Enoshima and Kamakura and me

Prior to visiting the Daibutsu and Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu in Kamakura I visited the nearby island of Enoshima which is part of the city of Fujisawa. Benzaiten, the goddess of music and entertainment, is enshrined on the island. The island is the scene of the Enoshima Engi, a history of the shrines on Enoshima written by the Japanese Buddhist monk Kōkei in 1047 AD. Once again, I apologize for the small number of photos. I was carrying my 2 year-old and watching my 4 year-old at the time. I was sweating like crazy by the time I reached the top of those stairs while carrying my heavy bag of rice. :)

Leading up to the stair to the shrine was a narrow road full of tourists. Shops lined both sides of the very narrow road. Although the road seemed to be for strolling tourists, typical of Japan it was actually a regular road used by small vehicles and motor bikes. So I had to be extra careful watching after my two boys so they wouldn't step in front of a motorbike or mini-truck.

Ok, I normally don't like to post pictures of myself on the web but here I am in front of Daibutsu. Yes, the orange hat does not match the red shirt but oh well.

Here comes our train. This is at the station just down the street from Daibutsu. We had to battle ten thousand school kids to get to the station, get our tickets and get on the damn train. And the kids did not have any issue with pushing me out of the way to get on the train. But I didn't give ground. :)

On the way home from Kamakura we stopped in Yokohama Chinatown and had some delicious Chinese food. Here is one of the small side streets in Chinatown.

Back to Japan again

I am returning to Japan again for family business. I leave Los Angeles on Friday May 28th for Narita and return to Los Angeles on Monday June 7th. When I was in Japan earlier this year I forgot my camera and missed a few good shots. I'll try and remember to bring it this time but I am not sure what I will be doing so no guarantees on an photos.

Back from Japan

I am back from my short trip to Japan and I had a great time. After arriving at Narita on Friday the 27th, I took the Kanto Maronie bus to Utsunomiya in Tochigi. This was the first time I took the bus by myself from the airport and it was very easy and convenient. I will definitely do it again.

The weather was not as cold as it usually is this time of year, some days were actually quite nice. On Saturday and Sunday in Utsunomiya, I was actually comfortable without a jacket. Plus, a lot of places in Japan blast the heater unbearably. The Mister Donut and Bell Mall in Utsunomiya were extremely warm inside. I would have been comfortable with a short-sleeve shirt and shorts in those places. Here is the Wikipedia article on Bell Mall (which I created). On Sunday I took the JR Train from Nasu/Otawara to Utsunomiya and then went to Nikko to see relatives. The Koyo is still very impressive around Nikko. Before heading to Nikko we had some delicious gyoza at this place in front of the JR Utsunomiya station. There is the hot Mister Donut to the left.

I am still amazed at how nice the trains are in Japan compared to Los Angeles. And how much more polite the people are.

On Tuesday I went on a mini Izakaya run in Otawara and enjoyed some delicious food and an excellent drink called a "Samurai Rock." Anybody ever had this drink? It is sake and lime juice on ice and it is goooood! I also did karaoke for the first time and not very well. Micheal Jackson was probably turning in his grave. :-)

Much of the rest of the short trip was just spent visiting friends and family so there is not much to report. One of the interesting things I was able to do was spend some time at a pre-school in Otawara. I spent about a half an hour with a class of 4 and 5 year-olds which was a lot of fun. I loved playing and interacting with the kids. It was funny so many would start talking to me at the same time in Japanese and asking questions but I did not not know what they were saying. One interesting thing about Japanese school kids of this age that I have read on some English teacher blogs is how some of the children have a strange habit of smacking you in the butt or in your private area. And amazingly I too experienced this as well. At one point I was standing surrounded by several children who were smacking my ass and private area from the front and behind me, even reaching between my legs from behind to smack me in the area. Very odd. But they were great kids and I had a lot fun with them.

The flight back was better than expected with two small children. My boys slept most of the flight which is a blessing and we had a serious tail-wind which got us back to LA in less than 9 hours, about 30 minutes less than normal. But the United flight attendants are kinda rude however. I probably will not fly United again.

Some cool and not-so-cool things from my recent trip to Japan

Cool

The Yaki-udon I had at a restaurant in Nikko. It was delicious. Fat, flat udon noodles, cabbage, muchrooms and other stuff on a hot skittle from a restaurant on a side street in Nikko next to the train tracks. The place was empty when we got there at about 11:30 but by 12:15 it was packed with people. They had other delicious hot skittle dishes such as a cheesy rice dish.

Not-so-cool

A little car stuck in a ditch on the side of the road. I always wondered how the narrow Japanese streets can have ditches right next to the street. In the US, people would be driving into these all the time. I thought that Japanese drivers must be extra careful. But just outside Utsunomiya, there was a lady sitting in her tiny car which was stuck in a ditch on the side of the road.

Cool

Revolving sushi. I went to a revolving sushi in Utsunomiya which I had also been to in 2006. Delicious. What was cool is that the plates have transmitters on the bottom and the waitress just had to hold her reader over the plates to add up the price. Cool. At the revolving sushi in Los Anegeles they do it the old fashioned way, they count the plates. Boring.

