Because of some special PTA event, this past Saturday I was supposed to stay in Noheji and go to work. I said nuts to that and took the day off. Glad I did 'cause I had lots of fun in Hirosaki watching crap movies and admiring carnies deftly lure-in marks with the same colorful signage they had likely been using since before America bombed the Hell out of this country over a half century ago. Here are some criptic keywords summarizing my weekend:


Firday night- McDonald's, Mister Donut, Beef, America's Next Top Model (Latest episode), Shamizen, Karaoke


Saturday- Junk Hunting, Mos Burger, Nara, Space-In, Gumbo (Mexican Food, WTF?), Constantine (worst kind of crap movie as Kate puts it... I agree), Big Lebowski (not crap), Kids in the Hall


Sunday- McDonald's, Hanami, Carnies, Infested (Best kind of crap movie as I put it... Kate and Akiko would disagree. Not to be confused with Infested a.k.a. Ticks), Pizza Hut, America's Next Top Model (Season 1)


Here come the photos...

Follow up:

These talented shamisen players/waiters tought me that silk-screening isn't just for T-shirts anymore.



Luke, Dee, Kate, Hugh, Erica and her cousin were all there to enjoy the show.




Next stop was good old karaoke dive Shirokiya. Kate's looking a little 'uchiki' in this shot.



I put on my best 'fierce' look after carefully studying the lastest episode of ANTM.




I also watched "Beef" that same night.



Kate and I spent the afternoon searching Hirosaki for a recycle shop. This isn't it, but perhaps it serves a similar function.




Next we pretended to go to the Nara exhibit.



Kate puts away her McChange in her stylish but not very practical bag.




I examine the lone cherry blossum on this tree and try to determine if it's been glued on.



Kate applies what she learned watching America's Next Top Model for this photo.




Probably the coolest thing in the carnie section of the park was this old time travelling motorcycle stunt show.



More old time art still used to bring in the moolah.




No, this isn't an amazing new ride at Disney Sea. It's probably the shittiest way you could ever possibly spend 300 yen.



Because of the cold winter this cartoon was the closest I came to experiencing what it must be like in the park when all the flowers are in bloom.




This strange guy kept asking us to play with his maracas and hold his telephone.




Hugh enjoys a cerveza as he walks with a sexy mamasita.