This is a guy we've mentioned before who I've collaborated with at VJ-DJ events. You've gotta watch him recap the year that was with his Show Reel 2007! The file is pretty big, so you might want to pause the .mov file and let it load up before trying to watch it.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Richard Boase, VJ, graphic, art, design, video, flash, animation

[There was supposed to be a YouTube video here. Seems like there's either a YouTube bug or a Libsyn one, and I'm going to try and find out which it is. It's been happening with all new posts and edits since yesterday. All the code just disappears. I'll get to the bottom of this...]

Video by Alex Brooke. Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Patrick Widdess, Alex Brooke, Cambridge, England, UK, A Harmless Poet, Headstand, etc.

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This procession went by outside our house. I could hear it coming down the street and had enough time to run outside and film them walking past. I've lived here almost a year and a half, but I don't know anything about it. Last year, I was probably still at work at this time. I'll see if I can find out anything about it and report back! Also, it was shot on an old digital camera, so sorry about the poor lighting and bad audio.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, procession, Kagurazaka, Tokyo, Japan

I made this video just for fun and as a reminder of the many hours I have spent looking out of the Shinkansen at the countryside gliding past. I must have used it close to a hundred times commuting between Tokyo, Osaka and sometimes Fukuoka for work. It's clean, fast, on time and generally quite a smooth experience. However for some reason there always seems to be a competition between the pensioners as to who can eat the weirdest and most stinky bento. One old man opens his bento box with an expression on his face that seems to say "behold, sliced boiled eggs and crunchy fishy snacks". And then another old lady will open her bento "dried stinky squid, I win!". It is usually better to bring your own food on the Shinkansen on a long journey. Although the food isn't bad, it is expensive and if I wanted to burn money when I ate out I'd live in London.

The thing I love about traveling on Japanese trains is that speaking on the phone is considered rude. Oh, the times I've had to endure idiots on buses in America and wankers on the tube in London screaming down their phone things like "I'm on the train...no...I SAID I'M ON THE TRAIN". The Shinkansen also has quiet cars where phones have to be switched off completely.

The Shinkansen started running in 1964 in time for the Tokyo Olympics and hasn't had a single fatality due to collisions, derailments, typhoons or even earthquakes. There was one fatality when a child got caught in one of the doors and there are jumpers too but it is a safe train.

Top potential speeds of the Shinkansen would be 443 kph set by the Class 955 (300X) test train but general operation speeds are around 300 kph so I believe the TGV in France is actually faster. If you want to know more nerdy stuff about the Shinkansen you can go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen

The music in the video is "Muziqawi Silt" by the "Wallias Band". I chose the music because of the driving beat and the pentatonic melody slightly reminiscent of Japanese music. Here's to Ethiopian jazz. Enjoy the video.

Video and blog text by Alex. Direct download and blog: Learn Japanese blog.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Shinkansen, Osaka, Tokyo, train, travel, journey, sights, Kyoto, pagoda, temple, Shitenno-ji, 新幹線, 京都, 大阪, �京, 日本

There is a well researched and documented social disorder called the "I'm the Only Gaijin in Japan" Syndrome. Hundreds of foreigners seem to be affected by it, even more so where the concentration of them is the greatest. Those who live in the countryside and actually ARE the only foreigner within miles seem to the least affected by it, and those foreign residents of Japan even go to such lengths as to seek out other foreigners for human company--believe it or not!

We will look into such phenomena among other random things on this podcast...

Did i say "drink fish?" It must be the mercury getting to my brain. Apparently the mercury in blue fin tuna is reaching dangerous levels, according to a newspaper article by Marian Burros (el burro, Equus asinus, heh, heh). In the background, coming at you real low-fi, The Egg's Travelator CD.

Now you can Learn English, Spanish and/or Japanese all at the same time with Alex's new podcast. What's this? Only in Japan... Bug fights!

Painful experiences teaching English in Japan on YouTube. While you're there, make sure to check out my video pimp, and I was trying to think of how to slip a V.I.P. joke in here, but couldn't, so just go check out these poor and lonely videos, which for whatever reason don't have that many downloads yet.

Here's some general advice on living and working in Japan to a friend from the learnjapanesepod.com forums.

Finally, rock out with me to the "Oshiri kajiri mushi" KARAOKE version!!

