Art on the Streets of Montreal

My yearly visit to Montreal has been rather quiet this time around. The friends I had when I initially left almost three years ago are slowly drifting away from each other and myself, so it's been harder to gather them together like I used to during earlier visits - but I guess that makes me grateful for the ones who do show up. That being said, I ended up a lot less busy than I had originally thought I would be.
 Thankfully, though, my visit this year was in Summer, coinciding with the yearly line-up of festivals that take place in Montreal one after the other during the warmer season. My hometown of Montreal is nothing if not a city of celebration, with high media-attention-gathering events such as the Just for Laughs festival of comedy, or the Jazz Festival. There's always something going on in Montreal, unless it's too damn cold.

 As it so happened, practically just out my doorstep, the city-wide "Nuit Blanche" event took place. Nuit Blanche (literally "White Night" but signifying "All-Nighter") is an event spanning three nights in a row where the streets fill with art and performances during the hours between sunset and sunrise. The trains run continuously, uninterrupted by their usual curfew, allowing commuters to get home easily. My friends themselves did happen to have a curfew, though, so I didn't wander the streets too late into the night, but I did get to see what was happening in my own area as part of the event.

Princess Mononoke!

On Mont-Royal street, painters were turning the very pavement into their own canvas, boldly displaying large pieces of art. This year, the theme was cinema posters. It was a little inspiring to see people go at it, with each artist or set of artists in various stages of completion, surrounded by crowds of wandering in between them. Though many apply for the chance to have a spot on which to paint well in advance, very few do get chosen, so it's a great honor to be chosen by the city to have the spotlight shine down on you.
Unfortunately, it appeared two artists chose the movie poster for "Jaws" as their subject. They must've been quite exasperated to find out afterwards. Like my friend said, that's kind of like finding someone's wearing the same prom dress as you are on the night of the event. Ouch.
 Regardless, I'll probably walk up the street one last time once the event is done with, just to see what the finished results ended up being.

Between Brothers

A tandem human flag between my brother and I. Regards from North America!

Silly Inventions 6: The Synthetic Woman (a Museum Full)

#6: Synthetic Women

I DO NOT ENDORSE THIS.

Actually, they're sex dolls. For a limited time only, in the posh neighborhood of Ginza, a museum dedicated to showcasing sex dolls opened. And by that, I don't mean blow-up dolls. Japan, apparently, has come a long way from those.
 Really, I shouldn't even be surprised. This is truly the only country in the world where even the most perverse basement dwellers could get together and pool their resources to create a full synthetic woman just so they wouldn't have to speak to a real one in the outside world. But here I am, and after having toured the small museum, I now feel like I know more about sex dolls than any man who hasn't used one has the right to.
 Pictures weren't allowed! Sorry if mine are blurry, I kind of had to go at it through a stealth-cam. I gladly deliver!
The museum was comprised of two rooms (boutique not included), one displaying sex dolls of models old and new, arranged in various poses, while the other one showcased some casts through which the dolls were molded, as well as having a doll that could be interacted with (moved, touched) while a savvy clerk explained its functions.
 The dolls were frighteningly realistic. With flexible skeletons that could be moved and articulated in places accurate to the true human anatomy, as well as a full jacket of silicon skin, from a distance, they certainly did look like real people. The level of detail in the lips and faces was jarring, and of course, for the hair, nothing would have sufficed but actual human hair.
With such a level of detail, though, it was almost disturbing to hold one's wrist and realize the one thing it lacked was the warmth of actual flesh, making it seem like I was touching a corpse. Plus, the skin had an inhuman smoothness, an absence of pores and veins and wrinkles - all things I didn't expect to find on a doll, but keep them from being perfect. I think I'm a little grateful for that, actually.
 What kind of threw me off however was the centerpiece of the main room, a doll just around 145 centimeters tall or so that had all the traits of a ten year old girl. I don't know whether it was meant to provoke thought or not, but whatever the case, its mere existence was both fascinating and a little upsetting. But if it holds pedophiles back from going after the real thing, then maybe it's a good thing? Most of the questions I had here went unanswered, for better or for worst.
I still don't know how one goes about cleaning a sex doll after use, but its mildly entertaining to imagine some guy dragging one into a bathroom, running the bath water, holding it upside down, spreading its legs and scrubbing with a sponge.
 I guess I'll never know.

Godzilla Is Relevant

When it was announced that the 2014 Godzilla movie would be released in cinemas later than any other country (July as opposed to May), I flipped my shit. I didn't think I could wait two months. As a child, Godzilla was my hero, odd as it is to say. And while it's hard to relate to a man in a giant lizard rubber suit, I genuinely tried. Looking back now, I can see I was just one kid in many in the grand scheme of things. A very large amount of those movies were totally marketed for kids, before they were turned into rather mindless action movies.

