Double Dose of Taylor Swift - Part 2

Here's some more of my Q&A with Elena about her Taylor Swift concert experience.

What did Taylor say about her new album, "The Tortured Poets Department"?
She said she was really excited to release it because it's been a while since she released a new album.

Did she make a comment about any difference from her other albums or what's new?
No, she didn't really say anything. She just said it was she was excited.

Any comments about being in Japan? Was it her first time here?
No, it wasn't her first time and she said Japanese people are super fashionable and that it was fun for her to come over here because it's pretty unique.

What was the musical highlight of both concerts for you?
During the concerts she played multiple songs from past albums. And I think the musical highlights for me were the songs she played from the albums 1989 and Reputation because those are my two favorite albums. And the visuals were great.

Did Taylor mention anything about the differences of performing at the Tokyo Dome versus other cities?
She didn't really say much about challenges and I don't think she would have said anything boring or negative anyway. It's a concert, man! She just said that people are style-conscious and it's fun for her to perform here, and how so many people were here and she was like, so grateful and stuff like that.

What time did the concerts end?
I think both started around 6 pm. I think it ended around like 9 pm; both concerts probably ended around 9 or 9:30-ish. Pretty long, but a lot of fun.

Overall, how would you rate your experience at the Taylor Swift concert? Was it worth 50,000 yen for both concerts?
I think it was worth it because I had fun with my good friends. Also, I got to go two days--I got to experience it two times. I kind of grew up with Taylor Swift's music so I think it was something that was really worth it. Also, the concerts featured all the albums from her past, not only one album and a few hits. So I was happy to hear all the songs.

Photo credit: Reuters

Anything else you want to say about the concert experience?
I enjoyed myself and it was a great time with my friends. A little bit expensive but I think the whole experience was super good. And I got to dress up, buy T-shirts and make bracelets, and trade with people and stuff like that. It was a totally good time.

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Double Dose of Taylor Swift - Part 1

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour made a special stop in Asia in February, with the Tokyo Dome hosting four spectacular shows. The cavernous 55,000-seat stadium, usually home to the Yomiuri Giants baseball team, looked and sounded different thanks to the tour. Lady E., a devoted Swiftie, managed to snag tickets for two nights, attending both concerts with a different friend each night.

Here are Elena's recollections of her Eras Tour concert experience. Buckle up for a Q&A fiesta as she answers questions about the setlist, the crowd, and the overall vibe.

How did you get ready for the concert? Who did you go with?

I went with A. to the first concert and with F. on the following night. We didn't really do anything to get ready for the concerts except make friendship bracelets. It is kind of a tradition to trade bracelets with other Taylor Swift fans before the concert.

What was the atmosphere like outside the venue before the concert started?
The merch ("merchandise"—ed.) booths are outside the venue where you buy stuff like T-shirts and other merch. So there were a lot of people, very excited, lining up for that. And then there were a lot of people taking photos of the Tokyo Dome and the groups of other fans.

What did you wear to the concert?
I wore a Taylor T-shirt, a beige one, after I bought it at a merch booth. So I wore that and jeans. It wasn't that cold inside the stadium even though it was February. Once we were inside, we took off our jackets because we were screaming and stuff. So...energy...and that's why I was not really cold.

How did the crowd react to the opening act (if there was one)?
There wasn't any opening act in Tokyo.

How long were the concerts?
I think both were about three hours long.

Were there any parts of the two concerts you attended that were different? Was it the same show?
The Eras Tour has basically the same show everywhere. But there were two surprise songs in the set where Taylor sang different songs. They aren't on the setlist. So at every concert she just randomly picks two songs to add in. So, in Tokyo, two songs were different, but everything else was the same as the worldwide tour setlist.

Did you notice any difference in the sound quality of the music in the two different sections where you sat in Tokyo Dome? Where were your seats on the two days?

On the first day our seats were floor level, to the side, so I was close to the stage and I could see Taylor Swift really close in person. The second day, we were in the sixth row on the second tier, a bit farther away from the stage. I don't think there was any sound difference. The music is super loud and you can hear Taylor's voice everywhere. So I couldn't really hear or feel the difference.

Were there many fans from other countries attending the concert?

Yeah, there were a lot of Europeans and Americans--people who probably flew here. It seems they bought a lot of the good seats. And there were Asian people, clearly from other parts of Asia. Taylor only performed in Singapore and Japan on this leg of her tour. So I think a lot of people from like South Korea, China and other places flew here just to attend the concerts in Tokyo.

To be continued...

Wife, Partner, and Fire Patrol Leader

Meet Obi Wan Naomi

I doubt you have ever heard of the "Hi no Yojin" (Beware of Fire) tradition in Japan. It's a practice deeply rooted in community service. Last year, my wife Naomi assumed a role that embodies this communal spirit by becoming our local neighborhood association's fire patrol leader.

Back in the Edo Period -- from around 1600 to the late 1800s -- fire was the main way that Japanese folks stayed warm, fed and clean. Fire prevention efforts consisted of a group of neighbors walking around and beating two wooden sticks together to remind everyone to be careful and diligently tend to their fires. Local Hi no Yojin groups would walk around the area and clack wooden sticks together, an acoustic reminder for everyone to beware of fire.

