One Weekend
Nothing too exciting happened this weekend. Went into Umeda, a district of Osaka on Saturday. There was a random fiesta being put on by the Mexican Embassy or something at the Sky Building to celebrate Mexican Independence. We heard from some of the Mexican students who spread the word about the shindig in the first place that there would be tacos and such for all. Well...it was free...to get in. Tacos were not free or reasonably priced, nor was anything else. Except the "entertainment"...which was actually the highlight of it. There is something about Japanese people dressed in traditional Mexican garb dancing to the YMCA in Spanish that is amusing. I took a video, I didn't zoom in, randomly, so it's not too good, but you can at least get a feel for it.
Anyhow, a few of us in the group cut out of the fiesta after about 10 minutes. We went and got food at a nearby cafe. We then ventured to the HEP 5 building. Which is an 8 story, with a ferris wheel on its roof. Were all 8 floors all on one floor, I would say it would be about as large as the Greece Ridge Mall. It considered mostly of clothing stores. There was a Virgin Records which took up more or less the entire 5th floor. I found the title given to the Hip-Hop section rather humorous...
What is less humorous are the prices. There really is no kind of standard. A single can cost anywhere from 1000-Yen (About $8) to 2500-Yen. Albums can cost anywhere from 2000-3200 Yen. 2+ Disc Albums/Compilations seem to range from 2900-3500 Yen. It seems to be that the more well known an artist the more expensive their stuff is. But that is just a generic trend. That is not to say there aren't any exceptions, because there are plenty. That and the prices are not listed very prominently.
The 7th floor was the Food Court and had access to the Ferris Wheel. I didn't ride the Ferris Wheel. Perhaps the next time I go. The 8th floor was an Arcade. There was a fun drumming game, which was like DDR or Guitar Hero with Drums. I got to drum the back beat to a few favored J-Tracks...
"Gin-Iro no Sora" by Redballoon
"Hot Limit" by T.M.Revolution
"Won't Be Long" by Exile feat. Koda Kumi
"Brightdown" by Nami Tamaki
I ended up with sore blistered songs afterwards though. Still, it was very fun. Also, who wouldn't want to play this?
After our HEP 5 Fun, we went to meet up with those who stayed behind at the Mexican Fest. On the way we stopped by a bakery and since it was almost time to close, the baked goods were sold at a somewhat reduced price. I snagged some Green Tea goods.
On Sunday, I went to Tsutaya (a Music/Movie/Book Store near Hirakata Station) and scoped out their rental section. Which I hope to get a membership for, so I can rent and expand my already bloated music collection. The fact that they sell loads of blank media products in the store shows that they want...no...demand you rip and burn the product. Which...I am very okay with, as I was going to do it anyway. But now that I have the store's permission...awesome. I snagged some discounted CD's while I was in non-rental section too. 50% Off. The CD's were from the band "The Local Art." I really enjoyed their single "Nakanai Nakenai Yakusoku" which was released back in April. So I figured, their being sold for cheap. And since the band isn't all that well known the CD's weren't list priced at all that much to begin with. From what I've listened to, their stuff is pretty good.
Today is a national holiday in Japan. "Respect for the Aged" Day. So not having class on a National Holiday is not something I used to anymore, what with Brockport's complete disregard of every national holiday except Labor Day. Though not that I think national holidays like "Columbus Day" should even be honored, but still, I enjoy the excuse to not have class. Next Monday is also a national holiday. It's the Autumnal Equinox (well, the Equinox is technically next Sunday, but the Japanese love their days off, so Monday is the substitute holiday).
Well, I suppose I should get to studying or something since Classes resume tomorrow. Luckily I just have one at noon or so.
Anyhow, a few of us in the group cut out of the fiesta after about 10 minutes. We went and got food at a nearby cafe. We then ventured to the HEP 5 building. Which is an 8 story, with a ferris wheel on its roof. Were all 8 floors all on one floor, I would say it would be about as large as the Greece Ridge Mall. It considered mostly of clothing stores. There was a Virgin Records which took up more or less the entire 5th floor. I found the title given to the Hip-Hop section rather humorous...
What is less humorous are the prices. There really is no kind of standard. A single can cost anywhere from 1000-Yen (About $8) to 2500-Yen. Albums can cost anywhere from 2000-3200 Yen. 2+ Disc Albums/Compilations seem to range from 2900-3500 Yen. It seems to be that the more well known an artist the more expensive their stuff is. But that is just a generic trend. That is not to say there aren't any exceptions, because there are plenty. That and the prices are not listed very prominently.
The 7th floor was the Food Court and had access to the Ferris Wheel. I didn't ride the Ferris Wheel. Perhaps the next time I go. The 8th floor was an Arcade. There was a fun drumming game, which was like DDR or Guitar Hero with Drums. I got to drum the back beat to a few favored J-Tracks...
"Gin-Iro no Sora" by Redballoon
"Hot Limit" by T.M.Revolution
"Won't Be Long" by Exile feat. Koda Kumi
"Brightdown" by Nami Tamaki
I ended up with sore blistered songs afterwards though. Still, it was very fun. Also, who wouldn't want to play this?
After our HEP 5 Fun, we went to meet up with those who stayed behind at the Mexican Fest. On the way we stopped by a bakery and since it was almost time to close, the baked goods were sold at a somewhat reduced price. I snagged some Green Tea goods.
On Sunday, I went to Tsutaya (a Music/Movie/Book Store near Hirakata Station) and scoped out their rental section. Which I hope to get a membership for, so I can rent and expand my already bloated music collection. The fact that they sell loads of blank media products in the store shows that they want...no...demand you rip and burn the product. Which...I am very okay with, as I was going to do it anyway. But now that I have the store's permission...awesome. I snagged some discounted CD's while I was in non-rental section too. 50% Off. The CD's were from the band "The Local Art." I really enjoyed their single "Nakanai Nakenai Yakusoku" which was released back in April. So I figured, their being sold for cheap. And since the band isn't all that well known the CD's weren't list priced at all that much to begin with. From what I've listened to, their stuff is pretty good.
Today is a national holiday in Japan. "Respect for the Aged" Day. So not having class on a National Holiday is not something I used to anymore, what with Brockport's complete disregard of every national holiday except Labor Day. Though not that I think national holidays like "Columbus Day" should even be honored, but still, I enjoy the excuse to not have class. Next Monday is also a national holiday. It's the Autumnal Equinox (well, the Equinox is technically next Sunday, but the Japanese love their days off, so Monday is the substitute holiday).
Well, I suppose I should get to studying or something since Classes resume tomorrow. Luckily I just have one at noon or so.