 There was an exception! The first film, released in 1954, is astounding even
to this day. No one really thinks of it anymore, but the whole thematic for Godzilla was that mankind created him and unleashed him upon the world, and that his one purpose was to leave destruction and death and radiation in his wake. If it sounds like I'm talking about nuclear weaponry, then we're right on the same page. That's right, the 1954 film was an allegory about the tragedy that is nuclear warfare. All you have to do to believe it is look at the scenes during which the characters walk through overflowing hospital grounds, filled with the dead or the dying - the direct aftermath of Hiroshima in a nutshell.

 In truth, I was hoping the newest movie would share similar themes. It doesn't, not truly, though it's hard not to wince a little bit at the sight of a nuclear reactor crumbling and the tsunami scene. If this iteration of Godzilla's saga were made in Japan, that might not have flown, but for Legendary Pictures, it's pretty much fair game.
 And although it's a fair criticism to make that the titular monster shows up pretty late in his own movie, my, what a presence he has when he does. The first time Godzilla roars, it's hard not to feel like the ground is actually shaking. It also helps that the cameras are placed near ground, as if we're looking up at the action. All in all, everything seems so much bigger.

 Legendary Pictures' film is more of a sci-fi movie than any of the previous films, and there's genuine effort put into making this story of giant monsters stomping on cities believable. It's worlds apart from the pseudo-science of the previous generations' Godzillas ("ooh! that alien looks suspiciously like a Japanese guy in spandex!") After looking it up, it turns out that the fighting patterns of large animals such as bears were integrated into the way Godzilla moves in order to add an extra degree of realism to the creature. With that on top of the movie boasting the incredible CGI it does, we've come quite far from the people in costumes punching each other on top of model cities.

 One last thing before I spoil too much, is that I have to mention the brilliance of the HALO drop scene that appeared in so many of the trailers, where soldiers parachute down in the ruins of San Francisco. That scene could've been replaced with nothing but the soldiers jumping out, and then fast-forwarded into them landing. Following one soldier through the whole drop, though, does so much to put the viewer right into the action on top of allowing the camera, usually on ground level, to see the creature from above, where its size can really be put into perspective when measured against the surrounding skyscrapers. And the tension is so palpable.

Kayaking in Okutama

I recently made the discovery of an outdoor activity club that makes frequent excursions to places around Tokyo. With hiking aside, I guess it's been a while since I've done any outdoor type of sport, and so I took the chance the moment I saw it, made a bank transfer, and showed up to one of the group's meetings in a remote corner of Tokyo prefecture named Okutama, which is pretty much the farthest place you can go from the heart of the city while still being considered in Tokyo.
 Okutama is untouched by the sprawl of the metropolis, though, and is a little bit more than an hour from Shinjuku by train. It's a pocket, or rather, a chain of pockets of civilization nestled between green mountains, with valleys and rivers and waterfalls crisscrossing every which way. Like so many places outside of the cities of Japan, people here live off the land.

 As it turned out, the day was wet and miserable. After five full scorching sunny days, a typhoon swept through Japan and pissed rain down on me on the very day of my outing. I wasn't too thrilled at first, but it turned out to be quite alright in the end - because kayaking, as the organizer said, gets you wet all the same.

 I hadn't kayaked in 6 years! The last time I went was in the Laurentides, in the open sea surrounded by whales, penguins and seals and a sky full of boobies (the bird species named booby, to be sure, though the other type would've been interesting too.) Kayaking brought back good memories, but I wondered if I remembered anything about how to row at all.
 Turns out I did! Fun fun fun.
Our group rowed up the misty canals of Okutama, against quite a bit of current brought on, no doubt, by the rain. Though many of my fellow rowers were spiraling uncontrollably, I managed quite alright, if I were to be my own judge!
 With the mist sitting right on top of the river, the whole setting had some magic to it. We were, in fact, down in a valley, with high cliff sides on either side and the one eventual wood bridge looming high overhead. It felt like the set of an Indiana Jones adventure. Even though a river in the countryside hardly compares to the Atlantic Ocean, kayaking in Okutama was very fulfilling in its own right, and I probably could've spent the day exploring the misty green valley if I were given the choice.

 Eventually I was even allowed to jump off one of the cliffs and into the water, which was actually quite deep. I did a front flip right in, forgetting I was wearing a life vest. I can tell you with certainty the life vests work, now.
 After a few hours, we made our way back and pulled the kayaks out of the water, and that was pretty much that. But since I made the discovery of the group, there's great opportunity to go at it as often as I care to spend the money for, and try lots of new outdoorsy things!

