Doubt

I was doing sound edit for coming concert of Naomi in Tokyo during the day.

In the evening, I went to the gathering at Eiji's house.
We enjoyed doing "Doubt", a drinking game
caviling each other's behavior.
Person recognized as the problem (as a joke) has to drink more.
We talked till the late hours of the night.

Dreams

John, Kei and I got together to see the movie
by Kurosawa on DVD at John's house.
We watched "Dreams", a omnibus film based on dreams of director,
Akira Kurosawa.
Actually, it was the first time for me to see his movie.

I thought the way actors speak sounds like something strange,
because of they spoke in a literary style.
Due to a great performance of Mr. Terao,
an episode "The Tunnel" was the best.
I would also like to see other works.

Another Party

I went out for a Christmas party at Maria's house.
There was 7 people. We ate fish and rice and sandwiches with beer and wine.
After the dinner, we sang Christmas songs in each language.
Dasha and Maria, and I also accompanied on the piano.
It's true that music is international.
What is interesting for me was two of them had learn Nin-jutzu, ninja art,
and one of them believes in Buddhism, and another believes in cycle of rebirth.
It seems Asian culture is popular in Netherlands.
We talked about differences in personalities, cultures and languages.

Christmas Party

Fujiwara family invited Japanese students to a Christmas party at home.
This is the second time for me to visit their place.
We had various foods from hors d'oeuvre to cakes,
especially roasted chicken was so nice and very Christmas like.
At the end of the party, we had present exchange just like a game.
We sit in a circle to pass gifts to next person during music play.
I got a pretty toothpick holder which Michiyo bought in Brussels.

Curry Party

I invited Yota and Akane to my house.
I cooked the curry and rice.
We ate it with hamburger Akane brought.
It was a nice evening which we talked about many things
from music to housing conditions.
I used a new rice cooker tonight for the first time.

Happy Tuesday

We had a last session of the Composer's Workshop in this year.
After playing several pieces, Ezequiel summarized the results of first term.
Then we talked about the plan for next term.

This activity offers me a good chance to learn how to proceed a rehearsal
as well as English practically.

And then, I went to the percussion concert at the music hall in school.
Four ensemble pieces and one solo piece were performed.
Solo piece was a great improvisation using the turntable.
The best was the first piece by Philip glass for four percussionist with a table.

I talked with Aldo, percussionist who invited me after the concert
I'm glad I've had more and more opportunities to meet a percussionist recently.
I need some collaborators on my project.

Aesthetic Class

For the first time in a long while,
I went to the class of Joel.
We talked about the performance.

cancel

I come to the conclusion that I cancel next concert at Korzo, finally.
Because of I couldn't finish the piece,
players told me that we don't have enough time to practice.
I hope I can make it with next KC LAB.

Half Way Still

I stayed at home to complete the piece.
I wrote until a half way of all in original plan.
But I decided to change the size,
so that I'll be able to make it up.

show me your second face

Akky and I went to the Tomoko Mukaiyama's concert in Amsterdam

"show me your second face" was
a good example of an advantage made in collaboration.

A skin changes to a dress and a house further.
The piano, singing voice, internal plucking strings.
It could be said that it was the performance shown your concern
about psychosomatic extensibility from the point of view of "inside and outside".

You might say I hope too much,
but I heard that electric sounds was sometimes interfering with the piano,
rather than efective, due to the idiomatic way of electronics.
The latest production, "haar" which I saw was better on that point, I think.

Tom Johnson Fes

There is Tom Johnson Festival in this week.
Today we heard several his pieces and listened to the lecture by himself.
It gave me a strong impression.

By the way, Akky, my friend Japanese composer has come to the Hague.
She also attended some classes.
That was very nice for me because we could discuss in Japanese after the lecture.

Birthday Cake

Pieter, landlord gave me the cake.
Now I know that November 25th is his birthday!
I played "Happy Birthday" on the Melodion in celebration.
He is 65, my valued family in the Netherlands.

Mussels

I had dinner with Pieter.
We boiled Mussels.
It was so delicious.

In Bed Sick

I don't have a fever but keep coughing.
So I stayed home from school.

Bad Cough

I have had a bad cough recently.

Replay

I received an e-mail from Naomi.
She decided to perform my piece on coming concert.
Great!

Dutch lesson

Received the Dutch lesson from Theo in the evening.
Learned about number and how to introduce.

Ik ben Tomo. Ik kom uit Japan.
Ik woon nu in Nederland. :-)

Tuesday workshop

We had a first meeting for the workshop for composition student.
The workshop is a class which doing some experimental improvisation,
arrange for our strange ensemble, conduct a piece you wrote
and play them ourselves!
We will start a session next week.
I'm quite looking forward to do that.

Sushi Rolls

Yota and Akane are my good friends.
They invited me to the home party.
We made some Temaki-zushi, do-it-yourself sushi rolls.
It was fun.

