Earthing My Roadster

I'm no car expert so when my friend Yasuhiro offered to earth my car, I gladly accepted. Earthing (Circular Ground System) is fairly popular in Japan although hardly catching on in North America. The idea is to connect ground cables back to the battery ensuring a better electrical circuit and less interference so that electronics and sensors can operate more efficiently. The benefits are more torque at low speeds, more HP, clearer stereo sound, brighter lights, better gas mileage and overall response. Some custom kits can run up to 20,000 yen, which for a bunch of precut cable is pretty expensive I think. The generic kit we installed cost 2,500 yen although we had run out to the nearest home center to get another set because we ran out of cable.

The challenge with the roadster is that the battery is in the back so you have to run the cable from the trunk thru the cabin.

The hardest part was getting the cable into the engine room thru this hole behind the fuse box.

Once that was done it was just a matter of connecting the wires to the "critical" spots, like the engine block, alternator, starter, exhaust manifold etc.

The result:

I'm a believer!!

Definite improvement in the low and mid torque range. I used to get some knocking while driving at slow speed in 2nd or 3rd gear, that's disappeared. Better response starting from a stoplight and much clearer sound from the stereo. Couldn't really notice an improvement in the brightness of the headlights and it's still too early to know about gas mileage. I'll take it out for a longer test drive to really check out the differences.

End of Summer

It's been quite a tradition for me to go for all three days of the Koenji Awaodori. Since accidentally seeing it once 10yrs ago (just happen to be there) I've been hooked. It's the event that seems to signal the end of summer. This year was particularly exhausting because today I also stood in the crowds for 4 hours in Asakusa to watch the Samba festival before heading back to Koenji in the evening to catch the last day of Awaodori. And there was a typhoon too.

See photo album: Koenji Awaodori 2004

See Photo Album: Asakusa Samba Matsuri

Mazinger Z Stamps

Scanned these cool Mazinger Z stamps from my friend because I'm too cheap to buy my own. The post office here often does some nice ones that I'm sure anime fans would die for. More info at the Japan Post Office Website

Chinese Geishas

So they're finally going to get around to making "Memoirs of a Geisha" into a movie and guess what? All the lead geishas will be played by chinese actresses. Sounds strange at first, but when you think about it they do it all the time in Hollywood. Americans playing Russians, English playing American etc..

The good thing is Zhang Ziyi (my favorite chinese actress) will play the lead role of Sayuri. Not a bad choice really. She can pass for Japanese, I guess. What do you think? But can she speak English? I don't care either way, I will watch her in any film not matter how bad. They're also casting Michelle Yeoh as "Mameha", Sayuri's mentor. No doubt, western audiences' familiarity with these two in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (and their relationship) is probably one of the main reasons both were cast. Also Gong Li as "Hatsumomo" and Ken Watanabe as "The Chairman". Will be directed by Rob Marshall who did "Chicago". Should be interesting to see how this turns out.

Press Release here
E! Online article here

Memoirs of a Geisha
by Arthur Golden

Have you read it yet? If not, definitely check it out.

Before reading the book, I thought it might be another dry and esoteric novel which would examine in exhaustive detail some of the more mundane aspects of Japanese Geisha culture, but in fact it's a very entertaining read that will appeal to the masses. Good story.

Japan Webcams

I found some good live webcams of places in Japan

Mt. Fuji webcams are useful. Fuji is almost always hidden in clouds during the summer so if you are thinking of going out there to take a look you check to see whether you can see it or not from one of the webcams below.

From Kawaguchi lake
From Fujiyoshida
From Fujii City
From Izu
From Numazu
Fujigoko.tv: Many different views around the Fuji five lakes area

More Webcams here:
Yokohama Bay Bridge, Landmark tower, Enoshima etc. from NTT

40 Shoulder

In Japan**, there's this thing called "shijukata" (四十肩) or forty shoulder. It's basically a shoulder injury that usually happens when you're around 40yrs old. I've had this "shijukata" since April.

Personally, I don't want to think that I have shijukata cause I'm not 40yrs old yet, so I'd rather say I have a mild "shoulder impingement" (or frozen shoulder), that's what they actually call it.

Now, whenever I describe this to some Japanese friend, they will say "ah..shijukata ne.." which drives me crazy because it makes me feel like an old geezer...At any rate, I hope it goes away soon so that I can get back to the gym and hit the iron again..

About Shijukata (Japanese)
Basic Exercises (Japanese)
Tokyo Physio English Speaking Physiotherapist in Tokyo

**I notice so many Japanbloggers start their entries with "In Japan,.." I swore I would not do this but oh well...

Natsubate

Man, this summer has been really crap. It's been over 30 degrees for over 30 days in a row and I'm suffering from natsubate like crazy. I've had this headache I can't seem to shake and my shoulder pains aren't helping me get any sleep at night. Can't wait for fall/winter to come..

Birthday Waffles

No cake on my birthday this year, just some waffles and ice cream loading with calories. Hmm..those apple slices look kinda like takuwan.

Keitai History

I thought I would do something otaku today and try and remember all the cell phones I've used in the last ten years. Spent a few hours digging up images of all the phones, so here they are. 21 in total including my current N900iS which is not show here. Not as many as I remember. I think I might have forgotten one or two.

UPDATED: I just updated this post March 24, 2007.

S2000

Found this picture I took at the Honda Showroom more than a year ago. I look pretty good in that S2000 don't you think? It's a really nice ride. I might consider this for my next car but I'm waiting to see what the next NC will be like before deciding.