British Baseball

Now, many people dont know this, but Britain was the first nation to win a real world baseball championship. And an even lesser known fact is that Britain also has its own version of baseball! No, not Cricket!

British baseball is a very small game, based in a few cities round the country. It is popular in cities like Liverpool and Cardiff.

British baseball shares many similarities with its large American cousin. However, there are many differences.

1) The bat. An American bat is basically a tube. A round thing which makes hitting the ball hard, but when you connect, sends the ball for miles! In British baseball, the bat is the same shape, tapering down to the handle, but it is flat!

2) The bases. There are 4 bases in a diamond shape, like American baseball. However, unlike American baseball, these are sticks planted in the ground. Also, the 4th base is separate from the batting plate.

3) Pitchers mound. The pitcher has the chuck the ball, under arm, from inside a box, not off the top of a mound.

4) Scoring. In American baseball, if you get all the way round, that is one run. In British baseball, by sprinting between bases (the sticks) and touching them, you score 1 run as you run between them. So, if you sprint all the way round, that counts as 4 runs! If 2 balls miss the strike zone, then an extra point is awarded.

5) Getting a batter out. In American baseball, if the batter hits the ball, and its caught, you are out. Same in British baseball. However, in British baseball, if you get 2 strikes, you are out. You get 1 ball which you can "ignore." The second ball, you have to try to hit it. If you dont, you still have to run. If you dont run, out. If th backstop tags you, you are out. If the ball is touched to the first base-stick, you are out. If the ball touches you, you are out. Unless it hits your arm.

6) The batter. There is no home plate (Thats 4th base, and its a couple of yards away!). The batter strikes from one of 2 sticks in the ground. 1 for lefties, and 1 for righties! Your foot has to touch one, or the catcher can tag you out!

It seems a little complicated, but I for one would like to see this game survive. A True homegrown alternative that is worth keeping alive! It does not have the silly names like Cricket, and is not "American" so if you dont want to play Baseball because it is "American" (Why you would use THAT excuse I dont know!) then you cna give this game a try! All you need, literally, are 4 sticks,

Wikipedia has more info!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_baseball

Fireworks!

Well, the rainy season here in Japan is rolling to an end, but in passing, we have seen a round of firework displays all over Japan. Many places have allready hosted theirs, and many others, will be hosting them during the rest of this month.

These desplays are taken very seriously, with the local populace, and local companies sponsoring sections of the displays.

I have been lucky enough to partake in 2 this year. Kashiwazaki, ranked in the top 9 in Japan, and Nagaoka, ranked in the top 3.

To start with, Kashiwazaki.

The display comes at the end of the 3 day Gion festival. Day 1 sees kids marching bands, and city-wide folk dancing. The second day sees the local community groups hauling floats out, omikoshi and barrels of sake being paraded, and lots of merriment ensues. The fireworks come on day 3.

The display really starts in the morning. People wake up at stupid o'clock in the morning and head down to the beach in order to park their sheets to reserve a spot. This display is ranked in the top 9 across the country. Lots of people come. And whilst Kashiwazaki has a nice beach, it is not that big. Space is at a premium.

The display is truly magnificent with lots of explosions, colour, and all of it launched from pontoons out at sea. These pontoons allow a good distance between the firework and the beach. However, some of the fireworks are truly massive, and feel like they are right over your head! An amazing experience.

Next, Nagaoka.

The following week, we made it to Nagaoka. This time, the display was launched from 3 areas on the river, so everyone goes and sits on the bank. The display is so amazing, but the problem is, parts of the display are a long way away.

Not to take anything away, even though we sit cheek by jowel (there are THAT many people!) with our neighbours, we dont need to worry as all that pales into the background when the display kicks in leaving people breathless!

The highlight of the show however, is "The Phoenix." Produced by a firework factory in the small town of Katakai, Niigata (Yay! I can claim it!).

Just to give you some stats on this. Now, in Japan, most of the fireworks are mortar-launched. In other words, the firework is a ruddy great ball that they put in a tube, and launch it skywards. This allows for a more spherical (and pretty) BANG! The Phoenix itself sits at a healthily sized 1.2m in diameter.

