor, as I was quite idol and indiligent. It's a bitter memory.

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    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      I totally agree with your opinion “Katei” is targeting much wealthier readers than “Fujin.”
      Every time when I opened pages of Katei, the stories and issues, even the advertisements are much focused to richer people.
      That’s why I was seriously concerned about the available magazines in your clinic…
      Departures (for Centurion members), Katei-Gaho, Six Niles… I saw there are no matched clients (a.k.a. patients) in your clinic… I even cannot match those highest-end magazines.

      Even the last three, failure is failure. That’s why my father expected too much once I was chosen within three. At least, the director of photography told me the final in-person test that my technique and knowledge are the best within the candidate. (but the personality was so bad, so they get rid of me.(lol))
      Oh, by the way – the written test at Shogakkan, before testing the photography techs and knowledge, there was a Japanese completing 4-letter idiom 月[ ]氷人. Because I learned agricultural things, I filled out incorrectly and it reads 月下美人 which is a kind of Christmas cactus. On the in-person test, I complained 月下美人 is one of the name of cacti therefore the correct answer is not only 月下氷人 but 月下美人 must be eligible. The test examiners were laughed at me and one of them told me “We are testing Common Sense, Mr, obaKoba.” So I even don’t know whether my answer was correct or incorrect… (lol)

      In women’s medical school, I am wondering the balance of the gender of “donated bodies.”
      It can be so embarrassing if the donors were mostly male… or if those are all female… scary.

      Talking about the years and classes, it may be a fun if I enter the veterinarians’ course because at our age, vets only needs 6 years to pass the doctor’s test. Now they need to study as 8 years as medical doctors for human body.

      Delete
  18. If luxury magazines like "Katei-Gaho" and others don't fit in with our clinic, it suggests that the readership of those magazines may be different from the patient demographic of our clinic. It's natural and expected that not all magazines will cater to everyone. Our clinic provides medical services to people with diverse backgrounds and various medical conditions, so the target audience of high-end magazines may not align with our patients as you pointed out.

    In addition to discussing magazines in the clinic waiting area and interview tests, you also mentioned the balance of the gender of bodies donated for anatomical study. The gender balance of donated bodies is an important consideration in medical education. Maintaining a proper balance allows medical students to learn about various bodily characteristics and differences, preparing them to provide appropriate medical care to future patients.

    Lastly, I appreciate an interesting choice of pursuing a veterinary medicine course. Venturing into a different field can bring new challenges and open up various possibilities for one’s future career. If I had a chance to be reborn... it would be great to enjoy studying in a veterinary medicine course where patients are non-human animals, rather than the dry and exam-filled environment of a medical school where patients are just human beings.

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