Silly Inventions 5: Turtle Launcher

#5: Turtle Launcher

As far as the toy industry goes, Japan's pretty innovative. The most mundane objects can be turned into delightful things. If even the idea of it is entertaining, then it's put on the market.
 So, why not a turtle that launches out of its shell, exposing a swimsuit-wearing body? It's not even a joke. Here's the Turtle Launcher, ladies and gentlemen.

Life-changing, I know. The name of this product is actually "Aitsu, Kame yamerutte yo." Which roughly translates to "this guy's giving up on being a turtle," but I think Turtle Launcher summarizes it about just as well. These toys come in six different varieties (different kinds of turtles and tortoises) and are sold for just around 2$ from gashapon machines. One of them even wears a bikini.
 Of course, upon discovering the existence of these wonderful creatures, I absolutely had to find one for myself, and sure as hell, they're being distributed just about anywhere you would expect to find gashapon toys. Wanna see it in action? Your balls aren't ready for this.

God damn it.

Okay, actually, I got a lot better at launching it after that. There's actually a trick to it. And while it won't fly into the sky like the promotional video, it can travel a meter or so and right into your cup of coffee. I know, right? You better get it.

Let's Try This Bon Odori Thing

Shredded ice and my jimbei.

Obon is kind of a big deal, as far as festivals go. Though it isn't treated as an affair as grim as it sounds, at the very root of it, it's a celebration of the memory of the deceased, be it the recently deceased or ancestors long gone. And Japan being such an ancient country, you can bet there's a lot of ancestry involved. On the surface though, it's a rather cheery thing! Children are somewhat abundant and little booths sell water-filled balloon toys and shredded ice with syrup. Go figure.
 Rather than being a single concentrated event, Obon festivals take place in every corner of town, large neighborhoods and small ones alike, on many nights throughout the Summer. My neighborhood had theirs recently! So I delved in.
 I came equipped! I actually got to pull out my jimbei, which is a form of traditional clothing much easier to wear than the yukata, which is the Summer kimono. Though it isn't absolutely necessary to wear traditional clothing during Obon, most people do.

 In a nutshell, here's what happens: a large stage is erected in the center of a square and lanterns hung. Up on the stage, drummers play music to the beat of very ancient songs, and a procession of dancers (everyday people from the neighborhood, mostly the elderly) dance around the stage, usually clockwise. The motions to the dance vary from song to song, and the songs vary from region to region, but most of them are tied to the area in which the festival is taking place. A region with a history of mining may have a dance that looks like shoveling. 

Altogether, it's a merry little thing and quite a few kids also join in.
 I actually very briefly joined the dance and gave it a try. I suddenly felt very awkward and jumped out like a man on fire. I'm sorry for all those whose ancestors I've shamed! There's a video of it, but I'd much sooner take it with me to the grave. I'll try harder if I go next year!

Stand Back, I'm A Pokemon Master

You've come to the wrong neighborhood.

I lied, actually. I'm retired. I'm a retired Pokemon Master. But then again, hundreds of thousands of children from my generation can probably say the same. Ongoing fans, rejoice, though! In the Land of the Rising Sun, the passion still burns strong, and young fans are renewed. The television series is still going strong, and new movies and games still pop up sporadically. Pokemon even has its own morning talk show thing, hosted by a fairly well known model/celebrity.
Be that as it is, it's not surprise that the top of the Roppongi Hills Mori Arts Tower has been turned into a giant Pokemon fandom center in celebration of the, like, 40th movie or something. Alright, the 17th. Whatever the case, it's been deemed that this event calls for a great celebration, so the observation deck floor of the towering building is now filled with thematic art and sketches by the creator of the series as well as fun games for children and the disabled. Shall I take you through one such delightful activity?
 Yes, yes I believe I shall.

 Behold! It's a labyrinth of Pokemon! If you encounter a turn, you have to turn. And you end up with one of four different Pokemon at the exit! Okay, to be fair, it's a game for young children, but it's amazing that the presenters will let any adult try with a straight face. Somewhere in here, there's something insightful to be said about rediscovering your inner child and getting giddy about something that used to be all the rage a decade and a half ago. You'll notice soon enough that most of the crowd here is actually not small children.

