And the Earth Moved… Black Love Below for Haiti

Living in Japan, I’ve developed a great respect for earthquakes. With my heightened gaijin senses, I am keenly aware that my beloved city is long overdue for its next “great” earthquake. And every respiration of the city immediately triggers my flight instinct only to later give way to the realization that it’s just the wind or the subway or…. anything but the end of the world disaster that I’ve so vividly envisioned in my mind.

But a month ago today, my worst fears were realized when I realized that that interesting fog of the Haitian capital wasn’t fog at all but the dust cloud covering a city of some 3,000,000 people in ruins. My heart sunk! Like most Black Americans I share a special affinity for Haiti. My affinity is even more personal because of my relationship with my fraternity and my resident Haitian old head, Etienne aka “Mr. Liberte or La Mort!”. Watching the sheer devastation of the city, my prayers were for my Brother and hiw wife, their families and all the people of Haiti who have too long been treated as the pariah of the Western Hemisphere.

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Get ‘Em Tiger!

“It’s been a long time! I shouldn’t've left you….”

Indeed, it’s been a minute since my last post! So long so, I have to start off by saying, “Happy New Year!!!” And it’s damn near the middle of February! How pathetic is that!?! In any case, I’m back and I don’t plan on leaving you again any time soon. And now with that out of the way, on to the post….

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The Gregorian New Year started 40 days ago but the Traditional Chinese New Year doesn’t start until Sunday, February 14th. As you must know by now, according to the Chinese zodiac this is – and will be soon in China – the year of the tiger! Tiger years are often described as being a time of great personal and social upheaval. But for the brave and the strong, this is the time to show courage, to summon great inner strength and rebelliously throw the things and ideas that have held you back. In short, it’s a time of personal revolution.

So I ask you what are your goals for 2010? What is your personal revolution?

Music: Kid Cudi

Earlier this year, in my daily worship at the altar of Kanye I discovered a new GOOD Music artist by the name of Kid Cudi. The video for his lead single Day and Nite really grabbed my attention. Sure, it was mad creative, but what would you expect from one of Kanye’s artists? Still, the video resonated with because it’s really just a guy going about his day imagining his life as something other than it is… walking in his own daydreams as it were. If you know me for real, you know that’s pretty much me!

Listening to the album, Kid Cudi really takes you there with the depth of introspection and emotion. He’s something like Kanye minus the ego, something like hip hop emo. And I was feeling it from track 1. Months after I first “acquired” it, Cudi’s Man on the Moon is still in heavy rotation. It’s something the soundtrack to my day on the grind! And perhaps no song primes me up for that daily grind more so than this track here….Pursuit of Happiness!

Grind with me on this one!!!

If you ain’t up Man on the Moon yet, you LATE AS HELL! Lemme help you though…

Man on the Moon: The End of the Day

Mission: MBA

In my last post, I wrote about Japan’s Yakuza hitting the books for their mobster MBA’s. I got mad jokes about the yakuza and just how pathetic some of them (lemme make sure I don’t wake up swimming with the fishes!) have become in their attempts to wade their way through this recession. Honestly, though we all gotta respect the hustle, especially when that hustle means getting an education. As an MBA student, I especially gotta respect that!

Thinking about my last though, I realized that I’ve made several references to going to school here in the City under Red Sun but, I’ve never really done a post on my educational pursuit. Truth is, that is the MAIN reason why I’m still here even after all the drama of the past few months, and really the past two years! A post on what I’m really doing is like waaay past due!

So here it is….

I’m a second-year MBA student at Temple University Japan, and in less than 6 months I will have earned my MBA. I still remember distinctly looking at schools all over the US, certain that I wanted to go home after my 3rd year on the the JET Programme. But, wanting to study international business, it just made more sense to try to find a program abroad. Yeah, I studied Spanish so there was alot of thought given to going to, you know, one of those really beautiful countries with warm climates and hot boys. But ultimately, I was already here in Japan and it seemed reasonable to stay put (read: I forgot all the Spanish I learned!). If nothing else, it would give me a chance and a valid reason to relocate to the city.

