We've tried out MySpace and You Tube, and now there's this thing called Revver. Hey, anything for more exposure!

Now that News From The Other Side has opened up a new office in Tokyo, we'll be getting the low down on the latest and greatest in the capital. We're hoping to get some more audio ramblings for you lovely people soon so you can keep tabs on what the hell's going on in Osaka, Tokyo and beyond. What did we talk about? What didn't we talk about! Posted by Alex and Rob.

Hans and Jim wrap up Cinco de Mayo festivities* and prepare to go out birdwatching at night and all day the next day which would've been 6 May...!? Honestly, I don't really get it either. *(Aparently Cinco de Mayo is getting really big in America and they're talking about making it a national holiday someday). Other stuff about Hans or by him: http://newsfromtheotherside.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=90494 ... I'll post his other links soon, but for now, just have a look around NFTOS and you'll find him several times! This post is by Rob.

"Here's the Quest remix of the ALT Rap. I don't consider it an improvement. Just new packaging. Make sure to give the special thanks and acknowledgments required when you post it. And some art is attached. It's one of my crappy little speakers. Hope it sounds better on yours! Have a good one. -Johnny a.k.a. Quest" OK! Are those some Nabe Party samples I hear in there Johnny? Link to all versions of the ALT Rap on MySpace. Vocals by Rob. Credit for the lyrics go to John Sanders and Rob, and for the recording of the vocal track to Alex. Posted by Rob

This is the already infamous ALT rap. It was kicked off the JET Program's ALT forum, but has managed well over 5000 downloads for the video on this site and on Learn Japanese (and no telling how many downloads on other sites). Shout out to Bike Club Osaka for giving us encouragement and helping us generate interest in Osaka in the early going. There have been requests for the just the vocal track--um, are you sure?--so here's a link to that: ALT Rap vocals only. All versions are also on MySpace. Feel free to samlpe, mix, whatever. Just make sure that credit for the lyrics go to John Sanders and Rob Holbrook, and for the music to Alex Brooke. Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu! Posted by Rob.

Café Vélo (a mixi community) was an idea Alex Brooke and I came up with sometime around October of last year. Until then, Alex had been blogging on Kansai Underground and dabbling in audio podcasts on the Beb & Alex Show, while I had been blogging on my MSN Community (until erroneously deleting the whole thing late one night). I believe our earliest Café Vélo experiments were hosted on the nascent Learn Japanese Pod. We wanted to hang out and do audio podcasts in cafes that could be easily reached by bicycle. Each show would feature a new Osaka location and special guests. We would discuss upcoming events, art, music, food, culture, the menu, etc. Here are four links, while I try to track down media to upload from my laptop. Intro: What is Café Vélo?, Broadcast #1 @ Café Kiti, Broadcast #2 @ Café Absinthe, Broadcast #3 @ IMP McDonald's, and Broadcast #4 @ Café Absinthe VIDEO. Click below for a previously unreleased Café Vélo archival recording (23-Oct-2005) featuring Alex, Wakako and me at Amanto in Nakazaki-cho, Osaka.

Graphic by Rob.
Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Café Vélo

El Gringo is a World Cup freak, so here's an apology in advance for the next six weeks of blogging. In the U.S. "football" has almost always meant something else, and most certainly always will--it's a cultural thing. But these days it seems like soccer is finally crossing over into the mainstream. To most Europeans and South Americans, the U.S. might still be considered underdogs, but... Well, just check out the video "Don't Tread" by U.S. National Team midfielder Clint Dempsey with Houston rappers XO and the late BIG HAWK. I first saw it on US Soccer.com where there are heaps of soccer vids. Posted by Rob.

So, now you can download us and subscribe to us on iTunes, and Alex has his songs on the Podsafe Network, then both of us have stuff on My Space, and now there's "YOU TUBE!" Posted by Rob.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't wanna diss Tokyo (yet). It's just that Covent Garden called me the other day to ask if I was still going to do an event I'd been scheduled to do in Osaka before I up and moved here, and then there's Oasis Lounge is hosting this event, Modest, which promises to be a lot of fun! I don't know the special guest DJ on the right of the flyer, but I believe those are cutouts of (L-R) Matt Duffy (a.k.a. DJ TripleByPass), DJ Joey and DJ Dimitri (owner-manager of Cafe Absinthe). Also, Oasis ownder Dan, bartender Shawn and Osaka house music icon I-Bec are all known to keep their music on hand and are apt to jump in unannounced from time to time. So, without a doubt, Osaka will be hoppin' this weekend! And, if you can't make it into town, then you can do like I'll be trying to do and tuning into Modest through the Oasis downloads page, providing you can figure out how to use eDonkey. Meanwhile, here in Tokyo, I have made some contacts on the DJ & music scene, but no gigs yet. On the career front, I just had my first job interview (the fish are nibblin' but not bitin' yet). Flyer expertly designed by TripleByPass and Will Spin. This post by Rob.