Not-so-cool

Seeing the blue tarped homeless tents along the Edogawa on the way to Narita.

Cool

The American 80s music they play at all the Flying Garden restaurants.

Not-so-cool

Cold Japanese houses. But what is cool are the heated toilets seats.

Not really cool but interesting

Two girls dressed as maids coming from the JR Utsunomiya Station. I was surprised to see this in Utsunomiya.

Cool

The button at the table at some restaurants that rings a bell to call the waiter or waitress when you need something.

Not-so-cool

No matter how many times I have been to Japan there are always one or two times I smack my head on a low doorway. I did it again.

Cool

The polite welcomes and service at stores and restaurants. The clean streets. The cool small cars like the Nissan Cube. The Jizo statues next to the road near Otawara. And many other things.

Japan trip update

I am enjoying my stay in Tochigi. This trip is mainly to visit family and not to sightsee so no temples or shrines or castles this trip.

On Monday we went to Flying Garden restaurant. One of my favorite restaurants to visit. I had the chicken and hamburg and two plates of rice. I was stuffed.

Yesterday we woke up to several inches of snow on the ground here in Otawara. I helped my father in law shovel the snow off the driveway.

Today we went to Bell Mall in Utsunomiya and had a nice italian lunch and later Starbucks. We also played the claw games at the arcade and won a lot of Tomica cars.

There are so many people wearing surgical masks. Think about if people did that in the United States. It would be a lot easier to rob a bank or convenience store.

I will be here

This is where I will be for the next two weeks visiting family in Otawara, Tochigi. I will also be visiting family in Nikko. Other then that I have no specific plans. We will probably go to places like Bell Mall in Utsunomiya and if I have a chance, I will take walks around Otawara.


View Larger Map

I'd like to walk to this shinto shrine on top of the hill overlooking town if I have time. I've been there before but I have not walked there by myself. Below the shrine at the bottom of the hill is a Buddhist temple that I have also been to before as well.

View Larger Map

In the past I have walked to the Tobu mall from home which is about a 25 minute walk each way. There is a McDonald's there. The only one in Otawara. There is no Starbucks in town. For that, we go to Bell Mall. However, there is a Mister Donut next door to the Tobu Mall and their coffee is not bad. And the donuts aren't bad either.

View Larger Map

I will try and post updates when I am there.

Tochigi Bound

I am coming to Japan.

February 15th to the 28th I will be in Otawara, Tochigi. My wife and two little boys have been there for a while visiting Ojichan (Jiji) and Obachan (Baba). Now I will come out for a couple of weeks before we all return back to Los Angeles. I can't wait to see everybody.

Otawara is a small city in Northern Tochigi. There is not much to say about it but I really like it there. I love the small city atmosphere and the rice fields and the simplicity of Otawara. Here is the Wikipedia article about Otawara, which I wrote the majority of.

I will also be visiting Nikko where the rest of my wife's family lives. Nikko is my favorite place in Japan and it is about 30 or 40 minutes West of Otawara by car. I have been there so many time I know the route from Otawara to Nikko by memory. It is not like jumping on the highway or freeway in the US. There are many different small Japanese streets and roads on the way to Nikko. But I am pretty certain I could make it from Otawara to Nikko without help if I had to.

There are no specific plans for after I arrive. But one thing I will do when I get a chance that I always do everytime I visit Japan is I will go for long walks around town and exploring the neighborhoods.  By now Otawara is so familiar to me that I can walk pretty much anywhere and I know exactly where I am. 

I remember the first time I came to Japan, I went for a walk by myself but I was so worried that I would get lost so I just went to the main road near my in-laws house and walked one direction and then back the other direction.

There is one new thing that I will be doing for the first time while in Japan. Driving. I am going to get an international drivers permit so my wife and I and the boys can go places on our own. She can't drive in Japan because she did not get an international license so I will be doing the driving. I am a little nervous about the driving on the left side of the road though. If any of you are in the Tochigi area, better watch out on the roads for some foreigner driving on the wrong side. It might be me.

Maybe I will drive to Nikko.

I am John Manjiro

Have you heard of John Manjiro?  He is somewhat famous in Japan.

My first name is Jon and my wife and her family used to call me John Manjiro.  I did not know why but I just thought it was some funny name they made up and I did not think about.  But then several years ago while I was surfing the net about Japan, by chance, I came across the story of John Manjiro.  I caught them.

In 1841 at the age of 14, John Manjiro, whose fishing vessel was wrecked in Ashizuri-oki, landed on Torishima Island, where he was rescued by a U.S. whaler ship and brought to America. 

He became the first Japanese to set foot on American soil.

Manjiro, taking the name "John Manjiro," was welcomed by the citizens of Fairhaven and New Bedford Massachusetts where he disembarked.  He became the first Japanese student to receive an American elementary and intermediate education as well as a high school education in English, Mathematics, Navigation and Shipbuilding, History, and Geography. He also acted as First Mate on a whaling ship's 40-month journey around the world.