A typical Hi no Yojin group in Fukui. 

Credit: Chunichi Shimbun

Even in modern Japan, many apartments and houses have no central heating and little insulation. People still tend to heat their homes, apartments and rooms with electric or gas space heaters. So, the tradition of a community fire watch lives on.

These days, the fire patrols are a responsibility shared by a neighborhood's residents, just like garbage sorting and disposal, or group clean-up days of drainage grates and parks. Our neighborhood is fortunate to have a good mix of people, but with an aging population and many empty nesters, our turn came to organize it and Naomi took on the task. According to her, the lengthy planning meetings were tiring, while the actual walkaround patrols were mostly short and symbolic. The patrols were once every couple of weeks during the winter months in the evening. Naomi's group, all sporting fluorescent safety vests, would take a brief walk around the neighborhood. They would clack the wooden sticks. This serves a dual purpose: reminding residents, especially the elderly, about fire safety. Additionally, the visible presence of the patrol acts as a deterrent to petty crime, an ersatz neighborhood watch, which they also do sporadically during the warmer months.

Naomi did her civic duty on behalf of our family by leading this activity for the local community. It does foster a sense of community spirit, which is probably why it persists to this day. And it's a great example for our daughters and me.

2023 in review Part 2

Summer still rocks. Maybe I am one of the few souls on this earth not too bothered personally by the warmer temperatures--yet. That said, it was a long, hot summer and the heat lingered through almost to the end of the year…

July

There is a park near our house where all the neighborhood festivals and gatherings happen. For the first time since the COVID pandemic social restrictions ended the community held its summer Obon dance festival. Marina was very excited and dressed up in cute summer yukata, which is a less ornate kimono-like garment that’s made of cotton or linen rather than silk. It’s much cooler for the wearer especially in the summer humidity.

I also went to a Seibu Lions game with Jun Kolanowski. Simple pleasures like watching the ballgame, drinking a few cold ones, and catching up.

August

We traveled to Naomi’s parents place in Hiroshima Prefecture for a visit over the Obon holidays. Our time there was filled with eating, catching up with them, more eating, drinking copious amounts of beer, and avoiding the heat. We went to the Japan seaside for an ocean swim and enjoyed the lack of traffic jams. I visited some friends and went to see two Hiroshima Carp games: one with my bud Scott Mackulski and the other with Lady E., which was a nice surprise.

This photo is Naomi and Marina paddling around a small pond with a fishing hole not far from where her parents live. Very relaxing, very pastoral.

September

Naomi and I celebrated our 20th anniversary this year. We found a new favorite seaside restaurant to have a nice dinner, mark the anniversary with away-from-kids time, and listen to nice jazz mixed with the sound of ocean waves. This photo is from our first anniversary.

October

Who is this? Meet Dick Desperado, famed Ontario outlaw. Or maybe a guy in a Hallowe’en costume. You decide.

November

I greatly enjoy the chance to go out hiking with the boys. November’s spelunking was another opportunity to have some quality time ragging on each other, get some exercise, and drink a frothy cold one at the end of the day. It was near Hanno in Saitama Prefecture, and I really liked the temple we visited up on the mountain that was dedicated to “zori”—Japanese thong sandals. Only in Japan, man.

December

My brother Steve-O and I have been trying to talk more online since our last trip home to Canada. It’s his birthday this month. So why not celebrate that? He’s a good person, a great sibling and he’s found a lovely, smart wife to round out his rough edges. Happy b-day, bro.

Oh yeah…in December the Rising Family™ took a trip to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. But I’ll cover that in a separate post, coming soon!

Photo credit: Alamy in Leeds

Let me conclude this review by expressing my gratitude to our metaphysical sponsor, Mr. Henry Rollins, for his ongoing support for the past three years. Interestingly, a recent photo of Hank unintentionally captured a pose that seems to embody the state of the world at the end of 2023.

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2023 in review Part 1

Here we are in late February, and I have yet to complete my reflections on the Rising Family’s™ past year with my traditional roundup of representative photos. No excuses, dear readers.

For me, 2023’s theme was war and place (no typo, bear with me).

First, we have the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza that provide more horrific images of human suffering and death almost every day. As these major wars persist and people become numb to the violence, it seems as though there are more active armed conflicts involving sovereign states than at any time since World War II. Depressing, right?

Adding to that sobering tapestry is the state of our planet’s living space. The omnipresent narrative of rising temperatures and the disheartening signs that efforts to curb global warming aren’t improving things has been presented with a monotonous, predictable sense of fear. This situation is unprecedented, and our collective efforts and words seem powerless to prevent the relentless progression of this catastrophic trend.

Personally, I believe there are still reasons to be hopeful. My Rising Daughters™ are still forming their worldviews and careening toward their futures. My optimism remains unwavering. Our everyday life experiences showcase encouraging developments that counterbalance the grim headlines of 2023. The promise of artificial intelligence, the growing prevalence of eco-conscious initiatives (and concrete grassroots action), and the intrinsic desire for peace among ordinary people all contribute to my sense of hope. Thus, I’ve boxed up all the shit news from 2023 and put it in my mental attic, and gaze toward to a better 2024.