The gang hangs out at David M's place back in January. David gets bored while two get sleepy and two get tipsy. Finally, an ex-girlfriend's wasuremono「忘れ物�provides amusement for all! . Alex's Matrix routine later became a Japanese lesson. Let's enjoy eating delicious nabe! 食���ょ��

Posted by Rob.

Subscribe to our food channel, Prapatang Kitchen, on iTunes

This is a "jikoshoukai" or self-introduction Makiko did in Japanese for Alex's language podcast Learn Japanese. Filmed and edited by Rob. -r

This just in from my father (sorry for associating your good name with this homepage, Dad) about my brother, who is a birdwatcher / amateur ornithologist: "Hans just called to give yesterday's report from Cape May, New Jersey. Its his second year in the WSB (World Series of Birding) representing the Maryland Ornithological Society. The competition is divided up into various categories, he has participated in the Cape May County listing along with 3 other "young turks" of the Maryland birding community. This is the second year the MOS has sponsored this team rather than the traditional "duffers". Last year the young turks came in second by 2 or 3 birds and the perennial winning team that is New Jersey based were worried that they might get beat in the near future. This year after a day of careful scouting, and going from just after midnight to 11:30 pm (nearly 24 hours) they racked up 179 species and in spite of missing several key rarities and having a very poor migration pattern, they took first place by 10 species even beating last year's first place by 2 species! It is the first time in over 10 years that the MOS has taken the trophy--so guess who's hyped up today? He said he was on his way to the awards meeting now and commented "so now we'll have to stand up in front everyone and receive the trophy" as though that was the hardest part of the whole adventure!" Links: 1. WSB winner rankings by category (fourth group listed). 2. Winner Cape May County (see 13th line on the list). Footnote: After cleaning out their vehicle, Hans says he found 28 "energy drink" containers (ranging from 24 oz. cups of coffee, to 16 oz. Rock Stars, to 8-10 oz. Red Bulls, Cokes, Dr Peppers, etc). On Monday he called in sick, says he has a terrible headache. Dehydration? -r

One of my earliest art inspirators, Wendy Jane Bantam, is having a show opening this weekend at Kiechel Fine Art Gallery, 34th & Old Cheney, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Drinks afterwards at Lazlo's, 56th and Old Cheney. You might not be able to make the opening, but I thought I'd take the opportunity to give her a shout out and to give you a couple links to her works. Introducing the artwork of Wendy Jane Bantam. This post is by Rob.

Rolf & Carys recently visited Osaka, and here is a little glimpse of Japan as seen through their lens. I'll have a photo for this post in the morning. Something happened to the banner art again as well. Oops! Sorry 'bout that Alex. I should stay out of the settings. This post is by Rob.

Who is Rob ? Find out here...

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon in Kawasaki City, Saitama Prefecture and the visiting team, Cerezo Osaka, were as appalling as usual. This time, Makiko and I caught them at a stadium with puzzling kanji characters. And, I forgot to ask a local to help us pronounce the stadium's name. Kawasaki is home to the J-League's equally appalling Frontale. After the game, we stopped by The Pink Cow, which I hadn't been inside yet. The video is about 4 minutes long. This post is by Rob.

This is a couple of segments from the evening I DJ'ed with Ryosuke and Satoshi at Cafe Pangea in Sakai City 29 April 2006. It was a good evening. Thanks to Satoshi and Saori for the ride and to Makiko, Yuka, Charles and his friend for coming from so far away!

ツãƒ?フマズã?¯ã‚­ãƒŽã‚³ã?®ãƒ†ãƒ¼ãƒžã?®èŠ¸è¡“展示会ã?§ã?™ã€‚今日ãƒ?ャルズã?¨ä¸€ç·’ã?«è¦‹ã?«è¡Œã??ã?¾ã?—ã?Ÿã€‚是é?žè¡Œã?£ã?¦è¦‹ã?¦ã??ã? ã?•ã?„。地下鉄谷町線ã?®ï¼‘番出å?£ã‚’出ã?¦åŒ—野病院方å?‘ã?¸ã€?JR環状線高架沿ã?„ã?«å?³ã?«å…¥ã‚Šã?™ã??。中崎町駅より１分程度。（音楽ã?Œã‚­ãƒŽã‚³ã?½ã??ã?ªã?„？）

Charles and I got together today to make some music. What is this music about? What is it for? Only you know the answer. Posted by Alex.

This is a link to a piece on digital music that Alex wrote for the folks at Bike Club Osaka... "With millions of people sharing music digitally and many millions more to come what is happening to music ? Is the record contract dead ? Is the music industry in trouble or onto something bigger and better?" Read more.  This post by Rob.

A message from Waka from Wakayama...and Alex too.