At 24, his thoughts turning to the importance of opening Japan and to his mother, he resolved to return to closed Japan, even at the pain of death. He departed Hawaii and landed in the Ryukyu Islands in 1851. Undergoing investigation there, he then went further in the Ryukyus and on to Nagasaki and Tosa, where he was repeatedly interrogated for the crime of contravening the nation's policy of isolation. He was finally permitted to return to his home in Nakanohama in October of 1852, and mother and son enjoyed a moving reunion after their 12-year separation.

Manjiro had the dream of appealing directly to the Shogun and becoming a force for the opening of Japan, but the urgency of the times demanded the technical and general knowledge that Manjiro had brought from America. Manjiro had just three days and nights with his mother before he was called back by Yamanouchi Yodo, Lord of the Tosa Domain. He became a teacher at the Tosa School, lecturing on American democracy, on freedom and equality, and it is said that he greatly influenced Sakamoto Ryoma and Goto Shojiro.

There are some books on John Manjiro that I plan to read so I may write a little more about this man who was one of the inspirations for Sakamoto Ryoma.

Japan is so interesting

Japan is so interesting to me.  Why is Japan so interesting? Maybe it is because it is the only real "foreign" country I have ever been to. I have been to Mexico. But living in Califonia, Mexico is really not very foreign. I have been to Canada. But come on. Is Canada really that different then the United States, other then being able to watch Seinfeld in French, it really is not that different.

Japan is just so different to me.

I consider myself a very observent and visual person. I like to see things. When in Japan, I notice very clearly the most unique things that I have never seen before in California. The Buddhist temples. The Shinto shrines and their torii gates. The Shinkansen rocketing above the rice fields in Tochigi. 

But I also notice the most minute things that are still so different and interesting to me. The family restaurants like Flying Garden seem the same, but they're not. 

The cinder block walls that surround so many homes seem the same as back home in California. But they're not, they are different. They are narrower. They are slightly covered in a black mildew from Japan's humid and wet environment. They are just not the same.

The employees who shout out their greeting as you enter the store, like UNIQLO, and hand you your change on a little tray in the most polite manner you will rarely see in Los Angeles.

How everyone backs their cars into their parking slots in the parking lot at the local Tobu or Aeon shopping center.

Who cares about the cinder block walls, or how Japanese people park their cars, or how they greet you in stores.

But to me it is these little, and big, things, that make me so excited and interested everytime I visit Japan.

Meme

I am told that a "meme" is something that gets passed around on the Internet. You follow the rules and then you "tag" someone else and ask them to do the same.

I was tagged by Thomas at Hello Mother, Hello Father.
Here are the rules.
1. List the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

1. I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, a popular seaside tourist city an hour North of Los Angeles. I moved to Los Angeles when I was 21. People ask why the heck did I leave beautiful Santa Barbara? I guess I was bored and wanted to experience the big city. Plus, Santa Barbara did not have any ice rinks and I wanted to play ice hockey.
   
2. I have had only four jobs in my entire life. I worked at McDonald's in SB for four years; at REI, an outdoor equipment store, for five years; and my current job at a government agency. For two years, I worked at a bike shop on weekends while working at my current job.
   
3. I went to college on the 10 year plan back in the 90's. My problem was I wanted to also play hockey, go mountain biking, go skiing and snowboarding, go out and have fun, etc. School and homework were not always a priority. But I eventually finished thank God.
   
4. Since 2003 I have been to Japan five times visiting my wife's family in Tochigi. Before that the only foreign countries I ever visited were Mexico and Canada, both of which are really not that foreign to a Californian. Japan was (and is) so different and unique and I love visiting.
   
5. Although I've always been very active, I have never broken any bones. Except my nose was broken playing hockey. And lots of stitches.
   
6. I have a pug named Mollybu. The bu is supposed to mean pig in Japanese and she looks and sounds like a pig. And eats like one.
   
7. The tallest mountain I have been to the top of is 14,500 feet or 4,420 meters.

I don't know if they have already been tagged but I am tagging David at About Tochigi, Dateline Osaka at Life in the Korean Ghetto, Ad at Japan Navigator, Gerald at The Level 8 Buddhist, Roaf at Gaijin Tonic, Michael at Big Red Dot, and Martin at Kurashi - News From Japan.

Blog Ideas

I am trying to think of a better organization for my blog(s), such as various blogs (but not too many) that are more focused to a specific subject. Although it is not my goal to have the most visitors or the most popular blog, certainly like anyone else, I want to have posts that are of interest to those who visit.

I've come to the realization that successful blogs tend to be focused on a certain subject such as Japan, baseball, politics, Buddhism, Stuff White People Like, etc etc. Blogs that are about general experiences and things you do are more geared towards family and friends. Correct me if I'm wrong in that understanding.

I have my regular blog, toshogu.blogspot.com, which is supposed to be a general blog about anything. However, as you can tell by the web address which comes from the Toshogu Shrines of Nikko Japan, this blog seems to be more focused on my interest in Japan. It would seem to me that if your interest is Japan that you couldn't care less about mountain biking or Buddhism and vice versa, if you like to read about Los Angeles you couldn't care less about Japan.