Photo of a cold and slushy day in Kagurazaka. Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, mercury, sushi, bug fight, burro, Equus asinus, learn English, Spanish, Japanese, social disorder, syndrome, gaijin, living, working, Video Pimp, Oshiri kajiri mushi, karaoke, Kagurazka, Tokyo, Japan, 神楽�?�, �?±京, 日本, カラオケ, �?��?�り�?��?�り虫

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Notes coming soon!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Tokyo, Panic Living, Rob, Talk Show, Kagurazaka, Japan, veranda, balcony, art, geta, sandals, 神楽�?�, �?±京, 日本, 下駄, 歩�??, アート, 油絵

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They say that 21 January is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. Well, I don't know about that, but I sure hate moving, so I've made a playlist to keep me company while I'm packing today. So far, there are only 6 songs, but the list is growing quickly. As I start, the mood is acoustic, folky, Latin and/or French. Check back in a few hours to see how the playlist evolves.

Posted by Rob a.k.a. El Gringo.

Tags: NFTOS, YouTube, music, video

This YouTube video is a promo for the "Tour Down Under," which we were talking about in the podcast. Also, here's the link to the dragonfly and damselfly exploits discussed on MDOsprey.

Later, I found this audio file related to the above TDU 2008 video, Phil Ligget on the Floyd Landis scandal. As Mario Cipollini comes back out of retirement, it's got us thinking maybe it's time for the next generation: Taylor Phinney!

Since the podcast was uploaded, Hans has updated his SmugMug photo album.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, TDU, Tour Down Under, Hans, h-monster, O Irmão da Xuxa, Rob, El Gringo, MDOsprey, Taylor Phinney, Mario Cipollini

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This is my new year's hello from Japan with Wes on the Dotonbori bridge in Osaka. In this video, Wes gives us his theory on police barriers and people jumping into the Dotonbori Canal. Notes by Alex.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, DJ Wes, Alex Brooke, Dontonbori, Osaka, Japan

At the end of this podcast, there is a surprise announcement, but please listen to as much of it as you can bear before racing off to the finish. There are a lot of shout outs and an upcoming event that you should know about, if you are living and playing in Tokyo.

Just got a package from Daniel Boone Daniel of Deep Fried Pickle Project, and in it was his latest compilation of kids music. Much more on that later, however, I will point out now to any DFPP fans that NFTOS, this blog's podcast, is probably best NOT PLAYED for your children, and is generally not recommended for decent folk in general. Proceed at your own risk.

There are a lot of stats (some which I got wrong and then corrected), which might be a bit confusing in the third quarter of the podcast. You might want to fast forward through them. Here are the links:

1. Quest - That Ass Is Your Meal Ticket. 2. DJ Wes - Upcoming Events (back in 2006). 3. Jet Jaguar - News. 4. Jonny Heartbreaker - Baby. 5. Alex & Rob - ALT Rap (the .mp3, not the video). 6. Alex - Sunset Ramblings. 7. Alex - One Man Ramble. 8. Rob - ALT Rap vocal track (don't ask me why). 9. Rob - Panic Living #1. 10. Quest - All the Little Things.

The stats on Rob's YouTube, MySpace and Revver are self-explanatory. As are Alex's on YouTube and Revver. Other NFTOS crew members with videos includes FlyingOkha, Charlou2006 and Noisivelvet. Did we miss anyone?

Artwork by Rob. Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Rob, El Gringo, Kagurazaka, Tokyo, Japan, Unemployment

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This is a self-censored version, however, it is still NOT FOR DECENT FOLK. Alex, Hans and Rob chew the fat, talk about life, batem papo. This is how we roll. Alex is in London, Hans in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Rob in Kagurazaka, Tokyo.

The podcast ends with a little jam by Alex called "Message to mates" (which I got from a video he is being bashful about showing anyone but his YouTube "friends"). If you are not his friend, well, zannen.

Photo by Hans. Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Hans, O Irmão da Xuxa, h-monster, Rob, el gringo, Alex Brooke, England, Cambridge, Mt Washington, New Hampshire, Tokyo, Kagurazaka, Japan, 神楽�, �京, 日本

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I visited Patrick Widdess in his hometown of Cambridge and he gave me the grand tour before we recorded a session for Headstand, his show on 209 radio. He knew his stuff and in this video you can hear some of his recommendations for visiting the town. Well worth a visit and well worth looking Patrick up if you are in town.

A big thank you to Patrick for being such a great host and tour guide. A big shout out to Patrick Sheil ( front man of the moth conspiracy ) for your excellent music, poetry and general excellence.
And a domo arigato to 209 radio for letting me in your studios.

Posted by Alex.

Tags: Patrick Widdess, Headstand, King's college, Cambridge, 209 radio, Headstand, Patrick Sheil, Moth conspiracy

This is an almost weekly audio podcast available on iTunes, and here it goes in video format for the first time! Today we are taking out the sodaigomi or large trash items. This requires calling the trash collectors in advance and paying a ridiculous amount of cash for them to haul it away. The items? Some hand-me-down speakers and the old sofa I've recorded many Panic Livings on, and where and where Alex and I have filmed quite a few NFTOS talk shows recently. It served us quite well, R.I.P. old couch.

