Guzen Media Japan

The New Year 2009

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I hope we all have a healthy, wealthy, happy, and peaceful 2009.

Guzen Media Japan 62-Australian Exchange Students

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +0000

A new season of Guzen Media Japan has begun. In this episode I talk with two exchange students from Australia that remind me a lot of two other exchange students that were a big part of the early days of Guzen.

Hayley and Nathan

Gocke and Steven

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Japanese Songs of Summer 4-Alive

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:13:00 +0000

My fourth choice for Japanese songs of Summer is Alive from the group SPEED. They were only together for a short time, but they made a big impact on the J-pop scene. They were one of the most talented of the many girl groups that seem to pop up overnite. I'm looking forward to seeing them reunite again for 24 Hour TV.

Japanese Songs of Summer 3-島唄

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:13:00 +0000

My third choice for Japanese Songs of Summer is 島唄 (shima-uta) by The Boom. This to me is the Japanese Free bird. When it comes on I have stop what I'm doing and listen to it to the end.

Japanese Songs of Summer 2-アジアの純真

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:13:00 +0000

My second choice for Japanese Songs of Summer is Puffy's first single and huge hit アジアの純真 (Asia no Junshin). This came out in the summer of 1996 and was played/sung/karaoked to death. I liked this duo and the song the first time I saw/heard them and still do.

You can sing along with them Lyrics in English and Japanese

Japanese Songs of Summer 1-夏祭り

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:13:00 +0000

In the next several days I'm going to post some of my favorite Japanese songs of summer.

My first choice is one of my all time favorites 夏祭り(natsumatsuri) by Whiteberry. The song gets you moving and the video made me nostalgic for the good old days.

I wish the group would've stuck together. They were a refreshing break from the usual J-pop girly girls.

Tanabata 七夕

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:13:00 +0000

This is a video I shot during a Tanabata festival that took place in my neighborhood.

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Skate Crash

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:13:00 +0000

This some footage that I shot at the East Coast Surfing Championships in Va. Beach a few years back.

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Why not come here?

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:13:00 +0000

People are always asking me if they should come to live and work in Japan. The decision was easy for me. I always knew I wanted to come here and I did everything I could to get myself in a position to do so. It took me over twenty years to make it here after I first thought about it. There were many obstacles that almost prevented me from achieving my dream, but I never gave up.

I really like this speech by Steve Jobs and just found it (guzen) with Japanese subtitles. It's very inspirational and it speaks to a lot of things that I have felt and believe in. I can also see how the things I did and tried in my past have helped me greatly in the things I do now. In his speech he calls it connecting the dots.

You are the only one who knows if you should come to live and work here. Instead of asking why come here ask yourself-

Why not come here?

Part 1

Part 2

Read the speech here

Jaymay Live in Europe and the US

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:13:00 +0000

Here is your chance to see Jaymay live. Check out her site for updates and sample her songs.

I really dig her music and at the moment I've been playing Blue Skies over and over. I could so hear it in an Edward Burns film.

You can get her latest CD Autumn Fallin on iTunes.

May 5 Maidstone
Zebra Bar - supporting Tift Merritt

May 7 Swansea
Monkey - supporting Tift Merritt

May 8 Bristol
St Bonaventure - supporting Tift Merritt

May 10 Buckingham
The Radcliffe Centre - supporting Tift Merritt

May 11 Edinburgh
The Pleasance - supporting Tift Merritt

May 12 Nottingham
Rescue Rooms - supporting Jens Leksman

May 13 Newcastle
The Cluny - supporting Jens Lekman

May 14 Leeds
Woodhouse Club - supporting Jens Lekman

May 15 Glasgow
Oran Mor - supporting Jens Lekman

May 19 Manchester
Academy 3 - supporting Jens Lekman

May 21 Birmingham
Glee Club - supporting Jens Lekman

May 23 Belfast
The Black Box - supporting Jens Lekman

May 24 Galway
Roisin Dubh - supporting Jens Lekman

May 25 Dublin
The Village - supporting Jens Lekman

June 10 New York
Bowery Ballroom

June 11 Philadelphia
Tin Angel - with Fink

June 12 Arlington
Iota - with Fink

June 13 Cleveland
B-Side - with Fink

June 14 Pittsburgh
Club Café - with Fink

June 16 Chicago
Schuba’s - with Fink

June 18 Los Angeles
Troubadour - with Fink

June 19 San Francisco
Café du Nord - with Fink

June 20 Portland
Doug Fir - with Fink

June 21 Seattle
Tractor Tavern - with Fink

Japanese Rocking and Rolling

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:13:00 +0000

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Guzen Media Japan 61-Exchange Student Alex

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:13:00 +0000

In this episode Alex, the new exchange student, joins me and talks about how she became interested in Japan, the process she went through to become an exchange student, and some of her first impressions about school.