This firework is impressive in every stat. It is so big and heavy that it has to be winched in off its own truck!

As I said, all these are mortar launched, here is a monument at the factory that shows the sizes of tube involved! These things are BIG!

Now, a few more things about this. The firework, when launched, goes up. Keeps going. Then a bit more. Until finally, at 800 m up in the sky, it lights the sky like a sunrise! Unfortunately, at the Nagaoka display, it shot into the clouds, and my camera was too slow to take a pic as it lit the clouds like a sunburts through them! A truly awesome sight! However, did catch it as the display sank through the cloud!

The light you can see in the bottom left corner is the bridge being lit up by a waterfall shower. The PHoenix itself was actually launched from a pontoon located about 100 meters behind the bridge, even though it looks like the shower is falling in front of it.

Thanks to "Somafire" on Youtube for getting it on video!

And to put it into context, a few smaller fireworks added in to show its size!

I strongly recommend to any readers who stumble on this page, and likes fireworks, to consider coming to Japan during the summer! Japan is hot, but the people are nice, and the fireworks are truly amazing! The factory is likely to try to produce another one bigger than the Phoenix at some point, as they strive to set off a firework that glows perfectly spherical!

It is amazing to behold! If a bit noisy...

2009 J-League. The season so far.

Well, the J League is now halfway through and has been enjoying a little break, punctuated with the All-Star game on the 8th, with the J League All Stars taking on the K League All Stars from Korea.

As it stands, Kashima, last years Champions, are making fantastic progress towards holding on to their title. Kawasaki have managed to put a run together and take advantage of Niigata's recent stumbles to pull into third and haul Kashima to only an 8 point lead.

The big shock of the season however, is my home team (In Japan, anyway) Albirex Niigata. Ever since they broke into J-1 back in 2003, Albirex have enjoyed the 2nd biggest fan base, some of the most vocal fans, and lower table mediocrity. Apart from 2007 when they managed a respectable 6th. However, this year sees them currently lying 3rd, duking it out with Kawasaki for 2nd, and for a few weeks, flying high at the top for the first time in their history! It has tken Japan a little by surprise. Usually, the top teams feature at the end of the highlight programs in longer sections. But for some reason, Albi, despite being ranked in the top 3, still featured in the "rest of the teams" section. That situation has now changed.

So, the season so far.

Kashima Antlers. Coached by Oswaldo de Oliviera from Brazil (Kashima usually have Brazilian managers) the Antlers have a very strong squad they have maintained over the last few years. Lead by Marquinhos, Kashimas lead scorer, Kashima have not had to rely on any 1 player for goals, contributing from all over. However, the last 2 league games saw them wobble alarmingly to 2 defeats. However, the break will allow them a chance to regain the focus.

Kawasaki Frontale. Currently lying second taking advantage of Niigatas wobble. Another Brazilian leads the scoring in the form of Juninho. Kawasaki play some good football, but have had an inability to put away opponents. They will finish in the top 3.

Albirex Niigata. Now 3rd after an amazing first half of the season. The front line of Pedro Junior (Brazil) and Yuno (Japan!) have been steadily contributing goals without lighting aything on fire. However, where Niigata have improved is the defence. Last year, at the best of times, the defencive line looked somewhat uncertain together. This year, whilst still not filling me with complete confidence, and able to go on walkabouts, it has proved much more solid, allowing the team to make real headway. My hear hopes for top 3, and getting into the Asian Champions league, my head says achingly, 4 or 5.

Currently in 4th, the "big spenders" of the J League, Urawa Reds. Biggest fanbase, a squad full of stars including (ex-Niigata) Edmilson, this team, for some reason, has not been firing on all cylinders. However, ranked 4th, and only a point back. However, if they play the second half the way they played the first, and they finish 3rd, it will be down to Niigata fading away, not Urawas brilliance.

Shimizu S-Pulse. Usually a good all-round team that plays solid football, if not so pretty (The lurid kits they have worn in the past makes up for that!) Will finish fairly high.

FC Tokyo. A good side that promises so much, and goes on good runs, has a good number of the Japanese national team on the books, does rely on Naohiro Ishikawa for the goal production. However, he is producing, ranked as the J Leagues top scorer!

Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Solid team, nothing spectacular. However, Niigata, Kawasaki, and Urawa owe them drinks after Sanfrecce turned over Kashima in the last game before the break!

Gamba Osaka. A good team that has slid this year. Last year, they won the Asian Champions League, and are currently trying to defend the title. The team does look more tired this year!

Jubilo Iwata. This used to be one of the top teams, but have slid somewhat over the last few years. Mid-table mediocrity beckons.

Nagoya Grampus. Saw the return of Dragan Stojkovic. A top player for the team from the 80's to 90's, he hails from Serbia originally, and conducts all interviews in English! Last year, Nagoya finished 3rd, but this year they have slid down the table. Scoring is not a problem, with Davi providing a regular supply. The issue this year has been the defence has suddenly got all leaky!

Yokohama F Marinos. Bankrolled by Nissan, this team promises a lot. But not often delivers. There was a hope that the teams shining light Sunnoske Nakamura would return after finishing with Celtic, and wanting a return to Japan now his kids are getting older. Unfortunately, Nissan are in a lot of problems and could not pony up the money to pay for him, and he has ended up in the sunshine of Spain, playing for Espanyol.

Kyoto Sanga. A solid team if not that exciting. Nice kit though. Lovely shade of purple.

Omiya Ardija. A good team that has the ability to languish in the lower levels of the league, but then explode and knock off a top team! Wierd.

Montedio Yamagata. This years surprise team. Recently promoted from J-2, representing the small northern town of Yamagata. They have a small but hardcore support, and a hard working team to match. They are not star-laden, but they work hard together, and started the season at a burn! However, they have now been found out a little, and their league position of 14th reflects this. However, they do work hard (unlike Newcastle did as they crashed), and will work themselves away from trouble.

Vissel Kobe. A team that has had huge problems. Went bust, got bought by the guy who runs Rakuten, and had their colours changed to match the corporate colours of Rakuten. Did not sit too well with the fans. The team is still rebuilding. The team plays some good football at times, but also manages to implode on the field.

JEF United Chiba. Team backed bythe railways, been known as Tokyo JEF United, JEF United Tokyo, but now settled on naming themselves after where they play! This season has seen them not really progress, in spite of the teams best efforts.

Kashiwa Reysol. A team that manages to deliver in fits and starts. Not bottom. Only because Oita is worse! May not be able to do enough to save themselves from the drop.

Oita Trinita. The only team based on Japans southernmost island. Last year, qualified for the Pan Pacific Cup, ranked 4th, and where going places. Oita built a team from the back, and forgot to worry about the front. They managed to get their high ranking through having the tightest defence in the league. This year, the front line has been called upon to deliver more goals, but has been unable to, whilst the backline has not been quite so watertight this year! However, they have managed to score a couple of notable results such as a recent 2-1 win over Grampus. It got so bad that as of July 14th, the manager, Perecles Chamusca, got fired. Definately going to not avoid the drop!

This year has seen the usual suspects perform, or not. However, we have also seen some teams inexplicably slide, and others step up. As long as the second half of the season proves to be as good as the first, then we will be in for a ride until November!

Come on Niigata!

Hilarious stuff!

Well, the hockey season is over, Englands Premier League is done, and the sports scene is looking a little thin. Unless you like to take in the occasional J-league game.

So, I decided to put something up that highlights the more amusing side of the Japanese.

First of all, a few things I have seen on my way round...

Spotted this in a fashion store. Usually you see the likes of New York, or London, Paris, or Sydney plastered on the front of a t-shirt. On occasion, Manchester and Liverpool. And now, Inverness and Sheffield...

God neednt bless me, in fact, I dont want him to! But your trip, well, you need all the help you can get!

This is the phone to contact the bank if the ATM machine eats your card. However, if you HAVE trouble with the machine, dont ring. However, please, feel free to call if hoodies are hounding you.

Well! Er. I guess there is not much I can say about this one. Apart from the fact it is in a department store...

This? This is hair gel. And yes, it is ultra-hard. Ironically, in Japan, it is hard to find any "soft" products. It is always hard, super hard, or ultra hard.