I recently created fixlosangeles.blogspot.com as a blog to air my gripes about Los Angeles and suggestions on how to fix LA. It will probably also include general Los Angeles specific posts.

I also recently created tornadoes28things.blogspot.com with the idea that maybe this blog would be my general blog about whatever. I am not completely sure yet.

What do you think? Is it a good idea to have a blog or blogs that are more about a specific topic?

Is it a good idea to turn this blog into a Japan specific blog and have the other blogs for my other interests? Let me know what you think.

Hilarious conversation with an email scammer

I am reposting this entry about email or internet scams because it is so funny and I cleaned it up slightly.

Below are the emails I exchanged with someone who said he was from Ghana. He claimed that if I helped him I would get a box of money. I played along and I never laughed so hard in my life. I unfortunately deleted the first few emails but all the rest are below.

Information on email Scams, Nigerian scams, or Advanced Fee scams can be found at these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_scam
ScamBusters.org
Scamorama.com

The emails below are EXACTLY how he and I typed them. I played like I was not very smart. I guess he was not very smart either. The scammer said his name was Franics Kwame (sic). I told him my name was Bob Jones at first.

THIS IS NOT MADE UP. These are real emails I had with the guy from Africa.

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

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Requested Information
To: Bob Jones

My Brother,
Below is the information:

Mr Robert Anderson
Director, Intercon Insurance Security Co. Ltd.
Ring Road,Accra
GhanaTel:+233 242114821
Email Address: intercon_sec_com@freeghana.com

I will henceforth disassociate from responding to your emails if you dont contact the security company.

Lets move forward!!!!

Your's Sincerely,

Barrister Francis Kwame

------------------------------------------
The scammer was already getting annoyed because I had been making excuses why I could not contact the security company.
------------------------------------------

From: Bob Jones
Subject: Re: Requested Information
To: Franics Kwame

Thank you my black african brother. You know, in my country, we don't pronounce it "brother" when talking to black people. We say it like this, "bratha". What's up bratha?

I have a question, do I have to dial one before that number below? I have nevered called long distance before. I have never even left my hometown before for that matter so if I have to fly to Africa to meet the security agency, that will be scary.

Do I have to fly to Africa since that is where the security agency is located? Where exactly is Ghana located anyway? Is it near Portugal?

----------------------------------------
If you don't already know, Portugal is in Europe next to Spain, not anywhere near Ghana, Africa.
----------------------------------------

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Our Success Together
To: Bob Jones

My Brother,

Thanks for the compliments of calling me your brother.
As to calling from the USA, you have to dial +011 before adding 233 242114821.

If you don't get it, then find someone else who can truly assist you in dialing the number to ensure you call the security company.

For i and you to move forward,You MUST call the security company because they are in charge of delivery.
You dont need to fly to Africa.

Thank God because the world is globalised.We can make our business work successfuly through effective communication no matter where we are around the world.

Ghana is beautiful country,located at the western region of Africa. Potugal is south america and you know it,so how do you compare Ghana and portugal together.

I thought you said,you have flown to Africa before,how come you ask these questions??Dont make me doubt my trust for you....

So,Call the Security Company right now.

Get back to me immediately,

Thank you,

Barrister Francis Kwame

---------------------------------------
The scammer obviously does not know his geography very well either. He thinks Portugal is in South America.
---------------------------------------

From: Bob Jones
Subject: Re: Our Success Together
To: Franics Kwame

Thank you for your assistance. Although I am extremely rich, I do not know alot about foreign countries like Ghana and Portugal which you kindly informed me is in South Africa. I did not realize that Portugal was in South Africa like you said. I am very happy then that there is no more apartheid and discrimination in Portugal, South Africa. That was very bad.

So do I dial 1 and then 011 or 011 and then 1? I am very eager to provide my personal information to the security company in Portugal, South Africa.

Thank you once again my African Bratha. :)

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

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Unhappy State.
To: Bob Jones

My Brother,It will unwise for you to contact me any further becasuse
i can see that you are not yeilding and adhering to the instructions attached to
this transaction.
I said Portugal is in South-America, you read it well and you
repeatedly say that Portugal is in South-Africa.
If you do not know how to call the security company,then forget me.

Have a good day,

Barrister Francis Kwame

-----------------------------------
The scammer really is starting to get annoyed now. Usually the scammers stop responding by now, but not Francis, I mean Franics.
-----------------------------------

From: Bob Jones
Subject: Re: Unhappy State
To: Franics Kwame

I appreciate your assistance. My apologies. I thought you said the security
company was in Portugal, South Africa. I am sorry that I am not
knowledgeable in geography. Please forgive me. I will immediately contact
the security company. I will have my mother help me call since I do not
understand the number dialing for foreign numbers. As I said, I will
immediately call the security company in Ghana, South America. After I call
them, do I call you?

----------------------------------
I know. Ghana is in Africa, not South America.
----------------------------------

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Best Option
To: Bob Jones

My Brother,
Just call the Security Company
If you cannot call them,then it is over between us.

