Hey guys. 

No "Wazzup" or anything like that from me today. Since
we do this by E-mail, it's hard to detect a person's
feelings, unless otherwise indicated. So... 

If you were sitting across from me, you would notice
that my tone of voice is quiet, and that I have a
somber expression in my eyes. 

Not that I'm terribly upset, but, no one likes to eat
Humble pie, and let's just say that I ate a baker's
dozen during my trip! (^_^) 

1. Getting my ass kicked by all the senior black belts
in Japan, it seemed like. And, after the
aforementioned head busting, the Japanese started
talking, laughing, and looking in my direction. 

2. Not knowing what the hell it was that I ate, and
not wanting to know either.

***
Shinobu: Well, so long as I eat it and live, it must
be Gravy... 

***

3. Drinking a beverage called "Pocari Sweat". 

4. Did I mention the Pocari Sweat??? 

5. On the way home from Tokyo, sitting next to the
biggest Dork of all time, who insisted telling me
about his trip to Mainland China for 6 freakin' hours,
and with dozens of Japanese sitting within earshot...

***
Dumbass, at the top of his voice:
Did you visit Nagasaki?? Because you know we dropped
the bomb on their ass, and WE'LL TOTALLY DO IT AGAIN!!
YEAH!!!! 

Me, wanting to jump off the plane, or claim Canadian
citizenship: 

You MORON!!! There are a million Japanese on this
plane, and I guarantee they can all understand
English. They're already pissed off about the Navy Sub
that collided with one of their fishing boats, killing
six little kids. 

Plus, Saying that is like saying to a black person
such as myself that Slavery was a good thing for us
African heathen.

So would you please SHUT UP and lower your voice!!!
***    

-----
-----

Anyway,

Japan is Chaotic, Ancient, Ultra-Modern, Soothing, and
Disturbing, all at the same time. From day to day, I
didn't know if I loved it, or hated it. I was
fortunate that I have a friend in Japan who is a
native speaker, and she took me to a Okonomiyaki-ya in
Yokohama. And let me testify, it was DEEElish!! The
Japanese say that the best kind of Okono is in Osaka,
but I was too busy partying to get any. 

(There's no worse feeling than drinking with friends 
in a bar in Shibuya, Tokyo, and getting the bill.
We're talking 1500 yen, or about $15.00, for three
bottles of lemon flavored malt liqour. Dammit, the Yen
just flows like water!!)

In any case, I wanted to go out in the Roppongi area
of tokyo, where the best Hip-Hop clubs were, but I ran
out of time. In Japan, you never have enough Money or
Time!!

I also stumbled upon a Ramen stand in Kashiwa, which
was the town I was staying in. Kashiwa is about maybe
45 min-1 hour from Tokyo. And, of course, the Ramen
was also the bomb.     

------
------

It's been said several times on the ML that Ranma is
dead in Japan. I would have to conceed to Mr Wang that
he is absolutely correct. When I went to various Anime
stores in the Shibuya and Akibahara areas of Tokyo,
and some stores in the Osaka area and asked for Ranma,
I got wierd looks from the attendents. Some led me to
where they sold the Videos and the Manga, but it was
always in some dusty area in the back, and you did not
see any type of Ranma merchandise, not like for the
more popular series. Next year, when I return, I'll
have to look harder, and if anyone has any idea where
to look, that would be much oblidged.

However, I still believe that with the proper support,
Ranma CAN make a revival. Myself and Happosai Old Lech
were going to start a petition, but I was too busy
back then, maybe we can try again during the summer,
when I would be more available. I hope to attend the
Anime convention being held in the Chicago area, and
if anyone from the ML goes, we can talk about that
also.

"Keep Hope Alive!!" 

-----
-----

Well guys, I gotta split. If anyone wants to plot with
me on starting some type of petition, I'm glad to hear
from you. 

See ya. 
Andre Lamont de la Shinobu. 

Sauce, EoE, OCS
Headman, GSFLGL. 

"Life is training" 
(Obtained from a exhibit from the Ninja Museam,
Iga-Ueno city, Mie Perfecture, Japan.)