I was still half asleep while recording this, and maybe still a bit drunk from a small house party the night before. After filming, I went back inside and slept till almost 2:00 p.m. The national holiday I mentioned was called "Seijin-no-hi," or "Coming of Age Day" as it is often transliterated. Everyone turning 20 this year celebrates by dressing up (girls in kimonos, boys in suits) and getting smashed. I'm sure if you search YouTube over the next couple of days, you can find many videos dedicated the festivities. I'll try to get the kanji for it, but i think it's: �人�日. The legal (though not very strictly enforced) drinking age in Japan is 20.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Tokyo, Panic Living, Rob, Talk Show, Kagurazaka, Japan, sofa, couch, non-burnable trash, trash, garbage, reuse, recycle, refuse, rubbish, dechets, lixo, basura, Seijin-no-hi, 日本, �京, 神楽�, 粗大ゴミ, �人�日

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Two years of NFTOS! Here's a little flashback, a short video by Alex Brooke of a night out at Panorama. It was taken on a mobile phone so the sound quality isn't so good. Name that tune! Artwork by Chika Yoshii.

The original video and blog.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Panorama, El Gringo, Rob, DJ, Osaka, Japan, Chika Yoshii, High Llamas, Alex Brooke, hunyaga, party, 大阪, 日本, アート, 展覧会, パーティ

[There was supposed to be a YouTube video here. Seems like there's either a YouTube bug or a Libsyn one, and I'm going to try and find out which it is. It's been happening with all new posts and edits since yesterday. All the code just disappears. I'll get to the bottom of this...]

Patrick reads his poem "How to Paint an Elephant" from his new book of poetry entitled "è©© Shi"

Patrick Widdess is a poet who lives in Cambridge and broadcasts his own radio show, Headstand, on 209 radio.

On the most recent Headstand show, Patrick announced two facebook stories which will be read on the next show. He posted this message in facebook: "As you may have heard on the latest show I've posted a couple of stories for listeners to contribute to on the Facebook stories application. You don't have to write the whole story, just a sentence or a single word will do. My guests both gave the title and opening to a story and now it's your job to get typing the next bit. Alex Brooke's story Patrick and Patrick can be found here http://apps.facebook.com/stories/story/8282/

Patrick Sheil's story The Primrose Path is here http://apps.facebook.com/stories/story/8281/

I look forward to reading your responses and sharing them on the next show."

Patrick

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Patrick Widdess, poet, Cambridge, Alex Brooke (more coming soon!)

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It's episode 26 (episode 25 might have had too much that needed to be censored, but I'll give it a shot someday, and maybe upload it as Vintage NFTOS in the future), and we're back for another season of what will probably be more scandal than ever before in cycling this year! But we're not so lonely anymore, now that Baseball's dirty little secret is... What? It wasn't a secret? Oh, anyway, it's Hans a.k.a. O Irmão da Xuxa (Xuxa's brother) and Rob a.k.a El Gringo, back for more shamelessness. Hope no relatives or prospective future employers are listening to this, unless you want to hire us to do Bicicleteiros in the traditional media formats of radio or TV! Hey, we're up for it...

WARNING: Not for decent folk! But, if lycra-clad junkies on two wheels is your thing, then make sure to tune in and SUBSCRIBE to Bicicleteiros on iTunes! Hans, got a photo?

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Hans, O Irmão da Xuxa, h-monster, Rob, el gringo, cycling, cyclisme, ciclismo, velo, bicycle, bicicleta, etc

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I went to Dublin in the first few days of 2008 to meet up with my tour guide Jonny Heartbreaker of the If Factor. We had a grand old time as they say there. Pub crawling, Guinness factory crawling and then just crawling at one point. Jonny is in good form as ever with plans to take over the world in a musical fashion. So lift up your glasses and do the river dance, it's 2008!

Posted by Alex.

Tags: NFTOS, Jonny Heartbreaker, Alex Brooke, Dublin, Guinness, The IF Factor

On this podcast, Rob talks to Alex about the latest Headstand fm radio show which has been posted for streaming.

I hope to have some of our favorite bits up here as .mp3 files eventually, including some video which Alex shot. Details coming soon! See previous post for more related links.