I am of course, referring to hair gel. Dont know what you where thinking of!

Now. Everyone knows that Japan is the home of the box car. This boils down to land taxes. If you want to buy a car, you have to have a place to park it. The tax on this is down to the size of the engine, and the footprint of the car. So, a large-engined, large wheel-based car is heavily taxed. So, how to get round that. Well, simple. Build a car that has a small engine. Except then the car is going to be small, well, in order to maximise space, turn the thing into a box! Problem is, these cars ARE boxy, and have tiny engines, so thundering round anywhere is unlikely. Moving nippily is also unlikely if there is anything over a stiff breeze as a headwind, given the comparitively large sides on these!

So, how to get people to buy them? Will, give them nifty titles! Like the Honda Life, or the Suzuki Every which can carry everything (as long as it is about as heavy as a fluffy pillow), Then there is the Daihatsu Move! Or a really fun one, again from Daihatsu, the NAKED! I saw the car, and it looks very mechanical, then I saw the name, and yes, I had to smile...

However, none of these match Honda. And its Thats.

Thats what!?!?!?!?

Footballs long and winding road

Well, it is the end of the football season, and whilst I would love to comment on my Phoenix, and how they did, I just plain did not get to see them enough, however, I will be offering some thoughts on the season ahead.

However, with the Champions League final hoving into view, I though I would offer a few thoughts.

Well, put it simply, in spite of Rafa and his somewhat odd belief that Liverpool is better, the table does not lie. United won the league. They are currently the best in England.

It was a long and winding season with Liverpool jumping off to a fantastic start, whilst United's machine groaned into action. By Christmas, Liverpool where 14 points clear.

By the end of the season, United had not only hauled that difference back, but overtaken Liverpool, and put 4 points over them. By any yardstick, that is the mark of a champion-quality team!

Chelsea's season was full of "what ifs." A club stocked with excellent players, and at the start of the season, they had Scolari who was touted as a fantastic international manager. However, for whatever reason, he was deemed to be unable to cut it at club level, and was axed. Chelsea struggled to relly gel and get going. Though they did keep close to Liverpool and United. What would their season have been like had they had Hiddink from the start? However, since he is going after the FA Cup final, it is purely a rhetorical question.

Arsenal was another season of total underperformance. Wenger has built a squad of talented young players. However, they are sorely lacking an experienced older player who coul control the younger players. Something United have with Giggs, Scholes, and Van Der Sar. Arsenal has Silvestre. Who lets face it, was a good squad player with United, but not THE heart of the defence. It is something Wenger has lacked all year, leaving them to duke it out with Aston Villa for large parts of the season, and where in real risk of finishing out of the top 4. Having said all that, they will have to qualify for the Champions League, and there are going to be some pretty tough teams that they could draw. Celtic, amongst them.

United themselves are in the process of pulling out a pretty amazing season. League Cup, World Club Cup, Premier league, and through to the finals of the Champions League.

United have played a huge amount of games, and 2/3rds the way through, the squad looked jaded and tired. Only to roar back, and stamp an end on the slump with a demolition of Arsenal.

Ronaldo has not had the same sort of year that he had last year. However, that was allways going to be unlikely. He has still delivered, and plenty of other players have stepped up and played their part. Rooney has a few, along with Berbatov, and Tevez. Who may yet end up as a United player come the end of June. We wait and see on that score.

The foot of the table has proven even more interesting. But to be frank, the teams that dropped are the ones to deserve it.

West Brom: By far an away the worst in the league. Played good football, but left huge gaps all over the place which Premier League teams have the capability to exploit, whilst last year, other clubs failed to do so.

Middlesborough: They stink.Naff manager, and stupid decisions. Enough said.

Newcastle: Been a big club on a slide ever since Keegans tirade about Ferguson on TV. A slide that has only been accelarating ever since then, to take on a fateful dive when Ashley took over the club. Poor players, too many managers, a total lack of self-belief. The club has been totally poisoned inside and out. The relegation will give them a chance to clear out the locker room, and purge the system. Hopefully they can re-build, and get back into the top flight. However, be warned! Leeds United are a big club, and look where they are...

