Comments on: Lead, Follow, Or Get The Fuck Out Of The Way http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:36:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: langdon alger http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-254 langdon alger Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:33:22 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-254 I don't think anyone mentioned wearing shorts Rad I don’t think anyone mentioned wearing shorts Rad

]]> By: CJ Marsicano http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-252 CJ Marsicano Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:47:51 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-252 @Radicalquisling: I haven't seen so many 180's since the last time I happened to watch the Summer X-Games. @Radicalquisling: I haven’t seen so many 180’s since the last time I happened to watch the Summer X-Games.

]]> By: Radicalpatriot http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-251 Radicalpatriot Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:11:25 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-251 @CJ: All I really attempted to do vis-a-vis H!P and Sony is to pay a courtesy visit. That it failed is all on me. And I did not have a bad experience in Japan. It was the best experience of my life, despite obstacles placed in my way. And, no, I did not wear shorts. It was too goddamn cold. And, yes, if you must know, I was quite handsome the entire time. All the ladies were taking close looks. Should have been there. @CJ: All I really attempted to do vis-a-vis H!P and Sony is to pay a courtesy visit. That it failed is all on me. And I did not have a bad experience in Japan. It was the best experience of my life, despite obstacles placed in my way.

And, no, I did not wear shorts. It was too goddamn cold.

And, yes, if you must know, I was quite handsome the entire time. All the ladies were taking close looks. Should have been there.

]]> By: CJ Marsicano http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-249 CJ Marsicano Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:15:15 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-249 @Tsuji: Exactly! That's just common sense, bro - when you go to a foreign country, the idea is to be too handsome to come off as an ugly American. @Tsuji: Exactly! That’s just common sense, bro - when you go to a foreign country, the idea is to be too handsome to come off as an ugly American.

]]> By: Tsuji_Eriku http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-248 Tsuji_Eriku Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:04:20 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-248 I've personally seen gaijin taking shorts but being an asshole has alot to do with it. I’ve personally seen gaijin taking shorts but being an asshole has alot to do with it.

]]> By: langdon alger http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-247 langdon alger Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:59:29 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-247 OH SNAP!!! OH SNAP!!!

]]> By: CJ Marsicano http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-246 CJ Marsicano Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:32:28 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-246 @Radicalquisling: You had an allegedly bad experience in Japan? Judging by accounts from other people I've known who've gone to Japan, you seem to be a minority of one. Sounds like it's not so much a problem of Japanese not liking gaijin as it is Japanese not liking arrogant people. I mean, you tried to bumrush Hello! Project's and Sony Music's offices, for Christ's sake. I'm sorry, but at this present time I don't believe much of what has been coming out of your mouth of late. Just because you apparently acted like an ugly American doesn't mean Morning Musume shouldn't come to this country to perform. @Radicalquisling: You had an allegedly bad experience in Japan? Judging by accounts from other people I’ve known who’ve gone to Japan, you seem to be a minority of one. Sounds like it’s not so much a problem of Japanese not liking gaijin as it is Japanese not liking arrogant people. I mean, you tried to bumrush Hello! Project’s and Sony Music’s offices, for Christ’s sake. I’m sorry, but at this present time I don’t believe much of what has been coming out of your mouth of late. Just because you apparently acted like an ugly American doesn’t mean Morning Musume shouldn’t come to this country to perform.