I studied for my GMAT, took the test and got all my application materials together and sent them off. I was so nervous when I came in for my interview that I needed buckets to collect all the sweat from my hands. My voice trembled and when Dr. Leeds extended his hand for a handshake, I felt that my wet, pruney hands sealed my rejection. But about a month later though, I was surprised to discover an email in my inbox kindly informing me that I was accepted! With a scholarship!! WHAAAAT!!! Boy, you couldn’t tell me nothing that day. Blasted that Kanye song ALL the way home! Bounan Middle School just don’t know, I was ready to quit on the spot!

My first class started about a month after that. And so almost every Saturday from 9am to 6pm, you can find me here on the 4th floor of Mita Hall taking in all in. It’s ALOT of work, I can’t lie. And it takes up ALOT of time. But me being me, I think these two factors have kept me out of alot of trouble. It’s also kept me from getting too too caught up in my own ever-changing mental, emotional and financial states. Like, you can’t spend all day in the bed depressed, or all night in the, ummm, far end of that street in Ni-chome when you got a case to write and presentation to prepare.

Looking back on these past 18 months, yeah, it has been alot of work. I’m always saying that I’m studying. And it really seems like I am. even though I’m man enough to admit that there are times when I’ve used studying as an excuse for being anti-social. But for real, IT IS NOT A GAME! And I haven’t been out on Friday night in only G-d knows how long. But I honestly, I feel like I’ve learned what I’ve needed to propel my entrepreneurial spirits. Six months from now when I graduate, I don’t know whether I’ll be staying here in my beloved City under Red Sun or moving on to fairer pastures (read: someplace where I can actually get paid something resembling what I’m worth), but with what I’ve learned in my courses, I really believe that I’m capable of doing it big, doing it right and making millions. And now I’m hungry!

I’m definitely not getting paid to say this! My, how I wish they were!!! But if you’re looking for an excellent MBA program (or any higher learning experience) in an international and very unique learning environment, Temple University Japan might be a good look for you.

Resident Extraordinaire: Aleksandar Dragicevic

I haven’t done one of these in a good, long while so I thought it was about that time to bring y’all another one of the City’s uber-talented resident extraordinaires. Previously, I served up the Polish sensation, Przemek; my own cocohime, Miss Mo; and last but never least, my tranny godmother, Anthony. This go ’round I want to serve up another helping of Eastern European genius, and dare I say, sexiness!

I can’t remember when or where we actually met for the first time, but it seems like I heard of him, this character referred to only by the name of his superstar diva idol, for ages. Needless to say, I was anticipating meeting some super-duper die hard fan whose entire existence is a tribute to his diva idol (envision all those Michael Jackson impersonators sliced up to look like MJ – may he rest in peace – or pretty much every third Black dude impersonating his favorite rapper impersonating Tony Montana). When we did end up meeting though, I was pleasantly surprised, and almost disappointed even.

The man I ended up meeting was instead an absolute sweetheart of a man named Aleksandar, or Alex for short. And did I mention he’s gorgeous? What is it about Eastern European men!?!

Born in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, this Serbian sensation is a long-time resident of the City Under Red Sun. And like so many other of my circle of acquaintances here, he is also an uber-talented artist, videographer to be exact, who draws his inspiration from theology (yes, theology, you heathens!) and technology. His vision, he describes, is a re-creation of reality with the freedom of abstraction. He says, “it is all about creating sense out of the nonsense and then gong back to nonsense.” If you follow my blog for real, then you’ve already seen his brilliance in the fabulous. When I asked what can people expect from him in the future, he forwarded me this!

ENJOY! Or as they say in the City Under Red Sun, douzo!!

And if you haven’t gotten into the Tranny Trash Burgers, do it! DO IT NOW!!!

For my more of Alex’s tranny fab video work, check out my previous post here!!!

Drifting?