Of the clubs who have replaced them coming up...

Wolves: Champions of the Championship, and rightly so. Played good football, scored lots of goals. Have a pretty good defence, and in Mick McCarthy, a manager with a pretty good history. A loyal fanbase will expect them to make more of a fist of it than the last time they where up. Hopefully they will have learnt from past mistakes.

Birmingham: Another club with plenty of of good football in it. Well organised, and hopefully willing to learn from the past so as to avoid the drop next time round.

Burnley: Whilst I was rooting for Sheffield United (sorry Dad!) I was happy to see them come up.  A plucky team that likes to play football the right way. A solid team that just got on with the job last year, and surprised everyone. Sorry Burnley, but it is likely you will take West Broms place as the whipping boys!

OK, prediction time. The season is just over, so lets get on with the pointlessly optimistic predictions game!

Champions: Manchester United. Everyone says next year is Liverpools year as they keep on improving. However, Sir Alex Ferguson will look at his team, and see where it needs help, and will strengthen likewise!

Runners-up: Liverpool. Relying on Gerrard and Torres is too much pressure! They need more players like them, and I dont see them bringing in enough over the summer. If one gets injured, Liverpool hurt, and they start dropping silly points.

3rd: Arsenal. I suspect they will improve, maybe taking the FA Cup along the way, or the League Cup, but the club is a long way back from United and Liverpool at the moment.

4th: Chelsea. Lets face it, these are the top 4 in England. I predict 4th for Chelsea. Why? No idea. They need to bring in a top manager, and THEN he needs to get a handle on the squad. Didnt work out so well for Big Phil did it...

OK, that is the top, and for the bottom...

20th and first to be relegated: Sorry. Burnley. Well organised a club it may be, but it is a mote compared to United. Coming up from 6th means there is a massive gap in the playing levels for the team, and financially, they will struggle to compete with those round them (after all, EVERYONE has access to the Premier Leagues wealth!)

19th: I am going to go with Hull. They have had a good ride, and if they get some good players in over the summer, they may survive. However, I dont see them repeating last year and grabbing their survival points in the first half of the season. Its going to be a long slog for them.

18th: Birmingham/Stoke. Simply, there is going to be a whole bunch of teams duking it out at the bottom end, with no-one able to build any kind of safety net for themselves, and I am goingto cop out and say that for both of these teams, if they dont make some smart moves, they will find themselves down in the mud. It does not take much to drop down there!

Anyhoo. That is it for now.

I may do a write up after the Champions League Final. Depending on how I feel...

Those Damn Foriegners!

Well, the government want to introduce a new form of ID card for foriegners, detailing biometric information, personal history, visa information, home details, etc. This ID card will be open to the Police and to many governmental departments. It will prove to be quite expensive, and the government has not totally worked out how to protect the individuals who will be targetted by this new card scheme.

They seem hell-bent on introducing it, riding in on a vague feeling of unease to an influx of immigrants into the country.

Sound familiar?

It should.

It is something the Japanese government wants to do.

You thought I was talking about the ID scheme of the UK government? 

Well, both have pretty close similarities, whilst the Japanese scheme will go further than Labours scheme. And unfortunately, the Japanese people do not have a strong history of human rights protests, so are not getting up in arms over it. Especially since it does not affect them, just the "gaijin." However, there is rumblings that whilst us gaijing are a suspicious bunch, that this is getting too far and treating us as criminals, rather than jsut 2nd class citizens, which we are.

As it stands, I have to carry my Aliens Residence Registration Card ("Gaijing Card") at ALL times. If I dont, and the Police want to check, I am hit with up to 1 year in jail, and a 200,000 yen fine. The card allows me to access local services should I need them, and I have to re-register every year at the local city hall. It is a pain in the arse, but the local city office does not really worry too much about me. In fact, the national government recently gave everyone 12,000 yen as a present, and the Kashiwazaki city office actually went to the trouble of translating the application form into English to help us dumb gaijin. OK, the translation was pretty mangled, but we managed to get through it all OK!