Thank you,

Barrister Franics Kwame

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

From: Bob Jones
Subject: Re: Best Option
To: Franics Kwame

I will call them immediately. May I please request a toll free number however. I am sure the long distance rates must be very expensive to Ghana, South Africa. My mother is very controlling of how I use my millions of dollars even though I am 35 years old. Please provide me a toll free number and I will call the security company immdiately.

I will immediately purchase a plane ticket to Ghana, South America and I will fly there as soon as I call the security company to arrange my picking up the box of money in Ghana, South America.

Please let me know if this is ok.

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

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: My Decision
To: Bob Jones

My Brother,
If you want us to continue and complete this transaction,you (MUST)
send me your International Passport as Identification.
Unable to achieve this,PLS DO NOT CONTACT ME ANYMORE>
I will only respond to your email when I see your passport.

Thank you and God Bless,

Barrister Francis Kwame

---------------------------------------
He's really getting annoyed.
---------------------------------------

From: Bob Jones
Subject: Re: My Decision
To: Franics Kwame

I do not have a passport yet. I am in the process of getting it so I can travel to Ghana, South Africa. But you know how government is. It takes a while. I should have it in a few weeks. I will transmit my birth certificate to you shortly.But can you please give me a toll free number to contact the security company in Ghana, South America.

-------------------------------------------
I immediately sent him another message using a new name with a picture of a passport I found on the internet.
-------------------------------------------

From: Will Smith
Subject: Re: My Decision
To: Franics Kwame

Attached is my Passport as you requested. I tried calling the number of the security company in Ghana, South America but I was not able to get through. They said I have the wrong number. It's interesting though that they did not speak Portugeuese. I thought you said they speak Portugeuese. Can you send me the number again or maybe you can send me the security comapny's email address. Thank you again my black african brother (bratha).

(Below is the Passport picture I sent Francis. Sorry Fresh Prince).




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

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Lets move forward
To: Will Smith

My Brother,
Thanks for your response.
I thought you said your name is Bob Jones and claimed to be 35 years old.
How come you sent me a pics of Will Smith,who doesnt even happened
to be 35years??
I need you to attest and confirm to that.
Now,before i can continue this transaction with you.
Tw things must be done,failure to do so,will make you to be a liar about your
identity.

1.Send me your scanned copy of Your International Passport.
2.The security company number is (+233 242114821)
There is nothing absolutely wrong with that number.
The ball is now in your court to make this transaction a success.

For you to be sure of my identity,i will send you my International Passport for confirmation.
Get back to me as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Barrister Francis Kwame

--------------------------------------------
Francis then sent me another email with his Passport attached. Isn't that nice of him?
------------------------------------------

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: My Passport
To: Will Smith

Below is the copy of my International Passport for your view.Until i recieve a copy of your passport,i will discontinue from corresponding with you anymore.The ball is now in your court to send me your Identification Passport.If you don't have any Passport,then send me any other form of id.

Call the Security Company.

Thank you,

Barrister Francis Kwame





------------------------------------------
I guess his name really is Francis. I should be more trusting. I changed my name again in the next email. Can you guess who this famous person is?
------------------------------------------

From: Captain James T. Kirk
Subject: Re: My Passport
To: Franics Kwame

My apologies my Black African Brother. I accidently sent you my cousin's passport. He left it at my house and I did not look at the picture. I have attached my passport to this email.

Your passport picture is very nice. You are a very handsome man. I did not realize that you lived in Ghana, South Africa also. Is Ghana a nice city? Is it close to Johannesburg?

The number for the security company you just gave me is not the same. How am I supposed to contact them if you give me the wrong number.Do you also need my bank account information in order to make deposits? I can also send you my birth certificate if you need that.

(Below is the next passport I sent Francis. This is for all you Trekie fans out there.)





--------------------------------------
Now Francis really starts getting pissed.
--------------------------------------

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Lets Move Forward
To: Captain Kirk

Pls,cut the crap and stop sending passports belonging to different people.
I know you to be Bob Jones.
Changing names will do you no good.

Can we move forward on this transaction?

Call the security company.(+233) 242114821.

Thank you,

Barrister Francis Kwame

--------------------------------------
Again I changed my name below.
--------------------------------------

From: Zhao Xiulian
Subject: Re: Lets move forward
To: Franics Kwame

I apoligize again. I accidently sent you my uncles Passport. My uncle is a Captain in Starfleet Command and he is currently on leave and visiting me. I am very sorry. I have attached my passport and I verified that it is mine so there won't be anymore confusion. My real name is Zhao Xiulian. I wanted to be sure I could trust you before I gave you my real name. That is why I told you my name was Bob Jones. Please forgive me.





---------------------------------------
Now I think Francis is really losing it. I think I am driving him crazy. This is his funniest email of them all.
---------------------------------------

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Thanks so much
To: Zhao Xiulian

My Brother,
I beg you with the name of God.
Pls do not contact me anymore.
I am not in for this games you are playing by sending passports of differents people.
Have a nice day and keep winning.

Kisses,

Richard

----------------------------------------
Kisses?

You notice he signed his name Richard. What happened to Francis?