]]> By: Radicalpatriot http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-245 Radicalpatriot Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:00:35 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-245 @Tsuji: Glad you mentioned that. In fact, I faced plenty of anti-gaijin prejudice while trying to plan this trip -- and when I finally got over there. Three times I was rejected getting into the Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel, with confirmed reservations abruptly canceled. I needed that hotel because it was closest to Yokohama Arena and I didn't want to take the chance of getting lost in the train system, and wasn't yet convinced that the Akihabara Capsule Inn would be a viable option (I later found out the Capsule Inn was outstanding and the owners wonderful). On the fourth try, through Airfare.com, I did get a reservation to the Prince. But three days after the reservation was confirmed (and the cash actually withdrawn from my bank account), I got e-mails saying "there was a problem with the reservation." I called Airfare.com, and they said: "No, you're all right. You're set. Don't worry." The voice sounded Japanese. So what happened when I went to check in at the Prince on Jan. 25, a day before the concerts? I was told the reservation was not confirmed. Thinking this might happen, I had the presence of mind to bring with me the confirmation document -- and the bank statement that showed when and where Airfare.com withdrew the cash for the Prince rooms. Even then, the Prince tried to charge me a second time for the room. I was very calm and polite through all this. Eventually, they dug into their own records and discovered that Airfare.com did book the room, and the vouchers that I brought with me were proof enough of payment. Had I now brought along my back statement, I would have been stranded. Now during my stay at the Capsule Inn, many European and Australian nationals told me how tough it was to rent anything in Tokyo. They even got to the point of having a Japanese agent act on their behalf to try and get any kind of shelter for a long-term stay. Yes, foreigners have a tough time of it in Japan. But while any concerted efforts to dissuade foreigners might appear an affront to Western sensibilities, I actually have no problems with it. Japan has every right to protect, preserve and sustain its centuries of amazing culture, including its language, art, music and, yes, even J-pop and Morning Musume. Outsiders can unwittingly screw everything up, especially Americans, who have become apt at interfering with a lot of other cultures these days. So that's why I now think it mightg be inappropriate to think Morning Musume can and even should attempt to perform on American soil any time soon. @Tsuji: Glad you mentioned that. In fact, I faced plenty of anti-gaijin prejudice while trying to plan this trip — and when I finally got over there. Three times I was rejected getting into the Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel, with confirmed reservations abruptly canceled. I needed that hotel because it was closest to Yokohama Arena and I didn’t want to take the chance of getting lost in the train system, and wasn’t yet convinced that the Akihabara Capsule Inn would be a viable option (I later found out the Capsule Inn was outstanding and the owners wonderful).

On the fourth try, through Airfare.com, I did get a reservation to the Prince. But three days after the reservation was confirmed (and the cash actually withdrawn from my bank account), I got e-mails saying “there was a problem with the reservation.” I called Airfare.com, and they said: “No, you’re all right. You’re set. Don’t worry.” The voice sounded Japanese.

So what happened when I went to check in at the Prince on Jan. 25, a day before the concerts? I was told the reservation was not confirmed. Thinking this might happen, I had the presence of mind to bring with me the confirmation document — and the bank statement that showed when and where Airfare.com withdrew the cash for the Prince rooms.

Even then, the Prince tried to charge me a second time for the room. I was very calm and polite through all this. Eventually, they dug into their own records and discovered that Airfare.com did book the room, and the vouchers that I brought with me were proof enough of payment. Had I now brought along my back statement, I would have been stranded.

Now during my stay at the Capsule Inn, many European and Australian nationals told me how tough it was to rent anything in Tokyo. They even got to the point of having a Japanese agent act on their behalf to try and get any kind of shelter for a long-term stay. Yes, foreigners have a tough time of it in Japan.

But while any concerted efforts to dissuade foreigners might appear an affront to Western sensibilities, I actually have no problems with it. Japan has every right to protect, preserve and sustain its centuries of amazing culture, including its language, art, music and, yes, even J-pop and Morning Musume. Outsiders can unwittingly screw everything up, especially Americans, who have become apt at interfering with a lot of other cultures these days.

So that’s why I now think it mightg be inappropriate to think Morning Musume can and even should attempt to perform on American soil any time soon.

]]> By: langdon alger http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-244 langdon alger Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:25:26 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-244 "uh oh I hope Rad doesn’t keep bringing the fact that he’s actually attended a concert up at every argument" ASDFK;ALSFJ;ASLKFJA;S!! “uh oh I hope Rad doesn’t keep bringing the fact that he’s actually attended a concert up at every argument”

ASDFK;ALSFJ;ASLKFJA;S!!

]]> By: Tsuji_Eriku http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-243 Tsuji_Eriku Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:54:46 +0000 http://www.motokoaoyama.com/2008/01/31/lead-follow-or-get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way/#comment-243 uh oh I hope Rad doesn't keep bringing the fact that he's actually attended a concert up at every argument haha, I love HP & a whole shit load of other types of Japanese music but sometimes I feel that my US greenbacks aren't good enough for dem dare Japanese companies. They should slap a "No Gaijin or Pets Allowed" sticker on those cds & dvds & all the other shit just like the landlords do in Japan do on real estate office brochures when foreigners try to rent apartments. uh oh I hope Rad doesn’t keep bringing the fact that he’s actually attended a concert up at every argument

haha, I love HP & a whole shit load of other types of Japanese music but sometimes I feel that my US greenbacks aren’t good enough for dem dare Japanese companies.

They should slap a “No Gaijin or Pets Allowed” sticker on those cds & dvds & all the other shit just like the landlords do in Japan do on real estate office brochures when foreigners try to rent apartments.

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