However, these registries are only held locally. Meaning that the national government has no idea what is going on, and the local governments are getting up the national governments collective nose by being NICE to us foriegners and helping us out!

So, the new plan is to scrap the current system, and replace it with a "better" system.

First off, I will no longer have to register at some small web covered, hardly used desk in the city hall, but will be properly registered on the main database, and enjoy my own residency certificate (juminhyo). Visa limits will be lifted to a maximum of 5 years from the current 3, and access to local services will be even easier than now.

However, on the other hand, they plan to tighten the noose around my neck with the devil hidden in the detail!

The new card will be the same as before with the same details as before. Home address, visa status, workplace, pghoto, etc. However, all this will be encoded on to a chip. Similar to the new chipped passports.

What is more insidious is the punishments.

This new system will be operated centrally, rather than from the local city office. This is where it starts getting iffy. At the moment, you have 2 weeks to report to the local city hall and report your arrival and they issue you a shiny card within a few days. Here in Kashiwazaki, its a 10 minute walk away. Under the new system, we will still have 2 calendar weeks, but we will have to report to an immigration office. Mine is on the wrong side of Niigata, an 90 minute drive away, and seriously understaffed. This gives me pretty much zero flexibility with regards sorting out any changes to my visa. 

To make it worse, if you dont report any changes to your visa status, which can be something major like changing a job, all the way down to change of school, change of address, birth/death/or marriage. If you enjoy any of these, you have 2 weeks to report it. If not, 200,000yen fine. Fail to report it within 3 months? Lose the visa, no right of appeal.

The IC chip can be swiped to access its information. There has been talk of making foriegners submit to a scan every time they want to enter a public building (the initial list included places of public gathering, such as soccer stadiums! Needless to say, the Japanese government has, at least, recognised the stupidity of THAT one!)

Not only that, but it looks increasingly likely that the Police will be given remote scanners to scan IC cards remotely. Meaning that I can be scanned and tagged by the Police at any time, without my knowledge. They can keep track of me 24 hours a day, just by driving a car past my apartment! Also, this means it is likely that foriegners are going to be targetted by criminals who will "rip" the identity information off my card, and use it when committing crimes.

Not only that, but it will take racial profiling to whole new levels, as the Police scan a crowd, find a foriegner who does not have a card, only to find they are naturalised Japanese. And there are plenty of those!

Needless to say, protests are beginning to spread, and I will DEFINATELY be buying myself a scan blocker!

Orwells "1984" is getting ever closer...

PANIC!!!

OK, I have had a blast living here in Japan. I have made many friends here, met a beautiful woman, had a great time. I have no regrets about moving here.

Ok, maybe one...

However, this sojourn could be coming to an end.

My visa is up for renewal, and duly, off I trotted to the immigration office to enter my paperwork to renew my visa for another year at Niigata airport. It was actually really busy when I got in, got my grubby mitts on the application form and duly filled it out, and handed it all over for processing.

Had a "moment" in there, bumped in to Marcio Richardes. OK, I know, does not sound dramatic, but he is one of the Brazilian players who ply their trade with Albirex Niigata. He is a very good player in the J-League, but very much a one-footed blayer. On his right, he is fantastic. It is good enough to get into any of the top European leagues, but his left is utterly rubbish, so on balance, he gets to be a star in Japan.

However, like allways when one bumps into a soccer player, one is struck with a realisation.

They are ALL tiny. And he had bad skin.

Anyhoo. Back to my problems.

Once the paperwork was in, all I had to do was wait for a letter telling me when to return to get a stamp in my passport. What I got instead was a letter demanding to see copies of my Kashiwazaki City tax. OK... Not such a problem, but the letter arrived the day before the Golden Week vacation, which meant I had no time to get that information and send it. So, I had to wait before I could get in to the city office to get the information, which I duly did.

So, now, my visa expires tomorrow (Friday) and I have no idea what is going to happen!

OK, it should be fine. Since in my passport it does say I have applied, I think that will cover me for now, but I would not put it past the Japanese government to send the heavies round!

Whilst I would be sad to go, and would be heartbroken to leave Yuko, the silver lining here is that I would be able to get to see more Phoenix games! 

But I dont think it will come to that...