Sebastian Eating an Eclair

Smooth as Silk

Yesterday I went to the salon to get my hair straightened and cut. Getting a even a simple hair cut in Japan is an expensive ordeal. Most place charge about 2500~3000 yen for simple cut. Straightening generally starts from about 10,000 yen. So to get my hair done I was looking at around about $125. Luckily, I found a place just across the street that is about 1/2 price for everything compared to most other salons. Walking in the door I was asked if I had a members card. It still kinda throws me off, but pretty well every kind of service industry business here has a member system set up. It doesn't cost anything to become a member usually and sometimes there's no special perks to it at all it's just more a way of getting a bit of customer information. In this case though I got a coupon for 500 yen off my next visit as well as a coupon to give to a friend for 1000 yen off. If the person goes there and uses it then I get another 1000 yen off my next visit. Not bad at all for a free membership.

I was then shown to my spot, where they had already laid out several male interest magazines on the counter for my viewing pleasure. One of them was this pretty good street style magazine that my buddy Kitai does modeling for sometimes. I couldn't find him in the newest issue though.

The straightening process was very similar to what I get done in Toronto. The major difference though was for most of the time there were two people working on my hair, one on each side. It was as if I had my own personal team. Chemicals, wash, chemicals again, wash, blow dry, straight iron and then cut.

When they wash your hair they but a small cloth on your face so it doesn't get wet. I was chuckling to myself the first time they put it on, but on the plus side it's kinda cool cause you can doze off and the person washing your hair can't tell. Also another hair washing related thing. After you finish they always say "Otsukaresama desu" which is kinda like "thanks for the hard work". Kind of a weird thing to say to someone who just got their hair washed. Especially since when one person says it all the other employees do as well.

After the second batch of chemicals and the blowdrying I was a bit skeptical as my hair did not look very straight at all actually, maybe even less straight then when I came in, but the straight iron was the key. The guy explained to me that it cements the style. He also told me not to wash my hair, wear a hat, tuck my hair behind my ears or do anything to change the shape for a couple of days as it sets fully. When I got to bed I have to try as best as I can to keep it in the shape it is now as well.

In toll it took about 3 hours and the grand total was 8500 yen. Definitely 3 hours well spent though as my hair has never looked better. Dead straight and smooth as silk.

Yes, I admit it. I watch Smap Smap.

I was watching Smap Smap last night and the guest on Bistro Smap was Madonna. I've never really liked her to beign with, but after watching this show I dislike her even more. She was just so rude the whole time I couldn't believe it. These guys go out of their way to make a nice winter feel, Japanese style meal for her and had this heir about her the whole time like "What the hell am I doing on this show wasting my time, I'm Madonna". Honestly she could have at least tried to pretend to have a thread of courtesy.

Best. Shirt. Ever.

I forgot to put this in the last post, but it's really good enough to warrant its own post. While we were in Osaka the other day I saw what is quite possiblly, the funniest shirt I have ever seen. Not "haha funny", but "oh my god funny." A guy was wearing a yellow t-shirt with large red lettering that on the front said "Cowboy's ride horses to fuck". This alone is pretty funny, but the back is the clincher. The back said "Proud owner of a big 9" cock." I wish I would have reacted sooner and taken a picture with my phone, but alas the initial shock combined with my slow reflexes allowed the man to disappear into the crowd.

What's the deal?

Not much been going on recently. Holidays are over and school has started up again, at least for a few weeks until the semester ends. I haven't really figured out what I'm gonna do over the holiday yet. I'd like to go to Shikoku for a week or so maybe and walk a bit of the famous 1200 kilometer, 88 temple route. I'm gonna try and work a bit if I can as well. There's a job board in the university shop and some of the jobs there are pretty good. Construction is by far the best paying and I think it would be a good fit. Most of the ones I've seen are only a day or two of work. Granted they're full days (about 14 hours), but you get about 3 hours worth of breaks and 2 meals, plus the pay is close to 2000 yen an hour. Definitely a good way to make some quick cash.

Yesterday, we went down to Osaka to meet with Asumi's older sister, Yumi and one of her co-workers. Asumi is the really ridiculously nice girl whose house in Kobe we spent New Year's at a couple weeks ago. Her sister is also incredibly nice and we all had a good time last night. Pretty standard night out in Japan; karaoke followed by an izakaya.

On a completely unrelated note can anyone explain the reasoning behind these two things to me:

1. I bought the new Strokes cd at the HMV here last week. It was the American imported limited edition and cost 1480 yen. They also carried the domestically produced Japanese version which was no different, but cost 2580 yen. What's the deal?

2. Yesterday my buddy, Andy, was sending a package pack home. He ended up sending it using the express mail service since it would cost him 1000 yen less than if he sent it using the standard service. Better service = lower price? What's the deal?