Yo, y’all remember that last Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drifting movie? Maybe you don’t. It was gawd awful!!! I ain’t even gonna front…. I did see the movie few times. But with a gang of teenage and pre-teen nephews in the house I was bound to see a least a snippet of it where and there. Thanfully that snippet didn’t not include any real life ummmm, acting. LOL No, my precious neurons were spared that bit of abuse! That part I ummm, survived was a particular scene were the skilled Japanese racer drifts his way up a circular garage ramp. Shiiiiiit, I was impressed! And apparently, so were alot of you! ( The movie did pull in $160M USD!!!)

I had no idea that drifting is a actually something real people do with real cars. But it’s very real – just look here!

Or here:

With moves like that, how could you not love these guys?!? LMAO

The latest though from Japan Today, my favorite source of irrelevant news:

Drift gang leader, 19 others arrested

The leader of a gang of drifters, Tetsuya Okajima, 40, and 19 other drift racers have been arrested, police said Monday. Police said they had also ascertained the identity of a total of 84 drift racers.

The 20 have been charged with dangerous driving by the traffic enforcement bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to police, Okajima was the leader of the hotrodding gang known as the “Blacks,” and is an influential member in the drifter world.

Okajima was quoted as saying: “No matter how many times you arrest me, I’m still going to cruise on public roads.”

The group was arrested for drifting in four vehicles around 1:30 a.m. some mornings at Oi Pier in Tokyo’s Ota Ward since May.

The Catch-Up Part IV: Party Like It’s 1999!

With my descent in a full-blown depressive state slowing, I was thinking that I might actually want to go home. Part of me needed to go home to be with my family after a rough past few months. But apart me want to go to take part in the festivities that was my 10 Year High School Reunion! Yeah, that’s right…. 10 years!!!

After weeks of ambivalence about going, I finally made up my mind: I was going! All the mixed feelings aside, I had an awesome time. And it was exactly waht I needed to get my mind off my all my troubles, and level myself out of my depression. Booker T. Washington Class of 1999, you f-ing rock!

Tranny Trash Burgers

Sure, I’ve been out to the random joint here or there, or for a cocktail or 10 in Ni-chome with the boys. But I haven’t REALLY hit the scene in quite a while. (I did go to one party where I met a very interesting character I’ll call “Pharrell Fan” but more on that in a different post.) Blame it on the recession! Indeed…

In my absence though, the City Under Red Sun has been taken over! Taken over, I tell you!!! Like when General Zod and his crew went and wrecked shop all up and through Metropolis! But there aren’t three, there are FIVE of them! Not since Godzilla emerged from the ocean has the City faced such a threat!

Ladies and gents (and everything in between), behold your negation! Behold, Miss Kisstress, Lady Pussy L’Amour, Princess Katarzena D’Porte, Countessa Vershuka Horkova and Captain Nonke, AKA the Tranny Trash Burgers.

Luckily for all of us – Natives and Residents alike – these devastating divas are less concerned with murder and mayhem and world domination. And more concerned with obscenely outrageous fabulousness. Your President (or Prime Minister) will not have to bow before them. Instead, they might “bow” before him. LOL All, except Captain Nonke, that is ’cause nonke don’t get down like that.

And here they are doing what they do best…

In addition to terrorizing the populace,  the TTB’s are also hitting the small screen! Peep the outrageousness! (courtesy of the Baltic Bombshell AKA Genkiserb – Thanks, babes!)

Tranny Outrageousness After the Jump

Resident Extraordinaire: Anthony Moynihan

So I took my Brother Pat, who was here visiting, up to Ageha for party. It was a yet another drunk night in which the details are all a blur. But I remember at some point I was cornered by two very beautiful ummmm, “women”. At first we were talking about my frat brand, but then the conversation turned to piercings. “Do you have any piercings?” ummm… she asked. “Yeah,” I replied. I can’t remember know how I was convinced to show them. I was drunk so I prolly didn’t need very much convincing at all, but right there in the middle of Ageha I pulled out my joint and showed them my piercing. Let Anthony tell it, he was in love with me from that very moment! (But then again, isn’t everyone! LMAO)

We exchanged numbers and it was only after 3 months of emailing back and forth that I realized that the “woman” I met was actually a man!!! Yeah, I’m slow but if you see how beautiful and fabulous Tranny, as he’s most affectionately known, is as a woman you’d be inclined to forgive my country-boy dense-ness.

