June has sailed by as the SS FIA braved both changing weather and calm seas. Shacho and Missus had us make port at Shimoda in Izu, where we took to shore leave in the true sailor’s tradition creating some remarkable moments of Farewell, Welcome, Team work and Rhythm Training. Many of us have tales to tell about Shimoda.　

下田の黒船祭 - Shimoda Black Ships

Having heard about Shimoda from some of the Yazaki Kenshusei I was looking for a chance to visit and was lucky enough to hear about the 69th Black Ships Festival, which took place on the 17th May.  The seaside resort was inundated with American flags and hundreds of people turned up to see all the events on offer.  There was a parade of the US and Japanese Navies with many other groups joining in including some important people from the cities of Shimoda and its sister Newport, Rhode Island, a number of marching bands and a children’s unicycle club.

Once the parade was over we headed to the nearby Gyokusenji temple where a re-enactment of the signing of the treaty between US and Japan was held.  After watching the show we were introduced to the president of the Shimoda International Club who offered to give us a free tour of the city.  Firstly we were taken to the market area where we were given some tasty fish and bamboo-shoot soup, grilled fish (possibly aji), some onigiri and a few of us tried our hand at making some mochi.  We were then led around the city whilst our guide gave us some interesting historical anecdotes.

Later on some of the marching bands then gave a concert in the Civic Centre but the real gems were to be found on the market streets where small musical groups were playing on the corners with a few benches arranged so that you could stop and enjoy to your heart’s content.

All in all it was a great start to my summer with a bit of modern Japanese history which I didn’t know too much about, coupled with a fantastic day at the seaside.

by Joe

The FIA Invasion

 

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Navigating Zuri

Where are you from?  I’m from New Jersey.
Is that in NY-state?!! Uh-Oh…….
Tell us about your family: I have brothers and sisters…...
What did you do before you came to Japan? I joined the Air National Guard. I worked one weekend a month and 15 days in Summer. As part of the ANG we were the reserve, so we weren’t on active duty except on certain days.
  What about your studies? In the air force I studied avionics. Then I went to college majoring    in sciences but later changed my major to East Asian studies with a minor in Medieval studies: European wars and weaponry……
What is your Alma Mater? Rutgers…...
Why East Asian Studies? I was into animation and Japanese pop culture, so I chose to go in that direction…….
Where else have you traveled? I spent time in Turkey and the Azores islands -1054 miles off the coast of Portugal as part of a federal mission…..
Tell us about some of your great loves: I love Japanese dramas and my favourite actress is: Ayase Haruka

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Favorite Haunts:

Prawn and Avocada Couscous by Pavla

Shimoda is a quiet, seaside town , but amidst the small town décor one can pick out two gems: The Cat Bar and Tosaya Soulbar.

Intrepid Izakaya lovers, KV and KT discovered the Cat Bar on main street. The owner, a bodybuilding jazz trumpet player proudly serves Black beer, Lime Sake and Udon. After a Jazzy repose, sporting a map and a recommendation we discovered that all roads lead to Tosaya Soulbar. It stood at the end of a lovely bridgelet that perhaps still remembers Colonel Perry’s footsteps. Regulars beckoned us inside the tiny-looking structure, where we were immersed in mellow R&B spun by a DJ.  Tosayas expansive menu of hearty, yet healthy foods and excellent drink menu trapped us inside for what seemed like a floating eternity.  

 

Something to look for in July

• Riding the new Fukutoshin subway line in Tokyo. Reportedly this  new subway line connecting Saitama and Kanagawa is  doing well. A few teething problems, such as untimeliness, have been remarked upon by passengers trying it out. Overall the line which conveniently  passes through Ikebukuro and Shibuya is expected to ease congestion.
• The G8 summit 恩July 7, 2008 at Lake Toya
• i-phone release. July 11

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A Note From the Editor

THANK YOU! Brian B., Dan, Joe, John, Christine, Chris C., Zuri.

July will feature news from Out of this World. Oh, you’ve been There? And Done that? Send in blurbs, stories and photos of your travels to the beyond:

fiappcom@yahoo.com