CCI Center for Cultural Interchange

Senpai/Kohai

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Some Views of Mt. Fuji

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:13:00 +0000

This is a video I took on my way back to Shizuoka from Tokyo.

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JAYMAY-Conan O'Brien, Autumn Fallin', and SXSW

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:13:00 +0000

Two years ago I was surfing around iTunes looking for some new music and I ran across an artist named Jaymay. I immediately fell for her sound and lyrics and ended up buying all her songs. I visited her site to find out more about her and her music and noticed that she was coming to Japan for a mini tour. I sent her an email asking if she would be interested in doing an interview and to my surprise she said yes.

We met a few weeks later in Ginza and was very pleased to have the chance to get to know her. She is passionately dedicated to her art and like we say back home, she is good people. You can see the interview we did and the performance of her hit Gray or Blue in the videos below.

I'm very happy to see her doing so well and I hope to get a chance to have her on the show again soon.

Jaymay will be appearing on the Conan O'Brien show tonight.

Get Jaymay's new album Autumn Fallin'

She is also performing two shows at SXSW

Saturday 15 March 2008
Hit Sheet SXSW Party at Momo's
618 w. 6th st. 3pm. ages 18+

Saturday 15 March 2008
Maggie Mae's Gibson Room
323 e. 6th st. doors 7pm. Jaymay 8pm. ages 21+

Catch her in New York
The Mercury Lounge in NYC(with a band)
Wednesday 19 March 2008. 10pm. $10. ages 21+

Check out her sites
Jaymay Myspace
Jaymay's Website

Autumn Fallin' Video

Guzen Media Japan-Surfing in Japan

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:13:00 +0000

A friend of mine took some video at the Hurley Surf Contest in Shizunami, Japan a few years ago and I put this video together for fun. Surfing in Japan is very popular.

The song in the video is Stereoman is from the awesome group Ellegarden. My favorite song from them is Space Sonic.

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Twitter With Me

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Things have been really busy around here and I haven't been able to record a new show. I'm hoping to get something up soon.

In the meantime I have been trying be more active on the forum and reading/posting on Twitter. If you are on Twitter drop me line and if you aren't check it out.

Jim's JET Adventure Continued

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:13:00 +0000

I just posted a story on my other website, English Teaching in Japan, from our good friend Jim who is now on the JET Program. He is living and teaching on a small island between Kagoshima and Okinawa.

Guzen Media Japan 60-Marathon Chris

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:13:00 +0000

Chris joins me in this episode to talk about running, recent news, wine, living in Japan, teaching, and many other topics.

Unlikely Supporter

Tokyo Marathon

Hash House Harriers

Naked Festival

Koda Kumi

Suntory Whiskey commerical from the movie Lost in Translation

Director (in Japanese to the translator): The translation is very important, O.K.? The translation.

Translator: Yes, of course. I understand.

Director: Mr. Bob-san. You are sitting quietly in your study. And then there is a bottle of Suntory whiskey on top of the table. You understand, right? With wholehearted feeling, slowly, look at the camera, tenderly, and as if you are meeting old friends, say the words. As if you are Bogie in ''Casablanca,'' saying, ''Cheers to you guys,'' Suntory time!

Translator: He wants you to turn, look in camera. O.K.?

Bob: That's all he said?

Translator: Yes, turn to camera.

Bob: Does he want me to, to turn from the right or turn from the left?

Translator(in very formal Japanese to the director): He has prepared and is ready. And he wants to know, when the camera rolls, would you prefer that he turn to the left, or would you prefer that he turn to the right? And that is the kind of thing he would like to know, if you don't mind.

