New Year's Day
It's already the New Year in Japan, but it is pretty low key. After partying a little too hard with some friends the other night I was keeping it pretty relaxed yesterday. We visited the Osaka Castle and the government district of Osaka. We headed back to Takatsuki after that and took in a huge movie in Japan: Howl's Moving Castle, an anime film. On our way home we stopped by some shrines that had the faithful banging the gongs, which was a bit of a sceen. We would have banged the gongs too, but we decided to respect the buddhists and their celebration....being a gaijin and all that, we didn't want them to get the 'no' feeling with us messing up their holiday...besides, I've banged the gong before anyways.

Anyways, in light of the New Year...here's U2's New Year's Day:

"New Year's Day"

Yeah...

All is quiet on New Year's Day
A world in white gets underway
I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
On New Year's Day

I will be with you again
I will be with you again

Under a blood red sky
A crowd has gathered in black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspapers says, says
Say it's true it's true...
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one

I...I will begin again
I...I will begin again

Oh...
Maybe the time is right
Oh...maybe tonight...

I will be with you again
I will be with you again

And so we're told this is the golden age
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage
Though I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes
On New Year's Day
On New Year's Day