 A Pikachu-themed restaurant has also temporarily been opened on the observation deck floor. Going there on a Saturday afternoon, though, proved to be tantamount to queuing for a Disneyland ride. It actually costs 15$ to even have access to the observation deck floor, so I wasn't to keen on spending much more on dinner and having to wait in line on top of that, so I skipped this time around (a rarity, I know!) But it seemed to me that the food was actually really neat looking in terms of presentation! Yeah, that actually looks like Pikachu, alright. I've learned after my fair share of themed restaurants though, that presentation doesn't equal delicious taste, and you're only paying for the former. But what would I know!

 And of course, exit through the gift shop. Rumor around town is that if you do visit the tower at a certain time, you can meet Pikachu, in giant mascot form, but I had no such luck, though I did harbor a secret hope that I'd find him waiting in here. Still, I can think of a person or two back in Canada who would want something from this kind of gift shop, but I abstained this time around. In real life unlike in the games, you can't just nab yourself Pokemon without paying a pretty dollar. As my parents would know.

Pepper isn't Science Fiction

 Softbank's one of the big players in Japan. It's basically a telecom company, like Verizon and such. But telecom companies have a foot in every door in this country, and so it turns out that Softbank is heavily invested in the field of robotics. That's usually a fact of little consequence, but recently, Softbank and the robotics company, Aldebaran, have decided to show the world their love child, named Pepper.

So much promise!

 Now, Pepper's not just some toy. He's programmed to understand 4500 (Japanese) words, and be able to make conversation. He's able to face you when you're talking and even read the tone of your voice and respond appropriately. The slogan to Pepper's reveal commercial was "this isn't science-fiction." Honestly, I could've been fooled. It turns out Japan really does have a bit of a lead when it comes to technology.
 When Ken and I walked by the Harajuku branch of the Softbank store, I was thrilled to find out that Pepper was available to be seen by the public. So we stood in a thankfully rather short line and finally got our chance to speak to the robot itself.

 "Oh! You've been looking at me since earlier, huh?" said Pepper as we approached. "So, have you been anywhere nice lately?"
 "Well I went to Kamakura recently," Ken brought up.
 "Oh. That's nice. Did you know the Osaka branch of the Softbank store is considered to be a therapeutic and relaxing place?"
  And it kind of occurred to me that Pepper's a bit of a dick. He shamelessly took several opportunities to direct the flow of the conversation towards Softbank products! God damn it, Pepper. I know you're on the clock, but you could've crushed my hopes a little less blatantly.

 Even so, it was kind of cool how Pepper would move towards the speaker and gesture realistically while talking. I guess the truth is, programming a robot to speak doesn't mean it will make for good conversation. In a nutshell, Pepper's a pretty shitty listener!
 All that being said, though, Pepper's going to be commercialized as a home robot and will go for 2000$-ish starting next year. Hey, that's actually not such a terrible price at all. Hopefully the home model isn't going to be as much of a little salesman as the representative in the shop. I think it's a fascinating step towards the future, and it may just be that everyone will have little robots to keep company, one day.

Sakuragaoka Has Goats

If you've ever taken a walk in Shibuya around mid-afternoon, you might've come across a pair of young ladies walking goats up and down the busy streets. Regular people don't really own that kind of pet in Tokyo, so you can just about guess that, yes, indeed, some restaurant/bar/cafe out there is home to those two goats. The place in question is Sakuragaoka, south of Shibuya station. I went in with Ken for a closer look.
 The goats, named Chocolat and Sakura respectively, casually chill outside of the cafe in a small, cozy looking enclosure, and you can actually smell them from a little bit away. It's not that they smell terrible or anything, but goats smell like goats. Y'know, that barnyard smell. I tried to stick my hand in and pet Chocolat, but he headbutt my hand. The damage was more emotional than anything else though. How rude. Chocolat's a bit of an asshole.

  Heading in, though, the cafe's got a pleasant, soft-bosanova, chill atmosphere, which I guess isn't unexpected of a cafe. It's spacy and the lights are dim, and it has a bit of a vintage look to it.
 I had stumbled upon reviews for Sakuragaoka at an earlier point and was surprised to see how highly regarded the food was. I can at least vouch that their lunchtime menu pork chop made for a pleasant lunch, and Ken was quite happy with their choice of salad dressing.

:>

  Sakuragaoka isn't a cafe with a theme, I realized quick enough, and I should probably stress that. The goats, I have no fucking idea what they're actually there for, as it's clear that they're part of the backdrop and don't really serve any other purpose - not even that of being eaten. Maybe they simply belong to the owner and he or she decided to just annex their pen to the cafe, which doesn't really do anything to highlight their presence at all. Point being, Sakuragaoka is a cafe with goats, not a goat-cafe, however much I was hoping it would be.