I pretty much lost his trust with this next email and the picture I attached but oh well. I don't think he could take much more anyways.

Can you guess who the picture is?
----------------------------------------

From: Zhao Xiulian
Subject: Re: Thanks so much
To: Franics Kwame

I thought your name was Francis. Who is Richard? Are you being dishonest with me? After all this time and our special relationship. All I want to do is get my money and I am trying to follow your instructions. I told you I mistakenly sent you my cousin Will Smith's passport and my uncle Captain Kirk's passport. It was a mistake. My name really is what I told you in my last email. After you sent me your passport I felt comfortable I could believe you so I sent my passport.

Please my very dark black African brother, you must believe me. I will send you further information if you request it.

Attached is a picture of myself so you have a better idea of who I am.





-----------------------------------------
Yes, That's right. That's Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, the former Prime Minister of Japan. I hope I didn't cause an international incident.
-----------------------------------------

From: Franics Kwame
Subject: Re; Thanks so much
To: Zhao Xuilian

Have a nice day.

--------------------------------------------
And that was the last I heard from Francis. I miss him very much.

Emails with a Nigerian Scammer. So Funny.

You may read about it in the news and hear about it more often now, the scam artists from around the world who send out emails trying get people to help them get money. Often they are from Nigeria for some reason. They often state that their father, who was killed in the civil war or something, has left several millions of dollars in a bank and for some reason the only way they can get it is if the money is transferred to some account in a foreign country, yours for example. They say you will be able to keep some of the money. Below are the emails I exchanged with someone who said he was from Ghana and I would get a box of money if I helped him. I played along and I never laughed so hard in my life. He calls himself Francis. I mistakenly deleted the first few emails but all the rest are below. Information on Nigerian Scams can be found at these links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_scam ScamBusters.org Scamorama.com Below are the emails and they are EXACTLY how he typed them. I played like I was not too smart. I guess Francis was not too smart either. I told him my name was Bob Jones at first. This is not made up. These are real emails I had with the guy from Africa. -------------- Begin Incoming Message ------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame (He misspelled his first name) Subject: Requested Information To: Bob Jones (Me) My Brother, Below is the information: Mr Robert Anderson Director, Intercon Insurance Security Co. Ltd. Ring Road,Accra GhanaTel:+233 242114821 Email Address: intercon_sec_com@freeghana.com I will henceforth disassociate from responding to your emails if you dont contact the security company. Lets move forward!!!! Your's Sincerely, Barrister Francis Kwame --------------------- End Incoming Message ---------------------- He was already getting annoyed because I had been making excuses why I could not contact the security company. -------------------- Begin Outgoing Message ---------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 From: Bob Jones (Me) Subject: Re: Requested Information To: Franics Kwame Thank you my black african brother. You know, in my country, we don't pronounce it "brother" when talking to black people. We say it like this, "bratha". What's up bratha? I have a question, do I have to dial one before that number below? I have nevered called long distance before. I have never even left my hometown before for that matter so if I have to fly to Africa to meet the security agency, that will be scary. Do I have to fly to Africa since that is where the security agency is located? Where exactly is Ghana located anyway? Is it near Portugal? ----------------------- End Outgoing Message ------------------- If you don't already know, Portugal is in Europe next to Spain, not anywhere near Ghana, Africa. -------------------------- Begin Incoming Message -------------- Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: Our Success Together To: Bob Jones (Me) My Brother, Thanks for the compliments of calling me your brother. As to calling from the USA, you have to dial +011 before adding 233 242114821. If you don't get it, then find someone else who can truly assist you in dialing the number to ensure you call the security company. For i and you to move forward,You MUST call the security company because they are in charge of delivery. You dont need to fly to Africa. Thank God because the world is globalised.We can make our business work successfuly through effective communication no matter where we are around the world. Ghana is beautiful country,located at the western region of Africa. Potugal is south america and you know it,so how do you compare Ghana and portugal together. I thought you said,you have flown to Africa before,how come you ask these questions??Dont make me doubt my trust for you.... So,Call the Security Company right now. Get back to me immediately, Thank you, Barrister Francis Kwame ---------------------- End Incoming Message ------------------ He obviously does not know his geography very well either. He thinks Portugal is in South America. --------------------- Begin Outgoing Message ------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 From: Bob Jones (Me) Subject: Re: Our Success Together To: Franics Kwame Thank you for your assistance. Although I am extremely rich, I do not know alot about foreign countries like Ghana and Portugal which you kindly informed me is in South Africa (He said South America but I am stupid, remember). I did not realize that Portugal was in South Africa like you said. I am very happy then that there is no more apartheid and discrimination in Portugal, South Africa. That was very bad. So do I dial 1 and then 011 or 011 and then 1? I am very eager to provide my personal information to the security company in Portugal, South Africa. Thank you once again my African Bratha. :) -------------------- End Outgoing Message ------------------ -------------------- Begin Incoming Message ----------------- Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: Unhappy State. To: Bob Jones (Me) My Brother,It will unwise for you to contact me any further becasuse i can see that you are not yeilding and adhering to the instructions attached to this transaction. I said Portugal is in South-America, you read it well and you repeatedly say that Portugal is in South-Africa. If you do not know how to call the security company,then forget me. Have a good day, Barrister Francis Kwame -------------------- End Incoming Message ----------------- He really is starting to get annoyed now. Usually the scammers stop responding by now, but not Francis, I mean Franics. ------------------- Begin Outgoing Message ------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 From: Bob Jones (Me) Subject: Re: Unhappy State To: Franics Kwame I appreciate your assistance. My apologies. I thought you said the security company was in Portugal, South Africa. I am sorry that I am not knowledgeable in geography. Please forgive me. I will immediately contact the security company. I will have my mother help me call since I do not understand the number dialing for foreign numbers. As I said, I will immediately call the security company in Ghana, South America. After I call them, do I call you? ------------------- End Outgoing Message ----------------- I know, Ghana is in Africa, not South America. ------------------ Begin Incoming Message ---------------- Date: Fri, Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: Best Option To: Bob Jones (Me) My Brother, Just call the Security Company If you cannot call them,then it is over between us. Thank you, Barrister Franics Kwame ------------------- End Incoming Message --------------- ------------------- Begin Outgoing Message ---------------- Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 From: Bob Jones (Me) Subject: Re: Best Option To: Franics Kwame I will call them immediately. May I please request a toll free number however. I am sure the long distance rates must be very expensive to Ghana, South Africa. My mother is very controlling of how I use my