We became fast friends! Hitting all the fabulous parties, meeting all the beautiful people, experiencing the city as absolute rockstars. A native of London, he’s been here in the City 13+ years now, and as a fashion designer, stylist, interior designer, party host and all around diva idol, he knows EVERYONE (and just about everything)! But more importantly, EVERYONE knows HIM! He’s the archetypal Resident Rockstar Extraordinaire, and my 先輩 [sempai: mentor].

All the many outrageously fabulous (and fabulously outrageous) parties aside, he’s a true angel-heart, who’s taught me so much about being true to myself and living my life in abundance. He’s helped me find my own inner fabulousness and showed me by living example how to live boldly in it. And then, when my world turned upside down last year, he was there to help me pull it all together. And it’s for that I’m eternally grateful.

I could go on and on about just how absolutely amazing Anthony is as a person, an artist and a friend. He’s just that kinda spirit that not only commands that kinda adoration but inspires everyone he meets. Yes, I stan for him!!!

This is waaaay LONG overdue! But yea….

I love you, Tranny! XOXO
Tranniliciousness After the Break!

The Tree is Always Taller…

I was just a 8 year-old tiny-tot-for-Christ when I got my first hair…. you know, down there! It was a cute novelty that set me apart from most other boys my age. I know because I looked! LOL But as that single stalk became a wild field, the novelty of it all wore off kinda quick. One thought came to mind: MUST. CONTROL . THE. HAIR! And with that I lathered myself down with shaving cream and shaved for the first time. That was over 15 years ago!

I gave up shaving maybe right after that first time. Itchy crotch is just not a good look, ya know! But make no mistake I abhor body hair. And no matter how busy I am, or how much I errr, let myself go, I always make sure I’m properly trimmed. I call it “manscaping”. And I personally consider it an essential grooming habit for every man, woman and wolf child. It looks cleaner but most importantly it smells cleaner. I kid you not!

In the City Under Red Sun, I’ve had the opportunity to see a great many ummm, bushes- male and female. (Don’t ask! LMAO) When I say “bush” here, I really mean bush because unlike the “love nests” which I’m most familiar with, the Natives have something straight and pointy resembling the quills of a porcupine. It’s menacing to say the least! And with the same sharpness as porcupine quills, it can be downright dangerous should one ummmm, ever come in contact.

I know it’s cultural thing, with some people preferring that au natural look and feel and smell (gross!!!). But at the risk of offending those delicate cultural differences, I think that EVERYONE EVERYWHERE should at the very least “trim it up”. For starters, no one likes a mouthful of hair! LOL For you ladies that like “special attention”, imagine how much more special that attention will be once baby boy can find “it” without being attacked by it… coming up all scratched in the face!  But for my fellas, my beloved fellas, there’s another reason. Natives, Residents and guys all over the world, know this: The Tree is always taller when the grass is cut! Yep, that lil’ gem is so good I’ll say it again: THE TREE IS ALWAYS TALLER WHEN THE GRASS IS CUT! There’s a stereotype known and repeated around the world that Japanese/Asian men are small…you know, down there. But I contend that that may not really be the case at all! You’ll just have to trust me on this, I know! But it might (sometimes) just be a case of “not seeing the tree for the forest”! For my J-boys: 周りの草を刈った方が高く見える!

Resident Rockstar Extradordinaire Miss Marilyn has a wonderfully fabulous salon here in the City, called Boudoir. Ladies, if you’re not already up on your hygiene…. GET IN TO IT NOW!!! She’s abso -F-ing- lutely fabulous! Fellas, unfortunately, Miss Marilyn and her girls don’t do man-zilians! And I as helpful as I am, neither do it! LOL You’ll have to do it yourself!!!

Need help? All you need to know about man-scaping here!