Director: Either way is fine. That kind of thing doesn't matter. We don't have time, Bob-san, O.K.? You need to hurry. Raise the tension. Look at the camera. Slowly, with passion. It's passion that we want. Do you understand?

Translator: Right side. And, uh, with intensity.

Bob: Is that everything? It seemed like he said quite a bit more than that.

DIRECTOR: What you are talking about is not just whiskey, you know. Do you understand? It's like you are meeting old friends. Softly, tenderly. Gently. Let your feelings boil up. Tension is important! Don't forget.

Translator: Like an old friend, and into the camera.

Bob: O.K.

Director: You understand? You love whiskey. It's Suntory time! O.K.?

Bob: O.K.

Director: O.K.? O.K., let's roll. Start.

Bob: For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.

Director: Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut! Don't try to fool me. Don't pretend you don't understand. Do you even understand what we are trying to do? Suntory is very exclusive. The sound of the words is important. It's an expensive drink. This is No. 1. Now do it again, and you have to feel that this is exclusive. O.K.? This is not an everyday whiskey you know.

Translator: Could you do it slower and ----

Director: With more ecstatic emotion.

Translator: More intensity.

Director (in English): Suntory time! Roll.

Bob: For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.

Director: Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut! God, I'm begging you.

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Guzen Media Japan 59

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:13:00 +0000

In this episode John and I talk about teaching kikokushijo and the 2008 US JET Program Interview Candidates announcement.

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Guzen Media Japan 58-Listener Questions

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:13:00 +0000

In this episode John and I answer some listener questions like:
What does Guzen mean?
What do we do when we come across other gaijins?
Can you be happy in Japan?

If you have any questions please ask and we'll do our best to answer them.

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How's the Weather in Japan?

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:13:00 +0000

The mountains around my school got a lite dusting of snow this morning.

The weather in Japan is very similar to that of the East Coast of North America. Most Japanese letters and conversations will start with a reference to the weather. If you spend any length of time in Japan you would think there were only two types of weather, very hot and very cold, because you will hear people saying あつい！あつい！(hot! hot!) or さむい！さむい！(cold! cold!) every 5 seconds. Shizuoka, where I live, is known for it mild temperatures and nice weather.

Japanese also are very proud of Japan having four distinct (well five if you include tsuyu) seasons. The change of seasons has been the inspiration and main focus of much of the art, literature, and many other things in Japan. The best time to visit Japan is during the Spring or Fall.

Read more about Japan's Climate.
500 Essential Japanese Season Words

Guzen Photo

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:13:00 +0000

I went out the other day to get some shots to use on some projects that I'm working on. I caught the shink by guzen flying by a 1,ooo miles an hour with Mt. Fuji in the background.

Then I stopped by Sutaba and came up with this.

What do you think?

Becoming an Adult in Japan

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:13:00 +0000

Today is a national holiday in Japan called Seijin no hi 成人の日 which translates to Coming of Age Day in English.

All young people who turn twenty years old in the current year are celebrated on this day. Ceremonies are held in every town in the first two weeks of the new year. Many young women dress in kimono with long sleeves called furisode if they are unmarried and the young men usually wear suits or kimomo with hakama.

Twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood. It is also the legal age for voting, drinking, and smoking, but I read recently that the Japanese government was thinking about lowering the voting age to 18 in the future.

Reports show that there are around 1.35 million 20 year olds now, which is the lowest number on record.

LaQua Roller Coaster

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:13:00 +0000

This is a video of the Thunder Dolphin roller coaster that wraps around the LaQua shopping center at Tokyo Dome City. This is a great spot to visit if you want to have dinner, do some shopping, get a spa treatment, and enjoy an amusement park. Just take the train to Korakuen Station in Tokyo.

I took the audio out so don't worry about your viewing device being broken. I think it makes the video a little more interesting. It's kind of like the feeling you get it when you step on on escalator that isn't working. Your mind is expecting one thing, but the body experience something different.

What do you think?

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Cool Website-Kids Web Japan

guzenmedia@gmail.com (Chaz) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:13:00 +0000

I found Kids Web Japan the other day by guzen. Take some time and explore the site because it has a lot of good information about Japan presented in a fun way.

Check it out and let me know what you think.