millions of dollars even though I am 35 years old. Please provide me a toll free number and I will call the security company immdiately. I will immediately purchase a plane ticket to Ghana, South America and I will fly there as soon as I call the security company to arrange my picking up the box of money in Ghana, South America. Please let me know if this is ok. ---------------- End Outgoing Message ------------- These emails made my day. Every morning I looked forward to my emails from Francis. I sure do miss him. --------------- Begin Incoming Message -------------- Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: My Decision To: Bob Jones (Me) My Brother, If you want us to continue and complete this transaction,you (MUST) send me your International Passport as Identification. Unable to achieve this,PLS DO NOT CONTACT ME ANYMORE> I will only respond to your email when I see your passport. Thank you and God Bless, Barrister Francis Kwame ------------------------- End Incoming Message ---------------- He's really getting annoyed. -------------------------- Begin Outgoing Message -------------- Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 From: Bob Jones (Me) Subject: Re: My Decision To: Franics Kwame I do not have a passport yet. I am in the process of getting it so I can travel to Ghana, South Africa. But you know how government is. It takes a while. I should have it in a few weeks. I will transmit my birth certificate to you shortly.But can you please give me a toll free number to contact the security company in Ghana, South America. ------------------------ End Outgoing Message -------------------- I immediately sent him another message with a picture of a passport I found on the internet. ------------------------ Begin Outgoing Message ------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 From: Will Smith (The new me) Subject: Re: My Decision To: Franics Kwame Attached is my Passport as you requested. I tried calling the number of the security company in Ghana, South America but I was not able to get through. They said I have the wrong number. It's interesting though that they did not speak Portugeuese. I thought you said they speak Portugeuese. Can you send me the number again or maybe you can send me the security comapny's email address. Thank you again my black african brother (bratha). (Below is the Passport picture I sent Francis. Sorry Fresh Prince). ----------------------- End Outgoing Message -------------------- --------------------- Begin Incoming Message -------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: Lets move forward To: Will Smith (Me) My Brother, Thanks for your response. (At least he's still polite) I thought you said your name is Bob Jones and claimed to be 35 years old. How come you sent me a pics of Will Smith,who doesnt even happened to be 35years?? I need you to attest and confirm to that. Now,before i can continue this transaction with you. Tw things must be done,failure to do so,will make you to be a liar about your identity. 1.Send me your scanned copy of Your International Passport. 2.The security company number is (+233 242114821) There is nothing absolutely wrong with that number. The ball is now in your court to make this transaction a success. For you to be sure of my identity,i will send you my International Passport for confirmation. Get back to me as soon as possible. Thank you, Barrister Francis Kwame --------------------- End Incoming Message ----------------------- Francis then sent me another email with his Passport attached. Isn't that nice of him? --------------------- Begin Incoming Message --------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: My Passport To: Will Smith (Me) Below is the copy of my International Passport for your view.Until i recieve a copy of your passport,i will discontinue from corresponding with you anymore.The ball is now in your court to send me your Identification Passport.If you don't have any Passport,then send me any other form of id. Call the Security Company. Thank you, Barrister Francis Kwame ----------------------- End Incoming Message -------------------- I guess his name really is Francis. I should be more trusting. ------------------------ Begin Outgoing Message ------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 From: Captain James T. Kirk (The NEW, new me) Subject: Re: My Passport To: Franics Kwame My apologies my Black African Brother. I accidently sent you my cousin's passport. He left it at my house and I did not look at the picture. I have attached my passport to this email. Your passport picture is very nice. You are a very handsome man. I did not realize that you lived in Ghana, South Africa also. Is Ghana a nice city? Is it close to Johannesburg? The number for the security company you just gave me is not the same. How am I supposed to contact them if you give me the wrong number.Do you also need my bank account information in order to make deposits? I can also send you my birth certificate if you need that. (Below is the next passport I sent Francis. This is for all you Trekie fans out there.) -------------------- End Outgoing Message ------------------- Now Francis really starts getting pissed. ------------------- Begin Incoming Message ------------------- Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: Lets Move Forward To: Captain Kirk (Me) Pls,cut the crap and stop sending passports belonging to different people. I know you to be Bob Jones. Changing names will do you no good. Can we move forward on this transaction? Call the security company.(+233) 242114821. Thank you, Barrister Francis Kwame ----------------------- End Incoming Message ------------------- --------------------- Begin Outgoing Message ------------------- Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 From: Zhao Xiulian (The NEW, NEW, new me) Subject: Re: Lets move forward To: Franics Kwame I apoligize again. I accidently sent you my uncles Passport. My uncle is a Captain in Starfleet Command and he is currently on leave and visiting me. I am very sorry. I have attached my passport and I verified that it is mine so there won't be anymore confusion. My real name is Zhao Xiulian. I wanted to be sure I could trust you before I gave you my real name. That is why I told you my name was Bob Jones. Please forgive me. ---------------------- End Outging Message -------------------- Now I think Francis is really losing it. I think I am driving him crazy. This is his funniest email of them all. -------------------- Begin Incoming Message ------------------- Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: Thanks so much To: Zhao Xiulian (My "real" name) My Brother, I beg you with the name of God. Pls do not contact me anymore. I am not in for this games you are playing by sending passports of differents people. Have a nice day and keep winning. Kisses, Richard ----------------------- End Incoming Message ------------------- Kisses? You notice he signed his name Richard. What happened to Francis? I pretty much lost his trust with this next email and the picture I attached but oh well. I don't think he could take much more anyways. Can you guess who the picture is? --------------------- Begin Outgoing Message ------------------- Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 From: Zhao Xiulian (Me?) Subject: Re: Thanks so much To: Franics Kwame (Richard?) I thought your name was Francis. Who is Richard? Are you being dishonest with me? After all this time and our special relationship. All I want to do is get my money and I am trying to follow your instructions. I told you I mistakenly sent you my cousin Will Smith's passport and my uncle Captain Kirk's passport. It was a mistake. My name really is what I told you in my last email. After you sent me your passport I felt comfortable I could believe you so I sent my passport. Please my African brother, you must believe me. I will send you further information if you request it. Attached is a picture of myself so you have a better idea of who I am. ------------------------ End Outgoing Message ------------------- Yes, That's right. That's Mr. Koizumi, the Prime Minister of Japan. I hope I didn't cause an international incident. ----------------------- Begin Incoming Message ------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 From: Franics Kwame Subject: Re; Thanks so much To: Zhao Xuilian (Me) Have a nice day. ---------------------- End Incoming Message ---------------------- And that was the last I heard from Francis. I miss him very much.

Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

One of the places I like to walk to and around on my lunch breaks is Little Tokyo. It is about three or four blocks from my office and I walk past the LA City Hall to get there.




The main street of little Tokyo is First Street. It is mostly little restaurants that serve ramen or sushi or curry or bento boxes. I have eaten at several of them and they are pretty good. At night the street is well lit and there are usually many other people walking around so you can fell comfortable to be there at nighttime. Here is a picture of First Street:




Right behind these buildings is a monument called the Go For Broke monument. During World War Two, many Japanese American men volunteered for the American military. They were put into their own units and they won more medals for bravery than any other American unit. The monument recognizes the bravery of the units and it was dedicated in 1999. Here are some pictures:






Next to the monument is the Japanese American National Museum. It is a combination new building and an old historic building. They have many exhibitions and shows but I have not yet been inside the museum. Here is a picture of the historic part of the museum which used to be part of an old Buddhist temple, the Nishi Hongwanjii Buddhist temple:






Across the street from the museum is an outdoor shopping center. It has many restaurants and gets very busy at lunch time. At the entrance to the shopping center is a replica of a fire lookout tower in old rural Japan. It is called a Yagura tower.






On the other side of the shopping center is a statue of a Japanese man, Sonotoko (Kinjiro) Ninomiya. There is also a town in Japan that is named after the man that came from humble beginnings yet pursued knowledge. The young Ninomiya—born into a poor family and orphaned at a young age—is reading a book even while working. In addition to lifting himself out of poverty with innovative agricultural methods he helped a number of feudal clans achieve financial health. Ninomiya also developed the idea that benefits received should be repaid—Hotoku or to repay virtue.






During the 1990's, Little Tokyo was really having a hard time. After the Japanese economy went down, there were not very many Japanese tourists coming to Little Tokyo like there used to be and business was very slow. Today, like in the other parts of Downtown Los Angeles, there are many new condo and apartment building developments in and around Little Tokyo. This has brought many more people and business to Little Tokyo, especially at night. Here is picture of another shopping area in Little Tokyo at night:

Welcome to my blog

I just created it so there is nothing to see yet. But I will add information and comments every so often. I am going to Japan in three weeks so I will have information on my trip soon.