Bank Account

Today I went to the office of postbank.
It's said that if you want to have an account,
you need your passport, Sofi number and a certificate of residence.
Oh, I've heard about that from Theo.

So I went to the city hall of the Hague.
"Excuse me. I need a certif.."
"Nee. We are closed."
Hey man, I guess I came too late for applying.

Then I went to the tax office across from the HS station.
"Do you have the ID card or something?"
"I have only this one."
--Show the sticker that I got last week from IND.
It goes to show that I'm applying for the residence permit.

After She checked it for a brief while,
"Nee, you can't. You have to wait"
Oh no, it's not my day!

There is a long way to go before I open a new account at a bank.

Package from Japan

Sure enough I overslept so I missed a Ear Training class.
I went to school in the afternoon.
My friend told me that our teacher didn't appear this morning.
It seems that he will start next week. Lucky me!

The package from my family made its way this afternoon safely.
When I staied at home by chance, I heard the doorbell.
After I singed on the confrmation,
I received my package from delivery man.

The box contained clothes, books for study and presents for Theo and Pieter.
And Japanese foods of Grandma's choice.

Pieter invited me to dinner tonight.
It was perfect timing I had gotton a present for him.

Germany Dinner

Rei invited me for dinner, though we've just met today, actually.
The main dishes were Wurst(sausage) and Sauerkraut(sour cabbage)
which Rei bought in Germany last week.

We enjoyed drinking while eating raw salmon.
It's just that pedaling home after 1 sobered me up.

Rice

Today I tried to cook a rice with a pan,
and it was my first time.
In Japan, we use a rice cooker, but I don't have it here.
Due to the how-tos on Internet it went well finally.

cash card

I attended the orientation for new students by Cornelis.
According to him, group lessons will start in the week of Sep 24.

I don't know why, but my VISA card doesn't work to get cash from ATM now.
Though I tried around, all access denied.
The staff of Bank also said "I don't know why".
Got me stumped.

IKEA

Theo and I went to IKEA in Delft to buy bedding's.
It was a very big store like a amusement park.

Rhythm

These days I'm doing different things in each day.
Only a cycle of the sun and the moon makes a rhythm for me.
I'm little tired.

While you are listening a rhythm,
you may be able to feel comfortable
If you can't get the rhythm,
it cause tension to you and makes you tired.

I'm feeling again that
repeats is important things
just like the same motif in a music,
which works as a charm point to the audience.

the Swingin' Crash

I went to the concert by the Swingin' Crash with Theo.
Established in 1985, the Swingin' Crash is the Big Band
which his brother, Josh has played for as bass player.
I enjoyed myself.

the Embassy of Japan

I went to the Embassy of Japan again this morning.
Though I thought I could speak in Japanese there,
I heard an English voice through the intercom,
so it put me in a flutter.

There was a walk-through gate in the entrance.
Office staff was Japanese, so I was able to do everything all right.
They told me that applying procedures with IND changed from this August.
According to them, international students have to check the website of IND
and download a application form, and then,
fill out it and send with necessary documentation.
Wow, I didn't know such information!

First Day in Den Haag

As soon as I arrive the room,
I succeeded in connecting to the Internet.
So I e-mailed to Yuki, the primary tenant of this room.

I went to the Embassy of Japan by yuki's bicycle.
I failed to applying for verification because it's a time after office hours.
However, I found where it is.

Then I went to the VVV(visitors information center) to ask
where I can buy prepaid cell-phone.
Then I bought a cell-phone at a shop near the VVV.

The clerk changed to English mode for me,
but I didn't know how to use.
In addition, the manual is written in Dutch.
You can download an English manual through the Internet.
It's hard for me to living here.

When I was eating a hamburger, it began to rain.
Fortunately, I was having a raincoat, I didn't get wet.
I've heard that raincoats are must for changeable weather in the Netherlands.

I also went to the Conservatoire,
but they have already closed the door at that time.

Yuki informed me that she had received a consent from her older friend in Dutch,
I called him and made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon.

Arrived

I've just arrived in the Netherlands.
When I came to Europe last year, the package hasn't arrived.
So I was relieved to see my baggage's coming to conveyor belt this time.

It takes about 30 minutes from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Den Haag.
I came to the Netherlands for the third time, which makes me feel more comfortable.

I'm going to reside temporarily in an apartment near the station.
My friend kindly lent me during return home.

Hong Kong

I'm waiting for my flight to the Netherlands at the Hong Kong International Airport.
Because it's just 5 hours dropping I didn't change yen to dollars,
so I can't buy anything.
But I can access the Internet free here.
I see no problem. :-)

the Day of Departure

Worked through the night until 8:00 this morning for the video commissioned.
It's hard to believe.
I mean, today is the day for my departure!

Thanks to the marvelous helping of my family,
I was able to finish packing my suitcase.

Goodbye

Today my friends arranged a goodbye party for me at the Japanese restaurant.
They gave me a Japanese fan which signed with some messages on it as a going-away gift.
I've enjoyed very much. Thank you everyone from my heart!