January

It was a happy day because it was my firstborn daughter's birthday. 16 years: so far, so good, and “I am thankful” is an understatement. Lady E. is on a good trajectory and we celebrated that. As a “dad-ism” I told her: Never let anyone say you can’t do something, especially if it’s your own voice. Also, learn and have fun and enjoy the moment. But I don’t think she’ll remember any of that--ha ha.

February

I love Enoshima. It’s a small island south of Yokohama that is a popular tourist destination and a getaway for locals seeking some respite from the city. Every year the island hosts an illumination event with a bajillion festive colored bulbs lighting up the night sky, and with towering Christmas trees and freaky light shows. This year, Naomi and Marina joined in the gawking at the beauty assaulting our eyes.

March

My wife and I occasionally like to have some time away from our daughters. As the weather warmed up in March, we decided to go see some of the lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji. All of the “Fuji-go-ko” (Fuji five lakes area) are an easy day drive for us, and Lake Kawaguchi offered beautiful weather and lovely views of Fuji-san still ringed with snow on the day we visited.

April

Marina, a.k.a. “The M.”, entered her middle school phase in April AND celebrated her birthday, too.

May

Naomi and I took another mental health scooter jaunt southward to the coast. In this case it was to Jogashima Park just as the spring flowers were blooming. The flora were as beautiful as she was in this photo.

June

Not much happened in June. I did take a business trip to Bangkok. One of the perks after all the meetings is to hail a tuk-tuk and take in the buzzing vitality of that amazing city from the backseat. Who needs air conditioning?

To be continued...

Blazing into 2024 Dondo-yaki style

Image by pngtree.com

In the first few days of January, as is our tradition, the Rising Family™ kicked off the new year by visiting a nearby Shinto shrine. Like many other folks, we went there to pray for good luck, health and happiness in the coming year. Then, on January 20, I doubled-down on Japanese new year traditions by going to the Dondo-yaki festival at Umi no Koen (Marine Park), one of my favorite seaside parks in Yokohama, just 25 kms south of where we live.

Kadomatsu

But what is Dondo-yaki? It's a traditional festival held throughout Japan in mid-January, marking the end of new year celebrations. Sometimes described as a “fire festival”, people burn decorations such as kadomatsu bamboo decorations they place near the entrance of their homes or businesses at the onset of the new year to bring good fortune. It's considered bad form to reuse these decorations, so they are dispatched in a huge, roaring bonfire to keep in good stead with the gods. You can also burn paper omikuji fortune scrolls or omamori amulets from last year, then buy new ones for good luck this year. After the fire’s intensity subsides, mochi rice cakes or sweet potatoes are roasted above it. As morethantokyo.com puts it to describe the festival’s spiritual complexity, Dondo-yaki are bonfires where communities burn their New Year's decorations while sending the god of the new year back to the realm of the spirits. My takeaway is I like the symbolic gesture of burning the markers of the immediate past and moving forward.

The pyres before the flames

The Dondo-yaki festival at Marine Park is an annual family event. After we moved to Yokohama with the Rising Daughters™, one year we bundled them up and attended our first Dondo-yaki at Marine Park. This year, I went solo on my scooter since our now-teenagers deemed it "too cold and boring." Nevertheless, I was glad I went. The salty sea air, the scent of burning cedar and bamboo, and the savory food aromas were memorable. The low buzz of group conversations and the shrieks of kids having fun created a pleasant atmosphere to truly welcome the new year. 

I strolled past stalls where you could buy street food, practice calligraphy, watch traditional dances, or purchase raffle tickets. Amid all this activity, three huge bonfires were set alight, surrounded by several hundred people, all kept safely away from the flames by local firefighting units.

Burn baby burn, Dondo Inferno

As I wandered around the sandy beach and under the cedar trees to observe everything and stay warm, I contemplated the year ahead. Tradition and natural settings sometimes provide the most refreshing perspective on what the new year may bring.

😁😁😁

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Tremendous 2024

The Rising Family™ had a delightful hybrid holiday season, blending tradition with a touch of travel adventure.

Our home in Yokohama sparkled with outdoor festive lights, and this radiant Christmas tree flanked by Santa's two resident helpers set the stage for our traditional photo moment. However, this year, we craved more than just the familiar festivities. We longed for the twinkle of Yuletide lights and warmer outdoor temperatures. We snapped this photo early before we took our Christmas holiday on the road. Our greatest gift this year was the chance to explore southern Vietnam, bask in its warmth, and connect with its generous and welcoming people.

Although our location changed, the holiday spirit was paramount. We engaged in online calls with family in the Great White North and experienced the joy of Christmas Day at the beautiful and renowned Tan Dinh Church in Ho Chi Minh City.

Wishing everyone peace, joy, and a heartfelt Joyeux Noel. Here's to an amazing 2024 ahead!

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