On the lastest Headstand show, Patrick announced two facebook stories which will be read on the next show. He posted this message in facebook: "As you may have heard on the latest show I've posted a couple of stories for listeners to contribute to on the Facebook stories application. You don't have to write the whole story, just a sentence or a single word will do. My guests both gave the title and opening to a story and now it's your job to get typing the next bit. Alex Brooke's story Patrick and Patrick can be found here http://apps.facebook.com/stories/story/8282/

Patrick Sheil's story The Primrose Path is here http://apps.facebook.com/stories/story/8281/

I look forward to reading your responses and sharing them on the next show."

Patrick

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, headstand, 209radio, Patrick Widdess, Alex Brooke, Patrick Sheil, fm, radio, Cambridge, England, UK, poetry, poem, music, impromptu, jam, session, trip hop, live

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I talked to Patrick Widdess this morning. He is getting a good night's sleep now, and will be hosting Alex Brooke and Patrick Sheil on his 209radio.co.uk FM RADIO show Headstand.

Patrick writes on his blog: "Don't forget to tune in from 10pm-12am this Wednesday for the latest show.

This month's show features two guests.

Musician, traveller, and podcaster Alex Brooke is visiting from his adopted homeland, Japan to talk about his artistic ventures in the land of the rising sun (check out learnjapanesepod.com).

Patrick Sheil is well known to regular listeners to the show as a writer and frontman of local band Moth Conspiracy (www.mothconspiracy.net).

He'll be in the studio with his guitar and best singing voice."

More links for Headstand and Patrick Widdess:
Headstand podcasts on Podomatic.com
http://www.headstand.podomatic.com/
Headstand on MySpace.com
http://www.myspace.com/headstandradio
Harmless Poet (previously "Patrick in Osaka")
http://patrick_widdess.podomatic.com/

p.s. On the January Headstand show, Patrick announced two facebook stories which will be read on the next show. He posted this message in facebook: "As you may have heard on the latest show I've posted a couple of stories for listeners to contribute to on the Facebook stories application. You don't have to write the whole story, just a sentence or a single word will do. My guests both gave the title and opening to a story and now it's your job to get typing the next bit. Alex Brooke's story Patrick and Patrick can be found here http://apps.facebook.com/stories/story/8282/

Patrick Sheil's story The Primrose Path is here http://apps.facebook.com/stories/story/8281/

I look forward to reading your responses and sharing them on the next show."

Patrick

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Patrick Sheil, Alex Brooke, Patrick Widdess, headstand, learnjapanesepod.com, Moth Conspiracy, Cambridge, England, UK, Kagurazaka, Tokyo, Japan

This is a little video of one of our favorite hangouts in Osaka. Disco Beans is a groovy little cafe bar & art space, just off the beaten path, in the Taisho-ku neighborhood, which is not far from Osaka Dome (see Loop line #1 of 8 and Cycling in Osaka videos. There's a map and foolproof directions on our original post from back in January of 2006, nearly two years ago! And, of course the original video format is much clearer.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Rob a.k.a. El Gringo, Disco Beans, Taisho-ku, Osaka, Japan, 大正, 大阪, 日本, ディスコビーンズ

This track was used in NFTOS Talk Show #38. There are several other Quest songs in the music folder. Maybe I'll put links to all of them and show you the total number of downloads each one has gotten so far. At the moment, That Ass Is Your Meal Ticket is his most popular track on NFTOS, in fifth place, with 1070 downloads.

I thought we were going to include this song in the next music program, but I decided to upload it now rather than wait, because we haven't uploaded any new music lately, and who knows when we'll get around to doing the next music program.

Hayden (that's what we like to call him) says: "Shout out to all seeing eye bitches! This is a band that did some of the music for the movie 'Everything is Illuminated' which takes place in the Ukraine. The lead singer of the band is in the cast." Download some mp3s at gogolbordello.com

Posted by Rob

Tags: NFTOS, Quest, electronic, electro, music, Lincoln, Nebraska, US, Hayden

I've been traveling around the UK and now I am in Dublin to hang out with the lead singer of the IF Factor Jonny Heartbreaker in La casa del Jonny. He's in top form as always and will be my guide in showing me around the city for a day or two just so I can find out how good real Guinness is.

Jonny tells me his new year's resolution is to not change anything which is good because that means we can expect some cracking new songs from him soon. I hope to be posting them up here soon.

So have a great new year !

Written by Arex.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Jonny Heartbreaker, Johnny, Dublin, Ireland, New Year's, Guiness, songwriters, poets, rock stars, on holiday

This video features Sazoon, a friend of Alex's, eating scorpions in Vietnam. Just when I thought I was tough.  Bon apetit!

By the way, happy New Year everyone!!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Sazoon, scorpion, Vietnam, eat, weird, strange, food, snack, finger food

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